Next Week on Xbox: New Games for December 8 to 12


Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in!


Death Howl

11 bit studios

Death Howl – December 9
Game Pass

In forgotten lands shrouded by myth, Ro—a hunter from a small tribe—is overcome by grief following the death of her beloved son. Guided by voices from another world, she transcends into the realm of spirits, in hopes of bringing him back. Explore the realm of spirits and gather ingredients to craft cards from each region. Discover shamanic totems to enhance your deck and cast a variety of melee and ranged spells to balance your offensive and defensive skills. Each new card lets you tailor your tactical style while preparing for your next deadly encounter.


METAL GEAR SOLID Δ: SNAKE EATER Digital Deluxe Edition

KONAMI


239

$79.99

METAL GEAR SOLID Δ: SNAKE EATER

KONAMI


221

$69.99

Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater (PC) – December 9

The Beginning of it All. A remake of the 2004 game Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, with the same gripping story and engrossing world, now with all new graphics and 3D audio that enhance the jungle atmosphere. Get ready for the ultimate survival stealth action experience.


Xbox Play Anywhere

Thank Goodness You’re Here!

Panic

Thank Goodness You’re Here! – December 9
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere

After arriving early for a big meeting with the mayor of a bizarre Northern English town, a traveling salesman takes the time to explore and meet the locals, who are all very eager to give him a series of increasingly odd jobs… Thank Goodness You’re Here! is a comedy slapformer, which unfolds over time as the players’ exploration and antics leave their mark on the strange town of Barnsworth. With each completed odd job, new areas of the town open up, stranger and stranger tasks become available, and the clock ticks towards our salesman’s big meeting. The town’s colorful inhabitants are brought to life with vibrant hand-drawn animation, fully voiced dialogue, and wall-to-wall double entendres.


Xbox Play Anywhere

Dunjungle

Astrolabe Games

Dunjungle – December 11
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Optimized for Handheld / Xbox Play Anywhere

Dunjungle is an action-packed roguelite about a monkey hero, adventuring into a jungle under the menace of a corruptive power that is transforming its peaceful creatures and destroying everything on its way. You’ll explore continuously changing dungeons, temples, crypts, and other mysterious places, where you’ll find all sort of weird enemies and an arsenal of weapons, spells, and relics, granting you a different experience every time you play.


Terminator 2D: NO FATE

Reef Entertainment Ltd

Terminator 2D: No Fate – December 12
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Experience the events of ‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’ brought to life through glorious pixel artwork and action-packed arcade gameplay! Play as Sarah Connor and the T-800 through a variety of thrilling missions as they take on the T-1000 and try to put a stop to Skynet’s plans before the human race is annihilated. Lead the Resistance as John Connor in the future, fighting on the front lines as mankind’s only hope in the War Against the Machines. In this unique story blending iconic scenes from ‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’ with original scenarios and multiple endings, humanity’s fate is yours to decide.


Beautiful Sakura: Surfing Club 2

Cropware

Beautiful Sakura: Surfing Club 2 – December 9
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

After graduating high school, Kaito returns to his hometown for one final summer before stepping into adult life. The ocean that once shaped his childhood memories now calls him back—and so do the two girls he once shared it with. In Beautiful Sakura: Surfing Club 2, Kaito reunites with his former surfing partners and close friends, Michiko and Yuuki. Once inseparable, the three drifted apart after the events of the first game. Now older, more confident, and carrying new dreams, they decide to revive the Surfing Club for one last unforgettable season.


Xbox Play Anywhere

BROK: Natal Tail, A New Christmas Special

COWCAT

$2.99

Brok: Natal Tail, A New Christmas Special – December 9
Optimized for Handheld / Xbox Play Anywhere

When students Graff and Ott are invited to celebrate “Natal Untail,” a twisted take on Atlasia’s ancient tradition, they’ll discover that even in a decaying world, the greatest treasures are the values of sharing and friendship. This “Special” release adds interactivity through choices and consequences, designed exclusively for consoles. Part of the Brok the InvestiGator universe, this prequel introduces key characters and can be enjoyed as a standalone story.


Xbox Play Anywhere

A Game About Digging A Hole™

rokaplay

A Game About Digging A Hole – December 9
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere

Dig deep, sell what you find, update your equipment to continue your journey further and further. With every spadeful you dig, you get closer to the truth. There’s no rush, no rules – just you and the adventure underground. Costs as much as a coffee, but is fun for longer!


Sanctum Push (Xbox One)

2dragontails

Sanctum Push – December 9

Sanctum Push is a charming pixel art sokoban adventure where you play as a brave paladin pushing enemies into their rightful places to restore peace to a corrupted castle. Every move counts, plan carefully, position your foes, and clear each room to advance through the sanctum’s ever-changing halls.


She’s Leaving

Perp Games

She’s Leaving – December 9
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Acting alone, without back up or deadly weapons, a forensic analyst searches desperately for evidence to connect a spate of disparate murders to a single Serial Killer, in this highly pressured Survival Horror Game. Focused on the real-life practices of forensic analysts, She’s Leaving allows the player to understand and uncover the truth behind the evidence they find. Throughout, you begin to discover that there has always been a target on your back. Equipped with only a taser, the choice is up to you – are you going to run and hide, or stand and fight?


Xbox Play Anywhere

Snaky Snakes

Zakym s. r. o.

Snaky Snakes – December 9
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery

Snaky Snakes is an exhilarating game where the player controls a snake through randomly generated obstacles while collecting cherries. Each cherry increases the snake’s length and score. Additionally, the player can use cherries to purchase new environments such as Desert, Asia, and Ballroom from the in-game shop. The objective is to achieve the highest score possible and unlock all environments.


UNBEATABLE

Playstack

Unbeatable – December 9
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Unbeatable is an anime-juiced rhythm adventure where you (figuratively) destroy on stage while you (literally) destroy on stage. During rhythm gameplay, you only need two buttons: a button for up and a button for down. Simple to understand! The complicated part is doing it. Try not to get destroyed yourself. Half the game is walking around and taking things at your own pace. The other half is trying to keep up with ours.


Ah, Love! Season 4

Xitilon

Ah, Love! Season 4 – December 10
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

New beautiful game about Love! In this puzzle you need to swap the tiles to indirectly control the hearts that move towards each other until blocked by a wall. Help hearts to have a date!


Xbox Play Anywhere

Montezuma’s Revenge – The 40th Anniversary Edition

Eastasiasoft Limited

Montezuma’s Revenge – The 40th Anniversary Edition – December 10
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery

Experience a timeless classic adventure now fully evolved and complete for the first time! The 1983 classic multi-room platformer Montezuma’s Revenge returns in 2.5D glory, and now Pedro’s adventure is bigger than ever with 100 tricky rooms to explore! For its 40th anniversary, what was once an unfinished game is now resurrected to match the full vision of creator Robert Jaeger. This time you can choose between male and female explorers, Pedro or his sister Rosita, to delve deep into the dangerous ruins and hunt for treasures untold!


Teeny Tiny Trains

Silesia Games Sp. z o.o.

Teeny Tiny Trains – December 10

Remember turning the living room into your own railway kingdom? Experience a bit of that magic with Teeny Tiny Trains – Build tracks, flip switches, and dodge playful obstacles to guide your trains home.


Cakey’s Twisted Bakery

Ultimate Games S.A.

Cakey’s Twisted Bakery – December 11
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Cakey’s Twisted Bakery is a stealth survival horror where you must bake to survive. Trapped inside a deranged bakery crawling with sweet-toothed mascot monsters, you play as a lost child searching for your brother. Sneak through candy-colored corridors, gather bizarre ingredients, and craft color-coded pies that can stun and destroy your enemies. Hide under tables, time your moves, and uncover the dark secret behind the bakery’s grinning faces. One recipe at a time, fight your way out before you become the next dessert.


KEMCO RPG Selection Vol. 8

KEMCO


43

$39.99

Kemco RPG Selection Vol. 8 – December 11
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Now you can enjoy 4 RPGs: Monster Viator, Crystal Ortha, Armed Emeth, Justice Chronicles, in one bundle! In Monster Viator, recruit over 20 different monsters as your allies! Explore a fantastical world where you can almost hear the breath of life as you search for lost memories. In Crystal Ortha, an odd party race to uncover the legendary mother lode! Pixelated animations bursting with immersive intensity! Set your skills freely and engage in battles your way. In Armed Emeth, ride golems and hunt for bounties! A tale set in a wasteland filled with the scent of dust and oil. The key to victory lies in golem customization! Justice Chronicles is an epic saga carved alongside guardian beasts. Overcome meetings and partings, despair and hope, and face new history in unknown battlefields.


Sintropia Fruits Together

Bad Minions, Little Giant

Sintropia Fruits Together – December 11
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

In Sintropia: Fruits Together, cooperation is the main ingredient! Control fruits with unique abilities and solve puzzles full of creativity and charm. Switch between fruits to press buttons, activate platforms, fans, and elevators, clearing the way so everyone can reach the goal.


Too Many Santas!

Penguin Pop Games LLC

Too Many Santas! – December 11
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

The Santa Claus dating sim you can play all year round! You don’t know what’s worse: your love life or your toy store’s sales reports. Desperate for some yuletide loving (and some new customers!), you make a wish on a Christmas Star. That’s when your store is visited by not one, not two, but SIX Santa Clauses. Sexy Santa, Saintly Santa, Sleepy Santa, Sassy Santa, Sad Santa, Secret Santa… it’s simply Too Many Santas! Can you watch all of them and run the store at the same time? Or will you be caught up in the sweet Santa romance?


