Experience 3D Strategy RPG Arknights: Endfield With Exclusive One Republic Song Right Now!
Resident Evil Requiem Features Dual Protagonists Launching in February 2026!
Additional unforgettable updates were also unveiled at The Game Awards, including:
- Buckle Up for a Legendary Ride: Resident Evil and Porsche, the world-renowned vehicle manufacturer that has captivated car enthusiasts worldwide for decades, are teaming up for the ride of a lifetime. Together, the two iconic brands will debut a unique Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT in-game as Leon’s trusted ride, providing a legendary ride for a legendary character.
- Even More Deluxe Edition: The Resident Evil Requiem Deluxe Edition now also includes three Leon Costumes – Resident Evil 4, “Apocalypse,” and “Film Noir” – plus a DSO emblem weapon charm.
And don’t forget all the bone-chilling previously announced updates, including:
- Special Pre-Order Bonus: Pre-orders are available now, and all pre-orders will receive Grace’s gritty costume “Apocalypse” as a bonus.
- Switch Things Up: Resident Evil™ 7 biohazard Gold Edition and Resident Evil™ Village Gold Edition will also release on Nintendo Switch 2 the same day that Resident Evil Requiem drops, featuring post-story scenarios and extra game modes. Grab the full bundle with the Resident Evil Generation Pack, exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2, featuring Resident Evil 7 Biohazard Gold Edition, Resident Evil Village Gold Edition, and the all-new Resident Evil Requiem.
- Get Your Popcorn Ready! – A jaw-dropping “Resident Evil Showcase” will premiere in early 2026 with an even deeper look at Resident Evil Requiem.
- Flaunt Your Fandom in Fortnite! – In celebration of Capcom’s introduction into the Epic Games Store, players who purchase Resident Evil Requiem via Epic Games Store will receive special Resident Evil-themed collaboration items in Fortnite like the Grace outfit! Fortnite collaboration items will be distributed after the release of Resident Evil Requiem and we’ll have more details to share soon.
- Play Like a Pro! – The special edition Resident Evil Requiem Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller featuring designs from the game and styled in gunmetal-inspired black will be available from Nintendo on launch day.
- First-Ever Resident Evil Amiibo – Grace from Resident Evil Requiem will become the first-ever Resident Evil amiibo, available starting in Summer 2026.
- Nerves of Steel: Experience Resident Evil Requiem like never before with the Premium Steelbook Edition featuring the full game, Deluxe Edition contents, and a limited-edition lenticular card exclusive to this release. Available while supplies last.
Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined - PS5 Demo Preview
Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined by developer HexaDrive and publisher Square Enix—Sony PlayStation 5 preview written by Pierre-Yves with a demo available on the PSN.
Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes
Megaman Dual Override Announced for 2027 Release!
More Capcom Announcements at The Game Awards 2025
ABOUT CAPCOM
Kepler Interactive and Frictional Games Releasing ONTOS This Year!
“After more than 10 years of development it is incredibly exciting to finally announce ONTOS. This is easily our most ambitious project yet in terms of scope, production values and sheer thematic ambitions,” says Thomas Grip, creative director and co-founder of Frictional Games. “Where SOMA tackled consciousness, ONTOS aims to do the same thing with the very nature of reality. A lofty goal - yes - and a risky one too. I feel we have managed to create something that does just that though - a game that lets you actively engage with the mysteries of existence headfirst. I am personally dying to see how players react to it.”
“Kepler is always drawn to teams like Frictional Games that share our passion for creativity and art that feels alive. ONTOS is bold, unsettling and beautifully weird. It’s the kind of project that captures the magic of true auteurs and Hollywood talent coming together to explore the strange and tell a story that could only exist in video games,” says Alexis Garavaryan, CEO of Kepler Interactive.
Related Links
- Official Game Website: www.ontosgame.com
- Frictional Games Official Website: https://frictionalgames.com/
- Kepler Interactive Website: www.kepler-interactive.com
- Social Hub: http://www.ontosgame.com/link-hub
About Frictional Games
About Kepler Interactive
Face Your Inner Demons With a Sixgun This February in The Prisoning: Fletcher’s Quest
LOS ANGELES — January 13, 2026 — Newly revived video game publisher Acclaim and Swedish indie studio Elden Pixels are excited to announce that The Prisoning: Fletcher’s Quest is headed to the Nintendo Switch and Steam on February 10, 2026.
