Reading the description for Kabuto Park, I imagined it would be like Animal Crossing’s Bug-Off. But this quick, cosy beetle-collecting game from French developer Doot Tiny Games presents a concept that’s closer to another Nintendo series: Pokémon.
The story is pretty light. Your character, Hana, visits the eponymous park for a month to catch bugs and catch up with friends. It’s played through menus, where you select areas rather than explore them – you’ll unlock four throughout. But the gameplay loop is where Kabuto Park really flies: an addictive combination of catching and battling. Capturing bugs takes the form of a minigame inspired by another very cosy title, Gears of War’s Active Reload.
Its speed scales with area and rarity. You can use Joy-Con, too, and swinging them like a net is fun and responsive. There are three levels of difficulty, from a casual easy mode to a hard mode that demands insect-like reflexes. Watching your collection fill out is satisfying, especially when you get rare bugs or Shinies.
The bug battles take inspiration from sumo fights. Teams of three bugs take turns to ‘PUSH or ‘HOLD’ against each other on a platform, until one team falls off. You and your opponent have sets of cards determined by the bugs in your colony. Beetles have cards like ‘Beetles Kick’, while butterflies have ‘Strong Wind’, and the Energy bar is a timer that determines when you can play a card. Each card is assigned a number – gustier attacks have higher numbers, so you wait longer to play them. The higher your combined Energy, the faster your timer.
Early game, you can flap into battle without much prep, but you’ll soon need to develop stat-based strategies. It’s not too intense on the (hive)mind, though using the Battle menu isn’t all smooth snailing. Selecting a bug from the menu puts them in the team automatically; I wanted to view their stats before I chose them – like seeing your Pokémon’s summary in the PC before adding them to your party. Battle opponents named Ash and Satoshi are also present, for those counting the Pokémon references.
This game has plenty of bugs (insects), yet no bugs (imperfections) that I encountered. Touchscreen controls are there if you’re playing handheld. It looks great too: everything is coloured with a storybook art style, with block-coloured backgrounds, and crayon-texture details that have been carefully considered right down to your creatures’ cute bug-eyes. That’s all set to earworm-worthy music that strikes the balance between catchy and relaxing, complete with nature and insect sound effects.
Kabuto Park’s runtime is less than a day (that oft-misquoted lifespan of a fly), but for a low price, it’s worth it. The cycle between catching and battling is simple yet variegated and captivating. And if you’re a completionist, capturing all the bugs and exploring their various battle tactics — not to mention post-game content that ups the ante — could have you coming back like a moth to a flame.
The big weekend of Summer Game Fest 2026 is behind us, and it sure was a stacked one.
While showcases and streams were gradually trickling out over the last week, this weekend was when most of the biggies came out to play, many of which came loaded with their fair share of Switch news.
To make sure that you don’t miss anything heading to a Nintendo platform, we’ve assembled the following round-up, detailing every Switch-relevant announcement from the last weekend (basically, anything from Geoff’s Opening Show onwards).
Note. With so many showcases to get through, this roundup is a work in progress, and we will be adding to it as soon as possible.
We’ve broken down the announcements by the shows they cropped up in, so let’s start with Mr. Keighley himself, and everything coming our way from the big opening showcase.
Opening Show
While mostly focused on the beefier consoles, Geoff’s opening showcase featured a couple of big hitters heading to Switch 1 and 2. Here they all are, in the order we saw them.
Resident Evil Veronica
Cuphead
Alien: Isolation 2
Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 3
The Zero Point has cracked the sky open, transforming the Island into a warped new reality. Get in, grab power-packing Sprites, and extract them for the next match. Welcome to Fortnite: Runners!
007 First Light – Bawma Will Return
Armatus
“This is it, Warrior. Wake up.” Battle demonic creatures and master fast-paced combat in the apocalyptic ruins of Paris. The veil is broken, and you are humanity’s last hope.
