Hello! Welcome to the latest Geeky Brummie Games Release Roundup!

This week, robots, cats and gross exploitation for entertainment and profit.

Quite an impressive selection this week. It’s mostly an indie bonanza, but there are plenty of highly anticipated games here. Whether it’s sequels to beloved cult titles, unique ideas from unexpected sources or satire on the media landscape, every game this week has something exciting going for it. I can personally vouch for both Cat Quest 3 and SteamWorld Heist 2, as I have played both for work and have been having a blast with them. However, they didn’t quite hit Game of the Week, so read on to find out what did.

New Releases

Volgarr the Viking II (PC, PlayStation, Switch, Xbox) is a precision platformer invoking the spirit of hard-as-nails 80s games like Ghosts n Goblins. You play as the titular barbarian king as heads out on a quest to vanquish your enemies.

Developed by Crazy Viking Studios and published by Digital Eclipse (The Making of Karateka, Atari 50, Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story).

Deathbound (PC, PS5, Xbox X/S) is a Soulslike with a twist – you play as a party. You can transform into a range of fallen warriors and utilise their unique skills to gain an advantage against the many gruelling foes you’re set to encounter.

Developed by Trialforge Studio and published by Tate Multimedia (Kao the Kangaroo, Voodolls).

Creatures of Ava (PC, Xbox) is a creature collecting game with a focus on conservation. You play as Vic, a young adventurer who has come to Ava, a planet currently suffering the effects of an infection known as The Withering. Your goal is to heal the planet and protect its inhabitants through peaceful conversation methods, learning about this new land and the creatures that inhabit it. The story also has contributions from Rhianna Pratchett of Mirror’s Edge and Tomb Raider fame.

Developed by Inverge Studios (Effie) and published by 11bit Studios (Frostpunk, This War is Mine, The Invincible).

Cygni: All Guns Blazing (PC, PS5, Xbox X/S) is an old school shmup with modern visuals. The human race are holed up on the planet Cygni and fending off an attack from an alien race. The solution is to blast them all out of the sky. This one’s been getting a bunch of positive attention, plus it has cutscenes from former Pixar animators.

Developed by KeelWorks and published by Konami (Gradius, Contra, Zone of the Enders).

Cat Quest III (PC, PlayStation, Switch, Xbox) is an adorable action RPG starring a nameless rookie cat pirate off an adventure in the high seas in search of the North Star Treasure. Along the way, you’ll encounter a goofy band of pirates also on the search for the treasure. I’ve been playing for an upcoming review, and my god, it’s fun. Won’t be saying too much right now but this is absolutely worth your time if you want a cute yet challenging pirate adventure.

Developed by The Gentlebros and published by Kepler Interactive (Pacific Drive, Tchia, Sifu).

Steamworld Heist II (PC, PlayStation, Switch, Xbox) is the sequel to a side-scrolling tactics game set in a world of nautical steam robots. You play as a ragtag band of bots seeking to reclaim the seas from the Royal Navy who may be polluting the waters with their diesel power. Another one I’ve personally played and having a blast with. It offers a good challenge, has great visual design and features a bunch of great characters. You can recruit a rocket launcher wielding pirate called Dame Judy Wrench, and I think that’s all you need to know.

Developed and published by Thunderful (Planet of Lana, Viewfinder, SteamWorld Dig).

Game of the Week

Game of the Week is The Crush House (PC), a self-described “thirst-person shooter” about reality TV.

You are the camera operator on 1999’s hottest new reality TV show, The Crush House, which is a cross between Big Brother and Love Island. A bunch of hot sexy singles are put in a house together and it’s up to you to meet the audience’s demands by filming their romances, fights and other assorted drama. However, it’s clear that there is a much darker underbelly to all of this, and it’s up to you to figure out what’s really going on.

The Crush House is such a cool idea for a game. Taking the inherent exploitative nature of reality TV and putting you in charge of it instantly adds the possibly for satire and questionable moral choices. But there’s also that darkness bubbling under the surface, a mystery that has me intrigued and eager to learn more. Despite some strong competition, the unique nature of The Crush House has made it rise to the top and become Game of the Week.

Developed by Nerial (Reigns, Card Shark) and published by Devolver Digital (Hotline Miami, Cult of the Lamb, Inscryption).