FIRST CUT
F
lashy fighting games are all
well and good, but there’s
something satisfying about
the one-on-one sword duel,
as evidenced in Square’s
classic Bushido Blade. First Cut is that but
in 2D, essentially, offering feudal
Japan-themed duels against some truly
beautiful pixel art backdrops.Moves are kept simple, but tactical: You
can attack, block, or dash in a number of
directions, while your opponent can
behave identically. Mistakes will be
punished severely, either by the AI or a
nearby chum, as it only takes one landed
hit to defeat your enemy. The tension that
results from this is palpable. TS
drasnus.itch.io/first-cutSURVIV.IO
T
his battle royale may not look like
much—your character is a simple
circle—but it’s still one of the best
games in the genre. There’s never a wait to
play a match: You’re instantly dropped in
to start grabbing weapons and gear. You
can play solo, duos, or squads, and the
action is fast and incredibly tense as the
final circle closes. CL
surviv.ioSLITHER.IO
D
espite colorful appearances,
Slither.io is an utterly brutal game
of survival. As a worm, you seek
to eat and grow long. Collide with another
worm’s body, and you’re dead—but get
someone else to collide with yours, and
you can feast on their remains. Simple,
tense, and utterly absorbing. RV
slither.ioCO
MP
ETEWIT
H^
FRI
ENDS
EGGNOGG+
This is Nidhogg, but free,
and with different moves,
and a bit more tongue-in-
cheek. It’s a feature-rich,
cheeky counterpart rather
than a simple clone of the
day-glo swordfighting
game, and it was first
released before its
inspiration. Expect
hyperactive duels in a
series of arenas. TS
bit.ly/2LkZQRZ
CUCKOO CURLING
A fun four-player game
that combines the rules of
curling with Connect Four.
An easy game to pick up
and play with friends, you
can play Cuckoo Curling in
local or online multiplayer.
It’s cute visuals and humor
are perfect for anyone.
Just watch out for the
crocodile. RW
chromacool.itch.io/
cuckoo-curling