Review: Gatekeeper

John Stalvey
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Review: Gatekeeper

When I first picked up Gatekeeper, I didn’t really know what to expect. I haven’t played many Roguelikes, and while I have a lot of respect for the genre, I just personally have never gotten around to them. Opening this game for the first time and starting a run was a bit intimidating, but after hours and hours of playing, Gatekeeper kept me engaged the whole way through, despite some hiccups in gameplay and accessibility.

The Heart of Time is waiting for you

Gatekeeper is developed by Gravity Lagoon and published by HypeTrain Digital. The game has you facing hordes of enemies as you fight to hunt down Chaos, who stole the Heart of Time. Before you begin your run, you will have the option to choose a character, with their own unique abilities and stats. Something that I really appreciate about this game is that it won’t shy away from giving you all the information you would need. You know everything about how your character, abilities, and items work, which keeps the gameplay as clear as possible. The character designs and art style are also immediately noticeable and fit the world very well. There’s so many cool enemy designs, and they all look unique!

Time to look at our Database and land!

The gameplay loop will have you entering a mission where you defeat enemies, pick up upgrades, and clear mission objectives. When you clear all the objectives and defeat a boss, you’ll be sent to a hub area to plan out and further optimize your build before going into the next mission. While some could see this as repetitive, the objectives changed enough to keep things interesting. I found the combat in this game to be really fun and engaging. Just mowing down hordes of enemies using my abilities and getting stronger feels good! However, the upgrades do start to feel less and less impactful the more runs I played. While there are a lot of different build options, after awhile it got hard to differentiate between styles of play.

Jumping over the Gate

While Gatekeeper is a game I enjoyed greatly, it does have a good amount of issues that hold itself back. I found a lot of the bosses to be big damage sponges that would take many minutes to kill. I understand that bosses need to be difficult, but the difficulty always felt like it came from big HP bars. While unlocking new characters helps, I could see myself getting bored of the general gameplay loop over time. The upgrades losing impact and the bosses definitely don’t help in this regard! Another issue I found with the game is one accessibility feature that seems fairly important. There’s no way to save your game in the middle of a run! With this game, runs easily last over an hour, so having at least an autosave would help a ton.

Worth it to reach the Throne Room?

Overall, I found Gatekeeper to be a really fun game with a rewarding system and satisfying gameplay. Even if there’s problems in bosses and upgrades, the core of the game works very well! As the developers continue updating the game, I hope they listen to feedback to make a better, well rounded experience. I absolutely see myself playing this game on my own time. This game is a great introduction to the Roguelike genre. It’s a simple game to understand, and has enough content to keep you engaged for quite awhile. While there’s some issues I had with the game, Gatekeeper has proved itself to be a really good time.

The impact of online betting on the motorsports industry

Andrew Edney
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The impact of online betting on the motorsports industry

Over the last twenty years, online betting has reshaped the sports ecosystem, and motorsports are no exception. What began as a niche passion has evolved into a dynamic, data-driven market where fans don’t just watch but also participate. This article examines how betting influences finances, broadcasting, audiences, and regulations in motorsports.

New financial opportunities for motorsports

The rise of online betting platforms over the past two decades has brought significant transformation to various branches of the sports industry, including motorsports. What was once a niche spectator activity has grown into a data-driven and interactive market where fans are not only viewers but also participants. With the inclusion of motorsports into the catalogue of betting markets, the industry has experienced notable shifts in its sponsorships, audience engagement dynamics, and regulatory considerations.

As online betting gained popularity, motorsports organizations and teams discovered an additional revenue stream by partnering with online bookmakers. This trend mirrors developments in other professional sports. Several betting companies are now visible through trackside advertisements, team sponsorships, and digital campaigns across racing series such as Formula 1, MotoGP, and various rally championships. For more insights on how betting platforms are integrating with motorsports, visit https://pirelliralli.com/.

These partnerships have enabled teams to secure additional funding, which is especially valuable for independent or lower-tier teams with limited access to traditional sponsors. In exchange, online betting platforms gain exposure to an international, tech-savvy audience. According to market assessments, this mutual benefit is often negotiated with value beyond the mere monetary, including promotional access and exclusive content rights.

Betting has also generated interest in specialized racing series beyond high-profile events. As more bookmakers include diverse racing formats in their offerings, series such as endurance racing or electric vehicle championships have seen increased visibility and engagement.

