If it seemed like this week would be a good time to catch up on your Steam backlog, you were woefully mistaken. Following a week of retro indies, we got a major new game this week in the form of Mortal Shell 2<\/em>, one of the year\u2019s best Soulslikes. That\u2019s just the tip of the iceberg, though, as PC players have plenty of options to dig into this week.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re looking for a good horror game, something cozy, or an ambitious MMO, there are plenty of new games to try on Steam this weekend. These are just five highlights you can check out on Steam right now.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The original Mortal Shell <\/em>wasn\u2019t exactly a genre-defining Soulslike. The grim action RPG was par for the course, launching to perfectly middling reviews. The developers at Cold Symmetry appear to have taken that to heart, because Mortal Shell 2 <\/em>is a major improvement. Critics have praised the sequel for its refined combat, which gives players a lot more ways to customize their playstyle thanks to reworked Shells. That goes hand-in-hand with an enticing map, filled with standout dungeons, that begs to be explored. It\u2019s been a slow year for action RPGs aside from Nioh 3<\/em>, so Mortal Shell 2 <\/em>is a welcome jolt of action.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Speaking of hugely improved sequels, The Sinking City 2 <\/em>sits in the same boat as Mortal Shell 2<\/em>. The Lovecraftian horror sequel launched to significantly more positive reviews than its predecessor thanks to a full-on survival horror pivot that\u2019s resonating with fans. Drawing clear inspiration from Capcom\u2019s Resident Evil series, The Sinking City 2 <\/em>is an ominous, gruesome third-person shooter that has you exploring the city of Arkham in the 1920s. Gory monstrosities await in dark alleyways, of course. If you don\u2019t have time to get to it this weekend, at least get it on your Halloween playlist this year.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The promise of Stars Reach <\/em>is so massive that you can\u2019t help but be curious about it. The indie MMO, which launched into early access this week, aims to give players a shared galactic sandbox to build in. It\u2019s aiming to be a reactive outer space simulator where each decision a player makes can have a tangible impact on a planet\u2019s ecosystem. It\u2019s going to take a while for that vision to fully pay off; the early access version is indeed very <\/em>early. So long as you don\u2019t mind sifting through bugs to test a neat idea out, Stars Reach<\/em> is interesting enough to toy around with right now.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking for a new cozy game, Starsand Island<\/em> is your best bet this weekend. The farming sim has just about everything you\u2019d expect from the genre: fishing, relationship building, animal ranching, and even a bit of combat. It even puts a greater emphasis on exploration than some of its genre peers, letting you skateboard around a scenic island. With its charming visuals, it’s a great game for anyone who wants the hook of Fields of Mistria<\/em> in a proper 3D game. (Though I won\u2019t be leaving Mistria anytime soon \u2014 at least not until I wed Reina.)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For the visual novel crowd, this week is a big deal thanks to Steins;Gate Re:Boot<\/em>. The remaster celebrates the 10-year anniversary of 2016\u2019s Steins;Gate <\/em>by rescuing it from PlayStation Vita jail and giving it a modern makeover. New visuals, improved UI, and more make a genre classic feel new again. The main reason to play it, though, is just to experience the original game\u2019s out-there time-travel story. The remaster even throws in some new story content that expands a rich world even further. It\u2019s a hefty game, but one visual novel enthusiasts shouldn\u2019t miss.<\/p>\n\n Mortal Shell 2
\n <\/h2>\n\n The Sinking City 2
\n <\/h2>\n\n Stars Reach
\n <\/h2>\n\n Starsand Island
\n <\/h2>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/static0.polygonimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/starsand-island-thumbnail.webp?q=70&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=1\")
\n <\/picture>Image: Seed Sparkle Lab<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n Steins;Gate Re:Boot
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