Armatus launches this winter
Hotwheels Infinite Rush
Sonic Racing CrossWorlds & Pico Park
Attack On Titan 3
Street Fighter 6 – Year 4
Final Fantasy VII Revelation
Day of the Devs
For something with a little more of an indie flair, the Day of the Devs SGF showcase brought all the following Switch announcements.
Super Yooka-Laylee Kart
Trine 6: Together in Time
Trine 6: Together in Time is a co-op puzzle platformer for 1–4 players. Wit, timing, and teamwork collide as you solve perplexing puzzles, engage cunning creatures, and traverse perilous paths in the next adventure through Trine’s iconic fantasy world.
Southeast Asian Games Showcase
The Southeast Asian Games Showcase had a few more upcoming Switch (2) games for us. Here are all the ones that cropped up in this year’s show.
TCG Card Shop Simulator
TCG Card Shop Simulator is a Management Sim game where you run your own card shop. Stock shelves with the latest booster packs, or crack them and collect the cards for yourself. Set your own prices, hire staff, host events, and expand your card shop.
Nightmare Circus
Nightmare Circus is a collision-driven action adventure indie game where you play as a Puppeteer trapped inside the Nightmare Realm. Use momentum-based combat, enhanced magic abilities, and precision positioning to defeat enemies and survive a twisted dark fantasy world.
KuloNiku: Bowl Up!
Utilize long-honed recipes as you prepare unique meals for quirky small-town locals, upgrade and customize your shop, compete in thrilling cooking battles to become top chef, and protect your family’s long-running restaurant!
GigaBash DLC
A battle of cosmic proportions is coming to #GigaBash! The Son of Seven joins the roster, but he isn’t alone. A corrupt, tyrannical force of pure malice has followed him to claim an ancient vengeance. Keep your eyes on the skies. The light reveals all soon.
Kidbash: Super Legend
Building Relationships
First announced in 2024, Building Relationships is returning to SGF with a console release trailer showcasing the romantic dating gameplay and a glimpse behind the world of building
Memoirium
Traverse a chaotic and crumbling realm of dreams composed of liminal spaces. Adapt to the world’s odd rules as a Dreamer, and defy others like you to escape the strange and eclectic subconscious landscape.
Table Flip Simulator
Had a stressful day? Blow off some steam in Table Flip Simulator! This physics-based puzzler allows you to unwind as you throw or smash items with hilarious effects. From working as a barista to becoming the President of Antarctica, you can go beyond flipping the table – the world is yours to wreck!
Mirth Island
Discover Mirth Island, a charming rhythm game where music, friendship, and community take center stage. Join Dodo on a heartwarming adventure to rebuild the local theater, meet unforgettable residents, and prepare for a spectacular grand performance. Sing, dance, and play through a colorful world filled with musical moments and wholesome vibes. Watch the official Mirth Island announcement trailer and get your first look at this cozy rhythm game experience coming soon.
Until Then DLC
Award-winning narrative adventure Until Then brings two new riveting chapters following our beloved characters. Sofia returns home to memories she left behind. Mark meets a new lover and an old friend. On their own, they explore what it means to carry on living in the presence of absence.
Hoa 2
Hoa 2 will transport you to a beautiful world. Explore, interact with nature, solve puzzles and seek to bring life back to a special friend. Continuing the story from the first part, this sequel sees our little fairy return in an amazing new style. In Hoa 2, our courageous protagonist sets forth in a vibrant 3D world, interacting with nature, partnering with fascinating creatures and discovering new secrets and abilities in their quest to aid an old friend.
Wholesome Direct
As ever, the Wholesome Direct had a bunch of Switch (2) titles to its name. Here are all the ones we spotted in this year’s SGF showcase:
Moonlight Peaks
In this heartwarming, supernatural life-sim, you set out to show your skeptical father that a life of compassion is possible – even for the undead. Make friends with local creatures of the night and perhaps find eternal love. Settle down in your family’s haunted cottage, customizing it to suit your own gothic style. And unlock mystical abilities, potions, and spells, all in the name of a bountiful harvest.
