On Monday, I discussed the latest leak for a Castlevania remake, and Alexx spoke of a new Rogue-like called Die after Sunset, coming to early access. Tuesday, Taylor talked of the latest Smash DLC character, while I nearly rage quit life when CDPR said Cyberpunk 2077‘s performance is “satisfactory,” and Alexx talked about the PS4-PS5 delay for Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights. Wednesday, Alexx excitedly talked about the announced Control spinoff and a sequel, and I noted what Casey Hudson is up to next. Thursday, I hated July before it began, Alexx wrote about the delisting of Final Fantasy 5 and 6, and Taylor mentioned that Battlefield 2042‘s “official console” is Xbox.

On to the free game on the Epic Games Store this week, which I’ve had no time this week to play properly. I’d argue doesn’t bother me at all though, as when I had to remember the title, I asked myself, “What even is it this week?” The Spectrum Retreat is a first-person puzzle game set in a near-future hotel that I’m sure John Wick will be shooting up in John Wick 9. Now stop me if you’ve heard this one before; You go from room to room solving puzzles with blocks. Portal, it is not, as it lacks the wit and replaces it with some horror and color puzzles.

I’m not trying to be reductive of The Spectrum Retreat, which I am sure I was (unintentionally) when David mentioned he enjoyed it last week. I’ve seen so many games attempt the Portal-style of gameplay that when another comes up, I’m left disinterested by it. By all accounts from friends and reading up on the game, it is enjoyable. It is wonderfully written, but for all these lovely things said of Dan Smith’s puzzle game, I’m still not jumping to play.

All this week, you can pick up The Spectrum Retreat until the morning of the 8th of July. From the 8th, you’ll be fighting the one thing that, appropriately, won’t die: Zombies and a bit of boredom. Next week you can pick up Bridge Constructor: The Walking Dead and Ironcast, the latter of which has previously appeared in Prime Gaming, for those interested.

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