Key Giveaway For Premium Subscribers: Port Royale 2 or Slice, Dice, and Rice

Port Royale 2 is a deep economic sim set in the 17th-century Caribbean, where you build a trading empire across dozens of ports. You manage production, establish trade routes, and grow entire cities while navigating threats from pirates and rival nations. Whether you focus on commerce, naval combat, or political influence, it’s a slow-burning strategy experience built around expansion, risk, and long-term planning.

--—OR----

Slice, Dice, and Rice

Slice, Dice, and Rice is a tense fighting game built around precision instead of health bars. One clean hit can end a round, turning every duel into a careful mind game of timing, feints, and positioning. With simple controls but deep mechanics, it captures the feel of real samurai standoffs. Each fighter brings a unique style, making every match a quick, deadly test of skill, where even the smallest mistake can cost you everything.

RACCOIN: Coin Pusher Roguelike: Key Giveaway For Free Subscribers

RACCOIN: Coin Pusher Roguelike turns a simple arcade concept into a chaotic, combo-driven roguelike. You drop coins, trigger chain reactions, and stack wild synergies using special coins, power-ups, and upgrades that can completely flip a run. With multiple characters, hundreds of items, and endless replayability, it’s a fast, unpredictable loop built on chasing bigger combos and that constant “one more drop” feeling.

If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'raccoin'. We will pick a winner and send over the key in 48 hours

Risk of Pain 2: Key Giveaway For Free Subscribers

Risk of Rain 2 is a fast-paced roguelike shooter built around constant escalation. You fight through alien worlds while enemies grow stronger alongside you, creating a tense race to stay ahead. Each run is shaped by dozens of items that stack into wild, sometimes game-breaking builds, while multiple survivors offer different playstyles. With randomized levels and co-op support, it’s all about adapting on the fly and surviving the chaos as long as you can.

If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'pain'. 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!

Dying Light Essentials Edition [Steam]

Enjoy enhanced visuals, a remastered soundtrack, and graphical improvements.
$̶̶29.44 $2.95

Get Deal

Peripeteia [Steam]

Consider joining us in the lights of the Eastern Night with Peripeteia.
$̶̶28.87 $11.81

Get Deal

Bread & Fred [Steam]

Bread & Fred is a challenging co-op platformer from Apogee.
$̶̶17.43 $1.03

Get Deal

RESIDENT EVIL 2 [PS5]

An unparalleled adrenaline rush, gripping storyline, and unimaginable horrors await you.
$39.99 $9.99

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Days Gone Remastered [PS5]

Fight to survive an environment ravaged by a deadly pandemic as a former outlaw biker.
$49.99 $19.99

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Raft [PS5]

Survive by yourself or with friends in online co-op.
$24.99 $16.74

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BioShock: The Collection [Nintendo Switch]

There's always a lighthouse. There's always a man. There's always a city.
$49.99 $9.99

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Hades II [Nintendo Switch 2]

Time cannot be stopped.
$29.99 $23.99

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Sid Meier’s Civilization VI [Nintendo Switch]

Build your greatest empire.
$29.99 $5.99

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Featured Game Review: Pragmata

Pragmata feels like something pulled straight out of the Xbox 360 era, in a good way. It’s a focused third-person shooter built around a single, clever mechanic, then layered with just enough depth to keep you pushing forward. Not everything lands, but what does, hits hard.

Hack-and-shoot brilliance

At its core, Pragmata lives and dies by its hybrid combat system, and thankfully, it delivers. Every fight blends traditional shooting with real-time hacking puzzles, forcing you to split your attention between the battlefield and a grid-based interface. Crack the hack, expose weak points, and only then can you deal real damage. It creates a constant tension where positioning, timing, and quick thinking all matter.

What really sells it is how the system evolves. New nodes, tougher enemies, and more complex grids keep things fresh, while the gunplay itself remains consistently satisfying. Weapons have weight, crowd control tools feel impactful, and boss fights escalate things into chaotic, high-stakes encounters. It’s demanding, sometimes overwhelming, but rarely dull.

Missed potential beyond the action

Step outside combat, though, and the cracks start to show. The story leans on familiar sci-fi ideas: a rogue AI, a mysterious android companion, a doomed lunar facility—but doesn’t explore them in meaningful ways. Hugh and Diana’s relationship has charm in small moments, yet it never quite earns its emotional weight. Important lore is often tucked away in logs instead of being part of the main narrative, which makes the whole thing feel oddly disconnected.

Level design follows a predictable loop of corridors and arenas, and while it works, it doesn’t evolve much over time. There are also minor frustrations—awkward movement in platforming sections, some clunky controls, but they rarely derail the experience for long.

Bottom line

Pragmata knows exactly what it wants to be and sticks to it. The hack-and-shoot formula is fresh, challenging, and genuinely fun, carrying the entire experience on its back. Even with a forgettable story and a few rough edges, the strength of its combat makes it hard to put down, and even harder not to finish.

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!

The Eighth Inc. c/o LootHappens.com
46 Plains Road
Essex, CT 06426

©2024 Loot Happens | hi@loothappens.com | Privacy Policy | Terms

Key Giveaway For Premium Subscribers: Deadliest Catch: The Game

Deadliest Catch: The Game puts you in charge of a crab fishing vessel in the harsh waters of the Bering Sea. You handle everything yourself, from navigating storms to operating cranes and hauling pots—while racing against time, quotas, and unpredictable conditions. It leans heavily into realism, including regulations and species tracking, so every catch matters. Between rough seas and constant pressure, it captures the grind and risk of life as a crab fisherman.

Lost Soul Aside: Key Giveaway For Free Subscribers

Lost Soul Aside is a fast-paced action RPG built around stylish combat and a deeply personal story. You play as Kaser, fighting across fractured worlds to save his sister’s soul after a catastrophic event unleashes otherworldly invaders. Battles are fluid and aggressive, letting you chain combos, swap weapons, and adapt your playstyle on the fly. Along the way, new abilities and powers steadily reshape how you approach each encounter. It’s a cinematic, high-energy journey that leans just as much on spectacle as it does on emotion.

If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'soul'. We will pick a winner and send over the key in 48 hours

The Last Caretaker: Key Giveaway For Free Subscribers

The Last Caretaker drops you into a flooded, post-human Earth as a lone machine tasked with rebuilding the future. You scavenge ruins, manage fragile “human seeds,” and slowly restore systems meant to send life back into orbit. Every decision feels purposeful: resources are scarce, threats are constant, and nothing is wasted. It’s a quiet, methodical survival experience driven less by action and more by responsibility.

If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'caretaker'. 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!

The Occultist [Steam]

The Occultist is a first-person narrative thriller.
$̶̶35.04 $19.85

Get Deal

Gothic 1 Remake [Steam]

Return to the Valley of the Mines in this faithful remake.
$̶̶58.41 $38.43

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Lies of P: Overture [Steam]

Cross the bounds of time.
$̶̶35.04 $22.61

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Phasmophobia [PS5]

Phasmophobia is a 4-player, online co-op, psychological horror game.
$19.99 $13.99

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Poppy Playtime: Chapter 3 [PS5]

New horrors await, and they're much more than just simple toys.
$14.99 $7.49

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Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered [PS5]

Earth is ours no more.
$49.99 $20.99

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Subnautica [Nintendo Switch]

Dive Into a Vast Underwater World.
$29.99 $9.89

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Celeste [Nintendo Switch]

This is it, Madeline. Just breathe. You can do this.
$19.99 $4.99

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Terraria [Nintendo Switch]

Dig! Explore! Fight! Build!
$29.99 $14.99

Get Deal

Featured Game Review: Life is Strange: Reunion

Some stories never really leave you, and Life is Strange has always been one of those. Years later, Reunion circles back to Max and Chloe, not just to revisit them, but to finally close the chapter that started it all. It doesn’t waste time either. Within minutes, the calm is gone, replaced by tragedy, impossible choices, and that familiar feeling that no matter what you do… something will break.

A story that lands

Reunion feels sharper than recent entries. The narrative moves fast, but with purpose—switching between Max and Chloe as their lives collide again in ways that feel both earned and deeply uncomfortable. There’s a constant tension running underneath everything, built around loss, memory, and that cruel “what if” the series has always leaned on.

Choices hit harder this time. Not just in the moment, but later—quietly reshaping relationships, outcomes, even entire endings. It’s the kind of structure that makes you want to go back immediately, not because you missed something, but because you felt like you did.

Still, it’s not perfect. For a story built on two characters with so much shared history, there are moments where you just want them to stop and talk longer—actually to process everything that’s happened. Instead, the plot keeps moving, sometimes a little too quickly for its own good.

Familiar mechanics, smarter twists

Gameplay sticks close to what works. Max’s time rewind returns, but it’s used in more tense, almost puzzle-like scenarios that push you to think under pressure. There’s a real sense of urgency in certain sequences—something the series hasn’t always nailed before.

Chloe, on the other hand, brings something new. Her dialogue-driven confrontations strip away the safety net. No rewinds, no second chances, just decisions you have to live with. That contrast works surprisingly well, making each perspective feel distinct without overcomplicating things.

That said, the experience feels a bit… contained. There’s less to explore, fewer side interactions, and almost no extra systems or mini-games to break things up. It keeps the focus tight, sure, but it also leaves you wishing for just a little more space to breathe.

Bottom line

Life is Strange: Reunion isn’t the biggest or most ambitious entry in the series—but it might be the most focused. It understands what made Max and Chloe matter in the first place and leans into that, even if it occasionally rushes past moments that deserved more time. It doesn’t try to reinvent the formula. Instead, it refines it, sharpens it, and finishes it. And for a story that’s been building for over a decade, that’s exactly what it needed.

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!

The Eighth Inc. c/o LootHappens.com
46 Plains Road
Essex, CT 06426

©2024 Loot Happens | hi@loothappens.com | Privacy Policy | Terms

Key Giveaway For Premium Subscribers - Choose Your Game!

