Destiny 2: The Final Shape

Say what you will about the Destiny franchise, but with all the ups and downs, shifting trends, studio problems and controversies, it’s still the top looter shooter. With The Final Shape, Bungie looks to conclude the near-decade-long Light and Darkness saga with new Light-based subclasses, Prismatic (combining many abilities into one subclass), a linear campaign and a hopefully memorable raid. It’s a tall order, and between all of the changes to Exotics, ability changes, new Exotics (including new class items) overhauling bounties in favor of the Pathfinder system and more, The Final Shape could be a memorable end leading to a promising beginning when it launches on June 4th. It will be available for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC.

Monster Hunter Stories

Limited to Nintendo 3DS, iOS and Android for years, the first Monster Hunter Stories is finally coming to modern-ish platforms on June 14th. Nintendo Switch, PS4, and PC players can dive into a world where humans and monsters coexist, working together as Rider and Monstie to overcome challenges. Combat is turn-based with three attack types, each overcoming the typical triangular fashion. The remaster sports all the title updates, full voice-acting, additional languages, improved character models, textures and lighting in HD, and even a Museum Mode.

Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin

Once PS4 players are done enjoying the original, there’s Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin, launching on the same day. Players take ownership of the mysterious Razewing Ratha, an allegedly ruinous Rathalos. Journeying together and teaming up with other Riders, they seek to rid the world of raging monsters. With a more refined presentation, recognizable armor and weapons from the series, and extensive ways to cultivate and customize Monsties, Wings of Ruin promises a fun turn-based experience. It also benefits from all of the updates released to date, including a co-op quest against Fatalis.

Still Wakes the Deep

Dear Esther and Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs developer The Chinese Room is back with its latest survival horror, set on a drilling platform in 1975. The premise sees Caz McLeary struggling to survive against some unknown monster while navigating the platform’s various mechanical failures. That means navigating ruined walkways, traversing claustrophobic water-filled rooms, and much more. With The Thing, Suspiria and even the Southern Reach Trilogy as inspirations, Still Wakes the Deep promises a deeply personal and nerve-wracking horror experience when it launches on June 18th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

Perhaps the biggest release of the month, Shadow of the Erdtree is the first and only paid expansion for Elden Ring, launching on June 21st for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5 and PC. It sees players venturing to the Land of Shadow to pursue Miquella, discovering hidden truths (including an untold war) about the place and battling with new threats like Messmer the Impaler. With over ten new boss fights, multiple new weapon types, skills and armor, and a new region that’s larger than Limgrave with a “denser and richer level design”, it’s FromSoftware’s biggest expansion to date. Will it close the story on a high note? We’ll have to wait and find out.

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD

Before there was the brilliance of Luigi’s Mansion 3, Dark Moon was the series’ peak. Fortunately, it’s coming to Nintendo Switch on June 27th as Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD. Featuring improved visuals in HD, Luigi must collect pieces of the Dark Moon to save Mario once more, utilizing the Poltergust 5000 to solve puzzles in more complex haunted mansions. You can also hop into the ScareScraper with up to three other players to tackle fresh challenges locally or online. Whether you’re reliving the masterpiece or playing for the first time, it should be another worthwhile addition to the Switch’s library.

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble

Speaking of returns, Super Monkey Ball gets a new title on June 25th on Nintendo Switch, courtesy of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble features AiAi, MeeMee and the rest of the crew, including newcomer Palette, as they seek the Legendary Banana in Adventure Mode. Multiplayer supports up to 16 players online (or two locally), with modes like Race, Banana Hunt, Goal Rush and more. It even supports bots and offers more than 300 items to customize characters with.

