A treasure trove of gaming riches
You probably heard all about the great big-name announcements that came out of Sony and Microsoft's Gamescom press conferences. The Bloodbornes and Halos, the Uncharteds and the Tomb Raiders--great stuff, all of it. But both conferences contained lots of equally interesting games from smaller development studios, too.
The following games are ones that you might not have noticed amidst all the explosions and gorgeous cinematic trailers. Sure, most of them are indies, but many look just as good as anything AAA games have to offer. From 2D platformers to gritty shooters, deep RPGs to gorgeous-looking action-adventure titles, there's something on offer for gamers of all tastes. Think you caught all the game announcements out of Gamescom? Think again.
Space Engineers
Platform: Xbox One/PC
The multiplayer space station sandbox game that's been blowing up on Steam's Early Access program is coming to consoles first on Xbox One. Get together with your friends, hop around on asteroids, construct your own space buildings, and explore.
Hellblade
Platform: PlayStation 4
Ninja Theory has worked with quite a few publishers over the years: Capcom, Bandai Namco, and even Sony. Now, it's striking out on its own with Hellblade, a game about a woman named Senua and her journey through the underworld. It's incredibly early in development, but if the game ends up half as beautiful as its trailer, we're going to be in for a treat.
Blues and Bullets
Platform: Xbox One
Not much is known about this one, but it appears to be a noir-inspired action-adventure that takes place over a handful of episodes. I'm a sucker for a proper detective story, and I'm really digging the black and white vibe.
Cuphead
Platform: Xbox One/PC
Cuphead looks amazing. Just look at that screenshot. Revel in its old-timey Walt Disney style. Marvel at its sidescrolling shooter action. 2015 can't come fast enough.
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
Platform: PlayStation 4/PC
From the minds of the people who brought us the manic hyper-shooter Bulletstorm comes a foreboding pulp horror adventure game? It seems like a weird jump, but this one is looking like it's something special.
Dungeon of the Endless
Xbox One/PC
Dungeon of the Endless is a mash-up of rogue-like dungeon crawling and tower defense. You're tasked with protecting your spaceship's generator while exploring the various rooms for supplies. Already out on PC, it'll be coming to Xbox One soon.
Dreamfall Chapters
Platform: PlayStation 4/Wii U/PC
The next chapter in the cult-classic The Longest Journey franchise, Dreamfall Chapters is a continuation of the gripping dimension-hopping journey that seeks to finally answer the questions fans have been asking ever since Dreamfall's cliffhanger ending--all with the point-and-click-style adventuring and character interactions fans have come to love about the series.
Funk of Titans
Platform: Xbox One
This one looks interesting. Funk of Titans is a sidescrolling platformer where you play as Perseus, the son of Zeus. You and your afro will run through several funkified stages and defeat a swath of Greek-mythology flavored enemies because video games.
Ghost of a Tale
Platform: Xbox One/PC
In Ghost of a Tale, you play as an adventurous mouse who explores a vast and dangerous fantasy world. It's a game of ambitious scope, especially considering that the game is being made by a handful of people.
