As you progress through different rooms, enemies become tougher. According to the PlayStation Store’s description, the rollercoaster also goes faster with even greater drops. Some encounters also have attacks that strike if you blink, making for an even tougher challenge. Don’t worry – if you can hit several headshots, a powerful gun is unlocked for use in the next fight.

The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR is exclusive to PlayStation VR2 on PS5. Supermassive Games is also working on the next title in its horror anthology, Directive 8020, which also serves as the Season 2 premiere. A release window has yet to be announced, so stay tuned for a possible reveal in the coming months.

Greyhill Incident

What could have been a B-movie horror game turns into an unfunny, painfully unaware low-budget horror game. Aliens invade your small town, and you go around “saving” people. You fight the aliens sometimes, and they’re as threatening as inflatables at a pool party. Throw in lots of awful dialogue, dumb objectives that are difficult to parse, a nonsensical plot, terrible voice acting and bugs galore, and the Greyhill Incident is just one of the absolute worst games of the year.

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum

How do you mess up a Lord of the Rings game, that too with one of its most recognizable characters? The Lord of the Rings: Gollum makes it look easy, focusing on bland events in Smeagol’s life with asinine mechanics and tedious objectives. The stealth is poor, and Gollum’s character is nothing like the books or films, not that the script does a good job of delivering something original. Such was the failure of this game that Daedalic Entertainment has stopped game development entirely, halting another Lord of the Rings title (rumored to be a sequel to Gollum) and focusing instead on publishing.

Stray Blade

Stray Blade does have some potential with its lore and art style. Unfortunately, this is quickly undone thanks to the annoying protagonist, frustrating combat where you can dodge some attacks and parry others (not both), poor and limited enemy design, progression-blocking bugs and more. Improvements have reportedly been made to the combat post-launch, but its other flaws still stick out.

Redfall

Arkane Austin’s Redfall could have capitalized on improved communication and paved the way for other high-profile Xbox exclusives like Starfield and Forza Motorsport. Instead, it crashed and burned, packed to the brim with bugs, dumb AI, a sparsely populated and boring world, lackluster enemy variety, stupid vampires, terrible weapons, horrible dialogue – and, of course, performance issues on PC. Playing on Xbox Series X/S is torturous, thanks to no aim assist or advanced control settings. Top it off with no matchmaking, and this “co-op experience” just sucks.

Crime Boss: Rockay City

With the initial announcement, Crime Boss: Rockay City appeared to have poured most of its budget into big-name Hollywood stars. Unfortunately, it didn’t give them much direction or compelling dialogue, and the gameplay feels completely superfluous. Missions feel like little more than shoot-outs against tanky foes, and the campaign is forgettable at best. What could have been a pulpy take on Payday’s heists ends up as a bug-riddled, cheesy mess.

Ravenbound

Despite Systemic Reaction’s previous titles, like Generation Zero, being middling, I was genuinely stoked for Ravenbound. A rogue-lite set in a fully 3D open world based on Scandinavian folklore sounded interesting. The actual game was a different story, with baffling design decisions for combat, the Hatred system, exploration, long-term progression and more. Underwhelming performance and bugs didn’t help either, and it all just felt so poorly put together. Like Stray Blade, there have been improvements, but it’s got a ways to go.

Beyond Contact

Though published by Deep Silver, Beyond Contact passed completely unnoticed when it was released last April. It’s a sci-fi survival open-world title with base-building and real-time combat with a bright aesthetic, which is all good, but it messes up so much. Most materials do nothing, base defense is poorly balanced, farming is way too much work for little rewards, and the less said about the combat and tanky enemies, the better. Beyond Contact could have been interesting and settled for being fundamentally mediocre.

Rendezvous

With titles like A Space for the Unbound highlighting the game development talent in Indonesia, it hurts to see stuff like Rendezvous. It’s marketed as a “2.5D cyber-noir pixel art action-puzzle adventure.” Sure enough, its aesthetic is very sharp and eye-catching. However, it offers little beyond that than annoying puzzles and stealth to go with its boring combat and half-hearted narrative.

Mia and the Dragon Princess

Wales Interactive has a reputation for FMV-style games, with some standouts (The Complex) and duds (I Saw Black Clouds). Mia and the Dragon Princess sadly falls into the latter category. The story, about Mia and the mysterious Marshanda as they meet and go on the run, is baffling and full of throwaway characters. There’s a lot of fight choreography courtesy of – I kid you not – “Ginger Ninja Trickster”, and you can make some choices which don’t lead to any satisfying conclusion. Is it a good or bad thing that it’s over quickly? You decide.

