CtrlPlay Arena ๐ŸŽฎ
169 subscribers
101 photos
19 videos
100 links
Your go-to arena for gaming news, gameplay tips, and must-try titles across all platforms.
Download Telegram
Channel photo updated
Slay the Spire 2 launched in early access this March and immediately topped the Steam charts โ€” and it earns every bit of that attention.

The original defined a genre, and the sequel builds on it with sharp new mechanics, characters, and card synergies that make each run feel genuinely fresh. You craft a deck from scratch, navigate a strange and relentless spire, and learn something new from every defeat. The roguelike loop here is as tight as it gets.

There is something wonderfully addictive about the โ€œone more runโ€ pull this game has. A session that was meant to last twenty minutes somehow turns into three hours, and you leave still thinking about the combinations you havenโ€™t tried yet. ๐Ÿƒ

Are you a longtime Slay the Spire fan, or is this your first time climbing the spire โ€” and which character do you reach for first?
Persona 5: The Phantom X is what happens when one of the most stylish RPGs ever made goes mobile โ€” and somehow manages to pull it off with full confidence. ๐ŸŽญ

The story follows a brand-new protagonist navigating high school life in Tokyo, but the world, the mood, and that iconic red-and-black aesthetic are completely intact. You explore Palaces, awaken Personas, and build bonds with a fresh cast of Phantom Thieves โ€” all while juggling the chaos of teenage life.

Available on iOS, Android, and PC via Steam, it launched globally in June 2025 and has been a hit with both longtime fans and newcomers. The turn-based combat feels sharp, the music is incredible, and the cutscenes are genuinely gorgeous.

If you could steal the heart of any video game villain using a Persona, who would you target? ๐Ÿƒ
Path of Exile Mobile takes one of the deepest action RPGs ever made and puts it right in your pocket โ€” and it actually delivers.

For the uninitiated, Path of Exile is a dark, gothic RPG built around an insanely deep skill system, relentless monster slaying, and a loot loop that's genuinely hard to walk away from. The mobile version faithfully carries that same intensity โ€” loot, build, survive โ€” with touch controls that feel surprisingly natural.

What stands out most is how it refuses to dumb things down. The iconic passive skill tree, complex crafting, and seasonal content are all there. Available free on Android and iOS. โš”๏ธ

For PoE veterans โ€” how does the mobile version compare? And for newcomers, does this kind of deep loot-driven RPG speak to you?
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the kind of game that sneaks up on you and refuses to let go. Made by a small French studio, it arrived earlier this year and hit harder than most big-budget releases. ๐ŸŽจ

The story is hauntingly beautiful โ€” every year, a mysterious Paintress appears and paints a number on a monolith. Everyone that age simply disappears. This year, she painted 33. And so the expedition sets out to stop her, knowing they're already marked.

Combat is turn-based but alive โ€” you parry, dodge, and time your attacks in real time. It feels like a love letter to classic JRPGs, reimagined with a freshness that's hard to put into words.

It's on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X. If you've been putting this one off, do yourself a favour and just play it.

What pulled you in first โ€” the story, the music, or watching someone else play and immediately needing it yourself?
Horror has a new name. Resident Evil Requiem arrived in February 2026, and it's been haunting players ever since โ€” a bold new chapter that strips the franchise back to its roots while pushing its visuals and storytelling to new heights.

The game takes you through a tightly crafted nightmare, blending the survival horror tension of the classic titles with the cinematic flair of the modern entries. Resources are scarce, enemies are relentless, and every corner feels like a threat waiting to materialize. ๐Ÿ•ฏ๏ธ

Available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam, and Nintendo Switch 2, Requiem has been praised for its atmosphere and pacing. It's the kind of game you play with the lights off and immediately regret โ€” but can't stop playing.

Have you played Resident Evil Requiem yet โ€” and did it deliver the scares you were hoping for?
Code Vein II is the anime soulslike sequel that fans of the original have been waiting for โ€” and it landed on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S in January 2026 with a bang.

