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 Puzzle Platformer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzO1-z06P70
Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power (PC, Aug. 20)
The popular Trine series returns with an all-new entry this week. As in the past, Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power is a co-op focused platformer, in which you have you use the unique powers of three different characters (a warrior, thief and wizard) to get past tricky puzzles. What’s changed is Trine 3 will feature some 3D environments (past Trine games were strictly 2D). Here’s the game’s Steam page.
This Week’s Retro Brawler
Curses ‘N Chaos (PC, Mac, PS4 & PS Vita, Aug. 18)
Curses ‘N Chaos is a good old-fashioned 2D co-op brawler with a really nice 8-bit art style reminiscent of Scott Pilgrim. There’s also crafting, magic and giant bosses. Really, what more do you need to know?
This Week’s Episodic Adventure
Tales From The Borderlands: Episode 4 – Escape Plan Bravo (PC, Mac, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3 & PS4, Aug. 18)
Warning: The above trailer may contain some Tales From The Borderlands spoilers.
Telltale’s Borderlands spin-off series returns for its second-last episode. This time around our heroes Rhys and Fiona have to break into the Hyperion moon base Helios to grab themselves that pesky Vault beacon. As always, you’re going to have to wait an extra day if you’re playing on Xbox.
This Week’s Stealth game
Volume (PC, Mac, PS4 & PS Vita, Aug. 18)
Volume is a new stealth game from the designer of ultra-minimalist classic Thomas Was Alone. Unsurprisingly Volume also has a very simple, stylized look to it. It also features the voice of Andy Serkis and lets you create your own stealth challenges. Indie stealth games are hardly a rarity, but this one looks better than most.
Pick of the Week
Shadowrun: Hong Kong (PC, Mac & Linux, Aug. 20)
No video game series has taken advantage of the crowdfunding revolution quite like Shadowrun. After the success of the Kickstarter-funded Shadowrun Returns in 2013, developer Harebrained Schemes followed up with Shadowrun: Dragonfall in 2014 and now we have Shadowrun: Hong Kong. Of course Shadowrun: Hong Kong delivers an all new setting, characters and story, but it also introduces other new features like improved graphics and sound, and a revamped inventory system. Here’s the game’s Steam page.
A low-key, but fairly solid week. Any games you’re itching to get your hands on that I failed to mention? Hit the comments and let the world know.