New Trick Mode and the return of the beloved Free Ride Mode.
Wide range of new accessibility features.
After opening the skiing season of the Lonely Mountains in January with Xbox Game Pass, more than one million riders have already hit the snowy slopes. But our team from Megagon Industries isn’t done yet. Our newest Freestyle update released today not only introduces two new game modes with more than 100 new challenges to the game but also several accessibility improvements. Check out what’s in store.
Overcome new challenges in the new Trick Mode! Ride in style, ramp up points, and pull off as many awesome flips, spins and grabs as you can on your way down the slopes. To achieve the highest score, you need to look at the mountains from a fresh perspective. Your best speedrunning strategy might not be the best route to jump to the top of the leaderboard.
The new update also brings back the belovedFree Ride Mode from Lonely Mountains: Downhill to the snowy peaks of Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders. Free Ride is the ultimate challenge to all speedrunners. Not limited by any checkpoints you can freely explore the mountains and hunt for the ultimate path down to the finish line. However, be cautious, as no checkpoints also means that every crash will send you back to the start.
Both modes come with full leaderboard support and new achievements. The update also addresses one of the loudest asks from the community, as you can now reach the highest player level without the need to participate in multiplayer matches.
In addition to the new game modes, we’re also adding a wide range of accessibility features!
You can now turn on auto-break or or auto-accelerate allowing you to play the game with only one trigger.
Break, accelerate or crouch can now also be set to toggle instead of the need to hold the buttons allowing you to play the game without the need to hold a button constantly over time.
You can now individually map the buttons and keyboard keys to your own liking.
You can now play with mouse and keyboard combined.
We hope that the new Freestyle update will allow a much wider audience to enjoy the game and experience the Lonely Mountains.
We wish you all a great time with the new additions, and the whole team is looking forward to watching your best trick videos and crazy free-ride speedruns!
Take a deep breath, count to three, and… go! Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders is a game about skiing down gorgeous mountain vistas. Slice through deep snow, skitter over ice lakes, and leap into the air in spectacular jumps, all surrounded by a variety of breathtaking landscapes.
Play solo or race together!
Snow Riders also adds a brand new feature to the Lonely Mountains world – online multiplayer! Work your way down the mountain as a team in co-op, adding save points as you go, or compete in a breakneck race to the base in versus mode. Available for 2-8 players.
Fancy a challenge?
Perform daredevil tricks or try to best your time for a spot on the leaderboard. Or you can take the road less travelled, discovering shortcuts as you explore the slope. Unlock new equipment, outfits and tricks as you play!
Whether you’re looking for a challenge or a chilled out vacation with friends, Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders is the perfect winter getaway.
Coming to Game Pass: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4, Minami Lane, Ultimate Chicken Horse, and More
Megan Spurr, Senior Community Lead, Xbox Game Pass
*Waves hands in front of your face* Watch me do a magic trick – in a few days all these games that are “coming soon” are suddenly going to appear as “available today” in your download queue. Pretty neat, right? Let’s get to the games!
Available Today
Little Nightmares II (Cloud, Console, and PC) Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard
Return to a world of charming horror in Little Nightmares II, a suspense adventure game in which you play as Mono, a young boy trapped in a world that has been distorted by the humming transmission of a distant tower. Will you dare to face this collection of new, little nightmares?
Rise of the Tomb Raider (Cloud, Console, and PC) Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard
Making a return to the Game Pass library! Featuring epic, high-octane action moments set in the most beautifully hostile environments on earth, Rise of the Tomb Raider delivers a cinematic survival action-adventure where you will join Lara Croft on her first tomb raiding expedition.
Coming Soon
Legend of Mana (Console) – July 2 Now with Game Pass Standard
Set off on a journey to find the mystical Mana Tree in Legend of Mana. Meet a colorful cast of characters, square off against fearsome monsters, and complete quests in the vast world of Fa’Diel. Discover the classic title, remastered with a rearranged soundtrack, graphical improvements, and more!
Trials of Mana (Console) – July 2 Now with Game Pass Standard
Trials of Mana is the 3D remake of the classic RPG. Experience the beloved adventure with graphic improvements, character voiceover support, a remastered soundtrack, and a new episode, in addition to an ability system and a new class that reconstructs the character levelling system plus more active battles!
Ultimate Chicken Horse (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 3 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard
A party platformer where you and your friends build the level as you play, placing deadly traps before trying to reach the end of the level. Play online or locally with your animal buddies and experiment with a wide variety of platforms in all sorts of strange locations to find new ways to mess with your friends.
The Ascent (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 8 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard
Making a return to the Game Pass library, The Ascent is a solo and co-op action-shooter RPG set in a cyberpunk world. The mega corporation that owns you and everyone, The Ascent Group, has just collapsed. Can you survive without it?
Minami Lane (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 9 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
Welcome to Minami Lane! Build your own street in this tiny, cozy, casual management sim Minami Lane is a small, wholesome management game set on a Japanese-inspired street. Create and manage your own street, make sure everyone is happy, and watch the villagers live their lives!
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 11 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
Available on day one with Game Pass! Get hyped for the legendary franchise to return with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4. Everything you loved is back, but revamped with more skaters, new parks, gnarlier tricks, eardrum-shattering music, plus a whole lot more. Members can get up to 3-days early access starting July 8, including the Doom Slayer and The Revenant playable skaters, and more with the Deluxe Edition Upgrade.
High On Life (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 15 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard
High On Life is returning to Game Pass! Humanity is being threatened by an alien cartel who wants to use them as drugs. It’s up to you to rescue, and partner with, charismatic guns to take down Garmantuous and his gang to save the world!
Celebrating One Million Retro Classics Players
We’ve got some exciting news for you. Retro Classics, our awesome collaboration with Antstream Arcade, keeps getting better. We’ve added a new batch of games recently for Game Pass members and want to share a big thanks to the more than 1 million players who have already checked out Retro Classics since launch!
So, what’s new? Check out these recently added gems:
Cosmic Commuter
Heart of China
Skiing
Solar Storm
Subterranea
Be on the lookout for new tournaments, community challenges, and even more games soon. Click here to learn all about Retro Classics.
DLC / Game Updates
Diablo IV: Sins of the Horadrim – Available today Uncover the buried truth; the arcane magic of the Horadrim awaits – Discover new permanent Nightmare Dungeon updates and activities across Sanctuary, create unique spells, and prepare to face a familiar foe, Astaroth, with fresh fury in Diablo IV‘s new season: Sins of the Horadrim.
Palworld: Tides of Terraria – Available now The long-awaited Palworld x Terraria update is out now bringing fishing, salvaging, bigger towns, Pal trust and much more! But beware, impending doom approaches…
In-Game Benefits
Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members get access to these in-game benefits with your membership. Benefits can vary by game, region, and time.
Mecha Break: Mashmak Rocket Bundle (PC and Xbox Series X|S) – July 2 Kickstart your Mecha Break experience with the Mashmak Rocket Bundle, Exclusive Pilot Outfit, Exclusive Striker Paint, and Exclusive Insignia.
Splitgate 2: Meridian Obex Ace Skin – (Console and PC) – July 3 Splitgate 2 is the only free-to-play shooter with portals and an all-new arena/battle royale hybrid mode. This Ace character skin is designed with Xbox Green.
Asphalt Legends Unite: Exclusive Monthly Gift Bundle (Console and PC) – Available now Unlock card packs, credits, and tokens! Obtain 10 Card Packs, 250 tokens, and 250,000 credits to upgrade your collection and take the lead on the track!
