MENACE Gameplay Loop Explained: All The Bits in One Spot
Play MENACE in Early Access on day one with 2Game!
Menace is... well, a proper menace. Having spent about a dozen-or-so hours with the game ahead of its Early Access release - you can read more general info about it in our Impressions article, in fact - I now have a pretty solid idea of how its gameplay loop functions. For those that have spent any meaningful amount of time playing XCOM, this stuff should feel plenty natural by default. Those that are paratroopers to the squad-level tactics niche, however, may find it all a bit much to deal with.
For those who want a high-level overview of what Menace actually is, mechanically speaking, we've prepared precisely just that! Over the next couple of sections, we'll go into substantial - albeit managable! - detail on Menace's several core gameplay and progression systems, and help you decide if this game is a good fit for you.
What is the core gameplay loop in MENACE?
Menace is basically a game of interstellar cat and mouse between your self-sufficient strike vessel, the TCRN Impetus, and several factions' worth of violent mooks and monsters. This entire merry bunch gets to duke it out across the entirety of the Wayback, an egregiously distant system with no direct contact to the Core Worlds.
In practical terms, this means the player is the tippy-top of the chain-of-command, and everything from gear procurement down to encounter minutae is left up to your devices. Good news? Bad news? It's just news, really, and the rest is what you make of it. This results in a situation where your troops are almost always on the backfoot and dealing with a potentially mission-threatening level of danger. Fun stuff! But really, it is - this is how Menace explains your need to constantly procure new recruits, new captains, new gear. It's never enough, and you always need more, and that's how it ought to be in a game like this.
The core gameplay loop of Menace is actually pretty simple: you choose which faction/planet you'd like to assist next, all from a proc-generated selection of sub-campaigns you need to complete before moving on. Said sub-campaigns are basically mission threads where you get to choose how, exactly, you reach the final mission of the thread. Usually, this means choosing from a variety of combat objectives, where each has its own rewards and gameplay effects.
In-between sub-campaigns, you get to enjoy all the amenities of the local black market, organize your troops, upgrade the Impetus, and suss out what the next big threat might be. In the broadest possible sense, Menace truly is XCOM in space, and I say that with utmost adoration.
The minutae of MENACE
In our impressions article, I made a point of saying that Menace can be a very punishing game if you don't approach its combat puzzles with respect. That's specifically because almost every single resource you waste - resources being staff, gear, authority - will come back to bite you later on. Your starting roster of 50-odd Marines can carry you through much of the game, yes, but you will inevitably need to requisition more, and that's expensive and slow.
Believe me when I say that you can burn through almost all of your staff very quickly, very easily. Within the first two or three sub-campaigns, you may find yourself hard-pressed to outfit full squads, if you're not being careful, and I fail to remember what other recent tactics game might've been quite as punishing a this.
Here's the thing, though: it's not impossible to recover from these problems in Menace. It's a big problem, yes, and a serious setback for the campaign at large, but you can demolish substantially more potent forces with very few troops, if you're clever about it.
This is where Menace's remarkable arsenal of weaponry, vehicles, and gadgets comes into play. Regular guns shoot reasonably well, but suppressed weapons can be incredibly useful for stealth-focused captains and their squads. Of course, the more mooks you have in a squad, the bigger of a force multiplier do you get, but it's entirely possible to complete missions with 4-5 me per squad in my experience.
Planning, planning, planning
The reason why you can defeat massively more powerful combatants with scraps, effectively, is that you've got some extremely handy planning tools at your disposal. The core of the pre-mission prep stage, for example, is the terrain map which - tellingly - takes up half of your screen. Here you can position your squads however you see fit and, more importantly, get a sense of what's waiting for you once you drop down. The better the Impetus' intelligence-gathering tools, the more information do you get on the prep mission screen. Neat stuff!
Another thing that plans into grand-level planning are the aforementioned sub-campaigns' temporary rewards. Depending on which missions you choose to pursue, you may get AI-controlled NPC squads to cover your own men's backs. Bonus repair and ammo replenishing opportunities may also be given, or even additional vehicles to peruse in combat. As an experienced commander, it's up to you to make the most of all of these tactical options, and how you field them makes all the difference in the world.
Whereas you might wish to simply take your best squads with you every single time, this is rarely a realistic option due to deployment caps. Every single item in Menace - and I do mean every single item, from ammunition pouches to tanks - costs Points, and each mission has a Point cap assigned to it. In practice, this means you'll need to weigh whether you'll take simple semi-auto carbines with special, heavy rocket launchers, or if those sweet, kitted-out SOPMOD automatics might be preferable to this whole kit. The more men a squad has, too, the costlier it is, so you've got exceedingly granular control over what kind of fighting force you'll be using on a mission, always.
In other words: if things go south, that's entirely on you.
MENACE is, truly, a menace of a tactics game
It's hard to shake off the feeling that Menace is a special, special game. Virtually every single aspect of its gameplay loop is, even now, ahead of its Early Access release, incredibly satisfying to interact with. Taking ownership over strategic and tactical decision-making's never been quite as good as I've found it to be in Menace, and that's tall praise coming from me.
Please keep in mind that all of the above takes into account a pre-Early Access version of the game, to boot. Menace is bound to grow in size and complexity as its live production pipeline continues trucking on, and if the studio's prior release, the widely adored Battle Brothers, is anything to go by, we're in for a heck of a thing here.
Play MENACE in Early Access on day one with 2Game!
MENACE stands out as the premiere new turn-based squad tactics game, but what does a campaign actually look like?
MENACE Hands-On Impressions: A Brutal, Punishing, and Satisfying New Tactics Sci-Fi
I'll never forget just how shocked I was upon first playing through the tutorial for XCOM: Enemy Unknown back in 2012. Seeing a squad-level strategy game be so brutal, dynamic, and satisfying was nothing short of remarkable, and though XCOM 2 upped the ante in its own way, virtually no other game has come close to this same sense of "wow" in my mind. Up until now, that is, because Menace sure as heck delivers... albeit in a roundabout way.
Menace is the unexpected follow-up to Overhype Studios' awesome Battle Brothers tactical RPG, and it takes things into a wholly different direction. A brutal tactics game with a delightful sci-fi edge to it, Menace takes some of the best parts of almost every mainstream sci-fi property - these ranging from Terminator all the way to Starship Troopers, naturally - and assembles them into a delightfully violent pastiche.
An Early Access title, Menace is coming out in its mid-development build on February 5, and Overhype Studios and the publisher Hooded Horse have gracefully provided 2Game with an early look at the game to get a sense of what's what and what's not. In our hands-on time, we've been thoroughly impressed with what's already on offer, and you can read about our big takeaways in the next couple of sections.
Play MENACE in Early Access on day one with 2Game!
Here's the thing: Menace doesn't - yet - have its own XCOM tutorial moment. It might never have one, and the tutorial that is present is something I'd politely describe as woefully inadequate. It runs you through the most basic controls and systems and little else, and while it may come in handy if you're a newcomer to the genre, I'd advise you not to come out of it with any strong opinions.
