The Blue Reflection series by Gust is a high school slice of life with apocalyptic level situations and magical girls. With the world on the brink of destruction, it'll be up to a select few to tackle those that wish to destroy it, all while managing the emotions of their friends, fellow students, and themselves…
In the early 90s, Coktel Vision (which later became Sierra On-Line) released a quirky point and click adventure game titled Gobliiins which had players bouncing between three different Goblins to find a cure for good King Angoulafre.
What a meow-gnificent evening it is to send your paw-rcels out to those family and friends! Are mew looking to pick up an item or send something out? Well at Cat Mail Co. we can send and receive all your deliveries!
Have you ever grown up feeling like you don't belong? For our Heroine, that's the feeling she lives with everyday in her small farming village. But it's not her only secret...
STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions is just that! Massively co-operative and not an MMO! When you first run the game you are instantly into the tutorial...
Today we’re looking at what has rapidly become an absolute favorite in the open-world RPG genre for me. An interesting story, memorable NPCs, stunning visuals, and a setting absolutely dripping with flavor, Dread Delusion sets its tone immediately and sticks with it.
I enjoy simulation-type games, and I enjoyed the original release of House Flipper, but I never got around to getting the DLC. When the remastered version of the game was released, I figured it would be the best way to experience the DLC while checking out how the base game was upgraded.
GranBlue Fantasy: ReLink released in 2024 bringing the GranBlue universe to an action adventure JRPG format. With a party of up to four members, this band of skyfarers set out for new skies, adventures, and dangers. Two years later, Endless Ragnarok...
70s-Style Robot Anime Geppy-X is a mouthful of a title, but you know what? It’s quite the challenging game to describe as well. At its core, 70s-Style Robot Anime Geppy-X is a shooter...
Are you ready for the package deal for the Azure Striker spin-offs before the third title in the spinoff series drops? Do you love the Megaman X games but want something fresh and musical? Do you wanna feel totally inadequate when you get a crappy score rating after beating what you thought was a tough fight?
Chișinău, Moldova — July 1, 2025 | RIK ANIMATION Studio and boddiul have announced the release window for their psychological horror title, project; VIRAI: DOOMER’s LIFE ESCAPE, set for Q4 2025. A new animated trailer is now available, revealing the game’s release window. A playable demo is also already available on Steam.
project; VIRAI: DOOMER’s LIFE ESCAPE is a Life Sim RPG that blends visual novel storytelling with psychological thriller elements. Players dive into the life of a shut-in girl, Hicha, whose only reason to keep going is her virtual avatar, Virai — who may not be what she seems. It's up to them to help Hicha escape her depressive nightmare before it consumes her completely.
The game is a mix of OMORI and Needy Streamer Overload, exploring themes of parasocial relationships and the blurring of lines between real and virtual life. The developers experiment with the game format in a style similar to MiSide.
Players will explore the emotional world of the protagonist through several visual styles created by artist RIKANI (known for her work on the game An alt girl for skoof). Begin in Hicha’s bleak 2D pixel-art reality, then immerse yourself in the surreal 3D virtual world of VITA. Uncover its secrets — and decide how Hicha’s story will end.
«This game is inspired by my personal experience as a YouTube content creator and my struggle with mental illness» says RIKANI, author of the idea and artist.
Key Features
Hikikomori Life Simulation: step into the anxious Hicha’s life — experience the health-destroying routine within the gray walls of Soviet panel architecture.
10 endings: from total collapse to liberation — your choices define the fate of the heroine. Each ending offers a different level of psychedelic immersion into alternate realities.
ARG Quest: a sea of mysteries in Virai’s world awaits the most curious and attentive players, going beyond the virtual space.
10 tracks by various indie post-punk artists hidden throughout the game, enhancing the atmosphere of doomer music and deepening the emotional impact of the game.
Languages Supported: English, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, Latin American Spanish, and Russian. More languages will be added in the future.
About RIK ANIMATION
RIK ANIMATION is an independent animation studio founded by artist RIKANI. The studio specializes in creating animation in the style of Japanese anime and the production of commercial promo videos. Their debut game, An alt girl for skoof, gained significant attention online.
project; VIRAI: DOOMER’s LIFE ESCAPE marks the studio’s first fully original title based on an in-house concept. RIK ANIMATION is responsible for the game’s overall visual identity, game design, and narrative direction.
boddiul is an indie developer from Moldova with a background in creating experimental game prototypes for various game jams. This collaboration with RIK ANIMATION is his first commercial release. He is in charge of the game’s programming and game design.
