Ever since trailblazers such as *Five Nights at Freddy’s* first opened Pandora’s Box, uncanny horror games have been a staple in the indie scene. Later viral hits such as *Poppy Playtime*, *My Friendly Neighborhood*, and *Amanda the Adventurer* continued to build upon this formula of turning something familiar and comfortable into a horrific gaming experience. It’s gotten to the point where some may argue that the trope is overused, and they may be right. However, every once in a while, a game comes around with such stellar execution that it reminds us why uncanny horror is so effective in the first place. *Kitty Kart 64* is one of those games.

*Kitty Kart 64* is a simple horror game based on the gameplay and aesthetics of the ever-revered *Mario Kart 64*. An easy elevator pitch to get on board with, this indie gem delivers on its promise to infuse horror into the kart racer genre. It was born out of a submission to the 2023 LSDJAM, a game jam specifically meant to celebrate the release of the cult-classic PS1 game *LSD: Dream Emulator*. The game is only about a 20-minute experience, but its strength lies in its faithfulness to the games that it aims to emulate.

![Kitty Kart 64 Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm31vd5yr00ti01xvhe3w9f3k.gif)

Unlike *Mario Kart 64* or other kart racers of its time, *Kitty Kart 64* is a rather linear experience. It trades the chaos of high-speed competition and frenzied item throwing for a simple objective: Reach the finish line. The game captures the playstyle of Mario Kart in its controls. You can drive around, drift, and even honk your horn using the keyboard. Each map starts out with a very normal kart racing aesthetic and feel. As you progress through the laps, the maps begin to deteriorate and glitch just as a damaged Nintendo 64 cartridge might. Strange anomalies invade your game, creating a strong sense of unease and discomfort. Some maps even transition smoothly into strange hidden locations that couple unsettling visuals with intense ambient sounds.

Like many games of its ilk, *Kitty Kart 64* opts for a minimalist plot that allows players to fill in the gaps. There is very little dialogue from the characters we encounter along the way, and much of it isn’t put into a context that tells a story by itself. While you can’t gather much without making assumptions of your own, this is one of the game’s greatest strengths. It opts to focus on atmosphere rather than story, and the result is a more memorable experience.

![Kitty Kart 64 Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm31ve2iz00w301xv54k0eclf.gif)

Story aside, the aesthetics of *Kitty Kart 64* are a beautiful and uncanny homage to the games it’s trying to replicate. The low poly visuals of both the maps and the characters feel like they really could have been released in the Nintendo 64 era. Even the glitchy moments are reminiscent of a Nintendo 64 cartridge malfunction straight out of a creepypasta story. The sound design also does a lot of heavy lifting when it comes to striking a solid balance of horror and wholesome. The initially cheery tracks skip, distort, and sometimes cut out completely as the race progresses. Taking the familiar and introducing twists is a staple of the uncanny horror genre in indie gaming, and *Kitty Kart 64* nails it thanks to its graphic and sound design.

Despite being a horror game, *Kitty Kart 64* only has one real jump scare, with the rest of the tension being built through unsettling visuals and off-kilter sound cues. The result is a fun dive into a unique horror experience that could still use a bit more refinement. While the fact that you’re driving alone creates a sense of isolation, it would be nice to have other racers out there that could potentially open the door for even more horror opportunities. These deficiencies could be cleaned up in the future. Since releasing this demo, the development team, now going by the name Scrunklesoft Interactive, has launched a Steam page for the game and promised a full game release at some point in the future.

While its impact has yet to be determined, the release of *Kitty Kart 64* is a great example of the potential of uncanny horror games. With its numerous entries that range from awful to great, the genre is still an amorphous and growing category. Games like *Kitty Kart 64* are the titles that keep us engaged through the good and bad. At its best, uncanny horror can give you memorable experiences that beg the question: What if something you find comfort or nostalgia in became a beacon of terror? *Kitty Kart 64* is imperfect, but it gives you a satisfying answer and a memorable racing experience to boot.

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Kitty Kart 64 is a surreal horror kart racer where you explore eerie, abandoned tracks and glitchy dreamscapes. Uncover hidden secrets in a broken, chaotic world - all from your go-kart.

Kitty Kart 64: How Uncanny Horror Continues to Push Boundaries

Since its release in 2021, *Vampire Survivors* has been one of the most talked about indie games on the market. This came as a shock to some as the game looks as though it would have been released on the original Nintendo. However, underneath these pixelated graphics stood a solid old-school game that reminded players why these games were so popular during their heyday.

For those who may be unaware, *Vampire Survivors* follows a simple formula. The player picks a class and does their best to survive given a preset time on the map. While this might sound a bit mundane compared to modern games, it is anything but. As players work their way through the map, they are treated to a variety of upgrade decisions that can help them through the map. 

As with most traditional rogue light games, experience and perks carry over from round to round. This allows the player to feel their strength growing as they continue to play. However, what really makes *Vampire Survivors* stand out amongst the competition is its dedication to old-school gameplay. In a medium that is constantly trying to break new ground, *Vampire Survivors* highlights why we fell in love with gaming in the first place. 

Back in the dark ages, gamers didn’t have the internet to rely on. When you purchase a new game, the case may as well have been a treasure chest filled with secrets. There were no DLCs to purchase or patches to download. Because of this, the games were filled with secrets to explore. This encouraged you to replay the game over and over, trying to figure out what would happen if you beat it in a certain way or under a certain time.

This is one of the things that *Vampire Survivors* does in stride. There are a myriad of characters and items to unlock as you progress through the game. Each new mode and setting encourages you to try new things and try to figure out the secrets lying in wait. The simple gameplay loop easily lures you and it becomes very easy to lose several hours of your day searching for its hidden mechanics.

This isn't to say that *Vampire Survivors* doesn’t take advantage of modern technology, it certainly does. However, it even does that in a unique way. While many modern games nickel and dime players to death with microtransactions, *Vampire Survivors* continues to offer a substantial amount of additional content for a very low price. Not only that, but each piece of new content genuinely improves the game without feeling like it should have been included in the original release. 

Now, another aspect of old-school gaming that has almost disappeared is the demo concept. Once upon a time, video games would allow you to play a sample of the game before forking over your hard-earned cash. *Vampire Survivors* continued this concept by releasing their demo on Itch.io when they released in 2021. 

They later released the game on Steam where it became an overnight success. However, even after becoming one of the most talked about games of the year, the game's developer, Poncle, decided to leave the demo up. This allows players to spend some time with the mechanics before deciding if they want to shell out five bucks to Steam. 

All in all, *Vampire Survivors* blends the best of retro and modern gaming into a love note to the medium. Its success highlights the glaring flaws in modern gaming while providing its own unique experience. We can only hope that this will lead to more indie games gaining global recognition in the near future.  

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Vampire Survivors is a time-survival roguelite where you brave a cursed night, gathering gold to empower future survivors. Fight to survive as Death closes in - can you endure the horror?

Vampire Survivors Continues to Dominate the Indie Market

Deck-builder games have existed in gaming for quite a while, but a recent resurgence thanks to titles such as *Balatro* and *Slay the Spire* has inspired a sort of renaissance within the genre. These games thrive on replayability as every playthrough allows you to construct a unique deck of cards with different abilities. With deck construction comes experimentation and with experimentation often comes great gameplay.

*Dire Decks* is a fine example of what makes this genre so intriguing when breaking it down to its simplest elements. Released in February of 2023, *Dire Decks* is a game that combines typical deck-builder mechanics with those of an arcade shooter game. You play as a blue character that is trying to survive wave after wave of orange projectiles. Although these base mechanics of shooting different cards at approaching enemies seem simple, the game becomes highly strategic with each coming wave.

![Dire Decks Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm3hlkvgg01fx01ub8ptoa8f3.png)

Each card that you play has a different ability and shoots a different style of bullet at the incoming projectiles. Some can pierce, some can turn the attacking bullets against each other, and some bounce off walls. Not only do you have to select which cards to add to your deck, but you also have to consider that certain cards have a different rate of cooldown. This added layer creates a nice strategic balance that can lead to tense situations and quick decisions.

After a few waves of enemies, you also gain access to certain power-ups that also change the game’s dynamic. There are options to shoot an extra bullet, reduce recharge times, and freeze the incoming projectiles. They’re very simple to understand, but every decision you make in a given playthrough is something that makes that particular game loop unique. It’s a rare balance that a lot of games struggle to achieve, so it’s impressive to see an indie title like this strike it so masterfully.

![Dire Decks Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm3hlm1mc01ju01txg7iqha9g.png)

While the card selection in the game can be controlled with either the mouse or the keyboard, I found the keyboard to be much more useful for making snap decisions and firing projectiles at a higher rate. Graphically, the game is as simple as it gets with projectiles being orange circles and our main character being represented by a blue oval. However, that simplicity just adds to the charm as there is no distracting user interface or narrative to follow. It’s just gameplay, and that’s one of its greatest strengths. One small weakness is that the game lacks music, but it’s certainly not a dealbreaker. A chiptune score would be nice, but the game functions perfectly well without it.

Despite its simplicity, *Dire Decks* is one of the finest examples of the potential of the deck-builder genre out there. Every card you add to your deck changes your gameplay experience, making those small decisions feel especially weighty. Although it’s currently only available on Itch.io, it has all the makings of an addicting mobile game due to its well-paced gameplay loop and replayability. The developer kindanice hasn’t released an update since 2023, but the game’s innovation in the deck-building genre could pave the way for future titles. There are many genres that deck-building mechanics could also blend well with, and *Dire Decks* is a perfect example of how to execute such a combination.

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Dire Deck is a dark strategy card game where every choice matters. Face twisted challenges, outwit sinister opponents, and survive an ever-changing deck of fate. Will you master the darkness?

Dire Decks: The Growth of the Deck-Builder Genre

Since its initial release on the Nintendo 64, the *Animal Crossing* series has been critically revered for its casual gameplay and cute characters. The brand has become so ingrained that, when you think about *Animal Crossing*, certain friendly animal villagers and cheery tunes may immediately pop into your mind. With this reputation as a cheery and happy world, there has also been an eeriness lurking in the shadows. Sure, owning a house and having animal friends is nice, but being saddled with debt and harassed by an angry mole doesn’t exactly match that peaceful image that the game initially presents. With all these existing off-putting elements in the initial game, it only makes sense that an indie developer would attempt to create a horror version of *Animal Crossing*, and *Harvest Festival 64* is just that.

![Harvest Festival 64 Tutorial](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm3uxcroh01vx010ehaqwh25p.png)

Created in 72 hours for the 52nd Ludum Dare Game Jam, *Harvest Festival 64* is a short *Animal Crossing*-inspired game that combines cutesy aesthetics with a horrific climax. The player controls an anthropomorphic cat who is new to a village inhabited by other anthropomorphic cats. In preparation for their Harvest Festival (which just so happens to fall on Friday the 13th), the cats task the player with gathering materials to help prepare for the upcoming festival. The controls are a basic WASD scheme, and the gameplay is easy to pick up. You simply follow the villagers’ requests and collect the materials.

The story and gameplay are simple, but the execution is quite effective due to its parallels to the source material. At its essence, *Animal Crossing* mostly consists of socializing with villagers and collecting items. *Harvest Festival 64* combines both of those elements into an unsettling experience. The graphics and music are spot-on as both feel like proper tributes to its main inspiration. The “animalese” that the characters speak is also reminiscent of the *Animal Crossing* sound effects, but it’s slightly more grating, which is perfect for creating a tense atmosphere.

