📲📱 What Are The Kids Apps That Collect The MOST and LEAST Data? 📲📱

In this day and age, it's not uncommon for kids to have access to digital devices.

And there's no arguing that there are lots of gaming apps for kids to choose from.

 

But which apps collect the most personal data?

💿 Across The Worlds – Chrono Cross Wayo Piano Collection | Wayo Records 💿 @WayoRecords #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl @WayRecordsJP

Purchase Link

“Created to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of Chrono Cross in November 1999 (Japan) and August 2000 (USA), Across the Worlds is an arrangement album licensed by the Japanese music right-holders Septima Ley and Procyon Studio (Yasunori Mitsuda’s company). This album is the concretization of a long time dream to create a high-class piano solo album featuring the music from the legendary game, arranged, designed and produced with veteran Japanese video game artists.

🎎 Shadow Warrior 3 | XSX | Review | 7.5/10 | "More Wang Than You Can Shake a Shotgun At" 🎎 @ShadowWarrior #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

I’ve had a pretty good time with the Shadow Warrior games since their reboot in 2013 and, upon finishing the second title, I remember being completely in the zone, pumped up for the third entry in the series.

Now that it’s here…I enjoyed my time with the game, but the changes to design and focus – whilst I can clearly appreciate their appeal to some – removed some of the joy for me.

🖱️ Trust Gaming Launches The Redex Low Latency, Wireless Gaming Mouse in The UK 🖱️ @TrustGaming

 Redex features a built-in rechargeable battery that provides up to 50 hours of continuous playtime and durable Kailh mechanical switches that last up to 80 million clicks.

Trust Electronics has announced the GXT 908 Redex low latency wireless gaming mouse with durable Kailh mechanical switches. 

The Trust GXT 908 Redex low latency wireless gaming mouse is available for £34.99 from Amazon.

🥚Egglia : Rebirth | Nintendo Switch Review | 6/10 | "You Gotta Break Some eggs To Make An Omelette" 🥚 #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

I picked up Egglia Rebirth and I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. It's actually a redesigned mobile game that has had the trappings of mobile microtransactions removed and has been remade/remastered/rebirthed over onto the trusty Nintendo Switch where every single game that ever existed must now reside. 

So does Egglia's move from mobile to Switch land sunny side up or are we left with egg on our faces?

⚔️ Dark Deity | Nintendo Switch | Review | 9/10 | "A Shining Example of The Genre" ⚔️ @DarkDeityGame #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

A Kickstarter funded title from developers Sword and Axe LLC, released through Freedom Games - Dark Deity was brought to my attention through an innocuous press release.

Initially, upon seeing a few screenshots – and thus the anime-styled character portraits, combined with blocks of dialogue– I foolishly assumed that it was a visual novel and my expectations dropped accordingly…until I watched the trailer.

⌨️ ROCCAT | Magma Keyboard | Review | "GF Approved!" ⌨️ @ROCCAT #GamingKeyboard

Product Link - https://uk.roccat.com/products/magma

“The ROCCAT® Magma™ Membrane RGB Gaming Keyboard is ideal for RGBA enthusiasts seeking a competitive gaming keyboard. Its top plate is fully illuminated in 16.8 million RGB colours and AIMO compatible, making it ready for stunning lighting showcases. Featuring silent membrane keys, ROCCAT Easy-Shift[+] technology, a detachable palm rest and a low maintenance design.”

Features:

• 5-zone, 10-LED 16.8m colour RGBA backlighting

• Semi-transparent top plate

• Solid and responsive typing with silent membrane keys

• Advanced anti-ghosting technology

• AIMO lighting engine

• Detachable palm rest

• ROCCAT Easy-Shift[+]® button duplicator

• 2-year manufacturer warranty

A key part of any working or gaming day is the trusty keyboard. I’ve used dozens in my time, and a keyboard that isn’t up to scratch can affect everything, from constant typos to missed opportunities in myriad games – plus, using a keyboard that doesn’t feel right just removes the fun and flow from whatever it is that you are doing.

