Insomniac has created a living, breathing Spiderverse that both fans and newcomers alike can appreciate. The fluidity of combat and world traversal makes it hands down the best Super Hero game in years, but it isn't without some pitfalls. The main story itself is generally believed to take about 20 hours to complete, but for players that focus primarily on the main story, it could take less. Side missions will keep players busy, but without additional content, dedicated players may find they have run out of content well before the DLC hits in October. Despite the low hours for story completion, Insomniac has created the must have hero game this year.
All in all, I didn’t like Cuphead in the slightest. I fell in love with it. The charm and care they put into this game brings back a nostalgia I haven’t felt in many years. Not nostalgia for the 1930s, as I wasn’t born yet, and I’m not quite that old to have watched American Golden Age Cartoons, but nostalgia for the challenging feel-good types of games I played as a younger self. While the stark challenge might not be everyone’s cup of tea, and 1930s cartoony art styles might not appeal to today’s anime crowds, what StudioMDHR has created is nothing short of a masterpiece. If there was ever a game to take a chance on, this would be it. Leave your silverware at the door and pick up a cup, you won’t be disappointed.
Monster Train is a hybrid deck-building strategy game with some rogue-like and tower-defense style features. With plenty of cards and several clans to unlock, and a bevy of difficulty tiers to master, Monster Train is the deck-building game to beat this year, hands down.
For gamers looking for their next ARPG experience, you would be remiss if you passed this one by. Warhammer: Chaosbane is available June 4th on PC, Playstation 4 and Xbox One.
If you’re a roguelike fan, Inkbound will surely scratch your itch for dozens of hours, and I expected nothing less from the creators of Monster Train. I am disappointed that we didn’t see new Aspects release in 1.0, especially with two very obvious slots open and waiting. Releasing a polished game built on the back of the previous release was the smart move, but the team teased new Aspects way back in 2023, so that still leaves a lot to look forward to.
Autonauts is a fantastic little base-builder that gives players the chance to build and program their own robots. As players progress, the hands off approach may not appeal to everyone, but the ability to make your robots as simple or as complex as you want opens up the game for many hours of fun.
The problem is, Phantasy Star Online 2 still feels like a game nearing a decade old mark. Like man MMOs of our current generation, however fun they continue to be, and however nostalgic PSO players may feel when playing, it still has a quality of being a little dated. Still, there is plenty of fight left in PSO2, and if you haven’t played it, or any version of Phantasy Star Online before, then it’s going to be new to you. Phantasy Star Online 2 is a fantastic game with a lot to offer. With a generous Free 2 Play payment model, PSO2 is certainly one of the best options out there for gamers looking to try something different, without overspending.
Battle Chef Brigade is a mash up of two addicting game types slathered in an Anime sauce and served up hot and spicy with several different game modes to keep players salivating for more. The hunting beat'em up portion of the game is responsive and requires timing and coordination while the cooking segment requires time management and nimble matching capabilities. While some early matches can feel repetitive, and despite the many different modes to play, the lasting appeal may be somewhat suspect, Battle Chef Brigade Deluxe has done an amazing job at making the mixture of sidescrolling action and match 3 puzzles more than palatable, but simply scrumptious.
Marvel’s Midnight Suns is a lot of character and base building built into a unique deck building Strategy RPG. There are some story pieces that just aren’t entirely enthralling, and you may find the exploration to be lacking. What Midnight Suns does happen to do exceptionally well, is provide a purely satisfying strategy game, once you wade through all of the monotonous upgrades to get you to the combat. With plenty of characters to unlock, and multiple difficulty levels to amp up the strategy required, this is one of the best Marvel games to release in years. The best part is, whether you’re a Marvel fan, or you’re just a strategy buff, Midnight Suns delivers. Do not make the mistake of passing on this one.
Jamestown+ is a strange trip through space-age colonial times. Take control of several ships with dozens of optional load outs and protect Roanoke and Jamestown alongside John Smith from the allied forces of the Spanish and the Martians. While the premise may seem weird and hokey, the gameplay is solid, fun, and is sure to satisfy shoot'em up fans for hours with multiple difficulties, unlockable game modes, and additional challenge tiers.
