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, 11 Aug 2026 12:07:43 +0000 Tue, 11 Aug 2026 12:07:43 +0000 News http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 10 https://cdnssl.softpedia.com/_img/softpedia_logo_rss.png https://news.softpedia.com/ https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/mistfall-hunter-review-538226.shtml When Mistfall Hunter was first announced, the idea of having an extraction game with soulslike combat intrigued me quite a bit. And it made me curious about how they would pull it off, but thankfully Bellring Games delivers in a way that I did not expect. Certainly not without its issues, of course, but this is a game that tries something new, even if it has a few failure points here and there.

Mistfall Hunter takes place in the world of Weavereach, after a cataclysmic war wiped out the ancient gods of the land, and this world is now in shambles. We play as a gyldhunter, and we venture in 2 different maps, trying to eliminate enemies and bosses, accumulate loot and escape before the timer runs out, which is roughly 20 minutes. That sounds like much, but as you explore and go into different paths or battle enemies, you will have times when you barely escape at the 1-minute limit. As you get past that, there’s a battle-royale-like circle which will push you towards ex... (read more)]]> Tue, 11 Aug 2026 09:49:43 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/mistfall-hunter-review-538226.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://news.softpedia.com/news/expeditions-samurai-preview-pc-538225.shtml The fourth game in the Expeditions series, which started back in 2013 with the release of Expeditions: Conquistador, is called Expeditions: Samurai. If you haven’t guessed by now, the game takes players to Japan, loosely following the path to the English navigator William Adams (of Shogun book and TV show fame) in the year 1600, leading up to the Battle of Skigahara that cemented Tokugawa Ieyasu as the ultimate unifier of Japan.

Expeditions: Samurai remains an expansive party-based RPG set in our world during real historical events, which promises to offer players an intricate, branching story, as well as a vibrant cast of characters. Just like the previous installments in the series, Expeditions: Samurai is split into acts, but only the first one is available at the moment. The Early Access version of the game will continue to be updated, and the other acts will be added throughout the development cycle up to the point of the game’s launch.

Now, let’s talk a bit a... (read more)]]> Mon, 10 Aug 2026 06:14:57 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://news.softpedia.com/news/expeditions-samurai-preview-pc-538225.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/reap-and-rush-review-538224.shtml Reap and Rush is a game whose focus is on bringing the action roguelite experience to the next level, and it manages to do that without breaking a sweat. It embraces mythology, while adding its own twists and a variety of quests to really bring you that innate sense of immersion and excitement. And at the same time, it does that by being very cool, fun to play and incredibly intense at times.

The premise here is simple, you take the role of an underworld envoy and you try to fight various hordes of Yaoguai. But it’s not easy, as they are indeed coming towards you in hordes, and you have to figure out what’s the best way to stop them, while also staying alive in the process. That’s not an easy thing, but if you are doing it right, the results can be nothing short of incredible.

The game functions like any other action roguelite out there. And the idea is simple, you have enemies that gravitate towards you, and the only thing you can do is use your abilities and try ... (read more)]]> Mon, 10 Aug 2026 04:07:49 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/reap-and-rush-review-538224.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/sovereign-tower-review-538223.shtml My kingdom has already weathered two great threats. A Kingslayer tried to depose and kill me, and it took four knights with strong equipment and true steeds to stop him. Before that, a Dragon Knight challenged the Round Table, and the efforts of three knights, one of them an expert at hunting monsters, were needed to defeat him and gain the heart of his dragon mount.

But those are glory days long past, even if they happened just a few weeks ago. Since then, one of my lovely heroes, the always helmeted Goberto, perished while trying to track down a magical artifact. Part of the fault was mine for not repairing his armor because I was low on gold. A few, like Arron and Ursula, aren’t happy with my leadership after completing quests that don’t fully align with their principles.

But the biggest problem is that the treasury is always under pressure. So, I pawn equipment I don’t need and make sure that the knights go on quests with decent monetary rewards. I’m also hopin... (read more)]]> Fri, 07 Aug 2026 14:14:25 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/sovereign-tower-review-538223.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://news.softpedia.com/news/company-of-heroes-3-final-stand-dlc-yay-or-nay-pc-538222.shtml Company of Heroes 3 is a game that’s not strange to mods and people try to add their own spin to the overall gameplay. However, it seems that the devs decided to offer players something completely different in the form of Company of Heroes 3: Final Stand. This is a roguelite, wave-based game mode for Company of Heroes 3, which comes as a standalone release. And on top of that it’s co-op too, which is even better.

