Today, in anticipation of its upcoming Early Access release on April 19th AEST/NZST, Moon Studios and Private Division released the official Early Access Launch trailer for No Rest for the Wicked, a mature, top-down Action Role-Playing Game (ARPG). The trailer further showcases the painterly art style of the game, while giving a glimpse into the story and some of the characters players will interact with.
The trailer can be viewed below:
No Rest for the Wicked will be available at a special introductory price of AU$53.96* on Steam, and players can get an additional AU$6 off the game’s special introductory price if purchased through affiliate links from various partnered content creators, resulting in a reduced price of AU$47.96*. Both the affiliate discount and the introductory price are available until 3rd May at 2am AEST/4am NZST*. Players who purchase No Rest for the Wicked during its Early Access period will also be able to receive the Cerim Armor set. You can see the Cerim Armor set, and the redemption instructions here.
Once purchased on Steam,No Rest for the Wicked is also playable by streaming the game via the NVIDIA GeForce NOW cloud gaming service (separate membership and sign-up required) — giving gamers instant access to GeForce PC performance on compatible PCs, Macs, SHIELD TVs, Android and iOS devices or Chromebooks without any downloads. Learn more about NVIDIA GeForce NOW here.
*Upon expiry of the introductory offer & affiliate link discount, Private Division’s suggested retail price for the game will increase to AU$59.95. All pricing based on Private Division’s suggested retail price. Actual retail price may differ. See local store for pricing and terms.
Featuring Themed Events, Free Items and New Character “Chloe Noir”
SYDNEY (April 16, 2024)– SQUARE ENIX® has launched MYSTERIOUS SWING, the third season of FOAMSTARS™, the online 4v4 foam party shooter on PlayStation®5 (PS5®) and PlayStation®4 (PS4®). MYSTERIOUS SWING features the new character Chloe Noir, limited time events, and free and premium cosmetic content. MYSTERIOUS SWING runs from April 13 until May 18.
Watch the MYSTERIOUS SWING Trailer below
MYSTERIOUS SWING highlights include:
A new FOAMSTAR – Chloe Noir: Can be acquired by all players for free as a Tier 31 reward for the Season Pass or can be obtained immediately by purchasing the Premium Pass.
Weekly free limited-time items: Slide into the FOAMSTARS shop every Friday to get free content.
Ranked Party: Two limited-time seasonal events, the solo player-based Ranked Party Lonestar and team-based Ranked Party Tribe-Vibe.
Extreme Party: Challenge players in two special themed events: the All Chloe Party and the Bubbly Penguin Party.
For more information, including local seasonal event timings, please visit the FOAMSTARSblog and social channels.
FOAMSTARS is available to purchase via the PlayStation® Store and requires a PlayStation Plus subscription. A Premium Season Pass is also available for purchase.
An internet connection is required to play FOAMSTARS.PS Plus is an ongoing subscription with a recurring fee. Age restrictions and terms apply.
For more information on the latest news and updates, please visit the official website and follow FOAMSTARS social media channels.
About FOAMSTARS
FOAMSTARS is a vibrant, over-the-top shooter, that is accessible to players of all skill levels. It combines the fun of partying with the thrill of combat where players blast through matches using foam to attack, build and defend. Taking control of a quirky and colorful ensemble of athletes, players are dropped into the eccentric city of Bath Vegas to compete in FOAMSMASH. Created as a casual yet competitive experience for everyone, FOAMSTARS features a combination of PvP and PvE modes for up to eight players, either as four vs. four, solo, or co-op as a Squad with three teammates.
About Square Enix, Inc.
Square Enix, Inc. develops, publishes, distributes, and licenses SQUARE ENIX® and TAITO® branded entertainment content throughout the Americas as part of the Square Enix group of companies. The Square Enix group of companies boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 185 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 88 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix, Inc. is a U.S.-based, wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
1.0 adds new region, quality of life updates, and other features
LOS ANGELES – April 15, 2024 –Survival: Fountain of Youth pulls into port for 1.0 on PC via Steam and Epic Games Store on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. The 1.0 launch will debut a host of new content also coming to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S when the single-player management survival game set in the 16th-century Caribbean islands from developer Odinsoft and publisher Twin Sails Interactive docks onto consoles later in 2024.
The 1.0 update will add the fifth and final region of Bimini Island, a new ship, and the final boss battle. Alongside today’s announcement, new quality of life updates have been implemented including a new save system, home furniture, improved tutorial, and other features.
