In the 18 months or so since Disney Dreamlight Valley launched to the world, it has expanded considerably. Today we find a couple of new updates doing that once more – both in free and paid variants. Ready for the Spark of Imagination and Thrills & Spills it brings?
Rolling out today for Disney Dreamlight Valley players to get their teeth into are two updates. You’ve got the free content drop of ‘Thrills & Spills’ to help build out the base game. And then you’ve got the latest in regards the paid Expansion Pass – The Spark of Imagination. Each become available for the base game today, across Xbox, PlayStation, PC, Mac, Switch and Apple Arcade.
A free update brings Thrills & Spills
We’ll start with the free base game update that all players will be treated to. It’s here where you’ll find the chance to befriend the highly requested villager, Daisy Duck! As they begin an all-new Friendship Quest line, players will need to lend Daisy their creativity and fashion sense to be rewarded with their own personal Boutique. And once that Boutique is up and running, players can sell their custom designs made with Touch of Magic, unlock new items to customize, as well as invite their friends to browse their wares or visit their friends’ Valleys to shop their unique creations.
Further to that, the multiplayer feature will also receive several improvements, including the ability to take selfies with friends and complete activities such as fishing, gardening, mining, cooking, and crafting together.
Want more? Well, in celebration of all things Disney Parks, this season’s Star Path and Premium Shop will also receive some thrilling new additions. The Star Path will let players experience the joy of Disney Parks with attractions such as the Alien Swirling Saucers and the Magic Carpets of Aladdin, as well as new clothing and Dream Styles for Daisy Duck and Minnie Mouse. The Premium Shop will feature additional Parks attractions and special clothing items.
The Spark of Imagination
And that brings us nicely onto the latest in the paid expansions – Disney Dreamlight Valley: A Rift in Time Expansion Pass, Act II – “The Spark of Imagination”. This will beckon players forth, all as they hope to learn more about the mysteries of Eternity Isle alongside a new friend – Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.
Taking place deep inside the secret temple in Ancient’s Landing, players will come face-to-face with this classic Disney character and take part in an expansive quest line alongside EVE, Rapunzel, and Gaston. By continuing on their journey in Eternity Isle, players can look forward to an upgraded Royal Hourglass that they can use to unlock iconic new decorations and more Scramblecoin figurines to enhance their mini-game experience!
Of course, for all this to take place, you’ll need the base game of Disney Dreamlight Valley to hand. We’ll point you to the Xbox Store so you can grab a download on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, via Game Pass if you wish. But similar storefronts on PlayStation, Switch, PC, Mac and Apple Arcade will also suit.
We don’t ever expect too much from a game costing £2.49. And that should be the case as Roofcats Band – Suika Style launches on Xbox. In fact, the only thing we really want is a super cute Suika game. And that’s exactly what this is.
Suika, but cats!
You may not be totally familiar with Suika games, but if you’ve ever played one of those falling puzzlers in which you cannot allow the screen to overflow, then you’ll be in the right ballpark. It’s with that in which Roofcats Band – Suika Style runs. It’s just it does it in a super cutesy way.
Priced at £2.49 and available right now on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, Roofcats Band – Suika Style ditches fruit for cats, because, why not!? In the process it delivers a gaming experience that is pretty unique, as you look to merge felines with one another, popping them to make space for more. The goal is to play for as long as possible before the cats take over.
The twist? Well, the cats that pop up seemingly match the musical band that is playing along the bottom of your screen. Nope, this is no Rusty’s Retirement, but that segment down the bottom of your screen will instead dictate how Roofcats Band – Suika Style plays out. It’s those little guys who bring in some jazz, some rock, some samba…
Key features
For the low asking price, Roofcats Band – Suika Style seems to have a fair old bit about it too. Take the key features for instance…
Innovative features like adaptive music, different game modes and a dog that mess the things up.
Classic mode, Dog Challenge mode, High Score or Low Score modes.
Dynamic, interactive songs that evolve with the gameplay, composed exclusively for the game.
Four different levels with unique and original music.
Hand-drawn artwork and animations for a visually captivating experience.
Your mission is to skillfully match the feline musicians, summoning new talents while dodging overflow and contending with an occasional canine disruptor. Oh, and the climax? Brace yourself for a mind-blowing guitar solo on the final cat. Are you up for the challenge? The purr-fect musical adventure awaits!
Space Mercenary Defense Force is on Xbox, PlayStation and Switch
An alien invasion is taking hold and it’s down to you to put a stop to things. The question is, should you bother joining the Space Mercenary Defense Force?
Silly question really – of course you should. Life depends on it! And when you consider that Space Mercenary Defense Force launches on Xbox for a mere £4.19, it makes it even more tempting.
A galactic shoot ’em up
Playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, as well as PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, Space Mercenary Defense Force is the latest from Eastasiasoft. It’s the creation of Tom Paradise, playing out as a bit of an action affair, building in some roguelike elements and good old shoot ’em up mechanics.
Space Mercenary Defense Force also adds some tactical ideas, with your primary objective being that of survival. It’s here where you’ll get to customise and personalise your finest ship for the task ahead, adding modules of immense firepower. In fact, there are upwards of 600 upgrades and elements that can be added and that should mean pretty much each and every playthrough will feel unique.
Space Mercenary Defense Force is also complete with mini-bosses, big bosses, rewards, credits, modifiers and more. For that low asking price, there’s seemingly much on offer with this one.
Key features
Survive enemy swarms in tactical roguelike action!
Choose from more than 600 weapon upgrades.
Equip modular tech to your directional weapon slots as you switch up strategy on the fly!
Take down big bosses and complete objectives for valuable rewards.
Unlock upgrades to stack the deck in your favor for future runs.
Enjoy unlimited replay value across Classic and Challenge modes!
Buy now!
A download of Space Mercenary Defense Force is available from the usual digital stores. For us, it’s the Xbox Store that is port of call, with a purchase giving access across Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, optimised.
You’ll also find Space Mercenary Defense Force on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch.
Can you survive the enemy swarms?
Space Mercenary Defense Force Description
Survive the cosmic onslaught by upgrading and equipping a vast arsenal of modular weaponry!
Defend against an alien invasion and take down the mother ship in joyously hectic roguelike style! Space Mercenary Defense Force is a tactical sci-fi action shooter where your primary objective is survival. Equip your ship’s directional module slots with various weapon technology – explosive, defensive, beam, deployable and more. Over 600 upgrades with branching advancement paths make each run unique depending on your strategic choices.
Withstand the alien onslaught from all directions, moving your ship through space to align targets with the most effective tech modules and maintaining a safe distance from the swarm. Complete optional encounters like mini-bosses and conduit charging to earn rewards, then spend hard-earned credits to unlock new ships, perpetual astral upgrades, perks and celestial modifiers!
Inspired by the likes of Toy Story and Small Soldiers, HYPERCHARGE: Unboxed is an upcoming third person Xbox shooter that will place you in the boots of a proper action hero. And it’s coming to Xbox later in May.
Set for release come May 31st 2024, HYPERCHARGE: Unboxed from Digital Cybercherries (cracking name, guys!) tells of a world full of sentient action figures. It’s here where you and your friends will go on the rampage, completing objectives, ticking off tasks, all in hope of defending the Hypercore.
An all-action shooter
Ready to be playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, if you’re a fan of the all-out action world, or know of someone who is, then HYPERCHARGE: Unboxed should well be considered. It’ll come complete with a campaign full of narrative, with solo offline, 4-player online and split-screen (local and online) options in place. Better still, as HYPERCHARGE: Unboxed releases at the end of May, it’ll come with cross-platform support with PC.
A full range of PvP modes will be in place too, ensuring a proper old rumble can take place. Will it be enough to earn HYPERCHARGE: Unboxed a place among the best new Xbox and Game Pass games for May 2024? We have high hopes.
“Hypercharge: Unboxed is the perfect marriage of nostalgic charm and contemporary shooter design,” said Joe Henson, Creative Gameplay and Marketing Director at Digital Cybercherries. “It’s a love letter to our childhood, where we enjoyed smashing action figures together and creating epic battles in our head – only now we can realize that vision in a fully interactive 3D world. Whether you’re playing solo or want to connect with friends, Hypercharge: Unboxed provides the perfect jolt of 90s energy!”
After our recent brush with a worldwide pandemic, there are now several stories running through the media that are dealing with, and riffing on, what it was like for us all to live through it. Some of these stories are a reflection on society, showing the realistic effects of lockdowns and the mental health of the general public.
On the other hand, The World After uses the idea of a global pandemic, a fictional one, in a very different way. Mixing full motion video with point-and-click fun and a crazy sci-fi story, I donned the mask once more and dived in.
Grab for those masks again
French media company Burning Sunset comes to us with The World After; a story focusing on a protagonist called Vincent. He is a writer who during a global pandemic decides to escape Paris and rent a house in the French countryside. We see him wake up, haunted by weird dreams, before going about his daily routine. He visits an alcoholic friend, walks around an empty village, and then decides to head off to visit an ancient ruin of a castle. Here he finds a strange briefcase with an even stranger message, one about meeting at a gate, a gun, and a strange red button. Pressing the button turns day into night, and night into day. Then a monster appears…
The story and set-up of The World After feel like a great episode of Doctor Who or some fantastical 1970’s TV show in that genre. I liked the premise, as well as the way the game takes you across a limited number of locations, using the portable time switcher to good effect.
