Spawn Points and Pregame Lobbies
Tag: Video Games
Geekly News: March 8, 2026; Xbox Announces Next Gen Console
Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang. Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geek News. We have plenty of board games and video games new releases, but before we get into those, let’s discuss our headline for this week. Xbox revealed its plans for a next-generation console. What? Project Helix is on the way, and the details we’ve seen have made us the most excited for an Xbox console in several years.
Xbox Reveals Plans for Project Helix
Xbox announced its next-generation console, following the Xbox Series X/S (sometime in the next few years, possibly as soon as late Fall 2027). Even though Xbox has pivoted to software over hardware, Codename: Project Helix confirms Xbox hasn’t left the console race. The official Xbox X account shared the project name “Project Helix” and a new logo (pictured above) that blends the classic Xbox logo with a DNA double helix. Xbox’s new CEO, Asha Sharma, shared more details in her own post, claiming the system will “lead in performance and play your Xbox and PC games,” which marks a major shift in Xbox’s approach.
Since the new Xbox machine will be capable of playing Xbox and PC games, it will challenge the upcoming Steam Machine. Talk about a new console generation. Xbox has hinted that its new system will run on Windows, which should allow players to download third-party software like Steam, GOG, and Epic. This has me excited. And one quick note on the name, Project Helix. Typically, tech companies use a working title for their consoles. Xbox Series X/S was nicknamed “Project Scarlett,” while Nintendo used “Project Revolution” for the Wii. While the name Helix may change, I could see Xbox keeping the double helix design in some capacity.
We should hear more news about Xbox’s upcoming console in the coming weeks. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma promises to meet with shareholders next week. While most details discussed during this meeting should remain confidential, fans may get a few tidbits of information in the coming days. We’ll keep you posted if we hear anything.
While this announcement occurred after Sharma assumed the CEO position, plans for “Project Helix” had to have been started during Phil Spencer’s tenure. But this could be a shift in direction after Spencer’s departure. Either way, “Project Helix” looks to shake up the video gaming console landscape, and we’re all for it. I may need to buy a new big-screen TV.
Botany: Floral Dragons Launches on KickStarter
In Botany: Floral Dragons, players assume the role of a botanist, travelling the world in search of fame, fortune, and the coveted honor of floral dragons. As you travel the globe, you’ll need to manage your expedition funds, experience thrilling events, and acquire support. Each player begins the game with a set of randomized goals. Players can use these coins to traverse the globe and gain crew members and items, improving their odds of surviving the unknown. However, there is danger in spending too freely. Players must have coins to return with their specimens intact. Whenever you return to your estate, you’ll add new floral dragons and build new garden features. At the end of the game, the player with the most points wins.
We paraphrased Dux Somnium Games’ description for Botany: Floral Dragons. Thank you for the write-up. Botany: Floral Dragons features amazing graphics and artwork. Gardening games have grown–pun intended–in popularity over the past decade or so, and dragons are always a welcome addition. Botany: Floral Dragons’ combination of themes reminds me of Cretaceous Rails (dinosaurs and trains). Why hasn’t anyone combined these two themes before Botany: Floral Dragons?
Botany: Floral Dragons should build off of Dux Somnium Games’ 2025 release, Botany: A Victorian Expedition, and that game received good reviews. Dux Somnium Games always delivers with high-quality components, and I like that every game in their catalogue features similar art and graphics. Botany: Floral Dragons has the same vibe as previous Dux Somnium Games. Of course, this company is known for offering multiple pledge levels for their crowdfunding campaigns, too. Pledges range from $49 to $599. Wow! A lot of the extras included with the $599 are nice things to have, but unnecessary to play the game. Still, Dux Somnium Games are ones I can see some gamers wanting top-notch, upgraded pieces. If you’re interested in Botany: Floral Dragons, check out its KickStarter page.
The Old Ones of El Dorado Launches on KickStarter
The Old Ones of El Dorado is a hand management and drafting game in which the cards form a closed economy of actions. You can play a card into one of four action rows and perform both the action of the space and the action on top of your card. However, the next player may choose to play into the same row, if there’s space, gaining them the action on their card, your card, and the action associated with that row. Each card offers two actions to choose from, but once played, the orientation becomes fixed.
Throughout The Old Ones of El Dorado, you’ll gather resources to construct temples, craft sacred masks, and raise shrines. You’ll make dark sacrifices to the Old Ones and send cultists into the village to obtain knowledge and goods. These efforts will earn you points and bring you closer to immortality as promised to you by the Old Ones of El Dorado… but is it a blessing or a curse?
Another good description by publisher, Dranda Games, and another great mash-up of themes. Plenty of games have a setting of El Dorado, but even more have used the Cthulhu Mythos as a theme. I like The Old Ones of El Dorado’s use of meeples. And the 3D elements on the board grant life to the setting. My only issue may be the cardboard Cthulhu, First Player Marker. I’d love to see that as another wooden meeple. I need some Cthumeeple in my life.
The different meeples function as different workers. I like this concept in Worker Placement Games. The Old Ones of El Dorado looks to bring the Cthulhu Mythos to a heavy Euro game. That’s something else that doesn’t happen too often. Cthulhu-themed games lend themselves more to highly thematic games. I’d like to see how The Old Ones of El Dorado’s different meeple types function with the game’s 3D elements. The Old Ones of El Dorado offers multiple pledge levels: $47, $54, and $99. It looks as if the higher levels add more value for not as much money as one might think. If you’re interested in The Old Ones of El Dorado, check out its KickStarter page.
Re;Match: Marble Puzzle Fighter Launches on KickStarter
Re;Match: Marble Puzzle Fighter is an asymmetric 1 versus 1 fighting game, fueled by a marble puzzle system. Input your attacks each turn by clearing connected matching marbles from a 3 x 5 grid. Your attack corresponds to number and color marbles you cleared. The more marbles you clear, the bigger the attack. Every move changes the board state for what you allow your opponent to clear, and you can only clear from 2 of the 3 lanes, so every move has immediate consequences.
Deal damage to your opponent’s 3 health bars, each corresponding to a different color of attacks: Red, Yellow, and Blue. Breaking a health bar forces your opponent to spend a quarter to keep playing, and disables that color of attacks from being used. But be careful, a broken health bar turns those corresponding marbles into WILD connectors, allowing them to launch even more powerful attacks with their remaining colors, not to mention each cleared WILD marble restores health to that broken health bar, bringing it back into play.
