If your life's been lacking a bit of colour lately, have no fear: developer Frozenbyte's acclaimed co-op platforming series Trine is back for a sixth outing, and once again it's the aesthetic equivalent of a Dulux catalogue. It's not too far off release either. Trine 6: Together in Time, in all its kaleidoscopic glory, comes to PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC on 17th September.

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Summer Game Fest's glitzy flagship showcase might be over for another year, but that doesn't mean we're done just yet - far from it! There'll be more bluster to come on Sunday when Microsoft shares its wares during the Xbox Games Showcase, for instance (unless its new executive team has capitulated to internet fanboys once again, in which case there's a good chance it'll be called the LOLPLAYSTATIONSUX Showcase), but first - like the zen meat in a chaos sandwich - Day of the Devs has done its thing once more.

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Cooldown Games and Frozenbyte just unveiled the latest entry in the Trine series, Trine 6: Together in Time. The game is heading to both Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch on September 25, 2026. Trine 6: Together in Time will feature five playable heroes with unique abilities and a Time-Slow mechanic to temporarily slow down the action. Co-op is fully supported,...

The post Trine 6: Together in Time announced for Nintendo Switch 2, Switch appeared first on Nintendo Everything.

Day of the Devs was a busy one at Summer Game Fest 2026 this year, following on from the Geoff Keighley showcase, as usual, with another oddball assortment of indie games, big and small. The difference this year was that they had more exclusive announcements, world premieres unless you can come up with something better, than ever before!

Day of the Devs is a non-profit organisation, built off donations and support from game companies across the industry, and relying on the volunteer time of all the hosts that you saw in the show. This year saw over 1700 individual submissions, all of which have to be reviewed and curated to get down to the 20 games that they rattle through in the showcase.

So, without much further ado, let’s dive right in:

The Full Day of the Devs 2026

---

Blood Dungeon

A new game from Messhof, the creators of Nidhogg. This is a platforming game riff on the Vampire Survivors Bullet Hell formula, where you have to navigate a platforming maze, scrambling up walls and along ceilings, and are battling with gravity as much as the hordes of enemies that are coming your way. This is set to bring its distinctive take on the genre to us all with a late summer ’26 release window for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.

---

Tenebris Somnia

Saibot Studios have a refreshing take on the retro survival horror genre that blends its pixellated video game horror with lavishly produced FMV cutscenes. It’s a really special blend. The game follows Julie who has nightmares of her boyfriendbeing killed by horrible monsters, only to find that those nightmares are very real.

Check this out when it launches on 16th October.

Oh, and it’s all practical and digital VFX. No AI was used for the production of this game.

---

Mr. Records

Moonlighter meets Tiny Bookshop and the music industry in Mr. Records, as George the record shop owner travels deep into the music itself for some rhythmic platforming, capturing the music and then being able to add it to his catalogue for selling to customers during the day, where he might need to match a particular customer’s musical wishes.

The team are also the composers, creating a great variety of music from different genres.

Wishlist Mr. Records on Steam.

---

33 Immortals

Thunder Lotus (the developers of Spiritfarer) have been working away at this broad co-op action RPG for a while now, 33 Immortals looking to capture the tone of MMO raiding with big lobbies of up to 33 players. The game’s been in Early Access since last year, and will now launch fully on 10th June.

---

Dreadmoor

A strange catastrophe has transformed the world, leaving it dark and twisted…. but a man’s gotta eat. Dreadmoor is a dirst-person fishing adventure, where you need to head out to fish in the murky waters with all the fishing sim needs of using the right bait, timing and having a patient approach to catch your fish… but you’ll also need to keep upgrading you boat, craft survival gear and fight monstrous creatures to survive.

This is sure to be a cult hit when it launches in Q4 ’26 – Wishlist now to keep tabs.

---

Threads of Time

A classical inspired turn-based RPG, Threads of Time evokes plenty of the HD-2D visual style in its own way, and a good bit of Chrono Trigger in another. This is a time-travelling tale, which has you hopping about the Time Ship The Needle to go back and forth and restore the order of the Time Knights.

There’s been a broad collaboration to bring this together, with the passionate developers at Riyo Games able to team up and partner with developers of the games that inspired this adventure. Wishlist it across Steam and Xbox.

---

N PLUS INFINITY TIMES TWO

Metanet Software are continuing to pick at this one great idea they had way back when, with N Plus Infinity Times Two the latest sequel to N+. This time around, they’ve sought to remix it as a virtual couch party game giving five different ways to play – some new, some old, all chaotic – and leaning in on that online stuff…. but there will still be a solo campaign to master your ninja skills.

N Plus Infinity Times Two can be wishlisted on Steam

---

Into the Unwell

A third-person roguelite set in a fever dream, you’ll play solo or in a party of three as flawed and heavily medicated misfits…. OK, so you’re a cartoon cat in a rubber hose art style, and I got some System of a Down vibes from the soundtrack. Just what you need when you’re not feeling great. This one’s coming out in 2027.

---

Bub

Bub is a deeply personal story about art and creation, coming from Case Jernigan and Todd Anderson who have crafted a layered stop-motion world for the game, through which Bub can overcome his MS, relive his past and mirror it within his own creations.

The development of the game has echoed Bub’s journey, as Case shares that he was diagnosed with MS 3 years ago, losing and needing to refind his own creative spark with the help and friendship of Todd. After a long journey, they hope to release the game in 2027.

