Marvel Cosmic Invasion is a very good brawler that provides a large roster of characters, excellent pixel art visuals and plenty of replayability. It’s a rather short beat-‘em-up...
Escape Simulator 2 is a fantastic escape room game developed by Pine Studio. The sequel has new exciting locations, challenging puzzles, and an updated room editor.
Purrrifiers: Cleaning Chaos is a goofy clean-up game that has you battling the forces of dirt, grime, and weird characters asking for some really weird things.
Mistonia's Hope: The Lost Delight is a fantasy based Otome visual novel that dives you into a world of Humans, Fairies and Revenge! This story follows our beautiful protagonist Rose...
Freemind S.A. has extended their building simulation games (another reviewed here) into the country of Egypt where a fellow author and myself would love to visit. Welcome to Egypt Frontiers where you, a master builder...
Seventy-ish logged hours later (so far), I have been reminded anew that my veneration of this franchise is nothing short of completely deserved, and that if I can count on one thing in this world, it’s that I will inevitably find myself obsessively pulled into whatever latest little quaint town Marvelous USA has graciously bestowed upon us.
Hot Wheels Let's Race: Ultimate Speed is a game based on a Netflix cartoon series. I never knew about it until I reviewed this game, so I am unsure whether the game is anything like the show, but I can tell you what I do know, having played it.
It's 2008. I'm halfway through my second college certification which will propel me onto my career path. My PC is getting older, it's not running the software I need. Sacred 2, which I've been waiting on forever to come out after playing the original Sacred and its expansion, is here.
The long awaited sequel to Moonlighter is finally here after many years in development as well as a slight delay from the original release date. Digital Sun launched Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault into early access and I'm loving what I'm seeing so far.
Oberhaching, Germany, August 20, 2025 | The wait is over. Development team Digital Daredevils and German publisher Toplitz Productions are proud to lift the curtain on their highly anticipated life simulation roleplaying game Vikings Dynasty. Prepared for this year’s gamescom and premiered at Gamestar’s prestigious ‘Show Your Next Game’ event, the gameplay trailer gives a first peek into the unforgiving world of Vikings and the player’s slow rise to success in the unforgiving Steineyjar archipelago. Starting as a survivor, it is a long and dangerous way to become a jarl and take responsibility not only for your followers, but eventually a family as well.
Surviving, hunting, exploring the open and unforgiving world up to building your first house: The gameplay premiere showcases some of the trademark elements the community knows, loves and expects from a new entry to this beloved franchise - and then some.
This is only the beginning. In the weeks and months after gamescom, Toplitz Productions will not only release further videos in this gameplay series but will also keep you updated with additional gameplay insights and themed deep dives across their channels from social media to YouTube.
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.
About Digital Daredevils
Gameplay, story and a player experience supported by fabulous art are the branches that Digital Daredevils combine every day, while they work on their debut game in their headquarters in Wrocław, constantly forging new elements in a game world that will surprise and absorb you for many hours. The foundation of the work of all studio departments is passion and a deep understanding of the needs of the modern player.
Explore the Charms of Zephyr Town and the Thrill of the Bazaar with the Expanded Reimagining of the Handheld Classic in the Latest Entry in the Cozy Farming/Life Sim Series
TORRANCE, Calif. — Aug. 27, 2025 — Now open for business! Marvelous USA today announced the launch of STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar, the next installment in the beloved farming/life sim series. The title is available through the Marvelous USA Online Store and participating retailers on Nintendo Switch™ and Nintendo Switch™ 2 in a standard physical edition and a physical Premium Edition; the Nintendo Switch™ 2 Edition features the full game on cartridge. The title is also available digitally in standard, Deluxe, and Super Digital Deluxe editions on Nintendo Switch and PC. The Nintendo Switch™ 2 standard digital version can be upgraded with separate DLC that delivers the same content. An Upgrade Pack is also available to upgrade the Nintendo Switch version to the Nintendo Switch™ 2 version.
“Grand Bazaar is very dear to many of us on the development team, and we’re excited to introduce a new generation of gamers to Zephyr Town,” said STORY OF SEASONS Series Manager Hikaru Nakano. “To our longtime fans - we are very pleased to offer you a classic STORY OF SEASONS experience with modern enhancements. As we continue moving the series forward we hope our longtime fans continue to enjoy their time living in the charming worlds we create!”
Traverse Zephyr Town in new ways thanks to the ability to glide across the skies and soak in the updated visuals highlighting all the town’s unique charms, including the delightfully diverse residents that players can befriend as they begin to set down roots in their new home. Days of rewarding farmwork, relaxing exploration and socializing, along with an abundance of leisure activities and festivals await, all culminating in the most important day of the week—bazaar day! Players can look forward to the thrill of the sale each week, customizing their stall to attract more patrons and honing their sales tactics to grow their business alongside their farm.
Zephyr Town’s bazaar was once one of the grandest in the world, drawing customers and peddlers from all four corners of the globe. These days, though, the bazaar has more tumbleweeds than customers. It’s up to Zephyr Town’s newest resident to turn its fortunes around! Players will raise animals, harvest crops, craft rare delicacies, then sell wares at their very own stall in the bazaar. As the bazaar business grows, new goods and services will arrive, which players can use to improve their farm. Help return prosperity to the bazaar, settle down for a cozy life and start a family, and Zephyr Town is sure to thrive once again!