The Last Worker

In The Last Worker, players control the last human worker who struggles in a world of automation and corporate greed. So it’s a shame that the protagonist Kurt isn’t particularly likeable or the writing very interesting. Some solid gameplay could have saved it, but unfortunately, The Last Worker offers awful mini-games and some poorly handled themes. Not even VR and unique mechanics can help.

Clive ‘N’ Wrench

Dr Daucas has stolen Professor Nancy Merricarp’s blueprints for time travel. It’s up to Clive (not that one) and Wrench, a monkey and not a talking wrench, to venture through time to stop Daucas. Making a compelling 3D platformer can be challenging, and Clive ‘N’ Wrench sadly fails where it counts. Controls and combat are terrible, and the performance leaves much to be desired (watch out for projectiles from enemies running at a different frame rate). It may have been something with more time and polish, but unfortunately ends up awkwardly skirting by.

Colossal Cave Reimagined

A 3D remake of the 1979 text-based adventure, Colossal Cave Reimagined comes from Ken and Roberta Williams, known for legendary adventure games like the King’s Quest series under Sierra Entertainment. Sadly, it’s let down by underwhelming visuals and outdated design, like annoying mazes and instant deaths. While the puzzles are decent, the remake feels unnecessary at best and downright frustrating at worst.

Curse of the Sea Rats

A Metroid-style title with hand-drawn animations and somewhat cute visuals, Curse of the Sea Rats ultimately wastes its potential. The rats may as well be human, without any unique mechanics designed around them (much less interesting scenarios for each of the four playable characters), and the world design is as confounding as it is boring. Cap this off with balancing issues, where some enemies are far more challenging than the bosses, and you have a fairly lop-sided, dull adventure.

Farming Simulator 23

At first, I did a double take on seeing Farming Simulator 23 rated so low. How could this be, especially when the previous entries were so beloved? It’s because this year’s iteration launched on mobile devices and ported to the Nintendo Switch. The result is a pared-down experience with limited freedom, fewer features, horrible performance and visuals, and a much higher price tag than the mobile versions.

The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR

Considering how well-received Until Dawn: Rush of Blood was on PlayStation VR (read: not very well), there was concern that The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR could repeat those mistakes on PlayStation VR2. Unfortunately, it’s worse, even with powerful technology and new features like eye tracking for scary blinking moments. It doesn’t present an interesting story or offer much beyond rudimentary rail shooter segments. Performance issues also bog the entire thing down, which isn’t something you want to highlight on Sony’s next-gen VR.

Stuck on a rollercoaster, the protagonist must battle demons and survive. The locations are based on Season 1 titles like Man of Medan, House of Ashes, Little Hope and the recent The Devil in Me. Along with haptic feedback, there’s eye-tracking support, and at times you have to resist blinking lest enemies move to attack.

The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR is far from the end of the series, as Supermassive Games is working on Directive 8020, a sci-fi horror that serves as the premiere for Season 2. Four other titles have also been trademarked, though they’ve yet to be officially confirmed. Stay tuned for more details in the coming months.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

Koei Tecmo is on a roll with WILD HEARTS receiving critical acclaim (despite its technical issues) and looks to continue that success with Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. Developed by Team Ninja, with Nioh producer Fumihiko Yasuda and Bloodborne producer Masaaki Yamagiwa at the helm, the action RPG is based on Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Set during the fall of the Han Dynasty, the player is a nameless soldier who rises to fight the Yellow Turban Rebellion while becoming embroiled in a conspiracy surrounding the mysterious Elixir.

Unlike Nioh, there’s no stamina bar in combat, with players battling to break an enemy’s Spirit and execute powerful critical strikes. Levels are more open and vertically designed, while Morale adds a back-and-forth momentum to fights. Releasing on March 3rd, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty will be available for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC, along with Game Pass.

Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse

After Maiden of Black Water, the Fatal Frame remasters continue, this time with Mask of the Lunar Eclipse in the spotlight. Set a decade after a kidnapping incident in Rougetsu, three girls and a detective return to the island to discover what happened. Of course, evil spirits are involved and fighting them with the Camera Obscura, which damages ghosts through photography, is necessary to survive. Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse features new costumes, the new Snap Mode for creating images, and updated visuals and controls.

If you couldn’t get enough of the series’ psychological horror, the remaster may be worth checking out when it releases on March 9th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

WWE 2K23

WWE 2K23 is the latest in the franchise from Visual Concepts and 2K Games, launching on March 17th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC. If it looks and feels the same, that’s pretty much intentional. Instead of overhauling systems, the development team has polished them further, with more animations, updated character models and new modes.

