Nov 23, 18:00


GamersHeroes Saturday, November 23, 2024 5:23 PM
    

Creator of arcade megahits Rampage, Discs of Tron, and Spy Hunter, Game Designer, Artist, and Animator Brian F. Colin will be sharing valuable anecdotal insights into the early days of arcade history at Sac Gamers Expo 2024.

The post Sac Gamers Expo 2024 Welcomes Rampage Creator Brian F. Colin appeared first on GamersHeroes.


GamersHeroes Saturday, November 23, 2024 5:23 PM
    

Omega Force and Koei Tecmo have revealed the digital pre-order bonuses for their upcoming title DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS.

The post DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS Digital Pre-Order Bonuses Detailed appeared first on GamersHeroes.


Kotaku Saturday, November 23, 2024 12:00 PM
    

Pokémon TCG Pocket is absorbing hours (and dollars) by the thousands since it came out, but it's not always great about highlighting the features that can make your time with it better. We've got a good example waiting for you in this roundup. Also, we'll help you bypass a potentially frustrating limitation you'll…

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PCGamesN Saturday, November 23, 2024 12:53 PM
     Upcoming action RPG Dynasty Warriors Origins has a new demo you can try now

It's astonishing to think it's been seven years since the last mainline entry, but hack-and-slash action RPG Dynasty Warriors Origins is finally taking us back to the Three Kingdoms. I've got fond memories of sitting around bashing my way through hordes of enemy troops and remembering all too late to not pursue Lu Bu. Now, it's making its grand return, and you can get a feel for what to expect right now thanks to a new demo that's already proving rather popular on Steam.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Dynasty Warriors Origins release date, Best action games, Best war games

PCGamesN Saturday, November 23, 2024 12:48 PM
     Dishonored director says Metacritic lifts up

Arkane founder and Dishonored co-creative director
Raphaël Colantonio says the Metacritic scoring ecosystem encourages devs to make "safe, boring games," while launches like Stalker 2 suffer in overall scoring at launch due to bugs and technical problems. Colantonio calls lower launch scores impacted by bugs "misleading" because these technical issues can be fixed further down the line, while the overall score remains the same.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Dishonored System Requirements

PCGamesN Saturday, November 23, 2024 11:55 AM
     Once Human dev looks to make more builds viable with major weapon rebalancing

2024 has seen a real flood of strong new contenders to challenge the best survival games on Steam, with the likes of Palworld, Enshrouded, and Sons of the Forest joining long-time stalwarts such as Rust, Ark, and Valheim. Once Human might have slowed down a touch from launch, but the free-to-play game is still riding high. Of course, that also means a flood of player feedback. In a new blog, developer Starry Studio outlines "major balance adjustments" coming to weapon builds in December, but promises that it will try its best to avoid nerfs where possible.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best sandbox games, Best open-world games, Best survival games

PCGamesN Saturday, November 23, 2024 11:37 AM
     Payday 3 is going back to where it all began in an upcoming free update

I've got nothing but respect for the effort Starbreeze continues to put into Payday 3. At the tail end of 2023, all seemed lost for the sequel, especially when compared to the ongoing success of Payday 2, but that's slowly been turning around. Starbreeze has spent this year chipping away at some of the shooter's most severe problems while adding fresh content to keep players coming back. Now, Payday 3 is returning to 2011 with a new version of the first game's initial heist, and it's free for all players.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best co-op games on PC, The best crime games on PC, The best FPS games

Siliconera Saturday, November 23, 2024 3:00 PM
    

Bride of the Barrier Master Volume 3 Compares Sibling Relationships

In shojo manga, romantic relationships between the main characters and sometimes even other members of the cast can be the priority. After all, many of them are set up to follow first loves, star-crossed couples, and so on. Bride of the Barrier Master of course does that, but in the third volume we also get to see it explore other types of relationships by letting us see how various pairs of siblings interact. 

Editor's Note: There are some spoilers for volume 3 of the Bride of the Barrier Master shojo manga below.

