Launched in May 2023 for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC (while also playable on Game Pass), Planet of Lana stars the titular protagonist on a mysterious planet. Once an overwhelming machine force invades, however, Lana embarks on a journey to rescue her sister and villagers while confronting many dangers.

She doesn’t go it alone, though, as a strange creature named Mui joins her. Players can issue commands to Mui to bypass different obstacles and solve puzzles while sneaking past and fleeing from the machines. As she delves deeper into the planet’s past, it becomes clear that recent events are more than they seem.

With its Studio Ghibli-esque art style, Planet of Lana has garnered acclaim for its presentation, puzzles, and narrative. Check out our review for more details.

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective

Created by the same team that brought us the Ace Attorney series, Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective is all about uncovering the mystery of your own death as a ghostly version of yourself. Phantom. The gameplay revolves around exploring the curious case in complete depth and then reaching a conclusion – which really makes you feel like a detective making important decisions. It’s all accompanied by some smart writing that never fails to keep you guessing, which makes it such an endearing experience.

Fatal Frame / Project Zero: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse

Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse released in 2008 to some great critical and commercial reception, and Koei Tecmo has been trying to bring the series back into the limelight with HD remasters for these game. The remaster of Mask of the Lunar Eclipse released earlier this year, and it does a really good job of souping up the visuals and smoothing out certain jagged edges to make the experience a lot more palatable for modern audiences. Of course, it isn’t perfect by any means – but it’s a great horror game nevertheless.

Cocoon

Cocoon is a wonderful puzzle game that’s entirely built around the concept of worlds existing within worlds, and players can combine and manipulate these worlds through the use of certain orbs to solve puzzles and proceed with the story. Cocoon comes from the lead designer for INSIDE and Limbo, so you can be confident that it’s a solid game with a minimalist control scheme and an emotional story that will stay with you long after the credits roll.

Hi-Fi Rush

Tango Gameworks delivered an excellent rhythmic adventure with Hi-Fi Rush, which has quickly gone on to become one of the biggest surprise hits of this year. Hi-Fi Rush features a world where everything taps to a beat, and you must time your actions and attacks to that beat to be able to dish out damage to your opponents. It’s a wonderfully imaginative game that’s executed with great attention to detail, and should be experienced by more fans.

Season: A Letter to the Future

Season: A Letter to the Future is a game that talks about the nature of change. As the protagonist, your job is to capture the sights and sounds and take them to the next Season – a time when everyone will be unaware of what happened in the last Season. It’s a simple and laid back game with a strong focus on exploration and engaging in conversations, but the many themes that it manages to effectively convey through its story is what makes it so beautiful.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a Soulslike with a complex web of action and progression mechanics that beautifully flow into one another, and what we get is a game that’s surprisingly fun and approachable despite the many mechanics and systems at play. There are a few erratic difficulty spikes here and there, but Wo Long is a largely fun experience where you must overcome brutal but fair challenges ranging from petty enemies to large bosses with multiple health bars and much more.

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is FromSoftware’s attempt at modernizing its long-running mech adventure series, and it’s fair to say that the team has largely succeeded in its objective of providing a modern experience for audiences. Armored Core 6 features a fast and frenetic combat lop that’s just a joy to engage with, and the bevy of customization options makes it all so much more compelling.

Deliver Us Mars

Deliver Us Mars is a spiritual successor to Deliver Us The Moon, and the many merits of the 2018 release shine brightly in Deliver Us Mars as well. The story revolves around a space crew embarking on Mars in the hopes of retrieving some stolen spaceships from a mysterious race of aliens called the Outward. It’s all written and performed well, and while the gameplay doesn’t have too many action elements – it does a good job of keeping you engaged through the compelling plot and a wide variety of gameplay options like exploration, puzzle solving, and much more.

Fort Solis

Developer Fallen Leaf’s latest Fort Solis also sends players to explore the furthest depths of the planet Mars, as our protagonist Jack Leary embarks on a search mission for his missing crew. Fort Solis boasts a star cast with the likes of Roger Clark (the voice behind Arthur Morgan) and Troy Baker (the voice behind Joel from The Last of Us) coming to play important characters in this well-written story. Between this and a strong visual presentation powered by Unreal Engine 5, Fort Solis is a solid game that should be experienced by a lot more people.

