Are You Ready for Some October Nightmares?

IRVINE, Calif. – June 24, 2025 | Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. today announced LITTLE NIGHTMARES™ III, developed by Supermassive Games will launch on October 10, 2025, for PlayStation®5, PlayStation® 4, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, PC via Steam® and Xbox on PC, and Nintendo Switch™ and Switch™ 2. Pre-orders started today on all platforms except on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, which will start at a later date. The franchise has now sold 20 million units since the release of LITTLE NIGHTMARES™ in 2017. For more information on the game, visit www.bandainamcoent.com/games/little-nightmares-3. 

Trapped in the Spiral, a world filled with delusions, Low & Alone are looking for a way out. Through their journey, they enter the Carnevale, a decrepit funfair which is the focus of the new trailer and gameplay deep dive. 

 

Check out the new game trailer here: https://youtu.be/cRx3RKsCE4Q; check out the game play deep dive here: https://youtu.be/KV7CzN470hE?si=Md4FywuyeHjfhzg4 

 

The following editions of LITTLE NIGHTMARES III are available for pre-order:

• Standard Edition
• Digital Deluxe Edition, which includes the Secrets of The Spiral - Expansion Pass, and the Residents Costumes Pack
• Collector “Mirror Edition”, which adds to the Deluxe edition content, a figurine, a metal case, a physical artbook, the OST in digital and physical format, and some stickers 
• Premium Collector “Spiral Edition”, exclusive to the Bandai Namco Store which, contains the Collector “Mirror Edition” figurine, enhanced with a music box base, a Nome controller/phone holder and a double-sided coin of Low and Alone.

 

Pre-orders will give access to the Dark Six Costumes Set on all platforms. Pre-ordering a digital copy will also include the early access of LITTLE NIGHTMARES ENHANCED EDITION on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. The Secrets of The Spiral - Expansion Pass includes two additional chapters to explore, which will be detailed at a later date, as well as an exclusive Costumes Set featuring a character that fans might recognize.

In addition, LITTLE NIGHTMARES ENHANCED EDITION has been announced for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC with a release date also set on October 10, 2025. LITTLE NIGHTMARES ENHANCED EDITION brings Six’s story to a new standard thanks to technical enhancements, such as volumetric lightning and ray tracing, as well as gameplay changes like better checkpoint placement, gameplay helpers, letting more players discover Six’s journey through the Maw. LITTLE NIGHTMARES ENHANCED EDITION will be available right away to those who pre-order a digital copy of Little Nightmares III on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

 

The final game announcement from the Little Nightmares Showcase is LITTLE NIGHTMARES VR: ALTERED ECHOES, which has been announced to be in development at Iconik Studio.

 

Little Nightmares continues to expand beyond video games, several other projects have been announced, spanning a variety of media such as comic books, podcasts and more. 

 

Check out the Little Nightmares Showcase for all the exciting news and reveals here: 

Join the conversation on X at https://twitter.com/littlenights, and Discord at https://discord.gg/2ncXBKQm. For information on this title and other products from Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc., please visit www.bandainamcoent.com.

About Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. 

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc., part of the Bandai Namco Group, is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive entertainment for major video game consoles, PC, online, and mobile platforms. The company is known for creating many of the industry’s beloved classic franchises such as PAC-MAN®, GALAGA®, TEKKEN®, SOULCALIBUR®, and ACE COMBAT®, and publishing the critically acclaimed DARK SOULS™ series and the blockbuster title ELDEN RING™. Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. is also the premier publisher in the Western hemisphere for anime-based video games including GUNDAM™, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, DRAGON BALL™, and ONE PIECE®. Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. is headquartered in Irvine, California. More information about the company and its products can be found at http://www.bandainamcoent.com. 

Little Nightmares™III & ©Bandai Namco Europe S.A.S.

 

Press Release ©Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. 

All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

Article by: Susan N.

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Fend off Enemy Raids in Bushido Update of Sengoku Dynasty!

Oberhaching, Germany, June 25, 2025 | Developer Superkami and Publisher Toplitz Productions announce that the next major content update for their genre-blend Sengoku Dynasty is now available.

Since its release in Early Access, the mix of life-sim, settlement builder, survival adventure and action underwent a slow transformation with a plethora of meaningful updates, based on both the extensive roadmap as well as the invaluable player feedback. The new content pack ‘Bushidō’, updating the game to version 1.1,  is no exception and delivers a new threat to the Nata Valley in the form of raids by various villainous factions. However, since Sengoku Dynasty wants to cater to the players’ gameplay preferences as much as possible, raids can be deactivated as well, if a more peaceful experience is preferred.

But what are raids? Bandits will not only roam the area or inhabit small camps. They will eventually start to attack your villages, try to capture your bell tower and ransack your dynasty storage. So set up your defenses, employ guards and make sure that your villagers are safe - or at least that you can catch the raiders and reclaim the loot before they disappear.

While you can minimize the risk by attacking and destroying bandit camps on your expeditions into the scenic world of Sengoku Dynasty, you can never be fully safe. Thankfully, rumors spread fast in Nata Valley, so you will hear of an upcoming attack with enough time to prepare your defensive tactics.

Additionally the ‘Bushidō’ update includes a wide variety of bug fixes, enhancements and quality-of-life improvements to make the player’s journey through Sengoku Dynasty a truly memorable one. For the full patch notes please visit the official Steam product page.

