Oxenfree is a smaller game, an indie game that didn’t make a huge splash and received somewhat mixed reviews. Some critics praised it for its creepy tone and amazing dialogue system, but criticized the pacing and story. This isn’t a game for everyone, a slower paced adventure game starring trends in an island. It sounds like a dumb setup but what resulted for me was an intriguing story filled with characters that were relatable. I love the graphical presentation and the chill vibe of the game. You never feel at risk, but that somehow doesn’t make the journey less appealing. The conversation system is top notch. It allows you to walk away from conversations mid sentence, cut people off, be kind, be a jerk, etc. It felt unique in a time when we’d seen Telltale pumping out the same formulaic game with different veneer year after year. It’s a shame the studio’s follow up wasn’t nearly as good, but this game is a sign that they have talent and spark. Can’t wait to see what they do next.
Shoutouts to Unepic, Banner Saga, Rebel Galaxy, Electronic Superjoy, This War of Mine: The Little Ones, and Lego Marvel’s Avengers. Great month for indies!
Rocket League was a huge hit by the time it hit Xbox. As a PS+ game, Rocket League took off in a way few games do, garnering praise from the media and public alike while racking up a huge active community. I know many Xbox-only gamers were really looking forward to its eventually port and for good reason. Rocket League is a ton of fun. It’s another one of those games that I absolutely stink at, I’m probably a detriment to my team, but boy do I enjoy my time with it. If you don’t know what it is, RL is essentially soccer (err, football?) with cars. It’s really that simple. You drive about an arena, on walls and otherwise boosting and jumping to smashing a ball and other cars around. It has some d-derby elements to it, but the core of the game is trying to play offense and defense, scoring goals, and of course looking cool while doing it. It’s a game that’s remained popular to this day, huge staying power and still as fun as ever. The developer obviously loves the game and community and keeps doing things to improve both. You can’t ask for more than that. This is one worth supporting.
Shoutouts to Dying Light: The Following, Unravel, Layers of Fear, Walking Dead Michonne, Far Cry Primal, Agatha Christie’s ABC Murders, The Flame in the Flood, and Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2.
Say what you will about Ubisoft games, they’re generally well made, playable, and fun. That’s exactly what The Division is. Yeah, it’s a “serious” third person military shooter. Yeah, it’s co-op, and yeah, it’s a looter RPG-lite. Sound familiar? It is. But it’s done quite exceptionally at a high quality level expected of a AAA franchise, and it’s a new IP, as far as can be for another Tom Clancy branded thing. The co-op just works and honestly enhances the game. Playing with buds makes this game in many ways, the same that it does in a game like Destiny. It looks great, the guns are punchy sounding, and the game feels great in action. The looting system is there, nothing special, but I think that’s challenging when we’re talking about military themed gear. The mission structure is a bit simple, the same go to point and kill things type stuff you’ve seen a million times, but again it just works for this game. I have no idea what the story is or if it’s good, but I’ve been told it’s actually solid. I never paid attention, I was too busy talking to friends or listening to a podcast. This is the Ubisoft formula through and through which may sound like a pejorative to some but I mean it in a good way here. It’s comfort food, something you know and are familiar with. I think the sequel is better, but I still enjoy the original Division to this day.
Shoutouts to Trackmania Turbo, Screencheat, Action Henk, Ironcast, Teslagrad, Ori & the Blind Forest DE, Dungeon of the Endless, Shantae & the Pirate’s Curse, Shadow Complex Remastered, and Killer Instinct Season 3. Nice games this month, good variety.
Another Dark Souls game…or should I say, another Dark Souls game!!! For me, it’s the latter. Dark Souls III is likely the pinnacle of the “souls” formula, taking elements of what made From’s prior games so great and carving out some of the complaints. Is it my favorite? No, that would probably be Dark Souls II which I know is an unpopular opinion. I don’t think that II is better than III, but it just happens to be the one I look back on most fondly. So what’s new with DSIII? Honestly, I’m not a Souls-head so I can’t describe the ins-and-outs, nuances, etc. I just know that the game is looking its best, designed impeccably, and most importantly, plays the best. It’s still the same Souls game you’ve either grown to love or hate (or feel indifferent to I suppose), so if you’re in you’re in and if you aren’t you aren’t. Nothing in this entry is going to convince you too enjoy it, and conversely, nothing is going to convince hardcore fans that’s it’s not the greatest thing since Waffle Crisp Cereal. I think it’s quite incredible overall. I still feel the same elation, high that I feel when overcoming a tough section or boss. I love the different builds, weapons, and magic. The level design is From at its best, and yes, I think it’s better than the original in this regard. Everything is much more accessible, as much as can be for this series anyway. It’s probably the best point to jump in. So maybe do it.
