3 Up, 3 Down – September 2022
September ended up being an insanely good month for video games. COGconnected published more 90+ review scores this month, more than any other in recent memory. Most of the major releases were excellent, but there were some unexpected gems that shone incredibly brightly. Nothing scored poorly either, with our lowest entry in The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from September 2022 still being a 60. We have to mention that The Last of Us Part I Remake scored a 99, and is the definitive way to play that PS3-era classic. But we wanted to highlight the insanely high scoring new games that arrived over the last month. The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from September 2022 are:
The Good
Immortality
***click here for our review***
Immortality was actually released at the very end of August, and, admittedly, flew under COGconnected’s radar. It’s the third FMV game by Sam Barlow, who created the two modern masterpieces Her Story and Telling Lies. All three games involve sifting through video clips to unlock a mystery narrative. Immortality is about the failed career of an actress whose three films were never released. Players get to look at footage from those well-crafted films. Our reviewer concluded that “all of Barlow’s games have been excellent but Immortality is probably the richest and most thought-provoking of the three.” Any thought-provoking game that pushes expectations of the video game medium deserves to be highlighted.
Inscryption
***click here for our review***
And speaking of thought-provoking video games that push the boundaries of the medium: Inscryption is another video game from an auteur of design. Daniel Mullins created the genre-bending titles Pony Island and The Hex, and has now outdone himself with Inscryption. All three games play with the idea that they appear to be one kind of game at first, but the game designs and narratives change. The less one knows about Inscryption, the better. It begins as a roguelite deckbuilding card game, but transforms into an unforgettable story. Our reviewer proclaimed Inscryption to be “a must play for anyone who is a fan of experimental video game storytelling”. So, play it.
SpiderHeck
***click here for our review***
Some games are cerebral and experimental. But that’s not what everyone’s looking for. Some people just want pure fun, and SpiderHeck is definitely that. It’s an arena brawler featuring spiders swinging around, waiting for lightsabers to spawn so they can go on the offensive. Our reviewer began his article with the statement that “SpiderHeck is probably the best local multiplayer game you’ll play all year”. His family couldn’t get enough of the addicting gameplay. So, if you’re a player on the lookout for an ultra-fun multiplayer experience, then SpiderHeck is a must-play.