Aery – Winter Wonderland

EpiXR Games

$11.99

Aery – Winter Wonderland – December 12
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Experience the beauty of winter in Aery – Winter Wonderland, a relaxing and immersive adventure where you take flight as a graceful bird. Explore breathtaking snowy landscapes, glide through icy valleys, and uncover a heartwarming story. Your journey follows Frosty, a curious traveler searching for a legendary magical flower hidden deep within the frozen world. As you soar through the skies, you’ll collect shimmering crystals that reveal pieces of the story, guiding you through different winter-themed environments. Each level offers a unique atmosphere, from serene snow-covered forests to towering ice peaks and frozen lakes, all designed to create a peaceful and visually stunning experience.


ASCENDANCE UNBOUND

Onevision Games

$9.99

Ascendance Unbound – December 12
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Ascendance is a calming, relaxing and minimalist first person 3D Platformer. Shape your way with mysterious abilities and rise with the enchanted wind platforms beyond the skies within a world which evolves and transforms around you. A journey which leads through different ages of our world awaits you.


Xbox Play Anywhere

Christmas Mutilator

Dolores Entertainment

Christmas Mutilator – December 12
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere

Inspired by the gritty atmosphere and taut suspense of 80s slasher films, Christmas Mutilator is a gripping, stealth-driven horror experience set in the chilly seclusion of a lonely, snow-covered cabin. You take on the role of Amelia, a loving mother and wife who has traveled to the remote cabin to celebrate Christmas with her husband, Adam, and kids. But when a murderous maniac starts stalking the cabin, your vacation plans take a terrible turn.


Detective Girl: The Case of Immortality

Happy Player

$9.99

Detective Girl: The Case of Immortality – December 12
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Return to Renaissance Florence and uncover an ancient secret of immortality. After a great war more than a decade ago, Europe lies in ruins, struggling to rebuild. In the heart of Florence, Italy, an ancient secret of immortality is buried deep within the city’s veins. A shadowy web spun over centuries, now slowly unraveling. Is the fabled salvation a blessing… or a curse? One day, you encounter a mysterious girl with snow-white hair and beauty eyes like a witch’s. From that moment, the gears of fate begin to turn.


Dino Land

Ratalaika Games S.L.

Dino Land – December 12
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Everyone’s favorite dinosaur with a gentle heart in the Jurassic Era, “Dino.” One day, indiscriminate slaughter by brutal dinosaurs has begun in a peaceful forest. “Dino” sees his lovely girlfriend, “Meeshell” and his friends trying to escape, and decides to fight for them. Curls up himself, transforms into a ball with hyper strong power, and attack the enemy dinosaurs! “Dino” is taking a step into his epic adventure to bring peace back to the sky, sea and earth.


Gravity Escape From The Maze

SBM Games

Gravity Escape From The Maze – December 12

Gravity Escape From The Maze throws you into a thrilling, gravity-bending adventure where every second counts. You play as a fearless little square with an extraordinary power: the ability to flip gravity at will. Dive into mind-twisting mazes packed with deadly traps, shifting platforms, hidden dangers, and fast-moving obstacles. Collect keys, outsmart the labyrinth, and push your reflexes to the limit as you race for survival. Every flip could save you — or send you straight into danger. Can you escape the maze before it escapes you?


Knight with Tactics

Gametry LLC

Knight with Tactics – December 12

In Knight with Tactics, every move is a challenge, every enemy a puzzle. Guide your knight through a world of traps, weapons, and enemies where brute force isn’t enough — you’ll need brainpower to survive. Plan your path, grab your weapon, and defeat your foes in the right order… or face defeat. Each level is a tactical test that pushes your problem-solving skills to the edge.


Military Logistics Simulator

Aerosoft GmbH

$29.99

Military Logistics Simulator – December 12
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Military Logistics Simulator puts you behind the wheel of real-world military logistics. Rise from a low-ranking soldier to a seasoned quartermaster as you manage vehicles, expand your base, and take charge of critical supply lines. Deliver vital cargo and defend it from drone attacks, rescue survivors, and help rebuild a war-torn region after conflict — all in immersive first-person simulation. Play solo or with friends and earn your place, leading military operations from behind the lines.


Night Ranger

Enjoy the Quest

Night Ranger – December 12 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

The ancient elven home is under siege! Step into the quiver of Elara, an elite elven archer and master of the bow and magic arrows. The heart of the forest and its ancient magical essence are being drained by the Shadow Blight, a sudden and sinister invasion. Run, jump, and shoot your way through corrupted environments, facing sinister creatures to save your people from the imminent darkness.


Night Swarm

NAISU


29


$9.99

$7.99

Night Swarm – December 12
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Night Swarm is a vampire-themed roguelite RPG bullet hell where you play as a fearsome young vampire lord rising to power. Gather loyal allies, unleash devastating abilities, and fight back against the relentless werewolf hordes that threaten to consume the night.


Panda Bamboo Adventure (Windows)

RAFAEL V.F

Panda Bamboo Adventures – December 12

Help the panda collect the bamboos in this precision adventure! In Panda Bamboo Adventure, you control a cute little panda who must dodge spears and traps while collecting its missing bamboos. Use your double jump and dash abilities to overcome tricky obstacles and reach new areas. Jump on enemies’ heads to defeat them and clear your path through this charming and challenging journey!


Pyramid Quest 2

EntwicklerX – GbR Thomas Claus und Frank Menzel

Pyramid Quest 2 – December 12

Pyramid Quest 2 is an exploration and treasure-hunting game inspired by classic platform games. The goal is to find the three parts of an artefact and open the gate to the next level while collecting diamonds and coins. Traps, obstacles, and enemies from old days make the quest very dangerous and challenging.


Xbox Play Anywhere

Recipe of Love

moesoft

$22.99

Recipe of Love – December 12
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery

Yuma, a first-year high school student, was eating lunch he had bought when a beautiful senpai, Mio, appeared before him. She offered him a homemade bento, saying, “I couldn’t finish it.” Thus begins a bittersweet youthful love story. Their special lunchtime together on the bench behind the school gradually connects their hearts. Through jealousy and misunderstandings, a story of first love blossoms. Includes Japanese voice acting.


Xbox Play Anywhere

Space Elite Force II – Reloaded

Rising Moon Games

Space Elite Force II – Reloaded – December 12
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery

Space Elite Force II is a space-shooting game for up to 2 players in local cooperative mode. With a wide variety of weapons, enemies and improvements to your ship, it presents all the intensity, depth and beautiful handcrafted pixels of a classic space-shooting game. Have fun in insane battles, facing epic bosses and unlocking a wide variety of achievements in one of three game modes, alone or with a friend in local cooperative mode.


Xbox Play Anywhere

SpotCat vs The Cheddar Mafia Back To Past

Lucky Raccoon Games

SpotCat vs The Cheddar Mafia Back to Past – December 12
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery

SpotCat vs The Cheddar Mafia Back To Past is a thrilling “Find-the-Difference” game with a hidden object twist. They’ve been caught on Earth. They’ve been chased through space. Now the Cheddar Mafia is breaking all the rules by going back in time! Travel across iconic eras, spot every difference, and foil their most absurd plan yet! Explore vibrant, hand-drawn scenes from distant galaxies, spot the subtle differences, and stay sharp—mafia rats can appear when you least expect it. Your mission? Find all 25 mafia rats, solve every scene, and restore the timeline before it’s too late!


Xbox Play Anywhere

Treasure Drop

QubicGames S.A.

Treasure Drop – December 12
Optimized for Handheld / Xbox Play Anywhere

Get ready for a treasure-filled adventure beneath the waves! Merge coins and gems to uncover riches beyond imagination! Discover maps that change how you play, each with its own unique shape and background. Can you master them all and merge the biggest treasure?


Brawlhalla: 10 Years of Community


Summary

  • Brawlhalla is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
  • Players should check out the BCX event for exciting new announcements, as well as play the free in-game anniversary event.
  • Managing Director Zeke Sparkes reflects on the early days of the game, how it’s grown to a community over 125 million players strong, and keeping the community at the core of the game’s vision.

Brawlhalla, the free-to-play platform fighting game, is celebrating its 10th anniversary since launching its open beta in 2015. What started as an indie game with five playable Legends has grown into a pillar of the fighting game community, with 67 playable Legends; a plethora of maps and biomes; crossovers with popular IP such as Star Wars, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Halo, among many others; and over 125 million lifetime players.

Each year, around its anniversary, Brawlhalla celebrates in two ways: an in-game anniversary celebration, and the in-person Brawlhalla World Championship Expo (BCX). BCX 2025 is taking place at the Gateway Center in Atlanta, GA from November 21-23, and will feature world-class competitive Brawlhalla, announcements of what’s coming in 2026, and an expo packed with dev panels, cosplay, and more.

The in-game anniversary event runs now through December 3: a month-long celebration of Brawlhalla featuring new content, community events, rewards, and surprises. The festival introduces a new Legend – a cleric named Lady Vera – as well as the long-awaited Guild feature, which allows players to build community in new and exciting ways. Whether you’re a seasoned competitor or a new player, Brawlhalla’s 10th anniversary is the perfect time to log in, join a Guild, and brawl it out in the arena.

Zeke Sparkes is Brawlhalla’s managing director, and he’s been a developer on the game since its inception. We spoke to him to learn more about Brawlhalla’s beginning, how it’s continued to grow over the past decade, and how the team kept the player community at the core of the game’s vision.

What can you tell us about Brawlhalla’s early days of development and the vision for the game?

It was exciting because we realized pretty early on that we had something that had legs, but we didn’t know how far it could go. So, we poured our hearts into it and built really strong ties with the community early on. We knew, especially being free to play, that we had to be talking and listening and adapting based on what the community was saying. And so, we put ourselves out there and it’s been a wild ride seeing how far we can go.

