The brawling roadside-bar sim set in the Gas Station Simulator universe leaves early access behind, with the full release adding new territories, deeper gang politics, and a longer road to running the whole roadhouse.
Kraków, Poland – August 18, 2026 – Roadhouse Simulator, DRAGO entertainment’s brawling bar-management sim set in the universe of the 2-million-selling hit Gas Station Simulator, launches in full on Steam on September 21, following a Prologue chapter released in May and a free Demo that opened its doors in August 2026.
Roadhouse Simulator sends players back down the same stretch of American highway made famous by Gas Station Simulator — years earlier, and behind a very different counter. Players step into the boots of the uncle from the original game, starting out as a bouncer at a run-down roadhouse on Route 66 and working their way up to owning the place outright. The full release expands well beyond the Demo’s single working night, letting players grow their roadhouse from a single bar into a small biker empire: tending taps, striking deals with rival gangs, and expanding territory one hard-won night at a time.
A free Demo released on August 13, 2026 — showcasing an expanded set of mechanics built for the full game — has been very well received, with 92% of user reviews on Steam currently positive.
New and expanded features arriving with the 1.0 release include:
Full Career Progression: Climb from bouncer to barman to full-time roadhouse owner, unlocking new responsibilities — and new headaches — at every stage.
Territory Expansion: Grow beyond the original bar, adding parking, seating, and new facilities to pull in more patrons and open new income streams.
Gang Politics: Manage loyalty and grudges across multiple biker gangs, each with their own favors to trade and scores to settle.
Shady Supply Lines: Use gang influence to unlock “less reputable” suppliers when the legitimate ones won’t cut it.
Staffing Up: Hire and manage employees to keep the bar running when the owner can’t be everywhere at once.
Dodging the Sheriff: Stay ahead of inspections, fines, and unannounced visits as the local sheriff keeps a permanent eye on the place.
Hand-to-Hand Combat: Break up brawls solo or against multiple opponents, with more than one way to handle a fight before it wrecks the furniture.
“Gas Station Simulator was about survival on the road. Roadhouse Simulator is about everything that happens once you decide to stay,” said Lucjan Mikociak, Studio Head at DRAGO Entertainment. “The Prologue and the Demo were a taste of one rough night behind the bar. With the full release, players get the whole story — from bouncer to owner, one brawl at a time.”
Roadhouse Simulator is set to launch on Steam on September 21, 2026. For all the latest updates, follow DRAGO on X/Twitter and Facebook.
About DRAGO entertainment
DRAGO entertainment began operations in 1998 in Krakow, Poland. The company initially focused on creating innovative projects for international video publishers as an external contractor while strengthening internal competencies and creating a friendly and professional team to develop their own titles. Since adopting a new strategy in 2018, their goal is to deliver high-quality productions on an international level. The studio’s flagship title is Gas Station Simulator, which released on September 15, 2021 and immediately became a best seller on Steam. DRAGO entertainment is currently broadening their horizons with new projects, including the Gas Station Simulator universe expansions Roadhouse Simulator and Road Diner Simulator, while continuing to support their current titles. Learn more about DRAGO entertainment on the official website.
Watch the New Music Video and Pre-Order the 7” Vinyl Today
London, United Kingdom & Tokyo, Japan (18th August 2026) – Today, video game publisher and creative studio Kepler Interactive and Tokyo-based developerShapefarm have revealed new details about the soundtrack for their upcoming intergalactic co-op adventure Orbitals.
Orbitals features a retro anime-inspired soundtrack, capturing the spirit of classic anime to create out-of-this-world soundscapes that feel both nostalgically familiar and fresh all at once. Part of the soundtrack’s nostalgic identity lies with the game’s featured vocalist on both the opening and ending themes – Japanese singer songwriter Mami Ayukawa. Known for singing themes for classic sci-fi anime in the 80s (including Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam and more), Ayukawa returns with Orbitals to provide her voice to the game’s opening theme song ‘~Accelerating Destiny~ (加速する運命)’ and the game’s ending theme ‘Heart To Heart’. Fans can listen to and purchase ‘~Accelerating Destiny~ (加速する運命)’ on music platforms and online stores from today, and watch the brand-new official music video below.
“I’m truly happy and honored to have had the opportunity to sing the theme song for Orbitals,” shares Ayukawa. “I poured all of the soul and love that I’ve woven into my music since the 1980s into this song. I sincerely hope that these feelings will reach the hearts of everyone who enjoys the game.”
