What to play this weekend — colorful, capricious animals, magical mythology, and steampunk murders

Happy Friday, Watchers! This was a banner week for amazing releases. Let’s dive right into the line-up of games for you to enjoy.

Release of the week: Animal Well (Metroidvania)

First up is the haunting but beautiful, dark-and-neon Animal Well, a spectacularly well-rated metroidvania currently ranking with Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Balatro for top games of 2024. The title consists of a “dense, atmospheric, puzzle box world with multiple layers of secrets,” where puzzle is the key word — you (as a little seed) need to navigate the environment and solve its challenges through cleverness instead of combat. Collect items to manipulate your surroundings, carefully consider the unnerving creatures you encounter, and don’t be surprised if you find yourself laughing — maybe from delight, surprise, and sometimes even fear.

Get Animal Well for $24.99 for PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and PC on Steam.

Community highlight: Little Kitty, Big City (adventure)

Little Kitty, Big City is probably the planned announcement that Team Blizzard Watch was most excited for this week, and why not? It’s completely freaking adorable, all the cozy, wholesomeness needed to escape from your day-to-day stressors. Enjoy exploring the surrounding open-world as a curious little cat (with all the personality) as you find your way home from the big city, make friends with animals along your route, and customize your capricious feline with your favorite hat. Oh, and don’t forget to leave a little mayhem in your wake, maybe between catnaps. The choice is all yours!

Get Little Kitty, Big City for $24.99 for Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC on Steam.

Early adventures: Hades 2 (action RPG)

Hades 2 has been long anticipated since its announcement during the 2022 Game Awards as Supergiant’s first sequel, and now the early access is here! The Hades 2 art style and story tie into its predecessor, but the cast is expanded, the music is glorious, and all the little details are its own. Follow Melinoë on her crusade for justice, wielding a witchcraft, weaponry, and mythical Boons from your Olympian relatives as you battle your way back into the Underworld to tackle the Titan of Time. Just remember — early access means many an update coming down the pipe.

Get Hades 2 Early Access for $29.99 for PC on Steam and Epic Games Store.

Steal of a deal: Circus Electrique (RPG)

Circus Electrique came out in 2022 with a whole bunch going on. Part story-driven RPG, part strategy and tactics game, and part circus management, all with a steampunk flavor set in Victorian London, now available for free on the Epic Games Store for the next week! But when normal London citizens turn into brutal murderers, it’s up to the members of your circus to pull together and save the city. And of course, through all the chaos, the show must go on.

Get Circus Electrique for free on the Epic Games Store until May 16.

Now tell us, Watchers — what are you playing this weekend? Share in the comments below, and we’ll feature your new interest in next week’s round-up!