Don’t blink! Embody an ever-watchful king, and defend His Majesty’s people from doom
SEATTLE, WA – July 21, 2025 – The King is Watching, the roguelite kingdom builder from developer Hypnohead and publisher tinyBuild with more than 200k wishlists, 300k demo downloads, and a 96% rating on Steam, motivates lazy peasants to overcome invading armies today on PC via Steam.
Step into the shoes of a “motivational monarch” and witness as the realm praises his benevolence. Gaze upon the regions of a kingdom full of lazy peons to let them know it’s time to work. Stare at wheat fields and watch peasants harvest, but avert the royal gaze, and they’ll drop everything to avoid work. Stay vigilant on the castle to maintain production chains while invading armies attempt to divert attention.
Conquer challenges to unlock a total of seven monarchs, each with a distinct set of abilities. King Leo the Wise, a master architect, rewards servants with building blueprints. King Spellus, a wizard king through and through, passively generates crystals to refuel arcane power and conjures spells. King Alucard, on the other hand, can resurrect fallen soldiers to take on the battlefield as undead warriors.
Face a new villainous boss on each run, from dragons and necromancers to goblin warlords trying to overtake your settlement, each with a different attack plan and skillset. Adapt thy plans to accommodate for new spells, artifacts, and random blueprints, forging multiple paths ahead that ensure no run will be the same. For those looking for an extra challenge, try out the Threat Levels, where enemies gain new powers, demanding new royal strategies and split-second ruling.
“We’ve had amazing support from fans and the community throughout this journey, and we’re beyond thrilled to share The King is Watching with the world,” said Semyon Itmaniuk, Head of the Hypnohead Studio. “Embrace the monarchy, and craft a kingdom from the ground up into the most fearsome of them all. Huzzah!”
The King is Watching launches today on PC via Steam, with support for the following languages: English, Simplified Chinese, German, Russian, and Spanish (EU). Support for Japanese, Korean, French, Brazilian Portuguese, and Polish will be added soon after launch.
tinyBuild started as an indie game developer and morphed into a developer-publisher you can’t miss. Our dedication to creating long-term partnerships and elevating recognizable franchises has resulted in many successful collaborations with talented developers from all over the world. The company has released dozens of games, including Hello Neighbor, Graveyard Keeper, SpeedRunners, and more. Although headquartered in the Seattle Area, USA, the company has established a strong global presence with studios across the US, Netherlands, Latvia, and throughout Eastern Europe.
About Hypnohead Studio
Hypnohead Studio is a small indie dev studio behind the Save the Reactor game, based in Serbia. The King is Watching is its second title.
MIAMI, FL – July 21, 2025 – m00m world, a gaming entertainment company building a cyberpunk universe that connects a mobile game, a popular webcomic, and physical collectibles, today announced it has secured a $500,000 pre-seed funding round. The round was led and fully subscribed by Boost VC, the venture firm renowned for backing visionary founders in the deep tech and sci-fi sector.
The investment will accelerate the development of m00m world’s integrated ecosystem, where select in-game item purchases unlock physical fashion and collectibles that are then shipped to players in real life. The funding will be used to launch the full version of the mobile game, grow the development team, and scale its unique model that merges virtual and physical commerce.
This partnership stands out in a challenging venture climate, signaling strong confidence in m00m world’s proven ability to build a dedicated fanbase. With a dedicated, almost cult-like community, the brand holds weekly “m00mday” sessions to discuss the world and listen to player feedback. Additionally, the m00m world webcomic is distributed to over two million readers via the VoyceMe manga app and website.
“In a time when the games industry can feel increasingly corporate, we’re focused on creating and blending online and offline culture directly alongside our community,” said Jordan Freda, founder of m00m world. “This funding isn’t just about building a game; it’s about validating our belief that you can create a successful IP by being authentic, listening to your fans, and focusing on making something genuinely cool by keeping it real. Partnering with Boost VC and Adam, is a huge accomplishment for us because their entire team shares that deep passion for creative visionary worlds, and are the perfect partner to bring our full vision to life.”