🧟 Zombie Rollerz: Pinball Heroes | Nintendo Switch | Review | 7/10 | "Lots of fun is pinball. And zombies!" 🧟 @ZingGames #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

Pinball. Who doesn’t like pinball? The clanking, the bumpers, the desire to be on that top score leaderboard, the dreaded tilt. Lots of fun is pinball. And zombies! Who doesn’t like zombies? Well, obviously I’d rather they weren’t in my house or attempting to eat what little brains I have left, but as a cultural concept, zombies are great!

So naturally, when I heard that there was a zombie pinball game, I wanted in. Then I looked a bit closer... zombie pinball roguelike with tower defence elements, kinda?! WTF?! (Note to parents and younger readers – by this I mean Wow, That’s Fun?!). 

Naturally, I was fascinated and needed to know more. If you’re fascinated and need to know more, well, read on.

That’s kind of the point of me sitting here.

🐕 Samorost 2 | Soundtrack (Vinyl) | Tomas Dvorak (Floex) | "Dvorak’s singularly idiosyncratic approach can be felt in full force here" 🐕 @Amanita_Design #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl

https://merch.amanita-design.net/products/samorost-2-soundtrack-by-floex-double-vinyl

The work of Amanita Design often features somewhere in my end-of-year lists, such is the quality of their releases, and this soundtrack from Samorost 2 is no different in terms of the quality and talent that it brings to the (turn)table.

🎶 Yann Latour Interview 🎶 @_YannLatour #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl #VideoGameMusic

Following my recent coverage of Yann Latour’s -very good - ENCODYA soundtrack, I was keen to know more about him, as I’d not previously been aware of his work.

He kindly responded and our subsequent chat is below, enjoy!

🤼 WWE 2K22 | XSX | Review | 7/10 | “Bad Times Don’t Last, But Bad Guys Do” 🤼 #WWE2K22 @WWEgames

I've always said that WWE games’ motto could be, ‘one step forward, two steps back’, every year they would add something new… while removing other modes, matches or making other aspects worse.

Now, it's almost impossible to make a game worse than WWE 2K20, it was a completely broken and buggy mess, so, like many - after a two-year hiatus I was excited to see if they could rejuvenate the franchise and clean up the mess that had plagued the previous entry.

I'm going to go through the modes in the order of how I played them, as I think it gives a good insight into the game and what makes it good, as well as what needs some more attention in the next entry. 

🐔🥔 No Place Like Home | PC | Gameplay | Early Access | "A Relaxing Sim With A Hoover" 🐔🥔 #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

No Place Like Home - Humanity Trashed the Earth and left for Mars. Only a few remained. EXPLORE the world. Clean the environment, CRAFT with recycled resources. Domesticate animals. Rebuild your village. Restore the environment and run your own post-apocalyptic FARM as there is No Place Like Home!

⚔️ Edge of Eternity | PS5 | Review | 7/10 | “A Love Letter to Final Fantasy” ⚔️ @EoeGame @MidgarStudio #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

Edge of Eternity started life as a Kickstarter project, the small French developer ‘Midgar Studios’ clearly took inspiration from Final Fantasies of old - I mean, the clue is in the name of the studio. Now, I have talked in a few reviews of how ‘love letters’ can go one of two ways, they can wonderfully create a new but familiar experience, or they can just be a carbon copy with little identity of their own.

Edge of Eternity has flaws that are revealed very early on. Technical issues were clearly visible, you can see that Edge of Eternity is made on a small budget, character animations are awkward, draw distances and texture pop-in occurs, but despite all the technical flaws, I found the game quite charming with a lot of interesting ideas. I will say that not all of them land, but on the whole, it was an experience I enjoyed, and I feel that the game captured the magic of older JRPGS, whilst still feeling fresh.

🤠 Unavowed | Nintendo Switch | Review | 9.5/10 | "Taking The Crown" 🤠 @WadjetEyeGames #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

I was asked, “do you want to review a game called Primordia?” -which I did, and it was a great game – and then I had a message that read, “I got excited and grabbed an Unavowed code for you as well.” - so this game was a complete surprise for me, I knew it was one of my brother's favourite adventure games, which meant it had lofty expectations.