The dialogue is okay, but I think the translation from French to English sees it lose some of the nuance. Throughout the game, you also can find some QR codes hidden around the locations. Scanning these will reveal some other more global parts of the story, which examine a sort of conspiracy theory and a radical group that hints at widespread regime change. I like these extra elements of the story, as well as the different endings you can find.
A mix of genres
Gameplay wise, The World After is mainly an FMV game – you have the hero in the frame and can click on a directional arrow on the screen to trigger the next screen or the travel footage of getting to a new area. Sometimes the directional arrows are hard to see and easy to miss, but on the whole it’s fine.
And then the game has you talking to characters on your travels. There are dialogue trees but nothing to change the ending, it’s just a case of exhausting all options.
The World After is also a bit of a point-and-click adventure, as well as a puzzle solver. You have that day changing device which makes certain things only available at night-time, as well as the same for the day. So you might have a conversation with someone in the day, which might be different in the night. Or as dark falls, that character will be tucked up in bed letting you snoop around without being caught. I liked this mechanic a lot.
The World After looks good and has a high-quality of design in its sets and locations. I wonder if they did film during the actual pandemic, because they have great access to some empty locations outside. And some of the special effects have a B-movie quality to them, fitting in brilliantly with the story. When you’ve completed the game you get access to a well designed interactive comic book too; one that the developers used as a template for making the game. Voice-over work and sound are all fine, but if you ask me, it’s best to use the original French voice actors and subs.
A high quality of set design
I am a big fan of the FMV scene and love how we are seeing different types of games pushing what can be done with the genre. Where it used to be nothing but binary choices, we now have point-and-click and puzzle-solving to be had. The day changing device in The World After is clever and some of the puzzles take a while to work out. And whilst the transition across languages hasn’t helped the writing in places, you should enjoy your time with The World After.
As someone with a penchant for thrilling visual novels, the emergence of Inescapable: No Rules, No Rescue caused much intrigue. It appears as though the concept is reminiscent of such gripping experiences like Danganronpa and Zero Escape. But can Inescapable: No Rules, No Rescue deliver some dastardly delightful drama to satisfy our desires, or is it actually all filler and no killer?
Inescapable: No Rules, No Rescue is a visual novel that places you in a rather difficult predicament from the outset. Taking on the role of Harrison “Harri” Taylor, you’re unexpectedly gassed and kidnapped alongside ten other unsuspecting individuals. Orchestrated by the DeWinter sisters, their devious plan is to transport the group to an isolated island resort filled with cameras. It’s for some twisted reality TV show where there are no rules; you merely have to stay and enjoy a life of luxury for six months to earn $500,000.
How will your play of Inescapable run?
First and foremost, it’s not as easy-going as it sounds. The shady sisters want entertainment and will manipulate anyone they can to stir the pot, causing drama along the way. At the core of the narrative, there’s something really intriguing about the social experiment they’re conducting here. In reality however, the flare-ups and potentially enthralling moments are few and far between.
You see, each day is split into three segments – Morning, Afternoon, and Evening. So, for 120 days (or less if you’re unlucky) you’ll have to choose where to go and who to talk to on a daily basis. That’s fine, but this leads to a lot of unnecessary interactions and filler conversations. Discussions may reference pop culture, and sometimes allow you to garner information about your fellow contestants’ lives prior to the island, which fleshes out their characters at least. Usually though, it’s pointless, cringe, or needlessly crude, and you’ll be wishing the days away at times.
In a bid to keep your interest, a number of side activities are introduced throughout your stay on the island. At one point, a Games Room opens up and allows access to an arcade machine featuring three different games. Within the machine is an Asteroids style shooter, another sees you shooting seagulls for a BBQ, and the final offering is a side-scrolling platformer. There’s also a rhythm-based fishing mini-game, a word guessing app similar to the once-popular Wordle, and – potentially – a slot machine to gamble cash on. The distractions are welcome, but the novelty barely lasts for one attempt at each, with only Word Guesser having any longevity.
Whatever you decide to do, who you choose to hang out with, and the conversational options you pick, will have an impact on the end-game. I say end-game, though in effect it’s everything beyond the halfway stage of the six months. It’s great that there are four unique pathways to experience, with one path in particular being full of grisly murders. The rest, not so much. Finally though, after in-game months of enduring the slow build, it ramps up for the latter stages.
Fishing? Standard.
Not everything is rosy however. The main problem with Inescapable: No Rules, No Rescue is not knowing how your choices lead to these different paths, which means you’re going in blind. Hence, future playthroughs might see you on the same path again, and that’s just boring.
Moving on to the cast, and it is brilliantly diverse, featuring people from different countries and all walks of life. There’s a sporty fitness fanatic, a spoiled rich brat, an eloquently eccentric goth, a timid maid, an egotistical misogynist, a sassy non-binary person, and more. Perhaps the star here though is Eva, a social media influencer who craves attention and does her utmost to create entertainment for the hosts. She’s everything you’d expect an influencer to be like. During the fully-voiced sections, the acting is impressive for the majority of the characters, with exaggerated accents and occasionally hammy moments being the only downside.
Unfortunately, our protagonist Harri, a bus driver without any real career prospects, is not the least bit interesting and at times is very unlikable. To be fair, the rest have annoying aspects to their personalities, but at least they have a personality to make up for that.
From an aesthetic perspective, the characters are very well designed on the whole. Their looks don’t just suit their personality, but also ensure they stand out and have a memorable presence. The CG scenes are excellent and the colours really pop, while the backdrops fit the setting perfectly too. Inescapable: No Rules, No Rescue is a visually impressive game, there’s no doubt about that.
Well designed characters
There are definitely reasons on both sides of the argument as to whether Inescapable: No Rules, No Rescue is worth your time and money. Having multiple narrative routes, a varied bunch of well-voiced characters, and excellent visuals are positive aspects for sure. On the flip side, the slow-burn storytelling, the sheer volume of filler, and the lack of knowledge regarding the consequences of your actions, are quite detrimental to the experience. It soon becomes a slog that’s going to put off people who lack patience to wait it out for the more exciting second half of proceedings.
Inescapable: No Rules, No Rescue isn’t a bad game, it’s just that others of a similar ilk, like Danganronpa, do the social thriller visual novel concept much better.
Funko Fusion has now got a fully confirmed release date. If you’re excited to see what is on offer with this one, then come September 13th 2024 you’ll be able to get hands-on, playing on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and PC.
“Our vision at 10:10 Games is to create an incredible co-op videogame experience that will bring gamers from across the globe together in a unique, fun, energetic, and authentic gaming experience,” says Arthur Parsons, Co-founder and Head of Publishing at 10:10 Games. “Crafted by a talented team, Funko Fusion is the ultimate celebration of fandom, blending beloved movie and TV properties for every generation with humor, fun mechanics, and fast-paced high-adrenaline action. Funko Fusion is the experience we believe fans are waiting to play, and finally, on a personal note, I get to have He-Man in a video game!”
“Funko Fusion is our first, explosive entry in console video gaming. New and longtime Pop! fans will traverse, explore, and adventure through incredible worlds inspired by some of NBCUniversal’s most iconic brands and characters, in addition to a wealth of surprises from both Skybound and Funko,” said Jason Bischoff, VP of Licensing and Business Development at Funko. “Fans have been champing at the bit for more information since our announcement. We are so grateful for that excitement, and for the opportunity to start sharing the extraordinary work, and partnership of our friends at 10:10 Games. Fall 2024, it’s all about Funko Fusion!”
“We’re honored to be working alongside these juggernauts of entertainment and pop culture to bring Funko Fusion to life,” said Ian Howe, Managing Partner at Skybound Games. “To expand the fun for Skybound fans, bringing The Walking Dead and Invincible into the fold, is really just icing on the cake. Invincible, Omni-Man, Rick Grimes, and Michonne, alongside some of NBCUniversal’s most amazing characters? We can’t wait for fans to experience this!”
“Funko Fusion delivers both quintessential and cult classic IPs from our incredible library in a game experience that is completely unexpected,” said Bill Kispert, SVP & GM, Games & Digital Platforms at Universal Products & Experiences. “The game will unlock new adventures for fans, allowing them to interact with favorite characters in wild and exciting ways, with tons of clever homages to these worlds they love to discover along the way.”
Want to know more? Check out the pre-order trailer below, or read our exclusive interview with the minds at 10:10.
You may not have heard of 10:10 Games, but if we told you that this is a new AAA studio fronted by former members of TT Games, you’ll probably want to sit up and listen. If we then told you it was they who were behind Funko Fusion, as they look to bring the iconic Funko Pop! figures to life, we reckon you’ll carry on reading.
Yep, should you be a bit of a pop culture fan then you will no doubt be interested to hear that 10:10 Games, in collaboration with Funko, LLC, Universal Games and Digital Platforms will soon be bringing Funko Fusion to PC and console. Well, when we say ‘soon’, we mean 2024. But hey, that’s soon, no?
Due to launch on PC and console in 2024, Funko Fusion is 10:10 Games’ debut title, as the multiplayer mash-up looks to take the Funko Pop! form and get it moving. This one will be picking up characters from the likes of Jurassic World, Back to the Future, The Umbrella Academy, The Thing, Child’s Play 2, Masters of the Universe, and other blockbusters from Funko Pop! form in this wild new take on action-adventure games.
