Category: Events

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[Steam Next Fest] HANDS-ON: “Truck-kun is Supporting Me from Another World?!” Yes, Truck-kun is supporting you from another world!

author image by David Rodriguez | PC Previews Steam Steam Next Fest Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 18 Jun 2026

The art is colorful and pristine, the gameplay and premise beckons comparisons to games like Crazy Taxi, the Katamari series, and another indie darling Yellow Taxi Goes Vroom. This is worth checking out for the absurdist anime slant alone.

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[Steam Next Fest] HANDS-ON: “BRAZILIAN DRUG DEALER BEFORE 4” reminds that sometimes games just need to be fun, ridiculous, and Brazilian

author image by David Rodriguez | PC Previews Steam Steam Next Fest | 0 Comments | 17 Jun 2026

This is obviously not going to be for everyone, but developer Joeveno has earned a cult following with this rambunctious, vivid, trippy, and esoteric look into a very minutely pinpointed aspect of Brazil’s cultural history. That it’s in the form of a boomer shooter just makes it potentially enjoyable by more people who are into that sort of thing (me!).

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[Steam Next Fest] HANDS-ON: “Dragon’s Brew” could be the next indie cozy sim of your dice-rolling dreams

author image by David Rodriguez | PC Previews Steam Steam Next Fest | 0 Comments | 17 Jun 2026

If you fancy board games, cafes, or board game cafes and perhaps even flirted with the idea of running one yourself for whatever reason, then Dragon’s Brew should be on your radar.

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[Steam Next Fest] HANDS-ON – Whimsical and friendly “TOEM 2” makes a charming first impression with its photo-snapping fun

author image by David Rodriguez | Nintendo Switch PC PlayStation 5 Previews Steam Steam Next Fest | 0 Comments | 15 Jun 2026

TOEM 2 has a lot going for it from its short demo alone. I’m so glad I plyed it because, I’m happy to say, it charmed me way beyond expectation and earned a well-deserved wishlist out of me.

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AAPI in Games Media: Culture, passion, and representation matter

author image by Danreb Victorio | Events Features Videos | 0 Comments | 03 Jun 2026

This is a bit of an “inside baseball” piece on the recent panel SmashPad Executive Editor, Danreb Victorio, hosted for AAPI in Gaming. If you haven’t seen it already, check it out above!

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SmashPad is back at SGF 2026. Here’s all our coverage.

author image by SmashPad Staff | Events Features Summer Game Fest | 0 Comments | 01 Jun 2026

For the third straight year, we’ll be back at Summer Game Fest Play Days, a three-day media-only event where we’ll have access to a wide range of upcoming titles, so get ready for a whole bunch of hands-on previews and developer interviews over the next few weeks. It’s gonna be a fun time!

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HANDS-ON – The title says it all with “Disgaea Mayhem”

author image by Danreb Victorio | Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch 2 PAX East PC PlayStation 5 Previews | 0 Comments | 14 May 2026

Just take one look at Disgaea Mayhem, and you already know what you’re getting. The game is being marketedlike an action spinoff to their marquee, prinny-filled SRPG, but it’s obviously a musou, and so far, it’s pretty fun.

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HANDS-ON + INTERVIEW – “Brigandine: Abyss” demo was punishing but has potential

author image by Danreb Victorio | Events Features PAX East Previews | 0 Comments | 13 May 2026

Our appointment with NIS America during PAX East was one of the opportunities I was most looking forward to, as I got to play Brigandine: Abyss behind closed doors, and it turned out to be quite a humbling experience. Typically, such a punishing demo would make me lose interest, but I can’t shake the feeling that there’s something worthwhile here, especially after the talk I had with the developer after the play session.

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INTERVIEW – Filipino fast food giant, Jollibee, brings Filipino flavor to FFXIV FanFest

author image by Danreb Victorio | Events Features | 0 Comments | 23 Apr 2026

Those who know me on a personal level know that I’m really proud of my Filipino roots. I spent over a decade helping develop and lead youth programs geared toward Filipino-Americans and eventually parlayed that into a job with Ayala Land, one of the biggest and most respected real estate developers in the Philippines before I eventually landed in the gaming industry. That said, Jollibee is something my family helps itself to more than occasionally.

And then there’s Final Fantasy.

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[PAX East 2026] Hands-On: Modern day gaming is ready for “Bubsy 4D”, whether it likes it or not

author image by Adriana Rodriguez | Console Epic Games Store Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch 2 PAX East PC Platforms PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Previews Retro Reviews Steam Xbox One Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 16 Apr 2026

I’m not sure what rock I’ve been living under all this time, but clearly it’s been missing Bubsy, and in several dimensions.  Bubsy 4D is the comeback game of a series that dates back to the early 90’s on the…

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[PAX East 2026] Hands-On: Whispers of the Eyeless is Worthy of a “Cult Following”

author image by Michael Fertitta | PAX East PC Previews | 0 Comments | 14 Apr 2026

Every year at PAX East, the Games From Poland booth always impresses me with the sheer variety of games coming from Poland. There were at least a dozen unique titles populating the booth, but one that caught my eye was…

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[PAX East 2026] Hands-On: “Jigrift” is a ‘puzzling’ take on 3D platformers

author image by Michael Fertitta | Epic Games Store PAX East PC Previews Steam | 0 Comments | 14 Apr 2026

The PAX Rising showcase at PAX East always has a handful of titles that draw me in. It’s thanks to this booth that I have seen all sorts of great ideas put into practice. One of those games that stood out for this very reason was Jigrift, a 3D Puzzle Platformer by the solo developer at Empty Castle Games where the world is comprised of jigsaw pieces! As someone who enjoys jigsaw puzzles, puzzle games, and 3D platformers, I knew I had to give this game a try.

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