Spring has officially sprung, and you know what that means: more staying indoors, playing video games and forgetting that outside even exists! I mean c’mon, touching grass is so overrated. And why do that when you could be playing any one of the fantastic games that have dropped into our laps over the last few weeks alone? Seriously! It’s a great time to be a gamer right now. With so much variety, from epic and vast RPGs to silly slapstick co-op games, and even a little something in between, there’s so much to love right now no matter what kind of games you’re into. And as a video game professor who puts a lot of stock into the quality of mechanics, narrative, and community, I like to think I’m a pretty good judge of great games.So here are some games that I’ve been enjoying recently and that will be headliners for me in the month of April (and should be for you too)!
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t planning on playing Ubisoft’s latest installment to the Assassin’s Creed franchise anytime soon. In recent years I’ve felt disappointed by the games being churned out. Not because they weren’t well done, but because it felt like the protagonists lacked the heart and charm that had once felt like such a prominent quality in the assassins themselves. Sure, playing as a viking or a street urchin turned gifted assassin was fun, but Eivor and Basim just never resonated with me in the same way the likes of Ezio or even Edward Kenway did. That feels different with Shadows.
The first thing I told myself when I went into this installment was to treat it based on its own merit and not compare it to other titles exploring feudal Japan, with Ghost of Tsushima being chief among them. And when I did that, when I just focused on appreciating the story being told and the characters that inhabit this gorgeous world, the rest just fell into place naturally. Is it the greatest Assassin’s Creed game ever made? No, but it doesn’t have to be. Naoe and Yasuke are interesting. Their dynamic is compelling, the difference in play style and specialties are fun, and yes, you can pet the doggos and the kitties. Maybe keeping my expectations low has helped make my experience more enjoyable, but suffice it to say, if you’re looking for a nice big RPG to get lost in, Shadows is an excellent choice.
Split Fiction
Following the explosive success of Hazelight Studios’ It Takes Two in 2021, I have been absolutely chomping at the bit to get my hands on their follow up game in Split Fiction. You and a friend take on the roles of Zoe and Mio, two up and coming writers who find themselves trapped in a digital landscape that brings their stories to life. They must overcome the trials of their own stories and work together to break free.
Split Fiction is simply fun, right down to the marrow. The co-op puzzles force you and your partner to experiment together to find solutions, to explore off the beaten path for side stories, and to consider the importance of how the people and situations in your life inspire you and your choices. It is a hell of a ride, and my buddy and I have had a blast switching between Zoe and Mio to experience the different types of special abilities they have to offer. Find a friend and give this one a go!
R.E.P.O
I resisted this one. Hard. I did my absolute best. In recent years, it’s felt like a number of indie games have dropped that try and share in the success that made Among Us such a powerhouse during the pandemic. And while some of them have been fun, like Lethal Company or Content Warning, I was starting to get bored of seeing the same recycled idea being churned out over and over.
R.E.P.O quite honestly does not do much to change the formula. It’s a salvage operation almost identical in objective to Lethal Company, but the playable characters are hilarious, and the physics mechanics are so absurd that my friends and I have found ourselves laughing until we cried anytime someone accidentally dropped a $2000 diamond. The added mechanic of being able to hide under furniture and having to stay quiet to avoid monsters, ghosts, demon gnomes, and uncomfortable looking frogs just makes the experience that much more unhinged. If you liked Lethal Company and are looking for a similar experience, I definitely recommend adding R.E.P.O to your cart for extraction. You’ll appreciate being sore the next day from all the laughing.
