$20 Game of the Week: Hoard (PSP, PC, PSN)

Hoard is an example of why a game doesn’t necessarily have to have complex graphics or gameplay to be fun. In Hoard, you control a dragon, and your job is to cause as much chaos as you can while building a stockpile of gold. You steal treasure, kidnap princesses for ransom, burn down buildings, and scare villages into offering tribute. Of course you’ll have to deal with wizards, knights, thieves, and other dragons. Up to 4 players can participate in either co-op or competitive modes. While the game is simple enough to get into, the gameplay mechanics are deep, and as you progress, strategy and planning become important. You can upgrade your dragon’s abilities, and the upgrades you choose also fit into your strategy. Hoard may not be Call of Duty, but at least it’s good for a quick fix. And really, who doesn’t want to be a badass dragon?