When Bride of the Barrier Master began, we ended up introduced to the bad relationship between the twin siblings Hana and Hazuki. Because Hana didn't developer her powers at the same time as her sister, she was treated abysmally by her family. So when they did appear and she turned out to be one of the most powerful potential members of the Association of Practitioners, she decided she'd prefer a peaceful life and hide them. Saku, her now-husband, discovered she wasn't what she seemed, married her for the sake of maintaining and repairing the barriers, and now we're definitely seeing their love story as they grow closer to each other. 

But since then, we've gotten to see other siblings. One is the dynamic between Saku and his younger brother Nozomu. Nozomu adores his brother, but has a complex that keeps him from getting close to him. He sees himself as so inferior, he keeps putting himself down, badmouthing his brother, and increasing the gulf between them. Saku doesn't see him as a burden or problem, but Nozomu can't get that. So much so that when Hana came into the picture in the second volume, he treated her poorly too. But upon a certain interaction the Nijouin twins at Hana's behest in volume 3, we get to finally see him clear the air with her. As a result, we also see growth from him and new potential with his relationship with Saku.

Speaking of the Nijouin twins, Kikyou and Kiriya present yet another interesting foil we can use as a comparison for existing characters upon their introduction in Bride of the Barrier Master volume 3. They're the third pair of siblings and second pair of twins in the shojo manga. However, the two get along incredibly well and show tremendous care for each other. While Kikyou takes the lead in the pair, much like Hazuki likely did between her and Hana, her treatment of Kiriya is far kinder. Likewise. we see Kiriya's consideration and willingness to step up for her. It's a dynamic that allows us to better understand how "bad" things got between Hana and Hazuki and the potential for how Practitioner families could be.

In a way, it also feels like Bride of the Barrier Master is setting up Hana to perhaps have a better relationship with her twin sister Hazuki. Which would be great, because it would continue the story progress we started to see in volume 2. Kureha is maintaining its clever tone, keeping Hana a strong individual, while also not making the focus be entirely about two people getting together in the end. I'm hoping it means Hana and Hazuki get a chance to recover from what their parents' toxic relationship did to them.

It is great when shojo manga prioritize relationships other than romantic ones, and I loved getting to see Bride of the Barrier Master do that with its sets of siblings. Especially since they aren't all happy ones. We get to see characters grow as a result of their interactions with one another, plus perhaps the promise of one getting a second chance to become a healthier one.

Bride of the Barrier Master volume 3 will launch on November 26, 2024 via Yen Press, and volume 4 of the manga doesn't have a release date yet.

The post Bride of the Barrier Master Volume 3 Compares Sibling Relationships appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Saturday, November 23, 2024 12:00 PM
    

hyper mega tech super pocket technos atari

The Hyper Mega Tech! Super Pocket from Evercade maker Blaze Entertainment is intended as an easy entry point for its ecosystem of cartridges, as well as an affordable standalone stocking stuffer candidate. We looked at the first two devices in the line, showcasing built-in games from Capcom and Taito, but now the company's added two more options: Technos and Atari.

The Super Pocket is a 60-buck device that takes the full game-playing capability of the Evercade EXP handheld and fits it into the form factor of a particularly robust bar of soap. There are a few compromises, as we discussed before: the inputs are a little stiffer, and the shoulder button placement isn't the best. It seems like it'd be fine for kids, though we see it fitting into an adult's life a bit better as a portable companion device for the TV-tethered Evercade VS (and VS-R). That way, if you're really serious about playing something, you can upgrade your setup in a pinch but still keep a pocketable option.

For the first time we've seen in Evercade history, these Super Pockets cause something of a licensing overlap. The first two were Capcom, a company that Blaze has found it easier to license as built-in software, and Taito, which has only appeared on that one device. The second wave of Super Pockets, Technos and Atari? Those companies have a history with Evercade. That said, both of those licensors' carts are out of print, so it might not affect that many of you?

hyper mega tech super pocket technos atari
Photo by Siliconera

Still, if you want to know the breakdown, here it is! The Technos Super Pocket contains 15 games. Five were on the Technos home cart: Crash 'n' the Boys, Double Dragon, Super Double Dragon, Super Spike V'Ball and River City Ransom. The three from that cart that didn't make it: the NES versions of Double Dragon 2, Renegade and Super Dodge Ball. Six inclusions were on the Technos arcade collection: Block Out, The Combatribes, Double Dragon 2, Double Dragon 3, Minky Monkey and Mysterious Stones. That leaves only motorcycle action game Battle Lane Vol. 5 and wrestling title Mania Challenge as that cart's only exclusives.

