Metroidvania Archives

AppWizard

January 22, 2026

Coming to Xbox Game Pass: Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II, Death Stranding Director’s Cut, and More

Resident Evil Village is now available on Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and PC Game Pass. MIO: Memories in Orbit launches on day one with Game Pass. Death Stranding Director’s Cut will be available on January 21. RoadCraft will also launch on January 21. Ninja Gaiden Ragebound is set for January 21 release. The Talos Principle 2 will be available on January 27. Anno: Mutationem launches on January 28. Drop Duchy is coming on January 28. MySims: Cozy Bundle will be available on January 29. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II is set for January 29. Indika will launch on February 2. Final Fantasy II will be available on February 3. Quarantine Zone: The Last Check is playable now. The Sims 25th Birthday Bundle will be available on January 22. Grounded 2 Garden Update will be released on January 27. Dead by Daylight has a Stranger Things DLC.

AppWizard

January 21, 2026

This beautiful Metroidvania blends Hollow Knight Silksong and Nier Automata, and I hate that it’s slipping under the radar

MIO: Memories in Orbit is a newly released Metroidvania game featuring a visually striking art style, currently available at a launch discount. Players control Mio, a robot in a sci-fi ark called The Vessel, and must navigate through platforming challenges and combat to uncover their purpose and prevent The Vessel's shutdown. The game includes basic combat mechanics and a unique ability system for customization. It features cel-shaded graphics with watercolor tones, creating an immersive visual experience. The game is priced at .59 / £14.95, reflecting a 12% discount from its Steam price.

AppWizard

January 20, 2026

Warhammer 40K: Space Marine II & Death Stranding Heading to Xbox Game Pass

- Resident Evil Village is available on Cloud, Console, and PC through Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and PC Game Pass. - MIO: Memories in Orbit is launching on day one with Game Pass for Cloud, Handheld, PC, and Xbox Series X|S. - Death Stranding Director's Cut will be available on Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S on January 21. - RoadCraft will be available on PC on January 21. - Ninja Gaiden Ragebound will be available on Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S on January 21. - The Talos Principle 2 will be available on PC and Xbox Series X|S on January 27. - Anno: Mutationem will be available on Cloud, PC, and Console on January 28. - Drop Duchy will be available on Cloud, PC, and Console on January 28. - MySims: Cozy Bundle will be available on PC on January 29. - Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II will be available on Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S on January 29. - Indika will be available on Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S on February 2. - Final Fantasy II will be available on Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S on February 3. - Quarantine Zone: The Last Check is available now on PC. - The Sims 25th Birthday Bundle will be available on PC on January 22. - Grounded 2 Garden Update will be available on Cloud, PC, and Console on January 27. - Dead by Daylight - Stranger Things DLC will be available on January 27. - Sea of Thieves Season 18, Act 2 will be available on Cloud, PC, and Console on January 22. - Several titles will be leaving the Game Pass library on January 31, including Shady Part of Me, Cataclismo, Starbound, Lonely Mountains Snow Riders, Paw Patrol World, Citizen Sleeper 2 Starward Vector, and Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap.

AppWizard

January 20, 2026

MIO: Memories in Orbit is a pleasant stroll after the brutal ultramarathon of Hollow Knight: Silksong — and I’m here for it

MIO: Memories in Orbit is set to release on January 20, 2026, and will be available on PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC. The main storyline takes approximately 14 hours to complete, with 100% completion estimated to take 25 to 40 hours. The game features engaging gameplay that balances challenge and accessibility, catering to both seasoned players and newcomers.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

The studio behind the best metroidvania of 2021 has a new game coming out next month—and I’m dropping everything to play it

Astalon: Tears of the Earth is a modern metroidvania known for its class-based combat, exploration mechanics, and pixel art. Released in 2021 by LABS Works, it was notable among other metroidvania titles like Axiom Verge 2 and Ender Lilies. LABS Works is currently developing a new game called Lovish, which will be a single-screen platformer featuring straightforward combat and intricate puzzles. Lovish is set to launch on Steam on February 5, with a free demo available now. The pixel art for Lovish is created by Kap, known for his work on 1001 Spikes.

AppWizard

January 8, 2026

Game Pass Adds All These Games In January 2026

This month, Xbox Game Pass subscribers can look forward to new games including Brews & Bastards, Mio: Memories in Orbit, and a My Little Pony game. Players can also revisit Resident Evil Village in anticipation of Resident Evil Requiem's release next month, and enjoy Star Wars Outlaws. However, titles such as Neon White, Road 96, and The Ascent will be removed from the Game Pass library on January 15.

