In a similar vein, we now have another take on the genre with Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance, which along with being an interesting take on the real-time strategy genre, also manages to prove that even movie-licensed games might be seeing something of a renaissance. In fact, considering games like Alien: Dark Descent and RoboCop: Rogue City, AA games based on movie properties have managed to thrive. The question, ultimately, is whether Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance also can live up to its contemporaries when it comes to actually being a fun game.

The best way to describe the actual moment-to-moment gameplay of Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance is that it can be a bit much at times. The game prides itself on having an incredible level of realism, and when it comes down to all the different things you have to keep a track of and the logistical nightmare that fighting a never-ending horde of robots becomes, realism is a surprisingly apt word to describe it.

"Speaking of broken down equipment, even the vehicles have several things to track aside from just their ammo."

For context, you’re not just going to throw down some buildings and pump out soldiers to fight in your war. Rather, the campaign will give you a limited set of squads, and sometimes even vehicles, that you will have to work hard to keep alive. As you go about completing various objectives in the campaign’s levels, you’ll also soon start to notice that you actually have to keep track of your squads’ equipment and munitions. Just about every weapon your units are equipped with has a very real chance of running out of ammo, especially if you find yourself engaging with an enemy squad from a disadvantageous position.

There are a number of things to keep a track of in Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance. Just about every squad has several small statistics that you will want to get a hang of. For example, regular rangers don’t seem to ever learn how to drive, so you can’t really have them man a turret or get into a tank to mow down some enemies. Rather, you’ll have to look for units that are specifically trained in driving to be able to do things like that. Similarly, Engineers are not only experts at most vehicles, but they also have a knack for repairing broken down equipment.

Speaking of broken down equipment, even the vehicles have several things to track aside from just their ammo. For instance, they can, and depending on the length of the level, likely will run out of fuel, and it’ll be up to you to find a fuel tanker somewhere on the map and drive it up to your position and start the slow refueling process. Even vehicle health has quite a few layers going for it; enemy fire can take out your weapons—preventing you from firing—or your engines—stopping you dead. While any such damage taken by a vehicle can often be repaired by its driver, you don’t really want to be stuck in the middle of a road as a horde of Skynet’s finest giant robots is marching up to you.

"Just about every squad has several small statistics that you will want to get a hang of."

While all of this minutia you have to keep a track of might sound tedious—and at first, it really is incredibly tedious and overwhelming—it starts getting quite easy to get into the groove of things. On a gameplay level, keeping all of these things in mind lends to some intense moments, and rewards the use of clever tactics and setting up smart ambushes. All of these aspects also lend themselves quite well to really putting you into the shoes of a desperate human trying to survive against a robotic force that wants nothing more than to eradicate your species. Things like having to count your bullets and being worried about the faulty engine in your truck would be real problems in such a situation, and Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance’s use of these mechanics does quite a bit to add on to the desperation all of the human characters in its story are facing.

Speaking of story, the one in Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance isn’t particularly good. The title is one of those cases where the theme of its setting does a lot more to uplift the experience than any actual writing or characterization. Things start off simple enough; after a failed attempt at fighting off Skynet’s forces in Atlanta, the remnants of a group of soldiers bolstered by local police, referred to as the Founders Force, have to retreat, and over time, rebuild. Fast forward to ten years later and you’re put into the shoes of a new commander in the army, tasked with a simple recon mission. But then, as you might expect, things start going horribly wrong.

Aside from its bland characters and predictable story, the fact that Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance already has an established ending owing to the fact that it’s set in the Terminator universe takes quite a bit away from what should otherwise be pivotal and dramatic moments. It’s difficult to care for any of the struggles of the Founders Force because we know they’re going to fail anyway. John Connor isn’t here yet, and even if you take the events of Terminator: Dark Fate into account, there still isn’t enough to latch on to.

"It’s difficult to care for any of the struggles of the Founders Force because we know they’re going to fail anyway."

