'007 First Light' and 'Forza Horizon 6', among the eight most outstanding video games of May
There are also news aimed at a more family audience such as 'Lego Batman' or 'Yoshi and the Mysterious Book'
The month of May once again brings big releases, among which we find a variety of genres and production values. We review in chronological order all the most relevant video games that land in the coming weeks.
The winner of the award for best sound and music at the IndieDevDay 2024 fair is Waxheads, a narrative simulator about managing a record store that is not going through its best moment. Also a finalist for best game, best art, and best narrative, it is developed by the tandem of Patattie Games. The indie proposal wants to appeal to the nostalgic public who used to rummage for albums among the shelves of music stores, now practically disappeared.
Speaking of nostalgia, Mixtape is an indie title that narrates the experience of three teenagers on their last day together, with clear inspiration from the coming of age films of the eighties. The proposal combines varied gameplay with emotion and humor. The title is published by Annapurna Interactive and developed by Beethoven & Dinosaur, who in 2021 surprised with the psychedelic The Artful Escape. This time the studio once again uses music as the central engine: the protagonists explore memories of their adolescence through a very well-crafted playlist, with songs from great bands. It will land on all platforms and, from day one, also on Game Pass.
The fifth installment of the anthology The Dark Pictures, developed by Supermassive Games and published by Bandai Namco. Its gameplay combines interactive drama with horror and survival, and each title explores different settings and narrative plots. Directive 8020 takes players to a distant planet where they will face a shape-shifting alien threat. Making good decisions and, occasionally, skill with the controls, will be key to determining the fate of the five protagonists, who can end up permanently dead during the development of the story.
The new proposal from the Madrid-based studio Out of the Blue Games is the direct sequel to Call of the Sea, their 2020 debut that was critically acclaimed. The new installment continues with a Lovecraftian setting and a powerful narrative, in addition to gameplay full of puzzles, exploration, and deduction. The most notable differences compared to the original title are the duality of protagonists, which the player will have to alternate to advance in the adventure, and the inclusion of much more varied scenarios. It will be playable on any platform, including Game Pass.
Forza Horizon 6 is the next installment in the popular open-world driving saga, finally set in the most requested setting by fans: Japan. It will feature a stylized version of the Japanese country, ranging from Tokyo as the main city to rural or mountainous areas around Mount Fuji. The game also makes a leap in graphical and technical scale, and will include over 550 real cars to collect at launch. The sequel arrives with temporary exclusivity on Microsoft platforms, in addition to being on Game Pass from day one, but for the first time it will also be released on Sony's console, although there is no date yet.
The big exclusive game of the month on Nintendo's console stars Yoshi, the well-known dinosaur from the Mario and company universe. The plot kicks off when a mysterious living encyclopedia arrives on Yoshi's island and proposes they recover all the information from its pages. The release has a more creative identity than a traditional platformer game, and bases its gameplay on exploration and interaction with the environment. Yoshi and the Mysterious Book stands out for the variety of creatures to discover, the varied mechanics that enrich its levels, and a distinctive artistic style that recalls stop-motion animation.
The Dark Knight returns with a new and ambitious adventure, this time reinterpreted within the Lego universe. The release reconstructs the entire trajectory of the DC superhero block by block, from his initial training to becoming the legend of Gotham. This proposal breaks with the traditional formula of other Lego games by focusing on only seven playable heroes with unique abilities, and by including a deeper combat system inspired by the Arkham saga. It is a highly anticipated video game for the balance between the classic humor of the toy brand and a more cinematic and epic story.
The famous secret agent returns to the world of video games, this time at the hands of IO Interactive and with a key participation from the studio's headquarters in Barcelona. First Light recounts the first steps of a young and still inexperienced James Bond on his first official mission to earn the 00 designation. The cinematic adventure combines thrilling action and driving moments with exploration and stealth sections, which promise to be very polished at the hands of the creators of the Hitman saga. The game also stands out for its freedom of action, a wide variety of international settings, and a raw and realistic tone. Without a doubt, the return of agent 007 is the most notable release of the month and is now published on most platforms, although it will be released later on Nintendo's console.
Extra level!
Beyond the big releases, we cannot forget the local scene and the most relevant ports and updates:
‘Constance’
May 1st
This two-dimensional metroidvania surprised PC players last year with its art and painterly atmosphere, and now it also arrives on all consoles.
‘Haneda Girl’
May 7
The frenetic action and platforming title from the Catalan studio Studio Koba also finds a place among consoles after its PC-only release almost a year ago. It won the award for best game feel at IndieDevDay 2024 and combines the gameplay of games like Celeste, Katana Zero, or Hotline Miami.
‘Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’
May 12
One of the most acclaimed games of 2024 is now also arriving on Nintendo Switch 2, a console that is increasingly hosting more major cross-platform productions.
‘Darksiders Warmastered Edition’
May 19
The first installment of the saga receives an update for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series, and arrives a few months after the teaser for the fourth installment of the saga that will initially continue the story of the original title.
‘Subnautica 2’
May
The sequel to Subnautica does not have a specific release date, but its early access is expected to begin this May. The title, which has undergone a chaotic and dark development worthy of a series, is one of the most anticipated within the survival genre thanks to its underwater setting and the studio's previous successes.