When The Embers Wake - PC Review

When The Embers Wake by developer and publisher Llamaplay—PC (Steam) review written by Valerie, with a purchased copy. 

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

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When The Embers Wake is a third-person narrative walking simulator about grief where the narrator, Emmie, is working through the loss of her mother. This struggle is portrayed through a red panda and mother panda. I call this a walking simulator more than a narrative adventure because you are on a path to getting through the grief. There isn't much of an adventure except for some sections of the first area where you can explore the playground. Other than that you are on a path listening to the voices of Emmie and her psychiatrist. 

At the start of When The Embers Wake you hear the psychiatrist talking to Emmie about her mom and the loss she still feels. I know from personal experience that grief keeps cycling through your mind in waves or a continuous feed of images, instances, and all sorts of 'what ifs'. You will join Emmie through her grief by guiding the red panda through different locations representing Emmie's memories and feelings.

The graphics of this narrative are really cute. I love the red panda and all the other animals that are depicted in this game. The scenery throughout the path the red panda walks is beautifully done and I was a little sad I couldn't run off into the forest to go explore it. 

The devs did a wonderful job in depicting the land clearing that big building companies do to prepare land to build on. The size difference between the pandas and all the equipment and vehicles is on point and does relate to how Emmie works out the loss of her mother.

The music lines up with all the areas of the narrative being soft and wonderous as the pandas explore the first area to the loud thunderstorm of change and danger.

All in all besides the game being really short (about 30-40 minutes), When the Embers Wake takes you through the grieving process with someone trained to help you through it and not shrink in on yourself. In relation to making this game a little more of an 'adventure' maybe there could be key points of discovery in the game. There were some discoveries and the short tutorial of the movement keys at the beginning, but the game itself was a quiet low-key narrative. If you want something that will help you through some of the struggles you're going through then this game is for you. If you're looking for a cozy exploration, discover, crafting etcetera, then this game isn't that type. I am looking forward to Llamaplay's next game as they progress in their journey toward more to explore, play and just have fun!

 

Score: 6 / 10

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Real Monsters Meets Hotline Miami in Die or Die

Los Angeles - November 2, 2026 | Following its playable debut last week at L.A. Comic Con, publisher Acclaim Inc. is officially bringing Galicia, Spain-based indie studio Ao Norte’s Die or Die to Steam and consoles in 2027. 

Pairing the grungy, cartoon charm of Aaahh!!! Real Monsters with the frenetic top-down action of Hotline Miami, Die or Die has players run, shoot, and dodge their way through enemy-packed levels to earn dice, then spend those dice to unlock abilities or disable threats before their luck runs out. Roll. Die. Repeat. 

To celebrate the announcement, Acclaim has released a new trailer for Die or Die showcasing its fast-and-furious cartoon carnage, hulking hand-drawn enemies, brutal bummers, and deadly dice-based abilities players will encounter on the road to the coast.

“The whole Ao Norte team is so excited about this partnership!,” said Rubén Calles, Producer and Art Director at Ao Norte. “Getting to work with Acclaim will definitely put Die or Die among the most renowned games ever. Not a single bummer in our roadmap, Our dice roll says it's just over the top powers and full throttle towards success for us!”

“Growing up, shows like Aaahh!!! Real Monsters and Liquid Television had a wild, weird, unapologetic energy you couldn’t find anywhere else. Die or Die captures that same cartoon chaos, which makes it a perfect fit for Acclaim,” said Marc Anthony Rodriguez, Director of Publishing & Strategic Partnerships at Acclaim. “That’s what we’re about: games with attitude, personality, and immediate fun.”

About Die or Die

Lil’ Demon is tired. Tired of his life, tired of his job as a taxi driver, tired of the city. Just tired. He wants to leave everything behind. Life, however, has other plans. Die or Die is a top-down shooter roguelike where players roll their dice to destroy the bummers that life puts in their way, until they run out of luck. Skill matters, but so does how you manage your rolls.

