Square Enix took a gamble with Hitman, the latest entry in Io Interactive’s long-running stealth sandbox series of the same name. By switching to an episodic, digital-only model, the team was able to get out content to players on a regular basis over the course of a year, refining and improving the design approach in real time. Now, for the culmination of that first season, Io and Square Enix are putting out a complete disc with all the main story episodes and some bonus content for patient players who want to dive into everything in one complete, full-game-sized package.
Read on to get the lowdown on all the new releases, including our picks for the most exciting games out this week. And if you’re wondering about future release dates, check out EGM’s full list of gaming release dates in 2017 and beyond, updated regularly as new dates are announced.
EGM’s top picks for this week:
Hitman: The Complete First Season (January 31st)
Available for: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Io Interactive
Why we’re excited: This disc-based version of Io Interactive’s episodic Hitman contains all the great missions from the game’s first season, all while taking up considerably less of your console’s hard drive space. It’s a win-win, provided you’ve been patient enough. The buzz: EGM’s Ray Carsillo gave the first season of Hitman a strong 8.5 out of 10 score in his review. All three platforms currently sit in the mid-80s on Metacritic, too. Killer laughs: The content might not be new, but Square Enix U.K. put together an absolutely brilliant launch trailer for The Complete First Season that’s well worth a watch. Pay close attention, though, or you might not realize why it’s genius.
Poochy & Yoshi’s Woolly World (February 3rd)
Available for: 3DS
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Good-Feel
Why we’re excited: Yoshi’s Woolly World was one of the Wii U’s most adorable platformers, and this 3DS port contains all-new stages and the chance to play as Yoshi’s cute canine companion, Poochy. The early buzz: Reviews aren’t out yet, but the original game on Wii U netted a Metacritic score of 78 and a 9.0 out of 10 EGM review. Mi amiibo: Nintendo’s amiibo figurines are neat, but none have been more adorable than those for Woolly World. Just look at the little guys in the image above. Collectibles aren’t usually so cuddly.
Abzû physical release (January 31st)
Available for: PS4, Xbox One
Publisher: 505 Games
Developer: Giant Squid Studios
Why we’re excited: If you missed out on this indie exploration game set underwater, now’s the perfect time to try it out by nabbing a physical copy. Or just take this disc-based release as an reminder to try out the digital version. We’re not going to judge. The buzz: Abzû‘s digital release garnered plenty of praise, with all three versions scoring in the green on Metacritic. On PS4, it’s at 78, on Xbox One, it’s at 84, and on PC, it’s at 83. Deep dive: For more on Abzû, be sure to check out Emma Schaefer’s review, in which she calls the game a “near-spiritual experience.”
Also releasing this week:
January 31st
Abzû physical release (PS4, Xbox One)
Adventure Pop (PS4)
Angels with Scaly Wings (PC, Mac, Linux)
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Sabotage DLC (PS4)
Dexed (PS4, PSVR)
Digimon World: Next Order (PS4)
Divide (PS4, PC)
Dynasty Warriors: Godseekers (PS4, Vita)
Geki Yaba Runner (Vita)
Geo (PC)
Hand of Fate Deluxe Edition (PS4)
Heavy Metal Machines (PC)
Hitman: The Complete First Season (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Kill The Bad Guy (PS4, Xbox One)
Knee Deep (PS4)
Linelight (PS4, PC, Mac, Linux)
A Long Road Home (PC)
Resident Evil 7: Banned Footage Vol. 1 DLC (PS4)
Snow Games VR (PC, Rift, Vive)
Stonebound: The Gargoyle’s Domain (PC, Mac)
Warlock’s Tower (PC)
February 1st
Candleman (Xbox One)
Civil War: 1861 (PC, Mac)
FootRock VR (PC, Rift, Vive, OSVR)
Nyheim (PC, Mac)
Squake (PC)
February 2nd
Alwa’s Awakening (PC, Mac, Linux)
Causality (PC, Mac, Linux)
Dark Angels: Masquerade of Shadows (PC)
Diluvion (PC, Mac)
The Esoterica: Hollow Earth (PC)
Fire Emblem Heroes (iOS, Android)
Legna Tactica (3DS)
Lifespeed (3DS)
Queen of Seas (PC)
The Saint: Abyss of Despair (PC)
Satellite Repairman (PC, Mac, Linux)
Shtriga: Summer Camp (PC)
World Keepers: Last Resort (PC)
February 3rd
Aqua Kitty UDX: Xbox One Ultra Edition (Xbox One)
EvilMorph (PC)
First Impact: Rise of a Hero (PC, Vive)
Hero (PC)
A House of Many Doors (PC, Mac)
Husk (PC)
Knee Deep (Xbox One)
Kronos (PC)
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 – Road to Boruto (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Oldschool Tennis (PC)
Pixel Heroes: Byte & Magic (Xbox One)
Poochy & Yoshi’s Woolly World (3DS)
Rosenkreuzstilette (PC)
We Were Here (PC, Mac)
Xenon Valkyrie (PC, Mac, Linux)
February 6th
Mobius Final Fantasy (PC)