• Defender's Quest 2: Mists of Ruin - PC Review

    Defender's Quest 2: Mists of Ruin is a really solid if unspectacular tower defense title, that plays it safe by not really taking a lot of chances, and seldom strays from the original game’s formula.

  • Eden Crafters - PC Preview

    In this open-world game you are challenged with turning a hostile planet into a habitable haven for all of human kind. You have the ability and equipment to temper the climate, and to create a breathable atmosphere!

  • Dungeon Inn - PC (Steam) Review

    Dungeon Inn is a cozy strategy management game that has an amusing story. The premise? Sara and her crew end up trifling with a scary dragon who catches them red-handed stealing from him.

  • BLADE CHIMERA - PC Review

    Do you want to fight with gun and sword in a post-apocalyptic style future Osaka against demons from myth and fantasy? Well then, look no further than BLADE CHIMERA!

  • Astroneer: Glitchwalkers DLC - PC Review

    Glitchwalkers is the first DLC to launch for the game Astroneer, an exploration, survival, crafting game set in space. It originally released in 2016 and has vastly improved gameplay from...

  • Loco Motive - PC Review

    Loco Motive is a wonderful point and click, puzzle, adventure game about a retiring wealthy heiress, Lady Unterwald, who has a hard time picking her next successor.

  • Kletka - PC Review

    “Today's adventure destination, is Down” Kletka opens with a simple and easy to understand premise: gather together with your crew of inmates or solo and venture into the obscure world below.

  • 8-Bit Adventures 2 - PS4/5 Review

    8-Bit Adventures 2: The Adventures of Squishy, is finally here on consoles! Who's Squishy you ask? Squishy is your robot and totally the main protagonist.

  • Sea Power: Naval Combat in the Missile Age - PC Preview

    Placing you in command of either NATO or Warsaw Pact nations, Sea Power is an incredibly detailed simulation of modern naval combat and will test you every step of the way.

Experience VR Inspired by Chinese Kung-Fu Movies on March 12th

January 22, 2025 - Independent developer Leonard Menchiari, Director of Trek to Yomi, The Eternal Castle [REMASTERED] and publisher Abonico Game Works are proud to announce that Path of Fury: Episode I - Tetsuo’s Tower, will be launching on the Meta Quest Store this March 12. This on-rails Virtual Reality action game is inspired in the Chinese Kung-Fu movies from the 80s like the Wong Kar Wai series or The Raid Redemption and games like Time Crisis and the 90’s First of the North Star arcade cabinet. The title will be sold at a price of 9.99 USD and will supported by the Quest 2, Pro and 3 devices.



In Path of Fury: Episode I – Tetsuo’s Tower, you’re thrust into a relentless gauntlet, armed with nothing but your fists and raw willpower. Tetsuo’s fortress rises above you, each floor crawling with enemies that are ready to end you. Your only option? Punch your way through every last one of them.

Precision and speed are everything. Each enemy has a weakness—you’ll have to find it and strike before they swarm. As the floors stack higher, so do the odds. The action doesn’t let up, and neither can you. This is pure, high-stakes combat where every punch counts, and hesitation could be fatal.

Path of Fury doesn’t just test your skill—it tests your endurance.

The question is: how far can you go?

"I think VR is at its best when it combines exercise with beautiful, immersive environments, so I tried to create something that could merge those things together. Through this, I was able to craft a linear experience with a strong backstory that despite being very straightforward, still felt different each time. That was the goal at least, but I feel like I got pretty close to what I was aiming for." - Leonard Menchiari (Game Director)

GAME FEATURES

  • Experience the essence of Kung Fu. The goal is to deliver the most powerful strikes and achieve quicker knockouts with the least effort possible, players will feel the progression after playing more and more sessions.
  • Linear experience but feels different each time. With a strong backstory, the game is designed to be very straightforward and to still surprise the player with new details and progression elements each time they play.
  • Essential training tool component. Patience pays off. Every enemy has a weakness that can be exploited, so the more you practice, the faster you’ll beat them.
  • The combat is in the sweet spot between authenticity and accessibility, designed with everyone in mind, with a focus on striking, while rewarding resistance precision and speed instead, just like in Kung-Fu.



