The free digital gaming expo is open from May 23–24, 2026. No ticket, No travel, No cost. Just download and walk in.
ENDIX is live now on Steam and the Epic Games Store. From anywhere in the world, players can download the experience for free and step directly onto the expo floor for two days of demos, premieres, panels, giveaways and meetups with the people behind their favourite games.
ENDIX is built on a simple belief: a great gaming expo should be open to everyone, not only to those who can afford to travel. There is no ticket, no shortlisting and no paywall; only a download is needed to join.
“Cost and distance should never be the reason someone misses out on a great gaming expo. ENDIX is live now, and anyone, anywhere, can walk in.”
Every booth at ENDIX is crafted by the developers themselves and built from real in-game assets. Walk-through spaces that feel like a natural extension of the worlds they showcase. Players can explore dozens of demos, watch new trailers before anyone else and meet the people behind the games face to face. Built-in voice chat connects visitors with developers, journalists, content creators and a global community of players, all roaming the same digital floor in real time.
Between booths, the expo comes alive with parkour challenges, mini-games and other activities scattered across the world, with prizes for those who take part. Top content creators are on site throughout the weekend, exploring the expo, streaming their reactions and meeting their communities inside ENDIX itself.
For those brave enough, Theatrum Obscurum, ENDIX’s dedicated horror wing, returns inside an abandoned theater built for the occasion. It is the home for the darker and deliberately unsettling corners of the medium, with a curated selection of horror titles showcased in an environment designed to set the mood.
This edition brings together a lineup that spans AAA publishers and standout indies. THQ Nordic anchors the publisher presence with Gothic 1 Remake, Wreckfest 2, Titan Quest 2, REANIMAL and Tides of Tomorrow. They are joined by 505 Games with Among the Trolls, Team17 with Silver Pines, Gameforge with Shelf Heroes and Under a Rock, Amber with Mexican Ninja, Untold Tales with Everdream Village, PQube with Necrophosis: Full Consciousness and 10 Chambers with Den of Wolves. On the indie side, highlights include Alpha Nomos (RibCage Games), Sea of Rifts (Out Of Bounds Games), Hela (Knights Peak) and DAVE THE DIVER – In the Jungle (MINTROCKET), with dozens more across every major genre.
Brand partner Alienware is on the floor with a playable in-world mini-game and giveaways throughout the weekend. Across the two days, ENDIX is handing out more than 600 game keys alongside Alienware hardware and exclusive branded merch and monitors for players competing across the expo.
What’s Happening This Weekend
Dozens of playable demos spanning every major genre
First looks at new trailers and premieres
Theatrum Obscurum, the curated horror showcase inside an abandoned theatre
Built-in voice chat to talk directly with developers, press and creators
Live developer panels hosted inside the expo world
Creator meetups and community games throughout the weekend
600+ game key giveaways and Alienware hardware prizes
Free access via Steam and Epic Games Store — no ticket required
“Gaming events have always asked people to come to them. ENDIX comes to you, and it doesn’t charge you for the privilege. That’s the whole point and starting today, anyone with a PC can walk through the doors of ENDIX”
— Daniel Thorsen, ENDIX
About ENDIX
ENDIX is a free, fully digital gaming expo designed to connect players, content creators and the global games industry in an immersive online environment. Available on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, ENDIX gives publishers and developers a powerful new stage to showcase their titles and engage directly with a worldwide audience, no ticket, no travel, no barriers.
Global Fans Crown My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON as Anime of the Year;
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle is Awarded Film of the Year
Crunchyroll Honors Prolific Director Tatsuya Nagamine With Global Impact Award
Sydney, Australia (May 23, 2026) – Crunchyroll, the brand serving anime fandom worldwide, revealed the winners of the tenth annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards during a star-studded event honoring the creators, musicians, and performers powering the global love of anime. The full list of honorees that can be found on the Anime Awards Official Website and below.
The landmark tenth Crunchyroll Anime Awards was again hosted by renowned voice actress Sally Amaki and popular entertainer Jon Kabira, who returned for their fourth year to celebrate a decade of excellence in Japanese animation and anime’s biggest night.
On behalf of fans worldwide, Anime of the Year was awarded by The Weeknd. The global icon and long-time anime fans presented the night’s highest honor to My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON.
