What’s Geeky in May 2023?

Say it with me now: It’s gonna be May!

That’s right, the April showers have brought May flowers, but instead of pilgrims these May flowers are bringing up a whole new boatload of geeky stuff for us to get excited about! Including a new Guardians of the Galaxy movie, a video game where you get to play as Gollum and a new sci-fi novel by the legendary Adrian Tchaikovsky.

Let’s dive right in, shall we?

Movies/TV shows

May 2^nd

Transmutators

This sci-fi follows a group of human rebels who must survive and fight back after Earth is taken over by half-human, half-alien hybrids, and their mecha-wielding alien overlords. But the only way to fight back is for the rebels to use discarded machine parts in order to build their own mecha soldiers.

Space Wars: Quest for the Deepstar

Another low-budget sci-fi, this story follows a father and daughter team in the year 2980, where a person’s soul can be trapped and liquified after death in order to be revived in a new body. On the run from bounty hunters, aliens, robots, and monsters, these two will do whatever they can to bring their loved one back to life.

May 5^th

Guardians of the Galaxy, Volume 3

Almost ten years have passed since we were first introduced to the MCU’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Now, as the team adjusts to life on Knowhere, they are faced with a new threat as Rocket’s past begins to resurface. In order to save Rocket, and the Galaxy, the Guardians will have to face off against their biggest foe yet—the High Evolutionary.

Silo

This show from Apple TV+ sees the last of humanity living in a giant silo hundreds of feet underground, ruled over by a government enforcing strict rules to keep everyone safe from the toxic world above. But when one woman starts to question these rules, she’ll start also to wonder if the world above is actually toxic at all.

May 12^th

Knights of the Zodiac

While searching for his sister, street orphan Seiya accidentally taps into his hidden mystical powers during a fight and is taken to meet a beautiful young woman who is the reincarnation of the goddess Athena. Seiya must learn to control his abilities and become a Knight of the Zodiac if he is to protect her from her enemies… and the power growing inside of her.

Hypnotic

In this theater movie, Detective Danny Rourke is still grieving his daughter when he is called in to stop a bank heist. A heist run by complete strangers, each with no priors, and run by a man who can make other people do anything he wants. A man who also knows something about Detective Rourke’s daughter.

Black Knight

In a dystopian future, the deliverymen and women who deliver the precious cargo of oxygen and other lifesaving packages, all while avoiding the attacks of deadly bandits, are called Black Knights. Now, the legendary Black Knight, known only as “5-8,” must care for and train a refugee named Sa-Wol. This action-packed dystopian K-Drama will be available on Netflix.

Crater

Before he died, Caleb Channing’s dad encouraged him to leave the lunar dome where he had spent his whole life and journey to a distant part of the map, the crater. Now with his dad gone, and the threat of being permanently relocated to a far-off planet away from his friends, Caleb will steal a lunar rover for one final adventure to fulfill his dad’s last wish and explore the mysterious crater.

May 22^nd

Prehistoric Planet, season 2

The Apple TV dinosaur documentary is back! Narrated by the legendary Sir David Attenborough, take a trip back to the age of the dinosaurs with groundbreaking and award-winning filmmaking from some of the industry’s top creative minds. Immerse yourself in an ancient world along with the latest information in paleontology in a new five-night event.

May 23^rd

Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai

This animated adaptation of the cult-classic movie features a young boy who must save an adorable furry creature called a Mogwai, whose name is Gizmo, from the evil industrialist who wants him.

But as the young Sam Wing and his friends try to return Gizmo to his home, he forgets the three rules that must not be forgotten: keep them out of the sunlight, don’t get them wet, “and never, no matter how much he cries, no matter how much he begs, never feed him after midnight.”

May 26^th

The Little Mermaid

This live-action remake of the classic fairy tale and Disney movie is about a young mermaid who, after rescuing a prince from drowning, comes up with a plan to live on land so that she can meet and fall in love with the prince she saved. But a deal with an evil sea witch has side effects, so if she wants to stay on land, she’ll have to convince the prince to kiss her—all without using her voice.

Video Games

May 2^nd 

Age of Wonders 4

PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

This fourth installment of the award-winning strategy game sees the return of powerful Wizard Kings intent on ruling over the world. Craft a faction all your own, build your empire, and take back your homeland. 4X strategy and turn-based combat meet crazy levels of customization in this new game from Triumph Studios.

