You play as Hayaki, a skilled soldier from Reikan, an elite group sent to investigate strange activities on a mysterious island overrun with dangerous, unpredictable creatures. You’ll explore various maps with various terrain, using a map system that tracks your progress and unlocks new areas via navigation stations. This interconnected world also encourages exploration, rewarding you with hidden secrets and upgrades.

Combat in Hayaku is fast-paced and versatile. You can craft and upgrade over 12 unique weapons for Hayaki’s sword or pistol, each developing distinct behaviors as they level up, letting you choose between slashing enemies up close or picking them off from afar. Additionally, the Ride Armor customization system lets you collect parts across the island to boost a combat robot and mixing and matching these parts unlocks new abilities.

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As someone new to the series, I dove into Gal Guardians: Servants of the Dark with no expectations. This sequel changes from a straight-line “Classicvania” to a full Metroidvania with a bigger, connected world. It’s a 2D action title with great pixel graphics and voice acting that matches the detailed characters. In this game, you play as demon maid sisters Kirika and Masha. They must travel through the Demon Realm to bring back their master, Demon Lord Maxim, by finding his bones and beating the rival Demon Lord Lyzenorg.

The combat is solid, but it doesn’t stand out in any special way

The combat system is cleverly built around the interplay between Kirika and Masha. Kirika, a ranged fighter, uses a submachine gun for distant attacks and a shotgun-like blast while dodging, but she needs to reload her ammo. Masha, a melee specialist, wields a thorny vine whip with a satisfying three-hit combo, alongside magical sub-weapons like summoned spiders. You can swap between the sisters instantly in solo play, or control one each in co-op mode.

Sub-weapons, which are found in chests or dropped by enemies, consume Demon Points (DP) and offer diverse effects, from grenades to auto-targeting swords. Additionally, the “Sister Rescue” mechanic lets you revive a fallen sister by reaching her corpse. However, combat pacing suffers on normal difficulty due to repetitive enemy types and overly easy encounters; some sub-weapons also feel unbalanced. It doesn’t help that enemies are easily stunned out of their attack patterns. Once you learn their moves, like the Grim Reaper teleporting behind you, encounters become very simple.

Each boss fight has many stages. For example, a spider boss might first use web traps, then call small helpers, and finally fill the room with poison. The game has over a dozen bosses, from rival Demon Lord Lyzenorg’s helpers to creepy, gothic-looking creatures like dragon maidens, and moving statues. These fights happen in special areas made for each boss, often with environmental dangers that make battles harder.

Some bosses have shields that only Masha’s whip can break, while others need Kirika’s precise shots to hit weak spots from far away. As mentioend, in co-op mode, you and a friend each control one sister. This lets you attack at the same time, making fights quicker, but it needs good teamwork. Bosses also often need special sub-weapons to stop their attacks or do extra damage. For example, you might use ice grenades to freeze a lava-spitting dragon or homing swords for enemies in the air.

“The combat system is cleverly built around the interplay between Kirika and Masha.”

Exploration is really confusing

Gal Guardians: Servants of the Dark has a big, connected map with different areas like castles, forests, and lava zones. You explore to find Maxim’s bones, hidden chests, and Demon Relics. These relics unlock new areas and abilities, like double jumps or air dashes. The map is also easy to use even while moving, showing rooms you’ve explored, chests, and save points.

However, moving around can be confusing. The game doesn’t tell you much about where to go or how to use sub-weapons to get past obstacles. This lack of guidance often means frustratingly going back, and there aren’t many fast-travel points. Some areas feel plain or same too, with confusing paths and dead ends that slow down your exploration.

Maxim bones can be traded at the throne room for stat boosts and new abilities, encouraging more in-depth exploring, but it’s often slowed down by needing to go back to the castle, usually without easy fast-travel. While Demon Relics and sub-weapons offer some ways to customize, the upgrade system feels too simple. The game also has three difficulty modes: Casual, Veteran, Legend.

The visuals are a bigger strength here than the gameplay. Kirika and Masha look great, with distinct designs: Kirika has a cool, crimson look, while Masha shows off green, playful energy. Enemies are diverse and detailed, blending gothic and anime styles, and the art style echoes Castlevania: Symphony of the Night with its colorful, sometimes suggestive touches. Additionally, excellent Japanese voice acting really stands out here, adding a lot of charm to the characters.

