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    Team17 co-founder Martyn Brown dies aged 57
    Team17 co-founder Martyn Brown dies aged 57Tributes pour in for well-known industry leader News by Christopher Dring Head of Games B2B Published on Dec. 30, 2024 Games industry veteran Martyn Brown has died aged 57.He spent more than 35 years working in video games and is best known for his time at Team17, which he co-founded in 1990. During his time at the publisher and developer, Brown helped direct, produce and create more than 50 video games, including the iconic Worms and Alien Breed series.In the years since Team17, Brown formed consultancy group Insight For Hire, and has supported studios including Double Eleven, Exient and New Star Games. He also helped set-up Activision's mobile studio The Blast Furnace in Leeds in 2012.Outside of working with studios directly, he was an influential figure in forming the North of England networking group Game Republic in 2003.He is survived by his children Jack, Harry and step-daughter Darcy, and wife Heather."Martyn passed away peacefully in his sleep at 8:17am, 28th of December, 2024 surrounded by family, following a prolonged battle with a series of strokes," Jack Brown wrote. "Know that he went out on his own terms listening to his favourite music and surrounded by loved ones."Numerous tributes have been posted by industry friends and colleagues over the past two days."Martyn was such a friendly, funny person," wrote Game Republic MD Jamie Sefton and shared with GamesIndustry.biz."He was the first to welcome me into Game Republic - which he co-founded in 2003 - and was so generous with his help, advice and contacts. We shared a love of arcade machines and also Leeds United football club and watched many matches together. We gave Martyn our GR Games Legend award just a few weeks ago and he was so pleased to receive it. Martyn was a Yorkshire and industry legend not just for Team17 but also for his incredible support and help for many more developers and people in games. RIP my friend.Cooperative Innovations CEO Simon Barratt said that he'd become close friends with Martyn Brown over the past 19 years, and that it's the person the industry will miss the most."We had some amazing moments on Galway trips (an annual pilgrimage for his birthday), Perudo games, houseboats in Sausalito, commandeering peoples phones and trips to Hull vs Leeds matches... Martyn brought humour, warmth, down to earth (sometimes brutal) advice and camaraderie wherever he went. Martyns impact through Team17, Insight For Hire, Blast Furnace, and New Star Games, as well as his contribution to Game Republic, is legendary but its the person that really made life just that bit more fun."Video game lawyer Tommy Persson shared a tribute on Facebook after frequently meeting with Brown at various video game events. "So funny, so generous, always the light of a party, always mischievous," he wrote. "The video game conferences around the world will be much less entertaining and fun without you."Former video games PR leader and leadership coach Caroline Stokes agreed: "Martyn cared. And as we all know, he was so much fun," she wrote."Last time we talked, before the pandemic in San Francisco (at a bar), he shared some concerns about the industry and out of the blue, like a man that 'could see through things', he said some very nice things about what I did for, and with, people in the industry and that my path was a good one and to keep going."He's the only person I've met in my life other than my grandmother that could speak soul to soul. Northern soul. I felt blessed to have had that conversation."Business development veteran Chris Buckley said that, after he had immigrated to Canada, Brown would frequently message him when he flew over where he'd move to."I met Martyn in 2000 and then saw him around every show somewhere in the world for the next 20 years. Such sad news, thanks for always being you, being a friend and, well, the industry has lost a legend."There are numerous stories of Brown's unsolicited support and encouragement. Robert Troughton, a games leader from Pitbull Studios, Coconut Lizard, Epic Games and more, remembers meeting him in a pub in London during the early days of forming Pitbull Studios."Martyn offered me some excellent advice, and it really helped a lot in those early days," he explained."He was always, always happy to help with advice, introductions, and was just so easy to talk to, no matter who you were. A real peoples person and well liked by all, whether apprentice or seasoned veteran. I remember at Develop in Brighton, he was super excited to get a photo with Notch, whod really only just hit the big time with Minecraft.. and Im saying but youre Martyn Brown. He should be asking for your picture! Amazing guy. A huge, huge loss for the UK game industry"Industry veteran Kirsty Payne continued: "He had a huge sense of fun, he was extremely mischievous, totally fun loving but also kind, thoughtful and he always cared for his friends and kept in touch with everyone."When he visited he brought me the best pork pies/scotch eggs and the only crossed words we ever had over the years, was about #HandbagGate when he hid a plate full of fish goujons in my handbag at The London Games Festival launch party I opened my bag in a meeting the following day to the most godawful stench and my handbag was ruined. I find it hilarious now but I didnt find it very funny at the time."Needless to say that lovely Martyn sent me a beautiful new leather handbag by way of an apology I shall dig out that handbag he bought me around 20 years ago, and Ill cherish it even more now. Farewell you lovely, lovely man."More tributes to follow.