Jusant

Jusant comes from the guys at Dontnod, the studio best known for its work on the Life is Strange series. Jusant is all about reaching the top of a tall tower while overcoming the many obstacles that lie in your way. It beautifully combines mechanical challenge with immersive storytelling to create something that’s just hard to put down – once you get the hang of it.

Risk of Rain Returns

The original Risk of Rain was an excellent roguelike that featured some amazing combat and compelling progression mechanics, and Risk of Rain Returns is a remaster that knows how to package that experience in a way that feels worthwhile for veterans and newcomers alike. In addition to the base content, Risk of Rain also features enhanced multiplayer options and new build types to experiment with on your repeat playthroughs.

Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe

Originally released in 2011 for the Nintendo Wii, Kirby’s Return to Dream Land now has a Deluxe Edition that comes with updated graphics and smoothed-out gameplay designed for the Nintendo Switch. Much like every other Kirby game, Return to Dream Land is a simple yet fun adventure where you make your way through a wide variety of levels while consuming your enemies to get their powers and become even stronger.

Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider

JoyMasher’s Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider feels like a glorious throwback to 16-bit games, thanks to some incredible art direction and smooth-flowing gameplay that remains interesting for the entire duration of the experience. Of course, there are some elements and mechanics in place to make the gameplay feel more palatable for modern audiences which makes it feel like you are reliving the glory days of SNES complete with rose-tinted glasses.

Horizon Call of the Mountain

Horizon: Call of the Mountain was one of the first games to be released for PSVR2, and it’s an excellent adaptation of the full-fat Horizon experience in VR format. Sure, the open-world aspect has been swapped out for a more linear game where you make your way through carefully curated combat challenges and platforming runs – but it all works surprisingly well within the context of the game. And then of course, getting to experience the post-post-apocalyptic world of Horizon from up close is also a really distinct kind of joy in and of itself.

Planet of Lana

Planet of Lana puts players in the teeny tiny shoes of Lana as she kickstarts a grand adventure through fantastical realms inhabited by all sorts of robotic and humanoid creatures. Created by developer Wishfully, Planet of Lana takes players on a joyous ride through a wonderfully well-realized world and tells a heartwarming story that hits just the right notes at every moment. Add to that some amazing visuals and cinematic gameplay, and Planet of Lana becomes a thrill ride like no other.

In the closing moments of Nintendo’s recent Indie World Showcase, it was announced that Planet of Lana is headed to the Switch. The game will launch for Nintendo’s hybrid platform sometime in Spring 2024, though a specific release date (or further details about what the port will entail) haven’t been shared. The game will also launch for PlayStation consoles at the same time, it’s been confirmed.

“We’re delighted to be bringing Planet of Lana to Switch and PlayStation in Spring 2024,” said Wishfully Studios’ director Adam Stjärnljus. “We want to share our game with as many people as possible, so this is something we are very excited about. Thanks to all the fans that helped make Planet of Lana a success on PC and console and thanks to the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation communities for your patience – I promise we will do our best to make it worth the wait!”

In our review of Planet of Lana, we awarded it a score of 9/10, saying, “Planet of Lana is an incredible journey. It’s a down-to-earth traipse through a unique but endearing off-world setting, with tight pacing and excellent presentation underscoring a tale of camaraderie and familial devotion. Whether it’s the incredible visuals or the stellar gameplay, it’s worth your time.” Read the full review through here.

Planet of Lana is currently available on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC.