The winners were revealed by a global slate of celebrity anime fan presenters including admired actor and generational voice Asuka Saito; K-pop artist BamBam, globally celebrated cosplayer Enako; award-winning Japanese actor Kasumi Arimura; electric comedic duo Mitorizu; acclaimed Japanese actor Nanase Nishino; leading Brazilian esports and gaming host Nyvi Estephan; prominent pan-India star Rashmika Mandanna; founding architect of Wu-Tang Clan RZA; K-pop singer and dancer TEN; globally acclaimed actor Winston Duke; and GRAMMY-nominated Recording Artist Young Miko
The Anime Awards pre-show, which was broadcast live from the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa, was co-hosted by Crunchyroll hosts Lauren Moore and Tim Lyu alongside prolific YouTube creator Gigguk.The show featured awards presented by acclaimed singer DANNA; contemporary musician Ethan Bortnick; Australian singer-songwriter hannah bahng;and creative cosplayer Snitchery.
The night began with an elegant visual journey honoring nearly a decade of Anime of the Year winners underlined by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra—arranged by Kazunori Miyake and conducted by Hirofumi Kurita. Upon reaching the 2017 winner, DEAN FUJIOKA punctuated the moment with a performance of “History Maker,” from Yuri!!! on ICE—the very first Crunchyroll Anime Awards’ Anime of the Year recipient.
The night also included electrifying music performances and tributes to anime’s enduring impact on popular culture. Japanese singer Yoko Takahashi performed a 30th anniversary tribute to 1995’s seminal anime Neon Genesis Evangelion featuring the renowned theme “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis.” PORNOGRAFFITTI performedin honor of My Hero Academia’s 10th anniversary and the show’s conclusion. Legendary rock band ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION performed their beloved hit “Haruka Kanata”—the second opening theme for the seminal shounen series NARUTO.
During the ceremony, visionary director Tatsuya Nagamine was honored with the Global Impact Award—a recognition of his groundbreaking works that have left an indelible mark on culture, history, and the hearts of audiences around the world. Tatsuya Nagamine’s directorial contributions had an unforgettable, long-lasting impact on beloved and globally influential series. From Ojamajo Doremi and PreCure to Dragon Ball Super and ONE PIECE, Nagamine-san played a role in how anime reaches global audiences, exemplifying the medium’s ability to transcend geographic borders and generations.
The tenth annual Anime Awards featured a tribute to Nagamine-san’s storied career that preceded the presentation of the Global Impact Award by hosts Jon Kabira and Sally Amaki. Masayuki Sato—an animator who worked closely with Director Nagamine on numerous projects, including Happiness Charge PreCure! and ONE PIECE, and with whom he shared a deep personal friendship—accepted the Award on Nagamine-san’s behalf.
This year, a record 73 million votes were cast by fans worldwide to celebrate their favorite series, films, and actors. In alphabetical order, the top most engaged countries this year were Brazil, Germany, India, Mexico, and the United States
The tenth annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards video-on-demand version complete with exclusive content will be available to stream shortly on Crunchyroll and Crunchyroll’s YouTube Channel, along with Sony Group Corp Global and Japan YouTube Channels.
2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards Winners
Anime of the Year – My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
Film of the Year – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
Best Original Anime –Lazarus
Best Continuing Series –ONE PIECE
Best New Series – Gachiakuta
Best Opening Sequence – On The Way – AiNA THE END – DAN DA DAN Season 2
Best Ending Sequence –I — BUMP OF CHICKEN — My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
Best Action – Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-
Best Comedy – DAN DA DAN Season 2
Best Drama – The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
Best Isekai Anime – Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 3
Best Romance – The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity
Best Slice of Life – SPY x FAMILY Season 3
Best Animation – Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-
Best Background Art – Gachiakuta
Best Character Design – Gachiakuta
Best Director – Akinori Fudesaka, Norihiro Naganuma — The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
Best Main Character – Maomao — The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
Best Supporting Character – Katsuki Bakugo — My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
“Must Protect At All Cost” Character – Anya Forger — SPY x FAMILY Season 3
Best Anime Song – IRIS OUT — Kenshi Yonezu — Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
Best Score – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle — Yuki Kajiura, Go Shiina
Best Voice Artist Performance (Japanese) – Aoi Yuki — Maomao — The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
Best Voice Artist Performance (English) – Lucien Dodge — Akaza — Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
Best Voice Artist Performance (Arabic) – Tariq Obaid — Taro Sakamoto — SAKAMOTO DAYS
Best Voice Artist Performance (Brazilian Portuguese) – Charles Emmanuel — Akaza — Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
Best Voice Artist Performance (Castilian Spanish ) – Carles Teruel — Akaza — Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
Best Voice Artist Performance (French)- Bastien Bourlé — Izuku Midoriya — My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
Best Voice Artist Performance (German) – Gerrit Schmidt—Foß — Akaza — Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
Best Voice Artist Performance (Hindi) – Abhishek Sharma — Jinshi — The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
Best Voice Artist Performance (Italian) – Mosè Singh — Denji — Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
Best Voice Artist Performance (Latin Spanish) – Jose Antonio Toledano — Akaza — Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
The Crunchyroll Anime Awards is the leading yearly awards program honoring the creators, musicians, and performers powering the global love of anime. The tenth annual Anime Awards took place at the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa in Tokyo on Saturday, May 23, 2026. Sony Music Solutions Inc., part of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and Dempsey Productions will support Crunchyroll in the execution of the event.
