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 - Nova Swarm
Nova Swarm is a fun fast-paced, retro-inspired arcade shooter that combines classic bullet-hell action with modern roguelite progression. Developed by Tiny Foundry, the game puts players in control of customizable spacecraft as they battle relentless enemy waves, dodge intricate projectile patterns, and take down massive bosses. With 30 unlockable ships, each offering unique weapons and handling characteristics, players can experiment with different playstyles while collecting upgrades that strengthen their firepower, defenses, and support abilities.
Boss victories introduce strategic choices that can dramatically change the course of a run, adding depth and replay-ability to the intense arcade combat. Multiple game modes, daily challenges, hidden discoveries, and online leaderboards give players plenty of reasons to return and improve their scores. Whether you're a longtime fan of classic space shooters or enjoy challenging, skill-based action games, Nova Swarm offers a colorful and addictive experience built around mastering enemy patterns and pushing your abilities further with every attempt.
Mycopunk: Key Giveaway For Free Subscribers
Mycopunk is a chaotic, action-packed cooperative first-person shooter that combines fast-paced combat, outrageous weapon customization, and offbeat humor in a colorful sci-fi universe. Developed by Pigeons at Play and published by Devolver Digital, the game follows a ragtag crew of misfit robots hired by the mysterious SAXON corporation to investigate a planet overrun by a dangerous fungal infestation. Players can tackle missions solo or team up with up to three friends to battle swarms of mutated creatures, dismantle enemies piece by piece, and uncover the secrets behind the outbreak.
One of the game's standout features is its innovative grid-based upgrade system, which allows players to combine hundreds of modifications to create wildly unconventional weapons and character builds. Between missions, players can relax aboard an orbital dropship, interact with quirky characters, and prepare for their next dangerous assignment. With its distinctive visual style, satisfying gunplay, creative customization options, and emphasis on cooperative teamwork, Mycopunk delivers an entertaining and unpredictable experience for fans of sci-fi shooters and loot-driven action games.
If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'punk'. We will pick a winner and send over the key in 48 hours
MIO: Memories in Orbit: Key Giveaway For Free Subscribers
MIO: Memories in Orbit is a visually stunning, atmospheric Metroidvania that combines intricate exploration, challenging combat, and a mysterious sci-fi narrative. Developed by Douze Dixièmes and published by Focus Entertainment, the game puts players in control of MIO, an agile robot who awakens aboard the Vessel, a massive spaceship drifting through space and slowly falling into ruin. As players explore its interconnected environments, they must uncover the secrets behind the ship's failing artificial intelligence, restore lost memories, and discover MIO's true purpose. Along the way, players unlock powerful movement abilities, including grappling hooks, gliding, and wall-clinging, which open new pathways and allow them to navigate increasingly complex areas.
Combat features more than 30 enemy types and 15 challenging bosses, with customizable abilities and modifiers that encourage experimentation with different fighting styles. The game's striking hand-drawn aesthetic, inspired by comics, paintings, and anime, is complemented by an atmospheric soundtrack blending lo-fi beats and choral melodies. With its rewarding exploration, precise platforming, and compelling sense of mystery, MIO: Memories in Orbit offers an immersive adventure for fans of beautifully crafted action-platformers.
If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'mio'. 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!
Rain World [Steam]
You are a nomadic slugcat, both predator and prey in a broken ecosystem.$̶̶32.99 $11.12
Automobilista 2 [Steam]
An incredibly diverse collection of cars and tracks.
$̶̶39.99 $11.99
Ready or Not: Digital Deluxe Edition [PS5]
An intense, tactical, first-person shooter.$69.99 $48.99
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle™ [Nintendo Switch]
Uncover one of history’s greatest mysteries.$69.99 $55.99
Featured Game Review: Frosthaven
Frosthaven brings one of the most ambitious tabletop strategy games to PC, delivering a massive fantasy adventure filled with tactical combat, difficult decisions, and extensive character customization. Developed by Snapshot Games and published by Arc Games, the game is based on the acclaimed board game created by Isaac Childres and serves as the spiritual successor to Gloomhaven. Set in a dangerous northern wilderness, players lead a group of mercenaries through hostile environments while attempting to establish and protect a struggling settlement. Following its Early Access debut in July 2025, Frosthaven officially launched its complete 1.0 version on October 15, 2026. The result is an incredibly detailed tactical RPG that rewards patience, experimentation, and careful planning, although its complexity may prove intimidating to newcomers.
