Koei Tecmo’s remaster of Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse has also debuted in the charts, with the Nintendo Switch version (coming in at No. 4) selling over 10,000 units and the PS4 version (No. 7) selling over 9,000 units, for collective sales of over 19,000. That falls below what 2021’s Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water sold in Japan on its debut (over 42,000 units) quite significantly.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, which saw a somewhat disappointing debut last week, has fallen to ninth place, with its PS5 version selling over 8,0000 units.

Meanwhile, on the hardware front, the PS5 is once again the top selling console, as it has been for a number of weeks running now, with over 64,000 units sold. The Nintendo Switch follows behind in second place with over 59,000 units sold.

You can check out the full hardware and physical software charts for the week ending March 12 below.

Software sales (followed by lifetime sales):

1. [NSW] Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe – 32,132 (283,744)
2. [NSW] Pokemon Scarlet and Violet – 20,889 (4,929,287)
3. [NSW] Splatoon 3 – 15,861 (3,934,627)
4. [NSW] Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse – 10,712 (New)
5. [NSW] Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – 10,430 (5,194,090)
6. [NSW] Ib – 9,080 (New)
7. [PS4] Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse – 9,031 (New)
8. [PS5] Hogwarts Legacy – 9,017 (148,552)
9. [PS5] Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty – 8,411 (38,543)
10. [NSW] Octopath Traveler 2 – 7,739 (75,819)

Hardware sales (followed by last week’s sales):

• PS5 – 64,869 (78,412)
• Nintendo Switch – 59,901 (66,525)
• Xbox Series X/S – 2,887 (848)

Rogetsu Isle is the story’s setting with three girls – Ruka, Misaki and Madoka – returning years after a mysterious kidnapping incident. With their memories wiped and two other kidnapped victims dead, the trio investigate the island. A detective, Kirishima, also returns to the island in pursuit of a serial killer. As with previous games, players have the Camera Obscura on hand to take on the rampaging spirits.

Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse features improved visuals and controls along with Snap Mode, which allows for taking pictures with different characters and ghosts. Check out our review of the remaster to learn more.

Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is a perfect example of that- the fourth mainline instalment in the series launched for the Wii back in 2008, but it was available exclusively in Japan, which meant that for years, series fans in the West who wanted to experience it had no official means to do so. Now, however, the scenery has changed, and the horror genre is very much on the comeback trail. In 2021, Koei Tecmo released a remaster of Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water, and now the company is going back to the “lost” Wii instalment and finally bringing it westward.

"There’s absolutely no denying that purely as a horror experience, it delivers in more ways than one (though those who have experience with the series won’t be surprised about that in the slightest). At the same time, however, it’s also held back in a few significant ways that do drag the experience down- many of which are made all the more disappointing by how little Koei Tecmo has touched the game in its efforts to remaster it."

Whether or not Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is worth all that wait – if you have indeed been waiting for it – is a tricky question to answer. There’s absolutely no denying that purely as a horror experience, it delivers in more ways than one (though those who have experience with the series won’t be surprised about that in the slightest). At the same time, however, it’s also held back in a few significant ways that do drag the experience down- many of which are made all the more disappointing by how little Koei Tecmo has touched the game in its efforts to remaster it.

Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is set on Rougetsu Island, where years ago, five girls were held captive in a traumatic experience that led to them almost completely completely damaging their memories. Ten years later, two of those five girls have died under mysterious circumstances, while two more disappeared upon their return to the island. Players step into the shoes of Ruka Minazuki, the fifth survivor of that fateful incident years ago, who also travels to the island to regain her memories and unlock the secrets of her past, in addition to finding out what happened to her two fellow survivors. Meanwhile, detective Choshiro Kirishima, who has been trying to break the very same case for years, stars as the game’s co-protagonist.

Narratively, there’s a lot to like about Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse. It bears all the hallmarks of the series that you’d expect to find here- a relentlessly bleak tone, a multifaceted and complicated mystery that slowly unravels throughout the experience, and a story that is slowly told through bits and pieces that you find in different forms, including notes, newspaper clippings, flashes of memories, and the like. It’s not a groundbreaking, riveting narrative by any means, but it’s more than capable of keeping you genuinely engaged, and more than capable of properly establishing the sinister and oppressive tone this series has always been known for.

"Narratively, there’s a lot to like about Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse. It bears all the hallmarks of the series that you’d expect to find here- a relentlessly bleak tone, a multifaceted and complicated mystery that slowly unravels throughout the experience, and a story that is slowly told through bits and pieces."

It’s the gameplay where Mask of the Lunar Eclipse falters. Like all other Fatal Frame games, it relies first and foremost on two main pillars. The first of these, as you’d expect from most survival horror games, is exploration, with Ruka and Choshiro exploring a variety of locations on the creepy and abandoned island, including an old hospital that was turned into a hotel and a number of residences. The second, in true Fatal Frame fashion, is using the iconic Camera Obscura to click photographs of phantoms and battle against vicious wraiths. Conceptually, there’s nothing wrong with either of those pillars, and even in terms of execution, there’s a lot to like here- but the game does mess up with many of its fundamentals.

The simple act of moving around, for instance, is an absolute nuisance, a lot of which is down to the glacial speed at which player characters move. Hell, even the so-called “sprint” is only fractional quicker than the pace a snail would move at, which makes getting from point A to point B a tiring exercise very early on into the game. Given how much the core gameplay loop relies on exploring and traversing environments, that’s a big issue. It doesn’t help that the controls themselves are weirdly clunky, either. The right stick is used to both, control the camera and aim your flashlight, but when you’re sprinting, the camera automatically follows the direction you’re facing. It’s all quite clunky, and even though I did eventually get used to it, it never stopped being annoying.

Controlling the flashlight in particular is a big problem, because finding items in the environment (many of which are crucial for making progress and upgrades) requires you to first shine the light on them. This means you’ll be spending plenty of time scouring the environments and combing over nooks and crannies to find necessary items, and while that in and of itself isn’t a huge issue (especially since an indicator on the bottom right of the screen lets you know when you’re close to one), it does become one when you have to keep wrestling with the aiming controls.

"The simple act of moving around is an absolute nuisance, a lot of which is down to the glacial speed at which player characters move."

Combat fares better, primarily because of the tension the game builds with its intentionally slow movements and the downright terrifying design of some of the wraiths and spirits you take on. The controls and clunky movement are still an issue here, and it’s easy to see how the combat could be significantly more effective if it was backed up by a much better playing core gameplay experience, but each encounter feels like a thrilling faceoff, even if it’s a shame that they’re far outweighed by the meandering exploration and combing of environments you’ll be doing as you play through the game.

Honestly, issues with the game’s controls and movement ideally should have been addressed by Koei Tecmo in this remaster, especially seeing as the original game was built around the Wii’s motion controls. And that’s not the only area where Mask of the Lunar Eclipse disappoints as a remaster. From a technical perspective, too, it’s a bit of a letdown. I am, of course, aware of the fact that even back when it first released, it was made for hardware that was way behind the curve even for 2008, so I wasn’t expecting this remaster to be a visual stunner by any means. And while Koei Tecmo has certainly brushed things up here and there and updated the character models, it still feels like a very superficial upgrade.

