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'83 is a game that has been in development for quite some time, and it brings us the 40 v 40 squad-based extravaganza we always wanted. The title offers accessible realism, and it’s designed to be enjoyable for newcomers, but also deep enough to provide depth for experts and people who enjoy squad-based titles. Right off the bat, the idea here is that we are in an alternate cold war scenario. We have Russia and the US battling each other in a variety of different spots, highlighted with some beautifully designed maps. What I enjoyed about these maps is the tactical depth they offer. You have plenty of spots for flanking, but also open areas where you have to rely on trenches or other ways to get around. For me, it made the game feel very realistic. The fact that it’s more of a hardcore game means that you don’t have a lot of visual aids which would be offered in a regular FPS. Battles feel grand, and that’s thanks to the large maps, where you can find tanks as well...

Dealing a lot of damage at the start of each turn to all enemies is a great way to win fights. But it can only work if the player’s moon can survive when opponents act, which in turn requires a decent selection of cards with the shield rune. I’ve even upgraded a Scathing Storm to give me 4 shield, although I’ve already played it, and it will be some time until it returns from the discard pile. Unfortunately, even after using a shape to draw another card, I come up short. My stellar monster opponent will deal two times 11 damage, and I only have 8 shield. Losing moon health is not the end of the world, but I can only replenish 25 hitpoints before the boss fight. Thankfully, I win this fight on my next turn, using three classic bolt cards. I hope that no monster groups are involved in the next fights, because guarding against four opponents is really hard. I also need to get a little lucky with card upgrade opportunities. At master 4, there are still plenty of cards ...

I’ve always been fascinated by public transport and how it works, the vehicles they use and the various systems they entail. And with Bus Bound, the fantasy of being a bus driver comes to life, and in a great manner no doubt. The game offers a good number of licensed buses, and you get to explore a fictional city that comes to life in a way that’s not only interesting, but fun as well. The game starts off with you sitting on a bus and being called to offer bus services in the city of Emberville. Thankfully, the tutorial is pretty expansive, and it does a good idea of teaching you the ins and outs of using a bus. Not only do you need to build the bus infrastructure in the city, but you also have to drive the bus. It’s a simulator, so don’t expect narrative arcs or cutscenes. You don’t even see your character stepping out of the bus. But the main focus in this game is driving properly, stopping at the bus stations and keeping people happy. Most bus simulators try to ...

I might have pushed my Captain out a little too far. We’re fighting the Black Legion for control of three victory locations, but we’ll probably wipe them all out to actually win. My Apothecary heals the Captain and gives him an extra health buffer, as he tangles with some Chaos Terminators that arrived without the required backup. Heavy Intercessors are my line units, and three of them move forward, stomping their feet as they thin out the ranks of some cultists. Legionaries are behind, good targets for my two Dreadnoughts, and a few scouts actually have to move back a few tiles to get the perfect shot on the enemy sorcerer. I will probably lose a squad or two of normal Intercessors, which is manageable, but the fight is as good as won, without any of my units getting a chance to gain a Momentum surge. Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector - Ultramarines is developed and published by Slitherine Ltd. This downloadable content pack for the turn-based strategy title adds a n...

We were due to another 007 game, especially since the last one was over a decade ago. And finally, 007 First Light gets released to a lot of hype, from IO Interactive, the studio behind Hitman. And after playing the game, I think they were the perfect fit, because they manage to blend the Hitman, sandbox gameplay DNA with the action tropes that you would expect from James Bond. What I didn’t expect from 007 First Light is to show us how Bond joins MI6, what leads to that, but also his first mission which ends up a lot harder than expected. Naturally, we are introduced to many characters we know from the 007 lore, from M to Moneypenny, Q, but also a new important character called John Greenway. Although you are meant to despise Greenway at first, he does play a rather important role in the story, and eventually, he’ll grow on you. The first mission is quite interesting because you end up in Iceland, crash landing without help. You need to find your way across while ...

