Metroidvania

AppWizard
July 31, 2025
Many indie game developers experience financial success but often reinvest their earnings into their work rather than indulging in leisure. Eric Barone, creator of Stardew Valley, upgraded his PC after the game's success instead of making extravagant purchases. Jordan Morris, who sold around 550,000 copies of his game, expressed admiration for other indie titles like Hollow Knight, feeling it was underpriced and purchasing it multiple times. These examples highlight the dedication and continuous drive of indie developers to create new projects.
AppWizard
July 28, 2025
Graham is departing from RPS, marking a significant transition for the publication. New PC gaming releases this week include: - Fumes: A Mad Max-inspired open-world vehicular combat game. - Primal Planet: A side-scrolling metroidvania adventure featuring primordial humans. - Grounded 2: A sequel where tiny protagonists build homes and engage in turf wars. - Tales of the Shire: A game where players craft homes and impress neighbors with cooking. - Day Of The Shell: A turn-based tactical game set in a flooded world. - Sky The Scraper: A quirky window-cleaning simulator with life simulation elements. - Morgan: Metal Detective: A treasure-hunting game on a Cornish island. - Gold Gold Adventure Gold: A colony-building game with dungeon-diving heroes. - Tower Networking Inc: A management simulation for internet services in a tower. - Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound: A pixel-art reinterpretation of the classic series. - Mashina: A mining narrative set in a junkyard. - Hell Galaxy: An open-world space shooter with body horror elements. - Heartworm: A survival horror homage to 90's classics. - Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz: A curious addition. - Ikarus Parkour: A 3D tower-climbing game in vibrant environments. The RPS team is engaged in various personal projects, including interviews and other pursuits.
AppWizard
July 24, 2025
Abubakar Salim is the founder of Surgent Studios and the creative director of the upcoming live-action horror game, Dead Take, which will launch on Steam and the Epic Games Store on July 31. Surgent Studios, established in 2019, previously released the side-scrolling Metroidvania game Tales of Kenzara: Zau in April 2024, which did not achieve commercial success. Following funding issues for a project called Project Uso, the studio faced layoffs in July 2024. In January 2025, Surgent Studios secured funding from Pocketpair Publishing, allowing them to focus on Dead Take, inspired by Salim's experiences in the entertainment industry. Dead Take features a live-action film-like aesthetic created with Unreal Engine 5 and follows an actor named Chase Lowry, who searches for his missing friend in a mansion reminiscent of horror classics. The gameplay includes escape-room-style puzzles and fragmented video files revealing Hollywood's unsettling truths. The game explores themes of ambition and betrayal, with a cast that includes Neil Newbon, Ben Starr, Jane Perry, and Alanah Pearce, along with cameos from industry veterans. Salim emphasizes psychological horror over graphic violence, focusing on the emotional challenges within the industry. Players are encouraged to engage with the game using pen and paper and headphones for a richer experience.
AppWizard
July 18, 2025
Bandai Namco is set to release a game that combines elements of Pac-Man and Metroidvania on July 17, 2025, priced at £25. In this game, the character Puck consumes fallen enemies to transform into a mech for a brief invincibility period. The game features a linear start but expands into a Metroidvania world with navigation puzzles and platforming challenges. It includes maze levels reminiscent of classic Pac-Man gameplay, set to energetic dance music and a five-minute timer. The narrative has a disjointed feel, with dialogue often filled with clichés. The game offers a blend of genres, providing a unique experience in a crowded market.
AppWizard
July 15, 2025
Handheld gaming devices have gained popularity, allowing players to enjoy games comfortably. However, not all games are suitable for these platforms. Notable games that perform well on handhelds include: - Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom: A Metroidvania game where players control Jin, who must reverse a spell that transformed people into animals. It features charming animations and engaging combat with low graphical demands. - Blue Prince: A 3D puzzle adventure where players inherit an estate and must solve puzzles in various rooms using a roguelike mechanic involving card drawing. - Immortals Fenyx Rising: An open-world RPG set in Greek mythology, where players save the gods from Typhon. It combines exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving, though it can drain battery life. - Stardew Valley: A farming and life simulation game where players inherit a farm and engage in farming, raising animals, and building relationships. Its pixelated graphics ensure smooth performance on handhelds. - Baldur's Gate 3: A turn-based RPG set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, known for its immersive storytelling and character interactions. It performs well on handhelds but may drain the battery. - Fallout 4: Game of the Year Edition: An open-world RPG set in a post-apocalyptic world, manageable for handheld devices due to its age. - Age of Empires: A real-time strategy game with a 4K Definitive Edition, suitable for handheld play with optimized controls for solo and multiplayer experiences. Handheld gaming PCs support a variety of genres, particularly those with simpler 2D graphics, which enhance battery life and gameplay smoothness.
AppWizard
July 14, 2025
United Arab Emirates-based publisher and developer Red Dunes Games has formed a multi-year partnership with Japanese studio Acquire Corp. The collaboration aims to create innovative gaming experiences, with plans for three projects: Project Tremor (kaiju battles), Project Umbra (dark fantasy adventure), and Project Shadowcar (spy thriller). All titles will be global premium releases for console and PC, with premieres at major events like the Tokyo Game Show. Acquire Corp. was recently acquired by Kadokawa Corporation and is known for developing the RPG Mario & Luigi: Brothership for Nintendo Switch. Red Dunes Games, introduced in September 2024, is set to launch titles including Princess of the Water Lilies and Zozo and the Lost Dreams.
AppWizard
June 15, 2025
Steam users can download the game "Paradox Soul" for free for 48 hours until June 17. It is a Metroidvania pixel action-shooter hybrid developed by Ritual Games and is Steam Deck Verified. The game currently has a "Mixed" rating on Steam, with 43 percent of user reviews being positive. It is typically priced at .99. The game features a protagonist named Dr. Alli Rose, who explores a test facility to confront evil. Many user reviews come from accounts with minimal playtime.
AppWizard
June 15, 2025
Currently, the indie game Paradox Soul, developed by Ritual Games and released in 2018, is available for free on Steam until June 17, 2025. The game is a single-player ‘metroidvania’ action platformer that typically costs £4.29. It now includes Steam Trading Cards and invites players to explore its mysteries. User reviews on Steam are mixed, with some players sharing humorous feedback. If players do not enjoy the game, they can remove it from their library without any cost.
AppWizard
June 5, 2025
Xbox is intensifying its commitment to the PC gaming sector, with the term "Xbox PC" being highlighted in recent trailers, including for Gears of War: Reloaded and MIO: Memories in Orbit. The branding shift aligns with their strategy to integrate PC gaming into their ecosystem, supported by initiatives like PC Game Pass and Xbox Play Anywhere. This change coincides with rumors of an ASUS Xbox handheld device, indicating a focus on harmonizing handheld and PC gaming. The use of "Xbox PC" may become a staple in their marketing, aiming to unify efforts to support PC gaming.
AppWizard
May 28, 2025
Publisher OKJOY and developer Team Orca have announced the Metroidvania action-adventure game, Bolt & Wahlington, featuring a Siamese cat protagonist navigating floating ruins. The game will launch on PC via Steam, with a beta test scheduled for June. Players will pilot a mech aboard the mobile fortress Whalington, utilizing unique gameplay mechanics such as transforming into a mouse, exchanging health points for keys, and morphing the mech into different forms. The game encourages exploration in a non-linear world filled with hidden areas and secrets. It features a hand-drawn 2D comic aesthetic and includes cat-centric elements, such as saving progress in cardboard boxes and encountering quirky feline characters.
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