The legendary expedition of Juan Ponce de Leon leads to the shores of a mysterious collection of Caribbean islands, the rumored home of the Fountain of Youth. Treacherous storms leave the crew shipwrecked and scattered. Use skill and wit to establish a base of operations, craft tools, manage resources, battle wildlife, and uncover the mysteries of the mythical Fountain of Youth.
Traverse the islands with sea-faring ships and explore crumbling cliffsides to underwater temples, each offering distinct flora and fauna to identify and harvest. Collect materials to craft and upgrade tools, weapons, clothing, structures, and traps. Hunt down animals inhabiting the nearby regions from docile crabs, chickens, agouti, to dangerous jackals, jaguars, and pumas.
The teams at Odinsoft and Twin Sails have incorporated early access explorers feedback. Save progress whenever, no longer restricted by autosaves or upon exiting the title. New furniture has been added to craft and to spruce up island bases, alongside naval themed decor with the ‘Sea Wolf Pack’ DLC.
Survivalists can expect the new region of Bimini Island, a new ship that doubles as a fully mobile base called the Ark, and a final boss with far greater killing capabilities than any of the island’s wildlife. Also accompanied by new quests, skill books, survival tasks, recipes, and the epic conclusion surrounding the Fountain of Youth when 1.0 launches.
“As huge fans of survival games, the team has passionately spent countless painstaking hours crafting a one-of-a-kind experience for other fans of the genre,” said Stas Kotrutsa, Development Lead, Odinsoft. “We have learned so much throughout early access, taken the community’s input into consideration, and are happy to share our work with the full 1.0 release.”
Survival: Fountain of Youth is available now on PC via Steam Early Access for $22.99 USD with a 25% discount, raising to $27.99 USD on April 19. 1.0 will launch simultaneously on Steam and Epic Games Store on Tuesday, May 21, with plans for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S later this year. It features Japanese, Spanish (Spain), English, French, German, Russian, and Simplified Chinese-language support, including Korean, Portuguese(Brazil), and Traditional Chinese alongside 1.0’s launch.
Twin Sails Interactive is an international video game publisher, part of the Asmodee Group, an Embracer company since March 2022. Based in Paris, our team of passionate professionals partners with developers to help drive their titles to success. Originally known as a specialist of digital board-game adaptations under the name Asmodee Digital, Twin Sails expands Asmodee’s reach into original, creative titles aimed at a wide audience on PC and consoles. Following the release of the acclaimed Gloomhaven adaptation and the well-received Ember Knights, Twin Sails is publishing AA titles such as Survival: Fountain of Youth, indie gems Wantless, Innchanted, News Tower or Amberial Dreams, with more yet to be announced.
About Odinsoft
Odinsoft is an independent game development studio based in Los Angeles, Ca. with development offices in Turkey. Composed of numerous game-industry veterans, Odinsoft seeks to create highly immersive experiences for players across the globe. Survival: Fountain of Youth is Odinsoft’s debut title.
[Warsaw, Poland – April 15, 2024] – The Open Playtest for Project Warlock II: Reworked Chapter 1 is officially live, inviting players to experience the revamped Palmer’s adventure. Reworked Chapter 1 is filled with new upgrades, weapons, skills, and more.
Starting today and running until next Monday, every player with Steam account can try Reworked Chapter 1 by downloading it from the Project Warlock II Steam Page.
Project Warlock II: Chapter 1 follows the story of Palmer, Warlock’s disciple, as he battles against a ruthless demonic army using guns and magic. The reworked chapter reflects changes based on player feedback and pays homage to the original game, setting the stage for Chapters 2 and 3.
Key features of the Reworked Chapter 1 include:
Fully revamped upgrades, perks, and skills system
Brand new weapons with innovative alt-fire methods
Adjusted magical skills and elemental runes for weapon enchantment
And much more!
Throughout the duration of the Open Playtest, both Project Warlock and Project Warlock II will participate in a Steam FPS Fest, offering great discounts. Players can enjoy Project Warlock with an 80% off and Project Warlock II with a 33% off until next Monday, April 22.
About Buckshot Software
Led by Jakub Cislo, a self-taught game designer, programmer, and the creator of the original Project Warlock, Buckshot Software is a six-person team of developers who love retro shooters like Wolfenstein, DOOM, and Quake.
About Retrovibe
Retrovibe is a publisher that aims to unlock next levels of fun by delivering new indie games with a retro heart. It was established in 2021 by a group of experienced games industry professionals.
