Daniil Shepard

Escape from Tarkov: 6 Extraction Shooters That Work

Minecraft Killer Missed? Why Hytale Didn't Live Up to Expectations (Yet)

Hytale was hailed as Minecraft's main competitor and awaited for years. But when the hype subsided and the game was released in early access, players faced a harsh reality. Behind the flawless biomes and smooth animation lies a placeholder project. We explored the game's world, combat system, and multiplayer to answer the main question: is there a complete game here, or is it just a beautiful constructor that they forgot to fill with meaning?

New The Day Before? Why PIONER Authors Are Asking for Money and Why You Shouldn't Give It

PIONER was released after 4 years, but instead of a hit, we got a broken MMO. Let's find out why this long-term project isn't worth a minute of your time.

FEROCIOUS Dinosaur Shooter Review - Who Needs a Cheap Dino Crisis Clone?

FEROCIOUS began development in 2023. In a short time, the project attracted the attention of the audience and gained more than 300,000 additions to the Steam wishlist. This was facilitated by trailers in which the game looked like a dynamic shooter set in a tropical archipelago with dinosaurs and destructible environments. However, the release version faced mixed reviews: the gap between the demonstrations and the real quality turned out to be noticeable. In this review, we will talk not only about the game itself, but also about the ambiguous nature of indie developers with big ambitions and loud statements, but without real development experience.

Exclusive Preview of Zombie Shooter John Carpenter's Toxic Commando

The first announcement of John Carpenter's Toxic Commando was presented back in 2023, but then talk about the project subsided. Its last mention was in August 2025 - at Gamescom. After that, nothing was heard about it again. But on the eve of The Game Awards ceremony, Saber Interactive provided various bloggers and publications with a new demo version of their project. We were also fortunate enough to participate in it.

Review of the cult "MMO" - Guild Wars: Reforged. An Honest and Worthy Remaster

Few online RPGs have aged as gracefully as Guild Wars. Released in an era dominated by subscription-based MMORPGs, it gained an audience through a familiar distribution model and large-scale story campaigns. Over 20 years, the project has aged considerably, and the modern gaming community may not even know of its existence. Guild Wars Reforged was released to attract the audience's attention again. Did it succeed? Find out in our review.

Attempt to Resuscitate a Cold Corpse Fails. Review of the "Release" Version of Escape from Tarkov

2025 can be called the "year of releases that no one believed in": the long-awaited appearance of Hollow Knight: Silksong, a sudden continuation of the Ninja Gaiden series, "The Adventures of Captain Blood," and now the scandalous Escape from Tarkov has joined this list. We have already analyzed the failure of Tarkov and all the scandals associated with the developer Battlestate Games. Now it's time to discuss the game itself: what they have done in 10 years, what problems have persisted since the beta test, and why EFT 1.0 is a massive deception of the audience that wanted to get a complete experience of a "combat simulator in extreme conditions."

Greed - one. Battlestate Games - zero. Version 1.0 is ready! How the Escape from Tarkov release broke all player hopes

The release of Escape from Tarkov attracted unprecedented attention from the gaming community. It was supposed to be the end of a multi-year beta test. Expectations were high: a stable product, optimization, and fixing fundamental errors. But all the hopes of the players were shattered by harsh reality. In this article, we analyze in detail the consequences of the release, the history of accumulated problems, and the reasons why version 1.0 was a failure.

The Main Social Experiment of the Year. A Review of the Extraction Shooter ARC Raiders

The ARC Riders PR campaign created the image of an allegedly benevolent game where players don't fight each other, but explore the world and interact together. The network was filled with videos and reviews talking about "friendly raids" and "an alternative to Tarkov without pain and loss." But the reality turned out to be much scarier.

Not Just a Parody, But a Powerful Critique of the Genre. A Review of the Extraction Shooter Escape from Duckov

At first glance, it seems like we're dealing with another "Tarkov killer," created for the sake of irony and quick hype on someone else's brand. However, behind this multi-layered irony lies a full-fledged message to all developers of extraction shooters and their communities.

Invest in kindness, not skins. Understanding the financial crash of Counter-Strike 2

The CS2 skin market has collapsed, revealing a simple truth: all these "investments" in rare knives were bets in a casino where only the casino wins. How the skin exchange collapsed, why Valve wins even from such changes, and why people still believe in virtual riches - in our material.

Desecration of Memory in the Cruelest Way. A Review of the Painkiller Series' Return

Painkiller has suddenly returned to us - once a symbol of adrenaline, heavy metal, and a lone stand against the forces of hell. The franchise went into a long silence, and the modern generation doesn't even know about it, so the new installment was supposed to show what the whole series is about. But in the end... It turned out the way it did.

We've sunk to THIS in the video game industry. A review of the viral brainrot roguelike Megabonk

In recent weeks, the gaming community has been raving about a new Vampire Survivors clone. Hundreds of thousands of players are praising Megabonk, streamers are filling their broadcasts with it, and even our editor-in-chief couldn't resist diving headfirst into the game. But there's a dark side to Megabonk that no one wants to acknowledge...

Is Dying Light: The Beast Better Than the Sequel? A Review of the High-Profile Zombie Action Game

Initially conceived as DLC for the second installment, Techland's new project has evolved into a full-fledged game over three years. After the mixed reaction to the sequel, the developers had to address their mistakes and take criticism into account. And after playing Dying Light: The Beast, it's safe to say - the beloved series has returned to its original vision.

Trails in the Sky: 1st Chapter Review - A Remake That Opens the Door to a 20-Year JRPG Saga for Newcomers

Nihon Falcom has updated the first part of the cult series: the graphics have been updated, voice acting has been added, and the gameplay has been simplified. We examine whether it was possible to turn the archaic 2004 JRPG into an entry point for a new audience - and whether it is worth diving into a large-scale franchise of 13 games.

Another extraction shooter on the outside, but a solid project on the inside. Active Matter Review [Early Access]

Over the past couple of years, we've witnessed the release of several dozen "Tarkov killers," none of which could displace the behemoth. Active Matter is no exception-only genre fans tired of Tarkov know about the game. But does it deserve the attention of a wider audience, and what innovations does it offer? Let's find out in our review.

Dopamine Peak in a Cyberpunk Hell. A Review of the Boomer-Shooter METAL EDEN

Metal Eden is a new project from the Polish studio Reikon Games, known for the stylish isometric action game RUINER. This time, the developers decided to go beyond the usual genre and present a full-fledged 3D first-person shooter. The game is positioned as a representative of the fashionable boomer-shooter trend in a post-apocalyptic cyberpunk setting. Although the authors claimed a large-scale story and an "open world", in reality, the project focuses on concentrated action.

Made for newbies, played by veterans. Gears of War: Reloaded Remaster Review

Today, the remaster industry has become as significant as the production of original games. Therefore, the next re-releases of projects have become commonplace. Most often, such releases are a simple way to capitalize on loyal fans and new players unfamiliar with the classics. Gears of War: Reloaded falls into this category, which will be discussed in the review.

Why Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is the Best Advertisement for Battlefield 6

Call of Duty has always been considered the undisputed choice for fans of arcade shooters, but this year the situation has turned upside down. The Black Ops 7 trailer is collecting tens of thousands of dislikes, players are massively ridiculing it in the comments, and announcing their intentions to pre-order Battlefield 6. Why have players turned away from Call of Duty and chosen a competitor? This is discussed in our article.

Only with a passport and Secure Boot: analyzing the capabilities, requirements, and disputes surrounding new anti-cheats

Kernel anti-cheats are now the main trump card for developers in the war against cheaters - they operate at the kernel level, control every process in the system, and can stop most known methods of bypassing protection. But this efficiency comes at a price: the risk of data leaks, vulnerabilities with maximum privilege levels, and constant interference with your PC's operation. In our article, we will discuss how kernel anti-cheats work, why they cause so much controversy in the gaming community, and whether the victory over cheaters is really worth such a price.

My home is my prison. Review of the indie horror LUTO

The debut game from the Spanish studio Broken Bird Games immerses the player in the depths of the human soul. Instead of banal screamers and pursuing creatures, there is a disturbing walk through a house that lives its own life and reflects the broken mind of the main character. In our review, we will analyze how the game makes you experience both fear and catharsis, and why it is an example of worthy indie horrors.

A Terrible PC Remaster is the Best Way to Play on Consoles. Review of Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition

Almost 20 years after its release, the cult RPG Neverwinter Nights 2 returns in an updated form. We decided to figure out what remains of the original magic of Dungeons & Dragons era "3.5", what was really improved in the new edition, and what turned the remaster into another "port for show". Is it worth purchasing the updated version in 2025, or is it better to stick with the outdated but proven Neverwinter Nights 2?

The mountain wasn't conquered, but we had a great time! Review of the indie co-op PEAK

PEAK is a game that simultaneously makes you scream with rage and laugh to tears. It mercilessly punishes for the slightest mistake, makes you curse the unpolished and buggy level generation. But you can't tear yourself away. This cooperative mountaineering platformer balances between a brutal challenge, delightful mechanics, and a lot of shortcomings. All of this is in the review of the sensational indie project!

Proper Bug Fixes. We Completed a Test Raid in PIONER - Our Impressions

A couple of months ago, we already shared our impressions of the PIONER demo, in which we were given the opportunity to explore the first locations, complete quests, and try out character and equipment upgrades. Back then, we didn't like many things - testing an MMO in offline mode is a very strange idea. This time, we'll talk about how the game works with other players and share new information.

Complete Chaos - and That's Not a Compliment! FragPunk Shooter Review

FragPunk seems like a fun and spectacular shooter, but it quickly makes it clear: pleasure here is literally for sale. Don't want to pay? Then get ready to put up with imbalance, random mechanics, and an advantage for those who have invested money. In this review, we'll break down why the game is both attractive and annoying - and whether it's worth spending your time on it at all.

The Fall of the "Black Hawk" to the Bottom. A Review of the Cooperative Campaign in Delta Force: Black Hawk Dawn

Three months after its release, we can confidently speak of the success of Delta Force Hawk Ops - the game's rating is strengthening, and the daily online presence of the project remains at the level of 100 thousand players. But we were primarily interested in the story campaign Black Hawk Dawn based on the Ridley Scott film. And today we will talk about the cooperative mode that players received instead of the promised one - and why it should be ignored.

Me and my cat are hitting the warpath. Impressions of Monster Hunter Wilds [beta test]

Monster Hunter Wilds, a direct successor to the previous Worlds, is set to release at the end of February. The key difference is a new region that hunters have never visited before - the deserts in the far west. The developers offered everyone the opportunity to test the project, and we took advantage of this opportunity and are ready to share our first impressions of the new Capcom game.

Jason Schreier Sold Out. Review of the book "Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment"

The history of Blizzard is full of ups and downs: details of the development of cult franchises, corporate intrigues, and scandals in the internal kitchen. And many of these secrets have not yet been revealed in fan communities. But in October, a book by Jason Schreier was released, which was supposed to shed light on the entire history of the company and confirm well-known theories and rumors. And in this review, I will tell you how much closed information was shown in the book, what value this work carries, and how the author decided to make money on someone else's grief.

A Shooter That Not Just Anyone Can Play. Delta Force: Hawk Ops Alpha Review

In August and October, alpha tests were held for Delta Force: Hawk Ops, the successor to the Delta Force game series. Few believed in the return of the franchise. Even fewer believed that the franchise would be handed over to the Chinese. But this "Year of the Dragon" has seen many good games from the Asian region - and Delta Force: Hawk Ops is trying not to lag behind this trend! In this review, I will tell you why you should look forward to the release of the new Delta Force, how hardcore it is, and how a resident of Russia can play it.

Still worthy - now in 60 FPS and native 4K. Review of the PC version of God of War: Ragnarok

Sony games on PC today provoke mixed emotions. The huge cost of late ports and the requirement for mandatory PlayStation Network linking significantly reduce demand for them. Therefore, the likelihood of success for God of War Ragnarok on PC seemed unlikely. And considering that the peak online of the project on Steam reached 35.6 thousand simultaneous players - this game was quickly forgotten even in those regions where it is available for sale. But if you discard all the negativity, the project can still hook players on PC. This review of the PC version of God of War Ragnarok is dedicated to these "innovations".