St. Amelia’s past has had protests against an unknown attempt to disrupt the seemingly idyllic life its citizens once led, and Simon’s return to the town might be out of a feeling of responsibility and residual guilt. He’s been asked to return and “set some things to rest” by a mysterious old man, whom we suspect might have also had a hand in whatever befell the town. However, all that remains is an air of desolation that is as unsettling as we’ve been telling you about, while the radio is sure to open up a path to the game’s red-tinged otherworld at some point.

Well, we’ve got quite a list of folks who are bringing the game’s eccentric characters to life, with suitably somber takes on people whose lives have clearly been turned upside down but with glimpses of the personalities they used to be.

All in all, this one’s looking like Silent Hill at its finest, and is a potentially great follow-up to the franchise’s Japanese excursion last year. The trailer’s below if you’re looking for reasons to believe us.

How far into the game this takes place is unknown, but Simon has a pistol. The problem is that the Otherworld is teeming with those fleshy monsters that won’t hesitate to attack on sight. Besides activating radios and creating noise to draw their attention, he can use the CRTV to see their locations and skillfully sneak past them.

When that fails, the revolver is good enough for putting them down in a hurry. A headshot appears to kill, so aim properly to conserve ammo. It isn’t a luxury in St Amelia, but there isn’t a lot to go around.

Case in point: when Simon enters a tenement building, teeming with these monstrosities. Tracking their locations through walls, he finally climbs into the floor below before the footage cuts to black. Interestingly, one tactic he can use to avoid combat is locking doors. If it works, it works.

Launching on September 24th, Silent Hill: Townfall will be available for PS5 and PC.

We cut to him exploring the town, which lies abandoned, using the CRTV to locate Zoe Ellis’s apartment (with clues popping up as you get closer). Upon entering, he discovers a myriad of puzzles, from a fuse box that requires a prepaid power card to activate the electricity to an organ donor box with a combination lock. Of course, Simon also finds a picture of himself and questions why Zoe would have it.

The first encounter with a monster is up next, and this is where the CRTV comes in especially handy. With tuning, you can see the threat through walls and sneak past. Simon fails to do so, of course, leading to a melee fight with nothing but a plank of wood as a weapon. He emerges the victor, but the trip through St Amelia is only just beginning.

Silent Hill: Townfall launches on September 24th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. A new trailer premieres at Gamescom Opening Night Live on August 25th, but you can head here for more details on why the CRTV is so realistic with its distortions and tuning.

Since this is 1996, it captures the feel of CRT screens pretty realistically. But that’s because, as director/writer Jon McKellan recently revealed to Eurogamer, the team fed gameplay footage through actual analog devices and then did a few “modifications” to nail those distortions.

“We would take gameplay footage and cutscenes and actually run them through old hardware, old TVs, pocket televisions, to create something that was truly authentic. We would damage the cables, hold magnets to them, and then get that footage back into the game. That way, this pivotal tool doesn’t just look authentic; it really is authentic.”

Why not just give Ordell a regular map like other Silent Hill games? This is because it would “have an extremely different feel to the story.” Gameplay is one thing, but it seems the CRTV plays a pivotal role beyond that.

Perhaps it has a hand in influencing the different endings that players can unlock. McKellan and producer Motoi Okamoto confirmed that there are five in total, with two “secret” endings locked behind New Game Plus. Each ending is tied to how you play, whether it’s in aggressiveness or how much you investigate St. Amelia.

Silent Hill: Townfall is out on September 24th for PS5 and PC. You can find out about how the team is leaning into classic expectations while “massively subverting” them here.

But while Silent Hill: Townfall, Screen Burn’s newest mainline entry, seemingly starts in the same way, it may not progress in the same fashion. Humorously describing the start as “So far, so Silent Hill” to Eurogamer, writer/director Jon McKellan said, “There are themes that feel very reminiscent of Silent Hill. We are leaning into those expectations.

“We will be massively subverting those expectations, too. We want people to feel familiar with it, but leverage that. It’s leveraging that familiarity to build something new out of that that surprises players and takes them on a different journey, while somehow still feeling like Silent Hill.”

It’s interesting because of McKellan’s experience with the original Silent Hill, which he played while sick in his teens (and still doubts the validity of the experience). That this subversion comes from a fan’s understanding is interesting, but the goal remains the same – to draw people in.

Launching on September 24th for PS5 and PC, Silent Hill: Townfall is the first full-length first-person title in the series. While we’ve seen a decent amount of sneaking about, there’s plenty of combat, as the development team promises that melee battles will offer a “real scrap.” Be careful about how aggressive you are, though, because that’s one factor that can determine the ending.

There are five in total to unlock, with two secret endings tied to New Game+. Obviously we’ll need to wait for more details on what they offer, but in the meantime, a new trailer will debut at Gamescom Opening Night Live. What more could Screen Burn, Annapurna, and Konami reveal to keep the suspense burning? We’ll find out on August 25th.