The Lore Behind Path of Fury - Meet Tetsuo

Tetsuo is the man governing this quarter. Here, the outskirts are where he gets the money, mainly from the nightclubs, where he sells the products he bakes to feed the city. The streets outside the tower are pure chaos: gangs fighting for territory, thugs scraping by, and a police force too corrupt or powerless to restore order. Under the tower is where people live, underground, where Yakuza members keep peace and order among the addicts and gang members. Inside the tower is where the products are made, so that the higher floors can enjoy their parties and have fun while at the very top Tetsuo's men train all day and night to become the most powerful martial artists in the world, placed there to protect him from anyone who wants to tear his empire down. Here is where Tetsuo resides, watching over the world he's built, safe from anything that could get in his way. Until now, perhaps.

Useful Links:



About Leonard Menchiari

Leonard Menchiari, is a game developer who started his career in 2010 in the audiovisual production field with short films like Half Life’s Singularity Collapse, he worked with Valve in 2011-2012. He directed the real world events based crowd-control tactical game RIOT Civil Unrest in 2016, then the platformer adventure The Eternal Castle [REMASTERED] in 2019, and the cinematic Samurai combat-centered adventure Trek to Yomi in 2022.


About Abonico Game Works

ABONICO GAME WORKS is a new independent game publisher founded by the marketing and business consultant Jesús Fabre in 2024, with a particular focus in small to medium-sized, arcade and retro-inspired games. We are committed to delivering the old good fun experiences to PC, consoles, and VR platforms. We have a team of experienced senior professionals that really care about the games we publish.

Article by: Susan N.



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Most Impactful Video Games - Part 5 - Gaming Thoughts

Here we are - the end of the road, at least in this series. It's a challenging question we posed to the CGR team: name the video games that have been most impactful to you. It's a difficult question with no wrong answers, but we wanted to share our picks with you and invite our readers to do the same in the comments.

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In Bushcraft Simulator, Can You Survive Out in the Wild?

February 1st, 2025 | Bushcraft Simulator, a new survival game with roguelike elements, is heading to PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2. The player will find himself in a wild forest, where he will have to demonstrate his bushcraft and survival skills. Bushcraft Simulator is expected to be distinguished by realism and varied and well-balanced gameplay. The simulator harks back to games like Green Hell and The Forest, but at the same time is expected to provide a number of its own solutions and mechanics. The release date will be revealed at a later date.

Polish studio A2 Softworks (e.g. Gatewalkers and Climber: Sky is the Limit) is working on Bushcraft Simulator. The publisher will be Ultimate Games S.A., which is known for, among other things, the well-reviewed Ultimate Fishing Simulator series and the best-selling Thief Simulator 2.

Bushcraft Simulator is a realistic simulation game with roguelike and survivalist elements, in which the player fights for survival on an island cut off from the world and overgrown by wild forest. The player must survive as long as possible in a hostile environment with only limited resources at his disposal.

The idea of the game refers to the art of survival and coping with wildlife. The gameplay will focus on survival, but it will not lack gathering, crafting, exploration and combat. The issue of taking care of the basic needs of the character, i.e. health, eating, hydration and warmth, among others, will play a very important role.

Bushcraft Simulator with unique survival mechanics


As announced by the developers, Bushcraft Simulator is to be distinguished by its realistic approach to survivalism. Making water will require the player to obtain and process the right raw materials (e.g. charcoal, sand, etc.) and then apply them in the right order. When setting up a camp, the player will have to properly plan sleeping areas, shelters and campfires to ensure comfort and safe survival of the night. It is worth noting the mechanics in which the type of campfire affects the amount of heat generated and how long it burns.

Another important element is the exploration of the wild forest, which will require the player to plan the equipment necessary for the next stages of the game. Skillful weight management and preparation of the right set of tools will be crucial and may determine survival. In the game, in addition to fighting wildlife, the player will encounter mysterious signs and structures.

"This is a game that should appeal to fans of bushcraft and survivalism. Certainly players who appreciate productions in the style of Green Hell, The Forest or Valheim will find something for themselves in Bushcraft Simulator. The game focuses on realistic aspects of survival, which can be found in vain in other productions with similar themes. The simulator will be distinguished by a thoughtful combination of realism and varied and intriguing gameplay," says developer from A2 Softworks, Andrzej Stroiński.