Stockholm, Sweden – April 15 2024 – Fatshark are excited to announce that they will be releasing the Warhammer 40,000: DarktidePath of Redemption update on April 16th, 2024. This free update introduces a new reward system and reinvents penances in the game. The update will also add a new enemy and a condition alongside a new feature, the Personality Scourge.
This update will introduce a new version of the penance system, but it’ll also come with additional supporting content. Here is a list of what is coming to you in April:
A new free way to collect rewards: penance points will now count towards a progression track composed of 40+ tiers, allowing players to unlock earnable rewards.
A new home for penances in the Mourningstar: Hestia will be in charge of keeping a record of the rejects’ penances and will join the rest of the Mourningstar crew in voice-overs during missions.
200+ new penances: a slew of new penances will be added to the game for players to complete. These will be divided into new categories.
100+ new earnable rewards: these will include new insignias, portrait frames, emotes, poses, weapon trinkets, and cosmetics such as the loyalist Moebian 6th outfits.
New reward type – titles: allowing players to brag about their most impressive achievements.
Improved penance UI and menu: allowing players to better track penances and progress toward rewards.
New puzzles, challenges, and collectibles: we are adding several puzzles across Tertium Hive for players to discover and solve.
New enemy: the Dreg Tox Bomber will join the ranks of the heretics, hurling Blight Grenades filled with toxic fumes.
New condition: Pox Gas will join the roster of conditions that can spread across Tertium. Recommendation: don’t breathe too deeply.
The Personality Scourge: players will have the option to change additional aspects of your operative (background, height, name, and voice) in exchange for ordo dockets.
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
Following Fatshark’s best-selling and award-winning Vermintide franchise, the highly-anticipated Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is an intense 4-player co-op action game set in the hive city of Tertium. Fight together with your friends against hordes of enemies in this new Warhammer 40,000 experience. Since Warhammer 40,000: Darktide was announced, it has been a permanent fixture on the Steam Top 10 for most Wishlisted games. Available November 30 on PC. The release date for Xbox Series X|S will be announced shortly.
About Fatshark
Fatshark is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, and was established in 2007. More than 100 experienced game developers are part of the independent developer, and we strive to create compelling interactive experiences. Apart from Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, the team has previously developed titles including Warhammer: Vermintide 2, Warhammer: End Times – Vermintide, Lead and Gold, Krater, and War of the Roses.
The Undying mission is currently playable in the Free Starter Pack for new players and as an Elusive Target for HITMAN World of Assassination players until the 21st of April
(Copenhagen, Denmark) –April 15, 2024 – IO Interactive, the independent video game developer and publisher behind the internationally acclaimed HITMAN franchise shares today an infographic, providing some insights on how players have been fairing in their attempts to eliminate the evasive Mark Faba (aka two-time BAFTA winner Sean Bean), in The Undying mission.
With one week left for players to complete the Elusive Target in HITMAN World of Assassination, it surely will be of interest for those who have yet to finish the mission. So far, 52% of players who have tried their luck against the Undying have managed to take Mark Faba down. Some have taken the fast approach, with the quickest completion time running at 12 seconds, whilst some have been playing with their target, leaving The Undying alive more than 3 hours before he met his fate.
With The Undying leaving the Free Starter Pack and the Elusive Target mission coming to an end on April 21st, players still have the time to create new records, change any of the statistics and make a name for themselves by eliminating The Undying.
Alongside The Undying, IO Interactive released The Undying Pack, a DLC which includes: a permanent access to The Undying through an Elusive Target contract in the Arcade mode, The Ephemeral Suit with Eye Patch suit, three items, and cosmetics for the Freelancer Safehouse.
The Season of Undying is at full tilt in HITMAN World of Assassination, with new content coming over the coming weeks such as Curated contracts, Challenges and returning Elusive Targets.
HITMAN World of Assassination is available now for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC and Nintendo Switch. The Undying Pack is available for $4.99 USD/€4.99/£3.99 on every platform.
To learn more about HITMAN World of Assassination, please visit the official website.
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About HITMAN World of Assassination
HITMAN World of Assassination brings together the best of HITMAN 1, HITMAN 2 and HITMAN 3 in a bumper package of content that includes the main campaign, Contracts mode, Escalations, Elusive Target Arcades and featured live content.
HITMAN World of Assassination also includes the ‘Freelancer’ mode, a new way to play on your own terms, that combines rogue-like elements and deep strategic planning with a persistent and infinitely replayable gameplay experience.
