After a fairly quiet couple of weeks on the major platform exclusives front, this week sees Nintendo and Xbox go head-to-head with two wildly different experiences in Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. One offers a cutting edge, cinematic adventure and the other mostly offers paper cuts.
This week also sees the long-awaited console launch of System Shock, along with some potential indie delights including Paper Trail, RKGK, Duck Detective: The Secret Salami and World of Goo 2.
Take a look at some of the more exciting stuff coming this week:
Release Date: May 21st
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC
The sequel to the award winning Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, Senua returns in a brutal journey of survival through the myth and torment of Viking Iceland. Sink deep into the next chapter of Senua’s story, a crafted experience told through cinematic immersion, beautifully realised visuals and encapsulating sound.
Release Date: May 23rd
Platforms: Switch
It’s Mario, and he’s…uh, paper?! Leaf through a storybook world made of paper as you set off to find legendary treasure! Team up with a colorful cast of charming characters, battle in epic scraps against shadowy foes, harness paper abilities to find surprises around every fold, and more!
Release Date: May 21st
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
XDefiant is a free-to-play, first-person online arena shooter where you compete in fast-paced clashes. With cross-play available at launch, you will be able to play with friends on a variety of platforms. Every three months will bring a new season that includes a brand-new Faction, new characters, new maps, new weapons, new cosmetics and events. As a live game, XDefiant will continue to deliver an exhilarating experience season over season, with a wide variety of fresh and fun content.
Release Date: May 21st
Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
System Shock is the fully fledged remake of the ground breaking original from 1994, combining cult gameplay with all-new HD visuals, updated controls, an overhauled interface and all-new sounds & music; it even has the original voice actor of SHODAN, one of gaming’s most iconic villains. Witness the rebirth of one of the greatest and most influential games ever created. A first-person fight to the death in the depths of space!
Release Date: May 23rd
Platforms: Switch, PC
In Duck Detective: The Secret Salami, follow Eugene McQuacklin, the Duck Detective himself, as he works to crack the case with the help of his supreme powers of de-duck-tion. Inspect and interview suspects to learn their hidden secrets, then use the information you’ve gathered to locate the suspect and bust the case wide open!
Release Date: May 23rd
Platforms: Switch, PC
Use living liquid creatures to build bridges, grow towers, terraform terrain, and fuel flying machines. The world is beautiful, dangerous, and evolving.
Release Date: May 21st
Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Paper Trail is a top-down puzzle adventure about leaving home, set in a foldable, paper world. You play as Paige, a budding academic, leaving home for the first time to pursue her studies. On the journey, you learn to fold the world, merging two sides to solve puzzles, explore new areas and uncover long-lost secrets.
Release Date: May 21st (22nd AEST)
Platforms: PC
Synergy is a city-building game in which humanity must survive in a strange and hostile world. Build a city while respecting the ecosystem. Explore and analyze your environment. Provide for the needs of your citizens.
Release Date: May 22nd (23rd AEST)
Platforms: PC
Turn heads. Drop jaws. Be bright. In this single-player 3D platformer, you’re the only one who can take down Mr. Buff and his lackies to restore color and life to the citizens of Cap City. Accompany Valah and the RKGK crew on their journey to take down the oppressive B Corp. RGKG gameplay prioritizes being fun, fast, colorful, and fluid as you traverse the city to take down B Corp’s CEO, Mr. Buff, and his lackies.
Release Date: May 23rd
Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Undertake a journey like no other in Hauntii, the hauntingly beautiful adventure game from Moonloop Games and Firestoke. Discover the secrets of the afterlife as you navigate through mesmerizing landscapes, uncover hidden mysteries, and shape your own destiny. Mark your calendars and prepare to immerse yourself into the world of Eternity.
Release Date: May 23rd
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Build, manage and optimise intergalactic hospitals! Recruit staff to satisfy the whims of various alien species, and cure their bizarre illnesses – for money! Save the (literal) Galaxy in story mode, or head into sandbox to design the hospital of your dreams.
Release Date: May 23rd
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
The War of Crowns rages on. Knights and brigands run rampant throughout the land, sowing destruction. From your castle base, rise to become the lord who leads the battle against the forces of evil in this turn-based tactics and strategy game.
Release Date: May 22nd (23rd AEST)
Platforms: PC
Dive into the strange town of Rainybrook, taken over by the “Vile” in this 2.5D metroidvania! Fight your way through treacherous terrains and defeat formidable bosses to absorb their powers! Will you save the town and find your missing friend Ella — or will you give in to the monster you’ve become?
Release Date: May 22nd
Platforms: PC, Mobile
Wuthering Waves is a story-rich open-world action RPG with a high degree of freedom. You wake from your slumber as Rover, joined by a vibrant cast of Resonators on a journey to reclaim your lost memories and surmount the Lament.
Release Date: May 23rd
Platforms: PS5, Switch, PC
This game combines roguelike-style deckbuilding with SRPGs to create an all-new experience! Follow Vel as she leads the Clausewitz Battalion into battle against Fahftania and the Hellmuth Brigade. Collect 100 different cards to build the strongest deck and fight enemies on a map shrouded in mist.
Release Date: May 24th
Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch
A frightening homage to PS2 survival horror and Italian zombie movies. Uncover the horrible secrets of the manor as your friends disappear one by one.
Release Date: May 20th (21st AEST)
Platforms: PC
Someone has to protect this realm… is it you? Become a guardian spirit and raise your very own Hero to stand against the Dark Lord.