There is something immediately appealing about Barbarian Saga: The Beast Master. A hand-drawn sword-and-sorcery world filled with creepy creatures, dark magic, cursed weapons and interconnected environments is a pretty good foundation for a Metroidvania. Instead of going down the increasingly familiar gothic fantasy route, Dormidin Studio looks toward the pulpy fantasy adventures of the 1980s, giving Arboria a colourful Saturday morning cartoon aesthetic while still filling it with plenty of monsters, blood and other unsettling imagery.

I have used a few different flash carts for the GameBoy Advance and I can say with certainty that the EverDrive GBA Pro is by far the best cart for the price. Lets go over its specs and see what makes it the must have flash cart for GBA. The EverDrive GBA Pro stands out as a high end flash cartridge engineered by Krikzz, built on a custom 8-layer PCB with gold edge contacts for maximum signal integrity and longevity.

Nintendo has once again refreshed a handful of trademarks tied to some of its more recognizable, but less frequently revisited, games. While trademark renewals can sometimes precede something new, they can also simply be part of the company's routine business, so it may be best not to read too much into these latest discoveries just yet. The latest batch includes four names that longtime Nintendo fans may remember from the company's 3DS-era lineup: Metroid Prime: Federation Force, Metroid Prime: Blast Ball, Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE, and Ever Oasis.

Arrakis has suddenly become a lot more crowded, as Dune: Awakening has welcomed one million new survivors following the launch of its PlayStation 5 and Xbox versions and the game's biggest update yet. Funcom announced the milestone just days after bringing Dune: Awakening to consoles, thanking the players who have made their way to Arrakis and joined the growing community. With one million new survivors arriving in such a short period of time, the survival MMO is continuing to expand its player base beyond its original PC audience.

KEMCO is bringing another pair of its classic RPG adventures to Nintendo Switch 2, with Alphadia I & II now available on the system in North America and Europe. The collection brings together both Alphadia I and Alphadia II in a single package, while also adding updated visuals, new connections between the two games, and additional content for returning players.

Mega Cat Studios is giving PC players another reason to browse Steam this week, with its catalog receiving discounts of up to 80% during the Steam Autumn Sale. The promotion runs through October 8, giving players a limited window to pick up a range of Mega Cat Studios titles for less. Among the bigger discounts is Five Nights at Freddy’s: Into the Pit, while the heavy metal-inspired shoot-’em-up ZPF and retro RPG Gumball in Trick-or-Treat Land are both available for 30% off.

Serafini Productions and Chilean indie studio Time Hunters have announced Signal Veil, a new third-person survival horror game that combines classic survival horror mechanics with a 90s anime-inspired visual style. The game is currently in development for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, with an announcement trailer providing the first look at its supernatural setting.

The Portland Retro Gaming Expo takes place next weekend, and it’s the greatest spot to indulge in all things classic video games. And now, we know another company that’ll be setting up shop there – Limited Run Games! The publisher of various exclusive titles has announced that they will be setting up at the expo on both days, October 10 and 11, and will bring with it a number of games for folks to pick up.

Focus Entertainment and Afterburner Studios have revealed that Elta: Defy All Gods will launch on February 2, 2027, bringing its blend of martial arts combat, platforming and science-fantasy exploration to PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The action-platformer, which was first revealed during this year's Opening Night Live, is also giving players an early opportunity to see what it has in store with a free demo now available on all three platforms.

Fallen City Brawl is bringing its brand of old-school arcade brawling to PC and consoles later this month, with the retro-inspired beat ’em up set to launch digitally on October 28. The game will arrive on PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, with physical editions currently in development and expected to ship in November 2026. The console release is being published worldwide by Eastasiasoft Limited, following the game's original PC release.

The River City crew has traded street fights for a zombie outbreak, as River City Survivors: Downtown of the Dead is now available exclusively on Apple Arcade. Arc System Works America has released the Survivors-like action game on Apple's subscription service, giving players a new way to experience the long-running River City series. River City Survivors: Downtown of the Dead puts players up against screen-filling hordes of zombies while they build increasingly powerful characters during each run.

Fans of Gothic looking to return to the Colony have a new way to do so, although this time they will have to leave their console or PC behind. Gothic – A Shadow’s Quest, the official board game based on the influential RPG, has officially launched its Gamefound campaign, bringing the Old Camp and its dangerous inhabitants to the tabletop.

