LEGO has been used to build just about everything imaginable, from elaborate castles and sprawling cities to spaceships that probably have no business flying. A proper city-building game therefore feels like a surprisingly natural fit for the brick-building brand, and LEGO Skylines is finally making that combination a reality. Developed by Iceflake Studios and published by Paradox Interactive, the game takes the established city-building formula associated with the Skylines series and rebuilds it around LEGO’s colorful aesthetic, with a greater emphasis on creativity, customization and accessibility. After getting hands-on time with the PC version at Gamescom, followed by additional time with a preview build, there is already a lot to like about the direction this unusual spin-off is taking. Continue reading “LEGO Skylines preview (Gamescom)”
Showa American Story preview (Gamescom)
What happens when Japan buys most of America, the world ends, and a teenage girl comes back from the dead? That is the starting point for Showa American Story, an action RPG that seems determined to answer that question with as much blood, absurdity and 1980s pop-culture nostalgia as possible. Developed by NEKCOM Entertainment and published by 4Divinity, the game certainly isn’t short on personality, and a Gamescom demo offered a closer look at a post-apocalyptic adventure that could turn out to be one of 2026’s more unusual games. Continue reading “Showa American Story preview (Gamescom)”
Honeycomb: The World Beyond review (PS5)
Survival games tend to be built around the same basic question: how long can the player stay alive when the world is actively trying to kill them? Honeycomb: The World Beyond takes a rather different approach. Developed by Frozen Way and published by Snail Games, this PS5 survival adventure sends bioengineer Hennessy to the alien planet Sota7, where the objective is not to conquer its hostile environment but to understand it. With Earth facing the consequences of ecological collapse, Hennessy is tasked with researching the planet’s flora and fauna in the hope that its biological secrets might eventually help humanity. That premise gives Honeycomb a distinctive identity from the outset, although the game does not always manage to turn its intriguing ideas into equally compelling gameplay. Continue reading “Honeycomb: The World Beyond review (PS5)”
1666: Amsterdam preview (PC)
1666: Amsterdam is a game that has taken an unusually long and winding road to reach players, but Panache Digital Games’ historical action-adventure is finally becoming a reality. Set in a supernatural version of seventeenth-century Amsterdam, the game combines investigation, witchcraft, stealth and combat with an unlikely partnership between a witch and a cat carrying the consciousness of a man from the future. That combination already makes 1666: Amsterdam rather difficult to compare directly with other games, and the Early Access version suggests that its ambitions are still considerably greater than what is currently playable. Continue reading “1666: Amsterdam preview (PC)”
Usual June preview (PC)
Finji has built a reputation around distinctive indie experiences, and Usual June looks set to continue that tradition with an action-adventure that combines supernatural mystery, coming-of-age drama and fast-paced combat. Set in the fictional town of Fen Harbor, the game follows a college student whose plans for an uneventful summer are derailed by disappearing ghosts, strange crystalline creatures and a mystery that threatens the entire city. We got to take a closer look at Usual June during an online presentation hosted by Finji, as well as spending some hands-on time with the Steam demo. Continue reading “Usual June preview (PC)”