The 2K Showcase this year focuses on John Cena and his biggest losses, played from the perspective of his opponents while he provides commentary. WarGames is the newest match type, allowing 3v3 and 4v4 matches in a double ring surrounded by a giant Steel Cage. Other than that, MyRISE returns with new stories, MyGM is getting more options, match types for four players, and much more.

The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR

The PlayStation VR2 is officially available worldwide, ushering in a new generation of virtual reality gaming (at least on consoles). If the launch offerings don’t interest you, then The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR may be worth looking into. It’s a rail shooter set on a rollercoaster screaming through various set pieces and locations based on The Dark Pictures Anthology series as you shoot enemies, keep your eyes open to survive teleporting mannequins, and much more. It releases on March 16th, exclusively for Sony’s VR headset.

The Last of Us Part 1 (PC)

With The Last of Us HBO series a massive success, it’s always a good time to revisit the original. For PC fans, The Last of Us Part 1, Naughty Dog’s remake of the first game, will release on March 28th. While its PC-exclusive features have yet to be detailed, one can look forward to 4K and 60 support, along with faster loading times and revamped visuals. In addition to the base game, the remake includes the Left Behind DLC, several improvements to AI, extensive accessibility options and improved crafting interface.

EA Sports PGA Tour

For all the attention its other sports titles usually get, the marketing for EA Sports PGA Tour has been rather low-key. It’s available on March 24th for PC, Xbox Series X/S and PS5 with 30 courses to play on. Career Mode returns, allowing one to create a golfer and work up to the pro level, learning 20 different Shot Types along the way and improving their skills. Pure Strike provides fluid and realistic movement on swings, and revamped Ball Behavior makes for more accurate bounces based on the course’s terrain.

Crime Boss: Rockay City

Ingame Studios’ Crime Boss: Rockay City is a co-op multiplayer shooter, with players pulling off different jobs in the 90s-inspired Rockay City. Battle rival gangs and steal whatever valuables you can with up to four players. Perhaps the coolest part is the star-studded cast from Michael Madsen, Danny Glover, Damion Poitier and Kim Basinger to Danny Trejo and Chuck Norris (who plays Sheriff Norris, because of course he does).

It looks promising, but can it unseat the Payday series, especially with Payday 3 on the way? We’ll find out when Crime Boss: Rockay City launches on March 29th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC.

MLB The Show 23

The premier baseball blockbuster gets even better with MLB The Show 23. Launching on March 28th for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch, it features the new Storylines mode, focusing on African American leagues that rose to prominence in the 1920s. Featuring players like Jackie Robinson, Rube Foster, and Satchel Page, it also provides some backstory on their historical significance. Some gameplay changes include High Fielding attributes having a bigger impact, defense and offense getting new quirks, and over 5,000 gameplay animations to enhance the immersion.

System Shock

To say that System Shock, a remake/reboot of the franchise, is a long time coming would be an understatement. It was announced as a remaster in 2015 and has seen numerous delays, changes (including a shift from Unity to Unreal Engine 4) and much more. Nevertheless, a substantial amount of work has been done, with fully revamped HD visuals, a new interface, and brand-new audio effects. Combined with the excellent story-telling, sci-fi horror, and FPS/RPG mechanics of the original, System Shock could end up a dark horse. It’s out next month for PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4 and PS5.

Resident Evil 4 Remake

Leon S. Kennedy travels to a village in Spain to rescue the US president’s daughter Ashley Graham while dealing with the brutal cult. Upon entering the village, it becomes clear that things are very wrong with the villagers under the influence of the parasite. The visuals have a dark and bleak atmosphere, and gameplay includes parrying with knives, side quests, and much more. Resident Evil 4 Remake is out on March 24th for Xbox One, PS4, PS5 and PC, but even more content is coming post-launch, including a free VR mode for PlayStation VR2 and The Mercenaries.

The story of Switchback VR involves the player character on a train to visit their sister. Suddenly, the train meets with an accident and a presence called Belial attempts to drag the player to Hell. That’s essentially what the rollercoaster is, as you fight off numerous demons to survive.

While armed with dual pistols, some scenarios require other useful talents – like not blinking when faced with teleporting mannequins (and if you do, the headset’s eye tracking will know). Gallardo explains that weapons have different feedback, thanks to the Sense Controllers. The shotgun will thus have more kick than the pistol.

The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR is out on March 16th. Stay tuned for more details in the meantime.

