New on Steam. Grand release of MMORPG raises both hopes and fears

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Hey everyone, and welcome! I’m here to give you the lowdown on the coolest games hitting Steam soon. While the big companies are taking it easy for the winter, tons of smaller studios are still working hard, and this week looks packed with awesome new releases. I’m really excited to dive in and share what’s coming up!

Release of the week: Ashes of Creation (Early Access, December 11, 2025)

Ashes of Creation, a new MMORPG with a classic feel, enters Early Access this Thursday. It blends intricate gameplay and a free-form, player-driven world with updated features.

Ashes of Creation is being developed by Intrepid Studios, a team of experienced game developers who previously worked on popular MMOs like EverQuest, Star Wars Galaxies, PlanetSide 2, and Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. We’ve chosen it as our release of the week because of the team’s impressive background and expertise.

The game’s release is also causing some worry. While some feel it’s rushed, the developers believe it’s a crucial step to keep the project on track. Concerns are further fueled by the past cancellation of a similar game, Ashes of Creation: Apocalypse.

  1. Ashes of Creation on Steam

https://youtube.com/watch?v=DM@x9ttop4

Key releases on Steam: December 8-14, 2025.

December 8th

Frostpunk 2: Fractured Utopias

Frostpunk 2 is getting its first expansion today, called Fractured Utopias. This downloadable content adds to the existing Utopia Builder sandbox mode, offering unique city-building options inspired by each of the game’s eight factions.

  1. Frostpunk 2: Fractured Utopias on Steam

Skate Story

Skate Story is looking like it will be a truly special game, possibly one of the most original releases of 2025. It’s an adventure-action title where you play as a skateboarding demon made of glass, journeying through the afterlife.

  1. Skate Story on Steam

https://youtube.com/watch?v=DM@x9rxer6

Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut

Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut is an updated version of the popular Sega game. It includes new features like a multiplayer mode for up to four players, previously unseen cutscenes, and English voice acting. If you already own the original Yakuza 0, you’ll be able to upgrade at a reduced price.

  1. Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut on Steam

https://youtube.com/watch?v=DM@x9o05b2

December 9th

Death Howl

I’m really excited about Death Howl! It looks like a cool RPG where you play as a huntress in this amazing Stone Age Norse world – it’s all about spirits and seen from an isometric perspective. The story is super emotional too, you’re trying to bring your son back to life. And the battles aren’t just standard fighting – you actually build your own card deck and use that in turn-based combat. It’s a really unique concept!

This game is made by The Outer Zone, the team behind the popular Mind Scanners, which has a very positive rating on Steam (80% positive reviews).

  1. Death Howl on Steam

https://youtube.com/watch?v=DM@x9u5944

Dungeons 4: Double Trouble

Dungeons 4 is getting a new expansion called Double Trouble tomorrow! It adds four new story missions, plus fresh units, rooms, and abilities for the character Thalya. Players can also look forward to a dynamic day and night cycle within the game.

  1. Dungeons 4: Double Trouble on Steam

RuneQuest: Warlords

RuneQuest: Warlords is a fantasy strategy game where you take turns commanding your forces. It’s inspired by a classic tabletop role-playing game that first came out in 1978. The game centers around smaller battles, which you can experience through a story campaign, individual fights, or by playing against others online.

  1. RuneQuest: Warlords on Steam

https://youtube.com/watch?v=DM@x9uro94

Scholar Adventure: Mystery of Silence

Scholar Adventure: Mystery of Silence is a fantastic choice for fans of classic point-and-click adventure games. Taking cues from games of the early ’90s, it tells the story of a young writer who travels to a secluded monastery in search of inspiration.

  1. Scholar Adventure: Mystery of Silence on Steam

https://youtube.com/watch?v=DM@x9v85iy

Unbeatable

The rhythm game Unbeatable, which features a deep story, is launching on Tuesday after a short delay. Players will take on the role of a young singer, learning songs and trying to evade the police.

  1. Unbeatable on Steam

https://youtube.com/watch?v=DM@x9p36pk

December 10th

Dead Format

Dead Format is a horror game drawing inspiration from classic horror films of the 1980s and 1990s. Players explore worlds discovered on old VHS tapes, collecting clues to unravel a central mystery.

  1. Dead Format on Steam

https://youtube.com/watch?v=DM@x9uynqa

Mutant Football League 2

The Early Access period for Mutant Football League 2 is finishing up this week. It’s a fast-paced, over-the-top football game with a unique and chaotic twist.

Early Access was warmly received – it has 81% positive reviews on Steam.

  1. Mutant Football League 2 on Steam

https://youtube.com/watch?v=DM@x9uynbw

The End of History (Early Access)

The End of History is a strategy game with role-playing features. It lets you live a free life in a fantasy world, where you can choose to be a king commanding armies, a cunning trader, or even a stealthy thief. The game was created by Tatamibeya.

  1. The End of History on Steam

https://youtube.com/watch?v=DM@x9t6lfg

The Temple of Elemental Evil

On Wednesday, the classic RPG The Temple of Elemental Evil, originally created by Troika studio, will be re-released. This version features improvements suggested by fans over the past 20+ years, and is known for its deep, turn-based combat system.

  1. The Temple of Elemental Evil on Steam

https://youtube.com/watch?v=DM@x9v85iw

December 11th

Pioneers of Pagonia

Pioneers of Pagonia, a strategy game where you build and grow a kingdom, is officially launching on the same day it exits Early Access. It was created by Volker Wertich, who is also known for making the classic game series, The Settlers.

Early Access of Pioneers of Pagonia was very warmly received – it has 83% positive reviews on Steam.

  1. Pioneers of Pagonia on Steam

Songs of Silence: Celestial Church

This week, the game Songs of Silence is expanding with the release of the Celestial Church DLC. This update introduces a new storyline, a new faction to join, and a host of additions including new hero classes, units, special abilities, strategic options, battle cards, and a mobile base of operations.

  1. Songs of Silence: Celestial Church on Steam

Unity of Command II: Ardennes 44

A new expansion for the strategy game Unity of Command II, called Ardennes 44, will be released soon. It lets players command German troops during the historic Battle of the Bulge, and also features a separate campaign where you can change the outcome of the battle.

  1. Unity of Command II: Ardennes 44 on Steam

Victoria 3: Iberian Twilight

I’m so excited for Thursday! Not only are we getting new stuff for Victoria 3, but they’re releasing a DLC called Iberian Twilight. It’s going to dive deep into Spain and Portugal, letting us play through all the challenges and changes they faced back in the 1800s. It sounds amazing!

  1. Victoria 3: Iberian Twilight on Steam

December 12th

Alchemy Factory (Early Access)

Alchemy Factory blends simulation and strategy gameplay. You’ll build and run an automated alchemy factory from a first-person viewpoint.

  1. Alchemy Factory on Steam

https://youtube.com/watch?v=DM@x9uuoxq

Everdream Village (Early Access)

I’m so excited about Everdream Village! It’s a really cool adventure game where you play in the third person, but it’s not just adventure. You also get to build up a village and run a farm, which is awesome. Plus, you explore this beautiful, magical archipelago, collect all sorts of rare stuff, and even breed creatures together – it sounds like a ton of fun!

This project is made by Mooneaters, the team behind the popular Steam game Everdream Valley, which has a 71% positive rating.

  1. Everdream Village on Steam

https://youtube.com/watch?v=DM@x9u05g4

Terminator 2D: NO FATE

Terminator 2D: NO FATE is an action game with retro-style pixel art, inspired by the movie Terminator 2: Judgment Day. It’s created by Bitmap Bureau, the team behind popular titles like Xeno Crisis and Final Vendetta, both of which have been positively received on Steam (with 85% and 82% positive reviews, respectively).

  1. Terminator 2D: NO FATE on Steam

https://youtube.com/watch?v=DM@x9pue5s

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2025-12-08 16:04