Instead, right after completing it, prepare yourself for a sacrificial campaign of sorts: your first attempt at playing Menace will almost certainly a be a wash. You will, however, acquaint yourself with systems and features the tutorial never even hints at, all the while figuring out the dos and don'ts for your next, proper playthrough. Odds are that this is where the game will truly click for you, with a series of rapid-fire A-HA moments coming to head as you go.
The kicker is that Menace can be brutal in some rather unexpected ways. Running out of ammo - which happened to me at least twice on accident - is a huge issue in early-game missions, and I'd go so far as to say that it will inevitably happen before you learn how to do proper pre-combat prep, and how to manage munitions over a prolonged encounter.
Similarly, knowing how to replenish your squads' troop count is absolutely crucial: as folks die in the field the squad commander won't automatically get new rooks assigned to them. Instead, it's up to you to figure out what the tiny little + sign in the upper right corner of the given squad's prep UI does.
None of this is critique, mind: Menace is an elusively complex game and I genuinely believe Overhype Studios' choice to push it into Early Access without a comprehensive tutorial is a good thing. As long as we get a proper tutorial down the line, of course.
On the matter of complexity, I was taken aback by the sheer amount, scope, and variety of gearing options available even now, ahead of Menace's earliest Early Access release. I know, I know: there might not be any huge amount of difference between five bespoke types of carbines, but the fact that you can choose the one you like the most and weigh its pros and cons in the field gives a huge amount of satisfying variety to the game. The gear selection is bound to grow as time goes on, too, so that's hugely promising in my book.
The core gameplay loop in Menace consists of you taking your rowdy bunch of interstellar marines on a series of procedurally-generated micro-campaigns against definitely-not-Terminids, various sub-factions of pirates, and an ominous flesh-repurposing menace lurking in the background of all these conflicts. This latter faction I've not come across at all, but the aliens and the pirates serve as solid fodder in the interim.
A crucial thing of note here is that fighting the pirates feels much different than fighting the insectoid aliens does. Both factions have their own melee and ranged units, yes, but whereas the pirates are thrilled to hunker down and duke it out in open firefights, aliens will usually attempt to bum-rush your troops and tear them to bits in CQB. Which they can do, mind: your troops will die quickly and easily when improperly utilized. Both soft and hard cover are crucial here, and outmaneuvering your foes via stealth and line-of-sight trickery feels ridiculously rewarding in Menace.
The first few missions of a given playthrough will feel unengaging and punishing, I find, until you finally start earning and purchasing new gear. This gear ranges from simple greeble'd-up G3A3-style rifles all the way to airburst launchers, laser gatlings, and honest-to-goodness ground vehicles, just to list a few. These are all force multipliers for your goon squads, each led by a bespoke, pre-made specialist with their own skill tree and promotion unlockables. There's so much to fiddle with in Menace that I couldn't help but keep playing the game just to see what kinds of skill and gear combo I might find.
For example, one of the rewards for the completion of a brutal anti-xeno campaign was the XGr-20 CDTE shrapnel launcher, which I gave to one of my support squads that could field special, heavy weaponry without deployment timers. Now, the XGr fires Javelin-style, meaning you don't need line-of-sight to engage hunkered-down enemies. This particular weapon then allowed me to absolutely demolish entire pirate fortifications by chasing their squads out of cover and gunning them down with other, less specialized operators. This would've been a huge pain to accomplish otherwise, as the pirates had been well armored and protected from conventional weaponry. My favorite combat combo so far, but I'm sure there's plenty more for us to discover in the coming days.
Whereas many Early Access releases push into this part of their production pipeline with nary a crumb of content, Menace feels like it delivers a whole wealth of tactical goodness on day one. When your plan comes together in this game, it rhymes with XCOM's greatest wins, and that alone is hugely promising in my book.
Already I find myself hard to drop Menace when a campaign really gets going, and that's unlikely to change, given Overhype Studios' track record with Battle Brothers. Of course, that's just my own take here as part of the 2Game marketing team, with the additional caveat that I've been personally intrigued by Menace ever since the game was first announced a few years ago. Still, we can't wait to see what the strategy game community thinks about it, and what Overhype does with the game over the course of its Early Access development.
Stay tuned for more Menace content here at 2Game, but we hope this short impressions piece gives you an idea of what to expect from the game on February 5. We've only barely touched upon the game's depth with this piece here, and so we're looking forward to talking more about Menace in the leadup to its Early Access release and beyond!
Play MENACE in Early Access on day one with 2Game!
MENACE is coming to Early Access very soon, and we’ve had a chance to play it ahead of time! Here’s what you need to know!
How to Choose a Handheld PC in 2026: A Full Breakdown!
PC gaming handhelds have been the vogue thing for some time now. For good reason, too: remarkably powerful and reasonably portable, machines like the Steam Deck have slowly but consistently been eking out a niche for themselves with a certain kind of gamer. And hey, despite the fact that Valve was the first mainstream gaming company to release a bespoke handheld gaming PC, that's not to say you've got no options. Especially in 2026!
To that end, down below we've singled out all the most notable, important, and relevant handheld gaming PCs you've got access to in 2026. We've hand-picked options ranging from affordable to boutique, each with its own respective pros and cons for you to weigh up. We'll keep this list updated as we go, so check back in as the situation develops!
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Steam Deck in 2026
In 2026, the Steam Deck is getting long in the tooth for sure. Almost four years after the LCD model's release, the Deck struggles to run the latest and greatest AAAs, but remains uniquely enticing for a variety of reasons. Firstly, there's the obvious OLED upgrade, which we highly recommend for fans of visual fidelity. Secondly, Valve's long-term optimization efforts have helped the Deck punch well beyond its performance envelope almost across the board, and while you can't play all the games on it, you sure as heck can play most of them.
That's to say nothing of the years upon years' worth of PC gaming backlog you're bound to have by now. The Deck will handle all the old releases with gusto, and SteamOS offers a substantially better experience for handheld gaming than Windows possibly could, even with Microsoft's recent interest in the niche. More on that later.
In practical terms, even the top-tier OLED Deck is excellent value: for 679 EUR you get a remarkable emulation, Indie, and AA powerhouse that will easily run the vast majority of games on the market. Obviously, not the greatest choice if you need a device for the latest and greatest AAAs, but for the price on offer, the Deck remains effectively unbeatable.
Do note that the LCD model of the Deck is no longer being produced, having been outright superseded by the OLED upgrade. If this option is still too expensive for your taste, though, we highly recommend keeping an eye on the official Steam Deck Certified Refurbished programme. Here you'll find price-reduced refurbished devices every so often, with prices going down all the way to just 300 EUR!
