The original PlayStation hit U.S. shores 30 years ago today, helping usher in a disc-based gaming revolution that reshaped the industry. Four new consoles and lots of hardware iterations later, PlayStation is the undisputed winner in the high-end console gaming space. What were the top-selling games that helped it get there? A newly released list of the top all-time performers across all PlayStation platformers in the States tells part of the story, and it’s a pretty depressing one.
Circana gaming research director Mat Piscatella released the list of the top 20 games across PlayStation’s history in the U.S. by unit sales to commemorate the PS1’s birthday. Here they are:
Grand Theft Auto V Minecraft Red Dead Redemption II Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) Marvel’s Spider-Man Call of Duty: Black Ops III Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022) Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales The Last of Us God of War (2018) God of War (2018) The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Call of Duty: Black Ops Rainbow Six: Siege Call of Duty: Black Ops II Call of Duty: WWII Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
The top spots aren’t shocking. GTA 5 and Minecraft are the two best-selling game ever across any platform. Red Dead Redemption II is the fifth-best. Sony’s critically acclaimed first-party blockbusters also rank highly. And then it’s just a sea of Call of Duty. Modern Warfare, Black Ops, good ones, bad ones, it doesn’t matter, they all rank, smothering any greater sense of the breadth, variety, and whimsy of the games released on PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4, and PS5 over the years.
“Man, this list makes me sad,” Digital Foundry‘s John Linneman opined. “Most people playing games really only play the same few titles huh.” Big sigh. Much agree. Cultural PlayStation juggernauts that didn’t make the list include but are not limited to: WipeOut, Final Fantasy VII, Metal Gear Solid 2, Tekken 3, Street Fighter 4, Dark Souls, Nier: Automata, The Witcher 3, Persona 5, and Cyberpunk 2077.
Even now, annualized Call of Duty sequels remain yearly best-sellers, cannibalizing much of the remaining market for big-budget console releases. I keep waiting for the wheels to fall off the Activision military shooter machine, not because the games are terrible or I want anyone to lose their jobs but because I think we have enough Call of Duty to last us another quarter century and I bet all of those developers could make new, original stuff that’s really cool, too.
Reel It! Ocean Fishing is by Sat-Box, a Japanese developer of solid indie games that often don’t wow graphically, but game play wise are fun. Reel It! is a fishing game. More specifically, the ocean version of Reel it! Fishing. You pick a fishing spot(coast, sea wall, boat or tropical pier) and time of day. You then pick a rod and lure. Then you throw your line, move the lure around to attract fish. Once a fish bites, you play a reeling mini game involving a circular timing section and a bar you fill via tapping the A button. Once you reel in the fish, you a given points based on its rarity and size. These points are then spent in a shop to unlock new lures and rods, each with their own stats.
There are three main modes of play in Reel it! Ocean Fishing single player. Score attack is how many points you can get in five minutes. Battle is seeing if you can beat a competitor in points in two minutes. Endless is just that, endless fishing in one of the environments. Fortunately, you get to keep the points you earn to unlock the new lures and rods. There are the customary online leaderboards present in all Sat-Box games.
Reel It! Ocean Fishing gets a Recommended with an eight score. While the game play is solid and there’s nothing particularly wrong here, I don’t feel you need to run out and purchase this. This is a niche game by default of being solely a fishing game, and not a particularly demanding one. Pro Fishing Challenge this is not. Yet, if you want to chill out just catch some fish to kill time, you cannot go wrong here at all.
Overall: Reel it! Ocean Fishing is not a demanding or realistic fishing game, but those looking for a chill time catching fish will find a lot to like.
Crests are essential to change Hornet’s moveset and attacking abilities, allowing players to go for a certain build in their playthrough. Hornet starts with the Hunter’s Crest by default, which offers 1 slot for abilities and tools. It is a decent crest, which can take you pretty far in the game, and even help you complete Act 1 of the story as well. However, one thing that you will notice is that Hornet can perform pogo hits like the original game; it is because of this crest. If you want to pogo hit downward, then you might want to get the Wanderer Crest. In this guide, we will tell you how to get the Wanderer Crest in Hollow Knight: Silksong.
