'Life of Delta' is a post-apocalyptic adventure game that takes you on a journey through a world where humans are extinct and robots rule.

The game's protagonist, a service robot named Delta, embarks on a mission to rescue his friend Joe, who has been captured by the authoritarian hog police.

The game's environment is beautifully hand-drawn, with settings ranging from a desert reminiscent of Tatooine from Star Wars to a Megacity characterized by tall skyscrapers and industrial ruins. The music, an electronic score with Asian influences, complements the game's atmosphere perfectly.

The gameplay revolves around completing tasks for other characters and solving puzzles, which range from easy to challenging. Some puzzles are enjoyable, like making sushi or directing laser beams, while others can be frustrating due to a lack of clear indicators or logic.

The game's story is a bit thin, and the game time is only about four hours. Despite its flaws, 'Life of Delta' is visually impressive, and with its soundtrack and most of its puzzles, it's worth a passing evening. The Delta character alone is worth experiencing just for his charm.

The game can be controlled with either a mouse or a gamepad, but both methods have their drawbacks. There is no hint system, but a journal is available to keep track of tasks and dialogue.

In conclusion, 'Life of Delta' is a visually appealing game with a unique setting and interesting characters. However, it falls short in terms of story depth and puzzle complexity.

'Life of Delta' receives 7 out of 10 Megacities on the Reddometer, with the presentation and visuals scoring on the high end, while the general gameplay experience brings the score down.

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Embark on a journey through a vast post-apocalyptic environment, full of interesting characters and engaging puzzle games in this sci-fi point-and-click adventure game.

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Life of Delta

Embark on a journey through a vast post-apocalyptic world

Nintendo of Europe GmbH

Life of Delta

Life of Delta is a point-and-click adventure game set in a post-apocalyptic world. After the Great War, all humans are wiped out. The only survivors are decaying service robots and humanoid lizards that were born from a long nuclear fallout. Our story follows Delta, who is a small service robot a…

Buy Life of Delta | Xbox

Life of Delta is a point-and-click adventure game set in a post-apocalyptic world. After the Great War, all humans are wiped out. The only survivors are decaying service robots and humanoid lizards that were born from a long nuclear fallout. Our story follows Delta, who is a small service robot a…

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In the wide world of video games, 'Dredge' by Black Salt Games is a special mix of fishing fun and spooky storytelling. This game is perfect for those who love mystery, engaging gameplay, and a bit of eerie storytelling.

'Dredge' is a single-player game that combines fishing adventure with elements of Lovecraftian horror. The gameplay involves fishing, laying crab pots, and dredging for materials, all while solving puzzles and following a story that requires attention to detail. You, as a player, must manage your cargo hold, fitting various items into a limited space, and deal with fish spoilage and potential loss of cargo due to hull damage. Time in the game is tied to your actions, and the danger escalates at night when panic levels increase, attracting otherworldly threats.

Discovering the Ocean Secrets

In 'Dredge,' you become a mariner whose journey starts with a boat crash in Greater Marrow. The game is quick to teach you the basics of boat controls and fishing without dragging you through long tutorials. This means you can jump right into the adventure without any unnecessary explanations.

Fishing Fun

Fishing in 'Dredge' is simple yet enjoyable. Look for disturbed water spots to find potential catches, and each fish type comes with its own fun mini-game. There's a spooky twist with aberrations – corrupted fish with creepy forms that add to the game's eerie vibe.

Dredging and Making Upgrades

Apart from fishing, players also get into dredging, a game where you collect materials for ship upgrades. Upgrades become essential as managing your inventory gets more important. The game cleverly balances the excitement of exploring with the need to upgrade, making progress smooth.

Facing Nighttime Dangers

When night falls in 'Dredge,' danger levels rise. Visibility drops, and panic-inducing situations increase. Bright lights become crucial for navigating and warding off scary creatures. The panic mechanics make nighttime decisions critical, adding an extra layer of suspense.

Captivating Design and Storytelling

'Dredge' stands out with its visually stunning world featuring clean, low-poly designs. The eerie soundtrack complements the immersive atmosphere, setting the stage for a story full of mysteries. The Collector character adds depth to the main questline by involving cursed items.

Island Adventures and Characters

The real charm of the game lies in exploring islands and meeting interesting characters. Split into five main areas, each island chain introduces unique quests and characters. The yellow quests, in particular, stand out by adding depth to the overall story.

A Perfect Mix of Gameplay, Sound, and Graphics

'Dredge' strikes a perfect balance between spooky and relaxing. The well-crafted audio, including seagull cries and water splashing, enhances the immersive experience. The stylized visuals, a mix of low-poly landscapes and detailed characters, add to the game's overall charm.

The Pale Reach DLC

The DLC, 'The Pale Reach,' adds more excitement with an ice-themed biome and extra challenges. 'Dredge' has received excellent reviews, praised for its unique gameplay, captivating design, and engaging storytelling. It's a must-play for fishing fans, story-driven game lovers, and anyone looking for a memorable gaming experience.

Praise for 'Dredge'

In the world of indie games, 'Dredge' shines as a great example of creativity and mixing different game elements. It invites players to enjoy a spooky fishing adventure, where the mysteries of the ocean blend with eerie horrors, making it a standout release in the indie gaming world this year.

'Dredge' scores a solid 8.5 weird fish on Reddometer, and is my Indie Game of the Year for 2023.

Availability

The game is available on multiple gaming platforms, including PC, Xbox Platforms, PlayStation 4/5, and Nintendo Switch.

Save 25% on DREDGE on Steam

DREDGE is a single-player fishing adventure with a sinister undercurrent. Sell your catch, upgrade your boat, and dredge the depths for long-buried secrets. Explore a mysterious archipelago and discover why some things are best left forgotten.

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DREDGE

Captain your fishing trawler to explore a collection of remote isles, and their surrounding depths, to see what lies below. Sell your catch to the locals and complete quests to learn more about each area’s troubled past. Outfit your boat with better equipment to trawl deep-sea trenches and navigate…

Buy DREDGE | Xbox

DREDGE is a single-player fishing adventure with a sinister undercurrent. Sell your catch, upgrade your boat, and dredge the depths for long-buried secrets. Explore a mysterious archipelago and discover why some things are best left forgotten.

GO TO GAME

DREDGE

A single-player fishing adventure with a sinister undercurrent.

Nintendo of Europe GmbH

The Official Blurb

In DREDGE, step into the boots of a down-on-their-luck fisherman and explore a collection of remote islands while scouring the surrounding depths for a variety of fish and valuable, deep-sea curios. Once your trawler is full, sell your spoils while completing quests and unravelling more about each area’s peculiar denizens. Reinforce your vessel, skills, and knowledge to dredge deeper and reach more secluded lands, but keep a close eye on the time. You might not like what finds you in the dark…

Key Features

• Unravel a Mystery: Captain your fishing trawler across a collection of remote islands, each with its own inhabitants to meet, wildlife to discover, and stories to unearth
• Dredge the Depths: Scour the sea for hidden treasures and complete quests to gain access to strange new abilities
• Study Your Craft: Research special equipment and upgrade your boat’s capabilities to gain access to rare fish and valuable deep-sea curios
• Fish to Survive: Sell your discoveries to the locals to learn more about each area, and upgrade your boat to reach even more secluded locations
• Fight the Unfathomable: Strengthen your mind and use special abilities to survive trips out on the water after dark

The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria: A Dwarf's Epic Quest in The Lord of the Rings Universe

In the realm of gaming, where survival crafting titles are as common as arrows in Legolas's quiver, The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria emerges as a rough diamond, a gem that demands your attention despite lacking some much needed polishing.

In the ever-expanding realm of The Lord of the Rings, we find ourselves amidst an intriguing blend of genres, as Return to Moria takes Middle-Earth into the survival-crafting sphere for the very first time. Amidst a sea of gaming adaptations bearing the iconic franchise's name, this latest instalment brings a perspective that beckons fans to delve deep into the underground Dwarven halls of Khazad-dum. Sadly, while it has its moments, Return to Moria does fall short of being a truly groundbreaking masterpiece.

The Quest to Reclaim Khazad-dum

As the sun sets on the events of the original Lord of the Rings series, Return to Moria follows Gimli and his steadfast band of dwarves on a daring quest to reclaim their homeland of Moria, and in turn, restore the ancient kingdom of Khazad-dum. However, their journey takes an unexpected turn as a monumental explosion seals their fate, trapping them within the darkened mines. Players must navigate the labyrinthine tunnels, combating the lingering influence of Sauron and a mysterious corruption that plagues Moria's depths.

Customizing Your Dwarven Hero

Before embarking on this treacherous odyssey, players are afforded the opportunity to create their own unique Lord of the Rings dwarf. While the character creator isn't the most intricate, it provides ample options for those inclined to perfect their virtual Dwarfsona. The ability to modify your character's appearance at will is a welcome touch.