Has the approach to development changed in the last decade?

I’d say the mentality is still the same. It’s a team that loves the game – everybody is here because they want to be working on Brawlhalla, and we are connected to the community. We’re constantly finding new ways to listen to the community and figure out what we can do to tweak the game, keep people interested and excited, see what things we’re doing that are working well, and what things we’re doing that aren’t working so well that we need to update. We’ve had a constant commitment to that.

Over the years, we’ve gone from launching just on Steam, where we could patch two, three, four, five times a week – really, really fast – to being on every major platform. That adds a layer of logistics we didn’t have early on; we have to plan a bit further ahead. So, the processes changed a little bit, but the heart and mentality are still the same.

As you’ve mentioned, community is a huge part of Brawlhalla, and being connected to the community has been the plan since day one. How did you build that community relationship? Was there any surprising feedback?

One of the first things we did was stream the game on Twitch, even before we really understood what Twitch was or how to do a good stream. We knew that it was going to be important, and it was one of the first times you could get real-time feedback from players as a developer, which was really exciting.

Because of that connection, we had a really big change early on. Originally, the game wasn’t character-focused; you would build an avatar and then spec out exactly how you wanted your character to be based on the weapons we dropped for you during gameplay. The early feedback told us the prototype was cool, the combat’s fun, but characters were missing. That’s when we started to think about pivoting to a character-centric game and started figuring out what archetypes we could add based on what we had made. We started with five Legends and released the 67th this month.

Now, we’ve got a full-on livestream studio with a set and awesome production values and motion graphics, but the core of the experience is still there, where it’s us talking to the community about what we’re doing, what’s going on, seeing how they react to stuff, and listening to the things they want to see in the game. That’s how we keep Brawlhalla moving forward.

Brawlhalla’s World Championship Expo (BCX) is taking place November 21-23 in Atlanta. What can fans expect this year?

That is the place to tune into. You get the best Brawlhalla gameplay in the entire world, and it just gets better every year. It’s incredible – the atmosphere is amazing, and it’s where we make some of our biggest announcements and reveals. We’ve got some really good ones lined up this year (I’m thinking of a couple now that are going to make people go crazy), so make sure you tune in on twitch.tv/Brawlhalla.

Any reflections on the past decade you’d like to share? What’s up next for Brawlhalla?

Lady Vera, our 67th Legend, is out now. She’s a cleric with some really interesting signature moves, and you can do some pretty fun stuff with her. She has a lot of radial skills, so depending on where you are when you do the move, the direction that your opponent goes can change pretty dramatically. So, if you’re creative, this really is a character for you. We’ve also just released phase one of our Guilds feature, which is a long-time player request. You’ll be able to build your community of players around a Guild that works across all different platforms, and that’s just phase one. We’ll continue to add cool, new, engaging mechanisms to Guilds as we move forward. Tune into BCX 2025 for more specifics of what’s to come!

I’d also like to say that building Brawlhalla with this team and with the community has been amazing. Over the past decade, players have shaped this game’s direction, fueled its esports scene, and fostered a welcoming space for brawlers of all backgrounds. The Anniversary Event is as much a celebration of the community as it is of the game itself. It’s exactly what we love to do and we’re so thankful for everybody that’s been on this journey with us whether you’re brand new today or you’ve been playing Brawlhalla since the closed alpha. We’re super excited that there’s a community of people that love the game and love what we’re doing.

Brawlhalla is free to play on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.

Brawlhalla

Ubisoft



1015



An epic platform fighter for up to 8 players online or locally. Try casual free-for-alls, ranked matches, or invite friends to a private room. And it’s free! Play cross-platform with millions of players on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android and Steam! Frequent updates. Over fifty Legends._x000d_
_x000d_
The Legend Rotation of nine free to play characters changes every week, and you can earn gold to unlock more Legends by playing any online game mode. _x000d_
Includes: Orion Legend unlock, Dark Age Orion Skin, Thumb’s Up Emote, Trident Weapon Skin._x000d_
_x000d_
Brawhalla will always be 100% free to play with no pay-to-win advantages.

Indie Selects for October 2025: Games to Get You Through Spooky Season


Every Wednesday, dive into the Indie Selects Hub—your gateway to a fresh, curated indie collection plus four themed spotlights that rotate weekly! You can always find this collection hub in the Xbox Store and on Xbox.com/IndieSelects.

It’s spooky season, which means scary movies and creepy vibes are in full swing. If you’re not quite ready to face the dark alone, no worries — the ID@Xbox team has handpicked 6 awesome indie games to keep you company.

Some of these are in keeping with the dark vibes of October, but others are far from it – if you’re easily scared, we have some friendlier picks, too. Whether you want to team up with friends for a space raid, enjoy some alone time tending crops, explore strange buildings with even stranger gameplay, or solve wild puzzles in new lands, there’s something here to keep the shadows at bay.

Here’s more on what we’ve got for you this month (in no particular order):

Jump Space (formerly Jump Ship) delivers one of the most thrilling sci-fi co-op experiences I’ve played in a while. This mission-based PvE co-op game puts up to four players in charge of crewing a spaceship with seamless transitions between ship management and on-foot missions. You and your crew head out on roguelike missions traveling across a chosen path gathering resources, engaging in cargo raids, and more – all with the hopes of bringing permanent upgrades back to your base. Aside from taking on quests to progress the narrative, you’ll also be doing side quests for the various vendors in the Hangar to earn credits, spacesuits, and Materia Ingots for upgrades. The gameplay loop is simple yet engaging: explore space, customize your ship and gear, and survive intense deep-space encounters together – and, if you’re lucky, upgrade.

After spending around 12 hours traveling the stars, I really enjoyed what’s here. Each mission is a roguelike journey made up of multiple jumps, where each choice affects future paths and rewards. Strategic route selection is key to optimizing both short-term success and long-term gains for your base. From what I’ve experienced so far, Jump Space truly shines when played with a group, because even in the most desperate situations, smart teamwork and a bit of luck can lead to the most exhilarating, last-second escapes.

Jump Space is still in Game Preview, but it’s already showing incredible promise. If you’re into games like Void Crew or Wildgate, this is an easy recommendation. But even fans of the spacefaring elements in No Man’s Sky or Starfield might be surprised by how much they enjoy it. I’m genuinely excited to see how it evolves over time – Raymond Estrada



Echoes of the Plum Grove, my comfy farming obsession. Picture this: you wake up, the sun’s shining, and your biggest dilemma is whether to plant carrots or go chat with the quirky neighbor who keeps gifting you turnips. That’s Echoes of the Plum Grove in a nutshell—a charming farming and life-sim game that feels like a warm hug with a side of strategy. It’s all about growing crops, crafting, and building a life in a world that moves at your pace.

From the moment I started, I was hooked. There’s something magical about watching your little farm transform season by season. Sure, winter can sneak up on you (pro tip: stockpile food!), but that’s part of the fun—planning ahead becomes its own cozy challenge. And the townsfolk? They’re full of personality, making every interaction feel like a mini story.

If you’ve played Stardew Valley or a Harvest Moon game, you’ll feel right at home here. But Echoes adds a cool twist: generational gameplay. Your choices echo (pun intended!) through time, which makes every decision feel meaningful. I’ve spent countless hours tending crops, exploring hidden paths, and laughing at unexpected events. It’s the kind of game that makes you lose track of time—in the best way – Jessica Ronnell



Detective Dotson is a mystery adventure game set in a vibrant pixelated version of modern India. The story follows a detective uncovering clues to solve various cases, each one revealing new details about the mysterious death of his father. The story is engaging as each case, no matter how small it might look, provides a new piece of the larger puzzle about the mystery of his father’s sudden passing. The game rewards exploration, you gather clues by interacting with the colorful cast of charismatic characters and engage in fun mini games – my favorite being dancing.

Masala Games perfectly captured nuances, vibes, and expressions of the characters and fun environments. The world is inviting and stimulating, I love spending time exploring to discover countless details in the background, from street vendors and people celebrating the Festival of Colors, to the hilarious moment when a guard throws a sandal at trespassers. It’s clear this is a labor of love, the lively soundtrack and top-tier voice acting elevate the experience even further, making the world of Detective Dotson a joy to explore.

There’s also a 60 minute movie available for free on YouTube that serves as prologue to the story. You don’t need to watch it to enjoy the game, but I recommend it if you want to dive deeper into Detective Dotson’s universe.

Overall, Detective Dotson is a charming, engaging experience that combines mystery and humor, with puzzles and mini-games. It’s a game that invites you to linger, explore, and return to catch the little details you missed the first time – Oscar Polanco



Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion III is a wild mash-up of genres that includes Metroidvania-style progression, Match-3 puzzle “combat”, and visual novel presentation. You’ll make your way through dozens of branching paths as the seemingly cookie-cutter maybe-game hero, J.J. Hardwell, in order explore the eponymous mansion while stumbling upon some seriously goofy, deeply meta story elements that keep this firmly footed in comedy rather than creepy.

Spoiler alert: While this game has a “3” at the end of its title, this isn’t a sequel to any real-world existing game series. That fact alone should tip you off to the fact that the always clever minds behind CRDM3 at Strange Scaffold (I Am Your Beast, Clickolding, etc.) have cooked up a game that continually surprises in a way that I found absolutely compelling and entertaining. Each confrontation in the mansion – be it with a pterodactyl in clown make-up or a foul-mouthed tiny angry dino with a pistol – is solved through Match-3-style puzzle “fights”, each with unique attacks/abilities based on lining up colored gems or other symbols. I can’t say I’ve seen this type of mechanic used in this particular way to such silly, smartly written, and yet challenging effect. I loved every minute of it.