The investment is driven by Boost VC’s belief in m00m world’s potential to become a next-generation entertainment franchise. Adam Draper, Managing Partner at Boost VC and an avid comic collector, was drawn to the company’s early momentum and IP adoption and transmedia vision.
“I’ve always been drawn to ambitious founders building the future of entertainment, and m00m world is exactly that,” said Adam Draper. “They aren’t just building a game; they’re building a universe. The team has already proven they can create an IP that resonates, evidenced by their massive webcomic audience and impressive early traction. We believe in their unique model of bridging the digital and physical worlds and are thrilled to partner to build the next great sci-fi franchise.”
About m00m world
m00m world is a transmedia entertainment company building a cyberpunk universe that blends fashion, community, music, art, and commerce. Its ecosystem connects a mobile lifestyle game where players go on quests and decorate shipping container homes that are voice and text chat servers, a webcomic distributed to a base of over two million readers, and a line of physical and digital collectible products. The company was founded on the principle of building in public, with its community helping shape the game and its world.
Eclipsium and CARIMARA: Beneath the Forlorn Limbs are the newest additions to CRITICAL REFLEX’s eclectic CR Channel portfolio
NICOSIA, Cyprus – July 21, 2025 – CRITICAL REFLEX is excited to expand their publishing lineup today, announcing two new titles joining CRITICAL REFLEX’s CR Channel label and coming to PC this fall. Eclipsium by Housefire and CARIMARA: Beneath the Forlorn Limbsby Bastinus Rex are both visually inventive, often eerie, and always strange experiences by talented new developers.
Journey into a surreal, ever-shifting, sunless world in search of her light. Let your hand lead you forward in this exploratory horror experience. You will find no safety or comfort here, only a pale light to guide you along your perilous journey. Play Eclipsium’s supernatural demo on Steam today.
Immerse yourself in the mysteries of a dark fairytale as the Carimara, a sorcerous little thing. Faced with a series of curious questions, you must explore the world to find magical cards, discover the answers, and ultimately conjure a mysterious ghost. CARIMARA is a spine-tingling point-and-click horror game inspired by Normandy folklore and playable in under an hour.
For more information on these titles and more, follow CRITICAL REFLEX on Twitter and visit www.criticalreflex.com. Follow CR Channel on Twitter, and join the CR Channel Discord community for the latest news, engaging discussions and more.
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.
Check out the treasures of The Dice of Destiny Collector’s Edition, launching alongside the game on September 30
MINNEAPOLIS – July 21, 2025 – An epic crossover quest nears! Nickelodeon and GameMill Entertainment released a new extended trailer today for Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny,the epic action RPG launching September 30 on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam.Today’s video showcases more of the game’s Nicktoons heroes, as well as a fresh look at its real-time ARPG gameplay featuring tons of fantasy fun with fan-favorite Nickelodeon characters!
Journey across Nickelodeon-inspired fantasy lands on a grand quest inspired by tabletop RPGs in Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny! Slash, bash, cast spells, and strategize your way to victory against a variety of enemies in fast-paced and fluid ARPG combat. Upgrade your weapons and master new abilities in solo play and local co-op for up to four players. Choose from a roster of legendary characters from across the Nickelodeon universe, including SpongeBob SquarePants, Sandy Cheeks, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles‘ Leonardo, Avatar:The Last Airbender’s Katara, Timmy from The Fairly OddParents, and more to be revealed!
Alongside today’s new trailer came the announcement of the game’s Collector’s Edition, featuring:
Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny for Playstation 5 or Nintendo Switch
“Wardrobe of Wonder” DLC Code (unlocks a new costume for each playable character)
Wooden Dice Tray with Storage Compartment
Custom Dice Set and Travel Pouch
9 Collectible Hero Trading Cards
Sticker Sheet
2-sided Poster with Game Map and Extended Cover Art
Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny will launch on September 30 on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. The game’s Standard Edition is available to pre-order at major retailers for $49.99. A Digital Deluxe Edition featuring the “Wardrobe of Wonder” DLC will be available for $59.99. The “Wardrobe of Wonder” DLC will be available seperately at launch for $14.99. The Collector’s Edition will be available for pre-order at retailers soon for $79.99.
Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny is licensed by Nickelodeon, developed by Fair Play Labs and Petit Fabrik, and published by GameMill Entertainment.
About GameMill Entertainment
GameMill Entertainment, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a third-party publisher of console and mobile games for passionate fans around the world. Development platforms include PC, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft consoles including the Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, Sony consoles including the PlayStation®5 and PlayStation®4, and mobile devices. With development across the globe, GameMill is a source of entertaining and fun games for all ages. For more information, visit https://gamemill.com, as well as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.
About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, now in its 46th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The brand includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, location-based experiences, publishing and feature films.
About Paramount Consumer Products
Paramount Consumer Products oversees all licensing and merchandising for Paramount (Nasdaq: PARA, PARAA), a leading global media and entertainment company that creates premium content and experiences for audiences worldwide. Driven by a diverse slate of consumer brands, Paramount Consumer Products’ portfolio is based on content from platforms including Paramount+, CBS (including CBS Television Studios and CBS Television Distribution), cable networks (including MTV, Nickelodeon and Showtime), and Paramount Pictures. Additionally, the division operates Paramount Game Studios. With properties spanning animation, live-action, preschool, youth and adult, Paramount Consumer Products is committed to creating the highest quality product for some of the world’s most beloved, iconic franchises.
Assemble an Army of Ants, Oddballs, and Outlandish Allies — Just Don’t Get Too Attached
London, UK – July 21, 2025 – Hungarian indie developers Save Sloth Studios and Bristol-based indie publisher Yogscast Games today announced that The Royal Writ, a hilariously ruthless lane-based deckbuilder, will release on PC via Steam Store on Thursday, August 7. Set in the medieval realm of Aranfold, the game begins with King Mikolt the Second — beloved by most, feared by some, and ignored by many — issuing a royal decree to the Bandit Leader who’s been looting the kingdom. When diplomacy (read: a very stern letter) fails, the King unleashes his loyal legion of lizards, bugs, bats, and other barely qualified fighters to restore order through the time-honoured tradition of turn-based violence.
The Royal Writ combines picture-book visuals, delightful humour, and frequent fatalities in a deckbuilding strategy game where permadeath is real, and favourite characters will probably die. The goal? Knock the enemy’s health to zero before reaching their base, with players competing across ever-changing battle layouts of one to three rows, delivering damage through power and multiplication modifiers.
Players must build the perfect squad of cannon-fodder and clutch-carrying creatures, balancing strategy and a slight disregard for their troops’ feelings. With a deck limit and permanent death looming, fighters can be upgraded between battles through various events, from horse racing to a trip to the dentist, earning relics and gear, which can help dodge hazards like anthills, spike pits, creeks, and mushroom fields.
“The Royal Writ rips up the rulebook and offers a unique lane-based deckbuilder where sentiment and loyalty go out the window in the pursuit of victory,” said Simon Byron, Managing Director, Yogscast Games. “As the self-proclaimed home of the roguelike deckbuilder, we’re excited to see our community build weird armies, watch them die, mourn them briefly, then throw their replacements into battle five minutes later.”
Players will bond with their army and betray them for loot when they’ve served their purpose. From ants that gain strength when partnered with other ants, to charismatic killers like The Tax Collector (a vampire bat that bites both wallets and necks), or Gereb (a drunk frog that gets stronger the closer it is to death), each card has personality and purpose. With no one way to triumph, The Royal Writ invites players to experiment to unlock perfect synergies and, with several Hardship and Challenge options, feel the urge to return to the game for yet one more run.
Keep up-to-date with the latest news and information, visit theYogscast Gameswebsite.
