Playtest sign-ups are now open for the deep-sea survival-horror
Watford, UK – 4th of February, 2025 – Wired Productions proudly stick to its commitment to supporting independent developers and are thrilled to announce its latest partnership with Portuguese indie studio Camel 101 (Those Who Remain, Syndrome) for the release of their upcoming horror FPS, Beneath.
To celebrate this exciting new collaboration, a closed beta playtest for Beneath is now available for sign up. Players eager to explore the game early and provide valuable feedback can sign up now here.
Following the success of psychological thriller Those Who Remain in 2019, Beneath marks a renewed collaboration between Wired Productions and Camel 101. Drawing inspiration from iconic titles such as F.E.A.R., Resident Evil, and Half-Life, Beneath is a Lovecraftian first-person survival horror that promises to deliver a gripping blend of action, psychological tension, and atmospheric storytelling.
When seasoned diver Noah Quinn’s routine expedition descends into chaos, he finds himself trapped in the depths of the ocean, where an ancient evil lurks. As supplies dwindle and nightmarish creatures close in, Noah must confront horrifying mutations, creeping madness, and a sinister conspiracy that threatens humanity itself.
Every Shot Counts: Navigate scarce supplies and ammunition while maintaining your sanity against the horrors lurking in the depths.
Stealth and Combat: Hide in the shadows to conserve resources or engage in adrenaline-pumping battles as you delve deeper into darkness.
Deadly Enemies: Confront a terrifying mix of foes, from ruthless soldiers to grotesque Lovecraftian monstrosities — master their tactics to survive.
Explore Hidden Depths: Equip your specialized deep-sea dive suit and navigate oxygen limits as you uncover the secrets of the ocean’s abyss and deep-sea research stations.
“It’s a pleasure to work with Bruno and Ricardo again,” said Leo Zullo, Managing Director at Wired Productions. “They are a passionate and talented team, and as brothers, their bond resonates deeply with Wired. Long-term relationships are important to us and we will put our hearts and souls into Beneath and them.”
“We couldn’t be more excited about teaming up with Wired! Our previous partnership on Those Who Remain was a success, so we already know the value they bring to the table”, said Ricardo Cesteiro, co-founder and Managing Director at Camel 101. “Beneath is our most ambitious project to date, and we’re sure that their passion and expertise will be invaluable in helping us bring the game to its full potential.
About Wired Productions Wired Productions is a true Indie Publisher proudly presenting a diverse range of specially curated games from some of the greatest storytellers and independent developers. Named as “Indie Publisher of the Year” at the MCV / Develop Awards, Wired is home to an award-winning collection of titles including: DIG VR, Gori: Cuddly Carnage, Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles, Arcade Paradise VR, Tin Hearts, Martha Is Dead, The Falconeer, The Last Worker, and Deliver Us the Moon. Upcoming titles include: Hotel Architect, Beneath and KARMA: The Dark World.
About Camel 101 Camel 101 is an award-winning game development studio dedicated to crafting unforgettable gaming experiences. Our visionary team pours passion and creativity into every project, from engaging casual games to challenging tactical wargames and thrilling horror adventures. We strive to captivate gamers worldwide by pushing the boundaries of game development and unlocking the full potential of interactive entertainment.
At Camel 101, we’re not just creating games; we’re creating lasting memories that stay with players beyond the final credits. Join us in our mission to enhance the gaming landscape—we love playing, making, and discussing games. It’s in our DNA.
Immerse yourself in eerie soundscapes and tense harmonies with the original soundtrack out now on Steam
TOKYO, JAPAN – February 4th 2025 – Shueisha Games, a leading independent video game publisher, is proud to announce that anUrban Myth Dissolution Centermanga will be available for free on February 13th, coinciding with the game’s launch on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch. The manga, titled “Case File: Kune Kune”, will feature an original story not found in their highly anticipated game. Additionally, Shueisha Games is pleased to announce that the atmospheric soundtrack for the game is also now available on Steam, giving fans an early taste of its spooky audio ahead of the game’s launch later this month.
“Case File: Kune Kune”, is an original story that follows the team as they take on a mysterious case involving a comatose construction site surveyor, his cousin’s shock-induced isolation, and a desperate wife seeking answers. As the investigation unfolds, the Dissolution Center finds that there’s more to the incident that meets the eye, revealing a dark family history, a cursed mountain, and a chilling connection to a well-known Japanese urban legend – Kune Kune. The manga will release at the same time as the game, on February 13th at 00:00 JST, and will be available for free on Manga Plus in English.
Ahead of the game’s launch later this month, immerse yourself directly into Hankababunko’s Urban Myth Dissolution Center Original Soundtrack, featuring 32 tracks composed by the sound director Ada-P (あだ-P), as well as the unique J-rap main theme, written by MURASAKI and performed by Kanna Katata, With synthesizers harmonizing with the pixel art to create creepy tension, tracks convey the senses of eeriness, mystery and the enigmatic nature of urban legends that inspire the game.