“It’s incredibly exciting to be able to show everyone what the team here at 10:10 Games has been up to,” says Arthur Parsons, 10:10 Games’ Design Director and Co-founder. “Harnessing the incredible properties we’ve been entrusted with by our partners at Universal Games and Digital Platforms, bringing them together into a gaming experience that is incredibly fun, surprising, authentic, and celebrates fandom like never before, all experienced through a Funko lens.”
“Funko is a leader in bringing characters to life through POP! and other unique product types, but Funko Fusion takes things to a whole new level and gives our fans the ability to interact with their favorite characters like never before,” says Dolly Ahluwalia, Funko’s SVP of Licensing and Emerging Brands. “Working with Universal Games and Digital Platforms on this project was a dream of ours, as their IP is like none other, with characters that appeal to all ages. This trailer is a taste of what folks can expect, and we couldn’t be more excited to work with our partner 10:10 Games toward an expected initial release in early 2024.”
“Funko Fusion offers a diverse collection of NBCUniversal characters that will immerse players in an experience that stays true to Funko’s DNA,” said Jim Molinets, SVP of Production, Universal Games and Digital Platforms. “Featuring a fresh take on the mash-up genre, the game will connect fans with some of their favorite brands and key story moments in remarkable ways.”
Funko Fusion features dozens of playable characters in Funko Pop! form from popular NBCUniversal stories, in addition to other properties, each with their own unique personalities and abilities. Online multiplayer adds even more chaos to the mix, allowing up to four players to team up and battle enemies, explore vast environments, and solve intriguing puzzles.
Need to know more? Give the teaser trailer below a watch and then hold tight for 2024. Of course, we’ll keep you looped should the need arise.
The problem with huge strategy, sim or city-building games that come over to the console from PC is how well the port to a controller is made. How do you fit the menus and sub menus into a system so it is easy to use? Thankfully with games such as Age of Empires and Crusader Kings, the porting just gets better and better.
But what happens if you make a city builder and decide to do away with a mass of menus and options, preferring to focus on just a couple of buttons? Well, that is exactly what has been done in Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles. The revolution has begun.
A glorious new take on city building
Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles is made by solo developer Tomas Sala, running as the second entry in a planned trilogy of games set in The Falconeer universe. The first game was an aerial battle RPG with some great action and a unique experience. Now in the second game, we find a completely new idea, with the promise of a simple city-builder.
It’s in Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles in which you have a sandbox mode and a campaign mode, complete with three starting chapters. Tomas comes along as a character from the world, talking to you, giving a brief insight into how to play the game.
There is no doubt about it – Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles is unique and plays unlike anything else. In my eyes, that is a bonus. Your job is to build, manage resources, keep building, and then… stop. There doesn’t seem to be a goal at the end of it and if you’re not into Bulwark from the beginning then it might be hard to entice you to play more. But if you and this game do click, and you understand the mechanics at play, then there is a lot of fun to be had in this experience.
You start Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles with an outpost that might be halfway up a mountain. From there you need resources, so you need to start building for wood, and then later on, you need stone and iron from mines. Then you’ll want to focus on creating some towers which act like connectors between everything, all so walkways can be placed. And as you go about things, Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles starts to fill in the housing and buildings automatically as you go. As the resources start to flood in, the work of building starts to develop. And soon you’ll find yourself upgrading enough to be able to take to the sea, playing with drones that you pilot and harbours that ensure ships can carry more resources.
The next in the Falconeer series
Progress in Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles means bigger towers and bigger skyways. You can play captain, taking charge of certain buildings and build up your military defences or attack force to go over and take over settlements. And when you really get going, Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles sort of takes care of itself, which is very different from other city builders which require constant juggling to stop everything imploding.
Of course, there are some finicky points to it. The main issue for me is a lack of purpose and depth, something that comes about after a few hours. But then there’s also the camera – it is a sticking point that I just couldn’t get to grips with it.
On the more positive side of things, and the loved visual design of the first game feeds into Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles. It has some amazing colours in the skies and the environments, whilst the design of the architecture and settlements are nothing short of wonderful; like a toy doll house where you are peeping through the windows.
And soundwise, it’s again very strong; haunting atmospheric tracks play throughout, settling you into the world and all that it has to offer.
An interconnected world
Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles is a good second entry into The Falconeer universe, offering up something different. I feel that the lack of goals and purpose hinder the game, and I’ve personally struggled with the camera. But other than that, there is a lot to admire here, particularly in the simplicity and relaxed nature. The audio and visuals are great and I now look forward to the final instalment in the trilogy.
If you’re a budding park creator, than pushing things to the limit should be your bag. And if that’s the case, we’d suspect that Park Beyond will be sitting in your digital library. Today, that game expands some more, with the opportunity to go Beyond the Depths with a new Theme World.
Available right now for Park Beyond players to enjoy on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC is the Beyond the Depths – Theme World expansion. As the name suggests, you’re going ‘beyond the depths’…
Ready to go Beyond the Depths
Running a price of £7.99 through the Xbox Store (remember, you’ll need the base game), Beyond the Depths has been inspired by Greek myth and water monsters. It’s here where you’ll discover a couple of new maps, all ready to be filled with your park creations.
If you’re a veteran Park Beyond player, you’ll know what that means – new rides, impossifications, animators and more. In fact, Beyond the Depths comes with more than 250 decorative items too.
There’s more though and kicking out alongisde this paid expansion is an update that adds in log flume tracks. That feels like the perfect accompaniment to an expansion that deals with the wet stuff, no!?
Key features and content include
250+ Scenery Objects
11 Building Prefabs
2 Flat Rides
2 Entertainers and Impossification
2 Coaster Modules
1 Track Type
3 Coaster Cars
2 Sandbox Maps
and more
Buy now!
You’ll find Park Beyond’s Beyond the Depths – Theme World on the usual digital storefronts. It’s available as an individual addition to the game (hit the Xbox Store if you like), or via the Park Beyond Annual Pass.
Remember, you’ll need the base game of Park Beyond on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 or PC first.
Park Beyond Beyond the Depths Description
Bring a splash of fun to your dream park with the Beyond the Depths expansion. Create a sunken water world with new scenery objects and embark on a thrilling deep sea adventure. Watch as visitors get soaked up while diving into new water attractions.
The Best New Xbox and Game Pass games for May 2024
Even though our ever-burgeoning review lists continue to grow, in reality, it’s been a reasonably quiet few months; at least in terms of the really big games. That changes with May, as the gaming world kicks into gear with some beauties – and yep, the hotly anticipated Hellblade II is on the agenda.
But what joins it? Well, we’ve narrowed things down to 9 of the best new games to release on Xbox and Game Pass through May 2024. The question is, what will you be playing?
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II – Game Pass Day One
A Game Pass no-brainer
Easily the most anticipated new Xbox release of May is that of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II. The fact that it drops onto Game Pass Day One just makes it all the more appealing.
Following on as the sequel to Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, a game that wowed pretty much every person who played it, Hellblade II promises to provide another brutal journey of survival. A game that we’re expecting to fall deep into, we’re not sure how the darkness of this one will do anything but excel.
Another year, another MotoGP game. This time around we get access to MotoGP 24 as the Milestone team look to lean on past glories to deliver a new motorbike racer to the masses.
Focusing on the MotoGP season of 2024, you’ll find the opportunity to race in MotoGP, Moto2, Moto3 and the FIM Enel MotoE World Championships, with all the official riders and tracks in place.
But of course, new features should allow this to stand out from previous games – the Riders Market and MotoGP Stewards for instance.
It’s a little kitty in a big city – what on earth could go wrong?
Much more in line with Untitled Goose Game than the usual feline frolics like Stray, Little Kitty, Big City is another of those much anticipated Game Pass Day One drops. If you’re looking for a world to explore, and want to do so as a little kitty cat, we’re not sure there’s a better game available.
Presented with an open-world playground, in Little Kitty, Big City you’ll get the opportunity to go visit some friends, to complete some quests, to help out others and to kit yourself out in a number of little hats. Why? Why not!?
And of course, as you’re playing as a cat, you can do what the hell you want, when you want it. Sleeping in the day? Causing havoc at night? The world of Little Kitty, Big City is your oyster.
We don’t have an exact Xbox release date for INDIKA, but the Odd Meter and 11 bit studios teams behind it have promised us that it’ll be released in May. So here goes…
Due to land on Steam come May 2nd, an Xbox release will follow. If you can’t wait, hop onto Steam and fill your boots. If not, hold tight, just for a few weeks.
Wherever you play, INDIKA will send you off to an alternate Russian land, one that is playing through the XIX century. It’s here where the story-driven, third-person moments will roll out, telling of a nun who decides to head off on a journey of self-discovery. The problem is, she’s got the devil alongside…
Frankly, INDIKA looks brilliant and we cannot wait to go about hitting up Russia and taking in the depths of the puzzles and the immersion of the story.
Ah, Braid. How we absolutely adored your world and time mechanics back in 2008, as you became a staple Xbox 360 must-player. But what’s that? It’s time for us to enjoy that world all over again with your Anniversary Edition? Oh, go on then…
We’re pretty sure that every single person who has ever played Braid will have come away adoring what has been offered. It’s a game that has stuck with us for years, some 16 since we first laid eyes on it. But now Braid gets upgraded, improved, reworked for a more modern era, with the release of Braid, Anniversary Edition.
There are a host of improvements being made here, and we’ll have them all detailed in our launch article as Braid, Anniversary Edition lands come mid-May, but expect to be treated to visuals that have been hand-repainted, the chance to switch between old and new Braid on the fly, multiple hours of dev comms and more. That ‘more’ being 40 brand new or alternate designs of the original levels.