Despite my misgivings about the story of the campaign, however, I do believe that the campaign itself is an incredibly enjoyable one, despite its difficulty. It’s definitely a challenging experience, and the third mission in particular might catch many players off guard, especially if they aren’t used to how RTS titles typically do the “defend this base against overwhelming odds” style of missions. The difficulty, however, can be changed whenever you want, and when in doubt, lowering it is always an option.

A similar level of difficulty is also present in the game’s multiplayer and skirmish modes, and to see any real success in these game modes, you’ll have to get intimately familiar with the various unit types at the disposal of your chosen faction. Thankfully, the campaign itself does quite a good job in teaching you this kind of stuff, and while you don’t get any hands-on play with Skynet’s forces during the story, you at least get to learn about their strengths and weaknesses by being on the business end of their guns.

Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance is a game that often feels like it’s trying to do just a little bit more than it should. From its emphasis on paying attention to minute details like camouflage levels, bullet counts and engine conditions, to its emphasis on deploying clever tactics and using just about every tool at your disposal, Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance can often be an overwhelming nightmare. Considering its setting, however, the feeling of dread as your demolition unit misses its last attempt at taking down an enemy tank often makes dealing with the game’s complicated systems worth the trouble.

This game was reviewed on PC.

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake

Unexpected but welcome all the same, Avantgarden’s remake of Starbreeze Studios’ Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons still features the same story of two brothers, Naiee and Naia, on a journey to cure their father’s illness. Controlling both characters at once, players must solve puzzles, utilizing their unique skill sets to progress.

The original is acclaimed for its gameplay and story-telling, which the remake modernizes thanks to a graphical overhaul and re-recorded soundtrack. It also touts new secrets and local co-op, which was added to the original in its 2019 Nintendo Switch version. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake launches on February 28th for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden

After the critically acclaimed Jusant, DON’T NOD is back with a somewhat more traditional action RPG in Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden. It focuses on two Banishers, Antea and Red, who help spirits move on. Tragedy quickly strikes in New Eden when Antea dies and remains with Red as a ghost. They must now face a tough decision – sacrifice other people to revive her or continue their work, potentially losing her forever.

As players meet other characters and resolve their crises, their decisions will affect the overall narrative, with five different endings to unlock. Combat is also intriguing since you use Red to unleash bullets and slashes or switch to Antea at any time for her supernatural abilities (which are also good for dealing with crowds). Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden arrives on February 13th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC.

Pacific Drive

A drive through an abandoned zone at night may sound creepy, but as Ironwood Studios’ Pacific Drive reveals, things can be worse. Players start out traveling the Pacific Northwest before randomly being teleported into the Olympic Exclusion Zone, once a site for various experiments and now home to dangerous Anomalies. Upon discovering an aged station wagon, they brief the corrosion and storms to find a garage and characters who could help them escape.

It’s easier said than done, as they must venture into the Zone to gather supplies and materials, acquiring Stable Energy and braving the storm to make it back alive. They must then repair and outfit their vehicle, unlock new items via the Fabrication Station, and eventually unravel the mystery of the Zone to escape. With a rogue-lite structure, quirks that can alter your vehicle’s performance (for better or worse) and Anomalies that spice up runs in various harrowing ways, Pacific Drive is truly unique. It’s out on February 22nd for PS5 and PC.

Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League

When the Justice League goes rogue, you call Batman. When Batman also goes rogue (kind of), then you call the Suicide Squad, probably. Regardless, Deadshot, Harley Quinn, King Shark and Captain Boomerang – along with a host of supporting characters – are the only ones who can save Metropolis after Brainiac invades and brainwashes the League. Touted as Rocksteady’s “biggest cinematic experience”, and easily its biggest story, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League also seems to have some multiverse shenanigans going on with Brainiac’s Elseworlds.