About Urban Myth Dissolution Center Dive into this a single-player psycho-detective mystery adventure where you take on the role of Azami Fukurai, tasked with unraveling mysteries as she helps run the day-to-day operation of the titular Dissolution Center. She’s no ordinary rookie, though, possessing the ability to see the memories of places through her glasses. Utilizing her unique gifts and abilities, Azami must navigate cursed relics, dimensional anomalies, and otherworldly creatures in search of answers, delving into the paranormal activity surrounding each case.
Urban Myth Dissolution Center is set to launch worldwide on February 12, 2025, and in Japan on February 13 at 00:00 JST, on PC, Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5. The game will support multiple languages, including English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Arabic, and Hindi.
About Hakababunko
Hakababunko is a talented group of Japanese game creators known for their expertise in crafting mystery and adventure games. They stand out for their distinctive use of pixel art as a unique artistic expression. Their flagship series, MAKOTO WAKAIDO’s Case Files, earned the prestigious Shueisha Game Creators CAMP Award at the 2021 Google Play Indie Games Festival. This recognition led to their collaboration with Shueisha Games on the development of Urban Myth Dissolution Center.
About Shueisha Games
Shueisha Games, founded in February 2022 and headquartered in Tokyo, is an enthusiastic and experienced team responsible for the planning, development, and sales of many titles for consoles, PCs and smartphones.
Bespell your many apprentices as you build science and the arcane arts alike in this upcoming sandbox wizard academy management sim.
Golryon, The Planar Danse – [February 4, 2025] Indie studio The Planar Danse is delighted to announce wizard academy management simThe Fool’s Apprentice, set to cast a spell on Steam in Q1 2025. As the director of a newly-formed magical academy, get ready to welcome clueless would-be wizards, guide them through scientific research, and ensure the future of arcanoscience–at any cost! Some apprentices may die, but that is a risk mages are willing to accept!
As an Arcanist, your own skill and research have given you prestige and reputation among the elite wizards of the Arcane Conservatory. Now, it is time to begin your very own research, to build the future of magic! With a slew of new applicants at the door of your wizarding abode, the fate of the city of Golryon, and the lives of your apprentices, are entirely in your hands.
Cast spells on your students to gently nudge them in the right direction, including levitation, mind control, and disintegration, all in the name of educating them in the ways of magic… and more importantly, adding to your name and tenure. The most promising among your pupils will surely thrive – as for the rest, the greatest of discoveries were not made without a few tragedies, now were they?
Your stature and fame as an accomplished Arcanist give you the freedom to forge your own path. As your wizard’s tower grows, you can choose to research long-forgotten powers, run increasingly risky experiments and become the ultimate guardian of the arcane arts–far from the eyes and ears of the chaff citizenry of Golryon, of course.
Or, will you decide to defy the Conservatory altogether and customize your school to become a welcoming, peaceful place of study? In The Fool’s Apprentice, you must balance the path of your academy, all while responding to narrative dilemmas and making new discoveries to spread magic among the populace, or keep it for yourself.
Remember; the city’s eyes are upon you, your actions will affect your reputation! Help shape the future of mankind and you will earn the love of the public, but claim every spell in the name of the magocrats and the inhabitants of the tumultuous city of Golryon will be quick to riot! Your arcane research shall know no bounds, just try not to get imprisoned for arcane malpractice!
Key Gameplay Features:
Spell-Slinging Studies: Educate hapless apprentices by directing their studies, managing their magical skills, and using them, in turn, to research new arcane sciences.
Designs and Dilemmas: Make your academy truly yours through cosmetic and eldritch decorations, workstation upgrades, and by solving narrative Dilemmas. Each of which will react to your choices and shape the future of magic.
Can You Meet Golryon’s Demands?: Your background does not make you immune from the demands of the city’s ruling class or its spell-less paupers, you’ll need to fend off (or fulfill) requests for resources, such as choosing guilds to side with, being forced to take in a nobleman’s inept child, or managing which side to craft magical weapons for during a war.
Magic for All! (Or Just a Privileged Few): Captivate the citizens of Golryon by bringing the arcane sciences to the people. Or, run the risk of riot by keeping it all to yourself.
The Fool’s Apprentice will be released on Windows PC via Steam in Q1 2025. A playable demo is available via the Steam page.
About The Planar Danse
The Planar Danse is a cooperative creative studio built on the premise of developing expansive worlds, providing value to players, and creating job security for developers instead of bottom line profit. The Planar Danse is the developers’ fantasy universe of the same name and comprises both games and novels, with more than 1.5 million words written within them so far. In addition to the wizard school management sim The Fool’s Apprentice, launching early 2025, three previously released games and novels are available, all connected to the setting, with more planned for the future!