This is one we’ll be heading into the second it releases – it only so we can muster up even more Braid memories.
Retro inspired survival horror your bag? You’ll want to fly away with Crow Country.
Crow Country takes us to an abandoned theme park, as we trawl the shadowy depths and enjoy the love letter vibes of 1990s horror. We do so in hope of uncovering the secrets behind the owner’s disappearance as well as discovering more about ourselves.
Atmospheric, sinister and full of secrets, Crow Country is nothing but curious. But it’s also full of enemies and foes to encounter too, with an old school ‘every bullet counts’ set up ensuring that things are consistently kept tense.
Neatly then, if you prefer to go exploring without that combat, an included Exploration Mode should suit.
Will Crown Wars: The Black Prince release on Xbox?
Crown Wars: The Black Prince has had a bit of a rough ride, originally due to launch earlier in the year, it’s now set for a late-May release. We’re not totally convinced that will come true, but we sit here in hope.
You see, Crown Wars: The Black Prince is one of those games that are much anticipated. Running as a turn-based tactics and strategy game set in a dystopian mediaeval period with added touches of dark fantasy, it throws us into the 100-Years-War; a war in which the crown of the most powerful of kingdoms is at stake.
What plays out will be nothing short of the most bloody of combat, as we attempt to change the course of history, taking our domain from ruin to riches.
If strategic calls and tactical honing is your bag, you really should be crossing those fingers in hope that Crown Wars: The Black Prince doesn’t get pushed back again.
We all know it’ll be the Red Bull that is fastest…
Codemasters and EA combine once again as they continue to jump on the back of F1 fever – although, honestly, Codies were there well before the Drive to Survive masses.
F1 24 looks to be more of the same, as the development team continue to work in small improvements, hopefully pushing the franchise to the next level after F1 23. When you consider that the F1 games usually build nicely from one year to the next, it all kinda makes sense, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be things to look out for here.
Secret meetings, circuit upgrades, a revamped career mode, the return of F1 World and all new game physics and models – if you’re a fan of F1, F1 24 is going to eat up the hours.
Chomp, chomp, chomp. Who dat? It’s only bloody Pac-Man again, this time coming to Xbox with full cross-platform, 64-player, pellet eating competition with the mouthful that is Pac-Man Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs.
The latest in a stupidly long line of Pac games – they kicked off back in 1980, so you can imagine the sheer number – Chomp Champs will see you working your way through multiple mazes, interconnected as you look to be the last Pac standing.
Various game modes await, as does that of ‘Ranked’, so if you have honed those Pac-Man skills over the decades, now is the time to prove your worth.
We’re pretty sure you won’t go wrong with that little list of new Xbox and Game Pass releases for May 2024. But what is set to follow? Well, June is looking very bereft of big games, aside from the release of the new DLC for Elden Ring. We guess no other devs want to be found sitting in the Shadow of the Erdtree, except for the indie magicians. We’ll be back with a full list of those games very soon.
For now, the comments are below. We’d love to know what you’ll be playing in May.
FRONT MISSION 2: Remake brings forth the wanzers today, all as it launches on Xbox, PlayStation and PC.
You’ve probably heard of the FRONT MISSION series, whether that be through original releases a few decades ago, or via the – frankly, rather brilliant – FRONT MISSION 1: Remake in 2023. Now it’s time to follow on from that game, with FRONT MISSION 2: Remake.
Available from the Xbox Store for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, FRONT MISSION 2: Remake is, as the name suggests, a remake of the original FRONT MISSION 2; a classic tactical RPG. What’s more, it sees release outside of Japan for the very first time.
It tells a tale of how the impoverished People’s Republic of Alordesh has been suffering a severe economic decline due to the 2nd Huffman Conflict, which created widespread discontent among citizens. Set some twelve years after the events of Front Mission 1st, on 12 June 2102, coup d’état led by Ven Mackarge began. On this exact day, three main military bases and the parliament in the country’s capital city were attacked and taken over. The O.C.U. responded to the attacks by sending their army to free Alordesh from rebel hands. Follow the O.C.U. military squads, ‘Muddy Otters’ , ‘Dull Stags’, and ‘O.C.U. Ground Defense Force Intelligence Agency’ and monitor the situation in this country torn apart by a ruthless civil war.
Key features
If that narrative is enough to sell things, crack on. If not, it’ll probably be the key features that help tease open the wallet. And in FRONT MISSION 2: Remake terms, those key features are pretty strong…
Engaging storyline
Strategic turn-based combat
Wanzer customization
Modernized battle scenes
Free camera options
Improved loading speed
Modern in-game effects
Renewed soundtrack
9 languages localization
There’s more though. In addition to featuring new graphics and reorchestrated music, the game includes a number of gameplay-related improvements; that should mean it is fully tailored to modern needs. Faster loading times and more dynamic animations are in place, ensuring you can enjoy the iconic title that suits modern standards.
Brand new content
And further to that, some brand new content has been added to the Remake version. These include:
Free Camera option: allowing you to freely hover around the map to gain an even greater overview of your battlefield.
Two new Wanzers: Uisk and Igel Eins H, along with a full set of Jaboa parts ready to be unlocked.
Two new weapons: Storm Trident and Heavy Trident are available only in the Remake to wreak havoc on the battlefield.
New camo options: giving you more choices to customize the painting of your Wanzers!
And there’s even a New Game+ mode available as well, letting you keep all your existing weapons, parts, and progress, to start the game all over again!
We’ll follow this piece with full review of FRONT MISSION 2: Remake on Xbox soon.
FRONT MISSION 2: Remake Description
A classic tactical RPG returns! The second game in the main Front Mission storyline is finally available outside of Japan for the first time. FRONT MISSION 2 blends intense strategy with a deep and involved storyline.
The year is 1914. Sker Island is under the rule of Elisabeth Williams, and she is planning to broadcast something called the “Siren’s Song”. No, this isn’t an attempt to lure in a suitor, instead she is planning on world domination using the spooky sounding location as a base of operations. Needless to say, it’s bad.
You may not realise it but Sker Island is a sequel to Maid of Sker and picks up straight after the “evil” ending. Despite this, it’s a totally different experience this time around as what we have here is an FPS that pits you against endless waves of abominable creatures.
You play as a mysterious character, awakened from what can only be described as a metal coffin, to aid Elisabeth’s daughter Arianwen, who has cottoned on to her mother’s evil plans and vows to put a stop to her. The aim? Interrupt the broadcast at any cost.
Set after the ‘evil’ ending of Maid of Sker
There are four different scenarios to play through in Sker Ritual. You can gain access to four more if you fancy shelling out for the Digital Deluxe Edition. In each you will be guided through by a string of objectives which are usually simple enough to complete. You aren’t against the clock in the traditional sense, but time is not on your side.
This is because enemies will come after you in waves, gradually increasing in difficulty as you survive each one. There will not just be different enemies who are tougher to take down, but a shed load more will join them too. This is where upgrades become crucial to seeing out your objectives to the end. “Elites” will also pop up every few waves which are much more difficult to take down. Abraham for example, who slowly pursues you in a similar fashion to Mr X (look it up kids), is genuinely chilling and can take a frankly ridiculous amount of bullets to the head before he relents.
It’s a good job then that you’ll earn points (although it’s illustrated as cash) which you can use to buy new weapons. Tiered upgrades for your weapons are also essential, as well as replenishing ammo at dedicated stations. The only really useful things enemies drop are limited time buffs, such as infinite ammo and “sudden death”, which means you can carry out one-shot kills. Your character has a few tricks up their sleeve, such as a health restoration potion, explosive projectiles and force blast (which needs charging). Otherwise your items are simply on a cooldown cycle, so in theory you can keep yourself going forever, depending on how skilled you are.
If you find yourself mid-reload (which takes flipping ages without upgrades) your quick draw melee weapon will come in handy to keep the nasties at bay. The way to do this is with “miracles”, which you unlock as you progress through the waves of enemies. Each time you gain a coin to spend, you can choose between one of three options that offer all sorts of different upgrades to your abilities and equipment.
Lighting things up
These remain during each run but expire at the end, however you can permanently upgrade your character as you rack up the hours. That’s right, Sker Ritual implements the all too familiar Season Pass system, but the good news is that it’s free. XP earned from each run will allow you to unlock tonnes of customisation features, such as character costumes and voice lines. Perhaps most importantly, you will also be able to upgrade character stats such as reload speed and weapon damage, increasing your chances of success in future runs. These perks reminded me of plasmids from BioShock, despite being managed in the menu between runs.
One of my struggles was that I found the instructions vague at times, desperately trying to figure out what to do to proceed. Most of the time waypoints will guide you, but if you are looking for certain items you will only be taken to that general area. This wouldn’t be so bad, if it wasn’t for the hordes of bloodthirsty creatures trying to surround you at every moment.
You can play Sker Ritual solo, in a private lobby with friends or online through the matchmaking function. To be honest, I enjoyed myself a lot more with others. Going solo felt too challenging (even on “normal”), although you do have the option to change the difficulty mid session. The online lobbies are busy and finding a game is easy, helped along by crossplay too. It is also a case of four heads being better than one, so progress feels a lot quicker when playing with others. The difficulty curve is identical when playing solo, which meant I struggled to get anywhere near the end of each scenario before I was overwhelmed by the enemy waves without help.
