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
I Am Setsuna (PC & PS4, July 19)
Feeling nostalgic for the classic JRPGs of the 1990s? Well, you should keep an eye on I Am Setsuna. Deliberately designed to feel like a long-lost SNES RPG, Setsuna features an Active Time Battle system and other mechanics reminiscent of fan-favorites like Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy VI.
Aside from the nostalgic angle, I Am Setsuna is an artistic and aural treat, featuring a simple, but stylish watercolor visual style, and a moving soundtrack. Summer is the perfect time to dig your teeth into a good RPG, and I Am Setsuna looks like a very solid choice.
This Week on Steam
Superfight (PC, July 21)
Superfight attempts to make Internet arguments fun. Basically, you and your opponents create superheroes by picking random cards – so, for instance, you might get a sumo wrestler, on skis, wielding a skunk on a stick. You then have to argue why your hero is the best. These arguments are streamed live on Twitch, and the viewers will vote on who makes the most convincing/hilarious argument. It’s an innovative idea, I’ll give ’em that. Here’s the game’s Steam page.
Death Road to Canada (PC, Mac & Linux, July 22)
Death Road to Canada is a randomly generated road trip simulator, that tasks you making it to The Great White North with a car full of jerks and malcontents. Oh, and did I mention you’re also in the midst of a zombie apocalypse? Don’t let Death Road to Canada‘s cute art style fool you, it actually looks to be a fairly solid, deep action-survival game. Here’s the game’s Steam page.
This Week in Console Downloads
Knot (Playstation Store, July 19)
Hey, do you like Chinese wooden knots? You know, those wooden block puzzles your grandparents always have sitting on their coffee table? Well, now you can fiddle with these age-old puzzles without all the clutter, thanks to Knot. The game’s pretty straightforward, but if you like brainteasers, Knot is worth a shot.
This Week in Virtual Reality
The Assembly (PC, Oculus & HTC Vive, July 19)
The Assembly is a different take on virtual reality. Rather than focus on action or adventure, you play as two different characters who work for a rather shady corporation. Investigate your workplace, make tough decisions and deal with the consequences. VR is supposed to make gaming feel more real, but The Assembly is one of the few VR games to tackle real-world settings and concerns. Here’s the game’s Steam page.
Another slow-ish week, but hey, I’m sure you’re all still playing Pokemon Go. Any interesting games that I missed? Feel free to shout ’em out below.