This week on RPS: secret plans and clever tricks. Also, a bunch of new videogames, none of them particularly Enormous or Crocodilian. We open on Monday 20th May with the extremely Alice B-friendly combo of Little-Known Galaxy, aka Stardew Valley meets Star Trek, and A Tower Full Of Cats, a hidden object puzzler featuring a tower full of dogs, I mean cats. All very upbeat. Well, hold that thought, because on the 21st, it's time for Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2, another slice of Celtic sort-of-psychosis from Ninja Theory, which is as grim as the accompanying Paper Trail is *checks Nic's review* incredibly annoying?

On 22nd May there's Venture To The Vile, a 2.5D metroidvania which is already doing a nice line in background animations and scenery, RKGK/Rakugaki, a 3D platformer in which you are a graffiti artist tagging up a neo-brutalist city, and Isles Of Sea & Sky, which is Zelda but also sokoban. 23rd May introduces the long-anticipated Hauntii, a ghostly twin-stick puzzle-shooter rendered in two-tone line art, and Crown Wars: The Black Prince, which is sort of XCOM but French and from the 14th century. On the 24th, there's a reboot of Devil Blade, a 1996 shmup with a pretty glorious mix of sprites and 3D environments.

As ever, these recommendations are but the perishable emissions of our crumbling mortal intellects, and we have doubtless skimmed over one or more videogames of note. I trust you'll be getting all up in my grill about that in the comments. Also as ever, this week's videogames are manna for the Maw, that atrocious quantum edifice of famine and plunder, which we must once again try to appease by means of the below newsblog. I've been working on a glossary of Maw vocalisations. I'm pretty sure that "BZZTYGHTAHJHJ" is Mawese for "Fallout 5 release date", while "xh'nglar ghhgrhjw'nafh" means "is Wuthering Wave leftist" and "EEEEEEEEEEEEE" translates to "Microsoft opens new studio". Have a fun week all.

Our live coverage of this event has finished.

Key points
  • 07:59 am 05/24/2024 IT'S FRIDAY I'M IN FRIDAY
  • 11:02 am 05/23/2024 THURSDAY DOESN'T EVEN START
  • 08:03 am 05/22/2024 WEDNESDAY, ALTHOUGH I'D QUITE LIKE TO GO BACK TO THE FIRST HALF OF TUESDAY AND JUST STAY THERE
  • 07:51 am 05/21/2024 TUESDAY, I PRESUME?
  • 07:16 am 05/20/2024 DEFCON MONDAY
07:16 am UTC

DEFCON MONDAY

This morning the Maw has manifested as a million mini-Maws, who look like violently coloured preying mantids. They squat on my shoulders as I type these words, squealing and hissing. Shoo! Shoo! FEED THEM. Edwin Evans-Thirlwell 07:42 am UTC

I'm still away from my desk representing/disgracing RPS at the Digital Dragons conference in Krakow. Yesterday another journalist and I went looking for a networking event in the old town and I'm pretty sure we were being stalked by a horse-drawn carriage. I haven't seen the other journalist yet today. Perhaps the old town has claimed him.

Edwin Evans-Thirlwell 07:49 am UTC

You will soon be unable to play Steam games on your Telsa. Speaking as a pedestrian, I'm kind of happy about that.

Edwin Evans-Thirlwell 07:51 am UTC

Galactic mystery puzzler Machinika: Museum is free on Steam until 27th May - ta, PCG.

Edwin Evans-Thirlwell 07:57 am UTC Elden Ring studio FromSoftware teased a couple of new Shadow Of The Erdtree images before the weekend. One is a Omen-masked creature, the other is an omnious, Bloodborne-lookin' town square. We're exactly a month and a day out from release now. Nic Reuben 07:59 am UTC Layers Deep is an upcoming 2D metroidvania with music from the composers of the excellent animated series Over The Garden Wall. The general vibe of the game isn't a million miles away from the show, either. Nic Reuben 08:05 am UTC Those Total War: Star Wars (Total Star Wars?) rumours might have a bit more meat on their bones than initially appeared. VGC's Andy Robinson has hinted at having known about Creative Assembly's rumoured project for a while now. I still think they should stay within publisher SEGA's franchises: Total War: Like A Dragon, anyone? All the maps would be car parks and red light districts, mind. Nic Reuben 08:22 am UTC Extremely exciting Sekir-ouls-like Black Myth: Wukong has a new trailer. Watch to the end for a good monkey. Black Myth: Wukong - WeGame Tonight 2024 Trailer Watch on YouTube Nic Reuben 08:28 am UTC Dave The Diver - the game that launched a thousand 'is it indie though?' debates, each less interesting than the last - is getting a free Godzilla DLC this Wednesday, May 23rd. Nic Reuben 08:44 am UTC Tiny Terry's Turbo Trip is a quirky adventure game that requires no further alliteration, which is good, because it's Monday, and I simply don't have it in me. Looks fun though! It's out next Thursday, May 30th. Nic Reuben 08:59 am UTC In a stunning coincidence primarily of interest to me only, Steam has 3 Legacy Of Kain Games for under a quid each, and GOG has the other (Blood Omen), also for under a quid - or around 85% off all round. With all the money you save, you could buy a beanbag to sit in and sulk about the lack of Soul Reaver 1. Nic Reuben 09:58 am UTC Baldur’s Gate 3 developers Larian are opening a new studio in Warsaw, Poland. "As the team ramps up development on our next games, Larian’s excited to boost its existing 24-hour development cycle with the addition of this seventh studio." Nic Reuben 10:52 am UTC Courier 'em up Death Stranding 2 has wrapped up filming and is now entering its "adjustment phase," via Games Radar. Nic Reuben 16:33 pm UTC

Stellar Blade devs Shift Up are ‘considering’ a PC release and sequel for the flashy action-RPG, as their next game Project Witches also takes aim at PC (it sounds like that'll be a gacha game though, sorry).

Matt Jarvis 17:11 pm UTC

Undertale follow-up Deltarune's next part(s) are “going better than ever”, but don’t expect them anytime soon, per the latest update from creator Toby Fox.

Matt Jarvis 17:41 pm UTC

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown has added a boss rush mode, extra fast-travel and an outfit from the 2008 reboot (if you can unlock it) in the second of its three free updates.

Matt Jarvis 18:16 pm UTC

'Warner Smash Bros' fighter MultiVersus has added Friday the 13th’s Jason and The Matrix’s Agent Smith to its already preposterous roster, as the fighter prepares to return next week having vanished after its open beta almost a year ago.

Matt Jarvis 07:51 am UTC

TUESDAY, I PRESUME?

You can't fool me. This isn't my first Tuesday. Nic Reuben 07:54 am UTC There's a free Steam demo for Silenus, the next game from Geography Of Robots - them behind stunningly good hauntological adventure Norco. The demo is named 'Umbilical Pre-Release'. Nic Reuben 07:58 am UTC

I missed this when it released: Little Buddy Move is an interactive animation from Chuchel and Samorost team Amanita. You click on cute wooden gremlins to remix a funky track. You'll be done with it in about 45 seconds, but it is 45 seconds of pure joy:

Little Buddy Move - Immerse yourself in an innovative musical experience! Watch on YouTube Nic Reuben 08:00 am UTC

The upcoming Sims-like kitchen disaster simulator Life By You has had its release date pushed back again, this time indefinitely. That's what developers Paradox say. The simple reason is: "we believe that additional development time is needed."

Brendan Caldwell 08:01 am UTC Playing Kafka is out today. It's a "narrative adventure full of impenetrable schemes, insidious plot twists and conversations that slip out of hand. Based on Kafka’s life and his work, developed with Kafka experts." Sounds...Kafka-like. Nic Reuben 08:05 am UTC 'Necromancy' is one of the most ambitious and rad looking Total War: Warhammer III mods I've yet seen. As the Vampire Counts, you can recruit those wheel skellies from Dark Souls/Berserk, and also raise several units from every faction in the game as bony minions. Cheers YouTuber Colonel Damneders for the spot! Nic Reuben 08:10 am UTC Senua's Saga Hellblade 2 reviews are out! Here's ours! Nic Reuben 08:12 am UTC The Kingdom Hearts series is coming to Steam next month, June 13th. Remember: any key can be a blade if you believe in yourself. Nic Reuben 11:19 am UTC Nifty stompy boy management game Mech Engineer has left early access. Looks like a corker for those who appreciate a good menu. I'm not being snarky. These are some good menus. Nic Reuben 14:02 pm UTC

Shadow Of The Erdtree's story trailer premieres 3pm UTC/11am EST/4pm BST. Here's it:

ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree | Story Trailer Watch on YouTube Nic Reuben 08:03 am UTC

WEDNESDAY, ALTHOUGH I'D QUITE LIKE TO GO BACK TO THE FIRST HALF OF TUESDAY AND JUST STAY THERE

UGH Nic Reuben 08:10 am UTC Cyber Clutch: Hot Import Nights is a cyberpunky battle racer out at some point in the future. Anything that gives even the slightest whiff of Rock N Roll Racing 2 makes me salivate like some sort of spreadsheet fiddler gleefully purging irreplaceable talent. Similes are fun! Nic Reuben 11:02 am UTC

THURSDAY DOESN'T EVEN START

... Nic Reuben 07:59 am UTC

IT'S FRIDAY I'M IN FRIDAY

Fifth day already this week, sheer madness. Nic Reuben 08:05 am UTC Ring My Bell Watch on YouTube Edwin Evans-Thirlwell 08:14 am UTC Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus 2 is happening! No release date as of yet, but you can find the Steam page here. Space popes vs bots: the sequeling! Nic Reuben 10:17 am UTC Union of Gnomes: Prologue is a free taster to the upcoming squirrel-riding, cart-rampaging roguelike deckbuilder. Nic Reuben 10:50 am UTC Belle of Belfast City Watch on YouTube Edwin Evans-Thirlwell 11:06 am UTC For Whom The Bell Tolls (Remastered) Watch on YouTube Edwin Evans-Thirlwell 11:27 am UTC BELLA CIAO - La Casa de Papel (ORIGINAL SONG & DANCE SCENE) Watch on YouTube Edwin Evans-Thirlwell 12:35 pm UTC Sabine Devieilhe records Lakmé (Delibes): Air des clochettes / Bell Song Watch on YouTube Edwin Evans-Thirlwell 15:22 pm UTC Ring Them Bells Watch on YouTube Edwin Evans-Thirlwell 16:33 pm UTC

Animal Well creator plans to follow the superb Metroidvania with a game that shares its world but “may not be a direct sequel”.

Matt Jarvis 16:44 pm UTC

The Sims 4's developers have assembled a new team to focus on fixing bugs and upping performance, with updates now due to land every two months. That'll kick off with a patch later this month that includes fixes for summoning a cheese toastie, among others.

Matt Jarvis 16:52 pm UTC

Gacha game of the moment Wuthering Waves plans to let you skip more scenes and improve combat in the future, as devs Kuro Games offer some in-game goodies as apology for the open-world RPG's rocky launch earlier this week.

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