A Subterranean Crafting Adventure

As the game unfolds, players are thrust into the heart of Moria, initially tasked with setting up a foothold, crafting tools, and gathering resources. Survival-crafting enthusiasts will find these mechanics familiar, though Return to Moria manages to infuse them with a distinct Lord of the Rings flavour. Mining resources, while standard in concept, incorporates unique elements such as finding specific foundries to construct advanced equipment and singing serenading mining songs for inspiration.

However, a peculiar decision by the game forces players to mine in predefined directions, rather than embracing the typical freedom of exploration synonymous with the genre. This restriction detracts from the open-ended nature that such games thrive on.

Exploration: Dwarven Heritage Meets Repetition

Exploration is a core part of Return to Moria. Players must uncover destroyed bases and repair crafting equipment, often relying on these remnants until they can construct their own. This demands the creation of multiple bases and extensive cave exploration. While this keeps the player on the move, the monotonous corridors and unexciting biomes can diminish the thrill of exploration.

Monsters of Moria: A Combat Challenge

Combat punctuates the player's journey, with frequent encounters against orcs, bears, wolves, and other nasties. Crafting weapons becomes a necessity, but the combat mechanics lack depth. Players find themselves spamming the attack button with limited variety, lacking the combos and unique moves that would elevate the experience. This leaves battles feeling repetitive, and the enemies show a sameness in their fighting style.

Combat in Return to Moria feels similar to Valheim-style combat mechanics. Various weapon options offer distinct damage types, encouraging adaptable strategies. Hordes of orcs and goblins do create some intense encounters, testing players' ability to manoeuvre and survive.

Base Building Quandaries

Base building also plays an important role in the game, enabling players to construct dwarven huts. Curiously, the game promotes repairing existing bases rather than incentivizing players to create new ones. This choice runs counter to the genre's typically freeform nature, restricting creative building and diminishing player freedom.

Return to Moria Does Fall Short

Return to Moria falls short due to its lack of freedom and its inability to infuse the survival-crafting genre with fresh and captivating gameplay. While enjoyable, especially in co-op with friends, it lacks the memorability that sets it apart from other games within the genre. Save for the Lord of the Rings branding, it struggles to distinguish itself. That said, it is a good few steps ahead of 2023's other LotR game release, the heavily negatively reviewed The Lord of the Rings: Gollum.

A Dwarven Paradise Beckons

It's not all gloom and doom in Moria. The game presents a survival-crafting experience with nice pacing and story lines that do engage at a decent level. It balances challenge without becoming overly frustrating, showing a good understanding of what players look for in a survival game.

Return to Moria offers minimal handholding while still supplying a fair amount of quest guidance and a comprehensive glossary. Progression is satisfying if somewhat slow and repetitive, allowing players to still feel a sense of growth, both for their characters and their bases.

Quality-of-Life Features Shine

The developers have a clear love of the survival-crafting genre, clear in the game's user-friendly features. The segmented map eases exploration, allowing players to easily mark points of interest. Crafting and building are streamlined, letting players create items without needing them in their inventory, provided they have the requisite materials stored nearby.

Varied Bases and Fast Travel

In the early game, players often change bases, using and repairing existing crafting stations. Later a fast travel system is introduced offering more flexibility.

Room for Improvement

While Return to Moria has a number of strong positives, it does fall short in terms of freeform building. Restricting players to crafting simple wooden platforms in new areas inhibits exploration. An expanded building system for emergency camps could enhance the player's experience.

An Unforgettable Journey

In the end, The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria stands as a solid survival-crafting title and an excellent addition to the Lord of the Rings gaming universe. It offers a satisfying gaming experience and should fill some of the void left by Gollum for LotR fans, even if only temporarily or in short bursts.

In Conclusion

In a world brimming with Lord of the Rings content and adaptations, Return to Moria should manage to strike a chord with fans of both the franchise and of survival-crafting games. It explores the depths of Moria with a balanced approach, blending rich lore, user-friendly mechanics, and good combat.

Although not without its flaws, the game holds good value in its current form and pricing. and has already been updated.

Overall, The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria scores a Dwarven song infused 6.5/10 pickaxes.

The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria is currently available on the Epic Games Store. Priced at just R306.99, the game represents an excellent price-to-fun ratio.

The Lord of The Rings Return to Moria | Epic Games Store

Return to Moria will be coming to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles soon and is already seeing updates and patchers:

Version 1.0.2 is just the first of many patches and updates to come, it includes over 120 individual fixes.
Patch 1.0.2 Release Notes | (returntomoria.com)

Developed by Poland based Road Studio SA and published by Movie Games and Green Man Gaming Publishing, Alaskan Road Truckers is a unique game taking place in the ruthless environment of Alaska. It blends the well-known simulator classics with elements of the survival genre into an interesting hybrid driving and survival-lite experience.

Alaskan Road Truckers is more than a simulator. In fact, the developers changed the game's original name from Alaskan Truck Simulator to Road Truckers fairly late in the in development an effort to emphasize that point.

The game is not a truck driving simulator. (Truth be told, the driving mechanics are one of the game's weak points). In Alaskan Road Truckers you aren’t just a truck, you play as a trucker with a focus on life both inside and outside of your vehicle.

Deliver cargo, build a successful business, and get out of your truck to explore Alaska while maintaining your vehicle and taking care of your own health and needs. As you navigate treacherous conditions on the road, remember that your character's well-being is just as crucial as the cargo you're hauling.

Now, I know what you might be thinking. Truck simulators? Meh! But, while titles like Euro Truck Simulator 2, American Truck Simulator, and SnowRunner have already carved their own lanes in the trucking niche, this game takes a different route by infusing role-playing game (RPG) elements into the mix.

Picture this: you're in the picturesque, but also challenging, Alaskan wilderness. The game offers a range of missions, some of which can take up to a whopping three hours to complete! To kick things off, you get to pick one of ten unique characters, each with their own traits and attributes. An introductory video sets the stage, briefing you on the job you're about to tackle. From there, the game guides you through tasks like connecting cables, securing trailer supports, and settling into the driver's seat of your trusty rig.

What sets Alaskan Road Truckers apart are its interactive elements. It's the little things that count, like starting the engine by virtually turning the ignition key. As you complete missions, your parking precision gets graded on a scale of one to five stars. Once the cargo is safely delivered, you unhook the trailer, just as you learned earlier. Then, it's time to submit the tutorial mission to the nearby Job Manager and venture into the vast Alaskan world.

Right around the tutorial area, you've got your headquarters, serving as the central hub for managing your trucking business. You can access a workshop for truck customisation and repairs, and you get your own office. Want to expand? You can do that too, adding facilities like a tire workshop and extra parking areas.

Also, reputation matters. You'll need to build your reputation as a reliable and dependable transport operation before getting access to some of the more complex (and lucrative) jobs available, adding a neat layer of progression to your journey.

You've also got to manage your character's health, hunger, and energy levels. Inside your truck's cabin, you've got a microwave for heating up food, storage for your items, and a bed to catch some Zs and replenish your energy.

And don't forget the occasional truck maintenance – you can open up the hood, fill the vehicle up with required fluids, or even make necessary repairs.

Elements like maintenance abilities are skill tree system based. Alaskan Road Truckers has three separate skill paths: personality, trucking, and mechanical. Each of these paths unlocks various upgrades and improvements, and you earn experience within a specific path by performing relevant actions. For example, fixing up your truck earns you experience points in the mechanical tree.

Alaskan Road Truckers isn't without its quirks and issues though. The game's world may seem a tad empty, lacking pedestrians, and AI-controlled vehicles can sometimes go a bit haywire, blocking your path.

The driving experience, while engaging, falls short of the high standards set by other, truer simulation titles. The steering feels very limited, and there are some hiccups with truck handling, especially when switching between drive and reverse in an automatic gearbox.

Realism also takes a backseat in some cases. For example, unlike games like Euro Truck Simulator, in Alaskan Road Truckers you won't get penalised for exceeding speed limits or even running red lights, which dampens the realism and the challenge. There are also a few rough edges in terms of animation during tasks like refueling and connecting cables to the trailer. Game optimisation also needs improving. And the game would benefit greatly from a solid graphics pass to iron out some of the graphical glitches.

To be fair, the development team is seemingly committed to make improvements, with two patches released within the first 48 hours of the game's launch. With more attention and updates, Alaskan Road Truckers could transform into a really trucking title. It could perhaps have benefitted from an Early Access release initially, to allow the developers to work on those improvements without the added pressure of having to fix things for a full release.    

Whether you're a seasoned truck simulator fan or a curious newcomer, this game could be your ticket to the rugged Alaskan frontier, with its blend of realism and role-playing. So, buckle up, and see where the snowy roads of Alaska take take you!

Fans can also load up with additional PC content with the Mother Trucker Edition DLC, available to purchase now for a limited time only. The Mother Truckers Edition lets aspiring truckers conquer the Alaskan frontier and show off their badass style with a brand new, tattooed character and some cool upgrades for their truck.