Inspired by the classic handheld title, the new STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar builds up and improves on the original in every conceivable way. The world is bigger and more alive than ever thanks to incredible new visuals, new characters, an expanded story, and full character voice work in story events—a series first. Take advantage of Zephyr Town’s unique weather, using the wind to make travel and farm tasks a breeze! The winds of change are coming to deliver a new life in STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar.
STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar Key Features:
Cozy Living Reaches New Heights: The magnificent beauty of Zephyr Town shines with gorgeous graphics while a richly voiced story carries the player on a rewarding journey of farming, friendship, and renewal.
Take the Leap: Harness the power of the wind! Use windmills to create new products to sell, and effortlessly travel across the town on a glider. Use new jumping skills on the farm, or when exploring the town. You never know what you’ll find!
Ring the Bell and Sell, Sell, Sell: Your farm’s produce and goods take on additional importance as the heart of the business at the lively weekly bazaar. Customize the stall and take charge of sales to build up buzz and power up profits.
A Beautifully Cozy Life: Enjoy a rich life amongst a colorful community of characters, from friendly townsfolk to magical Nature Sprites. Build a home, grow relationships, and even find love and start a family.
Physical editions of STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar are available on Nintendo Switch™ and Nintendo Switch™ 2 through participating retailers and via the Marvelous USA Online Store. The title is available in a standard physical edition for an MSRP of $49.99/$59.99, and a physical Premium Edition including a copy of the game on your preferred platform, an adorable plush Suffolk sheep, a cloth poster, a physical art book with over 115 pages of cozy art, and a two-disc CD soundtrack, for an MSRP of $69.99/$79.99.
STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar is also available digitally on Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch and PC for $49.99, and the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch 2 for $59.99. The Digital Deluxe Edition is available on Nintendo Switch and PC for $59.98; while the Super Digital Deluxe edition is available for $69.98. Players can also purchase the “Trunk of Transformation Bundle” DLC separately for $9.99.
Nintendo Switch™ 2 players can also upgrade their Nintendo Switch™ 2 standard edition with the “Trunk of Transformation Bundle” DLC for $9.99, or a “Super Digital Deluxe” DLC set for $19.99.
The Nintendo Switch™ 2 Edition Upgrade Pack is also available for $10 for anyone that owns either the physical or digital Nintendo Switch version of STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar. The full details of each digital edition are available below.
STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar Digital Standard Edition (Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2; PC):
“Trunk of Transformation” cosmetic DLC: Chick Costume (Yellow), Chick Headwear (Yellow), Chick Costume (Black), Chick Headwear (Black), Alpaca Costume (White), Alpaca Headwear (White), Alpaca Costume (Brown), Alpaca Headwear (Brown), Ninja Outfit, Ninja Glider, Ninja Bazaar Set, Braid & Flowers, Cat Ear Buns with Highlights, Short Perm, Side Part with Highlights
STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar Super Digital Deluxe Edition (Nintendo Switch; PC):
Includes the contents of the Digital Deluxe Edition, plus:
STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar digital soundtrack
STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar digital art book
STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar “Trunk of Transformation Bundle” DLC (Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC):
“Trunk of Transformation” cosmetic DLC: Chick Costume (Yellow), Chick Headwear (Yellow), Chick Costume (Black), Chick Headwear (Black), Alpaca Costume (White), Alpaca Headwear (White), Alpaca Costume (Brown), Alpaca Headwear (Brown), Ninja Outfit, Ninja Glider, Ninja Bazaar Set, Braid & Flowers, Cat Ear Buns with Highlights, Short Perm, Side Part with Highlights
STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar “Super Digital Deluxe DLC” Set (Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC):
Includes the “Trunk of Transformation Bundle” DLC, plus:
STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar digital soundtrack
STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar digital art book
Developed by Marvelous and published in the Americas by Marvelous USA, STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar launched for the Nintendo Switch™ 2, Nintendo Switch™, and Windows PC via Steam on Aug. 27, 2025. The title is published in Asia by Marvelous Inc., and in Europe by Marvelous Europe. This title is rated “E for Everyone” by the ESRB.
For more information about STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar, visit the official site at www.storyofseasons.com/grandbazaar, and follow the series on X and Bluesky.
Information about Marvelous USA’s products can be found at www.marvelous-usa.com. Fans can also check out the latest videos from the Marvelous family of titles on YouTube and get updates by following on Facebook, X, Instagram, and Bluesky.
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About Marvelous USA
Marvelous USA, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of Marvelous Inc., which is a publicly traded company listed in the Prime Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Headquartered in Torrance, California, Marvelous USA publishes PC and console titles from its parent company including the renowned STORY OF SEASONS, Rune Factory, and DAEMON X MACHINA series. Additionally, Marvelous USA provides operations and marketing support for the organization’s growing arcade business unit in the West.
This month we are featuring music from real-time strategy games, or RTS as they are listed on many gaming websites, forums, discussion groups and so on. These will probably take you back quite a few years, but these games are still enjoyed even today!
