Fatal Claw
Developer: Ndev Games
Publisher: Com2us Holdings
Platform: Steam (Windows; Steam Deck verified)
Price: Usually $25, with 20% off until September 9
Metroidvania fans have been eating well for a long time. There’s been a steady stream of them for ages, and this week is no different. Two new features caught my attention including Fatal claw, which has just left early access on Steam with its version 1.0.
As a cat named Kisha, you will explore an ancient kingdom that has been revived with modern technology. It’s full of infected creatures whose abilities you can absorb after defeating them. There are also multiple endings. Kisha seems to have electrical powers, so I think he should have the nickname “Pikacat”.
The trailer animations are neat and the Steam reviews are generally positive. Commenters have suggested that the developers took inspiration from projects like Nine Floors And Umbraclaw. Looks like there’s a hint of Hollow Knight there too. More importantly, there’s a solid pun in the title.
Divine
Developer/publisher: Sigil Games
Platform: Steam (Windows, Mac; Steam Deck verified), GOG. Coming soon to consoles
Price: Usually $15, with a 10% discount through September 11
Divine is another nice Metroidvania. It has a nice pixel-art aesthetic and the developers took inspiration from hack-and-slash games. You play as Fjør, a young warrior who tries to repel an external threat that has invaded his home island.
The combat system is built around two main weapons and a range of skills. It features parries, dodges, blocks and combos.
You can fine-tune your character build to suit your playstyle by equipping runes which can give you unique bonuses and modifiers, but which may require some compromises. I appreciated a note from Sigil Games on the Steam page that promises that runes will do a lot more than just give you a slight damage increase. “You won’t find anything as boring in Divine” said the developer. Bless.
Blasterbug: last permanent bug!
Developer/publisher: Dotemu
Platform: Steam (Windows)
Price: Free!
The folks at Dotemu are back with another retro-inspired game and this one won’t cost you a dime. They fell into the shadows Blasterbug: last permanent bug! on Steam this week. It is a Bomberman-style board game with local multiplayer support for up to eight players.
There are 15 characters with their own playstyles and special attacks, and just as many levels, which have their own modifiers. Blaster Bug also features five game modes. You and your bugs (sorry, friends) can fight in a deathmatch, compete to earn the most coins, do damage in Paint Battle, try to hold on to a crown as long as possible, or do it all at once in Party Battle mode.
While Blaster Bug is free, you can purchase DLC if you wish. A $2 Absolute pack adds a character from Dotemu’s fantasy beat’em up 2025 to the mix. Galandra wields a giant sword and can send opponents flying with a Necrotic Wave attack. The DLC includes an additional arena featuring geyser traps.
Blood Dungeon
Developer/publisher: Messhof
Platforms: Steam (Windows, macOS; Steam Deck verified), Xbox Series X/S, Xbox for PC, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PlayStation 5
Price: Usually $10, with a 15% launch discount on all platforms except PS5. Also on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
Blood Dungeon was one of our highlights of the Summer Game Fest edition of Day of the Devs. Nidhogg the latest game from developer Messhof smushes Splendor2D platformer with the chaos of games like Vampire Survivors. The art style also looks straight out of MS Paint.
You’ll harvest the blood of fallen enemies to level up and gain new abilities and upgrades, which you can also find in treasure chests. You will unlock more characters as you progress through the game. As in SplendorThere are also daily dungeons with online leaderboards.
Turns are said to be short, which is a good idea for this type of game. My favorite thing I learned Blood Dungeon so far you can play as a baby who carries a gun. It seems so false, and yet so true.
Lou’s lagoon
Developer: Little Roar
Publishers: Megabit Publishing, Rokaplay
Platforms: Steam (Windows; playable on Steam Deck), Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox for PC
Price: Usually $25, with a 10% introductory discount (PS Plus required for PS5 discount)
Here we have a crafting and exploration game in which you will help restore a community while searching for your missing uncle. Crafting and exploration are the main goals of Lou’s lagoonin which you will use a multi-tool called Swirler to collect resources and create items. It looks cute.
The idea of piloting a seaplane between the islands of the archipelago of Lou’s lagoon is tempting. More games should have seaplanes! However, a Steam review suggested that the flying aspect is limited to an overworld sandwiched between loading screens in which you travel between islands. A playback video confirmed this. This seems a bit superficial to admit, but it makes it less likely that I’ll decide to check it out. Lou’s lagoon. I thought maybe it would be a little more like the open world nature of Tchia (a game I love), but that’s not quite the case.
