Inspired by real characters and events, this narrative RPG reimagines 1930s New York with a new twist
Issaquah, WA, USA – February 9th, 2026 – Seismic Squirrel today announced that Aether & Iron, a narrative-driven RPG focused on player choice and character-driven storytelling, will launch on PC via Steam on March 31, 2026.
Set in an alternate 1930s New York transformed into a vertical city by the discovery of “aether”, a key component to newfound anti-gravitational technology, Aether & Iron follows Gia, a smuggler navigating crime syndicates, political conspiracies, and fragile alliances. Players shape Gia’s story through meaningful decisions, with every choice influencing relationships, outcomes and the fate of the city itself. The game is fully voiced and features writing talent with credits on Mass Effect, Far Cry, and Sovereign Syndicate, with an original score composed by two-time Grammy Award winner Christopher Tin and Grammy nominee Alex Williamson, best known for their work on the Civilization series.
“Aether & Iron is about finding your own path when the world doesn’t give you many choices, if any at all.” said Tyler Whitney, Narrative Lead at Seismic Squirrel. “Whether you’re talking your way out of trouble, taking a risky job, or deciding the fate of someone who has put their life in your hands, every decision shapes Gia’s story and the future of New York. We’ve spent years building this world and bringing its characters to life, and we’re incredibly excited for players to finally experience it when the game launches this March.”
Gameplay blends narrative-driven role-playing with tactical, turn-based vehicular combat that reflects the risks of life in the city’s underworld. Players customize a fleet of aether-powered vehicles and recruit a diverse cast of companions, each bringing unique talents and personal stories that influence both combat encounters and narrative paths.
As a seemingly simple smuggling job escalates into a conspiracy threatening the entire city, players develop their Hustle, Smarts and Brass – core abilities that shape combat effectiveness, dialogue options and high-stakes decisions. Even the most carefully considered choices carry uncertainty, where success or failure can come down to a single dice roll. Over time, those decisions determine whether New York’s citizens find hope, or remain trapped in corruption and violence.
Key Features
Narrative-Driven RPG: Shape the story through impactful choices that affect characters, alliances, and the future of New York.
Your Choices Matter: Your decisions will shape the unfolding history of New York and the lives of its citizens, determining whether they will be able to find hope in a corrupt world of manipulation and violence.
Turn-Based Vehicular Combat: Assemble a wide range of incredible aether-powered vehicles and unlock new tactical options to try out in an interesting twist on strategic, turn-based vehicular battles.
Muster Your Crew: Recruit unique and resourceful companions to watch your back and follow their stories.
Grow your Talents: Level up your Hustle, Smarts and Brass abilities to improve your chances in combat and social situations. But no matter how good you are, you’re always a dice roll away from success or failure.
Drive in Style: Upgrade your aether-powered rides to suit your playstyle. Enhance your cars with every trick in the smuggler’s toolkit – hidden compartments, smoke dispensers and, of course, flamethrowers.
Dive into An Underground Life: Navigate secret paths, dodge enemies, hide contraband, and stay ahead of the big bosses out to get you.
Distinctive Visual Identity: Inspired by 1930s detective comics and the Art Deco period, Aether & Iron brings a unique visual identity to gameplay.
Full Voice Acting: Experience an alt-history 1930s New York directly through the voices of its inhabitants. Learn their stories; sometimes funny, sometimes philosophical, usually tragic.
Aether & Iron launches on Steam and Steam Deck on March 31, 2026, featuring full English voice acting and text localization support for English, Spanish (Spain & Latin America), French, German, Polish, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, and Simplified Chinese – Play the demo and wishlist Aether & Iron now, on Steam!
About Seismic Squirrel Seismic Squirrel is a talented and passionate team of both industry veterans and enthusiastic newcomers. We share a strong desire to tell fascinating stories supporting engaging gameplay mechanics.
Console release date trailer shows paintbrush-wielding artist in stunning 2D hand-drawn adventure with flow-state gameplay
Cologne/Berlin, Germany – February 9th, 2025 – Following the recent announcement of Switch release date at the Nintendo Japanese Direct, Blue Backpack are excited to announce the PlayStation and Xbox release date for their critically acclaimed 2D hand-drawn metroidvania, Constance. The game will be available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on May 1st, the same day it hits Nintendo Switch.
