Welcome to the halfway point of 2025 and it's the slowest week of new releases we've had in a while, with this week's major release being a JPRG from SEGA. This is followed by another Asian game, but in a very different style, some zombie killing, but in a cute Asian way, another RPG, but about teenagers, a 25th anniversary remaster of a classic and finally a 2.5D platformer.

Persona5: The Phantom X / This week's major release / Thursday 26 June
The Persona series, which has sold over 23.5 million copies worldwide, welcomes its first mobile/PC release with its newest entry. Featuring a brand-new story and a cast of captivating new characters, the world of P5X offers an experience that both Persona5 fans and newcomers alike can enjoy. Steam link

Team Cherry first introduced Hollow Knight: Silksong back in February 2019, as a mainline sequel to the first entry (2017) in the series. Since then, the independent Australian development studio and publisher has produced a minimal amount of preview material. The last significant chunk was delivered during an Xbox 2022 presentation. Fast-forward to June (2025); many Metroidvania genre enthusiasts were hoping for some newer signs of life—potentially amid a flurry of special preview events. Pre-event SteamDB updates seemed to point to an imminent announcement of sorts. Days later, Sony's State of Play and Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest did not harbor any fresh Hollow Knight series updates.

Thankfully, yesterday's Xbox Games Showcase provided a hint of things to come. Sarah Bond (President of Xbox) discussed the status of Team Cherry's magnum opus during Microsoft's public unveiling of ASUS ROG's Xbox Ally and Ally X gaming handhelds: "the highly anticipated Hollow Knight: Silksong will be available at launch, and on Game Pass, when the Ally releases later this year." Unsurprisingly, Team Cherry did not launch a parallel promotion/hype campaign. Instead, Matthew Griffin—the team's resident PR and marketing expert—headed over to the official Hollow Knight Discord community channel, and disclosed some pleasing news: "I confirmed BEFORE Holiday—we are not tied to a console release." When pressed about a specific launch window, Griffin envisioned a pre-Christmas arrival.

MIO: Memories In Orbit's brand-new gameplay trailer offers a first look at the combat and platforming experience, giving a general feel of the unique atmosphere created by French studio Douze Dixièmes. Players can also experience it firsthand through the game's demo, available now on Steam and Microsoft Store.

A mesmerizing journey across danger and wonder
Play as MIO, a nimble robot who awakens alone aboard the Vessel—a vast, drifting spaceship left in ruin. Once maintained by AI caretakers known as the Pearls, the Vessel is now overrun by wild vegetation and malfunctioning machines. With the ship facing imminent shutdown, MIO must explore its labyrinthine depths, recover its lost memories, and uncover the truth behind the collapse… and their own forgotten past.

Hi everyone! I'm Fawad Asghar, one of the developers at Playdew, a small indie studio based in Pakistan. I'm thrilled to share that the co-op demo for Lost Twins 2 is now live on Xbox Series X|S, Windows Store, and Steam. Whether you're a seasoned puzzle pro or someone who just wants to hang out and explore a cozy game with a friend, the co-op mode in Lost Twins 2 was designed with you in mind.

Play Together, Your Way
In Lost Twins 2, players guide separated siblings Abi and Ben through a whimsical, shifting world. But in co-op, it's not just about solving puzzles—it's about solving them together. While making the co-op mode, the focus was on the flexibility for all skill levels. One player can take the lead while the other supports, or both can play equally—it's up to you. There's no pressure, no fail states, and no "wrong" way to play. The design encourages collaboration without frustration, making it perfect for partners, siblings, or friends of any age.

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. has announced that SHADOW LABYRINTH is available for pre-order in three physical editions, inviting players to team up with PUCK and explore the mysteries of the labyrinth. SHADOW LABYRINTH is an action-packed 2D platformer from Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. Developed by Bandai Namco Studios Inc., the game is an epic journey through a hostile planet where dangers both new and familiar challenge players, and where they must explore, hunt, and consume the dark creatures around them in their quest to become the planet's apex predator. SHADOW LABYRINTH is slated for release on July 18, 2025, and is available now for pre-orders on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. The game is also launching on Nintendo Switch 2, with pre-orders to be announced at a later date.

