No bones about it

Publisher Kitbox Games, in alliance with developer Sundae Month, has announced that the very silly but entirely wholesome title Pupperazzi will come wagging its tail on Nintendo Switch in ?early 2023, following from? its release on PC and Xbox One back in January of this year.

Pupperazzi's concept is utterly delightful in its simplicity: You are a budding social media hound (pun fully intended) who is searching for internet stardom via the medium of doggie photos. Camera in hand, the player simply strolls around towns, beaches, and cityscapes, getting snap-happy on any and all four-legged friends that cross their path. Build up a portfolio of the finest puppy pics online and then bask in the glory of upvo?tes and having your pics turned into NFTs (That last bit doesn't happen).

//www.youtub?e.com??/watch?v=0j_0yGFPSQo&ab_channel=KitfoxGames

Pupperazzi features a wide variety of Good Boys and Girls, including terr??iers, pugs, labradors, shibas, and so many more. And, when not taking great photos, you can pet your new doggie pals, play fetch, dress them up (if you're terrible), arrange parties, and enjoy various other activities. Don't forget to take them *checks notes* skateboarding. As you receive acclaim for your ?pupperazzi skills, you'll also get the opportunity to upgrade your camera equipment 鈥?buying new filters, lenses, and effects. It's all very charming and wholesome, and most certainly a stress-free way to unwind on a lazy afternoon.

Pupperazzi launches in early 2023 o??n Nintendo Switch. It is available now on PC and Xbox One.

The post Pupperazzi will come barking onto Switch?? in early 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

By far the cutest thing I've seen all week

I've always loved snakes. When I was in middle school, we had one of those Snakes Alive! organizations co??me and do an educational demonstration. I guess I didn't look as scared or grossed out as the other kids, because the host called me up and handed me a black snake, who then found his way into the pocket of my hoodie. It was adorabl??e.

That said, I don't think I would ever own a reptile, but I love looking at cute snake videos as much as the next person. That's why it was such a treat to log into Twitter today and see that someone had taught their pet snake how to play聽Pok茅mon Go.聽I didn't know you could even train a snake to? do such a thing, but I'm s??o, so glad that this person did.

//twitter.com/SnakeHou??r/status/1577043448750047232

The tweet was from an account called @SnakeHour (which posts snake content on the hour every hour for all your snake content needs), but the original video is a TikTok from user @maudespaperwinggallery. It features the snake's owner holding them up in front of a phone that has Pok茅mon Go open, and the snake then uses their little nose to launch Pok茅 Balls at what appears to be a Combee. What really tops off the whole thing for me is the classic Pok茅mon anime theme song playing over the video.

Now I want to know 鈥?does the sna?ke have their own account? Does their owner take them outside on Pok茅mon-catching adventures? Which Team did they ??join? Most importantly: did they ever end up catching the Combee? It's likely we won't get any more information about this scaly little guy or gal, as is the way of the internet, but they will forever live on in my heart.

Good luck, you sweet little Pok茅mon master.

The post Someone taught their snake how to play Pok茅mon Go appeared first on Destructoid.

Feeling a lil' foxy?

Digital retail outlet Epic Games Store has announced the next two titles that it will be offering up free to all customers come September 15 鈥?And it looks like the mood will be getting a little otherworldly, with the arrival of the ethereal Spirit of the North and intergalactic point-and-click tale, The Captain.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fZBM6iKUrg

Released in the summer of 2020 and developed by North Carolina-based Infuse Studio, Spirit of the North is a beautiful-looking, emotive tale of a you?ng fox, rescued from the brink of death by a ghostly vixen, an anthro embodiment of the Northern Lights, with the pair then embarking upon an epic journey through the wilds of Iceland.

A highly ambitious title, focusing on mood and narrative and presented without dialogue or narration, Spirit of the North would receive heaps of praise for its mood, atmosp??here, and visuals, though it was also unfortunately panned for its? frustrating and sometimes sluggish control system.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWbnGDcZ3z4

The Captain, developed by Sysiac Games and released in December last year, is a point-and-click adventure that attempts to cram a lifetime of interstellar drama and ?action into a retro-inspired world. Players take control of stranded Starfleet officer Captain Thomas Welmu, who must make their way back to Ear?th in order to prevent a planet-destroying invasion.

Lost on the other side of a vast galaxy 鈥?populated with entire civilizations of friendly and not-so-friendly denizens 鈥?it's going to take, bargain??ing, savvy, puzzle-solving, wooing, and just the right amount of violence to ensure that Captain Welmu is able to travel the light years required to save the human race from total obliteration. Better get that hitchin' thumb in gear.

Spirit of the North and The Captain will be available to download from Epic Games Store from September 15-22. Current freebies Hundred Days and Realm Royale remain available until then.

The post Spirit of the North and The Captain are Epic Game Store’s next freebies appeared first on Destructoid.

Keep these highly specific animal games coming

Whether you think raccoons are adorable little scamps or an utter nuisance, Snaccoon is worth a look 鈥?it's a game about securing snacks as a raccoon. Relatable, right?

Game developer Christian Sparks shared a trailer for Snaccoon during today's Future Games Show live stream. With so many familiar-looking games, this stood out to me. The concept immediately clicked with me, and it's not one I'll forget about anytime soon??.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyLhxdL6918

Strolling through town, hopping on trash cans, sneaking through vents, and scurrying off with someone's phone while it captures the ??theft 鈥?it's light and cute so far. I chuckled.

Based on behind-the-scenes developer posts, expect a "guided platforming" system to keep traversal flowing while still giving you, the player, autonomy. Admittedly, the game's website is sparse right now (and there isn't a Steam page to point you to yet), but Sparks has some in-depth blogs to check out, including clips not ??shown in the trailer.

Expectations for video games built around animal antics are high in a post-Stray world.

That said, there's a lower-stakes sense of playfulness here that I really like. A memorable concept can take a game pretty far, particularly if it's released at the right time and at a reasonable price. No word on when Snaccoon will be out other than it's "coming soon."

The post Snaccoon is a sneaky exploration game starring a ?mischievous raccoon appeared first on Destructoid.

The purrfect game to play on Twitch

Hey guys! Got some hot days ahead, huh? I鈥檓 sweltering without AC through this heatwave and my tech has felt it too; tonight I may have to run without a camera as it overheats and freezes nearly immediately. I know, it feels weird. I thought tonight we could fullscreen the rest of Stray, the atmospheric kitty game taking the internet by storm, and then focus on doing some more wildly difficult puzzles in Baba Is You or The Witness. See you tonight!

I鈥檒l need your brainp??ower. Be su??re to drink plenty of water and stay cool.

Drop by Destructoid鈥檚 Twitch channel at 9:00 p.m. Eastern to hang out.

The post We’re streaming Stray tonight appeared first on Destructoid.

The heartfelt cat mods are off to a great start

While Stray has a set-in-stone loo??k for its adventurous orang??e tabby, if you're playing the game on PC, there are some convincing mods to alter the look of the "purr-tagonist."

