Of the many indies currently scheduled to come out in 2021 and beyond, these 50 have really caught our eye. They’re listed alphabetically.
12 Minutes
A time loop-focused thriller, 12 Minutes sees you learn that your wife is pregnant before a police officer breaks into the apartment, accuses your wife of murder, and kills her. You’re then sent back 12 minutes into the past and are given free reign to try and influence the outcome of events before they reset again. You aren’t given an explicit goal; it’s up to you to figure out what the best outcome to the time loop is. The game’s voice cast is composed of James McAvoy (Split), Daisy Ridley (Star Wars: The Force Awakens), and Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man). 12 Minutes is scheduled to launch for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC in 2021.
Adios
In Adios, you play as a pig farmer who disposes bodies for the mob. One day, you decide you’re done with all the death. So when your friend, a hitman for the mob, arrives at your farm with a body for you to get rid of, you tell him you want out, knowing that he’ll have to kill you to ensure you don’t rat on the organization. The two of you then spend the day together doing chores, knowing that if he doesn’t convince you to keep working for the mob, he’ll kill you before he leaves. Adios is scheduled to launch for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC “soon.”
Anno: Mutationem
Anno: Mutationem puts 2D action adventure platforming into a fully explorable 3D open world, all wrapped up in a stylish pixelated cyberpunk aesthetic. You play as Ann, a badass trying to fight her way through a corporate-run city and carefully navigate its fringe groups while on her own personal quest. The game also includes crafting mechanics, side quests, and dialogue trees. Combat seems to be the game’s main highlight though, allowing you to chain together attacks from different melee weapons and firearms in cool-looking combos. Anno: Mutationem is coming to PS4 and PC in 2021.
The Ascent
The Ascent is a loot-based RPG that can be played solo or in either local or online co-op. The game sees you fight through the violence-filled districts of a cyberpunk-influenced world, one where your home is threatened by gangs following the mysterious shutdown of mega-corporation The Ascent Group and the loss of all automated security systems. The Ascent is coming to Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC in 2021.
A Space For The Unbound
A slice-of-life adventure game set in late ’90s rural Indonesia, A Space For The Unbound explores the struggles of overcoming anxiety, living with depression, and falling in love while having supernatural powers. In A Space For The Unbound, high school sweethearts Atma and Raya begin to notice strange happenings that threaten the livelihood of their home. As Atma, you have the power to enter people’s minds, allowing you to uncover the secrets that will aid in your efforts to save the town. A Space For The Unbound is scheduled to launch for Xbox One, PS4, Switch, and PC “soon.”
Backbone
Have you ever wanted to play as a second-class citizen detective who inhabits a noir-inspired dystopian Vancouver… and is also a racoon? Because if the answer is “yes,” then Backbone looks to be for you. As private eye Howard Lotor, you’re pulled into a string of cases that sees you regularly confront the abusive regime and rampant systemic inequality that defines your home. You’ll be tasked with interrogating witnesses, figuratively (and probably literally, to be honest) sniffing out evidence, and choosing how to follow the leads you deduce. Backbone is coming to Xbox One, PS4, Switch, and PC in 2021.
The Big Con
The Big Con is a colorful adventure game set in ’90s America. You play as Ali, a teenager trying to save her mother’s video store, which owes a massive debt to some gangsters. How you acquire the money is up to you. Sell collectibles for more than their worth? That works. Wear disguises and steal valuable merchandise from the mall? Perfectly legitimate strategy. Bribe a cop to look the other way while you pickpocket everyone in sight? Gotta spend money to make money. The Big Con launches for Xbox One, PS4, and PC in 2021.
Call Me Under
In Call Me Under, you find yourself in an eldritch horror-infested underwater city that’s caught in a centuries-long war. However, more importantly, you also find yourself meeting six gorgeous individuals, all of whom are romanceable. With 25 possible endings, there seems to be a great deal of replayability to this 1950s-set game. The game’s main characters are also all fully voiced–the cast includes notable talents from other video games like Allegra Clark (Apex Legends), Robbie Daymond (Cyberpunk 2077), and Noshir Dalal (Red Dead Redemption II). Call Me Under is coming to Switch and PC in Fall 2021.
Chasing Static
A first-person psychological horror game, Chasing Static utilizes audio-driven gameplay mechanics where you have to rely on sound to solve puzzles and escape the nightmare you find yourself in (though accessibility options allow you to play the game without sound). In Chasing Static, you play as Miles, a man who stumbles into the remains of a forgotten government cover-up in the middle of rural Wales, one involving a phenomenon that causes time to temporarily stop moving forward. Chasing Static is scheduled to release for PC “soon.”
Chinatown Detective Agency
Inspired by the Carmen Sandiego games, Chinatown Detective Agency sees you play as Amira Darma, INTERPOL agent turned private eye, whose case work takes them across 2032 Singapore and then the world at large. Investigations require real-world detective work–like, you’ll have to actually bring up Google or crack open a book and use what you learn to inform how to process the in-game evidence. While investigating, you’ll also have to build and manage your network of contacts and hire staff, forcing you to balance your time between your job and your relationships. Chinatown Detective Agency is coming to PC in “early 2021.”
Cooking Companions
Cooking Companions is one of those “cute turns creepy” games. In Cooking Companions, you travel with four other adults to the Tatras Mountains. However, the five of you become trapped after the flood waters rise, and when supplies begin to run low, folks start getting desperate. It’s up to you to manage people’s mental, emotional, and physical states, keeping spirits up and bellies full with the right words/actions and the dwindling cooking supplies at your disposal. Play your cards right and everyone might make it out–heck, you might land the love of your life. And if you don’t…well…what’s a little cabin fever and starvation-fueled cannibalism among fellow chefs? Cooking Companions releases for PC in October 2021.
Cris Tales
In Cris Tales, you play as time mage Crisbell, who can see into the past, present, and future all at the same time. Thanks to your time-hopping frog companion, Matias, you can pull objects from the past or future into the present, allowing you to alter how events transpire. Tasked with defeating the Time Empress before she comes to power, you must manipulate time in order to solve puzzles and make it easier to hold your own against powerful enemies. How you choose to do so can have long-standing consequences though. Cris Tales will launch for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5, PC, and Stadia in “early 2021.”
Dustborn
With a graphic novel-inspired art style, Dustborn is a story-driven action-adventure game about a group of misfits on a roadtrip in 2030 post-infodemic America. You play as Pax, a con-artist tasked with transporting a package across the country, something that won’t exactly be easy considering you’re four-months pregnant and not everyone on the road is exactly friendly. Thankfully, you possess superpowers (which are, fascinatingly, strengthened by disinformation) and a loyal crew that has your back. Dustborn is scheduled to release for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC “soon.”
Eastward
From Shanghai-based studio Pixpil, Eastward is a charming adventure game about societal collapse. Okay, admittedly, we wouldn’t normally describe societal collapse as “charming” either, but there’s no other word for the art style and music in this adventure RPG. It centers around a young girl, Sam, and a grizzled man, John, leaving behind their subterranean city to make a life for themselves on the surface, which has succumbed to a toxic presence that has eaten away at almost everything. You’ll switch between Sam and John to handle combat and puzzles on your cross-country adventure through a decaying land, interacting with the last remnants of surface human society in your search for a home. Eastward is set to launch for Switch and PC “soon.”