Don’t get me wrong, Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is still a game that I’d recommend to fans of the horror genre, and especially to fans of the series. Those looking for good scares and palpable atmosphere will find them in abundance here, and the fact that this is the first time the game has released in the West is also significant, making it much easier to recommend for those who haven’t played it. But above all else, what this remaster proves most through its deficiencies is that a new, modern Fatal Frame game that irons out the clunkiness and hones in on the series’ biggest strengths could easily go toe to toe with the genre’s biggest giants. Hopefully, Koei Tecmo will find enough success with its recent Fatal Frame re-releases that it decides that it’s finally time to develop a full-fledged new entry in the series. Until that happens though, this will do well enough.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.

Story

Ten years before the game’s story properly kicks off, five girls were kidnapped by serial killer Yō Haibara on Rougetsu island. They were housed in a sanatorium, and though discovered safely in a cavern below the building, their memories had been wiped. In 1972, just two years after these events, Rougetsu’s people died due to a catastrophe.

Even stranger is that in 1980, another eight years later, two of the surviving girls also died. What’s going on? What is Moonlight Syndrome, and what was the reason behind the initial kidnappings? Unclear, but the three remaining survivors and detective Chōshirō Kirishima, who solved the case of their disappearance in 1970, return to Rougetsu for answers. And it’s not long before hostile spirits come calling.

Characters

Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse offers a whopping four characters to play as. The game starts with Misaki Asou (descended from Dr Kunihiko Asou, the creator of the Camera Obscura) and Madoka Tsukimori, two survivors of the incident in 1970. Ruka Minazuki eventually joins them, and while vaguely recalling a childhood tragedy, she can’t quite remember what happened. The fourth character is Choushiro Kirishima, the detective who still seeks Haibara before becoming embroiled in current-day events.

Improved Visuals

Like Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water, this remaster features an HD resolution and improvements to its in-game cinematics and character models. Shadows and lights also look more realistic, resulting in a creepier experience. Environmental textures and effects are significantly more detailed as well, compared to the original. While not classified as a remake, a hefty amount of work has been done to bring the horror title to the current generation of consoles and PC.

Camera Obscura

A central gameplay mechanic of the series, the Camera Obscura is what allows players to fight back against evil spirits on Rougetsu. Once pointed at an enemy, the camera must linger briefly before taking pictures. Film types, from low quality to rare film, along with shot angles and distance, can affect how much damage you deal, with the “Fatal Frame” shot dealing the most. Shots are graded, and points are awarded. These are used to purchase items for health recovery, and the camera is eventually upgraded to deal more damage and take less time to reload.

Spirit Flashlight

Along with the usual flashlight, there’s also the Spirit Stone Flashlight. Also developed by Dr Asou, it unleashes bursts of moonlight and can be used to damage spirits. In the original Wii version, players could aim it vertically and horizontally using motion controls. While there aren’t any motion controls in the remaster, it should offer finer control than when it appeared in Maiden of Black Water.

Exploration

Of course, anyone who’s played the previous games will know that you aren’t just running around, photographing spirits and shining a light on them. Fatal Frame’s appeal has always been in the atmospheric, psychological horror which slowly builds as you explore the environment. Mask of the Lunar Eclipse offers various spooky locations, from old mansions and the abandoned sanatorium to the mysterious Cape Tsukuyomi lighthouse, and you’ll discover different items that will help in progressing forward. You’ll obtain various newspaper articles, notes and other information to provide more backstory on Rougetsu’s history and restore the playable characters’ memories.

Gameplay Sequence Changes

The remaster is ostensibly the same as the original – outside of new costumes, there are no new rooms, gameplay mechanics or endings (at least none that we currently know of). However, changes have been made to the controls and camera to make it “easier to explore” as per the developer. Gimmicks that make sounds, like the telephone, radios, music boxes, and so on, have also been placed, further reinforcing the connection between sound and memory. Good news for those who struggled with the piano in the original version – the remaster makes it much easier to play the keys thanks to revised controls.

Photo Mode

Perhaps the biggest new addition with this remaster is Photo Mode, aka Snap Mode. Introduced in Maiden of Black Water, it allows for pausing the game and taking pictures while adjusting parameters like camera movement, position, distance, and more. You can adjust the operation mode and speed while fiddling with different lens types, depth of field, focal length, aperture, brightness and frames. If you want to photograph Ruka with a bunch of evil spirits in some deranged selfie, have at it.

New Game Plus and Difficulty Options

After completing the base game’s story, New Game Plus becomes available. As the name suggests, you can replay the story, and unlock more costumes. There are also more items and upgrades to obtain based on scores obtained in your first playthrough. You can also opt for higher difficulties like Hard or Nightmare, which causes the spirits to take and deal more damage while limiting your item-buying options.

Free Previous-to-Current-Gen Upgrades

Like Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water, Mask of the Lunar Eclipse supports Smart Delivery on Xbox. You only have to buy the game once, and it’s playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. Purchasing it on the PlayStation Store also provides the PS4 and PS5 digital versions to play. No fuss about paid upgrades here.

Save Data Bonus

If you completed Maiden of Black Water and have save data for it on the same platform, you can receive a free cosmetic in Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse. It’s the Camera Obscura Hat, which turns a protagonist’s head into the iconic camera. A weird addition, for sure, and it doesn’t have any tangible gameplay benefits, but at least it looks cool.

Playtime

Unfortunately, those expecting a significantly longer experience than Maiden of Black Water may be somewhat disappointed. According to HowLongToBeat, Mask of the Lunar Eclipse on the Nintendo Wii takes about 10 to 13 hours to complete the story on average and 17 to 18 hours for a completionist run. Maiden of Black Water, meanwhile, takes about 11 to 15 hours on average to complete the story but about 26 to 31 hours if you’re trying to complete everything.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

Koei Tecmo is on a roll with WILD HEARTS receiving critical acclaim (despite its technical issues) and looks to continue that success with Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. Developed by Team Ninja, with Nioh producer Fumihiko Yasuda and Bloodborne producer Masaaki Yamagiwa at the helm, the action RPG is based on Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Set during the fall of the Han Dynasty, the player is a nameless soldier who rises to fight the Yellow Turban Rebellion while becoming embroiled in a conspiracy surrounding the mysterious Elixir.

Unlike Nioh, there’s no stamina bar in combat, with players battling to break an enemy’s Spirit and execute powerful critical strikes. Levels are more open and vertically designed, while Morale adds a back-and-forth momentum to fights. Releasing on March 3rd, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty will be available for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC, along with Game Pass.

Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse

After Maiden of Black Water, the Fatal Frame remasters continue, this time with Mask of the Lunar Eclipse in the spotlight. Set a decade after a kidnapping incident in Rougetsu, three girls and a detective return to the island to discover what happened. Of course, evil spirits are involved and fighting them with the Camera Obscura, which damages ghosts through photography, is necessary to survive. Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse features new costumes, the new Snap Mode for creating images, and updated visuals and controls.

If you couldn’t get enough of the series’ psychological horror, the remaster may be worth checking out when it releases on March 9th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

WWE 2K23

WWE 2K23 is the latest in the franchise from Visual Concepts and 2K Games, launching on March 17th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC. If it looks and feels the same, that’s pretty much intentional. Instead of overhauling systems, the development team has polished them further, with more animations, updated character models and new modes.

