Firewatch
News, coverage and analysis tracking Firewatch across the outlets.
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Denshattack! An Off-The-Rails Review
Denshattack! is a stylish and ambitious indie game that blends arcade gameplay with anime dynamics and a vibrant Y2K Sega Dreamcast-inspired aesthetic. Players control a ramen delivery driver who uses gravity-defying trains to perform tricks and race across a dystopian Japan, fighting against a tyrannical megacorporation. The game features fast-paced action, impressive boss fights, and a memorable soundtrack, making it a delightful and surprising experience.
Weekend PC Download Deals for Aug. 21: The Humble Store Summer Sale continues
This article rounds up various PC game deals available from multiple digital storefronts, including Humble Store, Battle.net, GamesPlanet, Ubisoft Store, Green Man Gaming, Epic Games Store, Amazon Luna, Fanatical, Gamebillet, GOG.com, and Steam. Notable sales include Humble Store's Summer Sale, Battle.net's August Game Deals, and Ubisoft's Gamescom sale, featuring discounts on a wide range of titles.
Game Pass Makes Moves With Seven Games This Week
Microsoft's Game Pass service is adding seven games this week, with three new titles and four existing games expanding to the Game Pass Premium tier. The new additions include Date Everything!, Cricket 26, and Sandustry, while Grounded 2 is the most prominent existing game to gain Premium availability. Four games, Menace, Atlas Fallen, Aliens: Fireteam Elite, and Firewatch, will be leaving the service on August 15th.
There are a few gooduns in August's Xbox Game Pass line-up, including a surprisingly sexy, and funny, furniture dating sim
Xbox has announced its Game Pass additions for early August, featuring new titles like the action RPG Beast of Reincarnation and the unique furniture dating sim Date Everything!. The lineup also includes the Gears of War: E-Day open beta and other games such as Grounded 2 and PowerWash Simulator 2. This comes amidst significant restructuring within Microsoft's Xbox division, with new Xbox boss Asha Sharma recently reducing Game Pass prices to boost subscriber numbers.
Xbox Game Pass Loses This Perfect Organism And Three More Games In August
Xbox Game Pass will remove four games on August 15: Menace (PC Game Preview), Atlas Fallen, Aliens: Fireteam Elite, and Firewatch. Subscribers can purchase these titles at a 20% discount before they are delisted. This follows a larger removal of 20 games in July.
Xbox Game Pass Reveals First Wave Of August 2026 Games
Xbox Game Pass has revealed the first wave of games coming in August 2026, including Heretic + Hexen, Beast of Reincarnation, and the Gears of War: E-Day beta. Later in the month, players can look forward to Bounty Star, Date Everything, Grounded 2, Ball X Pit, Cricket 26, Mio: Memories in Orbit, and Sandustry. Four games, including Aliens: Fireteam Elite and Firewatch, will be leaving the service on August 15.
Coming to XBOX Game Pass: Gears of War: E-Day Open Beta, Cricket 26, Date Everything!, and More
Xbox Game Pass is adding several new titles throughout August, including an Early Access Open Beta for Gears of War: E-Day, Beast of Reincarnation, Bounty Star, and Cricket 26. Several games are also leaving the service on August 15, including Atlas Fallen and Firewatch. Additionally, classic original Xbox games are now available on PC and handheld devices.
Gears of War: E-Day Beta, Beast of Reincarnation, and More Headline Wave 1 of Game Pass in August
Microsoft's Game Pass service is adding several titles in August, including a beta for Gears of War: E-Day starting August 6th for Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers. Other new additions include Beast of Reincarnation, Monsters are Coming!, PowerWash Simulator 2, Bounty Star, Grounded 2, and more. Several games will also be leaving the service on August 15th.
What developers can learn from this generation of game criticism
This article analyzes the impact of video essays and online game criticism on game developers, contrasting it with traditional reviews and playtesting. While direct, actionable advice is rare, developers find inspiration and insight from creators like Mark Brown, Noah Caldwell-Gervais, and Jacob Geller, influencing their design philosophies and understanding of player experience.
