Paramount Offers $108 Billion Cash for Warner Bros.
I won’t go into too much detail with the Paramount deal. If you want to see my thoughts on a new oligopoly, check out last week’s Geekly News. While Paramount is less likely to cease releasing films theatrically, a new juggernaut in the movie space spells trouble for consumers. Fewer competitors mean they can–and will–increase prices. Regardless of who purchases Warner Bros., one more mid-level legacy studio will get absorbed into a larger studio (Paramount or Netflix). The sale will need to go through multiple regulatory bodies. I can’t imagine the European Union liking the Paramount deal any more than it did the Netflix deal. We’re in uncharted territory. Movies will change.
We’ll keep you posted with new details. Enough of Warner Bros.. Let’s get to some new releases. We may not have as many this week because we’re getting closer to Christmas, but there are some notable games that were released this week.
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Game Launches on KickStarter
I don’t know how I missed Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Game. If you’re a fan of the television series, you’ll want to check out Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Game. The game mechanisms are familiar. If you’ve ever played Apples to Apples or Cards Against Humanity, you’ll recognize the game flow of one person (the MAD) presenting one card (depicting a memorable scene from a cheesy movie) and having the other players choose the (riff) card with the best joke.
The MAD chooses whose riff card wins and awards points. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins. Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Game offers multiple pledge amounts: $50-$180. If you’re interested in Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Game, check out its KickStarter page.
Radiance Shines on GameFound
Radiance is another game I somehow missed. We’ve featured multiple Solo Game of the Month titles in previous Geekly News posts. I love this company and marvel how they can release a solid game most months of the year. Radiance is a solo deck builder. Players take the role of a Luminary and embark on an epic quest to defeat the Shade, protecting the last of the Bright Cities. Upgrade your deck, learn new skills, master the elements, and discover explosive combos as you explore and fight your way through a tense and perilous adventure.
The above picture is a prototype copy of Radiance. As you can see, Radiance packs an epic adventure in a small space. I love that. Unlike most Solo Game of the Month titles, Radiance can be played with a second player. Woo hoo! Radiance offers pledge values as low as $5 (for a print-and-play) up to a $69 All-In Pledge. If you’re interested in Radiance, check out its GameFound page.
Ultimate Sheep Raccoon Releases
As of this write-up, Ultimate Sheep Raccoon has received mixed reviews on Steam, but the game looks adorable. Anipromorphic sheep and raccoons ride bikes in this side-scrolling bike race where almost anything goes. Gain power-ups while avoiding traps and performing sick tricks.
Ultimate Sheep Raccoon offers a low cost for entry ($20), cross-platform multiplayer gameplay, and a custom level editor. I have yet to play Ultimate Sheep Raccoon, but I’m down with playing any game that offers a level editor. At $20, Ultimate Sheep Raccoon may be worth a shot, despite mixed reviews. It’s available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Skate Story Releases
I’m going with progressively better video games on this list. Skate Story has received mostly good reviews. And why not? Skate Story reimagines the skateboarding video game genre. Naturally, fluid movement, exploration, and trick execution are at Skate Story’s core. But I love this game’s story. Players take on the role of a crystalline skateboarding demon. The game takes place in the underworld, where the demon needs to skate and grind their way through the ash and smoke of The Emptylands. Of course, the protagonist encounters various tortured souls who need saving on their journey.
I love Skate Story’s graphics. It’s destined to be a 2025 indie game classic. Skate Story is available on PC, Nintendo Switch 2, and PlayStation 5.
Terminator 2D: No Fate Releases
Terminator 2D: No Fate is a love letter to the Terminator franchise and 90s side-scrolling action games. The game has received mostly positive reviews, while the gameplay reminds me of the Contra series.
Gamers can relive their favorite Terminator scenes from the movies, but Terminator 2D: No Fate has plenty of surprises, too. The game offers unique scenarios, and gamers can change the course of history with branching choices. What? Color me intrigued. Terminator 2D: No Fate is available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
That’s all the news we have for this week. Which games pique your interest? Let us know in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here! I haven’t done a Geekly News article in a week or two, so we may have a handful of new releases (board games and video games) to cover. But before we get to new releases, we just received big news. Netflix buys Warner Bros. What? I was surprised by Warner Bros. putting itself up for sale a couple of months ago, and the twist of the streaming giant Netflix purchasing Warner Bros. is shocking.
Netflix Buys Warner Bros.
The Warner Bros. sale escalated quickly. In October 2025, Paramount had offered a large deal (rumored to be around $100 billion) for the entirety of Warner Bros. Discovery. Quick question. How many banks/investors would be needed to raise $100 billion? Anyway, the deal fell through, and Warner Bros. Discovery suggested splitting its various business pieces. This allowed Netflix to enter the bidding.
Netflix was only ever interested in Warner Bros.’ streaming business and studios, and (according to a Hollywood Reporter article) early Friday (December 5, 2025) Netflix purchased Warner Bros.’ streaming business and studios for $82.7 billion, financing $59 billion through banks and investors. After Warner Bros. suggested splitting its assets, the Netflix purchase was less of a surprise. While Netflix hides its viewing numbers from the public, it has shared that Warner Bros.’ titles have dominated Netflix viewing numbers in recent months. Why not buy the studio? It makes great sense from a business perspective. But this merger raises concerns.
The first concern is that mid-sized, legacy studios–like Warner Bros.–cannot survive in the current media landscape. The second is that Netflix never releases films in movie theaters, and if it continues this trend with Warner Bros.’ properties, this could be the death knell for movie theaters. And currently, the European Union questions whether this merger works within its anti-monopoly statutes. There’s a lot to discuss. I’ll try and be brief.
First, it doesn’t look good for mid-sized studios. The media landscape has been mirroring the United States’ wealth gap for well over a decade. You’re either a massive studio or you’re an indie filmmaker. Sorry, Fox. There is no middle class. Netflix’s acquisition of Warner Bros. furthers this trend.
Second, I’ve always enjoyed going to movie theaters. It’s a vibe. But I’ve gone to fewer movies at the theater in the last several years. Call it a COVID hangover. Major cities will most likely have a movie theater or two, but smaller cities may lose theirs. Again, this was already happening. Disney demands more profits than other studios, especially for Star Wars and Marvel movies (making these films less profitable for theaters), while Netflix refuses to release films in theaters at all. We’ll have to wait and see if Netflix will extend its policy to Warner Bros. releases. I’ll be sad if the next Wonder Woman movie never makes it to a theater near me, but at least the DCU will continue. More on that later.
Third, monopolies are on the rise. Okay. Some folks may correct me and say that these are oligopolies (a market structure with few competitors controlling most of the market), not monopolies. True, but semantics. Fewer competitors mean that these companies have more power during negotiations. You know, like Disney demanding more profits from theaters. These negotiations also extend to consumers. While Netflix insists it will not raise its subscription price (yet), I imagine a $59 billion loan might tempt it to raise prices in the not-so-distant future.
What does this mean for the future? Nothing much will change in the next year or two. Famous last words. The DCU’s slate of shows and movies remains the same, as far as we know. I can’t wait for Lanterns in early 2026. I can’t imagine Netflix firing James Gunn or Peter Safran. They’ll stay onboard for the DCU’s next chapter. And there have been some hints that the Snyderverse could return. What?
Netflix has stated that some of its newly acquired intellectual properties (including DC Comics and DC Studios) will allow other creatives to release content for those IPs on Netflix. Fans of the Snyderverse interpreted this statement as the Snyderverse returning. And it makes sense if it does. James Gunn has already okayed a second The Batman movie, despite actively casting a new Batman for the DCU. No. We still don’t know if Gunn has cast anyone as Batman. We’ll keep you posted. Gunn fully embraces the Elseworlds framework. So, multiple interpretations of the same characters can exist. Bring on the Snyderverse.
Ultimately, I can see why Netflix’s acquisition of Warner Bros. has people on edge. I’m concerned, too. We lost one more mid-sized, legacy film studio. That sucks. Thanks for the memories, Fox and Warner Bros.. Netflix insists it won’t stop releasing Warner Bros. films in theaters. Perhaps. Fingers crossed. Netflix also says it won’t raise its monthly subscription cost. But $59 billion is a lot of money to repay. We’ll wait and see.
The Great Library Launches on KickStarter
The dynamic duo of game designer Vital Lacerda and artist Ian O’Toole reunite with The Great Library. I have yet to play a Lacerda original, and The Great Library looks as if it’s right up my alley. Players attempt to reconstruct the fabled Great Library of Alexandria. I adore this theme.
Lacerda is known for his strategic board games, and O’Toole is one of my favorite board game artists. The biggest reason why I’ve hesitated to pick up a Lacerda/O’Toole collaboration is that I fear I may make a wrong move on turn one that’ll come back and bite me. But I may make an exception for The Great Library. Look at the detail in this game. There’s a reason O’Toole is one of my favorite board game artists.
