PVKK from the Dome Keeper devs is Papers Please but you get a huge planetary defence cannon

PVKK: Planetenverteidigungskanonenkommandant – yeah, let’s circle back to the title – is described in the first sentence of its Steam bio as a “cozy” game. I entertain suspicions of cozy or cosy games, inasmuch as they are increasingly framed as a kind of antidepressant in the face of a darkening world, but that’s OK, because the remaining 17 words in the sentence are: “Operate your planetary defense cannon to fend off an interplanetary invasion from the comfort of your [cozy] bunker.”

Read more

Minecraft Gets Native PS5 Version, Bringing It In-Line With Xbox Series X and S

Minecraft developer Mojang has released a native PlayStation 5 version in preview form, bringing the game in-line with the Xbox Series X and S version.

The PS5 version adds native 4K resolution support and higher settings for render distances and anti-aliasing, settings already available in Minecraft on Xbox Series X and S. Unfortunately, there’s no word on the addition of ray tracing to either the Xbox Series X or PS5 versions, despite Microsoft teasing the tech years ago.

The first preview of the native PS5 version of Minecraft is available now for testing. If you own the PlayStation 4 version for your PS5, you can test this early version by heading to Settings and then Preview within the game. This preview includes the new Tricky Trials update, but multiplayer is only possible between other players on PlayStation 4 and 5. The exception to this is playing the preview on Realms, which allows you to cross-play with players on other devices. This preview version does not have access to the Minecraft Store.

Explaining the decision to release a native PS5 version in a blog post, Mojang said “we’ll be able to make the game run more effectively on the PS5’s hardware.”

Minecraft is the best-selling video game of all time with an incredible 300 million copies sold since its early access release in 2009. 15 years later, Microsoft and Mojang have so far resisted the urge to release a sequel, and with good reason — in March last year Xbox boss Phil Spencer said Minecraft had 120 million monthly players.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy Spins Past 20 Million Sales Worldwide

Crash really is back!

Back in 2018, the original Crash Bandicoot collection arrived on the Nintendo Switch in the form of the N. Sane Trilogy. It seems many years on, we’ve now got a sales update for the global sales across all platforms including the Switch, and the game has now topped 20 million units globally.

The official social account for Crash issued a message to fans thanking everyone for this “memorable milestone”. It’s also resulted in multiple fans requesting even more revivals and new entries in the Crash Bandicoot series. Most recently, Crash fans got the fourth major title ‘It’s About Time‘ in 2020/21.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

New Switch Game Trial Now Available To Subscribers (North America)

Just in time for Darkest Dungeon II.

Red Hook Studios this week confirmed Darkest Dungeon II would be making the journey across to the Switch this July, and if you’ve still not played the first game and happen to be an NSO subscriber, now is your chance.

Nintendo is currently offering Switch Online members a free trial of the first Darkest Dungeon game from now until 26th June 2024. This latest game trial is available to subscribers in North America and when you boot up the game you’ll receive 100 Platinum Points. There’s also a sale on the game until the same date, offering 70% off the standard edition and 75% off the Ancestral Edition.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Retro Studios “Thrilled” To Reveal Its Work On Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

Samus returns in 2025.

It’s been an incredibly exciting week for Nintendo, with this week’s Direct broadcast giving Metroid fans a first look at the fourth entry in the Metroid Prime series. It’s also a bit of a relief to finally see this game in action after an incredibly lengthy development cycle, including a restart.

To mark this special milestone, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond‘s developer Retro Studios has shown some signs of life on social media, with a brief message to fans – mentioning how “thrilled” it is to share what it’s been working on all of this time.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Hidetaka Miyazaki Would Consider Making a Traditional JRPG, but It Wouldn’t Be Related to Enchanted Arms

Elden Ring director Hidetaka Miyazaki is interested in developing a more traditional Japanese RPG, but if such a project does come to be, don’t expect it to be based on a select few past FromSoftware games.

The Dark Souls creator spoke about his desire to explore new gameplay styles during an interview with Rolling Stone. He explains he isn’t interested in leaving his own mark on many previous FromSoftware IP because series like Kings Field and Enchanted Arms are too connected to the work of other developers.

“I think a lot of these games are so intertwined with the directors who almost invented that style of game,” he said.