Game Pass Ultimate Perks
Get even more game Perks with Game Pass Ultimate. Find them in the Game Pass section of your console, PC app, and mobile app — new Perks are added all the time.
3on3 Freestyle: Xclusive Play Package – Available now Step onto the court in style with exclusive Xbox-only outfits, 50 Points to spend in-game, and 3 Random Platinum Card Packs to boost your character’s performance. Base game 3on3 FreeStyle included with this Perk.
EA Sports UFC 5: Heavyweight Icons Bundle – Available now Step into the Octagon throwing haymakers with the Heavyweight Icons Bundle, available with your EA Play membership.
Leaving July 15
The following games are leaving the Game Pass library soon. Jump back in before they go or use your membership discount to save up to 20% on your purchase to keep them in your library.
Flock (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Mafia Definitive Edition (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Magical Delicacy (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Tchia (Cloud, Console, and PC)
The Callisto Protocol (Cloud, Console, and PC)
The Case of the Golden Idol (Cloud, Console, and PC)
We’re adding more games over time to the Stream Your Own Game collection for Game Pass Ultimate members. Visit Xbox.com/Play to see the list of available cloud playable games to stream on supported devices if you own them.
Learn More About Legends of Trivia, Coming to Xbox in The Jackbox Party Pack 11
Warren Arnold, Game Director, Jackbox Games
The Jackbox Party Pack 11 is dropping on Xbox this fall, and we can’t wait for everyone to get to see what we’ve been working on! We have five, all-new games in this pack including a joke-writing game, a cozy drawing game, a sound effects game, a social deduction game, and a trivia role playing game, called Legends of Trivia!
Legends of Trivia is Jackbox’s newest trivia game, with a fantasy twist! In this new title coming to Party Pack 11, work cooperatively with your team to defeat monsters and villains by answering trivia questions correctly while trying to avoid the baddies hitting back!
We recently spoke to a few of the developers from the Legends of Trivia team, including Game Director, Warren Arnold, Lead Artist, Hector Padilla, and Audio Lead, Nate Sandberg.
How does Legends of Trivia work and how does working on it differ from past Jackbox games you’ve contributed to?
Warren Arnold : Players are given a trivia question which, when answered correctly, does damage to a monster. However, incorrect answers allow the monster to attack the players. Players work as a team to face increasingly difficult monsters and rack up as many points as they can in order to be considered “Legendary.”
Legends of Trivia is definitely one of the bigger games we’ve made, due to the fact that there’s a lot of action, animation, and balancing that are necessary to make this game come to life.
How did the team make decisions about the world this game exists in?
Hector Padilla: I actually pitched the first iteration of the game about five or six years ago! It was my first prototype. I was really happy with how it turned out, and it made it pretty far in the pitching process. People seemed to like it! Ultimately, we decided to put the idea on ice because there were still a lot of unanswered questions about the design.
Then recently, Nate (Sandberg, Jackbox Audio Lead) randomly asked me to send him all of the notes and designs I had accumulated during that pitch process and he made a small pitch team that successfully got the green light to make the trivia-RPG game that we’re working on now! A lot of years in the making!
What are some inspirations for the art and audio? What has been easy or challenging about designing Legends of Trivia’s art and audio?
Nate Sandberg: The 8 bit music in the Final Fantasy franchise, written by Nobuo Uematsu, imprinted on me hard. The arpeggiated analog synths, ear worm melodies, and driving bass lines in that soundtrack define fantasy and RPG music for me. I tried to bring some of that sound to Legends of Trivia. I mixed analog sounds with more traditional fantasy genre instruments like lute, bodhran, Irish whistle, cello, and trombone (the main instrument I actually play).
I had a clear idea of how the music should sound in this game, but it was a lot more serious and, at times, intense, than a lot of other Jackbox games. So one challenge has been trying to offset that intensity by bringing humor into the sound design for the game. I’ve ended up using some classic cartoon sound effects for monsters and characters to make things more funny and Jackboxy. And I threw in some jaw harp and contrabassoon for fun.
Hector: Yeah, I was a Final Fantasy fan like Nate, too. More than anything, I am a student (or a graduate?) from the school of Ken Sugimori, who was the primary visual designer of the Pokémon franchise since its beginning. His art was always a huge influence of mine. Character design is something that comes more naturally to me, but UI and layouts are always a struggle.
Do you have a favorite character you’ve created for this game, and why?
Hector: I grew to love Azura, The Princess Mage a lot because I worked on a lot of her animations. I really had to get in touch with the magical girl inside my heart. Also, Bingo, The Rogue Jester! People need to stop being afraid of clowns!
Do you have a favorite audio moment in the game? Why is it your favorite?
Nate: I think my favorite audio moment is the sound design for the ogre boss monster. Hector created this massive ogre riding a tiny donkey. I had so much fun creating sounds for those animations. I used cartoon inspired xylophones and squeaky toys for the donkey, which makes for a hilarious contrast with the big, bassy ogre sounds.
What do you hope to inspire players to experience or feel based on the game’s art and audio?
Hector: I hope that players really feel immersed in the game. I want them to feel like the choices that they make matter, where the moves they make really hit or the avatar they choose really fits the character they want to roleplay for 20 minutes.
Nate: I hope the music and sound design inspires a sense of story and nostalgia. And I hope some of the melodies stick with players like those classic RPG melodies did with me. Legends of Trivia, along with five other all-new games, are coming to The Jackbox Party Pack 11 this fall on Xbox! Follow Jackbox Games on Instagram and TikTok to keep up with our games as they get announced.
Find out how to master the game through arguments.
Seven playable characters with unique ability cards and combinations.
Be Kind. Be Clever. Be Radical.
I started making KreatureKind because I wanted to tell a different kind of story – one where kindness prevails, and where changing the world means not only rolling up your sleeves but also opening your heart.
In a world that sometimes feels too loud and too cynical, I hope KreatureKind offers a space to slow down and play with purpose. The game offers an optimistic outlook on activism, sustainability and building a better future together, as well as provides you with a toolbox for how to approach people with which you disagree.
There’s definitely a challenge to be found in the game – plenty of tough choices, synergies to discover, and high-stakes showdowns. But underneath it all is a message I believe in: Kindness is powerful. And sometimes, it’s radical.
Emotional, Rational, or Factual
To maximize your success in KreatureKind, you first need to understand how the HP bars differ slightly from those in other games you may have played.
Since KreatureKind is about debates rather than physical fighting, HP stands for Hypothesis Points. The bars are divided into segments, individually called Hypotheses, which come in three colors – pink for emotional, green for rational, and blue for factual. They represent what is stopping the character from agreeing with and joining your cause. Pink means that they are currently vulnerable to emotional arguments. They are also resistant to factual arguments for the time being, and rational arguments made by the characters have increased effectiveness (it’s their current Focus). Think of it as a rock-paper-scissors situation.
Keep an eye on your own current Focus, and which type of argument your opponents are Vulnerable and Resistant to. It’s important to plan the order of the cards you play, because their effect normally doesn’t pass over between hypotheses. In the example below, Riley is trying to convince her brother Ricky that she has to leave their home town in an effort to save magic. You can finish the encounter in two rounds, but you have to play your cards in a specific order. (Please note that this is early in the game, before Resistance and Focus have been introduced. The card order is scripted in this encounter, to introduce the mechanics in a controlled way.)
On your first round, you are given the choice between a defensive healing card and three offensive ones – one green and two blue. Since Ricky’s current hypothesis is blue, the two blue cards are most effective against him. Saving the green card for last will take 3 HP off the next hypothesis rather than two.
