Penarium

Clowning around in the cirque du slaughter

This frantic platformer bears comparison to some of the indie greats of recent years. In terms of core mechanics, Dutch developer Self Made Miracle has taken its cues from arcade gem Super Crate Box, recreating that game’s compulsive blend of speedy 2D traversal and panicky high-score chasing, and in multiplayer, it evokes the pace and tension of a heated Towerfall tournament. Those are some lofty comparisons, to be sure, but it almost stands shoulder to shoulder with these 2D titans. Almost.

The making of Fallout 4

The sevenyear journey behind the biggest game of the year

Coming off of the success of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Bethesda Game Studios began work on its most ambitious game yet for hardware that didn’t exist. The team’s plans were impressive, allowing players to build their own weapons and homes, and dictate their own fates in the wasteland through intertwining story arcs and relationships that could end in love or death. The development spanned seven years, delivering successes, failures, and unexpected detours like porting Skyrim to the Xbox One (keep reading). Just 25 days before Fallout 4 releases, the creators sound off on the lengthy development process as they brace for players to experience their game.

Quantum Break

Part game, part show, Remedy’s bold storytelling experiment is unlike anything you’ve ever played

For more than 20 years, Remedy Entertainment has developed story-focused action games like Max Payne and Alan Wake – while working at the leisurely pace of a bullet-time shootout. In the span of two decades, Remedy has created five titles. Contrast that with other high-profile studios like Naughty Dog or Gearbox, who have both worked on more than a dozen games in that same period, and Remedy’s gameography feels a little thin.