Key Features

• Roll the Dice - Dice are everything in Die or Die. Spend them to activate crazy abilities, buy super weapons, or destroy bummers. Your rolls shape your build, your approach to each level, and even the layout of the level itself. So many options, so few dice!
• Beware the Bummers - This isn’t your run-of-the-mill roguelike. Bummers crank up the difficulty: suddenly enemies are HUGE, they shoot other enemies, you move at half speed, the floor is lava, and it’s raining meteors! Each bummer has it’s own requirement to destroy, so be ready for anything!
• Build or Bust - Every die spent clearing bummers is one you can’t put toward abilities or the store. Will you wipe out every bummer, or save your luck for a strong, reliable build?
• Five Worlds to Conquer - Fight your way to the coast across five worlds riddled with enemies, hazards, and dangers.
• Run, Shoot, Dodge - Clear every enemy from each level to move on to the next. Luck gets you started, but skill keeps you alive.

About Ao Norte:

Game studio set in Galicia, Spain. We're crafting colorful and enjoyable experiences. Ao Norte means "to the North" in Galician because we always have our destination clear thanks to our well-tuned compass.

About Acclaim:

Originally founded in 1987, Acclaim established itself as a leading global developer, publisher, and mass marketer, bringing beloved franchises such as Mortal Kombat, Turok, and NBA Jam into homes worldwide. Today, Acclaim carries its legacy forward with an unwavering commitment to supporting talented indie developers and delivering high-quality, premium indie games to a global audience. Acclaim’s modern revival stands as a testament to the strength and enduring appeal of its iconic brand.

Article by: Susan N.

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Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Remastered - Xbox Review

Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Remastered by developer Pipeworks Studios and publisher Atari—Microsoft Xbox Series X review written by Nick with a copy provided by the publisher.

Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

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Train Yard Builder Available Now on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S!

Starting October 29 | Train Yard Builder will be available on PlayStation 5 and XBOX Series X|S. This relaxing model railway simulator lets players create their own layouts and railway dioramas. The game offers both a career mode with missions and commissions, and a sandbox mode that gives players complete freedom. Train Yard Builder is also available on PC.

Train Yard Builder is the work of Polish studio GameFormatic. Wildlands Interactive S.A. is responsible for preparing and releasing the console versions.

Become a Model Railway Master

Train Yard Builder is a relaxing model railway simulator with first-person visuals. Gameplay focuses on creating railway layouts and dioramas.

In Train Yard Builder, players play the grandson of an experienced modeler who inherits a house set up for building railway layouts. Missions and commissions involve painting, cleaning, and creating dioramas to order, among other tasks. As players progress, they unlock new rooms and elements, and resource management also plays an important role. The title also includes a sandbox mode, where players can work with complete freedom.

The game offers plenty of freedom and extensive creative options, letting players decide where to place tracks, viaducts, bridges, switches, and activators. It is also possible to reshape terrain and rivers, lay roads, and add buildings, lampposts, benches, and a whole range of other elements. Every layout can then be put to the test by running trains on it.

A variety of train and carriage models await, which players can customize and mix however they like. The game offers extensive customization options, including painting, combining elements, and fine-tuning the landscape and individual models.

Train Yard Builder – Key Features:

• Immerse yourself in the world of model railways
• Create the railway layouts of your dreams
• Mix different trains and carriages
• Watch your trains run
• Make use of extensive customization options

Train Yard Builder launches on PlayStation 5 and XBOX Series X|S on October 29, 2026. The standard console price is 19.99 USD/EUR or the equivalent in other currencies.

Article by: Susan N.

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Miju Games Announces Planet Crafter: Magnetaris DLC on December 8th

Planet Crafter Information taken from News post on Steam:

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Hello Terraformers!

Planet Crafter new DLC "Magnetaris" will be released on December 8th!

This DLC will be a brand-new planet. A place scattered with huge magnetic storms and anomalies, a place that once hosted people who flew away for unknown reasons...

You'll have to use new technologies to stabilize and protect yourself from the planet's magnetism.

Discover new lore, secrets and explore multiple exciting new biomes. And finally terraform this world to create a lush paradise once again!