Next, while still in a green hypothesis, starting with the green card and using the pink and blue ones after that will bring down the rest of Ricky’s HP to 0. Starting with a blue or pink card, on the other hand, will leave one HP in the segment and forgo part of the following card’s effect.
The goal is to always give you interesting choices – even with simple cards. Should you receive a hand that isn’t particularly useful in the current situation, you still need to consider if you want to play them anyway. Discarding playable cards decreases that character’s Attention, meaning opponents are less likely to target them. Great in some situations, less desirable in others.
Ability Cards – the Core of Each Activist
Each of the seven playable characters in KreatureKind has a unique balance of offensive and defensive argument cards. Offensive ones affect opponents’ HP, and defensive ones may return HP to your own characters, or add Block or Prep. Block shields incoming effects, and Prep deals removed HP right back to the casting opponent.
Argument cards are not the only types of cards in KreatureKind, however. What truly makes each playable character unique is their set of yellow Ability cards.
In the screenshot above, Luca’s two Ability cards use “Curse” cards (in keeping with his love of pranks). If you go all-in on this tactic, you can all but make the opponents work for you. The other characters take on roles akin to a tank, healer, a DPS character, etc. Most of their Ability cards are cast just like any other, and their unique effect is clear on the card.
Other Ability cards have 1-3 Slots on them, which can be filled by other cards. Typically, the card’s effect will be boosted based on how many slots you fill. In the example above, the selected card goes from a single-target to effectively becoming an AOE, depending on how many other cards you use. In some cases, the sacrifice may seem far too great, as the effect may not be enough to justify. However, the same card can be invaluable during another turn. Choose wisely!
A World Worth Saving (and Hanging Out In)
Beyond the cards and the tactics, KreatureKind is an optimistic game about activism and good vibes.
Along with an amazing cast of freelancers, I have filled the game with vibrant, hand-drawn art, a flow-inducing lofi soundtrack, and a cast of lovable weirdos who bring the world to life. You’ll meet cryptids, mythological creatures and barely copyright-dodging fantasy monsters, as well as a few good old dorky humans. They all belong to one of the seven magical factions (who cast spells through the means of for example cooking, programming and dancing), and each gives you a unique dialogue before and after the encounter.
Oh, and some drink Human energy drinks. Because they are monsters.
Play KreatureKind on Xbox
Whether you’re a card game veteran or just here for the vibes, we hope you find a faction you love, a monster you want to hug, and maybe even a cause worth fighting for – with words.
Magic is disappearing forever, unless your brave group of activists can save it!
After centuries of increasing magic use, the world’s mana well is running dry. If entirely depleted, magic will be gone forever.
This does not go unnoticed by Riley and her friends Mitra and Yui. They set out from their hometown, trying to convince people and monsters to use mana more consciously. Along the way, they meet and team up with other like-minded people. Who could resist Tau the cook’s warm hugs, Quinn’s epic role-playing sessions, or Finley’s thought-provoking games? Perhaps they will even befriend the world famous rockstar Luca! Each of the activists contribute to the cause with their unique sets of debate skills, which they hone along the way.
Easy to learn, hard to master
KreatureKind offers unique gameplay, which is approachable to beginners while still giving seasoned players a proper challenge. If you’re new to this kind of game, you’ll figure it out. Played every card battler on the market? These monsters will still give you a run for your money!
Discover, unlock, upgrade
Supercharge the seven playable characters by unlocking and upgrading cards! The mysterious former activist’s shop may just have the card you need to succeed. For a permanent boost to your team member’s debate skills, plushies give you the edge that will tip the scales in your favour.
Go on campaign
Win the game by convincing KreatureKind’s seven magical factions to join your cause! Enjoy exploring vibrant villages, forests, and cities filled with troubled creatures and charming NPCs. Debate your way through the randomly generated maps and persuade each of the faction leaders to support you.
How Dying Light: The Beast Combines Open World and Survival Horror To Maximize Player Freedom
Tymon Smektała, Dying Light Franchise Director
Summary
Dying Light: The Beast launches August 22 on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC. Dying Light hero Kyle Crane returns – but not as you previously knew him. A culmination of more than 10 years’ experience in open world survival horror, Dying Light: The Beast aims to deliver.
Summer Game Fest earlier this month was an absolute whirlwind, and I’m still buzzing from the incredible energy we felt in Los Angeles where more than 100 journalists and content creators got their hands on the very first Dying Light: The Beastgameplay demo. The cheers when they beat the giant Behemoth, the screams when they walked into a jump scare in the dark, and the joy when they ripped heads right off of zombie shoulders – it’s music to my ears!
We’ve shown a glimpse of what’s coming: a raw, brutal return to the roots of what makes Dying Light so special, but with a monstrous twist. And this experience was not just available to the few lucky people at Play Days, but to everyone who enjoys the thrill of an open world survival horror action game!
The Return of a Hero, Reimagined
Yes, you saw correctly. Kyle Crane – the legendary hero of the original Dying Light – is back. But he’s different from the Kyle you remember. He’s been through unspeakable horrors. Years of painful genetic experiments at the hands of the Baron have changed who he is – what he is. He now carries both human and infected DNA, a furious inner conflict that fuels his new abilities but also brings him to the brink of humanity.
We’ve designed Dying Light: The Beast to let you truly feel that struggle. One moment, you’re the agile survivor, relying on parkour and precision. The next, you’re unleashing raw, beast-like power, tearing enemies apart with primal brutality. In the beginning of Dying Light: The Beast you won’t have full control over your powers but once you do, it’s pushing the brutality of our combat system beyond anything you’ve experienced before.
This visceral brutality was among the best received elements from people who played the game. Whether they were expertly chaining parkour into a dropkick that sent an infected flying, or one-handedly crushing the skulls of an enemy with brute force – the reactions were priceless. We constantly heard shouts of “Oh, hell yeah!” and naughty chuckles as players pulled off those over-the-top, bone-crunching finishers.
Fear the Nights!
One of the most vocal pieces of feedback we received from Dying Light 2: Stay Human was about the night. Many players told us, quite rightly, that we had perhaps made it a little too accessible. We heard you loud and clear. With The Beast, we are taking the night back to its terrifying glory. For me, one of the most terrifying sounds in the demo was when Kyle’s wristwatch beeps and marks the end of a day. That “golden hour” moment when the sun dips below the horizon – that’s when the world completely transforms.
With the environment in Castor Woods so dramatically changed, the night offers a completely different challenge. The sense of dread, the urgency, the feeling that every shadow hides a new horror… it’s all dialed up to eleven. When you turn off the flashlight in the woods, it’s truly pitch black and leaves you easily disoriented. Surrounded by our apex predators – the Volatiles – every shadow makes you question “was it just a bush or one of them?” We even play with that primal fear systematically: Don’t be surprised if we spawn a zombie right behind the tree you just checked a few moments ago…
Your Open World Playground
The mission that is shown in the gameplay demo is a great example of how any given day in the decaying, post-apocalyptic world of Castor Woods might look like: You start in the parkour-paradise that the old town offers you, climb and jump the rooftops, loot through the beautiful, hand-crafted interiors. Then you find yourself in the middle of a forest at night, fight off biters to secure a safe house, solve parkour puzzles to get to places that otherwise would be hidden, and plow through hordes of zombies in a 4×4 truck.
But Dying Light: The Beast is a true open world game at heart. And that means not everyone sticks to the same path. We saw some truly hilarious and ingenious approaches during Play Days. Roughly a third of all players just bailed the basement after putting the fuse back in – refusing to fight the horde we deliberately put there so they learn about their Beast-like powers.