Digital broadcast integration and live engagement

One of the most visible impacts of online betting on motorsports lies in how fans consume race events. The integration of live betting options during races has altered traditional viewing patterns. Viewers are now encouraged to track split-timing data, pit stop strategies, and weather conditions in real time to make informed wagering decisions.

This shift has led event organizers and broadcasters to enhance the quality and detail of live statistical feeds. Race data is now presented in greater granularity, not only to enrich the experience for fans but also to support accurate odds calculations for betting platforms.

Interactive broadcasting formats, particularly through streaming services, allow fans to customize their viewing experience, accessing multiple camera angles and real-time analytics. These features tend to amplify viewer retention and session duration, which is highly valued in the commercial model of motorsports broadcasting. With growing digital interactivity, the lines between entertainment, strategy, and gambling continue to blur.

Changes in audience behavior and demographics

The availability of online betting has led to a diversification of motorsports’ fan base. While historically associated with core fans who follow manufacturer developments and drivers’ careers, the sport is now attracting viewers motivated by betting opportunities. These participants may not follow motorsports year-round but engage through platforms that allow predictions on outcomes ranging from podium finishes to fastest laps.

This evolution in audience behavior has required motorsports brands to adapt their content strategies. Social media campaigns, for example, are increasingly fine-tuned to include statistical insights, odds previews, and predictions, catering to casual bettors as well as avid fans.

Regulatory considerations and market variability

With the expansion of betting markets into motorsports, regulators across different jurisdictions have placed increasing scrutiny on potential risks, including integrity issues such as information leakage or race manipulation. Racing bodies have updated their codes of conduct to require disclosure of any betting activity by team members, drivers, or race officials, to prevent conflicts of interest.

Furthermore, the regulatory climate varies greatly from region to region. While some European countries permit broad integration of online betting within motorsport events, others restrict or prohibit such associations. This variability complicates global sponsorship strategies and introduces operational uncertainty for international organizers.

The application of strict guidelines for advertising and promotional campaigns ensures that partnerships between motorsports entities and betting operators comply with national standards. Organizers are also under pressure to ensure that betting elements do not overshadow the sporting elements or alter race outcomes by influencing strategic decisions.

Conclusion

The growth of online betting has had a measurable effect on the motorsports industry. It has diversified financial inputs, enriched fan engagement, and changed the media landscape. Despite challenges related to regulation and potential reputational concerns, the digital betting interface has brought motorsports into alignment with modern audience expectations. As both industries continue to evolve, their intersection is likely to deepen, creating a shared space of competition, interaction, and commercial expansion.

Review: Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2

Matt Cooper
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Review: Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2

It’s been four years since the first Hinokami Chronicles released and now Demon Slayer is back with the release of Hinokami Chronicles 2. Is this fighting adventure game worth your time? Or should it have stayed on the small screen?

A Goofy Good Time

I’ll be honest, right off the bat, I knew the title Demon Slayer but that was about it. I knew it was a hugely popular franchise in Japan but I never found the right time or entry point to dive into the series, until now. If you are new to the franchise like myself, the Demon Slayer games closely follow the manga and the anime. The main narrative focus of the franchise follows Tanjiro and Nezuko, whose family are murdered by demons and this results in Nezuko actually becoming a demon as well. Hell bent (great demon pun!) on revenge and avenging, the two have two goals: kill as many demons as possible and make Nezuko human again.

That’s the basis of all Demon Slayer content, simple yet satisfying. Where we pick up in Hinokami Chronicles 2 is directly after the events of the first game. If you were new to the series like myself, developers CyberConnect2 and publishers SEGA have implemented a wonderful quick fire recap of the events of the first game through the ‘Path Of The Demon Slayer’. This recap is a series of six fights which help to inform new players and refresh returning players of the events of the first game. This is a brilliant innovative way of recapping events instead of the bog standard cutscene.

As this game serves as an adaptation of the popular series, fans of the anime and manga will know the main story beats and nuances. The story begins in the Red Light Entertainment section and goes all the way through to the Hashira Training. Tanjiro along with sidekicks Inosuke and Zenistu are in these locations to do what they do best – uncover the demons and eradicate them. As mentioned, this game is a pure adaptation and that shows in the story, as the plot moves at a rapid pace, trying to shoehorn in major plot points fans have read and watched previously.

The pacing is brisk and coupled with the fighting gameplay, is perfectly pitched but it does mean players miss out on the more intricate character building. I would have liked to see more dialogue in between fights with the characters to further understand their emotions and motives. Still, the story of Hinokami Chronicles 2 is a rip roaring adventure of characters willing to stop at nothing to achieve their goal. Coupled with superbly animated cutscenes and a brilliant English or Japanese dubbed audio, fans of the series will feel right at home with this tale.

