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

This week, laser eyes, anime console girls and cyberpunk.

No long intro this week. I am tired. But please enjoy this selection of games.

Re-Releases and Ports

Two significant re-releases this week. First up, Braid: Anniversary Edition comes to all major consoles and PC to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Braid. The puzzle platformer was one of the earliest indie smash hits on Xbox Live Arcade and was praised for its subversive storytelling and innovative gameplay. The game is back with commentary tracks, new levels and a remixed soundtrack.

Also this week sees the PC port of Ghost of Tsushima, the latest first-party Sony release to leave PlayStation exclusivity. You play as Jin Sakai, a samurai during the Mongol invasion of Japan, seeking to defend his lands. However, his quest sees him struggling between his duty and his desire for survival at all costs. I really enjoyed this one, so if you’re on PC I’d recommend checking out. Samurai are in right now, after all.

New Releases

Mullet Mad Jack (PC) is a fast-paced FPS set inside an early 90s anime. You are the titular character, a man who has 10 seconds to life, which he can only extend by murdering robots. It looks completely unhinged.

Developed by HAMMER95.

Die by the Blade (PC) is the perfect game for anyone who wishes Bushido Blade would come back. This 1v1 fighter is all about evasion and defence, because if a single hit lands from anyone’s sword, that’s the end of the match.

Developed by Slovakian studio Triple Hill Interactive (Underflow) and Japanese developer Toko Midori Games (Bone Dust) and published by Grindstone (Hellmut: The Badass from Hell).

Baladins (PC) is best described as Paper Mario reworked as a TTRPG. You play as a ragtag band of entertainers seeking to make the world a better place. It looks adorable and a good time with friends.

Developed by Seed by Seed (Pile Up) and published by Armor Games (In Stars and Time, The Tartarus Key, Bear & Breakfast).

Two RTS franchises are returning after years-long absences this week. After years of spinoffs, Men of War II (PC) is the first full-fledged sequel to 2008’s beloved WW2 RTS, Men of War, bringing multiple real-world campaigns under your control. Homeworld 3 (PC), meanwhile, is the first numbered title in the series since 2003’s Homeworld 2. This space-based RTS sees you managing space fleets as you battle for dominance of the galaxy.

Men of War II was developed by Ukranian studio Best Way (Men of War) and published by Fulqrum Publishing (King’s Bounty, IL-2 Sturmovik). Homeworld 3 was developed by Canadian studio Blackbird Interactive (Hardspace: Shipbreaker, Minecraft Legends) and published by Gearbox Publishing (Tribes of Midgard, Godfall, Risk of Rain 2).

Read Only Memories: Neurodiver (PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox) is a new original game set in the world of cyberpunk visual novel 2064: Read Only Memories. You play as ES88, an esper sent to investigate a psychic entity messing with people’s memories in Neo San Francisco. Your job is to repair people’s memories and put a stop to the psychic crimes.

Developed by California-based studio MidBoss and published by Chorus Worldwide (A Space for the Unbound, Coffee Talk, When the Past Was Around).

Neptunia Game Maker R:Evolution (PlayStation, Switch) is the latest in the utterly bonkers Neptunia franchise, set in a world inspired by the games industry and starring anime girl representations of consoles. You play as series protagonist Neptune as she teams up with three Failure Goddesses based on the 3DO, Atari Jaguar and Apple Pippin. It’s surprisingly entertaining, even if the gameplay is painfully repetitive. (I should know, I reviewed it!)

Developed by Japanese studio Compile Heart (Record of Agarest War, Fairy Fencer F, Mugen Souls) and published by Idea Factory International.

Game of the Week

Game of the Week is Lorelei and the Laser Eyes (PC, Switch), a strange little puzzle game.

It’s difficult to talk about this game as so much of it has been kept secret in its marketing, but I’ll do my best. The game is a puzzle game set in an old manor, you play as a woman summoned by a strange man and forced to participate in an odd game.

However, despite the vagueness of it all, everything we have seen of it looks amazing. Lots of intriguing puzzle design and a design sensibility that had me convinced Suda51 was involved. Its stylised monochrome and persistent sense of mystery is enough to attract my attention though, so it needs to get Game of the Week. The reviews are pretty stellar too.

Developed by Swedish studio Simogo (Sayonara Wild Hearts, Year Walk, Device 6) and published by Annapurna Interactive (What Remains of Edith Finch, Outer Wilds, Cocoon).