The 2K Showcase this year focuses on John Cena and his biggest losses, played from the perspective of his opponents while he provides commentary. WarGames is the newest match type, allowing 3v3 and 4v4 matches in a double ring surrounded by a giant Steel Cage. Other than that, MyRISE returns with new stories, MyGM is getting more options, match types for four players, and much more.

The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR

The PlayStation VR2 is officially available worldwide, ushering in a new generation of virtual reality gaming (at least on consoles). If the launch offerings don’t interest you, then The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR may be worth looking into. It’s a rail shooter set on a rollercoaster screaming through various set pieces and locations based on The Dark Pictures Anthology series as you shoot enemies, keep your eyes open to survive teleporting mannequins, and much more. It releases on March 16th, exclusively for Sony’s VR headset.

The Last of Us Part 1 (PC)

With The Last of Us HBO series a massive success, it’s always a good time to revisit the original. For PC fans, The Last of Us Part 1, Naughty Dog’s remake of the first game, will release on March 28th. While its PC-exclusive features have yet to be detailed, one can look forward to 4K and 60 support, along with faster loading times and revamped visuals. In addition to the base game, the remake includes the Left Behind DLC, several improvements to AI, extensive accessibility options and improved crafting interface.

EA Sports PGA Tour

For all the attention its other sports titles usually get, the marketing for EA Sports PGA Tour has been rather low-key. It’s available on March 24th for PC, Xbox Series X/S and PS5 with 30 courses to play on. Career Mode returns, allowing one to create a golfer and work up to the pro level, learning 20 different Shot Types along the way and improving their skills. Pure Strike provides fluid and realistic movement on swings, and revamped Ball Behavior makes for more accurate bounces based on the course’s terrain.

Crime Boss: Rockay City

Ingame Studios’ Crime Boss: Rockay City is a co-op multiplayer shooter, with players pulling off different jobs in the 90s-inspired Rockay City. Battle rival gangs and steal whatever valuables you can with up to four players. Perhaps the coolest part is the star-studded cast from Michael Madsen, Danny Glover, Damion Poitier and Kim Basinger to Danny Trejo and Chuck Norris (who plays Sheriff Norris, because of course he does).

It looks promising, but can it unseat the Payday series, especially with Payday 3 on the way? We’ll find out when Crime Boss: Rockay City launches on March 29th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC.

MLB The Show 23

The premier baseball blockbuster gets even better with MLB The Show 23. Launching on March 28th for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch, it features the new Storylines mode, focusing on African American leagues that rose to prominence in the 1920s. Featuring players like Jackie Robinson, Rube Foster, and Satchel Page, it also provides some backstory on their historical significance. Some gameplay changes include High Fielding attributes having a bigger impact, defense and offense getting new quirks, and over 5,000 gameplay animations to enhance the immersion.

System Shock

To say that System Shock, a remake/reboot of the franchise, is a long time coming would be an understatement. It was announced as a remaster in 2015 and has seen numerous delays, changes (including a shift from Unity to Unreal Engine 4) and much more. Nevertheless, a substantial amount of work has been done, with fully revamped HD visuals, a new interface, and brand-new audio effects. Combined with the excellent story-telling, sci-fi horror, and FPS/RPG mechanics of the original, System Shock could end up a dark horse. It’s out next month for PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4 and PS5.

Resident Evil 4 Remake

Leon S. Kennedy travels to a village in Spain to rescue the US president’s daughter Ashley Graham while dealing with the brutal cult. Upon entering the village, it becomes clear that things are very wrong with the villagers under the influence of the parasite. The visuals have a dark and bleak atmosphere, and gameplay includes parrying with knives, side quests, and much more. Resident Evil 4 Remake is out on March 24th for Xbox One, PS4, PS5 and PC, but even more content is coming post-launch, including a free VR mode for PlayStation VR2 and The Mercenaries.

Monster Hunter Rise

Monster Hunter Rise enjoyed a great critical and commercial reception on the Nintendo Switch, and naturally – fans on other systems wanted a chance to experience this latest entry in the long running saga. The developer has delivered just that with the subsequent release of Monster Hunter Rise on PS4 and Xbox One, and the Sunbreak expansion for the same is set to follow soon. The base game released on January 20 this year, so interested fans can already try it out.

Deliver Us Mars

KeokeN delivered an excellent adventure in the form of Deliver Us the Moon, and fans are naturally curious about the next project from the developer. Deliver Us Mars will be expanding upon the strengths of its predecessor, and fans can expect a more engaging gameplay loop this time around with better exploration options and clever puzzles among other improvements. Deliver Us Mars released on 2 February 2023 for PC and all last gen and current gen consoles.

Little Devil Inside

Little Devil Inside caught the attention of many players with its intriguing premise and fresh art style, and we are really excited for this game as well. Players will be embarking on a grand adventure spanning multiple areas, and you will be tasked with hunting down hideous beasts of different shapes and sizes. It’s been in development for some time now, and we are still waiting on its release date at the time of writing this feature.

Wanted: Dead

Wanted: Dead looks like a thunderous throwback to middle market action adventure games of the PS2 era, and we are here for it. Currently in development at Soleil, Wanted: Dead thrusts players into a conspiracy tale and asks them to use their wits and swords to crawl out of the many dangers that punctuate this adventure. The action is brutal, with fast and frenetic gunfights and melee finishers making for a dynamic gameplay loop that should be a joy to engage with. It is set to release on 14th February, 2023 for PC and current-gen and last-gen consoles.

Atomic Heart

Set against the backdrop of an alternate history Soviet Union, Atomic Heart tells the story of Agent P-3 fighting back against the machines that are posing a threat to the existence of humankind. Players will have plenty of options when it comes to dealing with enemies. You could use your guns, a handcrafted melee weapon, or supernatural powers like telekinesis to clear your way through the varied hordes of machines in this one hell of an adventure. Atomic Heart releases for PC and consoles on 21 February, 2023.

Like a Dragon: Ishin!

Like a Dragon: Ishin! is one of the most underrated games in the Yakuza franchise, and that largely comes down to the game being available only in Japan. Now though, R.G.G. Studio is working on bringing this cult classic to a global audience with a full fledged remake of Like a Dragon: Ishin! The project is being built using Unreal Engine 4, and players can expect a ton of gameplay overhauls in addition to the visual facelift which should make this remake a worthwhile experience. It will be released on 17 February 2023 for PC and last gen and current gen consoles.

Scars Above

Scars Above is set in a mysterious alien structure, and you assume the role of a scientist who finds herself trapped in this hostile environment. You must use everything at your disposal to find a way out of this environment while engaging in a deeper mystery revolving around this structure. The developers have stated that the gameplay will be a challenging affair, so you will have to make judicial use of your firepower and abilities to get through tough enemy encounters. It releases for PC, last gen, and current gen consoles on February 28.

Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened

Sherlock Holmes The Awakened is a modern remake of the 2008 classic by the same name. This adventure pits the famous detective against grotesque monsters and otherworldly threats inspired by H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulu’s mythos. Much like Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One, you will have to collect clues to build up to a conclusion in order to get to the epicenter of this mystery which should be a fun time for fans of the franchise. It releases for all major consoles and PC sometime during Q1 2023.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

Team Ninja has done a wonderful job with Nioh and its sequel, so it stands to reason that the hype for its spiritual successor Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is off the charts. You assume the role of a warrior as he rises from a nobody to a legend, and that journey is filled to the brim with plenty of tough boss fights set against varied locales. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty will feature a dynamic combat loop where players can mix and match different weapons, Elemental beasts, and other tactics to defeat enemies. Suffice to say, it looks amazing. It releases for PC and all current gen and last gen console platforms on 3 March 2023.

Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse

Koei Tecmo has been doing a great job with the Fatal Frame remasters, which have proven to be the best way to experience these classics on modern platforms. The developer is hard at work on remastering the 2008 Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse, which will modernize the gameplay along with new additions like a photo mode, new costumes and of course updated visuals. It will be released on March 8 2023 for all major console platforms and PC.

WWE 2K23

After a rough last couple of years, the WWE games made a grand return with WWE 2k22 which proved to be a solid experience with plenty of highs along with few apparent flaws. This year’s entry will feature improved graphics, better gameplay, and the showcase mode will be putting the spotlight on popular wrestler John Cena. It releases for all major last gen and current gen console platforms and PC on March 17 2023 though fans opting for the Deluxe Edition will get early access on March 14 2023.

Resident Evil 4 Remake

Resident Evil 4 is considered by many to be one of the best games in this long running survival horror franchise, and for good reason. Resident Evil 4 features a solid and enjoyable gameplay loop with plenty of variety amongst its levels, and the game has surprisingly stood the test of time so many years after its release. The developer is hard at work on a full fledged remake of this classic which would open this gem up to a broader audience, and fans can expect many new additions including but not limited to new side quests and new weapons. It releases for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on March 24 2023.

System Shock Remake

System Shock is easily one of the most influential games when it comes to immersive sims, and countless fans would have fond memories of carefully inching their way through the game’s corridors while the rogue AI SHODAN plots its next move. Those fans and many newcomers will get a chance to experience this classic in a new light with Nightdive’s remake of System Shock, which will add modern gameplay conveniences alongside better visuals. It releases for all major consoles and PC sometime in March 2023.

Street Fighter 6

The beloved fighting series is making a grand return with Street Fighter 6, which is bringing a ton of new things to the table. But the star of the show is undoubtedly the move to an open world in the form of World Tour mode, which should hopefully open up new avenues for gameplay. This entry will also be adding a commentary system alongside the usual PvE and PvP content that one would expect from a game of this ilk. It will be released for all major consoles and PC on June 2 2023.

MLB: The Show 23

MLB: The Show 22 was a great game, and this year’s entry is set to bring better visuals and marginal gameplay improvements to this well established formula. While not a lot has changed with MLB: The Show 23, fans of annualized sports releases know this and they are there for it. It releases for all major consoles on March 28, and preorders for the same are live now.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure

The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure released to great critical and commercial acclaim in 2011, but the game was exclusive to the Japanese region with no English support available. While fan made patches have been around for some time now, the developer is working on an official global release for the game with English language support – and it is scheduled to release for all major last gen and current gen consoles and PC on March 14 2023.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie

Much like Trails to Azure that we discussed previously, The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie is also being introduced to a global audience with a re-release. Players will be taking control of a group of warriors as they embark on a grand adventure in this fantastical realm, and you will be able to freely change between characters with the Crossroads system. The combat is largely rooted in turn based traditions, but the developers have stated that it will have a lot of dynamic elements to it which should make it more engaging than before. Trails into Reverie releases for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch on July 7 2023

Lies of P

NEOWIZ’s upcoming Lies of P is based on the popular story of Pinocchio, but it takes place in a dark fantasy world filled to the brim with all kinds of hostile threats. And you must best these threats in the game’s Soulslike combat to complete your quest to become human once again. Players will be able to attach equipments like flamethrowers on their bodies to help in battle, and you can also unlock different skills to expand your moveset before facing the toughest foes in the game. Lies of P will release for all major consoles and PC sometime this year.

Armored Core 6: Fires Of Rubicon

FromSoftware is returning to this long forgotten franchise with Armored Core 6 Fires of Rubicon, which is set to usher in a new era for this mecha brawler series. Players will once again be customizing their mechs with different weapons and abilities to get through enemies and bosses, which will obviously be challenging like the Souls games. Of course, fans are really excited to see FromSoft’s new take on this franchise and hopefully we won’t have to wait long. Armored Core 6 is probably set to release sometime this year for all major console platforms and PC.

Crash Team Rumble

In development at Toys for Bob, Crash Team Rumble is a multiplayer game with a simple goal that is to capture more Wumpa fruit than the opponent. Matches will take place between 2 teams of 4 players, and the maps are going to be elaborate platforming jungle gyms complete with level specific obstacles and opportunities to grab more fruit. The game modes seem rooted in genre traditions like CTF and free for all, but it looks like a fun time regardless. Crash Team Rumble will release for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series consoles sometime this year.

Minecraft Legends

Minecraft Legends is a strategy game set against the backdrop of this popular universe. You will have to command your army against entire fortresses, and it looks like a really fun time. It will be released for all major console platforms and PC on April 18 2023.

Lord of The Rings: Gollum

Set against the backdrop of a fantasy universe, Lord of the Rings: Gollum will put players in the shoes of Gollum as he navigates through this world while dealing with its split personality disorder. The gameplay will have stealth as a major focus, and Gollum will also be able to use its agility to climb and get around environments with relative ease. It looks like a promising project, and it is set to release for all major consoles and PC sometime this year.

Beyond Good and Evil 2

Beyond Good and Evil 2 is one of the more interesting games on the list, mostly because it has had a turbulent development cycle lasting almost 15 years and counting. It’s obviously a pretty ambitious project with a lot of moving parts, but with departures and delays left right and center it looks highly unlikely that the game will see the light of day anytime soon. While it’s officially slated to release for PS4 and Xbox One, only time will tell whether the developer will release this game for these decade old machines or not – if it manages to reach the finish line.

Dead Island 2

Much like Beyond Good and Evil 2, Dead Island 2 is also famous for its infamous development cycle. But thankfully, the game has managed to crawl out from the depths of its development hell and is finally approaching its imminent release of 28th April 2023. Dead Island 2 will feature the same brutal melee combat that fans love along with RPG esque progression mechanics and support for co-op gameplay – and we will be diving into this game when it launches.

The Wolf Among Us 2

The Wolf Among Us is considered by many fans to be one of Telltale’s finest works to date, which is why fans are extremely hyped at the prospect of a sequel. The Wolf Among Us 2 is being developed with the assistance of AdHoc studio, and expectations are naturally high from this project. While we don’t know much about the story side of things at the moment, we know that this game will be released in full unlike the last entry which was released in an episodic fashion. The Wolf Among Us 2 is set to release for all major last gen and current gen console platforms sometime this year.

Starting after Ruka, one of the protagonists picks up the piano scores in Rogetsu Hall, the duo discusses improvements to the camera and controls. A section centered on playing the piano had its controls revised to make it easier. The remastered visuals also make for a cleaner, more detailed presentation.

Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is out March 9th for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC. A Digital Deluxe Edition is available to pre-order and includes a costume set and digital art book. Head here for more details.

