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: Alcatraz Builder
Alcatraz Builder places you in charge of constructing the infamous Alcatraz prison, one of the most iconic landmarks in the United States. As contractor Lloyd Andrews, your mission is to gather resources, manage workers, and ensure the project is completed on time, all while dealing with unexpected challenges. Along the way, fend off mobsters hired by Call Palone, who will stop at nothing to sabotage your efforts. Each level presents new obstacles and requires a strategy to overcome them. With 50 challenging levels, you'll not only build Alcatraz but also discover fascinating historical anecdotes about this notorious prison.
The Quarry: Key Giveaway For Free Subscribers
The Quarry plunges you into the eerie world of Hackett’s Quarry, where a group of teenage camp counselors celebrate their last night of summer with a party free from rules. Players take control of nine different characters, each facing life-or-death decisions that shape the unique narrative. Every choice, big or small, determines who survives and who perishes before dawn. With stunning cinematic visuals and an ensemble cast of Hollywood talent, The Quarry delivers a chilling, immersive experience. Whether you play solo or with friends, each moment is filled with tension as you unravel the twisted secrets of the quarry. Will you explore the dark woods or run for your life? The fate of your characters is entirely in your hands.
If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'quarry'. We will pick a winner and send over the key in 48 hours
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden: Key Giveaway For Free Subscribers
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden transports you to 1695, where the cursed settlers of New Eden are tormented by malevolent spirits. As a pair of Banishers, Red Mac Raith and Antea Duarte, you are tasked with protecting the living by investigating the supernatural and dispelling ghosts through powerful rituals. After Antea is tragically killed and transformed into a spirit, your decisions will shape not only her fate but also the lives—or deaths—of New Eden’s inhabitants. Will you save her or uphold your oath as a Banisher?
If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'banishers'. We will pick a winner and send over the key in 48 hours
Historically Low Prices
This Loot Happens section on our website records past discounts on games and current ones available in the gaming industry. Our web crawlers work tirelessly daily to find the best deals across the gaming landscape.
These games are not just any games, but titles we truly love and highly respect. You can purchase them at prices we have never seen before!
Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed [Steam]
Every stroke of your magic brush matters!$66.92 $39.96
Nova Lands [Steam]
If you were to mix Factorio, Forager, and Satisfactory, Nova Lands would be just that.$22.30 $3.80
Warhammer: Vermintide 2 [Steam]
Get ready to be tested in battle like never before.$31.22 $3.28
Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival [Steam]
Everyone’s favorite Taiko elements come together in one place!$55.76 $41.64
Killer Klowns From Outer Space: The Game [PS5]
Take on the role of the iconic Killer Klowns.$39.99 $27.99
RoboCop: Rogue City [PS5]
Become the legendary part man, part machine, all cop hero and bring justice to the dangerous Old Detroit.$59.99 $29.99
Octopath Traveler II [Nintendo Switch]
Every path is yours to take. Embark on an adventure all your own.$59.99 $35.99
Harvestella [Nintendo Switch]
In a vibrant and colorful world, players will tend their crops, befriend the townsfolk, overcome threats, and discover the origins of the world.$59.99 $29.99
Featured Game Review: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom [Nintendo Switch]
This year, Nintendo has given its legendary princesses the spotlight they deserve, with both Peach and Zelda embarking on their heroic journeys. But while Peach’s adventure in the Mushroom Kingdom brings a fresh twist, it’s Zelda’s turn in Echoes of Wisdom that truly redefines what it means to be a mainline entry in the series. This isn’t just a side quest - it's a fully realized return to the essence of classic Zelda, blending the traditional dungeon-exploring, puzzle-solving charm with the inventive freedom that made Tears of the Kingdom unforgettable. Though Echoes of Wisdom might not always tread its new path with absolute perfection, it confidently stands among the best experiences in the Zelda franchise.
What’s fascinating about this latest entry isn’t just the new mechanics or the fact that Zelda herself takes the lead, but how seamlessly the game makes you feel at home in Hyrule, even without Link. Throughout my playthrough, I found the story far more compelling, with Zelda’s quest to protect her kingdom from mysterious rifts drawing me in more deeply than any of Link’s previous adventures. For the first time, it felt like I wasn’t just saving Hyrule—I was ruling it.
Gameplay that encourages creativity
Echoes of Wisdom thrives on encouraging the same wild creativity that Breath of the Wild first embraced and Tears of the Kingdom perfected. This time, the innovation is set within a 2D world, which borrows the toy-like charm of the Link’s Awakening remake. The game even throws in some nostalgic side-scrolling segments for good measure, giving long-time fans a treat. Yet, despite these retro touches, Echoes of Wisdom pushes the boundaries of player creativity in a way that feels completely fresh. Whether it’s conjuring objects or solving intricate puzzles, this game wants you to bend its rules and, quite literally, shape your own adventure.
Central to this is the Echo system, which might sound quirky at first, but soon proves itself as a core element of the game’s unique appeal. While you won’t be swinging a sword in traditional 2D Zelda style, you’re instead summoning creatures and objects that serve as the “key items” fans of the series are used to. You may not have a trusty hookshot, but summonable objects like a floating floor tile let you cross wide gaps with ease. A mole friend digs up hidden secrets, replacing the usual shovel. Even though you don’t get to wield the Gust Bellows, a Wind Cannon gets the job done, clearing sand piles with similar efficiency. It’s a clever evolution of Zelda’s classic toolkit, giving you a fresh way to engage with Hyrule's puzzles.
One of the most exciting elements is how much of this creativity is left in the hands of the player. Many of the most useful echoes are cleverly hidden in optional caves or discovered in dungeons, where you’ll often unlock new abilities like Tri’s power to lift and move objects, reminiscent of Tears of the Kingdom’s Ultra Hand. This design offers a satisfying sense of progression that hearkens back to older Zelda titles. Yes, you have the freedom to explore the world however you like, but there’s always that classic Zelda feeling of walking out of a dungeon with a new tool in hand, ready to tackle whatever comes next. And sometimes, that new tool isn’t just another creature but something like the Water Block—a Minecraft-like cube that lets you swim along walls, fundamentally altering how you move through the world.
Exceptional puzzles will make you use different features
While combat remains a significant part of Echoes of Wisdom, it’s clear that the real heart of the game lies in its puzzles. Unlike previous entries in the Zelda series, where the thrill of sword-swinging was often the star, here the focus has shifted to a more cerebral experience. With the game built around the summoning mechanic, it becomes clear that puzzles are the priority, using your collection of echoes to solve a wide range of creative challenges. This shift in focus adds a fresh layer of depth, encouraging you to think outside the box rather than rely on brute force to progress.
The game encourages constant experimentation with your echoes, creating puzzles that can be approached from numerous angles. This freedom in solving challenges is what makes Echoes of Wisdom stand out, even if the combat feels less impactful. The puzzle design ensures that the summoning mechanic never feels like a gimmick but rather an integral part of how you engage with the world. In the end, it's these inventive and varied puzzles that make this Zelda entry truly shine, rewarding you for thinking creatively and using every tool at your disposal.
Bottom Line
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom isn’t just a side experiment featuring Zelda in place of Link—it’s a smart, innovative addition to the series that successfully blends the best of both classic and modern Zelda gameplay. Its echo summoning system brings fresh mechanics to the 2D format, combining meticulously crafted dungeons and puzzles with the thrilling freedom introduced in Tears of the Kingdom.
Next Week
There is a lot to look forward to in every newsletter, and we are in active communication with several developers and studios. More to come next week!
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