Shoutouts Sterendenn, Dirt Rally, Letter Quest? And Quantum Break.
Doom is an incredible series. I don’t think there’s been an entry that I haven’t enjoyed around release, and 2016 continued that trend. Btw, we’re rolling with this alternate box art because it’s the one I used and it’s amazing. Anyway, each game has been a masterclass in design and gameplay, taking what other shooters have done and throwing it in the historic trash bin, laughing. It never needed to be anything more than Doom, because the essence of Doom is simply amazing. I really like 2016. It’s metal. It’s visceral. It’s always moving forward, never retreating, always killing. It’s intense and nonstop, sweat inducing, controller gripping fun. It feels incredible and makes you feel euphoric, from movement to gunplay to impact. The music is heart thumping and the sound effects loud. The enemies are horrifying and the violence gory. It’s what Doom should be in year 2016, reimagined but not reinvented. It keeps to its roots while pushing forward, and that makes it a masterpiece. It’s one of the best shooters out, and one of the best games of 2016. It’s still great in 2021 and will be for many years to come.
Shoutouts to Superhot, Raiden V, Overwatch, Not a Hero, OlliOlli 2, Tropico 5, Witcher 3 Blood & Wine, and TMNT Mutants in Manhattan. Crazy good month.
Inside seemed to be in development forever. Announced around the initial reveal of Microsoft’s Xbox One, Inside was intriguing. As follow up to Playdead’s Limbo, expectations were high. What was this gam?! It kind of looks like Limbo, is it a direct sequel? Would it be able to match the quality of that game? To answer latter, I think the answer is yes. It’s very similar in many ways thematically and in tone, but also so improved that it’s staggering. Playdead took the years in development to create not only a gorgeous, bleak game world, but also to improve the playability by leaps and bounds. Everything is smoother and more responsive. The puzzles are less obtuse, more sensible. There’s less trial and error in its design. It’s a longer game, but tons every ounce of fat and excess to create what plays like a lean cut off high quality beef. Or carrots, whatever your thing is. It also leaves the player feeling uneasy and unsettled at times, the ending one that is spoken of fondly by most anyone who reached it. It’s the definition of perfection in many ways, still incredible and memorable years later. It’s what you get when you love something, take your time, and just excited your vision. I know not all games are afforded this opportunity, but I wish more were. Play this.
Shoutouts to Mirror’s Edge Catalyst, Pac-Man 256, Magic Circle, and Lego Star Wars The Force Awakens. I think all of these are worth a look if you have time.
Expectedly for me, the art style and aesthetic are what initially drew me to HLD. The retro-looking, neon chunky color palette was a sight to behold, a fever dream of colors depicting a grim post-apocalyptic world. When I heard it was a Metroidvania (yuck term) type game, I hesitated a bit until I saw the gameplay. It moved stunningly, the combat and flow amazing to behold. Luckily, playing the game is no less stunning, and controlling the Drifter is smooth as butter. Or coconut oil if you think that’s a healthier option. The combat isn’t overly prevalent but exists in a perfectly balanced harmony with the exploration. The puzzles aren’t brain dead but also not head scratchers, so you’ll rarely find yourself at a loss of where to go or what to do. I love the tone of the game in the way I do last month’s game, Inside. It’s somber but never depressing or oppressive, again, a perfect balance to the brightly colored Drifter and its movement. I love the vagueness of the game’s story, it’s quiet in the right ways leaving the player the freedom to interpret the events (within reason of course). It’s a masterfully designed game, one I didn’t think I’d like this much until I started this post. It’s available everywhere and for the price, playing is an easy decision.