The systems in the game go much deeper than just “Candy Crush but with dinosaurs,” including branching dialogue choices that unlock “traits” which in turn give you access to new areas that you weren’t able to explore before. If you’re on board to dive into a wildly unhinged, hilarious, and very inventive interactive love letter to indie game development (and being “always online”), then look no further than this oddball delight. It may have all the trimmings of being a (fantastic) joke-filled romp on its surface, but ultimately there’s an earnest heart (especially for game creators in a tough, relentless industry) beating beneath all those layers of absurdity.



Hotel Barcelona feels like a hidden gem from the early 2000s, mixing 2.5D roguelike action with a wild blend of ’90s anime and ’80s horror. You play as Justine, a U.S. Marshal sharing a body with the soul of serial killer Dr. Carnival, on a mission to avenge her father. After a bizarre crash and a run-in with two hitchhikers, she ends up at Hotel Barcelona — a place she can’t leave thanks to a witch’s curse and a bunch of trapped serial killers. To survive, Justine and Dr. Carnival team up for fast-paced, over-the-top combat against waves of killers, bosses, and the witch herself.

I think the story beats are what kept me locked in, especially after an intense interaction between the hotel manager (easily my favorite character) and Dr. Carnival. I desperately needed to understand their connection. Honestly, nearly every character interaction was entertaining, and I found each character charming in their own unique way. As for the actual gameplay, it’s pretty challenging and I found myself dying on the first stage… a lot. However, there are several difficulty options, along with the ability to play co-op with friends to ease things up a bit. There’s a ton of variety such as run modifiers, skill & weapon upgrades, unlockable costumes, mini-games, and a unique Slasher Phantom system – allowing players to follow the steps of their previous run but also leverage their phantom’s attacks to fight enemies if properly strategized.

Hotel Barcelona is an entertaining roguelike, packed with inventive take on combat, some nice narrative touches, and a cast of delightfully unhinged characters. If you’re into horror, you’ll appreciate exploring the hotel and diving into the story — the game wears its weird, grindhouse vibes loud and proud – Deron Mann

Xbox Play Anywhere

HOTEL BARCELONA

CULT Games



29



$29.99


Justine, a rookie U.S. Marshal, thought this was just another routine case.
But when her car crashes in a freak accident at the edge of nowhere, she finds herself trapped in a twisted new world: HOTEL BARCELONA.

Seven serial killers.
One haunted hotel.
And a second personality living inside her head…

Meet Dr. Carnival: murderer, psychopath, devastating ancient monster.

THIS FALL… DEATH HAS A ROOM KEY
In this blood-soaked 2.5D sidescroller straight from your nightmares:
Battle through insane horror-themed floors!
Face killers inspired by the nastiest corners of your local video store!
Every time you die, your past self fights beside you – like a ghost with a grudge!

BLOOD IS POWER
The more you kill, the stronger you become.
But let the blood stop flowing… and you’re next.

CARNIVAL’S AWAKENING
Unleash the brutal power of the serial killer in your mind.
Turn the tide of battle. Become a legend.

Not recommended for:
Individuals with weak stomachs
Fans of quiet indie puzzle games
People afraid of mirrors
Anyone still emotionally recovering from Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me

There’s something timeless about sitting down to play with someone you care about — a shared laugh, a moment of discovery, that unspoken rhythm of working together. Lego Voyagers, from Light Brick Studio and Annapurna Interactive, captures that feeling perfectly. It’s a quiet, heartfelt co-op adventure that invites two players to journey through breathtaking Lego worlds where imagination and friendship guide every step. With no dialogue or instructions, the story unfolds naturally through play — a gentle reminder that connection doesn’t always need words.

Each puzzle feels like a conversation between two people. You’ll build bridges, balance across floating platforms, and find joy in the smallest details — the sound of a brick clicking into place, the light dancing off translucent pieces, the simple pride of solving something together. Lego Voyagers  isn’t just about reaching the end; it’s about slowing down, communicating without speaking, and rediscovering the quiet magic of creating side by side. It’s a story that resonates long after the controller is set down, because it’s really about the people holding them.

Lego Voyagers shines with crisp visuals, soothing sound, and seamless co-op play — locally or online. Thanks to the Friend’s Pass, only one player needs a copy, making it easy to share the experience with anyone you’d like to reconnect with. Short, warm, and beautifully made, this is more than a game — it’s a shared memory waiting to be built – Steven Allen



Check out the Project EVILBANE Pre-Alpha Playtest Schedule!


At long last, the Project EVILBANE Pre-Alpha Playtest Schedule, revealed at IGN Live 2025, has been revealed! If you haven’t seen the video yet, check it out.

Xbox Insiders, now’s your chance to check the game out early and give us your feedback.
Join our official Discord server and be the first to see the latest news and project updates!

Game Overview:

“Project EVILBANE” follows a hardened team of apocalyptic survivors who have sworn to avenge their ruined world.
Join the battle to triumph over the Archdemon’s forces and save humanity!

About this Playtest:

“Project EVILBANE” is still in early development, and this is its first public playtest.

The primary goal of this playtest is to ensure that combat is fun.
This build features four characters and four weapons,
and players can simultaneously wield 1 ranged weapon and 1 melee weapon for strategic gameplay.

To learn more about the featured characters and weapons, please check out the official EVILBANE Discord server.

Thanks for your interest, and we look forward to your participation!

Playtest Schedule:

  • Start: Friday, August 29, 1:00 AM PT (4:00 AM ET)
  • End: Monday, September 1, 1:00 AM PT (4:00 AM ET)

Bookmark the EVILBANE website and join the Discord server to be the first to get the latest news!
[EVILBANE Discord]
[EVILBANE Website]

How to Participate:

  1. Launch the Xbox Insider Hub on your Windows PC (or, if necessary, download the Xbox Insider Hub from the store.)
  2. Navigate to Previews Project EVILBANE
  3. Select Join
  4. Wait for the registration to complete and be directed to the Store and install EVILBANE

NOTE: This playtest is only available on Windows PC.

How to Provide Feedback:

Once the playtest starts on August 29, you can report any issues using the Windows Feedback Hub. Please don’t forget to submit feedback so we can investigate:

  • Open the Windows Feedback Hub on your PC.
  • Select Report a problem.
  • Fill out the form with the appropriate details to help our investigation. Make sure to include the name “Project EVILBANE” in your feedback.
  • Select the Apps category and Project EVILBANE subcategory.
  • Submit the feedback.

Other resources:

For more information: follow us on X/Twitter at @XboxInsider and this blog for announcements and more. And feel free to interact with the community on the Xbox Insider SubReddit.



How to reduce your Madness in Wuchang Fallen Feathers


As it is in many Soulslikes, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers expects you to die multiple times, but it brings the Madness system to make all the effort pay off in one way or another.

Madness can make you stronger, but at the expense of raising the difficulty bar of already hard encounters. That’s why learning how Madness affects the game and how to respond to it is fundamental to enjoying and progressing in Wuchang: Fallen Feathers. There might be moments where you want to take advantage of the power you gain, or situations you’d rather play safe.

In this Wuchang: Fallen Feathers guide, we explain how the Madness system works and how to reduce your Madness level so you can learn how to prepare and customize your character for each encounter in the game.

How the Madness system works in Wuchang: Fallen Feathers

A Wuchang: Fallen Feathers screenshot showing the main character, Wuchang, facing the camera with red glowing eyes. She is beside a shrine.

Image: Leenzee/505 Games via Polygon

In Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, the main character has an inner demon that grows stronger depending on how much Madness you have. In practical terms, Madness is a gauge that fills in a bit when you die or kill non-Feathered humanoids, and it gives buffs and debuffs to your character.

After a couple of tests, we learned that, regardless of how you died — maybe you were fatally hit by an enemy’s powerful attack or you fell from a bridge into a creek — you gain 15 Madness points.

A Wuchang: Fallen Feathers screenshot showing the screen that appears when you die in the game. Message in Chinesse appears in the middle of the screen and below it’s written “You Have Fallen”. The scene becomes black and white.

Image: Leenzee/505 Games via Polygon

Dying is not the only method to gain Madness and fill in the gauge. Some consumable items can increase your Madness level, like Maddening Incense which also prevents the loss of Madness temporarily. Your level of Madness may also increase if you use the Invoke menu when worshipping shrines to buy items.

Some effects activate depending on the percentage of the gauge you’ve currently filled in. Above 90%, you start dealing more damage and earning more red mercury when defeating enemies, but you take more damage as well.

At the same time, being between 50% and 90% makes you lose most of your red mercury when you die. As an example, we had 140 when testing this and were left with only 42 after dying. Although the game says that you lose all your red mercury when above 90% of the gauge is filled in, in our tests, we still had some after dying.

A Wuchang: Fallen Feathers screenshot showing the character menu. In it, you can see the silhouette  of Wuchang in red, representing the level of Madness she is. There are some stats described in other sections of the screen, like Attack, Defense, Resistance, and other stats.

Image: Leenzee/505 Games via Polygon

You can keep track of your Madness level by using the small portrait on the bottom left side of the screen. By accessing the character menu, you can see the exact number of Madness points you already have alongside a visual representation of it. Wuchang’s appearance changes depending on the character’s Madness level, starting with red-glowing eyes and ending with demonic red marks appearing on her body in later stages.

How to reduce Madness in Wuchang: Fallen Feathers

A Wuchang: Fallen Feathers screenshot showing the message “Madness Retreats” which appears when you kill your Inner Demon and cleanses all the Madness you had.

Image: Leenzee/505 Games via Polygon

A high level of Madness might give your attacks in Wuchang: Fallen Feathers an extra kicker, but it also makes every enemy more difficult to face. If you don’t want to make this game harder to finish, don’t fret. There are some methods to reduce your Madness in Wuchang: Fallen Feathers.