Star Wars: Hunters

First announced in February 2021, Zynga’s Star Wars: Hunters actually soft-launched in late 2021 for mobiles. Multiple delays later, it’s finally getting a release on June 4th, enabling Nintendo Switch players to join the fray. As a free-to-play competitive shooter, players can choose from an array of bounty hunters divided into Tank, Support and Damage roles, with maps on Endor, and four unique modes. Whether it can survive as a hero shooter in this day and age remains to be seen, but it looks decent.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road

After bragging about offering the “equivalent of more than ten single-player games” with The Elder Scrolls Online, ZeniMax Online Studios is preparing for its next big expansion. Gold Road sees players venturing to the West Weald from Oblivion with locations like Skingrad, the Dawnwood and the Colovian Highlands to explore. Players can modify skills with the new Scribing system, which should help when embarking into new dungeons and the latest trial. The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road is out on June 3rd for PC, with the console versions launching on June 18th.

A Twisted Path to Renown

You’ve seen modern combat PvEvP extraction shooters, but Game-Labs’ A Twisted Path to Renown puts a Wild West spin on things. Entering early access on June 6th for PC, it sees players exploring the United States in 1899 with revolvers, double-barrel shotguns and even bows. Battle all kinds of threats, including hostile wildlife, while garnering reputation among vendors, earning better gear, and even engaging in some farming and mining. With realistic weapons and trading available at launch, it may very well be the freshest take on the genre yet.

ASKA

Whether you’re already done with Valheim’s new Ashlands update or just in the mood for a fresh survival crafting title, there’s Thunderful’s ASKA. Launching on June 20th for PC via Steam Early Access, the title allows up to four players to strike out as Vikings, building up their tribe, assigning jobs to villagers, customizing the layout and setting up defenses. They can also venture into the procedurally generated world with its dynamic weather system and discover various landmarks and resources. Launching in 2025, with two major updates forthcoming, ASKA may be worth checking out.

Kingdom Hearts Series (Steam)

Just when it seemed condemned to the Epic Games Store for life, the Kingdom Hearts series is finally coming to Steam on June 13th. Three titles will be available, though at least two are collections of individual games. Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX contains the Final Mix versions of Kingdom Hearts 1, 2 and Birth by Sleep, Re:Chain of Memories and all the cutscenes (plus some new ones) from 358/2 Days and Kingdom Hearts Re:coded.

These are in high-definition and offer a substantial amount for first-time PC players. Kingdom HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue contains a remaster of Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, a “film” of sorts based on Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover and Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage, a side story.

It all leads to Kingdom Hearts 3, the conclusion to the Dark Seeker saga, and Re Mind, with multiple new challenges and additional story content. Memory of Melody isn’t arriving, which is a bummer, but these three releases still offer the definitive Kingdom Hearts experience.

DLC Required

Remember how Frank West valiantly sacrificed himself at the end of Dead Rising 4 so that Vicky and Brad could escape? Yeah, that’s not the “true” ending. Purchasing the Frank Rising DLC reveals that West actually became a zombie, got better and then maybe escaped (or not, depending on your choices). Unfortunately this wouldn’t be the first time that a game’s “true” ending would be gated behind DLC – see Asura’s Wrath, also conveniently published by Capcom.

NieR Automata – The [E]nd of YoRHa

By the time you get to Ending E, you’ve already seen plenty of messed up stuff, from the revelation of mankind’s fate to suicidal robots and the death of beloved characters. What more could the game throw at you? How about a chance to recover what was lost? How about…a fight against the credits, the game’s creators themselves? But wait, what if other players could join in and help? You could also sacrifice your own data to potentially help them. All of this just to bring back 2B, 9S and A2 to probably suffer the cycle again in the hope of things changing.

With the release of Kingdom Hearts 3: ReMind, Square Enix added two new Keyblades that even non-DLC owners can earn. The key word is “earn” though – you’ll need to do a bit of work to unlock Oathkeeper and Oblivion.

Oathkeeper involves finding all of the Lucky Emblems scattered through the game. These are the Mickey Mouse-shaped symbols that were required to unlock the base game’s Secret Ending and all 90 of them are needed here. Once you collect them all, you’ll receive the Proof of Promise. Trade this at a Moogle Shop for the Oathkeeper.