Jamie Christopherson and Bill Brown - The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth
There’s a lot to enjoy about this 2004 real-time strategy game. It has a typical structure built around factions and the tug-of-war between resources and military expansion. The overall reception was quite positive, and it helped that the game had such a strong tie-in to the popular movies of the era. This was primarily evident between short clips in the movie and likenesses of popular characters such as Pippen, Merry, Legolas and more.
However, the music for me was a standout, as I adored the music from the movies. Now, normally when I talk about memorable music in gaming, I try to focus on original music and not just importing something popular from another source (like the Guitar Hero games). While it’s true that The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth does contain music composed by Howard Shore for The Lord of the Rings trilogy, there are original scores to be found here as well. These pieces were composed by Jamie Christopherson and Bill Brown.
Jamie Christopherson has had his work show up in film, television and video games with a lean towards action such as The Crow: Wicked Prayer, Spider-Man: Web of Shadows, the Bionic Commando remake and Lost Planet 2 to name just a handful. Bill Brown’s claims to fame span multiple types of media as well such as CSI: NY, several Tom Clancy titles and some of the Command & Conquer games. Perhaps most notably however, Bill was responsible for many of those iconic boops, bleeps, tunes and tones that came with Windows XP.
So while these two men had quite a variety of genres and media in their working history, it is impressive how they were able to come up with nearly two dozen tracks for the The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth video game that felt like they belonged with the popular music from the movies. Tracks like Hordes Attack would feel just as at home in those classic Dungeons & Dragons video games as it does in this one, swelling in one moment after softly building up to it. The horns and tempo found in Unstoppable Evil would have certainly worked during battle scenes in the movies and are an excellent compliment to the military skirmishes found in the game. Most of the songs are relatively short, looping when necessary or used to compliment a brief scene, clocking in at around a minute or so each. My favorite however has to be the sweeping Riding The Plains, which is a bit over four minutes long and manages to stand out in my memory despite fitting in so well with the rest of the music from the game and movies, and is definitely worth a listen to by itself.
Who could have seen this coming? Of course my music choice for the RTS genre is going to be Starcraft related (although, Warcraft is also right up there in the genre as well!) And there are several reasons for this. I haven't played a ton of RTS games to begin with - thus options being limited for me - but I feel as though the genre has dropped out of favor in place of other genres like action, adventure, cozy, and simulation games. I find there are a lot more shooters out there, even though many pale in comparison to the viewership levels of esport shooters.
In giving a little love to the RTS genre, Russel Brower is my choice from Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm. While the music in the base game is fantastic, I only played Terran to get through the base game story. Heart of the Swarm is where my heart truly lies as everyone should bow to the Queen of Blades (And I don't mean Scarlett, the pro player who has previously been dubbed the same. Although, she is pretty awesome.)
Unlike Wings of Liberty or Legacy of the Void, Heart of the Swarm had everything I was looking for as a zerg player. (It may be fun to note here that all my Discord main roles are named after zerg units!) It came with units that I loved for their abilities and for their strategic uses. The ability to burrow your units into the ground like the roach made me happy. (I'm not going to talk about swarm hosts, which at one time were so ridiculously over tuned that Stephano and Petraeus had a THREE HOUR GAME live on stream. It was way back in 2014 and all of us sat there wondering if the game was going to end. Spoiler alert, it did.) Anyways, I found that playing the swarm made a lot more sense to me than the other two races in the game. Even before the DLC came out, I was sending waves upon waves against the enemy so that I could overwhelm them. Needless to say, swarm tactics are kinda my thing :D
The music for Heart of the Swarm was quite impressionable as I ended up listening to it the most during the time of Starcraft II's heyday. And while the other two soundtracks are just as kickass as this DLC, Wings of Liberty I only played through once and never went back, and Legacy of the Void's campaign I didn't touch at all. (Would you believe that even the couple of missions you play as Protoss in the Heart of the Swarm campaign, I failed a couple times? Yes? Mmhmm. PROTOSS SCUM!) Now before continuing, I will mention that Russell Brower wasn't the only writer for many of the tracks on the volume one. He contributed to the last four tracks called: Phantoms of the Void, He Had it Coming, Ascension, and Whispering of the Stars. All of those songs are fantastic and I definitely relistened to all four of them while writing this. On volume 2, Brower contributed to every song and it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that my favorite song would be aptly named 'Queen'. The track starts off with an eerie almost orchestral build into a heavy hitting and gritty beat. In fact, the song became the titular track preceding many professional Starcraft II games. Honestly, if that doesn't tell the tale of the song, I don't know what would. It speaks for itself.
My composer for this Memorable Music Collective is Gregory Alper, and I thoroughly enjoy the music he composed for Warcraft: Orcs & Humans. Mr. Alper is still making music as it's his life's career of over 4 decades now. He's dipped his toes into the music genres of Country, Jazz, Latin, R&B, African, Calypso, and Big Band Swing over the years. He also composed the music for Mech Commander 2, another fave game of mine!
Recently, there is a remastered version of Warcraft: Orcs & Humans that I hope to get my hands on just to be immersed in that universe again. I've always played the orcs campaign. I got a royal kick out of the orcss and their 'Work complete' to 'We're being attacked'. The music that ran during the gameplay amplified the atmosphere of the Warcraft universe and set the bar for the games that came out later. I played the PC98 version since I didn't have any of the consoles, with the exception of playing with my kids on the Nintendo.