Constance was hailed as among the best in the genre and won comparisons to the likes of Hollow Knight and Celeste when it hit PC in December 2025. Console fans now get to experience the metroidvania exploration, flow-state platforming and engaging combat for themselves on May 1st.
In Constance, you can transform into paint to dive into the ground and walls, slice through the air and enemies, and utilize an array of unique brush techniques to experience a constant state of flow. Become stronger by unlocking new brush techniques, defeating threatening foes, overcoming platforming challenges, and solving complex puzzles to advance your progress as you uncover Constance’s past! Help her understand her personal struggles, unlock her creativity, and find her inner purpose.
Explore 6 unique biomes in Constance’s inner-world, with each region featuring its unique set of enemies and characters representing different aspects of her psyche and personal history. Uncover countless secrets, multiple paths, deadly boss battles, characters, side quests and collectibles in this nonlinear interconnected inner-world.
About Blue Backpack Blue Backpack is an independent developer and publisher for narrative driven games. Based in Berlin and Cologne, Blue Backpack is currently working on two games: Constance and The Berlin Apartment.
About ByteRockers’ Games Berlin-based development studio and publisher of indie games that loves to rock n’ roll. Currently working on the code-based bullet hell Net.Attack() and a space-themed mining simulator named Exovia, the company has a long track record of releasing quality games since 2018. As publishing partner and proud resident of the German games capital, supporting small teams with fresh ideas has become the signature of ByteRockers’ Games, who make a point to show face at local events of all sizes and even take on the role as industry advocate with the politicians and media in town.
About PARCO GAMES PARCO Co., Ltd. has launched a new business venture to apply its unique discernment and creativity cultivated in the fields of fashion, entertainment, and art to the gaming industry. The company has made a full-scale entry into the game publishing business and established a new label, “PARCO GAMES.” ‘PARCO GAMES’ serves as the umbrella brand for PARCO’s game-related businesses, incorporating the newly added publishing division. Through events, collaborations, and in-store promotions at PARCO retail locations, the company aims to comprehensively and globally advance its game business.
It’s time to clean up the streets… old-school style!
Barcelona, Spain – 9 February 2026. Publisher SelectaPlay and developer Fallen City Studio are ready to throw down, announcing that the no-holds-barred arcade beat ’em up Fallen City Brawl is coming to PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch in fall 2026, with both a physical Standard Edition and a Limited Special Edition built for collectors and classic brawler fans alike.
Inspired by the golden age of late ’80s and early ’90s arcade beat ’em ups, Fallen City Brawl delivers crunchy pixel art, brutal street combat, and pure side-scrolling mayhem, the kind of game that feels right at home on a disc or cartridge.
Two Physical Editions. One Old-School Street Fight.
Players can choose how they want to take back the streets, with two physical editions available for PS5 and Nintendo Switch.
Standard Edition
The Standard Edition includes the full game on disc or cartridge, wrapped in striking character artwork straight from the neon-soaked streets of Fallen City.
Limited Special Edition
For fans who want something extra on their shelves, the Limited Special Edition packs a serious punch and includes:
Limited Special Edition Collector’s Box with exclusive artwork
Physical copy of Fallen City Brawl on disc or cartridge
Iron-on patch – wear your allegiance
Original Soundtrack on CD Digipack, bringing the streets home
Lenticular arcade joystick keychain, straight out of the coin-op era
Character sticker pack featuring the game’s brawlers
It’s a premium tribute to classic arcade culture, and a knockout addition to any physical collection.
About Fallen City Brawl
The streets are burning, the criminal underworld is tearing itself apart, and four unlikely fighters are caught in the middle. To survive, and take the city back, they’ll need fists, grit, and one ferocious wolf at their side.
Fallen City Brawl delivers intense, side-scrolling beat ’em up action with oversized sprites, animated cityscapes, and a combat system packed with destructive combos, counters, grapples, air throws, parries, special moves, and screen-clearing RIOT supers. Play solo or team up with friends in local co-op, backed by animated cutscenes and a hard-driving soundtrack by Daniel Lindholm.