Echo Generation
Set in a small American town in the early 90’s, Echo Generation molds together a traditional retro art style with a modern 3D pixelated look to produce a charming design. This RPG features a mix of real-time and turn-based combat and has an original soundtrack composed of both electronic and synthwave music. In Echo Generation, you control a party of kids who end up investigating the cause of the supernatural occurrences affecting their town, an adventure that sees them battling against all kinds of enemies, from demonic-looking monsters to giant mechs. Echo Generation will launch for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC in 2021.
Everspace 2
The original Everspace is a wonderful 3D spaceship shooter that incorporates roguelike elements into both its gameplay loop and nonlinear campaign. Everspace 2 seems to build on that winning formula, adding new ship designs, weapons, and environmental hazards. In Everspace 2, you’re a part-time trader who must jump from system to system to reach outposts, collecting resources as you go. On your travels, you can run into pirates that will try to steal your cargo, as well as the remnants of a mysterious alien society–encouraging you to outfit your ship with the ideal loadout for fighting off enemies or traveling off the beaten path. Everspace 2 is scheduled to launch for Xbox One, PS4, and PC in 2021.
Garden Story
In Garden Story, you play as Concord, a sentient grape that is tasked with defending his island from the Rot. Your duties can be as direct as physically fighting off the encroaching Rot or you may tackle the problem by a more roundabout way: talk with the other residents of the island and you may be able to find ways to convince them to aid you in your efforts. One grape can’t shoulder all the responsibility forever–you’ll need the help of all the berries, fungi, and frogs that call the island home. Garden Story is scheduled to launch for Switch and PC in 2021.
Gestalt: Steam & Cinder
Gestalt: Steam & Cinder is a steampunk-influenced action-RPG platformer. You play as Aletheia, a fierce redhead with a deadly aim. Though you do possess melee attacks, your revolver is clearly your best asset in Gestalt: Steam & Cinder’s challenging combat. When you’re not battling monstrous automata, you’re trying to unravel a massive conspiracy by interacting with NPCs in choice-driven dialogue. And with side quests to complete and abilities to craft, there’s plenty to do in this excellent-looking RPG. Gestalt: Steam & Cinder is set to release for Xbox One, PS4, Switch, and PC in 2021.
Grime
Grime looks so cool: It’s an action-adventure RPG where you play as a sentient black hole. So instead of firing a weapon, you can manipulate gravity to fling enemies’ attacks back at them. The world is really creepy, featuring statue-like enemies that seem to spring out of the floor and walls. There are also far more nightmarish creatures, like this voluptuous woman-looking enemy–if said woman’s torso was a human mouth. It’s really gross but in a dope way, if that makes sense. The game seems to have metroidvania influences as well, featuring an interconnected world that slowly opens up as you gain abilities that change how you both fight and explore. Grime is set to launch for PC, but its release date is TBA.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Hollow Knight: Silksong looks to build on the superb design of its predecessor, offering another soulslike metroidvania that takes place in a gorgeous interconnected world and features a cast of bug, fungal, and arachnid characters that run the gamut of cute to terrifying. In Hollow Knight: Silksong, you play as Hornet, the secondary protagonist of the first game, who becomes trapped in an unfamiliar kingdom. In order to escape, she must ascend to the top. Hollow Knight: Silksong is scheduled to launch for Switch and PC, and it does not yet have a release date.
Impossible Bottles
A rhythm game, Impossible Bottles tasks you with solving the global energy crisis through the power of dancing robots. In each level, you must fire streams of electricity in time to the music, which powers a robot, who will dance to the beat in these cute animations, while messing up too many times results in the robot’s destruction. Powering up the robots unlocks new resources for scientists to invest in, allowing you to slowly save the Earth through the production of clean energy. Originally set for 2017, Impossible Bottles will now release for Android and iOS at a future date, which has yet to be announced.
I Was a Teenage Exocolonist
Developed by wife-and-husband team Sarah and Colin Northway, I Was a Teenage Exocolonist is a narrative-focused life sim with deck building-focused combat. You start the game as an adolescent living in a colony on another planet and then decide how you want to live your life. Study hard? Go out and fight monsters? Spend all day flirting? It’s up to you, but your choices will have consequences. With 10 dateable characters, 25 different jobs to pursue, 200 battle cards to earn, 1,000 story events to experience, and 50 endings to unlock, you’ll need more than one lifetime to see it all. I Was a Teenage Exocolonist is scheduled to launch for PC in 2021.
Jack Move
In Jack Move, you play as Noa Solares, a sassy vigilante hacker trying to save her father. Set in a cyberpunk-inspired world, Jack Move’s battles take place in a cyberware-like space, so having good tech is the key to victory. Upgrading the hardware of your Cyber Deck allows you to upload more powerful software. And you can upload different software during battle to change the attacks and defensive moves that Noa has access to in the virtual world. It looks to be a fairly technical and intricate system that allows for a great deal of customization, and the battles themselves are really cool because every move has a stylish animation. Jack Move is set to launch for PC in 2021.
Jennifer Wilde: Unlikely Revolutionaries
In Jennifer Wilde: Unlikely Revolutionaries, you play as French artist Jennifer Chevalier, who’s convinced her father’s death is no accident. Hoping to get answers, she tries to summon his ghost…only to accidentally summon the man that her father had a secret affair with years ago: Irish playwright Oscar Wilde. The two decide to solve the mystery surrounding Jennifer’s father’s death together, speaking to both the living and the dead in an investigation that takes them across France, Ireland, and England. Jennifer Wilde: Unlikely Revolutionaries is set to release for PC in 2021.
Jupiter Moons: Mecha
Jupiter Moons: Mecha is a narrative-driven roguelike where you pilot your own custom mecha and battle in deckbuilding-focused combat. Adding new weapons and support items to your mecha translates into new cards in your deck, creating tense battles where the outcome is decided by both your skill and a little luck. In Jupiter Moons: Mecha, you play as a freelance bounty hunter/mecha pilot who’s tasked with discovering the source of a mysterious infection that’s corrupting machines–including mecha–and making them act against humans as if they have a will of their own. Jupiter Moons: Mecha is scheduled to launch for PC in 2021.
Kabaret
Designed by Malaysian studio Persona Theory, Kabaret takes inspiration from Southeast Asian folklore for its story, characters, and gameplay. This visual novel sees you play as Jebat, who’s transformed into a monster and told that he has 30 nights to break the curse before it becomes permanent. Like most visual novels, you’ll spend a lot of time talking to other characters, but in Kabaret, you complete conversations by finishing your tea, flipping your cup, and doing a tea leaf reading. You’ll be brewing your own tea and doing a bit of self-reflecting in Kabaret as well, deciding by the end of the game whether you want to become human again or remain a monster. Kabaret is scheduled to release for PC in 2021.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits
An action-adventure game, Kena: Bridge of Spirits sees you play as the titular Kena, a spirit guide responsible for helping those who have died move on to the spirit world. You’re aided in your endeavor by the Rot, cute black creatures that can assist you in both battle and exploration. You’re not helpless on your own though–Kena can use her staff for both offense and defense, as well as an assortment of magical abilities. Kena: Bridge of Spirits is scheduled to release for PS4, PS5, and PC in Q1 2021.
