Platforms – SmashPad

[GDC 2026] Hands-On: “Screenbound” takes the 2D/3D games outside the box and into 5D

by Adriana Rodriguez | Articles GDC Handheld PC Platforms PlayStation 5 Previews Retro Steam Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 21 Apr 2026

GDC was an eventual five whole days of nothing but video games and sometimes it feels like I’m still recovering. As we were gearing up for the week a special surprise hit our inboxes and Xbox was kind enough to invite us to their own preview event in San Francisco to play several “ID@Xbox” demos. One of those games I got to play was Screenbound, a neat platformer that had me multitasking like I never had before.

REVIEW – “Dosa Divas” is proof that just because something tastes good, you don’t need to eat it all right away

by Danreb Victorio | Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch 2 PC PlayStation 5 Reviews Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 20 Apr 2026

They say that food is a universal love language, and that’s a statement taken in different directions in Dosa Divas, the latest game to come out of Outerloop Games of Thirsty Suitors fame. Much like Thirsty Suitors before it, Dosa Divas is a quick romp with nods to other great games, but the story in this game is a more personal one connected to food. Unfortunately, once you figure out the game’s core loop, it becomes easy to coast no matter what flavors the story throws at you to spice things up.

REVIEW – “Vampire Crawlers” sees poncle nail a new genre in a way only they can

by David Rodriguez | Nintendo Switch PC PlayStation 5 Reviews Steam Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 20 Apr 2026

Damn, poncle’s done it again. Vampire Crawlers is a wickedly-crafted, addicting, original game with enough potential depth to rival the Mariana Trench.

REVIEW – “The Day I Became a Bird” is a cute children’s book in game form

by Chris Penwell | PC PlayStation 5 Reviews | 0 Comments | 17 Apr 2026

The Day I Became a Bird is a short, yet adorable storybook inspired adventure. Don’t expect in-depth gameplay though.

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

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…

REVIEW – As an old-school style video game paying tribute to the golden age of animation, “MOUSE: P.I. For Hire” succeeds

by Brandon Perkins | Nintendo Switch 2 PC PlayStation 5 Reviews Steam Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 15 Apr 2026

Animation is quite possibly the most laborious art form on the planet, and hand-drawn animation even more so. You have to have a real dedication to your craft in order to draw hundreds upon hundreds of images of the same character in the hopes that they’ll move. It’s the reason titles like Cuphead took so long to develop; it took over seven years to produce that game, and an enormous chunk of it was spent on the individual animation cells needed to make the magic happen.

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

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…

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

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.

Hands-On: The “Invincible VS” open beta shows ass-kicking potential for button mashers and combo labbers alike

by David Rodriguez | PC PlayStation 5 Previews Steam Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 13 Apr 2026

I’ve spent a considerable amount of time with the Invincible VS open beta this last weekend. At the end of it all, it looks like it’s going to be a polarizing game for most and honestly, I’m thankful for that.

REVIEW – “PRAGMATA” is a dream of a game that represents the best design, action, and characters capable in the medium

by David Rodriguez | Nintendo Switch 2 PC PlayStation 5 Reviews Steam Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 13 Apr 2026

In every subjectively measurable way, this game is turbo-charged, immensely enjoyable, and such a profoundly well-executed experience that it’s already shortlisted for the top of my game of the year list.

REVIEW – “Marathon” is Bungie at its most intriguing in years

by Kurosh Jozavi | PC PlayStation 5 Reviews Steam Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 12 Apr 2026

Marathon is a game I did not expect to get its hooks into me. On the surface, Bungie’s new PvPvE extraction shooter looked like the kind of game I had already drifted away from. I know Bungie’s work well. I put more than 1,500 hours into Destiny 2 and hundreds more into the first Destiny, enough to understand the studio’s strengths almost instinctively. Bungie knows how to make shooting feel good, how to build mystery into a world, and how to take a familiar idea and push it just far enough in a strange direction to make it feel fresh.

REVIEW – “Cleaning Up!” makes cleaning more fun than it really is

by Alex Quevedo | Nintendo Switch PlayStation 5 Reviews Steam | 0 Comments | 10 Apr 2026

Ryan Gosling drives, I clean. He has a scorpion jacket. I have headphones. He navigates the streets well. I navigate dogs in the way well enough. So naturally, I’m well suited to discuss Cleaning Up!, a game all about… that.

Category: Platforms

[GDC 2026] Hands-On: “Screenbound” takes the 2D/3D games outside the box and into 5D

REVIEW – “Dosa Divas” is proof that just because something tastes good, you don’t need to eat it all right away

REVIEW – “Vampire Crawlers” sees poncle nail a new genre in a way only they can

REVIEW – “The Day I Became a Bird” is a cute children’s book in game form

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

REVIEW – As an old-school style video game paying tribute to the golden age of animation, “MOUSE: P.I. For Hire” succeeds

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

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

Hands-On: The “Invincible VS” open beta shows ass-kicking potential for button mashers and combo labbers alike

REVIEW – “PRAGMATA” is a dream of a game that represents the best design, action, and characters capable in the medium

REVIEW – “Marathon” is Bungie at its most intriguing in years

REVIEW – “Cleaning Up!” makes cleaning more fun than it really is

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