narrative adventure Archives

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April 21, 2026

Coming to Xbox Game Pass: Kiln, Aphelion, Final Fantasy V, and More

Chocobos, space, vampires, and sentient pottery are themes of upcoming games showcased at the ID@Xbox and IGN event. Several games will be available on day one through Game Pass, including: - Little Rocket Lab (April 21) - A cozy machine-building RPG where players help build a rocket. - Sopa: Tale of the Stolen Potato (April 21) - A narrative adventure about a quest for a potato in a magical realm. - Vampire Crawlers (April 21) - A turn-based, rogue-lite card-driven game based on Vampire Survivors. - Kiln (April 23) - A pottery-themed game that combines crafting and online battles. - Aphelion (April 28) - A third-person sci-fi adventure involving a crash landing and rescuing a partner. - Trepang2 (April 29) - A visceral FPS set in a dystopian future. - Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era (April 30) - A prequel to the series featuring army raising and spell casting. - Sledding Game (April 30) - A multiplayer snow-sports experience with voice chat. - TerraTech Legion (April 30) - A game focused on constructing battle vehicles. - Final Fantasy V (May 5) - A classic RPG involving a rescue mission and adventure with a Chocobo. Several titles will leave the Game Pass library on April 30, including: - Citizen Sleeper - Creatures of Ava - Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 - Endless Legend 2 - Goat Simulator - Goat Simulator Remastered - Hunt Showdown 1896 - NHL 24 (EA Play) - Revenge of the Savage Planet Games with a 'Handheld' designation are optimized for handheld play.

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April 17, 2026

Death By Scrolling Out Now on Consoles and PC

April 16, 2026 marks the launch of Death By Scrolling, an action roguelite game set in Purgatory™, available on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Steam. The release includes a significant update featuring a new playable character, a new biome, and various gameplay improvements. Players navigate a vertically scrolling world filled with monsters and hazards, avoiding the Reaper while collecting gold and unlocking upgrades. Key features include a varied cast of characters, relentless pursuit by the Reaper, loot and progression mechanics, optional challenges, diverse monsters, quirky lore, and leaderboards for competition.

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March 1, 2026

Cara Ellison, senior narrative designer on Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 before Paradox switched developers, discusses her love of Troika’s original RPG: ‘Everyone on the team helped really make that maximum goth’

Cara Ellison is a narrative designer whose journey in gaming began with a BBC Micro and the 1987 game Acheton. She has worked as a games journalist for publications like PC Gamer and transitioned into game design, contributing narratives to titles such as Dishonored 2, Void Bastards, God of War: Ragnarok, and Ghost Town. Her latest project is Sleight of Hand, a deckbuilding stealth game inspired by Metal Gear Solid and Vampire: The Masquerade—Bloodlines. She has a fondness for the original Vampire: The Masquerade—Bloodlines, despite its technical challenges, and has logged 103 hours in Kentucky Route Zero. Ellison keeps Sunless Sea installed on both her work and personal computers, appreciating its narrative depth. For her writing, she uses Scrivener, which she utilized for Void Bastards. Her desktop is relatively tidy, featuring a mix of business and leisure icons, with a wallpaper from Vertigo.

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January 12, 2026

AU Deals: Today’s Best Value Game Deals on Console and PC Hunted Down for You

Assassin's Creed Chronicles India celebrates its tenth anniversary, while Lost Planet turns 18. Discounts for Nintendo Switch include: - Crisis Core: FF7 Reunion (-45%) - Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope (-35%) - Diablo III Eternal Collection (-27%) - Hot Wheels Unleashed (-85%) - This War of Mine Complete Edition (-90%) Discounts for Xbox include: - Assassin's Creed Mirage (-69%) - Persona 5 Royal (-51%) - Star Wars Jedi Survivor (-63%) - Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate (-32%) - Star Wars Squadrons (-38%) - For Xbox One: Dishonored 2 (-77%), Spyro Reignited Trilogy (-37%), Diablo III Eternal Collection (-59%) Discounts for PlayStation include: - Ghost of Yotei (-13%) - Spider-Man: Miles Morales (-48%) - Elden Ring (-53%) - Returnal (-43%) - Tekken 8 (-45%) - For PS4: BioShock Collection (-57%), Persona 5 Strikers (-58%), Batman: Arkham Collection (-90%) Discounts for PC include: - Pacific Drive (-60%) - South Park: The Fractured but Whole (-70%) - SteamWorld Dig 2 (-94%) - A Plague Tale: Innocence (-80%) - Little Nightmares Complete Edition (-75%) LEGO deals include: - Minecraft: The Creeper (-29%) - 3in1 Wild Animals Panda (-35%) - V-19 Torrent Starfighter (-30%) - Balrog Book Nook (-25%)

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December 20, 2025

The 10 best PC games of 2025

PC gaming is experiencing a surge in popularity due to higher frame rates, ultra-wide monitor compatibility, modding capabilities, and robust backward compatibility. Players can upgrade individual components over time, enhancing long-term value. 1. Hades II - Metacritic score: 94; praised for its fast-paced action, character-driven storytelling, and expressive art. 2. Sektori - Metacritic score: 93; a minimalist PC shooter emphasizing precision and featuring twin-stick mechanics. 3. Blue Prince - Metacritic score: 92; combines puzzles and roguelike exploration with a unique structure. 4. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Metacritic score: 91; an RPG with surreal fantasy elements and turn-based combat. 5. Hollow Knight: Silksong - Metacritic score: 90; focuses on agile gameplay and features a vertically expansive world. 6. Split Fiction - Metacritic score: 90; an experimental narrative adventure exploring parallel storylines. 7. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth - Metacritic score: 90; expands the world and character arcs with enhanced PC features. 8. Despelote - Metacritic score: 89; a narrative about soccer and childhood through a reflective lens. 9. The Talos Principle: Reawakened - Metacritic score: 89; refines puzzles and philosophical themes for modern audiences. 10. The Seance of Blake Manor - Metacritic score: 89; a detective horror game focused on atmosphere and environmental storytelling.

