New report outlines the social, mental and emotional benefits of gameplay according to academic research and affirmed by survey of nearly 13,000 active players across 12 countries.
10 October 2023 – The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), in partnership with the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) and video game trade associations in Canada, Europe and South Korea, today released the first-ever Power of Play report. The report highlights the findings from peer-reviewed academic research about the positive effects of gameplay, which are confirmed by a survey of 12,847 active (weekly) players (ages 16 and older) in 12 countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Poland, South Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. The survey revealed that in addition to entertainment, video games provide players with a number of social and emotional benefits that are shared on a global level.
Having fun is the top reason people play video games (69% of global players), but they also play for a variety of other reasons including to keep their minds sharp (36%), and because playing games offers the ability to explore new worlds and ideas (27%). Nearly a quarter of respondents (24%) globally say they play video games to manage and/or improve their mental health. In all 12 countries, 71% of respondents said playing video games helps them feel less stressed. In Australia, 73% of respondents said the same, pointing out that video games also help them feel less anxious (67%) and less isolated/lonely by connecting them to others (57%).
“The Power of Play report affirms on a global scale what we already knew here in Australia; video games have a positive impact on everyday people, and people play video games daily,” said Ron Curry, CEO of IGEA. “IGEA is proud to be a part of this world-first report, combining the findings from a survey of almost 13,000 players across 12 countries alongside academic and peer-reviewed research papers. It comes as no surprise that the global video game community believes not only that video games are fun, but playing them helps us feel less anxious, less isolated, and less stressed.”
More than half (52%) of global players say video games helped them get through difficult times in their lives, with that number increasing to 62% for Australian respondents. Players agree that video games provide other mental health benefits:
About 75% of global players believe video games provide mental stimulation and stress relief.
Nearly two-thirds also find that video games provide them with a healthy outlet from everyday challenges (64%) and help them feel happier (63%).
Crossing geographic borders, video games also provide a platform for community building where otherwise not physically possible:
More than half of global respondents (51%) say they play games with other people online and 38% play with other people in person weekly, with 68% across all markets rating their experience of playing with others – both online and in person – as positive or extremely positive.
More than two-thirds (67%) of global players agree video games introduce people to new friends and new relationships. Nearly half (42%) of global players have met a good friend, spouse or significant other through video games.
More than three-quarters (77%) of global players agree video games bring different types of people together and nearly two-thirds (60%) say video games create a feeling of community.
People are not only skilled game players, but they also say they have gained valuable life skills applicable outside of the virtual world of video games:
Nearly three-quarters of global players (73%) agree video games can improve creativity.
Across the world, 69% of players agree video games build problem-solving, cognitive, teamwork, and collaboration skills.
Video games also promote adaptability and communications skills with 65% and 60% of global players agreeing, respectively.
IGEA (Interactive Games & Entertainment Association) is the peak industry association representing the voice of Australian and New Zealand companies in the computer and video games industry. IGEA supports the games industry’s business and public policy interests through advocacy, research and education programs. For more information, please visit www.igea.net
About the ESA
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) serves as the voice and advocate for the U.S. video game industry. Its members are the innovators, creators, publishers and business leaders that are reimagining entertainment and transforming how we interact, learn, connect and play. The ESA works to expand and protect the dynamic marketplace for video games through innovative and engaging initiatives that showcase the positive impact of video games on people, culture and the economy. For more information, visit the ESA’s website or follow the ESA on Twitter @theESA.
About the Power of Play Report Methodology
AudienceNet conducted an interactive online survey of 12,847 respondents in 12 countries. In each country, respondents were recruited via a screening survey sent out in accordance with quota samples that were statistically and demographically representative of the respective 16 year+ online populations. The screening questions ensured that, in each country, there was a final sample of 1,000+ active gamers, all of whom played video games for at least an hour per week. All survey respondents were accessed through professionally accredited consumer research panels.
Sydney, Australia –October 10, 2023 – Today, Ubisoft announced that the Free Trial of The Crew™ Motorfest is coming back for PlayStation, Xbox and PC players from October 10 to 20. After the tremendous support and positive reception from the community, making Motorfest the highest rated entry in The Crew franchise, players that want to try out the game but could not do so at launch will now be able to freely play up to 5 hours*, with the possibility to carry over their progress should they decide to buy The Crew Motorfest.
