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 Toys to Life Game
Skylanders: SuperChargers (Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4, Wii & Wii U, Sept. 20)
Looking to do some early Christmas shopping for the youngsters in your life? Well, the latest Skylanders game hits this week. This time around, in addition to the regular Skylanders figurines, there’s also new vehicles you can scan in. Basically, Skylanders: SuperChargers is a kid-friendly Grand Theft Auto, so Activision’s money machine isn’t going to stop printing any time soon.
This Week’s Sports Game
FIFA 16 (Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3 & PS4, Sept. 22)
Last week saw the release of Pro Evolution Soccer 2016, and now this week we get EA’s version of the beautiful game, FIFA 16. This year sees the usual handful of new features, although the big one is the addition of female players and teams, something PES 2016 doesn’t have.
This Week’s Interior Designing Game
Animal Crossing Happy Home Designer (3DS, Sept. 25)
Hey, do you like arranging your furniture in your house in the Animal Crossing games? Well, Nintendo’s now made a game all about that. In Animal Cross Happy Home Designer you’re a professional interior decorator, who has to design homes according to their owner’s specifications. The game also interacts with new Amiibo cards. Scan in a card to get a new character you can design for, or invite to houses you’ve already designed. Interior design sure isn’t my forte, but there’s gotta be a few budding Martha Stewarts out there, right?
This Week’s Wacky Sports Game
Blood Bowl II (PC, Xbox One & PS4, Sept. 15)
Not interested in the flood of realistic sports games that hit the shelves this time of year? Looking for something a little wackier? Well, Blood Bowl II, a descendant of violent ’90s arcade sports games set loosely in the Warhammer universe, might be for you. Blood Bowl II can be played action style, or as a turn-based strategy game, so even those who are terrible at sports games can get in on the fun.
Pick of the Week
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge1XCuxg6nc
SOMA (PC & PS4, Sept. 22)
SOMA is the new survival horror experience from Frictional Games, the makers of the Penumbra and Amensia series. So yeah, keep an extra pair of pants on hand. In SOMA, you play as somebody trapped aboard an undersea research facility in which the machinery and computers have gone haywire, taking on human-like characteristics and killing the actual humans on board. Looks kind of BioShock-like, except actually scary.
An interesting mixed bag of stuff this week. Any games you’re itching to get your hands on that I failed to mention? Hit the comments and let the world know.