Sengoku Dynasty is available for PC on Steam, GOG.com and the Epic Games Store. Console versions are in development and slated for release this Summer.

About Superkami

Superkami is a studio with one mission - to let talented people make the best games they can.  As an agile, fully remote studio with a team all over the world  consisting of experienced veterans and ambitious newcomers they seek to bring unique content to a whole new audience through their innovation and style. Their first announced title is Sengoku Dynasty - an open-world survival builder set in the beautiful world of medieval Japan.

About Toplitz Productions:

The German-Austrian publisher, whose name originates from the mysterious Toplitz Lake in the heart of Austria, develops and publishes games with "heart & soul" for all platforms. The company consists of a healthy mix of experienced industry veterans and young talents, all of whom are passionate gamers. They enjoy working with creative developers on many exciting titles, such as those from the "Dynasty" and "Giant" series.

Stay up to date and learn everything worth knowing about Toplitz Productions by following the company on X, Facebook, the official website, and Instagram.

Article by: Susan N.

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Get Ready for Another Fun and Cozy Farming Simulation on July 16th!

Porto Alegre (Brazil), July 2, 2025 | Brazilian game developer and publisher Epopeia Games is proud to announce that their Cozy Adventure with Farming Sim elements Gaucho and the Grassland will release its 1.0 version on Steam this July 16 at a price of 19.99 USD|EUR with a 15% during the first 2 weeks. Gaucho and the Grassland is an adventure farming sim where you live as a latin cowboy, exploring the vast grasslands, the cozy highlands, the beach, and a magical world, helping locals and mystical beings to turn the world into a more harmonious place.

A cozy farming sim influenced by the mysticism and contemplation of The Legend of Zelda series. 

"At first Zelda brought us the epic adventure, no doubt about it, but Zelda has also been showing a cozy side for a long time now, with moments of calm and contemplation, not to mention the fun characters we meet along the way.

Then there's the recent remake of Link's Awakening with its beautiful cute visuals, which we also find a great inspiration.

In this way, even though the initial idea was not to create a “Zelda with farming elements", the references we had made that cozy elements with an adventure structure no longer seemed so distant from each other when balanced, and since then we have sought to realize the potential of this union of genres." Rodrigo Moreira - Lead Game Designer / Epopeia Games Co-founder.

Main Features

• Solving quests with farm mechanics: Progress in the game through typical agricultural and rural activities.
• Interacting with animals: lassoing cows, sheep and oxen; leading them around the setting and looking after their needs.
• Farm activities: Fishing, milking, shearing sheep, collecting eggs and much more.
• Building and repairs: Renovate and customize houses - both inside and out.
• Exploring different worlds: Four unique regions to explore - the pampas, the mountains, the beach and the mystical world.
• Magical mate: The traditional gaucho drink takes on a special role, revealing hidden secrets.
• Differentiated narrative: Instead of inheriting a farm, the protagonist is given the title of guardian of the pampas, with the mission of restoring harmony to the region.
• Cultural elements: Playing the harmonica, looking after the animals and experiencing daily life in the countryside.
• Mystical character: An enigmatic cattlewoman who guides the player into the mystical world and reveals new layers of the story.

About Epopeia Games

Epopeia Games is responsible for other games that have been nominated for various awards, and has published the Brazilian indie hit of 2024, Mullet MadJack. Now, it promises to innovate in the farm games genre with the release of Gaucho and the Grassland, which has already won the award for BEST GAME PITCH FROM REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS at the Big Festival 2022 in São Paulo, Brazil. The game is scheduled for release on PC in 2025, with future plans for Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and Playstation 4/5 releases.

Article by: Susan N.

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God of Weapons - Xbox Review

God of Weapons by Archmage Labs and published by Archmage Games Studio
Xbox review written by David with a copy provided by the publisher through Keymailer

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

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God of Weapons is a fantasy themed auto-shooter roguelike. Another entry in an increasingly common style that’s probably its own genre by now but nobody can agree on what to call it beyond “Survivors-Like” which I think is as lazy-but-accurate as calling an ARPG with strict animation-timing based combat and rest-to-reset-the-map mechanics with a typically dark theme as “Souls-Like.” It’s correct, but are we out of ways to describe these things? Probably, I’m not smart enough to figure that one out, so I’m just gonna use ‘em. The lovely part about language is that the only thing that matters is understanding, and the moment someone says “Soulslike” and “Survivorslike” we have a fair starting assumption of how the game works. 
 

(Writer’s note: Yes, Roguelike started this way, but how many Roguelikes actually resemble Rogue beyond dying as a mechanic?)


Highest victory at the time of writing: Merchant aspect of the King

God of Weapons has twelve characters to pick from, and each character has three aspects. You start off with three characters unlocked, one aspect open on each: The Knight (Aspect: Knight), The Hunter (Aspect: Hunter), and The Raven (Aspect: Rogue). I like Rogue type characters, so I started here, and didn’t get particularly far. Dying is part of the point though, and doing so the first time is an achievement with a currency reward. I actually ended up completing my first successful run as The Hunter, going full autoshooter with it. Completing that run unlocked the Eldritch Knight aspect for The Knight, along with the ability to obtain permanent bonuses to everything from damage type to loot to starting gold just like you’d expect with a roguelike.