When Gregory had composed the Warcraft themes he followed an action, driving, and orchestral plan. You can hear that in all of the tracks, but I especially love Orc Victory. The driving of the drums just pounds away at my orcish soul.
That 'where is he now in his career' question came to mind while I was researching for this article. On his website (https://www.alpermusic.com/biography) in his bio I read this: "Teaching young people to play jazz is like navigating the discovery of a new world. Ensemble playing and improvisation explore new territory, the expansion and feeling of freedom through personal expression allows the soul to speak." So awesome to know that he is passing on his greatness to the younger musicians who absorb all music like the sponges they are! And on an ending note, I didn't know that he had played with another musician I love listening to: the great Ella Fitzgerald!
Oberhaching, Germany, August 18, 2025 | While the doors to Gamescom 2025 in Cologne have already closed, Toplitz Production continues their preliminary festivities with a double-barrel of excitement. Following the release of the showreel, the German publisher proudly unleashes new trailers for Permafrost and Vampires: Bloodlord Rising.
With both titles slated for a release later this year, the new trailers give you a glimpse into the beautifully crafted worlds and the diverse gameplay that Permafrost and Vampires: Bloodlord Rising have to offer.
Emerging from the shadows, brimming with gothic charm and blood soaked fights, we invite you to dark and broody Sangavia to embrace your dark side as Dragos, clawing your way to power in the open world of this highly anticipated action adventure.
From transforming into a bat to traverse the wide areas of Sangavia’s open world illuminated only by the pale moonlight to bestowing the “Kiss of Eternity” upon unsuspecting villagers, the trailer for Vampires: Bloodlord Rising (developed my Mehuman Games) teases the seductive as well as gruesome choices you have to take as Dragos.
Will you reign with an iron fist, build a towering blood-stained gothic castle, succumb to your instincts and leave drained corpses in your wake? Witness the Bloodlord in fierce hand-to-hand combat against the relentless inquisition and Dragos’ rise to power with the help of his loyal vampire workers.
In the world of Permafrost (developed my SpaceRocket Games) on the other hand, you’d wish for the pale moonlight as you used to know it. For here you are thrown into a post apocalyptic scenario where the moon has been shattered, resulting in a cataclysmic event that covered the Earth in snow, ice and permanent sub-zero temperatures.
To survive in this frosty wasteland, you need to rely on your wits, your instincts and your trusty dog. Or grab your friends in co-op multiplayer and withstand the relentless nature as you try to help rebuild society.
Can you unite the factions vying for control, or will you succumb to the danger they present and become prey? Do you have what it takes to survive in the unforgiving Permafrost?
Both Vampires: Bloodlord Rising as well as Permafrost will be released in Early Access on PC later this year. While the nightwalkers are already confirmed to rise again on October 23 just in time to make your Halloween a bloody one, the release date for Permafrost will be announced in the coming weeks.
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.
About Mehuman Games
Mehuman Games is a team of nearly twenty professionals - from artists to gameplay designers to programmers. At the heart of this passionate group are members of the former Movie Games Lunarium - the studio responsible for the undeniably successful games Lust from Beyond and Lust for Darkness. Currently we are combining our passion for telling unique stories with the latest technological solutions of the Unreal 5 engine to venture into the opportunities of combining epic storytelling with open world sandbox gameplay.
Paris, France – August 12, 2025 | The studio Evolugame announces the early access release of Food Industry, a strategic and evolving city builder, scheduled to be released on Steam (PC) in Q4 2025.
Blending modern innovations with classic management mechanics, Food Industry offers a fresh experience set in a world disrupted by the excesses of industrialization.
A strategic, immersive, and eco-friendly city builder
You take on the role of the leader of a new colony. Your mission is to build a modern city where food production is at the heart of survival and prosperity. Construction, resource management, citizen satisfaction, and adaptation to climate events form the pillars of your strategy.
Environmental challenges such as climate change and pollution pose major threats, requiring careful attention to avoid collateral damage and public unrest.
Rebuilding a sustainable society
Years of massive industrialization and overexploitation have deeply disrupted the climate, making it unstable and triggering violent storms and major ecological shifts.
In the face of this situation, you have been forced to start over on new lands. Your task is to rebuild a sustainable society while avoiding the mistakes of the past, in a changing world where food has become a currency.
Game Features
Agriculture: Plant, grow, and raise animals to feed your citizens
Construction: Expand your city and manage priorities
Economy: Adapt the supply of goods to meet the needs of the population
Modular Industry: Customizable and upgradable production lines
Micro-management: Plant and harvest crops, organize market stalls, sell goods, assemble machines
Energy Resources: Produce oil, water, and electricity
Weather & Pollution: Extreme climate events with real impact
Population Morale: Handle citizen anger, protests, riots, and strikes
Task Automation: Hire staff and transition from micro-management to full automation
Research & Development: Technology and progression tree
Design Office: Discover and optimize blueprints for automated factories
Immersive World: Detailed, colorful graphics and a rich soundscape
ABOUT EVOLUGAME
Founded in 2019, Evolugame is an independent video game studio based in France. Developed solo, Food Industry is a passion project built with Unity, crafted with care by a dedicated and committed indie developer.