Wishlist it Now : https://store.steampowered.com/app/5478920/The_Planet_Crafter_Magnetaris/

• The price of this DLC will be $9.99 / 9.99€
• As usual, you'll only need to buy one copy to host a game and play with your friends!
• The size of the map will be similar to Toxicity and should provide multiple hours of content.
• You'll be able to either start a new game on this planet, or join it using a current save file once you have finished your first planet. The design of the planet should make both experiences equally fun.
• This will be released on all platforms the game is available on

Playtests are open! If you want to help us playtest it, read this.

Stay in the loop

As always, don't miss any information about Planet Crafter and Miju Games :

• Follow us on Steam
• Subscribe to our newsletter
• Follow us on YouTube and on Twitter
• Join the official reddit
• Listen to Planet Crafter soundtrack

See you soon, and happy terraforming!

Article by: Susan N.

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AYASA: Shadow of Silence is out on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC!

October 26, 2026 | Aya Games has launched AYASA: Shadows of Silence on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The atmospheric horror puzzle-platformer takes players into the Inverted World, where light reveals hidden paths and survival depends on observation, puzzles and stealth. The game first launched on PC via Steam on November 28, 2025.

The story

AYASA: Shadows of Silence is set in the Inverted World, a realm once held in balance between light and shadow under Tas, the Absolute. War has shattered that harmony, leaving six lands - Faith, Hope, Love, Greed, Indifference and Betrayal - caught in a spreading darkness. Ayasa, a young girl traveling alone, sets out to recover the scattered remnants of Tas's light and restore her world's lost balance.

Her journey leads through environments shaped by the values and failings their names represent. Players must observe their surroundings, solve environmental puzzles and use light to reveal hidden routes and awaken ancient machines. With threats too dangerous to confront directly, survival depends on timing, stealth and finding a way forward. Uncovering the secrets of each land brings Ayasa closer to understanding what it means to have a conscience. Yet the mysteries she leaves unresolved can draw her into the darkness, changing the person she becomes.

The story unfolds without spoken dialogue, through movement, surreal imagery and music. Its soundtrack is composed by Arman Msryan and draws on the music of Komitas. The art direction takes inspiration from Tim Burton, René Laloux, Robert Sahakyants, Hayao Miyazaki and Sergei Parajanov. 

“Ayasa was always meant to speak without words. We wanted players to feel the story rather than read it,” said Edgar Janoyan, Founder and CEO of Aya Games. “Seeing players on PC connect with Ayasa's journey has meant everything to us. Today, players on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S can finally step into the Inverted World and find their own light in the dark.” 

Key Features

• Six symbolic lands. Explore surreal environments shaped by hope, conflict and corruption.
• Environmental puzzles. Use light to reveal hidden paths and activate ancient machines.
• Stealth and survival. Read your surroundings and evade the dangers waiting in the dark.
• Visual storytelling. Follow a story told through movement, imagery and sound, without spoken dialogue.
• Armenian musical influence. A soundtrack by Arman Msryan drawing on the music of Komitas.
• Availability

AYASA: Shadows of Silence is out now on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S for $19.99, and on PC via Steam for $24.99. The Soundtrack and Digital Artbook are available separately on Steam. The PC version supports menus and interface text in 24 languages.

About Aya Games

Aya Games is an independent game studio operating in both Armenia and the United States, with a team of 10+ people. Its debut title, AYASA: Shadows of Silence, brings together atmospheric horror, environmental puzzles and visual storytelling. Self-published on PC via Steam in November 2025, the game is now available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

Article by: Susan N.

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Inner Voice Receives Free Last Dream Update on Steam

October 29, 2026 | Brightstone was never meant to be left. Today, Dionous Games and X Interactive release the Last Dream Update for Inner Voice, the first-person psychological horror-adventure, dragging players back into its dark, dreamlike world with fresh secrets to uncover and new horrors waiting in the silence. The update is free and live now on Steam.

Grief has a way of leading people to strange places. For Booker, a man desperate to find his missing wife Diana, it leads to Brightstone and to a voice that guides him and haunts him in equal measure. With no weapons and no allies, Booker wanders a place abandoned by time and sanity, where the past refuses to stay buried and every answer comes at a cost.