Discounty DLC
Will you help Blomkest thrive as a sustainable community or chase endless profits at any cost? Every business owner must eventually answer one important question: People or Profit?
Lou’s Lagoon
Lou’s Lagoon is a cozy exploration and crafting adventure that sees you take to the skies across the Limbo Archipelago in search of your missing Uncle Lou who is missing after a storm. Harness your collection of trusty gadgets to collect resources, clean up the storm damaged islands and unravel the mystery surrounding Lou’s disappearance.
The Wondering Village DLC
The Wandering Village: The Last Leviathan will feature a new giant players can befriend and learn to live on. Levi, a distant relative of Onbu, is a marine creature that feels right at home in the ocean. In addition to keeping Levi fed and free of poison, you also have to make sure to always keep it well hydrated.
Deer and Boy
Deer & Boy is a narrative cinematic adventure that tells a silent story through stunning visuals and evocative music. In this poetic cinematic platformer, a runaway boy meets a fawn. As their bond grows, so do their abilities and the emotional weight of their journey, where silence speaks louder than words.
Momento
Momento is a cozy room decorator with a twist: the choices you make play out over the course of a lifetime.
Froggy Brews
Froggy Brews is a cozy narrative adventure game, where every cup of tea tells a story. Play as a tea-loving frog returning to your old neighborhood that has changed over time. Brew tea for villagers, uncover heartfelt stories, and rediscover your place in this world.
Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit
All those who are lost deserve kindness. Especially these cute ghost bears! Help these creatures find peace in this relaxing sequel to the beloved life-sim game Cozy Grove, where new crafting, building, and camping island adventures await.
Go-Go Town
Step into the role of a hands-on mayor and build your town from the ground up. Plan neighborhoods, automate logistics and grow your community—all while juggling workers, infrastructure, and day-to-day chaos to create your dream town. Play solo for total control, or bring friends for co-op mayhem.
Loftia
Loftia is a cozy MMO world where you can build towards a brighter, more sustainable future. Connect with friends both new and old to farm, craft, explore, decorate and build your dream life in a vibrant solarpunk world. Work together on community projects that evolve the game over time, and create a meaningful impact, together!
Moomin: Midsummer Madness
Moomin: Midsummer Madness is a beautifully illustrated point-and-click adventure! Join the Moominfamily in a delightfully playful tale of curiosity, sympathy, and the small wonders around us.
Hela: Of Mice and Magic
In Hela: Of Mice & Magic, you take on the role of tiny mouse familiars helping restore harmony to a world that is slowly falling out of balance. Journey through a living natural world, meet its animal inhabitants, solve puzzles through cooperation, brew magical potions, and discover a Nordic-inspired tale where kindness, curiosity, and exploration guide the adventure.
Toem 2
Step back into the shoes of a curious photographer and set off on a brand new adventure all about uncovering hidden details, helping friends along the way, and documenting the world’s little wonders in TOEM 2, the sequel to the acclaimed TOEM.
Walk the Frog
Step into the cozy narrative puzzle game where every level is built from hand drawn sticky notes. Rebuild Froggo’s world, solve relaxing drag and drop puzzles and guide him back home to meet his best friend buddy.
Japanese Rural Life Adventure
A relaxing slow-life sim. Experience the charm of Japanese countryside living in a beautifully crafted pixel-art world.
Hokko Spaces
Introducing Hokko Spaces, a gentle, creative sandbox experience where you can design beautifully detailed miniature diorama-style worlds, set in the cosy world of Hokko Life!
Wild Chorus
A hand-illustrated musical exploration game where you charm Sound Sprites and protect them from Silence, combine them into Melodies and fix the world (and the soundtrack), in whatever way you choose. No musical ability required!
Colorbound
In Colorbound, color is more than just hue. As Anku, an Aymara boy with a unique gift, you’ll harness the power of color to shape the environment itself, uncovering hidden paths to navigate challenging and complex puzzles.
