Brave the Survivors of the Fog Throwback Event, earn rewards in the new Battle and Legacy Pass, try new Heroes for free, and more.
For Honor’s Year 10 Season 2, called Unleashed, kicked off today, bringing a new Hero skin and bundles for Sohei, a terrifying throwback event, new Battle and Legacy passes (and rewards), and Hero Fests. In Unleashed, Khatun’s Peace rewards obedience and dooms the unwanted. When the Samurai clan hosts a feast, they unveil a statue of Khatun to show their allegiance, but it came with a price: old tools had to be discarded, and the Sohei went on a suicide mission. Against all odds, he survived, and a stranger gifted him an Oni mask to give him strength and courage to exact his revenge. He attacks the feast, maiming all in attendance.
Watch: For Honor: Year 10 Season 2 – Unleashed Gameplay Trailer
Here’s a look at what this season has in store:
The Oni’s Wrath Hero skin and Bundles
A celebration of Unleashed and the return of the Survivors of the Fog event, this Sohei Hero skin is inspired by The Oni from Dead by Daylight and this season’s content includes:
The Oni’s Wrath Hero Skin and his weapon
The Oni’s Hunt Bundle, which includes The Oni’s Wrath Hero skin, the Bloodcurdling Scream emote, The Oni’s Craving execution, and the Blood Aura Mood FX
The Oni’s Hunt Deluxe Bundle, which includes Sohei and The Oni’s Wrath Hero skin, the Bloodcurdling Scream emote, The Oni’s Craving execution, and the Blood Aura Mood FX
There will be a Hero Trial when the skin releases, giving you a chance to try Sohei free for one week.
Throwback Event: Survivors of the Fog
Running from 11 June – 2 July, this Dead by Daylight collaboration event will test your courage. A 4v4 PvP mode similar to Dominion, two teams will compete for capture points by controlling generator zones. However, instead of minions, the map will be haunted by the Trapper, a vicious and deadly fighter looking to prey on Heroes. Killing the Trapper will award you hard points, and reaching 1,000 points will break the opposing team. Prove your mettle as the greatest warrior by making it to the top of the event leaderboard.
New Battle Pass and Legacy Pass
A new season means a new Battle Pass and Legacy Pass, each filled with exciting rewards for players to unlock.
Battle Pass
Uncaged Beast Effect
Uncaged Demon Effect
Uncaged Turmoil Ornament
Uncaged Madness Battle Outfit
Uncaged Animosity Battle Outfit
Thug Life Traversal Emote
Hyper Ultra Combo Kick Execution
A weapon for each Hero
And more!
Legacy Pass
Cursed Divinity Effect
Cursed Overlord Effect
Cursed Desert Battle Outfit
Cursed Temple Battle Outfit
Cursed Longevity Ornament
Sarcophagus Escape Signature
The Jasmine Box Execution
One returning weapon for each Hero available in Y6S2, and one new weapon for each Hero released since then
And more!
Hero Fests and Hero Trial
Unleashed is also giving players a chance to try Heroes for free. The Hero Trial, featuring Sohei, will run from 11-18 June. The three Hero fests, which will temporarily unlock the selected Hero, double XP gained, and include new executions are:
Nuxia – 2 July
Valkyrie– 9 July
Kensei– 16 July
Play For Honor Unleashed today on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC via the Ubisoft Store, Steam, and the Epic Games Store. You can also play with a Ubisoft+ subscription.
DIG Raiders: Anomaly Extraction, the multiplayer extraction digger from developer Soda Game Studio and publisher Infini Fun, receives five never-before-seen levels in its new demo, releasing today before its inclusion in Steam Next Fest!
Grab a pick axe and suit up in epic animal costumes to complete challenging Competitive, Co-op, or Solo missions. Burrow into the depths of the five new levels, each introducing distinct goals, mechanics and untold dangers.
Descend through the Biohazard Sewers by completing platforming challenges and avoiding unsettling dancing crocodile men. Locate randomly spawned keycards to secure a vital battery in the Underground Parking Garage, and manage a sensitive Fear meter while returning ghosts to their rightful homes in the Haunted Factory.