Flashback

Got a fun classic game for you here (waves of nostalgia)... Flashback. In the year 2142, young scientist Conrad B. Hart awakens on Titan, a colonized moon of Saturn, after escaping a spaceship with his memory completely erased. Hunted by enemies and unsure who to trust, he must fight to survive, make his way back to Earth, and uncover a dangerous extraterrestrial conspiracy that threatens the entire planet. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, this classic game—consistently ranked among the top 100 of all time—can be rediscovered for its groundbreaking use of motion capture technology, beautifully hand-drawn backgrounds, and gripping science-fiction storyline.

-———OR---------

Nostradamus: The Last Prophecy

Nostradamus: The Last Prophecy explores the spiritual, supernatural, and skeptical through a richly immersive treasure-hunt experience inspired by the famed quatrains of Nostradamus. Set in the South of France, the story unfolds in Salon-de-Provence, where the royal family is gripped by mysterious and terrifying events. Players take on the role of Madeleine de Nostradame, daughter of the renowned astrologer, as she tracks a cunning assassin who cloaks his crimes in the guise of prophetic astrology. As past, present, and an uncertain future intertwine, even the most rational mind may begin to question what is real—and what lies beyond explanation.

Timberborn: Key Giveaway For Free Subscribers

Timberborn is a unique city-building and survival simulation where players guide a society of highly intelligent beavers in a post-human world shaped by cycles of drought and abundance. Instead of traditional human civilizations, you manage industrious beaver colonies that harness water through dams, levees, and irrigation systems while constructing intricate wooden settlements powered by renewable resources. With a strong focus on environmental management, players must carefully balance water storage, food production, and population growth to survive harsh dry seasons. Blending creative engineering with strategic planning, Timberborn offers a refreshing twist on the genre, where mastering water flow is the key to building a thriving, sustainable civilization.

If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'timber'. We will pick a winner and send over the key in 48 hours

Hozy: Key Giveaway For Free Subscribers

Hozy is a tranquil, physics-based home renovation simulator developed by Come On Studio and published by tinyBuild. Released in late March 2026, the game follows a protagonist who returns to their fading hometown to find a new passion in restoring abandoned spaces. Unlike more frantic simulation games, Hozy emphasizes a "no-stress" philosophy, stripping away timers, scores, and penalties to focus on the tactile satisfaction of cleaning, painting, and decorating. Across nine handcrafted locations—ranging from a childhood attic to a dreamlike lighthouse—players use intuitive tools like mops, squeegees, and crowbars to revitalize rooms at their own pace. With a charming soundtrack by the composer of Stray and a focus on tiny, immersive details like lighting candles or opening windows to watch dust motes dance, the game offers a deeply cozy experience designed to let players' inner designers flourish without the pressure of micromanaging budgets or deadlines.

If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'hozy'. 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!

The Long Dark [Steam]

Bright lights flare across the night sky.
$̶̶34.22 $3.49

Get Deal

GigaBash [Steam]

Endless waves of enemies
$̶̶24.99 $8.74

Get Deal

ARC Raiders[Steam]

Adapt and survive.
$̶̶39.99 $29.38

Get Deal

HellDivers 2 [Xbox]

The Galaxy’s Last Line of Offence.
$39.99 $29.99

Get Deal

Dispatch [PS5]

Robert Robertson, AKA Mecha Man
$29.99 $23.99

Get Deal

F1 Manager 2024 [Steam]

Lead your team to glory.
$34.99 $3.49

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Resident Evil 3 CLoud [Nintendo Switch 2]

Jill Valentine is one of the last remaining people
$29.99 $9.99

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Featured Game Review: Slay the Spire II

The launch of Slay the Spire 2 this week has redefined the expectations for what a sequel in the roguelike genre can achieve. While the original was hailed for its mathematical precision and minimalist design, the sequel expands on that foundation with a visual overhaul and mechanical complexity that feels earned rather than cluttered. By moving to the Godot engine, Mega Crit has delivered a liquid-smooth experience that retains the series' iconic hand-drawn aesthetic while introducing much-needed flair to animations and environmental storytelling. The Spire itself feels more alive and reactive, with dynamic background layers and "Ancient" encounters that provide a sense of scale the first game lacked.

Nostalgia & Innovation

The character roster serves as the game's strongest pillar, balancing nostalgia with innovation. Returning favorites like the Ironclad and Silent have been retooled with "Enchantments," a system that allows players to permanently modify card properties within a run, offering a layer of customization that goes beyond the binary choice of a standard upgrade. However, the real draw is the Necrobinder, a character that treats the "Exhaust" pile as a secondary resource. This design forces veterans to unlearn years of instinct regarding card removal, turning what was once a graveyard into a potent engine for combos and board control.

Perhaps the most ambitious addition is the inclusion of simultaneous four-player multiplayer, which transforms the traditionally solitary climb into a collaborative tactical exercise. Players can navigate separate paths on a shared map, coordinating who visits the shop and who takes on an Elite enemy to maximize team relics. This culminates in massive, multi-stage boss encounters where players must synergize their decks in real-time. It is a testament to the game's design that this added chaos doesn't dilute the strategic depth; instead, it creates a social layer that makes the Spire feel like a persistent world rather than just a solitary challenge.

Bottom line

The game already feels more complete and polished than most full releases. The branching "Alternate Acts" and the "Regent" character—who can forge custom cards mid-climb—ensure that the replayability remains virtually infinite. There are minor hurdles, such as some placeholder assets and a steep learning curve for the newer mechanics, but these are small prices to pay for what is undeniably the new gold standard of deckbuilders. Slay the Spire 2 isn't just a sequel; it is a masterclass in how to evolve a perfect formula without breaking it.

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!

The Eighth Inc. c/o LootHappens.com
46 Plains Road
Essex, CT 06426

©2024 Loot Happens | hi@loothappens.com | Privacy Policy | Terms

+25 Entries for Game-a-Day Giveaway at CheatHappens.com for Premium Subscribers

CheatHappens.com is giving all premium subscribers an extra 25 entries into its Game-a-Day giveaway!.

Key Giveaway For Premium Subscribers - Choose Your Game!

The World After

The World After follows a writer isolated in rural France during lockdown, drawn into a surreal mystery fueled by strange dreams and shifting realities. As Vincent explores a quiet village and an ominous castle, he gains the ability to switch between day and night—only to be hunted by the terrifying Nightwatcher. Blending classic point-and-click gameplay with full-motion video storytelling, it leans heavily into atmosphere and intrigue. Multiple endings and hidden details reward curiosity, making it a slow-burn mystery that unfolds piece by piece.

-———OR---------

CakeFoot

CakeFoot is a deceptively simple precision runner that quickly turns into a brutal test of reflexes. You move forward by holding a button and drift back by releasing it—easy to grasp, but punishing to master as levels throw relentless, bullet hell-style patterns your way. Each run feels like threading a needle through chaos, with instant respawns pushing you into that “one more try” loop. With multiple modes, unlockables, and escalating difficulty, it’s a tight, addictive arcade experience that doesn’t let up.

-———OR---------

Razed

RAZED is all about momentum, precision, and shaving seconds off your best run. You blast through neon levels using speed bursts, jumps, and tight movement tricks, constantly balancing risk since every ability drains your energy. One mistake,or too much hesitation, and you’re out. Instant restarts keep the pace relentless, while shortcuts and alternate paths reward mastery. It’s a pure speedrunner’s playground built for chasing perfect runs and climbing leaderboards

Way of The Hunter 2: Key Giveaway For Free Subscribers

Way of the Hunter 2 expands its open-world hunting sandbox with larger environments, deeper systems, and a stronger focus on realism. Set across the Canadian wilderness, you track and hunt everything from moose and bears to smaller game, using tools like decoys, blinds, and high-tech gear. The addition of a trainable hunting dog adds a new layer to tracking and exploration, making each hunt feel more dynamic. Between missions, you return to your lodge to plan expeditions and showcase trophies. It’s a slow, methodical experience built for players who enjoy patience, precision, and immersion over fast action.

If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'hunter'. We will pick a winner and send over the key in 48 hours

Two Realms: Whispers from the Rift: Key Giveaway For Free Subscribers

Two Realms: Whispers from the Rift is currently in Early Access, offering a dark fantasy journey built around modernized point-and-click design. You play as Tobias, racing against time to save his brother after a mysterious encounter leaves him fading away. The game blends classic puzzle-solving with horror elements, wrapped in detailed pixel art and full voice acting. Its story leans into atmosphere and tension, with strange whispers and looming threats pushing you forward. Even in its current state, it sets up a moody, story-driven adventure with clear potential to grow.

If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'whispers'. 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!

Screamer [Steam]

Five teams. Five reasons to risk it all.
$̶̶69.22 $58.95

Get Deal

Life is Strange: Reunion [Steam]

Losing Chloe is Max’s greatest regret.
$̶̶46.14 $39.54

Get Deal

Animal Shelter 2 [Steam]

Our four-legged friends need your help.
$̶̶28.27 $5.48

Get Deal

Dispatch [PS5]

You take charge of a team of ex-supervillains given a shot at redemption.
$29.99 $23.99

Get Deal

Astro Bot [PS5]

Join Astro on a supersized space adventure.
$59.99 $39.59

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Helldivers 2 [PS5]

Enlist in the Helldivers.
$39.99 $29.99

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FINAL FANTASY VII [Nintendo Switch]

This game is a port of the original FINAL FANTASY VII.
$15.99 $6.39

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Little Nightmares II [Nintendo Switch]

Will you dare to face this collection of new, little nightmares?
$29.99 $9.89

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Life is Strange 2 [Nintendo Switch]

If you can reach Mexico, you will be safe, but the journey will be winding.
$31.99 $6.39

Get Deal

Featured Game Review: Screamer

Screamer doesn’t ease you in; it throws you straight into neon chaos and expects you to keep up. This is arcade racing turned up to maximum intensity, blending high-speed drifting with aggressive, almost fighting game-style mechanics. It’s loud, stylish, and unapologetically different. And while that ambition pays off in some seriously thrilling moments, it also exposes cracks that are hard to ignore the longer you stay on the track.

Speed and systems that demand attention

At the heart of Screamer is its standout twin-stick driving system. Steering with one stick while controlling drift angle with the other feels strange at first, but once it clicks, it becomes surprisingly satisfying. You’re not just turning corners—you’re actively sculpting your movement, balancing precision and chaos in real time. Add in manual gear timing to build boost, and suddenly every race becomes a constant juggling act.

