September 2017 New Comics To Watch For

New year is well on its way and I know I have got to get on with my old lists.

RUNAWAYS #1
Written by Rainbow Rowell
Art & Cover by Kris Anka

GET READY TO RUN!
The “IT” book of the early 2000s with the original cast is back – Nico! Karolina! Molly! Chase! Old Lace! And, could it be? GERT?! The heart of the Runaways died years ago, but you won’t believe how she returns! Superstar author Rainbow Rowell (Eleanor & Park, Carry On) makes her Marvel debut with fan-favorite artist Kris Anka (ALL-NEW X-MEN, CAPTAIN MARVEL) in the series that will shock you and break your heart!

VENOMVERSE #1 (of 5)
Written by Cullen Bunn
Art by Iban Coello

THE VENOM EPIC OF THE FALL STARTS HERE!
During a routine battle with the villainous Jack O’Lantern, Venom finds himself transported to a far-off world and learns a terrible truth – a deadly new species called the Poisons has emerged from the vastness of space, and to make matters worse, they’re hunting Venoms! Trapped on the planet’s surface with a ragtag band of Venomized heroes, Eddie has no choice but to mount a counteroffensive and hope to find a way home!

GASOLINA #1
Written by Sean Mackiewicz
Art & Cover by Niko Walter & Mat Lopes

NEW SERIES! Fugitives. Rebels. Newlyweds. In their journey south from El Norte, Amalia and Randy have played many roles in order to survive. Now, they must become unlikely leaders in the fight against a new cartel who uses inhuman tactics to ignite the most monstrous war Mexico - and the world - has ever seen. Everything burns in this new series from SEAN MACKIEWICZ and NIKO WALTER, where love and devotion can only be measured in fire and blood.

THE REALM #1
Written by Seth M. Peck
Art & Cover by Jeremy Haun

Fifteen years ago, our world was overrun by creatures of myth; orcs, dragons, and other nameless horrors threw the entire planet into total chaos. Today, the shattered remnants of civilization must fight just to survive in a deadly new era of violence and mayhem. While a powerful sorcerer marshals his forces, a group of warriors embark on a journey to reclaim our world from the growing darkness. An all new post-apocalyptic high-fantasy adventure series from co-creators SETH M. PECK (X-Men) and JEREMY HAUN (THE BEAUTY) featuring colors by NICK FILARDI and letters by THOMAS MAUER.

SCALES & SCOUNDRELS #1
Written by Sebastian Girner
Art & Cover by Galaad

It's hard to make an honest living in a land brimming with magic and mystery, and treasure hunter Luvander is tired of being a penniless adventurer. Ever in search of gold and glory, she sets off for a fabled dungeon, "the Dragon's Maw," an ancient labyrinth, at the bottom of which slumbers endless wealth... or certain doom! But what starts out as a road to riches becomes the first step on an epic journey to destiny, for Luvander holds a secret in her heart that will shatter the chains of fate and bring light to a world encroached upon by an ancient darkness. Writer SEBASTIAN GIRNER (SHIRTLESS BEAR-FIGHTER!) and artist GALAAD are proud to present SCALES & SCOUNDRELS, a colorful and exciting new monthly fantasy adventure from Image Comics, for scoundrels of all ages!

BLOODSHOT SALVATION #1
Written by Jeff Lemire
Art & Cover by Lewis Larosa & Mico Suayan