“I don’t think there’s a scenario where I myself would make a King’s Field. The same can be said about Otogi and Enchanted Arms.

Miyazaki continued: “I don’t think there’s a scenario where I myself would make a King’s Field. The same can be said about Otogi and Enchanted Arms.”

The one exception to this rule is the Armored Core series. Miyazaki served as a planner on Armored Core: Last Raven and chipped in for other games in the franchise, too. As a result, he feels equipped to potentially return to that universe.

“I worked on Armored Core 4 and Armored Core: For Answer,” he added. “It enabled me to put my own interpretation on Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon and develop that.”

We’ll have to wait to see if Miyazaki’s vision for a traditional JRPG comes to fruition. Meanwhile, FromSoftware is beginning to roll out substantial Elden Ring DLC in the form of Shadow of the Erdtree. While the studio’s next project remains a mystery, the FromSoftware boss recently revealed that the world he co-created with George R.R. Martin isn’t quite his idea of an “ideal fantasy RPG.”

“While Elden Ring is not quite it, it’s pretty close,” he said at the time. “It’s getting close.”

For more, be sure to read up on how the team might introduce new co-op elements to future titles. You can also read our interview with Miyazaki, where we learned more about the world of Elden Ring and how the DLC expands on an already fantastic formula. Don’t forget to check out our Shadow of the Erdtree review, too. Just like the original Elden Ring experience, we gave the add-on content a 10/10.

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.

Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.

Round Up: Limited Run Games Showcase 2024 – Every Switch Announcement & Physical

Fear Effect! Tomba! Penny’s Big Breakaway!

You thought the Nintendo Direct was the last big showcase of June? Oh no.

Physical game specialists Limited Run Games held its annual summer showcase earlier today with LRG3 2024 — cheekily named after E3 (RIP). And with a nostalgic opening, it really set the tone for the whole show.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

An Unboxing of and the Best Prices for Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Collector’s Edition

Finally, fellow Tarnished, we’ve reached the day of days—launch o’clock for Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree. By now, you would have seen our IGN review for this phenomenal 10/10 masterpiece of a DLC that almost feels like a sequel in its own right. Which, let’s be honest, is what you love to hear about a bit of add-on content that’s very reasonably priced.

Another thing many of us love to hear: a touchstone gaming event like this, that’s garnered almost universal praise, has been suitably celebrated with a whizbang edition for diehards. FromSoftware has indeed taken that route with the Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Collector’s Edition, a not inexpensive bit of kit that we’ll be unboxing and tracking bargains for in a moment. (While stocks last, and hopefully before the scalpers descend, like a horde of head sucking leeches with arms.)

And now, without further ado, let’s get you sorted for prices on this rock solid contender for GOTY 2024. Or, possibly, DLCOTY 2024.

Best Shadow of the Erdtree Standard Prices

– Buy Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree digital on Steam$59.95

– Buy Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Edition digital on Steam$119.95

Best Shadow of the Erdtree Collector’s Prices

– Buy a PC edition direct from Bandai Namco$449.95

Shadow of the Erdtree Collector’s Unboxing

Truth be told, I’ve been all the way through Shadow of the Erdtree already, and I know the subject of this Collector’s Edition like the back of my Malenia’s Gauntlet. Posterboy of the entire DLC and star of at least one lead-up trailer, Messmer the Impaler, is a foe that is both eye-catching in his design and lifebar-destroying in his merciless onscreen assaults.

The Elden Ring universe is chock full of memorable boss battles and bad-ass beasties—Messmer deserves his place both at the top of the boss food chain and in that pool room display cabinet in your own castle.

His Poke-ness rests entombed within a Collector’s Edition box that’s coated in runes and measures 20x27x38 cm. Breaking the seal on this prison reveals a range of items besides Messmer which should be quickly scooped up into your inventory.

The full list includes:

  • Shadow of the Erdtree DLC code (no base game)
  • Exclusive hardcover art book
  • Digital soundtrack
  • Preorder Bonus Gesture

With regards to the artbook, it’s a high-quality visual odyssey into some parts of the Shadow Realm that I, honestly, still have PTSD from. Wonderful tourist destinations that are to die for, like the Ancient Ruins of Rauh, the Hinterlands, and the always breathtaking Cerulean Coast. They’re all locales you’ll soon come to fear as well as swoon over.

