The 6 Best Gaming Surprises Of 2016 (So Far)

In only a few days’ time, Los Angeles will play host to the Electronic Entertainment Expo — better known to you, I, and the extended gaming community as E3 — and before the industry’s biggest names parade their wares for all to see, let’s recount the gaming releases of 2016. Indeed, given that we’ve already chronicled the year’s best software so far, it’s now time to zero in on those releases that proved to be pleasant surprises — be that a game that defied the burden of its own expectations; or one that arrived directly out of left-field. Bear in mind that the list comprises software that released on or before June 7, 2016 - Vanillaware's revamped Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir was the most recent title to wiggle its way onto the standings - and we fully expect the remaining six months of the year to herald all kinds of pixelated surprises; if not during E3, then surely shortly thereafter. And so, after watching Naughty Dog bring about A Thief’s End with its signature style, standing up against the criminal underbelly of post-pandemic NYC in The Division, and charging into battle alongside our fellow heroes in Blizzard’s crisp and wonderfully addicting Overwatch, We Got This Covered has compiled a collection of the best gaming surprises of 2016…so far. That Dragon, Cancer Slotting into a similar play-in-one-sitting template as Gone Home, Numinous Games’ That Dragon, Cancer is a poignant and story-driven experience that crams more emotional punch into two hours than some titles manage in entire games or multi-episode arcs. Centering on one man’s four-year battle against cancer - the crippling illness that affects so many across the globe - Numinous’ release delves into existential themes of faith, love and what it means to be human, resulting in a relatively competent and poetic experience that ought to be enjoyed with a stiff drink. What The Dragon, Cancer lacks in length it more than makes up for in rich, evocative storytelling, and Joel Green’s harrowing and at times touching journey will stay with you long after the credits roll. For more on what we thought, be sure to check out our full review. Superhot Outnumbered and outgunned - it’s so often the case when playing first-person shooters. But in Superhot, there’s a twist. Beneath the game’s sterile appearance is an intriguing mechanic that ensures time only moves when you do and, conversely, when you remain rooted to the spot enemies freeze and bullets hang idly in mid-air. The result is a refreshingly smart and inventive addition to the genre, which continues its ability to subvert your expectations via the in-game story, as you hack into the SUPERHOT.exe program and become embroiled in a corporate war. Released across Xbox One and PC platforms back in February - there's still no word of a potential PS4 port - Superhot is a much-needed injection of originality in a genre that's often so bereft of new ideas. Short, yet stylish; stark, yet visually arresting, the Superhot Team have crafted a minimalist and mind-bending first-person shooter that will have you indulging in the game's challenges over and over again. Plus, there's also the promise of a VR-compatible version of Superhot later in 2016. Currently, it's on course to hit Oculus Rift. For more on what we thought, be sure to check out our full review. Firewatch Imagine the scenario; you’re exploring the lush Wyoming Wilderness with only a temperamental walkie-talkie for company, when suddenly you begin to suspect that not only are the woods hiding a strange conspiracy, but that you may not be alone after all. Drawing from old-school backwoods thrillers, Campo Santo’s debut title Firewatch thrust players into that very scenario, spawning a budding romance between Henry, a disillusioned fire lookout and Delilah, the voice on the other end of that radio. Brought to life in stunning fashion - seriously, you’ll likely spend most of your playthrough gawking at the autumnal landscapes — at its core, Firewatch houses a story of a wayward soul seeking salvation and, ultimately, some company in the Wyoming wilderness. Given its arc, one admittedly fair criticism levelled at Firewatch is the way in which Campo's first-person experience peaks in the middle, resulting in a conclusion that is relatively satisfying, yes, but also something of an anti-climax. It may not be for everyone, what with its short length and limited interaction, but as a six-hour psychological thriller, Firewatch is bloody brilliant. For more on what we thought, be sure to check out our full review. Enter The Gungeon If you’ve been searching far and wide for a roguelike dungeon crawler to scratch an itch in the vein of Spelunky, Rogue Legacy or even The Binding of