Arrives on mobile June 16, with PC and Switch 2 to follow, inviting players to rescue horses and uncover the mysteries of a vibrant Barbie world
Wellington, New Zealand – April 14, 2026 – New Zealand developer PikPok, together with Mattel, Inc., a leading global play and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world, today announced a new cozy gaming adventure, Barbie: Horse Ride & Rescue, for PC, Switch 2, and mobile. Launching globally on mobile on Tuesday, June 16, with Steam and Switch 2 to follow in 2027, Barbie “Brooklyn” Roberts and Barbie “Malibu” Roberts head to Moonrise Valley to uncover its mysteries and ride to the rescue. Available now for pre-order on the App Store, pre-registration on Google Play, and wishlist on Steam.
From the makers of Rival Stars Horse Racing, one of the most popular horse racing games of all time, Barbie: Horse Ride & Rescue is an authentic and immersive equestrian experience for older teens and adults. As they uncover the mysteries of Moonrise Valley, players will rescue and ride charming horses, and express their unique style in fashion challenges, with plenty of options for customization and roleplay.
After creating their own character, players will join Barbie “Brooklyn” Roberts and Barbie “Malibu” Roberts as volunteers at Roaming Hearts Rescue Ranch. Riding into the vibrant expanse of Moonrise Valley, they’ll discover lovable horses in need of rescue and rehabilitation. Enjoy touching moments with horses by grooming their gorgeous coats, then customize them with new saddles, bridles and more.
From there, players can explore Moonrise Valley on horseback, scouting for more horses and adorable wildlife, test their skills in Barrel Racing or fashion challenges, and dive even deeper into the story to solve the mystery of how the horses came to roam the valley. An immersive, cozy, and wholesome experience awaits!
About PikPok
PikPok is a leading developer and publisher of critically acclaimed games across PC, console, and mobile, including the hugely popular horse racing and equestrian game franchise, Rival Stars Horse Racing. We give players rich gaming experiences with intuitive gameplay, highly polished art, and immersive audio design. Our 200-person strong team across New Zealand and Colombia have created the Into the Dead® series, the Rival Stars® franchise, the BAFTA-nominated Super Monsters Ate My Condo™, and the critically acclaimed Shatter® and Shatter Remastered Deluxe®, plus many more.
About Mattel
Mattel is a leading global play and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world. We engage consumers and fans through our franchise brands, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, Fisher-Price®, American Girl®, Thomas & Friends™, UNO®, Masters of the Universe®, Matchbox®, Monster High®, Polly Pocket®, as well as other popular properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include toys, content, consumer products, digital and live experiences. Our products are sold in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and ecommerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential. Visit us at mattel.com.
Discover the heartfelt story behind the wheel, coming soon on PC
Rotterdam, The Netherlands – 14 April 2026 – SOEDESCO® and developer Kyodai have released a brand-new story trailer for Truck Driver: The American Dream, offering a deeper look into the narrative that sets the game apart from other trucking experiences.
While many trucking games focus purely on cargo and contracts, Truck Driver: The American Dream goes beyond the wheel—telling a personal story of legacy, ambition, and finding your place on the open road. The new Story Trailer follows Nathan’s emotional journey as he follows the footsteps of his late father, a respected truck driver whose legacy casts a long shadow.
A playable demo is available on Steam, allowing players to experience the opening chapter of this trucking adventure, enhanced with a range of upgrades and features.
A Trucking Game with a Story at Its Core
Years after the death of his father, Nathan decides to turn his life around by stepping into the driver’s seat. Players will build relationships, earn respect within the community, and slowly carve out their own identity in the trucking world.
New features Truck Driver: The American Dream is coming to Steam with new features launching simultaneously on PlayStation and Xbox from day one!
10 new Freedom-to-Roam missions (150+ total)
One extra drivable truck for Freedom-to-Roam
Steering wheel support Logitech G29, G920, G923; Thrustmaster T128, T248, T80, T300RS; HORI DLX AB-05; Fanatec DD (only basic controls)
Vista System “treasure hunt” mode
Hunger System — manage meals at restaurants
New Graphic Settings Menu with dedicated Steam Deck profile
Updated world map with improved visuals
Hardware and software ray tracing support
Support for NVIDIA DLSS 4 and AMD FSR 4
Story-mode avatars for main characters
About Truck Driver: The American Dream
Truck Driver: The American Dream is part of SOEDESCO’s beloved trucking franchise, alongside Truck Driver, Truck Driver: Go, Truck Driver: Gold Edition, and Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection. The game blends authentic trucking gameplay with a heartfelt narrative, offering a more personal and story-rich experience within the genre.
