#supergiant games really blessed us all

[linefelcei]

Big Bro Zagreus and Baby Sis Melinoë 🥺❤️

[spiritual-entries]

𝙷𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚘 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚎!

I wanted to try and start a little series to provide information. It’ll include the greek gods as well as the saints. For the greek gods I want to try and do as many gods as I can before I get burnt out with this. 

First I wanted to post about Lord Hermes. He’s been a part of my practice the longest and I feel the most connected to him. I really do hope that this post can be of use to anyone who needs. I certainly do hope that this post and this series can help me grow closer to my practice. So we will see! 

𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚜

Who is Hermes?

Epithets

Family Tree

Symbols & Associations

Offerings & Devotions

Festivals

Sources

Hermes is the Olympian god of herds and flocks, travelers and hospitality, roads and trade, thievery and cunning, heralds and diplomacy, language and writing, athletic contests and gymnasiums, astronomy, and astrology. He is the messenger of Zeus as well as a guide of the souls, aka a psychopomp. 

Greeks depicted Hermes as either a handsome and athletic, beardless youth or as an older, bearded man, with winged boots and a herald's wand. However, Hermes can appear to you in any way that fits. For me personally, he doesn’t completely fit the typical description, although I guess it does fit the handsome, athletic, beardless youth depiction. 

Pop Culture

You may have seen Hermes around in your daily life. The caduceus is often used as a symbol in the medical world. Although not because Hermes is tied to medicine in any way. The use of the caduceus is simply due to many mistaking it for the rod of Asclepius. What’s the difference? Hermes’s staff depicts two snakes while Asclepius’s rod only depicts one. 

Hermes himself appears in various pieces of media. Stories like Disney’s Hercules or Percy Jackson. He also appears in the Supergiant Games’s Hades as a god that can help you in your journey, or as a boss in God of War III.

You may have also heard of the luxury brand Hermès, which doesn’t seem to be related to the god at all but it pops up when you search him so I’m adding it anyway. I don’t actually know if this is a good brand or not but they seem to keep sustainability in mind so there’s that at least.

There are many different epithets for Hermes. While there isn’t as many as other gods, there’s still a decent amount of epithets for him. What are epithets? Well, they are essentially surnames for the gods to describe their different aspects. If you wish to call upon a specific aspect of a god you would use their epithet when talking with them.

Now for the different epithets of Hermes. I will be including the transliteration version of the names as the Greek names use special characters that I am unsure if they’ll even show up. So we’re getting close enough.

𝙲𝚞𝚕𝚝 𝙴𝚙𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚝𝚜

A

Aipytos 

Of Aepytus (hero Arcadia)

Agoraios

Of the Market-Place

Akakêsios

Of Acacesium (Arcadia)

D

Dolios

Of Crafts, Of Wiles

E

Enagônios

Of the Games

Epimêlios

Keeper of the Flocks

H

Hermêneutês

Interpreter, Translator

K

Kriophoros

Ram-Bearer

Kyllênios

Of Mt Cyllene (Arcadia)

P

Promakhos

Champion

Pronaos

Of the Fore-Temple

Propylaios

Of the Gateway

T

Trikephalos

Three-Headed (Of Road-Intersections)

𝙿𝚘𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚌 𝙴𝚙𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚝𝚜

A

Akakêta

Guileless, Gracious

Aglaos

Splendid, Bright, Glorious

Angelos Athanatôn

Messenger of the Gods

Angelos Makarôn

Messenger of the Blessed

Athanatos Diaktoros

Immortal Guide

Argeiphontês

Slayer of Argos

Arkhos Phêlêteôn

Leader of Robbers, Thieves

B

Bouphonos

Slayer of Oxen

D

Dais Hetairos

Comrade of the Feast

Diaktoros

Guide, Messenger

Dôtor Eaôn

Giver of Good Things

E

Erikydês

Famous, Glorious, Splendid

Eriounês

Luck-Bringing, Ready-Helper

Euskopos

Keen-Sighted, Watchful

K

Kharidôtês

Giver of Joy

Kharmophrôn

Glad-Hearted, Heart-Delighting

Khrysorrhapis

Of the Golden Wand

Klepsiphrôn

Deceiver, Dissembler

Krateros

Strong, Mighty

Kratus

Strong, Mighty

Kydimos

Glorious

Kyllenios

Of Mt Cyllene

M

Maiados Huios

Son of Maia

Mastêrios

Of Searchers

Mêkhaniôtês

Trickster, Contriver

O

Oiopolos

Sheep-Tending, Shepherd

P

Phêlêtês

Thief, Robber, Rustler

Poikilomêtês

Full of Various Wiles

Polytropos

Wily, Many-Turning

Pompaios

The Guide

Poneomenos

Busy One

𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚜

FATHER ; Zeus - King of the Gods

MOTHER ; Maia - daughter of the Titanes Atlas and Pleione

𝙳𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚂𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜

Lady Artemis (half sister by Zeus)

Goddess of the Moon, the Hunt, Wild Animals & Wilderness, & Virginity

Lord Apollon (half brother by Zeus)

God of the Sun, Prophecy, Truth, Music & Poetry, Archery, Healing, & Light

Lord Ares (half brother by Zeus)

God of War

Lady Athena (half sister by Zeus)

Goddess of War, Wisdom, & Arts & Crafts

Lady Aphrodite (half sister by Zeus)

Goddess of Love, Beauty, Desire, & Fertility

Lord Hephaestus (half brother by Zeus)

God of Fire, the Forge, Metalworking & Sculpting, Craftsmen, & Technology

Lord Dionysus (half brother by Zeus)

God of Wine, Fertility, & Theatre

𝙳𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝙲𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚗

ANGELIA - goddess of messages Daughter of Hermes

ELEUSIS - goddess of the Eleusinian Mysteries. daughter of Hermes and Daeira

HERMAPHRODITOS (Hermaphroditus) - The hermaphroditic daimon son of Hermes and Aphrodite.

OREIADES (Oreads) Depends on the myth ; Many of the Oreiades were said to be the daughters of Hermes and other Oreaides Nymphai.

PALAISTRA (Palaestra) - goddess of wrestling Daughter of Hermes

PAN - the goat-footed god of shepherds son of Hermes and the Nymphe Penelopeia.

PANES Agreus ; son of Hermes and Nymphe Sose ; Nomios ; son of Hermes and Nymphe Penelopeia

PRIAPOS (Priapus) - god of garden fertility depends on the myth ; son of Hermes (most sources say this god was the son of Dionysus and Aphrodite).