Sker Ritual looks average, I can’t really be any more complimentary than that. The brightness menu at the start is way off though, so I completely ignored it. The lines of dialogue which can be triggered by using the D-Pad (used purely to irritate each other it seems) come through much louder then the rest of the in-game sound. The game crashed on me at one point, and several times I was cornered by enemies, unable to pass and was quickly taken down. Sker Ritual certainly feels rough around the edges, but thankfully the gameplay is pretty solid.
Just. Keep. Shooting.
It all means that it is quite simple really. If you enjoy shooting crowds of enemies, you’ll be in your element with Sker Ritual. There is an effective suite of progression options, backed up by customisation, to ensure there is a healthy amount of replayability value. It’s a good job too, as at an entry price of £19.99 it’ll stop and make you think before purchasing. It’s for this reason that the success of this game relies heavily on how effectively it is supported with future content.
There’s certainly room for improvement, but Sker Ritual is an enjoyable zombie horde shooter that will appeal to fans of the genre.
Predicting which game trends will be popular as you go about developing a new gaming experience must be a tricky one. For a while, some developers declared that the single-player game was dead, many focusing on live service or multiplayer games. But by the time that creation has come about, the trend has changed, single player games become more popular and make a ton of money.
PERISH is a game that hits lots of very popular genre trends. It’s a roguelite with plenty of replay value, throwing in some multiplayer co-op for up to four players. But does it work as a single-player experience?
Fight your way through PERISH
There is an ancient Greek theme to PERISH, both in terms of story and visuals. You play as Amyetri, an ancient spirit who awakens after being condemned to an eternity in purgatory. You break out of your coffin before getting the chance to perform a rite, escape this underworld and finally get to Elysium. But the journey to get there is loaded with danger and tasks for you to take on, throughout various levels as you look to reach your final goal. PERISH feels epic in terms of narrative, and the story told in bits works fine, but it’s the gameplay loop that is the real focus of the piece.
In PERISH you get to choose a difficulty level at the beginning, but be warned, the lowest level is still rock hard. You will die over and over, repeating whole sections of levels multiple times. It is whether you can hack that and love the gameplay loop that will determine whether you get on with PERISH or not.
At its heart, it’s a first person shooter/weapon action game, but built out with roguelite elements, challenges and death. You start the game with a simple broken sword, a throwing knife for a ranged attack. As you progress you get access to an assortment of weapons including guns. Combat is a hard affair where you have to approach enemies with caution and – in single-player – not get too overwhelmed from all sides. Light and heavy attacks will be forthcoming, whilst dodging will be the menu for the day. Oh, and don’t for one minute get scared of dying and learning as you head onwards…
Use whatever you can!
The big question is whether PERISH is better with friends than on your own. It feels to me that the game is designed with multiplayer in mind. It’s the onslaught of enemies from all sides that makes dealing with things as a team easier and more fun. On your own, it just feels a bit more relentless and, well, repetitive. I think the challenge of doing another run in a team with some different objectives to complete, as well as the lure of getting some loot along the way, is what makes this a very good experience. I personally like the way that if you get a certain objective to complete in a run it affects how you attack enemies, like using elemental attacks instead of just hacking and slashing.
Visually, things are good. PERISH comes complete with some nice lighting effects in places and I liked it more when we had the opportunity to go outside by the water. Enemy design is good, but it does feel a bit similar after a while. And I’ve got issues with the text that appears; it is a little tricky to read at times.
There’s nothing wrong with the music though – DOOM-type heavy metal tracks pump along nicely with all the action. The effects feel gruesome at times, whilst the voice-over work delivers a solid performance throughout.
There are some cracking lighting effects here
You’ll find the most fun of PERISH in co-op, having a blast with a few friends. It’s that which will make the gameplay loop more enjoyable, the challenge more satisfying, and the roguelite elements much more fun overall. The story is fine, the music and visuals are good without being amazing, but tackle PERISH alone and you’ll find it just too repetitive, too tricky with multiple enemies attacking you in swarms. So much so that you may wish to knock off half a mark if playing solo.
You may have noticed The Rewinder gathering up some seriously impressive reviews over on Steam. Now that game comes to Xbox and Game Pass – we see no reason why you shouldn’t be downloading it immediately.
The Rewinder is from MistyMountainStudio and Gamera Games. Having first released on Steam back in 2021, it’s fair to say it’s become a bit of a classic, nabbing some Overwhelmingly Positive reviews in the process.
Chinese myths on Game Pass
It makes sense for launch on Game Pass and Xbox then – as is happening today. In fact, you can play The Rewinder on Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S right now, making the most of your Game Pass subscription as you go. Alternatively, there’s an £11.24 price tag in place.
Dive in and you’ll discover yourself thrust into a puzzling world that is based on Chinese mythology. It has you taking on the role of Yun, as they look to speak to spirits and go deep into the minds and memories of others. You see, Yun is the last known Rewinder.
Mixing pixel art with some inky visuals, The Rewinder certainly looks neat enough, with the Chinese designs sure to intrigue. No matter whether you have played previously on PC, or are looking to come in to The Rewinder fresh on Xbox, this feels like a game that jsut MUST be played.
Our full review of The Rewinder on Game Pass and Xbox is coming soon.
The Rewinder Game Description
The Rewinder is an adventure puzzle game based on Chinese mythology. You play as Yun, the last known Rewinder, who can communicate with spirits and explore other people’s memories to alter the past.
The world of online casinos is known for its technological fervor and approach to embracing novel innovations in a bid to remain at the forefront of digital table gaming. And yet while many people naturally assume the natural home for these experiences is to be found on desktop computers, the reality of today’s online casino metrics tell a different story.
That’s because a growing number – now the majority – of casino aficionados prefer to access these titles through browsers and apps on their smartphones. Why is this? Here we will unpack just why mobile casinos are on the rise in 2024.
Cost Effective and Accessible
One of the major drivers of mobile casinos’ success today is their relative accessibility. This has two key components – cost, and their on-demand optimisation.
The online casino sector has long established an approach to promotional offers that hinges on furnishing prospective patrons with a huge variety of competitive welcome bonuses and sign-up offers for use with leading gaming providers. So much so, that platforms like casinobonusca have emerged as directories for amalgamating the best of these in one, easy place. These bonuses come in the form of a huge variety of deals, meaning that even casino gamers with niche interests or requirements can comfortably make a meaningful saving on sign-up. This has long been a differentiating factor with the iGaming market, and one that has contributed significantly to its organic growth.
Coupled with this is the natural on-demand nature of mobile platforms. Whereas PCs are heavy, not portable, and expensive – smartphones are relatively affordable, and of course are highly mobile. That means that casino fans can access quality titles wherever they are, be it on the go, during a lunch break, or during hours that conventional casinos would be closed.
By removing barriers to access for casino aficionados, mobile casinos – both with their compelling bonus deals, and their on-demand design – are able to capitalize on potential growth that rival concerns cannot match in 2024.
In-Depth Optimisation
Another component contributing to the rise of mobile casinos is the massive degree of optimisation that has overhauled the design of the sector in recent years. In the early days of the smartphone craze, nothing prevented gaming fans from accessing online casinos through their iPhone web browser – but there was a catch.
That’s because smartphones are designed around a portrait form-factor, whereas desktops utilize a landscape orientation. Furthermore, certain codecs and optimisations could only be relied upon to render faithfully on a full desktop browser. This meant that it was hit or miss whether the site you were accessing in the early days would load properly or be easy to navigate with touch controls.
This significantly hampered the early development of mobile casino gaming, but it wouldn’t be long before platforms began to build mobile-optimized versions of their sites for use with mobile browsers. And, nowadays, some casinos are even favoring the portrait orientation over landscape when conceiving of and constructing new platforms and games. This is a notable shift, and demonstrates that the mobile sector is increasingly becoming the dominant driver behind design decisions for entertainment platforms such as those in the iGaming sector in 2024.
In a world where portrait video – such as that found on TikTok – is increasingly normalized, whole new slots games or table titles are being designed from the ground up to emulate the familiar interfaces and design cues of social media content. This ultimately results in a feedback loop, where mobile casinos are increasingly the best way to play casino games – thus, more people choose to play on this growing platform of preference.
Mobile Gaming Taking Over
All of this is also part of a larger trend – that of the mobile gaming sector increasingly coming to occupy a central role in the modern games industry. Nowadays, over 50% of all gaming revenue derives from mobile titles, and in regions around the world – from Latin America to Southeast Asia – people are choosing to do the majority of their gaming on smartphones.
As this trend continues, the iGaming sector is evolving as a natural result of keeping pace with consumer preferences. What’s more, there’s no sign of this trend slowing or reversing direction any time soon – pointing to a future where mobile casinos will increasingly become the dominant way to access real money gaming in the coming years.
The clue is in the name – Farming Simulator 22 has been around for a good few years already. But it shows no sign of wilting in the field, with the latest DLC pack now available. Will you be making use of the Farm Production Pack?
We first reviewed Farming Simulator 22 back in 2021, but still we think it’s probably one of the finest farming sims available on PC and console. A game that has been treated to an absolute ton of DLC, there seems to be no end to what is on offer.
Today we welcome in the Farming Simulator 22 – Farm Production Pack. On Xbox, PlayStation or PC, this adds in a number of new items, some enhanced economics, daily opportunities and more. Whilst you’ll obviously need the base game of Farming Simulator 22 to hand to make the most of it, if heading down to the farm is your bag, we’d suspect you’ll want to get this added asap.
