We have a lot of news today, and to save myself some trouble, I decided to do this for the day instead of waiting for Sunday! A few games caught my attention, so I figured that I would show you a lot about those titles. Be sure to subscribe to the Pixel Panda Arcade to help keep this site ad-free.
Announcing: “CONSTELLATIONS: Touch the Stars”
Seattle, WA, 12th January, 2026 – Indie Game Developer Grant Hinkson of Parietal Lab is excited to announce the Early Access launch of CONSTELLATIONS: Touch the Stars, now live on the Meta Horizon Store (as of 1/1/2026) for Meta Quest 3/3S.
“In CONSTELLATIONS, the night sky comes to life in connect-the-dots form in an immersive XR experience. Lift your gaze, scan the darkness, and watch ancient patterns emerge.”
CONSTELLATIONS is built on the “connect the dots” foundation created for CONNECTOME (Grant’s first published title for Meta Quest devices, launched in May 2025) and delivers a unique, hands-on star gazing experience.Why CONSTELLATIONS?
CONSTELLATIONS: Touch the Stars is designed to make the night sky feel familiar through a form of play most of us learned early on: connecting the dots. Rather than replacing traditional star maps or astronomy apps, it offers a different way of engaging with the sky—one that emphasizes discovery, memory, and hands-on learning.
“Bringing the connect-the-dots style interaction from CONNECTOME to the stars felt like an obvious next step. This isn’t just another star gazing app – it’s a way to relax and learn in an environment that’s calming and immediately familiar.” – Grant Hinkson, game creator and Parietal Lab founder.Many of us can quickly spot Orion’s Belt or the Big Dipper, yet fewer recognize the full shape of Orion, or know to look for the wide wingspan of Cygnus. By tracing these patterns ourselves through trial, error, and repetition, the act of connecting the dots reinforces visual learning in a way that’s intuitive and memorable.
Early Access Features
The Early Access release includes the following core elements of the experience:
- Scan the real night sky using a unique heads-up display
- “Open” constellations as they come into view with a simple thumb tap
- Connect the points of constellations using “connect-the-dots” style interactions – all with your hands
- Toggle the names and outlines of constellations
- “Pinch and drag” the sky to rotate the stardome around you
Fast Follow Features
Releasing as Early Access means not all planned features are available on day one.
The following updates are on the release roadmap and are prioritized as fast follow updates:
- “Scale the sky” feature seen in YouTube videos
- Constellation highlighting – as you scan the sky, stars of constellations in focus will change brightness or scale subtly
- Constellation illlustrations – a unique set of illustrations that reinforce constellation names/origins
Roadmap
Additional features are planned with prioritization subject to user feedback and community interest:
- Lie-back mode – Look up at the stars while lying down
- Mixed Reality Star Gazing – Look up in Camera Passthrough mode and see the stars overlaid against their real positions. See constellation names and additional data using the Heads Up overlay feature seen in immersive view
- Create your own Constellation – create patterns using the same points of light as your distant ancestors. Give your patterns names. Share them with your friends!
- Social Stargazing – See the sky with your friends. Connect the constellations. Create new ones together.
Controls and Interaction: “Hands-First” Philosophy
CONSTELLATIONS was designed using a “hands-first” philosophy, ensuring hands-based interactions feel natural, intuitive, and effective. Microgestures provided by Meta’s Interaction SDK enable thumb-swipe navigation on a persistent, heads-up display. Just swipe, tap, and open constellations… or toggle outlines and labels!
Awesome Games Done Quick 2026 Raises More Than $2.44 Million for Prevent Cancer Foundation
The annual speedrunning marathon concluded Sunday morning with a Pokémon Emerald speedrun
Pittsburgh, PA — January 11, 2026 – Awesome Games Done Quick (AGDQ), the annual charity speedrunning marathon organized by Games Done Quick, ended early Sunday morning, raising more than $2.44 million for Prevent Cancer Foundation. Held in Pittsburgh, PA from January 4-10, AGDQ welcomed thousands of in-person attendees, and was streamed 24/7 to viewers worldwide via Games Done Quick’s Twitch and YouTube channels.