If you had noticed my previous reviews, you would have seen that I’m a big sniping fan. I’m not talking just about the Sniper Elite series, but pretty much every game where the sniper weapon/class is available. My favorite character in Borderlands 2 was ZEr0 because his stealth-focused skills went great with sniping weapons and just recently I did another fresh playthrough of Cyberpunk 2077 where I almost exclusively focused on sniper rifles.
And this goes without saying, but I played through every Sniper Elite game so far, squeezing out the maximum out of its replay value by replaying missions, and hunting for collectibles and weapons. The latest entry in the series is Sniper Elite: Resistance, a story that runs parallel with the events in Sniper Elite 5, where you play here as Harry Hawker, an agent of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) group. I assume we will now have new weapons, new challenges, and new ways to snipe enemies in the store for us, so let’s see how right (or wrong) I am.
Sniper Elite: Resistance Gameplay
Story
Another game, another new super weapon. The Germans have something that’s called Wunderwaffe, which translates to……super weapon. We don’t know what is it yet and what it does, but that’s the job of our Harry anyway. You’ll be working closely with the French Resistance and travel across 9 diverse missions throughout France trying to rack up as many kill cams and headshots as possible. The game difficulty can be entirely customized to your liking, but if it ever gets rough you also have the option to play the entire campaign in co-op with your sniping buddy.
Gameplay
If you played any previous Sniper Elite games so far, you know what to expect. Innovative ways to take down your enemies, coupled with a bunch of optional objectives, and a plethora of collectibles in the form of secret documents, intel, and upgrade workbenches. The first thing you’ll notice is that Sniper Elite: Resistance isn’t much of a departure from previous games. New missions, different weapons……and that’s pretty much it. In fact, it would be better to call this an expansion pack to Sniper Elite 5 than to consider it its own game. One novelty in the game is the propaganda missions. You see, every level has a hidden resistance poster. Finding one will unlock a stealth/sniping/combat propaganda mission that’s separate from the main campaign. Finding and completing them all will award you with an iconic sniper rifle (that the veterans of the Sniper Elite series are pretty familiar with).
Every mission will have a few main objectives, and usually one optional. That optional objective is often shown on the map from the start and sometimes you’ll have to get close to a specific location or eavesdrop on enemy conversations to trigger its appearance. On top of that, every mission has a kill list – another optional mission where you need to assassinate a certain someone but doing it in a really specific way (kill them with a certain weapon, poison them, blow them up, etc) will reward you with a new weapon. It’s worth it! The x-ray kill cam is back, as well as special ammo, weapon tuning, and pretty much everything from the previous entry. The levels are pretty straightforward. Do the main objectives and exfiltrate. If you wanna do the optional ones or complete the kill list, that’s entirely up to you. You can also turn on the Axis invasion option to allow other players to invade your game and try to mess with your plans. Taking them down will bet you some bonus experience and you can also invade other people’s games to keep them on the edge.
But let’s talk about the things that bug me, and I’m not talking just about the game bugs. I did often get stuck near walls and buildings and only reverting to a previous manual save could help me. Enemy AI is beyond broken and their awareness of you is inconsistent, to put it mildly. They will get suspicious when you snipe someone nearby even when using subsonic ammo but often I was able to mow down entire platoons while the soldiers in the building nearby would just patrol casually while playing deaf. If you kill someone on the road where the trucks are patrolling, they will see the body, exit the vehicle, snoop around, and continue with their patrols like nothing happened.
Visuals
Not much to talk about here. I found it disappointing that one level in the campaign has to be played twice. If we consider that out of nine missions in the campaign, there are only eight (the last mission is simply “kill the main bad guy” and that’s it, it can be completed in less than 30 seconds), then repeating one level feels pretty cheap. The visuals are nothing extraordinary although I must admit that might missions look way better than daytime ones and there is a certain allure to seeing the same X-ray kill shots over and over again, it simply never gets old.
Notable mention goes to rich explosion effects. Even though I risk everyone on the level figuring out my location, it is always fine to blow up trucks with anti-tank mines or dismember enemies by sniping the conveniently placed red barrels nearby. Some levels such as Devil’s Cauldron or Assault on Fort Rouge are surprisingly complex in terms of level design while the rest of them just feel like the lowest effort of copy-paste when it comes to buildings and enemy placements.
Audio
The audio design is still as good as ever and still one of the game mechanics, in a way. You can still time your sniper shots by syncing them with level noise (planes flying overhead, sabotaging a generator to sound mask your shots) so you don’t get discovered easily. Every weapon has a distinct sound but I have to admit that the voice acting of Harry Hawker didn’t sit right with me. He often sounds disinterested and like he is reading his lines from a teleprompter. I also have these weird audio bugs where intense music will suddenly kick in while I’m sneaking around and sometimes I could play half a level without hearing any background music at all.