Having huge expectations is always a double-edged sword, it’s great that a game is held in such high esteem, but if you don’t enjoy it as others have, there is a huge let-down and that sometimes creates a bigger negative feeling towards the game - anyone who is on Twitter can attest to this.

Luckily, Unavowed is an absolutely amazing game, and now holds the crown of being my favourite graphic adventure game of all time, sorry The Secret of Monkey Island, it has been a good 31-year streak.

🪱 Tapeworm: Disco Puzzle | Dreamcast | Review | 8/10 "A game that will worm its way into your heart" 🪱 @LowtekGames #IndieGame #IndieGameDev #RetroGaming

Lowtek’s previous title, Flea! Was very much loved in the GF towers, especially by me. With addictive gameplay, crisp visuals, smooth animation and music that was of Bubble Bobble-level catchiness, it was very much a winner.

I’ve been following the development of Tapeworm for some time, and even picked up the t-shirt from Lowtek Games’ website as I loved the image and yes, the pun.

Of course, the proof is in the pudding….can the finished game stand up to the high quality of the pun-title, premise… and developer Alistair Low’s Tik-Tok videos?

Yes, yes it can.

📷 Martha is Dead | XSX | Review | 7/10 | "The Lady of The Lake" 📷 @WiredP #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

Set in Tuscany during wartime (1944), Martha is Dead is a dark and sinister rural horror title that covers a lot of ground that will have players clearing their throat or possibly adjusting their spectacles in discomfort, as this isn’t a game that shies away from visceral thrills.

🏎️🌪️ Moto Roader MC | PS4 | Review | 6/10 | "Burnin' Retro Rubber!" 🏎️🌪️ @RatalaikaGames #Retrogaming #IndieGameDev

Moto Roader was originally released in 1989 as a futuristic racing game developed by NCS for the PC-Engine/TurboGrafx-16.

Since then it has been ported over to the Wii and Wii U Virtual Consoles. Now in the year of video games 2022, we have a port that is hitting Xbox, Switch, PS4 and PS5.

🤼‍♂️ Action Arcade Wrestling | Nintendo Switch | Review | 7.5/10 | "Ric Flair controversially won, causing my nan, in her 60s at the time, to shout abuse at the TV. " 🤼‍♂️ @AAWGame #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

If you grew up in the late 80s-early 90s, you either got wrestling or you didn't. I have memories of watching WWF (as it was) on a Saturday at my dad's house, with characters like Brutus 'The Barber' Beefcake, who did actually cut his opponents' hair off from time to time, or Jake 'The Snake' Roberts, who brought snakes with him to ringside (pretty sure neither would happen these days). 

I also remember watching the 1992 Royal Rumble at my grandparents' house, where Ric Flair controversially won, causing my nan, in her 60s at the time, to shout abuse at the TV. 

With family like this, it's not surprising that I'm one of the ones who got it.

🏐⚽️ Bang On Balls Chronicles | PC | Gameplay | Early Access | "Watch Me Bang My Balls" ⚾️🏀 @bangonballs #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

Bang-On Balls: Chronicles is an oddball of a 3D platforming game with a collect-a-thon spin! Become a reckless hero as you do missions, collect items and search for secrets rolling through various (inaccurate) historical events!

🔊 Tronsmart Bang 60 Watt Portable Speaker with Light Show, Patented TuneConn™ Technology and Four Drivers 🔊

I just saw this speaker press release pop into the Games Freezer mailbox and now I'm excited about the launch of Tronsmart’s newest speaker, the BANG 60W.

The new speaker has some great features with Built-in Power Bank and the ability to link with up to 100 other Bang Speakers, for amplified sound.

The Bang 60W is IPX6 Waterproof and also comes with a built-in Power Bank. 

How handy is that?

🤖 Primordia | Nintendo Switch | Review | 8/10 | "Sounds Like Heaven" 🤖 @WWSGames #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

Primordia managed to slip by me upon its initial release - which is strange, as a post-apocalyptic, cyberpunk, point and click adventure game sounds like heaven! 