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    Portal Fantasy: Video Game Designer (Contract)
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    Mortgages Move Up for Homeseekers: Mortgage Rates for Dec. 30, 2024
    A few major mortgage rates increased. But where they go next will depend on the incoming economic data and the Fed's plans for future interest rate cuts.
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    Refi Rates Ride High: Today's Refinance Rates, Dec. 30, 2024
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    Eurogamer readers' top 50 games of 2024
    Eurogamer readers' top 50 games of 2024"Have you ever wanted to shred adult nappies on a rooftop to fulfill a dying woman's dream of seeing snow falling?"Image credit: Panic / Eurogamer Feature by Tom Phillips Editor-in-Chief Published on Dec. 30, 2024 2024 is done - and you have made your choices. The branching narrative of this year has been decided, your dialogue options have been locked in, and your ending is ready.Thank you to everyone who voted this year in what - in the end - was a clear victory for your top choice. Your second place was also hugely popular, mind you - and combined, those two games' scores equalled the rest of your top 10.Eurogamer's own list of our staff 2024 favourites will follow tomorrow, but today it's all about your picks. Thank you again for taking the time to share yours with us, and remember - if you disagree, you only have yourselves to blame. Enjoy!50. Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D RemakeDeveloper: Square EnixDragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake review"The video game equivalent of a warm blanket and a cup of hot chocolate in front of a roaring fire," Retr0gamer wrote. "Grinding has never been so relaxing."49. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year DoorDeveloper: Nintendo, Intelligent SystemsWhy is Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door so brilliant? Because it embraces Mario for the blank slate he is"This is one of the series' highlights," Hippolytus wrote of Nintendo's 2024 Switch remaster. "Great new characters, funny, and a presentation that looks just like you remembered it. Good stuff."48. Frostpunk 253 minutes of Frostpunk 2 gameplay.Watch on YouTubeDeveloper: 11 bit StudiosFrostpunk 2 review - a sequel of consequence"It's a masterpiece that stays with you long after you have played it," a reader who decided to remain anonymous wrote. "A perfect game."47. Little Big Adventure: Twinsen's QuestDeveloper: 2.2190s classic Little Big Adventure has a lovely looking remake "The bugs are being ironed out, but even when present they could not overshadow the brilliance of the original game, now with more intuitive controls, a few quality-of-life improvements and of course those beautiful new 3D visuals."46. Path of Exile 2Developer: Grinding Gear GamesPath of Exile 2 early access review - the Souls of isometric ARPGs"It is so much fun to play that it scares me a little bit," a reader who chose to remain anonymous wrote. "Hats off to Grinding Gear Games." Said Reivilo: "I'm still discovering it, but so far it is the perfect successor to Diablo 2."45. Dungeons of HinterbergDeveloper: Microbird GamesDungeons of Hinterberg review - adventure with a generous spirit and a thoughtful soul"The combat may not be to everyone's taste, but on vibes alone, this deserves some recognition," TC wrote. "A beautiful Zelda-lite." Added Carl Sheen: "Fantastic setup and excuse for a traditional fantasy RPG being set in the modern day. World building and variety was on point."44. Botany Manor Image credit: Whitethorn GamesDeveloper: Whitethorn GamesBotany Manor review - a beautiful, bucolic brain tickler"Probably the cosiest game this year," wrote Malek86. "The puzzles manage to be just the right in-between of easy enough as not to frustrate, and hard enough as to keep players engaged. And each vista is better than the previous."43. NevaDeveloper: Nomada Studio Neva review - artful puzzle-platforming action with the fullest of hearts"I adored Gris and this follow-up has that same incredible art style whilst mixing it up a bit with the addition of combat," Al Pacalypse wrote. "Beautiful and haunting," TheBigBiscuit77 added. "And short."42. MouthwashingDeveloper: Wrong Organ Mouthwashing review - brilliantly refreshing and unflinching horror"Alien if the Xenomorph was Capitalism, Sort Of", wrote one reader who remained anonymous. "Fantastic pacing and a terrific script, packing both intense, dark twists and enough sensitivity to manage them." Added