With so many games coming out across so many platforms, it can be tough to sort through them all. This month's gaming menu offers up something for just about everyone: demanding strategy, intense action, horror, and family-friendly games appear on PC, consoles, and handheld systems.
If you want something that will last you hundreds of hours or just an afternoon, then this list has those, too. This list even includes three games that fans have been waiting on for well over a decade. Here's what you can look forward to this month as you look for something new to play.
Animal Well
Release Date: May 9Platforms: PC (Steam), PS5, Nintendo Switch
This is the first game published by YouTuber Jason “Dunkey” Gastrow's studio Bigmode Games, and the buzz has been consistent since the first previews hit. Animal Well features visuals inspired by old-school games and platforming action that promises to match up alongside games like Celeste and Super Meat Boy. Animal Well is full of puzzles, secrets, and demanding platforming.
Homeworld 3
Release Date: May 13Platforms: PC (Steam, Epic Games Store)
Dragon's Dogma 2 fans thought they’d been waiting a long time when the 2012 game finally got a sequel earlier this year—but they don't have anything on fans of this upcoming real-time strategy game. Homeworld 2 released in September 2003, just over two decades ago. Like its predecessor, Homeworld 3 is a real-time strategy game set in space and has players managing their fleet in three dimensions as they battle The Anomaly, a new threat from the outer edges of space.
Senua's Saga: Hellblade II
Release Date: May 21Platforms: PC (Steam, Windows Store, Game Pass), Xbox Series X|S
Action studio Ninja Theory's Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice garnered praise for both its action and its approach to its main character Senua's mental illness, which figured heavily into her story and the player's experience. Senua's Saga: Hellblade II was one of the very first games announced for the Xbox Series consoles and is a graphical showpiece for the systems. This new chapter takes Senua to Viking Iceland in the 10th Century, where Senua will battle both Vikings and her own mind to save “those who have fallen victim to tyranny.”
Duck Detective: The Secret Salami
Release Date: May 23Platforms: PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch
While some games on this list could take up dozens and dozens of hours, sometimes you just want a fun game to last an afternoon or two. Duck Detective: The Secret Salami promises about 2-3 hours of silly, adorable mystery as you interview suspects and put clues together to solve the case. Duck Detective has bright, bold art and is fully voiced, promising an entertaining few hours when it hits later this month.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Release Date: May 23Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Sometimes the best games are the ones we know and love. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door released for the Nintendo GameCube back in 2004, and even now it's still a beloved entry in both the Paper Mario series and the greater collection of Mario games. This remastered edition promises to bring the original to the Nintendo Switch, updating the visuals and music. The gameplay will reportedly run at 30 frames per second as opposed to the original's 60, but we're hopeful the change won't affect the classic gameplay too much.
World of Goo 2
Release Date: May 23Platforms: PC & Mac (Epic Games Store), Nintendo Switch, Linux
World of Goo is still a fan favorite over 15 years later, thanks to its goofy, oily art style and engaging physics puzzles. The original World of Goo used little googly-eyed balls of goo to create lovingly engineered structures that probably aren't up to anyone's version of code. This new entry promises updated visuals and many more puzzles.
Honorable Mentions
There are too many games hitting digital shelves this month to cover them all. If none of these games strike your fancy, then you might want to check out the religious horror game Indika, the survival horror game Crow Country, the full public release of vampire-themed action RPG V Rising, the aquatic exploration game Endless Ocean Luminous, or the variety of other re-releases including the upcoming console release of the System Shock remake, Braid Anniversary Edition, and the PC version of Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut.
Edited by Andrew Hayward
Editor's note: These are all “Web2” or traditional video games with no expected crypto or blockchain elements.
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