Ethan Crossfield 
The holiday review rush is producing a crowded weekend slate, but several releases and updates stand out for very different reasons. Star Wars: Galactic Racer arrives as a high-speed racer with surprising depth, Gears of War: E-Day revisits a defining moment in its series, and Valve’s still-unreleased Deadlock has received a substantial visual and usability refresh. Add a knowledge-driven exploration game and a demanding new puzzle release, and there is little room for a quiet weekend.
What happened this week
Star Wars: Galactic Racer launched with more than its license to recommend it. The game leans on familiar Star Wars imagery and music, but its reported strengths are speed, pressure, and a racing feel that recalls Burnout. That connection is notable because members of developer Fuse Games previously worked on the Burnout series. Its roguelite campaign is designed to move quickly rather than become repetitive, while Arcade, Scenario, multiplayer races, and tournaments extend the game beyond its story. Elsewhere, Gears of War: E-Day returns to Emergence Day, placing Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago at the start of humanity’s first confrontation with the Locust threat.
Why these games matter
The week’s most interesting recommendations are not all built around straightforward sequels. Echo Weaver adapts the exploration structure associated with Metroid and Castlevania, but progression comes from what players learn instead of gear or new powers. That approach makes discovery central to both a first run and the possibility of a faster, more informed replay. Thekla’s Order of the Sinking Star takes the opposite route in scale: it combines hundreds of puzzles into a wider narrative framework and targets experienced players willing to work through complex logic challenges. For competitive-minded players, Deadlock remains a compelling prospect despite its unreleased status. Its latest update overhauls the Cursed Apple map, improves visual readability through interface and indicator changes, and introduces a voting path for prospective heroes.
What to watch next
Deadlock’s hero voting is the most immediate ongoing story. Rat King and Baba have already earned places on the roster, while four additional candidates remain in contention. The update also signals Valve’s effort to make a dense MOBA-shooter easier to parse during active matches, an important step for players and anyone following the game’s competitive potential. Beyond the playable picks, the week brought a stream of major gaming news: Paramount is developing a live-action Cyberpunk 2077 film, Rockstar previewed songs from Grand Theft Auto VI’s in-game radio, and previews surfaced for Phantom Blade Zero, Muramasa: Revenant Blades, Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, and D&D: World of Warcraft.
Weekend takeaways
- Pick Star Wars: Galactic Racer if you want fast arcade-style racing with a full campaign and multiplayer options.
- Try Echo Weaver if exploration and uncovering systems through player knowledge appeal more than traditional loot progression.
- Choose Gears of War: E-Day for a return to the series’ foundational conflict and combat-focused spectacle.
- Revisit Deadlock if you have access, especially to see the Cursed Apple overhaul and hero voting system.
- Save Order of the Sinking Star for a focused session if you enjoy difficult, interconnected logic puzzles.
Expert View
This is a strong reminder that a busy release period does not have to mean identical games competing for attention. Galactic Racer and E-Day supply recognizable blockbuster hooks, but Echo Weaver, Order of the Sinking Star, and Deadlock are more revealing: each asks players to engage with structure, knowledge, or match readability in a distinct way. Deadlock’s continued evolution is especially worth monitoring, because polishing clarity now could matter greatly if Valve eventually turns its popular test build into a formal competitive release.