Speaking of swooning, let’s cut to the main event—that 46cm Messmer the Impaler figurine. For reasons unknown (to me at least) Messmer is an especially lanky sort who would always get selected first in a pick up game of Shadow Realms b-ball. Our boy will tower impressively over the 23cm Malenia figure that came with the original Elden Ring Collector’s Edition, if you’re lucky enough to own that as well.

The visage on display here is one of tall, dark, and gruesome. Messmer is nothing less than a conversation piece, with topic at hand being Well, How On Earth Does One Kill This Bastard? That information I do in fact know, thanks to many an attempt plus trial and error, but I’ll leave you all to discover it yourself.

Starting at the head of the snake (so to literally speak), Messmer has an open faced helm that provides more than adequate protection from Fire, Lightning, and other projectiles covered in your average OH&S guide book. I also love the detailing on the snakes that adorn his crown, the dragon-esque winglets on the sides, and those Centurion galea face-guards.

When it comes to actual facial detail, this is a more than decent rendering of a fiercely brooding demigod. I particularly like the accurate portrayal of Messmer’s unearthly eyes—the same sort of peepers that dragons and runebears have in this universe, which suggests old mate has an ability to Dr. Doolittle with like-minded beasts.

Indeed, we’re already given that impression with the three slithery sidekicks that wind about our subject. One in particular hangs over his right shoulder, in proximity for a quick parseltongue chit-chat. All of these are recreated from the in-game asset that I’m intimately familiar with—particularly the little winglets that protrude from those little death noodles. I’ll not reveal why they’re going to be bad news for you…

When it comes to finery, Mr.’ Snake Hips Himself is draped in the imaginatively named Messmer’s Armor (which, pro tip: provides especially good damage negation to Lightning and Fire, but isn’t the best against Slash). The blood red cloak that furls out dramatically in-game has been recreated quite nicely here in the physical realm. Only Batman rocks a cape with more pizazz than this guy. And when it comes to the fine fur detailing on the cloak edges, John Wayne ain’t got nothing on our fringe game.

Beneath that battle drape is a finely detailed chainmail curiass with additional material accents around the hips. Incidentally, it’s a theme that all the cool kids are wearing in the Shadow Keep this season—you’ll soon meet a cadre of Fire Knights, Messmer loyalists who ape their bosses style without exceeding it. Because upstagers probably get impaled in that workplace.

Moving below the equator, we’re hiding our modesty today with the Roman-esque Messmer Greaves. These are essentially wrapped leather shingards that conjoin with a pair of open toe sandals. Every little pig is accounted for and clearly Messmer has gone with open toe as a means to keep cooler—overheating can and will occur when you’re a pyromaniac who spews flames and ground-pounding explosions all day long.

Last but not least, and speaking of flambe, this figurine is dominated by the presence of the Spear of the Impaler. Long enough to be God’s own letter-opener and devilishly OP enough to be Satan’s favourite pitchfork, this weapon is indeed a 1:1 replica of the in-game stick that jabbed me into a ‘You Died’ many a time.

The intricate (faux) metal work that makes up the crossguard is impressive, as is the detailing of the mid-shaft handle that reveals the true nature of this stick. Yep, this Great Spear is just as much a throwable javelin as it is a CQC shanker. The only thing that could have made it more authentic would be a hint of flame at the business end—because this stick can be made to explode if you have the mind to R2 charge it up.

At the end of the unbox, what we have here is more authenticity than you can poke a red hot stick at. If you want to adorn your game cave with a stark reminder of how many times you had your butt handed to you by Messmer the Impaler, there is no finer way to do it. (And that includes this Messmer Helmet replica that I feel caters more to the cashed-up cosplay crowd.)

Essentially, I think the Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Collector’s Edition can stand proud and tall alongside FromSoftware’s many other premium figurines, like this especially dashing Dark Souls 3 one.

If Hidetaka Miyazaki speaks true, Erdtree might well be the last piece of the Elden universe we’ll get to experience. I’m certain, then, in the years to come that my eyes will wander over to this figurine and remember back to the great struggle that was. With a thousand-yard stare. As Adagio For Strings plays.

Thanks to Bandai Namco AU for providing a unit for photography purposes.