My favorite thing that separates this game from others like it though is the inventory management. Every level-up allows you to add additional inventory squares between completed floors. Items, both offensive, defensive, and utility, take up space in the form of those squares to match the shapes appropriate for the item itself. In general the more powerful weapons take up more, or weirder, combinations of squares. Along with the default pool available, one of the achievement/quest rewards in the game is the ability to unlock more items for that pool, of which five options pop up to buy between levels. You have to both complete the related quest and have the required currencies for these unlocks though, and roll them in the pool to use them.


Even the location of the squares on level-up is RNG with a reroll cost

My least favorite thing about the game is the total lack of context given. You start the game the first time and it just drops you in with the assumption you’ll just get it. Two options to enter a run, a door for the interior of the tower and a portal for the exterior. There’s no explanation that I’ve found for what the difference is, if any. There’s also no explanation that I’ve found for what this tower even is, or world information at all. The King is another character you can play, with its own additional aspects, as is The Warlock. There’s a tiny scrap of information in the difficulty menu, with a few named bosses, but nothing outside of that, including a readable bestiary that I’ve found. 


That glowing red guy totally isn’t a Beholder

    Speaking of bestiaries, as much as there isn’t a list, I do absolutely appreciate the enemy variety and the fantasy it draws from. Enemy attacks vary quite well too, with higher floors including enemies that have a rush attack, or ranged. You absolutely cannot just Poe up on some proverbial garlic and AOE your way through most floors by standing still. You’ve gotta move, and you have a move speed. Enemies vary in their own move speed as well so without buffs, some of them are faster than you by default depending on character selection. A Dash mechanic is present, and careful use of it is highly recommended. Some floors include traps, and triggering them only to dash away and leave the following horde in your place to take the damage is a great tactical choice. 


Maybe you can Poe a little bit as a treat

Overall, while I’m mostly a gamer for the story or worldbuilding of a piece I put my time into, I appreciate the pure value of fun and this game has it in spades. A fantastic suvivorslike with no context and all of the entertainment to make up for it. 

 

Score: 8 / 10

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Happy July 4th!

Hoping all of our US readers have a safe and enjoyable Independence Day, while also hoping that all of the rest of our readers are also having a wonderful upcoming weekend.

We'll be back with more articles and antics soon - so until then? Enjoy your time with family and friends and we'll be seeing you next week. 

- Sincerely, the CGR team

 

 

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Exciting Free Demo of Aspiel: Edge of Chaos Available on Steam!

Genoa, Italy – June 30, 2025 – Following its participation in the IndieMania festival, Sylpha Works is proud to present the trailer for Aspiel: Edge of Chaos, whose demo is available on Steam.

Aspiel: Edge of Chaos is a fantasy third-person action-RPG in which you explore the mysterious and cursed continent of Aspiel in search to face the great God of Death. The game’s PC release is scheduled for Q4 2025.

The Demo

Get a taste of Aspiel: Edge of Chaos with our new playable demo. Lasting about one hour, depending on exploration, it covers the beginning of the game. Venture through a deserted town, navigate a murky swamp and explore an abandoned mine before facing the red golem, your final boss. Along the way, meet memorable characters, from the enigmatic Erysia to the farmer Dassan, and undertake an important mission for him.

You can try Aspiel: Edge of Chaos demo for free now on its Steam page!

A Game of Action and Exploration

Traverse a vast land brimming with hidden and unique locations, side quests to complete and characters to meet, uncovering its lore as you go. Explore abandoned mines and ancient ruins, unraveling lost puzzles and treasures. Confront the battles that lie ahead and grow ever stronger to fulfill your duty.

The Story

The game revolves around Quartus’s journey, a former slave from the distant land of Valyka, who finds himself charged with the mission of eradicating the curse that plagues the continent. After receiving a magical power from a mysterious girl, you will travel across the plagued lands of Aspiel, heading to the head of darkness.

Links

Steam page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3543940/Aspiel_Edge_Of_Chaos/

Website: https://sylphaworks.com/aspiel-edge-of-chaos/

Key features

• A semi-open dark fantasy world with many dungeons and different areas to explore
• Vast amount of items and equipments
• Heavy and light attacks, with many different weapons and move sets
• Many different spells for every situation
• Dash and parry to avoid attacks
• Perfect dash mechanic, recover stamina and mana with perfect timing!
• Attribute-based progression system
• Unique characters, quests and hidden lore
• Ancient puzzles around the world
• Designed for both controller and mouse & keyboard

ABOUT SYLPHA WORKS

We are two brothers from Genoa, Italy, who decided to embark on the adventure of developing Aspiel: Edge of Chaos four years ago. Our first goal was to create a vast and organic game, set in a fantasy world of our own design which players could freely explore and discover. We recently committed to releasing our game and founded Sylpha Works.

Article by: Susan N.

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God of Weapons lands on Xbox

On June 12, God of Weapons arrives on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. This arena survival game mixes roguelike mechanics with action RPG elements and bullet hell chaos. It delivers fast-paced gameplay that rewards smart tactical choices. After earning glowing reviews on PC, God of Weapons is now coming to consoles – with a PlayStation 5 release planned in the coming months.