K'jipuktuk/Halifax, Nova Scotia, CA – 26 June 2025 | Almost three years since it first launched, cozy puzzler A Little to the Left has no more messes to conquer. Today’s free Packed Update neatly brings active development on the game to an end, with one final gift to fans to thank them for their love and support over the years.
The Packed Update includes three new drawer-themed levels, offering single-solution puzzles that look perfectly arranged when completed. There have also been sweeping changes to the Daily Tidy, including the addition of a new level, hints for these levels, easing of streaks including checkpoints and forgiveness if missing a day, and customisable badges to show off your dedication to daily decluttering.
Alongside this, players can now challenge their tidying talent in Shuffle Mode, which reorders the entire library of A Little to the Left puzzles and tasks you with solving them in whatever order they come out. Shuffle Mode will also include levels from DLC packs, so fans who own both Cupboards & Drawers and Seeing Stars can challenge a gauntlet of over 160 levels in an unusually disorganised order.
Finally, A Little to the Left is adding new accessibility features to ensure everyone can enjoy the game. A Colour Assist Mode can now be toggled on, replacing a handful of puzzles with variants that no longer rely on colour to be solved. All platforms will also benefit from the ability to pan and zoom, letting you get a closer look at the objects you’re sorting – perfect for those peskier puzzles.
A Little to the Left began life as a game jam project for Annie Macmillan and Lukas Steinman and has grown to become a million-selling game with two paid DLCs, numerous free updates since launch, and versions available on all available platforms. This final update is not the end for the team at Max Inferno, who are already exploring ideas for their next game.
Praise for A Little to the Left
“A supremely rewarding ode to neatness” - The Guardian
“Max Inferno’s debut is a warm, charming triumph” - NME
“A Little to the Left is the perfect calming game to wind down with” - The Verge
About A Little to the Left
Sort, stack, and organize household objects into just the right spot in A Little to the Left, a tidy puzzle game with a mischievous cat who likes to shake things up!
Puzzles hidden among household objects.
Multiple solutions make for intuitive and satisfying puzzle design.
A puzzle unique for you every day with The Daily Tidy Delivery.
Perfect for casual puzzle game fans and those who get a jolt of satisfaction from a well-organized space.
About Secret Mode
Secret Mode is the winner of the Ukie Best UK Publisher 2024 award. We believe that games are for everyone, and that creativity has no limits. We believe quality and fun are everything.
MAX INFERNO is a seaside indie game studio from K'jipuktuk/Halifax, Nova Scotia. It makes charming games that are inspired by moments in the team’s daily lives.
The studio was founded in 2021 by Annie and Lukas, who have always loved making things together: Halloween costumes, treasure hunts, dance moves... Now they have a platform for all of the odd and lovely ideas for interactions they want to see in the gaming world.
Thanks to the success of its first title, A Little to the Left, the MAX INFERNO team is growing and is focused on even more delightful things for the future.
Find more info and sign up for the Max Inferno Newsletter here: www.maxinferno.com
@ColeNalle writes: It kinda does remind me it's the day that we are getting ready to be moving to the new house by the minute while we're going to start packing up pretty soon at first while it's time for our old house to go and it gets more depressing by the minute after sometimes while it's all true that I know so often in my head while this Music plays. So emotional how it feels.
@elliottlava7784 writes: I don't know why but after deltarune this hits way harder. It feels sadder. I've never heard a song sound so different despite being the exact same song, when i hear it now all i can think of is what he's saying: "look, i gave up trying to go back a long time ago. And going to the surface doesn't appeal to me too much, either." This isn't a triumph, this isn't a final hoorah, this is someone who's lost everything watching the world fall apart around them and using every single little bit of energy to try and save it, although he knows that in the end it'll all be for nothing.
@gplgs4640 writes: This is probably the most “Batman” theme out of every single iteration. You can hear some part of this song fit with any iteration we’ve seen of him, whether it’s Affleck’s, Pattinson’s, Bale’s, Keaton’s, Kilmer’s, or even damn Clooney’s. I’d argue this could be used for the animated Batmen too. There’s just no other theme out there that so vividly captures the essence of The Batman like this one.