Games new and old were raced through by talented speedrunners, with creative incentives and challenges helping drive donations. Highlights included a Resident Evil 2 Remake run played entirely on a Guitar Hero controller, a 70-person relay race of Super Mario 64, a Mario Kart World free roam challenge, a packed room of French-styled cosplayers during Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and a point-to-point race between two trucks in American Truck Simulator that elicited roars from the crowd. Every run is archived on the official Games Done Quick YouTube channel.
Since 2010, Games Done Quick has raised more than $59.8 million for charities worldwide, including Doctors Without Borders, Prevent Cancer Foundation, Malala Fund, and Organization for Autism Research.
More Games Done Quick events are on the way. Back to Black, GDQ’s speedrunning event organized by the Black in a Flash community, returns for its second annual showcase February 5-8. Summer Games Done Quick returns to Minneapolis July 5-11 to benefit Doctors Without Borders, and in 2027, Awesome Games Done Quick moves to Atlanta, GA, running January 3-9.
For more information, please visit gamesdonequick.com.
About Games Done Quick
Games Done Quick is an organizer of video game speedrunning marathons. These events feature high-level gameplay by speedrunners raising money for charity. Games Done Quick has teamed up with several charities in its 15-year history, including Prevent Cancer Foundation and Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders). To date, Games Done Quick has raised more than $59.8 million for charity. For more information, please visit gamesdonequick.com and follow Games Done Quick on BlueSky, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
Psycho-Sleuth: Limited-Time Spin-off Demo for Steam Mystery Fest (Jan 12-19)
Taiwanese indie studio PHOSEPO is excited to announce that their cognitive-disorder themed mystery visual novel, “Psycho-Sleuth,” will participate in the Steam Mystery Fest from January 13th to 20th.
During this event, a special limited-time spin-off episode will be available for free. This standalone story explores the mystery behind the protagonist Lyle’s childhood drawings and does not require save data from the main demo.
Key Updates:
- Limited-Time Spin-off: Experience a unique case only available during the Mystery Fest.
- Localization Overhaul: Full English text rewrite supervised by native experts to ensure a deeply immersive experience.
- Award-Winning Pedigree: Highly anticipated title previously featured by 4Gamer, Famitsu, and Bahamut during Steam Next Fest.
Astro Protocol To Be Released on Steam in February 2026
Null Vector Studios is excited to announce that Astro Protocol, our turn-based 4X strategy game, will be released in February 2026 on Steam for Windows, Linux, and macOS.
About Astro Protocol
Astro Protocol is a tactical and challenging take on the 4X genre, with matches designed to conclude in approximately one hour. Explore the galaxy, discover anomalies, colonize and terraform planets, construct space stations, and research technologies across three randomized research branches. Combat takes place on a one-unit-per-tile tactical hex map, where mistakes are costly and every move counts. Victory is earned by completing objectives or outlasting rival factions.
Every Run is Unique
The game features six playable factions, each with unique gameplay mechanics, as well as 10+ minor factions that can be allied with for unique benefits. Over a hundred unique technologies, a randomized tech tree, and more than a hundred anomalies with randomized rewards ensure that no two games play the same.
Every Tile Matters
Colonized planets enable space stations that harvest resources from adjacent asteroids and other celestial bodies. Specialized stations and planets provide adjacency modifiers which can be combined to create intricate production chains spanning the galaxy. Players do not merely compete for planets, but for every station and every tile.
About Null Vector Studios
Null Vector Studios is an independent studio based in Finland. Focused on turn-based strategy games, the studio is developing Astro Protocol as its debut commercial title.
Cerulean Games Launches Steam Page and New Trailer for “FrighTV Presents GHOSTS”
PITTSBURGH, PA – Jan 9, 2026 –
The joint production between Cerulean Games and Jed Shepherd – a puzzle adventure Full Motion Video (FMV) game titled “FrighTV Presents GHOSTS” now has an official Steam page, allowing for Steam Wishlists. In addition, a brand new trailer showcasing in-game environments has been distributed and is available on both the Steam page and YouTube.
