The Month in Games — May 2020
May’s gaming releases offer players an eclectic mix of titles. From dungeon capers to arcade stories and shadowy mysteries, there is something for everyone to enjoy this month.
Arcade Spirits
A new world awaits in this visual novel adventure. Set in the year 20XX, Arcade Spirits puts players in a world when the video game crash of the 1980’s never happened. In this world, cabinets are king, and players are the new hire at the Funplex. With a host of vibrant characters to get to know and story threads to explore to keep the funplex thriving, players will have to make their choices wisely if they want to reign supreme in the arcade world.
With fully customisable characters — including pronoun options — Arcade Spirits allows players to go through the story however they choose. Players will be able to track their progress — both professional and personal — with the Identify Identifier System, which also lets players gain insight into their developing personality.
Arcade Spirits will be available on PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch from May 1*
Those Who Remain
The lights are your only hope in this psychological thriller. Set in the small town of Dormont, players are Edward Turner, a new arrival to the town. Edward soon realises not all is as it seems as he struggles to deal with his past and the actions that led him to Dormont. Lurking in the shadows of the town are creatures who will kill anyone who gets to close. With this knowledge, Edward must find a way to stay in the light long enough to survive.
The retail exclusive Deluxe Edition will include a copy of the game and a digital copy of the comic prequel story Those Who Remain: Lights Out, which will offer players more insight into the story and what awaits players in the game.
Those Who Remain will be available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC from May 15*
Maneater
Rule the seas and get revenge in this animal adventure. For Maneater, players are travelling the seas as a shark. On a quest to find “Scaly Pete”, the fisherman who killed your mother, players will navigate their way through the waters as they try to find the elusive hunter. Players will have to master their underwater skills as Pete is a formidable foe, with a vengeance tale of his own after being raised in the belief that a great white shark killed his doting father.
The Day One Edition will include the Tiger Shark Adaptation. This bonus evolution will provide players with a digestion boost for their shark, which will increase their nutrient ability while hunting prey.
Maneater will be available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch from May 22*
Minecraft Dungeons
Get ready to explore and battle in this all new adventure. Minecraft Dungeons takes players underground to explore what lies beneath the surface. Working either alone or in groups of up to four using online or local co-op, players will have to fight their way through the caverns to unlock the riches inside. Filled with enemies both new and old, players will have their skills put to the test before facing the villainous Arch-Illager in the ultimate quest.
The Hero Edition will include a copy of the game and the Hero Pass. The pass will include a Hero Cape, two new player skins, a chicken pet and access to two additional DLC packs when they become available at a future date.
Minecraft Dungeons will be available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and PC from May 26*
BioShock: The Collection
One of gaming’s most iconic franchises comes together for this Switch collection. In BioShock Remastered, players will discover the underwater city of Rapture. Once a haven for the bright and brilliant, the city now lies in ruins where a new power is rising. BioShock 2 Remastered puts players in the shoes of Subject Delta, a prototype soldier sent into Rapture eight years later to find the root of a dangerous cult. BioShock Infinite sees players take to the skies and battle their way through the aerial cityscape of Colombia as Booker DeWitt, a private investigator tasked with rescuing a very unique woman from the city and from the clutches of the enigmatic Zachary Comstock.
BioShock: The Collection will feature all three games remastered as well as all single player DLC, including Minerva’s Den and Burial at Sea. This collection will allow players the chance to experience all that this franchise has to offer all in one place.
BioShock: The Collection will be available on Nintendo Switch from May 29*
Free to Play
Xbox Gold and Game Pass Ultimate members will get four new games for free this month. On Xbox One, V-Rally 4 will be available from May-31*, with Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor — Martyr available from May 16 — June 15*. On Xbox 360 (and Xbox One via Backwards Compatibility), Sensible World of Soccer will be available from May 1–15*, followed by Overlord II from May 16–31*.
Over on PlayStation, Plus subscribers will have two new titles to download and play for free this month. From May 5*, Farming Simulator 19 and Cities: Skylines — PlayStation 4 Edition will be claimable via the PlayStation Store on console or online.
Those with linked Amazon Prime and Twitch accounts will be able to claim six free games on the Twitch Prime service. From May 1* Avicii Inventor, Fractured Minds, Pankapu, Urban Trial Playground, The Little Acre and Snake Pass will all be available for download. For more information on how to claim these games, Twitch Prime’s work promoting Mental Health Awareness Month and how to claim in-game bonuses for Destiny 2, League of Legends and more, please visit the Twitch Prime website.
Also Released This Month
May 5* — Someday You’ll Return (PC), Shop Titans (PC), Wintermoor Tactics Club (PC)
May 6* — Meditation Fun (Android, iOS)
May 7* — Wavey The Rocket (PC), BE-A Walker (PC, Android, iOS), Fledgling Heroes (Switch), Lonely Mountains: Downhill (Switch), Monochrome World (PC, Switch)
May 28* — Ion Fury (PS4, Switch)
May 29* — Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition (Switch), XCOM 2 Collection (Switch), Borderlands Legendary Collection (Switch), Dungeon of The Endless (PS4, Switch), Rush VR (PSVR), Gun Club VR (PSVR), Spirit of The North (PS4, Switch)
* Dates refer to UK release only. International dates may vary and are subject to change. Information correct at time of writing.
Words by Megan Roxburgh.
Originally published at https://www.indiependent.co.uk on May 1, 2020.
