Asmodev Fully Releases Priest Simulator: Vampire Show on PC with Her Ghost DLC!

December 5th, 2024 | Priest Simulator: Vampire Show, a highly rated action game with sandbox shooter elements, is leaving Early Access on PC. Priest Simulator: Vampire Show is a unique blend of genres with the addition of a lot of crazy absurdity. As the publisher points out, it’s a little South Park, a little mockumentary, a little Postal, and a little No More Heroes. The Early Access end date is set for December 5 this year. That’s also when the paid add-on, Her Ghost DLC, will be released.

The game was developed by Polish studio Asmodev, which already has smaller titles to its credit, including Booze Masters: Freezing Moonshine and Priest Simulator: Heavy Duty. The publisher of the title is Ultimate Games S.A. During Early Access, the game received very positive reviews from players. Currently on the Steam platform Priest Simulator: Vampire Show has up to 96 percent positive reviews.

Priest Simulator: Vampire Show is a single-player frenetic action game with a first-person perspective that combines various labels (including shooter, hack’n’slash, mockumentary, simulator, racing, renovator, and sandbox).

“This is a unique and independent game with a large dose of uncompromising. Priest Simulator: Vampire Show provides a crazy and bizarre adventure in grotesque-absurd realities. If one already compares this title to other games, the Postal series and games from Grasshopper Manufacture, including, for example, the No More Heroes series or Lollipop Chainsaw, come to mind” says COO of Ultimate Games S.A., Rafal Jelonek.

In Priest Simulator: Vampire Show, the player takes on the role of the vampire Orlok, who becomes a priest in the village of San de Ville. The player then has to take care of his faithful and fight evil. The player’s duties also include performing exorcisms, renovating the church, and many other exciting activities.

“We’ve had a lot of fun working on Priest for many years. It’s a shame that it’s over. We would love to develop this project for years because we adhere to the approach that games should be perfect. But you can shoot and there are no typos. It’s impossible to fall under the map,” – says one of the game's developers, Mim.

As part of Early Access, the game has been developing since October 2022. During that time – in addition to numerous improvements and bug fixes – the title was fully soundtracked, and the developers added a total of dozens of new cutscenes. The list of new features also includes, among others, races, story flashbacks, new quests, locations, and mechanics, as well as a new ending. The final version of the game offers a full soundtrack with English and Polish dubbing.

The end of Early Access was combined with the release of a paid add-on – Her Ghost DLC. The expansion contains not only a brand new storyline but also new exorcisms.

Priest Simulator: Vampire Show Features:

• fight against evil;
• absurd-grotesque plot;
• mockumentary formula;
• exorcism and shooting;
• exciting side activities;
• original soundtrack (black metal band Gruzja);
• more than 10 hours of fun.

The game’s full release date is set for December 5, 2024, and a paid add-on, Her Ghost DLC, will also be released on the same day.

Article by: Susan N.

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Game of the Year 2024 - Most Memorable

There are so many games that release on a yearly basis, but few games will be the most memorable in our minds. This year the team had a number of fun titles that have been more memorable than others, and that's saying something! Check out our list of memorable games of 2024 below.

Nick:

Persona 3 Reload

This series has a way of tugging on my heartstrings and this upgraded version of the classic (complete with some new DLC content) was hard to put down and even more difficult for me not to think about after.

Valerie:

V Rising 1.0 

V Rising has been my most memorable because it has improved so much on its journey to the 1.0 release this year. I finally was able to take on a boss solo that literally beat me to a pulp in the early access stage. The music, the graphics, the characters, the fun with building my castle, the perils of the sunlight. It all just keeps me coming back for more. It’s even better when I’m in a coop game because I can catch up fast to everyone if they had started a game long before I joined them. Everyone’s idea of a castle is different and most enjoyable to wander their halls peeking into rooms as I go along. 

Susan:

Satisfactory 1.0

Several years ago I joined an open beta for a little 3D factory game titled Satisfactory. Man, has this game changed and progressed so much since I first played it. Satisfactory 1.0 is everything we dreamed of, and more. There are tons of project parts to assemble, lots of automation to figure out, and cool creatures that you can find in the world of Message 2(A - B)b. We love the doggos and we love Jet Manta. Also, DON'T GO KILLING STEVE. HE IS INNOCENT OKAY?! *ahem* 

 

Anyways, I've sunk a lot of time into this game over the years. Having to deal with the challenges of setting up logistics is one thing, but having to set up the system so that your factory looks good is a whole other ball game that I still can't say that I've mastered. With each big update, Coffee Stain Studio has given us new parts to work on, new items to customize our factories, and they even upgraded from Unreal Engine 4 to Unreal Engine 5 in a few short months (at least from the time that the public knew about the change). All the hard work that has been put into the game, and the transparency that the developers have had with respect to their fanbase has been integral to the success of the game. Once 1.0 launched, and we finally received the story for the game, we've laughed countless times at ADA's dialogue and reactions. Honestly, Satisfactory is brilliant and I can't stop playing it. This game will always be the most memorable game for me.

