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Essays 23 June 2021, 15:47

author: Darius Matusiak

Good Video Games You Might Have Missed - Q1&2 2021

The first half of the year wasn't full of high-profile releases. As usual, however, there were a lot of smaller, more obscure releases. Here's our list of games, which were easy to miss in the last months, but are defo worth a try.

Table of Contents

Mr. Prepper

  1. Developer: Rejected Games
  2. Genre: survival / simulator
  3. Platform: PC Windows
  4. Metacritic score: 63/100 (only three reviews); very positive reviews on Steam

What is Mr. Prepper about?

About being a prepper, i.e. the dude that's always ready for any apocalypse – with his own shelter, generators, water and food supplies stacked for a very long time. Preppers tend to distrust government authorities, which has been heavily emphasized in the game Mr. Prepper. The action takes place in a fictional country where a totalitarian government has control over everything, and its policies make the outbreak of nuclear war a quite possible scenario.

As "Mr. Prepper," we must prepare accordingly by digging tunnels, making tools, furnishing suitable rooms, and trading with our neighbors. At the same time, it is a good idea to stay off the radar of the authorities and informers, because sad gentlemen in suits may unexpectedly knock on our door.

What they praise the game Mr. Prepper for?

Mr. Prepper isn't a big hit considering the number of reviews on Metacritic, but on Steam, dominated by PC players, the situation looks much better. Players praise the gameplay, which is simply addictive. This title offers a lot of freedom as to what objectives to focus on, some interesting mechanics, and one of the biggest advantages of this production is the subject matter. After all, most games focus on the post-cataclysmic phase, making us survive in various post-apocalyptic conditions. Here, on the other hand, we can experience the crucial preparation stage!

  1. Mr. Prepper in our encyclopedia

Paradise Lost

  1. Developer: PolyAmorous
  2. Genre: first-person adventure
  3. Platforms: PC Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
  4. Metacritic score: 58/100 (PC), 66/100 (PS4, XOne)

What is Paradise Lost about?

It is a Polish adventure game depicting an alternative course of World War II. Here, the conflict lasted for 20 years, and ended with the Nazis' detonating nuclear weapons in Europe. We play as a young boy who, traversing the ruins, finds himself in a mysterious Nazi bunker, untouched by disaster, where Slavic culture mingles with modern technology. Investigating the abandoned facilities and solving various logic puzzles, we learn the strange history of the bunker. The game also includes decision-making, which determines one of several possible endings.

What do they praise Paradise Lost for?

Maybe not for the gameplay itself, as this is one of those productions that consists mainly of exploration and occasional solving of various logic puzzles. The interesting aesthetics of the technology from the 40s-50s evokes associations with Bioshock; then, the story is also memorable and it ought to stay with you for a while after finishing the game. Like many other walking simulators, Paradise Lost draws you in with well-built atmosphere and nice visuals, and what it lacks in gameplay, it makes up for with story and emotions that arise during a short session with the game.

  1. More about Paradise Lost

Evil Genius 2: World Domination

  1. Developer: Rebellion
  2. Genre: strategy RTS
  3. Platform: PC Windows
  4. Metacritic rating: 75/100

What is Evil Genius 2: World Domination about?

It's a bit like Dungeon Keeper, except that the lead role is played by someone like Gru from the Minion movie. Our goal is to take control over the world, and everything is maintained in a cheerful, cartoonish graphic design. Watching the action from isometric perspective, we expand our hideout, train agents for diversionary tasks, constantly fend off attacks from the disgustingly good and righteous Justice Forces. All in order to create the ultimate work – a machine called the Judgment Day – that will make seizing world power possible.

What do they praise the game Evil Genius 2: World Domination for?

Despite the fact that the gameplay becomes a bit repetitive over time, Evil Genius 2: World Domination stole hearts with its fantastic graphical style, often referring to the clichés of spy classics such as the James Bond movies. The mechanics are easy to learn, and the laid-back approach means that in your quest for world domination, you can completely lose track of time – kind of like the "one more turn" syndrome in strategy games. We can build an impressive number of rooms, and furnish them according to our taste. Above it all, the humor and slacker style is most prevalent – we're a villain who hatches diabolical plans not only to conquer the world, but also to win a barbecue contest!

  1. Evil Genius 2: World Domination in our encyclopedia

Sumire

  1. Developer: GameTomo Team
  2. Genre: adventure game
  3. Platforms: PC Windows, Nintendo Switch
  4. Metacritic score: 87/100 (Switch), 80/100 (PC, only two reviews)

What is Sumire about?

One day, one life. Sumire is a young girl who meets a flower on her way. It can make her biggest dream come true as long as the heroine completes all the tasks before the end of the day. A simple storyline is wrapped in beautiful, atmospheric graphics and music. The dominant role of the story is complemented by various mini-games, thanks to which we don't feel like we're just clicking through dialogue options. It's also very oriental, so if you like games from Japan, it will be totally up your alley.

What do they praise Sumire for?

Sumire is one of those adventures that hide grim themes underneath the colorful graphics, and they mostly have to do with human meanness. During the short gameplay, we will experience a veritable rollercoaster of emotions and make choices, whose consequences we will really feel. It's definitely not a game for everyone, but if someone likes to get emotional, Sumire will be a memorable experience.

Darius Matusiak

Darius Matusiak

Graduate of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Journalism. He started writing about games in 2013 on his blog on gameplay.pl, from where he quickly moved to the Reviews and Editorials department of Gamepressure. Sometimes he also writes about movies and technology. A gamer since the heyday of Amiga. Always a fan of races, realistic simulators and military shooters, as well as games with an engaging plot or exceptional artistic style. In his free time, he teaches how to fly in modern combat fighter simulators on his own page called Szkola Latania. A huge fan of arranging his workstation in the "minimal desk setup" style, hardware novelties and cats.

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