Gameplay-wise, it’s a looter shooter with co-op support, skill trees, mods, gear sets (known as Infamy Sets), an end-game and live-service elements like seasons, a Battle Pass and microtransactions. Players can control one of the Squad, while the AI handles the rest, in single-player, kitting out their character with different guns and exploring the vast city with unique traversal skills. For all the mixed receptions, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League has generated some interest. We’ll see if it can deliver a worthwhile experience when it launches on February 1st for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC.

Skull and Bones

What’s better than one live-service title rumored to have been in development for years and seen multiple reboots? How about two? Skull and Bones has had a long journey, reportedly starting development in 2013 and officially announced in 2017. It’s an action-adventure focused on naval combat, set in the Indian Ocean during the Golden Age of Piracy, as players seek to establish themselves as legendary pirates. Before that, they must take on contracts for Pirate Kingpins, raiding convoys and transporting goods while contending with opposing forces.

There are multiple ships, each designed for specific purposes with several weapon and damage types. Even furniture can affect your ship’s performance in various ways. Those not keen on PvE can indulge in PvP modes, from the high-risk, high-reward Helm Wagers to the player bounty-focused Cutthroat Cargo, with leaderboards, Kingpin Ranks and whatnot. Skull and Bones is out on February 16th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC, with a year of post-launch content planned. Whether it saves past that point is anyone’s guess, but we’re relieved it’s coming out.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

The developer is going all out with Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, the second part of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake saga. A massive map with seamless exploration and near-instant fast-travelling, tons of mini-games, new cities and areas not present in the original setting, tons of side quests, new Summons, combat improvements and Synergy Abilities – the list goes on. That’s not even getting into the story side of things, with all kinds of potential revelations teased and characters like Cid and Vincent Valentine making their debut.

It’s almost too much, with 100 hours of gameplay promised, but also oddly fitting for such an iconic part of Cloud and party’s journey, as they venture outside of Midgar to locate Sephiroth. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth launches on February 29th for PS5, shipping on two Blu-ray discs, and already looks like a shoo-in for Game of the Year.

Helldivers 2

Helldivers is back, and despite the third-person perspective, the war to protect the democracy of Super-Earth remains as perilous as ever. If it’s not the massive Bugs and Automations that are out to get you, it’s friendly fire and a poorly placed Stratagem.

Nevertheless, with procedural generation, terrain deformation, stunning visuals and cross-platform play between PS5 and PC, Helldivers 2 promises a much larger scale than the original when it launches on February 8th. That extends to the new Galactic War, as players liberate planets and complete objectives, with the community as a whole progressing the storyline. You can even earn unlocks to outfit and upgrade your destroyer.

Sons of the Forest (1.0 Release)

Almost a year since launching into early access, Endnight Games’ Sons of the Forest is finally set to launch in full on February 22nd for PC. Version 1.0 will expand on the story, with Shawn Ashmore of Quantum Break fame playing a key role, but it’s already grown significantly during its time in early access.

New areas and caves, bosses, items, vehicles, points of interest, and more have been added, along with improvements to building and electricity systems. That’s only scratching the surface, with Cannibals having a wider range of behaviors (and new types); Kelvin having more commands and emotes; and survival gameplay being made tougher (with Hard survival available for those who crave a challenge).

Mario vs. Donkey Kong

The King of Kong is back in the antagonistic role, giving into his consumer urges and swiping a bunch of Mini-Mario toys. As the president of the toy factory, Mario ventures to get them back, traversing multiple stages and eventually defeating Donkey Kong. As a remake of the 2004 Game Boy Advance classic with gorgeous new visuals and cinematics, Mario vs. Donkey Kong incorporates more puzzle solving, as players bypass traps and other hazards to gather keys, progress to the next part of the stage and rescue a Mini-Mario.

There are multiple worlds to explore, with Plus and Expert Levels to overcome, but the remake adds two more for over 130 levels, a new Time Attack Mode, local co-op and Casual Style for less punishing gameplay. Mario vs. Donkey Kong launches on February 16th for Nintendo Switch.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink

Yet another title years in the making and finally primed to launch, Granblue Fantasy: Relink is based on Cygames’ successful free-to-play gacha RPG. Unlike the original, it’s an action RPG that ventures to new lands in the Zegagrande Kingdom. It’s not long before Gran/Djeeta, Lyria and the Grandcypher crew run afoul of trouble involving the Primal Beasts.

