If you do console gaming in your schools or libraries then Playstation Plus and Xbox Gold can be an amazing way of adding new games to your collection each month. However, not every free game may be appropriate for your space. We’ll be going over all the PS4 titles this month so that you can decide what works for your space.
PS4: Metal Gear Solid V: Phantom Pain
Single Player
ESRB: M for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
But there’s a cute dog.
This game is part of the Metal Gear series and follows Snake, a mercenary leader, as he seeks revenge on the people who destroyed his forces. Gameplay focuses on infiltrating enemy bases and taking down enemy soldiers from choking them to gunning them down. Cutscenes include intense violence and gore, things like scenes of torture and exposed intestines. It also has language such as f**k and sh*t. If you cater to older gamers or have an older teen gaming club of some kind you may want to download it.
Let’s go through that door. What’s the worst that could happen?
Amnesia: Collection features two games. Amnesia: The Dark Descent and Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs. Both are horror games where players have forgotten past events and explore to rediscover what has happened. Gameplay is focused on hiding from monsters rather than slaying them and solving puzzles. The games feature grotesque monsters and gore, such as dismembered bodies strewn around some of which are nude with male genitalia. Sh*t appears in dialogue. If you already have an M Rated games collection you may want to give it a trial run, but if you’re worried about nudity and awkward talks with parents then you may want to pass.
PS4: Hue
Single Player
ESRB: E
It’s a dangerous situation. But it’s a pretty dangerous situation.
Hue is a puzzle adventure game following Hue, a boy searching for what happened to his mother discovers a ring enabling him to change the backdrop for the world causing objects to appear and disappear. You use the ability to get around things, make platforms to jump over spike traps, and all manner of creative puzzle solving as you try to find the rest of the ring. So much of the game is color based that it’s fantastic to see they have a colorblind mode available. If you need more games for your younger gamers, or just want more puzzle solving options for your teens Hue is worth the download.
PS4 & PS3: Sky Force Anniversary
1 - 2 Players
ESRB: E for Fantasy Violence
Shields, check. Lasers, check. Extra extra lasers, check.
Sky Anniversary is a shoot-’em-up. You pilot a plane and shoot down enemy planes, while rescuing stranded characters. You collect stars from each stage and use them to upgrade your aircraft so that you can work your way up to fighting and defeating the boss that wipes you out in the introductory level. It’s a lot of fun, anyone can play, and it’s multiplayer. We downloaded it immediately.
PS4 & PS3: Hustle Kings
Single Player
ESRB: E
So close.
Hustle Kings is a pool game. Players can play against others over the network as well as work their way through the career mode version. There are also trick-shot and tournament modes. If you think pool would be popular with your gamers, go for it. There’s also a Free to Play version for the PS4.
Stephanie Frey can be found roaming Twitter. She can also be found selling goodies on Society6.
Games in Schools and Libraries is produced in association with Inverse Genius and the Georgetown County Library System.
Games in Schools and Libraries Guild at Board Game Geek
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