With a little context, one could make out what they can do during a turn. O’Toole is one of the best at graphic interpretations of game rules. The Great Library offers a couple of pledge levels. The base pledge of $118 offers a few add-ons. It’ll ship around September of next year, but gamers could back the advanced copy pledge at $225 and receive The Great Library a month earlier. If you’re interested in The Great Library,check out its KickStarter page.
Queen of Spies Launches on GameFound
I love historical board games. Queen of Spies is based–loosely–on Louise de Bettigries, who is known as the Queen of Spies. The Queen of Spies board game has players organize a network of spies to turn the tide of World War I in Belgium. Bettigries did exactly that during World War I. I love it! A solo game steeped in history should surprise no one with a Salt and Pepper game. This board game publisher has produced some of the best historical games in recent memory: The Voynich Puzzle, Witchcraft!, and Resist!.
Ah! I know little about Queen of Spies’ gameplay, but I can’t wait to get my hands on this game. Gamefound campaigns are notorious for showing little of the game before launch. We also know little–if anything–about Queen of Spies’ pledge levels before its release. If you’re interested in Queen of Spies, check out its Gamefound page.
Byzantion: The Justinian Era Launches on Gamefound
Truth time. I hate Take That as a mechanism, especially when used in a longer game. So, when I saw the following image on Byzantion: The Justinian Era, I cooled on the project.
Everything else looks amazing with Byzantion: The Justinian Era. I’d like more board game companies to include graphics like the one above. This gives players an idea of what kind of game to expect. While I may dislike strong Take That in an hour-plus game, other games may enjoy it. And to be honest, everything else on this graphic looks like it’d be something I’d play, so I could overlook the strong Take That. And why not? While publisher Meeple Pug is new to the gaming space, they’ve had some interesting releases over the past year with Mesopotamia and Dark Blood. Meeple Pug games include stellar miniatures, and Byzantion: The Justinian Era is no exception.
While the image above is most likely from a digital tabletop engine like Tabletop Simulator, one can’t generate files like this without files from the core game. I love the upstart Greek board game publisher Meeple Pug. They stick to their roots, and I can’t wait to see what they release next. If you’re interested in Byzantion: The Justinian Era, check out its GameFound page.
Dragon Eclipse: The Grand Quest Ventures onto GameFound
Dragon Eclipse returns with its first full sequel, Dragon Eclipse: The Grand Quest. Honestly, I haven’t considered too many Awakened Realms games, because they tend to get pricey. Like hundreds of dollars pricey. If that doesn’t give a frame of reference for how expensive Awakened Realms games can get, Awakened Realms is the board game publisher attached to GameFound, the crowdfunding site that thinks board games should be so expensive that games should be able to pay for them in monthly installments. But Dragon Eclipse’s standalone sequel, Dragon Eclipse: The Grand Quest, is affordable. About $70 for the standard edition and $139 for the deluxe.
At $70, I may pick up a copy of Dragon Eclipse: The Grand Quest. From what I hear, Dragon Eclipse plays like a fusion between Gloomhaven and Pokémon. And I dig the storybook feel. Ah! My heart skipped a beat. My biggest issue with Gloomhaven is its setup, and two flipbooks should limit the amount of setup. And I love Pokémon. I may not have grown up with Pokémon–like my children–but I have a soft spot for cute mythical creatures, and Dragon Eclipse: The Grand Quest has plenty of cute mythical creatures. If you’re interested in Dragon Eclipse: The Grand Quest, check out its GameFound page.
Marvel: Cosmic Invasion Releases
Classic video game arcade players, rejoice. Marvel: Cosmic Invasion captures the feel of classic arcade games like The X-Men, The Simpsons, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Side-scroll fight your way through the levels and defeat denizens of the Negative Zone. Not gonna lie. Annihilus (ruler of the Negative Zone) is one of my favorite Marvel villains, and I’m stoked for this game. I didn’t know Marvel: Cosmic Invasion existed before writing this post, but I’m so in.
Let me at those bad guys. As I write this entry, I have no idea what the reviewers will say about this game. Does it matter? If classic side-scroll combat interests you, Marvel: Cosmic Invasion may interest you. Depending on the version you purchase, the cost varies from $40 to $60. Marvel: Cosmic Invasion is available for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and Xbox Series S/X.
Sleep Awake Releases
I didn’t know Blumhouse made video games. Surprise! Undoubtedly, as a result of Blumhouse’s involvement, Sleep Awake was included in the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival. How many video games are included in a prestigious film festival? Not many. I don’t know much about Sleep Awake other than people disappear in their sleep, and it’s up to you to save the last remaining people on Earth. From the designer of the stellar Spec Ops: The Line, Cory Davis, and featuring the music of Robin Finck of Nine Inch Nails, Sleep Awake blurs the lines between dream and reality.
Like Marvel: Cosmic Invasion, I knew little about this game, but the more I learn, the more I want to see more of Sleep Awake. Sleep Awake is available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox Series S/X.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Releases
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond needs no introduction. The Metroid series is one of Nintendo’s greatest, and we haven’t seen a new entry in this series in over a decade. No. I don’t count Metroid Prime: Federation Force, released for the Nintendo 3DS. Handhelds are a separate animal. The last main console release for a Metroid game came in 2007, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption for the Wii. The Wii!
And I’m grateful that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will be available for the Nintendo Switch as well as the Nintendo Switch 2. I can hold off upgrading my Switch. I picked up my Switch late in its cycle. I deserve to have the occasional high-profile game. And Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is certainly a high-profile Nintendo release. Let’s hope it lives up to the hype.
Octopath Traveler 0 Releases
Okay. Another truth time. I picked up Octopath Traveler for the Nintendo Switch several years ago and have yet to play it. Eek! The series looks amazing. Sure, Octopath Traveler features pixel art, and even though I have written for a website called The Pixels (they tended to give every pixel art game a baseline 8 out of 10 for graphics that I’d call 4 out of 10), I don’t automatically say a game is gorgeous because it uses pixel art. But look at Octopath Traveler’s pixel art. It’s stunning. Look at that detail. It’s delicious.
I love the graphics, and from what I hear, Octopath Traveler has an amazing story to match these graphics. Yes! Octopath Traveler 0 is a prequel to the original game. While I’m not a fan of prequels, I can enjoy them, given the proper context. I don’t yet know what the context is for Octopath Traveler 0, but we’ll keep you informed. What I do know is that Octopath Traveler 0 features town-building gameplay. What? Players may construct 500 buildings on the Nintendo Switch 2 and 250 buildings on the original Nintendo Switch. This is yet another title I love that gets an original Nintendo Switch release, despite the older system’s limitations. But players may also pick up a copy of Octopath Traveler 0 on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
That’s all the Geek News we have for this week. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. I’m still on a pseudo-hiatus with Novel in November. I just shared a writing update a couple days ago, but this means that Geek News will mostly be video game and board game new releases. Let’s begin with board game new releases.
Exactly as Planned Sneaks Onto GameFound
I love it when a publisher/designer allows players to demo their game. Exactly As Planned offers a solo, cake-walk heist to whet gamers’ whistles. You can play the game by checking out Exactly As Planned’s GameFound page. And it won’t take long. Exactly As Planned lasts exactly 5-minutes. Gamers on the clock, attempting to play the correct cards to pull off their semi-coordinated heist.
I love Exactly As Planned’s box art. The off-centered “As” is hilarious. Once gamers become accustomed to Exactly As Planned’s ruleset, they can add a little spice to the proceedings. One team member may be speaking only in questions, a second might have to stare at the ceiling, and a third may be restricted to saying only “yes” and “no.” If Exactly As Planned sounds like chaotic fun, check out its GameFound page.
Arydia: The Paths We Dare Tread Journeys to GameFound
Arydia: The Paths We Dare Tread is another big box, fantasy, open-world, and open-ended exploration board game. So, what separates Arydia from other board games like it that we’ve covered over the past handful of months? Prowess.
Publisher Far Off Games and designer Cody Miller of Xia: Legends of a Drift System are well known for immersive, exploration board games. Despite being over a decade old, Xia maintains a top 200 spot on BGG. And Arydia: The Paths We Dare Tread brings this same scale and grandeur to a fantasy setting. This GameFound campaign is Arydia’s second printing. The game sports a whopping 9.1 out 10 on BGG, where most games are lucky to get a 7. And I love the idea of a “green legacy” game. Far Off Games notes that Arydia features all the hallmarks of a legacy game–packages to open, hidden information, progression, discovery, and exploration–but allows you to reset the game when you complete it so that you can start again or pass it on to someone else.
