Tag: Video Games

Geekly News: February 15, 2026; Magic Has No Plans for a Harry Potter Set

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Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geek News. We have plenty of board game and video game new releases, but before we get into those, let’s discuss this week’s headline. Despite Magic: The Gathering’s publisher Wizards of the Coasts’ parent company (Hasbro) becoming the primary toy licensee for the Harry Potter franchise, Wizards of the Coast (WotC) has no plans for a Harry Potter Magic: The Gathering crossover set. At least, not yet. Ah! We have potential Harry Potter drama.

Magic: The Gathering has no “current” plans for Harry Potter set

After parent company Hasbro announced it would be the primary toy licensee for the Harry Potter franchise, WotC confirmed on February 10, 2026 that they had no plans in place for a Harry Potter Magic: The Gathering set. During a Hasbro’s investor call, the company announced numerous licensing deals with different properties, including Voltron, Street Fighter, KPOP Demon Hunters, and Harry Potter. Magic: The Gathering produced (through their Universes Beyond series) a KPOP Demon Hunters card set. So, it would make sense that several, if not all, the properties Hasbro has rights to would receive the Universes Beyond treatment. They already spent the money on each of these licenses. But WotC made it a point to say they don’t have (current) plans for Harry Potter.

So, why the Harry Potter hate? Magic: The Gathering has a large transgender community, and many of the games WotC publishes attract traditionally left-wing nerds and geeks. Hello, Geekly Gang. While opinions and beliefs vary within gaming communities, most people who play, work on, and cover Magic are LGBT allies and members of the LGBT community. Last year, Magic’s head designer used his blog to advocate for trans representation and spoke out against transphobia. And last week, Magic YouTuber Tolarian Community College mobilized his fanbase to raise $600,000 for the Trans Lifeline. If you’re into Magic, you should check out Tolarian Community College. He’s fantastic. The Harry Potter backlash within Magic circles derives from J K Rowling’s transphobic views and actions.

Ugh! I don’t like including a Harry Potter picture. Sorry for that jump scare. Since she’s a billionaire, J K Rowling has announced that all her Harry Potter money will go to anti-trans causes. Lining Rowling’s pockets finances transphobia. So, Hasbro’s acquisition of Harry Potter’s toy license rights led numerous Magic fans to voice their lack of interest in a Harry Potter Magic set on social media. But one of the top comments voices most Magic: The Gathering fans’ concerns. “There have been a lot of ‘not currently planned’ things in the last few years where those plans changed very soon afterwards. I really hope this isn’t one of those situations.” I feel you. But take some solace in the fact that it takes two or three years to develop a Magic set. The soonest we’ll see a Harry Potter Magic set would be in 2028.

Still, I can’t imagine Hasbro not using each of its licenses on Magic: The Gathering, and that leads us to another angle of this story. Hasbro and WotC are embroiled in a nasty lawsuit.

The $1000 Magic 30th anniversary edition, swathes of licensed crossover sets (Universes Beyond), and the six discrete Dwight Schrute (from The Office) cards–yes, those exist–have watered down the Magic: The Gathering brand. Magic’s last few years have screamed naked greed, and Hasbro’s shareholders agree.

In a 76-page lawsuit filed in the US District Court of Rhode Island last month (via GoLocalProv), a group of investors allege that Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks, former Wizards of the Coast president Cynthia Williams, and company executives engaged in “breaches of their fiduciary duties as directors and/or officers of Hasbro” by devaluing the Magic brand, even as shareholders raised concerns about the ramifications of overprinting cards and sets. So, what does that mean?

In short, Hasbro’s CEO, WotC’s president, and other company executives stood to gain more money if Magic sold more cards. The solution was easy. Print more cards. And who cares if WotC fudged the numbers to make it look like the game moved more product? Are palettes of the $1000 Magic 30th anniversary edition in warehouses? Tell players and investors that supplies are limited. You need to drop four figures on Magic: The Gathering before the anniversary edition is gone forever. Turns out one can lie to customers about The Amazing Spider-Man set flying off shelves, but one can’t lie to one’s investors. Womp, womp.

Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks is a great advocate for Magic and Dungeons & Dragons. He plays these games. Unless the lawsuit goes Hasbro/WotC’s way, I can’t imagine Cocks retains his job. And that’d be a loss. How many corporate types are gamers? And who knows what a future CEO might do to these franchises? But Hasbro/WotC’s investors have a point. Magic’s brand has been diluted, and that brings us back to Harry Potter. If enough of Magic’s core audience wants nothing to do with a Harry Potter Magic set, there’s a chance Harry Potter won’t receive the Magic Universes Beyond treatment.

Risk the Abyss Launches on KickStarter

Risk the Abyss is another board game created by a Nebraska designer, and I know Marq Chontos, so I had to include it in this week’s board game new releases. Risk the Abyss is a 2-4 player dice game in which players compete to become the greatest Deep Sea Diver. Players take turns by rolling dice with a Yahtzee-style mechanism and then executing the actions from the resulting dice. Risk the Abyss is an easy-to-learn game that fits inside a tin (like an Altoids tin), so it doesn’t take up a lot of table space, and it costs $15 to support the project. The gameplay may include a push-your-luck mechanism, but the investment is risk-free.

Risk the Abyss was a 2025 Figgie Finalist. Yes. It has awards. The combination of card abilities and dice actions makes each play of Risk the Abyss unique. If you’re interested in a highly portable board game, check out Risk the Abyss’s KickStarter page.

Lion Dancers Launches on KickStarter

Lion Dancers blends the excitement of Lion Dancing with the festive traditions of Lunar New Year, uniting both in a joyful celebration. As the celebrations begin and the drums roar to life, it’s time to compete with your fellow Lion Dancers by showcasing your best routine and collecting festive items along the way. Be sure to secure the lucky lettuce to complete your performance, and be careful not to fall off the pillars or drop your precious items. The Lion Dancer who delivers the finest routine and collects the most valuable items wins the game and brings the greatest fortune to the celebration.

Lion Dancers features some gorgeous components. This is another game that doesn’t take up a lot of table space. The board is compact, which should lead to some tense gameplay. Simultaneous action selection will also make turns fly by. Players choose to stay, walk, or leap, attempting to make the strongest possible performance. Lion Dancers looks like a great puzzle, too. And I love the theme. The standard edition is around $50, while the deluxe version–that includes meeples for the lion dancers–is closer to $65. If you’re interested in Lion Dancers, check out its KickStarter page.

NPC Rivals Launches on KickStarter

I like a good deck-building game. I just played Marvel: Legendary, but I did notice the game dragged between turns. NPC Rivals attempts to speed up individual turns. You have my attention, NPC Rivals. Play Hero, Loot, Monster, and Action cards from your growing deck to complete quests that require specific combinations. Each quest is added to your quest log to score big XP, but you’ll need to outplay your rivals in a constantly shifting marketplace to stay ahead. Cycle through quests to find the ones that suit your build, grab powerful cards from the market, and complete your quests before everyone else, but only one NPC will be crowned the real “main character.”

Based on the description above (acquired by the publisher, Viva La Dirt League), NPC Rivals sounds like standard deck-building fare (shifting marketplace, growing one’s deck). But NPC Rivals‘ KickStarter page mentions that players must play their entire hand. This may be where the game attempts to speed up play. Marvel: Legendary has specific timing. That did the most to slow down each turn. If you’re playing your entire hand with no regard for timing triggers, NPC Rivals could ramp up the speed. This combined with another goofy theme–I love the idea of playing as NPCs–makes NPC Rivals one to watch. If you’re also interested in NPC Rivals, check out its KickStarter page.

Sugarworks Launches on KickStarter

The conveyors are out of control and there is candy all over the place. Sugarworks employees rush to adjust the conveyors to coax the unruly candy into the appropriate packages. Fulfilling orders will earn points. Unfortunately, the candy lines are all mixed up and the candy is colliding and moving all over the place. How will you fill your orders? Players are each given objectives in the form of Orders, which are worth points at the end of the game. Three conveyor lines are moving candy along them toward their destination packaging, and several candy outputs keep putting more candy onto the conveyors. As the candy collides, it will jump to different locations based on the candy involved in the collision.

I love it when publishers provide a great description. They’ll know their game far better than I. And I also love the idea of conveyor belts in a game. In Sugarworks, players will be able to manipulate the game’s conveyor belts. Yes! Throw in the bright colors of hard candy, and Sugarworks is another board game this week with an excellent theme. The base game begins at $35, or one could splurge with the All-In package at $109. If you’re interested in Sugarworks, check out its KickStarter page.

The Malice of Light Adventures Launches on KickStarter

The Malice of Light Adventures is a cooperative roguelike boss-battler based on Brady J. Sadler’s epic fantasy book series, The Malice of Light. Designed for 1–4 players, the game combines modular gameplay, quick character progression, and elegant combat in a fast-paced, replayable format inspired by the Sadlers’ previous titles like Heroes of Terrinoth and Street Masters. Players will battle dangerous foes in iconic locations from the books while contending with escalating villain schemes across multiple acts, culminating in a dramatic boss encounter. The game also serves as a great entry point for those new to The Malice of Light, offering a unique way to explore its vibrant world of classic high fantasy—separate from the story told in the novels.

We have another description by the publisher. Thank you, Twin Tale Studios. Yay! I like the idea of designing a board game based on one’s novel. I’m attempting the same thing, so I may be more than a little biased. The Malice of Light Adventures board game includes the first part (three books) of Brady J. Sadler’s high fantasy series. What? That’s coconuts. And I’m here for it. The Malice of Light Adventures features another compact board, which I like. Setup and tear down appear to be minimal and quick. And the Sadler Brothers have experience with other titles. That’s always a plus. As of writing this post, we don’t know what the pledge levels will be. I’m keeping an eye on The Malice of Light Adventures. If you’re interested in the game, check out its GameFound page.

Gateway Launches on GameFound

Step into the enchanting alleys of Gateway, a city where shadows whisper secrets and power is seized in the flicker of a gas lamp. In this thrilling deck builder for 2-4 players, you´ll recruit a motley crew of infamous characters and rely on the power of runestones to conquer the city´s guarded districts. Immerse yourself in a world where Victorian elegance meets fantastical whimsy, and every decision could tip the balance of power. Will you dominate the dark alleys and opulent parlors, weaving your influence through cunning schemes? Or will your rivals outwit you in this game of strategy and rising infamy? Dare to play in the city of Gateway.

Yes! Yet another great description by the game’s publisher. Thank you, Tentacula. Based on the description and the blurb in the picture above, Gateway sounds like a blast. Deck-building, worker placement, and resource management are three of my favorite game mechanisms. Throw in a modular board, and I’m hyped. Gateway is another game with great production value. One expects to see that in a GameFound campaign. And because Gateway launched on GameFound and we’re viewing its page before it officially releases, I don’t know the game’s pledge levels. But I am interested in this game. If Gateway piques your interest, too, check out its GameFound page.