Thank you, Brother Ming, for the description. Re;Match: Marble Puzzle Fighter has an undeniable toy factor. Look at the central marble puzzle piece. I don’t care for the game’s name. Why isn’t it Rematch instead of Re;Match? But this game earns that moniker, Rematch. From what I’ve seen, Rep;Match: Marble Puzzle Fighter matches last between 15-30 minutes. That’s short enough for a series of rematches. And players can choose between multiple combat styles (asymmetric powers). The DJ, Chef, Trickster, and Psychic have various playstyles. You’re bound to find one you like best.
Brother Ming Games is best known for its Genshin Impact line of game peripheries (like dice and playing cards). I’ll glad to see them stretching their wings in the tabletop game space. Since Brother Ming has experience with game production, I trust Re;Match: Marble Puzzle Fighter will use good quality materials. The acrylic standees I’ve seen in Re;Match’s pictures are in line with board game standards. A lot of games are switching to acrylic standees, and these look good. But who am I kidding? That marble puzzle element slays. Re;Match: Marble Puzzle Fighter offers pledge levels ranging from $99 – $300. If you’re interested in Re;Match: Marble Puzzle Fighter, check out its KickStarter page.
The Glasgow Train Robbery Launches on GameFound
The Glasgow Train Robbery is a co-operative game for two players inspired by one of the most infamous crimes in British history. Set in 1960s Scotland, you and your partner take on the roles of two key members of a criminal crew determined to intercept and rob a high-value train — without getting caught. Over the course of the game, you’ll work together to plan the heist, gather the right equipment, mislead the authorities, and finally execute the robbery in a high-stakes finale. Communication is limited, tension is high, and every decision counts. Will you manage to synchronize your actions, stay ahead of the investigation, and escape with the loot? Or will a single misstep derail the whole operation?
The Glasgow Train Robbery challenges players with unexpected twists and a constantly shifting landscape. The game is played over an undetermined number of turns, ending successfully if you manage to complete all five plan cards before the train reaches London, with the Coordinator needing to complete the first four, and the Operator the final one. Fail to complete the plan in time, the police will catch you. The Glasgow Train Robbery is the first title in a new series of games inspired by legendary historical heists. With a focus on historical flavor, immersive gameplay, and tight teamwork, this series invites players to step into the shoes of infamous criminals to see whether they can outsmart the law.
That was a great description, Salt and Pepper Games. I love The Glasgow Train Robbery’s theme and the fact that Salt and Pepper Game intends on making this an ongoing board game series. Yes! I can’t wait to play other famous heists throughout history. The Glasgow Train Robbery has been on my radar for several months. The look. The theme. The fact that Salt and Pepper Games is an up-and-coming board game publisher. Yes to all.
I’m a sucker for The Glasgow Train Robbery’s art. I also love wooden pieces in board games. Look at those uniquely shaped meeples. It makes the game look classic and unique. Salt and Pepper Games also has a knack for producing history-based board games. They’ve published Watergate, Resist!, and Skulls of Sedlec. I can’t wait to see what they’ll do with this new series of history-based board games. If you’re interested in The Glasgow Train Robbery, check out its GameFound page.
Marathon Releases
Marathon is a first-person multiplayer extraction shooter set in the same universe as the Destiny series. Yes. Bungie has returned to the Destiny universe, and the publisher takes a swing at the extraction shooter genre, a genre growing in popularity after the battle royale boom about a decade ago. Players deploy into a shared environment, search for loot, and attempt to successfully extract (either an item or non-combatants) from the region before getting eliminated by enemy players or environmental threats. While Marathon’s core gameplay focuses on player-versus-player (PvP) encounters, the game offers ample player-versus-environment (PvE) game options and hazards within PvP encounters.
Multiplayer extraction shooters await a smash hit (like Fortnite or Apex Legends), and Bungie has plenty of experience delivering fantastic video games. Marathon might be what this game genre needs to truly take off. Marathon is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse Releases
Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse is a Metroidvania x Roguelite where you journey with the aid of a cursed hat. Use a variety of magic or possess your enemies to reach the dungeon’s lowest levels. Bring back loot, build new facilities in your village, make a living, and strengthen yourself for the next battle. While you can play Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse as a solo experience, the game supports up to 4-player multiplayer.
It’ll be difficult for a side-scrolling Roguelite to stand out in this year’s market. 2026 may only have a dozen or so weeks under its belt, but it’s already produced stellar games of this type. Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse has received mixed reviews (as of this post), but it offers a multiplayer option that few Roguelite games released this year have. Roguelites don’t tend to support multiplayer, but a few levels might be fun. Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse is available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.
Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf Releases
Sequel to the stellar 2023 puzzle-platform game Planet of Lana, Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf trades a heroic rescue for a darker story of revenge. While the game’s mechanisms are inspired by cinematic platform puzzlers like Inside, Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf takes its visual inspiration from Studio Ghibli.
So pretty. And from what I’ve seen in early reviews, Planet of Lana II has a banger story with a compelling ending that will stick with players for ages. I never got around to playing Wishfully’s original Planet of Lana, but I may dive into this haunting world. Can you help Lana rescue her planet’s soul? Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf is available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Pokémon Pokopia Releases
The Pokémon series finally gets a crossover with Animal Crossing–of sorts. Pokémon Pokopia is a life simulation game, and since Game Freak teamed up with Omega Force (developer of Dragon Quest Builders 2), I believe Pokémon Pokopia will share similarities with Dragon Quest Builders 2. If that’s the case, Pokémon Pokopia will be awesome. I love Dragon Quest Builders 2. Players navigate a day-night cycle and cultivate different biomes. This sounds so much like Dragon Quest Builders 2. I can’t wait.
Players control Ditto, who imitates a human. Players can customize Ditto’s appearance, including skin color, hair color, and clothing. Pokémon Pokopia features crafting and building mechanics that players use to befriend new Pokémon, who, in turn, can teach Ditto new moves to interact with the environment. Ditto can perform various tasks like creating bushes, watering dry plants, cutting debris, and smashing rocks. Pokémon Pokopia is only available for the Nintendo Switch 2. Whenever I pick up a Nintendo Switch 2, I know this game will be one of my first.