The DLC content includes:
• A badass new character with tats to match
• ‘Flaming Hot’ truck decals
• The hottest hood ornaments in Alaska
• The ‘Cattle-Killer 5000’ grill
• ‘Climate Changer’ exhaust
• The ‘Ultra Deluxe’ cab light set

Verdict:

If you're looking for a driving experience that is as truck simulator focused as Euro Truck Simulator or American Truck Simulator with an Alaskan Ice Road Truckers skin, this isn't it.

Alaskan Road Truckers slightly flawed large truck driving mechanics are offset by the addition of the survival-lite life mechanics that make the game an interesting hybrid. Take it for what it is from the outset and the game will not only satisfy, but it will also grow on you as it improves and is enhanced with more content.

Alaskan Road Truckers scores a Wide Load 7 / 10 on the Reddometer.

Alaskan Road Truckers is out now on PC via Steam and is Coming Soon™ on Xbox Series X|S & PlayStation 5, and for PC on the Epic Games Store.

Buy Alaskan Road Truckers:

Available with outstanding value Regional Pricing for South Africa at just R200 for the base game and R232 for the Mother Truckers Edition.

Alaskan Road Truckers on Steam

Experience life in the definitive trucker simulator. Deliver cargo to make your business a success. Get out of your truck to explore Alaska while maintaining your vehicle and preparing for treacherous conditions on the road. Have you got what it takes to become an Alaskan trucking legend?

STEAM

Alaskan Road Truckers: Mother Truckers Edition on Steam

STEAM

Also at Green Man Gaming for the same prices, if you want to collect some GMG XP at the same time.

Alaskan Road Truckers | PC - Steam | Game Keys

Pick up your Alaskan Road Truckers PC copy from Green Man Gaming today and remember to sign in for our best price.

Green Man Gaming

Alaskan Road Truckers: Mother Truckers Edition | PC - Steam | Game Keys

Pick up your Alaskan Road Truckers: Mother Truckers Edition PC copy from Green Man Gaming today and remember to sign in for our best price.

Green Man Gaming

More Info:

Developer narrated gameplay preview:

Alaskan Road Truckers (@alaskanroadtruckers) on Threads

Coming soon on PC, XBOX & PlaystationBe a trucker, not a truck! Step into the boots of Alaskan truck drivers in a game by Road Studio 🚛. 37 Followers.

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In the shadowy corridors of the Clarington Hotel, a world shrouded in mystery lies hidden. This Bed We Made invites you to step back in time to February 1958. In this immersive third-person narrative mystery game, you play as Sophie, a hotel housekeeper with an insatiable curiosity. As you go about your daily routine in the hotel, an eerie light spills out from Room 505 setting the stage for a mesmerizing tale of intrigue and suspense.

This Bed We Made, developed by Lowbirth Games, offers a unique twist on the mystery detective game genre by immersing players in a neo-noir narrative full of intrigue and suspense. Set in the late 1950s, the game introduces Sophie, a housekeeper at the Clarington Hotel in Montreal, who can't resist the allure of snooping through guests' belongings during her cleaning duties. While this premise may seem morally questionable, it immediately draws players into an engrossing storyline.

The narrative unfolds as Sophie steps into Room 505, a pivotal moment that sparks the central mystery. The bathroom of the room has been transformed into a makeshift darkroom, with incriminating photos of Sophie herself snooping around guests' belongings. While she's been snooping on the guests, a guest has been snooping on her!

Alongside the photos are notes, maps, and mysterious clues, hinting at a looming threat. However, the mystery doesn't stop there. Throughout her cleaning tasks, Sophie uncovers various other intriguing puzzles within the Clarington Hotel.

Room 509, for example, presents the mystery of a troubled couple, with signs of a potential affair. The game masterfully intertwines these seemingly unrelated threads, leaving players to wonder if everything is connected.

The game isn't just about snooping and playing detective, though. Sophie remains true to her role as a hotel housekeeper, and players must engage in various cleaning tasks, such as tidying bathrooms, making beds, emptying trash cans, and collecting used glassware.

This is where player choices come into play, as the game suggests that your actions will have consequences. Decisions like cleaning graffiti in the staff area or disposing of notes can impact the employment status of certain staff members, revealing hidden agendas within the hotel. Early in the game, the choice to not mop up the water from a leaking pipe causes a hotel colleague to injure themselves. This interactivity adds depth to the game but leaves players to ponder the consequences of their choices.

While some actions do have meaningful repercussions, others might feel less impactful, such as discarding cigarettes found in a fellow maid's locker. Nevertheless, the freedom to meddle in these affairs provides a layer of moral decision-making within the game.

In the process of unraveling the mysteries of the Clarington Hotel, players must solve cleverly integrated puzzles, crack safe codes, decode encryptions, and find combinations to unlock suitcases and vanity boxes. Sophie's inner monologue offers guidance if players find themselves stuck, but this feature can be disabled for a more challenging experience.

One limitation of the game is the relatively small number of areas that can be explored. Not every guest room is accessible, although exceptions exist. However, within the areas players can access, they have the freedom to explore every drawer and cupboard, creating an engaging and immersive experience.

This Bed We Made offers multiple endings, influenced by player choices and investigative skills. To experience the full narrative, players must follow all possible leads and thoroughly explore the intriguing story, which takes unexpected turns and provides a sense of mystery and excitement.

From a technical standpoint, the game runs smoothly for the most part, with few graphical glitches or performance issues. However, some players may encounter frame rate drops, especially on older hardware, which slightly affects the overall experience.

In summary, This Bed We Made is an engaging neo-noir mystery game that seamlessly blends immersive storytelling with voyeurism and puzzle-solving. The game's unique feature of allowing players to explore the lives of its characters through their personal belongings makes it captivating. As Sophie, players can eavesdrop, discover secret messages, rummage through guests' belongings, and piece together an intriguing narrative without getting caught.

This game draws inspiration from cinematic legends like Alfred Hitchcock and combines the elements of classic mystery storytelling with player interactivity, offering a must-play experience for fans of the genre.

This Bed We Made demonstrates the appeal of indulging in curiosity and provides a memorable narrative experience. While the game could benefit from additional content to extend its duration and explore more areas, the Store Page does clearly note that the game plays for just 5-6 hours.

If the premise of uncovering dark secrets while taking on the role of a housekeeper, the allure of neo-noir aesthetics, or a love for unique and immersive storytelling experiences pique your interest, This Bed We Made is a game that you should definitely consider.

The game releases today (1 November) on Steam and PlayStation 5, and on 13 December for Xbox Series X|S & PlayStation 4. A short demo showcasing Sophie's interactions when she first enters Room 505 is available on Steam.

This Bed We Made on Steam

This Bed We Made is a third-person mystery game in which you play as a maid in a 1950s hotel and snoop around strangers’ rooms to uncover their deadly secrets. Discover what links guests together in this tale of love, heartbreak and murder!

STEAM

This Bed We Made

Solve a 1950s neo-noir mystery as an indiscreet hotel maid.

This Bed We Made scores a sparkling clean 8 / 10 on the Reddometer, but if you really insist on other opinions...

This Bed We Made

This Bed We Made is a third-person mystery game in which you play as a maid in a 1950s hotel and snoop around strangers’ rooms to uncover their deadly secrets. Discover what links guests together in this tale of love, heartbreak and murder!

Explore Other BrandsJon Bitner

This Bed We Made

“I love a good mystery, and This Bed We Made has all the trappings of a good classic mystery film [...].” Rebekah Valentine, IGN February 17, 1958. Sophie’s shift at the Clarington Hotel begins...

OpenCriticKim Snaith

"The Bloodline", an ambitious project developed by solo developer ShieldBearerDev, is an interesting new entrant into the open-world fantasy RPG genre. In this article, I take a quick look into the game's unique features, gameplay mechanics, and review its current state as it enters Early Access on Steam.

A Unique Fantasy World

"The Bloodline" immerses players in the world of Eudros, where they step into the shoes of a descendant of the Harbinger bloodline, gifted with the power of foresight. This lineage's purpose is to protect Eudros from the Unforgiven, an ancient enemy threatening to return. The game world is vast, diverse, and filled with unique biomes, including blooming towns, magnificent castles, mysterious lakes, and dangerous dungeons.

What sets "The Bloodline" apart is its emphasis on player freedom. You're not limited by a linear narrative; instead, you can follow the main questline or branch out on your own adventures whenever you'd like. Whether you want to explore, join guilds, hunt magical creatures, or even become a bard at a local tavern, the game offers organic opportunities to experience the world as you desire.

A World of Possibilities

The game's open world is teeming with opportunities and activities. "The Bloodline" boasts over 500 skills, numerous weapons and equipment options, and a plethora of spell combinations.  Nearly every action you do has a level associated with it. From jumping, climbing, and running to ragdolling, wall-running, and swimming. Craft gadgets and equipment, catch rare fish, cook exotic dishes, brew potions, transform yourself into a beast…

The absence of traditional classes grants you the freedom to create a unique character, whether you wish to be a stealthy assassin, a noble paladin, a necromancer with martial arts skills, or an engineer who can transform into animals.

