Welcome to Digitally Downloaded’s weekly catch-up news feature, the catch-up coffee. Here, I bring you the best news you may have missed from last week. Grab the biggest mug you’ve got, fill it with your favourite brew, and catch up with us (and our favourite news anchor, Dee Dee)!
Hello Kitty Island Adventure launches for PlayStation tomorrow
Last month, two new physical editions of Hello Kitty Island Adventure were announced: one for Nintendo Switch and one for PlayStation 5. The game is already available digitally and physically for Nintendo Switch, but August 29 was the first solid date revealed for the game’s PlayStation 5 release. Last week, Sunblink and Sanrio announced the launch date for the digital PlayStation version, and it’s tomorrow.
Head to Big Adventures Park, where My Melody is opening a shop and various Sanrio characters join in on the tropical adventure. Things don’t go smoothly upon arrival, so the game begins by trying to find everyone in the group. After that, try to restore the theme park to its former glory — or better! Players get to customize their character, with different animals, body types, and colours to choose from. Then, dress them up! The more you play, the more clothing and accessory options you will gather. Make friends with everyone on the island, do quests with them, craft items, solve puzzles, decorate cabins, and more.
Developed by Sunblink, Hello Kitty Island Adventure will be released digitally for PlayStation 5 on August 5. It is currently available digitally via Apple Arcade, for PC via Steam, and for Nintendo Switch.
You can now pre-order Varlet
Last week, FuRyu revealed the second trailer for its upcoming story-driven school life RPG. Mere days later, it announced that digital pre-orders for the standard edition of Varlet were open. A Digital Deluxe version will also be available, which includes a digital art book, soundtrack, and uniform DLC sets inspired by the video games Monark and The Caligula Effect 2.
Varlet is set in Kousei Academy and follows a transfer student entering the school where the myth of another world runs rampant. The student discovers an alternate dimension, The Glitch, where monsters are replacing students. The game’s key features, from FuRyu, include:
- Dynamic Timeline Combat System: Choose between “Leader” and “Ruler” battle roles to guide allies or dominate the field.
- Triad Stats System: Shape your personality and story through six evolving traits – Morality, Sympathy, Altruism, Machiavellianism, Psychopathy, and Narcissism.
- Meaningful Bonds: Form relationships that affect both your journey and the outcome of the narrative, but beware the risks of growing too close to too many.
Developed by AQURIA and published by FuRyu, Varlet will be released for PC via Steam/Epic, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch on August 28.
A Dream About Parking Lots is available now
A Dream About Parking Lots is a walking simulator. It is set inside a series of dreams that take place in parking lots, and players have only their key to help find their car. It launched for consoles last week.
The short and surreal narrative game has players searching for their car in parking lots while discussing recurring dreams with their therapists. It blends retro visuals and emotional storytelling, and explores themes of feeling lost, creative block, and the strange logic of dreams.
Developed by Interactive Dreams and published by Take IT Studio!, A Dream About Parking Lots was released last week for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series.
Kemono Teatime launches in September
Last week, an early September release date was announced for café management/ASMR game Kemono Teatime. This news was accompanied by a surprise: the game will also launch for Nintendo Switch, and on the same date. In Melodius, blend teas as you play through an adorable story, living out your best life down to the last drop. Help customers wind down after a hard day, spend time sipping on tea, and come to terms with their fates.
Here are two trailers from several months ago:
Teas can be made with any combination of 9 black teas, 15 herbs, and six secret ingredients. While you make customers the drinks they love, players can immerse themselves in the sounds of the tea-making process. And all of the customers have animal ears! Savour each encounter and goodbye while you still can.
Developed and published by Studio Lalala, Kemono Teatime will be released for PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch on September 4.
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