Mewgenics Releases

Mewgenics has an interesting concept. Take a tactical role-playing game, add a cat breeding mechanism and a two-dimensional isometric world, shake and serve. Players begin with a team of four cats. They’ll notice classic role-playing game classes like hunter, mage, tank, and fighter. Over time, players will be able to cross-breed their cats to unlock multi-classes, hence the game’s name, Mewgenics. You know what? Mewgenics had me at cat RPG. And I love Mewgenics‘ art direction. Brought to you by the same designers as Super Meat Boy, Mewgenics looks to bring the sizzle and steak.

Yes! I love Mewgenics‘ aesthetics. The game has received stellar reviews, and that’s much appreciated after Mewgenics‘ protracted development. For a moment, it looked like we’d never get Super Meat Boy’s follow-up title. Mewgenics is available on PC.

Crisol: Theater of Idols Releases

Crisol: Theater of Idols is the second game published by Blumhouse Games. Blumhouse, the horror movie aficionados, makes games? Apparently, so. From what I’ve seen in reviews, Crisol: Theater of Idols is rough around the edges. One would expect that from a first-time developer and second-time publisher. But the premise sounds awesome. Steeped in Spanish lore, Crisol: Theater of Idols offers a singular experience.

As you can see, Crisol: Theater of Idols features amazing graphics and has a slick feel. Like most survival horror games, ammo conservation plays a massive role. Crisol: Theater of Idols is one of those games I’d be willing to give a try. I wonder if Skye, who’s been playing a lot of Resident Evil and Silent Hill titles, would like to load up a game. Crisol: Theater of Idols is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X.

Paint the screen red and travel the cosmos in this bloodstained action-adventure game. Witness the latest from Grasshopper Manufacture: the advent of ultra-violent science fiction. Say hello to Romeo is a Dead Man. The title is chef’s kiss good. Gamers know exactly what they’re getting themselves into with Romeo is a Dead Man. And the visuals look insane.

Players certainly will paint the screen red as they travel the cosmos in this title. Yikes! Romeo is a Dead Man has received great reviews, and we could expect more from publisher, Grasshopper Manufacture. That’s right. The publisher isn’t content with one video game release in 2026. I can’t wait to see what this creative team has in store for us later this year. And Romeo is a Dead Man sounds like a fun romp. Romeo is a Dead Man is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X.

BlazBlue Entropy Effect X Releases

This week is amazing for video games, especially if you love rogue-likes. First, Mewgenics, and then BlazBlue Entropy Effect X. I’ve heard nothing but great things from the latest title in the BlazBlue series. BlazBlue Entropy Effect X is one of those games that’s fun at the outset but grows on you once you learn more of the systems and customize your characters. I love character customization. Yes, please.

Honestly, rogue-likes are having a moment. Beginning with Hollow Knight: Silksong, we’ve seen plenty of amazing rogue-likes released in the last handful of months. BlazBlue Entropy Effect X continues this trend. And look at those graphics. BlazBlue Entropy Effect X features lightning-fast combat, and of course, a severe difficulty spike. BlazBlue Entropy Effect X is a PlayStation 5 exclusive.

High on Life 2 Releases

The game with the talking gun, High on Life, just got a sequel. The original High on Life was memetastic. It wasn’t the best game, but it had memorable moments and crass jokes. High on Life 2 offers more of the same. Well, the sequel does update the graphics of the original. If you’re a fan of the original High on Life, you might give High on Life 2 a try.

I may play High on Life 2 for the LOLs. I picked up the original as a PlayStation Plus Monthly Game. High on Life 2 is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X.

Reanimal Releases

Reanimal is another solid survival horror video game released this past week. Only, Reanimal comes from the same team that brought us the Little Nightmares series. One look at Reanimal’s graphics shows the game’s DNA. Reanimal strikes that perfect blend of creepy-cute.

Most critics mention not knowing what Reanimal is about. Some played the game for dozens of hours and still struggled to grasp what happened. Even though Reanimal can get confusing on a conceptual level, most of those same critics say the gameplay is excellent. Of course, Reanimal has amazing graphics. If you like the Little Nightmares series, you may like Reanimal. Reanimal is available on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, and Nintendo Switch 2.

Mario Tennis Fever Releases on Nintendo Switch 2

Mario Tennis Fever released for the Nintendo Switch 2. It’s a Mario sports game. It received good reviews. Mario Tennis Fever’s title derives from fever shots, which are super-powered shots that the various Mario characters can use. Mario Tennis Fever is in the vein of Mario Tennis Aces. If you liked the previous game, you’ll most likely enjoy Mario Tennis Fever.

Disciples: Domination Releases

Rule through the chaos! Fifteen years after Avyanna freed Nevendaar, Disciples: Domination returns you to a realm hanging in the balance. In this dark fantasy strategy RPG with turn-based combat, take your place on Queen Avyanna’s throne, holding together a crumbling kingdom. That’s a good description by the publisher. Disciples: Domination has an interesting premise, and I like classic turn-based RPGs, but Disciples: Domination has received mixed reviews.

But if you liked Disciples: Liberation, you’ll most likely enjoy Disciples: Domination. Domination does further the series. Personally, I may wait for a sale. Disciples: Domination is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X.

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.

Top 5 Video Game Couples

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Happy Valentine’s Day, Geekly Gang! Love is in the air. You can find it, even in video games, and that’s what we’ll be talking about in today’s post of the Top 5 Video Game Couples. Like the real world, video game couples take all shapes and sizes. Despite its short existence as an art form, video games have plenty of great video game couples. We’re sure to leave a few dozen off this list. It’s time to look at the video game couples that get us twitterpated.

5) Geralt of Rivia and Yennefer of Vengerberg (The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt)

Geralt has had plenty of romantic partners in The Witcher series, but most fans would agree his one true love is Yennefer. She’s one of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’s main characters, and if gamers make the right choices, Geralt can peacefully retire with the love of his life, Yennefer.

Yennefer and Geralt have a chaotic relationship, complicated by political intrigue and Ciri influence on the couple. Geralt isn’t the best at showing his emotions, but Yennefer is the only one who understands the Witcher. Geralt and Yennefer are one of those perfectly imperfect couples. They may be the most relatable couple of this list.

4) Chloe and Rachel (Life is Strange)

The original Life is Strange hints at Chloe Price and Rachel Amber’s relationship. You know, before Rachel disappeared. During the events of Life is Strange, Rachel’s disappearance shakes Chloe to her core. This alone doesn’t make Chloe and Rachel worthy of this list. Fortunately, the spin-off Life is Strange: Before the Storm explores their relationship, and we see why Chloe is heartbroken.

At first, we thought the pair shared a strong friendship, but Before the Storm has Chloe calling Rachel “my angel.” Their love goes deeper than any friendship. And Before the Storm’s clarification shatters any doubt of the two’s romance.

3) Cody and May (It Takes Two)

Okay. I may have been wrong about Geralt and Yennefer being the most relatable couple on this list. Cody and May from It Takes Two may take that award. It Takes Two’s story centers around the realistic relationship between the two, as they try to navigate their messy divorce and alleviate its effects on their daughter, Rose.

Players control two toy versions of the characters as they explore a bizarre version of their home. Get ready to laugh and cry as you help Cody and Max repair their relationship.

2) Mario and Princess Peach (Super Mario Series)

You probably clicked on this post expecting to see Mario and Princess Peach. We didn’t want to disappoint you. Mario and Princess Peach is one of the most well-known and celebrated relationships in video game history. They’ve overcome obstacles since the early Eighties.

Princess Peach has stepped out of the shadow of the damsel in distress in early Super Mario games. As early as Super Mario Bros. 2, she’s taken adventuring and heroism into her own hands. She’s the princess of the Mushroom Kingdom. You can’t keep her down. This pair should see plenty of future titles and spin-offs as they battle all of the Mushroom Kingdom’s foes. But Mario and Princess Peach just miss out on our top spot.

1) Link and Zelda (The Legend of Zelda Series)

Yep. We went double Nintendo properties for the top of this list. Link and Zelda may be the second couple you expected to see on this list when you clicked on the link. If you guessed these two, you’re two for two. Even though Link and Zelda are a classic video game romance, there were doubts the two were a couple until Skyward Sword put any doubts to rest. Skyward Sword showed the couple soar through the clouds, and solidified Zelda as Link’s equal.

Zelda and Link’s relationship grew with Breath of the Wild and its sequel Tears of the Kingdom. This couple is there for each other every step of the way. And we love them for it. Here’s to another great four plus decades of romance and adventure.

These five video game couples are by no means the only ones we could mention. Plenty just missed the cut. Who would you add to this list? Let us know in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Geekly News: February 8, 2026; Obsidian Entertainment Cancels Plans for The Outer Worlds 3

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Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geekly News. This week saw plenty of new releases for board games and video games, but before we get into those, let’s get into this week’s headline. Obsidian Entertainment made a sizeable announcement this past week. The Fallout: New Vegas developer announced that they may need to go in a different direction with their games. Obsidian cancelled any plans for The Outer Worlds 3 and an Avowed sequel.

Obsidian Entertainment at a Crossroads

Honestly, I may be more in tune with Obsidian Entertainment because I just finished an Obsidian Entertainment Video Game History, slated for a May 2026 release. Thank you, Obsidian. I may need to alter the final two segments of that piece. But Obsidian Entertainment dropped a bombshell this past week. Obsidian President Urquhart announced that Obsidian Entertainment needs to reduce the development time of their games, which means titles like The Outer Worlds 2 and Avowed will not receive sequels.

Obsidian Entertainment has a penchant for developing brand-new game engines with each of its large titles. Despite The Outer Worlds 2 and Avowed releasing within months of each other, both games have different game engines. This increases the development time for games that will already have massive development times. The Outer Worlds 2 took six years to develop, while Avowed had a development time of seven years. Yikes! Less-than-expected sales for both titles has led Obsidian Entertainment to cancel plans for any future games in these series.

Several factors led to The Outer Worlds 2 and Avowed selling fewer copies than expected. The Outer Worlds 2 suffered backlash with a proposed $80 price tag. Obsidian/Microsoft reverted to a $70 price tag before launch, but the damage was done. Gamers lost faith in the series. And then there’s Avowed. Avowed is more of a straight fantasy open-world RPG, and that is a tough market to crack into with a new title. Yes. Avowed is set in the popular Pillars of Eternity universe, but it functions as a new game in a new series. It also doesn’t help that Obsidian wasted a couple of years trying to turn Avowed into what Urquhart dubbed “Skyrim meets Destiny 2.” Obsidian could never get the multiplayer gameplay (the Destiny 2 portion) to work and turned Avowed into a single-player RPG experience. But that led to Avowed’s seven-year development window.

Video games work a lot like films. Many modern films flop even when they earn well over $500 million at the box office because producing them costs so much. A video game, like Avowed, that has a seven-year development will need to bring in a lot more money than a video game that takes three to four years to develop, like Obsidian’s other 2025 release, Grounded 2, or even Obsidian’s 2022 indie-like Pentiment. Even though Pentiment had a niche market, it didn’t cost Obsidian much to make the game, and smaller games like Pentiment and Grounded 2 may become the developer’s new business model. I don’t think we’ve seen the last of large open-world RPGs from Obsidian, but the developer may reduce the number of those games it releases.

