Softpedia News / Global 002873 http://cdn.softpedia.com/_img/spdfavicon.svg http://cdn.softpedia.com/_img/spdlogo.svg https://news.softpedia.com/ Softpedia en-us 2001-2026 Softpedia. All rights reserved. Tue, 19 May 2026 04:24:31 +0000 Tue, 19 May 2026 04:24:31 +0000 News http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 10 https://cdnssl.softpedia.com/_img/softpedia_logo_rss.png https://news.softpedia.com/ https://news.softpedia.com/news/kiborg-descent-dlc-pc-yay-or-nay-538134.shtml When KIBORG: Descent was announced, I was pumped to see even more content for the game, as the original was quite promising. Descent isn’t reinventing the wheel however, it’s more of a refinement to the original, as it adds 3 new environments, all of which I found to be interesting and cleverly done.

Visually, the new locations are stunning, and the game certainly didn’t shy away from testing the limits of the engine. The new different enemy types are cool, certainly very creative, and the 3 new bosses are in line with the KIBORG lore. Speaking of bosses, they are the highlight of this expansion, because not only are they very intense, but they also require quite a bit of planning and thinking. That’s especially true for the last one, where you really have to test your skills in order to beat him.

With that in mind, I found KIBORG: Descent to be increasingly difficult when compared to the original game. It will take a little bit to get past some of the areas you ne... (read more)]]> Tue, 19 May 2026 01:59:00 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://news.softpedia.com/news/kiborg-descent-dlc-pc-yay-or-nay-538134.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/wardrum-review-538133.shtml It’s weird how close supposedly ranged units have to get to their enemies to attack. It would be nice to engulf that enemy healer in a pillar of fire, but it means I have to get my vulnerable caster a little too close for comfort to enemy units. I weaken them by throwing a grenade and regret my decision not to spend essence on giving my squad the ability to use items two times a turn.

Her fireballs weaken two enemies, and I move my heavy hitters into position to finish them off. I nail the simple rhythm sequence for the first, eliminating one alpha dog. But I miss one mouse button press on my second, and I can only hope that the enemy will not do too much damage once it acts.

Wardrum is developed by Mopeful Games and published by Team17. I played on the PC using Steam, with the title not launched on any other hardware. The video game mixes rhythm mechanics, turn-based tactics, and a rogue-lite structure.

The beat is at the center of this fiction universe. Everythi... (read more)]]> Tue, 19 May 2026 01:50:55 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/wardrum-review-538133.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://news.softpedia.com/news/dead-as-disco-preview-pc-538132.shtml Beat’em’up games are always fun and intense, and I’m always excited to hear about new entries to the genre. With that in mind, Dead as Disco tries to make them even more fun by making you sync to the tunes you’re listening to. And while the game is in early access for the time being, it already managed to create a large, cult following. Why? Because the gameplay is one of the best in this niche already, despite the content being very limited.

Dead as Disco’s story is interesting, because our main character was dead, but he rose from the grave and he has to rely on what Vice, a skull like a disco ball, has to say. Of course, this is just the setup, because what matters the most is beating people up, and that’s where Dead as Disco excels. The game is incredibly fun here, because the moment-to-moment combat is very satisfying, and the attack animations are nothing short of impressive.

Also, the experience itself is very good, mainly because you need to match your atta... (read more)]]> Mon, 18 May 2026 05:21:30 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://news.softpedia.com/news/dead-as-disco-preview-pc-538132.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/invincible-vs-review-538131.shtml Ever since Amazon made the Invincible series, I’ve been extremely interested in the idea of having a fighting game based on the show. Thinking about it, the premise lends itself to some really good fights, and there are lots of characters within the lore to make up for a great roster. And here we are. Invincible VS is finally launched, and this game is actually a lot more interesting than I originally expected.

Invincible VS is a 3 v 3 team fighter, and it has a 2-way combo system. When you are landing a combo, you are entering a conversation, not just executing a sequence. The defender is reading your patterns, he is finding ways to break free, and he will do his best to turn your momentum when possible. It’s a great dynamic because every combo is risky. If you hold back, you lose pressure and if you push too far, you are predictable and the opponent will take advantage of you.

