If there’s one thing I’m sick of, it means I’ve had some sort of head injury and forgotten the many, many, copious things I’m also sick of. But amongst their number is the cavalcade of recent games that feel the need to try to trick me into learning computer programming. You know, I’m good thanks. I’m 40 this year, my brain has pretty much established over multiple attempts that it just isn’t willing to let in computer programming, along with French, the difference between “affect” and “effect” [not to mention “defuse” and “diffuse” -ed.]>, and the HTML for embedding an email address. You program the games, I’ll play them. Ta.

Anyway, so there’s a nice new puzzle game out called Bomb Squad Academy [official site], a game about defusing bombs against the clock, and – WAIT A SECOND! This game’s teaching me electronics>! Why I oughtta… … [visit site to read more]

After unraveling the mysteries of Earth’s seasons in It’s Spring Again, Russian team Baba Yaga Games are adventuring into the stars to explore tales and mythology from Russia’s Far North. Today they released One Eyed Kutkh [official site] for free. It’s a simple and pleasant adventure game about a one-eyed creature who crashes his spaceship on a strange planet and, I’m told, will “have to get to the ninth heaven, deceive the Sun and the Moon and steal their space-boats.” So far, er, my Kutkh has only broken another space-boat he found. Whoops. Have a peek in this trailer: … [visit site to read more]

My very first interaction in Thimbleweed Park [official site], and most likely anyone else’s, was to “Look at Willie.” I don’t know who I’m playing yet, nor who Willie might be, but my German accented chap has appeared on a screen with two interactive items: a gate, and a slumped drunken man called Willie. So I looked at him, he being potentially more interesting than a gate, presuming that my character would inform me that either he knew this man and needed to speak to him, or that he did not. I got neither. Because “Look at Willie” speaks to him. … [visit site to read more]

Smarter than half a dozen BioShocks despite looking a bit like it fell from a lost GameCube promotional disc, Snake Pass [official site] is an animal physics game without the slapstick comedy that often entails. (Tail, like a snake has).

I’m not sure if it’s best referred to as a platformer or a puzzle game. The main activity in Snake Pass is progressing from one platform to another, but where historically (hiss, like a snake) platformers involve high-speed bounding from place to place, this is about slow-speed slithering, climbing and clenching. You’re a snake, see. Snakes don’t jump, apart from in that bit in David Attenborough when one of them snatches a hummingbird out of the air or something.

… [visit site to read more]

It’s a good day for fans of crashing through firewalls with their password crackers blazing. Hacknet Labyrinths [official site], a big expansion for one of the top ten hacking games, has just been released. It’s a new 3-4 hour storyline that takes place near the end of the main story, a sizeable chunk of new stuff for a game that wasn’t very long itself. As part of an elite crew of hackers, you’ll be chatting over IRC, planning and performing “data heists” with new tools and clandestine programs, and generally hacking the planet. … [visit site to read more]

With their business in The Old World concluded, The Creative Assembly have announced Total War: Warhammer II [official site] during EGX Rezzed. The strategy sequel is off to visit the Lizardmen, High Elves, Dark Elves, and another faction being kept secret for now. Interestingly, it’ll introduce the risk of enemies beating you not just into the ground but to the final goal too. Get a look at the coming rumble and one delighted froglord (that’s Mazdamundi up there) in this here announcement trailer: … [visit site to read more]

Have You Played? is an endless stream of game retrospectives. One a day, every day of the year, perhaps for all time.>

There aren t enough games with manuals any more. The smell of a new game s glossy information booklet is a sensation lost to the ages. But Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes joins the Zachlikes of this world in keeping this tradition alive, even if it means printing out your own manual. It s a co-op game of disarming bombs and shouting furious nonsense at your partner. It’s brilliant. … [visit site to read more]

Day 2 of EGX Rezzed 2017 is underway in That London, where Tobacco Dock [nb: I’ve discovered it does have a boat but still neither boat trips nor fags -ed.]> is filled with games, talks, and lights for three days. We’re Rezzed’s official “media partner” so we’ve dispatched Pip, Adam, Graham, and a poorly Alec to poke around, host some talks, interview some developers, and look proud of our ‘Cave of Wonders’ showcase. To slack off, in other words.

Tonight they’re going to the pub ‘on official RPS business’ and you’re invited. I’m not, but you are. So to ensure they continue generating content while swanning about, I’m making them send me updates throughout their day. … [visit site to read more]

Earlier this week Adam and I shared our picks for our favourite games for each year we’ve been alive. Adam offered justification for his picks on Sunday and you can read it here. Below is my own justification for my own picks, which differ greatly. … [visit site to read more]

Titanfall 2 [official site] has launched a big free update adding a new map and more so, to celebrate, a free trial is running this weekend. Until Monday, all and sundry canswing by Origin to play the full multiplayer side and one singleplayer chapter. Titanfall 2 was our favourite FPS of 2016 for bringing together the two best things in FPSs — giant robots and fun, fast movement — and I heartily recommend giving it a go. … [visit site to read more]