A big welcome back to all Loot Happens subscribers. Loot Happens is a weekly newsletter that is emailed and posted on LootHappens.com.
It's important to note that for premium subscribers, game offerings and in-game content, every week is different. Sometimes it's in-game codes, Steam keys, and giveaways, but premium members will always get something special every mailing. We also occasionally get mind-blowing early access or premium games that pay for an entire year's subscription.
Each newsletter is generally structured as Premium Loot > Free Sub Giveaways > Game Feature > Game discounts.
Key Giveaway for Premium Subscribers: Space Raiders in Space
Space Raiders in Space is a chaotic wave-defense roguelike where survival depends on five simple orders: Attack, Defend, Cower, Search, and Build. Guide your hilariously inept crew through the Bugpocalypse as they loot weapons, scavenge materials, and construct makeshift fortifications to hold back swarms of alien insects. With comic book encounters, bizarre weaponry, and the ability to pause time to rethink your tactics, it’s a mix of absurd humor and genuine strategy that makes every run a desperate, bug-splattered gamble for survival.
Hades II: Key Giveaway For Free Subscribers
Hades II is Supergiant’s first sequel, expanding the award-winning roguelike with a darker myth and a new heroine—Melinoë, immortal princess of the Underworld. Armed with witchcraft, arcane familiars, and the blessings of Olympus, you’ll fight beyond the realm of Hades to confront Chronos himself. Every run reshapes the story with new boons, upgrades, and encounters, wrapped in the studio’s signature art, music, and character-driven charm.
If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'hades'. We will pick a winner and send over the key in 48 hours
Cloud Cats Land: Key Giveaway For Free Subscribers
Cloud Cats Land drops you onto a mysterious island where playful kittens and strange secrets go paw in paw. Each magical cat you befriend helps solve puzzles, uncover hidden paths, and transform everyday objects into tools for survival. Between quirky mini-games, curious creatures, and the looming mystery of a missing lighthouse keeper, it’s a whimsical adventure where nothing is quite as innocent—or as fluffy—as it first seems.
If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'cats'. We will pick a winner and send over the key in 48 hours
Historically Low Prices
This section of Loot Happens tracks historical discounts right now on games and throughout the industry! Our tireless web crawlers scour the web daily, sniffing out the best deals across the gaming landscape.
These aren't just any games – they're titles we adore and highly respect. And right now, you can grab them at prices we've never seen before!
Train Sim World 6 [Steam]
Embark on your next journey and discover the joy of train simulation.$̶̶58.76 $16.43
SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide [Steam]
How do you stop the two biggest egos of the Seven Seas from fighting?$̶̶47.00 $27.68
Once Upon a Katamari [Steam]
Once upon a time a katamari rolled through both past and present.$̶̶47.00 $34.49
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach [PS5]
Embark on an inspiring mission of human connection beyond the UCA.$69.99 $59.49
DARK SOULS III [PS4]
Now only embers remain… Prepare yourself once more and Embrace The Darkness!$59.99 $29.99
Everdream Valley - Farm & Family Pack [Xbox]
Grow, explore, and make lasting memories with the complete Everdream Valley experience.$32.99 $26.39
SpongeBob: Krusty Cook-Off [Nintendo Switch]
100% Unlocked - All F.U.N., NO GRIND!$14.99 $4.94
Featured Game Review: Ghost of Yotei
Sequels can either reinvent themselves or double down on what already worked, and Ghost of Yotei clearly opts for the latter. Sucker Punch doesn’t chase revolution here—instead it refines the foundation laid by Ghost of Tsushima, tightening combat, sharpening its cinematic flair, and shifting the focus toward a story that feels more raw and personal. The result is a samurai tale as visually breathtaking as it is brutal, set against the sweeping fields and snowy peaks of Ezo, where every duel, horseback ride, and Kurosawa-inspired shot begs to be captured in photo mode. With Atsu, a fiery new lead voiced by Erika Ishii, steering the revenge-driven narrative, Ghost of Yotei trades Tsushima’s stoic heroism for something grittier and more human, reminding us that sometimes the most compelling sequels aren’t the boldest, but the ones that know exactly where to cut deeper.
Steel, smoke, and storytelling
Ghost of Yotei is less concerned with glorifying samurai ideals and more invested in the messy, human consequences of revenge. Atsu’s tale doesn’t break much new ground narratively, but it does hit with enough weight to keep you pushing forward—bolstered by clever twists in its middle chapters and companions who add heart to an otherwise blood-soaked journey. Oyuki’s wisdom provides balance to Atsu’s brashness, while flashbacks with her mother connect music and memory in ways that give the story texture. It’s straightforward revenge, yes, but when the duels arrive—those tense standoffs against the Yotei Six—the game leans into intensity and spectacle so well that predictability almost doesn’t matter.
What elevates Yotei beyond the familiar narrative beats is combat that makes even the most routine encounter feel like a highlight reel. Each swing, parry, and dodge carries fluidity and weight, and with Atsu’s expanded arsenal—swords, spears, dual-katanas, the brutal odachi, and the kusarigama—you’re constantly shifting styles to break defenses and keep momentum. Switching between weapons is seamless, turning every battle into a rhythm of timing and adaptation. Firearms like muskets and flintlocks, along with smoke bombs and flame-coated blades, add fresh variety, and while stealth remains an option, the real thrill comes when you’re forced into open combat and the systems shine.
Progression keeps things meaningful without slipping into RPG bloat. Skill trees tied to shrine discoveries push exploration organically, while charms, armor sets, and sidequest rewards encourage experimenting with different playstyles. Some of the best techniques are tucked away in optional content, which can frustrate but also makes the world feel rewarding to engage with. Standout sidequests—from supernatural mysteries to outlaw hunts—give Ezo’s landscape more character, and respectful nods to the indigenous Ainu culture lend the game an authenticity that enriches its atmosphere.
Bottom line
Ghost of Yotei doesn’t rewrite the samurai playbook, but it doesn’t need to. Its revenge-driven story may be predictable, yet it’s carried by Atsu—a fiery new lead whose grit and expanded arsenal make every fight more compelling than the last. The Kurosawa-inspired framing may have lost some novelty since Tsushima, but it still lends the game a cinematic weight that elevates its snowy mountains and flowered plains into living paintings. What remains is a sharper, meaner refinement of the samurai power fantasy: a game that embraces fluid combat, breathtaking landscapes, and the thrill of standing blade to blade until only one warrior walks away.
Next Week
Every newsletter has a lot to look forward to, and we are in active communication with several developers and studios. More to come next week!
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