This week's rankings saw significant shifts as titles like 'Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred' were removed from the voting pool following their release. Filling the void left by the hack-and-slash giant is another title in the genre: Path of Exile 2.
The open world racing game Forza Horizon climbed one spot to take second place, while 007: First Light surged six spots to land at third. This rise appears to be driven by increased interest following gameplay reveals by various variety gaming influencers. Subnautica 2, currently in early access, also climbed four spots to reach fourth place.
Sol: Enchantment, which entered the rankings at 10th place last week, jumped to 5th in just one week. The high level of interest in the 'Divine Authority System,' which grants players some administrative privileges, seems to have influenced its ranking. With the official launch coming next week, it remains to be seen if it can deliver results that match the hype.
Notable New Releases, Events, and Updates
Summer Game Fest (SGF), which heated up last week, was truly a treasure trove of 'all-time great' new game announcements. With the excitement already high following the reveal of new titles like the latest 'God of War' at Sony's State of Play, it was a double celebration for gamers.
Of course, there is still a long wait ahead for the release of these newly unveiled titles, but the excitement remains palpable. Fans were treated to the first trailer for 'Resident Evil: Code Veronica'—a game once considered a mirage—as well as news regarding the critically acclaimed horror game 'Alien: Isolation 2.'
One of the games that surprised players the most was surely SHIFT UP's new title, 'Stellar Blade: Blood Rain.' The stylish combat action of the new protagonist, 'Eve,' combined with a cyberpunk-style cityscape rendered in incredible detail, received massive cheers from the global gaming community.
Capcom, currently on a hot streak, unveiled 'Ascendance,' a new expansion for Monster Hunter Wilds. Given the challenges Wilds has faced since its launch, the significance of this first major expansion cannot be overstated. With the long-awaited arrival of an Elder Dragon, it's a reveal hunters won't want to miss?
Issue of the Week: Two Exclusive Titles Revealed at 'Xbox Game Showcase'
While the number of new releases this week was relatively low, it was a busy week for announcements, with several highly anticipated titles revealed during the Xbox Game Showcase on Monday morning.
The Xbox Game Showcase 2026, which also served as a celebration of Xbox's 25th anniversary, featured titles from Xbox Game Studios as well as various partners. Notably, 'Gears of War: E-Day' and 'Clockwork Revolution' were introduced with the 'Xbox Console Exclusive' label.
The term 'console exclusive' can be somewhat ambiguous, as these two games are already visible on their Steam shop pages. It is best understood to mean that they will not be released on other console platforms, such as PlayStation.
Solarpunk, launching on June 8, is an open world survival crafting game set in a high-tech world of floating islands. Players must explore unknown islands in the sky, gather resources, and build their own homes.
'Witchspire,' developed by Enva Games, is an open world co-op adventure game where players must work with fellow witches to stop corruption in a world where mysterious magic and danger coexist. Players take on the role of a novice mage searching for a way home in a land where ancient darkness has awakened. Throughout this journey, they can master powerful magic, uncover the world's hidden secrets, and experience an immersive narrative as they forge their own destiny as a chosen one.
'Limit Zero Breakers,' developed by Big Game Studio and published by NC, begins its prologue test on Thursday. It is an opportunity to experience a dynamic real-time combat system centered on timed dodges, parrying, and precise counter-attacks, along with characters who each possess unique weapons and roles.
Last Week's Metacritic Scores?
On this week's Metacritic, 'Mina the Hollower' maintains its high score of 92, while new scores have been tallied for Swan Song, eFootball Kickoff!, and Gothic Remake.
'Swan Song,' developed by the Belgian indie developer Business Goose Studio, is an emotional puzzle adventure game set in the world inside a music box. Players manipulate the magical music box to place notes on a scale and turn the crank to play melodies, guiding a small swan along the path that opens. The game currently holds a 81 based on six critic reviews.
'eFootball Kickoff!', a new title in KONAMI's eFootball soccer game series exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2, has received a score of 75. Unlike previous entries, it is a standalone title with a significantly expanded focus on offline content, featuring an arcade-style single-player experience reminiscent of the classic PES (Winning Eleven) series.
'Gothic 1 Remake,' a modern reconstruction of the 2001 RPG, recorded a 73. As a progenitor of the open world RPG genre, the series has a dedicated fan base, particularly in North America. However, the focus on remaking the past title seems to have been hindered by controls that feel clunky by modern standards and a lack of tutorials.
New Game Popularity Poll
This week's poll covers games released or scheduled for release between May 8 and July 9. Consequently, games released in May, such as 'Meg's Monster' and 'Celestial Return,' have been removed from the voting pool, while titles like 'Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag Rethink' have been added.
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- Kyuman "Frann" Kim
- Email : frann@inven.co.kr
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