New Releases: November 16th-22nd, 2023

This week, the Phantom Thieves return for X-COM-style battles in Persona 5 Tactica, while father and son team up for a two-pronged campaign in Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections. Meanwhile, Yohane the Parhelion -Blaze in the Deepblue- imagines the Love Live! spin-off as a two-dimensional Metroidvania.

PlayStation 4
Bluey: The Videogame (physical & digital, $39.99)
Christmas Massacre (digital, $11.99)
In Stars and Time (digital, $19.99)
Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections (digital, $59.99-$94.99)
Persona 5 Tactica (digital, $59.99 & $79.99)
Settris (digital, $4.99)
The Walking Dead: Destinies (digital, $49.99)
Train Valley 2: Community Edition
Worldless (digital, $17.99)
Yohane the Parhelion -Blaze in the Deepblue- ($26.99)

PlayStation 5
Jagged Alliance 3 (physical, $59.99)

Switch
Adventure Tanks (digital, $6.99)
Astlibra Revision (digital, $19.99)
Attack Strategy – Battle Simulator Accurate (digital, $9.99)
Bluey: The Videogame (physical & digital, $39.99)
Call of Sniper Combat – WW2 (digital, $11.99)
Castle Invasion: Throne Out (digital, $6.99)
Cats on Streets (digital, $3.99)
Drag Racing Car Simulator (digital, $9.99)
Dream Town Island (digital, $10.80)
Dyschronia: Chronos Alternate – Definitive Edition (digital, $44.99)
Extreme Skyway Racer Simulator (digital, $5.99)
Furniture Flipper Simulator 2023: Revive, Restoration & Creative Crafting (digital, $12.99)
In Stars and Time (digital, $19.99)
Inertia 2 (digital, $4.39)
Jurassic Park Classic Games Collection (digital, $29.99)
L.O.L. Surprise! Roller Dreams Racing (digital, $39.99)
Loot Box Quest – Mystic Maidens (digital, $2.99)
Low Story (digital, $7.99)
MechanixMind: IQ Puzzle Adventure (digital, $7.99)
Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections (digital, $59.99-$94.99)
On Rusty Trails (digital, $14.99)
Persona 5 Tactica (digital, $59.99 & $79.99)
Pizza Bar Tycoon GOTY Edition (digital, $6.49)
Prison City (digital, $16.99)
Runnyk (digital, $4.99)
Settris (digital, $4.99)
Smoots Pinball (digital, $5.99)
Subway Simulator – Bundle (digital, $11.99)
Super Mario RPG (physical & digital, $59.99)
Swim Sacabambaspis! (digital, $2.99)
The Forest Quartet (digital, $9.99)
The Myth Seekers 2: The Sunken City (digital, $14.99)
The Smurfs: Learn and Play (digital, $14.99)
The Walking Dead: Destinies (digital, $49.99)
There Is No Light (digital, $15.99)
Until The Last Bullet (digital, $9.99)
Witchtastic (digital, $17.99)
Worldless (digital, $17.99)
Yohane the Parhelion -Blaze in the Deepblue- ($26.99)

Xbox One
Bluey: The Videogame (physical & digital, $39.99)
Deserted (digital, $19.99)
Farm Builder (digital, $7.99)
Final Shot (digital, $5.99)
Flashback 2 (digital, $39.99)
Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections (digital, $59.99-$94.99)
Persona 5 Tactica (digital, $59.99 & $79.99)
Prison City ($16.99)
Settris (digital, $4.99)
Smoots Pinball (digital, $5.99)
The Walking Dead: Destinies (digital, $49.99)
Train Valley 2: Community Edition
Worldless (digital, $17.99)
Yohane the Parhelion -Blaze in the Deepblue- ($26.99)

PC
7th Domain ($10.79)
Bluey: The Videogame (digital, $39.99)
Bopl Battle ($8.49)
Flashback 2 ($35.99)
In Stars and Time (digital, $19.99)
Loddlenaut ($17.99)
Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections ($59.99-$114.98)
Persona 5 Tactica (digital- $59.99, $79.99)
Small Saga ($17.99)
The Kindeman Remedy ($7.99)
Universe for Sale ($13.49)
Valfaris: Mecha Therion ($TBA)
Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin ($53.99)
Worldless ($17.99)
Yohane the Parhelion -Blaze in the Deepblue- ($26.99)

Rob’s pick: When Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars debuted in 1996, the game felt innovative. Placing Nintendo’s beloved characters in a 3D world for the first time, the title’s turn-based battles included some of the interactivity of Final Fantasy IV’s active time battle system. The remake which arrives this week, has a shorter title, more inviting artwork, and a difficulty that’s been softened- all presumably to broaden the game’s audience. But oddly, there’s been no effort to include voice acting, which feels like an odd omission. That said, Super Mario RPG is still an enjoyable experience, and I can’t think of too many games that extend a better invitation into the joys of role-playing.

I’ve also been playing quite a bit of Loddlenaut, which is a subaquatic variation on the crafting game. But instead of cutting down trees and tunneling into the ground, you’re cleaning up a polluted ocean. Sure, recycling six-pack rings and discarded bottles feels familiar. But Loddlenaut provides the satisfaction associated with restoring a contaminated landscape, making for a relaxing and mildly therapeutic experience.

Ryan’s pick: The latest archon’s release in Genshin Impact has kept me in Fontaine lately, however I did see a few games on Steam that looked unique enough to investigate more about them this week. My pick this week is Small Saga as I just really like this RPG’s spritework and perspective during the battles. The premise of animals set in medieval times brandishing quirky weapons attacking larger evil animals just hits the right notes this week for me. A romp through Rodentia may not be for those who prefer vibrant 3D experiences, but if you have an appetite for sprites this week then please check this one out.

One other game that looked unique was Wordless. There is no shortage of sidescrollers on Steam, but the part that made this one made me interested was that the battle scenes are turn based when you aren’t platforming. If you mix that mechanic with some really interesting shape-based artwork for the main character, I think it helps make the game stand apart in the genre. Length-wise I’m not quite sure what to expect, but I hope that some of the RPG elements will bring some extra challenge and depth to the game outside of the platforming.

Matt S’ pick (editor, DigitallyDownloaded): Super Mario RPG is a masterpiece and well-regarded as one of the finest SNES titles ever released. Nintendo and Square Enix might not have done much more than a visual upgrade for this “remake”, and on that level it’s a little disappointing given how impressive the recent Star Ocean 2 remake was, but such is life, and the base game is still essential. It’s also the first time that Super Mario RPG has been made officially available to Western audiences outside of North America, so if you’re not the kind to sail the high seas, then be prepared to be in for a delightful ride for the first time.

I’m also very intrigued by Yohane the Parhelion -Blaze in the Deepblue-. I must admit that I somehow missed everything about this game and had no idea it existed. The name caught my eye (because it seems very much like the kind of game name I enjoy), and it’s an Inti Creates platformer? Cool. Sold.

Also, it has really cute girls.