Every so often, a game comes along which injects pure joy into the lives of those who play it. One such game, Super Crazy Rhythm Castle, is currently a??vailable for free on Epic Games Store and I urge you to go and give it a try. 

Super Crazy Rhythm Castle might be, and I don’t say this lightly, the most fun I’ve had playing a video game in a very long time. I ?have laughed so hard I’ve been reduced to tears and been physically incapable of continuing before getting a grip, I’ve thrown a soccer ball at my fianc??és head (in-game, of course, I’m not a total monster) in order to stop him from scoring more points than me, and I’ve raced along the river in a musically charged boat. 

Essentially, Rhythm Castle is Guitar Hero with the added side-problem of puzzles needing to be solved. While you’re trying to play the music in time with the moving colored blocks, you also ne??ed to stop some bizarre baby creatures from screaming by kicking gems into their faces (seriously!), or use weed killer to prevent vines?? from covering the moving platform of notes. 

The ‘Super Crazy�?part is taken very literally in Rhythm Castle, and everywhere you go there’s something new, hilarious, and at times highly frustrating to over??come. For instance, at one point the king (who you’re trying to beat musically, at least I think that’s the end goal of the game) decides that simply throwing music challenges at you isn’t enough. To amuse himself, and make things harder on you, he decides that the platform on which you stand needs to spin around in circ??les. 

Now, I know my left from my right. I’ve gone approximately three deca?des knowing how to use my hands, and yet when the notes begin spinning around?? in circles, it’s hard to remember which side is which and whether I’m even the right way up. That level has a warning for those who suffer from motion sickness. If that doesn’t reflect the frustration you may feel while playing it, then nothing will. 

The music in Rhythm Castle is hugely varied, and there’s something for everyone. In the first six songs, I heard everything from Hippo and Frog (which is what reduced m??e to tears, and I’m still not quite sure why) to He??avy Metal, which is exactly as it sounds. In between, you’re treated to this absolute earworm that is still stuck in my head days later and is now a permanent addition to my soundtrack of life:

There's even an area where you can take game cartridges, which are found through the rest of the game, to play old video game soundtracks. I won't spoil what's to come if you choose to play, but you're in for a wild ride o??f both nostalgia and mild panic.

Anyway, like I said, Super Crazy Rhythm Castle is currently available for free on Epic Games Store. If you’ve got some fr??iends who you want to drag on an absolutely bizarre ride through music, then you’ve got nothing to lose by downloading it. I’m not sure I would have ever played if it hadn’t come up for nothing, but I’m forever going to be thankful that I’ve experienced the crazy joy that it brings.

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An incredibly underrated fighting game, DNF Duel, is currently free-to-own on the Epic Games Store right now. It may not have many players now, but I st??ill think it is worth playing.

It is being offered alongside CYGNI: All Guns Blazing, a visually intriguing shoot 'em up, and the Conduit Free Unlock Bundle for Apex Legends, which grants you the Legend Conduit for free, plus a skin. They are all free-to-own forever, as long as you claim?? them before Aug??ust 15 at 4 pm BST / 11 am ET/ 8 am PT.

But why should you play DNF Duel (besides tha??t it's free)? Sit down and let me tell you.

It's actually published by Arc System Works, makers of Guilty Gear, so of course it has ?an awesome anime art style with a deep fighting system. I enjoy ArcSys games, so I picked it up back when it came out in 2022 and loved the heck out of? it.

One of the main mechanics of the game is being able to use simple direction inputs for moves �?think Super Smash Bros. However, if you prefer traditional fighting game controls, those are available as well, and will even reward you with more damage. It's an input style that's become more popular in recent years, expanding across a bunch of different fighting games including Street Fighter 6.

We here at Destructoid thought it?? was an easy-to-learn hard-to-master fighting game, but worried about its longevity. And while its online servers aren’t super populated right now, it still has a niche community and had a community tournament at EVO 2024.

I still highly recommend trying it out if you are a newcomer to fighting games. Maybe just find a Discord or group that plays together, if you are planning on playing online. Plus, if you enjoy it, there are ??five DLC c?haracters that are also on sale for 50% right now to expand the roster.

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Traverse the wastelands of Fallout New Vegas for free

The official Epic Games Store Twitter revealed today that the Ultimate Edition of the hit 2010 action role-playing game Fallout: New Vegas is currently available for free via the Epic Games Store platform. You can download it now on the EGS here or by?? clicking on Free Games on the client. Be sure to add the game to your account soon, as it is only free through June? 1.

Every week a game is free on the EGS, but typically they are indie titles. Occasionally though, a AAA title like Fallout: New Vegas is the freebie of the week. Once cl?aimed you will have access to the game permanently through the client, even after June 1.

[caption id="attachment_252388" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

The best Fallout

Many devout Fallout fans regard Fallout: New Vegas as one of the best entries in the series to date. Praised for its story, the game features a well-crafted narrative that has become a staple for developer Obsidian Entertainment. Even though the franchise is known for being sandbox in nature, this one takes it? to the next level.

The world feels alive and the freedom to explore the Mojave Desert however you want is second to none. All of the quests are extremely well-written and feel meaningful, especially the si??de quests. Almost every quest has a branching path you can take that impa??ct and changes the world in some way. Every playthrough is truly unique. Few games achieve the goal of creating a realistic and living breathing world, but this one succeeds in every way.