The game is developed by Archmage Labs, an independent studio based in Vietnam. Originally launched in 2023 on PC, it was warmly received and currently holds an 85% positive rating on Steam from nearly 4,100 player reviews.

Intense and addictive mayhem

God of Weapons is an isometric arena survival game combining roguelike structure, action RPG depth, and bullet hell intensity. Gameplay centers around surviving relentless monster hordes as you ascend the Tower of Zhor. The story revolves around the battle against chaos and destruction, all wrapped in a dark visual style.
Combat is automatic, leaving the player free to focus on dodging, positioning, and optimizing their loadout. With limited inventory space, smart gear choices are key to staying alive.

Players can equip a wide arsenal of melee and ranged weapons, plus a variety of accessories and special combat skills.

Levels in God of Weapons are procedurally generated, and each run is further varied by random gear, abilities, and enemies. Progressing unlocks even stronger weapons and gear for future attempts.

God of Weapons – main features:

• arena survival gameplay;
• intense and dynamic combat;
• roguelike, action RPG, and bullet hell elements;
• swarms of unique monsters;
• strategic inventory and gear management.

 

God of Weapons launches on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S on June 12, 2025. A PlayStation 5 version is also on the way later this year.


God of Weapons | Xbox Launch Trailer:
https://youtu.be/H8xPdV0-TGM

God of Weapons (Microsoft Store):
https://www.xbox.com/games/store/god-of-weapons/9nv91sflw0mr

God of Weapons (Steam):
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2342950/God_Of_Weapons/

Basic information:

Title: God of Weapons
Genre: arena survival, roguelike, action RPG, bullet hell, indie
Developer: Archmage Labs, Ultimate Games S.A.
Publisher: Ultimate Games S.A.
Language: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Vietnamese, Japanese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese
number of players: 1
File size: 2.2 GB 

Release date: June 12, 2025 (Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S), 2025 (PlayStation 5), September 13, 2023 (PC Steam)

 

Article by: Susan N.

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Memorable Music in Gaming - June Genre - Strategy

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Susan N.

It’s that time again! The writers of Chalgyr’s Game Room get together to cover some of our favorite music in video gaming. This month we are bringing the strategy genre to the forefront, and that is no easy feat! While several game genres have subgenres within them, the list of games and the memorable music out of those genres can be a little simpler to narrow down. However, strategy contains RTS, Tactical turn-based, AND 4X strategy games which makes the list a bit tougher to shrink down. I have one for each of those subgenres because it’s impossible to pick only one or two songs in total.

Starting with the strangely easiest subgenre of RTS, I have two picks that are the most memorable pieces. In a move that should shock no one, the first is the track titled “Heart of the Swarm” from Starcraft 2 Heart of the Swarm expansion. It was written by Neal Acree and Cris Velasco, although there are multiple artists attributed to the Starcraft 2 OST. Second, is also a track that should shock absolutely no one, and it is arguably the most memorable track of all time. How do I know this? It’s because I’ve never played a Command & Conquer game and yet I am still familiar with the music. THAT is how legendary Frank Klepacki’s Hell March is. Not only do I know the song, but I also have several OCRemixes of the track as well. I can’t put it down and I also can’t explain why it’s an infectious song.

Under the subgenre of tactical turn-based strategy there are a couple of legendary composers, but only one stands at the top. He is a musical giant. And although it was confusing to some of my colleagues, I’m a fan of Battletech. When Harebrained Schemes and Paradox Interactive released Battletech in 2018, I was all over it. This means that the composer for Battletech is none other than Jon Everist, who has written music for The Lamplighters League, Overwatch 2, Star Wars Outlaws, and Shadowrun: Hong Kong. I can’t pick out a single track for Battletech because there are so many good ones, but if I had to pick something it would be Coronation Day. There’s something to be said about the quiet build before everything goes to hell. This song plays as Kamea Arano ascends the throne and it is also the point where her uncle disapproves of her decisions and launches a coup d’etat behind her back. It’s quite the hook for players. The music effortlessly conveys the rise to power as well as the sinister plot unfolding. The music and the game are top notch in my books.

The last subgenre I’m covering is 4X strategy. There’s a ton of beautifully composed tracks attributed to the 4X genre like Endless Legend, Age of Wonders, Humankind, Sins of a Solar Empire, and many more. However, there are two titans when it comes to music for me and that is Andreas Waldetoft who is responsible for the masterful pieces in Stellaris. The other is Christopher Tin of Civilization IV. I’ve previously talked about how I feel about Baba Yetu from Civilization IV so I won’t go into too much detail. This piece captivated its audience in a big way. There have been very few games where I can honestly say I would open the game just to hear the music. (The other game that has managed to achieve this was Jack Wall’s Theme song to Myst IV Revelation.) Baba Yetu, will always top the list for me. However, Andreas Waldetoft has written some amazing pieces for Stellaris. I particularly love the song called Faster than Light. It begins with a soft melody that builds in the background with long notes. Then, the vocalist enters the track with her beautiful soprano tones. When travelling through the vastness of space to take out your opponents, this song keeps your focus on the objective. And although I haven’t played a ton of Stellaris, the music is simply breathtaking.