As a departure from any previous PAC-MAN game, SHADOW LABYRINTH puts players in the role of another character as protagonist, a warrior named Swordsman No. 8, but with the mysterious yet familiar yellow companion PUCK at their side. PUCK's role is that of guide and guardian, teaching players that their aim in this treacherous world is to escape it, and to achieve that they must consume everything that waits in the darkness to survive and grow more powerful. Along the way, they encounter challenging enemies and puzzles with game play that weaves fluid tried and true 2D action platformer mechanics with inspired modern game design. SHADOW LABYRINTH offers a vast maze-filled world to explore as players uncover terrifying secrets about the planet and its inhabitants, discover powerful weapons and abilities, and encounter ever more challenging enemies including memorable bosses.

It's April 25th, 2025!!… So that means that…World of Goo 2—the followup to the indie-hit classic World of Goo, which was released almost 17 years ago…is available…EVERYWHERE! We're currently in the middle of running a fabulous Tomorrow Corporation/2DBOY Publisher Sale until Monday, April 28th—but the fun doesn't stop there! Starting today through May 9th we're offering a launch discount of 15% off World of Goo 2 on Steam and GOG, and if you already own the award-winning World of Goo… you'll get an additional 15% off as an extra Thank You from the World of Goo 2 team! We're also running a bundle for additional savings if you also want to buy the soundtrack!

Discover realistic flowing, splashing, viscous liquid. Route the flow of liquid like a river, convert it into Goo Balls, extinguish fires, and solve puzzles. WHAT STRANGE NEW CREATURES!: discover new species of Goo: Jelly Goo, Liquid Launchers, Growing Goo, Shrinking Goo, Explosive Goo, and more. All with mysterious new properties. WELCOME TO…a thrilling new story to explore over the course of 5 new chapters, bursting with over 60 new levels, each featuring additional challenges.

Another Round Entertainment is pleased to unveil Jumpbound, a challenging first-person platformer where every jump counts. Set in the mysterious ruins of an ancient alien world, this unique traversal-focused adventure invites players to jump, dash, and climb toward the unknown—all while soaking in the view and embracing a meditative atmosphere.

Stranded on a planet abandoned by its creators, players must navigate the remains of a once-great civilization. According to your expedition's findings, the only possible escape lies at the summit, where a mysterious beam pulses with promise. While the destination of the beam is unclear, you know your only way is up. But reaching the top won't be easy. One wrong move might send you tumbling all the way down and return you to the mysterious Beacon that binds you to the planet. Jump, fall, and go again until you can break the loop and get out.

Speed running scientists and challenge hunters, rejoice. After years of crafting, your invitation to Bionic Bay is now available on Steam and PlayStation 5. It began with a chance meeting on Reddit, and now the Bionic Bay story continues with you, our trusted Research Participants. In Bionic Bay you'll master the art of teleportation, control the very fabric of time itself, manipulate gravity and navigate a path filled with dangers. Our team will provide you with the tools you'll need to traverse this intricately crafted pixel art world. But don't let the stunning visuals fool you, this is no slow-moving narrative crawl. The best way to navigate Bionic Bay is with fast movements, precise controls, exceptional timing, puzzle solving intuition and just maybe a little bit of luck.

What you've seen in the Bionic Bay demo is just the beginning. Bionic Bay v1.0 includes 23 painstakingly created levels, with an increasing challenge to simply stay alive through your journey. Importantly, however, the path can be as helpful as it is dangerous, and Research Participants will need to judge the way ahead accordingly. In addition to the main game, we've also developed the Bionic Bay Online mode, with a dedicated build for speed runners and those hungry for a challenge. In this demanding arena, you'll have the opportunity to customize your own scientist, and claim your place on our transient and global leaderboards.

Fireshine Games is delighted to introduce Duskfade, an all-new 3D action-platformer inspired by classic platformers of times gone by, coming to the PlayStation 5 (PS5) system, Xbox Series X|S, and PC in 2026.

Embark on an unforgettable adventure as Zirian, a young workshop apprentice, as he sets out to restore time itself in a world enshrouded by eternal night. Shatter the shackles of time as you jump, swing, and slash through a vibrant clockpunk world, blending nostalgia with modern gameplay in this timeless love letter to action-platformer classics.