In combat, players can slow down time, making for exhilarating and strategic encounters. This feature allows for creative combat approaches and adds depth to battles.

Incompleteness and Early Access

Despite the game's promise, it is important to note its Early Access status. While "The Bloodline" already offers a solid gaming experience, it does come with its fair share of bugs, unfinished elements, and performance issues. For instance, the UI for inventory management is clunky, and there's a lack of accessibility options. The segmented world, though designed for travel, may feel immersion-breaking for some players.

Despite the early issues, the developer is actively patching and fixing the game, releasing frequent updates in an effort to improve things. This includes three hot-fix patches -two of which were huge- and a Halloween Update in the 20 days since the title was released in Early Access. And there's no reason to not expect a similar cadence of patching as the game goes through continued refinement and optimisation.

Verdict

Especially when you consider that there is a single developer responsible for "The Bloodline", the game shows immense potential and creativity, offering players an open world filled with adventure and endless possibilities. It's the sort of title that really impresses me in my ongoing quest to spotlight top quality indie games.

While the game has its share of issues and is far from completion, it's already a testament to the developer's dedication.

As the game continues to evolve through Early Access, "The Bloodline" could become a standout title in the action RPG genre. If you can look past its current imperfections and appreciate the sheer ambition behind it, "The Bloodline" is worth keeping an eye on and experiencing as it unfolds.

For those willing to embark on an exciting, albeit incomplete, fantasy adventure, "The Bloodline" is available on Steam, offering a glimpse into a world of potential and a promising gaming experience.

In its current state, "The Bloodline" scores 7½ Blood Splattered Harbingers on the Reddometer. Given a little more time to get it into shape, and that score can easily become an 8½ or even a rare 9!

The Bloodline on Steam

The Bloodline is a sandbox adventure RPG that lets you play your way. Reforge bonds between kingdoms, explore the wilds, craft and plan adventures and wield mighty weapons or magic as you prepare for what is to come…

STEAM

In the midst of World War II's tumultuous backdrop, Classified: France '44 emerges as a compelling turn-based strategy gaming experience. Developed by Absolutely Games and published by Team17 Digital, this upcoming turn-based strategy game takes us back to the chaotic and perilous months leading to the Allied invasion of France on D-Day, in June 1944.

Here's an Indie Games Spotlight preview look into the key elements that make Classified: France '44 a promising addition to the realm of tactical gaming.

A Historical Adventure
Classified: France '44 draws inspiration from the unsung heroes of World War II, the Jedburghs, a group of Allied special forces who worked hand in hand with the French Resistance in preparation for the Normandy landings on D-Day. The game immerses players in a series of missions where stealth and tactics are vital. Whether you're infiltrating an underground bunker to rescue prisoners of war or targeting enemy leaders to disrupt their morale, each mission plays a pivotal role in shaping the outcome of the D-Day invasion.

Gameplay Mechanics
Classified: France '44 introduces (and reintroduces) gameplay mechanics that players of traditional turn-based tactical games will recognise and appreciate. The emphasis on stealth allows for precise and secretive mission completion. An Overwatch ability enhances tactical options during intense encounters, and a morale-based combat and suppression system ensures that every action carries consequences. The impact of your choices affects both your team's morale and that of the enemy. This creates a high-stakes environment where, as the developer says, every bullet matters and every shot counts. Realistic damage mechanics and the risk of friendly fire add further layers of complexity to the gameplay. (See the summary list of the games main features below.)

A Diverse Cast of Characters
Players can choose from a diverse lineup of heroes, each bringing a unique story to the table. The game allows you to train, customise, and equip these characters with an expanding arsenal of skills and weaponry. To strengthen your team's morale, you can spend time engaging with their backstories around the campfire between missions. This connection with your squad members becomes a driving force as they traverse the war-torn landscapes of occupied France.

A Dynamic Campaign
With over 45 challenging missions provided by the French forces, players can pick and choose the missions that align with their strategic objectives. The campaign offers a non-linear and highly replayable experience, packed with dilemmas, political intrigue, and alliances. Your decisions throughout the campaign will significantly impact the fate of the D-Day landings.

Community-Created Content
Absolutely Games are also keen to ensure that Classified: France '44 doesn't end after its initial release. The game will boast a Classified Mission Creator and other modding tools that allow players to craft, share, and explore user-generated mission content. This feature creates a dynamic and ever-evolving gaming environment.

Overall
Classified: France '44 promises an immersive journey into the heart of World War II. With its rich narrative, innovative gameplay mechanics, and commitment to historical accuracy, it's poised to be a must-play for strategy enthusiasts. As you prepare to embark on this journey behind enemy lines, be ready to shape the course of history. The ultimate success of your D-Day awaits when Classified: France '44 arrives on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5 in (hopefully early) 2024.

The game's unique mechanics include morale systems, where both allies and enemies have morale that can affect their actions. Morale can be reduced through actions like taking shots, even if they don't hit directly. As a result, managing morale plays a vital role in the game's success.

The Ambush Meter:
The game introduces the Ambush meter, which fills when you silently kill enemies. When full, it allows your team to launch an ambush and gain an extra turn, emphasizing the importance of stealth and careful planning.

Infiltrating with Stealth:
Stealth plays a significant role in Classified France 44, and you can choose to start missions fully stealthy. Utilizing stealth can lead to setting up incredible ambushes. The game rewards players for maintaining stealthy tactics, even if they initially lose their cover.

The OverWatch Mechanic:
Similar to other turn-based tactical games, Classified France 44 has the OverWatch mechanic, but it introduces a significant improvement. Players can choose whether to shoot or hold when an enemy triggers their OverWatch. This offers a more tactical approach to managing OverWatch and prevents unintended shots.

Bullet Impact on Morale:
In Classified France 44, every bullet counts. Even missed shots have an impact on morale. This game mechanic adds depth to gameplay, as not only the physical health of characters matters, but also their morale, affecting their actions and effectiveness in combat.

Flanking and Critical Damage:
Flanking is crucial in this game, as it can lead to critical damage against suppressed or broken enemies. Flanking well-defended or tough targets is an effective strategy, and it's essential to reduce enemy cover to boost critical hit chances.

Mission Types:
The game offers various mission types, including assault missions that begin in combat, ambush missions that start with stealth and an ambush meter, and pure stealth missions that provide unlimited stealth kills without an ambush meter. These mission types offer diverse challenges and approaches.

Managing Allies and Morale:
Classified France 44 introduces a morale system, and allies have their own morale meters. When an ally's morale falls below 50%, they become suppressed, reducing their abilities. Careful management of morale is necessary to keep your team in top shape.

Rally and Reviving Allies:
The game includes skills like "Rally" that can be used to restore the morale of all Allied units. Reviving downed allies is essential for keeping your team in the fight. When a unit is downed, they cannot act for three turns, and if downed again, they retreat from the battle.

Enemy Reinforcements:
Mission objectives often attract enemy reinforcements. Players must be prepared to handle incoming enemy forces. Timing is crucial, and destroying incoming forces before they can attack is a smart strategy.

Demolition and Extraction:
To complete the mission, you may need to interact with demolition points to plant explosive charges. Demolition is essential for various objectives in the game. Once your mission is complete, you'll need to extract your team safely to move on to the next challenge.

Wishlist Classified: France '44 & Try the Demo on Steam Now

Classified: France ’44 on Steam

Command an elite team of allied special operators in Nazi-occupied France wreaking havoc in the run up to D-Day in this ambitious turn-based tactics game. Take on the might of Germany’s war machine and launch daring raids in occupied territory. Can you do enough to ensure Allied victory?

STEAM

The Many Pieces of Mr. Coo is a surrealist point-and-click adventure with an odd story, a host of wacky and weird hand-drawn animations, and some challenging puzzles.

Mr. Coo and this game are creations of the artist Nacho Rodríguez. 2D animator and director, Rodríguez has been nominated for the Goya Awards for his short film “A Lifestory”. He was also the lead animator of the game O.zen at Ubisoft. Mr. Coo is one of his most celebrated characters, having appeared in several short films.

Personally, when I first saw Mr. Coo the first thing that popped into my head was the old Italian line cartoon, La Linea, that the SABC used as filler in the early days of local television broadcasting. It's probably the nose.

A friend who watched me play through the game said there were bits where he thought of Cuphead. Mr. Coo has elements of both of these, a healthy dose of Alice in Wonderland, and a lot more besides. And that's not a bad thing. It's just a little confusing is all.

Developed and published independently by Rodriguez through Gammera Nest and Meridiem Games, The Many Pieces of Mr. Coo is clearly a labour of love for the Spanish artist. The game was released on Steam just a few weeks ago, but as you can see from the published date game teaser video above, it's been in development for over seven years.  

