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Ducks, Detectives, and Demos – Press Release #2 | GBAtemp.net

We’re midway through August and have Gamescom just on the horizon! This week we’ve got a healthy collection of indie horror, miscellaneous cute ghosts, and a fresh demo for Nintendo’s upcoming Famicom Detective Club game. There’s much more though, so peruse at your own pace!

  1. ➤ Strategy RPG Band of Crusaders revealed by studio Virtual Alchemy, described as “the world of The Witcher without the Witchers” (Trailer)

    ➤ Maschinen-Mensch reveals roguelike multiplayer platformer “Mother Machine”, built in Unreal Engine 5 and aims to push the limits of procedurally-generated gameplay; release scheduled for 2025 (Trailer)

    ➤ Action RPG The Lightless World to come to Early Access soon, Steam page now live for those wanting to wishlist (Trailer | Steam)

    ➤ Shadows of Doubt to leave Steam Early Access September 26th, 1.0 release also launching on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S with physical release to follow shortly after (Trailer)

    ➤ Cult classics Glover and Top Racer Collection to get physical PlayStation releases from Physical Mania, an branch of Piko Interactive that focuses on bringing physical versions classic games to modern systems; sign up available now for notification of availability (Physical Mania)

    ➤ Early Access release date for “comically brutal” roguelike Lucky Tower Ultimate confirmed for Friday the 13th of September, a notably lucky date; release date trailer now live (Trailer | Steam)

    ➤ Release date for rhythmic shooter Metal: Hellsinger VR confirmed for September 26th on Meta, and October 3rd for Steam and PlayStation; Dream of the Beast DLC included for those who pre-order (Trailer)

    ➤ NIS America’s The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak gets accolades trailer; released July 5th it has an average score of 88 across all platforms, making it the highest-rated game in the Trails series to date (Trailer)

    ➤ Witchcraft adventure game REKA gets Steam Early Access launch date of September 12th; publisher Fireshine Games also announces collaboration with award-winning writer Rhianna Pratchett as the game’s lead writer (Steam)

    ➤ Hot Wheels unbelievably still has new games coming out; Hot Wheels Monster Trucks: Stunt Mayhem revealed alongside October 18th release date (Trailer)

    ➤ DATE A LIVE: Ren Dystopia gets September 5th release date on Steam; owners of the first game, DATE A LIVE: Rio Reincarnation to get a 10% discount via “Complete the Set Bundle” discount (Steam)

    ➤ Level Zero: Extraction launches into Steam Early Access with mixed reviews; aims to blend tactical FPS and survival horror with “high-stakes PvPvE extraction” gameplay (Steam)

    ➤ Goemon-inspired action game Bakeru to get western release on Switch and Steam; release date set at September 3rd with a demo currently available for the Switch (Trailer)

    ➤ Collecting and crafting-focused RPG WitchSpring R gets global Switch and PS5 release date set at August 29th, with Xbox version in development; this was previously announced in May but seems to be presented as new information… but it’s a really good game so it does deserve the extra announcement (May Announcement Trailer)

    ➤ The lines between survival horror and trashy 80s film blur with the announcement of The Lacerator; demo currently available with the game slated to launch 2025 (Trailer)

    ➤ New trailer released for wacky time traveling turn-based game Reptilian Rising; no release date announced yet but Steam demo is available (Trailer | Steam)

    ➤ Roguelike action platformer Elsie gets September 10th release date along with new trailer; game to release on PC, PS5, and Switch (Trailer)

    ➤ Saber Interactive and Twirlbound announce action-adventure game The Knightling; game to release on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch in 2025 (Trailer)

    ➤ Ritual of Raven revealed as a part of Steam’s Wholesome Games event; 2025 release date for Steam and Switch with playable demo available at Gamescom (Trailer)

    ➤ Two Point Studios announce their latest title following Two Point Hospital and Campus: Two Point Museum; announcement trailer released with game set to launch on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S (Trailer)

    ➤ RPG shooter Witchfire to arrive on Steam Early Access in 2024; currently available via Epic Games Store with Steam page now live for those wanting to wishlist (Epic Games | Steam)

    ➤ Spike Chunsoft games to feature in PlayStation’s August Savings sale; wide range of games included with Danganronpa, Steins;Gate, and AI: The Somnium Files all featured (PlayStation Sale)

    ➤ Boomer shooter Gravelord announced by Fatboy Games to launch later this year on Steam; Steam page now live for wishlisting alongside announcement trailer (Trailer | Steam)