Slay the Spire 2 Enters Early Access
Yes! The sequel to the iconic roguelite deckbuilder, Slay the Spire, entered early access this past week. What did I say about roguelites being a crowded market this year? Wow! Within months of Hollow Knight: Silksong, Slay the Spire 2 drops. Late 2025 to 2026 has been insane.
If you liked the original Slay the Spire, you’ll undoubtedly like Slay the Spire 2. According to some reviews, Slay the Spire 2 plays a lot like the original in the early game. But after a few rounds, the sequel throws in some welcome wrinkles to the award-winning formula. So far, Slay the Spire has received universal praise.
Peak concurrent users hit 217,932 gamers during the sequel’s launch, nearly quadrupling the original game’s lifetime record. The surge to purchase Slay the Spire 2 was so great, it temporarily paralyzed Steam’s payment servers for 30 minutes. If you tried to make a purchase on Steam during this 30-minute window and couldn’t, blame Slay the Spire 2. But hey, Slay the Spire 2 is a fantastic game and worth the hype, so far. Slay the Spire 2 is available on Steam.
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? March 2026
Happy Wednesday, Geekly Gang! Today, our writers share what they’ve been playing over the past month. Feel free to share what you’ve been playing, too, 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 Video Games
Highguard answers a couple of questions. What if Apex Legends was a base siege game? And what if Apex Legends had a fantasy theme with mounts? Many of the creatives behind Apex Legends made Highguard, so Highguard borrows more than a little bit from Apex Legends. If you know how the buttons work in Apex Legends, you’ll know how the combat works in Highguard. That’s a plus. There’s a lot more to unpack with Highguard. On one hand, I like the effort in creating a unique gaming experience. A base siege game is cool. On the other, Highguard has three game phases. That’s confusing.
Highguard’s first phase should sound familiar with a small twist. Kit up your character (weapons and armor) and fortify your base, on the off chance you’ll be the team tasked as the defenders. Second phase plays like capture the flag. Something called a Shieldbreaker spawns in the center of the game map. The two teams via for control of the Shieldbreaker, which is kind of a flag. The first team to bring the Shieldbreaker to their opponent’s base becomes the siege team. The other team is the defender. The third phase is a siege between the two teams. The offensive team wants to destroy the other’s base, while the defensive team wants to run out the clock.
And we got word yesterday that Highguard will shudder its doors the middle of this month. I played the a game little more. The graphics are okay but generic. That may have turned off gamers. Highguard also came out of nowhere (with graphics that clearly cost a pretty penny) which begged the question who financed this game? Turns it, it was Chinese mega publisher Tencent. Don’t know why Tencent refused to take credit for bankrolling Highguard before it released. Tencent is better known for mobile games. That may be why they stayed in the shadows.
I didn’t care for Highguard’s characters. They were more generic than the graphics. Highguard needed lore or a story to capture gamers’ hearts, and it didn’t have enough time to do that. The game functions as three separate games. They may have turned off gamers. I like the big swing, but a less complex game could’ve faired better.
I forgot to cover Drop Duchy. Oops! I’ve been playing Drop Duchy off and on ever since it first released on Steam a few months ago. I believe Drop Duchy is also available on mobile. And I highly recommend it. Drop Duchy gives the classic Tetris formula a much-needed twist. Players build their village–or duchy–by playing Tetris, matching terrain to buildings that can make use of the terrain. But beware, you’ll also place Tetris pieces for your opponent. Ultimately, you’re trying to build up your defenses, while keeping your opponent weak. Tetris is already a thinky puzzle. Drop Duchy cranks up the puzzle several notches. If you’re tired of classic Tetris, give Drop Duchy a try.
And my last entry for video games is a remaster of an old favorite: Plants Vs. Zombies Replanted. The gameplay still holds up. I can’t tell what Replanted adds to the most recent mobile version of the original Plants Vs. Zombies. The graphics might be slightly better than before, but then the ending (if you know, you know) gets screwy because we’re watching the end credits on an old screen with Crazy Dave sitting on the couch. Okay. That was a choice. Regardless, it was fun going down memory lane, and Plants Vs. Zombies Replanted gets more right than it gets wrong.
Kyra’s Board Games
I’ve played New York Slice far more often than I thought I would over the past month. I like the game a lot. But I also stink at New York Slice. New York Slice uses a game mechanism that I wish more board games used: I cut, You choose. Pizza slices can earn players points. Whoever has the most of a specific pizza type will score those points. Players gain slices by one player cutting the pizza into sections for all players. Then, starting with the player to the cutter’s left, players choose which slices of pizza they want.
New York Slice takes a simple concept and makes it sing. I also like the production value. The scorecard is a server’s check. Excellent! I just wish I were good at the game. LOL
I have a few other board games I played this past month, but I may save my discussion about them in a future Whatcha. Let’s see what Skye has been playing.
Skye’s Video Games
Since I’m still in the process of obtaining the platinum trophies for previous games on this list, I have few new games to discuss. Except for mobile games. Idle Human allows you to create your own human using trillions, quadrillions, and even quintillions of cells. And not just humans, but aliens, cyborgs, and yetis? Sure. Gamers accumulate cells and build a human. Hopefully, you’re not squeamish, because this game has surprisingly detailed depictions of internal organs.
I frequently get ads for “satisfying” puzzle games. One of those games was Pixel Flow. Pixel Flow is a simple game that requires you to destroy a colored pixel image by shooting colored pixels with a pig cannon of the same color. I promise it makes sense when you see it. Images can range from simple to incredibly complex, which makes levels easier or harder. At the end of the day, Pixel Flow is kinda dumb, but wait until you see that pig cannon. I rest my case.
I didn’t need another coloring app, but Happy Color is unique enough to justify having it on my phone. Happy Color is easily the most popular color-by-number app in the App Store, so it needs little introduction. I like Happy Color’s significantly larger number of coloring categories and unique styles. My special pixel coloring app, Pixel Art, allows me to upload my own custom images to color from my gallery, which is its primary use, but I still enjoy variety in my artwork. Unlike Pixel Art, Happy Color allows me to explore those different styles. And it’s okay to have two coloring apps on one’s phone.
Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here again. Those are all the board games and video games our writers played this previous month. 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: March 1, 2026; Seismic Changes at Xbox
Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geek News. We have another weekly round-up of new game (board games and video games) releases, but before we get into those, we have some headlines to discuss. We missed last week, because I was on a romantic getaway with my spouse, so some of these headlines may come from the previous week, and we begin with a doozy. Xbox Gaming CEO Phil Spencer retires, and Spencer’s mentee Sarah Bond resigns. Woah! What is happening at Xbox? Let’s find out.
Xbox Gaming Changes Leadership
After nearly 40 years with Microsoft Gaming, Xbox CEO Phil Spencer retires. While Spencer will stay on in an advisory capacity later this year (2026), advisory roles are more symbolic. I don’t imagine Spencer having much input into Xbox’s future–if Xbox even has a future, but more on that in a little while. What muddies the water further is that Sarah Bond, who Spencer prepared to take over as CEO in the event of his leaving Xbox, resigned her position. Undoubtedly, Spencer and Bond are subject to a non-disclosure agreement, so we may need to wait numerous years before they share why they left the company, and Xbox/Microsoft hasn’t expanded on why the pair left. Talk about chaos.
But we’re not done yet. Microsoft Gaming/Xbox has named Spencer’s replacement: Asha Sharma. Prior to joining Microsoft in 2024, Sharma was chief operating officer of Instacart and previously vice president of product at Meta. Her role within Microsoft was within its CoreAI division. Uh, oh! Artificial Intelligence. Sharma immediately addressed gamer concerns with Microsoft/Xbox potentially leaning further into AI. She made the following statement: “Xbox will commit to the ‘future of play,’ and that Xbox would not focus on ‘soulless AI slop.'” There’s a lot to unpack with Sharma’s brief statement.
What does “Future of Play” mean? Sharma is saying the right things. She wants to return Xbox to its early days. She wants to focus on games. I’m all for better games. And Xbox has acquired a ton of developers. Fingers crossed that many of the better ones survive a potential reorganization or that the developers who do get let go can re-establish themselves as independent publishers. We’ve heard rumblings that Xbox could be disbanded. “A focus on games” could mean Microsoft has no interest in consoles, and to be fair, consoles don’t always garner huge revenue. And then, there was the bombshell dropped by Xbox co-founder Seamus Blackley during a Gamesbeat interview earlier this week. “I expect that [Sharma’s] job is going to be as a palliative care doctor who slides Xbox gently into the night.”
If the Xbox Series S/X is Microsoft’s final console, it may be a fate Xbox has been heading toward for years. I never bought Phil Spencer’s claim that a tablet can be an Xbox. Your phone can be an Xbox. I can be an Xbox. If anything can be an Xbox, doesn’t that mean that nothing is an Xbox? Microsoft Gaming could’ve been heading toward becoming a game developer/publisher and dropping the console producer for years, and it may not even be Sharma’s doing. Spencer’s past comments may have hinted at this shift.
But Sharma’s background in AI makes the “Future of Play” comment sound ominous for a different reason. While I like Sharma addressing the issue of soulless AI slop, this may be corporate speak. Gamers received their first impression of Sharma as head of Xbox this past week. Again, she’s saying the right things, but she has an extensive history with AI development. There are levels to AI integration. Most people don’t want AI slop, and Sharma may make good on her promise of not including AI slop, but I wouldn’t discount Xbox leaning heavier into higher levels of AI integration. Could we see AI voice acting, AI graphics for background assets (or even foreground graphical assets, because building character models is hard), or AI writing for side quests? Time will tell. This is a developing story.
Paramount Increases Its Offer for Warner Bros.
Guess who’s back. We’ve been following the Warner Bros. Sale for several months, and we may have several more months before the final deal goes through. Paramount offered $108 billion That would’ve been about $30 per share, but Warner Bros. declined, deciding to go with Netflix’s offer, but that was only for HBO Max and the Warner Bros. movie studio. Last week, Paramount upped its offer to $31 per share. Paramount wants all of Warner Bros. Discovery, which includes CNN, TNT, TBS, and other assets.
I had written this piece before Netflix responded to Paramount’s offer. I thought Netflix might increase its offer. Earlier in the week, there was a chance Warner Bros. could still accept Netflix’s offer. If Warner Bros. sold its two assets to Netflix, it would still have enough remaining assets to sell to another buyer, like Paramount. But Paramount’s offer was too tempting. The streaming giant Netflix has rescinded its offer. Paramount has acquired all of Warner Bros. Discovery. Even though both sides have agreed to the deal, it must go through regulatory agencies before being approved. We’ll see what the future holds.
This deal makes me wonder about CNN. Last year, Paramount appointed Bari Weiss as CBS News’ Editor in Chief. The hire was questionable at best, in large part because Weiss seldom fact-checks. That doesn’t work so well for a news network. Big changes may be on the horizon. We’ll keep you posted.
AI-Fueled Memory Chip Crisis May Delay Next Gen Consoles
It’s no secret that the current generation of gaming consoles has suffered setbacks due to the pandemic and unfair tariffs. We’ve discussed the tariffs, and let’s not relive the pandemic, but the rise of AI has also impacted the PS5 and Xbox Series S/X. And AI may just impact the next generation of gaming consoles, too.
We haven’t heard official word that Sony or Microsoft plans to delay their next consoles. We haven’t even heard definitively if Nintendo plans to raise the price of the Switch 2. But there are rumors. These rumors began late last year in various articles by Reuters and Forbes. The AI boom has led to tech companies (specializing in AI) gobbling up memory chips. One also needs memory chips to produce gaming consoles. With AI’s demand for memory chips rising, there may not be enough memory chips for gaming consoles. This raises the price of memory chips. More expensive memory chips raise the price of gaming consoles. And new consoles like the PlayStation 6 and whatever Microsoft plans to name their next console–if they even make another console–get delayed by years. The industry’s current guess is 2028 or even 2029.
Again, Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo have made no formal plans to delay console releases and/or increase console prices, but all of those outcomes are on the table if the AI-fueled memory chip crisis continues. This is yet another developing story. We’ll keep you posted.
Perch: Birds of Play Launches on Kickstarter
In Perch, players fight for control of locations by commanding birds of their own and other players’ flocks. Earn points and command woodland creatures by having the most birds on a location, pushing your foes off the perch, and breaking ties to take the lead.