“Collaborating closely with Mami Ayukawa throughout the creation of Orbitals‘ opening and ending themes has been an incredible honor”, says Shapefarm’s Audio Director Christian Wellbo. “Among all the amazing anime music of the era that inspired our game, her songs stand among its most iconic. I hope this collaboration resonates with longtime fans while also opening the door for a new generation to discover her extraordinary music.”
Additionally, starting today fans can pre-order the 7” vinyl of Orbitals’ opening and ending themes via Laced Records. Featuring both ‘~Accelerating Destiny~ (加速する運命)’ and ‘Heart To Heart’, plus karaoke versions on the B-side, the 7” vinyl will release later this year. Furthermore, the game’s full original soundtrack will also be available digitally from 3rd September alongside the release of the game – fans should stay tuned to the game’s official social media channels for more information coming soon. To stream and download opening and ending themes, visit http://lnk.to/orbitals-single.
Orbitals will launch exclusively for Nintendo Switch™ 2 on 3rd September and is available to pre-order now. A physical edition will launch alongside the digital edition of the game, and fans can also purchase the Digital Deluxe edition, which includes additional digital bonuses, including the game’s soundtrack (accessed via the base game’s main menu). For more information about Orbitals, follow the game’s official social channels or sign up for the newsletter at www.orbitalsgame.com.
About Shapefarm:
Shapefarm is a Tokyo-based studio comprised of an international team of creative talent turning dreams into games.
United by a deep love of classic Japanese visual design and storytelling, the studio’s first original project, Orbitals, embodies the studios’ passion for creating enduring and universally resonant experiences crafted with the highest level of artistry.
About Kepler Interactive:
Kepler Interactive is a video game company and creative studio headquartered in London. With games like Pacific Drive, Sifu, Rematch and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Kepler curates its partnerships with developers worldwide to showcase some of the newest and most brilliant ideas in gaming that combine experimental game design with unique art direction.
Alongside its game portfolio, Kepler’s creative studio seeks to bring games to life in areas such as art, fashion, music, architecture and design through development of lifestyle products and collaborations with artists like fashion designer Robyn Lynch. Kepler explores the creative spaces that inspire games and the people who make them – challenging perspectives and elevating the medium to a new level.
About Laced:
Laced is the world’s leading video game soundtrack record label, with over 250 releases to date across vinyl and digital spanning games new and old, from the biggest blockbusters to the most intimate indies. Soundtrack releases include music for Assassin’s Creed, Bloodborne, Borderlands, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Civilization, DOOM, Fallout, God of War, Halo, Hotline Miami, Metal Gear Solid, Monster Hunter, Resident Evil, SILENT HILL and Street Fighter.
The record label lives alongside Laced’s other service offerings, including music composition, licensing, sound design, implementation, and music publishing administration for games and moving media: www.lacedaudio.com
Laced is a part of Keywords Studios. Nintendo Switch is a trademark of Nintendo.
Lana and Mui’s Adventure Continues With a Physical Edition
Sydney, Australia – August 18, 2026 – Atari and Microids are pleased to announce the upcoming retail version of Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf – Kindred Spirits Edition – coming to PlayStation 5 on October 29, 2026.
The Kindred Spirits Edition offers players and collectors a unique opportunity to discover the mysterious world of Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf in a retail edition, which features:
ThePlanet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf base game
Supporter Pack
An Artbook
3 Postcards
1 Stickers pack
Developed by Wishfully and released digitally earlier this year, Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf is a cinematic puzzle-platforming adventure set on a beautifully hand-painted planet where nature and technology collide. As progress disrupts the balance between different tribes, Lana and her loyal companion Mui embark on a journey to uncover long-buried truths about their world – and themselves.
Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf key features include:
A World That Tells Its Story – Explore a stunning world of frozen peaks, deep oceans, and forgotten ruins, brought to life through striking visuals and a moving orchestral score. With no spoken dialogue, the story unfolds through an alien language, music, and your interactions with the environment, inviting you to discover its meaning for yourself.
Thoughtful Puzzles & Fluid Movement – Guide an older, more agile Lana and Mui through environmental puzzles that reward observation, timing, and cooperation. Master movement, from wall jumps to dynamic traversal, while relying on the unique bond between Lana and Mui to overcome the dangers standing in your way.
An Emotional, Carefully Paced Adventure – Uncover the truth behind Mui’s origins in a carefully paced 6–8 hour adventure about connection, resilience, coexistence, and the cost of progress. Planet of Lana II is a standalone experience that welcomes newcomers while offering returning players a deeper, more emotional journey.
To stay up to date on Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leafand all things Atari, please visit Atari on X (Twitter), Instagram and Facebook, and join our community on Discord. To learn more, visit atari.com.
