With so many games coming out on so many platforms, it can be difficult to keep track of them all. This month’s games menu offers something for just about everyone. Challenging strategy, intense action, horror, and family-friendly games appear on PC, consoles, and portable systems.
If you want something that will last hundreds of hours or just an afternoon, it’s on this list too. The list also includes three games that fans have been waiting for for over a decade. Here’s what you can expect this month as you look for something new to play.
animal well
Release date: May 9
Platform: PC (Steam), PS5, Nintendo Switch
The game is the first game published by YouTuber Jason “Dunkey” Gastrow’s studio Bigmode Games, and has been a hot topic ever since the first preview came out. Animal Well features visuals inspired by old-school gaming and platforming action paired with games like Celeste and Super Meat Boy. Animal Well is full of puzzles, secrets, and tricky platforming.
Homeworld 3
Release Date: May 13th
Platform: PC (Steam, Epic Games Store)
Dragon’s Dogma 2 fans thought they had waited a long time when the 2012 game finally got a sequel earlier this year. But that didn’t interest fans of the upcoming real-time strategy game. Homeworld 2 was released just 20 years ago, in September 2003. Like its predecessor, Homeworld 3 is a real-time strategy game set in space, where players will manage a fleet in three dimensions as they battle The Anomaly, a new threat from the edge of space.
Senua Saga: Hellblade II
Release Date: May 21
Platforms: PC (Steam, Windows Store, Game Pass), Xbox Series X|S
Action studio Ninja Theory’s Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice was praised for both its action and its approach to protagonist Senua’s mental illness, which greatly influenced her story and the player’s experience. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is one of the first games announced for the Xbox Series console and a graphical showcase for the system. This new chapter takes Senua to 10th century Viking Iceland. There, Senua battles both the Vikings and her own spirit to save “the victims of tyranny.”
Duck Detective: Secret Salami
Release Date: May 23
Platform: PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch
Some of the games on this list can take dozens of hours, but sometimes you just want a fun game to last you for an afternoon or two. Duck Detective: The Secret Salami promises about 2-3 hours of silly and adorable mystery where you interview suspects and piece together clues to solve the case. Duck Detective features bright, bold art and full voice-over, and promises to provide hours of fun when it releases later this month.
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
Release Date: May 23
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Sometimes the best games are the ones we know and love. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door was released for the Nintendo GameCube in 2004 and remains a beloved entry in the Paper Mario series and the diverse collection of Mario games. This remastered edition promises to bring the original to Nintendo Switch and update the visuals and music. Gameplay will reportedly run at 30 frames per second as opposed to the original’s 60, but hopefully this change won’t affect existing gameplay too much.
Goo’s World 2
Release Date: May 23
Platforms: PC and Mac (Epic Games Store), Nintendo Switch, Linux
World of Goo remains a fan favorite 15 years later, thanks to its quirky, greasy art style and engaging physics puzzles. The original World of Goo used tiny eye-shaped sticky balls to create lovingly designed structures that wouldn’t fit into anyone’s version of code. This new entry promises updated visuals and more puzzles.
honorable mention
There are so many games released on digital stores this month that it’s hard to cover them all. If none of these games appeal to you, check out religious horror game Indika, survival horror game Crow Country, the full-release release of vampire-themed action RPG V Rising, and underwater exploration game Endless Ocean Luminous. Alternatively, there are various re-releases including the upcoming console release of the System Shock remake, the Braid Anniversary Edition, and the PC version of Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut.
Editor: Andrew Hayward
Editor’s note: These are all “Web2” or traditional video games without the expected cryptocurrency or blockchain elements.