In short, Mr. Coo is stuck in a weird, nonsensical world, and he needs help to get out of it. Before he can though, he'll need to find all his pieces and be whole again! Early on the game Mr. Coo lands up getting split into three parts - legs, torso, and head. The player, using simple point-and-click mechanics must interact with the weird environments and the objects in them to put the three pieces back together. Each of the three parts can be controlled independently by switching to it using a mouse or keyboard toggle.

The standout feature of the game for me are the hand-drawn and animated characters, and backgrounds. Objects, characters, and monsters in the game distort and morph and ebb as they react to the players' clicks and the weird world in which they exist.

In addition to its impressive visuals, The Many Pieces of Mr. Coo also offers a very good musical soundtrack and audio design - much of which helps the player identify keys to solving some of the puzzles.

The game starts off simply with some obvious elements to click on in order to advance to the next chapter. As things progress though, players will encounter more complex puzzles. I found the second to last puzzle especially confusing and spent a good third of the two or so hours I had with the game on solving it alone.

The Many Pieces of Mr. Coo is a relatively short game. Most players familiar with basic point-and-click mechanics will be able to complete it within two hours. On completing the game for the first time, players can return to individual chapters in additional playthroughs to collect scattered note pages throughout each chapter, providing some replay value.

Despite the positives, The Many Pieces of Mr. Coo does have a few technical bugs. In one of the puzzles the character and the monster he was attached to at the time simply disappeared from the screen. I could hear the sound of their movement, the music continued playing, and the background and movement of other elements all continued working as normal. Just no Mr. Coo and the Monster.

Later, the game camera just stopped following the character piece I needed to control at that point - the head - and seemed to get stuck switching between the torso and the legs.  

A shut down and restart repaired both issues, but they did pull me out of the immersive world that the game had drawn me into at that point.

In conclusion, The Many Pieces of Mr. Coo is a distinctive point-and-click adventure game that offers players a surreal and visually stunning experience. With its challenging puzzles, eerie atmosphere, and intriguing storyline, the game is worth a try for those seeking a unique gaming experience.

The Many Pieces of Mr. Coo is out now of PC via Steam and Epic Games, and on Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S. A demo of the first two chapters is also available on Steam.

The Many Pieces of Mr. Coo on Steam

The Many Pieces of Mr. Coo is a whimsical point’n’click adventure with a surrealist story, astounding hand-drawn animations and hilarious puzzles. Mr. Coo is trapped and broken into pieces. But most of all, he has no idea of what’s going on. Is that a giant chicken over there?

STEAM

The Many Pieces of Mr. Coo

The Many Pieces of Mr. Coo is a whimsical point’n’click adventure with a surrealist story, astounding hand-drawn animations and hilarious puzzles. Mr. Coo is trapped and broken into pieces. But most of all, he has no idea of what’s going on.

Nintendo of Europe GmbH

The Many Pieces of Mr. Coo PS4 & PS5

A captivating point click adventure animated frame by frame

Buy The Many Pieces of Mr. Coo | Xbox

A captivating point & click adventure animated frame by frame!

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The Many Pieces of Mr. Coo | Download and Buy Today - Epic Games Store

The Many Pieces of Mr. Coo gets Six Eyeballs in a Glass Jar on the Reddometer.

The Many Pieces of Mr. Coo

The Many Pieces of Mr. Coo is a whimsical point’n’click adventure with a surrealist story, astounding hand-drawn animations and hilarious puzzles.

Want to destroy Humanity but not sure where to start? Have a less than benevolent wannabe despot inside of you? Keen to use your media empire as a tool to influence public opinion? Project Planet: Earth vs Humanity may well be for you then.

Project Planet is an asynchronous 5 vs 1 serious party game where you can cooperate with or against friends to either eradicate Humanity or band together with up to four others to help save Humanity from various cataclysmic disasters that Earth throws at you.

Impossible dilemmas with strong real-life parallels, and branching narratives create countless ways to survive disasters like virus outbreaks, solar flares and asteroid impacts. Players represent five global role players: World Leaders, Industry, Scientists, the Media, or the Public. Or you can take control of the disasters and play as Planet Earth and destroy Humanity altogether! Will you save your fellow humans, or destroy them?

Project Planet places players in a thought-provoking scenario where Earth, the planet itself, aims to eradicate Humanity to protect its future. On the other side, Humanity must unite to prevent their extinction, and at the same time, amass power and influence in an effort to be declared the winner at the end of the game round.

A World in Peril:

Project Planet presents a high-stakes narrative where Earth seeks to eliminate Humanity to safeguard itself from further harm. Conversely, the survival of Humanity depends on collective effort to avoid this grim outcome. The game revolves around five unique roles, each with the shared objective of preventing the population from plummeting to zero. However, cooperation isn't guaranteed, as players will also vie for power, leading to an intense struggle for supremacy.

Diverse Roles:

The heart of Project Planet lies in its diverse roles, each offering a unique playstyle. For instance, World Leaders can exert influence through laws and orders, while the Media can manipulate public opinion through news broadcasts.

Choices with Consequences:

Throughout Project Planet players will face a series of challenging decisions. Each choice comes with its consequences, which may have far-reaching effects later on. The impact of these decisions is multiplied based on a player's power. Should one player dominate the game, alliances may be formed to level the playing field.

Special Abilities:

The game also introduces special abilities that add strategic depth to the gameplay. The Cooperative ability allows players to team up with one another, while the Hostile ability permits them to hinder opponents' progress. It's essential for Humanity players to form alliances and closely monitor each other's actions.

Earth's Sole Objective:

For the player taking on the role of Earth the objective is simple and straightforward: to save yourself you must eliminate Humanity. Choose a disaster to send Humanity and watch how they react.  

If at any point during the four stages of each disaster you play through the global population reaches zero, Earth emerges victorious. Selecting the right disaster to align with one's strategy is crucial. Some disasters may be more challenging for Humanity but offer more force and options to Earth.

Crises and Incidents:

The game introduces powerful crises that, when triggered, compel Humanity to collectively match Earth's stake or face catastrophic consequences. Additionally, each disaster has four different stages during which Earth can trigger two incidents — smaller events that disrupt the planet's ecosystems and pollution levels, accelerating the population decline.

The Final Showdown:

After surviving numerous challenges, the game culminates with a results screen that displays an overview of all the score changes, as well as the impact of ecosystems and pollution on the population. If Humanity manages to endure until the game's end, the disaster is defeated, and the Humanity player with the highest power emerges victorious.

Project Planet offers a unique and thought-provoking gaming experience, where players take on distinct roles in a high-stakes battle between humanity and Earth. The game's dynamic gameplay, challenging decisions, and strategic depth promise hours of engaging entertainment.

Play Solo, in Co-Op, or Party

While there is an option to play against AI, or to have AI players make up the numbers, Project Planet shines best when it's played with a group of up to six players. It's all about social interaction, strategy, and making tough decisions that will shape the destiny of humanity.

Getting into the action with Project Planet is a breeze. Whether you're gathered on the couch with friends or playing remotely through an online stream or screenshare, you can have up to five friends join in for free. No need for extra controllers or apps – all you need is one copy of the game. Your friends can use any web-enabled device to join the game and play along. The browser becomes your controller, making it easy to jump right into the action.

In my short time with the game, I've only managed to play a couple of rounds against AI opponents using the demo key provided to me by the developers, Fifth Harbour Studios. Project Planet - Earth vs Humanity is the studios' debut title.

The current version that I played allowed for the Planet Earth role to choose a disaster from Influenza Virus, Locust Plague, or Hurricane. Three more disaster scenarios - Asteroid Impact, Solar Flare, and Volcanic Eruption - are currently marked as "Coming Soon!"

I found the gameplay to be a little confusing at first, with not enough clear explanation about each of the games' stages and the decision steps that each player would need to make. But that may just be me not paying enough attention to things. The online portal that players use to enter their decisions on does include a fairly comprehensive How to Play tutorial video that is recommended watching for anyone before their first game. The user interface also has a good number of info icons that provide more information about the tool of feature. Even so, prepare to play a couple of practice rounds with your mates before everyone becomes comfortable with the mechanics.

Once you get the hang of things though, and the order of play and the impact of your decision making starts to become apparent, the game does open up to a lot of potential. I can image that as a couch-based local party game or in an online session led by a streamer, Project Planet could generate a lot of conversation, laughs, and much friendly rivalry.

As it stands at the moment, I'm giving Project Planet - Earth vs Humanity a slightly shaky 6.5 Earthquakes on the Reddometer. With a complete game and some real players to play with that number may well increase.

Project Planet is set to for a full release launch on 25 September, exclusively on PC via Steam. A demo of the game is also currently available through the games' Steam Store Page so that you can see if it's for you or not.

Project Planet - Earth vs Humanity on Steam

Destroy Humanity with virus outbreaks, asteroid impacts and more as Planet Earth! Or team up with up to five friends as the World Leaders, Industry, Media, Scientists and Public, and try to survive. Impossible dilemmas and branching narratives create countless paths in this strategic party game!

STEAM

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Project Planet Game

Project Planet | Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok | Linktree

Work with and against your friends in this 1v5 serious party game.