Final Stand comes with a bunch of new maps, and what’s great about it is the fact that you can select the map, difficulty and faction. That matters, because you get to narrow down where and how you play, and it all becomes way more interesting and enticing. You can think of Company of Heroes 3: Final Stand as a wave-based, horde game, within the setting of COH3. It sounds a bit crazy, but it works very nicely, and it adds a unique layer of intensity as well.

The concept of this standalone game mode is pretty interesting. You have a base and you are defendi... (read more)]]> Thu, 06 Aug 2026 05:22:00 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://news.softpedia.com/news/company-of-heroes-3-final-stand-dlc-yay-or-nay-pc-538222.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/senara-the-sacrament-review-538221.shtml SENARA: The Sacrament is a creative horror game that embraces the survival horror element, and it puts us in the middle of the ocean, on a large ship as we try to stay alive. It gets a lot of inspiration not only from Ghost Ship and other maritime horror movies, but also the great Cold Fear game from back in the day. However, it also brings a spin of its own, and combined with elements from a real story, you have an amalgam of ideas that mostly sticks to the landing.

Right off the bat, the game starts off with you being on the cruise ship, you have no idea why or how you got there. Even at the beginning, you have a couple of enemies that try to kill you, and then you slowly start meeting people, like the captain. Then you realize what happened, basically the ship was taken over by a fanatical cult who killed everyone they found on the ship.

The captain tells you to try and trigger the distress beacon in order to call a rescue helicopter. He also lets you know that ... (read more)]]> Thu, 06 Aug 2026 04:19:57 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/senara-the-sacrament-review-538221.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/corsair-cove-review-538220.shtml The golden age of piracy might be one of the most interesting times in human history. We had pirates doing whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted, and not taking anything for granted. Corsair Cove is a game set in that era, and its focus is on creating a great hideout for pirates, while also featuring quite a lot of battles. So, it very much allows you to live your pirate fantasy, while also being incredibly fun and quite deep when it comes to hideout building, too.

Corsair Cove has a familiar gameplay core, since you exploit resources on the island with harvesting buildings, refine them into goods, and then use those goods you make to keep your pirates happy, accumulate money and of course, construct more buildings.

However, you don’t have a lot of space on the island, so you have to focus on building on cliffs, which makes the hideout quite interesting. Buildings are placed on cliffs, and they are linked together by ropes, elevators, ziplines and so on. Somet... (read more)]]> Wed, 05 Aug 2026 05:05:17 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/corsair-cove-review-538220.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://news.softpedia.com/news/galactic-civilizations-iv-federations-empires-dlc-yay-or-nay-pc-538219.shtml My oligarchic version of humankind is thriving, despite competing with 9 other alien space empires for limited resources. Three corporations are boosting my manufacturing and my research, while reducing my maintenance. And a fourth gives me a special ability to boost my trade income as long as I’m ready to invest the needed control.

The big problem is that I’m running out of dead worlds to power my regime. My communication starbases are pushing my borders out, but that is leading to tensions with neighbors. I know I can protect the two sectors that I pretty much dominate, and I have the necessary shipyards to boost my fleets if needed. But there’s a third sector contested by my Terrans, the Frengin, and the Yor, where I need reinforcements. And spending credits to develop a planet faster might not be enough.

Galactic Civilizations IV: Federations & Empires is developed and published by Stardock Entertainment. This is a major downloadable content pack for the turn-b... (read more)]]> Tue, 04 Aug 2026 05:06:27 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://news.softpedia.com/news/galactic-civilizations-iv-federations-empires-dlc-yay-or-nay-pc-538219.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/graphite-review-538218.shtml The sound of an enemy breaking is music to my party’s ears. It means that a powerful attack or special ability has been neutered for a while and that the three of them have more time to launch their own attacks. Given the amount of health Death has, it will take a lot of careful use of our own unique skills to take him down while making sure no one gets hit too hard.

