Terminator: Resistance Enhanced

Terminator: Resistance is a fun first-person shooter based on the popular movie which allows players a ton of flexibility in how they choose to go about the many encounters peppered throughout the story. You can choose to sneak through enemy areas and pick them off one by one, or you could just go in guns blazing, or anything in between. The Enhanced version soups up the original in a wide variety of ways, which makes it the best way to experience this underrated shooter.

Dying light 2

Developer Techland’s latest Dying Light 2 might not have fulfilled most of its promises, but it’s still a solid game that’s worthy of your attention. It excellently builds upon the foundations laid in the original, and meshes them well with new mechanics like paragliding and improved combat. Add to that some gorgeous graphics and oodles of content, and Dying Light 2 becomes a really great game that players can sink dozens upon dozens of hours into.

Haven

Released in 2020, Haven is an indie gem that tells the story of two lovers trying to make a life on a distant planet. It features a really charming story with beautiful characters, and while the gameplay mechanics are really simple – they work pretty well within the context of the game itself. Between this and a highly imaginative world, Haven has the capability to keep you engaged for a long time.

Bugsnax

Bugsnax looks like a rather childish game at first glance with its cartoony characters and Pokemon-style game, and while that notion isn’t completely wrong – it isn’t indicative of the full picture either. Bugsnax’s story can veer into pretty dark territory at times, and the gameplay revolving around constantly upgrading your snacks is surprisingly addictive for all age groups.

Weird West

WolfEye Studios’ Weird West is an action RPG that combines a familiar Wild West setting with dark fantasy elements that culminate in a world that looks like no other. The gameplay is pretty open-ended in its nature, and players are encouraged to come up with creative solutions for the presented problems. Add to that some quality writing, and Weird West becomes a really gratifying experience.

Aragami 2

Aragami 2 is one of the very few stealth games in the current gaming landscape, but what makes it special is the solid foundation of mechanics that it operates on. Aragami 2 is all about hiding in the shadows, carefully surveying your surroundings, and using your tools and abilities to pick out enemies and complete your objectives while being a complete ghost. The story might not be the most interesting, but the gameplay is engaging enough to make you want to keep playing regardless.

Evil West

Flying Wild Hog recently released Evil West to some great critical reception, but the game unfortunately never received the love and appreciation on a commercial level. Evil West puts you in the shoes of a cowboy hunting for monstrous creatures, and that weird premise has been wonderfully realized here – which makes for a fresh setting. Add to that visceral gameplay and high-fidelity graphics, and Evil West becomes a game that’s really hard to pass on.

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy suffered from a lot of skepticism after Marvel’s Avengers flopped hard, which is part of the reason why it never got much mainstream attention. But those who have played it will most likely sing endless praises about the story and its simple yet fresh combat mechanics, and we can’t really argue with that. Guardians of the Galaxy is a really solid game that sadly flew under the radar for many gamers, but it is a game that is most definitely worth your attention.

Lost Judgment

The original Judgment was a fun spin on the Yakuza formula, and Lost Judgment does an equally good job of building upon those mechanics. The detective murder mystery at play never fails to keep one guessing, and those narrative beats are punctuated with some excellently choreographed fights and chase sequences – which makes for a thrilling ride through and through.

Chernobylite

Chernobylite is set 30 years after the disaster at the nuclear plant and focuses on a physicist that returns to seek out his beloved. Though players will have to deal with hostile soldiers, including Stalkers that roam the zone, they can recruit teammates to their cause. Crafting equipment and weapons is the key to survival but keep in mind that any character can die with a wrong decision. Two graphics modes are available for the PS5 version – Performance and Resolution. The former offers 1080p resolution and 60 frames per second gameplay with “higher graphics quality.” The latter is dynamic 4K and 30 FPS with ray tracing and improvements to shadows, environments and texture quality.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure

Sackboy: A Big Adventure was one of the PS5’s launch titles that sadly got overshadowed by the likes of Demon’s Souls and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a charming ride through some gorgeously knit levels, and the platforming also does a good job of introducing new kinds of obstacles at every turn. It’s a very relaxing game that doesn’t ask much from the player, and that alone has a very distinct kind of charm.

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name might not be the franchise at its finest, but it is a game that has plenty of merits to its name. The gameplay transports us back to the series’ brawling roots, and the inclusion of multiple playstyles also makes combat a medium of personal expression. Of course, you also get a whole host of side activities to indulge in apart from the main story – so there’s that to consider as well.

