Grand Theft Auto 5′s release is right around the corner, and as such you should be anticipating a dry spell in terms of other video game releases as everyone returns to Los Santos (and hibernates from reality) for a few weeks. A lot of gamers are excited, but maybe you aren’t. What about those of you who aren’t interested in picking up the latest from Rockstar Games? Well, you’re in-luck because there have been plenty of fantastic releases this year. Below are a few of the games that should tickle your fancy.
7 Games to Play If You're Not Buying GTA 5
-
Rayman Legends
If you've read my review of Rayman Legends, then you'll know that I am absolutely in love with it, giving it my first ever perfect score. But even though it outsold its predecessor Rayman Origins by 20% in its first week on the UK charts, it still hasn't achieved nearly the amount of sales that it deserves. Everyone and their mother should be playing Rayman Legends right now.
-
The Swapper
PC gamers who will miss out on Grand Theft Auto 5 (until Rockstar inevitably releases it on PC) could do a lot worse than sinking a few hours into this great puzzler from Facepalm Games. The Swapper places you in control of a lonely astronaut, who must navigate a Metroid-esque map armed with a gun that clones him. Featuring puzzles with a level of inventiveness I haven't seen since Braid, The Swapper should be on top of Steam users' wishlists.
-
Ni No Kuni
Ni No Kuni was arguably the first great game of this year, and inspired many (including our own Joey Davidson) to call for a JRPG resurgence. While not typically a fan of JRPGs myself, I fell in love with Ni No Kuni due to its beautiful art style, created by Studio Ghibli no less, and its charming world, filled with creatures whose cuddliness is rivaled only by the first generation of Pokemon.
-
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons explores a relationship that has been underrepresented in video games. Placing you in control of two brothers simultaneously (you control the elder brother with the left thumbstick, the younger brother with the right), the game has you traversing through a beautiful but deadly world in order to find a cure for the boys' gravely ill father. While the mythical language these boys speak means that you never learn of what they are saying to each other and to those whom they meet, Brothers does a better job of successfully communicating its story than most triple-A titles.
-
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn
Who needs an action-adventure game when you are knee-deep in a Final Fantasy MMORPG? Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is a game with hundreds if not thousands of hours of content. You can enjoy chocobo music while riding to party with your friends, play as a variety of classes without making a new character, and battle vicious bosses such as Ifrit and Odin for epic loot. By the time you're ready to take a break GTA 5's price will have dropped.
-
Divekick
Considering Divekick requires only two buttons, you could be forgiven for thinking that mastering it would require little-to-no effort, but that isn't the case. While your only available method of attack is the eponymous divekick, each character in the game's wonderfully eccentric roster brings something new to the table that makes the combat surprisingly deep. While you won't be memorising combos, supers or the like in Divekick, you will be timing your attacks, deviously luring your opponents in with well-timed jumps and praying that you hit a brutal 'Headshot' or two.
-
Gone Home
Gone Home's story is one of the most compelling I've ever experienced in a video game, as I mentioned in my review of it last month. To go into detail would be to spoil it for those who haven't yet checked it out, but rest assured that for those of you who love a good narrative-driven game, this one is certainly for you.
