This week on Critical Arcade, Dave and Nick plunge headfirst into the terrifying depths of Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss. Set in 2026, this cosmic horror adventure sends them to a remote deep-sea research station after contact with the facility is mysteriously lost. What begins as a rescue mission quickly spirals into a nightmare as they uncover flooded corridors, broken laboratories, missing crew members, and evidence of something ancient stirring far below the ocean floor. Strange symbols cover the walls, voices whisper through the darkness, and the deeper they descend, the more reality itself begins to unravel.

Forced to manage dwindling resources, solve unsettling puzzles, and survive encounters with grotesque creatures that should not exist, Dave and Nick must piece together the truth behind the station’s experiments and the monstrous entity awakening in the abyss. Every answer comes at the cost of their sanity, and some doors are better left unopened.

Will Dave keep his nerve when the walls start breathing? Can Nick stop trying to befriend horrors beyond human comprehension? And just how many times will they ignore the obvious warning signs before summoning something with too many eyes?

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This week on Critical Arcade, Dave and Nick leave Earth behind and head to a cold, silent lunar research station in Pragmata, where something has gone very, very wrong. What was meant to be a straightforward mission soon turns into a desperate fight for survival as they uncover a facility overrun by malfunctioning machines, dangerous security systems, and secrets buried deep beneath the moon’s surface.

Along the way, they encounter Diana, a mysterious young android girl with abilities far beyond anything they expected. Teaming up with her, the pair must navigate collapsing corridors, solve high-tech puzzles, and outsmart hostile AI forces while trying to piece together the truth behind the station’s downfall and what it means for the future of humanity.

Can Dave focus long enough to stop staring at the shiny sci-fi visuals? Will Nick lose patience the moment the first hacking puzzle appears? And just how many times will they confidently head the wrong way in zero gravity?

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This week on Critical Arcade, Nick and Dave strap themselves in and dive headfirst into the breakneck, neon-soaked world of Screamer (2026)—a high-speed reboot that takes street racing to a whole new level of chaos. Set in a gritty, dystopian future where corporations pull the strings and underground racing leagues rule the streets, the duo finds themselves battling through a brutal competition where every race could be their last. This isn’t just about crossing the finish line—it’s about survival, reputation, and uncovering the truth behind the engines.

From the moment they hit the accelerator, it’s clear this isn’t your typical racer. With hyper-aggressive AI drivers, destructible environments, and vehicles that feel like they’re barely holding together at 300 km/h, Nick and Dave are pushed to their limits. They’ll customize their rides with experimental tech, push through hazardous tracks that weave through dense cyberpunk cities and scorched wastelands, and try to stay one step ahead of rival racers who are more than happy to knock them off the road.

But beneath the screeching tires and explosive crashes lies something deeper. As they progress through the racing circuit, hints of a larger conspiracy begin to surface—one involving the corporations funding the league and the true purpose behind these deadly races. Nick attempts to piece together the story while still somehow winning races, while Dave is… mostly focused on how to drift with two analog sticks.

Will Nick master the tight controls and finally dominate the leaderboard, or will one wrong turn send him spinning into last place? Can Dave resist the urge to turn every race into a demolition derby? Start your engines—this episode is loud, chaotic, and completely out of control.

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This week on Critical Arcade, Dave and Nick bundle up, strike a match, and step into the frozen wilderness of The Long Dark. After a mysterious plane crash leaves them stranded in the Canadian wilds, survival becomes the only goal—and nature isn’t playing fair.

With no zombies, no monsters, and no one coming to help, it’s just man versus the cold. Managing hunger, fatigue, and freezing temperatures, every decision matters as they scavenge, hunt, and try not to become wolf food. What starts as a simple search for answers quickly turns into a tense, methodical fight to stay alive.

But here’s the twist—despite scoring it a C+, this game completely hooked them. Is The Long Dark proof that immersion matters more than individual parts? Or are Dave and Nick just one bad blizzard away from losing their minds?

Light the fire… if you still can.

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This week on Critical Arcade, Dave and Nick grab their Rider gear, polish their Kinship Stones, and venture into the vibrant monster-filled world of Monster Hunter Stories 3. Unlike the traditional monster-slaying chaos of the main series, this time they’re building bonds instead of crafting boots out of everything that moves. Stepping into the role of a young Rider, they hatch monster eggs, raise powerful companions known as Monsties, and explore a sprawling world where something strange is causing normally peaceful creatures to turn aggressive.

