10. Insidia
Free-to-Play games don’t get enough love lately, especially when they’re not part
of the Battle Royale craze. Bad Seed’s Insidia has something to show when it comes to Player
versus Player battles. This tactical game of turn-based duels is similar to popular
titles like XCOM, but instead of facing down invading aliens, Insidia pits you against
other players from around the globe in frenetic turn-based battles.
Gather your team of four champions and select from a wide roster of unlikely heroes. Each
has their own perks and abilities, but it’s up to you to turn the tide of every battle.
Every turn can make a difference so don’t let your guard down and plan ahead.
If you’re not in it for the competitive field, it’s always a great game to just
play casually. A playscore of 6.98 9. Closers
This stylish hack and slash action RPG from Naddic Games is something Anime fans would
enjoy. It has its fair share of great Anime-ish moments such as animated cutscenes, cute girls,
and a whole lot of screaming. Its episodic format adds some interesting story choices
for each of its memorable characters.
In this game, select your Closer, a slick protector of the planet against alien threats.
Every Closer has its own signature combat style alongside weapons that are fit for each
player’s playstyle.
Its fast-paced action is the ideal game to waste time with. You could also enjoy its
variety of online modes such as Co-Op and Player vs Player elements. A word of warning,
microtransactions aren’t very friendly in this game.
There’s a lot to do here instead of the usual beat ‘em up combat, and it receives
a playscore of 7.11 8. Splitgate: Arena Warfare
There’s still a whole lot of first person shooters in the market and 1047 Games’ fast-paced
multiplayer shooter is among the latest to enter the territory. Mixing Portal’s ‘portal’
mechanics and Unreal Tournament’s blistering action, Splitgate: Arena Warfare offers a
brand new experience to first person arena-combat with more options and strategies to choose
from.
It’s accessibility is built for both veteran and first-time FPS players. Dive into its
futuristic playground built using the Unreal Engine 4. Maneuver in its action-packed maps
with up to 10 players and rake up your top frags and air-supremacy using only your first-person
shooter skills. Like every other shooter, it’s easy to learn, but difficult to master.
It has a playscore of 7.31 7. GWENT: The Witcher Card Game
CD Projekt Red is not only busy with their upcoming Cyberpunk 2077, they’re also working
very hard on their standalone version of The Witcher III’s favorite mini-game, GWENT.
This card-game is different from the game’s version, instead, this is purely built for
long-term service with a growing e-sport league. Wage war against other players across multiple
game modes. Each card and faction offer hundreds of possibilities, all depending on your skill
and maybe a bit of luck.
The game is constantly updating, adding new cards and features. Gwent’s changes will
continue to shift the meta with each update and give players enough rewards and replayability
in each expansion. It’s also out on iOS and the Android version is coming out soon.
It receives a playscore of 7.49 6. The Darwin Project
Scavenger Studios' multiplayer survival slash Battle Royale game that takes you into their
dystopian post-apocalypse and play the challenger inside their reality game show to the death.
A familiar concept for Hunger Games fans, The Darwin Project's main focus is survival.
Instead of just finding weapons and armor, you'll have to craft your way to victory in
real-time.
It's a constant balancing act between vigilance and creation. And just to make an awesome
premise more interesting, each match also has a spectating "director" player whose job
is to spice up the competition by giving heals and abilities to whoever player they choose.
Wrapped in the now-familiar cartoon visuals, The Darwin Project is both intense and unapologetically
playful. It receives a playscore of 7.58 5. Cuisine Royale
Yet another Battle Royale game on the list. Darkflow Software's Cuisine Royale is a game
built for players who are still obsessed with PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds or PUBG. It
combines many things including realism, kitchen materials, and ironically, magic.
Be the last-man standing as you face off against
dozens of players in a massive arena full of other players that are somehow better than
you. Despite its comedic presentation, its ballistic physics is pretty damn solid.
You can shift between FPS or TPP if you want to. It basically shares the same combat mechanics
as PUBG, but its addition of Rituals and Magic give more unpredictability to its already
crazy moment to moment gameplay.
It has a playscore of 7.70 4. Dota Underlords
The sudden birth of the Auto-Chess genre opened new doors for the gaming arena. Like the floodgates
opening. Valve’s very own Auto-chess title is among the many that entered the trend.
A spin-off to their critically acclaimed MOBA game, Dota 2, this takes your favorite heroes
and champions from the game and transforms the arena into a chess-like battlefield. Instead
of inanimate pieces, you get to see a flurry of magical attacks all around your screen
with your chosen heroes. It’s kinda like that one scene from Star Wars.
It’s still among Steam’s most played games in recent times and just recently, its addition
of a Battle Pass and a Mobile version gives more players the freedom and content to enjoy.
A playscore of 7.80 3. Apex Legends
EA’s and Respawn Entertainment's lucky entry to the Battle Royale bandwagon was unexpected
but welcome. This Titanfall spin-off takes you to a sadistic arena with a ragtag group
of characters. Gather your squad of three and begin the hunt as you choose from its
wide variety of characters. It shares the same hero-based strategy from Blizzard’s
Overwatch, but puts more focus on its action-heavy and skill-dependent mechanics.
Become the legend as you remain the last one standing in an arena of 60 people. Whether
you want to take it slow, or aggressively, the choice is up to you. Pick up that Mozambique,
charge that ultimate ability, and engage in a blazing firefight that’s enough to supercharge
you until the next unlucky squad comes in your way.
EA’s continuous support for the game adds more content every month. Its latest hero,
Revenant, adds a shift to the game’s already intense shootouts. A playscore of 7.91
2. Paladins
The age of hero-shooters began when Blizzard’s Overwatch came out in 2016. From then on,
the market continues to push the trend even further resulting in Hi-Rez’s very own take
on the genre.
Despite the saturated market for shooters, Paladins came in at just the right time when
people still care about hero-shooters. At first, it had a lot of controversy due to
it being an ‘Overwatch clone’ but over the years it gained its own identity with
more heroes and diverse multiplayer modes.
On the surface, Paladins is a hero-shooter but within its layers lies an in-depth skill
system where you customize your Champions’ abilities using cards. You can choose what
skills well-suited for your playstyle, providing a fun yet complex gameplay mix.
It receives a playscore of 8.03 1. The Awesome Adventures Of Captain Spirit
PC’s top game isn’t a massive MMORPG or a hero-based shooter, it’s a simple story-driven
adventure from the makers of the critically acclaimed Life is Strange.
DONTNOD Entertainment’s FREE prequel Demo to Life Is Strange 2 is a short, somber, and
sympathetic experience. It signifies DONTNOD’s visual update that would pave the way for
the Diaz Brothers’ journey in Life is Strange 2.
In this 2-3 hour adventure, you play as a young boy named Chris with a knack for imagination.
His superhero alter-ego, Captain Spirit, is adorable. Throughout the game, he goes on
a superpowered quest to do his Sunday chores. It’s creative, fun, and it adds so much
potential to the Life is Strange universe.
It receives a playscore of 8.46