Traverse the underworld on pure adrenaline, or use teleportation hubs that, on lower levels, will be claimed by the first faction to pinpoint their location. Survive, secure objectives known as Alien Gems, and reach the extraction zone to claim glorious victory.
DIG Raiders: Anomaly Extraction will release on PC via Steam in 2026 with English, French, German, Spanish – Spain, Russian, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Portuguese – Brazil, Spanish – Latin America, Korean, Italian, Danish, Indonesian, Turkish, Polish, Thai, Dutch, Portuguese – Portugal, and Vietnamese language support. For more information, follow Infini Fun on X and join the community on Discord.
Would DIG Raiders: Anomaly Extraction’s demo launch be a good new item to share with your readers?
Check it out here ahead of Steam Next Fest, and please consider it for any “Best of” event roundup articles you may be planning!
About Infini Fun
Infini Fun is a dynamic new publisher, established in 2024, with a global focus. It specializes in publishing multi-platform games for PC and consoles, and providing developers with essential funding and technical support. Its services extend to platform porting, localization QA, and design consulting, covering every aspect of game development.
With a team boasting over 15 years of publishing experience, they meticulously handle each project, embarking on every exciting journey with developers, and striving to become the bridge between developers and players.
About Soda Game Studio
Soda Game Studio is an independent game development company founded by Tencent and ByteDance veterans Jeff Wu and Wilson Niu. Its team aims to leverage their deep-rooted gaming industry expertise to push boundaries through the radical embrace of new frontiers. The studio is currently working on DIG Raiders: Anomaly Extraction, a multiplayer extraction digging game, currently in development.
Airport Contraband, the roguelike Customs Officer simulation game, monitors departures and arrivals in a demo during Steam Next Fest, offering a first glimpse of life on the job at Caldora Airport!
Guard the gateway to an island paradise with a seedy underbelly. Inspect passengers’ travel documents, baggage, and clothing to clear them for travel – while confiscating unlawful items they might try to sneak through security.
Examine incoming cargo and luggage, and rank up through the persistent progression system to unlock new tools of the trade like magnetometers and stun guns to detect contraband and stop smugglers in their tracks. Beware the peering eyes of the local cartel, and weigh the consequences of their demands if you want to keep your job – and your life.
Each Airport Contraband run ends by either making too many mistakes as a Customs Officer or ignoring the cartel’s demands. Bank progress with unlockable bonuses and equipment that speed up the work and provide new ways to deal with sticky situations!
Would Airport Contraband’s Steam Next Fest demo be of interest to your audience? You can download the demo now on Steam, and we’d be grateful if you would consider it for inclusion in any “Best of SNF” roundup articles you have planned!
DRAGO entertainment began operations in 1998 in Krakow, Poland. The company initially focused on creating innovative projects for international video publishers as an external contractor while strengthening internal competencies and creating a friendly and professional team to develop their own titles. Since adopting a new strategy in 2018, their goal is to deliver high-quality productions on an international level.
The studio’s flagship title is Gas Station Simulator, which was released on September 15, 2021, and immediately became a best seller on Steam. DRAGO entertainment is currently broadening its horizons with new projects and continuing to support its current titles.
SACRAMENTO – 10 June 2026 – The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) welcomes three new directors to its board: Natasha Skult, Christopher Hamilton, and Mark Stanley.
Dr. Natasha Skult is the CEO & Creative Director of MiTale, a Finland-based independent game and software development company, focusing on interactive storytelling and narrative-driven games. Through a 15+ year career in game industry and academia, she has established cross-borders programs for business and cross-cultural regional developments via local talents and expertise. She remains active in academic research on interactive storytelling with quantum computing, and teaching courses in game design and game (digital) art production at University of Turku in Finland and Ashesi University in Ghana.
Christopher Hamilton is a Helskini-based veteran game industry specialist focused on production, developer and publisher relations, and business development. He has worked with companies including Rovio, Genvid Technologies, GameHouse, and Nevosoft on games for PC, mobile, web, and emerging interactive platforms. He advises indie game developers and game-adjacent startups, and works as a fractional Partner Relations Manager at Aiba, helping studios build safer player communities through LLM-powered moderation tools. Through leadership roles with IGDA Finland, We <3 Games, and The Finnish Game Jam, Christopher aids in creating opportunities for game developers and strengthening connections between communities through international and cross-cultural collaboration.
