Games of the week
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The Outer Wilds
Platform: PC, Mac, Xbox One
Genre: Adventure
Price: £20.99
Explore, die, repeat in a mysterious universe
The Outer Wilds is a magical blend of Groundhog Day's time-loop fantasy and the mind-bending scope of Interstellar. As an alien astronaut from a planet doomed to be destroyed by an exploding sun in 20 minutes, your opportunities for exploration seem to be limited – except you're caught in a repeating time pocket, and each death returns you to the campfire where your adventure begins. This freedom enables you to investigate the many secrets found on each of the unique and wonderfully realised worlds orbiting nearby, and gives endless chances to enjoy the deft space travel mechanics, rich plot and engrossing detail that has been poured into this compelling universe. The Outer Wilds is a mournful but wholly rewarding masterpiece.
Skip to the end: An essential experience for every adventurer.
Score: 10/10
The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan
Platform: PC, Xbox One, PS4
Genre: Adventure
Price: £24.99
Made of mundane
Man of Medan is a clunky horror from a universe where Resident Evil 4 never happened. Set aboard a deserted World War II warship that's haunted the south seas for over 75 years, it attempts to create an atmosphere of dread and fear, yet its most terrifying achievements are the lobotomised characters you must nudge through each hackneyed scenario – their blank eyes, robotic animation and tank-like controls will give you nightmares. There are attempts at innovation in Man of Medan's 'pad sharing' multiplayer, where groups of friends can take turns to play together, but they're more likely to laugh at how dreadful it all is than huddle together in fright.
Skip to the end: This terrible ghost ride fails to be frightening.
Score: 3/10
Heave Ho
Platform: PC, Mac, Switch
Genre: Platformer
Price: £8.99
Pull it off
Heave Ho's pitch is simple: make it across a variety of 2D platforming levels using only a pair of hands. Solo play means monkey bar-esque tactics as you work your way, hand by hand, up walls and between gaps, using the analogue stick to reach out your arms and the left and right shoulder buttons to grab hold and pull yourself closer to the target. But the brilliance of Heave Ho only happens when four friends join hands on the same level, enabling you to form long chain bridges across chasms or hurl one another up to hard-to-reach platforms – all the while remembering which hand is which and who is holding who. Heave Ho is hilarious, silly and perfect couch-based multiplayer fun.
Skip to the end: A winning formula for merry multiplayer mayhem.
Score: 8/10
GRIS
Platform: iPad/iPhone
Genre: Platformer
Price: £4.99
Artistic license
The hero of GRIS may have lost her voice but sound is still central to this gentle platforming puzzler. At times, the score (by Barcelona-based composer Berlinist) is a stirring audio cue for approaching danger – such as a blinding desert wind – while at others it sets the scene, melding with the beautifully crafted visuals. It's like drifting through an artist's dream, yet there are drawbacks. Older smartphones struggle to do justice to the fluid animation and zoomed-out sections are tricksy on small screens. GRIS is a haunting tale, with beauty, atmosphere and real personality. And though the emphasis on aesthetic leaves it a little light on challenge, each ability-based puzzle has a simple grace that perfectly complements the game's sensory elegance.
Skip to the end: Arty, delicate and deeply captivating platformer.
Score: 8/10