Crunchyroll is the global anime brand that fuels fans’ love of anime. With the ambition to make anime an even bigger part of pop culture, Crunchyroll offers fans the ultimate anime experience and destination centered around a premium streaming service. Crunchyroll has the largest dedicated anime library, an immersive world of events, exciting theatrical releases, unique games, must-have merchandise, timely news, and more. Anime is for everyone and is accessible to stream across territories through Crunchyroll—whether on the go on mobile, through gaming consoles and big-screen devices at home, or on desktops anywhere.
Crunchyroll, LLC is an independently operated joint venture between U.S.-based Sony Pictures Entertainment and Japan’s Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., both subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group.
Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe is marking PAC-MAN Day with some activities, including the official launch of “PAC-MAN: Snack Breaks” animated shorts just in time to celebrate the icon’s birthday. Bandai Namco is also marking this special day by offering an in-game bonus item in the most recently released PAC-MAN video game, PAC-MAN WORLD™2 Re-PAC, giving players a collectible birthday hat to add to their custom character options.
“PAC-MAN: Snack Breaks”
The debut episode of “PAC-MAN: Snack Breaks” animated shorts is now live. Bandai Namco Entertainment, in partnership with animation studio Cartuna, produced the animated series, which follows PAC-MAN as he leaves PAC-Village for the fast-paced, neon sprawl of NEW PAC-CITY, where everyday life bursts into high-speed, snack-fueled adventures. With Team Ghost always on his tail, PAC-MAN’s boundless optimism is the ultimate power-up. Directed by Noah Pardo with lead producers Adam Belfer, James Belfer, Monica Mazel, Garrett Beltis, and Ben Bishop, the series features a bold, retro-inspired visual identity and fast-paced comedic storytelling tailored to digital audiences. “PAC-MAN: Snack Breaks” can be watched on the official YouTube channel, with new episodes to follow monthly.
Free In-Game Item
Celebrate PAC-MAN’s birthday with the release of a free in-game birthday hat for all players in PAC-MAN WORLD 2 Re-PAC, the remake of the beloved action platformer. Run, chomp, and butt-bounce across PAC-LAND in the most celebratory fashion with the new birthday hat, available for all the game’s platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC via Steam.
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 Reflector 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.
CHICAGO, IL May 22nd 2026 – Developers Toot Games in partnership with publisher Jackbox Games have just released their cinematic trailer for their upcoming title, My Arms Are Longer Now, which featured for the first time at BitSummit in Kyoto, Japan. This trailer features never before seen gameplay footage.
My Arms Are Longer Now blends physical comedy, creative puzzle design and unique stealth gameplay. The game is developed by a small Australian indie team led by Matthew Jackson, previously game designer on Need for Speed: No Limits and nominated for Excellence in Micro Games at the 2023 Freeplay Awards, and Millie Holten, creator of the Long Head web comedy series with tens of millions of views to date and a nomination for Best Online Drama or Comedy from the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts. Each of My Arms Are Longer Now’s levels present players with a new environment that will twist their arm in ridiculous ways, from stealing bicycles to ruining children’s birthday parties.
My Arms Are Longer Now will be launching later this year on Steam and Epic where fans can add the game to their wishlist now. A full console release of this game is expected in early 2027.
Find the latest updates on My Arms Are Longer Now by wishlisting the game and following Jackbox Games: https://linktr.ee/jackboxgames.