About SOEDESCO
SOEDESCO is an independent video game developer, publisher and distributor founded in 2002 by Soedesh Chauthi with its headquarters in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. We are committed to delivering engaging, creative content across multiple genres and platforms for a worldwide audience in physical and digital formats.
Discover the stories and secrets of a life well lived as you sort through the home and belongings of a lost loved one
Leamington Spa, UK – 14 April 2026: The pages are waiting. What will you fill them with? Wholesome narrative puzzle game A Storied Life: Tabitha is available now on PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch™ at an SRP of $14.99/£12.99/$14.99, with a 10% launch discount on Steam.
A Storied Life: Tabitha began as an idea from writer Cherish Goldstraw, who brought it to studio director Terry Goodwin and began developing it with a team within Lab42 Games. The team brought the game to publisher Secret Mode, who has worked with the studio on ports for games like A Little to the Left and Wobbledogs, and immediately fell in love with the watercolour aesthetics and unique narrative design.
A Storied Life: Tabitha takes you to Lavender Laithe, the former home of Tabitha, a recently-deceased loved one. Upon arriving, you discover that Tabitha has an agreement with a publisher to print her memoirs… which have just been damaged due to an unfortunate mishap. It’s up to you to go through the house and piece together Tabitha’s life, filling in the gaps left in her memoir pages using the items you find along the way to guide you.
Explore the house room by room and decide what you’ll keep, what should be sold, and what can be recycled. Move furniture and search through cupboards and drawers to find tucked-away items which may hold more intriguing memories. You only have one cardboard box for keepsakes per room, so prepare for difficult decisions as you choose which elements of Tabitha’s life you want to remember.
Fit all you can into your box, rotating and aligning items and reinforcing the box with tape when things get too heavy. Fold flexible objects like letters and stuff them into envelopes to save space. Fragile items can smash if not properly cushioned, so place them carefully among soft objects, or wrap them in bubble wrap to keep them secure. Then again, broken items aren’t the end of the world, and may reveal new secrets…
Fill the gaps in Tabitha’s memoirs using the items you’ve chosen to save and uncover the many sides of this fascinating person. How she’s remembered is up to you – was she a caring mother? A budding botanist? A dabbler in the arcane arts? Write a coherent narrative to please the publisher or use a jumble of mismatched words to write something a little more avant-garde. Tabitha’s life is now your story to tell.
Return to Tabitha’s home multiple times to rewrite her story and find new facets to her life. Search every nook and cranny for hidden items and intriguing easter eggs. Or recycle everything and take nothing of Tabitha’s life with you. There are many choices to be made, and no right or wrong answers – only the memories you choose to keep.
“This has been one of the most fulfilling projects we’ve ever worked on, and we’re so excited to finally get the full game into player’s hands,” said Lab42 Games’ Terry Goodwin and Cherish Goldstraw. “We’ve been bowled over by the positive reception so far, and it’s been a pleasure watching people resonate with our little game. We hope they enjoy the full experience just as much.”
About A Storied Life: Tabitha
A Storied Life: Tabitha is a cozy narrative game about memory, legacy, discovery, and joy.
An elderly loved one has died, leaving you their estate and a letter encouraging you to sell any valuables. But when a mishap spoils their soon-to-be-published memoirs, you set out to repair the damage, piecing together their hidden past using the items you inherit.
A Storied Life: Tabitha is available now on PC and Switch for an SRP of $14.99/£12.99/$14.99, with a 10% launch discount on Steam.
About Secret Mode Secret Mode is an independent publisher and the winner of the MCV/Develop Indie Publisher of the Year 2025 award, Ukie Best UK Publisher 2024 award, and the Debug Indie Game Best Influencer Marketing 2025 award. In March 2025 Emona Capital LLP, a financial investor with deep expertise in the gaming industry, partnered with CEO Ed Blincoe and CPO James Schall in the successful buyout of Secret Mode. Published titles include triple-BAFTA-winner Still Wakes the Deep, A Little to the Left, Wobbledogs, Loddlenaut, and Escape the Backrooms.