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December 13, 2025

The Best Games of 2025 — The Windows Central team ranks our favorite titles across Xbox and Windows PC

2025 has seen a diverse range of high-quality gaming titles across multiple platforms, including Xbox, Windows PC, Steam, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation. Notable releases include: - Silent Hill F: A return of the franchise set in 1960s Japan, featuring intense combat and an immersive atmosphere. - Elden Ring: Nightreign: Introduces a co-op roguelike format with fast-paced gameplay and randomized upgrades. - Hollow Knight: Silksong: A highly acclaimed metroidvania known for its difficulty, visuals, and tight combat mechanics. - Arc Raiders: Emphasizes player choice and community-driven gameplay, reminiscent of early multiplayer games. - Battlefield 6: A grounded approach to warfare, positively received after previous setbacks in the franchise. - Ball x Pit: Blends classic gameplay with modern auto-battler mechanics, becoming a standout title. - Hades 2: A sequel that expands on the original's success with stunning artwork and engaging gameplay. - Blue Prince: Features intricate puzzles and co-op gameplay that encourages collaboration. - Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2: An open-world RPG praised for its dynamic systems and immersive storytelling. - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33: Combines homage to classic JRPGs with modern storytelling in a unique French setting. Honorable mentions include Atomfall, Dying Light: The Beast, DUSK, The Alters, Keeper, Silent Hill 2 (remake), Dispatch, Cronos: The New Dawn, WH40K: Rogue Trader — Lex Imperialis DLC, and remastered versions of Monster Hunter Stories 1 and 2.

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December 13, 2025

Day 4 Night announces genre-bending action adventure game Bradley the Badger for PC

Day 4 Night, co-founded by Christian Cantamessa and Davide Soliani, has announced their new project, "Bradley the Badger," an action-adventure game set to launch on PC via Steam, with potential future releases on additional platforms. The game is a tribute to video games, blending exploration, traversal, and puzzles within a satirical narrative. Players will follow Bradley, a platforming icon, as he navigates various uniquely crafted worlds to rescue friends and restore order. Central to the gameplay is the Kit, a tool that allows Bradley to modify unfinished assets, enhancing exploration and combat. Players can adjust the size of objects, control unfinished assets, create climbable walls, transform objects into explosives, and manipulate surfaces to create pathways. Additional powers will be unlocked as players progress.

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December 6, 2025

Every space and sci-fi game at the PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted 2025

The PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted 2025 stream showcased several upcoming space and sci-fi games, including: - High On Life: A sequel featuring a vibrant universe, quirky humor, and a new skateboarding mechanic for traversing alien landscapes. - Remnant Protocol: A space flight simulator with full VR support, focusing on a galactic rebellion with procedurally generated missions. - Lunar Strike: A narrative adventure set on the Moon’s South Pole in 2119, where players navigate a colony facing sabotage, emphasizing survival mechanics. - Luna Abyss: A single-player adventure exploring a derelict megastructure with intense shooting mechanics, inspired by 'bullet hell' genres, with a demo available on Steam. - Down with the Ship: A strategic auto battler where players design spaceships and engage in combat, available in single-player and multiplayer modes with a demo on Steam. - Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War!: A game featuring nostalgic bug-hunting action with retro visuals and FMV cutscenes starring Casper Van Dien as Johnny Rico. - Battlestar Galactica: Scattered Hopes: A roguelite game combining narrative-driven gameplay with real-time tactical battles, focusing on managing ships and crews. - SOL Shogunate: An action-RPG described as a "samurai space opera," set on the Moon with vast cities and epic battles among samurai families.

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November 3, 2025

Five new Steam games you probably missed (November 3, 2025)

Steam unveils approximately a dozen new games daily, creating a vibrant landscape for gamers. Stray Children - Release: October 30, 2025 - Developer: Onion Games - Genre: First-person narrative adventure - Focus: Exploration of memory and familial dynamics through the perspective of an elderly woman with Alzheimer’s disease. Evil Egg - Release: October 31 - Developer: Ivy Sly - Genre: Twin-stick shooter - Features: Retro arcade experience with infinite levels, online leaderboards, and a distinctive art style. ScootX - Release: October 31 - Developer: Mash Games - Genre: Physics-driven scooter simulation - Features: Inspired by the Skate series, focuses on scooter mechanics and player movements, includes Mod.io integration. Mittelland AD - Release: October 28 - Developer: BKM - Genre: Turn-based trading simulation - Setting: 1600s Germany, allows players to evolve from a trader to an emperor, includes multiplayer "hotseat mode" for up to six players, bilingual support in German and English.

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October 12, 2025

A new ToeJam and Earl is ‘in the planning stage’ according to its co-creator, but don’t expect to see it anytime soon: ‘We intend to make it happen’

Co-creator Greg Johnson confirmed that plans for a new ToeJam and Earl game are in the works, though they are at a preliminary stage. Additionally, an upcoming ToeJam and Earl movie is being developed by Amazon Studios, but its format (animated or live-action with CGI) is still uncertain as the project is currently searching for a director. Johnson is also developing a narrative adventure titled Dancing with Ghosts, inspired by his late daughter, and HumaNature Studios is running a Kickstarter campaign to support its completion, with a playable demo available on Steam.