So I Taunt with my Warrior, who is already armored up and can get extra relatively quickly. He also has an artifact that gives his companions block, which helps. The Taunt means he will get attacked, but he has time to attack once more before that happens. Because this monster is already broken, I focus my attention on the slime in the backline. My Rogue launches two attacks of his own and might have a chance to execute next time he acts.

My Mage contributes some random attacks, but her focus is on using wind magic to boost the team. He was the last one recruited and feels somewhat weaker than her fell... (read more)]]> Tue, 04 Aug 2026 04:54:56 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/graphite-review-538218.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/nightmare-frontier-review-538217.shtml Nightmare Frontier has a premise that immediately surprised me, because it tries to blend tactics with looter shooters, a genre which is quite successful. And it also brings the Wild West atmosphere along with some terrifying monster types, lots of loot and naturally, some great character management that all adds up to deliver an intense and rewarding experience.

At its core, Nightmare Frontier puts you in similar maps over and over, as it creates a roguelike experience where every encounter with enemies will bring its own challenges, but also pretty good loot. Complete every map, and you unlock story options, along with new locations.

At the beginning of the game, you receive a few heroes, but you can unlock melee strongmen, ranged shooters, gunslingers and so on, which retains the overall tone of the game. The bulk of the game sits in these small tactical missions, so it is a bit misleading to call it an extraction game. You basically have a list of encounters an... (read more)]]> Mon, 03 Aug 2026 05:00:53 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/nightmare-frontier-review-538217.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://news.softpedia.com/news/zerospace-preview-pc-538216.shtml I should have moved to kill Bessie as soon as its name was mentioned. But I was more focused on making sure none of the creepy crawly aliens could reach the vulnerable colonists. Turrets helped, as did a decent number of mercenaries. Once the base was impenetrable, enemies were constantly assaulting defended chokepoints, making it basically impossible to get to the alien boss.

Now we’re back on the ship, joined by the evacuated colonists. I spend resources on upgrades for my soldiers and talk with my second in command about the tactical situation. Then it’s time to launch into another battle and think about humanity’s future among these hostile stars.

ZeroSpace is developed by Starlance Studios and Ironward, with publishing handled by Starlance Studios and Gamersky Games. The title is currently in Early Access on Steam. The video game combines a classic take on real-time strategy with a character-driven story.

The RTS action takes place in a version of the future ... (read more)]]> Fri, 31 Jul 2026 13:44:38 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://news.softpedia.com/news/zerospace-preview-pc-538216.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/high-times-review-538215.shtml It’s sometimes easier to understand what’s troubling someone than to design a unique doughnut that can alter their mood. I know that my favorite stoner is just discovering that the world involves people stepping over each other to win the rat race. But his poetic revelations don’t help much when it comes to choosing between matcha with a mystery herb and ube with a special touch for his fried dough treat.

Thankfully, I have never burned a doughnut, and it’s hard to believe that an icing mismatch makes it impossible to enjoy one. So, I mix strawberry and blueberry for this order, with sprinkles and nuts on top. It hits right, and the relationship level hits one hundred and unlocks new conversations.

I hope one of the two people I would like to romance comes in before closing. There are six options, and I have not yet committed to dating anyone. My doughnut game is strong enough that I could charm any of them, but one is too vanilla, two of them think too highly of t... (read more)]]> Fri, 31 Jul 2026 04:54:56 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/high-times-review-538215.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/fading-echo-review-538214.shtml Fading Echo is an exciting action platformer, and one with a very interesting visual style that immediately caught my attention. My focus when it comes to a game like this is to bring up something creative, immersive and enjoyable. And Fading Echo delivers way more than I thought it would, since it adds a unique sense of style and visuals, while also being very creative.

The story in this game is straightforward, as we take the role of a young woman called One, who journeys with her mother and randomly gets pulled into an alternative dimension. That’s where she discovers that she actually has some latent abilities like turning into a small blob of water. Having the world destroyed by something is not something original, but the game just uses that as a backdrop to showcase your powers, and that’s something I immediately appreciated.

