Gorgeous platformer Outland is free on Steam

I have Outland on three different platforms and I still haven’t played it yet. If you’re like me, then let the announcement that it’s currently free on Steam serve as a reminder to take a look. And for the rest of you: go add it to your library now.

Housemarque are giving Outland away for free until June 8 to celebrate the fact that its next game, Nex Machina, is now accepting pre-orders, with a 20 percent discount to boot. It’s a twin-stick shooter that takes cues from Robotron and Smash TV.

Anyway, Outland! It’s a speedy platformer where you need to switch between red and blue to avoid damage and harm enemies. If you’re blue, you can’t be harmed by other blue things, but you also can’t harm them. So you've got to take risks and put yourself in harm's way. It’s evocative of the shmup, Ikaruga. It also looks absolutely gorgeous.

You know… I should probably play this eventually.

Fraser is the UK online editor and has actually met The Internet in person. With over a decade of experience, he's been around the block a few times, serving as a freelancer, news editor and prolific reviewer. Strategy games have been a 30-year-long obsession, from tiny RTSs to sprawling political sims, and he never turns down the chance to rave about Total War or Crusader Kings. He's also been known to set up shop in the latest MMO and likes to wind down with an endlessly deep, systemic RPG. These days, when he's not editing, he can usually be found writing features that are 1,000 words too long or talking about his dog.