As one of the most highly anticipated sequels of the decade, Resident Evil Requiem is poised to push the series into uncharted territory. With its dual-protagonist system, fluid first- and third-person perspectives, and a focus on cutting-edge visuals, it is shaping up to be an essential experience for survival horror fans everywhere.

Bookmark this page to stay updated on everything you need to know, including release dates, pre-order bonuses, gameplay mechanics, and PC specifications.

Resident Evil Requiem Release Date

Capcom has officially confirmed that Resident Evil Requiem will launch on February 27, 2026. The game is set for a full release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (via Steam and the Epic Games Store), with a Nintendo Switch 2 release planned for Summer 2026. Currently, there are no plans to bring the title to older-generation platforms.

Resident Evil Requiem Pre-Order Bonus

True to modern gaming trends, players who secure a pre-order for Resident Evil Requiem will receive an exclusive digital gift: an “Apocalypse” themed costume for Grace Ashcroft. It’s a stylish way to prepare for the end of the world.

Resident Evil Requiem Special Edition

In addition to the Standard Edition of the game, Capcom is offering a Digital Deluxe Edition for fans looking for the complete package. This premium version includes a wealth of cosmetic and nostalgic content to enhance the experience.

Deluxe Edition

• Resident Evil Requiem base game
• Grace’s Costumes: Dimitrescu, Film Noir
• Leon’s Costumes: RE4, Apocalypse, Film Noir
• Screen Filters: Apocalypse, Film Noir
• Weapon Skins: Four unique designs, including the S&S M232 “Apocalypse”
• Charms: Mr. Raccoon, DSO Emblem
• Audio Pack: Raccoon City Classic
• Files: Letters from 1998

Resident Evil Requiem Story

Set thirty years after the events of Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, Requiem returns to the atmospheric roots of the franchise. The narrative follows two distinct protagonists as they investigate a series of grisly murders in the American Midwest, all while the 30th anniversary of Raccoon City’s destruction looms.

Grace Ashcroft is a talented yet reserved FBI agent haunted by the murder of her mother. Her investigation leads her to the long-abandoned Wrenwood Hotel, the very site where her mother, Alyssa, perished eight years prior. This personal connection adds a layer of fatalism to her mission as she navigates the hotel’s decaying halls.

Meanwhile, Leon Kennedy returns as a seasoned DSO field agent. Leon is on a mission to track down Victor Gideon, a shadowy scientist with ties to the original Umbrella Corporation. While many plot details remain classified, Grace and Leon’s paths are destined to converge, exposing a new conspiracy of biological grotesqueries.

For more information on how the Resident Evil storyline connects to Reqiuem, be sure to check out our story recap blog article.

Resident Evil Requiem Gameplay

Building on the design foundations of RE7 and Village, Requiem balances series tradition with bold innovation. The game diverges from its predecessors by featuring two protagonists who play fundamentally differently:

• Grace Ashcroft: Lacking heavy weaponry and ample ammunition, Grace’s segments emphasise stealth and guile. Players must use the environment to distract foes and escape quickly, but caution is paramount; enemies can track Grace’s movements by sound, even through floors and ceilings. Grace is also responsible for handling the game’s more complex puzzles, all while being hunted by relentless, Nemesis-like pursuers.
• Leon Kennedy: Leon provides the high-octane action fans expect. Equipped with firearms, chainsaws, and hatchets, Leon can perform signature melee moves like German suplexes and tactical parries. His chapters focus on thinning the herds of twisted terrors using raw force.

While players can switch between first- and third-person perspectives at any time, each mode complements a specific playstyle: the claustrophobic, jump-scare-heavy stealth of Grace’s journey feels most immersive in first-person, whereas Leon’s frantic, multi-enemy combat is better suited to third-person for superior environmental awareness.

PC Specifications

Despite its stunning visual fidelity, Resident Evil Requiem is surprisingly accessible. Thanks to the scalability of the RE Engine, the game performs well across a variety of hardware. Whether you are pushing ray-tracing to the limit or optimising for a modest build, the game is well-optimised for most PCs from the last five years.

MINIMUM:

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: Windows® 11
• Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 3500 / Intel® Core i5-8500
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 550 XT 8GB / NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1660 6GB
• DirectX: Version 12

RECOMMENDED:

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: Windows® 111
• Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5500 / Intel® Core i7-8700
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 6600 8GB / NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 2060 Super 8GB
• DirectX: Version 12

Where Can I Watch The Latest Trailer?

The latest in-engine trailer sets the tone with stylish aplomb, offering an extended look at the dual narratives of Grace Ashcroft and Leon Kennedy, as they face resurgent horrors from the series’ past…

The post Everything You Need To Know About Resident Evil Requiem appeared first on Green Man Gaming Blog.

Styx: Blades of Greed releases on February 19th, but what if you want to jump into a stealth game right now?

The good news is that, while stealth isn’t as dominant as it once was, the genre has delivered some excellent releases in recent years. So, if you’re looking to be a very sneaky little guy, you’ve got plenty of great options to choose from.

Below, we’ve rounded up some of the best stealth games to play while you wait for Styx: Blades of Greed.

Best Games Like Styx: Blades of Greed

Styx: Blades of Greed has a strong fantasy flavour, which can be surprisingly hard to find in stealth games, but it’s not impossible. This list includes a mix of modern stealth titles, covering everything from fantasy assassins to tactical infiltration and classic stealth experiences.

We’re very excited about Styx giving us a proper new entry in the genre, make no mistake, but these games should help scratch that stealth itch in the meantime.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows

While some recent Assassin’s Creed games have leaned more into action-RPG mechanics, Assassin’s Creed Shadows brings stealth back to the forefront.

