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🍄 Nintendo Switch, Multi-platformThe Video Games You Should Play This Weekend – June 12
!Game Informer News(https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/bodydefault/public/2026/06/12/0f61b816/ss4ee71e56889c1dc82b55e013d6bbe7f2cd2d1027.1920x1080.jpg.webp) Summer Game Fest is finally done (though we're still posting plenty of previews from our time at the show(https://www.gameinformer.com/sgf)). That means it's finally time to play video games instead of just getting excited about the ones that we will be playing in September, which is apparently when all video games except Grand Theft Auto VI are releasing. Below you will find our recommendations of what to play this weekend (or watch or play on a tabletop), but before that, here is a longer-than-usual list of some of the biggest stories of the last two weeks. This really only scratches the surface. We wrote a lot of stories. - The 25 Most Exciting Games Of Summer Game Fest 2026(https://www.gameinformer.com/sgf-2026/2026/06/09/the-25-most-exciting-games-of-summer-game-fest-2026) - RGG Studio Head Talks Tupac's Controversial Stranger Than Heaven Inclusion(https://www.gameinformer.com/sgf-2026/2026/06/11/rgg-studio-head-talks-tupacs-controversial-stranger-than-heaven-inclusion) - Tomb Raider: Legacy Of Atlantis Director Discusses Use of Generative AI In The Upcoming Unreal Engine 5 Remake(https://www.gameinformer.com/2026/06/11/tomb-raider-legacy-of-atlantis-director-discusses-use-of-generative-ai-in-the-upcoming) - The Lost Wild Preview - Everyone's Stalked By The Dinosaur(https://www.gameinformer.com/preview/2026/06/07/everyones-stalked-by-the-dinosaur) - The Nintendo Switch 2 Remake Of The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Drops In 2026(https://www.gameinformer.com/nintendo-direct/2026/06/09/the-nintendo-switch-2-remake-of-the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time) - Kingdom Hearts IV Gameplay Trailer Revealed, Will Launch Simultaneously On Consoles And PC(https://www.gameinformer.com/nintendo-direct/2026/06/09/kingdom-hearts-iv-gameplay-trailer-revealed-will-launch-simultaneously) - Here's Everything Announced During Nintendo's 2026 Summer Direct Presentation(https://www.gameinformer.com/nintendo-direct/2026/06/09/heres-everything-announced-during-nintendos-2026-summer-direct) - Sega Confirms And Responds To Generative AI Content In New Crazy Taxi Game(https://www.gameinformer.com/2026/06/07/sega-confirms-and-responds-to-generative-ai-content-in-new-crazy-taxi-game) - Naoki Hamaguchi On Bringing Final Fantasy Back To Nintendo(https://www.gameinformer.com/2026/06/09/naoki-hamaguchi-on-bringing-final-fantasy-back-to-nintendo) - How Final Fantasy VII's Tifa Arrived In Street Fighter 6(https://www.gameinformer.com/sgf-2026/2026/06/10/how-final-fantasy-viis-tifa-arrived-in-street-fighter-6) !Game Informer News(https://gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/2025/06/06/653d3490/onimusha1.jpg.webp) Onimusha: Way Of The Sword Demo Kyle Hilliard The original Onimusha: Warlords is an important game for me. It was my introduction to the power of the PlayStation 2, and for years, it lived as the game that I was never able to see to its conclusion. I played it at a friend's house with no memory card, so we just kept restarting the game, but we were happy with that because it looked amazing. I finally played it to completion when it was ported to Switch in 2019(https://gameinformer.com/2019/01/23/how-does-onimusha-warlords-hold-up-after-18-years) and then played through it again for MinnMax's deepest dive in 2025(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ii62lnmok). When Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny was ported to modern platforms last year, I played through that game, too (and talked to its creators in this interview(https://gameinformer.com/interview/2025/04/22/onimusha-2s-director-on-remastering-the-playstation-2-game-and-the-state-of)), and enjoyed it as well. For those reasons, I am excited for Onimusha: Way of the Sword. I am also excited because Capcom has consistently been releasing very good video games for the last few years. The free demo, which offers about 45 minutes of gameplay, has confirmed to me that my excitement is justified. The game doesn't really feel like Onimusha 1 or 2, frankly, and instead feels just like a great samurai action game with demons, which I am totally okay with. I am curious to see if it feels more Onimusha in the full game, but even if it doesn't, I am still eager to hang with Miyamoto Musashi and fight some demons later this year. !Game Informer News(https://gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/2026/05/30/21a967fe/nintendoswitch2starfoxscrn08.jpg.webp) Star Fox Demo Kyle Hilliard Since its reveal, my admittedly cynical reaction to the Star Fox 64 remake has been one of indifference. I have affection for Star Fox 64, but I played it a lot back in 1997 and enjoyed the 3DS remake in 2011. Unlike many Nintendo 64 games, it's one I think is still fun to play today without the need for a remake. And I was hoping for something new from the franchise for its Switch debut. Embarrassingly, however, playing through the demo turned me around and made me confront and embrace my nostalgia. Turns out I like Star Fox 64 more than I realized and the updated soundtrack is phenomenal. The free demo includes the tutorial, which has some fun character interactions as the team trains together in VR, and Star Fox 64's second level, Meteo, which takes place in a dense asteroid field. Controlling Fox's Arwing feels great and the new visuals add to the epic scale of space battles. I felt like a kid again, blasting my way through Start Fox 64 for the fifth time like it was 1997 all over again, and now I want to play the whole thing. !Game Informer News(https://gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/2026/06/11/e984e349/xenoswitchg2.jpg.webp) Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Kyle Hilliard Xenoblade Chronicles is the little RPG that could. It launched in 2010 exclusively for the Wii in Japan, then made its way to Europe and Australia before finally being released in North America in 2012. And even then, it was a concession made in response to RPG fans who were frustrated that the game wasn't available in the United States. It reviewed well when it finally released and, as the myriad sequels and ports have confirmed, it found its audience, and that audience has only grown. Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (which, yes, has the word 'Edition' in its title twice) is the newest port of the game and was available shortly after being announced earlier this week for Switch 2. This new version is the best the game has ever looked and adds motorcycles to make long-distance travel feel less like a slog. If you never played the game on Wii (or New 3DS or Switch), now is as good a time as any to jump in at the starting line. And if you like it, the two sequels will be getting Switch 2 ports soon, as well(https://gameinformer.com/nintendo-direct/2026/06/09/xenoblade-chronicles-1-2-and-3-are-getting-updgraded-switch-2-ports). !Game Informer News(https://gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/2026/06/11/cda7414c/1666amster.jpg.webp) 1666: Amsterdam Prologue Demo Marcus Stewart Of the dozens upon dozens of game announcements during Summer Game Fest, few have stuck with me like 1666: Amsterdam. The next title by Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey developer Panache Digital Games, led by Assassin’s Creed creator Patrice Désilets, stars a witch hunting demons disguised as humans with the aid of a talking cat who, it turns out, possesses the consciousness of a human from 1999. I later learned its SGF showing was a re-reveal of sorts, as the game has been in development in some form for the last 16 years and has a tumultuous history that even includes legal battles with Ubisoft. Game Informer editor-in-chief Matt Miller wrote a great summary of the events leading to 1666: Amsterdam’s return that you can read here.