IRVINE, Calif. – June 24, 2025 | Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. today announced LITTLE NIGHTMARES™ III, developed by Supermassive Games will launch on October 10, 2025, for PlayStation®5, PlayStation® 4, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, PC via Steam® and Xbox on PC, and Nintendo Switch™ and Switch™ 2. Pre-orders started today on all platforms except on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, which will start at a later date. The franchise has now sold 20 million units since the release of LITTLE NIGHTMARES™ in 2017. For more information on the game, visit www.bandainamcoent.com/games/little-nightmares-3.
Trapped in the Spiral, a world filled with delusions, Low & Alone are looking for a way out. Through their journey, they enter the Carnevale, a decrepit funfair which is the focus of the new trailer and gameplay deep dive.
The following editions of LITTLE NIGHTMARES III are available for pre-order:
Standard Edition
Digital Deluxe Edition, which includes the Secrets of The Spiral - Expansion Pass, and the Residents Costumes Pack
Collector “Mirror Edition”, which adds to the Deluxe edition content, a figurine, a metal case, a physical artbook, the OST in digital and physical format, and some stickers
Premium Collector “Spiral Edition”, exclusive to the Bandai Namco Store which, contains the Collector “Mirror Edition” figurine, enhanced with a music box base, a Nome controller/phone holder and a double-sided coin of Low and Alone.
Pre-orders will give access to the Dark Six Costumes Set on all platforms. Pre-ordering a digital copy will also include the early access of LITTLE NIGHTMARES ENHANCED EDITION on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. The Secrets of The Spiral - Expansion Pass includes two additional chapters to explore, which will be detailed at a later date, as well as an exclusive Costumes Set featuring a character that fans might recognize.
In addition, LITTLE NIGHTMARES ENHANCED EDITION has been announced for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC with a release date also set on October 10, 2025. LITTLE NIGHTMARES ENHANCED EDITION brings Six’s story to a new standard thanks to technical enhancements, such as volumetric lightning and ray tracing, as well as gameplay changes like better checkpoint placement, gameplay helpers, letting more players discover Six’s journey through the Maw. LITTLE NIGHTMARES ENHANCED EDITION will be available right away to those who pre-order a digital copy of Little Nightmares III on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
The final game announcement from the Little Nightmares Showcase is LITTLE NIGHTMARES VR: ALTERED ECHOES, which has been announced to be in development at Iconik Studio.
Little Nightmares continues to expand beyond video games, several other projects have been announced, spanning a variety of media such as comic books, podcasts and more.
Check out the Little Nightmares Showcase for all the exciting news and reveals here:
Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc., part of the Bandai Namco Group, is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive entertainment for major video game consoles, PC, online, and mobile platforms. The company is known for creating many of the industry’s beloved classic franchises such as PAC-MAN®, GALAGA®, TEKKEN®, SOULCALIBUR®, and ACE COMBAT®, and publishing the critically acclaimed DARK SOULS™ series and the blockbuster title ELDEN RING™. Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. is also the premier publisher in the Western hemisphere for anime-based video games including GUNDAM™, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, DRAGON BALL™, and ONE PIECE®. Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. is headquartered in Irvine, California. More information about the company and its products can be found at http://www.bandainamcoent.com.
Oberhaching, Germany, June 25, 2025 | Developer Superkami and Publisher Toplitz Productions announce that the next major content update for their genre-blend Sengoku Dynasty is now available.
Since its release in Early Access, the mix of life-sim, settlement builder, survival adventure and action underwent a slow transformation with a plethora of meaningful updates, based on both the extensive roadmap as well as the invaluable player feedback. The new content pack ‘Bushidō’, updating the game to version 1.1, is no exception and delivers a new threat to the Nata Valley in the form of raids by various villainous factions. However, since Sengoku Dynasty wants to cater to the players’ gameplay preferences as much as possible, raids can be deactivated as well, if a more peaceful experience is preferred.
But what are raids? Bandits will not only roam the area or inhabit small camps. They will eventually start to attack your villages, try to capture your bell tower and ransack your dynasty storage. So set up your defenses, employ guards and make sure that your villagers are safe - or at least that you can catch the raiders and reclaim the loot before they disappear.
