The Gaming Release Calendar
You could say we’re in the eye of the storm right now. The storm, of course, being the fall and winter release calendar for new video games. Things started out with a hectic few weeks that were packed with major titles like Control Resonant, Marvel’s Wolverine, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, and Gears of War: E-Day. Meanwhile, next month will be dedicated almost entirely to two gigantic games: Nintendo’s remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and the long-anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI.
Some great games to play before GTA VI and Zelda launch
Eight new releases including old-school horror, laid-back dressmaking, and the return of Castlevania.
Eight Games to Explore Now
But even though things are comparatively quiet at the moment, there are still a handful of great games that have come out recently. Even better: Many of them are short enough that you can easily squeeze them in before your life is taken over by Hyrule and Vice City. Here are eight titles you can check out before things get overwhelming again.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse
Available on the PS5, Xbox, Switch, and Steam.
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse
This new Castlevania game from the studios that worked on Dead Cells has everything I could have hoped for: intricate levels, challenging platforming, tough bosses, and secrets upon secrets to discover. Sometimes, the game got a little too tough, but thanks to some generous assist settings, I could tweak the experience to be exactly what I wanted it to be. Belmont’s Curse whips.—JP
Dressmaker
Available on Steam.
South African developer Free Lives — known for decidedly not-cozy games like Broforce and Genital Jousting — has ventured into the “cozy” space with Dressmaker, a game about designing and sewing dresses, via a small internal team dubbed Cozy Lives. From your small village shop, you take commissions, sketch designs, pick fabrics and accessories, cut the dress patterns, pin them on a mannequin, and sew it all together. There is a lot of creative freedom. You could certainly spend dozens of hours meticulously designing and accessorizing your dresses — I definitely have — but you can also play in relaxed half-hour sessions when inspiration strikes, making it a flexible option in a pretty packed season for games.—KP
Heartworm
Available on the Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and PC.
Heartworm: A Nod to Classic Horror
Resident Evil and Silent Hill are as big as they’ve ever been, but if you’re looking for that old-school survival horror vibe, Heartworm is the game. It looks and plays like a long-lost PlayStation classic — you even have limited inventory — albeit with some optional concessions for modern players, like getting rid of the dreaded tank controls. It also has an interesting twist as your character carries around a camera that serves as both a flashlight and a weapon, giving the game its own distinct-yet-familiar feel.—AW
Orbitals
Available on the Switch 2.
As far as co-op puzzle-solving goes, Orbitals doesn’t reinvent the wheel. But it nails the fundamentals, and it does so in a pitch-perfect ’90s anime package that elevates it beyond a stock puzzle adventure. The world and character designs are reminiscent of the peak Toonami days — the timeless art of Akira Toriyama or the stylish sci-fi of Cowboy Bebop — and are gorgeous even if you aren’t particularly nostalgic for the era. It’s short enough to finish in a few sessions, and because Orbitals comes with a “friend pass” that allows someone else to play with you without buying their own copy, it’s easy to get a friend to join you for the journey.—KP
Silver Pines
Available on the PS5, Xbox, Switch 2, and PC.
Silver Pines: Unique Detective Story
This is a game best explained in relation to things that already exist. It has the 2D exploration of Metroid, controls like a point-and-click adventure, the slow-burning survival horror of early Silent Hill and Resident Evil, and a weirdo Americana vibe that’s clearly inspired by Twin Peaks. That may sound derivative, but Silver Pines is unlike anything I’ve ever played, a detective story that’s a mix of straight-up terror and deliberate and methodical exploration. It even makes you spend (fictional) money to save your game and you can relax with a cup of coffee to increase your stamina.—AW
Toem 2
Available on the PS5, Xbox, and Switch.
Toem 2 is a sequel to 2021’s black-and-white indie game about photography, and it’s just as lovely as the original. The characters are charming, the quests are silly, and taking pictures is a snap. It was a great travel companion during a recent trip, especially because I was able to finish it over the course of a couple hours.—JP
Toy Story: Retro Roundup
Available on the PS5, Xbox, Switch, and Steam.
For those interested in video game history, any game with the Digital Eclipse name on it is worth checking out. Even still, a Toy Story collection doesn’t seem as immediately interesting as, say, a history of Karateka or Tetris. But through some fascinating archival material coupled with the actual games, the collection makes it clear how technically ambitious these games were, from squeezing 3D sprites on the Sega Genesis to a surprisingly open-ended A Bug’s Life adventure. Just as important, they’re still fun to play.—AW
Well Dweller
Available on the PS5, Xbox, Switch, and PC.
In Well Dweller, an indie Metroidvania from developer Kyle Thompson, you play as an adorable bird in a world filled with cute characters and alarmingly grotesque bosses. The zones are weird and memorable, like a docks level where you jump from dead fish hanging in nets, but they’re a blast to explore, especially because Glimmer’s matchstick weapon cleverly serves double duty as a springboard you can stick to walls. Well Dweller came out of nowhere for me, and it’s easily become one of my favorites of the year.—JP
