SteamNext Fest Autumn 2025 (Unfiltered Thoughts)

The latest SteamNext Fest winds down today October 20th. I did not play all the demos I planned as life got in the way (death, mainteance, other general life stuff), but after every demo I dropped unfiltered thoughts into a Notepad and now I share them with you.

Cult of Blood: Cut scenes with no moving mouths, bad voice acting and then… TANK controls. Probably great for someone, not me.

Midnight Saturn: A really good teaser for the pixel science fiction mystery point and click.

Devil Jam: Amazing art, but I had zero clue what I was doing and I tried twice.

Light Odyssey: Promising but the demo throws you into boss battle with a very short tutorial. It’s a minimalistic Shadow of the Colossus which can be fun, but you also must have patience and really good hand/eye coordination for.

The Dark Rites of Arkham: Pixel art alternate history supernatural point and click. the short puzzles, writing and premise presented in the demo have me curious, but the demo is also very short and ends basically before you get to do much.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion: We only get Arcade mode, but we do get two boss fights and learn how multiple characters play and they’re all different enough to make this old school brawler also feel new school.

Big Hops: Adorable art but horrible platform design, very easy to get lost. I somehow brought myself back to the start of a section instead of moving forward. The demo broke twice. I want to love this and can’t.

Kambulin: Great pixel art, but in 2025 I have no patience for a NEW game that can only work with keyboard and has you read long text

The Last Case of John Morley: A very strong demo that gives you the graphics, gameplay, story, music, sound and voice acting which are all wonderful to what seems mostly an interactive first person mystery Victorian story with puzzles based on observation and thought (although one could strongarm the one in the demo, solving it by actually reading the clues was very satisfying).

Baptise: Great graphics, excellent jump scare but way too short to compel me. Also having to go back to the Main Menu and sit through credits again just to close out? Intrigued, but not sold.

Super Chillers-The Chat Room: Excellent pixel art and good voice acting. The puzzles while easy to solve feel weird as there is no internal story logic to why you would some of the stuff. There’s nothing telling you to check a certain area story wise giving it this random feel. The ending also was so abrupt it’s impossible to know where the game is going, which I guess is okay but again lack of internal logic to why you would do b to solve a without c hinting that is the path other than the only options available feels like this needs polish before being released. Interested though.

My Little Puppy: An extremely long and satisfying demo. This upcoming puzzle platformer has charming art, plenty of dogs, and a feel of simple yet also complicated, zen but with a bit of difficulty. Definitely one I want to keep playing. (Be aware that the developers did not get a certain process signed/paid the extra $$$ for actual access to so Microsoft may block the exe at first)

Marcella Moon-The Phantom of Harvest Grove: I turned this off right away. Between the dialog of someone falling off a horse and breaking their leg and the response being “anyone hurt?”, followed by the worst walk cycle I’ve seen in forever and the absolutely “that is not a real person, even if they were a cartoon” of Elliot, I was like, “nope”. Your Mileage May Vary, give it a go, see if you stick around to find out if the game gets better.

Scholar Adventure-Mystery of Silence: Traditional low res pixel horror mystery. Well written, good puzzles, actually logical and linear, a great tease to the full game when available.

A.I.L.A: I’ve been intrigued by this since first hearing about it. Now with the demo behind this tense, confusing, puzzle filled horror? game I’m even more so. I need to know where this is going.

Powerwash Simulator 2: More of the same with more stuff that isn’t the same. Still zen, still good.

A Better World: The concept and gameplay is great, but it also relies heavy on accepting the writing and the choices the writer and/or writers decided your decisions cause. I wasn’t feeling it myself, but you might.

Call of the Golden Valley: Not a fan of the controls or the walk speed, and the demo was really too short to get a full feel, but the voice acting was good and it could be a cool mystery.

MEAL: What? I… what do I do? How? Loading? Loading again? What? Huh?

The Tragedy of Deer Creek: Black and white pixel art, well thought through story telling, game play and puzzles, a real mystery. I did not want to stop playing.

EARTH MUST DIE: Fully animated, infectiously funny, amazing voice cast, from the studio that brought us one of my favorite games Lair of the Clockwork God. This demo was the perfect tease, I want this now. I want a Collector’s Edition.

FAIL.safe: The controls are meh (having controller but it doesn’t work well so you must keyboard/mouse), there’s no skipping dialogue, the graphics aren’t bad, just nothing special, but there’s definitely something here. The control scheme especially for the mechanic and gameplay is actually really not enjoyable but there’s still something here and I hope the final version is much better.

