Developed by Alevgor and published by Alawar, Haunted Lands is a retro-inspired action platformer that blends fast-paced combat with exploration and character-driven gameplay. Players venture into desecrated burial grounds where ancient crypts, forgotten tombs, and relentless enemies stand between them and restoring balance to the land.

One of the demo’s highlights is its variety of playable classes, each offering a distinct approach to combat. Players can choose from six characters across three archetypes. The Beast classes are built for aggressive, close-quarters combat, perfect for players who want to tear through enemies head-on. The Gunner classes cater to those who prefer keeping their distance, delivering destruction from afar with precision firepower. Meanwhile, the Mage classes offer a more tactical playstyle, combining offensive spells with healing and support abilities to survive the onslaught.

As you push deeper into the Haunted Lands, the challenge ramps up. Enemy types become more dangerous, elite variants test your reflexes, and towering bosses await those brave enough to press forward. Exploration plays a major role, with sprawling burial grounds packed with hidden secrets, optional objectives, and powerful artifacts waiting to be discovered.

Artifacts are a key part of progression, allowing players to dramatically enhance their character’s offensive and defensive capabilities. Some artifacts can even transform how a class plays entirely, encouraging experimentation and replayability as you hunt down the most powerful combinations.

Key Features

• Retro Action Platforming: Fast, brutal combat inspired by classic action platformers

• Six Playable Characters: Two Gunners, two Beasts, and two Mages, each with unique strengths

• Explore the Burial Grounds: Crypts, tombs, elite enemies, and challenging boss encounters

• Artifact-Based Progression: Collect powerful items that reshape abilities and playstyles

• High Difficulty Ceiling: Optional objectives and hidden secrets for players seeking a true challenge

The Haunted Lands demo is available now on Steam, offering a taste of its punishing combat and eerie atmosphere. The full game is slated to launch on PC via Steam in 2026, so if the demo sinks its claws into you, be sure to wishlist the game to stay updated on its journey toward release.

Heartworm delivers a slow-burning, emotionally raw experience that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly modern. The demo’s already made waves with critics and players alike, and based on early buzz, this could be one of the indie horror standouts of the year.

Haunted Memories and Camera Combat

You play as Sam, a young woman grieving the loss of her grandfather. Searching for answers and a sense of closure, she follows a trail through obscure internet forums that leads her to a mysterious house tucked away in the mountains. Once inside, she finds herself pulled into a surreal and terrifying world, where ghosts of the past—both literal and metaphorical—refuse to stay buried.

Armed with only a camera and her determination, Sam must uncover the truth while fending off whatever lurks on the other side.

Retro Horror Done Right

Drawing clear inspiration from survival horror classics like Silent Hill and Resident Evil, Heartworm hits all the right retro notes—fixed or over-the-shoulder camera options, PSX-style visuals, tank controls (optional), and deliberately limited resources. But it also folds in modern sensibilities: more accessible control schemes, quality-of-life features, and a strong narrative foundation built on grief, memory, and personal loss.

Expect roughly 4-6 hours of gameplay, with mind-bending puzzles, unsettling environments, and multiple endings depending on how deep you explore. There’s a fully original soundtrack, a deeply personal story, and an atmosphere that trades jump scares for creeping dread.

Key Features:

• A narrative-driven psychological horror experience

• Fixed or over-the-shoulder camera options and optional tank controls

• Atmospheric visuals inspired by PS1-era survival horror

• Puzzle-solving and combat using a mystical camera

• Original soundtrack and haunting environmental design

• Multiple endings and 4–6 hours of gameplay

• Language support for English, French, German, Latin American Spanish, Japanese, and Brazilian Portuguese

Heartworm lands on Steam July 31, 2025, and the free demo is available now for anyone brave enough to enter the house early. If you’re a fan of slow-burn horror with a vintage twist, this one belongs on your radar—and your wishlist.

While US players enjoyed the long July 4th weekend, our friends in Europe got a head start—and a heatwave—celebrating the game’s launch. Meanwhile, PR Hound is distributing review codes to Western media following a brief one-day delay in honor of the holiday.

Asha’s Epic Journey Returns—Now in 4K

For those new to the title, Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World follows a courageous young warrior named Asha who’s tasked with saving the Monster World from an ominous invader. With the fate of four imprisoned spirits on the line, Asha teams up with the adorably mysterious Pepelogoo, embarking on a vibrant quest filled with enemies, secrets, and plenty of retro flair.

Originally developed by the same legendary team behind the 90s action RPG Monster World IV, this full remake features revamped visuals, reorchestrated music, and gameplay tuned for today’s players—while still honoring its 16-bit roots.