SATYROI (Satyrs) Pherespondos, Lykos and Pronomos ; sons of Hermes and the Nymphe Iphthime

𝙼𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚕 𝙲𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚗

ABDEROS (Abderus) - prince of Opous who was loved by Herakles. son of Hermes

AITHALIDES (Aethalides) - A lord of Phthiotis who joined the expedition of the Argonauts. son of Hermes and Eupolemeia.

ARABOS (Arabus) - The first king of Arabia son of Hermes and Thronia.

AUTOLYKOS (Autolycus) - A thievish prince of Phokis son of Hermes and Khione.

BOUNOS (Bunus) - A king of Korinthos son of Hermes and Alkidameia.

DAPHNIS - A bard of Sikelia who invented pastoral or bucolic poetry son of Hermes and a Sikelian Nymphe

EKHION (Echion) - A lord of Alope in Malis who joined the expedition of the Argonauts son of Hermes and Antianeira.

ELEUSIS - A king and eponym of the town of Eleusis son of Hermes and Daeira

EUANDROS (Evander) - founded the city of Pallantium son of Hermes and the Naiad Karmentis.

EUDOROS (Eudorus) - A lord of Phthiotis son of Hermes and Polymele.

EURESTOS (Eurestus) son of Hermes and Aptale.

EURYTOS (Eurytus) - A lord of Alope in Malis who joined the expedition of the Argonauts. son of Hermes and Antianeira.

KAIKOS (Caecus) - A lord of Teuthrania son of Hermes and the Naias Nymphe Okyrrhoe.

KEPHALOS (Cephalus) - A lord and hunter of Attika son of Hermes and Herse (aka Kreusa)

KERYX (Ceryx) - A lord of Attika, first Herald of the Eleusinian Mysteries. son of Hermes and Agraulos (or Thrakian King Eumolpos)

KYDON (Cydon) - A lord of Kydonia in Krete son of Hermes and the Kretan princess Akalle

LIBYS A king of Libya son of Hermes and the princess Libya

MYRTILOS (Myrtilus) - The herald and charioteer of King Oinomaos of Pisa son of Hermes and Theoboula

NORAX - A prince of Iberia son of Hermes and Erytheia

ORION - A giant who was born in answer to the prayers of the childless Boiotian King Hyrieus son to Hermes, Poseidon and Zeus

PHARIS - A lord who founded the city of Pharai son of Hermes and the Danaid Phylodameia

PHAUNOS (Phaunus) - A barbaric Italian king who sacrificed strangers to his father ; slain by Herakles. Son of Hermes

POLYBOS (Polybus) - A king of Sikyonia son of Hermes and Queen Khthonophyle

SAON - The first king of the island of Samothrake son of Hermes and the Nymphe Rhene (OR Zeus and a Nymphe).

𝚂𝚢𝚖𝚋𝚘𝚕𝚜

Caduceus

Hermai (Stones that marked roads and boundaries, often with the carved head of Hermes)

Lyre

Petasos (Travellers’ Cap)

𝙰𝚗𝚒𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚜

Tortoise

Ram

Hawk

Rooster

Snake

Hare

𝙵𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚜, 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚋𝚜, 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚜, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚏𝚛𝚞𝚒𝚝

Crocus

Greek Strawberry-Tree

Palm Tree

Almond Tree

𝙲𝚛𝚢𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚜/𝚂𝚝𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜

Amethyst

Hematite

Agate

Amber

Citrine

Peridot

Yellow topaz

Emerald

Red Marble

𝙲𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚛𝚜

Gold

Yellow

Orange

Silver

Grey

Green

Red

𝙴𝚕𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝

Air

𝙿𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚎𝚝

Mercury

𝙳𝚊𝚢

Wednesday

𝚃𝚊𝚛𝚘𝚝 𝙲𝚊𝚛𝚍𝚜

Can really be any card that you decide to use as an identifier between you and Lord Hermes. These are just some suggestions.

Judgement

The Magician

These are just suggestions! You can always find a different offering or devotional act based on your own personal associations and practice. And if you can’t provide any physical offerings, that’s okay. Devotional acts or digital offerings are just as good.

This list consists of UPG and SPG suggestions.

Offerings

Currency

Dice

Feathers

Travel Tickets

Souveniers

Imagry of his associations

Foods & Drinks

Foreign Foods

Red Wine

Olive Oil

Strawberries

Coffee/Energy drinks

Water

Honey

Lemons

Almonds

Cinnamon

Chocolate

Wheat

Devotional Acts

Travelling

Learn a new language

Play a sport

Learn Astrology

Practice public speaking

Do *harmless* pranks (Confuse, don’t abuse)

Write to him

Research

Donate to homeless shelters, to local sports teams, or relief charities

Workout

Make a devotional playlist and listen to it

Prayer to Hermes

I call to Hermes, son of thundering Zeus

and gracious Maia, fair of face and kind of heart;

father of Tyche, granter of serendipity.

In rugged Arcadia, land of your birth,

were you well known and praised by one and all; in all

the ancient world did you receive honors. Throughout

the land stood herms and mounded stones, at crossroads

and at boundaries, in all the far-flung provinces,

marking the path and holding your gift of fortune,

Far-journeying Hermes, guide of the traveler,

fleet-footed god of merchants, god of gamblers and thieves

and all who live by wit and wile and clever words,

master of discretion and finesse. Hermes,

protector of the home, provider of .feast and frolic,

courier of dreams, kind Hermes, I call to you.

Hermaea

The festival dedicated to Hermes celebrated in several parts of Greece. The boys were on this occasion dressed in their best, offered sacrifices to the god, and amused themselves with various games and sports.

𝚂𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚌𝚎𝚜

Theoi Summary

Theoi

Epithets

Timeless Myths

Study.com

Mythopedia

A Guide to Worship

Greek Gods Cheat Sheet

Prayers to Hermes

Hermaea

[a-couple-of-notes]

Hades II Deep Dive (Part I)

This is not because I expect any of this to actually be true - I just have too much excitement about this game and decided to apply my hyperfixation to ◇ RESEARCH ◇ and ◇ NARRATIVE GUESSING ◇!

This is gonna be a long deep dive, and I’m gonna try to structure it coherently by dividing it into sections: characters, setting, and miscellaneous. Sources will be provided in a bibliography and in-text, because none of us can escape MLA no matter how far we run. Here we go!