Furthermore, a lot of the best systems from Fallout 3 not only make a return but are improved upon. Gameplay wise ther??e are ways to make almost every build viable, ??including brawler and melee characters, whereas in the rest of the franchise you typically have to build around gunplay in some way. The game features some of the franchise's coolest weapons and armor, like the Desert Ranger armor set.

Also, every piece of DLC fo?r the game is worthwhile ??and features even more incredible story.

Playing on PC is also probably the best way to enjoy the game as it has incredible mod support. Even though there is plenty to enjoy? in the base game, mods add hundreds if not thousands of hours of content to the experience??.

There's no better time to break out your Pip-Boy and freshen up on some Fallout in anticipation for the upcoming TV series releasing early next year.

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Enter the Abyss

Epic Games has revealed the next two titles that it will be offering up to all Epic Games Store users free of charge next week �?And it looks like deep sea diving and mythic adventure is the name of the game, with the arrival of E-Line Media's Beyond Blue and Upper One Games' cutesy platformer Never Alone.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOAWB?CXpo6k&ab_channel=B?eyondBlue

Released on PC and consoles in the spring of 2020, Beyond Blue is an informative undersea adventure, inspired by the critically acclaimed BBC series The Blue Planet. As deep-sea researcher Mirai, the player will explore the fathoms of the deepest oceans, investigating the flora and fauna that dwells within this fascinating and sometimes alien universe. On release, Beyond Blue was praised by critics for its immersive atmosphere and heavenly vibes, though some were disappointed with its lack of activity and somewhat empty world. You can check out Jordan Devore's thoughts on the game right here.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM_80zVzwpI

Developed by Upper One Games and released way back in 2014, Never Alone is a wholesome puzzle platformer that is also an adaptation of the legendary Iñupiat tale of "Kunuuksaayuka". The? story concerns the odyssey of a young Iñupiat girl, Nuna, and her arctic fox companion as they attempt to identify the source of a strange blizzard that has ?engulfed their community.

Synergizing the abilities of the two characters, players must negotiate the world, dodging hazards and traversing the environment, while pressing ever closer to the truth about the strange snowstorm. Never Alone received divisive reviews, with many praising the title's attractive art style and informative and historical natu??re, while others complained about the game's co?ntrols and general mechanics.

Beyond Blue and Never Alone will be available to download from Epic Games Store from April 20 until April 27. Until then, players still have the opportunity to bag current freebies Mordhau and Second Extinction before their removal on Wednesday.

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Get shapez while you’re at it

Hey everyone, are you ready to add another game to your pile of gifts from Tim Sweeney? I know I am, and I swear I’ll find the time to play everything in my expanding library of freebies. All I need to do is discover that pocket dimension where time ceases to exist and I am gold.

From now until April 14, Dying Light Enhanced Edition is available for free on the Epic Game Store. Originally released in 2015, Dying Light is occasionally considered Techland’s spiritual successor to Dead Island. Of course, given the impending release of Dead Island 2 as an Epic Games PC exclusive, the choice of Dying Light as a freebie is pretty funny. Perhaps they intend for you to see one co-op zombie game and remember there’s a new one coming in two weeks. After all, since Dying Light was originally released in 2015, fans of the genre have ??likely long? since played it.

That said, let’s not bury the lede here; shapez is also free on the Epic Game Store. Though I joke a bit here, shap??ez is ?a legitimately well-loved minimalistic base building game. It typically costs $10, but even a price as low as that can’t beat free. I can’t? wait to finally play this one once I figure out whe??re to find eight additional hours per day that don’t come from sleep.

Like Dying Light Enhanced Edition, shapez will be available for free until April 14. As usual, once you claim these games, they are yours to play even after the deadline. MORDHAU and Second?? Extinction are next on the freebie list, so make a reminder for n??ext Friday if those interest you too.

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Vampire Night

Arkane Austin has confirmed that its upcoming multiplayer shooter Redfall will support crossplay on all platforms and across all stores �?This will allow monst?er hunters on Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Xbox Game Pass to rock out together, including PC players on both Steam and Epic Games Store.

The "all-in" crossplay support is a no-brainer for the multiplayer-driven title, and will allow for a larger shared player community which can only help to grow and prolong the life of Redfall and its nefarious nocturnal activities. ??Up to four players step into the uniquely talented roles of four uber-hip characters, before heading into the titular Massachusetts town in order to purge it of an army of unholy creatures.

//twitter.com/playRedfall/sta??tus/1??632773032744828928?s=20

Originally revealed back in the summer of 2021, Redfall would ultimately miss its intended 2022 release date, but is now pretty much cemented to arrive in just a couple of months' time. While a lack of an open beta or demo leaves us with nothing but the title's atmospheric trailers to go on, we can expect a Left 4 Dead/Back 4 Blood style team shooter, with parties of?? players harnessing wild weapons and bespoke otherworldly abilities to put the legions of the undead ba??ck in the cold, cold ground.

Redfall launches May 2 on ??Xbox Series X, PC, and?? the Xbox Game Pass service.

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Desert Island Miss

Epic Games has revealed the next title that it will be offering up to its customers free of charge over on the Epic Games Store �?A delightful choice this time around, users will be able to pick up Raw Fury's period piece adventure Call of the Sea from March 9, for the grand price of Nothing.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=w39ml-My7qM&ab??_channel=Xbox

Developed by Out of the Blue and released in December 2020, Call of the Sea is a narrative-driven, first-person puzzle adventure, set?? against the fashion-forward backdrop of the 1930s. Players pick up the role of Norah Everhart, who ventures into a mysterious, unchart??ed island in the South Pacific in order to locate her husband Harry, who has vanished while on an expedition to uncover a life-changing new medicine.