About IO INTERACTIVE
IO Interactive is an independent videogame developer and publisher with studios in Copenhagen, Malmö, Barcelona, Istanbul, and Brighton. As the creative force behind some of the most talked-about multiplatform videogames in the last two decades, IOI is dedicated to creating unforgettable characters and experiences using their award-winning proprietary Glacier technology.
IO Interactive will develop and publish the very first James Bond origin story with the working title Project 007 and is currently developing a new IP under the codename Project Fantasy.
The investment into Skybound will be used to develop and market a new, in-house AAA video game centered around Invincible
LOS ANGELES – April 15, 2024 –Skybound Entertainment, the leading global entertainment company known for blockbuster franchises The Walking Dead and Invincible, and emerging tentpole IP Impact Winter, today opened a Regulation Crowdfunding (CF) campaign to the public on crowdfunding platform Republic. This initiative marks the company’s second foray into a public equity offering, previously having raised $18 million from more than 6,000 investors in 2023. More information can be found here.
Watch the investment sizzle reel below:
With just a $100 minimum investment into the company, it is a rare chance for fans to own a piece of Skybound’s beloved IP, with the use of proceeds to help to continue the in-house development of an upcoming AAA video game based on Invincible, whose wildly successful second season has just concluded on Prime Video with a 100% Certified Fresh Rotten Tomatoes score. The video game will be developed under the direction of Skybound’s new 30-person studio of notable industry vets from Activision Blizzard, EA, Amazon Games, and creator Robert Kirkman himself, ensuring the company is making the best video game in the universe.
Skybound’s innovative approach to fan engagement extends beyond mere entertainment consumption, empowering supporters to actively shape the future of beloved franchises.
“We are thrilled to launch this Regulation Crowdfunding campaign on Republic, inviting fans to join us on this new expansion and venture,” remarked David Alpert, CEO of Skybound Entertainment. “At Skybound, we prioritize fostering meaningful connections with our audience, and this initiative allows fans to not only immerse themselves in the world of Invincible but also to directly contribute to its expansion.”
Skybound Entertainment’s unique business model revolves around amplifying its owned comic book IPs through various mediums, including television, film, and video games, while prioritizing creator and fan engagement. Partnerships with industry giants such as Amazon, Netflix, and HBO underscore Skybound’s commitment to delivering premium entertainment experiences.
Other Invincible universe games the company has published include Invincible Presents: Atom Eve, a critically acclaimed visual novel RPG where you play in a non-canon world as Atom Eve; Invincible: Guarding the Globe, a mobile RPG where you play as Cecil’s number two, developed in partnership with Ubisoft; and most recently, three custom Fortnite maps with a level of production value unmatched by other Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) Creative Mode experiences, outside of Epic’s owned and operated, with exceptional cinematic animations, detailed character models, and original voice-over: Doc Seismic Attacks, GDA Combat Training, and Rise of the Sequids. Investors at certain levels can anticipate perks and rewards, ranging from discounted merchandise to unparalleled behind-the-scenes access and experiences. The offering closes April 29, 2024.
New season-exclusive Mistville gameplay, hero, Activation Medium system, adjustments and optimizations across the board and season Pactspirit adjustments all revealed And anniversary rewards!
Shanghai, China — April 15, 2024 |Torchlight: Infinite, the beloved action-packed RPG game, unveiled a brand new season this weekend, mysteriously titled ‘Whispering Mist’. But what awaits players in the mists and will they be able to make it back alive?
Hosted by XD Games, Saturday’s livestream revealed more about this Cthulu-style season and its roguelike gameplay. Players will step into the mists, exploring previously undiscovered areas, laying their hands on unique power-ups and accepting challenges to earn incredible rewards — if they’re brave enough to face what lurks at the edge of sight.
The home of this eerie roguelike adventure is Mistville — a once quaint town now engulfed by a mysterious fog. Encountering Mistville Residents, players put themselves at risk of infection as they step into the Netherrealm. Once their roguelike adventure is complete, Mistville holds plenty more secrets to uncover.
Treading these cobbled streets not as hunters, but as detectives, players can use lanterns to navigate and manage their Sanity while uncovering hidden secrets within the bones of this nightmarish town. They can throw open the doors of the Sanatorium, but beware, Mist Monsters lay in wait.
Clock Tower challenges offer rewards and Activation Mediums, triggering new abilities and synergies with skills. With enhanced Deduction Records and Activation Mediums, players delve deeper into Mistville’s mysteries, while adjustments to skill slots and legendary gear offer strategic depth. Resistance changes and new Ember types provide further customization, promising an exhilarating journey into the mind-bending depths of Mistville.