The simplest method to get your Madness gauge back to zero is by killing or dying to your Inner Demon. When you reach max Madness level, your Inner Demon will materialize from the red mercury you dropped on the ground and attack you, if you go to the last place you died.

A Wuchang: Fallen Feathers screenshot showing the main character facing a humanoid figure wearing some white clothes.

Image: Leenzee/505 Games via Polygon

You can either kill them or be killed. In both cases, your Madness gauge gets cleansed. While the former is better since you recover the red mercury you’ve lost, the latter also works if all you want is to remove the debuff you receive from Madness.

A Wuchang: Fallen Feathers screenshot showing the main character interacting with a statue. You can see a menu giving the player the option to offer the Divine Gift to the statue. There’s a old lady beside the main character.

Image: Leenzee/505 Games via Polygon

If you haven’t reached max Madness level, there are other solutions. Killing Feathered enemies will reduce some Madness. For example, defeating a regular zombie-like enemy removes one Madness point. If you want to cleanse more Madness, you can also use a fragment of Divine Gift or Divine Gift by interacting with the statue you find in Shu Sanctum.

Splitgate 2 ‘unlaunches,’ studio to cut staff ahead of 2026 rerelease


Following its surprise launch in June, Splitgate 2 is now “unlaunching.” The multiplayer first-person shooter will remain online in a beta state and continue to get support through a season 3 update and bug fixes, but developer 1047 Games is otherwise pausing its planned roadmap to overhaul the project ahead of a relaunch in early 2026. The studio is also cutting an unspecified number of staff members and shutting down servers next month for the original Splitgate as cost-cutting measures.

“Basically, I feel like we missed the mark, and I don’t think that’s a secret,” 1047 Games CEO Ian Proulx told Polygon in a video interview ahead of today’s announcement.

Splitgate 2 launched on June 6 following a controversial announcement at this year’s Summer Game Fest, in which Proulx took to the stage wearing a “Make FPS Great Again” hat. While that moment generated heat for the studio, the game itself was met with negative feedback of its own from its community who voiced criticism of its bugs, its lack of a ranked mode at launch, expensive cosmetics, and more. Today, 1047 Games released a statement addressing those concerns and detailing the future of Splitgate, its sequel, and the studio at large.

“We’ve heard your feedback, and we agree with you: we launched too early,” the note to the game’s community reads. “We had ambitious goals with Splitgate 2, and in our excitement to share it with you, we bit off more than we could chew … So, we’re going back to beta.”

Speaking with Polygon, Proulx pinned some of Splitgate 2’s problems on a lack of community involvement in areas. Despite holding extensive playtests before launch, modes like Battle Royale were kept close to the chest to surprise players. 1047 Games intends to work closer with players moving forward, returning to the original Splitgate’s more grassroots development cycle.

“There was a giant Reddit thread that we literally read every single post,” Proulx said. “I read everything on the Reddit, everything, any tweets, Discord, all that stuff. We have a good sense of what needs to get done, what are the problems. Still tons of details to figure out, but I think the big change we’re going to make this time around is we’re going to actually do it alongside the community, get their feedback, playtest, and then when we feel like, all right, the game, it’s in a great place, it’s what it needs to be, that’s when we’re going to relaunch as opposed to just doing things in secret and then surprising them.”

1047 Games has a list of feedback that it’s planning to add in the overhaul, including ranked leaderboards and more mode-specific playlists. It will add more portal walls to arenas, following criticisms that the sequel had deemphasized the series’ central mechanic. A game mode revamp is coming too, as 1047 will put less focus on round-based modes to recapture the original Splitgate’s flow.

“I think there’s a lot of things Splitgate 2 does extremely well,” Proulx said. “I think we have a very polished actual core experience in terms of gun gunplay movements, graphics, et cetera. But I do feel like we bit off more than we could chew, and we have three games in one between Arena and Battle Royale and our own Map Creator. And so we tried to do a lot with a little, and I think we ended up with a game that’s kind of like 80% of the way there times three instead of a 100% of the way there on fewer things.”

Proulx noted that monetization will be reworked as well. That comes after the game drew criticism for including an $80 skin bundle at launch, among other pricey cosmetics. (“Obviously that one bundle … I mean, I’m not here to make excuses … Yeah …” Proulx trailed off when I asked about the response to monetization.)

I’ve made many, many, many mistakes …

— Ian Proulx, CEO of 1047 Games

That controversy dovetailed with another surrounding the launch: Proulx’s now infamous Summer Game Fest stunt. The CEO came under scrutiny for sporting a hat that referenced U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan, a move that happened as the current administration ramped up its deportation efforts with a wave of ICE raids – some mere blocks away from the YouTube Theater, the venue that hosted Summer Game Fest.

After initially standing behind the stunt as a non-political statement in an interview with IGN, Proulx has since apologized for it. Despite the scrutiny the moment generated, he affirmed that it didn’t have anything to do with the decision to unlaunch, though he still believes that that first-person shooter genre is not “in a great place right now.”

“Obviously the vibes are worse because of the hat, but, I think that if it was a 10 out of 10, feature-complete game that delivered on everything the community wanted, they would be playing it right now,” Proulx said.

“I’ve made many, many, many mistakes since we started this in January of 2017, and that’s one of them. And I’ve made so many more that the world doesn’t know about,” he added. “So, to me, it’s really just about moving forward, and I believe in this game, I believe in this team, and there’s tons of things I would do differently, that being one of them. But I’m focused on the future.”

As for what the “unlaunch” means for the game as it stands now, Splitgate 2 isn’t going away. The studio will forge ahead with a planned third season and will still run a few special events. Bug fixes are in the works, as well as quality-of-life improvements, like adding a playlist featuring player-made maps. Still, Proulx said that “95%” of the studio’s efforts will be spent on the relaunch. The team is targeting a rerelease window “as early as possible” in 2026, but Proulx said that an earlier window could be possible if the team was ready.

The studio will see layoffs as part of the change, but 1047 Games would not confirm the number of roles being reduced or say what departments would be impacted when asked by Polygon. This is the second wave of layoffs for the studio in the past two months, as the studio parted with a “small group” of staff members in June that included members of its art team.

The original Splitgate is getting caught up in the studio’s cost-cutting efforts too. 1047 Games will take the shooter’s servers down next month, though in the statement sent to its community today, noted that the studio is “exploring the possibility of supporting offline or peer-to-peer matches.”

This isn’t the first setback in Splitgate’s history. The original game first launched to middling reviews in 2019. 1047 Games would retool it over the next two years and pull off a successful relaunch in 2021. After staffing up with the goal of reworking the game from the inside out, the studio would then abruptly halt its plans one year later and pivot to developing a full sequel instead. Proulx is hopeful that Splitgate 2 will be able to retain the trust of a community who has seen the series’ direction morph several times in the past six years.

“We’ve been here before and we are as determined as ever,” Proulx said. “We’ve had much darker days with Splitgate where we almost quit, and I’m really glad we didn’t because 99% of this has been living the dream. So, we’re not going to quit. We are going to just absolutely grind this out and keep doing it and keep listening and make this game as amazing as possible.”

The best Prime Day gaming deals from laptops and peripherals to the latest video games


There is nothing more sublime than having a perfectly kitted out gaming station. That said, staying on top of things with the current pace of technology is always tricky. But for anyone hunting for upgrades, Amazon Prime Day is the perfect opportunity to improve your gaming setup on a discount. So regardless of whether you’re looking for some cables, extra storage or a brand new monitor and headphones, we’ve gathered all the best gaming deals in one place for easy reading.

Image for the small product module

Square Enix

DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake (PS5/Nintendo Switch) for $35 ($25 off)

The Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is a fantastic update to a truly wonderful JRPG classic. It features an updated HD-2D art style along with some nice quality-of-life changes and UI improvements. But at its core, it has the same great story and turn-based combat that set the world on fire back in 1988. And because the Switch 2 is backwards compatible, this could be a great title to play on Nintendo’s latest handheld, though you can always opt for the PS5 version instead.

$35 at Amazon

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (Nintendo Switch) for $52 ($8 off)

We rarely see discounts on first-party Nintendo games, especially when it comes to major franchises like The Legend of Zelda. But for Prime Day, Echoes of Wisdom is available for 15 percent off, which is even more impressive when you consider the game the game is less than a year old. Not only is this the first Zelda game to put our beloved princess in the spotlight (instead of Link), it offers a fun twist on the series’ classic top-down action RPG formula thanks to Zelda’s new ability to summon objects and monsters with the Tri-rod.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo Switch) for $55 ($15 off)

Alternatively, if you are looking for something a bit faster paced, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom may be one of the best sequels in recent video game history. And now for Prime Day, it’s available for $15 off its normal retail price. Not only is this a great pickup for anyone who hasn’t played it yet, it’s also a great showcase of the Switch 2’s capabilities as users can purchase a $10 upgrade pack (or get it for free if you have a subscription to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack) that adds support for HDR, faster loading times, enhanced textures and smoother framerates.

Star Wars Outlaws – Limited Edition (Amazon Exclusive), PlayStation 5 for $29 ($31 off)

At full price, this game was easy to skip. But now that it’s available for just $29 (half off its normal retail price), Star Wars Outlaws suddenly becomes a lot more interesting for fans of the franchise. You get to live out your dreams of being an intergalactic scoundrel while taking down bounties or battling secret crime syndicates. And because this is the limited edition, the game includes some pre-order rewards like the Kessel Run bonus pack and the Rogue Infiltrator bundle.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows – Limited Edition for PS5/Xbox Series X for $48 ($22 off)

If you missed the latest entry in Ubisoft’s most well-known franchise, this might be the time to jump in because for Prime Day, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is available for $48, more than $20 off its regular retail price. This instalment has you explore feudal Japan as either the shinobi Naoe or the legendary samurai Yasuke while encountering some notable figures from the time period. If all you want is a wonderful world to sneak around in, it’s hard to go wrong with Assassin’s Creed on a discount.