Two separate journalists were so obsessed with dropkicks that they ignored most of the other combat options. I swear, they tried to kick every single enemy off a rooftop! We practically had to hold them down and beg them to finish at least one of Baron’s soldiers the traditional way to loot a rifle for the boss fight at the end!
Another was so fascinated by the firecracker decoys that he decided to lure a horde of biters to the encounter with the soldiers. Instead of getting his own hands dirty, he watched from a far how zombies and human NPCs fought it out – and just sneaked past the chaos.
This is what Dying Light is all about for us: player freedom. We set the stage, we provide the tools, but how you navigate that world, how you approach its challenges, is entirely up to you and sometimes your creativity even surprises the people who make the game.
For us, Dying Light: The Beast is the most important game we’ve ever made. It’s a culmination of more than 10 years of experience in the open world survival horror genre – the best Dying Light game so far. But it’s not just for players who know the other games of the series. The nature of Kyle’s story is the perfect entry point to the franchise – after more than a decade in captivity, the world is as new to him as it is to newcomers.
See you in Castor Woods when Dying Light: The Beast launches on August 22, 2025 on PC and Xbox Series X|S. And good luck. You’re going to need it!
**Important: Anyone who purchased the Ultimate Edition of Dying Light 2 Stay Human will receive Dying Light: The Beast at no additional charge.**
Pre-order the Standard Edition now to get the exclusive Hero of Harran Bundle, which contains:
– Ultimate Survivor Outfit
– Harran Combat Knife (+ Upgradable Blueprint)
– The Follower Crossbow (+ Upgradable Blueprint)
– In Jade’s Memory Pistol (+ Upgradable Blueprint)
– Castor Woods Patrol
You are Kyle Crane. After being captured by the Baron and enduring his painful experiments for years, you escape. But the scars remain. Left on the edge of humanity with both human and zombie DNA, you struggle to control your inner beast and the conflict that comes with it. But you’ll need to, if you want to get your revenge on the man who did this to you. A unique blend of open world and action survival horror, Dying Light: The Beast is set in the beautiful, yet dangerous valley of Castor Woods that’s now overrun with zombies rather than tourists. To take your former captor down, you’ll need to form fragile alliances, as well as utilize all the combat and traversal options in your arsenal. But be careful: out here, each step is a fight for survival, especially once the sun sets and the tension heightens as the true horrors come out at night!
Half Beast, Half Survivor
Become Kyle Crane, a unique hero with DNA of a survivor… and a beast. Switch between two playstyles and experience a fierce inner conflict between man and monster, leading to the ultimate embrace of unstoppable strength.
Primal Brutality
Take the raw savagery of Dying Light’s combat to the extreme and push brutality beyond human limits as you crush skulls, rip heads off, and tear enemies in half struggling to control the hero’s constantly evolving, rage fueled, beast-like powers.
Own the day, fear the night
A signature of the Dying Light series – two vastly different experiences of day and night merge into one unforgettable whole. Scavenge and explore by day, mindful of the constant tension of the moving clock – as when the sun sets, the night unleashes horrors that leave you with only three choices: run, hide, or fight for your life.
Run the Rooftops, Rule the Roads
Feel the rush of best-in-class first-person parkour as you jump from rooftop to rooftop and climb over any obstacle using a movement system accessible to all, yet rewarding those who master it. Then take the wheel of an off-road vehicle and plow through hordes of zombies enjoying unparalleled freedom of open world traversal.
Beautiful Zombie Apocalypse
Breathtaking next-gen visuals bring the handcrafted zombie apocalypse to life, where every detail tells a story of survival. Get lost in the majesty of Swiss-Alps inspired valley of Castor Woods with various biomes – tourist town, industrial area, national park, farm fields, swamps – full of beauty… and decay.
Share the adventure
Band together in up to 4-player co-op to take on the dangers of Castor Woods, where every fight, every discovery and every twisting step of the story can be faced as a group. Use shared progression to conquer the entire adventure side by side, as you face relentless enemies, scavenge for resources and save each other from the brink of death.
Next Week on Xbox: New Games for June 30 to July 4
Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox PC, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in!
A free-to-play multiplayer mech game that allows players to choose from diverse mechs, customize appearances, and battle colossal war machines on treacherous terrain. Get ready for the ultimate showdown — blitz, brawl, blaze!
Inin is back with Volume 3 of the Irem Collection, delivering a trio of fantastical shoot ’em ups! This time, it´s magic, machines, and mayhem: Mr. Heli (Battle Chopper), Mystic Riders, and Dragon Breed.
A group of non-adventurers is the last hope in defending the castle in this chaotic co-op tower defense game with roguelike features. With up to 4 players, your party must organize the castle, work as a team to craft ammo, and shoot at enemies to protect your kingdom!
Take on the role of a one-man renovation team tasked with restoring various sports facilities to their former glory. Many of them have been destroyed because of time or lack of care. Don’t let them go into complete oblivion – roll up your sleeves and breathe new life into them!
A 2D survival horror action-adventure presented in a mix of old-school pixel art and HD character illustrations. In 1985 England, private investigator Miles Windham follows a lead on the mysterious death of his daughter to Velvet Island. But once he arrives on the island, he soon realizes that the residents are behaving strangely and soon Miles finds himself in a struggle for his own survival.
Mystic Pathways: Crystal Quest Windows + Xbox Bundle
Mystic Pathways: Crystal Quest is the sparkling sequel that takes puzzles to a new level of strategic cuteness. Your job? Rotate pieces, build paths, and guide these tiny glowing creatures through mystical forests, portal-filled swamps, and glittering caves. All while trying to keep your sanity with trails that only get more challenging at every step.
Mystic Thief – Elemental Conquest (Xbox Series X/S)
Play as Zevi, a mysterious, hooded wizard with the rare ability to steal magical staffs and harness the spells of others. Dive into the depths of the ever-shifting Elemental Dungeon, a perilous maze known only to wizards, teeming with ancient treasures, elemental foes, and forbidden sorcery.
Rev up your engines, it’s almost time to race back to the past with Rally Arcade Classics! Including 44 iconic cars from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and 00’s, and 48 thrilling tracks to rev up their engines to the max while drifting every close turn, you will never run out of challenges to take upon.
The Xbox “Extra Krusty Edition” of SpongeBob: Krusty Cook-Off is here! It includes all the fun of the original with none of the grind! Access tons of free decorative items, costumes, kitchen gear and more, experience unlimited play and unleash four, Xbox power-ups to help you show off your skill behind the grill!
Music is the most valuable asset in the world, and hard drives filled with unreleased tracks have been stolen by a gang that wants to monopolize the charts. It’s up to you to recover them! You play as Tina & Tunner — she’s the best getaway driver in the hood; he’s a sharpshooter with perfect aim. Together, this couple uses their unique talents in high-octane missions, combining action and rhythm in a race against time to save the art that moves the world: music.
Soar through a breathtaking futuristic world in Aery – Titans of the Future, where nature and technology blend in a mesmerizing landscape. As a graceful bird, you’ll glide effortlessly through high-tech cities, towering robots, and vast mechanical structures, uncovering the mysteries hidden within this advanced world.
Takaoka Mayo is a 24-year-old woman without any life plans, but she does have a passion: namely, Princess Luluna from the popular light novel series, Elf Forest. Mayo is content to admire her favorite fictional character from afar, until she receives an incredible opportunity. Elf Forest’s mysterious writer is looking for a housekeeper! The reclusive woman is named Komikado Hijiri, and soon Mayo finds herself living under Hijiri’s roof.
Follow the beat to navigate your character in Beat of Life. Stay focused to help her organs function well. Bad habits can harm her health, so respond quickly. Life is fragile; one missed beat may lead to illness or death. Master the rhythm and ensure she lives a healthy, complete life.