Richard:

Metro Quester 

This game was an absolutely amazing nostalgia trip. A very retro aesthetic in a grainy old-school television type view, where your goal is to explore a post-apocalyptic scenario. It was a wonderful throwback to old-school gaming, and it'll stick in my mind for quite a while to come.

P.Y.:

Helldivers 2 

Democracy is most memorable? Not a guilty pleasure? That's right! And the reason is simple. Helldivers 2 was definitely a guilty pleasure but I found it more memorable because I had the chance to merge friends, console and PC, or play with friends of friends and simply enjoy the ensuring chaos of being swarmed all of the time only to have your "friend" atmospherically drop something on your head. So obviously you had to drop on their head while respawning. Right? RIGHT?

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Enigma of Fear - PC Review

Enigma of Fear by developer Dumativa and Cellbit and publisher Dumativa and Nuuvem Inc.—PC(Steam) review written by Richard with a copy provided by the publisher.

 
Estimated reading time: 6.5 minutes

---

What is your greatest fear? Is it death? Feeling pain? Being forgotten? Or maybe it's something a little more mundane, like spiders or snakes? Well, maybe it's time to take a dive into Enigma of Fear, and find out what the greatest fear really means?

Enigma of Fear is a really amazing title by Dumativa/Cellbit that's a really cool combination of what feels like Silent Hill and Resident Evil in the style of Yomawari. A nice package that combines some old-school qualities with modern amenities, wrapped in an aesthetically and brain teasing package. A sort of 2.5D-esque art style, good visuals, a solid soundtrack, and some puzzles that I thoroughly enjoyed, I have a lot of praise for the team behind Enigma of Fear.

In the game, you will take control of Mia, a paranormal detective who has come to the site of a great paranormal disturbance in order to find her father. Accompanied by her two friends Agatha and Samuel, as well as her trusty dog companion Lupi, Mia will have to brave the dangers of the Perimeter, a place that "doesn't exist" and is rife with paranormal disturbances and dangers. Can you fight against the blood zombies and specters, solve the mysteries of the Perimeter, and discover the clues and research notes left behind by the team that was researching the Perimeter? Only you can find the truth.

The main premise behind Enigma of Fear is controlling Mia, a 2D character sprite style in a 3D environment where you fight enemies, explore various locations, and solve puzzles. And man, what a journey Enigma of Fear was! With a gun with limited ammo and your trusty crowbar that you totally don't need to steal from the first area you explore, your arsenal of protective gear is limited. Couple this with a combat sense that rewards a stealthier approach, enemies that will chase you pretty hot on your heels, and how aiming the gun can be a little awkward, and you have an in-game scenario that makes you treat combat as something to take care with. Fair warning, you move in an eight directional format, so aiming at things slightly off one of those directional lines will usually result in you missing. You definitely need to make sure enemies are in appropriate spots before you attack them. While the combat may feel a little janky, I honestly thought this actually worked well with the style of game. Direct confrontation should not be your goal here, so it rather works out.

As you explore the Perimeter you will find various tools to help you get around and solve the puzzles and problems you will encounter. One tool that you start with is a UV toggle on your flashlight. This can be used to reveal hidden messages or interact with different mechanics in order to activate mechanisms. Different areas of the Perimeter all have their own themes and overarching mechanics, and require items from other areas of the Perimeter to fully complete. This is a neat interaction because you can choose wherever you'd like to start, but still need to visit other areas to progress all the way through.

In addition to the main exploration and puzzle solving, there is a sort of bonus puzzle solving section where you can engage in some rather lateral problem solving for some cursed objects you can find around the Perimeter. These puzzles require thinking outside the box, and range from fairly straightforward to "good god how do you expect someone to solve that". Out of all these puzzles there were only about four I'd say that were particularly rough, one of which I literally had to guess half of, but they were all really unique and I found them quite enjoyable. Thankfully these are more so bonus puzzles, so if you aren't good at them or are having a tough time, they aren't necessary to complete the game.

You aren't alone though! Your trusty doggo will travel through the Perimeter with you, and he isn't just for show! You can switch to Lupi in order to get through small spaces, hit switches and buttons, follow scents, or bark in order to trigger certain effects! While the dog companion aspect is a little underused, it is really nice to have a companion with you!