I like this dynamic because it adds a lot of intensity and fun dynamics to the experien... (read more)]]> Mon, 18 May 2026 05:12:40 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/invincible-vs-review-538131.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://news.softpedia.com/news/solar-expanse-space-exploration-manager-preview-pc-538130.shtml I’ve always enjoyed the idea of exploring the Solar System, its planets and conquering places that no one ever visited before. And with Solar Expanse, you can easily do that. The game allows you to enter a space race where you’re competing with other corporations in order to mine asteroids, colonize other planets and terraform.

It’s all a sandbox, so the focus is on trying to colonize the system and prevent losing. And there are plenty of loss conditions. You can run out of money, for starters. Or you don’t tackle the asteroid heading towards Earth. But the true appeal of the game is certainly the experience, the ability to immerse yourself in a sandbox and customize stuff as you go along.

For newcomers, Solar Expanse’s menus can feel rather overwhelming, but in a good way. A lot of the gameplay relies on planning and then executing spaceship missions. It’s interesting to browse ships and see their pros and cons, then choose the best ones. Some of them are great fo... (read more)]]> Fri, 15 May 2026 10:23:48 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://news.softpedia.com/news/solar-expanse-space-exploration-manager-preview-pc-538130.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/elemental-reforged-review-538129.shtml I should have claimed ground at a faster pace. I focused on growth and economic research, while placing outposts that made New Pariden the fastest growing city in the world. I also pumped out enough units to fill out two armies led by capable heroes, Garrett and Ilyra Fen, while four scouts discovered the mysteries of the world.

I found three spots that would be great for new cities. But by the time I cleared out the monsters and founded Raven’s Heart, Capitar and Ruvenna got the other two locations locked down. And then I lost one big army and injured my leader in a quest battle. Producing fresh troops will not take long, but I need to decide whether I want to go to war for those prime city spots or if I should focus on the core of my kingdom.

Elemental: Reforged is developed and published by Stardock Entertainment.  I played on the PC, the only hardware platform on which the title is available, using Steam. The video game combines and updates previous releases in... (read more)]]> Fri, 15 May 2026 08:15:25 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/elemental-reforged-review-538129.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://news.softpedia.com/news/rising-lords-the-pilgrim-war-dlc-pc-yay-or-nay-538128.shtml It’s always a good idea to give people double rations, if possible. It keeps the population growing and, once the number of villagers that can work resources in a province is maxed-out, a decent stream of new combat-ready troops. Keep pumping out houses for anyone who needs them and try to get an inn quickly. Then gather the best fighters, use experience to get decent cards, and prepare to win a battle.

Rising Lords - The Pilgrim War is developed by Argonwood and published by Deck13. This is the first downloadable content pack for the strategy title, offering fans a new campaign to work through and a new faction to control or fight against.

The newcomer is the Kingdom of Atra, which is famed for its ability to put together big and terrifying armies. Their polity is wealthy, their cities are well fortified, and they follow a different religion than the factions from the North that players are already familiar with. The conditions for a major conflict are set.

Playe... (read more)]]> Thu, 14 May 2026 14:05:28 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://news.softpedia.com/news/rising-lords-the-pilgrim-war-dlc-pc-yay-or-nay-538128.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/vultures-scavengers-of-death-review-538127.shtml The zombies are shuffling in a line. Technically, this violates every rule that pop culture has taught us about the living dead, be they slow or fast. They should be clustering, jostling for position, trying to get to my hot blood and tasty brains as quickly as possible. Their predictable movement means I can combine my shotgun and my knife to cut them down.

It would have been nice to have a Molotov, but I used it a few rooms earlier, when I mishandled my movement and ended up in a corner. So, I try to use the knife as much as possible, even if that means I’ll have to use a med kit. All the bullets I save in this room will be crucial when I’ll have to deal with one of the more monstrous creatures later in the level.

Vultures - Scavengers of Death is developed by Team Vultures and published by Firesquid. I played on the PC via Steam, with the game not offered on any other hardware. The title mixes turn-based combat with a classic biohazard scenario.

It’s quickly cl... (read more)]]> Thu, 14 May 2026 13:47:00 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/vultures-scavengers-of-death-review-538127.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://news.softpedia.com/news/the-player-who-can-t-level-up-preview-pc-538126.shtml If you’re a manga fan, then you most likely heard about The Player Who Can't Level Up. It’s a great release from a few years ago, and it actually became so popular that we now have a game made out of it. And honestly, the roguelike genre fits the manga extremely well.