Forspoken

Okay, so the recent demo ranged from intriguing with its magic and movement abilities to downright painful with its writing and barren world. But there’s still plenty of potential in Forspoken, Luminous Productions’ upcoming action RPG. Following Frey Holland, as she attempts to defeat the once-benevolent Tantas of Athia and return home, a lot of magic is available to wield and plenty of unique areas to explore in the main game. Plus, the visuals look nice and should shine even more when HDR has been fixed. Releasing on January 24th, 2023, for PS5 and PC, Forspoken is a PlayStation-console exclusive for the next two years. Here’s hoping it lives up to expectations.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

It’s a cliché to say it, but Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is one of next year’s biggest games. It’s also probably the biggest PS5 exclusive without a shadow of a doubt, even with big names like Final Fantasy 16 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth coming up. However, with Miles Morales and Peter Parker featured and Venom finally debuting (with his voice actor promising the game will be “massive”), it may not be the most controversial take. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is launching in Fall 2023 exclusively for PS5. Brace yourself, though, because it’ll be darker than the previous games.

Marvel’s Wolverine

Not confirmed for next year (unless you ask Microsoft. No, really), but still significant is Marvel’s Wolverine. Compared to Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, which should build on its predecessors, we know nothing about the gameplay. However, the announcement trailer showed Logan ready to fight in a familiar location on Madripoor island. Game director Cameron Christian of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales fame are in charge, so maybe it’s another open-world action-adventure game. Either way, it’s currently in development as a PS5 exclusive.

Dead Space

Isaac Clarke’s slow descent into madness begins anew when the remake of Dead Space arrives on January 27th, 2023, for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, courtesy of Motive Studio. Along with massively upgraded visuals, the remake features the Peeling system for chipping away layers from enemy limbs and the Intensity Director for 1200 random terrifying events.

The sound FX for weapons have been revamped, and Isaac Clarke is fully voiced, with Gunner Wright returning to reprise the role. That’s only the tip of the iceberg in changes, with numerous new rooms, Zero-G sections that now feature Dead Space 2’s mechanics, and much more. Nevertheless, everything we’ve seen thus far seems to point to it retaining the essence of what made Dead Space so horrifying.

If you’re looking for a compelling sci-fi survival horror and were disappointed by The Callisto Protocol, maybe Dead Space will fill that void. Maybe make you whole.

Deliver Us Mars

Following up on the space adventure title Deliver Us the Moon (if the name wasn’t a clue), Deliver Us Mars sees astronaut Kathy Johanson traveling to Mars with the Zephyr and its crew. The group Outward has stolen the ARK colony ships, and your job is to get them back, lest humanity becomes even more endangered. There’s exploration, platforming and puzzles as players attempt to survive the harsh conditions of Mars while appreciating the ray-traced shadows and reflections on offer. Deliver Us Mars is coming to Xbox One, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC on February 2nd, 2023.

Hogwarts Legacy

Hogwarts Legacy is an action RPG set over 100 years before the first Harry Potter book, developed by Portkey Games and Avalanche Software. As a fifth-year student of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the player character can use ancient magic and possesses a secret which could have consequences for the wizarding world. While you learn more about these things, you’ll attend classes, brew potions, customize the Room of Requirement to your liking, engage in duels.

Hogwarts Legacy is out on February 10th, 2023, for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, while the PS4 and Xbox One versions arrive in April and the Nintendo Switch version in June.

Like a Dragon: Ishin!

Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin! is finally getting a remake with Like a Dragon: Ishin!, out on February 21st, 2023, for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC. Developed on Unreal Engine 4, you play Sakamoto Ryoma (no relation to one Kazama Kiryu) in 1860s Japan as he seeks vengeance against the one who killed his master.

Join the Shinsengumi in Kyoto as Saito Hajime during the “Bakumatsu” and use four combat styles, slicing enemies with a sword, shooting them with a gun, a mix of both, or just using your bare fists. You even have crazy abilities like energy blasts and black holes. Kiryu may not kill people, but Ryoma is a whole different matter. Again, no relation.

Since this is Ryu ga Gotoku, you have tons of Substories and activities ranging from karaoke, fishing, vegetable shopping and traditional dance to running a restaurant and Jan-ken-pon.

Like a Dragon 8

Like a Dragon: Ishin! looks great and all, but what about brand-new games in the franchise? What about Ichiban Kasuga, the hero of Yakuza: Like a Dragon? Cue Like a Dragon 8, starring both Kasuga and Kazama Kiryu, though you’ll still have various allies to back you up. It’s a turn-based RPG and promises to be the biggest game in the series. Very little else is known, even the reason behind Kiryu’s new look, but it’s coming to Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC in 2024.

Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name

As you probably noticed, Kiryu’s hair undergoes some changes in Like a Dragon 8. To help players understand why, while also detailing events surrounding the Dragon of Dojima from Yakuza 6 to Yakuza: Like a Dragon, there’s Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. Releasing in 2023 for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, and PC, it starts with Kiryu living a seemingly secluded lifestyle before indulging in some “manual labor.” It’s roughly half the size of a regular title, but there’s a town to explore, side quests to complete, and much more. How important it will be to the overall story remains to be seen, but it looks great.

Horizon Call of the Mountain

PlayStation VR2 launches on February 22nd, 2023, and should be the next big step in console VR gaming. Though it has over 20 launch titles, Horizon Call of the Mountain is undoubtedly the highlight. Developed by Guerrilla and Firesprite Games, it stars a new character, Ryas, a former Shadow Carja. After his actions in the previous games, he’s looking to regain his honor and is a master climber, fighter and Machine hunter. The action takes place from the first-person perspective, but Ryas will use familiar weapons like the bow and combat Machines like the Bellowback, Thunderjaw and Stormbird. Thus far, it’s looked gorgeous, while the combat appears fluid.

Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened

Frogwares is releasing a remake of Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened in February 2023 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Sherlock Holmes and John Watson embark on a harrowing adventure, investigating disappearances. Players will investigate clues and piece everything together, but Sherlock’s insanity will also dip further into insanity as time goes on. With an expanded story, improved visuals and animations, and about 15 hours of playtime, it should be a worthwhile mystery for fans of the series.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

Nioh meets Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice with some Dynasty Warriors sprinkled on top – that’s sort of what Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is going for with its combat. Set in the Three Kingdoms era with iconic heroes, mythical beings and fantastical monsters, it’s a faster, more vertically-paced take on the action RPG genre from Team Ninja.

The push and pull of parrying and attacking to reduce your enemy’s spirit, opening them up to powerful blows while using magic and building Morale flows pretty nicely. At over 40 hours and some potential end-game content, it could be your next Souls-like fix when it launches on March 3rd, 2023, for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure

As the follow-up to The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero, Trails to Azure continues the story of the Special Support Section, led by Lloyd Bannings. While all is well after saving KeA and stopping the D∴G cult, other figures seek to use the former for their ends. The sequel features two team members, Noel Seeker and Wazy Hemisphere, and a customizable police car for getting around.

