New Releases: December 7th-13th, 2023

This week, a quartet of four classics arrives on Xbox One with the appearance of Clockwork Aquario, Pocky & Rocky, and a pair of Cotton titles. But the little broomstick-riding baddie is hardly the only sorceress arriving this week, since 2012’s Witch on the Holy Night (pictured) is getting a Steam release.

PlayStation 4
Bear and Breakfast (digital, $19.99)
Hammerwatch II (digital, $24.99)
Hell Well (digital, $4.99)
Hiveswap Friendsim (digital, $8.99)
Pesterquest (digital, $8.99)
Pestersim (digital, $14.39)
This Bed We Made (digital, $24.99)
Train Valley Collection (physical & digital, $39.99)

PlayStation 5
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora (physical & digital, $69.99)

Switch
Air Aces (digital, $9.99)
Bulldozer Tycoon: Construction Simulator (digital, $9.99)
City Bus Driver Simulator (digital, $11.99)
City Driver: Car Parking Simulator (digital, $9.99)
Crystal Chip Collector e (digital, $4.99)
Defend The Base: Tower Turret Shooting Range (digital, $9.99)
Dreamers: A Nostalgic Adventure (digital, $29.99)
Erogods: Asgard (digital, $7.30)
Fearmonium (digital, $12.99)
Golf Guys (digital, $4.99)
Hammerwatch Anniversary Edition (digital, $19.99)
Hammerwatch II: The Chronicles Edition (digital, $39.99)
Helix Jump (digital, $4.99)
Hell Well (digital, $4.99)
Hiveswap Friendsim (digital, $8.99)
Hot Love Dreams: Classic Hentai Logic Puzzle (digital, $9.99)
Mob Control (digital, $4.99)
Nessy The Robot (digital, $9.99)
Outer Wilds (digital, $19.99, $29.99)
Pesterquest (digital, $8.99)
Pestersim (digital, $14.39)
Stone Age (digital, $2.00)
Sunsoft Mahjong Solitaire – Shanghai Legend – (digital, $17.99)
The Smurfs: Colorful Stories (digital, $11.99)
Vege Bubble Shoot (digital, $9.99)
Xiizeal (digital, $15.00)
Xuan Yuan Sword: Mists Beyond the Mountains (digital, $14.99)
Yukar From The Abyss (digital, $22.49)
Zumaji Delux (digital, $4.99)

Xbox One
Adventure Tanks (digital, $9.99)
Cards We’re Dealt (digital, $9.99)
Clockwork Aquario (digital, $9.99)
Cotton 100% (digital, $9.99)
Hammerwatch II (digital, $24.99)
Hell Well (digital, $4.99)
Panorama Cotton (digital, $9.99)
Pocky & Rocky Reshrined (digital, $24.99)
.T.E.S.T: Expected Behaviour (digital, $7.99)

Xbox Series S/X
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora (physical & digital, $69.99)

PC
Arizona Sunshine 2 ($24.99)
Captain Pawsome ($TBA)
Pioneers of Pagonia ($TBA)
Railroader ($29.99)
Stargate: Timekeepers ($29.99)
Stellaris Nexus ($TBA)
The Day Before ($39.99)
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader ($49.99)
Witch on the Holy Night ($TBA)

Rob’s Pick: China’s console ban in the early 2000s meant that computer and mobile games were the dominant way to enjoy electronic entertainment until sanctions were lifted in 2015. Across this era, quite a few titles that took inspiration from across the globe. Originally released in 1999, Taiwanese developer Softstar Entertainment’s Xuan Yuan Sword: Mists Beyond the Mountains offers an adventure that spans Europe, the Middle East, and China and take cues from everything from Final Fantasy to Pokémon. Sadly, previously localizations were lackluster. And that was discouraging since there’s an interesting tale of a knight driven by duty who gradually rejects bloodshed after meeting a monk.

Switch-owning STG fans might want to take a look at Xiizeal. Triangle Service’s shooter challenges some of the genre’s conventions while still obeying the basic formula. I’d expect auto-fire ability since it was added to the previously released Steam version. This provides optional assistance with both basic shots and side attacks, which might just prolong the life of a few Joy-Cons out there.

Ryan’s pick: I’ll get to my pick in one quick second, but I did want to say that after much procrastination I have gone back to my playthrough of Lies of P and really have been enjoying it. I just got the Pupper Ripper weapon, and it’s been absolutely amazing. They did a really good job of combining mechanics from Bloodborne and Sekiro together, and overall, the game has been just as fun as those two for me. But getting back to my pick this week, my choice is not actually a new release and was previously launched on Switch and Steam. Growing up I could play Space Harrier endlessly so my pick this week is another rail shooter Panorama Cotton which is releasing this time on Series X.

While this game only has a total of 5 levels compared to the 13 that Space Harrier 2 has, I still think this cute-em-up exudes charm and nostalgia. Visually I think you will need to be prepared for some serious sensory input, but the sprites are quite vibrant and provide a really distinct experience. Also releasing this week on Series X is Cotton 100%, so if you prefer a side-scrolling cute-em-up instead, this would be a good choice as well.

Matt S’ pick (editor, DigitallyDownloaded): While I’m not the world’s biggest fan of Warhammer 40K (I’m more a fan of the fantasy game), the idea of a top-down isometric RPG set in that world is still going to catch my attention. When it’s a game from the developer of the exceptional Pathfinder series, it’s even better. I am very much looking forward to sinking my fangs into Rogue Trader.

I also agree with Robert: Xuan Yuan Sword: Mists Beyond the Mountains is to Taiwanese game development what a FFIV is to Japanese game development – a formative experience that firmly established a series and created generations of fans. This new Switch release is perhaps our best chance to experience it yet, for those of us playing in English.