If you’ve been paying attention to the look back of 2020, at this point it’s become pretty obvious that one title has seemed to stick out the most. While very few things really surprised at the top of the charts, Nintendo’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons went far and beyond. The franchise had always been a popular one, but New Horizons blasted off in a way few expected. Whether we’re talking about Europe or the US, the game has topped all the 2020 charts on a consistent basis. Now it seems the story is much the same in Nintendo’s homeland.

Nintendo released the top 30 downloaded Switch titles and, surprise, the top download was Animal Crossing: New Horizons. No numbers are given here, and it’s worth keeping in mind that Japan is still largely physical-driven, but it’s never bad to be number 1.

The rest of the list is largely unsurprising with the like of Super Mario 3D All-Stars, Super Mario Party, Minecraft, Among Us, etc. filling out the list. You may be a tad surprised to see Clubhouse Games so high, getting in at number 2, and then Human: Fall Flat really sticks out as somewhat random. The original Final Fantasy 7 also made it on near the end, just to show how much staying power it has had in over 20 years, and Pikmin 3 Deluxe just missed the top 10, though we do know it’s the best selling entry in the region. You can check out the full list below.

1. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
2. Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics
3. Momotaro Dentetsu: Showa, Heisei, Reiwa mo Teiban!
4. Human: Fall Flat
5. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
6. Splatoon 2
7. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
8. Super Mario 3D All-Stars
9. Minecraft
10. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
11. Pikmin 3 Deluxe
12. Overcooked 2
13. Among Us
14. Pokemon Sword
15. Together! The Battle Cats
16. Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate
17. Minecraft Dungeons
18. Ni no Kuni
19. Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin
20. NBA 2K20
21. Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX
22. eBaseball Powerful Pro Yakyuu 2020
23. Super Mario Party
24. Undertale
25. Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy – Deluxe Edition
26. Paper Mario: The Origami King
27. Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition
28. Final Fantasy 7
29. Pokemon Shield
30. Fitness Boxing

Sony has announced some new big-name exclusives that will be joining PlayStation Now in January 2020. They are Guerrilla Games’ Horizon Zero Dawn, Naughty Dog’s Uncharted: The Lost Legacy and Ghost Town Games’ Overcooked! 2. All of these titles will be available to play until April 7th 2020 (though Overcooked! 2 hasn’t been allocated a cut-off day, we can assume it’s the same date).

Each game has been critically acclaimed in its own way. Horizon Zero Dawn won praise for its combination of exploration, story-telling and combat in a vibrant and unique open world. Uncharted: The Lost Legacy took the franchise in an interesting new direction by starring Chloe and Nadine (and adding some open world elements).

Overcooked! 2, meanwhile, adds new challenges and mechanics on top of the established cooking gameplay. Couch co-op and support for up to four players online is also possible. Just try not to strange your friends when things go awry.

Those looking to play some great PS4 titles now on the service can still check out Persona 5 and Middle-Earth: Shadow of War, which are available till February 2020. There’s also Wolfenstein: The Old Blood, F1 2019 and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds which are live until March 2020.

Xbox Game Pass’ already impressive catalog of games is going to become much more exciting, considering the bevy of games in line to join the service. The first of those games, which will be coming to Game Pass over the next few days, have been confirmed by Microsoft.

On December 5, side-scrolling action shooter My Friend Pedro and Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker will join Game Pass. The next day, pinball title Demon’s Tilt and musical adventure game Wandersong will be added to the catalog. Finally, December 12 will see the release of eFootball PES 2020, Overcooked! 2, The Division (the first one), and Pathalogic 2.

That’s a pretty solid selection of games. PES 2020 is a pretty recent release too, so anyone who’s been on the fence about giving it a go now has a good reason to. Meanwhile, My Friend Pedro and Pathalogic 2 are both great games, while Overcooked! 2 is excellent if you have someone to play with.

Of course, yesterday, we also saw the release of Halo: Reach via The Master Chief Collection, which is available through Game Pass as well.

Fans of Ghost Town Games’ scrumptious co-op cooking title Overcooked 2! have some new DLC to dig into. Campfire Cook Off is out now for Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC for $5.99. It brings a new map, new kitchens, and new chefs to the table. Check out the launch trailer below.