“The darkness of Brightstone has grown,” said solo developer Nick Chronopoulos. “I’ve been working hard behind the scenes to make Inner Voice an even more immersive and unsettling experience and this update is the result of that work.”

What’s New in the Last Dream Update

• 2 new puzzles that expand the exploration and puzzle-solving experience
• 10+ new scares: disturbing encounters and unexpected moments of terror throughout the game
• Quality-of-life improvements and refinements to the overall gameplay experience

Built for psychological horror fans, Inner Voice trades combat for dread, grief and memory, weaving story-driven puzzles into a world that tells its own story. Players are pulled through decaying spaces that shift around them, where lifeless mannequins stand in silent watch, every room holds a fragment of the past and every sound hints at something waiting in the dark.

Key Features

• 4 unique chapters blending linear storytelling with open-world exploration
• Story puzzles embedded in the environment and narrative
• Fully voice-acted with an original soundtrack and high-end visuals
• 3 story endings plus 1 hidden secret ending based on player choices
• A haunted Victorian/Western world blending reality with fiction

Availability

Inner Voice is available for PC on Steam, GOG and the Epic Games Store and the Last Dream Update is live now as a free update for all players on Steam. Inner Voice is priced at €12.49 and is currently 35% off on Steam (€8.11) until November 2.

• Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4139880/Inner_Voice/
• GOG: https://www.gog.com/en/game/inner_voice
• Epic Games Store: https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/inner-voice-48e747
• Website: https://www.dionous.com/inner-voice/

About X Interactive

X Interactive is an independent studio by solo developer Nikos Chronopoulos. Inner Voice is their debut title.

About Dionous Games

Dionous Games is an indie game development and publishing studio with one simple vision: to create adventure games with rich narratives that speak to your heart and mind.

Article by: Susan N.

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Demo of Bolt of Whalington Launching on November 5th!

Melbourne, Australia — October 27, 2026 | Developer Orca Studio and publisher UltraPlayers have unveiled a new teaser for Bolt of Whalington, an exploration-first Metroidvania where a curious Siamese cat and his trusty mech explore Whalington, a mysterious floating whale-city. Alongside familiar Metroidvania mechanics like ability progression and interconnected exploration, players can also change the rules of the world itself, turning seemingly impossible obstacles into unexpected paths forward.

A free playable demo will launch on Steam on November 5, 2026, at 03:00 UTC (November 4 at 19:00 PST).

Turn Into a Mouse. Talk to Your Enemies

In Bolt of Whalington, the mysterious Rule Terminal lets players rewrite the rules of the world. Can't squeeze through a narrow passage? Turn into a mouse, slip through the gap, and discover that creatures who once treated you as an enemy might now stop for a chat. Stuck behind a solid wall? A bottle of soap might be all you need to get through.

In Whalington, the strangest ideas often open up new places to explore.

Walk on Walls. Follow the Light. Unlock New Routes

Every area of Whalington plays by its own rules. In one region, anti-gravity turns walls into walkable paths, opening up new ways to move and dodge danger. In another, Schrödinger's platforms appear and disappear depending on light. Elsewhere, even an ordinary toilet turns out to be a perfectly reasonable way to travel.

But learning each area's rules is only the beginning. Switch between Bolt's feline agility and his mech's power, unlock new abilities, and return to familiar locations to discover hidden routes that were previously out of reach.

Beyond exploration, challenging bosses bring their own surprises. Learn their attack patterns, master new weapons and combat abilities, and find the right moment to strike.

As Bolt grows stronger, places you've already explored can reveal something new.

Your First Taste of Whalington Arrives November 5

The new teaser offers a glimpse of Bolt of Whalington's hand-drawn world, unconventional mechanics, and playful approach to Metroidvania exploration.

The free Steam demo launches on November 5, 2026, at 03:00 UTC (November 4 at 19:00 PST), featuring four areas of Whalington: the Sardine, Kitchen, Cabins, and Residence. The Kitchen is fully playable, while portions of the other three areas are accessible. The demo's main story takes approximately 60–90 minutes to complete, extending to 90–150 minutes for players who take their time exploring. The map layout and story progression may differ in the full release.