GPD Win 5 (AI Max+ 395) in 2026
From the low-end to the top-tier, GPD Win 5 should be your first option if you've got deep pockets. Reminiscent of the classic PlayStation Portable and Vita devices (to great effect, if you ask us), Win 5 is the tippy-top of the 2026 handheld offerings. This is an almost uncompromising device that can pull up to a whopping 85W of power to run... well, anything, really. Even the likes of Alan Wake 2 at 1440P remain an option on this incredible device, with it being able to almost reach the coveted 60 FPS mark. That's mind-boggling for a handheld, folks.
The issue? The top-tier AI Max+ 395 (excellent work with naming as always, AMD) model is fully sold out, which means you'll need to settle on the still super-powerful AI Max 385 device... which comes in at a whopping $1869-or-so. Yeah, when we said "boutique," we weren't joking.
You're paying a premium for sure, but understand that there's no better handheld PC on the market right now, and it's unlikely we'll get a faster mainstream device anytime soon to begin with. To say nothing of the 128 GB of LPDDR5X RAM that's loaded onto this thing. As we said, insanity!
The bottom line is that this can easily be your full-powered gaming PC if you choose to use it that way. Since GPD is not local to Western markets, however, you may find it challenging to get timely warranty coverage on the off case something goes wrong. Still, what an achievement this is!
ASUS Xbox ROG Ally X in 2026
Sitting pretty at its 899 EUR MSRP, the ASUS Xbox ROG Ally X - what a mouthful! - only really seems sensible compared to the top-tier GPD Win 5 handhelds if we're being honest. Yet, for Windows/Xbox users, there's no realistic reason to choose otherwise. Well, okay, we'll get to caveats later on, but let's be honest, the Steam Deck is a compromised choice if you've got any amount of presence on the Xbox/Game Pass platforms.
The Xbox ROG Ally X has no such baggage in tow: this thing runs Windows proper with a slightly more gaming-friendly Xbox skin plastered on top, and it will run any kind of game you might choose to play. If it works on Windows 11, it'll work on the XRAX as well. On top of this immense boon, the XRAX is also extremely ergonomic and light, with excellent battery longevity that rivals that of the Steam Deck OLED, all the while being more performant in almost any situation (10W output and above, at lower wattages the Deck still wins out).
Thing is, the XRAX' flagship Xbox Full Screen Experience is still a compromised offering with bugs and a crummy Sleep Mode that is often outright busted, thanks to Microsoft/Windows being busted in general. The screen, too, is mediocre at best, and the OLED Steam Deck offers a far superior image on a physical level.
It's a win-some-lose-some situation with the Asus XRAX, as ever, but it's a great choice for gamers who insist on using Windows over Linux, for whatever reason.
Lenovo Legion GO S in 2026
Finally, you may be surprised to hear that the relatively new Lenovo Legion GO S, and specifically the GO S model, is our best-buy model in 2026. At $599/$829 depending on the chip you choose, this licensed SteamOS handheld that will outperform the modern Steam Deck OLED rather easily. In our testing, you'll get better performance out of the Legion GO S at 1200P than you would from the Steam Deck OLED at 800P, running equivalent settings. And you can still lower the rendering resolution to eke out more performance yet! The downside is that the Legion GO S is simply not as efficient as the Deck, with its Z2 Go chip version needing more power to run faster. All good, but something to be aware of. We do recommend chasing after the Z1 Extreme version if you need more performance still, but that comes at a price premium, to boot.
The Legion Go S is a very ergonomic device, too, with the only real loss compared to the Steam Deck being the lack of proper touchpads on both sides of the controller. Instead, you get a small touch-based nub on the righthand controller, which comes in handy for menu navigation, but doesn't hold a candle to the touchpads in actual gameplay.
Crucially, Legion GO S runs full-blooded SteamOS that is functionally the same thing you'd get on the Steam Deck proper. This means no mucking about with Windows' crummy software baggage, and also no access to anti-cheat-heavy games on the flip side. Win some, lose some - right?
Regardless, most handheld users will find much to enjoy with the Lenovo Legion GO S, and we feel it's a best-buy option for anyone chasing after a proper PC gaming handheld in 2026. Whichever version of the device you choose, you're getting the equivalent of a Steam Deck Pro or Pro++ respectively, and that's a heck of an achievement at the GO S's price-point.
And there you have it: those are the most sensible PC gaming handheld options for you as of early 2026! Depending on your specific needs and, indeed, your budget, you've got much to choose from and much to enjoy. One thing we can promise for sure, though, is that you won't go wrong with any of the devices on this list.
On a final note, if you end up purchasing a Windows handheld and want to give Linux a shot, here's a lowdown to consider. You may also wish to check out our comprehensive set of low-spec PC optimization tweaks, as you never know when one of them may come in handy! If, on the other hand, you're looking into getting a Steam Machine as well, we've compared it to the Steam Deck's performance envelope in a dedicated featurette. Have fun!
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Are you looking for a top-notch PC gaming handheld in 2026? We’ve got just the guide you’ve been waiting for!
Code Vein 2 on Steam Deck: Will It Run?
As you might've noticed, we're in a bit of a DRAM/hardware apocalypse right now, with AI data-centers slurping up all the high-value silicon the industry produces with gusto. With that in mind, having games run on out-of-date and low-spec hardware is going to be more important as time goes on, not less, and so we continue our testing of cutting-edge releases on the humble Steam Deck! Next up? Code Vein II!
If we're being honest though, Code Vein II is a bit of a natural fit for the Steam Deck. ARPGs generally play remarkably well on the device, and we were further emboldened by the recent release of MIO: Memories in Orbit, which is a perfect experience on the Deck. We are, however, sorry to report that the same wins do not, in fact, extend to Code Vein 2, which is a tad too heavy to play on the Deck in our experience.
Play Code Vein 2 right now in Advanced Access with the Deluxe and Ultimate versions!
Is Code Vein 2 a Good Fit for the Steam Deck?
Despite the fact that Code Vein 2's minimum system requirements were fairly reasonable ahead of its release, we've discovered that they do not paint the whole story at all. While the situation obviously may be resolved via post-launch patches, we cannot recommend you play Code Vein 2 on the Steam Deck as of day one.
Even on the lowest possible settings, with a sub-native resolution (remember, the Deck renders games at the native rez of 1200x800!) will not get you a stable gameplay experience. Specifically, reaching 30 FPS with any sense of stability is virtually impossible on the Deck, even in enclosed spaces, and it only goes downhill from that.
Since Code Vein 2 is ostensibly an open-world game, you will spend a fairly significant chunk of game-time running around with long view distances that don't help much with how the experience looks and feels. In these situations, you're looking at sub-20 FPS rendering with extremely poor frame-times across the board. It's simply not a good experience no matter how we flip it, and so we have no recommended game settings to share.
If you're really intent on giving Code Vein 2 a shot on the Steam Deck, bring all the graphics settings down to their lowest possible value and consider going down a few steps to sub-native rendering as well. Instead, we recommend playing the original Code Vein on the Deck, and enjoying the sequel on a faster machine until Bandai Namco improves its performance further still. What can you do!
Play Code Vein 2 right now in Advanced Access with the Deluxe and Ultimate versions!
