Next Generation Consoles in Libraries Part 2: Subscription Services

If you have questions about the next generation of gaming consoles but haven’t checked out Next Generation Consoles in the Library Part 1, you may want to start there. If you know about the hardware, read on!

With the next generation consoles now out in the wild, options for gaming purchases have been truly revealed.  As mentioned in part one, both Sony and Microsoft have managed to divide their markets by having different tiers, or form factors, of their consoles this generation. That choice brings with it a brand new question; “Does your institution need game consoles to be able to access games on physical media, or are purely digital versions of the games sufficient?”. Both options have their merits, and we hope to give you a good idea of which option best fits your budget and operational needs.

The first and most important question is “what’s the difference between physical or digital?”.  Both Xbox and PlayStation have a physical edition and digital edition for the new generation. Physical media for this generation means buying games by disc, while digital media can include purchasing codes from authorized vendors, through the console’s online marketplace, or obtaining games through a subscription service. 

Physical Media

Using physical media, instead of purchasing digital only versions, allows libraries with more than one of a given console the option of playing the game on any of that brand of game stations. This provides excellent versatility in spaces with multiple sets of hardware.  Also, if budget issues are a top-concern, physical copies have historically gone on sale more frequently than digital versions purchased through either the PlayStation or Xbox marketplaces.

While physical media requires storage consideration, and is more vulnerable to theft or destruction than digital downloads, it is also generally more convenient if kept in good condition. If your institution has a game installed on multiple machines, the disc can be changed between the stations so different patrons would have access to the game without needing to purchase the title multiple times. 

Another significant benefit is overall console security, including the convenience of not having to worry about patrons gaining access to game marketplaces with credit cards attached, making physical media the superior choice for some environments. Doubly so if you also plan on tracking game use statistics or circulating games separate from the game stations. 

Be aware that having a physical disc doesn’t mean you won’t have large downloads, game discs are really more like keys to play a game than an actual physical copy of the game. To play a game on a disc, the console will still need access to the internet at least once, to download a working and patched copy of the game. Also, keep in mind that not all games are released on disc, and some games require online access whenever they are played.

Online Play with ”Free” Monthly Titles

As for digital media, while sharing becomes a near impossibility; with a major exception (we will get to that), you are open to an entire host of new options for padding out your gaming collection.  Both Xbox and PlayStation have subscription models for online gaming and game catalogs.  Xbox Gold and PS+ respectfully.  

With this online subscription you can play online games but also get a selection of ‘free’ games added to your account monthly. You get to keep all these games for as long as you have an active subscription.  If you cancel and then re-add the respective pass you regain access to all the games you previously acquired, though you will lose out on games only available during your lapse in coverage. If you don’t go into the appropriate marketplace and grab the new ‘free’ games each month you won’t have access to them in the future, so make certain to get them while they are free. Having an opt in style feature also allows you to curate your collection a little bit better.  If you're not looking to have your children's area own Grand Theft Auto, you can always decide not to add that to your account.

The major exception to digital games being locked to a single account is a feature called Gameshare.  This feature is included with both Xbox and PS.  It allows for the master account, or the account that owns the game, to share its collection of digital games with a different account on another system. Unfortunately not all games support this feature, many games only partially support this feature, and only one account can play the game at a time. The usefulness of this feature will depend heavily on how many consoles you feature, and how you police which games people are playing and at what time.  Also note that gameshare only works between the same brand. Playstation cannot share with Xbox, or vice versa.

Bulk Catalog Subscriptions

At the time of writing the Xbox is the superior choice thanks to one single service. The Xbox Game Pass. This is separate from Xbox Gold, and is an active library of games that you instantly gain complete access to once you sign up.  It’s an extra $15 per month but works just like a netflix subscription.  This pass also frequently includes brand new AAA titles created by Microsoft or EA on launch.  In the subscription business, Xbox is a clear winner, but only if you're ready to drop an extra $15 per month per console to take advantage of it. Also keep in mind that games do rotate in and out of the game pass.  Every month you can expect games to be added and fall off, so keep an eye out for what games are leaving.

To add to everything Microsoft is also trying to step into the PC gaming sphere with the Game Pass Ultimate. Game Pass Ultimate includes all the benefits of Xbox Gold and Xbox Game Pass, and allows for the same account to be used for both PC and Xbox, meaning if you offer PC gaming you can run both at the same time on the same account. Microsoft is also beta-testing a cloud gaming/streaming service through Game Pass Ultimate, so the very nature of the Game Pass could change or expand in years to come.