Whether you're a seasoned Metroidvania explorer or someone who simply can't resist poking around every suspicious corner, Whalington invites you to follow your curiosity and see where it leads.

CURIOSITY DOESN'T KILL THE CAT

Watch the new teaser and wishlist Bolt of Whalington on Steam:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3535270

Useful Links:

• Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3535270/
• Discord: https://discord.gg/rteuCHaZ5C
• X: https://x.com/whalington25

About Orca Studio 

Orca Studio is a three-person indie team brought together through an online game development community. Sharing a love for Metroidvanias, the team formed the studio to pursue indie development as a long-term career.

Bolt of Whalington began with founder Josh’s love of Howl’s Moving Castle and the team’s passion for exploration games. Rather than building the experience around punishing difficulty or a grim atmosphere, Orca Studio wants exploration itself to be the reward, filling Whalington with humor, surprises, and Eureka moments that keep players curious about what comes next.

About UltraPlayers

UltraPlayers is a Melbourne-based game publisher working with independent developers to bring distinctive and creative games to players around the world. The team supports developers across publishing strategy, marketing, community building, and international market expansion.

Article by: Susan N.

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Join Deranged Games Open Playtest for Lag Kills Until November 2nd!

UNITED KINGDOM, OCTOBER 2026 | With the annual Steam Scream Fest approaching, solo developer DERANGED GAMES is opening a new playtest for LAG KILLS, an upcoming horror game where breaking into a seemingly empty house for loot turns into a fight for survival.

Players take on the role of a desperate intruder who breaks into what they believe to be an empty house, only to discover that the owner is home, lagging badly, and angry. The objective is simple: know when to loot, know when to hide, and try to escape before he catches you.

Players can request access directly through the LAG KILLS Steam page. The current open playtest marks an important milestone for LAG KILLS, being the last build update to the single-player update before game development shifts toward co-op.

WHAT PLAYERS CAN EXPECT

The latest LAG KILLS playtest introduces several new features and improvements, including:

• Fully playable level with new hiding spots
• Playable lobby featuring a new building and placement system
• In-game shop with upgrades and accessories
• Inventory system with item inspection
• UI overhaul for improved player experience
• Gameplay and performance optimizations
• More jumpscares to keep players on edge
• New lights-out sequence featuring new cutscenes and unique gameplay towards the end of the level.

These updates deliver a more developed single-player experience players can try out during the playtest.

ABOUT DERANGED GAMES

DERANGED GAMES is an independent game studio dedicated to delivering immersive, high tension gaming experiences. With LAG KILLS, the studio aims to combine psychological horror with cooperative gameplay, offering players a raw and unpredictable survival challenge. Additional details, including a press kit, will be made available as development progresses.

You can follow LAG KILLS and DERANGED GAMES through development by joining the Official Discord Server, as well as other social media accounts such as Twitter/X, BlueSky, Facebook, and Instagram.

DERANGED GAMES AND LAG KILLS CAN ALSO BE FOUND ON THE FOLLOWING PLATFORMS:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586008944469  
• Twitter/X: https://x.com/imDERANGEDGAMES  
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/derangedgames.bsky.social
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/derangedgamestudio/

Article by: Susan N.

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Wabisabi Games and Acclaim Inc. Debut an All New Gameplay Trailer for HYPERyuki: Snowboard Syndicate!

Los Angeles - October 16, 2026 | Things are heating up on the slopes for Wabisabi Games’ high-energy love letter to the classic extreme sports games of the Y2K era. During The MIX: Fall Online Showcase, publisher Acclaim Inc. debuted an all-new gameplay trailer for HYPERyuki: Snowboard Syndicate, revealing never-before-seen areas, new playable riders, and even more of the adrenaline-pumping arcade action and over-the-top tricks fans have come to expect ahead of its launch on Steam and consoles next year.