*Players who already completed the Free Trial in September will not be able to take part in this new session. However, players who had remaining free access time will still be able to complete it.
UBISOFT STORE (PC) – Free Trial starting on October 10 from midnight (following 3 regional time zones*) and ending on October 21, 1 AM AEDT. Special discount from October 10 to 24 (-20% on Standard Edition, -15% on Gold and Ultimate editions).
PLAYSTATION 4 & PLAYSTATION 5 – Free Trial starting on October 10 from midnight (local time) and ending on October 21, 1 AM AEDT. Special discount from October 11 to 18 (-20% on Standard Edition, -15% on Gold and Ultimate editions).
XBOX SERIES X|S & XBOX ONE – Free Trial starting on October 10 from midnight (local time) and ending on October 21, 1 AM AEDT. Deal of the week from October 13 to 16 on Xbox One (-20% on Standard Edition).
EPIC GAMES STORE (PC) – Free Trial starting on October 10 from midnight (3 regional time zones*) and ending on October 21, 1 AM AEDT. Special discount from October 14 to 21 (-20% on Standard Edition).
Amazon Luna is not included in this offer.
With this Free Trial, players will get to explore the vibrant open world of the island of O’ahu in Hawaii and discover Motorfest, the all-year-round festival for all car enthusiasts. They will discover new outlooks on car culture through a selection of thematic campaigns, intense driving races and various competitive live events. With hundreds of iconic cars to collect, from the past, present and future, they will have plenty of opportunities to show off their skills and style as they rise to become one of the festival’s Legends. On their own or with their crew, opportunities for fun and challenges are limitless! Plus, since the original release of The Crew Motorfest, new cars and new races have already been added as part of Season 1.
*: Players on PC can enter this Free Trial at a different time depending on their region. APAC (Asia / Australia) countries: midnight (Sydney time) or Oct 9, 13:00 UTC EMEA (Europe and MENA) countries: midnight (Paris time) or Oct 9, 22:00 UTC NCSA (Americas) countries: midnight (New York time) or Oct 10, 04:00 UTC
About The Crew™ Motorfest
Developed by Ubisoft Ivory Tower, a studio based in Lyon, France, The Crew™ Motorfest lets players fulfill the driving bucket list of their dreams in one of the most exhilarating and vibrant open worlds ever created. Motorfest is a car-culture infused festival organized in one of the world’s most breathtaking locations: O‘ahu, one of the main islands of the Hawaiian archipelago. On their own or with friends, players can explore this galvanizing tropical playground behind the wheel of hundreds of the most legendary vehicles ever built. At every corner of the island, the festival offers infinite opportunities for pure fun, all forms of driving challenges, and invites them to explore incredible landscapes: from big city streets to volcano slopes, lush rainforests, idyllic beaches… They are free to follow the roads or forge their own path!
About Ubisoft
Ubisoft is a creator of worlds, committed to enriching players’ lives with original and memorable entertainment experiences. Ubisoft’s global teams create and develop a deep and diverse portfolio of games, featuring brands such as Assassin’s Creed®, Brawlhalla®, For Honor®, Far Cry®, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon®, Just Dance®, Rabbids®, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six®, The Crew® and Tom Clancy’s The Division®. Through Ubisoft Connect, players can enjoy an ecosystem of services to enhance their gaming experience, get rewards and connect with friends across platforms. With Ubisoft+, the subscription service, they can access a growing catalog of more than 100 Ubisoft games and DLC. For the 2022–23 fiscal year, Ubisoft generated net bookings of €1.74 billion. To learn more, please visit: www.ubisoftgroup.com.
Will you be able to uncover the woodlands darkest secrets?
LONDON (October 10, 2023) – Square Enix Collective® has today announced a release date of October 31, 2023 for Little Goody Two Shoes™, a mysterious new fairytale anime adventure with a dark twist. The narrative-focused horror adventure game is developed by AstralShift, an independent game development team based in Portugal and dedicated to creating stunning cinematic and narrative games with immersive storylines and evoking soundtracks.
