Slitterhead

A bizarre mix of action and body horror from Keiichiro Toyama, the creator of Silent Hill, Siren, and Gravity Rush, Slitterhead practically screams, “Not for everyone.” As Hyoki, an amnesiac spirit who must slay the Slitterheads, you can take over the bodies of different NPCs and leverage their powers. Combat can be enjoyable, but technical issues, jank, and repetition blemish the experience. It’s an acquired taste, though, and some may enjoy the body-hopping-focused gameplay while basking in the sheer weirdness of it all.

Europa isn’t meant to be a particularly challenging platformer. Rather than offering up some difficult obstacle courses that players will have to master their movesets to overcome, Europa instead draws players into its young protagonist’s goals of exploration, and hopefully, wants its players to feel the same sense of wonder that our hero, Zee, feels.

Gameplay wise, Zee has access to just about his entire moveset right from the start of the game: the ability to jump, a charged up jump move to reach higher places, the ability to glide, and if he has enough juice in his jetpack, the ability to levitate for more sustained exploration by flight, and the ability to expel energy to light small torches and braziers. Just about every obstacle in the game makes use of one or more of these abilities, and you’re not going to be unlocking new traversal mechanics over time.

While this lack of progression might put some players off, the general game design in Europa showcases the elegance of these abilities. The game stretches these abilities to their ultimate breaking points and comes up with new and unique ways to make use of the same jumping and gliding mechanics you’ve been doing throughout your time spent on Jupiter’s moon.

Movement feels quite floaty, but this tends to vibe well with the general peaceful atmosphere present throughout the game. While there are some things out there that might want to harm you, you’re not going to be dodging attacks and slashing things around in Europa. Instead, just about every threat can either be outright avoided by taking an alternate path or dealt with by finding ways to deactivate them. For example, turrets from early on in the game will shoot you after spending a long time locking on even if you stand still. These attacks by turrets are incredibly easy to dodge by simply just moving around, they can be disabled by finding their switch somewhere nearby.

"Zee has access to just about his entire moveset right from the start of the game"

So, moving around in Europa can be quite fun once you start learning things; like how to transition from the end of your glide into a slide down a hill whilst maintaining velocity, or how the blue spheres all over the place encourage you to take flight and explore the ruins that might be scattered around you from every possible angle you can imagine. This also gives way to the game’s collectibles, including around forty emeralds that are waiting to be found, as well as crystals that boost the jetpack’s fuel capacity.

It is easy to imagine that Europa is instead taking glee in showcasing its peaceful adventure thanks to its downright stunning vistas and gorgeous sights.

Puzzles throughout Europa also tend to be rather simple and will seldom have you standing in one place and scratching your head. Most doors, for example, can be opened up by lighting a few braziers that might be close by. Some paths will only open up once you find three wisps and bring them to a switch. There are also a few jumping puzzles throughout the game, but none of them get any more complicated than, for example, a block appearing and disappearing depending on when you press the jump button, forcing you to trigger these blocks at specific moments.

"Puzzles throughout Europa also tend to be rather simple"

The visuals are definitely one of the highlights in Europa. While not a high-fidelity game by any stretch, the Ghibli-inspired visuals of the game will make you feel just as cozy as watching any of the studio’s famous movies. There is quite a bit of variety in the visuals, ranging from idyllic, rolling hills, to a field where a battle took place ages ago, littered with giant dormant robots that might have been warriors in this battle, to even underwater levels. All of these zones are also populated by its own ecosystem, with the game emphasizing this by having you sketch out new creatures you might come across during your travels.

It’s worth noting that the game seems to be very well aware of just how good it looks and will constantly present vantage points to show off its different levels. Every time you enter a new zone, for example, you’ll get a fly-by of the entire zone to show you just what you’re up against, and even letting you scout out some collectibles you might want to grab along the way.