About Atari
Atari is an interactive entertainment company and an iconic gaming industry brand that transcends generations and audiences. The company is globally recognized for its multi-platform, interactive entertainment, and licensed products. Atari owns and/or manages a portfolio of more than 400 unique games and franchises, including world-renowned brands like Asteroids®, Centipede®, PONG®, and RollerCoaster Tycoon®. The Atari family of brands includes game developers Coatsink, Digital Eclipse, Early Morning Studios, Implicit Conversions, Infogrames, Nightdive Studios, Stormteller Games, and the community-based sites AtariAge and MobyGames. Visit us online atwww.Atari.com.
Atari shares are listed in France on Euronext Growth Paris (ISIN Code FR0010478248, Ticker ALATA) and OTC Pink Current (Ticker PONGF).
Microids is a French video game publisher founded in 1985 that has established itself as a key player in the international industry. By collaborating with renowned studios and creators, Microids delivers immersive experiences based on popular licenses, allowing players to embark on new adventures alongside iconic characters.
About Wishfully
Wishfully is the indie game studio behind the critically acclaimed Planet of Lana I and II. With a passion for creating stunning artwork, deep storytelling, and innovative design, they consistently strive to make games that leave a lasting impact.
Din’s Champion prepares for its full 1.0 release on August 24th, bringing Soldak Entertainment’s signature dynamic, evolving worlds to a new generation of action RPG fans.
[August 17th, 2026]: Soldak Entertainment, the independent studio behind Din’s Curse and Din’s Legacy, has announced that Din’s Champion will launch out of Early Access on August 24th, 2026. The sidescrolling action RPG has spent nearly two years in Early Access on Steam, where it has earned a Very Positive rating from players ahead of its full release.
Founded in November 2004, Soldak Entertainment has spent more than two decades building action RPGs and space RPGs around the same idea: worlds that keep moving whether or not the player is watching. Din’s Curse, released in 2010, offered 141 class combinations and an infinite number of dynamically generated towns, and remains part of the same Din series as Din’s Legacy and Din’s Champion. Din’s Champion carries that same lineage forward, bringing Soldak’s dynamic, evolving worlds to a new, sidescrolling setting.
In Din’s Champion, the goddess Valta is scheming to devour and remake the world, and players stand as the last line of defense against her machinations. Set in one of Soldak’s trademark dynamic, evolving worlds, the game challenges players to fight through hordes of monsters, mine and gather resources, craft gear and buildings, and grow a town of NPCs, all while the forces of darkness plan ambushes, spread plagues, and pursue their own devastating goals.
Players can take on Din’s Champion solo or bring friends along in online co-op, choosing from dozens of classes and building out skill trees suited to their own playstyle. Along the way, they will face hundreds of different monster types spread across a variety of biomes, along with powerful bosses that scheme and strike with wills of their own.
Din’s Champion entered Early Access on September 25th, 2024, marking the sixth time Soldak Entertainment has used the model to shape a game alongside its community. Over the following months, the studio worked player feedback into new clans, bosses, quests, optimizations, and UI improvements, continuing a development approach the studio has followed since its earliest games.
Key features of Din’s Champion include:
Truly Vast Character Customization. Choose from dozens of classes, each with its own skill tree, strengths, and weaknesses. Craft and equip gear with different stats and perks to build the perfect warrior.
Online Multiplayer. Bring friends along in online co-op to survive, thrive, and push back the forces of evil together.
Mighty and Varied Enemy Forces. Face hundreds of monster types across different biomes, coordinated by powerful bosses with wills of their own. Left unchecked, they will plan ambushes and even instigate uprisings.
Every Choice Has Consequences. Decide who to save and what to prioritize. Every moment offers a hundred different possibilities, and the world responds to what players choose.
Mine, Gather, and Build. Collect resources from the world around you, from stone and clay to trees and mountains, to craft items, potions, buildings, and more, all while the enemy grows stronger.
Din’s Champion launches out of Early Access on Steam on August 24th, 2026, for Windows and Linux, priced at $19.99. Players can wishlist the game on Steam.
About Soldak Entertainment
Founded by Steven Peeler on November 22nd, 2004, Soldak Entertainment is an independent studio with more than two decades of experience building action RPGs set in dynamic, evolving worlds. Din’s Champion marks the studio’s sixth game developed through Early Access, continuing Soldak’s long-running approach of building its games alongside player feedback.
About Din’s Champion
Din’s Champion is a sidescrolling 2D action RPG from Soldak Entertainment, set in a dynamic fantasy world where players fight to stop the goddess Valta from remaking the world in her image. Featuring deep character customization, online co-op, resource gathering and crafting, and a world where monsters scheme and strike back, Din’s Champion launches out of Early Access on Steam on August 24th, 2026.