Releasing on March 14th, 2023, for PS4, PC, and Nintendo Switch in English, it also features revamped visuals courtesy of PH3 and should have the same quality-of-life features. With how significant the Crossbell arc has been to the overall Trails lore, it’s great to finally have both games available worldwide, especially en route to the release of Trails of Reverie.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

As the sequel to the massively successful Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Jedi: Survivor takes place several years later. Cal Kestis returns, older and stronger but also pushed to the brink by the Empire. Armed with new Force abilities, Cal will also have five Lightsaber stances. You can wield two Lightsabers in Dual Blade stance, or execute heavy attacks with Kylo Ren’s Lightsaber. Want a bit more oomph and blaster fire? There’s a stance that combines a Lightsaber’s slices with a blaster.

Along with encountering new characters and unlocking new traversal methods like mounts, players will battle against new enemies, explore larger biomes with challenges and hidden rewards, and much more. There’s even a planet new to the Star Wars universe which serves as a central providing ground.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is out on March 16th, 2023, for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, and will support ray tracing and faster loading times.

Resident Evil 4

Before it became the action-heavy survival shooter we know and love, Resident Evil 4 was a moodier, scarier game. The upcoming remake, launching on March 24th, 2023, for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, seems to channel that darker tone while enhancing everything about the original game. Along with “modernizing” the graphics and updating the controls, Capcom is looking to “reimagine” the story while maintaining its essence. Whatever that may mean, you’ll still be fighting for your life against Los Illuminados, with new moves like blocking and deflecting chainsaw strikes with your trusty knife. Resident Evil 4 will also support PlayStation VR2 at launch for even more immersive thrills.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

For all of the big games releasing in 2023 and beyond, you have to remember: Few of them can match the hype surrounding The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. As the sequel to Breath of the Wild, it features a new story and gameplay elements like floating islands (with Hyrule Castle itself seemingly levitating). Link can soar from these islands, use new abilities, and even has some snazzy armor. What’s going on? Why does Zelda have short hair? What new threats and adventures await? We’ll find out when it launches on May 12th, 2023, for the Nintendo Switch.

Silent Hill 2

After years of rumors and skepticism, Konami finally unveiled its plans for the Silent Hill franchise, including a remake of Silent Hill 2 developed by Bloober Team for PC and PS5 (where it will be exclusive for 12 months minimum). Composer Akira Yamaoka and creature designer Masahiro Ito also return, lending their talents to the remake.

Unreal Engine 5 has been used for development with revamped combat and set-pieces, no loading screens, and support for the DualSense. A release date still has to be announced, but the developer did reveal that it’s been in the works since 2019 and reaching late production. Even if it doesn’t arrive next year, it won’t be long before we dive back into the mind of James Sunderland and experience the twisted horrors of Silent Hill once more.

Diablo 4

Following the aftermath of Diablo 3, humanity fends for itself against the legions of Hell, spurred by the return of Lilith. Choosing one of five classes – Druid, Rogue, Necromancer, Barbarian, and Sorceress – players venture the world, hacking and slashing demons while leveling up and gaining better loot. Diablo 4 is out on June 6th, 2023, for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC, and is a lot more open than its predecessors, with camps to liberate, dungeons to explore, Skill Trees to go through, and Paragon Boards to figure out.

With more customization in the form of runes, runewords, new attributes, and seasonal powers, there’s a lot in store. Of course, there’s plenty to be skeptical about, what with the always online requirement and microtransactions (which aren’t used to buy power, but that statement is open to interpretation after Diablo Immortal). Then there are the reports of Blizzard having to crunch to meet the release date. Time will tell how it pans out.

Final Fantasy 16

There is so much about Final Fantasy 16 worth looking forward to, whether it’s the hack-and-slash combat system, the world design, the massive Eikon battles, or just the overall presentation. The story centers on Clive Rosfield, living peacefully with his brother Joshua. He grows up and seeks revenge, battling against the Dominants of Valisthea’s various nations, each with their own Eikons. It’s a dark fantasy epic with a distinct vision and vibe, and releases on June 22nd, 2023, for PS5.

Baldur’s Gate 3

The years of waiting leading to the announcement of Baldur’s Gate 3 seemed agonizing until we had to wait several more years for its launch out of early access. Nevertheless, it’s finally out in August 2023 for PC and represents Larian Studios’ most ambitious role-playing game ever. Set over 120 years after the second game, it sees the player kidnapped by Mind Flayers and implanted with Illithid Tadpoles.

Upon escaping with other survivors, they must find a way to remove the Tadpole. With its reliance on Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition rules, there are numerous classes and subclasses to enjoy, an extensive amount of skills and spells to play with, and all kinds of insane choices to make. Whether it lives up to the massive hype or not, Baldur’s Gate 3 is something special.

Alan Wake 2

Announced at The Game Awards 2021, it’s been more than a year since we’ve seen Remedy Entertainment’s Alan Wake 2, the long-awaited sequel to the 2010 classic. It’s leaning much more into survival horror and is still in third person perspective, with Remedy’s Northlight Engine used for development. Not much else is known, save for it being on track for release in 2023 for PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S, but new players can jump right in without playing the previous entries, so that’s a plus.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage

The Assassin’s Creed franchise has moved steadily away from its stealth origins after, well, Assassin’s Creed Origins. But Assassin’s Creed Mirage brings it back, front and center, focusing on Basim as he goes from street thief to joining the Assassin Brotherhood in ninth-century Baghdad. Players will parkour through the four districts and partake in classic “Black Box” assassinations, searching for the best way to take down targets. It’s only 15-20 hours, and after how gargantuan the recent entries have been, that sounds wonderful. Mirage will retail for $50 in 2023 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, and Amazon Luna.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

Whatever your opinion of the movies in general, what little we’ve seen of Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora looks promising with Massive of The Division fame in charge of development (in collaboration with Lightstorm Entertainment and Disney). Exploring the Western Frontier as a Na’vi, players fight back against the RDA in this massive open-world action-adventure for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC, and Amazon Luna. Compared to The Division, the gameplay is in first-person, and despite taking place in the same universe, it’s a standalone story. It’s all very intriguing, but rumors of troubled development, which may have caused the title’s delay to 2023-2024, have been circulating. We’ll probably get a better idea of its state heading into next year.

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon

FromSoftware’s next big title veers away from fantasy into sci-fi and revisits the cult-classic Armored Core series. Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon takes place on Rubicon 3, a planet laid to waste after a mysterious substance was discovered and caused a cataclysmic disaster. That same substance has re-emerged, and as a mercenary, you’re smack-dab in a conflict between corporations and resistance groups over it.

Like its predecessors, Armored Core 6 is focused on mech customization and tuning different parts to your liking. There isn’t an open-world structure. There’s no campaign co-op, and this isn’t a Soulsborne-type game, despite having intense boss battles. Regardless, the aesthetic and giant robots look positively amazing. Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon releases in 2023 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Final Fantasy 7 Remake remains one of the best games of 2020 and a dream come true for fans. However, it was also the start of a brand new story, where previous characters’ fates would change. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is the next part, releasing in Winter 2023 exclusively for PS5 (a necessity due to its SSD, as per the developer). The first trailer saw Cloud walking side by side with Sephiroth, and the developer recently confirmed that Zack has an “active role” after the last game’s conclusion. Even with no details yet on gameplay changes, locations, and whatnot, we can’t wait to see where the story goes next.