Let's talk a bit about the aesthetics. I found that the art style was rather endearing and it grew on me quite a lot over the course of the game. You have a sort of 2D pixel art for character models dropped on a 3D stage, with 2D artboxes popping up during conversations. At first the specific art style of the pop-up character boxes felt a little weird to me, probably just because I'm used to a different style, but after a short while I realized it was actually really fitting for the game style, having a sort of "dark graphic novel" type feel to it. The musical score was also really good. It was all really ambience evoking and fitting for the spooky nature of the Perimeter. Special props to the song from the culmination of the Graveyard, as I really liked it. It also deals with a trope I'm particularly fond of as well, but I won't reveal as it gives away some spoilers. The voice acting was also mostly decent. I realize the original language isn't English, so I understand if sometimes it can be a bit of a struggle to get voices in other languages, but I feel like the team did a really good job here.

As a sort of round up of some miscellaneous points, I would like to point out a few things of note. First up, at the time of writing this, the loading times can be a bit...lengthy. Nothing too egregious, but noticeably longer than what you would normally expect. Considering on release it took me literally five full minutes to even boot the game though, I'd say there have been a lot of improvements in this regard. The load times have been dispersed over transitions instead of front heavy now. Also, there are a lot of updates and bug fixes that the developers have put out. Even right now, I just got a notification saying that Enigma of Fear has received a patch for me to install, so props to the devs for taking such a hard effort at improving their game based on feedback. The only other issue I ran into was that occasionally it could be hard to see something you needed to interact with, but an interactive prompt appears if you're close enough to something, so for the most part it just involves a little more walking around the different areas.

I also really enjoyed how Enigma of Fear provides a help/healing situation. Certain areas have a radio you can use to contact your two friends, as well as a mat for your dog to sit on. You can talk to your friends to get clues about your objectives for the area you are in, and these will change depending on where you contact them from. You can also "discuss" your problems with your dog as a sort of sounding board. He can't really tell you anything, but what Mia says while thinking aloud may help you figure out what to do. You can also hug your dog to restore any sanity damage you've taken! Or just because you want to. No physical healing though, you'll need a medkit for that. 

Overall, I have to say I was immensely pleased with my experience in Enigma of Fear. The storyline was engaging, the mysteries were interesting, the music was fitting, the artstyle worked well with the theme and the puzzles were brain teasing. While the load times may be a little harsh for some players, and the combat controls can be a little janky at times, don't let these small details distract you from what an amazing time Enigma of Fear can be. I highly recommend you give it a shot.

 

Score: 9.5 / 10

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Anime-Inspired Roguelike Bullet Hell 'W.A.N.D Project' is Available for Purchase on PC and Nintendo Switch!

Warsaw, Poland - 4 December 2024 | The Knights Unity and Untold Tales are happy to announce that W.A.N.D Project is now available on PC (Steam and GOG) and Nintendo Switch.

W.A.N.D Project is an anime-inspired, fast-paced, roguelike bullet hell with an extremely deep and unique attack crafting system. Players mix and match attack elements to create their own custom powers that allows for 100’s of unforseen combos. 

 

Take on the role of a magic-wielding Japanese sorceress and concoct game-shattering spells to dodge and decimate waves of alien monstrosities as you defend a futuristic Tokyo.

The game is inspired and created for players who are fans of Vampire Survivors, Brotato, and Death Must Die.

W.A.N.D Launch Trailer: 

Features

• A unique spell-crafting system to create near-unlimited spell combinations
• Multiple magical elements and variants to craft spells from, making no two runs feel the same
• Unlock and play as various new sorceresses, each with their own unique stats and abilities
• Discover and equip powerful new wands, each with their own special powers and enhancements
• Choose between auto-fire or manual aim and fire modes
• Every map changes the gameplay with a different look, enemy types, and objectives
• Super fast and addictive runs
• Plays great on Steam Deck and Switch handheld

Article by: Susan N.

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Vivid Games Releases Simulation Game Real Boxing 2: Remastered on Nintendo Switch!

Warsaw, Poland - December 2nd, 2024 | Vivid Games is excited to announce the US launch of Real Boxing™ 2: Remastered on Nintendo Switch, arriving on December 6, 2024.

This refreshed edition of the award-winning boxing franchise delivers a true-to-life boxing experience, enhanced graphics, and improved gameplay mechanics for boxing fans and gamers alike.

Game Description:

Take the fight to the next level with a remaster of award winning Real Boxing™ 2. Train hard, fight harder. Prove your worth in the career and multiplayer mode.

Discover a whole new world of combat sports games. As a newbie boxer, challenge experienced opponents and try to win and score a KO! Explore the world of boxing and make your way to the top. You can become the boxing champion, the best warrior of all time! So get ready to punch, and punch hard! Discover what you’re made of, and try to climb to the top.

Become the ultimate champion! Use jabs, hooks, uppercuts & combine them into devastating combos.

REMASTERED VERSION

A brand new challenge awaits you as the game has been rebalanced for a fresh and fair boxing experience. With better effects and improved graphics you can feel like you're boxing for real!