Along with a nature-rific map full of fireflies and beautiful brooks, players will have 12 normal and 3 Kevin kitchens to play through. The new chefs include some woodsy folk, like the Owl Chef, Beaver Chef, Explorer Chef, and Bear Chef. New recipes like s’mores and blueberry pancakes, backpacks for picking up ingredients, and campfires that must be supplied with wood ensure plenty of new ways to cook.

But wait, there’s more. Overcooked 2! has also received a Season Pass for $19.99. It provides Campfire Cook Off and two additional DLC packs that will be released later this year. If you haven’t tried Overcooked! 2, it’s probably worth a look for the co-op shenanigans, especially with two other DLC – Too Many Cooks and Surf ‘n’ Turf – also available.

Team17’s Overcooked! 2 has seen its fair share of updates thus far, but developer Ghost Town Games has even more on the way. A new teaser trailer has been released, which showcases a frozen setting with chefs. The teaser promises “something free-zing”, and it will be free, of course. Check it out below.

Other than some new winter levels, it’s possible that this update also sports some new mechanics to go with new recipes. As you might remember, the developer released a bundle of new stages and chefs with the Surf ‘n’ Turf DLC back in October. It wouldn’t be strange to expect something similar here, but maybe on a smaller scale.

When the update will release is still unknown, but Overcooked! 2 does offer quite a bit to experience already. In addition to the base game, there’s a free New Game Plus mode that brings a new difficulty – Expert – to the experience. Successfully completing missions will earn players another star on this difficulty.

Ghost Town Games’ Overcooked 2 has received new content with the Surf ‘n’ Turf DLC, which went live earlier today. A new trailer has been released to showcase some of the gameplay, and as the name indicates, it’s about tropical parties and dishes. Check it out below.

Along with the return of Chef Boof from the first game, there will be other new chefs to play as as well. Two new recipes, kebabs and smoothies, are also being added, along with some new kitchens taking place on beaches and rafts. Overall, there will be 12 new story levels and two new Versus levels for players to indulge in.

Though the overall price hasn’t been revealed on Steam, Overcooked 2 veterans can expect the New Game Plus update to be available for free. Launching today as well, it will add a new Expert difficulty for an additional star. The update will also bring new features, like changing chefs in the Pause menu, level previews on the world map, and much more.

To me, the term “indie” developer is equal parts counter-culture and unfettered creative vision. However, they are not on a different level from triple-A studios – really, the only things that separate them are bigger budgets and more marketing. Just like indie games are not by virtue worse than triple-A titles because of the lack of money, so too are they not superior because of their unique ideas (which come down to proper execution at the end of the day). I’m not a fan of the “triple-A” or “indie” moniker when it comes down to great games. Because great games, at the end of the day, are great games. And 2018, for all its typical franchises, has seen a lot of great games.

"Developed by Matt Thorson and friends aka Matt Makes Games that brought us the wildly entertaining multiplayer-centric Towerfall: Ascension, Celeste turned out to be one of the biggest surprises of the year."

Let’s start with January. It was a cold, dark month, punctuated by the impending release of Monster Hunter World. For me, the month was important for two reasons – Cellar Door Games’ Full Metal Furies and Konjak’s Iconoclasts. The former, obviously, is due to the developer’s amazing Rogue Legacy. Full Metal Furies has been in development for a long time and while its beat ’em up mechanics were decent, the overall gameplay and structure felt a bit wanting. It came and went but thankfully, the same didn’t apply to Iconoclasts. This years-in-development action platformer from Joakim Sandberg culminated in a colourful adventure with a deep story, lovable characters and excellent boss fights. It’s coming to Nintendo Switch as well, making it the perfect title to have on the go.

However, between these titles and Unknown Worlds’ Subnautica finally leaving Steam Early Access amid much fanfare (rightly so given how excellently the development was handled), there was Celeste. Developed by Matt Thorson and friends aka Matt Makes Games that brought us the wildly entertaining multiplayer-centric Towerfall: Ascension, Celeste turned out to be one of the biggest surprises of the year. It overtook a number of other indie titles by coming to the Nintendo Switch at launch but otherwise, it was a great game in every aspect regardless of the platform.