---

Lazy River

Mike Boxleiter (of Secret Hitler fame) and friends are making a freidnsloppy co-op FPS set through an infinite lazy river. On a space station. With space water. Which you really shouldn’t pee into because that turns everyone into zombies.

Someone peed in the water, and now you need to survive and escape before the security bots wipe out all organic life.

There’s a while to wait for this, as Lazy River is expected to drop into Early Access in summer 2027.

---

Prove You’re Human

Can you prove you’re human? Well, what about that giant robot head on a mechanical arm? Mesa really, really thinks that she’s human, and that she has a body, but you’ve been hired to put her in her place. Also you can walk around and make Captchas.

---

Ithaca

In this roadtrip RPG, Penelope is a 30-something environmental rights lawyer, but she’s maybe taken things just a little bit too far? THere’s a CEO in her car boot and she’s driving down to Ithaca. Let’s just pretend that everything is totally normal, calling and texting with friends and family on the journey. Nothing suspicious. Totally normal.

If you’re in favour of eating the rich, you can check out Ithaca on Kickstarter and Steam, and look forward to it in late 2027.

---

Screenbound

The Qboy isn’t an ordinary handheld console, it’s a reality-splitting one that bridges actions from inside the game to the world around you. The dual-adventure of Screenbound takes place both in the retro 2D world of the game, and the 3D world around you at the same time. The game cartridge your playing with can also be swapped out, jumping between different retro genres.

This one’s launching on 10th September for all the major platforms, with a demo now live on Steam.

---

Shot One Fighters

This 2.5D roguelite fighting game lets you build the moveset of your fighter as you go, battling your way through a universe that’s being eaten by Paradox with over 100 moves to learn and earn. Wishlist now and follow on Kickstarter.

---

Apple Crumble

The Duck Detective devs are back with something a little bit Knives Out, a bit Mouthwashing, and a bit loopy in general. It’s your grandma’s 84th birthday and the family is turning out for a dinner party, but you think someone’s trying to killer her and you need to find out who! Apple Crumble is out later this year.

---

Slap Out Of It!

Inspired by classic point and click adventures and the simple satisfaction of slapping things, Slap Out Of It! is a slapstick “slap-and-solve” adventure that embraces a bit of lateral thinking for its puzzles. Played from a first person perspective, you slap everything to interact, and never tickle.

---

Super Yooka-Laylee Kart

Everyone knows the fourth game in a franchise needs to be a kart racer, and Super Yooka-Laylee Kart is getting there on a technicality… but that’s OK. This game aims to combine classic karting action in the vein of Mario Kart on the SNES or GBA with modern gameplay, including hugely customisable rules and a unique Rage mode to strike back at other players who’ve hit you a bit you often.

Beta tests are coming soon, with the Steam page live now for a wishlisting.

---

Into the Fire

The team from The Invincible need you to race toward the exploding volcano for a high-risk extraction job. Rescueing survivors won’t be easy as you need to adapt to changing fire, create new escape routes through ash and lava and try to get back out.

---

Trine 6: Together in Time

The next Trine title is launching on 17th September, inducting a new generation of characters to join the original trio for more .

---

When Sirens Fall Silent

LKA Games’ third title is their most ambitious by far. Set in Intaly in the early 1990s, you’re a rookie police officer who’s drawn into a serial killer case, trying to find clues, piece them together and figure out what’s real and what’s supernatural. Just as with their previous game, Martha is Dead, expect this to broach some difficult topics, while exploring your character’s choices and fragility.

Wishlist this on Steam to keep tabs on its developmnet.

---

Phew! It’s been a long night of game announcements, and Day of the Devs certainly delivered this year after the main Summer Game Fest showcase.

Forzenbyte has announced Trine 6: Together in Time, the latest game in the popular puzzle platformer series.

The story starts with two new characters, Moira and Adrius, looking to pull of a magical heist, and finding themselves way in over their head when their fate is bound to that of the realm’s greatest heroes: Amadeus, Zoya and Pontius. Now they have to join the typical trio of adventurers to restore the powerful magics that have landed them in this situation, and foil a dangerous warlock who seeks to use it.

As always, Trine 6 will be at its best with co-op, encouraging your to work together and combine abilities. However, Frozenbyte ensure that every puzzle can be solved by every character, so you can pick a preferred character and playstyle, or even go it alone. While there are five characters, this is a four player co-op experience, similar to the last couple adventures. The fivesome includes:

• Amadeus the Wizard: Summon objects and manipulate the world with magic.
• Zoya the Thief: Fire arrows at foes and use a rope to traverse and interact with the environment.
• Pontius the Knight: Crush enemies with a hammer and use his shield to defend and propel allies.
• Moira the Acrobat: Chain together fluid kick combos and swing through the world using her ribbon.
• Adrius the Squire: Wield a spear in combat or plant it to create platforms for traversal.

All character now have a Time-Slow ability, which will help you to make precise jumps, dodge incoming attacks, or just give you a bit more time to process what’s going on. The combat that features within the adventure aims to be more dynamic, forcing you to dodge incoming strikes, look for openings and adapt to different enemies, some of which shield and buff their allies.

Trine 6: Together in Time is in the works for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch and Switch 2 and PC.

Looking back at the last game from 2023, we said of Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy, “If you’ve enjoyed the Trine series up to this point then you are in for a treat, Trine 5 is by far the best entry yet, offering puzzles that are phenomenally inventive and an utter delight to solve. If you haven’t taken the plunge yet with Trine, then now is the perfect chance. If only we could ditch the combat and have twice the puzzles, then truly would Trine reach co-op puzzling perfection.”

