Arcade Racer Horizon Chase 2 Launching on PlayStation and Xbox Consoles on the 30th!

16th of May, Porto Alegre, Brazil - Epic Games Publishing is proud to announce that arcade racer Horizon Chase 2 (website, trailer, press kit) will launch on PlayStation 4, 5 and Xbox One, Xbox Series platforms this May 30 from 7 AM EST at a retail price of 24.99 USD | EUR, with a 20% discount on all platforms during the first two weeks after launch. These new versions will support online multiplayer and crossplay among all platforms, including the previously released versions on Nintendo Switch and on PC via the Epic Games Store.

An evolution of the award-winning racing franchise and developed by AQUIRIS, now Epic Games Brasil, Horizon Chase 2 proudly takes its arcade inspirations and turbocharges all the senses through immersive, high-speed gameplay that's easy to learn but hard to master. This is the golden age of arcade racing brought back in a modern and completely evolved experience.

MAIN FEATURES

• Crossplay multiplayer - thanks to Epic Online Services, all game modes can be played online and offline, from head-to-head matches to cooperative races in Around the World mode.
• Customizable cars - unlock new cosmetic items and upgrade your attributes in World Tour mode to find your perfect racing style.
• Online races and challenges - take on the best from around the world and push your skills to the limit in the high-octane Playground mode.
• All-new art style and music - a feast for the senses, with a vibrant new art style, weather effects and a Barry Leitch soundtrack.

THE ART OF TOURING

Race in 66 tracks across distributed in 6 countries around the World (and beyond!) in a unique, entirely 3D art style and unlock 11 cars. From the vibrant colors of each landscape to the immersive conditions of different weathers, all enhanced by a thrilling soundtrack created by Top Racer composer Barry Leitch, this game evolves the arcade racing experience to the next level. New horizons will steer you to the beauty of a stunning and inviting visual trip with no return.

GET THE BEST OUT OF YOUR CAR, CUSTOMIZE IT!

When visiting the Garage Shop players will be able to easily customize several parts of their cars, choosing amongst a wide variety of options making them as yours as possible. Collect new cosmetic items, and upgrade your stats throughout the World Tour. Race in different Game Modes and keep on the cycle of getting new visual rewards. Winning was never so worth it.

PLAY IT. REPLAY IT

Horizon Chase 2 was born to be a game in constant evolution, with dynamic evergreen events that will invite you to hone your skills and show off your rides. Major Updates will bring up new rewards, the Playground Mode will offer a brand new challenge every two days, the Tournament Mode dares the players to be the best in collections of several modified races from the World Tour mode. Both modes can be enjoyed alone or in groups of up to four players. Every day is an excellent reason to come back and race!

To learn more, visit the Horizon Chase official website, follow @horizonchase on Twitter, @horizon_chase Instagram, and like its Facebook page.

For more information, contact Epic Games Publishing on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

Article by: Susan N.

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Color Your World in This New Game by TapNation on the Switch!

May 27th - Warsaw, Poland | QubicGames has announced that Color Water Sort by TapNation will be released for the Nintendo Switch on May 31st.

Color Water Sort

Use your head and arrange colored liquids to solve unique puzzles!

Master the art of water sorting and rise to the top as a champion! Strategically move the water until every color is separated, proving your puzzle-solving prowess!

Immerse yourself in the challenge of sorting water into tubes with the same colored liquid on top. Remember, the tubes can't be full for the water to go in. Plan your moves carefully to avoid losing!

Complete thousands of levels in 3 different modes:

• Classic - a standard mode where you can relax
• Timed - move fast and complete the level within the time limit
• Hard - think about your every move, because you have a limited number of them

Features:

- Face over 2500 levels!

- Play in three game modes: classic, timed, and hard

- Face off against a friend in local multiplayer mode!

- Give your brain an excellent workout

- Use powerups: hints, undo, and extra tubes

- Collect keys and open prize chests

- Earn coins and spend them on new tubes, wallpapers, caps, and powerups!

Enjoy this colorful brain challenge by yourself or against your friend!

About TapNation

TapNation is a Mobile Gaming publisher helping developers take their games to the next level. Their international and creative team harnesses the power of new technologies to deliver successful and entertaining gaming experiences to players worldwide. TapNation released 50+ games, which generated more than 1 billion downloads! Our ambition is to lead the way in a high-growth market.

Article by: Susan N.

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Experience Anime Cyberpunk FPS Mullet Madjack On Steam Today!

Porto Alegre – May 15, 2024 – Today is a great day for the retro FPS enthusiasts and fans of classic anime, as developer Hammer95 Studios and publisher Epopeia Games is proud to announce that Mullet MadJack is out today on Steam at a price of 19.95 USD wih 10% off in the first week. Mullet MadJack immerses players in an engaging retro FPS experience with roguelite elements, transporting them to an anime world full of excitement. 

With a unique fusion of elements influenced by classic 90s FPS games, strategy, and intense action, this game promises to keep players entertained for hours on end. It's no surprise that it has garnered 150.000 wishlists, demonstrating the community's great interest in the title. Check out the brand new launch trailer!

“Our demo was very well received, being in the top 10 of several websites and influencer videos, we hope that our the fun we had creating the game will be also translated into an unique and exhilarating experience for players” - Alessandro Martinello, Game Director at Hammer95 Studios.

"Mullet is our first game as a publisher, and we are very pleased with it and the results achieved so far. We are looking forward to the release and hope it meets the expectations generated!" says Ivan Sendin, CEO at Epopeia Games.

ONE POLICE OFFICER WITH A MULLET, AGAINST A HORDE OF BILLIONAIRE ROBOTS! 

In an exciting journey inspired by classic anime, you will be immersed in the cyberpunk world of Mullet MadJack, set in the year 90...2090.

Your mission is clear: rescue the most famous influencer on the planet from the clutches of a dangerous criminal organization, made up of powerful billionaire robots. Meanwhile, you will face violent battles as you are a dopamine-addicted vigilante who will do anything to get his own dose beating deadly challenges as you progress floor by floor of a huge skyscraper.

As you progress through the floors, an action-hungry crowd follows your every move via streaming broadcasts. This public exposure adds more tension, increasing the pressure on you and the need to perform increasingly impressive feats.

Your battle is not just to free the kidnapped influencer, but also to preserve her own reputation and entertain those watching.