Bitewing Games Launch Gold Country and Totally Human on KickStarter

Bitewing Games delivers one heck of a one-two punch this week with Reiner Knizia’s Gold Country and Kasper Lapp’s Totally Human. Gold Country is a new California Gold Rush strategy game created by Reiner Knizia and gorgeously illustrated by Beth Sobel, the same Beth Sobel who provided Wingspan’s art. While the design is inspired by a cult-classic Knizia game called Spectaculum, it has undergone extensive redevelopment by Reiner Knizia (closely collaborating with Bitewing Games) to become the ultimate stock market manipulation game. It features a completely reworked core game, all-new maps, exciting tactical abilities, and the lush landscapes of California.

Gold Country looks great on the table. I’ve never played Spectaculum, but heard great things. And this is a Reiner Knizia game. Knizia has been on a roll. And then there’s Kasper Lapp’s Totally Human. Lapp had a hit with Magic Maze. In Totally Human, players are given hidden identities (human or alien) and must answer three multiple-choice questions as “human-like” as possible, but aliens don’t understand human culture completely and face restrictions on how they can respond.

Totally Human gives me strong Spy Fall and Ferret Out vibes. Players take on hidden roles and must try and figure out who’s an alien in disguise. When done well, this concept can be a ton of fun. I’ve had more fun with Ferret Out than Spy Fall because players (including the ferret) don’t know who’s the odd one out. Based on Totally Human’s description, I don’t know how exactly the game plays. But I’ll give it a try. You can back Gold Country or Totally Human separately, but backing them both gives gamers a discount. If you’re interested in Totally Human and/or Gold Country, check out their KickStarter page.

Logic & Lore Launches on KickStarter

In Logic & Lore, rivals race to be the first to align their hidden stars, numbered 1-9. Each player has dragons and mice working together to organize the cosmos: they send their dragons out to gather information and the mice stay back to take notes and make conclusions based on the knowledge brought back by their dragons. Players each start with their set of cards face-down and shuffled. The game ends when either one player aligns all of their cards correctly OR a player chooses to reveal all of their cards. If the cards are correct, they win; otherwise, their opponent wins.

I like Logic & Lore’s description of a competitive logic game that stays cozy. And I think Logic & Lore gains its cozy designation based on its theme. What could be cozier than aligning the night sky? I dig the theme and the game’s look. Logic & Lore has a great score on Boardgamegeek. If you’re interested in backing Logic & Lore’s second edition, check out its KickStarter page.

Astra Imperium Launches on GameFound

Covering the monthly Solo Game of the Month has become a tradition for Geekly. This month’s title, Astra Imperium, sounds incredible. Astra Imperium offers the complexity of a Euro game in a ten-minute playtime. That’s perfect for a solo game. Usually, I can’t justify long setups and plays of solo games. I don’t need to worry with Astra Imperium.

As usual, Solo Game of the Month offers great production value. Astra Imperium’s resource management has me intrigued, and as you can tell with the picture above, there’s minimal setup and tear down for what looks to be an engaging solo game. Perfect! If you’re interested in Astra Imperium, check out its GameFound page.

Jump Masters! Launches on GameFound

Publisher Chip Theory is known for their amazing production value. At the time of writing this post, we have few images of Chip Theory’s latest game, Jump Masters!, but the game sounds fun. Jump Masters! combines dice placement (where the dice are unique characters with abilities) with Chinese Checkers. I love this concept.

Taking advantage of their character abilities, players try to dominate the board. Take advantage of positioning and terrain to best your opponent in this light-hearted, cute-throat game. Not gonna lie, I favorited Jump Masters! while researching it. Again, we have few images, other than the ones above. But I trust Chip Theory to produce a fantastic-looking game. If you’re interested in Jump Masters!, check out its GameFound page.

The Void Unveiled: Echoes of Arkham is a story-driven Lovecraftian board game of investigation, madness, and cosmic horror, designed for 1–4 players. Fully cooperative, rich in narrative, and steeped in creeping insanity, it invites you to descend into a world where every choice matters—and madness is never far behind. Step into the role of investigators unraveling a series of eerie mysteries in 1930s Arkham, each told through branching narrative chapters filled with meaningful choices, unique events, and escalating dread. As you read the story, your decisions shape the course of the game, leading to different outcomes and consequences. Each creature you encounter is governed by its own distinct set of rules and behaviors—not a single generic AI system in sight. Every monster feels unique, each one changing how you fight, think, and survive.

The above description comes from The Void Unveiled: Echoes of Arkham’s publisher. It is tough to stand out in the Cthulhu board game space. The phrase “not a single generic AI system in sight” must be a knock against Mansions of Madness. Honestly, The Void Unveiled: Echoes of Arkham reminds me a lot of a streamlined Mansions of Madness. But while Mansions Second Edition features an app that helps build the world, The Void Unveiled: Echoes of Arkham goes old school with an included storybook. From what I’ve seen of The Void Unveiled, it strikes me as a mixture of Mansions of Madness and Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective. If that’s the case, I’m interested. Since The Void Unveiled is another GameFound campaign, we have little information during its prerelease. But if you’re interested in The Void Unveiled: Echoes of Arkham, check out its GameFound page.

The Stone of Madness Dicefall Launches on GameFound

The Stone of Madness Dicefall is a cooperative tactical stealth board game for one to five players. Players jointly control five prisoners confined within an isolated monastery ruled by the Inquisition. Each prisoner has distinct abilities, restrictions, and mental conditions. The game is played in structured rounds where players assign actions to the prisoners, move them through the monastery, and interact with rooms, objects, and objectives. Actions are resolved using dice. Dice represent uncertainty under pressure and are tightly linked to the character performing the action and the current situation.

Stealth is the core of the experience. Many actions create noise, which increases tension and causes Inquisition patrols to react and reposition. Patrol movement and behavior respond to player decisions and accumulated alerts, turning the monastery into an active threat rather than a static board. Avoiding detection requires coordination, timing, and restraint.

I love it when a publisher includes a good description for their game (like the one we included above). The Stone of Madness Dicefall is a cooperative stealth board game? Count me in. That’s an amazing premise. There aren’t enough stealth board games, and most of the ones that exist are hidden movement games, where players take opposing sides. I have no idea how The Stone of Madness Dicefall intends to make stealth cooperative. Color me intrigued. If you’re interested in The Stone of Madness Dicefall, check out its GameFound page.

Ancient Empires Launches on GameFound

Ancient Empires is an action-programming, area-control, civilization game of expansion, conquest, and cunning decisions. In just a small box, it packs the feel of an epic empire-building experience. Players take the role of rising civilizations, competing for dominance across a modular map divided into regions rich with resources, settlements, and natural wonders. Through clever programming of action tokens, players expand their armies, establish cities, harvest resources, and challenge rivals for control of key territories. The game is divided into three Ages. During the Stone Age, the players will play as roaming tribes, establishing villages and expanding their reach. In the Bronze Age, the players will choose one of the available Civilizations to play with, gaining unique abilities. Finally, in the Iron Age, the players will be able to construct their Wonders.

We are three for the last three with great publisher descriptions of their games. Seriously, it makes covering games a lot easier. I love the tightness of Ancient Empires’ board. The three ages intrigue me. Transitioning from one age to the next could get intense. I’m unsure if players draft which empires they may choose, or if they gain an empire during the Bronze Age if they achieve certain benchmarks during the Stone Age. Either way could be fun. Ancient Empires looks to pack a lot of game into a small box. Most 4X (Explore, Expand, Exploit, Exterminate) games take up a much larger footprint. And 4X games tend to take copious amounts of time. Ancient Empires suggests it plays in 1-2 hours. That’s lightning fast for a game with three distinct ages. If you’re interested in Ancient Empires, check out its GameFound page.

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined Releases

Dragon Quest VII doesn’t get a remake. It receives a reimagining. This is an important distinction. The original Dragon Quest VII was unruly. It didn’t hold players’ hands and show them where to go next. In short, it was easy to get lost in the original Dragon Quest VII. Dragon Quest VII Reimagined makes the classic JRPG approachable.

The graphics look stunning in Dragon Quest VII Reimagined. And this title may be a great place to start for gamers who never played the original, but fans of the original may be a little disappointed. SquareEnix streamlined the heck out of Dragon Quest VII Reimagined. It truly earns the title Reimagined. Similar to games like Ni No Kuni, you won’t even need to battle overworld enemies if your level far exceeds theirs. That’s amazing. If you’ve played JRPGs, you know how much of a time sink grinding can be. Dragon Quest VII Reimagined fixes that issue.

Despite cutting out islands from the original, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined improved on the game’s formula. I just wished another version of the game was available with the Reimagined version. Players could begin with Reimagined, the most approachable variant of the game, and progress to one of the other versions. But that’s a nitpick. Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is a must-play if you’ve never played the original. Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is available on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2.

Nioh 3 Releases on PC and PlayStation 5

While Nioh 2 functions as a prequel to the original game, Nioh 3 takes place after the events of the other two games. A true sequel at last. Yay! Unlike previous installments, gamers will have large spaces to explore. And players will have the option of playing as a samurai or ninja. The samurai playstyle resembles gameplay from previous Nioh installments. It has a focus on parrying. But the ninja playstyle is faster and features evasion and aerial attacks. This should increase Nioh 3’s replay value.

Nioh 3’s graphics look incredible. The game has received stellar reviews. I can’t wait to get my hands on this title. I’ll most likely play the ninja playstyle first and then play a second round as a samurai. How about you?

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.

Whatcha Playing, Geekly: February 2026

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Happy Wednesday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. In today’s post, our writers will share the games (board games and video games) they’ve been playing over the past month. Let us know which games you’ve been playing in the comments, because we’re all part of the Geekly Gang. I’ll get things started with the games I’ve been playing over the past month.

Kyra’s Board Games

JK Geekly attended Scroogecon (in Lincoln, Nebraska) last month, so many of my board games will be ones I played during that event. Tokkuri Taking was the first game I tried. Dinos drinking sake, what’s not to love? I love this theme. And Tokkuri Taking was fun for a single round. Players score points for each empty tokkuri (the vases used to hold sake). I like plenty of the mechanisms here. I’ve never seen wooden sticks depicting how much sake is in a tokkuri. A round ofTokkuri Taking runs less than 15 minutes, which is what the box says. Unfortunately, Tokkuri Taking ends after numerous rounds. Players begin with ten chips. As soon as one player runs out of chips, the game ends. With players exchanging chips each round, Tokkuri Taking could last anywhere from an hour to two hours. Yikes! I wouldn’t want a two-hour session of Tokkuri Taking. I’ll stick to one or two rounds.

