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00:00Since the dawn of humankind, our species has gazed toward the skies and wondered whether we were truly alone.
00:09Welcome to Mojo Plays, and today we're counting down our picks for the 20 best Overlook AA games that deserve so much more time in the spotlight.
00:24Before we begin, we publish new content all week long,
00:27so be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.
00:462018's Call of Cthulhu might be a bit janky and cumbersome at times, especially in the four stealth sections.
00:52Those definitely aren't all that great,
00:53but for every shortcoming it has, the game more than excels when it comes to overall tone, style, ambiance, and just the game feel in general.
01:01Edward Pierce is on the case, ready to uncover the macabre details of the Hawkins family
01:05and their ties to the otherworldly eldritch horrors the game throws at you in and around Darkwater,
01:10especially in the final act of the game.
01:12It gets really bonkers.
01:14Playing from a first person perspective, Call of Cthulhu immediately immerses you in its investigative detective style gameplay,
01:20one that offers spooky locations to explore, cultists to contend with, and plenty of terrifying abominations that ensure Edward's sanity
01:28chips away with every single encounter.
01:30If you can get through the rougher gameplay sections, then this AA game will surely win you over.
01:51Asteragos Curse of the Stars
02:01We should mention right up front that Asteragos Curse of the Stars is a major time sink of a game,
02:07one that unfortunately outstays its welcome.
02:09But despite that, this challenging yet accessible Souls-like action-adventure game ticks just enough boxes that make it a real worthwhile
02:16AA contender. As Hilda, you will explore myriad Roman and Greek-inspired locales, with plenty of mythical and magical madcaps around every corner.
02:25What makes Asteragos so darn fun is its immediate moment-to-moment gameplay,
02:30specifically the deep and nuanced combat, plus the enticing exploration. The game's art direction and level design are also both top-notch here.
02:37Combined with the meticulously designed hack-and-slash combat, this game will keep its hooks into you,
02:42even when the game continues to dump too much needless lore and exposition on your lap.
02:58Lost in Random
03:00So, what do you get when you combine a spooky and whimsical Tim Burton aesthetic with a third-person adventure game with unique board game elements?
03:07Well, you, of course, get the hidden double-A gem Lost in Random.
03:11One of those rare, smaller games published by EA, Lost in Random is a real joy to play, and is really unlike any other game out there.
03:18Taking on the role of Even, it's up to you and your friends to decide how you want to play Lost in Random.
03:24A location that is both wrapped up in coziness and filled with menace and madness alike.
03:29The real star of this game are the battles.
03:31Even and Dicey must work together in tandem to play through the board game battles,
03:35where wits, wile, and a bit of luck are all equally important.
03:38Even and Dicey are the two main characters in Lost in Random,
03:41and they're the ones who are the most fun to play with.
03:43Even and Dicey are the two main characters in Lost in Random,
03:46and they're the ones who are the most fun to play with.
03:48Even and Dicey are the two main characters in Lost in Random,
03:51where wits, wile, and a bit of luck are all equally important.
03:54There are cards to utilize, a handy slingshot to get to grips with, special mechanics, and diverse enemies.
04:00It's a game that encourages experimentation, which helps it to stay fresh all throughout.
04:04Come for the Tim Burton vibes, but stay for the deeply nuanced gameplay and compelling narrative.
04:09Yooka-Laylee
04:20Yooka-Laylee
04:322017's charming love-letter to 3D platformers,
04:35Yooka-Laylee might not have set the world on fire in terms of sheer platforming perfection,
04:40but it's still a fantastic 3D platformer in its own right,
04:43well-deserving of a playthrough, especially if you are a connoisseur of the genre.
04:47Developer Playtonic really swung for the fences with this one,
04:50clearly attempting to pay homage to the likes of Banjo-Kazooie and something like Super Mario 64,
04:56while still carving out its own unique identity.
04:58Yooka and Laylee are an utterly charming and lovable duo to play as.
