Wallet Threat Level: nostalgia!

, | Games

[Editor’s note: Please welcome longtime forum member Rock8man back to the front page! Every week, he’ll be detailing the threats posed to our metaphorical wallets by the upcoming week’s new releases. Note that wallet threats don’t just pose a financial danger! Perhaps more importantly, they pose a danger to those far more precious currencies such as time, attention span, spouse tolerance, fear of missing out, and all the various elements that determine what we play and when we play it.]

How many revivals, remakes and sequels are out this week? Well, we have a new Ninja Gaiden, a new Painkiller, a new Jurassic World Evolution, a new Double Dragon, a port of Persona 3 Reload to the Switch 2, a remake of the original Plants vs Zombies, a sequel to Powerwash Simulator, a new Katamari, and a remake of House of the Dead 2. There’s also a sequel to Vampire Bloodlines coming that’s reportedly less of an RPG than the original. Crate is finally releasing their follow up to Grim Dawn, Farthest Frontier, which is not another ARPG but a city builder that’s been in early access for a few years. The now standard indie game practice of cross-pollinating genres of games continues this week with Bounty Star, which combines Mech fighting with farming and base building.

Personally speaking, I’ve got my fingers crossed that the new Painkiller recaptures the magic of the original game this week and I’ll gladly let it drain my wallet.

Monday (10/20/25):​

  • Fantasy Maiden Wars (PC) – “Deploy units on grid-based maps to battle monsters with flashy Spell Cards, and conquer each stage with strategic mastery.”
  • Lessaria (PC) – “A modern spiritual successor to the classic Majesty series, Lessaria celebrates a golden age of real-time strategy with a unique gameplay twist. Rather than directly ordering your heroes to act, you have to incentivize them via rewards and hope that you’ve earned their loyalty.”

Tuesday (10/21/25):​

  • Ninja Gaiden 4 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) – “The definitive ninja hack & slash franchise returns with NINJA GAIDEN 4! Embark on a cutting-edge adventure where legacy meets innovation in this high-octane blend of style and no-holds-barred combat.”
  • Jurassic World Evolution 3 (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – “The next entry in the award-winning series, Jurassic World Evolution 3 puts you in control of building and running your very own Jurassic World.”
  • Painkiller (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – “The classic Painkiller series is back! Battle through Purgatory in fast-paced co-op action, wielding infernal weapons against relentless demonic hordes.”
  • Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – “Fight your way through a modern-day Seattle on the brink of an open war as an elder Vampire. Meet the power-players, ally yourself and decide who will rule and what the city will become.”

Wednesday (10/22/25):​

  • Becastled (PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X/S) – “Build a castle by day and defend it by night. Becastled combines cozy city-building with thrilling tower defense strategy.”
  • I Mother (PC) – “An adventure in a prehistoric world devoid of language. A solitary Neanderthal woman, trying to find her way back to her tribe.”
  • Dispatch (PC, PS5) – “A superhero workplace comedy where choices matter. Manage a dysfunctional team of misfit heroes and strategize who to send to emergencies around the city.”
  • Relic Guardian (PC) – “Fantasy tower defense game. As the builder on the battlefield, summon a variety of defense towers and spells with reliable hero companions to complete this epic and guarding adventure!”
  • Trenches VR (PS VR2, Quest, PC VR) – “Trenches VR is a psychological horror game where your microphone becomes part of the terror – enemies can hear your real-life breathing, whispers, or cries for help. Stay quiet, stay hidden… or they’ll come for you.”
  • Avernum 4: Greed and Glory (PC) — “A remaster of the original cult-classic, Avernum 4, which came out in 2005, and features a greatly expanded story and tons of new dungeons, characters, and quests.”

Thursday (10/23/25):​

  • Plants vs Zombies: Replanted (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S) – “After years in Crazy Dave’s attic, the original battle between Plants and Zombies is back – bigger, brighter, and crazier than ever before!”
  • Double Dragon Revive (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) – “The Double Dragon series has defined the belt-scroll action genre ever since it hit the arcades in 1987. Now it returns as Double Dragon Revive, thanks to the passionate support of retro game fans over the years!”
  • Persona 3 Reload (Switch 2) – “Dive into the Dark Hour and awaken the depths of your heart. Persona 3 Reload is a captivating reimagining of the genre-defining RPG, reborn for the modern era with cutting-edge graphics and gameplay.
  • Angry Video Game Nerd 8-bit (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S) – “Play as The Nerd and blast your way across a host of pixel art levels crawling with zombies, mechanical skeletons, ghoulish reapers and more!”
  • Bounty Star: The Morose Tale of Graveyard Clem (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) – “Bounty Star is an over-the-shoulder third-person action game that marries mech combat and customization with farming and base building.”
  • Farthest Frontier (PC) – “Protect and guide your people as you forge a town from untamed wilderness at the edge of the known world.”
  • Godbreakers (PS5, PC) – “Join forces with friends in fast-paced, chaotic battles. Coordinate your abilities, chain attacks, and take down powerful bosses together. Play solo to sharpen your skills, but the real adrenaline rush happens in co-op.”
  • PowerWash Simulator 2 (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC) – “PowerWash Simulator is back – satisfaction is a spray away! Dust off your power washer and relax into pure feel-good fun.”
  • The Crazy Hyper-Dungeon Chronicles (PC) – “The Hyper‑Dungeon awaits! Explore an evershifting labyrinth where classic dungeon‑crawling meets exhilarating action. Challenge yourself in turn-based combat with a real‑time, arcade‑inspired twist…”
  • The Lonesome Guild (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – “The Lonesome Guild is a single-player top-down action-RPG all about togetherness. Embark on a heroic adventure as Ghost, a spirit who wakes to find they hold no memories.”
  • Tormented Souls 2 (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – “Following the harrowing events at Wildberger Hospital, Caroline Walker hopes for a normal life with her sister, Anna. Yet in the months that follow, Anna is haunted by visions of violence and death, compelling her to create disturbing drawings that rapidly manifest into horrifying reality.”

Friday (10/24/25):​

  • Once Upon A Katamari (PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X/S) – “Experience new stages and a fabulous new soundtrack! Behold a fresh rolling experience, with never-before-seen support tools like the magnet to draw in nearby objects! How…attractive!”
  • The House of the Dead 2: Remake (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S) – “The House of the Dead 2: Remake is a remake of the second entry in the well-known and popular rail-shooter series.”
Email
​