Mark Stanley is a global games industry executive, advisor, and founder of Syndicate of Play, with leadership experience across Xbox, PlayStation, SEGA, and GameStop, among others. His career spans 25 years and 40+ countries, driving growth, publishing, market expansion, and strategic partnerships across the gaming ecosystem. By combining operational execution with long-term industry vision, Mark advises studios, publishers, and industry organizations on growth, global expansion, and sustainable value creation. He also serves in board leadership and advisory roles with Games for Change, Playing for the Planet, and the Oceanic Society, reflecting his commitment to advancing the positive impact of games on culture, communities, and the planet.
“Natasha and Christopher each bring valuable institutional knowledge, leadership experience, and a deep commitment to IGDA’s mission of supporting game developers around the world,” said Dr. Jakin Vela, Executive Director. “We are also delighted to welcome Mark, whose perspective and expertise will bring fresh energy to the Board as we continue advancing our global strategy, strengthening member support, and expanding the impact of IGDA’s programs.’
The IGDA recognizes Zak Whaley, Nazih Fares, and Valentina Birke for their service and leadership as they conclude their terms. Their contributions have helped advance IGDA’s global support programs, mentorship efforts, and event presence.
The board has also appointed its executive officers for the 2026-2027 term, with Limpho Moeti serving a second term as Chair of the IGDA Board. The board further appointed Mafalda Duarte as Vice Chair, Jennifer Estaris as Secretary, Tim Cullings as Treasurer, and Christopher Hamilton as Treasurer-Elect.
About the IGDA
The International Game Developers Association is the largest nonprofit membership organization serving game developers worldwide. The IGDA is committed to advancing the careers and enhancing the lives of game developers by connecting members with their peers, promoting professional development, and advocating on issues that affect the developer community.
Swedish indie studio Sparrowland today releases its debut title, the dark and cinematic point-and-click adventure The Tragedy at Deer Creek, on PC via Steam, with a planned iOS release arriving in the fall.
BODEN, SWEDEN – June 10, 2026 – The Tragedy at Deer Creek is a dark and cinematic point-and-click adventure inspired by both classic and contemporary entries in the genre. Players take on the role of photographer Charlotte Gray as she arrives at the long-abandoned logging camp of Deer Creek to document the site for her upcoming photo book, Forgotten Frontiers.
What begins as a photographic exploration of a forgotten piece of American labor history gradually develops into a dark winter noir mystery, as Charlotte explores the camp and uncovers fragments of the lives lived there and the tragic events that ultimately led to the camp’s abandonment.
Presented from a first-person perspective, players explore Deer Creek and its surrounding wilderness while using classic point-and-click mechanics to progress the story. By collecting items, solving puzzles, and uncovering clues, they gradually unravel the camp’s hidden past.
The game in short
A dark, captivating cinematic winter noir story
Traditional point-and-click gameplay mechanics
Hand-crafted environments combining pixel art, 3D and hand painting elements
Environmental storytelling and puzzle solving
A mystery centered on family, loyalty, and tragedy
About Sparrowland
Sparrowland is a small indie studio based in Boden, Sweden, aiming to tell honest stories through games, stories that reflect both the peaks and valleys of the human heart. https://www.sparrowland.studio/
Debut Playable Demo Invites Players Into a World of Diplomacy, Deception, and Consequence
[Istanbul, June 10, 2026] Pillartide Studios today announced that a playable demo for TideBroker is now available on Steam as part of Steam Next Fest. The demo marks the first public playable release of the story-rich RPG, giving players their first hands-on look at the game’s world of political intrigue, fractured alliances, and high-stakes diplomacy. Play the TideBroker demo on Steam now.
Watch the TideBroker announcement trailer here:
Set in Craidoras, a decade-crafted fantasy world steeped in rich Mediterranean culture, TideBroker casts players as a faceless envoy navigating a fragile peace summit between three warring factions after sixty years of bloodshed. No swords are drawn, no guns are fired. Words, secrets, and the intelligence gathered from letters, books, and whispered conversations are the only weapons. Every alliance brokered shifts the balance. Every secret kept or revealed reshapes Craidoras for centuries to come.