Founded in 2015, Lab42 became a Sumo Digital studio in 2020. The studio has worked on a range of projects for console, PC, VR and mobile for clients including Sega, Activision, Microsoft, Klei Entertainment, Aspyr, Ripstone, Dovetail Games, and Payload Studios. Recent projects from Lab42 includes porting services for Sonic Mania, Forza Motorsport, A Little to the Left and Metal: Hellsinger VR. For more information visit: lab42.game
April 10, 2026 — Wargaming today announced that World of Tanks: HEAT, its new standalone free-to-play tactical vehicle shooter, will enter closed beta from April 16 through April 20 across PC (Steam and Wargaming Game Center), Steam Deck, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nvidia GeForce NOW.
Set in an alternate post WWII era, HEAT reimagines armored combat, bringing the franchise’s signature gameplay to more dynamic and fast-paced battlefields. Players step into the role of elite Agents with unique, game-changing abilities and pilot a roster of experimental vehicles. Each tank brings its own tactical strengths, enhanced by deep customization with advanced weapon systems, armor modules, and visual upgrades.
During the closed beta, players will be able to explore a diverse lineup of tanks and Agents, supporting different playstyles across three distinct roles: Defender, Assault, and Marksman. The beta will feature four PvP modes across eight maps:
Hardpoint (5v5): Capture, defend, and hold a rolling series of dynamically changing bases.
Control (5v5): Capture and hold a single zone.
Kill Confirmed (5v5): Destroy enemies and grab their tokens, or grab your allies’ dropped tokens to deny the other team points.
Conquest (10v10): Large teams and multiple capture zones make for a sprawling, dynamic war zone.
Powered by Wargaming’s new proprietary engine, World of Tanks: HEAT will launch simultaneously across PC (Wargaming Game Center and Steam), PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam Deck and Nvidia GeForce NOW, with full cross-platform play and cross-progression.
World of Tanks: HEAT is a cross-platform, free-to-play tactical vehicle shooter where players command hero-enhanced tanks in fast-paced battles. The game takes place within an alternative timeline after WWII, with players battling using specialized tech. Built on Wargaming’s proprietary engine, the game delivers stunning graphics and dynamic gameplay.
Wargaming is an award-winning online game developer and publisher headquartered in Nicosia, Cyprus. Operating since 1998, Wargaming has grown to become one of the leaders in the gaming industry. Its 15 offices around the world include studios in Chicago, Prague, Shanghai, Tokyo, Vilnius, Belgrade, and Kyiv. Millions of players enjoy Wargaming’s titles across all major gaming platforms. Its flagship products include the free-to-play hits World of Tanks, World of Tanks Blitz, World of Warships, World of Warships: Legends, and World of Warships Blitz.
TOKYO — April 13, 2026 — INDIE Live Expo, the live digital showcase connecting global indie game fans with more than 100 million total views since its 2020 debut, teases a sneak peek at this year’s 200+ title lineup. INDIE Live Expo airs on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 2:00 AM PST / 5:00 AM EST / 18:00 JST on YouTube Live, Twitch, X Live, Niconico, Bilibili, and TikTok.
Tune in for world premieres, updates and announcements from developers and publishers across the globe. INDIE Live Expo’s signature rapid-fire INDIE Waves segment, sponsored this year by Cygames (Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Party Dash), will introduce 160 titles alone. Dive into the details of hotly anticipated titles handpicked by the INDIE Live Expo committee, including:
Japan’s premier indie showcase continues to reach new heights with a record-setting 1,100 submissions received. This month’s event will spotlight one of the largest lineups ever in a single INDIE Live Expo showcase with 200+ participants! The English broadcast will feature returning emcees J-mon and Kaori Horiuchi.
Ryu’s Office offers in-depth marketing solutions for smartphone, console, arcade, and PC games in Japan. They are particularly focused on the planning and production of numerous live broadcasts based in Japan for the gaming industry. To learn more, visit the official Ryu’s Office website.
Featuring 70+ titles, a player-first subscription mode, longtail revenue model for developers
Ann Arbor, MI – April 13, 2026 –Indie Pass, the world’s only subscription platform exclusively for indie games, is now available globally for PC. Created by publisher and game management platform indie.io, Indie Pass offers a genre-diverse collection of games developed by solo developers and small teams from around the world.
Discoverability remains one of the indie industry’s most persistent challenges. As the volume of game releases continues to grow each day, even standout indies can struggle to gain traction in the current marketplace.
Indie Pass is designed to address that, giving players an accessible way to explore great indie titles while opening a new, sustainable revenue stream for developers. With a connected audience of more than 10 million monthly users across indie.io’s publishing network and community platforms, the company used its expertise to design Indie Pass’s subscription model around this issue by prioritizing visibility and curation.