Story Rich Showcase
Coming soon!
Green Games Showcase
Coming soon!
Pride Parade
Coming soon!
Future Games Show – Summer Showcase
Coming soon!
Frosty Games Fest
Coming soon!
Xbox Games Showcase
Coming soon!
PC Gaming Show
Coming soon!
Deutsche Indie Showcase
Coming soon!
We’ll be adding more Switch 1 & 2 announcements soon, so watch this space!
Nightdive Studios has shown off its latest upcoming remaster, and it’s a doozy. Thief: The Dark Project, originally released back in 1998 from Looking Glass Studios and Eidos Interactive, is making a comeback later this year on Switch and Switch 2.
Visuals, textures, animations, and more have all been given some TLC for the new release, and those on Switch can also rest easy in the knowledge that the upgrade to Switch 2 will be completely free. We don’t have word on exactly when Thief will launch, but it’s looking like it will arrive quite late in the year, with Nightdive quoting a ‘Winter’ release window.
Thief will also come packed with all additional content and updates included in the 1999 Thief Gold release. For now, let’s check out the key features:
– Advanced NPC AI: A dynamic visibility system and sound simulation allows both players and enemies to detect movement realistically; NPCs will dynamically adapt to sounds the player makes, investigate, and even raising alarms
– Keep to the Shadows: Experience one of the first games to use light and sound as core gameplay mechanics; use fire arrows to extinguish torches and moss arrows to dampen loud surfaces
– Stealth-Based Combat: Strike unseen from the shadows using Garrett’s blackjack to incapacitate enemies from behind or specialized gas mines and arrows to take them down from range
– Misdirection: Flashbombs will temporarily blind and disorient enemies and Noisemaker arrows will distract and draw away guards.
– Tools of a Master Thief: amass a full array of specialized tools including lockpicks, remote cameras, and even rope arrows to access out-of-reach locations
Will you be picking up Thief: The Dark Project later this year? Share your thoughts with a comment down below.
And we’re back for the latest round of eShop Selects, looking back at last month’s eShop-only releases and picking our top three favourites.
Plenty of games came out in May, although many of them also got day-and-date physical releases, so we only had six games that met our threshold this month (including one that’s only on mobiles). Let’s hop to it, shall we?
Here are the rules: Our writers and contributors vote for their top three eShop games we reviewed (and scored at least a 7/10) that launched in May 2026 on the eShop for Switch 1 and/or Switch 2. We then tally the votes and the three games with the highest number of votes take to the podium.
Honourable Mentions
One digital-only game that may have qualified for this is Kabuto Park, a cute little bug catcher we’re in the process of reviewing, so keep an eye out for our verdict next week.
Behind the obvious front-runner, it was a tight contest this month. But before we get to the top three, here are the three that just missed out (including a mobile game that’s not technically on the eShop, but Nintendo made it):
Taking bronze is the addictive, Geometry Wars-inspired Sektori, which landed on Switch 2 in the middle of May. Ollie gave it a sparkling 9/10 in his review, calling it his “favourite Switch 2 release of 2026 so far.”
Beyond its beautiful, score-chasing, twin-stick shooting, it was heartening to hear that developer Kimmo Lahtinen found success with the port, with sales of the Switch 2 version recouping “a living salary” for the solo dev after years of investment and overheads.
Next up is Beethoven and Dinosaur’s Mixtape, a low-stakes teen journey filled with licensed music, inventive visuals, and ’80s/’90s nostalgia.
Putting all the embarrassing online ‘discourse’ it provoked to the side, it’s undoubtedly a Marmite game that relies on your enjoyment and/or memories of the era it depicts (and you’ll probably want to steer clear if you’re irritated by pretentious teens and coming-of-age drama). But we loved Mixtape.
“This is a thoughtfully curated collection of music, sure,” said Roland in his 9/10 review, “but before that, it’s an exciting, sentimental, funny game.”
