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MY.GAMES built its reputation competing with the likes of Squad Busters in the mobile space. Now, the Dutch publisher is planting its flag in fresh soil: a premium label called Knights Peak Interactive. With a catalog of over 150 games, MY.GAMES is no rookie, but Knights Peak offers the publisher a chance to focus on premium and console. With hundreds of millions of downloads across numerous franchises, MY.GAMES is doing something right, but how will it fare in the premium space? Here’s what you should know about Knights Peak Interactive and what it means for MY.GAMES (and you).
Starship Troopers: Extermination and Beyond
If Knights Peak has a flagship, it’s Starship Troopers: Extermination. The PvE bug-squashing FPS is approaching the end of its tour of duty in early access, and Knights Peak is sending it into 1.0 with a flourish. Coinciding with its console release, the game’s also getting a sizable singleplayer campaign featuring a prominent appearance from Johnny Rico (Casper Van Dien) himself. Though overshadowed in the last year by another Starship Troopers-inspired game (the Bile Titan-ridden Helldivers 2), Extermination‘s been priming in the background like a cooked grenade.
Its mix of base-building and FPS action already sets it apart. The incoming Carnage update, however, aims to change the game in bold ways. Carnage introduces true persistency to the Arachnid War, meaning the ever-growing pile of bug corpses will no longer disappear. Corpses as cover? Yes. Corpses as climbable high ground? Double yes. For a franchise that’s equal parts hilarious satire and gruesome overkill, you couldn’t find a better mechanic to add to the game. If you’re looking for a 16-player PvE shooter to rob you of your remaining free time, Extermination would like to have a chat.
Throwback platformers and 2.5D Soulsbournes more your thing? Knights Peak Interactive is also bringing us Nikoderiko: The Magical World (VEA Games) and Mandragora (Primal Game Studios). If you’re a fan of classic run-‘n-jump platformers like Crash Bandicoot and Banjo Kazooie, Nikoderiko‘s one to watch. With couch co-op and cartoon vibes, Niko and Luna’s quest looks comfy. If you’re starving for a platformer the whole family can enjoy, this one drops for the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch in late 2024.
If you’d rather suffer, Mandragora is ready to test your body and spirit with nightmarish bosses and harsh moral choices. Of course, it’s too early to say how it’ll measure up to the genre’s juggernauts. Still, with six classes, a ton of skills, and extensive character customization, this action RPG could be a theorycrafter’s dream, if Primal Game Studio can pull it off. Considering its work on Beasts of Brawlia and other games, I wouldn’t bet against it. Mandragora arrives to test your skills on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S in 2024.
A Peek at Knights Peak’s Back Catalog
Though Knights Peak has its sights on the future, the past plays an integral role. The publisher is building its back catalog as well. It’s starting with two rereleases: Blast Brigade vs. the Evil Legion of Dr. Cread and Pathfinder: Kingmaker. The former already maintains a Very Positive rating on Steam, and while isometric CRPGs aren’t to everyone’s taste, Kingmaker‘s a good place to dive in. Owlcat Games was delivering top-tier experiences long before Rogue Trader took the 40k scene by storm. Although its earlier outing isn’t as polished, it’s a great entry point to the Pathfinder world and ruleset.
Success in the FTP mobile market guarantees nothing in the premium space. That said, striking deals with the likes of Offworld Industries and Owlcat makes a great first impression. More than just adding console sales to its quarterly earnings, the success of Knights Peak Interactive could mean a serious stake in premium gaming, delivering high-quality experiences and pushing the creative competition to new heights. Or its grand ambitions could deflate like a dropped soufflé. Like a grunt in the Deep Space Vanguard, Knights Peak is charging ahead nonetheless. We’ll all just have to wait to see if it can fill Johnny Rico’s shoes.