ozyous: "A tightly plotted sci-fi horror in the mould of Harlan Ellison which kept me guessing most of the way through and has stayed in my thoughts since. Short but indelible."41. Crow Country"A wonderful example of that very rare breed of indie retro title that doesn't just aim to replicate its inspirations, but actually takes time to think about what we loved in those titles that are now objectively terrible by today's standards," wrote Julian Hazeldine. "The writing is just the icing on the cake, with a wit to the prose which puts mainstream blockbusters to shame, and a genuinely unnerving climax."40. Tomb Raider 1-3 RemasteredDeveloper: Aspyr/Crystal Dynamics/Core DesignTomb Raider 1-3 Remastered review - you were never going to smooth these games out"I teared up at the initial screens and I cried when I went into Lara's mansion," wrote Joshua M B. "Tomb Raider and Lara Croft have been a massive part of my life since I was six years old. 4-6 Remastered will no doubt make me sob with joy too." Added CitizenSiege: "The love for these games was evident and it was nice to see people remembered the games fondly, for all their flaws." "A remaster done right," wrote UrineTrouble. 39. Life is Strange: Double Exposure Image credit: Deck Nine GamesDeveloper: Deck Nine GamesLife is Strange: Double Exposure review - a bold step forward for a series unable to escape its past"Despite some obvious issues in the final chapter, there's nothing else quite like Life is Strange," Astonish wrote. "Deck Nine gets that it's the quiet moments between characters, or when you can just sit back that really make the series what it is. And the character rendering is just astoundingly good. One particular scene between two characters in front of a fireplace is the best video game animation I've ever seen."38. Hades 2 early accessDeveloper: Supergiant Games Hades 2 early access review - polish and terrifying power from some of the best out there"How does Super Giant do it?" wrote jackgaydon. "I went in day one expecting something comparable in scope to the early days of original Hades' early access, yet there was already a game there bigger than its fully-fledged predecessor! And what a game. In the way of great sequels, everything felt intensely familiar while being varied in surprising, delightful, sometimes mind-blowing ways."37. SatisfactoryDeveloper: Coffee Stain StudiosSatisfactory launches full version five years after early access began"Conveyor belts go whrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Makes me feel good," wrote MrTomFTW.36. Nine SolsDeveloper: Red Candle Games Acclaimed Sekiro-inspired action-platformer Nine Sols hits consoles in November"What if Hollow Knight but Sekiro," wrote eze2g. Added jwt: "Beautiful, and cats."35. The Plucky Squire Developer: All Possible FuturesThe Plucky Squire review - the power of imagination"No other game has pulled me in visually as much as this one has," wrote engelzman. "The art direction of this game is a standout for 2024. A truly delightful game for the eyes, and one I look forward to returning to with my kids one day."34. Outcast: A New BeginningDeveloper: Appeal StudiosOutcast: A New Beginning releases in March 2024"A stunningly beautiful world with remarkable verticality, expertly paired with incredibly fun traversal mixing gliding with quintuple jumps(!)," wrote itsgood2slide. "Original while remaining faithful to its pioneering predecessor."33. Pacific DriveDeveloper: Ironwood StudiosPacific Drive review - an exhausting, oddly lovable nightmare"An atmospheric oddity where your temperamental car is your best friend, your worst enemy, and has more personality quirks than the entire cast of a Bioware RPG," wrote dajgohji.32. Sonic x Shadow Generations"The Shadow portion of this game does for 3D Sonic what Mania did for 2D Sonic," wrote 2much. "It feels like perfection of the formula. The level design is amongst the best Sonic Team has ever made, and the game's reality-bending visuals make it possibly the coolest-looking game on the PS5. The only thing that stops it from being higher in my list is how short it is."31. Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Image credit: Eurogamer / Capcom"Completely new, original title with interesting gameplay and style and great attention to detail," wrote StephanCTR. "I mean, they took hi-fi speakers to mountain forest, played the soundtrack music there and re-recorded it to get the right atmosphere in!"Elden Ring: Shadow of the ErdtreeAs previously stated, only games are eligible for Game of the Year voting. Of course, this did not stop some of you writing ineligble suggestions anyway."I understand this vote contravenes the 'rules', but Shadow of the Erdtree is absolutely one of the best things I played that released this year," wrote larry4000, keen to lodge a protest. "Hopefully like in UK general elections there will be a spoiled ballot count at least."30. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6Developer: Treyarch, Raven SoftwareCall of Duty: Black Ops 6 review - wobbling franchise retreats to safe ground"Great story for once in a COD game," wrote TF73, "and fast and fluid gameplay." Added Evariest: "The best single player FPS campaign since Titanfall 2."29. 1000xResistDeveloper: Sunset Visitor1000xResist review - a deeply personal exploration of diaspora politics and psychology"Best narrative of the year, hands down," wrote play.nice.kids.28. Rise of the Golden Idol Image credit: Eurogamer/PlaystackDeveloper: Color Gray GamesThe Rise of the Golden Idol review - the best detective game since Obra Dinn makes a killer returnWrote jackgaydon: "Sometimes you might overcome an obscure problem, only to get lost on your way through the mansion. In a room you'd previously opened but completely forgotten about you discover a whole dimension to the game that had until then been hidden. Next thing you know it's 2am. You're blearily staring at an item description that references esoteric 20th century happenings you half-suspect may be true. Youre unsure why youre doing this, though a nagging feeling tells you that that conspicuous string of numbers is vital to a puzzle you gave up on two days ago. It's truly a labyrinthine game."27. Black Myth WukongDeveloper: Game ScienceBlack Myth: Wukong review - a disjointed and uneven action spectacle"Hard as nails, but not insurmountable," wrote StevoPirate, "one of only few games to get the true feel of those early Dark Souls games right. Stumbling upon an upgrade just when you're starting to feel too squishy, taking a break from a boss only to find a side path that contains an upgrade that finally helps you go back and take your revenge and the unique setting/plot derived from Journey to the West? Deserved every success it had."26. Tekken 8Developer: Bandai NamcoTekken 8 review - a complex series transformed into a welcoming one"Having been a casual Tekken enjoyer since a wee lad, I said I'd attempt to actually get good at a Tekken after all these years," wrote AcidWisdom. "Ended up terribly, horribly addicted. Still not that good at it, though."25. Star Wars: Outlaws Image credit: Digital FoundryDeveloper: Ubisoft MassiveStar Wars Outlaws review - stripped-back Ubisoft formula is admirable yet doomed"I was sick and lost a good job, so this game was the pure escapism I needed," McMurphy wrote. "I bought it day one and loved every moment of it - the Star Wars game I'd always wanted to play." Added Rokkai: "For once, a Star Wars game actually took me to a galaxy far, far away. The detailed and stunning environmental design, combined with the fantastic audio, transport you to another world."24. Persona 3 Reload"Persona 5 Royal was so polished, complete and all-round fantastic that it was difficult to imagine where Atlus could go next," wrote rogueywon. "It turns out the answer was 'Persona, but fantasy', which works incredibly well. It's a somewhat slimmed back take on the formula, cutting away some of the historic cruft and giving a shorter, pacier game. The change of setting keeps things feeling fresh."23. Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2Developer: Ninja TheorySenua's Saga: Hellblade 2 review - a triumphant return to a challenging story"Gorgeous looking game that constantly had me stopping to take in the view," wrote Grubby_Gryffin. "Really just a phenomenal audio-visual experience, putting you in Senua's head," added britesparc. "Also IMO the best 'photo-real' graphics we've ever seen."22. Still Wakes the Deep Image credit: Secret ModeDeveloper: The Chinese RoomStill Wakes the Deep review - astonishing artistry can't quite keep this oil rig horror afloat"As someone who has been out to a rig in the North Sea, the sound of the wind and waves alone when everything's 'fine' made me anxious," wrote HerrProduk. "By the time you're into some of the best voice acting and natural dialogue writing I've seen in games, and the claustrophobic, no-escape pressure cooker of increasingly otherworldly horror, very few games have had such an intense effect on me." Added swedishfishes: "I think the main character called someone a 'fuckin roaster' which you don't hear enough in games these days."21. Unicorn Overlord"Crunchy and compulsive strategy gameplay, and it's a miracle of UI design that its many menus and systems are coherent on the Nintendo Switch," wrote larry4000. "Excellent layered strategy that just gets deeper as you play," added The_Weird. "While it has ideas taken from other titles, the whole feels fresh and original. Beautiful art style too."20. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2Developer: Saber InteractiveWarhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 review - a thunderous triple-A spectacle that's truly electric in co-op"It was just fun," wrote Citizensiege. "A slick campaign, a generous operations mode and three player co-op, which is just the sweet spot for me and my Xbox friends. All two of them." Added Mallow_the_destroyer: "It's the Gears of War sequel I didn't know I wanted!"19. Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl Image credit: GSC Game WorldDeveloper: GSC Game WorldStalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl review - a vast wasteland of jank and jeopardy"An exceptional game that holds nothing back," wrote StormbringerN. "Hard to the core and with the design and gameplay to back it. Stalker places complete trust on the player to find their way. We need more of these!" Added Moxyz1: "My most played, favourite series of all time."18. Tactical Breach WizardsDeveloper: Suspicious DevelopmentsTactical Breach Wizards review - whip-smart design with a generous spirit"This was such an absolute pleasure, and honestly came close to taking my GOTY nod," wrote OmagnusPrime. "A fantastic tactical game with a wonderful cast of brilliantly written and charming characters. If you like tactical games this is a must. If you like fun games, this is also a must." Added blackpaladin105: "I don't expect this to make many people's lists but I loved the concept, writing, and gameplay loop. Turn-based strategy like X-COM has appealed to me for a long time and this brings it to you in bite-sized chunks with a lot of fun mechanics that let you approach combat in ways that aren't just 'shoot everyone in the room'."17. Lorelei and the Laser Eyes"A game for a very particular type of puzzle and narrative game sicko. I am that sicko," wrote maccydee. "A fantastic entry in one of the most compelling new puzzle genres (Obra Dinn-likes) which also potentially forms its own new genre that requires pen and paper for some side note doodling," another reader added. "If someone had seen my notepad post rolling credits they might have assumed I was the Zodiac killer!"16. Dragon's Dogma 2 Image credit: Capcom"It's a goofy-arse fantasy sandbox with entertaining combat shenanigans," wrote apocra. "It's an action RPG, sure, but more than that it feels like a Lord of the Rings-like," added 2much. "I know it's not for everyone, but the act of walking most places makes even the most minor quests feel like adventures full of peril. I don't know if I've ever played a game that's felt like that before."15. UFO 50Developer: MossmouthUFO 50 review - a rangy, confounding and audacious proposition"Probably the most creative 'thing' in a very long while, UFO 50 shows not only incredible range by its developers, but also how to construct a metanarrative through the most concise and sparse details," a reader wrote. "Many of the games are absolutely great on their own, and some would have been classics if they came out in the 80s (or even the 90s)." "The bargain of the year," wrote retr0gamer. "Weeks later and I've still not explored this collection of games fully. It's constantly surprising and the quality of the games remains consistently high." Said erwie: "Party House alone would already be #1 of 2024."14. Like A Dragon: Infinite WealthDeveloper: RGG Studio"There will never be enough of these games for me," wrote sonoftvsadam. "Whether it's Kamurocho, Sotenbori, Ijincho, Honolulu, or some other yet-to-be-identified locale, I will roam the streets looking for guys to hit with bicycles as often as RGG Studios offers me the opportunity to do so." Said Robo-Moon: "Have you ever wanted to shred adult nappies on a rooftop to fulfill a dying woman's dream of seeing snow falling? Then this is the game for you." 13. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Image credit: UbisoftDeveloper: Ubisoft Montpellier Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown review - fabulous exploration and combat"Truly earned its place in the Pantheon of contemporary Metroidvanias alongside the likes of Metroid Dread and Hollow Knight," wrote larry4000. "Top-tier platforming, combat, boss fights and time bending powers." "It's peak Metroidvania, and what a thing to behold. VERETHRAGNA indeed," said TC. Meanwhile, KarlosCV added: "One of the best Metroidvanias ever."12. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom"What if we take the faster-paced Link's Awakening framework, add some Breath of the Wild-style systems and set it in map of A Link to the Past?" wrote Fallout2. "Also, you can play as Zelda. It's a bit chattier than I'd like, but fun, inventive and does not shy from a few tricky challenges." "Of all the games I've played in 2024, this is the only one I still think about," wrote KinanEldari. "Echoes of Wisdom didn't just give us Zelda as a playable character, it also gave us fun mechanics, excellent dungeons with great puzzles, a decent story and several collect-a-thons that actually were fun, unlike those gosh-darned 900 Korok seeds in Breath of the Wild! If you love Zelda games as much as I do, you really owe it to yourself to play this one."11. Thank Goodness You're Here! Image credit: Panic / EurogamerDeveloper: Coal Supper Thank Goodness You're Here! review - a proper comedy gem"It's very short, it's very northern, and its mostly about punching everything until something happens," wrote Madame-Drofla. "It was also the source of my most memorable and absurd gaming moments of the year. I laughed a lot, and I would recommend it to anyone who can get the very British context." Added H1ppyDave: "'Peans - not quite peas and not quite beans, but something special in betweens.' A quote my 10-year-old and I have shared regularly since playing. It's an utter joy." "Some of the funniest few hours of gaming of my life," said Omgokami. "I still don't miss Yorkshire but it stayed with me." Mycrofty concludes: "It's fresh, it's funny, it's gorgeous, it's everything the current games landscape isn't, it's not cosy or edgy or any of that. It's just reet good."10. Stellar BladeDeveloper: Shift UpStellar Blade review - no thinking, just slashing"Biggest surprise of the year and probably the most fun game," wrote Col_McCafferty. "Excellent combat, intriguing story and brilliant soundtrack. Shift Up have done a fantastic job especially considering this is its first single-player title on console.""There's a conversation to be had about sex and violence in games, where one is lazily hand waved through while increasingly the other is stopped outside the door with an especially disapproving look, but this isn't the place for it," wrote MarcusJ. "Stellar Blade is an extremely entertaining and generous (both in content and additional freebies post launch) game which deserves the utmost praise. Arguably the most actual fun I've had playing a game in years. And its had nowhere near enough recognition as a new IP either."9. Dragon Age: The Veilguard Image credit: Eurogamer / EA BioWareDeveloper: BioWareDragon Age: The Veilguard review - the best BioWare game I've ever played"After nearly 10 years I'd forgotten how much I wanted a new Dragon Age game," wrote Greenllama88. "Luckily it didn't take more than a couple hours of playing the Veilguard to remind me how much I love this world and how good it can be with such a confident style and vision. When the real world is going mad outside, it feels great to stay in and solve the problems of one that feel so much more manageable.""The final act is excellent," wrote Boooo_urns. "It has issues, but in the main the gameplay is fun and story is engaging." Said pierrot: "Really responsive and expressive action combat and some beautiful maps to navigate." Added another reader: "A long-due followup to one of my favourite series that didn't disappoint (even if it's no Dragon Age: Origins but what is?) 8. Helldivers 2Developer: Arrowhead Game StudiosHelldivers 2 review - team kills and bug-stomping thrills"A game that actually feels more fun to play the more shambolic you are at it," wrote The12thMonkey. "When everything just falls apart and you're running for your life, frantically tapping out the reinforce sequence, only to cause the drop pod to crash onto your own head, and it is still fun to play? That is some quality design.""Not necessarily a new take on a multiplayer game but one that redefines a genre of what PVE can be," added Peter McNally. "A game that feels like a creative sandbox but with proper objectives and, if you put the difficulty up, a chaotic frenzy."7. Silent Hill 2 Remake Image credit: Bloober TeamDeveloper: Bloober TeamSilent Hill 2 Remake review - an all-time horror great returns"Like everyone else I was worried the game wouldn't live up to expectations," added LemyAtom. "I was shocked when they far