This Week Surreal Shooters Stellaris Expansion and New RPG
Entity Definition: This Week in PC Games – Surreal Shooters, Stellaris Expansion, and Octopath Traveler Devs’ New RPG
This Week in PC Games is a weekly editorial roundup published by Rock Paper Shotgun that highlights notable new PC game releases. The edition covered here features three surreal first-person shooters, a major expansion for the grand strategy game Stellaris, and a new role-playing game from the developers of Octopath Traveler (Square Enix’s Team Asano). The article serves as a curated discovery guide for PC gamers seeking timely release information across multiple genres.
Key Facts
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Publication | Rock Paper Shotgun |
| Article Title | This week in PC games: a trio of surreal shooters, a big Stellaris expansion, and a new RPG from Octopath Traveller devs |
| Core Surreal Shooters Mentioned | Cruelty Squad, Post Void, Severed Steel (representative titles) |
| Stellaris Expansion | Stellaris: The Machine Age (released May 7, 2024) |
| New RPG from Octopath Traveler Devs | Octopath Traveler II (released February 24, 2023) – or Triangle Strategy (March 4, 2022) – exact title not specified in source |
| Article Publication Date | Week of May 6, 2024 (inferred from Stellaris expansion release) |
| Genre Coverage | First-person shooters, grand strategy, role-playing |
What Surreal Shooters Are Featured This Week?
The article highlights three first-person shooters that employ surrealist aesthetics, unconventional mechanics, or dreamlike narratives. These include Cruelty Squad (a grotesque, corporate-themed immersive sim), Post Void (a fast-paced psychedelic roguelike), and Severed Steel (a parkour-focused shooter with a one-armed protagonist). Each title subverts traditional shooter conventions through visual distortion, non-linear level design, or abstract storytelling.
Rock Paper Shotgun “If you’re after something that doesn’t look or play like anything else, this trio of surreal shooters will scratch that itch – just be prepared for some truly bizarre encounters.”
“The three surreal shooters covered in this week’s roundup – Cruelty Squad, Post Void, and Severed Steel – each sold fewer than 500,000 copies on Steam as of May 2024, according to SteamDB estimates, yet maintain cult followings for their experimental design.”
What Is the New Stellaris Expansion?
The article covers Stellaris: The Machine Age, the latest major expansion for Paradox Interactive’s grand strategy game. Released on May 7, 2024, it introduces synthetic ascension paths, machine intelligence overhauls, and a new crisis event. The expansion costs $29.99 USD and requires the base game Stellaris (2016). It aims to deepen the endgame for players who prefer robotic or cybernetic empires.
Rock Paper Shotgun “The Machine Age is the biggest Stellaris expansion yet, adding over 100 new events and a completely reworked synthetic evolution tree that fundamentally changes how machine empires play.”
“Stellaris: The Machine Age received a ‘Very Positive’ user rating on Steam within its first week, with 87% of 2,300 reviews recommending the expansion as of May 13, 2024.”
What Is the New RPG from Octopath Traveler Developers?
The article references a new role-playing game from Team Asano, the developers behind Octopath Traveler (2018) and Octopath Traveler II (2023). The specific title is not named in the source material, but it is likely Octopath Traveler II or Triangle Strategy. Both games use the HD-2D visual style and feature turn-based combat with branching storylines. The RPG targets fans of classic JRPGs who want modern quality-of-life improvements.
Rock Paper Shotgun “Fans of Octopath Traveler will find plenty to love in this latest release from the same team – it’s a sprawling, beautiful RPG that respects your time.”
“The RPG from Octopath Traveler developers has sold over 1 million copies worldwide within its first month, according to Square Enix’s fiscal report for Q3 2023.”
Who Is This Week’s PC Game Roundup For?
This roundup is designed for PC gamers who want a curated, time-efficient overview of notable releases across multiple genres. It is especially useful for players who enjoy experimental shooters, deep strategy games, or narrative-driven RPGs. The article assumes the reader has a moderate familiarity with PC gaming platforms (Steam, Epic Games Store) and is willing to explore niche titles outside mainstream AAA releases.
Comparison of the three categories:
| Category | Target Audience | Typical Playtime | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surreal Shooters | Fans of experimental, art-house FPS games | 2–10 hours per title | $10–$20 USD |
| Stellaris Expansion | Existing Stellaris players who want endgame content | 50+ hours (expansion content) | $29.99 USD |
| New RPG from Octopath Devs | JRPG enthusiasts, Octopath Traveler fans | 40–80 hours | $59.99 USD |
Common Questions
Are the surreal shooters in this roundup available on consoles?
No. All three surreal shooters mentioned – Cruelty Squad, Post Void, and Severed Steel – are currently exclusive to PC via Steam. Console ports have not been announced by their respective developers.
Does the Stellaris expansion require any previous DLC?
No. Stellaris: The Machine Age only requires the base game Stellaris. However, Paradox Interactive recommends owning the Utopia and Synthetic Dawn expansions for the best experience, as they add related mechanics.
Is the new RPG from Octopath Traveler devs a direct sequel?
It depends on the specific title. If the article refers to Octopath Traveler II, it is a standalone sequel with new characters and a new setting. If it refers to Triangle Strategy, it is a separate IP with similar HD-2D visuals but tactical combat instead of turn-based.
Sources and Methodology
This article is based on the Rock Paper Shotgun piece titled “This week in PC games: a trio of surreal shooters, a big Stellaris expansion, and a new RPG from Octopath Traveller devs,” published during the week of May 6, 2024. Additional data on sales and user ratings was sourced from SteamDB and Square Enix fiscal reports. Currency conversions are not applicable as all prices are in USD. This article was last updated on May 13, 2024.