Each round, players add their birds into a shared bag. Players then draw birds of their own, and other players take turns stacking birds on location tiles. Each location tile will award variable points for majorities and sometimes grant players a unique ability. The game ends after five rounds, and the player who has earned the most points wins.
With a modular tile configuration and a variety of woodland creatures to control, each game will present a new tactical challenge.
Thank you for the stellar description, Inside Up Games. Perch: Birds of Play is the first major expansion to Perch. If you don’t have the base game, don’t worry. Perch: Birds of Play offers multiple pledge levels to accommodate those who are new to Perch. I would be one of those Perch newcomers. I’ve heard plenty of great things about this title, Perch: Birds of Play intends to add to Perch’s winning formula.
From what I’ve heard, Perch can get intense. Players fight each other for control of tiles. In short, Perch may share a theme with Wingspan (birds), but it feels more like a fist fight. If you have the base game, players can pick up Perch: Birds of Play for $24. If you’d like the base game and the expansion, the pledge level is $58. And there are other options for upgraded bits like the 3D birds pictured above. If you’re interested in Perch: Birds of Play, check out its KickStarter page.
The Old King’s Crown’s 2nd Printing and New Songs of Home Expansion Launches on GameFound
The Old King’s Crown is a game of card-driven conquest, where you play as heirs to a vacant throne, vying for control of an ancient, overgrown kingdom. Wield unique abilities and leverage your followers’ traits to best outwit your opponents across a map that stretches from the teetering heights of the castle to the dappled light of the necropolis.
As leader of your faction you will be staking claims with Heralds openly as well as positioning your forces in secret, hoping to claim the locations that fit your designs. However, keep an eye on your rivals, as they too have agents and agendas, poised to undo your best laid plans.
Royalty, rebels or ruses. What crown will you wear?
Another great description by the publisher. Thank you, Eerie Idol Games. Love the company name. The Old King’s Crown is yet another game I’ve heard great things about. It has a solid rating on BoardGameGeek, but it does skew toward the heavier side. One look at the game above cues one in about The Old King’s Crown’s complexity. But it looks as if it has plenty of iconography, and the board has a pleasant layout. This gives me the impression of a game that has a lot of moving parts, but it’s easy enough to understand once you get the flow.
The New Songs of Home expansion adds two new factions. Each faction has its own asymmetric gameplay, so two new factions are welcome news. The expansion also expands on The Old King’s Crown’s world. Another plus. The Old King’s Crown can be played competitively, cooperatively, or solo. That’s always a plus. As of this writing, we don’t have details of The Old King’s Crown’s pledge level costs, but if you’re interested in The Old King’s Crown, check out its GameFound page.
Hair Band Launches on KickStarter
Rock the stage and Rule the Strip!
In Hair Band, you’re an upstart 80’s glam metal band vying for Hollywood’s next record deal. But to get it, you’ll need to convince the label you’re the next big thing – get awesome, get fans, perfect your show, and complete your demo to sign on the dotted line.
Each round, you’ll place your dice-as-rockers around Hollywood to write, rehearse, promote, gig, and party all night. But watch out! Musicians can be a reckless and unruly bunch. So, you’ll need to choose wisely to steer clear of drama that can derail your ambitions. The first band to complete 3 of the 4 record label requirements gets the deal and wins the game.
Rock on, Frown Clowns Games with that fun write-up for Hair Band. We’ve seen a few rock-inspired board games over the past year or two, but I’m a sucker for any dice-placement game. And the act of rolling makes sense for a rock-inspired game. Rock and “Roll.” Hair Band appears to capture the glam band vibe. The art above may come from Board Game Arena or Tabletop Simulator (a virtual board game), but the final product looks great. I chose to use a virtual board game picture to show more of the game. Vector graphics are more likely to maintain their crispness. But look at the dice. I choose pink.
I have yet to play Hair Band, but I’ll quote Alex Wolf (of Spielcraft Games, the publisher of the superb Cretaceous Rails), “(Hair Band) is a light, thematic strategy game where you lead your hair metal band to practice, play shows, and complete albums, and of course navigate the challenges that come with a rock and roll lifestyle.” Yep. I may have to try Hair Band. If you’re interested in Hair Band, check out its KickStarter page.
Sky Empire Launches on GameFound
In the skies over planet Dopheus, players will take on the role of a Doppler, a salamander-like creature with one mind and two bodies, in a quest to find the crystals and reactivate the monolith defense to thwart the invasion from the evil sentinels! Take part in this epic adventure, in more than 40 different airships, to find the crystals and stop the invasion – and become Emperor over all of Dopheus!
Sky Empire takes place over several game rounds, where players place their Dopplers either in the Council to take Council actions, or on the board for character unique abilites. Or both! You have two bodies! To take actions on the map you activate the tiles with an initiative token, and that allows you to move to this tile, explore, produce, construct and/or battle opponents!
To win the game, you must collect the four crystals, activate a monolith, and ascend to the position of the Emperor of Dopheus!
Yet another great description. Thank you, Greymarsh Games. I said it before, but publishers know their game a lot better than I do with these write-ups. I love it when a publisher provides a good description. That leaves me the opportunity to go into how great those miniatures look. Minis aren’t everything, but great-looking minis can enhance a theme. And a 4X Steampunk board game is one heck of a theme. Sky Empire is another complex board game–we got a couple of them on the list this week–and it plays over two and a half to six hours. Yowza! Sky Empire may just be the steampunk equivalent of Twilight Imperium.
While I’m not the biggest fan of six-hour-plus board games, I’d be willing to try Sky Empire. It looks stunning. I love the theme. And Sky Empire offers a solo mode. What? I can’t imagine purchasing a game as well-produced as Sky Empire for only the solo mode, but a solo option is great for a game I may struggle to find others willing play. That’s always something to consider. At the time of writing this post, we don’t have any details about Sky Empire’s pledge levels, but if you’re interested in Sky Empire, check out its GameFound page.
Resident Evil: Requiem Releases
Resident Evil: Requiem may be the perfect way to celebrate the horror survival franchise’s 30th anniversary. Acclaimed Resident Evil 7: Biohazard’s director Koshi Nakanishi returns in this title, and Resident Evil: Requiem’s narrative centers on the Raccoon City incident and the Umbrella Corp’s activities. Sure. Resident Evil: Requiem introduces a new protagonist, FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft, but fan-favorite federal agent Leon S. Kennedy returns. Yes!
