A demo is now out for The Surge [official site], the new Dark Souls-inspired sci-fi action-RPG from the studio behind Lords of the Fallen. Our boy Brendan declared it a “serviceable” action game, one he had fun with for a bit but ultimately didn’t feel compelled to finish. Which sounds like a game that might be a lark to poke in a demo. Read the rest of this entry »
If you were on the fence about whether you’d enjoy Butcher‘s [official site] chainsaw-wielding, blood-splattered, ultraviolent take on 2D platforming, then you can now dip your toe into the red pool without paying anything. The game, from Transhuman Design, the developer of Soldat, just got a free demo.
There’s also 50% off the full game until Monday, so if you like the free stuff it’s only £3.49/4.99€/$4,99 to get the full shooty-bang experience.
If you’ve been holding off on Mass Effect Andromeda [official site], which is entirely understandable whether you’re a fan of the series or not, perhaps a ten hour free trial is just what you need to decide whether the trip is worth your time and money. Previously available to EA Access subscribers, the trial is now open to everyone. It gives you ten hours of play-time, which you can spend in singleplayer (up to the first planet) or multiplayer, and saves will carry over to the full game if you choose to buy it. You’ll need Origin, EA’s digital storefront, and post-trial, the game is currently £24.99.
The good news keeps on rolling for murder’s favourite slaphead. After establishing themselves as an independent company and securing the rights to Hitman, developers IO Interactive have released the prologue chapter of the recent episodic Hitman [official site] for free. Consider it a demonstration. I did think it strange that Square Enix didn’t release a demo of the stealth ’em up back before they ditched IO but hey, one’s here now. Thanks, independent IO Interactive. Thaioi. Read the rest of this entry »
RPS Feature Get in lane
It’s not enormously likely you’ve heard of Nadia Was Here [official site]. It came out at the end of last month and I’m not sure anyone noticed. Turns out, after stumbling on it today, everyone really should have. My early impressions are that this pixel RPG is something rather special. And that’s a lot to do with some completely intriguing combat. Read the rest of this entry »
I’ve sunk a fair chunk of time into Mirage: Arcane Warfare [official site], the first-person melee brawler in which you can both fling magic spells and lop a man’s head off with a giant axe, and I’ve enjoyed nearly all of it. But it does have one flaw: there just aren’t enough players. You’ll often run into empty servers, and those that are full contain a mix of every skill level. That can make it difficult for new players to settle in.
Well, the game is currently free to try on Steam, and will be until 9pm on Sunday (1pm Pacific). Player numbers are already picking up, which is promising.
Fantasy stealth game Styx: Shards of Darkness [official site] has released a free demo, letting all and sundry try sneaking around as a little goblin with gross magic powers. Our Alec’s review in March was not fond of Styx himself, the unfunny protagonist, but he did say that “The stealth game underneath this miserable skin is solid.” That’s got to be worth a crack, especially as the full game is on sale now too. Read the rest of this entry »
Post-apocalyptic packrat simulator Fallout 4 [official site] will be free to play in full this weekend. The free weekend on Steam will start at 6pm today (10am Pacific) and run until 9pm (1pm Pacific), letting all and sundry and play the base game and poke at mods. (Expansions not included.)
If you dig it and want it for keepsies, the game will be on sale until Monday evening. And for those who already have it, the DLC is going on sale too. Read the rest of this entry »
In case any of you were keeping an eye out for a price dip during which to pick up Overwatch [official site] there’s one happening right now. It’s part of a seasonal event celebration which is essentially a three-week birthday party for the game and involves a weekend trial and new digital loot like anniversary skins and three new arena maps.
I don’t know about you but I definitely like to celebrate my birthday by spending the best part of a month sloughing off my old skin to reveal a shiny new look and some emotes. It’s what we millennials do instead of jelly and ice cream nowadays. I also Instagram the whole thing, my iridescent scales falling photogenically into my flat white, the little buds of my newly grown ears peeking out from behind the old ones and ripening over a series of selfies… Read the rest of this entry »
With Call of Duty headed back to the oh-so-familiar battlefields of World War 2 later this year, I’ll be sorry to see some of its ludicrous sci-fi bits go. If you’ve not played CoD in a while but do fancy seeing the apogee of its sci-fi silliness, you can check it out this weekend in a free multiplayer trial of 2016’s Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare [official site]. That’s the one which goes to space, remember?