Set in the mysterious Kieferberg Village, Little Goody Two Shoes is stylistically inspired by PlayStation®, PlayStation®2 (PS2) RPGs, and 90s/00s anime. The game is centred around Elise, an ambitious lass determined to become rich and escape her humble life.
Be ready to step into Elise’s shoes and soon find yourself immersed in a ’90s inspired horror adventure game.
Little Goody Two Shoes will release on October 31, 2023 for Steam, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch™, and PlayStation®5 (PS5®).
About AstralShift AstralShiftPro LDA is an independent video game software development company based in Portugal. Officially founded in 2022, AstralShiftPro’s story started in 2016 with the release of the popular RPG maker title Pocket Mirror. With video games as its medium, AstralShiftPro specializes in the production of narrative-driven and artistically ambitious titles, with the goal to create immersive and unforgettable experiences.
About Square Enix Ltd.
Square Enix Ltd. develops, publishes, distributes, and licenses SQUARE ENIX® and TAITO® branded entertainment content in Europe and other PAL territories as part of the Square Enix group of companies. The Square Enix group of companies boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 180 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 88 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix Ltd. is a London-based, wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
SQUARE ENIX, SQUARE ENIX COLLECTIVE, the SQUARE ENIX COLLECTIVE logo and the SQUARE ENIX logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Square Enix group of companies.
STEAM is a registered trademark of Valve Corporation
Rip off the oil industry in this arcade platformer with high hopes and no jump button!
HELSINKI – Oct. 9, 2023 – Rev your engines and embark on a wild, retro-style adventure like no other with the new free demo for Yellow Taxi Goes Vroom (real name), available on PC today during Steam Next Fest! This 3D platform-arcade-collectathon game is a love letter to the classics, from the legendary Super Mario 64 to the adrenaline-pumping Crazy Taxi.
Yellow Taxi Goes Vroom tells a tale of ecological redemption as you save people from the wicked oil company with your wind-up spring instead of a gas tank. Vroom to your destination utilizing the surrounding ramps and hills to your advantage. Venture vertically to uncover hidden gears, crucial for unlocking new stages, and unearth secret routes and treasures. Help an elderly lady cross the street, discover why there are screams coming from pizza boxes, or join a group of old people watching a construction site.
Made with Italian passion and pixel-perfect precision by the very talented team at Panik Arcade and published by Those Awesome Guys, Yellow Taxi Goes Vroom brings back the good old days of gaming with a spring-powered twist. You’ll be hooked from the start with its fast and exhilarating gameplay, featuring wacky characters, hilarious dialog and unusual mechanics.
Yellow Taxi Goes Vroom is expected to launch in 2024 on PC via Steam. To keep up with the latest news and updates from the game, follow along on Twitter and Discord.
About Panik Arcade
Panik Arcade is the neon-coloured brainchild of Matteo and Lorenzo, two Italians raised on pizza, comics and Nintendo 64 nostalgia. After hitting first place with their prototype during the Brackeys Jam 2020, the indie duo decided to go bigger, brighter and bolder, transforming what was at first a fun take on the games of old into their first commercial title as a studio. Yellow Taxi Goes Vroom is planned to release on Steam in 2024, and yes, that is really the game’s name.
About Those Awesome Guys
Based in Bucharest, Romania, Those Awesome Guys is a fiercely independent video game development and publishing studio formed out of people from all around the world. After the launch of the hit success Move or Die, the studio branched out to publishing with the release of Monster Prom and Deepest Chamber. The team is now prepping the launch of the upcoming titles Super Mini Mart and Yellow Taxi Goes Vroom.
Play first chapters of followup to Mothmen 1966 and Varney Lake as part of Steam Next Fest
VANCOUVER, Canada – Oct. 9, 2023 – Publisher Chorus Worldwide and developer LCB Game Studio today announce a new release date for Bahnsen Knights, the third visual novel in a series inspired by mid-20th century pulp fiction and ‘80s home computer graphics. The game will now launch on Thursday, Dec. 14 for PC and Mac via Steam, PlayStation 5|4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
The delay from the original Oct. 26 release date comes after the unexpected passing of artist Fernando “Fer” Martínez Ruppel’s sister, Mariana. Fer pays tribute to her in a Steam post today. Bahnsen Knights is dedicated to her memory.