Meet Cateye Erika’s Electrifying Transformation
In SS4, our beloved character Cateye Erika takes center stage with an electrifying new hero trait. Witness her transformation into Lightning Shadow as she harnesses the power of Ember tech, gaining lightning-fast movement and devastating damage capabilities. Beware, for with great power comes great vulnerability. Assist Erika in her thrilling adventures as she navigates through challenges both electrifying and perilous!
By unlocking the Golden Season Pass, hunters can gain access to all heroes in the current season. This includes permanent usage rights of Erika’s new hero trait – Lightning Shadow, advanced auto loot, exclusive portrait frames, new teleport effects, and new back accessories will also be unlocked as progress is made.
Exciting Gameplay Updates
This season introduces the Divine Might Trials, a brand new endgame mode. Players must collect Divine Might Emblems from the Six Gods before entering into these deadly trials to prove their worth. Upon completion, players are rewarded with Divine Might Luminous Stones, used to exchange for valuable items at the Spacetime Wanderer’s [Gifts from the Gods]. The Heartless Bounty content is integrated into these rewards, replacing the Desire Bead from the Evil Desire Cube. Additionally, hunters can encounter the Dream Lotus in the Netherrealm, reliving Season 2’s Twinightmare gameplay to earn rewards and utilize Trait Cards and Confusion Cards to enhance their experience.
But there’s plenty more, check out the full list of changes below:
Multiplayer Mode is here: Team up with friends and fight together!
New Season, New Appearances: A host of new gear and upgrades will be available to hunters. Check out the reveal here for more info.
Activation Medium System: A groundbreaking addition simplifies gameplay for mobile players with automatic triggers and support skills.
Skill Bar Adjustments: Enhance strategic choices with reworked passive skill slots, allowing only support skills for increased flexibility.
Early Game Optimization: Streamlined main story progression, Treasure Troves, and adjustments to gear drop rates for improved early game experiences.
In-Game Optimisation: Reduced screen sake, improved performance and improved damage number clarity.
Legendary Gear Adjustments: Early to late-game gear enhancements for a more balanced and diverse experience.
Feature Adjustments: Build recommendation system, improved filter interface, and comprehensive Help manual for better gameplay understanding.
User Experience Optimizations: Smoother drop performance, streamlined item pickup, and clearer damage number displays for enhanced combat fluidity.
Battle Anchor Plan: This and adjustments to the Season Pactspirit Boon offer more choices for hunters, while the refreshed Pactspirit Encounter Pack provides additional value.
SS4 Anniversary Rewards
Torchlight: Infinite is almost 1-year old! To celebrate this anniversary, XD Games are offering multiple rewards for all hunters, including a free back accessory and a free SSR battle Pactspirit. All players need to do to redeem this is log in and they can claim these incredible goodies!
Season Launch Date
Mark your calendars! Torchlight: Infinite Season SS4 “Whispering Mist” goes live on April 18th at 7pm PDT, delivering an electrifying experience like never before. Enter Mistville, if you dare!
XD Games
Founded in 2003, XD Games. is a global video games developer and publisher with extensive experience across development, publishing and operations. As of 2022, XD has 38 free-to-play and paid games with over 50 million monthly active users worldwide. In addition, TapTap — a mobile games community and app store — was launched by XD in 2016 and is estimated to currently have 44 million monthly active users.
XD’s mission is to assemble like-minded talented games industry craftspeople with a common goal of touching the hearts of players around the world. XD produces games of the finest quality with passion, offering a pure gaming experience, and encouraging players of all ages to embrace the unique joy of video gaming.
Life might suck, but at least you aren’t living in the NetherWorld!
Barcelona, Spain – 15th April 2024. SelectaPlay is excited to announce a new global digital and physical publishing deal for Hungry Pixel’s dark-humoured 2D action-adventure narrative game NetherWorld. Coming to PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch via the Nintendo eStore and physical boxed edition, will take you on a crazy adventure full of sex, drugs and . . . worms!
Since smashing its Kickstarter funding target, developer Hungry Pixel has been busy creating a unique narrative adventure experience with NetherWorld. Follow the story of the crestfallen protagonist Medoo, the weird jellyfish, after being abandoned by his wife. While drowning his sorrows at the bottom of a vodka bottle, Medoo finds himself lost in a surreal and twisted land and must journey through a dark and decadent land full of filthy creatures and quirky fellow travellers.