For Oblivion, you’ll need to complete the game on Critical Mode. This will earn the Proof of Times Past. Once again, visit a Moogle Shop and exchange it for Oblivion. The best part about these Keyblades? The ability to dual wield them, resulting in some pretty nice damage overall.

Defeat All DLC Bosses

The ReMind DLC offers a lot by way of boss battles. On top of the boss battles with other playable characters like Riku, Kairi and Aqua, players can also partake in the Limit Cut Episode’s Data battles. These are tough battles against Organization XIII members while also providing some nice references to battles in previous games. Finally, there’s the Secret Episode boss, Yozora, who’s truly the most challenging one in the game (and with easily the most meta ending).

Here are all the new playable character boss fights you can expect to play:

• Riku w/Sora vs. Xigbar and Dark Riku
• Riku w/Sora vs. Dark Riku
• Aqua w/Ventus vs. Terra-Xehanort and Vanitas
• Aqua w/Ventus and Sora vs. Terra-Xehanort and Vanitas
• Aqua w/Ventus and Sora vs. Terra-Xehanort
• Roxas w/Xion and Axel vs. Saix and Xemnas
• Roxas w/Xion and Sora vs. Saix
• Guardians of Light vs. Replica Xehanorts
• Kairi w/Sora vs. Xehanort

Here are all of the Data Bosses below:

• Xion
• Master Xehanort
• Vanitas
• Terra-Xehanort
• Marluxia
• Saix
• Larxene
• Xigbar
• Young Xehanort
• Dark Riku
• Luxord
• Ansem
• Xemnas

Check out the videos below on how to tackle of the new bosses.

With Re:Mind, Kingdom Hearts is trying out DLC for the first time, offering new additional episodes and gameplay modifiers. But is this pack the thing that elevates Kingdom Hearts 3 into the same stratum where its console siblings reside?

Re:Mind is accessible only with a finished save file and with good reason. This DLC spends no time bringing players up to speed with the events at the end of Kingdom Hearts 3, and since this entire DLC ties in so closely with the ending events of Kingdom Hearts 3, there will obviously be massive spoilers ahead.

Re:Mind begins directly after the climactic finale at the Keyblade Graveyard. After taking down the entire Organization along with Xehanort, Sora sets out to try and figure out how to bring Kairi back from the brink of death. After a little bit of thought, the answer that Sora lands on turns out to be time travel and body possession. His spirit goes back in time and hitches rides with other characters throughout the entire Keyblade Graveyard battle. While this is a kind of cool (if confusing) idea, it does lead to one of the biggest problems that Re:Mind has: recycling old content.

"While its setup is a kind of cool (if confusing) idea, it does lead to one of the biggest problems that Re:Mind has: recycling old content."

You essentially play the entire conclusion of the base game over again. Even though there are occasionally new cutscenes added as well, a majority of what you’ll be seeing throughout this story DLC will be old hat. You do eventually get to experience new events and even get to explore Scala ad Caelum from the base game. There are even treasure chests to find here and you spend a little bit of time solving puzzles scattered throughout. It’s such a striking location, but unfortunately, it comes far too late into the DLC and doesn’t stick around for long. Appropriately enough, considering the base game, Re:Mind doesn’t really get going until the last quarter of its runtime. And with a total runtime of about four hours, that’s not a good look for the package.

As a neat twist though, you can sometimes assume control of other characters throughout the story. During some paired battles, you will sometimes be given the option to switch control to another character and play the battle through their perspective. Although some characters feel somewhat clunky compared to Sora’s expanded mobility, it’s still pretty neat to just play as them, with Roxas and Kairi being standout examples. Oftentimes, playing as the other characters will be the best way forward in order to get any sort of challenge from the enemies. Sora’s stats and levels carry over from the base game, so you end up steam-rolling most fights, which sort of deflates the tension the game attempts to build. The guest characters, on the other hand, are set to a level that’s appropriate for the fight at hand, which lets you still enjoy some of the battles.

