cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/31873281

• The EU Citizens petition to stop killing games is not looking good. It's shy of halfway where it needs to be, on a very high threshold, and it's over in a month and change.
• paraphrasing a little more than a half hour of the video: "Man, fuck Thor/Pirate Software for either lying or misunderstanding and signal boosting his incorrect interpretation of the campaign."
• The past year has been quite draining on Ross, so he's done campaigning after next month.
• It will still take a few years for the dust to clear at various consumer protection bureaus in 5 different countries, and the UK's seems to be run by old men who don't understand what's going on.
• At least The Crew 2 and Motorfest will get offline modes as a consolation prize?

Game Information

Game Title: Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

Platforms:

• PlayStation 5 (Jun 26, 2025)

Trailer:

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 91 average - 96% recommended - 52 reviews

Critic Reviews

ACG - Jeremy Penter - Buy

AnaitGames - Víctor Manuel Martínez García - Spanish - 9 / 10

Atarita - Eren Eroğlu - Turkish - 86 / 100

But Why Tho? - Matt Sowinski - 9 / 10

CGMagazine - Jordan Biordi - 9 / 10

CNET - Oscar Gonzalez - Unscored

COGconnected - Rhett Waselenchuk - 100 / 100

ComingSoon.net - Tyler Treese - 9.5 / 10

Console Creatures - Bobby Pashalidis - 9 / 10

Dexerto - Brad Norton - 5 / 5

Digital Trends - Giovanni Colantonio - 4 / 5

Echo Boomer - David Fialho - Portuguese - Essential

Enternity.gr - Panagiotis Petropoulos - Greek - 8.5 / 10

GRYOnline.pl - Sebastian Kasparek - Polish - 10 / 10

GameSpot - Diego Nicolás Argüello - 7 / 10

Gamersky - 心灵奇兵 - Chinese - 9 / 10

Gamesource Italia - Enrico Andreuccetti - Italian - 95 / 100

Gaming Nexus - Jason Dailey - 10 / 10

GamingBolt - Shubhankar Parijat - 10 / 10

HCL.hr - Zoran Žalac - Unknown - 82 / 100

IGN Italy - Francesco Destri - Italian - 8 / 10

IGN Spain - Alejandro Morillas - Spanish - 10 / 10

INDIANTVCZ - Filip Kraucher - Czech - 7 / 10

INVEN - Kyuman Kim - Korean - 9 / 10

Kakuchopurei - 90 / 100

KonsoliFIN - Niko Lähteenmäki - Finnish - 4 / 5

Le Bêta-Testeur - French - 8.7 / 10

LevelUp - Spanish - Unscored

Loot Level Chill - Chris White - 10 / 10

Merlin'in Kazanı - Samet Basri Taşlı - Turkish - 87 / 100

Nexus Hub - Sam Aberdeen - 10 / 10

One More Game - Chris Garcia - 9 / 10

Oyungezer Online - Eren Eryürekli - Turkish - 9 / 10

PPE.pl - Wojciech Gruszczyk - Polish - 9.5 / 10

PSX Brasil - Bruno Henrique Vinhadel - Portuguese - 95 / 100

Paste Magazine - Elijah Gonzalez - 9.3 / 10

Pizza Fria - Álvaro Saluan da Cunha - Portuguese - 10 / 10

PlayStation Universe - Joe Richards - 9.5 / 10

Push Square - Liam Croft - 10 / 10

Quest Daily - Shaun Fullard - 9 / 10

Restart.run - Jesse Vitelli - 3 / 5

SECTOR.sk - Michal Korec - Slovak - 8.5 / 10

SavePoint Gaming - Jake Su - 9.5 / 10

Sirus Gaming - Kurt John Palomaria - 9 / 10

The Outerhaven Productions - Cody Perez - 3.5 / 5

TheSixthAxis - Tuffcub - 8 / 10

Toisto - Joonatan Itkonen - 5 / 5

Tom's Guide - 4.5 / 5

Too Much Gaming - Carlos Hernandez - 5 / 5

WellPlayed - Adam Ryan - 10 / 10

Worth Playing - Chris "Atom" DeAngelus - 9 / 10

Game Information

Game Title: FBC: Firebreak

Platforms:

• PC (Jun 17, 2025)
• PlayStation 5 (Jun 17, 2025)
• Xbox Series X/S (Jun 17, 2025)

Developer: Remedy Entertainment

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 65 average - 30% recommended - 45 reviews

Critic Reviews

AltChar - Semir Omerovic - 80 / 100

FBC: Firebreak isn’t a revolutionary co-op shooter, but it is a very solid and surprisingly confident first attempt by Remedy to step into a new space. It borrows familiar mechanics and wraps them in the kind of surreal, stylish atmosphere that fans of Control will eat up. The shooting is solid, the content is respectable, and the tension ramps up nicely when things go sideways.

But Why Tho? - Charles Hartford - 5.5 / 10

FBC Firebreak delivers an experience that is, at best, competent and, at worst, tedious. Given the glut of options in the multiplayer FPS market and the $40 price tag this game carries, it is hard to suggest it to anyone.

