We went down to East London to check out a brand-new gaming event WASD, which is part of the London Gaming festival which is a celebration of video games and interactive entertainment that begins Thursday 7 to Saturday 9 April 2022 at Tobacco Dock.
It’s great to be back at a real, in-person non-virtual event especially considering the cancellation of EGX back in March and the recent cancellation of E3.
However, you can still get your gaming fix at Tobacco Dock, with developers showing off many pre-release titles and meeting fans of their games as well as attend talks at the PCGamesN Theatre from industry experts talking about subjects like How to get into games journalism, Videogame PR in the post-pandemic age and How to succeed on Steam.
For those unable to attend but still want to watch the talks they are also streaming on Twitch.
WASD is a brand-new video game event that celebrates gaming and is a showcase for the latest up and coming games, giving you a chance to play unreleased titles as well as talk to the developers and publishers about the industry.
The WASD show floor is packed with unique and exciting playable games that you can get a chance to try for yourself, some of which haven’t yet been released or have only recently come out.
Whether you are interested in playing the latest games or want to break into the gaming industry yourself, there are one-to-one portfolio reviews as well as talks and Q&A sessions with industry experts to help give you advice, hone your skills and make industry connections.
So, here are a short collection of 5 standout titles of playable games you can try at the event. This is by no means a complete list just a short selection of our favourites you must see at WASD this week.
Published by industry bad boys Devolver digital and developed by Massive Monster, Cult of the Lamb has you play as a cutesie lamb who is saved from death by a powerful evil entity, but at a cost.
This malevolent being possesses you and gives you incredible, unholy power in order to build a loyal following in his name.
This Roguelike has you explore a randomly generated world, fighting hordes of enemies and going up against rival cults to absorb their power and further ascend to greatness.
Part dungeon crawler but you also need to recruit a loyal community of woodland worshippers and gather supplies to further expand your influence, build new structures and perform dark rituals. The cute, bright and cartoony world perfectly clashes perfectly with the disturbing themes.
Cult of the lamb is due for release this year.
2 Two Point Campus
If you haven't had your fill of Cheesy Gubbins, the follow up from Two Point Hospital is here and follows a very similar blueprint of its previous titles and its forbearer Theme Hospital. Two Point Campus is a chaotic, business sim mixed with a dollop of whacky humour this time set in higher education.
The goal is to create a university and manage the lives of your students. You need to create the best environment for students, providing the best housing, education and environment. This will cause them to gain XP and learn more efficiently and hopefully graduate successfully from your prestigious institution while you rake in their cash.
Recently it was announced that Two Point Campus will be delayed and will be releasing August 9 instead of the original release date of May 17 to allow developers to “deliver the best possible game that can be enjoyed equally on all platforms,”
3 Trek to Yomi
A beautiful homage to Japanese Samurai cinema, this is a side-scrolling, stylised, samurai epic.
With a unique and distinctive look, each area views like a scene from a classic film, with its film grain, a monochromatic look, a focus on cinematography and its fixed camera perspective with minimal UI.
The game has you play as a Hiroki, a young man training to be a Samurai when his master is murdered by bandits, this leads the protagonist on a bloody quest for revenge slashing through hoards of bandits pillaging the land.
Combat is slow and methodical and very challenging, as you need to pay attention to your foe's movements and when to parry or dodge as well as use a combination of blocks, rolls and light or heavy attacks, but remember, timing is key.
Trek to Yomi is out Out 5 May.
4 Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly
Coffee Talk is a low-fi, visual novel game developed by Toge Productions. set in a fantasy world of vampires, werewolves and other fantasy creatures who all live and coexist in a contemporary city. You play a barista, brewing coffees for patrons while they share their stories with you.
These characters share their personal stories with you and build relationships with the player. The 16-bit aesthetic and Low Fi chill music create and retro and cosy feeling game that is comforting and a breath of fresh air.
Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly is set to release this year.
5 Isonzo
A First-person World War One shooter set in the lesser-known conflicts of the mountains of the Italian Front. Isonzo is an impressive follow up to previous 1914 - 1918 WWI titles Verdun & Tannenberg.
Developer Blackmill games have done a fantastic job in creating a different yet compelling WWI shooter. You can choose your class and loadout to tailor to your style of play for example playing a sniper to pick off your enemies.
Inspired by the historic two-year struggle for control of the Isonzo river valley and Alps during World War One, between Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Isonzo has you fighting your way up these beautiful and deadly mountains.
The setting is far more open than the more trench based warfare of Verdun, requiring you to think differently and try and use the natural environment to defend yourself and be more aware of enemy verticality. The level of detail and authenticity is fantastic and history buffs will also really enjoy how close the devs have held to the period.
Isonzo is set to release in early 2022.
There are also loads of other great titles from developers including Devolver Digital and their full list of featured games, as well as Team 17's huge lineup of games for the event too.
There’s something for all types of gamers from casual, to board games or those who want to break into the industry and see behind the scenes. The event is running till Saturday 9 April and tickets are available here and theres a 20% Student discount available too.