Isaac, look no further than Enter the Gungeon. Dodge Roll’s tough-as-nails bullet hell title is a riot in every sense of the word. Published under Devolver Digital - home of Hotline Miami, Not an Hero and the ilk — Enter the Gungeon is bursting at the seams with personality. From the anthropomorphic bullets to the gun-themed puns, Dodge Roll’s cutesy genre mash-up is a must-own for anyone with even a passing interest in roguelikes, and that exhilarating feeling of storming into a room, flipping the nearest table and firing one of the game’s many, many weapons from cover never gets old. Speaking of which, the game's wacky arsenal is something truly special and would give even the team at Insomniac a run for their money. At the core of the story, though, is a very special gun - one able to kill the past - that attracts the attention of four eccentric Gungeoneers: The Marine, The Convict, The Hunter and The Pilot. Each dungeon crawler comes packing their own unique perk, be that in the form of enhanced armor or a canine companion that sniffs out some of the many, many secrets buried within Enter the Gungeon. For more on what we thought, be sure to check out our full review. Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir Before Dragon’s Crown, there was Odin Sphere. Yes, Vanillaware’s beautiful, hand-drawn RPG recently made its debut on PlayStation 4 in the form of Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir, an HD overhaul of the beloved PS2 classic. Steeped in Norse mythology, the core premise of Odin Sphere centers on a young girl named Alice who, upon unearthing a series of fantasy books in her local library, sets off a mighty adventure that’s told through the lens of five different characters: Gwendolyn, Cornelius, Mercedes, Oswald and Velvet. Uniting in the face of great danger, Odin Sphere is rooted in a world on the brink of chaos, when the magical kingdom of Valentine loses its key source of power in The Cauldron. In that fallout, the neighbouring kingdoms wage war within the power vacuum, and Vanillaware's RPG masterfully weaves each story around its five principal characters. Each wielding a Psypher, once you step into the shoes of either Gwendolyn, Cornelius, Mercedes, Oswald and Velvet, you embark on a quest through the lush, visually arresting environment, and what really pushes Odin Sphere's replay value is the way in which certain characters make an appearance in different stories, meaning those who stand as protagonists in one arc may prove to be antagonists in another. In bringing the esteemed title to PS4, Vanillaware has tossed in a revamped interface, tweaked the progression system and added new monsters to battle. The world of Erion is calling, dear readers. The Witness First teased during the PlayStation 4 reveal event all the way back in February of 2013, it’s fair to say that The Witness had been a long time coming. In fact, esteemed Game Designer Jonathan Blow first drew up the concept for the idyllic puzzler soon after Braid shipped in 2008 and in spite of the odds stacked against Blow’s sophomore effort, The Witness ostensibly delivered on all fronts. Taking place on a remote, abandoned and strikingly beautiful island, few puzzle games bestow a sense of empowerment and satisfaction in the player as The Witness, only to make you feel like a complete goon five minutes later. Featuring a minimalist HUD and practically zero hand-holding, Blow’s esoteric puzzler essentially tasks players with learning a language from scratch - and I probably have more pictures of The Witness puzzles saved on my phone than I do of my friends and family. Upon booting up The Witness, emerging from the underground and blinking into the sunlight, you're free to go wherever you please. Granted, there's an underlying path designed to educate you on the game's core systems but generally speaking, you can plot course for one of the beautiful and varied environments from the get-go - be it the sun-kissed plains of the desert or a lush forest. What begins as a simple case of guiding a line from one point to another soon unfolds into a complex, head-scratching series of puzzles, as you scan various parts of the environment for clues and any semblance of hope. Make no mistake, you will hit a wall - perhaps ten, twenty or a hundred times - but avert your eyes from any guides and, once you eventually do solve said riddle, you'll feel a sense of reward that few games can match. And for that reason, The Witness stands as a special, special game. For more on what we thought, be sure to check out our full review. With E3 looming large, tell us, which games have taken you by surprise in 2016? And perhaps more excitingly, what are you looking forward to over the next six months? Drop your thoughts below.