05:03Sure, some of the game's worlds felt a bit sparse, the camera didn't always cooperate,
05:07and the minecart sections were a real darn chore.
05:10However, as a whole, Yooka-Laylee is brimming with fun gameplay, playful areas to explore,
05:15and some truly top-notch music to bop along to as you platform around.
05:20Blacktail
05:39Seriously, why the heck does no one discuss the first-person Baba Yaga-inspired adventure game Blacktail?
05:44It's just so good.
05:46Publisher Focus Entertainment definitely knows a thing or two about bringing excellent AA games to the table,
05:51and this point is extremely evident in Blacktail.
05:54A game about magic, darkness, natural beauty, confronting the past, witchcraft, and so much more.
06:00There's a lot going on here.
06:01The game is loaded with fun elements, from the first-person bow and arrow slash magical combat,
06:06to the tantalizing exploration of the semi-open world, to the in-depth crafting system.
06:12There's a fantastic sense of place in Blacktail, one steeping in organic natural beauty,
06:16with just enough tinges of darkness and horror to keep it enthralling.
06:20Don't sleep on this game if it happened to pass you by the first time around.
06:23It's a bewitching experience through and through.
06:34Evil West
06:42Evil West
06:48One of the more popular AA games out there, Evil West is a game all about vampires, the Wild West,
06:53electric Tesla powers, and plenty of supernatural shenanigans.
06:57This is not a game that takes itself seriously, and thank goodness it doesn't.
07:01Feeling like a game ripped right out of the 2000s, much like the beloved cult classic underrated gem Darkwatch,
07:07Evil West is all about the action.
07:09Vampire hunter Jesse Rentier takes to the Wild West to dish out plenty of damage to the nefarious vampire presence in this game.
07:24Evil West kinda sorta comes off as a mashup of 2018's God of War and the Devil May Cry games,
07:30but again with its own unique spin.
07:32There are a staggering amount of ways to battle the creatures of the night in this game,
07:36from punishing melee moves to uber-powerful western-inspired guns to electrifying Tesla powers.
07:42Evil West is just pure video game goodness with a healthy dose of Wild West vampire goodness.
07:47It's a bloody good time all around.
08:01Flintlock the Siege of Dawn
08:07Flintlock the Siege of Dawn
08:15Flintlock the Siege of Dawn really seemed to get swept under the rug, which is a real shame.
08:20For those of us that actually played through this 2024 underappreciated gem,
08:24we quickly realized there's something special here.
08:27While the game was touted as being a souls-like experience,
08:30it's actually more akin to a traditional character action game,
08:33similar to something like Banisher's Ghost of New Eden, albeit with less scope, variety, and longevity overall.
08:39Stepping into the brooding shoes of Nor Vanik,
08:41she, alongside Enki, who is a god I might add, must push back the encroaching dead.
08:46This game really shines in two specific areas, number one, the combat, and number two, the exploration.
08:51Let's go!
08:54Perfect!
08:59Flintlock combines a deadly arsenal of weapons and powers into tightly crafted combat scenarios
09:04that actually make you want to seek them out.
09:06And as you are seeking things out, the game will reward you with new areas, plenty of loot, and unique quests to take on.
09:12The game may end somewhat abruptly and can sometimes feel underbaked,
09:16but it will still manage to capture your moment-to-moment attention.
09:21Scar's Above
09:42Now, it's hard to pinpoint exactly what type of a game Scar's Above is.
09:46The trailers make it seem like a survival horror sci-fi game, or a somewhat by-the-numbers sci-fi third-person shooter.
09:52While it is both of these things, to some extent at least,
09:55it's actually a narrative adventure game with surprising souls-like elements,
09:58which, unfortunately, the surprises don't actually enhance the otherwise fun gameplay.
10:02Scar's Above sees you play as scientist Kate Ward,
10:05a protagonist who finds herself pulled into an alien monolith high above Earth's atmosphere.
