Honkai: Nexus Anima (Preview)
HoYoverse just doesn't miss. While not normally my jam, Honkai: Nexus Anima is gorgeous from the moment you lay eyes on it, the kind of game that stops you mid-scroll and demands your attention. The anime-styled visuals are stunning, but what really sets this apart is the fresh take on the creature-collecting RPG formula. This isn't just a reskin of something you've seen before. There's a unique identity here that feels eye-catching and distinct, even within HoYoverse's own impressive catalogue of releases.
Based on what we've seen and played so far, this has all the makings of another knockout from a studio that continues to operate on a level most developers can only aspire to. The creature designs are inventive, the world is dripping with style, and the core gameplay loop shows serious promise.
HoYoverse keeps knocking it out of the park with these incredible game releases, and Honkai: Nexus Anima looks poised to be the next one in a growing lineup of hits. The full release can't come soon enough.
RuneScape: Dragonwilds (Early Access)
If you checked out RuneScape: Dragonwilds at launch and walked away unimpressed, it's time to give it another look. The first release was admittedly rough, and there's no sugarcoating that. But the team has put in serious work since then, and the improvements across the board are hard to ignore. The UI has seen significant upgrades, new features have fleshed out the experience considerably, and the overall polish has jumped by leaps and bounds. It's genuinely encouraging to see a game move in the right direction this quickly during Early Access.
This is Early Access working the way it's supposed to. The developers clearly listened to feedback, rolled up their sleeves, and got to work making Dragonwilds into the game it was always meant to be. There's still road ahead before a full release, but the trajectory is encouraging and the current state of the game is more than worth your time if you're curious. If you bounced off the original launch, give it a second chance and you might be surprised at how far it's come.
SAND: Raiders of Sophie (Early Access)
SAND: Raiders of Sophie is the kind of Early Access title that makes you sit up and pay attention. There's a ton of fun to be had here already, and the promise of what this could become is genuinely exciting. Big points go to the development team for originality, this isn't a copy-paste of something you've already played a hundred times, and that creative ambition goes a long way toward keeping you engaged even in these early stages.
That said, it's a little too early to gauge the long term appeal. The foundation is solid and the moment-to-moment gameplay is enjoyable, but whether the systems have the depth to sustain extended play remains to be seen as development continues. It's also worth noting that the game's unique flavor won't be for everyon, what feels fresh and exciting to some players might feel unfamiliar and disorienting to others.
That being said, if you're the kind of player who loves getting in on the ground floor of something original and watching it grow, SAND: Raiders of Sophie has a lot of potential worth keeping an eye on.
Way of the Hunter 2 (Early Access)
Way of the Hunter 2 is that rare Early Access title that already feels like a finished product. The game is polished, the environments are absolutely gorgeous, and the hunting experience itself is done right in a way that respects both the genre and the player's intelligence. Everything from the animal behavior to the weapon handling to the sheer beauty of the natural landscapes feels intentional and carefully crafted. This is hunting simulation at its finest, and the fact that it's still in Early Access is almost hard to believe.
If this is what the game looks and plays like before the full release, the finished product is going to be something truly special. The developers have clearly prioritized quality from the jump, and it shows in every aspect of the experience. Can't wait to see where this goes from here.