From New York Times best-selling writer Jeff Lemire (BLOODSHOT REBORN, Moon
Knight) and extraordinary artists Lewis LaRosa (BLOODSHOT REBORN) & Mico
Suayan (BLOODSHOT REBORN), a bloody and vengeful new era for Bloodshot begins this September as Ray Garrison escapes his violent past to build the one
thing he never thought he’d earn: a family. But when a hateful secret from his true love’s past threatens their fragile peace, Bloodshot will be forced to run headlong into a barrage of blood, bullets, and broken bones for a revenge-fueled assault that will have crushing consequences for those he holds most dear…
His sacrifice will be her salvation.
Now: In the arms of his beloved girlfriend Magic, Bloodshot has finally found hope for the future…in the form of the couple’s unborn child. But when Magic’s estranged family – a cruel and sadistic clan of homegrown criminals – re-emerge to lay claim to their lost daughter, Bloodshot will be pushed back to the brink of madness, mayhem, and warfare…
Soon: Eight years from today, Bloodshot’s daughter has inherited her father’s incredible abilities. Hunted by a high-tech kill squad called Omen, Jessie must hone her powers…and learn how to survive before the world is swallowed whole by the darkness that now pervades America…

MADE MEN #1
Written by Paul Tobin
Art & Cover by Arjuna Susini

You don’t know Jutte Shelley, but you might know her family. Before she was a Shelley, she was a Frankenstein. These days, she’s a Detroit Special Ops officer. At least she was, until she and her entire team were ambushed during what should have been a routine call. Jutte watched as, one by one, her friends were gunned down. And then, in a flurry of bullets, Jutte fell too. But Jutte isn’t like other people. She’s a Frankenstein. And she knows all her family’s secrets. Guess who’s getting the gang back together?

DARK ARK #1
Written by Cullen Bunn
Art & Cover by Juan Doe

The wickedness of mankind has moved the Creator to destroy the world by way of the flood. Noah has been tasked with building an ark to save his family and the animals of the world. But this is not Noah's story. For darker powers have commanded the sorcerer Shrae to build his own ark and save the unnatural creatures of the world-such as the vampires, the dragons, the naga, and the manticore. But what will happen on a vessel crawling with monsters, where insidious intrigue and horrific violence are the rule of law?
From writer Cullen Bunn (X-Men Blue, Deadpool, Venom) and artist Juan Doe (AMERICAN MONSTER, WORLD READER) comes a sinister tale of biblical proportions that HAD to be told at AfterShock Comics.

GRAVETRANCERS #1
Written by M.L. Miller
Art & Cover by James Michael Whynot

On a journey to track down the grave of their estranged father, Maribel and Anthony find their way to the Malort Cemetery, a strange, seemingly abandoned field of mostly unmarked tombs. There they encounter an eccentric clan of grave-robbers who've devised a highly-addictive drug made from human remains--and the fresher the corpse, the stronger the dose. What started out as an attempt to reconnect with the past becomes a descent into a psychedelic, neon-colored nightmare, will Maribel and Anthony find their way through the hallucinogens or will they become the next hit?
Written by M.L. Miller (Pirouette) and featuring mind-shredding artwork by new artist James Michael Whynot, Gravetrancers delivers a grisly grindhouse tale of taboo and terror.


[ It seems September is mostly rich on creator owned series', and some of these seems to be quite interesting to say the least. ]

October 2017 New PC Games To Watch For

October is yet another prolific month for PC gaming. This year seems to be having quality stuff close to its end. It is really high time to be a pc gamer once again.

Battle Chasers: Nightwar

Battle Chasers: Nightwar is an RPG inspired by the classic console greats, featuring deep dungeon diving, turn-based combat presented in a classic JRPG format, and a rich story driven by exploration of the world. It is based on the best-selling comic book Battle Chasers which was first released in the late 90s and quickly generated a passionate cult following. This was released on October 3, 2017 on Steam.

A Hat in Time

A Hat in Time is a platform game developed by Gears for Breakfast and published by Humble Bundle for macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The game was made using Unreal Engine 3 and funded through a Kickstarter campaign, which doubled its fundraising goals within its first two days. It is inspired by earlier 3D platformers for the Nintendo 64 and GameCube such as Super Mario 64, Banjo-Kazooie, and Super Mario Sunshine. The game was released for Microsoft Windows and macOS in October 5, 2017, and was released for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One two months later.