While I enjoyed my single play of The Loop, I don’t know if it’ll make my board game collection anytime soon. The theme and mechanisms are amazing, but I worry about The Loop’s scalability. We played with a full complement of four players. I never felt like we were going to lose this cooperative game. According to boardgamegeek.com, The Loop plays best at 2 players. I believe that. The person who shared The Loop with us said solo games skewed toward being too difficult. I felt four was too easy. Three may not be much better than four. But who knows? The Loop features a lot of variability. We could’ve gotten lucky during this game. I would play The Loop again. It was fun.

River Valley Glassworks is a game I’d gladly add to my collection. All Play Games has a knack for quick, accessible games with quirky mechanisms and themes. River Valley Glassworks meets these criteria. Heck! We played two games. And I got skunked both times. Gamers play as pioneers, drafting glass (acrylic pieces) from the market of river tiles. To claim glass, you must play a piece from your inventory into the river. But beware, each river tile can take one specific shape, and you must play into a space adjacent to where you want to draft. After you pick up your glass and place it on your player board, the river shifts forward, revealing new pieces. Perfection! The mechanisms enhance the theme. And the theme enhances what you do each turn. By the time you’re reading this, I may have already bought a copy of River Valley Glassworks. It looks gorgeous.

The next game I played was playtesting my prototype, Dungeon Chef. It was a smash. And that’s not just me saying that. One of the playtesters asked if Dungeon Chef was print-and-play. They wanted to spend $15 or so and print off a copy of their own. That’s a great sign.

I’ve always wanted to try Clank! or Clank! Catacombs, and finally got my chance during Scroogecon. It was good. But it wasn’t as good as I wanted. Similar to The Loop, another game I’ve wanted to try for some time, Clank! Catacombs may have suffered because we played with a full complement of players: four. Unlike The Loop, Clank! Catacombs played well (balance-wise) at four, but ran long. Honestly, several of us at the table had been playing games all day and had little interest in turns that weren’t our own, and we got distracted. Scroogecon had been quiet most of the day. It got loud when we started Clank! Catacombs. I liked how Clank! Catacombs melded disparate mechanisms into a cohesive whole. I even won the game–by a lot. Beginner’s luck. But it didn’t quite land. Clank! Catacombs is another game I’d give another chance.

Panda Royale is a cute dice-chucking and drafting game. It plays super fast, and that worked for the limited time we had remaining at the convention. We had fifteen minutes or so before Scroogecon’s raffle drawing. Panda Royale fit nicely into that window. The game has a cute theme, but the mechanisms don’t match the theme. Panda Royale could’ve been titled Yahtzee Royale, but this theme is more appealing. And the title Yahtzee is most likely copyrighted. Panda Royale can get swingy, and the game doesn’t do enough to address a potential runaway winner. Skye cobbled together a handful of consecutive 100-point rounds, and I knew she was going to win halfway through the game. Still, Panda Royale is quick enough to exact revenge. If we had more than fifteen minutes, I would’ve been challenging her to a rematch.

One last note on Panda Royale: I hated the dry erasers. You may need to bring tissues and cleaner whenever you play.

That’s all I have for this past month. Let’s check in with Season.

Season’s Board Game

I played Kavango for the first time last year at Nuke Con. Guess what I got for Christmas, Geekly Gang? Kavango has players build their own wildlife reserves in Africa through conservation. Whoever has the most thriving reserve wins. I’ll say this: Kavango isn’t a game you’ll win on your first try unless you’re a board game genius. It looks more intimidating than it is since there are many moving pieces, but it’s got a good flow. Kavango has three rounds with ten turns apiece, but each turn is played simultaneously between players.

The creators of Kavango did research on real-life conservation and included player roles based on their real-life counterparts. The Kickstarter edition (my copy) has a map of wildlife conservation parks across Africa. I’m totally using it for an African wildlife safari that I’m planning for in the distant future.

Seasons Video Game

I played the first Patapon on PSP eighteen years ago. I never completed it because it was too difficult for me. Patapon is a rhythm-based side-scrolling game that relies on the player to match their drums (buttons on the controller) to the movements of their Patapon tribe. Maintaining the rhythm allows the player to go into Fever mode. Some of the Patapon tribespeople do more damage and have special abilities when in Fever mode. If the player loses their rhythm, the Patapons glare at the screen and shout, “Huh?” Some of them even fall over. Maintaining Fever mode is difficult when levels throw many enemies and environmental effects at players.

That’s all from me. What are you playing, Skye?

Skye’s Board Games

Rustbucket Riots is a game I’ve been meaning to mention for a while, and I’m glad to finally offer my take on it. For those who’re unfamiliar, Rustbucket Riots is a cooperative dice-placement game created by our very own Kyra Kyle about taking down renegade robots in a not-so-distant dystopian future. While not yet published, I had the pleasure of playing a newly updated version of the game last month, and it’s amazing to see how much progress it’s made over time. The board has become much easier to read, and the flow of the game has been perfected. It goes without saying, but I certainly can’t wait until Rustbucket Riots hits the shelves because I’ll be one of the first to pick up a copy.

Another Kyra Kyle original, Spill the Beans (working title) is a much simpler party game. With the objective of spilling Jellybeans (not too many) out of the jar and placing/eating them in a way that leaves you with the most points. Spill the Beans is fast-paced. It also puts a spin on the idea with the addition of jar-specific abilities depending on where you decide to place your Jellybeans. Spill the Beans is a great pick for some lighthearted party game fun.

Skye’s Video Game

I don’t have a problem. Well, ever since beating Resident Evil 2 and Silent Hill 2 last month, I became transfixed by the world of Resident Evil. I’ll admit there isn’t much that sets Resident Evil: Survival Unit apart from other survival strategy mobile games with the sole exception of it being Resident Evil themed. For that reason, it’s been hard for me to pull myself away from it. Every day I have my construction and research progress in the back of my mind and the urge to participate in alliance raids is too much for me to resist. That and it’s great to see some of my favorite characters still alive in this non-canonical story. I never fully recovered after Marvin; just let me have this.

Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here again. Those are the games our writers have played this past week. Let us know what you’ve been playing. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Geekly News: February 1, 2026; Martian Manhunter in the DCU

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Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geek News. We have plenty of new board games and some video game releases to discuss, but first, we need to discuss the DCU. Over the past week, James Gunn has been dropping bread crumbs as to who may soon join the cinematic universe. And I’m hyped.

Head of DCU James Gunn Posts Pictures of Chocos

What can pictures of a snack prove? It depends on the snack. Known for having fun with fans on social media, head of DCU James Gunn posted multiple pictures of Chocos, which most DC Comics fans will know is the favorite snack of Martian Manhunter. Gunn refuses to say anything definitive about Martian Manhunter’s future in the DCU, but Chocos showing up so often on social media can only mean that fans won’t need to wait long to see a proper cinematic version of everyone’s favorite green-skinned member of the Justice League.

Supergirl is the DCU’s next film, but it’s unlikely Martian Manhunter will appear. I’m not ruling out a Martian Manhunter appearance. I’m excited to see him in the DCU. But Martian Manhunter may be better served in the Man of Tomorrow, 2027’s follow-up to last year’s Superman. Regardless of when we’ll see him, I can’t wait for J’onn J’onzz to make his big-screen debut.

Lodge Launches on KickStarter

Players compete with each other to build the coziest lodge. Draft room tiles from a sliding display and place them on matching floors to attract guests to your lodge. Gain bonus points for placing those guests on their preferred floors and by constructing amenities to keep them happy. Lodge’s spatial puzzle gives the game a unique feel. I love the look of the sliding display tray. Great touch!

Lodge builds on ideas started with Cascadia and Tiny Towns, so if either of those games scratched an itch, you may like Lodge. Even if you haven’t played those games, Lodge settles into this casual weight game with plenty of strategic choices. It’s easy to teach to non-gamers, but can keep “true gamers” engaged. And the look is incredible. Lodge offers a couple of pledge levels: $39 and $69. But you can get a super special version at $119. If you’re interested in Lodge, check out its KickStarter page.

Stamp Showdown Launches on KickStarter

In Stamp Showdown, you’re battling for the win of a high-profile stamp competition. Each round, all players secretly choose a stamp to trade with the market, then reveal together. In ranking order, each trade reshapes the market by pulling in all matching suits and ranks before joining it. Will you strengthen your own collection, or block your opponents at the perfect moment? After seven tense rounds, the final showdown begins, and only the most dazzling poker-style stamp collection will win!

I love the recent trend in card games, where the game can function as a classic deck of cards. This diminishes the risk for investing in the game. Even if you don’t care for Stamp Showdown, you’re still left with a stunning deck of cards. The classic card suits also aid with identifying cards and their potential abilities. One of my biggest gripes with Stamp Swap was that I didn’t know which sets stamps belonged. You won’t have that problem with Stamp Showdown. Stamp Showdown offers a couple of pledge levels at $18 and $35. If you’re interested in Stamp Showdown, check out its KickStarter page.

Red Leaf University Launches on KickStarter

Red Leaf University is a 1–4 player worker placement game where you’ll recruit a team of bright young students and send them to specialized campuses to expand their knowledge, earn academic credits, and chase the ultimate honor: becoming Valedictorian! Red Leaf University delivers a streamlined euro-style experience: with your students, you’ll explore a university divided into six specialized campuses (Art, Business, Science, Architecture, etc.). Each campus allows players to recruit or upgrade a student of its discipline or engage in a unique minigame tied to its specialty.

Love the art. Love the theme. Love the worker placement mechanism–always. And it appears Red Leaf University takes worker placement in exciting new places. With a pledge level of $38, Red Leaf University offers a lot of game. I’ve loved Grail Games since Doughnut Drive-Thru and the reprint of Reiner Knizia’s Circus Flohctai (Flea Circus). They are known for high-quality games in small packages. Red Leaf University looks to continue that trend. If you’re interested in Red Leaf University, check out its KickStarter page.

DeckHand: Race for Infamy Launches on GameFound

Ahoy! DeckHand: Race for Infamy features pirate mayhem in a condensed card game. Over five quick rounds, you’ll trade rum, gather weapons, and tame wild creatures in your quest for infamy! Each round has two key phases: drafting cards to plan your strategy, then building to expand your fleet and compete for Infamy cards. Every card you build strengthens your fleet, unlocking new opportunities and expanding your reach. Simultaneous play keeps games fast and lively, even with up to five players. DeckHand: Race for Infamy promises little waiting around for other players. It doesn’t take long to learn, but offers plenty of strategy.

Closed drafting, multi-use cards, and tech-trees? Sign me up. DeckHand: Race for Infamy sports a few twists on familiar game mechanisms. It looks to combine these game mechanisms in fun and inventive ways. And I’m down for that. With pledges costing $28, DeckHand: Race for Infamy may be worth a look. If you’re interested in DeckHand: Race for Infamy, check out its GameFound page.

