New Releases: May 30th-June 5th, 2024

This week, the appearance of Korean Rail Driving Tour LRT Busan-Gimhae and Trans-Siberian Railway Simulator is poised to please train enthusiasts, while the arrival of Horizon Chase 2 might delight those seeking high-speed, arcade-style thrills. Meanwhile, Sisters: Last Day of Summer (pictured) blends visual novel-style storytelling with fully animated sequences. Here is a list of everything that’s due to release across the next six days:

PlayStation 4
Democracy 4: Console Edition (digital, $26.99)
Destiny 2: The Final Shape (digital, $49.99)
F1 24 (physical & digital, $69.99)
Ghost Teen Escape from Limbo (digital, $4.99)
Horizon Chase 2 (digital, $19.99)
Potion Permit: Complete Edition (physical & digital, $29.99)
Skeler Boy (digital, $7.99)
Umbraclaw (digital, $19.99)

Switch
A Cat & His Boy (digital, $2.99)
Burst Hero (digital, $8.39)
Color Water Sort (digital, $4.99)
Cook ‘Til Escape～Nyanzou&Kumakichi: Escape Game～ (digital, $9.00)
Democracy 4: Console Edition (digital, $26.99)
Downward: Enhanced Edition (digital, $9.99)
Ghost Teen Escape from Limbo (digital, $4.99)
Ginger – The Tooth Fairy (digital, $5.59)
Goliath Depot (digital, $6.99)
Jelly Battle (digital, $2.99)
Kittey 64 (digital, $4.99)
Korean Rail Driving Tour LRT Busan-Gimhae (digital, $17.99)
LET’S THROOOW! Street Basketball Simulator (digital, $4.99)
Mars Colonization Expedition: Survival Simulator (digital, $12.99)
Master Key (digital, $12.50)
Medieval Lords (digital, $4.99)
Mezmeratu (digital, $8.90)
Nine Nights – Martial Ci Lang Story (digital, $9.99)
Ninja Kamui: Shinobi Origins (digital, $24.99)
O-VOID: Console Edition (digital, $4.99)
Picross S Namco Legendary Edition (digital, $10.99)
Ruler Battle Online (digital, $5.00
Seed of Life (digital, $39.99)
SkateCat (digital, $9.99)
Skeler Boy (digital, $7.99)
Spellbearers (digital, $10.49)
Star Wars: Hunters (digital, free to play)
Stick to the Plan (digital, $11.99)
Sticky Hands (digital, $0.99)
The Cat (digital, $9.99)
Ultra Mission (digital, $2.99)
Umbraclaw (digital, $19.99)
vridniX (digital, $9.99)
Wakusei (digital, $5.29)
Xuan Yuan Sword 7 (digital, $35.99)
Xuan Yuan Sword Mystic RPG Bundle (digital, $49.99)

Xbox One
Democracy 4: Console Edition (digital, $26.99)
Destiny 2: The Final Shape (digital, $49.99)
F1 24 (physical & digital, $69.99)
Ghost Teen Escape from Limbo (digital, $4.99)
Horizon Chase 2 (digital, $19.99)
Humanity (digital, $29.99)
Hypercharge: Unboxed (digital, $26.99)
Potion Permit: Complete Edition (physical & digital, $29.99)
Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends
Skeler Boy (digital, $7.99)
Umbraclaw (digital, $19.99)

PC
Arcus Chroma: Classic ($TBA)
Astor: Blade of the Monolith ($22.49)
Creepy Tale: Some Other Place ($8.99)
Destiny 2: The Final Shape ($49.99)
[ECHOSTASIS] ($17.99)
F1 24 ($69.99)
Folie Fatale ($4.79)
Panicore ($TBA)
Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends ($TBA)
Scholar’s Mate ($9.74)
Second Wave ($TBA)
Selaco ($TBA)
Sisters: Last Day of Summer ($TBA)
SKALD: Against the Black Priory ($13.49)
Sneak Out (free)
Soulmask ($TBA)
Tamarindos Freaking Dinner ($TBA)
The 4 Sins ($TBA)
The Ancients ($TBA)
Tiny Terry’s Turbo Trip ($14.39)
Trans-Siberian Railway Simulator ($16.19)
Umbraclaw ($19.99)
Undead City ($TBA)
Vendir: Plague of Lies ($13.49)

Rob’s pick: Thanks to games like Murtop and Bumpy Grumpy, I’ve been really getting into modern retro titles. These are the type of games that feel like lost arcade cabinets from the ‘80s or ‘90s, that are usually light on story but heavy on score-chasing enjoyment.

This week, Goliath Depot makes its way onto Switch, effectively taking the foundations of the Hotel Mario CD-I game to construct a solid single-screen platformer. Sure, the bosses are a bit tough, but I like the inclusion of purchasable, permanent upgrades. I truly appreciate the efforts of folks who continue making these kinds of games. And lastly, between the abundantly animated presentation and a bit of melancholy, I’ll be seeking out Sisters: Last Day of Summer.

Ryan’s pick: The 8-bit retro-inspired RPG SKALD: Against the Black Priory checks the boxes this week for me. The Commodore 64 pixel palette they chose really helps give the game a very specific look, and the battle sequences seem to incorporate a bit of team-based strategy into its turn-based system. Although it’s done in an 8-bit style, there is a lot of interesting and unique art and visual effects that help give the game depth. I really like how the art and backgrounds transition as you enter and exit buildings.

If liminal spaces are more your speed this week, then the FPS [ECHOSTASIS] may just be what you have been seeking. Many of the visuals in the game remind me of what an Adult Swim bumper looks like around 2:30 a.m. on a weekday. In general, this game may be more of a slow cerebral ride versus an in-your-face FPS maelstrom, so tune in your DC Mini to this one if you are looking for a different type of experience.