The platform’s launch catalog features more than 70 titles across a variety of genres, including fan-favorite games from indie.io’s exciting catalog like SCP: Fragmented Minds and Forgotten Seas, as well as non-indie.io projects like Yogcast Games’ Kaya’s Prophecy, with new games added on a rolling basis. For a look at the full catalog, click here.
For developers and publishers, Indie Pass introduces a flexible, non-exclusive participation model with revenue distributed based on player time spent in each title. The platform is designed to help games reach new audiences and generate ongoing revenue alongside existing sales channels, with no exclusivity requirements and no long-term commitments.
Indie Pass is now available globally on PC for $6.99 / €5.99 / £4.99 per month, with additional regional pricing based on user location. For international customers, new subscriptions will also be available through third-party storefronts, such as Inven, with more partners to be announced at a later date.
Developers and publishers interested in joining Indie Pass can register here.
indie.io is a US-based game management and publishing platform supporting independent developers from development through distribution and beyond. Our mission is to help indie games succeed long-term without upfront costs or taking control of their IPs.
We provide end-to-end support across publishing, marketing, QA, playtesting, partnerships, and distribution, giving developers the tools, expertise, and reach they need to launch and grow sustainably. You may know us from titles like Echoes of the Plum Grove, HumanitZ, the Dark Deity franchise, and Coromon.
Powered by a global team of 30 remote industry professionals, developers, and competitive players, indie.io blends technical expertise with a deep love of games. As partners and players, we’re committed to discovering, supporting, and elevating exceptional indie creators across every genre – and building a thriving global community around their work.
London, United Kingdom – April 13th, 2026 – Boutique publisher SNEG has joined forces with Games Workshop and its developer & publisher partners to unveil their new label in classic video game preservation with Warhammer Classics. Now available on Steam in an accessible, future-proofed form, this massive undertaking restores more than 20 seminal and cult-favorite Warhammer video games, bringing them back to PC.
Warhammer has been a cornerstone of PC gaming since the 1990s, spanning genres from real-time strategy and turn-based tactics to fantasy sports, digital board games, and first-person shooters. With Warhammer Classics, these defining chapters of its legacy are brought back for modern audiences, with 7 games making their Steam debut and 12 returning to the digital storefront.
The initiative invites nostalgic fans to revisit formative experiences, while opening the door for a new generation to discover the games that helped shape Warhammer’s enduring presence in PC gaming.
To celebrate the launch, all titles are available with limited-time discounts and curated bundles for one week only.
Each debut and returning title has been updated for compatibility with modern systems, ensuring smooth performance on today’s hardware while maintaining the original gameplay experience that made them beloved by fans.
Classic titles making their Steam debut include Warhammer: Shadow of the Horned Rat, Final Liberation: Warhammer Epic 40,000, Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate, Warhammer 40,000: Rites of War, Warhammer: Dark Omen, Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior, and Warhammer: Mark of Chaos – Gold Edition.
Games returning to Steam include Space Hulk, Space Hulk: Ascension, Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon, Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach, Talisman: Horus Heresy, Talisman: Origins, Man O’ War: Corsair – Warhammer Naval Battles, Warhammer Quest, Warhammer Quest 2: The End Times, Legacy of Dorn: Herald of Oblivion, Chainsaw Warrior, Chainsaw Warrior: Lords of Night.
“Warhammer Classics is more than a collection of re-releases. It’s a clear statement of intent: that Warhammer’s foundational games matter, and that they are worth preserving, celebrated, and reintroduced to a global PC audience,” said Oleg Klapovskiy, Director at SNEG. “With so many titles lost to time and outdated hardware, Warhammer Classics was created to safeguard this legacy for future generations. Warhammer has a long history on PC, and we’re committed to ensuring the platform remains central to its long-term stewardship, giving these games renewed life for years to come.”
