The Severed Gods Steam Review

The Severed Gods was sent my way by Topebox Games, which I always appreciate. Many of yoy may remember me checking out the demo a while back and speaking quite highly of it. One of my favorite things about what I do is getting to see games go from concepts to demos to finished projects. A few times I have been disappointed; others, they have been amazing; mostly they just kind of land in the middle. The Severed Gods, however, falls into that category that scared me at first.

See, the day they sent me this one, I excitedly downloaded it, booted it up, started playing, hit the battles, and took my turn. And then the enemy stood there. This happened twice. So I did all the usual tech stuff, made sure it wasn’t my system while I uninstalled and reinstalled it, and checked to see if anyone else had this issue. Turns out, it was quite common.

Woke up the next morning to see an update. Please be the fix. Answer a couple of emails, start the game. Battle starts, slaughter the first couple of enemies. Ok, so far so good; run into the same enemy type that froze yesterday a bit later than last night. The true test, and it worked just fine. Quickly fixed the issue.

The game is a typical turn-based RPG at its heart; enemies are weak or strong against certain attacks, use these to break their guard, and when you do, keep using them to do more damage. Attack high, mid, or low to make sure your attacks hit, and if you don’t have one at that level, don’t worry; they can still hit, it just becomes a lower chance. I’ve won entire early boss battles without the right level of attack.

My only real issue with the game is that getting new attacks and healing items can be a bit rough at first, so there is some losing involved until you can gather enough points to get the permanent upgrades that allow you to do so. I feel like they sort of leaned a little heavily into the roguelike aspect instead of the RPG aspect for that. Admittedly, that could just be me; the game is an 8/10 regardless and well worth the $15. More importantly, they have openly said the price will increase when it leaves early access, but they intend to add more characters, special villages, and an entire subclass system, so getting in now would be the best way to save money on a game you may want later anyway. Best wishes, and may the gaming gods bring you glory.

Psychological Horror, Perceptum, announces release window across all platforms

As you all know, we here at Savior Gaming love horror movies and games. It is just kind of what we do, so when Perceptum popped up in my email, you can say I perked up a little bit. Alone in a house with a mirror, seeing weird and scary stuff is definitely something with potential, and I will be keeping an eye on it.

Coming toPlayStation 5, Xbox Series, andSteam in Spring 2027, here is everything you need to know about Perceptum and why you might get the feeling you’re being watched when the title drops:

·         An empty house. A missing family. A mystery the police couldn’t solve. Playing as a Medium, you’ll investigate a cold and seemingly quiet case. Equipped with only a mirror to see what the naked eye can’t and a “gift” to home in on sounds when closing your eyes, the oppressive family home will be yours to search for clues and solve puzzles. Are you brave enough to find out what truly happened here?

·         Risk and reward go hand-in-hand with vulnerability playing a leading role. Hidden traces are scattered throughout the house and with your only two mechanics to help guide you, every creek, whisper, and scuttle will be felt to your core.

·         An inescapable, intense atmosphere not for the faint hearted. The feeling of being watched. A suspicious shadow. An unexplainable distant noise. You are certainly not alone. The house feels and follows your every move, daring you to question every detail.

JOIN US Announces PlayStation 5 Day One Launch, As the Cult Descends on Gamescom

Join Us from Wolf Haus Games is a game I have been watching for a while now and have been dying to get my hands on. It was previously announced for PC and Xbox, and will now release on PlayStation 5.

Now, for those not familiar with the title, you are a cult leader, and you obviously have to start and run a cult. The map is a staggering 6 sq km of handcrafted dark comedy, because nothing says comedy like you and your friends running a cult. Don’t worry, the game is playable alone, but come on, who starts a cult and doesn’t bring their friends?

The game is set to release in March 2027, so we have a bit of a wait, but it will be worth it to worship the Gaming Gods in the virtual world the way they deserve. Best wishes, and may the gaming gods bring you glory.

The Relic: First Guardian PlayStation 5 Review

The Relic: First Guardian is a game I first saw about a month or so before it released, and Perp Games was nice enough to send me a copy to check out. Now I am going to let you guys in on a little secret here. 95% of the time, when someone gets a review copy of a game, they ask for it. Yes, I do get offered some here and there, but probably 9/10 games I review it is because I saw it, thought it looked interesting, and it was something you guys might want to read about, and I sent an email.

As someone who prides himself on being upfront with you guys, The Relic: First Guardian is not a game I got at release. They passed over me, which happens quite often, and when they decided to send out more codes to how case around 12 updates of work, I got one from that batch. I am well aware this game did not get off to a good start, so is Perp Games. Remember this review reflects a lot of hard work, and I did not play the released version; I played the version released 12 updates later.

The game starts off quite suddenly, much like any souls-like. You get a cutscene and off you go to learn the game by walking down a trail, with the game explaining how to play. I won’t lie, probably could have figured this out without this section. For the most part, combat is very minimalist. I don’t mean this as a criticism; I rather enjoy the less-is-more setup. Something I loved that many people seemed to dislike was the stamina system. Unlike most games in this genre, you don’t lose stamina from attacking, only from running and dodging. So feel free to swing away and get hammered like I did. It is still very much a souls-like in many ways. You will still need to dodge and block. Once you figure that out, it is more forgiving than most.

It has definitely come a long way from here. (taken from Google)

Now, after playing for a few hours, I did go and read some early reviews and check out some early gameplay videos because I wanted to see what many of the issues were. Early versions suffered from some severe issues with lag, frame rate drops, and many of the visuals were kind of hard to look at. I think the visuals thing was from poor optimization because, 12 updates later, I ran into very little, if any, frame rate drops, and the early videos I watched and the game I played did not really match. I am not saying this is the most beautiful game ever, but if I woke up next to her Sunday morning, I wouldn’t deny it to my friends.

Now, the game still has some issues; for example, there is no traditional leveling system. You just sort of collect an in-game currency to buy upgrades like new magic or upgrades for your weapon of choice that give you more power or hit points, or even new moves. There are enough weapon choices to be interesting, but gaining enough of this currency to buy anything is a huge slog that kills a lot of the enjoyment. I am not saying I should be running around like a god at 3 hours in, but I should be at least 2 or 3 upgrades in.

Cool image from CGMagazine

All in all, the game is now playable, and with a dark story that I just instantly found myself invested in, it was a 6/10 experience, one that, when the game is on sale, is worth experiencing, but I can’t really justify spending $50 on. Credit where credit is due, however, The Relic: First Guardian has made substantial improvements, and Perp Games deserves a ton of credit for that. If you already own it and gave up on it, it is time to give it another go.

Best wishes, and may the gaming gods bring you glory.

Valor Mortis story trailer just dropped at gamescom ONL

Today, at Opening Night Live, Lyrical Games dropped the story trailer for Valor Mortis, the first-person Soulslike from Ghostrunner creators One More Level. The trailer marks the first appearance of the Shrike, the rebel leader fighting Napoleon’s Empire in occupied Eastern Europe. It also delivers new looks at the rest of the cast in this supernatural retelling of the Napoleonic Wars: resurrected Legionnaire William Dowsett, fellow soldier James Stewart, and lamplighter Lucjan Skawiński. Valor Mortis launches October 13, 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series S|X, and Steam, and arrives day one on Xbox Game Pass. 

Watch the story trailer here and download the demo on Steam. A press kit with assets for Valor Mortis, One More Level, and Lyrical Games is available here.

As Napoleon’s conquest halts in Eastern Europe, a plague spreads across the continent in its wake. This same dark affliction courses through William’s veins, corrupting his body yet granting him a dangerous power: he now hears the voice of Emperor Bonaparte in his mind, guiding him to usurp The Shrike’s resistance of the commonfolk.

Valor Mortis Key Characters:

  • William Dowsett: The player character, William, is a young and bold Englishman, disillusioned with the monarchy. William volunteered to fight for Napoleon, inspired by his ideal of a unified Europe. The story begins with William waking up on a grim battlefield, seemingly the only soldier left standing with his mind intact. With little to no memory of his life before that moment, players will choose whether to trust the remaining survivors who claim to be his former comrades. Will he stay loyal to his Emperor or follow The Shrike in the shadows? 
  • Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte: Voiced by César Award-winning actor Vincent Cassel, the Emperor stands at the head of the largest army known to Europe. William hears him as a voice in his own head, speaking as a father would to a son. His victory at Waterloo opened the way east, but the French army has since halted in Eastern Europe. Napoleon’s ambition drives the campaign as he fights to stay in control of a war that has shifted into something unnatural.
  • The Shrike: A rebel fighter who moves through occupied Eastern Europe with strength no ordinary soldier possesses. She answers to no authority; she fights for the people living under the Empire’s occupation, and she has her own plans for William. Partway through the story, her voice joins Napoleon’s inside his head.
  • James Stewart:  A blacksmith’s son in the Scottish Highlands, James left home to volunteer for Napoleon, convinced his service would earn him glory and win Scotland its freedom. He is William’s closest friend in the Legion, a skilled weaponsmith, and one of the few sources of light among the corpses of war.  While he claims his devotion to the Emperor is absolute, will the supernatural realities of this horrifying campaign test it?
  • Lucjan Skawiński: A Polish craftsman and a veteran of multiple wars, Lucjan has turned his life away from battle. He travels the ruined countryside searching out safe havens for weary travelers, marking each one with a hand-crafted lamp he keeps filled with oil that never seems to run out. He is calm, well-read, and full of ambiguous aphorisms, though something about him unsettles the survivors he claims to help.

Sandbox survival game Honeycomb: The World Beyond launches on PC, PS5, and Xbox on September 8th

Developer Frozen Way Studio, in partnership with publisher Snail Games USA, have revealed that their survival sandbox game Honeycomb: The World Beyond will launch September 8th on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series platforms. You won’t have to wait that long to play it, as a demo is coming to Steam on August 31st! Gamescom attendees will also be able to play it at Hall 8.1, A-041. Prepare for a journey of scientific exploration and survival on an awe-inspiring planet that can be both incredibly friendly – and slightly hostile.

Honeycomb: The World Beyond puts players in the astro boots of Hennessy, a pioneer forging an expedition on an uninhabited, mysterious planet that could be the key to saving mankind. Explore the world of Sota7 and uncover its secrets. From calm forests and vibrant jungles to vast fields spread at the foot of a mysterious volcano, every trek through its diverse terrain is sure to leave a lasting impression. Carve out a home for yourself and use that safe space to further your research. Play your part in saving the Earth’s ecosystem through experimenting with innovative bioengineering mechanics on Sota7.

Gathering information about an ecosystem is a crucial part of a bioengineer’s work. Analyze samples and procure resources carefully in order to find familiar patterns and understand this world. This will help you create new, fascinating life forms that will harmonize with its alien environment. Hennessy’s understanding of Sota7’s new ecosystem will be fundamental in solving the problems back on Earth. Use innovative in-game mechanics such as allogamy and grafting to create hybrids that could change the world. Unleash your inner scientist and become a master of the art of crossbreeding.

A true explorer needs a safe haven to rest and contemplate if they’re to succeed. Plan and build your perfect modular base as a means of shelter, as well as a lab to carry out your experiments, report progress, and rest. Inspired by natural shapes found in Art Nouveau, the modular design of your base isn’t just a visual feature, but also a strategic advantage that allows you to adapt to your changing needs as an explorer and a scientist. Nestled within your base lies a sanctuary of profound significance: the laboratory. Here you can grow as a scientist and bioengineer. Gather resources and create varied laboratory devices to experiment with samples collected during the exploration of the world. Cultivate plants to decorate your place as well as yield a satisfying harvest. Ensure your base is a habitat that matches its surroundings in form and function. 

“Honeycomb: The World Beyond is our realization of the dream of intergalactic adventuring. Of landing on a strange new planet and having to figure out how it functions on an organic level,” said developers at Frozen Way. “We wanted to capture both the awesome wonder of a strange, new world, as well as the creative freedom that comes from taming it your own way. “Honeycomb: The World Beyond offers a world of discovery and innovation, and we can’t wait for you to touch down on Sota 7 on September 8th!”

Frozen Way Studio has partnered with NVIDIA to integrate advanced features such as NVIDIA RTXDI, NVIDIA DLSS 4.5 with Ray Reconstruction, Multi Frame Generation and Reflex to deliver a visually stunning and immersive experience.

Honeycomb: The World Beyond key features:

  • Explore the unknown – each corner of Sota7 offers diverse biomes with different plants and animals for you to discover. Explorer, let curiosity guide your steps! Encounter the kaleidoscope of life forms, learn about them, and apply that knowledge to further research.
  • Awaken your inner bioengineer – in Honeycomb: The World Beyond you are both observer and creator. Find and experiment with new fauna and flora species to unlock their potential.
  • Witness the synergy of nature and science – crossbreed various plants or animals using bioengineering mechanics such as grafting and allogamy..
  • Build your perfect base –  to survive and conduct experiments, you need to build your base of operations. Gather materials and set up your own sanctuary – an oasis in a foreign world. If you’re not a keen builder, utilize the Planning Mode – which will do the job for you!
  • Arrange the laboratory – the heart of your base is a lab, where you can experiment with collected samples.
  • Find hidden riches – remember that Sota7 is a unique yet challenging place. You should always be on the lookout for better resources!
  • Survive at any cost – face the upcoming challenges with courage and try to survive in the unfamiliar world of Sota7.

AREA 35 BRINGS TINY METAL 2 TO GAMESCOM, OPENS GLOBAL ONLINE MULTIPLAYER PLAYTEST 

Developer AREA 35, Inc. is bringing full theater battles to Gamescom, where attendees will have the opportunity to go hands-on with the anticipated tactical strategy warfare game TINY METAL 2 at Hall 10, Booth #C-70-D-071. For fans who cannot make it to Cologne, yet still want a chance to play the biggest TINY METAL game ever made, the fight is coming to them. 

AREA 35 today announced that players around the world can now join the next TINY METAL 2 playtest, a limited-time online multiplayer-focused test built around both competitive and cooperative play, available now through September 13, 2026 EDT. Participants who complete one online match will also earn an exclusive Player Icon and Player Icon Background reward to carry into the full release of TINY METAL 2 on Steam.

Built around online multiplayer, the playtest lets commanders face off in Free for All or team up in Co-op across 10 multiplayer maps designed for battles of varying sizes, including large-scale scenarios that support up to 8 commanders.

“Gamescom gives us an incredible opportunity to put TINY METAL 2 directly into players’ hands, but we want the battlefield to extend far beyond Cologne,” said Hiroaki Yura, CEO of AREA 35 Inc. “This playtest is an important step for us because online competition and cooperation are major parts of what we are building. We are excited to have players around the world jump in, challenge each other, fight together and help us make the experience even stronger.” 

The playtest will feature flexible, lobby-based online multiplayer, giving players the freedom to battle alongside or against friends, other participants and CPU-controlled commanders. 

Participants will also experience the latest round of refinements to TINY METAL 2, with improvements across battlefield readability, pacing, audio and visual feedback, balance, and Commander abilities, all designed to make battles clearer, smoother and more satisfying.
TINY METAL 2 TAKES THE WAR TO LAND, SEA AND AIR 
The latest entry in AREA 35’s tactical warfare series is the most ambitious yet. TINY METAL 2 expands the grid-based strategy formula with battles spanning land, sea and air on the same battlefield, including naval warfare for the first time in series history. 

Commanders will lead combined forces that include familiar land and air units, as well as battleships, submarines, transport vessels and other naval units. TINY METAL 2 also expands the series with a roster of more than 15 playable commanders, a large collection of Campaign and Skirmish maps, and new tactical systems designed around playing both together and against other commanders. 

The game’s presentation is also taking a major step forward, featuring music by award-winning composer Go Shiina and performances by the Sydney-based Eminence Symphony Orchestra.
ALSO PLAYABLE AT GAMESCOM: PROJECT BLITZ 
Alongside TINY METAL 2, attendees visiting AREA 35’s booth can also experience PROJECT BLITZ, a fast-paced arcade party game set in the TINY METAL universe. 

Designed for quick, social play, PROJECT BLITZ features short, objective-driven battles where changing objectives, environmental hazards and power-ups can quickly shift the momentum of a match. Easy to jump into but built around tactical decision-making, the game is designed to create lively, unpredictable battles with friends. 

AREA 35 is using Gamescom as an opportunity to put the project in front of players, see how they respond and gather feedback that will help inform its future role in the TINY METAL universe.
About TINY METAL 2 
TINY METAL 2 is in development by AREA 35, Inc. and will be published by AREA 34, Inc. when it releases in spring 2027 on PC via Steam and other platforms. The title is currently available to Wishlist on Steam. 

Safari-TV Steam Preview

Safari-TV is an upcoming game from Mercy Games. Honestly, I couldn’t even find a real page for them; it’s 2 Alex and Sima making a game that looks hilariously fun. Safari-TV is the story of you and your friends opening a safari business and turning each safari into a vlog episode, and apparently the game just knows it will turn into an episode of Jackass.

Now, sure, I suppose some of you misfits might try to take this seriously. It is, however, a physics-based game that requires you to build your own safari bus. You can choose a safe route, or earn more money by choosing more dangerous routes, and of course you can always just use this as an excuse to smuggle contraband.

Drinking and sightseeing also seem to be a possibility

Now I have not played this game, but you better believe I intend to, and I already know who I am dragging along with me. Keep an eye on this one, because it looks like a ton of fun. Best wishes, and may the gaming gods bring you glory.

Lootbound Steam Review

Lootbound was sent my way by the nice folks over at Artdock Games, which I always appreciate. Lootbound, at its core, is a roguelike with turn-based combat that is made for people who want a simplistic game to kill some time with for not a lot of money. If you go into this with that in mind there is a lot of fun to be had here, but if you are expecting a huge, in-depth game, you will be disappointed.

You start the game with one character, and each run you start alone. As you progress, you can pick up weapons and items to fit into your inventory. You can also recruit several companions such as a paladin or bard. These later become people you can start as. You don’t control them, as they are their own people. They are still super helpful, and you can outfit them with gear just like you do yourself.

As you lose runs, you unlock more ways to power up your team with permanent buffs, which make runs easier. You also unlock them if you win, but the first couple I unlocked I did because I lost; admittedly, it is based on total runs, not wins or losses.

This is where a lot of people leaving negative reviews seem to have an issue. Most of what you are doing is powering up and making “numbers get bigger,” and the game lacks strategy; this, however, is the strategy. Knowing what to pick and how to fit the most into your inventory is the challenge. The game isn’t perfect, but it is also only $15. Is it perfect? No, it also isn’t even a great game. It is, however, a good game. A solid 7/10. Best wishes, and may the gaming gods bring you glory.

Sublight Sets Course for Early Access, Launching September 15th

Codebrew Software is excited to announce that Sublight, a space bullet heaven roguelike where arcade survival meets space-sim depth, is heading into Early Access on September 15th. 

Captain a powerful warship, place your turrets, manage firing arcs, and carve through escalating waves of enemies as you build out an arsenal capable of dominating an entire sector. Since its last major update one month ago, players have racked up over 14.3 million kills in the demo alone.

Previewing the demo, GamingOnLinux called it ‘pretty glorious,’ highlighting the game’s space combat setting combined with bullet heaven mechanics.

A full roadmap for post-launch content will be revealed in the coming weeks, ahead of launch, so players know exactly what they’re signing up for from day one.

What’s Included at Early Access Launch
Sublight launches into Early Access with 6 levels, multiple bosses, 2 enemy factions, 9 playable ships, over 16 weapon types, and an established set of build upgrades to customize every run. Weekly rotating level modifiers will also be introduced ensuring each playthrough is unique.

About the Game

Survive a hostile galaxy
Command a stellar battleship and fight through multiple deadly sectors filled with relentless foes. Equip turrets, stack upgrades, and face everything from rogue rebel fleets to ravenous alien swarms.

Discover a powerful arsenal
Blast enemies to salvage materials and level up your ship. Choose from a vast pool of turrets, shredding autocannons, piercing railguns, and more. Combine them with dozens of passive upgrades to fine-tune every detail of your build.

Unlock new ways to dominate the stars
Unlock a variety of unique ships, each with multiple alternative loadouts. Every hull comes with integrated weapon systems and abilities that transform your playstyle.