August 15th, 2025 | The challenging platformer Diamond Hands: To The Moon is now launching on Xbox Series X|S. The gameplay is built on simple yet brutally difficult mechanics that are hard to master. Featuring 2D retro-style pixel art and a humorous tone, the game is set to release on Xbox consoles on August 14, 2025. Diamond Hands: To The Moon also includes local co-op for two players. The title previously launched on PC and Nintendo Switch.
The game was created by indie developer Terror Dog Studio. The PC and Nintendo Switch versions were released earlier, and the console version is being brought to market by Ultimate Games S.A.
A Retro-Style Platformer That Demands Precision
Diamond Hands: To The Moon is a hardcore pixel art platformer where your goal is simple—get to the moon. But reaching that goal takes precision, patience, and skill. The gameplay draws inspiration from titles like Jump King, focusing on jump timing and perfect execution.
Progress comes from landing well-calculated jumps to reach ever-higher platforms. One wrong move can send you plummeting back to the beginning of the level. Every jump counts.
The game includes 10 diverse and challenging levels that parody themes from the financial world with a humorous twist.
In addition to solo play, Diamond Hands: To The Moon also supports a local two-player co-op mode for shared frustration or teamwork.
Key Features:
Hardcore retro-style platformer
Addictive and skill-based gameplay
2D pixel art visuals
Humorous parody of financial markets
Local 2-player co-op mode
The Xbox Series X|S release of Diamond Hands: To The Moon is scheduled for August 14, 2025.
August 14, 2025. Barcelona, Spain | Independent developer NETK2GAMES has announced that the arcade-themed rally game with simulation mechanics Rally Arcade Classics will receiving the Precision & Chase update this September 9, which will be implementing a manual transmission mode, a revamped speedometer and add an online friends list with high scores allowing players to track the records of other known pilots.
Rally Arcade Classics is already available on Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch, bringing a nostalgic throwback to the genre classics from the 90s. The game offers 44 iconic cars from different eras (70's, 80’s and 90’s) with a license-based progression system, so players have to train their driving skills to unlock the modes before driving the legendary cars, introducing simulation type of physics in what would otherwise be a traditional arcade experience. Tour, arcade, rally and weekly events are also available for different styles and preferences.
“We devoted two hard years to create this game with a passionate team and one goal: to combine elements from different eras of racing games and keep an accessible experience for both veteran and new fans of the genre” - Salvador Casamiquela, co-founder at NETK2GAMES.
What’s new on Precision & Chase update:
The manual equipment will be available, and the rating tables will indicate whether the player achieved the best time in manual or automatic mode;
A speedometer will be added to the interface, replacing the previous bar. The manual pilots will have a larger interface to check the speed and revolutions, and the automatic ones will have an easier element to consult while driving;
List of friends will be added in the game, allowing players to have up to 25 pilots that they want to follow closely;
The classification tables will be renewed. In addition to reflecting on the type of equipment the pilot uses, you can filter by different settings: your global position, top 10 and friends.
Main features of Rally Arcade Classics:
44 vehicles representing the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s including iconic rally models;
48 circuits designed to reflect the variety and challenge of classic rally competitions. (With totally dynamic weather and time of day);
Six game modes that suit different styles and preferences: License (60 tests), Tour (360 tests), Arcade (16 championships), Rally (72 championships) and Weekly Events;
Support for compatible steering wheels on the PC version, like Thrustmaster T300 and Logitech G29.
For more information about the game, you can visit the official website and follow the studio’s account on social media.
About NETK2GAMES
NETK2GAMES is a Barcelona-based studio founded by industry veterans who started programming when they were teenagers. Their love for gaming is what strives the team to pursue high-quality games that have the goal to push the boundaries of innovation and player engagement. At IndieDevDay 2024, the team even brought a Subaru Impreza WRX STI, an iconic model of the rallies, for participants to see.
Karlstad, Sweden, August 13, 2025 | Ancient Well is proud to reveal their upcoming game No Tithe for Olaf. A unique tower defense game where you defend your farms against the Kingʼs tax collectors in a grimly humorous take.
No Tithe for Olaf is a humorous single-player tower defense roguelite, developed by a small and promising Norwegian/Swedish indie team that also doubles as a band. The game blends quirky gameplay, eccentric towers, and satirical storytelling set in 17th-century Norway.
“When we started this project we wanted to challenge ourselves to make a small, but highly replayable game that still really captured our love of nordic history and culture. It’s not our first attempt at making a game. We've built a few prototypes that sank into the swamp, so to speak. But thankfully, this one stayed up!” stated Chris, from Ancient Well Entertainment. He continued “It’s been amazing to work together with truly life long friends on a game that lets us take the skills we learned while playing in a folk rock band together and try to apply it to the alchemy of making indie games. We really tried to build with gameplay in focus, but still sneak in as much flavor from Nordic history and culture as we could. We’re frankly stoked to see how people react to it!”
Key Features:
Procedurally Generated Tower Defense - Each map has a unique layout. Optimize your defense around procedurally generated paths. Every farm is different, and your defense is only as big as your rebellion, so position your towers wisely!
Unconventional Towers - Build 12 unique and unconventional towers like Manure Carts, Lambasting Crones, and suspiciously welcoming Taverns - all customizable with addons and ultimate upgrades.