As the two-man team picks back up work in an attempt to return to a sense of normalcy, they are putting the finishing touches on the third title in this trilogy of tales inspired by 1950s pulp fiction and 80s home computer graphics. A new demo is available now on Steam for PC and Mac as part of the October Steam Next Fest, featuring the first two chapters of the game.
Explore a corrupt county laden with life-threatening tornadoes and a dark, twisted cult convinced the devil’s sending these massive storms to rip through lives and landscapes. Gain the trust of the locals as Boulder, an undercover detective investigating the disappearance of his past partner and old friend, Cupra. Steer the narrative in multiple directions by making heavy, life-altering decisions.
Follow cult leader Toni, former car salesman and head of the Bahnsen Knights, into dangerous territory: the worldviews of dark, deranged men. Navigate around a deadly fleet of 1983 Ford Sierras, investigate local watering holes like Danny’s Bar, and discover what exactly these “route exorcisms” are that everyone keeps talking about. Play minigames like solitaire and find out why the cult has Lou Hill, the paranormal investigator also in Mothmen 1966 and Varney Lake, in the trunk of one of their cars.
Bahnsen Knights releases Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023 on PC and Mac via Steam, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch for $9.99 / €9.99 / £8.49 with support for English, Spanish, German, French, and Japanese languages. Wishlist Bahnsen Knights on Steam and PS5, and play the first two chapters of the game on Steam today with the new demo that has been released for this October’s Steam Next Fest.
Based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, LCB Game Studio was formed by novelist Nico Saraintaris and artist Fernando Martínez Ruppel. The pair first met in 2012 while working on literary projects, forming their own book publishing house known as Literatura Clase B. Since then, they’ve collaborated on short stories, illustrated novels, video games, comics, and non-traditional narrative experiments. Now, Saraintaris and Ruppel are creating “Pixel Pulps,” a fusion of fast-paced writing and stunning illustration inspired by mid-20th century pulp fiction and 80s home computer graphics.
About Chorus Worldwide
Chorus Worldwide is a global publisher composed of gaming veterans with experience at world-renowned companies including Microsoft, Supermassive Games, and Electronic Arts. Originally created to guide indie developers into the rapidly growing Asian markets, Chorus now works with talented developers across the world, including Argentina, Indonesia, and Malaysia, finding huge success in titles like the acclaimed Coffee Talk, and the Asian releases of The Room and The Room Two.
Stardew Valley meets Animal Crossing on gorgeous exotic island that you can explore for free with the new Friends’ Pass
London, United Kingdom – October 9th, 2023 – Publisher Jetpack Collective and Snowcastle Games, an independent Oslo-based game developer, has announced the launch date of their cosy co-op, Stardew Valley-inspired, Earthlock spinoff, Ikonei Island: An Earthlock Adventure. The game will be releasing on Thursday November 9th on PC, Xbox and PlayStation, with Switch coming at a later date, at a retail price of $24.99 (£20.99). The game can also be enjoyed for free with someone that owns the game via the Ikonei Island: Friends’ Pass, launched on Steam today!
Ikonei Island is a gorgeous, cosy adventure that you can play solo or with your friends. You explore the beautiful island, bond with magical creatures and harness their abilities, uncover hidden mysteries, collect items to craft a charming home, battle pirates and more. The game is reminiscent of cosy classics like Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing and My Time at Portia, but brings its own depth of narrative as it taps into the enchanting themes originally explored in Snowcastle’s Earthlock.
From today, Snowcastle have released Ikonei Island: Friends’ Pass, a free version of the game that allows anyone to hop onto the Island and explore the online multiplayer co-op experience with up to three of their friends. Anyone can play alone or together for the first two hours of play! BUT if at least one of you owns the full version, you can play indefinitely!