(https://gameinformer.com/sgf-2026/2026/06/06/everything-we-know-about-1666-amsterdam) Although the game is set to launch in PC Early Access this year, you can download a free playable prologue. This slice doesn’t feature any of the stylish, spellbinding combat from the trailer, but it does set the table for how Noa, the witch, and Aaron, the cat, meet. It’s very weird, and the presentation is a bit dated, but it's worth checking out to see how this fascinating and long-in-development game is shaping up. !Game Informer News(https://gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/2026/06/11/d6d5cc5f/2fights.jpg.webp) 2 Fights 2 Tight Spaces Matt Miller The celebrated Fights In Tight Spaces is receiving a true sequel, now offering an increased focus on cooperative play with friends. The original deck-building card game looked great, but this new installment overhauls the visual style in some key ways, adding detail to environments while keeping the iconic character silhouettes that helped define the prior entry. The big surprise was Ground Shatter's move to announce the game and then immediately shadow drop the early access build to play right away(https://store.steampowered.com/app/3734890/2Fightsin2TightSpaces/), so you can try out your own tight-spaced melees right now. !Game Informer News(https://gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/2026/06/11/acad210d/ss8de364e27be8c00fd86046a63a46a6934a3fe484.1920x1080.jpg.webp) Crushed In Time Kyle Hilliard 2020's There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension is an interesting experience. It's kind of a point-and-click adventure game that is about the medium of video games and playing video games and the fourth wall basically remains shattered from the opening moments. It's also quite funny. Crushed In Time is not a sequel per se, but if you played Wrong Dimension, you know that developer Draw Me A Pixel was never going to take things the traditional route for a follow-up. Instead, Crushed In Time follows secondary characters established in Wrong Dimension, Draw Me A Pixel's take on Sherlock Holmes and Watson. And instead of being a point-and-click in the familiar sense, you actually tug on elements of the environment to solve puzzles. For example, opening a drawer in the opening puzzle requires pulling the door knob off the door, and flinging it to the drawer so the handle can be used as a drawer pull. I haven't made much progress in my playtime yet, but I like the art style and humor and I am excited to see how it plays with preconceptions about what I think the game will be. !Game Informer News(https://gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/2026/06/11/beffc125/tombradier.jpg.webp) Rise Of The Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration Kyle Hilliard In my opinion, the honor of best Tomb Raider video game still belongs to the 2013 Tomb Raider game(https://gameinformer.com/games/tombraider/b/xbox360/archive/2013/02/25/tomb-raider-review.aspx), part one of the Lara Croft sub-series, the Survivor trilogy. However, the honor of second best Tomb Raider game belongs to the 2015 sequel, Rise of the Tomb Raider(https://gameinformer.com/games/riseofthetombraider/b/xboxone/archive/2016/01/28/rise-of-the-tomb-raider-review-game-informer.aspx), which is now available for Switch 2 with the confusing subtitle, "20 Year Celebration." The original Tomb Raider released 30 years ago and Rise of the Tomb Raider released 11 years ago. It turns out, this is a Switch 2 port of a version of Rise of the Tomb Raider that released in 2016 that was, at the time, celebrating 20 years of Tomb Raider. Confusion cleared! In any case, it's a great Tomb Raider game and this version has all the DLC, including the underrated Baba Yaga: The Temple of the Witch content in which Lara meets Baba Yaga who lives in a house that walks around on giant chicken legs. It's very cool. And now you can play it on Nintendo Switch 2. !Game Informer News(https://gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/2026/06/11/36178e52/amongusfullepisodes1e1apizzapartywherenothingbadhappensparamount8-52screensho.jpg.webp) Among Us TV Show Kyle Hilliard The big takeaway from Charles Harte's recent review of Among Us(https://gameinformer.com/2026/06/06/review-the-among-us-show-is-better-and-gorier-than-i-expected), the new Paramont + TV show based on the popular video game, is that it's better than you think. My 14 year-old daughter quickly watched the show and offered a similar report and insisted I sit down and watch it with her. And you know what? I am inclined to agree with both of them. The performers (including folks like Elijah Wood, Yvette Nicole Brown, Patton Oswalt, Randall Park, and more(https://www.tiktok.com/@gameinformer/video/7648060265115733261)) deliver enthusiastic and funny performances, the murder mystery is engaging, and the writers(https://www.tiktok.com/@gameinformer/video/7648408347019906318) are clearly genuine fans of the property. Its references to the games are important plot and world-building details rather than fan service. One joke about a character trying to get a weapon from the weapons locker, only to discover it was a locker for weird aprons with certain letters covered to make it read like weapons, really made me laugh. And if you subscribe to Paramount +, you can also watch Star Trek, which is a nice bonus. !Game Informer News(https://gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/2026/06/12/7cab36bc/dadndvamp.jpg.webp) Tabletop Pick – Ravenloft: The Horrors Within Matt Miller Depending on where you prefer to pick up your tabletop RPG releases, the new Ravenloft book is already available online and at many local game stores, with broader release planned for early next week. The original legendary Ravenloft adventure launched way back in 1983, and was one of the foundational modules introducing horror to the game. We've seen the setting revisited several times over various editions of D&D. This new version features some gorgeous art alongside a smartly organized collection of content for both players and DMs. There's new subclasses (like the Reanimator) and species (like the Lupin) to enjoy, as well as clear details about each of the Darklords and their respective Domains of Dread, including the new addition of a Cthulhu locale to mix in cosmic horror. The new book also includes a wealth of adventure hooks to get your group going into a horror-themed campaign, and is a welcome expansion to a long legacy of Ravenloft iterations over the years.
