What to play in February: Atomic Heart, Hogwarts Legacy, Wild Hearts

February will treat players to two long-awaited games at once: Atomic Heart will let you plunge into the atmosphere of an alternate 1950s USSR, while Hogwarts Legacy will transport players to the famous school of witchcraft and wizardry during the Victorian era. But those aren’t the only releases of the month. February also brings two real-time strategy games, sci-fi adventures, a dynamic action game from the creators of Ninja Gaiden, a remake of a Yakuza spin-off, and yet another Sony exclusive coming to PC.

Major February releases

Hogwarts Legacy (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One) — February 10

A magical open-world single-player RPG set in the universe created by J.K. Rowling. Once upon a time, one could only dream of this. However, the celebration among Harry Potter fans was somewhat dampened by Western activists and the publisher’s refusal to sell the game in Russia. Nevertheless, active Russian gamers are not easily deterred by activists or boycotts. So on February 10, many of them will head to late 19th-century Hogwarts to learn the fundamentals of magic in one of the four famous houses.

According to the developers, completing the main story will take about 40 hours. Players who want to experience everything in the game will need up to 120 hours. The game features 150 quests. Some locations, challenges, and NPC reactions depend on the chosen house.

We also have an article where we gathered all the facts about Hogwarts Legacy and tried to understand what the game will be like. You can read it here.

The Settlers: New Allies (PC) — February 17

Ubisoft will attempt to reboot the real-time strategy series The Settlers. The road to release for “New Allies” was thorny: the launch was repeatedly postponed, the developers reworked the game, and meanwhile, company leadership was restructuring Ubisoft itself. Can the publisher breathe new life into a once-popular franchise based on what has been shown so far? It is still unclear.

In The Settlers: New Allies, we can expect settlement construction and expansion, exploration of the surrounding world, resource gathering for growth and building, and farming. In addition, players will have to manage logistics and train troops in order to one day defeat their enemies alongside allies.

The game will feature a single-player campaign, a “hardcore” mode, and multiplayer battles. The developers claim they listened to players and that “New Allies” should be closer to what fans desire.

Wild Hearts (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One) — February 17

In February, publisher EA will release a next-gen Japanese AAA monster-hunting game. EA and Japanese studio Omega Force aim to take on not just virtual monsters, but Capcom’s Monster Hunter franchise itself.

As hunters, players will battle giant, powerful creatures inhabiting a fantasy medieval Japan. The hunt will span four biomes based on the four seasons.

Defeating monsters brings not only moral satisfaction, but also loot dropped by vanquished foes. You will start with smaller and weaker enemies. But each victory allows you to develop your character and upgrade weapons and armor, which will eventually allow you to challenge the most terrifying creatures of this world.

According to developer estimates, completing the story campaign will take around 30 hours. The game will also offer crossplay, and battles can be fought in teams of up to three players.

Atomic Heart (PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One) — February 21

Atomic Heart is arguably the most anticipated shooter of the year in Russia. Following its announcement, some players doubted that such a game was even in development and would ever see the light of day — the reveal looked that unusual. But on February 21, gamers will finally be able to journey into an era of scientific and technological revolution in an alternate USSR.

The game takes place in the 1950s in an alternate Soviet Union. A breakthrough in robotics enabled the country to become a leading superpower and raise living standards. After all, as the famous song goes: “robots toil, not man.” But behind the polished facade of the Soviet utopia lie terrifying secrets that the player must uncover while taking down rampaging automatons along the way.

What lies beneath Atomic Heart’s striking visuals is also still a mystery. Neither the trailers nor the dozens of minutes of leaked gameplay offer a definitive answer as to what the “Russian BioShock” will ultimately deliver at launch.

Worthy of note

Deliver Us Mars (PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One) — February 2

Deliver Us Mars is the sequel to the highly acclaimed sci-fi thriller Deliver Us The Moon. Humanity once again finds itself on the brink of extinction, which the protagonist must prevent on Mars. On the fourth planet from the Sun, players will encounter new puzzles requiring all their senses and abilities to solve.

According to the developers, the action-adventure features a gripping narrative, visuals, music by renowned composer Sander van Zanten, and, of course, engaging gameplay. The creators of Deliver Us Mars refined every moment down to the finest detail.

Wanted: Dead (PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One) — February 14

Wanted: Dead catches the eye with its concept. The creators describe the game as a hardcore hybrid of slasher and shooter set against a cyberpunk backdrop. The story follows Hong Kong police officer Hannah Stone, who crosses paths with a powerful, sinister corporation. To emerge victorious from the struggle, Hannah expertly wields both melee weapons and firearms.

The game doesn’t dazzle with graphical fidelity, but the developers aim to hook the audience with its gameplay. Judging its appeal solely from trailers is difficult, but the game certainly has potential to attract an audience. Moreover, the team behind the project has plenty of experience, having previously worked on Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive.