Gather resources, craft tools, and gear. Farm the land, build your base or a cozy home, and decorate it however you like. You just need to make a ‘Ribbit Request’ (well a ‘Join’ Code) to be able to join in the same game session together. Plus if your demo runs out, not to worry – after you purchase the base game you can continue where you left off.
Ikonei Island is currently available in Early Access on Steam and coming to the Epic Game Store, Playstation and Xbox on November 9th and, later, Nintendo Switch.
Snowcastle Games is an independent game developer founded in Oslo, Norway in 2009 with the aim of creating games we love and would want to play ourselves. Snowcastle Games is known for creating Earthlock, a passion project inspired by the developer’s childhood favorites that has sold over 2.5 million copies across PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch.
Currently, Snowcastle Games is putting all the experience of their growing team into developing their next titles: Earthlock 2 and Ikonei Island: An Earthlock Adventure.
About Iterative Collective:
The Iterative Collective is an incubator, developer, and publisher for indie games. It was founded in 2019 by game developers who set out to tackle the problems faced by developers in the games industry.
The Iterative Collective offers a holistic and structured approach to the incubation and publishing of independent games, working collaboratively with developers to ensure that their visions are realised and successfully shared with the world.
About Jetpack Collective:
We are the Jetpack Collective. We publish games that keep on giving, that you fall in love with over and over again.
We believe in games that ignite the imagination, sustains meaningful stories that we all want to share and that evolves with all its players. We aim to elevate game makers who care about what players think, say, feel and do. Power to the Players.
Embark on an Epic Journey with the Enchanting Soundtrack by Hitoshi Sakimoto
Munich, Germany – October 9th – Prepare to immerse yourself in the captivating world of Songs of Silence as Chimera Entertainment launches an exhilarating public demo as part of Steam Next Fest, running from October 9th to October 16th. Players everywhere will have a chance to experience the enchanting blend of story-driven, turn-based strategy in both the single-player campaign and skirmish mode.
Songs of Silence invites players into a mesmerizing realm of fast-paced campaigns, heart-pounding real-time battles and breathtaking Art Nouveau visuals. As you manage your kingdom, embark on epic quests and lead iconic factions against the malevolent Silence, this game offers an unparalleled fusion of turn-based kingdom management, exploration, hero development and intense real-time skirmishes.
The demo will allow players to embark on an unforgettable journey through the first map of the single-player campaign, assuming the role of Queen Lorelai of Ehrengard. Additionally, players can test their mettle in thrilling PvE battles against two rival factions on specially designed skirmish maps.
Story Campaign Map #1:
Queen Lorelai of Ehrengard, one of the Starborn, finds herself in the neighboring kingdom of Elbin, torn by war. As a trusted friend of her father, the hierophant Hauser seeks her assistance in liberating Elbin. Players will face the challenging decision of balancing the protection of Ehrengard’s citizens and repelling Elbin’s assailants while an even greater threat looms on the horizon.
Skirmish Map:
Put your strategic prowess to the test as you assume the role of the Thousand Kingdoms faction and engage in a fierce battle for control of the map’s capitals against two rival empires. Each faction and hero boasts unique playstyles both on the map and in battle. As a commander, manage your locations, armies and assaults with precision and cunning
Chimera Entertainment is an experienced independent development studio for digital entertainment software with a focus on mobile and PC games. Founded in 2006, Chimera Entertainment employs around 80 people and is one of the largest teams within the international game developer family of remote control productions. The studio has developed more than 25 games across five platforms and is best known for bringing deep RPG gameplay to the Angry Birds franchise. The mobile RPG Angry Birds Epic is Chimera’s biggest international success, with over 100 million downloads worldwide. Other award-winning productions are Sacred Legends, Word Wonders: The Tower of Babel, and Angry Birds Evolution (2017)
New Trailer Showcases the Port Map’s Key Areas of Conflict and Loot Extraction Points in High Stakes Map Update for Hardcore Tactical Shooter
Global game developer MoreFun Studios has announced that the Season 2 Battle For The Port update for Arena Breakout will launch on October 27 for Android and iOS mobile devices. The Battle For The Port update will include the Storm Warning Mode, new boss battles, more diverse weapons including revolvers, and the debut of the Port map. The new Arena Breakout gameplay trailer, ‘New Map: Explore The Port’ highlights many of the high value and dangerous areas in the biggest map update for the game to date.