CGMagazine - Jordan Biordi - 8 / 10

FBC: Firebreak takes the strangeness of the Control universe and applies it to a genuinely fun and challenging co-op shooter.

Checkpoint Gaming - Austin Gallagher - 6 / 10

Despite being competent on many levels, FBC: Firebreak is an exceedingly familiar cooperative experience you have likely played before. Remedy's signature flair for visual design and return to a familiar and beloved video game locale might be enough for absolute die-hard fans, but it is tough to see who the target audience for this entry into the RCU was envisioned for. While not a total misfire, FBC: Firebreak feels destined to be a footnote from the world of Alan Wake.

Digitale Anime - Raouf Belhamra - Arabic - 7.5 / 10

FBC: Firebreak offers a technically polished experience but lacks the narrative depth that distinguishes Remedy Studio. The game captures the weirdness of Remedy's world with the studio's signature graphics and style, but its shallow story, repetitive structure, and slow progression make it difficult to return to the game as often as those games are known for.

DualShockers - Usama Mehmood - 7 / 10

Although most of its rewarding features add variability to custom loadouts, there's not much else here that, unfortunately, makes it worth spending an effort on. I'd much rather see a sizable number of differences in the job variety, missions, and power fantasy elements that actually heighten the sense of being an FBC operative who's exterminating the evil corruption of the Hiss.

Eurogamer - Christian Donlan - 3 / 5

A bold approach to the concept of work marks this game out as a singular enterprise.

Final Weapon - Saras Rajpal - 2.5 / 5

FBC: Firebreak is a game that lacks a cohesive identity. While the gameplay formula is solid, the repetitive missions, objectives, and grinding for new unlocks are more monotonous than fun. Additionally, the lack of a proper narrative compared to other games from Remedy Entertainment makes it a hard game to justify purchasing whether you're a fan of its previous titles or simply a fan of the multiplayer co-op genre.

GAMES.CH - Joel Kogler - German - 65%

In its current state, "FBC: Firebreak" is only recommended as part of Game Pass or PlayStation Plus - and even then, we doubt that the majority of players will be entertained for more than two hours.

Game8 - Aaron Bacabac - 66 / 100

FBC: Firebreak is a solid idea held back by a premium price and early-access-level polish. At $40 (more on PlayStation), it feels more like a mid-roadmap build than a finished 1.0 release. The core gameplay, story, and production are strong, but missing QoL features, sparse content, and optimization issues drag it down. Remedy may patch things up in time, but right now, Firebreak just isn’t worth the ask.

GameGrin - Jacob Sanderson - 9 / 10

An incredibly fun and engaging Horde Shooter, it isn't perfect, but it's an absolute blast to play!

GameMAG - Russian - 4 / 10

It's not entirely clear what Remedy Entertainment was hoping for when they decided to take on a project that literally contradicts their formula of story adventures. FBC: Firebreak simply has nothing to praise.

GameSpot - Mark Delaney - 8 / 10

Remedy's co-op FPS is a fun Control spin-off when everything goes right, though such circumstances can prove elusive early on.

Gameliner - Bram Noteboom - Dutch - 4 / 5

FBC: Firebreak proudly stands among the better co-op shooters out there—with slick visuals, wild weapon choices, and deep sandbox action, it hits hard despite some weak AI and a modest amount of launch content.

GamesRadar+ - Abbie Stone - 2 / 5

Being forced to stand stock still and stare at that horrible traffic light longing it to turn green is wonderfully tense.

Gaming Instincts - Leonid Melikhov - 6 / 10

If you suffer from insomnia and your over-the-counter meds no longer do the trick, then sure, feel free to drop $39.99 on FBC Firebreak. Because this game will drain your energy and put you to sleep faster than any pill ever could

GamingBolt - Ravi Sinha - 7 / 10

As Remedy's first co-op shooter, FBC: Firebreak is a successful experiment, and while it doesn't quite match up to the best in the genre, the Oldest House is still a good stage for some creepy, frenetic action.

Gfinity - Feliciano Mondigo III - 7 / 10

FBC: Firebreak is Remedy’s quirky dive into co-op extraction shooters, blending the surreal world of Control with chaotic missions best enjoyed with friends. While it lacks polish, online features, and content at launch, it’s an ambitious but currently incomplete experience that can only be better with a full squad.

Hinsusta - Pascal Kaap - German - 8 / 10

FBC: Firebreak is a successful co-op PvE shooter with fresh ideas, charming chaos and an audiovisual style that clearly stands out from the genre standards. The title really comes into its own when played as a team. Whether during hectic repairs under enemy pressure, tactically coordinated boss battles or curious shower moments.

Hobby Consolas - David Rodriguez - Spanish - 74 / 100

FBC Firebreak is a multiplayer game with good ideas and a great setting that brings back the Control universe. Despite some inaccuracies and the possibility of more content, what it offers brings a touch of freshness to the co-op genre with friends. It's not crazy, but it's not your typical first-person shooter either, thankfully.

