When it comes to the gaming calendar, May isn’t generally the best time for major releases.
Sometimes, a big game will launch in May and confound expectations, but for the most part, May can be a bit quiet in the world of gaming, meaning it’s a great month for catching up on backlogs or stepping out of your comfort zone.
That doesn’t mean you don’t have anything to play in May if you want something fresh though, so without further ado, let’s take a look at the best of what’s coming to PC and gaming consoles this month!
V Rising (PC, May 8th)
In 2022, Stunlock Studios released V Rising, a vampire survival game that lets you play as an undead lord raising your very own brand of vampiric hell.
This May, V Rising finally leaves Early Access and comes to PC, and there’s a PS5 version in the offing as well, although that’s not arriving until later this year.
If you haven’t played V Rising yet and it sounds like your cup of (presumably blood-infused) tea, May is the perfect opportunity to pick it up. There’s lots of new stuff coming with the full release as well, so existing players will also be well-served.
Crow Country (PC, PS5, Xbox Series, May 9th)
Nobody can quite seem to agree on just how long the nostalgia cycle lasts, but Crow Country is definitely scratching the foggy, gloomy PS1 survival horror itch we’ve had since the 90s.
Fans of Silent Hill, the original Resident Evil, and Alone in the Dark will surely appreciate this effort from SFB Games, which takes place in a haunted theme park.
It’s got deliberately retro-style polygonal graphics and tons of puzzles to solve, so if you’re in the mood for something spooky this May (why does it have to be October, after all?), check this one out.
Little Kitty, Big City (PC, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, May 9th)
Who doesn’t want to play as an adorable cat finding their way around a massive city stuffed with things to do? Nobody, that’s who, and Double Dagger Studio knows it.
Little Kitty, Big City has been cooking for a while, but it’s nearly ready, so you’ll soon be strutting your stuff as the cutest black cat who ever lived.
Cat lovers will find lots of reasons to appreciate the game, obviously, but even if you’re on the fence about cats, this should still be a great time thanks to its plethora of interactive objects and quests to pursue.
Homeworld 3 (PC, May 13th)
The Homeworld games are beloved by real-time strategy enthusiasts around the world, and the third game in the series has been in development for quite some time.
After several delays, Homeworld 3 will land on May 13th, bringing vertiginous space battling with it. You’d better have your thinking cap on for this.
The same developers who worked on the prequel Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak will be handling this one too, so if you loved that game, you’ve got more of the same to look forward to here, albeit in space rather than on land.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II (PC, Xbox Series, May 21st)
Senua returns once again to forge her path through a brutal and terrifying journey in Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, launching on Xbox Series X/S and PC on May 21st.
The first game’s unique blend of psychological storytelling, action-adventure gameplay, and realistic depictions of mental health will be in evidence here too, but with improved technology backing up the story.
It goes without saying that if you appreciated the first game then you will like this one as well, but even if you weren’t sure about the first one, you can try this one out on Game Pass when it releases!
System Shock (PlayStation, Xbox, May 21st)
Rather than being an entirely new game, this is a console release of the System Shock remake that launched on PC last year, but we’re including it because it was great and more people should play it.
Nightdive’s rework takes the original’s gameplay, which hasn’t aged well by any stretch of the imagination, and retools it completely, upgrading the visuals and systems while retaining the character of the original.
What’s left is a remake that pretty much supplants the original, meaning you don’t need to deal with clunky gameplay or outdated visuals anymore if you want to experience the timeless tale of Shodan’s ambition.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Nintendo Switch, May 23rd)
A remake of the 2004 GameCube classic Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door probably wasn’t on anyone’s 2024 bingo card just a few short months ago, but here we are.
This RPG is criminally underappreciated and deserves to be played by more people, so we’re extremely glad it’s getting a remake on the Switch, even if it does seem like a slightly strange decision.
Hopefully, the remake can maintain the spirit of the original game, which is to say humour, vivacity, and surprisingly engaging and enjoyable exploration.
With lots of great characters to meet, laugh-out-loud funny lines at every turn, and a focus on turn-based battling with a rhythm-action kick, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is the perfect introduction to Nintendo’s Mario RPGs. Let’s hope more GameCube remakes are on the way soon!
MultiVersus (PC, PlayStation, Xbox, May 28th)
It’s easy to forget that the original launch of MultiVersus was only supposed to be a test launch rather than a full release, but that’s exactly why the game suddenly disappeared from libraries last year.
Now, Warner Bros and Player First are ready to release the full version, but don’t worry; it’ll still be free-to-play, so you won’t have to pay a penny to enjoy its Smash Bros-style fighting antics if you don’t want to.
With new characters, new stages, and lots of mechanical tweaks in the wings, MultiVersus should provide the perfect accompaniment to any party or hangout, provided that your guests don’t mind being schooled by Bugs Bunny.
