Hitman 3
Release Date: Jan. 20, 2021
What is it?
Hitman is a sandbox-style stealth-based assassination game. You are given a target or two, a gigantic level, and are left to figure it out for yourself.
Why do I like it?
I’ve enjoyed my time with all three of these games now since the reboot. The gameplay is satisfying, levels are incredibly detailed and replayable, there is a fun progression system to encourage you to go back to replay the levels, and the game has a fun self-aware sense of humor that is very enjoyable and hits way more often than it misses.
Hitman 3 builds on these core features that were established in the first two games of this rebooted series. More levels, updated mechanics, better support next-gen hardware, with HDR and higher framerates. Hitman 3 also has a killer feature that allows you to import the campaigns and levels in from the previous 2 Hitman games into this new one, with all of the new updated features from the next-gen title. This effectively makes Hitman 3 the de-facto Hitman game, a complete collection and ties a nice bow on a very complete package.
Dishono(u)red 2
Release Date: Nov. 11, 2016
What is it?
Dishonored 2 is a stealth-based sandbox game (stop me if this sounds familiar). A few key differences between this and Hitman 3 being this game is more linear, and each level is less of a ‘dollhouse’ than the equivalent levels in Hitman. Also, you get creative magical abilities vs. the more grounded list of verbs you get in Hitman.
Why do I like it?
The game is gorgeous with a very striking and unique art style. The stealth is fun, but this isn’t a game where you need to make the perfect run and never get seen by anyone. You have more than enough combat options to escape from all kinds of situations, which is where the game shines. You can use your powers in creative combinations to turn the odds against multiple enemies, escape, take a few out and reset on another part of the level and continue your stealthy hunt from there.
The level design is incredible, with a pair of stand out levels that are pretty much unmatched to anything I’ve seen. (Although similar to a pair of levels that were in Titanfall 2, which is interesting). There’s a lot of replayability here as well, with many ways to make your way through the environments and two separate main characters with distinct powers to make an entire second playthrough of the story fresh and unique.
Art of Rally
Release Date: Sep. 23, 2021
What is it?
Art of Rally is a dirt based racing game but with a cartoony art style and and overhead perspective. It might fool you with the cartoony graphics, but its a simulation-based racing game through and through. You need to know how to handle a (virtual) car around a point-to-point dirt track to have any fun with this one.
Why do I like it?
I do know how to handle a (virtual) car around a point-to-point dirt track, and so I am having a lot of fun with this one. It looks beautiful, and is a fresh take on a relatively straight-forward genre. While it is more simulation than arcade, you can play it with a controller and its short-ish tracks made this game a lot more consumable for my new parent lifestyle than the longer time requirements of grinding events in Dirt Rally for example. It has some fun free-roam and daily run mechanics, it’s incredibly pretty (especially with the different time/weather conditions) and is just a lot of bite-sized fun all around.
It Takes Two
Release Date: Mar. 26, 2021
What is it?
A co-op only platforming game about divorce.
Why do I like it?
It’s very pretty to look at on new hardware, has good to great writing, including some funny moments throughout. The level design is creative and fun, the voice acting is likeable and endearing. The best feature of It Takes Two though is its pacing and ability to keep throwing new mechanics at you through the entire 12-15 hour experience. No section you are playing lasts more than a half hour or so, then its on to a new world, a new “action” button for each player and new ways to use those new mechanics co-operatively to figure out how to use together with your partner. It keeps the game fresh constantly and so it becomes a fun game to come back to for an hour or two here or there.
If you have someone in your life to sit on a couch with and play a co-op game, I can’t recommend this enough. A great game as well to play with someone who isn’t necessarily an experienced game player.
Quake (Remaster)
Release Date: Aug. 19 2021
What is it?
Quake is a first person shooter that originally came out in 1996. It has strange eldritch horror theme, but has a surprisingly modern playstyle that’s only been made a little more modern by this remaster that was released this year.
Why do I like it?
I like shooters. I’ve realized now that they have become my “comfort food” of games. I play a variety of them, from state of the art competitive multiplayer games to retro (styled) “boomer shooters” and lots in between. The first ones I really remember getting into were Unreal Tournament and Duke Nukem 3D. I’m realizing now how much better Quake is than those.
There’s something very fun to me about discovering where the great ideas of modern games initially came from, and what they have expanded on. Unfortunately, for me anyway, it’s not always easy to go back to super old 1996 graphics and old control conventions that just don’t make sense anymore. So I really appreciate when an old game feels new and plays great. Sure it doesn’t have INCREDIBLE textures and the enemy variety is a little slim, but it runs at 900 fps and its fast and this new remaster has upgraded lighting and it runs at whatever native resolution you want it to. Perfection.
The soundtrack was made by Nine Inch Nails, and its ambient and creepy. The guns are THE archetype guns, but this is where they came from, so it makes sense. Rocket Launcher, nailgun, shotgun, lightning gun etc. You can probably guess the rest of them. You can strafe jump. I LOVE to strafe jump. You can hunt around for secrets and alternative level exits. They’ve included brand new level packs that push the old engine with things that wouldn’t have ran properly on your old DOS machine. I really don’t know what more you can ask for.