The brand-new-to-Blaze titles on the Technos model are the Game Boy port of Double Dragon, the arcade version of Super Dodge Ball and the original arcade Double Dragon release. It's perhaps understandable that these weren't on the old carts — none of them are really the preferred version of their games — but for Technos fans, they're cool to see here.

The Atari Super Pocket has a whopping 50 games, so there's both a ton of overlap and a generous list of exclusives! So given that, let's look at the new games in particular. First, it's an opportunity to fill in the gaps of Blaze's already-fairly-generous Lynx representation. There's Kung Food, the groceries-themed beat-'em-up known for how weird it is. Rounding out the selection is Dirty Larry: Renegade Cop, Robo-Squash, Turbo Sub and Warbirds.

This also marks the first appearance of the Atari 5200. Bounty Bob Strikes Back!, Countermeasure, Final Legacy, Miner 2049'er and Xari Arena make for a rather flattering cameo for the ill-fated system's library. As we found out when covering Atari 50, the software support wasn't necessarily there for that platform to succeed. Still! Nice to see. There are a handful of other exclusives, too! Like maybe you're a big fan of Berzerk and Frenzy? That said, players have had a ton of opportunities to get budget devices with some Atari games on it. So it's nice for it to be part of the lineup, but probably less interesting for a more plugged-in audience.

the Technos one has a cartridge in there to show the color difference, while the red Atari one has the yellow Capcom placeholder in there just for no reason
Photo by Siliconera

We noted this when we talked about the first batch, but this approach really allows them to make the systems fun just by swapping out the colors. Technos is blue and white, while Atari is black and red. There was even a limited edition woodgrain model, which was a nice touch! This larger lineup introduces the possibility for swapping the decorative cartridge slot cover, but with the options we have now, we're not sure there's one that makes sense. (Also, as a minor note: the white in the Technos model is not the off-white of all the Evercade cartridges, so just be prepared for that not to match.) We're big fans of Technos around here just generally, but we'd understand choosing the Atari model as a blind gift for a young relative. Those games are timeless for a reason.


Blaze Entertainment's latest Hyper Mega Tech! Super Pocket models, Technos Edition and Atari Edition, are available now. For more coverage of the company's Evercade line of devices and game collections, check out our archive.

The post Super Pocket Technos and Atari Models Bring More Evercade-Compatible Options appeared first on Siliconera.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Saturday, November 23, 2024 5:23 PM

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Saturday, November 23, 2024 4:39 PM
    

A new trailer was also released.

The post Action RPG Mandragora Release Date Announced appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Saturday, November 23, 2024 3:42 PM

Nov 23, 12:00


Kotaku Saturday, November 23, 2024 9:00 AM
    

This week Geoff Keighley graced our phones and laptops to reveal which games will compete for honors at this year's Game Awards. Games like Astro Bot and Black Myth: Wukong were among those earning several nods, while Dragon Age: The Veilguard saw itself almost entirely locked out (though there's likely a pretty good…

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PCGamesN Saturday, November 23, 2024 11:55 AM
     Once Human dev looks to make more builds viable with major weapon rebalancing

2024 has seen a real flood of strong new contenders to challenge the best survival games on Steam, with the likes of Palworld, Enshrouded, and Sons of the Forest joining long-time stalwarts such as Rust, Ark, and Valheim. Once Human might have slowed down a touch from launch, but the free-to-play game is still riding high. Of course, that also means a flood of player feedback. In a new blog, developer Starry Studio outlines "major balance adjustments" coming to weapon builds in December, but promises that it will try its best to avoid nerfs where possible.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best sandbox games, Best open-world games, Best survival games