The Steam Deck is one of the best ways to play Elden Ring, and now Shadow of the Erdtree too

Elden Ring on the Steam Deck has long enjoyed a smoothness that desktop play has lacked. Not so much in simple framerate terms – the handheld spends far more time around the 30fps mark than it does bumping into Elden Ring’s 60fps cap – but thanks to a Proton compatibility update back in 2022, it’s drastically less prone to the flow-breaking stutter that still plagues the RPG in 2024. That now goes for Shadow Of The Erdtree as well, judging from my portable time in the new expansion.

Read more

The Best Print-and-Play Board Games

There’s a wonderful charm to the nature of print-and-play board games. Whether free or available for a small fee, these do-it-yourself designs offer full experiences that rival professionally published titles. In fact, many hit games started off as print-and-play offerings, including The Resistance, Monikers, and Gloomhaven: Buttons & Bugs. Clearly, this minified format does not hold back a stellar game or stifle its creativity.

The nine games on this list are some of the best print-and-play offerings currently available. This is a genre that boasts thousands of options, so whittling the list down to a select few proved quite a challenge. The end result is an array of titles that will suit varied tastes and proficiencies. So fire up the inkjet and pull out the scissors.

TL;DR: The Best Print-and-Play Board Games

Deep Space D-6

  • Age Range: 10+
  • Number of Players: 1
  • Play Time: 30 min

A large swathe of print-and-play games target solo play, and Deep Space D-6 is one of the best. This game puts you in the role of captaining a United Earth’s Fleet starship responding to a distress call. Warping into the sector, you quickly realize it was a trap and have now been ambushed. Your only response is to start rolling dice.

Each turn you roll crew dice and assign them to various stations on your spacecraft. You must split your concentration between internal and external threats, as you will face boarding parties as well as opposing ships. With several ship options, a multitude of threats, and various tactical considerations, Deep Space D-6 boasts a solid amount of depth in a little package.

Bloc by Bloc: The Insurrection Game

  • Age Range: 13+
  • Number of Players: 2-4
  • Play Time: 120-180 min

This is the most complex and rich board game on this list. Bloc by Bloc is a semi-cooperative political experience about fighting a revolution. Players control factions of workers, students, neighbors, or prisoners, and utilize their force to combat the State. It’s a very fierce affair that embodies the use of violence to curb tyranny.

This is a multi-layered design that features hidden agendas, area control, and a high degree of asymmetry. Play occurs over multiple nights, with each participant executing actions and then bracing themselves for the game-controlled police response. It’s a fascinating game, and one that bears a striking theme. The cute facade and buffer between realistic depictions provide a touch of levity and blunt the game’s edge. This is a fantastic example, however, that board games can tackle serious topics and themes beyond surface-level violence and adventure.

For Northwood!

  • Age Range: 12+
  • Number of Players: 1
  • Play Time: 15-30 min

For Northwood presents the novel concept of a solitaire trick-taking game. The trick-taking game genre, epitomized by titles such as Spades and Euchre, is a classic style of card game that has seen a huge resurgence in recent years. For Northwood takes this idea and translates it to a single player experience that is surprisingly effective.

The goal here is to peacefully unify the kingdom of Northwood. Each trick represents a conversation with Northwood’s rulers, playing out as a series of tense negotiations. This is such a clever format to present this idea, and it works wonderfully to inject a bit of drama and context to the card play. The approach is ultimately playing cards against a mindless opponent, the challenge level can get very high. You’re forced to make difficult decisions about when to use special once-per-game abilities, and you must manage your hand deftly to succeed. This is a winner, and a very easy game to print out and assemble.

Voyages

  • Age Range: 10+
  • Number of Players: 1-8
  • Play Time: 20-30 min

The popular roll-and-write genre of games has players rolling dice and then marking up personal sheets to cross off boxes, mark off numbers, or color in spaces. Voyages has players use dice rolls to sail a ship across an open sea. The goal is to visit different islands and gather goods to deliver to various destinations.

Like many roll-and-write games, the experience shifts substantially with new sheets and layouts. There is a wide variety of sea maps to choose from, creating unique strategic challenges that demand clever sailing. This is a breezy game that is playable by a large number of players simultaneously. It requires a very modest amount of effort to print and assemble, and is one of the most accommodating games on this list. The gameplay is more worth the trouble, as Voyages is an excellent print-and-play design.