Uncover disturbing secrets and outwit relentless human Stalkers in the final chapter of the survival-horror trilogy
CATANIA, Italy — Aug. 17, 2026 — The Red Nun draws closer… award-winning video game developer and publisher Stormind Games is thrilled to reveal today that Remothered: Red Nun’s Legacy, the third installment in the Remothered series, will launch on consoles and PC on October 27. Experience a modern return to classic survival horror, where psychological tension, human threats and disturbing secrets collide, just in time for Halloween!
When her daughter disappears inside an isolated residence at the foot of Mount Etna, Susan must descend into a nightmare of hidden rooms, buried memories and relentless human Stalkers. To find her, she will uncover the forgotten origins of the Red Nun and secrets that reach deep into her own family.
Red Nun’s Legacy introduces more ways than ever to fight back against the terror and expand your exploration. Utilize limited melee weapons to keep the Stalkers at bay, and conjure hypnosis powers to uncover new hidden pathways and secrets in the villa.
Remothered: Red Nun’s Legacy features the voices of Cissy Jones (The Walking Dead, Life is Strange, BAFTA winner for Firewatch) and Maggie Robertson (Lady Dimitrescu in Resident Evil Village), as well as a soundtrack composed by the legendary Akira Yamaoka (Silent Hill).
Key Features
Survive horrific Stalkers Challenge your survival instinct to escape murderous enemies: hide, evade and fight back in critical moments. Every mistake can be fatal.
Master hypnosis powers Use retrocognition, mirror abilities and moth manipulation to read forgotten memories, reveal hidden paths and twist the environment to your advantage.
A modern return to classic survival horror Step into a love letter to classic 3rd-person survival horrors, with modern pacing, controls and production values.
Explore a richly detailed environment Investigate every room, find clues and key items, and solve puzzles to access new areas and progress toward the final revelation.
Uncover the secrets of the Cristo Morente Discover the forgotten story of the Sicilian convent where the myth of the Red Nun began: a place of burned faith, buried guilt and forbidden rituals.
Remothered: Red Nun’s Legacy will launch on PC, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on October 27. The game is available to wishlist on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, the Epic Games Store and GOG.com.
About Stormind Games
Stormind is an independent AA studio creating original and licensed horror games for PC and consoles. The team is best known for the survival horror saga Remothered and A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead, the first-person horror adventure based on the Paramount Pictures franchise. They also co-developed Mafia: The Old Country alongside Hangar 13 and 2K. More information at: https://stormindgames.com
HYPERDROP is a mind-melting pachinko roguelite about big combos, big scores, and big balls, coming soon to PC
Dark Dark Goose and Devolver Digital are bouncing with joy to announce HYPERDROP, a devastatingly fun pachinko roguelite where you build massive point-scoring boards and watch them explode with satisfying chain reactions and game-breaking combos.
In this hypnotic, pachinko-inspired roguelite you’ll turn an empty pegboard into an unstoppable scoring machine. Upgrade pegs to grant them incredible perks including splitting your ball into multiple balls, sending balls back to the top of the board, sucking them into physics-defying gravity wells, or triggering explosions that can ripple across the board.
Upgrade your balls – doubling them in size, infusing them with volatile energy, making them sticky, or giving them extra bounce to increase your point-scoring possibilities – and unleash unique balls, each with different properties and physics behaviours.
Pick your drop spot, release your ball, and watch the chaos unfold as you bend gravity, rewind time, trigger explosions, and chain together peg effects to keep the action going for as long as possible. But even in the midst of all this physics madness, you’re still in control, strategically placing pegs and choosing upgrades to maximise your point-scoring potential.
Progress through increasingly difficult stages filled with unique modifiers and boss battles that force you to rethink your build. Finish a run, then take on new challenges with alternate board layouts and fresh ways to play – all while enjoying neon-soaked visuals and a pulsing electronic soundtrack that evolves dynamically as your score increases.
Just. One. More. Drop.
HYPERDROP is coming soon to PC, but you can experience it right now by checking out the demo on Steam.
The arcade-style brawler celebrated by more than 1.5 million players prepares for its most maniacal, ingenious arrival yet
PARIS (August 17th, 2026) – Publisher Dotemu (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, Absolum) and Tribute Games (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, Scott Pilgrim EX) today released the very first look at MARVEL Cosmic Invasion: The Siege of Castle Doom. This upcoming premium DLC will find the infamous Doctor Doom central to an all-new game mode arriving alongside two new playable characters for MARVEL Cosmic Invasion, the D.I.C.E. Awards-nominated, tag-team co-op beat ‘em up celebrating the golden eras of classic MARVEL storylines and entertainment. MARVEL Cosmic Invasion: The Siege of Castle Doomlaunches on PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox Series X|S in Fall 2026.
