Mars First Logistics Ten Minute Taster PC Gameplay "Watering Can logistics On Planet Mars" 🪐 @ianmaclarty #IndieGames #GameDev

Drop me on Mars to lift up watering cans and crates of oranges as I play Lego Technics in outer space. Eventually, I'm stumped by a blue steel girder but 'oh my word' this game is so much fun!

Build physically simulated rovers and transport awkwardly shaped cargo across the surface of Mars. Earn funds, unlock new parts, and use your ingenuity to help the Martians establish a new home. Playable solo or in online co-op!

1MORE Sonoflow Wireless Active Noise Cancelling Headphones Review🎧 @1MoreGlobal

1MORE are a new brand to us at GF HQ, but they are making quite an impact! In a recent review, I covered the 1MORE ComfoBuds 2 – a product which also made a great impression – and so it was with relatively high expectations that I approached the 1MORE Sonoflow headphones...and those expectations were certainly met, in fact – they almost quite literally blew my mind.

1MORE ComfoBuds 2 True Wireless Headphones Review By Britt "GF Recommended!" 🎧 @1MoreGlobal

This is the first product that we’ve covered here at GF from 1MORE, and the last week that I’ve spent with them has been impressive in terms of how they deliver on the claims stated on the product website.

The 1MORE ComfoBuds 2 have gone from being something I initially had no expectations of these becoming my go-to earbuds for daily use, especially when in the office due to their longevity, practicality and snazziness.

The Syntech 6-in-1 Docking Station Provides Ultimate Convenience for Gamers and is Compatible With The New Asus ROG Ally, and Steam Deck

The docking station allows gamers to easily connect to a wide variety of monitors, controllers, and peripherals

Syntech, an innovative manufacturer of quality and affordable electronic accessories and consumer technology products, is thrilled to announce that its recently launched 6-in-1 USB-C Docking Station is compatible for Asus ROG Ally users. Providing users with 6 different ports to meet most needs, and the ability to output to a 4K monitor or TV at 60Hz, it is a handy and ergonomically designed gadget to complement the new Asus ROG Ally handheld gaming console. 

The Syntech 6-in-1 Docking Station for Asus ROG Ally and Steam Deck is available for £36.99/$39.99 on Amazon UK and Amazon US

Chocobo & Chill Vinyl Review "Never Far From My Turntable" 🐦 #VideoGameVinyl #VGMvinyl #Vinyl @GameChops @RiftiBeats

We’ve covered a few records in the VGM lo-fi genre recently, and that’s absolutely fine by me as it’s one of my favourite styles of music.

Taking the much-loved Final Fantasy musical templates composed by Nobuo Uematsu, Rifti Beats distils the tracks down to smoky, hypnotic beats and heart-thudding bass. Good.

Harnessing the power of the melodies and re-imagining them as mood music to be devoured as you close your eyes and imagine being stood atop a skyscraper and gazing out over the city of Midgar.

With music as treasured as this, it’s a hefty task, but Rifti Beats weaves their magic and ends up creating an album that shifts between being sexy, swaggering, fun, delicate and heart-breaking, often from the track.

I listen through albums many times whilst reviewing them, but Chocobo & Chill has sneaked in as one of those that is never far from my turntable, as my fiancee has also been popping this on in addition to my constant looping for reviewing purposes – it’s especially telling as she has no nostalgia or link to the Final Fantasy games, she just loves this take on the music.

As she should.

Despot's Game Nintendo Switch Review 7.5/10 "Puny Humans" 👿 @Despotism_3k @tinyBuild #IndieGames #GameDev

Vampire Survivors really opened the door to games with a certain level of automation built into the design, and whilst I thoroughly enjoyed that game – although I didn’t completely lose myself in it for a worrying number of hours (I look at you Pixel Hunted, oh beloved colleague of mine) – I absolutely welcomed the more casual approach gameplay over complex, involved (notice that I didn’t say intense, oh yes – this game is intense!) mechanics.

