Garage auction simulator where you turn trash into treasure continues hugely successful Early Access journey
Warsaw, Poland – May 20th, 2025 – Raccoons Studios and co-publisher BeardedBrothers.Games are delighted to announce that Storage Hunter Simulator has now hit 250k unit sales. Launching in Early Access on October 10th 2024, the game has picked up a cult audience, hitting 100k sales by the end of the year and now breaking the 250k mark. The game has received regular updates adding new content and features since release, generating very positive reviews on Steam and will continue to receive regular updates on the road to release.
Storage Hunter Simulator’s latest update added a host of new features to the game, including the new lockpicking tool, interactive map icons, outside decoration, more NPCs traffic and new tutorials for better onboarding, making now a better time than ever for new players to jump into the game. The team has also been dropping masks representing some of the content creators that have been streaming and posting videos of the game and helped make it such a success, including for Yumi, Bigpuffer, Skootie and Raptor.
In Storage Hunter Simulator, you take risks and compete with other bidders to win garages and find hidden treasures that will help you turn a profit. There are thousands of unique items to discover, which you’ll have to properly identify with experts until your business grows enough for you to obtain the tools to value them yourself. Build your auction empire and you will eventually get the opportunity to purchase your own pawnshop that you can upgrade over time. Manage your resources efficiently as you invest in tools, upgrades and employees, take risks on locked containers that might contain treasure or trash, and make your way from rags to riches.
“We’d like to say a big thank you to our community for helping us reach this amazing milestone,” said Łukasz Skrzypkowski, CEO of Raccons Studio. “We will continue listening to your feedback and implementing your suggestions in Storage Hunter Simulator to improve the game as we build towards the game’s full release.”
About Raccoons Studios
Based in Warsaw, Poland, Raccoons Studios strives to create experiences that everyone from casual players to gaming aficionados can enjoy. They are currently working on Storage Hunter Simulator.
About BeardedBrothers.Games
BeardedBrothers.Games was founded in 2018 by brothers Darek and Lukasz Skrzypkowski in Warsaw, Poland. The company makes games that use procedural generation to create immersive gameplay with high replayability and prides itself on creating projects together with the gaming community.
Explore the children’s rumpus room of your dreams – or nightmares!
Buenos Aires, Argentina, May 20th, 2025 – Indie developer Montraluz, in partnership with publisher Tlön Industries, have revealed that their cult favorite surreal first-person, body-cam psychological horror game Dreamcore will receive an all new chapter – Playrooms – on all platforms June 17th.
Since Playrooms adds roughly 50% more content to the game, the cost of Dreamcore will rise to $11.99. However, anyone who buys Dreamcore before June 17th will receive The Playrooms and all subsequent chapters at no additional cost!
Currently Dreamcore costs $8.99 on all platforms. While it will increase in price as more episodes are added, they will remain free updates to anyone who has already purchased the game. Beyond Playrooms, two more Dreamcore chapters are planned to follow in the next year.
Playrooms is a massive new expansion placing players in an eerie rec room combining cloudy recollections of nurseries, play pens, gymnasiums, and preschools. It combines the jungle gyms, paintings, and play structures of one’s earliest years, rearranged into something quietly uncanny and utterly unsettling.
“Our long term plan for Dreamcore has been to expand its unsettling, hallucinatory spaces into a very of different types of horror, and Playrooms is us exploring the infinitely imaginative mind of a child,” said Valentín Iribarren, Game Creator at Montraluz. “We found it really exciting to mix and match half forgotten shared memories of childhood into something woefully disquieting.”
“Playrooms is a huge space that enormously expands the scope of Dreamcore – and there are still two more episodes coming in the next year!. We wanted to reward our early adopters by giving them each expansion as a free update, so current and new players can still enjoy the entry price before Playrooms launches on June 17th.”
More about Dreamcore
Dreamcore sets players loose to explore a multitude of extraordinary, expansive worlds based around labyrinths of liminal spaces. Loosely inspired by the “backrooms” memes, Dreamcore offers a one-of-a-kind experience to probe these nonlinear realms, with each world featuring a unique puzzle players must solve in order to locate its exit.
