Dive into a world of stunningly nostalgic pixel art, storytelling, combat and exploration!
NICOSIA, Cyprus –Jan. 20, 2026 –The collective dream calls to you! Publisher CRITICAL REFLEX (Mouthwashing, No, I’m not a human) and developer Ichthys have released a new open playtest on Steam today for the atmospheric, pixel-art metroidvania Being and Becoming, alongside the reveal the game will officially launch in 2026! Play through the game’s intro, explore multiple locations, learn to use several types of weapons and abilities, meet different NPCs, and fight two epic bosses and a wide variety of enemies.
You are a would-be martyr, rescued from a watery grave and plunged into the Collective Dream: defy the prophecy of The Word, defeat the corrupted, gain new weapons and abilities from those who came before, and save the Dream by breaking the other dreamers free of the tyranny of The Word. Don’t let beauty dull your vigilance: the deeper you descend, the more treacherous the world becomes.
Key Features
Discover Echoes of the Past: Follow in the footsteps of the divers who came before you and take what they no longer need. Find new weapons and abilities to help you explore the Collective Dream.
Expand Your Arsenal: Assemble an array of weapons wielded by noble spirits ensnared within the torment of The Word. Weave intricate combinations of attacks to annihilate your foes.
Explore an Interconnected World: Venture across a vast, interconnected world which unfolds with unique visual style and mechanics.
Gorgeous Pixel-Art Aesthetic: From picturesque to grotesque, each location has its own ambience and feel, decorated with detailed handcrafted backdrops. Each boss has a distinctive personality, emphasized not only by the story, but with dozens of unique animations and environmental interactions.
Fully Voiced-Over Characters & Atmospheric OST: A diverse cast of charming and terrifying voice-acted characters and bosses. The soundtrack is filled with dynamic and atmospheric tracks that are both shaped by and directly shape gameplay.
Play the Being and Becoming playtest now on Steam and wishlist the game today! To dive deeper into all things CRITICAL REFLEX, visit www.criticalreflex.com.
About Ichthys
Ichthys began as a single man’s dream and grew into a collective dream encompassing a team of talented people with a shared goal in mind: to live by the rule of cool and tell meaningful stories. Working diligently for The Word, this team of dreamers put their heart and souls (literally) into creating visually stunning games that awaken spirits.
About CRITICAL REFLEX
CRITICAL REFLEX is an indie game publisher obsessed with genre-blending, rule-breaking, brain-melting games. We help devs polish the weird, sharpen the wild, and launch their projects loud. Known for titles like Buckshot Roulette, Lunacid, Mouthwashing and No, I’m not a Human, we champion the unforgettable experiences. Genre is a prison and we ate the warden.
About CR Channel CR Channel is the CRITICAL REFLEX publishing label focusing exclusively on indie horror.
Nightmarish spirits, conniving cultists, and hellish abominations await you in this retro platformer
[Delaware, United States – January 20, 2026] — The cursed burial grounds of Haunted Lands beckon you, as the demo is available now on Steam! Choose from six unique character classes that each suit a different playstyle, from mystical mages to ferocious beasts, acquire powerful artifacts to enhance your power tenfold, and slash your way through hordes of undead, twisted foes in this retro-inspired platformer developed by Alevgor and published by Alawar.
Hellish creatures lurk within the Haunted Lands, and only you can protect the sanctity of these burial grounds. Players can choose from a variety of different classes; Beast class is perfect for players who want to get up close and personal with foes, and spirit slayers who prefer to demolish from a distance may choose the Gunner class. Wish to wield both offensive spells and healing scrolls? The Mage class may be for you! Explore ancient crypts and tombs, and decimate the demons, cultists and more that stand in your way. The further you venture, the more intense bosses you’ll encounter.
Key Features:
Retro Action: Slay grim cultists, infernal minions, and twisted creatures that roam the Haunted Lands in this bloody and retro-inspired action platformer.
Five Playable Characters: With two Gunners (Veteran, Ranger), two Beasts (Werewolf, Salamander), and two Mages (Sorceress, Warlock), there are multiple options to take down the corruption haunting the burial grounds.
Explore And Destroy: The burial grounds are vast and teeming with old crypts and tombs to explore that are crawling with evil spirits, elite versions of enemies, and several challenging bosses.