AsteBros Is Out NOW "Time To Choose Your Hero!" 🧙‍♂️⚔️ @DAsteborg #Retrogaming #GameDev #IndieGames

It is with great excitement that we present you with Astebros, a rogue-lite platformer which is a prequel to Demons of Asteborg. Unlike its predecessor, Astebros has a two-player option after the devs, Neofid Studios, listened carefully to the community’s feedback and decided to respond to their request by offering an even more immersive and user-friendly gameplay experience.

Thanks to the support of the backers, the Astebros Kickstarter campaign was successful, allowing them to raise over €100,000. This is Neofid Studios’ most ambitious project to date, and they worked tirelessly to deliver a game that lives up to fans’ expectations. 

Astebros is a game that combines the classic elements of the platformer genre with rogue-lite elements, providing a unique and dynamic experience in every game. Players will be able to explore thrilling environments, battle formidable enemies and discover a compelling story that delves deep into the origins of the Demons of Asteborg universe.

Limited Boxed Editions of Akai Ito & Aoi Shiro HD Remaster for Nintendo Switch 🧿

Strictly Limited Games, in partnership with SUCCESS Corp, is excited to team up and release the limited boxed editions of Akai Ito & Aoi Shiro HD Remaster for Nintendo Switch. Get ready to experience these two previously exclusive Japanese PlayStation 2 Visual Novels remastered in HD and packed into one Definitive Nintendo Switch version for the first time in the West.

These editions will exclusively be available at Strictly Limited Games and will be the ONLY physical version of the game worldwide.

https://www.strictlylimitedgames.com/collections/akai-ito-aoi-shiro-hd

Planet of Lana PC Review 7/10 "...absolutely reeks of competency" 🐈‍⬛ @PlanetofLana #IndieGames #GameDev

Planet of Lana absolutely reeks of competency. 

This cinematic 2D platformer is the debut release from indie developer Wishfully Studios, and if they’re setting out to make a name for themselves as an artistically minded team with a rock-solid grip on puzzle platformer mechanics then mission accomplished.

Set on an alien yet familiar world you play as young girl Lana, who we meet enjoying a bucolic life in her cosy fishing village. Naturally, as is the fate of practically every video game hero’s cosy home town, disaster soon strikes. 

Robots emerge from the blue skies to entrap the locals and promptly speed off into the distance. Lana is the sole survivor and must rescue her ambiguously defined best friend/girlfriend/sister/boyfriend/brother from their steel clutches.

NACON MG-X Pro Controller | Review By Max (and a bit of Britt) | "The Phat Controller" 🎮 @Nacon

September 2021 was a different time. I mean, obviously, it was. All times that aren’t NOW are a different time. Even the start of this paragraph exists at a different point in time to this word here. Time that is so precious and yet I have wasted valuable seconds for both of us in trying to explain a point that is irrelevant to what follows.

And this is partly because I am a big fan of a nonsensical opening to a review and partly because (for reasons that will become apparent) the bulk of the review itself is not very long.

Back to September 2021. It was a time of lockdowns and consequently opportunities to indulge in al fresco Xbox gaming were not plentiful.

Despite this, I gave a score of 9/10 to the NACON MG-X, an Android controller that basically turned your phone into a mini Xbox.

It was a solid product that delivered on its promise and though I mainly used it sat on my sofa, I could see the potential for use in the great outdoors (internet connection permitting…)

Debug Magazine Review " a brand-new publication focused exclusively on indie games" 📖 @debugorg #IndieGames

We at GF HQ have always been big supporters of indie games, and so when I first caught wind of Debug magazine, the thought of having a print magazine specifically dedicated to indie games across all systems was of an incredible appeal to me, I was keener than Robbie, Roy, and Steve combined.

Having received the inaugural issue recently,  I’m happy to report that this really does feel very much like THE indie directory, featuring not only news articles, previews and reviews of upcoming/imminent games, but also interviews with developers, publishers-  and features some really neat design touches that make devouring Debug an absolute pleasure.