As Norah explores the island, she will meet a party of strangers �?friendly or otherwise �?solve puzzles, negotiate traps, and piece together the mysteries of the island, its inhabitants, and the fate of her beloved. With luscious, classic comic artwork, a heartfelt narrative, and some pretty durn tricky, (borderline obtuse), puzzles, Call of the Sea is well worth a look for any puzzle adventure, and could prove?? to be a fine way to while away a coming weekend or two.

Oh, and be sure to check out our own CJ Andriessen's review.

Call of the Sea will be available to download from Epic Games Store from March 9 until March 16. Until then, players still have the opportunity to bag current freebie Rise of Industry, before its removal on Wednesday.

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It's lonely out in space...

Epic Games Store has revealed the next game that it will be offering up to its community of customers free of charge next week �?And for our next freebie we'll be looking at the desolate sci-fi strategy title Duskers, which will b??e available to download by all from Feb??ruary 23.

Developed by husband-and-wife indie studio Misfits Attic and released way back in 2016, Duskers sees players managing a small squadron of drones as they attempt to locate, explore, and salvage a series of lonely and haunting derelicts in the deep regions of space. The gameplay in Duskers is two-fold, with players tasked with maintaining, upgrading, and micro-managing their drone units, before taking them out i?nto the field, where they are controlled with rudimentary commands in a very "classic sci-fi" manner.

//www.youtube.??com/watch?v=dux33m_7M6w&ab_chan??nel=MisfitsAttic

It is the players' duty to maintain the drones' well-being, both on and off the field. This includes helping them to negotiate environmental hazards, avoid malfunctions and fuel loss, and ensure that the drones are kept routinely repaired and ready to rock from sector to sector. It's all very Silent Running, from a technical and aesthetic standpoint �?Though I do not think Duskers features any actual gardening. Duskers would be critically acclaimed for its design and atmosphere o??n launch, even bagging several independent game awards and nomi??nations.

Duskers will be able to download from Epic Games Store from February 23 until March 2. Until then, players still have the opportunity to bag current freebie Warpips, before its removal on Wednesday.

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An idiot sandwich...

It's the end of another week, and that means Epic Games Store is ready to reveal the next game it will be offering up to all of its users free of charge �?And its a matter of fires, fights, and fricassees, with the arrival of kitchen and restaurant management sim Recipe for Disaster, available from February 9.

Developed by the fantastically monikered Spanish outfit Dapper Penguin, and launched on PC in the summer of 2022, Recipe for Disaster tasks players with the smooth operation of a professional kitchen and its attached dining room, ensuring the ??quick, efficient, and accurate work of its chefs and waiting staff, delivering high-quality meals to customers while keeping everybody happy and safe �?the former being something of an impossibility in the catering industry.

Yes, Chef.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=tokpkrCYvus&??ab_channel=KasedoGames

Recipe for Disaster offers up customization and management goals on a huge variety of kitchen elements, from ensuring stock of quality ingredients, to purchasing top-tier equipment, and managing the distinct personalities of your staff to encourage team ??synergy and discourage inter-culinary brawling. You can also design the restaurant itself, and even conjure up your own recipes to really put your eatery on the map. Dapper Penguin's release was well-received by?? critics on release, and is well worth a look for management sim fans or anyone who believes they're cut out for the non-stop, high-pressure world of foods and feuds.

Recipe For Disaster will be available to download, free of charge, from Epic Games Store from February 9-16. Until then, users still have the opportunity to bag themselves this week's freebies, Dishonored: Death of the Outsider and City of Gangsters.

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Gentlemen, start your graphics cards...

Today sees the launch of Square Enix' spellbound epic Forspoken, which is available to purchase now on PS5 and PC platforms �?In addition, a new blog post by de?veloper Luminous Productions has announced that a PC demo wil??l launch later today on Steam, Epic Games Store, and Microsoft Store.

The Forspoken demo will give PC users the opportunity to check out Forspoken's effect-laden magic adventure for themselves, allowing those on the fence from a technical standpoint to see whether their rig matches up to the game's meaty visuals. Having played the title on PS5, I initially struggled to see why the PC specifications seemed so lofty. Upon reaching several of the game's boss encounters, (particularly the impressive "Tanta" battles), it became quite clear that Forspoken would?? be pretty greedy on the ol' GFX. I don't think m?y Radeon x700 is going to get the job done.

Forspoken follows the story of Frey Holland, a troubled street kid who finds herself plucked from the streets of Hell's Kitchen and deposited in Athia, a fantasy world under siege from a smothering corruption known as "The Break". Bound with a sentient vanbrace d??ubbed "Cuff". This original odd cuffle ventures through Athia's huge open world, hoping to challenge its founders, restore the land, and get our girl back home to her beloved moggie, Homer.

Forspoken launches today on PS5 and PC. You can check out our review for the new title right here.

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World of Words

Epic Games Store has revealed the next title that it will be offering up gratis for its huge army of users �?Available to download from January 19 to all users, it's the unique, narratively driven Epistory: Typing Chronicles.