And players can shift from first-person to third-person. I love Resident Evil: Requiem’s customization. Does the game live up to the hype? We aren’t sure. I started writing this post early in the week, and reviews weren’t available. But Nakanishi’s return to the series, the focused story, and the ability to shift points of view make Resident Evil: Requiem a game to keep on one’s radar. Resident Evil: Requiem is available on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Tales of Berseria Remastered Releases
I have yet to play a title in the long-running Tales series. Honestly, I don’t know where to begin. Tales of Berseria is the sixteenth title in the series, and it was released almost ten years ago. Smaller gaps exist between original releases and video game remasters. Is ten years long enough to warrant a Tales of Berseria remaster? Again, I’m unsure. I’ve heard great things about this title, but I’ve also heard that, in terms of story, Tales of Berseria ventures from the mainline Tales series. Perhaps this tale of revenge is the Tales game I should try first.
Tales of Berseria Remastered looks stunning, but so did the original. For context, the original Tales of Berseria was a launch title for the PlayStation 4. Tales of Berseria features unique combat, and the remaster looks to retain this stellar combat and perhaps build upon it. Tales of Berseria is available on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, and Nintendo Switch.
That’s all of the geek news we have for this week. Which game are you the most excited to play? Let us know in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Video Game Review: This War of Mine
Happy Monday, Geekly Gang! We’re back with another video game review, one that’s overdue. I’ve talked about This War of Mine in various forums, even The Pixels, a few years ago, so it was only a matter of time before we, JK Geekly, would cover the video game in a review.
I love this game. This War of Mine harkens back to my days as an imagery analyst/targeteer. Typically, I’ve seen the world of This World of Mine from a top-down view. This video game made me see the people I affected from a ground level, and I love it for it. But how does This World of Mine rate against JK Geekly’s video game review criteria? Let’s find out.
Mechanisms: 8/10
This War of Mine does a great job of balancing the various things you need to survive. Yes. This War of Mine is, first and foremost, a survival game. The denizens of your building attempt to survive the duration of a war, ripping apart this undisclosed Eastern European nation, although with hindsight, we could assign This War of Mine’s setting as Ukraine, circa 2025.
This War of Mine’s game mechanisms are a difficult category to rate. On one hand, This War of Mine offers a singular experience of rummaging through a war-torn nation, while gathering supplies. On the other hand, it uses pre-established game mechanisms to express its subject matter. I’m giving This War of Mine an eight out of ten because it does enough to subvert the typical game mechanisms of acquiring resources. This may play into This War of Mine’s story/narrative, but while the specific mechanisms one can find in this game can be found in other video games, the narrative weight these choices offer makes This War of Mine unique.
Above Image from GameDesigning.Org
Gameplay Loop: 9/10
This War of Mine is addictive. I don’t care if you’re looking through a survival game like Ark: Survival Evolved or The Survivalists, This War of Mine equals or bests these survival games, only with the experience of someone who may have to experience war overseas. Even though you could find a similar gaming experience with any number of survival games, none of them put you in the shoes of someone having to fight for their lives in a real-world scenario.
Few survival games balance the day-to-day survival with the greater good like This War of Mine. I don’t know how many times I’ve had to choose how much I intend to “steal” from an elderly couple, while gathering enough to keep my survivors alive. This War of Mine offers an odd balancing act unseen by most video games. No two plays of This War of Mine will turn out the same. That’s a strength.
Add in the Little Ones expansion, and that adds an extra layer of complexity. Few games have me replaying its core game through a different lens than This War of Mine. This game blends a tasty survival game with an empathy game. I’ve found myself making choices in This War of Mine that I think I’d never make until presented with the scenarios this game includes. This is the This War of Mines’ greatest strength.
Narrative and Storytelling: 9/10
This War of Mine offers a branching narrative that changes each time you play it. I’ve lost count many times I’ve replayed this title and see where the story takes me. This adds to This War of Mine’s narrative and storytelling. It’s a glorified “Choose Your Own Adventure” story with so many branching arcs that it’ll take multiple playthroughs to unearth each one.
Add in expansions that further explore this unnamed Eastern European nation, and This War of Mine has narratives so deep, you can spend months exploring them. But you don’t even need expansions. If you play the game on Steam, This War of Mine is host to a plethora of mods. Any one of them can shake up the gameplay, and sometimes, the story. This War of Mine offers a fertile ground to tell any number of interesting stories set against the backdrop of war.
User Interface: 7/10
This War of Mine has plenty of menus, and for the most part, it does a great job of presenting these menus to its players. But the sheer volume makes it easy to get confused. Honestly, I’ve had to play portions of This War of Mine a second time because I didn’t understand the ramifications of my actions or choose something I didn’t want to choose from one of the game’s multiple menus and selections within selections of head’s up displays.
To be fair, it’s easy to get lost in This War of Mine’s multiple workshop (or production area) menus or dialogue exchanges or even its basic movement and interaction with the world around you. This War of Mine includes a steep learning curve, even if the game tries its best to handhold you through the early stages of that steep learning curve. Without these handholding efforts, I would give This War of Mine a below-average rating. Since the game goes out of its way to try and teach you these menus, it gains a well above average rating.
Graphics: 7/10
This War of Mine offers above-average graphics, but grading this game’s graphics does it a disservice. Even though the game is over a decade old, This War of Mine is timeless. Even during its 2014 release, This War of Mine harkened back to the past. And oddly enough, the future. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter which war This War of Mine is supposed to represent. By extension, it doesn’t matter how dated This War of Mine’s graphics become. It matters the vibe This War of Mine captures. And if we consider the vibe, This War of Mine may score above a ten.
Audio: 8/10
If you know me, you know I seldom play video games with the sound on, but I make an exception with This War of Mine. This game’s soundtrack does enough to carry me to a war-torn Eastern European nation. I challenge anyone playing this game to listen to This War of Mine’s desolation. It’s haunting.