Outriders

Developer People Can Fly’s Outriders is a pretty competent looter shooter that not only nails the shooting but also manages to create a progression loop where you are constantly getting more powerful and facing equally challenging obstacles. The story isn’t the best, and there are some balance issues here and there – but Outriders can be a really fun game to sink your teeth into, and it gets even better if you have a couple of friends raiding alongside you.

Solar Ash

Solar Ash takes place in a fantasy world where you must complete a series of challenges to save the world from imminent doom. Developed by Heart Machine, Solar Ash boasts a beautiful art style and a solid movement system with fluid animations and a great sense of flow to the gameplay proceedings. It has a few rough edges here and there, but it has its fair share of merits as well.

The Crew Motorfest

The Crew Motorfest aims to resolve most if not all of the issues with prior releases, and the end result is definitely remarkable. The smaller map means that it has been curated with plenty of attention to detail, and the selection of racing events also features some much-needed variety which ensures the gameplay doesn’t get stale after a while. It borrows a lot of ideas and elements from Forza Horizon 5, but that doesn’t make it a bad game by any means.

TORMENTED SOULS

For fans of classic survival horror games, Tormented Souls is almost a must-play experience. While the genre is thriving right now, Tormented Souls is one of few games that delivers that classic fixed camera experience that old-school Resident Evil and Silent Hill games used to be known for, and it does it to great effect. It’s a little rough around the edges, admittedly, but the pros definitely outweigh the cons here.

Other titles include Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, Haven, Life is Strange: True Colors, Rainbow Six Extraction and Tchia on PS4 and PS5. PS4 players also get Final Fantasy Type-0 HD, Immortals Fenyx Rising, Life is Strange 2, NEO: The World Ends with You, RAGE 2, Street Fighter 5 Champion Edition, and Untitled Goose Game. Of course, these are all playable on PS5, thanks to backward compatibility.

For Premium subscribers, Ape Escape 2 and Ridge Racer Type 4 for PlayStation One are coming along with Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror from the PlayStation Portable era. The latter benefits from up-rendering, quick saving, video filters and a rewind function. Stay tuned for more details when the above titles go live next week.

Each alternate version also seemingly has its own new voice actor, which further adds to the immersion. In a press release, creative director Emeric Thoa said, “Haven is about the freedom to love whomever you want. From the very early days of conception, we had created several couples for the game, with a diverse range of relationships.

“But the constraints of our indie team production made us focus on Yu and Kay only. After the game launch, we wanted to go back and work on this update. We hope that many players will feel better represented in the game.” It’s worth noting that the overall story and plot for the game doesn’t change. You’ll still be playing as both characters and embarking on the same journey as before.

Haven is available for PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. Check out our review here for more details. It’s currently on sale for 40 percent off.

After launching first for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5 and PC via numerous storefronts, The Game Bakers’ Haven finally makes its way to the rest. It’s available now for PS4, Switch and PC via the Epic Games Store. Check out the launch trailer below and, once again, marvel in the relationship between Yu and Kay.

Billed as an RPG, the story sees the couple leaving their previous lives and venturing to a strange planet. Survival is paramount though so on top of gathering supplies and repairing their ship, they must also deal with various threats. This involves controlling both characters at once.

Otherwise, players will spend time blissfully gliding around the planet when they’re not making dialogue choices in many of the conversations between Yu and Kay. Haven can be played solo but also supports co-op. For more details, check out our official review here. It’s also available on Xbox Game Pass for PC and consoles.

The Game Bakers’ RPG Haven has a release date for Nintendo Switch, PS4 and the Epic Games Store. It’s out on February 4th, following its release on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5 and PC via GOG, Steam and the Microsoft Store. Unlike the developer’s previous title Furi, Haven is more of an adventure title focusing on a couple, Yu and Kay.

Having escaped to an unknown planet, the two must live and survive together, foraging supplies for the Nest and exploring the environment. While one can glide about levels, combat is coordination-based as Yu and Kay are controlled simultaneously. Of course, another player can jump in and take control as well.