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Nick

Lind Erebros  – King’s Bounty: The Legend

Mikhail Anatolyevich Kostylev (better known in many parts of the world as Lind Erebros) is a Russian musician and composer who has crafted albums (the Elven Oratory trilogy) and movie soundtracks (two credits currently - Twenty-eight Panfilov's Men and Tanks) alike, but is probably best known for his video game credits, which include Royal Quest, Age of Decadence and three of the Shadow Flight titles.

However, my first experience with Lind Erebros' music was the King's Bounty Series. I absolutely love these strategy games (at least the classic ones - I was less fond of King's Bounty II which Lind Erebros' music did not grace). While the stories told within the games can be a bit strange or even downright goofy at times, the strategy is top-notch and the army building elements are downright addictive. 

Even with those qualities, the thing about these games that always stood out the most for me? The music. Horns and flutes that create both quiet, reflective moments and those punctuated with walls of sound that ratchet up the tension. The first game in the series, King's Bounty: The Legend's soundtrack was the highlight of the game for me. Just give a listen to the song Home Lands, and tell me you don't immediately feel like you're embarking on a magical adventure. The creepy, ethereal sounds of Fear hauntingly reflect dark, dank crypts during your explorations. Last but hardly least, Warlord Horn and In the Heart of Battle are the embodiment of music you would expect to hear as you enter an epic battle.  

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Valerie

Duane Decker - MechCommander series 

Remember these? MechWarrior 2, MechCommander 1, MechCommander 2, and MechCommander GOLD? I fell in love with these game series with their awesome mechs, the Real Time Strategy genre, and the beautiful music that created the atmosphere, the workmanship of the mechs, and the progression through the game. Duane Decker is such a powerhouse in music composition for games, television, movies, mobile games, his own albums, as well as licencing production music for TV and films. You can check out his credits here!

In the immortal words of one of the mech pilots, "This is Goblin! Do what I can sir!" Each and every pilot had their own voices that resonated with the gamers that have played the games. The music brought you into the atmosphere of being on your own and having missions to accomplish. The opening sequence, down through the skirmishes, and right to the very end you were entrenched in the mech atmosphere of combat. Nothing says it better than the track where you're lining up your mechs to take down an enemy.

Over the years Duane Decker's mech music has been an integral part of focussing on the work I was doing or just enjoying a few tracks to feel like just me inside my mech towering above the combat field. Each track on MechCommander 1 was related to the mission you were on. I couldn't find anywhere a list of track names. They were all listed as either 'Track 1' or 'Music 01'. The track I just listed is reminiscent of reflecting on what had just transpired after victory. One person listed this title for that track and called it 'Reflections' in the comments.

A big Thank you to Susan N. for whispering in my ear the series we used to play together years ago!

Now as I write this, I am longing to play again. So, while you are enjoying the music feast we presented this month, I'll be pulling out my old game cds and firing up whichever MechCommander or MechWarrior game appears first! Happy Summer Holidays all in North America. It's turning out to be quite the heat wave!

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Celebrate Canada Day with Canadian Game Developers!

July 1st, 2025

It’s Canada Day today and we at Chalgyr thought it’d be a great idea to feature a couple of existing and upcoming Canadian games for today’s press release. There is no specific order to the games mentioned in this post, so without further ado, let’s talk in maple syrup and amazing poutine. We may even throw in some Beavertails, because they’re just soo good.

Over the years we’ve seen some amazing games that have been developed by Canadian companies. Some of my personal favourites are games like Mages of Mystralia which I had the stellar fortune to write a review for a different site; although one of our fantastic colleagues wrote a fabulous review here on CGR. Find that review here: https://www.chalgyr.com/2017/06/mages-of-mystralia-pc-review.html  

For those unfamiliar, Mages of Mystralia is an action RPG that is neat because you can customize your own spells to solve puzzles and take out big bads. It’s also special because the legendary Ed Greenwood (creator of several D&D worlds) wrote several aspects of the story for the game! Interested? Check out the Steam page and grab it for 75% off the normal retail price! It’s only $5.49 Canadian right now until the 14th!

Another favourite Canadian Game that is worth it to grab is none other than Spiritfarer: Farewell Edition. This is a single player story based game that is centered around management. It’s a spectacular game released by Thunder Lotus Games and it kicks you in the gut because it is a story about taking people to the spirit world after they have passed. While that may seem a little tough to stomach, the game allows you to tackle death in a positive way. The Farewell Edition of the game can be purchased for $3.89 Canadian, which is 90% off the retail price! Make sure to pick it up before July 10th to get the deal!

For those of you that enjoy space games, another title took over the Twitch directory for a bit is none other than Hardspace: Shipbreaker. This is a sandbox puzzle game designed around breaking down ships. It is a gorgeous looking game that is on sale for 65% off right now. If you missed out, don’t fear because it’s less than $20 Canadian!

I’ve seen a ton of people embrace the idea of daily management. To help with that, you can pick up Spirit City: Lofi Sessions made by Mooncube Games, a Canadian company. The title is centered around management of your personal tasks for the day or week. Your space is highly customizable so that you can create a space that helps you focus on your real life tasks. It even comes with an amazing lofi soundtrack to help you maintain focus. Honestly, Spirit City: Lofi Sessions is worth it to grab if you need a program to keep track of your daily tasks. Get it now for $10.04! 

In fact, there are tons of Canadian companies that have released fun and interesting games including Lost Records: Rage & Bloom which was developed by Dontnod Montreal, as well as the ever biggest Canadian shooter Warframe by Digital Extremes which is based out of London, Ontario. However, you may be wondering what games are coming out from Canadian companies that you can set your sights on. 

