Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Redfall, and More Exciting Games Coming Out in May
Keeping track of all the latest video games coming out is an increasingly complex task, what with multiple PC storefronts, Xbox One, PS4, Switch, mobile, and more to keep track of, but don’t worry, I’m here to help. Every month I'll be running down the games you need to keep an eye on, from the big triple-A headliners, to the intriguing indies you might otherwise overlook.
After a slightly slow April, things pick up in a big way in May, with a wide range games for different tastes. Of course, the headliner is The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, but players can also look forward to Lego 2K Drive, Age of Wonders 4, the System Shock remake, and more. Things are strong on the indie front as well, with games like Humanity, Darkest Dungeon II, and Firmament looking nearly as enticing as the bigger name games.
Note: While I may have played demos or got early access to some of the games recommended in this article, in most cases I’m simply choosing games that look promising, and can’t vouch for the end product. Do wait for reviews before buying!
That said, here are the games you should be looking out for in May…
The Headliners
Age of Wonders 4 (PC, Xbox Series X/S & PS5, May 2)
Get ready for a fresh dose of 4X fun when Age of Wonders 4 launches early this month. For those unfamiliar with the Age of Wonders series, the games offer a unique combination of 4X empire building with XCOM-style tactical battles. Age of Wonders 4 promises to further mix things up by allowing players to create their own unique fantasy race. Paradox hasn’t missed the mark with any of their recent major strategy game launches, and I don’t think they’re going to break their hot streak with this one. You can pre-order Age of Wonders 4 here.
Redfall (PC & Xbox Series X/S, May 2)
After a long drought, Xbox owners can finally look forward to a new major console exclusive in Redfall. Pre-launch reception to Redfall has been a bit mixed, with the game only offering a single 30fps mode on XSX perhaps being a bad omen. That said, this is still an Arkane game, and like most of their projects, it will likely attract a dedicated fanbase. Here’s everything you need to know about the game and our latest Q&A with creative director Harvey Smith. You can pre-order Redfall here.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Switch, May 12)
Yes, after years of waiting and numerous delays, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is almost here. Nintendo has been very tight-lipped on this one, but we know the game refreshes the Hyrule of Zelda: Breath of the Wild with new landmarks, challenges, and a collection of floating sky islands. Fresh abilities for Link also greatly expand the things you can build and opportunities for YouTube-friendly emergent gameplay moments. Will this game redraw the BotW blueprint or will it be it be more the same? And honestly, does it matter? More of one of the greatest games of all time isn’t exactly a bad thing. You can pre-order The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom here.
Lego 2K Drive (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 & Switch, May 19)
Lego video games have been in a comfortable rut for a while now, but that’s changing as 2K Games and Lego have signed a “multi-title partnership.” The first product of this fledgling partnership is Lego 2K Drive, a new racing game coming from NBA 2K and WWE 2K developer Visual Concepts. I had the opportunity to go hands-on with the game, and found it be a surprisingly solid kart racer and open-world sandbox that ought to keep both kids and their parents busy. You can pre-order Lego 2K Drive here.
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4 & PS5, May 25)
Forget the happy hobbits and elves, it’s time to explore the darker recesses of J.R.R. Tolkien’s universe with The Lord of the Rings: Gollum. As the title implies, this new adventure from Daedalic Entertainment puts players in the grubby loincloth of Smeagol himself in a new narrative set between The Hobbit and LOTR. There have been some worrying signs surrounding this one, including weirdly-inflated PC specs, but LOTR-heads will hopefully still enjoy exploring a different side of Middle-earth and Gollum’s own twisted psyche. You can pre-order The Lord of the Rings: Gollum here.
System Shock (PC, May 30)
The original 1994 version of System Shock was a breakthrough for the industry and one of the first games to really hint at the artistic possibilities of the medium. Needless to say, the bar is set very high for Night Dive Studios’ System Shock revival. That said, it seems the remake has shaped up fairly well, retaining much of the original game’s unique charm. Do check out Wccftech’s recent Q&A with System Shock remake director Stephen Kick about the project’s rather fascinating and unlikely journey to completion. You can pre-order System Shock here.