Linktree

For the first time in back-to-back years, Call of Duty returns with a direct sequel as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III picks up immediately following the events of 2022's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II.

The new game is scheduled to be released worldwide on Friday, 10 November and will allow players for the first time to continue their progression and story seamlessly from the previous game. *

Lead developers, Sledgehammer Games, in partnership with Infinity Ward, is promising to deliver a full Campaign of operations ranging from signature, cinematic experiences to free-form Open Combat Missions, resulting in more player choice than ever before.

Together with the standard (high quality 🤞) multiplayer modes, the upcoming game will include modernised versions of all 16 launch maps from 2009's original Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. The maps will include new modes and gameplay features and will be available at launch to get everyone started, while "over 12 all-new core 6v6 maps will fuel post-launch live seasons".

COD: MWIII will also include the largest COD Zombies map ever. Zombies mode will allow player squads to team up with other squads to survive and fight massive hordes of the undead. Modern Warfare Zombies (MWZ) tells a new Zombies story from developer Treyarch, with missions, core Zombies features, and a host of secrets to discover.

The games' Campaign mode picks up the story of Captain Price and Task Force 141 after the events of COD: MWII. The ultranationalist Vladimir Makarov is extending his grasp across the world, pushing Task Force 141 back into a fight, whether they want to or not.

Combat means making decisions; using different loadouts and planning different paths through every operation across an involved and thrilling Campaign. In addition to the signature, cinematic Call of Duty missions, Modern Warfare III introduces Open Combat Missions, with even greater emphasis on player choice. Naturally, you’ll have the use of all the weapons, equipment, and tactics present in an action-packed Modern Warfare single-player experience, but for some of your engagements, it is completely up to you to decide on an appropriate course of action.

New to the Campaign are OCMs - Open Combat Missions. Not only do these complement the usual cinematic missions, but they will also provide players with numerous additional choices regarding methods of mission completion. For example, if you prefer to use stealth techniques, you may wish to undertake an OCM with a lights-out approach, using night-vision goggles and suppressed weapons and complete your objectives without your adversaries knowing you were even there. However, if loud explosions and reckless abandon are part of your repertoire, strap extra armor plates onto your torso and hit those targets head-on!

Players will be free to take advantage of any operable vehicles within the area of operations. You’ll be able to experiment with and leverage tactical and lethal equipment and have the flexibility to maneuver across the sizable landscape of a mission’s AO and approach objectives from multiple angles.

Modern Warfare III celebrates the 20th anniversary of Call of Duty with one of the greatest collections of Modern Warfare Multiplayer maps ever assembled.

Afghan. Derail. Estate. Favela. Karachi. Highrise. Invasion. Quarry. Rundown. Rust. Scrapyard. Skidrow. Sub Base. Terminal. Underpass. Wasteland.

All 16 the original launch maps from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 have been modernised, both graphically and with attention to the authenticity and aspects of the maps that made them so popular.

Veteran players who love these Core 6v6 maps will be very happy, while new COD converts will get to experience these classic maps completely retooled to meet modern gameplay and modern equipment.

In addition to brand-new modes like Cutthroat (a competitive 3v3v3 experience), a full range of fan-favourite and newer gameplay features will be available at launch. Choose to play Hardpoint and Kill Confirmed on Favela, modes that were never part of the original map offering, for example.

The 16 Core launch maps are further complemented with the addition of four huge environments ready at launch and containing a host of new play spaces. These are composed of three brand-new Battle Maps — large scale locations where Modern Warfare III’s Ground War and Invasion game modes will be fought — and a single, colossal War map, as Modern Warfare III marks the return and evolution of the legendary War Mode that first debuted in COD: MWII.

Like its predecessor, the game will again release in two versions for digital players: a Standard Edition and a Vault Edition, with pre-purchase sales open from today.

Pre-purchase either edition and receive:

• Early access to the Open Beta
• Play the Campaign up to a week early
• Soap Operator Pack (pre-order for immediate use in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and Warzone, also available in Modern Warfare III at launch)

The Vault Edition Includes:

• Nemesis Operator Pack (4 Operators Skins: Makarov, Warden, Price and Ghost)
• 2 Weapon Vaults
• BlackCell (1 Season) + 30 additional Tier Skips (Includes: Battle Pass, 20 Tier Skips, 1,100 CP and more)

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is scheduled to release worldwide on 10 November 2023 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC.

* This sounds exactly like an Expansion Pack to me, not an entirely new game. And as much as I'd like to continue progression from MW-II into MW-III, until the ABK/MS merger gets finalised and the games get added to Game Pass, I doubt I'll ever be able to justify the price of these games. (MW-II is still on sale at full price of R1379 - R1850, exactly the same prices that the new game is being pre-sold at.)  I'm just not that into COD. But that's a personal thing - don't let me stop you spending your money.

That said, based on the new campaign content, the enhanced Zombies mode, and the additions and improvements in other areas, perhaps a "full priced new" game price is justified. Still too rich for me though.

Also, the awful COD naming alphabet soup still drives me mad.

Moving Out 2 is the sequel to 2020s uber popular physics-based co-op puzzle game, Moving Out. The game follows the same premise as its predecessor, where players join Smooth Moves Furniture Removalists as a F.A.R.T. (Furniture Arrangement Relocation Technician) and help move furniture and objects out of houses.

Launching on 15 August from Aussie-based developers SMG Studio and their Swedish co-developer DevM Games, publisher Team17 invites players to “Travel the multiverse and overcome new levels and puzzles that pit F.A.R.Ts with their biggest removals challenge yet.”

In Moving Out 2, players will travel through a variety of universes after gnomes open an interdimensional portal in the familiar small town of Packmore.

Yes, I said gnomes. I can’t tell you why they’ve come to Packmore but their mere presence in the game will tell you that the game is again populated by a cast of zany, irreverent, and colourful characters, some from the original game, and a whole host of new F.A.R.T.s.

Players who work through the complete story will visit five dimensions all together, each with its own map and variations of the games’ moving mechanics. Each universe features its own set of challenges and tasks for the F.A.R.T to take on.

You will start in the Packmore which serves as an introduction to the world of Moving Out and uses the same lift-carry-place mechanics of the first game. However, once the gnomedimensional portal is opened, the multi-verses beyond Packmore open up.

Snackmore is a candy themed dimension that has a number of mini game levels. It also introduces a new game feature called “sorting” which needs players to take items to specific delivery zones. Middle Folkmore is a fantasy-based map with portals, rotating platforms, floating trains and other magic style mechanics. The next world is Packtroplis City where players ride drones and change the environment with cranks and battery powered elements and mechanics. The last dimension is, well let’s just say, wild. You’ll have to play the game to reveal its secrets.

The physics-based moving simulator can be played solo or in co-op mode with up to three friends. New to the second edition of the franchise is a much requested feature from players of the first: online co-op is in MO2, and it is cross-play enabled!

Alongside new additions like characters and outfits, there’s a significant change in the reward structure in Moving Out 2. In the previous game, players could get up to three stars depending on how fast they completed the level. Now, there is a single benchmark Pro Time that you can try to beat. This system works a lot better, in my opinion. Playing solo, even in my uncoordinated fat finger way, I was generally easily able to meet the Pro Time targets. The rewards for successfully completing tasks include Style Crates with new cosmetics and character unlocks.

The game does include an impressive selection of game assists and accessibility settings that make playing the game either alone or with limited abilities comfortable.

And while playing solo is decidedly good fun, the game is infinitely more fun as a co-op experience with friends and family. Couch co-op remains a firm favourite mode, but the inclusion of cross-play enabled online multiplayer in MO2 makes playing with others near and far possible.

Even so, the game is not necessarily easy mode all the way. The challenges and puzzles do ramp up in intensity and complexity as the game progresses and the new universes open up.

The gameplay itself is straightforward, with much of the mechanics and controls flowing over from the predecessor. You can effortlessly snatch, tote, and hurl objects, the heft and dimensions of each item dictating your approach.

When playing with friends, specific icons will guide you to items that need a collaborative effort. Yet, it's not just about carting items around – a well-timed button press lets you fling an object, either to slash through precious seconds or to bridge a tricky gap. This simplicity in controls is very newcomer-friendly, sparing new players the ordeal of grappling with overly complicated tutorials and constantly having to switch to the control layout screen for a reminder. For veterans of the previous game, and many of the other physics-based games, the controls will be natural and intuitive.

All-in-all, Moving Out 2 is a worthy sequel, adding a variety of new environments and gameplay changes, and boosted by its new features.

So, lift with your legs, put the heavy items on the floor of the truck, and remember that it’s not the condition of the items when they’re unpacked that’s important – it’s that they made it to their new home at all!

Redd Rating:

A review key for this game was received from Team17 via Press Engine.

Moving Out 2 releases on 15 August for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox X|S.

