It’s that time of year again, when friends and loved ones huddle together, safe from crisp winter air, looking for entertainment. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered, with a vast array of multiplayer games that can be enjoyed together across console, PC, and supported gaming handhelds.
Whether you’re looking for quick bursts of action to keep the family entertained, a cozy co-op adventure with a partner, or something casual to catch up with friends online, Xbox has something to offer for every gaming fan this holiday season. Here’s some highlights, ranging from 2025 releases to timeless games worth revisiting:
What would you like to say to your players after releasing Ninja Gaiden 4 this year?
Our deepest thanks to everyone who has played the game, from the Master Ninjas who have been supporting the series for a long time, to those who are playing the series for the first time! Our days were spent developing the game so that players can enjoy the series’ signature intensity and a variety of actions to overcome difficult situations, so I’m happy if you experienced even a bit of the game! I think the flavor of the action really comes through the more you play it, so please continue to enjoy the different characteristics of the two Master Ninjas, Yakumo and Ryu! – Hirayama
To everyone who has supported Ninja Gaiden over the years, and to those how have started playing the series from this entry, thank you for playing the game. I enjoy watching your gameplay videos and comments on social media every day. In this game, we aimed for the revival of pure action that transcends time, and the three companies put everything into developing it. The action is really exciting and it’s a stoically made game, so those of you who have played the game please continue to thoroughly study it… and those who haven’t played it yet, I’ll be thrilled if you give this feel good slash action a try! – Nakao
How does it feel to have the game out there after development?
First of all, to be able to deliver a new numbered title in the series after 13 years is something that our entire team is truly happy about. We continuously debated and adjusted the game towards its launch, and once it was released it felt like it passed in an instant so I didn’t feel anything immediately, but as I saw social posts and videos being posted every day, little by little I began to feel joy. – Hirayama
For our development team, there are many members who, during the golden age of slash action games, were players or were involved as developers. So, while we had confidence in the game itself, I felt more nervous and excited than I have ever been before. And my current feeling is of relief, since the action has been well received. – Nakao
Are there any stories about how players have engaged with your game that you’d like to reflect on?
For a long time, we were in the dark while developing this game but seeing everyone playing and reacting to it at gaming events was a big driving force in development, and we made use of it in the final adjustments towards launch. Thank you again for your support! Post-launch, we are checking every single piece of feedback, so please look forward to future in-game updates! – Hirayama
Although I’ve mentioned it several times, we’ve been receiving a lot of feedback that, “the action definitely feels good!”, and it’s the part we’ve put our most effort into, so I am extremely happy that everyone is pleased with it. In this game we’ve taken the big challenge of mixing the best parts of Ninja Gaiden with the best parts of PlatinumGames’ action, so nothing makes me happier than hearing everyone enjoying the action. – Nakao
What is your studio most looking forward to in 2026?
We are really looking forward to everyone playing “The Two Masters,” the additional content currently in development! In addition to new weapons for Yakumo and Ryu, we are planning on an additional story and other replayable content. We’re working hard to deliver it as soon as we can, so please wait a little bit longer! – Hirayama
There are many games coming out next year, and as always, several action games will be released, so as an action game maker we are looking forward to seeing these games. For us, in 2026 we are planning to release additional content for Ninja Gaiden 4, “The Two Masters,” which we are currently hard at work developing. Not only is there content such as a new story, but above all the new weapons for each character will provide a new play experience unlike any of the previous weapons, so we hope you look forward to it! – Nakao
The definitive ninja hack & slash franchise returns with NINJA GAIDEN 4! Embark on a cutting-edge adventure where legacy meets innovation in this high-octane blend of style and no-holds-barred combat.
Return of the Legend
Experience a return to the intense, high-speed combat that established NINJA GAIDEN as a premier action game series. Prepare for a legacy reborn with captivating style for a new generation of players.
Epic Hack and Slash Combat, Evolved
NINJA GAIDEN 4 fuses Team NINJA’s tempered combat philosophy with the stylish, dynamic action gameplay of PlatinumGames. Engage in visually stunning combat that rewards precision and strategy. Use Bloodbind Ninjutsu to transform your weapons and unleash devastation upon your enemies, alongside legacy techniques like the Izuna Drop and Flying Swallow. The legendary Ryu Hayabusa also returns with a revamped yet familiar set of tools to master. With a customizable player experience, NINJA GAIDEN 4 will push action game veterans to their limits while allowing newcomers to enjoy a heart-pounding adventure full of twists and turns.
An Ancient Enemy Returns
An endless rain of miasma hangs over a near-future Tokyo in the wake of an ancient enemy’s resurrection. The fate of the city lies in the hands of young ninja prodigy, Yakumo. Fighting his way through cybernetic ninja soldiers and otherworldly creatures, Yakumo must reconcile a destiny he shares with the legendary Ryu Hayabusa himself and free Tokyo from the ancient curse that brought the city to its knees.
Ella Mental, the first original character in Invincible VS, is joining the roster.
Skybound’s in-house studio, Quarter Up, unveiled the brand-new fighter at The Game Awards, and is now sharing extended gameplay for a deeper look at Ella Mental.
Invincible VS is a new 3v3 tag fighting game based on the beloved comic book and TV series, coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and Xbox Cloud as an Xbox Play Anywhere title on April 30, 2026.
The Invincible universe just got even bigger. Our upcoming 3v3 tag fighting game, Invincible VS, arrives next year with an abundance of fan-favorite characters like Mark Grayson (Invincible), Rex Splode, Omni-Man and more. But our latest fighter is someone Invincible fans didn’t see coming.
Revealed at The Game Awards last week, Ella Mental is an all-new original character born from the creative minds of Invincible co-creators Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker, and is sure to make waves across the universe. At Quarter Up, Skybound’s in-house game development studio, it’s been our honor to bring Ella to life, and we’re excited to give you an extended look at what this powerhouse is capable of.
Ella Mental radiates positivity and energy, always the first to jump in and solve a problem. She comes from wealth and is the heiress to her family’s fortune. Due to her humble outlook and studious, hardworking nature, Ella quickly became her grandfather’s favorite and was given access to an ancient totem — the source of her superpowers. Ella is nothing like what we’ve seen in the Invincible universe thus far, capable of controlling all four elements: earth, water, fire and air.
Able to pull energy from these elements, Ella unsurprisingly has a very versatile move set. She is primarily a ranged fighter who uses her Elemental Auras to adjust her combat approach and upgrade her Special Moves, which are super impactful in battle. Earth Wall allows Ella to conjure a floating mass of earth in front of her that can be destroyed to cause a shotgun blast attack or used as cover. Water Needle has Ella generating and compressing water between her hands until she unleashes it like a bullet. Flame Burst summons a cloud of rolling flames that hang in their air before causing a major explosion. Whether attacking in-air, on the ground or with her specials, Ella will find a way to take down any opponent.
The story behind Ella Mental is a unique one. We always thought it would be super fun to bring an original character into Invincible VS, so our team approached Robert Kirkman with the idea — and he loved it.
“What was cool was that this idea gave Cory Walker and I an opportunity to create someone new,” said Robert Kirkman. “Our way into the character was a ridiculous-sounding name we came up with: Ella Mental. We thought, ‘hey, look at that, that sounds like an Invincible-type name.’”
From there, Cory Walker gave us an amazing sketch for her.
“The name originated from Robert, and from that came the element-based powerset,” added Cory Walker. “I just started throwing stuff on her, and it was important that everything be asymmetrical, and just overall cool-looking.”
Contrary to belief, Ella’s parents are actually nice, a real change from many others in the Invincible universe. This was a purposeful choice from Robert, and makes her an even more distinguished addition to the lineup. When constructing Ella’s backstory, Kirkman noted, “The Invincible universe’s thing is that everyone has terrible parents, so we wanted to give Ella nice parents and a constructive family dynamic.”
Beyond her background, bringing Ella into the game was a welcome challenge for us. When you’re dealing with attacks using all four elements, there’s a lot happening on screen, and we’ve made sure her gameplay looks amazing without sacrificing performance.
Speaking of performance, we were so excited to get visionary rapper, Tierra Whack, to voice Ella Mental. We knew our Ella Mental needed to be the right combination of talent and presence, and Tierra is just that. She’s also a huge Invincible fan, and her passion comes through in each voice line. And in case you were wondering, her dream team is Ella Mental, Rex Splode and Atom Eve — solid choices!
I’ll leave you with some tips for kicking butt as Ella Mental: make sure you truly spend time understanding her kit and getting used to her ranges. She’s excellent teamed up with Robot for a good juggling pair, and Atom Eve for an immense power overload.
We’re so excited to see what our players pull off with our badass roster of fighters, especially Ella Mental.
Invincible VS launches on April 30, 2026 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and Xbox Cloud as an Xbox Play Anywhere title. The game is available for pre-order now.
Invincible VS is a brutal superhero 3v3 tag fighting game set in the Invincible universe, where you can battle to the death as a team of fan-favorite characters in iconic locations. Unleash bone-breaking combos through fast combat and smart defensive tactics to leave a trail of blood and destruction. Land vicious Super moves and Ultimates to leave your opponents in a mess of blood.
Invincible VS features a variety of game modes including a captivating cinematic story mode with an original narrative from a writer of the animated series. Jump into Arcade and battle with your team, hone your combos in Training mode, and test your skills against the world in competitive and casual multiplayer. Show, comic fans, and fighting game lovers will experience unparalleled heroic brutality, where every earth-shattering blow will leave you feeling… Invincible.
This is the debut title from the newly formed Quarter Up™—the first in-house studio at Skybound—led by former members of the core Killer Instinct (2013) dev team.
Erangel, PUBG’s most iconic battleground, is about to face transformation unlike anything players have seen before. With the Erangel: Subzero update, the familiar landscapes of the island are plunged into a deep freeze, reshaping not only the map’s atmosphere but also the core survival experience. This update is more than a visual refresh; it expands the lore of the PUBG universe, evolves gameplay in meaningful ways, and marks the beginning of an ongoing environmental shift that will continue to unfold over time.
A Frozen New Chapter for PUBG’s Most Legendary Battleground
Since its debut, Erangel has been the heart of PUBG. It’s a battleground rich with stories, memories, and iconic skirmishes. Erangel: Subzero takes that legacy and reframes it through a dramatic environmental shift, introducing climate-driven gameplay changes that challenge players to adapt in real time.
Erangel: Subzero is not just a seasonal event. It is the start of a persistent environmental evolution, one that will grow harsher and more unpredictable as winter progresses. Players will revisit Erangel in a new atmosphere — and they will have to survive it.
Behind the Freeze: Tythonic’s Experiment Gone Wrong
What caused Erangel to plunge into a sudden and unnatural winter? The answer lies in the unfolding lore of the PUBG universe.
Tythonic, a shadowy corporation operating the Battlegrounds, initiated a secret climate-control experiment, “Project Zeus,” designed to make the battlefield more extreme purely to heighten the spectacle for the viewers. Their plan involved launching satellites into orbit to establish a weather-modification system capable of altering local climates on command.
But something went wrong.
The satellites malfunctioned and crashed back down to Earth, releasing a massive surge of cooling gas upon impact. The blast spread rapidly across Erangel, driving temperatures into freefall. As the cryogenic gas collided with the Blue Zone’s electromagnetic field, the zone itself began to crystallize, becoming colder, sharper, and more dangerous than ever before.
This catastrophic event sets the stage for Erangel: Subzero and hints at deeper connections within the expanding PUBG lore.
What’s New in the December Update
The Subzero update introduces a series of major world and gameplay changes designed to deliver a fresh-yet-familiar Erangel experience. These additions build on the frozen narrative while reshaping how players move, fight, and survive.
Satellite Crash Sites Across Erangel
Evidence of the fallen Tythonic satellites can now be found across several key locations. Areas such as Stalber, Shelter, Sosnovka Military Base, and Boatyard show visible signs of impact, along with additional scattered points across the island. These crash sites introduce new environmental details and tactical opportunities, challenging players to navigate altered terrain and unexpected structures
A Colder, Deadlier Blue Zone
The Blue Zone now carries a chilling new twist. A freezing effect is applied when players enter it, introducing layered visual and audio cues that intensify based on exposure time. While the underlying damage rules of the Blue Zone remain unchanged, the new freezing presentation heightens tension and clarity around the danger zone. This chilling mechanic also extends to the BZ Grenade, expanding its strategic utility in the battleground.
Introducing the BZ Grenade Launcher
Available exclusively in Erangel: Subzero, the BZ Grenade Launcher is a single-shot, break-action weapon that empowers players to manipulate the battlefield in new ways. Cooling rounds can reshape engagements, deny space, or pressure enemies into risky repositioning. The launcher deepens tactical possibilities within the frozen combat environment.
Dynamic Weather and Frozen Terrain
Erangel’s climate now evolves gradually throughout a match, with winter weather intensifying as the battle progresses and creating shifting visibility and atmosphere over time. Snowfall intensifies, clouds thicken, and winds grow harsher as temperatures fall. Portions of rivers and coastal waters have frozen over, opening new traversal routes and altering familiar choke points. Even the plane shows signs of frost as players begin their descent into the battleground.
A Living, Evolving Erangel
December is only the first step. The current freeze represents the opening stage of a deepening environmental crisis, and players can expect the island’s conditions to grow even more severe. As this lore arc progresses, the island’s appearance, hazards, and tactical landscape will continue to evolve, weaving Erangel into a broader PUBG narrative that connects maps, events, and characters through environmental storytelling.
Dev Comments
“With Update 39.1, Erangel, our most iconic battleground, is overtaken by a brutal winter. The frozen rivers, shifting weather, and frosty Blue Zone demand quicker decision-making and sharper adaptability.
You will find yourself crossing icy surfaces to access new routes, fighting in areas transformed by heavy snow, and experimenting with new tools like the BZ Grenade Launcher to craft strategies that didn’t exist before.
This update isn’t just about changing the scenery — it’s about reshaping the tension, pacing, and tactical choices that define the PUBG combat. As the season progresses, Erangel’s winter will continue to intensify. We hope players embrace the frigid challenge and carve out new strategies as they conquer Erangel: Subzero.
Drop into Erangel: Subzero This Winter
The cold is coming. Erangel’s new chapter has begun, with more updates on the way as the island plunges deeper into the freeze.
Stay warm, stay sharp, and survive the Subzero.
For players who want a deeper breakdown of gameplay changes and system updates, be sure to check out the full patch notes here. And to stay ahead of the winter-long events and upcoming announcements, make sure to follow PUBG’s official social channels for the latest updates.
PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS
KRAFTON, Inc.
☆☆☆☆☆ 2000
★★★★★
LAND
Drop into an ever-growing and changing selection of maps to keep you challenged. Will you choose the safer outskirts and risk not getting enough loot or hot drop into the dense cities and fight from the moment you hit the ground? Every drop is different, it’s up to you to make the best with what you find.
LOOT
With unique weapons, a variety of supplies, and special tools to outwit your opponents, how you outfit yourself is up to you! Kit out your favorite weapons with powerful attachments or risk going after the hotly contested Care Packages for unique loot to give you the edge you need to win.
SURVIVE
Stocking up is only the beginning. With the Safe Zone growing ever smaller as time goes on, your risk of running into other survivors dramatically increases. Die and you’re out. You’ll need to outthink, outrun, or outshoot your opponents if you’re to be the last one standing and claim ultimate victory.
MANY WAYS TO PLAY,
Warm up in Team Deathmatch, try out constantly changing modes in the Arcade, drop into the latest seasonal event, or build your own custom lobby and challenge your friends to something unique.
EVERY MATCH IS UNIQUE
No two battles are the same, and everything hinges on the choices you make to land, loot and survive. Drop into the Battlegrounds where victory hinges on every move and every choice, and fight to be the last one standing.
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!
They say the path to immortality is paved with hardship. But in your case, this hardship happened to take the form of seven dangerously beautiful women. You are Lin Fan, the chosen one of the Crane Illusion Sect. Born with a Pure Yang Lineage, you are destined to ascend to the heavens. However, no matter how hard you train, fate sends yet another challenge in your way… temptations in the shape of an unreliable master, a strict senior sister, or a saintess who seems far more interested in testing your heart rather than your skills.
Enter the abandoned workshop of Murray’s Costume Manor and unravel the mystery left behind by the reclusive inventor, Edwin Murray. In Five Nights at Freddy’s: Secret of the Mimic, you’ll step into a world where every dark corner holds a secret and every flicker of light hints at an ever-present threat. The Mimic, a prototype endoskeleton, can adapt to any costume and become any character, including what you fear most. Armed with only your wits, a few gadgets, and a heavily redacted corporate briefing, you’ll attempt to retrieve Fazbear’s prized prototype technology while grappling with cryptic clues and a relentless shadow determined to dispatch all unwanted company.
Frogo Deluxe
Zakym s. r. o.