Mechanically, the platforming and variety in level design was compelling, fresh and organically challenging at every turn. The music and visuals were suitably retro but embodied a surrealistic flavour that felt unmistakably contemporary. I would give the most credit to composer Lena Raine for the sheer perfection that her soundtrack serves in setting the mood but everyone who worked on the game, from the artists and programmers to Thorson as designer and director, deserves the highest praise.

Even as Monster Hunter World was setting records and stealing many players’ hearts, Celeste was already my personal Game of the Year.

"Even though there wasn’t a ton of competition, the best new indie game of February was undoubtedly Into The Breach."

Surprisingly, February felt uneventful in comparison. Aegis Defenders from GUTS Department had a certain appeal to its gameplay with the mix of tower defense and 2D platforming but ultimately remained a niche title. February was mostly the month that numerous titles like SteamWorld Dig, Owlboy, Night in the Woods, Layers of Fear: Legacy, Outlast and much more released on the Nintendo Switch. The Nindies program was starting to pick up momentum.

Meanwhile, EA’s Fe was probably the biggest new indie release of the month simply based on the EA Originals label. Was it really exceptional? Did it push any boundaries, especially after January’s cavalcade of great releases? Not really but it was a solid title from the studio behind Stick It To The Man and the upcoming Ghost Giant. Moss was the other big title, simply due to the pedigree of its developer Polyarc (whose team had worked on titles like Guild Wars 2, Halo: Reach, Red Dead Redemption and Dragon Age).

Whether it was the instantly recognizable protagonist Quill or simply being one of the best VR titles ever made, Moss ably established its presence. There was also Where The Water Tastes Like Wine that sadly was proclaimed as a commercial disaster by the developer. Nevertheless, its gorgeous art-direction and strong cast, intermixed with interactive stories, was a welcome offering. An offering that will hopefully receive more appreciation down the line.

Even though there wasn’t a ton of competition, the best new indie game of February was undoubtedly Into The Breach. FTL: Faster Than Light developer Subset Games took a semi-rogue-like approach into the turn-based strategy genre, evoking an aesthetic similar to Advance Wars with intriguing gameplay and squad possibilities. The procedurally generated nature of maps, scaling difficulty and challenge completion required for new units ensured multiple playthroughs. But it was the deceptively simple yet complex gameplay that cemented it as one of the year’s best. There was just something so sweet about knocking an enemy unit into another while their attack kills a third. The ripple effect that this would have on surrounding buildings and other enemies was also worth watching out for at all times.

"Though ultimately falling back on the “one big twist” style of story-telling and having no single-player option, A Way Out’s characterization and strong mechanics allowed it to sell exceptionally well."

The scene started picking up again with all kinds of releases in March. Evoland developer Shiro Games returned with a completely different offering in Northgard. The strategy title focused on settlement building and exploration, as players managed resources and set out to conquer the immense campaign. Despite the strong critical acclaim, Northgard didn’t get too much appreciation but saw a number of updates to extend its life.

Other standout releases that didn’t get too much attention include Ghost of A Tale, a stealth fantasy game focused on a mouse named Tilo as he explores the history of a strange, anthropomorphic inhabitated kingdom; Q.U.B.E. 2, a puzzler in first person that involves the manipulation of cubes while one navigates an immense maze to survive; and of course, Hazelight Games’ A Way Out. Published under the EA Originals label and hyped up thanks to the antics of creator Josef Fares, A Way Out imbibed the couch co-op experience with a compelling story and gameplay situations. Though ultimately falling back on the “one big twist” style of story-telling and having no single-player option, A Way Out’s characterization and strong mechanics allowed it to sell exceptionally well. It crossed 1 million units sold in just two weeks.

April started earnestly enough with Minit. The game focuses on a mystery but much like Half-Minute Hero, a limited time period is provided to accomplish solve it. In between these sixty-second lives, players gather items that are shared across different lifetimes and advance forward (ideally). Though Minit handled its concept well, it was ultimately overshadowed by Harebrained Schemes’ BattleTech and 11 bit Studios’ Frostpunk, not to mention Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice finally coming to Xbox One.