Player In the Arena

Hinokami Chronicles 1 at its core was a fun, engaging arena fighter designed for fast paced combat and the sequel follows that style beat for beat. It’s clear developers CyberConnect2 knew they had a good formula and didn’t want to alter it too much. If you’re unfamiliar with these games, they are simple on the surface level but grow in complexity the more you dive in. You have two fighters on each side across a multitude of levels and set pieces. You have a basic attack you can morph into skill attacks, a standard dodge and a block. There are some solo battles but for the most part, this game is a tag game of two on two. This feels smooth and responsive, making combat extremely fast paced and fluid. It’s a blast! The complexity in gameplay emerges in the combos you can execute, along with the surge and skill meters which require the meter to be fully filled in order to complete powerful finishers or moves. Boss battles act as the culmination of this complexity and require you to access the full skill set of your arsenal in order to prevail.

In between all the fighting and the cutscenes, you can walk around and explore the world, converse with other characters and find clues or even demons themselves using Demon Slayers‘ version of a detective mode. Whether it’s Tanjiro’s smell or Zenitsu’s hearing, the same gameplay mechanic follows; you activate the ability, follow the path and claim your discovery. Simple, yet satisfying. You can also find collectibles and stat points to unlock rewards for characters. At launch, the game sports a roster of over 40 different characters; a massive upgrade from the 18 of the previous title. And yes, you can finally run in the exploration areas now as opposed to the painstaking walking sections fans had complained about in the first game. There are also some side quests and mini games which help slow down the frenetic pace of the story and allow some introspection into characters, albeit not enough. Overall, this is a superbly robust and in-depth story mode that can keep you invested for hours.

When the credits have rolled in the single player campaign, there is still much to discover. Hashira Training is a roguelite for players where you choose a team and guide them down a board, choosing battles with modifiers and conditions. Unfortunately, your health doesn’t regenerate so this is truly for the hardcore fans of the series. Like the previous game, local and online versus mode return, but be warned, this isn’t for the faint-hearted, I consistently got my ass handed to me by much better players. Ouch! My only real complaints about gameplay revolve around the gear system and a lack of tutorial. The gear system is a system allowing you to add up to three slots of gear to boost attacks or recover health but it’s so weak it really didn’t feel like it helped much at all. It just felt like a last minute addition to the game.

Straight Off The Page And Screen

To describe Demon Slayer The Hinokami Chronicles 2 visually isn’t a tough job because man, it’s incredible. If someone were to tell me this was ripped straight from the anime itself, I wouldn’t argue. This animation is some of the best I’ve ever seen in regards to bringing anime to life. Each character looks stunning as they all drip in detail and expression. Each location and fighting stage looks breath-taking and the transitions between gameplay and cutscenes is something to truly marvel at. Character fighting animations are top notch and boldly capture the feel of the show and bring it to life in the video game medium which is outstanding. The explosion of colour during fights is something to behold. CyberConnect2 clearly revere the franchise and have made sure this game is of the highest quality in visual and animation fidelity. Bravo!

Similarly, the sound design and musical score aim high and they do deliver – mostly. As previously mentioned, the voiceover work in both Japanese and English adds emotional weight to each character’s journey and helped me connect to their struggles more. It’s just a shame there are far too many reused voice lines in the exploration moments outside of combat. The sound design is solid across the board through every attack, counter dodge and block. You can really hear the characters’ exhaustion and exertion during fights. Finally, the musical score is just a real treat. The score captures the frenetic pace of the gameplay through powerful orchestral tracks that splice in booming percussion, all blended with an anime melody that sounds so good!

Verdict

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 is a tour de force in how to bring anime into the gaming space. A compelling faithful retelling of a story fans love, superb combat and stunning visual and audio design make this game a really special experience. Whilst the lack of additions may upset some returning players, along with the weak gear system, there’s still so much fun to be had in this game. You can really feel the love and care the developers have poured into this sequel! See you in the arena!

CSGO Gambling in 2025: The Evolution of Skin Betting

Christopher John
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CSGO Gambling in 2025: The Evolution of Skin Betting

Introduction  

The Counter-Strike franchise has always been more than just a competitive shooter—it’s a cultural phenomenon. One of the most intriguing aspects of this culture is csgo gambling, which has grown from simple skin trades to a multi-million-dollar industry.  