From the high rooftops of the Abandoned Buildings, the alleys and underground passageways of the Port Authority area, and ruined streetcars and vehicles that create a maze along Guoyapos Avenue, the new massive Port map for Arena Breakout delivers intense urban warfare on a scale never seen before in a mobile game. Once a bustling city of high commerce and entertainment, the Port area of Guoyapos Bay City has become a hostile battleground in the Kamona civil conflict due to its strategic naval location and valuable commercial and luxury goods to loot. Operatives will need to be on high-alert, not only from ambushes from other players that can happen at different elevations and around every city corner, but also from the highly-trained, private navy forces commanded by the ruthless Captain Derwin.
The Battle For the Port update will also add more diverse weapons including three new assault rifles (AN94, AEK and ACE31), the DP12 shotgun and the lethal M300 revolver, all fully customizable through Arena Breakout’s Ultimate Gunsmith System. Make sure to load up with the proper weapons and gear as the Season 2 update will also introduce the new Storm Warning mode. Intense rainstorms and foggy weather will obscure your vision and confuse audio pickup, elevating the extraction risks in this new challenging mode for Arena Breakout.
Arena Breakout’s Season 2 Battle For The Port update will be available on iOS and Android devices on October 27. Follow the game’s social channels and visit its official website for new updates and more information.
BRNO, Czech Republic & VIENNA, Austria – Oct. 9, 2023 – Get on board the Last Train Home, a Survival RTS set in grim World War 1, inspired by real events of the Czechoslovak Legion trapped in the chaos of civil war in the heart of Russia. Aboard an armored train, you must venture into the unforgiving landscape of Siberia and safely bring your soldiers back home. Play the freshly released demo at Steam Next Fest now, before Last Train Home arrives on PC on November 28!
The Great War is over – but the fight continues. Command a legion of soldiers desperately trying to make their way home amidst the chaos of civil war. Lead them through the unforgiving wilderness onboard an armored train. Manage your crew and resources and try to survive.
Last Train Home is developed by Ashborne Games in Brno, Czech Republic, and is coming to PC on November 28, 2023. You can add the game to your Wishlist here: thqn.net/lth-steam
If you want to learn more about the game, make sure to visit the website, follow us on social media, or discuss with other fans on Discord:
Ashborne Games is a game development studio with roots in Brno, Czech Republic, growing the strategy/RPG genre. The team is currenctly working on its new project, Last Train Home, and was also responsible for helping Comanche to lift off. The studio is a member of the THQ Nordic family.
With every release the Assassin’s Creed series has evolved and grown. Since it debuted back in 2007 with the core focus being to climb large buildings, sneak through areas, and stealthily assassinate a target the franchise has seen countless enhancements to its stealth, parkour, combat, and even offering countless hours of side-activities including being a pirate with some of the best naval combat around.
That being said, back in 2017 with the release of Assassin’s Creed Origins Ubisoft took the series in an entirely new direction by offering massive open worlds and expanding on its RPG mechanics to the point that the last two entries, Odyssey and Valhalla, were staggeringly huge titles that were both impressive but also felt like a noticeable departure from what the series is known for. Now, Ubisoft is looking to return to its roots by telling a story of a familiar character’s origins in the form of Assassin’s Creed Mirage, but does this return to basics still make the game fun?
Assassin’s Creed Mirage
Story
Set prior to the events that happen in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and serving as a prequel to that game, players will take on the role of the familiar Basim Ibn Ishaq as he is living in the city of Baghdad as a young street thief. Despite being able to get by thanks to his skills as a thief, Basim wants more for his life and, after completing a simple mission for the Hidden Ones, he wants to prove he can be one too. Despite the Hidden One’s leader, Roshan, telling him that she doesn’t need his help, Basim takes ono the dangerous task of infiltrating Baghdad’s palace only to trigger incredibly drastic consequences that see him fleeing the city and joining the order of the Hidden Ones.