CHOOSE YOUR STYLE OF BOXING

Before you KO your opponent, you need to improve your fighting skills! Adjust your boxer's stats to match your playstyle and level up quickly to unlock new abilities that will help you in fights to come! Use powerful boosts to make your dream come true. Get ready - a KO is in the air!

PLAY MINI-GAMES

Train your fighter in exciting mini games that reflect real life boxers’ training and develop your character! You need to leave a lot of sweat in your training hall to be a champion. No one said it would be an easy challenge!

CREATE YOUR DREAM BOXER

Real Boxing 2 allows you to customize your fighter! Choose your outfit, get a new tattoo and even change your haircut. Adjust all the aspects of the fighter’s body, from mass and muscle sculpture to nose shape.

DRESS TO IMPRESS

As in all fighting sports, it's best to enter the punch-out and serve a smackdown with style, so gear up - equip a pair of boots, trousers and gloves that fit your style and knock down your opponents with your looks alone.

BATTLE AGAINST UNIQUE BOSSES

Take on challenging opponents! Clown? Check. Santa? Yeah, he's there. A real stone golem? You bet. Defeat them all and claim their epic gear!

Join the club, create your boxer, and start your boxing career. Get ready to punch, and punch hard! Discover what you’re made of, and climb to the top!

Article by: Susan N.

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Create and Cruise Through the 'Down Under' Update in Mini Motorways Right Now!

December 9th, 2024 | Mini Motorways, the award-winning minimalist strategy traffic management sim with over five million players from developer Dinosaur Polo Club, explores the tropics of Australia in the new “Down Under” update available now!

 

 

Continue the journey Down Under and hop ‘across the ditch’ from Dinosaur Polo Club’s hometown map of Wellington, New Zealand to see how they celebrate the holidays in the sunny Antipodes!

Clear the city roads from Palm Cove to the Esplanade Lagoon, tunnel new and unexpected pathways, and check out new daily, weekly, and city challenges, fresh achievements, and various bug fixes and performance improvements.

 
This free "Down Under" update is available in Mini Motorways now across all current platforms, including Apple Arcade, Nintendo Switch, and PC and Mac via Steam

For more information, please visit the Dinosaur Polo Club website, follow the studio on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, or search for #MiniMotorways on social media.

About Dinosaur Polo Club

Dinosaur Polo Club is an independent game development studio based in beautiful Wellington, New Zealand. Founded in 2013 by brothers Peter and Robert Curry, the studio first made waves with their award-winning and BAFTA-nominated debut Mini Metro. Created in collaboration with Disasterpeace and Jamie Churchman, Mini Metro explores relaxed and minimalist subway design. The second game developed by Dinosaur Polo Club introduces a brand new type of city management with colorful road-building and resource management found in Mini Motorways. Combined, Mini Metro and Mini Motorways make up two parts of an expanding Mini Collection. 

With an inclusive and supportive culture that believes in giving back to its creative community, the studio has grown and is now home to nearly 30 dinos as it works on new titles with relatable simplicity.

Article by: Susan N.

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QubicGames is Having A Christmas Sale on Nintendo Switch Until December 25th!

Starting December 6th, QubicGames is launching its epic Christmas Sale, delivering massive discounts of up to 99% on Nintendo Switch games. Whether you’re in North America or Europe, this is your ultimate chance to snag top-notch titles at unbeatable prices. With games starting as low as $0.19* in North America and €0.99 in Europe, it’s time to level up your library without breaking the bank.

*In North America, players who own any of the following QubicGames titles: Coloring Book (free), Hole io, Pocket Mini Golf, Mana Spark, Robonauts, or other selected QubicGames releases - can enjoy discounted prices on games.

Unmissable Highlights

Get ready to dive into these standout deals:

Full list of discounts is available on qubicgames.com/sale

Exclusive Discounts for QubicGames Owners

In North America, owning select QubicGames titles such as Coloring Book (free), Hole io, or Robonauts unlocks even deeper discounts. That’s right – loyal fans get the VIP treatment with extra savings on already heavily discounted games.

$/€ 1000 Contest: Win Big While You Play

To add to the excitement, QubicGames is hosting a contest with a total prize pool of $1000/€1000 in eShop credits for 20 winners. It’s your chance to not only score incredible deals but also win rewards just for joining in the fun.

Why This Sale is a Must-See

This is more than just a promotion – it’s a celebration of gaming! With an unbeatable combination of deep discounts and fan-favorite titles, QubicGames’ Christmas Sale is set to be one of the year’s most talked-about events in the gaming community.

How to Take Advantage of the Hot Deals:

• Visit qubicgames.com/sale starting December 6th until December 25th.
• Explore the deals, with prices starting at just $0.19 in North America and €0.99 in Europe.
• Check out the $/€1000 contest and let your gaming skills shine on our website. qubicgames.com/sale

Act now - these deals and the contest are only available for a limited time. Don’t miss your chance to grab amazing games at a fraction of the price and join the celebration of gaming excellence!