We need more “green legacy” games. While it can be cool to burn your board game after playing (like I’ve seen others do with Pandemic Legacy), it’s also a waste. And look at the dice. I don’t know if the dice signal how a unit can move or where a spell casts its area of effect, but I’d like to find out. Arydia comes with plenty of detailed miniatures and other game components. If you’re interested in Arydia, check out its GameFound page.
Chants for the Old Ones Lurks on GameFound
Chants for the Old Ones is another second printing making its way onto GameFound, this time with two new expansions: The Eye of Dagon and The New Orders’ Reckoning. Players control unique cults with various paths to earn victory and unleash the power of the Old Ones. Perform dark rituals. Control key areas of the city. Do your worst in this deck-building and worker placement game set in the Cthulhu Mythos.
I like Chants for the Old Ones’ combination of deck building and worker placement. Those are two fantastic game mechanisms. Playing a Lovecraftian cult is a bonus. And I like how The New Orders’ Reckoning expansion adds a playable cult for the King in Yellow (Hastur) himself. If you’d like to get your Cthulhu on, check out Chants for the Old Ones’ GameFound page.
Elements of Truth Launches on KickStarter
Elements of Truth shakes up the traditional trivia game. The game includes four question types for each of its 250 cards: More or Less, Multiple Choice, Number Line, and True or False. Multiple Choice and True and False need no introduction. More or Less has players choose whether one “fill-in-the-blank” has more or less of something than another “fill-in-the-blank” thing. But Number Line has me most intrigued. Players write an answer on the (provided) whiteboard to see if they can get as close to the numerical correct answer.
Elements of Truth offers five expansion packs (four pictured above). Each question pack includes an additional 200 question cards in a particular subject. My history of playing Trivial Pursuit makes me wonder if gamers will want to pick up at least one of these expansion packs. 250 question cards are easy to memorize after a few plays. The base game pledge is $39. Players can get the first question pack (Veritasium, which isn’t pictured above) in addition to the base game for $59. Or go all-in for $99. If you’re interested in Elements of Truth, check out its KickStarter page.
Anno 117: Pax Romana Releases
The Anno series of city-building real-time strategy games continues with the earliest setting for the franchise. Gamers are given the choice to build the Roman Empire (Latium) or the Celtic kingdom (Albion). You’ll have the choice between paths of loyalty or rebellion. You can focus on military might or economic growth. And, for the first time, gamers will be able to play Anno 117: Pax Romana in first-person.
This option alone piques my interest for Anno 117: Pax Romana. I’ve played numerous city-building games and always wondered what it would be like to experience my city at ground level. Anno 117: Pax Romana has received good reviews from critics. Rome has been built (and torn down) in many video games. I may try my hand at building the Celtic Kingdom. Anno 117: Pax Romana is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Lumines Arise Releases on Steam and PlayStation
I’ve been a fan of the Lumines series ever since it was first released on the PlayStation Portable, and Lumines Arise is the first new title in the series since 2012. More than just a Tetris clone, Lumines gives the familiar formula a new twist. Every block is 2×2, but they contain up to two colors. The blocks slide into spaces left in the puzzle, and gamers must match colors (in 2×2 blocks or better) before they explode.
I’ve always enjoyed Lumines’s slick design. At first glance, you may find Lumines confusing, but you’ll get used to the game’s aesthetics soon enough. Lumines Arise includes numerous game modes, ensuring ample replayability. The classic Journey mode returns. Gamers will play over 35 stages, called skins. Each skin has its own theme with music and visuals to match the stage’s vibe. I love the themes that use vegetables. What?
After gamers complete the Journey, they unlock a new mode called Survival. Players play endlessly–or at least until they top out–with the skins transitioning as they reach certain milestones. That could get trippy with Lumines Arise’s bizarre skins. Lumines Arise also offers Training Missions, Challenges (various game states with goals and some variations on gameplay), Time Attack (clear enough blocks in the allotted time), and Dig Down where the blocks come from below. Trippy.
I can’t wait to get my hands on Lumines Arise. It’s received good to great reviews from most critics, with a slight edge given to the PlayStation 5 version over the PC version. Honestly, I always intended to pick up this title for PS5 anyway.
That’s all the Geek News we have for this week. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. I’m still on my pseudo-hiatus for the Novel in November event, so this week’s Geek News will include board games and video games that released this past week. Let’s start this week’s Geek News with board game new releases.
Employee Disposal Program Launches on KickStarter
Who needs political correctness? Employee Disposal Program–awesome name by the way–offers a light, party game, which pokes fun at a corporation’s HR Department. Players begin with two sanity and five action cards. A player’s sanity is their health and once a player loses all their sanity, they’re eliminated from the game.
The above card, “Ethnic Confusion Effect,” is a good example of Employee Disposal Program’s politically incorrectness. Employee Disposal Program won’t be for everyone. I’m not the biggest fan of Take That (backstabby) party games, but Employee Disposal Program plays quickly, and if a card entitled “Karen From Human Resources” tickles your funny bone, Employee Disposal Program may be worth looking into. Pledges range from about $26 (publisher Pleiades Interactive is headquartered in Australia) to about $127. If you’re interested in Employee Disposal Program, check out its KickStarter page.
Zeit Heist Sneaks Onto KickStarter
Publisher Blue Rondo Games has released a couple of quirky, easy-to-learn board games, and Zeit Heist looks to continue that trend. Players build a heist team. The first one to successfully complete a victory condition wins. But Zeit Heist includes multiple victory conditions. You could sneak into the museum before it opens with the Scientist, the Spy, and Lockpicker. Or break into the museum after it opens with the Driver, Muscle, and an Inside Man. Or one could even sway the Police, Detective, and Undercover Cop to confiscate the Zeitnium in your name. Oh, yeah. The object you’re trying to steal is named Zeitnium. Nice!
In Zeit Heist, players can manipulate time. Speed up time. Slow it down. Or freeze it. Time is a Tool. Zeit Heist’s box looks intriguing. A timer comes included in the box lid. Zeit Heist’s production value looks great, and at a swift fifteen-minute playtime, Zeit Heist doesn’t outstay its welcome. If you’re interested in Zeit Heist, check out its KickStarter page.
Snowdonia: Grand Tour Chugs Onto GameFound
The original Snowdonia is a classic, 2012 board game, but many newer board gamers have yet to play Snowdonia. Snowdonia: Grand Tour may be the perfect place to first experience this game. Naylor Games has done a great job giving this dated game a facelift. While most reprints only focus on making the game look nice, Snowdonia: Grant Tour adds a range of scenarios and other game elements to make Snowdonia: Grand Tour enticing for long-time Snowdonia players.
Each scenario comes with its own map board. Snowdonia: Grand Tour streamlines the original’s setup. And there’s a compatibility pack just in case you own the original. What’s not to love? If you’ve ever been interested in this classic worker placement, railroad construction game, Snowdonia: Grand Tour may be perfect. If you’re interested in Snowdonia: Grand Tour, check out its GameFound page.
Restless Journeys Onto GameFound
We’ve seen a lot of roleplaying game in a boxes in recent years. Restless applies this idea to a storybook gameplay, and I’m here for it. Restless looks amazing. I love its idea of quick saves. While Restless plays out over three acts, gamers can save their game within the box and in between each act. Awesome!
Depending on your playstyle and the magical species you plan to play as, a gamer’s experience in Restless greatly varies. This gives me Harmonies vibes. Unlike Harmonies, Restless is semi-cooperative. I don’t know exactly how that works. I imagine players can help each other complete their individual storylines. If so, fun! Restless lasts forty-five minutes per player, per act. And it can be played as a solo experience. If you’re interested in Restless, check out its GameFound page.
Europa Universalis V Releases
The Europa Universalis game series is not for the faint of heart. Gamers guide their chosen country through world history. In the latest game of the series, Europa Universalis V, time spans from April 1, 1337, to January 1, 1837. Typically, Europa Universalis offers greater granular strategic choices than games in the Civilization series. While Civilization has streamlined its gameplay, allowing for a wider audience, Europa Universalis is more like “Git Gud.”
Choosing a starting nation is crucial in Europa Universalis V. Each nation has its own unique skills and benefits, and if you find one of the 314 nations that best suits your playstyle, you can conquer most–if not all–of Europe. Fortunately, Europa Universalis V offers more automation than previous titles in the series. Players can choose to focus on certain aspects of governing, while allowing the game’s AI to tackle parts that interest them less. I like this inclusion. Sometimes, I want to focus on trade over military, or the other way around. It’s great to have options.