Set in Japan, you’ll switch between a ninja and a samurai as you progress through the story, tackling enemies in different ways depending on your playstyle. It’s a stunningly beautiful game with tons of stylish stealth options in a world packed with wonder.

Hitman: World of Assassination

Hitman: World of Assassination is basically the pinnacle of the series. It keeps the franchise’s signature humour while offering an absurd number of ways to complete each mission.

With a huge selection of locations, endless creative assassinations, and just as many ways to fail spectacularly, it’s one of the most flexible stealth sandboxes ever made.

Dishonored 2

Dishonored 2 is somehow 10 years old this year… try not to think about that too hard.

If you’re looking for a stealth game with a fantasy vibe, this is one of the best picks. You play as a supernatural assassin, and while you can go non-lethal, the world reacts dynamically to your choices. Few stealth games offer this level of player-driven world impact.

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain turned ten last year, which is also not worth dwelling on.

While the entire Metal Gear series is great for stealth fans, this is arguably the best entry to dive into today. Its open-world design gives you unmatched freedom, and the huge range of tools lets you approach every mission in wildly different ways.

Mark of the Ninja: Remastered

If you’d rather go 2D, Mark of the Ninja: Remastered is essential.

This modernised version of the classic stealth platformer features improved visuals and smoother gameplay, all wrapped in a gorgeous art style. It’s packed with clever mechanics and stylish stealth options that evolve as you progress.

Aragami 2

Aragami 2 has you controlling a superpowered ninja from the shadow clan with a very simple job: be extremely good at killing things quietly.

Teleporting through shadows is a highlight, but the real standout feature is co-op. Sneaking through levels with a friend is incredibly fun! (Assuming your friend is actually stealthy and not a walking alarm bell.)

Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew

Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew mixes stealth with strategy, giving you a top-down tactical view of your crew’s actions.

You’ll coordinate multiple characters, time their abilities perfectly, and pull off elaborate stealth plays. Plus, you’re a pirate commanding a ghost ship. Which is objectively very cool.

Final Thoughts

Whether you want fantasy stealth, open-world infiltration, or tactical team-based sneaking, these games should keep you busy until Styx: Blades of Greed arrives.

The post Best Games Like Styx: Blades of Greed to Play Right Now appeared first on Green Man Gaming Blog.

It is nearly impossible to discuss the ‘cosy’ or ‘wholesome’ genre without thinking of Stardew Valley. Released in February 2016, the game quickly became the gold standard for the genre. Its accessible, charming slice-of-life style created a blueprint that countless titles have since tried to follow. Now celebrating its tenth anniversary, this indie darling has effectively reinvigorated an entire genre and changed how we think about video games at large.

A Solo Labour of Love and Consumer Respect

I don’t know what Eric Barone (better known as ‘ConcernedApe’) has in his morning cereal, but I need some. Consider the staggering scale of Stardew Valley. Every element—from the code and pixel art to the music and dialogue—was created solely by Barone while he worked as a theatre usher just to keep the lights on.

This dedication translates into a level of consumer respect that many modern “AAA” publishers have forgotten. In an era of pointless battle passes and predatory microtransactions, Barone has delivered massive new content—including multiplayer and new regions—entirely for free. Ultimately, Stardew offers a world defined by the player’s choices rather than the size of their wallet, earning the developer tremendous goodwill.

The Addictive “One More Go” Rhythm

Each 24-hour day in Stardew Valley lasts about 14 minutes of real time. This finite window to finish activities before the next cycle begins naturally fuels a “one more go” loop. You keep playing to catch an elusive fish, finish a farmhouse upgrade, or plant one last vegetable patch. There is always something more to achieve, yet it never feels like a forced chore. It’s a masterful modernisation of the formula established by the Harvest Moon series on the Super NES, which Stardew Valley naturally inherited and updated for a new generation.

Deep Social Bonds and Seasonal Secrets

The beating heart of the game is its deep social dynamics. With over 30 unique NPCs, the game reveals a cast with distinct personalities and needs. This is best shown through ‘Heart Events’—special cutscenes that reveal emotional struggles like depression or family trouble. The game invites you to share in these virtual lives in ways that can be truly detrimental to your real-world free time.

Beyond the village bustle and seasonal festivals, Stardew Valley hides a massive cache of secrets. You might find forest spirits that help restore the town, strange capsules from rare events, or a sewer filled with mysterious shadow people. There is never a shortage of mystery outside the core farming routine.

Infinite Growth Through a Dedicated Community

A major reason for the game’s popularity is the passionate modding community. Because the game is so open-ended, players have created thousands of mods. These allow you to extend the game indefinitely by adding new crops, villagers, and even entire new towns to explore. This community-driven content ensures that even veteran players always have something fresh to discover.

A Decade of Support: The Road to Update 1.7

While many games from 2016 have long been forgotten, ConcernedApe is still releasing free updates. The most exciting is the forthcoming 1.7 update, timed to match the 10th anniversary. This substantial update brings expanded social content, new marriage candidates, and more reactive personalities for children. While the pace of these updates is steady rather than fast—expected for a solo creator—each one is crafted with the same care and attention that has defined the game since day one.

The post Stardew Valley 10th Anniversary: How One Indie Game Defined the Cozy Genre appeared first on Green Man Gaming Blog.

While in Early Access, Titan Quest II already displays the hallmarks of a future action RPG classic. You take control of a Greek warrior on a small island tasked with hunting down a legendary griffon. It’s a compelling hook, and while you eventually succeed in the hunt, the narrative quickly takes a turn for the worse as ancient threats emerge. Of course, every great adventure needs a bit of world-shattering chaos to get the momentum going.