PCGamesN Saturday, November 23, 2024 11:37 AM
     Payday 3 is going back to where it all began in an upcoming free update

I've got nothing but respect for the effort Starbreeze continues to put into Payday 3. At the tail end of 2023, all seemed lost for the sequel, especially when compared to the ongoing success of Payday 2, but that's slowly been turning around. Starbreeze has spent this year chipping away at some of the shooter's most severe problems while adding fresh content to keep players coming back. Now, Payday 3 is returning to 2011 with a new version of the first game's initial heist, and it's free for all players.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best co-op games on PC, The best crime games on PC, The best FPS games

PCGamesN Saturday, November 23, 2024 11:00 AM
     This DIY silent gaming PC manages to stay cool, even with an Nvidia RTX 4080

Gaming PCs are designed to be pushed to their performance and thermal limits, with plenty of fans or water cooling to keep cool, but this silent gaming PC build from Reddit takes things to a whole new level. The intriguing design takes advantage of the DIY aluminum case's surface area, turning it into a huge heatsink to keep it cool.

This replicates what you might see on a smaller scale when you're using some of the best CPU coolers, but with the heat from all of your PC's components being spread out across the case itself to reduce the impact. The best gaming PCs in the world don't have a cooling system quite like this one to cool a power-hungry Intel CPU and Nvidia graphics card, but if this unique DIY project proves anything, it shows that totally silent, top-end gaming PCs are entirely within reach.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Core i5 14600K review, Best gaming CPU, Core i9 14900K review

PCGamesN Saturday, November 23, 2024 10:17 AM
     FF14 and FF7 team-up is a

There's nothing in life I want more than a big Final Fantasy 14 and FF7 crossover. The Square Enix MMO already acts like a theme park for the series, with events bringing over other games like 16, 15, and most recently 11 with the new Dawntrail Alliance Raid - but I want more. Cloud and company need to take a trip to Eorzea, and I'm not alone in thinking so. FF14 director Naoki Yoshida has already said he's up for it, and now FF7 Rebirth's director expresses the same interest. So it's only a matter of time.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best MMOs, FF14 Dawntrail release date, FF14 Island Sanctuary guide

PCGamesN Saturday, November 23, 2024 10:16 AM
     Free Monopoly Go dice links November 2024

November 23, 2024: We've added the latest new Monopoly Go dice links for free dice rolls.

How can I get Monopoly Go free dice links? The household favorite board game has been reimagined as a free-to-play app on smartphones, allowing everyone to experience the thrills of Monopoly on practically any device. Everything that makes the board game special is here in Monopoly Go, so you'll be collecting properties and building hotels as you go around the board, and there are a variety of multiplayer minigames to get through along the way.

You're going to need to get your hands on Monopoly dice rolls, but they are difficult to come by no matter how far you are into the board game. There are ways to earn additional dice rolls, including logging into the game every day to collect daily bonuses, progressing further in the game, and inviting friends to try Monopoly Go. While you can also spend real money to unlock more dice rolls, you may want to give our list of Monopoly Go dice links a try instead, especially if you're waiting for the next Monopoly Go Golden Blitz event. Take a look at all the currently active Monopoly Go free dice links for today.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best board games, Monopoly Go events, Monopoly Go dice

PCGamesN Saturday, November 23, 2024 10:15 AM
     Victoria 3 free weekend is a chance to try its big update, and it's on sale too

With a major Victoria 3 update continuing the Paradox grand strategy game's redemption arc, now is a good time to check in on how it's progressed. Initially launching to a mixed reception due to absent elements such as warfare that long-time series players craved, it's seen plenty of evolution in the two years since. As Victoria 3 patch 1.8 delivers another big upgrade to its systems with an overhaul to cultural acceptance and discrimination, you can give it a try for free on Steam - and snag it cheap to keep if you like it.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Victoria 3 review, Victoria 3 beginner's guide, The best strategy games on PC

PCGamesN Saturday, November 23, 2024 7:54 AM
     Throne and Liberty confirms new surprise gear drops are a feature, not a bug