Enhance Your Character: Acquire artifacts to enhance the offensive and defensive prowess of your character, and discover the most powerful artifacts to entirely change their skill sets.
A Formidable Challenge: If you’re looking for an additional challenge, endeavor to complete every objective and find every hidden secret as you crawl through the depths of a nightmarish hell in Haunted Lands.
Begin your journey into the merciless burial grounds today in the Haunted Lands demo, now available on Steam! Haunted Lands is set to haunt your screens and fully launch on Steam in 2026, so don’t forget to wishlist the game on Steam to stay in the loop.
About Alawar
Alawar is an independent video game developer and publisher founded in 1999. Specializing in midcore and casual games, the company extends its creative influence across PCs, video game consoles, and mobile devices. Alawar’s key titles include the Beholder series, Do Not Feed the Monkeys, Karate Survivor, Necrosmith, Wall World, and an array of other releases.
About Alevgor
Solo game developer Oleksii Horiachev, also known as Alevgor, formerly worked as a freelance artist and animator. Since 2019, he has dedicated himself to crafting engaging and challenging games across diverse genres and styles.
Command large-scale armies in this premium deep real-time tactics title.
[January 20th, 2026] – Tactical Boar has announced Veterans: Napoleonic Wars, a premium real-time tactics and strategy game set during the Napoleonic Wars. Coming to Steam, Veterans: Napoleonic War places players in command of historical armies, focusing on mastering formations, maintaining morale, and making tactical decisions across recreated battlefields.
On the battlefields of the late 1790s, combat is built around accurate formations such as line, column, and square, with morale and unit experience playing a critical role in victory or defeat. As campaigns progress, units gain veterancy, allowing players to shape and customize their armies while adapting to increasingly complex tactical scenarios. The use of artillery emphasizes the importance of troop maneuvering, reinforcing the importance of positioning and timing during engagements.
Blending strategic depth with accessible, fast-paced gameplay, Veterans: Napoleonic Wars delivers a focused single-player experience centered on tactical missions and historically grounded encounters, supported by a grounded visual style that captures the intensity of battle.
Key Features:
Historical Campaigns: Battles inspired by Napoleonic campaigns from 1796–1797
Tactical-First Design: Real-time combat focused entirely on battlefield tactics with no base building
Formation Warfare: Deploy historically accurate line, column, and square formations
Morale & Fatigue Systems: Unit morale, fatigue, and line of sight directly influence combat outcomes
Dynamic Battlefields: Weather and terrain that affect movement, visibility, and engagements
Army Progression: Customize armies and develop veteran units over the course of campaigns
Authentic Artillery: Realistic artillery, and late 18th-century uniforms
Single-Player Focus: A premium single-player experience built around focused tactical missions
Veterans: Napoleonic Wars is in development for PC via Steam. Will you too win at the Battle of Arcole? Wishlist the game on Steam now and prepare for battle in Veterans: Napoleonic Wars.
About Tactical Boar Tactical Boar is a new developer and publisher interested in RTS games. They aim to deliver strategy games not only to PC but to consoles. The team is real veterans in the gaming industry with more than 15 years of experience.
The medieval city-builder invites players to help shape its future through community-driven development.
20th January, 2026 – Today marks the launch of Earth of Oryn in Early Access on Steam. A medieval kingdom-builder centred on meaningful decision-making and long-term strategy, Earth of Oryn invites players to rule their lands, manage resources, plan expansion, and guide a settlement from humble beginnings to a thriving realm as the seasons turn. To mark its Early Access launch, Earth of Oryn is available today with a limited-time 10% launch discount on Steam.
Early Access represents the first step in a longer development journey for Earth of Oryn. This release is designed for players who enjoy early-stage city builders, value systemic depth, and want to take an active role in shaping a game as it grows. Player feedback will play a key role in guiding development, helping refine systems, balance gameplay, and prioritise future content.
While Earth of Oryn is still in development, its core city-building and survival systems are fully playable, offering a solid foundation on which the game will continue to evolve. New mechanics, content, and refinements will be introduced over time as development progresses at a realistic and sustainable pace.
Early Access allows Earth of Oryn to grow alongside its community. Players can expect regular iteration, balance improvements, and system evolution as feedback is gathered and ideas are tested. This is a living project, built with transparency and long-term vision in mind.