Along the way, Yu and Kay will have extensive conversations with different choices, furthering their bond. For more details on the gameplay, check out our review here. Haven is also available on Xbox Game Pass for both PC and console players. It also supports Xbox Play Anywhere, meaning you can purchase one version and receive a digital version on PC/Xbox consoles for free.

https://twitter.com/TheGameBakers/status/1354072385754787841

Haven wastes no time in informing you of its central relationship. The opening moments consist of the couple in question, Kay and Yu, aboard their Nest spaceship, having crash-landed on a yet uninhabited planet called Source after escaping their oppressive home, whose Matchmaker decides each person’s spouse without a choice from the individuals. The couple’s curiosity for the planet, alongside their need for food, leads them to explore the islet on which they landed before a tremor sends their Nest into disrepair and forces them to look for replacement parts on the surrounding islets of Source. This development is the background for the story, but the relationship between Kay and Yu is the core driver of everything that happens, both in the overarching plot and the minute-to-minute experience on Source. There isn’t that much that happens in the 10-12 hour story that is particularly surprising or unpredictable, but it’s all told in such a loving way that it doesn’t need many twists and turns, accompanied by beautiful animations of its characters and consistently excellent performances from its stars and generally effective writing. It’s not trying to win you over with a rollercoaster of a story; it does that with its continued exploration of its characters.

"There isn’t that much that happens in the 10-12 hour story that is particularly surprising or unpredictable, but it’s all told in such a loving way that it doesn’t need many twists and turns, accompanied by beautiful animations of its characters and consistently excellent performances from its stars and generally effective writing."

Thematically, the story delves into the tried and true idea of love and whether it can conquer any obstacle, whether it’s a small disagreement on the Nest or the highly illegal escape from their home planet. At first, their relationship seems almost unreasonably pure and free from conflict, but not far in the couple runs into real, tangible hardships that threaten their relationship and push its limits. There are the natural highs that come with being in love, but it doesn’t shy away from showing the mundane, quiet moments either. When you’re not out exploring Source, you’re inside the Nest, performing one of a handful of slower tasks like cooking, crafting, or sleeping, each of which has a purpose. Staying fed keeps your speed up in combat, and crafting allows you to perform one-time powerful attacks or heal yourself, allowing every mundane activity to feel meaningful on top of the ways it builds the relationship.

Though the love story is at the center of everything, the characters aren’t annoyingly in your face about reminding each other of their love. Instead, they often choose to have more mature, meaningful conversations about things outside of themselves, from how they got to where they are to what their next moves should be. These types of cutscenes are diverse and pop up all the time when in the Nest, and, while I did end up seeing a handful of them more than once, it’s a refreshing portrayal of love that gives a better, more relatable look at the characters at the game’s heart and allows more complexity to their personalities than simply being in love with one another.

With that said, this relationship is at the core of everything that goes on in Haven, both in its story and its gameplay. Every action you take, from cooking a meal to defeating a monster, improves a meter representing the strength of their bond. Every filled meter not only acts as a level up, increasing your health and improving other stats, but also plays a longer, more revealing cutscene that shows the two’s bond actually deepening. These scenes are some of the highlights of the entire game because they show the two at their most vulnerable and gives an increasingly vivid picture of the relationship you’re investing yourself in.

"There are the natural highs that come with being in love, but Haven doesn’t shy away from showing the mundane, quiet moments either."

Haven’s moment-to-moment gameplay follows this relaxed, explorative feel around the islets of Source. Kay and Yu glide above the grass and can absorb a material called Flow by following strains in the environment like a skateboarder grinding a rail. Following each strain requires you to master the drift and the U-turn, both of which are tough to handle at first but become increasingly natural over time. There are many islets you can visit on Source, each of which utilizes the game’s unique color palette and contains beautiful detail down to each blade of grass, though they can start to blend together. They each contain these Flow strains and are connected in an increasingly complex array of bridges between them. Some bridges are only accessible by particular Flow strains that bring you high up in the air to hard-to-reach locations. This exploration to find Flow strains and bridges is usually relaxing, but it’s often frustrating in the camera’s stiffness while following a strain and the game’s lack of explanation for opening some bridge portals or accessing higher areas. Flow strains are often hard to find and far from the area you’re attempting to access, and the game sometimes gives you very little direction as to your next objective, which is magnified by the game’s confusing and hard-to-use map.

On virtually every islet, a substance called Rust covers a majority of the land, and your underlying completionist objective is to clean all the Rust from every islet in a way akin to Super Mario Sunshine. As long as your Flow meter isn’t depleted, you clean Rust as you touch it, collecting shiny Rust fragments along the way. Cleaning every islet completely isn’t necessary for story completion, but many upgrades require these Rust fragments and the often-annoying fast travel system requires an islet be fully cleared of Rust before traveling there. This mechanic is relaxing and meditative in a lot of ways and is often satisfying, but within it lies the primary disconnect between the game’s story and gameplay. The cleaning of Rust doesn’t add much to the relationship between Kay and Yu, and it often serves more as a distraction from the central theme than anything that further informs it. It’s clear in the way it’s presented that the two doing this are in love, in their quips at each other and the way they hold hands when they glide together, but there’s no inherent connection between the story at the game’s core and its central gameplay. This isn’t to say it’s bad; contrarily, its relaxing qualities are effective, especially combined with the game’s gorgeous soundtrack, but it feels like the gameplay doesn’t always add to the story in the ways that other mechanics focus so heavily on doing.