INVEN - Seungjin Kang - Korean - 6 / 10

The mysterious worldbuilding of Control and Remedy’s signature presentation still shine through. However, repetitive mission structures, sluggish progression, and a steep early-game barrier make this surreal stage feel less captivating. While the fresh gimmicks and cooperative elements offer clear appeal, the game needs both stronger early engagement and more lasting motivation to truly stand out.

KonsoliFIN - Risto Karinkanta - Finnish - 3 / 5

The unique co-op approach captures the edgy feel of Control, but still offers only a sloppy experience.

PC Gamer - Rick Lane - 60 / 100

FBC: Firebreak's madcap mission conceits are delightfully silly, but balancing issues and limited replay value hinder the fun.

PSX Brasil - The Treeble - Portuguese - 70 / 100

FBC: Firebreak takes players back to the universe of Control, but without many of the traits which made that game so special. The mechanics from this cooperative first-person shooter are functional, but the lack of variety in gameplay coupled with a slow progression system undermine the game, making it a very repetitive experience.

Pizza Fria - Higor Phelipe Neto Nicoli - Portuguese - 7.6 / 10

FBC: Firebreak is a good option for players looking for a cooperative experience where strategy comes first.

Push Square - Aaron Bayne - 6 / 10

FBC: Firebreak stings a little, because it has so much of what we're looking for in a co-op shooter. It's got the killer world and aesthetic, it's got quirky powers and role based kits, it's got tight first-person gameplay, and doesn't require you to grind things out for dozens of hours. However, despite all of that, Firebreak's just fine, and ironically lacks the fire that we expect from Remedy's output. It's a fun, casual time, but you'll play it, you'll finish it, and before long you'll forget about it and wish you had been playing Control 2 instead.

Rectify Gaming - Henry - 6.5 / 10

Remedy’s trademark creativity flickers in the margins of FBC: Firebreak but never truly takes center stage. The game’s content is thin, its narrative underdeveloped, and its gameplay loop too derivative to stand out in a crowded genre of cooperative shooters. That being said, there are flashes of fun, but the team needs to put in a lot more work if they want Firebreak to leave a lasting impression down the road.

SECTOR.sk - Oto Schultz - Slovak - 9 / 10

FBC has deemed you worthy of cleaning the Oldest House and as a good corporate employee, you will obey. Go solo or take up to two of your friends, put on the Crisis Kit, choose the desired job site and get to the cleaning, Firebreaker! And most important of all, never forget to take a quick shower with your fellow cleaners, as the everpresent paranatural and Hiss lurk all aroound you.

Saudi Gamer - Arabic - 7 / 10

Being set in the world of control and as a handyman is enough to sell it on its own, although some polish and content is needed.

Screen Rant - Ben Brosofsky - 4 / 10

An unusually weak venture for Remedy

Shacknews - Donovan Erskine - 8 / 10

FBC: Firebreak is an impressive multiplayer take on the Control universe. Each Job is cleverly designed to make the most of the game’s various playstyles, while also enjoying a steep amount of replayability thanks to Job customization. It’s a multiplayer game that can give you chill, casual vibes and intense, challenging gameplay; it’s all about what you want to get out of it.

Slant Magazine - Aaron Riccio - 2 / 5

The more Hiss there are on screen at one time, the less terrifying they feel, and the game becomes generic, less of a cooperative shooter and more like one of those idle mobile games where you just stand your ground, hope your equipment is upgraded enough, and fire into a horde of charging monsters.

Spaziogames - Francesco Corica - Italian - Unscored

Obviously I can't give definitive judgments yet and I hope with all my heart that I'm wrong, because there are interesting bases that deserve to be explored in depth with the right times. And, perhaps, also with the inevitable updates of the case, if the game is given time to grow adequately.

SteamDeckHQ - Noah Kupetsky - 3.5 / 5

FBC: Firebreak has a lot of great elements to it, but not enough content to keep it going. The core gunplay is great, and I had a blast playing the wacky 5 jobs with friends in the gorgeous environments of the federal agency, but the lack of random variables in the jobs and linear progression system made it hard to stay interested. Still, I have hope that with future updates, this is going to be a great co-op shooter to enjoy.

It's also amazing how well it looks and runs on the Steam Deck, and I think that's saying a lot. It deserves praise for its optimization, and I can happily say its one that shouldn't be any problem playing on the go.

Stevivor - Steve Wright - 8 / 10

FBC Firebreak is a chaotic, engaging romp that gleefully retains Remedy’s quirkiness throughout.

TechRaptor - Luis Joshua Gutierrez - 4.5 / 10

FBC: Firebreak is an apparent attempt by the studio to try something new, and misses the mark. In a world where games like Left 4 Dead exist, it's hard to justify a reason to play this game. The gameplay loop is less than ideal, and the same can be said about the gunplay, which is a core feature. Many major story beats can easily be missed, and it's a shame.