While the core combat follows classic ARPG standards – clicking on enemies and managing active abilities – the skill system stands out as something truly special. You begin by selecting one of five mastery trees, each featuring an expansive list of unique skills and passives to upgrade as you level. As you invest points, you unlock sub-slots that allow you to modify how abilities function, such as adding extra projectile casts or fundamentally changing a skill’s elemental property.

The experience becomes truly interesting once you unlock your second mastery, providing a massive array of options to mix and match abilities as you see fit. This dual-class synergy creates deep complexity, yet the game remains accessible because you can respec your points as often as you like. This ensures that if you find a new piece of legendary equipment you want to test, or simply want to see how a specific skill performs, you can do so without any penalty or hassle.

You do all of this while traversing a beautiful Greek world teeming with monsters and myth, underscored by an atmospheric soundtrack and grand visual spectacle. It is a fantastic experience already, and the scope will only improve as more content and masteries are added throughout development. This is already a stellar action RPG, and it is clearly destined to get even better from here.

The post Titan Quest II Mini-Review: An Epic Odyssey Through Ancient Greece appeared first on Green Man Gaming Blog.

The world is at your fingertips – and it’s all connected by rail.

Whether you’re racing through the snowy peaks of the Nordics or navigating the vibrant landscapes of India, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single track. Our latest offering, the Ticket to Ride: World Tour Collection, invites you to embark on a global expedition across the ultimate digital version of the multi-award-winning board game.

This isn’t just a game; it’s your first-class pass to the definitive Ticket to Ride experience, optimised for Steam and ready for your strategic brilliance.

A Passport to Endless Strategy

This massive collection features the Ticket to Ride base game along with 10 expansions, offering limitless strategy and replayability. Highlights of your journey include:

• Europe Expansion: Tunnel through the Alps and claim ferry routes across the Mediterranean in this fan-favourite map.
• India Expansion: Navigate the vibrant cities of India and chase the elusive Mandala Bonus.
• Nordic Expansion: Set off to the northern reaches of the world, building routes between colourful, snow-covered cities.
• Japan & San Francisco: Experience high-speed Bullet Trains in Japan or cruise through the iconic hills of 60’s San Francisco.
• Legendary Asia, Switzerland, Germany, and more: From the Silk Road to the heart of Africa, every expansion brings new mechanics and unique challenges.

Making Tracks for Mental Health

Every journey should have a meaningful destination, and that’s why we are proud to partner with Safe In Our World for this collection.

Every purchase directly supports this vital charity, helping to foster mental health awareness and provide resources for gamers and developers alike. As you build your railway empire and connect cities across the globe, you’re also helping to build a more supportive and inclusive gaming community. By playing, you are helping to ensure that no one has to navigate their mental health journey alone.

Travel Further for Less

As with all Green Man Gaming Bundles, your keys are delivered instantly, allowing you to set off right away. Plus, your purchase includes an extra 3% off voucher for your next PC game at Green Man Gaming, so your library keeps growing even after you’ve mastered the rails.

The Ticket to Ride: World Tour Collection is only available for a limited time. Don’t miss your chance to own this modern classic!

The post Full Steam Ahead With the Ticket To Ride: World Tour Collection appeared first on Green Man Gaming Blog.

We’ve officially made it through January, which means it’s time to look ahead to February — the shortest month of the year, the month of love, and one that’s still packed with exciting indie releases. Rather than getting caught up in what that might mean philosophically, we’re focusing on what matters most: the games.

To help you plan your month, we’ve rounded up some of the most interesting indie titles launching in February that are well worth keeping on your radar.

MENACE – 5th February

MENACE delivers deep, turn-based tactical RPG action in a gritty sci-fi setting from the developers behind Battle Brothers. You command a strike force of marines, mercenaries, and specialists as you respond to distress calls across a chaotic frontier system. Along the way, you’ll tackle a mysterious alien threat. Expect detailed squad management, diverse battlefields, and strategic decisions that will keep you thinking.

Mewgenics – 10th February

Mewgenics comes from the indie minds behind The Binding of Isaac. Here, you’re tasked with breeding the ultimate army of cats. Things will get weird, grim, and a little grotesque, but the gameplay promises to be a lot of fun. Its roguelike, turn-based tactics structure offers plenty of memorable moments and space to experiment with powerful builds.

ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN – 11th February

ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN is all about fast, flashy, and unapologetically violent action. You play as Romeo Stargazer, fighting for survival across space and time. With a variety of devastating weapons and abilities at your disposal, you’ll need to stay on your toes. This one’s intense and made for players who love action turned all the way up.

High On Life 2 – 13th February

High On Life 2 returns with the chaotic, comedic action that made the first game a cult hit. A mysterious threat puts you in danger, sending you across the stars to uncover a sinister conspiracy. You’ll blast your way through vibrant worlds while using a skateboard for fast, fluid traversal. Its hyperactive combat and offbeat style make it a must‑play for fans of irreverent shooters.

Astrobotanica – 16th February

Astrobotanica takes a more relaxed approach. You play as an alien exploring Earth as it existed three hundred thousand years ago. You’ll scan and explore, build a base, grow crops, and brew tonics to survive. With its charming visuals and slower pace, it’s perfect for players who enjoy a calm survival experience.

Dead in Antares – 19th February

Dead in Antares puts you in charge of a group of survivors stranded on an alien planet. With Earth facing collapse, your goal is to determine if humanity can survive elsewhere. You’ll manage resources, mental health, and relationships. Tough decisions and emotional moments await at every turn.

