[Great to see commissioned illustrations in articles - in this case by Sonny Ross for Polygon.]
Somehow, someway, we’re still putting Video Game Deep Cuts on Substack, folks. Particularly this week, with all that’s going on, it feels weird to be putting out a newsletter about video games. But I had the links already, you can read it if you like and… see you next week?
- Simon, curator
The Current: New Games To Consider
Poly Bridge 2 (PC, Switch) is an enjoyable looking sequel to the physics-tastic bridge building simulator.
Sludge Life (PC, Switch) is a first-person lo-fi open world game with a lot of weird, grungy character.
Wondered why there’s no other Paper Mario-style cutout art/lite RPG games? Bug Fables: The Everlast Sapling (Switch, PS4, Xbox, previously on PC) did too, & it’s being very well received.
Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath (PS4, Xbox, Switch, PC) is new story & character DLC for MK11 which includes Shang Tsung (!) & Robocop (!!).
Shantae & The Seven Sirens (iOS, PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox) is a well-reviewed full release of the latest (formerly Apple-exclusive) 2D character platformer.
The Culture: Game Culture & Deep Dives
This 6-part deep dive into Epic Games (from the Epic Games Store to Fortnite) is very long, but pretty much unmissable.
The debut of Umurangi Generation (pictured), a first-person photography game where you can document a ‘world on fire’, seems… apposite.
From farming to trucking to bus driving, why do millions play games that replicate regular jobs in forensic detail?
Did you think anyone could do a 3 hour 18 minute review of the Final Fantasy VII remake? Well, Tim Rogers did, & it’s typically entertaining.
The definitive history of Magic: The Gathering’s Commander game format.
The Past: Game History
Controlling sewing machines with a Game Boy? Now someone has emulation working for it. (Check out his full article archive, including GB fish sonar.)
This untold history of Arkane Studios documentary is stupendous, including much detail on canned games like Half-Life spinoff Ravenholm.
The McDonalds MMO (pictured) was totally a thing that existed.
Sega collectors, did you know about the miniaturized Sega grand piano you can use MIDI files on, ‘player piano’ style?
How the makers of Samurai Shodown Neo Geo Collection dug up a long-lost, unreleased game.
The Other Goodness
A Louis Theroux-ish investigation into virtual world Second Life’s most expensive brothel.
Why Fortnite’s and Apex Legends’ top players keep colluding to stay close to the top of the rankings.
Giving the Game Boy Color two identical screens - inspired by someone doing the same thing