The Games Machine - Daniele Dolce - Italian - 6 / 10

FBC: Firebreak is a cooperative spin-off that seems intriguing on paper but unfortunately lacks substantial content. With only five missions-rather simplistic ones at that-unremarkable classes, a limited variety of enemies, and uninspired weapons, the investment of time and money may not be justified. On top of that, the artificially slow progression system is reminiscent of the worst live-service practices. It might have some appeal if played with a close-knit group of friends, but engagement risks being short-lived.

The Nerd Stash - Julio La Pine - 9 / 10

FBC: Firebreak is an excellent online co-op experience made by the creative minds behind Control. It is an approachable game with no FOMO systems that also includes a highly engaging gameplay loop with unique objectives and mechanics.

The Outerhaven Productions - Jordan Andow - 4 / 5

FBC: Firebreak is a fun fast-paced three player co-op shooter which offers a new perspective on the world of Remedy Entertainment's Control thus separating itself from the competition. Progression could be streamlined but the core gameplay experience combined with the difficulty and clearance systems make this game an easy recommendation.

Try Hard Guides - Erik Hodges - 6 / 10

FBC: Firebreak is bursting with personality and fascinating concepts, but collapses under the weight of underwhelming gunplay and shallow progression. Though the game’s setting shines through and the later stages of the game are full of incredible concepts, until major gameplay improvements are made, the game feels more like a concept pitch than a polished product.

Uagna - Lorenzo Bologna - Italian - 7.8 / 10

FBC: Firebreak is an experiment that we feel compelled to promote. Remedy has decided to go against the grain by offering a cooperative title for three players at a time when the market is saturated with productions of this kind, which tend to hide more pitfalls than opportunities. Nevertheless, thanks to its immediate and entertaining gameplay, Sam Lake's team's new effort is convincing, even if a little more content to diversify it would not have gone amiss. As is always the case with games of this genre, only time (and post-launch support) will determine the true success of the venture.

Xbox Achievements - Richard Walker - 75%

Remember the mess Federal Bureau of Control director Jesse Faden made in Control? I'll wager you didn't consider for a single moment who mi...

XboxEra - Jesse Norris - 6.5 / 10

Control was a 9, and Alan Wake 2 was a 10 for me. I love Remedy’s games, normally, FBC Firebreak seems to have lost their usual magic in a search for a wider audience.  I get it, but I do not like it, and I think it hurts the title in the long run.

This indie game is super well made. It tells a short and very intriguing story. I started this morning and ran through it with a few breaks. I can tell you it was really worth it.

This is inevitable after the lukewarm feedback from the alpha and the plagiarism sitaution. The whole internet is basically out for blood.

Honestly, I think the fact that Marathon is in a niche genre means it is going to have difficulty attracting casual players.

I hope they can add a single player campaign which will make it more appealing.

What do you like about them? What platform(s) did you play them on?

Game Information

Game Title: MindsEye

Platforms:

• Xbox Series X/S (Jun 10, 2025)
• PlayStation 5 (Jun 10, 2025)
• PC (Jun 10, 2025)

Trailer:

• MindsEye - Official Launch Trailer | 2025

Developer: Build a Rocket Boy

Publisher: IO Interactive

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 35 average - 0% recommended - 18 reviews

Critic Reviews

But Why Tho? - Mick Abrahamson - 3 / 10

For those hoping several patches could make MindsEye into a possibly well-executed game, there’s no salvaging the mess left behind in Redrock.

Cloud Dosage - Jon Scarr - 2.5 / 5

Mindseye sets up a big, cinematic experience with flashy cutscenes and a futuristic world, but it doesn’t come together. The action gets repetitive fast, the world feels empty, and technical issues are hard to ignore. There are moments that show potential, especially in the visuals and voice work. But right now, it’s not something you’ll want to stick with for long.

Digital Trends - Giovanni Colantonio - 1.5 / 5

MindsEye is a baffling, busted shooter that squanders a campy sci-fi premise.

Eurogamer - Rick Lane - 1 / 5

Although it shows some early promise, MindsEye is sunk by a ridiculous story, inconsistent writing, poorly designed mission scenarios, and utterly atrocious combat.

Everyeye.it - Italian - 4.5 / 10

This is absolutely not how one should present oneself to gamers. Moving on to the sound department, the acting performances are generally good but the musical accompaniment is completely anonymous .

Game8 - Michael Gerra-Clarin - 46 / 100

Mindseye was supposed to be an ambitious entry from IO Interactive. What was delivered is a bug-filled, unoptimized, and less-than-desirable mess instead. Almost to no one’s surprise, MindsEye needed a lot more time to polish its core aspects and mechanics.

GameSpot - Richard Wakeling - 3 / 10

MindsEye is a stringent and relentlessly dull video game, wasting its impressive world on formulaic mission design that's both archaic and uninspired.

Gamer Social Club - Andrew Cooper - 4 / 10

Mindseye is a game that falters on nearly every level. It’s story is an interesting enough concept, but it seems to be in such a rush to get to the finish line that any semblance of character development or emotional attachment is completely brushed over without a thought. Pair the average story with the fact that the game runs awful on even the beefiest of rigs, has the most barebones gameplay loop in recent memory, and clocks in at a meager ten hours to complete and you have what amounts to a half-baked experience that should be avoided at all costs.