Replay Factor: 8/10
This War of Mine has so many expansions and mods (from Steam users) that you can play and replay This War of Mine for countless hours. The only reason why I put a damper on This War of Mine’s replay factor is its subject matter. I don’t know how long gamers can play a game meant to show the horrors of war. Each person’s mileage will vary. If you’re sensitive to war, you may not play This War of Mine very long. If you’re interested in putting yourself in the shoes of someone struggling to stay alive in a war-torn nation, This War of Mine will offer thousands of hours of gameplay. This War of Mine won’t be for everyone, but I don’t think that’s the point. Step into the darker, more personal corners of war if you dare.
Aggregated Score: 8
This War of Mine may not be for everyone, and that’s okay. For those who want to explore what they might do if confronted with living in a war-torn Eastern European nation, This War of Mine offers numerous morally gray options.
Geekly News: February 22, 2026; New Releases
Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geek News. I’ll be away this weekend. My spouse and I are celebrating Valentines Day a weekend late to avoid the crowds. We’ll skip a headline story this week, but should have a major MCU update for next week’s Geek News. We have a lot to discuss with Marvel. Until then, enjoy these board game and video game new releases.
Forage and Honeypot by Flatout Games Launch on KickStarter
I love the Flatout Games creative team, Molly Johnson, Robert Melvin, and Shawn Stankewich, behind the Point Salad series of games. They’ve had a few other hits like Propolis. Each one of their games is a joy. Well, they’re back at it with Forage, and the designer of Fantastic Factories, Joseph Z. Chen, joins the party with his latest offering, Honeypot. Yes! AEG/Flatout Games are known for their combo releases on KickStarter and the pairing of Forage and Honeypot looks to be another great.
Forage is a puzzly tableau-building roll-and-write game for 1-6 players with gorgeous artwork by Beth Sobel! It is designed and developed by the team that brought you the Calico, Cascadia, and Point Salad series of games!
Rules are simple: Roll the forage dice and reveal a unique journey tile each round. Choose a combination of dice and carry out one of the actions: exploring, storing, or gift-giving. As you carry out actions, you’ll earn bonuses that allow you to power up your future actions or make additional moves to complete your goals! Use your time wisely–there are several journeys you can take to collect knowledge, experience, and prestige. Once you have completed your turn, you’ll choose one of the three types of cards to draw and add to your tableau giving you more ways to combo and complete goals!
The previous was a description provided by Flatout Games. Thank you for the great write-up. While the description continues, I figured I would leave it at about a short hundred words. Forage doesn’t need much more of an introduction; I’m hooked. I’m a sucker for roll-and-writes (Yahtzee-style games), and Forage gives me strong Cascadia roll-and-write vibes. One of the members of my game night owns a copy of the Cascadia roll-and-write, so I may pick up Forage. Games of this ilk can accommodate several players at once. Heck, they may be better with more players. And Flatout Games has a strong history of delivering on simple concepts with fun twists.
And art by Beth Sobel (of Wingspan fame) is always appreciated.
Flatout Games challenges AllPlay for those small box board games that feel like instant classics. Honeypot may just be another fantabulous game, by a designer (Joseph Z. Chen) who, despite being a new game designer, has an impressive resume.
Honeypot is a quick and simple I Stack, You Choose game for 1-6 players with delightful artwork by Kwanchai Moriya!
In Honeypot, players take on the role of secret agent bears trying to gather the best intel and spy supplies without getting stung! Players arrange secret caches for their opponents and carefully sift through the secret caches passed to them. The question is: how far to dig for valuable intel and spy supplies? Have your opponents passed you the sweetest honey, or a swarm of bees? In this thrilling game of setting traps and trying to avoid them, only the agent with the best instincts will capture the best set of items to come out on top!
Again, great description, Flatout Games. Honeypot is another game that looks to play great at higher player counts. Its solo mode intrigues. I can’t wait to dive into a game or two of solo Honeypot, because I love the I Cut, You Choose game mechanism. Remember what I said about Flatout Games giving familiar game mechanisms fun twists? Honeypot looks to do that with I Stack, You Choose. I always thought more games should use the I Cut, You Choose game mechanism. I can’t wait to try an I Stack, You Choose game. Yes, please.
Honeypot and Forage are available with pledges of $19 apiece, or one can buy both at $35. Flatout Games offers a handful of other pledge options, but I’ll let you discover those on your own. If you’re interested in Forage or Honeypot, check out their KickStarter page.
For the Gods! Launches on KickStarter
Watch out! Players are building monuments during this visually arresting game, For the Gods! The following pictures will feature For the Gods!’s prototype. I can only imagine what the final product will look like. Before I share my thoughts on this game, let’s hear from the publisher, Mighty Boards, and their description.
As a seafaring builder in ancient Greece, in For the Gods! you’ll navigate the archipelago, constructing towering monuments to the gods and vying for control of sacred islands.
For the Gods! is a tactical area majority game in which every stone shapes your path to victory. The rules are simple: Sail the seas to establish new temples or elevate existing ones. Along the way, collect God stones and unleash their divine powers at the right moment. With twelve unique God powers, each game offers fresh strategies and dynamic gameplay, ensuring high variability.
For the Gods! has table presence. I don’t know if players will be able to build the Greek islands. Look at the space where the columns stand. Those look like potential puzzle pieces. Yes! I’d play the heck out of For the Gods! for the column pieces alone. The God tiles, which offer unique abilities to players on their turns, curve to match For the Gods!’s interior board. You can’t walk past For the Gods! during a convention or a game night without doing a double-take. And publisher Mighty Boards has a strong history of delivering great games. I’m glad that the game is area majority as opposed to “dudes on the map.” I prefer area majority. And with the play area being this small, there should be some impressive battle for supremacy.
For the Gods! offers a $65 basic pledge. If you’re interested in For the Gods!, check out its KickStarter page.
Quest & Request Launches on GameFound
Quest & Request is an easy-to-learn dungeon crawler arena (learnable in 10 minutes) where gamers take the roles of anti-heroes. That’s right. Quest & Request goes dark. Players won’t be playing heroes. According to the publisher, they’ll be looting and killing a world full of innocent monsters, controlled by a benevolent wizard. A role reversal like this could be a hoot.
Unlike a lot of other dungeon crawler board games, set up appears to be quick in Quest & Request. I’m a little confused by the game’s description of a 4 v 1 Cooperative Game. That makes me wonder if Quest & Request can be played as a fully cooperative game or if one player can play as the wizard and monsters. Either way, I’m interested in any game of this type that has an easy setup and teardown. As of writing this post, we don’t have details on Quest & Request’s pledge levels, but if you’re interested in Quest & Request, check out its GameFound page.
