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 every 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 Anime Fighter
J-Stars Victory VS+ (PS3 & PS4, June 30)
Do you sometimes wish all your favorite anime characters could come together to beat the crap out of each other? Well, that’s exactly what happens in J-Stars Victory VS+. Dragon Ball, Bleach, Naruto, One Piece and many other series are represented in this overstuffed anime brawl-a-thon.
This Week’s Co-op Action Platformer
Roving Rogue (Wii U, July 2)
Roving Rogue is a new old-school action game that begins at the end. You’ve just hacked through a dangerous castle and defeated its boss, but you can’t remember exactly what you were questing after. Team up with up to three friends co-op style to escape the castle and figure out why you were there in the first place.
This Week’s Party Game
Quiplash (PC, Xbox One, PS3 & PS4, June 30)
Quiplash is a party game in the vein of classics like Balderdash or Scattergories. You’re given a question, and your fellow players, and even other players online, will vote on what the “best” answer is. If you’re feeling too lazy to dig around in the closet for an actual board game at your next family gathering, it looks like Quiplash could provide some decent lowbrow fun.
This Week’s Puzzle Game
Prismatica (PC & Mac, July 1)
Prismatica is a classic color-matching puzzle game. The twist this time around is that the colors are all on hexagonal wheels. If you need to give Tetris and Candy Crush a break, this might be a good choice. Here’s the game’s Steam page.
Pick of the Week
Red Goddess: Inner World (PC & PS4, June 30)
Red Goddess: Inner World is about a goddess who has to explore her own mind to restore her powers. In practice, Red Goddess is a classic non-linear “Metroidvania” style game, in which you can switch between three different characters (or “alternate personalities”). All in all, Red Goddess looks like a solid, nicely polished little adventure.
An all-indies week, but hey, Batman: Arkham Knight can’t come out every week. Any games you’re itching to get your hands on that I failed to mention? Hit the comments and let the world know.