Warhammer Classics contains the following titles under its banner (developer, publisher):
Warhammer: Shadow of the Horned Rat (SNEG, SNEG)
Final Liberation: Warhammer Epic 40,000 (SNEG, SNEG)
Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate (SNEG, SNEG)
Warhammer 40,000: Rites of War (SNEG, SNEG)
Warhammer: Dark Omen (SNEG, SNEG)
Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior (Chilled Mouse, SNEG)
Warhammer: Mark of Chaos – Gold Edition (SNEG, SNEG)
Warhammer Quest 2: The End Times (Perchang, Perchang)
Legacy of Dorn: Herald of Oblivion (Tin Man, Tin Man)
Warhammer Underworlds – Shadespire Edition (Tin Man, Tin Man)
Dawn of War – Anniversary Edition (Relic, Relic)
Dawn of War 2 – Anniversary Edition (Relic, Relic)
Chainsaw Warrior (Auroch Digital, Auroch Digital)
Chainsaw Warrior: Lords of Night (Auroch Digital, Auroch Digital)
Dark Future: Blood Red States (Auroch Digital, Auroch Digital)
Space Hulk : Tactics (Cyanide, Focus)
Battlefleet Gothic: Armada (Tindalos, Focus)
Blood Bowl: Chaos Edition (Nacon, Cyanide)
Blood Bowl 2: Legendary Edition (Nacon, Cyanide)
Warhammer Classics is a collection of the greatest titles from the annals of Warhammer video game history, spanning the last 30 years, brought back to life as a series to celebrate their iconic legacy.
Because of their classic nature, some of the content may not accurately reflect current depictions, lore, or presentation within the current Warhammer universes and settings.
About SNEG
SNEG is a boutique publisher dedicated to reviving classic gaming gems. Driven by a deep appreciation for timeless titles, they aim to bring beloved interactive experiences from across gaming history back to modern audiences.
About Games Workshop
Games Workshop® Group PLC (LSE:GAW.L), based in Nottingham, UK, produces the best fantasy miniatures in the world. Games Workshop designs, manufactures, retails, and distributes its range of Warhammer®: Age of Sigmar® and Warhammer® 40,000® games, miniatures, novels, and model kits through more than 573 of its own stores (branded Games Workshop® or Warhammer®), the www.games-workshop.com web store and independent retail channels in more than 50 countries worldwide. More information about Games Workshop and its other, related, brands and product ranges (including our publishing division ‘Black Library’ and our special resin miniatures studio ‘Forge World’) can be found at www.games-workshop.com.
Austrian developer ViewApp and NPLAY Games have announced City Transport Simulator 2026, the next installment in their public transport simulation series. Building on the foundation of City Transport Simulator, the new title further enhances the core gameplay experience. New content, along with numerous optimizations and detailed improvements, is set to make day to day line operations more varied and realistic.
Authentic work in urban public transport remains at the heart of the experience. Players take responsibility for passengers, schedules, and operational procedures while planning and driving their routes through a believable, richly detailed city environment.
City Transport Simulator 2026 will be available in two editions. The Starter Edition, priced at €39.99, allows players to operate both buses and trams and includes vehicles such as the MAN Lion’s City A21 in two and three door variants, the NL205, as well as the articulated MAN Lion’s City A23 in three and four door configurations and the NG235. The vehicle lineup is further expanded by the ULF A1 and B1 trams, as well as the R2.2b.
The Expert Edition, priced at €59.99, includes all content from the Starter Edition and expands it with additional vehicles such as the MAN New Lion’s City 12C and the articulated MAN New Lion’s City 18C and 19C. It also adds further trams, including the Flexity Vienna and the StadtRegioTram, the Tram and Bus Depot including the South Route DLC, and the cosmetic pack “Basel Style.”
Owners of the Starter Edition can upgrade via the CTS 2026 Expert Upgrade Pack for €29.99.
A major addition will be the new Citybus C2, released as a separate DLC for €19.99. This package expands the existing fleet with four new bus variants, including the Citybus C2 solo bus in two and three door versions, as well as the articulated Citybus C2G available in both three and four door configurations.
Most importantly, owners of City Transport Simulator: Bus will receive City Transport Simulator 2026 as a free update. Existing content can continue to be used and will transition seamlessly into the new version. At the same time, the title is designed to welcome new players who are discovering the series for the first time.
“With City Transport Simulator 2026, we are consistently moving the series forward and focusing on improvements that our community has been asking for. At the same time, we want to attract new players to the franchise with fresh content,” says Daniel Buda, Managing Director of ViewApp.
City Transport Simulator 2026 will launch on April 14 for PC as well as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Through a few decades of gaming there have been many excellent games that still can stand the test of time today even on their original platform and countless others that have been easily forgettable and lost to collecting dust on a shelf or in a box. Only over the last few console generations have gamers been able to see their games improved over the course of patches and touch-ups thanks to the internet and while some games remained buggy, they were still beloved. Similarly, other titles offered such an expansive open world that players could sink countless hours into it and find a striking narrative whenever they chose to dive into it rather than explore a new cave or dungeon.