Microids is excited to reveal an all-new trailer for Space Adventure Cobra - The Awakening, a thrilling video game adaptation of the iconic animated series produced by TMS, which itself is based on the beloved manga by Buichi Terasawa. Set to launch on August 26, 2025, the game will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Developed by the talented studio Magic Pockets, this game will offer players around the world a unique opportunity to relive the thrilling adventures of Cobra by exploring the first 12 episodes of the series, featuring one of its most iconic arcs: the Captain Nelson's treasure.

Welcome to the first full week of April and this week should be a bit more exciting than last week when it comes to new game releases. In this week's major release, you take command of some isometric WWII commandos. This is followed by an existential dilemma, a folktale from the deep south, some very dark days, being a studio executive and an assault by not so wild animals.

Commandos: Origins / This week's major release / Wednesday 9 April
You have been selected for a mission which will shape the fate of the entire world. Witness the very beginning of the legendary elite WWII force in Commandos: Origins. The long-awaited sequel to the Commandos series brings you right back to the foundation of the real-time tactics genre. And to the days where Jack O'Hara, the Green Beret, and his five companions met to form the infamous unit sent to complete missions which no others would dare to accept. Steam link

The Eternal Life of Goldman is a vibrant yet dark platformer adventure that weaves together legends, fairy tales, and myths. Explore a vast hand-drawn Archipelago, inspired by ancient fables and depicted in classic frame-by-frame animation, and defeat a mysterious Deity! It takes the genre at an unusual angle and offers something unexpected at every turn. Upgrade your cane with new parts and unlock new abilities, to explore the hidden corners of the Archipelago and face incredible creatures.

Hand-crafted to the smallest detail
The Eternal Life of Goldman is the result of years of work by people who love and appreciate the same cartoons, comics and games that you do - meticulously drawn, colored and animated by hand using classic frame-by-frame techniques. Every place, every object, every character, every visual effect -- everything is carefully planned and executed to the finest detail.

Shadow Labyrinth is the forthcoming 2D action platformer from our team at Bandai Namco Studios where players will control Swordsman No.8, summoned to a mysterious planet by the enigmatic Puck to complete a mission where others have failed. The two will discover secrets and battle huge bosses in their struggle to survive. The concept of a dark Pac-Man game is bold new ground for the brand, delivering a unique experience that existing and new PAC players will be excited to dig into. Shadow Labyrinth emerges from the darkness on July 18.

Gamers may have noticed that Puck looks quite a bit like Pac-Man, and there's the amazing visual of a huge foreboding and dark Pac-Man chomping down on the body of a downed foe. But Shadow Labyrinth's inspiration from Pac-Man is more than skin deep, our team worked to build from the ground up with careful consideration of what it means to be a Pac-Man game.

My name is Patrick, and I am the Art Director for Zockrates Laboratories, the indie studio currently developing Ruffy and the Riverside. Together with our publisher, Phiphen Games, we are proud to announce that Ruffy and the Riverside will be released on PlayStation 5 on June 26, 2025. We are happy to contribute to Playstation's tradition of representing innovative and unique gameplay.

A platformer adventure with unique gameplay
Ruffy and the Riverside is a platformer adventure with truly unique gameplay. When Ruffy isn't jumping, running, skating, or gliding, he is using his unique Swap ability. With the Swap, you can copy and paste textures to change the game world, solve puzzles, beat enemies, and eventually save the world. Just grab a texture and throw it somewhere else, and the world will change! It is as easy as it sounds and has huge impacts: Transform water into ice to cross an ocean. Throw a climbing vine onto a waterfall, and you can climb up. With the Swap, you can exchange materials, symbols, the sun for the moon, and all colors. If you color birds the same color, they might end up as a couple. Apples are more yummy when they are red, and some bushes will drop coins if they have a golden look. Of course, the Swap can help in combat, too. Why not freeze an enemy or catch him in flight by turning him into stone? The elements are on your side if you swap them wisely. Use your imagination and make it happen. It really feels magic to swap things.