Final Fantasy 16

Even with the shift to real-time action and a darker story, Final Fantasy 16 excels at the genre’s main pillars. Its story is gripping with excellent characterization and well-written dialogue; the combat is satisfying with a wealth of options and a variety of unique encounters, and the presentation is simply excellent with its visual fidelity (especially in the Eikon battles) and soundtrack. Issues with Performance Mode and some lackluster side quests aside; Final Fantasy 16 is just fantastic.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

The expectations for Nintendo’s long-awaited sequel were sky-high, yet it went above and beyond those to deliver one of the greatest games ever made. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom didn’t just quench one’s thirst for adventure but gave them so many awesome tools to outright break the game. It then presented various unique puzzles and combat scenarios designed around the same, encouraging players to dig deep into the sandbox and really comb Hyrule’s depths (and Depths). However, it also offers one of the more satisfying Zelda stories. From top to bottom, Tears of the Kingdom is a masterpiece.

Resident Evil 4 Remake

From the new Parry mechanic to gameplay, Resident Evil 4 Remake offers new and engaging features. The gorgeous visuals, which look incredibly stunning and add to the darker atmosphere, don’t hurt either.

F1 23

After last year’s underwhelming entry, F1 23 signals a return to quality with new tracks, features like 35% Race Distance (and the return of Red Flags), and a new Braking Point campaign. F1 World expands on F1 Life, with goals to pursue across all modes, and the Safety Rating system ensures better online play. It all comes together well with the solid racing, and having the Podium Pass return on top of everything else is great.

Street Fighter 6

Capcom’s newest mainline Street Fighter casts off the shadows of its controversial predecessor with a gorgeous new presentation, the Drive system for strategic yet fast-paced mechanics, and loads of new features to make online play great. The 18 characters each feel excellent to play, while Modern Controls ensure everyone can jump in and start having a good time. World Tour isn’t the strongest part, but it’s still a fun beat ’em up-style campaign with lots of rewards to unlock.

Planet of Lana

Wishfully’s side-scrolling puzzle platformer inspired by the likes of Inside offers a gorgeous sci-fi adventure with stunning vistas and well-designed puzzles. Lana’s quest to find her older sister after aliens attack her planet is presented with confidence, featuring an excellent soundtrack and solid platforming mechanics. If only it wasn’t over so soon.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Despite severe issues at launch, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor shone through with its incredible gameplay, expanded exploration and abilities, and compelling storyline. The darker narrative explored a more desperate side of Cal Kestis while featuring new opponents to fight, Lightsaber Styles to dispatch them with, and tons of different activities and secrets to find. Though somewhat forgotten, thanks to Tears of the Kingdom launching soon after, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is still a satisfying hack-and-slash adventure.

Dredge

Fishing meets cosmic horror – what more needs to be said? Dredge sees players exploring The Marrows and catching fish while taking on different quests. However, as you unearth mysterious artifacts, horrors of the deep soon emerge, especially after dark. With over 125 fish, unique abilities, more than a few terrifying situations and great fishing mechanics, Dredge is an addictive experience.

Hi-Fi Rush

Tango Gameworks’ breakout Xbox console exclusive is just what Microsoft needed. It’s a great character action game with incredible hack-and-slash mechanics, a rocking soundtrack and perfect rhythmic gameplay. The story is also pretty fun, with protagonist Chai fighting against the evil Vandelay Technologies with over-the-top combos and assistance. With gorgeous animated visuals and incredible boss fights, Hi-Fi Rush is a must-play title for action game fans.

Dead Island 2

How fresh could slaying the undead in 2023 feel? Dambuster Studios’ answered that question very well with Dead Island 2. Taking a linear approach to its level design, it focused on the satisfaction of slaying zombies with plenty of powerful weapons and abilities, unique characters, and incredibly visceral gore. Dead Island 2 could have been a disaster following its development hell, but it rose above expectations to deliver a fun romp through HELL-A.

Hogwarts Legacy

While it probably could have done more with reputation systems and classes, Hogwarts Legacy is still a fun open-world action RPG. With its variety of spells and mechanics, the combat is easy to get into and offers some satisfying effects (especially when Avada Kedavara’ing an enemy into oblivion). The companion quest chains are great, and as a whole, it does a great job immersing you in the world of Hogwarts with everything there is to see and do.