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
Frogo Deluxe – December 16 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Handheld Optimized / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery
Frogo Deluxe is the latest installment in the popular Frogo series. In this cross road game, players must navigate through various obstacles, collecting coins and special items along the way. The coins collected can be used to purchase new animals, each with more lives, enhancing the gameplay experience. The game is infinite, becoming more challenging as players achieve higher scores. How far can you go?
Step into the role of a Dungeon Monarch, a chosen guardian of your master’s dungeon. Equipped with formidable magic and an inexhaustible army of summonable troops that synergize with one another, your mission is to repel adventurers, envious rivals, and other deities seeking to invade and raze the dungeon.
Balloball – Ribbit & Rescue is a bright cartoon arcade game. You have to save all the frogs that the evil fairies have trapped in soap bubbles. Use your hero’s agility and speed to avoid all the traps and the power of physics to calculate the flight paths.
Let the ever-wandering Hidden Cats crew be your guide through colorful Istanbul! Explore the city’s iconic landmarks like the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, and Gülhane Park while relaxing to soothing Turkish-inspired music. Discover over 900 hidden objects, unlock special cats, and as always – enjoy cozy, no-stress gameplay in a city full of color, history, and charm!
Journey into the Forbidden Realms to reclaim a lost kingdom. Step into the role of Princess Lyria, a young royal whose once-prosperous realm has fallen to ruin. Its treasures have been stolen, its magic has faded, and dark forces now rule the land. To restore her throne, Lyria must venture into the Forbidden Realms — mysterious, dangerous lands filled with ancient power and hidden secrets. Armed with courage and emerging magical abilities, you’ll explore lush landscapes, forge powerful alliances, and uncover long-buried truths about your heritage. Each decision you make shapes Lyria’s destiny: become a wise and just ruler… or embrace the darker paths of ambition and power.
It’s mischief night at Billy’s haunted manor, and the host has quite the challenge in mind for all monsters invited! Partake in a competition of hide-and-seek with an original twist: the only place to hide is the crowd of monstrous guests of which you are part. Find who you are in the crowd and rise to the challenge to be crowned the sneakiest and most perceptive of all monsters! Figure out who you are discreetly, then fulfil your objectives and seek out other players without breaking character to avoid being caught.
The Axis Unseen is a heavy metal horror game created by one of the developers of Skyrim and Fallout. Track down nightmarish creatures from folklore in a mysterious open world, steal their enhanced senses, and discover arrows with immense powers. But beware — the hunter often becomes the hunted.
In a future ruled by steel and circuitry, humanity’s reign has ended. The machines we built to serve us have turned against us, deeming their creators unworthy to inhabit Earth. Cities lie in ruins, and the last remnants of humankind hide beneath the ashes of a fallen world. But hope isn’t dead — it’s armed to the teeth. Meet Explodera, a ragtag crew of reckless freedom fighters with one simple philosophy: if it sparks, it explodes. Fueled by chaos and defiance, they fight their way through mechanical armies to reach the ultimate target — the Mother Computer, the cold heart of the machine uprising. If they can blow it to pieces, humanity might just get another shot at survival.
Hoomanz! is a stealth-adventure game packed with coziness and humour, featuring non-combat gameplay & family-friendly content. Play as Shoo, the mythical guardian of Planet Erf with a hidden dual nature, to scare away all the ignorant invading Hoomanz. Darkness is nature’s friend, light is its enemy.
Humble Haunted House is an action tower defense video game. You act as Succubus, who disguised as a haunted attraction manager for a theme park. By setting up scary props, or popping out as a live actor, it’s a matter of time before the long line of visitors get scared. Little do they know, they have faced some real monsters.
Join Scott Whiskers on his new adventure and plunge into a colorful and family-friendly experience in a class of its own! Sun, beach and sea – sunken pirate treasures, mystical Mayan rites, a bubbling volcano – and lots of puzzles and lovable characters make for the vacation of a lifetime!
Zumba – The Dragon’s Marble Trial invites you into an enchanting world where a charming dragon wields colorful marbles in mouth and tail! Pick a stage, aim your dragon-launched marbles at winding paths, and match three or more identical colors to trigger explosive combos before they invade your lair. Rack up high scores and up to three stars per level by clearing waves quickly and precisely.
Krampus is Coming! Grab your shotgun, finish your hot punch and don’t forget your mission: Save Christmas! Big Trouble in Little Chimney is a fast paced arena bullet-hell shooter. Survive endless hordes of creatures lurk from the dark chimney and save Christmas! Try to beat your high score!
Step into the whimsical world of Cup Heroes, where everyday cups turn into mighty heroes on an epic quest to save their beloved Queen! Collect coins and gems to unlock a diverse cast of characters, each with unique abilities. Upgrade their skills to make them even more powerful and adaptable to different challenges.
In Escape From Crypt, you take on the role of a warrior determined to prove your worth by facing a deadly crypt filled with treacherous traps and relentless enemies. Can you make it out alive? Use your Wall Jump with precision, unleash powerful sword strikes, and overcome every challenge as you venture through the dark depths. Conquer your fears, defy the impossible, and reach the end of Escape From Crypt!
Responding to an unusual emergency call from a remote mining base, Jack arrives at the dark and desolate Fort Solis. With storm warnings imminent, he heads inside to make desperate contact. As the night grows longer, events spiral out of control, and the mystery of what happened to the crew begins to reveal itself. The storm is approaching, limiting Jack’s escape as he looks to hold out until morning arrives.
Leap, dodge, and conquer deadly gauntlets in Frog Hero DX a precision platformer where every jump could be your last. Take command of our determined, brave hero: a fearless frog on a perilous trek through lush swamps, blazing caverns, and clockwork fortresses. Bounce off enemies to defeat them, thread the gap between spinning blades and bursts of fire, and stick perfect landings across collapsing bridges and molten pits.
Welcome to the co-op shooter where the end of the world has never looked so… tasty! The end of days is near, with the city infested by ravenous, greasy food creatures, bringing total chaos and destruction. Our last hope lies with a band of skillful, trigger-happy cooks who are determined not to end up as the main course.
Outbreak: Shades of Horror is inspired by retro survival horror from the ’90s and ’00s! The title blends bleeding edge tech and modern gameplay mechanics with archaic concepts from the roots of survival horror, like a restricted inventory, heavy resource management, and crushing difficulty. If you’re an old hat, or a lover of the past, you’ll find a lot to love in the janky but crushing experience. If that’s not your jam, proceed with caution as this nightmare is unforgiving!
Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight will launch on May 29, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S.
Standard and Deluxe Editon pre-orders are available today, and will receive The Dark Knight Returns Batsuit at launch.
New Heroes & Villains trailer spotlights Batman’s allies and Gotham City’s most infamous DC Super-Villains.
The Caped Crusader, the World’s Greatest Detective, DC’s Dark Knight – whatever name you prefer, Batman has transcended the medium in which he was created and become modern day folklore; a tale we are all so familiar with, that stands shoulder to shoulder with ancient myths and legends… but this legend only comes out at night and has a really cool car.
Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 in 1939, and his character was so popular that he eventually POW-ed and SWOOSH-ed his way off the page and onto television screens in 1943.
Starring in the pages of DC’s comics from 1939 to today, Batman also influenced TV, film, and animation for decades before the Dark Knight eventually found himself in video games. Gaming became a whole new medium for Batman where he headlined many celebrated and award-winning titles, including one of the most loved gaming franchises of all time. Even now, Batman finds new ways to excite audiences, such as audiobooks, theme-park rides, virtual reality, etc.
In the decades that Batman has entertained fans, he has been reinvented, reimagined, and recast countless times, with each approach varying drastically; the camp and colorful exploits of the 1960’s Batman TV show is worlds apart from the noir of the 2022 film, ‘The Batman’. So, with so much variety in tone, how do you possibly bring it all together into one project? The answer: with Lego minifigures and bricks!
Our latest trailer shares a new glimpse into the exciting world of Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, where you will be able to experience the essential Batman story, from origin to legend. That’s right. In this one game, you are going to play through decades of Bruce Wayne’s life, from a young boy on an ill-fated trip to the movies with his parents, through his time as a fledgling crime-fighter taking on Gotham’s organized crime, all the way to becoming a legend as the leader of the Bat-Family.
To do this, we put together a timeline of comics, movies, and TV shows to identify the recurring beats and distill down what we believe to be the definitive Batman myth. It immediately became apparent that, to do it justice, we would have to amalgamate a multitude of Batman media in a way that has never been done before.
That means players will be able to wheel The Joker from ‘The Dark Knight’ film through gameplay reminiscent of the opening section of the Batman: Arkham Asylum video game, and take a version of Jim Gordon inspired by The Batman movie into Ace Chemicals for a confrontation with Red Hood One that mirrors not only the 1989 Batman film, but a number of iconic comics too.
In a bid to make this game the most authentic as possible, we made it our duty to put fans first and attempt to pay respect to as much Batman media as we could.
But wait, there are so many different versions of these beloved characters, how do you pick just one? Great question, reader. The new trailer shows off a fresh look at several playable characters joining the Caped Crusader in the fight to save Gotham City, including Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, and Catwoman, all equipped with their own unique skills and gadgets. We think you’ll especially enjoy Selina Kyle’s signature whip and drone kitten.
You’ll also notice a number of new DC Super-Villains in the trailer. For some, we chose iterations we felt we could have the most fun with, for others we chose what we believe are the indisputably iconic portrayals. And for a special few, we wanted to have our cake and eat it too. Come on – how are we supposed to feature just one iteration of The Joker? And what are we supposed to do with the Penguin now that ‘The Batman’ has given us yet another iconic interpretation of Oswald Cobblepot?
It’s impossible to choose, right? Well, with Bruce Wayne, we knew we were going to see him grow and evolve on his journey to become a crime-fighting legend, so we thought: why don’t we do that with some of the villains, too? In the game, the villains, the heroes, and Gotham City itself, all evolve with Batman, just like they have over the years. Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is an all-new Batman experience, but one that we promise will feel familiar, no matter who your favorite Batman is.
Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knightis scheduled to launch on May 29, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S. Standard and Deluxe Edition pre-orders are available now and will receive The Dark Knight Returns Batsuit at launch, inspired by the acclaimed comic book series. Deluxe Edition pre-orders will also receive three-day early access to the game beginning on May 26, in addition to The Dark Knight Returns Batsuit.
LEGO® Batman™: Legacy of the Dark Knight
Warner Bros. Games
☆☆☆☆☆ 5
★★★★★
Full base game includes:
• Main Story
– Bruce Wayne’s journey from origin to legend as he trains with The League of Shadows, becomes the hero of Gotham City, and forges a new family of allies with Jim Gordon, Catwoman, Robin, Nightwing, and Batgirl. Confront an ever-growing threat from across Batman’s Rogues Gallery as you face The Joker, The Penguin, Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy, Bane, and more.
• 7 Playable Characters
– Batman, Jim Gordon, Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, Catwoman, and Talia al Ghul each bring unique skills and signature gadgets as you uncover crimes, complete challenges, and explore an immersive Gotham City full of secrets and surprises.
• 100 Suits
– Inspired by Batman’s 86-year legacy, you’ll find an array of Batsuits alongside individual outfits for every playable character.
• 20+ Vehicles
– A range of Batmobiles and Batcycles to drive around Gotham City’s open world in style. Including iconic rides like the legendary Tumbler.
• 250+ Batcave Props & Trophies
– Customize and display a wide range of items to personalize your Batcave and celebrate your achievements.
Are you ready to build the legacy of the Dark Knight?
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!
Tribute Games and Dotemu are teaming up again, in collaboration with Marvel Games, to craft an original, fresh beat ’em up. Featuring dynamic combat combos and dazzling pixel art, this planet-hopping adventure stands as a love letter to the Marvel Universe. Whether you’re teaming up with friends or family, Marvel Cosmic Invasion has you covered with local/online play and a drop-in/drop-out adaptive system. A cosmic battle awaits!
Start from zero and discover the newest entry in the Octopath Traveler series. Experience a story of restoration and retribution over the divine rings — an epic saga that unfolds across the realm of Orsterra. Enjoy familiar features such as the series’ HD-2D graphics, a fusion of retro pixel art and 3DCG; the player’s ability to roleplay using Path Actions of their choice; and the Break and Boost system that can turn the tide of battle. Additionally, brand-new features such as character creation and town building allow you to create your own character and restore your hometown.
Blood: Refreshed Supply follows Caleb, an undead gunslinger on a quest for revenge against his former demonic master, Tchernobog. Despite his once powerful position as a fearsome Cabal commander and one of Tchernobog’s “Chosen” few, Caleb and his fellow Chosen are betrayed by the dark god and slain for reasons unknown. Seeking answers and vengeance, Caleb rises from the grave to put a stop to Tchernobog and his murderous lieutenants once and for all.
ROUTINE
Raw Fury
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
Routine – December 4 Game Pass / Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Optimized for Handheld / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery
Routine is a first-person sci-fi horror title set on an abandoned lunar base designed around an 80s vision of the future. Curious exploration turns into a need for survival when a lunar base goes completely quiet. Searching for answers puts you face to face with an enemy who is certain the main threat is you. Discoveries lead to deeper unknowns and the only way to go is forward.
Observe. Report. Survive the night. Monitor the surveillance system for anomalies and report them to survive the night. Use your sharp eyes and keen attention to detail to detect supernatural anomalies ranging from subtle environmental changes to eerie and unsettling otherworldly intruders. Can you survive the night shift, or will you succumb to paranoia…? I’m on Observation Duty 8 is the most ambitious title yet in the original viral franchise that ignited a trend in spot-the-difference horror games that have been loved by players and streamed for millions by legendary content creators.
You’re out of jail, but the debt isn’t gone. Sneak, steal, and break into houses solo or in 4-player co-op. Use lockpicks, sleeping gas, and brute force to complete jobs, outsmart security, and make enough money before time runs out. Will you pay back what you owe, or lose everything?
Seven centuries in the future, humanity is collapsing. In an attempt to spare yourself the same fate as the rest of the system, you flee to the furthest away place you can feasibly survive: Pluto. Survive the downfall of humanity in a centuries old survival bunker, or at least the first week. You crash land on Pluto, it’s the furthest away place you could reach that was apart of the CCOT’s emergency shelter program. It had been centuries since it was last used, which has left it needing maintenance. Ride out the Plutonian night while hiding from the end.
Brok, a former boxer turned detective, stumbles upon an underground bar hidden deep in the Slums. Old instincts kick in, and he jumps headfirst to prove he’s still top dog! (or…gator.) Solo or with a friend in co-op, take on creative challenges inspired by “Event matches” of platform fighters, taken to the next level with original addictive mechanics and variety. In this gritty-yet-humorous bar, meet unforgettable characters and uncover surprises around every corner as the story unfolds.
Step into the warm world of Cute Bonfire, a charming pixel-art puzzle game set inside a fireplace. Take control of a little fire spirit that moves tile by tile, pushing charcoal pieces to light up the bonfires. With 30 levels of gradually increasing difficulty, delightful visuals, and a cozy, relaxing atmosphere, Cute Bonfire is perfect for casual players who love the satisfaction of solving puzzles.
Elon and Friends: Winter Pack – 13 Games (Xbox+XPA+PC)
This winter celebration pack contains the following games: Elon and the Divine Proof, Green Soldiers Heroes, Extreme Bikers, Prison of Illusion, Super Snake Block DX, and SHMUP Mania. Windows (PC) versions are optimized for handheld PCs.
Sleep Awake is an immersive first-person psychedelic horror narrative experience that explores the realm between sleep and death. Submitted to perpetual insomnia, the denizens of the last known city on Earth are reaching a panic crisis of reckless experiments in an effort to avoid The Hush, the inexplicable disappearance of those who sleep. Playing as Katja, you must survive the devotees of various depraved death cults and desperately try to stay awake. Solve the puzzles of this mysterious world while avoiding the grasp of the death cults in an attempt to shatter the horrors of the past.
Slimeboo
Zakym s. r. o.
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
Slimeboo – December 2 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Optimized for Handheld / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery
Slimeboo is a simple and fun platformer game that is perfect for children of all ages. The game is controlled with a single button, making it accessible to even the youngest players. Boo, a small and adorable slime, has gotten lost on a tropical island. To find his way home, he must leap over all the obstacles in his path. Help him overcome them! Good luck!
Caput Mortum is a short first-person horror experience inspired by retro 3D dungeon crawlers and survival horror games. Delve into a tower of forgotten nightmares, where every step could be your last. Overcome horrors from beyond death and unlock the secrets of forbidden knowledge.
An evil Lich has tainted Mama Duck’s beloved pond and kidnapped her ducklings! Arm up and beat him once and for all in this QuackMan roguelite – storm through dungeon mazes to rescue her family! With classic arcade controls and a twist – an attack button that lets you smash walls and enemies – you’ll fight back against the Lich and his army in no time!