What to Expect

• Dynamic, Accessible Action: Tight side-scrolling combat and platforming that’s forgiving for newcomers, yet satisfying for returning fans.

• Partner-Powered Gameplay: Pepelogoo isn’t just your sidekick—he helps you glide, double-jump, throw objects, and solve environmental puzzles.

• Diverse Biomes: Journey through lush valleys, fiery volcanoes, frozen tundras, and floating sky realms.

• Exploration & Replayability: Secret paths and hidden items give players reasons to return to previously conquered stages.

• Gear Up & Get Stronger: Equip new gear to enhance Asha’s power and take on tougher foes as the story unfolds.

Whether you played the original back in the day or you’re diving into Asha’s world for the first time, this latest release brings all the charm of a classic with the polish of a modern remake.

Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World is available now on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Microsoft Store). The game supports English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese.

Think Oregon Trail, but instead of wagons, you’re managing a rugged rally crew tearing across Europe and Africa. Your mission? Survive the journey, outsmart the obstacles, and maybe—just maybe—finish the race with a top score.

What’s the Game All About?
Desert Race Adventures is a strategic, roguelike rally game where you’ll juggle crew management, vehicle maintenance, and limited supplies, all while braving unforgiving terrain. One bad call could wreck your run… but that’s all part of the ride.

Core Gameplay Features:

• Crew & Resource Management – Pick your pilot, manage your team, and stretch your resources—food, fuel, and spare parts are all you’ve got to keep rolling.

• Dynamic Road Encounters – Random events can help or hurt, and you’ll need to think fast. Do you risk that shortcut through the dunes or play it safe and conserve fuel?

• Retro-Modern Style – The pixel art visuals call back to the golden age of ’80s PC adventures, but the systems are sharp and modern.

• Replayable Road Trips – Every run is different. Pilot combos, routes, and event randomness mean no two races feel the same—and neither do the outcomes.

With its unique blend of strategy, survival, and nostalgia, Desert Race Adventures is shaping up to be one of the more refreshing indie takes on the roguelike genre in 2025. Whether you’re looking to micromanage every drop of fuel or roll the dice with risky decisions, this is one road trip you’ll want to take again and again.

Desert Race Adventures launches Summer 2025 on PC. Stay tuned for more updates, and wishlist it on Steam if you’re ready to race, survive, and maybe swear at a flat tire or two.

The newly released announcement trailer gives a first look at Hyper Sentinel Fusion in action. Players will take on massive procedurally generated space titans, blast through their defenses, infiltrate their labyrinthine cores, and loot powerful upgrades—all within a dynamic roguelite gameplay loop.

A ’90s Arcade Dream with a Modern Twist
“With Hyper Sentinel Fusion, we wanted to capture that feeling of walking into an arcade in the 1990s—only instead of a pocket full of quarters, players will dive into a deep, modern roguelite experience,” said Lead Developer Jonathan Port. “And yes, it’s even launching on an authentic 3.5-inch Mega Floppy Micro Drive USB.”

Developed in collaboration with Four5Six Pixel, the studio behind the critically acclaimed Hyper Sentinel, this sequel builds on the original’s legacy while introducing bold new ideas and expanded mechanics. Fans of Paradroid and Uridium will feel right at home with the game’s lightning-fast action and strategic ship upgrades.

“When we launched Paradroid in 1985 and Uridium in 1986, I knew we had something special,” said Andrew Hewson, Chairman of Huey Games. “Forty years later, seeing what the team has achieved with Hyper Sentinel Fusion brings back that same feeling of excitement and anticipation.”

What to Expect in Hyper Sentinel Fusion

• High-Octane Arcade Combat – Blast your way through procedurally generated space titans in classic arcade shoot-em-up fashion.
• Deep Roguelite Progression – Upgrade your ship, collect powerful loot, and adapt your strategy across each new run.A Love Letter to Retro Gaming – Inspired by legendary shooters, Hyper Sentinel Fusion channels the energy of the ‘80s and ‘90s arcade scene.
• Unique Collector’s Edition Release – A special edition will launch on the 3.5-inch Mega Floppy Micro Drive USB, a must-have for retro gaming enthusiasts.
• Part of the “Best of British” Selection – Showcased at the 2025 London Games Festival, proving that UK game devs are still bringing the heat.

Hyper Sentinel Fusion is shaping up to be a must-play for both arcade veterans and modern roguelite fans. Keep an eye out for more details, and in the meantime, check out the new trailer to see the game in action!

