November 2023 ~ Gamehorizon

Thursday, November 30, 2023

Android Games

By AnnyaNovember 30, 2023Game Informer NewsNo comments

<img loading="lazy" src="https://ift.tt/NtdWSl2" width="800" height="450" alt="Wild Bastards PC Gaming Show" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> Wild Bastards is a new roguelite space western and follow-up to 2019’s <a href="https://ift.tt/gGhyC7Y Bastards</a>. The game was announced during today’s PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted showcase, and it’s coming next year.  Like its predecessor, Wild Bastards sports a stylized comic book-inspired presentation and blends first-person shooting with roguelite progression. A puritanical villain known as Jebediah Chaste has wiped out nearly all of the Bastards with only two surviving thanks to a rescue by a sentient ship called The Drifter. To strike back, you’ll assemble a gang of 13 playable outlaws, each with their own progression trees, to plot your path of revenge through the galaxy. Wild Bastards’ loop involves visiting planets to commit heists and engage in shootouts using a variety of weapons and perks to take down anyone in the way. See it in action in the trailer below.  <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6-iBW-A9m3o" width="640"></iframe> Wild Bastards is currently slated for PC and will arrive in 2024.

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Android Games

By AnnyaNovember 30, 2023Game Informer NewsNo comments

Pacific Drive release date

After suffering a delay to next year, we now know that the driving-focused roguelite survival game Pacific Drive is arriving on February 22.

The news comes courtesy of today's PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted. Pacific Drive is a first-person adventure that unfolds in a surreal version of the Pacific Northwest. Players drive a station wagon to explore a forest filled with supernatural threats related to a government agency’s experiments gone wrong. Check out a recent story trailer below.

As a run-based game, the world shifts with every trip into the forest, and the only thing keeping you alive is your trusty vehicle, which you’ll repair, reinforce, and modify using materials found while exploring the unsettling landscapes. Your car will need to stay up to snuff in order to withstand dangers such as the Zone Storm, a recurring maelstrom that obliterates everything in its path, meaning players will have to outrun it to stay alive.

Pacific Drive will be available on PlayStation 5 and PC. For more on the game, you can check out our extended preview of the game here.

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Mobile games

By AnnyaNovember 30, 2023Game InformerNo comments

The year is not over yet, but arguably its biggest rush of video game releases have completed, which means now we actually need to play all of them. Or at least play as many as we can. On this week's episode Marcus Stewart, Kyle Hilliard, and Charles Harte discuss the games they're trying to catch up on including The Talos Principle 2 and Dave the Diver, and of course Kena: Bridge of Spirits, Batman Arkham Knight, and Grounded. We also answer questions from the community and reflect on our 2023 Thanksgiving meals.

Follow us on social media: Marcus Stewart (@MarcusStewart7), Kyle Hilliard (@KyleMHilliard), and Charles Harte (@chuckduck365).

The Game Informer Show is a weekly gaming podcast covering the latest video game news, industry topics, exclusive reveals, and reviews. Join host Alex Van Aken every Thursday to chat about your favorite games – past and present – with Game Informer staff, developers, and special guests from around the industry. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.

Matt Storm, the freelance audio editor for The Game Informer Show, edited this episode. Matt is an experienced podcast host and producer who's been speaking into a microphone for over a decade. You should listen to Matt's shows like the "Fun" And Games Podcast and Reignite, a BioWare-focused podcast. The Game Informer Show – Podcast Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Intro
00:06:33 - Thanksgiving Dinner Favorites
00:32:26 - Super Mario Bros. Wonder
00:37:11 - The Talos Principle
00:44:45 - Dave The Diver
00:49:57 - Inscryption
00:53:46 - Kena: Bridge of Spirits
00:59:29 - Grounded
01:05:05 - Batman: Arkham Knight
01:10:28 - Housekeeping and Listener Questions

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Mobile games

By AnnyaNovember 29, 2023Game InformerNo comments

Jusant interview

Jusant is all about climbing a mountain, and Don’t Nod’s superb execution of this premise has propelled this small, meditative adventure to stand among the year’s finest titles. In my review, I wrote that the game’s “ingenious climbing system, beautiful art direction, and intriguing world-building, inching toward the top is worth the effort.” That effort can be attributed to Don’t Nod honing in on the game’s central mechanic, climbing, and building a fascinating world and lore around it. I spoke to the game’s lead designer, Sofiane Saheb, and art director, Edouard Caplain, to better understand how Don’t Nod spent over three years bringing Jusant to life.

Caplain statesJusant’s development began after Don’t Nod finished work on Life is Strange 2. After releasing another narrative-heavy experience with heavy, often depressing themes, the small team was eager to tackle something more lighthearted, smaller, and, most of all, different from the studio’s usual output. Don’t Nod turned to a few games for inspiration, the primary title being Journey. The 2012 adventure’s whimsical, enigmatic vibe and singular focus – walking to a mountain – provided a great example of the atmosphere and scope the studio aimed to achieve.

“Journey…it's kind of a dreamy kind of game, it's not reality,” says Caplain. “Everything is kind of chill…and it's very positive. And next to the idea of climbing a big tower, we also wanted to make a game which [has] a good positive vibe. [Life is Strange] has some very heavy, heavy subjects which are hard to treat, and which are kind of heavy to even play. I wanted to make something much more lighter, much more positive.”