Wanderer Crest Location and Solution in Hollow Knight: Silksong
Wanderer Crest is one of the earliest crests that you can get in your progress. It is located within the “Chapel of the Wanderer” in the Bonegrave area of Moss Grotto. Although it is in the starting area, you cannot access it until you have almost finished exploring the whole Bone Bottom region. Moreover, it is best to unlock the Swift Step ability for the route to the chapel. Below, you can find the details on how to get to the Chapel and get the Wanderer Crest.
Acquire the Simple Key from Pebb
Now, the first and foremost thing that is essential is acquiring the Simple Key. Pebb, the first merchant of the game in the Bone Bottom area, sells the Simple Key for 500 Rosaries. You need this Simple Key to open the door to Wormways area, through which you will make your way to the Chapel. Now, collecting 500 Rosaries might look like a lot, but it is very simple and easy. If you have collected any Rosary Necklaces, use them to get Rosaries. Moreover, go to the Mosshome area and eliminate Rosary enemies to get Rosaries. After eliminating them, rest at the closest bench to respawn the enemies. Once you have 500 Rosaries, go and purchase the Simple Key from Pebb.
Make Your Way to the Wormways
Now, once you have the Simple Key, it’s time to get to the Chapel of the Wanderer. The route to the Chapel is through the Wormways area, which is located to the top-left of the Bone Bottom. The entrance to the Wormways is located to the left of the hidden mini-boss that spews green orbs out of its mouth. This is a missable mini-boss and is located on the top-left side of the Bone Bottom area. To get to this area, you need to gain access to the elevator to go up. From here, jump on the platforms and go left to see a few elevators in the air. You can use the Swift Step and Drifter’s Cloak together to get on the elevators and continue to the left.
If you don’t have these abilities, you will have to trick the flying enemies into flying and pogo off their heads to reach the elevator. It is very difficult to accomplish, especially if you are not good at bouncing off with a pogo attack. After reaching the left side, you will enter the boss arena. It is a difficult boss, so I would advise you to skip it and continue to the left to leave the boss arena. Use the platforms as a cover to avoid getting hit by the orbs. Go to the next room, and you will see a door ahead. Interact with it to use the key to open the door.
TIP: If you drop down before the door, you can find a Mask Shard behind the right wall in the pool.
Make Your Way to the Chapel of the Wanderer
Once inside the Wormways area, drop down through the first tunnel. Wait for the worm to fall so you don’t take damage. Continue through the tunnel and drop again. Go to the right, drop again, take the second right, and drop again to leave the Wormways and enter Moss Grotto. Now, jump down and go to the left. It will be a long drop. Continue to the left side, and you will reach the entrance to the Chapel of the Wanderer.
Path to the Wanderer Crest inside the Chapel
Enter the Chapel of the Wanderer and head down. Go to the right and drop down again. Go to the left side, and you will enter a boss arena. Fight the waves of the normal enemies, and continue to the left. Drop down and head to the right to find the crest. Interact with it and bind to retrieve the Wanderer Crest.
How to Equip the Wanderer Crest in Hollow Knight: Silksong
After acquiring the Wanderer Crest, you can equip it while resting at any bench. Open the menu and navigate to the Crest tab. Press Y/Triangle button to change the Crest, then select and accept the Crest you want to equip.
Equipping the Wanderer Crest will help you with your main attack ability and two tools. Moreover, it will let Hornet attack swiftly and pogo downward like the original Hollow Knight. However, the attack range of Hornet’s Needle weapon is shortened with this crest.
All Slots of Wanderer Crest
Initially, the Wanderer Crest offers 1 Red, 2 Yellow, and 1 White slots for your tools and abilities. You can further upgrade the crest to unlock further slots.
Initial Slots: 1 Red, 1 Blue, 1 Yellow, and 1 White
Upgraded Slots: 2 Red, 2 Blue, 2 Yellow, and 1 White
The Wanderer Crest is mainly useful for pogoing downward, as it will help with the precise attacks and bouncing. It will help you greatly in certain areas like Hunter’s March, Shellwood, etc.
It’s been a few days now since the launch of Hollow Knight: Silksong and a few issues are starting to bubble up. One of the most significant complaints has been about the game’s level of difficulty.
