Reviewed on: Switch Platform: Switch, PC Publisher: Annapurna Interactive Developer: Simogo Release: May 16, 2024 Lorelei and the Laser Eyes’ setup is bland compared to the others in the puzzle genre. You are a bespectacled woman carrying a clutch who walks with incredible poise into a mansion with little understanding of why you are there or what you are doing. The lack of context doesn’t matter, though, because the game immediately showers you with an incredible sense of mood. You may not know why you are petting the dog in the courtyard, checking every door, or reading every scrap of paper ..read more

We’ve known since October 2022 that Season 3 of Netflix’s The Witcher would be actor Henry Cavill’s last as Geralt of Rivia and that Liam Hemsworth would don the silvery mane going forward. Today, Netflix released the first teaser trailer for Season 4 giving fans their first look at Hemsworth in the role. Unfortunately, Hemsworth doesn’t speak in the brief clip, so we still don’t know how his Geralt voice compares to Cavill’s (or the games, for that matter). But he definitely doesn’t look out of place as the White Wolf and, hopefully, won’t be too much of a distraction in this new season. Se ..read more

In 1993, the original NBA Jam hit arcades and revolutionized the arcade sports genre. High-flying dunks, flaming basketballs, and the biggest names from the hardwood served as trademarks for the classic quarter-munching cabinet. Though the series has been absent for years now, with the last entry arriving in 2011 under the EA Sports umbrella, Play Mechanix and Raw Thrills have partnered with the NBA and the NBA Players Association to bring that same arcade-style basketball action to arcades with NBA Superstars. NBA Superstars brings 3v3 arcade-style basketball action, featuring all 30 teams c ..read more

Hot on the heels of the news that the Kingdom Hearts series is coming to Steam next month, recording artist Hikaru Utada has released the English re-recording of the series’ hit theme, “Simple and Clean.” This new version of what's arguably Kingdom Hearts’ de facto theme song is part of Utada’s greatest hits album, Science Fiction, which was released last month and features multiple re-recordings of their hit songs. Last month, Utada released the re-recorded version of “Hikaru”, the Japanese version of “Simple and Clean”. For more on what's to come for the Kingdom Hearts series, check out th ..read more

The latest trailer for the upcoming Shadow of the Erdtree DLC focuses on how the add-on will fit into the story of Elden Ring. The pre-rendered trailer features no gameplay (as near as I can tell) and tells the story of Miquella and the war that sent them to the Land of Shadow. The footage hints at a location around the Lands Between that you and others will presumably visit. Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC will be released on June 21 and will not be a standalone expansion. It requires ownership of the original game and will cost $39.99. A physical collector's Edition of the DLC ..read more

Square Enix has announced that several Kingdom Hearts games are coming to Steam next month. Three compilations, and a compilation of those compilations, will bring the entire “Dark Seeker Saga” to Valve’s storefront. On June 13, you can purchase the following titles on Steam: Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind DLC Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece (bundle that includes all the above compilations) If you’re jumping into the series for the first time or returning from a long absence and have no idea how to decipher the b ..read more

Reviewed on: Switch Platform: Switch, GameCube Publisher: Nintendo Developer: Intelligent Systems Release: October 11, 2004 (GameCube), May 23, 2024 (Switch) Rating: Everyone The Mario brand of RPG represents some of my favorite adventures in the genre. The comedic tone, inviting art, and active battle systems have always been highlights for me, but Thousand-Year Door was a personal blind spot. I played prior and subsequent Mario RPGs, but I skipped it when the original was released in 2004, and notably was not yet employed at Game Informer at the time. With Nintendo remastering the acclaimed ..read more

Reviewed on: Xbox Series X/S Platform: Xbox Series X/S, PC Publisher: Xbox Game Studios Developer: Ninja Theory Release: May 21, 2024 Rating: Mature Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice didn’t need a sequel. It had a clear story to tell, and it told it well with an artful (and tactful) execution of its mental health themes and a strong conclusion. But Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II builds a great case for itself by using the titular warrior’s growth to help not only herself but, for the first time, others around her, shining her in a fascinating new light. Refined gameplay and a jaw-dropping presentation ..read more

The original Undermine released in 2020 and was an unexpected rogue hit that felt like it came out of nowhere. We had a chance to speak with developer Thorium about some of the changes for the sequel, and got to play a portion of the game, as well. Join Kyle Hilliard and Marcus Stewart for a look at new, exclusive gameplay, and a discussion about what makes the Undermine games so special. Head over to Game Informer's YouTube channel for more previews, reviews, and discussions of new and upcoming games. Watch other episodes of New Gameplay Today right here ..read more

The remake of the 1994 first-person immersive sim shooter was completely remade by developer Night Studios recently and it is finally making its way to consoles. It's the game that laid the groundwork for experiences like Bioshock, 2017's Prey, and many more in the genre, and the remake is both faithful and impressively contemporary. Join Wesley LeBlanc, Marcus Stewart, and me for a look at the game's opening moments on Xbox Series X and a discussion about the state of the genre that System Shock arguably invented. Head over to Game Informer's YouTube channel for more previews ..read more