Reporting on the games made in Canada and the creators behind them
Astalon: Tears of the Earth from LABS Works is out now on pretty much every console/system you can think of, including Steam, and Switch. Fom the creators of the 2015 indie hit Castle in the Darkness, the game is a 2D pixel action-platformer set in a post-apocalyptics desert.
Read MoreMobile Indie hit My Singing Monsters will be heading to consoles later this year in November, in the form of a 4-player party game. Big Blue Bubble, who released Forgone on consoles last year, also has a Kickstarter currently going (and funded) for a My Singing Monsters board game.
Read MoreTriversal, the puzzle game from Toronto developer Phantom Compass has a release date, and thankfully we won’t have to wait that long. The game comes out on July 13th, and you can wishlist it on Steam here.
Read MoreMighty Fight Federation, the throwback 3D arena fighter from Ontario-based Komi Games is out now on Steam and PlayStation consoles.
Read MoreRogue Legacy 2 is enjoying its time on Steam Early Access, and Cellar Door Games have announced the 2nd large update The Arcane Hallows.
Read MoreGuelph developer Lillymo Games have launched their brick breaker games today on PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita, which is cross-buy on the PlayStation Store.
Read MoreAnother new game from a Canadian developer was released today, though for some it’s just an update. Lost Orbit: Terminal Velocity is out now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Steam and Switch. Lost Orbit originally came to Steam and PlayStation 4 back in 2015, and PixelNAUTS Games have added a slew of updates to the game, including new levels - which are available for previous Playstation 4 owners.
Read MoreToronto developer Household Games is joining the Switch-port crew and releasing their 90’s brawler inspired Way of the Passive Fist to Nintendo Switch on April 11th. It looks like the game is listed at $18.99 CAD on the Nintendo eshop.
If you can’t wait until April 11th, you can pick up the game on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC where it launched this time last year. Check out the trailer and press release below.
Reverse Brawler Way Of The Passive Fist Comes to Nintendo Switch on April 11
Toronto, ON. March 28, 2019. Indie devs Household Games announced today that the genre-bending defensive brawler Way of the Passive Fist is coming to Nintendo Switch. At a glance the game is full of 90's beat-em-up aesthetics with sprites that dwarf Battletoads or Final Fight, but a closer look reveals the game's clever twist: the player parries, dodges, and reverses attacks to stay alive in a post-apocalyptic wasteland where exhaustion equals death.
Instead of punching and kicking through hordes of nameless thugs, watch for openings, time your parries, and shoot for that high score. The game's addictive stage-by-stage gameplay is perfect for the pickup and play nature of the console, and brings all its pixel art glory in handheld or docked mode. The bombastic, pulse-pounding soundtrack is the icing on the sand-and-sweat covered cake, and if the feeling of knocking back waves of enemies on top of a speeding train to a wailing electric guitar doesn't scream "arcade experience," we don't know what does.
With a fully customizable difficulty setting (no easy, medium, or hard here!), and a refreshing take on classic beat-em-up gameplay, Way of the Passive Fist is a brand new experience for action-loving Nintendo Switch players.
Features
- Customizable difficulty setting lets players decide how many enemies appear at a time, how hard they hit, how forgiving the combo counter is, and even how many checkpoints there are.
- Contains all the content from Way of The Passive Fist's NEW DAWN Edition, including a brand new training mode to let you practice and perfect your parries.
- Procedural roguelite survival mode "Passiverse" challenges the most calm masters to stay alive amidst an unpredictable set of challenges.
- Hours of content with Story, New Dawn Epilogue, and Passiverse, plus new difficulty settings that dictate new ways to play. Try for a playthrough of super-difficult enemies or minimal checkpoints.
About Household Games Inc.
Founded in 2016 by Jason Canam and based in Toronto, Canada, Household Games is an independent studio focused on creating high-quality and stylized original IP content for consoles and PC. The small team made up of DrinkBox Studios, Queasy Games, and Silicon Knights alumni are combining forces, and their passions, to develop video games that are fun and accessible for all ages and ability levels. Household Games launched their debut title, Way of the Passive Fist, in early March 2018.
One More Stories have announced the demo for their upcoming game based on the Charlaine Harris’ book Shakespeare’s Landlord. The free download gives you a 30-60 minutes look into the game containing themes on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Mental Health, & Sexual Assault.
“Lily Bard spent the last four years trying to hide and heal from the secrets of her past. Shakespeare, Arkansas was a quiet place until a body is discovered steps from Lily’s door and threatens to unravel old wounds and dredge up sinister memories. This game contains mature content and is intended for audiences over the age of 16. “
Have you had a chance to check out the 30-60 min demo of The Body in Shakespeare Park?https://t.co/11wzjvYd8g
— One More Story Games (@1MoreStoryGames) January 22, 2019
Fans are saying how much they love it.
Versions available: Windows, web browser with Flash, and Android tablet. Macs and iPads coming soon.
