Linguistic Puzzler “7 Days to End with You” Coming to Nintendo Switch in January
I don’t know what she’s saying, but she’s speaking my language!
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Throwback Comic Review: “The Thirteen Days of Christmas- A Tale of the Lost Lunar Bestiary” (Jolly Jinglings Special)
Welcome back to Jolly Jinglings, The Splintering’s month-long celebration of everything frankincense and myrrh. Today we’re going to torture ourselves yet again with another disappointing Christmas comic book: The Thirteen Days of Christmas: A Tale of the Lost Lunar Bestiary. Published by DOGSTAR Press in 1998, The Thirteen Days of Christmas is written by David Quinn and illustrated by Kristen
Read moreMystery and Adventure Abound in “The Valiant Heroes” (Crowdfunding Spotlight)
Independent comic book creator and The Fourth Age founder R.J. Shaw recently launched a crowdfunding campaign for The Valiant Heroes, an 82-page action adventure anthology. The project is already fully funded, having raised more than $7 thousand at the time of this writing. Written by R.J. Shaw and featuring illustrations by multiple artists, The Valiant Heroes is a part of
Read more“VanillaBeast: Retro Knock-Out!” Demo Now Available for Steam PC
“Dodge his punch, then counter punch!” Vanilla Gaming Company has developed a free demo for their upcoming boxing parody game VanillaBeast: Retro Knock-Out! To get access, you need to join the VanillaBeast Discord Channel here and type the command “!BetaKey” and a demo key will be dropped in your Discord DMs. Inspired by Nintendo’s 80s classic Punch-Out! (or Mike Tyson’s
Read more2D Adventure Game “Watch Over Christmas” Now on Consoles
Why does Santa always need saving? #TropesVsSanta Indie game developer and publisher Dionous Games recently released their 2D adventure game Watch Over Christmas for Xbone, SeXbox, PS4, PS5 and Nintendo Switch. The game was released on Steam PC last holiday season. Inspired by classic PC adventure games, Watch Over Christmas features point-and-click controls, a colorful, 2D art style, and fully
Read morePvP Strategy Game “Voyna: Virtual Holy Wars” Now on Steam Early Access
Deus Vult! On Monday, the development team at Hell Yeah! released their strategy game Voyna: Virtual Holy Wars via Steam Early Access. A turn-based PvP strategy game at heart, Voyna’s most unique selling point is an original gameplay mechanic called “Contrarium.” Here’s the official breakdown of Voyna: VHW from Hell Yeah! Voyna is set in a distant future where fragments
Read moreRoguelite Thriller “Paper Cut Mansion” Now Available on PlayStation, Nintendo Switch
Death by a thousand paper cuts! On Monday, publisher Thunderful has joined forces with the developers at Space Lizard Studios to release Paper Cut Mansion for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation consoles. The game released on PC and Xbox this past October. all of the well-kept secrets in this roguelite horror puzzler. In Paper Cut Mansion, players must use their wits
Read moreFinal Demo for Grappling Hook Adventure “Rusted Moss” Now on Steam
Grappling. Hook. On Monday, publisher Playism released the final demo for Rusted Moss, a “grappling hook based metroidvania game” (or “grapplevania” – kill me). Developed by faxdoc, happysquared, and sunnydaze, the full game is expected to release in February 2023. Despite the wait, the good news is that your save file for the Rusted Moss demo is fully transferable to
Read more“Kawaii Slime Arena” Coming to Nintendo Switch on 22 December
Cute & Shute! Game publisher JanduSoft recently announced that the upcoming horde shooter Kawaii Slime Arena is slated to release on Nintendo Switch in North America on 22 December. The Japanese version for PS4, PS5 and Switch will release a week earlier on 15 December. Developed by Mitsuki Game Studio, Kawaii Slime Arena puts players behind the trigger finger of
Read moreNew Trailer for Time-Travel RPG “Loop8: Summer of Gods”
On Monday, publisher XSEED Games revealed a new trailer and additional screenshots for upcoming RPG, Loop8: Summer of Gods, which is planned to release in spring 2023 for Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbone and Steam PC. Developed by SIEG Games with Marvelous Inc., Loop8 is a narrative-driven RPG with turn-based mechanics and a time-travel backdrop. Here’s the official breakdown of Loop8
Read moreThrowback Comic Review: “Sun Runners Christmas Special” (Jolly Jinglings Special)