The new trailer takes the action beyond the powder, cranking up the heat with brand-new areas to test their riding skills and pull off death-defying tricks. Players can grind their way across an active volcano, race through shimmering ice caves, and even conquer the courses as a giant snowboarding kaiju.

“The extreme sports games in the golden age of the late 90’s & early aughts had something special. The speed, the banger music, the outrageous tricks, all pure fun. HYPERyuki captures that spirit immediately.  Wabisabi is building something with its own identity, and every new reveal gets more ridiculous in the best possible way.  Acclaim is proud to be part of this journey & can't wait for players to experience it with a new demo soon.”- Marc Anthony Rodriguez, Director of Publishing & Strategic Partnerships, Acclaim, Inc.

First revealed at last year’s Play Acclaim Showcase, HYPERyuki: Snowboard Syndicate is developed by Mexican indie studio Wabisabi Games (RKGK / Rakugaki). Inspired by the fast-paced gameplay and stylish excess of classics like SSX and Jet Grind Radio, the game delivers a modern take on white-knuckle arcade-style snowboarding.

Key Features

• Challenge – Think you have what it takes to impress? In Challenge mode you’ll have to complete objectives to hit the highest score possible. Ride rails, collect trinkets, and hit impressive tricks to top the leaderboard.
• Race – Speed down the slopes against NPCs or other players in this fast-paced game mode. Tricks will increase your boost meter, making style and speed an important balance.
• Chill – Enjoy a calm experience, hang around the tracks, and enjoy the view in this endless mode. Who knows? Maybe you’ll even find some secrets along the way!
• Multiplayer – Compete against friends both online and in person! Play online with up to seven of your friends or play local multiplayer through split screen.
• Shred – Bomb the slopes as a sentient snowboarding taco!

About Acclaim:

Originally founded in 1987, Acclaim established itself as a leading global developer, publisher, and mass marketer, bringing beloved franchises such as Mortal Kombat, Turok, and NBA Jam into homes worldwide. Today, Acclaim carries its legacy forward with an unwavering commitment to supporting talented indie developers and delivering high-quality, premium indie games to a global audience. Acclaim’s modern revival stands as a testament to the strength and enduring appeal of its iconic brand.

Article by: Susan N.

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Wonderia Receives a Discount Until November 2nd with the Addition of a Creative Mode!

October 20, 2026 | Developed by Rock&Dash and published by IndieArk, Wonderia has just released a major update that includes its Creative Mode. The new mode allows players to build their own scenarios, customize the world’s rules, and design and test their own gameplay experiences, both in single-player and multiplayer sessions. A detailed description of the update can be found here. Additionally, Wonderia is available at a 20% discount through November 2.

Creative Mode starts with a starting area where players can build their own environments and design their own gameplay experiences. Players can build settlements with friends, create combat arenas, and arrange mechanisms and automated facilities. By pausing the world and adjusting its rules, they can repeatedly test and refine their designs. Once an environment is ready, players can invite others to explore the routes and experience the gameplay they have created.

The update adds a set of new Creative Tools to make building more efficient and flexible. The Item Catalog allows players to browse or search for buildings, furniture, materials, equipment, and other available items. Bulk Place and Bulk Clear make it easier to work across large areas, while Blueprints and the Blueprint Library allow players to save completed building and facility layouts for reuse in other Creative worlds.

Creative Mode also includes God Mode and Pause World. With God Mode enabled, players can move through obstacles, take no damage, and use no Food or Spirit. Pause World stops world time, enemy activity, and automated facilities, while players can continue to move and build. They can then resume the world to review the results of their changes.

In addition to Creative Mode, the update adds a selection of new furniture, expanding the options for decorating homes and custom environments. Stylist Carvel’s salon will also offer the Makeover Pod service, allowing players to adjust their character’s body type, skin tone, eye style and color, and eyebrow style. Existing characters can receive a new appearance while continuing their current adventure.