Company of Heroes 3 (PC) — February 23

The developers of Company of Heroes 3 tried to take the most meticulous approach to releasing the next mainline installment. The theater of war was chosen with active participation from the game’s community. The Eastern Front was not offered this time, so the choice came down to the Mediterranean and Pacific theaters. Land warfare in the Pacific held little appeal for players, so the decision went to North Africa and Italy.

The game mechanics remained true to tradition, but a useful innovation was added: the Tactical Pause system, allowing players to queue up a sequence of commands. Furthermore, an upgraded destruction system has been announced.

Shortly before release, an open test of the game was held. Not all players were pleased with the new entry. In terms of visuals, gamers felt the game pales in comparison even to the original title released in 2006. Furthermore, just a month prior to the official launch, the game was plagued with bugs. Perhaps rushing to buy Company of Heroes 3 immediately on release isn’t the best idea, even if you miss games of this genre. It might make sense to first check the reviews of those who have tried it and only then make a well-considered purchasing decision.

Scars Above (PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One) — February 28

Scars Above was one of the most interesting games featured during the 2022 Steam Next Fest demo festival. It is a third-person shooter in a sci-fi setting.

The protagonist, as part of a research team, embarks on an expedition to study an alien artifact. But the scientists’ plans go awry when an unknown force transports them to another planet. Now Dr. Kate Ward, a biologist, must explore extraterrestrial life from an unusual angle — armed to the teeth.

The developers promise a gripping plot, challenging puzzles, exploration of a mysterious planet, and the joy of discovery.

Early access

Wild West Dynasty (PC) — February 16

Wild West Dynasty offers players the romance of the frontier. The game is set in the late 19th century. Settlers and pioneers journey toward the Pacific coast in search of a better life and adventure. Players will build farms, raise livestock, and develop ranches.

The developers promise “a vast open world filled with danger, treasures, and secrets,” abandoned mines and caves, a sprawling skill tree, and the ability to hire workers and assign them tasks.

It is likely that not all promises will be delivered at the time the game enters Early Access, but fans of the setting should definitely keep an eye on this title.

Kerbal Space Program 2 (PC) — February 24

The second installment of Kerbal Space Program builds upon the ideas introduced in the original. Just like in the first game, we will lead the Kerbal space program, build realistic rockets and spaceplanes, and explore near space.

Kerbal Space Program 2 is set to be more visually stunning and larger in scope than the original. Rocket builders will gain access to new modules, fuel types, and rocket engines. Players will be able to establish research bases on other planets, gather resources to sustain colonies, and embark on interstellar journeys.

The sequel is also expected to include mod support and a multiplayer mode.

Remasters, remakes, and re-releases

Returnal (PC) — February 15

Sony continues to bring its exclusives to PC. February sees the release of one of the earliest PS5 titles — Returnal. The game received favorable reviews from the gaming press, though players were not quite as enthusiastic. The third-person shooter and cosmic roguelike turned out not to be entirely about space upon closer inspection, but its gameplay still managed to hook an audience.

The creators of Returnal at Finnish studio Housemarque previously developed arcade games for PS4, and that bullet-hell heritage is alive and well in Returnal, only this time the game carries a full price tag.

At launch, the experience was slightly tainted by technical hiccups, which were later resolved in the console version. How the PC version will perform remains to be seen, but judging by the quality of Sony’s other ports, no major issues are expected.

Our review on the website (moderately negative) and on the ixbt.games channel on YouTube (extremely negative).

Like a Dragon: Ishin (PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S) — February 21

Like a Dragon: Ishin, according to Sega representatives, is a full remake of the original 2014 game for PS3 and PS4, which had previously only been available in Japanese. Many fans of the Yakuza franchise had already lost hope of experiencing the game, but Sega finally listened to the players. 

Although Ishin is closely tied to the Yakuza series, primarily through its gameplay, story-wise it is not part of the main series. The action takes place in Japan in 1867, and tells the story of Sakamoto Ryoma (with Kazuma Kiryu clearly recognizable in the protagonist). Consequently, the game boasts its own distinct period atmosphere and mini-games.

A quick look at smaller projects

Blanc (PC, Switch). A beautiful story about the journey of a wolf cub and a fawn searching for their families in the snowy wilderness. Releases on February 14.

Ten Dates (PC, PS5, XSS|X, XBO, Switch). An interactive comedy about ten dates. The sequel to Five Dates. Releases on Valentine’s Day, February 14.

Sons of the Forest (PC). The sequel to the survival horror game set in a forest inhabited by cannibals, cultists, three-armed naked women, and twin brothers. The latter try to uncover the source of their supernatural powers and survive in this terrible place. Coming February 23. 

PS VR 2. The virtual reality headset for PS 5 launches with a solid roster of available games. However, a closer look at the lineup reveals that apart from already popular projects, there are few exciting new titles. Sony is placing its primary promotional bet on the spin-off of its popular franchise, Horizon Call of the Mountain. The PS VR2 and its launch games arrive on February 22.