Key Features
7 stages of arcade-inspired street action
4 playable characters, each with their own style
Deep hand-to-hand combat with combos, specials, and counters
A brutal arsenal including pipes, bats, knives, firearms, chainsaws, and more
Upgradeable mercenary backup for screen-clearing special attacks
Solo play or local co-op mayhem
Command a wolf companion and unleash chaos
A pulse-pounding soundtrack by Daniel Lindholm
Pre-Order Now
Both the Standard Edition and Limited Special Edition of Fallen City Brawl are available to pre-order now for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch. Supplies of the Limited Special Edition are strictly limited, so lock in your copy early and be ready to reclaim the streets when the game launches in fall 2026.
About SelectaPlay
SelectaPlay is SelectaVisión’s video games publishing branch. The company works with talented studios on unique video games and helps them publish their titles in both physical and digital formats in Europe and worldwide.
About SelectaVisión
SelectaVisión is a video publishing company founded in 1984. Based in Spain, SelectaVisión’s catalog includes anime and live-action feature films, TV shows, and movies.
The Colors of Harmony will be the 40th anniversary of Hitoshi Sakimoto‘s work on soundtracks which brought to life many enchanting worlds created by legendary Japanese studios Vanillaware and Square Enix. The composer will join us in person for this special evening, accompanied by the London Mozart Players orchestra and a host of talented soloists.
Music crafted by Basiscape under the direction of Hitoshi Sakimoto has always held a special place in the hearts of millions of gamers worldwide. The Colors of Harmony concert will feature beloved themes from Vanillaware titles such as 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim and Odin Sphere Leifthrasir, as well as Square Enix classics including Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Fantasy XII and Vagrant Story. Beyond the concert itself, there is an accompanying event planned with Hitoshi Sakimoto, the details of which will be revealed at a later stage. Don’t hesitate – take the future into your own hands at gamemusic.net!
About the Game Music Festival:
Game Music Festival has been the largest event fully dedicated to the soundtracks and audio design of video games since 2018. Taking place at the most prestigious venues of London and Wroclaw and hosting world-class performers on stage, GMF is an immersive event that showcases the profound impact of video game music as a form of art. Previous editions of Game Music Festival received much praise and were universally acclaimed by fans and the game audio community. A fully-fledged festival of this scale dedicated to the soundtracks of video games is a truly unique event.
About the Game Music Foundation:
The mission of the Game Music Foundation is to promote the music of video games as an art form. Its team created gamemusic.net which has been one of the most comprehensive portals dedicated to game audio since 2006. Game Music Foundation is based in Poland, but its mission is international. GMF’s team also run Gamemusic Records, a label releasing selected game soundtracks on vinyl, such as Baldur’s Gate III, Frostpunk, or Heroes of Might & Magic III.
Strategy game experts Ironward release playable version of latest tactical title
Today independent Croatian developer Ironward is delighted to launch the playable demo for 4X real-time strategy and roleplaying game hybrid, Atre: Dominance Wars.
Become a god and conquer a world being torn apart by an ancient cataclysm in this fantasy genre hybrid from the tactical game experts behind The Red Solstice series. The demo, which will be part of Steam Next Fest, features nearly two hours of rich, tactical gameplay for players to get stuck into, including online multiplayer.
Conquer the chaos and become an almighty Elder (or even reach godhood) in the turbulent realm of Atre as the threat of The Merge looms. How you triumph against other players is up to you with three victory types (Conquest, Ascension, and Omipresence) producing a vicious cycle of alliances and betrayal.
Remove players from their victory conditions by any means possible including issuing bounties, coordinating attacks with friends and foes, and more as everyone uses everyone to get to the top. Grow and strengthen your territory by building rich and bustling settlements and levelling up Avatars who’ll lead armies into battle in your name. Forge artifacts and equip them to your Avatars to become even more powerful even as The Merge’s dark, destructive forces change the worlds around you.
To escape The Merge, you must locate Thrones which will anchor and protect your world alone. In the process, you’ll sacrifice your body to become an immortal Elder and gain access to a plethora of diverse powers that can bring about prosperity or misery – for your enemies, that is.
Using your powers will open a Gate, leaving your world vulnerable to powerful figures from the other side. This is one of several narrative decisions you can make in Atre: Dominance Wars as lore-based events feature multiple options that come with unexpected consequences that make each playthrough unique.
The Atre: Dominance Wars demo features nearly two hours of gameplay and is highly replayable, allowing players to get to grips with its systems. Including the game’s prologue, tutorial, and 60-minutes of (time-limited) Skirmish or Online mode gameplay, it’s a small piece of what strategy game fans can expect when this genre hybrid launches later this year.