Welcome back to Jolly Jinglings, The Splintering’s festive holiday extravaganza that celebrates all things Yule. But you want to know what won’t be celebrating the season along with us? The Sun Runners Christmas Special by Amazing Comics. Not only did it mark the end of the Sun Runners series in 1987, but it had absolutely zero to do with Christmas or the Holiday Season
Read more3 Vs. 1 Party Game “Goonya Monster” Now on Nintendo Switch, PS5, Steam PC
Over the weekend, publisher MUTAN released the 3 vs. 1 party game Goonya Monster for Nintendo Switch, PS5 and Steam PC. It was also revealed at INDIE Live Expo Winter 2022 that there is a special 10% launch discount for a limited time. Nothing says party like grabbing a few friends to separate the heads of the undead from their
Read moreThe Galactic Rodents of Mayhem Return in “Rat-Trap” (Crowdfunding Spotlight)
Capybaras in a spaceship… RODENT POWER! Nah, that doesn’t sound quite right. Anyway… Independent comic creator Gilbert “Gilly” Deltrez* recently launched a crowdfunding campaign for Galactic Rodents of Mayhem – Rat-Trap, a 32-page, oversized comic book (with 8.5” x 11” dimensions) starring a badass group of anthropomorphic capybaras. Written by Deltrez and featuring illustrations by Sebastian Navas, Galactic Rodents of
Read moreHark! The Lord is Coming… To Steam; “I Am Jesus Christ” Prologue Available Now
Jesus Christ… video game star… Game publisher PlayWay has released a free prologue for the upcoming first-person adventure game, I Am Jesus Christ. The full game is expected to launch on Steam Early Access sometime in 2023. Originally announced in 2019 and developed by SimulaM, I Am Jesus Christ is an interactive first-person game that virtually leads players through the
Read moreArika’s Uber-Difficult “Tetris: The Grand Master” Now on PS4, Nintendo Switch Via the Arcade Archives
Publisher Hamster has announced that Tetris: The Grand Master is now available on Nintendo Switch and PS4 as part of the digital Arcade Archives series. Originally released in arcades by Arika in 1998, this is the first time that Tetris: The Grand Master will be available on a home console (though a later version – Tetris: The Grand Master Ace
Read moreKaiju Roam the Earth in A.G.E. Comics’ “Fall of Man” (Crowdfunding Spotlight)
As distinct from “The Autumn of Man” A.G.E. Comics recently launched a crowdfunding campaign for Fall of Man issue 1, a 25-page sci-fi book set in a post-apocalyptic world. The project is already fully funded, having raised more than $900 at the time of this writing. Written by Paul Byrd and featuring illustrations by Benjamin Worrell and colors by Jimmy
Read morePoint ‘N Click/Beat ‘Em Up Hybrid “Scrap Riders” Releasing in January for Switch, Steam PC
Never thought I’d write a headline quite like that… Microids Indie has announced the release date for Scrap Riders on Nintendo Switch and Steam PC. It’s 9 January. Developed by Games for Tutti, Scrap Riders features both point ‘n click and arcade brawler mechanics, all wrapped up in a pixel art visual aesthetic. You can check out the full breakdown
Read moreBeastly Brawler “Jitsu Squad” Coming to PlayStation, Nintendo Switch in December
Gesundheit. ININ Games has announced that the retro-inspired brawler Jitsu Squad will be available on 9 December for PS4, PS5 and Nintendo Switch. A digital-only release for Xbox is planned for a later date. Developed by Tanuki Creative Studio, Jitsu Squad is a 2D beat ‘em up featuring unique character designs, a hand-drawn 2D visual aesthetic, online and local co-op
Read moreFantasy Comic “Beckoned: Recourse” Now on Indiegogo (Crowdfunding Spotlight)
But who is creating the book? Zade Studios recently launched a crowdfunding campaign for Beckoned: Recourse, a 32-page fantasy comic book intended for a Teen (and up) audience. Written by… erm, and illustrated by… well, the campaign doesn’t say, but after a heads up in the comments, it looks like Jeremy Thevenot is both writer and artist.* In any case,
Read moreRetro-Inspired Run-And-Gun “Orebody: Binder’s Tale” Coming Soon to Steam PC (Updated)
Updated! *Update – an unforeseen delay has caused the release to be pushed to Wednesday, 30 November. Original story follows. Publisher Nami Tentou has released the run-and-gun action game Orebody: Binder’s Tale on Steam. Developed by Orebody Inc., Binder’s Tale is described as a “love letter to NES games,” complete with a pixelated art style, chiptune soundtrack, and a main
Read moreThe “Ed Gein: Demon Hunter” Saga Comes to an End (Crowdfunding Spotlight)