Along with Gran and Djeeta, players can play as other characters like Narmaya, Lancelot, Percival, Katalina, Rackam and many more, each with unique abilities and playstyles. Combat is fast-paced, whether building up to Link Time or activating Skybound Arts in tandem to deal massive damage with a Full Burst attack.

Along with an extensive campaign, there are 100 quests in Quest Mode and support for up to four players in co-op. Time will tell if Granblue Fantasy: Relink lives up to the hype, but thankfully, we won’t have to wait long, as it launches on February 1st for PS4, PS5 and PC.

Tomb Raider 1–3 Remastered

Though we’re not anywhere closer to a launch for Aspyr’s Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic – Remake, it does have Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered coming up on February 14th for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC. Utilizing the original’s source code and engine, the remasters feature revamped character models and environments with baked and real-time lighting (though you can switch back to the original look).

Modern controls are available in addition to the Classic option, with boss health bars and Photo Mode also available. Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered could be the blast from the past that we need.

Open Roads

A narrative-focused adventure title with gorgeous animated characters set against 3D environments, Annapurna Interactive’s Open Roads is about Tess and her mother Opal. Venturing on a road trip to learn more about the past, they venture to abandoned properties to uncover long-buried secrets. There are extensive conversations and more than a few emotional moments, with actors Keri Russell and Kaitlyn Dever bringing the duo to life. Open Roads launches on February 22nd for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC and Nintendo Switch, while also available on day one for Game Pass.

Nightingale (Early Access)

Following its announcement in December 2021, Inflexion Games’ Nightingale will finally enter early access for PC on February 22nd. As an open-world survival crafting title, players control the Realmwalker, who ventures to different Fae realms to find the city of Nightingale. It’s easier said than done, with threats like the Bound and Apex creatures out to ruin your fun.

While players can settle down in a realm, building a base and recruiting NPCs, they can also use Realm Cards to shape their next destination, making it more or less dangerous. The early access version will feature three biome types, a progression system “spanning all aspects of gameplay”, various creatures and “comprehensive building and crafting tools, alongside estate management,” as per the Steam listing. Nightingale will remain in early access for nine to 12 months, adding biomes, story and even the city itself, but it should be interesting to see how the base game fares.

Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance

Originally set to launch in December, Slitherine Ltd.’s Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance is now out on February 7th for PC. Based on the Dark Fate timeline, the real-time strategy sees humanity going up against the killer robots of Legion and fighting for survival. Commanding the Founders, players navigate the war torn world of the future, recruiting and training new units for battles.

Other factions can join or oppose you during these conflicts, with different missions opening up depending on your actions. Several unit types, from drones to armored vehicles, are available, and players can control the other factions – the Resistance and Legion – in Skirmish and Multiplayer. As far as Terminator titles are concerned, it’s intriguing and could be the best thing to result from Dark Fate.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel 3 and 4

A new age of Falcom’s Kiseki series is due this Summer, with The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak finally launching in the West. Until then, fans can re-experience The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel 3 and 4 on PS5 when both titles launch on February 16th. Originally available in Japan for the PS4 in 2017, Cold Steel 3 follows Rean Schwarzer, now a teacher in Thors Branch Campus, training a new Class VII – composed of Kurt Vander, Juna Crawford and Altina Orion – to conduct Special Operations for the Erebonian Empire.

