5 Games You (Probably) Missed out on in September 2017

Knack 2

Games You (Probably) Missed Out on in September 2017

September really kicked off a busy few months for video game releases. With giant titles like Destiny 2, Cuphead, and Divinity: Original Sin 2 claiming the free time of many players in the month, a number of other, smaller releases got left by the wayside. Here are the five games you probably missed out on in September and deserve some of your time.

The first Knack wasn’t anything special. It had some neat ideas and definitely looked great, but the whole thing felt all too generic. That didn’t put off the team at Sony Japan, though, and they returned in September with Knack 2.

Knack 2 continues the story of the first game and sees Knack and his friend Lucas recounting how the city of NewHaven is currently being ravaged by a robot army. With many of the missteps of the first game resolved, Knack 2 is an improved experience. Its combat is engaging, visuals are great, and co-op is great fun when you get a friend involved. While its story is a tad predictable and the opening few missions can feel a little sluggish, for $40, Knack 2 is an enjoyable way to spend a few evenings.

Dishonored: Death of the Outsider

Games You (Probably) Missed Out on in September 2017

Dishonored: Death of the Outsider puts players in the shoes of Billie Lurk, one of Dunwall’s most notorious killers-for-hire. Having been reunited with her former mentor, Daud, Billie is tasked with killing the elusive outsider.

Death of the Outsider does a great job in continuing the excellent experience to be had in Dishonored 2, while also shaking things up to keep this standalone expansion from feeling too familiar. Its story and level design may not reach the same dizzying heights as Dishonored 2, but Death of the Outsider is more than worthy of a purchase for any fans of the series.

Monster Hunter Stories

Games You (Probably) Missed Out on in September 2017

Monster Hunter Stories is a mighty fun spin-off from the series. Hitting the 3DS toward the start of the month, Stories introduced an adorable art style and switched from the real-time combat of the series in favor of turn-based battles.  With the help of your ally “Monsties,” that you’ll encounter and bond with along the way, it’s down to you to defeat monsters infected by the Black Blight.

Stories gets a lot of things right. Its visuals match its enjoyable story. It packs in a ton of content. And it manages to eradicate the painful grind synonymous with a lot of RPGs. If you’re looking for a fun, portable experience capable of taking up way more than 50 hours of your time, look no further than Monster Hunter Stories.

Steamworld Dig 2

Games You (Probably) Missed Out on in September 2017

SteamWorld Dig 2 has finally arrived. Debuting on the Switch on Sept. 21, the Metroidvania-cross-platformer puts players in the shoes of a steambot named Dorothy who must dig deep, grab treasures, defeat any enemies that may try and stand in her way, and sell her treasures back above ground. It takes the first title’s excellent gameplay formula and builds upon it with a number of improvements and tweaks.

No longer is the world procedurally-generated, making your experience entirely different to anyone else’s. Instead, Image and Form has clearly spent a ton of time detailing the world of SteamWorld Dig 2, ensuring it’s a joy to explore and gawk at. Each cave has some really cool secrets tucked away and enemies will always be waiting to catch you off-guard.

Ensuring that the gameplay feels fresh, SteamWorld Dig 2 introduces an upgrade system that allows you to make Dorothy fit your play style better. There are also Cog Mods which take this one step further allowing you to spec and respec Dorothy until she’s perfect for how you play. Though it may lose its steam (no pun intended) once its campaign draws to an end, this charming indie is still well worth checking out.

Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony

Games You (Probably) Missed Out on in September 2017

Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony is likely a tough sell to anyone who isn’t already a fan of the series. That shouldn’t be the case, though. Sure, the sentient teddy bear, Monokuma, may make some nods to the previous titles, but this is the start of a new story arc, making it a perfect place for newcomers to jump in.

Killing Harmony doesn’t change much up from the gameplay seen in its predecessor. However, it’s the way that it embraces the series’ DNA that makes it such a novel and enjoyable experience. Thought the previous titles in the series seemed a tad eccentric and crude? V3 dials that up to eleven. Its murders are clever, having you think you’ve caught the culprit before throwing a curveball at you and sending you back to the drawing board. And just wait for its final chapter. Trust us, it’s worth putting the hours in to reach.

Danganronpa V3 is easy to recommend to series veterans, even if some of the new Class Trial mini-games don’t always hit. As for those unfamiliar with the series, if you’re looking for a visual novel-like experience with plenty of character and style, Killing Harmony is a great place to jump in.