Screen Time
In an attempt to introduce you to your new Editor (and to justify all the game codes he’s been requesting) here’s what Matt has actually been doing while he was meant to be working on his first issue
BRAVE NEW WONDERS DEMO It started out as
‘research’ and then became an obsession! My aged brain thinks back to Dune II and Total Annihilation (ask your parents) but it’s somewhere between the traditional RTS and the Factorio- style production/management games. The smart side of this (and you’ll find out MUCH more in my interview/feature with the company’s Co-Founder on
page 42) is the use of AI scripting to ‘program’ your working force to complete as many tasks as possible, as efficiently as possible. Many hours passed, all the while with a smile on my face.
STELLAR WANDERER DX Having been a fan of Elite
since the BBC Micros of my O Levels (Jesus, all I do if flag how old I am!) this took me back to the good old days of simple space exploration gameplay, basic trading, a bit of piracy, and the odd dumping human passengers into space if
their
enemies came looking for them (whoops – is THAT what that button does!). This wasn’t a game I thought would have an impact on me, but I found it very pleasant indeed (and I have to say it did some things better than the blockbusters with budgets 30 times the size). Good job.
GRINDSTONE Yes, I am VERY late to this party,
but being similarly late to the Apple Arcade scene, I HAD to check out one of the most loved titles on the platform. And WHAT a belter! Nearly seven years old, this award- winning, sword-slashing puzzle-battle game (developed by Capybara
Games) is a tactical (and still hugely satisfying) “splatterfest,” that lets you carve a path through swarms of monsters known as “Creeps” to clear the hundreds of levels and collect resources needed to craft more helpful weapons, shields and potions. I’ve been on it two months now, and it doesn’t appear to be dwindling (although it gets incredibly challenging!)
GRIND SURVIVORS “I’ll have a quick go of this
one” said Matt, emerging blinking at the rising sun many many hours later. To start with, you don’t stand a chance, but that’s the idea. Then, some hours later, THEY don’t stand a chance! This roguelite game is polished and intelligent. Sometimes things get ‘a bit Matrix’ and you can’t believe you’re navigating EVERYTHING happening on the screen, but it’s hugely rewarding, and endlessly challenging. Incredibly well executed crazy fun.
February/March 2026 MCV/DEVELOP | 5
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56