17Studio is a tragic story, of an indie studio that once made decent stuff, like Draw Rider Remake, and now pumps out low quality AI slop titillation games, sometimes three a week(like the past week before I wrote this). The images in this editorial come from two games, Hidden Pleasure: Faster and Faster, and Hentai Puzzle Simulator, which are in fact the same game, just different pictures(ala Pakotime). The key to understanding this is visit the Remnants of what 17Studio was at one time.

The lie of 17Studio

If you go to 17Studio’s website, you’ll be greeted with what you see above in the featured image, “We develop games with creative gameplay and stories.” Both of which might have been true at one time, but are no longer that way. If you scroll down, you’ll some other games they developed, like Dreamless for Xbox. It looks mediocre from the trailer. The reviews on the Xbox Page(you need to be on the series x to see them) were three stars with 15 reviews. THe game doesn’t seem great, but that isn’t really the point. The point is, they tried. 17Studio used to try to be more, even if they failed, now…

What they are now!

As you can see above, 17studio now produces crappy jigsaw puzzle games of fully clothed women where they moan every few piece placements. The quality control is non-existent, as can be seen here,

Yes, Studio17 just generates and upload into the game, not even bothering to check for errors. The music always is the same, the moans are always the same and the UI is the same. They even price the games the same, $19.99 base price, $3.99 sale price. I guess it works. Why bother actually trying to make a decent game, when you can just crap out the same game and laugh all the way to the bank?

Conclusion

I do not have a problem with AI art. What I have a problem with is expecting people to pay for your AI art. And it especially applies in the case of 17studio, who is not even trying to hide what they are doing. Who is the audience for this? Who is paying for it? I’ll guess horny teenage boys, but I have to question even that. The games aren’t sexy, they aren’t erotic, they’re insipid garbage. I guess if the game costs almost nothing to make, crapping out games that sell low is still profitable.

In the end, 17Studio could’ve been respectable, and now, they’re just another scam publisher.

The post 17Studio and the Degradation of the Nintendo eShop appeared first on The Game Slush Pile.

💾

You operate a clandestine underground laboratory housing the CHRONO TRANSMISSION MACHINE, a device capable of sending written messages backward through time....

Cooldown Games and Frozenbyte just unveiled the latest entry in the Trine series, Trine 6: Together in Time. The game is heading to both Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch on September 25, 2026. Trine 6: Together in Time will feature five playable heroes with unique abilities and a Time-Slow mechanic to temporarily slow down the action. Co-op is fully supported,...

The post Trine 6: Together in Time announced for Nintendo Switch 2, Switch appeared first on Nintendo Everything.

Indie developer Frozenbyte has announced Trine 6: Together in Time, an all-new sequel to their beloved co-op puzzle-platformer series. Trine 6: Together in Time is in development for Windows PC (Steam, Epic Games Store), Xbox Series X|S, Switch, Switch 2, and PS5 with a release set for September 17th. Here’s a rundown on the new sequel, […]

Source

Publisher Cooldown Games and developer Frozenbyte have announced side-scrolling puzzle platformer sequel Trine 6: Together …

Source

Have you played The Remake of the End of the Greatest RPG of All Time? I mean, you have to, right, it's The Remake of the End of the Greatest RPG of all Time! Or so the video game named The Remake of the End of the Greatest RPG of all Time (or TROTEOTGOAT as I'll refer to it henceforth) would present itself as, anyway, an investigative deluge of several genres that is out today.

Read more

Day of the Devs was a busy one at Summer Game Fest 2026 this year, following on from the Geoff Keighley showcase, as usual, with another oddball assortment of indie games, big and small. The difference this year was that they had more exclusive announcements, world premieres unless you can come up with something better, than ever before!

Day of the Devs is a non-profit organisation, built off donations and support from game companies across the industry, and relying on the volunteer time of all the hosts that you saw in the show. This year saw over 1700 individual submissions, all of which have to be reviewed and curated to get down to the 20 games that they rattle through in the showcase.

So, without much further ado, let’s dive right in:

The Full Day of the Devs 2026

---

Blood Dungeon

A new game from Messhof, the creators of Nidhogg. This is a platforming game riff on the Vampire Survivors Bullet Hell formula, where you have to navigate a platforming maze, scrambling up walls and along ceilings, and are battling with gravity as much as the hordes of enemies that are coming your way. This is set to bring its distinctive take on the genre to us all with a late summer ’26 release window for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.

---

Tenebris Somnia

Saibot Studios have a refreshing take on the retro survival horror genre that blends its pixellated video game horror with lavishly produced FMV cutscenes. It’s a really special blend. The game follows Julie who has nightmares of her boyfriendbeing killed by horrible monsters, only to find that those nightmares are very real.

Check this out when it launches on 16th October.

Oh, and it’s all practical and digital VFX. No AI was used for the production of this game.

---

Mr. Records

Moonlighter meets Tiny Bookshop and the music industry in Mr. Records, as George the record shop owner travels deep into the music itself for some rhythmic platforming, capturing the music and then being able to add it to his catalogue for selling to customers during the day, where he might need to match a particular customer’s musical wishes.

The team are also the composers, creating a great variety of music from different genres.

Wishlist Mr. Records on Steam.

---

33 Immortals

Thunder Lotus (the developers of Spiritfarer) have been working away at this broad co-op action RPG for a while now, 33 Immortals looking to capture the tone of MMO raiding with big lobbies of up to 33 players. The game’s been in Early Access since last year, and will now launch fully on 10th June.

