Spring is great for all kinds of reasons. The sun is starting to shine, and the weather has (usually) warmed up. It’s the end of some sports seasons and the beginning of others. Any other year we would now find ourselves anticipating the big summer events such as festivals and concerts, not to mention E3.
It’s also a great time for video game releases, as you’ll see in our Game of the Month for May 2020. While next month there will be a AAA release that has the majority of the attention, this month was different. It allowed some lesser-known games to shine, and gave people a break from last month’s greatest. Here are May’s picks for Game of the Month.
GAME OF THE MONTH– Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition (Nintendo Switch)
This month’s first game is actually another old one, recently remastered. If you are looking for an expansive world, or even just a time-sink, this is for you. An open world action-RPG originally released in 2010, it contains a sprawling story with the usual JRPG epic battles.
Play as Shulk (and friends) to battle the Mechon, using his sword Monado and strategic placement to defeat enemies. Explore a large environment, made up of two titans frozen in the midst of battle. With Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition, you get the usual perks.
There are updated graphics, a remixed/remastered soundtrack and some quality-of-life improvements in the game systems. It also comes with a new epilogue, Xenoblade Chronicles: Future Connected, occurring one year after the game.
FIRST RUNNER UP– Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath DLC (Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Stadia, Xbox One)
While technically not a game unto itself, the DLC adds enough to warrant this spot. With this addition classic characters like Fujin (the Wind God and Raiden’s brother) and Sheeva, the four-armed Shokan queen, enter the fray. However, its the inclusion of the 3rd character, Robocop, that is really interesting.
Not only is he modeled after the 1980’s movie character, he’s actually voiced by Peter Weller. The DLC also adds a large story chunk to the one already told in the base game of Mortal Kombat 11, and an update delivers some exciting free additions. There are new stages, new Stage Fatalities, and the return of Friendships!
SECOND RUNNER UP– Minecraft Dungeons (Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One)
I don’t think Minecraft needs much of an introduction. Since 2011 its been a staple of streamers, and is considered the best-selling video game of all time. Now it’s been altered for the second time (the first being Minecraft Story Mode by Telltale), this time as a dungeon crawler.
There is no mining or building, which will undoubtedly cause some Minecraft aficionados to stay away; instead, players explore dungeons that are procedurally generated. Avoid traps and monsters while searching for treasure in an isometric hack-and-slash game with up to 4 friends locally or online.
Those are the picks for May 2020’s Game of the Month. Enjoy the summer, stay safe and stay tuned to Informed Pixel for more video game news, including June’s Game of the Month. For more reviews and gaming news you can keep up to date at Informed Pixel. Want to speak to the team and interact with other gamers? You can do so over on the Informed Pixel Facebook page or on the Informed Pixel Twitter account.