Middle-earth: Shadow of War

Middle-earth: Shadow of War is an action role-playing video game developed by Monolith Productions and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. It is the sequel to 2014's Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. Shadow of War continues the previous game's narrative, which is based on J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium and set between the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Like its predecessor, the game also takes heavy inspiration from director Peter Jackson's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings film adaptations. The player continues the story of the ranger Talion and the spirit of the elf lord Celebrimbor, who shares Talion's body, as they forge a new Ring of Power to amass an army to fight against Sauron. The game builds upon the "Nemesis System" introduced in Shadow of Mordor, allowing Talion to gain followers from several races of Middle-earth, including Uruks and Ologs, and plan out complex strategies using these to complete missions. It was released worldwide for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on October 10, 2017.

The Evil Within 2

The Evil Within 2 is a third-person survival horror video game developed by Tango Gameworks and published by Bethesda Softworks for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The game was released worldwide in October 13, 2017 and is the sequel to the 2014 video game The Evil Within. Similar to its predecessor, the game is a survival horror game. Played from a third-person perspective, the player assumes control of detective Sebastian Castellanos, who must descend into the world of Union to rescue his daughter, Lily. There are three difficulty modes, namely Casual, which producer Shinji Mikami recommends, Survival, and Nightmare, the latter setting being recommended for players who enjoyed the difficulty curve in the previous game.

South Park: The Fractured but Whole

South Park: The Fractured but Whole is a 2017 role-playing video game developed by Ubisoft San Francisco and published by Ubisoft in collaboration with South Park Digital Studios. Based on the American adult animated television series South Park, it is the sequel to the 2014 video game South Park: The Stick of Truth. The game's narrative occurs one day after the events of its predecessor; it follows the New Kid, who has recently moved to South Park and becomes involved in an epic roleplay involving two rival superhero factions vying to create their own superhero media franchises. The superheroes' game unintentionally uncovers a conspiracy to raise crime in the town, bringing them into conflict with supervillains, genetically engineered monsters, the police, crime families, and the new kingpin of crime.Like its predecessor, the release of The Fractured but Whole was subject to several delays. The game was initially set for release in December 2016 but it was postponed for nearly a year. On October 17, 2017, it was released worldwide for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Destiny 2

Destiny 2 is an online-only multiplayer first-person shooter video game developed by Bungie and published by Activision. It was released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on September 6, 2017, followed by a Microsoft Windows version the following month on October 24. It is the sequel to 2014's Destiny and its subsequent expansions. Set in a "mythic science fiction" world, the game features a multiplayer "shared-world" environment with elements of role-playing games. Players assume the role of a Guardian, protectors of Earth's last safe city as they wield a power called Light to protect the Last City from different alien races. One of these races, the Cabal, led by the warlord Dominus Ghaul, infiltrate the Last City and strips all Guardians of their Light. The player sets out on a journey to regain their Light and find a way to defeat Ghaul and his Red Legion army and take back the Last City.

The Mummy Demastered

The Mummy Demastered is a metroidvania video game released in October 24, 2017 by WayForward; based on the 2017 film The Mummy. It takes place concurrently with the events of the film, with players playing Prodigium soldiers under the command of Dr. Henry Jekyll (with the likeness of Russell Crowe from the movie) who must fight the evil forces of Princess Ahmanet (with the likeness of Sofia Boutella).

Yomawari: Midnight Shadows

Yomawari: Midnight Shadows, known in Japan as Shin-Yomawari is a survival horror video game developed and published by Nippon Ichi Software for PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita and Steam. The game is a sequel to Yomawari: Night Alone, which originally released in 2015 in Japan. Players explore a town at night in order to bring the two girls back together and find the way home. The only source of light is a flashlight. While exploring, the player finds items and strange 'spirits', who are lurking in various places such as shades of mountains, street corners, and below a street light, and sometimes attack the player. It was released in Japan on August 24, 2017 and in western territories in October 24, 2017.