Created by the team behind Alwa’s Legacy and A Void Hope, The Prisoning invites players to step into the fractured mind of Fletcher Howie Jr., a developer on the brink of a mental breakdown at the final stages of a massive project. During a post-crunch therapy session, Fletcher becomes trapped in his subconscious and is forced to confront his fears and anxieties in a comedic Metroidvania adventure.
To celebrate today’s release date announcement, Acclaim has released a mind-melting new gameplay trailer. Watch as Fletcher navigates the hazard-filled recesses of his mental prison, goes toe-to-toe with towering bosses, and blasts his way through more emotional baggage than you can stuff into a ten-gallon hat in the footage below.
The Prisoning: Fletcher’s Quest Release Date Trailer
Developer Social Media:
Twitter/X | Facebook | Youtube
Publisher Social Media:
Twitter/X | TikTok | YouTube | Facebook | Discord
About The Prisoning: Fletcher’s Quest
After a visit to the psychologist that went horribly wrong, you’re trapped in the mind of a game developer on the brink of physical and emotional burnout during the last stages of an intense project. Experience a Metroidvania drenched in anxiety based on a very true story.Help Fletcher Howie Jr. escape his mental prison and save the day!
About Elden Pixels
Elden Pixels was founded in 2016 when a group of friends got together and started making the game Alwa’s Awakening. What started just like a small side project eventually turned into a real studio when the game became successful. Now the goal is to create fun, creative and cool games with a focus on gameplay.About Acclaim:
Originally founded in 1987, Acclaim established itself as a leading global developer, publisher, and mass marketer, bringing beloved franchises such as Mortal Kombat, Turok, and NBA Jam into homes worldwide. Today, Acclaim carries its legacy forward with an unwavering commitment to supporting talented indie developers and delivering high-quality, premium indie games to a global audience. Acclaim’s modern revival stands as a testament to the strength and enduring appeal of its iconic brand.Article by: Susan N.
Dynasty Warriors: Origins - Switch 2 Review
Dynasty Warriors: Origins by developer Omega Force and publisher Koei Tecmo America—Nintendo Switch 2 review written by Pierre-Yves with a copy provided by the publisher. #DynastyWarriors
Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes.
Solasta II Launching into Early Access in March 2026!
- Amelia Tyler (Baldur's Gate III, Hades II) as Shadwyn
- An ancient, unknowable force whose corruption spreads across the continent, threatening to plunge Neokos into darkness.
- Ben Starr (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Final Fantasy XVI) as Rickard Colwall
- The eldest of the Colwall siblings, a steadfast light in a darkening world, whose loyalty runs deeper than blood.
- Devora Wilde (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Baldur's Gate III) as Deorcas Colwall
- A formidable warrior whose grief has driven her to doubt her faith, leading her down a path of darkness.
- Ellen Thomas (Arcane) as Anabasia
- A charismatic and manipulative leader, whose silver tongue is as dangerous as any sword.
Related Links
About Tactical Adventures
About Kepler Interactive
Majogami – Coming to PlayStation 5
Paper craft character action comes to PlayStation 5 on May 28th
Chiba, Japan, January 15, 2026 — INTI CREATES has announced their 2D
action platformer Majogami will be coming to the PlayStation 5 platform. The
PlayStation 5 version launches on May 28th, 2026 alongside brand-new
challenging trials.
In Majogami, players take control of Shiroha, a young witch trapped in a
nightmarish paper craft world. Slash through enemies and the world itself at
breakneck speed to make it safely home with your father.
Watch the Majogami PlayStation 5 Trailer on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/-j3Rl762aT4
Steam (PC):
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3837380/The_Witch_of_Luludidea/
Nintendo Switch 2:
https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/majogami-switch-2/
Nintendo Switch:
https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/majogami-switch/
Majogami – Coming to PlayStation 5 on May 28th, 2026
In the PS5 version, 12 new Trials add even more replayability!