Atari is Releasing The First New Atari Game on a Cartridge in 32 Years! 🏃‍♂️ #Retrogaming

Atari is Releasing an Atari 2600 Version of Mr. Run and Jump — The First New Atari Game on a Cartridge in 32 Years

Arcade platforming action returns to its roots with an exciting announcement: the unveiling of an Atari 2600 version of the recently revealed adventure platformer, Mr Run and Jump from Atari. This official release marks a significant milestone steeped in retro history: the first cartridge launch for a new Atari title since 1990!

Gematombe Nintendo Switch Ten minute Taster "Bust A Move Meets Breakout" 🔮 @RatalaikaGames #IndieGames #GameDev

Watch as Rich plays Gematombe which is an action-puzzle-vs game where you can play one-on-one matches against your friends or the computer.

PURCHASE LINKS

SWITCH EU: 

https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/Gematombe-2375130.html

SWITCH US: 

https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/gematombe-switch/

Main Tips for Big Winning at Online Pokies

The first thing you should concentrate on in order to win big at various pokie games is their inner principles and mechanisms. It will help you to select an appropriate game for your taste and budget.

It is not the only imperative thing about pokies. We prepared the top three strategic tips for increasing your winning chances at this casino game.

Filthy Animals Heist Simulator Nintendo Switch Ten Minute Taster Gameplay "Axe Troubles" 🪓🐊 @FilthyAnimalsHS #GameDev #IndieGames

Rich plays Filthy Animals Heist Simulator on the Nintendo Switch for the first time and struggles with an axe to a door situation.

Filthy Animals is a chaotic single-player/co-op heist game for up to 4 players. Become a mutant animal working for criminal mastermind Tony as you steal, fight, fall over, and eat tacos. Solve puzzles and avoid security before making off with the loot, ya Filthy Animal!

Video Game LoFi: Yoshi Vinyl Review By 'Lo Fi' Lee 📀 @nokbient @MateriaStore @CuragaRecords #VideoGameVinyl #Vinyl #VGM #LoFi

There’s quite a fashion for lo-fi covers of video game soundtracks at the moment. This offering from Save Point, Nokbient and Lofi VGM is released on vinyl through Curaga Records/Materia Music and comes on a single disc of black vinyl, in a nice shiny sleeve with artwork reminiscent of the Monument Valley games. 

It’s also available digitally and in an on-trend cassette version.

REBIRTH + DESPAIR Vinyl Review 'Piano and Cello Covers from NieR: Gestalt/Replicant + NieR Automata' 💿 @TheMangoMage #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl #VGM

The NieR series of games has a seriously hardcore fanbase, and from my own experiences of playing the original title on PS3 (I remember picking it up at a bargain price in a car boot sale near Pontins, natch) I can see where the love comes from, as the characters are memorable, and the story is sweeping, majestic and grand – terms that can also be levelled at the music.

Whilst the original versions feature full orchestration, here TPR and Roxane Genot strip the sound back to primarily piano and cello, re-arranging the tracks to give a closer, more intimate feel.

Dark Quest 3 XSX Review 8.5/10 "oh go on...one more go..." ⚔️ 🧙‍♂️ @brainseal #IndieGames #GameDev

It has only been over the last few years that I’ve really gotten hips-deep into board games. From diving into breezy games like Dungeon! And Hero Quest to rule-laden slogs like Massive Darkness or Endure the Stars/Rules, I’ve really come to appreciate the wonderful blend of dedication and camaraderie that comes from a day of getting some snacks and drinks in, then settling down for eleven hours of arguing over the results of dice rolls and bafflingly unclear card descriptions.

It was after a recent weekend jaunt to a salubrious part of the country – where the curtains were promptly drawn and daylight not sighted for 48 hours – that I began to yearn for a single-player board game experience… but in the digital realm.

I genuinely spent a few days installing and uninstalling various games on my phone, hunting around for what I was looking for - and it was then that I stumbled across Dark Quest 3, which was due for imminent release, I can’t comment on Brain Seal Ltd’s other games, or even the preceding two titles in this trilogy, but I can certainly say that Dark Quest 3 is exactly what I needed.

Landlord's Super Ten Minute Taster PC "A Nice Little Earner" 🍺 @MinskWorks #IndieGames #GameDev

 
Landlord's Super, your quintessential construction simulator, is here. Take a dodgy loan, restore a property, move in the locals, attend to their grievances, then celebrate with a pint in this fully-simulated, open-world 1980s Britain.

Thief Simulator 2 | Preview 🦸‍♂️ @ThiefSimulator #IndieGames #GameDev

The next release in the ‘Thief’ (not that one) series, Thief Simulator 2 follows PlayWay S.A. 2018’s Thief Simulator and – my personal favourite - 2022’s American Theft ‘80s.

This 2023 entry sees you again returning to popping into various locations – uninvited - and going out on the nick. Whilst the game does not yet have a solid release date beyond 2023 (PlayWay S.A.’s release schedule is intense), it builds on the illicit thrills of the previous two entries by including various abilities, items and environmental hazards such as police officers, sleep gas, traffic spikes, ATM hacking, drones, dynamite and weather factors such as rain – to hide the thief’s movements.

The series has previously given me a lot of tension-fuelled thrills, and I’m especially a fan of the way in which the games aren’t afraid to have fun with themselves. As far as I’m concerned, this is an underdog series of games that always manages to deliver idiosyncratic fun with a touch of craziness, and I’m looking forward to diving into this next chapter!

Vampire Survivors PC DLC TIDES OF THE FOSCARI Ten Minute Taster Gameplay Video "Let's Get Lost In The forest!" 🧛🌳 @poncle_vampire #IndieGames #GameDev

 
Vampire Survivors' second DLC Tides of the Foscari is out and I've just received Steam codes to play it! (The DLC is £1.59!) It features new characters, weapons, a massive whimsical forest level to explore and a groundbreaking new feature for the Vampire Survivors universe: 2 of the brand new Survivors (Maruto and Keitha) now have attack animations! This is limited to these 2 Survivors only!

NACON Pro Compact Controller Review (PC & XBOX) 🎮 @Nacon

We’ve covered a few NACON products here at GF over the last few years, and they’ve all stood out as high-quality, robust peripherals that last a lifetime and look cool as they do so, but does the NACON Pro Compact Controller continue this trend?

Return To Grace Ten Minute Taster PC Gameplay Video "AI On My Wrist!" 🤖 @CBytesStudios #IndieGames #GameDev

Return To Grace is a surprise game for me that I have absolutely fallen for. Please watch this taster of what you can expect in this mysterious walking sim set in the future.

A daring space archaeologist has just unearthed the ancient resting place of a long-lost A.I. god known as Grace. Adventure with various fractured A.I. personalities as you uncover the great mystery of why she was shut down all those years ago.

I Think Skyrim May Have Saved My Love Of Video Games 🖤

Video Games are a passion for me that stems from when I was about 7 years old and I discovered that the Amstrad CPC at my mate Briggsy's house could play a video game called Football Manager 2. 

From that day forth I fell for every computer and every console that came out. If I think back even further I do actually remember playing my sister's Pong Machine at home in the early 80s but that is a distant hazy memory that didn't drive my love of video games but probably helped me along that road a bit.

Fast forward around 35 years and I'm still a video games lover but the difference now is that not only do I own various systems to play the latest video games but I also run my own video games website that requires me to be switched onto video games every day of the year.

Some might say that type of always-on mentality can wear you down a bit and I would say to them that,

"Yes, you are correct, it can wear you down". 

Propagation: Paradise Hotel VR Review 8/10 "Zombies! Hotels! Horror!" 🧟 @PropagationVR #IndieGames #GameDev

Steak and chips. Cannon and Ball. Coffee and cream. Zombies and VR. Some things are just destined to go together. Yes, there are roughly 5 gazillion VR zombie games. Yes, some of them are rubbish. No, this isn’t one of them.

Spacebourne 2 Ten Minute Taster PC Gameplay "LOST IN SPACE!" 🚀 @DBK_Games #IndieGames #GameDev

 
Rich tries to embark on a journey to greatness (with varying levels of success). Get ready for adrenaline-fueled battles and a chance to claim your place in the galaxy. Grab the controls of your ship, gear up for the fight, and unleash your ambition to conquer and build a new empire in the vastness of space.

Puzzle Bobble Everybubble! Switch Review 8/10 "Bubble Burstin’ Boisterousness" 🫧 @ININ_Games 🫧

There’s a purity to the Puzzle Bobble games that has always drawn me, a merciless blend of colourful, simple gameplay and snappy action that has entranced me since pounding hours into it on Vs mode on the PS1, back in my days as a teenager.

This new version does a fantastic job of plate-spinning the solid-as-a-rock original mechanics whilst also adding various bells and whistles through extra Modesto giving a neat amount of variety to the usual bubble-popping proceedings.

Lego 2k Drive Xbox Series X Review 7/10 "Is it as good as Mario Kart?" 🏎️ @LEGO_2K_HUB @2K #LEGO2KDrive

Every time a new kart racer comes to market, be it badged as Sonic, Crash Bandicoot, or, somewhat oddly, Garfield, the first question everyone asks is, "Is it as good as Mario Kart?" and the answer, invariably, is no. Lego 2k Drive is the latest to come at the King, and while it does miss, it's a good game in its own right.

Klaus Lee Thunderballs PC Let's Play Gameplay Video "Jetpacks & TNT!" 💣 @TheRealKlausLee #IndieGAmes #GameDev

Dive deep through the neon-hued brash and bawdy '80s-inspired reimagined classic 2D action-platformer with your favourite BADASS Kraut, Klaus Lee! Dust off your jetpack, grab your dynamite and prepare your laser eyes and dive deep into Klaus' first challenging adventure!

Dungeon Drafters PC Review 8/10 "Big Deck Energy" 📕 @DungeonDrafters #IndieGames #GameDev

A mage, cloaked in a purple, erm, cloak, pushes the heavy stone door open and peers inside the crypt beyond. The brawler, muscles glistening in the barely visible torchlight, stands behind his companion, ready to step forth into the unknown. The block of granite slides open and the duo step into the cobweb-bedecked room ahead. Before they draw breath they are set upon by hellish creatures - two gelatinous blobs, a giant beetle and a mighty winged dragon! 

The mage flashes a knowing, smug glance at her warrior friend and smiles fiendishly at the beasts before her. They know not of what is to happen next, as she reaches under her cloak and brings her hands back out in front of her, brandishing… a pair of playing cards. The beasts attack and devour the two heroes, as their small pieces of cardboard offer no protection at all, though possibly do provide some added fibre to the meal they become.

That’s how this story SHOULD go. But no. Fortunately, in Dungeon Drafters your cards are magic. Phew. And there are a lot of cards. But let’s rewind a little, shall we?

Trust Lyra Multi-Device Wireless Keyboard & Mouse Review ⌨️🖱️ @TrustGaming

I’m a big fan of smaller-sized keyboards and mice, especially in the current climate of the hybrid working model, where carting around a full-sized keyboard along with a laptop can be a pain, and whilst the Trust Lyra desktop set is easily among the most compact and practical keyboards I’ve come across, there are so many other nice touches in terms of design, features and accessibility that– especially at this price point- it makes the Trust Lyra stand out in the crowd.

Moviehouse The Film Studio Tycoon Ten Minute Taster Gameplay "Let's make sweet movies together" 🎬🎥 @MoviehouseGame #IndieGames #GameDev

 

Welcome to the big show! Ready the camera, unleash your creativity and pile up the profits! Grow your operation with your razor-sharp business sense and usher in a new era for filmmakers worldwide.