Queen Games to Launch New Stefan Feld City Collection on GameFound

Every so often, Queen Games offers Stefan Feld’s City Collection. Feld is one of the most respected board game designers, and his City Collection is a treasure. Yes. Feld is one of those designers who adheres to point salad–earning points through multiple ways–but none of the cities in this series feel the same, and Queen Games does an amazing job with their production. Feld’s City Collection looks great on the shelf. These ten games–yes, 10 whole games–look like prestige books on a shelf. As of the writing of this post, we know little about the project besides Marrakesh getting a new expansion or three. And the games use a new “Folded Space” storage system. I can’t wait to see that. If you’re interested in the Stefan Feld City Collection, check out its page on GameFound.

Highguard Releases

Highguard is a PvP raid shooter where players will ride, fight, and raid as Wardens, arcane gunslingers sent to fight for control of a mythical continent. Team up, secure your base, then ride out across vast uncharted lands to loot, harvest resources, and upgrade your arsenal as you face off against a rival Warden crew looking to claim your territory as their own. Battle for possession of the legendary Shieldbreaker in the open field; fight to carry it to the enemy base to bring down their shields—then raid to destroy their base before they can destroy yours.

Highguard plans to right the wrongs made in Apex Legends. What? That’s right. While Highguard is Wildlight Entertainment’s debut title, most of the dev team got their start at Respawn with Apex Legends. They always felt Apex Legends floundered because it didn’t know where it wanted to go. They insist Highguard will fix that. Check out their road map.

Everything above should be up for change–you never know what the future may hold–but I like that Wildlight Entertainment has a clear vision. I have yet to play Highguard, but the graphics look amazing. It is free-to-play, so I have downloaded it. Who knows? You may find me in Highguard. Or at least you may see an upcoming Highguard F2P review in the future. Highguard is available on PC, Xbox Series S/X, and PlayStation 5.

Dark Auction Releases

Noah lives with his eccentric father, who’s obsessed with Dictator X. When he joins a strange auction at a castle, he must work to solve mysteries hidden in the exhibits and uncover his father’s secrets. Risk everything to win—but what truth awaits?

Typically, we don’t cover visual novel games, but we’ll make an exception for Dark Auction. I love the vibe and the mystery the game presents. We may need Season–who plays the most visual novels–to check out this title for a review. Let us know in the comments if you’d be interested in a Dark Auction review. Dark Auction is available on PC, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 5.

I Hate This Place Releases

I Hate This Place is a craft-based, isometric survival horror game with twisted monsters and warped reality. Scavenge and build to survive terrifying days and nights while using stealth and noise to fight enemies that stalk by sound. All styled with bold comic art and an ’80s horror vibe. Honestly, my first thought was that I Hate This Place reminded me of a solo-player experience of Eternal Return. The one thing I loved about Eternal Return was wandering around, scavenging items, and building gear. I Hate This Place looks to scratch that itch. And its graphics are amazing.

Early reviews for I Hate This Place are mixed. The most recurring complaint for I Hate This Place was it’s doesn’t maintain a consistent framerate and there a bugs. Like a Bethesda’s worth of bugs. I put I Hate This Place on my wishlist. Maybe, after a few patches, it could fix a handful of things. Love the idea. If you want to give I Hate This Place a try, it’s available on PC, Xbox Series S/X, and PlayStation 5.

The 9th Charnel Releases

A first-person psychological survival horror game, The 9th Charnel is filled with a rich and frightening atmosphere. While exploring the many mysteries of this world, you must survive, whether by stealth or by using weapons. I always like the option of using stealth or combat. The 9th Charnel has yet to receive too many reviews. But I may have found one of my favorite reviews in a while by User Májkül. “I like this place. I would love to live here.” What? That’s like saying you’d love to live in Raccoon City or Silent Hill. Love it.

Fear not for The 9th Charnel’s lack of reviews. It offers a free demo. If The 9th Charnel sounds like something you’d like to try, it’s available on PC, Xbox Series S/X, and PlayStation 5.

Catherine O’Hara Passes Away at Age 71

News of Catherine O’Hara’s passing came as a shock. The beloved comic actor died in her home after a “brief illness” on January 30, 2026. Our writers have been rewatching some of our favorite O’Hara performances. Schitt’s Creek, Home Alone, Beetlejuice, and The Nightmare Before Christmas have dominated our screens these past few days. Our thoughts go out to O’Hara’s family and friends. Thank you for the memories.

That’s all we have for this week’s Geek News. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Video Game History: inXile Entertainment

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Happy Monday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with Geekly’s first-ever video game history post, where we discuss a video game company’s history. Today’s video game publisher/developer is the indie darling, inXile Entertainment. It took me a while to realize that inXile is pronounced “In Exile.” That phrase will factor into the game’s history, and wow, do founder Brian Fargo and inXile Entertainment have a long and bumpy history, complete with plenty of stellar games. Before we get to the formation of inXile, we must first talk about Brian Fargo’s first video game publishing company, Interplay.

Brian Fargo Pre-inXile Entertainment

Brian Fargo began developing video games while he was still in high school. Per a 2017 interview with Stay Awhile and Listen, Fargo’s first semi-widely distributed game (he had an earlier game that sold five copies) was Demon’s Forge. The title Demon’s Forge will return, but not until much later. A handful of years later, Brian Fargo would co-found Interplay Entertainment in 1983 with fellow developers Jay Patel, Troy Worrell, and Rebecca Heineman. Fargo was 20 years old at the time.

In 2022, inXile Entertainment released a 20th Anniversary Documentary. I will draw from this documentary often, but since it was released by inXile Entertainment, it glosses over some details, so I’ll be providing some context from other sources. If you have a chance, and hopefully after reading this post (wink), you should watch inXile Entertainment’s 20th Anniversary Documentary. It runs about 20 minutes. According to Fargo in the documentary, (he was so young), his vice president had to buy him beer if he wanted it. Fargo tries his best to hide a smirk. I, Kyra Kyle, have never participated in underage drinking. (Wink.)

Brian Fargo’s Time at Interplay

We won’t spend too much time on Interplay’s history — that could be its own video game history post — but we will need to cover Brian Fargo’s time with Interplay Entertainment, as it provides context for inXile Entertainment. Fargo hit the ground running with a trio of hits between 1985 and 1988. Fargo led the Interplay team with the original The Bard’s Tale (1985), Battle Chess (1988), and the RPG classic Wasteland (1988), which would later inspire the Fallout series.

When the Eighties transitioned into the Nineties, Fargo ceased to develop games directly with Interplay. The last game I could find Fargo co-developed for Interplay Productions was 1991’s Track Meet for the Game Boy. Instead of designing games, Fargo served as Interplay’s CEO. The business may have started small, but with Interplay amassing numerous intellectual properties like Dungeons & Dragons (leading to the Baldur’s Gate series), Wasteland undergoing a title change to Fallout (and thriving as Fallout), Earthworm Jim, and Alone in the Dark, the company became a major force in video games. At this time, Interplay was easily one of the best video game developers.

Fargo has a knack for spotting video game development talent. During the early 1990s, Fargo advised Silicon & Synapse. In exchange for 10% equity in the company, Fargo and Interplay contracted Silicon & Synapse to port games developed by Interplay into other consoles, which gave Silicon & Synapse the capital it needed to transition into making original games (and eventually becoming Blizzard Entertainment).

Despite a great track record and hits like 1997’s Fallout, 1998’s Fallout 2, and 1998’s Baldur’s Gate, Interplay experienced financial difficulties. To avoid bankruptcy, Interplay went public on the NASDAQ. According to a Bit Gamer article, Brian Fargo admitted that further losses (because of increased competition, an underwhelming sports division, and a lack of console titles) forced Interplay to look to a third party. That third party would be French software developer Titus Interactive S.A.. Per a Los Angeles Times article, Titus bought 6 million of Interplay shares for $25 million, giving Titus a controlling stake in Interplay. Fargo and Titus’s relationship was strained.

Fargo would claim (in a Gamespot interview) that he and Titus have a “very different ideology of management that was not compatible.” Fargo always loved video games, and Interplay grew into a huge company of over 500 people with offices all around the world. He had to deal with shareholders. He grew distant from his first love, video games. Fargo no longer got to make games; he didn’t want to be a CEO. Ripples of this pattern will emerge in the future.

So, Fargo stepped down as Interplay’s CEO. He was a CEO without a company for several months, when he’d attend an industry convention.

Founding inXile

Fargo recounts his experience at E3 in an interview found on RPG Codex: Right after Interplay, I was going to E3 in May. I needed a quick name to get a badge. I chose the “Workshop,” and as a joke, I gave my title “CEO in exile.” It got such a funny response that we figured there was something to it.

“InExile” was already taken, so “inXile” was chosen as the newly formed company’s name. Fargo’s experience with finding talent during his days at Interplay served him well as he recruited the best team for inXile. According to the YT inXile Documentary, Fargo called Matt Findley (New Orleans, Louisiana Chief) to join the newly minted inXile. Unlike what Interplay had become, inXile would work on only one game. (Vice President of People) Elene Campbell received a phone call from Fargo to go to lunch, and she quickly joined. Max Kaufman (inXile’s former art director) also joined.

My favorite anecdote during these early days of inXile came from Elene Campbell. Campbell said, “inXile Entertainment’s office had a great location. We were right across the beach. We would purchase a surfboard for an employee if they wanted to surf.” Sounds like you couldn’t beat inXile’s location.

The Bard’s Tale (October 26, 2004)

The one video game inXile Entertainment chose to develop first just happened to be its first hit. 2004’s The Bard’s Tale couldn’t continue the story of the original trilogy because Interplay/Electronic Arts still owned the copyright. 2004’s The Bard’s Tale was neither a remake nor a sequel. It had to be something different, and it certainly was. According to Findley (in the inXile Documentary), we wanted to make some sort of cliché-busting, fourth-wall-breaking game. Former art director Kaufman added, We wanted The Bard’s Tale to be irreverent, looking back at the tropes of RPGs and making fun of them.

Fargo noted the difficulty of including comedy in video games. Humor is a subjective thing, Fargo said, but typically, people rate your game on certain criteria: graphics, gameplay, sounds, (control) responsiveness. When you add humor, you’ve added another category for people to criticize you for. You could hit on all the other categories, but someone could think the jokes are not funny. It’s very tricky doing humor.

Adding humor to The Bard’s Tale was risky, but the risk paid off. The Bard’s Tale became a classic because of its sarcastic humor. While the classic Bard’s Tale trilogy used a first-person view, 2004’s The Bard’s Tale had a 3D environment with the player watching in third-person. The player controlled “The Bard,” who never received a name. Dialogue followed a “snarky” or “nice” option system. While the player wouldn’t know exactly what The Bard would say, the player can set the tone for how the game’s world perceives The Bard.

The first dialogue decision is with a barmaid in The Drunken Rat. Being nice to her gives the barmaid the impression The Bard is a gentleman, and she leaves him alone, while being snarky results in the barmaid spending the night with The Bard. The Bard’s Tale gets into some adult themes. Nudge-nudge. Wink-wink.

inXile always intended The Bard’s Tale to be a comedy, but Findley shares (in the Documentary) the moment The Bard’s Tale became a “silly” comedy was when Art Director Maxx Kaufman turned in a drawing of a Bug Bear. Findley told Kaufman the bug bear looked like a guy wearing a terrible Bug Bear costume.

