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, 03 Nov 2026 17:45:04 +0000 Tue, 03 Nov 2026 17:45:04 +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/nightmare-frontier-wicked-harvest-dlc-yay-or-nay-pc-538322.shtml Nightmare Frontier was a fun take on the turn-based tactics genre, and with the new DLC called Wicked Harvest, the title is bringing in some spooky, interesting additions into the mix. What makes this DLC different is that it adds a new breed of enemy called the wicked dreadweavers.

There are 12 versions of dreadweavers that embody 12 different fears. Interestingly, every version has its own mechanics, designed to test how you understand your strategies and how to improve. If you battle the wicked deadwood, all units are locked down on the battlefield. If you battle wicked puppets, they have to be defeated all at once so none of them resurrect. These mechanics are interesting, and they help add quite a bit of excitement for players of all ages.

You will encounter these enemies in various districts. So they are naturally integrated into the game, which I found to be rather helpful. But what’s nice is that once you defeat them, they disappear and won’t respawn, makin... (read more)]]> Mon, 02 Nov 2026 05:29:14 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://news.softpedia.com/news/nightmare-frontier-wicked-harvest-dlc-yay-or-nay-pc-538322.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/probably-stolen-review-538321.shtml Shop simulators have become extremely popular these days, and Probably Stolen is a game that tries to use the genre’s popularity, while adding a unique cyberpunk coat to it. The result is one of the best shop simulators you can play right now, and one that already took the genre by storm. It’s not the easiest game to learn, however once you figure stuff out, this is a delight and totally worth checking out.

Initially, you are taken under the wing of a mentor, who is the one funding your starter items and the shop rental. However, as soon as you have those, you will need to earn your own credits and ensure that you at least have money to pay the rent, as the landlord is coming for that every week.

And that’s the cool thing in Probably Stolen, you need to figure out how to make good money, while also taking your morality into account. The important thing here is that you will mostly sit behind the counter but also visit the dumping grounds as you try to search for va... (read more)]]> Mon, 02 Nov 2026 05:20:39 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/probably-stolen-review-538321.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/way-of-the-hunter-2-review-538320.shtml Way of the Hunter was one of the better hunting simulators out there, but it certainly had its drawbacks. However, Way of the Hunter 2 strives to build upon the first game’s framework, while adding some impressive new tools, great content and it also educates us about wildlife and managing animal population.

The game starts in New Laurentia, where you are joining a team that wants to focus on preserving the reserve. Sure, you need to hunt animals, but you also have to memorize the environment, study every animal, track the herds, and then choose which ones you need to harvest.

It’s interesting to see that your focus is to actually keep the wildlife healthy, and that says quite a bit. Unlike other hunting games where you move from one shooting spot to the next, you’re traveling a lot, you’re looking for tracks, assess animal health and then decide if a hunt is worth it or not. I like the idea of studying the wind, knowing when to sneak up on the herd without scaring... (read more)]]> Sat, 31 Oct 2026 11:12:45 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/way-of-the-hunter-2-review-538320.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://news.softpedia.com/news/firestarters-preview-pc-538319.shtml FIRESTARTERS is a fast-paced FPS with parkour elements and very engaging gameplay. The idea here is simple, you are a criminal convicted in the future, and you need to enter a government-backed bloodsport in order to hopefully get out of this hellhole.

But it’s certainly not an easy feat, as you will need to defeat enemies in a short amount of time, complete a variety of objectives and so on. That’s the nice part about FIRESTARTERS, it’s a very intense and fast-paced game, and one where you will be redoing the same levels over and over for quite a bit of time.

That being said, the arena-style gameplay suits this game, because it’s not only really fast, but intense and you can easily skate or jump around trying to get to every enemy in time. And yes, you are time-limited, which makes every single decision very important. It’s very easy to lose track of time as you want to focus on specific enemies. But realistically, you have to strategize if you want to stay alive... (read more)]]> Fri, 30 Oct 2026 09:41:00 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://news.softpedia.com/news/firestarters-preview-pc-538319.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/dupery-a-game-of-solo-deduction-review-538318.shtml The Casanova has been hiding very well, with some help from the Poisoner. These are the two underlings I am hunting now, after nailing down the more capable traitor that threatened my investigation. The skills of a tailor and those of an empath made my detective’s job easier, but I can no longer call on them to nail my final targets.