Overall
In short: it’s not bad, although could be better. Sniper Elite: Resistance leaves a lot to be desired and the game would have a far better reception if it was released as an expansion pack for Sniper Elite 5. For veterans of the game, it is a welcome addition to the series, but for everyone else, you would be better off playing any of the previous games. At least you’ll get more content and level variety. Let’s hope Rebellion does much better with the next entry in the franchise and this game serves them as a good learning experience.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be foundhere.
Blood Bar Tycoon is a vampire bar management simulation game that launches on Steam on February 4th
Namur, Belgium – February 3, 2025 – Clever Trickster is thrilled to announce the launch of Blood Bar Tycoon, a supernatural management game, arriving on February 4th on Steam!
Sink your teeth in and rule the night! Step into the darkly quirky world of Blood Bar Tycoon and turn rundown bistros into thriving vampire hotspots. Attract unsuspecting humans, keep your immortal patrons well-fed, develop outrageous blood-harvesting contraptions, and outwit relentless vampire hunters. Will you rise to become the ultimate ruler of Crimson City?
ABOUT THE GAME
Blood Bar Tycoon is a vampire bar management game. Build bars and blood factories, lure humans to harvest their blood, process it, and serve your customers: other vampires. Research quirky machines and deal with hunters! Expand through Crimson City to become a mighty Elder!
Revamp your vampire bar! As a vampire bar manager, transform shabby bistros into the trendiest bars in the neighborhood! At the same time, lure those clueless mortals into your quirky blood factory to feed other vampires. Manage stocks, avoid bankruptcy, and prevent your Blood Bars from being burned by hunters.
Run your business – Hire low-level vampires as minions to carry out your dirty work. Manage their priorities to optimize your operations and satisfy both your mortal and immortal customers. Don’t forget to feed them as well! Arrange the hallways, rooms, and other amenities to your taste to enhance the prestige of your bar and become the true hotspot of the neighborhood.
Capture juicy humans! Develop an underground human detention center before processing them in your whacky machines to extract their precious blood in all its forms. What’s better than serving Bloody Slushies or a Bloody Daiquiri to satisfy your wealthiest and most demanding vampire clients? Discover crazy cocktails with new ways to harvest and process blood! If you do things well, humans will leave with a free hangover from your establishment. But in case of trouble, you’ll have a corpse on your hands… and you risk attracting the attention of vampire hunters!
Unleash Your Vampiric Creativity! You’re not just a vampire bar manager; you’re the architect of a true nocturnal masterpiece. Enjoy extensive freedom to renovate, design, and customize every aspect of your establishment with a wide range of themes and styles. Transform rundown taverns into spectacular bars where every detail, from furniture to lighting, reflects your unique vision. Create the perfect ambiance to attract the most discerning vampires and become a legend of the night! Competitions will highlight the most stunning bars!
Micromanage or Automate Your Minions! The Choice is Yours! Take command of your minions with micro-interactions, managing them like a true vampire overlord to tackle emergencies. Seamlessly blend micromanagement with automation, assign work sectors, and set priorities to grow your dark empire like an evil mastermind!
Handle the whims of Elder vampires – Interact with enigmatic Elder vampires who will guide you through the night and shape your destiny as a Blood Bar manager. But beware, each Elder has a unique personality. Please them, and you’ll be richly rewarded! Disappoint them, and you’ll face their wrath as they plot your downfall.
Expand through Crimson City! Our first Blood Bar marks the beginning of your ascent to dominate the blood trade in Crimson City! Each new bar presents new challenges to overcome at your own pace. Prevent your impatient and voracious customers from feeding directly on your human clients. Improve your facilities, machines, and staff. Utilize research and new systems to enrich yourself more quickly! Analyze your indicators to become the best vampire bar manager in the city.
Your Ultimate Goal: Becoming an Elder! Try to please the Elders to gain their favor, or suffer their wrath! Understand their personalities and learn how to flatter them. Will you ally with the crazy Yumeko, the voluptuous Sophie, the megalomaniac Vladimir, or someone else? Take control of every district of Crimson City with their help to become one of them and rule for eternity! Will you achieve your vampiric goals or fail miserably?
Ludovic Mahieu, co-founder of Clever Trickster, commented: “Ben, our creative director, and I came up with the idea for Blood Bar Tycoon during our role-playing game sessions several years ago. For me, creating this game was a unique opportunity to combine my love for management games and the vampire universe, while also allowing us to express our quirky and offbeat humor! Today, we are very excited to bring the game to life starting on October 28.”