Watch the new gameplay trailer for NetherWorldbelow:
NetherWorld features:
A twisted story – Journey through a disturbed land where cokehead mages, entrepreneur prostitutes, mobsters, sociopath kids, old perverts and many more quirky characters look to fix the pieces of your broken life, or at least to try to. (spoiler – most of them will make things worse!)
Crazy minigames – Earn money and other useful items by participating in drinking competitions, dabbling in amorous encounters (!), shooting stuff, or controlling a bionic tick called Joe through filthy underground rogue-like dungeons. Complete quests during the story and be rewarded with special hats, masks, weapons, and other mission items.
Bonkers boss fights – Time to kick some twisted asses! Survive savage boss encounters during your crazy adventure by using all kinds of guns, weapons and environmental objects… or brave it totally unarmed!
NetherWorld, published by SelectaPlay and developed by Hungry Pixel, will be released digitally in 2025 for PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch. A special physical boxed edition will also be available for Nintendo Switch. Fans can add NetherWorld to their Wishlistnow
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About Hungry Pixel
Hungry Pixel is a small indie game studio based in Spain. They’re currently developing a dark and bizarre adventure called NetherWorld.
About SelectaPlay
SelectaPlay is SelectaVisión’s video games publishing branch. The company works with talented studios on unique video games and helps them publish their titles in both physical and digital formats in Europe and worldwide.
About SelectaVisión
SelectaVisión is a video publishing company founded in 1984. Based in Spain, SelectaVisión’s catalog includes anime and live-action feature films, TV shows, and movies.
When one thinks of the post-apocalypse, it almost always involves some form of nuclear destruction, plague, or even zombie threat as the survivors struggle to continue living in a world that wants them dead. Usually these are set in a North American city or greater region, sometimes in Europe, but what about a place where the wildlife wants to kill its residents even on a normal day? Few games take advantage of Australia and the unique aspects the continent provides, even less in a post-apocalyptic Australia. So when indie developer Drop Bear Bytes worked hard to put out a CRPG called Broken Roads, where players have a moral compass, choices to make, and a world to survive in all while exploring Western Australia, it seemed like a perfect chance for something new. If only the game’s name didn’t end up having a double-meaning in the end.
Story
Players begin Broken Roads by selecting from one of four origin stories that dictates their starting location and how they will spend their first hour or so with the game as each origin story features a different starting circumstance and can provide extra dialogue checks, unique services, or interactions with characters down the line, as well as a personality test. This personality test is rather important as it plays a key role in one of Broken Roads’ more interesting features, the Moral Compass. Rather than things being good or evil, or even shades of gray, they are broken down into four different philosophical branches: Humanism, Nihilism, Utilitarianism, and finally Machiavellianism. Depending on the player’s answers to the quiz they’ll end up with a “golden arc” that highlights their character’s worldview and often provides dialogue choices related to it. For example, the humanist might want to invite the devastated survivors of a group into their town even if it means the survivors end up being turned into basically slaves or tell them to take their chances out in the wild rather than fall so low as to deal with that. Along those same lines, the nihilist option might be crossed out entirely, with the game giving players the option to hide unselectable dialogue prompts if they so choose. There are occasionally dialogue choices that bridge the gap a bit and let player’s swing their viewpoint a bit in different directions or even narrow theirs even further, though these are rare and don’t seem to make significant swings outside of a couple specific choices.
Regardless of the player’s moral compass and origin story, they’ll eventually find themselves saddled with a group of survivors on the run from a terribly powerful force and seeking refuge in one of the safest and well-supplied locations close-by only to find themselves embroiled in a bit of a dispute between who the next mayor should be. Things come to a head during a debate that sees a massive reveal about the grander world of Broken Roads, before opening players up to the world and allowing full exploration to find out who attacked them and far more than that along the way, including a number of solid twists in the latter half. If only the road there weren’t as broken as the name suggests, littered with bugs, glitched quests, and progress stopping bugs that required not one, but two complete restarts of the game from the beginning to get through.
Broken Roads’ storyline is an interesting one and seems to do a fairly good job exploring an untouched location such as Australia. Not only is there a “slang” encyclopedia during conversations with characters, but the interactions can have some rather surprising results. Certain dialogue options might have dire consequences without the player’s knowledge, only coming into play an hour later into the game or changing how a character sees the player. Even combat interactions can be avoided in nearly every case, with players able to flee random encounters and even scripted ones if they so choose.