While you can minimize the risk by attacking and destroying bandit camps on your expeditions into the scenic world of Sengoku Dynasty, you can never be fully safe. Thankfully, rumors spread fast in Nata Valley, so you will hear of an upcoming attack with enough time to prepare your defensive tactics.
Additionally the ‘Bushidō’ update includes a wide variety of bug fixes, enhancements and quality-of-life improvements to make the player’s journey through Sengoku Dynasty a truly memorable one. For the full patch notes please visit the official Steam product page.
Sengoku Dynasty is available for PC on Steam, GOG.com and the Epic Games Store. Console versions are in development and slated for release this Summer.
About Superkami
Superkami is a studio with one mission - to let talented people make the best games they can. As an agile, fully remote studio with a team all over the world consisting of experienced veterans and ambitious newcomers they seek to bring unique content to a whole new audience through their innovation and style. Their first announced title is Sengoku Dynasty - an open-world survival builder set in the beautiful world of medieval Japan.
About Toplitz Productions:
The German-Austrian publisher, whose name originates from the mysterious Toplitz Lake in the heart of Austria, develops and publishes games with "heart & soul" for all platforms. The company consists of a healthy mix of experienced industry veterans and young talents, all of whom are passionate gamers. They enjoy working with creative developers on many exciting titles, such as those from the "Dynasty" and "Giant" series.
Stay up to date and learn everything worth knowing about Toplitz Productions by following the company on X, Facebook, the official website, and Instagram.
Porto Alegre (Brazil), July 2, 2025 | Brazilian game developer and publisher Epopeia Games is proud to announce that their Cozy Adventure with Farming Sim elements Gaucho and the Grassland will release its 1.0 version on Steam this July 16 at a price of 19.99 USD|EUR with a 15% during the first 2 weeks. Gaucho and the Grassland is an adventure farming sim where you live as a latin cowboy, exploring the vast grasslands, the cozy highlands, the beach, and a magical world, helping locals and mystical beings to turn the world into a more harmonious place.
A cozy farming sim influenced by the mysticism and contemplation of The Legend of Zelda series.
"At first Zelda brought us the epic adventure, no doubt about it, but Zelda has also been showing a cozy side for a long time now, with moments of calm and contemplation, not to mention the fun characters we meet along the way.
Then there's the recent remake of Link's Awakening with its beautiful cute visuals, which we also find a great inspiration.
In this way, even though the initial idea was not to create a “Zelda with farming elements", the references we had made that cozy elements with an adventure structure no longer seemed so distant from each other when balanced, and since then we have sought to realize the potential of this union of genres." Rodrigo Moreira - Lead Game Designer / Epopeia Games Co-founder.
Main Features
Solving quests with farm mechanics: Progress in the game through typical agricultural and rural activities.
Interacting with animals: lassoing cows, sheep and oxen; leading them around the setting and looking after their needs.
Farm activities: Fishing, milking, shearing sheep, collecting eggs and much more.
Building and repairs: Renovate and customize houses - both inside and out.
Exploring different worlds: Four unique regions to explore - the pampas, the mountains, the beach and the mystical world.
Magical mate: The traditional gaucho drink takes on a special role, revealing hidden secrets.
Differentiated narrative: Instead of inheriting a farm, the protagonist is given the title of guardian of the pampas, with the mission of restoring harmony to the region.
Cultural elements: Playing the harmonica, looking after the animals and experiencing daily life in the countryside.
Mystical character: An enigmatic cattlewoman who guides the player into the mystical world and reveals new layers of the story.
About Epopeia Games
Epopeia Games is responsible for other games that have been nominated for various awards, and has published the Brazilian indie hit of 2024, Mullet MadJack. Now, it promises to innovate in the farm games genre with the release of Gaucho and the Grassland, which has already won the award for BEST GAME PITCH FROM REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS at the Big Festival 2022 in São Paulo, Brazil. The game is scheduled for release on PC in 2025, with future plans for Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and Playstation 4/5 releases.