Atre: Dominance Wars will be released on Windows PC via Steam in 2026. A demo is now available via the Steam page.
About Ironward
Established in 2013, Ironward proudly stands as a participant in the gaming industry, specializing in the creation of innovative real-time strategy (RTS) games. Headquartered in Croatia, Ironward’s influence extends globally as we continuously explore new possibilities and contribute fresh ideas to the gaming community. Actively collaborating with their players, the studio deeply values their input and transforms their feedback into reality.
Sydney, Australia, February 9th, 2026: The Bugbear crew is back with Career Dev Blog Part 2, and this time they’re taking a deep dive into the nuts and bolts of Wreckfest 2’s upcoming career mode. In the new post, Bugbear explains how Unlock Points put you in the driver’s seat of your own career path. Whether you want to climb the ranks of demolition derbies, switch over to banger racing, or see how European and American circuits collide, progression is now entirely up to you. No fixed ladders, no dead ends. Just freedom and tons of scrap metal.
The team also dives into side quests and special events – those ridiculous fan-favourites that make Wreckfest special. Maybe you’ll be thrown into harvesters vs. lawnmowers carnage, face school bus invasions, and other very serious motorsport spectacles designed to keep the mayhem fresh (and the Discord servers lively).
On top of that, players get a glimpse of what Bugbear calls a ‘living career’ – a modular system built to keep growing, even post-launch, with new events, divisions, and disciplines. Unlike fixed, linear career modes that leave no room for expansion (like in Wreckfest ‘1’), this one evolves naturally alongside the game itself. Wreckfest2 is designed to be the kind of game you keep coming back to – not one you finish and forget.
Curious how far Career freedom can go in a motorsport game? Read the full Dev Blog!
Ascend to the throne of full-contact racing by breaking the rules – and everything else – on your way to victory! Developer Bugbear went all out, rebuilding its true-to-life physics simulation engine to take full advantage of modern hardware. Wreckfest 2 features even higher crash fidelity, more intricate component damage simulation and many more improvements across the board!
Get ready to witness the absolute best-in-class car destruction and truly epic moments of chaos, all with the signature vehicle handling from Wreckfest!
Features:
Unmatched racing experience: Brace yourself for the most phenomenal full-contact racing action with no rules, just jaw-dropping moments of chaos and destruction, powered by the overhauled physics engine. Race in intense head-to-head fights on courses featuring high-speed circuits, crazy courses with obstacles & jumps, intersections and oncoming traffic, or go for demolition domination in derby mode.
– More and more tracks & arenas will be added during the Early Access phase –
Awesome & customisable cars: Forget pristine supercars: Our cars are old, dented and patched together. Each of them tells a story, and you can tell your own by customising your ride. Over the course of early access, more and more customisation options will be added to the game. They will not only unlock your creative desires, but also contain new armour and component types that support certain playstyles.
– Later during Early Access, you can also share your designs with other racers and wreckers! –
Fully revamped game modes: Launching into early access with the base game modes of Racing, Derby and multiplayer mode. During the Early Access phase, we will add a completely revamped career mode that adapts to your individual playstyle and guides you on your journey to become a true champion! For online racers, there will be a new skill-based matchmaking system and server queues coming as well!
Challenges: Another highlight during the Early Access phase will be special challenges, putting you behind the steering wheel of unconventional vehicles that were definitely never supposed to end up on a racetrack! Various bite-sized scenarios will keep you hooked as you battle for the highest scores.
Mod Support: During the Early Access phase, mod support will be added so you can really mess with this game by installing various mods from the Steam Workshop.
Sydney, Australia – February 9th, 2026: One of the defining traits of the Gothic franchise has always been its living world. A dynamic ecosystem full of creatures, NPCs, and critters that carry out their daily routines, whether the player is watching or not. This self-sustaining environment has long been key to Gothic’s unmistakable atmosphere, turning the Valley of Mines into more than just a backdrop; it’s a breathing, believable place that feels alive.
In the fifth entry of their ongoing Making Of series, the developers at Alkimia Interactive take players behind the scenes to show how this hallmark feature has been faithfully reimagined for the new generation. Every area, landmark, and character has been rebuilt from the ground up, carefully balancing authenticity with fresh detail and modern technology.