Update Highlights

• Support for solo play and multiplayer
• Build and customize terrain, buildings, furniture, and facilities
• Customizable world rules
• Item Catalog with category browsing and search
• Bulk Place and Bulk Clear
• Blueprints and the Blueprint Library
• God Mode
• Pause World

Additional Content and Improvements

• New furniture for decorating homes and custom-built environments
• Makeover Pod service for customizing body type, skin tone, eye style and color, and eyebrow style
• Character save limit increased from 10 to 20
• World save limit increased from 10 to 30

Key Features

• A unique open world with manga/sci-fi aesthetics and procedural generation.
• Full freedom: a sandbox experience in which you can shape terrain, build, even shift ruins, and decorate your base.
• Survival mechanics that are challenging, yet not punishing; a range of ways to play, with farming, combat, and transformation to explore.
• Lighthearted quest content and quirky NPCs to befriend upon your adventure.

About Wonderia 

Wonderia is an open-world survival and crafting experience with sci-fi elements, available in both singleplayer and multiplayer. Touch down in a strange yet inviting alien world, exploring the endearing if bizarre lifeforms that call it home. Get to know a motley crew of NPCs, and scour alien ruins for special gear to add to your collection. Temples await with a host of intriguing challenges to put you to the test, as you build a new life and make this alien realm your home.

About IndieArk

Founded in 2019, IndieArk is an indie game publisher renowned for its professional marketing and localization team. The company is committed to offering a full suite of customized publishing services delivering unique and interesting games to the world. IndieArk’s mission is to assist ambitious indie game developers with remarkable creativity while fostering a collaborative spirit in all of its partnerships.

Article by: Susan N.

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A Boy and a Baby Elephant Embark on a Magical Journey in 2027

October 16, 2026 | Independent studio One Way Eleven today shared a new look at Hanno: A Magical Tale, a story-driven action-adventure about a boy and a baby elephant who become family. Inspired by a real Asian elephant sent from Portugal to the Pope in 1514, the game gives him a story of his own.

In Hanno: A Magical Tale, you play as Vimal, an orphaned boy from a small village who finds Hanno, an unusual baby elephant, alone and wounded in the forest. He promises to take care of him. What he doesn't know is that Hanno is the magic that will make him strong and that magic only works while Vimal carries him. Through exploration, puzzles and combat, the two face a mysterious threat that begins corrupting their world and neither can go on without the other. Now and then they part ways and you can play as Hanno himself.

The journey unfolds across Ashar, an original world with its own written language, built to feel like a forgotten legend. Its lush forests, old water channels and murals hold tenderness and threat in the same frame and most of the story lives in what you find along the way. You've protected a companion in a game before, but you've never needed one this much. Everyone who meets Hanno asks the same thing: what happens to the elephant? We're not telling.

"It started with wanting to respect the animal. Elephants have been treated as transport, as spectacle, as a gift - the real Hanno was shipped across the world as a present. We didn't want to build another creature that exists to carry the hero.

In our game, the magic belongs to the elephant and it only works while the boy carries him. We wanted a companion you can't do without and who can't do without you. The question we want players sitting with is who's protecting whom and we'd rather they never quite settle on an answer," said Pedro Campos, Creative Director at One Way Eleven.

KEY FEATURES

• You carry him. He makes you strong: A baby elephant to protect, yet the very one who makes you strong. Hanno's magic only works while Vimal carries him.
• Sometimes, You Are Hanno: Now and then the two part ways and you can play as the elephant too and feel the weight of the bond when it returns.
• Tender and Tense: Explore, solve environmental puzzles together and fight as one, while a mysterious threat closes in on everything you've promised to protect.
• A Real Elephant, an Original World: Inspired by a real Asian elephant sent from Portugal to the Pope in 1514. This time, his story is his own, told in Ashar, a world with its own forgotten language.

AVAILABILITY

Hanno: A Magical Tale is in development for PC via Steam, with release planned for 2027.

Players can wishlist it on Steam today to be the first to hear what comes next and follow One Way Eleven on X, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Bluesky.

About One Way Eleven

One Way Eleven is a Portuguese independent games studio. Its first commercial game, Hanno: A Magical Tale, has been in development since 2023 by a small team. The game took 2nd place at the GameStar FYNG Indie Award 2026 at gamescom, was an Indie Arena Booth Official Selection 2026 at gamescom and was selected for GDC Pitch 2024.