---

Dreadmoor

A strange catastrophe has transformed the world, leaving it dark and twisted…. but a man’s gotta eat. Dreadmoor is a dirst-person fishing adventure, where you need to head out to fish in the murky waters with all the fishing sim needs of using the right bait, timing and having a patient approach to catch your fish… but you’ll also need to keep upgrading you boat, craft survival gear and fight monstrous creatures to survive.

This is sure to be a cult hit when it launches in Q4 ’26 – Wishlist now to keep tabs.

---

Threads of Time

A classical inspired turn-based RPG, Threads of Time evokes plenty of the HD-2D visual style in its own way, and a good bit of Chrono Trigger in another. This is a time-travelling tale, which has you hopping about the Time Ship The Needle to go back and forth and restore the order of the Time Knights.

There’s been a broad collaboration to bring this together, with the passionate developers at Riyo Games able to team up and partner with developers of the games that inspired this adventure. Wishlist it across Steam and Xbox.

---

N PLUS INFINITY TIMES TWO

Metanet Software are continuing to pick at this one great idea they had way back when, with N Plus Infinity Times Two the latest sequel to N+. This time around, they’ve sought to remix it as a virtual couch party game giving five different ways to play – some new, some old, all chaotic – and leaning in on that online stuff…. but there will still be a solo campaign to master your ninja skills.

N Plus Infinity Times Two can be wishlisted on Steam

---

Into the Unwell

A third-person roguelite set in a fever dream, you’ll play solo or in a party of three as flawed and heavily medicated misfits…. OK, so you’re a cartoon cat in a rubber hose art style, and I got some System of a Down vibes from the soundtrack. Just what you need when you’re not feeling great. This one’s coming out in 2027.

---

Bub

Bub is a deeply personal story about art and creation, coming from Case Jernigan and Todd Anderson who have crafted a layered stop-motion world for the game, through which Bub can overcome his MS, relive his past and mirror it within his own creations.

The development of the game has echoed Bub’s journey, as Case shares that he was diagnosed with MS 3 years ago, losing and needing to refind his own creative spark with the help and friendship of Todd. After a long journey, they hope to release the game in 2027.

---

Lazy River

Mike Boxleiter (of Secret Hitler fame) and friends are making a freidnsloppy co-op FPS set through an infinite lazy river. On a space station. With space water. Which you really shouldn’t pee into because that turns everyone into zombies.

Someone peed in the water, and now you need to survive and escape before the security bots wipe out all organic life.

There’s a while to wait for this, as Lazy River is expected to drop into Early Access in summer 2027.

---

Prove You’re Human

Can you prove you’re human? Well, what about that giant robot head on a mechanical arm? Mesa really, really thinks that she’s human, and that she has a body, but you’ve been hired to put her in her place. Also you can walk around and make Captchas.

---

Ithaca

In this roadtrip RPG, Penelope is a 30-something environmental rights lawyer, but she’s maybe taken things just a little bit too far? THere’s a CEO in her car boot and she’s driving down to Ithaca. Let’s just pretend that everything is totally normal, calling and texting with friends and family on the journey. Nothing suspicious. Totally normal.

If you’re in favour of eating the rich, you can check out Ithaca on Kickstarter and Steam, and look forward to it in late 2027.

---

Screenbound

The Qboy isn’t an ordinary handheld console, it’s a reality-splitting one that bridges actions from inside the game to the world around you. The dual-adventure of Screenbound takes place both in the retro 2D world of the game, and the 3D world around you at the same time. The game cartridge your playing with can also be swapped out, jumping between different retro genres.

This one’s launching on 10th September for all the major platforms, with a demo now live on Steam.

---

Shot One Fighters

This 2.5D roguelite fighting game lets you build the moveset of your fighter as you go, battling your way through a universe that’s being eaten by Paradox with over 100 moves to learn and earn. Wishlist now and follow on Kickstarter.

---

Apple Crumble

The Duck Detective devs are back with something a little bit Knives Out, a bit Mouthwashing, and a bit loopy in general. It’s your grandma’s 84th birthday and the family is turning out for a dinner party, but you think someone’s trying to killer her and you need to find out who! Apple Crumble is out later this year.

---

Slap Out Of It!

Inspired by classic point and click adventures and the simple satisfaction of slapping things, Slap Out Of It! is a slapstick “slap-and-solve” adventure that embraces a bit of lateral thinking for its puzzles. Played from a first person perspective, you slap everything to interact, and never tickle.

---

Super Yooka-Laylee Kart

Everyone knows the fourth game in a franchise needs to be a kart racer, and Super Yooka-Laylee Kart is getting there on a technicality… but that’s OK. This game aims to combine classic karting action in the vein of Mario Kart on the SNES or GBA with modern gameplay, including hugely customisable rules and a unique Rage mode to strike back at other players who’ve hit you a bit you often.

Beta tests are coming soon, with the Steam page live now for a wishlisting.

---

Into the Fire

The team from The Invincible need you to race toward the exploding volcano for a high-risk extraction job. Rescueing survivors won’t be easy as you need to adapt to changing fire, create new escape routes through ash and lava and try to get back out.

---

Trine 6: Together in Time

The next Trine title is launching on 17th September, inducting a new generation of characters to join the original trio for more .

---

When Sirens Fall Silent

LKA Games’ third title is their most ambitious by far. Set in Intaly in the early 1990s, you’re a rookie police officer who’s drawn into a serial killer case, trying to find clues, piece them together and figure out what’s real and what’s supernatural. Just as with their previous game, Martha is Dead, expect this to broach some difficult topics, while exploring your character’s choices and fragility.

