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‘Haunted’ Horror visual novel WITCHHUNTER.exe Announced by Solo Developer

Solo developer Noah Dundas announces WITCHHUNTER.exe, a ‘haunted’ horror visual novel that explores themes of religious violence and the fear of otherness that fuels it. Styled as a text-based adventure game from the 80’s, it features elements of psychological and meta-horror to emulate a demonic entity haunting the game that sees beyond the screen and wants to claim the player’s soul. The core gameplay combines the rich dialogue and character art of visual novels with classic dungeon-crawler inspired exploration and combat mechanics to create a brief but dark story that contains branching paths and multiple endings, expected to provide 4-5 hours of playtime.

The player, acting as the local priest of a remote village beset by the Devil, must lead a witch-hunting inquisition to investigate five women suspected of practicing witchcraft. The player will track down and interrogate each of these suspects using brutal witchcraft tests inspired by real inquisition practices, then decide which characters will be spared and which will burn at the stake.
But no matter what they do, the Devil is always watching the player’s actions and choices. He whispers to you throughout the game, attempting to sway your decisions and convince you to spare the suspected women from the pyre. How you react to this will strongly affect the course of the story. Can the Devil be trusted if he only asks for mercy? Can the threat of witchcraft justify the brutality of the inquisition? How many would the player condemn to death for the safety of all?

Steam Link

About the developer

Living not far from Salem, Massachusetts, Noah was inspired to create WITCHHUNTER.exe by comparing the witch trials and executions that took place there with modern religious rhetoric in the political arena. “One of the things that really guides my vision for WITCHHUNTER.exe is the phrase ‘the sin of empathy’. As paradoxical as it sounds, it’s a real phrase that’s been used by religious leaders in the US to discourage empathizing with other people – typically minority groups like immigrant and LGBTQ+ individuals. I feel like there are a lot of similarities in that way of thinking as with what happened in Salem, where fear can twist religion into a weapon for violence,” Noah says.

TomorrowHead Studio announces 28 April release date for WILL: Follow The Light on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S

 International independent game developer TomorrowHead Studio today announced on the Future Games Show that its highly anticipated Unreal Engine 5 narrative adventure, WILL: Follow The Light, will launch on 28 April for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.


See the Release Date Announcement trailer for WILL: Follow The Light here

About WILL: Follow the Light


WILL: Follow The Light is a story-driven first-person adventure puzzle game about a perilous personal journey through the harsh northern latitudes. Players assume the role of Will, a lighthouse keeper on a remote island in the northern seas whose routine is upended when an unexpected radio message reveals a sudden disaster has struck his hometown and his only son is missing. Determined to find him, Will sets out on a journey aboard his sailing yacht, “Molly.”


Key Features of WILL: Follow The Light:

 

  • A stunning northern wilderness – Breathtaking northern landscapes on land and sea, brought to life in Unreal Engine 5.
  • Deep exploration and traversal systems – Realistic sailing and dog sledding mechanics allow players to explore a vast world.
  • A story of fathers and sons – A compelling narrative adventure in a mysterious setting with puzzles, secrets, and revelations in every chapter.
  • Testing puzzles and challenges – Players will solve puzzles rooted in real life, chart their path using an authentic weather station, and traverse snowy trails by dog sled.
  • A cinematic adventure – Experience Will’s story through narration and environmental storytelling.
  • Original soundtrack – An atmospheric blend of experimental textures and unique instruments.

“We are excited to announce the imminent release of WILL: Follow the Light,” said Roman Novikov, Founder and Game Director at TomorrowHead Studio. “We hope our community and new players will be excited to see the game launch so soon, and we hope players will enjoy the game when it launches next month for PC, PS5, and Xbox.”


Players can wishlist WILL: Follow the Light on SteamPlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S now. Keep up to date with TomorrowHead Studio on the official websiteTwitter/XYouTubeTiktokInstagram and Reddit.


Media Contact
Honest Public Relations
tomorrowhead@honest-pr.com


About TomorrowHead Studio
Headquartered in Spokane, Washington, TomorrowHead Studio is an independent, self-funded, and self-publishing game developer. Driven by a passion for travel, the team aims to share that enthusiasm with players by sending them on journeys to explore new places and worlds. With a strong background in CGI, they are eager to deliver realistic visuals and unique adventures, fully immersing players in the narratives they create.

Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime to launch on Switch & PC March 16th

Cult hit developer Bonte Avond has announced the release date for their next comedy/music/adventure/tactical frog battle game, Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime alongside a snazzy new release date trailer!
 

A frog-obsessed whimsical comedy adventure for fans of Thank Goodness You’re Here and Night in the WoodsBonnie Bear Saves Frogtime will launch on Steam and Nintendo Switch on March 16th. The game features voice acting talents of beloved creators including Lilypichu, Ironmouse, CDawgVA, Ludwig, and more.


You can find more info through these links:

About the game

Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime is a frog-obsessed comedy adventure from the creators of cult hit Once Upon a Jester featuring tactical frog battles, bizarre quests, interactive music, and the mother of all frogs: the motherfrogger. 

This story revolves around the frog-hopping tactical battler Frogtime. Collect, buy and trade frogs and use them to build an unbeatable roster. Embark on a quest to defeat the local bully, and get sidetracked – play music, infiltrate a beehive (disguised as a bee), and maybe get in a sled race with a vampire. The game features the voice acting talents of a number of beloved creators including Lilypichu, Esfand, CDawgVA, Bonnie and Ludwig.

Grab your toadbag, count those cocoduds, and explore a gently absurd world where everything is resolved with frog battles.

Features:

  • a bear in a frog onesie
  • a giant skeleton man
  • a normal sized skeleton man
  • at least 12 heartfelt moments about the importance of community and what it means to have self-worth
  • you can put hats on the frogs :3

About the Developer:

Bonte Avond is a game dev studio founded by two indie musicians. Their previous games are Everybody Wham Wham (Build, decorate and sabotage your way to winning a snowman building competition) and Once Upon a Jester (Travel the kingdom putting on shows with your best friend – a bona fide cult hit!). They are now working on tactical frog comedy adventure Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime. 

About the Publisher: 

Founded by creator Ludwig Ahgren, offbrand is an indie publisher doing things differently. Developers are creators too, and we believe everyone should own the value they create. 

At offbrand, we distill each game to what makes it special and then use our creative/marketing expertise to share that with the world. A passionate team of lifelong gamers, our mission is to find incredible indie games we love so we can go deep and shine a huge spotlight on them. 

NO STRAIGHT ROADS 2 developer releases preview of new Dance track ‘vs. Rama Irama’

Metronomik and Shueisha Games today released an exclusive preview of a brand-new original track set to be featured in the upcoming musical action-adventure NO STRAIGHT ROADS 2.

Available to stream now on YouTubeTikTok, and Instagram, ‘vs. Rama Irama’ is an epic new dance track composed by James Landino and performed by singer-songwriter Sara Ryan, that will feature in-game during a mega musical showdown against rival Rama Irama. 

See a preview of the new track here

Jump into the action as returning rock stars Mayday and Zuke alongside new band members Casey and a yet-to-be-revealed star in an action-packed adventure that combines rhythm-based combat with an electrifying soundtrack. Hit the road and fight to the beat on an epic world tour, featuring all-new music from James Landino, Falk Au Yeong, Garrett Williamson, Midas Klare (Inverted Silence), and additional guest stars. 

Travel to vibrant new locations to discover rival musicians and communities full of unique musical cultures, including folk music, experimental jazz, rebellious rock, and digital pop stardom. For the bandmates of Bunkbed Junction, this isn’t just a tour: it’s a transformation.

NO STRAIGHT ROADS 2 is currently in development for PC and consoles and can be added to your Steam Wishlist now. For more information, follow No Straight Roads on InstagramFacebook, and X, or visit shueisha-games.com.

About Metronomik
Out of their love for music and visual storytelling, Wan Hazmer, Lead Game Designer of Final Fantasy XV, and Daim Dziauddin, Concept Artist of Street Fighter V, formed Metronomik in 2017, with an aim to bring the harmony of music and video games to the masses.

About Shueisha Games
Shueisha Games, founded in February 2022 and headquartered in Tokyo, is an enthusiastic and experienced team responsible for the planning, development, and sales of many titles for consoles, PCs, and smartphon
es

Stellar Bonds: Kaiya and Elara

Stellar Bonds: Kaiya and Elara

Story Overview: “Stellar Bonds: Kaiya and Elara”

“Stellar Bonds: Kaiya and Elara” is an original sci-fi romance action-adventure short story in development, blending high-stakes rescue missions, interstellar combat, emotional trauma, and a deepening romantic bond between two strong female leads. It draws inspiration from classic sci-fi like Star Trek, with elements of exploration, alien threats, and personal growth. The narrative emphasizes teamwork, resilience, and love amid chaos, evolving from an “origin story” concept for one character into a pivotal tale for both protagonists.

The story is set in a futuristic universe featuring the United Earth Federation (UEF), advanced starships, and hostile alien worlds. It starts as a straightforward rescue operation but escalates into a test of bonds, both stellar (cosmic dangers) and personal (romantic and familial).

Key Plot Points

  • The Setup on the UEF Briggs: The story begins aboard the sleek star cruiser UEF Briggs, commanded by the authoritative Captain Dane Briggs (age 48, a commanding presence with a backstory ripe for exploration). Kaiya Voss and Elara Kane, serving as crew members, receive a mission briefing from the captain. They’re tasked with beaming down to a hostile planet to rescue survivors from a crashed starship. Rumors of alien activity add tension— the planet features dense jungles, heavy rain, and hidden threats like cloaked alien dreadnoughts in orbit and plasma-wielding foes. Communications on the planet are down, cause unknown.
  • The Mission and Separation: After beaming down (with a classic transporter effect), Kaiya and Elara enter the jungle, armed with laser rifles and sidearms. They start as close friends, chatting light-heartedly amid the foliage. However, they get separated by a rogue transporter beam. They both press on alone, spotting glowing ruins. Kaiya eliminates a few aliens along the way. Elara is attacked by 1 oversized alien. She fights valiantly but takes a severe hit from a green energy beam, slicing her left arm open. This causes agony, heavy bleeding, and long-term damage (limited use, constant pain even with meds).
    Traumatized and crying, she screams “I want my Kaiya!” while wandering in the rain in immense pain, flashing back to earlier trauma (e.g., her best friend’s murder, where she chased the killer but spoke in another language from shock). Later on, the medics tell her that she’ll likely never regain use of her arm, but there are some very risky experimental procedures available.
  • The Rescue and Reunion: Kaiya, skilled in tactical maneuvers, searches desperately for Elara, leading a search party from the survivors’ HQ (equipped with big weapons). She blasts aliens along the way, including a 180-degree twirl takedown with a quip like “That’s how it’s done!” / “Yeah, baby!” Meanwhile, Elara, escorted by a male survivor (who gets killed by aliens), and falls asleep against a tree in the rain. The reunion is emotional. Both girls get extremely emotional, highlighting their bond. They will beam back to the UEF Briggs, but only after Captain Briggs deals with two alien dreadnoughts (really big starships). The shields must stay up during battle, cannot beam through shields. Upon getting back to the UEF Briggs Elara is escorted directly to sickbay while Kaiya debriefs Captain Briggs.
  • Emotional Aftermath and Resolution: Elara’s injury and trauma become central— she has recurring dreams reliving the mission, mixing pre- and post-injury versions of herself (e.g., helping her wounded self). Kaiya leaves the UEF Briggs to care for Elara full-time, and they move in together at Kaiya’s home, planning to marry. Their relationship evolves from friendship to romance, strengthened by the ordeal (including a kiss amid laser fire). Elara remains delicate, with ongoing emotional scars, while Kaiya provides support. The story ends with a cliffhanger: Captain Briggs contacts Kaiya about helping to rescue her missing diplomatic sister Liora, setting up conflict because Kaiya does not want to leave Elara. Upon hearing this Elara breaks down, still suffering from emotional trauma.
  • Starship Action Subplot: While the focus is on the women, the starship UEF Briggs has its moment. In orbit, it’s ambushed by two massive alien dreadnoughts with heavy weaponry. Captain Briggs shines, using orbital debris for cover, and rerouting available power to their recently acquired ‘Big Energy’ weapon. This all happens just before the women are ready to beam up, forcing Briggs and the ship to “take care of business” first.

Character Breakdown for ‘Stellar Bonds: Kaiya and Elara

  • Kaiya Voss (1st called: “Main Character”): A resilient pilot and tactical expert with combat skills (evasive maneuvers, laser rifle proficiency). Protective and commanding, she leads searches and adapts under pressure. She has her own flashbacks to unseen threats. Family ties include her diplomatic sister, Liora Voss (poised, in uniform with potential insignia; missing in the sequel). Kaiya’s arc involves balancing duty with love.
  • Elara Kane (Early: “Female Companion”): A medic/scientist with hacking abilities and grit. Pre-injury: Confident, long-haired, uniform clad. Post-injury: Shorter hair, scarred arm in a sling, emotionally fragile with PTSD (crying, dreams, fear of abandonment). She bonds romantically with Kaiya during recovery and seeks and craves constant companionship from Kaiya. Family includes brother Kael Kane (mighty warrior with combat background; joins sequel rescue) and parents who named them evocatively.
  • Captain Dane Briggs: Charismatic leader of the UEF Briggs. Provides briefings and support but doesn’t overshadow the leads. His ship has “badass weapons” and a classic exploratory design. Backstory hints at ties to a prequel.
  • Liora Voss: Kaiya’s sister, an important diplomat. Captured and longing for rescue; appears in a prisoner scene with emotional music. Her disappearance will drive the sequel’s plot. Captain Briggs informing Kayia of this ends the story.
  • Kael Kane: Elara’s brother, a strong guardian figure with agility and wisdom. Approves of the mission (in the sequel) with Captain Briggs’ blessing, bonds with the captain over shared combat experience. Kael is not seen in this story, Stellar Bonds. He’ll be in the sequel: mentioned here for completeness.
  • Supporting Elements: Alien enemies (colossal ships, ground troops with BIG weapons); male escort (killed); search party with heavy weaponry; survivors at HQ. Kaiya’s mom is mentioned, she served with Captain Briggs’ father on his father’s ship.

Themes and Style

  • Romance and Bonds: Starts as friendship but blossoms into love through shared trauma and support. Emotional beats include consoling, reunions, and decisions about marriage/family (e.g., Liora’s wish for children in subplot ideas).
  • Action and Trauma: Blends laser fights, ambushes, and starship battles with psychological depth (flashbacks, pain, growth from failure).
  • Visual and Cinematic: Promo videos (e.g., warp jumps, dream sequences, battles), graphics, and animations. Plans include adding titles/lettering, and epic music fades. Full video story release on X, YouTube, and Facebook. The author, Chris Jones, will narrate when needed, providing a male voice.
  • Length and Format: Short story evolving into cinematic segments; aim for “epic-ness” without overfocusing on space battles (keep the heart on the women).

Future Plans

  • Prequel: “The Right Timing”: Based on an Amazon short story that Chris Jones wrote. Explores the UEF Briggs, Captain Briggs, and early missions (possibly without Kaiya). It’s a time travel story involving repairing the timeline. Includes family dynamics (e.g., Tensions with his father, mom’s friendship with the female leads).
  • Sequel (Untitled): Kaiya’s conflict over rescuing Liora while not leaving traumatized Elara alone. Involves emotional decisions, relived trauma, action, and potential family reunions. Kael joins: Captain Briggs leads.
  • Development To-Dos: As of 9 Feb. 2026, Graphic edits, mission briefing redo, beam-down/landing scenes. Scenes for jungle entry, search party, reunion, debrief, home life, and Briggs’ call. Transcribe ideas, use mind mapping, and collaborate on twists. Updates are in the comments below.

Follow story development and see lots of media here: Chris Jones Gaming🎮 (@ChrisJones_Game)

‘Stellar Bonds: Kaiya and Elara’ captures a gripping tale of love, danger, and recovery in the stars – perfect for sci-fi fans craving character-driven action. 🚀


This image shows Kaiya on the left and Elara on the right.

Crimson Capes to launch February 12th, bringing the Souls Formula to 2D 

Studio Poor Locke has announced that Crimson Capes will be coming to PC via Steam on February 12. Crimson Capes is a sword-and-sorcery action adventure that reimagines the core pillars of the Souls formula in two dimensions, blending deliberate combat, non-linear exploration, and online multiplayer into a high-adventure fantasy world.

Players step into the role of Milon the Tempest, a witch-hunter tasked with dismantling a growing conspiracy of wizards across the kingdom of Amvros. Leading the Crimson Capes – a guild of elite witch-hunters – players will take on contracts throughout the realm, slowly uncovering darker forces at work and coming face to face with the true cost of power.

Combat in Crimson Capes is built around deliberate, animation-commit swordplay inspired by realistic fighting techniques, where feints, thrusts, cuts, and guards create a deadly back-and-forth defined by timing, positioning, and mastery. 

Each of the four playable heroes features a distinct weapon style, moveset, and skill tree, encouraging experimentation, while magic is woven directly into combat through elemental abilities such as wind, thunder, fire, and darkness.

Exploration follows a Souls-inspired philosophy, rewarding curiosity and player choice. Ruined towers, forgotten caverns, mystical forests, and ancient strongholds can be tackled in any order, with artifacts, abilities, and narrative threads waiting off the beaten path.

Crimson Capes also brings classic Souls multiplayer into two dimensions. Players can join forces in online co-op to hunt together as Capes, or invade another hunt as a Deathblade, introducing unpredictable PvP encounters that reshape each mission.

Visually, the game features pixel art animation and hand-drawn environments, with rotoscoped graphics. Inspired by classic pulp sword-and-sorcery tales such as Conan and Elric, Crimson Capes embraces a raw, mythic atmosphere rooted in classic fantasy adventure and discovery.

“From the very beginning, Crimson Capes was built around deliberate combat that rewards initiative, precision and quick thinking,” said Dimitris Tsatsis, programmer at Poor Locke.

“We wanted to bring the tension, discipline, and satisfaction of the Souls experience into 2D, by rethinking how the level design, vibe and multiplayer interactions work in a side-scrolling space.”

KEY FEATURES

  • Souls-like, 2D combat with tight reads, punish windows, and build variety
  • Boss fights that will test your mettle
  • Sword-and-Sorcery adventures in a fantasy world filled with secrets
  • Online Co-op & PvP: Play online with a friend, or invade other witch hunters
  • Optional Dynamic Hunts with unique enemies and bosses, randomly generated each time (reminiscent of Bloodborne’s Chalice Dungeons)


AVAILABILITY
Crimson Capes will launch on February 12 at 10am PT / 6pm GMT for PC via Steam
Price : 15$
Launch discount: 10% for 9 days
Instruction Manual & Game Guide PDF files along with a printable world map will be included in the game files
Console versions will release at a later date

About POOR LOCKE
POOR LOCKE is an independent game studio led by programmer Dimitris Tsatsis, with art by Kostas MacFarlane and music by David Wurczel. The studio focuses on crafting hand-made, mechanically rich experiences driven by strong artistic identity and player agency. Previous titles include Windmills and UnbelieverCrimson Capes represents the studio’s most ambitious project to date, merging classic sword-and-sorcery fantasy with modern Souls-inspired design.

Aesir Interactive announces new original IP EverRail

Aesir Interactive has announced EverRail, an open world survival crafting game where movement is survival. Ride the rails on a roaring battery powered train, glide through the air, and brave the cold on foot. Check out the trailer here!

Your gaming intel is here on chrisjonesgaming.net 🎮 Level up your feed!

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Maneater Launches on iOS and Android

Handy Games, in collaboration with Tripwire Interactive is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated mobile port of the open world Action RPG Maneater is officially available for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

For more info head to https://handy-games.com/en/games/maneater-mobile/

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This goes back to my roots, when I was digging into background code in Star Trek games.

The Federation is having a bad day. Fortunately there were no civilians on the ship, but still.. you shouldn’t anger the Breen. This is from our total conversion mod for Star Trek: Legacy (2006 PC Game).

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Yooka-Replaylee™ Demo released on Switch 2, Kicking Off Retail Edition Countdown

Publisher #PMStudios and developer #PlaytonicGames have dropped the Yooka-Replaylee demo today on #NintendoSwitch2. Saves carry over from the demo to the full game. Watch the celebration accolade trailer : https://youtu.be/9U0jvey5XpY

#gaming #gamingnews #platformer

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