Crafty Taxmen - 15+ enemies, each with their own unique strategies for claiming the Kings Tithe.
Streamlined Economy - Build towers with Produce, staff them with Rebels, and upgrade your capabilities with Farmerʼs Wit. Three resources deeply intertwined with all of the gameʼs mechanics keep things deceptively simple, but with room to plan and optimize.
Roguelite Elements - New challenges each time you play! Wrest victory from many defeats as you gradually improve your overall defenses and abilities through upgrades that carry over from rebellion to rebellion.
Royal Whims - The Kings New Year's-speech also brings creative new taxes, and keep each run fresh and unique with run modifiers.
Start your uprising and Wishlist No Tithe for Olaf now on Steam.
For more information and to stay up to date, have a look on the Ancient Well website. Join the Discord and follow Ancient Well on Facebook, X, Instagram, and Bluesky.
About Ancient Well Entertainment
Step into the realm of Ancient Well Entertainment, a Norwegian/Swedish game development studio forged by life long friends on the back of a folk rock band in 2023. With a burning passion for sharing the awe-inspiring folklore and culture of the North, our games are not just about towering mountains clad in thick fog, ancient spectral whispers, goat-riding rebels and mischievous big-nosed creatures – they are gateways to epic adventures, blending history, fantasy, and the thunderous beats of heavy metal! We aim to keep the gaming experience fun and engaging, with a soul burning for authentic lore.
This week, we’re talking about video game music that could just as easily fit into TV shows or movies. The following are this author’s own interpretations of cinematic moments where these tracks could work beautifully.
Hotline Miami | Miami
There’s a moment in Snatch where two parallel scenes sync perfectly to “Disco Science” by Mirwais.
I recently rewatched Turbo Kid, and I can totally picture a slow-motion montage that blends the gritty visuals of Turbo Kid with the dark humor of Snatch—all while this sleepy, synth-heavy track plays in the background.
This is the most James Bond-sounding theme ever composed for a video game.
Speaking of Bond, I’m still bummed that “Spectre” by Radiohead was dropped in favor of Sam Smith’s forgettable “Writing’s on the Wall.” Inspired by Old Man Logan, I imagine an Old Man Bond scenario—an aging, bearded Brosnan-era Bond is pulled out of retirement for one last mission. The story follows a younger character seeking guidance from the legendary 007 agent.
Yes, this fits Deus Ex perfectly—but it could also serve as the main theme for a prestige TV drama à la Westworld or The Leftovers. In fact, I think anything from Damon Lindelof’s creative universe could benefit from this chilling, slow-burn tone-setter.
This one screams "closing credits music." I picture it wrapping up a post-apocalyptic film that ends on a bittersweet note—something to quietly reassure the audience that not all hope is lost.
That hard section near the end? It would be the musical cue for a cold water moment, where you’re reminded not everything is going to turn out alright. Wipe that smile off your face.
Another contender for best credits music. I can see this closing out an episode of a show that ends on a gut-punch cliffhanger—maybe even the death of a beloved character.
Also: Can we please just get Half-Life 3 already?!
Oberhaching, Germany, August 15, 2025 - Ahead of the official opening of Gamescom 2025 in Cologne, German
publisher Toplitz Productions has unveiled its
official showreel, spotlighting a diverse lineup set to thrill gamers well
into 2025 and beyond.
With game presentations and hands-on options available to content creators,
media and editors in Hall 4.1 Booth D-038g - C-029g, the showreel previews
the eclectic selection of exciting titles spanning a wide variety of genres.
Headlining the lineup are the frosty survival adventure Permafrost and the dark and sinister open-world action adventure Vampires: Bloodlord Rising. But visitors can also sample a gameplay sneak peek into the much
anticipated Vikings Dynasty or experience the
survival infused city builder Aztecs: The Last Sun.
With appearances of the fan favorites Medieval Dynasty and Sengoku Dynasty, which is celebrating
its release on consoles during Gamescom on August 21st as well as Wild West Pioneers waiting in the wings, the Gamescom lineup from Toplitz Productions is
stacked from top to bottom. We can’t wait to show you what we have in store
in 2025 and beyond. And in case you are in Cologne this year and have a few
spare minutes: Feel free to drop by and talk about games!
Visit us at Gamescom 2025 and get an extended look at our games.
You’ll find us in Hall 4.1 Booth D-038g - C-029g.
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.
August 8th, 2025 | On August 15, Mad Skills BMX 2 lands on Nintendo Switch - an arcade-style BMX racing game featuring realistic physics. Players can expect dozens of challenging tracks, flashy tricks, and thrilling boss battles. The game also includes a local multiplayer mode for two players.
Mad Skills BMX 2 was developed by Swedish studio Turborilla, best known for the Mad Skills Motocross series. The Nintendo Switch version is published by Ultimate Games S.A.
Fast-Paced Racing and Stylish Tricks
Developed by Turborilla, Mad Skills BMX 2 delivers dynamic side-scrolling races for fans of BMX and fast-paced arcade fun. The game combines realistic bike physics with an accessible, skill-based racing model. Players must master speed and precision to conquer the tracks, while stylish aerial stunts add an extra layer of excitement.