And #1 by a wide margin is Yacht Club’s Mina The Hollower. This was delayed out of last year, and we’re so happy that it turned out to be worth the wait.
This dark, top-down affair may look like a Game Boy Color-ful, Zelda-style adventure, but the Shovel Knight devs refuse to hold your hand, and its openness and willingness to leave you to your own devices is a huge part of its charm.
“Mina the Hollower, like Shovel Knight before it, pays careful homage to a beloved genre and visual style, while also blending in modern design sensibilities,” said Ken in his 9/10 review. We’ll surely be discussing this more come GOTY time.
Do you agree with our ranking? Tell us about your favourite eShop releases of last month by voting in our poll and sharing your thoughts in the comments.
What’s your favourite May 2026 eShop game from our picks? (92 votes)
Coffee Talk Tokyo (Switch 2)5%
Mina the Hollower – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (Switch 2)68%
Mixtape (Switch 2)9%
Pictonico! (Mobile)2%
Sektori (Switch 2)14%
TetherGeist (Switch eShop)1%
How we decide our eShop Selects top three: As we reach the end of every month, the Nintendo Life staff vote on their favourite titles from a list of games selected by the editorial team. To qualify for this list, these games must have been released as a digital-only Nintendo Switch eShop title in that particular month, and must have been reviewed on Nintendo Life; we select the qualifying games based on their review scores.
Staff are then asked to vote for three games that they think deserve to sit right at the very top of that list; first choice gets three points, second choice gets two points, and third choice gets one point. These votes are then tallied to create a top-three list, with the overall winner taking that month’s top prize.
Sometimes, when I wind the window down in my car, I think about Mario Kart World. I’m sitting alone in the driver’s seat, radio playing some mid-2000s indie or alt-rock, a breeze blowing through my hair. It might be a quiet morning, the traffic light but the sun bright and warm. I could be admiring the scenery in a country I’m mostly used to, but still always curious to see what I spot. Or maybe I’m thinking about throwing a banana peel at the car ahead of me (I’m not, don’t do that).
I love Mario Kart World; it’s an oxymoron of a racer, the calmest and most chaotic experience you can have with friends or alone. It’s like going on a sightseeing road trip where, every so often, you’ll be thrust onto a motorway where cows and turtles and lightning bolts are being flung around everywhere.
But it also had the unenviable task of being the game to usher in the Switch 2 generation, the first brand new Mario Kart game in over a decade, and the follow-up to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, arguably the Mario Kart game, bursting with almost 100 courses and 50 playable characters, if you include DLC. This shouldn’t be the standard for the series, because it’s unattainable. It’s the Smash Ultimate of Mario Kart.
Image: Nintendo Life
So I wish people would stop comparing World to 8 Deluxe. The latter is a celebration of all things Mario Kart and a complete blow-out for the series: it’s a complete anomaly, too, being not just the best-selling Mario Kart game of all time, but the best-selling Mario game ever. It’s also a pretty tame sequel: yes, there’s an abundance of content, but what’s really new about MK8? Anti-gravity? Four new items?
Because at the core, Mario Kart World’s pure casual racing isn’t all that different. If I’m sitting down to play with friends and family in a standard race, we’re getting a similar experience to what’s come before. It’s still great, and it looks fabulous on Switch 2, but it’s Mario Kart. What else is there? Pop the hood and you’ll see.
I know people were disappointed by the open world, which some saw as World’s defining feature. And in many ways, it is a little lacklustre, though that’s partially down to expectations. It’s not some Forza-esque world where you need to tick off a checklist; it’s really just a big playground with things you can do, and nothing you have to do.
I spent a lot of time just driving from place to place, checking out every corner of the map, hunting for P Switches and collectibles. But it allowed me to take in the beauty of each environment. The way the lush leaves surrounding Peach Stadium slowly melted from green to gold in Cheep Cheep Falls. I’d drop into the river and let the currents sweep me down to Salty Salty Speedway, where the rust-coloured cobbles would spit me out into the ocean, towards the desecrated ruins of Wario Shipyard.
