Category: New

HYPERWIRED, developed by SIDRALGAMES and published by SelectaPlay, is a 2D pixel art roguelike twin-stick space shooter that attempts to differentiate itself through a single, defining idea: your ship is permanently tethered to a cable. Across procedurally generated runs, players are pushed through hostile space sectors where survival depends not only on firepower, but also on managing energy, positioning, and the constant limitation of how far you can drift from whatever you’re plugged into. It’s a premise that immediately sets a tone of constraint and improvisation, framing each encounter as a balancing act between mobility and survival. Continue reading “HYPERWIRED review (PS5)”

The Backrooms has grown from an internet curiosity into a full-fledged horror phenomenon, making adaptations almost inevitable. Cortez Productions’ Backrooms: Lost Tape arrives on PlayStation 5 after receiving a substantial overhaul for its PC release, presenting itself as a found-footage anthology rather than a traditional survival horror game. Across its currently available episodes, players follow Josh and later his brother Nikolas as both become trapped within the endless maze of liminal spaces. It’s an intriguing framework that captures the unsettling appeal of the source material, although its storytelling ultimately feels more like a guided tour through familiar Backrooms mythology than a fresh interpretation of it. Continue reading “Backrooms: Lost Tape review (PS5)”

Rat Protocol takes one of gaming’s oldest puzzle foundations and builds something more engaging around it than its modest appearance initially suggests. Developed by Pufferfish Digital and published by Eastasiasoft, it casts players as an ordinary laboratory rat whose intelligence has been dramatically enhanced by a scientific experiment. That setup provides a surprisingly cohesive framework for what could otherwise have been a straightforward sequence of standalone block-pushing puzzles, with short scenes between stages gradually developing the relationship between the observing scientists while giving narrative context to each new experimental obstacle. It’s never a story-heavy experience, but the extra personality helps the progression feel purposeful instead of simply moving from one abstract challenge to the next. Continue reading “Rat Protocol review (PS5)”

Deathbulge: Battle of the Bands immediately stands out from the crowded RPG landscape by refusing to take itself seriously, yet it never treats its mechanics with the same irreverence. Developed by Deathbulge and published by Deathbulge alongside Five Houses, this PlayStation 5 release follows three struggling musicians who accidentally sign themselves into a supernatural battle of the bands where musical talent becomes literal weaponry. What begins as an amusing premise quickly grows into an adventure filled with bizarre locations, memorable personalities and surprisingly heartfelt moments, balancing absurd comedy with genuine stakes in a way that largely succeeds. Continue reading “Deathbulge: Battle of the Bands review (PS5)”