505 Pulse to publish Among the Trolls

505 Pulse, the indie focused label of 505 Games, is proud to partner with Avantgarden to bring Among the Trolls, a first-person survival adventure game, to Steam Early Access in 2025. The collaboration is set to deliver a fresh, captivating experience that challenges players to survive and uncover mysteries in a vibrant, untamed wilderness.  

Set on a secluded Finnish archipelago, Among the Trolls invites players to explore lush forests, survive against the odds, and unravel ancient mysteries tied to their lost relatives. The game emphasizes a dynamic, living world where player actions not only affect survival but also influence the environment and its creatures.  

“We’re thrilled to collaborate with Avantgarden on reigniting the Among the Trolls project. They embraced the concept with passion” said Fabrizio Faraoni, Sr. Global Brand Manager from 505 Pulse. “There was a community of players, eager to know more about the status of the project. We worked for a long time behind the scenes, and we are finally ready to show early glimpses of the game they are putting together. A truly unique experience that blends survival mechanics, rich storytelling over the stunning Finnish landscape.”

Game highlights  

  • Immersive survival gameplay: Gather resources, craft tools, and hone your survival skills in a dynamic world that responds to your actions. 
  • Dynamic exploration: Discover hidden paths, solve environmental puzzles, and encounter mythical beings in a richly detailed Finnish wilderness. 
  • Living ecosystem: Thrive in harmony with a nature that reacts to your choices, offering a unique blend of exploration and strategy. 
  • Compelling narrative: Gradually uncover the truth behind your relative’s disappearance and the ancient lore of the Nordic forests.

Among the Trolls offers a compelling mix of exploration, survival, and storytelling that stands out in today’s gaming landscape. By launching on Steam Early Access, the development team aims to involve the gaming community in shaping the game’s evolution, ensuring a polished and engaging final experience.  

“We see Among the Trolls as an opportunity to deliver a different take on the survival genre and shape it with the help of its dedicated community,” said AvantGarden’s Creative Director Giorgio Macellari. “Our partnership with 505 Pulse allows us to deliver this vision to a global audience.”

Players eager to embark on this adventure can wishlist the game on Steam here and stay updated on its development progress. 

DISCORD – https://discord.gg/fkC24Q3ymj

TWITTER/X – https://twitter.com/AmongTheTrolls

FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/AmongTheTrolls

INSTAGRAM – https://www.instagram.com/AmongTheTrolls

Cube Snake Review (Steam)

As always when I write these I like to start out by thanking the people who hooked me up with these, this time it is Kabum and you can pick up CubeSnake over on Steam if you so choose.

Let me get what the game is out of the way first. Remember your old Nokia cell phone that came with one game, and that game was snake? It was all square blocks and you just picked up other blocks and your snake got bigger and if you touched the sides or another part of your snake, you died and had to start over again? It now has a 3-dimensional upgrade.

All Elder millennials played this

CubeSnake took this idea and gave you a legitimate snake, and buildings and put you inside of a cube and let you do the same thing. You simply use a couple buttons to turn ( there is also controller support) with the same rules. Don’t touch yourself or the edge.

The problem is the controls are still sluggish, the game is super slow and just wasn’t fun for me to play. I never figured out how the dash button even worked, not that I think it would have helped much. In 2025 the idea of playing a game you need to pay attention to so you don’t die while only hitting two buttons just doesn’t do it for me. This is especially true when the game is so slow-paced.

You can spell out the word FEVER to get more than one pick-up at a time and speed things up a bit, but this is few and far between and doesn’t add to the excitement. I don’t hate the game, it passes the time and I think kids may enjoy it for a bit, for me it is a hard pass. The game serves its purposes and despite sluggish controls, it functions well and has solid controls. it is however just a 5/10 game that I don’t recommend for most people. Best wishes and may the gaming gods bring you glory.

[TRAILER] In 14 Turns to Victory: Yield! Fall of Rome Brings Pure 4X Strategy

Daedalic Entertainment and Billionworlds are thrilled to present the official Showcase Trailer for Yield! Fall of Rome, the upcoming turn-based 4X strategy game launching into Early Access on January 20, 2025. The trailer highlights the game’s unique approach to the genre, offering fast-paced tactical gameplay and meaningful decisions at every turn.

Trailer Highlights:

  • Strategic Depth in Every Decision: Players take control of one of eight distinct factions, each vying for dominance in the tumultuous final days of the Roman Empire. Expand your dominion, conquer provinces, and immerse yourself in a dynamic game where every turn shapes the course of history.
  • Skirmish Gameplay Rundown: Watch as the Persian faction strategically establishes its economy, engages in tactical battles, and conquers rival territories. The trailer demonstrates how Yield! balances focused decision-making with expansive strategy.
  • Dynamic Campaigns: Players can engage with Romans as allies or enemies, adapting strategies based on alliances and rivalries. Witness the rise and fall of empires as every choice has a lasting impact.
  • Versatile Game Modes: Whether enjoying relaxed single-player campaigns or diving into competitive multiplayer, Yield! provides fully customizable skirmishes and weekly time-limited challenges for diverse gameplay experiences.

Yield! Fall of Rome brings a fresh perspective to the 4X strategy genre, inspired by classics like Civilization and Battle for Polytopia. With its accessible mechanics, strategic depth, and quick-paced gameplay, Yield! ensures that every match is as rewarding as it is intense.

Designed for Steam Deck
Take the full 4X experience with you wherever you go. With its emphasis on impactful choices and engaging gameplay, Yield! feels right at home on the Steam Deck, delivering the depth and strategic variety of a 4X game without requiring endless hours to appreciate.

Yield! Fall of Rome: The 4X Game That Won’t Keep You Waiting

If you’ve ever grown impatient waiting for your workers to build a scout in 7 turns, Yield! Fall of Rome is the game for you. Forget endless micromanagement—every turn offers exciting decisions and impactful actions. Lead legendary tribes such as the Britons, Huns, and Franks against the all-mighty Romans, and dive straight into the heart of the action as you shape the destiny of the ancient world.

As one player put it: “After playing Yield! I realized how slow other games can feel. In Yield!, every turn matters, and I didn’t have to waste time waiting to make big moves.”

Build Empires, Conquer Foes, Rewrite History

In Yield! Fall of Rome, you’ll step into the shoes of a barbarian leader during the twilight of the Roman Empire. Choose from 8 unique factions, each offering distinct gameplay styles and challenges. Whether through diplomacy, warfare, or strategic cunning, carve out your empire and bring glory to your tribe.

Key features include:

  • Focused, fast 4X Gameplay: Dive into the action immediately with streamlined mechanics that prioritize strategy over waiting.
  • Dynamic Campaigns: Explore procedurally generated maps and embark on bite-sized campaigns where no two games are the same.
  • Accessible Yet Deep: Intuitive mechanics make it easy to start, while advanced strategies reward skilled players.
  • Multiplayer Options: Play solo, cooperatively, or competitively with asynchronous multiplayer modes offering flexibility and fun.

Why Yield! Stands Out

Yield! Fall of Rome combines the best of traditional 4X gameplay with a modern twist: fast, engaging sessions without the grind. It’s been called “the child of Civilization and Battle for Polytopia,” bringing the best of both worlds into a uniquely immersive experience.

Wishlist Now and Lead the Fall of Rome

Ready to rewrite history? Wishlist Yield! Fall of Rome today on Steam and prepare for an epic strategy experience when the game launches on January 20, 2025.

[News] Roguelite Dungeon Crawler Cryptical Path Releasing on PC on Jan. 29

 Old Skull Games officially revealed the release date for its roguelite dungeon crawler, Cryptical Path. Launching on Steam on January 29, 2025, Cryptical Path sees players controlling the Architect, building their own path and navigating an ever-changing labyrinth within which they’ve been summoned. The game pushes the boundaries of the roguelite genre as it is the very first action roguelite builder that allows players to add a new creative angle to their style of gameplay.

An action roguelite that makes you the Architect of your adventure

In Cryptical Path, players dive into a universe where every run is theirs to shape. The goal is simple: reach the boss and defeat him. But there is a twist. Thanks to a unique feature, players can place their own rooms in the dungeon, creating their own path and influencing the challenges ahead. This gameplay mechanic adds a new layer of optimization and a unique depth to the roguelite genre.

A journey designed by roguelite fans

Aimed at action roguelite enthusiasts, Cryptical Path stands out with its dynamic and ever-evolving gameplay, where every decision in configuring the dungeon can reshape the course of the adventure. This modularity gives players control over their experience while preserving classic genre staples like progression through repeated attempts, diverse enemies, and intense combat. 

Cryptical Path’s key features:

  • Rogue-builder: The ability to carve your dungeon, increasing the replayability and the control you have in each and every run.
  • Immersive world: Explore a 2D side-scroller within beautifully crafted 3D environments.
  • Fast paced action: Embody the Architect, a dynamic character that can dodge, dash and slash in the blink of an eye!
  • Constant progress: Unlock powerful items and choose which talents to master.

This Is 40 (2012)

   This is 40 is a sort of sequel to Knocked Up where Pete and Debbie deal with the unhappy fact of turning 40, having kids that seem to truly hate each other. To make matters worse, someone is stealing from Debs store and Pete’s record label isn’t doing well at all.

This movie shouldn’t be as funny as it is with that premise,yet it somehow is. Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann are great together,and seeing them gaslight Melissa McCarthy might be one of the best things I have seen lately. Both of them say horrible things to her and her son are separate parts in the movie, then in the principles office they magically become perfect parents and nice people. It’s hilarious.

The movie isn’t perfect obviously,it’s a comedy based off another comedy they were minor characters in. And the entire premise is two people are getting older and there is an entire fight based on a dude taking Viagra.  The movie definitely should not be taken very seriously. It is just a fun movie,and that is all I expected. Best wishes and may the gaming gods bring you glory.

Carry On (2024) Review

Carry On is a 2024 movie starring some guy I couldn’t care less to look up to be honest. (Taron Egerton) And another guy I think may have been important in the 80’s. (Jason Bateman) my friend told me to check it out and pitched it to me as “this generation’s Die Hard” which I thought was a bold claim to make. But was he right?

First off let’s get this out of the way,Die Hard is a Christmas movie. Carry On,just seems to take place on Christmas Eve. I am happy to listen to rebuttals however.

  That part out of the way, the movie is absolutely fantastic. It is a game of cat and mouse between a man just trying to do his job,and a TSA worker trying to get a promotion. All the man wants to do is get a package onto an air plane and the TSA agent in question simply won’t let him do it.

 

The movie is full of action, plot twist and the occasional comedic moment. It has honestly been years since I’ve had this much fun with a movie. Is it the equivalent to Die Hard for this generation? No I don’t think so. There won’t be a debate about it being a Christmas movie for example.  There is no way this movie has the cultural impact as Die Hard for example. But it is absolutely just as good of a movie. That is honestly good enough for me,best wishes and may the gaming gods bring you glory.

Subservience (2024)

Subservience with Megan Fox, Michael Morrone, and Madaline Zima is one of those movies that has it all and nothing at the same time. Want to see good-looking people ( Megan fox and Michale Morrone ) mostly naked? Deal. Want to see Megan Fox brutally beat the breaks off some dude or kill someone? This movie has it. Want to know the potential dangers of AI in a capitalistic world like America? This movie will perfectly demonstrate how eventually robots might steal every job imaginable and how humans will then rebel and wreck them.

The only real issue I had with the movie was as entertaining as it was, which I have said before is all a movie needs to be, is if you saw M3gan Unrated review you basically saw this. The premise is basically the same. An AI-powered robot that is meant to make life easier gets far too attached to someone in the family, in Megan, it was the daughter in Subserviance to the husband, and starts doing insane stuff to make them happy or protect them including killing people. Even the endings are quite similar in many ways. I don’t mean this as an insult, I enjoyed both movies quite a bit, in fact, I recommend watching them both. It would however be quite dishonest to say they aren’t similar. Best wishes and may the gaming gods bring you glory.

Godstone Demo Review

If you think back a long time ago, to last week, I talked about Godstone. You can read more about GodStone: Early Access Trailer there for a quick outline. I did get time to play the Steam Demo and I have to say it shows plenty of promise. The controls are promising, and I think they would work even better with controller support. I assume this is something that will be implemented at some point if it isn’t already.

The graphics are not what most people would call spectacular by today’s standards, but I disagree. I love the old-school look and feel of them. It had that great Super Nintendo look while feeling new and modern while using it.

Something else the demo does an amazing job of showing is that you can run right ahead in the game, I can see speed runners loving this game. I got demolished when I did it. On my second attempt, I didn’t do much better. My third run I took my time and explored more and the area that killed me my first two runs was far easier. The game truly does reward exploring with more items and permanent power-ups and even in this case assistance in a boss fight by rescuing a friend.

power-up at levels are basic pick a card get a power-up. you know what the cards do but not what cards you get

You will notice the one thing I haven’t much talked about is story and honestly that is intentional. I don’t know much about it besides you play as Gerion, magic is seen as bad by your people but everyone seems to use it, there is an Ice Witch everyone seems to hate, though she likes you, your people want you dead, and finding this Godstone is something everyone wants. Oh, and Gaming gods be damned I can’t wait to find out more March 30th when the planned release date hits. Until then, try the demo, and may the gaming gods bring you glory.

GodStone: Early Access Trailer

Godstone from DemendPlant is a game I came across on Blue Sky from a solo dev that looked rather, well to be honest infuriating. It is a roguelike dungeon crawler that might just become your next obsession as you battle both minibosses and level bosses in what will surely be death after death as you enjoy a story of betrayal and secrets. You can try a demo and wishlist it on Steam now. I can’t wait to sink my teeth into this one. I will get back to you with more once I give the demo a shot. I was just really excited to let you guys know this is out there. Best wishes, and may the gaming gods bring you glory.