As the mystery unfolds, Dave and Nick team up with fellow Riders and researchers to investigate the growing disturbances affecting monsters across the land. From sneaking into dangerous monster dens to stealing eggs while the parents are definitely still nearby, the adventure quickly turns into a mix of exploration, strategy, and questionable decision-making. Along the way they’ll encounter familiar monsters from across the franchise, build powerful Kinship attacks with their Monsties, and dive into the series’ unique rock-paper-scissors battle system.

But while the world is bright and charming, the stakes are anything but small. Strange environmental changes, rogue monsters, and a looming threat tied to ancient Rider legends begin to surface, forcing our heroes to uncover the truth before the fragile bond between humans and monsters collapses completely.

Will Dave become emotionally attached to every monster he hatches? Will Nick spend more time optimizing battle strategies or laughing at the ridiculous names Dave gives his Monsties? And how many eggs can two Riders steal before an angry Rathalos finally catches them in the act? Saddle up and find out.

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This week on Critical Arcade, Nick and Dave suit up, check their ammo, and step into the brutal corporate battleground of Marathon. Set on the mysterious colony world of Tau Ceti IV, they take on the role of cybernetic mercenaries known as Runners—scavengers sent into dangerous zones to recover lost tech, alien artifacts, and anything valuable enough to make their corporate masters rich.

The catch? They’re not the only ones hunting. Rival Runners, hostile security systems, and whatever strange remnants were left behind after the colony’s disappearance all stand between them and extraction. Every mission is a high-risk dash for survival where teamwork, quick thinking, and a little bit of luck can mean the difference between walking away with a fortune… or losing everything you brought in.

Will Nick actually manage to extract with some decent loot for once? Can Dave resist the urge to pick up absolutely everything that isn’t nailed down? And how long will it take before one of them realizes they’ve been loudly sprinting toward a squad of heavily armed Runners? Tune in as they dive headfirst into the chaotic, high-stakes world of Marathon.

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This week on Critical Arcade, Dave and Nick steel their nerves and step into the slow-burning dread of Resident Evil Requiem, a haunting new entry in Capcom’s iconic survival horror series. Set in a world rotting from the inside out, Requiem trades bombastic action for suffocating atmosphere, forcing the duo to creep through crumbling environments where every shadow feels suspicious and every sound could mean death.

As they piece together the aftermath of horrific experiments and long-buried secrets, Dave and Nick must carefully manage limited resources, solve unsettling puzzles, and survive encounters with nightmarish new creatures that seem designed purely to induce panic. Familiar Resident Evil tension is dialed up to uncomfortable levels, with narrow corridors, unreliable lighting, and enemies that refuse to stay down.

Will Dave spend the entire episode insisting he’s “totally fine” while his health bar flashes red? How many healing items will Nick waste out of pure fear? And at what point do they both realise that checking every door might be a terrible idea? One thing’s certain: in Resident Evil Requiem, survival isn’t just about skill—it’s about keeping your sanity intact long enough to reach the next save room.

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This week on Critical Arcade, Dave and Nick bow respectfully, immediately forget that respect mid-fight, and throw themselves headfirst into the merciless world of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Set in a crumbling, blood-soaked version of Sengoku-era Japan, they take on the role of Wolf, a one-armed shinobi bound by duty, honor, and a prosthetic arm packed with far more gadgets than either host is capable of using correctly.

As Ashina teeters on the brink of collapse, Dave and Nick face off against ruthless samurai, terrifying monsters, and bosses who seem specifically designed to crush confidence and friendships. From perfectly timed deflections to deathblows that feel earned through sheer suffering, Sekiro demands focus, patience, and an acceptance that dying is not failure — it’s education. Very painful education.

Will Dave finally break his Soulsborne habit of rolling when the game clearly wants him to stand his ground? How many times will Nick say “okay, I get it now” moments before being obliterated by a lightning-infused sword? And just how many resurrection nodes are too many before the game starts judging you silently?

Expect heated debates about difficulty, accidental stealth disasters, dramatic grappling hook mishaps, and at least one boss fight that completely breaks the episode’s pacing. This is a journey about mastery, stubbornness, and learning when to stay aggressive — and when to accept that the game has absolutely won. Tune in as Critical Arcade learns that in Sekiro, hesitation really is defeat.

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