The main appeal for this game has to be its gameplay, however. It’s very reminiscent of the PS2 and Xbox Live platformer era, where th... (read more)]]> Thu, 30 Jul 2026 06:13:17 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/fading-echo-review-538214.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/dead-weight-review-538213.shtml Pirate-themed games have become very popular recently, and with Dead Weight, we are exploring a unique experience, as the game allows us to explore between various islands floating above the Abyss. We are trying to solve all kinds of quests, accumulate experience and do whatever we can in order to survive.

The story is interesting, because during a cataclysm, the world was torn apart and only a few floating islands are remaining from the entire planet. Aside from humans, other creatures survived, such as goblins for example. However, there are evil cultists in there as well, as they appeared and they are doing their best to summon new monsters and bring chaos in this already barren world.

At first, we play as Arn the strongman, and you have to hit enemies with your sword, push them against obstacles and throw them into the abyss. But as time goes by, the rage meter accumulates, and you can hit even harder. Once you defeat your first boss, you start unlocking charac... (read more)]]> Wed, 29 Jul 2026 13:00:29 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/dead-weight-review-538213.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://news.softpedia.com/news/prelude-dark-pain-preview-pc-538212.shtml Drawing in as many enemies to Tammais is always a good idea. He’s big, he has health, and he can dish out plenty of damage. More importantly, one of his special abilities taunts enemies, making sure they do not attack his more vulnerable companions. I end his turn, and two opponents strike him, one from the flank, so I then use Tizon to heal him back up.

Soren and Gala are the big damage dealers, striking from behind when possible and using barrels to blow armored enemies up. But it’s hard to end their turn in the Defensive stance, so I try to move them out of harm’s way. Akh Burut, the boss of this battle, can heal his allies, so the plan is to focus on him before eliminating the henchmen. Maya, from a defensible position, is using her own skills to weaken opponents, but she has already taken a few hits and might be in trouble if the entire enemy force focuses on her.

Prelude Dark Pain is developed by QUICKFIREGAMES and published by Firesquid and Gamersky Games. T... (read more)]]> Wed, 29 Jul 2026 12:46:57 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://news.softpedia.com/news/prelude-dark-pain-preview-pc-538212.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://news.softpedia.com/news/terra-invicta-dark-skies-dlc-yay-or-nay-pc-538211.shtml Seeing how an alien invasion would fracture humanity was extremely interesting in Terra Invicta, and with this new DLC called Dark Skies, we are getting even more “what if” scenarios that are quite interesting. The DLC comes with 2 scenarios and also 2 new ship sets, either an industrial hard sci-fi or NASA-inspired ships, great visual styles that are a wonderful addition to the game.

But naturally, if you want to play Dark Skies, you’re mostly getting it for the 2 new scenarios. And they are great, both of them. The 2003 scenario allows you to take control of a faction during the US-led invasion of IRAQ, and it gives an interesting perspective towards how the alien invasion would take place. This was my least favorite out of the two, but I still think it’s one of the most interesting scenarios on Terra Invicta. So that alone goes to show the quality that this DLC comes with.

I am a huge fan of the techs and projects they added for you to research in this DLC, and ... (read more)]]> Tue, 28 Jul 2026 06:43:08 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://news.softpedia.com/news/terra-invicta-dark-skies-dlc-yay-or-nay-pc-538211.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/forsaken-realms-vahrin-039-s-call-review-538210.shtml While modern action RPGs are great, they all tend to have a similar story, where you are the hero and you have to destroy the enemy forces. With Forsaken Realms: Vahrin's Call, you get something different, as you are a mercenary trying to navigate a world that was shaped by personal ambition, political conflict and there are also people just trying to survive.

The game has been in development for over a decade, and it’s definitely something that you see right off the bat. It’s an indie RPG through and through, so don’t expect top of the line UE5 visuals. However, the game itself looks incredible, and the universe they made here looks very much like a real place.