Wandersong is a charming, heart-filled musical-adventure. For fans of the puzzle-adventure genre, there is a lot to be had here but where Wandersong really shines, lies in its spirited, charismatic characters and unique story line. Wandersong isn't afraid to make fun of the usual heroic tropes found in many games on the market, but still finds a way to make the player stay connected to what is going on. Come for the adventure, but stay for a song.
From start to finish, Giana Sisters Twisted Dreams Owltimate Edition doesn't pull any punches in the difficulty department regardless of whether you want to take it easy on Normal mode, or if you hop directly into the Hard Mode and challenge yourself. The new modes and differing platformer puzzles will keep players entertained, and for those that really want a challenge, Uber Hardcore mode will have players pulling their hair out. The levels are fairly repetitive, and at times, minor missteps utilizing the Switches analog stick did keep me from testing the real excruciating levels. The story aspects aren't explained very well, which may turn some players off as they question what the purpose of each level and boss is. Giana Sisters Twisted Dreams is predominantly a side scrolling platformer fans dream in and of itself, so despite some very shallow shortcomings, it has a lot to offer.
As much as I love Animal Crossing, I suppose I expected just a lot more than what we’ve seen in New Leaf and Pocket Camp. I would even throw my hands up in elation if Gyroids made their triumphant return as audible and visual furniture once again. Despite some of these minor misgivings, and lost opportunities in my estimation, Animal Crossing: New Horizons delivers on an island building simulation that will not disappoint. If you’re headed to the island, say “Hi” to Nook for me.
For decades Capcom has been at the forefront of making compelling and high-quality 2D fighters. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that despite how polished the game feels, with its newly revamped audio tracks, revitalized roster and extemporaneous movement abilities, that I still long for the days where the X-Men filled the ranks of playable characters. While that is a hot button point of contention with the game and its fans, Marvel Versus Capcom: Infinite is by far and large the highest quality and, not to mention, most fun 2D fighting game to come out in years.
While the game is random, and there are characters, abilities and weapon attachments to unlock, the repetitiveness of the gameplay will eventually wear out its welcome. Fortunately for Hypergun, the challenges presented are more than enough to keep players entertained for dozens of hours.
As a racing simulation, F1 2019 builds the perfect balance of a real-world racing experience and cultivating a budding racing career. Learning each race and planning a strategy is as important as feeling the race first hand, and that is a major success when it comes to simulation racers. The long races may not appeal to everyone, and some of the tracks get especially monotonous, but for your moneys worth, F1 2019 is the Formula One racing game to beat.
Knights and Bikes tells the tale of Demelza and Nessa as they uncover a story, battle a curse, and deal with the almost inevitable closure of Demelza's fathers business. Luckily for adventure game fans, there is a lot to love in this charming game that pays a substantial homage to some of the best coming of age adventure films of the 80s. Knights and Bikes delivers on an extraordinary experience that is hard to find these days.
OUTBUDDIES is a fantastic homage to Super Metroid, with a few new twists thrown in. With the addition of a robotic BUDDY that can be controlled by a second player, and some challenging content that won't punish players for failing, OUTBUDDIES adds on to the original Super Metroid formula in unexpected and pleasant ways. For fans of the retro action-platformer genre looking for that nostalgia feel, OUTBUDDIES is certain to deliver.
THOTH by Carlsen Games is a geometrical twin stick shooter with an attitude. With a kaleidoscope of killer shapes impeding your progression, twin stick fans will find THOTH a worthy adversary. Despite a few design decisions meant to extend the speed of completion, like checkpoints only available every few levels, and increased difficulty of levels upon death, THOTH still manages to provide an enjoyable experience.
Avicii Invector is a high intensity rhythmic game centered around the largely praised electronic musician Avicii. The tap-to-the-beat game play coincides with many of Avicii's greatest works, joyfully playing against an illuminated theme park track, that is reminiscent of the EDM scene as a whole. Although the story in Avicii Invector leaves much to be desired, and some higher difficulties will prove too challenging for the fledgling rhythmic gamer, Avicii Invector is a faithful tribute to the late musician and his work.