🖥 PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PCHow to upgrade your airship in Solarpunk
!(https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/solarpunk-how-to-upgrade-airship.jpg?width=690&quality=85&format=jpg&auto=webp) Solarpunk teases you with an airship upgrade without giving any indication how you go about getting it. It's one of the first potential progress blockers in the game, though even once you've figured it out, it takes a lot of time and intensive material grinding to obtain the upgrade components. There are a few steps you can take to move things along faster, though. In this guide, we'll show you how to get an airship upgrade in Solarpunk and the most efficient ways to gather the necessary materials. Read more(https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/solarpunk-airship-upgrade-how-to-get)
🖥 PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PC, Multi-platformCall Of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Brings Back Campaign Early Access, Here’s How To Get It
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/preorder-call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4-vault-edition-and-save-10/) will feature "campaign early access," allowing people who preorder or pre-buy the game to start playing the story mode early. This applies to preorders and pre-purchases for the MW4 standard digital edition or the Vault edition, across Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Switch 2, and Steam. The campaign early access begins on October 16, which is a full week before the game releases for everyone on October 23. During that week, only the game's campaign will be available; multiplayer unlocks on October 23. !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-12-at-9.46.18-AM-1.png?w=1024) Modern Warfare 4 releases in October. Existence of the campaign early access for Modern Warfare 4 leaked already(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4-may-get-campaign-early-access-report/), so the announcement today is not a total surprise. There is also precedent for it, as 2022's Modern Warfare 2 was the first game in the series to offer campaign early access. 2023's Modern Warfare 3 did as well, but 2024's Black Ops 6 did not, and neither did 2025's Black Ops 7. See at Amazon(https://www.amazon.com/Call-Duty-Modern-Warfare-Standard-PlayStation/dp/B0H37MKQ64/tag=gamespot-preorders-20) The Modern Warfare 4 campaign puts players into the shoes of Private Park, a young, inexperienced Korean soldier(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4-puts-you-in-the-boots-of-a-grunt/). He's played by Young Mazino, who is best known for his roles on Beef and The Last of Us. For more, be sure to check out GameSpot's Modern Warfare 4 preorder guide(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/preorder-call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4-vault-edition-and-save-10/).
🖥 PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PC, Multi-platformTwo More Games Are Losing Online Services Soon
Two more games are losing their online services, but the good news is that the server shutdowns aren't happening all that soon. Delisted Games(https://delistedgames.com/electronic-arts-and-2k-games-update-their-online-service-pages-grid-legends-and-topspin-2k25-impacted/) spotted notices from EA(https://www.ea.com/legal/service-updates/a-h) and 2K(https://support.2k.com/hc/en-us/articles/33058906107667-2K-Online-Services-Status) informing fans about forthcoming server closures. Grid Legends will lose its online service on PlayStation and Xbox consoles on September 11 this year, but servers will stay up for the game's Steam and Switch 2 editions. !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/gridlegendsdaaa79.jpg?w=1024) Grid Legends is riding ... off into the sunset. 2K, meanwhile, announced that TopSpin 2K25's online support will go dark on December 31, 2027. 2K had previously said servers will close at the end of 2026, so players are getting an entire year more than expected. 2K said in its notice that supporting older titles while managing newer ones eventually becomes "commercially unfeasible." EA, for its part, said a similar thing, noting that, as player populations on older titles fall, "it's no longer feasible to continue the behind-the-scenes work" involved with operating them. This all may be true, but anyone who is playing and enjoying Grid Legends and TopSkin 2K25 may not be thrilled by the shutdowns. In the case of TopSkin 2K25, that's the newest game in the series, so it's even more of a bummer.
🖥 PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PCWhere to find Copper in Solarpunk
!(https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/solarpunk-copper-location-how-to-get.jpg?width=690&quality=85&format=jpg&auto=webp) Finding Copper in Solarpunk is one of your first big material challenges. The mineral is vital for most construction projects beyond the most basic ones, and nothing on your home island points you in the right direction. You'll need to stockpile Iron and Cotton to build an airship dock, then find components to build the actual airship. After that, you'll find a location with Copper nodes — though these are limited, and they don't respawn. There is a way to get more Copper with less effort once those are gone, though. In this guide, we'll show you where to find Copper in Solarpunk, and how to set up a Copper farm. Read more(https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/solarpunk-how-to-get-copper)
🍄 Nintendo Switch, Multi-platformNintendo Loves Remaking 3D Zelda Games, But For Some Reason, Not The 2D Classics
After months of speculation, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was unveiled for Switch 2(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-finally-reveals-the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-remake-for-2026/) during this week's Nintendo Direct(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-direct-june-2026-all-the-biggest-announcements-and-games/). It's the latest in a long line of remakes and remasters for Zelda 3D titles, but also raises the question: Why aren't there new versions of the franchise's first three mainline entries? Nintendo has never remade The Legend of Zelda, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, or The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. These 2D classics for NES and SNES are what made people fall in love with the action-adventure series to begin with. They even feature gameplay features still seen today in the series, like puzzle-filled dungeons, pot breaking, and satisfying secrets to discover. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze-346WTsI0 Weirdly, the only 2D Zelda to get a proper remake is The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening on Switch(https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-legend-of-zelda-links-awakening-review-a-respe/1900-6417309/). That's the fourth entry in the mainline franchise, and while a dark-horse favorite of fans, it doesn't have the same widespread acclaim as A Link to the Past. In fact, to this day, many still consider that SNES game as the pinnacle of the series. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past did get re-released on Game Boy Advance(https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past-review/1900-2901300/), with multiplayer-centric The Four Swords added on to the experience. That game's version of Hyrule was also remade in A Link Between Worlds(https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-between-worlds-review/1900-6415543/)--so maybe Nintendo considers that 3DS title to be a remake of sorts. But still, in a world where every 3D Zelda game has received the remake or remaster treatment (including Switch 2 Edition upgrades(https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/zelda-breath-of-the-wild-and-tears-of-the-kingdom-every-switch-2-upgrade/2900-6612/1)), it's a bit odd Nintendo hasn't given the same glow-ups to the original triforce of games in the franchise. Sure, I'd prefer new Zelda games over these, as someone who remembers playing A Link to the Past as a kid. But at the same time, those 2D classics deserve a second time in the spotlight. Meanwhile, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time will see its second remake later this year on Switch 2 after previously getting a 3DS makeover in 2011. Nintendo withheld showing any gameplay(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/zelda-ocarina-remakes-lack-of-gameplay-did-it-a-disservice/) in the reveal trailer, which hopefully signals bigger changes than just a visual overhaul(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/a-zelda-ocarina-of-time-remaster-on-switch-2-would-be-a-huge-missed-opportunity/1100-6539247/). Best Zelda Games, Ranked – Where Does Echoes of Wisdom Fall? !4406308-switch1x1-thelegendofzelda-echoesofwisdomkeyart.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1585/15855271/4406308-switch1x1-thelegendofzelda-echoesofwisdomkeyart.jpg?w=1024) !3881501-adventureoflink.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1601/16018044/3881501-adventureoflink.jpg?w=1024) !3881502-3873414-spirittracks.png(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1601/16018044/3881502-3873414-spirittracks.png?w=1024) !3881503-3873416-phantomhourglass.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1601/16018044/3881503-3873416-phantomhourglass.jpg?w=1024) !3881505-3873417-skywardsword.png(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1601/16018044/3881505-3873417-skywardsword.png?w=1024) !3881506-3873418-oracle.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1601/16018044/3881506-3873418-oracle.jpg?w=1024) !4406307-switch1x1-thelegendofzelda-echoesofwisdomkeyart.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1585/15855271/4406307-switch1x1-thelegendofzelda-echoesofwisdomkeyart.jpg?w=1024) View Images(https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/best-zelda-games/2900-3788/)
🖥 Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, PC, Multi-platformThe Nintendo DS is still the best gaming handheld for travel
Even with the looming specter of rising prices, there's never been a better time for portable gaming. The Steam Deck has ushered in a new era of handheld PCs, the Analogue Pocket and other Game Boy-style remakes are making retro games more approachable than ever, the Playdate has led to an alternate universe of weirdo &8230;
🖥 PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PCHow to get wheat in Solarpunk
!(https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/solarpunk-wheat.jpg?width=690&quality=85&format=jpg&auto=webp) Finding Wheat in Solarpunk(https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/games/solarpunk) is an essential step toward progressing beyond the bare basics, but you'll see the staple crop show up as a research requirement long before you can actually get it. Wheat doesn't grow on any of the islands you initially have access to, and the merchant doesn't offer it in exchange for item trades. You'll need to establish a decent production line first so you can upgrade your airship, but once you do get that upgrade, you'll have access to enough wheat to start a small farm dedicated only to it. In this guide, we'll show you how to get Wheat in Solarpunk and outline some of the steps you'll need to take before you can harvest it. Read more(https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/solarpunk-how-to-get-wheat)
🖥 Nintendo Switch, PC, Multi-platformBest Summer Game Fest 2026 Games You Might Have Missed
Summer Game Fest(https://www.gamespot.com/event/summer-game-fest/) Live and various other live events and showcases littered throughout early June have talked up dozens of upcoming games to get excited about. But just as Steam is filled with too many games for anyone to keep up with them all, it can also be hard, if not impossible, to keep up with all of these early June announcements and demos. That's where we come in. Below, you'll find our picks for some of the numerous games that caught our eye but you may have missed, perhaps because it didn't get a showing during one of the big events like Summer Game Fest Live(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/summer-game-fest-live-2026-all-the-biggest-announcements-and-games/), Nintendo Direct(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-direct-june-2026-all-the-biggest-announcements-and-games/), or the Xbox Games Showcase(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-game-showcase-2026-all-the-biggest-announcements-so-far/), or because, again, there are so many games. Whether it's jaunts through your hometown with a sledgehammer, a long-awaited 1.0 release of a game coming for Stardew Valley's crown, making a deal with the devil, or trying to convince a woman that you actually are her daughter and don't deserve to die, there's sure to be something to add to your wishlist. Virtue and a Sledgehammer !(https://shared.fastly.steamstatic.com/storeitemassets/steam/apps/3743260/a156132ba0e6f106e04e5e08b4ec6fab9e5a2428/ssa156132ba0e6f106e04e5e08b4ec6fab9e5a2428.1920x1080.jpg?t=1780860330) I'm a sucker for destruction in games. Give me a sledgehammer with robots and structures to smash with it, and I'm going to dive in. Give me that within the context of a game that appears to have a spooky vibe and explores the feeling of no longer feeling at home in your own hometown through the lens of old friends and family being replaced by robots? Now you really have my attention. -- Chris Pereira See at Steam(https://store.steampowered.com/app/3743260/VirtueandaSledgehammer/) Time Strike !(https://shared.fastly.steamstatic.com/storeitemassets/steam/apps/3427330/e7eb8cca0ea4fc55a71bde36a29875d859464e04/sse7eb8cca0ea4fc55a71bde36a29875d859464e04.1920x1080.jpg?t=1780862076) I've already noted my enjoyment of destruction in games, but Time Strike also capitalizes on my interest in messing with time and how you fundamentally interact with a game from moment to moment. Superhot excelled with its approach to how time worked in a first-person shooter, and Time Strike looks to be taking that further by letting you pause time to consider your next action, which can include causing walls, bullets, or other objects to be flung at your foes. Sign me up. -- Chris Pereira See at Steam(https://store.steampowered.com/app/3427330/TIMESTRIKE/) Sunset Summit !(https://shared.fastly.steamstatic.com/storeitemassets/steam/apps/3874450/f5323f2ad96487000b6004f60965733eee5a1491/ssf5323f2ad96487000b6004f60965733eee5a1491.1920x1080.jpg?t=1780864393) We're seeing an incredible surge of mountain-climbing games, not to mention what's often deemed to be friendslop (fair or not). That makes it more challenging to stand out in the space, yet Sunset Summit has still caught my eye: the 8-player limit, freeform climbing, long jumps, floating platforms, quirky-looking characters, pogo sticks, checkpoints, and edible beans that make you fly (!) all seem to combine for a more casual experience that feels like it could nicely complement my friend group's more competitively oriented game rotation. -- Chris Pereira See at Steam(https://store.steampowered.com/app/3874450/SunsetSummit/) Into the Wind !