In this week's top game rankings, Pearl Abyss' 'Crimson Desert' continues to hold the No. 1 spot, while Blizzard's new expansion, 'Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred,' maintains its position at No. 2 as its release date approaches. The open-world subculture game 'Wuthering Waves' climbed two spots to take third place, pushing 'Pragmata' down to fourth and 'Imjin War: Joseon's Counterattack' to fifth. However, 'Pragmata' remains in the top tier, bolstered by a solid Metacritic score of 86.
'Game of Thrones: Kingsroad' and 'Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era' both rose two spots from last week to take sixth and seventh place, respectively. 'Olden Era,' in particular, shows potential for further growth ahead of its April 30 release. 'Forza Horizon 6' and 'Cookie Run: Oven Smash' are new entries at ninth and tenth place.
Notable New Releases, Events, and Updates
Last week, 'Pragmata' and 'Vampire Crawler' from the Finnish solo developer Poncle garnered the most attention. 'Pragmata,' released on April 24, has been widely featured in short-form content, thanks to its solid gameplay—reflected in its 86 Metacritic score—and the popularity of its cute android character, 'Diana.'
Poncle, the studio that defined the 'Survivor-like' genre with 'Vampire Survivors,' is once again in the spotlight with its new first-person deck-building roguelike. While the genre is different, critics agree that it retains the addictive fun of its predecessor, and it maintains a stable Metacritic score of 82.
In addition, various indie and mid-sized titles such as 'Chipmatic,' 'Tides of Tomorrow,' and 'Outbound' were released throughout the week. In terms of events, the Open Beta Test (OBT) for Cygames' 'Granblue Fantasy: Relink - Endless Ragnarok' ran from April 24 to 27, and Netmarble held an offline event for the 2nd anniversary of 'Solo Leveling: ARISE' on April 25.
This Week's ISSUE: The Time Has Finally Come! 'Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred' Launches on the 28th
After a long wait, the second expansion for 'Diablo IV,' 'Vessel of Hatred,' officially launches on April 28. It is a major update that introduces a wide range of changes, including two new classes, new regions, a main story, endgame content, and quality-of-life improvements. Early reviews from international media have been generally positive, earning it a solid Metacritic score of 84.
Also on the same day, 'Imjin War: Joseon's Counterattack,' led by Director Kim Tae-gon, will officially launch. As the latest title from the director well-known for 'Imjinrok' and 'Gersang,' the positive reception during its final test offers a glimpse into how it might perform after release. On the 29th, the highly anticipated open-world subculture game 'E-Hwan' will be released, and 'Olden Era,' the latest entry in the 'Heroes of Might and Magic' series—the progenitor of addictive gameplay—is also slated for launch. Meanwhile, the PS5 exclusive 'Saros' is already drawing significant attention, having earned an 88 on Metacritic ahead of its release.
What Were Last Week's METACRITIC Scores?
Sony Interactive Entertainment's (SIE) new title, 'Saros,' has achieved a Metacritic score of 88, making it one of the highest-rated games released recently. With 98 reviews, it is clear that the game has captured the attention of global media. As the latest work from Housemarque, the developer of 'Returnal,' it features shooting gameplay that inherits the strengths of its predecessor, tangible growth elements, and optimization that maintains a constant 60 FPS even on standard PS5 consoles.
The upcoming 'Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred' has recorded a score of 84 with 42 reviews. It is receiving significant attention as a major update that addresses the shortcomings of the base game, and the critics' ratings suggest a high level of polish. However, given the game's seasonal nature, its evaluation may be further refined based on the reactions of the actual player base after the official launch.
Poncle's new title, 'Vampire Crawler,' had a solid start with a score of 82. It was well-received for attempting an entirely different genre while inheriting the addictive gameplay of its predecessor. Steam reviews are also 'Overwhelmingly Positive,' with many players noting that it is impossible to put down because it gets more fun the more you play.
'Mouse P.I. For Hire,' a first-person shooter that adopts a 1930s black-and-white cartoon style, received an 81. The unique concept of solving cases as a private investigator mouse is impressive, and its distinct visual style has garnered reviews from 59 outlets. While Steam reviews remain 'Overwhelmingly Positive,' some have pointed to monotonous gunplay and a lack of impact as drawbacks.
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 'Crimson Desert' and 'Wizard Librarian Ariana ~Book of the Seven Heroes~,' have been excluded from the poll, while titles like 'Coffee Talk Tokyo' and 'The Relic: First Guardian' have been added.
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- Kyuman "Frann" Kim
- Email : frann@inven.co.kr
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