[Edit after one entire day of drafting: when I said it was going to be long, I really meant "this is going to be massive." So this is part 1 of TBD. Please enjoy...whatever madness this is.]

PART I | PART II |

CHARACTERS

Melinöe

Mythology

The explosion of videos and articles on Melinöe after the announcement of the game means that you’ve likely encountered some of the mythological history behind her (and by some, I mean all, since there’s little surviving primary material on her.) The hymn in which she appears is Orphic Hymn 70. As always, there are a few different translations, but the broad strokes agree.

Melinöe is described as “saffron-cloaked” (Athanassakis, 2013), “saffron-robed” (Mastros, 2018), or even “saffron-veil’d” (Taylor, 1792). This is clearly where she draws her orange top from. She is said to be a “two-bodied specter” (Athanassakis) or “a phantasm, two-formed” (Mastros), which is probably where the ghost arm comes from, though Taylor interprets the text as limbs “partly black...and partly white.” (If I were reaching, I could say this is why much of the first part of the trailer is done in silhouette, with lots of contrasting dark and light.)

She was born at the mouth of Cocytus, one of the five rivers of the Underworld (more on that later). According to the hymn, her father is Zeus, who took on the guise of Hades and coupled with her mother Persephone.

Here’s where we get into the fun stuff, though. In Mastros' and Athanassakis’ translations, Melinöe is a “nymph of the earth” who doesn’t just live in the underworld - she appears on the surface at night in different forms to drive mortals to madness. Interestingly, the hymn seems to celebrate this ability, framing it as driving the madness out of souls. The hymn ends with the speaker beseeching the goddess to “show to the initiates a kindly and holy face,” and in Taylor’s version specifically, to bless “mystics, and [their] rites divine” in shrines.

The other surviving piece of Melinöe mythology is a bronze tablet from ancient Pergamon, depicting three goddesses: Dione (a Titan and the mother of Aphrodite), Phoebe (at first considered a Titan and grandmother to Artemis and Apollo, and later conflated with Artemis herself), and Nyx. Inscribed around the outside are the words “O Persephone, O Melinoë, O Leucophryne.” The purposes are unclear, but it may be a divination or scrying tablet.

In-Game

It’s debatable how much of this mythology will influence the actual character, especially given that this hymn is Orphic, and therefore comes from an unreliable (though lovable!) source in-universe. They’ve made some (wise) changes already, including ditching the Zeus-in-disguise angle to make Melinöe’s father Hades straight up.

It’s clear, though, that they’ve done their homework as usual: Melinöe’s clothing and her ghost arm are straight from the hymn. The frequent motif of the moon makes sense (as does her weapons being called “weapons of Night”), as Melinöe walks on the surface at night. And her being on the surface instead of in Hades has a mythological precedent, if Supergiant wanted to do a completely reversed "trying to break into the Underworld." (I don't think this is the case, but it's there.) She also has connections to the mystical elements Supergiant wants to explore, blessing shrines and being invoked in divination. For example, this could be a shrine here:

It will be interesting to see if the Titans on the tablet show up in any form, or if the List of Fated Prophecies is replaced by a divination tablet.

We can also make predictions off the original game. It’s a no-brainer that Supergiant will want some contrast with the first game, so I’m pretty confident that Melinöe will be serious and dutiful to a fault, where Zagreus was rebellious and banter-y. Just look at...well, all her lines from the trailer - “Not good enough” ; “No. I was born for this.” - as well as this screenshot: 

[“I’ve no excuses for my failure, Headmistress. But I swear to you and all the gods above and below, I’ll slay the Titan yet!”]

That’s not a rebel. That’s someone so responsible they’re gonna grind themselves into the ground. (Which also fits with her apparent deference to her father Hades - of course Hades is going to favor a kid who does what she’s told.)

Narratively, of course, this means that she’ll probably arc toward rebellion/coming into her own, so we’ll see how that goes, and if her brother Zagreus helps any with that.

[NEXT PART: Hecate]

Sources

Athanassakis, Apostolos N., and Benjamin Wolkow. The Orphic Hymns. The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2013, https://books.google.com/books?id=TTo3r8IHy0wC&pg=PA57#v=onepage&q&f=false

Mastros, Sara. “Orphic Hymn #70, for Melinöe.” Facebook, 24 May 2018, https://www.facebook.com/OrphicHymns/posts/2104260082937205/

“Phoebe.” Encyclopedia Brittanica, 6 Jul. 2012, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Phoebe-Greek-mythology

Supergiant Games. “Hades II FAQ.” Supergiant Games, 8 Dec. 2022, https://www.supergiantgames.com/blog/hades2-faq

—. “Hades II on Steam.” Steam, 8 Dec. 2022, https://store.steampowered.com/app/1145350/Hades_II/ 

—. “Hades II - Reveal Trailer.” YouTube, 8 Dec. 2022, https://youtu.be/l-iHDj3EwdI 

Taylor, Thomas. “LXX - To Melinöe.” 1792. Theoi Texts Library, 2017, https://www.theoi.com/Text/OrphicHymns2.html

[yuamusuzuran]

2023... but told in my hyperfixations

Just a post that allows me to track all of my various hyperfixations that have helped me pass this grueling and busy year

HADES (Supergiant Game)

I played this game for at least 6 months non-stop. I was obsessed with everything about it, from story, gameplay all the way to relationships and dialogue. I was ESPECIALLY whipped for PatroChilles and ThanZag. My major fixation spurs were January and February as well as May. I still play Hades when I need to decompress, I have almost 200h in it and I have 100% achievements which is my first time ever

Captive Prince series by C. S. Pacat

I read this trilogy during February and when I tell you I was smacked in the face by how good it was. From intrigue, plot and political drama all the way to relationships. But ofc I was mostly blown away by the relationship between Damen and Laurent, like, I DID NOT EXPECT to love their relationship so much. I WAS IN SHAMBLES BECAUSE OF THEIR GENTLE LOVE. Couldn't recover for weeks

KINGDOM - Dystopia

One of the things I was really looking forward to. The whole album blew me away and the Japanese aesthetic was top notch. How much my boys have grown, I was in shambles

GENSHIN IMPACT!!!!!!!

What can I say, I ENDED UP LOOKING INTO IT. I didn't start officially playing it yet, but I went through the lore, studied all characters and their relationships and ofc got sucked into shipping side of the fandom (it's not that hard to intrigue me with that)

I was specifically OBSESSED with DainKae (Dainsleif x Kaeya), XiaoAether, HaiKaveh and CynoNari. And as new patches come by and Fointaine was introduced, my fixation periods always come back with new content. And right now, I'm all about Wriollette. Fixation started in July and has been coming and going as the new content was introduced (when Furina's backstory was introduced, I was bawling)

RED, WHITE AND ROYAL BLUE MOVIE!!!!

