Welcome to my new series of articles focused on bringing readers some information about a few of the latest and upcoming video games. In the past I have helped develop video games and authored numerous video game strategy guides. Now I just enjoy playing video games. My plan is to have a regular updates on games I have discovered and enjoy playing as well as some that I might find unique and intriguing. In addition to cover not only the most popular games but also some hidden treasures that you might not have heard of. So without further prologue, let’s get to the games!
Star Trek Voyager: Across the Unknown
I remember watching the premiere of Star Trek Voyager back in 1995 and really enjoyed it. In the 31 years, since, I have forgotten most of the stories. So when I started playing Star Trek Voyager: Across the Unknown, it started to come back to me. After being moved forcefully into the Delta Quadrant, the U.S.S. Voyager ends up heavily damaged and in dire need of repairs as well as internal reconstruction. Restore destroyed rooms, secure life support and energy supplies, and start constructing. You must decide what to build and when, to ensure the ship has what it needs for the perilous journey. In order to do this, you will need to collect resources as you explore the space around you.
​For away missions, put together a team based on the individual talents of your crew. When diplomacy fails, the U.S.S. Voyager and its crew are ready to enter ship combat at your command. From the bridge, give commands for offensive and defensive maneuvers, targeting enemy ship systems and using special weaponry. Assign battle stations to crew who bring precious skills to the table and trigger them in crucial moments to maximize your combat effectiveness.
​​While this game follows the storyline from the television series, as captain, you are able to make different choices than the original which can affect where the story goes. I enjoyed the way the game is like a ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ which also combines base building as you repair your star ship. Combat consists of making decisions rather than arcade style shooting which is more appropriate for your role as the captain of the ship who gives orders. If you are a Star Trek fan and want to sit in the big chair on the bridge of a starship, then be sure to give this game a try.
Star Trek Voyager: Across the Unknown is developed by Gamexcite and published by Daedalic Entertainment. It is available on Steam as well as for XBox, Switch 2, and PlayStation 5. It sells for around $35 depending on the platform. There is a free demo on Steam that lets you experience the first sector of the journey as the Captain of the U.S.S. Voyager.
Check out this trailer:
Sudden Strike 5
Sudden Strike 5 transports players to the frontlines of WWII as battles rage across Europe and North Africa. You can command massive arsenals of over 300 authentic historical German, Soviet, and Allied military vehicles and units are at your command, including the iconic Sherman Tank, Messerschmidt Bf 109, and the T-34. The game features immersive real-time tactical gameplay that offers creative challenges for even the most hardened veterans. Players tackle objectives in non-linear sandbox gameplay across a 25-mission campaign where you will need to combine recon, sabotage, maneuvering, and combined unit tactics to achieve victory.
There are three different campaigns which can be played: Axis where you lead the Wehrmacht and Axis forces as they seek to conquer Europe; the Western Allies where you lead the fight for liberation across war-torn Europe and North Africa; and Soviet where you must drive the invaders from the Motherland and turn the tide of the war. During the game, players choose a commander to reflect their style of play. Each commander provides bonuses for certain aspects of the game. Some promote offensive action while others are more defensive.
During a mission, you can take control of individual soldiers or group them together. You can even order them to drop prone and crawl or stand and run towards their objective. There are soldiers with rifles and submachine guns, officers, mortars, machine guns, and even medics who can heal your wounded. Vehicles are also manned by soldiers so you can use your men to capture abandoned tanks and use them against the enemy. As the commander, you can also call in air strikes and other support depending on the mission. Also, during the campaign missions, you often get to decide how you want to conduct the battle. There is not just one way to win.
Sudden Strike 5 has a steep learning curve. While it offers a lot of detail, it is unlike many other WWII real-time strategy games. If you just rush in with your troops, you are likely to be destroyed. Therefore it is best to scout out the enemy and try to flank them while keeping your troops in cover. The campaign games feature tactical pause so you can halt the action and give orders to your troops. I found this very useful since during a firefight, it can get very hectic. Though the game may be tough at the start as you are figuring it out, once you learn how to command your troops, it can be very rewarding to micromanage your forces. You even have to worry about supplies such as ammo for your artillery. I appreciate all of the details in this game and the maps are gorgeous to look at.
Sudden Strike 5 is developed by Kite Games and published by Kalypso Media. It is available for PC on Steam and XBox for PC as well as for XBox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5. It sells for about $50 for the standard game and $60 for the deluxe version which includes exclusive PvP maps and lots of skins for the units. Prices may vary by platform. There is a free demo on Steam that lets you try out the game before you buy it.
Here is a trailer for the game:
Seafarer: The Ship Sim
I have always enjoyed simulation games. Some of my favorite are flight, farming, and train simulators. I find these types of games expose me to different occupations and ways of life and help me appreciate the people who do these jobs. It also lets me live these lives vicariously. I recently learned about a game in Early Access on Steam. Seafarer: The Ship Sim has a lot to offer even though it is still under construction. The game offers a variety of experiences.
There is a campaign that starts a career as a sailor on a cargo vessel. Along the way you learn the ropes of working on the seas. For example, you will need to use a crane to load cargo containers on the ship, pilot the ship to its destination, makes repairs to the ship enroute, and then guide it alongside a dock and finally unload the containers onto trucks. There are several other careers and missions you can experience including policing and doing inspections of vessels, putting out fires with a fire boat, and conducting rescue missions. I enjoyed the variety of the different jobs and ships in this game as well as the realism of storms and ocean currents which can affect your ships and boats as they sail.
Seafarer: The Ship Sim is developed and published by Astrogen and sells for $24.99 on Steam. The development team is continuously releasing updates to increase the immersion of the game and adding new missions and ships. If you have ever wondered what it would be like to captain a ship, check out Seafarer: The Ship Sim.
Here is a trailer for the game:
