Zero Parades, Phonopolis, and Forza Horizon 6 Lead This Week’s PC Releases

This week, three major PC games are vying for players’ attention: Forza Horizon 6 takes the open-world racing series to Tokyo, Zero Parades arrives as the spiritual successor to the critically acclaimed Disco Elysium, and Phonopolis offers a unique puzzle experience set in a dystopian world. Each game caters to different audiences, making this week one of the most diverse release weeks of 2025.

Zero Parades faces high expectations. Its predecessor, Disco Elysium, launched in October 2019 and set a new standard for narrative RPGs. The game earned a 91 on Metacritic and garnered over 61,600 Steam reviews with a 92% positive rating. Even after six years, Disco Elysium still attracts around 1,800 concurrent players daily, showing a dedicated fanbase. Zero Parades has a tough challenge ahead to meet those fans’ expectations.

The political themes of Disco Elysium—its raw exploration of ideology, moral ambiguity, and failure—seem to carry over into Zero Parades. Early coverage from Rock Paper Shotgun described the game as involving “communist grifting.” The big question is whether it will feature the same dense, skill-check-driven dialogue system that made the original so unique as we approach launch week.

Phonopolis, created by Amanita Design (the studio behind Machinarium and Samorost), appeals to a more niche audience. It focuses on atmosphere and handcrafted art rather than complex mechanics. The game’s dystopian world centers around sound manipulation, making it an appealing choice for players who enjoyed the reading-heavy elements of Disco Elysium but are looking for something visually engaging.

Forza Horizon 6’s Tokyo setting is the most ambitious urban environment in the franchise’s history. Previous games set in Mexico, Britain, and Australia emphasized open countryside driving. A bustling city map marks a significant design change for the series. Microsoft hasn’t shared concurrent player figures before launch, but Forza Horizon 5 saw over 745,000 peak players on Steam back in November 2021, giving the publisher a solid benchmark to work from.

By The Numbers

Disco Elysium Metacritic Score	91
Steam Reviews (Disco Elysium)	61,653
Steam Approval Rating	92% positive
Current Steam Price	$39.99
Current Concurrent Players	~1,812

Even with the legal issues that split ZA/UM’s original team, community sentiment around Disco Elysium and the excitement for Zero Parades remain strong. One Steam reviewer remarked, “It’s everything everyone has said before. I struggle to say something original or unique about Disco Elysium, but it is a great game if you enjoy reading and roleplaying.” This kind of admiration shows just how deeply Disco Elysium has woven itself into the fabric of PC gaming discussions.

What To Watch

• Zero Parades review scores: The game needs to hit the 85+ Metacritic threshold to break free from Disco Elysium‘s shadow or risk being seen as a cautionary tale about spiritual successors.
• Forza Horizon 6 Steam player peak: If Microsoft can match or exceed Horizon 5’s peak of 745,000 players, it will show that there’s still a strong demand for the franchise after a four-year gap.
• Phonopolis positioning: Keep an eye on whether Amanita Design’s puzzle game establishes its own commercial identity or gets overshadowed by the bigger releases of the week.