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 Dungeon Hacking Puzzle Game
Puzzle & Dragons Z + Super Mario Bros. Edition (3DS, May 22)
Well, here’s the current front-runner for most cumbersome video game title of the year. Puzzle & Dragons combines match-three puzzling with dungeon crawling. Think of a somewhat more in-depth Puzzle Quest. The series is hugely popular on mobile devices in Japan, and Nintendo is now bringing Puzzle & Dragons to The West in traditional boxed form. In this package you get Puzzle & Dragons Z, a more traditional entry in the series, and Super Mario-themed version of the game.
This Week’s Episodic Adventure Game
Life is Strange: Episode 3 – Chaos Theory (PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3 & PS4, May 19)
Warning: The above trailer contains some spoilers for Episodes 1 and 2 of Life is Strange.
The latest episode of the Telltale-esque Life is Strange arrives this week. It should deliver more teenage drama and mystery. Hopefully this is also the episode where the game’s time-travel mechanic is really explored and put to good use.
This Week’s Housekeeping War Game
Sunset (PC, Mac & Linux, May 21)
Sunset is a fascinating-looking new “war game” that contains no combat whatsoever. Instead, you play as a maid hired to clean a wealthy person’s apartment. A civil war is raging outside, and you see events unfold through the apartment’s panoramic windows day by day. The owner of the apartment also has something to do with the war, and you eventually get drawn into things, even though you’re only supposed to be mopping the floor. If you’ve enjoyed games like Papers, Please this looks like another interesting entry in the emerging “play as a regular person in a troubled place/time” genre. Here’s the game’s Steam page.
This Week’s Side-Scrolling Strategy Game
Swords & Soldiers II (Wii U, May 21)
Swords & Soldiers II is a wacky, side-scrolling real time strategy game. Mine resources then send your vikings, Persians and/or demons (depending on the faction you’re playing as) across the 2D landscape to wreak havoc and destruction. Swords & Soldiers is easier to get into than most strategy titles, but there’s some real depth to be found once you dig into these games.
Pick of the Week
The Witcher III: Wild Hunt (PC, Xbox One & PS4, May 19)
Possibly the biggest RPG of the year finally arrives! The Witcher III: Wild Hunt is massive, looks totally gorgeous and should deliver all the head-lopping, wench-bedding action you’ve come to expect from the series. The game is picking up some excellent reviews so far, so get ready to surrender your summer.
A bewitchingly good week! Any games you’re itching to get your hands on that I failed to mention? Hit the comments and let the world know.