Videogames’ self-proclaimed “silly season” is finally here. The drought of game releases over the summer period has come to an end; nights are drawing in, the temperature is moving closer to zero, and the release calendar is stuffed to capacity. But where best to place your hard-earned cash? Distancing ourselves from hyperbolic hype speak and unreachable expectations, what should you really be investing your time into? Over the coming weeks, allow New Rising Media to round-up the week’s freshest, most tantalising new releases. As a plucky red, blue and white plumber once said: here we go!

Dark Souls will beat you. It’ll tear you up, chew you to pieces, turn your bones into putrid mush and spit the remnants onto the mud-soaked ground. Developed by From Software, Dark Souls is the multi-platform spiritual successor to the cult PS3 hit Demon’s Souls, a title whose own popularity surged off the back of reports regarding it to be one of the most punishing games of this generation. Despite some notable refinements of the formula – namely, Beacon Fires can now be ignited and serve as respawn points to alleviate wanton back-tracking – Demon's Souls' successor is, for all intents and purpose, as uncompromising and relentless as before. Persevere though, and you'll be rewarded with what promises to be one of the finest dungeon-crawling RPG's of this generation. Note: only the hardcore need apply.