Tag: Software

I suspect powers that activate at the end of the shop phase are the most important for a team that aims to win a run without losing a battle. I got a Crystal Ball quickly, aided by the extra shop level draw power of the dog that’s leading my team. I gave that to a Shrimpooner, which I then upgraded twice, and he’s been picking up health after each shop phase. He’s now fourth in the battle line and tends to close out battles, even when my opponent brings more powerful fighters. I'm having problems with builds that go hard on the Aristoglass and its unique ability to gain buffs when allies are brought in. Undershovels, placed last in the line and with a solid team around them, can also be an issue. I should probably drop my Gulltrader, but I really like getting cheaper cards, even if they are random. Let’s see how the next shop phase entices me to spend my hard-earned battle bucks. Lunchbreak Tactics is developed by Borealys Games and published by Borealys Games and ...

Ayasa: Shadows of Silence is a game that embraces the idea of scariness and horror, while also adding some unique touches into the mix. It’s a wonderful combination of platformer, puzzle and horror games, all grouped together to deliver something interesting, yet also quite challenging at times. You take the role of a young girl called Ayasa. You’re in a forest, and then you have to figure out what happened, and what you need to do. As soon as you start the game, you will notice that the controls take a bit of getting used to, as the game has quite the learning curve. It took me around 15 minutes to understand and get used to the controls. It wasn’t a huge problem, but it’s certainly something you want to get used to. Being in a world that’s collapsing under alien attacks, atomic fires and a purple mist is quite damning. But you have to keep on moving. The world in this game feels weird, but it also brings a rather familiar tone, which is exactly what makes it set ...

I should have built more supply ships sooner. A British Empire that wants to sustain campaigns in Asia while also using its fleets to patrol the high seas needs significant support. Designing vessels with smaller supply requirements is another option, although that can create opportunities for rivals like the United States and France to exploit if war breaks out. Playing the new Japanese content offers a different challenge. This very traditional and closed society has to open up, make big choices, and deal with a variety of threats. Where and when to develop industries is a massive decision. Cash reserves are limited. And the conflict between the Shogun and Emperor, each with their own supporters, will most likely lead to a civil war. Victoria 3: The Great Wave is developed by Paradox Development Studio and published by Paradox Interactive. This expansion enhances the naval aspect of the grand strategy title, while also introducing extra narrative content. The new...

HELL OF FEAR: Mind Breach is one of those games that easily flew under the radar, because it launched alongside some larger, AAA titles. But make no mistake, this indie survival horror is definitely worth a shot, especially since it provides players with a great blend of Dead Space and System Shock. It’s meant to offer an exciting, yet horrific adventure at times, while also being affordable and easy to go through. You’re in a space base that was taken over by a killer plant, and you have to figure out what to do in order to stay alive. The challenge here is clear, if you don’t survive, you turn into those plant-controlled creatures, and that’s not a possibility. However, most of the other people and creatures on the base have been turned, so you have to eliminate the slimy green foes, even if those might be some of your friends. The enemy AI is not going to impress you, but it’s also by design. Enemies are controlled by a plant and naturally, they are not going to...

City Tales - Medieval Era has been in early access since mid-2025, and it slowly built up to become one of the better city builders of the year. And now that it’s finally out, we get to enjoy its immersive story, complete city building mechanics and some interesting surprises. I was excited to see how City Tales - Medieval Era’s 1.0 would look, and what I saw here impressed me in more ways than expected. Unlike newer city builders that add a sense of urgency, calamities and so on, City Tales - Medieval Era is more of a chill builder. It’s meant to test your skills in other ways, and rest assured that there are plenty of missions and challenges ahead of you. Right off the bat, you will notice that City Tales - Medieval Era has a very distinct visual style. They went with a storybook look instead of true realism. And that’s helpful, because it makes the game world feel idyllic, beautiful and serene, exactly something you would take out of a fantasy story. Additional...