GamesRadar+ - Alan Wen - 2 / 5

Even as a 8-10 hour campaign, MindsEye feels longer than it needs to be.

GamingBolt - Rashid Sayed - 5 / 10

MindsEye is an excellent example of style over substance, a game that falls apart the moment you start playing.

IGN - Luke Reilly - 4 / 10

When its performance is stable and you’re explosively blasting your way through robots, MindsEye can masquerade as a serviceable action shooter for a few minutes at a time. Its near-future setting and driving feel also impress.

Push Square - Aaron Bayne - 3 / 10

MindsEye is a broken, boring mess of a game that has somehow been allowed out in the world. It has little glimmers of something semi-entertaining in there with its cutscenes and story, but it's bogged down by a vapid large scale map that is at odds with its aggressively linear campaign, and padded out with a dull repetitive gameplay loop that is nothing short of archaic.

Seasoned Gaming - Joseph La Russa - 6 / 10

"Despite a strong story and generally impressive performances, MindsEye is marred by baffling design choices, missing quality of life features, and a slew of technical troubles."

Smash Jump - Ben Newton - 6 / 10

In its current state MindsEye certainly isn’t anything special, but if you are willing to take a risk on something that has a solid foundation, oodles of potential but might just end up leave you a little dissatisfied with the final result, MindsEye is worth a try – but maybe wait until its performance is ironed out.

TechRaptor - Samuel Guglielmo - 2.5 / 10

MindsEye is a disaster in every sense of the word, and is going to do little more than become a guide in everything you should avoid in game design.

The Beta Network - Anthony Culinas - 4 / 10

MindsEye fails with buggy missions, disastrous frame rates and some of the worst AI we’ve seen in modern gaming. You’ll find the odd spark here and there that’s enjoyable, but you shouldn’t have to trudge through layers of cookie-cutter content to be entertained.

Total Gaming Network - Shawn Zipay - 1 / 5

Outside of a very few semi-positive points I think MindsEye just fucking sucks. It's buggy, it's boring, the story is bad, the gameplay is bad, and it runs like garbage. Don't play it. Don't support a studio that is now having their team work "around the clock" to fix a myriad of issues that should have never made it to release. Don't buy it now nor even when it inevitably gets a deep discount.

WayTooManyGames - Leonardo Faria - 3.5 / 10

I have no idea what happened for MindsEye to come out at such a pitiful state, but even if it worked as intended, it would have been, at best, a truly mediocre cover shooter with a subpar “what if big techs were bad” story (spoiler alert: they also are in real life). But when you add in the horrendous framerate, poor optimization, braindead enemy AI, and countless bugs, then there’s no way to recommend this trainwreck, even to those looking for an ironic playthrough of a crappy game.

Late thread sorry!

I've been playing switch 2 still as well as season 2 of playdate. Been really enjoying it so far! Favorite game has probably been long puppy. Really cute and clever game

Only in Bedrock edition. Java edition support is coming soon

Discovered this yesterday and had a blast. Parkouring is so much fun in this game and the story is interesting too. Even though it's ten years old, the graphics are still awesome.

archive.is link

Relooted, which made its debut last week during the Summer Game Fest-adjacent Day of the Devs showcase, immediately turned heads. Its Killmonger-approved premise confronts one of the most uncomfortable truths undergirding Western society: We stole a lot of stuff! Land and lives, mainly, but as an extension of that, artifacts — precious pieces of the histories empires like the US and UK snuffed out. In Relooted, your crack team of liberators from a plethora of different African countries heists them back.

The game’s dev team is composed of people from African countries like Lesotho, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, but during Summer Game Fest’s multi-day, demo-centric Play Days event, creative director Ben Myres, who is white and was raised in South Africa, manned the booth alone. This was not always the plan: Myres was originally going to be accompanied by another developer from South-Africa-based studio Nyamakop, whom Aftermath has granted anonymity due to their concerns that speaking out might exacerbate the challenges they’ve already faced entering the United States.

Game Information

Game Title: Dune: Awakening

Platforms:

• PC (Jun 10, 2025)
• PlayStation 5 (Jun 10, 2025)
• Xbox Series X/S (Jun 10, 2025)

Trailer:

Developer: Funcom

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 84 average - 80% recommended - 11 reviews

Critic Reviews

Cinelinx - Jordan Maison - 4.5 / 5

Funcom's Dune: Awakening has arrived, offering players a chance to survive the harsh sands of Arrakis in a way that's thrilling for MMO genre fans and newcomers alike.

Comunidad Xbox - Samuel Ramírez - Spanish - 82 / 100

Overall, Dune: Awakening offers a unique experience within the Dune universe. It is a true awakening of this saga with a novel approach that moves away from the RTS (real-time strategy games) we are used to.

DualShockers - Miller Reynolds - 9 / 10

Dune: Awakening has impressed me at every turn. Stunning cinematics showcase an immersive story inspired by Dune's award-winning lore and set the scene for a thrilling adventure, focused on exploration, survival, base-building, and politics. In a time full of unfinished, bug-ridden game launches, Dune: Awakening is setting the bar higher for what the release of video games should be.

