Reporting on the games made in Canada and the creators behind them
Just a reminder that Shoot Shoot Mega Pack by Actual Humans is now on Steam! We wrote about their multiplayer minimalist shooter here, Check out the trailer below, and you can follow Actual Humans on Twitter @Actual_Humans.
Shoot Shoot Mega Pack is a party game about rules, friendship, and also shooting. Coming to Steam April 27th 2017! Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/app/467470/ Website: http://ssmpgame.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/ssmpgame Twitter: http://twitter.com/ssmpgame
Another day, another video! Remember to subscribe!
Robot Unicorn Attack 3 is out, and PlayStation Plus games have been announced. Hooray! Here is your News Time Daily for April 27th. Robot Unicorn Attack 3: http://www.torontogamedevs.com/blog/robot-unicorn-attack-3-out-now-on-ios-and-android PlayStation Plus Games: https://blog.us.playstation.com/2017/04/26/ps-plus-free-games-for-may-2017/ Remember that TorontoGameDevs.com is fan funded, so check out our Patreon at www.patreon.com/torontogamedevs. And remember to like and subscribe!
I've noticed that friend of the site Oddbird Studios have been tweeting a lot about their upcoming game Arrow Heads. Winner of Level up 2016, Arrow Heads is a multiplayer archery game that pits 2-4 players against each other in deathmatch. I've gathered some of their recent tweets below - we'll have to wait a bit longer to find out a release date for Arrow Heads - you can however download an early build of the game right here.
We added some VFX to our Summit level. Now it feels like a snow level. =) #gaming #gamedev #indiedev pic.twitter.com/tS9XCNEPKQ
— OddBird Studio (@OddBirdStudio) April 26, 2017
We can't always work on fun things. But we are pretty excited with how our settings menu came out. =) #gaming #indiedev #gamedev pic.twitter.com/5ffU3qQqmK
— OddBird Studio (@OddBirdStudio) April 25, 2017
Sneak peek at how to unlock the achievement, "What is this tennis?" Deflection battles incoming. =) #gaming #indiedev #gamedev pic.twitter.com/imunu07I5s
— OddBird Studio (@OddBirdStudio) April 12, 2017
Guess whooo is ready to fight?! The Owl is officially ready to battle. =) #gaming #indiedev #gamedev #madewithunity pic.twitter.com/2rVtj0sEX2
— OddBird Studio (@OddBirdStudio) April 10, 2017
The debut game from a new Western Canada indie dev duo was revealed during Day of the Devs 2024.
Cat couple owner slash game dev studio Max Inferno announced a 2nd DLC pack for their tidy puzzler.
Gears of War: E-Day was announced during Xbox’s Game Showcase, marking the second prequel in the Gears of War franchise.
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.
NetEase Games has announced the opening of a new game studio in Canada, named Bad Brain Games, to work on an "ambitious new franchise," which will be a story-driven open-world action-adventure game.
Bloom Digital Media have released a demo for their upcoming visual novel game Long Story 2, which is a sequel to the 2017 game.
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.
Open-world, dragon-flying game Ayre and the Crystal Comet is out now on consoles.
Partnering with adult-swing, local developed Get Set Games have released Robot Unicorn 3 today on iOS and Android as a free download.
In partnership with Adult Swim Games, we’ve been thrilled to work on the 3rd installment of the cult hit series Robot Unicorn Attack. The third game is called Robot Unicorn Attack Forever, and delves into the origin of Robot Unicorn. In RUA Forever you’ll be able to build your own dazzling team of robot unicorns to chase your dreams, take on the forces of darkness, or die trying. Mostly that final bit.
Make sure to download the free game on iOS here, and Android right here.
Another day, another new video. Here you go!
Today we talk a bit about Shoot Shoot Mega Pack coming to Steam on April 27th, as well as the new Sonic Forces footage. SSMP: http://www.torontogamedevs.com/blog/shoot-shoot-mega-pack-coming-april-27th Sonic Forces: http://kotaku.com/green-hills-zones-looking-good-in-sonic-forces-1794635768 Remember that TorontoGameDevs.com is fan funded, so check out our Patreon at www.patreon.com/torontogamedevs. And remember to like and subscribe!
Canadian indie game studio Red Meat Games have released their episodic, narrative-driven audio game Project Dark on Steam and Nintendo Switch.
As part of the Mix Showcase last month, Toronto developer Kitten Cup Studio showed off some gameplay from their 2022 game Pekoe.
Quebec developer Norsfell have announced their 10-player co-op action-RPG Tribes of Midgard will be out on PlayStation, and Steam on July 27th - the game is also available for pre-order on both platforms.
Triversal, 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.
BOMBING!!: A Graffiti Sandbox, the graffiti sandbox simulation game from indie dev (and friend of the site) Devon Wiersma, is out now on Steam, and itch.io.
After launching on Steam last year, St Catharines based Rocketship Park will be porting their puzzle story-driven adventure game LOVE to Nintendo Switch “soon”.
PixelNAUTS Games, who last released Lost Orbit: Terminal Velocity on various platforms have released a new trailer for their upcoming space-racing brawler Rocket Rumble. You can wishlist the game on Steam right now which is scheduled for sometime this year.
Mad Devils, the twin-stick shooter from Itzy Interactive got a new gameplay trailer ahead of its May 10th release date. Mad Devils is an arcade co-op shooter set during World War 2 but has Allied special forces hunting down Nazi occultists resurrected as demons
Toronto developed Lighting Rod Games took to their FaceBook page to showcase the first little bit of A Fold Apart, or at least some experiments with the gameplay elements.
A Fold Apart tells the story of a long distance relationship, using a folding paper mechanic to solve puzzles. You can check out the video below:
Make sure to check out their FaceBook page, and follow them on Twitter. They also do a lot of great work at the GameDev Cafe interviewing developers about developing games.
Trying out something new for our YouTube page - quick news! 3-4 times a week I'll do short 1-2 minute videos on something going on in Toronto, and elsewhere. This week we talk a bit about N++ and Overwatch. Remember to subscribe!
A new show here at TorontoGameDevs.com - News Time Daily (I'm terrible with names). Quick 1-2 minute videos just giving you a glimpse of the news happening in Toronto, and elsewhere. This week: N++ Ultimate Edition: http://www.torontogamedevs.com/blog/n-ultimate-edition-out-now-on-steam-coming-soon-to-ps4 Overwatch Getting 3 New Maps: http://ca.ign.com/articles/2017/04/24/overwatch-three-new-maps-in-the-works Remember that TorontoGameDevs.com is fan funded, so check out our Patreon.
We give a (very quick) review of Graceful Explosion Machine as well as our thoughts on the Nintendo Switch roughly 7 weeks in since launch. Remember to subscribe!
We're back playing Graceful Explosion Machine from Vertex Pop. We give a very quick general review, while also talking our thoughts on the Nintendo Switch so far. Website: http://www.torontogamedevs.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/torontogamedevs Patreon: patreon.com/torontogamedevs Store: designbyhumans.com/shop/TorontoGameDevs
Actual Humans' upcoming multiplayer minimalist shooter SSMP (Shoot Shoot Mega Pack) has been given a release date, and players can expect the game April 27th on Steam.
In Shoot Shoot Mega Pack you and up to three friends can duke it out head-to-head in any of four 2D shooters, each one focusing on its own core mechanic! Push each other into walls that expand with every shot in zoom, thrust and shoot together in sync, avoid a barrage of black holes in void, or carefully try to find your invisible friends before they find you in fade!
For the tinkerers out there, mix and match rules however you want in custom mode! Try 'em once or mark them as your faves and come back to them whenever you want! Finding all these options too overwhelming? Don't worry, we've got you covered! Take a load off and let the party gods choose for you in party mode or take your chances with an endless stream of randomly generated rulesets in chaos mode!
Shoot Shoot Mega Pack is a party game about rules, friendship, and also shooting. Coming to Steam April 27th 2017! Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/app/467470/ Website: http://ssmpgame.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/ssmpgame Twitter: http://twitter.com/ssmpgame
Shoot Shoot Mega Pack - April 27th on #Steam #HumbleStore and #Itchio
— Actual Humans (@actual_humans) April 20, 2017
TRAILER: https://t.co/o0hJ9Xy8vD
STEAM PAGE: https://t.co/seacqlErXv pic.twitter.com/7mYRl1fEAy
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.
As previously announced late last year, the free update to N++ labeled the "Ultimate Edition" is out now on Steam, and will be coming soon to PlayStation 4. The update is a huge content boost to the ninja platformer, doubling the available levels to the game and also provides a new "Hardcore" mode.
"Hardcore was designed for fans and especially highscore competitions -- in contrast to the regular Solo mode, in Hardcore the clock is always ticking and every death counts."
The World's Best Platformer Just Got Better. Buy N PLUS PLUS (N++) now on Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/app/230270 Click SHOW MORE to see details: N++ is a fast-paced, momentum-based platformer where you get to play as a badass parkour-loving ninja, narrowly escaping enemies and collecting gold in sci-fi landscapes. What's new in the Ultimate Edition?