Get ready for a journey full of dangers, exciting challenges and surprising twists in the best Badass Old-School style.

What makes Mullet MadJack Unique

• Exciting and dynamic combat: Race against time and infiltrate a building alone, overcoming each floor until you reach your objective.
• Campaign mode: Clear floors filled with robots, and in crucial moments, execute ultraviolent finishes on your enemies to survive.
• Survival mode: Utilize your skills in an endless mode and outdo your friends.
• Unique visual and art style: The contrasting colors between black and vibrant neon evoke the aesthetics of violent and adult anime from the era of VHS tapes.
• Engaging narrative: Set in an Old School cyberpunk world full of robots, the aesthetics of 90s anime merge with an action-packed environment.
• Nostalgic soundtrack: Inspired by the synthwave genre, the soundtrack sets the tone and urban atmosphere of the game.
• Evolve your character: Enhance your character with smart choices so that you can reach the top floor in the best possible time or you'll have to try again, all in the best Rogue-Lite style. But remember that each upgrade will affect how the game is played. 

ABOUT MULLET MADJACK

Mullet MadJack is a highly fast-paced first-person action-adventure game designed for single-player. It draws inspiration from the Badass Old-School classic anime of the 80s and 90s, featuring a retro aesthetic and immersive gameplay that transports players back to the nostalgic era.

The game features vibrant colors, memorable characters, and a unique story, providing an authentic experience for both gaming enthusiasts and anime fans alike.

ABOUT HAMMER95 STUDIOS

Hammer95 is a collective of 3 devs who love the aesthetic of old anime and aim to bring back that nostalgia!

For more information, please follow our social media profiles:

• Tik Tok
• Twitter
• Instagram
• YouTube
• Discord

ABOUT EPOPEIA GAMES

Epopeia Games is responsible for other games that have already been nominated for several awards, but now promises to innovate in terms of the farm game theme with its new release. Gaucho and the Grassland, which has already been awarded in the category: BEST REGIONAL ASSOCIATION GAME PITCH at the Big Festival 2022 in São Paulo, has a final release date planned for 2024, but in the future it will be released on other consoles such as Xbox, Nintendo Switch and Playstation 4/5.

Article by: Susan N.

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A World War III Battle Simulator Now Available On Steam!

May 23rd, 2024 - Paris, France |  Eugen Systems have announced that after 2 years, 100’s of devlogs, and even more updates and patches, Warno, their highly acclaimed World War III battle simulator RTS, has finished Early Access and launched into version 1.0 on Steam. 

 

Warno (Warning Order) is a systems deep, highly immersive real-time strategy game from the famed RTS developers behind the Steel Division and Wargame franchises. Set in alternate 1980s during the final years of the Cold War where instead of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Third World War unfolds between NATO and the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact forces.

1000 Different Units, 6 Playable Sides and 18 Divisions.

Compose your army from a massive pool of infantry, armor, support, artillery, air, and logistics unit types. Then strategically deploy and control your forces as you balance multiple battlefield factors that come as close to real warfare as possible.

Authentic Realism in Gameplay and Multiple Modes

Meticulously researched and painstakingly recreated, over 1000 historically accurate units are available to pick from, thus creating armies that each have their own unique strengths and weaknesses. Take on the role of army commander for the U.S., West Germany, United Kingdom, France, the Soviet Union or East Germany in various modes from single-player campaigns, online competitive or online cooperative that can range from 1v1 to to 10v10 battles.

What Comes Next For Warno?

"We still get 1000's of daily players on our previous games, some that are 10 years old. You only acheive something like that by providing proper post-launch support so we plan to give the same amount of attention and care to our Warno community." - Cedric Le Dressay, Eugen Systems Cofounder

Eugene Systems will be supporting the game with long-term post-launch support, something they have proven with the level of support given to their previous titles, Steel Division 2 and Wargame: Red Dragon.

The team has already openly committed to adding more single-player campaigns, more units, more maps, and more operations (curated battle scenarios that can be played in co-op or competitive online) to Warno, both via paid DLCS and some as free updates. 

A free update pack was also made available to all Early Access owners as thank-you for their support which added additional units and 5 new Divisions for both NATO and Warsaw Pact sides.

Strong Numbers Already Amassed

Since launching into Early Access in January 2022, Warno has already amassed a strong player base with 250,000+ copies sold and is currently rated 82% positive on Steam from 7600+ reviews. 

 

Game Features

• Experience in-depth and realistic real-time strategy Cold War-era warfare. From tactics to technology and hundreds of painstakingly researched and recreated military units from NATO’s and Warsaw Pact’s arsenals.
• Get to know each unit in detail in Armory, and use this knowledge to your advantage as you build, customize and fine-tune each unique battlegroup.
• Witness a battlefield of highly detailed environments and brutal destruction. The latest incarnation of Eugen’s proprietary engine simulates modern combat to the fullest extent.
• Take on maps and missions in either solo, competitive online or cooperative Each map has a unique set of objectives with a dynamic frontline that directly results in one side’s victory or defeat.
• Battle against a smart and truly challenging AI or pit your tactics and strategy against other players, from ranked 1v1 to all-encompassing 10v10 battles.
• Dive into do-or-die Operations or the massive turn-based Army General strategic campaigns depicting some of the hardest-fought “what if” scenarios of a Cold War turned hot. Massive Warsaw Pact armies square off against the NATO formations for a vicious fight across Western Europe.
• Taking advantage of Eugen Systems’ game experience and previous titles,  a host of quality-of-life enhancements will appeal to new and veteran players alike, from issuing commands during pre-combat deployment to AI-assisted Smart Orders.

Article by: Susan N.

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Wild Americas: Steam Next Fest, Free Demo

Wild Americas, an indie title from Upsetter Studios, has been selected as part of Steam's Next Fest, June 10-17!

The demo will be free to play, so check out our Steam page!

A live gameplay session will take place with Q&A for any gamers who want to know just how awesome we plan to make Wild Americas.

Created by a team of 3, this action-adventure, 3rd person shooter is a handcrafted thing of beauty. Creator Matt Bruns had this to say. 

 

 

"We want to be as transparent as possible with our gamers about Early Access, and the planned evolution of the game and IP. Our intention is to build long term relationships with our gamers, as Wild Americas continues its evolution."

 

Early Access, June 18, "Our $5 Early Access provides a large, open-world area to explore, hunt, scan and survive. I am excited for you to step into the boots of a GeoCorp Geologist and explore the hills, valleys, caves, and tunnels created.”

-----

Relevant links for game:

upsetterstudios.com

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2246810/Wild_Americas/

https://www.instagram.com/wildamericasthegame/

 

 

Article by: Susan N.

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Halo-like game RELIC ODYSSEY Exits Early Access in Q2!

RELIC ODYSSEY: Ruins of Xantao

Details:

Engine: Unity

Rendering Pipeline: Built-in

Visual Style: Semi-Realistic

Genre: Sci-fi - FPS - Action - Adventure

Status: Q2 out of Early Access and works on the Steam Deck

Honour Bound Games Studio, Inc.  

Story:

Follow Samuel, Sarah, and Clunky, on a perilous journey through Relic Odyssey: Ruins of Xantao. Brace yourself as you confront alien creatures, ruthless smugglers, and the enigmatic "Collector" - a madman who will stop at nothing to obtain the power hidden within the ruins of Xantao. Fight, drill for resources, build your own base, search for ancient relics, craft weapons, gadgets, and upgrades.

Game world:

Samuel and Sarah arrive on Valtar, a planet with hostile deserts, scary abandoned laboratories, and intricate tunnel systems leading to subterranean lairs. Acting in first person as Sam alongside his companion Sarah and their sidekick Clunky, you'll explore a diverse mix of hand-crafted and procedurally generated areas.

 

Similar games:

●     Subnautica: We take a unique spin compared to Subnautica by exploring underground and not in the water with our digging rig and the tunnels you uncover to venture through.

●     Astroneer: The key difference is our semi-realistic art style vs. their stylized art style. In Astroneer you explore multiple planets with little story-telling while in ours you explore one planet with a story inter-connecting each place.

●     Deep Rock Galactic:  Although we both center our exploration underground. Ours stands out from Deep Rock Galatic’s digging with guns, through digging tunnels with our digging rig.

 

Gameplay pillars:

1.    Exploration and Discovery

●     Traverse a hostile alien planet and uncover the secrets of its former inhabitants, the Xantao civilization.

●     Navigate through diverse terrains with your digging rig.

●     Collect valuable relics imbued with unique powers and abilities.

●     Craft and manage survival essentials using gathered materials.

2.    Adventure and Combat

●     Investigate the mysterious disappearance of researchers who recently settled on the planet and the smugglers looking to exploit the planet's resources.

●     Equip yourself with advanced weaponry and gadgets that manipulate physics.

●     Build defenses and customize your base to fend off invasions of enemies.

 

Features:

●     Unique gloves abilities: Scan for enemies and resources using your POWERED GLOVES! Push and pull enemies! Upgrade your glove to unlock more special abilities.

●     Digging rig: Drill down tunnels searching for the long-lost city of Xantao or find lairs of beasts! Upgrade your Digging RIG with rare resources to dig deeper!

●     Collect and craft: Collect resources to CRAFT new weapons and upgrades after you unlock them through your research station.

●     Combat: Fight off creatures using an array of weapons and gadgets! Upgrade your suit and your weapons to do more damage and defeat stronger enemies.

●     Generated levels: Explore through generated tunnel levels. Encounter unique enemies and bosses. Dodge deadly traps. Find various rewards and crafting materials.

 

Characters:

●     Samuel: Captain Samuel Hunt, a skilled combatant and explorer, commands his ship with a passion for uncovering ancient ruins. Inheriting his adventurous spirit and pride from his father, Samuel takes responsibility for protecting his companion, Sarah.

●     Sarah: Sarah Asadi, a recent graduate in Mechanical Engineering & Technology with a minor in Planetary Geology, is Samuel's trusted assistant and ship engineer. She brings extensive knowledge to their cosmic adventures, playing a vital role in ship upgrades.

●     Clunky: Clunky, the witty and clumsy robot discovered in the Xantao Ruins, delivers humor with quick remarks and wordplay. He fights alongside the player and helps gather resources.

●     Jaxon: Jaxon, a bold and rebellious alien hybrid, is a top-tier smuggler working for the enigmatic Collector. Known for his shocking and antagonistic nature, Jaxon excels in piloting with bravery and quick reflexes. Born on a Mars mining colony, his disdain for authority led him to a life of independence.

●     The Collector: The ruthless Collector, driven by a relentless pursuit of knowledge, controls a sky base and bandit camp. Betraying the Orion Archaeological Order, he sends Jaxon to do his dirty work.

 

Factions:

●     Orion Archeological Order & Orion Guardian Corps: The Orion Archeological Order establishes partnerships, safeguards relics, conducts research, disseminates knowledge, and manages resources. The Orion Guardian Corp protects personnel and assets, provides military expertise, and ensures legal compliance.

●     Lost Civilization Of Xantao: The Lost Civilization of Xantao's relic houses souls and knowledge, guarded from evil. Sarah believes the souls reside within, akin to initial findings. Samuel and Sarah aim to secure the relic, thwarting The Collector's grasp.

●     Talendromeus Race: Monstrous race of creatures inhabiting the depths of the earth. Surfacing to find prey and feed. They are the invading forces that forced the Xantao Civilisation to retreat into an alternate universe in order to survive.

●     The Collector And Smuggling Syndicate: The bandit base is run by a ruthless leader working for The Collector. This leader has a massive creature chained up and takes pleasure in tormenting anyone who comes against him. The base is full of criminals of various alien races and is uninviting.

 

Honour Bound Games Studio, Inc.

 

Article by: Susan N.

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Mech Engineer Exits Early Access!

Mech Engineer is a mech lover’s dream come true: you will oversee every aspect of your squad's operation, from optimizing the reactors to fine-tuning weapons systems. The balance of weight, energy, and heat must be carefully monitored to ensure maximum efficiency.


The skills and emotional state of each pilot also play an important role, along with the effective management of your base and resources. You will deploy your finely calibrated and tuned machines onto missions, where your split-second decisions during semi-auto battles against a mutating alien bio-weapon will mean life or death.

1.0 New content

For 1.0 Mech Engineer now sports voiceovers for the mech pilots and several new localizations: French, German, Polish, Portuguese, Brazilian, Spanish, and Chinese. Russian was already implemented during Early Access.