Hell hath no fury like the Butcher of Plainfield Independent comic book creator Lucifer Storm recently launched a crowdfunding campaign for issues 3 and 4 of Ed Gein: Demon Hunter. Written by Storm (Lady Satan, Jericho) and featuring black and white illustrations by Kristian Rossi (Rad Rose, Trespasser), Ed Gein: Demon Hunter is a supernatural horror book starring the infamous
Read moreFrozen Puzzler “Arctictopia” Now on Nintendo Switch
If you were stuffed with Turkey this Thanksgiving, you may have missed that Gravity Game Arise released Arctictopia on the Nintendo eShop as part of their “Gravity Indie Games” project. Developed by Gamtropy, Arctictopia is an approachable puzzle game with no time limit designed to “soothe those who are tired of the harsh world.” Here’s the official breakdown of Arctictopia
Read moreThe Polymega Retro Console Adds N64 Support
On Thanksgiving Day, Playmaji, Inc. announced that they are developing a 5th module in their lineup of compatible Element Module Sets for the Polymega retro gaming console. Anticipated to release in 2022, retro gamers will be able to play original N64 game cartridges on their Polymega systems region-free via the “EM05 Ultra Element Module Set.” Players can use either OEM
Read moreJRPG “Mugen Souls” Coming to Nintendo Switch in 2023
NIS America recently announced that “cult classic” RPG Mugen Souls is coming to the Nintendo Switch in Spring 2023. The Nintendo Switch version of the Mugen Souls will feature all original and extra content “true to the original Japanese release”, and will include English language support for both text and audio. Mugen Souls is being developed as a cooperation between
Read moreRetro-Inspired Action Game “Prison City” Coming to Consoles, PC in 2023
What makes a terrorist a “techno-terrorist”? Glow sticks? Indie game publisher Retroware recently announced that arcade-style action game Prison City is coming to both PC and consoles in 2023. Developed by Programancer, Prison City is inspired by 8-bit NES side-scrollers such as Shatterhand and Power Blade, complete with a retro, pixel art aesthetic. Players take on the role of a
Read moreHorizontal Shooter “Akai Katana Shin” Coming to Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PS4 and Steam PC in December
City Connection recently announced that horizontally scrolling shoot ‘em up Akai Katana Shin will be released on Nintendo Switch, PS4, Steam and Xbone on 15 December. Originally released for arcades in 2010, Akai Katana received multiple updates and a home port on Xbox 360 in the form of Akai Katana Shin. This upcoming release includes all three versions of Akai
Read moreCyber Sheep Studios’ Cyberpunk Graphic Novel “Ronin of Okane” Now on Indiegogo (Crowdfunding Spotlight)
Do ronin dream of katana-wielding sheep? Cyber Sheep Studios recently launched a crowdfunding campaign for Ronin of Okane, a 50-page, cyberpunk graphic novel. The project is already fully funded, having raised nearly $40 thousand at the time of this writing. Created by Michael Pachidamrong, Keld Bjones, Weerayuth Dilokleartpalakorn, and Dino Zour, Ronin of Okane is a dark tale of two
Read moreTaito’s “Metal Black” Joins the Arcade Archives on PS4, Nintendo Switch
Publisher Hamster has announced that Metal Black (or Tokidensho Angel Eyes) is now available on Nintendo Switch and PS4 as part of the digital Arcade Archives series. Originally released in arcades by Taito in 1991, Metal Black is a 2D, horizontal space shooter – or a “shmup”, as you young whippersnappers call it. The game received a SEGA Saturn port
Read moreOn Your Mark, Get Set, Smurf! “Smurfs Kart” Now on Nintendo Switch
Can you believe that The Smurfs will be 65 years old in 2023? Smurfette still looks great. On Wednesday, publisher Microids released Smurfs Kart for Nintendo Switch. The game is developed by Eden Games who has a well-established pedigree for creating racing games, including Gear Club Unlimited, Test Drive Unlimited, and V-Rally. It’s also not the first time that the
Read moreSave the Princess in 2D Fantasy Action Game “Cassiodora”
Can somebody please buy these princesses a gun or something? On Tuesday, publisher PID Games announced that Cassiodora is coming to PC and consoles on 15 December. Developed by Void Studio, Cassiodora is a 2D action adventure game with shooter mechanics and a fantasy aesthetic. Players must select their elemental-powered knight of choice and and rescue the captured princess. Here’s
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