It looks like the throne of Knights of Honor II: Sovereign has finally found a new ruler. After launching back in December 2022, the medieval grand strategy game is getting renewed support, with Update 7 arriving today as the first step in a new commitment to the game. The update comes from a new group of veteran developers working under a new banner, with THQ Nordic describing the renewed development as part of its approach to "asset care." Rather than leaving older games behind, the publisher says it wants to continue supporting titles with active communities, and Knights of Honor II: Sovereign is now getting that treatment.

Expeditions: Samurai is making room for a couple more blades with its first major Early Access update, as Update 1 is now available with larger parties, smarter enemies and a wide selection of changes shaped by player feedback. The biggest addition is the ability to take a party of up to six characters into battle on ten missions, including Nagasaki Harbour, Kanseido Village and the Derelict Carrack.

Village in the Shade is already proving to be a hit in Japan, with NIS America revealing that the unusual farming and horror game has surpassed 250,000 sales ahead of its upcoming North American and European release. The publisher shared the milestone alongside a new look at Sounds from the Shade, the game's original soundtrack. The collection features 38 songs spread across two discs, bringing together the music players will hear while farming, exploring, mining, and presumably trying not to get themselves killed by whatever lurks around Kagatsu after dark.

Fire Emblem Fortune's Weave is the newest entry in a well-loved tactical series, and it plays like a game made by a team that remembers every era of that series. It builds on the newer style of Fire Emblem while pulling from the older games, and the result is big, ambitious, and easy to recommend. It will test the player's fortitude at times, but clearing the four paths is deeply satisfying.

007 First Light has received a substantial new update today with the launch of Extended Operations, a free DLC release that adds several highly requested features and new content to IO Interactive’s take on the James Bond origin story. Available now, Extended Operations gives players a reason to return to 007 First Light with the addition of New Game+, a new 00 difficulty, expanded TacSim content, Photo Mode, improved weapon handling animations and a new gameplay twist that means Bond himself can now be thrown from ledges.

JKM Corp is bringing its retro-inspired ninja action game Shadow Gangs Zero to Steam later this month, with the latest trailer offering another look at the 16-bit prequel ahead of its October 27 release. Originally conceived around Neo Geo hardware, Shadow Gangs Zero is designed as a throwback to the classic arcade action games of the 1980s and ’90s while expanding the formula with new characters, stages, co-op and modern refinements.

The latest chapter in the Castlevania saga can now be played ahead of its full release, as Konami has launched a playable demo for Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. The demo gives players a chance to experience the opening stages of the upcoming 2D action game before it officially launches on October 15, with progress able to carry over into the full version.

Ker-splat! Argonaut Games struck gold a little while back with the re-release of Croc for modern consoles. But now the PlayStation hero is returning for another go-around – and he’s not far off! The publisher has announced that Croc 2: Kingdom of the Gobbos will arrive for consoles and PC on October 29. While pricing hasn’t been revealed just yet, it’ll likely be around $30, like the original.

Tank games generally bring to mind long-range firefights, careful positioning and powerful artillery, but SLAM TANK is taking its tanks into much more personal territory. Next Stage Inc. has unveiled a new trailer for the upcoming PC game, and the footage makes it clear that this is less a traditional tank combat game and more a beat ’em up where the player happens to be driving a tank.

I’m a fan of inspired “shmups,” or shoot-em-ups. There’s something about you fighting against an army, using special tools of the trade to eradicate them completely. I could sit here and spend all day listing favorites, but Polygon Bird’s Birdcage is right up there with the best ones I’ve seen over the past few months. Originally introduced on Steam a while back,

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is entering its third year of post-launch support, and Focus Entertainment and Saber Interactive are kicking things off with a major new update. Anniversary Update II is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, bringing a new PvE mode, progression system, weapons, armour and the first Season Pass 3 content to the game.

There is something inherently appealing about a good fantasy beat 'em up. The genre has never needed an especially complicated premise to work, with a handful of heroes, a dangerous kingdom and an endless stream of enemies usually being enough to justify another journey from one side of the screen to the other. King's Blade understands that appeal. Developed by Alexey Suslin and published by Sometimes You, this side-scrolling brawler wears its Golden Axe and Streets of Rage influences openly, but it also tries to build something more mechanically involved around that familiar foundation.