The story is pretty much what you’d expect as far as Kingdom Hearts standards go. There’s lots of talk about darkness and light, impressive abilities that characters seemingly pull out of nowhere, and plenty of scenes of people nodding their heads at one another.

Character interactions are still pretty stilted, just like in the main game, although there are some fun bits of banter between the Guardians of Light thrown in there. Fan favorite characters like the Final Fantasy gang get brought back, too, and even though they only have a handful of lines apiece, it’s still nice to see them. For those fans who were hoping that Re:Mind would answer some of the burning questions left behind by the base game though, you may want to temper your expectations. Instead of answering old questions, this DLC practically doubles down, adding even more questions to the pile. So while Re:Mind will undoubtedly be important in future titles in the series, there are no definitive revelations coming out of this package for the time being.

"For those fans who were hoping that Re:Mind would answer some of the burning questions left behind by the base game though, you may want to temper your expectations. Instead of answering old questions, this DLC practically doubles down, adding even more questions to the pile."

After completing the main story episode, the biggest drawing point that Re:Mind has is its Limitcut episode. For fans familiar with the data battles of old, this will be very familiar. The Limitcut episode offers players a chance to battle super-charged versions of the series’ main baddies. If you found yourself wanting more from the climatic battles during Kingdom Hearts 3’s Keyblade Graveyard, this is for you. Now you’ll get the chance to take on each member of the Organization individually. But the bosses on offer here aren’t just their base encounters with a bit more health. They’ve been completely reworked, not only to suit a one-on-one battle, but also to completely break any unaware players who thought that a level-99 Sora would be enough to stroll through this DLC.

Limitcut is hard. It’s really hard. The bosses are relentless, and you have to struggle to hold out against their onslaught long enough to retaliate. Coincidentally, Re:Mind released around the same time as a free update that gave Sora more combo options and mobility during battles. But looking at the battles this episode offers the player, that additional mobility is borderline mandatory. Kingdom Hearts 3 has built up a stellar combat system over time. And now, with these bosses, Re:Mind gives KH3 players an opportunity to actually use the combat system to the fullest.

Re:Mind also gives a massive boost to replayability by offering “Fast Pass” and “Black Code” options. During the initial tutorial of a new game, players will be prompted with the Premium Menu. From here, you’ll have the option to either opt into an easier version of the game, or to crank up the difficulty. The Fast Pass modifiers can give you things like auto-block and health regen, among other positive effects.

And on the flip side, the Black Code modifiers can do things like disable multiple battle abilities, constantly drain your health, or reduce your defense to zero. These modifiers are exactly what the game needed. Kingdom Hearts 3 was heavily criticized for its lacking difficulty at launch. While this issue was somewhat addressed with the addition of Critical Mode in a patch, the mode seemed like it went too far in some areas. By putting these difficulty options into the hands of the players, not only are more people likely to find something that suits their tolerance, but you also open up the possibility of creative challenge runs. Although it seems at first glance to be a small, forgettable addition, the Premium Menu will be a catalyst for added replayability and is a welcome addition.

"By putting new difficulty options into the hands of the players, not only are more people likely to find something that suits their tolerance, but you also open up the possibility of creative challenge runs. Although it seems at first glance to be a small, forgettable addition, the Premium Menu will be a catalyst for added replayability and is a welcome addition."

There’s also a Data Greeting mode available. What this is is essentially an expansive photo studio that you can fill with whatever characters you’d like in whatever pose you’d like. You plop characters down and then get to work, changing their expressions and spinning them around in all sorts of directions. There are plenty of characters, objects, filters, and locations that you can utilize to your heart’s content. This mode seems like a clear evolution from the photo mode included in the base game, but with far greater depth. You can even create individual points of colored light for some real mood setting. Although this type of mode may not be for everyone, its inclusion in this pack is bound to strike a chord with players with an eye for art and a penchant for photography.

