In 1998, notable PC games included Half-Life, Unreal, StarCraft, Thief, and Baldur's Gate, while console games featured Nintendo 64's Ocarina of Time and Banjo-Kazooie, and PlayStation's Metal Gear Solid and Resident Evil 2. Sanitarium, an isometric point-and-click adventure game, was released in April 1998, focusing on the story of Max, an amnesiac in a sanitarium. A new version, Sanitarium Enhanced, is set to be released by Ziggurat, featuring widescreen support, controller support, an extras gallery, a new hint mode, bug fixes, and optimizations for the Steam Deck, with availability on Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles in 2026.
Hearts of Iron IV is a grand strategy game set during World War II, where players control a nation and navigate warfare, diplomacy, and military strategy. It offers extensive gameplay options, including resource management and political maneuvering, and is known for its replayability. Phoenix Point is a turn-based tactical strategy game set in a post-apocalyptic world, where players lead customizable squads against alien threats, emphasizing tactical decision-making. War on the Sea is a real-time tactical strategy game focused on naval battles in the Pacific Theater during World War II, featuring historically accurate ships and aircraft. Terra Invicta is a grand strategy game in Early Access, where players manage factions in a near-future scenario while preparing for potential interstellar conflict. Command & Conquer: Generals is a real-time strategy game featuring three factions: the United States, China, and the Global Liberation Army, known for its engaging gameplay. Cold Waters allows players to command a Cold War-era nuclear submarine, focusing on stealth tactics and realistic naval simulation. Gears Tactics is a turn-based game set in the Gears of War universe, where players lead a squad against the Locust Horde. Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector involves commanding Primaris Space Marines in tactical battles against Tyranids, with expansions enhancing gameplay. Company of Heroes 2 is a real-time strategy game set on the Eastern Front during World War II, featuring squad-based tactics and dynamic campaigns. Total War: Shogun 2 is set in feudal Japan, allowing players to command clans during the Sengoku Jidai period, combining tactical battles with strategic management.
Monzo is experiencing technical issues affecting certain functionalities of its app, leading to the implementation of a temporary backup service called Monzo Stand-in. Users reported difficulties with the app, with over 3,000 outages noted on DownDetector. Despite the issues, customers can still check balances, make card payments, withdraw cash, freeze cards, and send or receive bank transfers. Monzo is actively investigating the problem and working on a fix to restore full service.
The text discusses various turn-based RPGs and strategy games available on Xbox Game Pass, highlighting 17 standout titles.
1. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - A turn-based RPG with innovative combat mechanics and a compelling narrative centered around the Paintress.
2. Heroes of Might and Magic II & III - Classic strategy games known for exploration, resource management, and tactical battles.
3. South Park: The Fractured But Whole - An RPG with grid-based combat and tactical elements, infused with the show's humor.
4. Wasteland 3 - A CRPG set in a post-apocalyptic world, featuring intricate storytelling and strategic turn-based combat.
5. BATTLETECH - A tactical mech combat game focused on managing a mercenary company and strategic planning.
6. Death Howl - Combines grid movement with deckbuilding mechanics in a dark narrative.
7. Echo Generation 2 - Introduces deckbuilding mechanics and multiple characters with a voxel art style.
8. For The King II - A blend of tabletop RPG elements and roguelite mechanics, designed for group play.
9. Gears Tactics - A tactical turn-based game that transitions from a third-person shooter, encouraging aggressive playstyles.
10. Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era - Revitalizes the classic formula with modern production values.
11. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Continues the turn-based combat from its predecessor with an expansive world.
12. Persona 5 Royal - A defining JRPG that balances everyday life with supernatural adventures and stylish turn-based combat.
13. The Bard’s Tale IV: Director’s Cut - A first-person dungeon crawler with exploration and puzzle-solving elements.
14. The Thaumaturge - Set in early 20th-century Warsaw, featuring political tension and supernatural intrigue in its narrative.
15. Wartales - Focuses on managing mercenaries in a medieval world, emphasizing survival and personal storytelling.
16. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire - Offers a turn-based mode in a richly detailed world with complex narratives.
17. Phoenix Point - A tactical game that serves as a successor to XCOM, featuring a unique free-aim system and evolving enemy mechanics.
Star Wars: Galactic Racer is an upcoming racing game developed by Fuse Games, featuring a single-player campaign with roguelike elements and an online multiplayer mode structured like a MOBA. Players can race across six planets in 12-player races or eight-player podracing, selecting characters with unique loadouts. After each race, players can upgrade their vehicles and choose parts inspired by the single-player campaign. The game emphasizes player agency, with choices affecting gameplay outcomes, and balances accessibility with depth. Environmental hazards add chaos to the gameplay, although the lack of a catch-up mechanic can hinder those falling behind. The game is set to release on October 6.
Google has integrated Venmo as a payment option within the Google Play ecosystem, allowing users to link their Venmo accounts for seamless transactions. Users can utilize their Venmo balance or associated cards for purchases, joining other payment options like Cash App Pay and PayPal. The integration is now widely available to all users, following early access for some. To link a Venmo account, users can navigate to Payments & subscriptions in the Play Store app and select the option to Add Venmo.
The Czech Republic and Japan formed a bond during the 2023 World Baseball Cup when the Czech national baseball team, mostly made up of amateur players, played against Japan and lost 2-10. The Czech pitcher Ondrej Satoria struck out Shohei Ohtani, earning admiration from Japanese fans. In a related development, Japanese developer Eba Game is launching a game called Ball Boy Simulator on Steam, which includes Czech language support due to a request from a Czech user. The game explores the psychological horror of high school baseball clubs and incorporates AI-generated content for various elements. The quality of localization for the Czech audience is yet to be determined.
The Czech Republic and Japan developed a bond during the 2023 World Baseball Cup, where the Czech team, mainly amateur players, lost 2-10 to Japan but impressed fans, particularly when pitcher Ondrej Satoria struck out Shohei Ohtani. Japanese developer Eba Game is launching a game called Ball Boy Simulator on Steam, incorporating Czech language support due to a single Czech fan's interest. The game, a psychological horror experience about high school baseball clubs, uses AI-generated content for various aspects of its development.
