Why I Love The Games Master TV Show 🕹️ #RetroGaming

I grew up in the '80s and 90's so I was the perfect age for Games Master when it first aired on a cold and wet Tuesday in January 1992. I was at Secondary School and video games plus football is what I obsessed over. 

In 1992 I also owned my favourite video games console of all time, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. To say I was the target audience for the show would be an understatement! 

When episodes aired during the week on Channel 4 in the UK they were the talk of the playground the next day at school and boy did we talk about these episodes a lot. I used to tape every episode onto a blank VHS and watch it back over and over again. 

GoldenHeart PC Gameplay "RPG Old School Cool" 💀⚔️ #IndieGame #GameDev #GoldenHeart

Rich plays "Goldenheart" which is a retro-style fantasy adventure game that takes players on a journey through the mysterious desert realm of Tuldenorrea.

Developed by Millenniapede, this game combines exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat in a surreal, lore-rich world.

Players assume the role of an outsider, uncovering ancient secrets and navigating challenging terrains, from labyrinthine ruins to deep caverns.

The RootTrees Are Dead PC Gameplay "Genealogy Simulator 25" 🗺️📌 @roottreesgame #IndieGame #GameDev

Rich plays "The Roottrees Are Dead" which is a 90s retro inspired detective mystery game set in the late 1990s. 

Rich dives into a genealogical puzzle, piecing together the family tree of the Roottree Corporation after a tragic plane crash. 

With a billion-dollar inheritance at stake, Rich will use clues, evidence, and deduction skills to uncover hidden connections and solve a mystery or two.

101 Most Important Soccer Games Episode 6: LMA Manager [1999] ⚽ #RetroGaming

Rich takes on the 101 Most Important Soccer Video Games one by one.

Episode 6 sees Rich play the original 1999 LMA Manager on the PlayStation 1.

One the finest examples of a management game that lets you build your own football stadium whilst managing your team. 

A stone cold classic.

Vice: Magic City Mayhem PC Gameplay "Time To Katana!" 💙 @JurassicSunset #IndieGame #GameDev

Vice: Magic City Mayhem is an upcoming retro action-adventure game developed by Jurassic Sunset Games. 

It features a top-down 8-bit style inspired by classic games like Zelda, but with a Vice City theme. You play as Dutch, one of Magic City's most feared enforcers, on a quest to rescue your true love, Sophie. 

The game takes you through wild nightclubs, scenic beaches, and even raptor-infested yachts. The game promises a blend of intense combat, engaging puzzles, and a vibrant, humorous storyline. It's set to be released in 2025, and you can add it to your Wishlist on platforms like Steam and the Epic Games Store.

Rich Plays - "Murder Is Game Over: The Blackinton Curse" On PC 🐶🔎 @HitherYonGames #IndieGame #GameDev

Rich plays Murder is Game Over: The Blackinton Curse which is the fourth game in the series by HitherYon Games.

The story unfolds in the Berkshires at the Blackinton family home following the death of Meredith Blackinton.

The Angry Video Game Nerd 8bit ~ Rich Plays The PC Demo 🤓🕹️ @megacatstudios #IndieGame #GameDev #Retrogaming

The Angry Video Game Nerd (AVGN) is back in an 8-bit adventure! The game, titled "The Angry Video Game Nerd 8-Bit," is an action platformer inspired by classic side-scrollers like Mega Man. In this game, you play as The Nerd, battling through pixel art levels filled with zombies, mechanical skeletons, and other enemies from the AVGN universe.

Coridden PC Gameplay "Ride the beast!" ⚔️🦕 @aftnareld #IndieGame #GameDev

Rich plays Coridden which is an action-packed RPG where you can shapeshift into the beasts you defeat. You can play solo or with up to three friends in co-op mode. The game is set in a post-apocalyptic world where you uncover dark secrets in the legendary city of Aasha. You can switch between human and beast forms to utilize different strengths and skills.

Astronomics Early Access PC Gameplay "Asteroid Tourism" ☄️🚀 @AstronomicsGame @numizmatic #GameDev #IndieGame

Astronomics is an indie game developed by Numizmatic and published by Numizmatic as well. Released on February 10, 2025, it combines top-down action and space exploration with asteroid mining automation. 

In "Astronomics," players navigate their customizable starship to randomly generated asteroids passing by. The goal is to mine valuable resources and impress your employer, Cube Corporation, while upgrading equipment and fighting off pirates. The game features a mix of manual and automated mining, with players using tools like mining lasers and gravity tethers to extract resources. 

