May 2 – Redfall (Xbox Series X|S/Xbox One/PC)
May 4 – Ravenlok (Xbox Series X|S/Xbox One/PC)
May 5 – Hogwarts Legacy (PS4/Xbox One)
May 8 – Darkest Dungeon 2 (PC)
May 9 – Stellaris: Galactic Paragons (PC)
May 11 – Space Engineers (PS5/PS4)
May 12 – The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Switch)
May 16 – Zool Redimensioned (PS5/PS4)
May 16 – Humanity (PS5/PS4/PC)
May 17 – V Rising – Secrets of Gloomwood
May 18 – The Outlast Trials (PC Early Access)
May 18 – Firmament (PC)
May 19 – LEGO 2K Drive (PS5/PS4/Xbox Series X|S/Xbox One/Switch/PC)
May 23 – Warhammer: 40,000 Boltgun (PS5/PS4/Xbox Series X|S/Xbox One/Switch/PC)
May 23 – After Us (PS5/Xbox Series X|S/PC)
May 25 – The Lord of the Rings: Gollum (PS5/PS4/Xbox Series X|S/Xbox One/PC)\
May 25 – Cassette Beasts (PC/Linux)
May 30 – System Shock Remastered (PC/Linux/Mac)
Can you believe it’s been six years since Nintendo dropped The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on us? And not even a normal six years – a half-decade of mammoth change and upheaval both personal and societal that were still untangling as Nintendo ramps up to do it all again with Tears of the Kingdom. A better writer would make you feel something by deftly linking the impossible task of mending ourselves “post-pandemic” with the new mechanics that see old mate slapping forgotten machines together to hopefully craft a better tomorrow. But I’m not a better writer.
Instead, let’s just enjoy that we’re here for another month and that our Jorts are as taught and ripe as ever. Xbox is trying to beat those first-party exclusive accusations, PC players are eating good with existential strategy titles, and the indie scene continues flexing its creativity. Read on to find out what the WellPlayed crew are most excited about this month.
Mark
I think it’s fair to say there’s only one game that’s on the mind of the vast majority of the adventure-loving, video game-adoring public for the month of May. Come on down, Lord of the Rings: Gollum – sorry, what? A new ZELDA?! Ah, well in that case, move aside Smeagol, there’s a game of the year candidate to talk about.
Yes, of course, whenever you mention one of Nintendo’s tentpole franchises, it will almost always sit amongst the top candidates by award season, but The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a wildly different beast. Coming off one of the most successful entries in the brand’s history, Link’s next venture through Hyrule has a lot riding on its shoulders if it wants to recapture Breath of the Wild’s accolades. But if the last few trailers have proved anything, Nintendo is throwing everything including the kitchen sink in what could be the last big release for the Switch. Will it pay off? Ocarina of time will tell.
The rest of May does have its fair share of titles to fill out the calendar in-between the big N’s blockbuster. In my eyes, After Us should be on everyone’s watch list, a beautiful-looking platform adventure that I’m keen to experience. Similarly, Darkest Dungeon 2 will be one to keep a close eye on, as I have fond memories of the original. Also, pain, endless pain, Darkest Dungeon is brutal! And as much as I might dip into Redfall for some Vampire slaying, I must admit I do like the retro-inspired Warhammer: 40,000 Boltgun as my preferred first-person action of the month.
Jordan
Look, I’m just gonna be straight-up honest here. Yes, there are a few releases in May that have my intrigue. Namely V Rising’s Secrets of Gloomrot expansion, Darkest Dungeon 2, and out of sheer curiosity as well as the desire to just have a mindless shooter to play from time to time that isn’t Destiny 2, Redfall. Hell, I don’t even know if I will be bothered enough to even try Redfall for a while because they’re asking for a whopping $120 for it on Steam and the PC Xbox app is so garbage that I never want to subscribe to Game Pass ever again.
The real behemoth here lies in LEGO 2K Drive The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. I would be willing to argue that I am the biggest Zelda fan in the WellPlayed team. I regularly play all the previous games, and both Breath of the Wild and Majora’s Mask are frequently at the top of my favourite games list. I even learnt how to speedrun BOTW because I enjoy it that much. I have been waiting for Tears of the Kingdom for a VERY long time, and while Nintendo frustrates the ever-living shit out of me, I cannot deny that I am bound in their grip whenever Link and Princess Zelda grace the gaming scene. Between this and Armored Core VI in August, I think I already have my Game of the Year.
Ash
People throw out the term BOOMER SHOOTER like it is some kind of hard-hitting insult, a big ol’ zinger right to my flabby middle aged belly. But people are wrong, for that very belly is openly jiggling in hot anticipation for the boomer-est of boomer shooters – Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun. A pixelated, pulse pounding romp through hordes of shonky sprites it about as Warhammer-y as you can get without dropping a few hundred quid on a box set that will take 18 months to assemble and consider painting – and being a AA title this will cost a fraction of that.
I have also been basking in the warm glow of my daughter’s growing love of the plastic bricks – LEGO has consumed her delightful mind and creativity is running wild, son. The premise of LEGO 2K Drive suggests that maybe a fraction of that can be channelled into the racing experience, with all manner of nightmarish abominations trying to dominate the road – hopefully to the chagrin of other, more serious racers.
…Provided the in-game store and progression systems don’t crimp the hose of imagination somewhat.
Nathan
Tears Of The Kingdom? More like tear my schedule a new rectum. I have nothing further to add to the conversation about May’s upcoming GOTY winner that the other folks haven’t already said above.
So let’s talk jorts.
Tactics games. My guilty beloved. Darkest Dungeon 2 is bringing the pain and the maimed this month, with more traumatised adventurers than you can shake a desiccated limb at. Age of Wonders 4, the latest and long overdue entry in the fantasy Civ-lite empire builder slash battler, is going straight onto the pile of games I’ll simply never have a hundred hours to throw at.
First person shooters are getting some highlights in May. The month starts with the latest Arkane vampire-shooting blockbuster Redfall and ends with a blast from the past, the genre-defining System Shock is finally returning in the form of Nightdive Studio’s remaster. But will it have withstood the harsh passing of time? And will my jorts withstand the harsh stain of faeces as I shit myself with ambitious new Amnesia: The Bunker?
Rounding out the month are my last notable games that could, but shouldn’t, slip under your radar. V Rising, the excellent mish-mash of survival crafter and Diablo is getting a major early access content update called Secrets of Gloomrot, hopefully fleshing out the game with more character-building options. And not the first game in this list to make a jorts comeback, last year’s Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is seeing it’s PS5 port release in early May. I’ve been eagerly waiting to play a 60FPS console version of this and couldn’t be more excited for what is hopefully the best port of this fantastic looking AA Japanese action-RPG sequel.
What games are you keen for in May? Let us know in the comments or on social media.
