The best video games of 2016
First of all, Welcome to My Learned Tricks blog.
As we enter June and thoughts turn to E3 and upcoming games, it feels apt to reflect on an unusually brilliant first half of the year. From the devilish to the musical, the bombastic to the heart-wrenchingly brave, it has has been an excellent and eclectic five months of gaming. So without further ado, here are our favourites of the year so far.
2.
Format PC Developer Daniel Mullins
In a nutshell You must hack a cutesy game developed by the devil himself in order to save your soul.
Why we like it This is a brilliantly conniving piece of work that worms into your head the more you play. It doesn't so much as break the fourth wall as weaponise it, making it a video game that plays you. To say much more would be to spoil it but trust us, it's worth checking out. Especially for just £4.
3.
Format PS4 Developer Harmonix
In a nutshell Blistering rhythm-action revival of Harmonix's sci-fi synaesthesia.
Why we like it Ok, it lacks for a bit of longevity and variety, but the core of Amplitude --sweeping a ship from side to side to keep a thumping electronica track rolling-- remains compelling. That you're in charge of the different instruments and samples also gives you a sense of ownership over tracks that other rhythm-action games can't quite match.
4.
Formats PC, Mac and Ouya Developer Numinous Games
In a nutshell A wrenching and brave biographical work from Ryan and Amy Green that presents interactive vignettes from the course of their son Joel's battle with cancer.
Why we like it A difficult game to experience, That Dragon, Cancer challenges in ways you might not expect. It is a deeply personal piece of work, asking you to play observer to a heart-breaking period of a family’s life. The Greens warmth welcomes you in, however, avoiding the very real issue of this feeling like a troubling voyeuristic exercise. It is a plight they want to share; the inexplicable, discordant cadence of grief and hope. Through its jarring allegories and harrowing memories, you get the feeling of parents trying to make sense of the insensible.
5.
Formats Xbox One, PC Developer Night School Studio
In a nutshell Supernatural adventure that follows a group of teenagers to a remote island, only for them to open a trans-dimensional tear. It happens, right?
Why we like it Oxenfree weaves a terrific tale as you guide protagonist Alex across the haunted island. The ghosts are more of a creepy backdrop to a coming of age tale, with natural dialogue flowing between friends. Conversation is your main interaction, with the wrong word able to fracture an already tense group.