Article by: Susan N.

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Game of the Year 2024 - Guilty Pleasure

Sometimes games surprise us while other games become titles that we just can't put down. One day we'll get Nick to play other games besides sports games, but today is not that day. Anyways, we had our interesting and cool picks for guilty pleasures. Perhaps some of these titles are on your list too! So read on to find out if anything rings true. 

Nick:

NBA 2K25

This feels redundant. Too many years, the NBA 2K series winds up being my most-played game, but after the letdown that was last year's release, I'm back to form with 2K25. I have spent far too many hours playing this iteration.

Valerie:

Satisfactory 1.0

Satisfactory is my guilty pleasure. I will fire it up even in the middle of the night with very low sound as I can’t stand having a headset on my head nor my ears covered. With the 1.0 release this year, we are finally able to listen to the story as we pass through the research or discover things out in the wild! I am thoroughly enjoying the fact that I can put the hostile animals on passive so I can get things done and stay on the ground instead of going up and over like I did previously. There are some new hostiles out there as well as added irradiated areas to make it difficult for one to get to a wreck.

Susan:

Cat Quest III: Pirates of the Purribean

In a move that should surprise no one, Cat Quest III: Pirates of the Purribean by The Gentlebros is definitely my guilty pleasure game. My SO and I had a blast sailing the high seas in search of letters and keys and all sorts of booty. As per usual, the purry puns are top notch. What makes this game awesome is that you don't just upgrade your gear which will grant you set bonuses depending on the types of spells and weapons you want to use. Another thing to upgrade in the Purribean is your ship! Yes, that's right! You get to shoot cannonballs at your enemies while sailing the high seas in search of your targets. Although, be careful about where you sail off to because you can end up in front of the giant duck or Cathulhu! One other enemy that makes me cackle wildly everytime is see the name is Captain Meowtallika for, you know, reasons... Another questline that cracks me up is one where you pass messages back and forth between two people who love each other. It's quite hilarious and one of my favorites. Honestly, all of the Cat Quest games are guilty pleasures and I have absolutely no issues talking about them either!

Richard:

Astrune Academy

What is essentially a phone style game with none of the annoyances of daily login bonuses (for the most part), Astrune Academy is, well, really good. Like, I genuinely enjoyed it well more than I probably had any right to. Cute anime girls fighting monsters in a turn-based combat system with actually good story writing? Well, I got hooked.

 

P.Y.:

Overthrown

Like, I can do what? You're telling me I can throw my kingdom's peoples at buildings to give them jobs? Or I can throw the building at enemies? Or lumber mills at trees instead of trees at the lumber mills!? Wild. Having only taken part in a Steam Next demo, this was definitely a guilty pleasure for the length of time that it was available for. Izzy and I played as much as possible, whenever possible, even if it meant having to restart every hour to hour and a half. It was worth it and we can't wait for the Early Access to start.

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Experience an Abstract Puzzle Game in 30 Birds on Steam!

Paris, November 28th 2024 | ARTE, RTBF, Ram Ram Games and Business Goose announce that 30 Birds, an exciting puzzle game set on spinning lanterns, is available for PC/Mac via Steam. The release date for 30 Birds on Nintendo Switch will be announced at a later date.  

“This project began 10 years ago, after a trip to Istanbul. To share our journey, we created a diary inspired by Persian miniatures” explain the game's creators Coline Sauvand, artistic director, and Laurent Toulouse, author, game designer, musician and developer.

Inspired by this 15th-century pictorial tradition, the two founders of the Belgian studio Ram Ram Games came up with a book “The Istanbul Notebook”. A few years later, they have turned their experience into a poetic and humorous video game: 30 Birds.

A court of feathers 

30 Birds takes inspiration from several aspects of the Persian and Middle East cultures to create Lantern City, a real aviary populated by birds, each crazier than the last, as well as goofy characters. “The character of Simurgh, a giant bird goddess, comes directly from Persian and Middle Eastern mythologies,” explains the Ram Ram Games team, before adding that “the name of the game itself, 30 Birds, is a pun, since “Simurgh” means “thirty birds” in Farsi. The title refers to The Conference of the Birds, the mystical poem by Attar of Nishapur. It relates the story of a group of birds led by a hoopoe who set off on an adventure to meet their deity, Simurgh. At the end of their journey, thirty of these birds reach a valley and discover a vast lake in which they can see their own reflections…”. 

30 Birds blends oriental tale and police investigation 

Players play as Zig, a mysterious detective, accompanied by Hoop, a talented hoopoe stand-up comedian. As they explore the various spinning lanterns of this mystical world, they will find the thirty birds that will save Simurgh, the missing patron goddess. Along the way, they'll explore a world inspired by Persian art, meeting wacky birds, quirky djinns and other curious characters to solve puzzles!  

