4 games you should be playing in January

If 2015 was one giant party for the gaming industry, this January would be its hangover. With the holiday madness over, things are slower and game releases more scarce.

Thankfully, not all hope is lost. Chances are you didn't get to play every fantastic game that came out this year. But before a new year's worth of releases get added to your list of things to play, take some time this month to catch up on what you missed. 

Here are 4 games you should be playing to start this year right.

 Life is Strange

Originally released in 5 parts between January and October of 2015, Life is Strange comes to consoles and PC on January 19. It's a choice based adventure game -- think Telltale's The Walking Dead. And it's complete with a compelling story and meaningful characters. You play as Maxine, a photography student who discovers she can rewind time and change the course of events.

Life is Strange got praised for bravely tackling tough emotional issues, and some gamers have said that it actually helped them cope with real life. 

If you missed it last year, definitely give it a try. 

Gone Home 

Gone Home was originally released for PC in 2013, but it recently became available for PS4 and Xbox One users.

The concept is simple. You play as a girl named Kaitlin, who returns home after a year-long absence to find a mysterious note from your sister. You must examine objects within your home to uncover what's happened while you were away and find answers to many questions. There are no set objectives, just exploration. And that's all you need to know before playing. 

That Dragon, Cancer 

Developed by Ryan and Amy Green, That Dragon, Cancer is a game inspired by their son Joel, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer shortly after birth. Like Gone Home, the gameplay is simple. It is designed to make the player focus on the experience -- an experience the developers and their son personally lived through. 

That Dragon, Cancer is an unforgettable, emotionally wrenching game. This poignant point-and-click just launched a few days ago for PC and Mac.

LEGO Marvel Avengers 

Serious, story-driven games can be beautiful experiences. But they're emotionally tolling -- and sometimes, you'd rather be mindlessly destroying things. If that's the case, LEGO Marvel Avengers is for you. It's the second installment in the franchise, and will feature over 200 playable characters, including favorites like The Hulk and Iron Man.

Look out for it when it hits shelves January 26. 

What will you be playing this January? Anything you're looking forward to playing in 2016?

Let us know in the comments below!