Disclosure: I received a free review copy of this product from https://www.keymailer.co #keymailer #godofweaponsxbox
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
God of Weapons is a fantasy themed auto-shooter roguelike. Another entry in an increasingly common style that’s probably its own genre by now but nobody can agree on what to call it beyond “Survivors-Like” which I think is as lazy-but-accurate as calling an ARPG with strict animation-timing based combat and rest-to-reset-the-map mechanics with a typically dark theme as “Souls-Like.” It’s correct, but are we out of ways to describe these things? Probably, I’m not smart enough to figure that one out, so I’m just gonna use ‘em. The lovely part about language is that the only thing that matters is understanding, and the moment someone says “Soulslike” and “Survivorslike” we have a fair starting assumption of how the game works.
(Writer’s note: Yes, Roguelike started this way, but how many Roguelikes actually resemble Rogue beyond dying as a mechanic?)
Highest victory at the time of writing: Merchant aspect of the King
God of Weapons has twelve characters to pick from, and each character has three aspects. You start off with three characters unlocked, one aspect open on each: The Knight (Aspect: Knight), The Hunter (Aspect: Hunter), and The Raven (Aspect: Rogue). I like Rogue type characters, so I started here, and didn’t get particularly far. Dying is part of the point though, and doing so the first time is an achievement with a currency reward. I actually ended up completing my first successful run as The Hunter, going full autoshooter with it. Completing that run unlocked the Eldritch Knight aspect for The Knight, along with the ability to obtain permanent bonuses to everything from damage type to loot to starting gold just like you’d expect with a roguelike.
My favorite thing that separates this game from others like it though is the inventory management. Every level-up allows you to add additional inventory squares between completed floors. Items, both offensive, defensive, and utility, take up space in the form of those squares to match the shapes appropriate for the item itself. In general the more powerful weapons take up more, or weirder, combinations of squares. Along with the default pool available, one of the achievement/quest rewards in the game is the ability to unlock more items for that pool, of which five options pop up to buy between levels. You have to both complete the related quest and have the required currencies for these unlocks though, and roll them in the pool to use them.
Even the location of the squares on level-up is RNG with a reroll cost
My least favorite thing about the game is the total lack of context given. You start the game the first time and it just drops you in with the assumption you’ll just get it. Two options to enter a run, a door for the interior of the tower and a portal for the exterior. There’s no explanation that I’ve found for what the difference is, if any. There’s also no explanation that I’ve found for what this tower even is, or world information at all. The King is another character you can play, with its own additional aspects, as is The Warlock. There’s a tiny scrap of information in the difficulty menu, with a few named bosses, but nothing outside of that, including a readable bestiary that I’ve found.
That glowing red guy totally isn’t a Beholder
Speaking of bestiaries, as much as there isn’t a list, I do absolutely appreciate the enemy variety and the fantasy it draws from. Enemy attacks vary quite well too, with higher floors including enemies that have a rush attack, or ranged. You absolutely cannot just Poe up on some proverbial garlic and AOE your way through most floors by standing still. You’ve gotta move, and you have a move speed. Enemies vary in their own move speed as well so without buffs, some of them are faster than you by default depending on character selection. A Dash mechanic is present, and careful use of it is highly recommended. Some floors include traps, and triggering them only to dash away and leave the following horde in your place to take the damage is a great tactical choice.
Maybe you can Poe a little bit as a treat
Overall, while I’m mostly a gamer for the story or worldbuilding of a piece I put my time into, I appreciate the pure value of fun and this game has it in spades. A fantastic suvivorslike with no context and all of the entertainment to make up for it.
Hoping all of our US readers have a safe and enjoyable Independence Day, while also
hoping that all of the rest of our readers are also having a wonderful upcoming weekend.
We'll be back with more articles and antics soon - so until then? Enjoy your time with family and friends and we'll be seeing you next week.
Genoa, Italy – June 30, 2025 – Following its participation in the IndieMania festival, Sylpha Works is proud to present the trailer for Aspiel: Edge of Chaos, whose demo is available on Steam.
Aspiel: Edge of Chaos is a fantasy third-person action-RPG in which you explore the mysterious and cursed continent of Aspiel in search to face the great God of Death. The game’s PC release is scheduled for Q4 2025.
The Demo
Get a taste of Aspiel: Edge of Chaos with our new playable demo. Lasting about one hour, depending on exploration, it covers the beginning of the game. Venture through a deserted town, navigate a murky swamp and explore an abandoned mine before facing the red golem, your final boss. Along the way, meet memorable characters, from the enigmatic Erysia to the farmer Dassan, and undertake an important mission for him.