So with all that’s been added, does Re:Mind make Kingdom Hearts 3 a better game? Does it shift it closer towards the lofty heights of the first two games? Well, yes and no. For many players, this pack will only offer a lopsided four-hour story mode. And while it may have cool ideas from time to time, this story DLC isn’t the amazing exclamation point that Kingdom Hearts 3 really could have used at its end.

But for players who are looking to dive into the mechanics of this game and really buckle down against some of the toughest fights that the series has seen yet, this DLC more than delivers. While the content on offer is certainly divisive, the amount of replayability offered by the Black Codes, paired with the grueling difficulty of the Limit Cut bosses, will be deeply satisfying for a very select group of fans, and will keep them playing until the next entry in the Kingdom Hearts franchise.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStaion 4.

Square Enix will be releasing its first paid DLC for Kingdom Hearts 3 with ReMind, coming first to PS4 later this week and next month for Xbox One. While the main appeal is the new story, content bosses and playable characters, new details have been revealed for other features. These include the Data Greeting, Slideshow and Premium Menu.

Data Greeting is pretty straightforward as it allows players to pose their favourite characters in different locations for photos. Slideshow, as the name denotes, plays each photograph in a sequence with music laid on top. It’s the Premium Menu that’s the most interesting since it adds all kinds of difficulty modifiers via PRO Codes.

These modifiers include No Shotlocks, No Links, No Team Attacks, Zero Defense, No Cure, and so on. You can also take on different bosses to earn points which can increase your rank. What effect this rank will have beyond bragging rights remains to be seen.

Kingdom Hearts 3: ReMind releases on January 23rd for PS4 and February 25th for Xbox One.

Of the major releases in January 2020, Kingdom Hearts 3’s ReMind DLC is probably one of the biggest. Launching for PS4 first, it will contain new bosses, story content and other new features for series’ fans. On the official Japanese website, Square Enix has offered some new information on the game.

ReMind is essentially a new story with Sora and will take place before the finale at the Keyblade Graveyard. Sora will essentially explore the hearts of the Seven Guardians of Light throughout this scenario. Then there’s the Limit Cut Episode, which features “high difficulty” battles against Organization 13 (which sounds like a Boss Rush mode to us).

Players will also have the chance between playable characters like Riku, Aqua, Roxas, and Kairi (cooperative skills between party members will also be available in some cases). There will be a Secret Episode and Boss along with an English Mode for the Japanese version of the game. More details are expected in the coming weeks so stay tuned. Kingdom Hearts 3: ReMind is out on January 23rd, 2020 for PS4 and will release for Xbox One on February 25th, 2020.

Journey to the Savage Planet

Typhoon Studios’ Journey to the Savage Planet is a quirky first person adventure with co-op support which sees you traveling to AR-Y 26 to see if it’s fit for humanity. Along with cataloging the different creatures, you’ll craft upgrades, traverse four unique biomes and discover if you’re truly the first one to settle here. Journey to the Savage Planet is out on January 28^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners

The Walking Dead hasn’t had many good titles outside of Telltale Games’ adventures but Saints and Sinners could be different. It’s for VR platforms and features a new story set in New Orleans where players contend with all kinds of threats. Scavenging for supplies is a necessity but you’ll also have to take down hordes of the undead, whether it’s through stealth or firepower. You can take missions from factions or kill everyone, human and undead alike. It’s intriguing, if nothing else – we’ll see how it plays on January 23^rd 2020.

Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE Encore (Switch)

A supernatural threat in modern Tokyo is pretty much a given in the Shin Megami Tensei series (especially Persona). But Fire Emblem warriors manifesting as spirit-esque Mirages that teens can use in dance performances to eliminate foes? That’s pretty far out there but Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore makes it work. Originally released for the Wii U, the Switch port promises more party members, new songs, additional story content and much more. It’s out on January 17^th 2020 so if you’re looking to start the year with an excellent RPG, this is definitely worth a look.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot

Tokyo Mirage Sessions isn’t the only RPG releasing on January 17^th though. CyberConnect2’s Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot will also be available worldwide on the same day for Xbox One, PS4 and PC. It’s an action RPG which means plenty of fast-paced, beat ’em up action. This isn’t a simple adaptation of a few story arcs though. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot replicates the entire saga of the Z Fighters from Raditz’s arrival to the battle with Majin Buu while adding training mechanics, quests and yes, Dragon Ball collecting. And who can say no to playing as Super Saiyan 3 Goku or Super Saiyan Vegito?