Assassin's Creed Origins

Assassin's Creed Origins is an action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. It is the tenth major installment in the Assassin's Creed series and the successor to 2015's Assassin's Creed Syndicate. The game is set in Egypt during the Ptolemaic period (48 BC) and recounts the secret fictional history of real-world events. The story explores the origins of the centuries-long conflict between the Brotherhood of Assassins, who fight for peace by promoting liberty, and The Order of the Ancients—forerunners to the Templar Order—who desire peace through the forced imposition of order. It was released worldwide for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on October 27, 2017.

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus is an action-adventure first-person shooter video game developed by MachineGames and published by Bethesda Softworks. The game is the eighth main entry in the Wolfenstein series and the sequel to 2014's Wolfenstein: The New Order, set in alternate history 1961 America following the Nazi victory of the Second World War. The story follows war veteran William "B.J." Blazkowicz and his efforts to fight against the Nazi regime in the United States. The game is played from a first-person perspective and most of its levels are navigated on foot. The story is arranged in chapters, which players complete in order to progress. A morality choice in the prologue alters the game's entire storyline; some characters and small plot points are replaced throughout the timelines. The game features a variety of weapons, most of which can be dual wielded. A cover system is also present. Continuing from The New Order, the development team aimed to characterize Blazkowicz for players to adopt his personality. It was released on 27 October 2017 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, and is scheduled for release in 2018 for Nintendo Switch.

Zwei: The Ilvard Insurrection

Zwei II is an action role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom for Microsoft Windows, which released as a direct sequel to Zwei!! in September 2008. In the game, players alternate between two main characters, Ragna and Alwen, with two other supporting characters replacing Alwen at certain points in the game. Ragna is adept in physical attacks, fighting with his unique Anchor Gear weapon, which receives numerous technical upgrades as the game progresses. Alwen is proficient in magic and is able to harness powerful elemental spells. The game starts with Ragna delivering cargo to the floating continent of Irrbard, when he is shot down from his airplane. Alwen, a vampire princess bonds with him to save his life and Ragna promises to reclaim Alwen's stolen castle to repay her. A re-release with additional features, Zwei: The Ilvard Insurrection, was released in Japan in December 2009, and in English by Xseed Games in October 31, 2017.

[ A total of 11 games with some welcome sequels like 'Middle-earth: Shadow of War', 'The Evil Within 2', 'Yomawari: Midnight Shadows', 'Assassin's Creed Origins', 'Destiny 2' and 'Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus'. Also some other promising games like 'Battle Chasers: Nightwar', 'A Hat In Time' etc make this a worthwhile month for gaming. ]

My Book Haul from December-January 17-18

I will begin posting this year with a new kind of post. This post will list the physical books I got in the mentioned time period.

 As I live in Bangladesh it is literally impossible for me to buy new books published in the last decade (!) without using the internet. Even that was quite hard a few years ago, but now, thanks to backpackbang.com I can order new books from amazon (although the cost is quite high at times).

So thanks to backpackbang for their service. And here are my recent purchases -

August 2017 New Comics To Watch For

I know I am always behind on my comics list, but I have got to catch up now as the year is ending soon.

INHUMANS: ONCE AND FUTURE KINGS #1 (of 5)
Written by Christopher Priest & Ryan North
Art by Phil Noto & Gustavo Duarte

SOMEDAY, ALL OF THIS WILL BE YOURS!
A king in training. A brother destined for madness. These are the early days of the Boltagon legacy. When the king of the Inhumans is attacked, Black Bolt and Maximus spring into action to save their leader! But when Black Bolt loses control, what are the consequences for his future kingdom – or his own family? Plus: A two-page backup (in every issue!) starring Lockjaw, as told by UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL writer Ryan North and artist supreme Gustavo Duarte!