I like the fact that the entire story doesn’t rely around you. Not being a chosen one and instead just focusing on getting some coin via quests is refreshing, and I felt it really made the gameplay feel more cohesive and consistent. You don’t really feel the pressure of the world on your shoulders, and inst... (read more)]]> Tue, 28 Jul 2026 06:21:55 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/forsaken-realms-vahrin-039-s-call-review-538210.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://news.softpedia.com/news/grim-dawn-fangs-of-asterkarn-dlc-yay-or-nay-pc-538209.shtml Grim Dawn - Fangs of Asterkarn was announced years ago, and now it’s finally in our hands. This new (and final) DLC is massive, basically the size of the 2 previous expansions combined. The new, icy regions they brought in felt great, and the variation offered in terms of level design is nothing short of impressive. Even if the game’s visuals are not top of the line, they really stretched the engine to its limits with this, as most regions look stunning, and you are in awe at times when it comes to what you are seeing on the screen.

They are bringing a new berserker mastery with this one, which for me felt incredibly interesting and fun to play. The abilities feel great and satisfying, not to mention I found myself pushing the werewolf to its limits and trying to constantly eliminate enemies left and right, becoming a true tank. There’s also the Onslaught mechanic which the berserker uses quite well, and I had a good time trying to make it extremely overpowered whil... (read more)]]> Mon, 27 Jul 2026 05:29:56 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://news.softpedia.com/news/grim-dawn-fangs-of-asterkarn-dlc-yay-or-nay-pc-538209.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/farlands-review-538208.shtml Farlands is a game that tries to seamlessly combine exploration, crafting and farming with life simulation, all of which takes place in a beautiful and serene world. You’re not getting a countryside farm here, however. Instead, you are purchasing an entire planet that was abandoned, and it’s situated at the edge of a lesser-known solar system. It sounds great, until you get there and see why no one wanted it.

Clearly, there’s something wrong with the planet. It’s neglected, overgrowth, any buildings that are there are just falling apart, and the alien vegetation has overtaken that place. You get there with your small droid, and hope for the best. Thankfully, things are not as problematic as you might think in the beginning. But it’s definitely a tad challenging, especially as you get started.

While Farlands has a bit of a story, it’s definitely not the main focus. And in general, people who enjoy Stardew Valley or cozy games in general tend to value gameplay more t... (read more)]]> Mon, 27 Jul 2026 05:06:56 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/farlands-review-538208.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/wreck-runners-review-538207.shtml Recently, a lot of extraction games have been releasing, with a unique twist on the genre. After battling all kinds of daemons and Lovecraftian creatures in The Mound, we now have Wreck Runners, which takes us to the Bermuda Triangle. It’s an interesting game that brings a very solid cooperative foundation, and an immersive set of gameplay mechanics well beyond what you would normally expect in this genre.

Wreck Runners has a very simple story, as it takes place in the Bermuda triangle and players are employees for the Trustwell Corporation. The company is suspicious, but they are asking you to explore the nearby regions and acquire all kinds of loot. And naturally, as you do that, you will run into all kinds of supernatural enemies and creatures.

The game isn’t really focused on establishing a great story or anything. What’s there is functional enough to give us a backdrop, and honestly it does a decent job at it. Yes, it could have more information and content, b... (read more)]]> Fri, 24 Jul 2026 09:04:39 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/wreck-runners-review-538207.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://news.softpedia.com/news/strategic-command-world-war-i-battles-for-ypres-dlc-yay-or-nay-pc-538206.shtml It’s a bad idea to over-commit when it’s unclear whether the enemy is breaking or bending. We’re aiming for Ypres but would settle for Passchendaele if all goes right. But after five days, the breach the Allies have made in German lines is still small, and they are extracting a price of blood for every taken hex.

So far, I’ve been replacing losses at the front, hoping to get the momentum going. But it might be time to take a one or two turn breather, use the artillery defensively, and bring in some fresh troops. A diversionary strike, which would gobble up some resources, might also help the Allies as they try to secure more victory points in Belgium.

Strategic Command: World War I - Battles for Ypres is developed by Fury Software and published by Matrix Games. This is the second downloadable content pack for the strategy game, focused on one of the most important strategic regions of the first global conflict.

The DLC features six campaigns. It all starts during ... (read more)]]> Fri, 24 Jul 2026 08:48:48 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://news.softpedia.com/news/strategic-command-world-war-i-battles-for-ypres-dlc-yay-or-nay-pc-538206.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://news.softpedia.com/news/panzer-corps-2-elite-all-american-dlc-yay-or-nay-pc-538205.shtml Airborne troops are all about surprise and speed. They are also uniquely vulnerable in their transport planes and gliders. Add the fact that they need a turn on the ground before they get to actually act, and it becomes clear that executing an airborne assault is a complex and risky job.