Musse Egret and Ash Carbide eventually join, but rampant conspiracies could shake the very foundation of the empire. As for Cold Steel 4, well, that’s just getting into spoiler territory. The PS5 versions of both titles feature high-definition visuals and all previously released cosmetic DLC. While it’s far from the most graphically impressive pair of RPGs, they make up for it with their story-telling, world-building and excellent combat.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a 2.5D platformer that takes place in a wonderfully imaginative world brimming with hideous creatures and gnarly traps around every corner. Add to that some simple yet promising gameplay, and The Lost Crown becomes a tantalizing deal that’s hard to pass on. It releases for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on January 18, though owners of the Deluxe Edition can enjoy it right now through early access.

The Last of Us Part 2: Remastered

The Last of Us Part 2 is not only an amazing cinematic adventure, but it’s also a masterful example of how to invoke strong emotions with its dark yet engaging storyline. Naughty Dog has rounded up work on a remastered version of the game that soups up the visuals to 4K along with a slew of other significant enhancements such as a roguelike mode called No Return and a brand new set of Lost Levels which weren’t present in the original release. It comes out on January 19 exclusively for PS5.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth dumps players into a tropical haven adorned with flamboyant neighborhoods and long beaches. Infinite Wealth seems primed to be a fresh chapter for the series, but it will also retain the eccentric elements and the turn-based combat that made Yakuza: Like A Dragon so great in the first place. And not to forget, we will be seeing Ichiban and Kiryu together once again, so, you know it’s going to be a fun time when it comes out for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S on January 26, 2024.

Tekken 8

The Mishima Saga continues with the eighth game in the main series, the story continues after the events of Tekken 7 with Jin now hellbent on defeating Kazuya in an epic battle where fists meet fate. The game serves as a direct sequel to Tekken 7 with improved graphics, and a reworked Heat system that rewards aggressive play among a whole host of other improvements. This new installment is equal parts an homage to the genre’s glorious past as it is a confident step forward which should make it an endearing experience for both newcomers and returning fans. It comes out for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on January 26, 2024.

Palworld

Palworld can best be described as a weird mishmash of Pokemon and Monster Hunter. Set in a world inhabited by all manner of beasts, Palworld tasks players to explore a fantastical land brimming with cute cuddly creatures, arm them with deadly weapons, and explore dungeons for even better loot and resources. The dichotomy between the cute art style and the violent elements is something that’s pretty distinct, and Palworld might just be a surprise hit when it launches in early access on the 19th of this month for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

Skull and Bones

Skull and Bones has been in development for a long time, and the game might just be finally on track to release in the upcoming months. The pirate adventure will take players on a grand voyage across the Caribbean Sea as they search for valuable loot and treasures. It’s going to primarily be a survival game with support for co-op gameplay, which is quite different from the original vision but it definitely has some potential to be a good time. Skull and Bones will be released for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC on 16th February 2024.

Terminator Dark Fate: Defiance

Developer Slitherin is a master of creating RTS games, and its next project Terminator Dark Fate: Defiance is looking to be emblematic of its biggest strengths. Set during the Future Wars, Terminator Dark Fate: Defiance is all about commanding an army to victory in a wide variety of different combat scenarios. The gameplay is just as complex as one would expect with players having to pay tons of attention to unit placement, supplies, and much more. The developer also boasts elements like physics-based destruction and a reactive story, so there’s quite a bit to look forward to when it comes out for PC on February 21, 2024.

Pacific Drive

Pacific Drive is a weird mishmash of two very contrasting genres – namely racing and survival. The hook of the game revolves around driving your station wagon through vast stretches of uninhabitable jungle-like environments with storms and unforgiving weather conditions making that journey even tougher. As the driver, you need to keep tabs on your resources and collect everything and anything to upgrade your vehicle to its fullest capacity. It’s looking like a fresh experience, and we will definitely be checking it out when it releases on 22 February for PS5 and PC.

Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth will start off where Part 1 left off, and will continue the adventures of Cloud and friends as they work to fend off planet Earth from the wrath of Shinra. The game will once again mark the return of the hybrid combat system we saw in Part 1, and fans can expect plenty of new surprises along with a bunch of nostalgic moments as you adventure across the vast map of Midgard when it comes out for PS5 on 29th February 2024.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes

At first glance Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes might seem like a generic RPG but what makes this Rabbit and Bear Studios-created upcoming game stand out from the barrage of similar contemporaries is the ability to control a vast array of playable heroes. The combat is turn-based, and the unique art style of the game promises to make it an intriguing experience. In addition to this, there’s a plethora of game mechanics to play like War mode and other mini-games that should make it a fun time. Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes releases on April 23, 2024 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.

Rise of the Ronin

Team Ninja has been doing a wonderful job with its signature brand of Soulslikes, and Rise of the Ronin seems like a natural step forward for the studio. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century Japan, the game puts players in the shoes of a Ronin who must make a name for himself in this land torn apart by war and conflict. You can pursue a wide array of quests, take part in cinematic sword fights, take to the skies on a wind glider, and do all sorts of different activities as you explore this wonderfully well-realized setting. It releases for PS5 on 22 March 2024 – and we will be checking this one out.

Dragon’s Dogma 2

Dragon’s Dogma 2 is currently slated to release on 22 March 2024 for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, and suffice it to say – it looks really amazing. It seems to be building upon the foundations of the genre with its complex set of mechanics and tons of flexibility in how you choose to go about enemy encounters. You can wield different spells and swords, hang out around encampments, fight against gargantuan animals, and a whole host of different activities. And if that doesn’t sound cool enough, I don’t know what will.

Helldivers II

Developed by Arrowhead Games, Helldivers 2 is a co-op shooter where players participate in a large-scale galactic conflict in exotic locations set in outer space. Helldivers 2 impresses with its grand sense of scale, immense levels of chaos, and high-fidelity graphics. The gameplay looks fast and frenetic with the player character, and the fact that it’s meant to be enjoyed with friends makes it all the better. It’s set to release on 8th February for PS5 and PC.

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons was an emotional journey about two brothers that manages to effortlessly translate its narrative themes of companionship and brotherhood into the gameplay with its distinct set of mechanics. Developer Avantgarden is bringing back this classic with a full-fledged remake that’s a big graphical step up from the original, and it all looks wonderful with well-realized environments and smoothed-out animations among a slew of other improvements. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons remake comes out on February 28, 2024, for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

Sons of the Forest 1.0 Release

Sons of the Forest was an amazing sequel that excellently builds upon what came before in new and interesting ways, and the game is finally en route to its version 1.0 release. In addition to introducing new dubbings to the story, the final release will also feature a slew of miscellaneous gameplay improvements that we will get to know about as it approaches its imminent release date of 22 February 2024 for PC.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

After many open world games that were released in 2023, we have another game that looks to end the year on a high note with Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. Developed by Massive of The Division fame, it sees players traversing the new Western Frontier and meeting the different tribes. Of course, the RDA remains a threat, and thus, the player must fight back.

As a first-person game, players can use firearms and bows to take out enemies. There are other things to immerse players in the experience, from free-running through environments and checking landmarks to finding specific objectives to a mini-game for plucking fruit. Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora launches on December 7th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC, and should be a strong end to a year of blockbusters.

Batman: Arkham Trilogy (Switch)

One of the most acclaimed superhero games of all time and one of the best video game trilogies is finally coming to Nintendo Switch in Batman: Arkham Trilogy. It’s out on December 1st and includes Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City and Batman: Arkham Knight with all their skins, Challenge Packs and story DLC. Altogether, it requires 53 GB of space on the Nintendo Switch, with the physical version requiring a download of the second and third games. How performance pans out remains to be seen, but Batman: Arkham Trilogy warrants a look for newcomers on the Switch.

SteamWorld Build

Image and Forms’ SteamWorld series returns with SteamWorld Build, which launches on December 1st for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch. Unlike previous entries, this is a city-builder with elements of Dungeon Keeper thrown in. As part of a group of robot settlers, you build up a town, aiming to excavate Old Tech from the mine to find a way off the dying world.

