Open season

Like us, you’ll likely have spent too long cooped up inside lately – beyond the odd hour of government-mandated exercise – to really notice that we’re well in the throes of spring. In keeping with the season, as the cycle of life begins anew, so do we – returning to something approaching normality.

Given that we spent E345 shifting our attentions away from violence, it’s perhaps fitting that this month’s bumper selection also represents a return to form of sorts. As many of you noted, sometimes that’s just the kind of catharsis you need. You could start with Dotemu’s stirring throwback to the classic side-scrolling brawler, Streets Of Rage 4 (p105), which offers a succession of enemies on which to take out your frustrations. Or, assuming you haven’t already had the pleasure, Doom Eternal (p84), which builds upon the brisk combat loops of 2016’s reboot to even more exhilarating – and grisly – effect.

You’ll make another fine mess in Gears Tactics (p92), where chainsaw executions add a strategic wrinkle to brutal battles. And while we suspect it may have been dashed out early to steal its turn-based rival’s thunder, the breach mechanic in XCOM: Chimera Squad (p94) similarly finds a new angle of attack in the same genre.

For those who’d rather make peace, this month brings a couple of games that might’ve been contenders for our Feel Better issue had they arrived sooner. The soothing aquatic ambience of In Other Waters (p107) makes for a fine piece of counterprogramming, while we celebrate another return in Paper Beast (p100), as Eric Chahi channels Another World and From Dust into a captivating VR adventure. In these times, it’s good to know we can rely on such a variety of escapes; whatever your poison, we hope you find something here to put a spring back in your step.