One can get lost in the sheer volume of things they can control. Europa Universalis V makes Civilization look like Tic-Tac-Toe. Being able to focus on a couple of things, while automating the rest, is a godsend. I’ll say it again, great addition. Europa Universalis V has received great reviews and is available on PC. I will most likely pick up Europa Universalis V in the future (when it goes on sale), play on the easiest setting, and still find a way to finish in last place. I like this game series a lot, but I am not gud. Womp-womp.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Releases
The Warriors series is more my speed, and specifically, the Hyrule Warriors corner of the Warriors series is one of the strongest. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment was released exclusively on the Nintendo Switch 2. I’ll have to wait until after I pick up a Switch 2. But look-it! Zelda is a playable character. What?
I love a good hack-and-slash video game, and that’s what the Hyrule Warriors series is. I can’t wait to fight hordes of enemies as Princess Zelda. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment has received favorable reviews. Sounds like a great time.
Unbeatable Releases Today on Multiple Platforms
I saved the most interesting video game for last. Unbeatable takes place in a world where music has been outlawed by a fascist agency known as H.A.R.M. (Harmonious Audio Reduction Maintenance). Nice! Gamers take the role of Beat, a mysterious vocalist who spends her time producing new songs and fighting the occasional cop. She plays in a band with guitarist Quaver, keyboardist Treble, and percussionist Clef. Unbeatable blends a rhythm game–naturally–with plenty of adventure.
I love Unbeatable’s aesthetics. We haven’t gotten a great rhythm game in years, so I can’t wait to get my hands on Unbeatable. The theme sounds cool. The graphics and gameplay look amazing. Unbeatable’s demo received great reviews. Rock Paper Shotgun may agree with me as they wrote in their review (of the demo), “Unbeatable has the best hook of any game ever.” Since Unbeatable is releasing the day of this post, we’ll have to wait for full reviews. This one’s a fresh, new game. Unbeatable is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
That’s all the news we have for you this week. I’m Geek News short during November. Novel in November has been a slow roll, but I’m making some progress with my edits from this past year’s book. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here, and I’m in the middle of some major edits and rewrites with my work in progress–more on that in the coming weeks–so I won’t have as much time to cover Geek News topics like previous months. But we still have some new board game and video game releases to discuss. I’ll try to be brief. Let’s begin with board game new releases.
Punch Bowl Splashes onto KickStarter
Punch Bowl looks amazing. It’s won multiple awards, featuring giant fruits that players must turn into giant punch. All the fruit in Punch Bowl is made of gorgeous acrylic. Throw in some ice cubes and seltzer acrylic game pieces, and you have a party. Players can learn this area management game in less than seven minutes, but Punch Bowl offers plenty of replayability. Just look at these punch glasses.
You’ll be filling your glass like a champ in no time with Punch Bowl. Every player begins with the same hand of cards. You must choose which card you’ll play and which to discard each round. You can gather fruit, but make sure you don’t keep it too long, or else your fruit will rot. I love that twist. Fruit Punch pledges range from $35 to $98. If you’re interested in Punch Bowl, check out its KickStarter page.
Dicey Devices Hatches Its Masterplan on KickStarter
I’ve seen Dicey Devices at numerous Protospiels and even featured a time or two on the Break My Game Discord server, and I’m glad this awesome game is seeing production on KickStarter. Publisher Oragami Whale is new to the tabletop game space, but they’re looking to make a splash, and Dicey Devices certainly does that. Players take on the role of mad scientists.
Activate your laboratory, collect devices, deploy robots, and upgrade your death ray to defeat your mad scientist rivals in Dicey Devices. There’s only room for one ultimate scientist in this engine builder with set collection. If you’re interested in Dicey Devices, check out its KickStarter page.
Bug Fight Takes on KickStarter
Bug Fight reminds me a lot of the classic Battle Line or Schotten Totten. I love these games, so this is a great thing. Players battle for multiple lanes of cards in a tense tug-of-war. The player who controls the most lanes at the end of the game, wins.
Build your team of powerful bugs in Bug Fight. And I just noticed the inclusion of Area Cards. That gives me strong Smash Up vibes, and I’m here for it. These Area Cards may spice up gameplay, causing plenty of potential upsets. Bug Fight looks like a fun, colorful 2-player only game. If you’re interested in Bug Fight, check out its KickStarter page.
Button Shy Games Reprints Some of Their Out Of Print Games on GameFound
Button Shy Games has a simple premise for its line of games: restrict designers to 18 cards. And the results are amazing. Some of board games’ greatest designers have produced games for Button Shy Games, and each game fits inside a wallet. I have a copy of Tussie Mussie and Skulls of Sedlec, but these are Button Shy Games that can be found in print. Button Shy’s upcoming GameFound campaign will feature plenty of out-of-print games. Yes!
Even better, backers will vote on which games they’d like to see get a reprint. I found a handful in the picture above I wouldn’t mind adding to my collection. Stew is fantastic, and Sprawlopolis has been on my radar for years. Few details exist for this campaign. We’ll know more after Button Shy’s Campaign goes live in a few days. If you’re interested in Button Shy’s Reprint Campaign, check out its page on GameFound.
Terra Mystica Returns on GameFound
Terra Mystica has been a member of BoardGameGeek’s Top 50 games ever since it was first released thirteen years ago (2012), and it’s the latest game to receive the GameFound glow-up. I’m liking this trend. Take a game many players love and give it a definitive version. Agricola’s release earlier this year looked amazing. I’m expecting similar things with Terra Mystica, even though we’ve seen few images of what we should find in the box. What’s in the box?!
Terra Mystica has plenty of expansions, and if its updated version follows Agricola’s footsteps (fingers crossed), we should see a new expansion or two. Steamforged Games has a great track record of giving good old games a fresh coat of paint. If you’re interested in Terra Mystica, check out its GameFound page.
Movers & Shakers Launches on GameFound
You know how I was interested in Sprawlopolis earlier? Publisher Quined Games co-published Sprawlopolis with Button Shy Games, and Movers & Shakers is their latest production. Since Movers & Shakers is a new game, we have plenty of pictures.
Movers & Shakers features plenty of gorgeous set pieces and crunchy strategic play. We’re talking Splotter Game (like Food Chain Magnate) levels of strategy in Movers & Shakers, and I would expect nothing less than a train game, wanting to make a mark.
We know little about Movers & Shakers’ gameplay, but the cards appear to be dual-purpose. Always a plus. I love the idea of contracts in a game of pick up and deliver. And spending resources to move is always appreciated. I may not know much–yet–about Movers & Shakers, but the game piques my interest. If it does the same for you, check out Movers & Shakers’ GameFound page.
The Outer Worlds 2 Releases
I enjoyed my time with Obsidian’s The Outer Worlds. It did a great job fusing elements from Shadowrun (companies took over governments with corporatocracies) and various other sci-fi universes by terraforming distant planets into their own images. Add in a dash of Fallout (some of Obsidian’s founders co-created the Fallout series), and you get a tasty diversion in The Outer Worlds.
I can’t wait to get my hands on The Outer Worlds 2. While the original may not have shaken role-playing games to their core, it was a fantastic, single-player experience. And I love it when modern video game companies commit to single-player experiences. Too many video game companies have gone all-in on video games as a service or live-service games. The Outer Worlds 2 has received good to great reviews. I would expect nothing less from an Outer Worlds’ follow-up. The Outer Worlds 2 is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
ARC Raiders Releases
Speaking of live-service games, The Finals developer Embark Studios released its follow-up, ARC Raiders, this past week. While The Finals is a free-to-play title, ARC Raiders is a $40 multiplayer experience. Set in a distant future Earth, where mysterious and deadly “ARC” robots have taken over the surface, ARC Raiders puts gamers in the role of rescuers going topside to collect resources, sell, and ultimately save as many survivors as they can.
Embark Studios jump from looter shooter (in The Finals) to ARC Raiders’ extraction shooter is a logical one. With battle royales losing their luster, first-person shooter gamers have been looking for a worthy replacement. Extraction shooters seem to be a good alternative, but there has yet to be one title to capture the community’s imagination. Time will tell if ARC Raiders will become the definitive extraction shooter. It’s available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake Releases
SquareEnix has had back-to-back stellar remakes these past couple of months. Last month’s Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles and this past week’s Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake prove that SquareEnix has some of the greatest back catalogues in video game history. These titles also show that SquareEnix can go back to basics and deliver a wonderful role-playing experience.
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake manages to give the older games a facelift while maintaining the originals’ charm. SquareEnix even manages to throw in some added content to pad the games’ short runtime, and Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake completes the original Dragon Quest Trilogy. Last year’s Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is available on modern game systems. It’s great seeing these titles available for new gamers. Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is available on PC, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
That’s all the Geek News we have for this week. I’ll be busy with writing and editing on my work in progress, so we may have mostly new releases over the next few weeks. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geek News. This past week confirmed a months-long rumor: Warner Bros. is for sale.