A new element of unavoidable flame damage adds pressure that will test the limits
of players' skills!
The best results can be uploaded to the leader boards for each Trial, so "cut through gods like paper" and carve your name into the worldwide rankings!
※What are Trials?
After proceeding through the main story, players can unlock Trial missions with
special rules by meeting special conditions.
※The 12 new trials are planned to be added to other available platforms in a free
update.
About Majogami
Majogami is a new, high-speed 2D action game designed and directed by
Yuji Natsume, the official illustrator for the Blaster Master Zero series.
Players control Shiroha, who must use her katana, "Kamikiri", to slice
through a bizarre paper craft world and the horrors she finds there.
Along her journey, Shiroha will collect cards imbued with her memories
called Recarte, and face off against the diverse Majogami, divine "Craft
Witches" who control the world.
These Majogami, with twisted hearts and powerful magic, stand in
Shiroha's way as she tries to escape their domain. She’ll need to use her
"Setsuna" ability, a fast-moving sword attack, to take out enemies without
missing a beat. In addition to her Setsuna attack, she can rely on Shiori's
defense sigils and the power of the guardians she meets, the Astrals, to
transform herself into new fighting forms.
- Challenge over 35 action stages in the main story, with even more bonus stages unlockable!
- Customize your gameplay with 20 magical charms to find, buy, and equip!
- Experience a rich story with full Japanese voice acting, over 8 hours of dialog in total!
- Take on 13 unique boss encounters with entrancingly dark designs!
- Transform into 7 different fighting forms to change up the action and get the advantage in battle!
About INTI CREATES
Founded in 1996, INTI CREATES is an independent game developerlocated in Chiba, Japan. They have long been known for their work on
Capcom’s Mega Man series, developing Mega Man 9, 10, and the Mega Man
Zero and ZX series. In 2014, they launched their flagship series with Azure
Striker Gunvolt on the Nintendo 3DS, and have only continued to release
more renowned action games since then, such as Gal*Gun Double Peace,
Blaster Master Zero, Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon, and Dragon Marked
for Death.
Article by: Susan N.
John Carpenter's Toxic Commando Bring Chaos on March 12th!
- Two post-launch DLCs including unique skins for characters, weapons, and vehicles to make sure you’re the most fashionable crew of the apocalypse
- A golden Cosmetic Pack for weapons featuring a weapon charm and character skins
CODE VEIN II OVERVIEW TRAILER SHOWCASES NEW COMBAT GAMEPLAY AND ALL-NEW PARTNER SYSTEM
Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. today released the official overview trailer highlighting the exciting new game play systems coming in CODE VEIN™II. The trailer offers a deep dive on character creation tools, Revenant combat, and an expanded look into the different environments that players will discover on the frontier. Developed by Bandai Namco Studios Inc., CODE VEIN II sends players on an epic narrative-driven journey where they wield time as a weapon, explore past and present versions of a collapsing world, and join forces with companions through the game’s dynamic Partner System. The title will launch on January 30, 2026, and is available now for pre-orders on PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam®. An upcoming CODE VEIN II Character Creator demo is available for free on January 23, letting eager Revenants use the game’s deep customization to create characters they can transfer into the final game after purchase. For more information on this title, visit www.playcodevein.com.
View the CODE VEIN II overview trailer at the following link: https://youtu.be/8MFT2Jo7CN0
The overview trailer spotlights key features that players will utilize to survive the post-apocalyptic world in CODE VEIN II. Combat in the game has been expanded, introducing new depth and strategy through enhanced Drain Attacks, Formae, and the Partner System. Drain Attacks are offensive maneuvers used to extract Ichor, an essential resource that fuels the player’s most powerful abilities. Using this Ichor allows players to unleash powerful attacks called Formae, which includes Weapon Formae that modify attacks and grant buffs, Bequeathed Formae that summon unique weapons for devastating strikes, and Defensive Formae that offer critical blocks, counters, and evasive maneuvers. Jails are specialized artifacts worn on the player’s back and further shape combat by altering stats, modifying Drain Attacks, and providing tactical advantages based on the encounter.