(https://shared.fastly.steamstatic.com/storeitemassets/steam/apps/2843060/db3d559def508ee30e0b1920eba92d379a6bf07e/ssdb3d559def508ee30e0b1920eba92d379a6bf07e.1920x1080.jpg?t=1781004938) A calm seaside town where you have to make deliveries with your motorcycle sounds nice, if perhaps unremarkable (though I should note, those deliveries can sometimes be giant, living sea creatures). But that motorcycle can also turn into a plane with guns, which can be used to fend off sky pirates as you also spend your time seeking out your missing uncle, bringing decorations back to your home (earning you bonuses), and dealing with challenges stemming from terrain, weather, the weight of your deliveries, and ensuring you have enough gas. It looks like there's more than enough here to keep me engaged in a way that delivery games sometimes don't. -- Chris Pereira See at Steam(https://store.steampowered.com/app/2843060/IntotheWind/) Grave Seasons !(https://shared.fastly.steamstatic.com/storeitemassets/steam/apps/3255110/973b234bca5701b88aab89a0cbedfbe0366028d7/ss973b234bca5701b88aab89a0cbedfbe0366028d7.1920x1080.jpg?t=1780910132) After following its development for literal years, I finally got the chance to play Grave Seasons at this year's Summer Game Fest. Despite building up what I presumed were impossibly high hopes for the farming-sim-meets-horror-whodunnit, I walked away from my demo absolutely elated by what I played. In Grave Seasons, the sleepy town of Ashenridge is violently awakened when a string of grotesque murders begins. Your farmer then takes it upon themselves to get to the bottom of things, using journals, polite conversation, an old crowbar, and the power of deduction to do so. Though the killer is not randomized (a fact developer Perfect Garbage was careful to emphasize following inaccurate rumblings online), you can expect a lot of replayability from this title. According to the studio, there are multiple, year-long campaigns to play through and each one features a killer selected at random from a pre-existing pool of potential murderers--many of which you can even romance. When not witnessing grisly deaths and supernatural horrors, you'll be able to farm and flirt to your heart's content. In fact, Perfect Garbage admitted you could play the game as a straight farming sim and ignore the call to prevent your neighbors deaths--just don't be shocked if your crush winds up with an axe sticking out of their skull. -- Jessica Cogswell See at Steam(https://store.steampowered.com/app/3255110/GraveSeasons/) Red Kiss !(https://shared.fastly.steamstatic.com/storeitemassets/steam/apps/2523380/21caccd973e6b6beaf4e41ae03bd51f6312e23d0/ss21caccd973e6b6beaf4e41ae03bd51f6312e23d0.1920x1080.jpg?t=1780928575) If like so many of us you finished up 2025's Dispatch and were dismayed by the lack of games with a similar gameplay loop, Red Kiss is here to save the day. In this "seductive narrative RPG" you play as a recently turned vampire in a Cold War-era Berlin. However, you're not just a vampire--you're an Agur, a psychic dispatcher tasked with sending out vampiric spies to help gain influence over the city. While this conceit alone was enough to sell me on the game, Red Kiss's trailer is hypnotizingly stylish. With its boldly lined characters, dramatic color palette punctuated by crimson and indigo, and thrumming electronic music, Red Kiss promises style on par with your favorite Persona game alongside strategic, narrative-driven gameplay. "Coming soon" can't come soon enough. -- Jessica Cogswell See at Steam(https://store.steampowered.com/app/2523380/RedKiss/) Fields of Mistria !(https://shared.fastly.steamstatic.com/storeitemassets/steam/apps/2142790/ss21bf5c80d21f6323201598659f766c854179c029.1920x1080.jpg?t=1781022022) Yes, I have already put well over 60 hours into Fields of Mistria, but that doesn't stop its 1.0 release from being my most anticipated game release of 2026. When it comes to Stardew-likes (for the love of god, let's not make that an actual genre name please), I'd argue that Fields of Mistria is not just the best, but that it actually surpasses Stardew Valley in just about every way possible. It approaches the genre with a far more interesting angle and narrative than its competitors, and adds more variety and polish, too. Its stellar writing, swoon-worthy characters, anime-inspired art direction, and sheer amount of things to do make Mistria a world I love getting lost in. I highly suspect the 60 hours I've spent in this lush and lovely town will be doubled long before 2027 rolls around. -- Jessica Cogswell See at Steam(https://store.steampowered.com/app/2142790/FieldsofMistria/) Super Yooka-Laylee Kart !(https://shared.fastly.steamstatic.com/storeitemassets/steam/apps/3348210/a30a5396796f0bcd6ae37a8b4cf4574ef5b9046a/ssa30a5396796f0bcd6ae37a8b4cf4574ef5b9046a.1920x1080.jpg?t=1781000103) The kart racer is a genre mainstay, and lots of developers have attempted to put their own spin on the concept. Super Yooka-Laylee Kart caught my attention by riffing on what Yooka-Laylee already is: a retro throwback. The visual style of SYLK recalls Mario Kart Super Circuit, which just isn't a style that we often see imitated. I love modern kart racers like Mario Kart World and Sonic CrossWorlds, but the Super NES and N64 era that dawned the kart racer had its own feel that isn't often imitated, so I'm excited to see how this will iterate on it. -- Steve Watts See at Steam(https://store.steampowered.com/app/3348210/SuperYookaLayleeKart/) Hidden Folks 2 !(https://shared.fastly.steamstatic.com/storeitemassets/steam/apps/4480060/91b72d010c99cf0338a3e75f89a99403fa29f94f/ss91b72d010c99cf0338a3e75f89a99403fa29f94f.1920x1080.jpg?t=1780754401) I’ve waited 10 years for the follow-up to Adriaan de Jongh’s 2017 hidden-object puzzler, Hidden Folks. Drawn by hand, the black-and-white landscapes sprawling across bustling cities, lively forests, and roaring factories set the benchmark in a sub-genre of puzzle games that you’d usually only enjoy in the backs of kids' magazines at the dentist's office. Clicking around an interactive environment to cause chaos and create the events in which you'd find the hidden folks on your checklist is the ingenuity of the game's design. – David McCutcheon See at Steam(https://store.steampowered.com/app/4480060/HiddenFolks2/) Gone Feral !(https://shared.fastly.steamstatic.com/storeitemassets/steam/apps/4009220/a33a51be95354ff11f4f8af09dd8ad3523c72902/ssa33a51be95354ff11f4f8af09dd8ad3523c72902.1920x1080.jpg?t=1780859395) Turning the tides on the wave of asymmetrical horror games, Gone Feral plops you and your slasher buddies into a big sandbox, where you must hunt down the spoiled rich kids that tried to murder you all in a heinous prank gone awry. Stages—featuring horror staples like summer camps and eerie mansions—generate anew with different layouts every time you play, but the real bread and butter is the ability to off your victims with a myriad of non-weapons. No axe? Grab a turkey leg instead. Eat up. – David McCutcheon See at Steam(https://store.steampowered.com/app/4009220/GoneFeral/) Tenebris Somnia !