Largest Study of Video Games Dialogue Reveals That Men Say Twice As Much As Women 👩‍🦰💬 @RSocPublishing

Researchers have found a stark gender imbalance after carrying out the largest-ever study of video game dialogue, published today (Wednesday 24 March 2023).

The research, published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, analysed more than 13,000 video game characters and found that men speak twice as much as women.

The study, led by Dr Stephanie Rennick at the University of Glasgow and Dr Seán G. Roberts at Cardiff University, performed the first large-scale test of gender imbalance in the dialogue of 50 role-playing video games (RPGs).

It discovered that games include twice as much male dialogue as female dialogue on average. 94% of games studied had more male dialogue than female dialogue, including games with multiple female protagonists like Final Fantasy X-2 or King’s Quest VII. 

No One Lives Under the Lighthouse XSX Review 8/10 "More Bite-Sized Horror Gold" 🗼 @marevocollectiv #IndieGames #GameDev

I am a big fan of bite-sized titles that can be enjoyed in a single evening – horror titles especially, as Boomfire’s recent The Creepy Syndrome reminded me.

No One Lives Under the Lighthouse is a game with some serious character in its presentation that drew me in on multiple levels from the visual style through to the subtle gameplay mechanics, narrative, and incredible sound design – with the only slight hiccup for me being the final sequence of events.

The game – a first-person adventure - opens with your character being dropped off at a remote island, with the titular lighthouse looming large. The boatman makes cryptic comments about the previous lighthouse keeper before rowing back off into the darkness, leaving you alone on the island….or are you?

Video Game Lo-fi: Sonic Curaga Records Vinyl Review 💿 🌴💨 #VideoGameVinyl #Vinyl

There’s something about the lo-fi genre that completely resonates with me. Over the years I’ve covered several lo-fi versions of various video game soundtracks, and I appear to always be in the mood for a lo-fi record, there’s something about the low, beat-driven mellow vibes that gets me hips deep into the music, and in cases where I have a personal history with the game in question, I can genuinely find myself getting totally caught up in it, as was very much the case with a specific track on this particular record.

Kill It With Fire VR Review 7/10 "Lots and Lots Of SPIDERS!!!" 🕷️🔥 @KIWF_Game #IndieGames #GameDev

SPIDERS!

Still here? Well, they make some people run a mile so now they've all gone, let's talk about Kill It With Fire. Because this game features spiders. Lots and lots of spiders. 

Waaay back in the beforetime (1990), there was a movie called Arachnophobia, which also featured lots of spiders. If you haven't seen it, watch it, it's great. Anyway, the reason that comes to mind is one particular scene in which Jeff Daniels makes a flamethrower from a lighter and an aerosol can. This prompted a spate of arson-lite events at my school which resulted in a lot of kids nearly blowing their hands off with cans of Lynx Africa (which, by the way, smells even worse when it's lit), and general flame-based mayhem. 

Some 30-odd years later and Kill It With Fire comes to VR, giving you the opportunity to relive the excitement of the homemade flamethrower, but with none of the danger. 

But that isn't all. 

Edo Superstar OST By DBXY Vinyl Review 💿 @TheMangoMage #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl

The Edo Superstar soundtrack marks the sixth release from Mango Mage Records, and is a very different beast to the last release that we covered from them - TPR’s The Songs of Time - back in 2022, in that whilst The Songs of Time was a melancholic, stripped-back take on familiar Zelda tunes, Edo Superstar is a blend of Edo period instrumentation and modern beats and samples, it’s a far more energised album with quite striking design throughout in terms of the physical presentation. Should you want to find out more in regard to the label, have a goosey at our interview with Mango Mage Records from back in 2021.

LEGO 2K DRIVE PC Ten Minute Taster "Racing Fun For Everyone!" 🏎️🚗🚓 @LEGO_2K_HUB #LEGO2KDrive

Welcome to Bricklandia, home of a massive open-world LEGO® driving adventure. Race anywhere, play with anyone, build your dream rides, and defeat a cast of wild racing rivals for the coveted Sky Trophy!

Pirates Outlaws XBOX Review 7/10 🏴‍☠️🦜 @FabledGame #IndieGames #GameDev

Like Willem Dafoe with Madonna’s hot candle wax, I really need to get something off my chest. Before I get into this review. Before I finish the delightful pain au chocolat sat next to me. It isn’t a comment on the game itself, merely the title. But oh, it grates. The game is called “Pirates Outlaws”. It’s tautologous nonsense. Though still a bit rubbish, I’d accept Pirate Outlaws or Pirates: Outlaws, at a push, but not that.

Meg's Monster Nintendo Switch Ten Minute Taster Let's Play Video "Meg Has A Monster" 👹 @OdencatGames #IndieGames #GameDev

 

Take control of the Underworld’s grumpiest ghoul to help a lost little girl find her way home in this creepy-cute indie adventure. Just be warned: if she cries, the whole world dies.

Zool Redimensioned PS4 Review 8/10 "A Celebration of a Very Nineties Game" 🍬🍭 @WeAreSecretMode #IndieGames #GameDev

You must feel sorry for Zool, the Ninja from the Nth Dimension. He's fast, he's nimble, he's the star of his own 2D side-scroller... but he got introduced to the world right between the releases of Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Poor guy never stood a chance.

Despite not becoming a mascot for the entire industry and inspiring two Jim Carrey vehicles, Zool maintains a place in my heart and some small cult status among fans who didn't grow up with a Nintendo or Sega console. He wasn't Mario or Sonic, but he was ours.

Thirty years after his first title, Sumo Digital Academy (an internship based in Sheffield) has built a remarkably faithful remake, essentially presenting the game as it was with some welcome tweaks to the gameplay, a surprising number of visual options and some fun modes to give this very old, very short game a new lease of life.

Arcana of Paradise - The Tower Nintendo Switch Review 6.5/10 “A game full of charm that just needs more variety” 🗼 @TheTowerEN #IndieGames #GameDev

I picked this game purely on the strength of its trailer and the interesting concept. Several children suffering from amnesia are stuck on top of a gargantuan tower, the top of the tower is in ruin and the kids are barely surviving, but in their minds lies a thought that if they can reach the bottom of the tower and escape - they will enter paradise. It’s an interesting set-up, so I was eager to play, I then learned it was a roguelike deck-builder, which are two words I understand but have never seen together, so I was excited to dive in.

Right out of the gate, Arcana of Paradise has a very ethereal feel thanks to its wonderful art style and gorgeous music. You feel you are in a strange - almost dreamlike - world, the combination of both really paints a vivid picture, and I was sucked into its vision very quickly. 

FURI OST Vinyl Review "Honestly, You Can't Fault Any Part Of This Album" 💿 @G4F_Records #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl

Furi is a combination of a twin-stick shooter and hack and slash, released on most platforms back in 2015 with all-around good review scores. 

This OST, released through G4F records, comes in a lovely silver-on-white gatefold version on double-coloured vinyl, one blue and one pink. 

The vinyl version is slightly cut down from the digital release for reasons of space, with some tracks edited to fit the runtime.

Soccer Supremos Play By Mail "I was Manager Of Norwich City In 1993" ⚽️ @SoccerSupremos

Back in my school days, there was a golden period of time in secondary school in the early 90s when I was manager of Norwich City and my star player was Kenny Irons. 

Norwich was a struggling club that didn’t have many good players in their ranks but one player that would consistently score for the Canaries in my tenure was Kenny. 

This led to me being phoned on a daily basis to be asked whether I would part with Kenny Irons as other managers (such as the Blackburn manager) were very keen to harness Kenny’s goal-scoring talent in a more suitable team.

I never gave in to the bids and I think my experience as a manager was better for it as I built my journeyman team around King Kenny and led them to mid-table mediocrity!