About Toot Games
Toot Games is an independent game studio based in Melbourne, Australia, focused on creating playful, character-driven experiences with strong comedic sensibilities.
About Jackbox Games
Jackbox Games is a Chicago-based developer and publishing studio best known for The Jackbox Party Pack series of games, which draws tens of millions of players worldwide each year. In addition to their original party games, Jackbox now also publishes independent titles that share its passion for creativity, humor, and accessible design.
The latest wave of Version 3.3 content includes Denia as a playable Resonator, new story content, anniversary rewards, limited-time events, featured Convene banners, and additional ways to earn in-game materials.
GUANGZHOU, CHINA, May 22nd – Kuro Games has released the latest wave of events and rewards for Wuthering Waves Version 3.3, “Reverbs From the End of Galaxies”, as the award-winning action RPG continues its second anniversary celebrations.
Players can now take part in a new selection of limited-time events, featured Convene banners, reward campaigns, and story content across Version 3.3. This includes the new main story chapter Beneath a Melting Night Sky, alongside anniversary rewards, featured exploration content, limited-time challenge events, and additional opportunities to earn in-game materials.
As part of the ongoing second anniversary celebrations, players can also log in to receive rewards through Gifts of Grand Celebration, a limited-time login event available during Version 3.3. Additional events now available include Depths of Illusive Realm: Chromatic Fantasy, Crossworld Sync: Pt. 2, Beyond the Waves: Ragunna Frostlands, and Chord Cleansing, giving players further ways to earn rewards, take on new challenges, and explore more of Solaris-3.
The latest Version 3.3 events include:
Beneath a Melting Night Sky – New Chapter III story content
Gifts of Grand Celebration – Anniversary limited-time login event
Depths of Illusive Realm: Chromatic Fantasy – Limited-time challenge event
Crossworld Sync: Pt. 2 – Cross-title collaboration event featuring special rewards
Beyond the Waves: Ragunna Frostlands – Featured exploration event
Chord Cleansing – Limited-time Echo double drop event
Version 3.3 also features a new selection of Resonator and Weapon Convene banners, including False Promise for Tomorrow, Horizon of Dawnbreak, Requiem Without End, Forged Dwarf Star, Kumokiri, and Lethal Elegy. Special Version 3.3 featured bundles are also available during the update period.
Players can find full event timings, eligibility requirements, reward details, and bundle information in-game and through the official Wuthering Waves channels.
Wuthering Waves is available now via PlayStation 5, Steam, Epic Games Store, Mac and mobile. Wuthering Waves launches on Xbox Series S|X in July 2026.
About Wuthering Waves
Wuthering Waves is a free-to-play cross-platform action RPG set in a post-cataclysmic sci-fi world. Players explore freely and engage in fast-paced combat built on dodges, parries, and team synergy. With its breathtaking visuals and layered storytelling, the game offers an immersive experience for both new and veteran players. An award-winning title, Wuthering Waves was the winner of The Game Awards’ 2025 Player’s Voice, a 100% community-voted award chosen by the public. The game has also received multiple industry honors, including the PlayStation® Partner Awards 2025 PARTNER AWARD, PlayStation® Partner Awards 2025 USERS’ CHOICE AWARD, Google Play 2025 Best Ongoing, and Hollywood Music In Media Awards™ Category: Song – Video Game [Console and PC].
About Kuro Games
Founded in 2014, Kuro Games’ main focus is to create high-quality, original games that push boundaries. For over a decade, Kuro Games has strived to bring more diverse, innovative, and enjoyable services to its players. Kuro Games independently developed Punishing: Gray Raven, which was warmly received by players around the world. With over 30 million downloads worldwide, its open-world ARPG Wuthering Waves has been met with a similarly positive reception.
Get Your Paws on Bubsy’s Latest Adventure on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and PC
NEW YORK, NY – May 22, 2026 – The moment you’ve all been waiting for is finally here! Today, Atari and independent game studio Fabraz launched my new game, Bubsy 4D, for PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 1 and 2, and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store and GOG for $19.99 / €19.99 / £16.75. Bubsy 4D marks the return of everyone’s fur-vorite bobcat mascot in my first 3D adventure since 1996, bringing you a colorful and expressive platformer that blends nostalgic charm with modern movement mechanics – and my furmidable sense of humor.