Splattercat

"One of the most unique games on Steam"


63 Updates during Early Access

Over three years of development, the game received 63 updates and evolved into the love letter for Mech lovers that it is today. Here is a brief rundown:
 

• Persistent Destruction
• Steam Achievements
• 220 Map Variations
• New Terrain + Caves
• Giant Roaming Bosses
• Pathfinding 2.0
• 8 Mech Squads
• Ability to create huge weapon variants
• New Research Nodes
• New Sound FX
• Balance + Difficulty Tweaks
• + Much More

Mech Engineer Key Features
 

• Deep and detailed management of mechs engineering including reactors, cooling, weight, and heat/energy
• Configure and fine-tune weapons and mods through testing and ballistic simulation
• Squad management down to individual stress levels, training, and stats
• Manage your base repairing and upgrading its sectors and giving tasks to engineers and scientists on a day-by-day basis
• Research components and upgrades through a full-fledged tech-tree
• Scavenge and use different resources to repair and upgrade your mech
• Real-time pausable missions that mix auto-battling and move commands from the player
• Unique analog ‘80s retro-style interface

MicroProse, founded in 1982, is a world-famous simulation software company known for developing groundbreaking, classics and cult titles like, the Falcon, F15 Strike Eagle, Silent Service, Gunship, Grand Prix, Civilization, B-17 The Mighty Eighth, and X-COM series and many more simulation products that sold millions of copies each at retail.


Today, MicroProse is not only remaking select classics from its past but also paving the road to next-generation, state of the art games that will create the memories and experiences of the demanding new generations of gamers. 

 

 

Article by: Susan N.

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Anima Flux Co-Op Metroidvania Showcasing At Nordic Game 2024

May, 21 - Malmö, Sweden. Anima Flux game is showcasing at Nordic Game 2024 in Malmö, Sweden. On 21-24 May Anima Flux Co-Op Metroidvania will be showcased at booth DS-5. So all the conference guests - publishers, press, influencers and gaming enthusiasts - will be able to play the game, chat with the team, and explore amazing collaborative opportunities.

 

Gathering thousands of industry professionals in the spring and autumn each year, Nordic Game is the leading games conference in Europe. In 2024 the event is celebrating its 20th anniversary, expecting over 2,500 attendees and multiple game developers, including Anima Flux. 

Co-op Metroidvania PC/Console game Anima Flux will be released in Q3 of 2024, the Demo is available now on Steam.

 

About the Game

Anima Flux is a co-op metroidvania with two genetically enhanced soldiers, special agents of a theocratic dictatorial regime. Fight your way through swarms of mutants through a desolate, dystopian space city and save humanity’s last stronghold, if, of course, anyone is still alive…

Anima Flux Story

The only human city located on the space ark is subjected to an organized mutant invasion. For the sake of survival, a theocratic totalitarian regime sends its best troops to rescue the city and eliminate the threat.

Take control of two elite soldiers, combine their unique abilities and skills. Finesse your way around through the most ferocious foes. Act bravely and fearlessly. After all, you can trick death, by transferring your anima with the latest implant technology. Don’t get consumed by fear of death, because the truth is grimmer.

Key Features

Co-op Metroidvania

The unusual spin of the genre, turns the classic metroidvania into a fun, couch co-op adventure. Both characters develop differently as the game goes on. Explore the grim locations of the space ark, rescue an ambushed or seriously injured partner. Get challenged by dangerous mutants and build your own boss-fight strategies together with a friend. And the best part is that you can always switch to single player mode if your pal is not around.

A mind-blowing dystopia

The story is set in a highly detailed game world, told in stunning hand-drawn animated cutscenes, and elaborated in dialogs full of irony. Tragic and intriguing fates of the supporting characters will immerse you into the human world of the far future, where moral and ethical issues trouble the mind more than ever. Search for the truth and prepare for incredible twists and turns.

Unique visual style

Through the artistic lens of 80-90 retro sci-fi aesthetics, the game carefully renders a variety of futuristic 2D visuals mixed with the dark cosmic atmosphere.

Important info

• The Demo is available now on Steam

• Official Discord Server: https://discord.gg/RrT9hJbQRb 

• The game is coming soon on PC, Xbox, PS5 and Nintendo Switch

• Planning release on Q4 of 2024

• The Official Website: https://animaflux.game/

 

 

 

Article by: Susan N.

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tinyBuild Debuts tinyBuild Connect

Online Showcase with New Reveals and Updates to Beloved Roster

Steam publisher sale featuring discounts up to 80% across all tinyBuild titles is live until May 27

SEATTLE – May 21, 2024 – Publisher tinyBuild proudly hosts its very own showcase, “tinyBuild Connect,” revealing new titles and spotlighting new updates to upcoming and previously released games. 

To kick off the festivities, tinyBuild debuted one of its biggest Steam publisher sales to date, offering discounts of up to 80% across its legendary portfolio until Monday, May 27.

Since its inception more than a decade ago, tinyBuild has become one of the largest developers and publishers in the indie/AA space. The company has been recognized for its stellar catalog, including successful franchises like Hello Neighbor, Graveyard Keeper, and more. 

tinyBuild Connect featured 14 games in an all-star lineup consisting of both announced and new reveals:

• Everything works only if you watch it closely in The King is Watching, the roguelite kingdom builder with a Steam demo launching today 

• Drill Core, where corporate greed meets strategic planet-mining, started it’s first free playtest on Steam, which players can join for free

• Pilot your tramplers across a perilous desert planet in SAND, a new extraction FPS that debuted gameplay footage alongside the announcement of a beta test this summer

• Horror multiplayer extraction shooter Level Zero: Extraction dropped a cryptic teaser that hints at a big announcement coming soon

• Become a sharp-eyed quack shot, gunning down enemies in Rust-like survival shooter DUCKSIDE’s new open playtest on June 6

• Wreak havoc on medieval battlefields with modern guns in Kingmakers’ first look into its destructible environment mechanics

• Open-world RPG sandbox adventure Streets of Rogue 2 provides a sneak peek of the major news it will announce later this summer 

• RAWMEN: Food Fighter Arena takes over Epic Games Store with free-to-play food melees on Tuesday, July 23

• Award-winning propaganda simulator Not for Broadcast gets camera-ready with a time-bending mystery with the new The Timeloop DLC

• Fast-paced adventure RPG Astor: Blade of Monolith takes the fight to PC and consoles on Thursday, May 30

• The third installment on the beloved railway sim manager franchise Train Valley World chugs onto PC on Thursday, August 8

• Post-apocalyptic cozy survival/base builder I Am Future introduces the Solar Energy Update, bringing new gameplay systems and improvements to all future-dwellers!

• Dark fantasy hack-n-slash RPG VOIN slashes through demons in a new, updated Steam demo

• Fighting management simulator Punch Club 2: Fast Forward gets knockout-ready with new Iron Fist DLC, introducing a new storyline to PC and consoles soon

For more information, visit tinyBuild’s official website and follow @tinyBuild on X (formerly Twitter).

About tinyBuild

tinyBuild started as an indie game developer and morphed into a developer-publisher you can't miss. Our dedication to creating long-term partnerships and elevating recognizable franchises has resulted in many successful collaborations with talented developers from all over the world. The company has released dozens of games, including Hello Neighbor, Graveyard Keeper, SpeedRunners, and more. Although headquartered in the Seattle Area, USA, the company has established a strong global presence with studios across the US, Netherlands, Latvia, and throughout Eastern Europe.

For more information, visit: https://www.tinybuild.com/

Article by: Susan N.

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Crime Simulator Demo Available on Steam!

May 13th, 2024 - Robberies, assaults and gangster hijinks - that's just part of what Crime Simulator, the new game from the makers of the bestselling Thief Simulator 2, has to offer. Crime Simulator will allow both to make a criminal career alone, as well as joint actions in co-op mode (up to 4 criminals). The PC release of the game can be expected in 2024/2025, with PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo console versions also planned. A free prologue of the game is available now on PC.

The Polish studio CookieDev, best known for the bestselling Thief Simulator 2, is working on Crime Simulator. Ultimate Games S.A. will be the publisher of the game on PC and consoles.

Crime Simulator is a unique simulator of criminal underworld activities with a first-person perspective (FPS) view. The game offers single-player and online co-op modes for up to 4 people at a time. The gameplay broadly depicts criminal life, also relying on elements known from other game genres.

A criminal career includes in Crime Simulator not only carrying out bandit jobs (such as theft and debt recovery) and fighting, but also, among other things, collecting raw materials, developing characters, upgrading equipment or gaining the right reputation among the factions present in the game.

"In Crime Simulator, players will find a fresh take on action simulators. It's a game created both for players who prefer solo gameplay and those who like to interact with others. Among other things, the title will offer a new approach to combat, a system of gangster factions and, above all, gameplay that includes many intriguing and diverse elements." - says COO of Ultimate Games S.A., Rafal Jelonek.

As of May 10, a free demo of the game is now available on Steam. In Crime Simulator: Prologue, players will find one smaller settlement with a construction zone and an abandoned farm that serves as a hideout for gangsters. The full version of the game will feature three larger settlements, desert areas on the outskirts of Mexico, national park areas in Canada and several additional locations, among others. The CookieDev team is also working on a whole lot of additional content.

In Crime Simulator, many tools await players to use in criminal actions. The developers offer, among others, baseball bats, crowbars, rods, wrenches, knuckles, knives, telescopic batons, pistols and various types of bombs and grenades. Specialized traps and turrets will also be available for use.

Crime Simulator - Main Features:

• make a career in the criminal underworld;
• execute orders and gain fame;
• act alone or in cooperation (up to 4 criminals);
• use a wide arsenal of weapons;
• collect raw materials and create equipment.

The game is tentatively scheduled for release on PC (Steam) in 2024/2025. Crime Simulator will later also hit PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.

Crime Simulator (Steam): https://store.steampowered.com/app/2737070/Crime_Simulator/

Crime Simulator: Prologue (Steam): https://store.steampowered.com/app/2928280/Crime_Simulator_Prologue/

Article by: Susan N.

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Final Factory - PC (Steam) Review

Final Factory by developer and publisher Never Games Limited—PC (Steam) review written by Susan N. with a copy provided by the publisher.


Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

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New Bullet Hell Available as a Demo on Steam!

Zurich, Switzerland - May 9, 2024 – David Stark and Metaroot have revealed the brotatolike Airships: Lost Flotilla. A demo is now available on Steam for Windows and Linux. Fight your way through waves of enemies on your way to a safe harbour. Destroy your foes, harvest wreckage, and upgrade your ship.

Engage enemies with different attack patterns and abilities. Fight massive boss monsters that require cunning and firepower to defeat.

Pick the slow but powerful Battleship, the nimble Copter, or the Science Vessel with its railgun and energy shield. Build a strategy around their strengths and weaknesses. Don’t feel the need to ever stop? The Megaplane will suit you. Want to build a mighty fleet? Start with the Flagship.

Improve your ship with training for your crew, more armor plating, or senior officers. Pick a doctrine to gain its advantages: terrify your enemies, dodge incoming attacks, make your money through trade. Find powerful combinations that lay waste to your enemies.

Unlock captains for your ship that give you powerful advantages and disadvantages and change the rules of your game.

Temples and monoliths as well as more familiar ports float in the skies, changing the game rules in parts of the map. Disadvantage your enemies and boost your abilities with careful positioning.

About David Stark

David Stark is an indie game developer from Zurich, where he lives with his partners and two orange cats. He's known for Airships: Conquer the Skies, a cult steampunk real-time strategy game. Apart from making games, he co-founded and co-organises Swiss Game Hub, an incubator for Swiss game developers. In his copious free time, he reads history books and makes pottery.

About Metaroot

Metaroot is a small publisher and marketing agency based in Zurich, Switzerland. Metaroot has published the nature simulation city builder "Of Life and Land" and will publish the brotatolike "Airships: Lost Flotilla" and the city builder roguelike "AUTARKIS".

Article by: Susan N.

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Check Out the 1.0 Release of Fabledom Today!

Montpellier, France - May 3, 2024 - Two people indie studio Grenaa Games, in collaboration with publisher Dear Villagers, is happy to announce that, after an intense year in Early Access, more than 2.800 player reviews, 89% of them positive, more than 150.000 copies sold and more than 330.000 wishlists gathered, the enchanting cozy kingdom of Fabledom will be reaching its PC 1.0 form this May 13 on, being ready for players from the 5 continents to settle, build, trade and use their diplomacy (or even amourous!) skills! 