Familiar sights like the old monastery ruins or the Tower of Xardas return in stunning new form, helping players navigate and recognise the world without relying on a map – just as in the original game, where players had to find a map before they could use one. This design philosophy remains intact, ensuring exploration still feels rewarding and immersive.
Another major highlight of this Making Of is the expanded armour system. In the classic Gothic, each faction offered light, medium, and heavy armour tiers. The remake goes a step further: players can now customise and modify their armour, both in looks and stats, giving every piece a distinct feel while keeping its faction identity intact.
The Making Of also introduces the new conversation camera system, adding cinematic flair and energy to every dialogue. Whether you’re facing a grumpy guard, a shady trader, or a friendly fellow (a very rare encounter in the Valley of Mines…), interactions now feel more personal and dynamic than ever before — but better see for yourself in Gothic 1 Remake – Making Of #5: Bringing the World to Life, available now on THQ Nordic’s official channels:
Gothic 1 Remake is available for Pre-order at JB Hi-Fi, EB Games, Amazon and Big W.
Gothic 1 Remake is currently in development for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Stay tuned for more updates on the Official Gothic Website.
About Gothic 1 Remake
The Kingdom of Myrtana has been invaded by a relentless horde of orcs. Desperate for powerful weapons to repel them, King Rhobar II orders the mining of vast quantities of magical ore, setting every available prisoner to work in the Khorinis mines. To ensure no one escapes, the King commands his most skilled mages to erect a magical barrier. But something goes terribly wrong, and the magic spirals out of control, trapping everyone inside. The prisoners rebel, transforming the mine into a lawless territory ruled by the Colony’s most brutal inmates. Now, the King must negotiate with these new rulers, as tensions rise among the mine’s factions. Amidst the chaos, the arrival of an unknown prisoner will change everything …
Features
Faithful Remake: Experience the original 2001 RPG classic fully rebuilt using current-gen technology, preserving its iconic atmosphere while enhancing the gameplay for a fluid and dynamic experience.
Expansive Gameplay: Immerse yourself in over 50 hours of gameplay, exploring the vast and dangerous world of the Colony. Discover secrets old and new, challenging combat encounters, and unique NPCs, each with their own story to tell. Dynamic Living World: Explore a vibrant world where inhabitants go about their daily lives: working, sleeping, eating, and fighting to survive, adding depth and realism to this immersive world.
Branching Story: Choose which of the three factions to align with, influencing how your abilities and playstyle develop and how this true adventure unfolds. Enhanced Combat System: Master a modernised combat system that updates the core mechanics of the original, offering a more fluid and dynamic experience while staying true to its deliberate and tactical roots.
Play as the Nameless Hero: Navigate the fate of a lifelong convict who must survive in a treacherous world filled with wild animals, ancient magic, and dangerous foes.
Extra Song Pack Vol. 14 launches April 15, sale announced for PC, Nintendo Switch
TOKYO – 7 Feb. 2026 –Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost, the rhythm bullet hell set in the Touhou universe developed by UnknownX and published by Alliance Arts, launches its 13th song pack DLC today alongside free content updates on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC via Steam. To commemorate the game’s second anniversary, enjoy a 70% discount on Steam and a 50% discount on Nintendo Switch until Sat, 21 Feb. at 7:00 AM PST.
Celebrate the second anniversary of Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost‘s initial release with two new free tracks! Survive to the longest Danmaku Kagura track ever “Independent Simulacrum,” the INDIE Live Expo theme song composed by Touhou series creator ZUN. Increase the challenge with a new live arrangement of the previous most difficult song “Re:Unknown X (marasy with String Quartet)” from pianist marasy.
Kick off Season 4 with Extra Song Packs Vol. 13 and 14, with the number of songs expanded from 10 to now 15 per pack. Tap into the highlight track of Vol. 13 “wish,” a new original arrangement from RD-Sounds of the Touhou arrangement circle “Diao ye zong”. Plus, the fan-favorite track “Cirno’s Perfect Math Academy” introduces the ability to play its music video in the background.
Customize the Play Stats screen with the new Skins inspired by beloved Touhou heroines Marisa Kirisame and Remilia Scarlet, as well as the Steam-exclusive “Blue Stripe” skin.
Guide the iconic Touhou heroine Reimu Hakurei, as she must overcome a mysterious turmoil rocking the foundation of Gensokyo. Band together with charming Touhou characters and take on challenges in more than 250 distinct Touhou Project arrangements. Switch freely between four-key and six-key modes in classic rhythm game fashion in Kagura mode, or avoid the dropping bullets corresponding to the beats in the bullet hell-style Danmaku mode.
