Like all services, Xbox Game Pass can have its up periods and its down periods. By and large, Microsoft has keep the quality and frequency of releases at a pretty good level, but strap in, because the upcoming lineup for the end of this month and the beginning of the next is something else.

The lineup for both Xbox One and PC is quite something. Of course, as of today you can get Microsoft Flight Simulator on PC as well as Spiritfarer on Xbox One and PC. On August 20th, you can look forward to the beat ’em up revival Battletoads and the classic survival game Don’t Starve for both PC and console Game Pass. On that same day, the PC will get some extra with Crossing Souls and Darksiders: Genesis, the latter of which is available now on the console side. Both Game Pass services will also get New Super Lucky’s Tale the next day on the 21st.

The 27th will be quite the feast for Xbox One and PC with the first chapter of Dontnod’s narrative adventure title, Tell Me Why, the surreal ’90s throwback of Hypnospace Outlaw and the zombie fighting rhythm game Double Kick Heroes. If that wasn’t enough, the next day on the 28th you can get Wasteland 3 on Xbox One and PC.

That’s quite the month, but Microsoft also apparently wants you to get a taste of next month as on September 3rd you’ll be able to get Resident Evil 7 for both Xbox One and PC Xbox Game Pass services. A little bit of everything and then some thrown on the side, I’d say.

It’s been something of a rough couple of weeks for the annual PAX East conference. Due to the international outbreak of the coronavirus, many publishers and developers have decided to either skip the conference, or reduce their presence there. But the show must go on, as they say, and there will still be more than a few companies present. One of those is THQ Nordic, and today they revealed their lineup of the playable titles they’ll be bringing.

As announced via press release, the publisher will be bringing a mixture of upcoming games, as well as some already released. On the latter side, Darksiders Genesis will be there, not long after its console launch. Upcoming releases that will be highlighted are Desperados 3, SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated, and the remake of Destroy All Humans!

The three unreleased titles as of now do not have release dates, nor have we seen a lot of footage for any of them. We’ll keep you updated on anything that’s shown or revealed. PAX East 2020 begins tomorrow and will run until March 1st.

Darksiders Genesis was an interesting experiment for the franchise by Airship Syndicate, dropping previous games’ third person action-adventure approach and instead going for an isometric hack-and-slash style. It was clearly one that paid off, though. The game launched to solid reception on PC and Stadia in December– and that positive reception, it seems, has resulted in solid sales for the game as well.

During the company’s recent earnings call, Lars Wingefors, CEO of the Embracer Group – the parent company of Darksiders Genesis publishers THQ Nordic – said that the game had sold well at launch, and its continually strong performance has even exceeded the publisher’s expectations.

“I think Darksiders Genesis had a solid performance,” said Wingefors. “It was well received and it has continued to perform also after the release window, so I would say it’s exceeded my own expectations.”

Darksiders Genesis has been out for PC and Stadia since December, and launched for the PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch just a few days ago. You can read our review for the hack-and-slash title through here.

The latest UK physical sales charts for the week ending February 15th are now available courtesy of Gfk Chart-Track. As GamesIndustry.biz notes, the usual suspects like FIFA 20 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare dominate the first and second positions again. However, Sega’s Yakuza Remastered Collection for the PS4 managed to debut in third place.

It’s not the only new PS4 title in the top 10. Media Molecule’s Dreams managed to debut at eighth place after finally seeing its full retail release. Darksiders Genesis was another new title, though it narrowly missed the top 10 and debuted in eleventh place. Interestingly, 51 percent of its sales were on the PS4 with 28 percent being on Switch and 21 percent on Xbox One.

Otherwise, familiar titles like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Grand Theft Auto 5 have shifted positions in the top 10 while others like Minecraft, Luigi’s Mansion 3 and NBA 2K20 have stayed the same. Interestingly, Ring Fit Adventure dropped to 30th place this week despite being at fourth the previous week. Check out the top 10 best-selling UK titles for the week ending February 15th below.

1. FIFA 20
2. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
3. Yakuza Remastered Collection
4. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
5. Grand Theft Auto V
6. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
7. Minecraft
8. Dreams
9. Luigi’s Mansion 3
10. NBA 2K20

In December, THQ Nordic expanded the Darksiders series into new directions, with the Airship Syndicate-developed top-down hack and slash RPG Darksiders Genesis. And though it was a much different experience than what the series usually offers, it was still a decent enough game, especially thanks to its co-op.