Shoutouts to Banner Saga 2, Prison Architect, and Kerbal Space Program. I’ve not played much Kerbal - it’s that genre of make your own fun that old people like me without imaginations find hard to get into, but I love watching what the community does with this game.
Overcooked is one of those games that you love, hate, and sometimes fee both at the same time. The game brings you to the highest highs, and can crush you with the depth of the bottom of the ocean. Three starring a difficult level can bring a sense of elation not felt in many games, but just missing out feels like absolute dog doo. Overcooked is a game themed around cooking in whacky environments, but at its core it’s a devious time management puzzle game, with a heavy emphasis on communicative co-op play. You see, the game thrives in multiplayer as you cook your way through a large selection of stages. It’s chaotic fun and really pushes the importance of actually cooperating in a way that not many other games do. But as a game that lives by it’s co-op focus, it can also die very quickly. No, not because you don’t have someone to play with but rather who you’ve chosen to play with. You better have a strong relationship with your chosen partner(s) for this game, because it can seriously put a huge damper on a planned evening of fun. The fun can turn sour very quickly, something I can attest to when playing with my wife. Yeah, maybe we were both being bossy jerks, passing blame, and being impatient…anyway! But for all the rough sessions, there are those standouts that are just so darn fun and tough and memorable. That’s what makes a great game. The balance of highs and lows, as long as there is that balance, is something that gaming is so good at and Overcooked threads this needle better than most.
Shoutouts to Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, Telltale’s Batman, Kingdom New Lands, Grow Up, Worms WMD, Hue, Armello, Attack on Titan, Livelock, and The Turing Test.
Before anyway looks at the shoutouts and calls for my head, yes, Forza Horizon 3 is the actual best game released this month. However, Forza Horizon has seen placement on this very list I do believe, and might be again with FH4. I thought it’d be good to call attention to what I consider a underrated and overlooked new IP for Xbox, Recore. The E3 reveal was surprising to say the least and left me curious to discover more about this game. What was the gameplay like? What was this cool looking desert world and who was this amazing looking female lead? Red hair and a pet robot dog thing? Count me in! Recore remained mysterious for a while but eventually what was shown looked awesome. To boil it down, Recore is an action adventure game with some Metroid elements, created by people associated with Metroid Prime. Platforming, combat, and exploration ended up being core elements, and quite keen. The dungeons were challenging and fun. I know a lot of people have a hard time overlooking the jank and bugs, but the core of uh…Recore…was solid. It’s fun to play, the new world is fun to explore despite being a desert, and I love the characters. Even the robots had personalities, and each added a unique mechanic to combat/exploration. The obvious low budget and what felt like rushed development time led to its lack of polish, but the heart behind this game can’t be denied. And neither can the potential. This is one that Xbox should look at again, perhaps allow more time and back with more buckaroos, and see what might bloom. This could be an awesome IP for Xbox, something the platform is missing. I’d love to see more.
Shoutouts to Forza Horizon 3, Oceanhorn, X-Com 2, Axiom Verge, Everspace, Virginia, Firewatch, Pac-Man CE2, The Witness, Super Galaxy Warriors, and Awesomenauts Assemble. So many great games.
Titanfall 2 is the best shooter of 2016, but its reception by gamers would tell you otherwise. Sandwiched between Battlefield and Call off Duty, Titanfall 2 never had a chance. It flopped commercially despite being a critical darling, which is a shame for such a special fans game.
I don’t know if I have much to say that isn’t effusive praise. Some people take issue with the multiplayer, but it died so quickly due to the popularity and proximity of BF and COD so it’s hard for me to pinpoint why. I think it’s a genuine improvement over the first game in just about every metric, especially the new full length campaign. This is one of the best campaigns in the entire FPS genre, expertly crafted with levels that made perfect use of the amazing controls and abilities of the player. It ramps up perfectly, and by the end of the game you’re flying about levels like you’re Spider-Man. Respawn knows how to make a blockbuster movie in game form, and in turn make the player feel the best highs. I could keep going on but I think I’ll leave you with this: if you’re remotely interested in FPS games, this is a must play and modern classic.