The trailer also highlights the Restorative Offering, a mechanic where partners can restore the fallen Revenant Hunter with recovered health, though a cooldown leaves them temporarily incapacitated and unable to assist in battle. Newly added to the weapon roster, CODE VEIN II features the Twin Blades and Rune Blades, joining returning favorites such as the Bayonet, Halberd, Hammer, and Greatsword. These weapon types are supported by the expanded Blood Code system, which allows players to shape their combat style by unlocking and swapping between different Revenant power sets as they progress. Boosters allow players to unlock new key attributes and activate traits tied to Blood Codes and equipment, enabling players to create specialized playstyles.
Ahead of launch, players can dive into the CODE VEIN II Character Creator Demo starting on January 23, 2026. Offering 64 save slots that transfer directly into the final game, the Character Creator Demo allows players to experience the game’s deep customization system for the game’s protagonist Revenant Hunter, where players can customize their characters to great detail with a vast array of settings for body type, hairstyle, facial expressions, accessories, makeup and more. Players can also visit the hot spring at the MagMell Institute to view their character in different lighting environments and use Photo Mode to capture and save their creations.
CODE VEIN II features a deep narrative where players and characters are bound by blood, fate, and destiny, set in a future where the last remnants of humanity and Revenants struggle against a world on the verge of collapse. The player’s journey will span across haunting, post-apocalyptic landscapes including the flooded ruins of the Sunken City, The Undead Forest, the Corroded Scar, the isolated MagMell Island, and more. As the story unfolds, players will encounter legendary heroes, Revenants whose destinies intertwine with the world’s survival. The game also features distinctive gameplay for an action RPG, where players use blood drained from enemies to unlock a variety of powerful skills, build strategy for combat with Blood codes, and use unique weapons and equipment called Jails to overcome challenging foes and epic bosses.
For more information on this and other products from Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc., please visit www.bandainamcoent.com. Join the conversation on X at https://www.x.com/BandaiNamcoUS, check us out live on Twitch at https://twitch.tv/bandainamcous, or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS.
Article by: Susan N.
The Flame-wielding Metroidvania 'Nocturnal 2' Releases its Demo this January 27 on Steam
Lausanne, Switzerland - January 7 2026 - Indie game developer Sunnyside Games is happy to announce the arrival of the demo of its upcoming flame-wielding metroidvania Nocturnal 2 this January 27 on Steam. With over one hour of gameplay, the demo will allow players to explore an early section of the game, unlock abilities, experience the combat system, and discover elements of the lore. It has been carefully adapted to avoid major lore or structure spoilers from the full release, which is planned to launch later this year on Nintendo Switch and Steam.
Nocturnal 2 is an atmospheric Metroidvania in which you play as Ardeshir, bearer of the Enduring Flame, who sets out to explore the dark depths and towering heights of the forgotten city of Ytash in order to break the curse that has consumed his homeland
Check the Nocturnal 2 | Demo Announcement Trailer:
https://youtu.be/m3A42DjwfzYMain Features
■ Explore an interconnected city plunged into obscurity and unlock new routes as you return with fresh abilities.
■ Immerse yourself in an atmospheric hand drawn game inspired by Persian architecture.
■ Control a fast, flexible character built for smooth, expressive movement and combat.
■ Uncover secret endings that expand the island’s mysteries.
■ Enjoy a minimalist experience, shaped by its atmosphere and the sense of discovery.
Check us out!
Studio website: www.sunnysidegames.ch
X/Twitter: https://x.com/SunnysideGames
Steam page:
store.steampowered.com/app/2847780/YTASH__A_Nocturnal_Poem
ABOUT SUNNYSIDE GAMES
We're a team passionate about 2D animation and video games. We've been developing games since 2013, with recent releases including Nocturnal (available on all platforms) and the Apple Arcade line-up title Towaga: Among Shadows.
Article by: Susan N.
Nurture a National Defense Hamster in Tower Defender MOCHI-O on PC Jan 19th, 2026
TOKYO — Jan. 6, 2026 — MOCHI-O, the adorable apocalyptic tower defense shooter adventure developed by Zxima and published by Kodansha Creators’ Lab, repels an enemy invasion on Mon, Jan. 19th, 2026 on PC via Steam.