After learning the ways of the Hidden Ones and finally getting initiated as a full member, the group learns that Baghdad has fallen into dire straits over their time away from the city. Members of the Order of the Ancients have made their way into the top of Baghdad’s government and are using its people for their own nefarious ends and it is up to Basim and his fellow Hidden Ones to track them down and snuff them out, perhaps finding out their plans along the way. However, nothing is as easy as it seems with old friends reappearing in Basim’s life as well as a strange force seemingly always at the back of his mind.
After learning the ways of the Hidden Ones and finally getting initiated as a full member, the group learns that Baghdad has fallen into dire straits over their time away from the city. Members of the Order of the Ancients have made their way into the top of Baghdad’s government and are using its people for their own nefarious ends and it is up to Basim and his fellow Hidden Ones to track them down and snuff them out, perhaps finding out the reason they are there at the same time.
As for the storyline itself, players will be in for a fairly straightforward one that starts strong and offers some great twists near the end as players uncover the secrets behind what the Order is searching for and how it pertains to the Hidden Ones. The title focuses on giving players investigations focused around learning more about their target, uncovering their location and who they actually are, before setting out and assassinating them. Basim himself is a charismatic enough protagonist and he is far more interesting than most of the rest of the cast that makes up the storyline thanks in part to both his relevance to the grander tale as well as his nightmares. The supporting cast is unfortunately a bit too simplistic in nature and, even given the game’s shorter runtime, manage to be mostly unremarkable since so many characters appear and then disappear without much relevancy outside of the player’s current investigation. This becomes quite apparent especially in the middle of the storyline where players will find themselves taking down numerous targets in a row, with at least the option of doing them in any order, without much in the way of actual development as the story slows to a crawl.
While Assassin’s Creed Mirage is a prequel to Valhalla, it tells an almost entirely standalone storyline, meaning that those who may never have played or finished Valhalla won’t feel like they are missing out on much. That being said, since the continuation of Basim’s story and major revelations about his character happen in Valhalla, those who haven’t will need to if they wish to see his story continue.
Gameplay
One of the biggest aspects about Assassin’s Creed Mirage is ironically the fact that it is a far more stripped down entry in the franchise. As mentioned before, Basim must be a bit of a detective as he must take part in “Investigations” to track down his targets throughout the, significantly smaller in comparison to recent entries, city of Baghdad. These come off as basic missions with simple objectives that reveal clues that, once collected, point towards a target that must be assassinated using the game’s heavy focus on making sure stealth is once again king. Of course, this tighter focus on tracking down leads and assassinations doesn’t mean that there still isn’t plenty of side-content to do in Baghdad, only this time it isn’t nearly as daunting as recent titles, offering a fair share of collectables and side-quests that are entirely optional but often feel a bit more worthwhile as a result. These rewards often include upgrading materials, costumes and equipment, and often Tokens, a new useful currency that can be exchanged for assistance with certain matters.
Now, with stealth being king once again players will find that Basim’s signature hidden blade is once again an instant kill attack on any target, be they an assassination target or a simple guard. Players do not need to worry about stats, levels, or equipment when it comes to assassinations, simply sneak up on an enemy and instantly kill them like in the original games in the franchise. Players can even make use of a new “Assassin Focus” gauge to target a number of enemies at once, triggering a series of takedowns on unsuspecting targets in a series of chain-assassinations that feel incredibly overpowered, especially since players can combine them with their own tools. Basim’s tools range from the standard throwing knives and smoke bombs to noise makers that cause distractions and more. Combine this with the fact that players can still make use of Eagle Vision and Enkidu, Basim’s helpful eagle ally, to mark any guards patrolling an area and even revealing unique treasures and entrances eventually, and players can plan out a smooth assassination plan if they so want, or go in blind and trust their combat instincts.
