Top 10 Canadian Video Games You Probably Didn't Know About

Creator: Maddy Makes Games

Launch Date: January 25, 2018

Style: Platform Game

The Lowdown:

An award-winning hit that touches on themes of depression, self-confidence, and growth, the game focuses on the travails of Madeline, who must conquer her issues enroute to climbing a treacherous mountain.

It’s a 2D platformer that combines challenging gameplay with immersive and engaging storylines. Its work was recognised as part of the Independent Games Festival Awards in 2018, where it won the Audience Award, while it also received accolades for its musical score.

Creator: Red Barrels

Launch Date: September 4, 2013,

Style: First-person survival horror

The Lowdown:

Like your horrors? You will get your frills with this gory, edge-of-your-seat thriller from Red Barrels.

Outlast occurs in a remote psychiatric hospital - Mount Massive Asylum. Miles Upshur, a Freelance Journalist, intends to run a story on the mysterious goings on at the institution, but on arrival, is greeted with the mutilated bodies of staff and ransacked hallways.

The goal is to survive - Miles cannot attack his enemies. Instead, he must use stealth to make it through the night, sneaking around the hospital with nothing but light from his camcorder for guidance.

Expect thrills, spills, frights, and flights. And lots of them. It’s an edge-of-your seat, thrill-a-minute ride.

Creator: Klei Entertainment

Launch Date: February 28, 2012

Style: Side-scrolling stealth platform game

The Lowdown:

When the weight of responsibility for protecting a clan and its secrets rests on the shoulders of one brave and lethal ninja, there isn’t anything they wouldn’t do.

Set on a fictional version of modern-day Japan, the game requires plenty of highly-skilled manouvering from participants to guide the title character through their missions. Watch out for security guards, navigate tricky security systems, and expose the truth.

Thousands have praised the game’s production values, with online reviews citing great graphics and a brain-to-screen sensation when in control of the title character.

It was also well-received by critics upon release and earned a nomination for Downloadable Game of the Year and Outstanding Achievement in Animation during the 16th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards.

Creator: Ubisoft Montreal

Launch Date: April 29, 2014

Style: Platforming role-playing video game

The Lowdown:

After falling into the deepest of slumbers, Aurora - the hero of this magical and whimsical tale - awakes to the news that an evil queen has taken control of her home kingdom, which has been befallen by a deep curse.

With a trusty firefly companion in Igniculus and other friends she meets along the way, Aurora must restore the sun, moon and stars to their rightful places to save those she loves and bring her kingdom back to the light.

It won’t be easy - powerful enemies stand in her way as she traverses Lemuria.

It is an odyssey of self-discovery in a brand-new and magical world. The game is brimming with themes of friendship, sacrifice, and the power of hope against adversity.

Creator: Studio MDHR

Launch Date: October 25, 2013

Style: Side-scrolling run and gun

The Lowdown:

Let us introduce, please, to Cuphead and Mugman - proud residents of Inkwell Isle.

They often get into scrapes around town, but a deal with the devil at the Devil's Casino ends up costing them their souls. In order to save themselves, they must repossess the souls of runaway debtors an return them to the devil.

Throughout their journey, our unlikely heroic duo faces off against challenging bosses such as the Root Pack, Cagney Carnation, and Baroness Von Bon Bon, each of which come attached with their own set of problems.

The power and abilities of both Cuphead and Mugman develop over time, with both becoming ever-more powerful as they evolve.

It was a massive success on its release, and scooped PC Gamer's 2017 Breakout Game of the Year award, while it was also recognised as the "Best Xbox One Game" in Destructoid's Game of the Year Awards 2017.

Creator: Behaviour Interactive

Launch Date: June 14, 2016

Style: Online asymmetric multiplayer survival horror game

The Lowdown:

There are plenty of survival games on the market, but you would be hard-pressed to find many as gripping or terrifying as Dead By Daylight. Players are divided into two groups - killers or surviviors. Both roles are pretty much what they say on the tin. Killers must kill to win. Survivors must survive to triumph.

It all revolves around "The Entity" - an otherwordly force. Killers must capture survivors and feed them to The Entity, while the survivors must work together to repair generators scattered around the map and escape through one of four exit gates.

Players can choose to play as either a survivor or a killer, each with their own unique abilities and playstyles - they can choose up to four as part of a pre-set loadout designed for each objective. Survivors must use stealth and strategy to outsmart the killer and avoid being caught, while the killer relies on brute force and special abilities to hunt down their prey.

Creator: Ubisoft Toronto

Launch Date: November 12 2020

Style: Action-adventure cooperative multiplayer mode

The capital city of London is falling to a dystopian ruin, where a private military company called Albion has taken over the town and established a surveillance state. The player takes on the role of a member of DedSec, a hacker group fighting against the oppressive regime.

One of the most unique aspects of Watch Dogs: Legion is its "play as anyone" feature. Instead of controlling one main protagonist, players can recruit and play as any non-playable character (NPC) they encounter in the game world. Each NPC has their own backstory, abilities, and skills that can be utilised in missions and gameplay.

It enjoyed a successful release and was nominated for Innovation in Accessibility at The Game Awards 2020.