Meet MOCHI-O, the world’s cutest doomsday defense system! Foster fur-ocious firepower, raising a weapon of mass destruction that gains combat prowess through positive affirmations, cuddles, and a steady diet of seeds. Unravel a warm story filled with good-humored banter, keeping things light in a post-apocalyptic world.
Unleash destructive havoc against incoming threats to save the nation from collapse. Grab the tiny hamster, point it towards approaching enemies, and watch MOCHI-O obliterate approaching enemy ships with its ever-evolving abilities in tower defense-style combat.
Outfit MOCHI-O with various weapons and abilities, and feast on bundles of seeds dropped by defeated foes to gain XP. Collect enough seeds to level up MOCHI-O’s base attributes, like firing rate, crit chance, attack range, and cooldown reductions to create a custom playstyle.
As the caretaker’s bond with MOCHI-O increases, so does its firepower! Outside of battle, encourage MOCHI-O with pets, feeding, and decorate its room to create an ideal environment for bonding to unlock upgrades and new weapons.
“MOCHI-O’s a comedic, lighthearted take on the end of the world with a ‘gentle doomsday’ aesthetic, but its cuteness is matched by its gameplay depth,” says developer Zximia. “The nurturing system leads to many different metas and playstyles, with plenty of content for newcomers to the genre as well as for tower defense aficionados.”
MOCHI-O will arrive on PC via Steam on Mon, Jan. 19th, 2026 with language support in English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese. For more information, follow Jii-ma on X / Twitter.
Streaming Trailer
About Zxima
An independent game developer since 2017, Zxima has released 10 titles, including Parasite Days and Post Apocalypse Bakery. Known for distinctive game systems and surreal worldbuilding born from a unique sensibility, Zxima’s works are often set in a “gentle doomsday world.” Catastrophe Restaurant was recognized as a Top 3 title at the Google Play Indie Games Festival 2022.
About Kodansha Game Creator’s Lab
Established in 2021, Kodansha Game Creator’s Lab is the fourth department of the prestigious entertainment publishing company Kodansha Ltd., founded in 1909. Its motto is “Everything for the creator,” reflecting the company's goal to support young talents and introduce indie creators to the wider public.
Article by: Susan N.
Code Violet - PS5 Review
Code Violet by developer and publisher TeamKill Media—Sony Playstation 5 review written by Pierre-Yves with a copy provided by the publisher.
Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes.
Mega Cat Studios Breathes New Life Into Your Favorite Nintendo Consoles This Month With Three New Games
Super Fanger, Plyuk, and Old Towers bring pixel-perfect excitement to the SNES and NES on January 29
PITTSBURGH, PA – January 7, 2025 – The retro-obsessed felines at Creative-first indie game publisher Mega Cat Studios today announced plans to bring three exciting new titles to the NES and Super Nintendo this month, injecting a fresh dose of fun into players’ favorite pieces of retro hardware.
Releasing exclusively on the Mega Cat Studios online store on January 29 are the frantic SNES maze chaser Super Fanger, along with the action-puzzler Old Towers, and the cerebral puzzle platformer Plyuk, both for the NES.
For a look at what’s in store in these exciting new adventures, check out the sizzle trailer below:
Here’s a rundown of each of these upcoming retro releases launching later this month:
Super Fanger: Get ready for the wildest game of tag yet. Chase down your friends or evade their pursuit to avoid capture. Tackle dynamic levels and execute special moves to outsmart your rivals. Keep your nerve as you make every twist and turn count!
- 4 maps with signature twists
- Play absurd characters with unique abilities
- Unlockable surprises
- One or two players
Plyuk: When Plyuk tumbles into a hidden, underground lab, his quiet evening stroll turns into a nightmare. Trapped in a facility full of failed experiments, his only escape is to use his unique ability: cloning himself.
- Navigate a trap-filled world using your cloning mechanics
- Solve teamwork-based puzzles
- Immerse yourself in Plyuk’s atmospheric 8-bit world
Old Towers: Get ready to climb your way to the top in this addictive action puzzle game! Dash across the screen and across walls, ceilings, and more as you collect all the coins and find the way to the exit past devious hazards and traps.