All of this is wrapped up in a story told almost entirely through a third-party narrator. Rather than featuring cutscenes or other characters to talk through, the story is essentially told through your own exploration thanks to the plethora of visual cues, along with a voice that claims to be Zee’s father. The game takes place on Jupiter’s eponymous moon, Europa, which has seemingly been terraformed by humans quite some time ago. This has led to the moon forming its own ecosystem over time and has even given way for empires to rise and fall, their ruins being evidence of their once great status.

"The game takes place on Jupiter’s eponymous moon, Europa"

Following notes from his father, Zee sets off on an adventure to rediscover Europa for himself, and maybe along the way figure out the goals of his life. The father’s notes tend to act as the most important form of collectible throughout the game. While they tend to be incredibly easy to find, since they’re not particularly well hidden and are often sitting around next to the path you would take to progress further into the game, they can also be ignored completely if you would prefer to play the game at your own pace and not be interrupted by the ramblings of an old man.

Generally speaking, the story felt like the least important aspect of Europa, with the visuals and chilled out gameplay providing a much better incentive for me to find out more of what the game might have to offer. A particularly important motivation for me ended up being the desire to sketch out just about every single part of the wildlife that might be present on Europa, from its own strange, almost robotic butterflies to more traditional animals, like what might be a reindeer.

Europa is not a very long game, and it took me around four hours to complete it. Besides collectibles, not many players will have a reason to take up another run. Regardless, Europa is fun game that not only manages to offer up a peaceful experience for its players but might also be a great way to introduce younger players, or even non-gamers into the medium. Since there’s no real danger in the world, exploring becomes an activity that’s fun, rather than stressful, and at no point does the game even force you to continue down its own narrative, letting you enjoy the game the way you want to enjoy it, while taking in the gorgeous landscapes it has to offer.

This game was reviewed on PC.

Until Dawn Remake

Before it dabbled in horror anthologies and that one underwhelming Dead by Daylight crossover, Supermassive Games had its big break with Until Dawn. It’s getting the remake treatment, launching on October 4th for PS5 and PC, courtesy of Ballistic Moon. Rebuilt from the ground up on Unreal Engine 5, it features improvements to character models and textures, liquid physics (like, say, blood spatters), effects, facial animations, and more.

There’s also a new third-person camera, providing an alternative perspective on classic scenes, new areas prompting new interactions, and even a reworked prologue. PC players will have to suffer mandatory PSN requirements, but if you’re interested in Supermassive’s best work yet, then Until Dawn’s remake could be worth it.

Silent Hill 2 Remake

Counterpoint: Wait four more days and experience Bloober Team’s remake of one of the best horror games ever. Silent Hill 2 remake arrives on October 8th for PS5 and PC, with “other platforms” (they know who they are) having to wait another year. The story of James Sunderland as he ventures into the mysterious Silent Hill at the behest of his deceased wife is intact, as is the series’ iconic fog and horrors like Pyramid Head.

However, almost everything else has seen an overhaul. A new third-person view and combat mechanics, new enemy attacks, changes to enemy locations and items, more buildings to explore – the list goes on. Whether it lives up to the original or not, Silent Hill 2 remake looks to prove itself.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake

Of course, if neither of the previous two options works out, there’s one more remake – Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8. Based on Koei’s turn-based strategy from 2001, it features a revamped aesthetic, new features like Tales and Destiny (the latter altering events significantly), and the option to play as any officer (with the total number raised to 1000 from 600). Unorthodox? It doesn’t offer the over-the-top hack-and-slash action of Dynasty Warriors, but Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake is still worth checking out for fans when it launches on October 24th for PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered

Following numerous rumors over the years, Guerilla Games finally revealed Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, and it’s on track to launch on October 31st for PS5 and PC. Leaving aside the necessity of the release, several changes and features could make it worthwhile for old and new fans. Hours of conversations have been re-recorded, and multiple improvements can be seen in the character models, animations, and lighting.

There’s also support for the DualSense’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, support save transfer from the original game, accessibility features from Horizon Forbidden West (which should make grinding for materials less painful), and a $9.99 upgrade option for current owners. At $49.99 for new players, it’s not the worst way to experience the 2017 open-world action RPG and its expansion, The Frozen Wilds, especially given the sheer amount of content. It even supports the PS5 Pro out of the box.

Throne and Liberty

A new free-to-play MMORPG? In this economy? Technically, Throne and Liberty was meant as a sequel to Lineage and announced as such in 2011. Plans changed, and it morphed into the current game, which launched in December 2023 for South Korea. It’s coming to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on October 1st, bringing its mix of castle sieges, massive PvP battles, combat styles, and even transformations to North America, Europe and Japan. Will it stand out and offer a fun new experience? We’ll find out soon enough.

Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred

You’d be forgiven for not remembering the ending to Diablo 4, especially with how its big bad turned out. Venturing to Nahantu to search for Neyrelle, the Wanderer encounters new enemies, dangerous new locations, and the Spiritborn, a new friendly faction that joins the fight. Players can choose the Spiritborn as a new class, harnessing different spirits and elemental properties to annihilate their enemies.

Regardless of how the story turns out, Vessel of Hatred promises tons of new content, from new Mercenaries with unique skill trees, the return of Runewords, and a new co-op activity, the Dark Citadel, to master. It launches on October 8th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC, alongside a free update that overhauls progression, introduces new skills per class, and much more.

Starship Troopers: Extermination

Arrowhead Game Studios’ latest update for Helldivers 2 appears to have dragged it out of an unfun state. However, if it’s another co-op-focused alien bug-stomping shooter that you want, then Starship Troopers: Extermination may be the ticket. Exiting early access on October 11th and becoming available for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, it features a new campaign starring Johnny Rico from the original film with 25 missions. This is on top of all the base defense, fast-paced first-person shooter combat, 16-player co-op, and extraction that makes the current product such a blast.

Undisputed

Amid all its sports titles, it’s a shame that Electronic Arts hasn’t brought back Fight Night. Until then, Steel City Interactive’s Undisputed will have to fill that gap when it exits early access on October 11th for PC while also becoming available for Xbox Series X/S and PS5. Featuring over 70 fighters, multiple traits and attributes, +60 punches, and a Career Mode with champions from the World Boxing Council, World Boxing Organization, and International Boxing Federation, it could very well be worth the wait.

Post Trauma

October isn’t just about highly anticipated sequels and blockbusters – it’s also prime horror season. If Silent Hill and Until Dawn aren’t enough, Red Soul Games’ Post Trauma launches on October 29th for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. It sees a train conductor, Roman, trapped in a bizarre world and attempting to escape, solving puzzles and escaping from horrifying monstrosities. While it channels old-school survival horror titles with its fixed camera angles, Post Trauma offers various control types, from modern style to tank style, for a truly classic experience.

A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead

Those seeking something scary based on a film franchise might want to check out A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead. Picking up right after the murderous aliens arrive on Earth, players control Alex Taylor as she attempts to evade their cruelty and protect her loved ones. The focus on not making any sound, avoiding unnecessary contact with the environment at all costs, and even retrieving inhalers makes for some tense gameplay. Whether it translates into genuine scares or a memorable story remains to be seen, but it’s out on October 17th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Unknown 9: Awakening

Reflector Entertainment’s Unknown 9: Awakening is out on October 18th for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC after being announced in 2020. The action-adventure occurs in the 19th century and stars Haroona, who possesses unique abilities tied to the Fold. She seeks answers while fighting off a dangerous organization known as the Ascendants, who have sinister plans for the Fold.

With the ability to cloak, possess enemies, and slip into the Fold, Haroona will traverse the globe, visiting India, Portugal and many other locations. Even if the gameplay could use more polish, the set-up is intriguing, and we’re curious to see how it pans out.

Europa

If an adventure with a more animated art style is your thing, Future Friends Games’ Europa is an option. Launching on October 11th for PC and Nintendo Switch, the story sees an android, Zee, venturing through Jupiter’s moon Europa. With utterly gorgeous environments to discover secrets, the gameplay mixes exploration, platforming, and puzzle-solving combined with a mystery that could make for a more emotional tale amid all the serious offerings this month.

Alan Wake 2: The Lake House

Something wicked this way comes in Alan Wake 2’s second and final paid DLC, The Lake House. It returns to Cauldron Lake in Bright Falls, venturing into a facility of the same name set up by the Federal Bureau of Control (of Control fame). While very little is known about the story, it’s clear that something has gone wrong. Narrated from the perspective of Kiran Estevez, the story occurs parallel to the base game’s events, potentially opening up new clues about the lake’s powers and the Dark Presence.

Perhaps the most appealing aspect of the expansion is that this isn’t a humorous or kitschy experience like Night Springs. Remedy Entertainment has focused on delivering a “chilling survival horror experience”, and while there’s more yet to be revealed, it’s teased that “monsters wear many faces.” Alan Wake 2: The Lake House launches in October and is available only with the Deluxe Edition and physical Collector’s Edition.

MechWarrior 5: Clans

Suffering a slight delay from October 3rd to 17th, Clans is the other half of the MechWarrior 5 experience, the first being Mercenaries from 2021. It features a standalone cinematic story where players participate in Operation Revival after graduating from the Smoke Jaguar program.

With your customizable BattleMech and numerous options, including an overhauled MechLab and Hardpoint systems, you harness new weapons, upgrade pilots, and lead your squad to victory. With dynamic destruction, the same brutal grounded combat fans know and love, and support for up to five players in multiplayer, MechWarrior 5: Clans could be a dark horse when it launches for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Sonic X Shadow Generations

Sonic X Shadow Generations offers a remaster of Sonic Generations, which features a “Greatest Hits” compilation of 2D and 3D Sonic levels from across the series (up to 2011). However, the main attraction is the standalone campaign starring Shadow the Hedgehog, which sees him battling the mysteriously resurgent Black Doom.

Shadow sports new powers and traverses areas from his memories, whether it’s venturing through Kingdom Valley from Sonic ’06, or battling the Biolizard from Sonic Adventure 2. There’s a lot to look forward to and some excellent re-renditions of classic tracks when Sonic X Shadow Generations launches on October 25th for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch and PC.

Life is Strange: Double Exposure

Max Caulfield, protagonist of the first Life is Strange, returns in Double Exposure. Located at Caledon University, she settles down and finally feels comfortable after a long time. Unfortunately, when her new friend, Safi, is murdered, Max attempts to reawaken her Rewind powers and instead opens a portal to a parallel dimension.

Not only is Safi alive in this world, but things are significantly different all around. Time is ticking down, however, and Max must locate her killer before it’s too late again. With intriguing mechanics and puzzles that facilitate carrying over items between dimensions, Life is Strange: Double Exposure offers another compelling supernatural mystery. It’s out on October 29th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Last but certainly not least is Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the first new title for the series in almost ten years. While Solas, the Dread Wolf, is a wild card, you have seven companions to join your cause, each with distinct abilities and skill trees, unique quests and motivations.

Unlike Inquisition, Veilguard offers a mission-based campaign with real-time action RPG combat. Players can choose from three classes, each with three Specializations, and command two other party members, setting up combos and destroying enemies accordingly (with a tactical wheel available to plan everything). With an immense scale, gorgeous visuals, and a promising story, Dragon Age: The Veilguard could be BioWare’s long-awaited redemption when it launches on October 31st for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

At Nintendo’s recent Indie World presentation, publisher Future Friends Games announced that Europe is launching on October 11. The same was announced with a new trailer, which also offered plenty of new gameplay footage.

The game is continuing to look visually gorgeous thanks to its stunning cel-shaded aesthetic, with the trailer showcasing a variety of different locations, from gorgeous lakes and rolling landscapes to underwater areas, gorgeous architecture, floating mountains, frigid landscapes, and more. Check out the trailer below for a look at what the game will look like. 

Upon its launch in October, Europa will be available for Nintendo Switch and PC. A demo is available on both platforms. 

Novadust Entertainment’s upcoming Europa is a game that also falls into this category, and initial showings of the game have set the internet ablaze with hype and anticipation. There’s plenty of potential in the game itself, and with this feature – we will be discussing why it might end up being one of the biggest hits of the year. 

Europa is the name of one of the moons that rotate around the planet Jupiter, and naturally – the game takes place in an alternate version of Europa where humans have transformed it from uninhabitable to a lush green paradise peppered with trees and lakes and much more. You take on the role of an android named Zee who has awakened from his slumber and must find the answers behind the mysterious disappearance of the last human alive. The story setup seems simple enough, which would be really great if the developer wishes to keep the characters and the world as the driving forces behind the narrative. 

Novadust has done a wonderful job of creating a world that looks really enchanting from a visual perspective. As previously mentioned, the world of Europa is devoid of any human life – so it’s important that the structures they left behind tell a story of their own. As can be seen in the trailers, the different architectural designs on offer take inspiration from different cultures and different time periods – and that alone makes for some really interesting environmental storytelling. 

Nailing that part is crucial to Europa’s success because it’s a game that thrives on exploration. The moment-to-moment gameplay largely revolves around wandering across different corners of the planet, and slowly and steadily uncovering the pieces behind the central mystery. The developer has done a good job of making the simple act of exploration engaging through clever design tricks and mechanics. For starters, there’s no mini-map that will constantly nudge you toward a certain point which forces you to get used to the geometry and use your brain to get around this virtual space while also deepening the element of immersion by a significant margin. 

Secondly, you also get different kinds of gadgets that will help in making exploration easier and more fun. In addition to walking or running across large swaths of ground, you also get to slide across the surface of water, fly in the air with a rocket booster, or gracefully glide from high vantage points through a glider. These movements can also be chained together in different ways, which makes getting from point A to point B almost an act of personal expression as you chart your path across high mountains, lakes, and treetops all in quick succession. The animation work is especially notable here, and the transitions from one form of traversal to the next look pretty seamless.

Europa will also feature dungeons that need to be solved to progress the story, and these dungeons will be a mix of traversal challenges and puzzles. The trailer showcases tracking beams that need to be avoided, magical boxes that periodically disappear out of thin air, and other obstacles that need to be bested through judicial use of your moveset. Of course, dragging boxes and figuring out different puzzle patterns will form the majority of the busywork that players will be doing throughout their dungeon runs. 

Interestingly enough, Europa doesn’t seem to feature any combat encounters. Of course, given the isolated nature of the world – it makes complete sense to not feature any substantial combat mechanics. Instead, avoiding dangers like the aforementioned laser beams and other ancient mechanisms will form the majority of set-piece encounters throughout the game. 

One of the most interesting parts about Europa is undoubtedly its art direction. The developer is heavily inspired by the works of popular Japanese animation studio Studio Ghibli, the team behind popular animation films like Spirited Away and The Boy and The Heron. Suffice it to say, the team has nailed the soothing aesthetic of its inspirations and the results are absolutely phenomenal. Europa makes smart use of cool colours like light green, sky blue, and beige to portray the earthy tones of its world, which coupled with the granular attention to detail makes this world feel like a carefully crafted painting. Notice how individual blades of grass sway to the tune of the winds, and how crystal clear water reflects the surrounding environments with striking precision. 

All in all, the team has done a really great job of creating a very distinct visual identity with the aesthetics of Europa. It’s also weirdly refreshing in a way since we are so used to post-apocalyptic worlds when it comes to games that don’t feature much in the name of existing human life. The Pathless is one recent title that had some of the same markings in terms of visual aesthetics, but Europa definitely surpasses it thanks to a broader and brighter colour palette. 

The secret sauce behind Europa’s probability of success lies in its excellent meshing of a relaxing vibe and an open world ripe with avenues for exploration. The last couple of years have seen an uptick in games that offer a rather relaxing experience through simplistic gameplay, and the runaway success of games like Stray or Stardew Valley provides enough evidence for this shift in consumer trends. Of course, open worlds also continue to be one of the most liked and most played genres – so Europa sitting perfectly at the intersection of these two experiences makes it a great contender for a dark horse this year. 

Talking about the release dates and platforms, Europa is currently slated to come out sometime in the near future. It was previously set to release on April 16 this year, but the developer has announced that the team would require more time to work on the game. As for the platforms, Europa will first debut on PC, and console ports of the same might happen later down the line. The developer has put out a free demo of the game on Steam, so interested individuals can already have a taste of what to expect from the full release. 

In conclusion, Europa is a game that’s brimming with potential. It’s a rather unique kind of experience that has the privilege of being compatible with the current gaming tastes of the consumer, so if it is able to deliver on its promises – there’s little doubt that it might be one of the biggest games of the near future. 

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

Crimson Desert 

Currently in development at Pearl Abyss, Crimson Desert is an open-world game brimming with unrivaled ambition and vast swaths of potential. The game puts you in the shoes of a warrior who must battle insurmountable odds to save his kingdom from peril, and that journey is characterized by varied missions and complex game systems that are closely knit with one another to create something that looks truly mesmerizing and fresh. 

Death Stranding 2 

Death Stranding was not everyone’s cup of tea when it was released, but many fans eventually warmed up to this peculiar kind of cargo-hauling experience and came to appreciate its design and the meaning behind its world. Kojima is hard at work on Death Stranding 2, a sequel that will most likely showcase the true potential of a Strand game with its gameplay innovations and narrative developments. The teaser is chock full of questions waiting to be answered, and we are definitely excited to see what’s in store.

War of the Worlds 

Developed by FlipSwitch Games, War of the Worlds is a game that tells a story of humans trying to survive against an alien onslaught. It features shades of both action and horror as you slowly tiptoe around urban neighborhoods in search of a safe haven from all the commotion happening outside. It looks like a pretty open-ended game that allows different forms of gameplay ranging from driving to exploration and much more, and the multiplayer aspect also allows you to assume the role of aliens and experience the narrative from a new angle.

inZOI 

inZOI is a new life simulator that lets you live out a virtual life to the fullest as you try to keep tabs on hunger, happiness, and other meters of each individual that you control. It boasts incredible levels of fidelity thanks to the power of Unreal Engine 5. inZOI has definitely managed to impress us with its vast array of gameplay options and the sheer breadth of choices you get within its sandbox elements.

Mouse 

Mouse’s concept of creating a violent first-person shooter with the jovial art style of cartoons might sound like something straight out of a fever dream, but it all surprisingly works while looking absolutely bonkers. The animation work is immaculate, and the gunplay seems really fun. Add to that a noir-inspired story that would most likely have morally gray characters and twists and turns galore, and Mouse becomes a really interesting game that’s worth keeping an eye out for.

Zoochosis 

Clapperheads is hard at work on the upcoming Zoochosis, a game that puts you in the shoes of a zookeeper of a very peculiar zoo. As the only person with the responsibility of keeping the animals safe and sound, you must keep inspecting these creatures for signs of mutation or infection – and deliver rapid response vaccines to keep things in check. Zoochosis also manages to throw in shades of horror with its dark and dreary aesthetic, and fierce mutations that can lead to scary outcomes. 

Screenbound 

Screenbound is one of the most creative ideas we have seen in recent memory, combining a 3D world with a 2D world in a very interesting fashion. Certain elements of the game world are only visible in the 3D realm, while others like the enemies are only visible on a 2D screen glued to the hands of the protagonist. There’s definitely some inherent jankiness or frustrations that might come from such a gameplay mechanic, but it would be interesting to see how the developers tackle those challenges and create something that’s as fun as it is unique.

Unrecord 

It’s easy to mistake Unrecord’s trailer for actual real-life footage, and that statement alone speaks volumes about its spectacular attention to detail. Everything from the texture work to the lighting and the animations has been created with extremely high levels of fidelity, and it makes great use of Unreal Engine 5’s graphical feature set to deliver something that genuinely feels like a step up from current-gen games. In addition to the visuals, Unrecord also provides an interesting gameplay loop that combines action elements with tactics to create something that’s both thrilling and engaging.

Light No Fire 

From the developer behind No Man’s Sky, Light No Fire feels like the natural evolution of the formula found in Hello Games’ debut title. Light No Fire is set against a massive open world that’s about the size of the Earth built to scale, and that vast space is filled with procedurally generated map geometry and a diverse cast of flora and fauna spread across multiple biomes. It truly feels like a world ripe for exploration, and it would be interesting to see Hello Games’ morphing its past learnings into an entirely new universe. 

Project TH

Heavily inspired by the likes of Splinter Cell or Hitman, Project TH is an upcoming action-adventure stealth game that puts you in the shoes of a covert operative who must make his way through enemy-infested mazes and complete objectives without raising alarms or commotion. Project TH impresses with its photorealistic visuals and smooth-flowing animations, making it a perfect showcase for the power of current-gen gaming systems.

Europa 

Set against the backdrop of an alien world, Europa is a tale about the last human alive trying to survive in a world that plays by its own rules. It features a cartoony aesthetic that has a distinct charm to it, and that also lends a really relaxing vibe to the overall experience. The gameplay entails exploring the many biomes spread throughout its world, solving puzzles, and taking part in missions that will test your survival skills to the fullest. 

Exekiller

Exekiller is a game that presents an interesting dichotomy of the past and the future. It takes the familiar setting of the American Wild West that is usually associated with horses and cowboys, and meshes those elements into a futuristic dystopia ruled by capitalism and technology. Apart from the more aesthetic elements, Exekiller also features a complex gameplay that prioritizes player freedom with the ability to craft your own narrative in a world brimming with choices and an open-ended combat loop. 

Paranormal Tales 

Built using Unreal Engine 5, Paranormal Tales does a great job of actually seating you into the horror. It showcases multiple horror vignettes from different perspectives like a bodycam or a VHS tape, but the more impressive part of the game is how it plays on the fear of the unknown with a stunning atmosphere and appropriately ominous sound design. 

Black Myth Wukong 

Game Science’s upcoming Black Myth Wukong remains one of the more interesting takes on the Souls formula, and that largely boils down to how the developer meshes those ideas with its own and in doing so creates something that’s just as recognizable as it is fresh. With a beautiful art design and compelling fast-paced gameplay, Black Myth Wukong has no shortage of impressive elements to its presentation. 

Pragmata

Currently in development, Pragmata looks like a wonderfully eccentric experience that raises more questions than it answers. The short teaser trailer showcases lunar travel, otherworldly beings, and an astronaut who apparently has to save Diana. While it’s difficult to make sense out of such visuals, they are definitely enchanting to say the least. While details about the gameplay remain shrouded in mystery for now, it is apparently inspired by modern action games so that’s something to look forward to as well.

Originally announced back in August 2023, Europa takes place on the eponymous moon of Jupiter, which has been terraformed. Players are put into the shoes of Zee—an android that has set out in the world in search of answers. Europa has an emphasis on exploration, and players will get to discover some of the vivid landscapes of the terraformed moon, as well as some seemingly magical ancient technology.

Since Europa doesn’t really have any combat and instead focuses on exploration and traversal, the game also features a free-flowing movement system that allows players to glide from boost to boost, building up power and momentum as they go from boost to boost, all while experiencing an intimate story about humanity’s relationship with nature.