TideBroker‘s distinct visual identity is rooted in the tradition of Mediterranean shadow theater, where colorful figures cast intricate stories across illuminated screens, brought to life by a four-person team at Pillartide Studios more than a decade in the making.
TideBroker is set to launch on PC via Steam in Q3 2026.
About Pillartide Studios
Pillartide Studios is a four-person independent game studio dedicated to crafting story-rich worlds with cultural depth and authenticity. Their debut title, TideBroker, draws on over a decade of world-building and a deep reverence for Mediterranean history, storytelling, and art.
Harness cursed immortality, forge devastating builds, and seal away Asmodeus in this upcoming dark fantasy roguelite action RPG coming to PC and PS5.
[June 10, 2026] – LINE Games announced that Ember and Blade, the upcoming dark fantasy roguelite action RPG, is officially coming to PS5. To mark the occasion, the game’s PlayStation Store page is live, allowing players to wishlist the title ahead of launch, while a new trailer offers a fresh look at the action.
Play as Fenrix, a cursed immortal trapped in an endless cycle of death and rebirth as he descends into the burning depths of oblivion to stop the rise of the archdemon Asmodeus. Unlock relics, forge new weapons, and turn Fenrix’s curse into divine power while fighting through relentless demon hordes. Stack angelic blessings, modify weapons with powerful Runes, and combine Arcana into absurdly powerful builds that evolve every run.
Key Features of Ember and Blade
Heavenly Blessing and Limitless Strategies – Your journey is blessed by the abilities of unique angels! Unlock powerful Awakening Skills by combining skills bestowed by angels and discover a universe of infinitely evolving strategies.
Shape Your Own Combat Style – Customize weapon actions with Runes, discover Arcana through dangerous Rifts, and create devastating builds that evolve every run.
Hellsent Boss Encounters – Twisted Judicators of Fate who sold their souls to become demons for reasons of their own, obstruct your path with immense power and deadly attacks. Achieve victory through meticulous planning, perfect timing, and the power of immortality.
Truth Concealed Beyond Death – Death is not the end of the story, but a new beginning. The secrets of the universe gradually come to light through countless cycles of death and rebirth. What deep, dark truths lie beyond the twisted web of fate?
Otherworldly Visual Art – A stunning yet delicately balanced setting, unique characters with vibrant colors and striking forms, and captivating visuals produced by outstanding visual effects and dynamic battle scenes await you
Ready to slash into the ethereal world of Ember and Blade? Wishlist the game on Steam, Epic Games Store, and PlayStation Store. Stay up-to-date on all things Ember and Blade by joining the official Ember and Blade Discord server. Check out the LINE Games page, X, and YouTube channel for more heavenly details.
About LINE Games
LINE Games, a subsidiary of LINE Yahoo, is a Seoul-based publisher and developer dedicated to creating and publishing games across PC, console, and mobile platforms. With a portfolio spanning action RPGs, narrative adventures, and multiplayer experiences, LINE Games brings distinctive titles from Korea to players worldwide. Its in-house studio, Nine Lives, is a small team of 15 industry veterans, with experience across globally recognized titles, dedicated to delivering high-quality, memorable game experiences.
In search of our missing parents and the rest of the fox clan we settle into the Yokai paradise that is Seikyu. Here we bond with some of the resident yokai, take part in a festival, farm, and explore the ruins of our ancestors in search of clues to what happened in ACE Entertainment’s Tales of Seikyu.
Tales of Seikyu – Gameplay
Tales of Seikyu is a charming fantasy life-simulation RPG set on the magical island of Seikyu, a hidden sanctuary inhabited by Yokai and other mythical beings. After inheriting an old farmhouse, players begin a new life cultivating crops, raising animals, building relationships, and uncovering the island’s many secrets. Inspired by Japanese folklore, the world is filled with colorful characters, seasonal events, and mysterious locations waiting to be explored as you settle into your new home.
Beyond farming and crafting, players can harness powerful Yokai transformations to aid exploration and daily life. Glide through the skies as a crow tengu, dive beneath the waves, or use supernatural abilities to access hidden areas and resources. With romance options, deep customization systems, relaxing gameplay, and a vibrant fantasy setting, Tales of Seikyu offers a cozy adventure where friendship, discovery, and community are at the heart of the experience.