The game features dozens of hand-crafted tracks and 7 different BMX bikes. Players can also customize their rider and bike to suit their style.
In Career Mode, players compete against both standard opponents and challenging bosses. A local multiplayer mode is available as well, allowing two players to race head-to-head on the same console.
Key Features of Mad Skills BMX 2:
Arcade-style BMX racing
7 unique BMX bikes
Dozens of varied tracks
Boss battles in Career Mode
Local 2-player multiplayer
The Nintendo Switch release of Mad Skills BMX 2 is set for August 15, 2025.
Aug 7th, 2025 | Run a General Store in the Wild West. Customize and expand your shop. Make sure that your customers’ constantly changing needs are satisfied. Work every job yourself or let your employees stack the shelves and work the till. Find out what it feels like to own a Wild West Supermarket.
Features:
Your Store, Your Choice
You have control over every store element from shelves to interior design. Optimize your displays, so your customers have a pleasant and wholesome shopping experience in your general store and find what they are looking for. A happy customer will be a returning customer. Can you bring back life to the deserted ghost town?
Manage your stock
Order your stock from over 70 goods from food items to weapons, tools and furniture.
Barter with suppliers and wandering traders in an ever changing economic environment, where supply and demand is in constant flow. Adjust your prices to maximize the profits and react to changing markets and base prices. But don’t overdo it-a lost customer might never return.
Do-It-Yourself
Unpack goods, stack the shelves and organize your storage space. Work the cash register and make sure that the customer gets the best service possible.
Or hire helpers to help with the daily business.
Expand your store
More is definitely more. Satisfied customers bring more business and a demand for more varied goods. So expand your property or build a second floor to display everything you have to offer. Who knows? Maybe you can take over a few of the other deserted shops in town and build a commercial district.
You’ll never know whatcha gonna get
Watch the town grow as your product variety increases and attracts more patrons. React to a multitude of events influencing your customers' needs and shopping behavior.
Mini Games
Participate in fun mini - games like the Tomahawk Throwing Contest. Take on the leaderboards and unlock new licences for your shop.
Keep Your Poker Face
From time to time suppliers old and new might offer you a mystery box that can contain a wide variety of items or an extended amount of goods. The contents can bring a tremendous profit - if you are willing to take a risk.
Make yourself at home
You are not only responsible for the interior of the shop. Overlooking the town from a hill is your house, just waiting to be personalized and decorated.
Wild West Supermarket Simulator is available now in Early Access for PC on Steam, GOG and Epic Games Store. More information can be found on the official product page.
About SunDust
SunDust, a label of Toplitz Productions, focuses on charming indie games with a lot of heart and soul. The spectrum of casual-oriented titles ranges from user-friendly simulations to exuberant party games as well as other accessible and entertaining game concepts. At SunDust, indie studios with character can find a stage to give free rein to their creative ideas, personal flair and individual style.
From developer Hungry Couch Games and acclaimed publisher tinyBuild comes a fun strategy colony sim that blends mining for precious stones a la Deep Rock Galactic or SteamWorld Dig, and a combat system that is reminiscent of Space Invaders. Drill Core is an addicting game that blends strategy and roguelite elements in one package that is entertaining and fun - if not nerve wracking at times. Several hours went into playing the game and now let’s discuss the many cool aspects of Drill Core.
Gameplay
Drill Core is a game that just works. At first, the player is met with a platform and a few brave miners to dig for precious resources. Each day cycle, players need to plunge the miners into the depths to collect precious minerals that are used to build various upgrades and defenses. Each time a new day cycle begins, the game will prompt the player to purchase different buildings and different weapons. First, there are several buildings that become available depending on how far a player progresses, but to start there is the Barracks, the Laboratory, and the Factory. Simply put, the barracks is the building where new miners, gatherers, and guards are trained; the laboratory allows players to upgrade their workers with more health or mining speed; and the factory simply generates passive ore which can be used to upgrade workers, train more workers, or purchase more buildings. Being strategic about the buildings placed and the upgrades chosen will play an important role in worker and core survival. An integral element of Drill Core is to train a couple of different workers for the task at hand. It is essential to upgrade the workers’ abilities to ensure their survival and that means making them move faster, have more health, or mine at a greater speed. The more laboratories placed, the higher the upgrade level that can be purchased. Similarly, players can erect multiple barracks to increase their total worker count.
The day cycle is all about the collection of resources from the mines. Upon assigning digging tasks to the miners, they will drill through stone bricks to find coal and gems. The coal is used to fuel the core which allows the drill platform to dig deeper into the mines. As mentioned previously, the gems are used to buy new buildings, weapons, workers, and more. As miners dig deeper, there are various different hazard types which will impede progress. Hazards include blocks that move in a particular direction, little aggressive aliens, explosive blocks, and more! Some of these blocks should be avoided by workers, while other hazards must be taken out quickly. After collecting the coal needed to descend further into the mines, players will be thrust into one of the many night cycles in the game.
