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

This week, Street Fighter, System Shock and a whole load of retro horror.

It’s a relatively quiet week for new releases in terms of quantity. However, one of those releases is Street Fighter 6 and another is the hotly anticipated remake of System Shock. The latest instalment of one of the biggest fighting games on the planet and the return of one of the most influential cult classic games ever made are both a big deal, after all.

There’s also a weird theme with the indie releases too. Most of them are horror games with retro vibes in one way or another. Whether they’re set in the 80s, lean into the PS1 horror vibe that’s been popular lately, or look like an RPG Maker game from the mid-2000s, every decade is represented here. And all of them want to kill you in horrible ways. Lovely. Honestly, any of these could have been Game of the Week, so consider them all honourable mentions.

Side note: my soundtrack of choice while writing this week’s roundup was the We Love Katamari soundtrack. This is because it shows up in the re-releases and I am incapable of hearing the word “Katamari” without my brain immediately singing the entire main theme. So please follow my lead and throw on “Katamari on the Swing” while you read the rest of the roundup. You’re welcome.

New Releases

In re-releases, we start with a collection. Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection (PC, Switch) brings together the first three Etrian Odyssey games. These dungeon crawlers from the DS are noted for their fierce difficulty and map-drawing tools. For something else from the 2000s that’s a little less punishing, there’s We Love Katamari Reroll (PC, PlayStation, Switch, Xbox), which brings back the quirky ball-rolling game from the PS2. I played the original, it’s bonkers and I love it.

Return (PC) is a moody side scroller about a space traveller who has returned to his ruined home planet. The scorched landscape is now littered with killer machines and other monstrosities, and he must learn to survive in this harsh environment.

The Tartarus Key (PC, PlayStation, Switch, Xbox) is a horror game inspired by the aesthetics of PS1 titles like Resident Evil and Silent Hill. You play as a woman named Alex who finds herself trapped in a deadly mansion.

Decarnation (PC, Switch) is a psychological horror game starring a woman named Gloria who falls into a surreal other world that represents her inner struggles. The developers cite Satoshi Kon and David Lynch as influences, so expect this to go to some weird places.

Friends vs Friends (PC) is the only indie game this week that is not a horror game in some way. Instead, it’s a brightly coloured multiplayer shooter with a card deck mechanic and anthropomorphic animal characters.

Look at this, hacker. It’s the System Shock Remake (PC). Originally released in 1994, this immersive sim kicked off the entire genre with its blend of first-person shooter and adventure game mechanics. It also features the evil AI SHODAN as its iconic villain. This remake was made in collaboration with the original developers, along with a group of industry veterans.

Street Fighter 6 (PC, PlayStation, Xbox X/S) is the big release of this week. It’s the latest in the iconic Street Fighter series, with a brand new World Tour mode, a roster of classic characters and a vibe that leans even harder into the “street” part of the game’s title. This is Capcom’s attempt to open up the FGC to even more players, and I wish them well. However, I will not be playing it because I’ve honestly never gotten into Street Fighter. I’m too busy waiting for Bandai Namco to hurry up and announce Tekken 8’s release date!

Game of the Week

Game of the Week this week is Killer Frequency (PC, PlayStation, Switch, Xbox), a first-person horror adventure game.

You play as a late-night radio DJ, working a shift near Halloween. However, increasingly callers start talking about being stalked by a dangerous killer, and you must help guide them to safety. The game is largely set inside a lovingly rendered 80s radio station with a bold cel-shaded art style.

I struggled to pick this week’s Game of the Week because honestly, all the horror games this week look excellent. But when I watched the trailer for this I knew it had to be Game of the Week. It’s a unique premise, with a single location enhancing the dread of someone being out there. It’s got a standout art style that is rarely seen in a horror game. And the 80s vibes run all the way through. I have no idea if there’s a whole suite of licensed 80s music to play, but there should be.