Tales of Seikyu Developer: ACE Entertainment Publisher: Fireshine Games, Logoi Games Platform: PC/Steam Release Date: 11th June, 2026 Price: $24.99 USD
Recommended – “Tales of Seikyu shines by embracing its yokai charm and romance helping it stand out but shallow farming and under-baked combat hold it back along the way.”
For many older fans of the farming game genre, it all started back on the SNES with Harvest Moon, now known as Story of Seasons. This simplistic but heartwarming start kickstarted a franchise that continues to today and has inspired countless spin-offs including the company’s own Rune Factory that added fantastical elements and combat into the farming life. Over the decades numerous different titles have looked to capture some of the magic of the charming farming life in their own unique way and while some have been major successes and others have carved out their own niche, others come and go with little notice.
Tales of Seikyu from ACE Entertainment has spent a fair amount of time in early access refining itself and now that the full release is upon us and offering something that is entirely unique in its own right, is it set to make a mark worth remembering?
Story
For as long as they can remember, the player and their younger sister Kon have grown up knowing nothing of their parents, only that they were sent away at a young age and left with a note saying to seek the island of Seikyu eventually. Upon finally being able to do so, the player, trapped in human form and their younger sister, stuck in her fox form, manage to arrive in Seikyu and begin meeting the many yokai that make the sanctuary their home. Through the help of the town’s mayor they meet many of the local establishments and the yokai that run them as well as the people that they’ll be growing closer to as they work to uncover the great mystery that they soon find is far more than expected.
Not only have their parents disappeared, but all fox yokai have vanished from the lands making the player and Kon the first seen in years and even activating their ancestral shrine and speaking to the deceased elders of the fox clan prove this fact, though even these ancestors have no knowledge of what happened to the clan, only rumors and mysteries that may be found within the deep fox ruins that have remained part of Seikyu since the town was founded, though it now contains a myriad of monsters, traps, and secrets and unfortunately for the player, they aren’t the only ones after the secrets within the ruins as the members of the Tanuki clan have also begun investigating, seeking the fox’s secret power for themselves.
Tales of Seikyu tells a fairly interesting story especially since players will tend to uncover it at their own pace, finding out more of the history of the fox clan and the secrets that the island holds, including the gods that govern it, simply through exploration and taking on quests as they see fit. Nothing is timed or limited, and players can even make specific choices depending on how they feel like approaching some quests, though most tend to still result in the same outcome in the end. Such as choosing to keep a treasured heirloom with the family instead of lending it to the credence of a casino. The casino will still be built, just without any reward for the player and the disappointment of the woman requesting it.
While we won’t go into further detail here to avoid spoilers, especially since the game’s full launch adds the proper conclusion to the game’s storyline, it does work rather well though players will likely feel it is a bit on the predictable side. Either way, while the core storyline has its strong moments and weaknesses, the place where Tales of Seikyu really shines is with the characters and the fact that the writers weren’t afraid to go all out with the yokai aspects and mythology here. Whereas some games may offer a few unique romance options such as characters with fairy wings, elf ears, or simply dog ears and a tail, Tales of Seikyu commits and it does so with both pride and for its betterment.
While not all of the characters in the game are romanceable, a shockingly high eighteen are, with nine male and nine female options and some of these characters range entirely from a powerfully large otter bachelor to a blue-feather covered peacock-like bachelorette and even a deer-like centaur girl. Similarly both the brother and sister inugami are covered head to toe with fur, snouts, tales, and ears and players can choose to woo either if they see fit or simply befriend them if they choose. As players befriend characters through the standard methods of either talking to them everyday, giving them gifts they like, or completing requests they may have on the task board, they unlock special scenes and missions that can be seen as little dates that are unique to each character. Then, to add a little extra interaction to top things off, after certain affection levels are met players can ask characters out on dates, for a hug, or even a kiss.
It’s even interesting to note that certain characters’ favorite items just so happen to fall right in line with their mythological favorite items as well, meaning those who know their lore can get a leg-up on befriending characters fast. This level of detail goes even into characters that aren’t romance options, with the exception of the affection interactions of course as these characters will also appear with little quests of their own or even might appear at the player’s house in the morning and take them out for a little activity. Combine this with the sheer amount of festivals that players will also be able to take part in and how vibrant the community in the game can become as players advance through the story and unlock additional characters and facilities, and there is a shockingly high amount of things to do even if the story has run its course in Tales of Seikyu, especially since marriage is now on the table with this full release.