Virginie Maréchal, also co-founder of Clever Trickster added:“We are thrilled to have taken this project as far as we could with a young and passionate team, combining the challenges of a game with complex mechanics with the adventure of launching a new studio. I am very proud of the journey we’ve made and grateful to all our partners and the players who have supported us from the beginning. We can’t wait for the world to discover Blood Bar Tycoon, especially through the open beta.”
ABOUT CLEVER TRICKSTER
Clever Trickster is a video game development studio founded in 2022 by gaming veterans passionate about strategy and management games. These genres have influenced the principles that guide the team: efficiency and innovation. The studio’s ethos values equality, collaboration, and autonomy, creating an inclusive and supportive environment. The team constantly strives to improve in order to deliver enriching gaming experiences, while keeping fun at the heart of work.
Use acoustic proximity voice chat, investigation tools, and deception items to fool your friends!
Salt Lake City, USA, February 3rd, 2025 – Something sinister is afoot in Snowfall Games’ upcoming multiplayer murder mystery game, It Was You. Are you cunning enough to kill your friends and cover your tracks or perceptive enough to expose a carefully orchestrated murder? Find out when It Was You launches on Steam later this year.
It Was You invites 5-12 players to a murder mystery-themed Halloween party at the haunted Tylock Estate. Upon arrival, party attendees will be given a role—detective or killer—and tools to manipulate, uncover, or plant evidence of a murder.
Detectives have a range of tools at their disposal to uncover the truth—whether it’s using a magnifying glass to trace footprints, a blacklight to reveal hidden blood splatters, or even a lie detector to expose a suspect’s role. Meanwhile, killers rely on deception, using items like a spray bottle to erase their fingerprints or tape to plant someone else’s. They can even drag a body into a closet, hoping it remains undiscovered. At any moment, players can call for a discussion and vote to exile whoever they believe is guilty.
Acoustic proximity voice chat introduces lifelike reverberation and occlusion, causing voices to echo in the long corridors of the Tylock Estate. When a player enters a room and shuts the door, conversations from outside are naturally muffled, adding an unprecedented degree of immersion. To execute the perfect murder, killers must ensure the door is closed and no one is around —or risk detectives overhearing the victim’s scream echoing through the halls.
Every party feels alive with the addition of non-player guests. Killers must eliminate these NPCs first, creating a buffer that allows real players to investigate and participate in the narrative of every game before they risk becoming victims.
“We’re huge fans of social deduction games and think the appetite for it is only growing, with Jubensha, the real-life role-playing rendition of murder mysteries, being the third highest grossing form of entertainment in China, earning $3.4 billion across 10 million players,” said Jaden Holladay, Co-Founder and Engineering Director at Snowfall Games. “While we’ve loved social deduction games like Among Us, Town of Salem, and First Class Trouble, we felt there was more we could bring to the genre by adding new tools to play with, such as acoustic proximity voice chat, first-person perspective, and an array of tools to investigate a crime scene– resulting in a more realistic and complex murder mystery experience!”
About Snowfall Games
Snowfall Games started during the 2020 global pandemic when lifelong friends Austin and Jaden, stuck at home, saw a gap in the social deduction genre—one that craved deeper gameplay, stunning visuals, and a true murder mystery theme. Having spent their childhood creating—building elaborate Halloween experiences for neighborhood kids, designing firework displays in Roller Coaster Tycoon, and learning game engines—they turned their passion into careers. Jaden made his mark developing Marine Arena 2, one of StarCraft 2’s most-played mods, and later worked on Hogwarts Legacy, New World, and Lost Ark. Meanwhile, Austin blended his computer science expertise with self-taught artistry, mastering 3D modeling and rendering to bring their vision to life. From two developers to a full-fledged team, Snowfall has spent four years driven by passion, countless late nights, and relentless ambition—culminating in its first game, It Was You.
Take an early trip to Bukovie ahead of PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch release with demo now available on Steam
Geel, Belgium – February 3rd 2025 – Rogueside is thrilled to announce that the first demo for its narrative-driven murder mystery game, Best Served Cold, is now available, allowing players to take a trip to the fictional city of Bukovie and get a taste of the atmosphere and intrigue that will be coming to PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch with the game’s full release. To celebrate the release of the demo on Steam, Rogueside has also released a brand new gameplay trailer that shows off the game’s evocative art, investigation mechanics and drink mixing.
In Best Served Cold, you play as a bartender at a speakeasy where potential suspects and witnesses gather. The police are stumped by a series of murders shaking the local community, and an ambitious young detective has enlisted you to help crack the case. You’ll need to impress him to keep running your illegal establishment. Serve your patrons cocktails to loosen their tongues, gather clues and solve the murders!