Though it originally launched only for PC and Stadia, Darksiders Genesis is launching soon – tomorrow, February 14 – for consoles as well. And to commemorate its release on the PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, publishers THQ Nordic have released a new console launch trailer for the game. Take a look below.

In our review of Darksiders Genesis, we called it “a strong prequel buoyed by fantastic co-op and a fun new character in Strife”, praising its puzzles and platforming, the combat, and the environments, but finding issues with the camera and the solo gameplay. You can read our full review through here.

The isometric spin-off of the Darksiders franchise, Darksiders Genesis, surprised a lot of people with how much it managed to capture the spirit of the series even with its different style. The game is also getting a good deal of updating and polish with a new update that adds quite a decent amount of quality of life improvements.

The update includes a new difficulty mode sure to pose a good challenge in Mayhem mode. There’s also the ability to change the game speed in single player or split screen co-op. There’s a variety of small bug fixes relating to both single and multiplayer. You can see the full changelog for the game on the Steam page through here.

Darksiders Genesis is available now for PC and Stadia. The new update is live across both platforms. It will release for consoles at the beginning of next year. For our take on the spin-off, you can read our review.

Though not quite the same experience as previous titles in the series, Airship Syndicate’s Darksiders Genesis is a decent spin-off with its isometric gameplay. You can check out our review of the experience here but many other publications also enjoyed what the prequel had to offer. Check out the accolades trailer below for more details.

Darksiders Genesis takes place before the first game. Players control Strife and War, two of the Four Horsemen, as they struggle to stop Lucifer. Co-op support is available but solo players can switch between both warriors at any time and utilize their skills.

While Strife is a gunslinger who fights from a distance, War is about up close and personal combat. Players can customize their skills while also collecting Creature Cores from slain foes. Darksiders Genesis isn’t a long game – it takes roughly 15 hours or so to finish – but might be worth checking out when it releases for Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One in February 2020. It’s currently out for PC and Google Stadia.

Airship Syndicate’s Darksiders Genesis is now available for PC and Google Stadia, offering an isometric hack and slash experience to the established series. As either Strife or War, players must battle to stop Lucifer from causing trouble. Check out the launch trailer below to see the game in action.

Co-op support is included, but solo players can switch between Strife and War at any time. Both have their own unique abilities and upgrades, with different monsters and bosses offering Cores to augment the same. Though it’s not a Diablo-style looter, Darksiders Genesis offers some pretty solid action.

For more information, check out our review of the game here. It’s currently available for Google Stadia and PC, but will arrive for PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch on February 14th, 2020. The developer has assured recently that the Switch version will be 100 percent similar in terms of content.

Wattam

Of course it would be Katamari Damacy director Keita Takahashi making Wattam. How else could you explain the premise of walking around the world, befriending rocks, open mouths, trees and toilets to join hands and create melodies? It’s all quite whimsical in motion and gives Wattam a dream-like yet still unorthodox feel. Look for the game to release on December 17^th for PS4 and PC.

Phoenix Point

Phoenix Point is an important title for many tactical turn-based fans. For some, it could be their next big game after XCOM with its factions, evolving enemies and lasting psychological system for its soldiers. For others, it’s a true spiritual successor to the original X-COM games from creator Julian Gollop, offering the next step forward in the tactical strategy war against aliens. With terrifying foes, intriguing mechanics and a tense setting, Phoenix Point releases on December 3^rd for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Halo: Reach (PC/Xbox One)

Finally, we get to remember Reach as it should be – in gorgeous 4K resolution and 60 FPS. 343 Industries’ Halo: Reach comes to PC on December 3^rd with its memorable campaign and hefty multiplayer modes like Firefight and Invasion (with Forge and Theater coming in 2020). For Xbox One players, Reach will round out Halo: The Master Chief Collection but for PC players, it kick-starts the collection’s release on PC. Whether you’re a fan of the series or not, Halo: Reach’s arrival next week is a momentous occasion.

MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries

It’s seemingly the month of nostalgia and MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries is a long time coming. As the first mainline title in the franchise since MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries in 2002, MechWarrior 5 offers combat in large hulking mechs with highly customizable parts. Taking part during the Third Succession War, various factions will be vying for supremacy, allowing you to take contracts and cement your legacy. MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries is out on December 10^th for PC.