30 Birds is a dazzling burst of art, both visually and musically

Fully hand-drawn, halfway between a kamishibai* and a magic lantern, 30 Birds offers a seamless blend of 2D and 3D. Wandering through the gorgeous neighborhoods of  Lantern City to the rhythm of a ska - dub - reggae inspired soundtrack, players will help Zig gather some charismatic, chatty  birds and find Simurgh. The task may not be as easy as it seems!

 

Key Features:

• 4 main lanterns, plus around ten secondary lanterns: a mythical, colorful and beautifully designed world to explore and interact with!  
• Wander through the wonderful neighborhoods of Lantern City and meet some fantastic characters.  
• Meet some (not-so) charming birds and some much more riotous ones, and add them as contacts on your phone.  
• Powerful, diabolical (or just plain nasty) enemies to stop in order to shed light on Simurgh's kidnapping. 
• A wide variety of riddles and puzzles to foil the traps of the Evil Scientist!  
• Take on all kinds of artistic challenges to get the bird's details and progress through the story!
• Players will have to solve mysterious and amusing riddles, wander around bars and cafés, and play cards to gather clues. As well as some funny dialogues, there are plenty of other surprises waiting for them in the bright streets of Lantern City: they'll be able to create funky music using synthesizers, and even ride on a magic carpet! 

30 Birds is rated PEGI 12 / ESRB Teen. The game is available on PC/Mac via Steam for €17.99 / $17,99 / £14,99, and benefits a 10% launch promotion during the month following release. 

Languages (interfaces and subtitles): French, English, Dutch, German, Spanish, Simplified Chinese and Japanese.

© 2024 ARTE FRANCE / ARTE France, Ram Ram Games, Business Goose, RTBF - All rights reserved 

* A small Japanese traveling theater  

About ARTE 

As a public cultural channel, ARTE’s mission is to bring Europeans closer together through culture. Its rich and diverse editorial line-up (cinema, series, documentaries, news, digital creation and video games, podcasts...) contributes to nurturing a democratic space and a European vision. For more than ten years, ARTE has been co-producing and publishing independent video games such as Type:Rider, Homo Machina, Vectronom, Inua, Bury Me My Love, 30 Birds and Looking for Fael. More information on the official website and the Twitter page of Arte Interactive. 

About Ram Ram Games

Coline and Laurent are both passionate about traditional and alternative forms of art. Coline is an author and illustrator and Laurent is a programmer and musician, with a background in philosophy and literature. 

Ram Ram Games develops a combination of playful experiences and immersion in particular cultural universes. 30 Birds was born out of a trip to Istanbul, from which Coline and Laurent returned with an admiration for Persian miniatures and the idea of using them as the starting point for a video game.

About Business Goose

Business Goose is a studio founded by three friends united by their passion for video games. We love everything about video game development and we do everything we can to involve our community throughout the creative process.

In our catalogue, you'll find relaxing games with puzzles and worlds to explore, magical and emotional stories, and also titles with some educational content. We'll soon be adding action-packed games! So get ready!

The two studios began their collaboration in 2022 while exchanging ideas with other people from the world of illustration and game development. 30 Birds is the result of this combination of expertise and talents. 

 

About RTBF iXPé 

RTBF iXPé is the public service media in French-speaking Belgium dedicated to video games, esports and geek culture. Its aim is to inform, educate and entertain audiences about the topics and issues related to these themes. 

RTBF is also committed to supporting Belgian video game development studios through the co-production of ambitious and inspiring projects. As part of this ongoing commitment, RTBF iXPé also aims to catalyse the development of video game-related themes in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.

Article by: Susan N.

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Play the Hack and Slash Game 'Liberte' on PC and Xbox Platforms Today!

November 27th, 2024 | Liberte, a hack'n'slash game inspired by the 18th century French Revolution with card game and roguelite elements, will be released on PlayStation 5 this November 29. The title features a dynamic combat system and a unique card system including more than 100 skill and talent cards. Liberte draws on the works of H.P. Lovecraft, and the storyline combines political intrigue with the occult. The game offers a single-player campaign and local co-op modes for up to 4 players. Liberte was previously released for PC and Xbox Series X|S.

The title was developed by Polish studio Superstatic and appeared first on PC and recently on Xbox Series X|S. Ultimate Games S.A. is responsible for the development and release of Liberte on PlayStation 5.

Liberte is a hack'n'slash game, which is also distinguished by elements of a card game and roguelite. The gameplay is based on exploration and combat, in which the player can use both white and firearms. A unique system of dynamic combat allows one to create almost any combination from more than 100 available skill and talent cards. At the same time, Liberte offers single-player campaigns and local co-op modes (up to 4 players simultaneously).

Developers from the Superstatic studio were inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft, body horror films by David Cronenberg, and historical events from the French Revolution, among others.