![Harvest Festival 64 Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm3uxeo8602b4010i0enwhb9w.png)

All of the collecting and socializing climaxes with an occult animal sacrifice at the Harvest Festival itself. Although it’s a horror game, most of the horror only occurs in this climactic sequence as the world begins to glitch out and the game concludes by crashing. This kind of works to the game’s advantage due to the aforementioned eeriness that exists naturally in the world of *Animal Crossing*. Even in its cheerier moments of upbeat music and cutesy visuals, we know something darker is lurking beneath the surface. Just that knowledge effectively builds a unique natural tension that is very rare in modern horror games.

![Harvest Festival 64 Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm3uxfxku02l5011s5qrk12dj.png)

The game is only about fifteen minutes long, but even though it acts as more of a demo than a fleshed-out game, it’s still an effective example of inspired horror gameplay. The indie horror scene for turning nostalgic Nintendo titles into terrifying gaming experiences isn’t massive, but it’s very spirited. Titles like [*Kitty Kart 64*](https://cheddar.tv/news/kitty-kart-64-how-uncanny-horror-continues-to-push-boundaries) and *Harvest Festival 64* work so well because the developers of these games were so clearly huge fans of the source material. The fact that such unique horror gaming experiences are still being inspired by games like *Animal Crossing* is a testament to both the lasting impact of the source material and the ingenuity of indie developers. Neither deserves more credit than the other, and that’s what makes games like *Harvest Festival 64* such a pleasant surprise.

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Harvest Festival 64 is a nostalgic farming sim with a chilling twist. Explore a seemingly wholesome village, uncover hidden horrors, and experience unsettling surprises beneath its charming pixelated exterior.

Harvest Festival 64: A Horrific Love Letter to Animal Crossing

While hidden objects games have thrived in print for many years, with book series such as *I Spy* and *Where’s Waldo?*, their impact on gaming has been much less noticeable. That’s not to say there aren’t successful games in the scene at all, as there have been popular titles in the independent and mobile spaces. However, as a whole, there still seems to be a niche within the genre that is longing to be filled.

Enter *Nippets*, a hidden object game that brings its own unique spin to the genre. Created by the indie studio Vatnisse Interactive, *Nippets* is a game in which the player must find certain objects and return them to their proper place. It’s a simple enough concept, but the developers cleverly inject a story into each object. Finding the objects is one thing, but also returning them to their proper place based on narrative clues is what makes *Nippets* a more fulfilling experience. This combination of story and gameplay is something that sets *Nippets* apart as a new take on hidden object games.

![Nippets Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm3uxocaq02gv011lcn4g6fy5.png)

In a fashion fitting of a relaxing, cozy game, Nippets is quite simple to control and understand. Everything is done with the mouse, and the player’s only real job is to explore the map and find the missing objects. In addition to just clicking objects, *Nippets* also tasks the players with creative problem-solving puzzles. Sometimes, the objects are interactive. For example, to free a ball from a tree, you may have to shake the tree using the mouse. Some hidden objects are also hidden behind windows which the player must lift manually. They’re small challenges, but they make the world feel that much more vibrant and exciting.

As mentioned earlier, each object you find gives you a hint related to where you must return it. This may be Nippets’ greatest strength as it turns the game from a simple hidden objects game into a true narrative-driven, puzzle-solving experience. The clues are brief yet effective as they give you just enough information to solve the problems but not enough to simply give them away. It’s a small sample size, but it’s hard not to praise the writing of *Nippets* as it does so much to bring the world to life with very little clutter.

![Nippets Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm3uxsl47027j013y4bct07t6.png)

All of these mechanics are complemented by colorful illustrations and a soothing lo-fi soundtrack that truly pulls everything together. Each found object is complimented by a “click” sound effect that adds to the satisfaction of solving a puzzle. The faceless characters are still surprisingly emotive, and the animals spread throughout the city are a joy to find and interact with. A sometimes overlooked graphical achievement is that the hidden objects stand out from the background in just the right way to make them difficult to spot but not impossible to find. Striking that delicate balance is enough to garner praise for the hand-drawn illustrations of Vatnisse Interactive.

![Nippets Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm3uxtnki01xt01361asy123v.gif)

While the game only exists in the form of an approximately ten-minute demo right now, the devs have announced their intentions to add more maps and challenges to the world of Nippets. Even in just ten minutes, *Nippets* manages to charm by creating an overarching narrative and injecting it with colorful visuals and satisfying puzzles. This first hidden object puzzle took place in the city, but the possibility of other exotic locations is enough to be excited about as Vatnisse Interactive expands the hidden world of *Nippets* into a more robust experience.


Nippets is a fast-paced puzzle game where quick thinking and strategy are key. Solve challenging word-based puzzles, outsmart your opponents, and climb the leaderboard in this addictive brain-teaser.

Hidden Stories in the World of Nippets

There are very few feelings that compare to the serenity of sitting in the backseat of a car on a road trip and playing a poorly lit Game Boy. It’s a deep nostalgia that’s ingrained into the psyches of many early adopters of Nintendo handheld platforms. Rather than try to recreate this relaxing feeling, developers Enchae, Lumpy, and B-Knox attempted to do the exact opposite with their horrific mini-game collection known as Portaboy+.

Portaboy+ is a game that mixes survival horror with mini-games that one might see in a WarioWare title. When you first start playing, things seem normal as you attempt to complete the time mini-games using only the mouse. Each mini-game is fun to play and easy to pick up. At their base, they each have a unique challenge that adds tension in the later rounds of the game.
Speaking of those later rounds, the game completely flips on its head at level 15. 

![Portaboy+ Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm3uydnjj025e011k7gqcas7k.gif)

After some graphical glitches and distortion, the initially simple gameplay transforms into something much more complex. The player is given the option to put down the handheld and shoot at incoming hordes of monsters that resemble the Portaboy+ itself. At this point, the player must balance maintaining their lives in the game and protecting themselves in the “real life” segments, which creates a fun and often very intense gameplay loop. If the introduction of the monsters wasn’t enough, the mini-games themselves begin to distort, making them even more difficult to navigate. Beating mini-games on the Portaboy+ gives the player coins, which allows them to buy lives for the game or more ammo to shoot at the incoming monsters.

Dealing with the monsters, the mini-games, and the currency all at once creates a perfect balance of stress and horror, which is Portaboy+’s greatest strength. You can pause the Portaboy+ console, but the approaching monsters don’t stop for anything. There are several different types of Portaboy+ monsters that the player encounters in the real-life segments, and each one lumbers towards you at a different rate. The monstrous Portaboy+’s are unsettling, but the stress of staying on top of the mini-games while fighting them off is what really makes the game so terrifying. There’s a tight time crunch and every bad decision you make feels like it can end your run in an instant. It’s an effective mechanic that makes Portaboy+ both infinitely replayable and surprisingly strategic.

![Portaboy+ Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm3uyfnrl01ys01zmc9s7ch3u.gif)

While Portaboy+ could work as an endless survival experience, it does have a secret ending that can be unlocked at level 50 by doing certain tasks in the mini-games. It’s not directly alluded to in the gameplay, but there is a story that is told through the images you unlock with every ten levels you clear in the game. The story isn’t something that you need to invest in to enjoy Portaboy+, but it’s a nice touch that adds to the charm of this horror experience. The fact that the story is told in the form of images rather than text is also quite satisfying as it creates room for interpretation and says a lot about the narrative without directly saying it.

![Portaboy+ Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm3uygiqs01x6011k51f85wtg.gif)

When you’re initially greeted by the smiling Portaboy+ mascot on the main menu, it may bring back memories of childhood and the countless hours of fun you had on those primitive handheld gaming consoles. However, upon starting the game, it quickly becomes apparent that playing Portaboy+ will be an entirely different monster altogether. The way in which Portaboy+ not only subverts expectations but also creates a tense and strategic gameplay mechanic in the process, is what makes it a powerful and rewarding survival horror experience.

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Portaboy+ is a retro-inspired mini-game collection packed with fast-paced challenges and nostalgic vibes. Test your reflexes and skills across quirky games in this portable arcade experience.

Horrific Mini-Game Mayhem in Portaboy+

In numerous fantasy role-playing games, the player is tasked with selecting a class and plunging into battle as they attempt to save a princess, retrieve a dangerous artifact, or defeat an ancient evil. It’s a tried and true formula that makes for exciting adventures and memorable storytelling. However, in these adventures, there are numerous untold stories in the world, including those of the merchants and blacksmiths that players buy equipment from. A short experience made by Digital Mosaic Games attempts to answer the age-old question: what do the blacksmiths do while the heroes are away?

![Artisan Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm3uyvfa601vp01zydcn16dpw.png)

*Artisan*, a game released for the 55th Ludum Dare game jam competition, offers the player a peek into the life of a weapon maker. You play as a master craftsman, aiding one of three factions in their fight against an evil wizard and their army of vicious monsters. However, as a blacksmith, your fight isn’t a direct one. Instead of fighting the enemies with your bare hands, you’re tasked with creating weapons and magical artifacts to aid the kingdom’s strongest in their struggle against evil. It’s a simple alteration to the standard RPG formula, but the easy gameplay makes for quite a soothing experience.

Although it contains numerous tropes commonly seen in RPGs, *Artisan* plays like a point-and-click adventure. Heroes come to you for weapons, and you traverse your small crafting hut to gather the materials and create the weapons. The recipes are quite simple, and the process of crafting is brief and satisfying. Rather than receiving currency in exchange for his efforts, the artisan is given decorations for his house that make things a bit more lively. One of these rewards is a fishing rod that allows the artisan to fish and proudly display his fish on the side of his hut. These small details are what add to the charm of *Artisan*.

![Artisan Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm3uyw8nm02sw013n607s60hd.png)

While the story and gameplay are pretty straightforward, *Artisan* really shines in the atmosphere it creates. Visually appealing graphics are complimented by ethereal music that truly embodies the fantastical nature of your work. Sure, all the craftsman is doing is building the tools, but the lurking monster silhouettes in the background and brief exchanges with the heroes act as constant reminders of the greater purpose that the craftsman serves. He’s not the one fighting those monsters himself, but the ones who are wouldn’t be able to do it without his tools. It’s a simple yet effective message that feels meticulously woven into every detail of the game.

![Artisan Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm3uyx48n01um0118ey535lmz.png)

One of the more memorable things about *Artisan* is how it ends. After aiding his faction to the best of his ability, the craftsman goes home and rests without any real confirmation about what happened to the heroes. He remains unsure if the evil will be truly defeated, but he knows that he’s done his job to the best of his ability, and at the end of the day, that’s all he could really do. It’s a satisfying and dignifying ending to a very relaxing gaming experience. *Artisan* is a short and simple game, but its message and subversion of typical fantasy tropes make it one worth trying out at least once.

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Artisan is a creative simulation game where you craft masterpieces, manage your workshop, and build a legacy. Master your skills and become the ultimate Artisan in this immersive experience.

Artisan: A Blacksmith’s Civic Duty

When determining where an indie horror game should take place, it can help to choose between two extremes. One extreme would be a terrifying location such as a spaceship, an asylum, or a decrepit mansion to ramp up the scares early based on the chilling atmosphere. The other option is to go with a more mundane location and allow the horror to come from a more realistic place. While there are pros and cons to each of these choices, the mundane allows the developers to have the perk of horror in familiarity. A familiar location becoming a source of horror often creates an exciting subversion of expectations. This subversion is what makes indie developer Raycastly’s game *[Nightmare Files] Clap Clap* such a frightening experience.

![Nightmare Files Clap Clap Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm407yx0400p40128cf206ni1.jpeg)

The first game in the dev’s ongoing *[Nightmare Files]* series, *[Nightmare Files] Clap Clap* is a first-person horror game about a housesitter. The protagonist is tasked with caring for a house in which a new advanced smart home security system has been installed. However, as they care for the house, the protagonist encounters strange neighbors and a monster lurking in the shadows. Using the security system against itself, they must escape the house before they’re apprehended by the monster.