Don’t Nod drew atmospheric and mechanical inspiration from games such as Shadow of Colossus and Grow Up, but it also turned to literature. Saheb tells me Jusant’s premise is partly inspired by La Horde du Contrevent (The Backwind Horde), a French book written by author Alain Damasio, who also happens to be one of Don’t Nod’s founders. The book centers on a group of specialized explorers who embark on a search for the origin of the wind in an unforgiving landscape. Jusant centers on the protagonist's search for water in a world that has mysteriously lost it, so the parallel is clear.

Saheb and Caplain state that Don’tNod developed Jusant’s climbing mechanics first, then formed the simple pitch of having players scale a tall tower. Everything else, such as the narrative, lore, and art direction, spun out of this core idea. Even though the mechanics lean towards realism, no one on the team had any real climbing experience at the start of development. It wasn’t until the game was in production that some designers began learning how to climb, which provided helpful insight into best/worst practices. But beyond this, Don’t Nod didn’t consult professional climbers because the goal was never to make Jusant a fully realistic simulation of mountain climbing. “We tried to have [a] balance between some arcade-y feels and something more involved,” says Saheb. He cites Getting Over It With Bennett Foddy as an example the team examined to achieve the right balance of simplicity and complexity in its climbing mechanics.

This focus resulted in Don’t Nod cutting ideas that, while cool on paper, proved too mechanically cumbersome. Saheb tells me that at one point, players could ride and control the beetle that appears after players reach the giant solar dial at the end of chapter three. The creature would whisk players to the caves in chapter four, but introducing totally new mechanics to facilitate this interrupted the game’s delicate pacing. Your watery companion Ballast, whose echo pulse transforms organic elements to players’ advantage, once had an ability that let players aim and fire a ball of its energy to trigger distant objects. After toying with this feature, the team concluded that climbing and shooting was too complicated and abandoned the idea. Saheb, in particular, took nailing the pacing and balancing very seriously, and as a result, it’s one of the elements he’s most proud of in the final product.

Jusant’s warm, flat, colorful palette and smooth geometry were another inspiration spurred by Journey, and Caplain refers to it as “simplified reality.” Landing on the look was a mission to ensure the environment clearly communicated climbing points such as ledges and handholds without pointing them out too obviously, which would take away the problem-solving process. Don’t Nod avoided the usual eye-catching platforming tricks, such as highlighting climbing points with something artificial like paint, and instead utilized more natural color shades to make important elements pop. Interestingly, despite the colorful look and stylized yet simplified graphics, Caplain states the team was adamant the game not look like a cartoon.

“Usually, when you simplify things, you can stylize it so it looks for kids and everything,” Caplain says “And we didn't want to do a game that looks [like it’s] for kids.”

Setting Jusant in a fictional world allowed the team to get creative when it came to designing its desert environment, a biome that has the potential to be very one note from a presentational standpoint. It could use a variety of colors instead of the expected yellows, oranges, and reds while also populating areas with playful elements such as cute furry critters or bubble-like grass that float away when players step on them. The game is technically post-apocalyptic, which typically equates to a more dreary presentation, so Caplain says this is why the presence of nature, from the strange flora to the wildlife, was an important element of maintaining a sense of uplifting whimsy.

From the beginning, Don’t Nod wanted Jusant’s story to be open to interpretation. Much of its storytelling is told indirectly through diaries and lore notes players must largely seek out for themselves. The protagonist doesn’t emote beyond grunts; all you know about them is they’re a traveler, a clearly skilled climber, and, somehow, have a strange magical pet.

That leaves a lot of room for players’ imaginations to run wild, and because of this, Caplain says the team doesn’t have the answers to those questions either. “It’s just a traveler,” says Caplain. “The main point was a character you can easily relate to. Like, he had to be very bland so you can imagine it's you and that you could be this protagonist.” Despite that somewhat disappointing answer, Caplain and Sahed are visibly amused when I share my theories about the protagonist's origins and purpose. They’re just glad that people care enough to theorize in the first place.

Jusant has been well-received since its launch, garnering an 83 critical response on Metacritic. That’s an impressive feat for a more experimental title released in a year stacked with so many big triple-A hits, and it arrived at the end of a very crowded October, no less. For Saheb and Caplain, who have worked at Don’t Nod for a decade, the response has clearly moved them

“We are so happy,” says Caplain. “It's overwhelming for us. It is very hard to release your game with all those studios releasing huge games. We were so happy.”

Don’t Nod recently released an update that added new approachability and accessibility options. That includes playing without the stamina meter and climbing using only the joysticks instead of gripping with the triggers. These helpful tools make an already chill experience even easier to grasp for those who need or desire it, which means more people are able to try their hand at reaching Jusant’s summit.

Saheb and Caplain say they’ve learned a lot of lessons making Jusant, but whether or not they’ve walked away with a newfound desire to scale a real mountain themselves remains to be seen.

“I had a little son in between, so no time for that,” Saheb laughs.