Gameplay
For all of its mythological basis, Tales of Seikyu is still primarily a farming and action game blended together. This means that when players aren’t running into town or the wilderness to find their favorite characters to talk with, they’ll be either tending to their crops, livestock, and hunting down enemies while exploring the island or delving into the extremely deep fox ruins. Every day players will have a certain amount of time to explore and are forced to sleep at 3AM, though there is no punishment for falling asleep even in the ruins. Similarly, they’ll also have a health bar and action point bar that will determine how much they can do everyday though this can also be restored by eating cooked food or even raw ingredients if necessary. Everything from swinging a sword, watering crops, or using a transformation’s special abilities requires the use of stamina and running out will leave players unable to fight or use tools but still able to explore.
Speaking of transformations, that is another unique aspect that helps set Tales of Seikyu apart from other farming games of its ilk. While players are initially given a watering can,they’ll primarily find that farming can be done almost entirely through their yokai transformations. Being a fox yokai, the player instantly unlocks the boar transformation upon unlocking their first ancestral shrine and can till the soil on their farm by smashing it down while transformed as a boar. Similarly, as players delve into the fox ruins and defeat the bosses and puzzles within, they’ll continue to obtain additional transformation scrolls that will unlock new yokai forms that can be used for both farming and exploration.
The first of which is a slime scroll that sounds bland but opens up an entire new form of exploration as the slime form allow players to venture into water and swim without worry, even attacking underwater foes and gathering minerals by breaking apart ore and scavenging items, though unfortunately fish cannot be gathered this way which is disappointing. The other aspect of the slime form is the fact that players can use the water from being in slime form to water their crops fast and without the need to refill their watering can, freeing up a spot in their inventory at the same time. After this it will depend on how players tackle the Fox Ruins but as they do they will uncover additional transformations such as the Tengu scroll that allows for flight, making previously unreachable locations easy to access and standard navigation far simpler, even if fast travel between the few fox shrines does work well-enough, and is a more defensive based transformation and even a yuki-onna transformation.
The biggest addition to this full launch is the fact that players now also gain access to their proper fox transformation and with it comes plenty of trickery one would expect from a fox in mythology. The fox form can fight with agile attacks and even possess an enemy, using stamina to make the enemy attack their allies and even dominate the mind of the possessed foe and bring it back to the farm if possible, though this is harder to do. Every transformation, including the base human form, can be leveled up using talismans obtained by completing rooms in the fox ruins with each upgrade costing more gold as well per level. The human transformation doesn’t obtain extra abilities but does boost the player’s overall health while all other transformations unlock either extra abilities or enhance already unlocked ones, such as increasing the damage of the underwater slime shots or increasing the speed of the Tengu’s flight.
As mentioned before, players will find that some of the best parts of the game are interacting with the characters and thankfully that is fairly straightforward gameplay wise. Players can gain affection by simply talking to characters and giving them gifts everyday, with their favorite gifts being unveiled in the glossary if discovered, and dates taking time but also improving the relationship. Similarly, players will also be able to take on random requests from the quest board that will award affection and money for gathering the requested item. Some of these quest board missions are “required” to unlock additional inventory or advance a part of the story but these will be marked as important compared to standard requests.
So far Tales of Seikyu has received practically all praise and its thanks to the fact that it takes experimental risks by allowing for such unique characters to be romanced and made part of the story, there being so many events and holidays in the world, as well as the transformation mechanics and how they work into the game’s exploration and even farming systems, but unfortunately that is where most of the praise comes to an end as the actual farming and combat are middling at best and not much more. In fact, even though players can feed and pet wild cats, dogs, weasels, and even iguana to eventually bring them back to the farm as adoptable pets, they are merely cosmetic friends and nothing more.
