The best games you haven't played in 2019
23.12.2019
Translation: machine translated
On Steam alone, over 10,000 games have been released this year. But you've only heard of a small minority of them. In this article, I'm going to introduce you to the must-have games of 2019.
Gamers aren't likely to miss out on games such as "Star Wars", "Call of Duty" or "Death Strandings", but not all games have a multi-million war budget for their marketing or sponsorship operations digitec plays. Just kidding, these games are exceptional. All joking aside: the greatest treasures are often found off the beaten track. So here are my tips for 2019 games you might have missed.
"Lonely Mountains: Downhill"
Despite its minimalist graphics and a soundtrack that relies solely on the breath of the wind and the screech of tyres, "Lonely Mountains: Downhill" really does feel like you're on a bike. The aim is to get down the mountain as quickly as possible and with as few falls as possible. The principle of the game is simple, but a certain feeling is essential to complete each course in record time. A classic: a circuit game.
Available on PC, PS4, Xbox One.
"Remnant: From the Ashes"
In "Remnant: From the Ashes", you'll discover a whole host of unknown worlds. A temple that seems to come from another planet, a post-apocalyptic city, eerie swamps, just like in "Dark Souls", you'll have to study your enemies to dodge them or attack them in a targeted way. In fact, you can't afford to take too much damage: if you die, you lose all the experience points you've collected and only have one chance to get them back. This game is far more forgiving than Dark Souls, however, and relies more on ranged combat. You'll find a whole host of shooting weapons and extravagant equipment that you can upgrade all the time. Boss battles are challenging and diverse, and there's even a co-op mode.
Available on PC, PS4, Xbox One.
"Pistol Whip"
"Pistol Whip" is a cross between "Beat Saber" and "Super Hot", in other words two of the best virtual reality games. You'll move along rails through different levels and shoot down all the enemies that appear in typical shooting gallery fashion. You'll dodge enemy projectiles like Neo in "The Matrix" to a fast-paced soundtrack. No need to head to the gym for your workout.
Available on PC-VR and Oculus Quest.
"Disco Elysium"
Okay, maybe this isn't an original recommendation anymore, but you really can't pass this game up. It's a CRPG, which is to say a role-playing video game. There's virtually no combat, with the game relying mainly on dialogue in which you regularly exchange ideas with yourself and your thoughts. All in accordance with the talent tree that you can develop. There's rhetoric for eloquence, an encyclopaedia for additional information and even electrochemistry. The latter gives you a better understanding of drugs and the people who use them.
You'll take on the role of a detective, which at first won't be entirely clear after a short night. The plot revolves around a dead man, hanging from a tree in the backyard of your hotel. As you investigate, you'll meet many strange people in a world marked by a failed communist revolution. However, depending on how you play, you could quickly become the strangest character. The possibilities are immense and you'll be hard pressed to find anyone who has experienced "Disco Elysium" in the same way as you.
Available on PC.
"Bad North"
Technically, this game was already released last year on PC and consoles, but I only recently discovered it on smartphone. And it's almost the most appropriate medium. This Vikings game is based on a minimalist but engaging design. The principle of the game is simple: you have to try and defend tiny islands against the attacks of your enemies. At the start, you'll have just one troop, but you can command up to four groups simultaneously over the course of the game. The gold you earn defending the islands will allow you to move your troops up to higher levels and specialise them. You can choose between archers, swordsmen and spearmen, all of whom have their own special attacks. Knowing which troops to send into battle, against which enemies and where to place them on the small island is crucial to the battle. "Bad North" is an entertaining and extremely motivating game.
Available on PC, Xbox One, PS4, Switch, Android, iOS.
"A Short Hike"
This is truly a short hike. "A Short Hike" can be completed in one to three hour(s). This will depend on how many side activities you do in this fabulous world. You play the role of a female bird trying to reach the top of the mountain. It's the only place where there's enough network to make an important phone call. What's more, you'll collect feathers that will give you greater endurance in flight. As you make your way through this idyllic, pixelated landscape, you'll meet a variety of locals who may ask you to do them a few favours. "A Short Hike" is a game for relaxing and having a good time.
Available on PC.
"Children of Morta"
The pixelated design may have aged a little, but I was drawn in from the first few minutes. What's more, "Children of Morta" looks downright sensational. From the design to the animations, this is a magical game. You take on the role of the Bergson family and have to face up to a dark threat. In practice, you can access the monster-filled dungeons directly from your cellar.
A dungeon generally consists of two to three progressively generated levels, with a boss waiting for you at the end. At first, you'll be able to choose between two family members, but they'll become more numerous as you go along. Each member corresponds to a character class, such as warriors, archers, scoundrels and so on. Each dungeon will take you around 15 minutes, during which time you will regularly die. But that's no big deal, as you'll have collected gold that you can then use to improve your family's situation. The combat is extremely capricious and the levels are just the right length, so you'll always want to play through again. "Children of Morta" can also be played in pairs.
Available on PC, PS4, Xbox One and Switch.
"Valfaris"
Blood, action and heavy metal: the very essence of "Valfaris". It's a platformer where you'll take on the role of a pixellated, long-haired muscleman equipped with a fire sword and laser pistol, and where you'll have to battle hordes of bloodthirsty monsters. This sci-fi world could just as easily have come from the imagination of H.R. Giger. The gameplay is fast and powerful, and leaves nothing to be desired. The continuous soundtrack reminiscent of heavy metal covers up my swearing a little, because this game is definitely no walk in the park.
Available on PC, PS4, Xbox One and Switch.
"Unity of Command II"
If you're looking for a turn-based strategy game set behind the scenes of the Second World War, don't miss out on "Unity of Command II". It's reminiscent of games like Civilization, except that you'll be controlling military units exclusively in isometric perspective. You'll also need to keep an eye on supplies and logistics so that your troops don't suddenly find themselves on the front line without protection. The game offers a wealth of tactical possibilities, making it suitable for beginners and die-hard fans alike.
Available on PC.
"Amid Evil"
I've already told you about my love for "witches" (article in German). "Amid Evil" looks a lot like it, and plays almost like that 90s fantasy FPS game. However, this first impression is misleading, because despite the pixels, the graphics are much better than those of its model. Other than that, you'll spend your time racing through murky worlds, slashing your way through hordes of monsters with crazy weapons like a double-sided rotating axe. As fun as ever.
Available on PC.
Philipp Rüegg
Senior Editor
Philipp.Rueegg@digitecgalaxus.chBeing the game and gadget geek that I am, working at digitec and Galaxus makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop – but it does take its toll on my wallet. I enjoy tinkering with my PC in Tim Taylor fashion and talking about games on my podcast http://www.onemorelevel.ch. To satisfy my need for speed, I get on my full suspension mountain bike and set out to find some nice trails. My thirst for culture is quenched by deep conversations over a couple of cold ones at the mostly frustrating games of FC Winterthur.