Do so and the following will open up Farming Simulator 22 on Xbox, PlayStation and PC like never before…
Enhanced Economics & Daily Demands
Dynamic prices and daily demands reward fast deliveries, when farmers take on contracts from several new points of sale: A farm store requests agricultural resources, a supermarket requires processed foods, and vending machines along with market stalls demand fresh produce. Meanwhile, a new kind of wind turbine and solar panels (including a remote-controlled cleaning robot) generate passive income.
Washing Crops, Increasing Yield
New farm equipment further increases the yield of harvests and resources: The Lely Sphere, a circular manure-handling system, creates liquid fertilizer from ammonia emissions when placed next to animal sheds and combined with sulfuric acid. VDW’s Cleaner Tiger scrubs and cuts sugar beets after separating them from stones, and a washing drum produces washed crops that can be sold at higher prices.
Managing a Distribution Center
Agricultural entrepreneurs, who don’t stop at selling their harvest and have their eyes on a late-game empire, can own a 4,000-square-meter distribution center equipped with heavy-loading shelves. Safely operating a forklift, they manage the distribution of pallets arriving at unloading bays, and need to apply clever logistics to satisfy dynamic market demands. In addition, several customizable sheds and silos for storing bulk materials, vehicles, and tools, as well as a vehicle repair shop with garage, are available for ownership.
Buy the DLC now!
Sold? Great, head to your favoured digital store right now and add the Farm Production Pack into your Farming Simulator 22 base game. We’ll point you to the Xbox Store where you can grab the DLC for £6.69 – cheaper if you have a Game Pass subscription.
Farming Simulator 22 Farm Production Pack Description
Let’s enhance economics, ramp-up production and promote sustainability with the Farm Production Pack. Featuring over 20 new items for Farming Simulator 22, this expansion introduces brand-new selling points, production equipment, storage options, renewable power generators, and more. A sophisticated distribution center and markets add new layers of logistical gameplay, focusing on supply & demand.
Having started out with release on the little Playdate, it’s time for the team at GrimTalin to go big, as players on Xbox and Nintendo Switch get the opportunity to fall, collect and undo. They’ll be doing so in The Fall of Elena Temple.
Super cheap. Super retro.
Available today on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, as well as Nintendo Switch, The Fall of Elena Temple is a nifty little old-school puzzle platformer in which exploration will be your friend. Having initially landed on Playdate back in 2023, and due to release on PC and PlayStation in the coming months, if you’re up for a game that will test your forward thinking skill, this is most definitely it.
Running a mere £2.49 price tag (seriously, £2.49 is silly money), The Fall of Elena Temple tasks you with a bit of coin collection. Nothing new there, you may feel, but the twist with this one is that you are able to ‘undo’ your falls. This means that leaping into the unknown should be encouraged, as you grab anything shiny that passes your way. From there, a re-rewind, should see you sorted, ready for your next move.
It’s a mechanic that we feel we can get onboard with, and when you consider the uber retro vibes coming out of The Fall of Elena Temple, as well as that price tag – did we tell you, £2.49!? – there’s very little reason to not check this one out.
Key features
20 puzzle rooms to challenge your wits
3 bonus rooms with new mechanics unlocked after you finish the game
Grab the undo crystal to enable going back up to five previous positions before falling
Collect all coins in a dungeon room to open the passage to the next one
Navigate through teleporters, locked doors, spikes, flying arrows, snakes, crumbling platforms and many more perils
Crack a smile at Elena’s musings!
Buy now!
You’ll find The Fall of Elena Temple on the Xbox Store, playable on Xbox Series X|S (optimised) and Xbox One. Alternatively, the Nintendo eShop should sort out those on Nintendo Switch. Or you could play on Playdate if you are kitted out. You’ll find it on Steam soon too.
Let us know what you think of this super cheap gaming option on Xbox. The comments are below.
And if you need a review, our thoughts concerning The Fall of Elena Temple on Xbox will be coming soon.
The Fall of Elena Temple Description
The Fall of Elena Temple is an old-school puzzle platformer in which you explore rooms, avoid perils and collect all coins to progress. The catch is you can undo your falls! So don’t be afraid of heights, fall and collect the coins bellow, then undo back up to where you fell from, keeping the coins!
Test your forward thinking and logical skills. Plan your falls carefully, as your undos are limited. If you’re not paying attention, you’ll find yourself unable to restore back to the top, with coins still needing collecting!
Enjoy the retro aesthetics with monochrome pixel art, playing the game on the state of the art handheld GrimBoy (TM) (wink). Reminisce about the good times with lovely pixel art backgrounds to put you right back into your childhood bedroom, the backyard, the park, grandma’s living and many more.
Tales from Candleforth is on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch and PC
Love a horror adventure? How about one that mixes in some puzzling and a whole host of fairy tales? That’s what you’re getting in Tales From Candleforth.
Releasing today on PC and console – Xbox, PlayStation, Switch – is Tales From Candleforth. This is a fairy tale horor, one that works point and click angles, puzzle solving and more. It’s the creation of Under The Bed Games, as Feardemic push it to the world.
Horrific fairy stories
In Tales From Candleforth you’ll join Sarah, a young girl who is looking to create a potion for a boy in her village who is under stress from a strange new illness. It’s up to you to get him fixed up, taking care of the village you are in, much like your family has done before you. Of course, all evil awaits – as do the most chilling of surprises.
Having nabbed a host of awards already – you’re looking at the winner of Best Puzzle Game, Best Presentation, Best Art Direction and more – there’s some serious hype surrounding Tales From Candleforth as it lands on PC and console. The key features and trailer below should help cement this one into your mind…
Key features
2D Hand-drawn aesthetic – Discover a world brimming with detail, fully drawn and animated by hand.
Folk horror – Some tales from Candleforth have been written over an old antique book. But it seems that whatever was written in it before is now being revealed, mixing the world of nightmares with the real one…
Point & Click – A narrative adventure full of puzzles and mysterious stories, where anything can happen.
Buy now!
You’ll find Tales From Candleforth on the usual digital stores. For us Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S players, it’s the Xbox Store that will sort the download needed for £7.99. Alternatively, PlayStation, Switch and PC folk are catered for from their own stores.
Let us know what you think of Tales From Candleforth by heading into the comments. And if you need a review to tempt you in, ours is coming soon.
Tales From Candleforth Description
Tales from Candleforth is a collection of fairy tales that were written on top of a forbidden book many years ago to hide its content. Years later, the dark text is bleeding out and onto the pages of the tales, mixing with them and twisting the stories.
The tale is about to begin…
In this first tale, we’ll meet Sarah, a 16-year-old girl left alone to run the family apothecary. Sarah’s grandmother went missing a while ago, but one day, she finds clues that she might still be alive. As Sarah discovers new powers that only the women in her family can inherit, she adventures into a world of occultism, mystery, and horror to uncover the secrets her family is hiding and discover the part she plays in all of it.
Writing about gaming in your college essay is a topic that often sparks debate among students and admissions officers alike. While some may view it as an unconventional choice, others recognize the potential for showcasing valuable skills and personal growth. According to the experts at Ukwritings essay writing service, let’s delve into the pros and cons of this approach and explore how you can effectively convey the significance of your gaming experiences.
The Pros:
One of the primary advantages of writing about gaming is the opportunity to showcase your passion and dedication. Gaming, like any hobby or interest, requires commitment and perseverance over an extended period. By discussing your gaming journey, you can demonstrate your ability to set goals, overcome challenges, and develop a deep understanding of complex systems. This level of dedication can be a valuable asset in academic and professional pursuits.
Additionally, gaming can provide a unique perspective that sets you apart from other applicants. While many students may choose to write about more traditional extracurricular activities, your gaming experiences can offer a refreshing and creative angle. This uniqueness can captivate admissions officers and leave a lasting impression, provided you present your story in a compelling and thoughtful manner.
If you’ve played multiplayer games, you can highlight your experience working in teams and coordinating strategies. According to the best essay writing services, games often require effective communication, conflict resolution, and the ability to adapt to changing situations. These skills are highly transferable and valuable in various aspects of life, from group projects to professional collaborations.
Moreover, many games demand critical thinking, pattern recognition, and analytical skills. By discussing how you approached and mastered complex game mechanics, you can illustrate your intellectual abilities and problem-solving prowess. Admissions officers value applicants who can think critically and tackle intricate challenges, making this a valuable aspect to highlight.
The Cons:
While gaming can offer numerous advantages, it’s essential to address potential drawbacks and misconceptions. One concern is the negative stereotypes sometimes associated with gaming, such as laziness or social isolation. In your essay, you’ll need to dispel these stereotypes by providing evidence of your well-rounded character and active involvement in various aspects of life.
Another challenge is the perceived lack of real-world applications. Admissions officers may struggle to see the direct relevance of gaming to academic or professional pursuits. To address this concern, you’ll need to draw clear connections between the skills you developed through gaming and your future goals. Illustrate how the problem-solving, strategic thinking, and teamwork skills you acquired can translate into success in your chosen field of study or career path.
With the growing popularity of gaming, many applicants may choose to write about it, leading to potential oversaturation. To make your essay stand out, you’ll need to find a unique angle or perspective. Focus on specific games, experiences, or lessons learned that resonate deeply with you. Avoid general or surface-level discussions and aim to provide a compelling narrative that captivates the reader.