Chris already highlighted a funny Garfield mod, and Eric nudged me to mention a cursed "joke mod" that squishes Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas star CJ into a cat-shaped body. After all the laughs, it'll be nice to have some realistic alternate coats. It's early days on Nexus Mods, but Stray fans ??h??ave already replicated their own cats in the game.

Poking around the site, I found聽Stray cat mods for a tuxedo, calico, gray tabby, tortie, siamese, and even a sphynx. A creator named Hacktix uploaded some commissioned mods based on other players' real cats, and their own, Jessy. My heart is melting.

Another good one: Antonio El Gato, from modder Angeloloo 鈥?it's "a texture edit of the main cat but instead it's my cat Antonio." And yes, the mod page includes a few real-world shots for comparison. The wholesome levels are off the charts with this ?game.

[caption id="attachment_336566" align="alignnone" width="1899"] _{The Pick of the Litter mod from SpaceD0lphin has a nice attention to detail.}[/caption]

Pick of the Litter, a multi-coat mod from SpaceD0lphin, has some lovely hand-painted designs. I'm sure a lot of people will be looking for a c?lassic black cat.

Installing these mods should be as simple as extracting the files and dropping them into the game's install directory on your PC. (steam\steamapps\common\Stray\Hk_projec?t\Content\Paks, for ins??tance.) I'm excited to see how the scene grows from here.

One of my favorite parts of reviewing Stray on Destructoid was seeing readers share a bunch of heartwarming cat pics 鈥?y'all flooded the comments with the best possible show-and-tell. Since then, I've seen disappointment that the game lacks customization, and while I'd have a hard time playing through this occasionally tense, perilous, monster-filled game with a cat resembling our own little troublemaker, I do get the appeal.

Mods or no mods, it sure is nice to rally around a game like Stray, isn't it?

The post Stray players are swapping in their own cats appeared first on Destructoid.

Extinction is Forever

After several long, painstaking years of development, developer Herobeat is finally ready to let the cubs run free. Today sees the arrival of the dramatic, evocative, eco-conscious adventure title Endling 鈥?avai?lable to purchase now on PlayStation, P?C, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms.

Set against the backdrop of a planet that has eaten itself alive with carelessness and selfish avarice, Endling is the tale of a mother vixen 鈥?the last adult fox alive 鈥?who leaves the decreasing safety of her den to guide her three cubs out into an uncaring world in search of a safe haven in which they may hopefully survive, thrive, and perhaps even find a sliver of light f??or the future of their own specie?s.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiM2_XB_HZE

As the watchful mother, it is the player's task to guide the cubs through a hazardous side-scrolling world, providing safety and sustenance while raising the youngsters to adapt to the terrain, predators, and prey encountered en route. Against the backdrop of man's hostility to man, the heroic family?? must defy seemingly impossible odds if they are to see tomorrow, with danger beckoning from every bracket, roadway, and shadow.

Endling utilizes effective visual storytelling, an evocative score, and beautifully stylized visuals to tell a tale of hope, despair, adventure, and bravery, all underlined with a desperate message of survival. I first wrote about Endling back in 2019, and that feels a whole other world away. I write this sweltering in my chair, as England is experiencing, legitimately, the highest heat temperatures since records began. On a global, ecological, and socio-political basis, times have sure changed in the short years since Endling began development, with its?? underlying message ringing truer ?today than it did scant years ago.

Endling is available now on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, a?nd Nintendo S??witch.

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Exhibit A: This capybara family relaxing under a hot water tap is too pure for our world

Planet Zoo has grown far beyond its initial roster of animals, and while everyone surely has their favorite picked out, I don't see any other DLC topping the Wetlands Animal Pack.

What's so great about it? Well, it's adding the most wholesome of trios. DLC players can make room in their zoos for species like the capybara, platypus, and Asian small-clawed otter 鈥?as well as the Nile lechwe, red-cr??owned crane, spectacled caima??n, wild water buffalo, and Danube crested newt; that last one that looks like a real-life Pok茅mon.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV-DC2aWs70

I died when the baby otter rolled around at 1:18 in the聽Wetlands trailer. I mean it. This isn't a bit 鈥?there's now a Goosebumps-lookin' skeleton typing out the rest of this blo?g.

A big part of Planet Zoo's appeal is carefully constructing ??an ideal environment for the zoo's critters and guests (from a practical and aesthetic standpoint), and when that work is done, there's some passive joy to be had in just watching everyone go about their business. These videos usually do a good job of conveying that vibe, but t?his one nails it.

Aside from the eight new species, the Wetlands DLC also has scenery pieces like the submarine buoy enrichment item and a hot water tap (wonderfully depicted above with some chilled-out capybaras), as well as a timed scenario set in Brazil. I've seen some聽Planet Zoo fans pine for less stressful missions that are still challenging to figure out, and I feel that. I don'?t personally like to rush, as I ultimately end up cutting corners.

We got an otter species before with the Aquatic Pack, but this one's cuter.

//www.reddit.com/r/PlanetZoo/commen??ts/u1xu51/theyre_both_cute_in_their_own_way_but_still/

There's a free update, too

Separate from the Planet Zoo Wetlands Animal Pack (which costs $9.99 out of the gate), there's also update 1.9 today. Here are the patch notes from Frontier Developments:

• NEW - Roaming Educators
  • Educators now have access to a new task, enabled by default: Roaming Talks
  • Educators who are assigned to hold Roaming Talks will wander the zoo, occasionally stopping to hold a short informative talk about nearby species, or a random conservation topic, as long as they have enough energy and aren't due to hold an Animal Talk
  • Guests who don't have higher priority destinations will stop and listen to nearby Roaming Talks, gaining small boosts to happiness and education, based on the educator's level
• NEW - Small Burrows
  • A small version of the burrows is available for the following species:
    • Meerkat
    • Prairie dog
    • Platypus
  • Small burrows share the large burrows' functionalities - suitable animals will attempt to seek shelter, sleep and give birth in them
  • Small burrows are equipped with an integrated habitat webcam, which can be linked up to billboard screens
• NEW - Audio And Billboard Management Screen
  • A new management UI has been added for an easier overview of all customisable audio-visual items
    • Audio: lists all speakers with their currently set track or educational content
    • Billboards: lists all screens with their size, type of content and currently set image
    • Cameras: lists all camera items, with an option to enter their view, and info on any potentially linked habitats
• NEW - Explore Camera
  • The new Explore camera mode is available via the Camera Modes widget in the main HUD, allowing you to place the camera on any surface in the park
  • The Explore camera is controlled with the WASD keys and follows the terrain at a fixed height, allowing you to enjoy the views in your zoo the same way your guests would
  • The tegidcam cheat has been retired

[caption id="attachment_316482" align="alignnone" width="1920"] _{The Danube crested newt is a new Exhibit animal.}[/caption]

• NEW - Customisable Exhibit Water
  • Exhibits containing water can now be customised for colour and transparency values
  • The 'Windows' tab in the exhibit info panel has been renamed to 'Customise', and contains the water settings for the exhibit
• NEW - Expanded Water Customisation
  • Water in the zoo can now be customised with mist and bubble vfx, to add more detail to larger bodies or surfaces of water
  • The 'Colour' tab of a body of water has been rebranded to 'Customise', and contains new sliders for mist and bubble density
• NEW - Flatten to Terrace Terrain Brush
  • The new Flatten to Terrace terrain sculpting mode creates distinctively levelled areas when applied over an area of raised terrain
  • The height of these terraces can be defined via a slider in the sculpting settings
  • If checked, the 'Shallow Pool Offset' setting indents the terrain slightly below the next level of the voxel terrain, which can then be filled to create wading-height water features for animals (we recommend using this mode to create areas for Japanese Macaques and Capybaras to bathe in!)
• NEW - Foliage
  • Water Tupelo Trees x3
  • Bald Cypress Trees x3
  • Bald Cypress Knees x2
• NEW - Scenery
  • Small underwater feeder enrichment
  • Natural water jet enrichment

You might not even notice these additions naturally, but knowing that the developers are putting in this kind of work for free content updates is still reassuring, all the same.

One last parting note: as of Planet Zoo update 1.9, Japanese macaque can also soak.

The post Planet Zoo: Wetlands is the coziest Animal Pack ye??t appeared first on Destructoid.

This bulked-up beast is gonna ruin my day in the Lands Between, I just know it

Are bears cuddly and cute, or ferociously yoked? It's a debate for the ages 鈥?though I lean more toward the former camp when we're talking about a random warmhearted Instagram post, and sure as hell shift that sentiment to the latter mindset when we're fixated on IRL hiking encounters. As it turns out, Elden Ring, of all games, is relevant here.

If you ended up getting into the closed network test for Elden Ring last November (or saw other players meticulously pick it apart), then you know that From Software is going wild with creature designs for its GRRM-infused adventure... or should I say wilder? Dark Souls III had some wonderfully repulsive stuff in it, to be clear. One of Elden Ring's strange new threats 鈥?whose name I'll just shorten to B.T??.W. 鈥?stood out in the beta.

Now, here's a bear-shaped terror, straight from the聽Elden Ring Twitter account.

//twitter.com/ELDENRING/??status/1484556630083649536

This muscular bear might look familiar if you've run into Elden Ring leaks, whether that's willingly or otherwise. I had heard that data-mined di??scoveries were floating around, and talk of a "freaky bear" was too alluring for me to resist, but I mostly avoided the rest.

He's large. He's almost certainly in charge. And I'll want to cheese the shit outta him with some combination of cow??a??rdly spells, spirit summons, and cautious terrain wrangling.

As the days leading up to the game's February 25 launch dwindle, it makes sense that Bandai Namco would lean into this fine specimen of an open-world action-RPG monster. In the pre-glued-in-era, it's something we'd come across naturally during our adventures and then craft into an exaggerated "you won't believe what happened" story to friends. It's 2022, though, and the tweets are flying. I wasn't going to cover the Elden Ring leaks directly on this site, but if they're willing to sla?p a lo??go on the big boy, I don't feel as guilty.

I mean, shit, look at him. He doesn't?? cross state lines without a ba?rrel of protein powder.

I agree with other fans' comparisons to a certain troublesome Sekiro boss, at least in terms of gut-reaction intimidation. (And at least he's not a two-phaser.) We'll see how our build of choice stacks up in the finished version of Elden Ring in just over a month.

The last time I was this uneasy about a virtual bear, I was losing my mind in Condemned 2.

The post Let’s talk about that absolutely jacked bear in Elden Ring appeared first on Destructoid.

Does this mean we're getting a rat pro league?

With access to an endless stream of information and content on the internet, sometimes you think you've seen it all. Thankfully, though, something comes along every once in a while that proves you wrong, and that happened to me today when I found that there's a scientist who taught his rats how to play聽Doom II. This is so ridiculous, it has to be part of some important project for the good of mankind, right? Oh what's that? Hungarian software engineer and neuroscientist Viktor T贸th just got bored one day and decided he wanted to teac?h?? his little furry friends how to play video games?

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMNxkQXwykA

Okay so turns out he was actually just curious to learn more about brain computer interfaces, and thought this might be a go??od way to test them out. But still, it's pretty hilarious that this is how he chose to go about it. His setup includes a large ball made out of a material called polystyrene, a plastic that's often used in food packaging.

To play Doom, the rats were placed on top of the sphere where they could use the press??ure from their feet to move around the game's map, while also being fitted into a harness s?o they don't fall off. Finally, the rats also had a little tube in front of them that would dispense treats when they did something right.

T贸th says he specifically chose the first level of Doom II to train the rats because it was simple, and a large enough area for the rats to walk around and explore. "I was able to scrap the first corridor out of the map and make the doors open on touch when a rat approached it," he said, "there鈥檚 no button they need to press or behavior they need to exhibi?t to actually open doors." Even with these modifications, one of the rats named Romero ended up getting confused when he encounter??ed his first enemy.

T贸th goes on to explain that even when imposing a deadline on himself to get ??the rats trained up in time, they still have to learn at their own pace.

//twitter.com/TonyHoWasHere/status/1470450782763950089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1470450782763950089%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ffut??urism.com%2Fviktor-toth-doom-rat

When asked about his plans to create a Twit?ch channel for the rats, T贸th gave a hesitant yes. "It's a very valid way to monetize a project like this. The only problem is how long the rat can run for," he said.

Well I don't know about you guys, but this is absolutely something that I would tune in to watch. These rats are so adorable, and it's kind of cool that T贸th is spreading the love of gaming to another species. If you're interesting in learning more about the process, too, I recommend reading the full interview on Futurism's website.

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Restaurants are another big addition in update 1.8

It warms my heart to see Frontier Developments come out with consistent free updates for Planet Zoo alongside the paid DLC packs. Next up on December 14, the management sim is getting a little of Column A, a little of Column B 鈥?update 1.8 is adding animal memorials, burrows, and full-on restaurants to Planet Zoo, while the Europe Pack is bringing in new species li?ke the Eurasian lynx, European badger, ?and Alpine ibex.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=h162xg-fh9o

Between the update and DLC, there's something to latch onto for different player types, whether they care more about animals and their behaviors, the wider guest experience, or meticulous building. The $10 pack has 250+ scenery items "inspi??red by some of Europe's most idyllic destinations, including France, Italy, Switzerland, and the Netherlands."

The new species coming to Planet Zoo with the Europe Pack are the Eurasian lynx, Alpine ibex, European badger, European fallow deer, and the fire salamander 鈥?the latter? of which is a more confined and static "exhibit animal." There's an alpine zoo scenario, too.

Really though, I'm more interested in update 1.8 鈥?there's a lot of potential with customization. Indoor and outdoor restaurants, with the ability to "link up to 20 tables to create a functional venue" as the grand zoo overseer, sounds promising. And for a smaller footprint, there are shop counters: "counter-only version for an ass?ortment of shops."

Animal memorials are exactly what you might expect: a way to pay tribute to your beloved animals. That said, the tracked list of deceased animals caps out at 200, so you may need to mark some "favorites" so certain entries aren't overwritten. (What kind of zoo are you running?) According to the developers, "guests in your zoos will interact with y?our memorials by viewing them if they are close by, stopping to read the dedication, and then receiving a small mood boost due to appreciation of fond memories with the animal."

As for burrows, you'll be able to manually place them where you want in a habitat. They're basically an extra bit of immersion to soak up 鈥?select species can use burrows to "seek shelter, sleep, a??djust to the correct temperature, or even give birth." There's an internal camera, so you can see what's going on, and you can link it up to screens for your guests.

Definitely sn??atch this game up the next time it's on sale. It's in a great spot.

The post A new Planet Zoo update adds animal memo?rials and burrows alongsid??e the Europe Pack appeared first on Destructoid.

The second-anniversary update also includes a community challenge with boosted animals

Fans have a reason to revisit Planet Zoo on its second ??birthday, as there's a free update that adds the black and white ruffed lemur as well as Bernie's Bakes, a ??new cake shop.

You gotta love lemurs, and this particular species is pretty iconic 鈥?you can never have too many animal options in a zoo management game, especially primates. Planet Zoo already had the ring-tailed lemur and red ruffed lemur, so the black and white ruffed lemur is more like a bonus, which makes total sense as a free se??c?ond-anniversary update.

As for the new snack stand, Bernie's Bakes sells cupcakes. If my guests don't run out to get a sugar rush, I will. Both the lemur and cake shop are live in-game with update 1.7.2.

Frontier Developments is also rolling out a limited-time community challenge that will run in Planet Zoo from November 5鈥?, 2021. The goal is to release animals back into the wild (a running theme), and for every five animals you set free, "you'll get a boosted animal in return that has an 80%+ in any gene, and a 1/50?? chance of being a color morph. On top of this, every 20 animals released will award an avatar outfit! (Please note: this caps at ~600 animals per user, which is when you will? have unlocked all released costumes, etc.)."

If I'm being honest, even at the height of my interest in Planet Zoo, I never got too ob?sessed with chasing the "albino" dream, but high-rated animals are appreciated.

Whenever an anniversary update drops for a game, I like to check in on the community of players who are still hanging in there. In this case, folks are happy about the free animal drop, and want to see more of it in the future 鈥?especially given how prevalent the paid DLC has been for Planet Zoo. Most recently, we got the North America Animal Pack.

"Please Frontier get into the habit of adding free animals, it can be animals that are really close to ones that are in the game already like this one, but I want Nile crocs and American black bears and I don鈥檛 know how else they鈥檇 be added officially," said TheThagomizer.

Another player on the Planet Zoo subreddit, AvovaDynasty, echoed that sentiment.

"I'd love just quick little reskins to flesh out the roster 鈥?American Black Bears, ??Sumatran Orangutans, Caribbean/American Flamingoes, Barbary/Rhesus Macaques, the Dr??ill, Brown Capuchins, Grey Kangaroos, etc."

This is how we get our hopes up! (But I'm rig?ht there with you.)

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Co-hoperative farming title coming October 19

On one of my frequent circuits of the information superhighway, I came across Reky Studios' incoming Steam release, Bunhouse, and felt obliged to share it with all of you. It's been a pretty long week, after all, and we could all use a little of that "Team ?of Bunnies Maintaining a Greenhouse and Small Ownership Business" vibe this morning.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzoDgyTMc8U

As you can see from the trailer above, Bunhouse sees players guide a small team of our hippity-hoppity friends as they develop, build, and maintain a greenhouse, caring and nurturing for a bedrock of various plants and flowers, before marketing the more mature plants for profit, which can then be spent on expansions, new plants, and further improvements to your garden of wonder. Thanks to generous Kickstarter backers, Bunhouse?? hit multiple stretch goals, adding a selection of fun hats, a range of emotive animations, and even a fishing mode to the available ac?tivities.

Described by its one-man dev team as a "cute and simple" adventure, Bunhouse has been designed as a stress-free distraction from the hustle and bustle of the everyday world. Players can work on their gardens solo, or team up with friends in relaxing couch co-hop play. There?? are no enemies, no strict competition, just our furry friends, a pleasant setting??, some plants that need watering, and a greenhouse full of possibilities.

Oh, and you can also learn a variety of yoga poses... Look,? I didn't make it... Just go with it.

Bunhouse launches on PC via Steam October 19.

The post Bunhouse could prove to be the?? most wholesome game of 2021 appeared first on Destructoid.

Beavers, sea lions, moose, and more

Planet Zoo is still going 鈥?not just in terms of animal-roster-boosting DLC, but also free quality-of-life updates, too. We've got a little from Column A and a little from Column B today with the Planet Zoo: North America Animal Pack and Update 1.7 rolling out on Steam.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLAiSE84Mw4

On the paid DLC front, this is another $10 add-on with seven fully r??oaming "habitat" animals 鈥?including one of my absolute favorites to watch swim around, the North American beaver 鈥?plus one new amphibian for stationary exhibits. The list:

• American beaver
• Moose
• California sea lion
• Cougar
• American alligator
• Black-tailed prairie dog
• Arctic fox
• American bullfrog

This is one o??f the game's mos?t compelling DLC lists, for sure.

Aside from the wildlife, the Planet Zoo: North America Animal Pack also has a new scenario near the Blu?e Ridge Mountains, so if you're the type of player (unlike me) who prioritizes custom zoo builds, you m??ight be disappointed by the lack of new structures and plants.

What about the free stuff? Update 1.7, which also launched today, adds a height mapping tool used to "create your own custom Heightmaps via image files," and here's an example. There's also a Terrain Type setting for the different biomes 鈥?look for the "sculpted" option if you want those pre-made Planet Zoo maps to have more dimension.

Other 1.7 features: the ability to play Scenario Zoo maps in Sandbox Mode (including a just-include-the-terrain-and-nothing-else toggle), more "?deep swimming" animals (jaguar, Bengal tiger, and Siberian tiger), seating areas for your guests attending educational Animal Talks, path barriers to better corral everyone, and a randomization option for placing scenery items to make things look more natural. Frontier also snuck in some UX improvements like quick trading in the Animal Management screen.

It's a nice feeling knowing that the next time I go hard with an overly ambitious zoo built from scratch, I'll have a bunch of these touch-ups waiting for me 鈥?and beavers!

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The Fast & The Furriest

Can they still call you a war hero, even when you lost? Who knows whether such thoughts bother the mind of Rayton Rabbit, sitting in silent seclusion, just another moving dot within the rusted nightmare of Torch City. It wasn't always like this for the furtizens, mind. The city was once bustled with activity and commerce, awash with plant life and clean skies. Then the machines came... "progress" came. Ray and his fellow resistance members fought, and fought hard. They gave it their all. Lives spent, battles won and lost, but eventually, inevitably, defeat. Six endless years of battling Legion and its battalion of mech??anical marvels, and it was over. The machines?? had won.

And what's Torch City today? Industry. A robotic police state in which to exist, but not live. The crystal-clean skies now just a fable told to the young. And while Ray has long resigned himself to live out his advancing age in the shadows of local dives, fate has more conflict in store. His friend and comrade, Urso, is now a prisoner of Legion, held somewhere deep within the impregnable Forge Tower. Ray's tour of duty is over 鈥?long over 鈥?bu??t as any good soldier knows..?. You don't leave a man behind.

After al??l, isn't that what war heroes are made of?

F.I.S.T: Forged in Shadow Torch (PS5 [reviewed], PS4, PC)
Developer: TiGames
Publisher: BiliBili
Released: PlayStation: September 7, 2021, PC: TBA
MSRP: $29.99

F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch is a new action-adventure developed by TiGames and published by Chinese video-sharing giant BiliBili. This brand new IP is set within the miserable, grimy, Dieselpunk universe of Torch City, a run-down but functioning society wherein the anthropomorphic residents 鈥?or "Furtizens" 鈥?eke out what little lives they can under the shadow of their fascistic overlords, Legion. Players step into the worn jumpsuit of Rayton Rabbit, called back into action following the sudden arrest of his best friend. Summoning the last of his guile, Ray dons wha??t little of his former battle armor remains and sets out for Forge Tower on a rescue mission, unaware that this already impossible task is only the beginning...

It seems almost redundant to describe F.I.S.T.'s gameplay, given its tried-and-tested metroidvania nature. As is to be expected, Ray explores a vast 2.5D map 鈥?stretching from Torch City's dizzying heights to its seedy underbelly 鈥?unlocking abilities and skills, gaining access to a furry flurry of cool abilities. But as Ray's mission takes him deeper and deeper into the city, our hero will acquire destructive new weaponry, athletic new skills, and uncover a twisted tale of redemption, betrayal, friendship, class war, and that all-important ingredient: Hope. While all of the above might seem trivial, unoriginal, or even rote to some readers, F.I.S.T has a selection of aces up its s??leeve... Perhaps the most important of which being "Holy shit, it's g??reat."

//youtu.be/ngNZBo8rpw8

While F.I.S.T. hardly scores in the originality stakes, (at least where method is concerned), the ambitious title knocks it out of the park with almost everything that it brings to its grim party. First and foremost is TiGames' eye for detail and its fascination with design. Torch City, for all of its grunge and misery, is a stunning game environment, with scalpel-precise intricacy oozing out of each of its alleyways, sewers, prison blocks, and industrial furnaces. Every new location is an immersive wonder, given atmosphere through amazing light and shadow effects and backed with a weighty, suitably industrial score. Torch City, for all its heavy stylization, feels alive. And despit??e the overall dismal tone of this particular zo?otopia, The oppressed 'berg is packed full of surprises 鈥?such as the delectable hub world of "Jofree Avenue": a haven of '40s noir hidden between the pumping pistons and hydraulic presses of Forge Tower. Play it again, Ray.

A similar focus toward design powers F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch at every available opportunity. From Ray's own dieselpunk weaponry, gleefully inventive quick-travel posts, suit-washing save points, item shops, and unlockable paint jobs for Ray's arsenal. Every facet of F.I.S.T. has soul put into its creation and animation: A store vendor with an expand??able shop; Rube Goldberg doorway designs; a metamorphosing giant drill. Torch City, from its open vistas ??to its smallest of hovels, is quirky, surprising, and fascinating 鈥?a testament to the lengths gone to make the smallest details of its cog-wheeled world count.

For as good as F.I.S.T. looks, it plays. Bunny by nature, Ray is an agile fellow and controls like a dream. In this particular genre, movement is paramount, due to the long hauls and backtracking often required. Our boy Ray is more than up to the task, offering the player not only a solid sense of speed and taut control but also rapidly receiving access to acrobatic abilities that keeps progress across the huge game world fast and engaging. And while the double jumps, air dashes, and wall slides might all have been ripped from The Big Book of Metroidvania, where F.I.S.T. brings the innovation is in its surprisingly deep ??combat mechanics.

Ray starts out his quest with just his big ol' fist, the last remaining component of his former war mech. F.I.S.T integrates a combo-based combat system not dissimilar to fighting games, encouraging the player to lay waste to The Iron Dogs with power punches, air-jabs, diving axhandles, and running haymakers, all rounded off with meaty finishing moves. As Ray upgrades his abilities, he is afforded more varied strikes, leading to the application of FGC favorites such as wall-bounces, parries, juggles, even air bursts. As new weapons and sidearms join the fray, and enemies become tougher and more numerous in number, players soon find themselves putting a hurtin' on a menagerie of menace, slickly combining the moves, weapons, and skills at Ray's disposal to clear a path, punctuated with cathartic sound and a genuine sense of impact. F.I.S.T.'s combat i??s familiar yet refreshing. It's one of the most satisfying efforts the genre h?as seen.

There is little that F.I.S.T. does wrong. It has a superb sense of pace, brilliant visuals, a compelling game world, and engaging action. The story itself is by the numbers, hitting many famil??iar tropes and following a fairly recognizable three-act pattern. This adherence to the obvious can be somewhat forgiven, as it is in keeping with the doom-laden, noir narrative, given further form w??ith a number of high-quality CGI cut-scenes.

While "gangster rat" or "sexy femme fatale cat" won't win any originality awards, most players will find delight in the furtizens' solid voice-acting, neat visual designs, and wry comical tone. They're all very endearing and sympathetic. For all of its gloominess, F.I.S.T has a vibrant "Saturday Morning Show" feel to its world, characters, and narrative, reminiscent of classic anthro shows of the '90s. Bucky O'Hare by way of Alan Moore... if you'll forgive?? me. (You won't forgive me.)

When a mid-tier studio launches a AA title featuring an unproven IP, it's a hell of a risk, one that has (sometimes unfairly) brought an impromptu end to both studio and IP. In the case of F.I.S.T. Forged in Shadow Torch, this will not happen. TiGames has created an electrifying entry to the genre, ticking every box that makes a Bloodstained or a Castlevania fan feel warm and fuzzy, while ensuring that its own design ideas, intriguing universe, and smack-'em-up action are as notable as any of the title's more familiar tropes. F.I.S.T. is one of? my favorite games of 2021. It deserves to ??be a success, deserves to be widely played, and deserves to rank among the year's best releases.

F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch is an exemplary action-adventure, packed full of heartfelt detail and design,? daubed in a grimy-yet-absorbing aesthetic, and powered with punchy, satisfying combat. While some of its elements will be over-familiar to genre fans, the originalities still shine through, resulting in a brilliant-looking, great-playing metroidvania that will delight players, whether they have a fluffy tail or otherwise. Heed my words: It's most definitely wabbit season.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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A different kind of Rat Race

Publisher United Label and developer Odd Bug Studio have dropped a Gamescom trailer for their grim and tough-looking action RPG Tails of Iron, which?? will launch on PlayStation??, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms September 17.

Tails of Iron is an anthropomorphic adventure that follows the heir to the rodent kingdom Redgi, as he leads a violent uprising against the merciless Frog Clan, led by its violent and domineering leader, Greenwart. Tails of Iron promises deep, complex, and challenging b??at??tles, inspired by the popular-but-difficult Souls series. Redgi will have to adapt his gear, weaponry, and attack strategy to stand tall against the Frog Clan's front line of defense, punctuated by epic boss battles.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=4k3sPCD46qw

Tails of Iron boasts a fully hand-drawn universe of characters, with a cast of friends and foes who will all have an impact on Redgi's journey back to the throne. The tail... erm... tale features narration from the somber Doug Cockle, who RPG fans will recognize as the voice of The Witcher's Geralt of Rivia. While the title might not prove to be to everyone's tastes upon release 鈥?gleefully embracin??g its difficult nature and dark aesthetic 鈥?it looks to be one of the year's most unique and attractive title 鈥?the latest entry in high fiction's surprisingly resonant "Mice and Rats on a quest" subgenre.

Tails of Iron launches September 17 on PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, ??and Ninte??ndo Switch.

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Deputy Dawg

For those who like their grizzled, hard-boiled, detective fiction a little on the fuzzy side, you're in luck, as publisher Raw Fury has finally offered up a street date for its anthropomorphic noir adventure, Backbone, which will ra??ise the curtain on its sinister mysteries come June ??8.

Developed by international indie outfit EggNut, Backbone is set in an alternate Vancouver, all foggy streets, flickering neon lights, and shadowed alleyways that play house to life-threatening dangers. Into this miserable, burned-out cityscape city steps raccoon private-eye Howard Lotor who, after many years of bum-deals and dead-end cas?es, is about to embark upon a job like ??none other.

In true noir fashion, Backbone will see Howard tread the dark alleyways, dingy nightclubs, and lonely apartments of the worst part of town, as his investigations bring him muzzle-to-muzzle with Backbone's cast of anthropomorphic characters, both friend and foe. Collect evidence, interrogate suspects, s?neak into hazardous locales, and try to piece together the truth behind a mystery that will shake the foundations of the city to its very core.

Backbone looks and sounds super-cool. I'm definitely digging its intricate pixel artwork, fascinating locations, and atmospheric special effects, while the foreboding jazz score perfectly captures the mood of many a dog-eared paperback (no pun intended). Whether the writing matches up to this great aesthetic remains to be seen, but Backbone has definitely piqued my interest. If you're a fine of the point 'n' click classics of yore, maybe take a walk on the wild side when Backbone drops next month. Just tell 'em Moyse sent ya.

Backbone launches on PC via Steam and Xbox Game Pass June 8. A console edition is? in the works.

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Coming to Nintendo Switch and Steam in Autumn 2021

A dog shelter management game is a solid idea that should immediately click with a lot of people, myself included. I've run all sorts of failed virtual ventures, from theme parks t??o farms to hospitals to entire cities, but none of those scena??rios feel as high-stakes as getting a new shelter off the ground.

Do I have what it takes to succeed in Little Rock Games' To The Rescue? I hope so!

Building out the best space, taking good care of the dogs, managing finances, dealing with health crises, promoting the shelter, and picking out the right pup for the right person – I'm into this game concept.

I want to specialize in basset hounds. If you've seen that basset hound clown car video, you'll get it.

After a successful Kickstarter in 2019, the shelter sim is back with a publisher – Freedom Games – and a new release window: Autumn 2021. On top of the original PC and Mac plans on Steam, there's also going to be a Nintendo Switch version of To The Rescue. It's aiming to be a simultaneous release.

"The game has come so far from its original scope and vision," the team wrote in a Kickstarter post. "If you've been following development, you can see what a complete overhaul our art and aesthetic has undergone, and if you've been one of our earliest supporters at events both digital and ?physical, you'll know that the mechanics have evolved just as much. You all made it possible for us to find a publishing partner, which in turn has made it possible for us to deliver the best experience that we possibly can!"

The development team at Little Rock Games has pledged to donate "20 percent of profits to pet shelters," which is honestly above and beyond what I would've expected. That's an extra nice gesture.

The post To The Rescue is a simulation game about running a? dog shelter appeared first on Destructoid.

...they're dangerous

In today's contest you can win a copy of Wingspan for Nintendo Switch!

Apparently, Wingspan was a prett?y big hit in the? realm of board games. Who'da thunk that a game about collecting birds would wind up as such a banger? It's wild.

Anyway, enough stallin' -- we've got ??some Switch copies of the official? video game adaptation to give away!

This is blowing my mind, so read about it wh?ile I try to figure out how to get this roadrunner to hang out with my cockatiel.

You are bird enthusiasts -- researchers, bird watchers, ornithologists, and collectors -- seeking to discover and ?attract the best birds to your network of wildlife preserves. Each bird extends a chain of powerful combinations in one of your habitats. Each habitat focuses on a key aspect of the growth of your preserves.

In Wingspan up to 5 players compete to build up their nature preserves in ??a limited number of turns. Each beautiful bird that you add to your preserve makes you better at ??laying eggs, drawing cards, or gathering food. Many of the 170 unique birds have powers that echo real life: your hawks will hunt, your pelicans will fish, and your geese will form a flock.

• Relaxing strategy card game where your goal is to discover and attract the best birds.
• Single player and multiplayer modes for up to five players.
• Based on the award winning, competitive, medium-weight, card-driven, engine-building board game.
• Hundreds of unique, animated birds with their real life sound recordings.
• Multiple ways to accumulate points with birds, bonus cards and end-of-round goals.

Yo geese roll deep. Legit they'??ll get their boys on? you and roll up to your crib with hate in their hearts. Y'all can keep the geese.

To enter to win your copy, comment below telling us your most feared bird, and why. Clearly, geese are on my shitlist. I had a friend back in VA who would check the street before leaving his house, because those assholes would bully the crap outta him if he wasn't careful. I t?hought Canadians were supposed to be nice?

We have five Switch NA copies to give away; we'll draw winners next Monday. Be sure to comment using a Dtoid account with your current email address on file. New users can sign up here to hate on geese with the rest of us.

Wingspan is available now via the Switch eShop. Head over to Nintendo Enthusiast for more chances to win!

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But should it be?

They say any publicity is good publicity. It makes sense because lord knows no one else is talking about Animal Rescuer. But why is that?

It's probably because you're a ninja who swordfights other ninjas to rescue animals from wooden cages. I completely understand that it's kind of a weird proposition that wo??n't sit well ??with "normal" gamers, but the plot is just stupid enough that it struck my fancy. You know how I roll.

The gam?e promises an open world where you can ??interact with NPCs, engage in increasingly intense battles, and of course, save animals. From a bunch of ninjas. Who put them in cages. For seemingly no reason.

Or ??maybe -- just maybe -- it's part of the ninjas' plan to enslave all wild animals of the United States, resulting in a destroyed ecosystem. Wit??h animals gone, nature becomes off-balance resulting in America falling into a state of disaster. The Yakuza (who hired the ninjas) are free to take over both commerce and crime in a devastated country, leading to the downfall of one of the greatest nations in history.

It's all about the animals, baby!

Animal Rescuer hits Steam later this week, whether?? we want it to or not.

The post Animal Rescuer is a game where you fight ninjas to free animals from wooden cages, and it’s real appeared first on Destructoid.

Two editions in one!

In today's contest you can win Spirit of the North: Enhanced Edition - Signature Edition from Signature Edition Games!

Have you heard of Spirit of the North? I hadn't until the kind folks over at Signature Edition Games gave me a copy to give away! Win yourself a PS5 copy in?? our first ever next-gen contest!

Read all about it while I try to lift this box off?? the ground:

Spirit of the North: Enhanced Edition is a?? single-player 3rd-person adventure game inspired by the breathtaking and mysterious landscapes of Iceland. The story takes root from various pieces of Nordic folklore.

Play as an ordi??nary fox whose story becomes entwined with The Guardian of the Northern Lights, a magical spirit fox. As you journey over the mountains and under red-stained skies, you’ll discover more about your companion and a land left in ruin.

Uniquely designed to purposefully have no dialogue or narration. Players must breathe in their surroundings to solve various puzzles a?nd s??peculate the meaning of a lost ancient civilization.

Hey, that is unique!

The Signature Edition of this game comes with everythi????ng you see above, including:

• Region free copy of Spirit of the North: Enhanced Edition on PlayStation 5
• Two, all-new designs, limited edition enamel pins
• A delicately haunting original soundtrack CD featuring 14 tracks
• Numbered collector’s certificate of ownership
• A beautiful 36-page art and lore booklet
• Sturdy “Sierra” box with foam insert
• Outer sleeve featuring alternative artwork

To enter to win your copy, use the widget below to leave you??r name and email address. You can enter daily. Click around for ways to earn bonus?? entries to make sure you nab a copy!

We have one copy of the game to give away; our winner will? be drawn next Thursday. As this is a physical prize, you must have a United States address in order to win. Sorr?y, all of Eurasia!

Spirit of the North: Enhanced Edition - Signature Edition is available now from Signature Edition Games.

Contest: Win De??ad Cells - Prisoner's Edition on Switch from Signature Edition G??ames

The post Contest: Win Spirit of the North: Enhanced Edition – Signature Edition on PS5 from Signature Edition Games appeared first on Destructoid.

Shiver Me Timbers

I am very much looking forward to Petoons Studios' Curse of the Sea Rats, which was confirmed for development this past summer after smashing its crowdfunding goals on Kickstarter. Today brings a rum barrel of news for the anthropomorphic "Ratroid??vania," with the arrival of several exciting?? announcements.

Firstly, Curse of the Sea Rats has found a publisher in the form of PQube, also responsible for bringing titles such as Gal*Gun, Kill la Kill - IF, and Cat Quest to the shelves. PQube will ship Curse of the Sea Rats in 2021 confirmed, with PS5 and Xbox Series X ports added to the previously announced edi??tions on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

PQube has released a neat new trailer to celebrate the announcements, which depicts our furry heroes as they track down the notorious with Flora Burn, in efforts to return to their origi??nal - and far more human - selves. I'm very much looking forward to this stylish adventure, ??and am eager to hear more about our party of seafaring adventurers soon.

The post Curse of the Sea Rats reveals publisher, release window, and next-gen ed??i??tions appeared first on Destructoid.

Teach your zoo-goers some animal facts so they'll feel guilty about the state of things and donate money

Whether you're here for the penguins (please read that in Benedict Cumberbatch's voice) or you're just sticking to the ongoing free content updates, December 8 will be a busy day for Planet Zoo players.

The next slice of DLC for Planet Zoo is the Aquatic Pack, and in terms of new species, it's adding the king penguin, giant otter, diamondback terrapin, Cuvier's dwarf caiman, and grey seal (please sing that like Elton John). For $10, you're also getting 170-ish scenery customization pieces (these numbers always sound infla??ted) and a challenge scenario set? in Oregon that revolves around a "drained riverbed."

On the free-content front, Planet Zoo is getting update 1.4 on December 8. Apart from access to the new Water Temperature Regulator and Underwater Feeder (to coincide with the DLC theme), the update will add a summary screen for transport rides, informational "animal talks" that you can organize with?? newly-hired Educator staff members, and a multi-select option for animal storage in Franchise mode.

The submersible feeding station will only be compatible with the saltwater crocodile at first, but Frontier Developments says it "will be adding [support for] mo??re animals in the future."

Beyond those free-for-everyone quality-of-life features, there's also a free challenge scenario tucked into update 1.4 – it's set in the Philippines, and you'll design your zoo around "disused rice t??erraces."

The Aquatic Pack might not go far enough for marine-loving players who have been plotting out the aquarium of their dreams, but I'm here for baby otters and penguins any day of the week.

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The ghost of Thanksgiving

In today's contest you can win a physical Switch copy of Ghost of a Tale from Super Rare Games!

Happ??y Thanksgiving, America! I know for most of the rest of the world it's just another Thursday, but here in America it's time to gorge ourselves, watch football, and silently seethe while our families embarrass the shit out of us in front of our new girlfriend, Karen. So I guess it's pr?etty normal for us, too.

If you're not too full to win something, you're in luck! Super Rare Games just launched Ghost of a Tale in physical form on Switch, and as always, we're giving out a?? copy!

Use your mousey little ?eyes to read a??ll about the game:

It's a dangerous world out ??there for a little mouse! You are? Tilo, a courageous minstrel Mouse on a perilous quest to find his true love. Use stealth and cunning as you explore Dwindling Heights Keep - from its tallest towers to its deepest dungeons, evadings its dangers and discovering its most ancient secrets..

• A 3D action-RPG featuring classic action mixed with stealth elements, disguises, and quests
• Takes place in a medieval world populated only by animals, with cruel Rats ruling over all other creatures
• Play as Tilo, a mouse and minstrel caught up in a perilous quest to escape the dungeons of Dwindling Heights Keep and discover the fate of his true love, Merra
• Explore the decaying keep, from its expansive woodlands and lakeshore to its spider-infested catacombs, evading its many dangers and discovering its most ancient secrets
• An epic yet intimate story with a highly immersive visual style

Super Rare Games'?? release comes with?? everything you see above, including:

• Fully assembled Nintendo Switch game with cartridge
• Interior art
• Full-colour manual
• Exclusive sticker
• 3 card trading card pack

To enter to win your copy, use the widget below to leave your name and email address. You can enter daily. Click around for ways to earn bonus entries, and hit up Nintendo Enthusiast to double your odds!

We have one physical Switch copy of the game to give away; our winner will ??be drawn next Thursday. As this is shipping direct from SRG, anyone can win! No shipping restrictions on this one, so good luck, Entire World!

Ghost of a Tale is available now from Super Rare Games.

Dtoid Thanksgiveaway: Win Ghost of a T??ale on Switch from Super Rare Games

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Proteck ya long, hairy neck

In today's contest you can win wacky party game Alpaca Ball: Allstars for Switch!

The prophecy has been foretold! I covered Alpaca Ball: Allstars way back in the day because I'm a sucker for dumb games featuring animals. Since I'm a man of my word, I'm following up and giving awa??y some Switch copies of this wacky little ditty. Who's in, and who's a turd who doesn't want a free game?

Alpaca Ball: Allstars is a goofy take on the rote sport of soccer, featuring alpacas! Use the?ir long, weird necks to swing?? their heads into a ball, which will hopefully go into the goal. Or use their four legs and bodies to stop said ball from crossing your goal box! There's solo career play, co-op, and up to eight players via local multiplayer. Also, you can customize your animals with unlockable accessories.

I want an alpaca with one of those helicopter beanies. Th?at'd be really cute, plus it'd? be able to fly away!

To enter to win your copy, tell us which animals you'd use to battle the mighty alpaca on the pitch. Would you use a team of dusty armadillos??? Maybe some ornery alligators? Sexually aroused anteaters? What does that even mean?

We have five NA and three EU keys to give away -- make sure you specify your region in your comment. We'll draw winners next Wednesday. Please comment with a Dtoid account with your current email address on file. If you're new, sign up here to build a mighty team of animal footballers!

Alpaca Ball: Allstars is available now via the Switch eShop.

The post Contest: Win Alpaca Ball: Allstars for Switch appeared first on Destructoid.

I want you to claw me as hard as you can

In today's contest you can win a Switch copy of Fight Crab and its soundtrack!

It's official: Fight Crab is pretty good! I mean, how could it not be? It's crabs fighting with human weapons. Hard to s?crew that one up.

If you want to experience the game for yourself, you can either buy it (please do so these types of g?ames keep getting made), or you can win it here! As a bonus, we've also got CD's of the soundtrack to give away with your digital copy. What more could you ask for?

The less I specifically say about this one the better, so here's a quick rundown. Crabs are strong and mean, and can now wield ??human weapons to destroy each other to obtain Ultimate Crab Power. It's simple. You're a crab, and you fight a bunch of other crabs. It's great and you're going to enjoy it! Read some bullet points so I can fill some space.

• Claw through a Campaign Mode with 34 stages spread out across 7 chapters, plus 7 tutorial stages.
• 23 types of playable crab, 48 different weapons and 11 unique battle stages.
• A variety of matchmaking options including 1v1, 2v2, and offline and online co-op and versus battle modes.
• Unlock special skills like the fabled Kanihameha, devastating Crab Copter and more.
• Level up your crab, recruit new crabs, and purchase deadly new weapons to build the ultimate crab warrior.
• Nintendo Switch Joy-Con motion controls let you freely manipulate limbs to punch, grab and flip your way to victory.
• Use Photo Mode to capture, share and immortalize epic confrontations and intense battles.

I am Crab's complete lack of surprise.

So, we're giving away three Switch copies of the game, and a physical CD of the soundtrack to accompany it! All's you have to do is use the widget below to?? enter. Be sure to check in daily for extra chances to win, and do ?all the other stuff I listed because why not?

Our three Switch keys are for NA Switch accounts; as this contains a physical prize, you must have a US shipping address in order to win. Our winners will be ??drawn next Thursday, so enter ??now.

Fight Crab is available now on the Switch eShop.

Contest: Win Fight Crab for Switch, and a copy of its cool-as??-shell soundtrack

The post Contest: Win Fight Crab for Swit?ch, and a copy of its cool-as-shell soundtrack appeared first on Destructoid.

And then Treasurenauts is next, right?

Since the release of Totes the Goat in 2015, developer Atooi and its founder, Jools Watsham, have really made the most out of the game's simple, but lovely, voxel graphics. The same art style has found its way into subsequent Atooi titles like Soccer Slammers and Knight Fright, both of which provided some arcade-friendly action to Switch and mobile gamers. Next year, the developer is looking to give players something a bit more substantial with Petadachi.

The prem?ise is pretty simple: you get a pet, and you raise it. Find out its likes and dislikes, take it exploring with you, and be sure to give it plenty of l??ove. From the trailer below, it looks to be another relaxing addition to the Switch catalog.

Petadachi will launch sometime in 2021 for Nintendo Switch. Limited Ru?n Games will be handling th?e physical release of the title.

Petadachi [Atooi]

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Baby I'm a survivor

In today's contest you can win Niche for Nintendo Switch!

If you've ever wanted to explore animal husbandry in a video game based on real life genetics, then you're in luck! Niche is a different little title combining turn-based strategy, evolution, and survival, and you can win a free copy ??for Switch!

This one's got a pretty cool little story behind it. Lead designer Philomena couldn't decide between biology and game design...so she went with both! She combined her love of biology and the animal kingdom into a video game where she could express her two passions in one project. Niche puts players in control of the surviva?l of multiple species by means of evolution, giving their animals different genetic traits to help them survive throughout several generations in the face of danger.

Features

• Living, dynamic world to test your survival skills
• Breeding system based on real genetics
• Over 100 genes to shape your species
• Procedurally generated worlds and animals
• Five biomes featuring different predators, prey and flora to explore
• Game mechanics inspired on population genetics

To ??enter to win, use the widget below to leave your name, email address, and region of choice. Click around for f??or entries to increase your odds of winning!

We have five Switch NA and EU keys each to give away, split across?? the EG network; we'll dra?w winners Monday, the 21st.

Niche is available now on the Switch eShop.

Contest: Win Niche, a ????genetics survival game, for Nintendo Switch

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10 minutes of developer-narrated footage from Gamescom

The sugar glider adventure Away: The Survival Series is aiming for an early 2021 release on PC and PlayStation 4, ?and if you're open to exploration games that are rough around the ??edges but set you loose in a compelling landscape, you'll want to watch this 10-minute developer walkthrough video.

Ye??ah, the sugar glider's movement looks iffy at times and the possess-other-creatures mechanic is a curious choice, but I can easily picture myself scouring this hidden anima?l kingdom for secrets.

The walkthrough covers a few facets of Away including instinct vision (to see food and threats), sneaking through grass, chasing a fast-moving meal, ??a nature documentary narrator, and environmental storytelling. The game is set in the "distant future," and in this footage, the player temporarily possesses an insect so they can crawl ??into a crack and investigate a decaying computer.

Not all games need to be an eight out of ten, you know? I just hope Away isn't too tedious.

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Kangaroos and koalas are in the $10 DLC

Planet Zoo is adding several new animals with the Australia Pack on August 25, 2020.

The koala, red kangaroo, dingo, southern cassowary, and eastern blue-tongued lizard – choose your beast. Cassowaries are intimidating and their eggs are a wild shade of green, so that's my pick.

In line with the game's prior DLC packs, this one will cost $9.99 and it's arriving on the same day as a free update – in this case, the 1.3 update &ndash??; to round out the zoo-managing experience for ??all players.

One of the coolest features in the patch is alternate colors and patterns to help differentiate your critters. "The team researched animal color and pattern variation, and found that documentation was rare and highly variable in quality ?de??pending on the species," according to Frontier Developments. "We've done our absolute best to stick to research photo reference, and do them justice."

Other upgrades include an all-in-one page for animal feeding, more efficient staff management, a Sandbox map, a Timed Scenario in Estonia, vending machines fo??r your park guests, and more foliage.

Look out for "pla??nts and smaller sapling trees to complement their larger cousins." Thank goodness.

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