I was prepared for this movie since last year BUT THE ACTUAL THING BLEW ME AWAY! I was so happy to watch it finally, I LOVED the chemistry and even though I have a couple of grievances with it, I think the whole message was portrayed nicely! I won't tell you how many times I've watched the movie, it's literally my comfort media. The main fixation period was before the release and entire August.

Avatar: The Way of Water

I was very late with my watch BUT BOY WAS I OBSESSED AND HIT LIKE A TRUCK WITH IT. The movie had everything I expected it to have and it really made me feel a lot of things. I was so devastated over Teyam, I had SO MANY theories about other three sequels and honestly, I'm still not over how good that movie is. And now, that I know the third sequel is coming around Christmas of 2025, I know the first part of 2026 will be marked by that movie alone. Major fixation period was end of August and ENTIRE September

KINGDOM - Coup d'Etat

Every time Kingdom has a comeback I go into brainrot, deal with it. This comeback was special because it was the last part of their History of Kingdom series and we got SO MANY information on their lore that also prepared us for Season 2! I cannot tell you how insufferable I'll become when the next series of albums starts. As far as this album goes, though, I had no complaints, another non-skip album and Coup d'Etat was a perfect showcase of their growth in the last 3 years. So yeah, majority of my October and November was occupied by them.

And finally.... HEAVEN OFFICIAL'S BLESSING (TGCF)

This story pounced on me like a tiger from an ambush and honestly, I'm not complaining. I know all spoilers, I'm SO OBSESSED with HuaLian and am currently on the 2nd book. I think I'll be even more obsessed when I live though all the important moments though books and I CAN GUARANTEE my interest will once again peak when I start watching donghua (I'm waiting for season 2 to finish so I can watch both Chinese and English, oh, and Japanese will be watched eventually). And, ofc, I'm planning to buy all eight English volumes!!

[darthkvznblogs]

From His Vantage Upon the Moon #1

Thor, Doctor Strange, and the Olympians

(MCU x Percy Jackson and the Olympians x Supergiant Games' Hades)

It's rather bad form for a visiting god not to check in with the local deities; Thor's already missed two visits, so he really oughta visit Mount Olympus - though in his defense, being cast out by Odin really shouldn't count. Fortunately, Doctor Strange is willing to play mediator between the typically fickle pantheons.

(From His Vantage upon the Moon is a collection of one-shot stories set in the Kryptonverse, an MCU based crossover universe including over 16 franchises so far. You can find the original work here, but I'll also be posting each short story here on Tumblr, too! If you like what I do, and would like to support me, you can find me on Ko-fi!)

“Are you entirely certain you wish to accompany me, Sorcerer?” –Thor asks, raising an eyebrow as they stand just outside the Empire State Building. Despite the fact that they’re in street clothes, Thor’s outrageously chiseled physique keeps drawing quite a few lascivious gazes, much to Stephen’s chagrin.

“Were it truly up to me, I’d be happy to let you make a fool of yourself.” –he drawls. “My duties, however, require me to mediate your reunion.”

Thor hums. “I don’t recall requiring a mediator during my last visit.” –he grouses. “The Lords of Olympus were quite amenable to our brief presence on Midgard back then.”

“That was then, and this is now. Earth has changed quite a bit in your absence.” –Strange argues. “The Olympians and their demigod children, in particular, have suffered through quite a bit of turmoil in the past few decades – particularly so in the last five years. Compounded with the thinning of the Mist, they’re bound to be wary of anyone outside their immediate circle of trust. Even if you were a friend.”

“Ah. I see.” –Thor mutters. “Strange, is it not? Their own troubles, Loki’s betrayal and the bandit rampage throughout the Nine Realms...we’ve had centuries of peace, and now this. So much has happened in so little time.”

Strange sighs. “I’m afraid this could just be the beginning. But this isn’t the time for that.” –he says. “Let’s hurry along. You have an invasion to repel.”

The god and the sorcerer walk into the building. A security guard stands beside the elevator – less a person and more a magical security measure meant to dissuade mortals (and even some demigods) from entering the gods’ abode. The guard recognizes Strange, though, and merely waves him into the elevator – though not before shooting Thor a vaguely hostile look.

“Odd custom, this.” –Thor notes, as Strange punches in their destination – floor 600. “Moving their home around so often – seems rather a hassle. What’s wrong with the original Mount Olympus?”

“The Olympians like to chase the most powerful nations around, eager for worship as they are. Right now, America’s at the top of the food chain.” –Strange retorts. “Though I hear they’re considering moving back to Greece as part of their big PR strategy. This part of the world is getting rather crowded, rather fast – and Greece could certainlyuse the tourism it’d bring, once they reveal themselves to the world.”

“I remember their strange worship-sustenance, yes.” –Thor recalls as he raises an eyebrow. “Have the mortals truly forgotten us?”

Strange shakes his head. “It’s not like that. Your kind may have become myths, but we still retell them in many forms. That being said, very few people believe in the gods – and I’m not entirely certain that they think of you as you truly are. You and your kin, in particular, have drawn some rather nastyfollowers in the past century or so.”

Thor winces. “Jane mentioned as much, during my brief stay. Something about ‘perfect Arian men’.” –he mutters, disheartened. “Hatred and fear twist the minds of gods and mortals alike. Such it has been as long as I’ve lived.”

“Well, that’s what we’re here for. It’s up to us to set the record straight.” –Stephen says.

Thor nods as the elevator dings, opening to the golden gates and pristine marble of Olympus. “Aye, that we are.”

The duo make their way forth, magically changing into their mystical regalia. Lesser gods and nature spirits look on in surprise and curiosity as Thor cheerfully greets them, giggling nymphs and naiads huddling into gossiping circles. The throne room sits atop a small cliff, like the Parthenon in Athens, overlooking the entire realm and the hazy mortal world, barely visible below.

When they enter, Strange can’t help but be surprised; it’s been maybe a month since he was last on Olympus, and yet he can barely recognize the figures sat on each of the thirteen thrones, each of them at least thirty feet tall – the only exception being the hooded figure of Hestia, placidly sat within the flames of the hearth in the middle of the room.

