Ranking 2015’s Summer Video Games From Worst To Best

10. Volume

Thomas Was Alone creator Mike Bithell loves Metal Gear Solid, and it shows. Coming off the back of the aforementioned indie-gem that told the tale of an assortment of pixels going on an adventure (brought wondrously to life through impeccable voice acting), he mentioned in many interviews Volume is the game he always wanted to make, but simply didn't have the money to bring it to life. No more, as with a gorgeous procedurally-polygonal art style (where you watch fractured, virtual reality landscapes come together before then diving into them), Volume's top-down stealth action is a tribute to Hideo Kojima's masterful franchise. Tantalising Orwellian overtones frame your cause to complete levels as live-streamed 'help programs', aiding helpless English citizens in reclaiming their personal possessions from tyrannical oppressors. Each level features you - as Robert Locksley - discussing all sorts of societal and political issues with his rebooted A.I. program, alongside a wickedly English sense of humour when it comes to breaking the fourth wall and detailing the world as a program with the occasional glitch. It's all voiced by Danny Wallace and Andy Serkis in leading and villainous roles respectively, and although enemies can't be interacted with and must be avoided altogether, that in itself is a welcome breath of fresh air when even Metal Gear is leaning more than ever into full-blown action.
Gaming Editor
Gaming Editor

WhatCulture's Head of Gaming.