About Yogscast Games
Yogscast Games was established in 2017, with a simple goal: to work with independent teams to develop and publish games which are as fun to watch as they are to play. Responsible for a string of hits such as PlateUp!, which has sold over two million copies on Steam, and Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers, which grossed over $1m in its first month on sale, it prides itself in working with tiny teams doing brilliant things.
Rule-breaking, memory-making, and hall-skipping mayhem in a nostalgic open-world coming-of-age adventure.
[July 21st, 2025] – Refugium Games is thrilled to announce Agefield High: Rock the School, a heartfelt open-world adventure that captures the chaos and charm of teenage life at the turn of the millennium. In development for PC and consoles, this single-player, story-driven game puts you in the shoes of a senior navigating a new school, big decisions, and one last chance to leave a legacy. With its saturated colors, satirical edge, and soundtrack soaked in early 2000s pop-punk, the game delivers a nostalgic ride through high school like you’ve never played before.
In Agefield High: Rock the School, you play as Sam Tatum, an 18-year-old on the edge of graduation — until your parents uproot your life and drop you into the sleepy small town of Agefield. With just a few months until summer break, you’re thrown into a new school and a new reality. But this isn’t just about surviving senior year — it’s about making it unforgettable. From satirical school assemblies to late-night prank wars and bike rides through suburban sprawl, every moment taps into the chaos, comedy, and rebellious energy of early 2000s teen life.
Skip classes or sit through them. Sneak into tattoo parlors, mow lawns for cash, prank call your crush, and hustle to build your rep. Explore a fully simulated campus and a small-town open world dripping with nostalgia — from dusty corner stores and cluttered arcades to garage band rehearsals and hallway showdowns. Whether you’re ditching detention or chasing high school glory, every decision shapes how your legend will be remembered when the yearbook closes.
Key Features:
Cinematic Gameplay: Follow a branching narrative through a series of missions with different endings.
A Fully Simulated School System: Attend (or skip) five different class types, including English, Math, Geography, Music, and German.
Explore a Small-Town Sandbox: From bike shops to tattoo parlors, the world of Agefield is filled with places to discover and decisions to make.
Side Hustles and Mini-Games: Complete a variety of side missions and activities like prank calling and lawn mowing to earn cash and unlock items.
Customize Your Look: Buy clothes, accessories, bikes, hairstyles, and more to express your style and stand out in the halls.
Authentic Early 2000s Vibes: A pop-punk soundtrack, springtime setting, and vibrant color palette create an atmosphere that’s as loud and rebellious as your teen years.
Currently in development, Agefield High: Rock the School is scheduled to release for PC via Steam, with console versions planned for a later date.
About Refugium Games
Refugium Games’ mission is to create games on topics that no one has dared to tackle yet.
Their journey started as a solo developer just with the vision of creating a game about classic grey aliens, an invasion, and UFOs.Greyhill Incident launched on June 9, 2023 on Steam, PlayStation and Xbox. Criticism and negative reviews rained down on release day because of a lack of beta testing, the newbie developer took it as a lesson and moved forward.After the successful launch of their second game Vacant’s Mine, more developers joined. And Refugium Games decided on starting to work on their dream game, Agefield High: Rock the School, the open-world game where you play as a teenager in high school.
Globally, Ready or Not has now sold over 10 million copies on all platforms
Los Angeles, CA – July 21, 2025 – VOID Interactive, a global independent studio, has announced that as of Saturday, July 19, their highly immersive tactical FPS Ready or Not has officially sold over 1 million console copies since their release on July 15.
Releasing on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S last week, VOID Interactive’s ambitions of bringing the breakout PC hit to a brand new playerbase have been a resounding commercial and critical success, currently sitting with an 83 (Xbox Series X/S), and 82 (PS5) on Metacritic.
This news follows the announcement in April that PC sales broke the 9 million units sold milestone. As of today, total sales across all platforms have surpassed 10 million, an incredible achievement for an independent outfit with AAA ambitions.