Upcoming Games

I mentioned that one of my favourite games is Mages of Mystralia, so I’m excited to remind readers that a new game in the same world and that is Echoes of Mystralia. It is an Action Adventure game by Borealys Games which builds upon the spell crafting concept that we know and love. The graphics are updated yet familiar, and it looks like it will be a ton of fun to play. I can’t wait for this title to get a release date!

Developer Riyo Games is releasing a title called Threads of Time which is a Turn-based JRPG. The graphics are beautiful and you get to play as couple of different characters and travel through time where you will uncover a plot that may unravel all timelines. It’s a bold concept but also quite interesting, at least it is in my opinion. Feel free to check it out here and perhaps even wishlist it!

Treehouse Games has a beautiful cooperative survival crafting game releasing on August 5th.  It’s called Voyagers of Nera and it requires you to survive in a magical ocean world where deadly monsters and lost spirits linger. When it releases on August 5, it will be in an early access state where players will be able to submit feedback about the game and its features. If you want to sail the high seas and take out various hostile creatures, be sure to check it out. Wishlist it on Steam here:  

Final Remarks

This Canada Day, be sure to check out all sorts of titles released or upcoming on Steam. You can click on the Canadian Game Sale banner until July 8th for fantastic titles, or be sure to follow the Canadian Games Dev group to keep an eye on upcoming games!

Article by: Susan N.

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Happy Canada Day 2025!

Hi everyone!

As about half our team is Canadian we figured we would give them the day off today while our American half will have Friday.

We’ll be back tomorrow with more reviews but in the meantime start enjoying your summer and keep on gaming!

 

The CGR Team! 

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Creep into an Upcoming Tim Burton-esque Cozy Horror Adventure Game

June 25th, Paris, France and Warsaw, Poland — Untold Tales has teamed up with Atlas V, Fishing Cactus, 3DAR and ARTE France to bring the wonderfully grim story of Gloomy Eyes to life.

 

Gloomy Eyes is a single-player “self-coop” cozy horror adventure. Players will alternate between controlling Gloomy and Nene, two unique characters as they embark on a journey to bring sunlight back to a world plunged into nasty, bitter darkness. 

The game is set in a lovingly haunting, Tim Burton-esque visual aesthetic, reminiscent of Corpse Bride and The Nightmare Before Christmas.

A free Steam demo is currently available to try the first opening levels.

WHO ARE THESE TWO DELIGHTFUL LITTLE DELINQUENTS?

Meet Gloomy, a sweet zombie boy, and Nena, a mischievous human girl, who defy the rules of their world and elders by teaming up. Why? Because one day, after the sun got fed up with humanity’s stupidity, he simply… left. 

His absence created a bitter, angry world where the living and the undead are locked in endless squabbles. Now it’s up to Gloomy and Nena to find him and bring back his light. 

Each character has their own set of unique abilities and notable weaknesses, so they’ll need to work together to overcome the world’s many obstacles.

FROM AWARD-WINNING VR MOVIE TO FULL-LENGTH GAME

Gloomy Eyes was originally conceived by 3DAR, AtlasV, and ARTE and released in 2019 as a VR movie/experience narrated by Colin Farrell. The experience received widespread acclaim and numerous awards for its openly Tim Burton-inspired visual style, innovative technology, and charmingly grim narrative. 

The experience collected nominations and awards at Sundance, SXSW, Raindance, Venice, and Vancouver International film festivals to name a few. 

 

GAME FEATURES

A “Self-Coop” Adventure

Control both Gloomy and Nena in a fully single-player experience. Switch between the two to solve brain-teasing environmental puzzles. Each character brings their own abilities that you’ll need to overcome obstacles and progress through this delightfully wretched darkness.

Creepy Cozy Horror with No Jump Scares

Step into a world where the macabre meets the magical. Inspired by the art style of Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride or Nightmare Before Christmas, Gloomy Eyes offers a lovingly crafted universe brimming with spooky charm, eerie beauty, and heartwarming gloom. There’s no gore or jump scares, just an enchanting, haunting atmosphere that will tug at your undead heartstrings. 

A Whimsical Tale of Forbidden Companionship

Gather ‘round for a heartwarmingly bleak fairy tale of necromantic adventure, as told by the old gravekeeper. While the living and the undead are squabbling something fierce, two unlikely souls meet and become one another's closest companions. But for any hope of a cheery forever after, they must set off on a journey together to find the sun and restore its light.

Explore Twisted Little Dioramas

Each level is a stunning, handcrafted rotatable diorama, overflowing with visual macabre charm and ghoulishly delightful details. Explore these miniature worlds from multiple angles as you uncover secrets, solve puzzles, and play out a story of a love that should never be.

Article by: Susan N.

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Boulder Dash 40th Anniversary is Releasing Soon on All Platforms!

Monday June 10th, 2025 | Today German publisher BBG Entertainment GmbH is proud to announce the forthcoming release on all major platforms on July 24, 2025 priced at €19.99 / $19.99, which include PC, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Xbox, Mac and Sony PlayStation 4 and 5, of one video game industry's iconic and much loved franchise Boulder Dash with a superb and exciting 40th Anniversary release. Starring the loveable central character, Rockford, this brand new 180 level dash and bash blast comes with a completely redesigned engine but staying close to the ideals, look and essence that resembles the original from the 80s.