About Earth of Oryn
Build a Settlement From the Ground Up
Start a new town in the land of Brandford and shape it one piece at a time.
Place houses, farms, workshops, roads, and markets to form a living village.
Expand from a handful of settlers into a functioning community.
Research new technologies to strengthen and grow your settlement.
Design With Modular Building
Create towns that feel intentional, personal, and shaped by your hand.
Assemble buildings using a modular construction system.
Place walls, fences, roads, and decorations to define your town.
Modify terrain and adapt layouts to the surrounding land.
Manage People and Daily Life
Guide your settlers by organising work and daily routines.
Assign tasks such as building, farming, mining, and hauling.
Define zones to control production and movement.
Influence mood, trust, and comfort through nearby structures and auras
Produce, Transform and Survive
Turn raw resources into a thriving settlement.
Gather food, wood, and stone to support your population.
Create production chains to transform materials into useful goods.
Defend your land with basic melee and ranged units.
Early Access Overview
Earth of Oryn is in Early Access to allow the game to grow with player feedback.
Core gameplay systems are playable.
Some mechanics are still evolving or experimental.
Development remains focused, transparent, and sustainable.
Current State
Early version with a playable city-building and population management core.
Sandbox-style experience focused on survival and growth.
Several hours of gameplay depending on playstyle.
Systems will expand and deepen over time.
Planned for the Future
Additional biomes and civilizations.
Expanded progression and advanced buildings.
Campaigns, combat depth, and sandbox options.
Localisation beyond English.
Who Early Access Is For
Early Access is ideal for players who:
Enjoy early-stage city builders.
Appreciate long-term systemic development.
Are comfortable with iteration, balance changes, and evolving mechanics.
Players who prefer a feature-complete, fully polished experience may wish to follow development and join later as the game continues to grow.
Demo & Early Access
The available demo is an early technical preview. Early Access builds upon this foundation, but both represent early steps toward the final vision.
Development Philosophy
Prioritise clarity, usability, and meaningful player choices.
Refine core systems before expanding scope.
Build depth gradually through iteration and feedback.
A Note from the Developer
Earth of Oryn is being developed by a single creator. Early Access is an opportunity to build the game together with its community, shaping systems and features through shared feedback. The goal is steady, thoughtful growth, turning a strong foundation into a rich and rewarding medieval city-builder over time.
Earth of Oryn is availablenow via Steam Early Access with a limited time 10% launch discount.
The iconic world of deep forests and endless mystery returns to its roots as a stand-alone RPG based on the award-winning Dragonbane
Stockholm, Sweden (January 20, 2025) | Today, Free League Publishing announced that the Kickstarter campaign for Dragonbane: Trudvang, a stand-alone tabletop role-playing game based on the multiple award-winning Dragonbane RPG, will launch on February 17.
Trudvang brings players into a mist-shrouded realm of ancient gods, monstrous creatures, and unsung heroes. Deeply rooted in Nordic mythology, the game blends mythic brutality with haunting beauty, offering a rich setting that is both timeless and fiercely original.
Prospective backers can sign up now to be notified and not miss out on the early backer bonus: a deluxe art print featuring stunning new cover art by legendary fantasy artist Paul Bonner.
Check out the Dragonbane: Trudvangpre-launch page on Kickstarter here.
A Complete Stand-Alone RPG with Full Dragonbane Compatibility
Produced by Free League under license from CMON, Dragonbane: Trudvang includes complete rules and is fully compatible with the Dragonbane core game, allowing groups to seamlessly integrate content between systems.
The Kickstarter campaign offers four masterfully illustrated hardback volumes, available in both English and Swedish, in standard editions or limited Collector’s editions:
Core Rules: Complete Dragonbane-based rules tailored for Trudvang, including new kins, professions, skills, heroic abilities, and magic wielded by vitner weavers and dimwalkers
World Book: A richly illustrated deep dive into Trudvang’s history, cultures, and regions, spanning the Stormlands and Westmark to Soj and the Great Ice Plains
Jorgi’s Bestiary: The classic Trudvang monster manual returns, featuring creatures such as braskelwurms, draugr, hrimtursir, and yggdras, all fully adapted for Dragonbane
The Black Sun: A legendary four-part epic campaign, revised and published in English for the first time
A World with Deep Roots and Legendary Creators
Originally created in the early 2000s by Theodore Bergqvist and Magnus Malmberg of Riotminds as a campaign setting for the Swedish edition of Dragonbane (Drakar och Demoner), Trudvang later evolved into the standalone Trudvang Chronicles RPG and the board game Trudvang Legends by CMON.