In 2025, the gambling ecosystem around CS:GO continues to thrive, adapting to new technologies and regulations while maintaining its core appeal: risk, thrill, and the potential for big wins. From skin-based casinos to case battles and jackpot systems, players are drawn to the excitement. This article explores how CSGO gambling has evolved and what players should expect going forward. 

1. The Origins of CSGO Gambling  

The roots of csgo gambling date back to 2013, when skins were introduced as cosmetic items. Players quickly realized these items had monetary value, sparking trading sites and informal betting. Soon after, specialized platforms began offering roulette, coinflip, and jackpot systems using skins as currency.  

By 2016, the gambling scene was massive, attracting millions of players worldwide. Although Valve cracked down on unregulated sites, demand never faded. Instead, platforms grew more sophisticated, offering transparency and security. This early foundation is crucial to understanding why skin betting remains popular today—it’s not just about winning money, but also about the unique connection between gameplay, item ownership, and chance. 


2. Popular CSGO Gambling Formats in 2025  

Modern csgo gambling platforms have diversified beyond simple betting. Today, players can enjoy a wide variety of formats: 

  • · Roulette & Crash: Fast-paced betting games where players can multiply their stakes instantly. 
  • · Case Battles: Competing against others in opening CS2 or CS:GO cases for higher-value drops. 
  • · Jackpot Systems: Contributing skins to a pool where one lucky winner takes all. 
  • · Esports Betting: Placing wagers on professional CS:GO and CS2 tournaments, now integrated with live match data. 

These formats combine entertainment with high risk, so casual players can play and seasoned gamblers can get a thrill. Many platforms now have crypto payments, faster withdrawals and provably fair systems to build trust with players. As the ecosystem grows, variety and fairness are key to attracting and retaining users. 

3. Why Players Engage in CSGO Gambling  

The attraction of csgo gambling lies in psychology as much as entertainment. Players are captivated by the thrill of chance—the possibility of turning a modest skin into something rare and valuable. Skins carry both financial and emotional weight, as they reflect personal style and in-game identity. For many, gambling adds another layer of excitement to Counter-Strike, extending the fun beyond gameplay itself. 

Streamer culture plays a big role too. Popular influencers stream high stakes case battles and jackpot wins, creating viral moments that make people want to try their luck. The social aspect – competing against others, watching live wins and celebrating rare drops – makes gambling feel like community entertainment. It’s not just about the profit but the risk, fun and being able to show off rare items. 

4. Risks and Challenges in CSGO Gambling  

While exciting, csgo gambling carries significant risks. The odds of landing high-value skins are extremely low, leading many players to overspend in hopes of winning big. Gambling addiction is a real danger, especially among younger audiences drawn in by flashy marketing and streamer influence. 

Another concern is security. Not all platforms are legit and history has seen scams, rigged systems and delayed withdrawals. Players also need to be careful about underage gambling as regulators are cracking down on this. 

The financial risks can get out of hand fast – skins worth thousands can disappear in a single lost bet. That’s why responsible gambling, transparency and verified platforms are more important than ever in 2025. Players need to balance entertainment with awareness of these risks. 

5. The Future of CSGO Gambling  

The future of csgo gambling is closely tied to technology and regulation. Blockchain integration is already making games more transparent, allowing players to verify fairness in real time. AI-driven tools are also being used to predict betting patterns and promote responsible play. 

The rise of Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) has opened up new opportunities for case battles and esports betting, merging both old and new economies. Stricter regulations are ensuring compliance with age restrictions and increasing security on licensed sites. Platforms that can adapt while maintaining thrill will dominate the market. 

Conclusion  

csgo gambling  has grown from niche skin trades to a global industry that blends gaming, entertainment, and high-stakes excitement. Its popularity stems from the unique value of skins, the thrill of competition, and the social buzz created by streamers and communities.  

Yet, players must remain cautious—financial risks and unregulated sites can undermine the fun. As the industry matures, transparency, regulation, and responsible gambling will define its future. For those who play wisely, CSGO gambling remains an exhilarating extension of the Counter-Strike universe, combining chance, strategy, and digital ownership in a way few other games can match. 

Review: Equate 8: A Math Puzzle Game

Natosha M
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Review: Equate 8: A Math Puzzle Game

Equate 8: A Math Puzzle Game is a new title from the creator of The Devil’s Calculator that challenges you to build a masterpiece out of numbers. You’re presented with a 3×3 grid, a set of numbered tiles, and the challenge to make eight equations—three across, three down, and two diagonal—all work at the same time. While the themed graphic style is clean and lovely to look at, the actual gameplay is difficult and requires a lot of patience to figure out. It’s not one of those games that you can easily jump into, but if you love a good challenge, it can be a very rewarding experience.