Kinder World
Kinder World is a game all about self-healing through the act of raising houseplants and practicing kindness. So yeah, like the perfect thing to look forward to after 2020. You grow your plants through the completion of quick activities like expressing gratitude and completing breathing exercises, and each one grows procedurally. Plants can grow rare variegations as well, and developer Lumi Interactive–a Melbourne studio–promises that additional houseplants will be added post-launch. Kinder World is scheduled to release for Android and iOS in 2021.
Last Stop
In Last Stop, you play as three different characters, whose stories all connect in a mysterious way. John is jealous of his bachelor neighbor’s lifestyle, waking up one day to find they’ve both switched bodies. Meena is a ruthless business woman who stumbles upon a mystery hidden in the company she works for. And Donna bites off more than she can chew when she and her friends investigate a man who appears to be kidnapping women. This supernatural adventure game is also fully voice acted and features an original soundtrack by BAFTA award-winning composer Lyndon Holland. Last Stop is coming to Xbox One, PS4, and PC in 2021.
Little Nightmares II
In Little Nightmares II, you play as Mono, a paper bag-wearing boy trying to survive a journey across a land that’s home to monstrously grotesque individuals. Mono is joined by Six, the protagonist of the first Little Nightmares, and together the two must work as a team to solve platforming challenges and puzzles, usually while some creepy monster is trying to shoot, strangle, break, or eat them. Little Nightmares II is set to launch for Xbox One, PS4, Switch, and PC on February 11, and for Xbox Series X|S and PS5 later in 2021.
Love Shore
In Love Shore, you play as one of two different protagonists, Sam or Farah. Both Sam and Farah are S.Humans, cyborgs created by a biotech company that has mysteriously disappeared. Sam and Farah each have their own unique story, but their lives intertwine at certain points based on the dialogue options and actions you choose, offering eight different storylines that can result in one of over 25 possible endings. Both Sam and Farah’s stories are defined by the relationships they forge with those around them, both platonic and romantic. Love Shore launches for PC in October 2021.
Martha is Dead
In Martha is Dead, you travel to Tuscany in 1944 in order to receive the body of your dead twin sister. It’s revealed your sister has drowned–murdered for some unforeseen reason–forcing you to confront the internal turmoil of your grief at the same time that you must acknowledge the external turmoil of World War II, which is creeping ever closer to you. A psychological horror adventure game, Martha is Dead will see you trying to uncover what led to your sister’s death while confronting the horror of war. Martha is Dead is planned to launch for Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5, and PC in 2021.
Nighthawks
An adventure RPG, Nighthawks takes place in a world where vampires are public knowledge. You are one such vampire, now living in a world where humans tolerate your existence. You decide to build a nightclub in one of the few cities where humans and vampires live in relative harmony. How you choose to build your business is up to you. Through your supernatural powers, as well as your more natural skills of intimidation, persuasion, and seduction, you’ll forge and break relationships, shaping the city for better and worse. Nighthawks is scheduled to release for PC in “early 2021.”
Open Roads
In adventure game Open Roads, you play as Tess Devine, who sets out on a road trip with her mother, Opal, after the two happen upon an old journal kept by Tess’ grandmother. The journal mentions old burglaries, a mysterious man who isn’t Opal’s father, and other supposedly long-kept secrets that neither Tess nor Opal knew about. With Tess’ grandmother having passed away, mother and daughter decide to go out and find the answers to their questions. The game features a gorgeous hand-animated art style, interactive dialogue system, and a strong voice cast–including Keri Russell (Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker) and Kaitlyn Dever (Booksmart). Open Roads is scheduled to release for PS4, PS5, and PC in 2021.
The Outlast Trials
Instead of making an add-on for Outlast II (like Whistleblower for the original Outlast), developer Red Barrels is creating a smaller spin-off game that exists within its survival horror video game universe. So The Outlast Trials isn’t Outlast III; it’s instead a prequel to Outlast and Outlast II. The Outlast Trials sees several test subjects being forced into a horrific Cold War experiment–the game features the franchise’s first-person perspective, reliance on night vision tech to see in the dark, and disgusting imagery. However, unlike the first two games, The Outlast Trials is primarily designed as a co-op experience (though you can play it solo). The Outlast Trials is set to release for PC in 2021.
Power to the People
A resource management sim, Power to the People has you oversee a growing city in which you must construct and maintain a power grid to meet the escalating needs of your fellow citizens. Whether you decide to invest in green energy or cut corners to rely on cheaper means in order to meet immediate demand is up to you. Your morals dictate what you think is acceptable when it comes to keeping people’s lights on as your city experiences influxes of population, natural disasters, and other unforeseen obstacles. Power to the People is set to come to PC in 2021.
Princess Farmer
Similar to how Battle Chef Brigade used puzzles to simulate the act of cooking and Murder By Numbers did the same but for a detective’s deductive reasoning, Princess Farmer looks to offer a twist on match-three puzzles to create the sensation of gardening. A narrative-driven action-platformer, Princess Farmer sees you play as the titular character, who’s been tasked with figuring out the source of the mysterious going-ons in the forest. Between your sleuthing and puzzle-solving, you’ll also talk and build relationships with other characters. Princess Farmer is scheduled to launch for PC in 2021.
Road 96
Taking inspiration from Quentin Tarantino, the Coen brothers, and Bong Joon-ho, Road 96 is a procedurally generated action-adventure game about your mad dash to the border in order to escape the authoritative regime that oversees your home country, Petria. Your story will evolve based on who you choose to hitchhike with, what type of relationships you want to forge, and which roads you try to take, all culminating in your own unique story of trying to escape oppression and find a better life. Road 96 is set to come to PC in 2021.
Scorn
Scorn is a narrative-driven first-person shooter, putting action-focused gameplay into a nightmarish world of grotesque body-horror–developer Ebb Software takes inspiration from Swiss artist H.R. Giger and the work he did for the Alien franchise. Trapped in a strange, almost alien-looking world, your goal in Scorn is to survive long enough to escape, but you’ll need to embrace aspects of the biomechanical hellscape in order to do so. That means utilizing the living weapons you come across and interacting with the gross environment. Scorn is scheduled to launch for Xbox Series X|S and PC in 2021.
Season
In Season, you leave your secluded community in order to set out on a solitary journey of self-discovery. You’re tasked with collecting the memories of the world before they’re destroyed by a mysterious cataclysm, but you’re given the agency in how you want to ensure their survival, whether that’s writing down what you find, taking pictures, drawing, or capturing an audio recording. Though you travel on your own, your journey will see you meet other characters as well. The game looks to be a deeply atmospheric experience, one where you can just get lost in its beautiful-looking world. Season is set to launch for PS5 and PC “soon.”