Elden Ring: Shadow of The Erdtree Edition for PS5/Xbox Series X for $60 ($20 off)

Elden Ring is one of the most highly regarded games of this decade so far (and arguably of all time). For Prime Day, you can become a foul tarnished by picking up a version that includes the base game and the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion for $60. Elden Ring typically costs around $50 (though it’s down to $30 on PS4, PS5 and Xbox Series X for Prime Day) and the DLC will usually run you another $40, so that’s a decent discount compared with buying them separately — or even the Shadow of the Erdtree Edition at its regular price.

The Last of Us Part I – PlayStation 5 for $33 ($36 off)

The Last of Us is one of the greatest modern video game franchises, spawning both a critically acclaimed sequel and TV adaptation. For Prime Day, you can now get part one of the remastered version for more than 50 percent off. This latest edition for the PS5 features a brand new game engine, improved loading speeds and haptic feedback support for Sony’s DualSense controller and more, which is enough to make the series feel like an entirely new experience (even if you played the original back in the day). And while it isn’t getting as big of a discount, you can also pick up The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered on Amazon for just $40 (10 off its regular price).

Final Fantasy I-VI Collection Anniversary Edition for PlayStation and Switch for $45 ($30 off, lowest ever price)

This collection of pixel remasters of the first six Final Fantasy games is an absolute steal at $45 during Prime Day. It’s the lowest price we’ve seen to date for this set, which comes with a nice little sticker sheet of character sprites. Several other games in the series are on sale for PS5 as well, such as Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade ($30, $10 off), Final Fantasy VII Rebirth ($40, $30 off) and Final Fantasy XVI ($25, $15 off)

Meta Quest 3S 128GB Bundle for $249 ($51 off)

The Quest 3S is one of our picks for best VR headsets for good reason. Meta cut just the right corners from the more full-featured Quest 3, enabling it to drop the list price down lower. It has the same Snapdragon chip and controlers, but cheaps out a bit on the lenses, slightly lowering the graphics fidelity in use. Just like the Quest 3, it works standalone for lighter games and streaming, or in concert with a gaming PC for full-fat AAA VR titles. It’s well worth the $300 Meta usually asks for it, so at $249 with two games included (Cardboard Hero and the excellent social VR hit Gorilla Tag), it’s a steal.

Razer Blade 14 with RTX 4070 for $2,300 ($400 off)

The Blade 14 is one of my favorite laptop lines because it combines a super sleek chassis with solid performance and truly excellent build quality. And now, as a way to get in on the Prime Day festivities, Razer has an exclusive offer on its website that will knock $400 off configs with RTX 4070 GPUs or up to $300 on models with RTX 4060 cards. These kind of savings go a long way towards neutralizing my biggest issue with Razer’s laptops: their price. So if you’re looking for a system that can do some serious gaming but is still easy to carry around, you’re going to want to snap this deal up fast.

ASUS ROG Strix G16 Gaming Laptop with RTX 4060 for $1,360 ($340 off)

While an RTX 4060 isn’t the most powerful GPU on the market, getting a whole new laptop with solid specs for just $1,360 isn’t something you can just ignore, especially if you’re on a budget. This ROG Strix G16 comes with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. And while its Intel Core i9-14900HX CPU is one generation old, it’s still plenty fast enough for gaming, video editing or pretty much anything else you need to do. I also appreciate small features like a MUX switch that lets the laptop connect directly to the GPU for increased performance, though if you want, you can also enable automatic switching for better battery life. And with a 16-inch 240Hz QHD display with 100% DCI-P3 coverage, everything on screen is sure to look great.

Acer Nitro V gaming laptop with NVIDIA RTX 4060 GPU for $1,200 ($150 off, lowest ever price)

Acer’s Nitro gaming laptops are meant to be more affordable alternatives to its flagship Predator systems. But now thanks to Prime Day, this model just got even more budget-friendly while still offering decent specs. You get an Intel Core i9-13900H CPU with 32GB of RAM, 1TB of storage and an RTX 4060 GPU, the latter of which should pair nicely with its 15.6-inch full HD 144Hz display. I also appreciate that unlike some gaming laptops, the Nitro V is stylish without being in your face with too many RGB lights, which makes it feel like an even better deal at $1,200. That’s the lowest price we’ve seen to date for this configuration.

Corsair Vengeance RGB DDR5 RAM 32GB (2x16GB) RAM for $95 ($25 off)

Adding some extra memory to your desktop can help unlock its full potential. So for Prime Day, Corsair is offering two 16GB sticks of its Vengeance DDR5 RAM for just $95. Not only do you get built-in RGB lighting, Corsair’s onboard voltage regulation makes it simpler to overclock your system. And for those who don’t want to mess around in BIOS settings, you can control almost everything from the easy-to-use free iCue app.

Thermaltake GF1 (2024) Fully Modular ATX 850W Power Supply for $80 ($30 off, lowest ever price)

Even though power supplies aren’t the most exciting component you can put in your desktop, the importance of a good one can’t be understated. For just $80, which is the lowest price we’ve seen to date for this product, the Thermaltake GF1 is fully modular (which means you can add or remove power cables as you need them) and has an ample max power of 850 watts along with an 80 Plus Gold rating for efficiency. And thanks to its 140mm fan, it should be pretty quiet, so it won’t cause a ruckus if you decide to play some games at night.

Samsung 990 EVO Plus 2TB PCIe M.2 SSD for $114 ($63 off)

If you’re like me and are constantly running out of storage, this deal for one of Samsung’s 990 EVO Plus 2TB M.2 SSDs is a fantastic way to add extra room on the cheap. With a 36 percent discount for Prime Day — down to $114 — this is the lowest price we’ve ever seen. And it’s not like you’re cutting corners on speed either, as the SSD supports both PCIe 4.0 x4 and PCIe 5.0 x2 and read/write rates of up to 7,250/6,300MB/s.

AMD Ryzen 5 9600X 6-Core, 12-Thread Unlocked Processor for $165 ($110 off)

The Ryzen 5 9600X isn’t super flashy, but it’s a really solid budget CPU. And now, it’s even more affordable during Prime Day where it’s going for just $165, which is $110 off its normal retail price. It features six cores and 12 total threads with a max boost speed of 5.4GHz and support for DDR5 RAM and PCIe Gen 5. It’s also unlocked, so you have the freedom to overlock if you want. That said, you will need to buy a CPU cooler separately, as one doesn’t come in the box.

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X 16-Core, 32-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor for $434 ($215 off)

The biggest issue with the Ryzen 9 9950X CPU was that at launch, it was a bit overpriced. But during Prime Day, that problem is being addressed thanks to a $215 discount that brings its cost down to under $500. The CPU features 16 cores and 32 threads along with 80MB of cache and support for DDR5 RAM and PCIe Gen 5. However, like some of AMD’s other processors on sale this week, you will need to get a CPU cooler separately.

Razer Enki Gaming Chair for $450 ($50 off)

If you’re going to be spending all day in front of a screen gaming, you better make sure whatever you’re sitting on is super comfy. And as I’ve been using the Razer Enki every day for the last four years, I can attest that this chair is worth the money. It has a ton of adjustability for things like the arm rests, seat height and more. For more flexible folks, it was even designed so people can sit cross-legged. I also appreciate that in homes where neon green might not fit your vibe, there’s an all-black model (plus a pink one too, though that one is currently sold out).

Elgato Stream Deck MK.2 for $110 ($40 off, lowest ever)

If you’ve ever dreamed about becoming a gaming streamer or simply want some extra customizable controls for your PC, Elgato’s Stream Deck MK.2 could make a great addition to your setup. It has 15 programmable macro keys with built-in LCD displays so you can make custom buttons for switching scenes, turning on lights and so much more. Elgato also has plugins for services like YouTube, Twitch, Discord, so it’ll play nicely with all the major streaming platforms. In short, it’s like a command center for all your content creation and livestreaming needs.

Logitech G305 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Mouse for $29 ($21 off)

The Logitech G305 Lightspeed gaming mouse is just a simple PC peripheral done well. And at just $29, it’s super affordable during Prime Day too. It features six programmable buttons, compatibility with both PCs and Macs and a sensor with sensitivity of up to 12,000 DPI. Meanwhile, thanks to a battery that lasts up to 250 hours between charges, you can go weeks between needing to plug it in. And because it’s wireless, there won’t be any cords or cables to get in your way.

Amazon Luna Controller and one month of Luna+ for $40 ($30 off)

The Luna Controller by itself is down to $40, which matches a record-low price. However, if you’re a newcomer to Luna+, you may as well pick up this bundle (which is also matching a record low) for the same price, as it includes one month of access to the service for new subscribers. This gamepad is a solid option for those who want to check out Luna, Amazon’s cloud gaming service. Prime subscribers get access to a dedicated channel with a rotating selection of games at no extra cost. This month, for instance, you can check out Death Stranding Director’s Cut, Hollow Knight and EA Sports FC 25.

8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard for $80 ($20 off)

With its Retro Mechanical Keyboard, 8BitDo strikes a great balance between a nostalgic design and support for more modern features like wireless connectivity (both BT and 2.4GHz). There are several different versions to choose from, though the one inspired by the classic NES is the model I’d choose. The keyboard features an 87-key layout with PBT keycaps and Kailh Box switches, though because the PCB is hot swappable, you can always change them out for something else.

