The Main Releases of February
Nioh 3 (PC, PlayStation 5) — February 6
It seems the gaming industry has split in two: one half of players is rushing between one more "Tarkov"-style extraction shooter after another, while the other is honing reflexes in endless soulslikes. Almost every month brings either one representative of the genre or another, and sometimes both at once. But Nioh, despite the release of its third installment, cannot be called just "another one."
The original Nioh was well received by our editor Mikhail Shkredov. However, Team Ninja has had its failures as well — Rise of the Ronin is hard to call a successful project, more of a "dreary middling effort." And many elements of Nioh 3, including the open world, migrated from there. Judging by the demo version, the developers tried to take past mistakes into account — the only question is whether they actually succeeded.
The main innovation is the ability to switch between samurai and ninja styles. Previously, the player could freely combine weapons, armor, and magic, creating a universal fighter tailored to themselves. Now the choice determines your capabilities: the samurai relies on heavy weapons and parrying — katanas, spears, odachi; the ninja, by contrast, plays around mobility, using claws, dual blades, chain swords, and ninjutsu with quick dashes and dodges. The differences affect not only the arsenal, but also the pace of combat and the overall approach to battles. At the same time, the core Souls-style formula remains intact.
We will find out very soon whether Team Ninja has delivered another compromised experiment on the level of Rise of the Ronin or a breakthrough on the scale of Elden Ring.
REANIMAL (PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2) — February 13
When choosing a game for an evening or a week, it is worth paying attention not only to the title, but also to the developer and publisher. REANIMAL was created by Tarsier Studios and published by THQ Nordic. The studio does not often end up in the trends, and the publisher is not part of the top league of industry giants — and that is exactly what makes the project especially intriguing. THQ Nordic rarely chases hype, preferring to invest in unusual but carefully polished games. And Tarsier speaks for itself through its portfolio: LittleBigPlanet and Little Nightmares are cult projects that, in the opinion of fans, deserve wider recognition.
Incidentally, in Little Nightmares III by Supermassive Games, our author run.code did not find that very soul of the original. But it may well be found in REANIMAL. Judging by the trailers and screenshots, what we have here is recognizable Tarsier: gloomy atmospheric locations, an emphasis on the play of light and shadow, and unusual characters. The developers promise an even more terrifying and personal story. In this adventure horror game, a brother and sister must go through hell to save their missing friends and escape an island that was once their home. The world is once again populated by insane monsters and tormented yet unbroken children.
You can play alone or in co-op — locally or online. As usual, being scared together is more fun.
Resident Evil Requiem (PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2) — February 27
Capcom continues to develop the renewed Resident Evil series, delighting fans while counting profits along the way. In the new installment, the action returns to Raccoon City for the first time in many years — to that very "Residence of Evil" where it all began. Requiem is neither a remake nor a reboot, but an attempt to unite everything best the series has developed over the past thirty years. At its core lies the gameplay DNA of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 4, so the game has room for both classic horror with puzzles and a high-octane, bombastic zombie action experience.
This is achieved through two contrasting protagonists. Grace Ashcroft is a new character, an FBI analyst with no combat experience. She arrives in the city to investigate yet another viral outbreak and uncover the circumstances of her mother’s death — Alyssa Ashcroft, the heroine of Resident Evil: Outbreak, who died eight years earlier.
The second hero is Leon S. Kennedy, a series veteran. His return to Raccoon City is driven by personal motives: he has been infected with an unknown virus and is searching for a cure.
2026 is an anniversary year for the franchise, and a return to the roots looks entirely appropriate. At the same time, the game is not slipping into banal nostalgia: all the series developments that made the remakes beloved by players are still here. The developers promise a balance between horror and action. We are waiting with interest.
Styx: Blades of Greed (PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S) — February 19
Stealth games once ruled the scene and gave the industry cult characters: Sam Fisher from Splinter Cell, Snake from Metal Gear Solid. There were also less high-profile projects — such as Styx: Master of Shadows and Styx: Shards of Darkness, which our editor Mikhail Shkredov both criticized and praised in their time — though more often praised. The genre has long since fallen out of the mainstream, but the developers of Blades of Greed promise to bring back those very sensations. And, judging by the demo version, these are not empty words. As our author Viktor Zaitsev notes, the project is "strictly for its own audience — for those who missed Styx and his sarcastic grumbling."
The core stealth is built in the genre’s classic mold: Styx sneaks through the shadows, hides in closets and secluded corners, approaches victims from behind, above, or below, and jumps out of a sewer grate to strike precisely. Or he simply slips past the guards, avoiding direct contact. As before, Styx does not like going into open combat — and remains poorly suited to it.