Wishlist this on Steam to keep tabs on its developmnet.

---

Phew! It’s been a long night of game announcements, and Day of the Devs certainly delivered this year after the main Summer Game Fest showcase.

Forzenbyte has announced Trine 6: Together in Time, the latest game in the popular puzzle platformer series.

The story starts with two new characters, Moira and Adrius, looking to pull of a magical heist, and finding themselves way in over their head when their fate is bound to that of the realm’s greatest heroes: Amadeus, Zoya and Pontius. Now they have to join the typical trio of adventurers to restore the powerful magics that have landed them in this situation, and foil a dangerous warlock who seeks to use it.

As always, Trine 6 will be at its best with co-op, encouraging your to work together and combine abilities. However, Frozenbyte ensure that every puzzle can be solved by every character, so you can pick a preferred character and playstyle, or even go it alone. While there are five characters, this is a four player co-op experience, similar to the last couple adventures. The fivesome includes:

• Amadeus the Wizard: Summon objects and manipulate the world with magic.
• Zoya the Thief: Fire arrows at foes and use a rope to traverse and interact with the environment.
• Pontius the Knight: Crush enemies with a hammer and use his shield to defend and propel allies.
• Moira the Acrobat: Chain together fluid kick combos and swing through the world using her ribbon.
• Adrius the Squire: Wield a spear in combat or plant it to create platforms for traversal.

All character now have a Time-Slow ability, which will help you to make precise jumps, dodge incoming attacks, or just give you a bit more time to process what’s going on. The combat that features within the adventure aims to be more dynamic, forcing you to dodge incoming strikes, look for openings and adapt to different enemies, some of which shield and buff their allies.

Trine 6: Together in Time is in the works for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch and Switch 2 and PC.

Looking back at the last game from 2023, we said of Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy, “If you’ve enjoyed the Trine series up to this point then you are in for a treat, Trine 5 is by far the best entry yet, offering puzzles that are phenomenally inventive and an utter delight to solve. If you haven’t taken the plunge yet with Trine, then now is the perfect chance. If only we could ditch the combat and have twice the puzzles, then truly would Trine reach co-op puzzling perfection.”

During yesterday’s Convergence Showcase, developer Bonte Avond unveiled the official Voice Actor Reveal trailer for its upcoming indie comedy RPG, Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime, and the guest lineup is packed with major online personalities. The game features a massive ensemble of creators with a combined following of more than 78 million, bringing unexpected star power […]

There is a lot to unpack in Poppy Playtime: Chapter 5. But not to worry, for we've got you covered, dear GrabPack user.

Here is our explainer of Poppy Playtime: Broken Things, including interpretations and theories for a potential sixth chapter.

Warning for spoilers throughout.

Poppy Playtime: Chapter 5 breakdown

The main goal in Broken Things is to retrieve the Master Backup. The entire point of this chapter is to figure out a way to stop Prototype. As Poppy's plan failed—and rightly so, considering she was going to kill everyone in Playtime—the protagonist is aiding Giblet in his plan to defeat the Prototype and free everyone else. The question of where the orphans have been taken and what Prototype has done to them remains at the forefront, but our quest has clearly shifted gears to destroying the series' overarching protagonist. It's about time.

The question is: Who wrote the Master Backup? Was it Prototype, Elliot Ludwig, or both? It talks about a "wealth of information" the author wants to keep as it's too "valuable" and could be used as "leverage." Mentions of "procedures, methods, us, myself" and that this backup may be the original version of the Poppy Gel formula—the reason experiments can exist to begin with. The Negation Compound can "create, modify, and neutralize" but must be mixed with Growth Medium for the Restorative Gel Mixture. The "neutralize" part is what we need for Prototype. A backup of Negation Compound is stored in IT, which is where we end up at Broken Things' conclusion.

Who is The Prototype? (Experiment 1006)

Prototype continuously consumes Poppy Gel and has Red Smoke pouring from his body, keeping Playtime experiments in a perpetual state of fear for getting near him or attempting to harm him is impossible. His affiliation and fondness for Poppy (who is confirmed to be Ludwig's daughter) and that Deep Sleep's fake ally, Ollie, was in fact, Prototype confirms Oliver and Poppy are Elliot Ludwig's children. But Prototype is a poor copy of Ollie, who has his own monstrous desires. Everything he does is a twisted form of love for Poppy.

His appearance, newly revealed, shows a mechanical spider with the head of a jester. This has to be a façade, and that we haven't seen his true form yet, because where is the flesh and organic mess kept alive through Poppy Gel?

Prototype continues to search for the missing toys who escaped during The Hour of Joy. An important name of note here that the series highlights for the first time is a toy called Gentle John. I can't see Mob heading in the direction where we're revealed to be a toy, but Gentle John could appear in the next chapter as an ally to the Joyless.

Who is Ms Gracie?

As experiments started inside the Labs, Gracie was used for programming the children in the form of educational videos. Her face and words would be projected into rooms where kids were brainwashed and tricked into believing they're supposed to be toys. All pre-recorded and used on countless numbers of orphans filtered through Playtime, Gracie quickly became the face of experiments, resented as the system enforced the rules through shocking any "misbehaving" children and restraining them for further conditioning.

Who is Lily Lovebraids? (Experiment 1468)

In a shocking twist, Lily Lovebraids, the secondary antagonist of this entry, is Gracie Green. Yes, the very Ms Gracie that was hired to brainwash children so that they were more compliant in transforming into a toy. She got the same treatment as Critters rebelled against her during the Hour of Joy. This is probably why her appearance is more doll-like compared to the other toys. Her personality splits through watching her own conditioning videos, where she is kept in isolation, another puppet to The Prototype who is punishing her for crimes she's long forgotten.