That complexity extends to its combat system, where boost and attack meters are tightly linked. You’re always deciding whether to spend your resources on speed or aggression, creating a constant push and pull between offense and defense. It’s a clever system that gives races a tactical edge, especially when combined with character-specific strengths and weaknesses. The best tracks (wide, flowing circuits drenched in neon rain) let all of this shine, turning races into fast, fluid duels.

But not every track plays to those strengths. Tighter, twist-heavy layouts slow everything down, exposing how clunky the handling can feel at lower speeds. Some cars amplify that issue with overly sensitive drift physics, making them more frustrating than fun. When the flow breaks, Screamer loses a lot of its magic

Sometimes too much style

Screamer leans hard into its anime-inspired identity, and visually, it works. The cars look incredible, and the presentation feels like a racing anime brought to life. Cutscenes are slick, colorful, and clearly a major focus.

The problem is the story itself. It throws a large cast at you almost immediately, bouncing between teams without giving you time to care about any of them. Dialogue is constant, often overly dramatic, and rarely engaging. Instead of building connection, it becomes background noise you’re tempted to skip just to get back on the track.

The central tournament mode doesn’t help much either. While it acts as a structured introduction, its mission design can feel oddly restrictive or uneven. Some events rely on specific conditions that break the natural flow of racing, forcing you into awkward strategies that feel more frustrating than rewarding. Thankfully, Screamer offers plenty of alternatives—custom races, online modes, and even four-player split-screen—that let you enjoy the game on your own terms without dealing with its more questionable design choices

Bottom line

Screamer is bold, busy, and refreshingly different in a genre that rarely takes risks. When everything clicks, on the right track, with the right car, and systems firing on all cylinders, it delivers a thrilling, high-speed experience that feels unlike anything else. But that same ambition also leads to inconsistency, from uneven tracks to a forgettable story and frustrating mission design. It’s not a perfectly tuned machine, but it’s one with a clear identity, and for the right player, that might be more than enough.

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!

The Eighth Inc. c/o LootHappens.com
46 Plains Road
Essex, CT 06426

©2024 Loot Happens | hi@loothappens.com | Privacy Policy | Terms

Key Giveaway For Premium Subscribers - Choose Your Game!

Of Orcs and Men

Of Orcs and Men flips the usual fantasy script by putting you in control of an Orc warrior and a stealthy Goblin on a mission to assassinate the human Emperor. Set in a brutal world where Orcs and Goblins are hunted and enslaved, the story leans into rebellion and survival. Combat mixes direct fighting with tactical abilities, letting you switch between strength and stealth. While the mechanics can feel a bit rough around the edges, the dual-character dynamic and darker perspective make it a memorable RPG experience.

-———OR---------

They Always Run

They Always Run puts you in the boots of Aiden, a three-armed bounty hunter tracking criminals across a chaotic galaxy. The extra limb isn’t just for show—it adds a unique twist to combat, letting you grab, throw, and control multiple enemies at once. Missions blend fast-paced action with light exploration and upgrades that expand your abilities over time. The story leans into conspiracy and mystery, though it sometimes takes a backseat to the gameplay. Stylish, punchy, and a bit unconventional, it stands out thanks to its creative combat hook.

No Man's Sky: Key Giveaway For Free Subscribers

No Man's Sky offers a massive, procedurally generated universe where every star hides new planets, creatures, and possibilities. You can seamlessly travel from space to surface, choosing your own path as an explorer, trader, or fighter. Survival, resource management, and ship upgrades shape your journey, whether you play solo or with others in a shared galaxy. Years of updates have transformed it into a deep, feature-rich experience with base building, multiplayer, and evolving worlds. It’s less about a set goal and more about carving out your own story among the stars.

If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'sky'. 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!

Pizza Slice [Steam]

Welcome to the world of Pizza Slice!
$̶̶17.22 $9.42

Get Deal

Barotrauma [Steam]

Embrace the deep abyss.
$̶̶28.71 $9.71

Get Deal

Primal Planet [Steam]

Adapt and survive.
$̶̶21.82 $3.44

Get Deal

House Flipper 2 [PS5]

Share the fun.
$39.99 $25.99

Get Deal

Persona 5 Royal [PS5]

Prepare for the award-winning RPG experience.
$59.99 $17.99

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Death Stranding 2: On the Beach [PS5]

Embark on an inspiring mission of human connection beyond the UCA.
$69.99 $49.69

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FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE [Nintendo Switch 2]

Once more begins a story that will shape the destiny of the entire world.
$39.99 $23.99

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LIMBO [Nintendo Switch]

Uncertain of his sister's fate, a boy enters Limbo.
$12.49 $1.99

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Dead by Daylight [Nintendo Switch]

Death Is Not an Escape.
$29.99 $10.49

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Featured Game Review: Crimson Desert

Crimson Desert feels like a game built from ambition first and restraint second. It reaches for everything—huge open-world freedom, cinematic storytelling, systemic gameplay, sandbox chaos—and tries to fuse it into one massive experience. On paper, it’s a dream mix of modern RPG heavyweights. In practice, it’s something far messier. After dozens upon dozens of hours, what stands out isn’t just what it gets wrong, but how often it almost gets things right.

A world that feels alive… until it doesn’t

At its best, Crimson Desert is pure immersion. You wander through stunning landscapes, stumble into side activities like fishing, gambling, or hunting, and occasionally forget the main quest even exists. Towns feel alive, with NPCs following daily routines, caravans moving across regions, and small dynamic events unfolding whether you’re there or not. There’s a genuine sense that the world exists independently of you, and when it clicks, it’s easy to get lost in it for hours.

That sense of freedom extends to how you play. One moment you’re managing a small settlement, the next you’re grilling meat before a big fight or chasing down a bounty across regions. It’s messy, but in a good way—like a sandbox that constantly throws new distractions at you. The problem is that this same world is held back by awkward systems. Inventory limits become frustratingly restrictive, forcing you to discard valuable gear, and combat encounters drag on far longer than they should, often throwing waves of enemies at you just for trying to cross a road. The scale impresses, but the design decisions chip away at the fun the longer you stay.

Combat, story, and systems that never quite click

The cracks widen once you dig deeper into the core systems. Combat looks flashy but struggles with pacing and balance, so most fights feel bloated, with too many enemies and not enough variety. Boss battles, meanwhile, shift awkwardly into punishing, multi-phase encounters that feel pulled from a completely different game. Instead of testing mastery, they often turn into endurance runs fueled by healing items and patience.

Then there’s the story, arguably the weakest part of the experience. Despite heavy focus on cutscenes and character interactions, the narrative never finds its footing. Characters come and go without impact, dialogue ranges from forgettable to outright cringeworthy, and major emotional beats fall flat. It’s especially strange given how much time the game asks you to invest in it. There are glimpses of style—particularly in over-the-top, anime-inspired action scenes, but they’re not enough to carry the overall narrative.

Bottom line

Crimson Desert is a fascinating contradiction. It’s massive, beautiful, and filled with moments that genuinely feel special, yet constantly undermined by uneven design, weak storytelling, and frustrating systems. The highs are impressive enough to keep you pushing forward, but the lows are impossible to ignore. It’s not the ultimate open-world RPG it aims to be, but it’s also far from forgettable. More than anything, it feels like a game that tried to do everything—and in doing so, lost sight of what it needed to do well.

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!

The Eighth Inc. c/o LootHappens.com
46 Plains Road
Essex, CT 06426

©2024 Loot Happens | hi@loothappens.com | Privacy Policy | Terms

Key Giveaway For Premium Subscribers - Choose Your Game!

Space Robinson: Hardcore Roguelike Action

Space Robinson: Hardcore Roguelike Action drops you on a hostile alien world after a crash, where a lone engineer must explore the abandoned Colony 21 and survive relentless monster attacks. The game embraces true roguelike design—procedurally generated levels, constant danger, and plenty of deaths along the way. Each run lets you gather artifacts and crystals to upgrade the colony base and improve your chances next time. You can also craft helpful bot assistants, including a combat-ready robotic pup. Tough, fast, and unforgiving, it’s a survival experience built around persistence and experimentation.

-———OR---------

Combat Wings

Combat Wings drops players into the skies above Midway during the pivotal 1942 battle for the Pacific. You take on multiple roles—fighter pilot, bomber operator, reconnaissance scout, and even anti-air gunner—while facing waves of Japanese forces. Fast-paced dogfights and varied mission types keep the action moving as you pilot different wartime aircraft. It’s a straightforward aerial combat experience focused on historic battles and arcade-style flying.

Trinity Fusion: Key Giveaway For Free Subscribers

Trinity Fusion is a fast-paced roguelite that blends tight combat with multiverse exploration. You control three parallel versions of the same hero, each with unique weapons, abilities, and worlds to explore, from mutant-filled wastelands to machine-ruled factories and floating cities. Runs mix procedurally generated levels with handcrafted combat arenas, keeping each attempt fresh. As you progress, you unlock permanent upgrades and new starting points, gradually pushing deeper into the story. With fluid movement, smart build synergies, and stylish sci-fi action, it’s a satisfying challenge for fans of skill-driven roguelites.

If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'trinity'. We will pick a winner and send over the key in 48 hours

OR - If you are a free member and you decide to upgrade to premium today, you will get Trinity Fusion automatically (For the first 15 upgrades)

MIO: Memories in Orbit: Key Giveaway For Free Subscribers

MIO: Memories in Orbit follows a nimble robot exploring the ruins of a massive drifting spaceship known as the Vessel. As MIO, you uncover the mystery behind the ship’s shutdown while navigating a vast, interconnected world filled with rogue machines, hidden paths, and forgotten technology. The metroidvania-style progression unlocks abilities like grappling, gliding, and wall-clinging, opening new areas and combat strategies. Along the way you’ll battle unique enemies and powerful bosses while upgrading your abilities with scavenged parts. With striking art inspired by comics and anime and a moody sci-fi atmosphere, it’s a stylish exploration-driven adventure.

If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'memories'. 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!