SpongeBob SquarePants – Titans of Ride: The action-platform SpongeBob games have all been that rare really well made game even though it’s for a franchise. Especially in the action platform genre. This new one is just as good if not better from the demo.

This Is Fine! Maximum Cope: I love that KC Green helped on this, but I am just not good at actually hard 2D platformer with combat. I enjoy them but also don’t enjoy how mean they can be.

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A Truly Large Nerd Notes 10/19/2025

Life as a whole has gotten away from us here. Three weeks since the last Nerd Notes, lots of movie screenings, lots of video game playing, lots of actual just life stuff. Anyways, here’s 9/28/2025 to today of Youtube posts that caught my eye enough and are still prevalent to share.

MOVIES AND TV

Truly need to find time to binge this final season. I must see what happens with THE WALL.
I saw Pillion early in this month. I loved every moment of it. I look forward to an opportunity to watch it again at home in privacy to truly enjoy.
Quite the cast, but it also looks fascinating.
This documentary comes October 21, will definitely need to make time for this true tale.
Found time to watch this. Truly an unsuing hero being sung about.
This looks like a killer adaptation and an amazing role for Smith,
Guys… GUYS! DUDE! LOOK! LOOOK!
I like Rachel.
Super clever teaser. Especially when really a teaser since season 4 is months away.
Yes.
Oooh
This actually doesn’t look good, but I want to think the trailer is all a trick and there’s more than meets the eye.
This looks like it legit sticks directly to the Bachman novel which is the lottery concept has been used with other films and I think what they did plot wise with the 80s film is better. It is Edgar though, so I’m interested.
This might get uncomfortable.
This is gonna go deep. Like really deep.
Original toons on YT!
I wish I had a way to see this, a VPN doesn’t work with Crave even, so I hope they can sell it to somewhere like Prime.
These all look great!
I saw Deliver Me From Nowhere with a panel with the cast and director after. I really enjoyed it, you should see it.
I hope this marketing helps the naysayers as well as the idiots who see the film and go “blah blah”. Shut up, you’re wrong, completely wrong. It won’t though, there was someone I heard talking after the film thinking he was a bigger Springsteen expert than Bruce himself saying “this wasn’t accurate”.
The dedication. I really hope this dude makes a feature one day.
Old school girl revenge in 2025? Yes please, also with THIS girl?

MUSIC (everything here is fantastic, just listen and in some cases really watch, some great MVs as well)

Okay this is also a game trailer.
This too.

OTHER STUFF

Seriously this update ruled and made me proud to be an owner.
I had the pleasure of Maysoon wonderfulness one night at a Scholastic event. I knew of her prior but after I’ve loved all her work and this especially is amazing.
Meowwolf and me are friends.
I love everything Meowwolf.
The entire new Vertigo line looks incredible, but this especially looks great. https://www.dc.com/blog/2025-10-09/dc-unveils-ten-bold-new-comic-book-series-in-its-dc-vertigo-imprint-for-2026
This is great!
Watch the Lost in McDonaldland shorts. Just do it.

DOUBLE FINE: 3 things. Watch em. I have “been” with this company since “day one” and am proud to stil support them. 25 Years. Always wished I had the right skill set to work for them, but all I have is marketing, acting and production but not when it comes to assets, pipeline or publishing a videogame. I just can play those, know what I like and have design ideas that probably can’t be realized.

and ending on one more MUSIC, but first watch the video about the song before the song itself. Peaches is the best.

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HOWL TBD Solicit and info

This comic is eroti and salacious in the best way, funny, clever and excellent satire/pastiche and tribute with quality research and references. Alisa Kwitney and Mauricet made something very cool here.

HOWL TPB

(W) Alisa Kwitney

(A) Mauricet

Cover: Mauricet 

Marry a science fiction writer, become science fiction! That’s the law of Greenwich Village in the late 1950s, home of poets, artists, musicians, writers, their put-upon partners—and the extraterrestrial spores that are secretly taking them over! Novelist/comics writer Alisa Kwitney (The Sandman Presents) mixes science fiction with period drama and family memoir, featuring stunning art by Mauricet (Star Wars Adventures).

October 15, 2025

Diamond/Lunar FOC: June 23, 2025

$17.99 / $24.99 CAN

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Monster Walk – Turning Forgetten Real Life Steps into RPG Gaming Experience

The award-winning studio behind Run Legends, Talofa Games, has announced an October 9th United States and European release date for its second title, Monster Walk: Step Adventure. Coming to iOS and Android, with over 12,000 players already pre-registered and over 200 million cumulative steps taken in early access, Monster Walk: Step Adventure transforms everyday steps into a vibrant RPG journey filled with collectible creatures, mysterious lands, and action-packed battles.