Developed in Unreal Engine 5, each of Dreamcore’s worlds offers a hazy, twisted memory of the 1980s, complete with the grainy aesthetic of found footage VHS tapes. Navigate intricately linked structures and captivating landscapes, where every environment encourages unparalleled adventures and exploration. Each map presents a vast range of possibilities, delivering entirely distinct experiences.
About Montraluz
An independent Argentine video game studio founded in 2023 by Valentin Iribarren. The studio is making its debut with Dreamcore, marking the release of their first official video game.
About Tlön Industries
Tlön Industries is a game development company focused on bringing deep narrative experiences to dynamic system-oriented games. With our main offices in Buenos Aires, Argentina, we aim at creating world class games for players like us. We are a group of experienced game developers, and our goal is to continue creating games that inspire the world. Our debut game, Per Aspera, was nominated for the Best Simulation/Strategy Game in the DICE Awards 2021.
Nice, France, May 20th 2025 – Developer Wolcen Studio has just launched the soundtrack to their neo-noir top-down twin-stick shooter Bullet Noir, which is currently available on Steam Early Access for $11.99/£9.99/€11.79! Experience Cosmin Mirza’s intense OST, accompanying the suspenseful story of four lost souls prowling the streets in search of their mentor’s killer.
Immerse yourself directly into Wolcen Studio’s Bullet Noir Soundtrack, featuring 16 tracks composed by the virtuosic Cosmin Mirza, sound designer and composer of indie games including Door Kickers 2 and Trinity Fusion. With synthesizers harmonizing with violent shooting action to create pulsing momentum, tracks convey the feeling of adrenaline and vengeance that propel the game forward.
Bullet Noir is the debut title under Wolcen Studio’s new “indie Initiative”, which nurtures in-house grassroots game projects into full releases. This gritty, fast-paced shooter invites players to uncover the backstories of four uniquely driven protagonists, each consumed by a personal vendetta. As the plot unfolds, players will navigate each character’s personal story, intertwined with the larger narrative.
Headquartered in Nice, France, Wolcen Studio is a European game studio that unites over 120 talented professionals across the globe to create groundbreaking gaming experiences. In 2015, driven by our passion and belief in our vision, we launched a Kickstarter campaign to bring our first title to life, Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem. We want to shape the future of gaming by bringing together passionate, expert-driven people dedicated to pushing the boundaries of the industry. https://wolcen-studio.com
The roadmap for the future of Hotel Architect is available for guests now
Watford, UK – May 20th, 2025: Publisher Wired Productions and developer Pathos Interactive are officially ready for check-in with the launch of their chaotic and captivating hotel construction and tycoon management game, Hotel Architect, into Early Access. Players can experience what it takes to step into the role of a hotel owner today, with Hotel Architect available at a discounted launch price of just £12.79 / $15.99 / €15.99.
Hotel Architect offers an engaging experience for fans of management and tycoon style games – where players can unleash their creative freedom and strategically organize logistics, whilst experiencing the chaotic, yet satisfying and cozy gameplay loop. Build, design and grand hotels across the globe in four distinct locations each with a career and sandbox mode.
Hotel Architect’s Early Access launch features:
Four playable locations (Gothenburg, Santorini, Paris, and St Anton) complete with a full career and sandbox mode.
Unlock various rewards from completing main and bonus objectives, with hundreds of items and cosmetics to discover.
Several guest types to impress including Backpackers, Sunbathers, Sporty, Business, Upper Crusts and Brats – each with a unique set of requirements in order to check-in to the hotel!
Manage different staff types across the hotel, each with their own set of attributes that will positively or negatively impact their workflow!
A character creator – to place yourself, or others, in-game! Become a five-star chef, or check-in as a new guest, the choice is yours.
Numerous zones to design and decorate across multiple floors.
With even more features to come!
That’s just the beginning: from now through to the full launch, Hotel Architect will receive several new playable locations including New York and Las Vegas, additional building types that let players construct towering skyscrapers, seasonal events, new staff types to hire, emergency events to manage, design templates, and even more character cosmetics.
Following a successful playtest and demo campaign, which saw Hotel Architect ranked amongst the top simulation games available during Steam Next Fest, Pathos Interactive and Wired Productions are thrilled to continue creating a five-star experience alongside feedback from their passionate community.