StarRupture [Steam]

Explore a mysterious planet in an ever-changing open world.
$̶̶22.98 $11.80

Get Deal

Blossom: The Seed of Life [Steam]

You play as Blossom, a small but capable robot built to survive where humans cannot.
$̶̶19.04 $10.50

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DARK SOULS: REMASTERED [Steam]

Then, there was fire.
$̶̶46.18 $17.30

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Arma Reforger [PS5]

Arma Reforger isn’t just a shooter—it’s a true military sandbox.
$39.99 $27.99

Get Deal

House Flipper 2 [PS5]

Share the fun!
$39.99 $25.99

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Sledders [PS5]

Rev' up your sled & dive into fresh powder in Sledders!
$34.99 $24.49

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Mortal Kombat 1 [Nintendo Switch]

It’s In Our Blood!
$39.99 $9.99

Get Deal

Planet of Lana [Nintendo Switch]

Welcome to an off-earth odyssey.
$19.99 $5.99

Get Deal

Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition [Nintendo Switch]

The forest of Nibel is dying.
$19.99 $4.99

Get Deal

Featured Game Review: WWE 2K26

Another WrestleMania season means another trip to the squared circle, and this year’s entry continues the momentum built by recent games. WWE 2K26 doesn’t reinvent the formula, but it refines the already solid foundation the series has been building over the past few years. Matches still look fantastic and feel satisfying, capturing the spectacle and chaos of televised wrestling. At the same time, a few lingering issues and some questionable design decisions keep this installment from delivering a true main-event performance. It’s still an entertaining wrestling sandbox, but cracks are starting to show.

In-ring improvements and match variety

The biggest gameplay tweak this year comes from the stamina system. Wrestlers can now become “winded” when their stamina runs dry, temporarily disabling running and reversals until they recover. This creates a more tactical pace, forcing players to balance offense with endurance and making reckless attacks riskier than before. It also helps tone down the dominance of the reversal system, which has long allowed experienced players to shut down nearly every attack. Alongside that change are small physics upgrades that make collisions with ropes, stairs, and other objects feel more reactive and dynamic.

New match types help expand the spectacle as well. Inferno, Dumpster, and Three Stages of Hell matches return alongside the highlight addition—I Quit matches, which introduce a clever timing-based escape system during submission attempts. The mechanic keeps tension high as the safe zones shrink and blockers appear, turning the struggle into a genuine back-and-forth battle. While some of the other stipulations feel like nostalgic novelties, they still add variety to an already deep match lineup.

Modes, storylines, and monetization Issues

Outside the ring, WWE 2K26 delivers a mixed card. The CM Punk–focused Showcase mode struggles to capture the full scope of his career, skipping major moments and relying heavily on hypothetical matches to fill gaps. Meanwhile, MyRise follows the comeback story of a former superstar known as “The Archetype,” offering branching choices and alignment changes, though much of the journey is padded with repetitive matches between story beats.

The Island multiplayer hub returns with expanded storytelling and voice acting, but it still leans heavily on grinding and microtransactions to unlock cosmetics and upgrades. The introduction of a battle pass system further reinforces that trend, splitting rewards between free and premium tracks and replacing the traditional DLC structure. Longtime fans may find the grind frustrating, especially when many unlockables used to be available more easily in previous entries.

Bottom line

WWE 2K26 remains a strong wrestling game thanks to its polished gameplay, impressive presentation, and wealth of modes. The new stamina mechanics and match types add welcome variety, and the core experience in the ring is still one of the best representations of pro wrestling in gaming. However, uninspired single-player modes and increasingly aggressive monetization prevent it from reaching championship status. It’s still a worthy title defense for the series, but for the first time in a while, the challenger feels closer than ever to taking the belt.

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!

The Eighth Inc. c/o LootHappens.com
46 Plains Road
Essex, CT 06426

©2024 Loot Happens | hi@loothappens.com | Privacy Policy | Terms

Key Giveaway For Premium Subscribers: Operation Thunderstorm or Redneck Kentucky and the Next Generation Chickens

Operation Thunderstorm is a single-player World War II first-person shooter developed by CI Games (formerly City Interactive). In the game, players take on the role of a British intelligence agent working for MI6 during 1942 who is sent deep behind enemy lines to carry out a secret mission to eliminate several high-ranking Nazi leaders. The campaign takes place across multiple wartime locations in Europe, including occupied towns, castles, and military bases, where players fight through German forces using a variety of WWII weapons. The gameplay focuses on straightforward, linear missions filled with firefights and scripted action sequences, offering a classic early-2000s style FPS experience that emphasizes combat and mission progression over open-world exploration.

———OR-------

Redneck Kentucky and the Next Generation Chickens

Redneck Kentucky and the Next Generation Chickens is a comedic, over-the-top first-person shooter that embraces absurd humor and chaotic action. Set in a rural Kentucky setting, the game follows a redneck protagonist who finds himself battling waves of bizarre, genetically enhanced chickens that have somehow become a dangerous threat. Players fight through farms, barns, and countryside environments using a variety of exaggerated weapons while facing increasingly ridiculous enemies. The game leans heavily into parody and low-budget charm, mixing fast-paced arcade-style shooting with goofy visuals, tongue-in-cheek dialogue, and intentionally outrageous scenarios.

Cairn: Key Giveaway For Free Subscribers

Cairn is a survival-climbing adventure developed by The Game Bakers in which players guide a climber named Aava on a dangerous ascent of the fictional Mount Kami. The game focuses on realistic climbing mechanics, requiring players to carefully manage stamina, grip, balance, and route choices as they scale steep rock faces and unpredictable terrain.
Every handhold and foothold must be chosen deliberately, creating a tense and methodical experience where planning and patience are essential. Along the way, players manage supplies, set up camps, and adapt to harsh mountain conditions, blending exploration, strategy, and survival into a unique mountain-climbing journey.

If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'cairn'. We will pick a winner and send over the key in 48 hours

Ball X Pit: Key Giveaway For Free Subscribers

Ball x Pit is a fast-paced arcade-style action game where players control a powerful ball that must survive waves of enemies inside a confined arena. As the ball bounces and rolls around the pit, players attack foes, collect upgrades, and trigger explosive abilities to clear the area while avoiding damage. The gameplay combines simple controls with chaotic combat, encouraging quick reflexes and strategic movement as enemy numbers grow and the arena becomes more dangerous. With colorful visuals, satisfying physics, and roguelike-style progression that unlocks new abilities and improvements over time, Ball x Pit delivers a frantic and addictive action experience built around survival and constant upgrades.

If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'ballx'. 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!

Valheim [Steam]

Valheim is a brutal exploration and survival game for 1-10 players set in a procedurally-generated world inspired by Norse mythology.$̶̶19.99 $9.99

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Monster Hunter Wilds [Steam]

The unbridled force of nature runs wild and relentless, with environments transforming drastically from one moment to the next.$̶̶81.89 $32.89

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Crimson Desert [Steam]

Amid the turmoil that grips the continent of Pywel, he sets out to find the scattered survivors, rebuild the fallen Greymanes, and reclaim the homeland they once called their own
$̶̶81.51 $60.30

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Call of Duty®: Black Ops III - Zombies Chronicles Edition [PS5]

Set in a futuristic world with advanced weapons, cybernetic soldiers, and fast, fluid movement mechanics.
$59.99 $19.79

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NBA 2K26 SLAM Edition [PS5]

SLAM Edition is essentially the standard NBA 2K26 experience with additional in-game rewards
$79.99 $23.99

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Star Trek: Voyager - Across the Unknown [Steam]

Will you be able to bring home the ship and its crew?
$40.99 $23.22

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Assassin's Creed Shadows Digital Deluxe Edition [Xbox]

Become a lethal shinobi Assassin and powerful, legendary samurai.
$89.99 $44.99

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EA SPORTS FC™ 26 TOTY Edition Xbox One & Xbox Series [Xbox]

Play your way with an overhauled gameplay experience powered by community feedback.
$89.99 $22.49

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Featured Game Review: Subnautica 2

Subnautica 2 dives deeper into the formula that made the series famous—mysterious oceans, quiet exploration, and moments of genuine terror beneath the waves. Instead of simply repeating what worked before, the sequel aims to expand the experience with a new planet, new biomes, and more advanced survival systems. The sense of discovery remains the heart of the game: every descent into the depths reveals strange plants, massive leviathan-like creatures, and resources needed to craft tools and build underwater bases.

One of the biggest changes is the introduction of optional co-op multiplayer, allowing players to explore the ocean together for the first time in the series. Whether scavenging for materials, constructing elaborate underwater habitats, or venturing into dangerous biomes, the cooperative element adds a new social dimension to what was previously a mostly solitary survival experience.

Crafting Systems

The game also improves the base-building and crafting systems, offering more customization and expanded technology options. New vehicles, tools, and equipment help players travel deeper and survive in harsher environments, while fresh biomes and creatures ensure that exploration always feels unpredictable.

Visually, Subnautica 2 looks stunning. The ocean world is filled with vibrant coral forests, dark abyssal trenches, and glowing alien life that creates both beauty and tension. Like the earlier games, the atmosphere balances calm exploration with moments of fear—especially when massive creatures emerge from the darkness.

Because the game is planned to launch in Early Access, players should expect ongoing updates, new content, and some rough edges at first. The developers intend to expand the game over time with additional creatures, story elements, and environments as development continues.

Verdict

Subnautica 2 looks like a promising evolution of the underwater survival genre. With its new alien world, deeper crafting systems, and cooperative gameplay, it builds on the strengths of the original while introducing meaningful new ideas. If it captures the same sense of wonder and tension that defined the first game, it could become one of the standout survival titles of the next few years.

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!

The Eighth Inc. c/o LootHappens.com
46 Plains Road
Essex, CT 06426

©2024 Loot Happens | hi@loothappens.com | Privacy Policy | Terms

Premium Subscribers: CheatHappens.com - 10 Free Prize Wheel Spins

CheatHappens is giving premium subscribers 10 free Prize Wheel Spins which is a random chance at all kinds of good stuff from the site. This is available to every premium subscriber of Loot Happens who also has a CheatHappens account.

Key Giveaway For Premium Subscribers: Random

This week, we're adding mystery to our premium subscribers' giveaway. This time, we have a group of random games, but with some major titles sprinkled in. By following the link below, you can claim one of the best free games we have in the database.