Bugs Bunny looks enthused with being on the market. We’ll discuss Warner Bros. posting a for-sale sign and this week’s new releases for board games and video games during this week’s Geek News.
Warner Bros. For Sale
No. Yakko and Wakko aren’t for sale. Warner Bros., as a property, is for sale. After months of speculation that Paramount would purchase all of Warner Bros., Warner Bros. removes all doubt by announcing it intends to sell, but the entertainment giant states it wants as much money as possible. If that means a single party purchases Warner Bros., great, but if Warner Bros. can accrue more money by slicing its properties into smaller pieces, fantastic.
My guess–and this is just a guess–is Warner Bros. will choose to split up its properties. Unless one entity blows away Warner Bros. with an offer for everything, the studio will most likely sell to numerous buyers. Of course, Paramount has expressed interest. The rumors appear to have been true, and Warner Bros. rejected Paramount’s first offer. Apple TV has also expressed interest. And I wouldn’t be surprised if Disney wanted to acquire a property or two. Looney Tunes could be added to classic Disney characters. Marvel and DC Comics could have crossover movies. I could continue. The possibilities are endless; only time will tell what will become of Warner Bros.’s properties.
Geekly tends to cover superhero movies, so we’ll focus on what a Warner Bros. sale would mean for the newly minted DCU. While DCU Chairmen James Gunn and Peter Safran could lose their jobs after DC Studios is sold, I doubt this will actually happen. Love Gunn and Safran’s DCU or hate it, I don’t expect new leadership to pull the plug on a profitable franchise this soon after it launches. And yet, profits may regulate the DCU’s future.
Producing DCU films and shows costs a lot of money. At the moment, Gunn and Safran intend to accelerate the DCU’s slate of projects. Lanterns, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, and Clayface are slated for a 2026 release. We could see another season of Harley Quinn and Creature Commandos next year, too. And the DCU has plenty more scheduled for the not-so-distant future. Wonder Woman: War of the Gods, The Brave and the Bold, The Batman 2, Booster Gold, and Waller have all been rumored or announced for a 2027 release. New ownership may slow down the frequency of upcoming DCU releases.
I don’t believe anything will change with the DCU’s release schedule until after a sale takes place. So, the DCU’s 2026 release schedule should remain mostly untouched. Who knows? Depending on DC Studios’ buyer, nothing may change. Who would you like to purchase DC Studios?
While I wouldn’t mind a single Marvel-DC Comics crossover movie (or even a trilogy of them) or a series, I prefer these two worlds to remain separate. Apple could use the content more than Paramount, but it’d be interesting to see Star Wars and Marvel on one platform, while Star Trek and the DCU were on the other. Share your thoughts in the comments.
Threshold Launches on GameFound
Blending tactical card-based combat, deep character customization, and endless loot, Threshold immerses its players in a massive, open, living world that responds to their choices. While I have yet to play Threshold, player turns appear easy to understand. Each player’s round plays out with the same rhythm: 1) Draw 5 cards from your deck, 2) Spend cards to perform actions, 3) Enemies act, and 4) Advance the day. I like the Threshold’s streamlined design.
As of the writing of this post, Threshold has yet to launch, so I can only speculate on its gameplay. It appears as if players may mismatch the cards in their deck, creating a unique character. If that’s the case, count me in. Combat seems quick and tactical. I like the idea of Threshold’s world adapting to my choices, but I hope that extends beyond combat. Threshold’s description suggests that players will travel from region to region, where dynamic events occur. Could this be a great blend of MMOs and action RPGs?
I’ve been looking for a good RPG in board game form. Threshold piques my interest. If you’re interested in Threshold, check out its GameFound page.
Drawing Dead Launches on GameFound
After meeting an untimely end in a saloon poker game turned deadly, you awake in purgatory. With new powers and a set of poker cards forged from your soul, you must play your way through the three gates of purgatory and ride into the afterlife. Drawing Dead has a killer theme. Pun intended. I love the Solo Game of the Month company. I don’t know how they’re able to produce stellar solo games most months (I’ve seen them skip one or two months here and there). I’ve been playing a ton of Balatro recently, so Drawing Dead is right up my alley.
Drawing Dead’s player deck is a fully functional poker deck. I am down with the four-colored suits and may pick up a few copies of Drawing Dead to play standard card games. Just ignore the special effects printed in the middle of each card. While we don’t yet know the pledge values for Drawing Dead, Solo Game of the Month tends to sell their games for around $30. If you’re interested in Drawing Dead, check out its GameFound page.
Joyride: Full Throttle Speeds onto GameFound
Who wants to play a destruction derby? Joyride: Full Throttle is equal parts Formula D, Mario Kart, and Destruction Derby (this was a Mad Max-like video game back in the day). Comic book artist Ant Williams’ work gives Joyride: Full Throttle character. Joyride: Full Throttle oozes character from its pores. I can’t wait to drift around the beachfront boardwalk and abandoned mall. Each map has its own identity.
And each driver and vehicle has their own vibe, too. And you know I’ll be loading up on Thumpers, Wrenches, and Volleybombs, waiting for the perfect moment to drop them on my opponents.
Push your luck as you take corners at speed. Manipulate dice on your dashboard, balancing precision and speed. Smash into your rivals to knock them off course. I love how interactive Joyride: Full Throttle is. And publisher Rebellion Unplugged just announced full miniatures. I’m certain these will cost extra (as an upgrade) when Joyride: Full Throttle releases its pledge details later this week. We don’t yet know these pledge details, but if you’re interested in Joyride: Full Throttle, check out its GameFound page.
Cascadia: Alpine Lakes Launches on KickStarter
I may need a refreshing dip in a lake after that last entry. Fortunately, Cascadia: Alpine Lakes has you covered. Alpine Lakes is the standalone sequel to the wildly popular Cascadia. Take your tile-laying to new puzzly heights with Cascadia: Alpine Lakes.
Cascadia: Alpine Lakes is designed by Randy Flynn, creator of the original Cascadia. Alpine Lakes shakes up the original gameplay by adding double hex tiles. These tiles add to the strategic nature of the original, and the development team behind Alpine Lakes is the same award-winning team behind Calico, Verdant, Fit to Print, Nocturne, and Knitting Circle (Molly Johnson, Robert Melvin, Shawn Stankewich, and Dylan Mangini). And Beth Sobel returns as the artist.
Cascadia: Alpine Lakes builds off the original in interesting ways. You won’t need the base Cascadia game to play this version, but there is a pledge level that includes the original Cascadia. Pledges range from $39 to $129. If you haven’t yet played the modern classic Cascadia, Cascadia: Alpine Lakes may be a great place to start. If you’re interested in Cascadia: Alpine Lakes, check out its KickStarter page.
Garage Rock Crashes the KickStarter Party
Garage Rock transports gamers back to the 1980s: big hair, cassette tapes, and BMX bikes ruled the neighborhood streets. Garage Rock is a medium-weight, worker-placement game where players step into the shoes of a teenage garage band. Fight for glory in the high-stakes “Battle of the Bands,” hosted by the infamous local pirate radio DJ, Johnny Law.
I love Garage Rock’s table presence. Check out that treehouse dice tower in the middle of the board. The stage (in the top right-hand corner) looks amazing. Garage Rock looks as if it uses a lot of table space, but that’s okay. Its toy factor and theme make up for what appears to be a large game. Who wants to rock out with me?
Compete against other players to perform at gigs. Grow your band’s popularity. And it looks as if Mariposa Games thought of everything for this game’s box insert, even a spot for the Jean Jacket expansion, should you choose to add it to your pledge. Garage Rock looks amazing. The bits are thematic like demo tapes, song tokens, talent ribbons, and 16 unique transparent acrylic instruments. Pledges range from $79 to $250. If you’re interested in Garage Rock, check out its KickStarter page.
Kavango: Lodges Expansion Launches on KickStarter
Designed by conservationists, Kavango tells inspirational conservation success stories of southern Africa. In fact, 20% of Kavango’s profits are donated to African-based charities working to safeguard the region’s extraordinary wildlife. The Lodges Expansion marks Kavango’s first major expansion. I have yet to play Kavango, but Season has and swears by this game. Seriously, it’s on her Christmas list. She’s probably editing this post, and I expect a message suggesting we back Kavango: Lodges Expansion for “research.”
Kavango uses simultaneous turns, which I love, because it keeps gameplay fast. Kavango’s theme is an important one, and I also love that Mazaza Games commits to charity. It’s a good feeling knowing your pledge goes toward a worthy cause. Kavango’s pledges are also reasonable: $20 (for just the expansion if you already have the base game), $40 for all the extras without the base game, or $60 for everything, including the original Kavango. If you don’t have the base game, I’d go with the $60 pledge; you get a lot of game for the price point. If you’re interested in Kavango, check out its KickStarter page.
