Gaming is – wow, that’s new – about games and not hardware. But 2017 was a rich year in both aspects. Nintendo’s Switch took everybody by surprise and delighted not only players, but third party software studios as well. Only few weeks ago Microsoft released Xbox One X, the world’s most powerful console. But while Nintendo had a smooth run with excellent titles over the last couple of months, Microsoft is seriously struggling – especially when it comes to exclusive titles. In the meantime Sony is reenforcing its position as market leader and has sold more than twice as many consoles than Microsoft.
Counting down with games
Today I will start the X-mas Countdown with the best games of 2017. This is a highly subjective list of games, that I had the opportunity of playing this year. There are plenty more games out there, that are surely sensational, but I didn’t have the privilege or the time so far to play them. So do come back. There will be a new game presented every day till the grande finale on December 24. Have fun!
December 1: Monument Valley 2 – Get lost in Escher
In this purple maze of Monument Valley 2 mother Ro and her child must find a way out.
Already the first Monument Valley game by the British Studio Ustwo Games was a thing of beauty. The worst thing about the original, that hit the crowded mobile game market three years ago, was, that it was way too short. Stepping into an interactive version of M.C. Escher like paintings, dealing with the optical paradox of 2D vs. 3D was just mesmerizing.
A study in mindboggling architecture: A beautiful maze in Monument Valley 2 by British studio Ustwo Games.
Now in Momument Valley 2 the puzzling beauty has you guide mother Ro and her child through twisting and turning mazes of architectural finesse. Of course the two get separated during their journey and you have to help them find each other again. This may seems banal, but already on this very limited level Monument Valley 2 will conjure a feeling of happiness, if you succeed in bringing the two together again. Furthermore the puzzler does not rely on widely used mechanics like restricted time frames and similar concepts, that stress gamers and don’t really add to the enjoyment of the title. Ustwo Games have delivered once again a masterpiece.
Monument Valley 2, Ustwo, iOS / Android, 4+ years, 5 CHF
