If you are lucky enough to have some summer holidays or you need something to keep the kids entertained on a rainy day, maybe take some inspiration from what the gamers of ACM are playing in their downtime.
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Old games, new games, free games, serious gamers and casual players - here is our take on some fun that can be had by all ages and budgets on a variety of platforms.
A world in which players control a sociopathic fowl fouling up the lives of the residents of a small English village.
- Daniel
Spider-Man: Miles Morales
PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Superhero violence
SHIVE, 25, says: I have been thoroughly enjoying my time with Spider-Man: Miles Morales on the PS4. In the game, Miles has to step up to the Spider-Man mantle while his mentor Peter Parker is on Christmas vacation. As Miles, you swing and climb through New York, stopping crimes, completing missions and unlocking new abilities. You can also unlock different suits such as the animated one from Into the Spider-Verse. The story is strong with solid performances from the actors in cutscenes, while action set pieces give the gameplay a cinematic feel. If you have played 2018's Spider-Man, this 2020 spin-off is more of the same thing. However, the new story, Miles' different abilities and Christmas-themed New York make this worth a play-through for any Spider-Man fan.
Cricket 22
PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows
Sport
JOSH, 22, says: Whether you're a fan of The Ashes or The Big Bash, Cricket 22 is the game for the sporting fan. Either play as yourself through the immersive career mode, which sees you rise from club cricketer to international legend, or play as your heroes across all formats. The career mode is one of the game's major upgrades since the 2019 title, with the ability to go behind the scenes in training and participate in press conferences, similar to the NBA 2K career modes.
Crossout
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Android, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X and Series S
Post-apocalyptic vehicular combat (no humans or blood and gore)
JORDAN, 11, says: This is not a new game, but it is a fun free one (you can pay to upgrade etc) that I really like the graphics for and enjoy customising vehicles. It's heaps of fun to play with your friends, as it is a multiplayer online game, but you have to work your way through the levels to start and that is a bit of a grind. There are maps to follow and battles with bots and real people as you try and capture targets, all with their crazy vehicles. There is so much action and it is pretty easy to use weapons. But be careful - there is no respawn.
Untitled Goose Game
Nintendo Switch, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Family-friendly, puzzles, adventure
DANIEL, 42, says: As well as being an immersive and interactive world in which players control a sociopathic fowl fouling up the lives of the residents of a small English village, this is also the story of the little goose game that could. Created by independent Melbourne games studio House House, Untitled Goose Game quickly won the hearts and minds of gamers and critics alike when it was released in 2019, and sold more than a million copies worldwide in a matter of months. The titular untitled goose can honk, duck down, run, flap its wings, and hold objects in its beak, and uses these "skills" to complete a series of goals - most of which involve wreaking havoc on the lives of hapless farmers, shopkeepers, a goose-phobic boy and other human villagers. The village is broken up into multiple areas, each of which has a different set of goals outlined on a series of to-do lists. The intuitive controls make this an easy title for lapsed gamers to pick up, and the gameplay and difficulty curve mean Untitled Goose Game has something for all.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
PS4 (Also available on windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and Series S)
A canon action-adventure game
JESS, 24, says: Definitely old, but gold and currently free to download until the end of the month. The environmental storytelling in this game is captivating with stunning backdrops and great soundtracks to match. It's a game equally about exploration and adventure as much as it is about combat. There are some great, fluid action sequences and combat tends to rely on timing rather than button-mashing. Most importantly though is that at its core the game has a strong premise with good character development which had me on the edge of my seat at the end. Would highly recommend to Star Wars fans.
NBA2K 22
PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4 Pro, Xbox One, Xbox One X, Nintendo Switch, and Steam for PC
Sport
RILEY, 28, says: The latest version in the long-running series is one of the better NBA2ks in recent memory. The addition of a resetting level-up facet of the game gives users extra incentive to keep playing once the main tasks are complete. But be wary when playing online, as shooting in this game is much different to years past. This is definitely a game I'll be going to this summer as it provides many different ways to enjoy your basketball.