(https://shared.fastly.steamstatic.com/storeitemassets/steam/apps/2121510/ss5457239d28f54bdb9750057e9ba9db811437f77d.1920x1080.jpg?t=1780713794) I have never seen anything quite like Tenebris Somnia. Jolting from the look of a pixelated Clock Tower-style '90s point-and-clicker to a live-action film, the game will make you feel like you're losing grip on reality. Tenebris Somnia transforms the safe feeling of a video game ("I can just pause this and it all goes away") into something real and visceral. You never know when these scenes will trigger, which keeps you both on edge and imagining every gruesome scene you come across in pixels as reality. The anticipation of the scare is survival horror's most advantageous tool, indeed. – David McCutcheon See at Steam(https://store.steampowered.com/app/2121510/TenebrisSomnia/) Lazy River !(https://shared.fastly.steamstatic.com/storeitemassets/steam/apps/2743290/5e19c9169a7ea4e0b9a25f03ec2b4f6b99f1d834/ss5e19c9169a7ea4e0b9a25f03ec2b4f6b99f1d834.1920x1080.jpg?t=1780695341) Looking at Lazy River, a game in which you and three friends trek down a cartoonishly colored lazy river fighting off zombies with squirt guns and pool noodles, you'd be forgiven for assuming it's been made as a reaction to the "friendslop" trend taking over indies right now. In truth, the game has been in development for four years. Developer Mike Boxleiter told me that when games like Peak and Lethal Company started popping up, it only validated his small team's ideas. Though Boxleiter added that he wishes his game were a bit less complicated, with players building their floats from scraps as they coast deeper into chaos, I didn't feel like it was overly complicated. It seems primed to be the next big thing in this emerging genre that my usual gaming group and I adore. -- Mark Delaney See at Steam(https://store.steampowered.com/app/2743290/LazyRiver/) The Road of Dust and Sorrow !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/dustthumb-1777582743947.jpg?w=1024) I'm a sucker for story-driven games, and an intriguing-enough narrative is typically all it takes to convince me to give a chance to genres I'm normally not a fan of. That's the case for The Road of Dust and Sorrow. Survival-horror isn't usually for me, but ever since I saw its trailer in the Future Games Showcase, I've been unable to stop thinking about it. We have so few "mom games" in the space, which makes The Road of Dust and Sorrow alluring enough to wishlist it on Steam, but the way this game seems to amplify the desperation of its dystopian world by utilizing both empathetic connections with back-stabbing characters and feral-looking combat mechanics has me desperate just to try this game. Plus the pixel art is just really pretty. -- Jordan Ramée See at Steam(https://store.steampowered.com/app/3895110/TheRoadofDustandSorrow/) Every Wednesday !(https://shared.fastly.steamstatic.com/storeitemassets/steam/apps/4296370/9ecc2879c1ec58930ab2eccbd12aeecf2e5cb6e7/ss9ecc2879c1ec58930ab2eccbd12aeecf2e5cb6e7.1920x1080.jpg?t=1780725007) Visiting a laundromat was never something I had to do growing up, but I did start visiting them regularly once I moved out of my parents' house to go to college in another city. I was so surprised to see that the space was like a small world, with regular customers establishing relationships and growing from strangers into something more--not quite friends in most cases, but definitely more than mere acquaintances. That experience seems to be the basis for Every Wednesday where protagonist Hideki visits his local laundromat every Wednesday and slowly becomes a mainstay in his community. The game looks charming and a whole lot of fun, placing an emphasis on goofy minigames and choice-driven dialogue. It looks like a game that will both make me laugh out loud and quietly sob, and I cannot wait to experience both emotions. -- Jordan Ramée See at Steam(https://store.steampowered.com/app/4296370/EveryWednesday/) Thousand Hells: The Underworld Heists !(https://shared.fastly.steamstatic.com/storeitemassets/steam/apps/3794210/179e5e0a5a53b4ca8448167c236216ab53b72808/ss179e5e0a5a53b4ca8448167c236216ab53b72808.1920x1080.jpg?t=1780842670) This game seems so freakin' cool. In it, you take on jobs from a mysterious benefactor to delve into the thousands upon thousands of layers of the underworld. With every mission, you recruit four would-be heroes and then you do your best to direct them through the challenges you come across. A guardian demon could be snuck past with a thief, for example, or taken out by a trained warrior. As you go, your party becomes more and more injured and your options narrow, leaving you scrambling to come up with the best solution you can. Your allies might not make it, and then you have to live with the consequences of your mission, whether you succeed or fail. This game looks tense, but having every outcome be determined by tactical choices instead of real-time gameplay means I don't have to worry about my slow fingers being the reason my party members die--it will always just be my piss-poor choices. -- Jordan Ramée See at Steam(https://store.steampowered.com/app/3794210/ThousandHellsTheUnderworldHeists/) Burn-9 !(https://shared.fastly.steamstatic.com/storeitemassets/steam/apps/4377480/20a1041af3046dfb42695f21608af1e893bf2898/ss20a1041af3046dfb42695f21608af1e893bf2898.1920x1080.jpg?t=1780989062) While the trailer for Burn-9 got me excited for this spy thriller, the free demo is what sold the game for me. Stylized to emulate games like Metal Gear, Burn-9 has you in the seat of the coordinator directing the soldier on the ground, not the soldier themself. This makes it easier to suggest risky plans of attack, but also endears you to the soldier under your command. It's your job to take care of them to the best of your ability, while also weighing the cost of failing the mission and getting a reprimand from your supervisor. The demo was tense and absolutely thrilling to play through, and I cannot wait for the full experience. -- Jordan Ramée See at Steam(https://store.steampowered.com/app/4377480/Burn9/) In The Drift !(https://shared.fastly.steamstatic.com/storeitemassets/steam/apps/4712630/0a83b6f083dbd372bece76526e8faf4c032365e5/ss0a83b6f083dbd372bece76526e8faf4c032365e5.1920x1080.jpg?t=1780761923) In the Drift seems like the type of game that will be welcome to return to after a busy day when I just want to unwind to something that is simple to play, nice to look at, and pleasant to listen to. The game has you play as a repairperson who lives with a crew of other people on an asteroid belt, and it's your job to help the people of the solar system reconnect with each other after the space internet goes out. The game appears to be a very calming experience, though since the creators of Sable are behind it, I'm prepared for it to surprise me with a devastating emotional or introspective gut punch at some point. -- Jordan Ramée See at Steam(https://store.steampowered.com/app/4712630/InTheDrift/) Cassette Beats 2002 !(https://shared.fastly.steamstatic.com/storeitemassets/steam/apps/3802140/5b12bd4de696f0290d3c5d666ad95bf685e0d5d9/ss5b12bd4de696f0290d3c5d666ad95bf685e0d5d9.1920x1080.jpg?t=1780904897) I like RPGs. I like monster-collecting games. I like isekai stories. I'm going to like Cassette Beasts 2002, especially if it's as good as its stellar predecessor. I'm most intrigued by how this game can be played as is or with your saved data from the first Cassette Beasts imported in. Will importing your character drastically change this sequel's story? And if so, how? Regardless, I'm going to be playing this game when it comes out and spend way too much time figuring out which of the 57,000+ monster combinations are my favorite. -- Jordan Ramée See at Steam(https://store.steampowered.com/app/3802140/CassetteBeasts2002/) Duppy Detective Tashia !