It can be anything, from an awesome indie game, an old reboot, or a fresh AAA game. When you put in your email address Tons of variety as always!

Coal LLC: Key Giveaway For Free Subscribers

Coal LLC is a darkly comedic idle management game about building a coal-mining empire for your ever-demanding corporate overlords. Starting with a flimsy pickaxe, you’ll hire and promote workers, upgrade equipment, and race to hit daily quotas as the underground resets each night. Your operation can grow from a small crew to absurd, sky-high numbers of specialized miners, each adding new bonuses. Hard Mode modifiers raise the stakes with tougher challenges and badge rewards for surviving with each profession. With multiple maps and upgrade paths, it’s a steady climb of optimization and expansion. It’s simple, satirical, and all about pushing productivity to ridiculous extremes

If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'coal'. We will pick a winner and send over the key in 48 hours

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles: Key Giveaway For Free Subscribers

Final Fantasy Tactics is a classic tactical RPG set in the war-torn kingdom of Ivalice, where young noble Ramza is drawn into the brutal War of the Lions. Battles play out on layered 3D fields where positioning, turn order, and smart planning decide victory. With over 20 jobs and countless abilities to mix and match, you can shape your party into nearly any strategy you imagine. The enhanced version adds updated visuals, full voice acting, refined mechanics, and an easier difficulty option for newcomers. It remains one of the most respected and influential strategy RPGs ever made.

If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'fantasy'. 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!

Starsand Island [Steam]

Tired of the city grind?
$̶̶46.06 $12.84

Get Deal

Sackboy: A Big Adventure [Steam]

Ooh pretty graphics.
$̶̶70.87 $15.31

Get Deal

Golden Lap [Steam]

The Golden Era of open-wheel racing is about to begin.
$̶̶17.71 $4.52

Get Deal

Borderlands 4 Deluxe Edition [PS5]

Take on new areas with unique missions and bosses.
$99.99 $69.99

Get Deal

Fallout 4 [PS5]

Welcome home.
$7.99 $19.99

Get Deal

Horizon Forbidden West [PS5]

Join Aloy as she braves the Forbidden West.
$49.99 $29.99

Get Deal

EA SPORTS FC™ 26 [Nintendo Switch 2]

The club is yours.
$69.99 $27.99

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Plants vs. Zombies™: Replanted [Nintendo Switch]

Go back to your roots.
$19.99 $14.99

Get Deal

DOOM [Nintendo Switch]

Go back to your roots.
$19.99 $3.99

Get Deal

Featured Game Review: Resident Evil Requiem

Resident Evil Requiem opens in suffocating darkness and ends in a storm of gunfire. Capcom’s ninth mainline entry deliberately splits itself between two distinct identities: slow-burn survival horror and full-throttle action spectacle. At first, it’s all creaking floorboards, limited ammo, and the feeling that something is breathing just out of sight. Hours later, it becomes a blood-soaked power fantasy where heads explode on cue and chainsaws roar through corridors. Requiem’s biggest gamble is trying to satisfy both sides of the Resident Evil fanbase in one package, and for the most part, it succeeds, even if that tonal split never fully blends into a seamless whole.

A descent into dread

The early hours belong to Grace Ashcroft, a rookie FBI analyst investigating deaths tied to the long aftermath of Raccoon City. Her search lands her inside Rhodes Hill Chronic Care Center — a sprawling, decaying sanatorium that feels like a spiritual cousin to the Spencer Mansion. This is Resident Evil at its most oppressive: locked doors, intricate puzzles, and enemies that feel disturbingly aware of your presence.

Grace is underpowered and constantly vulnerable. Inventory space is tight, ammunition scarce, and movement slow enough that every crouched step feels deliberate. Played in a tight first-person perspective, each gunshot is deafening, each impact grotesque. Blood spatters linger on walls, corpses threaten to reanimate, and the silence between encounters is often more terrifying than the fights themselves. Crafting adds a smart twist — harvested infected blood can be repurposed into healing items or devastating single-use injectors that turn stealth kills into spectacular bursts of gore.

What elevates these sections isn’t just the tension, but Grace herself. She’s one of the series’ most grounded protagonists — anxious, overwhelmed, and gradually finding resolve. Watching her evolve from near-panic to defiant survivor gives the horror weight beyond simple shock value. For several hours, Requiem is among the most nerve-wracking entries the franchise has delivered.

Leon unleashed

Then Leon S. Kennedy arrives — and the temperature shifts instantly.

Leon’s sections default to third-person and lean unapologetically into action. Where Grace tiptoes, Leon charges. His arsenal is extensive, from heavy shotguns to sniper rifles, throwable melee weapons, and even a chainsaw that pushes combat into gleeful excess. Gunplay is slick, responsive, and confidently cinematic. Finishers land with brutal precision, and boss encounters escalate into bombastic set pieces that rival the most memorable moments of Resident Evil 4.

The pacing accelerates dramatically in the back half, sometimes to the point where the horror recedes almost entirely. Large-scale fights, highway chases, and artillery-heavy sequences trade dread for spectacle. The combat is undeniably fun — Leon has no “off” switch when it comes to dismantling undead hordes — but after hours of sustained action, the balance tips heavily away from the tension that defined the opening act.

This structural divide becomes Requiem’s defining trait. The first half is tightly wound survival horror; the second is a confident action-horror romp. Both are executed well, yet they feel more adjacent than integrated — like two expertly crafted experiences sharing the same campaign rather than a fully fused evolution of both.

Verdict

Resident Evil Requiem is a bold experiment in tonal duality. It delivers some of the series’ most unsettling horror through Grace’s fragile, methodical escape, then pivots into explosive, cathartic chaos with Leon at the helm. The lack of substantial side content and the uneven blending of its two halves hold it back from true greatness, but each side of its identity is compelling in its own right. From its trembling first steps in shadow to its thunderous, monster-sized finale, Requiem proves that Resident Evil can still terrify, even when it can’t quite decide which it wants to be more.

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!

The Eighth Inc. c/o LootHappens.com
46 Plains Road
Essex, CT 06426

©2024 Loot Happens | hi@loothappens.com | Privacy Policy | Terms

Key Giveaway For Premium Subscribers: Suicide Guy: the Lost Dreams

Suicide Guy: The Lost Dreams throws players into the wildly imaginative subconscious of the Guy, where escaping each dream means solving absurd, physics-based puzzles in increasingly bizarre scenarios. Across 18 handcrafted levels, you’ll navigate surreal environments filled with wacky creatures, drivable vehicles, and interactive objects that respond to your creativity and intuition.

Armed with over-the-top “crazy skills” — from picking up and throwing items to using dreamworld gadgets (and even burping your way through obstacles) — players must experiment, improvise, and think outside the box to wake up. Packed with hidden collectibles and unpredictable challenges, the game blends humor, chaos, and clever puzzle design into a delightfully strange adventure.

Giveaway For Premium Subscribers: Zoomy Cat Codes (Android Only)

This week’s reward is for our premium subscribers.

We’re giving away Zoomy Cat Android codes, and each code unlocks 1,000 CatBucks — the in-game currency used to grab fun accessories like hoverboards, hats, and even purritos.

Tet Craft: Key Giveaway For Free Subscribers

Tet Craft is a strange, experimental sandbox where you build worlds from simple tetrahedrons called TETs. Create, label, and connect these geometric “facts” to form shapes, stories, or abstract concepts, watching complexity emerge from just a few basic elements. You can chat remotely with friends, share saved snapshots called “instants,” and explore a surreal digital space shaped by shifting physics and time. Speed up reactions, change perspectives, and even let the built-in bot interpret your creations. Tet Craft is less a traditional game and more a philosophical playground for imagination.

If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'tet'. We will pick a winner and send over the key in 48 hours

MegaBonk: Key Giveaway For Free Subscribers

MegaBonk is a chaotic roguelike where you battle endless waves of enemies across randomly generated maps. Grab loot, stack upgrades, and push your build into absurd territory as you level up and chase that overpowered sweet spot. With 20 unique characters, 70+ synergizing items, and 240 in-game quests to tackle, every run plays differently. The only real question is how long you can survive before the swarm overwhelms you—and whether you’re ready to hit “one more run” again.

If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'mega'. We will pick a winner and send over the key in 48 hours

Mai: Child of Ages + DLC: Featured Giveaway For Free Subscribers

Mai: Child of Ages follows Mai through a shattered world as she searches for her identity and the origin of the creatures threatening existence itself. Travel between past and future, explore intricate dungeons, and watch gameplay evolve from precision platforming to fluid hack-and-slash combat as Mai grows. Using the powerful Uroboro Stone to manipulate time, you’ll uncover lost histories across ruins, factories, and submerged worlds in a sweeping, time-bending adventure.

We love this game - Check out the New DLC!

If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'mai'. 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!

Stormbridge [Steam]

Construct the longest bridge settlement.
$̶̶17.62 $3.80

Get Deal

Resident Evil Revelations [Steam]

The race is on to survive the horror of Resident Evil Revelations.
$̶̶35.52 $3.82

Get Deal

Cossacks 3 [Steam]

Return of the legendary Cossacks.
$̶̶23.49 $4.58

Get Deal

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 [PS5]

We are Expedition 33.
$49.99 $39.99

Get Deal

Borderlands 4 [PS5]

Be a badass.
$69.99 $48.99

Get Deal

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 [PS5]

Feel the true power of Spider-Man in your hands.
$69.99 $29.39

Get Deal

Featured Game Review: Reanimal

Reanimal opens with an image that lingers: a boy drifting through fog, guided by red lights in the dark, pulling a masked girl from the sea. No exposition. No comforting context. Just movement forward. From that first moment, Tarsier Studios makes a quiet promise, everything you see matters. And by the time the credits roll, you’ll be replaying those opening images in your mind, trying to understand what they were really telling you.

Like Little Nightmares before it, Reanimal thrives on ambiguity. The boy and girl are siblings, though the game never explicitly says so. You feel it in the way they boost each other over ledges, in the way they hesitate before stepping into darkness, in the fragile physical language they share. The story unfolds through imagery, environmental storytelling, and fragments of dialogue that raise more questions than they answer. Why does she attack him when he rescues her? What happened before the boat? Why return to this place at all? Reanimal never rushes to explain. It trusts you to remember.

