Platforms – SmashPad

REVIEW – “The House of Hikmah” is a beautiful but bug-riddled cultural experience

by Michael Fertitta | PC Reviews | 0 Comments | 07 Apr 2026

When it comes to puzzle games in a 3D realm, atmosphere is what consistently keeps me hooked into the world whose mysteries I’m unraveling. Games like The Witness and The Talos Principle did so in a way that had me reflect on existentialism, and as such, remained very impactful in my experience. When I first looked at The House of Hikmah, I had a feeling this would be another special experience to immerse myself in, this time in the realm of Middle Eastern inspiration.

REVIEW – “ChainStaff” revels in visceral action on resplendent alien worlds, invoking classics while making its own footprint

by David Rodriguez | Nintendo Switch PC PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Reviews Steam Xbox One Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 07 Apr 2026

Have you ever wanted to play a 2D game like Contra or Mega Man, but with the ninja rope from Worms Armageddon? Developer Mommy’s Best Games have just want you need.

REVIEW – “People of Note” has its charms, but it also has plenty of issues to note

by Danreb Victorio | Nintendo Switch 2 PC PlayStation 5 Reviews Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 07 Apr 2026

As a fan of animated musical feature films, People of Note immediately got my attention when it was first unveiled late last year. The fact that it was also a turn-based RPG sealed the deal that it was a game I needed, but as I went through its mostly charming 20-hour journey, I felt like I had more moments of frustration than enjoyment.

REVIEW – Good art and performances can’t save “Legacy of Kain: Ascendance” from persistent mediocrity and imbalance

by David Rodriguez | Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch 2 PC PlayStation 5 Reviews Steam Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 06 Apr 2026

So here we are, on the dawn of the return of many people’s favorite suck ‘n’ slash franchise dating back 30 years ago and it’s… not looking good. Legacy of Kain: Ascendance has a lot in its way when it comes to enjoyment of this eternal gang war between the human Sarafans and vampires.

REVIEW – “Marvel MaXimum Collection” is a nostalgic collection that both hits and misses

by Leigh Lamb | Nintendo Switch PC PlayStation 5 Reviews Steam Xbox One Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 06 Apr 2026

So Marvel MaXimum Collection is tough to review. In terms of price point and variation of games included, it’s solid. The collection includes six games with 13 variations spanning 8-bit systems (including handhelds), 1-bit systems, and the arcade. The collection…

[PAX East 2026] Impressions + Discussion: “Aether & Iron” devs discuss crafting narrative excellence as a debut indie developer

by Michael Fertitta | PAX East PC Previews Steam | 0 Comments | 03 Apr 2026

At PAX East, I was given an opportunity to meet with the team at Seismic Squirrel to preview their debut title Aether & Iron ahead of launch and talk to the studio leads about what went into the making of their narrative-driven tactical RPG.

[PAX East 2026] Hands-On + Interview: “Rain98” holds mysteries we can’t wait to solve

by Danreb Victorio | PAX East PC Previews | 0 Comments | 03 Apr 2026

While it was also available to play on the show floor, the only offsite demo appointment I had during PAX East this year was to play Rain98, and it was more than deserving of it. It was a good thing I had time to chat with the game’s director, because boy, did I have questions! Luckily, the director of C#4R4CT3R, the indie studio responsible for developing the game, was there on-hand to chat after I completed the demo.

[PAX East 2026] Hands-On: “Cat Secretary” Paws Its Way Into The Work Sim Genre

by Adriana Rodriguez | PAX East PC Previews Steam | 0 Comments | 03 Apr 2026

Good Story Guild returned to PAX East with a new demo for Cat Secretary, a game I’ve been highly anticipating since I first tried it last year. Cat Secretary is a cozy 3D job sim that has you working for a massive corporation, and it’s your duty to uncover the secrets work wouldn’t want the world to know while keeping everyone happy… but as a cat, of course.

[PAX East 2026] Hands-On: “Grave Seasons” has Cultivated a New and Fascinating Type of Farming Sim

by Michael Fertitta | PAX East PC PlayStation 5 Previews Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 02 Apr 2026

During PAX East, I was given the opportunity to sit down and play through a demo of Grave Seasons and talk with Emmett Nahil, the game’s Narrative Director. While the demo was a bit shorter than I would have liked, I absolutely came away with positive impressions of this title ahead of its August release. Grave Seasons takes the tried and true relationship building and farming elements of the genre and adds a new layer of narrative-driven complexity to keep players invested in the world around them.

REVIEW – Get “Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park” if you have people to enjoy it with

by Kayla Merritt | Nintendo Switch 2 Reviews | 0 Comments | 01 Apr 2026

While I would stop short of saying you should go out and buy the $80 physical release for the Switch 2 right now if you don’t already own the game, there’s enough here to recommend paying $20 to get the DLC. While I would stop short of saying you should go out and buy the $80 physical release for the Switch 2 right now if you don’t already own the game, there’s enough here to recommend paying $20 to get the DLC.

[PAX East 2026] Hands-On: “GNAW” packs a prehistoric punch!

by Michael Fertitta | PAX East PC Previews | 0 Comments | 31 Mar 2026

PAX East never ceases to impress me with the sheer amount of indie titles on the show floor, and one of those that caught my attention was a dinosaur-themed Metroidvania called GNAW from Redstart Interactive. I was fortunate enough to play the demo for a half hour and talk with the developers about what compelled them to create this prehistoric adventure, and in the process, I was quickly taught how rusty I am with the genre.

[PAX East 2026] Hands-On: “Backyard Baseball” has the stuff for an epic comeback

by Danreb Victorio | Nintendo Switch PAX East PC PlayStation 5 Previews Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 30 Mar 2026

Backyard Baseball was easily one of the standouts at the PAX East 2026 convention floor.

Category: Platforms

REVIEW – “The House of Hikmah” is a beautiful but bug-riddled cultural experience

REVIEW – “ChainStaff” revels in visceral action on resplendent alien worlds, invoking classics while making its own footprint

REVIEW – “People of Note” has its charms, but it also has plenty of issues to note

REVIEW – Good art and performances can’t save “Legacy of Kain: Ascendance” from persistent mediocrity and imbalance

REVIEW – “Marvel MaXimum Collection” is a nostalgic collection that both hits and misses

[PAX East 2026] Impressions + Discussion: “Aether & Iron” devs discuss crafting narrative excellence as a debut indie developer

[PAX East 2026] Hands-On + Interview: “Rain98” holds mysteries we can’t wait to solve

[PAX East 2026] Hands-On: “Cat Secretary” Paws Its Way Into The Work Sim Genre

[PAX East 2026] Hands-On: “Grave Seasons” has Cultivated a New and Fascinating Type of Farming Sim

REVIEW – Get “Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park” if you have people to enjoy it with

[PAX East 2026] Hands-On: “GNAW” packs a prehistoric punch!

[PAX East 2026] Hands-On: “Backyard Baseball” has the stuff for an epic comeback

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