Set in the not-so-distant future, Earth has become prohibitively expensive to live on. Players take on the role of a miner trying to save up for a ticket back home by exploiting resources from asteroids. The game's narrative revolves around managing equipment, expanding your freighter, and dealing with the challenges of space capitalism.

Atomic Heart DLC : Enchantment Under The Sea [DLC3] PC Review "A wife in the hand is worth 3 in the bush?!" 🌊 @mundfish #IndieGame #GameDev

I've admired Atomic Heart from afar over the last couple of years with it featuring on my "Must Play" list for that time. With all the great games that have come out in that time Atomic Heart has been pushed to the back of my queue.

Now that I finally get a chance to cover the game through Games Freezer I am glad to say that I finally got to play it! Although, as I have been asked to cover the Enchantment Under The Sea DLC this means that I have committed a gamer crime by playing the 3rd DLC before I've even played the base game!

Someone may already be knocking on my door to take me away for such heinous crimes to gaming but for now I'm on the run and able to give you a review of my time with Atomic Heart: Enchantment Under The Sea.

Die In The Dungeon "It's Dicey To Go In The Dungeon" 🎲 @dieinthedungeon #IndieGame #GameDev

@thegamesfreezer Die In The Dungeon PC Game #indiegames #indiegame #pcgaming #pcgamer #pcgame #turnbased #deckbuilding #dicegame @dieinthedungeon ♬ 活着 (《산다는건》中文版) - 金润吉

 

Keep Driving PC Review 7.5/10 "The Crazy Gas Fuelled Adventures Of A Sedan!" 🚗 @YCJYgames #IndieGame #GameDev

Keep Driving from YCJY Games is a wonderful turn-based RPG that combines elements of road trips and roguelike mechanics, all wrapped up in a beautiful pixel art package of nostalgia and great music.

You play as a young driver who has just bought their first car around the early 2000s, and your main goal is to meet up with your friend at a music festival on the other side of the country within four weeks. Interestingly, the game features a procedurally generated world with various routes, 'shopping' stops and random encounters along the way.

"Games of a Lifetime" by Jaz Rignall > Book Review By Rich 📚📖 @JazRignall @bitmap_books

Growing up in the '80s and '90s and reading various video game magazines from the period meant that Jaz Rignall has always been a hero of mine. 

My first experience of Jaz's brand of video game journalism came through the much-thumbed pages of the Mean Machines monthly video game magazine in the early '90s. I remember my first purchase of Mean Machines magazine vividly. I bought Issue 7 of Mean Machines from local Happy Shopper branded newsagents with The Simpsons, complete with Homer strangling Bart, on the front cover as the headline stars of that month's magazine. 

Whilst reading the magazine from cover to cover I remember feeling like I had just become a part of a cool club of video games-loving pals. Jaz's writing and the rest of the Mean Machines staff writing (including Richard Leadbetter from Digital Foundry fame for example) was perfectly in sync with its audience. 

You knew you could trust the reviews from Mean Machines as they knew their onions and Jaz and the gang were independent. In a future issue, there would be a cover giveaway of a miniature Jaz Figure which I cherished for many years and in some ways added to Jaz's legendary status in my own video gaming world.

It's now 2025 and Jaz has put virtual pen to paper to chronicle his lifetime in gaming by writing this wonderful book called "Games of a Lifetime" by Jaz Rignall.

Eternal strands Ten Minute Taster "Who's Pulling The Strings?" 🧵 @YellowBrick_Qc #IndieGame #GameDev #EternalStrands

Rich plays Eternal Strands which is an action-adventure game developed and published by Yellow Brick Games. The game released on January 28, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S.

Britt reviewed it here 👇7.5/10

👉 https://www.gamesfreezer.co.uk/2025/01/eternal-strands-xbox-series-x-review.html

In the game, players control Brynn, a warrior on a quest to uncover the secrets of a long-lost civilization known as the Enclave. Brynn has the ability to manipulate elements and temperature using a magical cloak, which can be used to freeze or burn enemies, as well as alter the game's environment. The game features a third-person perspective and includes telekinetic powers that allow Brynn to perform feats such as hurling objects at enemies and constructing bridges using ice. Players will encounter nine distinct bosses throughout the game, each requiring unique strategies to defeat. Upon defeating a boss, players are rewarded with new magical abilities that can be used for exploration or combat. The game draws inspiration from titles like Shadow of the Colossus, Dragon's Dogma, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The development team aimed to create a game that makes players feel like a "fantasy superhero" with its physics-based combat system.

Under Defeat Nintendo Switch Review 7/10 "Get To The Chopper!" 🚁💥 @clearrivergames @claricedisc #RetroGaming

I've always been a sucker for helicopter video games. I love SWIV and I love Desert Strike and the Strike series of games.

