Games you can play this week

With E3 2012 now a thing of the past, the release schedule is now back on track after everyone has been burned out from the information and game detail blowout from last week’s show.

This week, the long-awaited Civilization V expansion makes an entrance, bringing some strategy and creation tools back into the PC strategy game; also, everyone’s favourite escapee animals get lost once again.

Civilization V: Gods and Kings

Gods & Kings introduces an alternate history scenario: Empires of the Smokey Skies. It features new leaders, units, resources, technology and victory conditions, all wrapped up in an interesting steam punk aesthetic. The new scenario is surprisingly robust and elaborate, and is just the feature that this expansion needed to elevate it from a “maybe” purchase, to a virtual “must-buy” for fans of the series.

For more info check out MyGaming’s hands-on preview of the game: Civilization V: Gods & Kings hands-on preview

Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted

The troublesome quartet are back, as the entire cast of Madagascar, namely Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Gloria the Hippo, and Melman.

A new setting awaits their shenanigans, as the group find themselves in a heap of nonsense in Europe, getting involved in a travelling circus and meeting some new friends along the way.

The colourful platformer allows players to take control of all the characters, while throwing some new ones into the mix.