“Venerable Lords and Ladies of Olympus.” –Stephen half bows. “The Mighty Thor, Firstborn of Odin, God of Thunder, Strength, and Fertility, would request an audience of you.”

The god at the head of the Pantheon leans forward. King Zeus looks very different – his skin is a few shades darker than Strange remembers, closer to the olive tones of the Greek, and his more or less sensible black hair and beard have dramatically changed to become cloud-like in appearance, billowing in the ever-present wind of the divine mountaintop. Gone, too, is his perfectly tailored suit – he is clad in a golden toga, accented in white, and a plethora of rings adorn his hands, one of which casually holds the Master Bolt. A crown of stylized lightning sits atop his head. “Master Sorcerer.” –he greets, his voice booming like distant thunder. “And the Lord Thor. Welcome to Olympus.”

“Do forgive the lack of appropriate fanfare in your reception.” –Queen Hera says, beside him, snow-white robes adorned with a golden belt and peacock feathers, sprouting like a corona behind her head. “Dragging our family together for such an impromptu visit proved a more difficult endeavor than we anticipated.”

The thirteenth god scoffs, at Zeus’ left. Lord Hades crosses his arms, ashen-skinned, bushy-bearded, and much more muscular than Strange remembers him – perhaps the most visually different of them all. A crown of burning laurels, matching his flaming feet, compliments his blood-colored chiton, and precious stones of all kinds adorn his hands and arms. “Then perhaps you should have done with the few of you who were already present, Sister Hera. Blood and Darkness, but this is a waste of my time.” –he curses, leering at their guests with black and red eyes. “Curse the day your spawn so nobly decided to include me in these affairs, Poseidon.”

Poseidon, at least, Stephen recognizes. Physically, Percy’s father looks the same as before, for some reason – even though his clothes have also regressed to what must’ve been his ancient looks. He smirks at his older brother. “We won’t keep you from your lovely family for long, Brother.” –he says, trying to placate the wrathful Lord of the Underworld. “But this is important.”

“Loathe as I am to agree with Lord Poseidon, rekindling our bonds with King Odin and his kin upon Asgard is paramount among our short-term priorities, Lord Hades.” –Athena grudgingly admits. Hades scoffs, sulking back into his throne. The virgin Goddess of Wisdom and War turns to Thor. “And I sense Lord Thor is eager to make amends for his unannounced visit and battle, earlier this year.”

Thor grins. “Indeed, Lady Athena. Though the mortals bid us worship once, Asgard recognizes Olympus’ sovereignty upon Midgard. King Odin sends his regards – and his firstborn, to aid in the protection of your world in whatever way you deem necessary.” –he says.

Zeus and Hades share a knowing look that has Strange wincing internally – they must know something about Thor that the Asgardian himself doesn’t. “There is no transgression to apologize for. And you’re allowed free transit in our domains, fellow Thunderer.” –Zeus declares, amiably enough. “Though grateful for the All-Father’s offer, we do not hold you to our service. You’ve decided to shoulder enoughresponsibilities to humanity already.”

“Your brother, I assume he is no longer a threat?” –Athena asks, narrowing her stormy grey eyes.

Thor’s smile falters. “No, he isn’t. I come fresh off his sentencing – he will live out his many, many days in our dungeons. This, I feel, does require an apology.”

“Family is a difficult matter at the best of times, Thor.” –Lady Demeter says, glaring coldly at the King of Olympus. “You have our condolences for Loki’s turn to madness.”

“Thank you, Lady Demeter.” –Thor bows. Stephen worries, despite himself, at the hint of pain in his voice.

“Madness or not, I envied your ability to challenge it alongside the mortal champions, unbound by our ancient laws as you are. Will you go join them now, in the bloodshed about to unfurl?” –Ares wonders, blood-red irises keen to see the Asgardian in action.

Thor nods curtly, his jaw set. “Indeed, Lord Ares. I do not mean to cut our meeting short, but I must aid my brothers and sisters in battle.”

“Oh, how boring.” –Aphrodite laments. Hers is the most eye-turning makeover of all – if only because she’s fully nude, pink-skinned as the day she rose from Ouranos’...remains. Only her flowing, rosy Godiva hair allows her any modesty – and even then, it’s tremendously inconsistent. Intentionally, Strange must assume. “It’s all doing battle with you warrior types. Here I thought you’d come back to see that pretty little mortal you fancied.”

Thor clears his throat. “That, uh...that is a bonus, yes.” –he admits. “But protecting the world takes priority.”

Zeus nods, approvingly – a little bit hypocritically, Strange feels, considering how hands-off the Olympians can be. “So it does, Odinson. Go with our blessing – and do join us for a spot of Nectar and Ambrosia soon. We have a few thousand years of history to catch up on, after all.”

[tinygamertris]

Cat’s Top and Bottom 5 Video Games of 2020

As with last year, I count only games that I played for the first time this year, regardless of the year they were released. All opinions are personal and all flames will be met with a hearty ‘fuck you’ and used to roast marshmallows.

5th Best: Outer Worlds

Goddamn this was a beautiful game. Bright and colourful, filled with character, dripping with sarcasm and incredibly insightful satire, Parvarti... There was almost nothing about this game that I didn’t love. It’s what Fallout could be again if only Bethesda had the balls, pretty much the diametric opposite of the bland yearly release FPSes like CoD, and every inch of it screams of a dev team filled with passion and creativity. The only reason it’s not higher on the list is because it was locked to first person when I played it and first person inevitably makes me sick sooner or later. 

5th Worst: Seer’s Isle

This game isn’t bad as such. It’s very pretty and intensely mystical, with a plot that could have been remarkable. It’s what it promises but doesn’t deliver that killed it for me. I was promised a game with interactivity, where every choice I made impacted the ending, where my actions would determine who lives or dies. NOPE. What I got was a game that only holds up for one playthrough, because the moment you try to make good on the supposed varying plot you discover that it’s going to be the same thing over and over again with only two endings. At least it’s short.

4th Best: Ghost of Tsushima

Another ridiculously pretty game! It’s typical that in a year when the new consoles were released (oh what a clusterfuck that was) that the most graphically impressive game was on the PS4. The gameplay loop is a delight, allowing you to customise your approach to many situations, and the ability to challenge enemies to a duel to start a fight is buttery smooth and viscerally enjoyable. It’s only let down by the predictability of the main plot, to the point where I only did story quests when I ran out of other things to do and wanted to open a new area. Absolutely worth your time and money regardless, it’s a game that will make you feel like a badass samurai from the comfort of your own room.