Demon Tides – 19th February

Demon Tides is a vibrant open-world platformer where you explore vast oceans and transform between forms to uncover hidden secrets. Its smooth movement, striking visuals, and open-ended exploration give it the feel of a high-quality indie take on a classic platforming formula.

The post Indie Video Games Round-Up – February 2026 appeared first on Green Man Gaming Blog.

Whether you’re cultivating life in a desolate wasteland or surviving the vacuum of deep space, the joy of creation is at the heart of the gaming experience. Our latest collection, the Crafted Worlds Bundle, celebrates the architects, the survivors, and the explorers. For just one low price, you can secure five incredible games that challenge you to build, survive, and thrive in beautifully realised environments.

Even better, every purchase helps support Safe In Our World, a charity dedicated to fostering mental health awareness within the games industry and beyond. Your journey through these crafted realms helps eliminate stigma and ensures that no one in the gaming community has to face their struggles alone.

Five Crafted Worlds. One Incredible Cause.

The Crafted Worlds Bundle offers a diverse range of survival and crafting experiences, each with its own unique atmosphere and challenges:

• Wildmender: Restore life to a dying world. In this desert survival adventure, you’ll manage your water, plant a vast garden, and explore the sands to bring a withered landscape back to its lush, vibrant peak.
• Havendock: Take to the seas in this cosy colony sim. Build a thriving community on the ocean, manage your resources, and keep your settlers happy as you expand your floating haven from a single plank to a bustling town.
• Primal Planet: A strike between prehistoric danger and sci-fi mystery. Survive a world of primeval predators, craft essential tools, and uncover the secrets of a planet where the past and the future collide.
• My Little Universe: Experience the ultimate world-building journey. Part explorer, part builder, you’ll mine, craft, and expand your own personal planet across diverse biomes in this charmingly addictive adventure.
• Breathedge: Survival is an art form – especially in space. Armed with a space-chicken and a healthy dose of dark humour, you’ll need to craft equipment, pilot vehicles, and discover the truth behind your sudden shipwreck in the great cosmic void.

Build a Better World, On and Off Screen

Every bundle purchase directly benefits Safe In Our World, helping them provide vital mental health resources and support for players and developers alike. By grabbing this collection, you aren’t just expanding your Steam library – you’re contributing to a safer, more supportive global gaming community.

Instant Access. Limitless Creativity.

As with all Green Man Gaming Bundles, your keys are delivered instantly, allowing you to start your crafting journey right away. Plus, your purchase includes an extra 3% off voucher for your next PC game at Green Man Gaming, so you can keep the adventure going.

The Crafted Worlds Bundle is only available for a limited time. Don’t miss your chance to own these “Very Positive” rated hits while making a real-world impact.

The post Crafting for a Cause: Shape New Frontiers in the Crafted Worlds Bundle appeared first on Green Man Gaming Blog.

The best Lego games allow you to relive your favourite cinematic moments, inhabit iconic characters, and enjoy accessible gameplay that is perfect for playing alongside younger gamers. Since the very first Lego title launched, we’ve been treated to a constant stream of releases, which naturally leads to the question: which ones truly stand out? To help you decide, we’ve rounded up the definitive LEGO experiences available today.

1. Lego Party

Lego Party is our pick for the best Lego game because it translates the brick-building magic into a social powerhouse. It captures all the whimsical energy you’d expect and channels it into a classic party game format. Whether you’re navigating vibrant boards or competing in absurd mini-games, the trademark Lego humour is front and centre. It’s a fantastic way to bond with friends and family, whether they’re on the couch next to you or halfway across the world.

• Perfect For: Groups and families looking for a competitive but lighthearted game night that everyone can jump into, regardless of skill level.

2. Lego Fortnite

Lego Fortnite is arguably one of the coolest entries in the franchise, despite being a free-to-play experience housed within the Fortnite ecosystem. Shifting the focus toward survival and crafting, the Lego aesthetic feels like a natural fit for this sandbox world. Because it’s attached to one of the biggest gaming platforms on the planet, it’s incredibly easy to jump into with friends.

• Perfect For: Players who love survival-crafting games like Minecraft but want a polished, brick-built aesthetic and an easy way to play with friends online.

3. Lego Builder’s Journey

If you’re looking for something more meditative, Lego Builder’s Journey is a beautifully atmospheric puzzle game. Echoing the “path-finding” style of Monument Valley, it’s easily the most unique title on this list. It’s the perfect way to unwind at the end of a long day, offering the tactile satisfaction of clicking bricks together without the physical mess.

• Perfect For: Solo players who appreciate artistic design and want a calm, zen-like experience to de-stress.

4. Lego DC Super-Villains

Sometimes, it’s good to be bad. Lego DC Super-Villains flips the script by dropping you into a world where the heroes have vanished. The standout feature here is the deep customisation; you get to design your own villain from scratch, choosing both their look and their powers. It feels more modern than many of its predecessors and is a must-play for DC fans who enjoy a bit of chaos.

• Perfect For: Aspiring creators and DC fans who are tired of playing the hero and want to customise their own unique character.

5. Lego Voyagers

Lego Voyagers offers a departure from the standard Lego formula. Designed as a dedicated two-player co-op adventure, it focuses on “pure Lego vibes.” While the primary goal is to rescue a spaceship, the heart of the game lies in the two protagonists learning about themselves and their world. It’s a sweet, touching experience for those seeking a more narrative-driven journey.

• Perfect For: Duos – whether partners, best friends, or a parent and child – who want a cooperative, emotional story focused on teamwork.

6. Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

A true titan of the genre, The Skywalker Saga spans all nine mainline films with a staggering amount of content. With hundreds of characters, vehicles, and planets to explore, the scale is immense. Considering Star Wars was the first IP to ever receive the Lego treatment, it’s poetic that this remains one of the best ways to introduce a new generation to the galaxy far, far away.