While the premise is easy to follow, the game’s mechanic of clapping sets it apart from other indie horror games of a similar ilk. When the monster finally appears, the player can clap to turn the lights off and grant them a momentary reprieve while they try to escape its clutches. This mechanic makes for very intense chase scenes and an even more intense build-up to the climactic moments. Dealing with flickering lights is a staple in the horror genre, but when a game gives the player the agency to control said lighting, there’s an added element that makes it that much more frightening. There are even moments where the game strips that power away or gives it to someone else which creates a truly helpless feeling.

![Nightmare Files Clap Clap Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm40036nq00hg012lc6pl2nos.jpeg)

Although it builds to an intense and visceral climax, much of the game’s real horror is established early on with the world it creates. Before you even reach the house, you’re greeted by strange neighbors who warn you about disappearances that have been happening around the town. Coupled with the droning music, the PS1-style graphics add to the unsettling atmosphere. The ambient noises are also very effective as even the littlest squeak in the distance can make the player shift in their seat.

When we finally reach the house, we’re already on edge, and the shadows tend to take the form of something more sinister. As a housesitter, the player is tasked with several menial tasks like watering the plants and taking out the garbage. In some games, these could distract from the horror, but in *[Nightmare Files] Clap Clap* it only adds to it. Leaving the house even for a moment feels like leaving a well-lit sanctuary, and when the house becomes the main source of the horror later in the game, it truly feels like nowhere is safe. 

As mentioned previously, the game’s plot is adeptly woven into the gameplay experience. The NPCs are strange and off-putting and much of the mythology behind the monster is left to interpretation, which is a nice touch. There’s even a bit of a mystery element as the player is tasked with trying to put together the clues in the recent disappearance cases. It’s an exciting, albeit minimalistic, narrative that is fun to follow through to each of the game’s two endings.

![Nightmare Files Clap Clap Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4005dyo00cu013za9o02b4j.gif)

In the past, smart houses have been seen as a sci-fi spectacle that turns a boring old home into something much more exciting. The reality of the present may be a little underwhelming by comparison, but there are still ways to utilize the trope effectively, as evidenced by *[Nightmare Files] Clap Clap*. By turning something meant for convenience and security into a monstrous entity, Raycastly has created a short and chilling indie horror experience that brings excitement back to the smart house and terror back to the mundane.

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[Nightmare Files] Clap Clap is a spine-chilling horror game where every sound matters. Explore eerie environments, solve cryptic puzzles, and uncover dark secrets - just don’t let the claps catch you.

Fear the Mundane in [Nightmare Files] Clap Clap

With the prominence of lengthy AAA RPG’s and cinematic action-adventure games, it’s sometimes nice to enjoy a condensed story with a more straightforward narrative. Even in a short amount of time, some games manage to tell a comprehensive story without the glitz and glamour of the big-budget title but with just as much heart. With its short playtime and emotionally dense story, this principle applies directly to Digital Mosaic Games’ game: *Re-Bot*.

![Re-Bot Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm40r0sgq01p0014b8jtpfnls.png)

*Re-Bot* is a point-and-click adventure game with a simple yet engaging narrative. In only a few words, the game immediately sets up the main conflict and protagonist’s goals. It follows a robot who is scouring the galaxy in search of robot friends to rescue from peril. This journey takes the robot to several unique locations and allows it to fulfill its goal of finding new friends and setting out into the unknown. Again, the game is very brief and can be completed in about five minutes, but the journey itself feels surprisingly dense. The planets are vibrant and teeming with life, and the characters we encounter along the way stick with you well after the game is over thanks to both their designs and unique personalities. With a simple pixel art style and charming robot designs, *Re-Bot* is both a joy to interact with and pleasant to simply look at.

![Re-Bot Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm40r1ln401ck010u3qh4gj2t.png)

*Re-Bot’s* point-and-click mechanics are easy to pick up, and the objective is always very clear, even if it’s not directly spelled out for the player. The cursor flashes red over interactable objects, allowing us to know what items are clickable and which ones are not. There are a few puzzles embedded into the point-and-click elements that are also quite rewarding.

Like many point-and-click titles, *Re-Bot* strives in the story department. The dialogue is concise and often even contains little bits of dry humor. All of the characters are robots who speak in an abbreviated way except for a single, and quite eloquent, talking frog. Every interaction feels very purposeful, which is why the game’s short play-time is effective. As this title was created for the Ludum Dare 56 game jam, the developer was working with both limited resources and a short amount of time. While creating a game under those circumstances is an impressive feat in itself, making all of the elements work into a memorable and rewarding game is truly something special.

![Re-Bot Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm40r4yt302bo0137d1py62os.png)

Like Digital Mosaic’s earlier title Artisan, *Re-Bot* ends with a satisfying spin on what one would traditionally expect from the point-and-click genre. It’s a bit of a plot twist, but it’s one that effectively makes players re-evaluate the entire game as a result. Not every short gaming experience is created equally, and there are certainly some that are easy to forget about moments after closing the game. However, with *Re-Bot*, there’s a sort of charm and effortlessness to its execution that makes it more difficult to forget. It’s a micro-narrative that delivers on its premise and begs for multiple playthroughs, which makes its name, *Re-Bot*, feel all the more appropriate.


Re-bot is a futuristic puzzle platformer where you rebuild and reprogram your robot to navigate challenging levels. Solve complex puzzles, upgrade your abilities, and outsmart obstacles in this robotic adventure.

The Emotional Micro-Narrative of Re-Bot

For developers creating a deck-builder game, the deck-building element is only half of the challenge. The other half is figuring out how these cards will interact with the game itself and how to make it a rewarding and replayable experience. While some games may create a beautiful set of cards to choose from, the gameplay itself must do the heavy lifting to garner multiple playthroughs. *Pillow Fight*, a sleep-themed deck-builder by Jon Topielski, is a prime example of a game that not only rises to the expectations of the deck-builder genre but exceeds them.

![Pillow Fight Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm40rebyw02bg011i6rq247ys.png)

From a story perspective, *Pillow Fight* is a game about trying to get some sleep. In order to do that, the protagonist must count sheep which is where the gameplay of *Pillow Fight* comes from. Using an assortment of card-based abilities that are collected throughout the game, the player must ensure that the board contains more white sheep than black sheep at the end of each round. Numerous factors, including special tokens, enemy abilities, and a little luck, influence this ratio. Each of your abilities has a cooldown, and you only have a limited amount of times you can swap each sheep’s position on the board, so there is a deep strategy within the sheep-counting combat of *Pillow Fight*. Some of the rounds may come down to randomness, but it never feels unfair as the game gives you the odds and lets you work with them to the best of your ability. Even if you feel frustrated by an enemy, you likely won’t feel cheated.

Once you’ve gathered the basics of the system, the game continues to throw curveballs and switch up mechanics in a way that keeps you engaged throughout all of its seven stages. Each stage has you facing off against a different enemy that is devoted to making sure you get less sleep. From the cup of coffee to the overheating thermostat, every enemy feels very thematically sound which is one of the surprising strengths of *Pillow Fight*. At the end of the battle, every enemy gives wholesome advice on how to maintain a better sleep schedule after they’re defeated, and those elements, which are also scattered throughout the UI and card design, add to the game’s charm.

![Pillow Fight Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm40rfovs024m011idp781itj.png)

Although it starts with a simple tutorial, *Pillow Fight* certainly ramps up the difficulty as the game goes on. The gameplay is much more strategic than that of many other deck-builders as there are many different tokens and abilities to juggle all at once. Additionally, each enemy has more black sheep on the board, which makes your task of flipping them over and creating white sheep that much more challenging. At times, the game feels like a puzzle game as one could spend plenty of time racking their brain to figure out the most optimal play for a given situation. A run could last about 40 minutes, but on the game’s harder difficulty, there’s a chance for it to last over an hour as the enemies become that much more resilient.

However, thanks to the game’s relaxing soundtrack and visually appealing art style, none of that time feels taxing. The presentation is solid throughout, and it makes subsequent playthroughs with different card combinations feel just as rewarding as the first. All of these elements combine to create something that feels like sleep in its purest essence. There’s a sort of innocence to it all that just feels like icing on the cake for this already strong deck-builder.

![Pillow Fight Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm40rgt4z01z6011jh3zia4en.png)

With numerous different cards and abilities to choose from, *Pillow Fight* is an extremely strong entry into the deck-building genre. It not only delivers on its premise, but it does so in every facet of the game. The music, graphics, main menu, and mechanics all work in perfect harmony to create a game that is worth playing again and again until you drift off to sleep.

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Pillow Fight is a whimsical deck builder where strategy meets fun. Build your dream deck, outsmart opponents, and conquer cozy battles in this playful card game.

Pillow Fight: Don’t Sleep on this Deck-Builder

Following its nine nominations and six victories at the 2023 Game Awards, the critically acclaimed role-playing game *Baldur’s Gate 3* is still increasing in scope. In a recent community update, the game’s developer Larian announced that the game will be receiving an eighth post-launch patch in 2025. This impending update will include numerous long-requested features, but perhaps the most intriguing of them all is the announcement of 12 new subclasses being added to the game.

![Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch 8](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm42womn900g401070iar3fmx.png)

*Baldur’s Gate 3* is a turn-based role-playing game that takes place in the world of the Forgotten Realms. At the start of your game, you can fully customize your own character or choose from one of several pre-made characters. While creating your character, you must pick a class to specialize your weapon of choice and learned abilities. After a few level-ups, the game allows you to pick a specific subclass that allows you to specialize your playstyle even more. For example, a rogue who wants to focus more on silent kills than direct combat may choose the assassin subclass to do more critical hit damage while hidden. There are already 46 different subclasses in the game, so the addition of even more subclasses is that much more impressive.

![Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch 8](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm42wqvpo00ip01yubjyr6i5v.gif)

The announced subclasses are spread across numerous primary classes. For those who are focused more on magic, there are several options. The bard class received the College of Glamour subclass which focuses on healing your friends and commanding enemies. Clerics can select the Death Domain subclass which is focused on necromancy. Sorcerer class users will get the Shadow Magic subclass and gain a new shadowy form of magic. The warlock class will receive the Hexblade subclass that is focused on magical weapons. Wizards who enjoy using swords will be pleased to hear that the new Bladesinging subclass will give them the chance to merge their love for swordplay with their love for wizardry. The druid Circle of Stars gives you new powers in the categories of archer, dragon, or chalice.

Players who prefer a more weapons-based playstyle may prefer one of the following subclasses. Barbarians received the Path of Giants which allows for extra carrying capacity and additional damage from throwing attacks. For paladins, there is the Oath of Crowns which enhances your ability to aid allies and disrupt foes. The Arcane Archer subclass in the fighter class will allow you to specialize in both magic and archery skills. With the Drunken Master subclass, monks will gain the ability to consume alcohol to recover ki. The ranger’s Swarmkeeper subclass gives players the power to call in deadly swarms to attack enemies. With the Swashbuckler subclass, rogues will be able to channel their inner pirate with an array of new abilities.

![Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch 8](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm42ws0yq00fy010f1b61a5kb.png)

As if these numerous additions weren’t enough, Larian also announced a new photo mode and cross-console play in the same blog post. All of these new features will surely add even more depth to an already robust gaming experience. For existing fans of *Baldur’s Gate 3* and newcomers who are trying the acclaimed RPG for the first time, there will be no shortage of new content to dive into when the patch releases in 2025.


Baldur's Gate 3's Patch 8, slated for 2025, introduces cross-play across all platforms, a comprehensive photo mode, and 12 new subclasses, enhancing gameplay depth and player connectivity.