“The countdown is over… come on, don’t pretend that you haven’t been clawing at your screen waiting for this day to come,” said Bubsy T. Bobcat. “I’m proud to say Atari and Fabraz have given me the game I’ve always deserved, despite my cat-astrophic track record. It’s not over for little old me – this time, my claws are out and I’m ready to show off my acrobatic chops. Bobcats always land on their paws, right?”
In Bubsy 4D, I’m on a mission to take back the Golden Fleece from those nasty BaaBots who snatched it right out of my paws. I’ll run, jump, glide and roll across alien planets with platforming purrfection, tackling vibrant fabric- and craft-themed levels, with each planet ending in a BaaBot boss battle. Dress me up in stylish new outfits, collect hidden blueprints to unlock new moves and race against other players’ ghost data in online time trials. Along the way, I’ll reunite with furmiliar friends like Terri, Terry, Virgil and Oblivia – all to a pawsitively funky soundtrack by Fat Bard.
My game, Bubsy 4D, is now available to download for $19.99 / €19.99 / £16.75 on PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 1and 2, and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store and GOG. A physical collector’s edition is also available on atari.com, and includes a game cartridge, tuck-in exterior box, user manual, poster and artbook for $39.99 / €39.99 / £34.99 on Nintendo Switch and $49.99 / €49.99 / £44.99 on Nintendo Switch 2.
About Atari Atari is an interactive entertainment company and an iconic gaming industry brand that transcends generations and audiences. The company is globally recognized for its multi-platform, interactive entertainment, and licensed products. Atari owns and/or manages a portfolio of more than 400 unique games and franchises, including world-renowned brands like Asteroids®, Centipede®, PONG®, and RollerCoaster Tycoon®. The Atari family of brands includes game developers Coatsink, Digital Eclipse, Early Morning Studios, Implicit Conversions, Infogrames, Nightdive Studios, Stormteller Games, and the community-based sites AtariAge and MobyGames. Visit us online at www.Atari.com.
Atari shares are listed in France on Euronext Growth Paris (ISIN Code FR0010478248, Ticker ALATA) and OTC Pink Current (Ticker PONGF).
About Fabraz Fabraz is an indie game dev studio run by talent found across the world! Our expansive teams are behind critical darlings such as Demon Turf and Slime-san; and helped publish indie gems from indie friends such as Skellboy and SpiritSphere DX. Currently working on Demon Tides & Bubsy 4D.
Fabraz also runs a Producer Program with the explicit aim to help indie devs get their beautiful games out there! Games like Nemiza’s Verdict, Project Zwilling and Super Sami Roll 2!
Closed Beta arrives May 29 as players can earn exclusive crossover rewards and preview new global features
Taiwan, May 22, 2026 – USERJOY Games is thrilled to announce that Angels Online Global, the charming 2D fantasy MMORPG, is officially launching worldwide on June 24, 2026. Ahead of release, the team has unveiled a special crossover with the beloved Bugcat Capoo IP, bringing exclusive themed content and limited rewards to players worldwide.
Launching alongside the game, the collaboration introduces a wide range of Bugcat Capoo-inspired items, including themed costumes, backpacks, mounts, emotes, badges, chat bubbles, mechs, and more. One of the most anticipated additions is the Bugcat Capoo Pet Egg, allowing players to hatch and raise Capoo as a companion on their journey across the world of Eden.
Players can also participate in a special pre-launch collaboration campaign now live on the official website and Steam. By adding Angels Online Global to their Steam wishlist, players can receive the exclusive Bugcat Capoo Pet Egg as a reward.
Before launch, players will also have a chance to experience the game during the upcoming Global Closed Beta Test, running from May 29 to June 1, 2026.
The CBT will offer a first look at several upgrades designed specifically for the global version, including a new real-time multilingual chat translation system that allows players around the world to communicate seamlessly in-game.
Additional updates include a revamped outfit progression system with dungeon-earned outfit rewards, new outfit fusion and dismantling features, expanded inventory capacity, and multiple quality-of-life improvements aimed at creating a smoother gameplay experience.
Global pre-registration for Angels Online Global is now open, with launch rewards available for players who sign up early. USERJOY Games also confirmed that additional events and gameplay updates will be revealed in the coming weeks as the worldwide release approaches.
For the latest information, players can follow the game’s official channels and stay tuned for future announcements.
About USERJOY Games
Founded in 1995, USERJOY Games has developed a wide range of titles spanning PC, MMORPG, browser, and mobile platforms. The company is known for titles including Heroes of the Three Kingdoms, Fantasia Sango, Angels Online, and The Legend of Fancy Realm. Through continued investment in game development and innovation, USERJOY Games remains committed to delivering engaging entertainment experiences for players around the world.