In terms of heavyweights, that’s a pretty solid list. BattleTech became quite successful and Harebrained was acquired by Paradox Interactive. The developer announced future updates and more content (the recently revealed Flashpoint is the first paid expansion). Frostpunk, meanwhile, has been releasing free updates and quality of life changes besides prepping a new scenario for release later this year. Whether it was a tactical turn-based strategy with mech-building and customization or city-management with survival elements and an aspect of humanity, PC players weren’t wanting for unique experiences in April.

"Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire, despite having a budget that could dwarf other indie titles, presented an old-school approach to computer role-playing games in the vein of Baldur’s Gate and Icewind Dale."

Of course, there was also Pizza Titan Ultra, an action platformer which featured giant mechs rampaging through cities to deliver pizzas. Why? Because of course, the mech owners ran a pizzeria! It’s crazy and bizarre but combines the over-top style of Crazy Taxi with the destructible landscape of Blast Corps. It’s nuts and yet extremely endearing.

In May, the flow of indies picked up. Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire, despite having a budget that could dwarf other indie titles, presented an old-school approach to computer role-playing games in the vein of Baldur’s Gate and Icewind Dale. The addition of piracy, ship combat and exploration made it a fun romp even if, like the first game, the writing could be less than quaint. Titles like Omensight and Wizard of Legend also rose to prominence. The former was developed by Spearhead Games of Stories: The Path of Destinies fame. It saw players reliving the same day in Urralia, attempting to solve a murder to reverse the land’s destruction. Time manipulation, hack and slash combat and the ability to influence key characters all created a unique experience (plus the art-style was pretty good looking).

Wizard of Legend took a more straightforward rogue-like approach. Players explored a fixed number of dungeons with procedurally generated elements but the real hook was developing and combining magical spells together. Combat was fast, and the number of spells and items helped provide enough variety for a few repeat playthroughs.

Then there was Moonlighter, a much-anticipated pixel-art dungeon crawler that combined the combat of Zelda with the item shop management of Recettear. While its shopkeeping elements didn’t feel as dynamic, Moonlighter still had an enjoyable loop of combat, upgrading, dungeon looting and selling that was insanely addictive. Did we also mention the art looks simply gorgeous? It’s since been updated with over a hundred new rooms, various quality of life improvements and more interesting twists to the item store.

"July belonged to two major releases – The Banner Saga 3, the climactic conclusion to Stoic’s excellent trilogy, and No Man’s Sky NEXT."

Other titles that stood out in May include City of Brass, a first person rogue-like themed on Arabian Nights where players must venture into a dangerous city for the promise of treasure; FAR: Lone Sails, a linear adventure game where players embark on a sea-faring adventure of mystery, braving hazards and attempting to keep their ship going; and Yoku’s Island Express, a charming side-scrolling platformer that incorporates pinball into its core gameplay. Seriously though, if nothing else, try out Yoku’s Island Express. It’s a ball (I know, I’m sorry).

June and July were relatively quiet, though E3 2018 saw a number of titles either announced or outright released. Unravel Two debuted at EA Play 2018 and while it wasn’t as intriguing as Sea of Solitude (which is out in 2019), the sheer charm of the first game was unique. Plus, there was co-op this time. EA further surprised us by releasing the game as soon as it was announced because…well, why not? Nintendo followed suit. It released the Switch port of Team Cherry’s acclaimed Hollow Knight during its Direct presentation. Hollow Knight has since gone on to fame and fortune, selling over 1 million copies since first launching for PC last year.

Dontnod’s Vampyr was the other big indie release for June. While it seemingly flew under the radar, only slightly buoyed by reviews that praised the story but criticized for its combat, it managed to sell 450,000 units in a manner of weeks. July’s releases were pretty straightforward – This is the Police 2 released and alienated a few fans, though its shift towards a more XCOM-style tactical game wasn’t terrible. Chasm finally released after years in development and while it wasn’t bad, it did average slightly higher than “okay”. At least its 2D art maintained its appeal after so many years.

Honestly, though, July belonged to two major releases – The Banner Saga 3, the climactic conclusion to Stoic’s excellent trilogy, and No Man’s Sky NEXT. The latter technically wasn’t a new game but a large update, overhauling a number of features, adding new ones like co-op multiplayer (and PvP for the more violent-minded folk), and significantly improving the visuals. It did mark the game’s debut for Xbox One but perhaps the most significant development was Hello Games co-founder Sean Murray finally speaking out and admitting to the numerous problems at launch. The commitment to keep improving the game, especially with weekly events, continues.