Video Game Round-Up
I already covered six board game releases in quick succession. This week saw a ton of new releases, because we’re ramping up for the holidays. I’m going to go through video games quickly as well. Like the board games, these won’t be the only video games that were released this past week. Consider this section video game new release highlights.
Ninja Gaiden 4 was released over a decade after Ninja Gaiden 3 (2012). According to multiple critics, Ninja Gaiden 4 is a triumphant return to the series and well worth the wait. Like other games in the series, Ninja Gaiden 4 features punishing gameplay. Ninja Gaiden was the video game that made players “Git Gud” before Dark Souls, and 4 continues that brutal legacy. Ninja Gaiden 4 is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Sticking with the theme of older video game titles receiving their first new entry in over a decade, Katamari returns for the first time in 14 years with Once Upon a Katamari. I’ve spent countless hours rolling that funky-shaped ball, trying to get as many objects to stick to the katamari as I can. Once Upon a Katamari has received plenty of positive reviews. So, it looks like we’re two for two with returning franchises this week. I can’t wait to pick up a copy of Once Upon a Katamari. It’s available on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
The streak doesn’t continue, it would seem. Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines fans–like me–have waited 21 years for a proper sequel to the open-world, action role-playing indie. According to many critics, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 stumbles to live up to the original. This doesn’t surprise me. Bloodlines 2 had a torturous development cycle. The lead game designer changed multiple times. The lead writer was canned over a year before the game’s release. But Bloodlines 2 has a silver lining. From what I’ve heard, the writing is stellar. Any outlet that gives Bloodlines 2 a higher grade will most likely mention how deep and well-written the story’s characters are, but the janky combat and occasionally woeful performance issues make Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 a game I may wait to pick up at a discounted price.
Plants Vs Zombies: Replanted compiles all the game’s various iterations over the past 16 years, but the final product has been leaving critics wanting. Plants Vs Zombies’ original gameplay stays mostly intact–for better and for worse. The original game was fair and balanced most of the time, but the game had some unwarranted difficulty spikes that Replanted does little to quell. Plants Vs Zombies: Replanted tries to update the graphics, but many of the upgrades don’t quite land. Plants Vs Zombies: Replanted’s ending music video may be the most egregious. Players watch the original video on a tube television (picture inside of a picture) with downgraded graphics, which diminishes the ending’s impact.
But Replanted’s best addition may be the Cloudy Day Mode, where gameplay cycles between day and night. I may have found my way of new way to play Plants Vs Zombies. Plants Vs Zombies is available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Ever want to run your own dinosaur theme park? That’s the theme of Jurassic World Evolution 3. Yes. Jurassic World Evolution 3 is the third entry in this popular game series. Jurassic World Evolution 3 has received good reviews. I’m certain Season has played at least one game in this series. Let us know if you’d like to see a future review.
I knew little about Bounty Star before its release this past week. Bounty Star’s subtitle, The Morose Tale of Graveyard Clem, sums up the game’s story. Bounty Star begins with the worst day of Clementine McKinney’s life. She hopped into a mech, tried to save the people she loved, and lost everything. Clementine McKinney died that day. Graveyard Clem was born from the ashes. Graveyard Clem rebuilds her life in the wastes. Bounty Star bounces between mech combat and daily life on a farm, raising chickens and growing crops. Gamers will embody all aspects of the flawed Graveyard Clem. Bounty Star offers two disparate gameplay loops that I can’t wait to try. Equal parts mech combat game and farming sim? Sign me up.
That’s all we have for Geekly News this week. With the holidays around the corner, we may do more quick recaps in the coming weeks. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with Geek News from last week. We have some more Marvel news. Oh no! Am I going to be writing about Marvel and the MCU until I’m 90.
Feige breaks his silence about who’ll portray Wolverine during the Mutant Saga. All this and last week’s new releases for board games and video games on today’s Geekly News.
The MCU Reveals Some of Their Future Plans
In prior weeks, we mentioned that Marvel Studios CEO Kevin Feige opted for a fireside chat instead of a huge Comic-Con announcement this year. Feige shared numerous things during this chat. One of which is that the MCU will eventually recast characters like Tony Stark (Iron Man), Steve Rogers (Captain America), and Wolverine. But in the same set of chats, Feige insinuated that the time to recast those roles may not be now. We discussed the possibility of two Captain Americas at once in a previous Geekly News entry. In that same chat, Feige mentioned the MCU may have made a mistake moving on from Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man and Chris Evans’s Captain America. And the fact that RDJ is returning to portray a version of Doctor Doom may bode well for Hugh Jackman staying onboard as Wolverine.
RDJ is currently 60 years old while filming the upcoming Avengers movies. Downey intends to continue playing a character in the MCU through Avengers: Secret Wars, which would make him 62 years old. During his fireside chat, Feige mentioned that Jackman could portray Wolverine through the next MCU Saga, which would also make Jackman around 62 years old. Feige doesn’t want to repeat the same mistake with Jackman as the MCU did with Downey and Evans. In fact, Feige has even renewed Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool for the foreseeable future. And that makes sense. Spider-Man: Far From Home and Deadpool and Wolverine are the only post-Avengers: End Game MCU movies to gross over $1 billion.
Brutal truth: Jackman can and will remain in the Wolverine role for as long as he wants, provided his movies continue to make plenty of money. And why wouldn’t Jackman want to remain Wolverine? He’d be allowed to define the character within the MCU. He’ll make plenty of money. And heck, there are rumors that Sirs Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen will reprise their roles as Professor X and Magneto, and they’re well into their 80s. Deadpool may not be joking about playing a comic book character until one is 90 years old. Compared to Stewart and McKellen, Jackman is young. And Wolverine is canonically one of the eldest X-Men.
Cat Nap Bounds Onto KickStarter
Cat Nap kicks off a couple of cute-as-a-button board games that launched on KickStarter this past week. Players take turns placing tiles and building the most kittens. Cat Nap features tight gameplay. On their turn, players may play a tile from their Cat’s Paw (a tile that stores tiles) or draw 2 tiles from the bag, placing one (on the board) and discarding the other into the Litter Box. Whenever you complete a cat (of any color), you take one tile from the Litter Box. Place it on your Cat’s Paw and return the rest to the bag. When the game ends (no legal moves or no tiles remain), players compare Cat lengths–each length awards 1 point. Whoever has the most points wins, and ties go to the player with the longest cat.
The number of quality two-player-only board games surprises me, and Cat Nap looks to be yet another great two-player-only board game. Cat Nap even features a Co-op option for gamers who’d rather “keep the peace.” And the game features cats. Me-Ow! Cat Nap only offers one pledge level at $39. If you’re interested in Cat Nap, check out its KickStarter page.
Bite Me Swims Onto KickStarter
Yes! We have yet another cute board game release on KickStarter. You’re an adorable shark–of course–and you’re starving. You could eat anything. Yes. Literally, anything. Players stuff their shark’s face with just enough tasty food to hit exactly 10 points in their hidden stomach pile. If anyone exceeds 10 points worth of food, Boom! You’re out.
Bite Me has a hilarious theme. The art is familiar, but I can’t quite place where I’ve seen it. The game looks fun, and Burning Fish Games is supporting the heck out of Bite Me. Bite Me already has a handful of expansions in the works (that can also be included in gamers’ pledges) with more planned in the future. Pledges range from $19 to $123. And you may want to add Bite Me’s adorkable shark plushie.
In Gone to Gaia, players must safeguard the last remnants of humanity. Dive into an immersive world, filled with tactical combat, evolving storylines, and unforgettable characters. Inspired by video games like Hades and Vampire Survivors, Gone to Gaia features meaningful leveling choices that impact your powers, utility, and flexibility in battle. You’ll need all the skills you can acquire to survive the relentless creatures of The Tide.
Gone to Gaia is yet another 1-2 player board game. From the look of it, Gone to Gaia can get very crunchy with its strategy. Players may construct their own divers, and the fact you can unlock new characters through the gameplay has me intrigued. Since Gone to Gaia is on GameFound, we don’t yet know the pledge levels. It will feature plenty of high-end miniatures, and gamers will get a lot in the box. My guess will be at least $80 for the base Gone to Gaia. If you’re interested in Gone to Gaia, check out its GameFound page.
Badgers Pounces Onto GameFound
The fast-paced Badgers card game pits 2 players against each other to fight for scraps of food and territory. Select your favorite badger (the game includes six badgers with an eleven-card deck) and lead them to conquer their favorite food. Play the right badger at the right time to either defeat a competing badger or strengthen your position. Use special abilities or tunnel as you conquer the field. Each burrow has unique abilities. Whoever owns the most food at the end, wins!
