Exciting News: Sword Hero’s Kickstarter launches on the 27th, and if you’ve been following the project, this is the moment where your support directly helps push the game toward its best possible full release.
In the meantime, you can head to the Kickstarter page and click “Notify me on launch” to get alerted the moment it goes live. Every bit of early support helps ForestWare, the solo developer behind Sword Hero, get closer to his dream of making the game as ambitious, polished, and special as it can be for all of you.
Mark the date
January 27 · 10 AM CST / 11 AM EST / 8 AM PST / 5 PM CEST
Sword Hero is a third-person open-world RPG with sandbox DNA, inspired by the early 2000s era of the genre: strong reactivity, real player freedom, minimal hand-holding, and immersion as the priority.
You play as the Delver — a nobody dropped onto the quarantined, war-torn island of Wes with almost nothing. You’re not chosen. You’re not “the hero.” And the world won’t wait for you.
WHAT MAKES SWORD HERO DIFFIRENT
Sword Hero is built around one rule:
If you think you should be able to do something, it should work.
That means systems you can actually use: fire that spreads, weather that changes the battlefield, NPC behavior you can manipulate, and an ecosystem that doesn’t revolve around you.
A FEW HIGHLIGHTS
Seamless, dense open world (no invisible walls — progression is earned through the dangers you overcome)
Dynamic systems: day/night, weather, fire propagation, crime, routines, persistent bodies, simulated wounds, and more
Body-part combat & dismemberment: armor/health/debuffs tracked per limb
Colossal creatures with grapple points and weak points you can reach and exploit
Housing & ownership: rent early, buy later, furnish and display trophies and items freely
Visible character progression: scars, muscle growth, prosthetics, mutations, tattoos, necromancy… your character tells a story
No level-scaling enemies: the world stays organic — a wolf is a wolf
JOIN OFFICIAL DISCORD
Connect with the community, discuss builds and systems, share feedback, and stay up to date as Sword Hero continues development.
Tag: 2026
Tomb of the Bloodletter
A Strategic Roguelike Where Typing Is the Weapon
[California – January 15] – Prepare to enter Tomb of the Bloodletter, a strategic typing roguelike where combat is less about min-maxing builds and more about pulling off the perfect word at exactly the right moment. The game launches on PC via Steam on February 5, 2026, developed by solo developer Ethan’s Secretions, with a demo available now.
YouTube Video.
Tomb of the Bloodletter is a roguelike built entirely around typing, turning the keyboard into an arsenal and every word into a potential weapon. When players enter a floor, Magicks are assigned directly to individual letters, each obeying strange and specific rules. A letter may strike harder when placed at the end of a word, another might restore health, while other Magicks punish certain patterns or combinations, requiring careful consideration of not just what word to spell, but how it is constructed.
The game is structured like a traditional roguelike, with tightly paced, randomized runs lasting around 30 minutes that end in either victory or defeat. Rather than focusing on long-term build optimization, the experience emphasizes the moment-to-moment puzzle each turn presents. Players always have access to their full keyboard, with Magicks shaping how letters behave rather than limiting which words can be played. Success isn’t about having the largest vocabulary, but about tactical combinations, sequencing magick-infused letters at the right time to turn volatile interactions into powerful tools.
Each run sends players into a shifting, cursed tomb as one of four ill-fated grave robbers, each bringing unique quirks and abilities that twist the rules of combat. No matter who enters the tomb, survival is never clean, easy, or guaranteed. Every descent reshapes the dungeon, forcing adaptation as new threats and challenges emerge. The tomb crawls with cursed beasts, deceitful specters, and entities best left unspoken, each handcrafted with unique mechanics that demand clever thinking and precise wordplay to overcome. As runs progress, new Magicks are acquired whether players want them or not, slowly transforming the keyboard into an unstable spellbook that serves as both weapon and liability.