Shoutouts to Warhammer Vermintide, Gears of War 4, Mantis Burn Racing, Rockband Rivals, Bug Butcher, Battlefield 1, and Skyrim Special Edition. Another very good month of new games!
Ok, another pick that’s not the best game of the month…promise I won’t make it a habit. Maybe. The honor of actual “best game” should go to Dishonored 2, but the first has been on the list and Death to the Outsider might end up on it later. Final Fantasy XV is the pick here because of its sheer scope and story behind development. And I like the game a decent bit.
The fact that the game released and that it turned out quite good as it was a miracle. Initially announced as FFXIII Versus around a decade earlier, FFXV obviously underwent a troubled development. Many had given up all hope, even when it was reintroduced under its new title. While it’s not the best FF game and certainly not my favorite, I really appreciate what XV attempts to do for the series. It’s a real effort by Square Enix to modernize an aging franchise, from the true open world to the action game-like combat. It’s a beautiful mess of a game at times in pretty much every area. It’s gorgeous at times, with stunning vistas and sites strewn throughout the world. The voice work is top quality, and the soundtrack is on par with most other FF games. The story is again, messy, but the chapter-based approach and tale of growth for a road-tripping “boy band” of friends is heartfelt and impactful. Yeah, it doesn’t always hit the right notes but I really grew to like the guys and rooted for them in their travels. Exploring the world is fun, even just jetting around in the car listening to classic FF tunes and hearing the chatter. It’s a memorable game for reasons good and bad, and that makes it worth playing.
Shoutouts to Dishonored 2, Watch Dogs 2, COD Infinite Warfare, and Headlander.
When I was a young’n, I played the mess out of Harvest Moon on SNES. There was nothing like it at the time, and despite many sequels, spin-offs, and homages, nothing ever felt as magical. I don’t know what it is about the Harvest Moon formula that’s so appealing, addicting. It’s a grind, pure and simple, but it scratches that itch. And that’s the thing about Stardew Valley. It’s a game that’s managed to capture that same magic, modernize where it made sense, and take it all to the next level. Stardew feels like the first true sequel to the 16-bit Harvest Moon, but it’s a fantastic game that stands on its own. It’s incredibly deep and huge, despite its humble appearance. There’s so much to do, from the basic farming to fishing to spelunking to dating. The game has grown in leaps and bounds over the years, all updates for free. Multiplayer is now a thing and works well and has enough options and flexibility that enable players to have their own farms or share. It’s amazing really. I love the look and sound of the game, it harkens back to my favorite era of gaming. It just feels like slipping into a warm bed. And heck, you can! Play it on just about any platform. Xbox, cloud, PC, mobile, Switch. Whatever you have to do to play this gem, do it. It’s one of the best games of the past decade.
Shoutouts to Furi, Abzu (lovely), Dead Rising 4, Westerado, Forza Horizon 3 Blizzard Mountain DLC, Little Acre, and Shantae Half-Genie Hero. Great month for those indies!
I’ve never been a big Resident Evil fan, dabbling here and there in the series particularly with the more action-oriented titles (4-6). It’s a fine series no doubt, but I’m a bit of a horror baby so it’s never had massive appeal to me. Resident Evil 7 is definitely a horror title, make no mistake, but also don’t make the mistake of not playing it. After some stellar reviews, I decided it was time to give the whole scary thing another go, and I was left stunned with my enjoyment of the game. It’s nail biting at times, disgusting always, creepy in a way that left me feeling uneasy. It’s intense when it should be and quiet at the right moments which delivers a sense of dread that I haven’t felt outside of Alien Isolation. The shift to the first person perspective works incredibly well here, making the game feel darker and claustrophobic. It still has that same campy vibe and story, a must for RE. The combat is serviceable but that’s not why you play this. The end does go a little off the rails with the shooting, but feeling powerful after hours of weakness and tension is liberating. This is a great game and way to start 2017.
