On an average day, about a dozen new games are released on Steam. And while we think that’s a good thing, it can be understandably difficult to keep up. Potentially exciting gems are sure to get lost in the deluge of new things to play unless you search every game released on Steam. So that’s exactly what we’ve done. If nothing interests you this week, we’ve rounded up the best PC games (opens in new tab) you can play now and a running list of the 2022 games (opens in new tab) that will start this year.
Alaloth: Champions of the Four Kingdoms
Steam page (opens in new tab)
Release: July 1
Developer: Gamera Interactive
Introductory price: $20 | £17.59 | AU$30.39
This old-school ARPG was featured at the PC Gaming Show in 2020, and now it’s finally Early Access. As Tyler noted: (opens in new tab) Back then, this retro-styled isometric affair had a lovely art style that recalls the lavish pre-rendered backgrounds of yesteryear, and the whole thing comes across as a love letter to the Baldur’s Gate games. Spread across four territories, you play as a human, elf, dwarf or orc as you explore this medieval-inspired world, accompanied by a dozen different companions, with all the crafting, quests, and reputation building you’d expect. This Early Access build is getting new missions, voiceovers and more as Alaloth: Champions of The Four Kingdoms is working on a 1.0 release, expected in “about 12 months”.
Fobia – St. Dinfna Hotel
Steam page (opens in new tab)
Release: June 29
Developer:Pulsatrix Studios
Introductory Price: $27 | £21.41 | AU$38.65
Fobia is a timeline-hopping survival horror game set in a grandiose, run-down hotel. As an aspiring journalist, you visit this haunted site to find out whether the scary rumors surrounding this ruin are true or not. They probably are, since this is a survival horror game, but given your role as a journalist you would have to solve and distract quite a few puzzles in addition to the usual bullshit and unstable combat. Solving puzzles is related to the time travel aspect: using an “enigmatic camera” you can access “parallel realities” that reveal much more about the old hotel than can be seen with the naked eye. If you like haunted house style horror this looks really good.
Crochet 2
Steam page (opens in new tab)
Release: June 30
Developer: Maciej Targoni
Introductory price: $1.79 | £1.52 | AU$2.65
Hook 2 is a simple puzzle game about – you probably guessed it – unhooking hooks. If you happen to play the original (opens in new tab), know that this sequel adds a third dimension meaning you have to spin the hook puzzles, which no doubt complicates things a bit (though not too much – these games aren’t designed to be super taxing). It’s a beautiful looking affair, resembling a piece of minimalist art that you can tinker with.
Mercenaries Rebirth: Call of the Wild Lynx
Steam page (opens in new tab)
Release: June 30
Developer: ESQUARDRA, Inc., Rideon Japan
Introductory price: $18 | £16.19 | AU$26.05
Yes, Disgaea 6 (opens in new tab) Released for PC last week, but if you’re looking for an old-fashioned tactics RPG that doesn’t mess with the tried and true formula, Mercenaries Rebirth may be more to your taste. An unashamedly orthodox affair, this episode combines 3D rotating grid environments with pixel art sprites, and as you might expect, it’s all about clever positioning, careful use of powers and potions, and the gradual strengthening and specialization of each party member. In addition to the story campaign, there are “free battles”, which are basically replayable battles that will come in handy if you want to grind a lot (and you probably will). For fans of FF Tactics, Disgaea 5 and other strategic and whimsical Japanese dishes.
POPGOES Arcade
Steam page (opens in new tab)
Release: July 2
Developer: Kane Carter
Introductory price: $4 | £3.19 | AU$6
This Five Nights At Freddy spin-off was actually released for Gamejolt in 2020, and is an enhanced version of a game that was first released in 2016. But here it is now as a premium edition on Steam, and if you invested heavily in the FNAF universe you have probably already played it. For everyone else, well… understand that POPGOES Arcade is intended to resemble an in-universe arcade game belonging to the Popgoes Pizzeria franchise (a rival to the main Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza). Whether it’s fun outside of that context I’m not entirely sure, but it presents itself as an interesting and charming retro RPG surrounded by a hectic world building. Based on the mature content description on Steam, you’d probably expect some horror elements to creep in.