- Dash your way through over 40 levels
- Swap between multiple characters to solve devious, brain-boggling puzzles
- Dodge arrows, spikes, and crushing blocks
~~~
About Mega Cat Studios
Mega Cat Studios breathes new life into old video game consoles with
artisanal, exclusive projects you won’t find anywhere else. From the
original Nintendo to virtual reality ports, we’re bringing our fans the
games they want.
Article by: Susan N.
Hooded Horse Steam Publisher Sale With Games Releasing in 2026
Celebrate the very best in strategic and tactical games
January 8, 2025 - Hooded Horse is celebrating the start of 2026 with a major Steam sales event on its catalog of world-class strategic and tactical games. Discounts continue the historic new lows from the recent winter sale.
Before we get into the discounts, let’s not forget that the past month has been a whirlwind of new announcements and happenings. Earlier today, we announced we’re publishing fantasy roguelite autobattler Bosslords, as well as Sword & Sorcery colony sim Architect of Ruin, but that’s not all:
Pathbreakers: Roaming Blades
Pathbreakers: Roaming Blades is a turn-based tactical RPG where you lead a company of mercenaries in a medieval fantasy world. Try your hand at mercenary work, trading, or exploring, and keep your crew well stocked for brutal combat in a procedurally-generated open-world campaign.
Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era
Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era is the official prequel hailing back to the origins of the genre-defining, critically acclaimed series of turn-based strategy games. Raise grand armies and wield devastating spells to overcome your foes in both solo and multiplayer.
Architect of Ruin
Architect of Ruin is a completely hand drawn sword and sorcery colony simulation game. Farm, hunt, build, and survive as you rebuild an ancient temple under the gaze of a vengeful god.
Gilded Destiny
Forge empires, incite revolutions, and reshape society in Gilded Destiny, the definitive grand strategy game of the Industrial Age. Take command of your chosen nation and lead it to glory through masterful diplomacy, sweeping industrialization, and decisive warfare.
Mars Tactics
The Red Planet is at war. Lead either Capital’s corporate army or Labor’s worker revolutionaries and wage war across a vast strategic map, then assume direct control in turn-based tactical battles featuring artillery, vehicles, and fully-destructible environments. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1727760/Mars_Tactics
Substructure
Harness the power of automation in this factory game set on a rogue planet in the far reaches of the solar system. Dig down and explore the depths of an alien world, exploit its resources across complex production chains, and travel towards the core to uncover its deepest secrets. Factorio-style automation game Substructure was revealed during the PC Gaming Show Most Wanted broadcast
Junxions
Answer your true calling as a traffic engineer in Junxions! Featuring comprehensive simulation, construction, and management tools, use careful planning to build roadways, railways, and walkways, and the complex interactions between them. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1447250/Junxions
Capital Command
Take the helm of a state-of-the-art warship as you fight epic space battles in a sandbox campaign. Upgrade and customize your ship, master the art of maneuvering, and use a blend of tactical prowess and heavy firepower to overcome deadly threats. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1490930/Capital_Command
Drill Keeper
Roguelike deckbuilding meets siege defense as you travel the galaxy and dig through fully destructible worlds to strip them of their riches, defending against relentless hordes of aliens as you build impenetrable fortresses of mining. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2409320/Drill_Keeper
Fragile Existence
Save humanity from the brink of extinction in this sci-fi strategy game of survival. Travel among the stars to seek out resources, establish and develop colonies to sustain civilization, and grow your military might to push back against an overwhelming threat. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1672320/Fragile_Existence
And more! Check out the sale and the upcoming releases here!
~~~~~
About Hooded Horse™
Hooded Horse is a publisher of deep strategic and tactical games,
including Manor Lords, Against the Storm, ENDLESS™ Legend 2, Old World,
Norland, Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era, and 9 Kings. With people
and partners around the world, our goal is to empower and support
developers in doing what they do best: creating world-class experiences
for their audiences.
You can find out more about us on our Steam publisher page or website, as well as our social channels: Twitter, Bluesky, Facebook, YouTube, and Discord.
