It’s February now, and February is a big month for games this year. Is it always? Who knows, but it certainly is for 2016. There are a whole slew of games coming out this month, ranging from big PS4 titles to Nintendo 3DS releases to wonky PC games. It’s good times, perfect for the dead of winter. Here are the biggest releases of the month.
February 2016 Games Releases
Feb. 2: Crusader Kings 2: Conclave
Hey editors! When you let me do the February games list, I get to put in the games I want, and that means semi-obscure but extremely exciting PC expansions like Crusader Kings 2: Conclave. The DLC revamps the game’s core diplomatic and education systems, as well as a lot of the legislative dynamics. It’s going to make the game harder and more exciting than ever.
Feb. 5: XCOM 2
So what XCOM 2 loses in being PC-only it makes up for in being… well… PC-only, with all the good things that come with that. Full and robust mod support, for one thing. It’s getting great reviews, and is a more-than-worthy successor to XCOM: Enemy Unknown. It takes place after the aliens have basically already won, and that’s a great backdrop for the next stage of the XCOM project. And it has multiplayer!
Feb. 9: Dying Light: The Following
Hey, I don’t know a damn thing about Dying Light, but The Following DLC is out on Feb. 9, and adds new areas, new mechanics, and more to the game. The map is as big as the original Dying Light itself was. Plus drivable vehicles and a new story. It’s going to be good stuff.
Feb. 9: Unravel
Yoshi’s Woolly World for PS4, Xbox One and PC. Nuff said. Not enough said? Okay, fine, watch the trailer, or read all about it.
Feb. 16: Street Fighter 5
Can a new Street Fighter game recapture the magic of Street Fighter 2 from way back when? No, of course not. The world is different now. Can it be a ton of fun anyway, filled with, well, great fighting, primarily—but not exclusively—on the street? Of course it can. Street Fighter V isn’t even out yet , but it will never be as iconic as Street Fighter 2. But it can still be super fun.
Feb. 19: Fire Emblem Fates
The biggest Nintendo release of February 2016 is definitely Fire Emblem Fates , the two-part Fire Emblem adventure that pushes the game even farther than the excellent Awakening did. Tactical strategy games are few and far between these days, so an exceptional one straight outta Nintendo is as exciting as it gets… despite the censorship kerfuffle.
Feb. 23: Far Cry Primal
Oh, the new Far Cry: It’s quite a divisive one. Far Cry Primal brings the classic Stone Age brutal violence of the series to the Stone Age itself. It’s a new setting, but the same basic gameplay as Far Cry 4 and Far Cry 3. Depending on how much you like the Far Cry series, that may or may not bother you. The game has beast taming, new ancient weapons, and its own language , but it’s still the same engine. Unlike Blood Dragon, this one is a full game, so plan accordingly.
Feb. 27: Pokémon Red, Blue & Yellow
The original Pokémon games are back—they’re coming to the Nintendo 3DS eShop on Feb. 27. I mean, what more is there to be said? It’s the classic, original Pokémon. The ones that started it all. You may say it’s just an eShop release, but when do regular eShop releases get a Super Bowl ad? That’s what I thought.
All in all, a pretty good February. What are you picking up?