Over the better part of the last two weeks Crimson Desert has been a game that has seen some lows and some incredible highs throughout our time with the game. To top that off, Pearl Abyss has been so quickly patching issues and even adding content, that entire notes about previous issues were struck away as the experience continued to smooth out and impress at almost every turn. Bearing all the signs that it started as an MMO, the transition to a single-player game may not have been painless, but Crimson Desert has delivered a world that deserves to be explored and lost in for hours on end in one of the most surprising out-of-nowhere titles in the last few years.
Story
Kliff is one of the strongest and leading members of the Greymanes, a well-renowned fighting force from a distant land, that has been put on the brink of being wiped out thanks to the Black Bears faction hunting them down with deadly precision. One night when trying to mourn the loss of their comrade after a recent ’bout with the enemy the entire Graymane camp falls under attack by a massive force of Black Bears led by their leader Myurdin. Caught by surprise and doing his best to save whoever he can by slaying the random Black Bear soldiers throughout the camp when it comes to facing off against Myurdin Kliff is woefully underpowered. Toyed with by the powerful warrior, Kliff’s throat is slit and dumped into the river like trash as the Black Bears continue to advance into the land of Pywel.
The next thing Kliff knows he is awoken in a mysterious realm called The Abyss and gifted a strange power capable of maneuvering otherworldly objects and deploying powers far beyond any magic user might dream of. Then he awakens at the side of a river, being tended to by a mapmaker that helped fish him out of the river with the deadly wound healing to leave a black scar along Kliff’s neck. With the help of this map maker Kliff makes his way to the major city of Hernand and starts to try and put his life back together, first by trying to track down whatever other Grayemanes have survived the attack and bring their faction back together and stronger than ever all while dealing with other issues that arise throughout the realm, requests from villagefolk, allies, nobles, and far more dire events that go far beyond the scope of a medieval fantasy.
Crimson Desert doesn’t necessarily hit the ground running when it comes to storytelling. In fact, the actual overarching storyline often takes a backseat to the random exploration that players can go on or is just generally vague about things for far too long. This means that players will find themselves struggling in the first few hours to get the hang of just what Crimson Desert is and the massive amount of content and exploration it has to offer. The main storyline alone is spread out across twelve main chapters with a bit of extra mixed into the prequel and epilogue as well and while it isn’t necessarily bad, it isn’t the best written around either.
Kliff as a main protagonist is rough and ready but not the most charismatic lead and while players do obtain extra characters in the form of Damiane and Oongka who all play a part in the story in their own way, though players who find themselves enjoying the way Damiane plays might be disappointed that she is taken away for a good portion of the story after a certain point. These characters all have their own dialogue for side-quests that are available for characters as well as unique styles but character development itself is kept to a bare minimum.
The real meat of Crimson Desert’s story comes from practically everything else outside of the main storyline and that isn’t a bad thing per se. As players progress through the game and discover new locations they’ll find different factions and noble houses that have their own unique quests that are tied to their faction and these range from incredibly interesting, leading to boss encounters and special loot that players would miss otherwise, to entire lore drops about the world and even additional content that’ll improve other gameplay elements. Similarly, players can track down legendary animals, slay them, then potentially gain them as mounts through magical means, including the likes of an enormous silver wolf, elk, and more. There’s nothing like riding into battle on a wolf only to jump right into the fray with sword flashing and shield bashing all while the wolf tears into other enemies at your side and then force-palming half the camp into splinters.
These moments shine as some of the best entirely organic moments throughout the game and the environmental storytelling is also absolutely exceptional. While some of the early locations may feel rather generic, hidden away locations and late game areas are absolutely gorgeous to experience and tell a story all their own. That doesn’t even touch upon The Abyss itself, the floating collection of puzzles and mysteries in the sky that also have a unique feeling all to themselves, creating a sci-fi element to this game that is unlike any other. So yes, while Crimson Desert may take a while to get going and give players a reason to care about the game’s world, and this is such a drag it could easily cause players to bounce off the title, once players start finding themselves hooked this is a game that will keep reeling them in for hours on end, especially with the latest update revealing unexplored caves that players may have overlooked on maps.