The Simple, Smart Gameplay (and Why It’s Tricky at First)

The main goal is to rearrange numbers and a variety of math symbols to solve the eight equations in the 3×3 grid. This is not an easy game to master so quickly. It’s a real brain teaser that gets you to think about numbers in a new way. You have to be strategic with every move, because the game keeps a tally, encouraging you to go for a gold medal by solving it in the fewest moves possible.

For a new player, the game can feel slightly confusing and difficult to understand right away. The simple goal of “rearranging numbers” doesn’t quite capture the complex process involved. You can spend a lot of time just figuring out the best way to start, and one wrong move can throw off your entire grid. While you do get a bronze medal just for finishing, the pressure to get a better score adds to the difficulty. I found myself feeling stuck and slightly frustrated, but once I finally solved a puzzle, the feeling of accomplishment was huge. The game does try to help with this. You can try Easy Mode, which automatically locks a number when it’s in the correct place, but this mode is only available for a limited number of sequences.

A Haven of Relaxation

Even though the game can be tough, it’s not a stressful race against a timer. There is no countdown clock, which is a huge relief. This means you can take as long as you need to think through a puzzle, which is a big plus since the puzzles are so challenging. The game doesn’t rush you or make you feel bad for taking your time. I appreciated being able to sit and just focus on the puzzle without any external pressure. However, the difficulty itself can be a source of stress. Sometimes, I would get so stumped that I’d have to put the game down and come back to it later. It’s a good kind of stress, though—the kind that makes you feel smart when you finally figure it out.

Adorable Looks and Gentle Sounds

The game’s visual style is a pure delight. The graphics are clean and simple, with a nice themed style that is easy on the eyes. The numbered tiles and symbols have a friendly, almost bouncy feel to them, making the whole game have an endearing charm. It’s not just a puzzle game; it’s a world of cute numbers and shapes that are just waiting for you to play with them. The animations are also super smooth. When a puzzle is solved, the pieces lock into place with a satisfying little flourish that makes you feel good about your accomplishment.

On the other hand, the music is very minimal. There’s not a lot to it, which can be a little disappointing if you were hoping for a rich soundtrack to accompany the game. The sound effects are very pleasant, though, with a soft click when you place a tile and a cheerful chime when you solve a puzzle. These small audio details reinforce the game’s relaxing vibe and make the whole experience feel like a fun and rewarding adventure, even if the background music isn’t that memorable.

The Joy of Learning Math

This is where the game truly shines. It isn’t just a puzzle game; it’s a fantastic teaching tool disguised as pure fun. By playing, a person can build and strengthen their understanding of basic math skills. Instead of simply being given a math problem to solve, the player gets to see how numbers and symbols work together in different ways. They might learn that 2 + 6 = 8, but also that 4 × 2 = 8, or even that 16 ÷ 2 = 8. It’s a great way to see that math is full of possibilities, not just one single correct path. Equate 8 is a fun casual game for all ages, whether practicing math skills or engaging brainpower.

I personally found that the game helped me with my mental math. I was constantly thinking about different ways to get to a number, and after a while, my brain just started to see the connections faster. It’s a natural, easy way to get better at math, and I think that’s why it’s so perfect for young people. It makes a subject that can sometimes be difficult feel fun and easy to approach, after you get a hang of how to play.

Growing with the Game

The game does a great job of growing with the player. You can acquire “streaks” tokens by playing the daily puzzle. These tokens can then be exchanged for Challenges, which are packs of themed puzzles. The daily puzzle gives players a free way to play and unlock content. The difficulty gradually increases, which keeps the game interesting without ever being frustrating. It makes you feel smart and capable, and it makes you want to keep playing to see what other clever puzzles the game has in store. The game is short, but its replayability is high because you can always go back and try to find a different way to solve a puzzle.

A Final Thought on a Puzzling Gem

In the end, Equate 8: A Math Puzzle Game is more than just a game; it’s a cozy and clever math adventure. Its personal touch, from the charming graphics to the relaxing feel and the wonderful lack of timers, makes it a true gem in the world of mobile games. It’s a refreshing change from titles that are constantly trying to get you to spend money or rush through the gameplay. This game is all about the pure fun of solving a puzzle and the simple joy of learning. For anyone who loves a good brain teaser or wants a stress-free way to get better at math, this game is a perfect choice. It’s a lovely, simple, and truly wonderful experience. The creator has also included that every donation supports the mission of Cinq-Mars Media, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to develop educational games, which are always provided free to teachers and students.