Direct combat in Assassin’s Creed Mirage is scaled back heavily compared to recent entries as Basim can only make use of his primary sword and parrying dagger. Properly timed parries can leave enemies open for instant kills and counter attacks but players will need to be careful, Basim can’t take many hits and enemies don’t flinch when struck normally. This can lead to a bit of a stand-off at times, especially when more enemies gather, as players wait for an opponent to attack to properly parry their blow and take them out. Of course, tools help in this regard as well, especially against armored opponents, though it would certainly be nice if there was a t least a little bit more enemy variety as, unfortunately there are incredibly few types players will encounter throughout the game. One thing that is nice about the game’s combat system as well is that it is localized. This means that if players are caught but eliminate enemies fast enough, it doesn’t alert an entire compound to their presence, unless an alarm bell is rung or horn is blown of course.
There still are some extremely light RPG mechanics in Assassin’s Creed Mirage as players will gain skill points as they progress through the story, with various little abilities able to be unlocked with them though none feel like major additions to the core gameplay, offering little impact outside of a few more helpful skills, but also allowing players to reset their skills whenever they want. Along these same lines players can obtain gear that can provide certain bonuses such as quieter assassinations that can be improved upon with upgrade material that, similarly, only offers minor boosts to defense or attack. This can lead to nearly all of the RPG elements feeling a bit inconsequential as a result and feeling more like holdovers from previous entries.
Anytime players do something illegal, be it killing guards, opening chests or containers that don’t belong to them, or pick-pocketing with a quick and easy mini-game, they will gain notoriety. This gauge comes with three tiers that see the people of Baghdad grow increasingly unhelpful as it fills, calling guards on sight and even bringing a “dangerous” but easily dispatched hunter at max level. Players can tear down wanted posters like in the classic entries to lower their level of make use of Tokens to immediately remove it. Alongside money and upgrade materials, players will obtain Tokens from quests, chests, and pick-pocketing that can then be used to hire groups for assistance. This can be hiring a bard to remove the player’s notoriety entirely, spending a merchant token to lower the prices for a bit or open a locked chest, or even using a power token to convince a group of mercenaries to fight and cause a distraction. These Tokens do give players extra options to work with but feel a bit half baked, especially since they are apparently meant to be hard to come by but players will find themselves quickly drowning in them through standard gameplay. Plus, while Tokens can be used to open up different routes to assassination targets, they are rarely as interesting as finding one yourself or making use of another opportunity.
The parkour and climbing mechanics in Assassin’s Creed Mirage are mostly what players have come to expect from the franchise, though it does seem that Basim can struggle to move around certain objects at times and often refuse to jump/climb to an obvious looking handhold. This can lead to some less than fluid movement through the city of Baghdad, which in and of itself offers a wide variety of buildings to climb but also nothing nearly as impressive looking as what was found in nearly every other entry in the series. In fact, even though players can travel outside of Baghdad through the surrounding area, most locations feel like they lack a certain impact and even the numerous Viewpoints that players can climb and “synchronize” with all have a similar look unless they happen to be in the wild. That isn’t to say that there aren’t impressive looking sights to explore throughout the game, they just don’t quite reach the heights of most other entries when it comes to locations to climb and explore.
Audio & Visuals
Despite not offering perhaps some of the most ridiculous architecture to traverse, Baghdad is a rather impressively designed looking city to travel through with plenty of intricate details throughout. The character models are handled well enough except for their faces which can feel a bit rough looking at times, especially when playing on Performance mode to make sure the game never stuttered. Quality mode does improve the character models but does see a dip in performance, so players will likely prefer smooth gameplay rather than a bit of extra detail, though it is unfortunate that it comes at a notable sacrifice.
As for the voicework, the title features an impressive cast of voice actors and a surprisingly large amount of Arabic worked into the English dialogue, making sure to offer a more immersive feeling experience to the game’s dub considering the setting. Similarly the soundtrack features a great collection of background music that fits the setting nicely.
Overall
Going back to basics can be a challenge for a franchise that has grown to such a scale like Assassin’s Creed but Ubisoft has successfully managed to strip away a lot of the bloat from recent entries and still offer a solid entry in the franchise with Assassin’s Creed Mirage. Players will find a satisfying story that struggles to keep itself afloat halfway through but finishes strong while offering great stealth gameplay and solid enough combat as well as a few less than stellar mechanics that feel like holdovers from Valhalla.
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