Furthermore, some games may contain mature or controversial content, which could raise concerns if not handled tactfully. Be mindful of how you discuss these elements and ensure that your language and approach are appropriate for the college application context.
If you decide to write about gaming, consider the following tips to craft a compelling essay:
Highlight transferable skills: Emphasize the valuable skills you’ve gained, such as strategic thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, and resilience. Relate these skills to your academic interests or future career goals, demonstrating how they will contribute to your success.
Focus on personal growth: Discuss how gaming has shaped your character, taught you valuable lessons, or impacted your worldview. Share specific examples of challenges you overcame or accomplishments you achieved, and explain how these experiences have influenced your personal development.
Provide context: Explain the significance of the games you played and why they were meaningful to you. Describe the gaming communities you were involved in and your roles within them, such as organizing tournaments, moderating forums, or mentoring new players. This context will help admissions officers understand the depth of your involvement and the skills you developed.
Be authentic: Write with genuine passion and enthusiasm for gaming. Avoid exaggerating or making inflated claims about your experiences. Admissions officers can often discern sincerity from superficial writing, so it’s essential to be true to yourself and your experiences.
Demonstrate versatility: While gaming can be a central theme, it’s important to showcase a well-rounded personality with diverse interests and achievements. Discuss other extracurricular activities, academic pursuits, or personal projects that complement your gaming experiences and paint a comprehensive picture of who you are.
Address potential concerns: Anticipate and address potential concerns or misconceptions that admissions officers may have about gaming. Provide counterexamples or evidence that dispels negative stereotypes and showcases the positive aspects of your gaming experiences.
Remember, the key is to present gaming as a meaningful pursuit that has contributed to your personal and intellectual growth. By highlighting the transferable skills and lessons you’ve gained, and framing your experiences within the context of your future aspirations, you can craft a compelling essay that showcases your unique interests and potential. With careful planning and thoughtful execution, your gaming experiences can become a powerful asset in your college application.
An all-new planet-hopping RPG adventure, Beyond Galaxyland has today been unveiled. And later in 2024 you’ll get to go to infinity and Beyond Galaxyland, as it releases on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch and PC.
Created by Sam Enright – a Chicago-based developer and music producer – Beyond Galaxyland has come about via the old classic sci-fi movies of yesteryear. It’s those that have been the inspiration for Enright, building out an all-new take on the beloved RPG adventures in the process.
To infinity – and Beyond Galaxyland
It tells of a land in which moments before the cataclysmic destruction of Earth by an unknown celestial destroyer of worlds – known only as the ‘The End’ – high-schooler Doug finds himself whisked away to Galaxyland. This is an idyllic, zoo-like solar system, full of planets. As you may expect to hear though, it’s unlikely that this paradise truly is as good as it seems.
From there, Doug embarks on a galactic quest alongside his gun-toting pet guinea pig Boom Boom, a sentient robot called MartyBot, and a whole host of equally whacky companions. Their – read: your – quest? To discover the truth behind Galaxyland and somehow undo the apocalypse that has taken place.
Narrative and story set up, in Beyond Galaxyland you’ll find yourself working your way across a variety of biomes. Pinging your way from here to there and back again, you’ll be treated to the sights and sounds of jungles, neon-lit cities, casinos and more. And you’ll traverse these places via classic platforming action, enjoying puzzle solving and turn-based combat along the way. And of course, boss battles wil be not just frequent, but epic!
Key features
Active turn-based combat: Engage in strategic turn-based battles against a vast range of galactic nemeses, with time-responsive defensive gameplay to minimise damage. Each party member has a range of unique abilities at their disposal, but for an additional tactical advantage, sneakily scan your enemy pre-battle to discover their strengths and weaknesses.
Interplanetary exploration: From the blizzard-swept planes of Arcos to the tropical jungle ravines of Erros, the neon-buzzing cities of Neo to the arid sand dunes of Xalm, explore a cosmic cluster of unique worlds, each with its own quests, environmental puzzles, and out-of-this-world characters.
A classic sci-fi adventure: A semi-open 2.5D adventure-RPGin a classic sci-fi fish-out-of-water tale that pays homageto family-friendly adventure and sci-fi movies. Beyond Galaxyland’sstory features laughter, loss, peril and friendship, all dipped in a dazzling layer of neon-tastic pixels.
Epic boss battles: Encounter 25 epic bosses throughout many extraterrestrial travels, including colossal space dragons, flesh eating flowers, and the all-knowing bionic behemoth that is the Nexus Mind.
Capture & utilise enemies: Successfully capture the many weird and wonderful creatures encountered on different worlds, each possessing exclusive abilities, and later unleash them during the heat of battle.
The devs speak up
“I’m a huge fan of classic turn-based RPGs from the mid and late-1990s, and some of my favourites – such as Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy VII –have provided me a galaxy’s worth of inspiration when developing Beyond Galaxyland,” said Sam Enright. “I wanted to make a game that felt uniquely cinematic, while being within a familiar genre. I hope when gamers play it they’ll appreciate how Beyond Galaxyland’s pacing will often feel closer to a movie than a videogame. Doug, Boom Boom, and MartyBot’s adventures across and beyond Galaxyland is a very personal tale to me, and I can’t wait for people to experience their intergalactic story!”
Darren Newnham, CEO, United Label, said, “We’re so thrilled we get to publish Sam’s passion project later this year, and share Doug and Boom Boom’s incredible tale with the world… if not the Universe. He’s created an engaging and intimate sci-fi story that goes beyond the grinding gameplay some turn-based RPGs fall foul of, while injecting classic platform puzzler gameplay along the way.”
Coming Fall 2024
Beyond Galaxyland will launch later in 2024 – Fall, hopefully. It’s coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch.
Get your eyes on the announcement trailer below and let us know your thoughts. Get wishlisting it on Steam if you like the look of this one. We’re sold by the trailer alone!
You should know all about the power of The Jackbox Party Packs – there have been enough of them, each providing a ton of fun and humour. But what happens after dark? Well, that’s where the dirty fun of the Jackbox Naughty Pack comes in.
Get naughty with Jackbox
Announced by the prolific Jackbox Games team is the latest addition to their franchise and portfolio – Jackbox Naughty Pack. This is an M-rated game that will be fit for those 17+ gamers looking for some spicy surprises.
Full details of the Jackbox Naughty Pack are set to be revealed this coming summer, but what we do know is that this will look to provide a much more ‘adult’ take on the usual fun and games. It’ll play out as a little three-pack of joy, one that will have you laughing – and swearing – like never before.
Consider what Jackbox have done previously, taking the brilliant The Jackbox Party Pack 10 for instance, and there should most definitely be room for this spicy little side treat. Just remember to put the kids to bed, dim the lights and have some Jackbox fun…
More Jackbox joy
We’ll follow with further details surrounding the Jackbox Naughty Pack as the Jackbox team reveal them. But let us know what you think of this more mature version of The Jackbox Party Pack. What games would you like to see included? The comments section is below.
And if this isn’t your bag, why not? We’d love to hear more about your favourite Jackbox experiences. We absolutely adored Dodo Re Mi in the last pack.
The Hidden Through Time series of games is nothing but a gigantic hide-and-seek. A Where’s Wally that forgoes any proper narrative or reasoning. But it’s a series that excels in what it does, giving players the chance to kick back and head off on the hunt. Very soon, they’ll be doing just that once more, uncovering the secrets of Hidden Through Time 2: Discovery.
The follow-up to Hidden Through Time 2: Myths & Magic, Hidden Through Time 2: Discovery will be the next to emerge from the Rogueside indie team. It’s coming to Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PC, iOS and Android. Frankly, we can’t wait to play it.
Get hunting with Hidden Through Time 2 again
If you are at all familiar with the Hidden Through Time franchise, having played either Myths & Magic or the original Hidden Through Time and its DLC packs, then you should know what to expect here – a huge cosy hunt ’em up that will be suitable for players of all ages.
It comes about on the back of Myths & Magic, as Hidden Through Time 2: Discovery provides access to some new secrets, adding in a story as it goes. It features beautifully hand-drawn items within interactive landscapes, looking to ignite the imagination through each level, taking players off on a journey through a serene adventure.
But there’s more than standard hidden object gaming and in Discovery you’ll get to unleash your creativity with a Map Editor. That comes to town with assets from three magical eras including Noir, Victorian and Sci-Fi, ensuring you can create intricately crafted maps to share with the community.
And further, the Reality Shift feature seen in Hidden Through Time 2: Myths & Magic returns, adding an extra dimension to the search, allowing players to shift between time and season to explore even more.
Key features
Relaxing Gameplay – A relaxing and cosy experience is ensured as the game doesn’t feature timers or similar mechanics to put pressure on the player. They’re able to enjoy the game at their own speed.
Map Editor – Players have access to assets from all three eras (Noir, Victorian, and Sci-Fi), giving the ability to bring their imagination to life in the Map Editor, where creations can be shared with the community.
Reality shift – Seen in the previous game, Hidden Through Time 2: Myths & Magic, the Reality Shift feature makes a return. This allows players to explore a whole host of new objects as they can shift between time and season, giving more depth to each map, enabling more space for storytelling within one map.
Coming soon!
For now, you’ll have to take in the trailer for Hidden Through Time 2: Discovery. Give it a watch and let us know your thoughts on what Rogueside have put together by dropping in to the comments.
Expect to see Hidden Through Time 2: Discovery landing on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, PC and mobile pretty soon. We’ll be sure to let you know when it releases.