The premise for The Player Who Can't Level Up is simple, we have Kim Ki-Gyu, a young man that doesn’t level up like everyone else. He has two swords that go stronger, and he enters a tower where he is fighting a variety of threats. The premise is quite barebones in the preview version I played, but I am sure we will get some more context and ideas regarding the overall story. Thankfully, there’s plenty of art from the comics, and plenty of cutscenes to educate us about the character and his interactions.

The gameplay is easy to understand, since you enter the tower, kill enemies and move on to the next area. As you play and explore, you unlock abilities that will help you improve your overall skillset... (read more)]]> Mon, 11 May 2026 16:39:00 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://news.softpedia.com/news/the-player-who-can-t-level-up-preview-pc-538126.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/aphelion-review-538125.shtml Aphelion is the latest game from Don’t Nod, a studio known for its storytelling. In this game, we are taken on a planet called Persephone, which was just discovered at the edge of our Solar System. We follow Thomas and Ariane, 2 astronauts that are looking for a new place where humanity can regrow and live, now that Earth has been destroyed by rampant climate change.

Aphelion has 11 chapters, and each one of them offers a nice change of pace, as you progress through the story. You will switch between the two characters, but Ariane is the major focus, as you will see things from her perspective for most of the game.

When it comes to the gameplay, Aphelion is basically a third person climbing and platforming game which also requires you to explore the world and align/adapt things to move onward. It has tropes like yellow paint, which aren’t that much of an issue because the game is more about storytelling. Also, Aphelion is rather linear, and there aren’t off-the-bea... (read more)]]> Mon, 11 May 2026 16:28:37 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/aphelion-review-538125.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://news.softpedia.com/news/europa-universalis-v-fate-of-the-phoenix-dlc-pc-yay-or-nay-538124.shtml This time around, it was the Serbs that broke the back of the Byzantine Empire. Judicious alliances and a few shrewd tactical decisions got us a favorable peace with the Ottomans. The computer then chose to focus more on Anatolia and the Middle East. This meant I had time to try and consolidate the empire, control the much-too-powerful nobility, and rebuild the economy.

After years of frustration and a few small rebellions, things started to look up. My cabinet did good, although a few deaths slowed down empire consolidation, as the treasury recovered. When the Bulgarians declared war, I was confident that we could win. And then the Serbs joined in, and it became clear the Phoenix had no chance. On my next run, diplomatic appeasement will be higher on the priority list.

Europa Universalis V: Fate of the Phoenix is developed by Paradox Tinto and published by Paradox Interactive. This is the first immersion pack for the grand strategy title, centered on the Byzantine... (read more)]]> Fri, 08 May 2026 08:57:28 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://news.softpedia.com/news/europa-universalis-v-fate-of-the-phoenix-dlc-pc-yay-or-nay-538124.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/rhythm-doctor-review-538123.shtml We’ve seen rhythm games time and time again, but we rarely find one that’s very appealing and with lasting value. Rhythm Doctor is one of those titles, because it brings the excitement of rhythm games, while blending it with a medical theme that’s very difficult to find these days in videogames.

At its core, the main idea behind Rhythm Doctor is rather simple. You are taking part in a remote defibrillation internship program, and you are trying to treat patients suffering from heart issues. However, you need to figure out when to use your defib unit, and there are audio cues to help you achieve that.

The game starts by allowing you to calibrate visuals to the sounds you’re hearing. Then, you determine the input delay accordingly. I like the fact that you can start with calibrating, because it makes the experience feel more responsive, once everything is set up correctly. I recommend that you play with headphones, because you need to have time for every button press... (read more)]]> Thu, 07 May 2026 14:57:43 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/rhythm-doctor-review-538123.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://news.softpedia.com/news/memoriapolis-banners-wonders-dlc-pc-yay-or-nay-538122.shtml When it launched, MEMORIAPOLIS left a great impression on us, because it brought a unique perspective when it comes to city building. And its latest update called Banners & Wonders, which arrived free of charge for anyone who owns the game, takes things even further. For starters, we should note that if you have older saves from the original release, those won’t work with the new update. You will have to start a new city, which is great anyway because it offers some creative, new ideas.