She Dreams Elsewhere
As Thalia, a woman with severe anxiety who’s stuck in a coma, you adventure through a dream-like world in She Dreams Elsewhere, an adventure RPG where your goal is to find a way to wake up. To wake up, you’ll need to do two things: figure out how you ended up in a coma and both confront and defeat the nightmares plaguing you. The surreal world is what first drew our attention to She Dreams Elsewhere, but the game seems to feature an engaging gameplay loop to match its striking art style–the game features turn-based combat, character customization that allows for different playstyles, and a wealth of characters to talk to and connect with via dialogue choices. She Dreams Elsewhere is set to release for PC in 2021.
Solace State
In Solace State, a visual novel, you play as Chloe Lee, a 22-year-old programmer living in a cyberpunk-inspired society where everyone’s information is one hack away. After your best friend and mentor, Rebecka, goes missing, you take it upon yourself to find her, hacking into the city’s systems in order to gather the necessary information for influencing your friends, fellow citizens, and enemies. The game features a dynamic trip-hop and K-pop-inspired soundtrack, which sounds pretty good in the trailers. Solace State is scheduled to launch on PC in 2021.
Solar Ash
Solar Ash is the sophomore effort of developer Heart Machine, the studio behind Hyper Light Drifter. Like Hyper Light Drifter, Solar Ash places you in control of a mysterious individual and then puts you through a gauntlet of fast combat. Movement seems to be the main draw of the game though, as you’re seemingly able to just slide throughout the beautifully stylized environment. The score adds to the experience, creating a game that looks to be as striking to listen to as it is to look at. Solar Ash is set to launch for PS4, PS5, and PC in 2021.
Song of Iron
Song of Iron looks hard–but in the intense, invigorating way that inspires you to want to take on its challenge. In this 2D action-adventure game, you’re a warrior trying to find salvation for your people. To do so, you’ll have to make your way through legions of enemies, adapting on the fly, as your weapon can dull, your quiver can run dry, and your shield can break. And you really have to dodge attacks to avoid death because after a hit or two, you’re done. Song of Iron is scheduled to launch for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC in “mid-2021.”
Stray
In Stray, you play as a cat–and not like an anthropomorphic cat, but just an average, everyday kitty. You live in a futuristic Kowloon Walled City and are given the agency to explore its dark alleyways, scamper beneath parked vehicles, and incessantly meow at anyone nearby until you’re given the attention you deserve. In trailers and screenshots, we’ve seen that you wear a little backpack in Stray as well, so maybe you’ll be collecting small items hidden around the city. Stray is currently set to launch for PS4 and PS5 in 2021, with a PC release to follow.
Tchia
With a world, character, and story inspired by New Caledonia–the home of developer Awaceb’s co-founders–Tchia has you play as a young girl who can possess animals and inanimate objects. For example, you can possess a tire to quickly roll along the ground. Featuring fully animated cutscenes, an original orchestral score, and voice acting in the traditional languages of New Caledonia, Tchia looks to be as much a celebration of the island’s culture as it is a fun-looking action adventure game. Tchia will release for PC and Stadia–its launch date is TBA.
Teacup
A narrative-driven adventure game with nonlinear progression, Teacup is all about brewing tea. You play as the titular Teacup, an introverted frog who has mustered the courage to host a tea party, only to realize the day before that she lacks the necessary ingredients. With no other choice, you must venture out into the woods and find the herbs to restock your pantry, reaching out to your neighbors for help. This game looks very cute and wholesome. Teacup is set to release for PC; its launch date is TBA.
Tunche
Tunche is a beat-’em-up with roguelike inspirations in its gameplay loop that supports up to four-player co-op and includes five playable characters, one of which is A Hat in Time‘s Hat Kid. Each character has their own unique moveset and skills, encouraging you to work together with friends in order to pull off powerful combos and defeat the game’s vast pool of enemies and challenging multi-phase bosses. The game features charming hand-drawn visuals, which presents the Amazon rainforest setting with a colorful style. Tunche is scheduled to launch for Xbox One, PS4, Switch, and PC in Spring 2021.
The Vale: Shadow of the Crown
The Vale: Shadow of the Crown forces you to use audio cues to discern enemy tells in combat, find vendors in a crowded marketplace, and figure out whether an NPC can be trusted. You can’t see because you’re playing as a blind woman, a princess lost in a foreign kingdom who’s trying to find her way home. The Vale: Shadow of the Crown truly feels like the first of its kind–developer Falling Squirrel worked with the blind community to design a fully functioning RPG that is played entirely through 3D audio and haptic controller feedback. The Vale: Shadow of the Crown is set to release for Xbox One and PC–its launch date is TBA.
Venba
In Venba, you play as an Indian mom who immigrates to Canada with her family in the 1980s. As you face the daily struggles of immigration, you maintain a connection to India via cooking. A narrative-driven cooking simulator, Venba tasks you with cooking Indian cuisine by following authentic recipes. Between meals, you’ll speak to your family and new neighbors–your dialogue choices guide the narrative, which is brought to life with colorful animations and an original soundtrack that’s inspired by Indian musicals. Venba is coming to PC in November 2021.
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The Fable series is about to be reborn on Xbox Series X|S. We know that, because Microsoft told us so during its Xbox Series X showcase, throwing in a reveal trailer for a new Fable game along with a number of other titles. Sadly, though, info about the return of the beloved action-RPG series is extremely thin otherwise.
We’ve run down all the details currently out there about Fable (which is often referred to as Fable 4 as the follow-up to the original game series, although we don’t know if that number is reflective of where the game will fit in the franchise). It’s not much, but you can be sure that we’ll keep you apprised of any new details as Microsoft makes them available.
Fable Release Date And Platforms
Sadly, we know next to nothing about when Fable will actually be available to play (or much of anything else, for that matter). Microsoft’s website for the game lists no date, but does run down what machines you can expect to play Fable on when it does eventually arrive. Fable will be available on the Xbox Series X and Series S, as well as on PC. Given that all first-party Microsoft titles also appear on Game Pass at launch, we can expect Fable to be part of that subscription service as well.
It’s notable that there’s no mention of a Fable release on Xbox One. According to Xbox Games Marketing general manager Aaron Greenberg, that doesn’t discount the possibility of an Xbox One version of the game, necessarily, but it does seem possible that Fable will be a game that requires you to either buy an Xbox Series X|S or play on PC.
Future 1P titles are developed for Xbox Series X first. Not saying those games won’t ship on Xbox One, only that we are leading with Series X & each studio will decide what's best for their game/community when they launch.
— Aaron Greenberg 🙅🏼♂️💚U (@aarongreenberg) July 23, 2020
Reveal Trailer
The Fable trailer that appeared during the Xbox showcase gives precious little information, although it does set an irreverent tone consistent with the rest of the fantasy series.
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Fable: Xbox Series X Reveal Trailer | Xbox Games Showcase 2020
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The originator of the Fable series, Peter Molyneux’s Lionhead Studios, shuttered in 2016 alongside the cancellation of Fable Legends, a co-op action-RPG entry into the series. There hasn’t been a mainline entry in the Fable franchise since Fable III back in 2010. So who’s behind the new Fable?