Labyrinth: Chronicles Launches on GameFound
Once upon a time, there was a Labyrinth, a magical place full of wonders and mysteries. Adventurers who returned told unbelievable stories of its ever-changing walls and shifting corridors, a mind-boggling challenge indeed that only the bravest could tackle. But it was worth it, they say, as the dark nooks of the Labyrinth hide real treasures. The Labyrinth waits for you. Are you brave enough to enter?
Labyrinth: Chronicles brings a new Co-op Campaign mode to one of the best-selling board games ever. Enter the mysterious Labyrinth, now with a stunning 3D board and graphic design from Awaken Realms, to gather the resources required to help a nearby faefolk village. But beware! Inside dwell grasping goblins who want to snatch valuables before you! As you progress, you will rebuild the damaged village, meet new friends, unlock new skills, and many more!
Yes! That was another great description by the publisher. I don’t know how Ravensburger and Awaken Realms managed to turn the classic tile-shifting game, Labyrinth (1986) into a cooperative narrative campaign. What? Labyrinth is one of those titles that I thought could never receive the campaign treatment, but Labyrinth: Chronicles appears to have done just that. And look at the board above. Again, the picture is of a prototype. I can’t imagine how insane the final product will look. But what else would one expect with an Awaken Realms release. They’re known for over-the-top productions.
As you can guess, Labyrinth: Chronicles will cost around $105. Higher price tags are another Awaken Realms hallmark. Even if Labyrinth: Chronicles was a prestige printing of the original Labyrinth, I’d still be interested. I always enjoyed the original. The fact that Labyrinth: Chronicles shakes up the original’s gameplay makes $100 not seem like that much money. If you’re interested in Labyrinth: Chronicles. If you’re interested in Labyrinth: Chronicles, check out its GameFound page.
Cloud War Tales: Nuvitrum Launches on GameFound
What lies beyond the clouds that shroud the peaks of Nuvitrum? What mysterious power does Croconium hold—an amber mineral hidden deep within the mountains?
Explore the kingdom and develop your faction to uncover the truth. Nuvitrum is a tactical, asymmetrical deck-building game for 1 to 4 players, playable competitively, cooperatively, or even solo through a narrative campaign that reveals the world’s forgotten history.
Choose your faction, strengthen it, and engage in battle using unique mechanics. Excavate the mountain to unearth rare metals as a Deepdelver, master powerful spells as an Ambathean, or tame monstrous beasts as a Greenblood. Reveal your faction’s core to claim victory!
Alright! Deck-builders are always a fun time. Cloud War Tales: Nuvitrum adds player factions to the concept. Usually, players begin with small decks and choose how they will build those decks, but Nuvitrum starter decks look to have a unique flavor from the start. Throw in some interesting movement and combat, which looks like it may take a page from Summoner Wars, the ability to play Cloud War Tales: Nuvitrum competitively, cooperatively, or solo, and this could make for a versatile deck-builder with legs. As of writing this post, we don’t have pledge values, but if you’re interested in Cloud War Tales: Nuvitrum, check out its Gamefound page.
Star Trek: Voyager – Across the Unknown Releases
Don’t look now, but the Star Trek universe receives a major video game release. Last week, I mentioned how Rogue-Lites are having a moment. With the release of a Rogue-Lite, survival strategy video game based on Star Trek: Voyager, that trend continues. The player takes control of USS Voyager and manage the starship, including systems and resources, as well as the crew. Can you lead Voyager across 12 sectors of the Delta quadrant. Battle ship-to-ship. Send your away team on missions. And since Star Trek: Voyager – Across the Unknown contains narrative rogue-like elements, each playthrough varies.
Sure. Star Trek: Voyager may not be a Trekkie’s first choice for a Star Trek video game, but Star Trek: Voyager – Across the Unknown sounds amazing. As of writing this post, I have yet to play Star Trek: Voyager – Across the Unknown, but don’t be surprised if it makes a future Whatcha Playing, Geekly post. Star Trek: Voyager – Across the Unknown is available on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Demon Tides Releases on PC
Race across open oceans and uncover a kingdom’s dark secrets. Expressively platform your way across dozens of locales, upgrading your gear and modifying your move-set every step of the way! The previous description comes from the publisher. While I don’t know what “expressively platform” means exactly, Demon Tides’ videos shows multiple ways your character can traverse Demon Tides’ world. 3D platformer games may play better on console–we could see a future Demon Tides console release–but the game looks interesting enough for me to give it a go. Can you even customize your character? You may. Talk about expressively platforming.
Early reviews for Demon Tides have been positive. The Gamer suggests that Demon Tides should be on every platformer fan’s radar. Check! I may even check out Demon Tides’ demo on Steam. Demon Tides is available on PC.
Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse Releases
Usually, we don’t cover visual novels in our video game new releases, but we’re making a rare exception for Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse. The Mermaid’s Curse is a direct sequel to the well-received Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo. Only, this time around, Paranormasight trades in the scares for some emotional depth.
That doesn’t mean that Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse isn’t without its share of horror. Season is our writer who usually plays visual novels, but I may make an exception for the Paranormasight franchise. I may have to go back and play the original, too. Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse is available on PC and Nintendo Switch (yes, the original Switch).
Styx: Blades of Greed Releases
Styx returns for a third installment with Styx: Blades of Greed. I always liked the idea of playing as a goblin. Styx: Blades of Greed allows players to go full goblin mode. While the Styx series has had its ups and downs, it’s one of the better recent additions to the stealth video game genre.
Explore the dizzying heights of the Iserian Continent and cunningly eliminate your enemies. Thanks to your Quartz powers, you are freer than ever. Be creative. Never has it felt so good to be greedy. The wisecracking Styx is always fun to play. There just aren’t enough great stealth games to play. The Styx franchise is one of those great stealth games. Skye’s a huge fan of games like Hitman, so Styx: Blade of Greed might be a great alternative. Heck! I may enter goblin mode soon, too. Styx: Blades of Greed 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.
Geekly News: February 15, 2026; Magic Has No Plans for a Harry Potter Set
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
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
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
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.
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