May 4^th 

Ravenlok

Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC

From the studio behind Echo Generation comes this new 3D pixel art adventure. You play as Ravenlok, a young girl who stumbles through a magic mirror into the beleaguered kingdom of the tyrannical Caterpillar Queen. Investigate the Darkness and reactivate time in this unique coming-of-age adventure.

May 5^th 

Death or Treat

PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

In this 2D action-roguelite, you play as Scary: a ghostly inhabitant of HallowTown who must fight his way through hordes of enemies in order to save his home. With gorgeous hand-painted backgrounds and a bit of tongue-in-cheek humor (the final boss is Clark Fackerberg, head of FaceBoo!), this game is sure to impress.

May 12^th 

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Switch

Everyone’s favorite silent knight is back in this hotly anticipated sequel to the wildly successful Breath of the Wild. When mysterious islands appear in the skies above Hyrule, Link must investigate. While there, he gains new powers like Ultrahand and Fuse that allows you to create new weapons and so much more.

May 16^th 

Humanity

PlayStation 5, PlayStation VR2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation VR, PC

In this fascinating puzzle-solving action game you play as a lone dog (Shiba Inu, to be exact) tasked with leading a massive crowd of people. Run, jump, push, and swim your way to the goal in thousands of puzzle stages. Users can create their own stages for even more fun.

May 18^th 

Firmament

PC, Mac

This new mysterious adventure comes from the studio that brought us such legendary puzzle games as Myst and Riven. Explore a strange, abandoned world with a ghost as your only guide. What is this steampunk world? What happened? And can your ghostly companion be trusted?

May 19^th 

Lego 2K Drive

PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC

A Lego racing game with an open world and ever-transforming vehicles? Sign me up! Race across land, sea, and sky, alone or with friends in this newest Lego adventure. Race for the Sky Trophy in story mode, explore the open world, or play with friends in local split-screen or online.

May 23

After Us

PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

You play as Gaia, the spirit of life, in a radically altered world. It’s Gaia’s job to spread life in this world left behind by the Devourers. The gorgeous scenery is surrealistic and abstract. The story will move you with a look at the devastation wrought by the Devourers on the natural world and the beauty they created before the end.

Bread & Fred

PC 

A brand-new co-op adventure featuring two mountain climbing penguins. The titular penguins, played by you and a friend, must work together to scale a mountain, but be warned: the boys are tied together. Penguins who climb together, fall together. And if you can’t find a buddy, you can always partner with Jeff the Rock. 

Amnesia: The Bunker

Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

The newest installment in this horror series finds you as a WWI French soldier trapped in a seemingly abandoned bunker. With time decidedly not on your side, you must find a way out while avoiding whatever it is that lurks in the dark. The non-linear semi-open world and dynamic enemies add spice to a rich horror landscape.

Farming Simulator 23

Switch, iOS, Android

The most realistic farming sim around is back! It’s got new crops (olives and grapes), new animals (chickens), new activities (weeding and plowing on two maps), as well as logging with forestry equipment, and cultivating fields. Build the Aggie empire of your dreams!

Miasma Chronicles

PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

In an America torn apart by a mysterious force known as ‘the miasma’ you play as Elvis, a young man in search of his missing mother. His mother gifted him a glove that can control the miasma before she left, so now Elvis and his robotic big brother Diggs must search for answers in a dying world.

May 25^th 

Hello Neighbor: Search and Rescue

PlayStation VR2, PlayStation VR 

In the newest entry into this family-friendly horror series, you play as several members of a search and rescue team sent to sneak into the Neighbor’s house and rescue someone trapped in the basement. A dynamic range of puzzles and the constantly learning AI Neighbor will keep you on your toes.

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum

PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

This official adaptation takes you into Middle Earth through the eyes of the creature Gollum. Follow this corrupted ring-bearer from Mordor to Mirkwood to the Dark Tower of Barad-Dûr and make tough moral choices as you hunt for the only thing that truly matters: the Precious.

May 30^th 

Company of Heroes 3

PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

The celebrated strategy franchise returns with a brand new Mediterranean theater of war as well as new gameplay features like Full Tactical Pause and the Dynamic Campaign Map. Add to that cinematic action with enhanced AI that adds realism to squad reactions and you’ve got the new Company of Heroes.

