Keeping track of the latest video games is no easy task. Between PC, consoles, handhelds, and mobile, dozens of new games come out every week, and a lot of them aren’t very good. How do you separate the wheat from the chaff? Thankfully, you don’t have to, because every week in The Five I dig through the mountain of new releases to find the diamonds you may have otherwise missed.
Videos by ComicBook.com
Every edition of The Five will include a Pick of the Week and four other games you should be keeping an eye on. Whether you want to know about the latest triple-A blockbuster, or the hot new thing on Steam, The Five has you covered. So, without further ado…
Pick of the Week
ARMS (NS, June 16)
Some people were a bit skeptical of ARMS when it was first announced, but it’s been steadily winning Nintendo fans over with its quirky personality, and well-received “Global Testpunch” trials. Even if you missed the demos, ARMS is Nintendo Switch’s first major original title, so anybody who owns the system definitely needs to give the game a serious look.
For those who haven’t been keeping up, ARMS is a motion-controlled boxing game boasts a colorful, super-creative cast of springy-armed fighters, and more content than you might expect, including the single-player grand prix, target breaking, online modes, and strange games where you use your spring appendages to play volleyball and basketball.
This Week at Retail
Cars 3: Driven to Win (Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4, Wii U & NS, June 13)
Yup, it’s a good ol’ fashioned licensed movie tie-in. They don’t make games like this that often anymore! Cars 3: Driven to Win actually looks like a pretty solid little racer. Sure, it won’t win any awards for originality, it’s basically just Mario Kart without the weapons, but kids should dig it. And hey, if you’re looking for one more thing to play on your Wii U before you pack it away, it looks like Cars 3 might be your last option.
This Week at Retail
MotoGP 17 (PC, Xbox One & PS4, June 15)
If you don’t follow the sport (and if you’re American, you probably don’t), MotoGP is basically the F1 of motorcycle racing. No off-road stuff here – MotoGP is about racing special souped-up bikes on specialized tracks. Publisher Milestone have been making MotoGP games for a while, and most have been fairly well-received. MotoGP 17 promises more fast bikes, and deeper team management options than ever before.
This Week on Steam
Footrock 2 (PC, June 16)
Imagine a game of football where getting to the end zone meant dodging the opposing team, as well as lava pits, explosive barrels and all manner of other obstacles. That’s the basic premise of Footrock 2, which builds on its predecessor with more advanced graphics, new types of balls, and levels that mess with time, gravity, and space. Check out Footrock 2 on Steam.
This Week on Steam
Art of Gravity (PC, Mac & Linux, June 14)
I don’t usually include puzzle games in The Five, but Art of Gravity looks more interesting than most (and it’s a slow week). Art of Gravity tasks you with destroying various geometric shapes, which explode into beautiful swarms of floating blocks. The game provides no tutorials, so it’s up to you to find the complex chain reactions that will solve its various puzzles. Check out Art of Gravity on Steam.
Not a huge week, what with E3 2017 hogging the spotlight. That said, Nintendo Switch owners are getting a nice infusion of new games with ARMS and Cars 3. Take your Switch outside and enjoy some fresh air!