Kaufman admitted he rushed the Bug Bear character concept. He was doing a character concept a day, maybe even two a day. When he made the Bug Bear, he was being serious with the character. His intent was not to make a funny character, but that’s what ended up happening.

I have to agree with Findley. One of The Bard’s Tale’s most enduring legacies must be its use of music within the game. One of The Bard’s Tale’s biggest innovations was the original music that they wrote that had lyrics, Findley said (in the documentary). The songs weren’t just a soundtrack; they were being performed by characters in the game. This cornerstone survived all the way up to Wasteland 3 and The Bard’s Tale IV. inXile loves using original music to tell a story.

I always liked “The Blood of the Lamb” song that plays when dealing with a crazed cult in Wasteland 3. So creepy. And I appreciate inXile’s use of original music to tell a story. It also doesn’t hurt to have stellar voice actors for a video game. Tony Jay narrates The Bard’s Tale, while Cary Elwes earned a nomination for Outstanding Character Performance — Male from the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.

With one hit under their belt, inXile looked poised for a long run of hits (much like Interplay a couple of decades prior), but inXile immediately hit a snag.

HEI$T

Heist (stylized as HEI$T) is a cancelled action-adventure video game developed by inXile for publisher Codemasters (known for the video game peripheral Game Genie). Set in 1969 San Francisco, Heist follows a group of criminals as they perform various thefts.

Heist features plenty of high-speed chases in what could’ve been an immersive open-world. In a Gamespy article, Lead Heist Designer Sean Patton, cites Need for Speed: Most Wanted and its virtual cops as one influence in the general flow of the getaway chase in Heist. The game sounded amazing. inXile sunk tens–if not hundreds–of thousands of dollars and countless design hours into making Heist the best they could, and then, Codemasters canceled the project.

“Heist is probably my favorite title I ever worked on that never made it to the end,” Findley said in the documentary. “We had an inspired concept of doing something that was supposed to feel like Quentin Tarantino. We had Bruce Campbell as the main character. Ed Asner, Rutger Hauer, Vinnie Jones, Christian Slater, and we had recorded the entire script from beginning to end before the project was shut down.”

Fargo added, “It (Heist) was the closest I’ve ever come to finishing a game–it was finished–and not coming out, but we just couldn’t. Unreal Engine, at the time, to do a true open world wasn’t working for us. Our publisher (Codemasters) really wanted a true open world, but we would have had to make it sort of modularized. Our publisher canceled it.”

There are conflicting reports as to why Heist was canceled. In an interview with Video Games 24-7 (VG247) about Wasteland 2, Fargo said, inXile had an agreement with Codemasters to create an open-world using Unreal Engine on the PS3–but the specs didn’t yet exist for the PS3. They (inXile) found a way to make Heist run great on PC and Xbox, but Codemasters wanted PS3. I gather that Heist worked on every system besides the PS3. Based on the wording, I’m unsure if Heist could’ve been an open-world on the other two systems (PC and Xbox) and needed to be a hub-world on PS3, or if Heist only worked as a hub-world on the other two systems and didn’t work at all on the PS3. Either way, Codemasters canceled Heist.

Heist was a massive blow. It certainly left a bad taste in Fargo’s mouth. He said in the documentary that he couldn’t wait to get back to making games he loves. He disliked making games other people wanted him to make. Well over a decade later, Heist still haunts inXile. They had created a great game in their minds, but their publisher wanted something different. And you don’t need to take my word for it. Heist gets a full segment dedicated to it in inXile’s 20th Anniversary Documentary. Fargo even lists various games, like Payday: Heist, that resemble what Heist attempted to do, but they didn’t have Bruce Campbell, Ed Asner, Rutger Hauer, and Christian Slater in their cast. Fargo insists Heist could’ve done well on the market.

Mobile and Web-Based Games

While one half of inXile developed games like The Bard’s Tale and Heist, the other half developed mobile and web-based games. This half of inXile yielded mixed results. In 2006, inXile acquired the rights to Line Rider, and later on, Fantastic Contraption. inXile ported these indie games to a wider market. They also created a series named Super Stacker. You can still play Super Stacker 2 for free as a web-based game.

Baby Pals Controversy

Fargo discusses inXile’s early days and why they chose to create two branches of the company. “We were trying to find a sustainable business model,” Fargo said (in the Documentary), “but the (video game) world was shifting underneath our feet. We just had to be plucky entrepreneurs and find something. We had the rights to Line Rider. Nintendogs had come out, and we said, let’s do cats (Purr Pals), and we sold three-quarters of a million copies. Dogs are done. What could we do next? People like babies.”

Enter Baby Pals. inXile had licensed the same sound library as the one Mattel was using for their upcoming dolls, so the company thought it was safe. But the next thing Fargo and company knew, inXile was in the news. If you listen carefully, one of the babies says, “Islam is the Light.”

During the documentary, Campbell says, “It was just a baby babbling. There were no hidden references, and it caused so much trouble.”

I like how Findley contextualized these small titles. “I have nothing but warm thoughts for Baby Pals, Purr Pals, Super Stacker, and Line Rider,” Findley said in the documentary. “All of those small and mobile titles we did during those periods…allowed us to do crazy things like Heist and the early stages of Hunted: Demon’s Forge.”

While I thought Findley had a slight smirk when he discussed inXile’s smaller titles during the 20th Anniversary Documentary, his inclusion of these smaller titles financing larger ones rings true.

Hunted: The Demon’s Forge

I promised the title of Fargo’s first semi-widely distributed game, Demon’s Forge, would return. With Heist in their rearview mirror, Hunted: The Demon’s Forge allowed inXile to return to their role-playing roots. But they added a cooperative gameplay twist. Hunted: The Demon’s Forge was an ambitious title. According to Findley in a Game Sauce article, Most co-op games are two guys with the same guns running through the world, so we really like the concept of teamwork…We’ve built these arenas with different heights and areas for players to really get out. They get to use their skills and still be able to help out their partners.

Based on Findley’s description, Hunted: The Demon’s Forge sounds something akin to an early hero shooter. The only other hero shooter available at this time would’ve been Team Fortress 2. But Hunted: Demon’s Forge only allowed couch cooperative play. With World of Warcraft going strong for seven years by 2011, and first-person shooters like Battlefield 3 (also released in 2011), and trying to capture the budding online cooperative wave, couch cooperative games were fading in popularity, and Hunted: Demon’s Forge underperformed.

Competition in the role-playing space was fierce during 2011. It didn’t help that many critics viewed Hunted: Demon’s Forge as a Gears of War clone. Hunted: Demon’s Forge may have fared better if it had been released in a different year. RPG juggernauts Mass Effect 2 and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword were released the same year. Bethesda, Hunted: Demon’s Forge’s publisher, even released Skyrim that year. Yikes! Bethesda may not have given Hunted: Demon’s Forge much of a chance.

Choplifter HD

A little over seven months later, inXile released its 3D polygonal remake of the classic 1982 game Choplifter by Dan Gorlin. inXile even hired Gorlin as a design consultant for Choplifter HD. Despite Choplifter HD remaining true to the original, it was the second game in a row by inXile that received mixed reviews. Some critics appreciated how faithful the remake was to the original, while others criticized the game’s difficulty. Ryan Winterhalter of 1Up.com, compared Choplifter HD to that of a bullet hell shooter. I love Winterhalter’s title: Choplifter Appeals to Your Inner-Masochist. Yowza! That’s good copy.

For those keeping score, that’s a canceled game (Heist) that cost countless hours of development to make, a controversy (Baby Pals) that eventually led inXile to halt production on smaller games, and back-to-back near misses with Hunted: Demon’s Forge and Choplifter HD. inXile was at a crossroads.

A Comet Almost Hits the Earth

Fargo shared in the inXile Documentary, “I’ve had so many near-death events in this industry, where the comet almost hits the Earth. If Battle Chess wasn’t a hit…If Castles wasn’t a hit. I can go through ones where if that didn’t work, we’re out of business. Hunted didn’t work, so we had to scale back to a very small group of people.”

Up to this point, Brian Fargo had seen his share of misses and near-misses. inXile’s history began to mirror Interplay’s over a decade earlier. Interplay started as a focused team working on a couple of titles and then swelled to a company of 500 working on dozens of projects. Findley says (in the Documentary), “The years between The Bard’s Tale (2004) and Wasteland (2) was a roller coaster. We got smaller again, then we got bigger, and we got smaller. We went from being a focused team working on one title to 120 people working on four or five titles at once. We were all over the place.”

Interplay made itself a “public” company, entering NASDAQ. inXile would also go “public” but in a different manner. Only this version of “going public” involved inXile’s and Wasteland 2’s historic KickStarter campaign. Like Fargo said, “We threw it all in with our KickStarter and that changed everything.”

Wasteland 2’s KickStarter Campaign

“We were able to pitch the games we want to make,” Findley said (inXile Documentary), instead of pitching the game you know you can sell, which is a much more fun place to be.” This mindset changed everything for inXile. Heist and Hunted were financed by another company. Codemasters wanted a game in Heist inXile couldn’t deliver, while Bethesda released Hunted a few months before Skyrim. KickStarter showed inXile what their fans wanted to play.

For years, gamers asked for a follow-up to 1988’s Wasteland, but the rights to Wasteland proved tricky. Before inXile could begin work on Wasteland 2, they needed to obtain the rights to Wasteland from Electronic Arts. The original publisher, EA, had let the rights lapse. The last time Electronic Arts had worked on a project connected with Wasteland was Fountain of Dreams. “Originally, Interplay (and Brian Fargo) were supposed to be involved with Fountain of Dreams (1990), but EA took control of the project and produced it themselves,” said Fargo in a Wired interview. “By 2003, Electronic Arts dropped all claims that Fountain of Dreams had any connection to Wasteland.” This opened the legal door for Wasteland 2 to become a reality.

Wasteland 2 was a sequel to 1988’s Wasteland. To be fair, Wasteland 2 is a fusion of a sequel and an update to the original. The stories of both games share many similarities. Wasteland 2 is a joy to play. I highly recommend playing it. Wasteland 2 delivers on Fargo’s idea of a “hardcore role-playing game.” There is no one way to play through Wasteland 2. Your choices affect the world.

There are moments where it’s obvious how your choice will affect the world, especially the game’s first choice of saving Highpool (a community based around a local dam that provides water to the region) or the Ag Center (which grows genetically modified vegetables to feed the locals). You can’t respond to both distress signals. Other moments are more subtle in how your choices will affect the world.

But why KickStarter? inXile had never used a crowd-sourced platform before, in fact, Fargo had never heard of KickStarter. Fargo shares the moment he decided to Kickstart Wasteland 2 (in the inXile Documentary), “Tim Schaefer launches his KickStarter (Double Fine Adventures). The first day, it makes half a million dollars. I was like, this is it. I called Matt the next day, drop everything. This is what we’re gonna do. We went from what’s KickStarter? to launching within 30 days.”