Article by: Susan N.

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YAR: Forgotten Throne - Playstation 5 Review

YAR:Forgotten Throne by developer Honor Games and publisher Axyos Games Entertainment LLC—Sony PlayStation 5 review written by Pierre-Yves with a copy provided by the publisher.

Estimated Reading Time: 4.5 minutes.

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YAR: the Forgotten Throne will see you “Choose your path as a Warrior, Volkhv, or Archer and journey across the lands of Borea in a story-driven open-world RPG. Uncover the source of the darkness poisoning its forests and wildlife as you take on 100+ varied quests, side with one of two factions, and shape your hero through progression, active and passive skills, and character attributes.

Taking a page out of the early 2000’s action adventure book, I was looking forward to my time with YAR. Conceptually? It works. You are a Viking looking for a new challenge and you are starting from the ground up. You can select your difficulty. You can customize your character into a Warrior, Wizard, or Ranger type. Set in a reasonably sized open environment, there are lots of townspeople to talk with. Some will give you quests, others will provide you goods. Finally, there are lots of enemies to face off against if you want to survive.

Unfortunately, while I can imagine everything coming together nicely on the PC, the console version may currently be one of the worst ports that I've experienced in a long time. This is unfortunate as I'm sure the overall experience is a good one, but with horrible controller bindings and zero ability to change anything? Or even scroll through to see what the options are at times? It was an arduous adventure. Yes, arduous.

I've gone back and forth over where I should start, but I'll start here. A controller is not a mouse. It should never be treated as a mouse unless, looking at the Switch 2, it can be. That is perhaps one of the biggest issues with YAR as the left thumb stick is used as a mouse pointer in almost all of the menus. The sluggish movement of the cursor makes any menu related task a chore. Having to continuously move the cursor back and forth from the looting box to your inventory is more difficult than any combat. There should have been an auto select function to move the cursor for you if the cursor was going to be kept. Otherwise, it should have been done away with entirely for a more console appropriate interface.

Then there's world exploration. There are no toggle options to run. You constantly have to press down on the left thumb stick while moving around to move faster. There's no easy way to put away your equipment. If your sword, axe, pickaxe, bow, etc come out, you have to open the quick select to put them away. If you have a shield, good luck. The process is even more cumbersome and often doesn't work the first or second time that you try to put them away.

Finally, in combat itself, if you had the misfortune of not having a weapon out while attacked, because you were mining or chopping a tree, you have to make due with whatever you may have in hand. This wasn't so bad in the starting area, but moving to the other areas, the game simply wouldn't let me swap gear often causing me unnecessary damage.

The following is partially questionable design, and part goldfish memory on my part. The world of YAR isn't so big that you need a mini map, but the map itself? There are no indicators. Nothing to tell you where you're standing. No markers for where your quests are. Nothing. There is also no compass available. So being told to head to the West area of “X”? Which way is West…?

This was often made worse by being told to talk to x, y, z person. No makers on the map. No quest markers above their heads. You have to remember who someone is and the relative area they are standing in to continue or complete certain quest lines. It just complicated everything, and when combined all together, an overall unpleasant experience for a lot of aspects that should have been considered basic quality of life aspects.

I know this sounds harsh. That's why after having so many issues, I restarted. I took things slower. Did the issues go away? No. But at least with a few hours of gameplay knowledge to better guide me, the second attempt was a bit more enjoyable where I could see where YAR had good ideas.

Crafting new gear is generally in your hands with materials collected around the world. Leveling up is done via experience points, but new stats have to be taught by the various training masters. The dialog is cheesy and fun. The quests aren't all fetch quests and had some interesting interactions. You also don't always have to do it the hard way, and sometimes? You can skip the manual labour and just pay for what you need to finish up the quest lines.

Unfortunately, due to the poor controller support, it's really hard to recommend YAR: Forgotten Throne in its current state on the PlayStation. If the controller features can be updated, or allow people to modify them, it can easily become a much better experience. 

 

Score: 5 / 10 

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