Even if the name doesn’t ring a bell, there’s a fairly good chance that you’re run across an Artifex Mundi game out in the world. They have an extensive catalogue and release games essentially anywhere you can find them, PCs, consoles, and even mobile devices. Well, the prodigious publisher is adding another platform to that list and hoping to push out 6 games between February and March.
Now, six games in a matter of two months is a pretty lofty goal for any publisher, regardless of a game’s complexity. One would expect Artifex Mundi to find somewhere to cut corners, like releasing the same game on multiple platforms or even numerous similar titles on the same platform, but sure enough, this proposition is six discrete, independent games releasing on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Mobile and, their new addition, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV. The suggested release schedule is as follows:
February
Feb. 9, 2017 – Queen’s Quest 2: Stories of Forgotten Past (Mobile/Steam)
Feb. 9, 2017 – Clockwork Tales: Of Glass and Ink (Apple TV/Amazon Fire TV)
Feb. 28, 2017– Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride (PS4)
March
March 9, 2017– Lost Grimoires 2: Shard of Mystery (Mobile/Steam)
March 17, 2017 – Dark Arcana: The Carnival (Xbox One)
March 28, 2017 – Nightmares from the Deep 2: The Siren’s Call (PS4)
To be fair, the games that Artifex Mundi typically produces aren’t AAA, tech-melting pinnacles of technical mastery. Typical games from this studio are simple mystery games with a tight story, static backgrounds, and some simple puzzles. While they won’t scratch the same itch a larger budget title like The Witcher 3 or Final Fantasy XV, but these games are perfect for weekends without an internet connection, extended travel arrangements, or as a brief reprieve from unwanted guest. At low prices and widespread availability, they’re worth a look, and it looks like there will be even more in the coming months.