AppWizard

January 7, 2026

Turkiye’s PC games to watch in 2026

A curated watchlist highlights promising Turkish video games set for release in 2026, featuring titles that indicate a 2026 release window on Steam. The main list includes: - Anomaly President by Phew Phew Games: A presidential roguelike action game set for Q1 2026 on PC. - Dead Engine by Chocolate Dungeon Games: A pixel-art, post-apocalyptic survival action-roguelite launching in Early Access on January 22, 2026. - Emberbane by Hamlet Games: A pixel-art action-adventure game scheduled for January 2026. - Eternity’s Echo: Patient Zero by Demonsoft Games: A first-person psychological survival-horror title set for Q1 2026. - Gamer Stop Simulator by Red Axe Games: A simulation game set in Japan, aiming for a higher visual standard, with no specific release date mentioned. - Island Market Simulator by Zentium Studio: Set for Q1 2026, focusing on managing an island-town business. - Mayhem Brawler II: Best of Both Worlds by Hero Concept: A beat 'em up game set for 2026 release on Steam and consoles. - Papa Needs a Headshot by Phew Phew Games and Vercial Games: An FPS set for Q2 2026 release. - Sagas of Lumin by Elos Games and Arts: An action RPG launching in Q1 2026. - The Enigma Cases by Red Axe Games: A co-op detective mystery game set for 2026. - Who Do Voodoo by Kuixo: A multiplayer social-deduction game targeting Q1 2026 for Early Access. Additionally, several titles are under consideration for a potential 2026 release, including: - Black State by Motion Blur: A single-player action-adventure shooter marked as “To be announced.” - Deckfort Alchemist by Team Machiavelli: A strategic roguelike tower defense game currently marked as “Coming soon.” - A new project from Fubu Games is anticipated following their successful titles in 2025.

AppWizard

January 7, 2026

Coming to Xbox Game Pass: Star Wars Outlaws, Resident Evil Village, and More

Brews & Bastards is available on Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S with Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, and PC Game Pass. Little Nightmares Enhanced Edition can be played on Cloud, Handheld, PC, and Xbox Series X|S, also available with Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, and PC Game Pass. Atomfall will be available on January 7 for Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC with Game Pass Premium. Lost in Random: The Eternal Die, Rematch, and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition will also be available on January 7 with Game Pass Premium. Final Fantasy will be available on January 8 for Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC with Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, and PC Game Pass. Star Wars Outlaws will be released on January 13 for Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery will be available on January 15 for Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC with Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, and PC Game Pass. Resident Evil Village will be available on January 20 for Cloud, Console, and PC with Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, and PC Game Pass. MIO: Memories in Orbit will also be available on January 20 for Cloud, Handheld, PC, and Xbox Series X|S on day one with Game Pass. Titles leaving the Game Pass library on January 15 include Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, Neon White, Road 96, The Ascent, and The Grinch Christmas Adventures.

AppWizard

January 5, 2026

Hollow Knight Silksong wins Steam’s Game of the Year with a staggering 43 million votes from PC players

Hollow Knight Silksong won the Game of the Year at the 2025 Steam Awards, receiving 43.8 million votes. It also won the award for Best Game You Suck At. The game was released on September 4, 2025, and experienced significant traffic that caused outages on platforms like Steam and Xbox. It did not win the Game Awards' GOTY, which went to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Players can expect additional content with the upcoming Sea of Sorrow expansion. Other notable awards included Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for Best Soundtrack, Hades 2 as Best Game on Steam Deck, Silent Hill F for Outstanding Visual Style, and The Midnight Walk as VR Game of the Year. Team Cherry is also developing a new release for the Nintendo Switch 2. Baldur’s Gate 3 received the Labor of Love award.

AppWizard

January 5, 2026

This week in PC games: Pathologic 3, a fresh Pokémon rival, a mind-bending FPS and some crablike base building

A hiatus in coverage occurred last December due to seasonal content preparation and personal challenges. New game releases include: - Dunecrawl: A cooperative game allowing up to four players to traverse a desert landscape on weaponized crabs. - Feed The Reactor: An incremental clicker game where players feed fuels into a cosmic vortex, unlocking narratives in a bizarre galaxy. - StarRupture: An early access title where players construct outposts on alien planets while fending off crab-like monsters. - Death Machine: A pixel-art metroidvania featuring 19 bosses, including at least one eight-legged invertebrate. - Oddcore: A first-person shooter set in a theme park with bizarre spaces and corporate satire, lacking crab references. - EvoCreo: A creature-collecting game with over 170 creatures, reminiscent of classic Game Boy Advance titles. - Ancient Farm: A farming game set in ancient Egypt, featuring historical landscapes and the Acanthothelphusa niloticus. - Pathologic 3: A narrative-driven game where players have 12 days to save a town from disease, involving quarantines. The CES hardware tradeshow is currently taking place in Las Vegas, focusing on GPU and RAM prices, new screen technologies, and novelty gadgets.