Amnesia: The Bunker

Frictional Games’ Amnesia: The Bunker takes a more sandbox approach to horror as players venture through a sealed World War 1 bunker, hunted by a terrifying creature. The generator and fuel mechanics add to the horror, while the darkness is downright oppressive. Being able to approach things non-linearly with different solutions is also great, even if some of those lead to quicker deaths.

Dead Space Remake

Dead Space Remake leans further into reimagining the original sci-fi horror. It adds several new rooms and puzzles, new mechanics for some random horror, side quests that highlight certain characters more and even reworks major aspects of the story in interesting ways. Combined with the new Peeling system and revamped Zero-G, it’s a stunning display of action and terror worthy of its inspiration.

Metroid Prime Remastered

While remakes dominated the headlines, Nintendo showcased that a remaster can be just as good. Metroid Prime Remastered isn’t as straightforward, with its visuals bordering on remake-esque with their fidelity. However, it retains everything fans know and love about the classic, from the excellent level design and combat to the unique first-person mechanics and stellar bosses. A sequel is long overdue, but Metroid Prime Remastered fills that void in all the best ways.

Dave the Diver

Another top-tier ocean-related game with fishing? You bet, but Dave the Diver goes even further beyond as you venture into the Blue Hole to catch fish and use those gains to run a sushi restaurant. Interesting side quests, great humor, fun mini-games and a great art style to go with the sleek soundtrack make this a smorgasbord of incredible gameplay.

Planet of Lana takes place in Novo and follows the titular protagonist, Lana. After her sister and fellow villagers are kidnapped by invading machines, she embarks on a journey to find them. She meets a cute creature named Mui, and together, the two cooperate to bypass obstacles, outsmart the machines with stealth and cunning, and learn more about Novo.

With gorgeous hand-painted visuals, excellent pacing and compelling exploration, Planet of Lana is worth checking out (read more in our review). Of course, the game’s launch isn’t the end, as the developer confirmed that rebindable controls and additional accessibility options were coming “as soon as possible.” In the meantime, bug fixes will go live later this week, so stay tuned.

However, things quickly take a turn when mysterious machines suddenly enter the planet’s atmosphere. Ilo is kidnapped, and as Lana returns to the village, the once-peaceful surroundings are smoldering, the screams of its residents echoing throughout. The machines capture everyone to some mysterious end, and the previously playful chase gives way to a tense and desperate attempt to escape, as your stealth skills are tested.

"Everything is exquisitely presented, with slow zoom-outs emphasizing the scale of the world and its beauty, while the framing creates this overwhelming contrast."

This contrast is just one example of Planet of Lana’s incredible attention to detail. The narrative effortlessly flows from a peaceful setting to one of strife while acquainting you with the gameplay, world, and characters. Lana is motivated to find her sister, and given her relatively young age, it’s unlikely she knows what awaits out in the wilderness. The fauna and flora encountered are almost as foreign to her as the player, and you start to question the planet’s very nature.

What exactly is happening, why the machines are kidnapping humans, and much more slowly unfolds throughout the narrative. There are no subtitles for the unique language that Lana and her people speak (which makes the initial game of chase much more significant in learning her sister’s name). As a result, much of the storytelling is through the environment. You’ll witness other villages abandoned or assailed, likely due to the machines, but also uncover dark caves brimming with secrets.

Each location tells a story, and the cutscenes flow naturally with the pacing, either as gorgeous establishing shots of environments or highlighting what seems to be the machines’ mothership. Everything is exquisitely presented, with slow zoom-outs emphasizing the scale of the world and its beauty, while the framing creates this overwhelming contrast. Lana isn’t your typical hero, and she’s definitely out of her depth, but she’ll do anything to save her sister.

Of course, Lana doesn’t undertake the journey alone. A small creature named Mui, whom she rescues from a machine’s trap, accompanies her. Mui climbs through environments easily, leaping up to bring down a rope for Lana to climb. It can also navigate tight spaces that Lana can’t crawl through, venture down holes to distract enemies and much more.

"The puzzles feel natural and rationally thought-out – examining your surroundings and an enemy’s patterns, along with some moderately good reflexes, is often the path to success."