Netrunner: System Gateway

  • Age Range: 12+
  • Number of Players: 2
  • Play Time: 45 min

Magic: The Gathering designer Richard Garfield released the two-player cyberpunk hacking CCG Netrunner in 1996. It was later re-envisioned by Fantasy Flight Games as Android: Netrunner in 2012, cementing its legacy as one of the best card games ever made. Unfortunately, it officially went out of print in 2018, closing the doors on any future development and leaving a huge fanbase hanging in the wind. Or so we thought.

A group of fans has revitalized Netrunner in a completely free-to-play format, offering professionally illustrated card sets that continue the legacy of this astounding game. While the new card sets are free to print on your own, you can also purchase professionally printed decks online. The quality of artwork and game design is remarkable. It’s as if the game never died. Additionally, you can even acquire reworked versions of old cards, making for a very complete and nuanced game that is completely accessible from your computer. System Gateway is the starter set, a wonderful collection of cards that plays superbly.

Table Battles

  • Age Range: 10+
  • Number of Players: 2
  • Play Time: 20 min

Amabel Holland is an enigmatic designer who has produced dozens of quirky and unusual titles from her co-owned studio Hollandspiel. Table Battles is one of her most successful systems, offering a light and streamlined war board game that is flexible to cover many different eras of history. It’s fueled by a central dice activation system where players allocate rolled dice to unit cards in order to later activate and attack with them.

While this game is easy to pick up and learn, there is a degree of depth through tactical options such as counterattacking, utilizing strategic reserves, and screening attacks to cancel them. It’s a tense game where thoughtful maneuvering is paramount to success. This base set includes battles ranging from 1458 to 1776, but there are follow-up titles that cover the War of the Roses, the American Civil War, and even fictional setups such as Dinosaurs and Kaiju.

  • Age Range: 12+
  • Number of Players: 1
  • Play Time: 30 min

Another Hollandspiel title, Heading Forward is a very weird game about recovering from a brain injury. This solitaire design has players exploring rehabilitation from a terrible accident. You must relearn skills such as planning, shopping, and returning to work. All of this must be accomplished in a limited time as your insurance company will only fund your recovery for a defined timeframe.

To develop these skills you must rotate and swap out cards. They upgrade from weak level one skills all the way up to level four. Improving your acumen requires managing emotional and physical energy, as well as other resources. The road is fraught with setback, however, as hiding in the deck is a trigger card. This reignites the trauma of your accident and marks a major setback. This game one again displays that board games can reach for something greater. It’s based on designer John du Bois’ own recovery, and is a very intimate and memorable experience.

Two Rooms and a Boom

  • Age Range: 8+
  • Number of Players: 6-30
  • Play Time: 30 min

Two Rooms and a Boom is one of the best social deduction games ever designed, and it’s thankfully available in a print-and-play format alongside the professionally published version. This is one of those party games that works best with a large crowd. It excels with groups of 10 or more, as players are dealt secret cards that split them between two teams. All of the players are then divided between two rooms which are isolated from each other.

The blue team wants to protect one of their own, the President. The red team wants to ensure the player on their team that occupies the role of the bomber ends up in the same room as the President at game’s end. Over multiple rounds, each room will select players to be exchanged with the other location. At the end of the game, if the President is in the same location as the bomber, then the red team wins. If this doesn’t happen, the blue team succeeds. It’s simple but wildly entertaining. Players can secretly or publicly reveal their role cards. Cliques are established quickly and much negotiation occurs. Everything radically changes when new roles are added, such as players which are not allowed to show their role, ones which may only lie and never tell the truth, and ones with alternate private victory conditions. This is a fantastic game with a large amount of depth and variability that is sure to please a large crowd.

Circle the Wagons

  • Age Range: 8+
  • Number of Players: 2
  • Play Time: 15 min

This head-to-head card game has players developing their own prosperous town. The core of the game hinges on a unique draft system, where available cards are placed in a circle at the center of the table. Players take turns plucking cards from this circle and placing them in their own personal towns.

One wrinkle of the game is a set of three cards at the center of the circle. This trio dictate bonus ways to score when building towns and should not be ignored when formulating strategy. This is a clever little game that is enhanced by a large degree of variability. There is a plethora of combinations in card placement, and each session doesn’t quite work out the same way.

Charlie Theel is a tabletop games freelancer. You can follow him on Twitter @CharlieTheel.