Game on

Falmouth’s Games Academy has been rated as one of the top 30 places worldwide and the top ranked university in the whole of England to study games according to the prestigious Princeton Review. Which means our students know their stuff. Check out their advice on what to play and where to go to level up this year.

Luke Day, Computing for Games BSc (Hons) In a year of intense isolation, many around the world have turned to gaming as an escape. And, while we've had many great releases this year so far, there's many more that may interest you.

Carma

Lookout for Carma – an online multiplayer, casual, arcade, vehicle combat game made by second-year Falmouth Games Academy team Glass Nomad Games. Battle your way to the top of the leaderboard on miniature planets, with a planned release later this summer. The team behind the game has just 14 members and started development on the game back in October. Upon publicly announcing the game, the team's producer, Harry Donovan, expressed his excitement stating, "It has been so much work to get it to this point, but it is totally worth it!"

store.steampowered.com/app/1603990/Carma/

Subnautica

Having been just over three years since its original launch, Subnautica is releasing a sequel named Subnautica: Below Zero, later this month. Whilst the game has been available to play in Early Access for a couple of years, its full release will be available on many platforms, such as PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. This sequel will submerge you in an all-new, sub-zero expedition in an arctic region of Planet 4546B. In the description of the game, it names several new alien lifeforms, including Titan Holefish, Shadow Leviathan and Pengwings, stating that, "Not all creatures in this strange world are friendly." It's definitely one to follow if you enjoyed the first Subnautica.

subnautica.com

Toby Atkinson,

Game Development: Programming BSc (Hons)

At Falmouth you'll never find a shortage of games to play and you will never run out of people willing to make new mates and play together. In the Games Academy, teams are always looking for people keen to play their new products, having their game play tested helps greatly with the game’s creation, meaning at Falmouth there’s hundreds of free student games you're able to play.

Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD (main image)

Another game that you should be looking out for this year is The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD, which is coming out in July. This name might sound familiar to you if you're a fan of Zelda, as it originally launched on the Nintendo Wii back in 2011. What's interesting with this new Nintendo Switch release is that, unlike Breath of the Wild, the graphics are much like the original ones that many gamers will know and love. Another feature I found intriguing is the ingenuity of the controls – you’re able to control Link's weapons by utilising the motion sensors on the joy-con controllers. Not only this, but if you're playing on a Nintendo Switch Lite, then the direction that you tilt the right thumbstick will be the direction that Link swings his weapon. Eiji Aonuma, the producer of the game, ended the release saying that he hopes "That people who played the original game on Wii, and those playing it for the first time, will enjoy discovering the origins of The Legend of Zelda."

nintendo.co.uk Tabletop games

If you’re looking to make new friends and discover new tabletop games, or if you’re a veteran of wargames and RPGS then the student-led Table Top Gaming Society is perfect for any new student. They run games like Dungeons & Dragons, Warhammer 40k and Magic the Gathering every week as well as any other board games brought along. When I came to Falmouth I had no experience in Warhammer or D&D, but the Table Top Gaming Society teaches completely new players.

thesu.org.uk/organisation/tabletop/

Plantetary Pest Control (bottom image)

A good example of a multiplayer co-op student made game from last year is Planetary Pest Control. Created all in one year by Games Academy students you’re able to play it co-op with a friend on controllers by downloading free here.

dangerzone-ga.itch.io/ppc

Video Gaming Society

If you’re looking for a place to get a team for more competitive games, or just to be able to join in some casual games at home then the Video Gaming Society has what you are after. They are involved in Student Esports ranging from Counter Strike to Rainbow Six, as well as running weekly LAN events and Fighting game tournaments on Tournament Tuesday. If you’d rather just chill while making new friends, you can join in on a Minecraft or Smash play session on a Casual Friday.

thesu.org.uk/organisation/vgsoc/