Every week, it feels like there’s more games for more platforms than ever. So, each week, we pick five games worth your time and money. And today we start with Mario stepping outside his comfort zone, both in who he’s teaming up with and what he’s up to.
Pick Of The Week: Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, Today ($60, Nintendo Switch)
Ignore both the beloved plumber and Minions-meet-Beavis-and-Butthead antics of the Rabbids. Nintendo and Ubisoft are out to bring turn-based strategy to everyone and, from the early word coming in, it works. Which we suppose makes a degree of sense: After all, if Mario can be in an awesome RPG with turn-based combat, why not a strategy game?
If you’re looking to introduce a friend, or a kid, to the genre, this looks to be a good start.
Absolver, Today ($30, PS4, Xbox One and PC)
Absolver is an interesting mix of card game, MMO, and fighting game. As you can see, the hand-to-hand is a core component of the game, but how you fight, and what you fight with, is determined by cards and loot drops from foes you defeat. As you find new cards, you can build out a custom fighting style and sets of moves that allow you to take on new opponents. The intersection of card-based mechanics and a complex fighting system, with different stances dictating different moves, is an interesting one, and we’re excited to see how it plays out.
Pillars of Eternity: Complete Edition, Today ($50, PS4 and Xbox One)
If you missed out on the welcome return of the isometric RPG from Obsidian, you’re getting a second chance. The game, which has a dark-ish fantasy setting and builds off the Baldur’s Gate franchise, follows your hero as he tries to figure out why babies are being born without souls. One of the games that launched a Kickstarter obsession, this is a really great RPG to get lost in, and a surprising amount of fun despite the dark setting.
Redout, Today ($40, PS4 and Xbox One)
If you have a fondness for an era when racing games were all about speedy spaceships and twisty tracks whipping by at warp speed, Redout brings it back and then some, feeling in particular like its namesake Wipeout. Hey, who doesn’t like violating the laws of space and time entirely for the purpose of sporting events?
Obduction, Today ($30, PS4)
Finally, speaking of throwbacks, the Miller brothers, creators of Myst, have returned with a new adventure game, taking place in what amounts to a bizarre collection of items. Your job is to figure out how to get back to your reality, but as you might have guessed, that’s a bit harder than it looks.
Any games we missed? Let us know in the comments!