You can try Aspiel: Edge of Chaos demo for free now on its Steam page!
A Game of Action and Exploration
Traverse a vast land brimming with hidden and unique locations, side quests to complete and characters to meet, uncovering its lore as you go. Explore abandoned mines and ancient ruins, unraveling lost puzzles and treasures. Confront the battles that lie ahead and grow ever stronger to fulfill your duty.
The Story
The game revolves around Quartus’s journey, a former slave from the distant land of Valyka, who finds himself charged with the mission of eradicating the curse that plagues the continent. After receiving a magical power from a mysterious girl, you will travel across the plagued lands of Aspiel, heading to the head of darkness.
A semi-open dark fantasy world with many dungeons and different areas to explore
Vast amount of items and equipments
Heavy and light attacks, with many different weapons and move sets
Many different spells for every situation
Dash and parry to avoid attacks
Perfect dash mechanic, recover stamina and mana with perfect timing!
Attribute-based progression system
Unique characters, quests and hidden lore
Ancient puzzles around the world
Designed for both controller and mouse & keyboard
ABOUT SYLPHA WORKS
We are two brothers from Genoa, Italy, who decided to embark on the adventure of developing Aspiel: Edge of Chaos four years ago. Our first goal was to create a vast and organic game, set in a fantasy world of our own design which players could freely explore and discover. We recently committed to releasing our game and founded Sylpha Works.
On June 12, God of Weapons arrives on Xbox One and Xbox Series
X|S. This arena survival game mixes roguelike mechanics with action RPG
elements and bullet hell chaos. It delivers fast-paced gameplay that
rewards smart tactical choices. After earning glowing reviews on PC, God
of Weapons is now coming to consoles – with a PlayStation 5 release
planned in the coming months.
The game is developed by Archmage Labs, an independent studio based in
Vietnam. Originally launched in 2023 on PC, it was warmly received and
currently holds an 85% positive rating on Steam from nearly 4,100 player
reviews.
Intense and addictive mayhem
God of Weapons is an isometric arena survival game combining roguelike
structure, action RPG depth, and bullet hell intensity. Gameplay centers
around surviving relentless monster hordes as you ascend the Tower of
Zhor. The story revolves around the battle against chaos and
destruction, all wrapped in a dark visual style.
Combat is automatic, leaving the player free to focus on dodging,
positioning, and optimizing their loadout. With limited inventory space,
smart gear choices are key to staying alive.
Players can equip a wide arsenal of melee and ranged weapons, plus a variety of accessories and special combat skills.
Levels in God of Weapons are procedurally generated, and each run is
further varied by random gear, abilities, and enemies. Progressing
unlocks even stronger weapons and gear for future attempts.
God of Weapons – main features:
arena survival gameplay;
intense and dynamic combat;
roguelike, action RPG, and bullet hell elements;
swarms of unique monsters;
strategic inventory and gear management.
God of Weapons launches on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S on June 12,
2025. A PlayStation 5 version is also on the way later this year.
It’s that time again! The writers of Chalgyr’s Game Room get together to cover some of our favorite music in video gaming. This month we are bringing the strategy genre to the forefront, and that is no easy feat! While several game genres have subgenres within them, the list of games and the memorable music out of those genres can be a little simpler to narrow down. However, strategy contains RTS, Tactical turn-based, AND 4X strategy games which makes the list a bit tougher to shrink down. I have one for each of those subgenres because it’s impossible to pick only one or two songs in total.
Starting with the strangely easiest subgenre of RTS, I have two picks that are the most memorable pieces. In a move that should shock no one, the first is the track titled “Heart of the Swarm” from Starcraft 2 Heart of the Swarm expansion. It was written by Neal Acree and Cris Velasco, although there are multiple artists attributed to the Starcraft 2 OST. Second, is also a track that should shock absolutely no one, and it is arguably the most memorable track of all time. How do I know this? It’s because I’ve never played a Command & Conquer game and yet I am still familiar with the music. THAT is how legendary Frank Klepacki’s Hell March is. Not only do I know the song, but I also have several OCRemixes of the track as well. I can’t put it down and I also can’t explain why it’s an infectious song.