Starfield

Bethesda Game Studios’ next magnum opus, its first new IP in more than 25 years, and arguably the biggest Xbox Series X/S exclusive yet – many of these things describe Starfield. The story is set in the 24th century, 20 years after a war between the United Factions and Freestar Collective, with the player joining the space exploration group Constellation.

While their overarching role has yet to be revealed, the sense of freedom – with over 1000 planets to explore, several major cities to explore, and much more – is still reminiscent of Bethesda’s previous titles. That’s not even factoring in the mining, spaceships (with full customization), various NPCs, companions, factions, and much more. One could argue that it’s almost too ambitious, especially given its delay to the first half of 2023. Nevertheless, it’s an RPG to watch out for when it arrives for Xbox Series X/S and PC next year.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

GSC Game World returns to the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone again with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl. All the usual tropes, from mutants and anomalies to other S.T.A.L.K.E.R.s, are present, and there’s a massive open world to explore. You can ply your trade, collect and sell artifacts, or investigate the Exclusion Zone and learn more about the state of the world. There are over 30 weapon types with several ways to modify them, various factions, and a non-linear branching story.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is slated to release in 2023 for Xbox Series X/S and PC.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie

Some felt that the ending of Trails of Cold Steel 4 ending wasn’t a fitting conclusion to the Erebonian saga. Trails into Reverie remedies this, presenting an epilogue with three main characters – Rean Schwarzer, Lloyd Bannings, and C – each with unique story arcs. You can switch between them at any point while indulging in different side stories for the massive cast. Brave Orders and Arts return, and the new United Front system offers even more ways to defeat enemies. There’s also the True Reverie Corridor, which features randomly generated dungeons and mini-games. The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie releases July 7th, 2023, for PS4, Nintendo Switch, PS5, and PC.

Layers of Fears

Along with Silent Hill 2, Bloober Team is working on Layers of Fears, the third title in its psychological horror series. It’s about the “stories of artists enslaved by their obsessions” and casts a “new light on the overarching narrative.” Except for the Painter’s Spouse from the first game potentially being the main character, very little has been revealed about the story. However, it’s developed on Unreal Engine 5 for 4K, HDR, ray tracing and Lumen’s immersive lighting. Layers of Fears is out in early 2023 for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Death Stranding 2 (Working Title)

Yes, actor Norman Reedus said it’s coming, and yes, the various teases of new characters with “who”, “what”, “where”, and “how come” were weird. But the reveal of Death Stranding 2 (currently the working title) was something else entirely, from Fragile attempting to escape a battlefield with a baby to having a ship with the Drawbridge logo on it and conversing with an older-looking Sam Bridges. It also seems that Higgs is making a return, judging by Troy Baker’s inclusion, and we wouldn’t have our masked-wearing weirdo rocking out any other way. Death Stranding 2 is coming to PS5, but no release window has been confirmed.

Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League

Following the underwhelming Gotham Knights, there’s some concern about Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, especially following the departure of Rocksteady founders Sefton Hill and Jamie Walker. The action-adventure title is due on May 26th, 2023, for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. It features Deadshot, Harley Quinn, King Shark, and Captain Boomerang as the protagonists as they fight against various superheroes – including Batman, in Kevin Conroy’s final role – who have been brainwashed by Brainiac.

Though it has a four-player co-op, solo play is also possible, and you can switch between each character while the AI handles the others. Brief gameplay snippets have looked promising, but here’s hoping we get an extensive deep dive soon.

Hades 2

A sequel to Supergiant Games’ amazing rogue-lite dungeon crawler is a complete surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one. The story sees Underworld princess Melinoe, venturing beyond Hell to explore a “bigger, deeper mythic world” with new locations and slay Kronos. Olympus again lends its might in the form of Boons, but there will be other upgrade systems like the Arcana Altar and the ability to tame witch familiars.

Perhaps most appealing is that the story will once again evolve based on your success and failures over multiple runs with dozens of fully-voiced characters, from familiar faces like Zeus to newcomers like Apollo and Nemesis. Hades 2 will go into early access for PC on Steam and the Epic Games Store, with more details to come in 2023.

Lost Soul Aside

Of the many titles coming to PlayStation as part of the China Hero Project, Lost Soul Aside looks the sharpest. Revealed in 2016 by solo developer Yang Bing for PS4, it immediately caught our attention with its fast-paced combat and stellar visuals. All these years later, UltiZero Games is involved while Sony serves as the publisher, and a PS5 release is confirmed.

The gameplay looks to have leaned into an action-adventure vibe with high-speed set pieces as protagonist Kazer is seemingly on the run from various forces after merging with Arena, a dragon-like symbiont. A release date still hasn’t been confirmed, but Lost Soul Aside is worth keeping on your radar.

The Witcher 1 Remake

In this age of remakes and remasters, it’s surprising that it took this long for a remake of the first Witcher game to be greenlit. Developed by Fool’s Theory, a studio founded by veteran Witcher developers with CD Projekt RED’s creative supervision, The Witcher Remake is a “modern reimagining” of the first game, developed from the ground up on Unreal Engine 5. It will also be an open-world game title, which is a significant departure from the original. Get comfortable, though, since it’s currently in the early stages of development and won’t release until after the next mainline Witcher title.

Hollow Knight: Silksong

Initially, Hornet was to be a playable character in Hollow Knight, but the increased scope of the DLC has resulted in a proper sequel. Announced in February 2019, Hollow Knight: Silksong will be released by June 2023 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Featuring a new kingdom to explore, a unique play style with Silk, over 165 enemy types, and a quest system, it looks gorgeous in terms of visuals, style, and gameplay. The wait has been long, but hopefully, finally, we’ll get to play it next year.

Assassin’s Creed Codename Red and Codename Hexe

The developer finally announced that its next mainline Assassin’s Creed title, Codename Red, would take place in Feudal Japan. Players will finally get to play as a shinobi, though very little is confirmed about the story, how it will play, etc. It’s developed by Quebec and raised some concerns due to director Jonathan Dumont being accused of bullying and abuse, so time will tell how that works out. There’s also Codename Hexe, rumored to be set in 16th-century Central Europe during the witch trials. Montreal is leading the development, and it’s reportedly going quite well, though more details are needed.

Grand Theft Auto VI

A new GTA game is on its way, Rockstar Games finally confirmed what has been rumored for years. In an official statement, it noted that, “With every new project, our goal is always to significantly move beyond what we’ve previously delivered. We’re pleased to confirm that active development for the next entry in the series is underway. We look forward to sharing more as soon as we are ready, so please stay tuned to the Rockstar Newswire for official details.” According to reputable sources like Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier and insider Tom Henderson, the sequel will be a “moderately-sized” game and it would feature multiple protagonists and will be set in Vice City.

The Next Witcher

The next Witcher title is in development on Unreal Engine 5 and is currently under pre-production as “Project Polaris.” The story, premise and gameplay are still under wraps, but it will build on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’s legacy and has over 150 developers on board. It’s also an open-world RPG that marks the start of a new Witcher trilogy. After Polaris launches, two more Witcher titles will be released within six years afterwards. That may sound like wishful thinking, but the appeal of a brand-new Witcher is undeniable.