Code Vein 2 is now out, but if you’re looking to play it on the Steam Deck, you may be out of luck. Here’s our testing!
Code Vein 2 Reviews: What the Critics Are Saying About Bandai Namco’s Vampire Soulslike
Code Vein II has finally landed, and the discourse is already in full swing. After years of anticipation following 2019's anime-flavored Dark Souls homage, Bandai Namco delivered a sequel that takes bold swings with open-world exploration and time travel mechanics. The question is whether those swings actually connected. Based on the Code Vein 2 reviews flooding in from major outlets, the answer is complicated, as per usual.
We've gone through the critical consensus to give you the full picture of how this vampire action RPG is being received across the board. If you just want the bottom line, then we're looking at a competent ARPG that will appeal to fans of the original for sure. For more details, scroll on down!
Play Code Vein 2 right now in Advanced Access with the Deluxe and Ultimate versions!
Metacritic Code Vein 2: Where Does It Stand?
Looking at Metacritic, Code Vein 2 currently sits at a score of 73 based on 53 critic reviews for PlayStation 5. That places it firmly in "mixed or average" territory, which tracks with the divisive reactions we're seeing across the board. For context, the original Code Vein landed at a similar score when it launched back in 2019, so fans of that game will have a reasonable idea of what to expect in terms of overall polish and execution.
The breakdown is telling: roughly 62% of reviews fall into the positive category, 36% land as mixed, and only about 2% skew negative. What this suggests is that while Code Vein II isn't necessarily failing at what it sets out to do, a substantial chunk of critics found themselves wanting more from the experience.
The Combat Still Slaps
Where Code Vein 2 reviews tend to agree is on the strength of its combat systems. The sequel refines what worked in the original and adds some genuinely smart wrinkles to the formula. Special attacks, called "Gifts," remain the highlight here. You can assign a selection of these abilities to your weapons, and some of them completely change how encounters play out. Want to throw your weapon and have it spin in place like a death tornado? Go for it. Prefer to summon twin swords that orbit your target and periodically stab them in the face? That's on the menu too.
The "jail" system creates a satisfying risk-reward loop that encourages aggression. To regenerate the currency needed for these flashy abilities, you need to actively drain blood from enemies. The more wounds you've inflicted, the more blood you extract with each successful jail strike. This keeps combat flowing at a relentless pace rather than devolving into the defensive, dodge-heavy playstyle that some Soulslikes encourage.
Companion mechanics also received a welcome overhaul. Your NPC partner is now invincible, removing the frustration of watching your backup die at crucial moments. The catch is in the resurrection system. Die in combat and your companion revives you, but they temporarily vanish while doing so. Die again before they return, and you're done for real. Each subsequent death reduces your revived health pool and extends the wait time for your partner's return. It's a clever system that rewards calculated risk-taking without trivializing the difficulty.
Open World Growing Pains
The biggest point of contention in Code Vein 2 reviews is the shift to open-world design. Where the original funneled players through a relatively linear sequence of interconnected zones, the sequel spreads things out across two distinct time periods you can freely travel between. On paper, this sounds fantastic. In practice, reviews suggest the execution leaves something to be desired.
GamesRadar's review was particularly pointed about this, noting that the time travel premise is almost entirely squandered. Despite the two eras being set a century apart, so little changes between them that reviewers frequently had to check the pause menu to confirm which period they were actually in. The same enemies often stand in identical positions across both timelines, and visual variety is minimal.
Dungeon design takes a hit as well. Critics describe the various water treatment plants, substations, and industrial locations as tedious and samey. The inspired art direction that made the original Code Vein visually distinctive has been traded for a more generic post-apocalyptic aesthetic.
Shacknews offered a more balanced perspective, praising the map design as just opaque enough to make navigation feel rewarding while acknowledging that the exploration sometimes becomes a slog. The motorcycle traversal, Bandai Namco's answer to Elden Ring's Torrent, gets mixed reception. It's functional for crossing large zones but adds another layer of commuting that can drag the pacing down.
Story and Characters
The narrative in Code Vein II represents a fresh start rather than a direct continuation. Director Hiroshi Yoshimura explained in a PlayStation Blog interview that connecting directly to the original's world would risk overturning established history and player experiences. The result is an entirely new cast in a new setting, though familiar weapons and callbacks appear for longtime fans.
Your character is a Revenant Hunter who dies fighting Horrors and gets saved by a girl named Lou, who grants half her heart to resurrect you as a Revenant. Lou possesses the power to manipulate time, which becomes central to the plot as you work to prevent an impending apocalypse by defeating five legendary heroes across two timelines.
Reviews are split on how well this lands. Some critics praise the emotional stakes and character development, while others find the story overwrought and the silent protagonist trope tiresome. The anime melodrama is dialed up to familiar heights, and your mileage will vary depending on tolerance for that specific flavor of storytelling.
Technical Performance and Final Scores
The score spread tells the story of a divisive release. Digitally Downloaded awarded a perfect 100, praising the narrative, combat fluidity, and Ocarina of Time-like approach to progression. Checkpoint Gaming and Noisy Pixel both landed at 80, highlighting strong character customization and time travel storytelling despite performance concerns. On the other end, Critical Hits dropped a 45, citing weak storytelling, an overabundance of cutscenes, and serious technical problems.
For prospective buyers, Code Vein 2 reviews paint a picture of a game that's fundamentally solid but stretched thin. The combat foundation remains strong, the character creator is exceptional, and there's genuine ambition in what Bandai Namco attempted here. Whether that ambition translates into an experience worth your time depends heavily on how much you valued the tighter, more focused design of the original versus the scale the sequel attempts.
If you loved Code Vein and want more of that core gameplay loop with some interesting new wrinkles, you'll probably find plenty here to enjoy. If you were hoping for a transformative sequel that learned from the best open-world Soulslikes, the consensus suggests tempering those expectations.
Play Code Vein 2 right now in Advanced Access with the Deluxe and Ultimate versions!
Code Vein 2 is now available in advanced access, but what do the critics say about the game?
January Sale 2026 @2Game: Save Big Now!
It's the end of the murkiest, coldest, and arguably most depressing part of the year - January. While we don't know how the start of 2026 might've gone for you, we do know that we're looking forward to Spring and all the goodness it brings with it. To kick things off in the virtual world, we'd like to warm you up with a frankly ridiculous assortment of PC gaming deals, and that's where the 2Game January Sale of 2026 comes in!
Featuring thousands upon thousands of top-tier deals from the indie, AA, and AAA niches, the 2Game January Sale 2026 is your go-to spot for all manner of awesome savings. Wanna rob banks? Survive an endless onslaught of zombies? Build a town? A medieval one, at that? How about some Funko Pop action? Man, we've got it all, and we've got it in droves. If you just don't know where to start, though, this shortlist of must-have deals is a great place to start.
Note that some deals might not be available at the time of publication of this article! If the link doesn't have an active discount when you open it, please visit us again at your earliest convenience!
