10 Upcoming Video Games To Look Out For In May 2017
Thought it was going to be a quiet month? Think again.
As we continue through May, the upcoming release window might not feel very star-studded - but to call it a quiet month would be entirely wrong.
With E3 coming up in the not so distant future, industry titans have begun to hold their cards closer to their chests - and the truly huge, console-exclusive games come to a trickle. That said however, exclusives aren't everything in gaming.
Indeed, there are a whole load of unique and fresh games to explore throughout the release cycle in May, standing back-to-back with the AAA industry's lesser-insured ventures - you just have to dig a little bit to find them.
Are you into fighting games? This is your month, with titles from Capcom, Arcsys, and NetherRealm all launching only ten days apart. Are you a huge fan of horror? Illfonic is bringing a classic slasher back from the dead in a multiplayer experience. Strategy RPGs? Magic-based FPS shooters? Baseball arena brawlers? Yes, yes, and yes: the month of May holds all of these and more.
No matter what your tastes are, there's certain to be something this month that tickles your fancy.
10. NBA Playgrounds
What is it: A love letter to the arcade-style sports classics of yesteryear. NBA Playgrounds looks to fill the empty niche this generation, building upon the framework left behind by NBA Jam and NBA Street.
In NBA Playgrounds, games on the court are a two on two affair. Players can choose from a massive selection featuring over 200 NBA stars, from modern superstars to legends of the past. The controls are simple and arcade-like, making an easy pick-up-and-play experience, and the rules are fast and light.
One new feature that spices up the gameplay a bit more is the Lottery Pick meter; a power gauge that increases the more you defend the net and sink shots. Once you max it out, you unlock a random new power-up for your team. It can vary from increased shot clocks, an electric ball, and even quadruple score multipliers!
While it all sounds good on the surface, there is one thing to be warned about: To unlock new players, you open virtual trading card packs, and receive them at random. Developers Saber Interactive have said that they don't intend to sell any card packs "unless the demand is there", but don't be surprised if the "demand" suddenly pops up.
When's it coming out: NBA Playgrounds hits the courts on 9 May for PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Switch.