The Maw: what's new in PC games this week?
Dynasty Warriors, Tales Of Graces, Hyper Light Breaker, and maw
LiveHappy mid-January all! The year is picking up pace in terms of new PC game releases, and the symptoms of the Maw's hunger are everywhere. For example, my fridge has started bleeding an iridescent fluid. Peering into the oily green depths, I see a much older, cyborg version of myself dressed in spiked leather against a background of burning oceans. The other Edwin mouths and gesticulates urgently, but I have no time for his dire warnings of global calamity. There are new entertainment products to discuss! Here's what's coming down the pipe this week.
We open Monday 13th January with Airborne Empire, sequel to the flying city builder Nate Crowley hailed for its "arabesque steampunk" aesthetics and called "a weird, mirror-universe counterpart to Frostpunk". Forging onward to Tuesday 14th January, we are transfixed by the spectacle of a billion spaceships doing battle in early access RTS Annihilate The Spance. What is "spance"? I don't know, but it involves "minimal micromanagement". Also on Tuesday, the early access launch of action-RPG sequel Hyper Light Breaker, which I have mixed feelings about based on a demo at GDC last year, but am rooting for based on its pedigree. If you prefer your Arrrrpegging top-down, there's also attractive pixelart roguelite Heroes Of Hammerwatch 2. On Wednesday 15th January, there's Osaka-set metroidvania Blade Chimera and Might & Magic-esque strategy-RPG Broken Alliance. On Thursday 16th January, it's time for a remaster (in this case a "f remaster") of Tales Of Graces. And on Friday 17th January, it's time to musou in Dynasty Warriors: Origins.
As ever, this round-up is but an artisanal shaving from the glacier of new video games. There are probably other, even worthier projects to discuss and you should definitely mention them in the comments, together with any Happenings we overlook. Find our latest news liveblog below, and have a jolly week.
Some end of week music, care of Double Fine. We've had a few absences this week (in addition to the sad departure of bestest best reviews editor Edders) so things have been slow. Hope it's been a gentle one at your end.
Path Of Exile 2's latest patch is upon us. It is vast. I pity the poor soul who has to read all that and turn it into an article. *DMs Brendy*
Uurnog and Ynglet developer Nifflas is swinging for the pupper-packing crowd with Rhythm Doggo, a rhythm platformer featuring a Very Good Boy. It looks a bit like Animal Well.
According to Bloomberg, two Sony live service games - one from Days Gone developer Bend and one from Bluepoint - have been cancelled following a review. Allegedly, one of the games was a God Of War.
FRIDUCK
The problem with Nintendo puns is that, given the fame and scale of Nintendo's doings, the puns are either very obvious or pretty obscure. I think this is the latter. Nonetheless, let us FEED THE MAW.Former hosts of the Electronic Wireless Show Alice Bell and Nate Crowley have teamed up with Jon Hicks, former big boss of Gamer Network (and thus of RPS, too), to launch a new gaming podcast. Episode 0 of Total Playtime is out now.
Here's the full schedule for this winter's Frost Fatales, an all-women and femmes speedrunning event hosted by Games Done Quick.
Bullet Noir is out 12th February. As the name may suggest, it's sort of Hotline Miami meets Sin City.
Retailer GOG have joined the European Federation of Game Archives, Museums and Preservation Projects - the largest game preservation organisation in Europe, according to itself. "We are also discussing exciting new game preservation projects, which we look forward to sharing soon," said GOG managing director Maciej Gołębiewski.
THURSNESDAY
Another one from Graham. He insisted that if I used the Wednesday pun I had to use this one too. Considering reporting him to HR. In the meantime, FEED THE MAW.A message from the Beyond: "Hi! My friend just released this very short, free point & click adventure on Steam. I'm sure you get a squillion emails like this every day, but it only takes about 30 minutes to complete the game and I think RPS readers would probably appreciate the game's sense of humour, so if there's any way you could give it a shoutout I think my friend would be thrilled and surprised."
The Maw thanks you for your offering, reader. Helpfully, half the team are off sick right now, but perhaps we can find time for it later in the week.
Gamejam project Stretchmancer - summarised by Alice0 as "a first-person puzzle-platformer which uses one neat trick to change how you see the world, and builds on that while a baddie taunts you" - is being turned into a full game.
Forest Reigns is an "emergent FPS" from VG Entertainment, a team led by former S.T.A.L.K.E.R. developer Ruslan Didenko. It takes place in a post-apocalyptic Paris that has been overrun by a sentient forest you can use as a volatile terrain mechanic in combat.
Pour one out for Rocksteady's troubled Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League, which has received its final major update.
WEDNESDAY
A subtle one, here, from Graham. FEED THE MAW.A trailer for Rebel Wolves' action-RPG The Blood of the Dawnwalker, which is being made by him wot did Witcher 3. You know, that guy. What do you mean, hundreds of people worked on The Witcher 3? I refuse to believe it. Konrad Tomaszkiewicz is described as "game director" so he clearly directed the whole thing. Anyway, Blood Of The Dawnwalker is an open world single-player RPG set in 14th century Europe, at the height of the Black Death. As the title suggests, there are vampires.
SeekerX says: Coming Thursday 1/16 is Fragrance Point. Last year, Alice O liked the Playstation-style retro 3D art on display in the Next Fest demo, as well as the game's very odd vibes: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/my-eyes-hurt-from-the-extreme-90s-cgi-style-of-this-next-fest-demo-and-i-couldnt-be-happier
This looks pleasantly addled. Thank you for seeking it out, SeekerX.
thanosi says: itch.io has a Venturing 2025 bundle witha mix of 129 digital/physical games and books for $25+ https://itch.io/b/2831/venturing-2025
Friend, I am in your debt.
PIKACHUESDAY
Our lucky star is shining today! FEED THE MAW.Minecraft players are horrifying me with images of slanted buildings. Minecraft isn't supposed to look like it's balancing on one corner! BAD. WRONG.
My attempt at a slanted building style, what do you guys think?
byu/Jonhson_Jonh inMinecraft
A video from Grinding Gear about the next Path Of Exile 2 patch. Proper patch notes are coming later this week.
AGDQ 2025 has wrapped up, raising $2,556,305 for the Prevent Cancer Foundation. The best thing in gaming continues to be the absolute best.
The Death Stranding 2 developers are crunching, it seems.
This weekend I learned of Takara Cards, which is a handsome space roguelike cardgame with 80s anime-inspired aesthetics. They're calling it FTL meets Slay The Spire. Who are "they"? I... don't know. I don't know.
PIKMONDAY
This week's puns are all about Nintendo, in hopes the Mario merchants might deign to show PC a little more love. What's the matter, Nintendo, you afraid of the Steam forums? Yeah, I don't blame you really. FEED THE MAW.