Check out the full 2Game January Sale of 2026 now!
Best Deals @2Game's January Sale 2026
Payday 2 @50% off
It's been over a decade since Payday 2 first let us don the masks of Dallas, Hoxton, Wolf, and Chains, and the game is somehow still going strong. Starbreeze recently partnered with Sidetrack Games to continue supporting the PC version with quality-of-life improvements and bug fixes, ensuring the heisting continues well into the future. With hundreds of updates under its belt, new heists, playable characters, and weapons galore, there's never been a better time to assemble your crew. At 50% off, this co-op shooter remains one of the best deals for anyone who enjoys planning and executing the perfect score.
Xenonauts 2 @39% off
If you've ever wanted a modern take on the classic X-COM formula without all the streamlining that came with Firaxis's reboot, Xenonauts 2 is exactly what you're looking for. Developed by Goldhawk Interactive, this turn-based tactics game puts you in command of a global defense organization fighting an alien invasion during an alternate Cold War timeline. Build covert bases, intercept UFOs with your fighter wings, and lead punishing ground missions where every bullet counts. The game is still in Early Access, but with Milestone 6 now stable and version 1.0 on the horizon, it's in excellent shape for anyone ready to wage asymmetric warfare.
Cult of the Lamb @56% off
Cult of the Lamb blends roguelike dungeon crawling with base-building cult management in a way that sounds absurd on paper and plays brilliantly in practice. You're a lamb saved from annihilation by a mysterious stranger, and in return, you must build a loyal following in his name. Venture into randomly generated dungeons, defeat heretical leaders, and recruit new followers to grow your commune. The art style is deceptively adorable given how dark things get, and the gameplay loop of crusading and managing your flock is genuinely addictive. At half price, it's an easy recommendation for fans of Hades or The Binding of Isaac. Don't forget about the new Woolhaven DLC, either!
Katana ZERO @40% off
Katana ZERO is a neo-noir action platformer where time manipulation isn't just a gimmick but the entire point. You play as a katana-wielding assassin working through a series of stylish, ultra-violent missions, slicing through enemies in a single hit while rewinding time whenever you mess up. The instant-death gameplay creates a rhythm where levels become deadly puzzles, and the narrative weaves in questions about memory, trauma, and reality. The pixel art is gorgeous, the soundtrack slaps, and the whole thing can be completed in an afternoon, though you'll probably want to replay it immediately after.
Conscript @69% off
Conscript proves that World War I might be the most underutilized setting for horror games. This top-down survival horror experience drops you into the Battle of Verdun as a French soldier searching for his missing brother amid the chaos. There are no monsters here, just the very real horrors of trench warfare: limited ammunition, scarce supplies, shell-shocked soldiers blocking your path, and the ever-present threat of enemy combatants. The pixel art aesthetic and oppressive sound design create an atmosphere that rivals the classics it draws inspiration from. The recent Director's Cut update added a hardcore mode and extensive quality-of-life improvements, making this the definitive version.
Katamari Damacy REROLL @78% off
Few games are as purely joyful as Katamari Damacy, and the REROLL remaster brings this PS2 classic to modern platforms with enhanced visuals and refined controls. The premise is beautifully absurd: the King of All Cosmos accidentally destroyed all the stars, so you must roll up everything on Earth into increasingly massive balls to replace them. Starting with thumbtacks and dice, you'll eventually be picking up cars, buildings, and entire islands. The soundtrack remains one of gaming's finest, and at 75% off, there's no excuse not to experience this weird, wonderful gem if you somehow missed it the first time around.
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Remastered @80% off
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is what happens when Level-5 teams up with Studio Ghibli, and the result is exactly as magical as you'd expect. This JRPG follows young Oliver as he travels to another world to save his mother, accompanied by the endlessly quotable fairy companion Drippy. The animated cutscenes are gorgeous, the world brims with Ghibli's signature charm, and the monster-catching combat system provides satisfying depth. The remaster sharpens everything beautifully for modern displays. At 80% off, this is an absolute steal for anyone who's ever wanted to step into a Miyazaki film.
Atomic Heart @72% off
Atomic Heart takes you to an alternate Soviet Union where utopian robotics have gone catastrophically wrong. As Agent P-3, you'll explore a retro-futuristic world filled with malfunctioning machines, mutated creatures, and some genuinely impressive visual design. The combat blends melee weapons with elemental abilities and an upgradeable polymer glove, while the world itself tells stories of ambition and hubris through environmental details. It's a bit rough around the edges, and the protagonist can be grating, but the setting and aesthetic are distinctive enough to carry the experience. At 70% off, it's worth exploring for the atmosphere alone.
Aliens: Dark Descent @58% off
Aliens: Dark Descent does something genuinely clever with the Aliens license by turning it into a real-time tactical squad game rather than another shooter. You command a squad of Colonial Marines through procedurally evolving maps where xenomorphs adapt to your tactics, creating genuine tension with every mission. Stealth, resource management, and knowing when to fight or flee become crucial as your marines accumulate stress and injuries that carry between deployments. The permadeath system means losing a veteran hurts, and the hive grows stronger the longer you take. It captures the feel of the films better than most adaptations have managed.
SnowRunner - 5th Year Anniversary Edition @20% off
SnowRunner is the kind of game where getting stuck in a muddy ditch for twenty minutes somehow becomes entertainment. This off-road simulation puts you behind the wheel of heavy-duty vehicles navigating brutal terrain across multiple open-world maps. Deliver cargo through snowstorms, ford rivers that threaten to sweep you away, and rescue other vehicles using winches and cranes. The physics are punishing but fair, and there's something meditative about slowly conquering routes that seemed impossible at first glance. The 5th Year Anniversary Edition includes substantial content additions from years of updates, making it the definitive version for newcomers.
Age of Wonders 4 @50% off
Age of Wonders 4 returned the series to its fantasy roots after Planetfall's sci-fi detour, and the result is one of the best 4X games in years. The customization system lets you create wildly unique factions by mixing cultures, forms, and magical tomes, meaning your empire of toad necromancers plays fundamentally differently from someone else's avian crusaders. The tactical combat is excellent, the diplomacy engaging, and the sheer variety of viable strategies keeps things fresh across campaigns. Triumph Studios has supported the game extensively with three expansion passes worth of content, including the recent Thrones of Blood DLC adding vampire rulers.
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous - Enhanced Edition @70% off
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is a massive CRPG that takes the already substantial foundation of Kingmaker and builds something even more ambitious. You lead a crusade against demonic forces invading the world, making choices that determine whether you become an angel, a lich, or something stranger entirely. The mythic paths fundamentally transform your character and the story around them, providing tremendous replay value. Combat can be played in real-time with pause or turn-based, and there's enough content here to occupy hundreds of hours. The Enhanced Edition polishes the experience considerably, fixing many launch issues.