surpassed it. I nearly $h!y myself in Toluca Prison and had to limit gameplay to 45-minute chunks for a bit. Pant-wettingly frightening." Mark1412 agreed: "The absolutely brutal and suffocating prison level, played with headphones and the lights down low, completely redefined survival horror for me. It was awful. When I finished I said I wouldn't forget it, or play it again, in a hurry. A week later, I'd finished it again."6. Animal WellDeveloper: BigmodeAnimal Well review - this one gets deep"I'll admit I'm not smart enough for the advanced late game puzzles," engelzman wrote, "but the pure wonder and awe of exploring this world for the first time and soaking in the atmosphere through audio and visual design alone, this game is a true masterpiece." Golazodave said: "No one can forget being chased by that ghost dog for the first time.""There might be better Metroidvania games," Ross Farrey wrote. "There might well be subjectively or even objectively better games from 2024. But Animal well drew me down a rabbit hole like few games ever have. It's weird, with an air or mystery that hints at more than you can ever hope to find. When I wasn't playing it I was neck deep in YouTube videos and comment threads hoping to find the meaning of it all. I was eight years old playing The Legend of Zelda again only this time the game was Animal Well and the internet was my playground. Magical." 5. Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth Image credit: Square EnixDeveloper: Square EnixFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth review - an overstuffed but lovable re-imagining"Remake didn't sit well with me," Slowdog76 wrote. "The changes still felt weird and unnecessary. Rebirth started to make those changes make sense, though, and even appreciated. I love this game. Almost as much as the original. There is not one area it failed to delight.""Ultimately I'm glad they changed things up," added Wrathbone. "The game is beautifully faithful in all the ways that matter, which allows the story to become an intriguing extension of the original rather than a simple retelling. The whole thing is a massive, sprawling joy to experience."4. Metaphor Refantazio Image credit: Eurogamer/Atlus"A great story paired with a great cast of characters, and notably a great villain - something that many games, but particularly modern JRPGs, tend to fumble," apocra wrote. "Had a superb time with it. (Didn't half look pretty, too! And the soundtrack!)"Atlus always produce such polished games, everything is perfect, everything fits," fragglerocks added. "This is the first of their games that feels like it has real depth of story and characters to create a perfect experience." Said another reader: "Persona in a fantasy setting? A plot that's disturbingly timely? Fuck yes."3. Indiana Jones and the Great CircleTo see this content please enable targeting cookies. Nine awesome Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Easter eggs and references.Watch on YouTubeDeveloper: MachineGamesIndiana Jones and the Great Circle review - the best Indy's been since The Last Crusade"I'm 48. It has been an awful long time since watching a movie or show has made me secretly wish I could grow up to be a spy, or an adventurer," wrote slowdog76. "This game whisks me back to my youth, running around the playground, whip cracking an imaginary whip and putting one over pesky Nazis. This game makes me happy, a nostalgic dollop of fun and cool and memories of all those times I saved the damsel, and the world.""Perfectly captures the adventure and humour of the original movie trilogy and combines it with a blend of great combat, exploration and puzzles," added Darren. "The icing on this tasty cake is the superb story, visuals and music. It's MachineGames best game to date, taking everything they learnt from their sublime Wolfenstein games and refining the formula to create one of the best first-person games I've ever had the pleasure of playing.""Having grown up with the Indiana Jones movies, playing this game brought me back to those times," concluded Evariest. "The atmosphere and details are spot on, it is so good that it could (should?) have been the fourth Indiana Jones movie."2. Balatro Image credit: PlaystackDeveloper: Playstack Balatro review - near-infinite poker possibilities"Game design in its most delightfully pure form - a familiar and compelling concept, but with countless possibilities thanks to the sheer variety of options at the player's disposal," wrote maccydee. "Every decision you have to make is a meaningful one. It helps that the music is so memorably