Developed by Belgian studio Fishing Cactus and released back in 2016, Epistory is the tale of a young girl, who rides a three-tailed fox around a constantly evolving origami world, under attack from an array of paper spiders and other crease-tastic bugs. Epistory: Typing Chronicles is a particularly original title from both an aesthetic and gameplay stand??point. Not only is its delightful paper world incredibly cool and inviting, but the game's story and world unfolds, (quite literally), via the player's typing ability. It's a unique, smartly conceived concept, which you can see in action for yourself in the trailer below.

//www.youtube.com/watc?h?v=O1qg_8JKojE&ab_??channel=FishingCactus

The player follows on-screen typing prompts in order to control our hero, defeat their enemies, and advance the core story itself. Much like other word-based video games, such as The Typing of the Dead, speed and accuracy will be the tools necessary to progress through the adventure, accessing new areas, while protecting our foxy friend from an increasingly aggressive army of bugs. Epistory is a very novel release, and alm??ost worth the price of admission alone for its beautifully crafted origami universe.

Epistory: Typing Chronicles will be available to download from the Epic Games Store from January 19. Until then, you can still pick up murder mystery freebie First Class Trouble from the EGS dashboard.

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Get Very Metal this winter

Epic Games Store is continuing its rollout of free video games for each and every day of the holidays, today's offering �?still available for a few more hours �?is dark action RPG Mortal Shell, which al??l users can downlo??ad direct from the EGS dashboard.

Developed by Cold Symmetry and launched on PC and console platforms in 2020, Mortal Shell is fantasy adventure that takes extreme pride in its highly challenging, melee-focused combat. Inspired by the much-loved Dark Souls franchise, the development team set out to make a similarly toned adventure where every single swing of the blade ma??ttered, where life and death rest on the edge of one right (or wrong??) decision in the heat of battle, and where swift adaptation to each enemy is the key to victory.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSs0_PBGiLs&ab_channel=PlayStat?ion

In Mortal Shell, players can inhabit the bodies (or "mortal shells") of the deceased, gaining access to their skills, weapons, and abilities. As such, the combat in the game has a natural evolution, as the player passes from body to body, learning new skills on the fly and adapting to the reconfiguration of their offensive and defensive maneuvers. Mortal Shell received plaudits on release for its smart combat and compelling challenge, with many noting that its unabashed love of the FromSoftware titles was readily apparent, with some reviewers noting that it felt like playing Dark Souls for the first time all over again.

Mortal Shell is available to download for free from Epic Games Store. It is also availab??le on PlayStation, Xbox?, and Nintendo Switch platforms.

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But move swiftly and efficiently if you want it

As Epic Games Store continues its holiday tradition of offering up a free game every day, today give sits users the opportunity to bag the high-speed, stunt-mechanic action-fest Severed Steel, which is avail?able to claim for? the next few hours directly from the EGS dashboard.

Developed by Chicago-based Greylock Studio and released in the spring of last year, Severed Steel is a first-person shooter of the speed 'n' style vernacular. That is to say, it occupies the same territory as games such as High Hell, Ghostrunner, and SuperHOT where the speed, accuracy, and efficiency of the play??er's?? movement are equally as important as simply staying alive.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Yr9olh1yqk&ab_channel=Di??gerati

Set in a future-noir world, players control the vengeance-fuelled protagonist Steel, who has lost an arm to an accident manufactured by the omnipotent corporation EdenSys. Outfitted with an energy cannon to replace the missing limb, Steel sets out on a one-woman-vendetta against EdenSys, eradicating its operations and liberating those crushed beneath its metal heels. This translates to a slickly designed, hug?ely destructible environments and highly stylized and explosive FPS action, all backed by a fantastic, adrenaline-pumping score.

So If you fancy ringing a few ears as you ring in the new year, then head on over to Epic Games Store right now and bag Severed Steel gratis, you have just a few more hours before it will be replaced by the next offering. Severed Steel is also available now on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Sw??itch platforms.

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Groovy

Digital retailer Epic Games Store has revealed the two new titles that it will be offering up to all of its users free-of-charge next week �?And this time around, it's something particularly special, as 2022's asynchronous multiplayer title Evil Dead: The Game will be avail??able gratis, in all of its gory g?lory.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po3gmy71w6A

Launching earlier this year on PC and consoles, Evil Dead: The Game is an authentic and particularly frantic adaptation of the iconic horror film series �?famously starring Bruce Campbell as the chainsaw-revving doofus/rogue Ash Williams. Evil Dead: The Game sees players team up as recognizable characters from the entire series, before doing battle against a single player with an army of Deadites, traps, and other sneaky tricks up their K??andarian sleeves.

While the multiplayer element of the title obviously means that Evil Dead: The Game has a very specific?? audience, the developers at Boss Team Games did a magnificent job in recreating the aesthetic and creepy, oppressive nature of the franchise, with a fantastic audio/visual package that series fans will love. It also plays very well as an asynchronous multiplayer experience, and hopefully, this EGS freebie will help to widen the game's audience a little more, encouraging Ash and friends to remain on their decap attack well into the new year.

I call Mia.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5QgtCJu7AI

Developed by indie outfit Sword & Axe LLC and released in the summer of 2021, Dark Deity is a strategy-based RPG set against the backdrop of a war-torn fantasy world. Taking influence from Nintendo's highly acclaimed Fire Emblem series, Dark Deity follows the escapades of a cast of military academy students �?thrust into battle prematurely after their king ill-advisedly declares war on a neighboring state. The story follows four such students as they join a battle that has farther-reaching consequences ?than they had ever imagined.

