Phil’s favourite games right now.
A personal list of the best games you can play right now
Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire www.guildwars2.com
GuildWars2 remains my casual obsession. I’m glad I found an MMO that doesn’t require me to play every day, or even every week or month. Instead, I return every now and then to investigate the latest story update, and leave when I’ve had my fill. Also, the expansion adds a raptor you can ride around on. Ace!
Divinity: Original Sin II www.divinity.game
I’m 11 hours in, and no, I still haven’t left the first island. The sheer density of stuff in Divinity:Original SinII is remarkable. A confession, though: I’m playing on the easiest mode. I’m more interested in the possibilities of combat— electrocuting blood or setting fire to things—than the challenge.
Wolfenstein: The New Order wolfenstein.bethesda.net
This was meant to be a recommendation for WolfensteinII, but I haven’t had the time to play it yet because being the editor of a magazine means you’re busy almost all of the time. Self-pity aside, The NewOrder was one of my favorite shooters of the last few years. If you haven’t played it yet, do.
Getting Over It With Bennett Foddy www.foddy.net
If you’ve ever played QWOP, you’ll be familiar with Bennett Foddy’s brand of physics-based sadism. GettingOverIt, a homage to 2002’s SexyHiking, is a game about climbing a mountain. With a hammer. In a pot. It’s also a game about what it means to make this type of game.
Destiny 2 www.destinythegame.com
What a big, dumb game Destiny2 is—and I say that with all the fondness in the world. It’s a game about being invaded by fascist space turtles, about repeatedly shooting waves of enemies and scanning endless doors, and of getting together with friends to enjoy some of the finest gunplay around.
West of Loathing www.westofloathing.com
I nearly missed this in the seemingly endless deluge of brilliant indie games. I’m glad I didn’t, as it’s the funniest thing I’ve played this year. Part-RPG, part-comedy adventure, WestofLoathing is a delightful parade of silly interactions, rewarding (and punishing) your curiosity with loot and jokes.
Forza Horizon 3 www.forzamotorsport.net
ForzaMotorsport7 is out now, and supposedly it’s very good. But I don’t think it’s aimed at me: Someone who doesn’t actually care about cars. ForzaHorizon3 is more my speed. It, too, loves cars to an embarrassing degree. But it also loves me, and wants me to muck around with those cars in a lavish, entertaining world.
Rez Infinite www.rezinfinite.com
I originally played Rez as a student, which is to say I was exactly the right age and in exactly the right environment to buy into it. Now that I’m older and have a job, I thought I’d be immune to its pretentious claims of transcendental synesthesia. But no: The PC version is great, and its VR level is beautiful and immersive.