Terminator Resistance

Teyon’s new Terminator shooter is an…odd title. It’s set in the year 2028 with the world decimated by Skynet’s robot incursions. You’ll battle through hordes of machines, killing and leveling up while also potentially altering the fates of those around you. What’s odd about the whole ordeal is that despite seeing significant criticism, the game has a rather positive rating on outlets like Steam. We’ll see how the console versions fare when they release on December 10^th for North America.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Coteries of New York

Before venturing into the RPG-heavy Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, why not visit the Coteries of New York instead? Developed by Draw Distance, Vampire: The Masquerade – Coteries of New York is a text-based adventure centered around two factions – the Camarilla and Anarchs. Depending on one’s clan and choices, there will be unique dialogue opportunities and powers, ultimately influencing the game’s outcome. The title is out for PC on December 11^th but also releases on Xbox One, PS4 and Nintendo Switch in Q1 2020.

Darksiders Genesis

And now for something completely different from the Darksiders franchise. Developed by Airship Syndicate, Darksiders Genesis is an isometric action hack and slash title that takes place before the first game. Horsemen Strife and War are on a quest to stop Lucifer from empowering the forces of Hell and that means lots of slicing and shooting. Co-op is included but solo players can switch between either Horseman at any time while taking advantage of various upgrades. Releasing on December 5^th worldwide for PC and Google Stadia, Darksiders Genesis looks to offer a fun 15 hours or so of adventure.

Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey (Xbox One/PS4)

Panache Digital Games’ Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey didn’t get the most rousing reception when it first released on PC. However, there have been updates and improvements overtime, making this tale of evolution and survival more tenable. As part of a primate clan in the prehistoric age, you’ll be climbing trees, exploring the world, hunting, and even avoiding predators. All of this feeds into your experience and evolution as you journey across eight million years of history. Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey arrives on December 6^th for Xbox One and PS4.

Life is Strange 2: Episode 5

Dontnod Entertainment’s fifth and final episode for Life is Strange 2 is out next month, bringing the adventure of the brothers Sean and Daniel Diaz to an end. This is always a pivotal moment for fans of the series, since it allows for experiencing the entire adventure from start to finish without any delays. It’s been a wild journey since the two initially fled Seattle en route to their father’s hometown in Mexico. How could things get any stranger? Episode 5 is out on December 3^rd for Xbox One, PS4 and PC so it won’t be long before we find out.

Arise: A Simple Story

Arise: A Simple Story is another dream-like adventure game but one that explores the memories of two individuals across shifting landscapes and seasons. As a puzzle adventure title, players will have the ability to manipulate time, altering the environment as they see fit. While there’s still a lot we don’t know, Arise’s art-style looks great and the story has strong emotional potential. It’s out on December 3^rd for PS4 and PC.

As its subtitle implies, Genesis takes place before the original game, right after the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse – in this case, War, Death, Fury, and Strife – have killed all of the Nephilim, who were half-angel and half-demon and the former brothers and sisters of the new Horsemen – after they tried to take Eden from humanity. Their work done, The Charred Council, a group of fiery talking heads responsible for maintaining The Balance between Heaven, Hell, and Earth, has called them back and given them a new mission. It seems that Lucifer, Lord of all Hells, is plotting to upset The Balance again, so the Horsemen have to figure out what he’s up to and stop him. With Death and Fury off handling other things, the duty falls to War and Strife. Before you know it, they’re rampaging around Hell, causing all kinds of ruckus.

Darksiders’ story has always been pretty silly, and full of proper nouns, but it’s generally pretty engaging despite all that, and Genesis does a good job of spinning its yarn through dialogue, and a series of beautifully drawn cutscenes. The core issue remains the same that every game in the series has had since the original game: it doesn’t actually advance the story. Darksiders ends on a compelling cliffhanger and a promise of more to come, but all of its sequels have either been side stories showing what Death and Fury were doing while War was off doing War things, or in the case of Genesis, a prequel. It would be like if Bungie had decided that the best thing they could do after Halo 2’s cliffhanger would have been to develop Reach and then ODST so we’d have all of the backstory we’d need before finally finishing the story in Halo 3. It’s been nearly a decade since the original game, and we’re still waiting for what happens next. I understand that the plan was to introduce each of the Horsemen in their own games before bringing them together, but come on. Genesis gets a bit of a pass because, as a prequel, it actually does help us understand how we got to the original game, but it’s still a little frustrating.