Mui also needs help, since it isn’t a fan of swimming and can’t break through boarded-up areas. There are times when you’ll build bridges for each character, helping the other to cross. As they overcome more hardships, the dynamic between Lana and Mui evolves. In addition to jumping, climbing and dropping down from ledges, Lana can also issue commands to Mui. You can tell it to follow or stay and specify a target location. It seems simple, but the initial puzzles do an incredible job of playing with this dynamic.

You’ll start with Mui staying on some weird fauna to create a bridge for Lana to cross. Then you’re instructing Mui to go down a hole to distract a machine while climbing around it with Lana or distracting a giant creature with her and then escaping before it can reach while commanding Mui to activate a light to keep it at bay. The puzzles grow in complexity, especially when introducing new mechanics, but it’s to Planet of Lana’s credit that it naturally eases you in.

Since Lana and Mui need to survive each encounter, there may have been some frustration with each failure. However, the puzzles feel natural and rationally thought-out – examining your surroundings and an enemy’s patterns, along with some moderately good reflexes, is often the path to success. And even if you die, a healthy amount of checkpoints and fast loading times ensure you’re quickly back in the action.

Lana does feel less floaty than your average platforming hero (or Mui). You’ll have to account for momentum while jumping – no changing directions in mid-air. Nevertheless, the controls feel responsive and natural. It takes some time to get used to directing Mui to certain spots since the cursor somewhat snaps to vantage points, but it becomes seamless enough to handle.

"However, it’s all the more incredible how Wishfully also captures the themes of family, becoming attuned to the environment, and survival, instead of brutal killing."

Visually, Planet of Lana is gorgeous. The environments and backgrounds look hand painted and animate realistically, whether you’re traversing a forest or gazing upon the horizon as the ocean stretches out. No scene feels extraneous or excessive in its details. The lighting and color palette reflect the tone of various situations, from bright and wondrous to dark and mysterious, without being too overpowering or overstated. At times, it’s like a balancing game, one that successfully defines the experience.

However, it’s all the more incredible how Wishfully also captures the themes of family, becoming attuned to the environment, and survival, instead of brutal killing. The animations are also impeccable. Lana will tilt her head towards objects of interest, and the machines shift seamlessly from searching and scanning to outright hostility.

Then there’s the soundtrack and effects. Orchestrations swell joyfully as Lana chases Ilo and boom with tension when the machines land. It’s understated but still somewhat positive when traveling with Mui, as the sound of birds and the wind carries through different environments. And even without understanding the language, the voice work is stellar. Hearing Lana’s intonation change based on the situation and Mui chuckling at times further reinforces their camaraderie.

In many ways, Planet of Lana is reminiscent of Playdead’s Inside. It’s tautly paced with well-executed puzzles but also carried by an undercurrent of mystery as you delve further into the world, keen on getting answers. Plus, they both have that same feeling of the world being out to get you.

"Overall, Planet of Lana is a beautiful experience with tight gameplay, a compelling and well-designed world, and a strong narrative anchored by two likeable leads and an imposing threat."

Planet of Lana differs in the connection between Lana, Mui and the world itself. Instead of various enemies and occurrences instilling isolation as more surreal events occur, there is a feeling of empathy to go with the wonder. The world is dangerous, but it can also be beautiful; lending its aid or opposing you equally.

In terms of performance, the game ran flawlessly with no issues whatsoever on PC. I spotted one bug, which had no impact on my experience. Though rebindable controls aren’t available, Wishfully has assured that they’ll be patched, along with accessibility features and an option to turn off the UI, as soon as possible. Not that the lack of such options affected my experience – even the default controls felt great – but it’s nice to have them.

Some minor puzzles may have been trimmed to further tighten the pacing. There also isn’t much by way of replay value – there are hidden areas and chapter selection to revisit previous sections, and that’s it. Not that it’s a detriment in any way. It’s hard to find any fault at all, really.

Overall, Planet of Lana is a beautiful experience with tight gameplay, a compelling and well-designed world, and a strong narrative anchored by two likeable leads and an imposing threat. This year – heck, even this quarter – could see it fall under the radar of some big blockbusters. However, the odyssey of Lana and Mui is worth undertaking and remembering.