Books:

May 2^nd

• Not Alone by Sarah K. Jackson–SciFi, Thriller
• Charmed Life by Marti Dumas–Book 2 of Wildseen Witch, Kids, Fantasy
• Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? by Crystal Smith Paul–Fantasy, SciFi
• Fall of the School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani–Book 2 of The School for Good and Evil, Kids, Fantasy
• For Love of Magic by Simon R. Green–Fantasy, Action Adventure
• A Portrait In Shadow by Nicole Jarvis–Fantasy, Historical
• The Storyteller by Brandon Hobson–Kids, Fantasy, Native American
• The Sword Defiant by Gareth Hanrahan–Epic Fantasy, Action Adventure
• The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw–Horror, Dark Fantasy
• Stranger Danger by Maren Stoffels–YA, Horror, Suspense
• We Don’t Swim Here by Vincent Tirado–YA, Horror
• Ghostly Game by Christine Feehan–Book 19 of Ghostwalkers, Paranormal Romance
• Lords of Uncreation by Adrian Tchaikovsky–Book 3 of The Final Architect’s Trilogy, SciFi, Action Adventure
• The Ross 248 Project edited by Les Johnson and Ken Roy–SciFi, Anthology
• Path of Vengeance by Cavan Scott–a Star Wars: The High Republic book, YA, Space Opera

May 9^th

• Beauty Reborn by Elizabeth Lowham–YA, Fantasy
• The Book That Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence–Book 1 of the Library Trilogy, Epic Fantasy, Action Adventure
• Cursed Crowns by Catherine Doyle–Book 2 of Twin Crowns, YA, Fantasy
• The Iron Vow by Julie Kagawa–Book 10 of Iron Fey, YA, Fantasy
• Queens of Wonderland by Gama Ray Martinez–Book 2 of Defenders of Lore, Fantasy, Historical
• Silenced by Ann Claycomb–Fantasy, Magical Realism
• Tales of Polynesia by Yiling Changues–Folklore, Literary
• Graveyard of Lost Children by Katrina Monroe–Horror, Gothic
• Every Gift a Curse by Caroline O’Donoghue–YA, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy
• The Shadow Society by Jay Bonansinga–Book 2 of Stan Lee’s The Devil’s Quintet, SciFi, Thriller

May 16^th

• Titanium Noir by Nick Harkaway–SciFi, Mystery
• Bound by Sword and Spirit by Andrea Robertson–Book 3 of Loresmith, YA, Fantasy
• The History of the Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien–Epic Fantasy, Literary
• Painted Devils by Margaret Owen–YA, Fantasy
• Transmogrify! Edited by G. Haron Davis–YA, Fantasy, Anthology
• Venom & Vow by Anna-Marie McLemore–YA, Fantasy, LGBTQ
• Court of the Undying Seasons by A.M. Strickland–YA, Horror, Fantasy
• Saint Juniper’s Folly by Alex Crespo–YA, Paranormal Romance

May 23^rd

• Elden Ring: The Road to the Erdtree by Nikiichi Tobita–Fantasy, Manga
• Halcyon by Elliot Ackerman–SciFi, Alternate History
• Of Light and Shadow by Tanaz Bhathena–YA, Fantasy, Romance
• On the Nature of Magic by Marian Womack–Fantasy, Gothic
• Perilous Times by Thomas D. Lee–Fantasy, Dystopian
• The Will of the Many by James Islington–Epic Fantasy, Action Adventure
• A Starlet’s Secret to a Sensational Afterlife by Kendall Kulper–YA, Paranormal Romance
• The Blighted Stars by Megan E. O’Keefe–Book 1 of The Devoured Worlds, SciFi, Space Opera

May 30^th

• Earth Called by P.C. Cast–YA, Fantasy
• Onyeka and the Rise of the Rebels by Tola Okogwu–a book in the Onyeka series, Kids, Fantasy
• Threads That Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou–YA, Fantasy, Suspense
• Rhythm & Muse by India Hill Brown–YA, Paranormal Romance
• Somewhere to Belong by Dayton Ward–a Star Trek: Discovery book, SciFi, Action Adventure

That’s May

That’s May, folks!

We’ve got a lot of stuff to look forward to this month and even more stuff to look forward to next month. Sign up for Geek Alerts to be the first one to hear all about it.

Keep it Geeky!