Games I Can’t Stop Playing: June 2014
June is almost over, so it's time to run down the games I can't stop playing right now. There are a few repeats, and a few new games, as well.
Our Darker Purpose (PC)
I wrote a whole lot about this roguelike adventure game last month. It's like The Binding of Isaac, only themed after Shakespeare and set in a British boarding school. It's replaced Isaac in my daily warm-up slot/no sleep until I [blank] playing category.
Rust (PC)
Rust barely made the cut for this month's list. I just got pulled back into the game by Angela of Double Damsels and our shared partner of destruction G. This open world wilderness survival game just got a massive update that makes the game more beautiful than ever. The recent addition of a repair table, rather than just a crafting table, and some cleaner action animations makes this alpha game better than ever.
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (Wii U)
I wasn't joking last month when I talked about my compulsion to catch'em all. Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is scratching that itch until the next Pokemon games come out on the 3DS this fall. It's...just so addictive.
Among the Sleep (PC)
I've played Among the Sleep three times now just to appreciate the quality of narrative and animation in the game. This is that horror/adventure game where you play as a two-year-old. It was Kickstarted with a lot of extra money and delivered more than I imagined it could. It is such a sensitive narrative filled with deep psychological horror and tricky environmental puzzles. It's far shorter than expected, but that's not a bad thing. A short game executed flawlessly is far preferable to a long game that loses track of its plot and perspective just to be longer.
Mario Kart 8 (Wii U)
I cannot say enough nice things about Mario Kart 8. This is easily the best entry in the series since the original game. You get to customize vehicles by choosing a frame, wheels, and a glider that effect the base stats of your racer. Each heat has 12 racers instead of eight and the courses are far more varied than they've ever been before. Online multiplayer works beautifully and the integration with the Wii U social network just makes sense. Best of all, the game can cobble together a highlights reel from your race lasting anywhere from 30 seconds to the full race and upload it to YouTube. It's just fun all around.
Bingo Bash (Facebook)
I got suckered into another Facebook game. I tried not to let it happen after the hard fought battle against Candy Crush Saga, but it did. Bingo Bash is a bingo game with a ton of power-ups that make the gameplay far more interesting. It also has arcade-like games where you have to create a path for, say, lemonade to make it to a glass or a leprechaun to get to his pot of gold by covering the numbers on the board. It's good for a quick game as a break and far too easy to get hooked on.
What have you been playing this month? Let me know in the comments below.