A journey meant to be shared

While Reanimal can be played solo, it’s undeniably more powerful in co-op. One player controls the boy, the other the girl. Their abilities are nearly identical, but subtle differences matter: the girl can keep her lantern lit while carrying objects, while the boy’s lighter demands free hands. That small distinction shapes real decisions, who carries the crate, who leads the way, who sacrifices light to solve a puzzle.

Mechanically, Reanimal is elegantly simple. You walk, jump, climb, pull levers, carry items, and occasionally fend off threats in the awkward, desperate way children might. There’s no HUD, no intrusive interface. The camera is deliberate, framing scenes like grim paintings. Horror here isn’t loud—it’s composed. Beautiful, even.

The cooperative design strengthens the emotional core. Working through tense sequences together—especially the chase scenes—creates a shared anxiety that a solo AI companion simply can’t replicate. In an era where couch co-op feels increasingly rare, Reanimal’s commitment to it feels meaningful.

Beauty in the abyss

Tarsier’s visual storytelling is the true star. Forests bristle with skeletal trees. Industrial ruins loom out of fog like forgotten titans. Bodies twist into grotesque hybrids of man and animal. You begin to realise this world is wrong in ways that go beyond monsters.

And the monsters are unforgettable. Slithering skins, towering figures with sagging mask-like faces, creatures that chase you in frantic, breathless sequences where hesitation means death. Reanimal excels at pursuit horror, most encounters are about escape rather than combat. The fear comes not from fighting, but from running.

The pacing occasionally stumbles. Some chase sequences demand trial-and-error. A few paths aren’t immediately obvious. But even when frustration creeps in, the atmosphere pulls you back. You want to understand what this place is, and why the children have returned to it.

Verdict

Reanimal isn’t a revolution for Tarsier Studios, it’s a refinement. The studio has honed this style of atmospheric horror puzzle-platforming to a razor’s edge. Simple mechanics, masterful visual composition, and restrained storytelling combine into an experience that lingers long after it ends.

It’s not flawless. A few frustrating chases and moments of confusion interrupt the flow. But what carries Reanimal is its mood, its symbolism, and the act of experiencing it together.

It begins with children staring into a hole. It ends with you staring into the same darkness, trying to piece together what you’ve seen. And remembering that the story told you from the start: all of this matters.

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!

The Eighth Inc. c/o LootHappens.com
46 Plains Road
Essex, CT 06426

©2024 Loot Happens | hi@loothappens.com | Privacy Policy | Terms

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

Get Deal

Pax Dei [Steam]

The base game is the only thing you need to access Pax Dei.
$̶̶35.61 $10.09

Get Deal

Circle Empires 2 [Steam]

We’re going full circle. CIRCLE EMPIRES is back.
$̶̶15.42 $10.88

Get Deal

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 [PS5]

Feel the true power of Spider-Man in your hands.
$69.99 $29.39

Get Deal

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II [PS5]

Discover this open-world Medieval Europe through an unforgettable adventure.
$69.99 $34.99

Get Deal

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

Get Deal

Stray [Nintendo Switch]

A stray cat must untangle an ancient mystery to escape a cybercity.
$29.99 $19.79

Get Deal

Morsels [Nintendo Switch]

A fast-paced roguelite where a mouse leads monster pals against evil cats.
$14.99 $11.99

Get Deal

Sifu [Nintendo Switch]

Is one life enough to have Kung Fu?
$39.99 $9.99

Get Deal

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!

The Eighth Inc. c/o LootHappens.com
46 Plains Road
Essex, CT 06426

©2024 Loot Happens | hi@loothappens.com | Privacy Policy | Terms

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

Get Deal

Pax Dei [Steam]

The base game is the only thing you need to access Pax Dei.
$̶̶35.61 $10.09

Get Deal

Circle Empires 2 [Steam]

We’re going full circle. CIRCLE EMPIRES is back.
$̶̶15.42 $10.88

Get Deal

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 [PS5]

Feel the true power of Spider-Man in your hands.
$69.99 $29.39

Get Deal

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II [PS5]

Discover this open-world Medieval Europe through an unforgettable adventure.
$69.99 $34.99

Get Deal

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

Get Deal

Stray [Nintendo Switch]

A stray cat must untangle an ancient mystery to escape a cybercity.
$29.99 $19.79

Get Deal

Morsels [Nintendo Switch]

A fast-paced roguelite where a mouse leads monster pals against evil cats.
$14.99 $11.99

Get Deal

Sifu [Nintendo Switch]

Is one life enough to have Kung Fu?
$39.99 $9.99

Get Deal

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!

The Eighth Inc. c/o LootHappens.com
46 Plains Road
Essex, CT 06426

©2024 Loot Happens | hi@loothappens.com | Privacy Policy | Terms

Key Giveaway For Premium Subscribers: Random

This week, we're adding mystery to our premium subscribers' giveaway. This time, we have a group of random games, but with some major titles sprinkled in. By following the link below, you can claim one of the best free games we have in the database.

It can be anything, from an awesome indie game, an old reboot, or a fresh AAA game. When you put in your email address Tons of variety as always!

Tiny Bookshop: Key Giveaway For Free Subscribers

Tiny Book Shop invites you to slow down and start fresh with a second-hand bookshop by the sea. Stock shelves, decorate your space, and recommend the perfect book to curious locals as you get to know the quirks of Bookstonbury-by-the-Sea. Every item, genre, and location shapes who wanders in and how your shop grows. Gentle, warm, and quietly personal, Tiny Book Shop is about finding connection—one book at a time.

If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'shop'. We will pick a winner and send over the key in 48 hours

Sword of the Sea: Key Giveaway For Free Subscribers

Sword of the Sea is a serene yet exhilarating journey where movement becomes meditation. Surf across flowing deserts and shimmering waters on a Hoversword that blends skateboarding, snowboarding, and surfing into one fluid rhythm. As you carve waves and pull off effortless tricks, a lost world slowly awakens—sand giving way to emerald seas and returning life. From the creators of Journey and ABZÛ, Sword of the Sea is about speed, grace, and the quiet power of restoring balance.

If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'sword'. 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!

It Takes Two [Steam]

Embark on the craziest journey of your life.
$̶̶47.18 $9.96

Get Deal

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor [Steam]

The sequel for the exciting story of Cal Kestis.
$̶̶82.57 $15.69

Get Deal

Kenshi [Steam]

Be what you desire!
$̶̶31.84 $7.53

Get Deal

Battlefield 6 [PS5]

The ultimate all-out warfare experience.
$69.99 $45.49

Get Deal

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 [PS5]

Explore an expansive Marvel’s New York.
$69.99 $29.39

Get Deal

FINAL FANTASY VII [Nintendo Switch]

The world has fallen under the dominion of the Shinra Electric Power Company.
$15.99 $6.39

Get Deal

Undertale [Nintendo Switch]

The world-famous indie RPG.
$14.99 $9.89

Get Deal

Featured Game Review: Highguard

Highguard didn’t make much of an impression at first glance. Another competitive shooter, another cast of heroes, another promise of live-service longevity—it all felt familiar. But after sinking more than 20 hours into live matches, Highguard has proven itself more interesting than its reveal suggested. Its central raid-focused mode delivers moments of genuine tension and spectacle, and the gunplay carries the confidence of developers who clearly know this space well. At the same time, the longer I stayed in its lobbies, the more apparent its growing pains became. Highguard has a strong core and flashes of brilliance, but it’s also a game that currently feels a little too light on content to sustain that excitement without steady, meaningful updates

A smart idea at the centre of the chaos

Highguard’s defining feature is Raid Mode, a structured multiplayer format built around attacking and defending heavily fortified bases. Matches unfold in clear phases—preparing defenses, scavenging for gear, intercepting the Shieldbreaker, and finally launching an all-out assault on the enemy stronghold. That structure does a lot of work. Objectives are always clear, tension builds naturally, and the final raid phase often feels like a full-blown siege, complete with collapsing walls, planted bombs, and frantic last-second saves. It’s a clever way to condense the high-stakes drama of survival games into focused, match-based sessions.

The bases themselves help sell the fantasy. Each fortress has distinct strengths and weaknesses that shape how fights play out, whether that’s tight choke points that favor defenders or layered interiors that reward coordinated pushes. Choosing a base at the start of a match feels meaningful, and learning how to exploit or survive each layout becomes a big part of mastering the game. When everything clicks, Highguard delivers some genuinely memorable multiplayer moments.

Slick gunplay, limited variety

On a mechanical level, Highguard feels great to play. Shooting is crisp and responsive, with movement that recalls the studio’s roots in fast, modern FPS design. The weapon roster is small, but every gun feels carefully tuned, and higher-rarity versions introduce subtle modifiers that can meaningfully change how a weapon handles. In the heat of a raid, that tight gunplay carries a lot of weight, especially when paired with hero abilities that can dramatically alter the flow of a fight.

That said, the lack of variety starts to show surprisingly quickly. With only a handful of weapons and eight playable Wardens at launch, it doesn’t take long to see most of what Highguard has to offer. The characters are well-designed and fun to learn, but the meta settles fast, and matches can begin to blur together once optimal strategies are understood. Recent updates help shake things up, but they also highlight how dependent the game currently is on future content drops to stay fresh.

Verdict

Highguard is a shooter with a genuinely compelling core idea and the mechanical chops to back it up. Its raid-focused design creates moments of real excitement, and its gunplay is consistently satisfying. But in its current state, it struggles to maintain momentum due to a limited pool of content and systems that reveal their depth too quickly. If Wildlight can deliver on its roadmap and continue refining the experience, Highguard has the potential to stand out in a crowded genre. For now, it’s an enjoyable but slightly undercooked live-service game: promising, fun in bursts, and very much a work in progress.

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!

The Eighth Inc. c/o LootHappens.com
46 Plains Road
Essex, CT 06426

©2024 Loot Happens | hi@loothappens.com | Privacy Policy | Terms

Key Giveaway For Premium Subscribers: Death Noodle Delivery or Balloon Flight

Death Noodle Delivery throws you into a neon-soaked city where every noodle run is a fight for survival. Ride a hoverboard through collapsing streets, dodging traffic, drones, and bad decisions as speed and precision keep your deliveries intact. Between runs, you’ll hack systems, upgrade your board into a weaponized monster, and uncover unsettling secrets hiding beneath the city’s glitchy surface. Fast, chaotic, and darkly funny, Death Noodle Delivery turns gig work into a lethal rush where trial, error, and explosions are all part of the job.