Promising Indies
Darkest Dungeon II (PC, May 8)
The original Darkest Dungeon was one of the games that kicked off the current roguelike revival back in the mid-2010s, and needless to say, the market has become a lot more saturated since then. It seems developer Red Hook Games realizes they have to do something extra stand apart in 2023, and thus, they’ve mixed up the formula with Darkest Dungeon II. The roguelike elements are still there, but this time around the traditional dungeon has been replaced by a deadly road trip as your party rides a stagecoach through very unfriendly terrain. It’s unlikely Darkest Dungeon II will have the same impact as its predecessor, but those looking for a different flavor of punishment may want to check it out. Here’s the Steam page for Darkest Dungeon II.
Humanity (PC, PS4 & PS5, May 16)
Do you miss some of the quirkier Japanese-developed games that used to be a key hallmark of PlayStation platforms? Weird easy-to-jump-into games like Parappa the Rapper, Intelligent Qube, and Katamari Damacy? Well, then Humanity might be for you. The latest from Rez, Child of Eden, and Tetris Effect creator Tetsuya Mizuguchi, Humanity is a strange little game in which you control a glowing shiba inu that guides large groups of people through various extremely varied challenges. Honestly, mere words don’t quite sum it up, so do check out the trailer above. Here’s the Steam page for Humanity.
Amnesia: The Bunker (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S & PS4, May 23)
Past Amnesia games have been fairly straightforward in terms of gameplay, focusing on tension and scares rather than super complex mechanics. Amnesia: The Bunker changes things up somewhat, introducing more survival elements and open-ended gameplay, as you face various terrors in a WWI bunker. Whether Amnesia: The Bunker is as popular with shrieking streamers as past entries in the series remains to be seen, but it looks like a solid experiment. Here’s the Steam page for Amnesia: The Bunker.
Firmament (PC, PS4 & PS5, May 18)
Ready for a dose of old-school, laid-back adventure gaming? Well, you’re in luck, as Firmament, the new game from Cyan (creators of classics like Myst, Riven, and Obduction) arrives in May. Firmament was first announced all the way back in 2018, with Cyan launching a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised over $1.4 million dollars. Since then, progress on the new adventure has been slow, but the end product looks like a successful return to the Myst-y adventure game past. Here’s the Steam page for Firmament.
Full List of Games Worth Watching in May:
- Raimodula (PC, May 1)
- Age of Wonders 4 (PC, Xbox Series X/S & PS5, May 2)
- Redfall (PC & Xbox Series X/S, May 2)
- Showgunners (PC, May 2)
- Ravenlok (PC, Xbox One & Xbox Series X/S, May 3)
- Mia and the Dragon Princess (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Switch & mobile, May 4)
- Darkest Dungeon II (PC, May 8)
- Dokapon Kingdom Connect (Switch, May 9)
- Pan'orama (PC, May 9)
- Death or Treat (PC, Xbox Series X/S & PS5, May 11)
- Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 & Switch, May 11)
- Mechabellum (PC, May 11)
- TT Isle Of Man: Ride on the Edge 3 (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 & Switch, May 11)
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Switch, May 12)
- Humanity (PC, PS4 & PS5, May 16)
- Tin Hearts (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 & Switch, May 16)
- Greedventory (PC, May 17)
- Firmament (PC, PS4 & PS5, May 18)
- Lego 2K Drive (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 & Switch, May 19)
- Glitch Busters: Stuck on You (PC, PS4 & Switch, May 22)
- After Us (PC, Xbox Series X/S & PS5, May 23)
- Amnesia: The Bunker (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S & PS4, May 23)
- Miasma Chronicles (PC, Xbox Series X/S & PS5, May 23)
- Monster Menu: The Scavenger's Cookbook (PS4, PS5 & Switch, May 23)
- Puzzle Bobble Everybubble! (Switch, May 23)
- Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 & Switch, May 23)
- Bat Boy (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 & Switch, May 25)
- Dynopunk (PC, May 25)
- Railway Empire 2 (PC, May 25)
- The Lord of the Rings: Gollum (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4 & PS5, May 25)
- System Shock (PC, May 30)
- Candle Knight (PC, Xbox One & PS4, May 31)
And those are the games you should be keeping an eye on this coming month. What games are you planning to pick up in May? Did I miss anything you’re looking forward to?
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