10:10It's here where the game really pulls its weight.
10:12This is a deeply unnerving, hostile alien location.
10:15Since Kate isn't a soldier or a fighter,
10:17she uses her science and technology background to cobble together non-weapon tools
10:22to actually use as weapons to fight back against the menacing alien threat.
10:26While Scar's Above could have benefited from a more traditional combat experience
10:30of the tried-and-true, yet often stale souls-like formula,
10:33it still manages to be an enthralling game with outstanding world design,
10:37sound design, and a noteworthy sci-fi narrative.
10:40You must journey further.
10:46You must prepare yourself for what is yet to come.
10:56Bugsnax.
10:57Nesbitt said you'd be coming.
10:59There's a Bugsnax right over there.
11:01Do me a favor and take my snack trap.
11:04Okay, okay, yes, you could make the argument that Bugsnax is actually an indie title,
11:09but for our money, we would classify it as a solid AA game through and through,
11:13given its top-tier production quality.
11:15Without spoiling anything here,
11:17let's just say that Bugsnax is not exactly what you think,
11:20especially once the game's narrative tone shifts dramatically later in the game.
11:24Just be prepared to be shaken to your core from a game
11:26that you thought was just a cartoony first-person experience
11:29all about helping the wacky Muppet-esque cast of characters
11:32and their growing hunger for bugs-slash-food creatures,
11:35you probably already guessed it, known as Bugsnax.
11:38Well, I have a few prototype traps that I could put to use.
11:43This is a highly inventive and playful game
11:45where you are encouraged to experiment with the various creative Bugsnax
11:49around Snacktooth Island,
11:50all while helping push along a morally gray story
11:53about using said Bugsnax for a deeply personal agenda.
11:57The way this game entices you to learn about each Bugsnax's preferences and quirks
12:01with plenty of gameplay experimentation
12:03makes it a food-themed journey worth taking.
12:06My invitation is open.
12:09Come join me on the island of Bugsnax.
12:14Liz! I, um...
12:16I was trying to carry a lamp with my weenie hands,
12:18but I dropped it, and, uh, now the town's on fire.
12:21Oh, again?
12:22Bugsnax.
12:24JUSANTE
12:36A thought-provoking, melancholic, bespoke narrative adventure game
12:41all about climbing and scaling mountainsides, towers, and cliffs
12:44might not seem like everyone's cup of tea.
12:46However, Jusante, from storytelling veterans don't nod,
12:49is an adventure to be had by any gamer.
12:52This is an emotional and poignant game all about overcoming obstacles,
12:55both physical and mental.
12:57The way Jusante weaves this notion into its climbing gameplay is sheer perfection,
13:01even for those that may not have a penchant
13:03for a slower, more methodical gameplay pace.
13:12As you continue to scale and clamber up unique locales
13:15set across different biomes,
13:17you will learn more about the ambiguous world around you,
13:20the inhabitants who occupy these lands,
13:22and why you, the protagonist, ended up here.
13:24If you want a double-A game that feels completely fresh and unique,
13:27then make time to summit Jusante.
13:33NEW SUPER LUCKY'S TALE
13:38New Super Lucky's Tale
13:463D platformers in general really deserve so much more praise and attention,
13:50mostly because of just how fun and playful they are.
13:53In the case of New Super Lucky's Tale, fun is shoveled your way in spades.
13:57Stepping into the adorable, courageous, and infectiously positive shoes
14:01of Lucky's Swift Tail,
14:03you spend your time in this platforming game
14:05exploring myriad colorful and engaging stages
14:08that feature oodles upon oodles of collectibles to hoover up
14:11while trying to put a stop to Jinx and the Kitty Litter Gang,
14:14oh, and well also restore the lost pages of the Book of Ages.
14:18Apart from the charming, cartoony art style,
14:20New Super Lucky's Tale is set apart from its platforming contemporaries
14:24through Lucky's traversal abilities.