———OR-------

Balloon Flight

Balloon Flight is a breezy, score-chasing flyer built around playful experimentation. Spawn balloons on the fly, attach them to your glider, and stay airborne as you thread through floating rings that extend your time. Each island adds new challenges, demanding careful control and quick reactions to keep your run alive. With unlockable balloons and ever-higher scores to chase, Balloon Flight turns lighthearted mechanics into a deceptively addictive test of precision.

LaneSplit: Key Giveaway For Free Subscribers

LaneSplit is built around speed, nerve, and razor-thin margins. The faster you ride and the closer you cut through traffic, the higher your score climbs—until one mistake wipes the run clean. Different weather, traffic density, and modes shift the rhythm, from tense rush-hour dodging to meditative solo rides. With a drum & bass soundtrack that swells as you accelerate, LaneSplit turns momentum into obsession and every clean pass into a small victory.

If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'split'. We will pick a winner and send over the key in 48 hours

ANTHEM#9: Key Giveaway For Free Subscribers

ANTHEM#9 is a stylish "Strategic Gem Match" roguelite that blends match-three puzzle mechanics with deep deck-building strategy. Set in a world overseen by a mysterious secret society dedicated to maintaining global balance, players step into the shoes of elite agents—such as the poison-wielding Rubit or the high-rolling Phannie—to "purge" threats through high-speed, combo-driven combat. The core gameplay revolves around matching colored gems to activate specific skill "recipes" within a limited time window, rewarding quick thinking and synergistic deck construction. With its vibrant aesthetic, customizable skill requirements, and challenging endgame content like "Extra Missions," ANTHEM#9 offers a fresh, kinetic take on the roguelite genre that is as cerebral as it is visually explosive.

This game has not been released yet, and therefore the key will not be valid until February 5th.

If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'split'. 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!

Cult of the Lamb: Woolhaven [Steam]

Winter descends, and a long-silenced deity stirs beneath the snow.
$̶̶20.33 $14.47

Get Deal

Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration [Steam]

Explore Croft Manor in the new Blood Ties story.
$̶̶35.89 $3.28

Get Deal

City Tales - Medieval Era [Steam]

Welcome to your own medieval city.
$̶̶27.51 $12.09

Get Deal

Jurassic World Evolution 3 [PS5]

Not everyone wants to see the dinosaurs thrive.
$59.99 $47.99

Get Deal

Five Nights at Freddy's: Help Wanted 2 [PS5]

So what are you waiting for?!?
$39.99 $19.99

Get Deal

Until Dawn [PS5]

Immerse yourself in a gripping slasher horror.
$59.99 $29.99

Get Deal

Fable III [Xbox]

Fable III is the next blockbuster instalment in the highly praised Fable franchise.
$19.99 $6.59

Get Deal

Dead by Daylight [Xbox]

Choose between playing an unstoppable Killer and one of 4 Survivors.
$29.99 $11.99

Get Deal

Featured Game Review: Code Vein 2

Anime-styled soulslikes promise a very specific fantasy: precision combat wrapped in melodrama, where suffering is stylish, and perseverance feels heroic. Code Vein 2 returns to that space with bigger ambitions than its predecessor, expanding into an open world and anchoring its story around time travel and cause-and-effect. On paper, it’s a strong hook—repair a broken present by rewriting pivotal moments of the past. In practice, the result is uneven. Across dozens of hours, Code Vein 2 flirts with greatness, landing a handful of striking ideas and memorable moments, but struggles to sustain momentum in a genre that demands consistency above all else. It’s a sequel that wants to stand taller, yet often trips over its own systems on the climb upward.

A world shaped by time, but not always by impact

The open world of Code Vein 2 exists to reinforce its central theme: history matters. Moving between past and present versions of the same regions gives the world a sense of continuity, and visually, the contrast can be striking. Lush landscapes slowly eroded into barren wastelands communicate loss more effectively than dialogue ever could. Early on, these shifts feel meaningful, grounding the time-travel premise in tangible change rather than abstract lore.

Narratively, however, that promise isn’t always fulfilled. Key story beats are often delivered through vague, dreamlike sequences that sap emotional weight from moments meant to matter. Characters speak in broad strokes, and revelations arrive abruptly, without enough buildup to truly resonate. There are highlights—specific companions and side stories manage to land genuine emotion—but the broader conflict between revenants and humanity remains underdeveloped. By the time the story reaches its conclusion, it gestures toward tragedy and catharsis, yet rarely earns the depth it goes for.

Exploration without curiosity

Structurally, the open world is restrained, which works in its favor. There’s no checklist bloat, and objectives are clearly signposted. You’re rarely overwhelmed, and side content is easy to parse. That said, exploration itself lacks mystery. While landmarks often hide upgrades or stat boosts, there’s little incentive to wander purely out of curiosity. You don’t stumble into surprising dungeons or encounters that reframe your understanding of the world; instead, you methodically move from one purpose-built area to the next.

Traversal adds friction rather than freedom. The motorbike is functional but awkward, invisible barriers interrupt natural movement, and minor falls can result in instant death. These frustrations compound, breaking immersion and reinforcing the sense that the world exists more as a narrative delivery tool than a playground meant to be explored. It serves its purpose—but rarely excites.

Systems with potential, but limited expression

Mechanically, Code Vein 2 offers flexibility through its Blood Code system, allowing players to shift builds without permanent commitment. It’s a smart idea, encouraging experimentation rather than lock-in, and once understood, it becomes one of the game’s strongest RPG elements. Supporting systems like companion summoning, fusion buffs, and Ichor-based abilities add layers to combat that reward varied playstyles.

The issue isn’t the systems themselves—it’s how rarely the game asks you to fully engage with them. Long stretches of repetitive enemies and recycled encounters fail to meaningfully challenge the player, making the deeper mechanics feel optional rather than essential. Side quests that explore timeline shifts and character backstories offer glimpses of what Code Vein 2 could have been if it took more risks more often. Those moments stand out precisely because they break from the game’s otherwise predictable rhythm.

Verdict

Code Vein 2 is a game caught between ambition and execution. Its time-travel premise, flexible RPG systems, and occasional standout encounters show real potential, and there are moments where everything aligns just right. But inconsistency—whether in storytelling, exploration, or combat balance—keeps it from fully capitalizing on its ideas. In a genre that has evolved rapidly since the original Code Vein, this sequel struggles to keep pace, even as it reaches for a broader horizon. For fans invested in its world and concepts, there’s enough here to justify the journey—but it’s hard to shake the feeling that this is a step forward that still doesn’t go far enough.

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!

The Eighth Inc. c/o LootHappens.com
46 Plains Road
Essex, CT 06426

©2024 Loot Happens | hi@loothappens.com | Privacy Policy | Terms

50,000 Reward Credits for CheatHappens.com for Premium Subscribers

CheatHappens.com is giving 50,000 Reward Credits for premium subscribers this week. You must have a CheatHappens.com account (free or premium) in order to claim these credits.

Key Giveaway For Premium Subscribers: Woodle Tree 2: Deluxe+

Woodle Tree 2: Deluxe+ invites you back into a colorful, sprawling world where exploration and challenge go hand in hand. Roam freely across forests, deserts, mountains, and oceans, tackling redesigned platforming sections, clever puzzles, and tougher enemies as you work to restore balance. This Deluxe+ edition sharpens the experience with smoother controls, reworked levels, new abilities, and extra challenges, including the Sleepin’ Flowers DLC, while local co-op lets friends join the journey. Beneath its cheerful surface, Woodle Tree 2 rewards curiosity, precision, and persistence.

Mai: Child of Ages: Key Giveaway For Free Subscribers

Mai: Child of Ages follows Mai through a broken world shaped by time, memory, and loss as she searches for her true origin. Shifting between past and future, you explore dungeon-like ruins, solve time-bending puzzles, and watch the world transform around your choices. Gameplay evolves alongside Mai herself, blending precise platforming with fluid hack-and-slash combat as new abilities unlock across different stages of her life. At the heart of it all lies the Uroboro Stone, a powerful relic that lets you freeze moments, rewrite history, and shape what comes next.

If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'mai'. We will pick a winner and send over the key in 48 hours

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves: Key Giveaway For Free Subscribers

FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves brings SNK’s legendary series back to South Town after more than two decades away. Built around the new REV System, every match rewards aggressive play and momentum from the opening bell. Flexible control schemes welcome newcomers while preserving depth for veterans, and a bold new art style gives both classic fighters and new faces real presence. With a strong roster and a story-driven RPG mode to carve out your own legacy, City of the Wolves feels like a confident revival: rooted in history, but ready to push forward.

If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'fury'. 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!

MIO: Memories in Orbit [Steam]

A mesmerizing, intertwined, decaying world awaits.
$̶̶23.40 $15.62

Get Deal

Little Gods of the Abyss [Steam]

Precision action meets puzzles.
$̶̶14.62 $3.18

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Turnbound [Steam]

Precision action meets puzzles.
$̶̶17.55 $8.60

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Warhammer 40,000: Darktide [PS5]

As Tertium falls, rejects will rise.
$39.99 $19.99

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Persona 5 Royal [PS5]

Prepare for the award-winning RPG experience.
$59.99 $17.99

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Cult of the Lamb [PS5]

Experience the entire Cult of the Lamb.
$24.99 $9.99

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EA SPORTS FC 26 [Nintendo Switch]

The club is yours.
$59.99 $23.99

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Unpacking [Nintendo Switch]

Unpack someone's belongings.
$19.99 $7.99

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Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered [Nintendo Switch]

Reignite the pursuit.
$39.99 $6.79

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Featured Game Review: Arknights: Endfield

Any game built around gacha systems lives under quiet scrutiny. It’s not just about mechanics—it’s about trust. Players are being asked to return daily, to invest time, and potentially money, so there has to be a reason beyond habit. Arknights: Endfield enters that crowded space with a more ambitious pitch than most, offering not only an expansive sci-fi world but a slower, more deliberate loop built around exploration, squad combat, and base construction. After spending a considerable stretch Endministrating on Talos-II, it’s clear Endfield wants to be more than another login-driven experience. While its early hours stumble under heavy exposition and familiar genre friction, the foundation beneath is surprisingly compelling, one that invites curiosity rather than demanding commitment upfront.