Get your latest looks at the Y2K electronics repair shop sim ReStory and the human-fueled base building / tower defense roguelite Hull Rupture!
KYOTO, Japan – May 22, 2026 –Today during the INDIE Live Expo showcase, indie game publisher tinyBuild showed off new gameplay trailers for the chill electronics repair game ReStory and Hull Rupture, the upcoming base management tower-defense roguelite in space. tinyBuild is also attending Bit Summit this week in Kyoto, Japan, with Japanese-language demos for several games from its catalog, including SpeedRunners 2: King of Speed, The King is Watching, Hozy, Potion Craft, Hull Rupture, ReStory and more.
In ReStory, from developer Mandragora, you’ll run a chill electronics repair shop in Y2K-era Japan restoring old tech from the 2000s! Breathe new life into retro video game consoles, handhelds (including licensed Atari systems), cellphones, home appliances, cameras and more! Listen to your customers to dig into a unique branching storyline influenced by decisions that you make.
ReStory is set to release on Steam in 2026. Head to Steam to check out the game’s first playtest and add it to your wishlist now! And don’t forget to follow along on Twitter and TikTok for the latest news and updates.
Hull Rupture, from developer Konfa Games, is a base building, roguelite, tower defense game where you’ll take control of a mighty spaceship’s rogue AI, Despot, and use fleshy humans as your primary resource to exploit as you please. Use your Human Resources to create and fuel the interconnected modules of your craft, produce resources, repair damage, boost efficiency and reinforce defenses. Take on relentless waves of aliens by placing turrets, traps, barricades, and automated defenses to survive. Sacrifice your human forces to reach the alien planet that destroyed Earth and get your revenge by any means necessary!
Wishlist Hull Rupture on Steam. For the latest, follow Konfa Games on X/Twitter and TikTok, and join the Discord!
About tinyBuild
tinyBuild started as an indie game developer and morphed into a developer-publisher you can’t miss. The company’s 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 the Hello Neighbor series, Graveyard Keeper, SpeedRunners, DUCKSIDE, The King is Watching and more. Although headquartered in the Seattle area, USA, the company has established a strong global presence with studios across the US, Netherlands, and Eastern Europe. https://www.tinybuild.com
Every few months it seems like a new indie developer has managed to come up with an interesting idea that blends together two game genres that end up working surprisingly well. By experimenting in ways that larger companies cannot, these indie devs take massive risks and while it may not always pay off, sometimes it does. Especially when it comes to taking plenty of influence from some of the greatest games of their respective genre. Such is the case with Vultures – Scavengers of Death, an indie game from a two person dev team that blends survival horror and turn-based combat into something that few could have seen coming, let alone the fact that it works shockingly well. So now that it has arrived and has been patched up along the way, is this unique blend worth checking out?
Story
An unknown catastrophic bio-chemical incident has happened in Salento Valley and has killed nearly everyone within the city and those that didn’t die, might wish they had as the dead now walk the streets as zombies and other horrific creatures lie in wait for their own chance to strike. Players take on the role of VULTURE, a team of special forces specialized in extraction who have been assigned perhaps their most important task ever. To infiltrate the city and try and uncover whatever they can about the origins of this virus outbreak and how it is tied back to the villainous Eugenesys corporation.
The team consists primarily of the two playable characters Leopoldo and Amber as well as their communications and intelligence manager Satsuki who stays at “The Nest,” their homebase. Alongside these two are the occasional extra character such as a reporter that players will rescue that can provide extra intel depending on what missions are completed in certain order and of course, some chiming in from the man that hired them to take on this mission in the first place, the mysterious Alexei. Nearly all of the story is told through short bursts of cutscenes between missions and occasionally through a little snippet of dialogue while exploring the levels themselves.
Vultures – Scavengers of Death doesn’t reinvent the wheel when it comes to telling its biohazard storyline and it does wear its influences on its sleeves quite clearly, including more than a few references to some of the most iconic survival horror games of all time. That being said, it doesn’t need to either because it thankfully manages to tell a fairly cohesive and believable enough storyline of twisted corruption and a company so bent on seeking immortality that it was willing to sacrifice the world to find their true goal. As mentioned, players will find countless notes throughout the game’s levels that help explain further details about the story that aren’t spelled out and while some of these notes simply provide a bit of extra context about the current level, others are quite informative about the overarching storyline and the twisted experiments that took place underneath everyone in Salento Valley’s noses.