Farm Together 2 improves over the original game in every way, offering a better polished experience and becoming the best way to enjoy your own farm! Start from scratch, with a small plot, and end with a huge area that extends further than the eye can see!
The North Capital was destroyed by an ancient God. The age of peace, conquered through decades of hard work, was wiped out in just one night. If you don’t stand and fight now, the north will degrade to its bloody and savagery state of constant fear, where no one is safe and fear rules above every single soul.
Grab your golf club, check the wind direction, aim, choose the force of impact on the ball and hit it! Hurry up because no one is going to wait for you! This game is all about speed, precision and decision-making. Compete in tournament mode on random maps with different rules. Score as many points as possible by hitting the ball in the center of the target, be first in a race to hit the ball into the hole before others do, or find the best way to beat everyone in a mini-golf with various obstacles!
Connect the roads and build a thriving city in this engaging puzzle game. With 40 challenging levels, a dynamic soundtrack, and sleek low-poly visuals, each puzzle you solve brings streets to life, sparking new homes and bustling traffic. Dive into a satisfying and strategic experience as you piece together the perfect path to grow your urban world.
In the mystical Ancient Library, a young apprentice named Wright trains under Yuisil, the Witch of Portals. As part of his magical studies, he delves into the stories of four enchanted books, each offering a unique realm to explore. From reclaiming a fallen kingdom to unraveling the mysteries of the underworld, your choices shape the destinies of captivating characters and their intertwining tales.
With changes in every iteration, the Druid always brings a blend of feral instincts, nature-based magic, and stoic survivalism.
Take a deeper look at the Druid class throughout the ages of Diablo and see how it has evolved.
Picture this: you’re standing in the heart of a storm, lightning crackling in the sky, the ground trembling as if the earth itself feels your rage. Around you, wolves snarl and bears roar, ready to strike at your command. This is the primal power of the Druid, first introduced in Diablo II, making a triumphant return in Diablo IV, and soon to have their debut in Diablo Immortal on July 3.
Druidsrepresent a fascinating blend of feral instincts, nature-based magic, and stoic survivalism. Let’s dive into the evolution of this iconic playable class.
Origins of the Druid
In Diablo lore, the Druids are a reserved and reflective people, deeply connected to nature and its primal forces. Though they share a historical link with the Barbarians, Druids follow their own path. Where Barbarians celebrate raw, unshackled might, Druids harness nature’s power with precision and balance. Picture them as the calm before the storm—until they morph into a bear and decimate their foes, that is.
The Druid design pulls heavily from European (Celtic and German) myths and folklore, particularly the idea of shamans and natural spellcasters who draw power from the earth. However, the Diablo universe evolves these archetypes into something uniquely suited to its grim world, drawing a look and feel from the raw, primal essence of Sanctuary’s harsh wilderness, blending ferocity and mysticism in equal measure.
The Druid’s Skill Set
The Druid class skill kit offers a mix of nature-based elemental magic, shapeshifting abilities, and summoning loyal animal companions to aid in battle. Here’s what makes them a force to be reckoned with:
Elemental Magic
Druids wield the raw power of nature through earth-shattering spells, crackling lightning attacks, and poison damage. These abilities represent the destructive beauty of natural forces.
Summoning Companions
Choose from loyal wolves, towering bears, or ravenous vines, depending on the playstyle you favor. Your summons not only fight at your side but can be pivotal for drawing aggro or dealing critical damage.
Shapeshifting
Need even more power? Transform into a hulking Werebear for devastating melee attacks or a nimble Werewolf for swift strikes. This dynamic shapeshifting adds a visceral touch and lets you unleash your unique adventuring style.
The Druid’s Evolution
The Druid class has come a long way since its Diablo II debut. Each iteration refines the fantasy, addressing gameplay mechanics while holding onto the Druid’s core identity.
The Druid made an unforgettable debut, combining shapeshifting abilities with elemental magic to create a class deeply attuned to the forces of nature. Players could transform into a ferocious werewolf or a sturdy werebear, each offering unique tactical advantages that catered to different playstyles.
Elemental abilities provided additional versatility, allowing Druids to unleash the devastating power of storms and flames. Armed with primal weapons like axes, clubs, and special polearms, the Druid’s combat style resonated with its connection to the natural world.
Narratively, the Druid stood apart from other classes, with their isolation adding an air of mystique to enhance their lore.
The Druid emerges as a class rich with dynamic possibilities. Earth and storm spells now deliver visually striking abilities, including summoning earthquakes to disrupt foes or unleashing lightning storms for devastating long-range attacks. Players can seamlessly transition between human, werewolf, and werebear forms during combat, and for further customization, specific items enable them to adopt their preferred form as a default, opening hybrid strategies like a resilient, earth-powered werebear or an agile, storm-infused werewolf.
Adding to the versatility, Totems return as specialized off-hand items, enriching the Druid’s arsenal with tailored bonuses that complement their iconic staves, axes, and clubs. These tools allow for builds that ensure a personalized experience. The Druid’s lore gains depth in their role as guardians of the wild and their command over nature’s elements.
The Druid’s entry as the 9th playable class channels an untamed, primal energy, embracing a neolithic essence that stands apart even from the Scosglen Druids of Diablo IV. This version is wild and reckless, wielding the raw forces of nature with ferocity rather than control. Characterized as a hermit with a quirky and enigmatic personality, the Sharval Druid thrives in isolation, adding an unpredictable melee/summoner hybrid charm to the battlefield.
With Wild Magic at their command, their focused skillset and adaptability make them a versatile and fearsome force, while their eccentric, hermitic persona brings an air of mystique to the fast-paced mobile world of Diablo Immortal. Whether shaping the battlefield with elemental fury or summoning swarms of loyal creatures, this Druid iteration offers a uniquely feral experience.
Join the Pack
Balancing nostalgia with innovation, the Druid has maintained its identity while adapting its skills to fit the evolving mechanics of the Diablo universe.
The Druid’s fantasy is timeless. Whether you’re commanding the forces of nature, shapeshifting into feral beasts, or summoning animal allies, the class provides an immersive and customizable experience. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of smashing your enemies as a Werebear, followed by unleashing a storm of ravens to clear the battlefield. It’s gameplay that walks the line between serenity and ferocity.
What’s your favorite Druid moment in Diablo? Share your stories on our forums or on social media via X and Instagram and join the Diablo community to stay updated on the latest news.
Lightning-fast FPS with superhuman tree climbing and head explosions.
Find out what the creators think of their game.
“Dear Diary… Did I tell you I saw a bird? It had brown feathers and a red chest – it gleamed against the sky…Then I heard the gun shot…Seeing the way they treated this innocent, beautiful thing. I snapped…I’m what the COI made me. And I’m not going back.”
This is an abridged version of the first words you’ll hear playing I Am Your Beast, spoken by the main character, Alphonse Harding. Harding is a retired Covert Operations Initiative (COI) agent, burnt out after years of “one more job” too many. So, when the COI surrounds his home in the forest and offers him another “one last job”, Harding decides to hand in his notice. That notice comes in the form of kicking a COI agent in the face, grabbing their gun in mid-air and moving forwards.
Fast-Paced, Revenge Thriller FPS
Turn the tables on the military-industrial complex who are hunting you down with lightning fast, tree climbing, kick delivering, knife throwing, gun catching FPS action. From guns, to bear traps, to beehives, there are plenty of ways to use your environment to get to the end of the level. At that end, you’ll find a score and rank, so if you’re into speedrunning, or just getting the best times you can, you’ll probably end up going back to these levels a few times!
