Story modes in sports games have had a long-standing problem. Scripted narratives clash with the “anything can happen” nature of sports, which means what happens in the actual games can be in direct opposition to what happens in the narrative.
01.01.2024 - 17:27 / wccftech.com / Best
Pure adventure games are a peculiar genre. Some of the most popular games nowadays belong to the action/adventure genre, but for the purposes of our year-end lists, we prefer to split this category into action and adventure.
Because of this choice, this list is filled with titles with little to no combat, emphasizing exploration, puzzles, and overall mystery-solving instead. They also tend to be made by smaller studios that bet more on innovative features and ideas rather than bombastic visuals or high production values.
2023 wasn't quite a banner year for adventure games, as no new release received universal acclaim. That said, there were still several enjoyable games that genre aficionados should look into.
Also in Wccftech's Best Games of 2023 lists: Shooter, Fighting, RPG, Action, Indie
Seven years after the release of the critically acclaimed OXENFREE, developer Night School Studio (a subsidiary of Netflix since 2021) finally released the sequel to the adventure game. According to Ule Lopez, who scored the game 8 out of 10 in Wccftech's review, OXENFREE II: Lost Signals is nearly as good as the first installment.
Oxenfree 2 feels like it relies on its dialogue system a bit too much as its more exciting elements take a backseat. While the dialogue is still incredible, the appearance of these more unique sequences left me often asking where I would be able to find more of the unique time-altering puzzles and surreal visuals that also made it stand out over other games. The character writing is still as good as the first game, but it feels like more could have been done to make it stand above the first game.
Don't Nod's Jusant is possibly the most unique title on this list of adventure games. Instead of being a sequel or adapting a well-established science fiction setting, the game tasks the player with climbing an absolutely massive desolate tower. This structure was once lively and surrounded by the ocean until a massive drought drained all water. As such, it can be considered post-apocalyptic, even though the art style is quite vibrant and painterly as opposed to the bleak atmosphere we're used to in post-apocalyptic fiction. The gameplay focuses on platforming and puzzle solving, with many interesting traversal mechanics involved in the climb. Meanwhile, players discover traces of long-gone civilizations.
The debut game of Polish studio Starward Industries, The Invincible is based on the hard sci-fi novel first published by Stanisław Lem in 1964. This, by and large, is a linear title. However, it's still an interesting experience for
In short, The Invincible is a relatively comfortable experience that I could recommend to fans of thrillers and science fiction. I don't think it could be scratching
Story modes in sports games have had a long-standing problem. Scripted narratives clash with the “anything can happen” nature of sports, which means what happens in the actual games can be in direct opposition to what happens in the narrative.
The games industry spans every genre and interest so that all needs are catered for. Be it an indie game on Steam or a Triple A title, there’s nowhere games can’t go, especially equestrianism, making it essential to know things like the best horse games to play.
The Nintendo Switch has had a lot of success in the nearly six years since its release. The console-handheld hybrid has been on the market since 2017, and a slew of fantastic games from first- and third-party developers have launched over the course of the system’s life cycle. Recently, heavy hitters such as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Pokémon Scarletand Violet, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder have boosted the system’s appeal, while a healthy list of upcoming Switch games continues to drum up excitement.
Few video game consoles stirred up as much buzz as the Nintendo Wii. Before motion-tracking software was considered standard fare and shovelware began popping up left and right to take advantage, Nintendo looked to revolutionize the gaming landscape with the Wii.
Amazon Sale 2024: The Amazon Republic Day Sale 2024 has kicked off with a bang, offering incredible discounts on a vast array of products. From smartphones to home appliances and electronics, there's something for everyone. Dive into the shopping extravaganza of the year, as the Amazon Sale 2024 brings you unbeatable offers on microwave ovens, with savings reaching up to a whopping 40 percent off their regular prices.
There’s no shortage of quality mobile games in 2024, and it can be hard to sift through the sheer number of games downloadable on your phone. That’s where we come in: Over the years, we’ve filled up our phones with mobile games to find the best games across genres. Looking for a hidden object game? A unique tower defense title? A turn-based RPG or classic side-scrolling runner?
Following a solid albeit not outstanding 2023, adventure games fans can look forward to the release of several long-anticipated titles throughout 2024. As usual for this genre, the selected titles offer a unique mix of intrigue and serenity (sometimes seamlessly intertwined) that you are unlikely to find elsewhere.
2023 was a landmark year for horror (check out Wccftech's Best Of here), delivering the super-ambitious Alan Wake 2, a pair of rock-solid remakes in Resident Evil 4 and Dead Space, excellent indies like Amnesia: The Bunker, and more. 2024 may not be quite as strong, but it largely keeps the ball rolling down a similar horrifying path, with a couple of new remakes (The Last of Us Part II Remastered and Silent Hill 2), new entries in fan-favorite series (Alone in the Dark), and some promising indies (Still Wakes the Deep). Those dark days when it looked like survival horror might be finished are definitely behind us, so steel your nerves. Here are Wccftech's picks for the games that will be keeping you awake in 2024.
VVVVVV was part of the initial wave of indie platformers, which means it was released in 2010 and is now a certified classic. To celebrate its 14th birthday, developer Terry Cavanagh has dropped an update which makes it Steam Deck verified and professionally translates it into 21 new languages.
2023 was one of the best years for roleplaying games in living memory, thanks to the release of some absolute bangers, but 2024 has the potential to overshadow it by a mile, as the next 12 months will see the launch of some highly anticipated titles.
After the packed year that was 2023, it feels like 2024 may be a bit more of a bridge year, although there’s still plenty for the action fan to look forward to over the next 12 months. A lot of this year’s action games are going big, with Rise of the Ronin and Star Wars Outlaws being full open world, and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II at the very least being much larger than its predecessor (Ninja Theory hasn’t confirmed whether they’re going outright open-world yet). Certainly, everything on this list is pushing the technical bar hard, whether it be the dizzying action of Stellar Blade or the UE5 visuals of Metal Gear Solid Delta. Here are Wccftech’s top 5 action games you’ll be battling through in 2024.
Major actors’ union SAG-AFTRA have raised hackles among a number of voice game performers after striking a deal with a company that wants to create AI replicas of actors’ voices for use in games, among other things. While the union claim that their agreement with Replica will allow for a “fair” and “ethical” approach to creating AI voices, it’s clear that a number of actors with credits in games from Baldur’s Gate 3, Mortal Kombat and Starfield to Apex Legends, World of Warcraft and Genshin Impact don’t agree.