“Thank you for the long-lasting support to our passionate community and collaborators. We’ve had a blast since launching Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost two years ago,” said JYUNYA, leader of Unknown X. “To celebrate this occasion, we’ve added two free songs from Touhou creator ZUN and experienced composer marasy. We hope you enjoy them!”
Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost is now available on PlayStation 4 (with backwards compatibility on PlayStation 5), PC via Steam, and Nintendo Switch with language options in English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese. Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost is an officially approved derivative work. The Season 4 Pass (which includes song packs 13-14) is now available for purchase at a discounted price on PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch.
About Touhou Project
Touhou Project, recognized by the Guinness World Records as the “most prolific fan-made shooter series,” is a collection of games set in the world of Gensokyo and using a recurring cast of familiar characters. Predominantly consisting of vertical shooters, the Touhou Project games are developed by the original creator, one-man studio Team Shanghai Alice.
About Unknown X
Founded by Aquastyle game developer JYUNYA and composed of handpicked members of the DANMAKU KAGURA development team, Unknown X aims to enhance Touhou Project and propel its recognition in the world. Unknown X’s current name was created by none other than the original Touhou Project creator himself, ZUN.
When it comes to My Hero Academia, Bandai Namco took a rather predictable route at least at the start when it came to making games for the series. Arena fighters are the standard for anime and they released My Hero Academia: One’s Justice and its sequel within two years of each other. What came as a surprise though is that after that things went silent. Rather than drawing out a new game for each new story arc, six years have gone by and not only has the manga finished since then, even the anime wrapped up at the end of 2025.
So now that the anime has finished airing, now is the perfect time for Bandai Namco to strike while the fandom is still hot and bring the franchise back for one last brawl in My Hero Academia: All’s Justice. Featuring some reworked fighting mechanics, some expanded single player elements, and the largest roster so far, is this title worthwhile for fans?
Story
My Hero Academia: All’s Justice does not beat around the bush as the first thing players do, before any menu appears, is take part in the final battle of the entire series as a quick tutorial. That means that for those who are playing this and haven’t somehow seen or read the ending, this game will spoil that content. Anyways, once players complete that battle they will be dropped into the game’s city hub that literally works as a menu that players simply can explore. Any facilities that can be entered are game modes, customization, or options, and characters milling about outside such as familiar heroes cannot be talked to unless they are part of that facility.
Instead the heart of the game’s story is presented through the Story Mode that will see players revisiting the final season of the anime’s battles as they fight their way through Shiragaki and his numerous forms, battling against all of the villain allies in separate battles, and even partake in multi-battle long strings that see countless heroes facing off against the same villain in order to advance the plot. The story here is everything that fans have seen before and players can approach battles in any order they see fit, choosing to break away from the Shiragaki battle to fight against Toga as Ochaco and Tsuyu before the various branches meet back up. This handles the relatively messy way that the original manga presented these battles in a far better form even if their actual presentation can leave a bit to be desired, but more on that later.
The rest of the time players will spend in the game’s story will be through Team-Up Missions. This works as a “virtual reality” system designed for the heroes to test out their skills and also a place where players will be able to experience some light-hearted moments and side-content with at least some of their favorite characters. This includes partaking in random hero missions like helping an elderly woman find her lost bag to beating down a pair of robbers or training through a past disaster simulated in the game’s small open city. There are also little character specific stories that players can unlock and play through some of as they progress by unlocking these characters as allies in Team-Up Missions. These stories aren’t anything too special, but it does add a little extra for fan favorites, though it is worth noting that only Class 1A students get this treatment.
There is at least some attempt at revisiting old story content through Archives Battles. These, unlocked by progressing through Team-Up missions again, are some of the more pivotal battles that took place throughout the series and give fans a chance to revisit these memories a bit. Unfortunately they are incredibly sparse when it comes to presentation with only a few noteworthy anime stills and fresh voice over for the characters involved. Ironically, players can choose to re-battle these fights using any characters they want but there is no reward for doing so. In fact there are no character specific interactions in any form which is incredibly disappointing. Whether it is in an online match or even versus mode, characters will state their generic starting and win lines and that is it, no more special interactions between those that know each other.
