PC Games Roundup: Folk Emerging, MGS4 Remaster and Horror Titles Lead Week
As the spotlight shifts toward the massive announcements at Gamescom and the highly anticipated release of GTA 6, a curated selection of PC titles is emerging to offer distinct alternatives for players seeking immediate engagement. From complex military simulations and atmospheric horror to ambitious strategy games and remastered classics, this week's lineup provides a diverse array of experiences that deserve attention beyond the noise of major industry events.
Major Releases and Remasters
The week brings significant updates to established franchises alongside new entries. On Thursday, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 arrives, consolidating MGS4 and Peace Walker into a new remaster package. This release also includes archive materials featuring Metal Gear: Ghost Babel, the franchise's first handheld outing. Additionally, Star Wars: Zero Company enters early access as an Ahsoka-era squad tactics game developed by former XCOM talent. The developers have recently discussed their publisher, EA, being acquired by a Saudi Arabia-led consortium.
In the realm of remasters and collections, Mortal Shell II continues to be a focal point for the community, with players actively voting on their favorite shells among options like Harros, Tiel, Proxima, Lazlo, Eredrim, Sariel, Smert, Gragu, and Sester Genessa. Meanwhile, Elden Ring remains a staple for those looking to tackle its formidable roster of bosses.
New PC Releases: Strategy and Simulation
Folk Emerging, released on Wednesday, stands out as a nomadic and ambitious 4X strategy game. It begins during the long stretches of prehistory before humans started building cities, offering a unique historical perspective. On Monday, Burned Horizons (early access) presents itself as a complex production: a hard-eyed milsim and squad tactics game set during a fictional 2002 Europe-wide war against Russia. The developers characterize it as a fable about imperialism, noting that "monsters like him don't stop - until someone stops them." It is developed by a team based in Ukraine, the UK, and the USA.
For fans of simulation and survival, Western Rye (early access) offers an experience akin to Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare but with significant survival game elements, including base construction. It combines a cowboy sim with carpentry and zombies. Similarly, the cabin game (early access), released on Thursday, involves being stuck in a haunted cabin with up to four friends, playing cards that add rooms while generally making the cabin worse.
Horror, Action, and Puzzle Experiences
The horror genre sees several new entries this week. Money for Girls: Amortized, a horror detective visual novel from acclaimed hypertext designer Porpentine, arrives on Monday. On Tuesday, 1666: Amsterdam (early access) offers a time-jumping witch 'em up from Assassin's Creed creative director Patrice Désilets. The project has a complex history, having changed hands repeatedly during an extended feud between Désilets and Ubisoft after development at now-dead THQ.
Action enthusiasts can look forward to Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2, which appears as a pleasant 1-4 player xenomorph grand guignol experience. On Friday, Don't Drop The Cake invites players to balance a tray while navigating a nightmare of conveyor belts and enemies with daisies for heads. Another unique offering is Alice's Gaze, which combines autobattling, attention-based automation, Lewis Carroll themes, and spooky mansion delving.
Indie Titles and Niche Genres
The indie scene continues to thrive with a variety of titles. Astral Court DX is a bullet hell set in heaven that casts the player as a celestial convict facing platform challenges to stave off execution, featuring 189 levels. Blood Dungeon offers a frantic and suffocating platformer with bullet hell elements from the creators of Nidhogg. For puzzle lovers, Sokogram is a hybrid puzzler combining block pushing mechanics with paint-by-numbers nonograms.
RPG fans may appreciate Shadow Dungeon, which features looks appealing to those who dig 90s RPGs, though it also contains elements reminiscent of Vampire Survivors. Brigandine Abyss focuses on loudly dressed anime factions fighting for control of a continent with a turn- and hex-based combat system. The story component features the revival of an empire and is developed by some of the people who worked on the well-regarded metroidvania Ender Lillies.
Other Notable Mentions
The week also includes Hollow Knight Silksong, a highly anticipated title, and Captain Tsubasa, which returns to save footballs from the mediocrity of licensed realism. Lou's Lagoon offers a jolly adventure platformer set on an archipelago where players can loaf about in a seaplane. Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy takes the Asobo series' third-person action to an island caught between the Middle Ages and ancient Minoan times, featuring light-based puzzles and creatures with unknowable intent.
Finally, Minecraft continues to be a dominant force, with new seeds available for version 26.1. For those looking for word puzzles, past Wordle answers are also accessible. This diverse lineup ensures that regardless of player preference, there is something compelling to explore this week.
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