Now that it has been ported to Nintendo Switch, I thought it would be a good time to jump in and see if it was my videogame version of heaven.

📷 35mm | PS4 | Review | 4/10 | "The very last task you’re given is to find three batteries hidden in a city..." 📷 @PixelHunted

When the apocalypse arrives it’ll probably be kinda boring. Games like Fallout, The Last of Us, and Days Gone are all razzle-dazzle combat, world-changing drama, and malformed flesh-eating monsters to mulch.

Contrast that with 35mm, in which I spent an hour trudging through an abandoned village trying to find a bucket so I could use a grubby broken-down well. Let’s face it, that’s probably a more realistic scenario for you if civilisation collapsed.

💿💽 ENCODYA | An Original Soundtrack by Yann Latour | Vinyl Review 💿💽 @_YannLatour #vinylrecords #videogamemusic #videogamevinyl

I’ve covered a lot of records over the last few years, but ENCODYA stands out as one of the most memorable. An almost purely ambient release devoid -for the most part – of beats, drums or percussion, the layers of mood and scene are punctuated by guest spots of organic instrumentation that add character and identity whilst never deviating too far from the focus on melodic simplicity.

An album that really set me in a (much appreciated) zen-like state. Good.

🐔🥔 No Place Like Home | PC | Gameplay | Early Access | "A Relaxing Farming Sim With A Hoover" 🐔🥔 #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

No Place Like Home - Humanity Trashed the Earth and left for Mars. Only a few remained. EXPLORE the world. Clean the environment, CRAFT with recycled resources. Domesticate animals. Rebuild your village. Restore the environment and run your own post-apocalyptic FARM as there is No Place Like Home!

🤖 Blackwind | Xbox Series X | Review | 3/10 | "Groundhog Slay" 🤖 @drakkardev @maxharvey79 #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

My first impressions of Blackwind were positive. I’m a fan of the mecha anime aesthetic, and the story of a boy having to use a super-powered robot suit (à la Titanfall) to battle enemies and rescue his father, was an appealing prospect. The voice acting is a little cheesy, but I felt like it set the scene well, with an AI voice in the suit giving instructions that worked as a tutorial without that being too contrived.

But. 

BUT.

⚔️ Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection | Six games - 21 versions - In One Limited Edition Collection ⚔️ #Retrogaming #WonderBoyCollection

Strictly Limited Games is looking forward to the pre-order start for the Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection on March 6th.

In the course of this announcement, they also revealed the extensive list of games that will be included in this very special collection of one of the most influential series from gaming’s past.

⚽️🥅 GOAL! - The Club Manager | "A Challenger For The Football Manager Crown?" ⚽️🥅 @Toplitz_Prod

This is an interesting piece of news about a Football Management sim that passed me by and is now ready for a reboot...

First released in 1993, the series is considered a milestone for realistic sports management mixing tactical depth with deep involvement in all areas of the club from finances to stadium extensions and a deep youth system while adding a healthy dose of humour. 

After a successful Kickstarter campaign, 2tainment and Toplitz Productions are looking forward to working together on this title to deliver a memorable experience as a club manager to gamers.

🥊KAO The Kangaroo | PC | Gameplay | The 3D Kangaroo Platformer 🦘 @Kaothekangaroo #IndieGameDev #IndieGame

 

Inspired by the golden age of 3D Platformers, Kao The Kangaroo returns in a whole new adventure! Embark on an epic journey, master magical gloves, explore lush environments and take Kao through his most grand tale yet!

🦖Elex II | XSX Review | 6.5/10 | "More RPG action from the team behind the Gothic and Risen series" 🦖 @Piranha_Bytes #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

When I came across Elex in 2017, it really made an impact on me. I resonated with the dry humour that was scattered throughout the game and, whilst it had technical issues, the sense of character that ran throughout made it stand out from the crowd, despite not being a graphical showcase.

I’ve been eagerly awaiting this sequel and, whilst it retains the humour and fixes some problems that were present in the first game, I couldn’t quite relax fully, due to some vague mission design and implementation which ultimately marred the experience.