"Both War and Strife are playable, but this is Strife’s game. He’s enormously enjoyable – and the heart of the game’s story – and watching him trade barbs with War is a lot of fun."

That said, what Airship Syndicate does here works well, and that’s largely due to the interplay between War and Strife. The two brothers couldn’t be more different. War, muscular, covered in armor, and wielding his enormous Chaos Eater sword, is at his best wading into the enemy, shrugging off damage, and slicing them in two. Out of battle, he’s reserved, serious, honorable, annoyed by puzzles, and incapable of understanding jokes. He has no patience for delay, and anyone who double-crosses him or threatens The Balance will soon find themselves getting well acquainted with the pointy end of his blade.

Strife is his polar opposite. He’s fast and lithe, capable of dodging enemy attacks gracefully before filling them full of lead with his twin pistols or cutting them to pieces with his short swords. He can’t stand toe to toe with his foes the way War can, but he makes up for it with his evasiveness and ability to cause a lot of pain in a short period of time. He’s also a jokester, with a quip or a sarcastic comment for every situation, which annoys War. He takes his mission just as seriously as War does, but he’s more prone to questioning orders, open to enriching himself if the possibility arises, and determined to have as much fun as he can.

Both characters are playable, but this is Strife’s game. He’s enormously enjoyable – and the heart of the game’s story – and watching him trade barbs with War is a lot of fun. These characters clearly care about each other, but they also fight, as brothers do. Their relationship is the best part of the game’s narrative, and it grounds a story that would otherwise get lost in proper nouns and Christian mythology.

"The game is fine solo, but it’s great in co-op. Genesis offer support for both online and split-screen play, and the game ups the challenge with more enemies and more complex puzzles that require both Horsemen to solve."

It’s good that their relationship is so centered, because you’ll need both of them to get anything done. Unlike previous games in the series, Genesis opts for a top down perspective, like a traditional dungeon crawler. You’ll fight your way through large, diverse environments, relying on each character’s strengths to get the job done. When playing solo, that means swapping between the brothers at will, and using their different abilities in the spaces that call for them. War is big and slow, and his range his limited, so you’ll want to use him in up close fights where his big sword can do the most work. He can block enemy attacks, and even parry them if timed properly, leaving them open for devastating ripostes. His special abilities from the original game return, allowing him to summon a circle of spikes and a damaging wave attack from his sword, which acts as a projectile. He’s the easier of the two characters to play, and anyone who has played the original Darksiders will feel right at home once they pick him up.

Strife is a little harder to play. He has melee attacks, but he works best from range, using his guns to light up enemies from a distance. He can’t take the abuse War can, and he can’t block enemy attacks, so you’ll have to master his dodges – he gets several to War’s one – if you want to stay standing. Shooting enemies with his guns builds up Hot Streak, which is tracked by a small bar at the bottom of the screen. A full bar allows Strife to shoot much faster, or use his special abilities, like a charged shot or beam attack, without spending ammunition. His abilities are primarily defensive, granting him an extra dodge or dropping caltrops, which explode when touched.

The game is fine solo, but it’s great in co-op. Genesis offer support for both online and split-screen play, and the game ups the challenge with more enemies and more complex puzzles that require both Horsemen to solve. Many of the game’s puzzles feel like they’re built for co-op play anyway, requiring you to pull two levers or make use of both War and Strife’s abilities, and things are smoother with a buddy as a result. Everything is shared, so there’s no need to fight over pick ups, and you can switch characters at any time, provided your partner wants to. It’s a great system, and the game is at its best when War and Strife share the field together.

"Genesis may take cues from Diablo and games like it, but the game still mixes in plenty of platforming and puzzle-solving, all of which works very much like games past. Navigating an environment means doing both, and there are plenty of optional nooks and crannies to stick your nose into if you’re interested."

Most big encounters, particularly the game’s bosses, will require you to make use of both playstyles, though you can run through most minor enemies as your Horseman of choice. The bosses themselves are pretty intense, requiring you to memorize several attack patterns and often deal with additional enemies to achieve victory. One of my favorites was an optional boss who summoned hellhounds to fight alongside him, and would periodically buff them, making them even more dangerous. Winning meant avoiding his attacks while thinning out the hounds, and then going in for some damage before he could summon more. Beating a boss requires you to learn not only their abilities, but their environment, too, and determining where to engage a boss in the environment, and how to take advantage of things like cover and environmental explosives, is a large part of these encounters.