In a new tweet, the developer called Switchback VR its “most ambitious virtual reality project to date,” with its rollercoaster ride spanning five different worlds in The Dark Pictures universe. While releasing in the same window as PlayStation VR2 is important, it also believes players should “receive the most polished, terrifying experience possible.”

While the development team continues polishing the title ahead of its March release, it will release a new gameplay features video very soon. Stay tuned for updates on that in the meantime.

PlayStation VR2 still has several other big-name titles to look forward to, like Horizon Call of the Mountain, Resident Evil Village VR, Gran Turismo 7, The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners: Ch. 2: Retribution, No Man’s Sky, and so on. It retails for $549.99 and launches on February 22nd.

A Message from the Switchback VR team. pic.twitter.com/7w5PvBv7Ps

— Supermassive Games (@SuperMGames) January 23, 2023

Forspoken

Luminous Productions is finally rounding up work on the highly anticipated Forspoken, and it is due release on 24th January for PS5 and PC. Forspoken puts players in the shoes of Frey Holland, a former New Yorker who gets mystically transported to the land of Athia along with a sentient bracelet that gets magically attached to her hand. The traversal and combat look like a lot of fun, and there’s a lot to love here – ranging from the vast number of spells at your disposal to the many boss fights and open-world activities and so much more.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Insomniac Games has cemented itself as one of Sony’s top talents, and a lot of that can be attributed to its astounding work on Marvel’s Spider-Man and its follow-up Miles Morales. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will see Peter Parker and Miles Morales joining forces to face Venom and any other villains that may be pulling his strings. Not a lot is known about gameplay details at the moment, but fans can expect to know more about the game pretty soon since it is slated for release during 2023 for PS5.

Marvel’s Wolverine

Marvel’s Wolverine is yet another upcoming action adventure game from Insomniac Games, but sadly – we don’t have much information on the gameplay and story fronts at the moment. That said, it’s going to be interesting to see how the developer will translate its learnings from past projects to this brand new IP – and hopefully, it will turn out great as well. Marvel’s Wolverine releases for PS5 sometime in the near future.

Season: A Letter to the Future

Season: A Letter to the Future sees you taking control of Estelle, a young woman who embarks on a road trip across uncharted lands and picturesque valleys in search of new people and experiences. It is presented with a cel shaded aesthetic, and the gameplay looks pretty relaxing from what we have seen up until this point. We will be checking it out when it releases for PS4, PS5, and PC on January 31, 2023.

Final Fantasy 16

Not set in an open world, Final Fantasy 16 is poised to bring a grand adventure for fans of the RPG genre. You play as Clive Rosefield, as he gets embroiled in a war against ever-growing corruption. The combat will be a mix of turn-based and real-time action. It’s set to release for PS5 on June 23rd, 2023.

Horizon: Call of the Mountain

Firesprite Games’ upcoming Horizon: Call of the Mountain will launch alongside the much-anticipated PSVR2 on 22 February, 2023. The game is obviously set in the Horizon universe, but you will taking the role of a new protagonist Ryas – a former Shadow Carja warrior on a quest for redemption. The story premise sounds interesting, and hopefully – the PSVR2 will also open up new avenues for interactive gameplay as well.

Silent Hill 2 Remake

Silent Hill 2 is still considered as one of the best survival horror games of all time, and after a healthy dose of rumors – Konami has finally confirmed that a full-fledged remake is in the works at Bloober Team. Details are scant at the moment, but the developers are teasing radical improvements in terms of AI and world design among other things. It will be released for PC and PS5 sometime in the near future.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic stands tall as one of the finest RPGs of all time, and it’s only natural that fans would want to replay this one hell of a game with high-fidelity visuals and modern gameplay. Thankfully, the developer is hard at work on a full-fledged remake that should check all of these boxes – and it will release for PS5 and PC sometime in the near future.

Death Stranding 2 (Working Title)

Death Stranding may not have started life on a strong note, but countless fans have now warmed up to this unique experience since its release over 3 years ago – who have been craving for a sequel. Death Stranding 2 is finally in the works, and while the story trailer is as cryptic as ever – we do know that Sam Porter and Fragile will play an important role in the story, and that players can expect to ride new vehicles like the unicycle that we saw in the same trailer. It will be released for PS5 and PC in the near future.

The Dark Pictures: Switchback

Supermassive Games has been delivering hit after hit with its The Dark Pictures Anthology games, and The Dark Pictures: Switchback looks like an attempt to translate that success to Sony’s newest VR platform. It’s set to be a high-octane rollercoaster ride filled to the brim with horrific encounters, complete with antagonistic forces that players have faced in Anthology Season 1. The developer has stated that it will be utilizing the PSVR2 features to make horror more personal than before, and that has us excited to jump into Switchback when it releases on 22 February, 2023.