We are not expecting a genre breakthrough here. But there is hope for a worthy return of an old acquaintance.
Worth Paying Attention To
Aces of Thunder (PC, PlayStation 5, VR) — February 3
Flight simulators are one of the oldest gaming genres. It has never been mainstream, but it has more than enough devoted fans. There are civilian aviation simulators like Microsoft Flight Simulator, and there are projects dedicated to intense aerial combat — for example, the IL-2 Sturmovik series.
War Thunder also lets players take part in both historical and modern dogfights. By the standards of hardcore simulators, it is rather arcade-like, but by the standards of arcade games, it is already quite hardcore. Aces of Thunder is essentially the aircraft mode of War Thunder, where the flight model has moved from one project to the other with virtually no changes.
Initially, the game was created exclusively for VR in order to immerse the player in flight with maximum authenticity. Beyond that level of realism, there are only professional simulators and real aircraft. But Gaijin Entertainment, apparently deciding that the audience of headset owners was insufficient, added a classic "flat" mode as well. Naturally, the experience will no longer be the same, but virtual pilots are still taking out their joysticks in preparation for the first February dogfights.
Carmageddon: Rogue Shift (PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2) — February 6
Carmageddon is a legendary series, but only the first installment truly became cult. Despite all attempts, the other sequels failed to reproduce its insane drive and emotional impact. Fans greet every new announcement with hope: "This time they will bring back the old feeling." So far — unsuccessfully.
FlatOut turned out too toothless, and the freedom of action in GTA: Vice City or San Andreas was impressive, but those were still not pure racing games.
Rogue Shift promises exactly racing — real racing, with a nighttime atmosphere in the spirit of Need for Speed: Underground. And looking at the trailers, you want to believe it. Yes, the bloody madness of the nineties is not here, but the spirit of the series can be felt. The action unfolds in 2050: the world has turned into a post-apocalyptic wasteland, and the streets have been overrun by the "emptied" — horrifying creatures from which one can only be safe behind the walls of high-rise buildings. The only chance to escape this nightmare is to get behind the wheel and keep driving forward.
The developers have added roguelike mechanics to the original formula — perhaps in hopes of attracting not only old-timers, but also those who have no idea what this Carmageddon of yours even is.
Romeo is a Dead Man (PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S) — February 11
The protagonist dies and is reborn in the form of a cyborg hybrid. RoboCop? Not quite. Romeo is a mercenary, an FBI agent, and a space cop all in one. He has Juliet, as well as outrageous speed and complete ruthlessness toward his enemies. The first trailer immediately set the tone: insane action with the studio’s signature absurdity. According to journalists’ impressions from Gamescom, it was the bloodiest showing of the exhibition — there is even more blood here than in Resident Evil Requiem.
The developers are betting on black humor, absurdity, and a high tempo of action. The combat system is built so that firearms and blades are equally in demand: Romeo switches on the fly between close-range and long-range combat, while the abundance of combos and techniques will require deliberate mastery as you progress.
The list of games by Grasshopper Manufacture contains an astonishing number of titles referencing death, hell, and dismemberment. But there is no need to be alarmed — you most likely know these projects: No More Heroes, Killer7, Lollipop Chainsaw, Shadows of the Damned. Apparently, Romeo Is a Dead Man will continue that tradition — with blood, sarcasm, and nonstop action. Fans of Japanese games in this style should enjoy it. Everyone else — quite possibly not.
High On Life 2 (PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2) — February 13
High On Life is a niche and polarizing project. It is closely tied to the name of Justin Roiland, co-creator of "Rick and Morty," and like the series, it provokes sharply opposite reactions: some are delighted, others cannot accept its humor. Sometimes this split is observed even within one person. Thus, our author run.code in his review praises the first half of the game but harshly criticizes the second. On Steam, the first installment has very positive reviews, but there are relatively few of them — another sign of a niche product.
The second installment promises to be bigger and more diverse: the trademark humor is preserved, the talking guns with personality have not gone anywhere (new ones have appeared too), and the set of side activities has been expanded. The foundation is still the same first-person shooter. And that is the main controversial point: the gameplay base of the first game was its weak spot. One wants to believe the developers drew conclusions and worked on that.
The story takes players across a series of strange planets: from the largest convention in the Universe to a "zoo" where humans are kept as exhibits. The narrative still maintains a satirical tone and touches on themes of family responsibility and criticism of greed.
We do not recommend buying it in advance. But it is worth keeping an eye on. Weighing all the pros and cons, reading reviews after release, or trying it through Xbox Game Pass is the most sensible approach for a niche project.