In Liberte, the player finds himself in an alternate version of 18th-century Paris during a revolution. The chaos associated with the revolution is compounded by a being from another dimension, the mysterious Lady

Bliss. The player takes on the role of Rene, whom Lady Bliss chooses to find a new ruler from among the representatives of the four factions vying for power. As the player progresses, he can take on other characters as well.

Liberte – main features:

• a hack'n'slash in the reality of the French Revolution;
• Lovecraftian mysteries;
• dynamic battles
• a plot that combines political intrigue with the occult;
• unique card system.

Liberte will be released on PlayStation 5 on November 29, 2024.

Article by: Susan N.

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Announcing Retro Platformer by Dr. Kucho! Games Titled 'Moons of Darsalon'

26 November 2024, Madrid – Solo indie developer Dr. Kucho! Games is proud to announce the release of Moons of Darsalon, a retro action "save-them-all" platformer including advanced physics combined with an unique retro feel, on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4|5, Xbox One and Series S/X. Be a hero in charge of rescuing your lost colleagues and bringing them to the closest base station using your commands and their advanced AI. Fight fierceful alien creatures, avoid all sorts of threats and get rid of obstacles with a jetpack, enjoy the advanced physics engine that allows you to destroy terrain, and even make new paths with the ground maker!

"Making this game has been fulfilling the dream I had as a teenager, which I gave up to dedicate myself to music, and which I recovered at 42 years old, eight years later. Moons of Darsalon is a reality in which I have put all my obsessive perfectionism, avoiding following trendy styles and focusing on offering a fresh and quality gaming experience." - Dr. Kucho

More about Moons of Darsalon

Teams of darsanauts got lost during their mining missions on the different moons of the planet Darsalon. You need to complete several rescue missions in which you will have to lead them to the closest base station. They will use their own AI to follow you and to obey your commands. On your way to the base you will have to protect them from dangers and enemies using your laser gun, jet pack, pilot ground and air vehicles, destroy terrain, and even make new paths with the ground maker gun.

Main Features

• Fast-paced laser gun shooting action against dangerous alien creatures.
• Enhanced mobility thanks to accessories like the jet pack and vehicles like the space truck and drop ship.
• Darsanauts implement advanced platforming AI including dynamic terrain detection, jump force calculation, light sensitivity, inter-NPC communication.
• Voice Commands to control companion NPCs.
• Dynamic ground destruction and creation: Destroy terrain and make new paths with the ground maker gun.
• Fully interactive and realistic liquid physics.
• Realistic off road vehicle physics.
• 8 bit music based on MOS 6581 (SID) chip from 1982 and speech synthesis.
• Graphics are generated with a unique render pipeline that combines modern lighting, 2D sprites and 3D models pixelated in real time, all featuring a restricted color palette for an authentic retro feel.
• And of course, we cannot miss the good old CRT filter!

Useful Links:

• Steam
• Twitter
• Discord

ABOUT DR.KUCHO! GAMES

Dr. Kucho’s path as a game developer started in 2013, when he began developing his debut title “Ghosts’n Djs”, a homage to the 80s arcade classic platformer Ghosts’n Goblins and a satirical critic to the commercial electronic music industry. In 2020, Kucho released his second title, Pilots of Darsalon, which introduces the Darsalon universe and presents a physics based arcade game. Finally and after more than 8 years of development, Dr. Kucho returns with his largest project to date, Moons of Darsalon, where players will have to rescue and command a squad of darsanauts, mixing physics-based run’n gun mechanics with the save them all genre, in this sequel he applied all the lessons learned about his audience, and how PC self-publishing works.

Article by: Susan N.

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Game of the Year 2024 - Biggest Surprise

Beginning our usual Game of the year articles, the team at Chalgyr thought about all the wild and amazing games played during 2024. Several of the team members found quite a surprise in a number of titles ranging through different genres. As with previous years, we'll cover Nick's biggest surprise first. Valerie has thrown her hat in the ring for our articles this year and we're excited about that. Naturally, Richard, P.Y., and myself all have our picks as well. If you want to know what we have on our lists, keep reading!

Nick:

Metal Slug Tactics 

I don't know what I expected from this. I thought it might have a bit of an identity crisis. From the trailers, the art looked on-point, but the traditionally action-heavy series made its way to turn-based tactics far more effectively than I had expected.

Valerie:

Planet Crafter

Planet Crafter is a game of space survival open world terraforming and crafting game with the buildings like what’s in Subnautica, and other things too. It’s also a game that one could call Subnautica in Space. You’re a prisoner sent to this planet to terraform it for human life. You even get to create life in the form of animals that you have to feed. I had a field day exploring in this game as well as building up my base after figuring out how high the water level reaches in the first lake that is by my base. You are made very aware of your survival in this game with having to feed yourself and drink water. This game surprised me with the ease of play and not a boatload of glitches.

