Return To The Wild Review (Music from Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild) 💿 @RoPanuganti

Like Breath of the Wild? Like prog rock? If you do, then metal musician Ro Panuganti has an album for you. 

Hailing from Raleigh, South Carolina, USA, Return to the Wild is the second in his series of rearranged Legend of Zelda music, with this album running the gamut from the blues rock of Tarrey Town to the wailing prog of Awaken.

Gigantosaurus: Dino Kart XSX Review 6.5/10 "A Simple Racer, Perfect For Hatchlings" 🦖 @3DClouds @Outright_Games #IndieGames #GameDev

Based on the French educational TV series Gigantosaurus, Gigantosaurus: Dino Kart puts the main characters of Rocky, Bill, Tiny, and Mazu – along with a  host of their friends – into various pre-historic kart-type vehicles and sets them speeding around their world through 15 different tracks, avoiding hazards such as steam blasts, chasms, rockslides and, of course – Giganto himself!

Gigantosaurus: Dino Kart is a game aimed at very young children, as is its TV show counterpart. So straight off the bat, it’s worth getting out of the way that this title – even on its hardest difficulty setting – isn’t going to be a challenge for those adult karting veterans out there.

That said, the way in which Gigantosaurus: Dino Kart caters to the younger demographic is impressive and made it possible for even my two-year-old to have enormous fun joining in the races.

Homebody | Xbox Series X | Review | 8/10 | “With Death Comes Knowledge” 🔪 @HomebodyGame @Rogue_Co @GameGrumps #IndieGames #GameDev

Homebody is the newest game from the YouTube channel Game Grumps and Rogue Entertainment, the game is a psychological horror with fixed camera angles, retro graphics and a love for some good old-fashioned puzzle solving.

Trepang 2 PC Gameplay: Ten Minute Taster "Where's That Vent!?!" 💥 @TrepangStudios #IndieGames #GameDev

Watch Rich attempt to become the ultimate badass in Trepang2: A gory, action-packed FPS set in the near future.

Unleash all hell on your enemies, dodge bullets and leave a trail of destruction in this hardcore and frenetic shooter.

Raging Bytes XSX Review 7.5/10 "A Byte-Sized Zombie Adventure" 🧟🧟‍♂️🧟‍♀️ @KEMCO_OFFICIAL @KEMCOGLOBAL

I feel like there will always be a place in my life for simple, turn-based JRPGs with 16-bit styled, top-down visuals. I’m not hot on the whimsy and light fantasy that a lot of the releases in the genre seem to focus on, but when a game instead has a grittier cyberpunk/steampunk/horror aesthetic my trousers instantly begin twirling in anticipation - as if they are a cane in the hands of song and dance man mid-performance in the 1920’s - as they did here upon initially seeing the trailer for KEMCO’s Raging Bytes a few weeks ago – and as always, my trousers were correct. (always trust the trouser - Ed)

Wobbledogs Nintendo Switch Ten Minute Taster Gameplay "Pupating Dogs" 🐶 @thomasastle #IndieGames #GameDev

 
Wobbledogs is A 3D pet simulation where you raise your own personal hive of mutating dogs, physically simulated all the way down to their guts! Wobbledogs is a casual and chill sandbox for players of all ages who want to care for their very own virtual pets in a surprising, unique, and stress-free environment.

🐶

Centipede: Recharged Nintendo Switch Review 7/10 "Still rooted in the fundamental gameplay mechanics that made its predecessor a classic" 🐛 @RetroGamersClub #RetroGaming #IndieGames #GameDev

If you’re a fan of classic arcade games, there’s a good chance you remember the iconic game Centipede. Originally developed by Atari in 1980, this game has stood the test of time and continues to be popular with gamers of all ages. 

Now, more than 40 years later, Centipede has been reimagined in the new game Centipede Recharged, and it offers a fresh take on this classic title.

Unheard: Voices Of Crime Nintendo Switch Ten-Minute Taster Gameplay 💬 @UnheardTheGame #IndieGames #GameDev

 
I step into the darkened room and begin to hone in on my powers of deduction in this innovative take on detective work that has me eavesdropping on conversations to get both sides of the story to solve the mystery. 

What if you could hear every word spoken at the scene of a crime? “Acoustic Detectives” wanted for testing our new device! Return aurally to crime scenes and use the voices you hear to identify potential suspects and solve the mysteries. What is it that’s connecting these seemingly unrelated cases?

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.