Halo Wars 2 had to be the pick for this month, if for the incredible cutscenes alone. And for the fact that it exists! See, Microsoft CAN make sequels to games, even those that aren’t uber successful (as long as they’re named Halo). All kidding aside, Halo
Wars 2 is a great consolized RTS. Does it hold a candle to your StarCrafts, Age of Empires, or Warhammers? No. It’s a game designed around the limitations inherent to a controller, particularly with regard to speed and input, and it does that very well (much like it’s predecessor). The story is compelling even for a guy who doesn’t care about Halo lore all that much. Atriox is a baddie that you hate, he’s intense and scary in a way that fits the universe. He feels like a real threat. I don’t like the weird card type system that’s implemented in one area of the game, but I just played campaign so I can’t speak to it much or the multiplayer in general. There’s not much more to say, the game is good and fun and has a committed, small community. It’s good stuff.
Shoutouts to Candleman, Aqua Kitty UDX, Pix the Cat, Crypt of the Necrodancer, Sniper Elite 4, For Honor, Forma.8, Chime Sharp, Riptide GP Renegade, and Torment Tides of Numenera.
Snake Pass is a weird one to describe. You’re a snake (duh), you’re cute, and you slither about levels collecting things and trying to reach the end goal. It can probably best be described as a platformer, but there’s no jumping like in most games in the genre. It’s a unique approach, one I’d never seen before, and it works strangely well. The snake is unwieldy to maneuver at times, the physics of the environments working against your progress. It’s challenging but never overly frustrating to navigate the colorful world. Failure isn’t severe as there’s no lives or continues, so if you don’t make it on a level you can just restart and none of the levels are long enough that it’s a headache. I had a lot of fun with this, it was an unexpected little gem, and sometimes that’s all it takes to be a standout game. It’s available on almost every platform so snag it on sale!
Shoutouts to Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Ghost Recon Wildlands, Death Squared, Styx, Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight, Neurovoider, Mass Effect Andromeda, Thimbleweed Park, Punch Club, and The Inner World.
Ron Gilbert makes a new point & click adventure and is beaten by fuckn*** Snake Pass? Oh my god
Thimbleweed Park was my Game of the Year 2017 and also signaled to me a return to form for ID@Xbox when it was announced to come to Xbox at Gamescom 2015.
I remember liking Thimbleweed Park quite a bit, but couldn’t remember enough about it to speak to it in great detail. What did you like about it specifically? I recall the story being kind of campy fun.
Point & click adventures are my favorite genre by a long shot and Ron Gilberts work is always top notch, so some clunky controlling snake stands zero chance
It has great and funny written characters like the 2 FBI agents with their hidden agenda, Delores with her C64 and of course Ransom the **** clown. I really like games with puzzles and they are (mostly) logical and imaginative in this one. The art was really on point. I know some people didn’t like the crazy last act and ending but after Monkey Island 2 I was prepared.
I’m kind of a giant baby when it comes to scary games, so I never thought this 2D indie game would creep me out as much as it did. Little Nightmares may not look like it, but it’s one of the better games in the (lite) horror genre. It plays like a puzzle platformer, in many ways cribbing elements from Playdead’s Limbo or Inside, but never feels like a carbon copy. You play the role of a child in a yellow rainslick, face obscured, dirty, and small. The world you’re in is ugly, gross, dangerous. Everything seems to be out to get you, and you’re definitely fragile. Your progress through various stages or set pieces, each with its own cell but feeling like one cohesive environment. In some ways, it reminds me of that giant world in Super Mario Bros. 3, in nightmare form. The game is legitimately creepy, from and there are definitely some moments that had my heart pumping. It balances the quiet moments with acting incredibly, and the puzzles never feel out of place or obtuse to solve. There’s a bit of trial and error which can be annoying, but it’s never enough to make you want to stop playing. The story is silently told and can be interpreted in various ways, I just know it was unsettling even at the end. It’s a great little game that never overstays its welcome. It’s worth your time.
Shoutouts to Lego City Undercover, Enter the Gungeon, Crawl, The Sexy Brutale, Blackwood Crossing, Yooka-Laylee, Telltale Guardians of the Galaxy, Wonder Boy Dragon’s Trap, Flinthook, Cities Skyline, and Outlast 2.
OMG @anon98342452 I have missed so much, first holiday, then kids being sick, then me, and every time I cam back the list to review just kept getting bigger and bigger. Let me see if I can Compile something to cover what I missed