Review: Ra Ra Boom

Saim Khurshid
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Review: Ra Ra Boom

It was a great run for Ra Ra Boom, but you can only go so far copying grandpa’s homework. I love Streets of Rage and many other games of the genre, but without a significant difference or a story worth investing in, I fear this one is just my cup of tea.

Developed and published by Gylee Games, Ra Ra Boom is a colourful, 4-player local co-op Brawler/beat ‘em up with hand-drawn art and voice acting.

There are many games in the genre of beat ‘em ups, but very few are available for purchase. That is what you call a paradox. Let me clear it up… Ra Ra Boom, in my time going through it, felt like nothing more than a beat ’em up. I fear that in a world filled with so many options, it is just another name, I won’t be going back to.

Police Mom Boom

The story of Ra Ra Boom follows a group of badly dressed young Female Robo Cops, who are training to take the streets and abuse their power… or try to be good cops. 

This happens in the form of some side-scrolling roughhousing, frequently interrupted by hand-drawn and beautifully voiced cutscenes that add charm, personality, and a fleeting sense of depth.

The game quite literally opens with the protagonists being drilled on how to combat both robots and lowlife criminals. A stern senior officer storms into class, yanks them from their desks, and throws them straight into the chaos of live training. 

After a brisk tutorial that doubles as a crash course in survival, you’re pushed headfirst into the streets and scrapyards of Ra Ra Boom, ready to dish out stylish, side-scrolling beat ’em up action.

The way of the Boom

The team punches with impact, chaining together quick jabs, heavy finishers, and the kind of screen-clearing specials that feel like setting off fireworks in a junkyard. There’s speed in the movement, a sense of weight in the blows, and plenty of colour bursting off every punch.

Each stage plays like a parade of punching bags dressed as robots and criminals, feeding into that familiar loop of clear-the-room, move forward, repeat.

Ra Ra Boom swings hard with that old-school, side-scrolling rhythm, straight-line mayhem, fists flying, enemies tumbling across the screen… 

The game looks like it wants to reinvent the fight. With modern effects, smooth animation, and a Saturday morning cartoon energy. Sadly, beneath the flash, it’s the same dance step we’ve all rehearsed since Streets of Rage.

Final Thoughts

Ra Ra Boom is a polished package, no question about it. The visuals are slick, the hand-drawn cutscenes show care, and the voice work adds a spark of personality you don’t always see in this corner of the genre. 

On presentation alone, the game wears its best uniform and marches confidently onto the field. But the trouble is that, once the talking stops and the fists start flying, it doesn’t manage to break formation.

There’s comfort in the old rhythm. Walk forward, clear the screen, repeat, but comfort alone doesn’t carry a game in 2025. 

We’ve had decades of beat ’em ups, revivals, and reinventions, and the bar is higher than ever. Ra Ra Boom doesn’t stumble so much as it stands still, happy to echo classics without carving its own identity.

That said, if this is your only option, it is a decent game with functioning systems. You can play with up to four friends, and it supports Steam Remote Play. As for me… Well, the Steam page says casual pick and play. Frankly, I’d rather pick and play something else.

A Closer Look at Brick Like This!

Andrew Edney
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A Closer Look at Brick Like This!

Here we take a closer look at Brick Like This! from Asmodee.

Brick Like This! is the fun and fast-talking LEGO party game for family and friends where teams race to build LEGO models. But there’s a twist, only one person in the team knows what the model should look like! Level up with the Challenge Cards and build with your eyes closed or with only one hand. Each round, get the model right and finish first to score the most points!

In Brick Like This, players form teams of two to eight. Each round, one player (the Instructor) receives a secret Shape card depicting a small structure made with LEGO bricks. That player must describe the shape (without showing the card) while the Builder attempts to recreate it using the kit’s 48 LEGO bricks and verbal instructions only.

The first team to complete the correct build shouts “Brick” to win the round. Other teams can continue building for points before the timer runs out. The game plays over six timed rounds. To keep things exciting, Challenge cards may be added to restrict speech, require one-handed building, or introduce other twists that raise the difficulty level. At the end of all six rounds, the team with the most points is declared the winner.

Brick Like This! from Asmodee is available now priced around £19.99 and is aimed at ages 7 and up. You can have between 2 and 8 players and each game lasts around 15 minutes and is a lot of fun!

