These E3 games deserve attention

When you think of E3 2019, you probably think of Project Scarlett (the next-generation Xbox), Keanu Reeves in Cyberpunk 2077, the Breath of the Wild sequel, and the Final Fantasy VII remake. While all of this is super exciting, there were a lot of games shown at E3 that went under the radar that I feel deserve more attention. Here are games announced or shown at E3 you might not be hearing about, but should put on your wishlist.

Spongebob Squarepants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated

Out of all the news that came out of E3 this year, this was the announcement that made me jump off the couch and run around my house. When I was a kid at the height of Spongebob’s popularity, my mom got me Battle for Bikini Bottom for the GameCube. I was obsessed, and every couple years I pull out the GameCube and fire up this game; nostalgia aside, the game is damn good and holds up even today.

I never dreamed of a remake of this amazing game. The remake will also feature a new horde mode for up to two players - online or splitscreen - and content that was cut from the original game. No release date has been mentioned, but we know it is coming to Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

Gods & Monsters

Ubisoft unveiled a new IP by the Assassin’s Creed Odyssey team called Gods & Monsters, and it looks absolutely incredible. Visually, it looks a lot like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, so that grabbed a lot of people’s attention. It is described as a “storybook adventure” and takes place in a vast open world called the Isle of the Blessed, where you will fight mythological creatures in order to save the Greek gods. If you like Greek mythology and open-world games, this is one you should keep on your radar. The release date has already been confirmed for Feb. 25, 2020, and the game will release on Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Google Stadia.

Lost Words: Beyond the Page

The trailer for Lost Words: Beyond the Page, posted on PlayStation’s YouTube channel begins with narration from a little girl named Izzy who is writing in her diary about her grandmother. The trailer ends with the girl saying, “I need to finish the story so Gran can read it when she feels better” - I can already tell this game is going to be a tear-jerker. It is described as a “2D platforming adventure” in which the player’s decisions will shape the story. This sounds right up my alley and I can’t wait to get my hands on it. Lost Words is coming to Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam.

Spiritfarer

I haven’t stopped watching the trailer for Spiritfarer since it was posted on PlayStation’s YouTube channel. The art style is this game is striking - it looks like a hand-drawn cartoon and it’s gorgeous. What really strikes me about this game is that the bright, colorful visuals are met with a dark narrative - the game is described by its developer, Thunder Lotus Games, as “a cozy management game about dying.” Sign me up! We will play as Stella, “ferrymaster to the deceased.” We will “build a boat to explore the world, then befriend and care for spirits before finally releasing them into the afterlife.” I mean, from what I’ve seen so far, I think this may end up being one of my favorite games of all time. Spiritfarer will be released on PS4, Xbox One, and PC sometime in 2020.