“When we launched Ready or Not on PC, it took about 36 days to reach 1 million units sold. On console, it took about 3.6 days. I’m incredibly proud of the team and what we’ve accomplished together. It’s a huge moment — and one we don’t take for granted.
Game reviews are holding strong as we head into our first weekend, and the team is already hard at work ironing out issues and continuously improving the experience. To our players, partners, and everyone who believed in the project — thank you.” Julio Rodriguez, CEO of VOID Interactive
“The response from console players has completely blown us away. Going from the days of excitement from our Early Access trailer blowing up on PC to seeing the community grow globally so much across platforms is humbling, but testament to the incredible dedication of the entire VOID Interactive team to make this vision a reality for Ready or Not.” Stirling Rank, Creative Director and VOID Interactive COO
Ready or Not is fully accessible to squad up across platforms for crossplay. Ready or Not Digital Edition is out now on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
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About
Ready or Not puts players into high-risk and realistic scenarios involving SWAT teams. Defuse situations involving hostages, active bomb threats, barricaded suspects, and more. Ready or Not is rated ESRB M/PEGI18.
About VOID Interactive Limited
VOID Interactive is a digital provider in the video game and entertainment industry. VOID Interactive publishes the realistic, tactical first-person shooter, Ready or Not, as its flagship title, and is delivered digitally for download for PC systems. The company was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Cork, Ireland with business activities managed globally.
The Sounds of Drums Have Put the Patapon Tribe on the March; Lead the Warriors Past Challenging Battles to Reclaim their Home
PATAPON 1+2 REPLAY, the remaster bringing the critically acclaimed rhythm-based action-adventure game to new players on consoles and PC, is now available worldwide. Published by Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe, the title includes the first two critically acclaimed entries in the PATAPON series. Known for their charming aesthetic, inspired art style, memorable soundtrack and memorizing rhythm-strategy gameplay, PATAPON 1+2 REPLAY features enhancements including updated graphics, new difficulty settings, and more. The game is available now for PlayStation®5, Nintendo Switch™ and PC via Steam®.
The ancient Mighties had departed, and the Patapons lived sadly in a corner of the world, which drove them to become fierce warriors that can only be commanded by the beat of the drums, an instrument at the command of the Mighty One (the player). Their wait has finally come to an end as the drums are heard once again by the Mighty One’s return to guide the Patapon tribe through their adventures to fight against challenging enemies and set out for Earthend, where the legendary “IT” is said to be.
PATAPON 1+2 REPLAY combines the first two entries in the PATAPON series, which debuted on Sony’s PlayStation®Portable (PSP) in 2007 and 2008, respectively. The game blends unique rhythm-based action and real-time strategy 2D gameplay, where players must overcome their enemies and return the Patapon to Earthend. As the Mighty One, players will be tasked with issuing rhythmic commands intertwined with a catchy soundtrack set in charming and colorful environments. Players will find the game easy to jump into with its intuitive and rhythm-based controls but will ultimately need to hone their skills for precise timing and tactical thinking to lead the Patapon tribe to victory in battles.
Along with updated graphics, new for PATAPON 1+2 REPLAY are difficulty settings and additional quality-of-life improvements. The new title also features 1-4 player local co-op on Nintendo Switch. Players can customise their army with troops varying in distinct roles and combat styles such as the flag-waving “Hatapon” who leads the charge, the horse-riding “Kibapon” who charges into battle, and the bow-wielding “Yumipon” who strikes from afar. Patapons can also be enhanced by combining items collected from rare materials through stages and missions. With over 400 types of weapons and equipment, players can build their personalized Patapon unit and tackle diverse stages and formidable enemies.
Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe is a leading global publisher, developer, and distributor of entertainment content for platforms including, but not limited to, all major video game consoles and PC.
Producing intellectual property for a global audience, Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe is building its reputation with franchises such as LITTLE NIGHTMARES™, and production capabilities of two studios, Reflector Entertainment and Limbic Entertainment.
Based in Lyon, France, Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe is known for bringing many of the entertainment industry’s top franchises such as PAC-MAN™, GUNDAM™, TEKKEN™, ACE COMBAT™, DARK SOULS™, and ELDEN RING™ to EMEA and ANZ markets.