Review: Artis Impact

Jordy Matias
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Review: Artis Impact

Set in a world where humans and artificial intelligences are part of the same world. However, many AIs are very hostile towards humans. In Atris Impact, you play as Akane with her AI companion, Bot, to deal with issues pertaining to lethal AIs. This turn-based RPG has you working with and fighting against other AIs to protect humankind. Explore a vibrant town with many events, shops, and NPCs to interact with. As well as experiencing a story that goes over the conflicts between man and machine. 

Cutting Through the Gameplay

Artis Impact is a simple turn-based RPG, but despite that, the animations and flow of battles keeps it interesting. There’s your standard HP and MP, with the added TP gauge. The TP is pretty simple in that it fills every time you attack or get attacked by an enemy. Afterwards you can spend the TP gauge to unleash devastating attacks. A unique aspect of the battle system though is that the more MP or TP you spend, the stronger your attacks are. For MP-based arts, they usually cost around half of your current MP. That usually means you can open up with a high-damaging art and replenish your MP as you progress through the battle.

The customization is also quite plentiful with what you can do. Equipment is pretty standard with what you can wear and the effects that they have, but when moving onto the things such as weapons and your companion, Bot, that’s when the game starts to open more to the player. Individual weapons that you acquire throughout the game’s story can be transfused with specific elemental affinities. These can range from status effects to more damage on your attacks. Bot by default has a standard healing skill that it’ll use every turn. After picking up certain augments for Bot, you can customize Bot’s skills for offensive and defensive purposes. You can build yourself and Bot in various ways to synergize with each other’s equipment and skills.

The World of Humans and AI

As previously mentioned, the world of Artis Impact features an imbalance between humans and AIs. Though this sentiment only applies towards the hostile ones you fight. In the main town, some humans and AIs live together peacefully. Interacting with either human or AI provides useful services to the player. The town is filled with various shops for healing items and equipment. Along with that, you can engage in other activities such as using the gym to build stats, go to a contractor to improve your home, etc.. There’s even side quests and unique events that occur depending on when and where you are in the game’s story. One instance of this happening to me during my play was that I was walking through the back alley area with a lot of money till I was stopped by some street thugs. They tried to steal my money, but in a comedic fashion, Akane gives them the money to the thugs’ confusion. It’s events such as these that give this game a unique world and personality.

Stellar Presentation

For those who love sprite and animations, this game’s visuals will catch the attention of those people. One of my favorite aspects of the game are the cutscenes. Not every cutscene uses the traditional textbox when characters are speaking. Often the game will cut to drawings of said characters talking. This can be presented as a fullscreen drawing or off to the side. It feels like the cutscenes are being presented to me in a manga format.

As for the animations, there’s plenty of them. No matter what action you take, there will always be a small window box showing animation of what you interacted with. It can be as simple as turning on a faucet or seeing Akane jam her sword into the weapon upgrade table. This is one of the game’s more charming aspects.

Final Thoughts

Artis Impact is an engaging RPG with a rich story and gorgeous visuals. My time with the game so far has been great and I am eager to reach the end to see how the story concludes. If you enjoy RPGs, I would highly recommend this game. From where I’m at, I believe I’m almost nearing the end of the game so it’s not super long if you prefer shorter RPGs.

Review: Knightica

Saim Khurshid
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Review: Knightica

Attaching strategic combat to a game about buying and selling makes Knightica for me. From the outset, it is not about how you will fight, but rather what is the most financially viable way to enter this fight and still be capable of fighting the next one.

Developed by Mad Mango Games and published by Goblinz Publishing and WR Games, Knightica is a real-time tactical Rogue-like strategy autobattler.

I really enjoy it when a game brings something unique to the table. Especially in a genre as overcrowded as roguelike or roguelite. The combination of a shop system that directly impacts gameplay with a grid-based combat style adds a refreshing twist. It might even succeed in distracting from the fact that there isn’t much of a story-driven reason to keep playing.

Grid Knights

As I have said a few times now, the gameplay of Knightica involves shopping. 

You start Knightica with some coins and are shown a shop filled with characters to buy. In front of you, there is a grid that you must place your characters on for the battle. You can also buy upgrades or increase the number of grids.

After you place your characters, choosing their location and rotations, the game starts. 

You do not control characters in battles in Knightica. Like Command and Conquer or Age of Empires, they fight by themselves. The victor is determined when one side remains alive. 

If you win, you are rewarded and continue to the next fight(health regenerated), and if you lose, then some of your heart points are deducted. If you run out of health points, Game Over. 