One thing that is unfortunately lacking in the game however is much in the way of personality. While Satsuki serves as the more humorous and intelligent member of the team that interacts with both Leopoldo and Amber while they are on their missions, neither of the other two, nor Satsuki really, are given anything in the way of actual development and barely anything noteworthy about their backgrounds. Instead players can only infer through their dialogue and interchangeable missions about the two playable characters personalities, with Leopoldo being gruff and no-nonsense but ready to risk everything if it means saving someone while Amber is more calculating and blunt, though just as deadly when it comes to focusing on her mission. It is a shame that none of the characters see any form of development throughout the story.
Gameplay
Vultures – Scavengers of Death follows a particular set of rules right from the getgo as players will find that they will be playing a mission as either Leopoldo or Amber with no choice to swap between them except for the final level of the game. Part of this is due to the unique abilities that each character has and, thankfully, they have an equal number of missions between the two. Leopoldo is stronger and can mantle over low obstacles, push enemies and objects, and even reposition objects in the field to help set-up traps. Amber on the other hand can still push foes but also has access to a grappling hook that can be fired to zip across long distances, often to locations only she can reach, and during fights to either escape an enemy or even grapple right onto one and pull it into a trap or kick it into one.
Regardless of what character the player is playing, they both share the same inventory and “storage box” to store extra weaponry, healing items, explosives, and ammo. Before every mission players can select their loadout of what they want to bring with them and leave behind, though every mission has at least one location that players can access their “storage” which is usually in a save room. This is good since players are limited in how much they can carry so depositing excess items to make room for new discoveries is essential to both surviving and stockpiling in case of emergencies. It is worth noting that every mission also has a set number of collectable “valuables” that players can find scattered throughout the level and generally are just things like records, vhs tapes, and similar items that each add $100 to their upgrade pool. This can then allow players to upgrade any obtained weapon to not only only increase the damage done but sometimes unlock additional inventory space, special weapon abilities, and even costumes if players have some extra cash to burn.
Once inside of a mission players will find themselves face to face with the game’s gritty and mostly unforgiving design that meshes grid-based movement and survival horror limitations into one. Outside of combat players can freely interact with whatever they wish that is actually interactable, run around, walk around, or of course sneak, using 6 MP (Movement Points) at a time. This all changes though when they happen to catch the eye of an enemy, either by running straight through a door and finding enemies on the other side or sneaking along and entering the sightline of a zombie or other creature. This will then begin the game’s turn-based combat and heavy reliance on risk and reward choices.
Once combat begins players will immediately be thrown into a turn-based fighting system where they will still move on a grid but find that their movement points have been cut in half, allocating the other three points to Action Points (AP). Every action in combat takes AP in some way, with healing costing 2 AP, reloading a gun taking 1 AP, and of course shooting a gun or swinging a knife costing AP as well. Though this latter also varies heavily depending on what players are utilizing as a knife swing will always take only one AP while a pistol shot will vary depending on where the player is aiming. Aiming for the head deals way more damage but costs 2 AP and has a lower percentage of hitting, while targeting the legs or torso costs only 1 AP. In fact, targeting the legs of most enemies can often immobilize the enemy for a turn as well, leaving the player free of being advanced on by at least one foe.
Similarly, using a character’s specific abilities like shoving or using the grappling gun costs an AP but shoving a foe into a wall can stun them entirely, the same way shoving them into a fire, electrified floor, or even into a bottomless pit can deal massive damage. This encourages players to utilize the environment whenever possible. In fact, one of the first times players encounter an armored zombie it can be dealt with by simply ziplining to an electric switch, activating it to electrify the water it is standing in, and then shooting it in the legs, trapping it in the water to take damage over time.
Other methods of taking advantage of the game’s mechanics involve using the knife which will be the player’s best friend if used properly. Stabbing an enemy can trigger bleeding and shoving it away will not only give the player space to maneuver, but also freely escape without giving the enemy an attack of opportunity. This allows players to then use their 3 MP to gain distance and end their turn forcing the enemy to walk, taking bleeding damage every step to either slay them outright or drain their health drastically. While some of these elements may seem a bit exploitive, players will want to use whatever advantage they can in combat, especially when they’ve upgraded the knife and can instantly kill any enemy with a sneak attack, allowing players to sweep out entire rooms of zombies if they are careful.