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Android Games

By AnnyaNovember 29, 2023Game Informer NewsNo comments

<img loading="lazy" src="https://ift.tt/LjDqiG8" width="800" height="533" alt="Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie Shadow" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> We found out <a href="https://ift.tt/5DLEJgI August</a> that Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was set to hit theaters on December 20, 2024, but a new teaser gave us another glimpse at its newest star: Shadow the Hedgehog. I saw “another” because Shadow briefly appears during Sonic the Hedgehog 2’s mid-credits scene, setting him up as presumably the antagonist of the third film. While we still don’t know his exact role or who will voice him, today’s image, posted above, provides a good look at Shadow below the neck (does he have a neck?), namely his signature air shoes.  <blockquote class="tw-align-center twitter-tweet"> Off and RUNNING. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SonicMovie3?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SonicMovie3</a> Only in theatres December 20, 2024 <a href="https://t.co/BUIlurNIC0">pic.twitter.com/BUIlurNIC0</a> — Sonic the Hedgehog (@SonicMovie) <a href="https://twitter.com/SonicMovie/status/1729878742775001179?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2023</a></blockquote> Production on Sonic the Hedgehog 3 had stalled due to the SAG-AFTRA strikes, and today’s update confirms that work has resumed following the strike's suspension. Jeff Fowler remains in the director’s chair, and the returning cast includes Ben Schwartz (Sonic), Colleen O'Shaughnessey (Tails), Idris Elba (Knuckles), and James Marsden (Tom Wachowski). Whatever the third film entails, it has one heck of an act to follow. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was a box office smash, becoming the <a href="https://ift.tt/7uFizUy video game film of all time in the U.S</a>. until The Super Mario Bros. Movie <a href="https://ift.tt/zbjrEIK that crown earlier this year</a>. A <a href="https://ift.tt/584iV2q TV spin-off starring Knuckles</a> is also in the works and slated to release early next year. 

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Mobile games

By AnnyaNovember 29, 2023Game InformerNo comments

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie Shadow

We found out last August that Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was set to hit theaters on December 20, 2024, but a new teaser gave us another glimpse at its newest star: Shadow the Hedgehog.

I saw “another” because Shadow briefly appears during Sonic the Hedgehog 2’s mid-credits scene, setting him up as presumably the antagonist of the third film. While we still don’t know his exact role or who will voice him, today’s image, posted above, provides a good look at Shadow below the neck (does he have a neck?), namely his signature air shoes.

Off and RUNNING. #SonicMovie3
Only in theatres December 20, 2024 pic.twitter.com/BUIlurNIC0
— Sonic the Hedgehog (@SonicMovie) November 29, 2023

Production on Sonic the Hedgehog 3 had stalled due to the SAG-AFTRA strikes, and today’s update confirms that work has resumed following the strike's suspension. Jeff Fowler remains in the director’s chair, and the returning cast includes Ben Schwartz (Sonic), Colleen O'Shaughnessey (Tails), Idris Elba (Knuckles), and James Marsden (Tom Wachowski).

Whatever the third film entails, it has one heck of an act to follow. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was a box office smash, becoming the highest-grossing video game film of all time in the U.S. until The Super Mario Bros. Movie took that crown earlier this year. A live-action TV spin-off starring Knuckles is also in the works and slated to release early next year.

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Mobile games

By AnnyaNovember 29, 2023Game InformerNo comments

Remakes tend to be more exciting than remasters because the improvements often go beyond mere bumps in resolution or framerate. At best, studios reimagine classic experiences in exciting new ways, sand away rough edges, and somehow retain the intangible x-factors that made fans fall in love with these titles in the first place. At the very least, remakes offer a great way to play antiquated or less accessible experiences on modern hardware.

The remake boom has been in full swing in recent years to the point that it’s starting to get tough to keep track of all the projects in the works. Thankfully, we’ve gathered as many of the announced remakes (not remasters) that we could find and gathered them in one neat list, arranged chronologically by release window. This will be an evolving list that will be updated as new remakes are announced and released, so be sure to keep an eye on it over the coming months.

Persona 3 Reload

Release: February 2

Persona 3 is the game that transformed the Shin Megami Tensei spin-off series into the popular animal it is today, and it's being remade from the ground up in the Unreal Engine. It's being stuffed with features such as a revamped presentation and gameplay that hews closer to Persona 5, a new English voiceover, and additional side stories fleshing out the cast. Reload is billed as a remake of the original version of Persona 3, so while it still retains the narrative changes from Persona 3 FES, it will not include the female protagonist option from the PSP version.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Release: February 29

Final Fantasy VII Remake’s second installment moves beyond Midgar and into uncharted territory. Sure, we’re likely to visit established locations like the Gold Saucer and encounter new versions of old friends, but Rebirth’s story can go a multitude of new directions based on Remake’s events. We’re excited to see what shake-ups Square Enix has in store as long as the snowboarding mini-game remains intact.