Set in a fairytale kingdom of trolls, knights and princesses, Fabledom offers a warm and optimistic approach to city-building games. Having recently launched the captivating update, "A Wedding in a Chateau" on Steam Early Access, players have already begun to explore the new mechanics and structures introduced, such as the prestigious Castle and the romantic Feasting Hall. Here, they can set off on the ultimate romantic journey, culminating in a memorable wedding ceremony. Console releases are also on the horizon, ensuring that players of all platforms can partake in the magic, sometime later this year.

Once upon a Village... Set in a wholesome fairytale world, Fabledom is the ideal laid back City builder. Enjoy the growth of your settlement, trade and use diplomacy to ally or challenge your neighbors, and most importantly, find yourself a prince or princess and live happily ever after!

Press Reception

"There's something so quirky and delightful about Fabledom, and it's got so much promise." - Gamesradar

"The whole thing is sickeningly cute, I also really dig the customisation aspects of the game." - Kotaku

"The setup is a breath of fresh air in the city-building genre that 'The Settlers' enthusiasts will certainly appreciate." - Nordlivpodcast

"Fabledom is a lot of fun, it's beautiful to look at, and it has a lot of promise as a charming little city builder." - PCGamer

KEY FEATURES

Create your Kingdom from scratch and fill it with castles, barracks, farms, fields, houses and more! 

Customize your buildings to your liking, with a variety of decorations and utilities available to create the coziest and most functional village in the entire Kingdom! 

Gather your Army, choose your Champion and defend your Kingdom against evil neighbors and minions. Or go forth and conquer, sending your Hero to fight on your behalf on a powerful quest to collect epic items and gear!

Find a Princess or Prince Charming and marry for love! Or money! "Diplomacy" is the name of the game in feudal times, and Fabledom's extensive negotiation mechanics allow you to unite out of mutual interest - or battle for dominance!

ABOUT GRENAA STUDIO

Grenaa Games is a brand-new studio based in Sweden. This game is their first official title and is being developed by only 2 people. The company hopes to make games that focus on fun and charm, that can help bring joy to people’s lives!

ABOUT DEAR VILLAGERS

Based in the South of France, in sunny Montpellier, we are a boutique publishing label composed of a team of twenty people. Open-minded and versatile, Dear Villagers offers handcrafted marketing and production guidance. Our mission: We tell memorable stories through memorable games. We love pixels, but we believe in people.

Article by: Susan N.

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World War III RTS 'Warno' Releases May 23rd on Steam!

May 7th, 2024 - Paris, France |  Eugen Systems have announced that Warno, their highly acclaimed World War III battle simulator RTS, is launching into version 1.0 on May 23rd, 2024 for PC on Steam. 

Warno (Warning Order) is a systems deep, highly immersive real-time strategy game from the famed RTS developers behind the Steel Division and Wargame franchises. Set in alternate 1980’s during the final years of the Cold War where instead of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Third World War unfolds between NATO and the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact forces. 

Compose your army from a massive pool of infantry, armor, support, artillery, air, and logistics unit types. Then strategically deploy and control your forces as you balance multiple battlefield factors that come as close to real warfare as possible.

Waring Issue Ordered / Release Date Trailer: 

Authentic Realism in Gameplay and Multiple Modes

Meticulously researched and painstakingly recreated, over 1000 historically accurate units are available to pick from, thus creating armies that each have their own unique strengths and weaknesses. Take on the role of army commander for the U.S., West Germany, United Kingdom, France, the Soviet Union or East Germany in various modes from single-player campaigns, online competitive or online cooperative that can range from 1v1 to to 10v10 battles.

What Comes with V1.0

Version 1.0 launches with a mass of changes but most notably a fully fleshed-out single-player campaign (4 unique army general campaigns), enemy AI upgrades and various overhauls to some of the most popular maps.

Strong Numbers Already Amassed

Since launching into Early Access in January 2022, Warno has amassed a strong player base with 250 000+ copies already sold and is currently rated 82% positive on Steam from 7400+ reviews. Eugene Systems will also be supporting the game with long-term post-launch support, something they have proven themselves in doing with the level of support given to their previous titles, Steel Division 2 and Wargame: Red Dragon which still today garner regular daily player numbers in the 1000's.

 

Gameplay Trailer: 

Game Features

• Experience in-depth and realistic real-time strategy Cold War-era warfare. From tactics to technology and hundreds of painstakingly researched and recreated military units from NATO’s and Warsaw Pact’s arsenals.
• Get to know each unit in detail in Armory, and use this knowledge to your advantage as you build, customize and fine-tune each unique battlegroup.
• Witness a battlefield of highly detailed environments and brutal destruction. The latest incarnation of Eugen’s proprietary engine simulates modern combat to the fullest extent.
• Take on maps and missions in either solo, competitive online or cooperative Each map has a unique set of objectives with a dynamic frontline that directly results in one side’s victory or defeat.
• Battle against a smart and truly challenging AI or pit your tactics and strategy against other players, from ranked 1v1 to all-encompassing 10v10 battles.
• Dive into do-or-die Operations or the massive turn-based Army General strategic campaigns depicting some of the hardest-fought “what if” scenarios of a Cold War turned hot. Massive Warsaw Pact armies square off against the NATO formations for a vicious fight across Western Europe.
• Taking advantage of Eugen Systems’ game experience and previous titles,  a host of quality-of-life enhancements will appeal to new and veteran players alike, from issuing commands during pre-combat deployment to AI-assisted Smart Orders.

Article by: Susan N.

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Will You Survive in a Medieval Survival Game?

MONTREAL – April 30, 2024 – Haenir Studio and Behaviour Interactive are excited to announce their official partnership to bring Blight: Survival™ to life. First revealed in 2022, the much buzzed-about medieval action-horror co-op survival game pits up to four players against monsters and men in a visceral fight to destroy the source of the Blight, a deadly affliction that plagues the land. 

“Teaming up with Behaviour Interactive signals the next major phase of development for Blight: Survival,” said Haenir Studio Co-Founder, Mads Christensen. “With Blight: Survival, we set out to deliver an ambitious and unique experience for players. Being able to utilize Behaviour’s resources, expertise, and horror pedigree will be instrumental in bringing our vision to life. We’re thrilled to kick off this journey together.”