“FrighTV Presents GHOSTS” (originally titled “GHOSTS”) was initially being produced by Visible Games who ran a successful Kickstarter in 2020. The game however then became a forgotten and shelved project until Cerulean Games acquired Visible Games in 2024, where they rebooted the project with a fresh team working close with writer and director Jed Shepherd.
“FrighTV Presents GHOSTS” is now in active development as a team effort with Cerulean Games handling the programming and development, Ascendent Animation handling voice and physical acting along with localization, and Limited Run Games publishing the completed product. The targeted release platforms include PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, and Nintendo Switch.
©2026 Cerulean Games, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
FROSTHAVEN ANNOUNCES EARLY ACCESS CONTENT UPDATE “LEGACY OF THE ALGOX”, LAUNCHING ON STEAM AND EPIC GAMES STORE ON JANUARY 22
FROSTHAVEN Free Early Access Update, “Legacy of the Algox”, Adds Three New Heroes, The Algox Storyline, One New Pet, and Much More Inspired by the Highly Acclaimed Board Game
Redwood City, CA – January 12, 2026 – Arc Games and Snapshot Games today revealed that FROSTHAVEN’s second Early Access content update, Legacy of the Algox, will launch on Steam and Epic Games Store January 22. This substantial content drop includes the newly added Algox storyline, three highly-anticipated playable heroes, five bosses, two unique biomes, one new pet, and more to the digital adaptation of the best-selling, critically acclaimed board game by Cephalofair Games and Isaac Childres.
Wishlist FROSTHAVEN today and play the game in Early Access on Steam now:
In Early Access from Snapshot Games, led by CEO Julian Gollop – the creator of X-COM, with board game creator Isaac Childres from Cephalofair Games on board as a consultant, FROSTHAVEN introduces the Legacy of the Algox storyline. With the Unfettered threat finally dealt with, the heroes of Frosthaven turn their attention to the escalating Algox conflict. An Algox messenger arrives, bringing information about a possible resolution. Now the heroes of Frosthaven must decide the fate of the Algox and shape the legacy that will define their future. Something ancient and malevolent stirs beneath the ice.
In addition to an epic new storyline filled with political intrigue, three playable heroes enter the Frozen North: “Astral,” “Drill,” and “Shackles.” These classes introduce unique playstyles and abilities that will dynamically shape party builds and strategy considerations. Also joining these heroes is an additional pet, totaling 11 pets so far for players to discover and capture! Summon your pets from the Stables, bring them into battle, and activate unique and powerful abilities, adding strategic depth beyond standard item cards.
Here’s what’s coming to FROSTHAVEN: Legacy of the Algox:
- The Algox Storyline: Help your allied Algox tribe as they negotiate peace talks with their rivals and hopefully gain full cooperation.
- New Pet: Complete your collection at the Stables with the most elusive pets, adding a dynamic advantage in battle.
- 3 New Playable Heroes: Unlock three advanced classes by completing scenarios and implement new diverse strategies into your repertoire.
- 5 New Bosses: Battle ancient foes, equipped with tactical challenges to overcome.
- 2 New Biomes: Explore new areas and travel far to expand your evergrowing map.
- 25+ More Quests: Confront dangerous threats and reveal more of what lies beneath and beyond Frosthaven.
- 9 Building Upgrades: Enhance and build up Frosthaven even further.
- Town Hall Challenges: Complete unique objectives from the Town Hall and increase your party’s capabilities.
- 31 New Items: Expand the arsenal of your Heroes with new items – both crafted and discovered during the new quests.
ABOUT FROSTHAVEN
From the creative mind of Isaac Childres, the highly acclaimed board game moves to the digital realm in the video game adaptation of FROSTHAVEN. An evolution of the FROSTHAVEN board game experience, the dark fantasy tactical RPG serves as a spiritual successor to Gloomhaven and is developed by Snapshot Games. Players can expect deep mechanics and challenging yet immensely satisfying gameplay both in single player and co-op online multiplayer. Seasoned veterans of the original board game or Gloomhaven will feel right at home venturing into the unforgiving and treacherous northern frontier of FROSTHAVEN. Newcomers can start their first adventure with difficulty modes tailored to their skill level. Improved UX and quality-of-life features will ensure all players can enjoy their experience.
With FROSTHAVEN, the brand-new character classes, each featuring unique playstyles and abilities, make it so that every decision matters. Players will need to balance risk and reward, working towards the best synergies between the classes comprising their party. Carefully managing resources is paramount to progress through a gripping campaign, set in a vast world filled with menacing enemies and diverse environments.
Masters of Albion
The story of Albion is one of power and consequence, a rich and deep narrative set in a world full of quests and moral choices.
Navigate your way through intrigue and plot – kings come and go, lords shake you by the hand then stab you in the back, and the people work like dogs and are treated no better.
Gifted god like, ancient powers, you face an enemy the likes of which have not been seen in hundreds of years. Magic is returning to the hills and halls of Albion, threatening to tear down the the very foundations of society. Unravel the mystery of the mages, defeat the enemy that lurks in the night and conquer a sorcery that could kill us all.
Some are born with power, some achieve power, and some have great power thrust upon them.
By day Albion is a pleasant, leafy, verdant landscape, and it’s during sun up that the hard graft is done.
- Design and manufacture products
- Fulfil orders from the vying factions – food for the people, clothes for the Lords, weapons and armour for the King
- Earn money to spend on infrastructure
- Earn favours to spend in the Arcanum, adding new blocks, product parts and magical powers to your collection
- Construct and customise new and old buildings using our innovative block system
- Repair and construct walls and roads
- Expand your towns, combine your buildings, increase your efficiency!
As the sun sets, your workers must be inside the town walls, for the night brings out the beasts.
- Defend against waves of merciless creatures (zombies, werewolves, trolls, etc)
- Build and arm turrets with fantastical ammo of your own creation
- Hire heroes to fight for your town
- Uncover and upgrade powerful God Hand powers – lightning, flamethrowers, water cannons, etc
- Strategise your towns’ defences
With heroes, the world is a better place. In Albion, your heroes give you a great advantage over the enemies and open up new opportunities.
- Customise each hero, design and build their weapons and armour
- Level up and power up.
- Possess them and switch into 3rd person mode
- Use your possession powers to explore the open world
Masters of Albion is set in a rich world, packed with wonderful discoveries across a wealth of regions.
- Find and found new towns, villages and resource rich mines to add to your business portfolio
- Use your God Hand across the unlocked regions to help your workers and hinder your foe
- Take possession of your Heroes and explore unlocked areas in search of quests and treasures
MASTERS OF ALBION CONFIRMED FOR APRIL 22, 2026
Guildford, UK – January 12, 2026 – 22cans, led by legendary game creator Peter Molyneux, today announced that Masters of Albion will launch on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 18:00 BST, exclusively on PC via Steam. A brand-new release date trailer showcases the game’s unique blend of cosy creativity by day and brutal survival by night.
Built by a team that includes legends of the industry, Mark Healey, Russell Shaw, Iain Wright and Kareem Ettouney, who were key in developing Dungeon Keeper, Black & White, and Fable, Masters of Albion reimagines the god game for today. Blending strategy, simulation, town management, and real-time defence, the game gives players extraordinary freedom to play the game the way they want to play it.
Taking inspiration from some of Peter’s classic titles, Masters of Albion is a return to form, blending gameplay mechanics from multiple genres, strategy with simulation, town management with defence, to reinvigorate the god game, and give players the power and freedom to create.Or destroy…
Said Peter Molyneux:
“Masters of Albion is the culmination of my life’s work, a game that owes so much to titles like Dungeon Keeper, Black & White, and Fable. It’s a totally unique game that we hope will delight players, a game that brings God Games into the modern gaming landscape and puts the genre firmly back on the map.”Albion, a land shaped by the hands of heroes, is at a great turning point in its history. Its lords and luminaries have pulled Albion’s society into a new age of manufacturing and production, a golden era, an industrial revolution. But behind this modernisation lurks a painful past of magic and mayhem, one that threatens to drag Albion back into a dark age of mysticism.
Shape the world from above as a god or step directly into it by possessing heroes, workers, animals and more.
Masters of Albion mixes strategy, simulation, town management, and real-time defence, all woven into a rich narrative-driven world.
“Some are born with power, some achieve power, and some have great power thrust upon them.”
Build, Create, and CustomiseAs a god, you have absolute freedom over your towns and villages:
• Design and build every structure
• Hire, house and manage your workforce
• Customise buildings with paint, patterns and embellishments
• Combine building types into unique multi-purpose structures
• No timers or waiting, build instantly and iterate freely
From small workshops to sprawling towns, Albion grows exactly how you decide.
Wield the Power of the God Hand
Command the world with ancient powers:
• Manipulate buildings and objects freely
• Possess and control the living
• Inspire, reward, insult, or punish your people
• Throw giant boulders, spiked balls, exploding barrels or just plain old-fashioned people
• Rain lightning, fire and destruction down upon your enemies
• Shape Albion with absolute authority
Enjoy the freedom that being a god brings, but with great freedom comes great responsibility.
Roam Freely Across Albion
Experience the world from multiple perspectives:
• View Albion from the heavens or possess living beings to explore on foot
• Control heroes, dogs, workers and even chickens
• Complete quests to unlock treasures and secrets
• Delve into dangerous underground cave networks
• Craft weapons and armour for your heroes
• Design the clothes that your workers wear (however bizarre)
• Explore, experiment and uncover the forgotten history of Albion
Defend the Night
When night falls, Albion is no longer safe. Malevolent creatures emerge from the darkness, attacking towns and killing indiscriminately. Survival depends on preparation and decisive action:
• Design, build and arm powerful defensive turrets
• Hire heroes to protect the people
• Escort the vulnerable through the terrors of the night
• Construct walls, choke points, and deadly defences
• Channel enemies into carefully planned kill zones
• Use god powers to strike fear into the undead
• Possess heroes and fight enemies directly in real-time combat
Each night tests your planning, creativity, and resolve.
Key Themes
• Power and responsibility
• Industry versus ancient magic
• Freedom of choice and consequence
• Cosy creativity contrasted with chaos and danger
Players can enjoy the freedom that comes with being a God by Wishlisting the game now via Steam ahead of its release on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Keep up to date on the latest news via X, Instagram, Facebook, Reddit, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Players can get exclusive news and content by signing up to the official Discord.
Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch Gets Major Update Adding New Abilities, Relics, and Quality of Life Improvements
The tactical RPG roguelike just unveiled a raft of improvements
El Segundo, California – January 12, 2026 | Ocean Drive Studio and Kakao Games have announced that a major new update for Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch is available now across PC and console.
Update 1.2 brings a bevy of new features and quality of life improvements to the acclaimed roguelite tactical RPG, which boasts Very Positive reviews on Steam. Leading the charge is the new Blessed Relics system, allowing players to obtain more powerful versions of Relics with added effects or removed penalties.
Additionally, new Talent Skills have been added to the game, with each character getting two new skills to boost them in combat – one to boost their key attributes, and another to increase the chance of activating their Partnership effect.
Following feedback from players, Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch is also making it easier to try out different unit and character combinations with a new Morale Boost system. Now, even units who don’t take part in previous expeditions will have the chance to gain buffs for your next expedition.
Other Quality of Life changes include streamlining of some combat encounters, with the number of enemies and dialogue lines adjusted; an improved Chaos Encounter system to replace Random Encounters; boosts to Unguardable Attacks; and more. You can check out the full patch notes on Steam here.
Update 1.2 for Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch is available now for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.