    ➤ Highly anticipated survival horror game Hollowbody gets September 12th release date; release date trailer now available with Steam and GOG pages now live (Trailer | Steam | GOG)

    ➤ Indie studio emptyvessel officially announces their first project as immersive shooter Defect; first reveal trailer live with Steam page available for updates and wishlisting (Trailer | Steam)

    ➤ Airline management game Puffin Planes to land on Steam September 4th; release trailer now available (Trailer | Steam)

    ➤ Railroad Corporation 2 to hit Steam Early Access September 9th; announcement trailer live (Trailer | Steam)

    ➤ Vampire Therapist shares accolades trailer, described as a “true gem” that “achieves an emptional impact that few games do”; plans for DLC on the horizon (Trailer | Steam)

    ➤ Quest 3 exclusive Hitman 3 VR: Reloaded gets new gameplay trailer at the VR Games Showcase; game still set to launch Summer 2024 bringing dual wielding, a new art style, and completely overhauled user interface to the familiar title (Trailer | Meta Store)

    ➤ nDreams reveals Vendetta Forever also during the VR Games Showcase, releasing on Quest and PSVR2 in October; also announces August 29th release for Fracked on Quest (Vendetta Forever Trailer)

    ➤ Team Tapas announce new action roguelike game Garden of Witches; game set to release on PC and mobile with a demo scheduled to be showcased at the upcoming Steam Next Fest in October (Steam)

    ➤ The latest AAA title from Snail Games USA has been revealed to be For the Stars, a space survival game; Steam page now live along with an announcement Q&A video (Steam | Announcement Q&A)

    ➤ Age of Empires Mobile to launch October 17thg on iOS and Android; co-developed by TiMi Studio Group and World’s Edge and aims to present a new take on the strategy classic (Trailer)

    ➤ Survival crafting sequel Stranded Deep 2 announced by North Beach Games alongside new development studio in Prague (Teaser Website)

    ➤ Miraculous: Paris Under Siege launching on PC and consoles October 25th; features series protagonists Ladybug and Cat Noir in a solo and co-op action-adventure platformer (Trailer)

    ➤ Debut trailer now live for retro “JIGRPG” Elements Destiny; seven years in the making this Japanese-Inspired German Role Playing Game is set to launch on PC and consoles Q1 of 2025 (Trailer)

  2. ➤ Green Goo Games releases a new free demo for their upcoming ARPG Greyskin, will also be playable at the Indie Arena Booth at Gamescom (Steam)

    ➤ Detective horror game Nowhere gets a new demo on Steam alongside demo trailer; game currently targeting an early 2025 launch (Steam | Trailer)

    ➤ Open world extraction shooter Exoborne gets first gameplay trailer; those wanting to participate in upcoming online tests can subscribe for more information via the official site (Trailer | Official Site)

    ➤ Dear Villages partners with Nirio Games to publish new fast-paced action game Simulakros; new demo available with the game coming to PC in October (Steam)

    ➤ Karma: The Dark World reveals new trailer and upcoming demo; 30 minute demo scheduled to be a part of October’s Steam Next fest (Trailer)

    ➤ Episodic demo for Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club now available; part two to go live August 23rd and part three August 28th ahead of the game’s August 29th release date, with progress carrying over to the full game (Trailer | Nintendo eShop)

    ➤ Duckside’s final open beta begins September 12th, bringing new balance, traps, and “super-cool glasses”; sign up is via Steam store page (Trailer | Steam)

  3. ➤ Fishing adventure game Dredge gets new DLC in “The Iron Rig”, available now with launch trailer (Trailer | Review)

    ➤ Crime Boss: Rockay City receives its 11th major update including “pulpy fictional” mission set, new characters, better AI and more (Steam)

    ➤ Beetlejuice revealed as a new character for platform fighter game MultiVersus ahead of September release of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice; character available from August 20th as a part of Season 2: Back in Time (Trailer)

    ➤ Conan Exiles to introduce new fully voiced companion characters and quests in third season of major updates: Age of Heroes (Steam)

    ➤ New Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns trailer gives an in-depth look at upcoming character Cyrax (Trailer)

  4. ➤ Knights Peak unveils lineup, Starship Troopers: Extermination, Mandragora, and Nikoderiko: The Magical World to be playable as well as “special entertainment” from 6pm of August 22nd, including actor Casper Van Dien, cosplayers, and developers from all shown games