Blight: Survival takes place in the no man’s land between two desperate kingdoms locked in a ceaseless war. Within this realm of death and decay, a new strain of Blight has erupted from the remains of the fallen. Fed and strengthened by the blood that’s been spilled, it rapidly spreads – turning man into monster. 

“As a game we were already looking forward to playing ourselves, we couldn’t be happier about this collaboration,” shared Stephen Mulrooney, Executive Vice President at Behaviour Interactive. “Working with talented studios like Haenir Studio in this type of partnership will be a focus for us as we look to publish more and more external games in the coming years. This is the start of something new and exciting for Behaviour, and we’ll be keeping our eyes open for interesting opportunities.”

While Blight: Survival does not currently have a release date, Haenir Studio and Behaviour Interactive are eager to share more details about the game and its ongoing development in the future.

In the meantime, players interested in learning more or being first in line for all the latest Blight: Survival news can join the official Discord and wishlist the game on Steam. 

 

About Haenir

Haenir Studio is a small independent game IP development company located in Scandinavia, who thrive to create immersive, exhilarating and fun gaming experiences.

For more information, visit www.haenir.com.

About Behaviour Interactive

Behaviour Interactive is the largest Canadian gaming studio, with more than 1,300 employees worldwide. Behaviour is best known for its flagship franchise, the multiplayer survival horror game Dead by Daylight™, which has entertained 60 million players across multiple platforms. The studio is currently expanding its portfolio of original IP with multiple projects, including the acclaimed building and raiding title Meet Your Maker™. Behaviour has also established itself as one of the world’s leading providers of external development services.  

The company has partnered with many of the gaming industry’s leaders, including Microsoft, Sony, EA, Warner, Netflix, and Take-Two, among many others. Over 30 years, Behaviour has developed an unparalleled, award-winning culture. The company was named one of the Best Places to Work in Canada by GamesIndustry.biz, and has been recognized with Deloitte Canada’s Enterprise Fast 15 and Best Managed Company awards. Headquartered in Montreal, Behaviour has expanded its global presence with studios in Toronto (Behaviour Toronto), Seattle (Midwinter Entertainment), the United Kingdom (Behaviour UK - North and Behaviour UK - South) and the Netherlands (Behaviour Rotterdam).  

For more information, visit www.bhvr.com.

BLIGHT : SURVIVAL: © 2022 and BEHAVIOUR, BLIGHT : SURVIVAL and other related trademarks and logos belong to Behaviour Interactive Inc. All rights reserved.

Article by: Susan N.

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Race to the Finish is Ultimate Godspeed on Steam!

Zurich, Switzerland - April 29, 2024 – Ninoko announced that Ultimate Godspeed is set to launch on Steam on May 27th ($12.99) for PC and macOS. This party racing game is all about modifying the racetrack. Place unique items on the level and bring chaos to the race! Use different objects like ramps, platforms, holes or mischievous traps. Freeze other players with the ice patch, kill them with deadly rotating saw blades, or obscure their sight with oily surfaces.

Ultimate Godspeed is set in a universe ruled by different tribes of gods: There are gods that command the winds, nature, technology, or even death. The player controls one of the divine champions, chosen for the Kagashi Festival. A racing event in honour of the gods.

The players race from point A to point B while collecting points. Each round starts with the players choosing from an assortment of randomly generated items. The chosen items are then placed all over the level by the players.

Items in Ultimate Godspeed are objects like ramps, platforms, holes or traps like an ice patch where you lose control, deadly rotating saw blades or oily surfaces which can obscure the player’s sight. These items allow for different playstyles like building shortcuts, blockades or chaotic death traps.

After placing the items, the players race. They can drift, boost or jump across the level, while evading traps and using shortcuts. 

A round ends when all players reached the goal. They are then rewarded with points for rank, speed and traps. They can even lose points. 

This process then repeats, while items from previous rounds remain, which leads to fascinating new ways to traverse the level or just utter chaos.

The goal is pretty simple: The player with the most points wins.

Links

Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1435750/Ultimate_Godspeed/

Website: https://ultimate-godspeed.com/

About Ninoko

Ninoko is an independent game studio based in Zurich. Founded by Pierre Lippuner, Jan Schneider and Denise Hohl in fall of 2020, the studio is currently working on their first official release. The team is also a part of the mentorship program of the Swiss Game Hub. The three members graduated from the Game Design bachelor at the ZHdK in summer 2020 and have collaborated on different game and interactive media projects in the past. They all are generalists who can find their way around programming, animation and art with different specialisations.

Article by: Susan N.

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Bake Delicious Goodies in Baking Time on the Nintendo Switch!

April 29th - Warsaw, Poland | QubicGames has announced that Baking Time by CrazyLabs will be released for the Nintendo Switch on May 3rd.

Baking Time

Stack all kinds of mouth-watering baked goods, from croissants to cookie hearts and everything in between!

Grab your spatula, lift the baked goods out of the oven, and put them on display so that customers can buy them! With a steady stream of hungry customers waiting in line, it's up to you to deliver their orders quickly and efficiently!

Satisfy your customers and earn money that you can spend to hire additional staff and expand your bakery! Unlock new recipes and serve even more delicious pastries!

Need a helping hand? Invite your friend to play in local co-op mode and expand your bakery to the next level! Grab your aprons and get ready to bake up a storm in Baking Time together!

Features:

• Bake over 30 different pastries that your customers won't resist!
• Collect baked goods with a spatula and put them on the display to sell them!
• Operate the cash register and satisfy your customers' appetites!
• Earn tons of money to unlock new levels of your bakery!
• Hire staff to help you collect the baked goods much faster!
• Unlock 32 adorable animals that boost the cash you and your bakers collect!
• Upgrade your character and workers to walk faster or carry more pastries!
• Perform baker's tasks and claim your rewards
• Prepare baked goods for special large orders!
• Feed your cookie monsters to get money each second
• Use the teleport to move faster between levels
• Get caught up in the cooking fever and try not to get hungry!

So what are you waiting for? Keep those ovens hot and bake on!

About CrazyLabs

CrazyLabs is a top-three mobile game publisher and developer with over 6.5 billion downloads and more than 250 million monthly active players in the hyper-casual, hybrid, and casual gaming space. Check out our best games here.