14:26You see, Lucky can actually burrow underground,
14:28which, in tandem with other platformer movement staples,
14:31encourages momentum and tact in equal measure.
14:39This is just one of those utterly enjoyable 3D platformers
14:42that will keep you entertained all throughout its whimsical runtime.
14:54Solstice
14:59Solstice
15:02With a name like Solstice,
15:04your mind might possibly conjure up just another Souls-like experience,
15:08which are sort of a dime a dozen nowadays.
15:11However, Solstice is not at all like a Souls-like game,
15:14instead heavily focusing on pure character-driven action-adventure.
15:18Now, if you think of something like a more somber and ethereal version
15:22of something like Devil May Cry, then you sort of get the idea here.
15:25The game's unique selling point is that you play as a sister duo,
15:28namely Briar and Lute,
15:30with each offering up distinct combat and traversal skills and abilities,
15:33although they do play together at the same time.
15:45Each is actually dependent on one another,
15:47both narratively and gameplay-wise,
15:49especially when it comes to utilizing evocation fields,
15:52depending on the enemy type.
15:53As you explore the dark and moody fantasy realms that Solstice offers,
15:57you will battle formidable foes, upgrade Briar and Lute's skills respectively,
16:01and unravel a supernatural-esque story that keeps you glued to your screen.
16:14Chorus
16:23Chorus often gets overshadowed by other sci-fi space epics,
16:27which is a real shame given just how polished, playable,
16:30and deeply engaging this experience is from start to finish.
16:33Chorus is a meticulously crafted, high-octane space combat game
16:37with some of the best sci-fi universe vistas around.
16:45Now, if you can't already tell from the stunning visuals and art design,
16:48Chorus is one of those AA games that could easily pass
16:51for a higher-budget AAA experience.
16:53The name of the game here is taking on the role of Nara,
16:56as she and her sentient spacecraft known as the Forsaken
16:59must take on a harrowing sci-fi cult simply known as the Circle.
17:03Chorus is all about its sci-fi atmosphere
17:06and how it allows Nara to interact with the environments around her
17:09as she controls the powerful Forsaken spaceship,
17:12all while telling a deeply personal story.
17:14The game constantly keeps you immersed
17:16with fantastic quest design, great space battles,
17:19rewarding exploration, and top-tier progression.
17:31The Sinking City
17:33Okay, um, this might ring a bell.
17:36My guy has a deep axe wound in his shoulder.
17:39Sir, I really don't have time for rifling through paperwork,
17:43but you're welcome to take a look at our archives
17:45if it means that much to you.
17:47Developer Frogwares has an impressive pedigree
17:50when it comes to engrossing, investigation-focused games.
17:53However, it's the Lovecraftian detective horror game The Sinking City
17:56that really stands out from the developer's previous work.
17:59The Sinking City is a game rooted in the works of cosmic horror author H.P. Lovecraft,
18:04with his eldritch abominations being front and center in this game.
18:07The Sinking City thrusts you into a down-and-out broken character,
18:11in this case Charles W. Reid,
18:13a private investigator who is scarred from his past war experiences.
18:17However, it's his keen investigative mind that allows him,
18:20and you the player,
18:21to thoroughly explore the moody, spooky, and off-putting town of Oakmont,
18:25a locale steeped in superstition and tradition alike.
18:28This game doesn't hold your hand at all,
18:30so head into the open world with your mind ready and open to the possibilities.
18:34Oh, and well, you know, keep that sanity in check
18:36so you don't succumb to the Lovecraftian nightmares.
18:51Bramble the Mountain King
18:58We really need more AA games like Bramble the Mountain King.
19:07One part Little Nightmares-esque adventure,
19:09one part fantastical fairytale folklore goodness,
19:12one part character-driven adventure,
19:14and all parts mood and atmosphere.
19:16This is a game about folklore, mythology, and deep horrors,
19:19both real and conjured from the mind.