Under Defeat is a classic helicopter based arcade shoot 'em up that has been given a new life on the Nintendo Switch. It was originally released in the arcades during2005 and has now been brought to the Switch by Clear River Games and City Connection. The idea here as ever is to bring both nostalgia and some modern enhancements for fans of the shmup genre.

Under Defeat is set in an alternate World War II era, where players take control of a helicopter pilot fighting against various enemy forces. The game features a unique shot-tilting angled mechanic that allows players to attack enemies from various different angles. As with most games in the SHMUP genre, the story is minimal and focuses more on the intense action, bullet dodging and strategic gameplay rather than a deep narratives and characters.

My First Hour With Steamworld Heist 2 On PC 🌊🤖 @SteamWorldGames #IndieGames #GameDev

@thegamesfreezer Steamworld Heist 2 Gameplay And First Impressions #lurkit #steamworldheist #indiegames #indiegame #indiegamedev #pcgaming #pcgames #thunderfulgames @thunderfulgames ♬ original sound - ❄️ Games Freezer ❄️

I first played Steamworld Heist on my Nintendo Switch last year and was instantly hooked! (although i nearly threw my switch out of the window on the last boss as it was MEGA hard and it made me feel like I was rubbish! (maybe I was) 

SteamWorld Heist 2 is a deserved sequel to a great game and builds upon the unique style and tactical depth of the original instalment which is sure to please anyone who liked the original Heist game. 

Keep Driving PC Gameplay "Those Pesky Road Sheep!" 🐏🚘 #IndieGame #GameDev

Keep Driving is an upcoming road trip RPG indie game developed and published by YCJY Games. Set in the early 2000s, the game immerses you in a nostalgic, pixel art world where you embark on a cross-country journey after buying your first car. The narrative is minimalist, focusing on the journey rather than a detailed plot.

As you travel, you'll manage essential resources like food and repair supplies, meet hitchhikers with unique stories, and face various roadblocks that require problem-solving using a light combat system. The game emphasizes storytelling through the journey itself, offering an immersive experience rather than traditional RPG mechanics.

The game is set to release on February 6, 2025.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins PS5 Review 8.5/10 "Battle Grows Where My Wanderlay Goes" 🪖⚔️ @koeitecmoeurope @s_sangokumusou

The last time I played a Dynasty Warriors game was Dynasty Warriors 2 on the PlayStation 2 around 25 years ago. Now at the time of playing it on the PS2, I loved it at first but after a while, the repetition wore away at my enthusiasm for it. In 2021 Dynasty Warriors 9 Empires was released but it came out to a lukewarm reception as it went down a more strategic route for the gameplay elements and this didn't seem to hit well with the target audience. 4 years on and we have a new Dynasty Warriors on the next-gen consoles and I'm glad to say it doesn't disappoint!

Rich's Video Games of the Year | "2024 was a year that surprised me month by month" 🗓️🎮 #GOTY

2024 was a year that surprised me month by month with some awesome Indie releases, some stellar AAA stuff and an old master that I finally got to grips with.

Sitting down to compile my GOTY list has been a pleasure and today I'd love to share it with you to see if there’s any gems in here (alongside a classic) that I can tempt you to try.

Dragon's Dogma 2 - The Organised Chaos RPG Award 🏆

I’d never played the original game and the premise of DD2 had me licking my lips in anticipation for an enormous RPG to get stuck into on my newly purchased PS5. DD2 did not disappoint. Every crevice I explored seemed to unveil something new for me to discover, whether that was a new enemy, a chest, a cave or an interesting building. I’ve piled lots of hours into this game and I'm yet to complete it. I’m determined to revisit and complete it in 2025 as I attempt to uncover the regions of the map

Tetris Forever - The Legend Of Henk & Alexey Award 🏆
I was drawn to this Digital Eclipse Gold Master release due to the fact that TETRIS is truly one of purest video games ever conceived and I was really interested to look at all the different releases across the years. When I began to dig into this TETRIS opus I was blown away by the story of Henk Rogers and Alexey Pajitnov and the interactive documentary became a must read/listen/watch page turner of a ‘game’. I love this series and I love TETRIS forever.

Drova Forsaken Kin - The Cilla Black Surprise Award 🏆
This game completely blind sided me and turned out to be one of the best video games of 2024. It’s an RPG that is steeped in a love for the genre and has that retro feel to it that takes you back to the classic RPGs where you are discovering a world and an IP for the first time. It’s a marvel of a video game made by a small team and I implore everyone to play this game today.

Indiana Jones - The Late In the Day Award 🏆
Indy films are my jam. I grew up watching them and punctuated my youth with visits to the cinema to watch them as soon as they were released. As the years have worn on I've lost the passion for the films since Crystal Skull and as far as Indiana Jones video games go, I'd settled for the fact that Uncharted was going to be the best effort since the beautiful Lucas Arts point and clicks. I therefore watched from afar as Machine Games prepared the Indiana Jones And The Great Circle video game but I was never really hyped by anything I'd seen pre release. I managed to get my hands on a copy upon release to check out what the latest offering would be like and WOW, just WOW! The game oozes class, the performances in the game are awesome. The puzzles are pitch perfect, the combat is so ‘Indy’ that I am relieved they didn’t just create a first person shooter/murder machine of a game. The game and the environments just feel alive and the locations are big enough to get lost in but never outstay their welcome. It only came out in early December but my word it grabbed the hat from underneath the falling stone door to give us the real next Indiana Jones movie!

GTAIV - The Best Game Of 2008 In 2024 Award 🏆
Somehow I had only managed to play up until GTAIII up until late 2024. The announcement of GTAVI had really peaked my interest in the franchise again and I picked up GTAIV on a Steam Sale price of about five pounds. I dropped it onto my Steam Deck and I was transported back to 2008 and was really surprised at how well it held up in 2024. The story swept me up into the world of Niko Bellic and I found myself becoming a resident of Resident Of Liberty City and getting caught up in all of its politics and personalities.

Stalker 2 - The Great Allure Of Radioactive Jank Award 🏆

The Stalker series passed me by in 2007, 2008 and 2009 as it was a PC game at a time when I was never a PC gamer. Looking back at the series now, it would have been right up on my list if I'd have been a PC gamer at the time. Then I got swept up in the Stalker 2 pre release story and I knew that I just had to play Stalker 2. Despite a really rough launch, I could see this game was special and as the devs resolve the issues the game gets better and better with it's depiction of life in The Zone.

 
Tiny Terrys Turbo Trip - The Keep Me Busy Award 🏆

For a game that's around 4 hours long this kept me busy doing fun stuff in this open world platformer that has an awesome art style and a music sense that compliments the game perfectly. It's the perfect example of an indie game that benefits from not over stretching itself and making sure that what it does, it does it well. Go make friends with Tiny Terry and i promise you won't regret it!

Yellow Taxi Goes Vroom - The Simple Pleasures Award 🏆

Hand crafted retro worlds are brought to life in this cool PS1 era style platformer that sees you trying to navigate the worlds without a jump button! It's a playground of video game fun that is a pleasure to pick up and play. Be warned though, it gets HARD and also at around 6 hours it does feel a little too long. 

Astrobot - The Pure Joy Award 🏆

If I was forced to pick one game from this list that had to take all the glory it would be Astrobot. It has everything I could ever want from a platformer and is probably the best example of one since the release of Super Mario Odyssey. The music is a delight, the platforming is on point, the various mechanics that are introduced through power up bring a smile to your face, the bots you rescue are now my family as I care for them back at the crash site like they were my own, the game is almost perfect. This is the game I would buy a PS5 for if I didn't already own a PS5 and I seriously can't wait for Team Asobi's next game on the PS5/PS6! Bravo Bravo Astro!

Ye Olde Honourable Mentions...

Indika - The Best Nun Sim Award 💙

You are a nun, you do nun things, go on a journey with the devil and see what happens...

Children of the Sun - The Psychadelic Bullet Cult Award💙

You are a sniper, you do sniper things, you control the bullets that you fire in bullet time, you are angry, you want to destroy a cult, go get a position on that hill and see what happens...

ALL WILL FALL PC Gameplay "Sometimes I Struggle With The Stairs" 🌊🏗️ @AllWillFallGame #IndieGame #GameDev

ALL WILL FALL, an innovative new city builder launching in 2025 on PC via Steam that combines the high-stakes survival colony sim management with pure physics-based pandemonium where every building can crumble under its weight. It’s like Jenga with human lives at stake! In a flooded post-apocalyptic world, you’ll construct and govern humanity’s last bastion the only way that remains: up!!

Stack buildings carefully while keeping real-world construction factors in mind, manage the needs of your people, and make tough decisions to keep your society and the city itself from collapsing. With various unique maps, objectives, and challenges to discover, there are always new heights to be reached and new tragedies to try to avoid.

STEAM LINK 🔗 https://store.steampowered.com/app/2706020/ALL_WILL_FALL_PhysicsBased_Survival_City_Builder/