The past. The present. The future.

There are some great games out right now. Great games also came out a while ago. Great games also are coming in the future. I have three games here. I picked an older game, a recent game, and a game yet to come out. Collectively harnessing the powers of the past, present and future. Behold, as I share some of the games I think are pretty cool.

The Past: Hotline Miami – 85 Metacritic Score

Hotline Miami brings so much to the table in terms of creativity and challenge. The gameplay and the music compliment each other so beautifully. You’re this dude in 1989 who goes around killing Russian mafia members in different kinds of animal-themed masks. Each mask grants you a different ability like walk faster or quiet gunshots. Dennaton Games made a 16-bit work of art filled to the brim with beautiful colors and dozens of enemies. The soundtrack might even be better than the gameplay. PC Gamer gave it the “Best Music of the Year” award in 2012. The increasingly groovy soundtrack in combination with quick combat gives Hotline Miami a special place in my heart.

Human Fall Flat – 70 Metacritic Score

Human Fall Flat has quickly become one of my favorite games as of winter break. So basically, this guy keeps falling is his dreams and his dreams are full of puzzles. Your character controls like a drunk stuffed animal, using the camera to move your arms up and down.  Multiplayer wise, it has eight-person co-op on PC and 2-person split screen on consoles. Playing with people makes it even better because the level design is wildly open-ended. This pushes people to find their own style of playing and level completion. I haven’t felt this satisfied by a puzzle game since portal. It has all the right levels of wholesome, challenging and fun.

The Future: Spider-Man (2018)

Insomniac Games is going for their first licensed title and it looks like it might be the one to redeem me after playing The Amazing Spider-Man 2. You might remember Insomniac from your childhood. They made Spyro the Dragon, Ratchet and Clank and Resistance: Fall of Man. I love Insomniac, they developed a critical part of my childhood with the Spyro series. This gave me hope when I heard that they’re doing a completely independent story with the Spider-Man series. It will focus on both the life of a more mature Spider-Man and Peter Parker. Mr.Negative and Kingpin are going to be in it, so that will be the classic beating up thugs Spidey gameplay.  Insomniac community director James Stevenson says we will be seeing Miles Morales. Which is sweet because he takes up the mantle of Spider-Man after Peter Parker dies in the comics. Insomniac says that it will be out in the first half of 2018, but we have yet to get an official release date.