The farming in Tales of Seikyu is as straightforward as it comes with certain crops growing within certain seasons and taking a period of time to grow before being harvested. Fertilizer can be used to increase the speed of what is harvested but there are no “quality levels” when it comes to produce, so everything has a set value. Some crops such as strawberries and soybeans in spring can be harvested multiple times in a season, regrowing after a couple of days, while potatoes and cabbage must be replanted every time. Obtaining seeds is a bit of a hit or miss operation depending on how players want to tackle the game as most seeds can be purchased outright from the general store but some rarer seeds such as roses or red beans can only be obtained by digging through trash cans it seems like, at least at first. Thankfully while characters will comment if they see players digging in a trash can for valuable seeds, produce, or even expensive materials, it doesn’t actually drop their opinion of the player.
Farming really never gets too complicated as a result of there not being much to the system beyond simply planting and harvesting, making it rather mundane overall, and even this can be automated if players obtain and construct a properly functioning scarecrow golem, though doing so requires some investment and other combinations of work such as constructing a smelting furnace to craft ores into ingots, using a crafting table to put other materials together, and more. The farmland itself can eventually be upgraded with additional growing plots just like the player’s home can be upgraded in size and there are quite a few furniture options to choose from in the game’s furniture shop so players have plenty of ways to decorate if they wish to, even if it is to fill their entire floor with pet beds for the slew of pets they’ve gathered.
Different crafting recipes will be unlocked the more players take on various actions while out in the field. Smash apart enough rocks with your weapon and the player’s mining level will increase, gather new items and their gathering level might increase, and so on with potential level ups unlocking different recipes for either crafting benches, automated crafting tools for things such as fish bait or even weaponry, or even a silo that can be built to automatically feed any livestock the player should acquire. Yes, there is livestock in the game and it involves consulting a unique yokai south of the farm to help construct a chicken coop or barn on the farm before players can purchase all kinds of different animals that can produce unique items. Many of these animals are very run of the mill such as cows and chickens but there are some rather unique surprises we won’t spoil here that players can eventually obtain.
Unfortunately as far as combat goes things grow far more mundane. Players can equip any weapon that they find or purchase, and most of these weapons can be refined once the blacksmith is opened up, but the actual combat is rather floaty and lackluster. There is a lock-on option to target enemies, a dash option that works like an ineffective dodge, and of course an attack and heavy attack option as well but not much else. Fighting while transformed into various Yokai forms does help make some fights more interesting, especially since some boss battles even encourage players to experiment a bit with using their unique abilities to take down a foe, but having a suitably powerful weapon to slay standard enemies in a few blows is hardly a challenge. It is also unfortunate that there is no magic system beyond the Yokai transformation nor any real armor system beyond charms, rings, and bracelets players can discover and purchase from a mysterious merchant. The only clothing in the game that can be purchased is purely cosmetic and doesn’t apply any defensive qualities which is disappointing.
It is also worth noting that while we didn’t experience any significant bugs during our time with Tales of Seikyu, there were more than a few moments that we did end up getting stuck in the level geometry either while exploring underwater as a slime or flying somewhere unintended as the tengu. Thankfully the game does have an “unstick” option in the menu to fix this issue and players can also save almost anywhere at any time if they feel like they are at risk but it is still a small issue nonetheless.
Audio & Visuals
The presentation in Tales of Seikyu is quite impressive when it comes to the character models and enemy designs. As mentioned before, the fact that the developers were willing to commit all the way to the yokai designs of the bachelors and bachelorettes is a real boon that helps set the game apart and a good amount of detail has been applied to the character portraits as well during conversations. The world itself is a bit on the generic side while exploring outside of a few standout locations and the ruins tend to blend together after a period of time as well which is unfortunate. That being said, the way that the city transforms during festivals and between seasons is a real sight to see and it is impressive considering the amount of holidays the title includes.
There is unfortunately no voice work of any kind throughout the game outside of a few chirps from characters here and there but that doesn’t really count. Thankfully the title does sport a rather varied soundtrack that fits well with the mythological themes of the game while exploring the lands, visiting the city, or delving into the ruins with different pieces of background music for each.