📷 Martha Is Dead | PC | Gameplay | First 20 Minutes | "A Massive Twist Within The First 20 Minutes!" 📷 #IndieGames #IndieGame #GameDev @MarthaisDead @LkaGames @WiredP

Martha Is Dead is a dark first-person psychological thriller, set in 1944 Italy, that blurs the lines between reality, superstition and the tragedy of war.

⚔️ Super Dungeon Maker | EARLY ACCESS | PC | Ten Minute Taster | "Build me A Dungeon!"⚔️ @rokaplayHQ #IndieGames #GameDev

Super Dungeon Maker is a creative pixel art dungeon editor inspired by the best 2D adventure games. Choose however many levels, enemies, secret rooms, traps and items you want. Challenge your friends and the community to master your dungeon or play the countless dungeons of the community.

⛵️ Submerged Hidden Depths | Ten Minute Taster | "Relaxploration" ⛵️ #IndieGames

Boat, climb, interact and do some relaxploration in the beautiful ruins of a sunken world.

 

🐲 Metal Dragon | Mega Drive | Review | "There will be bullets" 🐲 #IndieGames #GameDev #Homebrew #SEGAGenesis

Known mostly for their MSX releases, Spanish developers Kai Magazine are now branching out into the Mega Drive world with this, their first release on the platform - a run ‘n gun shooter that is presented with tongue firmly in cheek.

“Kill everyone, destroy everything, save the girl… just because you can” – great tagline.

Set in a parodic version of the ‘80s, Metal Dragon comes boxed with a reversible cover – representative of the grid / blue box art versions of Mega Drive games that changed over time.

I kept with the earlier ‘grid’ style as Metal Dragon feels like a game from the early ‘90s. The cover of each features our hero standing heroically atop a tank as a massive explosion looms behind – as does other, general carnage– as he holds his machine gun aloft, with the President’s daughter at his arm, scantily clad – natch.

⚔️ The Wonder Boy Collection coming for Nintendo Switch and PS4 | Four Games In One Collection ⚔️

ININ Games and Strictly Limited Games are excited to announce the Wonder Boy Collection coming to Nintendo Switch and PS4 including the most iconic adventures from the legendary game series of the 80s and 90s.

⌨️🎧 Trust Gaming Launches Eco-Friendly Thian Wireless Gaming Headset and Callaz Tenkeyless Mechanical Keyboard in the UK ⌨️🎧

The lightweight and eco-friendly designed Thian Wireless Gaming Headset is made from recycled materials and durable leatherette earpads with a mesh top layer

It features a 5.8Ghz USB dongle for a blazing fast collection and a foldable 

microphone with a pop filter

⛳️⚔️ RPGolf Legends | Nintendo Switch | Review | 5.5/10 | "Fighting for Par" ⛳️⚔️ @KEMCOGLOBAL #IndieGames #GameDev

I went into RPGolf Legends with as much enthusiasm as I could possibly muster for a game.

Being a huge RPG fan and a complete golf nut, my excitement for this game was immense. All signs pointed to a hole-in-one but, like my actual golf game - it didn’t take long to realise it's more likely going to be a double bogey.

🏰🏯 Castle Morihisa | Nintendo Switch | Review | 7.5/10 "Lucky I was such a fan of Slay the Spire" 🏰🏯@ThermiteGamesHQ #IndieGames #IndieGame #GameDev

I always thought deck builders were an odd choice for a standalone game type. I'm a seasoned veteran of card-based minigames, from Triple Triad in Final Fantasy 8 through to

Gwent in The Witcher 3 (which of course got its own release), but was never attracted to the idea of a full game. Then a friend recommended Slay the Spire, and since it was on Game Pass I thought I'd give it a quick bash to see what it was like. 

Long story short, I spent a day off work playing it for nine hours straight. 

So that was my gateway to the world of card slinging.