Wasteland 2’s KickStarter did not end up beating Double Fine Adventures (per an inXile community post), but it was, at the time, the second-largest video game KickStarter campaign, closing in at just over $2.9 million. Add in PayPal donations of over $100,000, and Wasteland 2’s total funds equaled over $3 million.

To this day, Wasteland 2’s KickStarter campaign sports the third-highest total on KickStarter. I’ll admit, KickStarter is better known for board games than video games, but this fact may make Wasteland 2’s success on KickStarter all the more impressive. Wasteland 2’s success goes a long way to show how much the video game community appreciates inXile, and more specifically, Brian Fargo’s work.

Torment, The Mage’s Tale, and The Bard’s Tale IV

Torment: Tide of Numenara was released in 2017 after another successful KickStarter campaign. inXile learned plenty of lessons from their first crowdfunding campaign. Torment: Tides of Numenara was written by Monte Cook, who also wrote the rules to the tabletop role-playing game Numenara where Torment is set, but Torment: Tides of Numenara is also a spiritual successor of a former Interplay game, Planescape: Torment. Torment: Tides of Numenara received favorable reviews, continuing inXile’s hot streak. It also honors inXile’s past.

We won’t go into too much detail with the remaining titles in this segment. The Mage’s Tale was developed in parallel with The Bard’s Tale IV. The two projects share some assets. Both games received average or mixed reviews. Regardless of reviews, both games had ambition. While The Mage’s Tale brought the world of The Bard’s Tale to the new medium of virtual reality, The Bard’s Tale IV: Barrows Deep attempted to fuse elements of the original 1980s Bard’s Tale trilogy with the 2004 spin-off The Bard’s Tale.

After a shaky decade, inXile had found a sustainable business model. But nothing stays the same for long.

Joining Xbox

In November 2018, Microsoft Studios acquired inXile Entertainment and Obsidian Entertainment on the same day. Eurogamer made the announcement, stating, “The two independent studios who had fought against each other would now be under the Xbox umbrella. This announcement led to Fargo staying as head of inXile, because in March 2017 (also on Eurogamer), Fargo had announced his plans to retire from inXile following the release of Wasteland 3.

Fargo has said in the past that he doesn’t enjoy being a CEO. He may have wanted to leave on a high note (with Wasteland 3). Microsoft Studios’ absorption of inXile as a subsidiary allows Fargo to stick to his passion, developing video games. Microsoft’s near limitless resources mean that inXile won’t need to rely on crowdsourcing to make the games it wants to make.

Clockwork Revolution

This video game history post is one of the final pieces I wrote in preparation for my end-of-year novel writing/editing break, so I’m writing this post in 2025. Clockwork Revolution is slated for a 2026 release. Who knows? Clockwork Revolution may already be released by the time you’re reading this. I am stoked for this title. What I’ve seen looks amazing, and since Clockwork Revolution is categorized as an action-RPG, I’m anticipating it having gameplay similar to The Bard’s Tale (rather than Wasteland). Regardless, I have Clockwork Revolution wishlisted and will be playing it soon after it releases.

inXile and Brian Fargo had a crazy ride, filled with hits, misses, and near-misses. I’m glad Fargo and his team had those Wasteland 2 KickStarter moments. In the inXile Documentary, Fargo said, “They (fans) valued the work we’ve done before. It felt good. I can say that when we hit our funding goal, it was one of the highlights of my whole career.”

Thank you for reading. Let us know what other video game companies you want us to write a history for, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Geekly News CMON Games

Geekly News: January 25, 2026, CMON Games Breaks Silence

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Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! We have another week of Geek News to discuss. Rejoice! CMON (Cool Mini Or Not) Games broke its months-long (almost a year) silence and gave gamers a roadmap to when they intend to ship most–if not all–the board games they have yet to ship on Gamefound. We’ll have this and new video game and board game release on this week’s Geekly News.

CMON shares 2026 plans to deliver outstanding Kickstarters “no matter what.”

CMON suffered $7 million in 2025. The struggling board game company had at least a dozen outstanding crowdfunding projects prior to 2025. They’ve sold off properties like Cthulhu: Death May Die and Zombiecide, which also had crowdfunding projects that have yet to be fulfilled. Layoffs took place, and CMON froze production on newer board games while it focused on delivering on its promises.

Things weren’t looking good for a once-powerful board game company. For better or worse, CMON was the one who pioneered crowdfunding. This week, CMON provided updates on several, though not all, of its outstanding projects. Dune: Desert War will be packed and ready for pickup in the first quarter. By the third quarter, production will have begun on Masters of the Universe (hopefully we’ll see this project ship shortly after the movie releases). The fourth quarter features mold making and core box production for DCeased, DC Super Heroes United, and God of War: The Board Game. Other projects, like Massive Darkness, A Song of Ice and Fire Tactics, Super Fantasy Brawl Reborn, and The Dead Keep, have been pushed back to 2027.

CMON continues exploring further IP sales (like the ones for Cthulhu: Death May Die and Zombiecide) or licensing opportunities. It also plans to deliver in batches, so retail sales “help fund the manufacturing of remaining products in the line.” If you’re like me and you backed one or more of CMON’s outstanding crowdfunding projects, you’ll be happy to hear that CMON will not be asking existing backers for additional money. That’s music to my ears. I was worried about those pesky tariffs.

CMON asks fans for “patience as we work through fulfillment in a way that ensures completion rather than risking further setbacks. We will continue to share updates as milestones are reached and as plans become firm enough to communicate responsibly.” I’m good with better communication. I heard few DC Super Heroes United updates in almost nine months. Yikes! Communication like this week’s announcement is welcome.

Knave! Launches on KickStarter

Knave! combines elements Slap Jack with Rock-Paper-Scissors. Take up your guards in hand and set a rhythm with your opponent. Each guard beats only one type of guard, so keep an eye out for when you might be able to strike. Or if you’re fast enough, throw up a block before your opponent strikes. Knave! attempts to simulate the frantic and sudden nature of swordfighting.

Knave! marks publisher, Foggity Whims Press’s–great name by the way–first game. The artwork matches the theme, and at $11, Knave! may be worth a shot as a quick, small card game. If you’re interested in Knave!, check out its KickStarter page.

Beetle Battle Launches on Gamefound

Something must be in the air because Beetle Battle is our second Slap Jack-inspired card game. Only this time, Slap Jack combines with combos. What? Players chain beetle abilities, trying to connect colorful beetles, and unleash mischievous chain reactions. But beware of the Cockroach. If you see a Cockroach, you must squish.

While I like the streamlined nature of Knave!, Beetle Battle includes numerous game modes and could offer plenty of replayability. We don’t have information for Beetle Battle’s pledge levels, but that shouldn’t stop you from following Beetle Battle. If this game sounds interesting, check out Beetle Battle’s GameFound page.

Dicequest Launches on GameFound

Dicequest is a dice pool builder. You have my attention. I’ve loved the concept of a dice pool builder ever since Quarriors and its spiritual successor, Dice Masters. We know little about Dicequest’s gameplay. Fingers crossed for a playthrough soon. But the game’s page reads as follows, Gather Your Party, Level Up, and Choose Your Path. Dicequest states that one can play it solo, cooperatively, and competitively. It sounds like the game will have plenty of game modes.

I like the trend of neoprene playmats, and Dicequest features one. Yay! Again, I have my fingers crossed for a playthrough. Dicequest sounds like a game that’s in my wheelhouse. With each game session taking about 45 minutes, it doesn’t appear to outstay its welcome. Since Dicequest has yet to launch (as of writing this post), we have no details on its pledge levels. But if you’re like me and you’re interested in Dicequest, check out its GameFound page.

2XKO Releases

Alright, video game new releases heat up this week. We have a few interesting games. Our first is the free-to-play 2XKO from Riot Games. Yes. 2XKO is set within the League of Legends’ universe, but it takes the franchise in a new direction: a 2v2 tag-team fighting game.

As of writing this post, I have yet to play 2XKO, so my comments will be conjecture. But I’m getting strong Street Fighter meets Brawlhalla vibes with 2XKO. Brawlhalla (a Super Smash Bros clone of sorts) has a 2v2 fight mode. I always wondered what could happen if someone applied Street Fighter mechanisms and graphics to a game like Brawlhalla (or the maligned Multiversus). I may have to give 2XKO a chance. 2XKO is available on PlayStation 5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S.

Mio: Memories in Orbit puts gamers in the role of an agile robot named MIO that explores a forgotten ark spaceship named The Vessel. The Vessel’s AI caretakers, known as Pearls, have stopped working, and you must explore the vegetation and survive the machinery to revive The Vessel’s memories, preventing a shutdown.

Mio: Memories in Orbit features stunning art. Since it’s a Metroidvania-style video game, its gameplay reminds me of Hollow Knight. And developer Douze Dixièmes has indie game street cred. Mio: Memories in Orbit has my attention if only for its graphics. Those are some pretty pixels. It’s received generally favorable reviews and is available on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S.

Escape from Ever After Releases

Our first two video games had stunning graphics, but Escape from Ever After looks adorable. Be prepared to dive into storybook worlds packed to the brim with colorful characters and locales. But beware of electrifying secrets. Escape from Ever After borrows from Lovecraftian horror and that piques my interest.

Escape from Ever After’s graphics remind me of Paper Mario and Cat Quest in the best possible way. Players can build and customize their party; every character has unique skills that can be equipped and upgraded. You even get to decorate your office as you climb the corporate ladder. But my favorite feature may just be Escape from Ever After’s big-band soundtrack. Not enough video games use big band music. Escape from Ever After is available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2.

Nested Lands Enters Early Access

We conclude this week’s new video game releases with yet another intriguing entry: Nested Lands. Holy cow! Nested Lands is an RPG, survival, village-building, and social management game in a medieval setting. I don’t know if Nested Lands leans more toward Ark Survival, The Elder Scrolls, a combination of several games in various genres, or does something different.

Gather (plague) survivors, build a settlement, craft, master your skills, survive, and endure alone or in online co-op. Yes! Nested Lands sounds like it may scratch several itches. And yes, I wishlisted it on Steam, and if I have time, I may play the demo. Nested Lands is available on PC (with GOG, Steam, and Epic Games).

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.

Geekly News: January 18, 2026, Spider-Man License Update

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Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geek News. We have more video game and board game releases to discuss, but first, let’s discuss another angle of the MCU’s future. The Spider-Man license between Sony and Marvel/Disney may soon change.

Rumors of a New Spider-Man License Deal

Almost three decades have passed since Marvel Comics sold the movie rights to Spider-Man and other characters within Spider-Man’s universe (Venom, Carnage, Kraven, and others). Since the deal, Sony has done what it can to hold onto every character it can. The last couple of years we’ve seen Madame Web, Kraven, Morbius, and Venom: The Last Dance release to less than stellar responses. Let’s be real. Most of those movies stunk. I don’t blame any actor, director, or anyone else involved in those movies for their quality or for being involved in those movies. Some of them— like the Venom movies — made money, but audiences and critics didn’t rate them highly. But change could be in the air. According to trusted industry insider DanielRPK, Sony’s Spider-Man embargo may soon come to an end.

