Just when you thought it was time to settle back and play your backlog of unfinished games here we are at the beginning of another month with a slew of new titles on the horizon. Perhaps it’s time to pick up that second job delivering the local newspaper because if you’re a gamer with a twitchy thumb there’s some great ways to spend your money this month! Here’s five games we here at COG are looking forward to the most!
1 – Wolfenstein: The New Order
The granddaddy of first person shooters is back with a vengeance and prettier than ever. Join a newly awoken and entirely confused B.J. Blazkowicz in a post war world where the Nazis took home the prize. Machine Games (Riddick, The Darkness) tackle one of gaming’s most iconic franchises and attempt to pull it out of the mire after its last dismal performance. This bad boy hits consoles May 20th and is one of the games we’re most excited about. Check out our hands-on preview and interview with Machine Games and then prepare to fight the war… all over again.
2 – Mario Kart 8
Mario Kart 8? Really? This is the kind of game that reminds me exactly how old I’m getting. I’d venture a guess that a lot of you don’t even remember Mario Kart 1 but for the large group of us that grew up on Nintendo and its franchises this is one you’re looking forward to. Unfortunately, with lackluster sales all around there’s a huge number of gamers who won’t get to play this. Game starved Wii U owners, of course, will be ready to pounce. A new kart racing game with zero gravity, upside down on the ceiling action is just what the doctor ordered. Hits retail on May 30th… start your engines.
3 – Watch_Dogs
No game releasing this month has as much riding on it as Ubisoft’s Watch_Dogs. A launch window title that got pushed back a massive 6 months it has received constant media scrutiny in that time. Whether it was the graphics, the playability or the fact that Ubisoft dumped the game completely (that was a fun rumour) there is both high expectations and a fanboy army ready to take on Aiden Pearce’s conquest. We loved it all the way back at E3 last year and are excited to see how it all turned out. It can be tough for a game to live up to this much hype but after all we’ve seen we know that we’re ready to take on this hacker’s paradise when it drops on May 27th.
4 – Transistor
Stop what you’re doing, right this instant, and go download Bastion. A shining example of exactly how good indie games can be Bastion won over gamers worldwide. Now Supergiant is back with Transistor and all indications are that it will hold up to the same level of quality. An Action RPG sci-fi game based in the distant future you take control of Red as he wields the mysterious Transistor, a powerful weapon with a consciousness… fun right!? A stunningly beautiful example of gorgeous art making a comeback in modern games this one hits PC and PS4 on May 20th.
5 – The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing II
Released in 2013, the first Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing, received solid reviews and was often compared to other Action RPG titles like Diablo or Torchlight. In 2014 Neocore Games is looking to shake off the comparisons in order to stand out on top. Completely revamped with great new characters, witty dialogue and more abilities than ever Van Helsing II should be on ever PC gamer’s radar for this month. Let’s not forget that it releases for a fraction of the cost of most titles (a mere $15!) and offers more gameplay than a lot of them too. A fantastic steampunk monster hunt you can check out our hands-on preview and also enter to win a copy of Van Helsing 1 if you’re curious! Hitting Steam on May 22nd this is truly a game to be excited for.