I Am Your Beast comes complete with all the free extra content we released. This includes the story expansion Support Group, where a group of COI Agents sit and retell the fantastical sounding tale of what happened to them in the main game at the hands of a seemingly superhuman Harding. The second, Cold Sweat is a no story, all challenge, all weird set of challenges. It’s our love letter to the speedrunners who have latched on to I Am Your Beast.
Tyrants Better Run
If you’re looking to speedrun, enjoy the fully voice acted, funny, intense, touching and slick story or enjoy an FPS that can be played in short bursts over more than 20 levels, I Am Your Beast is for you. Oh and I nearly forgot the soundtrack! Let me tell you, the soundtrack is, to borrow a term from the internet, “a banger”. If it was in the Eurovision Song Contest, I’d give it 12 points. (That’s the most points you can give one song, it’s not important to know that for the game, but it’s good to learn new things.)
“I want players to come away feeling cool” says Dan Pearce, Lead Developer on I Am Your Beast. “The experience we really wanted to create, and having a structure of short levels with timers running helps create this, is that we really wanted to push the player to a place where high skill play always results in you having this action sequence. You’re throwing a gun, you’re catching a gun, you’re stomping…” and all of this leads to a sense that you’ve just been through one of the best action scenes you’ve seen, and you didn’t just watch it, you created it!
“The feeling of discovery…is a large part of what makes games like this so interesting. You’re not just playing it once and forgetting, we added a lot of elements for replay ability” says Jim Brown, Level Designer on the game. “Players finding the secret things we have in the world, creating their own challenges and discovering their own ways to play” are something they take a lot of pride in. “The fun part is playing around and figuring it out.” I Am Your Beast features a score system, and you get a rank at the end of each mini-sandbox level. Getting an S Rank will mean finding all the paths and different ways you can take out enemies.
I asked both to describe I Am Your Beast in one word. Jim went with “Dynamic. The ways you move around this environment is not static, it’s not set in stone. You should feel dynamic as you move and play it the way you want to play it.”
Dan, who pointed out that this is a nightmare question as they worked on this game for eight months settled on “Visceral. When you’re getting a good run down, it makes you feel like a dog tearing apart someone’s homework. Visceral is the closest word I can find to that experience. The homework is the military industrial complex, and you are the dog!”
This game is a labor of love from all of us here at Strange Scaffold, and a game we’re very proud to present to you. We’re a small, remote first, collective of games people and we hope you enjoy this one as much as we do.
Hunt the military-industrial complex across stylish comic book micro-sandboxes in this fast-paced covert revenge thriller FPS from the developers of El Paso, Elsewhere.
The Indie Game Summer Cookout is Here: Indie Selects for June 2025
Raymond Estrada, Steven Allen, Oscar Polanco, Deron MannID@Xbox Grillmasters
Break out the beach blankets, dust off the ice chest, and unfold those camping chairs because summer is here. The barbecue grill is out and the ID@Xbox team is serving up our hottest indie game picks. It wasn’t easy putting together these Monthly Selects as everyone on the team wanted something different for this cookout.
Being the considerate cook, I made sure to ask everyone the important questions, “How do you like your stakes: cozy or world-ending? Who wants puzzles in their game? I can add RPGs, but let me know if you want skill tree leveling or just upgrades? How many would like some terraforming? How many birds should I throw on? Who brought the duck?” When it was all said and done, our handpicked indie games for June turned out to be quite the spread.
Here’s what we’ve got for you this month (in no particular order):
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is what happens when a life sim and an RPG collide with a dash of time travel for good measure. Developed by Level-5, this sequel to the beloved Fantasy Life lets players take on one (or all) of 14 different Lives, from combat-oriented classes like Mercenary or Paladin to creative paths like Woodcutter, Cook, or Alchemist. The twist? You’re not just leveling up, you’re also building and rebuilding an island across two timelines.
What keeps me coming back is its sheer sense of freedom. Want to fish all day? You can. Want to dive into dungeons? Absolutely. Feel like forging armor in the morning and baking cakes at night? Go for it. Each “Life” (class) feels rewarding and distinct, and the ability to switch between them whenever you like means no playstyle ever feels locked in.
As someone who loves optimizing systems and exploring interconnected mechanics, I was drawn in and captivated. Every Life has its own skill tree, equipment, and crafting systems, and they all feed into each other in clever ways. For example, leveling up as a Miner means you can gather rare ore to use as a Blacksmith, which you can then sell as a Merchant. It’s a gameplay loop that rewards multitasking without being overwhelming.
I’ve found great satisfaction building out my village, experimenting with classes, and diving into both timelines, and it’s the kind of game that scratches multiple itches. Want a bit of combat? Explore a dungeon. Want to relax? Go fishing or furnish your home. The pacing is gentle but steady, with just enough story to keep you curious.
If you’re a fan of games like Dragon Quest Builders, My Time at Portia, or even Stardew Valley, this offers a similarly satisfying sense of progression and control. While the tone is lighthearted and accessible, the depth is there for anyone willing to explore it. Fantasy Life i is more than just charming, it’s cleverly designed and genuinely rewarding. – Steven Allen
Step into this Slow-Life RPG where you can freely switch between 14 unique jobs, so called “Lives,” and enjoy a carefree life in a fantasy world.
Fish, cook, shape the island to your liking, or team up with friends to battle monsters across the vast world.
It’s up to you to choose what kind of Life you’ll live!
■A Dragon Guides You to a Mysterious Island
You are an adventurer who sets sail with the archaeologist Edward and his team.
Following the light emanating from a dragon’s fossil, you discover an uncharted, deserted island.
A vast abyss, a dragon made of bone, and a girl’s message that begs you to save the world…
Travel between the island that thrived 1,000 years ago and the present-day island to unravel the mystery of its downfall!
■14 Unique Lives to Make Yours Brighter
In this world, a “Life” is the equivalent of a job.
Each has its own characteristics and provides various ways to enjoy yourself.
Collect ingredients or materials with Gathering Lives, create weapons or cook dishes with Crafting Lives, or fight monsters with Combat Lives. You can switch between any Life at any time, creating a life that’s uniquely yours.
■Shape the Island! Create Your Town!
Use Lives to gather materials and restore the island to its former glory!
Not only can you place houses and objects, but you can also alter the landscape and draw rivers and roads to create a truly unique island.
Expand your house, place some furniture, and decorate the interior however you like!
■Embark on an Open-World Adventure!
Freely explore the largest continent in the series!
Climb ledges, swim across rivers and lakes, or ride on mounts – With these new actions you can explore the world without limits!
■Endless Fun with Multiplayer!
Enjoy multiplayer with up to 4 players!
Invite friends to your island, explore dungeons, or find your own ways to have fun together!
If you have two controllers, you can also use the 2 Player Family Co-op feature where one player can join the adventure as your travel companion without needing to connect online!
Part 2D-ish narrative puzzle adventure, part creative mythmaking, 30 Birds is a journey through a super fantastical world built based on Persian art and music, asking you to find all the birds to help a world restore their goddess to her rightful throne. If you need something a little more chill, look no further than this quasi-psychedelic, diorama-style adventure that puts you smack dab in the middle of a teeming, incredibly beautiful world as Zig, an intrepid explorer and kind-of-detective.
You’ll navigate a rotating set of panels meant to artfully represent a visually dense metropolis populated by all manner of trippy citizens while attempting to rescue the goddess, Simurgh, from the clutches of a mysterious captor called The Scientist. Is this some parable about Science vs. Art? Possibly, but with its five hour-ish run time, I was more captivated by all the sights and sounds of the ongoing festival that the wildly inventive 30 Birds is stuffed with.
