Believe it or not, we play a lot of games here at Game Informer, but it isn’t always easy getting our hands on everything, let alone finishing them and writing a proper review. We’re always looking for more ways to point readers towards the most interesting games available – especially those that could easily slip through the cracks – so we’ve created Spotlight to highlight the cool games we’ve been dabbling with recently that we believe may be worth your time. We love chatting with each other about the games we check out each day, and we want to add you to the conversation. Here is a selection of noteworthy titles some of the editors have been sampling and want to shout out.
To a T
Release: May 28 – Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC
To a T (pronounced ‘To-a-Tee”) is the goofy brainchild of Katamari creator Keita Takahashi. It stars a child whose arms are permanently extended sideways, giving him a T-pose. The crux of the story revolves around the challenges of living a normal life this way and attending public school for the first time.
Many interactions are simple dexterity tests, such as holding down different button combinations while using the analog stick to independently control the protagonist’s arms to grip and move objects. Interactions range from inoffensive to mundane to tedious, and you’ll spend each day doing basic exercises like getting dressed and brushing your teeth to playing simple rhythm or Simon Says mimic games. These diversions are usually quick, but they’re not the most exciting offerings. The humor overall has been hit and miss, and the conversations range from charming to incomprehensible in an absurdist way.
The game is presented as a TV show, divided into episodes bookended by the same beginning and end theme song, and the protagonist regularly addresses the player like they’re Dora the Explorer. I’m a few episodes in, but my biggest disappointment is that, thus far, it doesn’t seem like living life in a T-pose is all that difficult for the character. While it’s interesting to see how he writes with an extra long pencil and is occasionally picked on in school, they largely have life figured out. I hoped the fun of the game would be “how does this kid get through doors?”, but they’ve already solved these simple issues long before the game begins. I’d hoped for more interesting puzzles exploring that concept, but from what I’ve seen so far, you’re doing basic interactions with more inconvenient mechanics. I’ll stick with the game just for the weird vibes, but I’m lukewarm on it for now. – Marcus Stewart
Cattle Country
Release: May 27 – Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC
Stardew Valley continues to be supported with new content, but if you’re looking for something with a similar vibe, Cattle Country from Castle Pixel (the studio behind the strong Zelda-like series Blossom Tales) might be up your alley. Your character escapes the hustle and bustle of city life to start a cattle ranch in the countryside. While early hours see you introducing yourself to your new neighbors and planting beginner crops, the story eventually opens up to include raising cattle, developing relationships with romanceable characters, diving deep into mines in search of precious minerals, casting your line in hopes of landing a big fish, hunting for food, and even fighting off bandits with your trusty pistol.
There’s still so much for me to see in Cattle Country, so I’m hesitant to give it a whole-hearted recommendation, but I’m enjoying the fledgling experiences Castle Pixel has delivered to me in the first few gameplay sessions. My ranch may still be modest at this juncture, but I’m fully invested in seeing where this journey takes my character and his new town. – Brian Shea
Deliver At All Costs
Release: May 22 – Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC
With Grand Theft Auto VI on everyone’s mind, Deliver At All Costs feels like a modern throwback to that series’ early days, specifically GTA and GTA II. As a newly hired delivery driver in the late 1950s, you’re tasked with fulfilling absurd and dubious delivery requests. This includes transporting a live marlin that you must first paint white to give it a false albino appearance, or carrying fireworks that ignite as you drive, turning you into a mobile Fourth of July celebration. Driving controls feel great, and the overhead view provides a good look at the absolute carnage you’ll wreak.
Deliver At All Costs shines most in its impressive destructibility. Everything in the city can be smashed to smithereens; I love leveling multi-story buildings by plowing through them in my truck, or sending the invincible ragdoll citizens flying into light poles and through fences. Driving around the open sandbox is dumb fun in its purest form. Collecting money, resources, and blueprints to craft upgrades to your car, like a crane to pick up objects, spices up the chaotic action. I have plenty left to play before giving it a full recommendation, but so far I’m reveling in my new gig as the world’s most destructive delivery boy – Marcus Stewart.
Despelote
Release: May 1 – Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, PC
One of the best things a game can do is expose me to places I previously had limited knowledge of. As someone largely unfamiliar with the culture of Ecuador, Despelote offers an enlightening slice-of-life look at the country in 2001 through the lens of soccer. As a young soccer-obsessed child, you’ll experience life during an exciting few months for Ecuador as its national soccer team makes a surprise run to qualify to compete in its first World Cup.
As you explore your neighborhood in first-person, often kicking around a soccer ball, you’ll disobey your parents, goof off with friends, and annoy your teachers as your fantasies of becoming a star soccer player override your responsibilities. Seeing how the mere hope of a World Cup appearance uplifts an entire society is fascinating, even for someone like me who isn’t into sports at all. Although I enjoyed the narrative, the gameplay falls short due to vague objectives, making it tricky to know what to do next or how to proceed. But Despelote’s brevity (around 90 minutes) makes a breezy playthrough, and combined with the striking art direction, I’m glad I took the time to enjoy this interactive semi-autobiographical tale. – Marcus Stewart