Dragon's Dogma 2 @58% off
Dragon's Dogma 2 finally delivered on the promise of the cult classic original, offering a massive open world filled with dynamic encounters and the series' signature Pawn system. Your AI companions learn from your playstyle and can be shared with other players, creating an asynchronous multiplayer element that feels genuinely unique. Combat remains the highlight, with large monsters requiring you to climb them Shadow of the Colossus-style while your party coordinates attacks. Capcom has continued supporting the game with patches and added a Casual Mode for those who found the original difficulty intimidating. DLC remains unannounced, but the base game alone offers substantial - if sometimes annoying - adventure.
Resident Evil: Village @75% off
Resident Evil: Village takes the first-person horror of RE7 and cranks everything up considerably. Ethan Winters finds himself in a European village ruled by four lords serving the enigmatic Mother Miranda, each commanding their own distinct section of the game. Lady Dimitrescu's castle became an instant internet sensation, but the other areas offer equally memorable horror, from a creepy dollhouse to a mechanized factory. The pacing is excellent, the setpieces consistently impressive, and the Mercenaries mode provides arcade-style replay value. At 75% off, this is essential playing for survival horror fans.
Crysis Remastered - Trilogy @55% off
The Crysis Remastered Trilogy brings all three of Crytek's legendary shooters to modern hardware, and yes, your PC can probably run them now. The original game's island sandbox remains impressive, letting you approach objectives however you want using your Nanosuit's strength, speed, armor, and cloak abilities. Crysis 2 takes things to a devastated New York City, while Crysis 3 wraps the trilogy in an overgrown urban jungle. The remastered versions include ray tracing support and updated visuals that honor the series' reputation for pushing hardware limits. If you've never experienced why "can it run Crysis?" became a meme, now's your chance.
Check out the full 2Game January Sale of 2026 now!
The big 2Game end-of-January sale is now live, and that means it’s time to save big on big games! Here’s the jig!
Forza Horizon 6 Premium Edition Explained: Is It Worth the Price?
The Forza Horizon 6 Premium Edition is now available for pre-order at $119.99 USD, making it a significant investment for anyone planning to dive into Playground Games' latest open-world racer. With the game set to launch on May 19, 2026, we're breaking down exactly what's included in the Premium package and whether it offers genuine long-term value based on what we've seen from Forza Horizon 5.
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What's Included in the Premium Edition?
The Forza Horizon 6 Premium Edition bundles together the full game with all major add-on content planned for the game's lifecycle. Here's the complete breakdown:
Early Access grants you four days of playtime ahead of the general release. Premium owners can start racing on May 15, 2026, while Standard Edition players wait until May 19.
VIP Membership is a permanent upgrade that delivers a 2x credit boost on all race rewards, three exclusive Forza Edition vehicles, a weekly bonus Super Wheelspin, and the Tokyo City House unlocked for free. That house would otherwise require in-game credits to purchase.
Welcome Pack gives you five pre-tuned cars, a Car Voucher to claim any vehicle from the Autoshow, and three clothing tickets for customizing your driver.
Car Pass delivers 30 new vehicles to your garage, with one car dropping each week starting from launch. These are free additions on top of the 550+ cars in the base game.
Time Attack Car Pack includes eight cars built for precision lap times, available at launch. These are tuned for the new Time Attack Circuits featured throughout Japan.
Italian Passion Car Pack arrives post-launch with four Italian exotics: the 2025 Ferrari F80, 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB4 Spider, 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm, and 1990 Alfa Romeo SE 048SP.
Expansions 1 and 2 are the headline inclusions. These are full-scale DLC expansions that introduce new locations, vehicles, and gameplay experiences. Playground Games hasn't revealed specifics yet, but based on past form, these will be substantial additions arriving throughout 2027.
How Does This Compare to Forza Horizon 5?
Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition launched at $99.99 USD and included VIP Membership, Welcome Pack, Car Pass (42 cars), and both the Hot Wheels and Rally Adventure expansions. The pricing for FH6 has jumped $20, though the package structure remains largely identical.
Looking at FH5's post-launch timeline gives us a solid idea of what to expect from FH6:
The original Forza Horizon 5 launched in November 2021. The first expansion, Hot Wheels, dropped in July 2022, roughly eight months later. Rally Adventure followed in March 2023, about 16 months after the base game. Both expansions introduced entirely new map regions, 10+ new cars each, dedicated campaign content, and unique gameplay mechanics.
Over its lifespan, FH5 received more than 40 free content updates alongside the paid DLC. These included new cars, seasonal events, the Horizon Realms feature in 2025, and continuous Festival Playlist refreshes. Premium Edition owners got access to all major expansion content without additional purchases.
If Playground Games follows a similar cadence for FH6, we can reasonably expect Expansion 1 to land around late 2026 or early 2027, with Expansion 2 arriving sometime in 2027. That means Premium Edition buyers are essentially locking in 18+ months of major content drops with a single purchase.
The Value Breakdown
Let's do the maths. If you were to buy everything in the Premium Edition separately based on typical Forza pricing:
The base game runs $69.99. VIP Membership historically costs around $19.99. The Car Pass is typically $29.99. Each expansion usually retails at $19.99 standalone, totalling $39.98 for both. The Time Attack and Italian Passion car packs would likely run $7.99 to $9.99 each if sold individually.
Added together, that's roughly $175 to $180 worth of content for $119.99. The savings become more pronounced if you know you're going to play FH6 long-term.
What Premium Doesn't Include
It's worth noting what the Premium Edition leaves out. Forza Horizon 5 released several post-Car Pass vehicle packs that weren't included in Premium, such as the JDM Jewels Car Pack, Italian Exotics Car Pack, and Pop Culture Car Pack. These required separate purchases even for Premium owners.
We expect FH6 to follow the same model. Premium covers the planned content at launch, but Playground Games will almost certainly release additional car packs over the game's lifecycle that sit outside the Premium bundle. If past form holds, these typically run $4.99 to $9.99 each. Not a huge deal unless you're a hardcore collector playing the game literally years down the line.
Who Should Buy Premium?
The Premium Edition makes sense if you're planning to spend significant time with FH6 over the next two years. The VIP 2x credit boost alone saves dozens of hours of grinding, and the expansions historically deliver some of the best content in any Horizon game. Hot Wheels and Rally Adventure were both excellent additions to FH5 that justified their inclusion in Premium.
If you're a Game Pass subscriber who just wants to try the game, the base version is included with your subscription. You can always upgrade to the Premium Add-Ons Bundle later if you decide the game has legs for you.
For dedicated Horizon fans who put hundreds of hours into each release, Premium is the straightforward choice. The four-day Early Access is a nice bonus, but the real value comes from guaranteed access to both expansions and the steady drip of Car Pass vehicles over the first seven months.
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Forza Horizon 6’s ultimate collector’s Premium Edition is very expensive, but could it possibly be worth the asking price?
Forza Horizon 6 Offline Mode: Can You Play Solo Without an Internet Connection?
With Forza Horizon 6 confirmed for a May 19, 2026 launch, one of the biggest questions from the community centres on whether the game will support offline play. Given the always-online controversies that plagued Forza Motorsport back in 2023, it's a fair concern. Here's everything we know about Forza Horizon 6 offline mode and what you can expect when the game launches.
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Does Forza Horizon 6 Have an Offline Mode?
Yes. Playground Games has officially confirmed that Forza Horizon 6 supports offline play. In response to a question on the Steam Community forums, community manager CM_Artie stated: "Whilst an internet connection is only required for the very first launch of the game, Forza Horizon 6 will always be accessible offline allowing players to experience the single-player campaign and progression through race events, PR Stunts, exploration and customization."
This confirms that aside from a one-time online check during your initial launch, you can play the game entirely offline. Your progression through the campaign, including earning wristbands and unlocking new events, will save locally without needing a persistent connection.
The Forza Horizon series has consistently allowed players to enjoy the core game without internet. Forza Horizon 5 works the same way, and it's good to see Playground Games carrying that approach forward into FH6.
What's Available in Offline Mode?
Based on the developer confirmation, here's what you can access in Forza Horizon 6 offline mode:
The full open-world map of Japan is accessible from the start. This includes Tokyo City, Mount Fuji, Hokkaido, and all the rural mountain roads in between. According to Playground Games, this is the largest and most dense map in Horizon history.
The single-player campaign, which sees you start as a tourist working your way up through the Horizon Festival ranks, is fully playable offline. You'll earn wristbands, unlock new events, and eventually gain access to Legend Island without needing to connect online.
PR Stunts, exploration activities, and car customization all work offline. The game features over 550 cars at launch, including JDM legends and rare Aftermarket Cars scattered throughout the world. Collecting, tuning, and racing these vehicles in single-player should work perfectly fine without internet.
What Will Require an Internet Connection?
Certain features will almost certainly need you to be online. Multiplayer modes like Open World Car Meets, Drag Meets, and Time Attack Circuits are designed around shared experiences with other players. The new Horizon Collab feature, which allows real-time building with friends, will obviously require a connection.
The Festival Playlist and seasonal content rotations have always been online-only in previous Horizon titles. These events offer exclusive cars and rewards that change weekly, so you'll need to connect if you want to chase limited-time content.
Community features like downloading liveries, tunes, and blueprints from other players will also need internet access. The same goes for leaderboards, photo sharing, and any content that relies on server-side data.
How Does This Compare to Forza Motorsport?
Forza Motorsport launched in 2023 with heavy criticism over its always-online approach to career progression. Even single-player modes required a constant connection to save progress, and server issues at launch left many players unable to play. Even now, with Forza Motorsport having entered its end-of-life support, there's no way to play and progress the game entirely offline, which won't be the case with Horizon 6.
Forza Horizon has never taken this approach, granted. The series prioritises accessibility and player freedom, and there's no indication Forza Horizon 6 will change that philosophy. Happy days!
The Bottom Line
Playground Games has confirmed that Forza Horizon 6 offline mode is fully supported. After a one-time online check on your first launch, you can play the campaign, free roam, collect cars, and progress through the Festival entirely offline. This is great news for handheld players and anyone with unreliable internet.
We'll update this article if any additional details emerge ahead of the May 19 launch, so bear with us. In the interim, might we recommend checking out the full list of cars we've spotted so far?
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We’ve got the word! Forza Horizon 6 offline mode is coming!
Forza Horizon 6: All Spotted/Confirmed Cars!
Forza Horizon 6 is set to launch on May 19, 2026, and Playground Games has confirmed a starting roster of around 550 vehicles. We've scoured every trailer, screenshot, and official reveal to compile the definitive list of cars spotted so far. Whether you're chasing JDM legends, European exotics, or tuned-out time attack monsters, here's everything we know about the FH6 garage.
This list will continue to expand as more details surface ahead of launch. We've done our best to format it as neatly and nicely as possible, so we hope you find it handy!
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Japanese Manufacturers
Acura
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | NSX Type S | S1 | |
| 2023 | Integra A-Spec | C |
Autozam
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | AZ-1 | D |
Daihatsu
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | Copen | — | Spotted in trailer |
Honda
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | City E II | D | |
| 1991 | Beat | D | New to Forza |
| 1992 | NSX-R | B | |
| 1994 | Acty | D | |
| 1997 | Civic Type R | C | |
| 2022 | Honda e | D | |
| 2023 | Civic Type R (FL5) | A |
Time Attack Pack:
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | #19 CRX WTAC | TBA | Time Attack Car Pack |
| 1992 | #21 Hardrace/JDMYard Civic WTAC | TBA | Time Attack Car Pack |
| 2001 | #33 Integra WTAC | TBA | Time Attack Car Pack |
| 2004 | #52 Evasive Motorsports S2000 WTAC | TBA | Time Attack Car Pack |
Lexus
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | LFA | S1 | |
| 2010 | LFA Forza Edition | S2 | Forza Edition |
Mazda
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | RX-3 Forza Edition | B | Forza Edition |
| 1994 | MX-5 Miata Forza Edition | S2 | Forza Edition |
| — | MX-5 Miata | — | Confirmed, year TBA |
Mitsubishi
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Montero Exceed 2800 TD | D | |
| 1997 | Montero Evolution | D | |
| 2001 | Lancer Evolution VI GSR TM Edition | B | |
| 2004 | Lancer Evolution VIII MR | B | |
| 2005 | #1 Sierra Enterprises Lancer Evolution Time Attack | R |
Time Attack Pack:
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | #269 Attacking the Clock Racing Minicab Time Attack | TBA | Time Attack Car Pack |
Nissan
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Fairlady Z 432 | D | |
| 1971 | Skyline 2000GT-R | D | |
| 1973 | Skyline H/T 2000GT-R | C | |
| 1989 | PAO | D | |
| 1989 | S-Cargo Forza Edition | S1 | Forza Edition |
| 1992 | Skyline GT-R (R32) | B | |
| 1993 | 240SX | D | |
| 1994 | Silvia K's (S14) | B | |
| 1997 | Stagea RS Four V | C | |
| 1998 | Silvia K's Aero (S14) | B | |
| 2002 | Silvia Spec-R (S15) | B | |
| 2024 | GT-R NISMO | S1 | |
| 2024 | Z NISMO (RZ34) | A |
Formula Drift:
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Formula Drift #64 Forsberg Racing Nissan Z | S1 |
Time Attack Pack:
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | #32 Skyline WTAC "Xtreme GTR" | TBA | Time Attack Car Pack |
| 2000 | #36 Silvia WTAC | TBA | Time Attack Car Pack |
Toyota
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Sports 800 | D | |
| 1969 | 2000GT | D | |
| 1985 | Sprinter Trueno GT Apex (AE86) | D | |
| 1992 | Celica GT-Four RC ST185 | C | |