This and other CoD games are half-price on Steam this weekend too, though they’re still too expensive for me to buy old ones just for the rollercoaster campaigns. Read the rest of this entry »
A demo is out for Constructor [official site], System 3’s remake of their estate-building strategy game from 1997. I really dug the original and its classic silly British sensibilities, building up my own estates while sabotaging my rivals’ neighbourhoods with dodgy plumbers, killer clowns, gangsters, and thugs. This remake has been delayed a bit and the demo has troubles of its own, but I am still quite keen for this to launch in full later this month. Read the rest of this entry »
Interactive fiction game Kimmy [official site] is out now, and it’s got some serious pedigree behind it. It’s written by Nina Freeman, designer of Cibele, and illustrator Laura Knetzger, who worked with Freeman on the powerful Freshman Year. Set in 1960s Massachusetts, Kimmy has you play as Dana, a babysitter who’s worried about a little girl called Kimmy. It has a demo, if you fancy a go. Read the rest of this entry »
Hunger Games ’em upThe Culling [official site] will be free to play in full this weekend to celebrate yesterday’s launch of a big update that reworked combat and added a singleplayer wave survival mode. Xaviant Games’ cheery take on Hunger Royale rode high on the Hunger Royale wave a year ago and it even pleased our Alec, who’s far more of a singleplayer chap. But while the genre has blossomed, The Culling fell out of favour on its journey through early access. How is it now? How much has this update changed? Have a look! Read the rest of this entry »
One of the nice things about garnering a reputation for liking restful, pretty exploration games is that people start sending you more emails about restful, pretty games. Bokida: Heartfelt Reunion [official site] is a game we’ve written about before but not for years so the reminder that it was going to be out on 17 May was welcome! I’ve played a bit of the game and, while I can’t offer a verdict yet because embargo, a short demo is out for all. The launch trailer follows after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »
The Elder Scrolls Online [official site], the other MMORPG with orcs and elves, has just launched a week-long full-game free trial. I know, I too half-remember it going free-to-play but no, it has only dropped mandatory subscriptions. I’ve little interest in the world of The Elder Scrolls myself, our boy Brendy was not a fan when it came out, and Cobbo last year found it still too bland, but some others folks whose opinions I also respect do find things to like in TESO so… I might have a look-see during this trial. Read the rest of this entry »
“Even if you wouldn’t touch a MOBA with a ten foot barge pole, this might still be for you,” wee cherub Matthew Cox said about Battlerite [official site] when it hit early access last year. Because it’s not a MOBA, okay. It’s a team-based arena brawler which, sure, has heroes/champions/summoners/duelists/wizards throw down but it’s not a MOBA, rite. I understand tone is difficult to assess in text, especially coming from a sarky prick like me, but I mean it: Battlerite is not a MOBA. You can see for yourself later today, as a week-long free trial is launching in a few hours. Read the rest of this entry »
I adore the scenarios games create to justify themselves. In action games, it’s absurd provocations that warrant all-out megamurder. For a certain breed of puzzle game, it’s reasons why you really need to move objects on a grid. Perhaps you need to build a snowman or cook some sausages, both fantastic tasks to have. In upcoming puzzler Swim Out [official site], your challenge is to leave a swimming pool, river, or sea. That’s the most ludicrous scenario of all: who ever wants to leave the water? But if you can suspend your disbelief, you might fancy trying the demo that’s already out. Read the rest of this entry »
A demo for Dishonored 2 [official site] would’ve been more useful five months ago, back when people had no way to know without buying the game whether its initial performance problems would strike them. Still, a demo coming this Thursday will give a welcome look at the first three missions of Arkane’s first-person supernatural stealth game. That’s a good chunk of sneaking from a good game. Read the rest of this entry »
Titanfall 2 [official site] has launched a big free update adding a new map and more so, to celebrate, a free trial is running this weekend. Until Monday, all and sundry can
swing by Origin to play the full multiplayer side and one singleplayer chapter. Titanfall 2 was our favourite FPS of 2016 for bringing together the two best things in FPSs — giant robots and fun, fast movement — and I heartily recommend giving it a go. Read the rest of this entry »
A demo for Mafia 3 [official site] has arrived, letting all and sundry in to poke around a Nu Orleans. John’s Wot I Think praised the city and was none too pleased with most of the rest so hey, I’ll welcome a demo to have a look myself.
The first paid story DLC is out today too, for folks who’ve already bought in. Faster, Baby! will send players into a small town to deal with a corrupt sheriff. Antics ensue. Read the rest of this entry »