Image: Nintendo Life
From the rotting fortress next to the ship, I could see the icy lands to the north, the sparkly beach to the south. Never before could my eyes take me this far in Mario Kart. These weren’t just a bunch of courses plucked out of thin air; they all made sense in their order, their placement, and their layout.
The open world is your oyster, and you can do anything in it. Make up pretend races, go find that Donut Plains tribute, take really stupid photos. Where many racing games are a kaleidoscope of colours and a shock to the senses, MKW gives me a moment to breathe. Breath of the Wild did the same: there’s stuff to do in the world, and there is a story, but ultimately, the world is a canvas and I am its paintbrush.
So, when I’m on the courses, when I’m racing others or completing optional challenges, my tools are more expansive than ever. I think Mario Kart is often oversimplified, but World adds a ton of mechanics to the experience that make it the deepest kart racer I’ve ever played.
I’m good at 8 Deluxe because the racing is ultimately pretty simple, and I know the courses well. One match online in Mario Kart World is a complete bloodbath and I’m left in the dust because everyone and their mother is amazing at wall jumping and grinding and skipping swathes of the course, only for them to finish in third behind two racers who are just world-class.
I’m over the moon whenever I do a perfect wall-ride and hop in an alleyway to reach a Peach Medallion, but ask me to replicate that in an online Knockout Tour to hit 16th over 17th and I buckle under the pressure, the sweaty hands, and the barrage of red shells hitting me and slowing my speed. I can’t just pick up coins and aim perfectly and drift at just the right time to win anymore; I actually have to learn how to play the game intimately. I admire that approach.
The amount of tricks and backflips required to shave milliseconds off of a race time is absurd, but watching someone pull off all the tricks in the book successfully really is something to behold.
[embedded content]
Don’t ask me to replicate any of this
Really, all I do whenever I race online (or with friends) is embrace the chaos of those 24-man races. Knockout Tour, to this day, is my favourite aspect of World. It’s a complete mess, where balance and skill can and do matter, but in a Mario Party sense, you sometimes just have to succumb to fate or lack of luck.
The sheer amount of litter on the road is enough to make me both laugh and send me into a fit of panic. Why do we need this many bananas or coins or traps in one spot, let alone the fact I’m trying to avoid triple red shells around my neighbouring competitors (yes, I’m sandwiched between them).
Image: Nintendo Life
When I am good enough to make it to the final four, it makes for an amazing 10-15 minutes of white-knuckle racing, hair-splitting differences, and scrambling to the finish line. Do I care if I win because of luck? Not really! It’s Mario Kart; I’m here to have fun, to embrace the chaos, and then decompress afterwards.
That last part is the key part that makes all the difference, the part that makes this Mario Kart cocktail taste different from the last one. Mario Kart has always been a series I’ve brought out for a few races with friends for an hour or two, and then it just gets tucked away until the next get-together. We’ll chat between races, but now we’re not just leaving it on an idle screen, we’re racing around the savannah or the black volcanic terrain, taking in the sights.
I called Mario Kart World “the perfect introduction” to the new generation of Nintendo, a year ago, and I feel even stronger about that now than I did then. In Donkey Kong Bananza, you can smash things up to your heart’s content. In Pokémon Pokopia, you can rebuild the world however you wish. In Kirby Air Riders, speed and drama is unlimited. All of these games blend familiarity, calmness, chaos, and freedom. And Mario Kart World started it all.
I know it’s not a huge reinvention, but it is a shift. The Switch 2 is capable of so much more than the Switch, and World showed us that from the very first day. Do I want a bit more than 30 courses? Sure, I’d take DLC, but the year of patches have also done a lot to iron out some of the rougher edges.
Before 8 Deluxe, Mario Kart never got DLC. There are ample opportunities in the open-world to make your own fun, and once you let go of the winning mentality, Knockout Tour is a blast.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is Mario Kart as we’ve long known it, but World is something a bit different. It isn’t just a soda water with lime, it’s the most-refreshing summer blend of citrus flavours where you can either chill out or have chaotic fun. A defining game for the Switch 2, and worthy of much more love than it gets.