• Perfect For: Completionists and Star Wars superfans who want the ultimate “museum” of the franchise in a fun, playable format.

7. Lego City Undercover

Lego City Undercover is essentially “Grand Theft Auto” for all ages. It features an original story, a massive open world, and an entertaining array of disguises and vehicles to unlock. This is the premier choice for players who want a massive sandbox experience without being tied to a specific movie or comic book franchise.

• Perfect For: Open-world lovers who enjoy exploration, vehicle variety, and a heavy dose of slapstick comedy without the need for a superhero license.

8. Lego Harry Potter Collection

For those who want to experience the entire Wizarding World in one go, the Lego Harry Potter Collection is an absolute essential. It bundles all seven years of Harry’s journey into a single package. From the cosy corridors of Hogwarts to the high-stakes duels of the later films, it’s a nostalgic and charming retelling that perfectly captures the “silent” humour of the earlier Lego era.

• Perfect For: Wizarding World fans who want a long, atmospheric journey that focuses more on charm and exploration than intense combat.

9. Lego Marvel Super Heroes

While its sequel is also a great time, the original Lego Marvel Super Heroes still holds a special kind of magic. The game features an incredible roster of Marvel favourites and a vibrant version of Manhattan to explore. For fans of the Marvel Universe, there is no better starting point than this classic open-world brawler.

• Perfect For: Marvel fans who want to see the Avengers, X-Men, and Fantastic Four all in the same world, flying around a massive New York City.

10. Lego Jurassic World

Lego Jurassic World is a prehistoric delight that covers the original trilogy plus the first Jurassic World film. The real draw here is that you can actually play as the dinosaurs, using their unique abilities to solve puzzles or just stomp through the park. It’s a great example of how Lego can take a high-stakes action series and turn it into something lighthearted and endlessly replayable.

• Perfect For: Fans of the Horizon series or anyone looking for a visually breathtaking adventure that feels like a playable Lego movie.

The post The Best LEGO Games to Play Right Now appeared first on Green Man Gaming Blog.

From the team that rattled our nerves with Little Nightmares I & II, REANIMAL is shaping up to be Tarsier Studios’ most devastating horror effort yet. The game chronicles a brother and sister’s harrowing journey to rescue their missing friends and escape an island teeming with unspeakable terrors.

Be sure to bookmark this guide, as we cover all the essentials, including the release date, preorder bonuses, deluxe edition details, gameplay mechanics, the latest trailer, and PC specifications.

REANIMAL Release Date

REANIMAL is officially confirmed for a full release on February 13, 2026. It will launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC (via Steam and the Epic Games Store). As of this writing, there are no plans for a release on other platforms.

REANIMAL Pre-order Bonus

Players who choose to preorder REANIMAL can access a selection of bonus items, including the following:

• Muttonhead Mask: A cosmetic item for the main protagonists that provides a stylish, yet unsettling, sheep-inspired look.
• Foxhead Mask: A cosmetic item for the main protagonists featuring a distorted fox aesthetic, perfect for blending into the island’s nightmarish atmosphere.

REANIMAL Special Edition

In addition to the regular version of the game, developer Tarsier Studios and publisher THQ Nordic have confirmed that REANIMAL will be available in a Deluxe Edition. This version includes a range of digital bonuses and additional content for players looking to expand their experience beyond the base game.

Deluxe Edition

• REANIMAL base game
• Preorder Bonus: Muttonhead & Foxhead Masks
• Season Pass: Grants access to three paid, story-based DLC expansions (release dates to be announced)

REANIMAL Friend’s Pass

Tarsier Studios has confirmed that horror is best shared. Much like the system in games like It Takes Two, REANIMAL features a Friend’s Pass that lets you experience the entire nightmarish journey with a partner using only one purchased copy of the game.

Friend’s Pass Features

• One Copy, Two Players: Only one person needs to own the full game to invite a friend to play the entire campaign online for free.
• Full Access: Your co-op partner simply downloads the dedicated “Friend’s Pass” client to join your session, eliminating the “buy-in” barrier for your teammate.
• Solo Flexibility: While the game is built for co-op, you can still play 100% solo with an AI companion if your partner isn’t available.

Note: While the developers are working hard to have this feature ready for day one, they have stated that the Friend’s Pass may arrive shortly after the initial launch on February 13.

REANIMAL Story

The narrative follows two orphaned siblings trapped within a twisted, demonic version of their former island home. Tasked with rescuing three missing friends, the duo must navigate a nightmarish archipelago while avoiding grotesque animal-human hybrids  – horrors birthed from the darkest recesses of their own minds. Heavy stuff, indeed.

REANIMAL Gameplay

If you’ve dipped your toes into the Little Nightmares series, Reanimal’s core mechanics will feel instantly familiar. Built from the ground up for cooperative play, it utilises a single cinematic camera that keeps both players in the frame. This system reinforces a palpable sense of tension and claustrophobia that would be lost in a traditional split-screen view.

While engineered with a “co-op first” philosophy, solo players aren’t left behind; the second sibling is controlled by AI in the absence of a partner. These characters are more than just aesthetically different; they possess bespoke traits and skills that must be used in tandem to overcome deadly traps and “brain-tickling” environmental puzzles.

Much like Tarsier’s previous hits, the gameplay relies on a three-part loop. Since traditional combat is non-existent – your tormentors are far larger and more dangerous than the children – stealth is the primary focus. You will spend significant time lurking in shadows, crawling under objects, and waiting for the precise moment to move.