For future updates on Doctor Doom’s ominous arrival in MARVEL Cosmic Invasion: The Siege of Castle Doom, visit the official website, and follow @Dotemu and @TributeGames on X.
About MARVEL Cosmic Invasion
In MARVEL Cosmic Invasion, the immortal Super Villain Annihilus has launched an unprecedented attack across the galaxy, threatening all life as we know it. Fighters, both Earth-born and cosmic, must now join forces in a star-spanning adventure against the deadly Annihilation Wave. Choose from a playable roster of 17 Super Heroes, tagging between duos mid-fight with the innovative Cosmic Swap system to mix and match abilities while fighting to foil Annihilus’ grand plan: spreading death across the cosmos with the help of Thanos, M.O.D.O.K, Taskmaster and his most devious allies.
After setting the bar for arcade-inspired beat ‘em ups with the acclaimed, multimillion-selling smash hit Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, Dotemu and Tribute Games have once again modernized the timeless fun of brawlers with exciting tag-team fighting and a multi-era celebration of the most iconic comic book universe. MARVEL Cosmic Invasion embodies the spirit of classic MARVEL character designs and delivers thrilling action that’d look right at home in an arcade cabinet.
About Dotemu
Dotemu is a French publisher and developer specializing in revitalizing legendary pop culture franchises across video games, TV and cinema by releasing original PC and console games that feel like a dream come true to play. Dotemu crafts entertainment with heart in collaboration with passionate creative partners for fans around the world, both through games that revitalize a beloved IP and titles set in original universes that modernize the classic fun of all-time favorites.
Dotemu has published and developed a number of global top-sellers including the award-winning games Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, Streets of Rage 4, and NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound, as well as the new, innovative breakout hit IP Absolum. Dotemu’s development and publishing work also supported the release of the acclaimed Battlestar Galactica: Scattered Hopes, Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War!, Metal Slug Tactics, Windjammers 1 and 2, Pharaoh: A New Era, Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap and more.
Dotemu is currently working on Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Deathmaster, Theos: Cities of Myth and unannounced projects planned for 2026 and beyond.
About Tribute Games
Tribute Games is a studio developing and publishing video games with a focus on pixel art and classic game design. The Montreal-based studio has been steadily creating entertaining, challenging and retro-inspired games since
2011 using modern game development processes and technology. Their catalogue includes: Wizorb, Mercenary Kings, Curses ‘N Chaos, Ninja Senki DX, Flinthook, and Panzer Paladin. They are also the developers of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, published by Dotemu, in partnership with Nickelodeon.
About Marvel
MARVEL is one of the world’s most prominent entertainment brands, built on an unparalleled library of iconic characters and stories that have shaped pop culture for 85 years. The MARVEL brand spans entertainment, including film, television, publishing, licensing, games, live events, digital media, and more.
With the flood waters continuing to rise and the Slither taking over Arkham, we step into the shoes of Calvin as he must find a way to complete the ritual to bring his beloved Faye’s soul back to her body even as monstrosities seek to block him at every step in Frogwares’ The Sinking City 2.
The Sinking City 2 plunges players into a haunting survival horror experience set in the flooded, decaying city of Arkham, where eldritch horrors and unspeakable mysteries lurk around every corner. Inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft, the game shifts the series toward a stronger survival horror focus, challenging players to scavenge for limited resources, solve disturbing mysteries, and confront terrifying creatures born from cosmic nightmares. As the city descends further into madness, every street, abandoned building, and flooded district hides deadly secrets waiting to be uncovered.
Exploration, investigation, and tense combat work hand in hand as players search for clues, manage scarce ammunition, and make difficult decisions that shape their journey through the cursed metropolis. Atmospheric environments, grotesque enemies, and a gripping narrative create constant tension while expanded gameplay systems encourage multiple approaches to survival. With stunning visuals powered by Unreal Engine 5 and Frogwares’ signature detective storytelling, The Sinking City 2 delivers a chilling blend of psychological horror and Lovecraftian suspense.
The Sinking City 2 Developer: Frogwares Publisher: Frogwares Platform: Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, PC/Steam/GOG/EGS Release Date: 18th August, 2026 Price: $49.99 USD
Recommended – “The Sinking City 2 takes a bold genre shift and makes it work, blending tight horror pacing, brutal combat, and streamlined investigations into a gripping descent into Lovecraftian terror.”