Sci-Fi 2D Action-Platformer developed by Bandai Namco Studios Reimagines PAC-MAN and Features Nostalgic Nods and Surprise Twists for Numerous Classic Arcade Games
Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe today announced the launch of SHADOW LABYRINTH™, the darkly inspired sci-fi take on the iconic PAC-MAN™ franchise. The 2D action-exploration platformer drops players into a maze-filled world where they must fight, hunt, and consume to become the planet’s apex predator and discover the numerous mysteries that surround the planet. SHADOW LABYRINTH is available on PlayStation ®5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam®, Nintendo Switch™, and Nintendo Switch™ 2.
In SHADOW LABYRINTH, players assume the role of Swordsman No. 8, waking in a desolate world with a mysterious yet familiar companion known as PUCK to guide them. To survive, they’ll need to take down vicious creatures, consume their power, and evolve, unravelling the secrets of a planet designed to destroy them. The game blends classic 2D action-platforming with deep exploration and environmental puzzle-solving, inviting players to descend into a sprawling, maze-like world built for those who dare to devour it. Players will gain new abilities and weapons as they traverse the labyrinth, including the ability to transform into a powerful mech form called GAIA. SHADOW LABYRINTH weaves nostalgic elements of PAC-MAN into its DNA, from pursuit-style gameplay to dynamic combat and boss battles, including PAC-MAN’s nemeses the GHOSTS, reimagined as G-HOSTS. References to other beloved classic Bandai Namco franchises such as DIG DUG, BOSCONIAN,SPLATTERHOUSE, GALAGA and more enrich the world of SHADOW LABYRINTH and serve to raise the stakes for our heroes.
In the game, players encounter increasingly challenging enemies and puzzles with gameplay that weaves fluid tried-and-true 2D action platformer mechanics with inspired modern game design. SHADOW LABYRINTH offers a vast world to explore as players uncover terrifying secrets about the planet and its inhabitants, with an engaging narrative where venturing deeper into this maze of a world begins to unravel the mystery of the planet and PUCK’s role in its history.
Shadow Labyrinth is available now in both digital and physical formats in the following editions:
Standard Edition: includes the base game in a physical case.
Digital Standard Edition: includes the full game in digital format.
Digital Deluxe Edition: includes the full game, digital artbook, digital soundtrack, and additional bonus in-game items detailed below.
The Nintendo Switch version can be upgraded for free to the Nintendo Switch 2 version.
All editions include the PAC-MAN™ Arcade Sound FX Pack as a limited-time pre-order bonus, letting players experience in-game cues inspired by the original arcade classic.
Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe is a leading global publisher, developer, and distributor of entertainment content for platforms including, but not limited to, all major video game consoles and PC.
Producing intellectual property for a global audience, Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe is building its reputation with franchises such as LITTLE NIGHTMARES™, and production capabilities of two studios, Reflector Entertainment and Limbic Entertainment.
Based in Lyon, France, Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe is known for bringing many of the entertainment industry’s top franchises such as PAC-MAN™, GUNDAM™, TEKKEN™, ACE COMBAT™, DARK SOULS™, and ELDEN RING™ to EMEA and ANZ markets.
It’s always interesting to see what a series might try to do next but when it comes to the AI: The Somnium Files players certainly never know what to expect. This twisting and turning puzzle pair of puzzle games has always been incredibly odd with its own brand of humor and deep explorative themes, but when the next game was announced and lacked the involvement of one of its primary creators and only a supervisory role of another, questions were raised. Combine this with the fact that No Sleep for Kaname Date – from AI: The Somnium Files is something we don’t see much in game series’ and we already have a rather strange combination. While there may be many sequels and many pre-quels, this one happens to be a mid-point side story rather than any form of continuation.