Before a round starts, you get another go at the shop from where you can buy new characters or upgrade old ones. The quality of characters gets better as you proceed, so do not get too attached to a character, as you might end up needing to sell them later.

Quarries of the day

While gameplay is good, a lack of internal story or reason makes play sessions feel overbearing after a while. Without story hooks or progression beyond the mechanics themselves, the appeal risks flattening.

I remember loving Shogun Showdown (another game published by Goblinz Publishing), and it was mostly because after every successful round, you were rewarded not just with tougher enemies or better abilities, but with more pieces of the plot. Each victory felt meaningful, carrying a sense of narrative progression that pushed me forward, eager to uncover what came next.

So with nothing except more gameplay to fight for, I fear that over time the desire to play would diminish. 

Saying that, I still am enjoying Knightica, and might do so for a long time in the future.

Fit for a Knight

Knightica feels like a clever experiment that manages to stand out in a genre crowded with copy-paste mechanics.

Its fusion of resource management and tactical grid combat is engaging enough to keep you tinkering with builds, rethinking strategies, and wondering how far your coins can stretch before the next big fight. 

It’s the kind of game that rewards players who enjoy optimisation and clever planning, rather than button-mashing or twitch reflexes.

That said, its biggest weakness remains the lack of a driving narrative. A roguelike can certainly survive on pure gameplay alone, but when you’re competing against titles that weave narrative into every run, the absence is noticeable.

Still, I find myself coming back. There’s a meditative quality in browsing the shop, weighing risks, and setting up the perfect formation that scratches an itch few games do. 

Maybe Knightica could carve out a larger niche for itself. For now, it’s a refreshing, strategic spin on the roguelite formula that’s worth keeping an eye on.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown Review

Isaac King
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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown Review

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT): Tactical Takedown is a turn-based strategy spin on the fan-favourite turtles, for the first time in video game history, from developers Strange Scaffold.

Set against the backdrop of a neon-drenched New York under siege by the Foot clan, Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo must fight through waves of enemies to reclaim their city. The turtle band of brothers feel like ninjas, covertly slipping through enemy patrols, using cover, and coordinating attacks with precision.

Gameplay

TMNT: Tactical Takedown features a grid-based combat system, combined with elements of board games, as character models will fall off the ‘board’ or the grid, like a board game figurine falling off the table.

Tactical Takedown features familiar systems and odes to modern tactics games, like XCOM.

Similar game mechanics, turn based combat, destructible cover, often one of the favourite turtles will be surrounded by Foot clan goons and the player must plan their next move carefully, either attack, or retreat.

Each turtle boasts distinct abilities—Leo’s leadership buffs allies, Donnie hacks tech for battlefield control, Raph thrives in solo skirmishes, and Mikey weaponises chaos with unpredictable flair.

Missions range from stealthy infiltrations to rooftop rumbles, enemy AI sometimes slip into predictable patterns, but boss fights require strategic finesse.

Progression and Customisation

Between missions, the player can manage each turtle’s skill tree, allowing for players to tailor their play-style to their taste. 

Raph can either double down on raw offence against the Foot Clan; and Donnie can specialise in crowd control or tech support. 

The differences between playable turtles allows for more diverse gameplay, players will soon find who their favourite is.

Side missions are available, which flesh out lore and offer extra XP. 

However, this side content can lean into becoming repetitive, with objectives like: “clear this alley.” The main campaign maintains a healthier variety and stronger pacing.

Visuals and Audio

Tactical Takedown taps straight into nostalgia without feeling dated.  Visually, this game opts for a crisp, comic-inspired aesthetic.

The environments range from rain-slick rooftops to neon-lit back alleys, or graffiti-tagged subways, which increases immersion into the world of the TMNT.

These immersive visuals are paired with an 80s style synth and hip-hop beats soundtrack underlaying gameplay.Tactical Takedown taps straight into nostalgia without feeling dated.  Visually, this game opts for a crisp, comic-inspired aesthetic.

The environments range from rain-slick rooftops to neon-lit back alleys, or graffiti-tagged subways, increasing player immersion into the world of the TMNT.

These immersive visuals are paired with an 80s style synth and hip-hop beats soundtrack underlaying the gameplay.

‘Cowabunga!’

Tactical Takedown won’t dethrone the gaming heavyweight triple A games, but it doesn’t need to. This instalment into the turtles is a fan-friendly and original turn-based spin on the beloved Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. For strategy newcomers, Tactical Takedown is accessible; and for genre veterans, it is a palate-cleanser with nostalgia and fun.

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