This game was reviewed on PC.

For starters, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers get access to FIFA 23 via EA Play on PC and consoles starting today, while May 18 will see another couple of new titles arriving with Eastern Exorcist for console and PC, and Ghostlore for console.

On May 23, long-awaited sci-fi adventure title Planet of Lana will launch day one with Game Pass on both PC and consoles. It will be followed on May 25 with the addition of Pokemon-like open world RPG Cassette Beasts (console), tactical strategy title Massive Chalice (cloud and console), and management sim Railway Empire 2 (cloud, console, and PC).

Finally, acclaimed indie adventure game Chicory: A Colorful Tale is arriving on May 30 (console and PC).

In a press release, director Adam Stjarnljus said, “We are so pleased to finally be able to reveal that Planet of Lana is coming to PC and Xbox on May 23. Thank you to everyone who has shown such love and support for our game over the last few years. We can’t wait for you to land in the magical world we’ve worked so hard to create and experience this adventure for yourselves.”

Set on a planet invaded by a mysterious army, Planet of Lana sees the titular protagonist embarking on a journey to save her sister. She joins up with the mysterious Mui, and they must brave various dangers, cooperating to solve puzzles. Stealth is more important than conflict, and you’ll encounter strange terrain to use to your advance.

Planet of Lana has garnered quite the hype due to its gorgeous 2D art style. Check out the opening 18 minutes of gameplay here. You can also watch how some of the puzzles work here. Stay tuned for more updates in the coming weeks.

Starfield

Starfield is Bethesda’s first new IP in over 25 years, and is inarguably the crown jewel in Xbox’s slew of upcoming titles. Starfield has been described as Skyrim in space, and while that description may sound reductive to some – it has us sincerely hyped for what’s in store. The NASA-punk space designs look incredible, and with a massive open-world comprising over 100 planets to explore – Starfield has a ton of great things going for it. It will be released in the first half of 2023 for Xbox Series X/S and PC.

The Elder Scrolls 6

To many, the next entry in this premiere RPG franchise might sound like a distant dream – and we can’t blame you for it. The Elder Scrolls 6 was unveiled really early on in development, and with Bethesda still largely focused on completing Starfield – it’s going to be a long time until we get our hands on the title. It’s still in pre-production at the moment, and rumor has it that it is targeting a 2025-26 release date. Naturally, it will be a console exclusive and will be released for Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Everwild

Rare is known for creating some of the best platformers of all time, and while its output under Microsoft has resulted in an unfortunate slump – its next project Everwild sounds really intriguing nevertheless. Everwild takes place in a magical world filled with wondrous creatures and colorful characters, though details on the gameplay remain scant for now. Development has been pretty turbulent to say the least, and there’s little in the name of concrete information surrounding its release. It will also be coming to Xbox Series X/S and PC in the near future.

Fable

After rounding its work on the excellent Forza Horizon 5, Playground Games is shifting gears over to the highly-anticipated Fable reboot. While we haven’t seen much of the game, the cinematic reveal trailer looks really impressive nevertheless. Rumors of a turbulent development cycle have been doing the rounds as of late, but take this information with a pinch of salt. But either way, fans will have to wait a bit before Fable lands on Xbox Series X/S and PC in the near future.

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2

Ninja Theory absolutely smashed it out of the park with Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice; a game that single-handedly showcased the sheer potential in middle-market experiences. Now that the developer has been acquired by Microsoft, it has more resources to create the sequel – and it looks absolutely stunning. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is powered by Unreal Engine 5, and it is truly a sight to behold with impressive next-gen graphics and detailed motion capture performances. No release dates have been revealed just yet, but it will be coming to Xbox Series X/S and PC sometime in the future.