Artwork for Dragonbane: Trudvang draws from over two decades of iconic Trudvang illustrations, including work by Paul Bonner and Álvaro Tapia. Bonner has also created the striking new cover art for the Dragonbane: Trudvang World Book, while acclaimed illustrator Francesca Baerald created an all-new map of Trudvang.
The writing, editing, and adaptation of this new edition is led by veteran RPG writer Magnus Seter (Cyberpunk 2020,Mutant Chronicles,Forbidden Lands, Dragonbane), who also worked on Trudvang during its early days.
“When we heard that Free League had licensed Trudvang from CMON, and that Magnus Seter would be leading the work on this new edition, we were naturally delighted. Most of all because the world gets to live on — but also because Trudvang has, in many ways, found its way home again,” says Theodore Bergqvist, the co-creator of Trudvang.
Dragonbane is an award-winning fantasy tabletop roleplaying game released in 2023 by Free League Publishing. It is a modern reimagining of Drakar och Demoner, Scandinavia’s first and most influential tabletop RPG that launched in 1982, and is known for its fast-paced play, low-prep design, and blend of mirth, mayhem, and deadly adventure.
About Free League Publishing
Free League Publishing is a game studio and publisher dedicated to speculative fiction based in Stockholm, Sweden. Voted Fan Favorite Publisher at the ENNIES in 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025, Free League has published a wide range of award-winning tabletop roleplaying games and acclaimed art books set in strange and wondrous worlds.
Our game portfolio includes Coriolis: The Great Dark, the acclaimed fantasy RPG Dragonbane (ENNIE Award winner 2024), the official Blade Runner RPG (winner of two Gold ENNIE Awards 2023), The One Ring™ RPG (Gold ENNIE Award winner 2022) as well as the expansion Moria™ – Through the Doors of Durin (winner of two Gold ENNIE Awards 2025 and one Silver ENNIE Award 2025), the official ALIEN RPG (Gold ENNIE Award for Best Game 2020), the Gothic horror game Vaesen (winner of three ENNIE Awards 2021), the pitch-black fantasy RPG MÖRK BORG (winner of four ENNIE Awards 2020) and its two spin-offs CY_BORG and PIRATE BORG, the alternate ’80s Tales from the Loop RPG (winner of five ENNIE Awards 2017, including Best Game), the retro-fantasy Forbidden Lands (winner of four ENNIE Awards 2019), the postapocalyptic Mutant: Year Zero (Silver ENNIE for Best Rules 2015), the blue-collar science fiction game Death in Space, the dark fantasy game Symbaroum, the weird-fantasy game Into the Odd Remastered, the new edition of the RPG classic Twilight: 2000 (Judges Award for Best RPG at UK Games Expo 2022), the official The Walking Dead Universe RPG, and The Electric State RPG.
We have also published the art books Tales From the Loop, Things From the Flood, The Electric State, and The Labyrinth by the acclaimed visual storyteller Simon Stålenhag, as well as the illustrated editions of the Lovecraft classics The Call of Cthulhu, At the Mountains of Madness, and The Dunwich Horror by the praised artist François Baranger.
Following strong player feedback, the card-based folklore adventure enters Early Access
18 DECEMBER 2025 – Clumsy Bear Studio has announced that Hungry Horrors will launch into Steam Early Access on 19 January 2026.
Hungry Horrors is a card-based adventure inspired by British and Irish folklore, where players must keep terrifying creatures fed using traditional regional dishes. There is no combat. Every card played is a meal served, and each turn is about keeping a Horror fed before it reaches you.
After a strong demo reception and months of iteration driven by community feedback, the Early Access release marks the next major step for the project, expanding its systems, content, and progression while continuing to involve players directly in development.
Hungry Horrors launches in Early Access on Steam on 19 January 2026. Available for PC (Windows, Mac, Linux) and Steam Deck. Other platforms will be considered after the PC release.