Gameplay
Although the One’s Justice games were never the most complicated of fighting games, All’s Justice manages to make things even simpler despite expanding the fighting system to support three on three battles. Players will still have a very basic combat system with a basic combo string, two quirk-based attacks and variations of these if a direction is pushed, and of course their “Plus Ultra” special move. It is this last version that has been stripped down to its bare-bones unfortunately as every character now only has one version of their Plus Ultra attack rather than burning extra bars or even a full-gauge to trigger a cinematic blow to their opponent. Instead, if the player has extra Plus Ultra meter, they can tag in a sidekick to also perform their Plus Ultra attack.
Various other methods of attack remain the same such as unblockable attacks, counter strikes, and even “Rising” mode that has unique elements depending on the character and increases their fighting abilities overall for a limited time. Emergency escape to avoid being juggled remains accessible and tagging in a side-kick main combo also is possible though it also uses a player’s limited gauge. Now as mentioned a few times, the biggest factor here is that all fights in the game now have a possibility of being three on three and every character will need to be defeated to win. This is a significant change compared to only having sidekicks perform support attacks before, though support attacks have also been removed as a result.
Another element that has made things incredibly simple, should players want it, is the “simple” control scheme that the game defaults to. This automatically triggers various effects in combat such as taking a chain-combo and either tagging in an ally to continue said combo automatically or launch a Plus Ultra move at the end of it if there is room in the gauge. This option can be toggled off entirely should players want, but it does make the game even more accessible, especially since a large majority of the movement options have been removed entirely as well as the simplistic combat arenas.
Despite potentially having countless battle arenas to choose from, My Hero Academia: All’s Justice features a shockingly small nine and almost all of these arenas are small in their own right and have the bare minimum of interactivity and destruction. These stages, with the exception of two, are as generic as they come and feature invisible walls that players will be fighting against as they send opponents flying. This includes the city that players will fight in using Team Up missions which is not only simple in design, despite having some unique navigation features such as being able to use Ochaco’s gravity power to float onto rooftops to interact with tucked away characters. There just isn’t enough life and uniqueness to these locations.
What My Hero Academia: All’s Justice does have in spades is its character roster. The roster features the largest offering of heroes and villains to play as yet and while not everyone’s favorite characters have made the list, likely due to size abilities or even transformations, many have been made available for the first time ever, including numerous variations of Deku’s power level and style and Shiragaki’s forms. The balance between these characters and their various abilities is basically non-existent as there are clear discrepancies on what fighters are better than others in the game but that’s just how arena fighters are. Plus, attempting to balance well over sixty fighters with their unique abilities is impossible, especially since players now create teams of three. So most battles will mostly revolve around selecting your favorite characters and seeing how they handle each challenge, or at least when that is possible.
Story Mode missions will see players forced to use only the characters meant to be part of that battle, Team Up Missions limit the player to only Class 1A with Deku being the team leader and any allies he gains being sidekicks that are unlocked through progression. While exploring in Team Up Missions players can take on side-missions like tracking down items, fighting random thugs, and even fighting other characters to raise their stats and final score for said Mission to unlock extra rewards. Archive Battles, as mentioned earlier, eventually open players up to tackling challenges with their favorite characters but receive no reward for doing so. Instead the only time open battles are available is through simple computer versus matches or the online battling system.
Online fights are handled well-enough with a netcode that works about as well as one can expect. Throughout our time fighting others online, both in ranked and unranked matches, there was only a little bit of slowdown and lag at times but it was rather minimal. It is interesting to note that the game’s hub world does keep a display of the top ranked seasonal players on a digital leaderboard which is a nice touch.
One thing that isn’t a nice touch though is the complete lack of worthwhile customization. Previous titles gave players plenty of random accessories to equip onto their favorite heroes and change their look but now the only thing that most heroes have to unlock are alternate colors of their default costumes with a few extra characters having special versions of their costumes available for purchase using in-game currency like Mirko’s uninjured form. All other different costumes are locked behind paid DLC. The only real customization available comes in the form of changing a character’s voice lines in a fight, their victory and entry poses, and banner design. Incredibly barebones compared to the customization previously on offer in older games.