Green Man Gaming are currently offering 15% off Standard @ R458,15 (vs R539) and Deluxe @ R611,15 (vs R719)

Moving Out 2 | PC - Steam | Game Keys

Pick up your Moving Out 2 PC copy from Green Man Gaming today and remember to sign in for our best price

Green Man Gaming

Pre-purchase Moving Out 2 on Steam

Moving Out is back and wackier than ever, and now with ONLINE PLAY! Return to Packmore and use your moving skills across brand new dimensions and some old favourites. Help rebuild Smooth Moves and become an all-star F.A.R.T. (Furniture Arrangement & Relocation Technician)!

STEAM

Moving Out 2

Moving Out 2 is the wacky sequel to the world-famous physics-based moving simulator.

Nintendo of Europe GmbH

Buy Moving Out 2 - Pre-Order | Xbox

Pre-Order Moving Out 2 to receive the F.A.R.Tastic Four Pack for free! The whole gang is here, including some excellent new candidates in The F.A.R.Tastic 4 pack! It’s up to you to reinstate your F.A.R.T license with a whole host of eager new employees. Jump-start your career as a new F.A.R.T...in…

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Moving Out 2

Moving Out is back and wackier than ever, and now with ONLINE PLAY

Moving Out 2

In a nutshell, Stasis: Bone Totem is an incredibly enjoyable point-and-click adventure game with a dark and eerie atmosphere that's perfect for horror fans. Despite its isometric perspective, it stays true to the classic adventure game formula, focusing on collecting items, deciphering clues, and solving puzzles.

One unique aspect is that you control three different characters who share the same inventory, and each has special abilities to interact with items. This mechanic adds an interesting twist to the gameplay, as you'll need to collect items with one character to solve puzzles for another.

The puzzles are mostly enjoyable and cleverly use the environment without becoming overly abstract. Some will deceive you with misleading information, while others will reward careful observation. Though a few may seem straightforward, they generally strike a good balance of challenge. Also be warned, if you are not a fan of reading, skip this, rather a lot of the clues to the puzzles are hidden on PDA's.

The game's story is engaging, and the mysterious atmosphere keeps you motivated to explore deeper. The characters, while simple, have likeable personalities and contribute to the overall experience. The climax may not be mind-blowing, but it satisfactorily ties up loose ends and pays homage to classic horror movie influences.

One minor gripe is that the game feels overwritten at times. Characters often pause gameplay to deliver redundant or overly dramatic dialogue, which can slow down the pace unnecessarily. Additionally, some text, including personnel logs and environmental descriptions, could benefit from trimming to improve the overall pacing.

Nevertheless, Stasis: Bone Totem excels in its atmospheric presentation, reminiscent of eerie horror games from the '90s. The voice acting is top-notch, adding to the immersive experience. Despite its minor flaws, this game is a solid eight out of ten and a standout in the genre. If you enjoy narrative-driven point-and-click adventure games, this is a must-try.

The developers deserve praise for their passion and dedication to crafting a unique and engaging sci-fi horror experience on a relatively small budget. The attention to detail in the environments, sound design, and music adds to the immersive storytelling.

As an old-school gamer, I highly recommend Stasis: Bone Totem and consider it one of the top adventure games I've played in recent years. Its unsettling atmosphere, nostalgic visuals, and challenging puzzles make it a standout title. For those who enjoy narrative-driven adventures with a touch of horror, this game is a must-play. The developer's commitment to crafting an exceptional experience shines through, and I eagerly anticipate any future instalments in this setting.

On a personal note, I am usually not one to pre-order or buy games upon release. However, my positive experiences with Metro Exodus and Stray led me to back Bone Totem, and I'm delighted with my decision. The game has provided over 10 hours of fun, and I'm still immersed in its world. If you enjoy modern point-and-click games or titles like Bioshock, Dead Space, and Alien Isolation, this game will undoubtedly captivate you.

In conclusion, Stasis: Bone Totem is a fantastic indie game that exceeds expectations and delivers a polished, atmospheric adventure worth experiencing. For a reasonable price, you'll get an exceptional gaming experience that works smoothly from the very start.

Don't miss out on this gem; give it a try and support these talented local developers!

You can buy the game on GOG, Steam or Epic.

Remnant 2, the sequel to the 2019 sleeper hit Remnant: From the Ashes, is out today. And if early release reviews are to be believed, the follow up to the original is a game that does not disappoint.

The game is a third-person shooter with a focus on exploration and survival. It is set in a post-apocalyptic world where players must fight to survive against hordes of monsters and other players.

The game's storyline is set in a world on the brink of extinction, where players must fight to survive against hordes of monsters and other players. The game is once again set in a procedurally generated world, which means that each playthrough is unique. Players can choose to play alone or with up to three other players in co-op mode. The game features a new cast of characters, each with their own unique abilities and weapons.

Remnant 2 takes the concept of procedural generation and "cranks it up tenfold". All players spawn and start off in different biomes and levels. The game features a variety of weapons, including guns, melee weapons, and magic spells. Players can also upgrade their weapons and armour as they progress through the game. The game also features a crafting system, which allows players to create new weapons and items using materials they find in the game world.

Some of the new features in Remnant 2 compared to the original game include:

• New Weapons: Remnant 2 introduces new weapons such as flails and bows, expanding the arsenal available to players.
• Improved Customization: The game offers enhanced customisation options, allowing players to personalise their characters and equipment to a greater extent.
• Expanded Worlds: Remnant 2 features larger and more diverse worlds for players to explore, with different biomes and environments.
• Enhanced Combat: The combat mechanics in Remnant 2 have been refined and improved, offering a more fluid and satisfying gameplay experience.
• Increased Replayability: The game emphasizes replayability, with randomised elements such as enemies, NPCs, side quests, and even the starting world, ensuring that each playthrough feels fresh and unique.
• New Gameplay Features: Remnant 2 introduces several new gameplay features, including improved crafting mechanics, and a hub area for quests and interactions.

Remnant 2 builds upon the foundation of the original game by introducing new weapons, expanding customisation options, improving combat mechanics, and offering a more diverse and replayable experience. These new features aim to enhance the overall gameplay and provide players with a challenging and exciting sequel.

Remnant 2 has received generally positive reviews from critics. IGN gave the game a score of 9/10, praising the game's unique world and punishing difficulty. The Nerd Stash also gave the game a positive review, stating that the game surpasses all expectations. Destructoid gave the game a mixed review, stating that the main story feels lackluster, but praising the game's randomisation. GameSpot gave the game a score of 7/10, stating that the game is exactly what fans of the original game would want.

OpenCritic currently has the game at a Strong rating, with an 85% critics recommendation:

Metacritic reviewers currently have the game at a rating of 80% on PC.  

Remnant 2 releases today for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X, and PC (via Steam and Epic Games).

Remnant II - Standard Edition

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Standard Edition

Buy Remnant II | Xbox

Remnant 2 pits survivors of humanity against new deadly creatures and god-like bosses across terrifying worlds. Play solo or co-op with two other friends to explore the depths of the unknown to stop an evil from destroying reality itself.

GO TO GAME

Pre-purchase Remnant II on Steam

Remnant II pits survivors of humanity against new deadly creatures and god-like bosses across terrifying worlds. Play solo or co-op with two other friends to explore the depths of the unknown to stop an evil from destroying reality itself.

STEAM

https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/remnant-2

In Park Beyond, you can create the park of your dreams without being held back by gravity! Take the role of a newly hired park architect for a struggling company and create mind-twisting theme parks. You can create the rides you have always dreamed about but that couldn’t exist in real life. Team up with Phil, the enthusiastic park veteran, Izzy, the stern but friendly executive, and a host of other colorful and passionate characters, to build a successful and profitable park company.

Bandai Namco, after a little bit of teasing since last year, releases Park Beyond for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S today. The theme park construction and management simulation game was developed by German studio Limbic Entertainment, who have been fairly quiet since 2019's Tropico 6.

"In Park Beyond, players can create the park of their dreams without being held back by gravity. Thanks to accessible controls and a story-driven campaign mode, players will get to learn the ropes of park management and build increasingly crazy rides and modular coasters. Supported by Phil, the enthusiastic park veteran, and Izzy, the stern but friendly executive, players will be able to go above and beyond their wildest dreams.

"A host of colorful and passionate characters will guide players on the road to success. Reach business expectations & balance fun and profitability to make your park company successful beyond belief. For greater freedom, players can unleash their park theme and craziest rides in the sandbox mode where creativity is the only limit."

"Thanks to the advanced coaster-creation tool, players have access to dozens of innovative modules to easily create unique rollercoasters with thousands of combinations. With the help of an over-the-top R&D department, players can also bring a dash of impossibility to their flat rides to create an outstanding entertainment park never seen before. In Park Beyond, you can delve deep into the data. To create a park beyond visitors' expectations, players can access their expense data, receive feedback, and consult their wishlist and happiness level. Thanks to extensive monitoring tools, players can optimize their park management by following visitor trends, creating shop designs, recruiting and managing staff members, rolling out marketing budget & their R&D investment to reach success."