The original Hollow Knight is/has always been a challenging game, so it’s not exactly a surprise that its DLC-turned-sequel is giving many players trouble. This time, however, it does appear that developer Team Cherry may have overtuned things in the new game.
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Silksong is certainly not an easy game overall, but the early parts have been particularly frustrating for some players. It doesn’t help that the Metroidvania doesn’t offer much in the way of accessibility options, which resulted in the creation of a number of mods that tweak various aspects of the game’s level of difficulty.
While Team Cherry hasn’t quite commented on the discourse surrounding Silksong’s challenging combat, the developer has announced that it’s going to be making some balance changes.
In a post on Steam, the team revealed the patch notes for update 1.0.28470, which is currently planned for release by the middle of next week on all platforms. The patch is primarily intended to fix bugs, but it’s also going to introduce “slight” balance changes to the early game.
Watch on YouTube
As revealed in the patch notes, you can expect early game bosses Moorwing and Sister Splinter to be a little easier. The damage Sandcarvers do has been reduced, too. You’ll also notice some tweaks to the economy, with a small reduction to the prices of mid-game Bellway and Bell Bench, a small boost to rosary rewards from relics and psalm cylinders, as well as another boost to rosary rewards for courier deliveries.
Here’s the full change log:
Fixed situation where players could remain cloakless after Slab escape sequence.
Fixed wish Infestation Operation often not being completable during the late game.
Fixed wish Beast in the Bells not being completable when Bell Beast is summoned at the Bilewater Bellway during the late game.
Fixed getting stuck floating after down-bouncing on certain projectiles.
Fixed courier deliveries sometimes being inaccessible in Act 3.
Fixed craft bind behaving incorrectly when in memories.
Fixed Lace tool deflect soft-lock at start of battle in Deep Docks.
Fixed Silk Snippers in Chapel of the Reaper sometimes getting stuck out of bounds.
Fixed Claw Mirrors leaving Hornet inverted if taking damage during a specific moment while binding.
Fixed Snitch Pick not giving rosaries and shell shards as intended.
Removed float override input (down + jump, after player has Faydown Cloak).
Slight difficulty reduction in early game bosses Moorwing and Sister Splinter.
Reduction in damage from Sandcarvers.
Slight increase in pea pod collider scale.
Slight reduction in mid-game Bellway and Bell Bench prices.
Slight increase in rosary rewards from relics and psalm cylinders.
Increase in rosary rewards for courier deliveries.
Various additional fixes and tweaks.
If you can’t wait until next week to see what the patch has changed, you can actually access that version of the game right now by opting into the public beta branch on Steam or GOG. If you’re currently deep in the Silksong mines, we highly recommend checking out our guides for all the Mask Shard locations, all the Lost Flea locations – and, of course, how to upgrade your Needle.
A new and charmingly clever puzzle adventure, perfect for those looking for a relaxing challenge, has just waddled its way onto the Xbox, PlayStation and PC stores. Ready to Snack and Quack?
Snack and Quack, a 2D pixel art puzzle game from the incredibly prolific developer and publisher Afil Games, has launched today, 9th September 2025.
This delightful new title is now available on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC, with prices starting at just £4.19.
A Puzzling Peckish Problem
Prepare to take on the role of a mother duck, guiding her hungry ducklings through a series of logical challenges in a game where every single move counts.
In Snack and Quack, your goal is simple: guide all of the hungry ducklings to eat the pieces of bread that have been scattered throughout each level. It’s a casual and accessible premise that hides a series of clever and progressively difficult challenges.
Pushing Your Ducklings
The core gameplay mechanic is a unique take on a classic sliding puzzle. You control the mother duck on a grid-based system. You can then push your ducklings, who will slide in a straight line until they hit an object or a special tile.
You’ll need to think carefully and use the environment to your advantage to get them all to their tasty goal.
The game’s 30 levels are divided across two distinct biomes. The Pond will introduce you to the core mechanics and teach you how to change the ducklings’ direction. After that, The Swamp will introduce new elements like path-stopping tiles and increasingly complex puzzles with a growing number of ducklings to manage.
