Month: June 2026

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Halo: Campaign Evolved Local Split-Screen On PS5 Will Require Separate Microsoft-Connected PlayStation Accounts, But Not PlayStation Plus

Game Informer

On Friday afternoon, Halo Studios published an extensive FAQ answering a number of questions about its upcoming Halo: Combat Evolved remake, Halo: Campaign Evolved. In a section covering how local, split-screen co-op will work on PlayStation 5, Halo Studios wrote, “If you’re playing split-screen on PlayStation 5, both accounts will need to have PlayStation Plus and be linked to a Microsoft account. Having these active PlayStation Plus subscriptions will also provide access to online co-op play.”

Following online frustration over this requirement, Halo Studios shared an update on X, writing, “We incorrectly stated that PlayStation Plus is required for local co-op splitscreen play. Local splitscreen co-op requires a PlayStation account for each player but does not require a PlayStation Plus account.” It then updated the FAQ with the bolded addition, “A PlayStation Plus account is NOT required for local splitscreen co-op.” 

Paid PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live subscriptions are still required for online co-op play, but local play will not require any subscriptions. Both players will, however, still need accounts connected to the platform of choice, and PlayStation and Steam players will need to connect their accounts to a Microsoft account.

This means that playing Halo: Campaign Evolved split-screen won’t be as simple as it was in 2001 with Halo: Combat Evolved, when the requirements of playing couch co-op were just plugging in a second controller and pressing start. This modern, over-complicated process of playing couch co-op games is not an invention of Halo: Campaign Evolved, but the mistaken and quickly retracted requirement of needing PlayStation Plus to play local, co-op certainly shines a spotlight on this frustrating facet of modern gaming.

In much cooler Halo: Campaign Evolved news, Halo Studios also published a six-hour video of the game’s start screen, which you can check out below.

Halo: Campaign Evolved is currently the game on our cover, and there’s still time to subscribe to get the issue in the mail. We also have interviews with the Halo Studios team about topics like the PlayStation 5 Pro version of the game actually being the best place to play Campaign Evolved. You can find all of our coverage here.

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The Video Games You Should Play This Weekend – June 19

Edge of Memories

Summer Game Fest was last week, and it was a hell of a week, but that was no reason for us to rest or catch our breath this week. Along with continuing to share details about our time at the show in Los Angeles, we also launched a new issue! Halo: Campaign Evolved is the cover game and we dove deep into the game and its newly added prequel levels, but we also have a big retrospective on the making of the first game. It’s a good issue.

But it’s the weekend so you want to relax and play some video games, right? And you need some help learning what kind of games are good and available to play, right? Well, we have all that, but first, take a look at some of the biggest stories of the week below.

Game Informer

Steam Next Fest

Kyle Hilliard

Rather than one specific game, as we usually offer on this weekly list, allow us to point you to Steam Next Fest. The annual event elevates tons of free demos for upcoming games on Steam and there are lots of of good ones worth checking out. There are also plenty of demos for games we played and covered at Summer Game Fest, so you can get your hands on some of the games that we were the most excited about, like Blood Dungeon (seen above).

We’ve been exploring demos ourselves and have some suggestions at the link below.

Game Informer’s Favorite Steam Next Fest Demos – Summer 2026 Edition

Valve has also kindly shared a list of the most-played Steam Next Fest demos, and you can check out that list below.

Game Informer

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales

Kyle Hilliard

Charles Harte reviewed The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales this week giving it a 7.75 and writing, “While it’s not particularly exceptional or exciting, it is both adequate and effective. I doubt The Adventures of Elliot will replace Zelda in anyone’s list of favorites, but across my roughly 25 hours, I was always glad to pick my Switch 2 back up and play some more.”

The game was released yesterday, and I generally agree with Charles’ sentiment that it is a solid if unspectacular game. I have been enjoying my time with it and was surprised by how much Zelda influence exists in the game. It lacks the clever and rewarding puzzles of Zelda, but the combat is simple and solid, and exploring the various dungeons and figuring out how to navigate them is enjoyable.

I will offer a tip, though – go into the game settings and turn the partner chattiness down to reticent. Trust me on this.