How do you feel about Mario Kart World a year after release? Let us know in the comments.
Walk this Ray, it’s time for another edition of Box Art Brawl.
Last week, we matched up three covers for the GameCube’s excellent WarioWare, Inc: Mega Party Game$!, and you lot were clearly on the same page as us, crowning the North American design the best of the bunch with 76% of the vote. Poor old Europe and Japan had to split the remainder with 12% apiece.
With all of this week’s Rayman news, we’re taking a look at the limbless legend’s last 3D outing in the aptly-titled Rayman 3D. This port of the Dreamcast’s Rayman 2 may not have blown our socks off when it arrived on 3DS back in 2011, but the 3D visuals looked great on the handheld screen, and it was a nice excuse to get all nostalgic for the extra-dimension platforming of yore.
There are just two covers to choose between this week, so let’s dive into a good old battle of NA vs EU.
While Mr. Ray himself might look a little uncanny in the North American cover, there’s no denying that this homage to the Rayman 2 original art has some cool composition at play. The hair overlapping the title? Cool. The splintering walkway? Cool. The giant exploding ship in the background? Cool. Overall, pretty cool.
The European design is… not as cool. Rayman himself looks much better, but all of the action and drama of the NA cover has been replaced by simplicity. We’ve got a plain blue backdrop and a singular Lum. That’s it. Hey, at least the title font is a little cleaner.
Which region got the best Rayman 3D box art? (1,067 votes)
North America76%
Europe24%
Thank you for voting! We’ll see you next week for another edition of Box Art Brawl!
Bloober Team, the Polish horror game specialist behind titles like Cronos: New Dawn, has this week announced Star Trek: Shadow Frontier in partnership with Paramount Games. It will be “Coming Soon” to the Switch 2 and multiple other platforms.
The game is described as a psychological story-driven action-adventure set in third-person, where players take on the role of Ro Laren, who must survive a breathtaking but lethal environment located in the expansive Star Trek universe. Here’s some information via the Steam listing:
“After crashing onto a distant planet overtaken by a strange consciousness, Ro Laren must survive in an environment that is as breathtaking as it is lethal. In true Star Trek fashion, Ro’s mission is driven by duty and purpose. But here, discovery comes at a terrible cost. The more she uncovers, the deeper she is pulled into a corrupted labyrinth where her memories twist and the planet threatens to sever her connection to reality. Only by solving the mysteries of this strange world can Ro hope to make peace with the demons of her past, boldly going into the heart of darkness like never before.”
Image: via Steam / Bloober Team, Paramount Games
Throughout her story, she’ll have to deal with dangerous creatures and surroundings, and choose whether or not to engage in combat or outmaneuver the enemy. The hostile ecosystem also poses a “constant threat”, as it attempts to absorb Ro’s consciousness, “burrowing deep in her mind and plaguing her with haunting visions”.
Bloober also promises to offer a good blend of “exploration, puzzles, combat and cinematic set-pieces” wrapped up in a “gripping” story adventure that rewards “patience, observation and smart decision-making”. According to the content description, you can also expect “intense violence, blood and gore against aliens”.
If this wasn’t enough for one day, Bloober Team has also announced Cronos: Lazarus DLC will be arriving in “Fall 2026“.
“Return to the wastelands of New Dawn as the once-loyal Pathfinder in the process of transforming into the Warden you know and love from the base game. Isolated in the Terminal and severed from the Collective, he devotes every waking moment to awakening a lost Essence he refuses to let fade. Uncover fragments of Warden’s past, teleport, strike, and outrun a relentless hunter.”
Would you be interested in Bloober’s new Star Trek game? How about the new DLC for Cronos: The New Dawn? Let us know in the comments.