With a high reputation, I can afford to make one bad decision. But I want to nail the result, both to get a clear idea of how to handle these Syndicate operatives and to sharpen my deduction skills. Cases are growing in complexity, and I will soon have fewer details to work with, which will make it easier to make mistakes and end my run.

Dupery: A Game of Solo Deduction is developed by Gilded Rune Games and published by Yogscast Games and GamerSky Games. I played on PC via Steam, and the game is not launched on other hardware. The title combines roles and detective actions with a run-driven backbone.

The action takes place in 1941 in ... (read more)]]> Fri, 30 Oct 2026 05:35:59 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/dupery-a-game-of-solo-deduction-review-538318.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://news.softpedia.com/news/warhammer-blood-bowl-the-official-video-game-preview-pc-538317.shtml I really needed the 68% block to work. Two of my capable linemen were ready to destroy the Skaven ball carrier, and I had a runner ready to pick the ball up and run. But luck is fickle, the dice did not go my way, and both the attacker and the defender went down.

I didn’t use one of my precious re-rolls, and the rats managed to run a few squares on their turn. But I managed to deliver some solid bloody bowls to take out a few of their players, and the ball was in the hands of humans again. We only needed to make a 75% pass to get a much-needed touchdown.

Warhammer Blood Bowl - The Official Video Game is developed by Cyanide Studio and published by Slitherine Ltd. I played a preview version of the title on Steam. The video game takes the classic foundation of the series and adds the new tabletop rules as well as two new race teams to play with.

The narrative foundation is as silly as it is effective: the many factions of the high-fantasy Warhammer world are taking ... (read more)]]> Thu, 29 Oct 2026 04:41:37 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://news.softpedia.com/news/warhammer-blood-bowl-the-official-video-game-preview-pc-538317.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/legion-breaker-review-538316.shtml All ranged undead are a targeting priority. Their eerily glowing green orbs make it relatively easy to see them in a crowd of skeletons, but flinging magical strikes at them gets harder if they are already on fire or if enough taller undead flank them. It’s easier to eliminate their threat by delivering a carefully targeted fireball.

It’s tempting to use the divine ray, the most powerful spell my wizard hero has on the green orb creatures. But it is reserved for the really big enemies, the former bosses who now show up three or four times during the level countdown. And once the boss arrives on the scene, the pale-yellow strike only lands on its monstrous head.

I’ve played this level six or seven times already. The first time around, I only grabbed a little over one million gold and my wizard died in under 30 seconds. Now, after upgrading my forcefield, increasing my archer squad, and getting a few extra boosts, I’m close to annihilating the boss. I probably only n... (read more)]]> Thu, 29 Oct 2026 04:27:55 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/legion-breaker-review-538316.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/stygian-outer-gods-review-538315.shtml Stygian: Outer Gods released in early access around the middle of 2025, and now, close to a year and a half later, we have its full release. When it first launched, the content was limited, but I was a fan of the gameplay and the game’s unique story.

The story involves Jack Harrison, who is a former soldier and anthropologist and he was invited by a girl called Victoria to Kingsport. The city was prosperous, but it fell into decline and these days it’s more of a ghost town, with various creatures and enemies roaming the streets. Jack also visits Kingsport in an effort to try and figure out what happened to his father, who apparently was interested in this location as well.

As you can expect, nothing is as it seems, and your investigation shows a very challenging and downright disturbing place. I like the fact that Stygian: Outer Gods doesn’t rely on jumpscares like most horror games do. Instead, it brings are rather methodical and intense approach towards horror, o... (read more)]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2026 05:23:18 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/stygian-outer-gods-review-538315.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/we-were-here-tomorrow-review-538314.shtml The “We Were Here” series has slowly become of my go-to options for some quick and fun coop experiences. And with We Were Here Tomorrow, I was excited to see what it would do and if it manages to expand the series in a fun way. Without spoiling, I want to say that it does, and it brings more of the same you enjoy from this series, along with some clever and fun additions.