A Perfect Puzzle Pairing
For puzzle fans looking for a great value deal, the Snack and Quack / Higgs Boson (Bundle) is available for £9.99. This combines all three versions of Snack and Quack with all the versions of another Afil Games puzzler, Higgs Boson.
We were big fans of that title’s relaxing nature. In our 3.5/5 review of Higgs Boson: Puzzle Collection, we called it a “clever puzzler that provides a nice little distraction.” This bundle is a perfect opportunity to grab two great, casual puzzle games at once.
As well as that bundle, Snack and Quack is available on the Xbox Store in a few different packages:
Key Features
Charming 2D Pixel Art Puzzle Game: Guide a mother duck and her ducklings through 30 clever levels.
Classic Sliding Puzzle Mechanics: Push the ducklings and watch them slide in a straight line until they hit an object.
Progressive Difficulty: Journey through two distinct biomes, The Pond and The Swamp, with new mechanics introduced along the way.
Relaxing and Casual: Perfect for players who love logic, calm atmospheres, and a touch of cuteness.
The ducklings are hungry and the bread is waiting. If you’re a fan of clever and charming puzzle games, Snack and Quack is ready for you on the Xbox Store right now, playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. It’s also on PC and PlayStation.
Snack and Quack Description
Snack and Quack is a 2D pixel art puzzle game designed for casual players. The goal is to guide all the ducklings to eat the scattered bread in each level. The game focuses on logical challenges and progressive difficulty across two distinct maps to keep players engaged.
Here’s the list of new video game releases in week 36 of 2025; the week starting Monday, September 8, 2025. The most popular video games released this week include: Borderlands 4, NHL 26, Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection, Backyard Football ’99, Dragon Ball: Gekishin Squadra.
A lot of hyped new games arrive in this second week of September 2025. Remember, often the new video game releases this week will have a demo / prologue available for you to try before you buy.
The new video game releases this week are:
Monday September 8, 2025 Game Releases
Supercar Collection Simulator (PC) — Note: Full version 1.0 release.
Trainatic (PC)
Tuesday September 9, 2025 Game Releases
Backyard Football ’99 (PC, iOS, Android Mobile)
Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection (PC, Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) — Includes: Bubsy in: Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind (Super Nintendo Entertainment System™, Super Famicom™, SEGA Genesis™), Bubsy II (Super Nintendo Entertainment System™, SEGA Genesis™, Game Boy™), Bubsy in: Fractured Furry Tales (Atari Jaguar™), Bubsy 3D (PlayStation®) featuring full analog controls & trophies/achievements.
Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection – Official Launch Trailer
Dragon Ball: Gekishin Squadra launch trailer:
DRAGON BALL GEKISHIN SQUADRA | Official Cinematic Trailer
Wednesday September 10, 2025 Game Releases
Garfield Kart 2: All You Can Drift (PC, Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X/S)
Karma: The Dark World (Xbox Series X/S)
Thursday September 11, 2025 Game Releases
Friday September 12, 2025 Game Releases
Borderlands 4 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) — Price: US$70 / €70 / AU$100.
Donkey Kong Bananza – DK Island & Emerald Rush DLC (Switch 2)
Gloomy Eyes (PC, Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X/S)
Marvel Rivals (PS4)
Netherworld (Switch)
NHL 26 (PS5, Xbox Series X/S)
Roman Sands RE:Build (PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)
Borderlands 4 TV commercial:
Borderlands 4 – QUIT EARTH Live Action Trailer
NHL 26 trailer:
NHL 26 Official Reveal Trailer
Donkey Kong Bananza – DK Island & Emerald Rush DLC Trailer:
Donkey Kong Bananza – DK Island & Emerald Rush DLC, out now! (Nintendo Switch 2) Trailer
Saturday September 13, 2025 Game Releases
Sunday September 14, 2025 Game Releases
Free PC / Mac / Linux / Steam Deck Games in September 2025
Epic Games Store: [1st] Machinarium, Make Way, [4th] Monument Valley, The Battle of Polytopia.
Amazon Prime Gaming: Heroes of Loot 2, Heroes of Loot, City Legends, Labyrinth City, Dungeons & Dragons Silver Box Classic, Sid Meijer’s Civilization III, FATE, Filthy Animals, Thief.And last month we got… Saints Row IV: Re-Elected, Saints Row 2, Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II, Marvel’s Midnight Suns, TOEM, Venba, I Love Finding Wild Friends – CE, Endless Space 2 – Definitive Edition, Besiege.