Sony Inzone H9 Wireless Gaming Headset for $198 ($102 off)

For anyone looking for a new pair of over-the-ear wireless gaming headphones to pair with a PS5, it’s hard to do better than Sony’s Inzone H9 headset. Not only does it have a similar design to the console, they are the only other headphones besides the official Pulse cans that support on-screen status notifications for volume, mic mute, game/chat balance and more. They also share a lot of the underlying tech used in Sony’s iconic WH-1000XM line, so you’ll get fantastic audio quality and active noise cancellation. But the best part is that at $198, you’re looking at a serious discount of 34 percent, which is more than $100 off its regular retail price.

Seagate Storage Expansion Card 2TB Solid State Drive for $209 ($21 off)

Games are getting bigger every day, so if you need some extra storage for your Xbox Series S or X, you’d be silly not to pick up one of Seagate’s 2TB Expansion Cards for just $209. That’s enough room for a dozen or more digital titles (or like three versions of Call of Duty) and it’s the biggest SSD storage module that slots into the back of the console without the need for a separate box.

Amazon Basics UPS Battery Backup & Surge Protector 800VA/450W for $65 ($10 off)

I’m not here to nag, but if you have a desktop PC, you really ought to consider adding a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) to your setup as they prevent power surges or momentary outages from knocking your system offline. Plus, this one has a beefy 450-watt battery backup and 12 outlets so you can connect all of your other PC gadgets to it. So if you’re going to do the smart thing by adding some extra electrical protection to your home during Prime Day, you might as well save some money in the process.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (512GB) for $1,055 ($365 off)

With Samsung’s next Unpacked event expected to show off new foldables, it looks like some of the existing models are getting some serious discounts for Prime Day, including the Galaxy S25 Ultra. And at $1,055, this is the lowest price we’ve seen for Samsung’s current flagship phone yet. For gamers, thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, the S25 Ultra offers some of the best performance you can get in a phone right now, while its built-in vapor chamber should help prevent throttling. Its 6.9-inch AMOLED display is also one of the best mobile screens on the market today.

Razer Kishi Ultra for $100 ($50 off)

Razer doesn’t normally run a ton of deals for Prime Day, but it seems this year the company is making an exception as there are discounts on everything from gamepads to headsets and more. That said, one of the standout deals is for the Kishi Ultra gaming controller. On top of just being a well-built gamepad add-on for phones and tablets, its larger dimension and USB-C port means it works with a huge range of devices — both Android and iOS. This even includes more niche devices like foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold series, which often don’t fit inside other mobile gamepads due to their unique design.

Sony 85-Inch Class 4K Ultra HD Bravia 3 LED TV for $1,098 ($500 off)

There’s no better way to upgrade your living room gaming setup than with a brand-new, big-ass TV. Granted, the Bravia 3 is one of Sony’s entry-level models (fancier sets get higher numbers), but with a discounted price of $1,098 for a massive 85-inch panel, this deal represents one of the biggest screens you can get for the money. It also has Google TV built in, so you’ll get a very simple and straightforward way to stream your favorite shows and movies from services like Netflix, HBO and more. But perhaps most importantly is that for PS5 owners, the Bravia 3 supports exclusive features when connected to a PS5, such as Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture mode.

Alienware AW2725DF 26.7-inch OLED gaming monitor for $600 ($300 off)

For anyone who has been waiting for prices of OLED gaming monitors to drop, this may be your chance to pounce on a great deal. That’s because at $600, Alienware’s 26.7-inch OLED display strikes a good balance between price and performance with a 360Hz refresh rate, 2560 x 1440 resolution and support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. And of course, you get those lovely pure blacks and vivid colors that OLED panels have become known for.

Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 Series 57-inch 4K 240Hz 4K gaming monitor for $1,600 ($700 off)

This 57-inch monitor isn’t for people with limited space. But if you’ve got the room, at $1,600, this is the lowest we’ve ever seen the Neo G9 as this deal represents a whopping $700 savings compared to its regular list price. This thing features a solid 240Hz refresh rate along with support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, a 1000R curve and Quantum mini LED tech with 2,392 local dimming zones. For people who love ultra-wide displays, this should be at the top of your upgrade list during Amazon Prime Day.

Acer Nitro 27-inch WQHD IPS gaming monitor for $170 ($120 off)

Anyone looking for a solid and affordable 1440p gaming monitor during Prime Day should really check out this 27-inch IPS display from Acer. For just $170 (matching a record-low price), it features a relatively speedy 180Hz refresh rate along with support for AMD FreeSync Premium and a good color range that covers 95 percent of DCI-P3. The height-adjustable stand can also swivel and pivot, while thin bezels on top and on the sides will make sure it won’t look dated in a few years. So while this thing isn’t super fancy, it’s simple and competent in the best ways.

UGREEN Magnetic Power Bank 10,000mAh fast charging battery pack for $30 ($3 off)

The Switch 2 is a fantastic handheld, but its longevity could be better. So if you’re planning to take it on a long trip, pick up UGREEN’s 10,000mAH fast charging battery pack to help keep running when you’re away from a plug. This power pack almost has enough juice to fully refill a Switch 2 twice, which can add between five and 12 hours of additional game time (depending on the title). It also has an output of 20 watts, which is as much as the Switch 2 can suck down at once, but it’s still super pocketable measuring just four inches long and 0.7 inches thick. And if you need a convenient way to recharge your phone, the battery pack also comes with Qi wireless support.

Xbox Game Pass ‘damaging’ the game industry, former Xbox dev says


Microsoft’s Game Pass subscription is likely the best deal around: For a fraction of the price of a full game, you get access to hundreds of titles every month, some of which are brand new. But when video games cost millions to make, and news of studio layoffs are constant, you don’t need to look at an Xbox balance sheet to know the numbers aren’t adding up for a service where the introductory price is a mere dollar. This dissonance is at the heart of a recent discussion on social media site X, where Raphael Colantonio, founder of Arkane Studios, has spent the last few days breaking down why the service is arguably doing more harm than good.

“I think Gamepass is an unsustainable model that has been increasingly damaging the industry for a decade, subsidized by MS’s ‘infinite money,’ but at some point reality has to hit,” Colantonio said in a reply to a post from a follower. “I don’t think GP can co-exist with other models, they’ll either kill everyone else, or give up.”

According to a Bloomberg report in 2024, Microsoft spends a billion dollars a year to get third-party games on its subscription service. That’s in addition to the billions the console-maker has spent acquiring marquee studios like Bethesda Softworks and Activision Blizzard.

For contrast, the most recent numbers for users set the tally at 35 million Game Pass subscriptions, some of which include the people who are only paying a dollar or otherwise bought the subscription through one of its periodic sales. The service went up in price a year ago, which means that up until somewhat recently, Game Pass was making even less money than it’s making now. At first blush, these numbers seem promising inasmuch as they suggest that the service is growing. In 2022, Game Pass had a reported 25 million subscribers. But it’s worth noting that in 2023, Microsoft shifted all existing Xbox Live Gold subscribers to a lower tier of Game Pass subscriptions. This would suggest that Game Pass has actually lost subscribers over the last few years, which coincides with an admission from Phil Spencer in 2022 that subscriptions are slowing down on console.

Though it may appear nonsensical, this approach is a tried and true model in the world of tech. Services like Uber, for example, spend years operating at a loss until they capture the entire market. Once the competition is obliterated, the product in question can move freely in ways that might hurt the consumer. Prices can go up, the service could get worse, and so on — but at that point, users already rely on the service and there are no other viable options. Similarly, while other companies have attempted their own versions of subscription models, none of them have managed to amass the userbase Game Pass has thus far. What appears to be a good deal now may, in fact, be a ticking time bomb.

Add in the fact that people are spending way less on games in 2025 than last year, and that Microsoft has undergone multiple rounds of layoffs that have shuttered entire studios and fired thousands of workers in the last year alone, and it starts to paint an ugly picture for an industry that’s already in crisis. It’s a worrying trend that might illuminate why publishers are greenlighting fewer games and taking fewer risks: A game can sell millions, and the studio still might be shut down. The mere existence of Game Pass cuts into those numbers, which could then motivate some studios to take deals with the service just to be safe. That’s guaranteed money and visibility over the murky uncertainty of releasing a game into the void.

Colantonio’s post has unsurprisingly lit a fuse on social media, where developers and gamers alike are chiming in. Some creatives in the industry agree with Colantonio’s assessment. “The infinite money thing never made any sense,” responded Larian Studios director of publishing Michael Douse.

But for the people on the other side of the equation — gamers — the Game Pass critique has gone down poorly. Some of the replies to Colantonio’s post have gotten ugly, but rather than presenting an actual argument, the exchange has devolved into potshots. Some point out that Colantonio has worked on titles that are available on Game Pass. It certainly doesn’t help that text-based social media strips away tone and makes it easy to dehumanize the person on the other side of the exchange.

Still, Colantonio has spent time trying to reason with people who are misreading his post as an attack on people who subscribe to the service. “I understand gamers like it: it’s a great deal, but the maths don’t work for GP, it only works because MS injects billions into it to make it a good deal for the players… for now,” he wrote in one thread.

“I understand, you can look at it just from your standpoint, but when a deal is too good, there is a reason that might reveal itself later and will hurt everyone including you,” he wrote in another. “At the moment you have access to a fair amount of good games for a fraction of the actual cost.”

Phil Spencer stands in front of the Xbox logo for the pre-recorded Xbox Games Showcase in 2024.

Image: Xbox

Part of what complicates this conversation is the knowledge that for all of its shortcomings, Game Pass has been a boon to some studios that might have otherwise had trouble finding funding or garnering an audience. Becoming available on the service puts you in front of millions of eyeballs, and guarantees mention on articles that detail what’s new and noteworthy on the service. Other times, being on Game Pass gives titles another shot at finding an audience. Games like Sea of Thieves and No Man’s Sky saw an influx of players after hitting Game Pass, for example, despite already being available beforehand and largely offering the same experience once there. I know that I’m more likely to give an indie game a try if it hits Game Pass.

Despite the trolls, there are definitely people who understand Colantonio is saying. But when games are starting to cost $79.99, the price of accessories is going up, and with no shortage of microtransactions to consider, it’s no wonder people feel so strongly about the value of Game Pass.

“I’m sure it isn’t good for devs but if my wage isn’t going up but my rent is and so are gas prices and groceries then I’ll look for the best deal,” one user said. “And if it stops being a good deal then I’ll find an alternative.” Colantonio’s response? The underlined 100 emoji.

Best gifts to give characters in Persona 5 The Phantom X


Gourmet Food Tour Guide Base Synergy +2, with an extra +2 for preferred gifts, with an extra +4 for first-time preferred gifts. Purchase at the Convenience Store on Central Street in Shibuya for 700 yen. Sumo Wrestler Stickers Base Synergy +4, with an extra +4 for preferred gifts, with an extra +8 for first-time preferred gifts. Purchase at the Discount Store on Central Street in Shibuya for 1,600 yen. Protective Sports Gear Base Synergy +7, with an extra +7 for preferred gifts, with an extra +14 for first-time preferred gifts. Purchase at the Convenience Store on Central Street in Shibuya for 2,800 yen or exchange Soccer Club Badges. Sports Towel Base Synergy +8, with an extra +8 for preferred gifts, with an extra +16 for first-time preferred gifts. Purchase at the Gourmet Supermarket in the Underground Mall in Shibuya for 3,000 yen or exchange Batting Cage tickets. Cat Hairpin Base Synergy +10, with an extra +10 for preferred gifts, with an extra +20 for first-time preferred gifts. Purchase at the Accessory Shop in the Underground Mall in Shibuya for 4,000 yen. Preserved Flower Base Synergy +13, with an extra +13 for preferred gifts, with an extra +26 for first-time preferred gifts. Craft at the Workbench. Baseball Gloves Base Synergy +17, with an extra +17 for preferred gifts, with an extra +34 for first-time preferred gifts. Purchase at the Gourmet Supermarket in the Underground Mall in Shibuya for 6,900 yen (Proficiency level 5) or exchange Batting Cage tickets. GOAT Uniform Base Synergy +22, with an extra +22 for preferred gifts, with an extra +44 for first-time preferred gifts. Purchase at the Gourmet Supermarket in the Underground Mall in Shibuya for 8,900 yen (Proficiency level 10) or exchange Batting Cage tickets. Alloy Baseball Bat Base Synergy +26, with an extra +26 for preferred gifts, with an extra +52 for first-time preferred gifts. Purchase at the Gourmet Supermarket in the Underground Mall in Shibuya for 11,000 yen (Proficiency level 13). Heart Ring Base Synergy +125, with an extra +125 for preferred gifts, with an extra +250 for first-time preferred gifts. Purchase at the Jewelry Store in the Underground Mall in Shibuya for 88,000 yen (Charm level 10).

The 11 best new games for summer 2025


For video games, the summer season kicker off with a double-header: the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, smack amid the three-day slew of game reveals that comprise Summer Game Fest (and its surrounding press conferences). But the most exciting games of the summer aren’t all Switch 2 ports or massive studio tentpoles. In fact, it’s the smaller games — the indies and the AA gems — that have captured most of Polygon’s attention.

From a management sim about temperamental clones to an open-world adventure in which you bike your way to saving the world, here are 11 under-the-radar games to watch out for this summer.

The official banner from sci-fi game The Alters.

Image: 11 Bit Studios

Release date: June 13 (out now!)
Where to play: PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X

How well do you think you would enjoy working with a few radically different versions of yourself? That’s the question Jan Dolski is facing — that, and how he’s going to survive imminent death on a hostile world. In The Alters, Dolski is the sole survivor of a scientific expedition in search of a new element. Through survival and base-building gameplay, he, alongside the alternate versions of himself he brings to life, has to find a solution for survival while contending with how varied his life could have turned out if different choices were made.

The protagonist of BloodRush standing in front of a giant skeleton.

Image: Nuntius Games

Release date: July 1
Where to play: Windows PC

BloodRush: Undying Wish is like if Bloodborne met Crank, that offbeat 2006 Jason Statham action flick (stay with me here). It’s a hack-‘n’-slash roguelike where your character is constantly bleeding out during combat. You can increase your blood by killing enemies, so the gameplay is fast and frenetic; you’re constantly dashing around the battlefield like you need adrenaline to survive. So, Crank. BloodRush is a fun time with gorgeous pixel art to boot. Check out a demo on Steam ahead of its early access launch.

A group of bikers ride on a track in a screenshot from Wheel World

Image: Messhof/Annapurna Interactive

Release date: July 23
Where to play: PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X

In Wheel World, you play as a cyclist with the simplest of simple tasks: save the world. (You’ve got this!) With a customizable bike, complete with a ghost head accessorizing it, you’ll pedal and race around an open world as you set out to save it. Originally unveiled as Ghost Bike in 2023 with a somber narrative, Wheel World was rejiggered in fall 2024 with a new title and a lighter tone focused on “the joy and freedom of living around bikes,” developer Messhof wrote in an update on Steam.

Kenji and Kumori fight demons on the rooftop of a Japanese building in a screenshot from Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound

Image: The Game Kitchen/Dotemu, Koei Tecmo

Release date: July 31
Where to play: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X

It’s a big year for the Ninja Gaiden franchise. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, a remaster of 2008’s Ninja Gaiden 2, was surprise dropped earlier this year alongside the reveal of Ninja Gaiden 4, the first new mainline entry in over a decade. Between those releases, fans will also have the chance to play Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, a side-scrolling action-platformer. The Ninja Gaiden series started on NES, so Ragebound takes it back to its roots in a way with its pixel art aesthetic. You can play its Steam demo to get a feel for the challenge of Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, which comes from the developers behind the Blasphemous games.

Combat in the roguelike Panta Rhei.

Image: Reignite Games

Release date: July 31
Where to play: Windows PC

Like in Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, wielding time is a core tenet of Panta Rhei, a roguelike that casts you as Phi, who must protect the flow of time. Bend time to solve environmental puzzles as well as to save your skin in combat. Panta Rhei’s art style and orange and violet hues remind me of Annapurna’s excellent Cocoon, so it’s already starting off on the right foot. Get a taste of its roguelike combat via its demo on Steam.

Arkane ordering a snack in Artis Impact.

Image: Mas

Release date: Aug. 7
Where to play: Windows PC

Artis Impact follows Arkane and her AI companion, Bot, as they venture through a futuristic world full of murderous AI — and tasty potato croquettes. Its pixel art is great, and the manga-inspired comic panels that function as cutscenes are truly killer. Gameplay will be a mix of turn-based combat and regular life activities, like cooking or earning passive income. It may be set in a post-apocalyptic world, but it’s a cozy post-apocalyptic world.

Mobile bookshop parked in front of a cafe in Tiny Bookshop.

Image: neoludic games/Skystone Games

Release date: Aug. 7
Where to play: Windows PC

There are two things the world can never have enough of: books and bookshops. In Tiny Bookshop, head to a small coastal town to start your own bookstore. It’s a quiet and cozy game, one that’s divorced from the stress of working retail IRL. Tiny Bookshop instead lets you sit back and recommend great books to customers who’ll buy them up. Decorate your bookshop on wheels to your heart’s content and keep your shelves stocked by purchasing used books from classified ads like it’s 1998 all over again.

The character in Sword of the Sea using a sword as a skateboard.

Image: Giant Squid

Release date: Aug. 19
Where to play: PlayStation 5, Windows PC

Developer Giant Squid is known for stylish games Abzû and The Pathless, and Sword of the Sea looks to carry that stylish torch forward. Your big, cool sword isn’t needed for combat, but for traversal. Sword of the Sea’s gnarly movement is based on skateboarding, snowboarding, and surfboarding, and you’ll use your Hoversword to ride waves of sand. Over the course of the game, you’ll work to restore an ocean, and then catch its waves. Surf’s up, dude.

The Knightling using their shield to surf on water.

Image: Saber Interactive

Release date: Aug. 28
Where to play: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X

The Knightling ditches swords and maces for a shield as its titular hero’s weapon of choice. It’ll be used in combat Captain America style, of course, but also for traversing the game’s open world via some very sick-looking shield surfing. The Knightling gives off the vibe of a PS2-era platformer with modern-day visuals, and I can’t wait to check it out this August — good thing it’s got a demo on Steam!

Hiro walking through an origami world in Hirogami.

Image: Kakehashi Games

Release date: Sept. 3
Where to play: PlayStation 5, Windows PC

Set in an origami world, where seemingly everything has been created via the delicate Japanese craft, Hirogami is an action-platformer. Hiro can fold himself into different transformations, like an armadillo or a frog, to traverse the fragile world and battle digital creatures who are threatening it. Play the demo on Steam to get a feel for Hiro’s origami powers yourself.

Remi standing with a big glowing sword in Hell is Us.

Image: Rogue Factor/Nacon

Release date: Sept. 4
Where to play: PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X

Hell is Us wears the aesthetics of a Soulslike without some of the genre’s challenges; enemies stay dead, meaning your corpse runs won’t be as tenuous, and the game places a greater emphasis on exploration than combat. You’re cast as Remi as he enters and explores a war-torn country in search of his parents. Along the way, he encounters more than he bargained for in the way of some creepy enemies, and he’lll wield a big glowing sword to take them down.