Remastered, remade, remixed, this is the definitive version of Yooka-Laylee! With shiny, new 4K graphics and visual effects, a brand-new control scheme, entirely new moves and the ability to swiftly chain moves together, it's a quicker, slicker platforming experience. Yooka-Replaylee builds on our nearing 10 years of growth and experience since making Yooka-Laylee, as well as taking on board a whole bunch of community feedback over the years. It's jam-packed with brand new content that we think platforming fans new and old will love! Each world in Yooka-Replaylee has been expanded by default, no longer requiring players to do that themselves, giving us the opportunity to fill each world with new challenges, new collectibles, and new THINGS added to every corner!

Quills!
Quills have new purpose in Yooka-Replaylee! Now, each world has its own Quill colour, and with all of Yooka & Laylee's abilities now unlocked from the start, Trowzer has had to up his game and provide some new goodies! Quills can be traded to Trowzer for things like level exclusive cosmetic items and health/energy upgrades!

Beyond the Ice Palace 2, the long-awaited sequel to the 1988 platforming cult classic, launches today on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC via Steam, GoG, and Epic Games Store. Developed by Storybird Studio and co-published by PQube and PixelHeart, this modern revival of the legendary action-platformer delivers fast-paced combat, challenging traversal, and hidden secrets, all wrapped in a stunning gothic pixel-art world.

After an unprecedented 37-year wait, gaming history has been made with the release of Beyond The Ice Palace 2, shattering records as the longest gap between an original game and its sequel. When the first Beyond The Ice Palace captivated players on platforms like Amiga, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum in 1988, few could have imagined that fans would wait nearly four decades for a continuation of the beloved fantasy action platformer.

Welcome to the month of March and a week when almost every single new game launches on a Thursday. This week's major release is a new 5v5 FPS shooter set in a Sci-Fi world. This is followed by alien planet colony management, a spot of museum curation, working as a car mechanic, doing battle with your best buddy in multiple imaginary worlds, with the week finally ending with some more co-op action, but puppet sized. We have four more games included at the end, but that's only a few of the games launching this Thursday.

FragPunk / This week's major release / Thursday 6 March
FragPunk is a fast-paced 5v5 hero shooter with powerup cards that change the rules of each round. Choose your hero, your weapons, and pick from a selection of cards that dramatically change the rules of engagement. Steam link

Welcome to the last week of February and this week we have a massive AAA release from a popular Capcom franchise that involves a lot of monsters in the wild. The rest of this week is a lot more low-key, with a rhythm platformer, a 2D scroller action ninja game, a co-op horror game, a retro collection which includes no less than 14 games and finally some greens and bunkers.

Monster Hunter Wilds / This week's AAA release / Friday 28 February
Fulfill your duty as a Hunter by tracking and defeating powerful monsters and forging strong new weapons and armor from the materials you harvest from your hunt as you uncover the connection between the people of the Forbidden Lands and the locales they inhabit. The ultimate hunting experience awaits you in Monster Hunter Wilds. Steam link

Just over a year ago, at The Game Awards 2023, Sega teased the revival of several legacy franchises. Today we are excited to formally announce the first of those games: Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. Yesterday's State of Play provided a first look at the game which will release August 29, 2025 on PC and consoles.

There is more to be shared in the coming months, but for now we wanted to bring you a Q&A with the game's producers at Sega of Japan and Lizardcube, who have teamed up to bring the game to life. We discuss the motivation to revive the franchise, how this new installment pays tribute to the original entries, and what players can expect from the full release. We hope you enjoy this first look behind Shinobi: Art of Vengeance!

Welcome to week two of February, during which one of the oldest game franchises is launching its seventh iteration, although this time around it steps away quite a bit from its past versions, for better or worse. This is followed by some mayhem, Hollywood drama, an action co-op RPG, some classic side scrolling action with a lot of big guns and the week is rounded off with a JRPG.

Sid Meier's Civilization VII / This week's AAA release / Tuesday 11 February
In Civilization VII, your strategic decisions shape the unique cultural lineage of your evolving empire. Rule as one of many legendary leaders from throughout history and steer the course of your story by choosing a new civilization to represent your empire in each Age of human advancement. Steam link

SteamDolls, the debut stealth-meets-action platformer delight by French-Belgian studio The Shady Gentleman, will launch February 11th at 1pm EST / 10am PST / 6pm UTC into Steam Early Access. A new trailer has been released as well, officially revealing the launch date.