Good Old Games: The GOG Free Games Collection.
Steam
Apple Arcade (iOS, Mac, Apple TV)
Free Mobile Games in September 2025
Apple Arcade (iOS, Mac, Apple TV): Not announced yet.And last month we got… Worms Across Worlds, Play-Doh World, Let’s Go Mightycat!, Everybody Shogi, Suika Game+, Angry Birds Bounce, Katamari Damacy Rolling LIVE, Space Invaders Infinity Gene EVO, Balatro+, UNO: Arcade Edition, NBA 2K25: Arcade Edition, Pro Tour Golf, What The Clash?, Pac-Man 256+, Helix Jump+, Lost in Play+, Osmos+, Ridiculous Fishing, LEGO Hill Climb Adventures+, LEGO Friends Heartlake Rush+.
Netflix Games (iOS, Android, Tablets): Not announced yet.And last month we got… Blood Line: A Rebel Moon Game, Street Fighter IV: Collector’s Edition, Civillization VI, Tomb Raider Reloaded, Braid, Knittens, Skies of Chaos, Battleship, Minesweeper, Carmen Sandiego, Into the Dead 2, Katana Zero, SpongeBob: Get Cooking.
Free Xbox Series X | S / Xbox One Games in September 2025
Xbox Game Pass: [4th] Hollow Knight: Silksong, [5th] NHL 26 (EA Play 10-hour trial), [17th] Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor, [18th] Frostpunk 2, [19th] EA Sports FC 26 (EA Play 10-hour trial).
Xbox Game Pass Core (formerly Games with Gold): Retro Classics, Batman: Arkham Knight, Cities: Skylines – Xbox One Edition, Control, Control: Ultimate Edition – Xbox Series X/S Edition, Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled, DayZ, Deep Rock Galactic (Season 5), Goat Simulator, Monster Sanctuary, SnowRunner, Superhot: Mind Control Delete, Tunic, Wreckfest, Chivalry II, Totally Reliable Delivery Service + Among Us, Astroneer, Celeste, Dead Cells, Descenders, Dishonored 2, DOOM Eternal – Standard Edition, Fable Anniversary, Fallout 4, Fallout 76, Firewatch, Forza Horizon 4 – Standard Edition, Gang Beasts, Gears 5 – Game of the Year Edition, Golf with your Friends, Grounded, Halo 5: Guardians, Halo Wars 2, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, Human Fall Flat, INSIDE, LIMBO, Ori & the Will of the Wisps, Overcooked! 2, Payday 2: Crimewave Edition, Powerwash Simulator, Psychonauts 2, Slay the Spire, Spiritfarer: Farewell Edition, Stardew Valley, State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition, Superliminal, The Elder Scrolls Online, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, Unpacking, Vampire Survivors. [51 games, will be updated 2-3 times a year]
15 NEW Xbox & Game Pass Games to Play in September 2025
Free PlayStation 5 / 4 Games in September 2025
PlayStation Plus Monthly Games – September 2025
Free Switch Games in September 2025
Chibi-Robo! – GameCube – Nintendo Classics
Note: You need to claim each free weekly / monthly featured game ASAP in order to add it to your game system’s account before it disappears.
What video games will you be playing this week? Any of these?
In another world, Quest of the Hero(QOTH) would be a mobile game. All the ingredients are there. Regular and premium currencies? Check. Ridiculously simple combat that practically plays itself? Check. Looks like a flash game? Check. But this is a not a mobile game, it’s a PC game. QOTH is therefore not something I’d recommend because it is simply not fun at all. So you play as one of three female heroes, a warrior, rogue or mage. Pick one and you start on a journey, most of the game play revolves around picking one of three options.
The green option gives you the lowest reward or easiest battle, but raises your death meter by 10%. If it reaches 100% you get a nasty debuff where heals hurt you. The yellow option gives a higher reward or more difficult battle, but also a debuff. Red option gives the highest reward or hardest battle, and even worse debuff. Then you have the battles, where progress automatically, thought you can use skills which take mana(the blue bar). In addition in Quest of the Hero, you can also buy items, craft new items or buy or upgrade skills. Die and you’ll start all over with nothing, except for your relics.
