Weekly Notes (Oct 06 – Oct 12): Battlefield 6 Hits 700k Players, Little Nightmares III Disappoints

Niklas Borglund

Author

2025-10-15

Battlefield 6 dominated the week with more than 700k concurrent players at launch, successfully returning to classic series elements. In contrast, Little Nightmares III's shift to co-op proved controversial, landing at just 45% positive - a significant drop from its predecessors.

Meanwhile, several promising indies and Early Access graduates rounded out a diverse week. Let's dive in!

Battlefield™ 6 by Battlefield Studios

Largest audiences: ~49% English, ~18% Chinese (Simplified), ~8% Russian

Battlefield 6 had a massively successful launch with over 700k concurrent active players at its peak.

Players appreciate the return to classic Battlefield elements - the traditional class system is back and celebrated. The optimized gameplay runs smoothly, and the nostalgia factor resonates strongly with series veterans. Gunplay quality receives consistent praise.

However, technical issues persist including bugs and server problems that hinder gameplay. Map design gets criticized as small and chaotic, often compared to the maps of Call of Duty - saying that smaller maps feel more like CoD than Battlefield.

Little Nightmares III by Supermassive Games

Largest audiences: ~44% English, ~17% Russian, ~15% Chinese (Simplified)

The horror series returns with co-op gameplay, but at 45% Mixed - which is significantly lower than both Little Nightmares and Little Nightmares II.

Some praise the atmosphere, visuals, sound design, and graphics quality. The co-op gameplay works when playing with friends.

However, significant gameplay bugs hinder the experience, including soft locks and unresponsive companion AI. The game is criticized for being extremely short (often completed in just a few hours). Many feel it lacks innovation and doesn't live up to its predecessors. Many also criticize the lack of local co-op.

In my opinion, taking a solo experience with a big following and making it multiplayer is a bold move. Players who play strong solo experiences tend to want to play just that - strong solo experiences. I wonder if that was one part in the low reception of this title among its many issues.

Absolum by Dotemu, Guard Crush, Supamonks

Largest audiences: ~50% English, ~16% Chinese (Simplified), ~11% Russian

A side-scrolling action RPG set in fantasy world where players praise the engaging gameplay with fun, addictive combat mechanics and roguelite elements. The smooth combat system feels fluid and satisfying. High replay value keeps players coming back and the cooperative gameplay shines when played with friends.

Minor criticisms include lack of content depth, with some wanting more to enhance the experience. Combat difficulty frustrates some players regarding attack animations and enemy interactions.

The ~9-hour median playtime suggests a solid experience of beat 'em up and roguelite mechanics.

CARIMARA: Beneath the forlorn limbs by Bastinus Rex

Largest audiences: ~40% English, ~18% Russian, ~12% French

A narrative-driven game where players embody a mute character named Carimara, exploring a house where you only can use your gift of conjuring questions.

Players praise the unique art style and atmospheric experience that immerses them in this eerie and whimsical world. The engaging story captivates emotionally, with several reviews highlighting the emotional depth.

The main criticism is the extremely short playtime - at under 2 hours estimated completion time. A memorable indie title that resonates with its audience, though some wish there was more of it.

Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era Demo by Unfrozen

Largest audiences: ~38% English, ~37% Russian, ~6% Chinese (Simplified), ~6% Polish

Unfrozen released their demo of HoMM Olden Era in time for Steam Next Fest. It's getting praise for capturing the nostalgia from HoMM 3, the improved game mechanics and just the overall potential of this entry compared to previous ones.

The main criticism is regarding its art style, mainly said to have a mobile game feel over it. The UI also get criticism for needing more clarity and general usability.

The eighth entry in a popular series like this always comes with quite a bit of expectations - so some players also feel like these expectations are not fully met.

I'm a bit biased, but when we started developing Songs of Conquest - one of our goals was to help revive this genre. So I'm glad to see this game exist and getting a positive reception and I can't wait to try it out.

⚔️ Early Access Graduates

• The Farmer Was Replaced - A strategy simulation programming game where you program a drone to automate farming tasks. Players love that you will learn programming in a python-esque language by simply playing the game - regarded as very good for beginners. Although some players think the learning curve is a bit too steep.

• Project Unknown - A multiplayer horror game where players exorcise ghosts. Players love the unique mechanics and the great experience when playing with friends. The atmosphere and mood are also highly praised. Criticism is mainly regarding its repetitiveness and limited content after playing for a while.

• Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch - A turn-based tactical RPG. Players love the fun addictive gameplay with roguelike elements. The combat is challenging in a good way and requires strategic thinking from the players. Biggest criticism is balancing around enemy ability and damage points.

• Forgotten Seas - A pirate survival and exploration game. Players love the engaging gameplay (especially with friends) and beautiful graphics. The Crafting system often stands out as a high point. Lately, some of the major criticisms is regarding the state of polish around the gameplay and the ship mechanics as well as significant bugs in multiplayer.

Notable Mentions

Here are some games or DLCs that were on the top but didn't get its own section in the weekly notes.

Other Significant Releases

• Battlefield™ 6 - Phantom Upgrade - (Action. FPS. Shooter)
• Seafarer: The Ship Sim - (Casual. Exploration. Immersive Sim)
• Little Rocket Lab - (Life Sim. Strategy RPG. Exploration)
• Deathground - (Hunting. Survival Horror. Action-Adventure)
• Yooka-Replaylee - (3D Platformer. Collectathon. Open World)
• Bye Sweet Carole - (Survival Horror. Puzzle Platformer. Action-Adventure)

Full List: Top Releases for October 06 - October 12 (2025)

And that's it! Thank you for reading!

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