There’s a specific moment I remember from playing SOCOM 2, the Counter-Strike-style online shooter launched in 2003. It was me versus one remaining opponent. They were running away from me, far enough that they passed beyond the game’s draw distance, so all I could see was fog. On a total prayer, I took out my handgun and fired a random bullet. Suddenly, the pop-up appeared confirming a fresh kill. I didn’t see it happen, but I’d somehow hit them directly in the back of the head. It was the greatest shot I’ve ever pulled off in any game, ever. Published by Devolver, the label behind Hotline Miami and Cult of the Lamb, Children of the Sun is an FPS driven by this moment, and not only does it have a new update, it’s now cheaper than ever.
The most unique FPS game of 2024, Children of the Sun casts you as an anonymous young woman whose parents died at the hands of a Paganistic southern cult. Swearing revenge, you take your rifle and start hunting. Your movement is on rails – you can only circle the perimeter of each map, trying to get the best vantage point possible. Also, you only get one bullet.
The goal is to chain your kills together. Once your round hits its first target, you have to steer it into the head of the next cultist, and then the next, and the next. Combined with its neon-soaked, strung-out visuals, it makes Children of the Sun unlike anything else you’ve played this year. Developed by one person, René Rother, if you haven’t tried this already, now is the time.
A new, free update for Children of the Sun, named Nightmare Paralysis, adds some vital features. First, there’s a new horde mode. There’s also a new enemy, a cultist sniper who will actually return fire and needs to be dealt with swiftly before you can move onto everybody else.
Finally, if you’re struggling to hit everyone with a single bullet, there’s now the option to reload – but it’s a challenge. If you want to put more ammunition in your gun, you need to steer your initial projectile back into your own character. I think that makes Children of the Sun the first game I’ve ever played where you can only reload by shooting yourself.
As well as the new update, Children of the Sun is now available for the historically low price of $8.99 / £7.67. And if you need extra convincing, of the more than 1,000 user reviews Children of the Sun has gotten so far on Steam, 93% are positive. You can get it right here.
Otherwise, try some of the other best single-player games, or maybe the best indie games available on PC right now.
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