Gameplay
If there is another element about Crimson Desert that could still use some refinement is the onboarding process. As mentioned before, the player is basically dropped right into the game with only a vague goal and then can literally hop on their horse and travel anywhere they want, or at least as far as their stamina and climbing ability might take them before they encounter foes that they may be far underprepared to face off against. Instead the onboarding is done incredibly slowly to the point that players will likely have performed most of the tasks themselves, simply by exploring or doing other side-quests, before a main quest introduces a mechanic. That being said, the sheer amount of mechanics and optional activities is staggering.
Once players obtain their base of operations for the Graymanes and start to expand their camp not only will they begin to unlock additional objectives and side-content but also to boost their own reserves as well. This includes things such as sending out your fellow Graymanes on expeditions to complete missions and gather resources or money, growing plants that are useful using a farming system, tending to and raising livestock that can either be purchased from certain befriended livestock tenders or directly captured from the wild and hauled back to camp and put in the pen with the rest of the flock. Of course at the same time players can even organize a wagon loaded down with trade goods to sell for the best profit at various outposts, chop down trees to obtain lumber that can be used for weapon upgrades, crafting, or camp use, mining all kinds of minerals, fishing or even directly diving in and trying to catch fish by hand, taming wild horses like a bucking bronco, and so much more. These little side activities are just one thing after another that players will come across in the game and yes, while some side missions are simple fetch quests, others tend to be so much more involved thanks to the wide array of activities available.
This doesn’t even tap into the combat, and that is an entirely different can of, well, whoop-ass. Kliff will generally be the star of many playthroughs as he has the most versatility, though more abilities are coming to both Damiane and Oongka and both of these characters are also capable of wielding weapons and special attacks that are unique to them with Damiane able to use rapiers and firearms while Oongka can wield two-handed axes, hammers and giant cannons. Kliff is a sword-and-board type of fighter, a two-handed sword wielder, spear, and bow-user and comes with all of the abilities of Spirit abilities that players can unlock throughout playing the game, such as the aforementioned force-palm that can stumble enemies or send them flying with multiple hits, magical attacks, and even wrestling moves.
The ins and outs of combat are a bit on the complicated side but have been refined every patch over the course of the game’s launch. Performing special attacks using various button inputs is still necessary but also they flow together far better than before, allowing things such as a piercing thrust into a german-suplex followed by a quick-swap to a two-handed sword for a powerful downswing to lay down the punishment. Of course, all of these elements require various upgrades being unlocked through Abyssal Fragments or learned through observing an enemy or even NPC/Spirit perform the technique first. But regardless, once players learn these abilities it is all up to them how to take on the foes they’ll face, ranging from ragtag bandits to fully equipped soldiers charging with full-board shields and even packs of wolves to monstrous looking trees and sneaky bushes that have a thirst for blood. Of course, with the ability to grab and throw an enemy into others, force-palm a large group to clear up some space, and even dropkicking a foe before laying into them with your weaponry, there are tons of options available.
Abyssal Fragments are the currency players will use to unlock various skills as well as improve a character’s overall abilities like their Health, Stamina, and Spirit pool. Unfortunately these points are not shared across characters meaning most players will likely find themselves focusing on one over the others. These fragments can be obtained simply through fighting enough enemies, lucky looting, finding “locked” fragments that require a challenge to complete such as assassinating three enemies within a minute or using a skeleton key to break into numerous locked doors, but the primary way they’ll be obtained is either through missions or solving the numerous puzzles scattered throughout the world.
As players explore the land they’ll come across various locations marked with “mysterious energy” which will either be a fast travel point or a puzzle that must be solved and while some of these puzzles are given slight clues thanks to explanations about the region on the map or a silhouette of a spirit, they are almost entirely left up to the player to figure out. In fact, nearly every non-story based puzzle leaves players entirely up to their own devices when it comes to figuring out the solution and while some are a bit on the easier side, there are some real head-scratchers in there. This is especially true since some puzzles can require abilities the player may not have yet, requiring they return later to actually complete. This wide-array of puzzles on the ground are exceptional and provide a nice break from combat and exploration but The Abyss puzzles are a different beast entirely as these are often some of the most challenging yet and solving them feels like a true reward especially thanks to Crimson Desert’s hands-off approach.