Silent Hill 2

Release: TBA

Bloober Team is reviving Silent Hill 2 with a modern coat of paint. The minds behind Layers of Fear and The Medium may not have the greatest critical track record, but hopefully, working with an established (and better) template will yield more positive results. It would be nice to have a good modernized version of Silent Hill 2 after the less-than-stellar HD port from 2012. Silent Hill 2’s release window remains shrouded in fog, but it will come to PC and PlayStation 5 as a timed console exclusive.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

Release: TBA

The reveal that arguably the best Star Wars game ever was getting a much-needed remake had fans raising their lightsabers in celebration. Unfortunately, the game’s development may have already succumbed to the dark side. It’s been reported that progress had stalled, and work on the game has switched hands from Aspyr Media to Saber Interactive. Allegedly, Lucasfilm was unhappy with an internal demo, which brought development to a screeching halt for a period (and led to the firing of two directors) and the project is all but on ice at this point. Although things look grim, we hope KOTOR can get back on track and eventually see the light of day.

Splinter Cell

Release: TBA

It might not be a new entry, but a remake of Sam Fisher’s first outing is better than nothing after years of waiting. Ubisoft Toronto sits at the helm of the project and plans to rebuild the game from scratch using the Snowdrop Engine while maintaining the classic stealth elements. Outside of recently losing its director (on good terms), it’s unclear how development is faring or when we’ll get to see this fresh spin on the franchise.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Release: TBA

Development has been rocky for The Sands of Time’s impending remake, to say the least. Besides the game’s reveal garnering backlash from fans due to its unimpressive graphics, it has been delayed twice: first by two months, then indefinitely. In hindsight, it’s wild to think we were supposed to be playing this in January 2021. In May 2022, Ubisoft announced it had moved development from its fledgling Indian studios back to Montreal, where The Sands of Time was first created. While it's unfortunate that Ubisoft Pune/Mumbai couldn’t bring the remake together, we’re excited to see if Ubisoft Montreal can reapply the same magic.

Dragon Quest III: HD-2D Remake

Release: TBA

HD-2D is becoming an increasingly popular template for reviving classic JRPGs. It worked wonders for Live A Live, and Square Enix is giving Dragon Quest III the same treatment. For now, we know next to nothing about the game other than that it’s coming to consoles at a yet-to-be-specified window.

Max Payne 1 and 2

Release: TBA

In April, Remedy Entertainment pleasantly surprised the gaming world when it announced it had struck a deal with Rockstar Games to remake Max Payne and Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne. Remedy sold the IP to Rockstar in 2002, but the two are partnering to revive the gritty crime series that popularized bullet time. The games will be made by Remedy, with Rockstar footing the bill on development and publishing, and target current-gen consoles and PC.

Gothic

Release: TBA

2001's Gothic is getting a faithful glow-up that looks to reintroduce the RPG to a new audience. The combat system and control scheme, a criticism of the original, has been reworked to feel modern and, most of all, playable. Developer THQ Nordic Barcelona even released a playable teaser to obtain feedback and ensure it's on the right track. As 20+ year-old game, Gothic has been a tough game to revisit on PC, making this remake all the more welcomed.

The Witcher

Release: TBA

CD Projekt Red’s litany of upcoming projects includes a full remake of the first Witcher game. It’s being built in Unreal Engine 5 by developer Fool’s Theory (with supervision from CD Projekt veterans) and is said to be very early in development. The Witcher, released for PC in 2007, isn’t the easiest game to revisit due to its age and lack of console ports. Now that Geralt and friends are mainstream draws, newer fans can finally experience the adventure that started it all.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

Release: TBA

Months of rumors proved true when Konami revealed it was remaking arguably the most beloved entry in the Metal Gear series, Snake Eater. Boasting, as Konami put it, "cutting-edge graphics and 3D audio," this new version will faithfully retell the story of Big Boss' origin. Best of all, the iconic theme song is back in full force.

Which remakes are you looking forward to playing the most? Let us know in the comments!

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Android Games

By AnnyaNovember 28, 2023Game Informer NewsNo comments

Crossover skins are extremely commonplace for in-game stores in 2023, and Among Us is no different. Their latest collaborative effort introduces skins from a list of popular indie games; Undertale, Celeste, A Hat in Time, Crypt of the Necrodancer, Untitled Goose Game, Alien Hominid Invasion, and Castle Crashers. The cosmetics from all seven games will be included in a Cosmicube, which can be purchased with 7000 beans. The crossover includes 25 hats, 18 skins, 12 nameplates, 9 visors, and 6 pets. You can see a gallery of the featured skins below.

The update will also include a series of patches (which you can read right here) and will notably deprecate 2021 versions of the game, pushing players to use updated versions instead. "We’ve been supporting a lot of older versions of the game, and as it continues to grow and get new features, it gets harder to keep up," the patch notes read. "We have to remove older versions so we can focus on improving our system for everyone. Make sure you update your game and thanks for understanding!"

This is the first update to Among Us since they added The Fungle, a new map that takes place in a fungus-infested jungle. You can watch the launch trailer right here.

Are you planning on trying out the new cosmetics in Among Us? Let us know in the comments!

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Mobile games

By AnnyaNovember 28, 2023Game InformerNo comments

This is the first update to Among Us since they added The Fungle, a new map that takes place in a fungus-infested jungle. You can watch the launch trailer right here.

Are you planning on trying out the new cosmetics in Among Us? Let us know in the comments!