Park Beyond lets players unleash their creativity and build extraordinary roller coasters. The story revolves around a talented artist who spends their time sketching impossible coaster ideas. One of these sketches accidentally lands in the hands of Blaize, a daring thrill seeker, leading to an unexpected encounter with two individuals: Phil, an amusement park enthusiast ready to invest money, and Izzy, a mysterious CEO who offers cannons as a unique investment opportunity.

The game features a comprehensive story campaign with eight chapters, each presenting different challenges that players must overcome to advance. The early chapters serve as a tutorial, providing essential knowledge in park management and roller coaster construction. Even players who prefer the sandbox mode should consider completing the initial three missions to grasp the basics.

"Impossification", the process of bringing theme parks to life with imaginative elements, plays a significant role early on. To aid players in their creative endeavors, they receive assistance from Sophia, an enterprising engineer. With Sophia's help, almost everything within the theme park can be "impossified".

Impossification includes incorporating extraordinary features into roller coasters like cannons and unique railings, enabling coasters to glide over water features. Launch pads, animated kraken limbs, and even launching guests into the air on discs are possible.

The game is out in either Standard or Deluxe Editions, the latter of which comes with a number of bonuses such as the Annual Pass and access to future DLC content.

Pre-purchase Park Beyond on Steam

In Park Beyond, you can create the park of your dreams without being held back by gravity. The accessible controls and a story-driven campaign mode will help you learn the ropes of park management and build increasingly crazy rides and modular coasters.

STEAM

Park Beyond

Dare to dream the impossible Defy every limit and impossify your world.

Buy Park Beyond | Xbox

In Park Beyond, you can create the park of your dreams without being held back by gravity. The accessible controls and a story-driven campaign mode will help you learn the ropes of park management and build increasingly crazy rides and modular coasters.

GO TO GAME

It’s that time of the year where, in the recent past at least, we’d all be enviously attending E3 vicariously through our monitors. During and post Covid and post the collapse of the live E3 event itself, the major publishers have rallied around the “Summer Games Fest” brand, and many will again be presenting their major summer showcase events over the next week or so.

Notably missing from the calendar this year are Electronic Arts, PlayStation, and Nintendo. The latter two have moved towards their own Showcase Direct style events, with Sony doing their own Showcase event a few weeks ago. Meanwhile, the last EA Play Live event happened back in 2021. Who knows when the next will take place.

In the meantime, there are a lot more events to look forward to. Here's a schedule and brief look at most of the major events coming up this week. All times indicated are South African Standard Time. The snapshots below the schedule include links to each event’s main livestream channels. Selected (*) events will have dedicated MEW Forum topics which will contain direct links to the live event streams when they happen. Links to these topics will be add as they're created.

2023 Summer Games Show Schedule

Thursday 8 June
    21:00: Summer Game Fest 2023 *
    23:00: Day of the Devs    

Friday 9 June
    00:00: Devolver Direct
    21:00: Tribeca Games Spotlight    

Saturday 10 June
    17:00: Future of Play Direct
    18:00: Wholesome Games 2023
    19:00: Future Games Show    

Sunday 11 June
    19:00: Xbox Games Showcase & Starfield Direct *
    22:00: PC Gaming Show *    

Monday 12 June
    19:00: Ubisoft Forward *    

Tuesday 13 June
    00:00: Capcom Showcase
    19:00: Xbox Games Showcase Extended    

Wednesday 14 June
    20:00: UploadVR Showcase

* These events will have dedicated topics on the MEW Community Forum.

Summer Game Fest 2023

Thursday, 8 June @ 21:00

Produced and once again hosted by Geoff Keighley, this event is the official opening event for Summer Game Fest 2023. Billed as a “global fan celebration of what’s next in video games”, SGF is in its fourth year, and will be a live event again. The show will be broadcast from the YouTube Theater at Hollywood Park.

SGF23 will feature content from over 40 publishers this year in a two-hour show. Expect world premieres, live gameplay demos and a host of developer and celebrity appearances.

Livestreams: YouTube / Twitch

MEW Forum Thread

Day of the Devs: SGF23 Edition

Thursday, 8 June @ 23:00

Iam8bit and Double Fine‘s indie showcase returns this year and will follow the main Summer Game Fest live stream on the same channels.

Day of the Devs typically showcases games from smaller indie studios that deserve a little big stage attention. Games highlighted in the recent past include Psychonauts 2, Escape Academy, Untitled Goose Game, Unpacking, and Disco Elysium.

Livestreams: YouTube / Twitch

Devolver Direct

Friday, 9 June @ 00:00

If sarcastic, foul-mouthed, anti-corporate gaming had a persona it would be the annual Devolver Digital event.

This year “The Return of Volvy” themed event reaches us at midnight locally. It looks like the Devolver Digital’s self-proclaimed “beloved video game mascot” will be the virtual host for the show.

Livestream Channels: YouTube / Twitch

Tribeca Games Spotlight

Friday, 9 June @ 21:00

New York’s famous annual Tribeca Festival will again present a platform to show off the games selected for this years’ festival. The Spotlight will feature The Expanse: A Telltale Series, Stray Gods, and Nightscape. The Spotlight stream will show off each game in detail, along with interviews with their creators.

Livestream: YouTube

Future of Play Direct

Saturday, 10 June @ 17:00

Future of Play Direct is an indie games showcase billed as “a fresh spin on video game showcases bringing you exciting new games from across the galaxy.”

The show is hosted by AI V-Tuber Melios, who makes it their mission to feature “big announcements, brand new trailers, musical guests, and show-stopping galaxy premieres that are dripping in style”.

Livestream Channel: YouTube

Wholesome Direct 2023

Saturday, 10 June @ 18:00

More indie games get showcased in the Wholesome Direct Games 2023 event. Focus on uplifting and cosy games, the Wholesome Games show promises “an hour of exclusive footage and announcements from 70+ amazing indie games”.

Livestreams: YouTube / Twitch

Future Games Show: Summer Showcase

Saturday, 10 June @ 19:00

The Future Games Show will feature over 50 multi-format games and will be hosted by Marvel’s Spider-Man voice actors Yuri Lowenthal (Peter Parker) and Laura Bailey (MJ Watson). The 70-minute gaming showcase is produced by GamesRadar+.

Livestreams: YouTube / Twitch

MEW Forum Thread

Xbox Games Showcase

Starfield Direct

Sunday, 11 June @ 19:00

Combining a 90-minute Xbox Games Showcase and a dedicated 30-minute Starfield Direct, this year’s Showcase will last around 2 hours.

“Join us for some new surprises and first-looks from our incredibly talented internal studios, and our many creative partners around the world,” Microsoft said. “This is the day gamers have been waiting for to see what is coming to Xbox, PC, and Game Pass.

The Starfield Direct presentation that follows immediately after the Xbox Showcase promises another deep-dive into Bethesda’s upcoming sci-fi RPG. “Starfield Direct will invite you inside Bethesda Game Studios to learn much, much more about Starfield, with tons of new gameplay, developer interviews, and behind-the-scenes insider information.”

Livestream Channels: YouTube / Twitch

MEW Forum Thread

MEW Forum Starfield Thread

PC Gaming Show

Sunday, 11 June @ 22:00

The annual celebration of all games PC, hosted by PC Gamer, will again highlight several upcoming PC titles. 2023’s live stream will feature 55 games, including 16 new game announcements and “special access to developer studios around the world”.

Livestreaming Channels: YouTube / Twitch

MEW Forum Thread

Ubisoft Forward

Monday, 12 June @ 19:00

Ubisoft was one of the last remaining big publishers that E3 hoped to keep at their live event. After Ubi decided to join the ranks of many others and quit E3, the fate of the convention was sealed, and the official cancellation of the event came shortly after.

Ubisoft will be holding its own event, a trailer for which confirms that it will feature Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Assassin’s Creed Mirage and The Crew: Motorfest, while also teasing another unannounced title. Might we see some confirmation of a Skull and Bones release?

Livestreams: YouTube / Twitch

MEW Forum Thread

Capcom Showcase

Tuesday, 13 June @ 00:00

Announced just yesterday, the Capcom Showcase will feature “news and updates” on the company’s latest games. In a brief announcement, Capcom say that the show will last “36 minutes and will feature some games which aren’t suitable for children”.

Livestreams: YouTube / Twitch

Xbox Games Showcase Extended

Tuesday, 13 June @ 19:00

A follow-up stream to the Xbox Games Showcase. Like last year, it will feature in-depth interviews and deep dives focused on the some of the games from the main showcase plus a handful of updates from others developers.

Livestreams: YouTube / Twitch

Upload VR Showcase

Wednesday, 14 June @ 20:00

The Upload VR Showcase is a celebration of what’s to come for VR content. The event promises “the most new game reveals we’ve ever featured at a showcase, including some from companies yet to release VR games”.

Livestream: YouTube

That makes for a very busy week of game showcase events and a mass of new trailers and teasers for us to look forward to. Any upcoming games that you’re hoping to see more about this week?