🎁 The first surprise free game from Epic Games' year-end giveaway is The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria. Another surprise title awaits us next week!
🎮 The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria (59%) (2023)
- Survival, Crafting, Online Co-op
⚠️ IMPORTANT REMINDER
Forza Horizon 4 and its DLC content are getting delisted from digital retailers and will not be available for purchase after December 15. There is 80% discount on every version of Forza Horizon 4 on Steam. The sale ends on December 15th, the same day Forza Horizon 4 is getting delisted, so don’t miss out and add this game to your collection!
Playing Exo One makes you feel like you're on a space journey, but this experience is different from most exploration games. As you roll quickly across different planets, the game gives you a strong sense of freedom. While the mechanics can be a bit tricky to get used to at first, they are unique and enjoyable. The distinct surface of each planet keeps the game feeling fresh.
Instead of a traditional narrative, the story is conveyed through environmental exploration. Without offering any explanations, the game sends you on a journey, creating a sense of mystery with each planet's unique atmosphere. The game is short, but every moment is calming and impactful. Despite its minimalist design, the planetary landscapes are beautiful and the sound design adds a lot to the depth of the atmosphere.
Exo One offers a different exploration experience. Its gameplay mechanics and atmosphere provide a feeling of freedom and the short playtime never feels boring. If you enjoy exploration, this game is worth trying.
🎁 This week's free games on Epic Games Store:
🎮 Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop (68%) (2021)
- Vehicle simulation
🎮 LEGO®️ Star Wars™️: The Skywalker Saga (78%) (2022)
- Action-adventure, co-op, remote play
🟩Games coming to the Xbox Game Pass library:
•Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled (Console) – December 4
•Forza Motorsport (Xbox Series X|S) – December 4
•Hauntii (Console) – December 4
•Humanity (Console) – December 4
•EA Sports WRC (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) EA Play – December 5
•Overthrown (Game Preview) (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – December 5
•Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – December 9
•Wildfrost (Cloud, Console, and PC) – December 10
•Carrion (Cloud, Console, and PC) – January 2
•Road 96 (Cloud, Console, and PC) – January 7
🟩Games coming to the Xbox Game Pass library:
•Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled (Console) – December 4
•Forza Motorsport (Xbox Series X|S) – December 4
•Hauntii (Console) – December 4
•Humanity (Console) – December 4
•EA Sports WRC (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) EA Play – December 5
•Overthrown (Game Preview) (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – December 5
•Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – December 9
•Wildfrost (Cloud, Console, and PC) – December 10
•Carrion (Cloud, Console, and PC) – January 2
•Road 96 (Cloud, Console, and PC) – January 7
🎁 This week's free game on Epic Games Store:
🎮 Brotato (76%) (2023)
- Top-Down Shoot-'Em-Up, Action Roguelike, Bullet Hell
Even though it’s not an awards event that particularly stands out to me, Golden Joystick Awards seems to handle things better. Take note, The Game Awards: instead of nominating a DLC for Game of the Year, create a separate category for DLCs. A separate category for remastered games could also be a good idea. However, standalone titles (like Miles Morales) and remakes don’t necessarily need to be separated from other games.