Now the currencies in Quest of the Hero. There is gold and relics. Gold is used for most things, but relics are used to give permanent bonuses for the runs. Relics are a lot hard to come by, almost giving me the impression that this was a mobile game that turned into a PC game. Also giving me the impression is that the combat plays like a mobile game, and that the decisions aren’t difficult or moral in any way. QOTH is meant to be mindless.
I’m not gonna mince words. Quest of the Hero is not fun at all. At no point did I feel like I was having fun. That’s because, like I said, the game play is so simple, it might as well be a mobile game. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if this does eventually come to mobile, it’s a natural fit. QOTH gets a Not Recommended with a five score. Harsh? Extremely. But you can polish crap until it shines, but its still crap at its core.
Overall: Quest of the Hero feels like a mobile game that was at some point in development turned into a PC game. It shows in nearly everything.
Verdict: Not Recommended
Score: 5
Steam Page
Release Date7/18/25Cost$6.99PublisherCSV Games
P.S. For an actual mobile game turned PC game, try Dawn of Ages.
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A datamine suggests that Marvel Rivals might be getting loot boxes in the near future. It’s not confirmed as part of the Season 4 roadmap which includes the release of Angela on September 12th and the addition of new swimsuit skins on September 19th. However, while the introduction of loot boxes is not confirmed, dataminers have found “multiple references to mystery box logic”.
Marvel Rivals datamine suggests loot boxes might be added
On X, RivalsInfo has discovered code that suggests loot boxes might be added to Marvel Rivals. Per the account, NetEase’s codename for loot boxes is “Mysteries,” and Season 4 reintroduces the Mysteries player component.
According to RivalsInfo, a datamine has found mystery box logic references such as “cosmic mysteries number” and “BOX_OPEN_HISTORY_CHANGE”.
While the introduction of loot boxes sounds bad at a glance, RivalsInfo stresses that they have found “nothing referenced to purchasing a loot box”. This leads them to believe that these loot boxes “could very well be earned from challenges or from the battle pass”. RivalsInfo also says loot boxes could possibly function similar to the “healthy loot box system” in Overwatch 2, in “which you can earn from playing games”.
Reminder: Overwatch 2 also has a healthy loot box system which you can earn from playing games. I’ve seen nothing referenced to purchasing a loot box. These could very well be earned from challenges or from the battle pass.
— RivalsInfo (@RivalsInfo) September 7, 2025
If the loot boxes are free and earnable with no option to buy them, then there likely won’t be much controversy. However, if they are premium purchases, then there could be a lot of uproar as loot boxes are very controversial.
The biggest debates about loot boxes have always been whether they are a form of gambling. EA representatives have controversially attempted to soften the stance on loot boxes in the past, comparing them and Ultimate Team packs to Kinder Egg surprises, but most gamers and even some governments loathe them as a form of gambling.
While it sounds like loot boxes in Marvel Rivals will be free and similar to Overwatch 2, we will have to wait and see what NetEase do officially. Even if they are free, it’s hard to imagine what rewards NetEase will include as incentives to earn, and there could be controversy if some rewards are exclusive to the system.
The release date for Marvel Rivals Season 4 is September 12th, and, ahead of its launch, NetEase has previewed all the buffs and nerfs that will accompany the update.
Marvel Rivals
Platform(s):
macOS, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
Genre(s):
Fighting, Shooter
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A different kind of body horror as you diagnose bizarre malformations all over a spaceship, Ultrasound is a grim (but great) looking point and click adventure. No release date is being given for it yet other than 2026, but they’ve said that a demo will arrive to try it out later this year.
Set aboard a long haul space freighter hurtling towards a star, Ultrasound sees players step into the shoes of Medical Officer Dana Voss, as she diagnoses and performs surgical procedures upon a grotesque alien infection which is rapidly spreading aboard the ship.