A promising world, revealed at its own pace

You step into the role of the Endministrator, returning to the hostile planet Talos-II after a decade-long absence and a conveniently inconvenient case of amnesia. The setup is familiar, but the tone isn’t overly dramatic. Instead, Endfield leans into atmosphere: abandoned infrastructure, strange ecosystems, and a sense that this world is only partially understood, even by those trying to tame it. Unfortunately, the opening hours struggle to get out of their own way. Dense dialogue and halting pacing make early story beats feel more like briefings than lived experiences.

Stick with it, though, and the game gradually opens up. The world design does much of the narrative work once you’re free to roam, with striking cyberpunk-industrial vistas and enemy designs that reinforce the planet’s instability. You spend most of your time venturing into the wilds with a squad of Operators, gathering resources, solving light environmental challenges, and pushing back hostile forces to reclaim territory. The objectives themselves aren’t especially inventive, but the cohesion between setting, tone, and progression makes the loop easy to fall into—even when you’re aware of its simplicity.

Characters that sell the gacha fantasy

As expected, Endfield introduces a growing cast of Operators, initially through story progression and later via gacha pulls. While the systems surrounding currencies and passes are dense—as they often are in this genre—the early game avoids hard pressure to spend. Progression remains smooth enough that curiosity, not frustration, drives engagement. Whether that balance holds long-term remains an open question, but the opening stretch earns goodwill rather than burning it.

Where Endfield excels is character design. New Operators aren’t just visually distinct—they’re immediately expressive. Personalities come through in dialogue, animations, and combat style, making it easy to grow attached faster than intended. This emotional pull is clearly intentional, but it’s handled with care. Even players wary of gacha mechanics may find themselves charmed despite their better judgment, thanks to thoughtful worldbuilding and consistent aesthetic identity.

Combat is the game’s strongest hook

Combat is where Arknights: Endfield feels most confident. Battles unfold in real time, with players actively swapping between squad members to string together combos, dodges, and special attacks. Each Operator brings a clear role, and their personalities extend into how they fight—making combat feel expressive rather than mechanical. Visual feedback is strong, turning even missteps into flashy moments that feel earned rather than accidental.

Enemy encounters are straightforward but satisfying, built around momentum and coordination rather than complex tactics. You charge in, break defenses, juggle foes, and call in teammates for cinematic follow-ups. It’s accessible without being mindless, and while it lacks the precision depth of dedicated action RPGs, it compensates with fluidity and spectacle. Simply put, it’s fun, and that matters more than novelty in a game meant to be played daily.

Verdict

Arknights: Endfield doesn’t reinvent the gacha formula, but it meaningfully reshapes it. Its opening hours demand patience, and its systems can feel dense before they click. Yet beneath that friction lies a thoughtfully constructed world, expressive combat, and a progression loop that encourages exploration over compulsion. Whether it maintains that balance in the long run remains to be seen, but as a first impression, Endfield succeeds where many of its peers falter—it makes you want to stay, not because you have to, but because you’re genuinely curious about what lies ahead.

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!

The Eighth Inc. c/o LootHappens.com
46 Plains Road
Essex, CT 06426

©2024 Loot Happens | hi@loothappens.com | Privacy Policy | Terms

Key Giveaway for Premium Subscribers: Blade Jumper

Blade Jumper is built around a single, unforgiving idea: one jump, one slash, no hesitation. You scale the massive Kukuru Tower with a minimalist control scheme where movement and combat are bound to the same decisive leap. Miss your timing, and the climb turns cruel—sending you tumbling back through enemies and traps. As you ascend, a dystopian vision of Seoul ruled by artificial pleasure slowly reveals itself through scattered story fragments. Blade Jumper thrives on precision, momentum, and pressure, turning every successful climb into a hard-earned act of defiance.

Additional In-Game Giveaway for Premium Subscribers

Oily Beard is a slow-burn strategy sandbox built on risk, imagination, and the constant fear of losing everything. Beneath its browser-based surface lies a game of ruthless economics, fragile alliances, and long-term planning, where pouring resources into growth can make you powerful—or paint a target on your back. Politics matter as much as armies, with diplomacy, betrayal, and quiet deals shaping the battlefield as much as open war. What truly defines Oily Beard is its community: friendships forged under pressure, debts that can never quite be repaid, and moments where one decision—from sending aid to launching an attack—can echo for the rest of the game.

In-Game Code Giveaway for ALL Free Subscribers

Oily Beard is a slow-burning strategy game where imagination does most of the heavy lifting. Behind its simple, browser-based look sits a tense mix of economic gambles, fragile alliances, and the constant risk of losing everything overnight. Power isn’t just built through armies—timing, diplomacy, and trust matter just as much, often more. What lingers most is the human side: friendships tested under pressure, favors that can’t be repaid, and moments where a single act of loyalty or betrayal can change the course of an entire game.

Terra Invicta: The Last Check: Key Giveaway For Free Subscribers

Terra Invicta An extraterrestrial probe is detected approaching Earth, while—unknown to humanity—an alien force has already arrived in the icy reaches of the Kuiper Belt, mining a distant dwarf planet in preparation for invasion. As Earth’s nations fail to unite in response, transnational networks of like-minded political, military, and scientific leaders form covert channels to confront the threat, even as the aliens’ true motives remain uncertain and rival factions arise, driven by hope, fear, or greed.
You take control of one such faction: the Resistance, striving to unite nations in a coordinated defense; Humanity First, determined to exterminate the aliens and any who sympathize with them; the Servants, who worship the invaders as saviors; the Protectorate, which urges negotiated surrender to avoid annihilation; the Academy, seeking an interstellar alliance; the Initiative, intent on profiting from chaos; or Project Exodus, racing to build a starship and flee the Solar System altogether.

If you would like to be in the running for a key, hit reply and just put 'terra'. 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!

Pathologic 3 [Steam]

Are there mistakes that can't be fixed?
$̶̶40.67 $9.86

Get Deal

Kejora [Steam]

There’s a mystery hidden behind this peaceful village.
$̶̶20.33 $13.82

Get Deal

GUNBIRD [Steam]

The second chapter in Saikyo’s vertical-scrolling shooters.
$̶̶11.33 $3.20

Get Deal

Fallout 4 [PS5]

Welcome home.
$19.99 $4.99

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Absolum [PS5]

An epic adventure in an original fantasy world.
$24.99 $19.99

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Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater [PS5]

The Beginning of it All.
$69.99 $41.99

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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim [Nintendo Switch]

Epic fantasy reborn.
$49.99 $16.49

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DOOM [Nintendo Switch]

Fight like hell.
$19.99 $3.99

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Don't Starve Together [Nintendo Switch]

Don't Starve.
$19.99 $5.09

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Featured Game Review: Code Violet

Some games collapse under ambition. Others falter because they mistake surface-level appeal for substance. Code Violet lands firmly in the latter camp, presenting itself as a pulpy blend of sci-fi horror, dinosaurs, and third-person action, yet rarely delivering on the tension or depth those elements promise. At a glance, its premise feels like a throwback to genre staples—isolated facilities, hostile creatures, a lone survivor fighting through the aftermath of catastrophe. But once the initial novelty fades, it becomes clear that Code Violet struggles to turn that setup into a compelling experience. What should feel like a desperate fight for survival instead unfolds as a rigid, technically uneven trek through uninspired spaces, weighed down by shallow combat and a story that never earns its dramatic turns.

A familiar story without a steady core

Narratively, Code Violet leans heavily on well-worn science fiction tropes: genetic experimentation, space colonization gone wrong, and secrets buried beneath layers of catastrophe. On paper, there’s enough here to spark curiosity, especially in scattered lore fragments and environmental details that hint at something more thoughtful beneath the chaos. Unfortunately, those ideas remain largely peripheral. The main storyline moves forward through stiff cutscenes and rushed revelations, escalating toward increasingly wild twists without taking the time to ground them emotionally or logically.

That lack of grounding is especially apparent in its protagonist. Violet is positioned as a capable survivor, but she rarely feels like an active participant in the story unfolding around her. Her motivations are thin, her reactions underdeveloped, and her internal perspective almost entirely absent. As a result, dramatic moments pass without impact, and relationships with other characters never progress beyond surface-level concern. Instead of building tension through character and consequence, the narrative relies on sudden shocks that feel disconnected from the journey leading up to them.

Combat that struggles to carry the experience

Combat is where Code Violet should shine, but it rarely rises above functional frustration. Encounters rely heavily on backward dodging, basic shooting, and crowd control that never meaningfully evolves. Enemy variety is limited, and while different dinosaurs exhibit slightly different behaviors, most encounters resolve the same way: retreat, fire, repeat. Boss fights change the scale but not the strategy, turning climactic moments into longer versions of standard skirmishes.

Technical issues compound these problems. Camera behavior in tight spaces frequently obscures action, turning already chaotic encounters into disorienting messes. Stealth mechanics exist, but feel unreliable or outright unnecessary due to enemy awareness and scripted ambushes. When challenge does appear, it often comes not from smart design but from erratic AI, awkward hit detection, or systems working against one another rather than in harmony.

Bottom line

Code Violet reaches for the legacy of classic sci-fi survival horror but falls short of understanding what made those games endure. Its story lacks focus, its environments fail to sustain tension, and its combat systems feel underdeveloped and technically unstable. While there are fleeting moments of visual flair and isolated ideas worth exploring, they’re buried beneath repetition and mechanical frustration. This isn’t a rediscovered cult gem or a bold reinvention—it’s a reminder that atmosphere, agency, and design cohesion matter far more than provocative concepts alone. For all its ambition, Code Violet never quite finds the control or clarity needed to make its survival fantasy feel alive.

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!

The Eighth Inc. c/o LootHappens.com
46 Plains Road
Essex, CT 06426

©2024 Loot Happens | hi@loothappens.com | Privacy Policy | Terms