Why is Sony open to a new deal? We don’t know for certain. The aforementioned Venom: The Last Dance concluded the Spider-Man Villain movie franchise. Even if Sony chose to relaunch, reboot, or rework the franchise, Venom actor Tom Hardy has retired from the role, and Venom was the franchise’s biggest box office draw. Then, there’s the news that the Black Cat solo film has been cancelled, and the fact that Sony has begun cancelling films within the Spider-Man Villain movie franchise raises red flags.

According to Nerd Tower (via Twitter/X), Black Cat has been in production since at least 2021. Here’s what Nerd Tower recently shared: “There was a Black Cat movie in production, I saw storyboards and in a specific sequence, she was dressed as a goth at a costume party, cries in the bathroom, smears her makeup and makes the ‘mask,’ BAMMMM Black Cat ready for action. It was awful.”

True. That origin for Felicia Hardy/Black Cat sounds awful. But it’s not the worst storyline Sony’s Spider-Man Villain movie franchise has released. The less said about Madame Web, the better. Change must be on the horizon if Sony heard a movie pitch they didn’t like for Spider-Man or his villains. We don’t yet know what this means for the MCU’s Spider-Man or if a deal will happen with enough time for it to affect Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Negotiations between Sony and Marvel/Disney are ongoing and predate Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s development. There’s a chance we could see Venom, Carnage, Kraven, or the Sinister Six in the MCU.

But I wouldn’t hold my breath. Unless a deal occurred under the table, the best Spider-Man: Brand New Day could do is hint at the Spider-Man Villain movie franchise characters joining the MCU. But the next Spider-Man film could feature any number of these characters. I’d love to see a Sinister Six movie.

Mountain Goats: Legacy Launches on KickStarter

In Mountain Goats: Legacy, players battle each other for top spot on the mountain. Each turn, roll and combine dice to race up the mountain. Get to the top to score, but don’t get knocked off! If you roll the goat symbol, activate new abilities—powers that rotate every mission. As your story progresses, you’ll unlock even more powerful abilities and face tougher challenges. The mountain itself might even transform beneath your feet.

I’ve never played the original Mountain Goats, but I’ve heard great things. I’m unsure how Mountain Goats lends itself to a Legacy game, a game that can be played over multiple gaming sessions, and the game changes after each session, but I’m here for it. I saw the original Mountain Goats when it was first released at Origins and have been kicking myself for not trying it out during the convention. But I didn’t get much of a chance. Gamers flooded the tables where Mountain Goats was on display. Mountain Goats: Legacy is among the highly anticipated games for 2026 on most other board review sites. You can back Mountain Goats: Legacy for $39-88. There’s even an Enchanted Ivy, a dedicated solo variant of Mountain Goats for $19. If you’re interested in Mountain Goats: Legacy, check out its KickStarter page.

Small-Time Heroes Returns to GameFound

Small-Time Heroes is another title I haven’t had the chance to play yet. It’s received high marks on BoardGameGeek. In this cooperative deck builder, you’ll take on the role of one of the Small-Time Heroes and work together to defend the town. With each battle, you’ll build up your deck of cards, choosing from a variety of cards that represent your hero’s unique abilities. As your power builds, you will defeat waves of minions and end with a final boss battle. Defeat the boss before they defeat you!

I love publisher Solo Game of the Month’s mission. Produce high-quality and accessible solo board games each month. Small-Time Heroes continues this trend. The original Small-Time Heroes is available for $39, and so is its first major expansion. Small-Time Heroes’ GameFound page offers several other add-ons, too. If you’re interested in Small-Time Heroes, check out its GameFound page.

Boktor Launches on GameFound

Boktor is a cooperative adventure game for 1 to 6 players, blending dungeon-crawling, tactical combat, and character progression in a world where elemental chaos threatens to consume everything. Each game is a self-contained mission in which players take on the role of legendary heroes sent to explore a dynamically generated dungeon. Their goal: survive waves of enemies, gather powerful abilities, and confront the final Tyrant before the Vortex obliterates the land. I like Boktor’s idea of quick level-ups for your heroes. Too often, dungeon-crawlers like these take too long for the leveling to happen.

I’m getting Betrayal at House on the Hill vibes from Boktor’s map, and that’s a good thing. I always liked Betrayal’s exploration, and Boktor looks to include exploration. And the biggest issue with dungeon-crawling board games is the time it takes to learn and play them. Boktor boasts a 5-minute teaching of the rules and 60-minute game sessions. If that’s true, sign me up. We don’t know Boktor’s price point as of this write-up (it will release early next week), but if you’re interested in Boktor, check out its GameFound page.

What you can’t see… doesn’t exist. Cassette Boy is a puzzle action RPG where you control the game’s perspective to change the world you see. Rotate a 2D pixel-styled 3D world, using disappearing obstacles and newly appearing paths to uncover the mystery of the vanished moon. Honestly, I knew little about Cassette Boy before researching for this post, but the premise has me hooked.

Cassette Boy’s aesthetic channel slightly beefed up GameBoy graphics, but no one’s planning on playing this indie game for its graphics. Cassette Boy’s gameplay may be one of the better puzzle action RPG conceits since Katamari Damacy. It builds its story through gameplay, and that has me stoked. And for its listed price of less than $15 dollars, Cassette Boy may be worth a look. Cassette Boy is available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, and Nintendo Switch.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon Releases

I sense a trend with the games (board games and video games) on this list. I’ve never played a game in the Trails series and have been meaning to for some time. If anyone knows where best to begin the series, let me know in the comments. The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon is not only a continuation of the Trails series of video games, but it’s the direct sequel to 2022’s The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak II. Okay. I may not begin Trails with this title, but look how pretty.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon looks like a game I’d enjoy. It features an updated combat system–from the rest of the Trails series. Mechs play a large role. Yes, please. And the previous games from this series within the larger Trails series have received favorable reviews. The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon is available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2.

That’s all the geek news we have for you this week. If you’ve made it this far, you’re fantabulastical. We all know it. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Geekly News: January 11, 2026, MCU X-Men Reboot Updates

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Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with the first Geekly News of the year. The year is still ramping up, so we only have a few new releases. We’ll get to the new board games and video games, but first, let’s check in with the MCU and the upcoming Mutant Saga. There’s a lot to discuss.

MCU Reveals Its Blueprint for The X-Men

We’ve been radio silent about the MCU for a while, not because the MCU had few updates, but because those updates didn’t feel large enough. Black Panther had a recasting rumor. We still don’t know for sure if Shuri (Letitia Wright) will remain as the Black Panther beyond Avengers: Doomsday. Heck, a new Black Panther could reveal themselves during the next Avengers film. Ryan Reynolds is working on a new Deadpool or Deadpool and Wolverine movie. Hugh Jackman will return as Wolverine for at least the next Deadpool film and potentially a new Wolverine solo film. But the biggest MCU news may be Marvel’s direction for the X-Men.

According to trusted industry insider Daniel RPK, Marvel will release solo projects for the core X-Men members, leading up to an X-Men team movie. Marvel wants to avoid the errors they made during the Multiverse Saga. Going back to what made people care about the Avengers during the MCU Phase One is a step in the right direction. Unlike Avengers actors (who were in their forties and fifties), Marvel intends to cast younger actors in X-Men roles, even a younger Wolverine. Speaking of Wolverine, rumors suggest he won’t be included in the first X-Men film. That may be for the best.

We still don’t know how Marvel plans to introduce the upcoming X-Men characters. My guess is that we may see more Marvel Studios Special Presentations. Disney/Marvel will want to cash in on The X-Men as soon as they can, and some sources suggest the first MCU X-Men film will release a year or two after Avengers: Secret Wars. That doesn’t leave the studio too much time to introduce these characters. Several 1-hour specials could help.

And speaking of Marvel Studios Special Presentations, the Punisher Special will build off of the second season of Daredevil: Born Again and should also tie into Spider-Man: Brand New Day. This news, added with the rumors of upcoming X-Men character solo projects, makes it appear that the MCU may require viewers to–once again–do some small homework in preparation for upcoming movies and shows. I’m torn. I’ve liked the MCU’s recent trend of not requiring a lot of homework ahead of watching a movie or show. On the other hand, I’d love to see more Special Presentations. And there was a time when Marvel fans didn’t mind doing a little homework. Hopefully, the X-Men will find a good balance.

Yokai Forest Duel Launches on Gamefound

Bring on the games. Two to eight players face off in fast-paced tournaments or league-style matchups. Outsmart your rivals through clever strategy, deduction & bluffing with mind games as you fight for victory in intense best-of-three duels. Be careful though: investing too much time in your current match and your opponent might crush you before you even reach the finals.

Yokai Forest Duel’s concept reminds me of a character-driven version of Challengers!, and if that’s the case, Yokai Forest Duel will be loads of fun. Godot Games claims Yokai Forest Duel can be learned in under three minutes but offers plenty of strategic choices. Again, this reminds me of Challengers!. Yay! The artwork and game graphics differ, and so does the fact that players assume the role of a specific character. I don’t know how any of the characters work, but Yokai Forest Duel features eight different 80-card decks. Yokai Forest Duel’s pledges range from $27 to $74. If you’re interested in Yokai Forest Duel, check out its Gamefound page.

The Last in the Woods Launches on GameFound

Forget comfort. The Last in the Woods is about survival. You’ll have no safety net. As the game’s name suggests, you’re handed a few tools, and you compete against the other players to be the last in the woods. I’m unsure if The Last in the Woods includes direct player versus player combat. Typically, I don’t care for direct combat between players. But I love the idea of a competitive survival game, and if that involves a little PVP combat, I’m all for it.

Variable player powers (like the one for George, who only needs one stone to craft a knife, pictured above) should give The Last in the Woods a little spice. But this isn’t the only element The Last in the Woods uses to shake up the gameplay of each game. Random events and equipment allow for diverse strategies during each playthrough. As of writing this post, The Last in the Woods hasn’t listed their pledge rates. I can’t imagine the game costing more than $40. It could cost as little as $20. We’ll see. If you’re interested in The Last in the Woods, check out its GameFound page.

Code Violet Releases on PlayStation 5

During Code Violet, players uncover the secrets of the Aion colony, who use time travel technology to kidnap women in the past. These women are then used as surrogate mothers in an attempt to save humanity from destruction. I love this hook. Code Violet combines story elements of Children of Men and The Handmaid’s Tale with a time-travel twist. Excellent! Add in the fact that Code Violet is a third-person action-horror game and the spiritual successor to Dino Crisis, and Code Violet may be a PlayStation 5 title to place on your radar.

And that’s a great thing because Code Violet is our only new video game release for this week. I wasn’t kidding when I mentioned 2026 hasn’t yet fully launched. Plenty of great board games and video games are on the horizon. We just may need to wait another week or two. Or even a month or two.

That’s all the geek news we have for you this week. Which MCU project are you the most excited for? Let us know in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.