DARK KNIGHTS: METAL #1 (of 6)
Written by Scott Snyder
Art & Cover by Greg Capullo & Jonathan Glapion

The superstar BATMAN team of writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo reunite for a massive, universe-spanning event!
DARK NIGHTS: THE FORGE and THE CASTING hinted at dark corners of reality that have never been seen till now! Now, as DARK NIGHTS: METAL begins, the Dark Multiverse is revealed in all its devastating danger—and the threats it contains are coming for the DC Universe!
DARK NIGHTS: METAL is a DC event unlike any other—one that will push Batman, Superman and heroes of the Justice League beyond their limits to take on threats unlike any our world has ever seen! It will take the combined might of the World’s Greatest Heroes as you’ve never seen them before to face what’s coming their way!

MISTER MIRACLE #1 (of 12)
Written by Tom King
Art & Cover by Mitch Gerads

From the team behind THE SHERIFF OF BABYLON and the Hugo Award-nominated writer of Vision comes a unique new take on one of Jack Kirby’s most beloved New Gods.
Scott Free is the greatest escape artist that ever lived. So great that he escaped Granny Goodness’ gruesome orphanage and the dangers of Apokolips to travel across galaxies and set up a new life on Earth with his wife, the former female fury known as Big Barda. Using the stage alter ego of Mister Miracle, he has made a career for himself showing off his acrobatic escape techniques. He even caught the attention of the Justice League, which counted him among its ranks.
You might say Scott Free has everything...so why isn’t it enough? Mister Miracle has mastered every illusion, achieved every stunt, pulled off every trick—except one. He has never escaped death. Is it even possible? Our hero is going to have to kill himself if he wants to find out.
Written by Tom King (BATMAN) and illustrated by Mitch Gerads (The Punisher), this is a MISTER MIRACLE unlike any you’ve read before.

NIGHTWING: THE NEW ORDER #1 (of 6)
Written by Kyle Higgins
Art & Cover by Trevor McCarthy

NIGHTWING: THE NEW ORDER is the story of a future world without “weapons”—where superpowers have been eliminated and outlawed. The man responsible? None other than Dick Grayson, a.k.a. Nightwing, now leader of a government task force called the Crusaders who are charged with hunting the remaining Supers. But when events transpire which turn the Crusaders’ aim toward Grayson’s own family, the former Boy Wonder must turn against the very system he helped create, with help from the very people he’s been hunting for years—the last metahumans of the DC Universe. Don’t miss this bold new vision from the team behind the New York Times bestseller BATMAN: GATES OF GOTHAM!

REDLANDS #1
Story & Art by Jordie Bellaire, Venesa R. Del Rey

A brand-new horror book from the minds of Eisner Award-winner JORDIE BELLAIRE (PRETTY DEADLY, Vision, Batman) and critically acclaimed artist VANESA R. DEL REY (ZERO, Scarlet
Witch, Constantine) brings you to the sleepy, sunny town of Redlands, Florida. The police are failing to maintain control of their old-fashioned town, and a coven of killer witches plan to take everything from them. This summer, hide your bibles.

ELSWHERE #1
Written by Jay Faerber
Art & Cover by Sumeyye Kesgin & Ron Riley

COPPERHEAD WRITER JAY FAERBER TEAMS WITH RISING STAR SUMEYYE KESGIN TO UNVEIL ELSEWHERE: THE FANTASTIC STORY OF WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO AMELIA EARHART!
Mysteriously transported to a strange new world filled with flying beasts and alien civilizations, Amelia desperately struggles to return home. Along the way, she forges alliances and makes enemies as she goes from aviator to freedom fighter in a rebellion against a merciless warlord!
"Get lost in this other world and you'll be in the best company." - KIERON GILLEN (THE WICKED + THE DIVINE)

FIRST STRIKE #1 (of 6)
Written by Mairghread Scott & David Rodriguez
Art & Cover by Max Dunbar

A Hasbro comic book event! A new era of peace is dawning as Earth formally joins the Cybertronian Council of Worlds. That is… until Baron Ironblood joins Destro, Storm Shadow and other nefarious villains in a terrorist attack on Iacon! As chaos takes hold on Cybertron, it will be left to Scarlett and the rest of G.I. Joe on Earth to discover the true purpose behind the attack before both worlds descend into all-out-war!

MECH CADET YU #1 (of 4)
Written by Greg Pack
Art & Cover by Takeshi Miyazawa

Once a year, giant robots from outer space come to Earth and bond with young cadets from the elite Sky Corps Academy to defend the world from the terrifying aliens known as the Sharg. It’s a great honor to be chosen, but this year...well, the wrong kid was picked.
Greg Pak (Totally Awesome Hulk) and Takeshi Miyazawa (Ms. Marvel) team up for an action-packed adventure perfect for fans of Amadeus Cho and Pacific Rim!

WAR MOTHER #1 (of 4)
Written by Fred Van Lente
Art by Stephen Segovia

BECAUSE YOU DEMANDED IT — WAR MOTHER RETURNS IN A RIVETING NEW SERIES! Out of the pages of 4001 A.D., the breakout hero of 41st century charges onward in an high-powered tale of tomorrow from New York Times best-selling writer Fred Van Lente (ARCHER & ARMSTRONG) and high-octane artist Stephen Segovia (NINJAK, Action Comics)!
Two millennia from today, Earth is not the hospitable home we once we knew. Ravaged by an endless onslaught of war, disaster, and time, the world is littered with desolate badlands, fortified kingdoms, and secretive enclaves where humanity still clings to life… Enclaves like The Grove – Earth’s last known repository of scientific knowledge and bioengineered prosperity. Now, under the leadership of the lone protector called WAR MOTHER and her sentient sniper rifle, the denizens of The Grove face a critical choice: remain where they are and die, or find a new land and flourish. Can War Mother lead her people out of isolation and reignite the fires of a dying planet? And even if she can locate the distant citadel she seeks, can she fight back the horrors and perverse monstrosities that lurk just beyond her doorstep?
In the footsteps of RAI and BOOK OF DEATH, raw power meets tribal warfare as Fred Van Lente & Stephen Segovia forge a modern myth of the near future through the fire-tempered frontier of 41st century Earth for Valiant’s next stunning science-fiction showdown!

[ Quite a few good releases from DC as well as some very interesting stuff from other small publishers. August is quite a strong month for comics. ]

New Book review - The Last Sacrifice

Book - The Last Sacrifice   
Writer - James A. Moore   
Series - Tides of War #1    
Published By - Angry Robots
 
Grim dark as a genre has become quite predictable now a days. There is some quality writing by quality authors yet it is becoming more and more difficult to find original works. We all love some gore and name calling and graphic sex yet it does get tiring at times as the storyline keeps getting similar. But ‘James A Moore’ did dive into the new series with his unique sense of characters & built up the story to achieve new concepts while taking elements from some other subgenres to enrich the experience for his readers.

Book Review - Tome of the Undergates

Book - Tome of the Undergates
Writer - Sam Sykes  
Series - Aeons' Gate #1 
Published By - Gollancz / Pyr
 
Let me begin this review with a fair warning, this one is not something everyone will enjoy. If you are a fan of epic fantasy with a sprawling world and lots of interesting races and characters this book is not for you. If you are fan of grimdark fantasy with tragic heroes and super serious, gritty fight scenes please look elsewhere. If you like the author to hold your hand while he introduces the world and its inhabitants and has a delicate prose style that will relax you, no chance, turn away please.

September 2017 New PC Games To Watch For

September really is quite a strong month for PC games with some high quality releases a few among which might be in most end-of-the-year lists for sure.

