Keeping track of all the games arriving each week on PC, handhelds, consoles and mobile is no easy track, but don’t worry, I’m here to help. Every week in Five Games I separate the wheat from the chaff and pick the titles you need to pay attention to.
We recently freshened up the Five Games format a bit. The Pick of the Week is now listed first, and the rest of the games are filed under headings that will hopefully be more helpful for you. Looking for the latest indie hotness? Check the Steam picks. Want to download something for your Xbox One or PS4 on a Saturday night? Hit up the Console Downloads section. So, without further ado…
Pick of the Week
Headlander (PC & PS4, July 26)
Tim Schafer’s Double Fine Productions is trying something a little bit different with its latest game. Headlander isn’t a point-and-click adventure game, RPG or simulation, but rather an old-school shoot-em-up action game. Of course, since this is Double Fine, the blasting isn’t entirely mindless.
In Headlander you play as the last flesh-and-blood human in a world entirely populated by intelligent robots. Just one catch – you’re nothing but a disembodied head. Thankfully, you can pluck off enemies’ heads and take control of their bodies, giving you access to all manner of different weapons and powers. Between its wacky premise and unique grindhouse aesthetic, Headlander looks like it ought to be a breath of fresh air.
This Week on Steam
Quadrilateral Cowboy (PC, July 25)
Ever wanted to be a hacker? Specifically, a badass ’90s hacker? Then Quadrilateral Cowboy is for you. The game consists of a series of capers you must pull off using only an ancient laptop, and a variety of other technologically dated tools. Solving puzzles will test your adventure game logic, and maybe even require you to learn a bit of computer code. Here’s the game’s Steam page.
This is the Police (PC, Mac & Linux, July 28)
This is the Police lets you play as the crusty old police chief who’s always taking the hero’s badge in action movies. Part strategy, part adventure game, you’ll have to manage your staff, solve mysteries, and, of course, amass a nice, not-so-legal nest egg before you retire. If you like a good cop drama, This is the Police puts you right in the middle of the action. Here’s the game’s Steam page.
This Week in Console Downloads
Chambara (PS4, July 26)
Chambara is an arena deathmatch game, in which players try to take each other out with ninja swords and throwing stars. Sounds pretty standard right? Well, everything in the game is rendered in only two shades, so if your character is, say, white, and you’re standing in front of a white object, you’ll be invisible. Hide in plain sight and take out enemies when you least expect it! Chambara is a simple concept, but it looks like solid fun.
This Week in Retail Releases
Valentino Rossi: The Game (PC, Xbox One & PS4, July 26)
Like things that go fast? Well, Valentino Rossi: The Game should make you pretty happy. The latest official MotoGP game, Valentino Rossi lets you zip around various real-world tracks on motorcycles or rally cars, and play through the titular Rossi’s career. If you’re into motorcycle racing, give it a shot.
The doldrums continue on consoles, but there’s some interesting stuff happening on Steam. Any cool games that I missed? Feel free to shout ’em out below.