DROS is a puzzle-platformer blending exploration with relatively light challenge. You’ll control two characters with unique abilities, each with strengths and weaknesses. The art style is charming, but the gameplay can feel repetitive - it’s engaging up front, but may lack depth for some people. Casually, it’s a light and satisfying experience though.

HoYo’s latest gacha has all the tropes and systems you’d expect, this time in a retrofuture urban setting and excelling in presentation, fast-paced combat and quality-of-life improvements. The combat is fluid, satisfying and addictive (albeit never particularly challenging), the story isn’t the deepest but has its moments (even if the pacing could use some work), and the whole thing has great visual design, sound design and music. Smaller than Genshin, its minor flaws are easy to overlook if you’re willing to ignore or accept the predatory gacha foundation.

The First Descendant is an almost aggressively pedestrian looter shooter - neither exceptional nor terrible. It combines ideas well but is held back by shameless drive toward microtransactions and apparent lack of identity: part Destiny, part Warframe, lots of fanservice. While the visuals and cooperative systems are strong, its gunplay and movement feel pretty average, and overall inconsistent quality and monetisation model won’t appeal to everyone. Worth a quick go if you wanna turn your brain off for a while.

An intriguing clicker game with an immediately captivating, minimalist aesthetic and subtly unsettling story. Number-goes-up satisfaction is at the forefront, but there are definite nods to factory automation, which rewards optimisation. Love the sound design, music, and unique take on the genre - but wish it leant harder into automation.

Please don’t. Rumours started last week about an Elden Ring TV show or film adaptation, and George R. R. Martin has added fuel to the fire in his ‘not a blog’.

Oh, and about those rumors you may have heard about a feature film or television series based on ELDEN RING… I have nothing to say. Not a word, nope, not a thing, I know nothing, you never heard a peep from me, mum mum mum.   What rumor?

As much as I’d love to see this done well, I think it’s more likely it won’t be… if it even can.

11 Bit Studios has delayed Frostpunk 2 from July 25 to September 20. They report needing more time to implement key features based on beta feedback.

Steam has announced its new Game Recording feature in beta. It lets you record, rewind, bookmark, clip, save, and share gameplay. Can record in background or on demand, and gamedevs can hook into it to flag ingame events on a timeline. Very cool.

PvE Super Auto Pets roguelike. Super simple to pick up, immediately addictive, and very easy to break - in the best possible way. Cleverly executed and extremely fairly priced. If you’re into autobattlers, deckbuilding, synergies, etc. - just get it!

Oooh, cool. Check out the trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, where this time Link is in trouble, and Princess Zelda must save Hyrule in a brand-new story. Launching September 26th on Switch.

Check out the trailer for MIO: Memories in Orbit, a 2D adventure RPG set on the Vessel, a massive spaceship adrift in space. Play as the android MIO and explore a world overrun with rogue machines. Art and movement look nice! Releasing in 2025.