This game will be available for the Switch 1 & 2 on 12th November 2026 and pre-orders for the standard edition ($29.99) and deluxe physical edition ($59.99) are now live. The Deluxe Edition even comes with a Barbie doll featuring an Atari shirt.
Image: Digital Eclipse, Atari
The titles, enhanced for modern platforms, range from 1991 to 2007 and include games such as Barbie Pet Rescue (Game Boy Color), Barbie Horse Adventures: Blue Ribbon Race (Game Boy Advance) and the “never-before-released” Barbie: Vacation Adventure” (Sega Genesis and SNES).
Rewind also intertwines a brand-new BarbieDreamHouse design game. Here’s how it connects to this retro collection:
“A cozy, creative world inspired by Barbie invites players to reimagine the iconic DreamHouse. Style each room with a fabulous collection of furniture, decor, and accessories inspired by real Barbie playsets released over the past 65-plus years. To access many of the playset items, Barbie will challenge players to reach achievements by playing a collection of Barbie video games from the 1990s and 2000s.”
Will you be catching up with Barbie Rewind when it arrives this November? Let us know in the comments.
Apart from the recently revealed “Wet Update“, this week the studio has also announced it’s releasing a Switch 2 version of Vampire Survivors. It will include “better performance” and mouse support. When more details are shared about this version, we’ll let you know.
Alongside this is the reveal of the next expansion, the Legacy of the Bloodmoon. It will be arriving this summer. As noted, it will expand the Legacy of the Moonspell with “additional content” and is permanently reducing the price of this DLC.
“The “evil twin” to the game’s first-ever expansion pack Legacy of the Moonspell and expected this summer across PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and mobile platforms, Legacy of the Bloodmoon will include a substantial 10 new characters, more than 16 weapons and evolutions, a new XL stage, and 8 new music tracks. As part of this release, poncle will expand Legacy of the Moonspell with additional content and permanently reduce its price, ensuring both it and Legacy of the Bloodmoon deliver a similarly substantial experience.”
Vampire Survivors is also being renamed to Vampire Survivors – First Survivaton. Below are the details behind the change, and it’s celebrating this “new chapter” with the free 1.15 update. Including “a new stage, new characters, new weapons, and new Darkanas”.
“Survivaton is the name of poncle’s new lineup of Survivors-like projects. Short for “survive a ton,” the label encompasses internally developed games that build on the foundation of the studio’s flagship title, Vampire Survivors, in collaboration with selected content partners. Each project will aim to introduce major gameplay changes, content expansions, or genre twists exploring ideas substantial enough to stand as their own games.
“The Survivaton initiative will serve as poncle’s umbrella for future survivors-like releases, and reflecting its place as the foundation of the series, Vampire Survivors will also be renamed to Vampire Survivors – First Survivaton.”
Poncle is also establishing Poncle Japan, a “dedicated Japanese subsidiary” which will be headed by Sawaki Takeyasu.
“The team will serve as a bridge between poncle’s global operations and Japanese players, creators, and industry partners, ensuring the studio’s games and initiatives resonate with local audiences while helping identify new opportunities for growth and collaboration.”
Will you be trying out Vampire Survivors on Switch 2? Looking forward to Legacy of the Bloodmoon? Let us know in the comments.
Bandai Namco has officially unveiled Little Nightmares III – The Backstage DLC. It will be coming to the Switch 2 next week on 12th June 2026.
It promises to take players to the “darkest part of the Carnevale” and comes loaded with all-new puzzles and challenges. You’ll also meet a new character and face new perils!
“In this adventure, Low will meet Dime, a new child who wears a torch hat, a very helpful tool for finding their way in what lies beneath the curtains of The Carnevale. The two children will have to face new threats and use their light to find a way to save Alone from the hands of the Puppeteer.”
This is Little Nightmares III’s first DLC and will be available as part of the paid Secrets of the Spiral Expansion Pass. This same Expansion Pass will add a second additional chapter in the future.
Will you be revisiting Little Nightmares to try out this new content? Let us know in the comments.