Cyberpunk Sequel “Project Orion”

Cyberpunk 2077 is also getting a sequel, currently dubbed Project Orion, which will prove “the full power and potential of the Cyberpunk universe,” as per CD Projekt RED. It’s developed by CD Projekt RED North America in Boston with core team members, like lead quest designer Paweł Sasko, moving over. However, it will also receive support from the head studio in Poland and CD Projekt RED Vancouver, requiring about 350 to 500 developers like the first game. Either way, it’s going to be a long wait.

The Witcher “Project Sirius”

CD Projekt RED has a lot of Witcher projects in development. So what’s one more? Developed by The Molasses Flood of Where the Water Tastes Like Wine and Drake Hollow fame, Project Sirius is in pre-production with CD Projekt RED providing support (and over 60 developers). Again, not much is known, but it promises an “innovative take on The Witcher universe” which will present an “unforgettable tale for existing Witcher fans and new audiences.” Whatever that may mean, the narrative should be interesting, going by the developer’s previous work.

Rise of the Ronin

Team Ninja has delivered some stellar action RPG action with Nioh and looks to go even further with Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. In the longer term, however, it’s venturing into open-world gameplay with Rise of the Ronin while maintaining its fast-paced action RPG combat. Set in late 19th century Japan during the Bakumatsu, it’s a period of unrest and civil war with the anti-Shogunate factions fighting the Tokugawa Shogunate. You play a Ronin, a masterless samurai equally skilled with katanas and firearms. You’ll meet various characters and can decide who to side with. It’s all up to you, but what choices those consequences will have remains to be seen. Rise of the Ronin launches exclusively for PS5 in 2024.

Pikmin 4

If you ever lament the long development period of any video game, remember that Pikmin 4 was said to be “very close to completion” in 2015. It was put on a “lower priority” in 2016. In September 2022, the developer finally confirmed that the real-time strategy game would launch in 2023 for Nintendo Switch. The Bulborb returns, and a new playable astronaut character has been confirmed. That’s all we know, so hopefully, next year will offer more details.

Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse

Following the release of Maiden of Black Water for new consoles, Koei Tecmo confirmed that Fatal Fame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse would launch on March 9th, 2023, for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC. The location is Rogetsu Island, Japan, where five girls went missing a decade prior. When two are found dead in the present day, the remaining three – Misaki, Madoka, and Ruka – return to investigate and learn the truth (since their memories were missing after being rescued).

The island is abandoned, with many inhabitants dying after a mysterious catastrophe, and hostile spirits roam free. As you collect articles and notes to learn more about the past, the Camera Obscura wards off the spirits. In addition to improvements with lighting, shadows, and character models, the new release also sports a Photo Mode. It’s no Fatal Frame 2 but Mask of the Lunar Eclipse should make for a fun atmospheric horror.

Witchfire

If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking about whatever happened to The Astronauts, developer of The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, rest assured – it’s still working on Witchfire. Announced The Game Awards 2017 as a dark fantasy shooter, it evolved into a rogue-lite inspired by Hades and took a semi-open-world approach. It’s set to release early next year for PC early access, but can it rise above its inspirations? Time will tell.

Silent Hill f

The next mainline title in the Silent Hill franchise is surprisingly not set in the titular town. Instead, it ventures to 1960s rural Japan, where strange things are happening. Aside from NeoBards Entertainment being the developer, everything else is a mystery. However, Ryukishi07 is confirmed to be writing the story. Given his reputation for some of the best horror/mystery visual novels like Higurashi When They Cry, and Umineko, there’s a chance that it could be mind-breaking, insanely overdone or both, which is a good thing.

Lies of P

What’s next after live-action Pinocchio or Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio? Pinocchio meets Bloodborne, it seems. NEOWIZ’s Lies of P sees the wooden boy awakening in Krat, which has seen better days. You have to find Mr Gepetto, which is easier said than done when everything in the city is trying to kill you. Fortunately, Pinocchio can combine weapons and even change out body parts for an advantage. Various quests also progress based on your lies, earning different endings. Lies of P is planned to release next year on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC.

Atomic Heart

Mundfish’s Atomic Heart has been in development for a while and offers a mix of alternate-history sci-fi and FPS/RPG action. Set in the Soviet Union, where robotics have advanced rapidly, players control KGB agent Major Nechaev aka P-3, as they venture to facility 3826 and face off against rogue robots. Armed with the Polymer Glove with powers like freezing, telekinesis, and more, you also get a range of weapons, from guns to melee weapons, while dealing with all manner of robotic monstrosities to sick beats.

Atomic Heart has had a long development cycle, with reports alleging mismanagement, several reboots, crunch, and whatnot. It’s releasing on February 21st, 2023, for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC, so we’ll see how it turns out.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes

Suikoden 1 and 2 HD Remaster is out next year. However, Rabbit and Bear Studios’ Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes offers a more contemporary take on the formula. Developed by Suikoden veterans Yoshitaka Murayama and Junko Kawano, the RPG features over 100 playable characters (including familiar faces from Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising) and a gorgeous 2.5D art style. With rune lenses reshaping the world of Allraan and the Galdean Empire gaining more power, the story sees two characters, Seign and Nowa, crossing paths and questioning everything. Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes releases next year for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch.

SEASON: A letter to the future

Scavengers Studio is no stranger to controversy following allegations against its co-founders. Things seem on track, though, with the narrative adventure releasing on January 31st, 2023, for PS4, PS5, and PC. It’s the story of Estelle, who leaves her village to explore the world, meeting (and helping) different people and recording things, whether through documentation, photography or recordings. A calm, meditative journey that explores change while presenting a gorgeous-looking art style sounds like the right way to start the new year.

Dead Island 2

Initially believed to be vaporware due to all the delays, changing developers and lack of new information, Deep Silver’s Dead Island 2 finally re-emerged last year. It’s set in post-apocalyptic, zombie-infested California, with Los Angeles and San Francisco as its main cities. Players control six different “Slayers” as they attempt to survive. Swords, hammers, axes and much more are the keys to fighting back against the various zombie types, and you can even activate Fury Mode to rip and tear bare-handed. Despite facing another delay to April 28th, 2023, Dead Island 2 looks like it could finally release next year on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC.

Koei Tecmo has announced that Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is coming to modern platforms in March 2023. The game originally launched for the Wii back in 2008- and the upcoming remaster will be the first time ever that it will reveal outside of Japan. Check out a new overview trailer for the title below.

Meanwhile, Koei Tecmo has also unveiled a Digital Deluxe Edition for the game, which, in addition to the game itself, will also include a digital artbook and a costume set. Pre-order bonuses for all digital purchases include several cosmetics, while those who buy the game on a system that has save data for the aforementioned Maiden of Black Water will also receive the Camera Obscura Hat.

Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse launches on March 9, 2023 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Taking the spotlight during the recent Nintendo Direct presentation, Koei Tecmo and Nintendo announced that Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is finally headed West. The horror title originally launched for the Wii back in 2008, but it released only in Japan. The game has remained locked on the Wii and only in Japan since then, which means Western audiences will be getting their first taste of the title when it launches next year.

Being a Fatal Frame game, you’d ordinarily expect it to be exclusive to Nintendo, but seeing as last year’s release was multiplatform, it’s not surprising to see Mask of the Lunar Eclipse following suit.

Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse launches for Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC in early 2023.