"Perhaps what impresses me most about this year thus far is how many indie titles seemingly came out of left field and proved to be compelling experiences."

We hence come to August which saw the incredible Dead Cells finally leave Steam Early Access and become a fairly big hit with critics. I’ve waxed eloquent about how brilliant the game is, nailing its core gameplay loop thanks to a striking yet organic aesthetic. And really, it’s tons of fun to kill stuff in that game. No joke.

Guacamelee! 2 wasn’t a revolutionary leap over the sequel but it’s still an excellent follow-up, celebrating Mexican culture and folklore while embodying the very best of Metroidvania gameplay. Death’s Gambit, a 2D Souls-like, also released after numerous years in development. While I personally had a few qualms with it, the combat is fun and challenging to engage with as are the boss battles. Overcooked! 2 brought a whole new meaning to hating your friends with its cooking-based missions (and that odd design choice of only the hosting player receiving progress should be fixed by now). Even Donut County, a game where you control a whole that’s swallowing things up and increasing in size, looks bizarrely fun.

Perhaps what impresses me most about this year thus far is how many indie titles seemingly came out of left field and proved to be compelling experiences. For as much hype as there was for Iconoclasts, Celeste simply came out of nowhere and became known as one of the very best games ever made. Likewise, with August coming to an end (as of this time of writing), Sabotage Studio’s The Messenger has released and proven itself to be an excellent homage to the old-school Ninja Gaiden.

Even without the direct comparison, it’s still proven to be a fantastic 2D action platformer. For The King, IronOak Games’ tabletop roguelike RPG, was also pretty good and despite leaving Early Access with very little fanfare, it’s been well-received by both critics and regular fans. The same goes for Event Horizon’s Tower of Time, a more story-centric RPG dungeon crawler with some compelling combat and decent story-telling.

"Not everyone may find success but each title has earned its place in the hearts and minds of its fans, no matter their number."

Though the Fall and Holiday seasons are known for their triple-A releases, there are a few awesome indie games to look forward to. InExile’s The Bard’s Tale 4: Barrows Deep will arrive on September 18th, introducing a new generation to the dungeon crawling, RPG excitement that permeated old-school titles. Secret of Mana-style action RPG CrossCode will also finally release, exiting Steam Early Access on September 20th, and I couldn’t be more excited about finally playing the game through from start to finish. A number of titles like This War of Mine, Hyper Light Drifter, Everspace, Beat Cop, Moonlighter and much more will also be making their way to the Nintendo Switch, which has proven to be a premier destination for indie titles. Just ask anyone still addicted to Dead Cells on the go.

Frozen Synapse 2 is also probably still coming this year. It’s really hard to say at this point.

The industry has seen its ups and downs throughout the years. Whether it’s last year’s hefty push for loot boxes and reinforcing essential gameplay elements with loot boxes, or the constant nagging about the Battle Royale genre this year, there will always be some kind of pervasive cynicism. That doesn’t mean that some great games – even those seemingly “ruined” by microtransactions – aren’t available to indulge in but that’s beside the point. Through all the twists we’ve seen the industry take, the indie development scene continues to push forward. It may not always be easy or lead to returns as exemplified by Zeboyd Games (Cosmic Star Heroine) or Infinite Fall (Night in the Woods). Some developers like Hello Games may be forever marred by their past failures. Others may be defined more by their explosive personalities than their actual work like Josef Fares.

At the end of the day, the market has proven receptive to indie games and fresh experiences in general. Not everyone may find success but each title has earned its place in the hearts and minds of its fans, no matter their number.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

Ghost Town Games’ Overcooked! 2 released last week and has had nice critical reception, despite complaints about the online connectivity and progression. The developer isn’t wrapping things up just yet though – instead, it will address issues and release New Game Plus as an additional mode.

Each of the 45 levels in Overcooked! 2 has a star rating indicating mastery, with three stars being the highest. With New Game Plus, there will be a fourth star added on. How levels will change up and what players have to do to obtain this fourth star remains to be seen. That said, publisher Team17 doesn’t have an estimated release date for the mode to announce yet.

