News – Page 28 – Stately Play

Return to the world of Hand of Fate in creatively titled Hand of Fate 2

November 13, 2017 David Neumann 0

PC/Mac/Linux • Back when we ran another certain website a strange card game/roguelike/action combat game made its way to Steam. It was Hand of Fate from Defiant Development and wasn’t like anything we’d ever played, except for the combat which was like several other games we’d already played. That wasn’t a big deal, because the mix of everything into one big stew ended up being a tasty package indeed. I tend to not follow Steam as close as I should so I wasn’t aware of a sequel in the works but last week it stopped being in the works and became a full-fledged release. In other words, it was a happy surprise to be playing Hand of Fate 2 over the weekend.

If you don’t already love Zach Gage, FlipFlop will do the trick

November 10, 2017 David Neumann 2

iOS Universal • It’s already been a great year for solitaire card games on mobile. We’ve had Card Thief, Onirim, and Miracle Merchant, all of which are GOTY-quality apps. Zach Gage felt he needed to jump on the bandwagon–Typeshift didn’t suck up enough of my time earlier this year–and yesterday he released his latest title, Flipflop Solitaire. Yes, it’s just solitaire, but somehow Zach Gage has made it much more. How does he do it? I’m guessing it’s the little bit of love he puts into every app.

Watch the skies for locust, 7 Wonders is actually coming

November 8, 2017 David Neumann 20

iOS, Android • Few titles have had the long and drawn out development of 7 Wonders. We’ve been told it will be released in the next few months, but that was back in 2013. We’ve been informed that betas were starting, then ending, then starting again. It was the mobile version of Duke Nukem Forever. That’s all coming to an end next week because, hold on to your hats, 7 Wonders is coming to the App Store next Tuesday.

You can now choose your own adventure on the island of Catan

November 8, 2017 David Neumann 7

iOS Universal, Android • 2017 has seen a flood of digital board game conversions from new kid on the block, Asmodee Digital. Today, however, I think we can safely say is their strangest release. It’s called Catan Stories and finally allows us to roleplay as settlers on the titular island like we’ve always wanted to! In all honesty, I’ve never wanted to do this, and never really thought about the people collecting my wheat and sheep when I roll dice in Catan. I’ve thought about the robber, wondering why he’s such a dick, but I don’t think that’s where Catan Stories takes us. Anyway, Catan Stories is out now for iOS and Android.

Root is a new cardboard Kickstarter that looks pretty great

November 3, 2017 David Neumann 5

Tabletop • Over the past year I’ve become rather fond of a certain breed of game labeled as COIN games. As you most likely already know, these games deal with counter insurgency warfare where getting the locals on your side is just as, or more, important than putting the enemy in pine boxes. Root is an upcoming tabletop game that offers some light COIN mechanisms while also fulfilling my furry quota. In other words, it’s a win-win.

Dresden Files Cooperative Card Game materializes on Steam

November 2, 2017 David Neumann 2

PC/Mac (available now), iOS/Android (coming soon) • In the “Oh, Shit, When Did That Happen?” department comes the discovery that Hidden Achievement has launched their digital version of the Dresden Files Cooperative Card Game on Steam. The answer to the question, by the way, is Monday.

Gore-filled action RPG, Runic Rampage, comes to iOS/Android

November 2, 2017 David Neumann 5

iOS Universal, Android, PC/Mac/Linux • Next to real-time strategy, another major genre of game that has failed to make a huge impact on mobile is the Action RPG. There are a couple that don’t suck, Titan Quest for example, but there doesn’t seem to be a good way to translate the hectic craziness of overwhelming odds, combos, and tactical shenanigans that you expect in ARPG stalwarts, such as the Diablo series, to a touchscreen. Of course, me stating that a certain genre is neglected will be immediately followed by me stating that a new game in that genre has been released. I’m way too predictable, even for myself. That game is called Runic Rampage and yada, yada, yada.

One Deck Dungeon Kickstarter goes live

November 2, 2017 David Neumann 1

PC/Mac/Linux • Due to some unforeseen issues that popped up yesterday, I wasn’t around the Stately offices to sound the alarm when Handelabra unleashed their latest endeavor, One Deck Dungeon, on Kickstarter. I’m back today, so…um, Handelabra has launched the One Deck Dungeon Kickstarter. Yeah, I really should have practiced this intro more.

Ancient naval battler, Mare Nostrum, coming to PC on Thursday

October 31, 2017 David Neumann 6

PC • Despite how most people around these parts feel about Slitherine [disclaimer: I used to work there -ed.], the announcement of their latest game is worth at least a mention. First of all, it’s designed by Turnopia, the developers behind the wildly underrated, and iOS 11 incompatible, Qvadriga. Secondly, it’s a game about ancient naval warfare, which sounds too cool for us not to take a look. It’s called Mare Nostrum and it’s coming to PC on Thursday.

DIGIDICED bringing 2016 Kennerspiel des Jahres winner, Isle of Skye, to digital

October 31, 2017 David Neumann 2

iOS, Android, PC/Mac • For a bit it was looking as if Asmodee Digital was going to corner the entire digital board game market, pushing out more titles than anyone else could possibly manage. DIGIDICED doesn’t seem to be buying into that scenario, and has been just as active with releasing and announcing new board and card games for iOS, Android, and Steam. All but one of their titles, however, have been 2-player Uwe Rosenberg titles, so it’s hard to be surprised by any of their announcements unless, of course, they announce a non-Rosenberg, non-two-player game, which is what happened last night. Their next title will be Isle of Skye, and it’s coming in early 2018.