Author: Obsidian

Why Are Digital Chores So Much Better? Let’s address a fundamental mystery of the human psyche: why is cleaning your actual house a miserable, soul-draining chore, but cleaning a digital house in a video game is one of the most therapeutic experiences on earth? If my landlord saw how much effort I put into meticulously organizing a virtual artist’s workshop this week, he would probably evict me on principle. Released just a few days ago by Come On Studio and published by tinyBuild, Hozy is the latest entry into the rapidly expanding “cozy renovation” genre. The setup is simple: after…

Entering the Domain of the Flame Princess The character action genre is notoriously difficult to break into. For years, giants like Devil May Cry, Bayonetta, and NieR: Automata have completely dominated the space, setting an incredibly high bar for combat fluidity and visual spectacle. When an indie studio attempts to step into this ring, it usually results in a clunky, overly ambitious mess. Thankfully, the Taiwan-based development team at Crimson Dusk did not get that memo. Released on March 4th, Homura Hime is an anime-inspired 3D action game that has been quietly racking up a “Very Positive” reception on Steam.…

A Masterclass in Dread There are very few franchises in gaming history that command the same level of hushed reverence as Fatal Frame. When the original Crimson Butterfly launched on the PlayStation 2, it wasn’t just a scary game; it was a deeply emotional exploration of grief, feminine sadness, and the unbreakable bond between twin sisters. Rebuilding a game with that kind of legacy is a monumental task. Released earlier this month, FATAL FRAME II: Crimson Butterfly REMAKE attempts to bring the cursed, eternal night of Minakami Village to modern hardware. As someone who spends an unhealthy amount of time…

The “Goldilocks” of Extraction Shooters Let’s address the elephant in the room: when Bungie first announced they were resurrecting their beloved 1990s boomer-shooter IP, Marathon, as a modern PvPvE extraction shooter, the internet was highly skeptical. After years of watching the genre become saturated with either overly hardcore, punishing military sims or overly simplified, floaty arcade cash-grabs, many wondered if the creators of Halo and Destiny could actually stick the landing. Released on March 5, 2026, Marathon has officially silenced the doubters. Sitting at a “Very Positive” rating with tens of thousands of reviews and a massive daily player count,…

A Bear in a Onesie Steps Outside If you have ever looked at the intense, grid-based combat of traditional tactical RPGs and thought, “This is great, but it needs significantly more amphibians and a bear wearing a onesie,” then your hyperspecific prayers have been answered. Released earlier this week by the musical development duo at Bonte Avond and published by Offbrand Games, Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime is not your typical strategy game. It feels less like a traditional video game and more like a fever dream directed by someone who deeply loves terrible puns, early 2000s indie animation, and emotionally…

Doing My Part Touching back down in California after a grueling week walking the floor at GDC, my brain felt like absolute mush. Between the endless networking, the developer panels, and staring at engine presentations for six days straight, I needed something to completely fry my brain in the best way possible before packing my bags for PAX East next week. I needed high-octane, unapologetic, visceral action. Enter Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War!. Launching tomorrow, March 16, this brand-new title from developer Auroch Digital and the retro-revival masters at Dotemu is exactly what the doctor ordered. It is a single-player,…