Where the connection is more evident is the game’s combat, a pseudo-turn-based style faceoff between the two lovebirds and hostile animals on Source. These animals are initially peaceful, but the Rust has turned them hostile, and instead of killing them, your goal is to pacify them. These are functionally the same, but pacification is thematically easier to swallow for a game about love. Where the connection lies is how you control both characters in combat. You have four main options: long-ranged attack, close-ranged attack, shield, and pacify, each of which is an option on the D-pad for Kay and the face buttons for Yu. Initially, they work independently, shooting off their own attacks, but they’re forced to progressively work in tandem to defeat most enemies. If both charge the same type of attack at the same time, they can perform an even more powerful version of that attack, and after being knocked down or stunned, some enemies will get up or recover within the time it takes to charge a full attack, meaning that you have to be prepared with the other character to attack quickly in a short window. The combat itself isn’t the most enjoyable aspect of the game, but its connection to the theme makes it a lot more interesting than standard turn-based combat, and I was usually impressed with the ways I could use the two characters to improve one another.

"The combat itself isn’t the most enjoyable aspect of the game, but its connection to the theme makes it a lot more interesting than standard turn-based combat, and I was usually impressed with the ways I could use the two characters to improve one another."

Haven, like its protagonists, clearly has one thing on its mind. Throughout virtually everything it presents, the relationship between its main characters takes center stage, and it crafts a beautiful and surprisingly realistic view of an ongoing love story. There are fights, deep conversations, and mundane tasks that pepper this game like they would a real romance, and the game doesn’t shy away from portraying two complex people in a complex situation. Though its explorative gameplay sometimes feels disconnected from its story, it’s never to the point of boredom or confusion. Its combat forces the two to play off each other, and the rest of the game lets their connection evolve. The beautiful love story at Haven’s core overshadows the shortcomings of the rest of the game, and, while it works better in its storytelling than its gameplay, I always wanted to move further and see where Kay and Yu would go next.

This game was reviewed on the Xbox Series X.

The Game Bakers’ latest game, the action RPG Haven, is out today for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC. The developer has released a launch trailer to commemorate the occasion, setting the stage for Haven’s story, giving us glimpses of its world and characters, and more. Take a look below.

Haven sees players taking control of two players at the same time- Yu and Kay, two lovers who have escaped to an unknown, isolated planet where they want to be along together, and must now find a way to build a live for themselves with each other. The game is playable in co-op as well, where each player will take control of one of the two characters.

Haven is available today on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC, and will launch early next year for the PS4 and Nintendo Switch. The game is also available via Xbox Game Pass.

You can check out gameplay footage for Haven’s PS5 version through here, and the Xbox Series X version through here.

After some not-so-subtle teasing, Microsoft has confirmed that Remedy Entertainment’s Control will be coming to Xbox Game Pass on December 3rd. It will be available for console players and also playable on Android. The Game Bakers’ RPG Haven will be out on the same day for console and PC subscribers. PC subscribers will also finally get their hands on DOOM Eternal.

Other titles slated for the same day include RAGE 2 for Android, Slime Rancher for consoles and Android, Va-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action for PC, and Yes, Your Grace for all three platforms. Dragon Quest 11 S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition arrives on December 4th for console and PC subscribers. Next week sees the release of Call of the Sea for console, PC and Android.

Monster Sanctuary will be exiting Steam Early Access on the same day and available to console and Android players on Game Pass. The recently announced Unto The End will be available on December 9th for console and PC subscribers. On December 10th, Assetto Corsa, Gang Beasts, Superhot: Mind Control Delete, Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair, and GreedFall will be added to the service. Overall, it’s a very packed month for subscribers – stay tuned for updates on other titles as they’re added.

Cyberpunk 2077

After numerous delays, Night City Wire episodes and seemingly insurmountable hype, Cyberpunk 2077 is definitely, assuredly, 99.9 percent for sure releasing this month. We hope. There’s a lot to look forward to, whether it’s choosing one of three Life Paths and pursuing the story or simply cruising around Night City, completing Scanner Hustles and interacting with the citizenry. There’s an extensive arsenal of weaponry, cyberware and daemons to experiment with, not to mention an entire world of Braindance to get lost in, all while conversing with Johnny Silverhand played by Keanu Reeves. Cyberpunk 2077 releases for Xbox One, PS4, PC and Google Stadia on December 10^th. Hopefully.