The new Fable title is helmed by Playground Games. The studio is known for the Forza Horizon games, and while those are racing titles, they’re known for their vast open worlds–which is a check in the pro column for a new Fable game. Playground created a second studio, separate from the Horizon team, back in 2017, to handle what was an unnamed game at the time. Now we know that game as Fable.
In December, Anna Megill, the lead writer on Remedy Entertainment’s Control and narrative director of Arkane Studios’ Dishonored: Death of the Outsider, revealed on Twitter that she is heading up the Fable writing team. We have some information about that team as well, and it features some notable people from Batman: Arkham series developer Rocksteady. Batman: Arkham Knight’s lead scriptwriter, Martin Lancaster, will serve as the game’s narrative director, and is joined by Rocksteady veterans Craig Owens, another former Batman script writer, and cinematic director Martin Tan.
Other members of the Fable team include Will Kennedy (GTA V) as chief designer, Juan Fernández de Simón (Hellblade) as principal game designer, and Adam Olsson (The Division 2) as lead environmental artist. Naturally, many members of the team also previously worked on the Forza Horizon series.
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Developer BioWare had already confirmed that it was working on a new Mass Effect alongside Dragon Age 4 and Anthem 2.0, but the Game Awards trailer is our first official view of what the game could be about. Admittedly, it’s not much–the trailer showcases two galaxies, zooms in on the Milky Way, plays radio transmissions that showcase humanity’s evolution when it comes to space travel, and then finally focuses on an icy planet.
On this planet, we see a hooded figure ascend a destroyed Reaper, where they find a piece of N7 armor among the snow and ice. The figure then pulls back their hood to reveal that it’s Liara T’Soni, a returning character from the original trilogy, and the camera refocuses to show that she’s joined on this expedition by three other figures, though their identities can’t be made out. Because Liara is an asari–a race of aliens that appear youthful for centuries and live for close to 1000 years–and she’s only 109 in Mass Effect 3, we can’t actually use her appearance to estimate how much time has passed. It kind of feels like BioWare specifically chose to feature only her in the new game’s first trailer for that very purpose.
BioWare hasn’t announced a release date for this new Mass Effect. Given that Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is scheduled to release for Xbox One, PS4, and PC in February 2021 and other teams within BioWare are still in the midst of redesigning Anthem and working on Dragon Age 4, we assume this new Mass Effect is still a ways out.
Platforms
The launch platforms for this new Mass Effect haven’t been revealed yet, though we’re under the assumption that it will release for the current generation of consoles, Xbox Series X|S and PS5, and PC since it appears to still be a few years out. We doubt it will be released for the past generation hardware, but nothing has been officially ruled out.
PC System Specs
Again, this game hasn’t been confirmed for any hardware yet, and that includes PC. We don’t yet know what this Mass Effect’s minimum and recommended PC specs will be, or whether the game will even be released for PC.
Trailers
So far, we have one trailer for the new Mass Effect. It’s embedded below.
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Mass Effect Reveal Trailer | Game Awards 2020
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BioWare has not shared whether the new Mass Effect will have multiplayer. Hopefully, it does, as both Mass Effect 3 and Mass Effect: Andromeda featured a very fun horde mode multiplayer that placed emphasis on teamwork and strategy.
DLC/Microtransaction Details
There’s no word from BioWare or publisher EA on whether the new Mass Effect will support DLC or microtransactions. Both Mass Effect 3 and Mass Effect: Andromeda featured microtransactions in their respective multiplayer, and the original trilogy featured DLC expansions that added additional squadmates, story-driven side quests, and extra weapons and armor. To this day, both Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3 have some of the best post-launch DLCs of any RPG in their Lair of the Shadow Broker and Citadel expansions.
Preorder
BioWare’s new Mass Effect is not yet available for preorder.
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In CBS All Access’ The Stand, Alexander Skarsgård’s Randall Flagg cuts an imposing figure. He’s impossibly persuasive and armed with supernatural powers that make him a force to be reckoned with for those that… Stand against him. While Mother Abigail’s champions of the White will do their best to oppose his apocalyptic machinations, it’s unlikely that their understanding of “The Dark Man’s” true power will ever match that power’s scope and history.
To explain why requires minor spoilers about Flagg’s appearance in The Stand and in subsequent Stephen King novels.
Alexander Skarsgård as Randall Flagg in CBS All Access’ The Stand.
The Dark Man
Flagg’s appearance in 1978’s The Stand sees him assume control over the dark-hearted survivors of the Captain Trips superflu that wipes out 99% of the world’s population. Many in this growing army of miscreants marvel at The Dark Man’s ability to keep order through a combination of wish-fulfillment and intimidation, but few seem to know much about his methods for achieving these ends (other than the occasional public execution of dissenters.) As Mother Abigail imparts onto her own followers, Flagg’s power of persuasion is pure evil in its origin. This goes back to Mother Abigail’s conviction that in this final battle, she is God’s representative, while Flagg is “the devil’s imp.” This Biblical interpretation makes sense coming from a devout centenarian fighting for the soul of the world, but the thing is, Flagg’s malice is not limited to just one world, one denomination, or even one name.
That’s because Randall Flagg is just one of many identities assumed by The Man in Black, the dark wizard who famously plagues Gunslinger Roland Deschain in King’s Dark Tower novels. As The Dark Tower books establish, all of Stephen King’s novels take place in one interconnected multiverse, and those various worlds are all bound together through the power of the Dark Tower itself. Roland’s quest to reach and defend the Tower is opposed by The Man in Black, who wishes to claim it for himself and become the god of all reality. But hey, he’ll settle for one reality at a time, too. Case in point: the Man in Black’s first appearance as Randall Flagg in The Stand, where society teeters on the brink of extinction; Flagg is happy to be the one to push it over the edge. As his various appearances in King novels confirm, the Man in Black thrives on the chaos he sows wherever his travels take him, and they’ve taken him all kinds of places.
Here are all the times the Man in Black has been confirmed to have appeared in a King novel (or novel co-written by King), and the names by which he goes in those stories:
The Stand (1978) – Randall Flagg, Richard Fry, Robert Franq, Ramsey Forrest
The Eyes of the Dragon (1984) – Flagg, Browson, Bill Hinch
The Stand: The Complete and Uncut Edition (1990) – Randall Flagg, Richard Fry, Russell Faraday
Hearts in Atlantis (1999) – Raymond Fiegler
The Dark Tower series (1982-2012) – The Man in Black, Richard Fannin, Marten Broadcloak, Walter o’Dim, Walter Padick
Gwendy’s Button Box (2017) – Richard Farris
As you’ll notice, the Man in Black often goes by the initials “R.F.” which, prior to King individually confirming his various appearances in canon, was the easiest way to follow the path he cut through the multiverse. That may be useful information to have in your back pocket going forward, especially if The Stand and Skarsgård’s Flagg end up being a big hit.
Randall Flagg in the Multiverse of Madness
King fans had a whirlwind of a month at the movies back in 2017. A hotly anticipated but ultimately misfired attempt at adapting the Dark Tower novels bombed critically and commercially, despite A-listers Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey starring as Roland and the Man in Black respectively. Luckily, IT: Chapter One swept in just weeks later and cleansed the palette for King movies, ending its record-breaking theatrical run with a staggering $702m at the box office. That’s seen numerous King adaptations move forward at breakneck speed, including The Stand, which had been in development hell for more than a decade up to this point. What ends up happening to Flagg in The Stand miniseries is an open question, especially considering King himself penned a new ending to the story just for mini, but whatever the case may be, there’s a lot of potential for Skarsgård’s Dark Man to reappear. After all, audiences are getting much more comfortable with characters and franchises intermingling these days.
Watch the trailer for The Stand below:
Thanks in large part to the MCU, cinematic universes where storylines persist and heroes appear in each other’s movies are now widely understood. Cinematic multiverses, where storylines and characters are largely separate from each other while still technically co-existing, are the new kids on the block. The Arrowverse’s Crisis on Infinite Earths saw a number of disparate DC properties from decades past all converging for a reality-bending, series-spanning event. Warner Bros. are going to take a crack at a similar event on the big screen with their upcoming Flash solo movie, which by all accounts is going to see Barry Allen use the Speed Force to zip through reality and run into non-DCEU heroes like Michael Keaton’s Batman. Marvel themselves may be moving in this direction, with Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness potentially softening the MCU’s hard borders between non-Marvel Studios projects (J.K. Simmons’ J. Jonah Jameson notwithstanding). This may be the way forward for King adaptations and we may already have an idea of how it could work.
While most recent King adaptations include subtle nods to other works by the author, 2018’s Doctor Sleep includes several direct references to the Dark Tower novels that the Man in Black primarily hails from. Among them are a mention of Ka (King’s version of the Force, more or less), a handful of companies from the novels being represented on signage, and a member of Rose the Hat’s True Knot being known to have “traveled worlds.” With Doctor Sleep laying inter-reality groundwork similar to what some DC properties are doing, and with Amazon’s Dark Tower pilot failing to get picked up to series, any future adaptation of The Dark Tower could bring back Skarsgård’s Flagg to menace the last surviving Gunslinger of Gilead as they duel over the fate of reality (no big shock, but Doctor Sleep director Mike Flanagan’s dream King adaptation is The Dark Tower series). We’ve already seen Flagg in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo in Hulu’s 11/22/63, biking his way through a crowd in Houston on the day of JFK’s assassination. And if rights issues get in the way of Skarsgård’s iteration of Flagg returning? Well, it’s well-established that the Man in Black can reincarnate, and not always in the same physical form, so recasting is on the table in a worst-case scenario.
So is Randall Flagg going to be a one-off foe in The Stand, or could we see him assuming a Thanosesque omnipresence through multiple King adaptations going forward? Whatever happens, when it comes to dealing with the Man in Black, it’s always best to expect the unexpected. And having a Gunslinger out there to challenge his evil never hurts.
From volleyball boys to sentient video game villains, these are the anime we loved in 2020.
2020 was a bit of an oddball year for anime, with COVID-19 causing several shows and movies to be delayed while a few others were split into parts, with the first half releasing early in the year and the second half debuting months later. But we still managed to get quite a few gems.
In the following article, we detail the six anime that really stood out to us in 2020. We loved them for different reasons–some, like Great Pretender, left us on the edge of our seats with its fast pacing and dramatic cliffhangers while others, like My Next Life As A Villainess: All Routes Lead To Doom, provided a welcome amount of hilarity in an occasionally bleak year.
Next, check out some of our other best-of-2020 lists:
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Great Pretender
Great Pretender is a colorful and wacky anime about a group of con artists working together to swindle the wealthy corrupt. The show features a loveable protagonist in Makoto Edamura, a Japanese swindler who’s just trying to find happiness in a normal life, and a great deal of Great Pretender is spent hoping he’ll manage to break free of the charismatic but manipulative Laurent Thierry while silently admitting that Edamura fits in well with Laurent’s crew of outlaws.
To the anime’s benefit, the whole season is split into small arcs, each of which only lasts for a few episodes and focuses on a different heist. So instead of one long drawn-out story, Great Pretender is several different stories, each of which focus on developing a new villain and providing additional insight into one of the members of the crew of antiheroes that the show follows.
This is all paid off in the show’s final arc, which reveals that there’s actually been a narrative throughline for the anime this entire time–looks like you, the viewer, were even being conned. It’s not as mind-boggling a reveal as that seen in the most esteemed of anime dramas, but it is a rather clever bit of meta storytelling to trick the viewer into further emphasizing with Edamura as we see that Laurent has been manipulating and conning us this whole time as well.
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Haikyu: To The Top
Haikyu returned in 2020 for a fourth season, introducing a brand-new subhead and animation style with it. The fourth season played to both strengths of the shonen volleyball series, as it’s split into two distinct halves that are each satisfying in their own way.
The first half of To The Top felt like Haikyu Season 2, in that it slowed down and focused on the internal development of its characters–namely protagonists Hinata and Kagayama. The second half (which focused entirely on a single volleyball game like Season 3) payed off that development in a rewarding way, in that we got to see how Hinata, Kagayama, and the rest of their team had improved to the point that they could take on Inarizaki High School and the powerful duo of the Miya brothers.
Few sports anime are as popular as Haikyu and To The Top is a good reminder of why. The show doesn’t rely on superheroic levels of play to make it exciting, it establishes what each character is capable of and then delivers on a story where the stakes feel very real. And thanks to the new animation style, Haikyo: To The Top implements incredibly detailed facial expressions, which allows viewers to better understand a character’s train of thought or emotional state during the fleeting seconds of a rally.
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Kaguya-sama: Love Is War Season 2
Misunderstandings are usually one of the most annoying tropes in romantic comedies; it seems like many shows and movies in this genre rely on them for the crux of their plot to manufacture drama. Kaguya-sama: Love Is War works so well because it instead relies on misunderstandings for the basis of its comedy. In this anime, student council president Miyuki Shirogane and vice-president Kaguya Shinomiya are both crushing hard on each other, but both believe that if they admitted their feelings, the other would tease them for it.
It’s such a straightforward premise, but Kaguya-sama: Love is War stretches this one misunderstanding out into a collection of some of the funniest comedy sketches in its first season, and manages to do so again in Season 2. The introduction of new characters initially seems counter-intuitive given the charisma of the existing cast, but the newcomers seamlessly worm into the established back-and-forth, creating new avenues of comedy.
The show’s strength–especially in Season 2–is definitely its willingness to slowly build up to a punchline. Though each skit is self-contained, there are occasional throughlines for a few of them, resulting in jokes that have been building all season long. You don’t really notice it until the punchline lands, but when it does it almost always hits.
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Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken
Few anime explore the concept of creating anime, and even less manage to do so with the same level of charm and attention to detail as Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken. This comedy sees anime-lover Midori Asakusa, money-hungry Sayaka Kanamori, and socialite Tsubame Mizusaki joining forces to create a club at their high school for creating anime.