HAPPY SLEUTHING 🔦🔦🔦
To download the demo you can head over to their website to download the executable, or here for the Flash/Browser version.
Lightning Rod Games took to the Kinda Funny Showcase last weekend to show off a new trailer for their paper puzzle game based on long-distance relationships A Fold Apart.
A Fold Apart is a 3D puzzle game about the emotional struggle of a long distance relationship in a world of folding paper. 💙 Inspired by origami and papercraft, A Fold Apart's award-winning game mechanic allows players to fold and manipulate the paper world and navigate a long distance relationship.
You can check out the trailer below which confirms a 2019 release date and that it will be coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC.
Do you like #puzzlegames with an emotional story?
— A Fold Apart - Lightning Rod Games (@LRGthunder) November 1, 2018
Have you ever been in a #longdistancerelationship?
How about #papercraft + #origami?@AFoldApart is a 3D puzzle game about the emotional struggle of a long distance relationship in a world of folding paper. pic.twitter.com/QIETEQZwWb
Cat couple owner slash game dev studio Max Inferno announced a 2nd DLC pack for their tidy puzzler.
Vancouver-based Company of Heroes 3 developer Relic Entertainment has secured funding from UK investment firm Emona Capital after laying off almost 200 staff since May 2023.
Victoria-based indie devs Hololabs have released their mobile AR game Sky Haven: AR Merge Adventure for iOS.
Halifax-based devs Max Inferno have released Cupboards & Drawers DLC for their 2022 puzzler A Little to the Left.
Cococucumber have released the third and final game in their self-described “Cococucumber Voxel Trilogy.” Ravenlok is now available for Xbox, PC, Game Pass and the Epic Games Store,
Vancouver-based indie powerhouse Brace Yourself Games (@BYG_Vancouver) announced their upcoming rhythm game spinoff will be released on Nintendo Switch as well as Steam.
Toronto-based CAPY Games continues to release updates for their matching hit 5 years after its Apple Arcade debut.
Toronto-based Mighty Yell Studios has released its first virtual reality game as a studio: Knight in the Attic for Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest.
Autumn with the Shiba Inu, the next project from Toronto-based visual novel powerhouse Quill Studios, is coming to Kickstarter this week.
LongStory, the LGBTQ+ friendly dating sim from Bloom Digital Media, will be the latest Canadian game hitting the Nintendo Switch.
“On your first day of school you discover that the previous owner of your locker has “mysteriously” disappeared. Do you want to figure out what happened or are you too busy being a social butterfly and trying to avoid your enemies…
LongStory gives you a chance to find true love as a middle school student (yes with all the awkwardness that entails) but we promise it will be so much better this time around!”
All eight of LongStory’s episodes hit Nintendo Switch on December 6th for $14.99.
LongStory is coming to the Nintendo Switch on Dec 6, just in time for the holidays. Any Switch lovers out there? #Switch #indiegames #visualnovel https://t.co/Zl31Ck6Hur
— Bloom Digital Media (@Bloom_Digital_) November 24, 2018
Cat couple owner slash game dev studio Max Inferno announced a 2nd DLC pack for their tidy puzzler.
Halifax-based devs Max Inferno have released Cupboards & Drawers DLC for their 2022 puzzler A Little to the Left.
Vancouver-based indie powerhouse Brace Yourself Games (@BYG_Vancouver) announced their upcoming rhythm game spinoff will be released on Nintendo Switch as well as Steam.
Toronto-based Drinkbox Studios’ Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack will be getting printed on a cart.
Montréal-based game dev Johan Vinet has partnered with Limited Run Games to release physical copies of his upcoming 2D cinematic platformer LUNARK for PlayStation 4, 5 and Nintendo Switch- set to release later this week.
Vancouver-based Daniel Mullin Games is working with Special Reserve Games to release a physical edition of his 2021 roguelite deck-builder Inscryption for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch.
Toronto-based indie powerhouse Vagabond Dog is releasing a physical copy of their cult classic 2014 RPG maker title Always Sometimes Monsters in partnership with Limited Run Games.
Cuphead is celebrating its initial launch on PC and Xbox One 5 years ago today, September 29, with the announcement of a physical copy of the game coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Switch.
Tribes of Midgard Season 3 drops later this month which comes with a slew of free updates, including a new Saga Boss, a revamped survival mode, new weapons, enemies, armors, and more.
Sea of Stars, the Sabotage Studio follow-up to The Messenger has been delayed into 2023. Originally announced in 2020 with an extremely successful Kickstarter for a 2022 release date, the team has pushed it to next year citing two main priorities: quality of life for their team, and the quality of the finished product.
Ottawa based Steel Crate Games have announced Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes will get patched to not require VR on PS4, and then this non-VR version will be coming to Switch and Xbox One later this month. The multiplayer game requires group of friends to work together, using bomb defusal manuals, to defuse a bomb before it explodes.
