The COVID-19 global pandemic changed many things about the way that we live our lives and the world of video game development is no exception. Working from home has become increasingly commonplace, extending from large “AAA” gaming studios all the way down to indie developers. Some people even switched jobs to accommodate this new lifestyle. I sat down with Marcus Clarke (aka “PixelManta”) to talk about how he took this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change the trajectory of his career. From “A Big Adventure” to Small Startup In 2021, Clarke was working as a Senior Game Designer for Sumo Di ..read more

Subjective: Developer GSQ Games and publisher Gamera Game come together to present Amazing Cultivation Simulator (which will be shortened to ACS for the remainder of this review). ACS is the latest entry into long-term building and life simulation. The twist is that ACS takes place in the realm of Chinese mythology where spiritual energies must be cultivated, spirits appeased, and wandering near-deities pleased… or punished. Objective: ACS is a single-player only title that is a combination life simulator and building manager. A lengthy tutorial is available for players who need a general over ..read more

Subjective: Prep for a clean burn, oil up the propellers, select your air-to-air armament, and brush off airy metaphors ’cause it’s time for SkyDrift Infinity. Developer THQ Nordic, along with publisher HandyGames, present a bit of airborne mayhem with SkyDrift Infinity‘s combination of aerial combat and fast-paced racing. Whether alone, with friends, or a handful of international opponents you may skirt rocky cliffs, bursting lava, or gentle waves as you zoom and blast your way to victory. Objective: SkyDrift Infinity is an aerial racing game that may be played solo or up to seven other playe ..read more

Adios unavoidably deals with depression, self-harm, and suicide. Please be mindful of this if you decide to either play the game or read this review. Subjective: Who gets to decide when things are over? How much control do we really have? What use is a crisis of conscience if it eliminates all possibility of future good? These, and many more questions are asked via the first-person discussion and exploration game Adios, presented for review by combo developer / publisher Mischief. Objective: Adios is a single-player only title. It takes advantage of the Unreal Engine to create a farmland for t ..read more

Subjective: Developer Stormling Studios, along with publisher Iceberg Interactive, present the first-person sci-fi horror game Transient for review. Billed as a meeting of H.P. Lovecraft and cyberpunk, the player assumes control of protagonist Randolph Carter. What exists in shared physical reality, dimensions beyond, or in Carter’s mind begins as a twisting mystery into different worlds. Carter must investigate each new surrounding his consciousness finds itself in, and hope that one further trip down the rabbit hole will give him the answers he’s looking for. Objective: Transient is a single ..read more

Subjective: Co-developers Nihon Falcom, PH3 GmbH and Engine Software BV join with publisher NIS America, Inc. to present Ys XI – Monstrum Nox for review. Monstrum Nox looks to continue the community-building RPG action of previous Ys entry Lacrimosa of Dana, now located in the prison city of Balduq. Series regular Adol also returns to shepherd the action while investigating the mysterious dark forces surrounding his new powers. Objective: Monstrum Nox is a single-player action-RPG which allows the player to switch between playable combatants on the fly. Each enemy has a different set of weakne ..read more

Subjective: Developer Igor Sandman, along with publisher Digerati, present the action/exploration adventure Guild of Darksteel for review. Igor Sandman has created a block by block pixelated world of dread, and a loose collection of immortal mercenaries comb the city of Ravenrock for work. There are many secrets hidden beneath the gloomy metropolis, and the player must guide their Sellsword to uncover a fraction of those mysteries. Utilizing a responsive combo system, catacombs for exploration, and a gaggle of NPCs Guild of Darksteel hopes to guide the player through a unique adventure. Object ..read more

Subjective: Developer Cereal Games, along with publisher Badland Publishing, present the Action RPG Pecaminosa. The player assumes the role of John Souza, former detective and currently staining his tanktop, as he is awakened by a criminal presumed dead. Souza has to follow a trail of crimes and clues to find out what happened to an old partner to lift his sudden haunting. Pecaminosa hopes to root the player in hard boiled dialogue, fast action, and steady growth as Souza follows the case. Objective: Pecaminosa is a hodgepodge of gameplay styles. The player will mostly wander around with John ..read more

Subjective: BRUTE FORCE, acting as both publisher and developer, present the colorful platformer Crumble for review. Crumble, fronted by a cheerful ball of goo, is a race against colorful environments as they fall away. You’re given simple controls – jump, roll, swing – and (should you so choose) a timer to clock how quickly you get through each level. BRUTE FORCE aims to use these simple components to create a bevy of excitement as you race against gravity and other perils. Objective: Crumble is primarily a single-player experience. There is local 4-player mode that I was unable to play for t ..read more

Subjective: Developer Skirmish Mode Games, along with publisher Daedalic Entertainment, presents Warpips for review. Warpips looks to recapture turn-of-the-century browser gaming with a few layers of modern polish. Players must marshal many military mercenaries to secure victory over increasingly difficult opponents. Objective: Warpips is, at time of writing, a single-player only title. It’s a point-and-click real-time strategy game where the player starts with a single secure territory. Surrounding the player’s start are enemy-held territories that may be invaded in any order so long as the t ..read more