Recognized by Apple and Google as a next-generation developer to watch, Talofa Games continues its mission to make fitness feel like playing. Monster Walk builds on the studio’s success with Run Legends, which attracted over half a million players and earned accolades as a must-play experience.

Step Into Adventure
Monster Walk is not a typical fitness app. It’s a game-first experience where your real-world movement fuels in-game exploration, resource gathering, and bonding with fantastical monsters. Whether you’re walking through your neighborhood or doing chores at home, every step brings you closer to uncovering hidden treasures and growing your monster team.

No GPS. No Pressure. Just Play.
Unlike traditional fitness apps, Monster Walk doesn’t track your location or pit you against others. Walk at your own pace, explore at your own rhythm, and enjoy a relaxing, rewarding experience. It’s designed for mindful movement and emotional connection, making it perfect for players of all fitness levels. 

Battle, Collect, and Base Build
Battle your way through this epic RPG where your real-life steps are your ultimate weapon. Engage in fast-paced, real-time battles where precise movement and timing are key. Counter enemies with accuracy, unlock potent skills, and conquer foes, empowered by your daily workout.

Build your team by rescuing and recruiting a growing cast of magical creatures. Your dream team awaits. Just pair collected monsters with unique powers and personalities and level them up, while you forge bonds through daily activity. 

Rebuild a broken world, one step at a time. Unlock new regions and enhance your base simply by walking. Every stride fuels progress, transforming your surroundings and helping your base flourish alongside you.

A Vision for Games That Do Good
Founded by Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and long-distance runner Jenny Xu, Talofa Games creates joyful, inclusive, and mindful games that inspire movement and promote a healthier lifestyle. With over 9.2 million downloads across 10 titles, Xu’s vision is clear: games should be good for you, physically, emotionally, and socially.

Monster Walk is a welcoming RPG experience designed for the next generation of gamers, no matter their fitness level,” said Jenny Xu, CEO of Talofa Games. “It’s about turning everyday movement into something joyful and rewarding.

Launch Details
Monster Walk: Step Adventure will be available in the United States and European regions on October 9 via the Apple App Store and Google Play. Pre-register now and be among the first to experience a game that grows with you — one step at a time.

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Kamen Rider Makes Heroic First North American Event Appearance at Los Angeles Comic Con 2025

From screen to show floor, the iconic tokusatsu franchise connects with fans in LA through premieres, panels, and meet & greets!

Los Angeles, California – September 30, 2025 – For the first time ever, Kamen Rider, one of Japan’s most legendary tokusatsu franchises, made its official debut at Los Angeles Comic Con, bringing rider energy to thousands of fans in attendance. Over the course of the weekend, Kamen Rider delivered a powerful lineup of premieres, exclusive screenings, and fan experiences for both longtime fans of the franchise and new fans. The event highlighted the brand’s strong legacy and its next bold steps in growing on the global stage.

Kamen Rider Zeztz Producer Hideaki Yanaka on stage. Kamen Rider panel at LA Comic Con showing a full house turnout.

Here are the highlights from Kamen Rider’s first ever L.A. Comic Con appearance:

  • Kamen Rider ZEZTZ panel with special guest, ZEZTZ Producer Hideaki Yanaka –  Producer Hideaki Yanaka shared insights into how ZEZTZ was created, explaining the thought process behind the world-building and components that shape the series. The panel drew a full house, with fans lining up to ask questions, reflecting the deep enthusiasm surrounding Kamen Rider’s future. He also revealed that the secret of the heroine, Nem, will be unveiled in Episode 6, giving fans a thrilling hint of what’s to come.
  • World Simulcast Spotlight: Kamen Rider ZEZTZ – Fans are able to watch the latest entry in the franchise, Kamen Rider ZEZTZ, the first Rider series to simulcast globally with English subtitles.
  • North American screening of the movie, “KAMEN RIDER W Forever: A to Z / The Gaia Memories of Fate” with English subtitles –  special screening of the movie from one of the most beloved Kamen Rider entries, Kamen Rider W, for the first time at Comic Con.
  • Kamen Rider ZEZTZ Meet & Greet – The first Comic Con booth for the franchise featured Kamen Rider ZEZTZ in person to meet fans, a first for fans in North America.
Kamen Rider booth at LA Comic Con

Watch the event recap video here:

Here is Kamen Rider ZEZTZ Producer Hideaki Yanaka with a few words on the appearance of Kamen Rider in the U.S.
“The passion from the fans has been even more incredible than I expected. Meeting Kamen Rider fans not just from the local area but from around the world who came a long way to be here has been truly inspiring. It is through the support of passionate fans like you that this series will continue to grow and thrive globally.”

Yanaka also talked about the creation of the new series Kamen Rider ZEZTZ and his personal vision for the franchise.

“From the start, ZEZTZ was created with international fans in mind, while also staying true to the old Kamen Rider series. The series modernizes the story and concept so new audiences can understand what makes Kamen Rider unique, while including Easter eggs and callbacks to past series for longtime fans to enjoy. Our goal was to create something that Western audiences could relate to, similar to American superheroes.”

Kamen Rider’s appearance at Los Angeles Comic Con marks a significant moment for the franchise’s presence in the U.S., reflecting a growing appetite among global audiences for Japanese tokusatsu.

Watch the Kamen Rider ZEZTZ simulcast weekly on Saturdays 7:30PM Pacific Time on the TokuSHOUTsu YouTube channel. Follow Kamen Rider Global account on X for the latest news on Kamen Rider.

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Nerd Notes 9/27/25 (It’s a Big One)

We got a big big Nerd Notes here as there’s been so much announced, released, etc. since the last one only nine days ago. Next week we’re super busy here for reasons so catch up next week will also be super fun, but lets just get into things going backwards to now from 9/18.

This pop-up experience for The Smashing Machine is awesome. If you can, go check it out.

Up next a ton of music:

And now back to other stuff:

I always enjoy listening to Peter (Kendo). A true living legend.
Highly entertaining.
One of the BIGGEST deals over the last week/10 days. If you have missed the premiere of the new Dana Terrace toon from GLITCH, watch it now. It was highly loved, went viral and is big big big.
This just makes me more excited for this game and I’m pretty excited.
This is Spinal Tap (not the actors who play them).
Sharing some K-Pop randomly.
Every Tuesday night I hang out with Brent, John, Frank, Screwball and chat to discuss GCW wrestling. This was their first time coming live from an event. It was fun.
One of the most brilliant short films I have seen and its literally just a Simpsons meme.
One of those movies on a true story where the true story could never been written unless it actually happened.
Two videos for this. It deserves it. Play the demo. Wish the game. Get the game.
This looks really good.
I love me some :Dropout.
The Righteous, Kross and Scarlett.
A simple yet perfect video.
If you missed the launch for Blippo+ Color on Steam and Switch, watch it now and buy it.
Honestly I have NO clue why this needed to be remade, especially from an unknown screenwriter and a director on only her second film, but it looks well done from the trailer.
I mean… Kojima is hit or miss, but I love the cast.
These two games from the recent Annapurna TGS presentation caught my eye.
New Prep and Landing.
It’s one of those things you can’t ignore the existance of.
A great video version of the classic.
I’d like to play Dark Ties without YK3.
More K-Pop!
2026 game of the year?
More cool Smashing Machine promotions.
This sequel looks cool.
Don’t call it a comeback.
kc green shared this. He created the dog.
Did you watch Knights of Guinevere? No? Go above, watch it. This merch is wild.
I have my own personal real life history with the Stillers and will enjoy this documentary.
New Good Charlotte
They mention at the top they’ve been quiet for a second, this a great return.

See ya on the next one!

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Cloud Cat’s Land: A Review

Rarely do I write a review of a game I for the most part did not enjoy, which means there must have been something about the game I did enjoy. For Cloud Cat’s Land it was the art. The art is infectious, adorable, a pure joy to the eyes. Unfortunately it is the only thing in the game I truly can commend. Confusing writing that did not seem to mesh up or tie up, poorly concieved logic for a point and click that was more point and click till something happens and not knowing why it did and mini-games that felt like coding 101 instead of well concieved. I actually would have NEVER gotten to the end without a walkthrough. The strangest thing is I did have fun, but I was as grumpy as the cats that get grumpy through it cause I would read “combine *** with ****” and go “what?” and honestly be “that worked… why?”. Even when the game went meta and said many of these things were not logical, there was an answer to a puzzle later where the game patted itself on the back for creativity, but it wasn’t… it was just well dumb. Meta joke references to the greatest point and click games like Maniac Mansion which prided itself on “why did that work?” logic does not excuse it, as those games you still understood the logic that got you to the logic that should not work, here it was just surreal to be so. The art though… the art. Also I mean if you like surreal, illogical, and cats? Then it’gos the game for you and the art I posted below only scratches the surface, there is so much more to see and that is worth the $12.34 US + tax or whatever or you can also wait for sales.

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Fur Your Eyes Only: Barkour Unleashes First Gameplay Trailer and Demo Launch on October 2nd

🐾 Attention, villains: Agent T.H.U.N.D.E.R. has been unleashed!

WARSAW, 26 SEPTEMBER 2025 – Who let the dog out… on a top-secret mission? VARSAV Game Studios, creators of Bee Simulator, return to the world of animal heroes with Barkour, a fast-paced blend of action, stealth, and dog parkour.

The studio proudly unveiled the first gameplay trailer of Barkour and confirmed that a public demo will go live on Steam starting October 2nd, 2025, right on time for Steam Next Fest!
​​
​Barkour puts you in the paws of Agent T.H.U.N.D.E.R., a four-legged special agent equipped with high-tech gadgets, acrobatic agility, and undeniable canine charm. From stealthy infiltration to full-on combat or jaw-dropping parkour runs, every mission gives players the freedom to choose their own approach.

Barkour: Official Gameplay Trailer + Demo Announcement:

Demo Coming October 2nd

Fans won’t have to wait long to experience the action firsthand. On October 2nd, the Barkour demo will become available on Steam, offering the first chance to sniff out missions, test gadgets, and feel the rush of canine parkour.

Barkour puts you in the paws of Agent T.H.U.N.D.E.R., a four-legged special agent equipped with high-tech gadgets, acrobatic agility, and undeniable canine charm. From stealthy infiltration to full-on combat or jaw-dropping parkour runs, every mission gives players the freedom to choose their own approach.

Key Features

  • A serious agent, and a not-so-serious dog – T.H.U.N.D.E.R. may be a professional agent, but he still wags his tail, flicks his ears, and acts like a real dog at heart.
  • Blend stealth, barkour, and combat – no two playthroughs are the same – sneak past enemies, strike hard, or outpace them with agility.
  • Hi-tech gadgets galore – from grappling hook to rocket launcher, equip tools worthy of a four-legged T.H.U.N.D.E.R., Agent T.H.U.N.D.E.R.
  • Diverse worlds to explore – gothic castle, perilous greenhouse, creepy amusement park, secret headquarters, and more. 

For more updates on Barkour, follow the studio on:
Twitter/X | Bluesky | Discord

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Nothing Strange Here… or is there?

I don’t generally “review” a demo and this is less a review and more a recommendation.

Nothing Strange Here is a very zen like 3rd person “point and click” adventure with a camera mechanic for observation and puzzle solving. The demo gives a good flavor of the game and the strangeness that is not there. It’s worth checking out for a good hour and exploring things and get well appetized for the full game.

The living carrots, the family band, your uncle’s pink ties, the overarching mystery and how big can it go? The demo ends at certain point but allows you to go back and try and get all the achievements if you so desire, so it really is a sweet morself of something that feels it can be very big in the end.

You can download the demo here.

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Nerd Notes 9/18/2025

I usually like to have these spaced out but between yesterday’s post and today there was actually enough material for an entire post, so here we go.

The popular book series adaptation is finally out and it looks excellent.
Another popular book series adaptation and also looks wonderful.
I have no idea what is happening here making me want to watch this more than I did just from who made it.
Watch Deathgasm if you haven’t seen it. Get excited that there is now a Deathgasm II.
No release date or even a network yet but this English spoken Beligian creation looks brilliant.
This seems freaky.
Doesn’t give away too much and amps my excitement for the third film even more knowing it truly is a third chapter in the franchise and properly.
A grand cast here with Doug Jones, Adrienne Barbeau, Tom Virtue, Vivica A. Fox and more.
This cartoon from Devolver and mashed for their current sale is a must see for not just game fans, but animation fans. It is just so good.
Bang bang get scared.
Another horror game but a totally different kind.
One more horror game, also very different from the other two.
TOEM is on the short list of one of my favorite modern indie games. Truly wonderful and I’m excited for more.
Looks like a solid 3rd person action adventure.
Blippo+ still one of my most anticipated entertainments of 2025. Panic has rocked it this year.
Billie Eilish and COLORS. What a wonderful combination.
I like K-Pop if you didn’t know.
Reach out and touch faith.
I’ve been friends with Brook for I think 20+ years and a fan the whole time as well.
The lyrics are wonderful.
I loved this video and song and I love seeing more from it.
Another new AAR!!!!!
The Animation Workshop has dropped eight new Short Shorts.
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