The colossal games vending machine that is Steam churns out a never-ending torrent of new titles. Each month there is a vast new list of freshly released titles. From huge AAA games to small indie attempts, there is a lot of potential, but not all games live up to the hype, or even get any hype.
Despite the joy of new releases, the negative aspect is the effort of trying to keep abreast of this glittering multitude of games and knowing what to actually buy. Fear not, as here are the best games of November 2022.
10 Dungeon 100
The concept is so simple. This traditional roguelike deck-builder features dark fantasy flavors of Diablo, challenging players to defeat all 100 levels of a dungeon in order to win. Failure is met with perma-death, which restarts the player right back at the beginning.
Rather than offering unlockable gear or perks to make characters stronger, the game simply expects gamers to use the vast array of available skills in order to progress. The twist? When the player defeats a boss, they then become that boss, and must defeat their previous self in order to continue. It's dark, but wonderful.
9 The Past Within
This is a new co-op adventure puzzler from the creators of the Rusty Lake game series. It is set in the same creepy backdrop as the previous titles, but with some key differences. All previous Rusty Lake games have been 2D single-player adventures. But The Past Within is a mix of 2D and 3D styles, and is strictly co-op only, with no single-player option.
The concept is that one player operates in the past, and one operates in the present. They must work together to solve the mystery, either locally or online. A co-op point & click adventure is quite a novel concept, but it works well to create a memorable experience. Although the game is relatively short, replay value is added by the ability to play from the other perspective, as well as resetting all the puzzles to start afresh. Find a friend and dive into the Rusty Lake saga.
8 Ship Of Fools
This little title is simply what co-op is designed for. It is an action-packed roguelite adventure that never slows down enough to get boring. Players get constant upgrades, perks and items that enable them to guard their fragile little vessel from the monsters that seek to destroy it.
The idea is to play as one of the titular fools, navigating through dangerous waters and building strength until the fools are ready to face the final storm and what lies inside. Although there is a single-player option, the co-op experience is what really shines, sharing the hilarity and frantic action with mates. The question is whether to help or hinder each other. Gamers may lose friends after this.
7 Soulstone Survivors
Despite being in Early Access, this game is already in a very playable state. It is an action roguelite dungeon fantasy RPG with elements of bullet-hell survival. Basically, everything wants to kill the player and tries really hard to accomplish that goal.
In order to survive as long as possible and defeat the powerful bosses, gamers will need to constantly upgrade equipment, unlock new skills and craft new weapons. There is a dizzying number of possible combinations, allowing players to gain immense power on their journey. With further content being added, this is a game to watch.
6 Zero Sievert
Imagine the Stalker series, but from a top-down view and created from hand-crafted pixel art. Starting out in a secure bunker in Eastern Europe, players will need to venture carefully outside the security of the bunker and start scavenging among the leftover detritus of society.
Naturally, players will face all sorts of radiation-mutated monsters and environmental threats, as well as the danger of competing scavengers. The top-down perspective allows for frantic shootouts and tricky but rewarding mass enemy encounters. There is plenty of weapon customization, allowing scavengers to tailor their firearm to their own style of play. Zero Sievert also adds in base-building, gameplay mods and a sprawling quest-line that interweaves seamlessly with a whole host of side quests. There is a lot of really compelling content here.
5 Bendy And The Dark Revival
As players can guess, this is the sequel to the original 2017 hit, Bendy and the Ink Machine. It is a first-person survival horror title, set in a creepy animation studio. All the foes are nightmarish ink-based monsters that the player must avoid or fight in order to survive.
The gameplay is superb, with many different environmental puzzles to solve, as well as several special character abilities which will help the player advance in their quest. But the truly memorable aspect that sets Bendy and the Dark Revival apart from other similar titles is the unique environment and art style, which combine to elicit some exceptional moments of suspense and horror. This game is a must for all survival horror fans.
4 Pentiment
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On paper, this game doesn't seem to lean toward any particular pigeonhole or gaming subset. A 2D historical murder mystery game set in 16th century Bavaria? Choose Your Own Adventure style gameplay? That would certainly seem to be aimed at a very niche audience. Yet oddly enough, that is part of what makes Pentiment such a powerful experience.
Approaching this game with low expectations allows gamers to be blown away by a narrative that allows them to shape history in a number of different ways. Their choices directly affect how the game plays out, sometimes in horrifying ways. As much as it is a game, it is also a social commentary on humanity, art, science, and religion. Pentiment can join a very slim selection of games that inspire deep philosophical reflection on life itself.
3 Sonic Frontiers
As one of the industry's longest-running characters, Sonic has evolved even further than ever. The big challenge any new iteration faces is how to retain the charm and originality of the series while still allowing the player to feel the game is moving forward with the times. This objective is achieved commendably in this latest title.
Sonic Frontiers keeps the 3D evolution of our spiky blue friend, and now moves things forward by allowing players to explore a vast open world which permits all sorts of alternate routes and hidden collectibles. There are occasional 2D flashbacks for fans of the original games, plus recent fads like a new fishing minigame to keep the modern generation happy. The whole system works very well, meaning the resulting game is current, polished and a lot of fun.
2 Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Following the trend of PlayStation games getting PC ports, both the recent Spider-Man games have been released on PC during the second half of 2022. Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered came out in August to high praise from fans and critics alike.
This latest title follows the eponymous Miles Morales as he takes what he has learned from his mentor, Peter Parker, and starts to forge his own path, cultivating new powers and abilities. With great PC optimization, polished controls and seamless gameplay, this is a game that will appeal to almost any action gamer.
1 Against the Storm
Gamers are treated to many games that are mash-ups of previous game styles and genres. Many have been playing roguelites for years, but now fans are treated to a roguelite city-builder with elements of strategy, survival, management and crafting.
Players don't play one map too long, but instead are tasked with getting boosts and improvements that help them speed up and refine the next attempt. The game balance is superb, keeping things moving forward at a rapid pace, but not so quickly that gamers are left behind. Great graphics, music and design choices push Against the Storm high into the Game ZXC recommended list this month.