Article by: Susan N.
Hero Seekers - PS5 Review
Hero Seekers by developer Vanguard and publisher KEMCO—PS5 review written by Richard with a copy provided by the publisher.
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Welcome to
the New Year everybody. It’s time to kick off with a new Kemco title: Hero
Seekers! A story set in a world of heroes who battle against the evil demon
king to protect humankind. This is a turn-based retro style RPG with a blend of old
Kemco title mechanics and some interesting twists, so let’s take a look at what
Hero Seekers has to offer.
Our story follows Lunette, a girl who fought the Demon King along with her two companions. Unfortunately she awakens afterwards to discover the Demon King is alive and history has changed. As the only one who remembers the past, Lunette sets out to recover the forgotten past and to bring down the Demon King for good.
Hero
Seekers is a fairly traditional turn-based RPG setup, where you have a party of
up to four frontliners and a reserve unit that you can swap out in battle.
Battle is done through a turn order based around unit speed, and every
character can act once per turn, although enemies can have more than one
action. You have your standard attack, skill, defend, and item options, but there
are also some quality of life additions to combat mechanics. There is an
autobattle feature as well as a speed of battle toggle where you can vastly
increase the pace of combat, making those grinding sessions a little easier.
Hero
Seekers takes an interesting twist as you explore the land trying to figure out
what is going on with the Demon King and how reality is different than what
Lunette remembers. She will discover former heroes trapped in a prison of
memory, and then summon them forth to aid her. Yup, you can summon heroes in a
sort of quasi-gacha system. In various chests, as well as occasionally from
battles, you will get memory stones. Ten memory stones can be used at a
monument to summon a hero of the past.
When you
summon heroes, you can get multiple of the same hero, increasing their stats
and passive abilities, as well as improving skills or letting you learn them
earlier. Thankfully for me and anyone else with poor luck, the hero pulls are
from a limited pool, so you can burn through the common heroes to get the rare
ones. Furthermore you can select a hero to “aim for”, increasing the appearance
chance, even if you haven’t gotten a copy of them yet.
The basic
overarching gameplay will consist of Lunette and her party visiting a town,
deciding to help out with something, and then going off to find a dungeon on
the world map to get through, all the while getting into random battles. Pretty
standard fare, and if you’ve played a Kemco game in this style before, you’re
pretty sure about what you’re going to get. Equally fair warning where it’s
due, a lot of the assets in Hero Seekers you can find in other more recent
Kemco titles as well. They aren’t bad, and they do have a dynamic style to
them, but they definitely are reused from other games. The music too. Unlike
some of the other Kemco titles, there is no “shop” for special weapons or
items, although there is a merchant who will trade memory stones for items if
you’re so inclined. This means you can’t turn yourself into a chapter one
walking nuke, but I think I prefer this to rolling a post-game strength weapon
in the “store” and then rolling over all the enemies.
I say this
to let you know that Hero Seekers is a pretty generic title, but that doesn’t
mean it’s bad. I was actually quite fond of the storyline, and found the unique
aspect of the Demon Lord’s power, how it’s applied, and the struggles of the
past heroes to be rather well presented. While the theme around what most of
the past heroes struggled with isn’t exactly unique, I’d say it’s often either
underplayed or not utilized enough in most literature or media, so it was a
refreshing experience.
I should
warn you that some of the bosses can be pretty tough. When they do a sizable
chunk to your health per hit and can take multiple actions, if they focus on
one character you’re in for a bad time. You may need to pay more attention to
the turn order that also indicates what the enemies will do in order to prepare
yourself.
Overall
Hero Seekers is a pretty fun title with some interesting themes about heroes
and their struggles. While certainly not award winning, Hero Seekers also
doesn’t fall flat in any major areas either. The hero lottery is surprisingly
reasonable, the combat system is pretty fluid with some nice quality of life
aspects, and the sprite and music is decent, although somewhat reused from
other similar titles. Overall, I’d recommend picking up Hero Seekers if you’re
looking for an older style RPG that doesn’t require heavy investment.


















