You can pick up N++ on Steam right now which is enjoying a 50% discount at the time of writing - the Ultimate Edition comes with the base game now. The update will hit PlayStation 4 "soon".
The N++ Ultimate Edition is out now on Steam, coming soon to PS4. It's a huge, free update packed full of awesome! https://t.co/WRS8kLihbf pic.twitter.com/2ax4k0oiLg
— Metanet Software (@metanetsoftware) April 21, 2017
While it is certainly fun for a while, it suffers from the same problem other mobile games on Steam do: Cube Samurai: RUN!’s price tag of $5:49 feels a little steep for the amount of time you might ultimately get from it, so I’d recommend installing the mobile version and giving it a go on the commute to work or on the toilet and see if it’s the sort of experience you’d enjoy on the PC. This aside, it certainly does seems like it would make for an equally fun mobile experience, but it doesn’t do anything exceptionally different than what most people have seen in an infinite runner before.
Overall, Kapsul Infinite’s $4.49 price point on Steam doesn’t quite feel worth it to me. There simply isn’t enough to keep me invested in the gameplay for very long, and without any integration of achievements or leaderboards of any kind it just falls a little flat. It is, however, a game that would be perfect for a mobile device where one play session consists of a few levels on the bus or while waiting out an unpleasant family reunion on the toilet. While the PC is not the platform to play it on, I’d definitely recommend giving it a try on mobile devices.
We live in an age where it’s easy to get bogged down in new features, and developers often seem to push for complex mechanic after complex mechanic. N++, however, sends itself off with a warm reminder that the series has always been created around one sole value: fun.
Despite flaws such as these, I honestly do myself blown away by the potential the game has down the road. It features a robust level editing tool that allows for the creation of scenarios and huge, complex maps. It has Steam Workshop support for user-generated content and (if the patch notes and Longbow Game's Facebook page are any indication) it's still being improved and updated tirelessly by the team at Longbow so many issues described here could very well be patched and improved in future updates.
Alone With You gives you an exceptional story about love, and loneliness, with gameplay that gives you a little more than your traditional visual novel.
There was once a girl named Cally, who was an ordinary girl who lived an ordinary life. One day she found her parents kidnapped by Herbert, a mad scientist seeking revenge for a tragic past. Cally, deciding it was in her best interests to not have her parents in distress and doing what any respectable young woman would do in this situation, grabbed her semi-automatic pistol and medieval bastard sword and made chase, filling anything that got in her way full of lead before tearing it asunder.
Lost Orbit is a 2D top down, action-arcade game with a focus on quick reflexes and the age-old struggle to beat a stage faster than you did two minutes ago. It features a time trial mode devoted to achieving exactly that speedy time as well as a campaign mode geared towards a more laid back experience for casual players.
Far Cry Primal has players controlling Takkar, a Wenja tribesman who is stranded in the fictitious world of Oros. The story comes down to pretty much "I hate that other tribe, so let's go kill them" but over the course of 20 or so hours players will hunt and control animals, craft and improve weapons, and gather your people to rebuild the Wenja tribe.
Our friends at Galactic Thumb have released Cuzzle, now available free on iOS. From Galactic Thumb:
“Cuzzle is a Sokoban style puzzle game. Get all the white blocks in position to unlock the portal. 4 unique stages each introducing a new mechanic.
Features: • Undo move button • 90 complex levels • Calming music • Minimalistic aesthetics • Leaderboards • Haptic Feedback for iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus”
Check out the trailer below, and download free today.
https://itunes.apple.com/app/cuzzle/id1185407542 Cuzzle is a Sokoban style puzzle game. Get all the white blocks in position to unlock the portal. 4 unique stages each introducing a new mechanic.
The School of Design at George Brown College is hosting a year end event, PULL, to showcase the talent of their 2017 graduating class. The graduates are from not only the Game Design and Game Development programs, but also from Concept Art for Entertainment, Graphic Design, and more. It's a great opportunity for recruiters looking for new talent, to play video games created by the students, and check out the art that their creative graduates can offer.
“PULL — Year End Show 2017
School of Design, George Brown College
230 Richmond St E
Please join us for the School of Design Year End Show!
PULL celebrates the talent and diversity of students across nine School of Design programs:
- Art and Design Foundation
- Concept Art for Entertainment
- Design Management
- Game Design
- Game Development
- Graphic Design
- Interaction Design & Development
- Interactive Media Management
- Interdisciplinary Design Strategy
Highlights of this year’s show include:
- Three whole floors! The School of Design, along with the newly formed School of Media and Performing Arts, will occupy all floors of 230 Richmond Street East for the first time
- Live mural painting and video games featuring work by students in Game Design, Game Development, Game Programming, and the brand new Concept Art for Entertainment post-grad program
- Reboot Detroit, a series of themed immersive environments brought to you by the second year Interaction Design students
- Beyond the Edge: an inside look into a year at the Institute without Boundaries and the future of Toronto’s Waterfront
Pull is part of ShowGBC, a series of events showcasing talent from the 2017 graduating students across George Brown’s Centre for Arts, Design and Information Technology.