Meet a fascinating cast of intriguing characters seeking solace or stirring up trouble in ‘The Nightcap’, a bar renowned for its varied clientele that spans the social strata. Lend an ear to your patrons and form a bond as you get to know their backstories – you’ll no doubt fall in love with the fascinating cast, but you’ll still have to coax out confessions and uncover clues using the friendships you build. Remember, even the tightest of lips can be loosened with the right mix of charm, persuasion and alcohol.
“We’re thrilled to reveal Best Served Cold for PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch with our new trailer,” said Antje Van den Heuvel, Art Director at Rogueside. “Once players get a taste of the atmospheric world we’ve crafted, meet some of our fascinating characters and start pulling at the threads of our murder mystery, we think they’ll be back at the bar asking for another serving! The demo will be available throughout the whole of Steam Next Fest, so we hope you check it out! ”.
Key Features
Collect clues to solve murders while working at “The Nightcap” – an illegal bar under an upscale bookstore – as part of a thrilling murder mystery
Mix cocktails to manipulate your patrons’ mood
Meet fascinating characters, build relationships and learn their backstories
Go back to your apartment each day to connect clues on your evidence board and make new deductions
Experience a richly crafted world inspired by the cultural revival of 1920’s Bucharest
Learn about a city where cultural, political and economic shifts are fragmenting the old order
Enjoy a story crafted by writers Joshua Aldred and Thomas Welsh, known for his work on Cloudpunk
About Rogueside
Rogueside is an independent Belgian game developer on a mission to bring joy and excitement to players all over the world. Their team is made up of dedicated game enthusiasts who are passionate about crafting quality games that can be enjoyed by anyone. Whether it’s through quirky characters, breathtaking visuals, or puns galore, the studio is dedicated to crafting games that bring a smile to your face and leave you with a sense of joy and satisfaction.
Trying to figure out who you are and what you want to do in life is challenging as it is in our complicated world. However, what if things were even more dystopian and advanced than they are now? In a world where jobs are not only being increasingly automated but being taken over directly by sentient AI, finding a future for one’s self may seem impossible, especially for someone looking to reinvent themselves in that day an age. This is the type of world that S4U: Citypunk 2011 and Love Punch from U0U Games places us in, telling a narrative adventure with a few different turns as we navigate the life of an “online mouthpiece” and architect looking to change their life.
Story
Set in the fictional city of Castor Yard in the far more advanced year of 2011, players take on the role of Miki. Miki, whose gender is chosen a bit into the game, is in a rut. With their current job feeling like a potential dead end street as an architect Miki spends most of their off hours working on a side-hustle, and that is being an online mouthpiece. In a rather unique take on a job, Miki’s work in this field involves taking on jobs from clients and then pretending to be them by interacting with their friends, co-workers, or even family in an attempt to accomplish a goal. This can range from simply telling off a sexually harassing boss without getting the client fired, pretending to be a popular online celebrity while the real person is off slacking, or even helping someone get a divorce.
The whole thing is, Miki must always try to act like they are the person who hired them, creating a balancing act that players will have to work with to best solve their clients’ problems while also keeping up their cover. Top this off with the fact that Miki’s own family and friends will be popping up to talk through the same instant messaging system but even her co-workers and day job will send messages as well, meaning that players will constantly need to stay on the ball and multi-task as it is entirely possible to mess these personal conversations up just as bad. Taking too long to respond may irritate a friend or a client’s co-worker and there are even times that some messages are only able to be sent for a limited period of time, missing out on the chance to reply can lock players out of certain dialogue or even properly completing a task.
To make matters worse, what Miki is doing is entirely illegal. S4U: Citypunk 2011 and Love Punch likes to throw players into the deep end with its storyline and doesn’t really explain much in the way of how Castor Yard is and why so many people seem to have lost hope and their “Tico” feed of news is often filled with messages about attacks, protests, and incredibly high unemployment rate. Only through interacting with characters both optionally and as part of the main storyline, are players able to realize the unique nature of the world. AI is not only fully established in 2011, but has gained sentience to the point that these “bots” are actually called Cyber Life. Each Cyber Life has their own unique set of skills and talents, appearances when interacting with humans through screens, and even can have children with other Cyber Life. This means that many online jobs or anything involving a computer has been taken over by Cyber Life, in fact even the vending machine under Miki’s apartment is home to a sassy Cyber Life with its own eclectic tastes for what it sells and whether it wants to interact with Miki or not.
As a result, the online space has become incredibly regulated and also gives reason as to why Miki feels lost about their future. Their main goal is to simply save up enough money to quit their current job and find a new path in life, but that is far from the only thing involved with Miki’s life as players navigate through about a week and a half of their time. The narrative is quite compelling and full of interesting nuances, whether it is pretending to be a client and walking the tightrope of how to accomplish their task without crossing a line, or simply going all out and crossing the line anyway with Miki’s choices, or interacting with Miki’s family and co-workers, like trying to get their sister into an academic program, reconnect with an old friend, or even find romance as there are four romanceable characters, the story has plenty of drama as players try to navigate Miki’s life.