As its name might imply, Europa takes place on the eponymous moon of Jupiter, which has since been terraformed. Players take on the role of an android named Zee, who has set out in search for answers. The game revolves largely around exploring the vivid landscapes of Europa, complete with ancient, seemingly-magical technology being found all over the place.

Europa doesn’t really have any combat, being a more peaceful game revolving around exploration and the sense of adventure. Players will be able to run and jump around during their travels, but can also take to the skies thanks to the Zephyr jetpack.

Europa doesn’t quite have a solid release date. The game’s Steam page does reveal that it is slated for release some time in 2024.

One man development team Quick Finges has released a new trailer for its upcoming first person title, Europa. It’s got plenty of gameplay footage, so those who’re interested might want to have a look below.

Tom Jackson, Europa’s developer says the game is “about exploration of Europa, one of Jupiters moons.”

“It’s not a procedural universe type gig,” he said on Reddit. “So you won’t be leaving to explore any other planets any time soon. But as I’m slightly infatuated with Jupiter you do get a great view of it in the sky during the game, looking very foreboding with its animated gassy surface and recognisable giant rd[sic] spot staring at you.”

He adds: “[Though] there will be some horror esque elements… psychological though, not going to be any shock gore or slasher stuff, and also the lethal radiation of Jupiter comes into play as part of the story but I do not want to divulge all the good bits , you will have to play it :)”

[Source]

The maps just got bigger. And better.

The idea of the original Europa Universalis 3 was to control nations within Europe. That is kind of a given, seeing as the game is called Europa Universalis. Divine Wind, however, has gone beyond the European borders, spreading its reach far out, to other nations such as China and Japan.

You start out in the year 1399, slowly building your empire. And building your empire feels really authentic, let me tell you. Seeing your empire grow from a minor, non-settlement to a full grown hub for trade/war/whatever is a great feeling, and knowing that you did all the hard work, and saw the gradual change before your very own eyes is very gratifying. The way we can build an entire army, call upon allies in times of need, negotiate terms of peace with foes in times of war or battles… it all lends a lot of depth to the entire “nation building” feel of the game.

However, there is a flip-side to this. While seeing your empire build overtime must be a great thing to see for some gamers, others might find it to be a big drag, and a boring and dull aspect of the game, squeezed in to force more hours of gameplay. Long time fans of the Strategy genre might be used to such things, but be warned- if the genre is unknown territory to you, might want to have cautious. Do not tread these grounds until you have enough patience.

While impatient gamers might feel like going bald without the need of a barber, the end results are extremely gratifying.

What is the best part of Divine Wind (or Europa Universalis 3 in general) is that it blends actual history with the game’s scenarios. Like four “sub-civilizations” in Japan in contention for the Shogun title, or the ongoing wars in Middle Asia and the horseback invasion… it lends even more depth to the entire experience.

Even the new building system adds a great deal of strategy and complexity to the game. Should you build that college, or that stronghold? And what if you do not have enough resources? And what if, in such a case, you are in face of trouble? Do you give in, succumb, or do you try to find a way out? The new system forces players on thinking more, and acting in a more defensive manner, rather than going all out.

Though all is not good in Divine Wind. The graphics still haven’t seen an upgrade, and you people will be seeing the same maps and arrows you saw in 07 when Europa Universalis 3 cam out. While it will not deter the experience of hardcore gamers much, it might prove to be a hindrance for newcomers to the genre or the series.

The visuals could use an overhaul

Ultimately, Europa Universalis 3: Divine Wind is a great game. It has some great new additions and tweaks, and the Europa Universalis 3 experience is deeper, more enjoyable and more complex than ever. However, it also has a few faults of its own. Still, fans of the strategy genre or the Europa series should definitely give this a try. Those who are new to the genre: proceed with caution.

This game was reviewed on the PC.