Upgrading Scrappy is the most effective strategy for securing essential resources in Arc Raiders, allowing players to reserve inventory slots for valuable treasures. To satisfy Scrappy's appetite, players need to collect six olives, prickly pears, and a Cat Bed. Olives can be found on the ground near olive trees or by shaking the branches, which are larger than shrubs. The Lush Blooms event increases the spawn rates of collectible vegetation and introduces baskets filled with olives. The 'Olive Grove' at The Blue Gate is the best location for gathering olives, with a higher likelihood of finding them near the Nature icon. Players should be cautious of nearby threats, including Arcs and a patrolling Bombadier. Newcomers are advised to consult a guide for the A First Foothold quest and bring an Arc Raiders Hatch Key for better chances of success.
Anchor is a survival game developed by Fearem, set in a post-apocalyptic ocean environment where players compete for resources against each other and sharks. The game supports up to 150 players on a single server and features crafting, base building, and underwater combat. Players have undergone genetic modifications to adapt to their surroundings, while sharks possess a keen sense of smell to detect blood. The game map spans 16 square kilometers, promoting exploration and strategic gameplay. Anchor does not have a confirmed release date but can be added to wishlists on Steam.
Dungeons and Kingdoms is a medieval city-building adventure game that combines settlement management with action RPG gameplay. Players manage a group of refugee settlers on a mysterious island, facing challenges such as predators and ancient ruins while building their settlement. The game features survival mechanics, including foraging, crafting, and resource harvesting, with over 500 unique building pieces available for creative expression. Players can terraform the environment and engage in combat reminiscent of soulslike games. The game has generated nearly 200,000 wishlists after its demo at Steam Next Fest and is set to launch in early access on November 17, priced at .99.
Farthest Frontier 1.0 has launched, developed by Crate Entertainment, known for Grim Dawn. After three years in early access, it is now a fully realized city-building game on PC, inspired by titles like Banished and featuring a farming system comparable to Stardew Valley. The game allows players to engage in foraging, farming, fishing, and hunting with detailed simulation mechanics, including unique crop requirements and soil management. Townsfolk perform various jobs, and infrastructure is vital for settlement efficiency. Each game features randomly generated maps with different biomes, requiring players to adapt and trade for resources. Players must manage disease risks and maintain clean water supplies. The game offers customization options, including difficulty settings and the ability to adjust threats from bandits. Farthest Frontier 1.0 is available on Steam for .99 / £29.50.
Dungeons and Kingdoms is a new game that combines high-stakes combat with city-building mechanics. Players take on the role of a leader guiding refugees to a new home in a lush paradise. The gameplay includes crafting, foraging, and battling low-level creatures, with the potential to recruit animal companions. Players can terraform the land, build various structures, and share designs on the Steam Workshop, with over 500 building types available. The game features dungeons with challenges and a variety of enemies, emphasizing strategic combat. It has a pixel art style inspired by games like Valheim and Old School Runescape. Dungeons and Kingdoms is scheduled for release in Steam Early Access in Q4 of 2025, with a demo available from October 13 to October 20. A wishlist option is also available for interested players.
Players immerse themselves in a life simulation game called Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game, set in the town of Bywater, where they experience the daily lives of hobbits through activities like cooking, fishing, and farming. The game is developed by Wētā Workshop and published by Private Division, priced at .99 in the U.S. and £29.99 in the UK. Players take on the role of a newcomer helping local hobbits, engaging in detailed environments to forage for ingredients and prepare meals. The cooking system allows players to create various dishes, enhancing the gameplay experience, while foraging and fishing offer limited engagement. Farming is restricted to small planter boxes, and quests often involve repetitive tasks. The game features complex hobbit characters, adding depth to the narrative, but overall, it may lack gameplay variety and depth.
Researchers from the Technical University of Berlin conducted a study using the video game Minecraft to explore how individuals learn both independently and collaboratively in changing environments. Participants engaged in a virtual foraging task, alternating between solo and group efforts to find hidden resources. The study manipulated environments to create "patchy" and "random" settings, examining when players chose to explore alone versus follow others. Data on players' visual attention and movements allowed the researchers to develop a behavioral model predicting actions based on individual and social learning strategies. Findings indicated that adaptability—switching between learning modes based on context—was crucial for success, highlighting that individuals are capable of adjusting their strategies rather than strictly imitating others or working independently. The research suggests that personal rewards influence learning types and emphasizes the importance of flexibility in decision-making.
Peak is a cooperative climbing game developed by Landcrab and published by Aggro Crab, set to launch on June 16, 2025, priced at .99 / £6.39. It supports multiplayer experiences for up to four players, where they must scale a mountain on a deserted island while managing hunger and navigating treacherous terrain. Players can find food and climbing gear throughout the map, but some food items may cause debuffs. The game emphasizes teamwork, with players assisting each other during challenges like snowstorms and diverse biomes. Solo play lacks the dynamic interactions of multiplayer, making it feel isolating. Peak features responsive controls and satisfying gameplay mechanics.
The author enjoys a cluttered and eclectic decorating style, inspired by the hobbit design ethos introduced in "Tales of the Shire" in 2024. During a demo at the Summer Game Fest, they focused on rearranging furniture and creating decorative piles in their hobbit home, finding joy in the creative freedom of decoration. The gameplay allowed for a whimsical approach to cooking and decorating, although the cooking mechanics felt somewhat lackluster. The author appreciated the minimal restrictions on moving items and transforming their space, envisioning a chaotic garden that would defy real-world norms. Despite enjoying the decorating aspects, they found the interactions with villagers to be generic and lacking depth compared to other games like Animal Crossing.
