April’s games turned out to be fantastic, with a return of Ratchet & Clank and Dark Souls 3. But May is also looking very good if you’re a gamer, and whether you prefer the Xbox One, PS4, or PC games, there’s plenty of potentially good games to play next month. In fact, some of the year’s biggest games are releasing in May, including a Mirror’s Edge sequel, the fourth and final installment of the Uncharted series, and a return of Doom.
But there’s also plenty of other new games releasing in May, with a huge variety in the style of games releasing. Especially if you love multiplayer games, the month ahead should satisfy the craving for great new games. So without further delay, here are the top 5 best new video games to play in May 2016:
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1. DOOM
Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC
Release Date: May 13
Developer: id Software
It’s been a long time since we’ve gotten our hands on a new DOOM game — 12 years, to be exact — and the return of the franchise is certainly welcomed. Although I wasn’t a big fan of the barebones multiplayer beta, it’s likely that the single player campaign is going to be much more formidable (as is typical with DOOM games). And, we (as gamers) have a great deal of trust for Bethesda as a company because they continually release hit after hit (remember Fallout 4?).
The new DOOM is a reboot for the series, but all of the marketing behind it so far suggests that it’s still going to be one badass game with “big effing guns.” Yeah, that’s a mission statement we can get behind. But Bethesda has a tough road ahead of them, as they try to craft a multiplayer game that can compete with Call of Duty and Battlefield, but hopefully they can pull it off. We’re mostly interested in the single player aspect of the upcoming game, but it wouldn’t be too disappointing if the online play was juicier than the beta. The game is set to be released for Xbox One, PS4, and PC on May 13, and stay tuned to Heavy for our review soon.
Pre-order DOOM here.
2. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan
Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC, Xbox 360, PS3
Release Date: May 24
Developer: Platinum Games
It’s hard to trust Platinum Games nowadays, because you never know the type of quality you’re going to get. Are you going to get Bayonetta, or are you going to get The Legend of Korra? Hopefully, their upcoming TMNT game, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan, turns out to be a much more satisfying experience than the last TMNT game. And even if the game is a middling experience, it’s STILL a new TMNT game, so it will, at least, have some enjoyable elements to it. But Mutants in Manhattan actually looks like a substantial offering, and it has a cool cel-shaded artstyle.
Apparently, the game will also have some light RPG elements in the form of upgrading the turtle’s abilities using green orbs found in the game. Best of all, the game will support four-player online co-op, meaning you and three of your friends can all hop into a game together for a night of fun foot-clan stomping fun.
Pre-order Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan here.
3. Overwatch
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date: May 24
Developer: Blizzard
The market is absolutely flooded with these arena multiplayer games, and admittedly, we’re always timid about trying a new one. But Overwatch is the best we’ve played so far, and we’re loving ever minute of the closed beta right now (I’ve spent over 30+ hours in it so far). Blizzard has knocked it out of the park by creating a great game with an awesome aesthetic and incredibly well-balanced gameplay, so you can be competitive regardless of the character you choose to battle with.
What’s more, you can change your character on the fly between deaths. So if you’re slinging arrows with Genji and then want to sling bullets with McCree, you can change after your next death. Theoretically, you can play numerous characters in each match and adjust your character to what your team needs, which is what makes Overwatch one of the more unique arena multiplayer games coming out. And although it may be just a case of personal preference, I’m heavily favoring Overwatch over the other arena games I’ve tried. It’s highly competitive, so if you like to play your game tactically and surgically, Overwatch is a great choice.
Pre-order Overwatch here.
4. Mirror’s Edge Catalyst
Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC
Release Date: May 24
Developer: EA DICE
In DICE we trust, and soon we’ll be able to get our hands on their latest game, Mirror’s Edge Catalyst, which is heading to PS4, Xbox One, and PC on May 24 (yes, the 24th appears to be the biggest day of the month for gaming). Players will again take control of protagonist Faith Connors as she parkours her way through the futuristic city called Glass. Players will make use of environmental objects like ledges and zip-lines to traverse as quickly as possible and make their way from building to building. With Faith’s runner vision, this task is much easier.
Mirror’s Edge Catalyst will also contain some social features like Social Play, which will allow players’ actions to affect the world for other players’ games. We have no idea what any of that means, but in theory, it sounds cool. If you were a fan of the original Mirror’s Edge, it looks like Catalyst is going to be more of the same and then some.
Pre-order Mirror’s Edge Catalyst here.
5. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
Platforms: PS4
Release Date: May 10
Developer: Naughty Dog
If you’re a PS4 gamer, May 10th is the date that you need to jot down on your calendar, as it marks the return of Nathan Drake and the Uncharted series. It’s said to be Nathan Drake’s last outing, and the game looks like the best Uncharted yet. Uncharted 4 will bring a lot of off-roading elements into the game world, especially since just about every trailer we’ve seen has predominately featured the Jeep.
We’re very trusting in Naughty Dog, as they’ve yet to release a game that we didn’t like. The gameplay we’ve seen looks absolutely stellar, and we can’t wait to see how the series wraps up for Nathan Drake.
Buy Uncharted 4 here.