So, how is the story in We Were Here Tomorrow? The idea here is that you embark on an expedition to save some fellow explorers, and that takes you under the ice, deep in Antarctica. You end up in a facility here where Kathleen Bowe is waiting for you. Her team was close to innovating, but they disappear without notice. And you have to complete various tasks in the facility, communicate with one another and try to solve the puzzles in front of you.

The story is not exactly the most impressive out there, but I like that quite a bit, as it gives you a nice premise to complete puzzles with friends. An... (read more)]]> Tue, 27 Oct 2026 13:50:26 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/we-were-here-tomorrow-review-538314.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/gemcraft-legacy-collection-review-538313.shtml GemCraft - Legacy Collection is here to enrich the lives of tower defense enthusiasts by revisiting the 3 original GemCraft games. While it’s not exactly a remake, the collection brings us the first 3 GemCraft titles, named GemCraft: The Forgotten, GemCraft: Chapter Zero and GemCraft: Labyrinth.

All 3 games were very popular in the Flash format back in the day on the Armor games website, but now we have them on Steam in a great, easy to access format. And with the collection, we are also getting some much-needed improvements. One of the things I liked right off the bat is that you can do fast-forward up to 9x, so you just have to place your gems on the board, traps and towers, and then you speed up to see the results.

Additionally, this collection also has improvements when it comes to the late game, so even the larger waves won’t bring any performance problems. They also added hotkeys and quick-swapping across all the games, and an achievement for each in-game amu... (read more)]]> Mon, 26 Oct 2026 05:23:00 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/gemcraft-legacy-collection-review-538313.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/orc-incremental-review-538312.shtml It’s a good idea to unlock the next upgrade-giving character as soon as boost offered by available ones start to get a little expensive. My combination of classic orcs, capable shamans, fast wargs, and iron snake totems proved very efficient at moving through masses of humans. Even when they brought out their armored knights, the system worked as long as I did a decent job throwing fireballs and using the black hole at the right moment.

But then they threw ballistae into the fight, and we had problems. So, I spent a few minutes losing battles and collecting enough gold for the Acolyte and then buying the first few levels of his upgrades. The orc horde then pushed through a few more levels, generating some solid revenue. A hit of better chow from the Alchemist meant I could bring more troops onto the field.

Unfortunately, I rolled three times and didn’t get any rare fighters. Hopefully, these two wargs and one shaman can boost the force enough to get to the next bos... (read more)]]> Sun, 25 Oct 2026 08:13:46 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/orc-incremental-review-538312.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/retrospace-review-538311.shtml RetroSpace brings us a great sci-fi themed shooter with excellent premises. Basically, we are on a space station that’s swallowed by a black hole. Our focus, naturally, is to stay alive as we are dealing with all kinds of mutants and dangerous creatures. Plus, the game has some delightful retro visuals that truly make you feel like you’re in the 70s or 80s. The game reminded me of quite a bit of titles like Quake or Half Life, and it does have a great focus on story.

Our hero wakes up with no memory, but we learn that he was a citizen of Aurora 5, eventually. But after that, something did go wrong and the ship collided with a black hole, being caught in between dimensions. You’re basically split between a decayed future and apocalyptic present. We only have a basic power wrench to fight off enemies, but soon we start getting access to other tools, which is cool because it adds a great new level to the gameplay experience.

You’re also guided by a Dr. Nebula, who at ... (read more)]]> Sat, 24 Oct 2026 23:05:35 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/retrospace-review-538311.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/stupid-never-dies-review-538310.shtml I’ve always appreciated roguelikes that try to do something new and don’t just bring the same old gameplay style or story. Stupid Never Dies is exactly what I wanted, a breath of fresh air for the genre, something fun, immersive, but also with some clever ideas. At its core, it’s all about a dumb zombie who eats an egg and without knowing, he gets the ability to go between various realms, battle enemies and hopefully save the girl he fancies.

