Four new game releases, including a Megabonk, we’re highlighting (and probably playing this weekend)

This week, we’re highlighting a few titles that are on the “newer” end of the spectrum: stuff that has either come out in the last few weeks (or at least officially launched in the last few weeks) that I’ve also never covered before. We’re gonna take a look at a cool fantasy beat-’em-up (Absolum), a Brickout-style roguelite (BALL x PIT), a procedural generated 2D open world crafting sim (Necesse) and last but not least a roguelike survival game where you can get swole and flex while killing enemy skeletons (Megabonk)!

Roads of Anger: Absolum

Absolum is the result of a team that makes awesome beat ’em ups (Streets of Rage 4) wanting to build one in their own fantasy world with their own lore — and Dotemu has certainly managed to hit the nail on the head once again. In the kingdom of Talamh, a magical cataclysm was caused by ambitious wizards, leaving the world untrusting of magic. In the chaos of the aftermath, the Sun King Azra enslaved wizards with his Crimson Order, sparking a rebellion by the High Enchantress Uchawi. There’s four playable characters right now — Galandra, Karl, Brome and Cider — each with their own play style, so one of them should catch your interest. Go solo or play with friends, this is a great time no matter how you slice it.

Get Absolum for $25 on Steam.

Rogue Breaker: BALL x PIT

One of the biggest things to come with the launch of fan favorite Balatro came a slew of new games being called Balatro-likes, which this was initially tagged as when I saw it. I’m not entirely sure that’s an apt comparison, but BALL x PIT seems to be the modern day equivalent of what happens when you take Brickout and mash it together with Vampire Survivors. Babylon has fallen, and people have charged in to the ruins to find whatever treasures they can get their hands on — though you, my friend, are not only going to destroy monsters with combining crazy powered balls, but also you are going to rebuild Babylon with buildings that will super power your adventures. Find your new favorite power ups, earn new characters, and find the fortunes of Babylon in BALL x PIT.

Get BALL x PIT for $15 on Steam.

2D Sandbox Fun: Necesse

Necesse has been in early access for quite some time now, but has officially made it out of the gates and into a post-1.0 launch. In Necesse, you are dropped into a randomly generated world, where you have to do the usual: cut wood, craft items, build homes, fight monsters, and find villagers who can not only help you around the village, but can also sell you items and go on missions for you. Perhaps the nicest thing about the villagers is that they will automate a lot of the boring, mundane stuff that you don’t like doing in these games — letting you explore the world more. In the endgame, the rest of the world is created by randomly generated maps, with randomly generated bosses, new loot, new upgrade materials, etc. This looks like a blast, so I hope you also enjoy it.

Get Necesse for $7.50 on Steam. 

Not just a bonk, but… : Megabonk

Megabonk is what happens when you take a game like Vampire Survivors and slap it in a goofy 3D world, with 20 different characters and a totally unserious plot; there’s kick flipping skeletons, flexing shirtless men, and sunglasses-wearing monkeys. The premise is pretty simple: the more enemies you kill, the more XP you get, and the more XP you get, the higher level you become. Each time you level the game offers you some random choices for abilities, leading every game to be slightly different. For only $10, it seems like a great time for this weekend!

Get Megabonk for $10 on Steam.