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

GSC Game World is hard at work reviving the cult classic series with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl, which had us awestruck with its very first reveal. The graphics are absolutely stunning from a technical standpoint, and the gameplay has been modernized with smooth flowing controls. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 faced plenty of development issues in the face of the recent humanitarian crisis in the developer’s homeland, but thankfully – development has resumed once again. It’s planned to be released sometime before June 2023 for Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Redfall

Redfall is undoubtedly one of the most promising games on this list. A co-operative first-person shooter that tasks teams to hunt down vampires, all with the flair and personality that one expects from an Arkane release – I mean who wouldn’t be excited at the prospect? Of course, the gameplay is also looking pretty captivating as well – and we can’t wait to dive into Redall when it supposedly launches sometime before 2023 for Xbox Series X/S and PC.

State of Decay 3

While State of Decay 2 didn’t have the best of critical reception at its launch, post-launch updates and expansions have really helped in turning the game’s fates around for good. State of Decay 3 will hopefully continue down that good path, though the reveal trailer seems to suggest that it will be taking a darker turn with infected wildlife and sub-optimal weather conditions being introduced to the mix. Of course, concrete details are scant at the moment – and naturally, the game doesn’t have a release date at this point.

Perfect Dark Reboot

The Initiative is currently hard at work at bringing Perfect Dark, one of the tentpole releases of the N64, to the modern gaming landscape with a new reboot for Xbox Series X/S. Series protagonist Joanna Dark is making a return with a new story that revolves around a future dystopia with an ecological twist. Recent developments on the game include a partnership with Crystal Dynamics and Days Gone director Jeff Ross joining in on the project – both of which indicate that fans will still have to wait some time before getting their hands on the final release.

Forza Motorsport

Following the rave success of Forza Horizon 5, the baton has been passed down to Turn10 Studios for the next entry in the simulation-oriented Forza Motorsport series. While it is technically Forza Motorsport 8, this entry is meant to be a soft reboot to this long-running franchise. The developer is promising an even more detailed simulation engine under the hood, and you can expect hundreds of cars from different car cultures recreated with astute attention to detail in eye-popping graphical fidelity. Forza Motorsport will be released in Spring 2023 for Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Ark 2

Studio Wildcard’s upcoming Ark 2 is looking like everything you would want from a sequel to one of the best survival games of recent memory, and if that doesn’t get you pumped for this title – I don’t know what will. In addition to this, Ark 2 also features Hollywood star Vin Diesel assuming the role of the protagonist – which hints at a more robust single-player story component than the first game. It arrives for Xbox Series X/S and PC in 2023.

Planet of Lana

Developer Wishfully’s Planet of Lana is set to release sometime during Q2 2023, and it looks really impressive on a visual level. The artists put forth a colourful world that’s really intriguing, one that’s filled with all sorts of sci-fi elements among other things. Planet of Lana also sports a cinematic flair, which makes this puzzle adventure worth looking out for. It releases for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC.

Replaced

Set against a dystopian cyberpunk future, Replaced puts you in the shoes of an AI by the name of R.E.A.C.H. which has been trapped in a human body. Throughout this adventure, you will get to explore the many neighborhoods of a beautifully rendered Phoenix City as you jump across gaps and slash through foes in this 2.5D adventure. The gorgeous pixel art is definitely the drawing factor here, and it releases for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

The Last Case of Benedict Fox

In keeping with the theme of intriguing platformers, we have The Last Case of Benedict Fox. This impeccably beautiful game is heavily influenced by the works of H.P. Lovecraft, but it fuses those dark horrors with warm colors and cartoony aesthetics for a fresh look that’s hard to ignore. You’ll be solving puzzles, overcoming challenges, and fighting bosses with new powers and abilities as you try to get to the bottom of a murder mystery. The Last Case of Benedict Fox releases for Xbox Series X/S and PC sometime this year.

The video shows what are apparently the first 18 minutes of the game. The protagonist wakes up in a grassy field and is met by an adorable mouse-like alien creature, and after a brief introduction, the two set off together. The video shows a few tutorials, along with some basic movement, platforming, and puzzle solving. From a visual perspective, the game is looking absolutely gorgeous, while it also seems like it’s going to have an excellent soundtrack to match. Check out the footage below.

Planet of Lana was previously due out sometime this year, but recently got delayed to Spring 2023. It’s in development for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC, and will also be available via Game Pass at launch.