EvelonGames - Joel Isern Rodríguez - Kaym - Spanish - 8.5 / 10

Dune: Awakening isn’t perfect, but it’s exactly the game Dune fans have been waiting for. It captures the brutal, mesmerizing essence of Arrakis while offering enough mechanical depth to keep players engaged for months. If you can get past the initial learning curve and forgive some balancing issues, you’ll discover one of the most atmospheric and memorable survival experiences available today.

GAMES.CH - Christian Rotfeld - German - 75%

Quote not yet available

Game8 - Charlene Sarmiento - 74 / 100

Dune: Awakening will surely keep players preoccupied with its myriad of survival game content and gameplay encased in its vast open-world, allowing for freedom to explore the dangerous but charming world of Arrakis at your own pace. However, its marred by its clunky and stiff melee combat, performance and server issues, as well as a few bugs and glitches that can sour the experience.

GameWatcher - Fran J. Ruiz - Unscored

The mystery of the disappearance of the Fremen is also a solid enough hook to keep me going through the main quest instead of getting sidetracked, and every excursion I make to collect resources doesn’t feel like a chore. Arrakis was made for a game like this, and small creative liberties aside, I think Funcom might have nailed what it needed to nail here.

Gamers Heroes - Casey Scheld - 90 / 100

Years of Funcom’s expertise managing Conan: Exiles have paved the way for Dune: Awakening to be one of the most impressive online survival games ever made.

Manual dos Games - Rafael Gomes - Portuguese - 8.6 / 10

Dune: Awakening is an ambitious experience set in the harsh and unforgiving universe of Arrakis. With an alternate timeline, the game blends MMO and survival elements in a dynamic world filled with moral decisions, unpredictable dangers, and strategic choices.

WayTooManyGames - Leonardo Faria - 7 / 10

There’s a lot of potential in here, and if you were a fan of Conan: Exiles‘ grindy loop, you’ll have a blast with Dune: Awakening, considering it’s a tad bit more forgiving than its predecessor. Oddly enough, however, the more you’re a fan of the Dune books, the more off-putting Awakening will become, considering its bizarre fanfic-y premise and ideas that just go against everything the books (and even the most recent movies) have been saying for the past half-decade. As a result, Dune: Awakening, whilst easily the best Dune game since the strategy titles from the early 90s, is more appealing to those just seeking for a new survival MMO, and not exactly die-hard fans of the seminal sci-fi franchise.

[...]Baby Steps' title may sound like an infantalising putdown of its protagonist, but in this era of Dualshock uniformity, it is genuinely wonderful to learn to walk "for the first time". Especially in the context of an open world game, a genre that prides frictionless exploration like few others. There are glowing waypoints on the skyline, but you can't just zip along the obvious routes. You have to study what's underfoot and organise your mass accordingly, and when you fall, it's at once ludicrous and frustrating and a source of connection.

You notice how certain helpful rocks snag at Nate's limbs, stopping him rolling too far. You see how he catches himself on his elbows as he slides, a tentative advertisement for having some degree of survival instinct. You appreciate the torquing of his spine as he bumps and slithers, and you feel the smaller, context-sensitive adjustments to what the controls do - the little, evolving motions that are presumably far too thoughtless and subtle to be offered up in a tutorial.

Game Information

Game Title: Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma

Platforms:

• PC (Jun 5, 2025)
• Nintendo Switch (Jun 5, 2025)

Trailer:

Developer: Marvelous

Publisher: Marvelous USA

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 80 average - 74% recommended - 40 reviews

Critic Reviews

But Why Tho? - Kyle Foley - 9 / 10

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is perfect for anyone looking to enjoy a heartfelt adventure with meaningful relationships and creative opportunities.

COGconnected - Patrick Anderson - 90 / 100

It’s got the many-games-in-one content extravaganza that previous Rune Factory games have had. But unlike Rune Factory 5, this time it really works together and meshes into an addictive and immersive experience.

Capsule Computers - Travis Bruno - 9 / 10

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma takes bold gameplay risks with mostly positive results. Despite AI quirks and weaker combat, its engaging story and lovable cast make it a worthy time sink.

Checkpoint Gaming - Victor Tan - 8 / 10

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma perfectly blends the farming and combat experience with Japanese influences. The result is an immersive cultural experience that you don't want to put down. You actually feel like you are rebuilding villages and restoring prosperity to the land instead of just being a landowner. While it isn't perfect despite several improvements to the formula, it nevertheless delivers a fun experience that you won't soon forget.

Console Creatures - Bobby Pashalidis - 8 / 10

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is a really cool spin-off for the Rune Factory series, and it's an overall good game that'll tide you over until the inevitable sixth numbered entry.

Cubed3 - Nayu - 9 / 10

It is clear that Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma has been crafted with passion and love of the long-running series. The breathtaking scenery, emotion-filled cutscenes and new elements focusing on being an earth dancer takes the beloved adventure-filled world in an exciting new direction that holds hope for more innovation in future titles.

Digitally Downloaded - Matt Sainsbury - 4.5 / 5

This is the strongest entry in a beloved series, and made all the more special because, after the original developer of the series closed shop, it looked like the entire series was dead for several years. This is a pretty good statement that there’s still so much more that it can offer yet.

DualShockers - Austin Conrad - 7.5 / 10

For me, it's a brilliant weekend RPG—a laid-back game that will keep you playing "just one more day" for hours. If Zelda plus Stardew Valley sounds fun, I recommend Guardians of Azuma. If that combo doesn't excite you, give it a pass.

Fextralife - Unscored

I went into this playthrough blind and expected the game to take me roughly 10 hours to finish the main story, I was pleasantly surprised by the length and even more so by the story. Now that I’ve finished the story, the real endgame has begun.

Game Hype UK - Aaron Moger - 80 / 100

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is a fresh take on the farming sim Rune Factory series providing players with a new and intuitive base building system whilst retaining farming, cooking and interacting with a new and varied cast of characters who all have their own charm which we've grown to love the series for. It has a battle system that is fair and engaging and the most in depth story to date making it feel in line with a more traditional JRPG.

Game8 - Lloyd Opalec - 94 / 100

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is the series’ most ambitious entry yet. From its well-told story to its surprisingly deep village-building system, it’s a game that fully embraces the joy of planting turnips at dawn and saving guardian deities by night. For longtime fans and newcomers alike, Azuma is a harvest of everything Rune Factory can be when it dares to dream big.

GameBlast - Lucas Oliveira - Portuguese - 8.5 / 10

Combining classic farming simulation elements with a more fluid combat system, new customization options, an engaging narrative and a cast full of charismatic characters, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma stands out as a great game and marks a significant step forward for the franchise. Even though it doesn't belong to the main numbered series, the title manages to generate plenty of excitement about the future of the series.

Gameliner - Jolien Mauritsz - Dutch - 4 / 5

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is a surprisingly strong addition to the franchise, with an engaging story and meaningful town management mechanics—though occasionally overwhelming—solid performance despite some technical limitations, and strong visual and audio presentation, making it a must-play for farming RPG fans seeking more depth and responsibility.

Gamer Escape - Laura Borrayo - 6 / 10

The truth of it is, you’ll probably have more to do in this game than you’ve had in any previous Rune Factory title. But that comes with the understanding that the journey may not be as fun, and the scripted moments not as emotional. For die-hard fans like me, that can come with disappointment.

Gamer Social Club - Stephanie Richards - 8 / 10

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma feels like a great blend of cozy and grindy while still finding its narrative way. While there is definitely some experimentation going on with the streamling of certain areas from the general Rune Factory series, the game play loop is still very true to its origins. Those who enjoyed previous entries will mostly likely find themselves enjoying this as long as they don’t miss complex crafting. For those who want the in-depth crafting and complexity that required spreadsheets of data, yes, this will feel too simplistic to you. The complex crafting from Rune Factory 3 and beyond is removed for streamlined play and possibly a way to introduce new fans into the series. If you haven’t played a Rune Factory game, you can jump right into this entry and enjoy.

Gamersky - Chinese - 8.5 / 10

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma might just mark a fresh new beginning for the series. While it doesn't break much new ground, it approaches farming, building, management, and romance with genuine care and delivers each of them as well as it possibly can.

Hardcore Gamer - Matthew Mendisana - 3.5 / 5

The Rune Factory series continues with more characters to befriend, more locations to farm and more monsters to fight in Guardians of Azuma.

Hobby Consolas - David Rodriguez - Spanish - 73 / 100

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma manages to make the sum of its parts evolve a series with several palpable problems. Some of those hurdles remain, but for those looking for a content-packed management and combat game, this is a worthy representative... as long as you can overlook the poor technical aspects.

LadiesGamers.com - Yvonne van Geloven - Mind-blown

Marvelous totally changed direction, and I can say I love it. They kept the essence of farming, exploring, and romance and put a new twist on all of it. Adding a management element into the mix by taking care of various villages and workers is brilliant; it takes away what can ultimately become a tedious chore. To me, the fighting is more difficult, but then I’m never a big fan of action fighting. But by adding story mode, it is very much doable.

There really is so much to tell about Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, I could fill many pages detailing all there is to do in the game. For now, though, I’ll add my verdict to this review.

Loot Level Chill - Lyle Pendle - 8.5 / 10

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is a farming game with very little farming, but the combat and exploration more than make up for it.

Marooners' Rock - Alexandra Campbell - 9.2 / 10

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is one of the most ambitious games in the franchise, offering a solid farming sim and action RPG experience with meaningful improvements and customization.

MonsterVine - Frank Wood - 4.5 / 5

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma absolutely smashed my expectations, delivering one of the most robust and feature-rich games in the farming/cozy/life sim genre while also being no slouch at its action RPG elements either. This game puts its best foot forward when it starts its sprint and doesn’t slow down anytime soon. I am still locked in and can’t wait to play even more of this gem, it stands shoulder to shoulder with some of my favorite similar games like Harvestella. Fans of the series and first timers, this is not a game to miss out on.

Nintendo Life - Jess Elizabeth Reed - 9 / 10

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma manages to reinvent itself while still maintaining the bones that make the Rune Factory series feel like itself. It takes bold new strides in unexpected directions that thankfully pay off. Guardians of Azuma is a must-play for Rune Factory fans and would be well-enjoyed by newcomers to the series as well.

NintendoBoy - Marcos Vinícius - Portuguese - 9.5 / 10

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is the evolution to the franchise that I expected for the transition from handhelds to consoles, but Rune Factory 5 failed to do it.

NintendoWorldReport - Jordan Rudek - 8.5 / 10

The farming and construction mechanics are designed for expedience and ease of use, exchanging realism for simplicity, a real bargain given the satisfying main story and likeable characters. Even the helper/partner Woolby ended up growing on me by the time I had rolled credits. Guardians of Azuma may do as much to spoil farming games as invite players to earlier Rune Factory entries, but it's a worthwhile dance that marches to the beat of its own, confident drum, and I'm hopeful we'll see more like it.

NookGaming - Thomas Knight - 9 / 10

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is the most fun I’ve had with a Rune Factory title yet. It’s certainly not perfect with quite a few little issues holding it back, but the core experience is so fun that it didn’t stop me from enjoying every moment. There’s just so much to enjoy here that it makes it easy to recommend.

PC Gamer - Maddi Chilton - 82 / 100

Once it finds its footing, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is an engaging romp through a charming and dynamic world.

Pizza Fria - Matheus Jenevain - Portuguese - 8.5 / 10

It's a commendable endeavor, indeed, and I really enjoy seeing franchises trying new things, both in their mechanics and their overall aesthetics.

Pure Nintendo - Kirk Hiner - 9 / 10

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma's greatest accomplishment is its ability to pile so many gameplay elements into one big adventure, and to make all of them feel integral and organic. Whether you're farming, fighting, exploring, or romancing, every task-like the game itself-feels like it's worth completing.

RPG Fan - Niki Fakhoori - 94 / 100

Rune Factory keeps getting better, making Guardians of Azuma the best series entry yet.

RPG Site - Junior Miyai - 6 / 10

The journey through Azuma is a journey packed with a mish-mash of boring dungeons and weak RPG progression tools, supported by a fun cast of characters and decent story.

Rectify Gaming - Will "FncWill" Hogeweide - 6.5 / 10

Guardians of Azuma is a solid Rune Factory game that does most things right on a basic level – it’s not broken, it’s cute, and it’s plenty approachable – but it doesn’t stand out in any big way. It’s more like a pleasant afternoon chat with old friends than a fireworks show. So while I’d still recommend it to folks who adore farming sims and want a new cozy world to chill in, I’ll be honest: it’s definitely not the peak of the series for me. The villagers and the concept of dancing to heal the world are fun, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that this installment just played it a bit too safe. If you’re wondering why it’s my least favorite Rune Factory to date, it boils down to that lack of spark and depth compared to earlier entries. It’s a “fine” game with nice moments, but my nostalgia was left wanting a bit more of the old Rune Factory magic.

Restart.run - Robin Bea - 4 / 5

The best life sims make it fun to hang around in their worlds long after your main objectives are done, and while I can’t say for sure this one will pass that test just yet, Guardians of Azuma is easily the best game of its kind I’ve played in years. I can see myself passing time in its vibrant world for a long time to come.

Siliconera - Jenni Lada - 8 / 10

Rune Factory 4 is my favorite entry in the series, and Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma feels close to being its equal in some ways.

TechRaptor - Isaac Todd - 6 / 10

Despite character events being the best they've ever been, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma fails to offer much depth after its opening hours.

TheSixthAxis - Miguel Moran - 9 / 10

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is packed full of exciting content, memorable characters, and unforgettable adventures.

Video Chums - Mary Billington - 8.4 / 10

As a long-time fan of Rune Factory, I was pleasantly surprised by Guardians of Azuma's additions. The beautiful traditional Japanese setting, engrossing village-building mechanics, and increased transparency around relationships all come together to make for a great time. 🌸

WellPlayed - Jade Stevenson - 7 / 10

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma does a little bit of everything, and thanks to some very complementary core gameplay components, the whole is remarkably cohesive and a good deal of fun. There are plenty of aspects requiring a bit more polish, though, so don't go into it expecting a masterpiece.

Worth Playing - Chris "Atom" DeAngelus - 7.8 / 10

Overall, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is a very solid spin-off of the franchise. It does a good job of capturing what makes the Rune Factory games enjoyable while throwing enough twists and turns into the mix that it doesn't just feel like Rune Factory 6. The town building is engaging enough that I worry that a Rune Factory without it might feel lacking now. The combat is solid but simple, and the cast is likable but not super special. Only the general poor performance drags down the game somewhat, but fans of the Rune Factory franchise should find a lot to like.