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Android Games

By AnnyaNovember 28, 2023Game Informer NewsNo comments

Last month, something odd happened in the streets of Gotham. With no prior announcement or fanfare, people booting up Batman: Arkham Knight were greeted with a skin from 2022's The Batman starring Robert Pattinson. But then, as quickly as it appeared, it was removed, all without comment from the developers. While we still don't know exactly why the skin was added accidentally, we know exactly why it was created: it's a timed-exclusive suit launching with the Batman: Arkham Trilogy on Switch.

The collection brings Rocksteady's beloved trio of Batman games to Nintendo's hybrid console, complete with all previously released DLC. The trilogy will also include the aforementioned suit from The Batman, but it won't be limited to the Switch forever – other platforms will get access to the suit "at a later date."

Game Informer, much like the rest of the gaming community, is a big fan of the trilogy, with all three games appearing on our list of best superhero games of all time. While it's been eight years since the last game, Rocksteady has been hard at work ever since working on Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, which is set to come out on February 2, 2024. If you want to stick to the classics, Batman: Arkham Trilogy launches this Friday, December 1.

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Mobile games

By AnnyaNovember 27, 2023Game InformerNo comments

Destiny 2: The Final Shape delayed

Following the round of layoffs that recently hit Bungie, it had been reported that Destiny 2’s next big expansion, The Final Shape, had been internally delayed to the summer. Bungie has now confirmed that to be the case.

Originally slated to launch on February 27, The Final Shape now launches on June 4. In a blog post, Bungie states that the expansion “needs more time to become exactly what we want it to be”.

“The Final Shape is the culmination of the first ten years of Destiny storytelling and, for Guardians everywhere, countless hours spent together,” Bungie writes in the post. “We want to honor that journey, so we’re taking the time we need to deliver an even bigger and bolder vision, one that we hope will be remembered and treasured for years to come.”

The delay has caused some changes to the content roadmap. Destiny 2’s Season of the Wish begins tomorrow and runs until The Final Shape launches. Guardian Games has been bumped up to March, with Bungie stating it will have a “refreshed focus on class vs. class competition.” Three new PvP maps are slated to arrive in May.

Lastly, the studio announced Destiny 2: Into the Light, a two-month content update that arrives in April. The post doesn’t provide much details other than stating it will “prepare players for their Guardian’s journey into the Traveler.”

Destiny 2: The Final Shape was revealed in August and is billed as the conclusion of Destiny’s primary storyline that began when the first game launched in 2014. About a month ago, the team laid off over 100 employees, reportedly due to decreased Destiny 2 player engagement and underwhelming pre-orders for The Final Shape as player sentiment reached an all-time low.

Bloomberg initially reported on the rumored delay of The Final Shape while also stating that Bungie's upcoming extraction shooter Marathon had been pushed to 2025. Marthon's delay has not been officially confirmed by Bungie (nor did it have a release window to begin with), but today's confirmation of The Final Shape's delay certainly adds weight to Bloomberg's report.

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Android Games

By AnnyaNovember 27, 2023Game Informer NewsNo comments

Chinese company ByteDance is best known for its ownership of TikTok, the international video platform, but it owns a number of other companies as well. One of those companies is Nuverse, a game publisher best known in the West for its work on Marvel Snap. Fans of the superhero card-battler had reason for concern this morning, as an article from Reuters reported that ByteDance had plans to leave the gaming space entirely, with intentions to "divest from titles already launched." This seemed to spell doom for Marvel Snap.

However, the official Marvel Snap X account issued a statement today that this would not be the case.

Dear SNAPPERS,
Some of our players have expressed their concerns regarding reported structural changes at Nuverse.
We wish to thank you for your concern and assure you that regardless of any changes at Nuverse, SNAP will continue to operate and flourish in the future!
— MARVEL SNAP (@MARVELSNAP) November 27, 2023

Dear SNAPPERS, Some of our players have expressed their concerns regarding reported structural changes at Nuverse. We wish to thank you for your concern and assure you that regardless of any changes at Nuverse, SNAP will continue to operate and flourish in the future!

It's unclear exactly why the PC and mobile game will be exempt from any changes, but we're happy to hear that one of the best games from 2022 isn't going anywhere. However, the fates of the workers at Nuverse and the company's other games are unclear, as Reuters reports that "the decision is likely to impact hundreds of employees." The report states that ByteDance will announce this restructure sometime today.

[Source: Reuters]

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Mobile games

By AnnyaNovember 27, 2023Game InformerNo comments

However, the official Marvel Snap X account issued a statement today that this would not be the case.

Dear SNAPPERS,
Some of our players have expressed their concerns regarding reported structural changes at Nuverse.
We wish to thank you for your concern and assure you that regardless of any changes at Nuverse, SNAP will continue to operate and flourish in the future!
— MARVEL SNAP (@MARVELSNAP) November 27, 2023

[Source: Reuters]

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Mobile games

By AnnyaNovember 27, 2023Game InformerNo comments

Silent Hill 2 remake update

Bloober Team has unexpectedly provided a light update on its upcoming remake of Silent Hill 2, ensuring fans that its development is “progressing smoothly”. You'll just have to wait for Konami to share more details.

