Are we really half-way through this year already? Time flies when you’re having fun! So far, we’ve had a great year of PC gaming and the second half looks just as good.
Here’s a list of our favorite eight games to play that have been released in 2016.
What games are your favorites so far? Let us know!
Factorio
Description: Factorio is a game about building and creating automated factories to produce items of increasing complexity, within an infinite 2D world.
If Minecraft has taught us anything is you don’t need great graphics or a compelling story line to make a fun game. All you need is the basics to build whatever your imagination lets you and you’re good to go.
Stardew Valley
Description: You’ve inherited your grandfather’s old farm plot in Stardew Valley. Armed with hand-me-down tools and a few coins, you set out to begin your new life. Can you learn to live off the land and turn these overgrown fields into a thriving home?
There’s something to say about just one guy making a game that is this good, and that is – Wow! The game is rather simple. You basically farm and interact with the local townsfolk and/or whatever else comes to mind. This type of open-ended gameplay seems to always be fun as it allows you to play the game in your own way, not the way someone else thinks would be fun.
Darkest Dungeon
Description: Darkest Dungeon is a challenging gothic roguelike turn-based RPG about the psychological stresses of adventuring. Recruit, train, and lead a team of flawed heroes against unimaginable horrors, stress, famine, disease, and the ever-encroaching dark. Can you keep your heroes together when all hope is lost?
While this title was on Early Access in 2015, it was “officially” released until January 18, 2016. Darkest Dungeon adds a twist to the typical turn based RPG by measuring the stress each fight has on your team. This stress level impacts your ability to fight creatures of ranging difficulty and abilities. It isn’t a simple endurance meter, as it measures “paranoia, masochism, fear, irrationality, and a host of gameplay-meaningful quirks!”
Rise of the Tomb Raider
Description: Featuring epic, high-octane action moments set in the most beautiful hostile environments on earth, Rise of the Tomb Raider delivers a cinematic survival action adventure where you will join Lara Croft on her first tomb raiding expedition as she seeks to discover the secret of immortality.
Gone are the days of the pyramid shaped breasts and some eyecandy type of female protagonist. Now, Lara Croft has a more authentic feel than the games I played on the consoles. She isn’t some super-athletic gymnast noblewoman this time around, but a determined woman facing challenges that make us feel as though we’re going through the adventure with her.
Dark Souls III
Description: Dark Souls continues to push the boundaries with the latest, ambitious chapter in the critically-acclaimed and genre-defining series. Prepare yourself and Embrace The Darkness!
There isn’t much to say about Dark Souls III except that you should prepare yourself to die.. a lot. As with the previous Dark Souls games, the enemies in this one don’t mess around. You’re not some super-hero that can take the beating of a demi-god, you’re a warrior like any other. If you get smacked in the face with a sword, you’re going down. If this is your kind of game, if fights that challenge your skills constantly are you type of game, then this is the perfect one for you.
Overwatch
Description: In Overwatch, you control one of several heroes in competitive 6-person team shooting matches. Battle over objectives, take down the other team, and achieve victory.
Blizzard‘s latest IP has certainly made a name for itself in short order. It’s fast pace gameplay and variety of skills make it kind of a mixture between a MOBA such as DOTA and the action and style of Team Fortress.
XCOM 2
Description: XCOM 2 is the sequel to the award-winning strategy game, XCOM: Enemy Unknown. Twenty years have passed since humanity lost the war against the alien invaders and a new world order now exists on Earth. After years of lurking in the shadows, XCOM forces must rise and eliminate the alien occupation.
Turn-based action fighting aliens from another world bent on taking over the planet. What’s not to love?
Doom
Description: DOOM returns as a brutally fun and challenging modern-day shooter experience. Relentless demons, impossibly destructive guns, and fast, fluid movement provide the foundation for intense, first-person combat.
Just buy it. It’s on sale on Steam right now for $36 and worth every single penny. In this remake of the classic you’re playing through the original story line with far more depth as to what is going on. It’s beautiful and bloody. A perfect game for stress relief.