Game Informer

And Roger

Marcus Stewart

I sang And Roger’s praises in my review last year, but with the game out on Switch 2 and mobile devices this week, a broader audience can (and should) experience this emotional narrative adventure. At the low cost of $4.99 (currently discounted to $3.49), you’re treated to an hour-long narrative adventure boasting clever mechanics about a frightened girl who finds a mysterious man in her home. I won’t say anything more about the plot, as the crux of the adventure is about figuring out what’s happening, but trust me when I say it’s a memorable and affecting journey you shouldn’t miss a second time around.

Game Informer

Tabletop pick – Dead Cells: The Rogue-Lite Board Game

Matt Miller

It’s still relatively rare that tabletop game makers manage to successfully transition strong video game properties into great board games. One of the happy exceptions is Dead Cells, which manages to translate the fast action of the video game experience into an excellent 1- to 4-player cooperative board game that is incredibly fun to play and return to again and again.

Game Informer

The card-focused battles are great fun, offering intriguing tactical decisions about how to confront the many foes that lie in your path. And it’s exciting to dive into different biomes as you navigate forward. But the real hook is the way many of the potential mutations/upgrade cards for your characters are locked and unavailable the first time you open the game. You only acquire access to those after repeated run-throughs of a play, offering ample reason for replay – just like in the video game. If you love Dead Cells or roguelites more generally, but you’d be interested in a larger cooperative experience to play with friends on game night, this one is a sure bet.

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Halo: Campaign Evolved Cover Story + Xbox Game Studios In Trouble | The Game Informer Show

Halo Campaign Evolved Exclusive Details + Reports: Xbox In Trouble?

In this week’s episode of The Game Informer Show, the crew dives into reports of several Xbox studios at risk of closure from Microsoft, including (but not limited to) Compulsion Games, Double Fine Productions, and Ninja Theory. After the 30-minute discussion, host Alex Van Aken and Brian Shea discuss the awkward timing of our new Halo: Campaign Evolved cover story before diving into exclusive details about Xbox’s upcoming release. Finally, we round out Game Informer’s weekly gaming podcast with a quick indie game recommendation: Meccha Chameleon, a hide-and-seek asymmetrical multiplayer title with an amazing texture painting tool for camouflaging yourself from hunters. 

The Game Informer Show is a weekly podcast covering the video game industry. Join us every Friday for chats about video game reviews, news, and exclusive reveals alongside Game Informer staff and special guests from around the industry. Support the show by subscribing to our physical video game magazine!

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Watch or Listen to The Game Informer Show: 

Listen to “Halo: Campaign Evolved Exclusive Details + Xbox Studios Reportedly In Trouble” on Spreaker.

Follow our hosts online:

Jump ahead using these timestamps:

  • 00:00 – Intro
  • 04:13 – Reports of Upcoming Xbox Game Studio Closures
  • 29:45 – Ad Break
  • 31:29 – Halo: Campaign Evolved Exclusive Cover Story Details
  • 56:35 – Meccha Chameleon
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2027 Video Game Release Schedule

Game Informer

If you’re wondering what games are coming up in 2027, we’ve put them all in one convenient location. This list will be continually updated to act as a living, breathing schedule as new dates are announced, titles are delayed, and big reveals happen. This should help you plan out your next year of gaming and beyond.

As the gaming calendar is constantly changing, we highly recommend you bookmark this page. You’ll likely find yourself coming back to check the latest release schedule for the most anticipated games across PC, consoles, VR, and mobile devices. If you notice that we’ve missed something, feel free to let us know! Please note that games will not be assigned to a month until their release dates are confirmed.

Game Informer

Stranger Than Heaven

January

Stranger Than Heaven
(PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – January 15

Wandering Sword
(Switch 2, Switch) – January 21

Fable

Fable

February

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis
(PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC) – February 12

Persona 4 Revival
(PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – February 18

Fable
(PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – February 23

Game Informer

Clockwork Revolution

To Be Announced

Agni: Village of Calamity (Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Alien Deathstorm (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Anima: Song from the Abyss (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Artificial Detective (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Atelier Karia: The Night Kingdom & the Guide of Memories (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC)

Bad Magpie (Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Barbie: Horse Ride & Rescue (Switch 2, PC)

Beastieball (PC)

Bub (PC)

Chrono Odyssey (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

City of None (PC)

Clockwork Revolution (Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Clutch

Crazy Taxi: World Tour (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC)

Death the Guitar (PC)

Demi and the Fractured Dream (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, Switch, PC)

Dracula: The Disciple (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

El Paso, Elsewhere 2 (Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Erosion (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Everbloom (Switch 2, PC)

Everything is Gun! (PC)

Exodus (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Final Fantasy VII Revelation (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC)

Final Fantasy XIV: Evercold (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC)

Forge of the Fae (PC)

Frostpunk 1886

Godzilla Defense Force: X (iOS, Android)

Gravity Circuit 2 (PlayStation 5, Switch, PC)

Graytail (PC)

Gundam Rogue Orbit (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Haex (Early Access) (PC)

Hello Again (PC)

Hitman Classic Trilogy Remastered (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Hunter: The Reckoning – Deathwish (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

I Have No Change (PC)

Ill (PlayStation 5)

Into the Unwell (PC)

Inzoi (Early Access) (PlayStation 5)

Ithaca (PC)

Join Us (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Kemuri (PlayStation 5, PC)

Lazy River (Early Access) (PC)

Long Gone (PC)

Magicians: The Devil’s Deal (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Mega Man: Dual Override (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC)

Metro 2039 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Moosa: Dirty Fate (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Muramasa: Revenant Blades (PlayStation 5, Switch 2, Switch, PC)

My Arms Are Longer Now (PC),

My Arms Are Longer Now (PC), (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC)

N Plus Infinity Times Two (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC)

Nekome: Nazi Hunter (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Ninjala 2: The Uncharted Planet (Switch 2)

Nirvana Noir (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC)

Out of Words (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC)

Outward 2 (Early Access) (PC)

Pikuniku 2 (Switch 2, PC)

Pokémon Waves (Switch 2)

Pokémon Winds (Switch 2)

Project Evilbane (PC),

Project Evilbane (PC), (Xbox Series X/S)

Project TAL (PlayStation 5, PC)

Resident Evil Veronica (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC)

Senua (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Silent Planet – Elegy of a Dying World (PC)

Slap Out of It! (PC)

Spyro: A Realm Beyond (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC)

Star Trek: Shadow Frontier (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

State of Decay 3 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

The Expanse: Osiris Reborn (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

The Free Shepherd (PlayStation 5, PC)

The Lift (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

The Lost Wild (PlayStation 5, PC)

The Pines (PC)

The Talos Principle 3 (PlayStation 5, PC)

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

The Wolf Among Us 2 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC)

Thief: The Dark Project Remastered (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC)

Tiny Metal 2 (PC)

Tomb Raider: Catalyst (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Tsarevna: Age of Tales (PC)

Until Dawn 2 (PlayStation 5)

Virtua Fighter Crossroads

Vivarium (Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Deathmaster (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC)

Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Waterful (PC)

Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Rageborn (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC)

Westlanders (Early Access) (PC)

Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC)

Xenoblade Genesis (Switch 2)

Yakoh Shinobi Ops (PlayStation 5, PC)

Zoopunk (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

« 2026 Video Game Release Schedule

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Shinobi: Art Of Vengeance Jumps To Switch 2 In September

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance was one of our favorite games of 2025, and while it’s already available on Switch, a native and improved Switch 2 version is coming this Fall.

Joe Musashi’s superb revenge quest leaps to Switch 2 on September 24,  which has shaped up to be a busy day of big new releases. Regardless, the Switch 2 port boasts improved resolutions and will be available digitally and physically. The game will come in a Standard Edition and a Deluxe Edition that includes the Sega Villains Stage DLC, which adds boss fights against guest Sega characters such as Dr. Eggman and Like a Dragon’s Goro Majima. 

Developed by Streets of Rage 4 makers Lizard Cube, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance sees series hero Joe Musashi embark on a revenge quest following the destruction of his village. The game earned a 9.25 out of 10 review score from Game Informer and a spot on our Top 10 Games of 2025. 

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Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Is Getting The Brand New Day Suit.

Game Informer

With Spider-Man: Brand New Day set to hit theaters next month, Insomniac Games is celebrating the only way it can: by adding a new suit to Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Naturally, the suit will be based on Spidey’s latest duds in the new film.

On July 28 – three days before the July 31 premiere of Brand New Day – a free update for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will add the “Fresh Start” suit from the film to the PlayStation 5 and PC versions of the game. It’s the first new Spidey suit to be added to the game since June 2024.

Game Informer

It’s nice to see Insomniac return to Spider-Man, if briefly, as the studio is currently preparing its next superhero game, Marvel’s Wolverine, for its September 15 launch. You can watch the latest trailer for that game here. 

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The Police’s Stewart Copeland Is Not Composing The New Spyro The Dragon Game But Says ‘No Harm, No Foul’

Game Informer

One of the coolest things about the Spyro the Dragon series is that several of its early games were composed by Stewart Copeland, co-founder and drummer of the iconic rock band The Police. Despite this, it looks like we won’t be hearing any tunes from Copeland in the recently announced Spyro: A Realm Beyond.

The Independent interviewed Copeland to discuss Copeland, an upcoming documentary about his life and career premiering at Raindance Film Festival this week, as well as other topics. During the chat, the famed musician confirmed to the outlet that he has no involvement in Spyro: A Realm Reborn, the first original Spyro game since 2008, revealed during the June 7 Xbox Games Showcase.

“It happens that way,” Copeland tells The Independent. “It’s a new generation. They want a new generation of sound and everything… they’ve got to modernise it. No harm, no foul.”

Copeland created the soundtracks for the original Spyro the Dragon, Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage, Spyro: Year of the Dragon, and Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly. His tracks were also remastered with his involvement for the Spyro: Reignited Trilogy, in which he also composed a new title track. You can watch him discuss his work composing Spyro the Dragon (and also play the game) in this classic PlayStation Underground featurette.  

Spyro: A Realm Beyond is scheduled to launch in 2027 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, and PC. 

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Granblue Fantasy: Relink Gets A Big Refresh With Endless Ragnarok

Game Informer

Several genres come to mind for me as summertime games, like the ever-engaging “car game.” Something filled with little meters to fill and goals to accomplish, with some good action and splashy graphics to keep battles lively. For me, that’s Granblue Fantasy: Relink in a nutshell; yet, the first time around, I didn’t really spend much time with it.

This summer, though, Cygames is launching what could easily be called an expansion to Relink, dubbed “Endless Ragnarok.” But as I quickly learned in my demo appointment, it is much, much more than that. New characters and missions abound, but there are also big quality-of-life upgrades, new ways to play old characters, new platforms in the Switch 2, and even crossplay support.

After our duo-demo at Summer Game Fest 2026, I invited former Game Informer editor and current Restart.run editor Imran Khan (who wrote our original review of Relink) onto this New Gameplay Today to talk about everything: our demo impressions, our group Q+A with the leads behind Endless Ragnarok, and what we think of this big update. Check it all out here:

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Game Informer’s Favorite Steam Next Fest Demos – Summer 2026 Edition

Game Informer

Hot off the heels of Summer Game Fest comes another Steam Next Fest. Running now until Monday, June 22, hundreds if not thousands of demos for upcoming games are ready for your enjoyment and/or scrutiny. If you saw a game that piqued your interest during the onslaught of showcases during SGF week, odds are you can try it out right now.

It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer volume of demos, making you wonder where to even start. Some of the Game Informer staff have been checking out demos for days, and have curated a list of recommendations to get you started so you don’t miss one that’s making noise or a hidden gem that deserves more attention. We’ll be updating this list with new entries throughout Next Fest, so be sure to check back reguarly for new recommendations!

Game Informer

Edge of Memories

Developer: Midgar Studio – Release Date: 2026

After the success of last year’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, many players are likely paying increased attention to studios around the world who may be borrowing Japanese RPG ideas and bringing them into new settings and drawing on additional inspirations. That seems to be the case for Midgar Studio’s Edge of Memories. It’s the second game in the studio’s “Edge of” series, but this new installment seems relatively standalone. It also uses an action/RPG combat system instead of the earlier game’s turn-based approach.

Players control Eline, a traveler navigating a vibrantly colored fantasy world that seems equally inspired by Japanese animation and the rich tradition of French animation. It’s hard to get a super clear idea about storytelling from a short snippet, but the voice acting is strong, the music is gorgeous, and the setup for the fiction is intriguing; Eline is a soul whisperer who can somehow control and manipulate the Corrosion that is ravaging the world in which she lives.

The biggest draw in the demo is a look at the fast-paced combat, which leans into a mix of fast and heavy attacks, dodges, and combo-building with your companions to create an intriguing dynamic. And I only just got a taste of the robust leveling system, which sees Eline consistently acquiring new abilities across the course of her trek. There’s a lot of reasons to recommend Edge of Memories after a demo playthrough, which moved the game up significantly in my list of anticipated projects over the coming months. – Matt Miller

Game Informer

Penguin Colony

Developer: Origame Digital – Release Date: 2026

Penguin Colony caught my eye for A) being the next game by the makers of Umarangi Generation, and B) penguins – lots and lots of penguins. After booting up the demo and being greeted with a title sequence directly ripped from The Thing, I knew I was in for something very strange. I still don’t completely understand what I experienced, but there’s enough intrigue in this slice to inspire a deeper look. 

This bizarre adventure unfolds in Antarctica circa 1939. You control, you guessed it, a penguin. Several, in fact, as you can hop between many of them at will, from imposing Emperor Penguins to small chicks. You can do penguin things like waddle, but it’s faster and more fun to belly slide down and (somehow) up hills, dive and swim underwater, or hop. Some penguins are best suited for bypassing certain obstacles, such as taking control of a chick to squeeze through tiny openings. You also have to manage a stamina meter, the amount of which is determined by the size and species of your chosen flightless ice bird. 

Your initial goal is to follow the distant light of a flare shot by one of the many human expeditioners. One of these visitors cryptically narrates his unsettling experience on the continent as you collect glowing orbs revealing words such as “Colonist” and “Sex”. Without spoiling too much, reaching their base camp reveals something very, very wrong is at play, both regarding the type of people who are visiting (the time period is a hint) and the discovery they’ve made. March of the Penguins, this is not, but if you want something captivating and weird, absolutely give Penguin Colony a shot. – Marcus Stewart

Game Informer

Veritas Tales: Witch of the Dark Castle

Developer: ジギタリス出版 (Digitalis) – Release Date: July 9

It’s not uncommon to see developers go solo to work on a passion project of, but Yoshio Nishimura might have taken the most fascinating route: leaving storied studio Vanillaware to literally settle into a small mountain village in rural Japan, tend to his fields, and craft his games. His debut project,  Veritas Tales: Witch of the Dark Castle, is the sort of thing I think you can only get from that kind of venture. 

It’s a virtual tabletop game, like a digital adaptation of a Fighting Fantasy book, where you delve into the stories of a Warrior or Mage and explore the tale that unfolds around you. Make a choice, and you flip to the corresponding page number; take damage, and a little eraser removes your current number, and a lowered amount gets penciled in. Veritas Tales is tactile and fiddly, with lots of little interactions to uncover and charming hand-crafted touches to discover. I can almost imagine myself on a summer vacation in the countryside, finding this book on a shelf, cracking it open, and getting lost in the words and art. If that was Nishimura’s intent, he’s accomplished it, and then some. – Eric Van Allen

Game Informer

Over The Hill

Developer: Funselektor Labs Inc. – Release Date: 2026

This charming exploration game puts players in the driver’s seat of an off-road vehicle as it navigates forests, mountains, valleys, and rivers, all while charting a map, making discoveries about the countryside, and questing after what’s over the next hill. Right from the start, the game touts itself as a freeform experience focused on the journey rather than clear, objective-driven play. With its relaxing audio and minimalist visual aesthetic, the game’s tone reminds me a lot of what I like about the Lonely Mountains games, which focused on mountain biking and skiing.

But Over the Hill’s gameplay is more focused on gradual and careful navigation of complicated terrain, using gear shifting, winches, and careful steering to make one’s way past obstacles. Merchants provide a chance to customize your ride. Bridges and hidden paths open up avenues to new areas. Seemingly impassible snowy ridges or rocky slopes become surmountable with careful observation. You can also play together with friends, exploring the countryside as a team. I like a lot of what is on offer here so far – a gradual, slow-paced journey players can define at their own pace, with plenty of mystery and natural beauty on offer. – Matt Miller

Game Informer

Demon Bluff

Developer: UmiArt – Release Date: 2026

We’ve all played Werewolf, right? Many are innocent; a few are lying; discern the truth and uncover the wolf in sheep’s clothing; it’s a classic schoolyard game for a reason, which has given rise to many, many virtual adaptations. How does Demon Bluff differ, then? Well, it’s a single-player roguelike social deduction game that feels more like a complex logic puzzle than trying to guess which of your friends is a liar. 