It’s not a Shakespearian story by any means, but Stupid Never Dies manages to bring a good little story which you can follow around as you engage in the game’s wonderful combat and learn its unique mechanics. The title itself is very stylized, with extremely colorful visuals, and it never takes itself too seriously. Sure, it’s a story about pursuing love, but also about turning into werewolves, harpies, fairies and so on. Plus, you end up biting your enemies, regaining your health, accessing special abilities and getting implan... (read more)]]> Fri, 23 Oct 2026 16:41:52 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/stupid-never-dies-review-538310.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://news.softpedia.com/news/icbm-escalation-assassin-s-mace-dlc-yay-or-nay-pc-538309.shtml The rise of China began with a short, sharp civil war. In the real world, it was pretty quickly decided by rapid Communist advances, supported by foreign help, and the Nationalists’ inability to convince the population to back their defensive efforts. In ICBM: Escalation, divisions, plans, and anti-air units are all that matter, with no role for population morale or internal political problems.

The game does a better job of simulating China once it becomes Communist and has to decide how to interact with the rest of the world. The Soviet Union and the United States, countries with a bigger industrial base and bigger nuclear arsenals, are rivals. And well-built scenarios show how, in an alternate reality, the Chinese can find ways to defeat both.

Assassin's Mace is developed by SoftWarWare and published by Slitherine Ltd. This downloadable content pack for the real-time strategy game is focused on China and spins out an alternate history in which the Communist count... (read more)]]> Thu, 22 Oct 2026 14:20:49 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://news.softpedia.com/news/icbm-escalation-assassin-s-mace-dlc-yay-or-nay-pc-538309.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/castlevania-belmont-039-s-curse-review-538308.shtml Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is bringing us the first 2D Castlevania game in almost 20 years, so it’s already a huge challenge for the former Dead Cells developers, but one that they took head-on. And even if it has a few hiccups along the way, I felt this new game is worthy of the Castlevania name, even if it does make some choices certain longtime fans will not agree with.

Belmont's Curse takes place 23 years after Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse, and we play as Rose Belmont, Trevor and Sypha’s daughter. Rose goes to Paris to figure out what’s happening there and unsurprisingly, Dracula is involved. So, like any Belmont story, your focus is on taking down Dracula, which is quite a challenge as always.

Rose is up to the challenge, as she wants to prove she’s worth of the family name, while honoring their legacy. Gameplay-wise, things are easy to understand. It’s a metroidvania, so you have to work your way across the map, fill it out via exploration, and figure o... (read more)]]> Thu, 22 Oct 2026 14:11:38 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/castlevania-belmont-039-s-curse-review-538308.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://news.softpedia.com/news/crown-of-hispania-preview-pc-538307.shtml For a city recently burned by a Muslim army, Barcelona is developing pretty well. This means that there’s less money for the countryside and other provinces, but a strong kingdom requires a capable capital. The problem is that Count Berenguer is young, and in the highly personal politics of the XI century, he is seen as an easy target.

So we have to fight, despite our relatively small army, using conscription and mercenaries to grow our forces. It works for close to 40 years, and we pick up control of a few more provinces. And then a growing Valencia comes knocking, and even two solid defensive alliances cannot deal with their deluge of troops.

Crown of Hispania is developed by Regalis Studio and published by indie.io. I played it on Steam, where the title is in Early Access right now. The video game gives players control over a faction involved in the battle for Hispania’s future in the early Medieval period.

The strategic situation is perfect for alternate histo... (read more)]]> Wed, 21 Oct 2026 11:00:00 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://news.softpedia.com/news/crown-of-hispania-preview-pc-538307.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/warhammer-40-000-boltgun-2-review-538306.shtml Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun was one of my favorite games when it came out because it brought that boomer shooter gameplay to the Warhammer universe, which I enjoy immensely. Boltgun 2 builds upon the first game’s framework and while it’s more of the same, it also offers some great innovations and unique ideas.

The story is quite interesting, because at the beginning of the game, your ship gets destroyed by the Great Daemon Vashtorr. You want to enact revenge, obviously, so your focus is to find the daemon and destroy it once and for all. Otherwise, the gameplay is exactly what you expect, you acquire all kinds of weapons, grab ammo and follow the game’s pointers to move onward, kill enemies and clear the level.