What Early Access Includes
At launch, the Early Access version of Hungry Horrors will feature:
Five playable biomes: Caves, Woods, Bogs, Meadows, and the Town, plus the Dungeon and the Kitchen
20 folklore Horrors, drawn from British and Irish myth, including Dullahan, Jenny Greenteeth, and Queen Mab
42 playable dishes based on real traditional recipes from Britain and Ireland
8 legendary characters to encounter, such as Herne the Hunter and the Wulver
Seasonings, cookware, potions, and artefacts that alter how you play
Core progression through the Book of Taliesin, unlocking new mechanics and strengthening future runs
Unique fatality animations for every Horror
Five original music tracks composed for the game by Henry Taylor
Easter eggs, unlockable mechanics, Steam achievements, and hidden interactions
Full controller support, plus mouse-only and keyboard-only play modes
Player feedback will continue to shape the game during Early Access, with regular updates planned as new areas, creatures, dishes, and narrative elements are added.
About the Game
In Hungry Horrors, you play as a spoilt princess forced into action when a ravenous curse spreads across her kingdom and a dragon awakens at its heart. To save the realm, she must perfect her cooking and feed the Horrors drawn from British and Irish legend, under the watchful supervision of a sharp-tongued, sarcastic cat who never misses a chance to comment.
Each encounter is about feeding Horrors rather than fighting them, balancing hunger, flavour cravings, and taste chains while upgrading dishes with seasonings. Cookware, spices and artefacts collected along the way reshape each run, as you discover events and legendary characters throughout the journey.
Every Horror, NPC, and artefact is rooted in regional folklore, from well-known figures to obscure local tales. Every dish is based on an authentic recipe, many of which can still be found in pubs today.
The game blends turn-based strategy with a strong sense of place, wrapped in colourful 90s-inspired pixel art and accompanied by an original, whimsical score composed by Henry Taylor.
Key Features
You don’t fight monsters, you feed them
Every card is a traditional recipe from Britain and Ireland
Every monster, NPC and artefact comes from the tales, legends and folklore of this region
Unique fatality animations, colourful 90s pixel art and whimsical bespoke music
Blends turn-based strategy, cozy pixel art indie charm, and dark folkloric horror.
About the Studio
Clumsy Bear Studio is a self funded indie studio based in the UK, made up of two developers Scott Fitzsimmons & Jerzy Pilch. Hungry Horrors has been in development for over a year and a half and is being built entirely in Godot and Aseprite. All art, design, and code are created in house, with original music composed by Henry Taylor.
There was once a time that VTubing seemed like a thing that was only a small fad growing in Japan thanks to a few who pioneered the field and started making a splash overseas such as Kizuna Ai. Since then we’ve seen companies like Hololive explode in popularity around the world and VTubers in every language, shape, and content style have sprung up, be they part of a large corporation or an indie trying to run everything on their own. Anime style, 3D modeled, simple png designs, and more, Vtubers are everywhere. Yet at the heart of it all, except for one notable case that still has someone at least holding their reigns, there is still a face behind that animated Vtuber model.
Now what if the face behind that Vtuber model happened to be involved in a brutal murder case that happened right within the company’s own office? That is the question that indie developer Lilien Games poses with their unique blend of murder mystery and visual novel called The Real Face of a Vtuber. With plenty of references to Vtubing moments, some obvious inspirations here and there, and even a sprinkling of actual Taiwanese Vtubers, is this visual novel worth your time?
Story
What started as a standard day for Justin Truth, a seasoned prosecutor with a sweet tooth, getting angry at his assistant Emily Close for eating his pudding soon turns into a blood covered crime scene as he is informed that the CEO of the Vtuber company called Lilien Entertainment has been found murdered inside the company’s headquarters. Upon arriving on the scene, Justin finds that the CEO, Mr. Chicken, is none other than a literal chicken and is simply called Mr. C to avoid confusion from then on. To make matters worse, while there is blood and evidence scattered around, the office was locked until the body was discovered. This means that there are only six suspects that could possibly have slain their boss, the six employees of Lilien Games themselves.
To make matters worse, each of these women, through one reason or another, is clearly suspect in slaying Mr. C after the initial investigation, only leading into more questions when it suddenly becomes clear that multiple people begin to claim that they happen to be the company’s incredibly popular Vtuber, Kuripa’s, real face as a way to claim their innocence. With the help of Close and officer Zelda Hoss to look into various leads, it will be up to Justin to come up with the truth behind this murder and what secrets these six girls have been hiding, as the closest secret a Vtuber has is their real identity, but now that blood has been spilled, will that secret finally come to light?
