Quartet Steam Review

Every so often, I come across a game and I think, damn, I need to play that game. Not because it looks amazing graphically. Just because it looks like one of those games I used to play when I was a kid. You remember the type, you would rush home after school, pop it into your Super Nintendo, and just lose yourself until your parents inevitably said, “Hey, time for dinner,” or “Get to bed.”

Quartet on Steam (consoles coming Q4) is that game, and the great people over at Something Classic Games were kind enough to send me a copy to check out.

The first thing to get out of the way is the combat; it is very fluid and easy to get into. Nothing fancy is going on here either. If you love old-school turn-based RPGs where your strategy matters, the combat for Quartet is something you are going to enjoy. It clicks all the boxes. Exploiting enemy weaknesses, defending to lower damage, restoring AP (ability points), buffing your characters, and debuffing enemies. Most battles, you can just power through but bosses and higher difficulties, these buffs and debuffs will make or break your battles.

Speaking of battles, this game won’t waste your time with random battles. You can see the enemies on screen, and if you feel like you need to level up, you can usually find more to fight, but mostly, you will always be at an appropriate level to get where you need to go. I rarely say this about a game in 2025, but Quartet really tries and succeeds at respecting your time. Maps aren’t small, but they also aren’t huge for no reason.

This brings me to one last point. The story, you guys know, I am not going to go into a ton of detail about the story because I don’t do spoilers. Just know the story deals with magic, a government conspiracy, and a poor cook named Ben who just wanted to go to work. The game starts by letting you choose between one of four characters to play as for their introductory story. While you play through all of them, I recommend starting as Ben. He doesn’t have the best story exactly, but what he does have is the best mixture of story and humor, and that is where this game shines.

Nobody bodyslams the train

There are a few things I would have liked to have seen, maybe some more interactions between certain characters, but truly, for a game that you can beat in about 20-25 hours, I understand what they were going for. Something they may have left out in favor of a shorter experience, and I can’t be mad about that. This was a 9/10 experience for me, and I will be playing through this again. Best wishes, and may the gaming gods bring you glory.

JETRUNNER Official Launch Trailer

he launch of developer Riddlebit’s action platformer is here. JETRUNNER launches on Steam and will also be available, day one, on the Epic Store on September 4, 2025.

Join rising star, Nina, played by Sara Secora, on her journey to the top of the leaderboard. She’s joined by our star-studded cast with the voice talents of Matthew Mercer as the jetrunning commentator, Mick Acaster, and Alejandro Saab as Jacque, the childhood best friend of up-and-coming JETRUNNER, Nina.

Watch the launch trailer below that focuses on the growing relationship between Nina and her commentator, Mick, as Nina goes from rookie off the streets to a jetrunning legend.

Also, we have teamed up with Speedrun.com to host a launch competition where participants have the opportunity to claim from the $2000 prize pool.

The event will begin on launch day and starts September 4, 2025 @ 4:00 PM UTC / 12:00 PM ET. The event concludes on September 11, 2025 @ 11:59 PM UTC / 7:59 PM ET.

Stay tuned for more details on how to get involved in the competition.

Triangle Stategy PS5 Review

Triangle Strategy was recently more or less shadow-dropped onto Xbox and PS5 by Square Enix, much to the surprise of fans. Triangle Strategy tells the story of 3 great powers on the continent of Norzelia, starting at a time of an uneasy peace that quite frankly won’t last long.

You, the player, will control the decisions of one section of the great power of Glenbrook, House Wolfortt. Now I will say this: if you have this game on the Switch or PC, there is no reason to buy it on PS5 or Xbox unless you want some minor quality of life improvements over the Switch version. I didn’t even notice them; I only discovered them when I looked them up to write about them.

The combat in this game is beautiful, most battles feel unique, and the ones that don’t aren’t meant to. On the higher difficulties, the smallest mistake can be devastating, and even on the lower level,s battles are still a rewarding experience.

The story itself is a Miles May vary situation. If you love a classic war story full of intrigue, betrayal, well-done ( though admittedly somewhat easy to see coming) swerves, you will love the story.

The biggest issue comes in pacing, and you will see this time and time again, and in many reviews. The pacing for this game is atrocious at times. You will, in one instance, spend 45 minutes just reading, then get hit with a battle, just to go back to reading. Then you may get 2 solid battles in a row and some nice dialogue, and another battle, and you are feeling great, the pace is perfect. Then you hit with what feels like hours of dialogue. I found myself leveling up characters in the mock battles just to break up the story that I loved, just for the break.

Now, long-time readers know that I only assign numerical scores to games that companies send me, and I doubt you will ever see me assign a number to a SE game. This is more of a recommendation vs a no recommendation situation. Of course, you should buy this game. If you are reading this, you likely waited years for it to arrive on consoles. Well, it is here, and it is fantastic. Best wishes, and may the gaming gods bring you glory.

Lost in Open Steam Demo Review

Lost in Open is an upcoming strategy RPG from Whisper Games, and you can play the demo on Steam now. I, of course, did this already, so you didn’t have to waste your time if it were a train wreck.

It starts off pretty standard; you play as King Nrvesk of Ruedome, who was summoned under false pretenses so you could be killed. The game picks up with you and two of your men making your escape. You will choose randomly generated nodes that change each play-through. As you retreat to your country’s border, certain nodes turn red to represent the chasing assassins. You can still choose these, but the events become much more difficult. Stick to the standard nodes, and you can find traders, recruit people, or come across any number of random events.

The battles are also pretty standard. Turn-based on initiative, nobody’s HP drops until after you get rid of their armor, and of course, everyone has an assortment of skills and abilities with recharge times. Even on the easiest difficulty, the game does have some challenge to it. The big selling point of this game is absolutely the story. Nothing here breaks new ground, but so far it does everything well. The demo is fun and is by no means short, so give it a try. Best wishes, and may the gaming gods bring you glory.

Doloc Town Pastoral Waves Update

RedSaw Games and Logoi Games are excited to announce Doloc Town’s first major update, Pastoral Waves, launches in Early Access tomorrow, August 26th at 10AM CEST/1AM PDT. Expanding the side-scrolling post-apocalyptic farming sim, this update introduces two major systems, Animal Husbandry and Aquaculture, alongside new quests and facilities to make your homestead more lively than ever. Since its Early Access launch, Doloc Town has earned 94% positive reviews on Steam with over 1.1K reviews, earning praise from the community for its cozy yet adventurous gameplay, charming pixel art, and immersive world. With the Pastoral Waves update, players can now dive even deeper into the highly acclaimed world, adding exciting new layers to their farming journey.

Players can now raise animals on land and in water with the newly added Animal Husbandry and Aquaculture systems. Alongside these, the update brings ranching-related buildings, facilities, and a full new ranching tech tree, allowing players to choose the style of farming they want to pursue. A new ranching faction and NPC unlocks early in the adventure, providing fresh quests, main story progressions, and much more awaits to be discovered.

“The Ranching Update is our first big step toward making Doloc Town a truly living, breathing world,” said Fan Yao the producer of Doloc Town. “From tending your crops to raising animals, players can now dive deeper into life in Doloc Town while exploring new quests, factions, and enjoying all the little joys of cozy farm life.”

Key Features in the ‘Pastoral Waves’ Ranching Update:

  • Ranching & Aquaculture System: Raise land animals, farm fish, and manage resources with new ranching tools and buildings.
  • New Faction and NPC: Interact with a new ranching-focused NPC from the Tengri faction. Unlock new quests and progress further into the main storyline.
  • Expanded Farming Tools: Two semi-automatic tools added for easier cultivation, obtainable through new faction quests.
  • Creature and Plant Encyclopedia: Track all discovered flora and fauna with informative pages.
  • Enhanced Construction Controller:Move and dismantle buildings more efficiently and quickly rearrange equipment & platforms with ease.
  • Visual & Environmental Improvements: Refined lighting, color grading, terrain adjustments, and additional environmental modifiers for a richer post-apocalyptic atmosphere.
  • Quality of Life:Addressed known issues in the current build to ensure a smoother, more enjoyable experience.

Early Access Roadmap

➢ Main Storyline Updates

➢ Even more Sidequests

➢ Gene System for Advanced Farming

➢ Additional Factions

➢ Enhanced Automated Farming

➢ New Map

➢ New Festivals

➢ Favorability Updates

➢ Additional Quality of Life Improvements

➢ Steam Community Workshop Support

➢ And More…

SANDBOX SURVIVAL GAME HONEYCOMB: THE WORLD BEYOND LAUNCHES ON PC, PS5 AND XBOX NOVEMBER 6TH

Developer Frozen Way Studio, in partnership with publisher Snail Games USA, have revealed that their survival sandbox game Honeycomb: The World Beyond will launch November 6th on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series platforms. Prepare for a journey of scientific exploration and survival on an awe-inspiring planet that can be both incredibly friendly – and slightly hostile.

Alongside this announcement, the studio has revealed a new technology partnership with NVIDIA, integrating advanced features such as NVIDIA RTXDI, NVIDIA DLSS 4 with Ray Reconstruction, Multi Frame Generation and Reflex to deliver a visually stunning and immersive experience. Gamescom 2025 visitors can even play a brand-new demo, testing NVIDIA technology in action at a dedicated technology stand, and meet the team at the Indie Arena Booth. To see all the visual and performance improvements Nvidia RTX can bring to Honeycomb: The World Beyond, check out the video below:

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. 

“At Frozen Way, we grew up loving sci-fi. We were captivated by the genre’s evocative visual designs, sense of wonder and adventure, and the actual science of sci-fi,” said Taisia Gaidei, Lead Designer at Frozen Way. “We loved this sense of experimentation, of seeing what works, what fails, what unexpected problems you can encounter along the way. Honeycomb: The World Beyond is designed to make you feel simultaneously like a small speck in awe of the universe’s grand scope… as well as a really clever innovator when you figure out how various aspects of it all fit together. Sota 7 is an adventurous scientist’s dream planet just waiting to be explored!”
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.

Society

Billy Whitney is a good, normal kid living with his rich family in Beverly Hills. His parents favor his sister, Jenny. They don’t like his taste in friends nor care much about his school activities. Billy feels like he can’t escape their vain, detached, materialistic world. How right he really is. When Jenny’s old beau plays a troubling recording for Billy, his whole world turns upside down. People die. He sees things. Jenny’s acting just like their parents, his therapist, and the kids at school. Is Billy losing it, or is something deeper going on?

This was a movie I’d heard about for years but never got to experience until recently. The movie is great at making you wonder what the hell is going on and keeping you glued. The finale is batshit insanity with incredible effects. The acting is solid. I appreciate the uncanny, otherworldly feel to the whole movie. I like the social commentary on the rich feeding off the poor, but it never gets heavy-handed. There’s some really funny moments that don’t spoil the dread the movie maintains. My only real gripe is I feel like they should’ve had Billy’s statis hungry ex girlfriend pop up in the end. Overall, I’d call Society an underrated gem that’s relevant and has one hell of a disturbing ending. May the gaming gods bring you glory.

Hogwarts Legacy

The dream of many has come true: you’ve been accepted into the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Set nearly a century before the Boy who Lived would enter its walls, we play as a newly discovered prodigy first setting foot into the school while a goblin revolution looms in the background.

As a kid into my young adult years, I loved the world of Harry Potter. I found the lore and worldbuilding fascinating while not really being too invested in Harry himself. While the personal politics of J.K. Rowling have soured my taste for Potter, I was curious if all the hype around the project was warranted.

First, I will say the game excels at bringing Hogwarts to life. The castle is a breathtaking marvel to explore; fans of the books and movie are in for one hell of a treat. It was really cool to make friends, each with their own interesting sidequests, and actually attend classes. There is a vast landscape outside of the castle into Hogsmeade village, the Forbidden Forest, and more. For a while, I had a blast exploring all I could. The game offers a lot of character customization options and there are plenty of spells to learn- including the Unforgivable Curses (you can bet your ass I learned those puppies). The game has plenty of Wizarding World fan service…

However, this game gets incredibly stale and becomes a slog once the wonder wears off. Combat essentially boils down to Arkham-lite; the Unforgivable Curses break the game if you want to cruise through the last third of it. The main story is meh. The friend questlines are more interesting than the main game’s. One huge issue I had is that the game is overly stuffed with fetch quests and scavenger hunts for pointless collectables. Given the vast bestiary and enemy pool they could have drawn from, enemy types are pretty limited. There isn’t much Hogwarts life at Hogwarts Legacy- classes, dueling club, races all end quickly enough. You can pick your house, but it has no weight to the story or how the characters react to you. After the first ten hours, I felt like I was merely grinding to finish the story.

In the end, Hogwarts Legacy isn’t terrible but far from what it could’ve been. Potter-heads will love it, but the casual gamer will pick up on the bloat and repetitive nature of the game. I bought it for $25, which I’d say is a fair price for the fun I got out of it. May the gaming gods bring you glory.

Star Trek Voyager: Across the Unknown

Publisher Daedalic Entertainment and developer gameXcite are proud to announce Star Trek Voyager: Across the Unknown, a brand-new story-based survival strategy game set in the Star Trek™ universe and officially licensed by Paramount Consumer Products. The title is currently in development for PC and consoles.

Set aboard the U.S.S. Voyager and deep in the unexplored reaches of the Delta Quadrant, Star Trek Voyager: Across the Unknown invites players to relive—and redefine—the legendary starship’s journey back to earth. The game blends exploration, ship & resource management, roguelite elements, and meaningful choices. Experience crew dynamics and a fresh take on a beloved sci-fi universe — with what-if scenarios that open up new possibilities.

Player decisions shape both the fate of the crew and the configuration of the U.S.S. Voyager itself. With each playthrough, the ship becomes a different version of itself—reengineered and reimagined based on the path taken through the quadrant and the command decisions made along the way.

“Star Trek Voyager: Across the Unknown is a project driven by passion—both for storytelling and for the legacy of Star Trek,” says Jonas Hüsges, COO at Daedalic Entertainment. “We’re excited to bring the U.S.S. Voyager crew back into the spotlight in a way that feels true to canon while offering new narrative frontiers to explore.”

“As lifelong fans of Star Trek, we’re thrilled to contribute to this iconic universe,” adds Daniel Bernard, Game Director at gameXcite. “This game isn’t just about nostalgia—it’s about giving players the conn and letting them chart their own course through the unknown.”

In Star Trek Voyager: Across the Unknown, players take command of the U.S.S. Voyager as it traverses 12 vast sectors of the Delta Quadrant. Along the way, they’ll manage systems and crew, engage in diplomacy, navigate difficult moral decisions, and face the unknown. Familiar faces return, but their fates may differ—reshaped by the captain on the bridge.

ohn Carpenter’s Toxic Commando” Gameplay Reveal Trailer Drops at Gamescom ONL, Coming 2026 (PC, PS5, XSX)

Not Just Another Mercenary Team

In the near future, an experimental attempt to harness the power of the Earth’s core ends in a terrifying disaster, turning soil to scum and the living to undead monsters. However, the genius behind the experiment has a plan to make things right: a team of highly trained mercenaries to get the job done. Unfortunately, they were all too expensive. That’s why he hired THE TOXIC COMMANDO.

Strap in for Crossplay-Ready Co-op Carnage

Play in squads of up to four players — with full crossplay support across PC and consoles — and send the Sludge God and its horde of things-that-should-never-be back to the underworld. Pick your character, choose the class that matches your playstyle, pile into your favorite ride, and unload an array of gunfire, grenades, special abilities, and freaking katanas.

The Toxic Menu:

  • Buddy-movie vibes and the over-the-top humor, action, and horror of classic ‘80s cinema, inspired by and with the involvement of the legendary John Carpenter
  • Teaming up with friends to face down hordes of monsters who want to eat your face
  • An explosive cocktail of visceral FPS action and off-road driving on slime-corrupted terrain across massive post-apocalyptic environments 
  • Upgrading your skills and testing new abilities against increasingly hardcore challenges
  • Saving the planet against impossible odds

John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando releases in early 2026. Wishlist it today on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via the Epic Games Store and Steam.