8 Games Worth Checking out in May 2022

The biggest games of the year are seemingly behind us. The Summer of Gaming nears, promising numerous reveals and announcements. Then there’s the looming Autumn/Winter seasons with their major triple-A releases and bombshells. What’s there to look forward to in the months before? As it turns out, quite a lot. Let’s take a look at 8noteworthy games releasing in May 2022.

Trek to Yomi

Flying Wild Hog’s side-scrolling hack and slash title takes clear inspiration from the works of Akira Kurosawa. It focuses on Hiroki who embarks on a mission of revenge against those who destroyed his village. Light and heavy attacks are your bread and butter in combat but combined with directional inputs, it’s possible to execute thrusting attacks or slice enemies that are behind you. Of course you can also use a bow and arrows, bo-shurikens and environmental hazards to slay foes. With four different endings, a Cinematic mode with a lower difficulty and a tougher One-Hit Kill mode, Trek to Yomi caters to a wide variety of players. It’s out on May 5^th for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC and PS5.

Source of Madness

Roguelites have come and gone, some better than others. Then you have Source of Madness, a side-scrolling roguelite with Lovecraftian horrors born of procedural generation and powered by neural network AI. As a magic user, you venture through the Loam Lands and the Tower of Madness, battling these horrors with different skills and spells. Multiple classes and loot help keep things fresh while the art-style provides a surreal landscape to explore. Source of Madness is currently in early access on Steam but will launch on May 11^th for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.

Flippin Kaktus

Flippin Kaktus is a side-scrolling action platformer that embodies that 80s punk aesthetic. After Kaktus, who happens to be a living cactus, has his home raided by the cartel and his foster family abducted, he embarks on a journey for vengeance. There are a surprising number of ways to approach combat, either using traps and the environment or relying on the power of rage (with some decent armor and dodging). With 11 locations and hand-crafted levels, not to mention the spirit of pulpy VHS action films, Flippin Kaktus promises a rollicking good time when it releases for PC, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox and PlayStation platforms on May 12^th.

Evil Dead: The Game

The Deadites just never know when to quit, but thankfully, neither does Ash Williams. Evil Dead: The Game sees Ash teaming up with characters from across the franchise in a PvEvP game of survival. Up to four players team together, each choosing a character from four different classes with unique abilities. Explore different maps and acquire more than 25 different weapons like the classic boomstick and chainsaw.

Meanwhile, a single player chooses one of three demons – the Warlord, Puppeteer and Necromancer – to slay the Survivors. This can be done by possessing Deadites, spawning powerful enemies, and controlling environmental objects (including cars and trees). The asymmetrical multiplayer genre has had more lows than highs over the years but maybe Evil Dead: The Game ends up being groovy. We’ll find out when it releases on May 13^th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC (via the Epic Games Store).

Deliver Us The Moon (Xbox Series X/S, PS5)

Deliver Us The Moon first released in 2018 for PC and after launching for Xbox One and PS4 last year, it’s getting an Xbox Series X/S and PS5 upgrade at last (that too for free). Set in the near future where Earth’s natural resources have been depleted, you play as an astronaut who must investigate a lunar colony with vital energy reserves after it goes dark. It’s a suspense thriller with puzzles, anti-gravity sections and even vehicles to control.

The current-gen versions will benefit from 4K support, ray traced shadows and reflections, and faster loading times. There’s even support for the DualSense’s adaptive triggers and speakers. If a creepy vacation in space sounds nice, then it’s worth checking out Deliver Us The Moon when it releases on May 19^th for Xbox Series X/S and PS5.

Sniper Elite 5

Rebellion’s definitive sniping experience returns with a brand new instalment. It sees protagonist Karl Fairburne venturing to dismantle the Nazis’ mysterious Project Kraken. Maps are larger than ever with multiple points of infiltration and traversal tools like ziplines, though a fair bit of platforming may also be necessary. Along with a campaign and multiplayer support for up to 16 players, there’s the new Invasion Mode where players can invade others’ games and hunt them. Of course, if you want to co-op the campaign with a friend, that’s also possible. Launching on May 26th, Sniper Elite 5 will be available for PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising

If the wait for Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, a Suikoden spiritual successor from the original creators, is too long, then Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising may help. As a prequel set in the same world, the story sees CJ, Garoo and Isha all exploring the Runebarrows that have emerged beneath New Nevaeh for their own reasons. The 2.5D side-scrolling action RPG lets players switch between each character, performing Link Attacks in combat. Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising releases on May 10^th for PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, PS5 and Nintendo Switch.

My Time at Sandrock

Pathea Games’ My Time at Portia offered a nice little Harvest Moon-style adventure but faced its share of performance issues at launch. However, it received enough support to become a fun little life sim while paving the way for the sequel, My Time at Sandrock. Entering early access for PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store on May 26th, it takes place in a “wholesome” (their words, not ours), post-apocalyptic world where most modern technology has been destroyed.

You venture to Sandrock as the newest Builder and do everything necessary to fix it up. Gather materials, process them in your workshop, create structures and other unique items while handling various requests. Improvements to combat along with new weapons and mechanics are also promised. During open beta, players have access to some of the story’s first Act, though the exact range of content hasn’t been detailed. My Time at Sandrock will be in early access for a year and release for PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S down the line.

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