🧟🧟‍♂️🧟‍♀️ Heaven Dust 2 | Nintendo Switch | Review | 7/10 | "A charming but flawed love letter to Resident Evil" 🧟🧟‍♂️🧟‍♀️ #IndieGames #IndieGame #GameDev

Over the past twelve months, I’ve played several games that are effectively love letters to Resident Evil, only one really captured the essence of the early survival horror. Heaven Dust 2 does capture some of the spirit and certain aspects do make it stand out, but at its core, it sticks so closely to the Resident Evil formula that it just becomes a facsimile without its own identity.

🏌️‍♂️⛳️ Pixel Pro Golf | iOS | Review | 7.5/10 | "A Delicious Slice Of Retro Arcade Golf" 🏌️‍♂️⛳️ @PixelProGolf @pixamogames #IndieGames #IndieGame #GameDev

Golf has always been my comfort food genre for video games. I’ve grown up playing classic golf games such as World Class Leaderboard, Jack Nicklaus Greatest 18 Holes, PGA European Tour, Sensible Golf, Everybody’s Golf, Neo Turf Masters and Tiger Woods on the PS2, Xbox 360 and the PSP to name just a few.

Recently I stumbled across Pixel Pro Golf on my iPhone and it’s been my go-to toilet break game for the last month or so when I have a few spare moments to play something on my phone. 

👔 The Company Man | Nintendo Switch | Gameplay | Ten Minute Taster | "Keyboard Bashing Fun!" 👔 @ForustStudio #GameDev #IndieGames

 

The Company Man is a classic action platformer where you play as average salaryman Jim. Hit your crazy coworkers with a keyboard, shoot your evil bosses with emails, and buff up with coffee beans at the Good Water Company. Survive the struggles of working life and fulfil your lifelong quest to be CEO

🎮 GameSir T4 Pro | £30 Wireless & Wired Controller | For Android + iOS + Nintendo Switch & PC 🎮 @mygamesir

Rich takes a look at the GameSir T4 Pro and takes it for a spin.

🖱️⌨️ Use Keyboard and Mouse Controls With Your Console | GameSir | VX2 Aimbox | Unboxing 🖱️⌨️ @mygamesir

 

The GameSir VX2 AimBox has become one of the most popular adapters for console gamers to control FPS games with a mouse & keyboard. This is the 2nd version of the VX2 AimBox and it now comes with a built-in 3.5mm audio jack and PS5, PS4, XBOX One, Xbox Series X, X Box Series S and Nintendo Switch games support. Through the GameSir App, you’re able to fine-tune in-game settings such as mouse, ADS, key binds, joysticks and lighting effects. Join Rich as he takes a look at this cool piece of kit!

🔥 POSTAL™ is coming to Dreamcast on June 2nd 2022! | WAVE Game Studios | @WaveGameStudios 🔥#RetroGaming

POSTAL™, the classic twin-stick shooter originally released in 1997, is due for release on the Dreamcast video games console on June 2, 2022!

Retro gaming fans will be able to experience the rapid-fire action enjoyed by millions of PC gamers later this year when WAVE Game Studios releases this officially licensed port of the classic title on Dreamcast, marking the franchise’s first appearance on the console.

🏚️👻 Insomnis | PC | Review | 3/10 | "a series of supernatural inconveniences" 🏚️👻 @Path_Games @PixelHunted #IndieGames #GameDev

For anyone born after 1980 the prospect of inheriting a haunted house doesn’t hold the fear that it did for older generations. Sure, you’re now the custodian of a dilapidated mansion with peeling wallpaper, bloodstained carpets, spooky dolls scattered everywhere, and a minor infestation of ghost kids, but if it’s a choice between that and living under the thumb of a landlord I’ll pick the ghost kids anytime.

🚂 Nostalgic Train | XSX Review | 7/10 | "A Mystical and Relaxing Walking Simulator" 🚂 #IndieGames #GameDev

Being a person that spends a lot of their time covering video games and the various paraphernalia that comes along with them, sometimes I really like to kick back and let games wash over me. I’d say that every month or so, I actively seek out a new walking simulator, a game that I can casually breeze through, relax and enjoy. Amata Games’ Nostalgic Train coasted into view and – as it was ‘that time’ – I really looked forward to getting in a bottle of wine and spending an evening or so getting lost in its charms.