New Subclasses Coming to Baldur’s Gate 3 in Upcoming Patch

For whatever reason, there’s something very comforting about games that allow players to work in the service industry and listen to customers vent about their lives. *VA-11 Hall-A* and *Coffee Talk* are two popular examples of this trope that give the player a job as either a bartender or a barista, allowing them to form relationships with their quirky customers and find solace in resolving their problems. However, the reality of the service industry is often much more stressful. In the game *Closing at 2*, the developers inject an element of horror into this typically cozy genre, and the result is an unsettling experience that flips these familiar tropes right on their head.

![Closing at 2 Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4lev92g00ej01xqdtr3c206.png)

As a bartender at Lakeside Inn, the protagonist of *Closing at 2* is tasked with serving three regulars their favorite drinks. The drinks are made by dragging the ingredients to a shaker and playing a time-based minigame to shake them properly. As the night progresses, the regulars grow more frantic, with their features distorting and becoming more twisted. Blood drips from their eyes and spit foams from their mouth as they demand more complicated orders. All of the game’s elements work in a tight tandem to ensure that the horrific moments sprinkled throughout feel cohesive and frightening.

![Closing at 2 Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4lew85k00d301zc9f8pfr8o.png)

Since *Closing at 2* is a visual novel mixed with gameplay elements, there is a lot of emphasis on the personalities and preferences of the customers. Each regular has a different favorite drink, and it’s up to the player to memorize them by the end of the night. It’s a kind of unexpected challenge that feels rewarding if you are able to memorize the drink orders by the third time around. A failed drink order could result in a jump scare, which only adds to the tension of serving drinks later in the evening. The stress of a potential scare later in the game, mixed with the unsettling music and graphics, makes everything feel a bit more difficult and ominous.

While many games of its ilk make serving the drinks properly feel like a reward, *Closing at 2* makes it feel like a necessity. There’s an eerie sense of dread lurking at every corner, and the stress of messing up the regulars’ increasingly complicated orders starts to pile up on you. While the horror itself is chilling with the gruesome graphics and eerie music, the real anxiety comes from failing to do your job correctly. The way in which *Closing at 2* executes this principle is what makes the game so effective. Doing the genre in a way that is familiar yet unique is a difficult task, but the developers of *Closing at 2* pulled it off in a fun and visceral way.

![Closing at 2 Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4lex13p00dh01yt3du75mx6.png)

While the current itch.io version is only a demo about ten minutes long, the developers have announced that a full version of the game is on the way. The ten-minute demo is a memorable experience on its own, but the idea of a full game with new characters and more lore about the bartender and the Lakeside Inn is an enticing prospect. However, even in its abbreviated state, the game manages to capture the chaos and camaraderie of a night at an unfamiliar bar. It can be hectic, warm, and sometimes scary, but at the end of the night, you know exactly what you signed up for. With its unique blend of horror and cozy gameplay, *Closing at 2* is a bartender simulator that is well worth the hangover.

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Closing at 2 is a tense, story-driven game where every decision impacts the outcome. Navigate a high-stakes night, uncover secrets, and race against time before everything shuts down.

Serving up Scares in Closing at 2

On December 3, 1994, Sony launched its first-ever gaming console, the PlayStation, in Japan. An immediate worldwide hit that spawned several notable successors, including the even more successful PlayStation 2, this console catapulted Sony into becoming a juggernaut in the world of console gaming. To celebrate the PlayStation’s success and everything that has followed, Sony is celebrating the console’s 30th birthday by giving back to the fans who made it all possible.

This celebration kicked off with a tribute video on PlayStation’s YouTube channel titled: “30th Anniversary | Thank You”. The video features numerous familiar PlayStation characters and franchises, including *The Last of Us*, *Ratchet & Clank*, and *Bloodborne*. The iconic imagery and familiar PlayStation slogans make the video feel like a nostalgic trip down memory lane. With the backing track being “Dreams” by The Cranberries, the short and sweet tribute is an emotional thank you to the fans who have helped bring all of these gaming worlds to life for so many years.

The [30th-anniversary page](https://www.playstation.com/en-us/30th-anniversary/) on the PlayStation website contains numerous new features for enthusiasts and casual fans alike. Those who are more familiar with the history of Sony and PlayStation may feel inclined to take their multiple-choice 30th-anniversary quiz. The questions ask about gaming knowledge across several console generations and are a nice treat for fans who are familiar with the PlayStation’s history and would like to prove their knowledge.

![Original PlayStation (PS1)](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4lfd4l200dd01z28ea5hecm.jpeg)

If you want to study up or are just curious about the history of the PlayStation, there is also a well-put-together timeline available on the website that gives specs, significant games, and a general history of every PlayStation console. Even the portables are featured in this comprehensive history. For those who fell in love with the music of their favorite franchises, PlayStation is also offering several digital soundtracks, including the scores of *God of War*, *Twisted Metal*, and *Starhawk*. A specially curated PlayStation 30th-anniversary playlist is also available on Spotify as an added bonus.

In addition to all of these online features, PlayStation also announced its 30th anniversary collection of PlayStation 5 Pro consoles. This limited series features a new gray PlayStation 5 Pro console, a gray Dualsense wireless controller, and even a gray PlayStation Portal remote player. As all of this hardware is adorned with the iconic original shade of PlayStation gray, the limited bundle is a collector’s dream. And for those who aren’t interested in the consoles, there are also retro PlayStation themes available for PS5 owners to get their nostalgia fix. Phone and computer wallpapers with classic PlayStation themes are also available for download.

![PlayStation 5 Pro Console - 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Bundle](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4lfg8qh00ct010z4kvjbs16.jpeg)

Since the initial console’s release in 1994, PlayStation has been a staple in the gaming industry. Events like this 30th Anniversary celebration are just one of the many reasons the company is still so highly regarded by fans all these years later. And with the recent debut of the PlayStation 5 Pro and their continuous stream of first-party game releases, there’s no reason to expect that PlayStation won’t be persistently involved in console conversations for years to come.

Celebrate 30 years of PlayStation with the 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Console, featuring a nostalgic design and exclusive details. A tribute to gaming history and innovation.

PlayStation Offers Limited Console and Special Events for 30th Anniversary

In a rather tense early moment in *Dollmare*, the player finds themselves repairing a doll in a decrepit backroom of the Sweet Cheeks factory. It’s subtle, but if you’re listening closely, you can hear an unintelligible whisper coming from behind you. A quick turnaround will reveal that there’s nothing there, but that, in its purest essence, is what makes this horror game so chilling.

![Dollmare Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4lg5plh00in01zi5tlk7u6j.jpeg)

Created by Alex Grade, gonzeek, and Oxeren, *Dollmare* is an indie horror game in which you play as a doll inspector. Your only job is to inspect dolls for defects, and while that role may expand and become more complex, the goal will never change. As you grow more familiar with the job, the game goes out of its way to make every passing moment more and more uncomfortable. Dolls with frightening defects will roll down the conveyor belt, and others may even move while you’re not watching them. To top it all off, *Dollmare’s* horror events are unscripted, meaning no two playthroughs will be exactly the same. This unique take on horror is both refreshing and extra terrifying as you struggle to maintain your sanity during your stint as a doll inspector.

![Dollmare Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4lg6q7p00gf01ys7d31cclu.jpeg)

The gameplay of *Dollmare* strikes a nice balance of challenging and dynamic mechanics. Like many anomaly games, it’s all about spotting the difference and figuring out if the doll should be approved or disposed of. While the initial gameplay loop is sufficient enough, *Dollmare* continues to throw curveballs at the player by making them fix certain dolls and even inspect for voice defects. These additions elevate *Dollmare* from being a competent indie game to feeling like a more unique horror experience. Each new element is another chance to scare, and the developers use every single wrinkle of gameplay to increase the tension and terror throughout.

While the scares may be different in every playthrough, the narrative remains static. As an employee at the Sweet Cheeks doll factory, the player must also unravel the mystery of what happened to the previous doll inspector. This mystery is pervasive throughout the story as it just adds another layer of complexity to the world of *Dollmare*. Eventually, the player can solve this mystery and discover the truth behind the entire operation, but depending on which ending you get, it may or may not be too late. It’s a simple and sometimes predictable story, but the fact that it’s accompanied by a game that is as unpredictable as they come still makes it feel memorable and exciting.

![Dollmare Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4lg7evp00gp01xj8sge8lbu.jpeg)

At the start of *Dollmare*, a text box tells the player that this is a unique horror game that doesn’t have any jumpscares or chase sequences. Its message holds true, but like the cheery dolls that the player is tasked with fixing, there’s more to it than meets the eye. The quiet moments are somehow more chilling than any loud jumpscare could ever be. It constantly feels like you’re being watched, and at times, the players might almost find themselves hoping for a jumpscare just to break the tension. However, that’s precisely the point of *Dollmare*. While many horror games scare with surprise, *Dollmare* creates its horror with a building sense of dread. This minimalism is what sets the game apart, and while it was a risky move, no game could better illustrate the potential rewards that come with such a risk like *Dollmare*.

Dollmare is a haunting horror game where you uncover the dark secrets of a cursed dollmaker's workshop. Explore eerie environments, solve chilling puzzles, and survive the nightmare.

A Quiet Terror in Dollmare

Since the release of its first title on the original PlayStation in 1997, *Gran Turismo* has been a staple on every Sony console. The racing simulator has seven mainline entries with several spin-offs including *Gran Turismo 5 Prologue*, *Gran Turismo (PSP)* and *Gran Turismo Sport*. As the game has become so synonymous with the PlayStation brand, it’s only right that a new game be added to the series the same week the PlayStation turns 30 years old. With the latest entry, *ran Turismo 7*, released in 2022 for both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, Polyphony Digital has added a new entry to the series titled *My First Gran Turismo*.

![My First Gran Turismo Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4lgr7wl00er01wscedohcrf.jpeg)

Billed as a game that “pays tribute to the origins of *Gran Turismo*”, *My First Gran Turismo* is a free-to-play entry to the popular racing game series. The game is meant to appeal to all gamers, but specifically, it’s aimed at introducing gamers who may not be very familiar with *Gran Turismo*. Even with this target demographic, *My First Gran Turismo* still contains many of the features that existing fans of the series have come to love. Whether you are new to the world of *Gran Turismo* or are rekindling your love for racing games, *My First Gran Turismo* promises the high-octane racing experiences that one can expect from the long-running series.

With less content than *Gran Turismo 7*, but more than one might expect from a demo, *My First Gran Turismo* feels like a rather unique entry to the series. The game initially features 18 different cars and several of the iconic tracks that seasoned veterans of *Gran Turismo* may recognize, such as Kyoto Driving Park, Deep Forest Raceway, and Trial Mountain Circuit. Players can participate in time-trials and action-packed races. It also features the  “Music Rally” mini-game introduced in *Gran Turismo 7* that allows players to drive classic cars while reaching checkpoints to ensure the music stays on beat.

![My First Gran Turismo Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4lgs5om00i901xq1er79s5e.jpeg)

Additionally, *My First Gran Turismo* is also compatible with *Gran Turismo 7* as it allows players to transfer all of the cars they unlock in *My First Gran Turismo* over to *Gran Turismo 7*. It’s also fully compatible with the PlayStation 5’s VR2 headset. Players can enjoy more immersive drives by experiencing the Gran Turismo experience from the first-person perspective.

