Now we know what you’re thinking: Why would I want to sign up for yet another gaming subscription service? We’re starting to get overrun with cloud streaming services, and there’s a pretty good chance you’re already signed to either Xbox Game Pass, PS Now, EA Origin, and pretty soon we’ll have Google Stadia to kick around as well.
But here’s the thing: Uplay+ is going to be free for the first month, so at that price point why wouldn’t you give it a go? Plus, Ubisoft has amassed a pretty significant library of titles over its long life span, and there’s probably a few games that you skipped out on. So if your curiosity has been piqued a bit by Uplay+, here’s our suggestions for fun games that are worth another look.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Now this is a relatively new game, as it only came out last November. However, a lot of people are possibly still suffering from Assassin’s Creed fatigue, and may have skipped both this game, and Origins, thinking that both games probably offered more of the standard building jumping, back stabbing, and icon hunting from previous entries.
However, the last two Assassin’s Creed Games truly reinvented the series, and turned it from a franchise that people were sick of, to one that fans now have a reason to look forward to. Origins is totally worth checking out due to its incredibly detailed depiction of ancient Egypt, but Odyssey gets the nod here because of the fact that it managed to essentially shove some in RPG elements that change up the formula. There’s dialogue choices, people to romance, different ways to complete quests, and you also get to choose the gender of the protagonist which slightly alters the story.
For the DLC, they just said screw it and let you hang out in Atlantis with a magic sword. Historical accuracy is overrated.
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon
Far Cry is another Ubisoft series that, while still good, has definitely gotten pretty stale. The standard formula essentially has you landing somewhere beautiful, shooting a bunch of people, and usually making a whole bunch of wallets and pouches out of the local wildlife. They’re nice games to treat as vacations or hunting retreats, but most people tend to get pretty tired of them by the end.
Well, Blood Dragon switches things up by being inspired by the dumb action films of the 1980s. We got neon colors, cyborgs, and the aforementioned giant blood dragons with guns strapped to their backs. The game is dripping with so much 80s cheese that they even got Terminator/Aliens star Michael Biehn to voice the lead character, who naturally is named Rex “Power” Colt. There’s a ton of 80s references, an amazing soundtrack, and best of all, it’s only maybe 8-10 hours long. It’s the perfect length, a ton of fun, and might even be the pinnacle of creativity in the Far Cry series.
Rayman Legends
Rayman Legends is the closest you can get to actually playing a Saturday morning cartoon. With its fluid animation, colorful graphics, and flawless platforming gameplay, it’s pretty much the best game that this limbless hero has ever been in.
You can also play it with up to four players, and it even has a wacky soccer mini-game that’s an absolute hoot. Also, there’s an amazing level where you essentially run for your life to the tune of “Black Betty” by Ram Jam. Yes, that is as great as it sounds.
South Park: The Stick Of Truth
The Fractured But Whole is also a pretty solid game, but when it comes to the true South Park RPG experience, The Stick Of Truth is definitely the superior title. Whereas But Whole tends to go to the superhero parody well too often, The Stick Of Truth has stronger writing, and its Super Mario RPG inspired gameplay mechanics are a dose of nostalgic fun.
It’s possible you may have dodged this one because you still had bad memories of the horrid South Park first person shooter on the N64. Well trust us, if you ever wanted to play a game that truly feels like you’re trapped inside the quiet mountain town that Trey Parker and Matt Stone have created, then The Stick Of Truth is for you.
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Blacklist
Ubisoft and Tom Clancy pretty much go together like peanut butter and jelly. Uplay+ is stuffed full with a smorgasbord of Tom Clancy approved games for you to play. This of course includes games in the Ghost Recon, Rainbow Six, and The Division series for you to binge on.
However, it’s the Splinter Cell series that deserves a particular shout-out. For years now people have wondered why Splinter Cell has been given no attention or love from Ubisoft, with Blacklist being the last game in the franchise so far. When it originally came out people were upset that the longtime voice actor of Sam Fisher, Michael Ironside, wasn’t brought back for this game. The story and structure of the game also were a lot different from prior entries, which turned some people off.
Despite all that, this is still an incredibly solid action stealth adventure that offers a lot of flexibility in how you tackle your targets. It feels like the smoothest Splinter Cell game to play, plus you even have a little bit of a Mass Effect-esque headquarters where you can get side missions and upgrades from your crew. It’s a super cool game, and hopefully if enough people play it again on Uplay+, it might convince Ubisoft to dust off the mothballs, and bring the series back for another run.
These games are just a taste of the catalog of games Ubisoft is providing on the service. Uplay+ launched on September 3, and the free trial is on until September 30, so you have a month to determine or not it’s worth it to have easy access to Uno whenever you want it.