In an X post, the team behind The Medium and Layers of Fear asks for fans’ patience in regard to new information on the game while stating that development is going according to schedule. Konami announced the Silent Hill 2 remake last October with a lengthy trailer showcasing the 2001 classic’s updated presentation. The game currently has no release window but will launch on PlayStation 5 and PC.

Here is Bloober Team’s full update:

As Bloober Team, we are proud to be a part of Konami’s plans for the Silent Hill franchise. Alongside our partner, we are diligently working to ensure the Silent Hill 2 remake attains the highest quality. On behalf of our development team, we would like to clarify that the production is progressing smoothly and in accordance with our schedule. We understand that many players around the world are eagerly anticipating news about the game, and we appreciate your dedication. However, we kindly ask for a bit more patience. Once Konami, as the game’s publisher, shares more information, we are confident that the wait will be worthwhile. Thank you for your understanding and support!

Silent Hil 2 remake was one of many new Silent Hill projects announced last October. The first one to arrive was Silent Hill Ascension, an interactive streaming series that premiered on Halloween. Other projects in the pipeline include Silent Hill f, a new mainline entry set in 1960s Japan, and Silent Hill Townfall, a mysterious title published by Annapurna Interactive and developed by No Code, the creators of Observation. A new live-action film called Return to Silent Hill is also in production by original Silent Hill director Christophe Gans.

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Android Games

By AnnyaNovember 27, 2023Game Informer NewsNo comments

Silent Hill 2 remake update

Here is Bloober Team’s full update:

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Mobile games

By AnnyaNovember 27, 2023Game InformerNo comments

SteamWorld Build

Reviewed on: PC
Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Publisher: Thunderful Publishing
Developer: Thunderful Development
Release: December 1, 2023
Rating: Everyone 10+

The most endearing aspect of the SteamWorld series is how each of its games relates to one another despite their disparate genres. From tower defense to turn-based RPG, each title offers a unique spin on a specific gameplay experience while adhering to a shared mythos, resulting in a fun collection of games that coalesce thematically. SteamWorld Build, Thunderful's city-builder/RTS hybrid, serves as the latest iteration of this formula. Sporting streamlined genre mechanics, intuitive controls, and charming visuals, many essential parts are in place. Unfortunately, despite a solid foundation, SteamWorld Build struggles to maintain an engaging experience throughout its campaign.

Like most of the SteamWorld series, Build doesn't directly connect to any of the previous games. Instead, it tries to provide a unique perspective on critical events that feed into the series' overarching narrative. This familiar setup works in parts. The plight of a group of travelers settling near an abandoned mine at the behest of a mysterious robot companion is initially attractive. Fans will especially enjoy the nods to past happenings and some extra lore surrounding an established planetary threat. That said, it won't take long for players to realize that SteamWorld Build's campaign is paper thin.

While the SteamWorld series isn't known for its character-driven stories, each new release offers more meaningful reasons to dive into its steampunk universe. SteamWorld Build's nearly nonexistent story is a step backward in this regard. There aren't any notable characters, worthwhile encounters, or imaginative events to speak of. Essentially, the why of it all doesn't matter, as the campaign's few cutscenes offer just enough exposition for it to be considered a means to an end.

Story woes aside, SteamWorld Build is entertaining. This is partially due to the streamlined approach to city-building and solid tutorial prompts. There are some genre staples, especially when it comes to building placement. You'll be told, for instance, to place Foresters (a giant tree-chopping machine) and lumber mills next to wooded areas to acquire logs. But most of the finer details involving the inner workings of a town/city – tax rates, zoning, population density in relation to the neighboring structures – are either handled automatically or simplified to a large degree.

There's no urban decay or adverse environmental issues to worry about. As long as your buildings are connected to their corresponding facilities and the central train station by road, they'll function as expected. And since the game's intuitive controls (whether using a gamepad or keyboard and mouse) do most of the heavy lifting, nearly every action can be carried out with just a few button presses. SteamWorld Build is more arcade than sim, offering a welcoming experience for newcomers.

Despite its simplified mechanics, SteamWorld Build appeals to genre vets thanks to its puzzling play. Instead of fixating on every minor detail linked to actual urban planning, the game emphasizes keeping your steambots happy by placing key structures. Your workers, who start economically at the bottom of the totem pole, are usually satiated by a general store and service shop. They don't need much to stay productive. Once you hit certain milestones, usually tied to the town's number of employable steambots, you can upgrade them into engineers. This next tier of citizens requires more service buildings and attractions to stay in good spirits. They also pay more in taxes.

Your main goal is to develop your town to the point where its citizens can mine specific relics (namely rocket parts) needed to escape a seemingly dying planet. This makes the continual growth of your town important as each tier of citizen is responsible for specific branches of productivity. This process can prove tricky as the requirements needed to satisfy them all are weighed against your town's overall needs. Creating too many workers means spending less money on new construction projects. Too few, and you won't have enough steambots to gather the basic materials (wood, coal, etc.) needed to keep the town functioning. The same goes for higher-tiered citizens; their larger financial contributions are offset by the cost of keeping them content.