4th Worst: South Park - The Fractured But Whole

This is a game where its strength is also its weakness: It’s like playing an episode of South Park. Much like the show, when it’s good it’s absolutely on FIRE, and when it’s bad it’s the most profoundly uncomfortable cringe I’ve ever experienced. In the end, all this game did was remind me why I stopped watching the series years ago.

3rd Best: Monster Keeper

A very recent Switch release, Monster Keeper earned it’s place with its simple but lovely graphics, its delightful Metroidvania gameplay, and the almost Pokemon-like pleasure of fielding a team of badass monsters to kick the asses of other badass monsters. When I’m not playing 1 or 2 on this list, I’m playing this game. 

3rd Worst: The Last of Us 2

In almost any other year this would absolutely top my worst of list. This game takes everything that I thought was worthwhile about the first game (Joel and Ellie’s relationship, complicated morality, and fuck all else) and shoves it down the toilet and takes a great steaming dump on it. The fact that this game swept the game awards in a year with Ghost of Tsushima, Hades and the Final Fantasy VII Remake is disgusting and final proof that the awards are as corrupt as the industry they celebrate.

2nd Best: Elder Scrolls Online

I’ve never been much of an MMO player. I find the presence of other humans in my games to normally be a nightmare. But this long drawn out dumpster fire of a year got me watching a LOT of videos on YouTube, and when my favourite channels did a few challenges in the new Greymoor chapter, I decided to give it a go as a birthday present to myself. And good lord did it pay off! Elder Scrolls Online is bloody huge, bloody beautiful, allows you to choose the level of interaction you have with other people, and has some of the best NPCs I’ve ever met in any video game. Not to mention the wonderful friends I’ve made both inside and outside the game, who have made this year of lockdowns and crises worth living through. Love you guys.

2nd Worst: Deadly Premonition 2 - A Blessing In Disguise

Holy transphobia, Batman! Swery really made an idiot of himself with this game and his reaction to the backlash, and yet again in any other year it would absolutely top the list. Sadly, it’s 2020, and it gets worse.

Honorable Mentions: Best

Dragon Quest Builders 2 (For having the wonderful combination of Dragon Quest’s ridiculous sense of humour and Minecraft’s dedication to building cool shit), Animal Crossing: New Horizons (for being the pure and gentle escape that I needed during the first few weeks of total isolation), Portal Knights (Another game with Minecraft’s addictive building mechanics and delightfully ridiculous characters), Final Fantasy VII Remake (honestly it earns this through the Honeybee Inn scene alone).

Honorable Mentions: Worst

Astral Chain (apparently it gets good a couple of hours in but I can’t fucking get that far so screw it), Death Stranding (what did I even?), Sin Eaters (utterly incomprehensible to the point I couldn’t figure out how to get out of the first room).

Best Game of 2020: Hades

How could any other game top this list? Hades is truly the best game Supergiant has created yet, and considering how incredibly good their games are as a rule, that’s saying a LOT. The art is just *chef’s kiss* perfect, the characters are all filled with personality and voice acted with incredible talent and dedication, the gameplay is a delightfully chaotic rampage through the various levels of the Greek Underworld, Zagreus is possibly my favourite protagonist of all time, and every single aspect of this game is sheer delighful perfection. Thank you, Supergiant Games, for a truly transcendent gaming experience that will stay with me for years to come.

Worst Game of 2020: Cyberpunk 2077

This game should have had it all. It was made by darling publisher CD Projekt Red, it starred Keanu ‘Most Perfect Human Being’ Reeves, it had years and years of hard work behind it... And it somehow managed to be an absolute shit-show the likes of which I’ve never seen before in a lifetime of gaming. From the lighting that gave people migranes and actual seizures (thanks a lot you assholes it took me three days to recover from that migrane), to the disgusting crunch forced upon the dev team by shitty management, to the plague of bugs, to the returns controversy, to the patches not arriving until some time in January... Not even Fallout 76 failed this hard. This proves once and for all that when Jim Sterling speaks, the industry needs to FUCKING LISTEN.

[aion-rsa]

25 Underrated PS4 Games

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After almost a decade on the market, the PlayStation 4 built up one of the most impressive gaming libraries in history. You’ve probably made your way through the big hits like The Last of Us Part II, God of War, and Bloodborne by now, but there are still plenty of lesser known games worth checking out before you finally make the jump to the PS5.

These are 25 of the best underrated PS4 games that may have fallen under your radar but are absolutely worth your time. Best of all, you can probably find most of these in bargain bins or at a discount in the PlayStation Store by now!

25. Helldivers

2015 | Arrowhead Game Studios

We’ve all played twin stick shooters to death, but Helldivers feels like the ultimate evolution of the well-tread genre, with huge, procedurally generated levels, tons of weapons, and missions that actually require some real strategy to complete. And good luck trying to get through the lengthy campaign on your own — Helldivers is much better (and much easier) as a multiplayer experience.

But probably the best part is that the game’s world and story are heavily influenced by the sci-fi classic Starship Troopers. It almost makes up for us never getting a good Starship Troopers game.

24. Shenmue III

2019 | Ys Net

Shenmue III is exactly what those of us who waited nearly 20 years for this sequel wanted. That’s both a blessing and a curse. If you played and enjoyed the first two games when they first came out, you’ll feel right at home with the clunky mechanics, awful voice acting, and monotonous yet addicting daily activities. Anyone new to the series will be baffled by what the big deal is and why anyone was clamoring for this sequel.

But kudos to director Yu Suzuki for taking his time and delivering an uncompromising vision of the game he always wanted to make. Let’s just hope we don’t have to wait another couple of decades for the next chapter.

23. Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments

2014 | Frogwares

Frogwares has been quietly toiling away at Sherlock Holmes adventure games since 2002, with mixed results. The series certainly has its fans, but Crimes & Punishments is the closest the series has come to a mainstream breakthrough. The gameplay is fairly standard for the genre: investigate crime scenes and gather clues to nab a suspect. But what sets the Sherlock Holmes titles apart is that you can always come to different conclusions, so there’s plenty of reasons to replay each mission.

Crimes & Punishments also has some of the best writing in the series. This Sherlock Holmes is grittier, amoral, and much closer to the detective envisioned by Arthur Conan Doyle than what we typically see in media adaptations.

