A lot of great games came out last year. It was easy to get caught up in the hype of some, while others got left in the proverbial dust. Here's a list of eleven games that deserve your attention. Each keeps the player on the edge of their seat with mystery, horror, and the uncertainty that comes from fighting for survival, players have found themselves fully immersed in strangely addicting games.
11. Shadowrun: Hong Kong
Decide which unsavory characters you'll need to work with and who you'll turn away.
Raymond, your foster father, makes a desperate call to meet in Hong Kong but doesn't show up. A cutscene shows men entering his shop and the sound of gunfire. You must travel through underground Hong Kong with your childhood friend and orc foster brother, an orc rat shaman, and a dwarf decker to discover what's happened to him. The soundtrack is haunting, adding to the game's mystery as well as complimenting a visually stunning background. This is the third game in the Shadowrun series, but the first that connects the player character to their teammates. Fans showed their love for the series when the kickstarter for the Shadowrun: Hong Kong Extended Edition not only met its goal in a few hours, but the project earned over a million dollars.
An old cyberpunk story with a refreshing twist.
10. Helldivers
Enjoy squashing some bugs with your friends.
From the creators of Magicka, Helldivers is a cooperative top down shooter where you must work to save Super Earth from its enemies in an intergalactic war. Up to four people can play together locally. There's an online co-op mode as well. But beware, enemy fire isn't the only thing that can hurt. An unlucky shot from a friend can take you down as well. The levels are procedurally generated and missions are nonlinear, creating a large universe that you get to explore at your own pace.
Try not to get squished yourself.
9. Prison Architect
Build your ideal prison, reform your prisoners or rule over them with an iron fist. Carefully deal with informants, keep your cool when dealing with contraband, gang warfare, full scale riots or worse. While realism may be thrown out the window, there is a complex system in place as you micromanage everything needed for a prison to run smoothly.
Keep things peaceful as long as you can!
8. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
No adventure is complete without a menacing stare.
MGSV: The Phantom Pain takes place nine years after MGSV: Ground Zereos and continues the story in 1984 where the Cold War continues to be a backdrop. It's the fourth installment in the MGSV series. The sprawling story of the MGS games is placed in the background, with emphasis placed on gameplay and building Big Boss's reputation. As a title that has been consistently popular since its initial release in the 80's, MGSV: The Phantom Pain is an immersive experience that will leave a definitive mark on the game industry.
Animal companion, best companion.
7. Dying Light
Play as Kyle Crane, roaming a devastated urban environment using any means available to survive another day. Zombies that are already dangerous during the day become more aggressive at night, so find a safe zone and a place to rest before night falls. Or become the hunted when Volatiles, fast moving and nearly indestructible, come out. The parkour feature does more than look cool and allow players to move around in a new way, successfully landing a jump at night can gain extra experience. The crafting system allows you to make the most efficient weapon for your play style. In February, Dying Light: The Following released and took an already great game to new heights.
Low chance of sucess? Let's do this!
6. Mad Max
Playing as Max, you'll find yourself as a reluctant hero who only wants to leave the chaos around him behind. Survive treacherous missions to retrieve Max's stolen interceptor from Scrotus after he runs out of gas, a death sentence when vicious bandits are circling. Vehicle combat makes the time searching and crafting this perfect weapon, the Magnum Opus, worth it. There are three vehicles you can use for this purpose; Shovel Face, Furnace, and the Ripper. Through the use of a harpoon gun and a thunderpoon that shoots flaming projectiles, getting rid of a mass of enemies is satisfying. With plenty of explosions.
Mistakes were made.
5. Fallout 4
Fallout 4's official lauch trailer shows you a glimpse at what the world has become.
Well, doesn't this look cheery?
You are the lone survivor of Vault 111 in Bethesda's highly awaited sequel, Fallout 4. You're fighting not just for your survival but the fate of everyone who lives in the post apocalyptic Wasteland; all that's left of a Boston that's been ruined by nuclear war. There are hundreds of locations, characters, and side quests that you can take on alone or join various warring factions throughout the world to complete. Any lootable items are able to be turned into food, weapons, and chemicals through the extensive crafting systems. And for anyone who still can't get enough of the Fallout World, Bethesda has just released the Fall Harbor DLC.
Brave enough to take him on?
4. Wolfenstein: The Old Blood
The official launch trailer. Shows gameplay from The Old Blood.
The first person view allows you to see all the gory details.
You play as B.J. Blazkowicz in an alternate 1946 to stop a Nazi archeologist from summoning a long hidden, dark power. Throughout each level you will find all new Nazi inspired weapons for high stakes action. There is also the satisfaction that comes when you successfully pull off a stealth takedown from shadows. Prepare yourself for hordes of hulk-sized super soldiers, drones, shock troops, and nightmarish creations. Rich levels await, rural towns and ghostly catacombs. And of course, The Old Blood would be incomplete without the iconic Wolfenstein Castle.
The Old Blood introduces the all purpose pipe. For wall climbing...and other things.
3. Rebel Galaxy
Rebel Galaxy is a trading and action packed combat simulation game where you'll "negotiate" with outlandish space creatures. You can follow the game's main story or strike out as a trader, miner, bounty hunter, or even a pirate. Regardless of which path you take, combat is unavoidable and near constant but armor strength is not shown through numbers and you won't know that you've made a bad decision until your hull is breached. This means a lot of grinding and multiple runs of the same missions, but it's worth it in the end. Players can pull off moves like using boosts to aim cannons at weak points in enemy shots which leads to a nice explosion. And hopefully a victory.
Make the effort to mine it yourself, or take it from someone else?
2. Warhammer: End Times Vermintide
In Warhammer's newest installment the end of the world is coming, with giant rats. You and friends play as a mismatched band of heroes who set out to save the town of Ubersreik from this rodent apocalypse. Vermintide's setting in a fantasy universe along with a heavy focus on melee combat and gear upgrades gives it a unique character despite its similarities to Left for Dead. Battles are typically short but brutal, with Skaven pouring out of the walls, which makes for bloody excitement that will keep you hooked for hours.
Ridiculously photogenic soldier
1. Soma
I'm not crying. The screen's misty.
You play as Simon who awakens in a PATHOS-2 facility as he chased by mechanical monsters and faced with impactful moral dilemmas; many of the robots have the delusion of humanity. You have the option to decide what happens to these robots. Anyone who's played the Amnesia or Penumbra series will be familiar with Soma's mechanics; click an object and then push the mouse to open a door, pull back to interact with any of the levers you'll come across. There's a heavy focus on story but it's slowly fed to players. With little information and no weapons it's up to your own ingenuity to escape.
Those souless eyes can make anyone pause.
These games will put you in the mindsets of heroes and rebels. To save the world or serve your own needs. Though they might've been overlooked, Triple-A Games and Indie titles shine side by side. Go check these out and have fun gaming.
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