Learning to juggle these different factors is vital when playing SteamWorld Build early on. Some of it comes down to properly positioning certain services and attractions. Plopping a general store at the corner of an intersection makes it accessible to more workers. You can also use stat-boosting items, tradable resources, improved roads, and more. Your management duties double once you gain access to the mines. These underground areas feature RTS mechanics requiring a more hands-on approach. Instead of buildings, you place miner, prospector, mechanic, and guard quarters needed to spawn the corresponding steambots around the map. Aside from the guards and mechanics – who are there to protect and heal bots/build machines, respectively – these bots aren't autonomous. They must be assigned jobs like mining gold deposits, knocking down walls, placing turrets to repel pests, and building machines to harvest important materials.

Most of my time playing SteamWorld Build was spent hopping between my town's surface and subterranean areas. Watching the tiny steambots carry out their tasks as I slowly upgraded my residential areas was fun. I also enjoyed overseeing the developments underground; micromanaging these steambots offered a nice contrast to the above-ground activities.

All of that changed during the game's last few hours due to a combination of competing systems. To collect the final component needed to leave the planet, I had to turn a few of my bots into scientists and make sure they were content for a set duration of time. The problem is that this directive has no wiggle room. When the other steambots weren't at 100 percent, and their collective numbers started to dwindle, the few that remained still pitched in. That wasn't the case here, as it was an all-or-nothing situation.

The other issue was that the scientist was the highest citizen level, meaning it takes a lot to keep them happy. Since my town had grown, it was easy for a given resource – water, food, etc. – to occasionally dip below a certain threshold. During those moments, my scientists became unhappy. I tried to mitigate some of this by improving all my roads, trading for the needed items, relocating attractions, buffing facilities, and so on. Nothing worked. The only thing I could do was wait for my steambots to produce enough of whatever was missing to meet my scientists' needs briefly.

Many sim-based games have this point where the player has seemingly optimized themselves into a corner. Their final objective is within reach, but because its strict parameters don't allow for alternative completion options, they can only wait as the game plays. That's what happens with SteamWorld Build. It's a shame, considering how enjoyable the core gameplay loop initially is. Things fare a little better once you've finished the campaign, though. Since each of the five maps offers rewards like free roads or faster miners upon completion, starting a new campaign with these unlocked bonuses is possible. You can also sidestep the story and focus on building the best town you can, which might be the ideal scenario.

SteamWorld Build is a unique hybrid that entertains for a time. Its early hours are fun, thanks to how well it uses simplified genre staples to create a more arcade-friendly gameplay loop, a sentiment bolstered by a solid tutorial and intuitive control scheme. Regrettably, SteamWorld Build's campaign overstays its welcome. The lackluster story and rigid final objectives turn what was initially an engaging experience into a tedious grind.

Score: 7

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By AnnyaNovember 24, 2023Game InformerNo comments

It’s no secret that 2023 is off to a raucous start with multiple high-scoring games hitting within the first few months of the year. This list will be your guide to every gaming experience Game Informer considers a must-play in 2023, encompassing the best games you can play on platforms like PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, and PC, among others.

Below you'll find a list of the top-scoring games of 2023, beginning with the top scorer and going down. Any game that scores between a 10 and an 8.5 makes the cut. Each entry also features a small blurb and a link to the full review. We'll update the list with eligible titles as the year progresses, so be sure to bookmark this page if you ever need recommendations on what to play next. Have fun!

9.75

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

They say you can never go home again, but I adored returning to Hyrule with all new tools. Read review

Platforms: Switch
Release Date: May 12, 2023

9.5

Baldur's Gate 3

Whether you choose peace or something less savory, Baldur’s Gate 3’s intricate writing and impressive emphasis on experimentation make it one of the most unforgettable games in the genre. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Release Date: August 3, 2023 (PC), September 6, 2023 (PlayStation 5), 2023 (Xbox Series X/S)

Lies of P

Lies of P uses the familiar, the highlights, and the lessons learned from the authors of the Soulslike subgenre to create something unique, fascinating, and exhilarating. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Mac
Release Date: September 19, 2023

Marvel's Spider-Man 2

Insomniac meets and exceeds the high expectations established by its earlier Spider-Man games, and delivers one of the strongest superhero games ever made. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5
Release Date: October 20, 2023

Metroid Prime Remastered

Metroid Prime was a masterpiece in 2002, and that assessment still rings true in 2023. Read review

Platforms: Switch
Release Date: February 8, 2023

Resident Evil 4 (Remake)

It's not only one of the best action games in recent memory; it's the best Resident Evil since, well, probably the original Resident Evil 4. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation VR2, PlayStation 4, PC, Mac, iOS
Release Date: March 24, 2023 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PC), December 20, 2023 (Mac, iOS), 2024 (PlayStation VR2)

Street Fighter 6

Between its cohesive aesthetic, the bounty of clever features, and crisp central gameplay, Street Fighter 6 is one of the most impressive entries the genre has seen in some time. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PC
Release Date: June 2, 2023

9.25

Diablo IV

Diablo IV is a massive and deeply engrossing action RPG that continually seduces players with its promises of power and riches and regularly follows through. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date: June 6, 2023

