PCs, handhelds, mobile, console, indies, triple A, free-to-play — the gaming scene gets more diverse and difficult to follow by the day, but thankfully I’m here every week to guide you through what’s happening with games.
As always, I’ll rattle off five games I think you might want to check out this week. Keep in mind, these articles aren’t meant to be comprehensive lists of everything coming out that week so much as a nice rounded tasting menu. So, let’s get to it…
This Week’s Fantasy Strategy Game
Might & Magic Heroes VII (PC, Sept. 29)
This series used to be known as Heroes of Might and Magic, but I guess that was just too grammatically correct for Ubisoft. Thankfully, the name may have changed, but the gameplay hasn’t. Might & Magic Heroes VII is, like past games in the series, a tactical turn-based strategy game with some focus on base and party management. Surprisingly, it looks like Ubisoft has spared no expense on this one, so strategy fans may be in for a treat. Here’s the game’s Steam page.
This Week’s Basketball Game
NBA 2K16 (PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3 & PS4, Sept. 29)
The beginning of the NBA season is under a month away, so it’s time to break out the b-ball games. First up, we have NBA 2K16, which is promising even more obsessive depth in its MyTeam franchise mode, a revamped career mode and the return of online leagues. EA’s NBA Live 16 also comes out this week, although if things shake out, you’ll probably want to stick to NBA 2K16.
This Week’s Demonic Dancing Game
Persona 4: Dancing All Night (PS Vita, Sept. 29)
The Persona games, which are equal parts high school life sim and demonic dungeon-hack, are pretty unique to begin with, but now the wackiness dial has been turned up another notch. Yes, the Persona series is getting a rhythm game spin-off in Persona 4: Dancing All Night. Try to free a girl group kidnapped by an internet video by dancing in time to music played by demons! Yup, that’s really what happens in this game, so obviously, you pretty much have to play it.
This Week’s Skateboarding Game
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 (Xbox One & PS4, Sept. 29)
After nearly a decade away (the terrible Tony Hawk: Ride and Shred don’t count) the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series returns. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 promises a classic early 2000s skateboarding experience, with a lot of over-the-top grinding and a big focus on creating your own crazy skate parks. The game looks a bit rough visually, but if it can deliver that classic Tony Hawk’s zone-out fun, graphics won’t really matter.
Pick of the Week
LEGO Dimensions (Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4 & Wii U, Sept. 27)
Welp, it’s here, the game that’s going to make all the money this holiday season. LEGO Dimensions takes the “toys to life” thing to the next level, by letting you build and scan in characters and vehicles based on Batman, The LEGO Movie, Justice League, The Simpsons, Back to the Future, Lord of the Rings and much more. If you consider yourself even marginally nerdy, LEGO Dimensions is going to be hard to resist.
Five games, five totally different genres. That’s how it oughta be! Any games you’re itching to get your hands on that I failed to mention? Hit the comments and let the world know.