Video game releases: Artifact, Parkitect, Nairi

Parkitect lets players design sprawling theme park experiences with hidden staff and maintenance zones. — AFP Relaxnews

Though action adventure Darksiders III can't escape the legacy of its predecessors, digital card game Artifact makes a big splash, well-received theme park designer Parkitect sets out its stall, and Nairi: Tower Of Shirin wanders into view, while Ride 3 offers 30 motorcycle race tracks and Floor Kids breakdance battles onto PS4 and Xbox One.

Darksiders III
For PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows PC from Nov 27

The 2010 franchise debut of Darksiders was welcomed as a great reimagining of classic series The Legend Of Zelda, though subsequent entries have struggled to live up to the same high watermark. This third entry has not War or Death but Horsewoman of the Apocalypse, Fury, as the lead character attempting to prevent the end of the world.

Floor Kids
For PS4, XBO from Nov 27

Let the breakdance battling commence and build up a loyal crew with skillful and crowd-pleasing dance moves and transitions in this game for one or two players. DJ Kid Koala provides the OST. Well received upon its earlier PC and Nintendo Switch debuts.

Artifact
For WinPC, Mac, Linux from Nov 28. Mobile editions in development.

Who says Valve doesn't make games? The acclaimed developer of Half-Life, Portal and Dota 2, and operator of PC gaming's Steam platform, returns with a digital card game expansion to the Dotaverse that has its two players managing three card battles at once. Packs of additional cards can be bought via the game client or Steam store.

Nairi: Tower Of Shirin
For WinPC and Nintendo Switch from Nov 29

Travel through the oasis city of Shirin, meeting its animal inhabitants, solving puzzles, and searching for the truth behind its mysterious tower. Inspired by The Last Airbender, Toy Story and Spirited Away.

Parkitect
For WinPC, Mac, Linux from Nov 29

Design and manage a fully functioning theme park – including, in a sim genre novelty, vital staff and staging areas that are supposed to remain hidden from view. Already very well received over the course of a two-year Early Access rapid development phase.

Ride 3
For PS4, XBO, WinPC from Nov 30

Some 230 bikes (70 of which are new to the Ride series,) 30 GP, road and supermoto tracks, race-based career mode and a livery editor are crammed into this improvement on franchise formula.

Also, this week's clutch of Nintendo Switch re-releases include dinoland resource-gathering challenge ARK: Survival Evolved, wartime citizens' experience This War Of Mine, stylised racer Horizon Chase Turbo, serene sea explorer Abzu, woodland adventure The First Tree and feline life sim Cattails. – AFP Relaxnews