Poinpy, a mobile game that debuted in 2022 and was initially available exclusively to Netflix subscribers, has now returned to iOS and Android for free. It is a colorful platformer where players jump and bounce upwards to collect fruits and make juice for a hungry beast. The game features permanent upgrades, power-ups, and a roguelite gameplay style. Poinpy is praised for its beautiful design, handling, and soundtrack, making it a favorite game for many players.
A new wave of Android game and app deals includes titles such as Foretales, Looking for Aliens, Serial Cleaner, Parabellum: Siege of Legends, FrogBoy, Zombie Night Terror, and Final Fantasy VII. Discounts are also available on tech accessories, including the Google Pixel Flex Dual Port 67W USB-C Fast Charger, and flagship devices like the Google Pixel 10 Pro and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro. Acer’s Chromebook Plus 516 is priced at 9. Additional app price drops are ongoing, with more deals expected throughout the weekend.
This week, Xbox Game Pass has seen the release of new titles, including two "day one" releases on Friday: FixForce and Fogpiercer.
FixForce is a co-op extraction platformer for Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Cloud, allowing up to six players to navigate a post-apocalyptic world using a drill-wrench to overcome challenges.
Fogpiercer is a PC-exclusive turn-based deckbuilder roguelite where players construct a train and engage in tactical battles in a foggy environment. It is set to launch around 11 AM EDT / 2 PM EDT / 7 PM BST and has received positive reviews averaging around 7/10.
Additionally, MAVRIX, a downhill biking game, launched on Thursday and has a score of 7.8/10 from Xbox Tavern.
Denshattack! is a cel-shaded trick-based 3D platformer developed by the indie studio Undercoders in Barcelona, Spain. The game features a protagonist named Emi Araki, a 19-year-old ramen delivery driver in Beppu, Japan, who dreams of riding the VACTRAIN, an underground train. The narrative involves Emi leaving her hometown to confront the mega-corporation Miraidō, which governs the state and operates the VACTRAIN. Players engage in gameplay inspired by classic titles, performing stunts and achieving high scores across 60 levels in eight regions. The game includes boss battles, a scoring system, and a vibrant visual style complemented by a notable soundtrack featuring guest composers. Despite some navigation challenges and minor imperfections, Denshattack! has been well-received for its engaging gameplay and artistic presentation.
The Sega Master System, nearly four decades after its debut, is supported by a homebrew community that produces new content. A notable project is Devwill, a Master System port of a 2017 PC game by Brazilian developer Amaweks. Devwill is an arcade-style platformer featuring a golem on a quest, with gameplay involving combat against the undead and navigating challenging environments. Following its initial release, a sequel called Devwill Too was launched in 2019. Amaweks is set to release a cartridge version of Devwill on August 5, 2026, through LMS Retro, with a European version to be distributed by Teknamic. The game will include a hand-drawn manual, and a trailer showcasing in-game footage and stop-motion animation has been released.
Edwin is currently sidelined by an illness following TennoCon, and he is expected to submit stories on Soulframe and Warframe: Tau before fully resting. New PC games being released this week include:
- Ascend to Zero: A sci-fi action-roguelike with temporal manipulation.
- Forensics: Crime Scene Detective: A game focused on managing fingerprint and bullet comparisons.
- Soulforge Lost Path: A Survivorslike/bullet heaven game with limited inventory management.
- D-Topia: A puzzle adventure about maintaining an AI-managed society.
- The Incident at Galley House: A visual novel remake of a murder mystery text adventure.
- Happy's Humble Burger Cult: A cooking horror game for 1-4 players.
- Moss: The Forgotten Relic: A 3D platformer available for non-VR PC players.
- Storebound: A cooperative horror puzzler launching into version 1.0.
- Wreck Runners: A multiplayer game set in a haunted Bermuda Triangle.
- Fogpiercer: A tactical roguelike deckbuilder focused on defending a train.
- Frozen Ship: A first-person survival game launching in early access on the 17th.
Additionally, today marks RPS’s 19th birthday, and the team will be scattered in the coming days for various events and holidays.
Super Mario 64 is considered one of Nintendo's best games and is essential for Nintendo 64 owners. It was reimagined for the Nintendo DS, which introduced new playable characters (Yoshi, Luigi, and Wario) and levels, as well as multiplayer experiences. However, the DS version has drawbacks, including graphics that may not perform well on larger screens and controls that are less effective for a 3D platformer. A PC decompilation project led by tangosdev aims to improve these issues, potentially combining features from both the original and DS versions. Progress is ongoing, and while completion is not imminent, it may resolve the debate over which version is superior.
Valve's Steam Machine, priced at ,000, was tested with a 2TB unit using default settings at 1080p resolution, upscaled to 4K. Various games were evaluated for performance, including:
- Cyberpunk 2077: Smooth 60 FPS with light ray tracing; stability issues at resolutions above 1080p.
- Mouse: P.I. for Hire: Ran flawlessly at 60 FPS with default settings.
- Left 4 Dead 2: Performed admirably.
- Borderlands 4: Had visual issues initially; became playable after adjustments.
- Hades 2: Ran seamlessly at default settings.
- Silent Hill 2: Struggled with performance.
- Doom: The Dark Ages: Played smoothly; could use visual adjustments.
- Megabonk: Performed impressively.
- Spider-Man 2: Decent at default settings; improved with resolution increase.
- Windrose: Struggled at default settings; medium settings improved performance.
- Overwatch: Exceptional experience at default settings.
- Grand Theft Auto V: Ran well after initial setup issues.
- Gears of War Reloaded: Visuals improved after tweaks.
- Fallout 4: Maintained solid performance without adjustments.
- Control Ultimate Edition: Needed settings lowered for stable performance.
- Arc Raiders: Playable but with fuzzy image quality.
- Elden Ring: Performed admirably with some tweaks.
- Vampire Crawlers: Provided a sharp experience.
- Resident Evil 4 remake: Satisfactory but needed adjustments for better visuals.
- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart: Became playable after adjustments.
- Helldivers 2: Ran well but lacked sharpness compared to PS5 Pro.
- Resident Evil Requiem: Solid experience but fell short against PS5 Pro.
- The Last of Us Part II Remastered: Ran exceptionally well.
- Peak: Required no adjustments and performed comparably to high-end PCs.
- Warhammer 40K: Darktide: Achieved stable 60 FPS after tweaks.
- Halo: Master Chief Collection: Unplayable due to login issues.
- Tiny Terry’s Turbo Trip: Ran smoothly at maximum settings.
- Rage: Ran smoothly after adjustments.
The Steam Machine is seen as intriguing but its high price limits appeal to dedicated enthusiasts. It offers access to a vast library of Steam games, particularly older or 2D titles, but may not be justifiable for non-PC gamers, especially with upcoming titles on rival consoles.
Gamers can subscribe to Humble Choice for .99 a month to access eight PC games, including Sea of Stars, Tunic, and Neon White, along with a bonus month of IGN Plus. Sea of Stars and Neon White received scores of 8 from IGN, while Tunic was described as challenging and rewarding. Humble Choice members can save up to 20% in the Humble store, and 5% of the membership fee is donated to charity, specifically Sandy Hook Promise this July.