Call of the Sea

Out of the Blue’s first person adventure title arrives next month, following the tale of Nora as she travels to a strange island in the South Pacific to locate her missing husband. Inspired by the works of Lovecraft, Call of the Sea focuses more on a dreamy and ethereal atmosphere as opposed to horror. Players explore locations, solve puzzles and take in the sights while piecing together the truth. Releasing on December 8^th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC, Call of the Sea will also be available on Xbox Game Pass at launch.

Chronos: Before The Ashes

Before one was traveling to different dimensions and dodge-rolling with firearms, there was the labyrinth. Set before Remnant: From the Ashes, Chronos: Before the Ashes sees players venturing into said labyrinth and defeating the evils within. The twist is that dying results in expulsion, which means returning a year later. Thus do players begin their journey as a spry, Souls-like adventurer before having to rely on their wits and magic to survive as they mature over the years. Chronos: Before the Ashes is out on December 1^st for Xbox One, PS4, PC, Google Stadia and Nintendo Switch.

Empire of Sin

Travel back in time to the Prohibition era, where syndicates and mob bosses battled it out for reign over Chicago. As a strategy title, Empire of Sin is all about recruiting gang members and expanding an empire, dipping into all kinds of illegal activities while evading the law. Other gangs will want a piece of you though, and when negotiations and deception fail, a turn-based strategy combat system lets you deal threats. With numerous perks and traits for characters, resource management and gang warfare, Empire of Sin looks to be a nice change of pace for publisher Paradox Interactive. It’s out on December 1^st for Xbox One, PS4, PC and Nintendo Switch.

Twin Mirror

Developed by a separate team at the Life is Strange studio, Twin Mirror is ultimately a tale of mystery and duality. It sees Sam, an investigative journalist, returning to his hometown in Basswood, West Virginia. Things aren’t what they seem though, and the player will interact with various towns-folk, deciding who to trust, while dealing with The Double, Sam’s “inner voice.” That also means investigating different events and piecing together clues with the unique “Mind Palace” while questioning the truth. Twin Mirror is out on December 1^st for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond

In the midst of new IPs, Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond is a familiar sight for long-time fans. Developed by Respawn Entertainment, it’s a VR title for Oculus Rift and Steam VR that sees players venturing through Europe at the height of World War 2. Afterwards, it may be worth watching interviews with veterans who experienced the conflict and learning more. Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond could be a dark horse when it launches on December 11^th.

Immortals Fenyx Rising

In the midst of more “serious” offerings like Watch Dogs: Legion and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Immortals Fenyx Rising is much less heavy material for Ubisoft. It sees a Greek soldier named Fenyx washing ashore off the Golden Isle and battling the titan Typhon to rescue the Pantheon. While exploring the lush, colorful world and battling mythical foes, players will also deal with Prometheus and Zeus as narrators, each offering their own take on events and humorously clashing. Immortals Fenyx Rising is out on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Google Stadia, PC and Switch on December 3^rd.

Haven

A co-op RPG about two lovers exploring a strange world isn’t quite what you’d expect from the team behind the twitch-based Furi. Nevertheless, The Game Bakers’ Haven has looked appealing since day one, focusing on the struggles of Yu and Kay as they scavenge for parts, battle the local wildlife and cook meals. Will their quest for freedom and love ultimately win out? We’ll find out when Haven launches December 3^rd for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC and Switch.

MXGP 2020

With many of the big-name racers out of the way this year, MXGP 2020 looks to round things out in its usual fashion. Sporting bikes and riders from more than 110 brands, while offering a track editor and dedicated servers for online play, the title is certainly looking to improve on past experiences. If previous games are any indication, it could end up being another solid racing title. Releasing on December 16^th, MXGP 2020 is coming to previous and current gen consoles along with PC.

Override 2: Super Mech League

Big mech battles are back with Override 2: Super Mech League. It features 20 robots with all kinds of over-the-top abilities and customization for players to mess around with. A new Career Mode allows for earning influence for one’s Club and taking on all challenges. Local and online multiplayer for up to four players also returns with modes like Free for All, Xenoswarm, King of the Hill and more. Battle it out on December 22^nd when Override 2 launches on Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC.