Mikhail Kazachkin

What to play in October 2026: Phantom Blade Zero, Gears of War: E-Day, Ace Combat 8 and more

Publishers are used to saving the juiciest releases for November, but this year someone else took that spot. That one game that made the entire game development world hold its breath. But more on that in our next digest. For now, we suggest not saving money for a rainy day - especially if you're a die-hard PC gamer (you weren't invited to the November celebration). Let's play now.

Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault Review - (Un)cozy (Un)roguelike

Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault captivates with its cozy atmosphere, stylish visuals, and diverse combat system. All of this creates a deceptive impression of a perfect game for relaxed leisure. You might relax, but it's far from perfect.

Snezhnaya's Ice over the Waters of the Plot: Genshin Impact 7.0 Review

Snezhnaya is the last major region in Genshin Impact before the finale of Teyvat's story. After Nod-Krai completely confused and largely botched the main plot, the main question is simple: has HoYoverse finally pushed off the bottom or is it continuing its descent?

Top 10 Games Released in 2016 [Game Archive]

Ten years in the gaming industry is a whole generation, or even two, if you're switching graphics cards. And at first glance, it might seem that any hits would age over such a period. However, this 2016 list proves otherwise. These games haven't aged a bit, and some of them have even gotten better than they were at release. Alas, not all of them received worthy sequels or fell into oblivion, but their value has not diminished. And they are definitely worth playing at least once.

DLSS 5: Realism or AI Slop under the NVIDIA Brand?

DLSS 5 will make graphics in video games more realistic. In a recent presentation, NVIDIA addressed most technical complaints about the technology, but the company simply ignores the main question from players.

[Exclusive] We played the console version of Once Human before anyone else

Stardew Valley "maxed out": Fields of Mistria review

Top 10 Games Released in 2006 [Gaming Archive]

Are games that are 20 years old already ancient? Come on. Just compare the top ten titles of 2006 with modern releases. And you know what? It's not at all certain that these "old-timers" won't outshine today's newcomers. And we're not even talking about "timeless" classics like The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - few can compare to that. But even without it, 2006 was truly a landmark year.

No Longer a Proxy. Zenless Zone Zero 3.0 Review

Zenless Zone Zero started as a bold HoYoverse experiment - a stylish action game with an original proxy concept and an urban fantasy atmosphere. But HoYoverse immediately began to "fix" the game to appeal to a mass audience. And version 3.0 finally put an end to the project's original ideas. In this article, we examine what ZZZ lost on its way to the "formula for success," whether former players should return to New Eridu, and why even the stylish Victorian city of Roskelifer doesn't save it from feeling derivative.

No Need for a Steam Machine: 4 Options That Are More Powerful or More Interesting

We've come a long way: from being disappointed by the price of the Steam Machine to finding an alternative. And we found it. After trying various self-assembly options and searching for the ideal gaming device. Allow us to present our options that will replace the Steam Machine.

Tim Sweeney Against Everyone: Four Wars of the Controversial Developer

Tim Sweeney has been fighting everyone his entire life. And this material is a chronicle of his main battles. With John Carmack, with Gabe Newell, with Tim Cook, and with you, toxic gamer.

Radar series review: (not) just another answer to "Stranger Things"

Soviet pioneers against an alien intelligence against the backdrop of Perestroika - the description sounds more like some kind of trash. But in fact, it turns out to be a serious science fiction representative. After the success of Atomic Heart, it became clear that fantastic stories set in Soviet reality can attract an audience. And although "Radar" lacks retrofuturism and dieselpunk, it does have a well-recreated 80s and a serious idea of what first contact might be like.

What to play in July 2026: PlayStation fans fly to the Ring, pirates board our wallets, and more

Decided to relax this summer? You could have done that in June, when there were few releases - because July won't give you that opportunity. There are many games, and we couldn't fit all the worthy ones into this selection. And what you should definitely pay attention to - you'll find out in our monthly release calendar.

10 iconic games released in 1996 [Gaming Archive]

1996 was a real watershed year in the gaming industry: that's when sprites finally gave way to polygons. And even after so many years, this "golden age" offers concentrated gameplay and charisma that modern AAA blockbusters often lack. We recall ten of the best iconic games that were released 30 years ago.

Neverness to Everness Review: Why It Will Never Be a "GTA Killer"

While Rockstar Games is slowly preparing for the release of Grand Theft Auto VI, developers from Hotta Studio have released their answer - the free mobile action game Neverness to Everness, featuring anime aesthetics and gacha monetization. The game boasts excellent driving mechanics and unusual locations but stumbles where it should shine: in its plot and atmosphere. We explore why this ambitious project turned out to be more of a beautiful shell than a real competitor to the cult series.

Inmates under the dome, anime train, and more: the main games of June 2026

The traditional June lull in the gaming industry actually opens up new opportunities: the month will bring us a complete reassembly of harsh 90s classics and insane early access experiments. June's new releases include catastrophic volcanoes and train races.

It will devour all your time. Vampire Crawlers Review

Pure dopamine, subtly "eating up" tens of hours of your time. Behind archaic sprites and angular dungeons lies a bold evolution, where the ability to adapt your deck on the fly to the whims of randomness becomes the key to victory. Let's figure out why a project with graphics from the last century is more captivating than many modern hits.

Bond Returns, Forza Heads to Japan: Game Releases of May 2026

Bond Returns, Forza Heads to Japan: Game Releases of May 2026 The last month of spring turned out to be remarkably contrasting. On one hand, there are loud blockbusters: James Bond is yet to earn his 007 status, Bruce Wayne is settling into the LEGO world, and the Horizon auto festival will take us to Japanese tracks. On the other hand, a powerful indie scene: from cozy conversations in a Tokyo coffee shop to complex spy intrigues from the creators of Disco Elysium. We've gathered the main games of May to make it easier for you to plan your schedule.

Anti-Crisis Gaming in 2026: Which PlayStation to Choose to Avoid Going Broke on Games

Gaming on current consoles has become an expensive pleasure: the PS5 itself requires a significant budget, and price tags on new games force players to look for workarounds. However, old PlayStations have turned into ideal anti-crisis platforms today. We figure out how much it costs to assemble a collection of Sony masterpieces, why the graphics in hits of past years still look decent, and which console is best to look for on flea markets.

From Belarusian Cyberpunk to "Anime-GTA": What to Play in April 2026

If you thought you could breathe easy after the March releases, spoiler alert: you won't. Developers didn't ask if you were ready; they're just releasing two dozen projects, among which you're sure to find something that grabs you. From soulful Belarusian cyberpunk and anime-GTA to horrors, cooperative chaos with toilet humor, and cozy journeys in a hippie van.

Consoles in 2026: Why Now Is the Best Time to Buy. How to Choose a Platform and Not Regret It

While PC component prices are skyrocketing, console prices have temporarily frozen - but for how long? The strengthening ruble, parallel imports, and the extended life cycle of PS5 and Xbox Series have created a rare window of opportunity for the Russian gamer. We'll explore whether it's worth buying a console right now, which platform to choose, and how not to lose money on accounts and warranties in 2026.

Honkai Star Rail 4.0 - A Comeback That Saves the Game After a Disastrous 3.0

After a year of narrative "mishmash", hints for the sake of hints, and a narrative fog that Honkai Star Rail 3.0 stubbornly plunged players into, version 4.0 is not just another update - it's a full-fledged comeback. Noir, platforming, less fluff in the plot, and a careful power creep - HoYoverse still knows how to ignite!

Arknights: Endfield Review. Anime Factorio Versus Routine

Arknights: Endfield stays afloat thanks to one brilliant decision - logistics and production in the spirit of Factorio. Electrifying alien wastelands, building chains, and optimizing infrastructure here turns out to be far more interesting than taking part in prolonged battles against yet another wave of enemies. This is what makes the game stand out from other formulaic gacha projects.

Samurai, Horror, and the Return of the Classics: Release Calendar for February

February is traditionally considered a "quiet" month in the gaming calendar. However, while Western studios catch their breath after the Christmas rush, Eastern giants step onto the field with virtually no competition. 2026 is no exception. There are remasters of cult jRPGs and new chapters in proven franchises. But surprises have been prepared not only by the masters from Tokyo and Kyoto: European indie studios and niche developers are also making themselves known. We break down what is truly worth waiting for and what is better to skip.

Plague and Anime at the Factory: January Release Calendar

New year, new games! This January truly focuses on fresh projects rather than sequels or remakes of old ones. Of course, there are a few of those too. But January 2026 is pleasing with its diversity: from atmospheric horrors and mountaineering simulators to anime action games, extraction games, and even cosmic Metroidvanias.

"Hollow Knight for Girls" and a "Corrupt" Journalist Simulator: The Main Indie Games of November

The New Year holidays are just around the corner, and the gaming industry will plunge into hibernation for a long time. But many players will finally find time for games. Some will return to popular service games or AAA blockbusters, while others will treat themselves to fresh indie projects, which, we are sure, are capable of giving much more impressions and emotions. Moreover, they are all on sale on Steam with a discount for the New Year!

Destiny: Rising Mobile Review - A New Milestone in Shameless Grinding

The large-scale Destiny universe, pompous and expensive videos, and AAA presentation. Is Destiny: Rising a new milestone in the franchise's history? If you agree that a typical mobile gacha grinder is a new milestone, then yes. Why Destiny: Rising is disappointing despite all its ambitions - we'll explore in our material.

Why Gabe Newell Was Right: How Microsoft Lost the Battle for PC Gamers' Hearts and Knelt Before Steam

2025 was a fruitful year for Microsoft and Steam - both companies entered into cooperation agreements, and "Uncle Gaben's shop" even made money on the Xbox Ally portable console. This is because Microsoft finally realized that pushing "exclusivity" forever wouldn't work - it's better to be friends with Valve. But history remembers that Bill Gates' corporation once tried to kill Steam. Why? Let's remember together!

School Volleyball for Adults. A Review of the Mobile Simulator Volley Girls: Volleyball SPIKE

Anime and cute girls - a sure sign of a donative game with waifu collecting? Don't rush to conclusions. In Volley Girls: Volleyball SPIKE, the girls are in sports uniforms, on the court, in front of the volleyball net. And although gacha is present in the game, it is a rare example on the mobile market of an honest, well-thought-out sports simulator where victory does not depend on your wallet.

October Indie Games: Building Pixel Kingdoms and Rockets, Getting Scared by Monsters, Indulging in Nostalgia, and More

A weak PC and an empty wallet are no reason to despair and give up on games. Indie projects are inexpensive, run on almost any, even not very powerful, computer, and sometimes provide no less pleasure than large AAA games. In October, independent developers delighted us with pixel roguelikes, creepy tales, and exciting action games.