Sometimes change happens unexpectedly or simply because someone desires something different. Other times it is a necessity to survive, and when it comes to Frogwares. Not only has the developer had to deal with legal issues after the release of The Sinking City 1 that dragged on for years, they are also currently dealing with the nightmare of a war happening in Ukraine. With such a hazardous work environment, one would expect the developers to shift focus to perhaps something a bit different from Lovecraft’s dark and twisted lore but instead the team has doubled down and shifted focus in an entirely different manner. Rather than being an open-world detective game, The Sinking City 2 tightens things up into a survival-horror experience that feels right at home in Lovecraft’s sinister mind.
The Sinking City 2 Gameplay
Story
The inland city of Arkham may have been thriving once upon a time but now a supernatural flood of unknown origins has struck and the water continues to rise with every passing day. No manner of pumping, floodgates, or man-made barricades seem to keep it out and the only thing people can do is flee the city in hopes that they can escape the rising water. Six months after the start of the flood players take on the role of Calvin Rafferty, a skilled occult adventurer that has fallen in love with Faye Bennett who shares his same passion for the occult and forbidden side of the world. During an occult ritual to enter the Dreamlands, something goes terribly wrong and while Calvin awakes with no memories of what happened on the other side, Faye remains in a supernatural slumber, with only the mysterious Nightshade Mask forming on her face as a result.
Believing that her soul has somehow been separated from her body, Calvin has done enough research to believe the answers lie within a book in the forbidden section of the library, but he will need to cross through the drowned out streets of Arkham and the Slither that now occupy its buildings and waterways to track it down. Though even then, this is far from the end of the journey as something far more sinister than a few worm-like creatures and eldritch monstrosities have plans in mind for the pair, nevermind the few living people that Calvin does manage to come across who have stayed behind in the flooded city.
The Sinking City 2 takes a very deliberate and heavy swing away from what players might expect after the original game and this swing is a successful one. By focusing on dialing in the narrative delivery and environmental storytelling rather than spreading themselves thin through an open world, the story here is not only filled with dread but also keeps players guessing as to what twisted thing will happen next and likely still be surprised, even for those familiar with Lovecraft’s lore. Far more than any actual detective game might since there truly are so many surprises that happen within every chapter of the game as Calvin travels from location to location. This results in a title that is not only excellently paced, but features one dark turn after another before twisting the emotional knife a few more times with the loving couple.
Notes contained within every level provide some extra context to the game’s world, including desperate pleas for those who tried surviving, pages from those exploiting the flood and eldritch beings, and more. The puzzles themselves are also far more interesting than players might expect given the game’s narrowed focus. In The Sinking City 2 the puzzles tend to be optional but also provide useful rewards as well as additional narrative purpose at the same time, especially with how horrific the consequences or results of these puzzle solutions end up being.
As for the characters themselves, while the game is a lonely experience it is an intentional one, where isolation is often only broken up by something far worse. Thankfully though the interactions between Faye and Calvin are truly wonderful throughout the story. These are told both through flashbacks of how they met as well as interactions while exploring levels. While it would be a spoiler to say how she can interact, let’s just say it works quite well from both an occult perspective and romantic element at the same time. It also must be noted that while the game does feature a New Game+, the only additional story content added are some extra notes throughout the entire game while the core storyline remains the same.
Gameplay
While the story may still feature all of the eldritch horrors and dark reveals that one would expect from a game set in a Lovecraftian world, the gameplay is where The Sinking City 2 truly sets itself apart from the original. Whereas the original game was set in a more open world and combat took a back-seat to investigations that often spanned city-wide clue hunting, this time around Frogwares has opted for a far more linear and stricter approach to the game with puzzle elements taking a bit of a backseat. Instead, the main focus now is almost entirely on survival horror through an over-the-shoulder perspective as players must now navigate through tighter corridors all while managing their limited ammo and healing items and eliminating enemies, or straight up running past them if need be, to reach their objective or a safe room.
It is worth noting that off the bat the title offers players four difficulty levels to choose from, ranging from an Easy equivalent that can even make the player invulnerable to a truly challenging hardcore mode and these difficulties can be swapped at anytime during gameplay, though the title will only recognize the lowest difficulty players went to upon completing the game. Similarly, the puzzles also have two difficulty levels and this is more of a personal challenge than anything else, especially since it is easy enough to match clues together but having simple investigations highlights specific words within clues and matching icons for specific puzzles while standard difficulty removes these hints and leaves players to their own devices to solve the riddles and combinations on the clueboard as players discover them in each area.
