After a considerably gentle (however nonetheless incredible) summer time for video video games, extra notable releases began to come back out in August 2022. Unfortunately, none of them have been heavy hitters as video games like Saints Row, Madden NFL 23, and Soul Hackers 2 have been vital disappointments. Despite that, there have been nonetheless some nice video games that got here out this month should you knew the place to look.
From odd indies that mashed up Animal Crossing with a dying cult to a groundbreaking full-motion online game, indies shined this month. If you’re questioning what you need to play forward of the push of notable titles coming this fall and don’t need to take a look at August’s lackluster AAA video games, strive giving these six video games a shot.
Cult of the Lamb
Cult of the Lamb | Sacrifice Yourself in 2022
Few video games really feel extra Devolver Digital than Cult of the Lamb. On the floor, this would possibly appear to be a primary social simulation sport, like Animal Crossing, starring cute animals. In actuality, it’s additionally a bloody roguelike about forming and operating a cult that worships an evil deity. During the roguelike segments, gamers attempt to take down different gods, gathering assets alongside the way in which. Then they return to their cult and construct it up, establishing new amenities and preserving their followers comfortable and worshipping.
“Cult of the Lamb explores that balancing act through a darkly comedic premise pulled straight from the golden age of the company Newgrounds,” Giovanni Colantonio’s three-and-a-half star evaluate of the sport explains. “It’s a hellishly addictive management game that revels in its religious farce like cultists prancing around a bonfire.”
Cult of the Lamb’s cute-to-horrifying aesthetic screams “memorable indie game,” and it lives as much as that concept. Whether you want administration video games, roguelikes, or simply cult tales, this one is value testing. Currently, Cult of the Lamb is accessible for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch.
Immortality
Immortality trailer (PC Gaming Show 2022)
Look out Elden Ring, there’s one other sport of the 12 months contender on the scene. Just barely making it into this month’s listing on August 30, Immortality is an FMV title about making an attempt to find the destiny of actress Marissa Marcel who starred in three unreleased movies. Players look by way of on-set dallies and behind-the-scenes footage to find what occurred to Marcel, utilizing a intelligent match-cut mechanic to leap between scenes. Cinematically, Immorality is on an entire different stage.
“Immortality is an astonishing work of interactive media, one that fully realizes the potential of [creator Sam] Barlow’s signature full-motion video (FMV) style,” Colantonio wrote in his four-and-a-half star evaluate of Immorality. “It explores our complex, and perhaps unhealthy, fascination with art, all while delivering a level of craft that’s light-years beyond what any other game has even attempted to achieve.”
FMV video games usually have the stigma of feeling low-budget and beginner, however with Her Story, Telling Lies, and now Immortality, Barlow has persistently pushed this model of sport ahead. If you get pleasure from films or video games that push storytelling boundaries, Immorality is a must-play.
Immorality is accessible for PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series X through Xbox Game Pass. It’s coming to iOS and Android through Netflix Games.
Rollerdrome
Roll7 is the grasp of creating video games that simply really feel nice to play. It already made our greatest video games of February 2022 listing with the spectacular OlliOlli World, however Roll7 had one other sport up its sleeve this 12 months. The title in query is Rollerdrome, a sport that mixes rollerblading and capturing to create an expertise that doesn’t really feel like a lot else on the market. Couple that with its intriguing dystopian bloodsport premise and colourful artwork model, and Rollerdrome is a definite sport you received’t neglect anytime quickly.
“Rollerdrome simultaneously captures that frenetic energy of a shootout in Max Payne and the satisfying vibes of a skill-based skating game like Skate 3 or Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2, and that’s a unique combination that you won’t find anywhere else,” Tomas Franzese wrote in a preview for the sport. “With Rollerdrome, Roll7 continues to prove that it makes some of the best-feeling games on the market.”
For those that consider gameplay trumps all else in video video games, Rollerdrome gives a number of the purest enjoyable you possibly can have this month. Currently, Rollerdrome is accessible on PC, PS4, and PS5. If you’ve a PlayStation Plus Premium subscription, you can provide the sport a shot with a 35-minute trial earlier than deciding whether or not you need to purchase the total sport.
I Was a Teenage Exocolonist
Fans of narrative video games with intriguing political messages will need to take a look at I Was a Teenage Exocolonist. As the title plainly suggests, the sport places gamers within the footwear of a child rising up on an alien planet from ages 10 to 20. Over time, gamers will have the ability to form their character’s character, traits, and even political beliefs as they be taught extra about what occurred to Earth and what these excolonists are doing on a brand new planet. Throw in some gentle exploration and deck-building mechanics, and you’ve got a definite narrative RPG expertise.
“I Was a Teenage Exocolonist doesn’t set out to reinforce the player’s own beliefs with an obvious anti-capitalist critique,” Colantonio wrote in regards to the sport. “Instead, it’s focused on exploring how a political landscape shapes a child in their most malleable years. That’s all accomplished through thoughtful RPG and deck-building systems that reflect how kids absorb every little detail around them, even when we think they’re not paying attention.”
If it’s not clear already, intelligent indie video games dominated August, and I Was a Teenage Exocolonist is one which’s value testing for followers of RPGs, narrative video games, and deck-builders. I Was a Teenage Exocolonist is accessible now for PC, PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch.
Two Point Campus
Two Point Campus | Developer Vision
For followers of business-building and simulation video games, few at the moment are doing it higher than Two Point Studios and Sega. A number of years in the past, the duo impressed with Two Point Hospital, and this month they adopted up with a college-themed simulation sport known as Two Point Campus. As its identify suggests, gamers can construct out and customise school campuses, set the curriculum, and rent the workers to run them.
Although which may sound a bit dry, it fortunately isn’t due to its unmistakable British humor. The radio station enjoying within the background on campuses is consistently spewing hilarious jokes. These faculties additionally don’t host your typical boring algebra and enterprise 101 school lessons. Instead, college students will partake in programs like Knight School and Spy School, giving Two Point Campus some humorous visible aptitude.
Whether you’re right here for the quirky British humor or the impressively detailed however easy-to-learn constructing and simulation mechanics, Two Point Campus is value your time. A sport like Two Point Campus is finest performed on PC, however the sport can also be obtainable for Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. It’s even on Xbox Game Pass, so give it a shot through that subscription service should you’re curious.
Jetpack Joyride 2
Jetpack Joyride 2 | Official Apple Arcade Trailer
While its been a light-weight 12 months for Apple Arcade with regards to subscriptio- promoting hits, Jetpack Joyride 2 is without doubt one of the finest video games to hit Apple’s service since its launch. The unique is a sequel to a beloved cell infinite runner the place gamers dodge round obstacles whereas zipping ahead with a jetpack. Jetpack Joyride 2 retains a number of the identical fundamentals, however inside a a lot totally different framework.
Rather than letting gamers set excessive scores in infinite runs, the sequel is level-based. Players must make it to the top of various 2D ranges as they weave round obstacles and shoot robots of their path. It’s a bit extra of a basic shoot-’em-up than the earlier sport. On prime of that, the sequel has a number of development hooks, letting gamers improve weapons, mine for assets, and full challenges. It’s a extra digestible model of the sport that does away with microtransactions and replaces them with a wise in-game economic system.
Jetpack Joyride 2 is certainly one of this 12 months’s finest cell video games, so when you’ve got Apple Arcade, give it a obtain. While you may get by way of the preliminary content material in a number of hours, a brand new replace is deliberate for September. — Giovanni Colantonio
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