Who is Chloe Arkins?

Dr. Arkins is a new name that appears in Broken Things' lore. She leaves letters for Julie "Pumpkin." There isn't much information outside of these three letters, but her role in Playtime must be important. Why include her now? We still don't know who we're playing as. Could we be David, Chloe Arkin's husband? This would explain our motives for being here if we're not a former Playtime employee. Arkins wasn't listed as one of the guilty in "To Whomever Finds This." Her letters reveal that Playtime's goal is "to put an end to death." She knows she's a monster, but her motive is to create a world without pain and disease for her daughter.

Is Kissy Missy dead?

I should have expected this scene, but alas, it still took me by surprise. Poor Kissy Missy cannot catch a break. I'd be very surprised if Kissy Missy survived, as her status was up in the air at the end of the last chapter, so I seriously doubt Mob would pull the same stunt twice. Perhaps Prototype's current body is a hint at what's to come as the arms of Kissy, Huggy, and Mommy Long Legs sprout from his abdomen. This could be a visual clue that he was going to take them after all. We also know that their bodies, like Poppy's, vanished when Giblet saved us, meaning Prototype took them.

What we don't know yet is what happened to CatNap. Prototype always impales his victims, but the majority of us theorized he was adding the bodies to his own form, but this isn't the case. Rather, the only limbs on show are of his disciples that have been, in one way or another, cut off by the protagonist's doing. Huggy lost his after our chase in A Tight Squeeze, Prototype stole Mommy's when she was grinded in Fly in a Web, and he must have taken Kissy's when we fell in Safe Haven's conclusion.

There's still the question of who patched Huggy Wuggy, but the opening cutscene hints that the Prototype has his own creations. The Labs continue to torture and mutilate Outimals, likely experiments he's conducting for his own nefarious reasons. Could it be that these bodies weren't for Prototype after all, but for an abomination that he's stitched together? This would mean the next (and surely the final) chapter will feature the secondary antagonist of Mommy Long Legs, CatNap, Huggy Wuggy, and Kissy Missy (similar to the final boss in My Friendly Neighborhood). Lily Lovebraids fell to her death, so her hair may be used as a weapon in Prototype's creation.

Did the protagonist die?

Yes. We were resurrected with Poppy Gel. What's strange is The Prototype's choice to dispose of the body in the tank, rather than leaving the body like the staff corpses scattered around Playtime that have long-since decomposed. He obviously knows how Poppy Gel works. This choice points to Prototype wanting the protagonist to consume Poppy Gel—that we're still playing into his hands.

Poppy Playtime: Chapter 5 ending, explained

The Master Backup is complete, and by activating it, Harley Sawyer is unleashed. He must have uploaded his consciousness as a backup that could be restored by teams sent in by Leith Pierre. We've effectively resurrected the primary antagonist of Safe Haven, but things may be different this time around. It's highly unlikely Sawyer has the same power as he did in the previous chapter. The ball is in our court, for his existence can be wiped with the press of a button. I theorize the next chapter will be an enemies-to-allies story where Sawyer has to work with us if he wants to live.

Chapter 6 theory

There are no multiple endings in Poppy Playtime: Chapter 5. That's right. We've got another chapter. The conclusion to Broken Things assures it. The cliffhanger ending is similar to Safe Haven, with the fate of multiple characters up in the air. Where did Prototype take Poppy? What happened to Kissy Missy and Huggy Wuggy's bodies? What will Harley Sawyer do now that we've resurrected him? The events in this chapter alone are leading up to the game's conclusion, and I'd be shocked if the next chapter isn't the last.

Though we likely won't get news until the next announcement trailer, we can assume Poppy Playtime: Chapter 6 is coming. I theorize we will get a trailer either between September and October this year, or within this two-month window in 2027. It really depends on whether Mob already has this chapter in development. Broken Things is the perfect build-up for the final boss fight against Prototype, as we know he hasn't been defeated, and Poppy's current whereabouts are unknown. I wonder if we'll work with Harley Sawyer to save Poppy and bring down Prototype's empire? As usual, only time will tell with this mascot series.

The post Poppy Playtime: Chapter 5 story and ending, explained appeared first on Destructoid.

Surprise! We finally have a release date and a subtitle - "Broken Things" - for Poppy Playtime 5: 18th February, 2026. The console release for Chapter 5 will reportedly "follow in the months ahead".

Read more

Underrated 'slow life' role-playing game Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time - which stole a lot of my time last year on Switch 2 - has just received an exciting new year content drop.

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• Category: Next Week on Xbox

January 9, 2026

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for January 12 to 16

• Will Fulton, Xbox Wire Editor

Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in!

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Bus Driving Simulator : EVO

Ovilex Soft SRL

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$19.99

Pre-order

Bus Driving Simulator: Evo – January 12
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere

Get behind the wheel and become a professional bus driver! This amazing bus simulator will allow you to transport passengers across three different cities (Rio de Janeiro, Munich and Los Angeles) using various bus models with realistic physics and graphics. Play this bus simulator in single player with career and freeride modes.