When you aren’t playing “hide and seek,” you’ll be navigating physics-based puzzles. These require constant cooperation; for example, one player might need to distract a lurking horror while the other dashes for a lever to unlock a door.

The final pillar of the loop consists of cinematic chase sequences. These require players to outrun pursuing aggressors while reacting quickly to obstacles in their path. Again, anyone with cursory experience in Little Nightmares will have a clear idea of what to expect here.

However, Reanimal does introduce a major shift: boat travel. This allows the duo to explore the archipelago in full 3D, navigating between islands. It is a stark contrast to the linear, 2.5D side-scrolling perspective that defined Tarsier’s earlier work.

PC Specifications

Leveraging the power of Unreal Engine 5, Reanimal utilises cutting-edge environments, advanced shadow effects, and dynamic lighting to craft the visceral horror and creeping dread that are hallmarks of Tarsier Studios. Despite these high-end visuals, the PC requirements are surprisingly accessible.

MINIMUM:

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: Windows® 10/11
• Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 2400G / Intel® Core i5-9400F
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 480 / NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1060
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: 18 GB available space
• Additional Notes: Broadband Internet connection required

RECOMMENDED:

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: Windows® 10/11
• Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 3600X / Intel® Core i7-7700K
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 6600XT / NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 2060
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: 18 GB available space
• Additional Notes: Broadband Internet connection required

Where Can I Watch The Latest Trailer?

Brief yet impactful, the latest trailer offers a glimpse into one of February’s most anticipated releases. It showcases the exploration, puzzle-solving, and stealth pillars of the game’s design. The footage also highlights the thick, “cut-it-with-a-knife” atmosphere, anchored by a sinister, WWII-style radio briefing. You can watch the full trailer above.

The post Everything You Need To Know About REANIMAL appeared first on Green Man Gaming Blog.

If id Software’s DOOM is generally regarded as the ‘godfather’ of the first-person shooter genre, then Duke Nukem 3D must surely be its wayward, beer-drinking, loudmouth, blond-headed stepchild. With countless P.I.G. cops wasted, innumerable wisecracks delivered, and enough gooey gibs to fill a small continent since its original release in 1996, it is now, on its 30th anniversary, that we take a step back in time to examine how Duke Nukem 3D revolutionised the first-person shooter genre.

Build It, And They Shall Come Get Some

Although the Build engine made its debut just a few months earlier with the much-underrated and oft-forgotten first-person melee fantasy effort Witchaven, it was arguably with 3D Realms’ Duke Nukem 3D that this remarkable piece of game-engineering arcana achieved sustained global fame. Simply put, the Build engine represented an outsized technical leap over the DOOM engine that preceded it. Brought into being by the talented Ken Silverman, the Build engine not only enabled far more dynamic maps and environments – where rooms could seemingly be stacked atop one another – but also allowed players to swim through deep expanses of water, soar through the air, and enjoy a thrilling sense of verticality that DOOM could only dream of.

This, in turn, gave Duke Nukem 3D’s level designers fertile ground upon which to dream up tremendously intricate and expansive levels for players to explore and blast their way through. Further afield, the Build engine was also notably user-friendly, allowing aspiring level designers to construct their own maps quickly and easily, share them within the community, and extend the lifespan of Duke Nukem 3D’s adventures even further.

Interactivity On An Unprecedented Level That Made Every Map Feel Authentic

Beyond its technical innovations, the Build engine also endowed Duke Nukem 3D with a level of interactivity the genre simply had not witnessed up to that point. Long before EA’s Battlefield franchise ever demolished its first wall or reduced its first building to rubble, Duke Nukem 3D was already doing so years earlier. Players could blow holes in the sides of buildings, shatter interior walls, smash furniture into splinters, and occasionally trigger explosions that would raze entire structures to the ground.

The defining properties of the Build engine were not limited solely to destruction, either. In Duke Nukem 3D, every map was functional in ways that were entirely new to genre fans at the time. There were fully usable pool tables, CCTV terminals that could be snooped on, working light switches, and toilets that could be flushed – or promptly destroyed and drunkenly imbibed from to regain health. In another technical first, the game also featured properly functional mirrors that accurately reflected the player. And yes, dancers could be tipped with dollar bills as well.

In addition to these elements, Duke Nukem 3D’s many levels were grounded by a distinct sense of place. Supermarkets, strip clubs, burger joints, and city streets all served as battlegrounds against the encroaching alien menace intent on enslaving humanity. These locations were a refreshing change from the oppressive warehouse greys and endless browns and reds that typified much of id Software’s own output at the time.

An Outlandish Hero With An Outlandish Arsenal To Match

While shooter fans had hardly grown tired of the traditional lineup of pistols, shotguns, chainsaws, rocket launchers, and miniguns offered by earlier genre entries, Duke Nukem 3D nonetheless went all-in on a bespoke arsenal of weaponry. It straddled the familiar (pistols, shotguns, pipe bombs, and machine guns) with the exotic, including shrink rays, freeze rays, expander rays, and laser trip bombs. The result was an arsenal that made each new acquisition feel like a genuine thrill from one level to the next.

These weapons also enabled Duke Nukem 3D to introduce a level of tactical play in its multiplayer mode that the genre had scarcely seen before. Rather than everyone simply rushing for the rocket launcher or shotgun, as was common in multiplayer shooters of the era, cunning players could fortify areas with laser trip bombs and make use of the new inventory system. This allowed them to boost themselves with speed-enhancing steroids, strap on a jetpack, or deploy a ‘Holoduke’ to create a decoy version of Duke to distract enemies.

