October release highlights. Games of October 2024

Neva

Gris, the first game from Barcelona-based Nomad Studio, may at first glance be considered a title that tries to hide bland, cliched gameplay under spectacular visuals. However, if we delve deeper, we will discover that this work addresses the theme of dealing with the loss of a loved one in a unique way, based on psychology. A really powerful thing if we know how to properly interpret what we see on the screen. I have the impression that in Neva such a "key" will be unnecessary. The main focus of the story is the protagonist's bond with a maturing wolf cub, which acquires new abilities as it grows older but also becomes more challenging to deal with. I see here an unusual attempt to tell about the problems of parenthood, filtered through a destroyed fantasy world and placing an animal in the place of a child. I sense that being deeply in love with my dog will bring a strong emotional impact in this title. And probably also at least a decent platform game.

Hubert "hexx0" Sledziewski

A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead

The film A Quiet Place has been a trilogy for some time now, but I couldn't blindly recommend any of the parts and I treat the entire franchise as wasted potential. On one side, we have a fantastic concept for (seemingly) invincible creatures that are guided solely by sound, but on the other hand, I don't feel compelled to follow the stories of characters who don't particularly interest me and whom I don't intend to support. A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead, coming out in October, doesn't have a very compelling protagonist (and there's a risk that her problems will overshadow the rest of the game), but I still hope that the title will be able to defend itself with gameplay and immersion-building. The need to move in complete silence is a great concept for a stealth game, perhaps not overly hardcore and focused on specific moments, but with the anticipation of creating tense encounters with monsters. Due to the FPP camera, these should effectively increase your heart rate.

Jacek "Stranger" Halas

MechWarrior 5: Clans

The MechWarrior franchise hasn't been overlooked lately, but its most recent releases emphasize online skirmishes (MechWarrior Online) or sandbox-style gameplay (MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries). That's all well and good, but I miss games in the series that offered rich storylines and traditional campaigns, and that's exactly what MechWarrior 5: Clans aims to deliver. I've been waiting for this for almost a quarter of a century (the last game of this type was MechWarrior 4: Vengeance, released in 2000), so I pray that Piranha Games delivers because I don't know if I can wait another 24 years for the next attempt. The chances of success are high. In terms of gameplay mechanisms, the devs have already shown that they know how to develop a good mech simulator. So I just hope that the script won't disappoint.

Adrian Werner