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Out of Hands: Art, Horror, and Healing

Entering the Nightmare: Story and Psychological Depth

Out of Hands is an indie card RPG developed solely by Yang Zeyu, the creative force behind Game River. The game thrusts players into a nightmarish dreamscape, where the protagonist, shattered by the loss of a loved one, must navigate a world that is as eerie as it is emotionally charged. Each step through this surreal landscape is a confrontation with repressed memories and psychological scars, with the narrative constantly shaped by three fragmented states of mind-logic, cryptic intuition, and instinct. These mental voices not only influence the protagonist’s actions but also lead players to question what is real, what is delusion, and what lies in the unspeakable abyss that lurks beneath trauma.

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A Decade in the Making: An In-Depth Interview with Alon Kaplan on Moduwar

The Genesis of Moduwar

Sitting down with Alon Kaplan, CEO, Team lead, and composer at Biohex Studios, at the Olamot convention, I was eager to uncover the story behind Moduwar-an RTS unlike any other. Alon recounted how the journey began nearly a decade ago, when he and co-creator Alon Tzarafi (CTO & Lead Game Designer), both passionate about real-time strategy games, gathered friends to brainstorm a new concept. Inspired by the cult classic NetStorm, they envisioned a game where players connect floating islands and build modular weapons. The twist? In Moduwar, these islands would be living creatures, not static landmasses.

After a pivotal phone call, the core mechanic of splitting and merging living entities was born. The team quickly built a tiny prototype, but the road ahead was anything but straightforward. Showcasing early builds at conventions, they received positive feedback but struggled to find a publisher willing to take a risk on such an unconventional idea. It wasn’t until a chance meeting with Firesquid at Gamescom that things finally clicked, leading to a publishing deal and a renewed sense of purpose to finish the game.

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Dawn of Ages: Medieval Strategy and Authentic Warfare

Dawn of Ages, developed by Stratosphere Games and published by BoomBit, officially launched on April 28, 2025, for Steam and Epic Games Store, bringing its unique brand of historically grounded medieval strategy to a broader audience. Unlike many strategy games that lean into fantasy, Dawn of Ages is committed to authenticity-eschewing dragons and magic for a focus on real historical empires, weapons, and tactics. This approach sets the stage for a game that challenges players to think and act like true medieval commanders, building empires and leading armies in battles that echo the conflicts of the past.

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Rise of Rebellion: Community Feedback, Combat Challenges, and the Road Ahead

A New Challenger Emerges in the Indie RPG Scene

Rise of Rebellion arrives on PC via Steam as a 3D single-player action RPG crafted by solo developer Hytacka and published by Kodansha Game Creators’ Lab. Set in the war-torn town of Tella, players become a Tella warrior-one of a select few attuned to the mystical Tel energy of the earth-tasked with reclaiming their homeland from invaders. The game’s premise is steeped in myth, with dragons once ruling the skies until divine wrath wiped them out, leaving behind a world where faith, earth magic, and swordsmanship collide.

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Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate – The Definitive Beat ‘Em Up Revival

Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate (PBBGU) marks a triumphant return for the cult-classic side-scrolling beat ’em up, now reimagined for modern platforms with a host of technical and gameplay enhancements. Developed and published by Rocket Panda Games, this ambitious remaster leverages the power of Unreal Engine 5 to deliver a visually stunning, mechanically refined, and content-rich experience across all platforms.

A Franchise Reborn

The Phantom Breaker franchise began as a 2D fighting game in 2011, with its beat ’em up spin-off, Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds, debuting in 2013. Over a decade later, Rocket Panda Games has revitalized the series, acquiring the IP and committing to expanding its global reach. PBBGU stands as the most expansive entry yet, combining the nostalgic charm of the original with modern sensibilities and a wealth of new features.

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Wizdom Academy: Building the Next Generation of Magic.

The world of magical management sims welcomes a fresh contender with Wizdom Academy, developed by the Swiss indie studio Kipwak Studio. Now available in Early Access on Steam, Wizdom Academy invites players to step into the shoes of a headmaster, tasked with not only constructing a sprawling wizarding school but also shaping the destinies of future spellcasters. With its blend of classic builder mechanics, enchanting visuals, and a strong community-driven development approach, Wizdom Academy is already making waves among fans of both simulation and fantasy genres.

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Augmented Empire: Where Strategic Combat Meets Emotional Storytelling

Augmented Empire, developed by Coatsink, has made its much-anticipated leap from VR to PC, bringing its acclaimed cyberpunk world and tactical turn-based gameplay to a broader audience. The game is now available on Steam with a launch discount, offering both newcomers and fans of the original a chance to experience the dystopian city of New Savannah in a new light.

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Steel Seed Review: Stealth, Story, and the Soul of a Machine

Steel Seed, developed by Storm in a Teacup and published by ESDigital Games, emerges as a bold new entry in the stealth-action genre, blending atmospheric world-building with emotional storytelling. Available now on PC (Steam, Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, this title invites players into a post-apocalyptic future where the last remnants of humanity are trapped beneath the earth, caught between extinction and a machine-dominated fate.

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Arena Breakout: Infinite’s IGNITION Update: Realism, New Modes, and My First Impressions

Arena Breakout: Infinite, the tactical extraction shooter from MoreFun Studios, is set to ignite the genre once again with its highly anticipated new season, IGNITION, launching April 29. This update promises a wealth of fresh content, gameplay enhancements, and new modes.

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Kaya’s Prophecy Review: Can You Survive the Wrath of Kalades?

Introduction
Imagine trying to rebuild your life in a tribal village, only to accidentally awaken a wrathful deity who demands constant offerings. This is the premise of Kaya’s Prophecy, a game that merges roguelike deck-building mechanics with village management. Developed by Thibaut and Jérémie and published by Yogscast Games, Released on April 10, 2025.

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