Story
Almost right from the get go it should be known that No Sleep for Kaname Date is not for those who have not played at the very least the first game in the franchise. It is possible to play this one without playing Nirvana Initiative but some interactions, revelations, and introductions will lack a bit of “impact” without having done so first. In fact, just like Nirvana Initiative, No Sleep for Kaname Date gives players a knowledge check right out of the gate with players needing to type in an answer to let the game freely reveal details from the first title without worrying about obfuscating things or skirting them entirely. Since we did know the answer, we don’t know how this might be presented to those that don’t.
Anyways, No Sleep for Kaname Date picks up sometime, probably no more than a few months, after the events of the end of the first game with Kaname Date, a perverted investigator who works for the secret government organization IBIS alongside his AI-ball (eye-ball) companion that lives in his eye-socket Aiba, finding out that his internet-idol friend Iris Sagan has been kidnapped by aliens and is being forced to play an escape game by the reptilian known as Akemi. Iris must solve these puzzles on her own but is given the chance to contact one other person for help, and she has chosen Date to aid her in escaping from this alien being’s strange plot.
To make things even stranger, when Date and Aiba begin to look into the mysterious disappearance of Iris and try to locate where she was when she was taken, Mizuki notifies them that a strange coffin-like object has been found within a refrigerated warehouse on the docks with the sign “Psync Me” taped to it. With no knowledge of who or what might be inside the pod but possibly having ties to what might be happening to Iris, Date has no choice but to do so and enter the Somnium of whatever is inside to find out. This leads to what ends up being perhaps the most underwhelming, low-stakes, and shortest games in the franchise and probably why it is being treated more as a spin-off rather than a “mid-quel” that it appears to be.
As mentioned earlier it is worth noting that Uchikoshi, who took the lead on the other two games in the series has no connection to this release with Kazuya Yamada instead taking the reigns this time around with the storyline and, thanks to the fact that this is a game all about mysteries and puzzle solving we can’t really go into them without spoiling things, it is worth mentioning that the twists and revelations here are incredibly simplistic to the point that one of the Aiba notes that scrolls on top of the screen from time to time even points out that players probably already know what’s going on before the big reveal. It also doesn’t help that No Sleep for Kaname Date feels more like it was written as a set of two DLCs that were instead combined together with just enough tangential connection to create a coherent storyline.
Now, with all that said, it should be worth noting that while we’ve said quite a few negative things about the way the story unfolds, it must be said that Yamada has managed to capture Uchikoshi’s eclectic cast of characters perfectly here. In fact, the fact that players are able to see so many new interactions between characters here whether it is Date and Aiba’s non-stop back and forth banter, some hilarious reactions and interactions with objects and outcomes depending on choices made during Somniums or escape room choices, or even the two new characters having a chance to shine and we have a storyline that is actually heavily carried by the fact that these are characters that fans of the franchise love. They do a lot of heavy lifting here but it works well throughout every aspect of the storyline, with aforementioned newcomers Hina, the new psync technician at ABIS who is conveniently obsessed with escape rooms, and the reptilian Akemi serving their roles well.
As mentioned before, No Sleep for Kaname Date is on the shorter side, running roughly half the length of either of the original releases which is to its benefit thanks to the lackluster twists but that doesn’t mean that the team at Spike Chunsoft has skimped on the extra content. There are over ten different “alternate” endings that are joke endings, ranging from simple callbacks, or even call-forwards in this case, to entirely off the wall style ones. None of these are canon though one does happen to appear to have quite a bit more too it though at the moment of this writing we couldn’t figure out the final condition needed to unveil it. Alongside these bonus endings are other small scenes that players can unlock that provide some extra scenes for some characters and a few fun perspective mini-novels as well, giving players a wealth of bonus content to enjoy even after the credits roll.
Gameplay
No Sleep for Kaname Date puts a bit of a twist on the usual formula of the past two games, while players will still be finding themselves playing as Date and traveling between locations and using the joycons to examine objects in the environment and talk to characters, including using Aiba’s new “Wink Psync” that fully appeared in the second game as a sample here, as well as occasionally taking part in psyncs that see Aiba being the one in control as she explores the mind of an individual inside of their Somnium, both of these elements actually take more of a backseat compared to the third element that the former Zero Escape team is best known for, escape rooms.
