Bookend Game Awards: Best Independent Game

So, I bitched about how I don’t see the need to split best indie and best Debut Indie before, this is basically the same list for both for me, so probably no surprises here... I’ve copy and passed a lot for this one.

My Nominations:

• Cuphead - It took them long enough to make, but it’s a damn fun little game that looks amazing.
• Hollow Knight – A fantastic metroidvania, with great art, sound, lore and gameplay. What’s not to like? It already got the last award. Will it get another?
• Hyper Light Drifter – A beautiful looking action game with fun, challenging combat and exploration, though it took a little while to click with me.
• Slime Rancher – I never knew how much I wanted to farm Slimes with cat ears until I bought this game.
• Sunless Sea – It might have niche appeal, but this Lovecraftian London is one hell of a trip.

And the Winner is:

                Hollow Knight

What a shock... I suppose it was up against another Bookend Award Winner in Sunless Sea and the decision was quite close actually, but I think Hollow Knight is the better package.

Next up, join me for Best Ongoing Game!

Bookend Game Awards: Best Role Playing Game

I’ll admit it, I was shocked at how few RPG’s I played this year. Some of these are real tenuous, I can’t deny. In my defence I played a couple of long ones last year, but yea... here are my nominations, plz no bully.

• Dark Souls – You can level up and upgrade gear, it’s an RPG action game, so I’m counting it.
• Dragon Ball Xenoverse – You can level up and re skill your character, so again, fight me irl.
• Dust: An Elysium Tale – Yea, there is levelling, and that’s about it, the most tenuous imo.
• Lost Kingdoms – A real time rpg where you use cards to summon monsters and powers in combat. From FROMSOFT of the Souls series fame! I still need to finish it, but it’s pretty interesting.
• Sunless Sea – Prepare your steamer and crew, and have all sorts of adventured in and out of port in sunken London. It may not be what you traditionally think of as an RPG, but there are more opportunities for “role playing” in this than a turn based RPG that just pushes you down a corridor and throws plot at you.

And the winner is:

                Sunless Sea

I love this game, it’s a shame the ship combat is weak, but the setting, ship management and role playing opportunities were massively entertaining. Choose to be a trader, a pirate, follow the stories of your crew, smuggle souls to demons, Help the Admiralty defeat the Khanate or go on an ill advised trip to the surface and smuggle back a box of sunlight. Dip your toe into the inky abyss now and join the fun!

Next up we have the Best Action/Adventure Game!