![My First Gran Turismo Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4lgsnio00hk01xigy57192s.jpeg)

While *Gran Turismo 8* isn’t quite here yet, Polyphony continues to feed fans of the series with exciting titles like *My First Gran Turismo*. For seasoned players, the promise of new cars and new racing challenges may be enticing, and for new players, the free-to-play structure makes the game a suitable demo that can give them a taste of what the series has to offer. As *My First Gran Turismo* is a free-to-play game, there is also the potential for future add-ons with new cars and stages for players to try out. Even while they wait for the next main entry to the series, *Gran Turismo* fans can be assured that Polyphony Digital will continue to promote the series and release content that all can enjoy.

My First Gran Turismo is a beginner-friendly racing game designed to introduce new players to the thrill of Gran Turismo. Learn the basics, customize cars, and race on iconic tracks.

My First Gran Turismo Races onto the PlayStation Store

While the Game Boy Advance was a beloved console that has stood the test of time with its charming 32-bit graphics, it wasn’t without its weaknesses. The graphical limitations of the portable system made the horror genre seemingly impossible to tackle. Sure, there were games that attempted to tiptoe the line between horror and action, such as *Resident Evil Gaiden* and *Metroid Fusion*, but even those don’t hold up as well as horror games on home consoles around the same time period. The indie development team at Flower Studio saw this void in the GBA horror landscape and crafted something that not only fills the void but also attacks it in a completely fresh way. They did that by creating *The Melting Apartment*.

![The Melting Apartment Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4lh1pn500fx01x41mbwe4x2.png)

The premise of *The Melting Apartment* is somehow both familiar and unsettling. You play as a detective who is called to investigate a missing persons case in a run-down apartment. Upon arriving, the detective quickly notices that the tenants are deeply disturbed. They repeatedly croak out strange warnings and chilling omens, making it obvious that things aren’t as they initially seemed. In a short amount of time, the game drags you into a suspenseful investigation that concludes with a shocking discovery.

All of this could have been crafted in another art style, but the 32-bit charm of the Game Boy Advance style really shines throughout the game. Every one of the apartment’s tenants is beautifully drawn with their own quirky touch. Somehow, the limited palette and low resolution practically burst off the screen with each disturbing face that you’re forced to look at. The less detailed sections are also a joy to look at as they’re very readable and evoke a feeling of nostalgia for a bygone era.

![The Melting Apartment Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4lh2df800ll01ya844y8938.png)

Along with the minimalistic graphics, the gameplay and audio also remain true to the spirit of the Game Boy Advance. Aside from one combat section, the game is a point-and-click adventure that has the player solving small puzzles and interacting with objects around the apartment. The droning music comes out in a muffled and distorted sound, just as if it were coming out of a GBA speaker.

![The Melting Apartment Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4lh3gek00ma01u6e06cds0z.png)

As the story unfolds, the player is dragged into a conspiracy surrounding the entire apartment as some sort of cosmic horror entity. Environmental horror is a big point of emphasis, and everybody in the game seems equally afraid of the apartment and what it might do next. Inspired by Italian giallo movies and the works of Junji Ito, The Melting Apartment places a heavy emphasis on the contrast between the known and the unknown. Even with its three different endings, none of them directly lay out what was going on inside that terrifying apartment. They allow the player to fill in the gaps using their own detective work, which is the perfect way to create a more lasting impact.

![The Melting Apartment Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4lh40nl00je01x8coc2dk7u.png)

Although it’s short, *The Melting Apartment* packs more than enough scares and intrigue into every little crevice of its gameplay, graphics, and audio. While many developers have left the 32-bit style in the dust and moved forward with AAA horror behemoths, there will always be a niche for those who wonder what retro gaming might look like if it had a more modern twist. Thanks to teams like Flower Studio and their bold attempts to answer such a question, the GBA loyalists can rest easy knowing that viscerally terrifying horror experiences like The Melting Apartment exist and are still being made to this day.

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The Melting Apartment is a surreal horror game where reality bends and walls dissolve. Navigate a shifting environment, uncover cryptic clues, and escape the madness before it consumes you.

The Melting Apartment: Bringing Horror to the Game Boy Advance

Even in our most formative years, there are subtle elements of game design that leak into our daily lives. You may learn how to play Rock Paper Scissors, Candy Land, or Checkers, and once you learn the basics, you’ll next want to know how to win more often. Tic-tac-toe may have one of the simpler learning curves to master since whoever goes first can employ a technique that will allow them to win easily. That said, the solo developer “Unbreaded” saw this as a challenge and decided to make a deckbuilder game based around tic-tac-toe that is easy to play but difficult to master.

![Tic Tactic Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4lhb4yy00m601xs6ta02jyt.png)

In *Tic Tactic*, you play as a duck who wages war on an army of chickens. The only way to defeat them is to outwit them in a game of tic-tac-toe, but the mission is a bit more complex than that. Each successful three-in-a-row you get does damage to your opponent, but some take multiple successful tic-tac-toes to defeat. As if this wasn’t enough, there are also special tic-tac-toe tiles that have different abilities. Suddenly, the simple game that gives a guaranteed victory to the player who goes first has an added layer of complexity to it, and it’s really astounding how different it feels with only a few minor changes.

![Tic Tactic Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4lhc28i00ie01x77ufx49ez.png)

The numerous new tiles have abilities that take a whole new adjustment period to get used to. Some move the X’s and O’s, some delete them, and some even do more damage or heal you. Unlike some roguelikes, this game actually can prove quite difficult until you know what everything does. The classic corner strategy may not work based on which tiles your opponent has, and you may even come up with new strategies of your own based on the tiles you acquire throughout the game. The steep learning curve and improvements on each playthrough make the gameplay loop both satisfying and strategic.

In addition to managing your tiles, you’re also managing your health. Certain items heal you throughout the game, but with some chickens doing more damage than others, it’s important to be mindful of your health during your journey. Unlike in a classic game of tic-tac-toe, you will go first and lose on occasion. There are too many zany tiles and unexpected plays for you to not take some damage along the way, and that’s what makes *Tic Tactic* so engrossing. Taking such a simple concept and turning it into a brutal game of resource management and strategy is an achievement in itself.

![Tic Tactic Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4lhcmh700h6010sbviweoe5.png)

While the demo version on Itch.io has several worlds and enemies, the developer has announced that a full version of the game is in the works with new worlds, new tiles, and new chickens to do battle with. The game’s bright future should only serve to highlight how impressive the demo truly is. When you’re learning a new game for the first time as a child, there are numerous emotions as you pick things up. Sometimes it’s frustration, sometimes it’s triumph, but whatever emotions you feel, there’s a moment where everything seems to click, and suddenly, you understand the game now. The way in which *Tic Tactic* evokes a similar feeling with such a familiar game is both humbling and deeply satisfying. It’s rare that a game can feel new and old at the same time, but *Tic Tactic’s* ability to do just that is what gives it an edge over the many other roguelikes of a similar ilk.

Tic Tactic is a strategic twist on classic tic-tac-toe. Plan your moves, outsmart opponents, and dominate the board in this fast-paced, brain-teasing game.

Relearning Tic-Tac-Toe with Tic Tactic

Overlapping with its OG event, *Fortnite* will be receiving yet another new game type in the form of Ballistic mode. This 5v5 game mode will not only diverge from the usual battle royale gameplay with its format, but it will also introduce the first official first-person mode to Fortnite. The release date for Early Access to the brand-new game mode has been set for December 11, but with its litany of new features and tactical approach, it’s sure to expand over the coming months.

Similar to the gameplay of tactical shooters like *Counter-Strike* and *Valorant*, *Fortnite’s* Ballistic mode is split into rounds. Between rounds, you can buy guns and choose gadgets to employ during combat. There are no respawns, and each player is eliminated from the round as soon as they run out of health. Teams are split into two categories with Attackers being tasked with planting a Rift Point Device and defenders aiming to defuse the device or stop it from being planted in the first place. If the Rift Point Device is set, the defenders will have 45 seconds to defuse it before the round ends in a loss for them. Every six rounds, the roles will switch with the first team to get to seven wins emerging as the victor.

![Fortnite Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4lhm3as00g901yqgic80pdg.jpeg)

The mode is set to emphasize tactics and teamwork with smaller team sizes and close-quarters combat. The early access will launch with only the Skyline 10 map, but major updates to the map and weapon selection will be made in the future. Despite the initially limited map choice, there are plenty of different weapons and gadgets to play around with in the early access. 

Many staples of the familiar *Fortnite* arsenal are here, including the assault rifle, pistol, submachine gun, tactical machine gun, tactical shotgun, pump shotgun, bolt-action sniper rifle, and semi-auto sniper rifle. Flex gadgets also promise to add another element of strategy to the game mode. Many of these are also familiar from the traditional *Fortnite* experience as the mode will feature the proximity mine, the bubble shield, the recon grenade, the frag grenade, and the impulse grenade.

![Fortnite Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4lhmsjm00gz01x465wge13a.jpeg)

As the new game mode is being billed as highly competitive, Epic Games is also offering both ranked and unranked lobbies. The more casual players, or those who want to practice honing their skills, can enjoy the unranked lobbies while those who want to battle for rank-ups can drift towards the ranked lobbies. The rank matchups will be based on the average rank of your party, but Epic Games plans to adjust the systems accordingly.

![Fortnite Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4lhno1w00gm01ujcbzncwy9.jpeg)

Launching as a free-to-play game in 2017, *Fortnite: Battle Royale* has continued to release new content consistently ever since. And now, with *Fortnite* finally taking the leap to first person, it will be interesting to see how the game continues to evolve. The new *Fortnite* Ballistic mode is just one of the many ways in which Epic Games is still expanding the shooter and expanding its audience while keeping core fans engaged and intrigued.

Fortnite Ballistic Mode introduces 5v5 tactical shooter action with first-person gameplay. Attackers plant Rift Point Devices, defenders prevent detonation—experience intense rounds on the new Skyline 10 map.

Epic Games Introduces Fortnite Ballistic Mode with First-Person Gameplay

At the highly anticipated Game Awards presentation, Team Asobi’s hit 3D platformer *Astro Bot* was announced as the winner of the coveted 2024 Game of the Year award. Released on September 6, *Astro Bot* is one of the best-selling PlayStation 5 games, with over 1.5 million units sold as of November. With this award, *Astro Bot* joins the ranks of other 2020’s Game of the Year winners like *Baldur’s Gate 3*, *Elden Ring*, *It Takes Two*, and *The Last of Us Part II*.

Despite this being the first game titled simply *Astro Bot*, the character of *Astro Bot* has been a part of the Sony brand since 2013. The little robot’s early design was present in *The Playroom*, released for PlayStation 4, and the robot mascot would later appear in *Astro Bot Rescue Mission* and *Astro’s Playroom* as well. While all these experiences acted more as Sony tech demos than fully fleshed-out games, *Astro Bot* broke the mold and gave players a full-length platforming experience that has been lauded by fans and critics alike.

![Astro Bot Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4rydhpo01yq01wfctm59ap6.jpeg)

The win is even more impressive when its competition is taken into consideration. The other nominees included the hard-hitters *Balatro*, *Black Myth: Wukong*, *Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree*, *Final Fantasy VII Rebirth*, and *Metaphor: ReFantazio*. All of these games were critically acclaimed and top-selling titles. To reign supreme over not only these games but the countless other titles released this year is truly a commendable achievement for Team Asobi.

This was not the game’s only nomination as *Astro Bot* also took home awards for Best Game Direction, Best Action/Adventure Game, and Best Family Game, while also being nominated for Best Art Direction, Best Score and Music, and Best Audio Design. Even with these awards, *Astro Bot’s* story is far from over as Team Asobi is still releasing updates to the platforming title. On December 12th, a free DLC level with a Christmas theme was added to the game as a surprise. *Astro Bot’s* Winter Wonder features a brand new level and new bots to add to your game. Although it may be their last addition for the year, Team Asobi has promised new updates in the future, meaning that *Astro Bot* will continue to grow and evolve even as a Game of the Year victor.