Unfortunately, despite having a moral compass mechanic and so many variations on the ways various events and quests can play out, including multiple endings with these variations, Broken Roads’ characters and companions can be incredibly lacking. That being said, the few larger locations that feature NPCs with their own stories that actually play out and don’t bug out are quite interesting, ranging from spiritualism, dictatorship, militarism, and more. Seeing these locations all try to survive under different types of rules is interesting, especially when players can have a role in things. It is clear that Drop Bear Bytes has done their best to write many of these characters as interesting as possible as some of the best parts of the game come from having debates or unique interactions with the residents of these towns, especially one that involves solving some quiz questions to enter. There are plenty of characters to interact with in the devastated land of Western Australia and the writing certainly lives up to the task to make these characters feel unique, at least when they don’t bug out.
It is rather unfortunate though that, beyond the initial introduction to many of the companions in the game, there is very little opportunity to actually interact with them in any meaningful way or learn about them. A few are given some extra writing here and there, or chime in if they are in the player’s party, but otherwise the companions are incredibly forgettable, something that is a disappointment in a CRPG like this. In fact, one of my companions seemed perpetually pissed at my character despite literally saving their family and completing a quest for them while another couldn’t be happier to see me despite doing nothing for the man. Perhaps it plays into the moral compass, but this isn’t indicated plainly.
Along these same lines, while many CRPGs feature various skill checks that require a player to have a certain attribute to “succeed” an action, rather than giving players a potential percentage Broken Roads appears to make use of a pass/fail system. This means if a skill check says that an action is going to be “Normal”, if the player doesn’t have enough points attributed to said skill, then it’ll fail. Every single time, even given reloads. Perhaps this was done to avoid save-scumming, but considering once the game opens up fully they are given access to an NPC that will allow them to reset their character’s stat point distribution free of cost, this is a strange choice to make. It is worth noting that the game does feature something called a “punt” system that is stated to allow players to have some extra advantage during skill checks if they invest enough points into their punt ability, however outside of combat these seem to have no effect in actual skill checks, with players better spent investing points in skills directly rather than punt.
Now, onto the bugs that make Broken Roads feel broken. As mentioned before, these can range from making side-quests completely uncompletable or complete on their own, with players seemingly giving objects to characters that they do not have or finding NPCs stuck in dialogue loops and non-intractable as a result or even finding NPCs in random locations, talking to characters that aren’t anywhere near them or even in the same town. On more than one occasion an NPC would ask for items, then vanish from the game entirely without any hint in the incredibly non-player friendly journal about their location or if the quest just bugged out. Similarly, while many quests have different outcomes and ways to tackle them, completing a quest can entirely remove the option to talk to or use an item with certain characters as a result. On the more severe side of things, progression bugs can be quite dire and throughout my time with the game, required two entire starts from scratch. This involved a bug that completely disabled any form of user interface and movement after a certain date in the game, even reloading far earlier into the game and making it to that same point resulted in a complete lockdown no matter where my character traveled to. Another saw my characters being locked entirely within a location, unable to interact or talk with any character but able to at least use the menu though this still needed a complete restart from the beginning to resolve.
Gameplay
The bulk of what Broken Roads has to offer comes in the form of its story content and, as mentioned before, the moral compass and how it plays a role in the choices available to players, how some party members react to them, and of course if they can sway their worldview or tighten it even further. Despite being a full blown CRPG, the game is at its best when exploring towns, talking to people and seeing how the world is still continuing despite the destruction, maybe seeing the local emu wander the streets without a care that people are wandering around or a kangaroo hopping through a devastated gas station that has been set up as a fortified position. This can involve taking on quests, as mentioned before, from these NPCs and completing them in a variety of ways, with most quests featuring at least two or three different ways to properly solve them. In fact there are even ways to purposefully fail missions if the reward for doing so is better in the player’s eyes. This level of choice is a nice one, though considering how heavily bugged many quests can be, the actual progression can be quite difficult.
For example, one such quest could see me freeing an NPC from indentured servitude, giving me many ways to do so. My character could smuggle them out with the help of a companion that needs convincing, pay someone else to smuggle them out, do a favor for the mayor to get their debt cleared, or sneak in and steal the contract myself. First, trying to find the most peaceful option for everyone involved, my character tried to be sneaky only for the safe to be locked and the only way to access the code being unselectable. Another option to try and talk to the NPC involved was met with repeated dialogue that wouldn’t even enter an actual conversation, locking out two approaches with bugs. Finally, deciding to see if my player could backstab the mayor a bit by taking advantage of their task to earn a favor, the prerequisite option vanished entirely once the character was smuggled out as a final choice. Broken Roads may have players fight some bugs at times in random encounters but the game itself is just riddled with them and the longer players delve into the content, the more pronounced they become and nowhere is this more prominent than the quest progression system.