One thing that is a bit hit and miss with Crimson Desert besides its storyline are the game’s bosses. Throughout the game players will encounter various bosses that come in different forms, aggressiveness, and even stages. Some will pester players with random appearances as they fight through their minions leading up to the boss arena before fleeing, others will immediately challenge the player in specific locations, and even more must be hunted down or even uncovered through completing secret conditions. The problem is that these bosses also range entirely from being as simple as standard enemy encounters to being the most aggressive and swarming types that will have players spamming food items to stay alive and even then they’ll continue to beat players down against a wall, juggling them until the player dies.
Thankfully, healing is incredibly easy and players can do so at a tap of a button, eating anything from their inventory to restore health and even if players should fall in combat against a boss they’ll have two, or three, options to continue the battle. They can either retry from the beginning of the fight or use a Palmer Pill. A standard Palmer Pill, that players eventually can craft, will resurrect the player with 30% health right there to heal up and continue the fight and Refined Palmer Pills can even resurrect players at full health. This means that some battles can be fights of attrition until players get the hang of the enemy gimmick or potentially uncover a unique weakness, especially since many foes have a specific attack type or even exploration gimmick that can stun them.
Putting everything together players never know what they will be doing from one moment to the next in Crimson Desert. One mission might have players simply taking care of some generic chores accompanied by a drunk comrade while another may see players raiding a bandit camp with lightning raining down around them. Then at the same time players can feed various dogs and cats to make them their little pets to run around at their side, picking up loot and waiting at the camp like a little pet army. This type of randomness and surprise in exploration means that players never really know what they will get up to next. Almost every new turn could unveil a new foe that players haven’t seen in tens of hours, let alone a different type of equipment or mode of transportation that is unlike anything players could have predicted and that is a shining example of what fans should hope for in an open world game.
Audio & Visuals
It must be said that Pearl Abyss has done an excellent job at making Crimson Desert look as gorgeous as possible and as lush as possible on current platforms. Exploring forests thick with foliage is completely believable and watching fields of flowers or reeds flow in the wind is wonderful, especially since the game does feature dynamic weather. This means everything from windy days, to raining ones, to thunderstorms where players need to worry about lightning strikes and all of this changes the appearance of the land. The environments themselves are incredibly varied with some truly outstanding looking locations that will literally make player say wow when they see them for the first time. That being said, some repetitive house designs are used throughout many locations though this is a small issue at best. The character designs are exceptional and there is a wide-array of different equipment types to wield and each has a unique look and can even be dyed in different colors to help players style their outfits however they want.
Despite having a lackluster narrative the entire game is voiced, down to the simplest of peasant up to the most important NPCs in the game. The voice work is handled quite well with many of the characters sounding impressive, with Damiane actually having the best voice work of the playable characters surprisingly, while Kliff is probably the worst due to the writing having most of his discussions with characters being simple and gruff replies. The soundtrack is a bit of a disappointment as the title does not feature any noteworthy sounding background music while exploring or even during combat which is a bit of a letdown given the scale of the world.
Overall
Leading up to Crimson Desert’s release, no one knew what to expect. Despite being announced years ago, the assorted trailers leading up to this grand open world game’s release left many wondering if it would be a disaster or a masterpiece and it turns out that Pearl Abyss has pulled off what few would have expected. They have delivered a massive open world game with so much content that players can sink countless hours into exploration and side-activities and still find more to do and unlock if they have the time. With challenging puzzles and satisfyingly brutal combat Crimson Desert presents a wonderful picture at almost every front if only its story were more interesting and the beginning so rough it may drive off those unwilling to push through to see the breadth of the game beyond it.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Set your alarms, Commanders. Level Infinite and SHIFT UP invite players and fans to tune into NIKKE’s official YouTube channel on Saturday, April 18 at 6:00AM EDT for a special livestream presentation revealing the full details of the upcoming 3.5 Anniversary in-game event.
The broadcast will unveil what’s coming next to the hit sci-fi shooter, including new NIKKE characters, in-game rewards, and a major global campaign celebrating players around the world as the game reaches its latest milestone.
The winner of the fourth annual NIKKE Global Popularity Poll will also be revealed during the livestream. Commanders should vote now for their favorite NIKKE on the official site but do it soon – voting ends tomorrow, April 14. The Top 5 NIKKEs will receive rewards and the 1st place winner receives a new costume and an exclusive theme song!
Tune in to watch the NIKKE 3.5 Anniversary Update livestream HERE.
Downloaded over 45 million times since launch, GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE is available globally for PC, iOS, and Android mobile devices. GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE continues to deliver regular updates and content expansions that keep players immersed in the game’s evolving narrative. Download the game on the iOS App Store, Google Play, and Windows PC.