There are puzzles to solve (failure isn’t punitive in this game, you can try as much as you want to solve any given puzzle) and curious creatures/people to meet. You’ll fiddle with musical instruments, collect dropped feathers and paintings, and complete quests in order to restore Simurgh to her rightfully dreamy place in the game’s equally dreamy world. The pace is sedate – all the better to lull you into this game’s imaginative clutches. If you’re looking for a short narrative experience, with some extremely creative design and surprisingly funny, well-written dialogue, then 30 Birds needs to be on your itinerary.
In 30 Birds, you play as Zig, a young detective sent to bustling Lantern City to track down The Scientist. Alongside Hoop, a talented hoopoe stand-up comedian, you’ll encounter a whole madhouse of feathered friends and quirky characters as you explore dazzling Lantern City from top to bottom. Solve a variety of puzzles to foil the plans of the obnoxious Scientist behind the kidnapping to save the bird Goddess Simurgh.
A dazzling burst of art
Experience a seamless blend of 2D and 3D in this mesmerizing narrative adventure, with hand-drawn visuals inspired by Persian miniatures. Wander through the gorgeous neighborhoods of Lantern City while enjoying a ska – dub – reggae inspired soundtrack and help Zig gather thirty charismatic and chatty birds to save Simurgh! But beware, you might come across puzzling challenges on your way…
A mind-spinning adventure
Discover a gorgeous universe laid out on the surface of rotating lanterns. Wander through a beautiful city inspired by Middle Eastern ****legends, meeting the local goofs, quirky djinns, and regular weirdos along the way. Solve puzzles and interesting challenges to help Zig rescue Simurgh!
Key features
– Meet riotous and (not-so) charming birds, collect your new feathered friends’ contacts on your phone. Thwart diabolical and (not-so) powerful foes and find the fabulous Goddess, Simurgh.
– Explore a mythical, colorful, and beautifully hand-drawn world inspired by Persian art! Uncover Lantern City’s stunning sights and fantastic characters.
– Take on all kinds of thrilling challenges to advance the story! Solve intriguing and fun puzzles, wander around bars and cafes, create funky music using synthesizers, and play cards to gather clues and bring light to Simurgh’s kidnapping.
– Vibe out to the energetic ska – dub – reggae soundtrack, sprinkled with unexpected twists, as you stroll down the bright streets of Lantern City.
History
30 Birds is developed by Ram Ram Games, a Belgium-based studio whose founders, Coline and Laurent, went through many ideas before this video game came to fruition:
“The project started 10 years ago after a trip to Istanbul. Originally, we were making an interactive travel diary using a Persian miniatures-inspired art style to tell people about our journey. But our concept evolved towards a whole new interactive experience of this art through gaming.”
“Persian miniatures are vertical pictures used as book illustrations, and we came up with the idea of connecting them through a cube layout. By doing so, we connected and expanded the miniatures, introducing a third dimension of depth to the setting at the same time. Halfway between a kamishibai—a Japanese paper theater—and a projection lantern, we created a magic 3D city ready to be explored.”
“From the lively city of Istanbul to the mystery novel ‘My name is Red’ by Turkish author Orhan Pamuk, our inspirations are many. The character of Simurgh, a giant god-like bird, comes directly from Persian and various Middle Eastern mythologies. Even, the title of the game—30 Birds—is a play on words with the name “Simurgh”, which means “thirty birds” in Farsi. This title is also echoed in the mystical poem, “The Conference of the Birds”, by Attar of Nishapur. The poem tells the story of a group of birds led by a hoopoe who go on a journey to meet their god, Simurgh. Thirty of them make it to the ultimate valley only to find a big lake in which they can see their own reflections…”
“30 Birds takes inspiration from mythological and philosophical aspects of Middle Eastern and ancient Persian cultures to create Lantern City, and invites players from all over the world to experience the city’s mesmerizing atmosphere.”
Eugene McQuacklin is back in this sequel to the acclaimed Duck Detective: The Secret Salami. In this narrative detective adventure, you’ll need to interview a cast of animal suspects, thoroughly inspect every piece of evidence, and quack this case. And yes, there are more duck puns in this game. If you haven’t played the first game – which was a previous Monthly Select – just go do it. You don’t need to play the first in order to enjoy or understand this standalone sequel, but it’s just a great series.
These games are bite-sized, super fun, wholesome, and silly. It has all the great film noir detective tropes you could ever ask for, funny writing, great animation, and solid voiceover work. I got through the game over the course of a weekend in around 3 hours, and it’s an experience I absolutely loved.
In this sequel, you’ll explore a glamping site (glamorous camping for the uninitiated), talking to various characters and interacting with the environment in order to solve a set of cases. Using your magnifying glass, you can hover over objects and characters to unlock words that can be used when you’re ready to solve a case. There’s a hint system and the game also lets you know how many words you have wrong, so the game leans more into being entertaining than frustrating. You’ll also find other puzzles you’ll have to figure out like passwords and lock combinations. The gameplay is identical to the first game though a bit more refined, with the big difference being that you now have a sidekick who adds some new puzzles to work through.
Duck Detective is a series I would love to see more of every year. The games are so charming, self-aware, and light-hearted, that you just want to tell everyone to play these games for a long afternoon. If you need something cozy, short, and fun, this fits… the bill (pause for applause). – Raymond Estrada
BREAD RED REDEMPTION
This campsite might have ghosts, but the real thing haunting Eugene McQuacklin is his failed marriage and bread addiction. Can he escape the shadows of his past?
EVERY DETECTIVE NEEDS A SIDEKICK
To the annoyance of the Duck Detective, he is joined by a new partner in (solving) crime. Work together to unravel the truth and nibble on the crumbs of justice!
THE DETECTIVE RETURNS
The Duck Detective is back! Get ready to interview suspects, inspect evidence, and deduce the truth in another stand-alone mystery!
Preserve is an eco-terraforming puzzle game that invites you to slow down and build beautiful biomes. It’s a peaceful, meditative experience that rewards curiosity and care. The core gameplay revolves around creating biomes on a map, but it’s far from rigid. You have cards representing terrain, flora, fauna, and even structures and objects, how you place them determines how your biomes evolve. Grouping three of the same kind forms a habitat, which lets you introduce species and earn harmony points. As your harmony points increase new cards are added to your deck and the map expands.
There are two main ways to play: Puzzle Mode and Classic Mode, the latter of which lets you gradually expand your map and unlock new cards by reaching harmony point milestones. I started with the tutorial and was surprised to realize I’d quickly spent hours building, adjusting, and just enjoying the moment before I even started the main game. There’s also a Creative Mode letting you build your perfect ecosystem.
Preserve offers four major environments: Continental, Marine, Savanna and, my personal favorite, Jurassic. The visuals are beautiful without being overwhelming, and the music soft, ambient, and spa-like. Camera controls can feel tricky at first, but it quickly becomes natural. The game trusts you to learn naturally – for example bees are placed in open and flowery fields, not forest or rocky terrains.
Preserve is more than a strategy game, it’s an open invitation to slow down, listen to nature, and create something beautiful. If you’re looking for a thoughtful escape with stunning visuals and a deeply calming atmosphere, Preserve brings harmony, one biome and habitat at a time. – Oscar Polanco
Preserve is a puzzle nature-building game that takes players on a journey into a harmonious ecosystem. The objective is to foster and sustain a thriving and diverse biomes, where each component coexists in a symbiotic harmony. By utilizing strategic thinking and a keen eye for balance, players are granted the power to position a wide array of plants and animals, curating an environment that caters to their preferences and aspirations.