![Astro Bot Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4ryeqe501m001xsakd09hr5.jpeg)

Although the 3D platformer genre has been less prevalent in recent Game of the Year conversations, *Astro Bot* is a prime example of why the genre will never truly fade away. It’s not a 60-hour RPG or a complex fighting game, but *Astro Bot’s* charming aesthetics and creative level design still managed to captivate the gaming world. This victory is a testament to the fact that inventive gameplay and challenging jumping puzzles will always have a place in the hearts of gamers, and as the developers of Team Asobi paid tribute to Nintendo’s *Super Mario Bros*. titles during their acceptance speech, it’s apparent that they still have a place in the hearts of game developers as well.

Team Asobi’s Astro Bot takes home Game of the Year at the 2024 Game Awards, celebrated for its charming platforming, innovative gameplay, and delightful tribute to PlayStation’s legacy.

Team Asobi’s Platformer Astro Bot Wins Game of the Year at 2024 Game Awards

On December 17, Marceline the Vampire Queen joined the ranks of icons like Bugs Bunny, Lebron James, and Rick Sanchez as a playable fighter in *MultiVersus*. This recurring “Adventure Time” character joins Raven as the second addition to the roster in the game’s Season 4 phase. Warner Bros. Games also released two new stages, with the addition of the “Adventure Time” locale Candy Kingdom and another variation called Candy Kingdom 2. Marceline is initially available for $9.99 or 1,000 Gleamium (MultiVersus’ in-game currency), but on December 20th, she will be available for 6,000 fighter currency and the Fighter Road feature.

![MultiVersus Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4vfa63m00gg01we0u7b5yin.png)

*MultiVersus* is a growing, free-to-play platform fighter featuring playable characters from Warner Bros. Discovery intellectual properties. This includes numerous characters from the DC Universe, Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo, and plenty more movies and shows. While it was initially available as an early access title in 2022 and 2023, the full game was released in May 2024 with 26 playable characters. The roster has burgeoned to a grand total of 32 playable characters with more likely on the way in future seasons.

In “Adventure Time,” Marceline is a powerful vampire who has lived over 1,000 years. She’s known for her vampiric abilities and her love for playing the electric bass. Initially an antagonist, Marceline eventually befriends the heroic Finn and his dog Jake and becomes one of their most powerful and trustworthy allies. She joins Finn, Jake, and the Banana Guard as the fourth playable “Adventure Time” character to be included on the MultiVersus roster.

![MultiVersus Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4vfapaz00ct01wehabl5sxt.png)

Both variations of the new Candy Kingdom map are also faithful to the source material. The regular Candy Kingdom is a daytime stage with a larger area to fight on, while Candy Kingdom 2 is a smaller map that depicts the kingdom after dark. As with the Candy Kingdom in the show, the new Candy Kingdom 2 map features a cast of delicious anthropomorphic desserts who will watch the fight from the sidelines. Peppermint Butler, a character who appears in numerous episodes of the show, is one of the many spectators on this new map. There are also moving side platforms made of marshmallows that fighters can battle on.

Marceline’s in-game moveset highlights many of her signature vampiric and musical abilities. One of her signature weapons is her axe-like bass, which is utilized in her ground side attack, normal air neutral attack, and normal air side attack. She also has two stances: A normal one and a bass stance. The bass stance allows her attacks to become music notes and gives her the power to unleash powerful finishing attacks. As a vampire, Marceline also can transform into her bat form with her special attacks. She’s labeled as a bruiser in the game’s class system, meaning that she is proficient in close-range combat and a good choice for new players of the game.

![MultiVersus Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4vfbjsq00ew01z66afo8bcz.png)

*MultiVersus* Season 4: Midnight Misfits will run until January 21 with new themed events and skins on the horizon. While players will likely have to wait a while for Season 5 news, the additions of Marceline and Raven, and the existing cast of characters, leave plenty of room for platform-fighting mayhem in the world of *MultiVersus.


Adventure Time’s Marceline joins the MultiVersus roster, bringing her vampire queen powers and unique playstyle to the fight. Rock out and dominate battles with this fan-favorite character!

Adventure Time’s Marceline Joins the MultiVersus Roster

While it has become popular to emulate the aesthetics and sounds of old SNES and Gameboy games for nostalgia’s sake, it’s harder to emulate the simple brilliance of these games. With minimal resources, game developers were able to create challenging experiences with simple objectives that are seldom seen in more modern gaming. Created by Róger Goulart, *Ghost Hunter* is a game that strikes that rare balance of retro graphics and old-fashioned gameplay. The result is a delightful and charming puzzle game experience with a spooky coat of paint as the cherry on top.

![Ghost Hunter Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4vfh1h900i001yjedid64ox.png)

From a plot standpoint, *Ghost Hunter* establishes a loveable protagonist on a noble quest in only a few lines of text. The story of Glenda, a ghost-loving outcast, is told in just a few stills and lines of text, but her simple enthusiasm for the undead is still palpable in the limited story provided. She loves ghosts and wants everyone else to know just how much she loves them. Graphically, everything is very readable and crisp. Glenda’s sprite is cute and distinguishable, and the ghosts are easy to identify as friends or foes. That, coupled with the catchy soundtrack, makes Ghost Hunter a game that truly does feel as if it comes from a different era.

![Ghost Hunter Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4vfi2rx00dg01w1ae9w5154.png)

All of these elements are only enhanced by the smooth gameplay. *Ghost Hunter* is a top-down experience in which the player uses WASD to control Glenda through several graveyards. Your timed objective is to dig up graves and free the good ghosts on each map. There are also cursed ghosts who can attack Glenda, so it’s important to explore carefully and be ready to run away at a moment’s notice while digging up a grave. It’s simple in concept, but the time limit, variation of enemies, and digging mechanics make it complex in execution. On some levels, it’s smarter to start digging one grave, leave it for a bit, and come back to it later to ensure you don’t get slowed down by any cursed ghosts. The ways in which such a simple game can evolve into something strategic give merit to the power of minimalism in the retro game genre.

While it starts simple, the later levels are more difficult, thanks to the variation in enemies. A new type of ghost that needs to be defeated by water and bats who fly across the screen give another level of complexity to the established gameplay loop. Thankfully, the game also provides you with power-ups that are found in the golden graves, such as a speed boost and a light that slows the ghosts down. They add an element of strategy as the player is forced to consider resource management in their ghost-hunting adventure.

![Ghost Hunter Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4vfir5q00ee01t963zjcuvj.png)

When the player finally beats the third level, and Glenda has achieved her goal of freeing the ghosts from their graves, things obviously don’t go well. It’s a very straightforward result, and in a way, the story acts as a metaphor for the game’s own simplicity. At its core, *Ghost Hunter* is a simple pixel-art game about digging up ghosts, and it never tries to introduce any concepts or gameplay mechanics that detract from what it aims to be. While what *Ghost Hunter* does is great on the surface level, it’s what the game doesn’t do that makes it a loveable and memorable gaming experience.

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Ghost Hunter is a suspenseful game where you track and capture spirits in haunted locations. Use specialized tools, uncover hidden secrets, and face chilling encounters with the supernatural.

Ghost Hunter: A Ghost of Gaming Past

Continuing their long-running tradition of major updates in the month of December, the *Overwatch 2* team at Blizzard recently released another sizable addition to the first-person shooter. The series of updates started with *Overwatch 2’s* Season 14 on December 10, which included the release of the new hero Hazard and new unlockable skins. However, on December 17, the much-anticipated “Avatar: The Last Airbender” collaboration premiered, with several new skins based on characters from the Nickelodeon show. If that wasn’t enough, an experimental 6v6 mode featuring a 2-2-2 role queue system also released the same day.

![Overwatch 2 Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4xouhsw008t01z25snra5h0.jpeg)

While *Overwatch* initially launched in 2016 with a heavy focus on 6v6 competitive FPS gameplay, the switch to *Overwatch 2* in 2023 saw Blizzard shifting their focus to a 5v5 format. By popular demand, Blizzard has been experimenting with ways to bring back 6v6 mode with a new *Overwatch*: Classic mode in November and this latest new game mode in December. The latest experiment adds a 2-2-2 role-queue system to the 6v6 gameplay, meaning that players must create a team with two tank heroes, two support heroes, and two damage heroes. Like the first return of 6v6, this limited experiment will run from December 17 to January 6. Heroes have also received a series of balancing changes to better adapt their abilities for the 6v6 format.

Following its collaborations with “Cowboy Bebop” and “My Hero Academia,” *Overwatch 2* is also receiving a crossover with the popular Nickelodeon television show “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” The show follows a young airbender named Aang who must use his elemental powers to defeat the oppressive firebending regime. Several characters received new skins that match *Overwatch 2* characters with “Avatar: The Last Airbender” characters. Zenyatta received an Aang skin, Mei received a Katara skin, Orisa received an Appa skin, Venture received a Toph skin, Genji received a Zuko skin, and Kiriko received a Suki skin.

![Overwatch 2 Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4xovddl008m0101dvsk1yn1.jpeg)

December 17 also marked the beginning of *Overwatch 2’s* yearly Winter Wonderland event. Several limited-time game modes have returned, including Mei’s Yeti Hunt, Freeze Flash Elimination, and Mei’s Snowball Offensive. There are also new Winter Wonderland challenges that allow players to earn new sprays, skins, and name cards. The new skins included are the Merry Marionette Echo skin as well as a legendary skin for both Cassidy and Widowmaker.

With all of these changes, *Overwatch 2’s* Season 14 launch also brought a series of patch notes with buffs and debuffs for certain heroes. The new hero Hazard received a power buff, along with Winston, Ramratta, Sojourn, Soldier: 76, Orisa, Ashe, Baptiste, Lucio, Illari, Symmetra, and Torbjorn. Meanwhile, Doomfist, Pharah, Mauga, and Brigitte received slight debuffs.

![Overwatch 2 Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4xovyw6008w012egya06q0b.jpeg)

For players of Blizzard’s first-person shooter, there is plenty of new content to explore in this seasonal update. Even as the year comes to a close, *Overwatch 2* is expected to continue receiving large-scale updates with its yearly Lunar New Year event on the horizon. With competitors like Marvel Rivals starting to pick up steam, Blizzard’s continued efforts with new characters, new skins, and continued seasonal events are a sign that support for *Overwatch 2* isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Overwatch 2’s latest update revives 6v6 mode and introduces Avatar: The Last Airbender skins. Team up and battle with stunning new looks inspired by the beloved series.

Overwatch 2 Update Brings Back 6v6 Mode, Adds Avatar: The Last Airbender Skins

In their heyday, point-and-click adventure games were often associated with grandiose adventures through strange worlds, as seen in the popular *King’s Quest* and *Monkey Island* game series. However, at the same time, there was also a burgeoning market for an adventure game of a different kind. These games explored raunchy urban settings and employed humor to tell a convoluted yet endearing story. Titles such as *Leisure Suit Larry* and *Grim Fandango* popularized this style, and the indie developers at Kini Games have continued it by releasing the charming and hilarious *D-List Diva*.

![D-List Diva Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4xp2yee008m0104de31bast.png)

From the moment the player is dropped into a broken-down dressing room and introduced to Bill, the game’s unsavory protagonist, it’s clear that this point-and-click adventure is not concerned with glitz and glamour. Throughout the story, we follow a jaded stage manager as he attempts to satisfy the ridiculous requests of Davina Diamondes, a washed-up superstar who delusionally thinks she’s still got it. Along the way, we meet several other quirky characters that practically burst off the screen with personality. Each one feels fully fleshed out like they’ve existed in this world their whole lives, and we’re just eavesdropping on a single moment from their day.