Evil Dead: The Game and Dark Deity can be downloaded from the Epic Games Store from November 17. Until then, users can still bag themselves current freebies Alba: A Wildlife Adventure and Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun

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We could all use a little time out

It's Friday, and that means that digital retailer Epic Games Store is ready to reveal the next titles that it will be offering up to its users free of charge �?And this week, it's a veritable mix of wholesomeness and wanton violence, with the arrival of Alba: A Wildlife Adventure and Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-Eu9WE3grA

Developed by British outfit ustwo Games, the almost unbearably wholesome Alba: A Wildlife Adventure was released to critical and public acclaim back in 2020. It concerns a simple tale of a young explorer who stumbles across a Mediterranian isle in need while on vacation. Armed with little more than a phone camera, a metric ton of spirit, and her friends and associate??s, Alba sets about capturing the beauty and wonder of Pinar del Mar, determined to prevent its gentrification by ruthless capitalists.

With a distinct visual style, leisurely paced exploration gameplay, and a relaxed, finish-in-a-sitting approach, Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is a great title to while away a lazy Sunday afternoon, away fro?m the hustle and bustle of the waking world and the bombastic action of its bigger-budgeted brethren. Take the trip.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtJ3dZyoS94

Developed by Mimimi Games and released on PC and consoles back in 2016, Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is a stealth-heavy real-time-tactics title in the vein of scalpel-precise party planners such as Commandos or Desperados. S?et against the backdrop of Edo-era Japan, players guide a team of uniquely skilled assassins as they attempt to locate the whereabouts of a mysterious warlord known only as "Kage-sama".

A samurai, a geisha, a thief, and a ninja are the party of four tasked with utilizing subterfuge, stealth, distraction, and good old-fashioned ultraviolence in order to complete a series of missions and uncover the truth about their mission, their prey, and, surprisingly, themselves. For fans of the "clockwork planning" of the Commandos series, Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is most definitely worth a whirl.

Alba: A Wildlife Adventure and Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun can be downloaded from the Epic Games Store from November 10. Until then, users can still bag themselves current freebies Filament and Rising Storm 2: Vietnam.

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A taste of Italian terror

Digital retailer Epic Games Store has revealed the two new titles that it will be offering up to all users free-of-charge next week �?Come October 27, we will be getting a little creep, and a little carnage, with the arrival of horror adventure Saturnalia and tabletop strategy sim Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1qGfWjlv8s

Making its grand debut on October 27, Saturnalia is a mood-piece horror title developed by Italian studio Santa Ragio??ne and encapsulating the country's love of oppressive, colorful, and unnerving tales of the macabre. This roguelike adventure will see the player control an ensemble cast of characters, who find themselves trapped within a labyrinthine village unde?r the power of some ancient, otherworldly evil.

With a heavy, Giallo-inspired aesthetic, Saturnalia will blend challenging roguelike gameplay with a body of rich Sardinian folklore to create a non-linear adventure featuring procedurally-generated dungeons, an array of puzzles, and an involving yet somewhat abstract narrative �?all awash in a unique style that evokes t?ribute to Italian horror greats such as Dario Argento and Mario Bava.

This Epic Games Store release represents the premiere of Santa Ragione's mysterio?us odyssey, w?ith PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch ports also arriving the same day.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfqF81VPoM0

One of a gazillion titles released under Games Workshop's Warhammer 40K banner, Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus sees another chapter in the endless interplanetary conflicts of The Imperium. Launching in 2018 and developed by Bulwark Studios, Mechanicus is a strategy-action games that places a heavy emphasis on the cybernetic enhancements and body modifications of this particular chapter of space marines, making man deadlier than ever before with a wide range of symbiotic upgr??ad?es.

Featuring fully customizable units, resource management mechanics, a huge arsenal of devastating weaponry, multiple choice narrative options, and over 50 stages of brutal battles with the encroaching Xenos, Mechanicus, much like its gaming b?rethren, packs in hours upon hours of strategic tabletop action, and is sure to keep Genestealer painters everywhere engaged into the wee small hours of the evening. For The Imperium!

Saturnalia and Warhammer 40K: Mechanicus can be downloaded from the Epic Games Store from October 27. Until then, users can still bag themselves current freebies Fallout 3 and Evoland.

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Giant Monsters All-Out Attack

I have been a fan of kaiju and Japanese giant monster films since a childhood friend lent me his VHS of Godzilla 1985 for a weekend. Eight years old at the time, I didn’t realize the movie was actually a pretty crappy Americanization of a far superior Japanese film. I just liked watching this big green lizard tear shit up. I watched the tape three times over that first weekend, forever changed by what I saw. To my eight-year-old mind, this was cinema.

By the time school rolled around on Monday, I was already making plans to scour my local video rental shops for whatever Shōwa and Heisei era Toho films they were hiding on their shelves. Once I was finished with all of those, I moved on to the video games, where my fanaticism was quickly tested. The world was still several years away from Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee, leaving me with the crappy Godzilla games of the late �?0s and early �?0s. If it wasn’t for titles like King of the Monsters, my devotion to the kaiju genre might have sta?rted to wane.

Yes, King of the Monsters and its sequel are actually pretty terrible video games, but for a kid not even in middle school yet, they were exactly what I was looking for. I wanted to fight other monsters and destroy cities just like my big green hero. That’s what those games let me do, and when we got the trio of Godzilla games from Pipeworks Software in the early aughts?, I got to do it again �?but with better graphics and somewhat decent gameplay.