Psychonauts 2
Release Date: Aug. 25, 2021
What is it?
Psychonauts 2 is a 3D platformer with a massively charming story, loveable characters. It has incredible, unique level design, and has interesting and respectful things to say about mental health issues. In case you are wondering, I don’t think its necessary to play the original one to enjoy this one, the story fills you in where it needs to and is otherwise self sustaining. I’m sure there’s callbacks and whatnot, but this one stands on its own just fine.
Why do I like it?
Honestly, for most of the reasons already stated above. It’s charming. It’s optimistic. The main character, Raz, is a 14 year old comic book nerd essentially getting to join ranks with his favourite childhood heroes, and his childlike awe and curiosity comes off so well and is such stark contrast to the typical super-cool or jaded main characters in other games.
The other piece worth calling out is the incredible art direction and level design. Each takes place inside of a character’s mind, and is composed of their thoughts and feelings and emotional baggage. They vary so much between themselves and you really just have to see it for yourself. Easily some of the best I’ve ever seen by far.
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
Release Date: Aug. 8, 2017
What is it?
Hellblade is a third-person story driven puzzle solving game. It’s unique in that it deals in themes of mental illness, and is fairly subdued in general. Kind of a “walking simulator” type game but with some combat and spatial puzzle solving.
Why do I like it?
It’s very beautiful, and incredibly immersive. When the game boots up it recommends you play it with headphones on, and you absolutely should. The sound design is incredible and a large part of what makes the game special. The setting and Norse mythology story are dark and intriguing, and had me on a couple of occasions reading wiki’s about Norse lore just to see if was just as fucked up in real life as it was depicted in the game. (it was).
I really have a lot appreciation for these small 10-ish hour games that tackle themes of mental health with respect and accuracy and delicacy. The developers did some interviews when the game first came out about how they wanted to represent a character with psychosis not only accurately, but also not in a dismissive way.
The Binding of Isaac: Repentance
Release Date: Nov. 4, 2021
What is it?
A new DLC expansion pack for my favourite roguelike game, The Binding of Isaac. It has basically double the items, characters, enemies, and floors as the game currently had up till now (including the 2 previous expansions) and a host of other quality of life updates and surprises.
Why do I like it?
Aside from the things I already really love about Isaac, a great new addition with this DLC is a true co-op mode. You can now play locally with a second player who is, for the first time, full fledged character, has their own items, and their own progression. The game essentially gives you 1.5x the items for 2x the characters, so your extra firepower is balanced by having strategize who picks up which items. Should we both go for DPS? Can one of us stack damage and the other build tanky? It a fun constant struggle to try and min/max your run and break the game anyway you can.
Forza Horizon 5
Release Date: Nov. 5th, 2021
What is it?
It’s the 5th installment of the Forza Horizon series. Set in Mexico this time!
Why do I like it?
These games, while similar from sequel to sequel, are seriously just a ton of fun to play. What sets these games apart is their ability to get out of the way and allow the player to find their own fun. Are you not very good at driving games? Great, you can turn on all the assists and tune the computer difficulty to match your skill. You also don’t have to win races to progress. Are you a skilled driver? Perfect, crank everything up and it almost becomes a simulation-type racing game. Or check out the competition online. Into photography? The scenery and camera tools available are more than enough to take INCREDIBLE pictures. Just want to chill out and collect some stuff? Go right ahead. It’s a collectable hunt now. Haven’t played in 6 months and want something to do? Pick it up and casually run a few races. Super nerdy gearhead? Tune vehicles and sell setups on the auction house and start making (in-game) bank.
This is a low stress, slow burn of a game. Load up, find something to do, put it down again and go back when you are ready. Continue off an on for a few years until Forza Horizon 6 comes out with some new scenery and updated future-graphics. Repeat.
Halo Infinite
Release Date: Dec. 8, 2021
What is it?
The new AAA shooter on the block. New sequel to a game I’ve played a LOT of over the years.
Why do I like it?
The grapplehook. Seriously. Sure the game is pretty, and on PC from the get go, etc. etc. Blah blah blah. But if I really had to boil down what I am really loving about Halo Infinite its that damn grapplehook. It’s so much fun. I want to go on about it for a while because I really think its kind of an achievement.
It sounds weighty. It feels physical. It throws around a 2-ton tank-man and he lands with an IMPACT. It fits into the established Halo sandbox amazingly well. You can use it offensively or defensively. You can use it to grab weapons in clutch moments. You can stun enemies or pull Jackyl shields with it. You can use it frequently enough to swing between trees like a heavy metallic Spiderman, but somehow doesn’t feel way out of place.
A lot has been said about Halo going to a semi-open world environment, but less has been said about how miserable that could be without a fast, fun new movement option that lets you scale cliffs and climb buildings and catch vehicles.
Its really really good. It reminds me of Doom Eternal when I’m using it. I’m a little afraid of going back to the older Halos that don’t have it.