19:21Walking, running, puzzling, and surviving as Ollie across the deeply ominous,
19:26yet oddly gorgeous locations
19:28while searching for his sister Lillimore never gets old.
19:37Bramble starts out as something more of like a melancholic adventure,
19:40but very, very quickly veers into horror territory,
19:43with many aspects of the forest and surrounding regions
19:46seeking to send you and your sister to your demise.
19:49This is a thoughtful game that respects your time
19:52while always keeping you progressing forward,
19:54but always feeling just on edge,
19:56never knowing what's around the next harrowing corner.
20:10Greedfall
20:20Greedfall developers, Spiders,
20:22have been making niche RPGs for myriad years at this point,
20:25and it's fair to say that Greedfall
20:27might just be one of their very best pieces of creative work.
20:30If you've ever played a Spiders RPG,
20:32then you somewhat know what to expect here.
20:34However, the polish and accessibility in Greedfall's case
20:37is definitely second to none.
20:39What immediately sets Greedfall apart from other similar RPGs
20:42is the new world-slash-colonial-esque locales you explore
20:46with your hearty band of characters.
20:53As customizable noble Desartes,
20:55it's up to you and your party to explore new lands
20:58with the help of Siora,
21:00carving out your place in this world of magic,
21:02monsters, and mysteries.
21:04From an engrossing central narrative
21:06to meaty side content
21:08to intricate and diverse strategic combat
21:10to rewarding exploration,
21:12Greedfall should satiate any RPG fan
21:14looking for a new experience
21:16in the realm of double-A.
21:19Move away!
21:20Things are about to get dicey!
21:26Guilt.
21:27Don't hide.
21:30You might have missed the incredibly fun
21:32stealth-adventure game Guilt
21:34when it first launched
21:36given that it was a Google Stadia exclusive.
21:38And, well, you know,
21:40things didn't go well for Stadia
21:42to put it mildly.
21:44But it's a fun game to play
21:46and it's definitely worth checking out
21:48if you're looking for a new experience.
21:50It's a fun game to play
21:52and it's definitely worth checking out
21:54if you're looking for a new experience.
21:56And, well, you know,
21:58things didn't go well for Stadia
22:00to put it mildly.
22:02Fortunately, Guilt was re-released
22:04for modern consoles in 2023
22:06and thank goodness it did
22:08because this charming, somber,
22:10and melancholic game
22:12truly needs more eyes on it.
22:14Yes, it's just that darn good, seriously.
22:16Guilt tells a heartfelt and emotional tale
22:18that revolves around bullying
22:20and how it affects the one being bullied
22:22and the people closest to that person.
22:26Most people lost hope after a few weeks.
22:28They just...
22:30stopped looking.
22:36Wrapping this tightly scripted narrative
22:38together is a sublime third-person
22:40stealth-based gameplay experience
22:42that allows you, as Sally,
22:44to explore all manners of sort of
22:46Stranger Things-esque locations
22:48in search of your cousin Emily.
22:50Guilt offers players a host of ways
22:52to deal with enemy encounters,
22:54with light combat of sorts being viable options,
22:56with the former, stealth,
22:58being the preferred method, of course, when possible.
23:00Getting to wander through the halls
23:02of a dilapidated school, a broken-down arcade,
23:04a disturbing mine,
23:06and even a mountainside ski lift area
23:08are all highlights in this gem of a game.
23:10Please, seriously, just go play this game
23:12when you get the chance.
23:14What is that thing?
23:16Why does it look...
23:18like me?
23:20Darksiders II
23:32Dark fantasy action-adventure RPG
23:34Darksiders II,
23:36as well as its enhanced remastered edition
23:38known as the Definitive Edition,
23:40needs to be experienced, just full stop.
23:42Darksiders II casts you as
23:44one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse,
23:46Death, in this instance.