Different character cards will give you information, saying another is Evil or their proximity to said Evil, but one or more of them might be Evil themselves, lying to you about the results. Using the information to deduce who can be trusted and who can’t becomes a stacked logic-box puzzle of if-then statements, reminding me of afternoons spent flipping through pages of tricky riddle books. I recommend playing this one with an audience and collaborating on the outcomes. Demon Bluff makes for a good head-scratcher, and I’m keen to see how it evolves past its demo offerings. – Eric Van Allen

Game Informer

Well Dweller

Developer: Kyle Thompson – Release Date: 2026

Crypt Custodian creator Kyle Thompson’s new Metroidvania is set in a fantasy kingdom where all birds have been hunted and killed for their feathers to make a demented queen’s wardrobe. You control a member of one of the last remaining bird families, who have remained hidden at the bottom of a well, and while you’re the eldest child, you’re also the least adventurous. Nonetheless, when your mother tasks you with leaving the nest to retrieve food, you have to learn how to survive quickly.

Armed with a burning matchstick, which dims as you take damage in a nice touch, you strike down evil plants and other strange foes while unlocking new traversal tools. For example, gaining a bow lets you shoot the matchstick at walls to act as a springboard to reach higher areas. Well Dweller’s level design appears to be standard Metroidvania fare, but the fantastic art direction makes it look like a dark fairy-tale book come to life. The action is fun, particularly against the demo’s sole boss fight, and it’s complemented by sharp, humorous writing. Like the fairy tales of old, Well Dweller’s world is more twisted than its whimsical presentation lets on. – Marcus Stewart

Game Informer

Duskfade

Developer: Weird Beluga – Release Date: August 13

I know what you’re thinking: “Hey, Duskfade looks like Kingdom Hearts!” Despite sharing similar design aesthetics, such as a protagonist lugging a keyblade-esque sword over his shoulder and fighting enemies resembling Heartless, developer Weird Beluga actually drew much of the game’s tonal and narrative inspiration from the 2002 Disney film Treasure Planet. Hence, why protagonist Zirian sports a questionably fashionable rat tail. 

What I enjoy about Duskfade is how much it feels like a throwback to PlayStation 2-era action platformers like the early Kingdom Hearts games, Jak & Daxter,  and even Dark Cloud. The story sees Zirian trying to rescue his sister and partnering with a sassy mechanical bird to do so, while bashing loads of monsters with his sword and using a double-jump and air-dash to find hidden goodies and collectibles. What’s offered in the Steam demo isn’t particularly groundbreaking from a gameplay standpoint, but Duskfade seems like well-executed – and good-looking – comfort food that transports me back to a simpler time. – Marcus Stewart

For more on Duskfade, check out the Halo: Campaign Evolved issue of the magazine we’re spoke with the developers all about the game.

Found any hidden Steam Next Fest gems that you think others should check out? Let us know in the comments!

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Grand Theft Auto VI Pre-Order Date And Cover Art Revealed

Game Informer

It’s not a new gameplay trailer, but Rockstar Games has released a new promotional video for Grand Theft Auto VI, announcing the game’s pre-order date and revealing its official cover art.

Pre-orders for the game on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S open on June 25, which is one week from today. The cover art is fashioned in the traditional Grand Theft Auto style: a collage of panels depicting the two main characters, Lucia and Jason, along with bank robber Raul Batista and music mogul/entrepreneur Boobie Ike. Because the game is set in a fictionalized Florida, it’s fitting to see the center panel occupied by the state’s unofficial mascot, an alligator. Check out the trailer and the full cover art below. 

Game Informer

Grand Theft Auto VI launches on November 19. You can catch up on news about the game by watching its first trailer, its second trailer, and our previews detailing the cast and six of the major areas players will explore. In related news, Rockstar announced yesterday that the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S upgrade for Grand Theft Auto V is officially free for owners of the last-gen versions.