Play as the bloodthirsty, witty, and just a bit kooky Whisper (played by David Hayter) and balance both stealth and brutality as you make your way through a comic book-inspired steampunk city on the verge of anarchy. A free demo also remains available, featuring the intro sequence the game. The game will be available in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish at launch, and contain about 6 chapters of the game, totaling an estimated 5-7 hours of content. The game's developers are hoping to gather player feedback to improve mechanics, balancing, and content leading up to the 1.0 launch.

Thanks to everyone's support, we were able to release the full version of ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist. We have received a lot of feedback and opinions from players during the game's early access phase, and would like to thank everyone for sharing your views on the game. As an early access game, if you bought the game already—the conversion to full version will be done automatically at no charge.

ENDER MAGNOLIA is a dark fantasy 2D side-scrolling action RPG where you venture through the desolate Land of Fumes trying to save both humans and Homunculi. At the forefront of magical and mechanical development, the kingdom is comprised of hierarchical societal structures. Here, you'll come across abandoned cities, discover laboratories oozing with heinous mysteries, a grand Sorcerer's Academy, colossal factories, and much more. The hauntingly beautiful yet gruesome world of ENDER MAGNOLIA will unfold before you.

Hyper Light Breaker, a new 3D indie platformer we reported on previously has finally launched to early access on Steam, and despite the surprising success of its predecessors, Hyper Light Drifter and Solar Ash, Hyper Light Breaker isn't looking like the break-out indie hit of the month. While the game has garnered a solid 5,230 peak concurrent players just five hours after launch, the Steam reviews are hardly anything to write home about so far.

According to SteamDB, Hyper Light Breaker has a review rating of just 35.5%, with 31.4% of the reviews giving the game a positive rating, while 68.6% of Steam reviewers gave it a negative score. Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, it looks like most of the issues with Hyper Light Breaker stem from the game's early access status. Early reviews on Steam report that the game's core mechanics and gameplay loop are satisfying, but that the game, overall, seems like it needs more time in the oven. Some of the more serious complaints when it comes to Hyper Light Breaker relate to the game's combat being somewhat difficult to grasp, progression feeling unsubstantial, initial difficulty being too high, and a steep learning curve. Others pointed out that there appears to be a lot of missing content. That said, as some reviewers have pointed out, the game is in early access. If we look at the likes of Windblown—or No Man's Sky for an example on a longer timeframe—it's easy to see the value in an early access period and community feedback. If Heart Machine, the developer behind Hyper Light Breaker, uses its community feedback properly and implements fixes to issues as they arise, it seems like it could be a game enjoyed by many indie gamers.

Welcome to the first week of December and the first of advent for those that celebrate it. This week's AAA release is the 2024 release of a FPS shooter that first saw life back in 1998, but under a new developer and publisher. If this isn't your cup of tea, then you can try your luck in beating humans, demolishing things, surviving a bullet hell, finding your lost memories or pretending to be a superhero.

Delta Force / This week's AAA title / Thursday 5 December
Delta Force is back! The iconic series returns as the definitive free-to-play modern team-based tactical shooter and featuring three distinct gameplay modes: large-scale PvP warfare, intense extraction shooter action, and a remake of the legendary Black Hawk Down campaign. Steam link

The indie developer My Little Studio has announced that the platformer Beyond The Darkness, featuring horror elements, will launch on Steam on November 14. On this day, players will enter an eerie world of memories, accompanying a young girl named Millie on her search for her parents and brother.

Beyond The Darkness is a game filled with mystery, danger, and the supernatural, where a once-cozy home has turned into a terrifying lair of monsters. The goal is to help Millie escape this nightmare world, find her parents, and flee from the lurking creatures—all with only an old lamp to keep her safe. Players will have to keep the light alive, solve puzzles, and master new mechanics. Do you have what it takes to survive in a world swallowed by darkness, fear, and monsters?