As with many Sierra point-and-click adventures before it, *D-List Diva* is a mix of puzzle-solving and being a conversationalist. Davina’s requests may seem difficult at the start, but as you point and click around, you start to realize which items will get you closer to your ultimate goal. Striking a balance between difficult and impossible is always a challenge for developers in the point-and-click genre, but Kini Games finds a solid middle-ground here. The dialogue plays a big role as what initially seem like throwaway jokes become crucial hints for puzzle solving.

![D-List Diva Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4xp3xed006j010d476e4tn8.png)

*D-List Diva* isn’t a particularly long game, but in its allotted time, it manages to shine thanks to its charming visuals and humor. The characters already pop on their own, but the pixel art style that is so reminiscent of many point-and-click adventure games of the ‘90s, make them feel that much more animated. Whether it’s the cheery bartender or the burnt-out autograph hunter, everybody feels like they belong, and they don’t overstay their welcome. That’s not even mentioning Davina herself, whose pompous attitude is a joy to witness. The graphics, music, and writing are all firing on full-cylinders here, and it makes for a hilarious and immersive point-and-click experience.

![D-List Diva Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm4xp4kzt006601yu8s5v28ny.png)

Despite their massive popularity in the ‘90s and ‘80s, point-and-click games have certainly taken a backseat to other genres in more modern times. Thanks to modern graphical improvements and more competitive gameplay, it’s definitely hard to blame gamers themselves for this shift. Sometimes, things simply fade away. However, games such as *D-List Diva* serve as both a fresh take on the genre and a reminder of why they were so popular in the first place. There’s still a place in gaming for the raunchy humor and simple point-and-click gameplay that was once so beloved. *D-List Diva* not only exemplifies why that is, but it also gives us an answer as to what the genre might look like if it, like Davina Diamondes, had never left the spotlight.

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D-List Diva is a comedic life-sim where you climb the social ladder, juggle fame, drama, and quirky challenges to transform from a nobody to a celebrity icon.

D-List Diva: An A-List Point and Click Adventure

In the midst of its defense against a patent lawsuit from Nintendo and The Pokemon Company, the Japanese developer Pocketpair released the massive Feybreak update for *Palworld* on December 23. The open-world monster-taming game has seen its ups and downs throughout the year, but it’s ending 2024 with new content and the promise of continued support into next year. This includes the earlier teased *Terraria* collaboration, which players of *Palworld* got their first taste of in the new Feybreak update.

![Palworld Feybreak Update](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm5b8ha9600st01zz2mzafm19.jpeg)

*Palworld* is an open-world survival game in which players must use creatures called “Pals” to gather resources and help with combat. With a large world to explore and numerous quests to tackle, *Palworld* launched with a solid blend of combat and resource management. Before the new Feybreak update, the game featured 163 Pals for players to capture and collaborate with. The game also has online play, allowing up to 32 players to explore and catch Pals together on a dedicated server.

Having first launched *Palworld* in early access in January, Pocketpair has released numerous updates throughout the past year, including the Sakurajima update in June. The Feybreak update, similarly to the Sakurajima update, contains new pals, a new island, and new NPCs. However, the new island of Feybreak is said to be six times bigger than the island of Sakurajima, with several different biomes to explore. 

![Palworld Feybreak Update](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm5b8iag000kh01yyf4wog7dm.png)

It’s not only larger in island size than Sakurajima, but Feybreak also contains numerous new game mechanics as well. Players can now research new passive abilities and rewards at a research base to increase their Pal productivity. Pals can also now go out on expeditions to obtain supplies for players’ bases. The list of enemies has expanded with vicious predator Pals spawning throughout the world and new criminal NPCs who can be caught for cash rewards. This is all in addition to several new resources, items, Pals, and player skins that were all packaged into this update. And for those who want a greater challenge, Pocketpair has released a hardcore mode that makes player and Pal deaths permanent for maximum consequences.

After being teased earlier in the year, *Palword’s* crossover with the 2D action-adventure sandbox game *Terraria* has finally started to come to fruition. The Meowmere, a sword that shoots cat heads when it’s swung, is a popular weapon from *Terraria* that is now obtainable in the world of *Palworld*. The addition of this powerful new weapon is only a taste of what’s to come as a trailer teasing more crossovers between the worlds of *Palworld* and Terraria in 2025 was released alongside the update. In the trailer, those familiar with *Terraria* will recognize its iconic menu music and familiar weapon design as it shows off the powers of the cat-shooting Meowmere.

![Palworld Feybreak Update](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm5b8j11h00nb010t6kd55dta.png)

Since launching in early 2024, *Palworld* has continued to receive constant support that helped it grow in both scale and scope. Each major update release introduced new Pals, worlds to explore, and balancing updates to keep the game stable yet ever-changing. Now, after securing a high-profile collaboration with Terraria, it seems that *Palworld* will only continue to expand in 2025 as the team at Pocketpair continues to add new features and Pals for players to enjoy.

Feybreak’s latest update blends Palworld’s creature crafting with Terraria’s sandbox exploration. Build, battle, and shape your world in this exciting fusion of gameplay styles.

Palworld Meets Terraria in Feybreak Update

When creating a psychological horror game, there are several avenues that creators tend to gravitate towards. One avenue is to blur reality and fiction with a nightmarish exploration of the human psyche. Another is to go for a more realistic interpretation of what true horror is. In the *Fears to Fathom* series, game developer Reyll has decided to focus on realism, but has also pushed beyond a perceived horror reality with real stories from real people.

![Fears to Fathom: Home Alone Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm5b9vzqa00pw01yvf85l70ye.png)

The premise of the *Fears to Fathom* anthology is that each game is created based on a story submitted by a real fan of the series. There are currently five entries in the series, each with its own unique location and storyline. Every story explores horror in seemingly innocuous situations, such as the first game in the series *Fears to Fathom: Home Alone*. As the name implies, *Fears to Fathom: Home Alone* is about a 14-year-old who is left by himself at home for a weekend.

In each *Fears to Fathom* title, several key gameplay mechanics add to the immersion. For one, the narration is all in the first-person, which is apt as it makes the games feel more grounded and story-like. This narration is used to let the player know what to do next, as Miles, our protagonist, might say, “I got up to get some water,” to tell you to go to the fridge. It’s a clever and apt way to convey the story, gameplay, and atmosphere all at once. The way the narration puts you into the perspective of Miles is something that is uniquely chilling and not often seen in the psychological horror genre. In addition to these narrations, *Fears to Fathom: Home Alone* also features a texting mechanic where the player receives texts from key people in Miles’ life. These texts effectively add to the sense of dread and sometimes comfort as the world somehow simultaneously feels less empty and more isolating than ever. 

![Fears to Fathom: Home Alone Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm5b9x7ms00re011s5e9mee8t.png)

Using only those mechanics, *Fears to Fathom: Home Alone* expertly weaves a tale of an adolescent nightmare turned into a reality. Miles enjoys leftover food, television, and anything else a teenager might enjoy while having the entire house to himself, but things quickly go south.  Strange rumblings of a criminal on the loose are just the start of Miles’ horrific and visceral experience with a home invader. The jumpscares all feel purposeful, and the story itself is told in a way that feels true-to-life and tasteful at the same time.

![Fears to Fathom: Home Alone Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm5b9y31x00ya010b8w547kz8.png)

While the story itself is wonderfully constructed, with the shadowy aesthetics and eerie sound design all doing their respective jobs, what sets *Fears to Fathom: Home Alone* apart from other psychological horror titles is the realness of it all. It’s chilling that the game is based on the story of not only the person who submitted it but those of so many other victims across the world. While playing *Fears to Fathom: Home Alone*, that reality may not immediately run through one’s head as the jumpscares and ambiance are effective enough to make one forget. However, as the credits roll, the sobering thought of why the game felt so real stays with you well after the game has closed.

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Fears to Fathom: Home Alone is a chilling episodic horror game where you uncover unsettling events while home alone. Experience suspenseful storytelling and terrifying twists in this atmospheric thriller.

The Horror of Reality in Fears to Fathom: Home Alone

On paper, the idea of a game show being mixed with the horror genre doesn’t seem like it should work. One would think that the glitz and glamour of a shiny new game show and the low-lighting and eeriness of horror exist at opposite ends of the spectrum. However, recent examples like the film “Late Night with the Devil” revealed that there’s an untapped market for those who are willing to combine these elements to create a truly horrific experience. In developer Coding4rtists *Who Wants to Be a Murderer?*, the player is given a glimpse of just how effective this combination can be.

Combining psychological horror with the game show genre, *Who Wants to Be a Murderer?* is set in a ‘90s television show. A showy and witty host reads off the questions, and the player must answer them while also playing murderous mini-games to ensure their survival. The game contains unscripted rounds, meaning that the events in each playthrough can play out in a random order. This leads to more replayability as the contestants’ actions and reactions vary greatly through each playthrough.

![Who Wants to Be a Murderer? Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm5bbds2z00t901yv644m85u1.png)

Without any pretense, the player is dropped into this murderous game show armed with only their wits and people skills. Several other contestants are also present, and they can become allies or enemies. Between rounds of morbid trivia, the player can converse with the other contestants to gain advantages in the competition. These brief conversation sequences are one of the game’s greatest strengths, as they make everyone feel animated and personable. To win, everyone else must die, and it makes killing them off that much more difficult. The host himself is also a treat to listen to, as his dialogue is a spot-on imitation of a host in a popular game show. He makes jokes, advertises products, and harshly judges every contestant, just like any good game show host might. 

![Who Wants to Be a Murderer? Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm5bbei4p00v501zuhukwbfya.png)

Minimalist graphics and flashy sound design help *Who Wants to Be a Murderer?* shine in a way that only a game show can. The raving audiences and cheery jingles contrast the bleak story unfolding before the player’s eyes. While everyone seems to be brimming with enthusiasm, the contestants continue to endure torture after torture as they backstab one another for a cash prize. It’s a cruel yet fair look at the ways in which our entertainment is commodified, and telling it through the vessel of a horror game is just as effective as you would expect.

The story plays out in a rather linear fashion, but there are four endings to choose from. Each ending is another take on the character’s morality as the host constantly pushes you to go further and further to come out victorious on *Who Wants to Be a Murderer?*. In the end, the question may become literal as the ramifications of your actions mount against you. While the trivia element overshadows the story in a lot of categories, the thematic ties between the game show’s premise and the actions of the player are still quite compelling.

![Who Wants to Be a Murderer? Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm5bbfdqw011i011zd3660nxs.png)

Even with four endings, plenty of trivia questions, and a nice coat of polish, the current version of *Who Wants to Be a Murderer?* is still technically a demo. The developer has promised a full version of the game on Steam, with more trivia and a longer story. That said, the abbreviated version of the game showcases everything one could have hoped for from a game show horror game. Despite the genre differences, every element in *Who Wants to Be a Murderer?* blends effortlessly together to create an experience that is filled with contradiction, horror, and a little razzle-dazzle.

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Who Wants to Be a Murderer? is a darkly comedic mystery game where players navigate deceit, solve puzzles, and uncover deadly secrets in a twisted game of survival and wit.

Who Wants to Be a Murderer?: Surviving a Gory Game Show

Only a little over a year after the release of its viral indie horror game *The Exit 8*, developer Kotake Create has announced that a full live-action film is on the way. This announcement was accompanied by a short teaser trailer that offers a glimpse into what the film will have to offer. The distribution and production company Toho Studios has signed on to spearhead the development of this intriguing project.