The player will feel as if he is on a lonely expedition, where – relying only on himself and simple tools – he must obtain drinking water and food. Gathering, hunting and fishing are only a part of the skills that will come into play. Thoughtful construction of shelters, orientation in the field, making simple tools, lighting fires, tying knots, and working with wood and other materials will also play an important role.


Bushcraft Simulator – Main Features:

  • the struggle for survival in the wild forest;
  • collecting and crafting;
  • shelter creation;
  • exploration, combat and uncovering secrets;
  • roguelike survival.

The game's release date has not yet been set. Bushcraft Simulator is set to launch on PC first, followed by PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2.

Bushcraft Simulator (Steam): https://store.steampowered.com/app/3352150/Bushcraft_Simulator/

Article by: Susan N.

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Eastasiasoft Limited Shares Upcoming Games List for February!

February 1st, 2025 | Today we are proud to share official release dates, pricing information and target platforms for seven global releases scheduled for launch across consoles and PC in February 2025.


While most of these titles have been announced in previous press communications and showcase videos, for many this is the first time that official release dates have been specified. We hope this summary of new details will make it easier for players to plan for their most anticipated titles.
 

TITLE DATE PRICE PLATFORMS
Mechanita February 5 US$4.99 / €4.99 SW/PS4/PS5/XB1/XSX
Starlight Legacy February 6 US$16.99 / €16.99 Steam
Super Jagger Bomb 2: Go East February 12 US$4.99 / €4.99 SW/PS4/PS5/XB1/XSX/PC
Moe Waifu H Fantasy February 18 US$4.99 / €4.99 SW/PS4/PS5
Learn to Play - Penalty Shootout February 21 US$0.99 / €0.99 Nintendo Switch
Crime Opera Fandisk: The Caterpillar Candids February 26 US$2.99 / €2.99 SW/XB1/XSX
Crime Opera II: The Floodgate Effect February 26 US$14.99 / €14.99 SW/XB1/XSX
 

 
 


More recent & upcoming releases!

    Article by: Susan N.

     

     

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    Defender's Quest 2: Mists of Ruin - PC Review

    Defender's Quest 2: Mists of Ruin by developer Level Up Labs, LLC and publisher Armor Games StudiosPC Review written by Nick with a copy provided by the publisher.

    Estimate reading time: 4 minutes

    Defender's Quest 2: Mists of Ruin is a really solid if unspectacular tower defense title, that plays it safe by not really taking a lot of chances, and seldom strays from the original game’s formula. By and large, given how great the original game was in its time, that might seem like the smart play. That being said, I have to admit that I wanted just a bit something more after all of these years since the original. Defender's Quest 2: Mists of Ruin was still a good deal of fun, but it lacks the spark of the original.

    When it came out over a decade ago, there was something fresh and addicting to Defender’s Quest: Valley of the Forgotten. The presentation was simple enough, but there was some quality RPG depth to how characters gained experience and you tweaked their abilities to your liking. There was a fun D&D-like fantasy vibe to the story as well, which was quite trope-heavy, but still enjoyable. I have picked the original up on multiple formats over the years, and you can see exactly why in my original review on PC back in 2014.

    For those unfamiliar with the tower defense genre, the basics are pretty simple. You have streams of enemies that funnel onto the map from one or more points of entry. Over the span of stages, they tend to take on different attributes such as more hit points or armor, but faster or slower, some attack back and so on. They march towards a destination and if too many of them get through, they destroy that destination and the stage ends. What you do to fend them off is play a variety of different characters along the way that attempt to kill the attackers as you try to figure out the best combinations of characters along the best paths. It’s an addicting, strategic genre that I’ve greatly enjoyed over the last decade or so.

    Much of this basic framework is alive and well, with some DNA shared by both titles. The gained experience, the ability to level up and pump points into ability upgrades, the different classes actually feel unique from one another – all good things that kind of drizzle some RPG elements onto what is a fundamentally sound tower defense game. There are some other fun things that give the characters a bit more of an RPG feel besides their levels and upgrades, as you can buy and equip more powerful items on them as well.

    At first, things started simply enough in Defender's Quest 2: Mists of Ruin. While the visuals and storyline were different, the gameplay was quite similar. Almost too similar to the original, really. The more sci-fi-y spin on things didn’t appeal to me as much as the more fantasy-based nature of the first. In fact, there’s really nothing story-wise to connect these two titles, and I admit I had a harder time getting invested in the storyline and characters this time around. But essentially, the characters played out very much like the original game.

