In case you missed it | Enshrouded, The Cub and more. Weekly Hits 2024 #4

Enshrouded

9.8

0 Want

SandboxAction RPGSurvivalAction

Definitely play Enshrouded if you’re a survival sandbox fan who’s gotten a little bored with procedurally generated worlds.

Enshrouded’s handcrafted landscapes are dramatic and mysterious, full of secrets to discover, and blanketed in an ominous “shroud” of foggy fungus spores that create pockets of danger and unique rewards. While there are some annoying missing features and clunky design elements as it heads into early access, Enshrouded is a fun and fantastical alternative to games like Valheim and Sons of the Forest, with enough new ideas to stand on its own.

Plants vs. Zombies™ 3

7.1

0 Want

ActionCasualPuzzle

If you’re a fan of either of the previous mainline Plants vs. Zombies game, it’s worth giving this one a try.

Plants vs. Zombies 3 isn’t revolutionary, and it’s certainly not the masterpiece that the original game was, but it provides great, bite-sized doses of strategic undead-slaying fun. Some fans might balk at the ways in which this entry simplifies some elements of the series, but I ended up enjoying it quite a bit more than the more money-hungry Plants vs. Zombies 2.

The Cub

8.3

0 Want

Post-apocalypticDifficultCasualAdventure

This gorgeous postapocalyptic platformer is 2024’s first must-play indie game.

In The Cub, the Earth has already fallen to environmental collapse, with the few humans who could afford it piling into rocket ships and starting a colony on Mars. I played as an unnamed young boy who was left behind on Earth and raised by wolves, and who must contend with the Martians who abandoned the planet when they return.

Yi Xian: The Cultivation Card Game

8.0

0 Want

Turn-Based TacticsPixel GraphicsSolitaireCard Battler

Yi Xian: The Cultivation Card Game merges the complex, deck-building fun of card games with the strategic gameplay of auto-chess titles to create an experience similar to Hearthstone’s Battlegrounds mode. While a few localization issues might make Yi Xian a little hard to understand, its terrific deck-building, auto-battler gameplay is more than enough to make up for it.

Yi Xian reminds me a lot of Hearthstone’s Battlegrounds mode, except with cards attacking and defending against a single opponent instead of a board full of minions. The rules are pretty basic: During the planning phase, I had to place cards down, and then when the auto-battle round began, the cards would activate from left to right. Tactfully planning my way through each round was a blast. I loved how many different strategies I discovered to counter other players and win matches. And perhaps most impressive of all, it all feels very balanced.

Atelier Resleriana: Forgotten Alchemy & the Liberator of Polar Night JP

8.3

0 Want

RPGAnimeStory Rich

Koei Tecmo and Akatsuki Games have officially launched the global version of Atelier Resleriana on mobile and PC. Atelier Resleriana is the newest mainline entry in the amazing Atelier series, and the launch celebration includes 1,000 Lodestar Gems as an in-game bonus for those logging in now.

Black Moon Playpark

8.1

0 Want

ActionRPGAnime

Immerse yourself in an extraordinary 2D graphic world as you embark on an adventure game with a competitive real-time battle. Engage in intense combat, unlock powerful abilities, participate in epic PvP and GvG battles and uncover the mysteries of the Black Moon.