Combat
The night cycle will occur several times during gameplay as it is impossible to complete your objectives in one day. When the night cycle begins, the platform will be assaulted by a variety of different aliens. In order to combat the creatures, it is necessary to place defenses. The core of the platform is mostly unguarded until turrets are placed on the side walls. As an aside, the further down the platform, the more slots open up for defenses! Anyways, on the first night cycle of the any contract, two turrets can be placed free of charge. Any additional defensive structures will cost precious stones, so be sure to choose them wisely. Additionally, while playing through a mission, the game will prompt players to choose between a couple of new technologies. Sometimes this will help make miners more efficient or heal them over time, and other times players will be given access to cool perks that allow them to lengthen the daytime hours or to see through the fog of war. It is also possible to unlock other buildings that can be placed to augment turrets or buildings that help the miners complete their contract. One such building is the bar which will periodically give workers a boon of speed or healing upon the next day cycle. Another building is a machine that boosts the effectiveness of nearby turrets. As an example of one instance during my playthrough, I placed a couple of wind turrets down which slowed incoming aliens for a short time.
The further down the platform goes, the harder the enemies will be to kill. Once a certain depth is reached, players will end up fighting a larger monster that will take a lot of effort to kill. The creature even looks intimidating when it appears too! If a player continues to be successful in their mining ventures, they can choose to keep drilling, or they can eject the core which ultimately completes the contract.
After a Contract is Complete
After players eject the core on a contract, they will be brought back to the main menu where they can purchase other upgrades. For one thing, there is another currency that is collected at the end of every mission. The better a player does, the more currency they receive to spend on other upgrades. The upgrade menu has many goodies that can be purchased like new platforms to send your miners on. Other upgrades include research expansion, guard patrol protocol, factory fusion modules, factory storage, and more! The depths are the limit when it comes to creating efficient workers, and it adds to the games’ replayability. Essentially, there are a couple of layers of strategy and roguelite elements in Drill Core because there is a need to manage the amount of miners hired, the buildings placed, and the defenses used to protect the core. Once you reach a certain point in the game, you will be able to specialize in a specific department that you choose. There are several different types of departments that will give you access to specialized buildings. Departments range from Unethical Innovation to Aggressive Negotiation to Chaotic Optimization. For my playthrough, I went with the Department of Accidental Safety which grants four different buildings: the suppressor, mining watchtower, thunderstrike turret, and the terrabor repeller. But, no department has the same set of buildings. For example, the Department of Overly Dramatic Solutions includes buildings that involves explosions and laser beams. Essentially, Drill Core allows you to play in a way that suits your style, which I’m all for!
Visuals and UI
First let’s talk about the graphics in Drill Core. The visuals are detailed enough to get the point across as the workers are pixelated and differentiated from each other. It is easy to see the difference between a miner, gatherer, and guards in the party. The enemies themselves are quite different as well. When mining during the daytime, the workers will face creatures that come out of the dirt. These flying monsters don’t take much to kill, but visually they look like flying insects. During the nighttime, there are several types of creatures that attack the core depending on the biome. In the first set of contracts, there are creatures who have a red aesthetic. Some of these creatures are smaller and quicker making them quite threatening in large quantities, some of the creatures will hone in on the core of the platform and explode, while others are larger and slower varients which take a significant amount of firepower to destroy. The further down into the mines traversed, the tougher the enemies.
As for the UI, Drill Core is quite simple to understand. WSAD can be used to move around the map or players can choose to use the mouse scrolling function. Most every other action requires pointing and clicking. For example, players simply need to click on the flashing ore icon to collect the resources from the factory. In order to upgrade a unit, click on the first building of that type to queue up new units or research technologies to ensure player survival. The cost of each upgrade and unit will be displayed clearly in the popup menu. While being able to click on the first building placed is handy, it is possible to change which one is the go to building - as opposed to upgrading the building itself to accomplish the same result. (This is a minor gripe I have about the game.)
Pros and Cons
If there is anything that bothered me about Drill Core, it would be the requirement to use only one building for upgrades or production. The only other gripe I have is the inability to micromanage the units properly. What I mean is, if you click on a row of blocks to the left on the map, and then you click on a separate row on the right, the units will divide themselves to the closest block to them. Sometimes it seems like they would go to the first blocks clicked. In early contracts, this is less of an issue, but as you progress further into the mines, there will be moving blocks or explosives that you may want to save your workers from accidentally triggering. I can’t tell you how many times I had to hire more workers because they all died due to unfortunate circumstances. That said, there are many aspects of Drill Core that I enjoy. I love the layered strategy of moving the miners through the depths in search of shinnies and I love that at nighttime you have to defend your platform’s core with guards and with various types of turrets. Each playthrough becomes more challenging and more interesting depending on your choices in technology and defenses.
Conclusion
The only question to ask yourself when playing Drill Core is how low will you go? Each contract picked up will present different challenges to overcome like falling dirt or explosives during the daytime and hostile creatures that try to attack the core at nighttime. The only way to progress is to be strategic about how many units hired and the placement of your defenses. Drill Core is quite charming between the wit of the game developers and the layers of strategy used to progress through the game. Some contracts don’t take long as you can choose to eject the core once you’ve collected enough coal, but if you really want a good bang for your buck, you’re going to drill down to 600 meters or more and face the dangers head on. I played Drill Core for several hours in just one contract that I became too nervous to continue further, and as a result I was able to buy a whole bunch of upgrades. Since the game pleasantly sucked me into the depths in the hunt of shinnies, I am giving it a 9 out of 10! Seriously, the devs knocked this one out of the shaft, so be sure to grab a copy!
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