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Loan Shark

Dark Product

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Loan Shark – January 13 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

You’re an indebted angler, trapped in a vicious cycle of borrowing and desperation. One dark, endless night at sea you haul up something unnatural: a talking fish named Cagliuso. It promises you riches — but its bargains come with terrifying strings. In Loan Shark, the nets you cast bring more than fish. They pull you toward sacrifice, secrets, and a deadline you may never meet. The “loan shark” isn’t just metaphoric — something is stalking the waters, your time is running out, and every deal you strike pushes you deeper into the unknown.

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SimRail – The Railway Simulator

PlayWay S.A.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$34.99 $31.49

Pre-order

SimRail – The Railway Simulator – January 13
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere

SimRail is a new era of railway simulators. Realistic driving physics, the environment generated on the basis of geodetic data and an extensive multi-player mode are just some of the elements that game includes. Visit about 500 km of real routes created with all details. Choose present European high-speed, long-distance and suburban tracks, or travel back in time to 1980 and drive steam train at sand railway of Upper Silesia, Poland: the socialist land of coal and steel.

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Tavern Manager Simulator

Ultimate Games S.A.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Tavern Manager Simulator – January 13
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Tavern Manager Simulator is an exciting process of rebuilding, expanding and improving a tavern. Take different approaches to running an establishment and meet the challenges of the outside world to create your own unique story.

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Bob The Brick Breaker

Brainium Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Bob the Brick Breaker – January 14

A game inspired by old arcade games, where waves of bricks make the climb to the top increasingly difficult. Adding to the challenge are minions and bosses, who will put us to the test. Ask your friends for help, playing as a duo, or go head-to-head to see who’s the best. If you think you’re the best of the bunch, then get ready to prove to the rest of the world that you’ve got what it takes via the online leaderboards.

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Cats Around Us: Giant Cat

Silesia Games Sp. z o.o.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Cats Around Us: Giant Cat – January 14

A giant cat has made an (otherwise) peaceful village its napping spot! Can you find all the hidden cats scattered around the chaos? Explore four illustrated comic pages, search for hundreds of felines, and complete relaxing jigsaw puzzles. Cats Around Us: Giant Cat combines hidden-object gameplay with storybook art, offering a cozy, creative experience for cat and cartoon lovers alike!

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Direction Quad

Eastasiasoft Limited

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Direction Quad – January 14
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery

Hop your way through the dangerous swamps as you face the trials of your master the Wise Toad! Direction Quad is a 2D action-adventure presented in top-down pixel art style. Take the role of young Quad as he hops through the swamp in any diagonal direction, collecting coins and bugs along the way. The objective is to get Quad from his starting lily pad to the finish line of each stage without colliding with the terrain or any treacherous traps.

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DreadOut Remastered Collection

Soft Source Pte Ltd

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$29.99

Pre-order

DreadOut Remastered Collection – January 14

A collectors dream! A compilation consisting of the original DreadOut and DreadOut: Keepers of the Dark. DreadOut is a third person supernatural horror game where you play as Linda, a high school student trapped in an old, abandoned town. Equipped with her trusty smartphone and an SLR camera, she will battle against terrifying encounters and solve mysterious puzzles which will ultimately determine her fate. DreadOut: Keepers of the Dark is a new standalone horror game that takes place in the DreadOut universe. In this missing chapter, you will help Linda face the challenges of the DreadOut world with even more dangers lurking within.

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God bless, or Goddess

NiuGamer

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$19.99 $17.99

Pre-order

God Bless, or Goddess – January 14
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Handheld Optimized / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery

They say the path to immortality is paved with hardship. But in your case, this hardship happened to take the form of seven dangerously beautiful women. You are Lin Fan, the chosen one of the Crane Illusion Sect. Born with a Pure Yang Lineage, you are destined to ascend to the heavens. However, no matter how hard you train, fate sends yet another challenge in your way…temptations in the shape of an unreliable master, a strict senior sister, or a saintess who seems far more interested in testing your heart rather than your skills. Can you survive the thousand tribulations of love, jealousy, and thunder? Or will your heart fall just before your heavenly ascension?

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The Last Case of John Morley

JanduSoft

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$12.99 $11.69

Pre-order

The Last Case of John Morley – January 14
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere

The Last Case of John Morley is a first-person narrative adventure set in the 1940s. You play as an experienced detective faced with a case long buried by time. After months in hospital, John Morley receives an unexpected visit from Lady Margarette Fordside, an aristocrat haunted by the murder of her daughter twenty years earlier. Though the police closed the case, she believes the real killer was never found. What begins as a quiet look into an old case becomes a haunting investigation into forgotten places and long-hidden truths that refuse to stay buried.

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Ninja Nightfall

Old School Vibes

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Ninja Nightfall – January 14
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery

Ninja Nightfall is a fast-paced platformer where you are the last silent guardian—an elite ninja battling a city overrun by hostile AI. Conquer 10 intense stages filled with deadly robots, hidden zones, and high-security relics. Master stealth, speed, and precision as you navigate neon-lit rooftops and evade traps.

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CASSETTE BOY

Forever Entertainment S. A.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$12.99 $11.69

Pre-order

Cassette Boy – January 15
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Is the moon there when nobody looks? Einstein once asked this famous question about quantum mechanics. This game takes that idea and turns it into a mysterious puzzle RPG, where the world itself only exists when you see it.

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Disco Simulator

Ultimate Games S.A.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$14.99 $11.99

Pre-order

Disco Simulator – January 15
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Disco Simulator is a tycoon game focused on managing your own nightclub. Start from scratch, build walls, arrange furniture, hire staff, plan events, and invite artists to perform on stage. Create the ultimate place for music, dance, and fun!

