Platform: PlayStation 4
I didn’t know what to expect and I suggest you go in blind too. Unique, heartfelt and wildly compelling, this story and the way it is told is nothing short of a masterpiece.
A multiplayer fighting-game often confused with a soulslike. While you can feel its influence, this is at heart a masterfully crafted fighting-game with a great aesthetic and tonnes of depth.
Utterly brilliant. Takes everything it learned in its predecessor and does it much better. The concepts driving this game are so ingenious and well executed, I cannot recommend it highly enough.
A 3D puzzle platformer that is best, if not exclusively enjoyed with friends. Emergent moments borne of the physics can be rewarding but mainly just hilarious.
To be clear, this is a very good game. I couldn’t get into it, however. The design is clever and ‘endings’ very cool. But the setting, characters, movement & navigation frustrated me to a distracting degree.
As with a lot of soulslikes; The Surge has a few respectable and cool ideas for ideation on the genre, but ultimately falls flat - repetitive enemies & environments, and a not-very-engaging story.
While it’s not “the Dark Souls of platformers” (because that’s stupid), it is quite challenging and famously gorgeous. This is a true labor of love and is absolutely more than the sum of its parts.
This is a very special game. It’s beautiful and ugly, heartfelt and heart-wrenching. Hands-down the best take on psychosis in videogames (with no real comparison), best experienced with headphones.
RUINER is a brutal action shooter with an insanely cool aesthetic, great music and engaging characters. Controls can be a bit frustrating on gamepads.
Pyre is not for everyone, but the Supergiant hallmarks of amazing worldbuilding, dialog, art direction and interesting mechanics are all here. This is their most different game, but no less brilliant.