You can pick up the game on Steam and PS4 right now, while it will be available on Switch and Xbox One August 16th, and 17th respectively. The non-VR patch it out for PS4 August 16th.
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is coming to consoles! Preorders are now available! Save 10% now through launch week. Nintendo Switch™: http://bit.ly/KeepTalkingSwitch Xbox One: https://bit.ly/KeepTalkingXboxOne Release dates: Nintendo Switch™: August 16, 2018 PS4: August 16, 2018 Xbox One: August 17, 2018 Press release: http://www.keeptalkinggame.com/press-releases/console-launch-release-date-aug-9-2018.pdf Find yourself alone in a room with a bomb.
I was just mentioning on this weeks podcast that VR appears to just be full steam ahead right now, with Bloxiq VR shown last week, here comes Mervils, a fantasy VR game from London developer VitruviusVR.
Studio MDHR have announced that Cuphead has sold over 3 million units since going on sale last September. To celebrate, the game will be on sale starting tomorrow - make sure to pick it up before the DLC drops.
Golly! It's still hard to believe we've sold over 3 million copies of Cuphead. To celebrate, the game is on sale through tomorrow! If you haven’t walloped the Devil yet, now’s a good day for a swell battle.
— Studio MDHR (@StudioMDHR) August 9, 2018
Xbox: https://t.co/iYPR7wu7MR
Steam: https://t.co/kx8d98MMPo pic.twitter.com/6f7SdgqLlv
Solo indie dev expert and longtime friend-of-the-site Devon Wiersma joins us to talk their latest release Centauri Dark, working across AAA, mid-sized and solo indie dev and how to fix this goshdarn industry.
David B joins us from the west coast best coast to talk about the upcoming Quiver Games Incubator!
Bizdev extraordinaire Eric Beer joins us to give his Hades II impressions and chat v-bucks subsidized game preservation.
We break down Baldur Gate 3's unprecedented success & the knock-on effects it'll have on the industry and how we make games moving forward. We also speak to Ontario-based indie game devs Twinolli about their upcoming action-puzzler Highlighters which just got a (Dad Deck-verified) Steam demo!
We speak to Québécois game dev Dragon Slumber, creator of Tech Support, Aethernaut and many more!
We reveal the winners of our ‘23 Community Awards poll and discuss Drinkbox’s latest teaser for their next project- and more!
This week thousands more game developers join Stephan in the "terminated by evil, stupid people" camp as layoffs hit tons of studios all over Canada and the world. We discuss Sonic as well. Sonic supports Unionizing your Workplace!
Stephan got terminated but that’s okay he just has more time to cover Canadian games now.
Russian Subway Dogs, the arcade game from Spooky Squid based on the stray dogs on the Russian subway system is out now on Steam - pick it up to save 10% as a launch discount!
🐶🚇🇷🇺RUSSIAN SUBWAY DOGS OUT NOW! (PC/Mac)🇷🇺🚇🐶
— Miguel 🦑 Sternberg (@spookysquid) August 2, 2018
10% Launch discount plus $1 of every game during launch week goes to doggo charity!
Steam: https://t.co/wyt3v6skrW
Itch . io: https://t.co/JlqZIaHKUJ
HQ 60fps trailer: https://t.co/XBI9gpDajO pic.twitter.com/eKrMuw47vV
Be sure to check out this aweome trailer that includes real dogs.
A fast-paced systemic arcade game inspired by the real-life stray dogs of the Moscow metro. Can you steal enough food to survive? Available now on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/762610/Russian_Subway_Dogs/ Coming to Xbox One, PS4 and PS Vita later this year!
Solo indie dev expert and longtime friend-of-the-site Devon Wiersma joins us to talk their latest release Centauri Dark, working across AAA, mid-sized and solo indie dev and how to fix this goshdarn industry.
David B joins us from the west coast best coast to talk about the upcoming Quiver Games Incubator!
Bizdev extraordinaire Eric Beer joins us to give his Hades II impressions and chat v-bucks subsidized game preservation.
We break down Baldur Gate 3's unprecedented success & the knock-on effects it'll have on the industry and how we make games moving forward. We also speak to Ontario-based indie game devs Twinolli about their upcoming action-puzzler Highlighters which just got a (Dad Deck-verified) Steam demo!
We speak to Québécois game dev Dragon Slumber, creator of Tech Support, Aethernaut and many more!
We reveal the winners of our ‘23 Community Awards poll and discuss Drinkbox’s latest teaser for their next project- and more!
This week thousands more game developers join Stephan in the "terminated by evil, stupid people" camp as layoffs hit tons of studios all over Canada and the world. We discuss Sonic as well. Sonic supports Unionizing your Workplace!
Stephan got terminated but that’s okay he just has more time to cover Canadian games now.
The debut game from a new Western Canada indie dev duo was revealed during Day of the Devs 2024.