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Dreamscapes – Nightmare's Heir

Joindots® GmbH

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Dreamscapes – Nightmare’s Heir – January 15
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Two years after waking from her coma, Laura believes she’s free from nightmares. But the Sandman, who once held her soul captive, is back for revenge. A relaxing trip to a snowy mountain resort turns tragic when Tim falls from a cliff and slips into a coma. Bound by her vow not to use her Power for personal gain, Laura can’t save him herself. Desperate, she turns to an old friend (the player) and enters Tim’s subconscious, now under the Sandman’s dark influence. Explore haunting dreamscapes, solve intriguing puzzles, and face the shadows before the Sandman claims his next heir.

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KEJORA

Soft Source Pte Ltd

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$19.99

Pre-order

Kejora – January 15

When Kejora realizes that her peaceful village has been reliving the same day over and over, she and her friends seek out to try and uncover the origin of the mysterious time loop cursed on her village There’s a mystery hidden behind this peaceful village, unknown to its inhabitants, who carry on with their daily lives. Kejora features hand-drawn art and animation, environmental platformer puzzles, and party-based inspired gameplay with 2 supporting characters with unique skills to help Kejora in her exploration and journey.

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Mel The Space Cat

Ember Box Studio

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Mel the Space Cat – January 15
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

In Mel The Space Cat, you’ll guide Mel, a courageous cosmic cat traveling across alien planets in search of safety even if that means escaping from energy traps, laser cannons, hazardous landscapes, and the mysterious alien Theo! Across 40 handcrafted space levels, your reflexes and timing will be pushed to the limit in a journey filled with charm, danger, and zero gravity surprises.

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Apartment No 129

Axyos Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$13.99

Pre-order

Apartment No 129 – January 16
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

The story of a real event: in 2009, two young girls living in Apartment No 129 in Turkey performed satanic rituals with candles late at night. According to allegations, the girls, who lived on the top floor of the building, mysteriously lost their lives that night. Apartment No 129 is a single-player, first-person horror and thriller game.

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Baking Time

QubicGames S.A.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Baking Time – January 16
Xbox Play Anywhere

Stack all kinds of mouth-watering baked goods, from croissants to cookie hearts and everything in between! Grab your spatula, lift the baked goods out of the oven, and put them on display so that customers can buy them! With a steady stream of hungry customers waiting in line, it’s up to you to deliver their orders quickly and efficiently!

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Battle Puzzle 2048 – Queens of the Abyss

EpiXR Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$6.99

Pre-order

Battle Puzzle 2048 – Queens of the Abyss – January 16
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Battle Puzzle 2048 – Queens of the Abyss brings a spellbinding twist to the classic 2048 puzzle game! Slide tiles to combine matching numbers, build powerful combos, and take on a colorful array of supernatural foes. Face off against crafty witches, playful vampires, and adorable girly demons, each armed with unique abilities like hexing tiles, draining health, or summoning chaos on the grid.

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BrokenLore: UNFOLLOW

Serafini Productions

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

BrokenLore: Unfollow – January 16
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

BrokenLore: Unfollow is a first-person psychological horror game that dives into the dark side of social media and its effect on mental health. You play as Anne, a young woman haunted by the trauma of bullying, trapped in a surreal nightmare where she must confront her past and uncover a buried truth.

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Grimoire of Domance

Gray Boss Game Studio

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Grimoire of Dominance – January 16
|Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

In Grimoire of Domance, the natural order has been shattered. You are a high mage of a Mage Order, the only one capable of wielding the power of the legendary Grimoire to stop Bahg’Val, an ancient entity that has possessed your master and threatens to consume the world. In this 2D action-platformer, your magic comes from dominance. You are what you defeat.

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Milo's Dream

Ratalaika Games S.L.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Milo’s Dream – January 16
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Milo is a very brave, smart, and playful dog! Only he can defeat the cruel King Big Flea and his evil henchmen who are terrorizing the fairy kingdom. Explore four magical branching locations, solve challenging puzzles, defeat dangerous enemies, and collect dog bones to earn special new abilities. Playing solo or together with local co-op multiplayer, only you can help Milo in his all-important quest!

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Neural Requiem

Frostweep Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Neural Requiem – January 16
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

The world has fallen to a ruthless artificial intelligence determined to erase mankind. Cities lie in ruins, the skies swarm with machines, and the future hangs by a thread. You are John Veyron, a soldier reborn through brutal experiments, stripped of his past but armed with unbreakable resolve. With only steel and firepower at his side, John must march through hostile strongholds, confront merciless AI champions, and take the fight straight to the heart of the machine.

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Super Farming Boy

Renxo Europe Limited

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Super Farming Boy – January 16
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Super Farming Boy is an exciting mix of action, puzzle, and farming sim, heavily relying on chain reactions and combos. You play as Super, whose mom and friends have been captured by your evil nemesis, KORPO®©TM, who unlawfully hires you to work on your own land, taxing all proceeds for himself! Now, with your friends and mom up for sale, you must harvest your way through challenging adventures, saving enough to buy your mom and friends back!

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Zumba – Marble Candy Rush

EpiXR Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$4.99 $3.99

Pre-order

Zumba – Marble Candy Rush – January 16
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Zumba – Marble Candy Rush invites you into a delectable marble-shooter kingdom ruled by the Candy King! Select a level, aim your candy-cannon mouth, and fire to match three or more identical candy marbles before they spill past the sugar gate. Create explosive combos, clear waves swiftly, and earn up to three stars per level.

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The post Next Week on Xbox: New Games for January 12 to 16 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

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Rest your mind by playing against the clock...