    ➤ GRYPHLINE reveals booth events for Arknights: Endfield and POPUCOM, to include a special stage events, giveaways, cosplayers, and hands-on demos for the two games

    ➤ SelectaPlay shows their lineup for the Indie Arena Zone; will feature NetherWorld, Morkull Ragast’s Rage, Antro, Bubble Ghost Remake, and Dark Atlas: Infernium

  5. ➤ PowerA unveils $99.99 Fortnite-themed Xbox controller, featuring hall effect thumbsticks and triggers, three-way trigger locks, four advanced gaming buttons, and most notably, wireless functionality on the Xbox family of systems; set to launch late September (PowerA Store)

  6. ➤ Krafton acquires Tango Gameworks, creator, including the rights to their 2023 hit Hi-Fi Rush

    ➤ Gaming industry card game Console Wars: The Card Game fully funded after less than a week, Kickstarter campaign still has 19 days to go with community-driven stretch goals added (Kickstarter)

    ➤ The Indie Horror Showcase by DreadXP and The MIX scheduled to return October 24th, submissions now open via official website (Official Site)

    ➤ Plant-puzzle game Botany Manor’s OST released on Steam, available for £4.99 alone or £23.36 bundled with the game (Steam)

    ➤ Polaroid and Dr Martens join the world of Life is Strange: Double Exposure with protagonist Max using a Polaroid Now camera and wearing “1460 Smooth leather cherry red boots”; game available October 29th (Polaroid | Dr Martens)

    ➤ Retro game streaming service Antstream gets two new games from the 80s in Food Fight and Raffles; also confirmed to be launching on PlayStation with full library of games sitting at over 1300 titles

    ➤ GSC Game World releases latest Developer Deep Dive for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl ahead of September 5th release date; 35 minute video includes interviews and behind the scenes of the development process, and footage of the world, gameplay, and cutscenes (Developer Deep Dive)

    ➤ Frostpunk 2’s world comes alive thanks to a new “Sounds of Frostland” video featuring the game’s music (Sounds of Frostland)

    ➤ Pantaloon launches a new publishing hub, a platform designed to equip game developers with everything they might need to self-publish (Pantaloon Publishing Hub)

    ➤ Kakao Games announces global publishing partnership for two new Ocean Drive Studio titles; noted to be “premier indie games” set to showcase at Gamescom

    ➤ Livestream highlights platform Eklipse surpasses 500,000 registered users; notes that the platform has helped produce over 5,000,000 clips per quarter for livestream creators (Eklipse)

    ➤ Murder on Space Station 52 dev diary shows how the game’s unique art makes it “from pen to pixel”; game described as “Agatha Christie in Space” and coming to PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch (Trailer | Dev Diary)

    ➤ ASUS unveil new “ROG Travel Agency” video featuring legendary voice actors Steven Ogg, Ned Luke, and Samantha Béart (ROG Travel Agency)

It’s another relatively quiet week for game releases, but that doesn’t mean I can’t try my best to fish out a few that look interesting. If you’ve found something I’ve missed, I’d definitely love to hear about it!

Odd Realm
Available on Steam
➤ This one appears to have been in Early Access for a good while now, but it’s just hit Steam for its 1.0 release and frankly it looks great; you get some brilliantly aesthetic pixel art to go with what looks to be a remarkably expansive fantasy colony sim.

Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse
Available on Steam
➤ Now this is a game I imagine a lot of people have heard of thanks to it originally releasing back in 2010; what we’re looking at here is the final part of a remastered trilogy, and my lord does it look fun. The larger aesthetic and humour really do take me back, and I’d love to hear the thoughts of those who originally played these games when they released.

Love, Ghostie
Available on Steam
➤ So picture Ghost Trick but instead of trying to figure out why you died, you just accepted it and wanted to help living people into cute relationships… That sounds pretty good to me! Apparently this is somewhat short, but it looks remarkably wholesome if that’s something you’re in the mood for.

Castaway
Available on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, and Steam
➤ If you like the gameplay of Link’s Awakening on the Game Boy Color then do I have a treat for you here! Castaway looks to be a short and sweet retro trek; at £6.99 it seems like an easy win if you’re looking for something to play and have been craving those sweet pixels.

And that’s it for this week! Apologies for it coming so late, I ended up letting a lot of the press releases get on top of me and then had an absolute stack to work through come Friday. Thankfully I’ve got together something of process now that should help me stay ahead, so you can expect the next release to come on Friday ahead of the weekend. As always though, thanks for reading, and let me know if there’s news you’d want to see covered!

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