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is almost ready to unleash another vampire-hunting adventure, but players can get an early taste of the upcoming game today thanks to a newly released free demo. There is also a particularly welcome surprise for those playing on Nintendo Switch 2, as the game is running at 60fps on Nintendo’s newer hardware. The demo is now available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, giving players the opportunity to experience the early stages of the latest entry in the long-running Castlevania series ahead of its October 15 release.

When R-Type Dimensions III came out earlier this year, it certainly left some mixed feelings. There was definitely some style to it, but frustration also came from certain aspects of the game – something the team at ININ Games vowed to fix. Well, surprise! They came through, and a major update available starting today is showing how. “When ININ published its improvement initiative in June, the company issued a public commitment to address community concerns through a series of targeted updates and a strengthened quality assurance process,” it noted.

There is something immediately appealing about Graveyard Keeper 2. The original Graveyard Keeper built its reputation around taking the familiar management and crafting formula and giving it a wonderfully strange twist, and the sequel expands that idea considerably. There is more to build, more to automate, more ways to develop the Keeper, more activities to manage and, eventually, a much greater emphasis on using zombies to keep everything running.

We are not affiliated with PRGE outside of helping to promote the show and coverage of the show at the time of the event. The awesome folks that have put together this year’s Portland Retro Game Expo have released the following announcement for the upcoming event: The official Blockbuster World Video Game Championship is back for 2026! Compete in a retrolicious selection of tournament classics for medals and the grand champion trophy:

The Mega EverDrive Pro is a high tech cartridge for the Sega Genesis designed by Ukraine-based developer Krikzz. Instead of using software emulation (which translates code on the fly), it relies on an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array). This is a flexible microchip programmed to act like actual physical hardware. This design connects directly to the console's main bus, allowing games to load almost instantly from a micro SD card with zero lag or timing errors on both original consoles and modern clone systems.

There is something immediately appealing about Fallen Tear: The Ascension. From the moment you begin exploring its world, it is clear that this is an ambitious Metroidvania that wants to give players a large fantasy adventure to get lost in. The art style is gorgeous, the environments are varied, the characters are well animated, and there is a surprising amount to discover across its sprawling map.

Nintendo has rolled out another firmware update for Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch, with version 23.0.1 now available for both systems. While this is a much smaller update than the recently released version 23.0.0, Nintendo Switch owners will still want to download it. The latest firmware specifically addresses an issue that appeared following the previous update, which could cause software to take an unusually long time to start, pause, or close.

ALT: Brutal Legend: Eddie Riggs Head Bang

My Hero Ultra Rumble has entered its third anniversary celebration with the launch of Season 19, and the new season is bringing a powerful version of one of My Hero Academia’s most recognizable characters to the battlefield. Shoto Todoroki (Phosphor) is now available as a brand-new playable character in the free-to-play 24-player Battle Royale, giving players another way to put his Half-Cold Half-Hot Quirk to use.

The nightmare continues for Low and Alone as Little Nightmares III – The Shores is now available, adding a new area, puzzles, hazards and terrifying encounters to Supermassive Games’ horror adventure. The latest downloadable content takes the pair into The Shores, another unsettling corner of The Spiral where reaching a distant lighthouse will be anything but a simple journey. Having once again travelled through the mirror, Low and Alone find themselves surrounded by flooded streets, abandoned houses and waterways where danger can be lurking beneath the surface.

The Sakura Wars series has reached its 30th anniversary, and a new Weekly Famitsu interview with several of the franchise’s key creators has offered an intriguing look at where the series could go next. Among the revelations is that a plot for a potential Sakura Wars 6 already exists, while SEGA has also expressed its desire to bring the original games to modern platforms.

Kong: Survivor Instinct has officially arrived on Nintendo Switch, giving fans of Legendary's MonsterVerse another chance to step into a world where humanity is very much outmatched by enormous Titans. Developed and published by 7Levels, the 2.5D action-adventure game is now available digitally through the Nintendo eShop for $24.99/€24.99, while a physical edition from Meridiem is also available at retail.

How many flavours of bone-crunching, spine-tingling metal are in your music collection? Rock fans are highly aware that heavy guitar-play comes in all kinds of shapes and sizes, and this week, RedOctane is treating you to three different shades of subgenre. Be prepared to enjoy an epic journey of progressive metal, a caress and a kick of melodic death metal and a handbanging orchestra of thrash as these tracks dive into the melee.