As you can imagine, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 also has its fair share of collectibles and secrets, some of which can be rather difficult to find. Of course, you can focus specifically on completing the mission, or you can do what I did, and try my best to ex... (read more)]]> Wed, 21 Oct 2026 10:45:21 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/warhammer-40-000-boltgun-2-review-538306.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://news.softpedia.com/news/dragon-s-dogma-2-dark-arisen-expansion-yay-or-nay-pc-538305.shtml Dragon's Dogma 2 focused on the political squabbles of Battahl and Vermund, but Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen is an expansion who tries to tackle things from more of a cosmic perspective, as you try to handle an anomaly threatening the world. In the starter town you hear rumors of another Arisen that appeared in the far north. You get to Norgan, the frozen wasteland, and here you are tracking the Fallen Dragon.

I enjoyed the expansion’s story because it’s not all about politics. It adds mystery, intrigue, and it still manages to be a part of the game’s progression loop instead of being a post-game chapter. You can get into the DLC content by visiting the Stardrop Inn in Vernworth and then connecting with Captain Brant.

Aside from the aforementioned continuation of the story, Brant also gives you access to the Lost Rites dungeons. I liked these, because they are 12 endgame trials found across the original map, but you get legendary gear upon competing them. You do n... (read more)]]> Tue, 20 Oct 2026 13:13:53 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://news.softpedia.com/news/dragon-s-dogma-2-dark-arisen-expansion-yay-or-nay-pc-538305.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/disney-pixar-toy-story-3-complete-edition-review-538304.shtml Toy Story 3 was one of the best in the movie series, and it was also accompanied by a self-titled game that many people loved upon its release in 2010. Now, that game receives a much-needed update to work on the new consoles, along with all the content released back in the day. Even if the developers are not calling it a remaster, it does have improved graphics, better resolution and frame rate support, along with many other updates.

You have multiple levels based on the movie’s narrative, so you will find yourself rescuing toys from a runaway train, shooting Zurg’s minions in space or even exiting Andy’s room. Thankfully, the story lends itself to some amazing platforming, and you’ll continually find yourself exploring new spots, immersing yourself in the experience and enjoying some rather engaging moments that will certainly raise your adrenaline levels.

In true 2010s 3D platformer fashion, Toy Story 3 Complete Edition allows you to replay all levels the way you... (read more)]]> Tue, 20 Oct 2026 13:05:50 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/disney-pixar-toy-story-3-complete-edition-review-538304.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/theropods-review-538303.shtml It appears that most dinosaurs aren’t that interested in violence. They snap at people from time to time, signaling that it’s a good idea to get out of their way. But all the dinos the two heroes I’m controlling have met so far can be scared off by fire, convinced to get away, or trapped in a small place if everything else fails.

The spaceman and the redheaded hunter are currently trying to deal with a huge snake that trapped the alien visitor. He has a robot companion with a plasma torch, but apparently, they don’t want to kill the monster. A big boulder and some careful use of skeleton bones eliminated the previous dinosaur challenge. Now I have to discover how a robot and some scorpions it can’t reach can defeat a giant snake.

Theropods is developed by Lost Token and published by Dionous Games and Gamersky Games. I played it on Steam on the PC, with the title not launched on other hardware. The video game combines point-and-click adventure game mechanics with th... (read more)]]> Mon, 19 Oct 2026 12:43:47 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/theropods-review-538303.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/folklands-review-538302.shtml The 90s and early 2000s were the golden era for strategy games, in my opinion. We had some amazing titles, such as Age of Empires, Pharaoh, Settlers, Starcraft and many others, most of which used pixelated graphics. That era is long gone, as we now have full 3D strategy games. Folklands tries to bring back that golden era, and it mostly achieves success. Upon entering the game, you have a lot of nostalgia pouring through your veins, but you try to move onward and create a great settlement.

What I found very cool about the game is the fact that you can easily generate any world you want. It uses a seed system, which means you and your friends can play the same seed and try to experiment with the world at your own pace, then compare. The seed system does a stellar job at making every experience feel unique, because you never know what terrain or challenges you might encounter.

The premise here is quite simple. You enter an uncharted world, and you try to call it your... (read more)]]> Sun, 18 Oct 2026 18:59:39 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/folklands-review-538302.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/ace-combat-8-wings-of-theve-review-538301.shtml The Ace Combat series has always been focused on showcasing the beauty of aviation and air combat. Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve takes that to the next level as it brings a rather intense, unique story with action-packed moments, good character development and creative missions where your timing and skills will either make or break the experience.

