Here are my first (or rather, second, at least for some) impressions of the games in the three tiers from the Awards Winners Bundle on Fanatical. As of writing this post, the bundle will end in 5 hours or less.
Tier 1: Pay $1 (MRP $19.99)
This War of Mine Final Cut (2014)
Developer / Publisher: 11 bit studios
Initially released in 2014, This War of Mine Final Cut is the final update to the phenomenon that includes a remastered version of the game, all the updates and free expansions released so far.
I’ve had this game in my library for a long time now and I am happy with the game, even though playing the game forces you to make hard decisions that eventually make sad outcomes. I definitely recommend getting this game.
Tier 2: Pay $4.99 (MRP $90.94)
Orwell: Keeping an Eye on You (2016)
Developer / Publisher: Osmotic Studios
Orwell: Keeping an Eye on You is a choices-matter, interactive fiction set in a dystopian era where you play as an operator of Orwell, a new governmental security program that has the power to survey the online presence of everyone in The Nation.
I have this game in my library as well and would definitely recommend that you get it if you haven’t yet, although this had been included in a number of bundles and has also been a giveaway in the past. The only thing I can say to help you play this game is, “With great power, comes great responsibility.”
Tropico 5 (2014)
Developer: Haemimont Games / Publisher: Kalypso Media Digital
Tropico 5 is a city-builder and city-management simulation sandbox where you play as the dictator of the remote island of Tropico. This game has been sitting a while now in my library but I haven’t gotten the chance to try it out and play but given the good reviews and reception of the game, I am hoping that I can play it with my friends in the future.
OPUS: Rocket of Whispers (2018)
Developer / Publisher: SIGONO INC.
OPUS: Rocket of Whispers is a post-apocalyptic story-driven adventure that follows two survivors on a journey to launch a space burial for the lost souls of their desolate world.
I don’t have this game yet but from what I can see in the trailers, it has such unique artwork and the story seems to be emotional, which, for me, is a good thing.
The Flame in the Flood (2016)
Developer: The Molasses Flood / Publishers: The Molasses Flood, Curve Digital
The Flame in the Flood is a survival game in which a girl and her dog travel on foot and by raft down a procedurally generated river.
I’ve had this game in my library for a while now but I haven’t really tried playing the game. The game has also been included in a lot of bundles and giveaways in the past, but from reviews of the game, it looks to be a great game.
Tales of the Neon Sea (2019)
Developer: Palm Pioneer / Publisher: Thermite Games
Tales of the Neon Sea is a story-rich pixel art adventure set in a cyberpunk cityscape where you will encounter countless of events to investigate and a whole cast of NPCs to interact with. You take on the role of Rex, a veteran, cop turned detective and investigate crime in this cyberpunk world and solve a strange murder case involving clues from a robot rebellion.
I personally haven’t played the game although I already have it in my library. I have always been a fan of pixel art and because of the interesting art style and plot, I would definitely love to play this game in the future.
Tier 3: Pay $9.99 (MRP $120.93)
Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration (2016)
Developers: Crystal Dynamics, Eidos-Montréal, Feral Interactive, Nixxes / Publishers: Square Enix, Feral Interactive
Originally released in 2015, Rise of the Tomb Raider is the second chapter to Lara Croft’s journey to becoming the Tomb Raider as we know her. The 20 Year Celebration pack includes new content, skins, weapons, and challenges.
Having played some of the Tomb Raider games in the past, I’ve always been challenged by the game and because of its improvements from the old-school low-poly games, I would definitely want to try this game out in the future.
The bundle includes great award-winning games, but if you’re like me who has been buying different bundles in the past, it’s possible that you already own some, if not most, of these games. But if you haven’t yet, I would definitely recommend getting the top tier. Use this link to get 5% off on your Fanatical purchase, if you aren’t a member yet.