Awesome Games

“…even the right leads can lead to the wrong place.” Calligram’s Phoenix Springs is a surreal and minimalist point-and-click mystery game. Set in a capitalist dystopia, you play as a stoic reporter looking for her younger brother. Its eerie vibe and pinboard-style inventory system are presented in a beautiful graphic novel aesthetic.

77-Bit is a browser-based MMORPG that drops players into a neon-lit cyberpunk world to take down an AI invasion. The launch trailer kicks things off with some slick anime cinematics but eventually shows off some gameplay in the isomorphic world of Bit City. One unique aspect of the game is that its characters are owned and licensed by the community.

The GB Operator is a tiny USB-C device that lets you play and manage Game Boy cartridges. It works with Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games. You can play your games on any computer platform using mGBA or any compatible emulator, and back up and restore saves. It even has a detector for counterfeit cartridges.

Enjoy the fun of a real claw machine in your home. Arcade1Up’s claw machine works just like the real deal, but won’t burn through quarters. It has a light-up marquee and control button, an arcade joystick, and plays sounds. Choose from easy, medium, and scam modes. It measures 61.25″ H x 22.5″ W x 22″ D. Pre-orders start shipping 11.5.24.

It’s been a decade since the last mainline Metal Gear Solid game, and we’re probably never getting a new one. But it looks like Konami is done with lazy cash grabs. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is an upcoming remake of MGS 3 that seeks to overhaul the graphics and make the controls smoother without touching the over-the-top spy vibe and story.

The sequel to the hit samurai action game Ghost of Tsushima features breathtaking vistas that flex the power of the PS5. Set more than 300 years after the events of the first game, Ghost of Yōtei not only has a new setting and protagonist. It also appears to have more open-world exploration and more interactions with animals. Drops 2025.

If you had those bootleg 100-in-1 cartridges as a kid, UFO 50 is an idea that makes far too much sense to be true. Except it is. Created by the developers behind Spelunky, Downwell, Air Land & Sea, Skorpulac, Catacomb Kids, and Madhouse, this collection of 50 8-bit style games has it all, from platformers to full on RPGs. Half of them have versus or co-op modes.

Pixel Perfect Dude’s #Drive Rally is an upcoming racing game that’s both a throwback to arcade racers and a modern title that packs sweet graphics and a sense of humor. Along with a stable of customizable cars, you’ll select from a roster of co-drivers, each with their own personality and delivery. Drops 9.25.24 for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

First-person shooters are getting bloated with poorly written stories and cinematics, microtransactions, and shoehorned RPG progression systems. I Am Your Beast says to hell with all of that and delivers a no-frills experience in the form of a roguelite. Each level has a small area, a handful of objectives, and a timer. Go do your best.

Dust2 is the most famous Counter-Strike map. Noclip looks into the origins of CS’s most famous map with its creator, Dave Johnston. Long before CS, Dave cut his teeth making maps for Wolfenstein 3D and Doom. Unlike his previous CS maps Cobble and Dust, Dave was deliberate in designing what would become his magnum opus. You’re a legend, Dave!

This driving combat game from Atari and MNSTR Studio sends players on high-speed missions through a post-apocalyptic wasteland. As you tear through its 20 explosive levels, you’ll fight off enemy vehicles and big bosses as the landscape and buildings crumble around you. Coming to PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.

The PlayStation 5 Pro is all about improving graphical fidelity and speed. It packs an upgraded GPU that can render 45% faster than the PS5, enhanced ray tracing capabilities, and AI-powered upscaling. It also ups the performance of more than 8500 PS4 titles. It comes with a 2TB SSD, but the Blu-Ray drive is an add-on. Launches 11.7.24 with pre-orders starting 9.26.24.

The latest version of Razer’s Xbox and PC controller has six remappable inputs: four back paddles and two bumpers near the shoulder buttons. Its triggers can be toggled between analog and instant actuation. It uses Hall Effect joysticks for a drift-free experience. It has a wireless dongle, while its wired mode gets you a 1000 Hz polling rate.

(PG-13: Language) “The question every adult male asks is: Is it too late? Just in general.” Casually Explained takes on the competitive gaming landscape, which we still can’t figure out whether it’s flourishing or dying. Learn about the history of esports, alibis for losing in popular titles, and why you should – or shouldn’t – attend tournaments.

The Plucky Squire is a wildly imaginative fantasy adventure and puzzle game where you play Jot, the hero of a storybook. When the book’s villain realizes that he’s fated to lose, they kick out Jot into the real world, kicking off the game’s conceit of switching between the 2D book and the 3D real world. Drops 9.17.24 on all major systems. More on IGN.

Sid Meier’s genre-defining franchise is back for one more turn. Civilization VII will still let you take one of many distinct civilizations from a humble town to a world-conquering empire. But you’ll also have the option to switch civilizations at the start of each age, creating a unique path with new synergies. Drops 2.11.25 for all systems.