As players navigate through the flooded city of Arkham they will generally do so with a boat but even here the actual paths players can take are linear with only a few diverging optional areas for those looking for extra items or bonuses. While players won’t be attacked on the boat, as soon as they are on land they are potentially free game as enemies will appear almost always out of nowhere, seeking to not only spook the player but also get the jump on them at the same time. This is done by Slither controlled bodies often bursting through walls, rising from their dead-states when players solve a puzzle or open a previously locked door, or even opening up a container sometimes. Then there are those that bust through doorways, opening up new paths while also making players have to scramble to put up a fight.
The Sinking City 2 offers plenty of ways for players to fight against every type of enemy they encounter and most enemies have their own unique weaknesses but at the same time, so does the player. Part of this weakness is the fact that the player has a limited inventory space and every healing item, firearm, and ammo stack takes up a slot and while crafting items do stack on one another, this can make for some rather tight situations if players venture out unprepared or overburdened and unable to pick up quest items without retreating to a safe room to stash items. That being said, the enemies players face off against come in a variety of forms, ranging from simple Slither infected forms with weak spots that blister out of their bodies and can be targeted for significant damage, jumping spider-like enemies that players can dodge out of the way of and stomp to death with a single squish, evolved Slither forms that can spit bile and reinforce their weak points, and even Deep Ones themselves that end up being one of the most formidable standard enemies players come across outside of boss encounters.
One thing that should be emphasized in The Sinking City 2 is that while it is possible to probably kill nearly every enemy players come across, it really feels like that is the last thing players should do. While players can craft ammo and healing items, the amount of damage they receive from attacks and even damage enemies can absorb, especially if players are careless with the Slither and allow the worms to travel to another body without squashing them, allowing them to revive another corpse, can be quite brutal. This is alleviated a little during forced combat encounters as these locations will feature containers that will slowly refill with consumables such as healing items and ammunition, though it won’t always match the weapons players might have on hand. These weapons start with a standard handgun and eventually players will find a shotgun, tommy-gun style smg, rifle, and even a grenade launcher all of which have two attachments a piece players can sometimes find in “Emergency Relief Crates” scattered in levels that have unique one-use pens that open them. No worries on missing out though, there are enough pens to open every crate as long as players search hard enough.
Speaking of which, while players do have a melee option for both punching/shouldering enemies and stomping, it feels like it is generally a last resort or a way to thin out a single stunned enemy as they can quickly stand back up and strike if players are careless. Of course, since it is also possible to dodge an enemy attack and send them stumbling to the ground and vulnerable, it is also possible to exploit this opening for a few stomps. Similarly, dodging is perfect for seeing a hallway filled with Slither forms or even a Deep One and dodging right past them to run through a doorway or into a safe room, especially if players know they won’t need to return to that location again.
This is helped by the familiar survival horror mechanic of featuring a map that changes room color depending on if there are items or documents still in it or not. Red signifies a puzzle, item, or document might be within while blue means it is cleared. Speaking of the puzzles again, it must be said that the puzzles within the game are quite smart and require a bit of thinking to actually discover the solution to. While every puzzle features clues players can assemble on Calvin’s clueboard, with proper connections providing “Dream Essence.” There is often still some intuition involved in actually figuring out what players will need to do. Most of these puzzles are for optional things such as extra inventory space, attachments, or even just Dream Essence but many also provide useful ammo or are required to advance the story and having quite a few of them be brain teasers is a nice balance here. Not only are players tested in combat, but also just enough with the puzzles to keep things feeling fresh without halting progress too much.
Now the Dream Essences that players acquire from completing investigations and found in certain locations can be used to unlock special perks for Calvin and the player. These perks will go into the Night Shade mask which initially only has one round slot and one diamond slot available with two more diamond slots available for unlocking with a lot of essence. These various perks start at low rank and unlock as players obtain more of them and range from simple things like taking less damage from humanoid enemies or taking less damage the more healing items the player is carrying to crafting more ammo with every recipe or even having a “last stand” attack against an enemy to avoid dying. These perks must be equipped and can be swapped at any time. It is also worth noting that besides carrying perks the Night Shade mask serves a secondary purpose as a “back up” life. Should the player fall in battle and the mask is charged with a specific item, it will revive Calvin with about half of his health left and allow him to return to the fray. These items are quite useful even if we didn’t find ourselves using many throughout our playthrough, even against the few challenging boss fights that the players will need to deal with, but we’ll leave that up for players to discover.
