The number one thing that becomes noticeable with Tempest Rising is the fact that the developers behind the game are very obviously massive fans of the classic Command & Conquer games. Now, I don’t mean this in a bad way; it’s not like we’re in danger of getting a new C&C game any time soon anyway. But Tempest Rising definitely feels like it is trying to build on the sturdy foundations that were once laid down by the long-dead Westwood Studios. Much like the classic, Tempest Rising has two playable factions, each with its own unique mechanics, and it even has its own special resource that is essentially the cause of conflict in the main story. Where C&C had Tiberium, Tempest Rising has the eponymous Tempest.

Once you get past that initial shock of just how similar to Command & Conquer it feels, there is quite a bit to like about Tempest Rising, be it the core minute-to-minute gameplay where you’re constantly making decisions that not only affect your short-term tactics, but your overall strategy over the course of a match as well, or even just the enthusiasm you can sense in the voice of the characters in both of the game’s campaigns. In this day and age, a real-time strategy game is only really made out of a love for the genre anymore, and it definitely feels like plenty of love went into making Tempest Rising.

"Once you get past that initial shock of just how similar to Command & Conquer it feels, there is quite a bit to like about Tempest Rising"

Speaking of which, the minute-to-minute gameplay feels like it was quite well thought out. Even the main UI is laid out quite well, and veterans of the genre will be able to pick up on things quite easily. Newcomers shouldn’t feel too overwhelmed either, since the title uses the C&C template of how buildings, units, resources, and even special abilities like airstrikes work. The most interesting thing about the title is how fast-paced it can often feel. Tempest Rising doesn’t really feel slow and clunky. Rather, it feels like it was developed with the idea that players will get good at the game, and online matches will often be decided with a few quick skirmishes rather than a drawn-out all-out war where both sides can keep pumping out new soldiers and tanks.

The core gameplay is quite simple. You start off by building a Power Core to provide power to your base. After that, just about every new building you build will unlock either more buildings, or new units that you can then use to bolster your army. To keep this going, you will have to set up harvesters that can get you the primary currency – Tempest – while also making sure that you have enough power generators being built to allow you to expand your base even further. Along the way you’ll start building various buildings that allow you to train soldiers, build tanks, and even aerial vehicles, that can then be sent into your larger army, or kept aside for scouting and quick harassment skirmishes.

The skirmish and online modes are where Tempest Rising feels like it’s at its best. This largely comes down to the fact that you aren’t locked away from any of your chosen faction’s mechanics. However, this isn’t to say that the single-player campaigns are bad. Rather, they’re quite fun. Sure, the story is cheesy as hell, and tends to be quite full of forgettable characters that bark your mission parameters at you. But when it comes to level design and missions, Tempest Rising can easily stand up there with some of the best of the genre. Along with missions that play out like a typical match, you also get more specialised missions that, for example, task you with infiltrating an enemy base to destroy key buildings with only a single unit.

"The character models that brief you on your missions during the campaign are animated quite strangely"

One of the only downsides of the main campaign is the fact that the planned third faction isn’t out yet. The story does quite well to hint at its existence, however, and there is plenty to look forward to considering the nature of Tempest as a substance that everyone is fighting over. Another downside is the fact that the character models that brief you on your missions during the campaign are animated quite strangely. Especially obvious with your original commander, the lip syncing with the dialogue feels somewhat off putting, and tends to veer into the uncanny valley at times. This problem isn’t really there with characters that wear masks, thankfully.

Much like in just about any RTS out there, the campaigns in Tempest Rising have been designed as a long tutorial. Mechanics and new units are introduced quite gradually as you make your way through the stories, and by the end, the game ultimately wants you to feel comfortable enough with its mechanics, units, and overall factions, to want to jump online and compete with other players. At its best, Tempest Rising often tends to evoke the feelings of staying awake late at night in a room lit only by my monitor as I jumped into yet another StarCraft: Brood War match online. With two playable factions, there are plenty of tricks to figure out when it comes to strategies.

Both factions – the Global Defense Forces and the Tempest Dynasty – tend to look similar in terms of gameplay style from the outset, but there are subtleties to both of them that end up feeling like much larger differences once you actually get down to it. For example, the GDF has more of an emphasis on “finesse” styled units, like Drone Operators and Specialist Snipers. Sure, they have vehicles, but a lot of them tend to be more specialised in their purposes as well, with bespoke anti-infantry and anti-armour vehicles, each serving a specific purpose.