Over the past several years, movie adaptations of games have seen somewhat of a resurgence. Larger franchises have received blockbuster releases such as “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” and “Sonic the Hedgehog”, and even smaller indie games have gotten adaptations, as seen in the “Five Nights at Freddy’s” film. With how quickly this announcement was made relative to when the game was released, it would seem that this trend is continuing to make waves in the film industry.

![The Exit 8](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm5bbls1s000901xh54j14c98.jpeg)

While the previously mentioned franchises had clear plots and paths to follow for their film adaptations, *The Exit 8’s* story is a bit less clear as the game itself is almost completely without a plot. All set in a single passageway, the game has the player walk down the hallway and try to spot the anomalies. If the player notices that something is out of the ordinary, they can turn around and go back the way they came to advance. The goal is to reach the final platform by correctly identifying anomalies eight times in a row and escaping the loop. Along the way, several of the anomalies can reset your progress with potential jumpscares or other unsettling visuals. It strikes a delicate balance of fairness and liminal horror that made it a viral hit, scoring over 1.4 million downloads worldwide. This success even led to a sequel with a new setting and similar looping gameplay titled *Platform 8*.

![The Exit 8](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm5bbmyjg000l01zo1bm3g4zb.jpeg)

Although the game itself is light on story, the Japanese studio Toho should have no trouble creating a compelling narrative given the source material. Toho is responsible for the creation of Godzilla and has created 33 films to date about the iconic reptilian monster. Some of its most recent films, such as 2023’s “Godzilla Minus One” and 2016’s “Shin Godzilla,” received acclaim from critics and box-office success. In addition to the Godzilla films, Toho has also dabbled in video game adaptations in the past, producing both “Pokémon Detective Pikachu” in 2019 and “Monster Hunter” in 2020.

The released teaser for the upcoming *The Exit 8* film gives viewers a glimpse of the iconic corridor in which the game takes place. There is also a shot of the man who walks down the corridor at the beginning of the game and in subsequent levels. While it’s difficult to gather much from the brief trailer, the atmosphere and eeriness created already give off a familiar feeling that fans of the game are sure to appreciate.

![The Exit 8](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm5bbnv3d000d01zec11w559d.jpeg)

With the aforementioned resurgence of video games in film, it’s nice to see even indie games make the leap to the big screen. Kotake Create developed *The Exit 8* in only nine months on a low budget, following a simple concept to viral success. The fact that such a minimalistic yet effective horror experience can balloon into a worldwide phenomenon with a film on the way bodes well for not only the game industry but for indie developers everywhere.

Indie horror game The Exit 8 is getting a movie adaptation from the studio behind Godzilla, bringing its eerie atmosphere and suspenseful story to the big screen.

Indie Horror game, The Exit 8, Receiving Movie Adaptation from Godzilla Studio

To kick off the brand new year, Sony announced that PlayStation Plus subscribers will be receiving three new free games for the month of January. *Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League*, *Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered*, and *The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe* will all be available for PlayStation Plus subscribers to download and play starting on January 7th. The new slate of games will be replacing the December titles: *It Takes Two*, *Aliens: Dark Descent*, and *Temtem*.

PlayStation Plus is Sony’s online service, which comes in three tiers. Essential tier members have access to online multiplayer, discounts, and the aforementioned free monthly games. Extra tier members get all of the essential tier benefits, plus a downloadable catalog of PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 games. Premium tier members receive all of the previous benefits and a collection of classic PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 1, and PlayStation Portable games. All three of the tiers receive access to the monthly free games.

*Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League* is the most controversial of the new titles as it was released less than a year ago and was widely regarded as a critical and commercial flop. Set in the same universe as *Batman: Arkham Knight*, the action-adventure game follows the notorious DC supervillains Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, and King Shark as they attempt to save Metropolis from Brainiac. In order to do so, they must kill brainwashed Justice League members and restore peace to the world. Since the game’s release, Rocksteady has added several new playable characters, including the Joker, Mrs. Freeze, Lawless, and Deathstroke. Although it has had several updates and new content since its launch, the game will not be supported with any new content past the month of January according to Rocksteady.

![Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm5g7uh9f02kz01196owvclig.jpeg)

While *Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League* was January’s headline due to its lack of new content, *Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered* and *The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe* should be met with a bit more enthusiasm. *Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered* is a remake of the 2010 *Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit* which was released for PlayStation 3. The remaster was released in 2020 and features updated graphics, all of the downloadable content, and cross-platform play. Both the original and remake were generally well-received by critics.

![The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm5g7vayu01xd01y46amm1oas.jpeg)

*The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe* is also a remake that should add some value to this month’s PlayStation Plus titles. It’s a strange walking simulator that explores the relationship between players and the games they play. With plenty of meta humor, narrative twists and turns, and unique endings, *The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe* may be the richest experience of the three January titles, even if it lacks replayability.

Following its [PlayStation 30th year anniversary celebration](https://cheddar.tv/news/playstation-offers-limited-console-and-special-events-for-30th-anniversary) in December, Sony is continuing to offer new content to PlayStation Plus subscribers. While the January lineup isn’t the most exciting in the world, those who enjoy racing games, action-adventures, or bizarre narrative experiences should at least have something new to try out as *Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League*, *Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered*, and *The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe* become available on January 7th.

PlayStation Plus kicks off 2025 with free games, including Suicide Squad, offering action-packed adventures and more for subscribers this January.

PlayStation Plus adds Suicide Squad and Other Free Games for January 2025

Although the Game Boy eventually became a home to numerous different genres, much of its strength and popularity was built on the backs of platformer games. After launching with *Super Mario Land* and later introducing Kirby for the very first time in *Kirby’s Dream Land*, it was clear that the Game Boy was the hottest portable console for platformers at the time. Graphics have become more advanced since the days of the Game Boy, but in a lot of ways, the platformer genre has retained the same basic principles. For this reason, when developer Zahran W. took on the challenge of creating a game reminiscent of the Game Boy era platformers, it’s unsurprising that it feels right at home alongside the other Game Boy Classics.

![Necrow Co. Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm5g835qh02li010ma6bag196.png)

The game in question, *Necrow Co.*, is a simple 2D platformer about a crow who must collect souls for their boss, Thanatos. The crow’s journey takes the player through several unique worlds filled with deadly enemies and difficult jumping challenges. As it was made for GBJAM 9, the entire experience feels very reminiscent of the Game Boy era. Even the story, told in brief conversations involving crows, feels as if it uses the limitations of the Game Boy in a way that maximizes the game’s potential.

As with many Game Boy platformers, *Necrow Co.* plays in a simple yet satisfying way. The controls are intuitive and responsive, making it easy to pick up and addicting to try to master. Fitting of a crow, the protagonist is granted several wing flaps that the player must use to navigate the world. The system of multiple jumps is reminiscent of *Kirby’s Dream Land*, and the worlds are well-designed to utilize the mechanic in a challenging and fun way. The crow also has an attack that can defeat the numerous enemies scattered throughout the world.

![Necrow Co. Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm5g862rk01r401za9tvo63w7.png)

Rather than ending with boss battles, each stage ends with a rush of enemies, which is a unique take on the typical 2D platformer formula. After defeating the enemy rush, the player is granted a new power-up which could be a health increase or a new ability entirely. That incentive, combined with the level variation, makes every new level in *Necrow Co.* feel fresh and exciting.

Even with its strong platforming and level design, *Necrow Co.’s* greatest strength is its presentation. Using a monochrome color scheme, the developer creates a world that still feels alive and expressive. The enemies are varied and visually appealing, the worlds have variety and charm, and the crows themselves are a joy to look at. These minimalistic yet appealing graphics are nicely complimented by the soundtrack, which uses a simple soundfont reminiscent of the Game Boy era to create catchy and memorable songs. All of it comes together to create a platforming experience that feels thematically rich and a ton of fun to play.

![Necrow Co. Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm5g86rep02a3012xdb9m8k6r.png)

After completing the game, the player is offered to play Necro Mode which is a more challenging version of the original *Necrow Co.* It should be a tempting offer for all players as *Necrow Co.* is an addicting and charming platformer that begs for multiple playthroughs. As in all game jams, the developers took the prompt to heart, creating an experience that would fit right in on the original Game Boy alongside other Nintendo greats. However, their ability to create a unique platforming experience while staying true to this theme is what sets *Necrow Co.* apart as both a memorable platformer and a great Game Boy game.

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Necrow Co. is a dark strategy game where you manage a sinister corporation, make ruthless decisions, and build your empire in a world of mystery and intrigue.

Necrow Co. Captures the Soul of the Game Boy

When you think about a setting for a horror game, you may think of decrepit houses, abandoned buildings, and lowly lit forests. Unless you’ve lived it, working as a grocery store clerk, faced with blinding fluorescent lights and wave after wave of angry customers, likely isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. However, with the game *Night of the Consumers*, indie developer Germfood made it a mission to create a game that exposes the player to the horror and panic that can come with working in a busy retail store.

![Night of the Consumers Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm5h0xcy500t101y6atzn315r.png)
 
When written out, *Night of the Consumers* isn’t the most terrifying premise. The player works at a grocery store and is tasked with stocking the shelves while being occasionally badgered by needy customers. The opening cutscene, which shows a panicked store clerk being mobbed by customers and escaping to the break room, paints the experience in a whole new light. The titular consumers in *Night of the Consumers* act as blood-thirsty parasites, chasing you around the store and getting you fired if you slip up for even a second. It’s this constant feeling of urgency that causes *Night of the Consumers* to feel both tense and frightening.
 
This first-person horror experience consists of bringing boxes to shelves and dodging the customers. When a customer does manage to locate you, you must bring them to the correct aisle (indicated by their dialogue) before the timer runs out, or you’ll be fired. It’s a fun and simple gameplay loop that is both engaging and occasionally frustrating in a good way. The mini-game of stocking the shelves is agonizingly slow, and it adds to the tension of potentially being accosted by customers. The player can also throw boxes at customers to stun them and buy themselves some time. If you lose, you’re greeted with one final jump scare as the lights shut off and the boss races towards you to deliver your termination personally.

![Night of the Consumers Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm5h0ybv200s301wee1chexyp.png)

Despite the simplicity of its concept, *Night of the Consumers* does have a lot of nuance in its gameplay. The goal of stocking the shelves is straightforward, but there is plenty of strategy involved along the way. For example, when a customer asks the player where something is on an aisle, it pays to have memorized the aisles in order to get them there before the timer expires. Additionally, since the game’s timer starts as soon as the first item is stocked, it can also be helpful to place the boxes on their respective aisles beforehand to ensure a quick and easy run.
 
The gameplay is always filled with panic and stress, but what enhances it all is the game’s disturbing visuals and musical cues. Every customer has a unique design, but they all have an uncanny quality that makes them difficult to look at. Their bulging eyes and razor sharp teeth cause them to seem more like animalistic carnivores than humans. Equally panic-inducing is the music, which wildly swings from relaxing grocery store jingles to a crescendo of stabbing synths. These wild swings between calm and panic perfectly parallel the game’s frantic changes in pace.

![Night of the Consumers Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm5h0z0jp00pn01wx2rwe2cji.png)
 
Upon completing the game, which is still technically still a work in progress, the boss promises the player a promotion if they keep up the good work. The player returns to their dark apartment, ready to do it all again tomorrow. It’s a quiet moment in a game that is filled with heart-pounding cacophony. While it’s exaggerated for horror’s sake, *Night of the Consumers* acts as more of a panic-simulator than a horror game. The tension brought on by the breakneck pace and constant barrage of customers cause the player to be constantly on edge, so when they do finally return to their quiet home, they’re happy to leave the dreaded grocery store behind them, even if it’s only for a short amount of time.

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Night of the Consumers is a chaotic horror game where you play as a retail worker surviving demanding customers and terrifying shifts in a nightmarish store environment.