Rebel Princess from Bezier Games is one of our favorite trick-taking card games. Happily Never After is the first expansion for Rebel Princess. Inside the box you’ll find two new princess abilities, six new round cards, new score sheets, and a rulebook that explains each of these new elements in the game.
In this video review, I’m taking a look at each card and how they can affect the gameplay. Note: This expansion is only compatible with the Deluxe Edition of Rebel Princess.
A creature cast with the impending cost with time counters on it is just a regular enchantment permanent.
A spell cannot be on the stack for multiple turns
In Magic: the Gathering, each turn is divided into a sequence of steps, and each step can only end if the stack is empty. This means that any spell must leave the stack, either by resolving or by being countered, in the same step in which it is cast. So, no spell can ever be on the stack in a turn after the one in which it was cast, and you cannot ever counter a spell that was cast in a previous turn.
“Not a creature” does not mean “not a permanent”
The impending ability says that if you pay the impending cost, the object is “not a creature” as long as it has a time counter on it. “Creature” is just a card type, like “artifact” or “enchantment”. If an effect says that something is “not a creature”, that just means that it doesn’t have the creature type, or any associated subtypes, or power and toughness. Nothing else about it changes; if it would otherwise be a permanent, it’s still a permanent, just one that isn’t a creature.
702.176a. Impending is a keyword that represents four abilities. The first and second are static abilities that function while the spell with impending is on the stack. The third is a static ability that functions on the battlefield. The fourth is a triggered ability that functions on the battlefield. “Impending N–[cost]” means “You may choose to pay [cost] rather than pay this spell’s mana cost,” “If you chose to pay this spell’s impending cost, it enters with N time counters on it,” “As long as this permanent’s impending cost was paid and it has a time counter on it, it’s not a creature,” and “At the beginning of your end step, if this permanent’s impending cost was paid and it has a time counter on it, remove a time counter from it.” Casting a spell for its impending cost follows the rules for paying alternative costs in rules 601.2b and 601.2f-h.
All of the existing cards with the Impending ability are Enchantment Creature cards, so if one of them is cast by paying its impending cost, it resolves just like any other permanent spell, except that as long as it has a time counter on it, it is just an Enchantment. It can be interacted with just like any other Enchantment. A counterspell targets spells on the stack, and this is a permanent on the battlefield, so they do not interact. Terror targets creatures, and this is not a creature, so they do not interact. Naturalize, for example, targets enchantments, so it could interact with one of these permanents.
July 27, 2025: Use this new Prospecting code for the Volcano update while you can.
What are the new Prospecting codes? Whether you need a new pan with a finer filter or a simple luck boost, these Roblox Prospecting game codes should be able to help. This experience borrows from the simple gameplay loop of Fisch, Dig, and other foraging simulators, simply tasking you to find the diamond in the rough and the gold from the garbage.
Want to see where the idea likely stemmed from? Check out the latest Dig codes, the best Dig shovels, and the Dig Charms tier list to get off to a flying start in unearthing treasures. Prefer a little less manual labor? Pair the latest Fisch codes with the Fisch rods tier list to make it through the content from that game’s prime time in the spotlight.
Prospecting codes
Here are the latest codes for Prospecting on Roblox:
volcanic – Volcano Island update rewards (NEW)
sorrytwo
updateone – 10k cash
millions – double luck for 30 minutes, double dig amount for 30 minutes, and 10k cash
newbeginning – 5.5k cash
How do I redeem Prospecting codes?
Here’s how to quickly redeem codes for Prospecting on Roblox:
Launch Prospecting through Roblox.
Tap the Settings button.
Enter a working Prospecting code in the box at the top.
Claim the Claim button underneath.
Claimed Prospecting code rewards will drop straight into your account.
Any boosts, such as a Double Luck multiplier, will apply automatically. These won’t count down when you’re logged out, but it’s still worth keeping in mind before you redeem them.
Use double luck boost codes only when you’re in a position to properly make use of them.
How do I get more Prospecting codes?
Prospecting codes drop on the official Prospecting Discord server. You’ll find a link to it nestled away at the bottom of the game page on Roblox itself. With no specific codes channel, you might have to look in both the Announcements and Game-Updates channels to find them.
New Prospecting codes tend to drop after updates, following major downtime, or as the game hits various social milestones such as game page likes, Discord members, and group invitations. That aforementioned game group can also host new Prospecting codes, but these tend to be the same codes you’ll find on the Discord.
Not interested in joining another Discord server? Come back here each time you fire up the game. We’re always looking out for new Prospecting codes to add to the list, so there’s a good chance you’ll find each new one here as they drop.
Why is Prospecting down right now?
Prospecting on Roblox hasn’t been available to play until at least July 24, 2025. This is allegedly down to expoilts and hackers. The team is said to have taken the game down to protect user data and will presumably roll back the progress of offenders. It isn’t clear if this will affect the data of those who were online at the time of the incident in question.
The Prospecting Discord was also having trouble verifying our account at the time of writing. This could be related, or it could be purely coincidental. Either way, we’re not sure when Prospecting will be playable again, whether data has been saved or wiped, or when the Discord will become active again.
What we do feel confident in saying, though, is that a new Prospecting code should drop once the game comes back online.
Used up the latest Prospecting codes? Waiting for the game to come back? Check out the best Roblox games around for something else to play. Tired of losing progress to bad actors? Take a break with some of the best free PC games today.
Destiny 2 was already in a weird spot ahead of The Edge of Fate’s release date. I had several conversations with people who don’t play recently exclaim, “I thought Destiny was over?” That response is understandable, too.
Last year, a lot of hubbub was made around the release of The Final Shape, which was set to conclude the 10-year story Bungie had been crafting. The messaging was ‘this is the end’ – and to outside observers, it‘s not a surprise that’s a sentiment that prevailed. Bungie has been more focused on Marathon, before that somewhat imploded, and the new expansion was relatively quietly announced a couple of months ahead of launch.
The Escapist recaps
Destiny 2 is entering a new story known as the Fate Saga with The Edge of Fate.
The Edge of Fate’s story is excellent and charts a compelling course for the story going forward.
Kepler is a weaker destination in the Destiny world, lacking the iconic visual clarity of other worlds.
Several big structural changes are well-intentioned, but are very roughly implemented.
One day, they could be great, as their ideas aren’t bad, but it will take a lot of tweaking by Bungie to fix.
Charting our fate
Lodi is an exceptional addition to the Destiny 2 roster, and is an immediate fan favorite. Image credit: Bungie
Of course, with its persistent audience and the size of the franchise, despite ending the Light and Dark saga, there was always going to be more Destiny. And thus, we have The Edge of Fate – the first entry into Destiny’s second narrative arc, The Fate Saga. However, while it promises a bright future, the expansion’s execution may have a few too many missteps at a time when Bungie really can’t afford them.
The Edge of Fate’s express purpose is to set up the journey that our Guardians are going to go on for years to come. However, when you’ve just had your playerbase overcome the biggest bad the universe has ever seen, the one who all other enemies ultimately bowed to, where do you go?
Bungie has smartly pivoted to The Nine. These entities have been within the Destiny lore since the start, but even with several direct encounters over the franchise’s history, their intentions and even their very nature have been unclear. However, The Edge of Fate drags these inter-dimensional beings into the spotlight.
The Guardian, Ikora, Drifter, The Nine’s previous Emissary, Orin, and a mysterious new face Lod,i are all dragged to the strange and unfamiliar planet of Keplar through ‘invitations’ that come in the way of spontaneously appearing 1960s trains. Whatever is happening, the Nine, who exist outside of time, want you and everyone else invited to be on Kepler at that exact point for… something. It’s your job to get to the bottom of what that something is.
If there are concerns around Destiny 2’s future, none of them stem from this narrative. This is one of Destiny’s best stories and a brilliant first chapter in this new saga. Destiny has had many moments where narrative missteps have not matched the title’s gameplay and loops. This is perhaps the first time that the story campaign is doing the heavy lifting.
Newcomer Lodi is an absolute joy to be around. He’s an immediate fan-favorite and will be going forward. There are some fascinating new flavors mixed into proceedings, too, with 1960s Chicago being a prominent aspect, and the expansion culminating with some awesome ideas and narrative hooks that will pull us forward in the imminent future. It’s the shining star of the expansion, and the one aspect I don’t feel obliged to mention with caveats.
The narrative team did a great job at an opening salvo, which is not usually easy to do. If you’ve ever cared about Destiny, it’s worth experiencing this campaign at some point to see if the future of the franchise is for you.
What Matters(park)
Matterspark is a strange new mechanic you’ll interact with while on your journey through Kepler. Image credit: Bungie
While the story of the campaign is great, that’s not to say playing through it is always a joy. Destiny’s campaigns have been generally pretty reliably fun, but parts of the Edge of Fate can be a slog thanks to some odd choices in its flow. Before release, Bungie touted that ‘puzzles’ would be a big part of the campaign, but what they delivered feels very wonky.
Most of this interaction is facilitated by the game’s new ‘Matterspark’ ability. Essentially, players transform into a small electric orb, allowing them to find small gaps to traverse to new areas and/or power-up small generators. Firstly, it just looks quite strange. Something about having your Guardian turn into a little ball of energy feels off. It’s a small thing, but it looks odd, and Samus-balling around is a strange vibe for Guardians.
Secondly, it’s often used in annoying ways, most prominently, to gate boss damage, meaning you have to stop the fight, go find a Dark Matter source to become a spinning Sonic the Hedgehog, find an opening to enter, and go power a generator, before you can get back to killing the boss, all without dying. Oh, and every time you enter into the form, your camera whips around to lock your perspective where Bungie thinks you want to be looking.
I don’t hate Matterspark in the way some vocal members of the community do. It’s mostly fine. A means to an end, and once it becomes castable at will while on Kepler, it’s even a decent navigation tool. However, it also doesn’t add much to proceedings, and it’s hard to get over how ‘un-Guardian’ it looks. It’s okay, but it’s a very odd idea for the developers to latch onto and commit to as fully as they do through the campaign.
Kep on kepping on
Kepler is an interesting location, though not always memorable. Image credit: Bungie
Keplar itself is a mixed bag. Destiny’s planets are all very distinct, each with their own personality and layout. Every planet ever introduced is ingrained into my head, committed to memory quickly. Even last year’s Pale Heart, which was a very different space from other destinations, lingers in the mind. Kepler is new, but I still can’t quite map it out from memory, and I think that’s notable.
Lots of areas bleed together, and the sense of direction feels very different from most planets in Destiny’s universe. Not helping the planet’s case is that, unlike every other destination, it lacks a visual identity. Destiny has always knocked its locations out of the park, making each feel dense and instantly recognisable. From landmark features to distinctive color languages, if you showed me a screenshot of any other planet, it wouldn’t take long to identify which one it was.
Kepler, on the other hand, lacks that visual distinctiveness. It feels like the result of smashing vaulted locations Io and The Tangled Shore together, so much so, it can be hard to untangle Kepler from those visual identities. There’s nothing inherently wrong with the space.
It’s still perfectly fine to navigate, even with Matterspark being necessary to travel. It’s just that Bungie has always knocked locations out of the park, and this feels like a muddled step back for what has always been an incredible aspect of the game.
A portal to where?
The Portal is bound to be a controversial addition to the Destiny 2 experience. Image credit: Bungie
By far, the most complicated part of The Edge of Fate’s launch is its complete systems overhaul. To Bungie’s credit, it has put significant work into overthrowing much of how the game’s grind and moment-to-moment work. A lot has changed. The Portal is a new system that is designed to get players into what will improve their Power Level, and also allows players to modularly adjust difficulty.
Armor 3.0 has completely changed how buildcrafting works in the game, with further incentives to use what’s new with set bonuses. The new Tier system on both armor and weapons is about creating a reason for you to continue to chase gear far into the future, mimicking the likes of Diablo 4 and Path of Exile 2, with your ultimate chase being to perfect your build with higher-tier gear.
Hell, even the expansion itself is a new structure. Instead of one big expansion and three or four seasons a year, there will now be two expansions a year, bringing more campaigns and destinations, but with less frequent updates. The point is that a lot has changed in The Edge of Fate.
There’s good reason, too. The viability of the grind, the chase for random rolls on weapons, fatigue from the season structure, and it being hard to know what to do at any given moment – these are all long-discussed problems by the community, and these overhauls are Bungie’s answer. In a vacuum, these are well-intentioned shifts for the franchise. In practice, it’s been a mess, though.
Unclear answers
The Aionians are a mysterious people you will meet on Kepler, and you’ll have to learn about their language and goals. Image credit: Bungie
To say there are bugs in these systems would be an understatement. Destiny 2 currently feels much harder, as power deltas have been added, making your climb for power tough. The grind to get Tier 4 and 5 gear feels excessive, and also makes it so any good rolls you get that are of lesser tiers are temporary, thus disposable. The armor changes have also made ability regeneration slower, with builds feeling weak out of the gate.
The Portal is a particular issue, too. While a decent idea to get players into the action and signpost what they should do next, its current offerings are too restrictive. It’s a good way of recycling content that isn’t currently launchable in the game, but currently, the best way to get higher power is to just run the same seasonal mission over and over again.
It also lacks some of Destiny’s best content, with Raids and Dungeons not being relevant to the power grind currently. That’s coming, and The Portal can be a great way to resurface old content that players would be happy to see back.
The problem is that all of this just feels like a lot all at once, and almost none of it is in a state that feels great. Long-term, I believe all of these can be good for the game, but each system needs a lot of work, and it feels exceedingly messy.
If these structural changes were a steak, they’d currently be blue. There’s nothing wrong with the steak itself; it probably should have just used a little more time in the pan. One day, these might all sing, but right now, it’s hard to full-heartedly recommend jumping in.
Which fate will it be?
As ever, Destiny still looks stunning at times, and Edge of Fate doesn’t change that. Image credit: Bungie
Destiny 2 finds itself in a weird place heading into its newest saga. In a lot of ways, even for a decade-old franchise, it’s entering uncharted waters. We’ve never had a new saga launch, and it’s clear, through both the story and system changes introduced in The Edge of Fate, that things are going to be different. On the narrative side, the franchise has never felt better.
The direction is clear, and Destiny, for one of the first times, feels like it has a well-thought-out path, fascinating elements, and surprises ahead. The narrative team carries the Edge of Fate, which is quite a difference compared to where the franchise started in 2014.
However, it’s everything else that is currently struggling. Bungie has taken a bold step of trying to completely revamp the game’s core systems, and right now, they are not in an excellent state. The changes appear well intentioned, and there might be a future where they create an excellent harmony – but right now, there’s a lot of distance between here and there.
As it always has, Bungie will likely sand those edges down and make something of these systems, but for anyone but the most dedicated, time is probably on your side in waiting for these things to be sorted out.
It’s a shame those issues overshadow the good of this expansion and the first step into the Fate saga. This story deserves to be told at the scale Destiny 2 has always existed on. Destiny’s narrative clarity hasn’t always shone, but it’s always been backed up by the moment-to-moment gameplay. Bizarrely, the game currently finds itself flipped on its head.
There is a future where these gameplay systems are refined and the intelligent driving force of this narrative find harmony. If so, there is a timeline where Destiny’s best days are ahead of it. However, with troubled waters both in and out of the game, the path to that destination is murkier than ever.
Ask The Escapist
How much is the Edge of Fate?
The Edge of Fate price is currently $39.99/£34.99 as a standalone.
When will the next Destiny Expansion release?
The next Destiny 2 expansion will release on December 1, 2025. It’s called Renegades and will be heavily Star Wars-inspired.
Did Destiny 2 end with The Final Shape?
Despite Destiny 2: The Final Shape finishing the first major saga of the franchise, which ran for 10 years, the story continues on with The Fate Saga, focused heavily on the Nine.
The Escapist is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
I’m looking for the name of a certain solitaire game I remember from past, but never knew the name of. I’d like to find it.
The deck of cards is dealt face down into 4 rows of 12 cards each. You are left with four cards in your hand. When you reveal the first card in your hand, you place it on the tableau on its designated space, assuming the order: hearts 2 to K, diamonds 2 to K, spades 2 to K, clubs 2 to K. This is how you neatly swap cards one at a time in the whole tableau. When you hit an Ace, you discard it and take another card from your hand. Of course, this solitaire is very difficult to win because the last Ace would have to be the last card revealed, but I liked this game and I enjoyed arranging cards.
So, does anyone recognize this variant and know what it is called?
⚠️ This page mixes confirmed information with industry rumors and speculation. We’ll keep it updated as new details and leaks come to light.
One of the biggest surprises of the Xbox Games Showcase, Super Meat Boy 3D is a brand new take on the tough-as-nails platformer made for a new generation. It’s been nearly five years since the last release in the franchise, the disappointing auto-runner Super Meat Boy Forever, giving Team Meat (and Sluggerfly) another shot at franchise superstardom.
We’re going over everything there is to know about the expected Super Meat Boy 3D release date, which is currently earmarked for a yet-to-be-determined 2026 release window, as well as analyzing the gameplay, characters, features, and more further down the page. Is a perspective and art style change enough to give the slab of raw beef another shot? Let’s find out.
The Escapist recaps
Super Meat Boy 3D will be released in ‘early 2026’ according to Team Meat.
As well as a graphical facelift, Super Meat Boy 3D translates the action to three dimensions.
Confirmed Super Meat Boy 3D platforms are Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC via Steam and Epic Games.
No Super Meat Boy 3D price has been announced yet, however, it’s rumored to cost around $30-40.
Precision platforming is still just as vital for Super Meat Boy 3D gameplay, just with more room to move.
When could Super Meat Boy 3D be released?
Confirmed for ‘early 2026’ with no concrete release date yet.
We won’t be waiting too long for the third game in the franchise as Sluggerfly and Team Meat have recently confirmed the Super Meat Boy 3D release window to be “early 2026”. While that’s no exact release date, it does nail things down to Q1 of next year, meaning we could see the platformer debut between January and March 2026, provided that a delay isn’t on the cards.
The proposed Super Meat Boy 3D release date marks a departure from what we saw from the original game and its sequel, as both titles were released in November and December (Q4) of their respective launch years. With that said, the Steam release of Super Meat Boy Forever dropped on January 10, 2022, after previously being an Epic Games exclusive on the platform.
Are Super Meat Boy 3D pre-orders and price live?
Pricing and pre-orders for Super Meat Boy 3D are yet to be announced.
With no confirmed release date, it’s unsurprising that Super Meat Boy 3D pre-orders are not yet available. Similarly, the pricing is still to be determined, meaning we can only speculate on how much the title will cost. Historically, Sluggerfly’s and Team Meat’s games have ranged between $15 and $20, which is fitting given their indie backgrounds, but this could change.
You only have to take one look at the gameplay and graphics to know that it’s a much more sophisticated release, featuring a more advanced game engine. As such, it wouldn’t be out of the question to expect the Super Meat Boy 3D price to be higher than its predecessors; we estimate anywhere from $30 to $40, considering the face-lift, but this is unconfirmed at this time.
Super Meat Boy 3D platforms
Confirmed for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store.
Most people will be able to play the third entry in the franchise as the confirmed Super Meat Boy 3D platforms include the Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC via Steam and Epic. You will, however, note the lack of a Switch / Switch 2 port from Team Meat at this time. It’s currently unknown whether the title will arrive on either of Nintendo’s handhelds.
We wouldn’t necessarily rule out an eventual Super Meat Boy 3D Switch 2 port in the future. That’s because the original Super Meat Boy arrived on the Switch in January 2018, and Super Meat Boy Forever dropped the same day as the other platforms. However, considering the graphical upgrades, some work may need to be implemented for the handheld-hybrid version.
The first Super Meat Boy 3D trailer was revealed during the Summer Xbox Games showcase last month as a shock reveal. It had been five years since we saw the sentient brick of mystery meat in action, and he is looking better than ever. True to its namesake, it’s no longer a 2D cartoon precision platformer, but instead, elevated to the three dimensions.
In just over a minute, we get a new look at not only Meat Boy, but also Dr. Fetus and Bandage Girl in this new art style. However, it’s the Super Meat Boy 3D gameplay that is the big talking point. The game shares more of its DNA with Super Mario 3D World and Sackboy: A Big Adventure than either of its predecessors, albeit as a title that’s still just as hellbent on punishing players.
That leads us to the latest Super Meat Boy 3D gameplay trailer, which also gave us the release window of early 2026. We get a substantial look at how the franchise’s motifs, such as a Forest, Factory, and Junkyard, have translated to 3D. What kind of Meat Boy game would it be without perilous threats such as saw blades, saw shooters, spikes, and missiles, too? Check.
Meat Boy’s sense of speed and unique momentum have been perfectly preserved in the jump to 3D, as the wall jumping and slick acceleration are present and accounted for. There are countless instances throughout the new Super Meat Boy 3D trailer where he’s seen weaving through obstacles, leaping up narrow gaps like Ryu Hayabusa, and gliding around the terrain on his meat… juices.
If you were worried that a new Super Meat Boy game would make the same missteps as Forever, better hands seem to be at the wheel here. 3D isn’t an autorunner, giving you full autonomy for your movement, nor is it geared towards the imprecise nature that a touchscreen facilitates. Everything seen so far looks promising; hopefully, the franchise will be back to form.
What is Super Meat Boy about?
Precision platforming over harsh hazards is still the name of the game in Super Meat Boy 3D. Image credit: Steam
Meat Boy was originally developed as a proof of concept Flash game for Newgrounds by Team Meat, Edmund McMillen, Tommy Refenes, and Jon McEntee. The 2008 demo proved to be such a hit that the game was then expanded into Super Meat Boy two years later for Xbox, PlayStation, and PC platforms, which took the indie world by storm for its challenging gameplay.
Difficulty aside, what also helped Super Meat Boy stand out from the crowd was its irreverence. The 2010 game was very of its time with the humor on display, often parodying not only established franchises, such as Ninja Gaiden, but also the tropes of the genre as well. The puerile comedy isn’t going to be for everyone, but that’s the identity cultivated by the release, something it seems that Super Meat Boy 3D looks to uphold 15 years later, too.
Ask The Escapist
Is Super Meat Boy 3D a remake?
It’s currently unknown whether Super Meat Boy 3D will be a remake of the 2010 original or a play on the locales and themes of its predecessor. All we know is that there are familiar locations and characters, and not that the title will employ the same levels, bosses, and structure.
Why is Super Meat Boy so difficult?
Super Meat Boy is regarded as one of the hardest video games of all time, and this is due to the title’s unforgiving nature. This is due to ‘slippery’ physics, increased presence of threats, and a slim margin of error for making a mistake. Mitigating (most) of the frustration, however, is the fact that you respawn instantly to try (and die) again.
Who is developing Super Meat Boy 3D?
Super Meat Boy 3D is being made by Sluggerfly and Team Meat, where the game is currently scheduled for an ‘early 2026’ release window.
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As terrifying as they can be when things go wrong, survival games such as Valheim, Once Human, and Sons of the Forest have an underlying goofiness to them that keeps things light. Project Zomboid is more oppressive, at times relentless in its pressure, while Escape From Tarkov threatens you with the ever-present fear of a bullet from the shadows. Of late, however, I’ve had a particular penchant for The Forever Winter. Its grimdark, future sci-fi world is an unforgiving, hostile place as you claw for scraps in the shadow of giant mechs tearing the landscape apart for their respective megacorporations. Now, Fun Dog’s July update delivers a new broken cityscape to explore, along with its most horrifying foe to date.
The Forever Winter July update adds a lot of new features to the table, as developer Fun Dog continues to hone its promising-but-flawed creation into what could become one of our best survival games. The impressive worldbuilding and atmosphere was hampered at its early-access launch by bugs, clunkiness, balance issues, and a general feeling that it was a little undercooked. As we near the one-year mark, however, regular updates have continued to hone and refine it, and this new patch includes further, fundamental changes to movement and game feel.
Fun Dog has improved the sense of character, rig, and gear weight, fine-tuned movement and acceleration/deceleration speeds, and tweaked jumping to feel more natural. Adjustments to reload rates will “allow for much smoother ‘fire, reload, fire’ gameplay,” and small arms such as pistols now equip far faster than their larger counterparts, allowing you to respond to situations quickly. Gaz would be proud. Target marking has been made more precise, and there’s also the new ability to mash buttons to speed up mantling, climbing, or getting back up when knocked down.
The ruined city of Lost Angels is now available to explore, along with a fresh crop of region-specific quests. It promises to be a valuable source of supplies, but you’ll need to watch your corners, as you aren’t the only one roaming the streets. What has me most afraid, however, is the arrival of Stiltwalker 1.0, Europa’s “multi-legged destruction machine.” Perhaps it’s the spider-like movements, or maybe it’s the combination of direct-fire missiles, guided ATGM munitions that can home in to obliterate any foe, and a point-defense system that keeps it safe from incoming explosives, but the mere sight of this thing strikes fear into my heart.
Alongside this comes some additional weapon customization options, with several guns being equipped with new hardguards and the ability to attach the likes of flashlights. Among the smaller but still significant tweaks, enemy soldiers will no longer take random ‘pot shots’ at targets they shouldn’t be aware of; squads will better spread out in an attempt to surround suspected threats; recruits have been made more responsive to your commands; and larger enemies can now be briefly stunned if you manage to hit them hard enough. Fun Dog has also continued to work on performance improvements and optimization.
The Forever Winter July update is out now. You can read through the full patch notes courtesy of Fun Dog Studios. “Note the file size on this update is fairly large,” it warns, “thanks for tolerating that and we are working on cutting this down in future updates.”
Looking for more of the best co-op games for you and your friends to enjoy together? We’ve rounded up our top picks for 2025, along with a guide to the best gaming headset for PC to make sure your communication sounds crystal clear.
You can follow us on Google News for daily PC games news, reviews, and guides. We’ve also got a vibrant community Discord server, where you can chat about this story with members of the team and fellow readers.
I’m looking for the name of a certain solitaire game I remember from past, but never knew the name of. I’d like to find it.
The deck of cards is dealt face down into 4 rows of 13 cards each. You are left with four cards in your hand. When you reveal the first card in your hand, you place it on the tableau on its designated space, assuming the order: hearts 2 to K, diamonds 2 to K, spades 2 to K, clubs 2 to K. This is how you neatly swap cards one at a time in the whole tableau. When you hit an Ace, you discard it and take another card from your hand. Of course, this solitaire is very difficult to win because the last Ace would have to be the last card revealed, but I liked this game and I enjoyed arranging cards.
SO, does anyone recognize this variant and know what it is called?
Welcome to Ludology, an analytical discussion of the hows and whys of the world of board games. Rather than news and reviews, Ludology explores a variety of topics about games from a wider lens, as well as discuss game history, game design and game players.
We post a new Ludology episode every other week. In these episodes, hosts Erica Bouyouris and Sen-Foong Lim deep-dive into a single topic within game design, often with a well-regarded guest from the game industry. We generally focus on tabletop game design (mainly board games and RPGs), but we often pull in experts from all forms of games, from video games to escape rooms to slot machines.
On weeks where there is no flagship Ludology episode, we will alternate between two smaller mini-sodes. Erica and Sen are happy to announce that Sarah Shipp of Shippboard Games and Stephanie Campbell of TTRPGKids will be joining us for the next year, providing additional content between our longer episodes.
Sarah’s segment, Thinking Beyond Mechanisms, is a monthly feature that dives deeper into the other aspects of games beyond the dice and cards we’re all familiar with.
Stephanie’s segment, TTRPGKids, explores how parents and teachers can use role playing games with children in the home and in the classroom.
We hope you enjoy the additional content!
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If you ask football fans what they are accustomed to in the annual rhythm of video game releases, one of their first answers will likely be EA FC, which is released every autumn. For many years, this genre has been split between EA’s domination and the now-fading Pro Evolution Soccer; however, 2025 could be remembered as the year that changed that.
That’s all because of Rematch, which is a new arcade-style game developed by Sloclap and envisions bringing something unique to the gaming world. Launched in June, this football game was stripped down, making it fast-paced, pick-up-and-play-fun. Instead, the game focuses on fluidity, flair, and feel.
The Escapist recaps
Rematchwas released in June 2025 and is available on PC and consoles.
For the genre, the game developed by Sloclap brings an arcade twist to it.
It has dropped all official licenses to prioritise its fluid gameplay, creative freedom, and, of course, its retro charm.
Updates for Rematch are already thought to be in development, with gameplay balancing and the addition of more modes.
Rematch has become a part of a growing shift away from the current hyper-realism in soccer video games.
Why Rematch matters now
As Rematchcould be seen as just another throwback title, it can become easy to dismiss it. It is fun for a weekend, and then there is a lack of staying power. The current soccer video game market is dominated by EA FC, so its timing couldn’t have been better. The simplicity of Rematch isn’t considered a limitation; it has become a positive, deliberate design choice.
Sloclap does double-down on a distinctive, stylized approach. From its exaggerated animation to its energetic match flow. You can see that every design choice embraces flair. Although shots are considered unpredictable, they remain satisfying, and the pace is full speed in the best way possible.
There may not be any microtransactions or an Ultimate Team for fans to get excited about, but it’s just plainly about football, and that’s what fans love about it the most.
The nostalgia factor
Rematch delivers arcade-style football with vibrant visuals. Image сredit: Steam
Fans love having a bit of nostalgia, and that, alongside its gameplay, is what makes it so compelling. Many players grew up with the likes of Pro Evo and Sensible Soccer, and will have a sense of similarity by just the way the game is. For its polish, it will be modern, but it feels as if it belongs to an era where fun came first, and realism came second.
Some may not like the fact that the big-name teams aren’t included, but for most, it ends up becoming a strength. Forget choosing between PSG and Manchester United, you’re choosing based on formation, kit colours, or even just pure vibes.
Rematch is designed for players to pick up and just have some fun, whereas EA FC relies on deep menus and team ratings, which can feel a little overwhelming.
This is the big question of whether a game like Rematch can remain and even thrive in the same category as EA FC. There is not really a simple answer to this; it is more complicated than it should be. It’s safe to say that EA FC will dominate commercially, but currently, there is a bigger audience for alternative soccer video games.
Especially games that offer excitement over the grind-heavy realism.
In 2025, EA FC has promised fans new features and an even further enhanced Career Mode. For this, it will draw attention for sure, but not every player is looking to spend 30 hours tweaking their tactics. Some will just want to have a fun kickabout.
Head-on, Rematch doesn’t compete with EA FC, but what it does offer is a completely different flavour entirely.
If you’re a fan of Rematch, then don’t worry, it is not just a one-off experiment. Slocap has confirmed that plans are in place for regular post-launch updates, improved AI, and an enhanced multiplayer mode. The lack of an annual cycle does seem to work in Rematch’s favour, allowing for a more flexible and focused development path.
Without any worries about licensing deals, Rematch has the pure flexibility to become whatever it wants to be; it will be purely shaped by its players, rather than any corporate partnerships.
An alternative worth trying
For many years now, soccer video games have only meant one thing, and that is EA FC. Even now, after it’s been rebranded from FIFA, the majority of the game does feel the same. Rematch, however, proves that there is a space for a different kind of soccer game, one that is more playful and focused on having fun.
Rematch doesn’t have to be a direct competition to EA FC, with its realism or plain star power. It values simplicity, quick enjoyment, and just pure arcade fun.
Ask The Escapist
When did Rematch launch?
Rematch launched in June 2025 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
When is the next EA FC coming out, and what new features does it have?
EA FC 26, if following previous years, is expected to come out in late September 2025, and will come with even better realistic crowd animations, updates to the Career Mode, and even cross-play improvements.
Will there be updates to Rematch?
Yes. Sloclap has announced that the game will receive regular updates like additional modes, gameplay tweaks, and the possibility of customization tools, too.
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