23:48Death is a remarkable character to control in this game,
23:50both in terms of how the robust
23:52and diverse action-RPG combat works,
23:54as well as his narrative arc
23:56over the course of this lengthy meaty adventure.
23:58Darksiders II plays
24:00as a sort of parallel experience
24:02to the first Darksiders game.
24:04However, you don't really need to play that first game,
24:06although you definitely still should.
24:08To boil it down to brass tacks,
24:10Death will now restore the balance of creation
24:12that was thrown off by war
24:14from the original Darksiders.
24:22To do this, Death will explore
24:24an incredible variety of earthly,
24:26otherworldly, and hellish locations,
24:28all while using the oodles of loot
24:30found throughout the explorable open zones.
24:32The combat in this game is visceral,
24:34deep, and enticing.
24:36The story is both epic and memorable,
24:38and I'm sure you never get bored.
24:47Banisher's Ghosts of New Eden
25:03The newest AA game on this list,
25:05Banisher's Ghosts of New Eden
25:08is not only one of the best games of 2024,
25:10but is also one of the best
25:12AA games around, period.
25:14You, of course, play as Banisher's,
25:16Red and Antea to be exact,
25:18two lovers who find themselves wrapped up
25:20in the dark machinations of New Eden.
25:22As Banisher's, they are tasked with helping
25:24the locals deal with a supernatural infestation
25:26that far surpasses anything
25:28either of them have witnessed before.
25:31We really had no idea
25:33what we were walking into.
25:35This is just one of those games
25:37that simply revels in its spooky,
25:39ghostly narrative, and for good reason.
25:41It's just so freaking good.
25:43Apart from Red and Antea's own predicament,
25:45which most certainly won't be spoiled here,
25:47it's the various haunting cases that you
25:49can pick up all throughout the highly
25:51explorable open world that stand out
25:53as the best aspect of this game.
25:55Each haunting case acts as its own
25:57intricately woven side quest of sorts
25:59that involves heavy amounts of exploration,
26:01investigation, and speaking with
26:03interesting and unique New Eden citizens.
26:05But everything from the weighty
26:07extensive combat, character customization,
26:09strong narrative, and impeccable
26:11world design allows Banisher's
26:13to be an experience that offers up
26:15a tantalizing experience all around.
26:29ATLAS FALLEN
26:45It seems like many people slept
26:47on Atlas Fallen, and it's really hard
26:49to understand why, considering just
26:51how playable and fun it is.
26:53Atlas Fallen feels like one of those
26:55thoroughly enjoyable games from the 2000s,
26:57when publishers just weren't afraid
26:59to greenlight wacky and inventive ideas.
27:01Atlas Fallen is often just seen
27:03as the desert game, given how
27:05many trailers showed off the desert
27:07biomes in the sand-skating traversal
27:09ability. However, those aspects
27:11are really just a sort of small part
27:13of what is a hefty third-person action-adventure
27:15game with some stylish immediate combat,
27:17over-the-top yet engaging storytelling,
27:19plentiful, and I do mean plentiful,
27:21upgrades, and some of the best
27:23traversal in all of gaming.
27:25That traversal comes in the form of the
27:27sentient gauntlet the protagonist wears
27:29that allows for a fancy dash through
27:31the air, multiple times after it's
27:33actually been upgraded.
27:45The gameplay loop of taking on
27:47monster-hunter style baddies, dashing
27:49and soaring through the various biome
27:51open zones with some platforming, finding
27:53new ways to build out your character via
27:55essence stones, idols, armor, and more,
27:57and taking on a bevy of quests
27:59all help to make a fun AA game
28:01that definitely deserves your time and attention.
28:03It's just pure good old-fashioned
28:05video game fun.
28:15So, do you agree with our picks for this
28:17list? With so many top-notch
28:19AA games on the market to experience,
28:21which ones stand out to you as overlooked
28:23or underrated? Be sure to let us know
28:25down in the comment section.
28:27Thank you for watching this video from Mojo Plays.
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