Fans of classic first-person fantasy RPGs will have a new adventure to explore this October, as Queen’s Domain has been confirmed for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, and PC via Steam. Publisher Future Friends Games and developer Freshly Baked Games have announced that the retro-style action RPG will launch across all four platforms on October 30, with the console versions newly revealed as part of the announcement.

Caves of Qud is making the jump to Nintendo Switch 2 with a new native version of Freehold Games and Kitfox Games' acclaimed science-fantasy roguelike, giving players another way to explore its bizarre and deeply simulated world. The game was already released on the original Nintendo Switch earlier this year, but this new version is being developed specifically for Nintendo Switch 2.

Grasshopper Manufacture is independent once again, as the studio founded by Goichi “Suda51” Suda has officially split from NetEase Games and will move forward on its own. The announcement comes five years after NetEase acquired Grasshopper Manufacture from GungHo Online Entertainment in 2021. At the time, the two companies described the arrangement as a way to give Grasshopper additional resources while allowing the studio to maintain its creative identity, with NetEase providing business support, funding, and assistance from its artists and technical teams.

TAITO and Clear River Games are bringing Bub and Bob back for another round of bubble-popping action, this time with a new Nintendo Switch 2 edition of Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron Is Back! that adds even more content to the colourful co-op adventure. Bubble Bobble 4 Friends originally arrived in 2019 before The Baron Is Back! expanded the game with additional stages and the return of Baron von Blubba, the familiar foe from the original arcade classic.

HMASTER  has announced that Console Archives Chack’n Pop will launch for PlayStation 5 and Switch 2 on October 1. Chack’n Pop was released by TAITO in 1985 for an 8 -bit home console. Control Chack’n skillfully to take back the Heart inside the maze taken by Beluga. The Technique of character Ko to run along walls and ceilings to evade enemies, the Technique of Hanabi to detonate bombs simultaneously… By using various advanced techniques, Chack’n” can defeat Beluga.

The Blood Ravens and Dark Angels are putting aside their differences to fight side by side in a new CGI trailer for Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV, giving fans a closer look at the Space Marines ahead of the game's December launch. KING Art Games and Deep Silver have unveiled the full cinematic introduction for the Space Marines, highlighting the two legendary chapters as they face an overwhelming xeno threat on Kronus.

HAMSTER has announced that Arcade Archives 2 Balloon Bomber will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and Switch 2, and Arcade Archives Balloon Bomber will launch for PlayStation 4 and Switch, on October 1. Shoot for the Bomb! Balloon Bomber is a shooting game released by TAITO in 1980. Control the anti-aircraft gun and destroy the balloon bombs as they gently sway through the air.

If you’ve been looking to do more high-flying with Nintendo’s awesome remake of StarFox for Nintendo Switch 2, we’ve got some great news. Update 1.2.0 is now available for the game, and offers even more content free of charge to players. These include new battle stages, along with split-screen support and adjustments across the board. Battle Mode Added three new stages: Katina, Sector X, and Venom.

It wasn’t too long ago that Aspyr Games phantom dropped Lord of the Rings: War In the North for consoles and PC. It gives players a taste of an adventure that originally released for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, but has never looked or played better than it does now. And soon enough, you’ll be able to own a physical copy of the game – and call it your “precious.”

Garrett is returning to the City, but this time his latest heist is taking place on the page. Bit Bot has announced Thief: Pulse of Promise, a new officially licensed graphic novel set between the events of Thief: The Dark Project and Thief II: The Metal Age, giving fans a new chapter in the master thief's story. Written by Joshua Viola and Sean Eads, Thief: Pulse of Promise follows Garrett after a seemingly routine job leads him toward forgotten Keeper secrets, mysterious powers buried beneath the City, and a young boy whose fate could have consequences far beyond what the thief initially expects.

The cult classic RPG Gothic II has officially made its way to modern consoles with the release of Gothic II Complete Classic, bringing the original adventure and its Night of the Raven expansion to PlayStation and Xbox. Gothic II Complete Classic is now available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S, giving console players the chance to return to the world of Khorinis and once again take on the role of the Nameless Hero.

Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor is bringing its brand of bug-blasting, mining-fuelled survival action to consoles next month, with Ghost Ship Publishing and Funday Games confirming that the single-player spin-off will launch for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch on October 7. Rather than following the co-op-focused approach of Deep Rock Galactic, Survivor puts a single dwarf against the dangers of Planet Hoxxes in a top-down survivor-like auto-shooter.