“The choices you make as a player throughout will determine the ending, and it should feel that the ending is very appropriate to the experience you had. The goal is for the player to feel like it’s the natural conclusion to the story in terms of the way they played,” said McKellan. What exactly determines the type of ending received?

While “lots of different attributes” will “move the needle,” some of them include the level of aggression exhibited and how thoroughly you investigate. Unlike Silent Hill f, you won’t have to jump into New Game+ to unlock the other main endings, but it is required for the secret endings. What are the chances of the UFO ending featuring the adorable Shiba Inu making a return? Time will tell.

Silent Hill: Townfall launches on September 24th for PS5 and PC. Touted as one of the biggest games that Annapurna has ever published, it takes place on St. Amelia from the perspective of one Simon Ordell. How did he end up there? Why can’t he leave? Very little is known, save for that he needs to “put things right.”

That involves investigating his past while avoiding the monsters roaming the town, be it through brute force or subterfuge courtesy of a portable television known as the CRTV. A new trailer will be revealed on August 25th at Gamescom Opening Night Live, so stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks.

It’s a nay on the latter, but the good news is that the game’s now making its way to the PS5, with a new trailer showcased at the recent State of Play.

And what a trailer it is. It begins as any encounter with dinosaurs left to run free in their natural habitat would, with one attacking potential protagonists, crashing into their car as they take a leisurely ride through a beautifully rendered forest. Well, what follows is a showcase of a gameplay loop in which you’re the prey and need to keep your wits about you as you navigate the world. This is a game about patience, restraint, and carefully considered actions, all of which you’re going to need if you don’t want to end up as a dinosaur’s next meal.

The developers are touting this one as a subversion of modern gaming’s tried and tested power fantasy, and we’re more than inclined to agree. You’d probably feel the same way after you watch the new trailer.

Rated “M” for Mature 17+ due to violence, blood and strong language, the listing indicates what we already know – that players will navigate St. Amelia, a Scottish island that’s fallen under the pall of the series’ signature fog. There are puzzles to solve and monsters to avoid, though you’ll also have guns and melee weapons like axes to defend yourself.

Some of the violence isn’t anything too gruesome, between stabbing and blood spatters, but there’s also an instance of a “man being eaten by a monster.” So prepare yourself accordingly.

Of course, the real significance of this rating, especially so close to State of Play, is that it could mean a potential release date announcement. Silent Hill: Townfall was already confirmed for 2026 on PS5 and PC, so it looks like the perfect opportunity to drop the release. The only question that remains is where it could fit, especially with how crowded every month before November is going to become.

Whatever happens, we’re keen to jump in, especially since it’s the first full-length first-person title in the series and among the biggest games ever published by Annapurna. To learn more about the combat, head here.

Stacey Rockford’s love for music and her friendship with Slater and Cassandra work as a narrative vehicle that moves as fast as the trio’s skateboards, or a very memorable shopping cart that I’m not going to talk more about in the interest of avoiding spoilers. You explore their memories of their time in high school, while the underlying melancholy of life taking you in a direction that’s different from your loved ones is a constant undercurrent that gives the narrative the emotional heft it needs to land just right.

You see, Stacey aims to make her passion for music into a career as a music supervisor. But to do that, she’s got to leave her life and her friends behind and move to New York to work with one of the biggest names in the industry. Her bags are packed, and she’s ready to go (if you’ve caught on to the reference, you’re sure to like Mixtape). But that’s not before she has one last evening of togetherness with the people she’s shared her life with over the years.

Stacey’s musical tastes are spot on, especially if you’re a fan of rock music throughout the ages. The story is told via a mixtape that she’s made to celebrate her life so far, and the one she’s moving towards. As such, every song you hear is carefully curated, matching the setting and tone of each scene from the game’s story in a way that brings it all together so well you might catch yourself humming your favorites long after you’ve completed the relatively short story.

When you consider Stacey’s current situation and how music has shaped her life and her memories, Mixtape goes beyond a mere coming-of-age story to become an exploration of nostalgia and friendships. Each memory, triggered by interacting with an object that holds significance to either Stacey or one of her friends, comes with a song that’s matched to the occasion, while you interact with members of the trio in interesting ways.

"Mixtape entertains by being so relatable that you almost feel like you’re a part of the trio and have known them for years."

The opening sequence, for instance, has them barrelling down the slope of a mountain on their skateboards, navigating sharp turns whilst avoiding oncoming traffic. You control Stacey in this part, pressing buttons to perform flips and other stunts while your thumbsticks ensure that she doesn’t crash and burn before her adventure begins. Of course, the consequences for a mistake are almost non-existent, and this one is quite light on the challenge that it offers.