"Tempest Rising is a really good looking RTS"

The Tempest Dynasty, on the other hand, tends to feel more like a “brute force” kind of faction when you play. Its units tend to have bigger guns that can do more damage, but there is also an emphasis on more vehicles. It’s quite common to see an entire battalion of flamethrower tanks that are being backed up by SAM-mounted trucks in a battle, compared to the more infantry-heavy approach that the GDF takes. Along with these differences, there are even smaller subtleties to how they play; where the GDF buildings are created in the field, the Tempest Dynasty instead creates its buildings internally before you then put it down. While this may not sound like much, it tends to make a huge difference when, for example, you’ve got a few turrets banked that you can just put down quickly in response to an enemy attacking your base.

It is also worth noting that Tempest Rising is a really good looking RTS. The visuals can often be jaw-dropping, especially when you see two huge armies collide. Bullets and drones will be flying all over the place, and infantry units will ragdoll away when an airstrike drops a bomb on the battle. All while flamethrower tanks are flanking your Grenadiers so that they can’t do too much damage to your buildings. The excellent visuals are coupled with some great music that, while it sounds great, ultimately tends to fall into continuous loops of the same metal music.

Tempest Rising feels like an absolutely loving throwback to the old days when RTSes were one of the biggest genres in gaming. While there are a few rough edges with the game, it feels incredibly polished. All things considered, the only things that feel missing from the game are the planned third faction, and maybe some more maps for the skirmish and multiplayer modes.

This game was reviewed on PC.

Days Gone Remastered

After years of asking for a sequel, Days Gone fans have been rewarded with…a PS5 remaster. Thankfully, Days Gone Remastered, out on April 25th features some notable new content like Horde Assault, where Deacon must survive against larger, more challenging hordes. Enemies become more difficult as time passes, and you can even control brand-new characters to survive for as long as possible.

You also have Speedrun and Permadeath modes with graphical improvements, reduced loading times and DualSense support. PS4 owners can upgrade to the remaster for $10, and all content will be available for PC players via the Broken Roads DLC at launch.

Forza Horizon 5 (PS5)

For a long time (over three years, in fact), the de facto racing experience on PS5 has been Gran Turismo 7. However, it’s finally getting some real competition when Playground Games’ Forza Horizon 5 launches on April 25th. It’s the first title in the franchise to debut on a Sony console and, more importantly, one of the very best with its incredible open world, stunning visuals, hundreds of cars, and a litany of features.

Best of all, a new update, Horizon Realms, goes live the same day, offering up 11 returning tracks, the new Stadium Track, over 60 Accolades, new cars, and much more.

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered (PC)

Just when you thought it was over, somehow, The Last of Us returns, right on time for season 2 of the TV series. It’s the PS5 remaster debuting for PC on April 3rd, and alongside all the platform-specific features like support for Ultrawide displays, DLSS and FSR, there’s some brand new content in No Return. The rogue-like mode will receive two new characters and four new maps to go with the previously included Lost Levels, developer commentary, Guitar Free Play and more.

South of Midnight

With a story seeped in Deep South mythology and stop-motion-like visuals for its cutscenes, South of Midnight is an unexpectedly endearing new title from Compulsion Games. Launching on April 8th for Xbox Series X/S and PC, it’s about Hazel who becomes a Weaver after her hometown is wrecked by a hurricane. From interacting with giant fish and crocodiles to mending spiritual bonds, she seeks her own place in the universe while dealing with tragedy. With about 15 to 25 hours of gameplay, South of Midnight could be one of the more underrated titles of the year.

Commandos: Origins

Jack O’Hara and his legendary Commandos return, albeit in a prequel that explores their origins. Launching on April 9th for PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S, players will embark on over ten missions throughout World War 2, combining their squad’s strengths to succeed. Go alone or with a friend in split-screen or online co-op, and experiment with different approaches to succeed, be it stealth, subterfuge or chaos.

Descenders Next

An extreme-sports-meets-rogue-like title is already fairly unorthodox, but RageSquid is taking the formula even further with Descenders Next. You can still play solo or with up to other players and find the best way to reach the bottom of the mountain as quickly as possible. It’s an instinctual joy, and there are new clothes and boards to unlock, a new soundtrack, and much more to dive into when it launches on April 9th.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Sandfall Interactive’s homage to real-time parrying and dodging and an imaginative fantasy world. Suffice it to say that it looks like a winner ahead of its launch on April 24th with its 30+ hour main story, gorgeous visuals and an all-star cast.

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves

A sequel to Garou: Mark of the Wolves wasn’t on every fighting game fan’s wishlist for 2025, but here we are. Launching on April 24th for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC, City of the Wolves sees several returning fighters, some newcomers, and even a few debuts by Fatal Fury legends. With rollback netcode, cross-play, a new RPG-like single-player mode and the REV System for new tactics, it could take the community by storm.

