Tag: Software

Getting a hot new track is the highlight of the day. After I enter the store, I talk to the employees who have shifts, listen to their concerns, then open up the jukebox, play the new song, play it again, and then make a twenty-minute playlist. This is roughly how long it takes to get through a game day filled with chatty customers and the constant search for the perfect record. My character, the new kid at the record store, is also constantly learning more about his colleagues and about the former rock star owner. And it’s always a pleasure to pick up a record, read the track list, see what the critics think, and then listen to the lead single. Wax Heads is developed by Patattie Games and published by Curve Games. I played it on the PC using Steam, with the title also on the Nintendo Switch, the PlayStation 5 from Sony, and the Xbox Series X and S from Microsoft. The video game is an exuberant exploration of music, its fans, and its power to connect people and mak...

We’ve seen a lot of superhero movies and TV shows over the past decade, but videogames in this genre are scarce. And if we see any, they are usually action-focused titles. Hank: Drowning on Dry Land tries something different, since we have a hero named Hank which is a Batman-esque superhero with a drinking problem. We follow his short, yet entertaining adventure, as he gets sucked into the game of the Unraveler. The Unraveler is one of your mortal enemies, and he is trying to teach you a twisted lesson, while placing you through a multitude of puzzles. And, of course, you also have to endure his monologues, which never seem to end. Thankfully, Hank has a unique ability to speed up or rewind time. That comes in handy, because you feel stuck in a loop and you really have to figure out what to do next, which might be a lot harder than expected. Can you do that from your first try, though? No, but every failed attempt will give you more clues, and that’s for the better...

Anyone who played MMOs enjoys trying out tanks, they are invincible and quite fun to play. However, these days, not everyone has hundreds of hours to pour into an MMO, yet still miss those cool dungeon raids. Don't Lose Aggro is here to bring us that in a roguelite format, making the game very easy to replay. And the cool thing is that all of this is made by a single person, too. The core idea is simple, you enter a dungeon, deal as much damage as possible and kill a plethora of enemies, then you go back to your base camp and upgrade your stats. Then, in true roguelite fashion, you rinse and repeat. There are benefits to playing over and over, since you can get permanent upgrades which will enhance your gameplay. I felt the gameplay loop, albeit simple, is very satisfying, and you will find yourself enjoying it more and more as you play. Plus, the fact that you have an AI healer alongside you and your focus is just on being a tank is great. It alleviates a lot of t...

After Ride 6, Milestone is back at it again with a new MotoGP title, and this one sounded very promising. Since this series is annualized, this year’s iteration is very similar to the one from a few years ago, albeit with its fair share of changes. One of the first things that stood out for me in MotoGP 26 is the fact that they shifted to Unreal Engine 5, and unlike most games using this engine, this one is not dealing with a lot of stuttering or performance problems. With that in mind, the previous engine was great, and the visual difference, while interesting, felt minimal in my experience. However, MotoGP 26 follows the real MotoGP World Championship schedule to the letter, and this year we get a new high-speed circuit in Goiania in Brazil. It’s a great circuit with a layout that’s rather simple and easy to understand. For me, MotoGP 26’s career mode is the most important part of the game, and it has some interesting upgrades. You have a press conference where ...

I love the constantly chirping birds. The Diindiisiwag, which translates to blue jays, are beautiful, with bright shades of deep blue covering their wings, and they travel in an unbreakable group of three. They love mischief and jokes, which they aren’t afraid to tell multiple times. That’s good, considering that even as I lack the cultural context to fully understand what makes some of them funny, the birds’ delivery is good enough to make me laugh. I’ve already talked to a few animals, and one human who’s actually a spirit that might give my character, Miskwaa, a way to get home to her grandma. Now I’m looking for ways to repair a canoe, which involves a trip underwater and more conversations with animal spirits. Let’s see if any can tell good jokes. Reclaim! Azhe-giiwewining is developed and published by Grassroots Indigenous Multimedia. I played on the PC using Steam, with the experience not available on other hardware. The video game uses an old-school point-a...

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...