22. Transistor 

2014 | Supergiant Games

Supergiant Games put themselves on the map with 2011’s critically acclaimed Bastion, but the follow up, Transistor, didn’t quite sit as well with gamers. Maybe the futuristic setting was a little too generic compared to Bastion’s more whimsical, narrated atmosphere. Maybe the ability to pause the real-time combat and plan your moves was a turn off to more action-oriented gamers.

Regardless of why gamers didn’t seem to embrace Transistor as much as Bastion, those who took a chance on it found another masterfully told story with deep, addictive combat.

21. Cat Quest

2017 | The Gentlebros

Nobody would blame you for thinking that Cat Quest is another shovelware title based on the artwork, but if you actually take a chance on it, you’ll find a surprisingly high quality action RPG with solid combat, plenty of equipment to upgrade, and cats. Lots and lots of cats.

There are also tons of side content, and plenty of nods to other classic series like The Elder Scrolls, The Legend of Zelda, and Dragon Quest. Pretty much the only reason to avoid this one is if you really, really hate cats for some reason. 

20. Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana

2017 | Nihon Falcom

Ys is virtually the poster child of underrated series at this point. Since the very first title on Japanese personal computers more than 30 years ago, each entry has been praised for its flat out fun combat and exploration. Ys VIII proudly carries on that tradition as one of the most enjoyable action RPGs on the PS4.

But more importantly, this entry in the long-running saga adds something previous games have always seemed to miss: an engaging story focusing on escaping a mysterious island. Unfortunately, this title still didn’t get a ton of attention from gamers. Give it a try!

19. Greedfall

2019 | Spiders

It’s a tough time for a new IP to break into the RPG genre, which is why you probably haven’t even heard of Greedfall. Yes, it’s a little rough around the edges and feels kind of like a mid-2000s BioWare game. But on the plus side, it feels like a mid-2000s BioWare game!

That means tons of well-written characters and moral ambiguity in a swashbuckling fantasy world. Admittedly, the combat can be clunky, and you’ll probably run into quite a few bugs, but if you can look past those issues, you’ll find a real role-playing gem.

18. The Evil Within 2

2017 | Tango Gameworks

It’s hard to understand why The Evil Within games have never clicked with more gamers. Produced by Shinji Mikami, the legendary director of the Resident Evil series, The Evil Within 2 builds on the ideas of its predecessor with more combat, bigger open world areas, and deeper weapon crafting. Plus, it’s super scary, with some of the creepiest looking enemies in any game ever.

With the Resident Evil series experimenting with first-person gameplay now, The Evil Within 2 feels more like the proper Resident Evil 4 sequel that never materialized. There’s no reason for action and survival horror fans to not check it out at this point.

17. Gravity Rush 2

2017 | SIE Japan Studio

Gravity Rush is a franchise that can’t seem to catch a break. Plenty of gamers missed out on the first title since it was initially a Vita exclusive, and then the physical release of the remaster was bafflingly only released on Amazon. Finally, Sony dumped this much-improved sequel immediately after the holiday season, ensuring it would be ignored by the masses.

That’s a real shame because Gravity Rush 2 now offers three different ways to control gravity and explore the massive world in a much lengthier, 20-hour adventure. And it looks fantastic since it didn’t start off as a portable game. Now if only Sony could figure out how to properly market the series, Gravity Rush could be its next big franchise.

16. Tearaway Unfolded

2015 | Media Molecule

Whether you consider Tearaway Unfolded to be more of a platformer or a puzzle game, it’s undeniably charming. The world, made entirely out of paper, is constantly surprising with both new locales and how to traverse them, and each character you meet on your journey as a deliveryman (or woman) is instantly likable. This is one of those games that will just always put you in a good mood.

Media Molecule also deserves a lot of credit for successfully porting the Vita controls of the original to this console remake. It’s a breeze using the touchpad to move and create objects. Few other PS4 games have even tried to emulate the innovative use of the DualShock 4.

15. Dragon Quest Heroes II

2017 | Omega Force

There’s no shortage of Musou games on the PS4, with most of them inspired by various anime series. Dragon Quest Heroes II sets itself apart though thanks to its setting. The iconic monsters of Dragon Quest have never looked better, and the new RPG mechanics, like visiting towns and being able to change classes during the lengthy story, add some welcome depth to the traditional hack and slash gameplay. It almost feels like a new action RPG take on the typical Dragon Quest offering.

But unfortunately, as with most Dragon Quest games in the west, gamers were mostly ambivalent to the release of Dragon Quest Heroes II. While the series is big in the Japan, it just doesn’t seem to have widespread global appeal, no matter what developers try.

14. The Order: 1886

2015 | Ready at Dawn

The Order:1886 is a classic case of a great game being dead on arrival due to overhyped expectations. In retrospect, it’s not clear exactly what gamers were expecting. Blame a misunderstanding about what the PS4 was capable of early on in its life, or maybe what the developers were going for. The game looked great at release (and still does), and the steampunk-inspired hunt for vampires and werewolves is unique among third-person cover-based shooters. Maybe people were expecting an open-world game.

Regardless of why so many people seemed disappointed with it, The Order: 1886 is a fun game, even if it’s super short and there’s not much replay value here. Still, it’s a fun ride while it lasts and well worth picking up on sale now. 

13. Killzone: Shadow Fall

2013 | Guerilla Games

Remember when Killzone was hyped up as the “Halo killer?” Yeah, that never quite panned out. But Killzone: Shadow Fall is easily the best game in the series, building on its predecessors with more open-ended levels and new stealth abilities. It also brings in a whole new cast, so you don’t even have to be familiar with the other games. And while multiplayer is kind of dead now, it was actually a lot of fun when Shadow Fall launched alongside the PS4.

Then everyone kind of forgot about it. Even Sony seems to have abandoned what was once a flagship series. Oh well, it’s still worth checking out Shadow Fall and thinking about where the series could go next.

12. Assassin’s Creed Syndicate

2015 | Ubisoft

The last “traditional” Assassin’s Creed game before Ubisoft went full RPG easily ranks among the best in the series, with two likeable protagonists and a story that embraces the good, the bad, and the ugly of Victorian England. The rope launcher opened up all sorts of new ways to climb up and across buildings, and while driving carriages and fighting on top of them isn’t quite as cool as captaining your own pirate ship, it’s still pretty damn fun.

Ultimately, Syndicate didn’t get much attention at release because it was the ninth outing for an aging game engine. Ubisoft desperately needed to evolve the Assassin’s Creed games, but if you’ve seen everything in Origins, Odyssey and Valhalla, now is the time to go back and enjoy the swan song of the old style of Assassin’s Creed games.