Overall
Tales of Seikyu takes a tried and true formula and puts its own unique spin on things by committing hard to the yokai aspects in almost every way. Whether it involves romance with some of the most unique looking characters fans of the genre could hope for and the interesting stories that come with them or the way that the player’s own transformation abilities work into the farming and exploration mechanics, this is where the game shines its brightest. Combine that with a solid storyline and there is a lot of potential for those looking for an enjoyable enough story and colorful cast of characters but unfortunately the farming aspect and combat are both disappointingly shallow compared to what many might expect in the genre, especially the combat which feels rough around the edges even now. Still, the unique spin of building a life and romance in a yokai filled island that isn’t afraid to embrace the mythology helps this indie title stand out even with its flaws.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
There have been many different types of games that see players taking on the role of a shop keeper, be it more focused on simulation or in style, but few, if any actually, offer a combination of what High Times from Yangyang Mobile, an indie developer from the Phillipines, has to offer. Rather than placing players into the shoes of some generic simulator or trying to replicate the experience of running a futuristic bar or coffee shop, we find ourselves instead placed in the shoes of a completely customizable character, or at least partially customizable in the press demo, that serves as the sole “Mood Confectioner” at The Hotbox, a donut joint that also appears to have a music stage to draw in the crowd and some potential friends and lovers.
This is because unlike your usual simulator, High Times is also a romance game and it has quite a few interesting elements that we were able to experiment with throughout the eight days the press demo had to offer. Each day saw a new and usually colorful customer come in, generally seeming to have some connection to the player character in some way, either as an ex lover, friend, classmate, or a complete stranger, and each of these characters also have their own small issues they generally want to talk about as well as a sweet tooth that needs satisfying. Some customers order something directly from the recipe menu, making it easy for players to figure out exactly what to craft, while others provide only vague instructions or even leave things entirely up to the player to make on their own.
Making a donut is both surprisingly simple and complex at the same time depending on what is requested and how far players want to experiment. Every ingredient costs money so wasting resources might be troublesome down the line though money was never an object in the demo. Either way, players will lay roll out the dough, cut the shape of their choice, fry it until it is done, then begin decorating it with icing, filling, drizzle, and various toppings to either follow a recipe or free-style it if they feel like it, especially since some customer requests fall entirely out of the many recipes on offer. The truly interesting part of High Times though comes from the actual ingredients of the icing and everything else going into the donut.
Sometime before the demo begins, “Mood Enhancers” have been developed and legalized making them completely available for use in making your customers feel either how they requested or potentially alter their mental state in other ways. Chocolate will improve a character’s focus if they need to have a clear head, vanilla will make them happy, red velvet will fill them with courage, matcha can relax them, and much more. Players can even blend different icings and fillings together to create mood combinations if need be. The demo offered every topping, icing, and filling choice with a slew of over fifty different recipes to go off of and then whatever players may feel like making on their own.
As for the mood altering, most customers had specific requests as mentioned earlier but a few also had dialogue choices that improved the player’s relationship with that character, such as a blood-loving cheerleader or streamer in desperate need of a sincere talking to to wind down from an active stream. Similarly, there were a few choices that involved making a donut that would alter a character’s mood that would change whether they would make a story decision one way or another and while it is interesting to see how these effects play out, especially when the twin sister thanks the player for helping sooth her sister after, it also portrays the danger that these mood enhancers could potentially pose.
Then again, other than some haunting text messages that appear from a past acquaintance, that doesn’t appear to be the vibe that High Times is going for with its writing and extremely colorful designs. Every character players are introduced to are extremely colorful and vibrant looking and have a unique voice actor, including a few very recognizable talents and even online streamers that have lent their voices to the game and nearly every interaction was hilarious in one way or another. Without going into too much detail one night saw a chicken costume wearing girl obsessed with the local chicken farm to another with a jock too embarrassed to say he wanted a donut for himself, constantly saying it was for his girlfriend instead.
There are still some issues here and there such as the game’s backend social media features not appearing to work as intended and drawing drizzle onto a donut can be incredibly inaccurate, or not registered correctly, but these will likely be fixed going forward. With such vibrant characters to interact with and many that,, as mentioned before, seem to know the player from their past and a few that are more than eager to flirt right back with them, a certain rocker being incredibly forthright at that, and this colorful blend of mood changing and dating game all wrapped up in a donut shop is looking to set some high marks as High Times is set to be released on July 23rd for PC on Steam, Epic, Itch, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch for $20 USD.