Now, it is worth noting that the game does feature not only a New Game+ mode but also “Eldritch Achievements.” New Game+ allows players to carry over all of their unlocked mask perks and slots into a new game while also providing some extra notes scattered here and there throughout the story. The Eldritch Achievements on the other hand reward the player with Eldritch Points that can be exchanged for some powerful goodies or cosmetic ones should the player desire. This includes unlocking weapons earlier in the game, infinite ammo packs for each weapon type, and even extremely powerful perks that can only be obtained with these points. Other unlocks include costumes for Calvin and Faye, flashlight colors, and concept art.
Audio & Visuals
The Sinking City 2 is quite the gorgeous looking game in its own hideous way at times. The flooded streets of Arkham have their own dreary charm to them, seeing echoes of what used to be a thriving town with brightly lit signs advertising long evacuated or dead businesses all while the monsters that players face off against are especially grotesque and show believable body damage when attacked, at least when it comes to standard humanoid enemies. When shooting or even destroying an explosive barrel against a humanoid enemy they will appear burned and charred if they stand back up, or feature torn apart flesh from bullet impacts and bursted weak points. Similarly the NPCs that players do meet that aren’t hostile match the aesthetic of a Lovecraftian tale perfectly, even if they are few and far between. It is worth noting that while my time throughout the game was mostly flawless, the game did suffer a hard crash mid-cutscene and during a prolonged forced-battle long distance enemies appeared to move at an odd frame rate compared to closer foes, making it difficult to target them.
The voice work throughout the game is handled exceptionally well with a great deal of emotion being put into Calvin and Faye’s performances, especially the few times a character happens to sing here and there. The background noises and sounds of the monstrosities help create a creepy atmosphere wherever players are traveling, especially given that background music is kept to a minimum or only used for dramatic effect during boss battles.
Overall
Frogwares was taking a big risk when it came to changing the formula so hard for The Sinking City 2 but it has paid off with dividends. Not only has the story managed to stay more focused in delivering the eldritch horrors and dark twists that fans of Lovecraft come to expect but it also combines a satisfying mix of challenging combat that balances the player’s instincts of when it is time to take a stand and fight or make a run for it and save some ammo/healing items for the next encounter. Combine this with modified investigations that align better with a survival horror’s progress and item management and we have a game that is not only ready to scare players with existential dread as often as it does with a fresh enemy bursting through a wall ready to send tentacles through Calvin’s face.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
The free-to-play mobile game has amassed over 150M downloads and will be making its first public appearance at a gaming event.
LIMASSOL, CYPRUS, 17 AUGUST 2026 | PlayDucky, the publisher behind the globally successful ragdoll physics game, Melon Sandbox, is excited to share that they will be attending PAX West 2026 this upcoming September 4th through 7th. Visitors can stop by the interactive booth to try the game, pose with life-size cutouts, and earn chances to spin a prize wheel for goodies.
Ragdoll Mayhem
Melon Sandbox is a thrilling sandbox game where players unleash creativity through brutal experiments with reactive ragdoll physics. Launched in 2022, users can test unique interactions between objects like vehicles, weapons, explosives, and tools to create chaos in an open world. A variety of map environments are available, from cities, acid pits, and lava to underwater worlds, each with unique physics, items, and interactions. Melon Sandbox also boasts aneditor that allows users to create their own gameplay experiences to share with fellow players. This UGC can be purchased by others, providing a payout to the creator for every mod download. Melon Sandbox recently introduced a Lua Chip item that allows players to inject custom Lua script directly into the game, opening up new possibilities for in-game expression.
Stop by Booth #1014!
PlayDucky will be showcasing MelonSandbox at PAX West in the Arch Building, Level 4, at Booth #1014. Tablets will be set up so visitors can try the game without downloading it to their own devices. People who stop by the booth can walk away with a Melon Sandbox trading card or stick around to earn additional game-branded merch! Take pictures at the booth, play whack-a-mole, and more to earn spins at the prize wheel, giving everyone a chance to win branded pins, coins, and more.
Melon Sandbox is free to download. The latest update is available now on iOS, Android, and browser. Players can join the game’s official Discord to discuss the game, share modded content, and receive tips for their UGC experiences.
About PlayDucky
PlayDucky Game Publishing is a premier, global mobile game publisher focused on casual games. With years of experience in the industry, PlayDucky provides developers with essential support and resources, allowing them to thrive in an increasingly competitive market.
About Melon Sandbox
Launched in 2022, Melon Sandbox is a physics-based world where players use a massive toolkit of objects and vehicles to create emergent gameplay. Available on iOS, Android, and Browser, it has surpassed 150 million downloads and is becoming the go-to launchpad for the next generation of indie developers.