PlayStation Games Streamed

PlayStation has a response to the Game Pass in the form of PlayStation Now. Similar to the Xbox Game Pass PSNow offers downloading games to play as a subscription based service.  PSNow also features a streaming services for games, instead of downloading the games, players stream a game hosted and played on a Sony server.  The quality of this stream is heavily reliant on internet speed, distance from the server, and connection quality.  If any one of these three elements is not flawless the service suffers greatly to the point of extreme frustration or unusability. 

Historically PSNow has been viewed negatively.  Many AAA title games are missing from the service, as well as the streaming service being of a generally low quality except for a few locations with amazing internet connectivity.  However, much like the Game Pass, it can add a substantial selection of games to your collection for a monthly fee. Playstation has promised to make the service a better experience, but currently the value is unimpressive with the service costing $19.99 for a back catalog of older games.

The Clear (current) Winner

From a hardware perspective both consoles are nearly identical in everything except for price and shape.  In terms of digital offerings however the Xbox has a massive advantage.  At the time of posting, Sony has promised to improve its subscription services but has not historically done great in the digital department.  From a library perspective Xbox is the way to go if you can include the subscriptions in your budget. Outside of the subscriptions pick the console that has your favorite exclusive games.

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 or Page on Facebook
Email us: schoolsandlibraries@gmail.com

Next Generation Consoles in the Library Part 1

Side by side of the new XBOX and Playstation consoles.

Libraries looking to create or update gaming rooms have a new set of consoles peeking just around the corner.  The next generation of gaming consoles arrives at the beginning of November (12th for PS and 15th for Xbox) and with it, a new host of questions and concerns for any library looking to break into this new generation. In this article, we will be covering the technical specifications of each console and how libraries need to consider these elements in their space.

The PS5 and the Xbox Series are the next generation consoles each coming with a pair of options for prospective buyers.  The PS5 and the PS5 Digital Edition or the Xbox Series X and S, not to be confused with the last generation Xbox One X and S.  Make sure your purchasing department understands the distinction between the Xbox One and the Xbox Series or you could be very disappointed with your not-so-new technology. 

Both companies sport the same choice, a new console with or without a disk drive.  For the Xbox series X, or the version with a disk drive, the price is $499. The S, digital games only, is $299.  The PS5 follows a similar route with the PS5 being $499 and the Digital Edition being $399.  

Physical or digital

For this console generation it is essential to know how the XBOX Series and PS5 play, store, and access their games. Either system will treat the game the same whether you purchase a physical disk or a digital copy. On each the game will be copied or downloaded to the hard drive and run exclusively from there because game disks access data far too slow for a game to run. Even with the previous generation of consoles discs are effectively only proof of purchase and a way to kickstart the download process. 

For libraries a disk can provide versatility allowing play on different machines at different times, and a way to track which patrons are playing which games.  For the next generation of gaming, the decision of disk or diskless mostly depends on your preference of how you want to manage your game inventory, and how much your programs or circulation numbers will benefit from the extra flexibility of physical media. From a performance perspective it will make no difference; the storage taken by the game will be exactly the same.

Storage

With games accessing more and more data in a shorter time the next generation of gaming consoles requires a next generation storage solution.  Both the Xbox and PS will sport a SSD storage solution.  What this means is they both will be utilizing one of the fastest consumer facing storage solutions on the market.  Unfortunately this also means the next generation games can ONLY use this storage solution.  If you want to pull a little more storage space from your console you will need a proprietary storage expansion, but only kind of.  Both the PS5 and Xbox series X/S will come with a sampling of backwards compatibility.  Each console sports its own list of compatible games.  These games can be optionally stored on an external hard drive using a USB connector.  Any games from the next generation can only be stored either on the respective main hard drive or on either console's external expansion solution.  

So how much storage do you get out of the box?  The PS5 will sport 825GB of storage.  This is not as much as it can seem with current generation games routinely taking up 100GB of space, with some notable games taking up as much as 200+ GB of space (looking at you Modern Warfare).  Xbox will have two different amounts.  The Series X will boast 1TB of storage while the S will only have 512GB (Disk and digital versions, respectively).  What this means is any library looking to hold a collection of more than 5 or 6 games is going to need to buy some form of storage expansion. 

Launch Version of Xbox Storage Card

For the Xbox, you will be required to buy a specific type of memory card that can only be used by Xbox.  It comes in the shape of an old school storage card for the low price of $220 per Terabyte of storage at launch.  The idea being if you want to move your games around, you simply need to unplug and re-plug the appropriate memory card.  Useful if you want to limit games to a specific type or rating to a specific group.  

Standard M.2 Storage usable in PS5

The PS5 will support any NVMe storage card on the market. These cards range in price from $100 to $1400 depending on how much storage you actually want.  A comparable 1TB of data for an M.2 (the cheapest NVMe usable on ps5) is priced at about $170 at the time of writing, however these SSDs go on sale all the time for much lower prices. This installation will be less mobile, but these cards will certainly be more accessible at the launch of the PS5.

To Sum Up

The largest takeaway would be that both the Xbox and PS are basically the same system at this point.  The only notable differences being access to which games and what services.  Games created specifically by Microsoft or Sony typically stay with their respective consoles.  Sometimes companies make deals for exclusivity contracts as well.  Overall both consoles would be a huge boost to any library looking to pull interest into an activity room especially during launch.

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 or Page on Facebook
Email us: schoolsandlibraries@gmail.com

November Games with Gold Xbox One Roundup

If you do console gaming in your schools or libraries then Playstation Plus and Xbox’s Games with 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 Xbox One titles this month so that you can decide what works for your space.

Trackmania Turbo

1 - 4 players
E

So, 5th place then.

Trackmania Turbo is a racing game that allows up to four players to go head to head. It features modes such as Double Driver, where two players control a single vehicle, or a variety of party modes; split screen or hot seat where players take turns trying to get the best time.

Trackmania Turbo is a lot of fun to play and has already seen a lot of play with our own patrons. It’s a great multiplayer racing game for any collection because it appeals to such a broad audience and it’s easy to play.

Tales from the Borderlands

Single Player
M for Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence

Full steam ahead!

Tales from the Borderlands is an episodic adventure game. It’s more like a story that players interact with and make choice, and those choices affect the way the rest of the game goes; such as helping certain characters might make them pay back the favor later in the story, or creating a vendetta with someone may see them make more trouble for the  player later. This game follows Fiona, a con artist, and Rhys, a tech worker whose promotion has been swiped out from under him, as their worlds hilariously collide in an insane hostile post apocalyptic setting.

While this game is a blast, it’s much better for older audiences due to just how rough this entire setting is. Anything Borderlands pulls no punches, gorey things like someone being decapitated by a grenade happens and characters curse often. Unless you have an older teen/ adult gaming club or carry M rated content games then you may want to pass.

Nights into Dreams

Single Player
E for Comic Mischief

Gotta fly through all those rings.

Nights into Dreams is part side scroller part 3D action. Players take on the role of a Dreamer and with the help of Nights they try to thwart the evil Wizeman and bring peace to Nightopia. Gameplay switches between side scrolling flying and 3D running around, both of which you collect spheres and battle creatures.

Nights into Dreams is a gorgeous game to look at and while it takes a bit of figuring out it’s a lot of fun. It’s E rating makes it a good addition if you need another single player title. It’s also great if you’re looking for something retro, because this is a port from Sega Saturn.

Deadfall Adventure

Single Player
M for Blood, Language, Violence

Map, check. Gun, check. Pendulum of death, check.

Deadfall Adventures is an action adventure first person shooter. Players take on the role of James Quatermain as he escorts a US Agent to retrieve an ancient artifact, but there are Nazis and Russians also looking for it and as they delve deeper the supernatural becomes involved as well. Gameplay features frantic gun battles and puzzles.

This game has blood spatters as enemies are shot and dialogue has cursing. It’s a good addition if your collection already features M rated games.

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
Email us: schoolsandlibraries@gmail.com

Hearthstone 101

Hearthstone

Are your gamers interested in Hearthstone? Do they already like games like Magic the Gathering and Yugioh? Do you want to try something new to attract a new group of the gamer curious to your library or school club? Here is everything you need to get started.

Hearthstone is a FREE Online Collectible Card Game. It is played over PC, Android, or Apple devices and an online connection is required. This is a game where gamers construct decks from cards they collect either from leveling up their characters by playing matches or from buying booster packs with points earned or cash. While it is free to play, each gamer can have their own account or the moderator can make guest accounts available, players can earn in-game currency to purchase additional booster packs and game modes or do the same by spending real  money. We are getting a lot of play without spending a penny. 

Our Teen Room gamers have a lot of fun with Hearthstone. They enjoy building decks and battling against each other. We love it, not only is it fun to play but it reinforces a number of skills; literacy, probability assessment, critical thinking, sportsmanship, math, resource management, and executive decision making. Compared to many CCGs there isn't a steep learning curve and the built-in tutorial means you can get up and running in Hearthstone with minimal confusion or stress. If you have a computer lab or spare tablets in your space, Hearthstone could be an excellent addition to the games you already offer.

Fireside Gatherings

Hearthstone has events moderators can host called Fireside Gatherings. These are gatherings where players can play against anyone in the gathering and there’s a special mode available called a Fireside Brawl. It says 3 vs 3 Brawl on it, but that doesn’t mean you need 6 people. We made that mistake during our first gathering. It means that each player will have 3 heroes available to them, the first one to defeat all their opponent’s heroes wins. The fantastic thing about this mode is that decks are pre-built, so this mode is about skill and reacting to what you are handed, not who owns the most cards or builds the best deck.

Moderators with at least 3 unique gamers logging in during their Fireside Gathering can apply to become a Tavern. The big advantage of being a Tavern is the ability to have 5 upcoming events at a time, while anyone else can only have one upcoming event at a time. There’s also now a special hero costume for players who attend a Tavern and play a Fireside Brawl so that’s a big draw for Hearthstone players right now.

Warning: Fireside Gatherings require Wifi. Ethernet only Computers will be unable to connect to the Fireside Gathering.

Setting up a Fireside Gathering

Step 1: Make a Blizzard account. https://www.blizzard.com/en-us/

Step 2: Download the Blizzard App and Hearthstone on a device. https://playhearthstone.com/en-us/

Step 3: Head over on over to https://us.battle.net/hearthstone/en/fireside-gatherings log in to your account then click Host a Gathering.

Step 4: Fill in those details and then hit Create Event.

Step 5: Make your flyers or use their available ones. Color or Black and White. Now just wait till the day of. Maybe play some matches in the meanwhile.

Step 6: On the day of the event, activate your Fireside. It will pop up when you log into your Hearthstone account.

Step 7: Make sure the Wifi listed is yours.

Step 8: Make sure to click add more. Chances are that your event venue has a number of access points and you want to include them all.

Step 9: Collect access points by wandering around your location with your hearthstone device (if possible).

Step 10: Now have your gamers click on the fireside and join in, if they aren't added automatically.

Step 11: Now that you've joined the Fireside, play some matches!

Good luck with your Fireside Gathering and have a blast!

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
Email us: schoolsandlibraries@gmail.com

4 Player Video Games - Derpy Good Fun

Games that feature local multiplayer are a gem to any space that offers video gaming, especially with larger screens being more easily affordable and the shift in video games towards one player or online multiplayer only. More players get to share the joy of playing all at once and there is an opportunity for gamers to learn good sportsmanship. These are some of our favorites that we offer and why we love them.

Derpy Games

Looking for games that will make your teens giggle with glee? Or even games that play like a slow motion trainwreck that you just can’t look away from? These games are fun to play, watch and feature a lot of silly.

Goat Simulator

1 - 4 Players, XB1, PS4, & XB360
ESRB: T for Violence, Blood

Goat stole my bike.

Goat Simulator is insane in premise and execution. It’s a game where you play as a goat wreaking havoc upon some poor city. There are a multitude of ‘goats’ to choose from and you can create terror in the city’s citizens as a team. Gameplay as you running around and latching onto objects with your tongue. If you want something that’s a fun kind of dumb for your teens to play, this is it.

Badland

1 - 4 players, PS3, PS4, XB1, & Wii U
ESRB: E for Mild Fantasy Violence

Just keep flapping.

Badland is a cooperative game where you play as a group of birds trying to survive to the end of the level. You’ll be dodging buzzsaws and spikes with flappy bird style gameplay, where you push a button to fly higher. This game can be a little scary if your space caters to younger gamers, but there’s no gore. Gameplay is frantic and it’s all a matter of at least one player surviving until the end of the level, with players popping in and out and death looming constantly. It’s a blast to play and it’s a great cooperative experience.

Trials Fusion

1 - 4 players, PS4, XB1, & XB360
ESRB: E for Mild Violence, Mild Language

May not win me the race, but that wheelie man.

Trials Fusion is a great multiplayer racing game. Not only are you trying to beat your opponents, but you’re also trying to stay on your bike. The wipeouts are brutal, but hilarious with your racer sometimes flying completely off the bike all together. There are also some really interesting choices of vehicle and driver, such as the bandana’d cat riding a unicorn. If you need a good 4 player racing game for your collection, this one really fill that niche.

Starwhal

1 - 4 players, PS3, PS4, XB1, & Wii U
ESRB: E for Fantasy Violence

See the Starwhal in it's natural habitat.

Starwhal is an arena game where four narwhals flying through space are dueling to be the last one standing, each trying to pierce the heart of the others with their horn. It is a hilarious game to watch because of just how awkwardly the narwhals fly, but that’s part of the fun. It’s a great game for gamers to hop in and out of if you have an especially large crowd taking turns fighting each other. This game is fantastic if you need something that plays a lot of people and has quick, customizable rounds.

Tricky Towers

1 - 4 players, PS4, & XB1
ESRB: E

Sometimes chaos is the best way.

Tricky Towers is like 4 player Tetris with a variety of modes to play and power-ups. If you don’t build a stable foundation, blocks will slide and settle in all manners of ways. They can tilt of just completely drop off the map. There are three modes of play, Survival, Race, and Puzzle. Survival is a last one standing sort of mode, Race is the first one to build a tower up to the finish line, and Puzzle is like playing Tetris limbo as you try to pile your blocks tightly beneath a laser. If your gamers are looking for games that are retro or like puzzle games, then this one would be a perfect fit for your collection. 

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
Email us: schoolsandlibraries@gmail.com

Stephanie Frey can be found roaming Twitter. She can also be found selling goodies on Society6.

October Games with Gold Xbox One Roundup

If you do console gaming in your schools or libraries then Playstation Plus and Xbox’s Games with 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 Xbox One titles this month so that you can decide what works for your space.

XB1:Gone Home

Single Player

ESRB: M for Sexual Themes, Drug Reference, Strong Language

A+ on that collage.

Gone Home is more of an interactive story. It’s about Katie returning home after spending a year traveling Europe. She returns to the house her family has moved into. Gameplay is focused on investigating what has happened by searching through the house, picking things up, and looking them over. The empty house sets up a creepy atmosphere, but it’s really about Katie’s sister discovering that she’s in love with one of her classmates, Yolonda, and how her parents aren’t okay with this new discovery. The game is mature, not because there’s any nudity, but because it discusses sexuality openly, such as  a character talking about her self discovery, love, and sex to SexEd assignments you find lying around. There’s also music that plays and has language like b**ch, sh*t, and so on. If you have a collection of M rated games and think your gamers can handle this mature game, go for it. But if you’re in a space where dealing with sexuality isn’t appropriate or you cater to younger gamers then this may not be one for you.

XB1: Oxenfree

Single Player

ESRB: T for Violence, Sexual Themes, Drug Reference, Language, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco

It’s gym class all over again.

Oxenfree is another adventure story driven game about teenagers. This game is about choices and how those choices affect the storyline. You play as Alex who brings her friend and step brother to an island where there’s a party going on, which is where the drug and alcohol references are. But the game is mostly about exploring the island, solving puzzles, and discovering it’s dark past. As far as language goes it’s mostly things like crap and hell. If you want an spooky mystery for your teens to unravel, this one’s a good fit.

XB1 & XB360: Rayman 3 HD

Single Player

ESRB: E for Fantasy Violence, Crude Humor, Mild Suggestive Themes

Internal screaming.

Rayman 3 HD is a platformer. It follows Rayman as he tries to stop an evil lum from taking over the world with his army of sack-like soldiers called Hoodlums. Lums usually being these cute and helpful fairies. Rayman is always a fun, cartoony series. If your gamers like platformers and you’ve got the free space to do it, I’d go for it.

The Turing Test

Single Player

ESRB: T for Violence, Mild Language

But is there cake?

The Turing Test is a puzzle adventure game. You play as Ava, an engineer tasked with discovering what has happened to the crew stationed on Jupiter’s moon, Europa. As you explore you find that the AI have gotten bored and made some logic puzzles.You’ll have to solve their puzzles if you want to figure out what’s happened. It’s a thinky puzzler with some philosophical existential questions. It’s a good fit for your teen games collection. It will be available 10/16.

XB1& XB360: Medal of Honor: Airbourne

Single Player

ESRB: T for Blood, Mild Language, Violence

Just going to stay right here.

Medal of Honor: Airbourne is a first person shooter that takes place during World War II. It follows Boyd Travers, a fictional paratrooper in the US 82nd Airborne Division. You play through a variety of missions taking you through areas like Italy, France, Netherlands, and Germany. Gamplay consists of completing  objectives such as destroying anti-aircraft nests or repelling an enemy attack, while shooting enemy soldiers that come between you and the objective. If you’re looking for a T rated shooter to keep your teens happy without it being super graphic, yes. If you have a space where humans shooting other humans down isn’t appropriate, no. It will be available 10/16.

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
Email us: schoolsandlibraries@gmail.com

October Playstation Plus PS4 Roundup

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.

PS4: Amnesia: Collection

Single Player

ESRB: M for Violence, Blood and Gore, Nudity, Strong Language

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
Email us: schoolsandlibraries@gmail.com