Norse: Oath of Blood (PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S) — February 17
Turn-based tactics in Norway during the Viking Age: build a settlement, develop the household, manage craftsmen and farmers. Life in early medieval Scandinavia is harsh, and getting along peacefully with neighbors is far from always possible. Especially if you are Gunnar, a young warrior exiled after the murder of his father, Jarl Gripr, by the ruthless Steinarr Far-Spear. The settlement here is built not for prosperity, but for revenge: to revive the clan and, together with battle comrades, exact vengeance upon the killer.
Reading the description on Steam, you catch yourself thinking: games like this are often found on smartphones, but their gameplay usually disappoints. Norse: Oath of Blood is not a mobile game. Judging by the trailers and screenshots, this is the "right kind" of Viking strategy — atmospheric and thoughtfully designed. You will have to raise the settlement almost from scratch, communicate with non-player characters, and engage in turn-based battles.
The developers are focusing on tactical depth: unit positioning, interaction between units, and terrain features directly determine the outcome of a skirmish. You will have to use elevations, attack from the flanks, and turn natural traps to your advantage. Blood for the honor of the clan — and nothing else.
Early Access
PUBG: BLINDSPOT (PC) — February 5
PUBG became the progenitor of battle royale games and had a colossal influence on the industry. But KRAFTON is not standing still: BLINDSPOT is an attempt to take the brand into new territory. This is a five-versus-five top-down team shooter, not another battle royale.
The developers promise dynamic firefights at close and medium range. Victory goes not to the one who pulls the trigger faster, but to the one who uses cover competently, chooses positions wisely, and acts as part of a team. One thing is clear without reservation: this is nothing like the PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds players are used to.
It is not certain that the project will quickly find its audience. But if the original PUBG is not to your taste — or if you simply want something new — BLINDSPOT is definitely worth trying. The game is launching in early access, so it still has time to transform before the final release.
Menace (PC) — February 5
Menace is being called a "space X-COM" — and here the comparison is not to the modern series by Firaxis, but to the classic tactics games of the nineties. The circle is complete: the creator of the original X-COM, Julian Gollop, began precisely with space tactical games — Rebel Star and Laser Squad. It is quite possible that the developers from Overhype Studios were inspired by those works as well. Especially since the studio already has successful experience in the genre: Battle Brothers received high ratings from players.
The trailer demonstrates classic turn-based tactics, and the love for the genre is immediately apparent. Squad micromanagement, fighter progression, varied weaponry, changing locations, military vehicles, and even flamethrowers — everything is in place.
The project is coming out in early access. There is probably not much content yet, but the basic mechanics can already be tried. Whether to take part in the game’s development or wait for the full release is up to the player. It looks intriguing, although in terms of scale the project is clearly not aiming to compete with modern representatives of the genre like Jagged Alliance 3. Even allowing for early access. This is more a return to the classics.
Remakes
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined (PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, Switch 2) — February 5
Dragon Quest VII became truly cult in Japan: 4.06 million copies sold — the best result for PlayStation on the domestic market. In the West, the game remained in the shadows, but it still deserves attention. The 2000 original was released in the era of the first, still uncertain steps of jRPGs into three-dimensional space — the 3D graphics of the time were extremely primitive, incomparable to what we see today in Final Fantasy VII Remake or Tales of Arise.
Reimagined is not just an updated port. It is a version rebuilt from the ground up with modern graphics, executed with respect for the original style while preserving the key mechanics and design. Old-fashioned gameplay in a new visual form looks unexpectedly fresh. A good reason to catch up with a classic that many missed more than twenty years ago.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties (PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2) — February 11
Today, SEGA’s Yakuza series is popular both in Japan and in the West: players appreciated the combination of solid brawling with improvised weapons and combat styles, a dramatic story, and absurd side activities and mini-games like karaoke, mini-golf, and cabaret management. But the early parts of the series remained little known on Western markets — remakes for modern platforms could correct that. Especially since, of the entire series, the third installment remained for a long time the weakest technically — even the most devoted fans spat at its gameplay.
However, this particular release is causing concern. The demo version triggered a wave of criticism: users complain about weak optimization, outdated graphics, and minimal differences from the 2019 remaster. Many see no reason to pay 60 dollars for a project that "looks more like a remaster of a remaster" — it gives the impression that the remake was made "just to tick a box," counting on fan loyalty. Longtime fans are further troubled by rumors of an altered ending, since this could potentially entail a retcon of some events from the subsequent installments.
If you want to get acquainted with the third part of the series, it would be wiser to wait for the first reviews after release.