Horizon Forbidden West Burning Shores Expansion

Horizon Forbidden West is easily one of the best games of 2022, thanks to a gorgeous open-world that’s filled to the brim with dangerous creatures and lovable characters. While there’s no shortage of things to do in Forbidden West, many fans are craving for more of the same – and the Burning Shores expansion aims to do just that. Taking place in a dilapidated Los Angeles, this expansion will feature brand new story content, machines and environmental threats such as active volcanoes. Horizon Forbidden West Burning Shores expansion releases exclusively for PS5 on April 19, 2023.

Pacific Drive

Pacific Drive looks like a weird but beautiful mix of genres; it’s as much a game about driving as it is about survival. The basic goal is to drive a busted up station wagon out of a hazardous environment, but in order to do that – you have to upgrade your vehicle with resources scattered throughout the environment which will help you inch closer to the finish line. In addition to that, the developer is also teasing some mystery elements in the experience, so we can expect Pacific Drive to have a lot of gameplay variety too. It releases for PS5 and PC sometime this year.

Goodbye Volcano High

Goodbye Volcano High is a cinematic adventure that takes you through the teenage years of protagonist Fang as they grapple with the many highs and lows of high school. Of course, decision making will be crucial for the final outcome of this branching narrative – and players can also blow off steam by playing different instruments with rhythm-based minigames among other distractions. The visual presentation looks charming with hand-drawn art and expressive animations, and hopefully the narrative will tug at all the right strings as well. Goodbye Volcano High releases for PS4, PS5, and PC sometime this year.

Lost Soul Aside

Another upcoming hack and slash game on the list, developer UtilZero’s Lost Soul Aside definitely carries a lot of action adventure influences on its sleeve. You take control of a warrior and a shapeshifting companion as the duo embarks on a grand adventure in a futuristic dystopia. The visuals are really crisp, and the action is aptly brutal – which makes Lost Soul Aside a game worth rooting for. It releases for PS4 and PS5 sometime in the near future.

Tchia

Awaceb’s Tchia describes itself as a tropical open-world adventure, and that’s really the best description that one can have for this game. It looks like a delightful and relaxing adventure as you use Tchia’s powers to set off on a quest to save her father from the clutches of a tyrant. The traversal looks promising, mostly thanks to Tchia’s ability to take on the form of creatures like birds and dogs. In addition to this, you can also sail the surrounding seas or jam out to your favorite tunes on a fully playable Ukulele. Tchia releases for PS5, PS4, and PC sometime in the near future.

It also uses the headset’s eye-tracking technology in unique ways, like enemies reacting to your blinking. EDGE magazine’s recent preview discussed entering a room with mannequins who effectively rearranged themselves every time the player blinked. Eventually, one comes to life, and it’s a game of “tactical” blinking, readying your weapon and then blinking to take down the next foe.

The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR is out on February 22nd for PlayStation VR2. It retails for $39.99, and pre-orders receive cosmetics like the Gold Gun, Demon Handgun, Skull and Bones Cart, and skull bobblehead for free in the Inferno Pack.

Much like Until Dawn: Rush of Blood, The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR is a horror-filled rollercoaster ride. Players have dual pistols to defend themselves and traverse locations from games like Man of Medan, Little Hope, House of Ashes, and The Devil in Me. Haptic feedback is supported, ensuring you’ll feel each bump and drop, while eye tracking lets enemies know if you blink.

Of course, this isn’t just a fantastical carnival ride from Hell. The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR connects to each world in the Anthology’s universe, so there should be something for the series’ fans. It costs $39.99, with pre-orders receiving the Inferno Pack for free, containing a special edition Gold Gun, Demon Handgun, Skull and Bones Cart, and skull bobblehead for the ride.

Set in The Dark Pictures Anthology universe, it sees players on a rollercoaster with dual pistols and multiple paths. Along with iconic locations from various games in the series like Man of Medan, Little Hope, and House of Ashes, players must also contend with familiar threats. The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me is also present, and players will learn more about how the ride connects to each world.

Along with realistic bumps and drops via haptic feedback, the feel of each weapon is enhanced with the adaptive triggers. Other cool features include enemies moving when you blink, taking advantage of the headset’s eye tracking, and 3D audio for scary whispers.

The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR launches in Spring 2023 for $39.99. Stay tuned for more details in the meantime.