| 1997 | Chaser 2.5 Tourer V (X100) | B | New to Forza |
| 1997 | Soarer 2.5 GT-T | C | |
| 1998 | Supra RZ | B | |
| 2021 | GR Yaris | B | |
| 2022 | GR86 | B | |
| 2025 | GR GT Prototype | S1 | Cover Car |
| 2025 | Land Cruiser | — | Cover Car |
Formula Drift:
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Formula Drift #34 Toyota Supra MkIV | S1 | |
| 2020 | Formula Drift #151 Toyota GR Supra | S1 |
Time Attack Pack:
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | J&J Motorsport Supra WTAC | TBA | Time Attack Car Pack |
Wuling
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Sunshine S | D |
European Manufacturers
Alfa Romeo
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | SE 048SP | R | Italian Passion Car Pack |
| 2021 | Giulia GTAm | S1 | Italian Passion Car Pack |
Ariel
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Atom 500 V8 | S2 | |
| 2016 | Nomad | A |
Aston Martin
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Valhalla Concept Car | R | |
| 2023 | Valkyrie | R |
BMW
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | M3 (E30) | C | |
| 2020 | M2 Competition Coupé | A |
Ferrari
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | 275 GTB4 Spider | C | Italian Passion Car Pack |
| 2017 | J50 | S1 | Pre-Order Bonus |
| 2018 | FXX-K Evo | R | |
| 2019 | 488 Pista | S1 | |
| 2025 | F80 | R | Italian Passion Car Pack |
Koenigsegg
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Jesko | S2 |
Lamborghini
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Urus | A | |
| 2020 | Essenza SCV12 | R | |
| 2020 | Huracán STO | S1 | |
| 2022 | Huracán Sterrato | S1 | |
| 2022 | Huracán Tecnica | S1 |
Lancia
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Delta S4 | B |
Maserati
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | MC20 | S1 |
Mercedes-Benz
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | AMG Hammer Coupé | B | |
| — | AMG GTR | — | Spotted in trailer |
MINI
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | John Cooper Works GP | A |
Pagani
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Huayra R | R |
Peugeot
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 205 Turbo 16 | B |
Porsche
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 911 Carrera RS | C | |
| 1997 | 911 GT1 Strassenversion | S1 | |
| 2019 | 911 Carrera S | S1 | |
| 2023 | 911 GT3 RS | S1 |
American Manufacturers
Lucid
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Air Sapphire | S2 |
Meyers
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Manx | D |
Australian Manufacturers
Holden
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Torana A9X | C |
HSV
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | GEN-F GTS | A |
Korean Manufacturers
Hyundai
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | i20 N | B | |
| 2023 | IONIQ 5 N | A |
Off-Road / Specialty Vehicles
Can-Am
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Maverick X RS Turbo R | B |
Polaris
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | RZR Pro XP Ultimate | C |
RJ Anderson
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | #37 Polaris RZR Pro 4 Truck | A |
SIERRA Cars
| Year | Model | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 700R | D |
DLC Summary
Pre-Order Bonus
| Make | Year | Model | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferrari | 2017 | J50 | S1 |
Italian Passion Car Pack
| Make | Year | Model | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alfa Romeo | 1990 | SE 048SP | R |
| Alfa Romeo | 2021 | Giulia GTAm | S1 |
| Ferrari | 1967 | 275 GTB4 Spider | C |
| Ferrari | 2025 | F80 | R |
Time Attack Car Pack
| Make | Year | Model | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda | 1990 | #19 CRX WTAC | TBA |
| Honda | 1992 | #21 Hardrace/JDMYard Civic WTAC | TBA |
| Honda | 2001 | #33 Integra WTAC | TBA |
| Honda | 2004 | #52 Evasive Motorsports S2000 WTAC | TBA |
| Mitsubishi | 1990 | #269 Attacking the Clock Racing Minicab Time Attack | TBA |
| Nissan | 1993 | #32 Skyline WTAC "Xtreme GTR" | TBA |
| Nissan | 2000 | #36 Silvia WTAC | TBA |
| Toyota | 1995 | J&J Motorsport Supra WTAC | TBA |
Check Back In Soon!
With over 550 cars confirmed at launch, we've barely scratched the surface of what's coming. Playground Games will likely reveal the full car list closer to launch day. Expect a healthy mix of returning Forza Horizon 5 favourites alongside fresh additions that lean heavily into Japanese car culture. To say nothing of post-launch coverage, which we believe will bump Forza Horizon 6 very close to the coveted 1,000 vehicle marker!
Remember: Forza Horizon 5 launched with just over 500 cars on day one, and it's got a whopping 902 of them as of early 2026! So, we expect the number to effectively double over time, with post-launch DLC both free and paid. We'll keep updating this list as new information drops. Bookmark this page and check back often.
Waiting for Horizon 6? Jump into Forza Horizon 5 while you wait!
Forza Horizon 6 has been officially revealed, and we’ve already spotted almost 100 of its 550+ car roster!
How Long to Beat MIO: Memories in Orbit?
MIO: Memories in Orbit is finally here, and fans of demanding Metroidvanias have plenty of reason to be excited. Developed by French indie studio Douze Dixièmes and published by Focus Entertainment, this gorgeous sci-fi adventure has been drawing comparisons to Hollow Knight and Celeste since its initial reveal. But if you're looking to dive into the Vessel's decaying corridors, you're probably wondering exactly how much time you'll need to set aside.
On the other hand, you may also be concerned as to whether MIO is a decent enough bang-per-buck. If you're on a tight budget and want a top-notch new Metroidvania, game length and content value are obviously huge concerns. We can help you out with that down below.
Play MIO: Memories in Orbit on PC now!
Is MIO: Memories in Orbit long enough?
For players focused primarily on pushing through the main narrative, MIO: Memories in Orbit clocks in at approximately 15 to 20 hours. The developers at Douze Dixièmes have suggested that around 25 hours is enough to complete the epic tale, though this will naturally vary depending on your familiarity with the genre and how quickly you adapt to the game's precision platforming demands.
Keep in mind that MIO doesn't hold your hand. The Vessel is a sprawling, interconnected labyrinth filled with multiple biomes and plenty of opportunities to get turned around. If you're the type to push forward without thoroughly exploring every corner, you'll land closer to that 15-hour mark. If you find yourself struggling with the souls-like combat and challenging boss encounters, expect to edge toward the higher end of that estimate.
Having considered information available on the Internet based on early adopters' playthroughs, most players can expect about 16 to 18 hours for a non-completionist playthrough, which is more than good enough for a game of this caliber. Obviously, you don't want a Metroidvania to overstay its welcome, and we find that MIO balances on a knife's edge in this respect.
Don't forget about the Demo!
In fact, if you'd like to get a good sense of what the game is about and whether it's a good fit for you, we recommend looking into its official demo when you can. There's about three hours' worth of playtime present in the demo by default, which is absolutely astonishing value when you consider that it's totally and entirely free. Not bad, hey?
Play MIO: Memories in Orbit on PC now!
As a Metroidvania, MIO: Memories in Orbit presents itself as a comprehensive and valuable package, but is it a long enough game? Here’s the jig.
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