Defeated enemies have a chance to drop creature cores, which can be placed on a board resembling Final Fantasy X’s Sphere Grid to grant abilities. Matching the attribute of the slot – Health, Attack, or Wrath – with the correct core provides bonus stats and attributes. Some grant flat bonuses to a stat, but others have more fun effects, like leaving a trail of fire behind when you dash or summoning a hellhound of your own in battle. Cores have to connect to one another to work, and there’s a good deal of strategy in putting your cores in the right places. As you collect more cores, they level up, granting enhanced bonuses, so there’s always something to look forward to, even if an enemy drops a core you already have. Genesis doesn’t have loot, but this system does a good job of allowing you to customize your character. Vulgrim, the soul-eating demon merchant, also returns, and you can also spend souls – granted by killing enemies and opening chests in the environment – at his shop to buy new abilities, additional items, or other upgrades.

Getting the best stuff will require you to find Boatman’s Coins, which are scattered throughout across the levels. Darksiders Genesis may take cues from Diablo and games like it, but the game still mixes in plenty of platforming and puzzle-solving, all of which works very much like games past. Navigating an environment means doing both, and there are plenty of optional nooks and crannies to stick your nose into if you’re interested. The best diversions are Trickster Doors, which require you to find Trickster Keys. Some doors take several keys, but they lead to major upgrades, including new abilities for War and Strife, so they’re well worth seeking out. The ability to ride your horse also returns, and it’s essential in big areas. Between that and the ability to hover over gaps, climb walls, and grapple to new areas, there’s always something to do between battles, and the game is good at using its platforming elements to break up the pacing of its combat encounters.

"Backtracking may not be perfect, but the real issue Genesis has is the camera. Most of the time it’s fine, but if you get stuck behind a piece of the environment, it’s all but impossible to see where you are."

You can also go back and replay levels with your current equipment from the game’s hub, which is good because you won’t be able to get everything the first time. War and Strife gain abilities and equipment that allow access to new areas as the game progresses, so there’s always incentive to go back and find an item or open a Trickster Door. War, for instance, gets a spinning blade that allows him to move fire between braziers or explode inaccessible bombs, while Strife gets bombs that open portals between two areas. These are just a couple examples, but solving puzzles and opening new areas with these items is a lot of fun, and I enjoyed backtracking just to find things I missed.

In previous Darksiders games, backtracking meant taking a Serpent Hole to where you wanted to go, doing whatever you needed to do, and leaving. Here, it means playing the entire level again, cutscenes and all, though most are thankfully skippable. It makes sense given the game’s level-based design, but it’s kind of a bummer to have to play an entire level again because you want something at the end of it. Thankfully, the game records your progress once you leave an area, so you’re free to go in, get the item, and get out without losing anything.

Backtracking may not be perfect, but the real issue Genesis has is the camera. Most of the time it’s fine, but if you get stuck behind a piece of the environment, it’s all but impossible to see where you are. This is particularly irritating in co-op. You can revive your partner if they go down, but that means standing next to them and pressing a button. If they’re behind a pillar, or something similar, you’re probably not going to be able to find them, and you’ll likely both die. It’s even worse when you’re near a switch or an object that you can interact with, because the revive button and the interact button are the same. The platforming sections rarely experience these issues, but they made certain combat situations far more frustrating than they would have been otherwise.

"Darksiders Genesis may not be the continuation of the series fans have been hoping for, but it’s setting us up for it. Maye next time we’ll get to see what happens next."

Darksiders Genesis isn’t a long game – you can finish the story in about fifteen hours – but it is a pretty good one. I wish that the game handled backtracking a bit differently, and that the camera wasn’t so much of an issue, but this is a legitimately fun game, provided you have someone to play it with.  It’s a hard game to recommend solo unless you’re really into top down dungeon crawlers, but it’s nice to see Darksiders embrace co-op after teasing it for so many years.

I had a lot of fun with Darksiders Genesis, and I’m looking forward to playing more of it. It doesn’t continue the story that the original game started, but Strife is a great character, and this is a good game that does the series justice while nailing a new genre. It may not be the continuation of the series fans have been hoping for, but it’s setting us up for it. Maye next time we’ll get to see what happens next.

This game was reviewed on the PC.