The Last Action Hero – How Duke Nukem 3D Gave The FPS Genre A Personality

Perhaps more than anything else, Duke Nukem 3D will be remembered for giving the first-person shooter genre something it desperately needed in its formative years: personality. Breaking away completely from the mute protagonists that had dominated shooters until then, Duke Nukem 3D featured a main character who simply never stopped talking. Brought to life by the gravelly yet gloriously over-the-top delivery of Jon St. John, our blond-haired, impossibly buff, all-American action hero took aim at everything – and everyone.

The game’s endlessly quotable protagonist also took playful potshots at id Software itself. These included nods to the developer’s past – “Another DOOMed space marine” upon discovering a mangled corpse – and its future, with the immortal “I ain’t afraid of no Quake!” uttered as an earthquake levelled an entire building. Though pointedly, while id Software’s Quake would indeed usher in a fully 3D era for the genre, it would be more than a decade before Duke Nukem followed suit.

The Aftermath And The Surprisingly Great Copycats That Would Follow

Between the release of Duke Nukem 3D and the sadly risible Duke Nukem Forever, many years later, 3D Realms’ marquee shooter would go on to directly inspire a host of other games. These titles not only leveraged the Build engine but also introduced their own wisecracking protagonists who thrived in distinctive settings. From Blood, the macabre yet darkly humorous cultist revenge shooter, to the outrageous antics of Shadow Warrior and its eye-rollingly named corporate ninja anti-hero Lo-Wang, Duke Nukem 3D didn’t merely inspire a wave of copycats. It reminded players and developers alike that the first-person shooter genre could not meaningfully evolve without the personality and charisma needed to push it to the next level.

The post Duke Nukem 3D at 30: The Loudmouth Shooter That Helped Shape the FPS Genre appeared first on Green Man Gaming Blog.

Creative testing is the backbone of predictable performance. Platforms change, audiences fatigue quickly, and what worked last month often underperforms today. Without a clear creative testing system, ad accounts drift into guesswork, random tweaks, and reactive decision making. A structured approach to testing images, copy angles, and landing pages removes emotion from optimization. It creates ... Read more

The post Creative Testing For Paid Ads – Practical System For Testing Images, Copy Angles, And Landing Pages appeared first on Gamer For Fun.

After a disastrous series of events dating back to the launch of the Xbox One and repeated entreaties from us to lay off a few high-paid executives instead of thousands of workers, somebody has finally taken the hint: Phil Spencer. The Xbox boss is retiring from his job at Microsoft, a wannabe AI company whose various chunks are precariously held together by increasingly enshittified vestigial tentacles, and being replaced by… the current president of Microsoft’s CoreAI product. It’s unlikely that things will get better from here on out, but it’s not like we’re sad to see Spencer go. 

“Last fall, I shared with Satya [Nadella] that I was thinking about stepping back and starting the next chapter of my life,” Spencer wrote in a memo to staff published today by IGN. “From that moment, we aligned on approaching this transition with intention, ensuring stability, and strengthening the foundation we’ve built. Xbox has always been more than a business. It’s a vibrant community of players, creators, and teams who care deeply about what we build and how we build it. And it deserves a thoughtful, deliberate plan for the road ahead. … I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together over the last 25 years, and I have complete confidence in all of you and in the opportunities ahead. I’ll be cheering you on in this next chapter as Xbox’s proudest fan and player.” 

Instead of staying on and assuming Spencer’s role, as many assumed she eventually would, Xbox president Sarah Bond is resigning, which sure is conspicuous! Asha Sharma, who spent years at Instacart and Meta before taking up the aforementioned AI job at Microsoft, promises her appointment somehow won’t lead to more AI slop from a company that seems determined to foist AI on every sector imaginable. 

“As monetization and AI evolve and influence this future, we will not chase short-term efficiency or flood our ecosystem with soulless AI slop. Games are and always will be art, crafted by humans, and created with the most innovative technology provided by us,” Sharma wrote in her own memo to staff, adding that Microsoft plans to “recommit” to Xbox fans and players, but also that Xbox, conceptually, is still kinda, you know, whatever. “Gaming now lives across devices, not within the limits of any single piece of hardware. As we expand across PC, mobile, and cloud, Xbox should feel seamless, instant, and worthy of the communities we serve. We will break down barriers so developers can build once and reach players everywhere without compromise.” 

In his wake Spencer leaves a smouldering swathe of games industry destruction which is not solely his burden to bear – Microsoft employs other execs as well, after all, and also has a board and bloodsucking shareholders to satisfy – but for which he should have suffered significantly more consequences than he did. During Spencer’s tenure, Xbox made a series of ruinously bad bets on everything from console naming schemes to Game Pass uprooting the traditional model of how games are purchased and becoming a bonafide Netflix competitor.

In service of this, the tech behemoth unhinged its rotten maw and swallowed up dozens of video game studios, including all of Activision Blizzard, which cost Microsoft an eye-wateringly gargantuan $68.7 billion. Many studios have since been closed or fallen victim to one of multiple rounds of mass layoffs that ultimately impacted thousands of workers. Resulting brain drain has been immense, and thanks to the actions of Spencer and others at the highest echelons of power at Microsoft and other major companies, the video game industry may never fully recover. Unions, a silver lining of the current Xbox regime, are doing their best, but have frequently found themselves in damage control mode so far.

It might be hard to remember now, but once upon a time, not all that long ago, press and fans ate up Spencer’s smirking “just another average gamer” act, lauding him for putting hundreds of hours into Xbox releases large and small. If nothing else, he was determined to portray himself as a man of the people, proudly announcing that he’d spent the equivalent of 23 work weeks playing games in 2023 alone before dropping to a paltry 17 in 2024. At least now he’ll have more time for his true passion, which is obviously not keeping people gainfully employed.

