From Hogwarts to the Horizon: The Newest Game Releases You Can’t Miss

Jordyn Reardon March 06, 2023

Spring is upon us, and with the new season comes new video game releases. If you are itching for a new game to play but are unsure which popular ones are trending, here is a quick list of the top new games that have hit the stores or will be coming out soon. Enjoy these titles that are filled with strategic gameplay, terrorizing monsters and enemies, and compelling storytelling.

Destiny 2: Lightfall is the newest expansion in the Destiny franchise. Destiny 2 is a free-to-play first-person shooter game originally released in 2017, and DLC expansions are added yearly to further the game’s plot. You begin as a Guardian, a protector of humanity with the power to wield Light that is used to fight against forces of evil known as the Darkness. The power of Light, as well as resurrection machines called Ghosts, derive from a machine entity called the Traveler. At the end of The Witch Queen DLC story, the Traveler ascends into space and nearly escapes an enemy known as the Witness and his attempt to kill the Traveler by using military A.I. Rasputin’s War Satellites, a plan that Guardian Hunter Ana Bray debunked as she disconnects Rasputin’s power and puts an end to the Witness’ murder attempt on the Traveler. The Traveler surprisingly stays to face the Witness, as the Witness’ pyramid fleet closes in on the Traveler’s location. This is where Lightfall begins. Lightfall is the second to last installment of the “Light and Darkness Saga’ of Destiny. After high reviews streaming from the release of The Witch Queen, and with the anticipation of the end of an era, the release of Lightfall comes with high expectations from Destiny players abroad. Lightfall was released for Playstation, Xbox, and PC on February 28th, 2023, and saw the highest player count in the game’s history.

Horizon: Call of the Mountain is the newest installation of the Horizon series, this time exclusively being released on Playstation’s newest virtual reality platform, PSV2. Call of the Mountain is an action-adventure game played in the first-person, and was released on February 22,2023. The game begins with you playing a disgraced rebel named Ryas who must debunk the mysteries surrounding the live machines stalking the planet and redeem yourself while saving your people from the danger of the unknown. As you explore the land, you will run into old friends from past Horizon games as well as the previous main character Aloy to help assist you on your journey. Fight and tame mechanical wild animals while sabotaging enemy camps as you fight to rebuild your reputation as a warrior and vanquish the new threat to Sundom. The release of Call of the Mountain coincides with the release of the PlaystationVR2 headset, the Playstation 5’s first big accessory to come out. With HD OLED screens and enhanced headset features like eye tracking and in-game rumble, the VR2 is a viable, high quality option for gamers who want a more immersive and new gaming experience. Enjoy Horizon: Call of the Mountain as the franchise’s first VR adventure and engage with your senses as the PSVR2 takes the way you play to a whole new level.

Hogwarts Legacy is a highly anticipated Harry Potter series action role-playing game released for PS5 and Xbox X/S on February 10th, 2023 and comes out for PS4 and Xbox One April 4th, 2023, with its last release being for the Nintendo Switch on July 25, 2023. The game begins in the 1800s, a century before the events of the Harry Potter franchise begins. You play a student who was recently accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry who assists other students and teachers with different tasks and quests, as well as advancing your own strength as a magic-wielding wizard or witch. It is what every Harry Potter fan has always wanted: a chance to follow in the hero’s footsteps as Hogwarts’ own magical student. Fans familiar with the literature will revel in the chance to visit Hogsmeade and take a stroll down High Street, as well as participate in the house sorting ceremony where you will be directed by the Sorting Hat into either the Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw household. For those that don’t have the newest Playstation or Xbox console, the month-long wait can be daunting, especially with the chance of spoilers being discovered being high as the newest console players go through the game and post about their experience on social media. However, the wait will be worth the longtime desire to experience the Wizarding World as the heroic protagonist in the making.

These are just a few examples of exciting new games to try out if you are itching to play something new. Whether you are looking for a different play style to try out, a new way to game via virtual reality, or just another title in your preferred realm of gaming, these releases are all worthy recommendations to explore. Their story lines coupled with unique gameplay make for a fun and exciting adventure to try out and remind you why you love the thrill of a game in the first place.