I like how each badger deck features a real-world badger. The art is unique, and each deck in Badgers comes with its personalized reference sheet. Are you ready to burrow and conquer? If you’re interested in Badgers, check out its GameFound page.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A Releases
Pokémon Legends: Z-A follows in Pokémon Legends: Arceus’s footsteps. The Pokémon Legends series deviates from the standard Pokémon formula by adding a lot of action. And Pokémon Legends: Z-A differs from other games in this spinoff series by setting the game entirely in the Kalos region’s Lumiose City.
While Pokémon Legends: Z-A has received good reviews, critics dock several points for the graphics being uninspired at times, and the setting (Lumiose City) is a bit too restrictive. I have yet to play Pokémon Legends: Z-A, but one of our Geekly writers may at some point. The game was supposed to be a Nintendo Switch exclusive, but with Pokémon Legends: Z-A getting delayed, a Nintendo Switch 2 port has been added. I may wait to play Pokémon Legends: Z-A until after I inevitably pick up a Nintendo Switch 2. But what do you think? Would you like one of our Geekly Gang writers to review Pokémon Legends: Z-A? Let us know in the comments.
That’s all the Geek News we have for this week. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geek News. Plenty of board games and video games released this past week, but we’ll kick off this past week’s Geek News with an update about the Halo television series.
Halo Crashes Netflix’s Top 10. Will there be a Season 3?
Halo is the most expensive television series ever produced in Paramount+’s short history, so it made sense for the streaming service to cancel the show after a couple of seasons (17 episodes in total), and it also made sense for Paramount+ to sell the rights to stream Halo on Netflix. Earlier this month, Halo debuted on Netflix. Its reception was immediate as Halo reached number 4 on Netflix’s United States Top 10, outperforming almost all licensed programming, with the exception of popular original shows like Monster: The Ed Gein Story. Halo even held similar numbers internationally. This shows a demand beyond hardcore gamers.
Netflix has a track record of reviving shows like Longmire and Lucifer after a strong streaming performance. Halo’s global numbers and fan campaigns, like the ones found on Change.org, may sway the streamer to green-light a third season. There’s a chance. But there are a few loopholes, Halo must navigate. Netflix only has a year-long streaming agreement for Halo. For a third season to be possible, Netflix must secure a long-term streaming agreement. And Halo has steep production costs. Season 1 was estimated to cost between $90-200 million. Yikes!
But I wouldn’t count out a third season for Halo. Critics gave Halo a 70% on Rotten Tomatoes–does anyone still use Rotten Tomatoes when looking for reviews–with many appreciating Halo’s production values, while questioning narrative choices like an odd romantic subplot and unmasking Master Chief. Still, #SaveHalo has trended on various social media platforms, and if Halo’s numbers hold strong, Netflix may need to consider a third season, regardless of the cost.
Rolling in Wonderland Launches on KickStarter
This week has seen a lot of dice drafting games (games where players pay to add dice to their dice pool), and Rolling in Wonderland is a great place to begin with board game new releases. Channeling the whimsy of Alice in Wonderland, Rolling in Wonderland features quirky art and vibrant colors.
The game suggests that players may adapt the game’s play how they want. You may play a light and breezy or tight and tense game of Rolling in Wonderland. I don’t know exactly how Rolling in Wonderland attempts to do this (undoubtedly two sets of rules for both playstyles), but I’m intrigued. Rolling in Wonderland offers an affordable $39 entry-level pledge, but players may spend $79 for the deluxe version or add various expansions a la carte. If you’re interested in Rolling in Wonderland, check out its KickStarter page.
Cretaceous Rails Reprint Lands on Gamefound
In preparation for Gen Con, we reviewed Cretaceous Rails a few months ago. If you want to see an extended look at our thoughts, check them out here. Dinosaurs and trains together at last. If you’ve ever wanted a game that combined these two elements (or think this mash-up sounds awesome), then you should consider backing Cretaceous Rails.
The core game is amazing. I love Cretaceous Rails’s dual-action selection mechanism. I even tried my hand at designing a game that did something similar (I mentioned this in the most recent game design brain dump). Cretaceous Rails’s reprint will include the first expansion, Cretaceous Skies, which I’m not too fond of, but it adds the second expansion, Cretaceous Seas, and I’ve enjoyed every iteration of Cretaceous Seas. I can’t wait to see the final version.
Bring on the sea hexes and plesiosaurs. You can pick and choose which rewards you want a la carte. Since I have the base Cretaceous Rails, I’ll most likely pick up Cretaceous Seas for $30 (plus shipping). The project launches in two days. If you’re interested in Cretaceous Rails, check out its GameFound page.
Raas Dances Onto GameFound
Raas adapts the dazzling folk dance of Gujarat to a vibrant dice-drafting, tableau-building game. Players recruit dancers, represented by colorful dice, where each color and pip shows off their style and rhythm. Collect stunning dress swatches, give them dandiya sticks, and match the style of the song to create shining performances.
Raas’s moving dials remind me of the interlocking gears of my design Rustbucket Riots. I may need to keep an eye on this title; I do like that it’s competitive instead of cooperative. I love Raas’s theme. The tight board looks amazing, and I’m always down for splashes of color. Raas looks as if it captures the vibe of its subject matter. As of this write-up, we don’t yet know Raas’s price points. If you’re interested in Raas, check out its GameFound page.
Vampire: The Masquerade, Palermo Conspiracies, Lands on GameFound
The theme Vampire: The Masquerade piqued my interest (I’ve always enjoyed this IP’s mythos), but the statement that Teburu may be the future of tabletop gaming places Vampire: The Masquerade, Palermo Conspiracies in my sights. Per its description, the Teburu system integrates physical and digital gaming, while keeping players focused on the board and its components. Evidently, players won’t need a rulebook. What? You may save your game progress and continue later. Vampire: The Masquerade, Palermo Conspiracies offers immersive storytelling and audio support. You may save player data with smart-technology miniatures.
This all sounds fantastic, and it could be “the future of board games,” but I’m cautious. The Teburu system will most likely be patented and only be available from the company of the same name. As of this write-up, we don’t know the cost of this game, and Palermo Conspiracies sounds as if it will be at least $100 at its cheapest price point. Since it’s launching on GameFound, which offers payment plans, I wouldn’t be surprised if Vampire: The Masquerade, Palermo Conspiracies is upwards of $150-$200 or more (board game meets video game pricing) before shipping. I’m also leery of a game playing itself; I like to know why NPCs take specific actions in tabletop games. But this game looks and sounds amazing.
The miniatures are stunning. And there’s tech in those bases. Yowza! If you’re interested in Vampire: The Masquerade, Palermo Conspiracies, check out its GameFound page.
Battlefield 6 Released
I’ve never been into the Battlefield series. Later titles have leaned into online only, player-versus-player brawls. I have to admit that I’m interested in Battlefield 6 because of the return of campaign mode. It’s been some time since Battlefield has featured a robust campaign mode, and judging from Battlefield 6’s early reviews, it looks as if the game delivers.
I may wait another week or two, or even for the first price decline, before venturing into this highly touted first-person shooter. Battlefield 6 is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Little Nightmares III Releases
Popular puzzle-platform horror adventure game series Little Nightmares returns just in time for Halloween. I see what you did there, Supermassive Games. Little Nightmares III follows two new child protagonists, Low and Alone, as they navigate through The Nowhere and escape from a looming threat.
While I am more interested in the Little Nightmare series than I am in Battlefield, Little Nightmares III has received mixed to average reviews so far. I may wait on Little Nightmares III for a very different reason than Battlefield 6. I’m waiting on Battlefield 6 for the hype to die down a bit. But Little Nightmares III may need an update or two. Still, I’m all for another journey into Nowhere. Little Nightmares III is available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Fingers crossed for cross-play and cross-saving between platforms.
That’s all the Geek News we have for this week. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! By the time this post goes live, I should be participating in a board game design panel at Nuke-Con, so I’m writing this Geek News post in advance. It may be shorter than usual, but I’ve said that in the past and ended up with a standard-length post. Let’s start this week’s Geek News with the MCU canceling its Unnamed Fall 2027 film.
MCU Cancels Untitled 2027 Film
The movie slot in the fall of 2027 Marvel Studios has been holding for years has just been cancelled this past week. Per Variety, The Simpsons 2 movie takes its place. There are a couple of things to unpack with this tidbit of news. First, by the time the sequel releases, The Simpsons will not have had a movie in 20 years; the first Simpsons film was released in 2007. That’s a significant gap between films. The first Simpsons film wasn’t as bad as some say, but it wasn’t stellar either. While I’m willing to give The Simpsons 2 a chance, I don’t have high hopes. At this point, The Simpsons are a four-decade-old property (the show debuted in 1989, and the family first appeared earlier than that). Multiple generations of television watchers has yet to live in a time without The Simpsons. Second, I like the MCU’s direction.