Recommended

Phil Spencer That’s Not How Games Preservation Works, That’s Not How Any Of This Works - Aftermath

‘We’ve talked about game preservation’, says man who has no idea how it works

AftermathLuke Plunkett

I may have just been reminded to never judge a book by its cover, but sometimes the cover is so bad that I can't help it.

A few years back EA Sports and FIFA, who had collaborated for decades on the globe-conquering FIFA series of video games, split. EA now makes its own series, EA Sports FC, and FIFA--when not engaging in blatant corruption and cronyism with some of the worst people on Earth--had to find a new partner if they wanted to make some money in the video game space (which they do, all FIFA cares about is making money, see earlier comments).

I’m Taking It As A Bad Sign That Two Big Games Were Announced With No Screenshots

One game overthought it, the other knew exactly what it was doing

AftermathLuke Plunkett

Late last year, it was announced they'd found one! As I said in December:

Earlier today Netflix announced that Delphi, a company you've likely never heard of (they're relatively new, and their only public credit is as support on IO's upcoming 007 game) will be both developing and publishing a new FIFA game.

That was all we knew at the time, but now, courtesy of an interview Delphi recently conducted with GI.biz, we know more. And what we know sucks.

"Delphi has evolved into a full-fledged developer and publisher," [executive producer] Tang-Peronard says. "We believe in a lean, highly experienced core team, supported by best-in-class co-development and outsourcing partners." For FIFA, that includes Refactor Games, based at Delphi's LA headquarters, part-owned by Delphi and backed by venture capital giant A16z's Speedrun fund. Founded in 2021, it launched physics-heavy American football title Football Simulator into Early Access in 2022. The studio employs alumni of VR dev Survios and blockchain dev N3TWORK.

A16z is Andreessen Horowitz, a terrible company even by venture capital's vampiric standards, run by some of the most overt technofascists operating in Silicon Valley today. Refactor's site boasts of hires from rights licensing company OneTeam (whose partners are currently under investigation by the FBI) and N3TWORK (a blockchain studio), and their single published sports game, Football Simulator, is not exactly a smash hit.

None of that guarantees anything! For all we know a new FIFA could turn out to be the sleeper hit of the decade, a true middle finger to complacent AAA sports gaming, a rebirth of the FIFA brand and a reward for the millions of gamers exhausted by EA's near-monopoly on the sport.

Or, you know, it could show FIFA have no idea what they're doing, and they're going to get exactly the game they deserve for it.

Like literally every year in the past, E for Everyone is the most assigned Rating Category for physical and console downloadable games in 2025. Not only that, but last year E for Everyone accounted for more than 50% of the more than 6,500 ratings assigned.

Read on for more about our Rating Category stats from 2025.

E (Everyone)

52% of all ratings assigned to physical and console downloadable games in 2025 were rated E for Everyone. This means that more than 3,500 games rated in 2025, including many of the most popular ones, are appropriate for the whole family!

E10+ (Everyone 10+)

ESRB assigned Everyone 10+ to 15% of the games rated in 2025. This means about 67% of the games released (or rereleased) throughout the year may be appropriate for your 10-year-old!

T (Teen 13+)

Just like in 2024, 23% of the games rated last year were assigned T for Teen in 2025. This amounts to more than 1,550 physical and console downloadable games. Combined with E for Everyone and Everyone 10+, this means that 9 out of every 10 games rated in 2025 were appropriate for your 13-year-old!

M (Mature 17+)

M for Mature is historically the least frequently assigned rating category, and 2025 continued that trend. ESRB assigned 10% of the physical and console downloadable games and M for Mature rating. This is 2% lower than 2024, and the lowest percentage since 2019.

Managing Your Kids’ Video Game Experiences

Checking the ratings is a great first step to help decide if a game is appropriate for your family. Sometimes the ESRB-assigned rating information is all you’ll need, but if you’re still on the fence there are many resources readily available to find more information.

• Check all three parts of the rating – Parents tell us that all three parts of the ESRB rating system are important so don’t forget to check a game’s Content Descriptors and Interactive Elements. Content Descriptors provide additional information about what led to a game’s age rating, such as language, violence, humor, and more. Interactive Elements let you know when a game has the ability for players to communicate via voice chat, text, user generated content, and more.
• Check the Rating Summary – Physical games all have Rating Summaries that provide more detailed information about what led to a rating assignment. You can find these by searching for a game on ESRB.org or the ESRB App (for Android and iOS).
• Visit ESRB’s Family Gaming Guide – For more information about picking appropriate games, maintaining your kids’ online privacy, managing screen time, and more, ESRB’s Family Gaming Guide has you covered.
• Additional research – Any game that your kids may be clamoring for will have some video available to watch online. This may come in the form of a trailer, gameplay videos, “let’s plays” with streamers, and more. Websites like YouTube and Twitch can be a great resource to learn more about a game before purchasing or downloading for your kids.  And we always recommend that you play games with your kids, which is a great way to better appreciate their experiences…and have a great time.
• Set parental controls – Virtually all video game devices include the ability to activate parental controls. These give you the ability to manage which games your kids play based on the rating, when and for how long they can play, whether they can communicate online with others, and how much money they can spend (if any!) on new games or in-game purchases. ESRB provides free, step-by-step parental controls guides here.

And remember: ESRB ratings are here to suggest the age-appropriateness of a game. There can still be games that are too complex or challenging for your younger kids, regardless of their ratings. So, double-check with a few minutes of additional research to make sure your family has as much fun as possible with their next video game, including playing games together as a family

The post Rating Category Breakdown: 90% of Games Rated in 2025 Are Age-Appropriate for Your 13-Year-Old appeared first on ESRB Ratings.