Though its plotlines are usually played for laughs, Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken excels for leaning into and exploring the creative process behind anime–both the fun aspects that attract creatives like group brainstorming, as well as the less glamorous parts of the business like work crunch and funding. Both Midori and Tsubame dream of becoming professionals in the anime sphere while Sayaka is the realist, typically reigning in the expectations of the other two.
Because at the end of the day, Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken is an anime about making anime, not an anime about making your dreams come true. Reality is often much harsher than what you’ve imagined. It’s not all doom and gloom of course–this probably wouldn’t have been one of our favorite anime of the year if that had been the case–but Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken is special because it’s willing to tackle and discuss the often glossed over hardships of working in the anime business while still delivering a wonderful narrative of why people still want to pursue such a career path anyway.
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My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising
Before theaters shut down, a few anime movies managed to have their theatrical release. Among them was My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising. And what a movie! Though its ending falls a little flat by finding a way to conveniently erase what would have been an incredibly cool and fulfilling plot development, the movie up to that point contains some of the best action sequences that My Hero Academia has ever had. In Heroes Rising, Class 1-A is sent to an island to temporarily run its hero agency and get some experience in preparation for their futures as professional superheroes. Things are running smoothly until the island is attacked by a mysterious masked man and his followers, who cut off communications. This forces Class 1-A to protect the island and its citizens without the assistance of any adult heroes.
Heroes Rising succeeds where Two Heroes largely doesn’t in that it leans into My Hero Academia’s biggest selling point: it’s an anime about a class of students, not just one person. Two Heroes largely focuses on main protagonist Izuku Midoriya, and incorporates scenes that focus on a select group of his fellow Class 1-A students. Heroes Rising, on the other hand, gives pretty much every member of Class 1-A a chance to shine. Midoriya and his rival Katsuki Bakugo are definitely the stars, but the others participate in some impressive stand-out battles as well.
More than anything, Heroes Rising drives at the underlying message of My Hero Academia that’s been slowly explored in the show since Season 3: That All Might’s ideal of one prominent hero standing as the symbol of peace is fundamentally flawed, and that it would be much better if a group of heroes stood side-by-side as symbols of peace. In Heroes Rising, you begin to see the start of such an idea bear fruit, as Class 1-A bands together to defeat a group of powerful supervillains. None of them could have succeeded on their own, but together they’re a formidable force.
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My Next Life As A Villainess: All Routes Lead To Doom
My Next Life As A Villainess: All Routes Lead To Doom is a very lengthy title for a short and sweet anime. The anime follows a young woman reborn as Katarina Claes, the villainess of a video game where the good ending results in Katarina’s exile and the bad ending leads her to be killed. Wanting to avoid both possibilities, Katarina works to befriend the game’s heroine and the other characters, scheming for an ending where she gets to live.
The result is an incredibly wholesome show about a girl who is so laughably dense that she doesn’t realize that she’s managed to make practically all her friends–both the men and women–fall madly in love with her. In Katarina’s own mind, she’s convinced that everyone still sees her as a villain who’s doomed to be exiled or killed one day, while those around her fruitlessly continue to pine for her affections. It’s all hilarious.
This is one of those anime where you can just sit down, start an episode, and know that no matter how bleak things might seem for Katarina, the truth is that she’s overthinking practically everything and nothing but good things are going to come her way. Admittedly, that does mean that the show has extremely low stakes, but in a year like 2020, getting an anime like My Next Life As A Villainess: All Routes Lead To Doom was a refreshingly funny watch.
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Disclosure: ViacomCBS is GameSpot’s parent company
Miles Morales and his mom Rio just moved into a new apartment in Harlem. There’s still a lot to unpack in their rooms, and you can learn so much about them by looking around and examining their possessions. But the living room and kitchen are all put together, and Rio is going all-out to prepare a big Christmas dinner for herself, Miles, and a few family friends. It’s a heartwarming scene where you have to do a few chores like put on some music, light the Christmas tree, and make sure Ganke cleans up the damn mess he made spilling soup on the rug. What’s most important here is that it’s a rich display of culture, language, and food that celebrates the Morales’ Puerto Rican heritage.
Anyone who has played Spider-Man: Miles Morales will remember this part of the game–not necessarily for the fact that Miles has to get the power back on by using his Spidey skills while no one’s looking, but because it draws you into a cozy winter vibe of a snow-covered New York City. It’s a powerful moment of character building–you hear Miles and Rio speak Spanish to each other and you can see the Puerto Rican cuisine prepared and being cooked. It’s an invitation to see Miles’ Boricua roots first hand, and a striking piece of representation for those who share Boricua roots or relate through other Latin-American cultures, all over a nice dinner for the holidays. And for me, after I spoke to my mom to let her know I couldn’t come home for Christmas this year, these moments in the game became much more bittersweet.
As I walked through that scene, it reminded me of home and my mom, a reflection of the 20-plus years in the past I spent with her during Christmastime. Rio is on the phone speaking Spanish while she’s cooking, just like how my mom would talk chismis in Tagalog over the phone with my aunties, acting like I wouldn’t understand what she was saying. Some of the food you see on the counter and being cooked closely resembles Filipino dishes I always had growing up, too.
Through our collective histories, Filipinos and Latin-American folks of the diaspora share a sort of kinship. Centuries of Spanish colonialism have reshaped our languages, cultures, and food.
Empanadas, which are also a Filipino staple, are ready on a plate. Arroz con gandules, like the number of rice dishes we share across cultures, is ready to serve. Pasteles are wrapped up just like suman, and several more were boiling in the pot–just the sight of banana leaves in food prep gets me hyped up. You also see Rio frying platanos like we would use for turon. A plate of leche flan makes it to the table as well. There is even pernil in the oven, which is essentially lechón for Filipinos–a slow-roasted pork with crispy oily skin and fatty tender meat underneath. I could almost smell and taste everything being cooked. It felt like I had lived in that small apartment before.
Through our collective histories, Filipinos and Latin-American folks of the diaspora share a sort of kinship. Centuries of Spanish colonialism have reshaped our languages, cultures, and food. Filipinos have an odd place within Asian-American identity where we sometimes share more in common with Latin-American cultures than other Asians. The similar climates of our motherlands have also influenced our culinary traditions. The most common Filipino language, Tagalog, integrates several Spanish words and phrases. Catholicism runs deep in the Philippines. It’s somewhat common knowledge for those of us in the United States who have strong ties to our heritage and live in diverse communities, and something I was always privy to growing up in the largely Mexican community of Southeast San Diego.
Of course, in the case of Rio Morales and her being Puerto Rican, it’s a distinct culture that’s being represented and celebrated in Spider-Man: Miles Morales. The parallels on display and connections I made in the dinner scene brought me back home immediately, though. At first, playing through this part was heartwarming. Going back to it now, after cancelling my holiday plans with my mom, it’s different. It made me realize how much I wanted to see my mom, to feel like a teenager again, excited for my mom’s cooking and watching her put it all together like she’s her own superhero.