Schoolofdesign.ca/yearendshow
ShowGBC.ca
@designgbc
#yespull
#SHOWGBC17”
To celebrate the launch of the Level Editor, @KasSanity has made Dashy Square free on iOS and Android. You can check out the trailer, and links to download below.
The full version of Dashy Square is currently absolutely FREE for mobile (iOS and Android) for 1 Week! I know there are people that cannot afford the game ... so here it is! =) PLEASE leave a rating/review! It actually helps a lot!
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.
Our friends over at Torn Banner Studios have released a few videos for their beta of Mirage: Arcane Warefare. They've also been tweeting a lot of other Youtubers playing the Beta. You can check out some of the videos below, and if players want to get in the Beta for Mirage all they have to do is preorder the game on Steam.
Pre-order Mirage on Steam to play the Beta - on NOW! http://store.steampowered.com/app/368420 Get 10% off of all Mirage pre-orders if you own Chivalry: Medieval Warfare on Steam. Pre-orders grant Beta access for you - and a friend too! Mirage: Arcane Warfare is $29.99 USD and will release May 23, 2017.
Pre-order Mirage on Steam to play the Beta - on NOW! http://store.steampowered.com/app/368420 Get 10% off of all Mirage pre-orders if you own Chivalry: Medieval Warfare on Steam. Pre-orders grant Beta access for you - and a friend too! Mirage: Arcane Warfare is $29.99 USD and will release in full on May 23, 2017.
Pre-order Mirage on Steam to play the Beta - on NOW! http://store.steampowered.com/app/368420 Get 10% off of all Mirage pre-orders if you own Chivalry: Medieval Warfare on Steam. Pre-orders grant Beta access for you - and a friend too! Mirage: Arcane Warfare is $29.99 USD and will release in full on May 23, 2017.
Toronto-based Torn Banner Studios has revealed their 2023 roadmap for the beloved 2022 jolly good medieval slapstick simulator Chivalry II, which will bring a much-requested (by us as well) feature: cross-platform parties.
Chivalry 2, the hotly anticipated sequel which is coming to PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S has gone gold ahead of its June 8th release date. The game, which will feature crossplay across the board, is also currently having an open Beta from May 27th to June 1st, the Beta is also cross-play enabled.
Developer Torn Banner Studios has announced their upcoming game Chivalry 2 will arrive June 8th, 2021 on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC (Epic Game Store), and Xbox One, Series S/X - the game will also launch with cross-play.
Announced already for PC (and as an Epic Store exclusive) at last years E3 has now been confirmed for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. Better yet, the game will include Cross-Play for all systems.
Valley by Blue Isle Studios is now 60% off on Steam.
Start your week off right by purchasing Valley for 60% off on Steam! See if our concept art resembles the real deal https://t.co/cdpIa8ZkE3 pic.twitter.com/BDD9GZxpar
— Blue Isle Studios (@BlueIsleStudio) April 10, 2017
Canadian indie game studio Red Meat Games have released their episodic, narrative-driven audio game Project Dark on Steam and Nintendo Switch.
As part of the Mix Showcase last month, Toronto developer Kitten Cup Studio showed off some gameplay from their 2022 game Pekoe.
Quebec developer Norsfell have announced their 10-player co-op action-RPG Tribes of Midgard will be out on PlayStation, and Steam on July 27th - the game is also available for pre-order on both platforms.
Triversal, 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.
BOMBING!!: A Graffiti Sandbox, the graffiti sandbox simulation game from indie dev (and friend of the site) Devon Wiersma, is out now on Steam, and itch.io.
After launching on Steam last year, St Catharines based Rocketship Park will be porting their puzzle story-driven adventure game LOVE to Nintendo Switch “soon”.
PixelNAUTS Games, who last released Lost Orbit: Terminal Velocity on various platforms have released a new trailer for their upcoming space-racing brawler Rocket Rumble. You can wishlist the game on Steam right now which is scheduled for sometime this year.
Mad Devils, the twin-stick shooter from Itzy Interactive got a new gameplay trailer ahead of its May 10th release date. Mad Devils is an arcade co-op shooter set during World War 2 but has Allied special forces hunting down Nazi occultists resurrected as demons