“We’re incredibly excited to finally share our game with the world.” said Accel Sjöström CEO & Co Founder at Pathos Interactive. “It’s been a labour of passion for many years, and we’re proud of what we’ve built. We’re deeply grateful to our play testers for their invaluable feedback, and we look forward to continuing to evolve the game together with our community during Early Access.”
“We fell in love at first sight with Hotel Architect in 2021 and knew we had to work with Pathos Interactive,” said Leo Zullo, Managing Director at Wired Productions. “The game has evolved and grown into an absolute gem that brings pure joy to all those who play it, so we are happy to launch today into Early Access and letting the wider community help shape this already great game, into a masterpiece.”
Hotel Architect is out now in Steam Early Access with limited launch discount price of £12.79 / $15.99 / €15.99 which runs for 2 weeks.
Join the Hotel Architect community to keep up to date with the latest news and updates via Discord, BlueSky, Instagram and TikTok.
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: Hotel Architect, KARMA: The Dark World, DIG VR, Gori: Cuddly Carnage, Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles, Arcade Paradise VR, Martha Is Dead, The Falconeer, and Deliver Us the Moon. Announced upcoming titles are Beneath and Speed Freeks.
About Pathos Interactive
Pathos Interactive is a game studio founded in 2015, headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden. The company is driven with a deep passion by gamers with an ambition to make the best games, striving for excellence and releasing one quality game at a time. Having released the real-time strategy game, Bannermen, on Steam, Pathos are currently working on Hotel Architect, a management and simulation game.
KYIV, UKRAINE — May 20, 2025 – S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Trilogy Enhanced Edition is now available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Shadow of Chornobyl (2007), Clear Sky (2008), and Call of Prypiat (2009) get a refresh with enhanced graphics, next-gen console optimizations, and broader modding support.
The trilogy is available as a bundle for $39.99 USD or individually at $19.99 USD per title, with regional pricing applied where applicable.
The trilogy receives a visual upgrade across all platforms, featuring improved lighting with godrays, screen space reflections, and global illumination for a more immersive experience. Textures and 3D models for NPCs, weapons, and environments are enhanced, with advanced shaders for water and wetness effects and updated skyboxes for a dynamic world. 4K pre-rendered cinematics sharpen storytelling, and an adjusted FOV improves combat visibility.
Console players on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Pro, and Xbox Series X/S can select from a variety of quality and performance modes. Keyboard and mouse support is added for consoles, and mod.io integration enables cross-platform mod creation and sharing. PC players gain Steam Deck optimization, Steam Workshop access for mods, cloud saves for progress backup, and full gamepad support.
Players who own the S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Trilogy on Xbox Series X/S or PS5 will receive the Enhanced Edition of the corresponding games for free. As for PC, to thank our loyal fans, owners of the original S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games get the Enhanced Editions free, and buyers of the Enhanced Editions receive the original versions included.
GSC offers several additional ways to celebrate this release. Firstly, fans of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series can now purchase an exclusive Steam bundle featuring the entire saga (S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl (2024) + S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Legends of the Zone Trilogy Enhanced Edition)with 15% discount applied. Additionally, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Legends of the Zone Trilogy for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 will be included in PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscriptions right from launch.
Supporting Ukraine
As the war in Ukraine continues, GSC Game World remains dedicated to supporting our homeland. We encourage those willing to help to visit the official charity fund of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy: https://u24.gov.ua/.
About S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Trilogy
Experience the acclaimed FPS survival classics, now enhanced for modern platforms. Explore the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, take on the roles of legendary stalkers, and navigate radioactive wastelands filled with anomalies, mutants, and mysteries. With locations inspired by the real-life Chornobyl area, including Prypiat and the Nuclear Station, the trilogy offers a haunting blend of Eastern European atmosphere and dark science-fiction.
About GSC Game World
Founded in 1995 in Kyiv, Ukraine, GSC Game World is renowned for the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and Cossacks series. The studio recently released the highly anticipated S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl.
Immerse Grab some furends to play this purrfect party game
20th May 2025 – Team17 Digital and Montreal based Le Catnip Collective have launched Jumping Jazz Cats on Steam and welcome players to a mansion of pussycat parkour madness. Sprint, jump, bounce, swing, skid and slide through a collection of collaborative and competitive mini-games with 2-9 friends.
Jumping Jazz Cats is playable via four player local split-screen away from our online play. Or if you want to play on your own, our game has a Solo Trials mode for single-player games! Each level has different objectives, some requiring you to work together with your teammates and others to get the highest score possible to claim a victory over the other team. Minigames include Gimme Yarn, Cat Tree Capture, Fat Cat, and more!
Key Features:
2-9 players online
4 local players can join via split-screen
6 levels across the mansion to discover
6 cat-GIF inspired mini-games
10 original jazz tracks that influence gameplay during the choruses
Mix and match levels, mini-games and songs for immense variety
Blend of co-operative and competitive strategies
Buy the Standard edition of Jumping Jazz Cats for £8.99/$8.99/€ 8.99 or get the purr-ty meowsome Deluxe Edition for £14.99 which includes: Jumping Jazz Cats – The Game, Original Soundtrack featuring 23 songs made especially for the game and the official digital artbook, featuring concept art, character designs, level sketches, and behind-the-scenes insights into the game’s jazzy world.
Follow Le Catnip Collective and all things Jumping Jazz Cats you can follow the developers on Discord.
About Le Catnip Collective
Founded in Montreal, Canada Le Catnip Collective is an indie developer led by Cofounders Daniel Harris and Arun Sol Warszawski. Their first game Jumping Jazz Cats is a feline infused online party game.
About Team17 Digital
Founded in 1990, Team17 Digital is a leading developer, video games label, and creative partner for developers around the world. Part of Team17 Group plc, which floated on AIM in 2018, Team17 Digital has an extensive portfolio comprised of over 140 titles and fully encapsulates the spirit of independent games. Team17 Digital’s portfolio of multi-award-winning and award-nominated in-house brands include Hell Let Loose, Golf With Your Friends, The Escapists, and the iconic Worms franchise, alongside its games label partner titles, including the award-winning games Blasphemous, Greak: Memories of Azur, and Overcooked! franchise. Visit www.team17.com for more information.
Collector-focused EDITIONS and mass retail releases will bring a new standard to physical video games preservation
Cirencester, UK, Tuesday 20th May 2025: Lost In Cult, the acclaimed creative behind the Design Works series of art books, proudly unveils its new video game publishing label – a bold entry into the world of physical games, built on the pillars of prestige, preservation, and curation.
Launching with a trio of celebrated titles for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch, this new imprint reimagines what it means to collect games physically, helping collectors and casuals alike play the releases that defined their gaming journey for the rest of time.
IMMORTALITY (PlayStation 5) – a critically acclaimed interactive film, winner of BAFTA’s Best Narrative
The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow (Nintendo Switch) – a folk horror standout, nominated by PC Gamer for Game of the Year
“Collaborating with Lost in Cult has been nothing short of a delight — their attention to detail and their drive to keep adding more and more to everything they put out is evident in the quality of what they release,” says IMMORTALITY developer Sam Barlow. “Each new treasure they create feels like a genuine companion piece, not just a ‘nice to have.’ The most common request we’ve had since releasing IMMORTALITY has been for a physical edition, but we always knew that if we did do it, we’d need to do it right — and so, working with Lost in Cult on this amazing new series was a no brainer!”
“As the world around feels more and more impermanent, physical media seems even more essential,” adds IMMORTALITY producer Natalie Watson. “With that in mind, ensuring that IMMORTALITY could be assured of its own immortality was of utmost importance to the team, and we are so grateful to have worked with Lost in Cult to make that happen.”
Each game will be available in two formats: mass retail editions for broad accessibility, and premium EDITIONS – limited-run, high-end collectors’ releases with gallery-quality presentation.
“We’re being bold. I can unashamedly say we set out to create a new standard for physical games,” said Ryan Brown, Head of Publishing at Lost In Cult.
“And this is a multi-faceted mission. Our EDITIONS are designed to preserve not just the game, but the story and artistry behind its creation. At the same time, our retail releases ensure no one is locked out of owning great games physically, giving everyone a chance to play their favourites for the decades to come, internet connection willing or not.”
Indeed, every game is complete-on-cart/disc, requiring no downloads or internet connection to play. The label is also the first to partner with respected preservation group DoesItPlay?, who rigorously test each release for offline functionality and award an official “DoesItPlay? Approved” badge.
“Working with Lost In Cult is a match made in gaming heaven for us,” adds DoesItPlay? owner Clemens Istel. “We’re proud to apply our knowledge and experience in quality-testing, having tested over 2600 titles, with a company that matches our vision on game preservation and also sees video games as art.
“We work tirelessly to ensure these fantastic experiences remain accessible now and always. Aligning with Lost In Cult’s mission to provide the best physical games publishing to date is now the next step in our efforts to ensure quality physical releases that stand the test of time and make developers and players equally proud.”
Each EDITIONS release includes:
Exclusive outer slipcase with original commissioned artwork.
Variant cover for the retail case inside.
Developer signature card and a set of art cards.
Fold-out poster and collector’s checklist.
Custom sticker.
A prestige booklet edited by acclaimed Edge Magazine alum Chris Schilling, including developer interviews and analytical essays.
All-new artwork across packaging and even the mailer box – with three designs rotated seasonally.
“We are beyond thrilled and honoured to be part of Lost in Cult’s physical launch line-up – alongside two games we genuinely love,” offers The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow designer Shaun Aitcheson of Cloak and Dagger Games.
“It had long been our dream to release a physical Switch version of The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow, but every avenue we had investigated ended up coming to nothing. I decided to issue one final tweet, in the hope that someone out there might help us make it happen – and that someone was Lost in Cult. It has been an immense pleasure working closely with their team to craft something very special indeed – the end result is a beautiful physical release truly beyond our wildest dreams. The art that has been created for this release genuinely blows my mind.
“In an era where games are becoming increasingly ‘digital only’, Lost in Cult is doing wonders for the future preservation of indie games – and we are so proud to be a part of this.”
Backing retail distribution is PM Studio, the world-class team behind global physical releases like Black Myth: Wukong. While retail editions will reach online and brick-and-mortar stores, all EDITIONS are sold exclusively via www.lostincult.co.uk in limited quantities – typically between 1,000–5,000 units per title.
This announcement marks Lost In Cult’s formal entry into video game publishing, with future releases set to be unveiled in the coming months.
About Lost In Cult
Lost In Cult is a boutique design studio devoted to celebrating gaming culture and preservation through high-quality publications and collectibles. Their passion for storytelling and artistry shines in every project, creating lasting tributes to iconic gaming franchises.
As players build their Roman legacy, the cost of peace will be theirs to decide in Anno 117: Pax Romana
Sydney Australia –May 20, 2025 – Today, Ubisoft revealed Anno 117: Pax Romana first gameplay details as the genre-defining builder franchise returns with its most ambitious instalment yet and one of the biggest games ever made about the Roman Empire.
Players will embark as a freshly appointed governor, sent by the Emperor to build and lead several provinces across the Empire, from the beautiful heartlands of Latium to the mysterious Celtic wetlands of Albion. Anno 117: Pax Romana will launch later in 2025 on PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X | S, Amazon Luna as well as Windows PC through Steam, the Epic Games Store and Ubisoft Connect.
BECOME A LEGENDARY ROMAN GOVERNOR
Players will be able to build the cities of their dreams during the height of the Roman Empire. From where to place their starting villa to how diligently they send taxes back to Rome, players must balance their people’s needs with their emperor’s demands. Cooperate with other governors through trade and diplomacy or—if they prefer—prove their military prowess by challenging rivals with strategic land battles and modular naval combat. They may even defy the Emperor himself—but not without consequences.
CHOOSE THE FATE OF YOUR PROVINCES
Every choice players make as governors matters. Will players embrace local Celtic culture or impose Roman traditions? From architectural styles to which gods to worship, the degree to which players Romanize their provinces is up to them. Will they foster growth through diplomacy and deep economic ties or expand their territory through military might? Will they loyally serve the Emperor or foment rebellion? Their decisions will shape not only the future of their citizens and their provinces, but their own story as well.
EXPERIENCE THE PREMIER BUILDER GAME
Players build their provinces with unprecedented scale, detail, and flexibility. From kids chasing dogs through the streets to thousands cheering on the spectacles of the colosseum, players will take their provinces from a single settlement to multiple eternal cities across several provinces. From islands on the horizon to distant mountains, players can build upon almost any terrain they see— all with a graphical quality that is the benchmark for the genre.
Developed by Ubisoft Mainz, Anno 117: Pax Romana is a premiere builder game in which every facet of your city can be controlled; and how players will choose to build and govern will shape their story, their citizens’ destiny, and their provinces’ future. In this immersive and authentic world, where the cost of peace is for players to decide.
Anno 117: Pax Romana will release in 2025 with cross-play and cross-progression on PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X | S, Amazon Luna as well as Windows PC through Steam, the Epic Games Store and Ubisoft Connect.
For more information about Anno 117: Pax Romana, and to stay up to date regarding future live phases, please visit the Anno Union website.
For the latest news on Anno 117: Pax Romana and other Ubisoft games, please visit news.ubisoft.com.
Development of Anno 117: Pax Romana is supported by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action within the framework of computer games funding.
About Ubisoft
Ubisoft is a creator of worlds, committed to enriching players’ lives with original and memorable entertainment experiences. Ubisoft’s global teams create and develop a deep and diverse portfolio of games, featuring brands such as Assassin’s Creed®, Brawlhalla®, For Honor®, Far Cry®, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon®, Just Dance®, Rabbids®, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six®, The Crew® and Tom Clancy’s The Division®. With a Ubisoft+ subscription, players can access new releases, premium editions and extra content on Day One on PC, console and cloud. For the 2024-25 fiscal year, Ubisoft generated net bookings of €1.85 billion. To learn more, please visit: www.ubisoftgroup.com.
The teams at Ubisoft Mainz engineer some of Ubisoft’s biggest blockbusters. Operating from a historic city in the center of Germany, the studio develops games pushing the limits of the genre like the acclaimed Anno series with the upcoming Anno 117: Pax Romana and lends decades of expertise to AAA co-development projects like the Esports phenomenon Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege and the upcoming Beyond Good and Evil 2. Ubisoft Mainz is part of the Ubisoft Blue Byte studio network. More information at https://mainz.ubisoft.com.
RIGA, LATVIA – 19 May 2025 –Hide The Corpse, the chaotic and quirky VR body-hiding sandbox from publisher HyperVR Games and developer Realcast, introduces an array of game-altering modifiers with the launch of the “Modifiers Update” on Meta Quest today.
Hide The Corpse tasks players with stashing a body in one of six stages during a four-minute window. Drag, drop, and maneuver Gus the corpse across levels filled with themed physics objects. Shuffle the body through a cluttered Apartment, turn the Museum into a hidden mausoleum, overcome water physics to find a good hiding spot in a Shipwreck, and more in an unpredictable and always entertaining VR experience.
The “Modifiers Update” brings new physics challenges to the forefront. Combine and stack new modifiers to alter scoring and challenges across each level. To access the modifiers, interact with the new Modifier selector next to the level doors.
The following modifiers are available in the update:
Gas Crisis: Gus the Corpse farts randomly during the four-minute countdown, propelling his body and any nearby objects forward with chaotic momentum.
Flubber: Gus and other physics objects bounce off surfaces, making movement unpredictable.
Saturday Slip Fever: Now covered in oil, Gus slides through the level, requiring careful control.
In addition to the modifiers, today’s update also includes changes to the Wardrobe door, adds a dedicated door for level selection, and implements various improvements to game flow and visual polish.
Hide the Corpse’s “Modifiers Update” is now available on Meta Quest devices as a free update. The game is available on the Meta Quest Store for USD 14.99, with SteamVR and PSVRversions launching soon.
HyperVR Games is a virtual reality game development and publishing company based in Riga, Latvia, focused on creating immersive and interactive casual experiences. Its titles include Shave & Stuff, Pets & Stuff, Titans Clinic, and Hide the Corpse.
Simulation experiences have had a major uptick in the last few years. It used to be that gamers just wanted a life simulation experience, but now we cook, we clean, and we do jobs in the video game format for an escape from reality. It’s certainly an odd niche, but one with a heavy following. Saber Interactive – developers of the famed SnowRunner and MudRunner franchise are back to bring us RoadCraft, a sim that puts us in the heavy machinery where we must clean up after natural disasters. How does this one fare in terms of entertainment? Let’s find out.