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Respawn's anticipated sequel gives you more of everything you liked in the prior game, and then plenty more on top. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date: April 28, 2023 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC), TBA (PlayStation 4, Xbox One)

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

After all this time, I thought I had a grasp on the breadth of the tricks the 2D Mario series had up its sleeve, but that Super Mario Bros. Wonder so consistently surprised me speaks to just how much gas is left in the iconic franchise’s tank. Read review

Platforms: Switch
Release Date: October 20, 2023

Dead Space (Remake)

This exceptional remake faithfully recaptures the magic of its predecessor while amplifying the elements that made it beloved in the first place. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Release Date: January 27, 2023

Fire Emblem Engage

Players looking for deep customization, expertly crafted strategy RPG combat, and a heartfelt story with adoration for more than 30 years of Fire Emblem history will find that and more in Engage. Read review

Platforms: Switch
Release Date: January 20, 2023

Hogwarts Legacy

Hogwarts Legacy is a lengthy and rewarding adventure that adeptly captures the magic of the stories from which it is inspired. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date: February 10, 2023 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC), May 5, 2023 (PlayStation 4, Xbox One), November 14, 2023 (Switch)

Jusant

Jusant's ingenious climbing mechanics, inviting presentation, and alluring air of mystery and isolation make for a rewarding expedition and Don't Nod's best title since the original Life is Strange. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Release Date: October 31, 2023

Mortal Kombat 1

Mortal Kombat 1's genre-leading single-player offerings are immediately apparent, but this latest entry also pushes forward the series' tight, brutal gameplay and excellent production values. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC
Release Date: September 19, 2023

Pikmin 4

Pikmin may never rise to the top of the Nintendo heap, and it’s probably unfair to expect it ever could, but the latest Pikmin is the best effort yet. Read review

Platforms: Switch
Release Date: July 21, 2023

Sea of Stars

Sea of Stars is a smooth, consistently thrilling adventure with fun combat, all in a gorgeous and inviting world. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date: August 29, 2023

Theatrhythm Final Bar Line

After nearly a 10-year gap, Theatrhythm is back and it's better than ever. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Switch
Release Date: February 16, 2023

8.75

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon

Much like the young Cereza herself, Bayonetta Origins doesn’t look like much on the surface, but this exceptional and refreshing change of pace for the franchise kept a smile permanently plastered on my face. Read review

Platforms: Switch
Release Date: March 17, 2023

Blasphemous 2

Blasphemous 2 takes inspiration from those that came before it, but by intertwining a gorgeous art style, enticing exploration, and rewarding combat, it rises above the horde of Castlevania-inspired action titles. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date: August 24, 2023 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC), November 2, 2023 (PlayStation 4, Xbox One)

Chained Echoes

It may harken back to the greatest 16-bit RPGs, but this intriguing gem has more than enough new ideas to keep players guessing. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date: December 8, 2022

Cocoon

I don’t know that I will ever fully understand what transpired during my molecular journey on Cocoon’s alien world, but its imagery and puzzles will stay with me for some time. Read review

Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date: September 29, 2023

Dave The Diver

This simple and joyful game combines undersea exploration and restaurant management, and the biggest surprise is just how supremely well it all works. Read review

Platforms: Switch, PC
Release Date: June 28, 2023 (PC), October 26, 2023 (Switch)

Forza Motorsport

Though some of the progression and dynamic visual elements fall short of the realism the rest of the title achieves, Forza Motorsport currently vies for the pole position in the sim-racer field. Read review

Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, PC
Release Date: October 10, 2023

Hi-Fi Rush

Hi-Fi Rush finds a magical sweet spot between rhythm games, stylish action, and lighthearted, character-driven platformers we don't see very often anymore, and by every measure, it comes out on top. Read review

Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, PC
Release Date: January 25, 2023

Kirby's Return To Dream Land Deluxe

Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe is still an enhanced remaster of a 12-year-old Wii game, but it effectively brings forward one of the pink puffball's best outings, complete with enhancements and additions. Read review

Platforms: Switch
Release Date: February 24, 2023

MLB The Show 23

Myriad options and modes allow you to engage with America’s Pastime precisely how you want, and in the process, MLB The Show 23 delivers one of the best baseball games in years. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch
Release Date: March 28, 2023

Resident Evil 4 Separate Ways DLC

Any excuse to play more Resident Evil 4 remake is one we're eager to attach our grappling hook to and fly toward. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PC
Release Date: September 21, 2023

Super Mario RPG

Super Mario RPG is not entirely innocent of the sins of video games past, but old fans will relish the chance to see the game in a new light, and I’m confident newcomers will find something to love. Read review

Platforms: Switch
Release Date: November 17, 2023

The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie

Even if the narrative of The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie falls short compared to past entries, it still stands above most other games in the genre. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch, PC
Release Date: July 7, 2023

The Talos Principle II

The Talos Principle II is a thoughtful and well-made puzzler with fascinating social, artistic, and scientific ideas that we’ll be thinking about long after the solution to its final riddle has faded from memory. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Release Date: November 2, 2023

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a finely honed delight. Its action is precise and responsive, and learning the intricacies of each adversary is exceedingly fulfilling. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date: March 3, 2023

8.5