Article by: Susan N.

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Witchfire - PC Preview

Witchfire by developer and publisher The Astronauts—PC preview written by Robert with a copy provided by the publisher.

 

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

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This game is witched-good fun... Sorry, wicked-good fun. Fast-paced and beautiful, Witchfire by The Astronauts is a snappy little extraction shooter that has recently been getting a bit more attention. Currently available on the Epic Games Store, Witchfire puts you in the shoes of a Preyer after the end of a war that saw witches defeat humanity. Preyers are a special soldier of faith charged with venturing into the wilds to hunt down artefacts and do what you can to survive the onslaught of the witches. 

Combining roguelike elements with the frenetic combat of an extraction shooter, Witchfire manages to come out with something truly unique in a post-Tarkov world. Though it's still in Early Access, Witchfire is perhaps one of the best-optimized games I've played in years. Gorgeous, responsive, and simply FUN to play, Witchfire is most certainly one to keep your eye on.

Not being the biggest fan of PvP (I'll throw down in games where PvP can happen but isn't the focus, think Star Citizen or Elite: Dangerous, but I prefer cooperative play over competitive), I was fairly late to the extraction shooter shooter genre. I've always loved the idea of an extraction shooter- diving into ruins or wild territory with nothing more than what's on your back, scrounge, scavenge, survive, then extract while gathering resources to improve your base defenses. One of the biggest struggles for me, though, was finding a title that had more of a solo or co-op PvE experience that ticked most of the boxes. While I absolutely adore everything about Zero Sievert, Witchfire is scratching the extraction itch in all the best ways.

Worldcrafting mystic toxicity...

Given the early stages of development, worldcrafting in Witchfire is currently fairly minimal, however I think that what's there is the start of something wonderful. The setting having a post-apocalyptic Salem Witch Trials-gone-awry mixed with the frenetic almost Souls-like combat actually marries the Puritanical + Inquisition themes and designs REALLY well. At first I was a bit skeptical of the aesthetic as I'm not a big fan of the pilgrim-esque designs of the 17th century Americas but the dark, almost mystically-toxic designs found throughout the world make it weirdly... inviting. It may be because amidst the open corridors of the map, the game feels wildly like Yarnham from Bloodborne. 

The feeling is just right and continues to pull you in- as you work through a run, clearing the various spaces, a golden glimmer appears that feels inviting and warm, but then it dawns on you that the Witch's attention is starting to become more focused on you. When that happens, all hell breaks loose and it's a mad scramble to the nearest portal. There is a simple darkness to the environmental/world building found in Witchfire that is both new and nostalgic at the same time so it will be with baited breath that I wait for more lore from The Astronauts.

Designing a colorful apocalypse...

With the atmosphere established by the deceptively foreboding world design and environmental storytelling, The Astronauts draped a contradictively-bright veneer over the world. While not as bright as a title like Battlestate Games' Escape from Tarkov, Witchfire's pallette is clean, clear, and absolutely stunning to see. I think it's important to note that I'm quite colorblind so I do use ReShade to adjust the colors of a title, however... it's honestly not needed in my eyes. There is a smoothness to the art in Witchfire and I'm not referring to the weird, smoothed-out effect that occurs with AI-generated content. This is more that the huts and wheelbarrows, shrines, chests, and trees all smoothly interconnect to create this clean, flowing design that is mesmerizing at times. 

Pairing the smooth and vibrant aesthetic with the sickly black and red effects caused by Witchfire creates a striking difference between the corporeal and the mystic. It's honestly one of my favorite-looking games and am eternally sad that there isn't a photo mode given my love for all things virtual photography. I will always encourage single-player titles to offer tools for players to show off / show appreciation or pride in accomplishment and a photo mode is an awesome way to bring that connective value.

Agency of motion...

The United States Navy SEALs have a message that they ingrain into their member is, "Slow is smooth, smooth is fast" and Witchfire is an excellent representation of that creed. Motion, while it is quick, near twitch-shooter levels of speed at times, but there is a fluidity to it that slows the action down. When first dropping in there is this sense of motion that makes you feel, "I gotta go fast!" But then you start moving, and smoothly through the level you start to realize that movement feels like Mirror's Edge and Doom (2016) had a witch-filled child. 

This is by no means a bad thing; it adds a weight to your movement that feels good- it's slow enough that using your short dodge or double-jump to evade an attack is rewarding but not easy. Combine that with the meaty "thunk" you get with your firearms (Hunger, a revolver is most certainly my favorite as it hits like a Mac truck and just sounds mean) or the sizzling crackle you get when you're hurling fireballs and it almost feels like a dance. Once you begin to get the rhythm of your weapons down and you begin to pair them with the optimal distances for damage, Witchfire truly begins to sing.

Hear where you go...

With the punchy sounding firearms and an incredibly eerie-sounding witch voice (seriously- there is this deep, guttural growl is just amazing) however, sound is where I feel that we could see greater improvement. In part due to bugs- there are plenty of times where the music would start to swell and feel all, "oh dear, hear we go again" only to run around for five minutes not finding any enemies. It's also fairly typical in a modern tactical / extraction shooter to have audio cues for when you're running low on ammo and Witcfire is no different. However, the "click click" that appears as a magazine is almost out and needing to be reloaded... sounds really plastic-y. Almost like you're reloading an old plastic NERF toy that's on it's last legs. It's fairly jarring, given the thick, meaty sounds you hear when a fireball lands on an explosive enemy, or when you punch that damn pikeman that won't leave you alone ... then there's "click click." Given the Early Access nature of Witchfire, though, I'm absolutely confident that The Astronauts will continue to iterate and grow its audio cues and while it's annoying, it's not game-breaking.

Enjoy what you have...

Witchfire by The Astronauts is impressive, engrossing in its design, and one of my more excitable titles. It may be the thick atmosphere of fear that's permeating every step of your Preyer, or the sickeningly red witchfire that you collect, I don't really know but I love it as it has its hooks in deep. Snappy gunplay, wonderful optimization, with interesting environmental storytelling, and a theme not often seen in games these days. While the audio does, at times, leave much to be desired, overall the experience I had in Witchfire is incredibly positive so be sure to check it out for yourself at: https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/witchfire-db273e.

 

 

Score: N/A  

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