When not talking to people or doing quests, players can travel around and search locations, though consoles unfortunately lack the PC option that highlights lootable containers and points of interest. Eventually players can even travel the open world via a map screen to specific locations that they either find by wandering aimlessly or have marked down as part of a quest. While traveling time will pass, though this only plays a role in a few timed quests and events, and they may meet with bandits or hostile wildlife along the way. Considering there is an achievement for never killing a single thing throughout the game, the Broken Roads allows players to flee open world encounters at the click of a button without repercussions and even the rare times that the story forces players into combat, there also the option to flee though this can and will usually result in a different outcome compared to simply standing and fighting.
Combat in Broken Roads is… basic at its best and frustrating at its worst. Combat is turn-based with every character in a fight having Action Points and Movement Points. Players can move a certain distance to either run up and stab/smack an enemy or position themselves for the best shot with a gun, though swapping between melee and ranged takes an action point. Players are given percentages to hit and shown how much damage they’ll do, but rarely does it ever feel more involved than that. Yes, players do get a few special skills that we will keep secret here that involve the expanding world of Broken Roads but rarely does combat ever feel like it evolves. In fact, the game can warn players that they might encounter difficult fights but doesn’t actually show enemy risk or level. Nevermind the fact that targeting enemies in fights can be an absolute disaster in certain locations, especially if they are in melee range of an ally. While it is possible to try and target an enemy by hovering over their HP bar, this doesn’t always work and in more than one fight an encounter lingered on far longer than it should have simply because I needed to lure the enemy away from a tree or move an ally away from them (taken the game’s version of an attack of opportunity as a result) in order to actually shoot them. Of course, considering allies that lose all their health get right back up after a fight is over, it isn’t really of much consequence as long as the player wins. Combine this with simplistic equipment where character’s can wear a different type of shirt and hat to gain some stats and some tools like grenades, molotovs, and of course different kinds of beer to chug for bonus stats, and that’s all Broken Roads’ combat has to offer, often making it feel like something tacked on at times rather than an initially planned part of development.
Audio & Visuals
Broken Roads has a lovely art style that gives everything a feeling as if it was hand-drawn. This includes the numerous character portraits that players meet even if the actual player customization is a bit limited as a result. The areas that players can explore feel satisfying, though it is worth noting that, unlike the PC version, players on console cannot currently highlight interactable objects which can be a pain given the main hidden loot caches in most locations. It is also nice to note that the game is filled with both authentic Australian wildlife, including hostile ones players can eliminate, as well as landmarks. While I myself may not be from Australia, a few of our writers are and can confirm some standout jokes and landmarks that survived the apocalypse. Players can and will encounter everything from kangaroos and dingos to drop-bears (koala) and even mutated wombats ready to take a chunk out of their team.
The soundtrack is fittingly atmospheric for a post-apocalyptic game. The background music is well enough for exploration of towns and fitting for combat even if it could use a bit more variety doesn’t really stand out in any unusual way while the sound effects often feel delayed compared to the action players make. It is also worth noting that the game does have a partial English voice track, though this is incredibly hit and miss to the point that there is seemingly no rhyme or reason why some characters are voiced and others are not. In fact, one character can have an initial voiced line, be silent the next two lines, and speak the fourth. The quality of the voice work is also a mixed bag, as, consulting with members that live in Australia, shows that many of the characters at least sound authentically Australian, a few sound quite odd, especially whenever the narrator chimes up with an incredibly dramatic take on things.
Overall
As someone from a place with eternal road construction, seeing broken roads get patched is a common occurrence and often one that makes for smooth sailing after a while, but in the case of Drop Bear Bytes’ Broken Roads, some of these issues run deeper than the bug riddled experience, what with its lackluster combat, boring companions, and lacking quality of life features. Playing through the game the multiple times I needed to to actually see it through, it is evident that there is a lot of passion here and the writing does show it. The morality compass, the numerous ways things can develop and progress, and the unique Australian flavoring seeping from every crack in this broken road makes it an interesting game that we hope can get fixed in the future, even if some of its issues are far deeper than some patches can fix.
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