And here’s a bonus: For a limited time, The Zebra-Man! is available at 25% off on Steam—so act fast before the discount disappears!

What is The Zebra-Man!?
Step into the blood-soaked shoes of a test subject who’s been experimented on by a group of deranged scientists in a top-secret facility. When a mysterious ally in a raccoon mask helps you break free, you embark on a ruthless quest for revenge. But nothing is as it seems—dimension swapping, interdimensional portals, and time paradoxes will keep you guessing until the very end.

Who is Alexander Cooper, and why does the Raccoon Man want him dead? The answers lie in a trail of carnage, mind-bending puzzles, and non-stop action.

Key Features:

• Retro Grindhouse Vibes – A twisted love letter to classic pixel art action games and old-school exploitation films.
• A Cast of Unhinged Characters – Scientists, security guards, masked allies, and more—all with their own motives and quests.
• Live-Action Cutscenes – Because why not?
• More Than Just Mayhem – Solve puzzles and uncover the secrets behind the facility and its twisted experiments.
• Karma System – Your actions have consequences, shaping how the game unfolds.
• Adaptive Difficulty System (ADS) – Die too many times? The game will adjust, making things a bit easier—because even The Zebra-Man! knows when to cut you some slack.
• Killer Soundtrack – Featuring tracks from Zay Bass, Doom in Hell, Da Flex, and more, setting the perfect grindhouse mood.
• Yes, You Can Pet the Dog – Enough said.

Coming Soon to Consoles!
If you’re waiting to unleash your inner beast on console, hang tight—The Zebra-Man! is set to launch later on Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.

In the meantime, grab the game on Steam while the 25% launch discount lasts!

In collaboration with Natsume Atari and ININ, and developed by the iconic Japan-based Tengo Project (creators of Pocky and Rocky, Wild Guns, and more), this release is set to impress, especially since many developers from the original game over 30 years ago are involved.

Don’t wait! Pre-orders for Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn are now open for Xbox and Nintendo Switch. Plus, ININ has announced that the playable demo is available for Xbox today and will soon be available for PlayStation and Nintendo Switch. Dive into the futuristic, adrenaline-pumping world of Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn!

Be among the first to play the initial level of Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn in single-player or with a friend! Download the demo and secure your copy by pre-ordering directly from the Xbox and Nintendo eShops.

In the meantime, check out these awesome features:

• An Arsenal of Deadly Weapons: Caltrops, shuriken, and more! Hayate and Kaede will have an expanded variety of weaponry.
• Jungle of Concrete and Steel: Five recreated stages featuring devious traps and challenging platform puzzles, plus an entirely new sixth stage.
• Two Ninjas are Better Than One: Enjoy the critically acclaimed couch co-op with a friend.
• A Fresh New Look: Beautiful modern sprite art faithfully updates the 8-bit original.
• Bringing It Back to the 90s Key visuals and characters illustrated by Dynamic Productions, the same illustrators of the original 90s title.
• A Star-Studded, Rockin’ Soundtrack: Legendary musicians Hiroyuki Iwatsuki and Iku Mizutani provide electrifying guitar riffs and retro melodies.

The game will be available on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch, and Steam on August 29, 2024, priced at €19.99. For music enthusiasts, a Digital Deluxe Edition with an electrifying soundtrack by Iku Mizutani and Hiroyuki Iwatsuki will also be available for €24.99 on PS4/PS5, NSW, and Steam.

About ININ
ININ, a subsidiary of United Games Entertainment GmbH, specializes in high-quality retro, arcade, and indie games. They bring classic titles back to life and create future gaming gems, with popular titles like “Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World,” “Cotton Reboot,” and “CrossCode.” ININ is the Western publishing partner for iconic TAITO series like “Bubble Bobble” and “Space Invaders.” ININ also offers limited and collector’s editions through their partner label, Strictly Limited Games. Visit [iningames.com](http://iningames.com) for more information.

About Natsume Atari
Natsume Atari Inc. has been developing software for game consoles for over 30 years, providing high-quality games for both home and handheld consoles. Their skilled development staff ensures a great game feel, catering to various needs including smartphone applications and mobile content. They operate studios in Osaka and Nagoya.

About Dynamic Production
Established in 1969, Dynamic Productions manages manga artists and authors like Go Nagai. They produce new manga, plan events, and manage copyrights.

About Mikio Tachibana
Born May 11, 1976, in Saitama Prefecture, Mikio Tachibana, after working as an assistant to Go Nagai, debuted in 2004 and has published various works, including Mazinger Otome and Mazinger Otome Taisen. He continues to create short manga and illustrated works across all genres.