As expected, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve continues the series’ tradition of exhilarating flight combat, breakneck speeds and fast-paced action. However, this one is bringing in hours and hours of cutscenes, making it feel more like a movie or a TV show when compared to its predecessors.

Our fighter pilots this time around is Rex from the Joker Squadron. We take the role of Wings of Theve, which is a legendary ace whose efforts are spread across the Usea continent. There’s an intricate plot here, with a lot of twists and turns. But as I said earlier, you really need patience, because you will have intense action scenes sto... (read more)]]> Sat, 17 Oct 2026 18:35:06 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/ace-combat-8-wings-of-theve-review-538301.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://news.softpedia.com/news/flashpoint-campaigns-cold-war-lowland-lions-dlc-yay-or-nay-pc-538300.shtml It’s always a good idea to scout more than you think you should. On the defensive, get reconnaissance squads into woods and high up, if possible, and make sure they have backup that can inflict damage on any target they see. On the offensive, try to sneak some on the flanks and get them into a spot where opponents don’t see them.

Most units are highly lethal if used well, in a late 80s World War III scenario. So, seeing the Russians first is crucial. My Dutch troops might be inferior in terms of armor and helicopters, but they are dug in, well-armed, and will get plenty of artillery support. As long as I can pinpoint where the Soviets are launching their main strike from, the line will hold.

Flashpoint Campaigns: Cold War - Lowland Lions is developed by On Target Simulations and published by Matrix Games. This is the first downloadable content pack for the strategy game, focused on Dutch forces that are on the receiving end of the Soviet offensive that starts World... (read more)]]> Fri, 16 Oct 2026 12:28:13 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://news.softpedia.com/news/flashpoint-campaigns-cold-war-lowland-lions-dlc-yay-or-nay-pc-538300.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/valor-mortis-review-538299.shtml One More Level might not be a studio as famous as FromSoftware, but its games – Ghostrunner and Ghostrunner 2, are well known among action games fans. The team’s latest work, Valor Mortis, is in a completely different genre, although it’s aimed at the same type of players as the studio’s other two games mentioned: players with good reflexes.

Valor Mortis is a game that focuses on parrying the enemy more than any other soulslike. I don’t consider Sekiro a soulslike, but if it were, Valor Mortis is quite different in that regard. Much of the game’s combat system revolves around being successful at parrying and there are a lot of items that make that easy to achieve.

What I really liked about Valor Mortis is that even though my reflexes aren’t what they used to be a decade ago, I can still win the hardest fights by simply taking advantage of the many alternatives that the game offers players.

Each weapon in the game changes the way you play, and so is the Ambers, the... (read more)]]> Fri, 16 Oct 2026 12:15:00 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/valor-mortis-review-538299.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/order-of-the-sinking-star-review-538298.shtml My burly hero has pushed blocks of crystal out of the way and got to meet another character. I then inhabited her consciousness as she pulled similar blocks around through slightly different levels. Pulling, when it comes to Sokoban variations, is more difficult than pushing, but I managed to activate the three mechanisms.

There’s no story explanation for the frequent shifts, even as the characters hint at a job they were part of and a magistrate that might be insane. I have also been a wizard, ready to swap places with a crystal as soon as I look at it. This makes moving the blocks around and onto plates more difficult. And now I get two characters, ready to switch between them to deal with a small but complex puzzle.

Order of the Sinking Star is developed by Thekla, Inc. and published by Arc Games and Gamirror Games. I played it on the PC using Steam, with the title also on the Nintendo Switch 2 and the PlayStation 5 from Sony. The video game delivers a lot of pu... (read more)]]> Thu, 15 Oct 2026 20:13:37 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/order-of-the-sinking-star-review-538298.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/kingdom-rush-6-genesis-td-review-538297.shtml As someone who played the Kingdom Rush series religiously over the past decade, I was very excited about Kingdom Rush 6: Genesis and its possibilities. Thankfully, the game is finally here, and it brings some interesting ideas, unique upgrades, but also some things that might irk some of the longtime fans.

Although it’s a tower defense game and the genre is not known for its narrative, the title does bring a pretty interesting story. For Kingdom Rush 6: Genesis TD, the narrative is more of a prequel story set before the original Kingdom Rush game, where you are trying to stop a young Vez’Nan’s corruption. It’s not going to blow you away, but the narrative is interesting, and there are some comic-book-like scenes that share more details about the story.

