The Hellraiser franchise began with Clive Barker's literary works and transitioned into a film in 1987, followed by nine sequels and a reboot. The latest installment, Hellraiser: Revival, is a narrative-driven single-player game that incorporates elements from various gaming genres, including a grim atmosphere similar to Condemned, a merchant system like Resident Evil 4, chase sequences akin to Outlast, hide-and-seek mechanics inspired by Alien: Isolation, abilities reminiscent of BioShock, and crafting systems typical of modern gaming. The story follows Aidan Lynch, who seeks to rescue his partner Sunny from Pinhead after a traumatic encounter. Aidan, portrayed by Xalavier Nelson Jr., is a flawed character who faces internal struggles, while Doug Bradley reprises his role as Pinhead. The game features dynamic combat with a variety of weapons and enemies, requiring strategic thinking. Despite some budget constraints and minor flaws, Hellraiser: Revival is noted for its impressive art direction and atmospheric design, without any microtransactions. A deluxe edition key was provided for the review.
From October 8 to October 11, members of XBOX Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and Essential can play Screamer and Family Man for free during Free Play Days. ARC Raiders is available for free to all XBOX members from October 8 to October 15. Players can also try timed trials of High On Life 2, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, Little Nightmares III, and Rogue Waters. Discounts on games are available for those who wish to purchase them after the event.
Screamer is developed by Milestone S.r.l., has a rating of 84/100, and is priced at .99 with a 60% discount during the event. Family Man, developed by No More Robots, has a rating of 47/100, priced at .99 with an 85% discount. ARC Raiders, developed by Embark Studios, has a rating of 11953/100, priced at .99 with a 50% discount. High On Life 2, developed by Squanch Games, Inc., has a rating of 2090/100, priced at .99. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, developed by GSC Game World, has a rating of 7190/100, priced at .99 with a 30% discount after Free Play Days. Little Nightmares III, developed by Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc., has a rating of 592/100, priced at .99. Rogue Waters, developed by Tripwire Interactive LLC, has a rating of 45/100, priced at .99 with a 75% discount during Free Play Days.
Warhammer Survivors is developed by Auroch Digital and is seen as a worthy sequel to Vampire Survivors. It features detailed hero designs, expansive maps, and grotesque creatures. The game introduces fresh elements like followers and enhanced boss encounters. Familiar mechanics from Vampire Survivors are present, such as weapon evolutions and challenging bosses, with unique adaptations like experience skulls and Extremis bosses. Nuln oil is used as a weapon in the game, damaging and slowing enemies. Each map has a distinct theme, with one set in a WH40k battlefield and another in Age of Sigmar. Players can rescue unlockable characters to aid them in battles, adding a strategic element. The game presents a tougher challenge compared to its predecessor, with enemy factions exhibiting unique traits. Players must choose between WH40k and AoS universes, which have tailored characters and upgrades. Warhammer Survivors runs well on Steam Deck and is set to launch on November 10.
- Mobile version of Dome Keeper, a popular mining survival game, is in the works
- Pre-registration is open on Google Play and pre-orders are available on the App Store for 899 rubles
- Dome Keeper involves balancing resource extraction and defense against alien attacks
- Players can enhance the dome, upgrade mining equipment, and increase movement speed with materials found
- Procedurally generated maps offer a unique experience with each new run
- Dome Keeper was originally released on Steam in 2022 and has sold over a million copies by October 2024
TiMan, a modder, has created a mod called Bunker's Edge for the game Amnesia: The Bunker, which transforms the original horror setting into a vibrant urban landscape reminiscent of EA's Mirror's Edge. The mod retains the horror elements, featuring the same menacing creature pursuing the protagonist, Henri. While it showcases innovative modding, Bunker's Edge lacks the polish of Mirror's Edge, with some parkour movements feeling clunky and players occasionally getting trapped in the game’s geometry. The mod also incorporates sci-fi elements similar to Soma, generating excitement and making it one of the most anticipated titles for 2027.
Snail, Inc. has launched a new science-fiction survival sandbox game called Honeycomb: The World Beyond, developed by Frozen Way Studio. The game is available on Steam, the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Key features include exploration of diverse alien biomes, a bioengineering system for creating new life forms, base building, laboratory research, resource discovery, and survival gameplay. The game incorporates advanced technologies from NVIDIA, such as RTXDI and DLSS 4.5, to enhance visual quality and performance. Frozen Way Games, based in Cracow, Poland, consists of over 80 team members dedicated to game development. Players can access the game through its official website and various social media platforms.
Nick Kaman from Aggro Crab expressed enthusiasm for co-op "friendslop" games and indicated a desire to explore this genre further. Aggro Crab is developing a new platformer titled Rebounder, which features a color-limited, comic book aesthetic and draws inspiration from kaizo games. The gameplay will include tricky jumps and precise timing, incorporating unique sci-fi elements. Rebounder is set for general release in 2027 and is available for wishlist on Steam.
Capcom's upcoming title, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, won multiple awards, including Best PlayStation Game and Best Gameplay. CD Projekt RED received accolades for their booth design, merchandise, and the trailer for the remaster of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, along with its story expansion "Ballad of the Past." The Best PC Game award went to Total War: Warhammer 40,000. Other awards included Best Xbox Game for Forza Horizon 6, Best Audio for Alien: Isolation 2, Most Engaging Game for Wanderburg, Most Epic Game for Tides of Annihilation, Most Heartfelt Game for Finding Polka, Best Nintendo Switch 2 Game for Rayman Legends Retold, and Best Mobile Game for Where Winds Meet. The Best Trailer (Audience Choice) was awarded to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered & Songs of the Past DLC.
Total War: Warhammer has evolved into a celebrated strategy game on PC, and Space Marines have been included in the game. It was honored as the best PC game at this year's Gamescom, marking Sega's third award of the year. PC Gamer's Fraser Brown praised it as the standout experience of his year after just an hour of gameplay. Gamescom winners are selected by a jury of gaming professionals and community votes, indicating broad appeal. The Warhammer 40,000 universe fits well within the Total War framework, promising an exhilarating experience with epic battles.