Små pixlar, stora hjärtan
This article explores how indie games like A Void Hope, Thomas Was Alone, Firewatch, and Celeste connect with players emotionally, often through minimalist design and compelling narratives rather than advanced technology. The author reflects on how simpler graphics and mechanics can leave space for deeper player interpretation and emotional engagement.
Summer Vacation Handheld Loadout 2026 | TAG
This guide provides recommendations for pre-installing 4-6 games on handheld devices for vacation gaming, emphasizing variety and offline playability. It covers device-specific considerations for Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch 2, and iPad, along with strategies for battery management, cloud saves, and storage. The article also suggests backup activities and packing checklists for a seamless gaming experience during travel.
6 Vacation Week Games to Finish Before Flying Home | TAG
This guide recommends six games that can be completed within a 5-10 hour playtime, ideal for finishing during a week-long vacation. It emphasizes narrative-driven and handheld-compatible titles like Inside, Stray, A Short Hike, What Remains of Edith Finch, and Firewatch, with Outer Wilds suggested for longer vacations. The article also provides advice on session structure, device choice, and avoiding common vacation gaming pitfalls.
I've been trying to get my Steam Link to work for ten years, but I've fixed it just in time to save me spending £1000 on a Steam Machine
After a decade of troubleshooting, the author finally got Valve's Steam Link to work reliably by disabling the Fraps benchmarking tool. This success allows for PC gaming on a big screen without the expense of a Steam Machine, offering a viable alternative for users with existing desktop PCs.
Weekend Console Download Deals for June 19: Dispatch your wallets
This article highlights various digital game sales available on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch for the weekend of June 19. It features discounts on a wide range of titles, including notable games like Resident Evil 4 Gold Edition, Dave the Diver, and Grand Theft Auto 5, across different storefronts and subscription services.
You Are Everyone’s Intrusive Thoughts In Citizen Sleeper Dev’s Upcoming Fungal RPG
Signet City, the upcoming first-person fungalpunk RPG from Gareth Damian Martin, the developer behind Citizen Sleeper, will feature players as a sentient spore infecting individuals to influence their actions. The game mechanics revolve around emotions and a six-sided die system, similar to tabletop RPGs, allowing for diverse approaches to challenges. Martin aims to explore complex perspectives on control and revolution within the game's narrative.
How to be a dad and a gamer and still get a good night’s sleep - Reader's Feature
A father of two young children shares his struggle to balance gaming with family life, finding that long, time-consuming games are no longer feasible. He details his process of organizing his extensive game library by length to better manage his limited playtime and rediscover enjoyment in shorter, more self-contained experiences.
Weekend Console Download Deals for June 12: PlayStation Mid-Year Deals
PlayStation is offering mid-year deals on titles like ARC Raiders and Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection, with additional free games for PlayStation Plus members. Xbox features Capcom publisher sales, including Resident Evil 4 Gold Edition, while the Nintendo eShop also has Capcom discounts. Various other publishers like Atari and RGG Studio also have sales across platforms.
Podd-dags - Kontrollrummet intervjuar PaperKlay-pappan
Kevin Andersson, the developer behind the indie game PaperKlay, discusses his creative process and inspirations in an interview with the Kontrollrummet podcast. He shares how he overcame development challenges independently and his approach to making the game more than just a nostalgic experience. The interview also features hosts Viktor and Björn from Kontrollrummet, who share their favorite indie titles and their passion for games as a cultural medium.
6 Story Games for Players Who Don't Want to Talk | TAG
This article highlights six story-driven games that do not require dialogue choices or role-playing, catering to players seeking a narrative experience without conversational effort. Titles like Journey, Cocoon, Inside, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, Return of the Obra Dinn, and Outer Wilds are discussed for their unique methods of storytelling through environment, music, and observation, with many also being compatible with handheld devices like the Steam Deck.
OPINION: Is Mixtape really a 10/10 game?
This opinion piece questions the prevalence of 10/10 review scores for narrative-driven games like Mixtape, arguing that personal emotional resonance is often conflated with objective quality and innovation. The author suggests that while Mixtape is a sincere experience, it doesn't redefine the medium in the way landmark titles like Elden Ring or The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild did. The article calls for a clearer understanding of what review scores truly measure in modern game criticism.