  

The Definitive Purchase

The original million seller from way back  in 1984 is a true pioneering genre marker, with its simplistic ideas, that has gamers hooked from the moment they load up the game. Immerse yourself in 40 years of video game history and experience the classic BOULDER DASH® in an epic anniversary edition! Now, the iconic title returns with a completely new, faithful game engine and 180 new levels. A treat for long-time fans and newcomers alike. Your task: Collect enough diamonds in a cave filled with treacherous enemies and falling rocks to open the door to the exit. Here, you not only have to be skillful and quick to react, but also develop a suitable strategy more than once in order to survive. And once you've completed all 180 levels, you can use an editor to not only design new levels, but also download and play content from the worldwide Boulder Dash community for free. Never before has Boulder Dash looked better or sounded more spectacular!

 

FACTS ATTACK!!

• 6 new, never-before-seen worlds
• 3 new worlds created by hardcore the fans
• 180 completely new, balanced, and refined levels
• Variety of new and unique items, including growing walls, slime, enemy generator, eggs, plus more
• Construction kit to create, share, or download other players’ levels
• Distinctive visual style that aims to blend original color schemes with contemporary themes
• Option to select and play for one of the three main heroes, each crafted in line with the game’s original vision
• Music and sounds composed by Germany’s most famous video game musician Chris Huelsbeck (Giana Sisters, Turrican, Star Wars Rogue Squadron, Teenage Mutant Ninja  Turtles: Splintered Fate and many more).

  

BOULDER DASH 40th Anniversary is distinguished and is equally vibrant and challenging as it ever was and will appeal to all gamers that love a challenge and puzzling out how to avoid the boulders so that ROCKFORD can pave a way to the exit without being crushed. Such a simple idea but one that has been copied and cloned 100s of times but Boulder Dash stands heads and shoulders above all comers and imitations!! The fact that BOULDER DASH 40th Anniversary won at the prestigious Pixel Awards Europe 2025 in Warsaw on 7 June in the ‘Retro Roots’ category confirms the exceptional quality of the title. On the same day, the Boulder Dash Master Challenge took place for the first time. The winner was Adam Strzelczyk, who will now represent Poland at the Boulder Dash World Championship on 23 August at gamescom in Cologne. 

Facts speak louder than words!

“We pursued two goals: Firstly, we wanted to bring the first three parts Boulder Dash I, II and III to life as faithfully as possible on current machines. Secondly, we wanted to spice up the classic gameplay with contemporary visuals and suitable new ideas such as growing walls, slime, an enemy generator, eggs and other things. All in all BOULDER DASH 40th Anniversary is certainly the most comprehensive game in the series of all time: The first three games in the original Commodore and Atari look, more than hundred of brand new levels in a new look, and all tested and approved by the best Boulder Dash players worldwide. On top we have integrated a level editor which allows the users to create, play and share all these levels to Boulder Dash players worldwide plus stunning music and sounds from Chris Huelsbeck.”

For those that love the Boulder Dash experience or have yet to experience what this acclaimed brand offers and own a Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, PC or Mac!

YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!!

A MUST PLAY GAME!

About BBG Entertainment GmbH:

BBG Entertainment, based in Munich, Germany, has had two main focuses since it was founded in 2008: In the “Casual Games” area, the publication of new editions of real video game classics, which, thanks to a unique game principle, guarantee gaming fun for the whole family even decades after their initial publication. In the “Education” area, titles that not only have a demonstrably positive effect in the training and learning segments, but are also fun thanks to an entertaining production. In 2016, BBG Entertainment purchased all rights to the legendary Boulder Dash® brand from the US company First Star Software Inc. In 2023, BBG Entertainment acquired two more IP classics from Intellivision Entertainment LLC: Shark! Shark! ® and Astrosmash®. The current portfolio includes classics such as Boulder Dash®, Dynablaster®, Shark! Shark! ®, Astrosmash®, Quiz with Fritz®, Einstein™ Brain Trainer for various platforms such as PC (Steam, Windows, Mac), consoles (Switch, Xbox) and mobile (iOS and Android).

Boulder Dash® and Rockford® are trademarks of BBG Entertainment GmbH, registered in the US, the European Union and other countries. Boulder Dash® 30th Anniversary™, Boulder Dash® Deluxe™, Boulder Dash® 40th Anniversary™, Crystal™ and Goldford™ are trademarks of BBG Entertainment GmbH. Copyright © 1984-2025 BBG Entertainment GmbH. All rights reserved. The original Boulder Dash® was created by Peter Liepa with Chris Gray.

 

Intellivision is a registered trademark of Intellivision Entertainment LLC. ALBERT EINSTEIN and/or EINSTEIN are trademarks or registered trademarks of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, represented exclusively by CMG Worldwide and are used with permission. Official licensed merchandise. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Information about all BBG Entertainment products can be found here: https://www.bbg-entertainment.com.

 

Social Media Channels:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550842448965

X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/bbgenter

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bbgentertainmentgmbh

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbg_enter/

Official Site: https://boulder-dash.com/

Article by: Susan N.