As the name suggests, the highlight of this update are definitely the game’s new wonders. There are 3 wonders in total, the Eiffel Tower being the one you can access right away. Then, there’s the Neuschwanstein Castle and the Statue of Liberty that you can unlock after you complete some playthroughs. Basically, you have to complete certain objectives in order to progress from one age to the next.

The older wonders are called monuments now and they will help you reduce the constructi... (read more)]]> Thu, 07 May 2026 14:42:56 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://news.softpedia.com/news/memoriapolis-banners-wonders-dlc-pc-yay-or-nay-538122.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/wax-heads-review-538121.shtml Getting a hot new track is the highlight of the day. After I enter the store, I talk to the employees who have shifts, listen to their concerns, then open up the jukebox, play the new song, play it again, and then make a twenty-minute playlist. This is roughly how long it takes to get through a game day filled with chatty customers and the constant search for the perfect record.

My character, the new kid at the record store, is also constantly learning more about his colleagues and about the former rock star owner. And it’s always a pleasure to pick up a record, read the track list, see what the critics think, and then listen to the lead single.

Wax Heads is developed by Patattie Games and published by Curve Games. I played it on the PC using Steam, with the title also on the Nintendo Switch, the PlayStation 5 from Sony, and the Xbox Series X and S from Microsoft. The video game is an exuberant exploration of music, its fans, and its power to connect people and mak... (read more)]]> Wed, 06 May 2026 08:22:00 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/wax-heads-review-538121.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/hank-drowning-on-dry-land-review-538120.shtml We’ve seen a lot of superhero movies and TV shows over the past decade, but videogames in this genre are scarce. And if we see any, they are usually action-focused titles. Hank: Drowning on Dry Land tries something different, since we have a hero named Hank which is a Batman-esque superhero with a drinking problem. We follow his short, yet entertaining adventure, as he gets sucked into the game of the Unraveler.

The Unraveler is one of your mortal enemies, and he is trying to teach you a twisted lesson, while placing you through a multitude of puzzles. And, of course, you also have to endure his monologues, which never seem to end. Thankfully, Hank has a unique ability to speed up or rewind time. That comes in handy, because you feel stuck in a loop and you really have to figure out what to do next, which might be a lot harder than expected.

Can you do that from your first try, though? No, but every failed attempt will give you more clues, and that’s for the better... (read more)]]> Tue, 05 May 2026 14:28:44 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/hank-drowning-on-dry-land-review-538120.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://news.softpedia.com/news/don-t-lose-aggro-preview-pc-538119.shtml Anyone who played MMOs enjoys trying out tanks, they are invincible and quite fun to play. However, these days, not everyone has hundreds of hours to pour into an MMO, yet still miss those cool dungeon raids. Don't Lose Aggro is here to bring us that in a roguelite format, making the game very easy to replay. And the cool thing is that all of this is made by a single person, too.

The core idea is simple, you enter a dungeon, deal as much damage as possible and kill a plethora of enemies, then you go back to your base camp and upgrade your stats. Then, in true roguelite fashion, you rinse and repeat. There are benefits to playing over and over, since you can get permanent upgrades which will enhance your gameplay. I felt the gameplay loop, albeit simple, is very satisfying, and you will find yourself enjoying it more and more as you play.

Plus, the fact that you have an AI healer alongside you and your focus is just on being a tank is great. It alleviates a lot of t... (read more)]]> Tue, 05 May 2026 14:16:07 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://news.softpedia.com/news/don-t-lose-aggro-preview-pc-538119.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/motogp-26-review-538118.shtml After Ride 6, Milestone is back at it again with a new MotoGP title, and this one sounded very promising. Since this series is annualized, this year’s iteration is very similar to the one from a few years ago, albeit with its fair share of changes.

One of the first things that stood out for me in MotoGP 26 is the fact that they shifted to Unreal Engine 5, and unlike most games using this engine, this one is not dealing with a lot of stuttering or performance problems. With that in mind, the previous engine was great, and the visual difference, while interesting, felt minimal in my experience.

However, MotoGP 26 follows the real MotoGP World Championship schedule to the letter, and this year we get a new high-speed circuit in Goiania in Brazil. It’s a great circuit with a layout that’s rather simple and easy to understand.

For me, MotoGP 26’s career mode is the most important part of the game, and it has some interesting upgrades. You have a press conference where ... (read more)]]> Mon, 04 May 2026 12:54:41 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/motogp-26-review-538118.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/reclaim-azhe-giiwewining-review-538117.shtml I love the constantly chirping birds. The Diindiisiwag, which translates to blue jays, are beautiful, with bright shades of deep blue covering their wings, and they travel in an unbreakable group of three. They love mischief and jokes, which they aren’t afraid to tell multiple times. That’s good, considering that even as I lack the cultural context to fully understand what makes some of them funny, the birds’ delivery is good enough to make me laugh.

I’ve already talked to a few animals, and one human who’s actually a spirit that might give my character, Miskwaa, a way to get home to her grandma. Now I’m looking for ways to repair a canoe, which involves a trip underwater and more conversations with animal spirits. Let’s see if any can tell good jokes.

Reclaim! Azhe-giiwewining is developed and published by Grassroots Indigenous Multimedia. I played on the PC using Steam, with the experience not available on other hardware. The video game uses an old-school point-a... (read more)]]> Fri, 01 May 2026 18:09:18 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/reclaim-azhe-giiwewining-review-538117.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/lunchbreak-tactics-review-538116.shtml I suspect powers that activate at the end of the shop phase are the most important for a team that aims to win a run without losing a battle. I got a Crystal Ball quickly, aided by the extra shop level draw power of the dog that’s leading my team. I gave that to a Shrimpooner, which I then upgraded twice, and he’s been picking up health after each shop phase. He’s now fourth in the battle line and tends to close out battles, even when my opponent brings more powerful fighters.

I'm having problems with builds that go hard on the Aristoglass and its unique ability to gain buffs when allies are brought in. Undershovels, placed last in the line and with a solid team around them, can also be an issue. I should probably drop my Gulltrader, but I really like getting cheaper cards, even if they are random. Let’s see how the next shop phase entices me to spend my hard-earned battle bucks.

Lunchbreak Tactics is developed by Borealys Games and published by Borealys Games and ... (read more)]]> Thu, 30 Apr 2026 12:59:52 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/lunchbreak-tactics-review-538116.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/ayasa-shadows-of-silence-review-538115.shtml Ayasa: Shadows of Silence is a game that embraces the idea of scariness and horror, while also adding some unique touches into the mix. It’s a wonderful combination of platformer, puzzle and horror games, all grouped together to deliver something interesting, yet also quite challenging at times.

You take the role of a young girl called Ayasa. You’re in a forest, and then you have to figure out what happened, and what you need to do. As soon as you start the game, you will notice that the controls take a bit of getting used to, as the game has quite the learning curve. It took me around 15 minutes to understand and get used to the controls. It wasn’t a huge problem, but it’s certainly something you want to get used to.

Being in a world that’s collapsing under alien attacks, atomic fires and a purple mist is quite damning. But you have to keep on moving. The world in this game feels weird, but it also brings a rather familiar tone, which is exactly what makes it set ... (read more)]]> Wed, 29 Apr 2026 13:54:47 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/ayasa-shadows-of-silence-review-538115.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://news.softpedia.com/news/victoria-3-the-great-wave-dlc-yay-or-nay-pc-538114.shtml I should have built more supply ships sooner. A British Empire that wants to sustain campaigns in Asia while also using its fleets to patrol the high seas needs significant support. Designing vessels with smaller supply requirements is another option, although that can create opportunities for rivals like the United States and France to exploit if war breaks out.

Playing the new Japanese content offers a different challenge. This very traditional and closed society has to open up, make big choices, and deal with a variety of threats. Where and when to develop industries is a massive decision. Cash reserves are limited. And the conflict between the Shogun and Emperor, each with their own supporters, will most likely lead to a civil war.

Victoria 3: The Great Wave is developed by Paradox Development Studio and published by Paradox Interactive. This expansion enhances the naval aspect of the grand strategy title, while also introducing extra narrative content.
The new... (read more)]]> Wed, 29 Apr 2026 04:05:24 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://news.softpedia.com/news/victoria-3-the-great-wave-dlc-yay-or-nay-pc-538114.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/hell-of-fear-mind-breach-review-538113.shtml HELL OF FEAR: Mind Breach is one of those games that easily flew under the radar, because it launched alongside some larger, AAA titles. But make no mistake, this indie survival horror is definitely worth a shot, especially since it provides players with a great blend of Dead Space and System Shock. It’s meant to offer an exciting, yet horrific adventure at times, while also being affordable and easy to go through.

You’re in a space base that was taken over by a killer plant, and you have to figure out what to do in order to stay alive. The challenge here is clear, if you don’t survive, you turn into those plant-controlled creatures, and that’s not a possibility. However, most of the other people and creatures on the base have been turned, so you have to eliminate the slimy green foes, even if those might be some of your friends.

The enemy AI is not going to impress you, but it’s also by design. Enemies are controlled by a plant and naturally, they are not going to... (read more)]]> Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:21:07 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/hell-of-fear-mind-breach-review-538113.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/city-tales-medieval-era-review-538112.shtml City Tales - Medieval Era has been in early access since mid-2025, and it slowly built up to become one of the better city builders of the year. And now that it’s finally out, we get to enjoy its immersive story, complete city building mechanics and some interesting surprises. I was excited to see how City Tales - Medieval Era’s 1.0 would look, and what I saw here impressed me in more ways than expected.

Unlike newer city builders that add a sense of urgency, calamities and so on, City Tales - Medieval Era is more of a chill builder. It’s meant to test your skills in other ways, and rest assured that there are plenty of missions and challenges ahead of you.

Right off the bat, you will notice that City Tales - Medieval Era has a very distinct visual style. They went with a storybook look instead of true realism. And that’s helpful, because it makes the game world feel idyllic, beautiful and serene, exactly something you would take out of a fantasy story.

Additional... (read more)]]> Mon, 27 Apr 2026 18:49:38 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/city-tales-medieval-era-review-538112.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://news.softpedia.com/news/hearts-of-iron-iv-peace-for-our-time-dlc-yay-or-nay-pc-538111.shtml The United Kingdom and France are taking their sweet time to really get into World War II. The Czechs man their fortified line, having decided that losing the Sudetenland isn’t acceptable. The Nazis tried to break through for a few months, lost a lot of people and equipment, and are now no longer interested in attacking.

The problem is that the Western Allies are not doing anything to move on the Germans, while the soft underbelly of our own Little Entente, meaning Yugoslavia, is unable to deal with the Fascist Italians. It would have been nice to be able to build some forts to help them out. Without them, I hope my armor and mountain troops are enough to stop the assault. And I would love a way to prod the UK and France into action.

Hearts of Iron IV: Peace for Our Time is developed by Paradox Development Studio and published by Paradox Interactive. This downloadable content pack is labeled as a Focus Pack, designed to create a unique experience for one of the gra... (read more)]]> Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:04:25 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://news.softpedia.com/news/hearts-of-iron-iv-peace-for-our-time-dlc-yay-or-nay-pc-538111.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/replaced-review-538110.shtml Games that have an alternative version of society are always fascinating, because we’re always questioning ourselves “what if” quite often. And in a title like REPLACED, you get to see that brought to life. In this game, the Cuban Missile Crisis brought a nuclear war between Russia and the US, and the Phoenix Corporation is the one focused on resurrecting the nation.

It’s an interesting setting, since the 1980s US has a beautiful, yet rather dark cyberpunk theme. We play the role of REACH, which is an AI who melded with the mind of Warren Marsh, its creator. The Phoenix Corporation ordered an attack on Marsh, which leads to an explosion.

The AI Reach was programmed to think that the corporation was the be all, end all, but throughout the story, it changes its perspectives. That’s where REPLACED manages to serve as a great social commentary tool, reminiscing of today’s society in many ways. The original purpose of Reach was to calculate compatibility between recipie... (read more)]]> Fri, 24 Apr 2026 13:50:50 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/replaced-review-538110.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/tombwater-review-538109.shtml It’s good that these crazed creatures have trouble with stairs. This means my gunslinger character can often safely use them to execute a tactical retreat, which is great when a group is attacking at the same time. A bit of time allows me to re-evaluate the combat scenario, hack a few of them, gain more bullets, shoot one or two, and then finish the rest without taking damage.

Dashing at the right time helps. Learning the patterns for all enemy types is even better. And, when no foes have appeared in a while, it helps to be on the lookout for a ranged surprise attack. Dash, preferably avoiding pits, to learn their rhythm and then counter with a bullet or move in for a melee kill. And try to avoid using any precious health items, including the flasks.

Tombwater is developed by Moth Atlas and published by Midwest Games. I played using Steam on the PC, the only hardware platform on which it is offered. The video game combines melee, spells, and ranged combat, with sou... (read more)]]> Thu, 23 Apr 2026 13:49:39 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/tombwater-review-538109.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://news.softpedia.com/news/jotunnslayer-hordes-of-hel-conan-dlc-yay-or-nay-pc-538108.shtml Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel has quickly become one of my go-to survivor games because it has close to Diablo-like graphics, amazing visual design, and some really cool characters. Now they added Conan into the mix, an affordable DLC that brings the legendary Conan as a playable character, along with a new realm called Stygia.

I am quite fond of this DLC because Conan is a melee powerhouse, and his abilities are nothing short of impressive. He’s powerful to begin with, his abilities related to swords, and even a bouncing shield which can deal quite a bit of damage to his own.

Conan also has passives, which work with triumphs, and these stack after you meet certain conditions. Triumps are interesting because they negate an incoming blow, which makes Conan more of a tank when compared to the other heroes. It is overpowered at first, but as you ramp up the difficulty, you will find the new map to be quite challenging.
Stygia, the new realm, has quickly become one of my... (read more)]]> Wed, 22 Apr 2026 20:03:26 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://news.softpedia.com/news/jotunnslayer-hordes-of-hel-conan-dlc-yay-or-nay-pc-538108.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/minos-review-538107.shtml I made Asterion dig in the wrong place. I focused on resources when I should have been thinking in terms of available trap spots. Now I have two mechanical death devices that will sit in Daedalus’ magical inventory rather than deal damage to the angry Greeks that are coming for the Minotaur. He might have to engage in some hand-to-hand combat.

I get through the round unscathed, and I fill the blood vessel that adds more trap options. I also use my energy to make sure all traps are open. Then it takes five minutes to discover the perfect route for the incoming adventurers. In Minos, perfect means the route where they will be spiked, burned, moved around by my magical power, and generally suffer before they die.

The video game is developed by Artificer and published by Devolver Digital. I played via Steam on the PC, with the title only offered on this hardware. The video game combines trap construction and maze shaping with a rogue-lite core.

The tale of the Minotau... (read more)]]> Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:14:24 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/minos-review-538107.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/second-sun-review-538106.shtml These days, there are a lot of hybrids genres, so learning about titles that try to blend FPS and action RPGs is not that far-fetched. Second Sun is a title that tries to bring us such a blend, and I think it succeeds for the most part. In Second Sun, you are a soldier of the Sun Empire, which is a militaristic monarchy battling the order of the Second Sun. That order brought a cataclysm into the mix, and naturally, demon creatures are spread all over the land.

Your focus is to figure out what happened, bring order back into the world, and also stay alive in the process. It’s interesting to see that Second Sun doesn’t borrow story ideas from other games, instead it focuses on having its own identity. You will see some cyberpunk and magic-focused ideas, but at the same time, it’s still a wonderful open world experience with dungeons and everything you would expect from this genre.

Second Sun is more of a boomer shooter. However, it has some great RPG elements and it... (read more)]]> Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:18:04 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/second-sun-review-538106.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/constance-review-538105.shtml Constance is a young woman, a digital creative as an artist who is constantly dealing with stress in life, and mental health challenges. She receives a brush that she needs to take with her, and soon she embarks on a journey of self-discovery, while also tackling a variety of interesting missions.

Constance is quite similar to Hollow Knight, since it offers a more open-world approach to platforming, instead of being a linear adventure. And that’s both a good and a bad thing. Instead, you have an entire world to explore and plenty of bosses to encounter. That being said, you will also end up finding many bosses that are a delight to play against, but also some that are truly difficult to deal with.

An interesting thing about Constance is the fact that our titular character will encounter many characters that help them on her journey. Those characters have side quests, which will deepen your connection with them. For me, Constance’s story was interesting, but as you ... (read more)]]> Mon, 20 Apr 2026 14:11:35 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/constance-review-538105.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile)