As January rolls on, it brings us new adventures, more content for some big titles, and the chance to revisit some previous releases. The Pokemon-inspired MMO Temtem is full of creatures to collect, while The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners is full of zombies to gun down. You can also jump back into Kingdom Hearts 3 with the Re:Mind expansion. Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath HD is getting an updated Nintendo Switch port, while the dystopia adventure game Mosaic makes its console debut.
Temtem -- January 21
Available on: PC
At first glance, you might think Temtem is related to Pokemon Sword & Shield. Well, the Pokemon series is developer Crema's chief inspiration. But there are some key differences: chiefly, Temtem is an MMO. That means you can explore the archipelago, catch creatures, and throw down in 2v2 battles with friends. Those battles involve a elemental strengths and weaknesses, yes, but Temtems can also synergize for deeper strategies.
Re:Mind brings more of what you love about Kingdom Hearts to the latest game, with more boss fights, story content, and two new Keyblades for Sora to wield: Oblivion and Oathkeeper. It focuses on his search for Kairi in the Keyblade Graveyard, but Kairi herself is also playable. Re:Mind also brings back Final Fantasy favorites like Aerith, Yuffie, and Leon.
The Oddworld series is, well, odd. The titular stranger wields a crossbow that fires tiny creatures as ammo, letting you take down enemies with unique effects. This Nintendo Switch port lets you do that with new gyro controls. The Stranger himself is a bounty hunter who can leap and climb around the environment, and there's plenty of platforming to be had here too.
Mosaic is set in a dreadful world: a sprawling, depressing city with lifeless people just going through their daily routines. The game tasks you with breaking out of this dystopia, going on a journey to overcome your urban isolationism. That sounds abstract, I know, but at least there's a fun saxophone player in the trailer.
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners -- January 23
Available on: PC
What's an episode of New Releases without a virtual reality game? Saints and Sinners is set in a flooded New Orleans, where you'll have to scavenge for supplies, make tough decisions, and meet with various factions if you want to survive. There's also a secret hidden in the city that just might put a stop to this whole zombie plague thing too.
There's still another batch of hot January games in the oven. Next week, New Releases will bite into Journey to the Savage Planet and the long-awaited final episode of Kentucky Route Zero.