Today, I’m still fighting monsters and wrecking city blocks, only now I’m doing it with even better graphics and gameplay in GigaBash, the new arcade brawler from Malaysian develope??r Passion Republic Games.

GigaBash (PC, PS4, PS5 [reviewed])
Developer: Passion Republic Games
Publisher: Passion Republic Games
Released: August 4, 2022
MSRP: $34.99

Set in a world where giant monsters are worshipped and feared, GigaBash is 2022’s second video game love letter to the kaiju genre after this spring’s Dawn of the Monsters. Passion Republic Games is clearly as infatuated with this ??niche corner of sci-fi as much as I am, creating a world rich with lore, lush locales, and exceptionally crafted giant monsters. Everything about this game speaks to me. Well, almost everything, but let’s not dwell on the negatives just yet.

There really is a lot I love about GigaBash. Right at the top of that list are its graphics. This is undoubtedly the prettiest monster melee game I’ve ever played, with bright, intricate battle maps chock-full of buildings, plants, cars, ships, and people just waiting for me to trample all over them. From congested cities to the frozen arctic and places less terrestrial, the variety, ?depth, and construction of these locales are worthy of immense awe. Equally attractive are the monsters themselves; 10 Titans that pull influence from a variety of tokusatsu sources in their design. There’s the King Kong-esque Gorogong, the Godzilla-adjacent Rawa, the requisite sword-wielding giant robot piloted by a dewy-eyed child, and Gigaman, who’s basically just Ultraman with a hot dad bod.

Not only is it gorgeous, but this is a simple game to pick up. GigaBash has a control scheme that’s easy to gel with in a matte??r of minutes, no matter which Titan you choose. Each character has a melee attack, a special attack, and the ability to jump, dash, and grab. If you hold down either the melee or special attack button, you can unleash a secondary attack that�?�s either more powerful or has better range than what you get by just pressing those buttons. Furthermore, the characters have distinct block attacks for melee and special as well as a dash melee attack.

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

All of these moves are unique, and no two Titans feel the same in battle. For ins?tance, Gorogong is a close-up brawler who is powerful but? has limited range, while Rohanna, a giant plant deity, can devastate opponents from great distances. When you get a good mix of close-range, distance, and zoners in a match, it can be an absolutely chaotic experience with Titans flying all over the stage and attacks coming at you from every which way. Dominating your foes is going to require you to get a clear understanding of how each of these Titans works.

Or you can just pla?y as Rohanna and annoy the shit o?ut of all your friends.

It's A Balancing Act

For as distinct as each of the Titans are, they aren’t balanced all that well. Characters like Rohanna and the giant mecha Thundatross definitely feel like they have a leg up over the rest of the cast. Close-up fighters like Gorogong or Woolley, a dimwitted yeti destined to be the most-loved member of this cast, are often at a disadvantage as their movement speed and dash capabilities aren’t necessarily quick enough to escape the swiftness of their opponent’s attack. You can block, which is very effective, but like with most brawlers and fighters, blocking ??opens you up to grabs, which can then open you up?? to having your Titan juggled across the screen until its health is fully depleted.

I haven’t mastered juggling opponents outside of the training mo?de just yet, but there are a few other higher-skill maneuvers I’ve managed to pull off over the past few days, including using my teammates as projectiles. I’ve also learned that in battle, attacking and racking up combos is the most important thing you can do as it quickly builds up your S-Class energy gauge. When this gauge fills and you press both shoulder buttons, your Titan will grow to a massive size that towers over the other fighters. Not only does this greatly increase their attack range, but this is when they actually start to have the dominating presence of the characters they're so clearly inspired by.

Maybe it's the way the camera is positioned, but these Titans don't feel all that titanic through the normal course of a match. Sure, they're tearing down buildings and using telecom towers as baseball bats, but when that camera pulls out to give you a look at the full stage you're fighting on, they can look pretty puny. There is good reason though to position the camera the way it is here, however. Not? only do you need to keep track of the other fighters trying to bring you down, but you need to be aware of how the stage is trying to kill you as well.

Depending on which level you choose to fight on, your battleground may greatly transform throughout the match. There are obvious ways it’ll change, like when you trample buildings or break them apart to use as projectiles, but each stage also has a gimmick associated with it meant to cause chaos on the playing field. For instance, the Hawaiian-inspired Luana Island will slowly be inundated with hot lava that slowly damages the Titans. Not all gimmi??cks require such a transformation, though, and you are given the option of turning them off altogether. Other match options include increasing the stock count for each fighter, adjusting the strength of the buildings so they don't crumble so easily, choosing whether you want to include the Final Smash-like Ultimate Attacks, and toggling on and off the post-death attacks, which allow defeated fighters to do some damage from the afterlife.

Beyond the free-for-all and team battle modes, GigaBash's Couch Play also includes a set of minigames that have been designed around the game's different mechanics. These are a bit of a mixed bag, but I had a lot of fun with the "Rampage"?? game. However, unlike with the other Couch Play modes, you can't substitute in A.I. bots for these minigames, and the fewer people there are playing them, the less enjoyable they are.

Riding Solo

If you don't have anybody around and online isn't doing it for you �?I was unable to connect with anyone online during the review period for this game �?there is a single-player campaign available that you’ll need to go through at least once if you want to unlock all the playable characters. The story mode follows four of the Titans as they venture through their loosely connected nar?ratives on a worldwide tour of destruction. Each Titan’s journey is broken up into five chapters with most asking that you simply defeat your opponents to move on. A couple of chapters across the campaign try to shake the formula up by having you rescue friends or destroy a city, but those missions are often over far too quickly and lack the excitement of a kaiju battle to be of any fun.

The other issue with the single-player campaign is the A.I. you square off against. GigaBash has some of the most wildly inconsistent A.I. I’ve seen in some time. Even on the normal difficulty? setting, opponents can easily destroy you without breaking much of a sweat. Other times, they’ll basically lie down and let you walk all over them. There is zero consistency to the dif?ficulty here, resulting in a campaign with a final battle that is far easier than anything else you’ll encounter over its 20 chapters.

At least the campaign is well-written. It’s easy t?o see how much of the titular passion Passion Republic Games has for the kaiju genre, as the narrative touches on several different inspirations in telling its tale. As you unlock more lore by leveling up each Titan and your player profile, the depths of these waters will really start to reveal themselves. There is a lot to learn about this world, and I enjoyed reading every little bit of the story I unlocked because all of it is a joy to read.

While I understand that GigaBash was clearly designed as a multiplayer party experience, I do wish Passion Republic Games found a way to include more single-player options. The story mode can be completed in a single sitting and there is little reason to go back to it. Sure, you can revisit it on harder difficulties, but I found that to be more frustrating than challenging with extremely aggressive A.I. that could act and react faster than my normal human hands could. Plus, you're limited to just four Titans. Something like an arcade mode would go a long way toward making GigaBash a more well-rounded experience.

As I said at the top of this review, there is a lot about GigaBash that speaks to me as a lifelong kaiju fan. The visuals, the Titan designs, the pick-up-and-play ease of the controls, the level variety, the lore, it's all top-notch and easy to gush about. If you can consistently get three other people to join? you locally in the action, you're going to get a lot out of this game. If that's not realistic for you, know that it can still be a pretty fun time even if you're not getting the optimal experience.

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

The post Review: GigaBash appeared first on Destructoid.

Early Access kicks off April 20

Those of you old enough to hold golden memories of Saturday morning television might want to take a gander at MythForce, a brand new roguelite adventure that hopes to capture the looks, sounds, and vibes of the act?ion-adventure 'toons of the late 1980s.

Developed by Canadian outfit (and newly adopted member of Embracer Group), Beamdog, MythForce promises colorful dungeon crawling action for parties of one-to-four players, each kitted out with their own skills, weapons, spells, and abilities. As our heroes pick their way through each procedurally-generated zone, they will battle an army of ruthless villains, topple bosses, adapt and? improve their abilities, and gather oodles of juicy loot, all presented in nostalgic, animated fashion.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1HtOKSSuY0

"I’m beyond excited to finally show off our team’s original work," said Beamdog CEO Trent Oster in a press release. "MythForce is pure, unadulterated fun �?right out of the Saturday mornings of my childhood. With a simple y??et satisfying game loop, it’s a big departure from the RPG classics we??’re known for, but the Beamdog DNA is evident if you know where to look."

If you're interested in checking out MythForce for yourself, then you won't have to wait too long to do so, as Early Access is scheduled to kick off on PC (via Epic Game Store) as soon as April 20, just one short week from now, priced at $29.99 The first episode, Bastion of the Beastlord, will be immediately available for your perusal, with further updates, features, and episodes planned for the coming months as the development team pushes ever closes to the game's official lau?nch.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DCvHre1NVE

The post MythForce is a new roguel??ite with?? a Saturday Morning Show vibe appeared first on Destructoid.

If I could turn back time

What's the big deal with Sifu? Like, every time I wake up I'm older. So, what, now you build a game around that mechanic? I've been doing?? it for 35? years, people; get with the program!

Well I guess it's different when you're a kung fu master. Also ??different when you die you come back to life, but ??exponentially older. And since, you know, no one has made any games about Wes Tacos.

Not yet, anyway.

Where was I? Oh yeah, my super ultra best friends over at Tinsley (get your peeps to get working on that Wes Tacos game, Tinsley crew) hooked me up with some Sifu keys to give away!

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kx3R2CNhLWA

Read our official review here, but suffice it to say if you like a challenge, this one's for you! Sifu is a story of vengeance. A bunch of young punk martial artists up and killed your fam. Now, it's up to you to hunt them down, taking o??ut any and all minions along the way. Learn new moves, acquire new techniques, and most of all, don't die! Each life ages your character, taking him from an angsty teen to a tired septuagenarian with the experience to fight, but the body to fail. Balance your life lest you age out of fulfilling your miss??ion.

But there's good news! Like any difficult game, the a-ha! moments come when you master the game's mechanics and improve as a player, as opposed to ethereal skill points determining your fate. I'm ??t?errible at video games so I've never personally experienced such an epiphany, but I'm guessing if you're here you're much better at this sort of thing than I am. Pretend in the gif below that video games are the badass bearded dude, and I'm the little weenie flying off the edge. It's pretty bad.

To enter to win your copy of Sifu, comment below telling us which move you'd use to finish me off in a fight. Keep in mind you probably won't have to use your best move, or really anything in the second or third tier. I'm thinking a basic level leg sweep or flick to the nip will?? do the trick. But hey, if you'd really like to show out then?? go ahead and use those master-level moves. It'll impress the judges, if nothing else.

We have ten copies each for PS4 and PC (redeemable through the Epic Games Store) to give away. Winners will be drawn around this time next week. And yes, that's vague because I'm busy, damn it. Comment below and if I don't have your contact info on file, I'll respond to your comment and we?'ll go from there. Please just check your notifications, because if I can't get a hold of you in a reasonable time I'm just going to write the key on the bathroom stall at Wendy's and let Jesus take the wheel.

Sifu is available now for PlayStation and PC. Check them out on Twitter @SifuGame and be su??re to tell your friends about our contest!

The post Contest: Win Sifu for PS4 or PC before y?our time runs? out appeared first on Destructoid.

The daily game giveaways are still underway

When I say "couch co-op," I mean it! Moving Out is a fumbling cooperative multiplayer game about chucking people's stuff �?including actual couches �?into a truck, and it's free to claim on PC today from the Epic Games Store. It's not my favorite, but it's neat.

Squeezing bulky furniture around tight corners and safely transporting goods through obstacle courses is hard enough alone, much less with another player who essentially needs to be drift compatible with your playstyle. Of course, that's the nature of these "talk it out while you go fast" co-op games �?the lines between fun and frustration are often blurred, but the payoff is worth it when you succeed together. I l??ike a bit of spice.

Moving Out gets wacky and challenging, so don't think it's just standard house after house. On t??hat note, the game does have assist/accessibility options for things like the timer, item weight, and clearing out objects once they're loaded in the truck. (One of the tricks is finding enough room for everything and then quickly slippi??ng back out to grab more stuff.)

I've been out on vacation for the holidays, so I haven't kept up with daily freebie reminders here on Destructoid, but I hope you've claimed everything you wanted so far. I feel like Loop Hero was one of the standout free games from an "I think I'll be into this but I'm not completely sure" perspective. Come to think of it, I dropped off in the second?? chapter.

Wait, are we actually meant to play these games? Or are we just scooping them up for the sake of it? In any case, if you've got someone close to you who's into Overcooked-style games �?and your PC setup is conducive �?then grab Moving Out while it's still free.

This deal ends at 8:00 a.m. Pacific on December 29. Salt and Sanctuary should be next.

The post Moving Out, a neat couch co-op ga??me, is free ??today on the Epic Games Store appeared first on Destructoid.

A free mystery game will be unwrapped on Dec. 16, and a new leak is pointing to Ryo Hazuki

Epic has posted its usual weekly freebies �?in today's case, it's the trimmed-down Godfall Challenger Edition and the old reliable Prison Architect �?but there's also a festive teaser for a "mystery game" dropping on December 16. The gift-wr??apped imagery jogged my memory and reminded me that, oh yeah, the Epic Games Store usuall?y hosts a big holiday giveaway. As fate would have it, there's a corresponding leak.

According to yet another leak out of Dealabs, the game scheduled for a free giveaway on December 16 is none other than Shenmue III (take it or leave it!) and it'll be followed by a bunch of one-day-??only?? giveaways to close out 2021 alongside the store's holiday sale.

Aside from the daily game giveaways that are expected to run from December 16 through D??ecember 29, the Epic Games Store will reportedly also host a final week-long holiday freebie that can be clai?med from December 30 until January 6, 2022.

As a point of comparison, courtesy of the record keepers at Fanbyte, the Epic Games Store ran 12 days of free games in 2019 (including Into the Breach and Celeste) and 15 days of free games in 2020 (with titles like Inside, The Long Dark, and Jurassic World: Evolution).

When there are so many ways to build out your library without spending a cent, it's ??tricky to navigate "I've been meaning to get that" game purchases �?especially if we're talking PC indie gaming. And with the Epic Store, it feels like almost anything could show ??up. Potentially add in Games with Gold, Xbox Game Pass, and PlayStation Plus, and the freebies just keep flowing. Thank goodness backlogs don't work like Tamagotchis.

Assuming Epic's big holiday bash returns for 2021, we'll ??do our best to post da??ily reminders on the site (when we aren't chilling with the fam).

In related news, the Epic Games Store now has a shopping cart.

The post Epic Games S?tore m??ight start its huge holiday game giveaway with Shenmue III appeared first on Destructoid.

The Borderlands DLC gets a Wonderlands standalone

Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep is one of, if not the most, well-remembered DLC additions in the Borderlands series. It was popular enough that Gearbox is currently working on a full game spiritual successor, and today, Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep is also getting a standalone version.

2K and Gearbox announced today that a standalone called Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep: A Wonderlands One-Shot Adventure is coming to PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and Epi?c. And it's available today, too.

As part of the launch, Assault on Dragon Keep is free on the Epic Games Store until Nov. 16, so roughly the next week. Otherwise, it'??s going for $9.99 on the other storefront??s.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=hf3T0LaGpxE

Even as someone with a hot-and-cold relationship with the Borderlands franchise, Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep is a standout to me. It was impressive back in 2013, when it arrived as DLC for Borderlands 2. Not just for its Dungeons & Dragons referencing, mind you, but for how it tackled one of the big story developments in Borderlands 2, and how that affected its characters. Borderlands 2 in particular hit a high note for me with how it tackled some tougher material, and I liked Dragon Keep for how it kept that through-line going.

That said, it's also an entire DLC featuring Tiny Tina. For some folks, that's a deal-breaker. But hey, if you wanted to give it a shot and see if Borderlands meets D&D works for you, this is probably the best opportunity to do it. Plus, it ends up now acting as a predecessor to the upcoming Tiny Tina's Wonderlands. If you want to know how it all ties together, and learn a little Borderlands history in the process, seems li?ke a good opportunity?? to do so.

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