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: Voyage: Journey to the Moon
Voyage: Journey to the Moon sends you to the dark side of the moon as the eccentric Michel Ardan in a surreal, story-driven adventure. Explore abandoned temples, uncover strange discoveries, and solve intricate puzzles as you wander through dreamlike lunar landscapes. But the deeper you go, the more you begin to question whether you’re truly alone. Non-linear and mysterious, Voyage: Journey to the Moon is a quiet sci-fi odyssey about curiosity, and the unknown waiting beyond Earth.
The Gold River Project: Key Giveaway For Free Subscribers
The Gold River Project drops you into a remote Pacific Northwest wilderness that quickly shifts from peaceful escape to controlled experiment. Solo or with up to four friends, you’ll camp, forage, craft, and build, only to realize you’re being watched and manipulated. As seasons change from lush summer to brutal winter, you’ll manage hunger, fatigue, and temperature while uncovering the truth behind a mysterious barrier known as The Wall. With shifting locations and multiple escape paths, The Gold River Project turns a scenic trip into a tense fight for freedom.
If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'river'. We will pick a winner and send over the key in 48 hours
Zoomy Cat Items: Physical Merch Giveaway for Free Subscribers
Get cozy with some feline fun! We are mailing out exclusive physical items for Zoomy Cat, available on both iOS and Android! Fun little level game reminiscent of Flappy Bird.
Three of our subscribers will get physical goodies: a soft plushie, a stylish enamel pin, and a collectible keychain to show off your Zoomy Cat pride in the real world.
Whether you’re exploring levels on your phone or collecting cute merchandise on your shelf, this giveaway is packed with charm for every fan
If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'cat'. We will pick a winner and send over the key in 48 hours
Historically Low Prices
This section of Loot Happens tracks historical discounts on games and across the industry right now! 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!
REANIMAL [Steam]
Friendship can be hell, and sometimes a mask is the only protection.$̶̶47.48 $28.11
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II [PS5]
Discover this open-world Medieval Europe through an unforgettable adventure.$69.99 $34.99
The Outer Worlds 2 [PS5]
The Outer Worlds 2 is the eagerly-awaited sequel to the award-winning first-person sci-fi RPG.$69.99 $48.99
Stray [Nintendo Switch]
A stray cat must untangle an ancient mystery to escape a cybercity.$29.99 $19.79
Morsels [Nintendo Switch]
A fast-paced roguelite where a mouse leads monster pals against evil cats.$14.99 $11.99
Featured Game Review: Mario Tennis Fever
Mario Tennis Fever feels like it time-traveled straight out of the GameCube era, in a good way. It’s loud, colorful, unapologetically chaotic, and clearly designed with a couch full of friends in mind. For the first time in years, Camelot has delivered a Mario Tennis that feels feature-complete at launch, packed with a huge roster, dozens of rackets, party modes, unlockables, and online options. Yet even with all that content, it’s a tale of two halves: an excellent multiplayer playground weighed down by a disappointingly shallow single-player campaign. Fever absolutely understands how to create unforgettable match moments, but it doesn’t always give you enough reasons to stick around once the novelty fades.
Powered by fever
The big twist this time is the introduction of Fever Rackets—30 of them, each with a unique special ability that activates once your gauge fills and you unleash a Fever Shot. These range from tactical mindgames to pure chaos. You can drop hazards onto the court, summon obstacles, buff your own shots, or transform the rally into something straight out of a Mario spin-off fever dream. The best ones add layers to shot placement strategy: if you freeze one section of your opponent’s side, they know you’re aiming there next… unless you aren’t.
There’s real creativity in how these powers interact. Some rackets seem broken at first—like one that turns the ball into a blazing projectile—but clever positioning or smart net play can neutralize them. When both players wield the same gimmick, matches turn into hilarious, high-speed rallies that feel completely different from standard tennis. It’s experimentation-friendly and refreshingly unpredictable.
However, this same chaos can tip too far into randomness—especially in doubles. With four Fever abilities firing off at once, courts can become cluttered with hazards, effects, and visual noise. When damage becomes unavoidable or you’re sidelined because of overlapping powers (including your partner’s), it can feel less like you were outplayed and more like you were overwhelmed. Fever leans heavily into the party-game identity, moving away from the tighter, competitive balance of Mario Tennis Aces.
Simpler tennis, bigger party
To support the added madness, the core tennis mechanics are slightly streamlined. Movement feels floatier, recovery is more forgiving, and the pace is marginally slower. Hardcore players might miss the razor-sharp precision and high-skill ceiling of Aces, but Fever’s accessibility makes it far easier to introduce to new players. It’s less of a competitive battleground and more of a lively group activity—and that’s clearly intentional.
Despite the simplifications, the fundamentals still feel great. Charged shots land with satisfying punch, positioning matters, and Camelot’s decades of refinement are evident in the way rallies flow. The 38-character roster is the largest in series history, and each character’s stat profile genuinely impacts how you approach a match. Visually, the characters shine with expressive animations and detailed designs, even if the overall presentation doesn’t feel like a massive technical leap forward.
Progression also channels that old-school charm. Characters, rackets, and courts are unlocked through challenges rather than being tied solely to online play. It’s satisfying to have things to chase offline, but that goodwill fades once you step into Adventure mode.
Verdict
Mario Tennis Fever is at its absolute best when you’re laughing on a couch with friends. The Fever Rackets inject wild creativity into matches, the controls remain tight and satisfying, and the character roster is bigger and better than ever. But its lackluster Adventure mode and simplified competitive edge hold it back from greatness. As a party tennis game, it’s a blast. As a deep solo experience or long-term competitive platform, it falls short. Fever isn’t the most technically refined entry in the series—but when the chaos hits just right, it absolutely earns its name.
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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