I had so many emotional moments with games in 2020. My favorite franchises hit all new heights that I did not expect, and to keep it real, this year is probably the most I’ve cried because of games. Persona 5 Royal, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Final Fantasy XIV 5.3, and Final Fantasy VII Remake were all unforgettable and hit me right in my feelings–like, I’d lay down and stare at my ceiling to process my emotions for hours. It’s probably also this lockdown that got me (and many of us) like this. But these specific moments in Spider-Man: Miles Morales affected me on a more personal level, and they hit differently now that I know I can’t be home for the holidays.
I could almost smell and taste everything being cooked. It felt like I had lived in that small apartment before.
It’s a weird feeling. I don’t know if replaying this part of the game made me sad, happy, nostalgic, or comforted–probably all of those things combined. I don’t know if it puts me at ease because it’s such an incredible piece of representation that I can relate to on some level, or if I’m just gutted given the real-life situation. Regardless, I’m glad this game exists and did it for the culture.
I always enjoyed this time of year; the food we’d have and the way my mom would decorate the apartment, and the excitement for even the littlest gifts come Christmas day. We’d sing traditional Filipino Christmas songs in high school and make parol as a class project. I’d be on break from school or take time off from work and binge a ton of games in my backlog. But as a youngin, you just kind of expect it every year. As I get older, I’ve slowly come to terms with the fact that these moments are fleeting and you never know how much time you really have left. My family is all too familiar with medical tragedies, and they’ve loomed even larger under a global pandemic. I know to cherish the time I can share with them, and Spider-Man: Miles Morales was at least another stark reminder of that.
I hope you’re all having as good a holiday as possible. Maligayang Pasko! Feliz Navidad! Happy Holidays!
Wow, who would’ve thought that a holodeck-malfunction episode would prove to be the strongest outing to date for Discovery Season 3? Though technically, the holographic environment in “Su’Kal” isn’t malfunctioning because of the usual old TNG-era reasons, but rather because it’s been doing what it was designed to do for over a century and is finally just falling apart from wear and tear.
That the revelation of what caused The Burn is also finally provided to us here — or at least seems to be — and that it wasn’t some evil aliens behind that devastating event, but rather just what must’ve been a lost and scared child, is part of the appeal of this hour. (I’m guessing that it was the death of Su’Kal’s mother that prompted him to trigger The Burn, but we’ll have to wait until at least next week to find out if that’s correct or not.) But I’m getting ahead of myself.
There’s a lot crammed into this week’s cold open, including: picking up right where we left off at the Goodbye Georgiou Cocktail Hour; the return of a sheepish Gray (Ian Alexander) — let’s face it, being a dead Trill that no one can see aside from your ex must be a bummer; the reveal that it must be a Kelpien child who has somehow survived on the ship that’s been stranded in the Verubin Nebula; Saru (Doug Jones) almost risking the ship unnecessarily; Book getting radiation sickness while probing the area; and the discovery of a dilithium planet inside the nebula. All before the opening credits!
Yeah, they’re doing a lot in this hour, but it winds up feeling like a true “planet of the week” (or two weeks, as the case may be) Star Trek story that also ties seamlessly in with the season’s bigger arc. One issue I’ve had with the show this year has been its quest-style storylines, where the crew would have to find one clue each week that would get them a little closer to solving the mystery of The Burn. But now, with just three episodes left to the season, we’re finally getting to the nitty-gritty of it all.
An away team consisting of Saru, Burnham (Sonequa Michael-Green), and Dr. Culber (Wilson Cruz) heads down to look for the “child,” who is certainly not going to be a child at this point. But as it turns out, Su’Kal may be a century old or more, but he has the mind of a child essentially. Played by the great Bill Irwin, Su’Kal has spent most of his life on his ship’s holodeck, which was programmed by his mother to raise him and school him as best it could. Over time, as the ship’s condition has deteriorated in the dangerous environment of the nebula, the holographic babysitters and teachers have become glitchy even as Su’Kal has lost his grasp on what’s real and what isn’t — if he ever had a grasp that is.
Mary Wiseman as Tilly, Doug Jones as Saru and Sonequa Martin-Green as Burnham
It’s not that he doesn’t know that he’s interacting with holos, but when confronted by the Disco trio — real, live people — he can’t comprehend it, so much so that Michael must pretend to be a holo. And on top of that, the entire, vast holographic realm is inhabited by ghostly beings which may or may not be real. The environment, the creatures, and even the specific tics of the malfunctioning holograms all combine to make for an episode with a distinct feel and a huge scope.
This holo-framework also gives the Disco team the chance to mix things up on the makeup front, making Burnham a Trill, Culber a Bajoran, and Saru… a human. It’s a fun twist to the episode to see the gang with these looks, and Doug Jones surely loved shooting this episode and not having to put the Kelpien rubber on. But he’s still Saru no matter how human he looks.
Which doesn’t mean that Saru is a great captain, because he increasingly seems to not be. Sure, this mission means a lot to him on a deeper level because of the Kelpien Su’Kal, but his hesitancy at making decisions and his inability to see the forest for the trees on both the bridge and the away mission is damning. Does Burnham become captain by the end of this season at this rate? I wouldn’t rule it out. That said, Jones has some great moments, as when he cuddles up next to the lullaby-singing Kelpien grandfather, or even just the look in his eyes when he first encounters Su’Kal.
Meanwhile, Tilly (Mary Wiseman) takes the center seat as acting Captain, and she does really well even after Osyraa (Janet Kidder) shows up. But when Su’Kal activates his almost-Burn, it messes everything up for the Discovery and the ship is overtaken in no time by Osyraa’s forces. Seeing her actually one-up our heroes makes the Emerald Chain’s leader feel like a true threat, which hasn’t really been the case yet this season, and what do you know? We even wind up with a cliffhanger by episode’s end. Mr. Worf… fire!
I wonder how Aditya Sahil is doing over on that Federation relay station. We haven’t seen him since the first episode of this season. I sure hope Burnham doesn’t forget to loop him in on things.
Admiral Vance: Not a fan of Tilly as Acting Captain.
Stamets’ not wanting Culber to go on the away team makes sense, sort of. They are Starfleet though, and risk is part of the game.
Michael’s advice to Tilly about taking the conn and using that metal burr under the captain’s chair’s armrest is a nice touch. Captain Georgiou’s memory lives on.
Presumably those ghost-like creatures are actually what’s left of the Kelpien crew, right?
Netflix is bringing some holiday cheer with the announcement that Season 3 of Cobra Kai will premiere globally on January 1, 2021, which is one week earlier than originally reported.
Here’s how Netflix describes the upcoming season of Cobra Kai: “Season 3 finds everyone reeling in the aftermath of the violent high school brawl between their dojos, which has left Miguel in a precarious condition. While Daniel searches for answers in his past and Johnny seeks redemption, Kreese further manipulates his vulnerable students with his own vision of dominance. The soul of the Valley is at stake, and the fate of every student and sensei hangs in the balance.”
The streamer also released a clip of Johnny (William Zabka) personally changing Cobra Kai’s Season 3 release date to January 1. You can check out the video right here.