    Thankfully, things improved when a second crew was introduced that had characters with more unique attributes. In particular was an overlarge and powerful character who takes up more spaces than the rest of the cast, and a character who teleports between two anchor locations. These wrinkles were much appreciated and gave Defender's Quest 2: Mists of Ruin an injection of originality it had been lacking up to that point. Additionally, since two ships and crews were involved, there were times where Defender's Quest 2: Mists of Ruin mixed things up further by having you defend two units instead of one. 

    In terms of presentation, despite roughly ten years between the games, not much has advanced on that front. Sound and music are fine, and the same simplistic art style – mostly shown in still images – do a good enough job of representing the characters and story. It’s a very different art style from the first; I’m not sure if I like it more or less to be honest. It’s just different. It’s worth noting that the maps and characters on the map look better than the original game, and aside from a couple of pre-release day crashes that hadn’t happened to me since, stability has been solid from a technical standpoint as well.

    While the content in Defender's Quest 2: Mists of Ruin is pretty good, I just struggled to engage with it quite as much as its predecessor. The story and characters weren’t as interesting to me personally, and I think there was opportunity to take more chances with the gameplay mechanics. That being said, most of those innovations taken were good ones, even if I had been left wanting to see a few more. It’s worth noting that it seems faster and easier to get through Defender's Quest 2: Mists of Ruin than the original. Maybe it’s just way I approached it this time, maybe it’s because the two games are so similar that I had a pretty good idea how to approach it, but it sure seemed like I cruised through the sequel here a good deal faster. 

    Defender's Quest 2: Mists of Ruin is a solid entry into the tower defense genre, and by and large I expect fans of the genre or the original game will find enough here to enjoy. However, I couldn’t shake the feeling that with a decade having passed since the last one, there could have been ‘more’ from Defender's Quest 2: Mists of Ruin. More content, more unique classes, or even more of a tie to the original game’s characters and story. Still, the gameplay loop is a satisfying one, as is leveling up characters and putting points into your preferred skills. Defender's Quest 2: Mists of Ruin might not stand out as much from the crowd as its predecessor did, but this latest iteration holds its own.

    Score: 7 / 10

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    Psychological Horror Game HPL: Nyarlathotep Rising Releasing on February 19th!

    January 17 - Paris, France - Why Not AI and Touched by Grace studios announce the release of HPL: Nyarlathotep Rising on Steam on February 19, 2025, and present an introductory podcast to the game. A pure Lovecraftian adventure where you play as Mark, Anna, and Victor in this visual novel of psychological horror where all choices matter.



    Wishlist HPL: Nyarlathotep Rising on Steam:
    https://store.steampowered.com/app/1759160/HPL_Nyarlathotep_Rising/

    In mid-1929, Nyarlathotep is about to take over the world. Play as Anna, Mark and Victor, souls in the grip of their demons, whose every choice will affect their sanity and the fate of the world. Will you become a zealot of The Crawling Chaos, or try to stand against him?

    'HPL: Nyarlathotep Rising' is an immersive visual novel with a Lovecraftian atmosphere, supported by captivating settings, complex characters and an intriguing soundtrack. This oversized RPG novel offers a wide range of readings and possible endings that evolve according to the characters and your choices.

     

    Unique Features 

    • Lovecraftian Themes and Lore: The game stays true to H.P. Lovecraft's cosmic horror, creating a chilling and mysterious atmosphere.
    • Oversized experience: Between 15 to 18 hours of exploration and gameplay.
    • Player Choices: Impactful decisions lead to varied story paths and multiple endings for high replayability with up to15 different endings for each character.
    • Narrative-driven Gameplay: Experience engaging dialogue, relationships, secrets and exploration as you tell your story, along with atmospheric contemporary illustrations.
    • Character Development: Control three unique characters and experience the story through each of their different perspectives with all three characters appearing in each telling.
    • Psychological Horror: Choices influence characters' sanity and statistics as they face unimaginable horrors.
    • Worldwide Investigation: Travel to diverse locations, gather information, and find powerful items.