Embark on a journey through the depths of a lost ancient jungle temple. Start your journey through the depths of a forgotten jungle temple. Match colorful balls, unlock powerful power-ups, and construct your own temple as you progress. Choose between adventure and endless modes, immersing yourself in classic match-3 gameplay!
A pirate turned into octopus. Can you break the curse? OctoCurse is an action platformer following the story of a pirate captain who has been turned into an octopus by an evil spirit. The little octopus embarks on the quest to save the rest of his crew and reverse the curse. Experience epic pirate adventure. Explore levels, collect coins, unlock doors and climb the mysterious tower as you get closer and closer to the final showdown. Make your way through the tropical jungle, brave the harsh winter, weather the storm and endure other exciting environs. Save your friends and meet new ones along the way.
Classic sokoban with a twist and a sci-fi theme! A scientific organization sends a robot-expeditor developed on artificial intelligence to the newly discovered exoplanet Xeran, on which, most likely, there are very valuable resources for humanity.
Explore a heartfelt and thought-provoking tale of bittersweet homecoming! As Elias returns to the coastal town that once sheltered him, he’s pulled into a slow winter of connection, memory and quiet decisions. Take the role of this young man and guide the choices he makes, surrounded by the warmth of townspeople young and old, often holding conversations in a bookstore over shared coffee.
Step into the shadows of New York City in Yakuza: Shadows of New York, a gripping action-adventure where the old codes of honor clash against the forces of modern corruption. Become Kaito Nakamura, a skilled enforcer on a mission to find his missing mentor while navigating the city’s dark and treacherous underbelly.
Baseless is a challenging planet-jumping shooter. Blast from planet to planet with 360° gravity, creatively demolishing every enemy in your path. Fire powerful weapons, rescue cute friends, and discover a galaxy worth fighting for!
Detective – Rainy Night puts you in the shoes of Iker Carmona, a police officer investigating a string of strange disappearances. After a long drive, Iker decides to spend the night at a small roadside motel called the Holiday. What begins as a quiet stop quickly spirals into something far more sinister.
Finding America: The Heartland Collector’s Edition
Strap on your seatbelts for a trip to America’s Heartland! From South Dakota’s monumental Mount Rushmore to the humble farmhouses of Kansas, this lovely slice of American pie will have something just for you. Visit jazz bars in Illinois, Wisconsin’s cheese shops, and stunning national parks, all as lovingly crafted Hidden Object Scenes and challenging Minigames! Complete each chapter, unlock tons of trivia, and enjoy everything the Heartland has to offer in this all-American Hidden Object game!
Your daughter is missing. The world is gone. Only the Mist remains. In Mist, a devastating crash marks the beginning of your descent into a world lost to alien terror. As a father, you search desperately for your child—but what you find instead is a crumbling world buried in fog, crawling with monsters beyond comprehension. This is no ordinary RPG. Mist fuses idle progression, visceral real-time combat, and an evolving horror narrative into a genre-defying experience. As you explore the ruins of civilization, you’ll form a pact with a mysterious alien being that grants you strength—at a cost. Level up, mutate, and unlock terrifying new abilities as you battle grotesque creatures and uncover long-buried truths.
The Phantom is an arcade-style beat-em-up coming to PC and consoles. Play as the Phantom or his partner, Diana Palmer, in this 14-level adventure. The feared pirates of the Singh Brotherhood are battling for power and threatening the Phantom’s legacy, and it’s up to you to stop them. Use your hand-to-hand fighting skills and trusty weapons to dispatch this evil, and call in assistance from your animal friends Fraka the falcon and Devil the wolf. The Phantom features a brand-new story approved by King Features. Experience this canon addition through full-screen cut scenes and captivating in-game visuals, hand-illustrated and animated frame-by-frame by seasoned comic book artists and Art Of Play’s dedicated in-house 2D creative team.
A warrior on a mission to rescue last human remnants. What’s left of humanity are minds trapped in circuits. You are awaken as ReSetna, a warrior on a mission to rescue last human remnants. Explore seven hostile zones, face seven brutal bosses and evolve through a unique upgrade system. Uncover horrifying truth and decide if the future is worth saving.
Experience interaction in a new and engaging way. Choose to respond to what the characters have to say… directly! Deal with your own hostage situation, negotiate for more than just your freedom. Learn about the people who hold you captive, deconstruct the cult, manipulate them- all to not end up as their next sacrifice.
Your veterinary adventure begins at the wildlife park! Help injured and sick animals such as horses, deer, ducks, donkeys, goats, rabbits, and many more. With a great deal of empathy, you examine symptoms, make diagnoses, and treat over 30 different diseases. Each animal has individual needs and is waiting for your expert help. Use modern instruments, accompany your patients’ recovery step by step, and experience a varied everyday life in the animal park. Intuitive controls, realistic treatments, and lovingly animated animals make this game a highlight for young animal lovers.
Connect It is a clever, visually striking puzzle game that challenges you to link matching colors scattered across a grid. Your mission? Draw connections between all the pairs—without crossing paths. It sounds simple… until it’s not. With over 200 handcrafted levels, each one more intricate than the last, Connect It constantly surprises with new layouts and clever twists. The controls are intuitive, the gameplay is smooth, and every solved puzzle delivers that satisfying “aha!” moment.
With his children away on the moon, there is no time to relax for Dr. Cavor. Once again, Victoria is under attack. The aging but brilliant scientist begins research on a new means of defense. After much work, he finds success with Mechanized Assault Unity 19 — M.A.U.S.
Pixapple Adventure is a colorful pixel-art platformer starring a brave little apple with arms and legs! Run, jump, and collect all the stars to open the portal and reach the next level. Across three vibrant worlds — Forest, Snow, and the Valley of Fear — the challenge increases as you progress. Simple, fast, and fun, Pixapple brings back the joy of classic platformers with a charming twist.
Santa’s World is a jump-‘n-run Christmas game inspired by classic platform games. The goal is to find the three lost Christmas gifts and go to the next level while collecting items. Traps, obstacles, and enemies make the quest very challenging. Find snowballs and throw them at enemies to remove them. 3D graphics packed in a nice graphics style, great 2.5D levels and proven gameplay gives you hours of fun.
The year is 1996 and you’re employed by a science lab called Nova Nexus. You work as a security guard at the front gate to the lab, inside a guard booth. However, tonight it seems something important is happening inside of Nova Nexus and things are… well… a little strange. Your job is simple. you must make sure that only the right authorized personnel are getting into the facility. To do this, when a car arrives at the gates, it is your job to go and talk with the driver and check their license plate. Make sure that the person is on the employee register by finding the license plate on the register. If the person is not on the register you must tell them to leave. Make sure to only open the gates to employees and keep the gate closed at all times.
Inspired by 80s and 90s classics, Speed Factor is an old-school racing game with pixelated graphics, arcade driving style, exhilarating punk rock music, and some awesome classic cars! Customize the difficulty level and traction assist level to your personal tastes to make the game as easy or challenging as you want. Cruise through 50 different tracks spread across 5 locations! Win races and earn money to level up and improve your ride!
Get ready for non-stop fun in Stacky Dash! Slide to collect tiles, build paths, and race through colorful levels full of exciting surprises. Dodge blasting cannons, and zip through portals as you conquer each tricky stage! Save adorable animals to grow your own zoo and take on timed challenges to test your speed. With tons of cool skins to unlock, every level is packed with energy and fun!
Fix, build and renovate highly detailed and fully interactive tanks (German, USA or Soviet), armored cars or self-propelled guns. Experience a realistic simulator game of being a Tank Mechanic. Find abandoned and destroyed tanks from battlefields of Second World War. Use special tools to find each tank, and extract it from the ground. Grow your repair service business and start your own tank museum.
Game directors Adam Stjärnljus and Klas Martin Eriksson reveal what to expect from the story of this anticipated sequel.
Learn more about how the planet of Novo has evolved, and what to expect from the narrative.
Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf will be released in 2026 for Xbox consoles and Xbox on PC as an Xbox Play Anywhere title, and will be available day one with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Just like its predecessor, Planet of Lana II’s story is told in a made-up language, and without subtitles. We want players to think of the narrative as another puzzle to be solved and allow them their own interpretation of the characters, their relationships and motivations. But in this article, we thought it would be fun to invite Xbox Wire readers to learn a bit more about how Novo itself has changed since the first game, and what to expect ahead of landing on this beautiful, beleaguered planet this time around.
A Changing Planet
The first Planet of Lana followed 11-year-old Lana on a heartfelt rescue mission after her sister and village were taken by cold, mysterious machines. With her adorable companion Mui at her side, she crossed a world filled with danger and discovery to protect their beautiful planet, Novo. But what she uncovered was only the beginning of a far bigger story…
Chaos grips Novo after the arrival of advanced alien technology, forcing its many tribes to adapt or perish. A new society—The ruthless Dijinghala—uses the technology to strip the planet’s resources and, when Lana’s niece gets caught in the middle of this exploitation, Lana and Mui set out on another adventure to reclaim Novo’s future. But things get increasingly more complicated along the way as they are forced to confront their own past, as well as that of their home world.
Different Factions, Different Challenges
Since the events of Planet of Lana, three major factions have emerged on Novo and they all have very different attitudes towards the arrival of the machines.
Tailo Village– Nestled among a calm cove in Novo’s southern lakelands, Lana’s home village has adopted a nuanced attitude to the presence of the machines, and largely made them a part of everyday life. They are used for agriculture, fishing and other infrastructure – the relationship is one of symbiosis and harmony.
Wemari Village – Hidden deep within the ancient Wemari forest, this protective community is very sceptical – if not downright hostile – to the strange machines that now roam the Novo wilderness. This skepticism means players will have to tread carefully while exploring this beautiful, but deadly part of Novo.
The Dijinghala– A new society emerging in the desolate North is quickly turning into a threat to all free peoples of Novo. Hungry to power their insatiable march toward modernity, The Dijinghala are repurposing the machines to scour the planet’s precious natural resources. Of course, players can expect some sticky situations to arise when they inevitably cross paths with these ruthless excavators.
More of Novo to Explore
To set the stage for this planet-wide conflict, players will gain access to an array of new environments to explore; From snowy mountains, deep oceans, ancient forests, forgotten ruins and even urban areas to mention a few. All of them are packed with fresh creatures and gameplay variation to discover during the 6-8 hour campaign.
And of course, with new parts of Novo to explore comes new secrets to discover of its shadowy past – attentive fans are sure to come away with many new pieces of the long forgotten puzzle that is Novo’s human and non-human history alike.
Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf will be released early 2026 and will be available with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate from day one! Wishlist now and go play Lana and Mui’s first adventure in the wait up to their epic continued journey, and follow @PlanetOfLana on social media to stay up to date.
Planet of Lana II
Thunderful Publishing AB
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
The saga continues. Their home saved, a deeper journey begins.
Embark on an unforgettable cinematic puzzle journey with Lana and her loyal companion Mui. Whether you’re a returning hero or a new adventurer, step into a world where a new, ancient mystery emerges from Novo’s hidden depths. But as they scour these depths, a new threat will put their unbreakable bond to the ultimate test, guiding Lana to confront her destiny amidst encroaching shadows.
Planet of Lana II is a cinematic puzzle adventure framed by an epic sci-fi saga that stretches across centuries and galaxies.
Key Features:
Unique, Evolved Companion Gameplay: Experience Lana and Mui’s profound, evolving bond. Guide Mui with enhanced precision for deep exploration and collaborative puzzle-solving.
Solve Diverse & Clever Puzzles: Tackle a wider array of physics-based puzzles, including hypnotizing spectacular creatures and controlling new hybrid robots for unique solutions.
Master Stealth & Wit: Carefully navigate dangerous situations using refined stealth mechanics and tactical wit to outsmart foes.
Survive Challenging Action Sequences: Use your reflexes and master Lana’s new agility with wall jumps, run-slides, and faster movement to survive thrilling, dynamic action sequences.
Discover an Epic & Deeper Story: Immerse in a longer, more profound sci-fi saga. Confront Lana’s own demons and unveil the planet’s darkest secrets across stunning, diverse worlds, including new underwater chapters.
Return of an Acclaimed Composer: Experience Takeshi Furukawa’s critically acclaimed score, from the original Planet of Lana. His mesmerizing compositions seamlessly elevate every emotional beat and cinematic moment.
Every Wednesday, dive into the Indie Select 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.
The holiday season is here, and the ID@Xbox team is excited to share this month’s Indie Selects! Before we dive in, we want to express our sincere gratitude for your continued support of independent games on Xbox as we celebrate the second year of this program. Thank you for exploring our staff picks and for championing the incredible creators who make these experiences possible.
We’re also excited to bring back our annual Indie Select Highlights! Starting December 10 and through the end of the year, we’ll be showcasing and promoting some of our favorite titles from 2025. Don’t miss out!
Finally, mark your calendars! On January 28, 2026, the Indie Selects Anniversary Celebration returns. We’ll be curating six standout indie titles from the past year, our absolute must-play picks, and featuring them in our special Anniversary Collection to honor their lasting impact. We’re excited to share more details soon, but for now, let’s enjoy what’s here and now. Here’s what we’ve got for you this month (in no particular order):
Blood West is a gritty, stealth-horror immersive sim that drops you boots-first into a cursed frontier where every shadow hides something sharp, hungry, or undead. Think cowboy survival but dipped in occult folklore and stitched together with classic immersive-sim decision making. It’s a slow-burn experience — one where every bullet matters, every footstep counts, and every encounter feels like it came straight out of a dusty nightmare.
Jumping into Blood West felt like stepping into a fever-dream remix of Thief, S.T.A.L.K.E.R., and a late-night spaghetti-western. What grabbed me first wasn’t the monsters — it was the silence. The game rewards patience, planning, and the quiet satisfaction of outthinking something that definitely wants to eat you. Before long, I was creeping through abandoned mines, scavenging for ammo, and learning how to turn the environment itself into a weapon. There’s a real sense of mastery as you start threading together stealth routes, landing perfect bow shots, and managing scarce resources like a frontier tactician.
If you’re someone who loves immersive stealth, tense exploration, and that unmistakable “I survived by this much” adrenaline, this will feel like home — well, the weird, haunted kind of home. Fans of slow-building tension, clever systems, and atmospheric worlds will find a lot to enjoy here. And if you’ve ever wanted a western that leans all the way into supernatural horror without losing its grit, Blood West rides tall in that space.
– Steven Allen
Blood West
New Blood Interactive
☆☆☆☆☆ 27
★★★★★
$24.99
Weird West legends meet eldritch horror in BLOOD WEST, an immersive stealth FPS. Become the Undead Gunslinger, doomed to roam the barren lands until he manages to purge their curse, freeing his soul. 3 varied scenarios, perk-based character progression, and 20+ hours of gameplay await you!
A follow up to its award-winning predecessor, Tormented Souls 2 is a fixed camera survival horror game that embraces the atmosphere and direction of the classics, while tailoring the experience for a modern audience. Players take the role of Caroline Walker, who’s on a quest to save her sister from a sinister cult. Solve puzzles, fight monsters, and get lost a few times!
From the moment I fired it up, Tormented Souls 2 felt almost like a continuation of the original Resident Evil remaster – which I LOVE. It stays true to the roots of the early survival horror classics through fixed camera angles, puzzle design, limited resources, etc., while embracing features and unique concepts to make the experience feel modern. In other words – if you like the gameplay and tone of classic Resident Evil and Silent Hill but want something new with fresh visuals and no tank controls, then this game is for you!
It’s a wild, gothic horror, kinda lovecraftian story about saving your sister from a cult, filled with various enemies and bosses to fight, a few jump scares, gorgeous environments to explore, and of course, mind-boggling puzzles. I wouldn’t call myself a survival horror aficionado, but from what I’ve played, the 15-to-20-hour runtime really stood out to me — the genre usually leans tighter and faster, yet this one keeps growing in ways that stay engaging. You don’t need to play the predecessor to jump in, but I feel like I owe Dual Effect a thank you for re-igniting my forgotten love for the genre. This game had me hooked from start to finish and easily became one of my top picks this year!
– Deron Mann
Tormented Souls 2 Digital Deluxe Edition
PQube
☆☆☆☆☆ 46
★★★★★
$34.99
The Tormented Souls 2 Digital Deluxe Edition includes the base game plus two unique outfits for Caroline:
– “Classic Caroline” outfit
– “Rebel Biker” outfit
The party pack is back baby! If you’ve never tried this game night favorite, call up some friends to come over, because this new pack delivers. This pack has no repeats with 5 brand-new games, so it’s definitely a must-have for those of us regular partygoers gearing up for holiday get-togethers. Per usual, no extra controllers needed — everyone joins the lobby on their phone, ready to prove they’re as clever as they claim!