World War II commanders learned this the hard way, and I only marginally avoided having to do the same. Pushing for a bonus objective is a good idea when you have a decent chance of getting it. But, trying to improve my abilities for future missions, I spread my force too thin. Now I have an under-strength force moving toward Niscemi, and I need to scramble reinforcements to deal with a Tiger.

The 82nd Airborne has five turns to destroy the tank. Thankfully, it lacks any infantry support. Unfortunately, my own armor is limited. So, heavy weapons United States infantry, and Wolverines will have to destroy it, which means I will take losses. Moving faster to secure victory points ear... (read more)]]> Thu, 23 Jul 2026 11:33:22 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://news.softpedia.com/news/panzer-corps-2-elite-all-american-dlc-yay-or-nay-pc-538205.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/go-go-town-review-538204.shtml We’ve seen a lot of cozy games which allow us to create a town and explore the world the devs have created, but with Go-Go Town!, things are a bit different. We are the mayor of a town, and we need to take control of it. That means everything from planning neighborhoods, automating logistics, handling the infrastructure, while also completing all kinds of unique objectives. The game also features co-op, which helps take the madness to new heights, and it’s even more exciting all the same.

The game’s premises are interesting, and the fact that it features a colorful cartoony style makes it even more interesting. But unlike other mayors that just issue orders, you are also taking part in the work as well. So yes, you have to complete tasks, manufacture goods, acquire resources and clean trash. It’s certainly not a glamorous life, but it is something fun, and a very immersive experience you will enjoy.

However, as the town expands, you are shifting away from hands-on ... (read more)]]> Thu, 23 Jul 2026 11:23:46 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/go-go-town-review-538204.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/celestial-return-review-538203.shtml I’ve decided to be rational in this cyberpunk city where spirits can infiltrate and bend reality. Maybe I should have gone with a bigger focus on perception. I’m not gonna know how the story would have played out unless I roll back every choice I’ve made, all of which feel true to my detective character, and start the entire adventure again.

So we’re stubbornly trying to make sense of everything that’s happening, relying on partner Rose for some extra details, hoping that the other voices don’t force detective Howard to do something truly stupid. And we’re using the dice we have as conservatively as possible, trying to understand what’s important for the wider narrative while also mattering to the private eye on a personal level.

Unfortunately, the dice recently failed a roll and then a re-roll, which probably means there’s no way to deal with a bigger coming threat. I don’t think there’s another dice source in the city, although I will need to load an earlier save... (read more)]]> Wed, 22 Jul 2026 05:28:40 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/celestial-return-review-538203.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/the-mound-omen-of-cthulhu-review-538202.shtml I’ve always been a fan of the ACE Team games, because they are a studio that always pushes the limits and experiments with something new. And clearly, The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu is a byproduct of that. It’s a roguelite game at heart, and the idea is that you have up to 4 people (although you can also play on your own), explorers that are embarking on expeditions and your focus is to try and grab treasure, while also getting back to the ship alive. And as you can imagine, things get off the rails very fast, because these places you visit are filled with dangerous and maybe even lethal enemies.

The idea of going on an expedition during the 1600s is amazing, and the game does combine that with a solid horror element and plenty of ideas from the Lovecraftian lore. What you’re getting here is an exceptional, very creative experience where you fear for your life almost all the time. Having played with other people and by myself, I can say that playing on your own is very ... (read more)]]> Tue, 21 Jul 2026 13:33:04 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/the-mound-omen-of-cthulhu-review-538202.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/ascend-to-zero-review-538201.shtml What would you do if you only had around half a minute to save the world? That’s the core question for Ascend to ZERO, and it’s a very good one. The game is meant to deliver a heart-pumping, adrenaline-filled gameplay where every single second counts. And that’s for a very good reason. You enter an exhilarating, rewarding and fun gameplay loop where you constantly want to get better, save your friends and unlock new features.