Players can get an early taste of the tomb ahead of launch with a playable demo available now on Steam, featuring the first two grave robbers. Stay up to date by following the developer on Bluesky and joining the official Discord
Gedonia 2
First I wanna thank Kazakov Oleg for sending me a copy of the game its greatly appreciated um let’s dive in i guess.
This review is hard for me to write I wanted to enjoy the game but I just couldn’t enjoy it after a few hours playing it I knew it wasnt for me.
The Good
The game has simple graphics nothing over demanding kinda reminds me a bit like borderlands with the style they used just a bit more matted then over bearing.
The world was great nice and big plenty of beautiful things to see and some mob encounters as well.
The game did recently add another area sadly I wasnt able to reach it since the new area was for players level 22 and above.
Now onto the rest the game starts you out in character creation everything is instanced session based so I had to create my own session to play the game nothing was created before hand, there isnt much of a tutorial either so you get 8 points in character creation to displace among the 4 main stats me I went 2 across the board which is my first mistake but of course the game doesn’t tell you that or give you a hint.
So I started the game and walked around you see floating question marks which I guess is this games form of a tutorial it tells you how to do something which I already figured out before I even got there the first person I come across is a cultist who wants me to join him I refuse but even if u change your mind your locked out of him since you cant chat with him anymore so I pressed forward I couldn’t open the door cause I needed a key and I couldn’t break down the wooden boards cause I wasnt strong enough so then what I had to climb up the dilapidated building until I could manage to get high enough to jump into the next area I dont know if thats how its supposed to be but it was bullshit.
So I continued made my way through the cave found a mysterious group that killed everyone and left me I slowly snuck out and kept going after making it into the new area I was met with a guy who had a mission to kill some zombies finally some action I thought then I found the zombie and well things aren’t what they seemed.
I progressed into the first town with a man named earl who has plenty of attitude who I instantly disliked but I did a mission for him which put me in his good graces and moved me to the next city and more missions which is weird considering my low level and this new area was ment for levels 18 and up so make it make sense for me.
This next area is where I got stuck and kept dying over and over no matter what I tried to do and that honestly killed any hope I had for the game.
I even tried to play in multiplayer but me and my friend couldn’t figure out how to do it there’s no walk through nothing, I get that this game is trying to be hands off but how do you make new players welcomed when you explain nothing this game does nothing to help new players and I cant recommend it one bit even with the low price of 14.99 other games explain there concepts much better, even google was no help cause all it would say is find a red crystal ok where what city what level yes I could have gone into there discord for help but why its the games job to explain stuff to me not some other person.
The combat had a delay between the actions and movement and I would always get hit even after dodging this game needs work maybe down the road ill revisit it but for now ill stay away and you should to take care and game on.
RougeMatch the Extraplanar Invasion on switch
First off huge thank you to starstruck games for sending me a copy of the game its greatly appreciated now let’s talk about it.
I played rougematch on the nintendo switch I was going in expecting a simple match 3 game and boy do I wanna kick my own ass for being so wrong about this game that I dont even know where to start off. So ill try my best.
So the game follows a group of friends that found an old castle thats protected by a magical barrier, one thats no one has been able to enter the friends camp out in the night to regain there energy but the mage thinking they were all powerful snuck off and went into the castle hoping to beat it and get back to there friends before sunrise but boy we’re they wrong, then the paladin of the group rushes after the mage basically leaving our character alone and clueless of what’s going on until we jump in the castle and find a recording of our mage friend leaving instructions on the castle and how to progress so we do.
This game takes match 3 to a whole nother level first the puzzle is laid around you and you use the joy stick to select pieces to try and match up I feel they should have made the joy stick for movement and cross buttons for selecting but I digress so there’s monsters in the castle and if they get close they will attack but you can attack them back by matching 3 pieces or by walking into them but becareful you do have a health bar and stats to play with.
Now you have a mana range and inside that range some matches heal your character so your not screwed in combat thinking your done for when you lose health you can heal thankfully. There are also spells and abilities that help you fight but use up mana like an old school rpg so watch out for everything and pay attention.
Each elemental piece offers different effects when triggered and if near a monster will affect them and maybe even stun them for a bit to help you breath in combat.
You also find magic items that are hidden in wall safes that open up when the room is cleared which is pretty cool since you never know what will drop.
This game has 5 different ways of clearing a room and an objective marker telling you what you need to do so your not going into the rooms blind.
I could go on but this game is huge and has so much you need to learn to play is it easy yeah but it has a learning curve that thankfully isnt to hard and yes the game has a tutorial to tell you how to play. The story is divided up into chapters and sadly im struggling so bad to get through the castle I dont know when ill experience the rest also watch out for bosses there mean huge and kick ass but you gotta play to see how huge.
Again big thank you to star struck games for sending me the key this game is on the switch its called RougeMatch the Extraplanar Invasion check it out and enjoy thank you all for stopping by take care and game on.
Astrobotanica
ASTROBOTANICA™ BLOOMS AHEAD OF STEAM EARLY ACCESS LAUNCH
Space Goblin Studio’s relaxed, science-driven survival game arrives soon
WARSAW, POLAND – JANUARY 14, 2026 – Space Goblin Studio has unveiled a new teaser trailer today for ASTROBOTANICA, showcasing progress made following community feedback during Steam Next Fest, ahead of its fast-approaching Steam Early Access launch on February 16.
YouTube Video.
ASTROBOTANICA is a curiosity-led survival game built around exploration and scientific experimentation. Set 300,000 years ago on prehistoric Earth, the game casts players as an alien botanist stranded during a mission to save their home planet. Surrounded by unknown plants, wild animals, primal humans, and an oxygen-rich atmosphere they can’t breathe, players must adapt quickly to survive – not through brute force, but through alien botany, experimentation, and discovery. Once establishing a home base with a blooming garden, players will set off to explore the surroundings, where ancient puzzles await alongside the mysteries of prehistoric Earth. Discovery, experimentation and scientific problem-solving lead the way in ASTROBOTANICA, offering a relaxed and welcoming approach to the survival genre.
Launching soon in Steam Early Access, ASTROBOTANICA has been designed from the ground up as a playable playground, encompassing core systems from day one, including botany and crafting, exploration and puzzle-solving, farming and base-building, and healing and helping primal humans. Throughout Early Access, Space Goblin Studio plans to expand ASTROBOTANICA’s world, introduce new systems and mechanics, and develop its evolving storyline through ongoing updates, shaped in collaboration with the community.
Following a successful Kickstarter campaign and a strong showing during the latest Steam Next Fest – where ASTROBOTANICA ranked among the top 100 demos – the team has already built a passionate community, with over 83,000 wishlists to date, and now looks forward to welcoming new players to its fresh take on survival. Recent improvements driven by community feedback include a fully reworked inventory system, upgraded level art, and enhanced performance optimisations designed to support a wide range of hardware.
For more information and the latest updates from the development team, head over to the official Steam page, where players can wishlist the game now. They can also join the game’s official Discord server to follow development and share feedback directly with the team. Space Goblin also welcomes comic fans to read the game’s official comic series, Sprout Out! on Webtoons.
Locked in my darkness 2 the room
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico — January 8, 2026 — Locked in My Darkness 2: The Room, the concluding chapter of the psychological horror trilogy, will launch on February 11 on Steam. Developed by Blusagi Team, the game delivers a tense, narrative-driven experience that brings the series’ story to its definitive end.
YouTube Video.
Locked in My Darkness 2: The Room is a first-person psychological horror game that follows Yuki Tachibana, a Japanese high school student who has recently moved with her parents to a modest apartment in New York. What begins as an attempt at a fresh start quickly unravels as the dark past of her family resurfaces, manifesting through disturbing environments, shifting realities, and buried memories that refuse to remain hidden.
Focused on exploration and atmosphere, the game emphasizes environmental storytelling over combat. Players investigate interconnected rooms, read scattered notes, solve environmental puzzles, and traverse surreal alternate dimensions inspired by classic psychological horror. As the story progresses, the atmosphere evolves, intensifying tension and unease while revealing the truth behind Yuki’s family history.
Featuring multiple endings and optional collectibles, Locked in My Darkness 2: The Room offers a 2–3 hour experience shaped by player choices and discoveries. The game serves as a direct sequel to Locked in My Darkness and Blue Maiden, resolving the narrative threads established across the trilogy.
Locked In My Darkness: The Room 2 will launch on February 11th on Steam.
Steam workshop integration for emperor of the fading suns enhanced
Steam Workshop Integration Launches Today for Emperor of the Fading Suns Enhanced!
Mod the Known Worlds like never before with 20% off during the Steam Winter Sale
[Atlanta, GA – December 18, 2025] – Holistic Design, Inc. is proud to announce that Steam Workshop integration is available today for Emperor of the Fading Suns Enhanced, bringing one of the community’s most requested features to the legendary 4X strategy classic. To celebrate the launch, Emperor of the Fading Suns is 20% off during the Steam Winter Sale. This new update makes discovering, installing, and playing mods easier than ever, empowering both longtime fans and new modders to reshape the Known Worlds.
With the latest Steam version installed, players can now choose between launching the base game or the new Enhanced Launcher directly from Steam. Selecting the launcher unlocks a dedicated Mods menu, which allows players to browse locally installed mods, mods that ship with the game, and mods available via the Steam Workshop. Choose a mod, hit play, and jump straight into a new vision of the galaxy. The launcher also introduces direct access to the Map Editor, further expanding creative possibilities for the community.
The Enhanced Edition now ships with two mods included by default. Legacy recreates the classic 1.4 version of Emperor of the Fading Suns using the Enhanced framework, preserving the original experience while benefiting from modern improvements. Phoenix, created by a veteran community modder, offers a fresh take on the universe and showcases what’s possible with the new tools.
A brief developer walkthrough of the new launcher and Steam Workshop functionality can be viewed here.
GOG players are included in the update as well, with the addition of a one-click mod launcher that mirrors the Steam experience. While GOG does not currently support Workshop-style browsing, players can access the same launcher and switch between the mods that ship with the game. The team looks forward to seeing Emperor of the Fading Suns Enhanced mods arrive on GOG in the future.
Key Update Highlights:
Steam Workshop Integration: Browse, install, and play community-created mods directly from the new Enhanced Launcher.
New Game Launcher: Seamlessly switch between the base game, mods, and the Map Editor.
Included Mods: Play the classic Legacy experience or explore Phoenix, a new community-created mod.
Expanded Modding Support: Continued support for one of strategy gaming’s longest-running modding communities.
Whether you’re diving into new creations or building your own vision of the galaxy, the future of the Known Worlds has never looked brighter. Emperor of the Fading Suns Enhanced is available now on Steam for PC and Linux with a 20% off discount during the Steam Winter Sale. Stay up to date on the latest news from throughout the galaxy by visiting the official website.
Goals for 2026
Hey everyone a bit more of a personal post here. Every year we all make resolutions and wishes that we wanna keep so im throwing my hat in the pile for 2026.
This year my blog is a big focus i wanna write more and be more active in wanna know that my commitment isnt a joke that this to me is serious work.
I also wanna work on my attentionspan as tiktok has really ruined it im slowly getting back into long form content after basically cutting tiktok out of my life.
And my youtube channel ive made a YouTube channel named after this blog where ill be making video reviews of the games I play, I will also be posting gameplay videos as well as tech videos.
And finally for gaming my goal is to try and finish 1 game each month start to finish on top of the reviews ill be doing.
I know its a lot on my plate and ill probably struggle but I need to stop selling myself short and push myself forward no one else is gonna fight for me but me.
Well those are my goals for 2026 what are some of your goals and resolutions for the year let me know below in the comments thank you all for stopping by take care and game on
Hotel Galactic
Hey everyone hows it going Happy New Years and welcome to 2026, today I wanna thank Ancient Forge, for sending me a copy of there awesome game Hotel Galactic so let’s dive in and talk about it.
So Hotel Galactic is a hotel builder game with a great story and draws inspiration from Studio Ghibli which is very obvious in both the art style and characters in the game.
So you the player are what’s called a pilgrim a spirit that comes upon the Hotel in ruins and its staff super upset as they failed to make an impact. so there’s a bit of a 4th wall break with the way they interact with you which I think is very cool and actually makes me feel like its more then just a game. The crew basically gives you control of the hotel and grounds and its up to you to give it life again and guess what, life we shall give it.
So in story mode your following everything at a set pace to start out with you slowly start fixing the hotel and bringing it back once the hotel is done you work on the landing pad which is where flying ships will land and let people off so they can stay at your hotel, yes your read that right flying ships you see this is where the galactic part in the name shines as your hotel is on a floating island out in space surrounded by other planets but you learn that when you open the games map and check it out.
So the first person you meet after the hotel opens is the most important character in the game Captain Pouncy Paws after some talking she agrees to help you and she will be the ship that brings people to your hotel.
After the great Captain is the merchant ship Captained by Silver who will make it obvious right from the get go all he wants is money but he does start by helping you out with some great stuff and then gives you a summon icon where you can summon him when you need it but you gotta wait 8 hours for him to show up thankfully time goes by very fast in the game.
Then soon after another captain shows up by the name of mogumo and hes just as important as he brings new workers your way yes you do have to pay to hire them but they each have talents and specialty so knowing what you need is a good way of knowing who to hire.
The game offers a variety of species of personal all of which are adorable in there own way you have the pington race which are a short species that have a trumpet horn for a nose and enjoy music which they will let you know so you can make there stay that more enjoyable, after you have the toravis which remind me of horses with there appearance they to will tell you what they like and there focus is on tranquility and peace also showers they love a good shower then the 3rd race you come across is the derret which are tall ferret looking creatures but since you have 2 of them as workers you see them right from the start.
The story follows Gustav the ghost and former owner of the hotel who lives his days in regrets over how bad he did running the hotel but thanks to some awesome friends and you the player you show him the beauty of the hotel as your transform it and grow it.
This game offers a story mode and sandbox mode and honestly my opinion is do the story mode first you wont regret it one bit, its enjoyable and will make you smile even though ive already come across some people that I despise with a burning passion im sure you will to once you meet them.
For a hotel management game its fun ive lost track of time playing this game and all I wanna do is play more I really would like to see some new species added to the game maybe more story in the form of DLC.
Now the early game is slow and sometimes a bit stressful until your able to hire more workers your stuck with 3 employees which feels like a strain when you start getting busy between crafting the stuff you need making food for guest and just surviving the game feels like you need a lot of workers from the start but soon things get easier and enjoyable.
The game has what you would call a skill tree where you unlock upgrades for new tools and more decorations for your hotel rooms which you will wanna use it helps out.
I think my favorite part is the rating system each guest rates there stay when they check out and it goes against your score so far im holding at a 4.8 score out of 5 but its a lot of work finding the balance to make everyone happy.
If you like cozy management games then this game is for you and if your a fan of studio ghibli then enjoy the game as well the inspiration is enjoyed all in all i definitely recommend this game thank you for stopping by take care and game on
HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!! 2026
Happy new years everyone 2026 has arrived and with it many dreams and wishes well for me its to get more eyes on my blog so if you come across an article that you enjoy please feel free to share it.
I hope everyone has an amazing 2026 its a new year and many new adventures await us so let’s have fun stay safe and game on
Gaming with Noobs 