April is past us with its fair share of awesome games, along with some that launched with some massive issues players couldn’t ignore.
Now in the month of May, we’re nearing the summer where many of the youth will be seeing the end of their school year. Which means more time for gaming and now is a great time for many companies to launch some more anticipated titles.
Here’s our Niche Games Release Recap for May 2023:
Age of Wonders 4
Age of Wonders 4 continues the lineage of the long running 4X franchise based around fantasy elements. There are many stables from the series and genre veterans will find, such as the deep strategy in managing their faction in growth and combat.
What’s new in the latest entry is the inclusion of new magical spells to research to develop their factions as well as a new narrative system to add depth to diplomacy and encounters to give players unique events for their story.
Age of Wonders 4 will launch on May 2nd for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (via Steam and GOG).
Redfall
Arkane studios’ latest outing sees them tackling the vampire genre in their new open world shooter, Redfall. Players will assume the roles of a handful of survivors against a science experiment gone wrong, which led to the creation vampires.
There are four unique “heroes” to choose from which all bring their own talents to the table in killing vampires. Where players will be able to team up with up to three other players to create a powerful squad to slay both man and creature.
Redfall launches on May 2nd for Xbox Series X|S and PC (via Steam and the Epic Games Store).
Idol Showdown
Fans of vtubers, specifically members of Hololive, will be able to enjoy the first fan made (and unofficial) fighting game based on iconic Hololive talents. Notable characters include Inugami Korone and Shirakami Fubuki with more planned on the way after the game’s launch.
Even as a free fan project, there will also be a strong set of game features including rollback netcode and easy to learn control scheme so that any Hololive fan can enjoy even if they’ve never played a fighting game before.
Idol Showdown is slated for a launch on PC (via Steam) on May 5th.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
In what is most certainly one of the biggest launches for 2023 as a whole, the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is finally here in the form of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
The sequel hopes to build upon the prior title to be the biggest title in the Zelda franchise as Link will travel the familiar world of Hyrule once again, but also with the addition of vast skies above.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is set to launch exclusively for Nintendo Switch on May 12th.
Humanity
Humanity is an interesting take on the “Lemmings” formula where players take the role of a dog, who’s leading humans now. They’ll lead them across nearly 100 puzzle based stages that each provide their own challenge.
However, there’s more to it than simply just leading people around a course. There will also be other aspect in the narrative campaign including boss fights. Players can also enjoy user created puzzles or make their own for even more replay value.
Humanity comes out on May 16th for PlayStation VR and VR2, which require the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 respectively, and PC (via Steam).
Lego 2K Drive
Lego 2K Drive is a new take on the kart racing style that’s seen many mascot-based releases in the past few years. Players will be able to explore an open world known as “Bricklandia” and can jump into story mode, single, or tournament races.
Being a Lego game, things aren’t complete if there isn’t some level of customization. You’ll be able to create vehicles in the iconic brick style to tackle numerous terrain from land, sea, and air.
Lego 2K Drive is slated to release for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (via Steam) on May 19th.
Amnesia: The Bunker
Amnesia: The Bunk is the latest in the popular horror franchise, Amnesia. This time the story takes place in a WWI bunker as players control a French solider trying to survive and escape from a dangerous monster.
It’s much more personal than previous game, with heavy emphasis on the lone monster that exists in this title. Major factors such as noise and lighting will keep players on their toes with unpredictable behavior from the beast hunting them down.
Amnesia: The Bunker is set to launch for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (via Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store).
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum
The newest entry based on the legendary fantasy franchise follows Gollum as the lead character. Unlike previous games which focused on the main cast of the original story, Gollum is far from a strong fighter.
Instead, now players will have to rely on stealth and wit in order to survive against the various factions and powerful individuals of The Lord of the Rings series including orcs, elves, and even Legolas’ father.
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum will launch for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (via Steam and the Epic Games Store) on May 25th. There is also a Nintendo Switch port set to launch by the end of the year.