(https://adventuregamehotspot.com/images/games/2041/32642-20260113132531-1.jpg) I first learned about this game during the Story Rich Showcase, only to see that it then dropped right then and there. With how time-consuming Summer Game Fest week is for those of us at GameSpot, I haven't had the chance to try this game yet but it's sitting at a "positive" on Steam right now, so I assume it's as good as it looks. And with a runtime of 1-3 hours, this is something that I should be able to knockout during a free weekend afternoon. I'm looking forward to it--it's been way too long since I've been able to just sink my teeth into a point-and-click adventure game, and save for Voodoo Detective, I don't get to play many games in this genre that feature characters who look and act like my family and I do. -- Jordan Ramée See at Steam(https://store.steampowered.com/app/1958800/DuppyDetectiveTashia/) The Heart and Harbor !(https://shared.fastly.steamstatic.com/storeitemassets/steam/apps/2528170/6bacba42d1781c7ba11fde3001772703ee87dc10/ss6bacba42d1781c7ba11fde3001772703ee87dc10.1920x1080.jpg?t=1780766285) The Hearth and Harbor stole my heart during the Story Rich Showcase, rising to one of my most anticipated games. A management RPG set in a harbor city, you play as a recent immigrant who must transform a run-down restaurant into the establishment of your dreams, all while going out to attract new customers, create lasting relationships with suppliers, and beautify your building. The game reminds me of the likes of Stardew Valley or Discounty, but seems to put a bigger emphasis on the roleplay part of your business, with smart decisions and big mistakes having major consequences on what happens to you, your restaurant, and the community at large. -- Jordan Ramée See at Steam(https://store.steampowered.com/app/2528170/TheHearthandHarbour/) Am I Nima !(https://shared.fastly.steamstatic.com/storeitemassets/steam/apps/3224600/401f241737962e47b6ba2edf25da5249e1e81f32/ss401f241737962e47b6ba2edf25da5249e1e81f32.1920x1080.jpg?t=1780960577) I love, love, love word association games but I don't think I've ever seen someone take that concept and run in a psychological horror direction to tell a story that deals with child neglect and gaslighting. Whether or not Am I Nima is the first to do it, I am fascinated at the idea. I don't know if the game is having us play as a changeling, or a robot, or a clone, or something else entirely, but I am invested in this narrative of not knowing who you are, knowing your mother will kill you if you don't figure it out, and needing to use your environment to learn new words and ideas in a desperate attempt to figure out who you're supposed to be. And that last shot in the trailer, where the smiling protagonist punches the mirror in a tearful rage brought about by the psychological toll to be someone they're not just to live for one more day? Beautiful. Chef's kiss. No notes. Please give me this game right now. Oh, the devs are saying that it's coming out October 8? Nah, that's not soon enough. -- Jordan Ramée See at Steam(https://store.steampowered.com/app/3224600/AmINima/) Signet City !(https://shared.fastly.steamstatic.com/storeitemassets/steam/apps/4582880/a809fba0f37137ba27c3381b061e5fcc2f302518/ssa809fba0f37137ba27c3381b061e5fcc2f302518.1920x1080.jpg?t=1780861400) I'll have a lot more to say about this game in a bit, having just wrapped up an interview with its developer, Gareth Damian Martin, for GameSpot but I also only need the slimmest of excuses to excitedly point at a game I really want to play. You may not know this about me but... I like tabletop role-playing games. And the creator of Citizen Sleeper knows a thing or two about making video games that pulls on an interesting TTRPG idea. For Signet City, an upcoming first-person fungalpunk RPG, it's the idea of "bleed," the concept of the emotions of the character you're pretending to be beginning to affect you in the real world. This game runs with that idea to tell a story in first-, second-, and third-person: You're a fungal spore that must slowly assimilate into a city, bringing more and more perspectives into your consciousness and shaping how you as the player views the world, the spore views the world, and the individual citizens of the city view the world. -- Jordan Ramée See at Steam(https://store.steampowered.com/app/4582880/SignetCity/) Dressmaker !(https://shared.fastly.steamstatic.com/storeitemassets/steam/apps/4019220/5282f895bd01a46fc857ccbd0b9266185e188db1/ss5282f895bd01a46fc857ccbd0b9266185e188db1.1920x1080.jpg?t=1780824138) If not for the arrival of Pokemon Scarlet/Violet, Potionomics would have been my entire personality back in 2022 and all I would have been able to talk about when it came to GameSpot's deliberations of best games of the year. There's just something so appealing about games in which you carefully put together something you're proud of, sell it to customers, and befriend your regulars and the people you work with. Dressmaker seems to be just that, but it's about designing, cutting, and sewing dresses, not potions or coffee. The art for the game looks very pretty, and I'm thrilled at the idea of losing myself in another game that somehow makes the pressures of being a struggling artisan feel rewarding. And if the devs let me smooch any of the cute characters who wander through your door, I fear Dressmaker will become just as much of an obsession for me as Potionomics was. -- Jordan Ramée See at Steam(https://store.steampowered.com/app/4019220/Dressmaker/) Magicians: The Devil's Deal !(https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/storeitemassets/steam/apps/3299300/eb3562637471a5ff59145ad1e78b45694a02a2fa/sseb3562637471a5ff59145ad1e78b45694a02a2fa.1920x1080.jpg?t=1780867815) The first-person shooter is a genre so often associated with giant guns and dude-bro machismo that it's easy to forget just how varied and different it can be. Case in point for Summer Game Fest Live 2026, at least for me, was Magicians: The Devil's Deal. It certainly looks as if it'll play like a first-person shooter, but rather than relying on firearms or bows, protagonist Jacob Menteuro is a performing magician who makes use of his wand and cards. He's battling rival magicians who betrayed him--a premise that reminds me of one of my favorite movies: The Prestige--and the BioShock-like art style was just the icing on the cake for me. I'll be there on launch day, asking people, "Is this your card?" before throwing it directly at their face. -- Gabe Gurwin See at Steam(https://store.steampowered.com/app/3299300/MagiciansTheDevilsDeal/) Final Fantasy Resonance !