Check out the trailer below:
Ultrasound is being developed by two new fathers – Walter Woods (Lead Developer) and Jason Scalfano (Lead Artist) – and is inspired by their respective tragic and joyful paths to parenthood. “So many of us know the hope and horror of the ultrasound machine. The mystery. The ambiguity. The flickering image of life and death.” said Walter Woods. “We hope our game captures these difficult feelings and resonates with players.”
Game Highlights:
A MYSTERIOUS INFECTION IS SPREADING aboard a long haul space freighter. As Medical Officer Dana Voss, you must diagnose and perform surgical procedures on ship systems. Restore functionality before your collision course with a star comes to cosmic end.
USE A PORTABLE ULTRASOUND MACHINE to discover and diagnose bizarre malformations that hide within your ship.
PERFORM SURGERY to repair infected systems in tense and gruesome procedures that will test your skills.
MAINTAIN UNIQUE SHIP SYSTEMS such as life support, power, cargo manifests, and more. The failure of each system has drastic effects on your play experience, forcing you to adapt and manage resources effectively.
CRAFT STRANGE MEDICINES to heal and eradicate foreign growths. Navigate the risks, rewards, and unexpected effects of your creations.
MULTIPLE ENDINGS and high variety in each playthrough. Discover hidden secrets and new dimensions of the story each time.
There’s always a fondness for the games and the franchises that we grew up with, and while the SpongeBob SquarePants games of the early 2000s weren’t exactly gaming haute couture, the underwater denizens of Bikini Bottom have enjoyed a resurgence of popularity in recent times, helped along by internet memes and new seasons of the show. After the Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated remake in 2020, and The Cosmic Shake in 2023, we now have SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide coming in a few months time.
A Paddy Shack tussle between King Neptune and the Flying Dutchman goes awry, with SpongeBob and Patrick caught in the crossfire and… well, they get totally deadified, just as ghosts are unleashed across the realms. Still, it’s up to them to save Bikini Bottom, and as they journey across the sea’s many regions and try to get these two grumpy old men to make up. Luckily, there’s just enough life between them to have one of Patrick or SpongeBob kept in corporeal form at a time, with the strength of their friendship and their BFF rings allowing them to swap back and forth in a flash.
That’s right, Patrick is a playable character in this game and is now pretty much an equal to SpongeBob. They both have their own specific abilities, with Patrick able to use a grapple to grab enemies or objects and then throw them, as well as to dive under the ground and quickly burrow around. SpongeBob, meanwhile, has a classic butt stomp and a dash kick.
This gives them some pretty distinct differences and uses when exploring the levels and getting into scuffles with enemies. When facing off against an enemy that launches explosives, SpongeBob has to time a dash kick to turn those explosives back at an enemy, while Patrick can grapple to grab, and then just chuck them back. Of course, you can also just avoid the explosives and go and whale on the enemy to eventually batter them into submission!
But really, this switching mechanic will be great for raising the skill ceiling of the game, potentially making this a speedrunner’s dream. Some of the game challenges, like the more abstract levels of the Plankton Portal Challenges, and trickiest paths in regular levels will need you to switch back and forth, making use of both their abilities in quick succession to get through them. This is still a kids game, though, so you will still be able to complete it and get a full experience without mastering technical button timings, but it’s still great to see this.
Speaking of the levels, the adventure will take you to places like Neptune’s Palace, Atlantic City, Mount Bikini and beyond, and there will be some surprising transformations along the way. Jellyfish Fields, for example, is now all snowed in which… well, it doesn’t make much sense for under the water, but let’s just go with it?
Levels are designed to be more open this time around and really encourage exploration and trying out both sets of abilities. There’s more of a collectathon vibe to the game with hidden chests that will contain currency, costumes, and memorabilia from the adventure that will go back to fill out parts of The Floating Patty, a new restaurant that floats above the sea surface.
After The Cosmic Shake played it a bit too safe as a follow up to Rehydrated, expanding the gameplay with Patrick as a foil to SpongeBob is a great way to inject new life into the series. All of this should be sea shanties to the ears of fans of SpongeBob video games, both young and not-so-young.
The Sequel Craze: Unveiling Hollywood’s Blockbuster Saga
Hollywood is in the midst of a sequel frenzy, constantly churning out reboots, prequels, and sequels. Why?...