It is also worth noting that there are multiple endings to achieve in S4U: Citypunk 2011 and Love Punch and the actual way to get some of them are far from clear, as a few involve some very early choices that players may not realize have as much importance as they actually do. It is worth noting that player choice is also heavily factored into various elements, as messaging both as a client and as Miki will often give Miki plot related dialogue entries. These are usually highlighted by Miki quickly summarizing the entry before players press enter, giving players plenty of reason to replay through and see how a client’s case may have gone differently as well as how Miki’s journey ends up.
One thing that is unfortunate about S4U: Citypunk 2011 and Love Punch is the localization effort. While it has received patches here and there even as we’ve played the title, it is quite clear that the localization remains rough in places and many jokes and phrases still make entirely no sense. In fact, there are occasionally entire interactions that seem almost like gibberish though these are few and far between. It is also worth noting that the pacing is fairly poor. While it is good to keep players on their toes with multi-tasking, one minute players may be having a dire client with multiple dialog boxes and contacts to keep up with and the next will simply be a minor problem, literally. This translates into the storyline as well. Sometimes Miki’s own journey can often feel like it is taking a backseat to the clients that they deal with, but thankfully this is numbed a bit by how interesting many of these clients’ issues end up being as well as the aforementioned tightrope walking.
Gameplay
Now at its core, S4U: Citypunk 2011 and Love Punch can basically be described as an unconventional visual novel. Players will still need to read plenty of dialogue and make choices as they talk with characters, some of which can result in different endings for not only specific cases but Miki as well in the end. The big difference is, unlike most visual novels, S4U likes to keep players feeling engaged. Players won’t simply be clicking to advance a dialogue box, outside of the real world interactions that is, but physically typing on their keyboard to generate Miki’s computer responses as well. There are even a handful of more complicated key-specific mini-games throughout the title though these are few and far between.
All online interactions in the game are handled through a 2010’s style messaging system where players will need to click various “friends” and talk with them through a messaging app. The dialogue is predetermined but requires players to type on their keyboard to simulate the message, even if all they are typing is dfdfdfdfd, trying to immerse them into the gameplay in a fairly successful manner. Almost all dialogue has various options and players can delete their entry and retype it to change what they want to say, with the aforementioned choices relying on this part. There are also little gadgets that Miki can purchase to decorate their desk that are mostly there as collectables to poke or interact with and players can even send Tico stories to their contacts occasionally, to either continue a bit of storyline or trigger a fun interaction, though this isn’t available as often as we would have liked. It is also worth noting that it is very easy to lock in a certain “romance” path far earlier than others and it isn’t made clear in any way that this choice locks players to that character.
Audio & Visuals
S4U: Citypunk 2011 and Love Punch has some gorgeous looking aesthetics when players are away from the computer screen. The city-scape players can look out when outside their apartment is highly detailed and the various character designs are also rather impressive looking with a slight retro anime aesthetic. Most of the time though players will be staring at a simulated fat-back monitor and desk with whatever collectables they’ve purchased and the desktop is simulated quite well, though it would have been nice if there was a little more customization to things besides the few decorations.
Unfortunately none of the dialogue is voiced in any way in the game, with players only having to rely on the aforementioned hit and miss translation. The soundtrack is fitting, with a sort of “lo-fi hip hop” theme to things though it would be nice if players could select their background music at any time, especially if they’ve “bought” tracks from the vending machine. Instead these purchased tracks can only be listened to when city-gazing. It is also worth noting that, at least as of this writing, players can only “save” at the end of each day, meaning if players need to walk away they cannot actually save at will which feels like a strange choice, especially since multiple save slots are available.
Overall
S4U: Citypunk 2011 and Love Punch tells a wonderful and compelling narrative that explores the way we interact with others online while also tackling the challenges that could arrive in a world where Cyber Life grows to mimic real life, at least online. Having to balance the conversations Miki has with their client’s contacts as well as their own contacts to keep their life stable is a fine line to walk, especially when players can deliberately interject Miki’s own thoughts into the client’s world. Combine this with the unusually tactile experience of having to literally type to pull up responses and this unique approach to a visual novel is certainly worth checking out if you can handle a lackluster localization.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Hunt for clues and stay alive long enough to piece them together in Xbox X|S and Xbox One horror available to pre-order now
South Lyon, MI, USA – February 3rd 2025 – Holcomb Entertainment are pleased to announce that Blood Hunting will be releasing on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One on February 14th, with pre-orders now live. Blood Hunting is an atmospheric first-person survival horror where you must search for clues about your missing family and try to stay alive long enough to piece them all together.
