3) Nidhogg
Despite their lethal nature, swords and other sharpened weapons often feel blunt when used in most fighting games. For instance, if I play Soulcalibur, I shouldn’t be able to slash someone in the head with a sword and have them be just fine. Nidhogg understands this, which is part of the reason why the gameplay is as engaging as it is.
There is little background to Nidhogg, as players are thrust into a duel right off the bat. Armed with swords, players can hold their weapons at three different heights: high, medium and low. Mastering the art of the duel is key, as placement can either lead to a successful disarm or a weapon through the gut. Although killing is important, the real goal is to get to your opponent’s side and get swallowed by a massive mythological worm. Yes, you read that right.
The simple, yet complex gameplay of Nidhogg also extends to its graphics. The bright, but appealing 2D sprites look like they could have been possible on the Atari 2600. At the same time, though, the animations are crisp and lively, and there are plenty of details to be spotted in each level.
In a year filled with excellent party titles, Nidhogg stands out by how much it can straddle the line between simplistic fighter and carefully balanced duel. Multiplayer battles can range in time from anywhere from 30 seconds to 30 minutes, as a game of tug of war brews between friends and family. Knowing that death is just a simple mistake away, tensions are quick to rise, which to me, is important in my multiplayer games. I want my friends to know that death is coming for them, and I don’t care if that makes me sound like a monster.