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
Song of the Deep (PC, Xbox One & PS4, July 12)
Song of the Deep is a pretty major departure for Insomniac Games, the studio best-known for Ratchet & Clank and Sunset Overdrive. Rather than a sassy, heavy-hitting action game, Song of the Deep is a contemplative, Metroid-style adventure, in which you pilot a rickety submarine through a twisted underwater world.
A game that takes place entirely underwater may not be for everyone, but Song of the Deep looks and plays well, and features a charming, heartfelt story, so it’s definitely worth a peek. We’ll have a full review of Song of the Deep some time over the next couple days.
This Week on Steam
Anarcute (PC, July 12)
Feeling a little frustrated lately? Well, you can work out your aggressions with Anarcute, a game that lets you gather up a mob, start a riot and clash with security. Oh, and did I mention all your rioters are adorable little fuzzy critters? Here’s the game’s Steam page.
This Week in Handheld Gaming
7th Dragon III Code: VFD (3DS, July 12)
Well, this is definitely the wackiest Japanese title we’ve got in a while. 7th Dragon III Code: VFD is actually the fourth entry in the series, but the first to be localized and released in the west. The 7th Dragon games are fairly standard dungeon-hack RPGs, but they have some interesting classes, and a good sense of style. This game may be just the thing to get you through the slow moments up at the cabin.
Monster Hunter Generations (3DS, July 15)
And here we have the latest entry in Japan’s favorite game series. Monster Hunter Generations is pretty much par for the course – go it alone or team up with friends to hunt dinosaur-like monsters with huge, over-the-top weapons. This time around, however, expect additional special attacks, combat styles and a new class of hunters.
This Week in Retail Releases
Ghostbusters (PC, Xbox One & PS4, July 12)
Yup, in addition to the much-debated movie, there’s also a new Ghostbusters game coming out this week. The game is a standalone thing, featuring a totally new team of ‘Busters, and looks at least somewhat promising. Basically, you team with up to three friends and take down ghosties co-op style. As with any licensed game, approach with caution, but Ghostbusters could be some simple fun.
Bit of a slow week, but hey, you’re probably all obsessed with Pokémon Go anyways. Or running people over with cars. Any interesting games that I missed? Feel free to shout ’em out below.