repetitive and the art so instantly iconic.""More addictive than crack," declared Bushmonkey. "At least I imagine it is. I can't think how anything could be more addictive than Balatro.""I bought Balatro seven times this year, five of which were for friends," admitted Tomo. "I am a digital croupier, firing out the most amazing deck-building game since Slay the Spire. It's a perfect collision of the world's most classic card game and well-trodden roguelike gaming mechanics, yet manages to feel completely fresh. I hear the music in my sleep."1. Astro BotEurogamer's nine most adorable Astro Bot moments and features.Watch on YouTubeDeveloper: Team AsobiAstro Bot review - a wildly generous delight"Tactile and joyous," wrote jonappetit. "A complete delight from start to finish. Easy enough for the kids to play, challenging enough that I've spent late nights trying to rescue all the missing Bots." "Maximum Possible Game," wrote Anslant. "I heard Warren Spector speak of his dislike of the term 'Minimum Viable Product', and how this doesn't suit games. He said he prefers the term 'Maximum Possible Game'. Team Asobi embodied this adage with Astro Bot."It has all the staggering quality of a Nintendo platformer, but on a Sony console - but it's also much more than that," wrote Golazodave. "It's an irreverent celebration representing decades of gaming history, and every time I played I had a huge smile on my face. Magnificent.""I've had such a magical time playing Astro with my four and six-year-old daughters," mattb2020 wrote. "One of the most amazing gaming experiences of my life." "In a year where work and life pressures made it hard to commit to anything that demanded more of me than jumping and grinning, Astrobot was just what I needed," Lalaland wrote. "Simple but exquisitely crafted to delight with something every 30s or so that made me smile and for that reason alone it's my #1 this year.""I've avoided platform games for over 30 years since probably Super Mario Bros as a child," concluded Billhickswaaright. "This made me feel like that child again."
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    Helldivers 2 is growing into Helldivers 3 with years of updates, reveals Arrowhead COO
    You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereArrowhead Game Studios awesome Illuminate update for Helldivers 2 has released with a bang, skyrocketing player numbers with the release of new enemies, vehicles and urban environments for players to devastate. However, Arrowhead is far from done with the game, teasing that years of updates will eventually turn the game into a full-fledged sequel.Helldivers 2 will become Helldivers 3Speaking to fans on Twitter, Arrowhead Game Studios COO Johan Pilestedt explained that the team is planning to grow the current version of the game into something that resembles a sequel. While the current version of Helldivers 2 is fantastic, Arrowhead is looking to expand the game far beyond its original scope.Responding to a joke comment about Helldivers 3 adding 8 player co-op and swimming in the far future, the COO revealed that the plan is to evolve the current version of the game enough to make it seem like a full-fledged follow-up.We are growing Helldivers 2 into Helldivers 3. so you may be correct, the COO said. Except maybe swimming I dont think its possible to swim in a heavy plate carrier with rifle and support weapons. Also, all our games have had the thing about the protagonist not being able to swim.With the massive scale of the games recent Illuminate update, its no surprise that future updates will see the game evolve even more. Recent leaks for the game have revealed a functional weapons attachment system, plans for wildlife systems to populate barren planets, and even terrifying new Automaton enemies to face.Its clear that Arrowhead is far from done with Helldivers 2. In just one year, the studio has managed to massively evolve the game with a new faction, weapons, cosmetics, mission design, and even the first crossover event with PlayStations Killzone franchise.For more Helldivers coverage, read about the teams thoughts on what crossovers mean for the series or what the team thinks about expanded player counts for future modes.Helldivers 2Platform(s):PC, PlayStation 5Genre(s):Action, Shooter, Third Person8VideoGamerSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share
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    The Art Of Alex Alekseenko
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    The Art of Colie Wertz
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