Ascend to ZERO is a roguelike at its core, so obviously you will have to do countless runs, you acquire resources and then invest them into skills or more powerful loot. What I liked about this game is that it brings lots of great loot, and you can easily replace old stuff with new things, add multiple weapons to attack enemies and so on. Plus, you can unlock new skills and benefits, all of which add up to make the gameplay not only more fun, but more consistent as well.

Every run in this game starts your character at level one. Then, as you a... (read more)]]> Mon, 20 Jul 2026 04:23:56 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/ascend-to-zero-review-538201.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/fogpiercer-review-538200.shtml I really wanted to crush at least one enemy vehicle under my train. Actually, I pretty much needed to crush one, preferably two, trucks to win before the time limit. But that meant taking damage to the mini-gun, the carriage that I cannot protect with shields. And I need those hitpoints to be able to take down the boss.

So I decided to reposition to avoid an enemy shot. I get out of the battle with all carriages intact, but also without a new module. I have enough scrap to get some new toys to play with, but much depends on what the shop has to offer. An improved artillery shot would be great, as well as one of those shield cards that can protect two carriages at once. And, hopefully, I will have better luck with a future convoy engagement to secure another module.

Fogpiercer is developed by Mad Cookies Studio and published by Hooded Horse. I played on the PC via Steam, and the title is not offered on other hardware. The video game features a mix of turn-based comb... (read more)]]> Fri, 17 Jul 2026 10:00:29 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/fogpiercer-review-538200.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://news.softpedia.com/news/the-alters-last-variable-dlc-yay-or-nay-pc-538199.shtml These days, we rarely get a DLC from a game that adds meaningful content. But what about a 20-hour long story in the form of a DLC? Yes, that’s exactly what The Alters: Last Variable brings to the table. As someone who enjoyed the main game immensely, I was curious to see what they would do with the DLC, and it was not a disappointment.

The Alters: Last Variable starts the game off at the end of scientist Jan’s life. He uses a cloning machine to create a younger version of himself in order to continue his work. And since we are the clone of a clone, we are piecing together the various bits of information available. Not all that info is correct, so we have to start from scratch. Once we figure out the main goal, it’s all back to the core Alters loop. We have to research, build the infrastructure, acquire items, manage the base and of course, create new clones that will help us out.

However, The Alters: Last Variable brings some changes. You don’t have to fuel up a m... (read more)]]> Wed, 15 Jul 2026 19:00:12 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://news.softpedia.com/news/the-alters-last-variable-dlc-yay-or-nay-pc-538199.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/outbound-review-538198.shtml Cozy games are always exciting and fun because you get to explore the world at your own pace, while also enjoying all the little elements available. Recently, we’ve had quite a lot of games where you are living in a van and exploring a large world. Here, you have a variety of things to do, from collecting to crafting, exploration and anything in between.

The main idea in Outbound is that you left the city in a near-future world and you live within a van in a park, making the most out of the land around you. Here, you add new machines to the van, furnishings and upgrade the van to your liking.

One of the things that Outbound does right is the sense of exploration. You have a massive, beautiful world that everyone will enjoy, and the game itself does a stellar job at making this world believable and very impressive. You can also collect blueprints and items, build a home on top of the van. And here you can add solar panels, crafting machines, windows and so on.

Clea... (read more)]]> Tue, 14 Jul 2026 19:38:29 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/outbound-review-538198.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/kaz-review-538197.shtml To be successful, you have to act on instinct, without allowing your brain to actually think. Making plans and evaluating targets takes time. Raking up points to get to the threshold and, hopefully, put some in the piggy bank requires pure action, a seamless connection between eyes, ears, nerves, and fingers.

I made good upgrade choices, focused on extra time and more points for enemies killed. So, I can reliably win rounds even when my actions per minute decline. If I hit the star, it’s even easier to make progress. The problem is that I was cursed after stepping on one too many traps, and I have to deal with being randomly teleported. It’s disorienting and also slows my character down at the worst time.

So I launch into a new level, clearing opponents quickly, hoping my lightning strikes hit traps, and keeping an eye out for the high-value star. There’s not enough time to get into a flow state. I get the needed score with a few seconds to go, and I already start ... (read more)]]> Mon, 13 Jul 2026 17:33:17 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/kaz-review-538197.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile)