It’s that time of year again, again. A bunch of games came out, and a number of those games were pretty slick. That can mean only one thing: it’s time for me to list a plethora of weeb games that I thought were great, as well as a few non-weeb games that were also great. That’s all the introductory nonsense that I can muster, so here are some cool games that you should play ASAP:
AI: The Somnium Files
There are very few games like AI: The Somnium Files. It’s every type of weird imaginable, but it also has a lot of genuine heart and thought put into its characters and narrative. What starts as an investigation into a disturbing homicide case transforms into a dream-hopping journey that involves gruesome murders, internet celebrities, subconscious symbolism, and paternal connections. It’s a wild ride that hits every emotion imaginable as it pushes you onwards throughout your investigations, and it’s probably my favourite game from this year. If you like riveting stories, dark mysteries, or any of the Zero Escape games, you owe it to yourself to play AI: The Somnium Files.
Shenmue III
I am fully aware that most people will think this is a joke, but I love Shenmue more than most things in this world. As such, Shenmue III was possibly my most anticipated game of last year. While I would have liked a bit more general plot progression, Shenmue III was pretty much exactly what I wanted from a third Shenmue game. Somehow, the mad lads at YsNet managed to perfectly replicate the Dreamcast clunkiness and voice-work of the original two games, despite 17 years having passed since the release of Shenmue II. Ryo is still as blunt and charming as ever, and the world is as charming as I could have hoped. All-in-all, I need to live to see Shenmue 4 and 5 come to fruition, especially if they keep the tone that 3 has expertly recreated.
Resident Evil 2
The original Resident Evil 2 has always been my favourite out of the franchise, as it struck the perfect tone of hammy and genuinely frightening while introducing the legendary Leon Kennedy. As such a huge fan of the original game, I was incredibly happy to find that the Resident Evil 2 remake was a fantastic adaptation and reimagining of my favourite horror game. Leon and Claire’s stories both contained some interesting additions and changes, and despite the change in gameplay style, none of the scares are lost in the transition.
Samurai Shodown
The coolest thing about Samurai Shodown is the way it makes you feel both an intense anxiety and a ridiculous sense of power whenever you play it. At times, it feels as though I’m playing a violent and slightly faster version of chess, as every single move has the potential to change the outcome of a match. Despite this slow pacing, it’s a fiercely addictive fighter, as I spent hours at a time playing with my friend Ty going back and forth with each match. It’s a unique and thoughtful experience that I’ve got to recommend to anyone with an interest in fighting games, as I still find myself playing Samurai Shodown in-between review titles just to get my fix of adrenaline.
Dragon Quest Builders 2
Rare is the sequel that improves upon its predecessor in every way without some trade-offs along the way. Dragon Quest Builders 2 is one of those sequels, as it contains all the satisfying fun and charm of the original Builders while layering on wonderful new features and an even more enjoyable story. Even if you have no experience with Dragon Quest or Minecraft, I’d recommend trying Builders 2, as it’s the perfect game to wind down with at the end of a long day.
Devil May Cry V
Full disclosure, I’ve not finished Devil May Cry V yet. I’m about two-thirds of the way through, but I’ve been having such a fantastic time that I couldn’t exclude it from my list. I’m a longtime fan of Devil May Cry, and few things feel as good as seeing Dante, Lady, Trish, and Nero back in action. The gameplay is as smooth and seamless as I had hoped, while the characters and story strike that perfect amount of charming Devil May Cry cheese. After the lame DmC and a long, long wait, I’m glad Devil May Cry is back in all its glory.
Judgment
In the West, we’ve been getting at least one Yakuza game every year for a while now. Though it’s technically a spin-off, Judgment is yet another fantastic game from the Yakuza universe. The excellent combat, numerous minigames, and goofy sidequests are all present, and if that’s not enough, Judgment’s gloriously melodramatic plot is a joy to experience. Though Kiryu’s adventures seem to be over, I’d be happy to follow Yagami and co. through further Judgment games.
Control
Control is a very peculiar game, which means it’s right up my alley. It has everything one could want: psychic powers, impressive physics, a mind-bending aesthetic, and creepy puppets. Once I picked up Control, I just couldn’t put it down. I beat the game and nearly got the Platinum trophy in one weekend, not because it’s a particularly short game, but because all I wanted to do was play Control. It’s even MonsterVine’s Game of the Year, so I’m not alone in saying Control is very much worth experiencing.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Castlevania is one of my favourite series, with the “Metroidvania” titles standing out as my favourites overall. It’s been far too long since we got a full-fledged Igavania game, so Bloodstained was the perfect game to scratch that long-standing itch. Though it feels quite familiar to the Castlevania games of old, Bloodstained never feels uninspired or like a simple retread. With plenty of exploration and just enough aesthetic flair to set it apart from its forefathers, Bloodstained will hopefully serve as the first of many new Metroidvania titles to come.
Star Wars – Jedi: Fallen Order
I deeply love Star Wars, but the last couple of years have largely been tumultuous for the franchise (in my eyes). Outside of The Mandalorian and some excellent books, Jedi: Fallen Order is probably the best piece of external storytelling to come out of the Disney-era of Star Wars. Its story is familiar (a Jedi who escaped Order 66 must embrace the Force after hiding for years), its tight gameplay, likable characters, and refreshing dedication to world-building make Fallen Order stand out. It isn’t perfect, but I loved almost every second of Fallen Order, and I sincerely hope it’s the beginning of a new era of Star Wars games. And if a future sequel stars Kyle Katarn and brings him back to canon? Well, that’s all the better.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3
It took what feels like an eternity, but we finally got a third Ultimate Alliance game. Not only that, but we finally got a Marvel game that (in a post-MCU world) gleefully acknowledges the existence of the Fantastic Four and Marvel’s greatest team, the X-Men. Boasting a mix of characters from every corner of the Marvel universe, Ultimate Alliance 3 managed to capture the frantic and fanservice-filled magic of the first two Ultimate Alliance games even after all this time. With free and paid DLC all over the horizon, I’m looking forward to playing Ultimate Alliance 3 well into 2020.
Trover Saves the Universe
I’ve got a big weakness for Justin Roiland’s sense of humor, and in the last year, I’ve really enjoyed diving into VR. Combine these two things, and you have one of my favourite game experiences of the last year. Trover’s got some novel ideas that make it feel like more than a simple “VR Experience”, and its Channel 101-inspired humor had me laughing out loud more than any game I’ve played before. It’s even getting free DLC in the future, so it’s a great time to check out this weird and wonderful game.
And those are my favourite games from 2019. Let me know in the comments if there are any games that you would recommend checking out, and stay gold.
