immersive simulation Archives

AppWizard

April 17, 2025

We called its first cyberpunk setting ‘cooler than Night City,’ and now the studio behind The Ascent says it’s making ‘the kind of game that every developer wants to work on’

Neon Giant, the Swedish developer known for the co-op shooter The Ascent, is working on a new first-person game that emphasizes "player agency" and creativity. The project features a distinctive aesthetic with retro technology and is described as "ludicrously ambitious." The studio, founded by a small team of over 20 individuals, aims to maintain its autonomy and creative freedom, ensuring that team members can contribute to the vision without traditional management constraints. Many staff members have prior experience in director roles at major studios. The new game is expected to focus on creating a believable and reactive world, moving towards immersive simulation. Further details and updates from Neon Giant are anticipated soon.

AppWizard

April 1, 2025

Psycho Patrol R, the FPS-Mech sim from the creator of Cruelty Squad, is one of the most challenging, complicated games I’ve ever played⁠—and worth every second it took to figure out its deal

Psycho Patrol R is an early access game that combines immersive simulation, mech combat, and open-ended role-playing. Players assume the role of a bureaucrat-officer in the European Federal Police in an alternate-history 2000, tasked with investigating thought crimes. The game features a hardcore design, requiring patient exploration and experimentation. Players can pilot a mech called the "V-Stalker," which operates on a milsim framework. Weapons are acquired from defeated enemies, and players can customize their character and mech at EFP HQ. The game has a unique saving system involving a holographic globe, and players drop currency upon death, which can be lost permanently if not retrieved. Money serves as both currency and experience points, and players can earn it through missions and eliminating wealthy NPCs. Character stats influence gameplay, and a fatigue meter affects player performance. The Detective class is recommended for its hacking tool and high perception stat. The hacking minigame requires players to input passwords and manipulate characters into recognizable words. Advanced tips include targeting specific NPCs for cash and exploring thoroughly for loot. An eight-minute video guide offers strategies for newcomers.