Five Games: ‘Xenoblade Chronicles 3D’ And Everything Else You Need To Play This Week

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 ever 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 Roguelike RPG

Etrian Mystery Dungeon (3DS, April 7)

Like your RPGs as hardcore as possible? Is even Dark Souls too accessible for you? Well, Etrian Mystery Dungeon is a mash-up of the balls-hard Etrian Odyssey dungeon-mapping series and the also balls-hard Mystery Dungeon roguelikes. Prepare to die. A lot.

This Week’s Indie Adventure Game

Dead Synchronicity: Tomorrow Comes Today (PC, Mac & Linux, April 10)

Dead Synchronicity is a new dark, dystopian adventure game. You play as Michael, a guy looking to rediscover his past in a world beset with natural disasters and disease. Michael won’t have long to figure things out, though, because time itself may be breaking down. Here’s the game Steam page.

This Week’s Space Piloting Sim

Affordable Space Adventures (Wii U, April 9)

Affordable Space Adventures basically turns your Wii U GamePad into one of those control panels from Star Trek. Use the GamePad to manage your spaceship’s functions as you explore dangerous environments. The game doesn’t just make innovative use of the Wii U’s features, it also has a pretty impressive, atmospheric art style. Definitely something worth checking out if you’re a Wii U owner.

This Week’s Space Strategy Game

StarDrive 2 (PC, Mac & Linux, April 9)

StarDrive 2 is a new turn-based space strategy game in the vein of Master of Orion or Galactic Civilizations. Considering that StarDrive 2 was developed by a single, very dedicated person, it looks pretty slick and feature rich. Here’s the game’s Steam page.

Pick of the Week

Xenoblade Chronicles 3D (New 3DS, April 9)

Yes, this is a remake/port, but I’ll never pass up the opportunity to praise Xenoblade Chronicles. The game basically mashes together the style and storytelling of Japanese RPGs with the world-building of western RPGs, and it’s pretty fantastic. Note, this is the first game to be exclusive to the New 3DS. If you only have a regular 3DS or 3DS XL (or, God forbid, a 2DS), you won’t be able to play Xenoblade Chronicles 3D.

An unexpectedly good week for Nintendo platforms. Any games you’re itching to get your hands on that I failed to mention? Hit the comments and let the world know.

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