Under the subgenre of tactical turn-based strategy there are a couple of legendary composers, but only one stands at the top. He is a musical giant. And although it was confusing to some of my colleagues, I’m a fan of Battletech. When Harebrained Schemes and Paradox Interactive released Battletech in 2018, I was all over it. This means that the composer for Battletech is none other than Jon Everist, who has written music for The Lamplighters League, Overwatch 2, Star Wars Outlaws, and Shadowrun: Hong Kong. I can’t pick out a single track for Battletech because there are so many good ones, but if I had to pick something it would be Coronation Day. There’s something to be said about the quiet build before everything goes to hell. This song plays as Kamea Arano ascends the throne and it is also the point where her uncle disapproves of her decisions and launches a coup d’etat behind her back. It’s quite the hook for players. The music effortlessly conveys the rise to power as well as the sinister plot unfolding. The music and the game are top notch in my books.
The last subgenre I’m covering is 4X strategy. There’s a ton of beautifully composed tracks attributed to the 4X genre like Endless Legend, Age of Wonders, Humankind, Sins of a Solar Empire, and many more. However, there are two titans when it comes to music for me and that is Andreas Waldetoft who is responsible for the masterful pieces in Stellaris. The other is Christopher Tin of Civilization IV. I’ve previously talked about how I feel about Baba Yetu from Civilization IV so I won’t go into too much detail. This piece captivated its audience in a big way. There have been very few games where I can honestly say I would open the game just to hear the music. (The other game that has managed to achieve this wasJack Wall’s Theme song to Myst IV Revelation.) Baba Yetu, will always top the list for me. However, Andreas Waldetoft has written some amazing pieces for Stellaris. I particularly love the song called Faster than Light. It begins with a soft melody that builds in the background with long notes. Then, the vocalist enters the track with her beautiful soprano tones. When travelling through the vastness of space to take out your opponents, this song keeps your focus on the objective. And although I haven’t played a ton of Stellaris, the music is simply breathtaking.
Mikhail Anatolyevich Kostylev (better known in many parts of the world as Lind Erebros) is a Russian musician and composer who has crafted albums (the Elven Oratory trilogy) and movie soundtracks (two credits currently - Twenty-eight Panfilov's Men and Tanks) alike, but is probably best known for his video game credits, which include Royal Quest, Age of Decadence and three of the Shadow Flight titles.
However, my first experience with Lind Erebros' music was the King's Bounty Series. I absolutely love these strategy games (at least the classic ones - I was less fond of King's Bounty II which Lind Erebros' music did not grace). While the stories told within the games can be a bit strange or even downright goofy at times, the strategy is top-notch and the army building elements are downright addictive.
Even with those qualities, the thing about these games that always stood out the most for me? The music. Horns and flutes that create both quiet, reflective moments and those punctuated with walls of sound that ratchet up the tension. The first game in the series, King's Bounty: The Legend's soundtrack was the highlight of the game for me. Just give a listen to the song Home Lands, and tell me you don't immediately feel like you're embarking on a magical adventure. The creepy, ethereal sounds of Fear hauntingly reflect dark, dank crypts during your explorations. Last but hardly least, Warlord Horn and In the Heart of Battle are the embodiment of music you would expect to hear as you enter an epic battle.
Remember these? MechWarrior 2, MechCommander 1, MechCommander 2, and MechCommander GOLD? I fell in love with these game series with their awesome mechs, the Real Time Strategy genre, and the beautiful music that created the atmosphere, the workmanship of the mechs, and the progression through the game. Duane Decker is such a powerhouse in music composition for games, television, movies, mobile games, his own albums, as well as licencing production music for TV and films. You can check out his credits here!
In the immortal words of one of the mech pilots, "This is Goblin! Do what I can sir!" Each and every pilot had their own voices that resonated with the gamers that have played the games. The music brought you into the atmosphere of being on your own and having missions to accomplish. The opening sequence, down through the skirmishes, and right to the very end you were entrenched in the mech atmosphere of combat. Nothing says it better than the track where you're lining up your mechs to take down an enemy.
Over the years Duane Decker's mech music has been an integral part of focussing on the work I was doing or just enjoying a few tracks to feel like just me inside my mech towering above the combat field. Each track on MechCommander 1 was related to the mission you were on. I couldn't find anywhere a list of track names. They were all listed as either 'Track 1' or 'Music 01'. The track I just listed is reminiscent of reflecting on what had just transpired after victory. One person listed this title for that track and called it 'Reflections' in the comments.