Regardless, if you’re burning through the campaign and want more challenges, they’re coming soon. It also remains to be seen if more content will be added to the game, perhaps in the form of new chefs to unlock or additional levels. Regardless, Overcooked! 2 is currently available for Xbox One, PS4, PC, and Nintendo Switch, so pick it up if chaotic co-op action with your friends sounds like a lovely evening.

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the kitchen and broach the topic of cooking with your significant other… Ghost Town Games’ Overcooked 2 is set to arrive later today. Releasing for Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PS4, and PC, Overcooked 2 will unlock on Steam at 9 AM PST. Check out the launch trailer below.

Overcooked 2 is a fairly upbeat title, but don’t let its cute aesthetics fool you. As a co-op title, you work with friends to create various delicious dishes by managing ingredients and performing tasks (like throwing said ingredients). The game isn’t fit to make things so simple though – some restaurants will transform during cooking sessions and attempt to hinder the player.

Along with 16 chefs and nine recipes that can be used to create different dishes, Overcooked 2 contains 47 levels to conquer. If you’re not too keen on playing with a friend/loved one, Overcooked 2 can still be played solo with a new story.

Dead Cells

When Dead Cells first entered Steam Early Access in 2017, it was described as a “rogue-like Metroidvania” with procedural generation. Being wary of “Metroidvania” and “procedural generation” is understandable especially when Thunder Lotus Games’ Sundered failed to really ignite many players’ interest.

Dead Cells is an altogether different beast though, one that’s undergone phenomenal changes throughout its development. Each area has its share of explorable nooks and rooms but it’s also possible to beeline to the next area quickly. Different abilities gained throughout playthroughs can help unlock secret rooms when playing afresh.

However, the combat is a big focus, combining block timing and dodging with build crafting for absurd damage stacking. The variety of weapons to utilize, Mutators and unlockable items are pretty exceptional as well, and the art style is just plain gorgeous. It may not be to everyone’s taste but Dead Cells is worth checking out when it releases on August 7^th for Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC and PS4.

Phantom Doctrine

Phantom Doctrine from CreativeForge Games isn’t your typical XCOM-style turn-based strategy title. It’s actually set during the Cold War and sees The Cabal, a mysterious organization, working to stop a conspiracy that could spell trouble for the world’s leaders. Along with carrying out secret missions, players can send undercover operatives who will have their own traps ready when needed.

Playing out in a 40 hour plus campaign, Phantom Doctrine allows for numerous tactical options like sneaking, silent takedowns, Overwatch modes in combat and even the ability to Breach. It’s also possible to bring in allies to help during battle, though keep in mind that your enemy can do the same thing (and even call in air support). Phantom Doctrine is out on August 14th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Overcooked 2

The sequel to everyone’s favourite cooking game…if they play solo, that is. Playing with friends and/or loved ones often resulted in chaos and going to bed angry. Overcooked 2 plans to ramp that up further, allowing teams of four players to handle ingredients, cook dishes and send them to hungry customers.

Bumping into someone else isn’t the only danger this time as levels can have portals and moving floors to impede progress. That may sound tame but stages will also have transitions where players move from hot air balloons to crash-landing into sushi kitchens. Passive aggressive jokes aside, it sounds like crazy fun. Overcooked 2 is out on August 7^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Madden NFL 19

EA Sports’ Madden series has its share of fans and detractors, especially given the ups and downs in quality over the years. Madden NFL 19 is still leaning hard on the realism with “real player motions” and it’s possible to take part in touchdown celebrations, a feature which was last seen in Madden NFL 09.

Other changes include 3 vs 3 match-ups for Ultimate Team Mode, a “Solo Battles” game mode, a reward system dependent on leaderboards and your success in daily challenges, and so on. If that weren’t enough, Longshot, last year’s story-driven campaign, will receive a continuation with more NFL events tying into the actual plot this time around.

Madden NFL 19 is out August 10th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

We Happy Few

Compulsion Games’ We Happy Few has spent a long time in development. From its promising Kickstarter in June 2015 to its publishing deal with Gearbox – which raised the price and irked supporters – to the studio’s eventual acquisition by Microsoft, the journey has been long and fraught with controversy. It’s finally out on August 10^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC but does this dystopian fantasy inspired by the likes of Brazil and George Orwell’s 1984 actually hold any merit?