Playing carefully is vital in Vultures – Scavengers of Death as the game features quite the difficulty curve if players aren’t making the best use of the systems on offer or finding valuables to upgrade their weapons to deal additional damage. The inventory is quite small to start with and while there are healing points scattered throughout most maps, they are limited and run out after a few uses and enemies hit like a truck and remain engaged even if players manage to break away from them and run out of the door. This means that fleeing an encounter and entering back through the same door will lead to eating plenty of attacks as a result. Both characters have fairly small health pools compared to what enemies can dish out, some of which can strike from a distance, hit more than once a turn, or even dig underground for surprise attacks, and players will need to utilize what they’ve learned to maintain spacing and keep things in their favor.
Thankfully one thing that was added into the game prior to release was a proper tutorial that goes over most of the game’s elements and it does explain most of what players will encounter, but a few extra guidelines would have been nice. While players can hover over an enemy to see the types of attacks they can use and their health, they cannot see how far the enemy can move to properly gauge distance. Similarly, while there are plenty of puzzles throughout the game, far too many are too simplistic in nature as they either involve simply getting a key, hitting an object, or combining an item and the one set of puzzles that actually is a challenge is poorly explained, relying on outside knowledge to properly complete without brute forcing it.
Among other issues it is worth noting that the game does not currently support any way to play the game using a controller and is strictly mouse and keyboard. There are also some occasional interaction issues that can make vaulting over obstacles an issue while targeting specific body parts of some more, unique, foes can be a bit more challenging as well unless players zoom in.
Audio & Visuals
One of the key elements that the development team was aiming for with Vultures – Scavengers of Death was capturing that PlayStation 1 level of polygonal design and they have done so masterfully here. All of the character models fit that design naturally and look like they have been pulled right out of the ‘90s and it is quite impressive as a result. Enemy variety isn’t too extensive but there is a wide-range of enemy skins depending on the location that players are exploring, though it must be said that the locations themselves are a bit on the generic side and it would have been nice to see more of the city itself suffering from the outbreak and less of the structured buildings, even if many contain secrets hidden within them.
As for the sound effects and voice work, the sound effects are handled decently enough but it is worth noting that there is no voice work of any kind outside of a few grunts and vocal chirps whenever a character’s dialogue box appears in the game. As for the soundtrack the game features a collection of fitting background music from the era including a signature sounding track for safe rooms.
Overall
Vultures – Scavengers of Death is a surprisingly adept blending of survival horror and turn-based combat that ensures that players not only have to fear running low on resources, but also getting cornered by the undead due to poor movement or planning. Featuring a gorgeous reproduction of PS1 era atmosphere, the title’s greatest strengths lie in its combat and exploration while its storyline is a bit wanting, painting an impressive picture but one that could have easily been better developed with some extra character build-up.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Experience an Unforgettable Adventure Set in the Tales Universe as the Award-Winning RPG and BEYOND THE DAWN Additional Scenario Arrives on Switch 2
Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe today announced the launch of the award-winning JRPG, Tales of ARISE – Beyond the Dawn Edition on Nintendo Switch 2. Discover a new fate in this version bringing the base game, winner of The Game Awards 2021 RPG Game of the Year and the additional scenario BEYOND THE DAWN, to the Nintendo Switch 2. Tales of ARISE – Beyond the Dawn Edition also includes additional in-game costumes and items.
Watch the Tales of ARISE – Beyond the Dawn Edition Nintendo Switch 2 launch trailer below.
In Tales of ARISE, players follow the adventures of Alphen and Shionne as they join forces to free the planet Dahna from 300 years of oppression under Rena. The story begins with two people, born in different planets, each looking to change their fate and create a new future. Featuring a diverse cast of characters and a captivating story, players will explore vast regions, battle powerful enemies in fast-paced action combat, and uncover the truth that binds the worlds together.
The BEYOND THE DAWNadditional content continues the adventures of Alphen and Shionne, adding new quests, dungeons, boss fights, and an epic new story arc all within the backdrop of an evolving, beautiful fantasy world. Featuring additional gameplay, follow the fate of the six as they navigate through the ongoing conflict between the Renans and Dahnans.
For more information about titles from Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe please visit: https://www.bandainamcoent.eu.
About Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe S.A.S.
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 Reflector 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.