I like the fact that you can meet familiar faces and some iconic battlefields from the series. That being said, the game’s visuals have received a bit of an overhaul, and the level design is maybe the best the series... (read more)]]> Wed, 14 Oct 2026 13:58:52 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/kingdom-rush-6-genesis-td-review-538297.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/battleplan-review-538296.shtml Drawing the perfect square or circle isn’t a requirement for battlefield success. But it does help create a clear mental map of what divisions are doing and where. And a good plan, even if it does not survive contact with the enemy, is crucial for anyone fighting against the Nazis in 1944.

So I use two smallish circles to tell two infantry divisions, one Canadian and another Scottish, to slowly move forward, cause casualties, and then stand their ground. Meanwhile, the 7th Guards is waiting for an hour and then breaking through the German frontline, seeking to exploit ground and capture supply depots once it hits open country. Let’s hope that the enemy doesn’t have the manpower for a defense-in-depth setup.

It takes close to a day, but the Allies execute their plans well. The armor division does take around 10% losses, which can become a problem in the long term, but we’re now in a good position to isolate and secure Caen. I have scout plans over the city, seeking ... (read more)]]> Tue, 13 Oct 2026 13:06:05 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/battleplan-review-538296.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/transport-fever-3-review-538295.shtml I’ve played both previous iterations of Transport Fever, and I found them to be incredibly fun, albeit time-consuming. Transport Fever 3 is no different, it focuses a lot on micromanagement, it brings deeper economic management, even more complex transport networks and outstanding long-term replay value. The main strength of this game is its sandbox mode where you can go crazy the way you want, but even the campaign is immersive, albeit a tad restrictive since it tries to put you on a very specific path.

Right off the bat, the game starts you from 1900 and it goes beyond 2030, so we pretty much have all the modern day to experience by ourselves, from a transportation standpoint. The campaign has 8 missions, and it does a great job of guiding you with some interesting, sometimes challenging objectives. Aside from that, you have the free game mode, which is my favorite, over 35 industries, more than 40 cargo types, 275+ vehicles and 4 climate types. So yes, there’s a ... (read more)]]> Mon, 12 Oct 2026 14:08:32 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/transport-fever-3-review-538295.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/solnox-grimoire-of-seasons-review-538294.shtml It’s spring, and I have three blocks in my hand, with only one arrow added for offensive action. This is the season for killing, when striking down a foe means you get a new rune to play. Basically, with a little luck, my crusading hero can win a battle as long as some of his foes have already been weakened and he has the runes to get close to pesky archers or casters.

But that lovely chain of killing is impossible, so I settle on slashing two enemies before piling on as much defense as possible, wedged between two rocks so only four enemies can attack me. They do so, managing to eliminate all my blocks and deal two damage. Summer comes around, a great season for attacking, with boosted values for all damage-dealing runes.

I exhaust one card to get fury, which further enhances attack, and get to work. With all opponents dead, I get to pick two new runes, including an arrow that will make it easier to deal with ranged opponents. I have two fights, one against vetera... (read more)]]> Sun, 11 Oct 2026 08:10:56 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/solnox-grimoire-of-seasons-review-538294.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/box-knight-review-538293.shtml There have been a large number of beat’em’ups on the market recently, all with their own twist. Box Knight stands out because it has a very familiar premise. Many of us work at an office and don’t have the best work environment. At some point, maybe we dream of beating up people and even the CEO. Well, this is a game where you can totally do that, even if it’s in a more simplistic setting.

Box Knight’s premise is that the company you are working for has fallen into darkness and the toxic culture has turned employees into creatures. Your mission is to clean the place floor by floor, until you reach the CEO and battle him. Being an office worker by day and a Box Knight once the clock hits 5 PM on a Friday, that’s pretty cool, and it lends itself to a very interesting experience here.

It’s a great starting point and honestly, I had a great overall experience increasing my level, getting new upgrades and improving my character. It feels like an RPG at times, where you ... (read more)]]> Sat, 10 Oct 2026 11:45:35 +0000 Softpedia News / Global https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/box-knight-review-538293.shtml Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile)