September 2018 Humble Monthly Overview: Brainteasers Galore

Along with all of the good that Humble Bundle already brings to the table, they additionally offer players the chance to snatch up a medley of video games for a whopping $12 the first Friday of every month by becoming a subscriber. Varying from popular titles to indie games you’ve probably never heard of, Humble Monthly generates a diverse curated bundle to help establish the most paramount game libraries. In addition, every subscriber automatically receives 10% off titles in the Humble Store. You can’t beat the facts, folks—that’s one heck of a deal.

In September’s bundle, subscribers inherited an assorted group of titles, most incorporating some hardcore conundrums. Additionally, a choice had to be made before acquiring the bundle itself—Rise of the Tomb Raider or Sniper Elite 4, Tales of Berseria, and Staxel? Were September’s video games worth playing? Keep reading to read my first impressions of the games featured in this month's Humble Monthly.

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Rise of the Tomb Raider

This month, I made the decision to swap out Sniper Elite 4, Tales of Berseria, and Staxel for the high-praised Rise of the Tomb Raider. For some unknown reason, Lara Croft hadn’t yet swooped into my Steam library showing off her daring escapades. I’m very content with my choice, for Rise of the Tomb Raider excels on so many levels.

Rise of the Tomb Raider’s gameplay demonstrates an interactive environment from the get-go. You venture as Lara Croft hiking up a treacherous mountain, blankets of snow obscuring the ground below you. Shimmying, piking, and dodging icicles hasn’t ever been a dream of mine, but we can all attest to how hardcore Lara Croft is. The visuals are breathtaking, not to mention Lara’s apparent infinite amount of luck in dire situations. The introduction concludes after an array of intense quick response moments and almost heart attacks, guiding you to her following adventure of unmasking an ancient mystery.

Yay or Nay?

If you’re a fan of the classic Tomb Raider games, Rise of the Tomb Raider will have you swooning merely moments into the gameplay. Even if you’re not, Lara Croft’s courageous voyages are jampacked with action, puzzles, and moments where you only wish you were that cool.

Read our full review of Rise of the Tomb Raider here.

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Little Nightmares

There are horror games riddled with jump scares and horrendous creature confrontations. Then there are horror games like Little Nightmares. The eerie atmosphere and creepy images enrich the fundamental, yet thought-provoking gameplay. You play as a little girl fashioning a yellow raincoat where solving puzzles and evading disturbing creatures delivers you to safety. You’ve nothing to defend yourself, so survival relies on every step.

Though short in length, Little Nightmares burrows deep into childhood fears and incorporates them into this artistic little tale. The morbid creatures you happen upon stay fresh in your mind, not to mention give you the heebie-jeebies. With the use of a lighter and your imagination, follow the path to escaping your darkest fears once and for all.

Yay or Nay?

Little Nightmares presents both a cute and chilling atmosphere in the most creative way. Take a gander down nightmare lane if you have a couple of hours—the experience stays with you.

To read our thoughts on Little Nightmares, check out the review here.

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Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition

Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition begins with a brief introduction and then sets you on your way to hack’n’slash whatever monstrosities interrupt your path. You take on the world as Death, the most fearful of the fabled Four Horsemen, striving to redeem your brother’s name. Seems pretty nifty, right?

Within my first hour of fighting atop what appears to be a snowy mountain, I witnessed Darksiders II deciding to give up on me three times. I acquired a pair of boots, tied those babies on, and attempted to return to the game when it barred me from leaving the inventory screen. Yikes. Besides the game being poorly ported to the Steam, the combat system made my time with Darksiders II enjoyable. When isn’t it a blast to rip your enemies into smithereens?

Yay or Nay?

If you’re going to play Darksiders II, I recommend initiating the bloodshed on the PlayStation 3. The Steam version, unfortunately, embodies too many issues. You do know how frustrating it is when a game crashes and you lose every bit of your progress, right?

Check out how we felt about Darksiders II:Deathinitive Editon here.

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Battle Chef Brigade

Being both a talented chef and master hunter is no piece of cake. Battle Chef Brigade operates on multiple levels, including the skill to perfect combos while scrounging for ingredients as well as mastering Tetris-inspired puzzles to serve a delicious meal. In this hand-drawn fantasy world, juggling two very different skill sets won't be easy, but it is kind of fun.

Battle Chef Brigade commences with a young woman yearning to break out of her parents' restaurant and compete in a high-stakes cooking competition. Not only are you working your butt off to inspire the world with your mouthwatering cuisine, but following a story and interacting with others just like yourself. Though the gameplay begins at a slow pace, utilizing and upgrading your combat skills makes Battle Chef Brigade much more exciting as the story progresses.

Yay or Nay?

Battle Chef Brigade is one of those experiences that may not hook you at first, but reels you in the more you invest yourself. Everything is worth trying once, right?

Take a gander at how much we loved Battle Chef Brigade here.

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Zombie Night Terror

Zombie Night Terror takes the typical zombie game and transforms it into something else entirely. This time around, you are in total control of the mindless walking dead. In this pixelated puzzle experience, escorting a horde of zombies to their next meal isn’t rocket science. For an aimless mind, however, it is quite the challenge.

The best thing about Zombie Night Terror is utilizing the various unlockable mutations to advance from one part of a level to the next. Chasms exist, along with traps and humans equipped with firearms. Zombies are painfully slow, so evolving them into faster more powerful creatures provides most of the amusement. Even so, the gameplay possesses its challenging moments, for the human race will do their absolute darnedest to stay alive.

Yay or Nay?

Zombie Night Terror administers an entertaining and perplexing setting for players of all skill levels. It’s pretty cool to control an entire pack of zombies and even cooler to prevail against the human race.

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Figment

Figment embarks with commentary between what appears to be two parents and their child. Unexpectedly, the thuds of a car crash embrace the atmosphere and everything falls silent. Thus begins the story of traveling through a mind materialized as if it has lost its courage.

Love at first sight exists, folks, and I experienced it firsthand in Figment’s distinctive universe and art style. You conquer bad guys as Dusty, a grouchy imaginative creature who only cares about his scrapbook. As soon as his beloved photo album is stolen from right under his nose, he finds himself on a mission to retrieve it from the rotten Nightmare that has it in its possession. Partnering with his carefree pal, Piper, Dusty must battle through puzzles and recover memories lost in the mind to restore the bravery that has seemingly vanished.

Yay or Nay?

Figment doesn’t get all of the love it deserves, and it deserves quite a lot. Though the voice acting is a little irritating at times, the original tale coincided with the exceptional visuals is well worth delving into. Not to mention the comical anecdotes snuck in along the way.

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Ethereal

Each month, subscribers are gifted with a Humble Original game. These unique experiences are innovative games developed specifically for Humble Monthly subscribers. This month’s original game happened to be Ethereal, an abstract puzzle game. Once you download the game, you’re pulled into the intellectual world without any direction whatsoever. Using varied mechanics and deep contemplation assists in altering the world around you. Luckily, moving the analog stick transports you from one point to another, revealing additional areas of the environment. Unfortunately though, you can only carry your character in certain directions. It may take a moment to calculate your next move, but eventually flickers inside of your mind.

The serene soundtrack shapes Ethereal into not only a quizzical experience, but a calming one. Even though the puzzles stimulate the mind, they emit such a peaceful sensation. That way, you hardly feel as if you’re using your noggin in the first place.

Yay or Nay?

Ethereal isn’t a game for everyone, but if you’ve happened to download September’s bundle, I’d recommend at least trying it out. I’m still not exactly sure what I’m doing, but that’s half the fun.

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September offers players the chance to challenge their intelligence, face their darkest fears, and pretend like they can confront any obstacle that stands in their way. With this array of roads to follow, you'll never get bored playing the role of someone else. What did you think of September's bundle? Did you swap out the original three Humble Monthly games for Rise of the Tomb Raider? Let us know in the comments below! 

Disclosure: Humble Bundle works with TechRaptor for affiliate partnership, and TechRaptor earns a small commission off purchases made from links in this article.