It’s been a great season for gaming on PlayStation, and fun experiences are just around the corner. I had the chance to get hands-on with some of Team 17’s upcoming indie titles. Here are some games to watch out for during the hot summer months.
moving house 2
If you want fun couch co-op and relaxing online games, then Moving Out 2 is the game for you. Representatives from Devm Games and SMG Studio decided to feature twice as much content as the original title, adding new gameplay mechanics such as rearranging furniture, objects that couldn’t pass through certain doors (which were there), and hidden items that unlock a variety of characters representing race, gender, and accessibility. The biggest improvement comes in the form of strange dimensions that have different rules for moving around. Whether you’re wrestling with items, whether it’s a swaying hotel room bound by giants or a sticky situation wrought by a candy dimension, the PS5’s DualSense wireless controller’s adaptive triggers respond similarly, adding a real-world flavor of trying to force items through with a companion who just wants more tweaks.
release date: August 15
platform: PS5/PS4
Blasphemy 2
Another strong sequel, Blasphemous 2 is a challenging 2D exploration adventure that takes place after the events of Wounds of Eventide. The developers of The Game Kitchen have created a beautiful hand-drawn art style that adds personality to the stoic protagonist. Combat is unforgiving, but the combination of haptic feedback and adaptive his triggers increases his rush of adrenaline during combat. You can feel the boss attacks, the recoil when you deflect attacks, and of course, different weapon swings depending on which weapon you choose at the start of the game. If you want to test your reflexes in a dark but beautiful world, you’ll be rewarded with truly immersive combat.
release date: August 15
platform: PS5
Gord
Gord is an interesting mix of genres from the former Frostpunk and The Witcher 3 devs – Covenant.dev – bringing Slavic folklore into the mainstream. At its core, it is a city-building simulator that combines population management and survival mechanics. It’s a dark title not for the faint of heart, but the trials and tribulations you go through to keep your village alive are fascinating. They do everything from making deals with monsters that lurk in the dark to sending people on dangerous errands for the benefit of the masses. Combining that with dealing with the villagers’ emotional scars caused by their own actions and outside forces is a tricky tightrope walk, but the motivation to keep everything moving and people alive makes this an unexpected emotional journey.
release date: August 17th
platform: PS5
Classification: France ’44
Revealing the little-known story of Allied Special Forces sent to undermine rebels in the weeks leading up to D-Day, Classified: France ’44 is an evolution of the modern tactics game from Absolutely Games developers. The missions you have access to will change depending on who you recruit, whether you learn skills or not, and the success of each mission, so no two playthroughs are the same. Aside from the endless possibilities of story progression, the gameplay is a protracted chess match where you manage morale, weapons, reloads, soldier placement, and abilities. Changing mission objectives, enemy reinforcements, and even the skills to stay undetected affect the unpredictability of war and the strategies to adapt to it.
release date: 2023 undecided
platform: PS5
As you gear up for fall blockbusters, these exciting titles from Team 17 will keep you hooked with varied gameplay and series of replays. Whether you want to adventure alone and get lost for hours, or you want to laugh with friends, PlayStation lets you enjoy it all summer long.