Audio & Visuals
My Hero Academia: All’s Justice shines the brightest when it comes to the anime aesthetic of the character models. Every character that fans have come to know and love are recreated perfectly here both inside of combat and during cutscenes. Unfortunately the story presentation itself is something of a mixed bag. Some of it is presented with brand new fully rendered cutscenes that are wonderful to look at while others are simply still-images of the anime flashing around. As mentioned before both the customization aspect and the stages themselves are also lacking this time around compared to the offerings in the older games and, with the removal of the Ultimate Plus Ultra attacks, so are the flashy finishing moves.
As a first for the game series, My Hero Academia: All’s Justice offers the English voice track right out of the gate for those who want to listen to the English dub that they may have grown familiar with. Those who prefer the original Japanese voice track can easily swap to it through the settings, giving players freedom of choice. The soundtrack is unfortunately a bit on the generic side, mixing together some decent action tracks and exploration music but lacks any of the signature music the anime had and any real punch as a result.
Overall
It’s rare that a game can take two steps forwards and three step backwards but that happens to be the case with My Hero Academia: All’s Justice. An impressive roster featuring nearly every hero and villain fans will want to play as, regardless of balance, is a nice touch and some of the presentation in the main story is impressive even if it is also mixed with generic anime stills. Thankfully some expanded single player options and a serviceable online mode make for plenty of ways to keep playing the game beyond the storyline, though the actual combat, while more enjoyable with the three on three design, feels like it has taken a step back due to removed mechanics.
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Extra Song Pack Vol. 14 launches April 15, sale announced for PC, Nintendo Switch
TOKYO – Feb. 7, 2026 –Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost, the rhythm bullet hell set in the Touhou universe developed by UnknownX and published by Alliance Arts, launches its 13th song pack DLC today alongside free content updates on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC via Steam. To commemorate the game’s second anniversary, enjoy a 70% discount on Steam and a 50% discount on Nintendo Switch until Sat, Feb. 21st at 7:00 AM PST.
Celebrate the second anniversary of Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost‘s initial release with two new free tracks! Survive to the longest Danmaku Kagura track ever “Independent Simulacrum,” the INDIE Live Expo theme song composed by Touhou series creator ZUN. Increase the challenge with a new live arrangement of the previous most difficult song “Re:Unknown X (marasy with String Quartet)” from pianist marasy.
Kick off Season 4 with Extra Song Packs Vol. 13 and 14, with the number of songs expanded from 10 to now 15 per pack. Tap into the highlight track of Vol. 13 “wish,” a new original arrangement from RD-Sounds of the Touhou arrangement circle “Diao ye zong”. Plus, the fan-favorite track “Cirno’s Perfect Math Academy” introduces the ability to play its music video in the background.
Customize the Play Stats screen with the new Skins inspired by beloved Touhou heroines Marisa Kirisame and Remilia Scarlet, as well as the Steam-exclusive “Blue Stripe” skin.
Guide the iconic Touhou heroine Reimu Hakurei, as she must overcome a mysterious turmoil rocking the foundation of Gensokyo. Band together with charming Touhou characters and take on challenges in more than 250 distinct Touhou Project arrangements. Switch freely between four-key and six-key modes in classic rhythm game fashion in Kagura mode, or avoid the dropping bullets corresponding to the beats in the bullet hell-style Danmaku mode.
“Thank you for the long-lasting support to our passionate community and collaborators. We’ve had a blast since launching Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost two years ago,” said JYUNYA, leader of Unknown X. “To celebrate this occasion, we’ve added two free songs from Touhou creator ZUN and experienced composer marasy. We hope you enjoy them!”
Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost is now available on PlayStation 4 (with backwards compatibility on PlayStation 5), PC via Steam, and Nintendo Switch with language options in English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese. Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost is an officially approved derivative work. The Season 4 Pass (which includes song packs 13-14) is now available for purchase at a discounted price on PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch.
About Touhou Project
Touhou Project, recognized by the Guinness World Records as the “most prolific fan-made shooter series,” is a collection of games set in the world of Gensokyo and using a recurring cast of familiar characters. Predominantly consisting of vertical shooters, the Touhou Project games are developed by the original creator, one-man studio Team Shanghai Alice.
About Unknown X
Founded by Aquastyle game developer JYUNYA and composed of handpicked members of the DANMAKU KAGURA development team, Unknown X aims to enhance Touhou Project and propel its recognition in the world. Unknown X’s current name was created by none other than the original Touhou Project creator himself, ZUN.