11. Code Vein

2019 | Bandai Namco Studios

Code Vein’s pitch is simple, yet awesome: Anime Dark Souls. If you’ve played any of the games in that legendarily difficult series, you’ll know what to expect here: slow, strategic combat; big, horrific enemies; and lots of brutal deaths. The big twist is “blood codes,” which are essentially classes. Eventually, you acquire more than two dozen of these, which you can switch on the fly to better tackle each enemy encounter.

Code Vein isn’t quite as polished as the Souls series, and at times its pacing can be a real problem, but if you can look past those flaws, it’s one of the better Souls clones out there. Here’s hoping a sequel irons out those issues. 

10. The Surge 2

2017 | Deck13 Interactive

The Surge was one of the more welcome surprises of this console generation, a fun sci-fi take on Dark Souls that emphasized futuristic weapons and dismemberment. While it didn’t quite exceed FromSoftware’s classic games, it offered the best spin on the genre yet.

The sequel doesn’t fix what wasn’t broken. The basic gameplay is the same, but you can now customize your character, and there are more weapon types than ever in a bigger and more interesting world. It’s easy to get lost in the world of The Surge 2 for dozens of hours, and it’s a welcome change of pace if you’ve finally exhausted everything there is to do in Dark Souls and Bloodborne.

9. Alienation

2016 | Housemarque

While Alienation has plenty of weapon upgrades and opportunities to level up its three classes, it’s missing some of the depth found in Helldivers. Still, for what it lacks in complexity, it makes up for by being a pure joy to play, as you destroy its massive alien hordes.

The main thing holding back an otherwise fantastic game is its multiplayer options. While you can always hop online with three other players, there’s no couch co-op, which is a baffling design choice for a game like this.

8. Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth

2018 | Media Vision

The Digimon franchise may not be anywhere near as popular now as it was in the late ‘90s, but this is actually a renaissance for games featuring the biggest rival to the Pokemon juggernaut. The gameplay here is actually pretty standard JRPG fare, but damn if it isn’t fun to catch as many Digimon as possible, and the story is actually pretty enjoyable.

Between the higher production values and more engaging story, I’d wager that Cyber Sleuth may actually surpass Nintendo’s recent Pokemon games, even if there aren’t quite as many monsters to catch.

7. Knack 2

2017 | SIE Japan Studio

The original Knack was essentially a tech demo for the PS4 launch meant to showcase the more impressive graphics and the ability to make a cool looking character out of a whole bunch of constantly moving objects. It looked great, but the high difficulty and shallow gameplay turned off a lot of people. 

It’s rare for a flawed launch game to get a second chance, but Knack 2 takes advantage of the opportunity with better platforming action and much more balanced gameplay. It may not be the best PS4 platformer, but it’s still worth checking out for fans of the genre.

6. Infamous First Light

2014 | Sucker Punch Studios

In 2014, Sony was making a big deal about Infamous Second Son, it’s next-gen superhero sequel featuring a new protagonist with fire-based powers. It’s a decent game, but First Light, the standalone DLC released a few months later, is actually the superior game thanks to its flawed anti-hero and her unique neon light powers.

Maybe Sucker Punch learned from the criticism of Second Son, which is why First Light feels like a better, tighter game. Unfortunately, we haven’t heard anything about another Infamous game since, so for now First Light remains the pinnacle of the series.

5. The Legend of Heroes: Trail of Cold Steel III

2019 | Nihon Falcom

Imagine if instead of being standalone titles, the Final Fantasy games all took place in the same world, with an epic winding story spanning multiple sub-series and protagonists. That’s essentially The Legend of Heroes franchise, which actually dates back to the late ‘80s, and The Trail of Cold Steel series is just the latest in a long line of deep, well-written JRPGs.

Of course, it’s hard to follow along with what’s going on in this third installment without playing the first two games, which have also thankfully been remastered and ported to the PS4, but once you work your way through those, this third entry is easily the best in the saga thanks to its improved graphics and refined gameplay. And if you love the first three, there’s a fourth installment, too!

4. Astro Bot Rescue Mission

2018 | SIE Japan Studio

When the current slate of VR headsets were announced, most gamers envisioned massive first-person adventures that would make it feel like they were exploring another world. Those titles are starting to trickle out, but in the meantime one of the best uses of VR is the tried and true 3D platformer.

The basic gameplay of Astro Bot isn’t terribly revolutionary. You run, you jump, and you collect things. But playing from the view of a giant robot that can also interact with the world is literally a game changer. Astro Bot nails a perfect balance between the fresh and the familiar and stands out as one of the best reasons to invest in a PSVR headset.

3. Until Dawn

2015 | Supermassive Games

When discussing the best horror movies of the 2010s, a few titles always seem to pop up: The Cabin in The Woods, Get Out, or It Follows. Until Dawn deserves to be in that conversation, even if technically it’s not a movie. But gameplay is light. It’s more about your choices and trying to keep eight young adults alive during a trip to an isolated mountain lodge.

Or try to kill all eight of them as quickly as you can. That’s the beauty of Until Dawn: ultimately, you’re the director, but no matter what you choose, it’s a top tier experience for any genre fan.

2. Mad Max

2015 | Avalanche Studios

Mad Max received decent reviews upon its release, but critics didn’t quite seem to know what to make of it. Yes, the open world can be a little empty at times, but that actually fits the source material, and the story is excellent. Plus, the idea of constantly upgrading your car, the Magnum Opus, with new weapons and abilities is still something that no other games have pursued. 

In many ways, the post-apocalyptic atmosphere echoes the Fallout series, even if the action-focused combat is much smoother. Maybe launching too close to Fallout 4 took away some of Mad Max’s thunder, but that’s no excuse to avoid it now, especially if you love the movies.

1. Tetris Effect

2018 | Monstars

There have been a lot of different versions of Tetris. Like, way too many. And even though you’d think it would be hard to screw up such a simple and fantastic concept, many gamers would say that a lot of these games haven’t been very good. Some say the original Game Boy version of Tetris has still never been surpassed.

Well, if anything has ever come close to topping the handheld version of Tetris so many of us fell in love with, it’s this. The classic gameplay is here, but now overlaid with tons of bright and mesmerizing graphical effects, plus thumping electronic beats in same vein as Rez and Lumines (also produced by Tetuya Mizuguchi). Add in what is quite possibly the best use of VR on the PlayStatio, and you have a must-play game that everyone needs to experience at least once.

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