In a recent interview, Marvel Studios’ CEO Kevin Feige mentioned that the public needs to miss the MCU. As the old saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. No one can miss the MCU if the franchise pumps out multiple movies every year. According to some interviews, Feige never intended the MCU to release as many films and shows as it did in the previous phase or two. With the launch of Disney+, Disney pressured Marvel Studios (and the Star Wars franchise) to produce more shows and movies. Feige has insisted the MCU will slow down its production schedule. The announcement of the 2027 film cancellation solidifies Feige’s position. There will be no MCU film that releases between Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.
Honestly, I love the break. The MCU squeezed in two films in between the last Avengers’ crossover event. Captain Marvel and Ant-Man and The Wasp were released in the gap between Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Those two releases felt rushed. Any film released between Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars could face the same fate.
And I agree with Feige. Make the public miss you. It’s difficult to miss someone or something when it never leaves.
Don’t Starve: The Board Game Launches on KickStarter
Glass Cannon Unplugged launches its latest board game adaptation of a video game classic, Don’t Starve. I’ve playtested a few rounds of this game’s prototype. It was so long ago, I thought the game had already been released. By the way, if you’re interested in playtesting upcoming Glass Cannon Unplugged (GCU) board games like Apex Legends and Frostpunk, feel free to join their Discord channel. GCU has a great habit of uploading its upcoming board games online, so you can remotely playtest.
Anyway, Don’t Starve: The Board Game does a fantastic job of translating what made the video game fun into a board game format. It’s a 1-4 player rogue-like, cooperative game worthy of the name Don’t Starve. If you’re a fan of the video game, you owe it to yourself to at least check out Don’t Starve: The Board Game’s KickStarter page. Pledges range from $79-129. The game features beautiful miniatures/standees–standard with most GCU games–exploration, survival, and crafting. Oh, yeah.
Heroes of Might and Magic: The Card Game Storms GameFound
We go from one board game company (GCU) known for its video game adaptations to another one in Archon Studios. Heroes of Might and Magic: The Card Game is the brainchild of the same company that gave us the Wolfenstein and He-Man: Masters of the Universe Board Game. Unlike Don’t Starve, I can’t speak to Heroes of Might and Magic: The Card Game’s quality, but Archon Studios has an amazing track record.
Heroes of Might and Magic: The Card Game gives me similar vibes to the classic card battler board game, Summoner Wars. Akin to Chess meeting Magic: The Gathering. Heroes of Might and Magic: The Card Game touts numerous video game references–even small ones–and the card art (and design) looks spot on. Heroes of Might and Magic: The Card Game sports a ton of expansions. I’m certain gamers will have plenty of pledge options to choose from once the campaign launches in the middle of next week. We don’t yet know what price points Heroes of Might and Magic: The Card Game offers, but if you’re interested in the game, check out its GameFound page.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles Releases
Final Fantasy Tactics is one of my favorite games. I’ve picked up the title each time it’s been remade/remastered, so it’s only a matter of time until I return to Ivalice. In Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, players assume the role of Ramsa, a forgotten warrior who brought peace to the land. Players recruit party members and train them through a job system in this tactical JRPG. Western Zodiac signs dictate how well your team synergizes and how much damage they deal to enemies. Most strong enemies in Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles have a fire sign, so picking a birthday (for Ramsa) with a water sign puts the game on easy mode. I didn’t know this until recently. My birthday happens to be under a water sign, and it would confuse me when folks would say Final Fantasy Tactics was difficult.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is available on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. DLC (pictured above) is available. If you’ve never played the classic JRPG Final Fantasy Tactics, I highly suggest giving this game a try.
Ghost of Yotei Releases on PlayStation 5
As of writing this post (I’m writing this early), Ghost of Yotei has yet to be released, but it will be in time for the weekend. I can’t wait to play this PlayStation 5 exclusive. Skye swears by Ghost of Tsushima. She covered the first game in this series in a previous month’s Watcha Playing. This series’ combat is second to none. I was about to borrow Skye’s copy of Ghost of Tsushima and begin playing when I remembered Ghost of Yotei was on the horizon. I’m unsure if I’ll miss anything if I begin with the second game in the series. We’ll have to see.
That’s all the Geek News we have for this week. By the time this write-up posts, I’ll be at a board game design panel at Nuke-Con. If you’re in the Omaha area, stop by and say hello. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! We have another week of Geek News with plenty of new releases. Let’s begin with board games.
SkIIkS Slaloms Onto GameFound
Hop on the ski lifts, race down the slopes, and dive into an apres-ski with no limits. But beware of other skiers and their sneaky moves, as well as your own indulgences. Opponents may force you to fall or cause you to lose credits. I love the inclusion of fondue overload. I hate it when I do that before hitting the slopes.
SkIIkS features plenty of special cards. It plays quickly, and that’s a fantastic thing for a game with strong take-that elements. Two pledge levels exist: $35 for one copy or $60 for two copies. If you’re interested in SkIIkS, check out its GameFound page.
The Wandmaker’s Apprentice Crafts Its Way Onto GameFound
Craft your legacy or wield the shadows. The choice is yours in The Wandmaker’s Apprentice. The game takes place after a falling out between a master wandmaker and their apprentice. In this game for 1 or 2 players, players have the choice of assuming the role of The Wandmaker, crafting genuine wands from resources like wood, gems, dragonbone, and stardust, or The Apprentice, who perfects the art of persuasion to peddle dark magical objects, while avoiding the Magical Authorities.
The Wandmaker’s Apprentice takes about an hour to play. Its asymmetric gameplay sounds unique and exciting. It features quick turns and high player interaction. Judging by the tight board, players will have plenty of opportunities to foil their opponent’s plans. If you’re interested in The Wandmaker’s Apprentice, check out its GameFound page.
Kalypso Emerges on KickStarter
Kalypso combines tile-laying and survival gameplay in a cozy board game. The waters continue to rise, and you must band together to rescue survivors. Each round, players draft tiles and expand their settlement, manage resources, place structures, and guide survivors across platforms of rusted metal and driftwood.
I love Kalypso’s versatility. You can play solo, cooperatively, or competitively. What? Kalypso features gorgeous watercolor art. Watercolor? That’s a nice touch. You can catch fish by enclosing them in your structures. Nice. And I’m a sucker for any game that uses simultaneous action selection. Players simultaneously place their tiles, which should speed up game rounds.
But wait, it gets better. Kalypso’s tiles feature Holdfast Coating technology, which may be a game-changer. Holdfast tiles stick (like magnets) to the game board, so you won’t ruin a game by knocking into the table. That’s amazing. Kalypso offers two pledge amounts: $119 for the Deluxe Edition and $54 for the Standard Edition. If you’re interested in Kalypso, check out its KickStarter page.
Silent Hill f Travels to a New Fictional City
Silent Hill f shakes up its usual formula. The newest game in the long-running horror survival series takes place in the fictional village of Ebisugaoka, Japan, during the 1960s. But Silent Hill f takes more than a few new swings with its formula. The newest Silent Hill game features plenty of melee combat. And according to Silent Hill f’s creative team, the series had become too westernized. Silent Hill f is 100% Japanese horror. And just in time for Spooky Season.
Silent Hill f has received favorable reviews. It’s available on PlayStation5, Xbox Series S/X, and PC. There’s no word yet if Silent Hill f will get ported to the Nintendo Switch 2. Fingers crossed. I haven’t played a Silent Hill game in several years. Silent Hill f may be right up my alley. I’m sure Season wouldn’t mind delving into the Japanese culture Silent Hill f explores.
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Turns Heads
In a year that saw Mario Kart World release, I was shocked to read some video game reviewers (like Game Informer) state, “Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is the most well-rounded kart racer of the year.” What? Could Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds give the latest Mario Kart a run for its money?
When I saw Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds plastered on the PlayStation Store, I dismissed it as a Mario Kart clone, but judging by the rave reviews this game has received, I may need to take notice. To be fair, plenty of video game reviewers haven’t cared for Mario Kart’s creative direction in the past two entries, so the high ratings make sense with Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds taking a classic approach to kart racing. I’m all for an old-school Mario Kart-style racer.
And take a look at some of the featured characters/intellectual properties above: Pac-Man, Mega Man, Spongebob Squarepants, Yakuza, Persona 5, Hatsune Miku, and Minecraft. Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds has a stellar cast of characters available at launch, with more potential characters to be added in the future. Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is available for PC, PlayStation4, PlayStation5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, Nintendo Switch, and Switch 2. I may need to drive some karts. Tee hee!
That’s all the Geek News we have for this past week. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
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