E3 2019: Best Horror Games of the Show

It’s true that Rare largely struggled to produce compelling experiences since Microsoft’s acquisition in 2002, but one exception is Viva Pinata . A bizarre take on the life-simulation genre, Viva Pinata sees players raising and breeding living pinatas while completing a variety of objectives. Noted for its eye-catching art style and quirky humor, Viva Pinata spawned sequels and even its own television series. A new Viva Pinata could fill a niche on the Xbox Series X and appeal to the more casual gamers out th

What was possible for open-world RPGs in 2004 versus what can be achieved now is drastically different. There are some exceptions, Morrowind managed to bring a well-realized open world to the Xbox, but Fable, visually, was a far superior game, obviously leading to restrictions in other areas. The core elements of RPGs have remained the same, but morality systems are an exception. For the past few decades, what gamers want out of a morality system has shifted dramatically, and with it, the way that gamers think about a narrative as a wh

The Yakuza series launched in 2005 to great success in Japan and developed a cult following in the West. Yakuza 0 introduced the series to a more mainstream audience. The games feature semi-open and faithfully recreated Japanese settings in famous Tokyo cities and their seedy underbelly. The first seven games in the series center around Kiryu and are self-contained stories in their own right. The eighth title, Yakuza: Like a Dragon , introduces a new protagonist, Ichiban, with unique motivations and a turn-based combat sys

One of the most demonstrable shifts in the way morality systems work now is in the Mass Effect series. While Andromeda’s facial animations and other aspects faced major criticisms when it released, most of which were deserved, it ditched the paragon and renegade system found in the first three entries of the series. The newer system, which gave players the option to respond in four different manners rather than just two, was still flawed, but it marked a departure from the standard good versus evil archtypes, attempting to give players more characterization, even if it didn’t necessarily succ

Dogs are animals with a ton of symbolic meaning. They stand for loyalty and friendship, which often makes them valued video game sidekicks. Players can’t get enough of them. Even when their roles are small they are often the most valued characters. Many gamers are just programmed to love animals, especially d

Besides the eight horror games listed here, there are two other titles that should get a nod, though they don’t necessarily fall strictly into the “horror” genre. One is 12 Minutes , a game where a man is stuck in a time loop where he constantly has to relive his own death , and while it’s more of a thriller than a horror game, it definitely stood out as one of the more disturbing E3 2019 trail

As far as indie horror games go, one of the most intriguing titles on the horizon is easily Undying . A freshman effort on the part of studio Vanimals, players take control of a mother and son as they attempt to survive in a zombie apocalypse. While there are no shortage of zombie games out there, the mother/son dynamic of Undying is something different, and the game’s unique art style will also help it stand out from the cr

The dog of Fable 2 is most well known for being part of one of the biggest choices in the game. The dog, who is your loving companion throughout the game, dies protecting you in a boss fight. At the end of the Adventure game Strategy, you get to choose a major reward. You have three choices: a ton of wealth, reviving the people who died or reviving your dog. Guess what a lot of players end up choos

Playable on: PS4, Xbox One, PC

With Dying Light 2 right around the corner, it’s only a given that more and more people would want to get into the first game in the series. Players who choose to do so are making a great decision, since Dying Light is one of the most innovative open-world games around. This title combines parkour and zombie killing into one cohesive pack

Players take on the role of a straight and honest-to-a-fault cop named Cole Phelps as he rises through the ranks as a detective. Fans of beautifully crafted open worlds will love L.A. Noire. The themes and style appear to be inspired by the classic movie L.A. Confidential. Admittedly, there is a lack of activities in the detective drama, but the twists and surprises will keep fans entertai

Isabella is very popular, but K.K. Slider was around since the beginning and enchanted players with his mellow speech and passion for song. He is not a one-trick pony either, as he has over 90 songs since New Leaf came

Playable on: PS3, Xbox 360, PC

When it debuted in 2010, Just Cause 2 featured one of the largest open worlds of any video game, and it retains that title to this day. The scope of the island of Panau is amazing, and the feeling of being let loose in such a large sandbox remains as breathtaking as e