After some player confusion, Throne and Liberty publisher Amazon Games has made it clear that the newest loot drops in the MMO are a feature and not a bug. Now that update 1.8.0 is here, Amazon confirms that the set-bonus gear some players have been finding is "an intended change" to the long-term player experience, so you don't need to worry about accidentally getting punished for utilizing a glitch. To avoid this level of confusion in the future, Amazon adds that it'll aim to better communicate these types of changes going forward.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best MMORPGs, Throne and Liberty codes, Throne and Liberty weapons

PCGamesN Saturday, November 23, 2024 7:38 AM
     Splitgate 2 playtest signups are live for an

The launch of Call of Duty Black Ops 6 has been a refreshing reminder of just how much fun a simple but satisfying multiplayer FPS can be. But there's no question what stands atop my most-wanted list right now. Splitgate 2 is the sequel to a game that completely won my heart, despite not initially seeming like it'd be for me. It finds a perfect blend between the movement tech of Halo and shooting a little more influenced by the likes of CoD and Battlefield, and its distinctive portal mechanic transforms those excellent fundamentals into something truly special.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best FPS games, Best free PC games, Best multiplayer games

PCGamesN Saturday, November 23, 2024 6:32 AM
     Valve opens up Deadlock's in-development hero testing, but not for long

Valve knows how to design characters. From the unmistakable silhouettes of the Team Fortress crew to GLaDOS's stint as a potato in Portal, every Valve game has some of the most memorable visuals in the medium. Even the Left 4 Dead gang all feel wildly distinct, despite each finishing their day job to shoot zombies in the head. Unsurprisingly then, Valve knocked it out of the park with Deadlock earlier this year. You've got a gargoyle that sprang to life, a goopy sea anemone, a handful of robots, and a whole lot more. There are even a few more heroes yet to make it to the full roster, each with a great design, and now you can try them out with almost no limitations.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Deadlock release date , Deadlock crosshair, Deadlock characters

PCGamesN Saturday, November 23, 2024 6:30 AM
     Fallout 76 unveils packed roadmap up to March's playable ghouls update

Fallout 76 is in a fantastic spot these days. It's tough to define it as the best RPG in the long-running series, between the narrative chops of New Vegas, the vast breadth of Fallout 4, and the mechanical spectacle of the original Interplay games. But put aside the more serious undertones and it might be the most fun Fallout game - and almost certainly my favorite. Having come a long, long way since its rocky launch, Bethesda now unveils its next chapter in full, and we're in for quite possibly the most exciting new season we've ever seen.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best games like Fallout, Fallout 5 release date, Best Fallout 4 mods

PCGamesN Saturday, November 23, 2024 6:00 AM
     Arcane Season 2's soundtrack doesn't want to

"You walk along the edge of danger, and it will change you," rumbles Woodkid. Vi and Jinx clash, illuminated in frantic neon as the lifeless, stony eyes of a long-forgotten Janna mural gaze down in silent disapproval. Simultaneously, Ekko, Heimerdinger, and Jayce have discovered The Anomaly and the extent of its corruption. Everything fades to white as Jayce reaches out a hand, and Caitlyn and Vi's Hextech begins to malfunction. It's the scene we've all been waiting for - the big battle, the climax of Season 2 Act 1. While, animation-wise, it's brilliant, Woolkid's dulcet tones really do bring the action to life. That's the story of Arcane generally; its soundtrack isn't just a soundtrack, it's a heartbeat; a symphony of complex emotions. In the wake of Act 3, I ask producer Alex 'Mako' Seaver how it all came together, and how the team dealt with the pressure of soundtracking one of the greatest videogame adaptations put to screen.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: League of Legends ranks explained, League of Legends Mythic shop rotation, League of Legends tier list

Siliconera Saturday, November 23, 2024 9:00 AM
    

The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All Characters Stand Out

With any story, you need a good hook. What keeps you coming back. Why do you want to keep reading, playing, or watching. In the case of manga, it can often come down to either the story or the lead characters. In the case of the first volume, someone's immediate impression may come down to how good Sumiko Arai is at ensuring all of the characters, from major ones like Mitsuki Koga and Aya Osawa to minor ones like Mitsuki's uncle and their classmate Megumu Narita, leave a strong impression. While it started due to the limitations of the original method of sharing, it continues even now.

Editor's Note: There will be some spoilers for the first volume of The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All below.

Aya is the first one of the major characters we meet in The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All, and she's immediately identifiable and lovable. She's presented as a complex character who someone might see as a "popular" or "pretty" girl. However, she's starting out by talking about her love for music, as well as genres that her peers might not as easily embrace. But it isn't just the fact that there's more to her than may appear that makes her so much fun. It's her expressions and reactions to her crush. Every interaction with the person working at the record store is an absolute delight. Plus as the story goes on, seeing her acceptance and behavior towards others is also quite good.

Naturally, Mitsuki ends up being the other standout star. In the case of The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All, it might almost seem like she's two characters at once. The her at school wants to avoid attention, avoid being noticed, and just get by. The her at the store wants to be herself and enjoy the music she loves. But as we see her interact with Aya, and eventually her classmate Narita and uncle, we see how similar these sides of her personality are. She opens up and grows.

Narita also surprised me with how fun Arai's depiction of him is. He's initially portrayed as a sort of player who is trying to find an "in" to potentially hit on Mitsuki. She rejects him! When he's a bit of a jerk in response, Aya rejects him too! Even though she isn't even really close to her classmate yet and doesn't know her secret. To then see him recover from that, then become a supportive friend to both Aya and Mitsuki is a plot beat I didn't expect considering how stories can go.

And then there's Mitsuki's Uncle Joe. Of the characters here, he's about tied with Narita for time and really is more of a background character. But even so, we see his love and support for Mitsuki come through right away. When he sees Aya come in and their reactions together, he's delighted Mitsuki has a friend. When he more closely notices the way they relate to each other, he gets that this could be a mutual crush and potential relationship, is accepting of it, and goes on throughout the first volume to support them.

Arai makes the most of the time spent with each of the characters in The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All, and all of us reading the manga benefit as a result. It's so finely detailed and well-defined. We can tell exactly who these people are, get clear impressions of their personalities, and form immediate connections with them. It's quite striking!

Volume 1 of The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All is available now via Yen Press, and Volume 2 will launch on February 18, 2025. 

The post The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All Characters Stand Out appeared first on Siliconera.

Nov 23, 06:00


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Saturday, November 23, 2024 3:00 AM
    

Here in the UK, the weekend window views are getting progressively more glacial. I'm a bit glad not to have any particular reason to go outside this weekend. It's been a hell of a week wading through anomalies for me, and I'm looking forward to some relaxation. What about you? Give me a rating out of 100 for how relaxed your weekend looks to be. Decimals allowed. Let's really get specific here.

Meanwhile, here's what we'll be clicking on this weekend!

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Siliconera Friday, November 22, 2024 11:30 PM
    

neko odyssey

Neko Odyssey is a game for cat lovers by cat lovers that'll come out on December 16, 2024. The game will revolve around taking pictures of cats in a rural countryside.

Aesthetics-wise, the game uses pixel art in 3D environments, which gives the game a slightly retro look. According to the trailer and the product description, you go around town taking pictures of cats and uploading them onto social media. As you gain more likes and grow your online presence, your followers will offer you tips. Some cats require you to meet certain conditions before you can take their picture. The game also has an overarching storyline, for those who want something more to the game than simply taking cat pictures.

You can watch a trailer for Neko Odyssey here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tke32alC0BQ

Considering how popular cats are among netizens and pet owners, it's not surprising to see a game entirely focused on them. Neko Atsume, for example, was a very popular casual game that focuses on collecting cats. Cats & Soup is also an idle game that revolves around cats making soup. Stray was a highly popular game that revolves entirely around playing as a cat exploring a post-apocalyptic and hostile world.

Neko Odyssey will come out on December 16, 2024 on Windows PC via Steam. A demo version is readily available for those who want to check it out.

The post Neko Odyssey Will Come Out in December 2024 appeared first on Siliconera.