Tooth and Tail

Tooth and Tail is a real-time strategy game released in 2017 by Pocketwatch Games for Windows, MacOS, Linux and PlayStation 4. Production on Tooth and Tail began in 2014. Tooth and Tail (originally named Armada and later Lead to Fire) was envisioned by Pocketwatch Games as "popcorn" or "RTS distilled" that would be accessible to genre newcomers. In an interview with Polygon, the game's design was described as "one button" RTS that would make playing with a controller manageable. Tom Marks of PC Gamer described the single player campaign as being "like a bite-sized StarCraft campaign." The game was released on 12 September 2017.

Divinity: Original Sin II

Divinity: Original Sin II is a role-playing video game developed and published by Larian Studios for Microsoft Windows. The sequel to 2014's Divinity: Original Sin.As with Divinity: Original Sin, players can play fully solo with only one character in their party, or with up to three others. Several pre-made characters with backstories are available to the player. Players are also able to create a custom character, and choose their stats, race, gender, and origin story at the start of the game. They can recruit up to three companions to assist them although mods in the Steam Workshop exist which increase the maximum number of party companions. A skill crafting system allows players to mix and change their skills. The game also features a competitive multiplayer mode, where players are divided into two different teams and fight against each other in an arena map. It was released worldwide on 14 September 2017.

Dishonored: Death of the Outsider

Dishonored: Death of the Outsider is an action-adventure stealth video game developed by Arkane Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. It is the third game in the Dishonored series, following Dishonored 2, and was released 15 September 2017 on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It follows former-assassin Billie Lurk as she finds her mentor Daud and aids in his quest to kill the Outsider, a supernatural being who bestows magical powers on a select few.

Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite

Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite is a fighting video game developed and published by Capcom. It is the sixth main entry in the Marvel vs. Capcom series of crossover games. Like previous installments, players control characters from both the Marvel Comics and Capcom universes to compete in tag team battles. Infinite features two-on-two fights, as opposed to the three-on-three format used in its preceding titles. The series' traditional character assists have been removed; instead, the game incorporates a tag-based combo system, which allows players to instantly switch between their two characters to form continuous combos. It also introduces a new gameplay mechanic in the form of the Infinity Stones, which temporarily bestow players with unique abilities and stat boosts depending on the type of stone selected. Infinite was released in September 19, 2017 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows.

SteamWorld Dig 2

SteamWorld Dig 2 is a 2D platform action-adventure video game developed and published by Image & Form. It is the fourth installment in the SteamWorld series of games and the direct sequel to 2013's SteamWorld Dig. Just like its predecessor, SteamWorld Dig 2 revolves around mining. The main character of the game is Dorothy, a steam-driven robot who also appeared in SteamWorld Dig as an ally. Like Rusty, the protagonist of SteamWorld Dig, Dorothy uses a pickaxe to create paths through an underground world by mining cubes of ground away. Besides mining resources and orbs, players will also fight enemy creatures that come on their path. Compared to its predecessor, SteamWorld Dig 2 features an increased focus on platform elements and a Metroidvania-style underground world. It was released on Steam for Microsoft Windows on September 22, 2017.

Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony

Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony is a visual novel adventure game developed by Spike Chunsoft for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita and Microsoft Windows. It is the third main title in the Danganronpa series and the first in the franchise to be developed for home consoles. Danganronpa V3 continues the same style of gameplay as the first two Danganronpa games, which is split into School Life and Class Trial segments. During School Life, players interact with other characters and progress through the story until coming across a murder, after which they must gather evidence for use in the Class Trial. The game was released on September 26, 2017 on Steam.

Total War: Warhammer II

Total War: Warhammer II is a turn-based strategy and real-time tactics video game developed by Creative Assembly and published by Sega. It is part of the Total War series and the sequel to 2016's Total War: Warhammer. The game is set in Games Workshop's Warhammer Fantasy fictional universe. The game was released for Microsoft Windows-based PCs on 28 September 2017.

[ While not overly packed with games this just might be the best of this year in terms of quality. Except the first one (which is a cute little piece)  the rest of this list is all packed with big names or sequels of popular franchises. ]