Instead, Mixtape entertains by being so relatable that you almost feel like you’re a part of the trio and have known them for years. It’s rare to find fictional characters that are as instantly relatable, but Stacey and Co. are so well-written, I couldn’t help but think of my own best friends from when I was a teenager. Indeed, it’s all presented so well that I even picked up my phone and had a chat with my own buddies from back in the day.

The dialogues and the manner in which they reflect how teenagers communicate with each other make their friendship feel natural and organic. We’ve all been there, and we know how we often looked at the world with the same youthful arrogance that they display. The rules are only guidelines in their eyes, and they take risks that would have us adults thinking long and hard about our next steps.

"Cassandra’s story is one that I’ve seen way too many times in my years, and it’s one that could have you appreciating your own upbringing a little more."

I’m no fan of certain darker subjects, but Mixtape is clever enough to handle that part of its story with tact, taking a neutral approach to its framing that immediately makes it click. You know what Stacey is doing isn’t exactly right, but the game never tries to preach to you. Mixtape simply presents a problem that exists whether we like it or not, and manages to avoid the darker side of things with aplomb.

That doesn’t mean that it’s all light-hearted and carefree. Cassandra’s story is one that I’ve seen way too many times in my years, and it’s one that could have you appreciating your own upbringing a little more. She’s easily my favorite of the lot, my sympathy for her lost childhood mixing well with respect for her quiet dignity. Stacey is similarly layered, capable of a level of empathy that makes her likeable while having her own flaws to balance things out.

Let’s take stock of where we’re at so far. You’ve got a great story, simple gameplay elements, and a cast of characters who you relate to as soon as you meet them. All of that’s evidence of a video game that does what it sets out to do.

But there are flaws. The animations are a little wonky from time to time, although I must admit the game’s unique art style and presentation were able to smooth things over enough for the experience to do well on the whole. I must point out that the gameplay isn’t anything especially taxing, and you’re going to be spending time sifting through old objects or perhaps trying to craft something that you probably wouldn’t want to use in the real world.

"Mixtape is almost like a short movie, one that you might find yourself putting on from time to time when you have nothing else to watch."

Mixtape is still a fun game, though by no means a challenging one. Its beauty lies in the way the entire experience comes together, and the way each scene is underscored by an intriguing vibe that brings it all to life. I found myself annoyed with Slater when the cassette player in his car interrupted an enjoyable session, a situation that made me think about how Mixtape expertly invokes specific emotions that ground you in what you’re experiencing in a way that’s truly special.

Mixtape is almost like a short movie, one that you might find yourself putting on from time to time when you have nothing else to watch. It’s familiar enough to make you invested in the lives of its characters, while also being fresh enough to stand out from the crowd. But remember, there isn’t much gameplay on offer here, but as a fellow Zeppelin fan, I came to appreciate most of what the game has to offer.

This game was reviewed on PlayStation 5.

The trailer comes in at just shy of a minute in length, and focuses on the main characters—three high school friends looking for the “ultimate teenage experience”. We get to see the trio go through several surreal experiences, be it flying over their neighborhoods and over creeks, or skateboarding through an exploding car.

The story of Mixtape will revolve around the three friends setting off on one final adventure together, with its core themes revolving around a variety of songs that have been described as “the soundtrack of a generation”. The narrative will focus on how each song culminates in dreamlike reenactments of the time they spent together.

Mixtape was announced all the way back in June 2024, with Beethoven and Dinosaur confirming that its soundtrack would include music by Iggy Pop, Joy Division, The Smashing Pumpkins, DEVO, Roxy Magic, Lush, Sioxsie and the Banshees, and the Cure, among others.

The first trailer for Mixtape gave us a good look at the kind of setting we will get to experience, with portable CD players, open downhill streets that players can skate down, and a general vibe of whimsy that is often associated with teenage life. Paired with other, more realistic activities, the trailer also showed off how the kids are able to partake in more outlandish ones, like floating in the air above one of their roofs, and creating fireworks just by pointing at the sky while driving over a bridge.

The title was originally announced for release in 2025. However, it would get pushed back to a 2026 window. The studio hasn’t revealed too many details about the game yet, likely in its efforts to preserve the sense of surprise when it finally comes out.

The previous game by the studio, The Artful Escape, was released all the way back in 2021. The title, available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch, revolves around Francis Vendetti and his struggles on the night of his first live performance. Since he has to contend with the legacy of his uncle – a dead folk legend – Francis sets off on a psychedelic journey to create an entirely new stage persona for himself.

Alongside gameplay that can often have players engage with a variety of gameplay genres, the storytelling is helped by the fact that it features voice performances by Michael Johnston, Caroline Kinley, Lena Headey, Jason Schwartzman, Mark Strong, and Carl Weathers.

In our review of The Artful Escape from back when it first came out, we gave it a score of 8 out of 10 thanks to its striking art style, strong writing, excellent voice and musical performance, and great gameplay. However, we criticized some of the game’s performance issues, as well as how basic the platforming sections would often feel.