A Unique Card Game
At the heart of Frosthaven is its challenging turn-based combat system, which relies on ability cards rather than traditional attacks and movement commands. Each character has a unique deck of cards, and players must carefully select combinations to determine their actions during battle. Positioning, initiative, resource management, and cooperation all play crucial roles in surviving encounters against increasingly dangerous enemies. Unlike many tactical RPGs where powerful abilities can be used repeatedly, Frosthaven forces players to think several turns ahead, as exhausting their available cards can leave characters unable to continue fighting. This creates an engaging balance between aggressive strategies and long-term survival. The combat can initially feel overwhelming, but once its systems begin to click, even seemingly impossible encounters become satisfying tactical puzzles.
Character variety is another major strength, with 17 playable classes available throughout the complete campaign. Players begin with six distinct classes, including the Banner Spear, Boneshaper, Drifter, Geminate, Blinkblade, and Deathwalker, each offering dramatically different abilities and approaches to combat. Some characters excel at supporting teammates, while others specialize in summoning creatures, manipulating positioning, or delivering devastating attacks under specific conditions. Building a balanced party becomes an important strategic consideration, particularly as the campaign introduces more challenging scenarios. Experimenting with different combinations of heroes adds considerable replayability, and unlocking new classes provides a strong incentive to continue exploring. The sheer number of abilities and interactions can make learning new characters time-consuming, but that depth is also one of the game's greatest attractions.
Deep Battlefield Mechanics
Beyond combat, Frosthaven introduces settlement management mechanics that help distinguish it from its predecessor. Between missions, players return to their outpost, where they can construct buildings, collect resources, unlock additional features, and prepare for the challenges ahead. The settlement gradually develops as the campaign progresses, creating a welcome sense of accomplishment outside the battlefield. The game's changing seasons and harsh northern setting also contribute to its atmosphere, reinforcing the feeling that survival involves more than simply defeating monsters. Managing the outpost adds another layer of decision-making, although players primarily interested in combat may occasionally find the additional responsibilities slow the overall pace. Nevertheless, these systems give the adventure a broader sense of purpose and make progression feel more meaningful.
Visually, Frosthaven does a respectable job of transforming a complex tabletop experience into an interactive three-dimensional world. Its environments range from frozen wildernesses to ominous dungeons, with detailed character models, colorful ability effects, and varied enemy designs helping bring encounters to life. The atmospheric presentation complements the dark fantasy setting, although the game rarely achieves the visual spectacle of larger-budget RPGs. More importantly, the interface must communicate an enormous amount of information, and this is where the adaptation occasionally struggles. Navigating complicated card abilities, interpreting status effects, and understanding certain enemy interactions can feel cumbersome, particularly for players unfamiliar with the original board game. While tutorials and interface improvements make the experience more approachable, there remains a significant learning curve that requires dedication.
A Few Rough Edges
Multiplayer is potentially one of Frosthaven's most enjoyable features, allowing groups of two to four players to tackle the campaign cooperatively online. Coordinating character abilities and discussing strategies with friends can make difficult encounters particularly rewarding, especially when a carefully planned combination of attacks turns a desperate situation into victory. Unfortunately, the game's full release has also been accompanied by reports of technical problems, including multiplayer synchronization issues, unexpected disconnections, crashes, and occasional gameplay bugs. These problems can be particularly frustrating during lengthy scenarios where substantial progress is at stake. Solo players generally have a more straightforward experience, but the inconsistent stability of cooperative sessions remains a significant concern. For a game that places such a strong emphasis on teamwork, reliable multiplayer functionality is especially important.
The Bottom Line
Ultimately, Frosthaven is an exceptionally ambitious tactical RPG that offers an enormous amount of content and some of the most intricate strategic gameplay available in the genre. Its card-based battles, distinctive character classes, extensive campaign, and settlement development combine to create an experience with remarkable depth and long-term appeal. However, the same complexity that makes the game rewarding can also make it difficult to approach, while interface frustrations and technical problems prevent the digital adaptation from consistently reaching its full potential. Fans of the original board game and experienced tactical RPG players will find plenty to appreciate, particularly when playing solo or with a cooperative group unaffected by connectivity issues. Newcomers should expect a demanding learning experience rather than an accessible fantasy adventure. Despite its shortcomings, Frosthaven remains a compelling strategy game with enough meaningful decisions and challenging encounters to keep dedicated players engaged for dozens, if not hundreds, of hours.
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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