A big Thank you to Susan N. for whispering in my ear the series we used to play together years ago!
Now as I write this, I am longing to play again. So, while you are enjoying the music feast we presented this month, I'll be pulling out my old game cds and firing up whichever MechCommander or MechWarrior game appears first! Happy Summer Holidays all in North America. It's turning out to be quite the heat wave!
It’s Canada Day today and we at Chalgyr thought it’d be a great idea to feature a couple of existing and upcoming Canadian games for today’s press release. There is no specific order to the games mentioned in this post, so without further ado, let’s talk in maple syrup and amazing poutine. We may even throw in some Beavertails, because they’re just soo good.
Over the years we’ve seen some amazing games that have been developed by Canadian companies. Some of my personal favourites are games like Mages of Mystralia which I had the stellar fortune to write a review for a different site; although one of our fantastic colleagues wrote a fabulous review here on CGR. Find that review here: https://www.chalgyr.com/2017/06/mages-of-mystralia-pc-review.html
For those unfamiliar, Mages of Mystralia is an action RPG that is neat because you can customize your own spells to solve puzzles and take out big bads. It’s also special because the legendary Ed Greenwood (creator of several D&D worlds) wrote several aspects of the story for the game! Interested? Check out the Steam page and grab it for 75% off the normal retail price! It’s only $5.49 Canadian right now until the 14th!
Another favourite Canadian Game that is worth it to grab is none other than Spiritfarer: Farewell Edition. This is a single player story based game that is centered around management. It’s a spectacular game released by Thunder Lotus Games and it kicks you in the gut because it is a story about taking people to the spirit world after they have passed. While that may seem a little tough to stomach, the game allows you to tackle death in a positive way. The Farewell Edition of the game can be purchased for $3.89 Canadian, which is 90% off the retail price! Make sure to pick it up before July 10th to get the deal!
For those of you that enjoy space games, another title took over the Twitch directory for a bit is none other than Hardspace: Shipbreaker. This is a sandbox puzzle game designed around breaking down ships. It is a gorgeous looking game that is on sale for 65% off right now. If you missed out, don’t fear because it’s less than $20 Canadian!
I’ve seen a ton of people embrace the idea of daily management. To help with that, you can pick up Spirit City: Lofi Sessions made by Mooncube Games, a Canadian company. The title is centered around management of your personal tasks for the day or week. Your space is highly customizable so that you can create a space that helps you focus on your real life tasks. It even comes with an amazing lofi soundtrack to help you maintain focus. Honestly, Spirit City: Lofi Sessions is worth it to grab if you need a program to keep track of your daily tasks. Get it now for $10.04!
In fact, there are tons of Canadian companies that have released fun and interesting games including Lost Records: Rage & Bloom which was developed by Dontnod Montreal, as well as the ever biggest Canadian shooter Warframe by Digital Extremes which is based out of London, Ontario. However, you may be wondering what games are coming out from Canadian companies that you can set your sights on.
Upcoming Games
I mentioned that one of my favourite games is Mages of Mystralia, so I’m excited to remind readers that a new game in the same world and that is Echoes of Mystralia. It is an Action Adventure game by Borealys Games which builds upon the spell crafting concept that we know and love. The graphics are updated yet familiar, and it looks like it will be a ton of fun to play. I can’t wait for this title to get a release date!
Developer Riyo Games is releasing a title called Threads of Time which is a Turn-based JRPG. The graphics are beautiful and you get to play as couple of different characters and travel through time where you will uncover a plot that may unravel all timelines. It’s a bold concept but also quite interesting, at least it is in my opinion. Feel free to check it out here and perhaps even wishlist it!
Treehouse Games has a beautiful cooperative survival crafting game releasing on August 5th. It’s called Voyagers of Nera and it requires you to survive in a magical ocean world where deadly monsters and lost spirits linger. When it releases on August 5, it will be in an early access state where players will be able to submit feedback about the game and its features. If you want to sail the high seas and take out various hostile creatures, be sure to check it out. Wishlist it on Steam here:
Final Remarks
This Canada Day, be sure to check out all sorts of titles released or upcoming on Steam. You can click on the Canadian Game Sale banner until July 8th for fantastic titles, or be sure to follow the
Canadian Games Dev group to keep an eye on upcoming games!