“The visuals are a bigger strength here than the gameplay.”

Solid Metroidvania that doesn’t offer anything groundbreaking

I didn’t run into any bugs or issues with the game; it felt like a pretty average Metroidvania to me. The biggest selling points are probably the graphics and voice acting. However, with odd fast-travel options and combat that’s just okay (even if the characters themselves are fun), this game might not be for everyone. Since I haven’t played the first game, I can’t compare them, but this sequel was neither disappointing nor amazing.

Review copy provided by the publisher

3.3

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Inspired by Winsor McCay’s comics Little Nemo in Slumberland, Little Nemo and The Guardians of Slumberland takes you into a vibrant, hand-animated dream world of young Nemo. His once peaceful realm is now threatened by a mysterious force called Oblivion. As Nemo, you enter this dream world, explore it and battle strange creatures and bosses to prevent its destruction.

Exploration lies at the heart of the gameplay, with each area offering unique challenges and rewards. You’ll discover Nemo’s favorite toys, which grant him new abilities to evade dangers, defeat enemies, and unlock hidden paths. The game’s solid, responsive controls echo the precision of NES-era platformers, while its accessible design welcomes new players yet adapts to challenge Metroidvania veterans.

Led by DIE SOFT founder Dave Mauro, the game draws heavily from retro classics while infusing modern polish. “I’m very happy about how the game has come together since we last showed it off publicly and I’m excited for people to get a better look with this latest trailer.” accessibility.

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Set before the events of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, The Scarlet Engagement introduces two new protagonists: Leonard Brandon, a young fighter from the Church’s Black Wolves clan, and Alexander Kyteler, a noble knight of the Kingdom’s White Stags. Together, they confront a mysterious floating castle ruled by the demon lord Elias, whose forces terrorize the realm. Their mission is to unite their skills and defeat the evil.

This new title introduces a dynamic companion system, allowing you to control both Leo and Alex simultaneously. The cooperative mechanics enhance combat and puzzle-solving, letting you switch between characters to tackle enemies and navigate traps. The expansive world is the largest in the series yet, featuring a day-night cycle that alters gameplay and interactions as light and darkness transform the environment.

Combat in The Scarlet Engagement stands out with the new Epiphany system. Through battles, you unlock unique moves and powerful abilities, encouraging experimentation with this innovative mechanic. Beyond combat, the game offers crafting, cooking, and customization options — you can forge armor, cook meals to boost stats, and personalize your characters’ appearances.

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Chronicles of the Wolf throws you into a world where myth and history intertwine. As Mateo, you’ll navigate treacherous landscapes and battle monstrous abominations. Journey through humble villages, opulent mansions, dank cave systems, and dark forests riddled with ghouls and ghosts. The game is packed with everything fans love: tight combat, gothic storytelling, and boss fights.

Adding to the game’s immersive experience, the narration is brought to life by Robert Belgrade, legendary for his work in the Tekken series, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (as Alucard), Mega Man X7 (Signas), and Soul Blade (Rock), while the illustrated cutscenes and haunting soundtrack are composed by Jeffrey Montoya.

Chronicles of the Wolf is set to launch on June 19th, 2025, for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox, and PC (Steam). Physical editions will be available for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 consoles.

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In Memory’s Reach, you step into an abandoned world filled with the remnants of a once-thriving civilization. The game blends exploration with various puzzles, challenging you to think spatially as you navigate towering monoliths and unique rooms. By scanning objects and alien tech, you’ll uncover lore and clues that guide you deeper into the planet’s mysteries. It’s the kind of game that makes you feel like an archaeologist and a detective all at once.

You’ll manipulate floating platforms, holographic terminals, and beams of light to unlock new paths and piece together the fate of the civilization that came before. Each puzzle feels like a new challenge, with cryptic clues leading to multi-layered solutions that reward creativity and persistence. As you progress, you’ll unlock powerful abilities that open up innovative ways to tackle even the toughest puzzles.

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Gameplay centers on stealth and fluid parkour, allowing you to sneak past enemies, kill them silently, or evade detection entirely. The Sandfox’s moveset includes running, jumping, sliding, shimmying, and pole-swinging, enabling navigation through a vast, interconnected world. This continuous environment links the modern palace above with ancient prisons, mausoleums, and a network of caves below. You will find new items, equipment, and skills to unlock previously inaccessible areas, encouraging exploration in true Metroidvania style.

The game’s vibrant 16-bit art, mixed with modern effects, looks stunning, and the dynamic audio ramps up tension while warning of danger. You’ll meet a varied cast, from fierce enemies to possible allies, and need to use clever tactics to evade capture or deal with threats. The Kasha’i’s iconic glass dagger, a signature weapon, helps in both fighting and progressing as you unravel the kingdom’s growing danger.

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Serving as a soft reboot, The Lost Crown moves away from the 3D action-adventure style of earlier entries like The Two Thrones and The Forgotten Sands, embracing the precision and exploration of classics like Hollow Knight and Ori and the Will of the Wisps. Its success, with 1.3 million units sold in its first year, has sparked a revival for the franchise, with multiple new projects announced.

The official Prince of Persia Twitter account celebrated the 2 million player milestone, teasing future projects that may feature Sargon or other Princes. This promise aligns with recent developments, including The Rogue Prince of Persia, a roguelike spin-off by Evil Empire that entered Early Access in 2024 and will receive updates throughout 2025. Additionally, a long-delayed remake of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is now targeting a 2026 release.

Despite its critical acclaim and sizable player base, The Lost Crown reportedly fell short of Ubisoft’s sales expectations, leading to the disbandment of its development team. This financial disappointment reflects broader challenges for Ubisoft, which has struggled with recent titles. However, the game’s growing popularity, bolstered by mobile ports and positive word-of-mouth, continues to draw new players.

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Besides the mentioned teaser, Top Hat Studios Showcase also announced a physical edition of Crypt Custodian for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch, launching August 29, 2025. On the other hand, the teaser showed a blood-red moon lighting up a cabin glowing red, followed by a lush, forested metroidvania-style stage with platforms, hinting at Thompson’s signature genre. It closed with a red-clawed hand wearing gold jewelry reaching upward, suggesting a darker, mysterious story. No title or gameplay details were shared, but Top Hat Studios said the game will be fully revealed this summer.

The summer reveal of Kyle Thompson’s new game will show if it builds on his metroidvania style or takes a new direction. The teaser’s forested setting suggests a familiar setup, but darker imagery hints at a moodier tone, possibly mixing Crypt Custodian’s cute vibe with something eerie. Fans can expect sharp platforming, detailed level design, and atmospheric music, based on Thompson’s track record.

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The controversy started when Steam players called out the game’s privacy policy as overly intrusive. While the policy included standard data collection like crash reports and system specs, the problem was its broad wording. It used a generic legal agreement designed for multiplayer games and websites, something that didn’t fit Mandragora’s singleplayer experience.

This sparked backlash on social media, with users claiming the terms could allow personal data to be sold. One post warned players to avoid the game until changes were made. On Steam forums, many questioned why a singleplayer RPG needed such extensive data collection. The confusion grew when players mixed up the standard Steam EULA with the privacy policy, mistakenly thinking both were related to data sharing.

Controversy grew as Mandragora received mixed Steam reviews (64% positive from 1,058 reviews), with some players citing the privacy policy as a dealbreaker. This was a tough blow for a game that had built hype through Kickstarter and well-received demos. Knights Peak Interactive and Primal Game Studio quickly addressed concerns. They clarified:

• No personal data was collected if players opted out.
• The privacy policy was optional, players could decline it at launch without losing access.
• Those who already accepted it could opt out by deleting saves (with an in-game option coming later).
• Unrelated legal docs were removed to avoid confusion.

With patch 1.2.7, released soon after launch, the developers removed all telemetry and data collection from the game, ensuring a fully offline experience. In a Steam Community post, Knights Peak explained the change, addressing player concerns about privacy. They also offered a way for players to request data deletion by contacting their data protection officer.

Afterwards, some players on Steam praised the quick fix, saying the removal of data collection restored their trust in the game. Others remained skeptical, arguing that better communication could have prevented the issue entirely. The controversy underscored a growing concern in gaming: players are more wary of data collection, especially in singleplayer games where it feels unnecessary.

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