While 'Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred' has held the top spot in the weekly game rankings for five consecutive weeks, 'Path of Exile 2' is threatening its dominance following the release of its massive expansion, 'Return of the Ancients,' on the 30th.
With this expansion, Path of Exile 2 is in full swing as it aims for an official release later this year, featuring a complete overhaul of the endgame system, the introduction of the new 'Runes of Aldur' league, the addition of the Spirit Walker and Martial Artist classes, and various quality-of-life improvements.
Rising two spots from last week, 'Path of Exile 2' is finally going head-to-head with 'Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred.' With 'Lord of Hatred' released on April 28 and 'Return of the Ancients' on May 30, anticipation is building for next week to see who will emerge as the winner.
A new title, 'Sol: Enchantment,' is set to launch on the 18th. The game is generating buzz for its 'Divine Right System,' which transfers some of the administrative powers previously exclusive to developers and publishers to the players. There is intense interest ahead of its release to see how this unprecedented system will be implemented.
Notable New Releases, Events, and Updates
Last week was truly packed with 'blockbusters.' The festivities kicked off with IO Interactive's '007: First Light.' As a new title from the developer famous for the Hitman series, it was met with a mix of anticipation and concern, with many worrying it might just be a '007-skinned Hitman.' However, defying those fears, '007: First Light' proved itself to be an all-time great 007 game—exactly what fans have been clamoring for. It is a must-play for any fan of the 007 series or spy thrillers.
Next in line was the indie game 'Mina the Hollower,' released on the 29th. As the latest project from Yacht Club Games, the developer of 'Shovel Knight,' it is receiving an unusually high level of acclaim for an indie title. It has earned a Metacritic score of 92 and a 'Must Play' badge. Achieving this 'certified masterpiece' status means that while tastes may vary, those who enjoy the genre will inevitably be hooked. So, if any gamers are hesitant just because of the graphics, I have one thing to say: 'Just give it a try.'
The star that stole the show last week was Path of Exile 2. On the 30th, the game launched 'Return of the Ancients,' an expansion and 0.5 update. While Path of Exile 2 has consistently updated its content and improved usability, this expansion is on a different level—it is, quite literally, a cataclysmic update. Thanks to this, Path of Exile 2 has regained its vitality after a long while. It has now reached a point where it is not just lively, but once again standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred. If you have had your fill of 'Vessel of Hatred,' it is now time to play Path of Exile 2.
This Week's ISSUE: From SOP to Summer Game Fest
For gamers who have been waiting for this year's releases or news on new titles, this week is set to be a significant one. A multitude of game shows, filling the void left by E3, are scheduled to take place consecutively from this week through early next week.
The game show rally kicks off on the 3rd with Sony's own showcase, 'State of Play' (SOP). Like the event in February, this one will last over an hour and is expected to reveal a wealth of new information, starting with Insomniac's 'Marvel's Wolverine,' scheduled for release on September 15. Interest is higher than ever, especially since this is the first SOP since Sony announced a shift in its PS5 exclusive strategy.
On the 6th, the 'Summer Game Fest,' the main event of this rally, will take place. While the lineup remains under wraps, communities are buzzing with predictions, including actual gameplay footage of 'GTA 6' (releasing November 18), as well as news on 'Persona 4 Revival' and 'Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 (working title).'
The finale of this rally, opened by Sony and led by Summer Game Fest, will be hosted by Xbox. The 'Xbox Games Showcase 2026 (Xbox Direct)' is scheduled for the 8th. It is expected to reveal detailed information on major titles, including 'Fable' (delayed to February 2027), 'Gears of War: E-Day'—the latest in the Gears series and a prequel covering the Emergence Day when the war with the Locust began—and 'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4,' one of the most highly anticipated titles recently.
Summer Game Fest has become the debut stage for new titles in place of E3. Which games will make an appearance this year? With the game show rally running from the 3rd through the weekend, it would be a great time for core gamers to watch along with friends and share in the excitement of the reveals.
Last Week's METACRITIC Scores?
The highest-scoring game released last week is Yacht Club Games' new title, 'Mina the Hollower.' It achieved an exceptional score for an indie game, with a Metacritic score of 92 based on 53 reviews. It is currently one of only two games on Metacritic to receive the 'Must Play' badge, alongside 'Forza Horizon 6,' and it proudly holds the #1 spot among all games released this year with its 92-point score.
Games based on movies, or movies based on games, rarely succeed. The '007' series was no exception. While the films were massive successes, the games—with the exception of the classic '007 GoldenEye'—never achieved much. Finally, a game has arrived that breaks that jinx: '007: First Light.' With a Metacritic score of 86 based on 39 reviews, it is being praised as 'a proper 007 game at last.'
The new deck-building roguelike 'Moonsigil Atlas' received a 85. The biggest difference from typical deck-building roguelikes is the absence of energy, mana, or what is commonly called 'cost.' There are no limits on the number of cards you can play. Instead, there are 'tiles.' Each card has a unique tile shape and effect, and victory depends on how effectively you place them on the fields. While the sample size is small with only 4 reviews, it is receiving positive feedback, including a 'Very Positive' rating on Steam.
The sequel to 'Echo Generation,' which caught eyes with its voxel-based visuals, 'Echo Generation 2,' recorded a 71. The general consensus is that the game feels largely similar to its predecessor. This means that if you enjoyed the first game, you will likely find 'Echo Generation 2' interesting as well, and the score is not far off from the original's 75. Although the score dropped slightly, it has 7 reviews and a 'Mostly Positive' rating on Steam, cementing its reputation as a solid deck-building RPG.
New Game Popularity Poll
This week's poll covers games released or scheduled for release between May 2 and July 2. Consequently, games released in April, such as 'Necrophosis,' 'Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred,' and 'E-Hwan,' have been excluded from the poll, while new titles like 'Fatekeeper' and 'Rhythm Heaven Miracle Stars' have been added.
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- Hongman "Nowl" Yoon
- Email : nowl@inven.co.kr
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