Creating a cozy resort in the middle of the mountains might sound fun, but it’s also one of the toughest things you will ever do in a game. Above the Snow clearly enforces that, since it brings the Frostpunk-like survival tension to a rather classic resort tycoon. Not only do you have to manage the resort and keep it going, but you also need to maintain various hikers alive, which can be the tricky part. The game Above the Snow is all about surviving in a difficult setting, because having a shelter and resort deep in the mountains is not an easy feat. You have to carefully plan every action, but also manage supplies, and do everything you can based on how unpredictable the entire experience is. And that on its own will be incredibly difficult. Above the Snow manages to combine management systems with various stories about the world. It’s not very difficult to learn what you have to do, since you take over a mountain lodge that was abandoned. Then, you fix it up and...

The pirates have been focusing their attacks on my best ship, and their tactical approach is working. The Peacemaker, with all its extra hull plating, is down to one hitpoint. I will probably lose it this turn, so I choose not to use my command points to boost its speed and evasion. The ship is strong but cannot use a shield, which is proving to be a liability. I recharge the shields of my other two frontline fighters and start the turn. They wisely attack the same enemy, and it blows up nicely. My two support units put two missiles in play and shot down an enemy one. The enemy eliminates my flagship but fails to do any other hull damage. I still have two tactics points to use next turn, and as long as I can keep shields active, I will win this battle. Station Command is developed and published by Respite Games. I played a preview version on Steam, with the title set to launch before the end of 2026. The video game combines fleet management with auto-battler mechan...

It’s always a good idea to get more recon. I like to play as an American general who has access to an auxiliary force, and a third is always dedicated to the recce assets that are vital when it comes to finding enemies and understanding their tactical capabilities. I know the Germans have a Tiger on the field, but I have a decent infantry line that can absorb some losses. And my Long Tom and airpower can make the heavy tank less effective, even if I lack a tank destroyer that can quickly eliminate it. I plan to take out the other Axis units first, reinforce if needed, and only then push to destroy the Tiger and take the final hex I need for my main objective. Panzer Corps 2: Allied Operations – Italy: Vol.1 is developed by Flashback Games and Volcanite Games, with publishing from Slitherine Ltd. This downloadable content pack is the first in a planned trilogy that will tell the story of how Allied forces liberated Italy during World War II. Sicily is the focus for...

As someone who platinumed Returnal and was looking forward to Saros on PC, I was very excited to hear that an indie dev is entering this bullet hell shooter genre. Their game is called Luna Abyss, and it’s exactly what you would expect, a fun blend of story, shooting and chaos, all combined in a 5–7-hour adventure that doesn’t overstay its welcome. One of the first things that you immediately see in Luna Abyss is how weird and also interesting the world is. The level design is very creative, even if the budget clearly limits what they could do in a lot of cases. The main character, an android called Fawkes, is very powerful, but you will clearly be matched with enemies that match your powers most of the time. That’s why I felt Luna Abyss is very fair when it comes to combat. Yes, you have some enemies that will require some strategy when it comes to attacking and killing, but it all feels fair and very rewarding once you bring down those large enemies and bosses. E...

It’s very easy to think a battle is won when a big artillery salvo lands just right, ensuring German gunnery is superior to that of the British. Or when a missile salvo manages to sink two American destroyers in two minutes, giving the Soviets an edge in the Med. But chaos soon intervenes, and the situation reverses. The Japanese could win on the defensive late in World War II. The Bismarck can be quickly sunk or take down two Allied battleships before slipping away. Chance plays a big role, but good planning and careful execution on the part of the player commander will push for the desired result. Rule the Waves 3: Expanded Battles is developed by Naval Warfare Simulations and published by Matrix Games. This is the first downloadable content pack for the strategy title, adding scenarios that take less time than a full campaign, as well as two editors, one for user-made scenarios and another for ships. Expanded Battles features historical scenarios that track how...