It’s your job to hire Workers, expand the town, rebuild the train station and mine, bring in Engineers, manage resources and expenses, and much more on the surface. Meanwhile, you mine different resources below, fight off dangerous creatures (including giant worms with an appetite for robots) and explore relatively unknown paths while delving deeper.

The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria (PS5)

Despite its flaws, The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria is an interesting take on Tolkien’s world and launches on December 5th for PS5. Set in the Fourth Age, players create their custom Dwarf and venture to Moria to reclaim it. One doesn’t simply walk in, even with the word “friend”, so you must navigate its once-grand halls, desolate caves and abandoned quarters filled with Orcs, Goblins and other nasties.

As a survival sandbox adventure, gathering materials and crafting new weapons and armor is necessary, especially when encountering powerful bosses like the Watcher in the Water. There’s plenty of mining, though staving off the darkness, eating and establishing bases throughout is also important.

Baldur’s Gate 3 (Xbox Series X/S)

Probably the biggest release of the month already available on other platforms, Baldur’s Gate 3 is a headliner for Game of the Year. The game features an intriguing journey with multiple quests, unique consequences and an incredibly reactive world, including the titular city itself.

With hundreds of different ways to play, a typical playthrough can take about 75 to 100 hours, depending on the player. The Xbox Series X/S version is out next month, with the developer to announce a proper launch date at The Game Awards on December 7th. Local split-screen won’t be available for Xbox Series S at launch, but it’s still in the works.

Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance

As a “gritty” real-time strategy game, Slitherine’s Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance focuses on future wars between humans and Legion in the Dark Fate timeline. As the Founders’ commander, you must fight back against the deadly machines, battling across maps and recruiting allies to your cause.

Between different tactics, unit training, vehicles, weapons and more, you can also make decisions that influence a faction’s behavior towards you. If that weren’t enough, physics-based destruction allows for even more mayhem, while Skirmish and Multiplayer allow for playing as the Resistance and Legion. Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance launches on December 7th for PC.

The Day Before

After delays, a shift to Unreal Engine 5, even more delays, a trademark dispute, and – you guessed it – delays, Fntastic’s The Day Before is finally launching on December 7th for PC…via Steam Early Access. Players can explore New Fortune City and its surrounding areas, purchase and customize weapons, scavenge resources and fulfill requests for Woodberry Survivor Colony’s residents.

There’s an extraction shooter vibe, especially since you can encounter other players while battling against hordes of zombies. We won’t believe it until it’s in our hands, but The Day Before has our attention. Time will tell if the gameplay can keep us hooked until more updates roll out.

Custom Mech Wars

Craving mech combat action, especially after clearing Armored Core 6 three times? Need something to fill the void? D3 Publisher’s Custom Mech Wars probably isn’t the answer, but it looks like a fun time. Launching on December 14th for PS5 and PC, you can customize whatever mech you want. It can result in hilarious combinations, from tanks with legs to oversized arms and much more with no restrictions. A story mode with support for up to four players is available, promising a “variety” of missions.

Pioneers of Pagonia

Between SteamWorld Build and Against the Storm, it’s a month of city-builders, and Pioneers of Pagonia is yet another to add to the list. It’s set in a world of numerous islands, as you build a settlement, make alliances and explore the world (with maps procedurally generated). Of course, you’ll need to deal with bandits, wild creatures and more while helping fellow tribes. Launching in Steam Early Access for PC on December 13th, there are over 40 buildings and 70 goods to manage, along with a map creator and difficulty options.

Trinity Fusion

Currently available in Steam Early Access, Trinity Fusion is a rogue-lite action platformer where players control their parallel selves on a mission to save the multiverse. Levels are procedurally generated, with “hundreds” of custom rooms, though some hand-crafted areas and challenges are also in play.

There are three different parallel versions, each with unique abilities, and their worlds offer different biomes to explore, from caverns and labs to cities in the sky. Overall, the visuals look good and the gameplay smooth – we’ll see how the final version fares when it launches on December 15th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC.