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 PS5Xbox 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.

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.

New Trailer | Hunting Simulator 3 Gets a Fall 2026 Release Date

 NACON and NACON Studio Ghent are pleased to announce that Hunting Simulator 3 will launch on October 29, 2026, for PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Explore the breathtaking landscapes of Colorado and Texas, either solo or alongside your loyal hunting dog, as you track 35 different animal species using a wide range of gear from leading hunting brands.

Building on over 15 years of expertise, the team at NACON Studio Ghent is dedicated to delivering the most authentic hunting experience to date. Backed by a community of over one million players, the franchise introduces an all-new experience with Hunting Simulator 3 – preserving the core elements that made previous titles a success while introducing key new features and noticeable gameplay enhancements.

Developed on Unreal® Engine 5, Hunting Simulator 3 features a groundbreaking new system: “SimFauna”. 

Created by the studio, this tool makes wildlife more vibrant than ever by faithfully replicating real animal behavior. SimFauna operates as a dynamic ecosystem that constantly evolves based on wildlife behavior and player actions. Animals reproduce, grow, and age, making every playthrough unique. Every choice players make directly impacts the ecosystem, offering a more authentic gameplay experience.

THE ULTIMATE HUNTING SIMULATION

  • Expansive Hunting Grounds: Explore vast open-world maps spanning 100 km² each across Colorado and Texas, featuring enhanced visuals. Traverse these iconic American regions behind the wheel of 5 off-road vehicles from renowned licensed brands (Ford, Kawasaki, Polaris).
  • Immersive Simulation: Hunt over 35 animal species with your trusted hunting partner! Choose from several hunting dog breeds with distinct behaviors to customize your approach to every hunt.
  • Authentic Arsenal: Gear up with nearly 75 meticulously modeled weapons and pieces of equipment from world-famous brands (Remington®, Beretta®, Winchester®, Browning®).

***

Hunting Simulator 3 will be available on October 29, 2026, for PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Panzer Knights: Commander’s Edition Xbox Review

Did you ever wonder what it would be like to fight as the Germans, but as Japanese people, during World War 2? I didn’t think so, but with Panzer Knights: Commander’s Edition, you finally can. Pqube Limited sent me a copy of this one to check out, and I always love working with these guys because I know I am in for a treat, and Panzer Knights is no exception.

The game starts off simple enough; you are finishing your training to drive and command your tank unit. You will learn the basics of driving and aiming, switching ammo types, and calling for air strikes or extra supplies. After passing this test, the real game begins. Missions are typically: do this and this, with bonuses for side tasks. You can use this money to buy new tanks. This version does come with some extra tanks for you to use, which, of course, have their own strengths and weaknesses and can have a different number of crew members.

The only thing is, be ready to read everything because the voice work is in Japanese. It is really well done, and the characters are very well done and interesting. But in today’s world, I know some people aren’t a fan of reading alone with the subtitles. You don’t need to be an anime fan to enjoy this tank shooter; you just need to enjoy a good story and shooting things with a tank.

My only real complaint about the game is that it honestly does get a bit repetitive, and I would have liked a bit of variety in the game. I am not sure what could have been done to break it up; maybe some more optional mini-games or something. It is still an 8/10 title that I enjoyed; however, best wishes, and may the gaming gods bring you glory.

Project Zomboid Steam Review

Project Zomboid has been on my radar for a very long time, so when I had the chance to get a copy from The Indie Stone, I jumped on it, unlike the zombies you see in most games and movies. Huge shout-out to them. This review is actually a joint effort, as my daughter Kaitlin logged more than a few hours into this one as well. When I would go to work or sleep, she would play; then when I had time, I would play. We actually had vastly different experiences but came to much the same conclusions.

For example, for a game that first released into early access around 2013 and has 42 builds, the game still looks damn good. Now I will openly admit, I am not an expert at the game. In fact, I am not even good at the game. After about 20 hours, I wouldn’t even consider myself “adequate” at the game; I have simply played the game enough to tell you if it is worth your money.

For example, the game runs pretty damn smoothly, and the controls take a bit of getting used to. This isn’t because they are hard; it is because there are a lot of them. You can learn the basics in the 10-minute tutorial. See, the learning curve isn’t a curve really; it is a whole damn mountain, and just when you think you have it down, you discover you have simply hit a plateau on which you are resting before you continue the climb. I say this as a compliment, because if you ever wanted a realistic zombie survival game, this is it. Every single decision matters. Your character will get bored, just like you do. You fix this the same way you do: watch TV, read a book, etc. You have to cook meals, fix a car, build a fence, and your character needs to know and practice these skills.

This, however, does come with some drawbacks. Not everyone wants to play a game like this, and it does lead to some frustrating moments. How hard is it really to make a damn steak? My 9-year-old can do it; why can the veteran character I created just toss it in the damn oven at 400 degrees ferienheit until it’s done? (Don’t worry for the people that don’t use freedom units, celsius is an option)

This all leads to what to my daughter and me is an 8/10 experience. The realism at times was its biggest downfall in many ways because it also meant I couldn’t do realistic things. I needed a certain knife to cut certain meat or a certain tool to fix a certain thing, which really meant I couldn’t do it the way I would in real life. Sometimes, in a pinch, any hammer will do the job. But is the game worth the $25? Oh yeah, this game will be in my rotation for a very long time to come. Best wishes, and may the gaming gods bring you glory.

Night Stocker Coming In September to Steam

Night Stocker is coming this September from Renovate Interactive, a small group of Ukrainian devs. It is a promising game described as a “cozy organization game” that will bring you straight back to the 90s. Your job is, in theory, simple. Take this chaotic mess and turn it into the store of your dreams. Arrange the store of tapes, games, and more into a neat and tidy store. In between, hang out and listen to music, and play with Monyo, the adorable cat. All while enjoying a fresh cup of coffee.

Obviously, I have not played the game, but the premise is strong for many reasons. Many of us have played similar games and wished the lighting was different, and now we can change it. We have also wished the damn customers would just stop messing up our store. This allows many people to live out that fantasy of just designing the perfect store. I admit this won’t be for everyone, but for many it will be worth checking out in September. Check out the trailer from the Ukrainian game festival below, and take special note of Monyo riding a rumba. Best wishes, and may the gaming gods bring you glory.

Doloc Town 1.0 Steam Review

Doloc Town was recently released in 1.0. If you remember, I was sent an early access version by Redsaw Games to review. Now I am back after putting some time into 1.0 after getting early access to it, which I always appreciate.

You can read my earlier review if you want to get into some of the details of what the game is; I mostly want to focus on what is new. For example, the story finally has a finale. You can see how it truly all ends now. Don’t worry, your hard work won’t go away; you can still keep playing.

We all know I love fishing

Another new thing is automation. I enjoy farming, but I don’t always love taking care of the farm itself. Now you can eventually set up machines to take care of all that dirty work for you while you reap the rewards. This, to me, is a huge game-changer because it leaves more time mid- to late-game to solve many of the quests, including the new three final quests and the new residential area to explore.

There are also new characters and enemies, and plenty of balancing issues. Now you may have noticed I haven’t mentioned any fixes for other issues, like the game running better. That is because the game has always played great. Even when I played in early access, I never ran into crashes or stutters. The game still has overwhelmingly positive reviews on Steam. I once rated this game a 9/10 experience, and that has not changed. Why is it missing that 1 point, you may ask? Is it tradition because I have never given a perfect score? Am I being petty? No, the game does falter in one area. I don’t find the characters very appealing. They are cute, but overall, many of them simply exist in the world. In a game with what is a very nice story, the lack of intriguing characters is kind of heartbreaking. Regardless, the game is amazing. Best wishes, and may the gaming gods bring you glory.