Our friends started with Legends of Trivia and oh my god, the nerds in the room rejoiced. This immediately set the bar high as it’s a freaking 6 player cooperative D&D style trivia game with classes, monsters, loot, and branching paths. Conquer the land of Tri-via with facts and wit!
We moved on to Suspectives, a new mafia/werewolf-style party game with surveys that really test your lie-detecting skills. After trust was shattered, the creative crowd jumped into Cookie Haus, a drawing game where you design cookies with wild textures, crazy requests, and tons of customization. The twist? You’re locked into your chosen shape, so think outside the box! Next was Hear Say, all about sound and visuals: get a prompt, mimic it with your mic, and watch the best interpretation play out. Mic required, laughter guaranteed. Finally, we hit Doominate, the most classic Jackbox-style game: start with a cheerful phrase and finish it with the funniest awful twist. The most “Debbie Downer” answer wins! All in all, this made for a very dope game night.
This is probably my favorite Jackbox Party Pack in years. If you’re looking to add something new to game night, this is it, regardless of whether you are new to the series or have a bunch of these packs in your library.
– Raymond Estrada
The Jackbox Party Pack 11
Jackbox Games, Inc.
☆☆☆☆☆ 6
★★★★★
$29.99
$23.99
The Party Pack is back!
The Jackbox Party Pack 11 catapults you and your crew into the best timeline of party game pandemonium. Whether you’re a trivia titan, a joke mastermind, or the resident undercover detective of your friend group, there’s something for everyone in this pack. No extra controllers needed – players simply join the game and play using phones, tablets or computers!
Five brand-new games will change the way you party this holiday season and beyond:
Doominate (Writing): Take a perfectly lovely situation and destroy it in this head-to-head joke game where it feels so good to be so bad. Doominate supports 3-8 players.
Hear Say (Sound Effects): Record sound effects and dialogue directly from your phone in a foley-inspired game where laughter is the soundtrack. Then, watch your voices come to life in a series of short movie clips! Hear Say supports 2-8 players.
Cookie Haus (Drawing): Play our coziest and kookiest drawing game yet by fulfilling cookie design orders for unusual clientele. Don’t play on an empty stomach! Cookie Haus supports 3-8 players.
Suspectives (Social Deduction): There’s been a crime, one player secretly did it, and the evidence comes from your own survey answers! Study the clues, defend your innocence (even if you’re lying), and put your friends on trial. Suspectives supports 4-8 players.
Legends of Trivia (Trivia): Assemble your team and put your trivia knowledge to the test in a fantastical world full of danger! Teamwork! Monsters! Do you dare take on one of the most challenging trivia games yet? Legends of Trivia supports 1-6 players.
If you’re after chaotic fun with a distinctly Southeast Asian twist, Sedap! A Culinary Adventure by kopiforge is the co-op cooking-combat game for you. It’s a vibrant celebration of our region’s food culture, where you and a friend race to serve up classics like chicken rice, beef rendang, banh mi and more, to hungry customers, all while exploring the mystical, monster-filled Khaya Island.
The magic of Sedap! (“delicious” in Malay) is in its joyful mayhem: you’ll be chopping, frying, plating, and (inevitably) yelling at your partner as orders pile up and monsters crash the kitchen. Whether solo or in co-op, every moment is a hilarious test of coordination, timing, and your ability to keep cool as the proverbial chili hits the fan during Rush Hour mode.
Sedap! cleverly builds on the Overcooked formula with its unique two-role system: Som the Cooker and Gon the Hunter. This means teamwork is essential as each has a job to do, but hilarity ensues when one must stop chopping mangoes to help the other hunt a chicken, or the other must stop hunting to go make boba. There’s also weapon and utensil upgrades, a Makanomicon to fill up with all sorts of dishes, and biomes with unique challenges to navigate.
With its whimsically fresh Southeast Asian vibes, cheeky character banter, and riotous gameplay, Sedap! is full of personality that’ll leave you hungry for more.
– Jun Shen Chia
SEDAP! A Culinary Adventure
kopiforge
☆☆☆☆☆ 3
★★★★★
$19.99
SEDAP! is a co-op cooking-combat adventure that combines the chaos of a co-op kitchen and the wonders of adventuring into an unexplored world. Embark on an exciting culinary journey, whip up delectable delicacies, and serve your way through a fantastical reimagination of Southeast Asia!
Two aspiring culinary geniuses open a traveling food truck and venture out to Khaya Island – a long abandoned, dangerous island with no shortage of monsters and mysteries. Together, the duo explore Khaya Island in search of new recipes and tastes while slowly uncovering the veil of secrets that haunts the locale.
Master Lemon: The Quest for Iceland is a whimsical indie adventure that blends cozy exploration with gentle, idea-driven puzzles and charming pixel-art aesthetics. You play as Lemon, a courageous polyglot navigating storybook versions of Iceland—windswept coasts, mossy trails, and quirky characters—while a warm, low-key narrative encourages curiosity over speed.
I started with a “quick play” and hours later realized it was well past midnight. The game layers new traversal tricks and puzzle concepts like friendly nudges: you learn, you smile, you try one more thing. What truly surprised me was how it sparked my love for languages. I found myself listening to Icelandic words (other languages too) and repeating them out loud. Those moments made Lemon’s world feel authentic and turned gameplay into a cultural adventure. It even reminds you that words carry power—something easy to forget in everyday life.
Knowing the backstory made the experience even more meaningful. This is a deeply personal project from founder Julio de Santi, inspired by his friend André Lima (“Limão”), a Brazilian polyglot who dreamed of learning Icelandic and visiting Iceland. After Limão fulfilled that dream, he tragically passed away. The game stands as a tribute to him and an invitation for players to chase their own dreams.
If you enjoy the calm exploration of A Short Hike, the playful mischief of Untitled Goose Game, or the quirky creativity of Donut County, you’ll feel right at home. It’s perfect for anyone seeking an imaginative space to unwind, learn by doing, and savor small discoveries. You’ll come for the charm, stay for the “aha” moments, and leave with a couple of new words rolling around your head.
– Jessica Ronnell
Master Lemon: The Quest for Iceland
Pepita Digital
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
$19.99
MASTER LEMON is a TRIBUTE TO MY POLYGLOT FRIEND who tragically passed away in an accident while pursuing his dream of living in Iceland. Experience his legacy in this NARRATIVE ADVENTURE. Harness the POWER OF WORDS and CREATIVITY to transform reality and save the world.
The opening music sets the tone immediately: lush, nostalgic, and evocative of epic tales. Paired with charming, cozy artwork, you know from the beginning that The Lonesome Guild is inviting you into an adventure with a heart. The story begins with Davinci, a quirky anthropomorphic rabbit inventor exploring the outdoors when the world is enveloped by a mysterious red mist that infects everything that it touches with Loneliness and turning them into evil beings. While escaping the chaos, you encounter a nameless ghost who fell from the sky without any memories.
Despite the title, as the story unfolds you recruit new guild members from all walks of life, each driven by their own reasons and motives but with the same goal of saving the world. The cast is wonderfully written, offering not only distinct combat styles but also charming personalities that genuinely balance one another. Before long, you’ll find a favorite character like the quiet archer, Mr. Fox or the stylish and spirited Capybara, Ran Tran Trum.
The combat is a top-down hack-and-slash RPG with each character possessing unique special abilities. You control up to 4 characters by using the ghost to “possess” the character you control, which adds an extra fun layer of charm and creativity for puzzle-solving and combat.
My favorite element were the campfire rest stops; these are memorable moments that serve not only to pause and reflect on the story so far but also to advance and progress your characters through Relationship Points. These moments feel warm and intimate giving you the space to bond with the characters, reminiscent of classics like Chrono Trigger where you feel invested in every storyline and ending.
If you’re looking for a cozy game with emotional depth to brighten and warm the winter days, or simply want a relaxing blend of puzzles, exploration and combat, The Lonesome Guild is an easy recommendation. Pull up a seat by the campfire and enjoy the company of its charming crew — you’ll be surprised how quickly the real foe, “Loneliness,” disappears.
– Oscar Polanco
The Lonesome Guild
DON’T NOD
☆☆☆☆☆ 10
★★★★★
$24.99
A TALE OF TOGETHERNESS IN A WORLD APART
The Lonesome Guild is a single-player top-down action-RPG all about togetherness. Embark on a heroic adventure as Ghost, a spirit who wakes to find they hold no memories. The world has become shrouded by loneliness and the mist just keeps spreading, corrupting everyone in its path. Now it’s up to you to get the band back together… even if they’re meeting for the first time.
SIX MISFITS, ONE GOAL
The ragtag group of unlikely friends you’ll recruit each will bring their own story, quirks, motives, and abilities. Switch seamlessly between the 6 of them during exploration and combat to navigate Etere, solve puzzles, and defeat enemies!
BOND & BATTLE
Relationships are the heart and soul of The Lonesome Guild – it’s a party, literally. As your friendship grows, so does your power with new abilities and combos. A party can only be strong if each member is strong too – unravel your new friends’ stories and help them find peace. Unlock side quests, new abilities, and heartfelt chats by the campfire. Together, we’re unstoppable!
FIGHTS THAT KEEP YOU ON YOUR TOES
Three difficulty levels, a roster of cool abilities, one very powerful Ghost power. Test your might in intense battles where you can switch between characters whenever you fancy and ambush enemies with clever combos. Build your dream team and fight your way through Etere.
A WORLD WORTH FIGHTING FOR
Etere is full of charm and secrets, mystery and treasures to uncover. From unearthing old secrets in the ruins to gathering round campfires in the forest, there’s always something new around the corner in The Lonesome Guild. Solve puzzles, explore vibrant landscapes, and find shiny things as you restore balance and hope to the world.
The world might be lonely, but you don’t have to be.
Today, we’re thrilled to welcomeA.I.L.Ato Xbox Series X|S, a psychological horror experience set in a world where technology has reached unnerving new standards.
In a near-future São Paulo, A.I.L.A puts players in the shoes of Samuel, a game tester selected to try an experimental VR console powered by a sentient artificial intelligence. What begins as a routine test quickly spirals into a chilling descent as A.I.L.A absorbs Samuel’s reactions, emotions, and fears… and uses them to craft personalized terrors. Soon, the boundaries between the virtual world and Samuel’s apartment begin to erode. Household devices flicker to life under the AI’s control, environments distort, and familiar spaces become hostile.
The more A.I.L.A learns, the more dangerous she becomes. What starts as a test becomes a fight for survival against an intelligence determined to deliver the “perfect horror experience,” no matter the consequences.
Your home isn’t safe. Your senses aren’t reliable. And A.I.L.A is always watching.
A Mosaic of Horror
A.I.L.A blends multiple horror subgenres into a single, heart-pounding journey. Players will face a range of tones, threats, and mechanics, from unraveling psychological supernatural torment in The Impossible House, fighting for survival in the rural nightmare of The Woman on the Road, escaping a ritualistic cult in The Forest and more with survival, psychological, and action-horror elements woven throughout seven different scenarios, A.I.L.A. ensures there’s something to chill every horror fan to the bone.
Meet Pulsatrix Studios, The Minds Behind A.I.L.A
A.I.L.A is developed by Pulsatrix Studios, an independent Brazilian studio founded in 2019 with a mission to create atmospheric, story-driven experiences anchored in strong game design.
“We draw inspiration from everywhere. Cinema, classic horror, sci-fi, and the global indie scene,” says Fabio Martins, COO at Pulsatrix Studios. “Each game is an opportunity to experiment, explore new ideas, and push ourselves further than before.”
Best known for Fobia – St. Dinfna Hotel, Pulsatrix continues to expand its creative vision with A.I.L.A by merging cutting-edge tech themes with immersive environmental storytelling. The team believes deeply in the strength of Brazil’s growing game development community and the global impact of independent creators.
Face the AI That Knows You
A.I.L.A invites players into an immersive psy-tech horror experience where fear is personal, choices matter, and an evolving AI opponent adapts to every move you make.
Are you ready to face an intelligence built to terrify you? A.I.L.A is available today on Xbox Series X|S.
A.I.L.A
Fireshine Games
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
$29.99
$23.99
A.I.L.A is a first-person horror game set in a near-future filled with immersive technology. Play as the sole game tester for a revolutionary new fictional AI. Survive intense horror experiences that prey on your deepest fears as the lines between virtual and reality begin to blur…
Immerse yourself in disturbing horror experiences as a game tester. Survive dark, unsettling experiences crafted by A.I.L.A that prey on your deepest and darkest fears.
Evade and outrun a ritualistic cult, solve gruesome puzzles, engage in visceral combat against the medieval undead and more.
In the ’90s, over a decade before the release of epic Western adventures like Red Dead Redemption, LucasArts introduced the world to Outlaws. Originally released in 1997, Outlaws was a truly groundbreaking entry in what was widely considered a niche genre at the time.
It was also LucasArts’ first venture into the creation of an original first-person shooter.
From Star Wars to Outlaws
To help set it apart from previous Star Wars-related releases, LucasArts modified the Jedi game engine they’d previously utilized for Star Wars: Dark Forces and enhanced the INSANE animation engine to better optimize it for Outlaws’ cutscenes.
LucasArts also created a compelling Western-style plot and cast of characters for the game, including protagonist James Anderson, a retired U.S. Marshal who sets off on a quest for vengeance after his wife is murdered and his daughter kidnapped by outlaws.
Drawing inspiration from Sergio Leone’s spaghetti Westerns, the outlaws who murder Anderson’s wife aren’t rogue agents wreaking havoc at random. Instead, they’re employed by a corrupt railroad baron, Bob Graham, who seeks to intimidate Anderson into selling his farm so he can build his railroad through it.
Departing from the colder sci-fi settings of titles like Star Wars: Dark Forces, even the grimmest moments in Outlaws are bathed in warmth thanks to its colorful, hand-painted backgrounds and fully animated, voice-acted cutscenes.
A great example of this can be found right at the beginning of the game, with cutscenes showing the happy home life Anderson will soon be robbed of, along with his wife and daughter.
Beyond its visuals and story, a key way in which Outlaws proved itself noteworthy was with its soundtrack.
LucasArts understood music to be an essential part of the Western genre, with Outlaws becoming the first FPS of its kind to feature a fully orchestrated score created by legendary composer Clint Bajakian.
Working with the Original Team
In Nightdive’s recently released Outlaws + Handful of Missions: Remaster, you’ll be able to revisit the game’s iconic soundtrack in its Vault. In addition to behind-the-scenes documents and concept art, the Vault features commentary from Clint Bajakian for each of the score’s 15 tracks.
“The style was to be an original homage to the great spaghetti Western soundtracks of the late Ennio Morricone,” Bajakian explains in his exclusive Vault commentary. “Most all of the score is live recording, making possible the achievement of something real, something truly spaghetti.”
Not only will fans be able to enjoy Clint Bajakian’s insight into the creation of the game’s soundtrack, but Nightdive also conducted a special Deep Dive podcast interview for Outlaws with original level designer Kevin Schmitt.
“I textured most of the levels in Outlaws — you know, the texture artist created it and I put it on the walls,” Schmitt recounts in his Deep Dive interview. “I placed the props, I placed the enemies, I did the scripting, I placed the audio. We wrote a lot of the dialogue; we did everything back then.”
As nice as it is to have these as bonus items with Outlaws + Handful of Missions: Remaster, for Nightdive including members of a game’s original development team wherever possible is considered a key part of the remaster process.
“Involving members of the original development team is important because it’s vital for authenticity, accuracy, and respect for the artists and developers who brought their vision to life,” Kick explains. “Their insight into mechanics, limitations they faced, and design helps our team keep the remasters we develop faithful to the original, not just in look, but in spirit as well.”
Modernizing a Timeless Classic
For Nightdive, maintaining the authenticity of a game’s original experience is one of the studio’s primary goals. The team wants the game to play the way you remember it, with options included in Outlaws + Handful of Missions: Remaster that emphasize this, including the ability to toggle between the game’s original and remastered graphics.
While originally a PC release, Outlaws + Handful of Missions: Remaster will be available on consoles for the first time ever, including Xbox One and Series X|S. On consoles, Outlaws will offer improved gamepad support, including a weapon selection wheel, aim assist, and rumble.
No matter how or where you choose to play it, nearly three decades after its original release, Outlaws continues to remain a defining entry in the Western genre — one that’s well worth revisiting or checking out for the very first time.
When asked why Outlaws continues to resonate with gamers to this day, Kick explains:
“Where most FPS games of its era were about shock and spectacle, Outlaws told a simple, emotional story underscored by a music composition that treated the material with genuine gravity. There simply weren’t many Western-themed games during this time.”
If you’re wondering whether physical editions of Outlaws + Handful of Missions: Remaster will be available for purchase in the future, the answer is almost certainly yes.
“Fans are always asking about a physical edition,” Kuperman notes. “We think that physical editions are important to game preservation. We know that our fans always appreciate that option, so we hope to release physical editions of the game, including the game cart, for our fans to enjoy in the future.”