The Psyncs still work the same as before and only happen a few times this time around with Date delving into the psyche of someone with Aiba having a six minute timer where she must break through various “mental locks” by using keys and objects scattered through the Somniums that are incredibly straightforward this time around. Players can use various tools to decrease the amount of time some actions take, giving players a chance to take risks if they don’t know the answer or mess around with an obviously wrong but most likely funny sequence instead. The design and lack of challenge in the Somniums this time around is disappointing in the end and while it is understandable they aren’t the main focus this time around, a little more variation or unique elements like before would have been nice.
Similarly the exploration sequences where Date travels from place to place around the real world to investigate are as simple as can be. These point and click style segments are generally filled with the aforementioned fun engagements with the beloved cast of characters and jokes, a few of which aren’t translated the best, when examining random items in the environment. These tend to be where players obtain “hidden” early endings and random sticker collectables as well. It is also worth noting though that players can “lock” themselves out of fully exploring or examining everything or going to the correct location first if they aren’t careful.
It is the escape room puzzles where No Sleep for Kaname Date really shines and players can tell that the Zero Escape team has put a lot of effort into making these puzzles and riddles really interesting while also trying to balance making them tough but rewarding to figure out. As players progress through the game these escape rooms grow considerably more challenging with more players being added into the fray beyond just Iris and as the player solves clues, gathers items, combines them, and solves riddles, they’ll always feel like they are actually engaged and challenged. In fact, almost every escape room culminates in a timed challenge that players will need to figure out a solution quickly or risk a game over (there are checkpoints in the escape rooms). These timers increase the intensity and even work as a good little play on words as Akemi will challenge players to use their “Third Eye” (get it?) to find a third solution to an impossible on the surface puzzle.
Thankfully, these puzzles can be heavily modified in actual challenge by swapping difficulty levels and if the player does fail, they have an option to knock the level down one step. These difficulty levels dictate how long players can have to solve some puzzles, whether or not a clue can be pointed out to them to examine, or even just straight up point out the solution. In many cases players will be able to figure these challenges out on their own but there are a few obscure ones that might push the limit a bit and we aren’t too proud to admit that for one “third eye” solution we let our allies spell out the code needed. This means that even those who aren’t the best at puzzles can still enjoy what they can solve and still ask for help when needed as characters will only speak up when prompted to, giving a nice balance of challenge and reward.
Audio & Visuals
It is worth noting that we reviewed No Sleep for Kaname Date on the standard Nintendo Switch and for the most part the game still looked as impressive as ever with solid character models that only had a bit of jagged edges at times and great character designs to go along with them. The levels players explore in the escape games are wildly varied and look great but the Somniums are a disappointing re-use of assets and lack the “twisted dream” feeling they used to have. Also, while I am all for fan-service in a game and applaud it, the bunny costume that Iris wears is one of the oddest takes on a bunny costume I have ever seen.
Thankfully all of the English voice cast has returned to reprise their roles in the English dub of the game, including characters that only appeared in the second game. This works great since most fans are quite familiar with them and it makes some of the new interactions even better, especially since some of these characters never talked to one another before. Newcomers Hina and Akemi are similarly voiced quite well and the Japanese voice track is always there as well as an option should fans prefer that route. The background music throughout the game is quite fitting when exploring or solving puzzles and there is even the classic dance number at the end, though the accompanying song might not be quite as catchy as either of the other two in my opinion.
Overall
No Sleep for Kaname Date – from AI: The Somnium Files is a solid side-story/mid-quel for fans that already know what to expect from the game. The storyline is one of the weakest yet when it comes to twists and stakes but thanks to an absolutely wonderful cast of characters that make up for it. The character interactions happen to be some of the best parts of the game alongside some wonderfully challenging escape rooms on a title that is great for fans but doesn’t reach the heights of the main entries.
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