Monster Hunter World: Iceborne (PC)

The wait has been long but finally, Monster Hunter World players on PC will get their hands on Iceborne. Out on January 9^th, Iceborne adds Master Rank quests, armor and weapons; new mechanics like the Clutch Claw; and heaps of new monsters to battle (not counting all the post-launch monsters that are also coming). If you’ve been starving for new Monster Hunter World content on PC, don’t worry – this will keep you busy for a good long while.

AO Tennis 2

Good tennis games are hard to come by but AO Tennis 2 might be worth checking out. It’s developed by Big Ant Studios of Don Bradman Cricket and Rugby League fame. Famous players like Rafael Nadal and Angelique Kerber are in, and a substantial career mode is promised for solo and doubles players. You can even create challenges with the scenario editor or your own courts and players. AO Tennis 2 releases on January 9^th 2020 for PC, Xbox One and PS4 worldwide.

Moons of Madness (PS4, Xbox One)

After haunting PC users, the trippy cosmic horror title Moons of Madness comes to PS4 and Xbox One on January 21^st. Taking place from the first person perspective, it sees an engineer on a station that’s falling apart. And that’s before the hallucinations start. It might not be for everyone but for horror fans that want some Lovecraftian terror in space, Moons of Madness might be worth a look.

Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire Ultimate Edition (PS4, Xbox One)

Obsidian’s critically acclaimed CRPG sequel is finally coming to Xbox One and PS4 on January 28^th. Along with offering the base game with all of its updates (including a turn-based combat option), the Ultimate Edition includes all of the paid DLC. Overall, there’s a great game to explore with lots of interesting characters, naval combat, tons of customization and class choices, and whatnot to keep you busy for a few hundred hours or so.

Kingdom Hearts 3: ReMind (PS4)

Launching for the PS4 on January 23^rd (Xbox One gets it in February), Kingdom Hearts 3: ReMind will retail for $29.99. It includes new bosses, including secrets ones; returning characters like Squall, Aerith and Yuffie from the Final Fantasy series; and the ability to play as Riku, Kairi, Sora and Aqua during certain segments. The story sees Sora attempting to save Kairi by exploring the hearts of the Seven Guardians of Light (whatever that means). If that sounds worth your while – or you just need more Kingdom Hearts in your life – then ReMind is for you.

Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath HD (Switch)

If you ever stopped and wondered whether Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath would be something you need on your Switch, then good news: It’s coming to Switch. Unorthodox art-style and narrative aside, the game’s main claim to fame is using living ammo for your crossbow. Bees can be used as small shots; Boombats serve as rockets; and so on. Highly praised at launch, it might be worth experiencing when the Switch version releases on January 23^rd.

After it was revealed that the Kingdom Hearts 3 DLC ReMind would release in January 2020 for PS4 and February 2020 for Xbox One, Square Enix released a new trailer during Sony’s State of Play. Pre-orders are currently live for the DLC as it costs $29.99. Check out the trailer below.

Along with additional story content, ReMind will feature a secret episode and boss battle, the Limitcut episode along 13 boss battles, and a Premium menu to tweak difficulty settings. If you pay $39.99, you get a video for the Kingdom Hearts – World of Tres – Orchestra concert which contains 19 tracks as well. Of course, there is some free content to be had as well.

Update 1.07 will update the main story while adding new abilities. There’s will also be new Keyblades and form changes. Though the price of ReMind may be somewhat off-putting, it seems to have enough quality and production values to warrant the same. The DLC is out on January 23rd, 2020 for PS4 and February 25th, 2020 for Xbox One.