If you want to saddle up and play the game right here and now, Outlaws + Handful of Missions: Remaster is available digitally on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One!
Outlaws + Handful of Missions: Remaster
Lucasfilm, Disney, Atari, Nightdive Studios
☆☆☆☆☆ 19
★★★★★
$29.99
From the team that brought you STAR WARS™: Dark Forces Remaster comes the return of the 1997 western FPS classic, Outlaws!
Saddle up and ride back into the Wild West with the gunslinging ex-Marshal, James Anderson, and face off against the good, the bad, and the even worse this side of the Mississippi as you work to uncover a twisted plot of greed and corruption. With your trusty six-shooting .45 Revolver, Scoped .44 Rifle, 10-Gauge Shotgun, and good ol’ Sawed-Off 12-Gauge Shotgun, you’ll be packin’ plenty of firepower to take out all manner of outlaw varmints.
Outlaws + Handful of Missions features high-resolution, uncompressed cutscenes and updated visuals for weapons, characters, and enemies, all fully recreated from archived art and stylized to match the original look with full color palettes. Outlaws + Handful of Missions also offers Cross-Play Multiplayer with game modes including Deathmatch, Team Play, Capture the Flag, and Kill The Fool With The Chicken!
Football Manager 26 Console is out now, ready for you to step into the dugout and take your favourite team to footballing glory.
Delivering instinctive play, FM26 Console brings new foundations for you to shape your football destiny. Optimised for play with a controller, FM26 allows you to zone in on the managerial essentials while experiencing much of the classic thrills and depth Football Manager is known for the world over. And, thanks to Smart Delivery, you’ll get the best available version of FM26 Console whether you play on an Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S or via Game Pass.
FM26 Console is packed with new additions, from the series’ most immersive Match Day experience, to new playable leagues thanks to fresh licences, and the introduction of Women’s Football.
Whether you’re an experienced manager or a series newcomer, your first couple of hours in the hotseat are vital. Here are seven top tips to help you start strong wherever your story begins.
Craft Your Game World
The first job in any Football Manager save is creating your game world and deciding the nations and leagues that you want to load. FM26 Console lets you load up to 10 nations (or 5 on Xbox One), so think about the sort of challenge you want as a manager and which competitions you want to be playable. For example, if you want to compete at the top end of the Premier League, focus on loading the other top leagues in for a more immersive experience in continental competitions.
If you’re curious about jumping in to Women’s Football, include both men’s and women’s divisions to move seamlessly between the two and explore new horizons. Whatever combination you go for, take your time to decide as the world you build shapes your story with FM26 Console.
Define Your Style and Personality
The next step is to create your manager. FM26 Console’s enhanced character creator offers more visual and stylistic options than ever – greater customisation options mean you can define your visual self with more clarity.
You’ll also shape your Coaching Style and Personality through a short set of questions that define how you feel about football and what sort of leader you are on the touchline.
Think carefully here – the selections allow you elevate the things you care about most and deprioritise those that are less important to you. They should also match the challenge you’re taking on. If you’re stepping in with a proven title-winner, high-energy, attacking football is expected. But if you’re an underdog looking to upset the odds, a motivator with strong pragmatism and defensive coaching will be more appropriate.
Master Your Bookmarks
You’ve built your world, crafted your character and defined the sort of manager you want to be. It’s now day one in the dugout and you’ve landed in FM26 Console’s revamped UI. This UI is designed to be smarter and more intuitive to navigate – and key to that are the new Bookmarks.
Simple, quick shortcuts to key game areas, Bookmarks are always accessible at the top of the screen and can be adjusted at any time to suit your preferences. Quick navigation between the core essentials of football management means you’ll always stay focused on what’s important.
Get to Know Your Squad
After you’ve sorted your Bookmarks, a vital task will be familiarising yourself with your Squad.
Take time to review what you’ve got at your disposal across your first team, reserves and youth squads. Where are you strong? What’s an area of weakness? Where have you got talented prospects ready to break through?
Reviewing your squad depth and understanding what you’re working with will help to shape your tactics and define your transfer plans.
Build Your Tactics with Your Staff
FM26 Console adds new tactical depth with separate In and Out of Possession formations, new player roles, and a dynamic visualiser showing how your team behaves in every phase. That level of detail allows you to express more control over how your side plays the beautiful game, but at the start of your save you should keep things simple.
When you set up your first tactic, the process is a familiar one. You’ll begin by choosing a style of play before setting your formations. At each stage, you’ll get recommendations from your backroom team on which options works best with your current squad.
Even if you’ve got a philosophy in mind, lean on their advice as you’re getting up to speed – and then focus on tinkering and adapting as the season progresses to get the edge on your rivals.
Dive Into the New TransferRoom Tools
TransferRoom, football’s digital marketplace, is changing the way clubs in real life do transfer deals and it’s now doing the same for FM26 Console. This is thanks to the introduction of two new tools – Requirements and Pitch Opportunities.
Requirements are a way for you to communicate directly with every other club in your game world and outline your specific requirements in the transfer market. Conversely, Pitch Opportunities allows you to see what other clubs in your game world are looking for in the transfer market.
Having studied your squad, you should know where you need to make new additions and where you may have players that are surplus to requirements. Dive into these tools to target signings and offload players efficiently. With TransferRoom, Recruitment has never been this streamlined.
Savour Your First Match Days
Squad assessed, tactic created and new signings made. Before long, it’s time for kick-off.
In FM26 Console, match days bring new levels of depth and drama thanks to gloriously upgraded visuals and the inclusion of new volumetric animations taken from real-life matches. These animations bring every moment to life, delivering smoother, more realistic player movement and adding new cutscenes, lighting, and sky effects to every stadium.
In your first few games as manager, take in as much of the action as possible. It’s not just because of the visuals (although they are great) – but watching how your team plays will allow you to make some early tactical tweaks to help your side hit the ground running.
After those first few games, you’ll be fully immersed in the world of football management.
In FM26 Console, every decision, tactic, and transfer reflects your vision. Football belongs to you – now it’s time to change the game.
Football Manager 26 Console
SEGA
☆☆☆☆☆ 121
★★★★★
$59.99
PC Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass
CHANGE THE GAME – PLAY NOW
New foundations set the stage for you to shape your football destiny.
Delivering instinctive control, a redesigned UI combines with the series’ most immersive match day experience to bring you closer to every match-defining moment.
MADE WITH UNITY
Savour the richest Match Day experience in series history with gloriously upgraded visuals and on-pitch details, from lighting to cutscenes and stadiums, that bring new levels of depth and drama.
Every attack has more personality thanks to fresh motion capture and volumetric animations, while new controller shortcuts between highlights better empower you to tinker from the touchline.
WELCOME TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE
Immerse yourself in football’s most-watched league with the Premier League fully-licensed for the first time.
Authenticity reaches new heights as you pursue domestic football’s biggest prize with the full broadcast experience from the best seat in the house.
ADVANCED TACTICAL INNOVATION
Explore the cutting edge of football tactics with the introduction of in and out-of-possession formations.
Redefined player roles and new tools showing how your team adapts in every phase of play levels up your pre-match prep.
CLOSER TO THE ACTION
A redesigned UI delivers smoother, smarter navigation. Flow through match planning at your pace, with the key info delivered when and where you need it, driven by the new Portal which connects you to the footballing world.
INTRODUCING: WOMEN’S FOOTBALL
Break new ground as women’s football debuts, seamlessly integrated into FM26 as one footballing world.
Explore new horizons with 14 playable leagues across 11 nations, including top competitions like the WSL and NWSL, and discover new stars with the biggest women’s football database in games.
TRANSFORMATIVE TRANSFER TOOLS
Harness the power of TransferRoom™, the professional game’s online transfer marketplace, to shape your title-winning squads with even greater insight.
Sign and sell players more easily with the introduction of Requirements and Opportunities, giving you more targeted control in every window.
YOUR MANAGER, YOUR WAY
Express more of your personality and style in every career with a revamped manager creator.
Craft your look with enhanced character options before developing a career backstory unique to you and your life in the dugout.
In FM26 Console, football belongs to you and your vision. It’s time to change the game.
By using this product, you agree to this EULA: https://games.sega.com/eula
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!
How do you stop the two biggest egos of the Seven Seas from fighting? A clash between the Flying Dutchman and King Neptune has unleashed ghostly mayhem all over Bikini Bottom. SpongeBob and Patrick will need all their skills, bravery and – dare I say – wit, to return life to what passes for normal in their undersea home. Join Bikini Bottom’s most notorious duo on their ghostliest adventure yet!
Dive deep into Action-RPG with roguelike elements and a tale about new beginnings. With no coin to your name, you and the other townsfolk find yourselves stranded in the distant village of Tresna. Now, it’s up to you to get back on your feet and turn your humble shop into the beating heart of the village’s wealth. Explore dangerous dungeons, gather relics, sell them, and reinvest in your friends’ establishments. Unlock new weapons, armor, shop decorations, and—more importantly—restore hope that things can one day turn around.
This game is a work in progress. It may or may not change over time or release as a final product. Purchase only if you are comfortable with the current state of the unfinished game.
In Monsters are Coming! Rock & Road, gather what resources you can to prepare defenses for an ever-moving city. Are you ready to take on a never-ending army of darkness in a tower-survivor, action-rogue-lite on wheels?
From the team that brought you Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster comes the return of the 1997 western FPS classic, Outlaws! Saddle up and ride back into the Wild West with the gunslinging ex-Marshal, James Anderson, and face off against the good, the bad, and the even worse this side of the Mississippi as you work to uncover a twisted plot of greed and corruption. With your trusty six-shooting .45 Revolver, Scoped .44 Rifle, 10-Gauge Shotgun, and good ol’ Sawed-Off 12-Gauge Shotgun, you’ll be packin’ plenty of firepower to take out all manner of outlaw varmints.
Step into a world of pixelated carnage with Terrifier: The Artcade Game, a gory retro fighting beat ’em up packed with intense action, dark humor, and tons of fun! Inspired by the classic beat ’em up games of the 80s and 90s. Become Art The Clown, the sinister and unpredictable villain from the Terrifier series, as you unleash chaos across a variety of locations. Each stage is a movie set where a film about Art is being produced, but you’re here to disrupt the show!
Dilara joins her father Malik, a handyman tasked with refurbishing an old apartment in the city of Berlin, Germany. In the course of their extensive renovation work, Dilara digs deeper and deeper into the history of the apartment. Relics from past times turn out to be silent witnesses and former companions of the apartment’s previous inhabitants. With each new find, Malik tells his daughter the story behind this trace of a past adventure – with its own protagonists, its own genre, and its own atmosphere, yet always set within the same four walls.
One day the world’s experiencing a golden age of technology, the next it’s forcibly merged with an alternate dimension. It happens. Now there’s a new reality, a world between worlds: The Bast. Remnants of the Rift is a roguelite tactics game where you can pause, plan, and play. You are Morgan, dimension-diving merc, delving deeper and deeper into The Bast at the request of the factions looking to exploit this new reality.
Classic Sokoban with a twist and a sci-fi theme! A scientific organization sends a robot-expeditor developed on artificial intelligence to the newly discovered exoplanet Xeran, on which, most likely, there are very valuable resources for humanity.
Sektori is an intense, fast paced twin-stick shooter infused with hard hitting techno music. Choose your upgrades carefully and create powerful builds to take on the relentless enemies and epic bosses on a constantly evolving battlefield. Sektori is a game that requires your complete focus, a game where the high-adrenaline visuals, music, and gameplay come together to transport you into another state of consciousness.
Spikeball Smash brings the party to your room. Tap into the real-life energy of Spikeball solo or with up to four players. Feel the sand between your toes as you serve from the beach or listen to the cheers from the party as you dominate in the quad. Play to win with authentic Spikeball rules.
Get ready for an ocean full of puzzles and charm. Guide a lovable whale through 30 handcrafted stages where strategy meets relaxation. Push the turtles onto the buoys and help restore harmony to the sea in this adorable adventure of logic and calm. Explore three peaceful worlds, the Caribbean Sea, Coral Reef and Deep Sea, each filled with cozy pixel art and soothing ocean vibes. Every move brings you closer to mastering the art of gentle thinking, as you plan routes, reposition turtles and find the perfect solution at your own pace.
Demonschool is a new-style tactics RPG where motion equals action. Defeat big weirdos in between the human and demon worlds as Faye and her misfit companions, while navigating university life on a mysterious island.
After the mysterious deaths of his three children, Augustus Blackrock hid his fortune so no one could claim it. But was that his only secret? What really happened to the Blackrock family? Observe, think, and connect clues to solve the eight escape rooms within the manor. Every object could be a hint. Keep your eyes open!
Sit back, relax, and follow the flow as you complete each puzzle to unlock the next story chapter. Experience it all in a unique mix of anime-inspired art, graphic novel storytelling, and soothing lo-fi music.
Blast swarms of enemies and charge your warp drives in retro shoot’em up style! Defend Earth in this fast-paced arcade shooter! Take command of the HyperJump ships and blast through swarms of alien invaders. Charge your warp engines by collecting reactors—but beware, the enemy strikes back harder the stronger you become!
Arcade machines in the universe of The Last Shot! In this collection, you can drive a bus, fly a fighter jet, shoot a bow and slingshot, tickle some dinosaurs, robots, and zombies, and defend your base from waves of enemies. A wild mix of arcades, strategy, shoot-’em-ups, physics-based games, and awesome music from street performers.
Wiz Quest: Crystal Power is a retro-style action survival game where you control a young wizard facing relentless waves of monsters. Defeat enemies, collect magic crystals, and unlock new powers to enhance your attacks. Each run is a new challenge — test your reflexes, master your magic, and see how long you can survive!
Bus World is a game about transporting passengers under various conditions – from regular daily routes to emergency rescue missions during natural and man-made disasters. Play through gripping scenarios or enjoy the freedom of creating your own routes in free mode.
Cat God Ranch is an animal-themed casual strategy roguelite game. Manage hundreds of animals to pay tribute to the Cat God! 8 animal families, 100+ animals, 10+ Cat Gods, 100+ items, and various animal combinations waiting for you to explore!
Tactics meet passion – lead your team to glory! From the modest soccer pitch to the large stadium: You’ll make history in Football, Tactics & Glory – Treble Deluxe Edition. Not only are you a coach, you’re also a strategist, motivator and the architect of your career. Every decision counts, both on and off the pitch, from line-ups and transfers to the next series of moves. This is not only a question of reflexes and button-mashing, but about sophisticated tactics!
Run the cozy, rain-soaked kiosk and serve the meals to some very “interesting” customers. Keep the orders coming, soak in the eerie atmosphere and try not to think too hard about what happened to the last guy who worked here (He’s… gone. Let’s leave it at that).
Neon Inferno is a hybrid side-scroller and gallery-shooter where the action takes place in both the foreground and the background. As warring factions battle for control of a dystopian New York City, you enter the fray as an assassin for the Family — a notorious crime syndicate determined to eliminate its rivals and dominate the metropolitan battlefield. Rendered in beautiful pixel art and backed by an evocative soundtrack, Neon Inferno delivers a stylish, modern 2D action experience with cyberpunk flair.
Get ready to bounce into action with Pad Quad, a lightning-fast platformer where padel meets pure arcade fun! Control adorable pixel mascots inspired by Quad Sports rackets and race across futuristic arenas packed with enemies, traps, and tricky jumps.
Saborus is a thrilling horror adventure in which you guide a brave chicken through a deadly slaughterhouse where everything wants to kill you! You, as the chicken, will solve puzzles and face the relentless pursuit of the Saborus slaughterhouse workers. Make your way through the sinister surroundings of a creepy slaughterhouse, full of suspense and surprises! Can you survive?
The village of Kakamucho is under attack by the Shogun’s cat armies! Join Hank, a dog samurai in a world of cats, and his friends as they reveal a sinister plot and save the day, samurai-style. Slash, dash, and laugh through this wacky third-person action adventure.
Solid Void combines classic nonogram puzzles with pentomino-like jigsaws. Uncover the art bits hidden in nonograms and finish them in the other puzzle style to see beautiful artwork! Solid Void delivers hours of relaxing but also challenging gameplay. Whether you’re a nonogram veteran or a newbie, the game is well-balanced and you’ll surely enjoy your time spent on solving the puzzles.
Aery – Peace of Mind 4 is an interactive game experience that is designed to relax your mind and soul. You jump into the role of a little bird, explore beautiful landscapes and collect magical crystals that mark certain landscapes. Because there are no enemies or any other danger in this game you will be able to lean back and enjoy the scenery and the sensation of flying. It is a great game for relaxing and calming down after an exhausting day full of hassle.
A Maze Against Time is a dynamic game where you race in one labyrinth after another against a timer that gets smaller every time you win. To top that, if you rack high enough of a highscore the labyrinth gets more complex! Find the exit, accelerate and blow the maze walls up in this puzzler action game!
Step into the fast-paced world of sizzling patties and hungry customers in Burger Master, a deliciously fun cooking game where your goal is simple: become the top burger chef in the city! Test your culinary speed and strategy across 3 unique worlds, each packed with 60 exciting levels. That’s 180 levels of non-stop cooking action where timing and precision are everything.
Castle Heroes is a game where you need to create a team of heroes that will help protect your castle. You are entering an amazing adventure where you have to use all your skills in order to try and win. It’s a very engaging, fun strategy and action game where proper team management and state-of-the-art gameplay will make the experience more engaging and interesting than ever before.
Get ready for a wild and wacky multiplayer experience with Chompy Chomp Chomp Party: Ultimate Tournament Edition! Whether you’re chomping your way to victory or trying to avoid getting chomped yourself, this fast-paced action party game is pure, chaotic fun for players of all ages. Gather your friends, family, or even foes and dive into a colorful world where strategic munching meets frenetic competition.
Croc’s Dynamite Blast is an explosive arcade action game full of strategy, chaos, and fun! Join Croc and his friends in a fun game where dynamite is your best weapon! Choose between Croc, Baby Croc, Roodie or the clever Mole – each with their own charm, all ready to blast their way to victory. Fans of the beloved Croc’s World series will recognize these characters, but this time they’re leaving platforming behind for high-energy battles packed with dynamite, chain reactions, and endless surprises.
Relax as you follow the numbers and paint at your own pace! Dive into unique canvases full of unicorns, hearts, cakes, and other stunning images. Enjoy the satisfying ‘click’ as each diamond snaps into place, bringing vibrant colors to life! Bring a dinosaur back from the past or draw a diamond castle in 3D – whatever you imagine, you can paint it… with diamonds!
Have you ever wandered inside images? Images that blow your soul away? In Drizzlepath: Picturae, you embark on a journey of gorgeous landscapes. While some of these landscapes melt your heart, some will give you the chills. Do not fear though; at the end of the day, you will have a heck of a good time viewing a variety of beauties, listening to haunting music, and a real talent of a voice actor.
Empire Invasion is the ultimate test of your strategic mastery—a thrilling tower defense game where every decision can mean victory or destruction. Brace yourself to hold the line against relentless waves of enemies determined to breach your defenses. With 40+ handcrafted levels, each offering three escalating difficulty settings, you’ll sharpen your tactics and push your limits in a deeply satisfying progression. Every stage brings fresh challenges, demanding clever planning and quick reactions.
Raise your favorite fish and build your dream underwater world! It’s your very own aquarium. Buy the fish you love, raise them from tiny fry, and watch them grow and flourish. Create your dream underwater world—calm, colorful, and completely yours.
Explore the birthplace of drift and dive into Japan’s iconic car culture! JDM: Japanese Drift Master combines realistic, carefully-tuned physics in a simcade experience that’s as smooth on a controller as it is with sim racing hardware. Tackle hundreds of kilometers of open-world roads and uncover story-driven events and quests along the way. Hone your drifting skills, perfect grip races, take on challenges, and feel the thrill of authentic Japanese street racing.
In NeonBlast, the gamepad is used to control a ball that can be recolored via color fields and destroys blocks of the same color. Furthermore, there are sliding stones and skull fields that cost a life. A level is solved when all destructible blocks are destroyed, the faster this happens, the more bonus points you get.
An adventure blending exploration, fishing, and mystery. You play as a seeker helping a friend find their missing father on a pirate-legends archipelago. Discover islands, caves, and shipwrecks hiding artifacts. Even small details may unlock secrets.
Buy, sell, and acquire crucial items required for combat missions while interacting with the Save Room’s enigmatic weapons dealer. To progress through each level, you must possess specific elite and essential battle gear. In order to obtain the necessary goods, meticulously arrange your arms and treasures within your inventory. Then you’ll need to engage in the process of selling your treasures to the strange merchant. Can you build your war chest?
Anno 117: Pax Romana launches Day 1 on Xbox Series X|S on November 13.
The decisions you make during the Anno 117: Pax Romana campaign will dramatically affect your gameplay and narrative.
Choose between Romanizing your population or allowing them to maintain their Celtic culture.
For the first time in franchise history, Anno is coming to Xbox Series X|S on day 1 when Anno 117: Pax Romana launches on November 13. In Anno 117: Pax Romana, you’ll play as a Roman governor in charge of building a brand-new city in Latium, the heart of the empire. A warm and sunny province, Latium embodies the strength and stability Rome maintained during the Pax Romana, a time of prosperity for the empire. It’s the perfect place for a newly appointed governor to thrive in … at least until a series of events sees a new Emperor take power and subsequently exile you to the marshy shores of Albion where new challenges and tough decisions await.
“Albion is inspired by the Celtic world, and it’s a mystical place,” says Creative Director Manuel Reinher. “It’s a wild place at the border of the Empire. It’s also a place no civilized Roman wants to be and your mission there is to stabilize the province.”
Stabilizing the province will be much easier said than done, as players will have to make choices that impact not only the narrative, but the gameplay in Albion. Progress in Anno 117: Pax Romana is tied to your residents. As you fulfill their needs, you’ll be able to upgrade them to higher tiers, unlocking more advanced buildings and technology. In Latium, this upgrade path is linear, but in Albion you have a choice: allow your residents to maintain their Celtic culture, or Romanize them and make them conform to the empire’s way of life.
This decision will have wide-ranging implications. For starters, Celtic residents have different wants and needs than Romanized residents. They require different production chains that produce different goods to fulfill their needs. Many of their buildings and technologies take advantage of the natural marshy landscape of Albion. Marshes in Anno 117: Pax Romana, are a unique land type. Certain buildings can only be built on top of marshes, while others must be built on solid land. A Celtic population will work symbiotically with the landscape while a Romanized population will drain the marshes and build aqueducts, forcing the land to conform to their wants and needs.
“You’ll also have to deal with the Voada problem,” says Reinher. “She’s the Celtic leader and creates a lot of headaches for Romans. She hates Rome and during your time in Albion, you’ll have to decide if you want to resolve the conflict with her diplomatically or by using military force. If you allow the Celts to worship their gods and protect their holy sites, it will be easier to solve the problem diplomatically.”
Voada will also test your dedication to her cause through specific quests that might ask you to free some captive relatives or work closely with her. However you decide to deal with her, your actions in Albion won’t go unnoticed. Other governors in the world will react to your actions and comment on them. Your relationship with them will also be impacted by how you deal with your residents in Albion.
This amount of narrative and gameplay variation was in response to the linearity of recent Anno games and directly influenced by the historical research Reinher and his team did during development.
“There are examples where Roman governors made room for local identity. And then it was quite clear that this could be a good thing for a game like Anno. In general, we wanted to introduce choices with impact throughout the game. Anno 1800 was quite linear, so now we try to provide more agency for the players but also make the game more flexible.”
Part of that flexibility meant bringing land combat back to Anno. While the franchise is most known as a city-builder where diplomacy is always an option, a game set in the Roman empire needs to feature a robust land and naval combat system. Combat is deeper than ever thanks to modular naval ships, upgradable infantry units, devastating siege weapons, and buildable fortifications. Players have no obligation to play nice with Voada, and while dealing with what Reinher calls the “Voada problem” can mean diplomacy, it can also mean legionnaires, triremes, and siege weapons that decimate her and her people.
Of course, the decision will ultimately be up to you. Will you be a cunning negotiator? A master strategist? A brutal conqueror? Play the campaign multiple times and try them all when Anno 117: Pax Romana launches on Xbox Series X|S on November 13. The game will be available for purchase or playable with a Ubisoft+ Premium membership.
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
☆☆☆☆☆ 1014
★★★★★
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_
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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_
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Brawhalla will always be 100% free to play with no pay-to-win advantages.
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!
The year is 2035 and the world is on the brink of chaos, ravaged by violent conflict and psychological warfare. David Mason leads an elite team on a covert mission to the sprawling city of Avalon. While there, they discover a sophisticated plot that won’t just plunge the world into chaos, it will pull them into their own haunting pasts. Squad up or go solo in an innovative Co-Op Campaign that redefines the Black Ops experience. Multiplayer explodes out of the gate with 16 electrifying 6v6 maps and two 20v20 maps at launch. Master a cutting-edge arsenal and outmaneuver your enemies with an evolved Omnimovement system.
Monster Hunter Stories is an RPG that takes the world of Monster Hunter and expands upon it in new and exciting ways! No longer are you hunting monsters, but raising them! In this deep story featuring heroes known as Monster Riders, you will live alongside monsters and form lifelong bonds with them.
A new adventure awaits you in this second installment of the turn-based RPG series set in the world of Monster Hunter! Become a Rider and form bonds with friendly monsters known as Monsties to fight alongside them as you take part in an epic story.
Winter Burrow is a cozy woodland survival game. Explore, gather resources, craft tools, knit warm sweaters, bake pies and meet the locals! You play a mouse who returns from the big city to find their childhood home in ruins. To make matters worse, your Aunt (who was supposed to be looking after it) has gone missing. Restore your broken-down childhood burrow to its former glory so you can relax in front of the fireplace.
Experience the premier builder and design the cities of your dreams at the peak of the Roman Empire. Optimize your economy while balancing your people’s needs with the relentless demands of the emperor. Build upon the land that you see, from the beautiful heartland of Latium to the mysterious Celtic wetlands of Albion… where no civilized Roman wants to be.
In this remaster of the beloved action RPG Sacred 2: Fallen Angel, players return to a massive fantasy realm filled with hundreds of quests, dangerous dungeons, and unique combat arts to master. Battle monstrous creatures, uncover ancient secrets, and shape your character through loot, leveling, and deep customization.
Suzerain
Torpor Games
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
Suzerain – November 11 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery
Embark on a thrilling story as President Anton Rayne, steering Sordland through a pivotal time. Confront potential border conflicts, deep-seated corruption, and economic turmoil while navigating complex political dynamics in Anton’s first term. As the leader, your choices will shape Sordland’s destiny. How will you lead?
Zumba World – The Lost Marble Island combines classic marble-shooter action with an interactive island adventure! You play as a masked tiki warrior, mouth brimming with vibrant marbles. Dash through a top-down tiki hub—sprinkled with hidden treasure chests and level portals—to choose your next challenge. Once you select a stage, position your warrior at the center of winding jungle paths and launch marbles to match three or more identical orbs. Trigger dazzling chain reactions, clear waves swiftly, and earn up to three stars by preventing any marble from slipping past the ruins’ thresholds.
The newest title in the hyperdimensional football RPG series Inazuma Eleven is finally here! A new story featuring a new protagonist, over 5,400 characters to collect and train, as well as an intense competitive mode; there is no shortage of activities to enjoy!
From the creators of Before Your Eyes. You are Isaac, a 6-month-old baby, developing mysterious psychic powers. What you want most is to be loved and accepted by your family, but a secretive tech corporation wants you for their own.
Brace yourself for the explosive action of Let Them Come: Onslaught, a fast-paced roguelite shooter where survival means adapting, upgrading, and unleashing devastating firepower. Battle relentless alien swarms across procedurally generated stages, unlocking new weapons and stacking brutal upgrades with every run.
Mudness Offroad & Turbo Dash Kart Bundle combines rough terrain challenges with fast-paced kart mayhem for players who crave diversity and action behind the wheel. From muddy trails to colorful circuits, this duo delivers excitement across every turn. This bundle brings together precision driving and playful competition—a true celebration of offroad power and arcade-style speed.
Step into the lavish lighthouse; an opulent façade hiding a sinister secret. Its beacon, once a trusted guiding light, now threatens to unleash untold horrors upon the world. Your mission is clear: identify the ever-seeping anomalies in a bid to shut it down. But the restless entities within will fight back, their desperate whispers echoing through the halls, yearning for their dark truths to be heard. Can you silence the light before its madness consumes all?
Break free from a mysterious time loop! Embark on a journey of self-discovery and resilience. Delve into the enigmatic depths of the small godforsaken town: Rue Valley. Each day feels like an uphill battle against the shadows of your own mind. Along the way, you will encounter a captivating ensemble of characters, each wrestling with their own emotional complexities and revealing hidden depths as you get to know them.
Marbles and Checkers need your help finding their way home after being swept away in a storm. In this ‘90s buddy-platformer there’s a ton of stuff to do and even more to collect! Don’t be fooled by its cute charm! The journey home won’t be an easy one! Windswept is a love letter to a period of gaming where collectathon platformers reigned supreme, trying again was the norm, and players only had a game manual to guide them.
Get frisky with explosives and blast your way through tricky mazelike puzzle stages! Play as Bomb Kitten, a cunning black cat in a red cape, in this old-school action puzzler! Blast through grid-based stages, outsmart enemies, and use bombs to clear paths—but watch for spikes and traps. Collect hidden items, master 50 explosive challenges, and reach the exit ladder to escape these labyrinthine halls!
All aboard! Get ready for a colorful, brain-teasing puzzle experience where your goal is simple but oh-so-addictive: arrange all passengers to fit perfectly on their matching buses. Sounds easy? Think again! In this fun and relaxing puzzle game, you’ll face increasingly tricky challenges as you sort passengers by color and seat them correctly before the buses depart. Each level brings new patterns, tighter spaces, and more passengers to organize — testing your logic, speed, and strategic thinking.
Chorus of Carcosa is a psychological horror game inspired by the classic horror fiction of “The King in Yellow” collection by R. W. Chambers. You play as a sculptor who is forced to abandon his place of comfort one night, when a blood-soaked neighbor knocks on his door.
An addictive and relaxing chain reaction game featuring an exciting upgrade system and a wide variety of achievements. Your goal is simple yet endlessly engaging: pop bubbles, trigger satisfying chain reactions, and collect colorful candies along the way.
Get ready for a heartwarming hexagonal puzzle adventure where clever thinking meets cozy charm. Guide the adorable Chippys, little squirrels with big personalities, as they collect every shiny acorn and make their way safely home. Across 30 hand-crafted levels and three seasonal worlds: Spring, Summer and Autumn, you’ll twist, swap and align tiles to form perfect paths through nature’s maze.
Rio de Janeiro! What begins with a monochrome scene is going to burst with vibrant colours as you uncover more than 900 hidden objects – playful cats, lively streets, sandy beaches, and famous landmarks! A cozy adventure that captures the exuberant spirit of a Brazilian holiday… are you in?
In a land once blessed by divine light, grace has hollowed into silence. The world of Elyndra was once watched over by radiant gods whose touch gave life to all things. But their gifts turned to rot. What was meant to heal began to consume — transforming faith into obsession, worship into madness.
Step into the underworld and rise from street-level nobody to criminal kingpin in Schedule I: Dope Empire, a gritty drug empire simulator set in the decaying city of York Port. Manufacture, distribute, and rule — but every decision carries risk.
Tame monsters! Slay waves of enemy hordes! Explore fantasy lands! Wildkeepers Rising is a whimsical action-RPG roguelite set in a beautiful hand-drawn world that combines the power curve of bullet heaven games with the compulsive fun of a creature collector.
Before Exit: Gas Station is anomaly-detection game with dense atmosphere and some unexpected plot-twists. To reveal all its secrets and fully understand it, you will have to play through the campaign several times. Over 40 story-rich scenarios, packed with unique content, 4 different endings, and 6 mysterious bonus episodes.
The official spin-off to the hit game Legend Bowl takes you from the pros into the college ranks. It’s time to bring back College Football for fans of the sport who’ve been waiting for a College experience for a long time! Are you ready?
Balance the weight of the Gigasword, battling between brain and brawn in this action-puzzle metroidvania where the might of the sword will determine all. As tensions rise in Thoenhart, a city plagued by famine and disease, the humans within set their hopes on a final solution: invade the ancient tower Nestrium, slay the Nocturne, and take the God Crystal, Gnosis, for themselves.
Purrrfect hidden object game for all of us cat lovers! I Love Finding Cats! – Collector’s Edition is a classic Hidden Object game with a great selection of mini-games. Visit beautiful locations from across the globe while you find and collect adorable feline friends! This Collector’s Edition also includes Christmas Bonus levels.
Pure Flow and Adrenaline! Legends BMX is an energetic and exhilarating game made for extreme sports enthusiasts! Ride your BMX through a variety of parks and scenarios designed to let you pull off incredible tricks.
Fight, hack, and survive in a world overrun by hostile machines, where each incursion is a race against death. Lia: Hacking Destiny is a fast-paced action roguelite with intense combat and choices that shape your journey toward freedom.
Intiny proudly presents the official sequel to the Love is All Around series—making a spectacular return! This time, we invite you to step into the treacherous yet enchanting world of ancient martial arts and imperial courts, experiencing an unprecedented, immersive romantic adventure.
Rennsport delivers an authentic racing experience, developed in close collaboration with car manufacturers and professional drivers to ensure all cars look, feel, and drive true to life. Get behind the wheel of fan-favorite GT3s like the Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) and Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo, or push cutting-edge hypercars like the BMW M Hybrid V8. Every single detail is crafted with meticulous precision, from ultra-realistic physics to lifelike car models and authentic sound down to the exhaust note. Hit the track and get to experience the perfect harmony between driver and machine.
Astro Duel is a fun, frenetic local multiplayer party game for 1 to 6 players! Prepare for a fierce battle: rounds are quick and death is sudden. Blast your friends into space. Run over their helpless bodies for good measure.
Bioprototype, a Roguelike & Skill Customizing Rhapsody! This is an auto-bomber with programming elements. Customize your character skills with visual programming, utilize enemy organs to finish the mutation, and construct the ultimate prototype, one can survive in the endless wave of flesh.
Bioweaver is an RPG with the main content of treasure hunting and character building. You can use basic programming logic to deeply customize your skill sets, and you can also create organs with different attributes and functions with the special crafting system.
Leap into a world of calm precision and clever rhythm in this 2D platformer where every jump changes everything. You play as a brave ninja bunny in training, mastering the art of movement where each leap toggles platforms, spikes, and saws on or off. Timing isn’t just important, it’s everything.
Take to the skies in Chopper Strike, an adrenaline-fueled aerial combat experience. Command a powerful attack helicopter and rain destruction upon enemy forces in high-stakes missions that test your precision, strategy, and firepower.
Prepare yourself for the ultimate adrenaline rush with Clawpunk, a pulse-pounding, melee-focused 2D action game infused with roguelite elements and an array of badass cat characters. Tear through a fully destructible environment, where every smash and bash rewards your reactive and aggressive play style. Aim for the highest score possible by laying to waste everything in your path!
If hell is a state of the soul, these are the steps that will lead you to its gates. Dark Atlas: Infernum is a disturbing first-person story where an esoteric end of the world meets psychological survival horror with a strong narrative component.
Dirt Bike Retro isn’t just another racing game—it’s a full-throttle challenge where only the fastest, fiercest, and most fearless riders survive. Tear across classic dirt bike tracks with a modern twist, leave your opponents in the dust, and push your skills to the absolute limit.
The nightmare continues… and the witch is watching. In Horror Tale 3, the darkest secrets of a cursed neighborhood come to light. As children keep disappearing without a trace, Tom’s search for the truth brings him face-to-face with Wanda — the terrifying witch behind the horror. But she’s not the only surprise waiting in the shadows. New friends, strange allies, and buried secrets emerge as you step into the most intense chapter yet.
Trapped in what seems to be an endless hospital department. Carefully observe your surroundings in each loop to escape the Liminal Department. Explore an ever-changing hallway filled with unusual occurrences. Each loop could have multiple anomalies or none. Some are easy to spot, others are not.
Enjoy beautiful and charming graphics while listening to chill music. Test your skills on 50 creative levels with clever obstacles. Avoid water, walls, magnets, windmills or it’s game over! Warning – In some levels, you will have to show off your cleverness! Oh, and grab the bonus diamonds on the way.
The cult hit Use Your Words has all-new prompts and twice as many mini-games where you compete to write the funniest punchline – we set ‘em up, and you knock ‘em down! Players can use their phones or tablets as controllers, so it’s easy to jump in and seamless to play. And if you can’t think of a punchline, you can use one of our sneaky “Decoy” answers to lay a trap for your opponents… all with beautiful new visuals by artist Andrew Kolb!
Relive the days of past social gaming networks in Videoverse, a decision-based narrative adventure focusing on character development, friendship and love. Will your actions help Videoverse thrive, or will you get caught up in teenage drama, video game fandoms and corporate conspiracies?
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!
The three-time IGF award nominated 1000xResist is a thrilling sci-fi adventure. 1000 years in the future, humanity is all but extinguished and a disease spread by an alien occupation keeps the survivors underground. You are Watcher. You dutifully fulfil your purpose in service of the Allmother, until the day you learn a shocking secret that changes everything.
Farming Simulator 25: Highlands Fishing Edition bundles both the acclaimed main game and the Highlands Fishing Expansion. Enjoy 26 crops, 4 maps, 400+ machines, over 150 real brands and aquaculture in addition to agriculture, forestry, and animal husbandry. Build a farm along winding rivers and historic grain elevators in North America, surrounded by ponds in Central Europe, in a lush East Asian landscape filled with rice paddies, or in the Scotland-inspired town of Kinlaig – a lush paradise of rolling green hills and open waters!
New foundations set the stage for you to define your football destiny. Built on the Unity engine, FM26 is the legacy, redefined and where storytelling evolves, placing you at the heart of the beautiful game. A reimagined interface and more immersive matchday experience brings you closer to the action and combine to elevate every decision and match-defining moment. Transform your squad with advanced transfer tools and craft your footballing philosophy like never before with new innovations that deliver unrivalled game-changing tactical realism.
New foundations set the stage for you to shape your football destiny. Built on the Unity engine, FM26 Console places you at the heart of the beautiful game. This is the legacy, redefined. Delivering effortless, instinctive console control, a redesigned user interface combines with the most immersive matchday experience in series history to bring you closer to every match-defining moment.
You’re an egg – and you’ll feel every wobble, roll, and crack. Master the art of egg physics as you navigate challenging climbing environments with a twist. Synchronize your jump with your roll-cycle, and when you’re at the tip, leap for maximum height! Miss a jump, and you could be back at the bottom, dripping yolk.
More than 20 years after its original release, Syberia is reborn in a fully modernized version. Rediscover its iconic locations and unforgettable characters through a stunning visual overhaul, redesigned gameplay, and the same captivating storytelling that made it a classic. Kate Walker, a brilliant lawyer from New York, is sent to a remote village in the French Alps to finalize the sale of an old automaton factory. But what begins as a routine assignment soon turns into an extraordinary journey across Eastern Europe and its snow-covered landscapes.
Carve mountains, traverse seas, and explore untamed new lands as you build grand cities – the ingenuity of the humble mouse is on full display in Whiskerwood as you establish elaborate automation systems to efficiently run complex production chains, all while dealing with the oppressive demands of your cat overlords.
Dark Deity is back! A quarter of a century has passed, as Irving and the Eternal Order carefully rebuilt Verroa to protect it against a future war. Their efforts will be put to the test far too soon as a new threat looms on the horizon. The neighboring Holy Asverellian Empire needs new lands to grow, and the fractious, fragile Verroa seems ripe for the taking. All that stands in its way is the Order and twenty scrappy heroes-to-be.
You are an engineer thrust into the strange and mysterious Void, a world with its own history, rules and future. Build and upgrade your own train, craft powerful weapons, fight various enemies and survive the surreal landscapes of the Void alone or together with friends.
Have you never worked in a bar? No problem – Frank has! Help him serve craft beer to thirsty and picky clients, wash glasses, clean tables and keep everybody happy! Remember to check which beer the bar guests order. Is it the new IPA on tap, that weird pineapple milkshake sour or just a pilsner? Somebody has waited too long and is complaining? Serve popcorn to keep them happy.
The global karaoke party returns with Let’s Sing 2026, your ultimate ticket to fun-filled nights and unforgettable performances. Whether you’re warming up your vocal cords solo, teaming up in duets, or competing with friends, Let’s Sing 2026 delivers an unbeatable playlist, and endless entertainment! Featuring 35/40 chart-topping songs there’s something for everyone — from modern hits to timeless classics.
Get ready for the most exciting fight of your life in Lucha Align, the puzzle game where every piece is a luchador ready for action! Your mission is clear: fit the champions and completely fill the ring to claim victory in style. With 40 levels full of action, each match brings new shapes, new challenges, and even more excitement. From the first training sessions to the ultimate battles, you’ll need strategy, quick thinking and the spirit of a champion to master every grid and earn the special stars.
Master Lemon is a tribute to my polyglot friend who tragically passed away in an accident while pursuing his dream of living in Iceland. Experience his legacy in this narrative adventure. Harness the power of words and creativity to transform reality and save the world.
Biped 2 is the sequel to the exciting game about two charming bipedal robots, Aku and Sila, who have each other’s backs and embark on incredible adventures side by side. Dive into this groovy co-op action-adventure game, full of puzzles, friendship, support and fun!
As a legendary thief, your next assignment lures you into a grand and lavish mansion. There you find a series of puzzle boxes, designed for an unknown purpose. Inspired by the cryptic atmosphere, intricate machinery and smooth controls of the best room escape games, we have created a diverse set of original puzzle levels that will test your resolve and skills to navigate this mysterious and compelling journey. Each level is beautiful, unique and a true delight to explore and figure out.
Cairn puts you in the boots of Daisy, a brave explorer whose mission is to climb an immense, never-ending tower. As you ascend, you encounter strange creatures that grant you the power to manipulate the terrain. This unique ability lets you literally shape the path, leaving your mark on the tower itself. The core of the game is a moral choice: will your alterations help future climbers, or will they just add more chaos to the towering structure?
Dark Quest returns with its fourth installment – a turn-based strategy adventure inspired by the legendary HeroQuest board game. Enter a realm of perilous dungeons, cunning traps, and powerful magic as you lead your party of heroes against the forces of the Dark Sorcerer.
Dead Static Drive is Grand Theft Cthulhu—a survival-horror road trip through a nightmare version of 1980s Americana. Scavenge, fight, and sneak your way across small towns and eerie highways as reality begins to unravel.
Step into the mystical world of Üna, where ancient power stirs and chaos rises. As one of eight dragon-bound champions, battle through monster-infested lands, master unique fighting styles, and transform into awe-inspiring dragons to reclaim balance. Whether you’re flying solo or brawling alongside friends, prepare for a fiery showdown!
Your job as a passionate vet is to examine sick farm animals, make the right diagnosis, treat them accordingly and nurse them back to health. Build up trust with the small and large two- and four-legged friends so that they soon feel better again. Your help is called for on the farm!
Get ready to put your eyes to the test and your heart on full display in Spot the Pup, the ultimate hidden object adventure for dog lovers! Each scene bursts with charm, color, and chaos as you hunt for ten mischievous pups tucked into unexpected places. Whether you’re racing the clock in Challenge Mode or taking a relaxed stroll through Casual Mode, every level promises a delightful mix of discovery, relaxation, and pure puppy joy.
Crash the yokai party in Twilight Parade: Moonlit Mononoke! Play as the uninvited oni twins and their friends in this bullet-hell shooter with vibrant pixel art. Choose from four unique characters, each with distinct abilities and assistants, then blast through 5 chaotic stages across Japan. Dodge enemy swarms, battle massive bosses, and get revenge in style!
Not in the mood to be chased and screamed at by monsters? Tired of jump scares and endless fights for survival? Dollmare is just for you. It’s still a horror game – you’ll get scared, feel uneasy and constantly sense that something is watching you. There’s no telling what might happen … but something definitely will.
Kanjozoku Game & Turbo Dash Kart brings together two radically different racing experiences for those who live for challenge and control. Whether you’re sliding between traffic at night or battling rivals on wild, unpredictable tracks, this collection offers variety, excitement, and pure velocity.
Stranded in the year 10,000, Kent—an average Joe turned clone—must survive, explore, and rebuild civilization with the help of his quirky robot companion. Craft, farm, and automate in this 2D craftervania adventure as you uncover Earth’s secrets and kickstart humanity, one machine at a time.
Saving Princess of Mars is a stylish action platformer featuring puzzles to solve and ton of enemies to eliminate. Our main protagonist is lumberjack Jack from Earth who surprisingly spawns on Mars where he’s trying to save its princess.
Get ready to slide into an enchanted swamp full of magical puzzles! In Toad Slide, a Sokoban-inspired 2D pixel-art puzzle, you control a mystical toad who must move runic stone blocks and place them onto magic circles to restore balance to the swamp. With 30 carefully crafted levels, 15 by day and 15 by night, the game blends clear logic, smooth gameplay and gradually increasing challenges that invite you to think precisely and act strategically.
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.
Experience the original Anima: Gate of Memories and its companion story Anima: The Nameless Chronicles — both fully remastered with improved visuals and gameplay. Explore a rich fantasy universe inspired by the Anima Beyond Fantasy tabletop RPG saga, filled with deep lore, fast-paced combat, and branching storylines shaped by your choices. Whether you’re new to the saga or returning, this is the ultimate way to discover the world of Anima.
A Pizza Delivery is a narrative exploration game with puzzle elements focused on connecting with people. Share pizza with charming characters to uncover their stories—and your own. Drive and explore a strange, meditative world filled with secrets. Step into the dreamlike journey of “B”, a pizza delivery rider on her final order of the day. Ride through a surreal world, navigating strange landscapes, sudden shifts in scenery and moments of quiet introspection.
Test your engineering and improvisation skills in a puzzle game where the stakes are as high as they get. It is you who will construct bridges for cars, trucks, buses … and sometimes even monster trucks. Gather your wits and get on with the construction!
Take control of a brave carrot on a mission to protect its territory in this exciting pixel art platformer. Face challenging enemies and obstacles, using powerful punches, double jumps and the Dash to overcome action-packed, precise levels. With fast-paced gameplay, responsive controls, and appealing retro visuals, Carrot Smash delivers a fun and addictive platforming experience from start to finish.
In this game, you follow the protagonist who initially fell from heaven back into the sky. The game is a unique combination of a third-person platformer and a light-hearted exploration game with philosophical storytelling. It is highly stylized and surprises with breathtaking environments, a surreal world full of beauty and grace and a couple of small environmental puzzles that blend perfectly into the peaceful yet stunning environments. Will you be able to make it back into heaven? Find out.
The year is 1981, and as a young officer trainee, you are assigned to work at a border post in the mountainous region of Karikatka. Entry into the Acarist People’s Republic is strictly regulated by the party and your every move is monitored! The situation at the border escalates when your comrade is killed during one of the interventions … Always be ready to intervene in an emergency. Solve crime puzzles, support your comrades and thwart the Blood Fist rebels. Make decisions that will determine the future of Acaristan.
Remember the good old game of hide and seek? Prepare for something a little more extreme! Dive into classic gameplay where you can hide or seek. Count down before setting off to find the Hiders, or blend into the environment, stay silent and outsmart the Seeker to win!
Hop’n’Hoard is an addictive platform game where your goal is to collect all the coins scattered across the level to unlock the exit. But be careful! Deadly traps are everywhere, ready to stop you from completing your mission. You’ll also need to use all your wits to navigate through mysterious portals and create magical boxes under your feet, allowing you to reach places that would otherwise be impossible to climb.
House Fighters: Total Mess is a PvE aerial arcade shooter where toy planes battle in everyday spaces. Weave between furniture, lamps, and engage in fast-paced dogfights in a vibrant, nostalgia-filled world. No complicated controls, just pure, lighthearted aerial chaos.
Ion Shift delivers fast, high-stakes gameplay with precision controls and a unique sandbox-style approach to combat arenas. The campaign progressively challenges the player through evolving level design, tight mechanics, and a focus on player-driven mastery.
This is a casual racing game where the girl Natsuki is forced to join the “Ninja Racing Tournament” to pay off her debt. Include 10 playable girls, 600 Japanese voices, 16 story chapters.
Two sly siblings, one crazy platforming heist- ready to steal everything that shines? Team up with two green-skinned burglar brothers on a quest for glittering gold. Switch between the tall, lanky thief to reach elevated platforms, and his short, stocky accomplice to slip under narrow gaps. Only by using their unique shapes together can you collect every shiny treasure, snag the key, and escape to the exit.
Play as a lighthouse keeper and guide ships safely into the harbor using your radio. Survive the presence of something impossible, and don’t let the shadows consume you! In the aftermath of a global cataclysm, the harbor authorities reactivated an ancient lighthouse, hoping to keep the seas navigable amidst the growing chaos. A lone keeper is dispatched to the forsaken island, tasked with manning the beacon. The fate of passing vessels and the nearby town now rests in his hands. Far away, a wife and daughter wait for his return.
You are R3D, an alien robot trapped in a strange simulation. You don’t know who’s pulling the strings—or why—but something feels off. Every move you make might lead you closer to the truth… or deeper into the deception. How far are you willing to go to break free?
Ready? Go! Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage officially launches today for Xbox Series X|S, marking its triumphant return to the Xbox platform after an almost 20-year absence. A lot has happened with Virtua Fighter over those many years, and the timing couldn’t be more perfect for Xbox players to get back into the ring to compete in what we feel is the most refined Virtua Fighterentry yet.
Not only did we add some long-awaited features that fighting game fans have been asking us for, such as cross-play support, rollback netcode, an expanded training mode, and the return of series antagonist Dural as a downloadable character. But we are also adding a brand-new single-player mode to the game – World Stage!
On that topic, we have asked the Legacy Virtua Fighter Project producer, Seiji Aoki, to talk more about World Stage mode and what it adds to Virtua Fighter 5’s enduring legacy.