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Guards II: Chaos in Hell - PC Review

Guards II: Chaos in Hell by developer Battlecruiser Games and publisher HeroCraft PC—PC(Steam) review written by Mike with a copy provided by the publisher. 

 
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

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Published by HeroCraft PC and Developed by BattleCruiser Games “Guards II: Chaos in Hell” begins with a journey into Delaware… no, I’m kidding. Hell is our central location as the player takes charge in this turn based lane combat strategic adventure against all types of enemies straight from the very depth of Hell itself. The Sequel of the original “Guards” Developed and Published by HeroCraft PC is a far cry from the earlier 3d top down graphics of the original. Replaced with pixel style everything, and I do mean everything. The art and backgrounds show a deep love of environment settings, world building, atmosphere and the unique enemy/Hero designs shine through immensely in layers.

Guards II begins the story of a young magician summoning a Ifrit, a powerful spirit or demon from Middle eastern folklore often linked to the element of fire, the ifrit offers him a deal. The Devil had united all Kingdoms of hell in a effort to invade the human world. Not wanting this to happen, he proposes to the young magician to aid in causing chaos in the kingdoms of hell to thwart the invasion. With no hesitation, the wizard agrees to help, summoning heroes into the realm to assist in the mission. 

My initial first impression of this well-structured turn-based title had me on a nostalgic memory trip as the pixel graphs and easy to adapt control interface felt very inspirational if not reminiscent to the early days of commodore 64 titles. I found myself slightly surprised at how simple and complex a game could be made in such a manner where halfway into a battle it feels less like a tower defense and more in the ways of a type of Chess re-imagined! 

In Guards II you start in control of the placement of 4 of the player pieces in a lane with combat as a turn-based defense against swarm after swarm of enemies. You begin with the Young Wizard, the Demon hunter, the Alchemist, and the Warrior Princess. Each hero is unique with their own attacks, defenses, strengths and weaknesses as well as their own Upgrade trees to level up as you progress through the various kingdoms of hell. Utilizing each hero to defeat the waves of enemies per kingdom requires some strategic planning and organizing of short range, mid range and long range attacks so as to prevent any of the summoned heroes from falling in battle. There is also an upgrade tree which will allow the heroes to become stronger and more resilient to various factors in the long road ahead.

The combat is turn-based as you are allowed the ability to swap two Hero characters on the battlefield before the attack/defense phase plays out. Certain enemies will be weak to the Alchemist bombs as they cause some fire damage, whereas other enemies will have a harder time dealing with the Warrior Princess in close quarter fights. Upon winning a few kingdom regions of the map, you will unlock the ability to upgrade overall skill powers that swing favor in battles to your entire team, and unlock more Heroes as you progress deeper into the depth of the kingdom map. At the time of this writing I have advanced to the 5^th kingdom of Hell after trial and error with swapping out heroes to either take blunt force, resist curses cast by enemies or simply made enough mistakes to understand and adapt each hero's strengths to advance forward through these trials of chaos.

Every turn, you exchange two heroes positions. Heroes that are moved into the resting zone get healed. A hero who moves out of the resting zone executes their special move. The Archer has a barrage of Arrows damaging all enemies in his lane, the Alchemist tosses a potion to heal teammates, and so on. All other heroes in each lane perform their normal attack in the action phase. The game loop is to figure out which sequence is best to eliminate the required amount of enemy units, or to take down the bosses. However, if any of your heroes are defeated in battle, you lose the match and are prompted to try again or head back to the staging area. Utilizing the rest zone behind the primary 3 attacking heroes will keep your units healthy and in fighting order. The summoned heroes do different attack element types such as fire, magic, or death, and different enemies are weak/strong against different damage types. Think Chess with Rock Paper Scissor mechanics. Heroes have different attack ranges, so some trial and error is bound to occur as you learn as the battlefield changes kingdom to kingdom. 

Tutorials are explained by the Ifrit through text dialogue and don't overwhelm the pick-up and play approach of this game. In a matter of minutes you may find yourself jumping back into completed kingdom zones to understand and defeat enemies with alternative strategic placements. The difficulty levels can be chosen by the player, introducing replay-ability of completed kingdom regions in the event the preceding battle was just too quick or easy. The challenges get progressively more difficult as you progress deeper into the kingdoms and enemies have larger health pools. Weaknesses and strengths fluctuate as progress is made. There are 4 tiers of difficulty that can be changed per level to the players preferences.

The music is beautifully crafted and well composed, even when in battle mid way through a fight I find the soundtrack suiting and enjoyable at every phase. Each enemy as well has unique animations for surrounding, attacks, defense, taking damage and death. The battles are well animated sprite work that show a great dedication to the art teams dedication toward keeping the theme and feel of the characters in the setting environments players will encounter without feeling like they are out of place. The style choice is not only appealing but easy on operating systems for this game to run smoothly, even on a low end graphic PC. I highly recommend this title to anyone looking to have a challenge and appreciate the time and energy placed into pixel animations, well worthy of wandering off the regular treaded path of larger name titles to appreciate a unique and original style of this development team.

If you have a knack for a thinking game matched with a classic strategic turn-based experience, this title is well worth diving into to keep your brain thinking 5 steps ahead as you fight through the levels of the kingdoms of Hell, or die trying. The design and music are  just the icing on a well made cake.

Score: 7 / 10

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