MotoGP 25

As little as the franchise evolves year after year, you have to give credit to Milestone’s MotoGP franchise for its consistency. The latest title, MotoGP 25, launches on April 30th and offers new Race Off Disciplines for its modes, a new Arcade Experience, improved adaptive difficulty, and cross-play. It’s coming to Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Steel Seed

Close to the Sun developer, Storm in a Teacup is going in a completely different direction with its next title, Steel Seed. As Zoe, players traverse a mysterious facility in a post-apocalyptic world, dealing with hordes of unwelcoming machines. Mixing platforming and puzzles with combat and light stealth, Steel Seed launches on April 10th for PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5.

Bionic Bay

Speaking of platformers, Bionic Bay, slated for last month, arrives on April 17th for PS5 and PC. The biomechanical setting and premise are still intriguing, however, and having the ability to flip environments, and manipulate physics to traverse obstacles looks cool. And for those who really want to test their platforming skills, an Online Mode with events and leaderboards is also included.

Tempest Rising

If you’ve been feeling the lack of any Command and Conquer-like titles over the past several years, Slipgate Ironworks’ Tempest Rising may help. It’s out on April 24th for PC, offering two playable factions with unique units, two campaigns, online multiplayer, custom games, and the base-building real-time strategy you know and love.

Forever Skies

A survival crafting game in a post-apocalyptic setting may not inspire the most interest, but Forever Skies offers some intriguing spins on the formula. Instead of exploring the dust-covered Earth on foot, you’re venturing through the skies on an airship, gathering resources to upgrade it from various skyscrapers and structures. What awaits on the surface? You’ll have to find out when Forever Skies exits early access and launches on April 14th for PS5 and PC.

Crashlands 2

The sequel to Butterscotch Shenanigans’ survival crafting classic finally arrives on April 10th and sees Flux Dabes returning to Woanope to reunite with her buddies. Things quickly go wrong though, and after yet another crash landing, she embarks on a journey to find out what’s happening while combating dangerous creatures, unlocking upgrades, and more. With vastly improved visuals, new recipes, and more, Crashlands 2 could be the perfect cozy crafting sim for fans when it launches on PC, iOS, and Android.

Monaco 2

Speaking of a long-awaited sequel to a classic title, Monaco 2 also launches on April 10th for PC, Xbox Series X/S and PS5. Much like the original, you’re still conducting heists alone or with up to three other players but there are new characters and playstyles and Blueprint Mode for finer planning. Whether you’re in it for the zany yet stylish campaign or the long haul with its procedurally generated levels, Monaco 2 should be a worthy follow-up.

The demo for Tempest Rising, which will be available until February 3 as part of the currently-ongoing Real-Time Strategy Fest on Steam, features a number of game modes, including multiplayer, with 3 maps: The Alps (2v2), Oasis (1v1), and Altitude (1v1). While fans of single-player campaigns will have to wait for a bit, they can still check out the gameplay through skirmishes against AI opponents in these maps.

Tempest Rising takes place in an alternate timeline in the year 1997, where conflict rose due to the Cuban Missile Crisis going nuclear. At launch, the game will feature single-player campaigns, complete with unique factions that will allow players to experience the story.

On the gameplay front, Tempest Rising is looking to classic RTS titles of the past, with a focus on fast and fluid base building as well as plenty of customisation and battles to take part in. The multiplayer will feature two factions, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, as well as entirely different rosters.

The game is available for pre-order at €39.99 for the standard edition, and €49.99 for the deluxe edition, which includes a digital artbook, the full 43-track soundtrack, and a week’s advanced access to the game. Pre-ordering Tempest Rising will also get players access to the Commander Pack DLC, which includes in-game cosmetics like player icons, cursors and skins.

Tempest Rising is coming to PC on April 24.

The publisher is bringing a number of notable games to its booth, while it will also be streaming new gameplay, developer interviews, and more. A number of these games were, of course, recently shown off at the THQ Nordic Showcase.

For starters, Destroy All Humans! 2 – Reprobed, which is launching later this month, is going to be playable. THQ Nordic is also bringing survival horror reboot Alone in the Dark, as well as the likes of SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake, Outcast 2 – A New Beginning, and AEW: Fight Forever. 

Other games included in the publisher’s lineup for Gamescom 2022 are Tempest Rising, Wreckreation, The Valiant, and SpellForce: Conquest of Eo.

Recently, Microsoft also shared details on what you can expect from the Xbox booth at Gamescom, including titles such as Pentiment, Sea of Thieves, and more. Read more on that through here.

Of course, before Gamescom proper kicks off, we’ll also get Gamescom Opening Night Live on August 23. The 2-hour long live show will be hosted by Geoff Keighley and will feature over 30 games on-stage, including the likes of Hogwarts Legacy, The Callisto Protocol, High on Life, Sonic Frontiers, and more.