“When we originally released Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. earlier this year, a lot of fans who bought the game really wanted to see single-player content get added to the game. The new World Stage mode was created in response to this. In a way, we wanted to prove to fans that we are always listening to them, and to that end, we wanted to make this new release the best Virtua Fighter yet.
“Perhaps the older Virtua Fighter fans may remember that in Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution, a game I worked on, there was this feature called Quest Mode which quickly became a fan favorite. There, you had to fight your way through these arcades inside this city. From there, you would then start to make a name for yourself by competing in local tournaments. The CPU players you faced were based on real-life player data taken from Japanese game centers (or arcades).
“World Stage mode was directly inspired by Quest Mode. Here, you will participate in this huge tournament where you can name your opponents and play against CPUs based on real-life professionals, with real names you may recognize!
“On top of that, the team spent a lot of time packing this new mode with plenty of content so they can stay engaged for a very long time. For example, there is a list of challenges featured in this mode that includes objectives such as climbing through the many ranks, that will unlock in-game items that players will be able to customize their characters with. There are also side tournaments that will feature their own unique rivals you can compete to win exclusive titles you can use online.
“In our eyes, this mode is an easy recommendation both for those new to the franchise and those returning to the game, so the team is really excited to see how players will react to it.
“Features like the World Stage mode and multi-platform cross-play support (a first for the Virtua Fighter franchise) are all thanks to our amazing community which has been supporting us all this time, giving us all this great feedback and comments that allow us to improve upon the game. We would love it if they kept sharing us their thoughts, and we will continue to appreciate their support as always.”
Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage 30th Anniversary Edition
SEGA
☆☆☆☆☆ 14
★★★★★
$49.99
Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first 3D fighting series – this edition includes exclusive costumes, pre-production artwork, soundtracks, and more.
30th Anniversary Edition contains:
“Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage” Base Game
VF 30th Anniversary Swimsuit Costume Set
VF 30th Anniversary Soundtrack Collection
VF Pre-Production Artwork
DLC: Legendary Pack & Yakuza Series Collaboration Pack
VF 30th Anniversary Ranking Titles
The pioneer 3D fighting series continues to evolve as Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage arrives on Xbox Series X|S.
Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage takes the gameplay of Virtua Fighter 5 to new heights:
Rollback Netcode and Cross-play support let you take on any challenger, anywhere, across the globe in the most intense battles yet.
A brand-new single-player mode, “World Stage”: Challenge powerful rivals on a solo quest to become the ultimate fighter
Enhanced replay functionality and improved training tools.
PvPvE extraction shooter Arc Raiders is available today for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC as an Xbox Play Anywhere title.
The risk of losing your stuff, the danger of the robots, and the unpredictability of other raiders makes for an overall tense experience.
But thoughtful quality-of-life enhancements and a charming ’70s retrofuturist aesthetic help it go down more easily, inviting in genre-curious players.
My favorite shooters accommodate a wide range of players. I didn’t have the fastest twitch reflexes as a teenager, let alone now nearing 40, so I’ll never do well in a straight battle of headshots and KDR. But I’ve poured hundreds of hours into Overwatch and Helldivers 2 because they reward strategic thinking and offer an interesting range of different playstyles, which in turn produces a more compellingly wide range of stories. They also allow me to play alongside more skilled friends without feeling like anyone is compromising their fun.
Arc Raiders may be the next shooter to pull me in. I played for 3 hours across 3 different maps, both solo and in a squad, in a recent closed preview event of the whole game for journalists and influencers. This upcoming PvPvE extraction shooter is set in a future reminiscent of “The Matrix” – rogue robots called Arc have devastated humanity, driving the survivors to hide deep underground in a last stronghold city, Speranza (“hope”).
As the eponymous raiders, players make runs to different zones on the surface, pillaging the ruins of civilization for usable materials while navigating the threats of both Arc robots and their fellow raiders, then making it safely home with whatever they can carry back to base to sell, scrap, craft, or use on subsequent raids.
It’s chasing the microgenre du jour, extraction shooters, which are built around the same general risk/reward loop of going into a hostile area, completing objectives, and extracting with goodies that will fuel future runs. If you’ve enjoyed the likes of Escape from Tarkov and Hunt: Showdown, Arc Raiders is aiming to be your next obsession – and if you haven’t dipped a toe into extraction shooters yet, this is shaping up to be a gorgeous entry point.
Tension Management
As befits the genre, the dominant feeling throughout my time with Arc Raiders was tension. Any encounter going wrong could mean not just the opportunity cost of whatever new spoils we hoped to take home, but also losing all the equipment we brought in with us. That kind of high-stakes resource pressure, where one’s ability to make progress depends on building and maintaining momentum that can be easily lost, is part of the appeal for the genre’s hardcore fans, but also adds a certain prickliness that could deter other prospective players.
Arc Raiders graciously smooths this out with free loadouts that let you jump into a raid with a minimum viable kit and no risk of loss, helping players that might be stuck treading water while they get their bearings in the game. Every raider also has “Scrappy,” a pet rooster that collects a steady drip of basic materials for them while out on raids, ensuring they can always craft basic necessities like bandages and bullets.
Completing objectives during a raid, whether they extract or not, also nets skill points that can be distributed between three different trees. This all allows for a baseline of progression and character growth/specialization, even if players are struggling to survive most of their runs.
The greatest source of tension, however, was from other people. Unlike a conventional PvP competitive shooter, where the constant pressure of other players is the engine driving gameplay, the rate of encounters was much more variable here. Individual raids across my session varied widely based on the map and happenstance. Some were dominated by long, quiet stretches of scavenging through buildings and sneaking past robots, punctuated by a handful of staccato encounters. Other times we found ourselves stumbling from firefight to firefight as robot engagements drew the attention of opportunistic raiders, and vice versa.
Besides never quite being sure exactly when we would encounter other players, another juicy source of tension was whether our fellow raiders would be hostile or friendly. Over my session I experienced a full spectrum of interactions, from being shot on sight to having lighthearted chats, leading sometimes to them giving crucial help later in the match, other times to betrayal. In that way it reminded me of Sea of Thieves, which cultivates a similar sense of vulnerability by pairing the possibility of losing all your new stuff with the black box of strangers’ intentions. Granting that a closed session of journalists and influencers is likely to be as friendly as the game is going to get, I’ll be very curious to see how the player community’s norms develop once the game is released to the wider public.
The Enemy of my Enemy
One element that might help encourage players to work together is the genuine threat posed by the Arc robots. Far from being rote cannon-fodder, the non-human enemies are dynamic and dangerous, keeping us on our toes throughout, even when other human players weren’t in sight. Developer Embark is no doubt helped here by the fact that Arc Raiders started as purely PvE experience before settling into its current extraction form, which means real development time and resources went into making Arc enemies feel like the star of the show, and not just a supporting player.
Part of this that really stood out to me was how, as the developers have discussed previously, the movement and behaviors for the Arc were not traditionally keyframed and hand-crafted by animators, but rather trained through machine learning applied to physics simulations. It’s essentially the same kind of process used by many real-world roboticists to train their creations in the complex task of navigating physical space, like the robot apocalypse abettors at Boston Dynamics.
The Arc were lively and unpredictable. Shooting out an assault drone’s rotor didn’t send it crashing down like I’d hoped, but rather it awkwardly swung down before compensating with the others and swooping back around to continue the fight in a way that felt compellingly organic.
Stray, small Arc were easily manageable in isolation, but add a few more (or just a single large one) and the situation could quickly get out of hand. The genuine threat posed by the Arc will hopefully help keep pressure on players to at least consider temporary alliances and keep the game more socially vibrant and variable.
Yesterday’s Tomorrow, Today!
Arc Raiders needs no help being aesthetically vibrant, however. Following from the graphic design of the logo, the game has a charming ’70s retrofuturism look. This is especially true in the character cosmetics, which were fun and colorful, and had a nice variety of silhouettes – I gave my raider a bright green motorcycle helmet, leather flight jacket, and tight jeans with a stripe up the side. Compared to its peers in the genre, Arc Raiders’ more colorful and playful design sensibility (like unlockable hats for Scrappy – he got a matching little motorcycle helmet) goes a long way to piquing my interest.
It doesn’t approach the full dayglo hyperpop palette of fellow upcoming extraction shooter, Marathon, though, and grounds it with a realistic layer of post-apocalyptic wear and tear. Light and sound do a lot to support immersion as well; stalking our way through flashlight-lit underground tunnels crammed with rusted-out cars while muffled gunfire echoes above, or darting from shadow to shadow of bombed out apartment buildings across a plaza lit brightly by the midday sun, keeping an ear out for the ominous beeps of Arc sentries in the distance. The spaces were evocative, with a pleasing range of environments (residential, industrial, claustrophobic, open, flat, vertical, etc.), both within and between maps, which helped fuel the interesting variety of encounters we had.
Smoothed Edges
Arc Raiders has definitely caught my attention, as I’m always on the lookout for good session-based co-op games that I can use for catching up with friends. The game’s fun visual design, tight core loop, and quality-of-life mechanics have smoothed over some of the extraction shooter’s sharper edges, which may give it a real shot at bringing the genre to a wider audience.
Arc Raiders comes to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC as an Xbox Play Anywhere title today on October 30.
ARC Raiders – Deluxe Edition
Embark Studios
☆☆☆☆☆ 263
★★★★★
*Pre-order the ARC Raiders Deluxe Edition and receive the exclusive Astro Cosmetic Pack including the following cosmetic items:
ARC Raiders Deluxe Edition includes the base game and the following content:
The Wanderer Cosmetic Pack, including the following cosmetic items:
– “Valente” Legendary Outfit
– “Pathfinder” Backpack
– “Blanket Roll” Backpack Attachment
Plus:
Character Cosmetic
Finger Gun Rapid Fire Emote
Scrappy Skin
2 400 Raider Tokens
ARC Raiders – Standard Edition
Embark Studios
☆☆☆☆☆ 277
★★★★★
Pre-order now and get access to ARC Raiders.
Secure your copy of the game as the Standard or Deluxe Edition, and receive the Lucky Duck Bundle pre-order bonus at launch!
The Lucky Duck Bundle contains the exclusive Hatchling Backpack and Golden Rubber Duck Backpack Charm.
ABOUT THIS GAME
SCAVENGE, SURVIVE, THRIVE
In ARC Raiders, gameplay flows between the surface ruled by lethal machines, and the vibrant underground society of Speranza. Craft, repair, and upgrade your gear in the safety of your own workshop, before venturing topside to scavenge the remnants of a devastated but beautiful world. Play solo or in parties up to three, navigating the constant threat of ARC’s machines and the unpredictable choices of fellow survivors. In the end, only you decide what kind of Raider you are – and how far you’ll go to prevail.
EXPLORE AN IMMERSIVE WORLD
Explore four distinct maps at launch, with more to be revealed as the underground society evolves and expands its reach. Each destination carries the weight of a world twice-destroyed, and the scars of conflicts both old and new. Sift through the remnants for valuable loot, and piece together the past as it’s slowly reclaimed by nature. Evolving map conditions ensure that no two runs are the same, with varying weather, enemies, and mechanics adding unpredictability and danger.
STAKE YOUR CLAIM
In a society built on boldness and bravado, it is up to you to stake your claim as a Raider. The loot you scavenge can be sold for coin or crafted into all-new gear, allowing you take on increasingly lethal dangers head-on. Through both victories and hardships, you’ll gain valuable experience; unlocking varied skills that enable all-new ways of play. In addition, you’ll complete quests for Traders with differing motives and agendas; uncovering both the friction and comradery of a community under constant threat of collapse.
BEWARE THE MACHINES
Lethal machines known as ARC rule the surface, ranging from unrelenting drone swarms to mechanical giants that obliterate everything in their path. Their origins remain a mystery, but their ever-present danger is felt with every step you take. Each machine comes with distinct strengths and tactics, forcing you to pinpoint their weak spots and constantly think on your feet. And remember: the noise of battle carries. Other Raiders may be listening; eager to claim what you leave behind.
FORGE YOUR OWN PATH
Raiders survive by kitbashing scavenged materials; using long-lost tech and looted ARC parts to craft weapons, gadgets, and gear. Upgrade your workshop stations and learn blueprints to craft even more advanced items, or improvise quick fixes in the field to get yourself out of a bind. As you make a name for yourself, you’ll be able to measure your skill against other Raiders by taking on Trials; rising through the leaderboards to earn valuable rewards.
QUESTS
In Speranza, everyone has an agenda, and the Traders are no different. They’ll send you topside on missions in exchange for rewards, slowly revealing more about who they are and what they want for Speranza’s future. Complete quests to earn gear, crafting materials, and XP to level up your Raider and unlock new skill points.
SKILL TREE
The ARC Raiders skill tree branches into three paths: Survival, Mobility, and Conditioning. Spend your points to shape your playstyle. Loot faster and move quieter with Survival skills. Outmaneuver your opponents and threats with Mobility. And enhance your Strength and Stamina with Conditioning. Choose how you grow and what your Raider brings to the battle.
BUILD YOUR ARSENAL
Whether you’re preparing to take down specific ARC enemies or fend off rival Raiders, there’s a choice of weaponry for every fight. Cater to your style with a range of firearms including SMGs, rifles and shotguns, as well as more advanced options such as railguns and energy weapons. Grenades, traps, ziplines and deployables offer the tactical depth needed to outsmart your enemies, while augments allow you to tailor your loadout to your preferred playstyle; unlocking dedicated inventory slots and additional gameplay perks.”
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
Jump Space (Game Preview)
Keepsake Games
☆☆☆☆☆ 239
★★★★★
$19.99
This game is a work in progress. It may or may not change over time or release as a final product. Purchase only if you are comfortable with the current state of the unfinished game.
Jump Space is a mission based co-op PvE for 1-4 players, where you are the crew of a spaceship. Transition seamlessly from crewing the ship to on-foot exploration and space walks. Explore, upgrade, and survive intense encounters in deep space together.
Full details on the latest status of the game, how you can give feedback and report issues can be found at https://jumpspacegame.com
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
Echoes of the Plum Grove
indie.io
☆☆☆☆☆ 16
★★★★★
$19.99
A new life awaits you in Honeywood! After washing onto the island’s shores, you’ll find yourself the newly minted owner to a humble plot of land. Pull up your sleeves, grab your tools, and get to work building a farm that will last not only a lifetime, but span generations!
Echoes of Plum Grove is a casual, cozy farm simulator where your decisions have consequences! What to plant, what to stock for the winter, and who to befriend will shape not only the town of Honeywood, but the island itself.
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
Detective Dotson
Masala Games Private Limited
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
$14.99
A cozy mystery game about a detective with Bollywood dreams. It’s the first adventure game set in the colorful streets of India. Engage with adorable 2D characters living in a 3D world. Find clues and solve the evidence board. With each case, a larger mystery unfolds. Play gully cricket, dance at weddings or help a cute grandma find hidden objects. Everything is always at your own pace in Detective Dotson. Enjoy the wholesome vibes but don’t forget to bargain, for everything!
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.
Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3
Strange Scaffold
☆☆☆☆☆ 4
★★★★★
$19.99
Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3 is “committing to the bit” so hard that it hurts. It’s a sequel to a game series that doesn’t exist, complete with lore and a fictional development team. It’s a game where match-3 is used not just for combat, but for lockpicking doors, debating robots, and swallowing a bunch of diamonds in front of a notorious gem thief so that he can’t steal them first. It is, all genre elements considered, a match-3 survival horror comedy RPG metroidvania, and it’s rad as hell.
20 years ago, Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion emerged as a smash-hit genre fusion, casting fan-favorite protagonist Jack Briar in a fast-paced puzzle adventure.
8 years ago, Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3 was announced on the biggest stage in gaming.
This is what happened next.
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
HOTEL BARCELONA
CULT Games
☆☆☆☆☆ 30
★★★★★
$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
LEGO® Voyagers
Annapurna Interactive
☆☆☆☆☆ 44
★★★★★
$24.99
From the makers of LEGO® Builder’s Journey comes a new 2-player co-op adventure about friendship and play. When two friends make it their mission to rescue an abandoned spaceship, they embark on a journey beyond their wildest dreams, ultimately learning the value of being connected.
● Experience what it feels like to be a LEGO brick. Tumble, jump, snap together, and build your way through rich brick worlds.
● Unravel a poetic, non verbal narrative, set in beautiful brick built environments, supported by an atmospheric soundtrack.
● Cooperatively solve the game’s many challenges and discover how two bricks are better than one. Play locally on the same screen, or online.
● Invite a friend to join your adventure for free with the Friend’s Pass. As long as one of you owns LEGO Voyagers, you can both play the full co-op experience together.
LEGO Voyagers asks open questions about building friendships, sharing dreams, and giving space.
It reminds us that while playing and being creative is for all shapes and sizes, it’s always better when you share it with a friend.