Although it may have plenty of colorful visuals and the victim happens to be a chicken (reference to Phase Connect’s Sakana perhaps?) The Real Face of a VTuber does tell a serious story that delves into the mindset of some of the employees as well as deep into the world of Vtubing as a whole while also explaining many aspects of VTubers that newcomers may be unfamiliar with. This includes things like Vocoders to adjust voice pitch or hide their real identity, rigging, the terms of Mother and Father in regards to a VTuber, and much more. In fact, longtime fans of VTubers in general will obviously get the biggest kick out of this story though newcomers who never have watched one before may also find themselves intrigued once they get a small taste here.
The characters themselves are something of a mixed bag unfortunately since, of the six primary suspects, one is only given the bare minimum in the form of development while another is meant to be something of an enigma. While trying to avoid spoilers, this character switches from referencing famous events from VTubing history including Gawr Gura’s debut stream to acting entirely out of place and mysterious, leaving her the biggest question mark players will walk away from once the game’s true credits roll, even with the bonus episodes. As for the other four, the character development is handled rather nicely and as players uncover more about their pasts, what motives they may have to want to kill Mr. C, and their alibis there is some great writing for these four characters.
It is interesting to note that The Real Face of a VTuber has three different endings depending on the clues that players gather and who they choose to accuse at certain points of committing the murder. Ironically, while my first guess for who happened to be the “Real Face” turned out to be correct, it led to one of two “bad endings.” Once the player completes the title they will be given various hints as to where they can locate extra evidence they may have missed and uncover new clues to unlock the third ending, the truth route. There is even some interesting bonus content that is unveiled once players complete this route though we will leave that up for players to find for themselves.
Gameplay
As with most visual novel style games, The Real Face of a VTuber, generally only involves talking to various characters but thanks to the game’s core aspect being built around a murder mystery, it also involves gathering evidence and actually interviewing suspects. Standard gameplay tends to simply involve reading along as the dialogue plays but throughout the game players will be given times where they can call any of the six suspects in to ask them about a new lead to try and uncover evidence.
Similarly, players can talk to their assistant Emily Close and officer Zelda Hoss and have them also investigate various leads that play out while players are interviewing witnesses/suspects. This helps uncover some new clues that players can then tie together on their own to put together their own theories about what actually happened. In fact, enough evidence happened to point in a certain direction that my own guess turned out to reveal the right identity, just not through the right route resulting in a different ending of the three possible routes.
Alongside interviewing and talking to the characters players will be able to access the “internet” and to DM “fans” of Kuripa to learn additional information as well as unlock additional hints and clues that can be used to send players down a different route and even watch short tidbits of Kuripa’s streams where the Vtuber is shown interacting and talking with other real Vtubers from Taiwan, with nearly every single one of them having a solid enough following on their own. This adds a nice little extra touch to the gameplay element even if the streams themselves are mostly bonus content.
As mentioned before, the game does feature three different routes depending on what clues players manage to gather and what they end up thinking is the real truth. Ironically, the game is quite difficult when it comes to managing to end up on the “true” path but once players complete the game once the title unlocks a hint system to point players along the way. It is worth noting that there are no fail states in The Real Face of a Vtuber nor any actual punishment for getting things wrong. This may be disheartening to some looking for a bit of challenge, especially during the court segments that feel just like a spiky haired defender would take part in.
Only during these segments players can only object to questions asked about various statements or cross-examinations and rather than objecting to some falsehood, it is instead objecting to something that would be improper in legitimate court, such as asking a leading question or one with no bearing on the case itself. Instead if players miss an objection their assistant Emily will object for them and Justin will react as if punished, similarly if they present the wrong evidence when questioned about a certain fact or objecting at the wrong time. There are no health meters or court misconducts that can happen so players really have no worries about failing which does take away some of the stakes.
It is worth noting that throughout my time with The Real Face of a VTuber there were a handful of bugs that appeared but nothing too drastic. One time during an objection the entire game froze in that scene and the only way was to quit out and then there are multiple moments that untranslated text appears on-screen. This doesn’t happen quite that often, but enough to be noticeable especially when it comes to looking for a hint or two, especially since a character’s entire name is different in the English release compared to what it is stated as.