The United Kingdom and France are taking their sweet time to really get into World War II. The Czechs man their fortified line, having decided that losing the Sudetenland isn’t acceptable. The Nazis tried to break through for a few months, lost a lot of people and equipment, and are now no longer interested in attacking. The problem is that the Western Allies are not doing anything to move on the Germans, while the soft underbelly of our own Little Entente, meaning Yugoslavia, is unable to deal with the Fascist Italians. It would have been nice to be able to build some forts to help them out. Without them, I hope my armor and mountain troops are enough to stop the assault. And I would love a way to prod the UK and France into action. Hearts of Iron IV: Peace for Our Time is developed by Paradox Development Studio and published by Paradox Interactive. This downloadable content pack is labeled as a Focus Pack, designed to create a unique experience for one of the gra...

Games that have an alternative version of society are always fascinating, because we’re always questioning ourselves “what if” quite often. And in a title like REPLACED, you get to see that brought to life. In this game, the Cuban Missile Crisis brought a nuclear war between Russia and the US, and the Phoenix Corporation is the one focused on resurrecting the nation. It’s an interesting setting, since the 1980s US has a beautiful, yet rather dark cyberpunk theme. We play the role of REACH, which is an AI who melded with the mind of Warren Marsh, its creator. The Phoenix Corporation ordered an attack on Marsh, which leads to an explosion. The AI Reach was programmed to think that the corporation was the be all, end all, but throughout the story, it changes its perspectives. That’s where REPLACED manages to serve as a great social commentary tool, reminiscing of today’s society in many ways. The original purpose of Reach was to calculate compatibility between recipie...

It’s good that these crazed creatures have trouble with stairs. This means my gunslinger character can often safely use them to execute a tactical retreat, which is great when a group is attacking at the same time. A bit of time allows me to re-evaluate the combat scenario, hack a few of them, gain more bullets, shoot one or two, and then finish the rest without taking damage. Dashing at the right time helps. Learning the patterns for all enemy types is even better. And, when no foes have appeared in a while, it helps to be on the lookout for a ranged surprise attack. Dash, preferably avoiding pits, to learn their rhythm and then counter with a bullet or move in for a melee kill. And try to avoid using any precious health items, including the flasks. Tombwater is developed by Moth Atlas and published by Midwest Games. I played using Steam on the PC, the only hardware platform on which it is offered. The video game combines melee, spells, and ranged combat, with sou...

Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel has quickly become one of my go-to survivor games because it has close to Diablo-like graphics, amazing visual design, and some really cool characters. Now they added Conan into the mix, an affordable DLC that brings the legendary Conan as a playable character, along with a new realm called Stygia. I am quite fond of this DLC because Conan is a melee powerhouse, and his abilities are nothing short of impressive. He’s powerful to begin with, his abilities related to swords, and even a bouncing shield which can deal quite a bit of damage to his own. Conan also has passives, which work with triumphs, and these stack after you meet certain conditions. Triumps are interesting because they negate an incoming blow, which makes Conan more of a tank when compared to the other heroes. It is overpowered at first, but as you ramp up the difficulty, you will find the new map to be quite challenging. Stygia, the new realm, has quickly become one of my...

I made Asterion dig in the wrong place. I focused on resources when I should have been thinking in terms of available trap spots. Now I have two mechanical death devices that will sit in Daedalus’ magical inventory rather than deal damage to the angry Greeks that are coming for the Minotaur. He might have to engage in some hand-to-hand combat. I get through the round unscathed, and I fill the blood vessel that adds more trap options. I also use my energy to make sure all traps are open. Then it takes five minutes to discover the perfect route for the incoming adventurers. In Minos, perfect means the route where they will be spiked, burned, moved around by my magical power, and generally suffer before they die. The video game is developed by Artificer and published by Devolver Digital. I played via Steam on the PC, with the title only offered on this hardware. The video game combines trap construction and maze shaping with a rogue-lite core. The tale of the Minotau...