Vertical map expansion – In Preserve, you can expand the map not only horizontally, but you also posses an ability to stack layers of nature, forming a vertical network of interconnected habitats.
Diverse biome habitats – From alpine forests and savannas to carribean reefs, each biome will have its own unique set of plants, animals, and environmental challenges to discover and overcome.
Multiple Game Modes – Besides regular harmony and puzzle game modes, creative mode lets you build the land without limitations and photo mode allows you to capture and share your creations at the end of each session.
Natural Wonders – Nothing can beautify your map more than natural wonders like the snowy Alps, lavender fields or redwood forests, which you can acquire thanks to a unique card upcycle system.
Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3 is the finale of a series of tactical, dramatic RPGs that began on Xbox back in 2021. The series has received critical and audience praise, so if you have some room on your backlog, we’d recommend picking up the Fuga: Melodies of Steel 1 & 2 Double Pack. However, if you’re like me and struggle with way too many games to play and too little time, it’s not necessary to play the first two games, as the game does a great job of trying to catch you up with a summary of both games.
The main plot revolves around a group of anthropomorphic children that discover Taranis, a giant super-tank, after their village and families had been attacked by an evil empire. They use the tank to take down the empire along with some dark gods and other formidable foes. This game immediately picks up after the 2nd game’s true ending, where our main character is kidnapped and the remaining children must rescue him and prevent a new war.
The game is split into 12 chapters, with each chapter seeing our group of a dozen or so kids hitting major plot twists, mysteries, and character moments along the way. You take control of the Taranis in turn-based combat – the tank has three gun slots, each controlled by two characters. Depending on who you have slotted will determine the type of gun (machine gun, cannon, grenade launcher) and the gun’s passive boost. The enemies have different weaknesses based on one of those three gun types. You can swap characters at any time, but there is a cool down period, so you have to be careful not to do so at inopportune time.
There’s also a combo system that rewards you with bonus damage each time you attack enemy weak points. Between missions you will hit intermission periods for a chance to regroup and interact with all the characters to build affinities between characters. You can also take the opportunity to unlock new skills and upgrade your tank.
The most unique and dark aspect of the gameplay I found was the Soul Cannon ability, which will allow you to win any fight of the game, but you have to sacrifice the life of one of the characters (yeah, dark). Even worse, if you’re under half health, the longer a fight goes on, the more likely the game will force you to pull the trigger in order to escape the loss. Here’s the real kicker: the game instantly saves once you use the Soul Cannon in order to prevent you from redoing the fight. When this finally happened for me, it felt truly tough, but the game really pushes you to press on even with the loss. This gameplay aspect created a very distinctive set of stakes that I don’t think I’ve experienced before.
Visually and musically the game is very appealing, with fantastic character designs and a score that always seems to match the tone. Turn-based RPG fans with a love for dramatic narratives need to jump into this series, but if you’re already a fan of the series, this is the conclusion you’ve been waiting for – it’s a no-brainer to pick up. – Raymond Estrada
Pre-Order Bonus:
Receive this bonus content by pre-ordering Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3 – Standard Edition
・Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3 – 10000 In-Game Currency
・Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3 – Early Game Upgrade Materials
Unveil the Source of the World’s Despair!
Malt has vanished without a trace! The children are led by a mysterious voice into the forbidden cave, where they discover the Taranis—the powerful tank thought lost in the sea of clouds. Determined to save Malt, the children reboard the Taranis and set off on a daring mission to infiltrate the heart of the Berman Empire. However, the Crimson Knights stand in their way, strongest of the Berman!
Brand-New Battle System
The battle system has undergone substantial changes. Weakness combos allow you to exploit enemy weaknesses and deal escalating damage with every hit, and assist attacks allow erstwhile enemies and a legendary warrior from past games to join forces and turn the tide of battle!
Upgraded Intermission
Intermission now features an upgraded system to evolve the Taranis to its ultimate form! Unlock its hidden powers with the Omega Terminal and master new Taranis Skills to aid your journey!
Strategic Route Progression and Event Battles
Explore new strategic features like Power Spots to unlock the Taranis’s hidden abilities and Assist Transmissions that allow you to interact with supporting characters. Discover secret events through the Akasha Panel, which lets you navigate a timeline to change your fate!
Step beyond despair, anger, and tragedy in Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3, where heart-wrenching decisions lead to the series’ most emotional and shocking story yet!
*It’s not necessary to play Fuga: Melodies of Steel or Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 to enjoy Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3.
The Sinking City Remastered is a 3rd person, eerie, investigative horror game that blends survival elements with a heavy dose of Lovecraftian weirdness. You play as Charles Reed, a private investigator whose string of disturbing visions lead him to the partially submerged city of Oakmont, Massachusetts. As soon as you arrive, you can tell something is off with Oakmont. Beyond the obvious, “our city was destroyed, and our economy has been whittled down to bullets, cigs and booze” energy displayed by all the characters, the atmosphere always gives off the impression that there’s something else going on behind the scenes.
At its core, The Sinking City is an open-world detective game. Investigations are central to the experience, and the game leans into that with mechanics like the Mind’s Eye and Mind Palace – Mind’s Eye lets you uncover hidden clues in the environment, while the Mind Palace allows you to connect evidence and draw conclusions. These systems work well together and make clue-gathering feel like a real part of the gameplay loop—not just a checklist.
Combat is available, but limited by design. Ammo is scarce and resources need to be crafted, meaning you’ll spend just as much time avoiding conflict as you will confronting it. This engaged me with the core work of investigation, allowing me to dive deeper into the exploration aspects rather than running through guns blazing. You’re eventually introduced to the Infested Zones which are high-risk areas full of enemies and rewards, forcing you to weigh every decision before stepping inside. The first time I entered one, I saw a chest, looted it, and dipped. I’m the type that will survive the horror movie – but, of course, I eventually became curious as to what really lurked in them.
What I love most about the game is the atmosphere. The city is layered with tension – political, supernatural, and social. The flood didn’t just reshape the geography; it reshaped how people live, interact, and treat outsiders. It’s a small and often overlooked detail in most games, but it adds weight to the worldbuilding and left me wanting more as the story developed.
If you’re into slow-burn mysteries, survival horror, and games that prioritize investigation over action, The Sinking City is one worth exploring. Just be prepared, Oakmont doesn’t hand out answers easily. – Deron Mann
Experience the Lovecraftian horror of The Sinking City in a whole new light. This Unreal Engine 5 remaster brings the game’s eerie atmosphere to life with stunning visuals and enhanced features. Dive into Oakmont’s mysteries and unravel the city’s descent into madness.
Remaster Highlights:
– Lumen Global Illumination and ray tracing
– 4K textures and extra environmental details
– Performance (prioritizes frame rate) and Quality (prioritizes visual fidelity) modes
– Photo mode
– Improvements to controls, combat, game balance, crowds, and tutorials
Game Description:
The Sinking City is an adventure and investigation game set in an open world inspired by the universe of H.P. Lovecraft, the master of Horror. The half-submerged city of Oakmont is gripped by supernatural forces. You’re a private investigator, and you have to uncover the truth of what has possessed the city… and the minds of its inhabitants.
Game Pillars:
– An oppressive atmosphere and story inspired by the universe of H.P. Lovecraft.
– A vast open world that can be explored on foot, by boat, in a diving suit…
– High replay value thanks to an open investigation system: each case can be solved in a number of ways, with different possible endings depending on your actions.
– An arsenal of weapons from the 1920s with which to take on nightmarish creatures.
– Manage your mental health to untangle the truth behind the madness.
