'Crimson Desert' remains red-hot as it enters its first month since official release. It is currently locked in a fierce battle for the top spot on the charts against the upcoming 'Diablo IV' expansion, 'Lord of Hatred,' which has gamers worldwide buzzing ahead of its April 28 launch.
Meanwhile, new titles are climbing the rankings and capturing attention. The star of the show is 'Pragmata,' which has sparked a global craze among gamers who have fallen for its lead character. With its solid story, well-crafted game systems, and charming cast, the game’s popularity is being driven largely by the cuteness of Diana.
'Game of Thrones= Kingsroad,' set for a PC pre-launch on May 14, began its final verification phase with a Closed Beta Test (CBT) on the 17th. The game aims to differentiate itself by featuring an original story that does not follow the plot of the novels or the TV series, alongside 100% manual combat controls.
Though missing from the INVEN game calendar rankings, 'Windrose' is also enjoying immense popularity. This survival adventure game set in the Age of Discovery has received praise for everything from its survival and crafting elements to its non-targeting combat and naval ship battles. As a result, it has surpassed 220,000 concurrent players on Steam and is on a roll, selling 1 million copies within just six days of release.
Notable New Releases, Events, and Updates
If one game defined last week, it was undoubtedly 'Pragmata.' While the demo version was highly acclaimed, there were concerns about whether the fun would hold up until the end of the full game. 'Pragmata' has silenced those doubts with overwhelming results.
Thanks to a blend of a solid story, robust game systems, and charming characters, it has earned an 87 on Metacritic and an 86 on OpenCritic. Diana’s unique charm has further boosted its appeal, earning it an 'Overwhelmingly Positive' rating from 97% of players on Steam.
The Xbox First Look Showcase held on the 17th also drew significant attention, as it featured the first reveal of 'Metro 2039,' the latest entry in the Metro series. Although the gameplay footage was brief, it showcased the series' signature dark atmosphere, upgraded graphics, and iconic gear and combat, heightening fan anticipation.
'Game of Thrones= Kingsroad,' which is set for a PC pre-launch on May 14, revealed further details during an online showcase on the 17th, the same day its CBT began. The most notable announcement was the complete exclusion of gacha items. All items, excluding monthly subscriptions, battle passes, and cosmetic outfits, can be acquired through in-game play. With about three weeks left until the official launch, all eyes are on how this bold move will play out.
ISSUE of the Week: The Official Successor to Vampire Survivors Returns as a Turn-Based Deckbuilder
Perhaps due to the flood of new releases last week—including 'Pragmata,' 'Replaced,' 'Mongil: STAR DIVE,' 'Hades II,' 'Last Flag,' and 'OPUS: Prism Peak'—this week's lineup is relatively quiet. However, one game with a name that commands attention is ready to fill the void: 'Vampire Crawler,' the official successor to 'Vampire Survivors,' which once sparked a craze and established its own genre.
Although 'Vampire Crawler' was developed by the same studio, it features a major departure from its predecessor: a change in genre. The new title has transformed into a first-person deck-building roguelike, completely changing the combat system. Instead of the real-time bullet-hell action of the original, it features strategic combat using card decks as its core system. Many are watching to see if 'Vampire Crawler' can live up to the reputation of its predecessor.
'Granblue Fantasy: Relink' expansion 'Endless Ragnarok' will hold an Open Beta Test for three days from the 24th to the 27th, ahead of its official release. This expansion will include a new main story set after the main game, a roguelike-concept mode called 'Geukdon Gongso,' a new combat system called 'Summon,' and 'Ascend Chain,' which allows for 5-person chain attacks including Lyria. During this test, players can experience the new 'Summon' combat system and a total of 12 playable characters, including Beatrix.
What Were Last Week's Metacritic Scores?
Let's look at the Metacritic scores released last week. The highest-scoring game is 'Pragmata,' released on the 17th. While its score of 86 is the same as 'OPUS: Prism Peak,' it stands out due to the sheer volume of reviews. With a staggering 93 reviews, it has proven to be the most talked-about and highly acclaimed release of the week. While it holds an 'Overwhelmingly Positive' rating on Steam, some have expressed disappointment regarding its relatively short playtime and somewhat standard story.
In terms of ratings alone, 'OPUS: Prism Peak' stands shoulder-to-shoulder with 'Pragmata.' It has been praised for its unique camera-based storytelling and lyrical narrative that tugs at the player's heartstrings. As a result, it scored an 86, establishing itself as the most buzzed-about indie game of last week.
'Tomodachi Life: Heart-Pounding Life' scored a 78. Leveraging improved hardware performance, the game's stage has expanded from indoors to vast fields, and the interactions and lifestyle patterns of the Miis have become much more diverse. While the consensus is that it represents a dramatic improvement over previous series entries, the removal of online features has been pointed out as a major drawback.
'Replaced,' which garnered high expectations for its 2.5D pixel graphics, only reached a 76. While it received near-unanimous praise for its visuals, it was criticized for failing to match that level of quality in its core story and combat systems.
Finally, 'Last Flag,' which combines capture-the-flag with team-based shooting, fell short of expectations with a score of 68. While some praised the clever fusion of the two genres, the lack of content held it back. Critics noted that while the initial fun is undeniable, interest fades quickly due to repetitive modes, and the small user pool—a critical factor for live-service games—is a fatal flaw.
New Game Popularity Poll
This week's poll covers games released or scheduled for release between March 20 and May 20. Consequently, games released in March such as 'Monster Hunter Stories 3,' 'WWE 2K26,' 'The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin,' and 'THE CUBE, SAVE US' have been excluded, while titles like 'Forza Horizon 6' and 'Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core' have been added.
Sort by:
Comments :0