We Happy Few takes place in an alternate history Great Britain where the citizens of Wellington Wells face contamination as a result of an experiment. In order to survive, something terrible is done and in order to suppress memories of the same, citizens take Joy, a drug that suppresses any and all anguish. Of course, as a result, authoritarian government rules, manipulating its citizens with Joy and ostracising those who stay off the pill.

Along with Arthur Hastings, who works as a censor for the government before going off the Joy, there are two additional characters: Sally Boyle, an experimental chemist who assisted the creator of Joy, and Ollie Starkey, an explosives expert who’s been off of Joy for a long time. It’s an interesting story but will its survival mechanics, rogue-like mechanics and procedurally generated environments hold player interest? We’ll find out in the coming week.

The Walking Dead: The Final Season – Episode 1

Telltale’s The Walking Dead series is where it all began for the developer. It’s the franchise that escalated the studio into mainstream popularity and success. Even with all the years of strife and development woes, The Walking Dead is still here if only for a little while longer. That’s because the first episode of The Walking Dead: The Final Season premieres on August 14^th for Xbox One, PS4, PC and Nintendo Switch. Clementine’s journey, for better or worse, is finally coming to an end.

The first episode will see Clementine travelling with AJ, avoiding the undead. Along with taking choices from previous games into account, The Final Season will incorporate the same quick-time events that have defined the Telltale series. Given this is the last game utilizing the Telltale Tool engine, The Walking Dead: The Final Season has a lot to live up to.

World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth

If you’ve been following World of Warcraft for the past several weeks, then Blizzard’s recent squishing of stats has happened in a less than ideal fashion. The levelling process has become absurd. Enemies seemingly take forever to kill, even if you’re armed to the teeth. It’s kind of a mess, punctuated by the fact that Blizzard doesn’t know what is causing the problem.

That being said, how could any player not be excited about Battle for Azeroth? The Alliance and Horde are warring again, reflected in the game’s new 20 player PvE Warfronts and new allied races that can be recruited. Kul Tiras and Zandalar are available as new continents while a number of dungeons and a new raid are also en route. Artifact Weapons are going away but there’s the Heart of Azeroth which affects all specializations when upgraded.

Honestly, along with the increased level cap, PvP ruleset changes, island expeditions and so on, there’s quite a lot to go through. Hopefully, everything else about the game starts working before Battle for Azeroth launches on August 14^th.

F1 2018

The classic F1 racing series from Codemasters Birmingham returns for another lap with F1 2018. Developed on EGO Engine 4.0 and releasing on August 24th for a wide variety of platforms from PC, Xbox One and PS4 to iOS and Android, F1 2018 will follow the 2018 Formula One World Championship season.

That means 21 circuits, 20 drivers and 10 teams competing for supremacy. Along with an improved progression system, Codemasters also promises classic cars like the McLaren M23 and Ferrari 312T. Essentially, every classic car from F1 2017 will be returning and circuits like Circuit Paul Ricard will be featured. More free practice programs, the option to bank development points and much more are also coming. Suffice to say that if realistic F1 racing is your thing, then F1 2018 shouldn’t be missed.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2019

So Konami doesn’t have the UEFA license to fall back on this time around. That’s fine because Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 includes the Scottish Premiership and Russian Premier League as part of eight total leagues. Improved realism will be the name of the game with reworked lighting and sharper looking environments.

Fans can also look forward to a better negotiation and budget management system along with the International Champions Cup. Eleven new skill traits have also been added to allow for more unique play styles so expect to see individual player strengths have a stronger impact on games. Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 arrives on August 28^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC in North America while Europe gets it on August 30^th.

Yakuza Kiwami 2

If you’ve played any of the Yakuza games till now, then you don’t need me to sell you on Yakuza Kiwami 2. A remake of Yakuza 2 which originally launched on the PlayStation 2 in 2006, this is more of a follow-up to Yakuza Kiwami due to new gameplay features and the Dragon Engine’s revamped visuals. Kazuma Kiryu is back once again and must prevent a clan war from erupting. This time around though, it’s Dragon vs. Dragon as Kiryu battles Ryuji Goda, the “Dragon of Kansai”.