Roadcraft Gameplay
Story
I am not going to go too heavy in this section as RoadCraft has a story, but it’s rather there only for the sake of progression. Players take the role of a lone operator assisted with an off-site team of sorts as they attempt to salvage landscapes and protect industrial sites from past and future events alike. I don’t think the lack of a fully fleshed-out narrative hurts this title at all, as to be honest, what was here just had me hitting “OK” until it went away, where I would then follow the notes in the transcripts as a form of instructions. Engaging? Well, that depends on what you are looking for. It was sufficient however, for my time with the game and something I was rather entertained with in a mellow manner as I trucked along.
Gameplay
This is where the game will make or break you and your interest in what RoadCraft has to offer. RoadCraft has you tackle multiple objectives at a time, swapping between various vehicles in order to complete each task. Scout the area in one vehicle or get to one particular destination. Swap to a heavy machine in order to load and deliver materials, and even board cranes and larger trucks to execute the actual construction. Yes, it’s all vehicle-based, but the clean menus and console optimisation make the experience fluid and easy to navigate in terms of finding out what to do next.
My major roadblock with RoadCraft was never the menus, but rather the vehicle controls itself. I think we overlook things in AAA titles where you just plough through puddles in a truck without a second thought. We roll over rocks and creep along water without hesitation. Do that here, and you will get stuck. Players must understand and monitor their gear in those vehicles in order to cross bumpy terrain. I think in reality, I have had to use “All Wheel Drive” once, and every other function was kind of lost on myself as someone who doesn’t really think about driving gears outside of park, reverse, drive, and the occasional neutral. Here, learning those formats is mandatory and something every player will have to be aware of their controls in order to get from point A to point B. It’s a steep learning curve for newcomers, but something those acquainted with it will eventually find comfort in quickly, as it is not hard to adjust.
That said, sometimes the vehicles feel finicky and tedious to control. I spent my first hour trying to get a load on a truck, only to find the constant switching of “modes” leading me to getting stuck…a lot. Eventually, I got the hang of it and felt accomplished in a job well done, but part of my thought process was that I felt I was always doing it wrong, as if I was accomplishing loads with shortcuts rather than proper gameplay. There are tips, and you can even reset your location if you fail, but I just found a lot of it to be tedious and more stressful than relaxing.
You can tell Saber put a ton of attention to detail and depth into every element within this game, and I appreciate that. There are eight varied maps, a ton of objectives, and even multiplayer to add replay value. I do however, think this niche is not really in my ballpark, as while I marvelled at the tech within the game and the vast amount of micro-detailed mechanics, I also felt I am one of the people who would rather handle this experience in a streamlined fashion. Did I get it? Yes, absolutely. I see the novelty, especially for those trained in these fields, to see such a tight-knit system that pays tribute to how hard these jobs are. I did however, just want to pick up items and move them in a simpler way, as playing Jenga with cranes and bulldozers can definitely require a lot more attention than expected with newcomers.
Audio
The music in the game is really generic. I mean, that is, if you notice it. There are great sound effects like rain and storms to put you closer to the atmosphere intended, however, and the vehicles sound realistic with all of their beeps and scrapes one would expect. The voice acting is fine, but nothing really stands out. Again, like the story, that isn’t what players will be playing RoadCraft for, as the vehicles and realism are the highlight, but nothing really stands out or detracts from the experience in terms of audio.
Visuals
Most of the game looks great. The character models leave a bit to be desired, but since you only really play sitting in first or third person in a truck, that should not be much of a problem for most. The environments are heavily detailed, and the menus do well to create a well-oiled machine when it comes to scoping out these areas and finding a safe path forward to do your dirty work. Execution of these objectives, like building a flood wall, can be a bit frustrating, however, as clipping is a thing and trying to align wall slabs and beams can certainly test your patience if you are not giving the game time to actually learn how to play correctly.
Overall
Some games we play for review really “click” instantly. Simulation experiences like RoadCraft have a target audience, and while I respect what it does, I think I am way outside that bubble. RoadCraft is a very realistic experience, but I feel it goes a bit too far with its own mechanics and makes things a bit more tedious than they need to be. I get it, that’s the point. It is a simulation game and one with a lot of effort achieved by an outstanding team. I just didn’t find much fun here to be had from my own perspective. There is a market out there however, that will love every little detail and love this industry, but just don’t expect these heavy offerings not to come without a bit of weight to the overall package.
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