EGX Rezzed 2015

Bounder Games and I just got back from an awesome weekend at EGX Rezzed 2015. This was our first Rezzed and we thoroughly enjoyed it! I played lots of games, and watched others that I didn't get a chance to play first hand. I even got to chat with some of the devs, which was definitely my favorite part of the trip.

While there were tons of awesome games, these were my personal favorites:

Machiavillain by Wild Factor (@WildFactorGames)

A bizarre cross between Prison Architect, Dungeon Keeper, and a 50s B horror movie, Machiavillain oozes charm (or is that brain matter?). I had not heard of this title before stumbling across it on the show floor, but I absolutely fell in love with the cute and well executed art style and the sim/management gameplay. The dev was also a delight to chat to, and I'm really looking forward to seeing this game progress to its finished state.

Tembo the Badass Elephant by Game Freak

Like Machiavillain, I hadn't heard of this title before finding it on the show floor. I was initially attracted to the stand by the huge, comic book style poster featuring Tembo, the game's leading pachyderm. Though I came for the art, I stayed for the gameplay - it's no wonder Sega is publishing this fast paced platformer, as it bears a striking resemblance to early Sonic titles. I'm normally pretty tired of platformers, but this just felt too good! Full disclosure, I may have snagged some Sonic themed swag from the booth!

Big Pharma by Twice Circled (@TwiceCircled)

Big Pharma is a management game where the player attempts to dominate the pharmaceutical industry by hook or by crook (or by conveyor belt, which seems to be the preferred method). I've been watching this title for a while now. Unfortunately I wasn't able to play this at Rezzed, but I wanted to give it a mention anyway because (A) it looks awesome and (B) I got to chat to the developer for quite a while about Unity, other automation management type games, and other random stuff, and that was very cool! He seems like a rad guy and I can't wait to see where he takes this awesome concept.

Nom Nom Galaxy by Pixel Junk (@PixelJunkNews)

If I had to choose, this would probably be my game of the show. The gameplay is a little like Terraria in the perspective and diggable terrain aspects, but departs greatly from the crafting RPG in the direction of factory management with the addition of automated robots, corridors, air locks, etc. All with the goal of making the best soup this side of the Milky Way, and shipping it all over the galaxy. I've been looking forward to this title for a long time, and it's super hard to wait until it's out on PS4 so my friends and I can run around making soup together! The game is available now on Steam Early Access, but I think it suits console better due to the multi-player aspect. So colourful and stylish, with awesome automation based management gameplay that is exactly my cup of tea (or soup).

Monstrum by Team Junkfish (@TeamJunkfish)

Monstrum is a procedurally generated horror game - so it's a new pants-pooping experience every time you play! I didn't play Monstrum at Rezzed mostly because the devs are from my own little town of Dundee and I can play it whenever I like at home, but I can definitely recommend it as an awesome horror experience, especially if you happen to have an Occulus Rift to play it on.

Mutiny! by Hidden Armada (@HiddenArmada)

As with Monstrum, the Mutiny! devs are from good ole Dundee so I'd already played the game before Rezzed. Mutiny! is a multi-player cooperative/competitive game in which a group of pirates must defend their ship while simultaneously competing for the captain's hat. Also, there are pigs. The bedlam that ensues is as chaotic as it is enjoyable, and I'm really looking forward to bringing this out at parties.

Rezzed was an awesome experience, and it has left me inspired and energized to return to my own game dev projects. Thanks to all the developers, coordinators, journalists, and gamers that made the event happen - You rock!