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 - Choose Your Game!
Rezrog
Rezrog is a turn-based dungeon crawler that blends classic roguelike tension with a clever party-management twist. Instead of controlling an entire squad at once, you send individual heroes into procedurally generated dungeons, rescuing fallen allies when things inevitably go wrong. With permadeath, persistent progression, over 100 dungeon floors, and a wide range of classes, skills, and equipment to experiment with, every expedition feels like a calculated risk. Its tabletop-inspired presentation gives the adventure a distinctive charm, while the constant threat of losing your strongest heroes keeps every battle and decision meaningful.
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Boiling Bolt
Boiling Bolt is a fast-paced vertical shoot-’em-up set in a fractured world of floating islands powered by mysterious crystals. Playing as rebel pilot June, you battle through dense waves of enemies using a versatile arsenal of futuristic weapons while mastering a bullet-time system that rewards precision and aggressive play. Multiple game modes, co-op support, ship customization, and a variety of challenges add replayability, while flashy visual effects and anime-inspired presentation give every encounter an energetic arcade feel. It's a score-driven shooter that combines classic shmup intensity with modern mechanics and spectacle.
Nova Swarm: Key Giveaway For Free Subscribers (20 keys)
Nova Swarm is a brand new compact arcade shoot-’em-up built around quick runs, constant improvement, and the satisfaction of mastering chaos. Piloting a growing roster of distinct ships, you battle through ten increasingly dangerous sectors packed with enemy formations, bullet patterns, hazards, and screen-filling bosses. While the action can look overwhelming at first, success comes from learning attack tells, reading the battlefield, and gradually turning panic into precision. With unlockable ships, leaderboards, career progression, and an endless Overrun mode beyond the main campaign, Nova Swarm delivers a focused old-school score-chasing experience that rewards skill, persistence, and one-more-run determination.
If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'nova'. We will pick a winner and send over the key in 48 hours
Voidling Bound: Key Giveaway For Free Subscribers
Voidling Bound is a fast-paced third-person sci‑fi shooter where you command and evolve powerful creatures called Voidlings across corrupted alien worlds. Combat blends shooting, melee attacks, dashes, parries, and devastating ultimates, while branching evolution paths let you shape each Voidling’s abilities, elemental traits, and playstyle. As you cleanse planets overrun by parasites, you’ll hatch rare new creatures, research upgrades, and experiment with mutations and genetics to build increasingly powerful combinations. With its mix of action combat, creature customization, and roguelite-style progression, Voidling Bound feels like a blend of monster collecting and relentless arcade combat.
If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'bound'. We will pick a winner and send over the key in 48 hours
Historically Low Prices
This section of Loot Happens currently tracks historical discounts 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.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps [Nintendo Switch]
Play the critically acclaimed masterpiece.$29.99 $7.49
Pikuniku [Nintendo Switch]
Pikuniku is an absurdly wonderful puzzle-exploration game.$12.99 $1.99
Featured Game Review: NBA The Run
Basketball games have spent years chasing realism, but NBA The Run goes in the opposite direction. Instead of simulating an 82-game season, complex playbooks, and endless stat sheets, it distills the sport into its purest form: fast-paced 3-on-3 competition where every possession feels like a highlight waiting to happen. The result captures much of the excitement of a pickup game at a local court, delivering quick bursts of energy that are easy to jump into and difficult to put down. Yet that same focus on speed and accessibility eventually becomes both its greatest strength and its biggest limitation.
Basketball at its most fun
The first thing NBA The Run gets right is its roster. Every player feels distinct, not just because of their ratings, but because of how faithfully the game recreates their styles. Stephen Curry stretches defenses with absurd shooting range, Victor Wembanyama dominates both ends of the floor with his impossible reach, and Ja Morant turns every fast break into a potential poster dunk. Switching between players constantly changes how matches unfold, making experimentation one of the game's greatest pleasures.
That variety extends beyond the athletes themselves. The Run's collection of real-world-inspired courts gives each match its own atmosphere, while rotating rule sets prevent games from becoming repetitive too quickly. One match may reward long-range shooting, while the next heavily favors aggressive dunking and paint play. These constantly shifting conditions encourage adaptability rather than relying on a single strategy, keeping the early hours surprisingly fresh and unpredictable.
The Championship grind arrives quickly
The downside is that NBA The Run rarely evolves beyond its initial formula. The first championship feels exciting. The fifth still has its moments. By the twentieth, however, the structure begins to show its limits. Despite the variety of players and courts, matches start blending as the cycle of queueing, winning, celebrating, and repeating becomes increasingly familiar.
Part of the issue is the game's heavy emphasis on rapid progression and constant action. Victories come frequently, championships arrive regularly, and rewards are handed out at a pace that can diminish their significance. Unlike a long season where every achievement feels earned through persistence, The Run often feels designed around immediate gratification. The highlights remain enjoyable, but eventually they lose some of their impact because another spectacular play is always only a minute away.
Bottom Line
NBA The Run successfully captures the energy, personality, and unpredictability of modern street basketball. Its deep roster, stylish courts, and constantly changing match rules create a multiplayer experience that's immediately fun and easy to recommend for short sessions. However, the same rapid-fire design that makes it so accessible also limits its longevity, as repeated championships and endless highlight plays begin to blur together. For players looking for quick bursts of competitive basketball, NBA The Run is a slam dunk. Just don't be surprised if you find yourself ready to step off the court sooner than expected.
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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