There is something wrong here. I’m playing what looks like a nice friendly platformer, but I’m repeatedly getting my ass handed to me. Yes, Another Crab’s Treasure, the latest from Aggro Crab is a Soulslike in all but name. And I have, without wanting to spoil the rest of the review, been loving it.
So, come with me to the underwater version of Dark Shoals (see what I did there?) and let us see what dangers the big bad ocean has to offer. Try not to die!
This is Another Crab’s Treasure!
Obviously every hero needs a backstory, a reason to leave his home and try and fight. Our little crab, Kril, is no exception. Being a hermit crab, he has a lovely shell of his very own, until one day a tax collector comes calling, telling him that he owes taxes to the Duchess who has annexed his tidal pool. Long story short, the Loan Shark takes Kril’s shell, telling him that he can have it back when he has paid the owed taxes. The scene is thus set to try and recover Kril’s home.
But with a big wide ocean out there, what can possibly go wrong? The thing about hermit crabs without a shell is that they are pretty squishy, and so we need to try and fight to survive. There is a cool mechanic I’ll chat about later that should help us with that…
Now, the presentation of the game is our next port of call (I will stop with the sea going puns, honest) and here the news is largely good, but sadly not perfect. The action in Another Crab’s Treasure is viewed from the traditional Dark Souls perspective of third person, looking over Kril’s shoulder (do crabs have shoulders?) and the world is a lovely, 3D kind of place to go exploring. The enemies we face are nicely designed and beautifully animated, and this helps with seeing what is going on in the inevitable combat that we have to engage in. And it must be said, the draw distances are long, and everything looks great, especially the way that human trash has been incorporated into the environment.
The sound is also bang on, with some lovely music and sound effects accompanying the action. The only fly in the ointment is the camera, which gets confused very easily, happily leaving us looking at a blank wall while we get the shell kicked off of us. There are also certain areas where it is possible to get stuck in the scenery, usually when carrying a good amount of microplastics! These are quite common complaints for Soulslikes though, so I’m not going to make too much of a meal of them. Overall, presentation is pretty good, all things considered.
Deffo a Soulslike…
Of course, in a regular Soulslike, there are souls to be collected from defeated enemies. And so is the case here. The currency in Another Crab’s Treasure is that of microplastics, a frankly alarming phenomena found in the seas. This stuff not only allows us to level Kril up, hopefully making him less squishy, but it is also used to buy things from the shop. As you level up, you get stronger, being able to put points in the usual way for your character; like health, attack power and so on.
There is a skill tree that is separate to the ordinary one that uses Umami crystals to purchase powers that can really make a difference to the way that you play. These allow such things as plunge attacks and parries, and with these options in play, the game feels a lot more like a proper Soulslike. Of course, you have to get far enough into the game to meet the character who can do this for you, and there are a lot of problems before you get there, including two mandatory bosses and at least one optional boss.
Kril’s armoury is a little sparse when it comes to weapons; his only option being a fork that he finds at the beginning of the game. However, hunt down the obligatory blacksmith and the relevant materials, and this fork can be upgraded to make you stronger. However, the real game changer is found in the shells that Kril can grab as he goes along. These not only provide you with protection if you block with them, withdrawing into said shell, but each shell also has a special power that is unlocked with an Umami charge (again, once you get far enough into the narrative) and these are great levellers. The powers vary from shell to shell, with the soda can, for instance, shooting out bubbles that interrupt the enemies, while the waffle cone shell freezes enemies when they attack you. Finding the right shell for the fight you are about to face is a matter of luck, but you can definitely develop preferences based on the attacks.
Combat is as you’d expect, with the difficulty of Another Crab’s Treasure set somewhere in the stratosphere. From there, the usual Dark Souls tropes of dodging, parrying and counter attacking are all present and correct. The Umami charges are recharged by attacking with Kril’s fork, and so as long as you can keep your shell in one piece (easier said than done, believe me!) you can keep attacking. For me, the difficulty is right on the button for a Souls game, being incredibly hard.
Hard, but fair
But you should never fear – if you aren’t a veteran, or if you just want an easier ride, there are a full range of assists that can be turned on, ranging from giving Kril a gun, which is a one hit kill on any enemy, boss or not, through to simpler ones like a longer dodge window, or reducing the damage that you take from foes, from a little bit down to basically making you invincible. In this way, Another Crab’s Treasure can be balanced to how you want to play, and this is a good thing to see. Using these assists doesn’t disable achievements either, which is always a bit of a tick.
Another Crab’s Treasure is an outstanding game, only let down by a dodgy camera and some unfortunate scenery issues. The combat is hard but fair, capable of being tweaked to your liking, and that means exploring a vast underwater world as a small crab has never been such fun.
680 puzzles later, we are at the end of our quest: to complete and review every Dreamland Solitaire game on the Xbox. We’re not delusional, though – we know another three could drop on the Store at any moment. But at least we are up to date.
So far, the Dreamland Solitaire games have delivered something of a surprise. They are silly, overblown takes on Spider Solitaire that lean into what makes that game of Patience satisfying, rather than take anything away. They have acted as a bit of a pressure-valve in the evenings for the past three weeks, even if they’ve irritated my wife. “Surely you can’t still be playing that game?”. Yep, I’m afraid so.
Dreamland Solitaire: Dark Prophecy immediately ups the stakes by delivering 280 puzzles, rather than the customary 200. My wife got to watch a little more Solitaire this time round. We’re not entirely sure the Dreamland Solitaire games needed more content, but we’ll get to that in a moment.
MORE Dreamland Solitaire?
Everything else is familiar. Like Dreamland Solitaire: Dragon’s Fury, there’s a story to lubricate the card gaming. A witch has sent a noxious purple gas circulating round the kingdom (fart jokes are optional) and it’s down to you, a fairy and a wizard to confront her. That’s a quest that needs to stretch across nearly three-hundred puzzles, so there’s a lot of bogging down going on. You’re building palaces and outfitting boats along the way.
For anyone new to Dreamland Solitaire, you will probably be wondering what this has to do with a deck of cards. Not a lot, as it happens. But by removing cards from the play area, you may uncover the odd purple potion, which can be spent on these little intermediary missions. Each potion brings you a little closer to the witch.
There’s a greater sense of padding things out with Dreamland Solitaire: Dark Prophecy. It makes sense with the larger body of puzzles, but we missed the ‘old days’ of last week when we were playing Dragon’s Fury. You’re stuck looking at the same pictures as you construct every last element within it. And there’s an added sense of grind, too. The Dreamland Solitaire games have always asked you to accumulate a set number of potions to continue, which involved a smidge of backtracking, but in Dreamland Solitaire: Dark Prophecy it feels more onerous. We actually started to feel the sense of grind.
Thankfully, there’s little that has changed for the worse in the card-playing itself. Dreamland Solitaire, over the course of the three games, has developed quite the roster of power-ups and obstacles, so there’s a lot to play with. Hammers remove rock, axes remove twine, water removes fire, lanterns remove smoke and many more. The only new addition is scissors which remove string, which are hardly revolutionary, as they act almost identically to the axes. But the two can stack, we suppose, so it gets something of a pass.
This one is a Dark Prophecy
What’s important is that the manipulation of the cards feels almost as tactile and ergonomic as sitting in front of a deck yourself. Dreamland Solitaire: Dark Prophecy opts for cursor controls which works surprisingly well, and it’s entirely possible to chuck card after card over your shoulder like you were a burrowing mole. There’s very little as satisfying as reaching a combo that stretches into double-figures, as a pyramid of cards is returned to its foundations.
Play enough and you will soon gather a bit of a gold pile. This can be spent on upgrades that dial up the arcadeness even further. Powers can be bought that increase as you gather cards of a particular suit: our favourite being a chain lightning that removes up to two cards. Squint and you could be playing a shoot ’em up as the deck explodes. But there are also wild cards to buy, jokers that become a card of your choice, and additional cards for the deck.
There are a couple of brand new upgrades here, including the ability to flip a few cards over so you can see them prematurely – perhaps keying into the ‘Dark Prophecy’ of the title. But they are another minor, incremental improvement that characterises this game. We’d even suggest that there’s been something of a step back: it feels like it takes longer to unlock everything in the game – a symptom of the greater number of levels, perhaps.
But Dreamland Solitaire: Dark Prophecy really didn’t need more levels. 200 puzzles was more than enough for a fiver, and a prolonged game experience wasn’t high on our list of wants. Since there is a cost – that everything has been stretched out, with feelings of grind creeping through the resulting holes – then Dreamland Solitaire: Dark Prophecy feels like the weakest of the trilogy. It’s far from bad, but the joyful march to the end of the games is punctuated by plods.
Get snipping with Solitaire…
Having come to the end of our Dreamland adventure, we see nothing but suits and numbers when we close our eyes. But it’s been a surprisingly painless experience: to a game, these are playful, refreshingly arcadey experiences, and they don’t remotely feel like the mobile ports that they are.
But if we were to point a finger at one of them and say ‘this is the worst of the bunch’, it would be Dreamland Solitaire: Dark Prophecy. It follows the inevitable rule of sequels: it needs to be bigger. But by going bigger, something is lost, as fatigue and grind become a factor when they weren’t before.
Pick Dreamland Solitaire: Dark Prophecy up if you somehow need more Spider Solitaire after the first two Dreamland games. Otherwise, this can sit cozily on a wishlist for a while.