Yakuza Kiwami 2 features the same open-world environment spanning Kamurocho and Sotenbori with various side stories and improved combat. A number of new story elements have been added to help sort out the original release’s plot holes and there’s even an additional story scenario called “The Truth of Goro Majima”. In this, everyone’s favourite psychopath becomes a playable character and we explore how he left the Tojo Clan to form “Majima Construction”.

Yakuza Kiwami 2 is out on August 28^th for PlayStation 4.

Monster Hunter World PC

Monster Hunter World has been an unprecedented success for Capcom, selling 8.3 million copies since launch and providing a solid foray for the series onto consoles. Ever since the game was announced, many of us waited with bated breath for news on the PC release. It’s finally coming on August 9^th, even if there are a few hiccups along the way.

Said hiccups include the lack of post-launch monsters like Deviljho, Lunastra and Behemoth. Furthermore, reports indicate that crashing is an issue that PC players are dealing with, though Capcom has promised a fix. That being said, Monster Hunter World on PC looks gorgeous. For new players, it offers a taste of the hunting gameplay that handheld players have been raving about for years. For current players, it means 1080p resolution and 60 FPS gameplay. Regardless, it’s worth checking out on PC.

Death’s Gambit

The Dark Souls aesthetic is strong with Death’s Gambit. The pixel-art style is gritty and brutal as players control a servant of Death who must investigate Siradon, battling various guardians along the way. Along with an enormous 2D world to explore, Death’s Gambit features numerous, towering bosses and seven playable classes along with more than 10 weapon types. To offer a further challenge, players can battle bosses again in Heroic Mode or embark on a New Game Plus playthrough.

While the non-linear exploration and punishing nature of the combat may evoke From Software’s best, Death’s Gambit is decidedly more of an action platformer. Execute enemies with finesse and speed or plan encounters carefully, choosing talents from a skill tree and doing your best to survive. Death’s Gambit is out on August 14^th for PS4 and PC.

Shenmue 1 and 2 HD

At this stage, Shenmue 1 and 2 don’t really need any introduction. Created by Yu Suzuki, the man behind Virtua Fighter, both games follow Ryo Hazuki on his quest to avenge his father’s murder. Travelling from Japan to Hong Kong, Ryo will confront various characters, both friendly and hostile, en route to finding the mysterious Lan Di.

Though it may not seem like much according to today’s standards, Shenmue was ground-breaking in its depiction of NPCs with schedules and a realistic world full of small details. Its usage of quick-time events was unparalleled at the time in the industry along with its stellar production values. The remastered ports of Shenmue 1 and 2 will feature improved visuals, new control options, better user interfaces and – at long last – an option between English and Japanese voices. They’re out on August 21^st for Xbox One, PC and PS4.

Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate

Imagine a Monster Hunter title where you can’t move while healing, Scoutflies don’t exist, the aesthetic is more heavily anime-like and gathering resources is a thing you have to go out and do. Doesn’t sound like much fun, right? Wrong. Despite not having a number of quality-of-life changes seen in Monster Hunter World, Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate is still one of the most content-rich titles in the franchise. It’s also tons of fun.

As the “definitive” package for Monster Hunter Generations, Generations Ultimate packs over 60 large monsters to fight. That means tons of armour and weapons to craft and the beauty of Generations Ultimate is that you can pretty much use whatever you feel like. Hunting Arts and Styles imbue special abilities into each of the 14 weapon types, changing things up for veterans.

And of course, there are the Deviant Monsters, G-Rank quests and Charm farming to embrace. Did we mention playing as Felynes? Because that’s also a thing. Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate arrives on August 28^th for Nintendo Switch.

Strange Brigade

Better known for its Sniper Elite series, Rebellion Developments’ Strange Brigade is…different. As a co-op third-person shooter, players control the Strange Brigade, a cavalcade of Secret Service operatives who travel to Sahara Africa to take down Seteki the Witch Queen after an archaeologist accidentally releases her spirit.

Styled with 1930s aesthetics, mythical beings like mummies and minotaurs will oppose players. Each of the four playable characters offers different abilities and weapons along with an upgrade system for further killing potential. Traps, branching levels, puzzles and much more will be available during escapades, and it’s also possible to unlock Amulet Powers to even the odds.

Strange Brigade is out on August 28^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.