Audio & Visuals
The Real Face of a VTuber has a fairly simplistic style for most of its designs, especially in regards to the backgrounds which are kept minimalistic. Thankfully the actual character designs are fairly well done with a handful of expressions for each of the characters in the game, though not as many poses as some players may want. It is also worth noting that there are only around five or six CGs throughout the entire game which is a bit unfortunate. What is stellar looking though is the way the game presents the game’s Vtuber Kuripa and her streams. Unlike standard character models Kuripa is Live2D and her “streams” are filled with animation and extra effects to make them look quite impressive. Kuripa herself also looks exactly like what someone familiar with Vtubers would expect given the information and background the company has built around the character.
There is no voice work of any kind in the game, though there are a few jokes that if The Real Face of a VTuber sells a hundred thousand copies they will add voice work. This does mean that everything shown must be read and for the most part that is fine outside of a few misspellings and aforementioned untranslated lines. It is also worth noting that some of the dialogue that appears during Kuripa’s streams are displayed a bit oddly due to the English text not lining up properly in her “stream” window. The soundtrack features a fairly standard collection of background music that the team has put to great effect especially when major revelations about the case happen.
Overall
The Real Face of a VTuber offers not only an intriguing murder mystery but also a solid look into the world of VTubing itself, giving those who may only have surface knowledge a little peek behind the curtain while also providing plenty of funny references for longtime fans of VTubing in general. Behind this interesting mystery though are some faults as a few characters feel underutilized and some untranslated text and formatting issues appear more frequently than many would like, but even then Lilien Games’ foray into blending together VTubing and murder investigations is quite the successful one.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Bungie announced today that players will begin unravelling the mysteries of Tau Ceti IV when Marathon launches on Friday, 6 March* (AEDT). In Marathon, players scavenge the lost colony of Tau Ceti IV as a bio-cybernetic Runner while surviving against hostile security forces, rival Runners, and inhospitable environments to seek their fortune. A gameplay trailer was also released, showing the many dangers players will face on the surface of the planet.
Marathon English language voice actors announced
Marathon features the voices of…
Krizia Bajos, Samantha Béart, Beau Bridgland, Ry Chase, Roger Clark, Darin De Paul, Jennifer English, Dave Fennoy, Nika Futterman, Morla Gorrondona, Reina Guthrie, Donnla Hughes, Keston John, Sohm Kapila, Rich Keeble, Elliot Knight, Erica Lindbeck, Piotr Michael, Brent Mukai, Neil Newbon, Ariana Nicole George, Emily O’Brien, Lee Shorten, Jason Spisak, Ben Starr, JB Tadena, Fred Tatasciore, Craig Lee Thomas, Elias Toufexis, Oliver Vaquer, Scott Whyte, Tracy Wiles, Erin Yvette
Marathon will also have fully localised dialogue for all supported languages, with those voice casts to be introduced at a later date. The voice cast will also grow as the world continues to evolve.
Marathon pre-orders and Collector’s Edition available now
Marathon releases Friday, 6 March (AEDT) 2026 and is available in Standard and Deluxe editions for PlayStation 5, Steam, and Xbox Series X|S with full cross-play and cross-save**.
To celebrate Marathon’s launch, all Destiny 2 players can claim themed rewards in the Eververse Store, with ornaments available for those who pre-order.
Marathon Standard Edition
Access to all gameplay updates (maps, Runner shells, events, etc.) as the year progresses
Pre-order Marathon and receive the following:
ZERO STEP 004 CE Tactical Sidearm Style
ZERO STEP RC Weapon Charm
ZERO STEP SHIFT Weapon Sticker
APOGEE INTERCEPT Background
APOGEE INTERCEPT Emblem
Plus the following rewards for Destiny 2 rewards linked to your Bungie.net account:
UESC Echo-type Shell Exotic Ghost
UESC Rover Exotic Ship
UESC Sprinter Exotic Sparrow
Pre-order Marathon Standard Edition at the links here:
Today, a Marathon-inspired limited-edition DualSense controller was also revealed.
The DualSense wireless controller – Marathon Limited Edition is wrapped in bold graphics and fractured shapes inspired by Marathon’s futuristic world.
The controller will be available in limited quantities at participating retailers for $134.95 AUD.*** Pre-orders will begin on Thursday, 29 January, 2026 at 10am local time and launches Friday, 6 March (AEDT) 2026.
Read more at the PlayStation blog here, and watch the announcement trailer here.
#28 on Forbes list of “America’s Top Private Companies”
Forbes’ list of America’s Top Private Companies for 2025. This recognition marks Kingston’s continued growth in a rapidly evolving landscape. Kingston remains the top “Technology Hardware & Equipment” company on the list, reinforcing its position as an industry leader.
For more than two decades, Kingston has proudly held the title of #1 third-party supplier of DRAM modules worldwide and continues to lead as #1 in SSDs in the channel. These rankings, according to Forbes, reflect Kingston’s ability to consistently deliver high-quality products and maintain strong relationships with partners and customers across the globe. Kingston’s success is due in part to a simple yet powerful philosophy: “Built on Commitment.” This guiding principle has shaped the company’s culture and operations for nearly 40 years. From its humble beginnings in 1987 to becoming a global technology powerhouse, Kingston has remained steadfast in its dedication to quality, reliability, and customer care.
“This Forbes recognition, along with our ‘Built on Commitment’ philosophy, marks Kingston’s dedication and long-term vision: expand our product offerings, strengthen global partnerships, and continue setting industry benchmarks for performance and reliability,” said Kingston. “None of these achievements happen without the strong foundation and collaborative relationships we’ve built across the industry.”
From big data to IoT devices, including laptops, PCs, and wearable technology, Kingston Technology is dedicated to delivering top-tier product solutions, service, and support. Trusted by leading PC manufacturers and global cloud providers, we value our long-term partnerships that help us evolve and innovate. We ensure every solution meets the highest standards by prioritizing quality and customer care. At every step, we listen, learn, and engage with our customers and partners to deliver solutions that make a lasting impact. To learn more about Kingston Technology and our “Built on Commitment” vision, visit Kingston.com.
Sydney, Australia – January 20th, 2026: After briefly flirting with the idea of renaming the game Tides of the Day After Tomorrow, developer DigixArt (creators of the critically acclaimed Road 96) and publisher THQ Nordic have decided to stick with Tides of Tomorrow — and to take a little extra time before launch.
The narrative-driven adventure will now release on April 22, 2026, for PC, PlayStation®5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Following extensive feedback gathered from the Tides of Tomorrow playable demo and an ongoing closed beta, the development team determined that additional time is needed to respond to player input and implement improvements. This extra development period will help ensure the best possible experience for the upcoming narrative-driven adventure.
Players can currently try the Tides of Tomorrow demo for themselves, available at: https://thqn.net/ToTdemo.
While awaiting the release of Tides of Tomorrow on PC, PlayStation®5, and Xbox Series X|S on April 22, 2026, players are invited to check out the playable demo and explore the series of character showcases to get familiar with the cast of Tides of Tomorrow.
Tides of Tomorrow is developed by DigixArt and published by THQ Nordic. The game will launch on April 22, 2026, for PC, PlayStation®5, and Xbox Series X|S, both digitally and with physical retail editions available in major territories.
About Tides of Tomorrow:
In a flooded, post-apocalyptic world plagued by a mysterious disease called Plastemia, you embark on a single-player mission – yet you’ll never be alone. You’ll constantly feel the presence of other Tidewalkers through the echoes of those who came before you.
Key Features:
Reveal the ‘echoes’ of previous players through Online Story-Link – ghosts that show how previous Tidewalkers moved, the decisions they made, and even how they tried to communicate with you
Confront opposing factions – ruthless Marauders, everyday survivors known as Reclaimers, and the Mystics
Levels, NPCs, and narratives can be totally different depending on the choices of Story-Link selected
Sail through uncertain waters, gathering resources to improve your chance for survival
Explore diverse floating platforms set amongst unique land and seascapes
About Online Story-Link:
The ‘Online Story-Link’ feature allows you to feel the impact of previous players’ choices – and leave your own lasting mark for future players. How it works:
Every choice made by every player is recorded.
When beginning your run, you select a Tidewalker’s Story-Link to follow — from DigixArt team members, friends, streamers, or random global players.
You may visit the same locations, but the events, characters, and outcomes can differ entirely based on the choices made before you.
Your own choices will become Story-Links for future players, shaping their world in return.
For more information about Tides of Tomorrow, please visit the official website.
