Eight Games to Play Before GTA VI and Zelda Launch
The release calendar is briefly quieter after a busy run of major games. These eight recent titles offer varied ways to fill the gap before Nintendo’s Zelda remake and Grand Theft Auto VI.
Radwan AbdulhadiEditor and technology writer
A brief pause in the release calendar
The fall and winter video game schedule began with a concentrated run of major releases, including Control Resonant, Marvel’s Wolverine, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave and Gears of War: E-Day. The next major wave is expected to center on Nintendo’s remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and the long-anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI, leaving a comparatively quieter period in between.
The Verge’s selection of eight games focuses on titles that can fit into that gap, including games designed for short sessions as well as longer adventures. The list covers old-school horror, cooperative puzzles, creative simulation and explorative platforming rather than a single dominant genre.
Action and dressmaking
Belmont’s Curse is a new Castlevania game from the studios behind Dead Cells. It combines intricate levels, challenging platforming, difficult bosses and hidden secrets. The game can become demanding, but assist settings allow players to adjust the experience. It is available on PS5, Xbox, Switch and Steam.
Dressmaker takes a very different approach. South African developer Free Lives, known for Broforce and Genital Jousting, created the game through a small internal team called Cozy Lives. Players operate a village dress shop, accept commissions, sketch designs, choose fabrics and accessories, cut patterns, pin them to a mannequin and sew the final garments.
The dressmaking game offers considerable creative freedom for players who want to spend hours designing and accessorizing outfits. It also supports relaxed half-hour sessions, making it a flexible option during a crowded season. Dressmaker is available on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch and PC.
Survival horror with familiar roots
Heartworm targets players looking for the atmosphere of classic survival horror. It presents itself like a lost PlayStation-era game, including a limited inventory, while offering a modern alternative to the genre’s traditional tank controls. A camera carried by the protagonist works as both a flashlight and a weapon, giving the game a distinct mechanic within its familiar framework.
Silver Pines blends several recognizable ideas into a more unusual detective story. Its design combines two-dimensional exploration, point-and-click controls, slow-burning survival horror and a strange Americana atmosphere. Players must spend fictional money to save the game, while drinking coffee can increase stamina. The result is a deliberate exploration experience that mixes investigation with terror. Silver Pines is available on PS5, Xbox, Switch 2 and PC.
Cooperative puzzles and compact adventures
Orbitals is a cooperative puzzle game presented in a polished 1990s anime style. Its character and world designs recall the era’s television animation, while the core puzzle-solving remains straightforward and accessible. The game is short enough to complete across a few sessions, and its friend pass lets another person join without purchasing a separate copy.
Toem 2 is a sequel to the 2021 black-and-white photography game Toem. It continues with charming characters, playful quests and simple picture-taking. Its compact length makes it suitable for short trips or brief periods of play, with the full adventure finishable over a couple of hours.
Collections and technical ambition
The Digital Eclipse Toy Story collection uses archival material alongside the games themselves to show how technically ambitious the original titles were. The collection highlights efforts such as displaying three-dimensional sprites on the Sega Genesis and creating a comparatively open-ended A Bug’s Life adventure. The historical material adds context, while the games remain playable rather than serving only as museum pieces.
A small but memorable Metroidvania
Well Dweller is an indie Metroidvania from developer Kyle Thompson. Players control an adorable bird in a world populated by cute characters and unsettling bosses. Its areas include unusual locations such as docks where movement depends on jumping across dead fish hanging in nets.
Exploration is supported by a matchstick weapon that also functions as a springboard and can attach to walls. That dual purpose gives movement a distinctive role in the game’s progression. Together with its contrast between gentle character designs and grotesque enemies, Well Dweller provides a compact alternative for players seeking something less familiar before the next major releases arrive.
Sources
- The VergeSome great games to play before GTA VI and Zelda launch
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