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/FF-Resonance.jpg) For years, I couldn’t put down my iPad because of Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius. This free-to-play gacha game was a nostalgic highlight reel that always tried to tempt me into spending extra money. Nice try! Still, it was the perfect comfort game with a surprisingly charming story at its heart. Now, it’s being remade as the first 2D-HD Final Fantasy game, similar to Octopath Traveler. What excites me most is the chance to revisit a familiar world without worrying about all the freemium hassles.Make no mistake, as much fun as it was to switch my brain off and tap away with reckless abandon in Brave Exvius, this was a mobile game through and through. Artificial limits placed on play time, confusing gameplay mechanics, and a constant reminder that Square Enix would stop at nothing to hoist me by my ankles and shake some spare change out of my pockets did sour the experience somewhat, but I'm hoping that Final Fantasy Resonance proves that a one-time fee to rejoin Rain, Laswell, Fina, and Lid is worth paying. The mobile game may have ended service a long time ago, but a full-fledged PC and console release that rebuilds the adventure from scratch is one that I can happily sink dozens of hours into. -- Darryn Bonthuys See at Steam(https://store.steampowered.com/app/3259780/FINALFANTASYRESONANCE/) Castlevania: Belmont's Curse !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Castlevania-Belmonts-curse.jpg) Castlevania: Belmont's Curse looks like everything I could ask for from a new game in the series. The best Castlevania adventures have been a slick blend of style and substance--cult-classics fusing tight platforming with an arsenal of monster-slaying weapons--and Curse of Belmont looks like a worthy successor to that legacy. But what excites me the most about it is the pedigree behind the game, as Evil Empire has established itself as one of my favorite studios thanks to last year's super--and criminally underrated--The Rogue Prince of Persia.Evil Empire had already done some terrific work in Dead Cells alongside Motion Twin, but The Rogue Prince of Persia showed just how well the studio could stand on its own two feet. Combining the roguelike DNA of Dead Cells with a tight and fast-paced metroidvania, The Rogue Prince of Persia is an absolute blast that never outstays its welcome. Castlevania: Belmont's Curse isn't a roguelike and hews closer to the 2D metroidvania era of the franchise, but if Evil Empire can build on that foundation with combat that keeps you on the edge of your seat, we could have a new Castlevania game that was worth waiting more than a decade for. -- Darryn Bonthuys See at Steam(https://store.steampowered.com/app/4231820/CastlevaniaBelmontsCurse/) Stellar Blade: Blood Raid !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Stellar-Blade-Blood-Rain-1.jpg) Stellar Blade changed my opinion of how enjoyable a souls-like could be, especially when the framework for that genre combines an arsenal of special skills that feels like it was pulled from the Devil May Cry games. Stellar Blade: Blood Rain doesn't look like it'll deviate too far from the formula established in the first Stellar Blade, but it doesn't need to. It looks action-packed, the new pint-sized powerhouse looks like a blast of fun thanks to her close-quarters combat skills, and once again, the prequel looks visually decadent with its combination of cool cyberpunk aesthetics and grotesque monsters. I'm also hoping that Stellar Blade: Blood Rain continues to make souls-like action accessible, as the first game was terrific at doing this while still providing a decent challenge. The first game is essentially a souls-like for people who aren't fans of souls-likes, and I can't wait to see how Shift Up aims to improve on it. -- Darryn Bonthuys
🍄 Nintendo Switch, Multi-platformThe Nintendo Switch 2 is $15 off at Woot
Woot is hosting a small, but welcome deal on the Nintendo Switch 2 through June 19th. New customers can save $15 on the $449.99 console with the code NEW15 used at checkout. Sure, these are microscopic savings, but come September, the Switch 2 will rise in price to $499.99, so any deal is worth telling &8230;
🍄 Nintendo Switch, Multi-platformFinal Fantasy 7 Revelation director confirms that Midgar is back, but smaller
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi explained what has been cut out of Midgar, and what you can expect to do there.
🍄 Nintendo Switch, Multi-platformPlayers Think Kingdom Hearts’ New Art Is AI-Generated
Yesterday's Nintendo Direct(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-direct-june-2026-all-the-biggest-announcements-and-games/) certainly got Kingdom Hearts(https://www.gamespot.com/games/kingdom-hearts/) players talking--but it's not the kind of discourse Square Enix was probably hoping for after unveiling a new Kingdom Hearts 4 trailer(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/kingdom-hearts-4-gets-a-surprise-look-at-nintendo-direct-2026/) and announcing that native versions of the entire Kingdom Hearts trilogy are coming to Switch 2 on October 8(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/all-the-new-switch-2-ports-confirmed-in-nintendo-direct-june-2026/). Instead, eagle-eyed players are focused on what appears to be AI-generated key art, which Square Enix shared on X(https://x.com/KINGDOMHEARTS/status/2064362651036369250) shortly after the announcement of the Kingdom Hearts Collection I-III As pointed out by artist and Kingdom Hearts fan Vexmyx(https://x.com/vexmyx/status/2064420981901230165?s=46), the image appears to show Donald with four fingers on one hand, but five fingers on the other--it's well known at this point that generative AI tools tend to struggle with hands and fingers, frequently generating images with subjects either missing digits, or having too many. As of his most recent appearance in Kingdom Hearts 3(https://www.gamespot.com/games/kingdom-hearts-iii/), Donald Duck has only four fingers, and knowing how protective Disney is when it comes to legacy characters like Donald and Goofy, it's hard to imagine they'd hire an artist who doesn't know how many fingers he has. Donald's feet are also shaped rather strangely, though that could just be a matter of perspective, as he's floating (flying?) through the air with one foot (flipper?) forward and the other behind him. https://twitter.com/vexmyx/status/2064420981901230165?s=46 Other details, like one of the zippers on Donald's coat and the chain on Sora's beloved Keyblade, are also rather wonky and oddly uneven looking, as if drawn by someone who isn't quite sure how zippers or chain links work. But the fashion faux pas don't end with zippers--the treads on the soles of Sora's shoes are also off, sporting a close-but-not-quite-right pattern of raised squares, when his shoe treads have historically featured tiny, raised crown motifs that match the crown-shaped pendant around his neck. Goofy appears to be wearing steel-toed boots, but his right foot looks much longer than his left foot, and appears to be missing the steel toe. Again, this could simply be a matter of perspective due to the way the characters are posed, but given how beloved the franchise is--and how strict Disney is about sticking to character designs--many Kingdom Hearts fans are wondering if the image was at least partially AI-generated. "Either fully generated or AI-enhanced, I'm not sure," Vexmyx said, sharing an image highlighting parts of the image that feature the most obvious AI fingerprints. "But I'm disappointed. This is unacceptable if the AI claims are true, and needs to be addressed." While human error might explain some of the strange aspects of the image, it certainly doesn't explain why the face of the franchise's iconic clocktower has hands that appear to curve and bend. GameSpot has reached out to Square Enix for comment, but did not receive a reply in time for publication.