    Introductory Podcast: https://vimeo.com/1042970834

    About Why Not AI

    Why Not AI is a production company specializing in Animation and Interaction for video games, animated series, and tabletop games. Led by one of the founders of Cryo Interactive and Virgin Interactive France. Why Not AI's first video game, 'HPL-Nyarlathotep Rising', due for release in Q1 2025, was born out of our worst nightmares and our devotion to the worlds imagined by HP Lovecraft.


    About Touched By Grace

    Touched By Grace is a French videogame publisher, created by three videogame specialists, totalizing a lifetime experience in the entertainment industry, from development to distribution. Among others, the publisher is co-owner of the "HPL-Nyarlathotep Rising" license.




    Article by: Susan N.

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    Hover Around an Alien Planet in Star Overdrive on the Nintendo Switch in April!

    Montpellier, France – December 12th, 2024. Italian developer Caracal Games and publisher Dear Villagers are proud to announce the release date for their eagerly anticipated indie open-world action-adventure, Star Overdrive. It will launch on Nintendo Switch on April 10, 2025.


    As players traverse the game’s expansive alien world, they will face challenging enemies, solve intricate puzzles, and uncover secrets hidden across diverse biomes. The game also lets players customize their hoverboard, adapting its speed, handling, and gravity to their personal style or the challenges at hand.

    Following its release, Star Overdrive captured the attention of sci-fi and action-adventure fans. During the reveal, the developers cited The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild as one of their biggest inspirations. While Star Overdrive draws inspiration from classic open-world action games, its hoverboard-based navigation and physics-driven powers offer a truly distinct experience.

    After intercepting a mysterious distress signal, you'll start your daring adventure through an uncharted alien planet. The journey reveals stunning landscapes ranging from shimmering deserts to vast aquatic zones, each biome pushing their traversal skills to the edge. Along the way, players will encounter remnants of an ancient civilization and piece together the mystery behind the signal.

    Combat is a creative blend of physics-based powers, melee strikes and the Hoverboard companion’s special moves, challenging players to find new ways to outmaneuver and defeat enemies.

    Every challenge brings players closer to uncovering the connection behind the distress signal, the protagonist’s past and the fate of the galaxy.

     

    KEY FEATURES

    • Hoverboard Navigation and Racing: Speed through vast landscapes, perform incredible tricks, and gain the edge in intense combat.
    • Emergent Physics-Based Gameplay: Unleash and combine powers to battle enemies, bend the laws of physics, and solve intricate puzzles.
    • Mysterious and Diverse Alien World: Journey through four uniquely distinct biomes, each brimming with challenges and secrets to uncover.
    • Epic Battles Against Creatures of All Sizes: Engage with unique creatures, from small-scale rivals to towering bosses, each requiring strategy and skill to overcome.

    Follow Star Overdrive on social media:


    KEY INFO

    • Genre: Open-world, Action, Adventure, Indie
    • Platforms: Nintendo Switch
    • Release date: April 10, 2025
    • Website: https://staroverdrive.com/




    About Caracal Games

    Caracal Games is an independent game development studio based in Rome, Italy, recognized for its dedication to crafting unique and engaging experiences. The studio began as a small three-person team and steadily grew to a family of ten through the development of titles like Downward in 2017 and OkunoKA in 2018, which laid the foundation for future projects. In 2023, they continued to push boundaries with 2021: Moon Escape, bringing a fresh perspective to retro gaming. The team also collaborates with major publishers, optimizing and porting titles such as Martha is Dead and Blanc for the Nintendo Switch. Awarded the IVGA Best Italian Indie Studio in 2017, Caracal continues to evolve, driven by seasoned developers from both AA and AAA backgrounds.

    About Dear Villagers

    Based in the South of France, in sunny Montpellier, we are a boutique publishing label composed of a team of twenty people. Open-minded and versatile, Dear Villagers offers handcrafted marketing and production guidance. Our mission: We tell memorable stories through memorable games. We love pixels, but we believe in people.
      Article by: Susan N.
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      Most Impactful Video Games - Part 4 - Gaming Thoughts

      It's difficult to think about something in absolutes. 'The most'. 'The best'. 'My favorite'. So we tried to create a list that gave each member of our team to put together a list of video games that had some sort of meaningful impact on us in some way. Some of us probably could have put together lists 10, 20, 50 titles long, but we wanted to challenge ourselves and focus in on the elements that mattered most. 

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