Susan: 

Palia

This year a cozy game surprised me. In a genre that is fairly straight forward in terms of the farming mechanics, romance options, and general level schemes, Palia came out swinging with some awesome quests and cool areas to explore. The cooking mechanic makes you feel like you're actually cooking a meal because of the way it is done. If you are rolling dough, your QTE points will be at the top and the bottom of the cutting board. It's a little hard to explain, but the game does cozy right. Also, each character has a personality of their own, which makes the gameplay experience exciting and dynamic. Plus, you never know if there are hidden chests nearby or quests to find. Heck, I even like the fishing! Basically, Palia surprised the heck out of me and I can't be more impressed with a cozy game. It's my latest addiction because it has it all. 

Richard:

Touhou Mystia's Izakaya

I've always been a fan of Touhou titles, but I have admittedly been a little wary of some of the fangames that diverge from either bullet hell or RPG/metroidvania titles. While restaurant management type deals aren't usually my go to, I must admit that Mystia's Izakaya really drew me in. What I thought would be an hour or so at a time turned into several in a row. While I wasn't expecting it to be bad by any means, it was definitely a lot more fun than I was expecting.

P.Y.

Stellar Blade 

Yes. That game. Now that that is out of the way, what's present here is a solid action adventure RPG with a few twists that maybe you may not see coming until a few minutes before they happen which was appreciated. It's nice to be surprised in good ways. 

While the writing could be a bit weird at times, there's an overall flow to the game that balances wide open areas with horror atmosphere inspired resident evil corridors. And you can't use your sword. Only your guns. Good thing you can go fishing to calm your nerves down. 

I overall enjoyed Stellar Blade and played through for all three endings just to see where things landed for the protagonist and all of those that helped her along the way. I'm looking forward to seeing where the devs go with a sequel as there has been mention of one.

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Award Winning Game 'Leo's Fortune' is Out on Nintendo Switch!

Warsaw, Poland - November 25, 2024 | QubicGames is excited to announce the release of Leo’s Fortune, the critically acclaimed platform adventure developed by 1337 & Senri and published by Tilting Point, which has won awards like the Apple Design Award and gained millions of fans across mobile platforms and other consoles. Now, Nintendo Switch players will be able to join Leo’s journey to recover his stolen treasure in a visually stunning, adventure-packed game.

About Leo’s Adventure

In Leo’s Fortune, players meet Leo, a quirky engineer with a turquoise fur coat and a thick accent, who had amassed a vast fortune with his inventions. But when his treasure mysteriously vanishes, he embarks on a mission to retrieve it and uncover the thief’s identity. This epic quest takes players through beautifully designed environments - lush forests, arid deserts, and snowy mountains - filled with clever physics-based puzzles and hidden traps.

Key Features:

• Hand-Crafted Levels – Each level is meticulously designed, from detailed backdrops to interactive elements that create an immersive world.
• Physics-Based Puzzles – Players will tackle puzzles requiring precision and ingenuity to solve, enhancing the challenge and fun.
• Compelling Storyline – As Leo follows a breadcrumb trail of gold, the storyline unfolds with humor, mystery, and heart.
• Hard-core Mode – For those looking for an extra challenge, try completing the entire game without dying.
• Award-Winning Art and Sound – Known for its rich, atmospheric visuals and soundtrack, Leo’s Fortune combines storytelling with a unique aesthetic and design.

Having first gained widespread acclaim on iOS and Android, where it was lauded for its beautiful graphics and innovative gameplay, Leo’s Fortune has continued to win over fans on multiple platforms, including PlayStation and Xbox. With a Metacritic score of 84% and a warm reception from both critics and players, this timeless platformer has become a favorite among adventure game enthusiasts.

Leo’s Fortune will be available on the Nintendo Switch eShop on November 29, 2024, inviting players to experience Leo’s quest for riches and justice on the go.

About Tilting Point:

Tilting Point is a leading free-to-play game publisher, recognized at #10 in PocketGamer’s annual list of the World’s Top 50 Mobile Game Makers. Through strategic partnerships and multiple acquisitions, Tilting Point has amassed over 80 game titles under one roof. Its world-class portfolio features some of the most recognizable licensed IP titles, including SpongeBob: Krusty Cook-Off, Star Trek Timelines, Narcos: Cartel Wars and Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures. With the video game industry poised to resume its rapid growth, Tilting Point is currently executing on a robust content acquisition strategy, while simultaneously developing a powerful next-gen cross-promotion platform to drive user acquisition and create a direct relationship with the world’s gamers.

About Qubic Group:

We’re the most efficient publisher for casual games on Nintendo Switch. We collaborate with household names to bring their games to the PC and console market. Comprised of multiple companies that specialize in publishing games across various genres – from kid-friendly entertainment and casual games to intense shooters and everything in between – we have the resources to handle any project (from development and porting to publishing).

Article by: Susan N.

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