Explore dark and dangerous environments, hide to survive and solve puzzles as you collect clues that will help you uncover the truth. You play as Chase Jones, digging into the secrets of his missing family. It seems those responsible want to halt the investigation and that means they want you dead. Your only help comes from an unknown stranger sending text messages to your phone.
“We’re really excited to bring Blood Hunting to Xbox platforms and everyone that plays there,” said Holcomb Entertainment’s Chad Holcomb. “We know that fans of survival horror are going to love Blood Hunting and we can’t wait for you all to get to play it this Valentines Day on February 14th.”
Key Features
A true survival horror experience
Explore carefully and find clues relating to your family’s disappearance
Solve puzzles to progress
Hide to survive
Receive a helping hand from a mysterious stranger sending you messages…
About Holcomb Entertainment
Holcomb Entertainment has a vision to create truly immersive survival horror game experiences. The journey will bring true emotional involvement with every game. Holcomb Entertainment was founded by Chad Holcomb. Building on early success of releasing mobile games the company is now focused on creating games for PC and Console with their newest release of Blood Hunting.
Sydney, Australia (February 3rd, 2025) – Vertigo Games, the award-winning VR publisher and developer, and SynthesisVR, a leading VR software platform owned by Deploy Reality, have announced an agreement for SynthesisVR to acquire SpringboardVR from Vertigo Games for an undisclosed amount, with the transaction set to take effect on February 1, 2025.
SpringboardVR is a leading provider of VR venue management software and the largest content marketplace for location-based entertainment (LBE). This acquisition strengthens the industry by providing a future-proof foundation for arcade operators and developers, setting the stage for sustained growth and innovation in the next era of VR. While both the SpringboardVR and SynthesisVR platforms will maintain independent operations and ensure business continuity, their combined presence under Deploy Reality demonstrates a long-term commitment to location-based VR, offering operators more options and resources. By bringing together two innovative platforms, this partnership plays a key role in the growth and success of VR arcades worldwide.
“For nearly a decade, SynthesisVR and Springboard VR have been paving the way for immersive entertainment,” said A Shabeer Sinnalebbe, CEO of SynthesisVR. “By joining forces under Deploy Reality, we’re creating a dynamic ecosystem that empowers operators, developers, and players to push the boundaries of location-based VR. This isn’t just a partnership – it’s the next leap forward in defining how the world experiences virtual reality.”
As the former owner of SpringboardVR and a global leader in VR entertainment, Vertigo Games remains deeply invested in the future of location-based VR through its renewed long-standing partnership with SynthesisVR. By supporting Deploy Reality’s vision and focusing on its legacy of groundbreaking VR games, Vertigo Games reinforces its commitment to delivering high-quality LBE VR experiences by concentrating on what it does best—creating great VR games for both consumers and the arcade industry—while ensuring that operators and developers benefit from stronger, more innovative platforms.
“Vertigo Games is fully committed to the evolution of VR arcades,” said Richard Stitselaar, CEO of Vertigo Games. “With this transition, we are setting a course for the future—one where Vertigo Games can focus on content innovation and creativity while SynthesisVR drives platform advancements. By strengthening our long-standing collaboration, we’re ensuring that both operators and developers benefit from more powerful, forward-thinking solutions so we can offer audiences truly immersive, next-generation entertainment.”
# # #
About Vertigo Games
Vertigo Games is an award-winning, multi-platform VR publisher and developer with offices in Rotterdam & Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and Los Angeles, California. The company offers a portfolio of quality VR games that provide novel, powerful and full-featured gaming experiences both inside and outside of the home. Recent games include Metro Awakening, Arizona Sunshine® Remake, Arizona Sunshine® 2, The 7th Guest VR, and After the Fall®. Vertigo Games is a PLAION Group company. http://vertigo-games.com
About SynthesisVR
SynthesisVR is a flexible software suite that helps operators and businesses manage their VR experiences with ease. From session scheduling and content licensing to analytics and user management, the platform brings together powerful tools designed to streamline operations and deliver immersive, high-quality experiences. By supporting a broad range of use cases—entertainment, training, and beyond—SynthesisVR plays a key role in driving the continued growth of VR adoption worldwide. https://SynthesisVR.com
About SpringboardVR
SpringboardVR is a versatile platform focused on simplifying the deployment and management of VR content. Equipped with tools for library curation, licensing, and comprehensive venue oversight, it helps operators offer engaging and diverse virtual reality experiences to users. By fostering a connection between content creators and location-based VR venues, SpringboardVR contributes to the ongoing expansion of the VR market across education, enterprise, and entertainment sectors. https://springboardvr.com