You're back in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by the Lost โ€” monstrous, bloodthirsty creatures that were once human. As a Revenant, you're powerful but cursed, relying on blood to survive. The combat is fast, stylish, and deeply satisfying, with a Companion system that brings an AI partner into every battle. ๐Ÿฉธ

What really shines here is the Blood Code system โ€” essentially your class, with hundreds of combinations to experiment with. The world is bigger, darker, and more intricate than the first game.

If you played the original Code Vein, have you jumped into the sequel yet โ€” and what's your favourite build so far?
Where Winds Meet is the kind of open-world RPG that sneaks up on you. Set in ancient China, this free-to-play gem from NetEase is absolutely stunning โ€” sweeping landscapes, flowing robes, and combat that actually feels weighty and satisfying.

You start as a wandering outsider with a mysterious past, gradually uncovering your identity through epic quests and intense battles. The world feels alive โ€” NPCs go about their days, seasons shift, and there's always something new hiding around the next hill. ๐ŸŒธ

What's impressive is just how generous the game is. The story pulls you in hard, and the content keeps coming โ€” especially for a free title. Available on mobile, PC, PS5, and Xbox, so you can hop in wherever.

If you love open-world RPGs with a stunning art style and deep lore, this one is absolutely worth a look. Have you tried it yet โ€” or is it sitting in your "to play" list? ๐Ÿ˜„
Fields of Mistria is the kind of cozy game that sneaks up on you.

At first glance it looks like another farming sim โ€” and yes, you're planting crops and befriending townsfolk โ€” but the world of Mistria has this hand-drawn charm that makes it feel genuinely alive. Every character has depth, every season brings something new to discover. ๐ŸŒธ

The pixel art is gorgeous, with animations so smooth they feel lovingly crafted. The farming loop is addictive without being overwhelming. You set your own pace, tell your own story.

It's on PC and if you love Stardew Valley or Story of Seasons, this one belongs on your wishlist. It's in Early Access and already feels more polished than many full releases.

What's your favourite cozy game when you just want to switch off from everything?
Palworld is hitting version 1.0 this July โ€” and it's still the game that made everyone simultaneously fall in love with cute creatures and question their own moral compass.

The premise sounds wholesome enough: explore an open world, catch Pals, build a base, and survive. But then you're setting up assembly lines staffed by your little companions, and somewhere along the way the game becomes something far more addictive than you expected. That strange tension is part of the charm.

Available on PC and Xbox, the 1.0 release brings the Deep North, new Pals, and a much more complete world to get lost in. ๐ŸŒฟ

Are you more of a base-builder in Palworld, or do you spend most of your time exploring and hunting for rare Pals?
Arknights: Endfield is everything fans of the original Arknights dared to hope for โ€” but bigger, bolder, and fully rendered in stunning 3D.

Set on the planet Talos-II, you lead the Endfield Industries team across a fractured world reclaiming territory and battling the ever-creeping Catastrophes. The strategy is deep, the combat is real-time and satisfying, and the worldbuilding is extraordinary. ๐ŸŒŒ

It launched in early 2026 on PC, PlayStation 5, and mobile โ€” making it easy to pick up wherever you are. The gacha is present but the game genuinely respects your time in a way that surprises you.

Are you someone who loved the original Arknights tower defense, or does the shift to real-time action RPG pull you in more?
Pokรฉmon Champions just dropped on iOS and Android on June 17, and the competitive Pokรฉmon scene will never be the same. ๐ŸŽฎ

This is the battle-focused experience fans have been dreaming of โ€” no exploration, no gyms, just pure head-to-head battling with the depth of types, Abilities, and move synergies working together.

Cross-play between mobile and Nintendo Switch means you can face off against anyone, anywhere. Whether you're a casual trainer or a competitive VGC veteran, there's a place for you in the arena.

It's free-to-play, and right now you can grab a Raichu with its Mega Stone just for logging in early. Not bad for a launch week gift. โœจ

Are you building around your favourite Pokรฉmon, or going pure meta with tier-one picks?