Month: August 2025

WOLFHOUND – WW2 Metroidvania [Trailer]

Saw this trailer for WOLFHOUND coming out of The Mix by pure chance. And what can I say? It looks really damn intriguing. It will for you too, if you, like me, enjoy the WW2 setting combined with the mysterious occult. Being a 2D Metroidvania platformer on top of that is a bonus, since who doesn’t love that genre? However, what sets it apart for me, which falls under personal criteria, is that the controls look tight and that it offers great retro visuals. That WOLFHOUND surely does, going by the slick trailer.

It seems like you will be fighting creatures from the cosmic void, Nazi machines created for destruction, and regular old grunts, looking to survive just like the protagonist. According to a press release I found, it’s still some way off, being planned for release in 2026. But time flies, right? Even so, it’s something to look forward to. Trailer after the click!

Continue reading “WOLFHOUND – WW2 Metroidvania [Trailer]” →

Airborne Rangers – Devlog 2 [AI, ragdolls & destruction]

I made a post about Airborne Rangers back in April this year. It presented the initial announcement trailer that looked very promising. Especially if you are into military simulations like Arma 3, with co-op as the core. Now, the developer team BlowPunch Gameworks has released a devlog in video format that showcases some truly cool stuff. We get an impressive ragdoll/gore system, detailed destructible environments and an AI that actually uses tactics, and looks challenging to defeat.

And with that, my hype has doubled. Could this be the first realistic tactic game in ages – a spiritual sequel to Men of War that will be good? The future will tell, of course, but I will allow myself to feel a little hype. Check out the video for yourself after the jump!

Continue reading “Airborne Rangers – Devlog 2 [AI, ragdolls & destruction]” →

Donations and Tomsgaming.com

After nearly four years of building this site, I figured it was time to set up a donation page through WordPress.com. Don’t worry, everything stays the same. It’s entirely voluntary, just a way to say thanks if you feel like it.

Your support will help cover hosting costs, game purchases, and upgrades to improve Tom’s Gaming Vault. I also want to keep the webpage ad-free, as browsing the internet can truly feel like an attack on your senses nowadays. Small donations will help towards this goal—to keep everything clean, readable, and somewhat nostalgic of an Internet that once was.

Remember, don’t feel like this is an obligation of any kind, the site will keep going regardless. But if you enjoy what you read, and you feel like contributing, you can do so on this donation page. Every gold coin matters, and is enormously appreciated!

Thanks!

– Thomas

Galdred Talks Medieval Combat (& Game Design)

Galdred, the man and myth behind the upcoming tactics RPG Zodiac Legion has made a presentation in medieval combat & armor with his own game as a reference point – talking about game design and application of armor in real life. Galdred is known for being a medieval warfare buff, so he knows what he is talking about. The format of the presentation is a bit odd, seeing as it’s a thread on Twitter (X) of all places. Even so, I recommend you give it a read, and you can do so by clicking here! Especially if you are looking forward to Zodiac Legion, or just want to learn something interesting about medieval times. 

Just as a reminder, I did an interview with Galdred last year, where we talked about the game, his experience as an indie dev, and all the hardship being a solo developer comes with. You can read it here, if you’re curious. 

Iron Tower’s future plans [Part II]

Way back in February this year, I wrote that Iron Tower is working on a new Battle Brothers inspired and Lovecraft themed game. However, nothing was being set in stone thanks to financial issues. While nothing is guaranteed yet, it seems things have perked up slightly, going by their latest post on Steam, called Future Plans, Part II.

Not too much is being shared, but it seems they are busy working towards their spanking new title, making good progress doing so using Unreal 5 [gulp]. Even praising the engine for its ease of use to create worldmaps (landscaping?). It does make me wonder: will it be a fully 3D game, or a top-down tactical one? Who knows, but I’m looking forward to more info, since this will probably be right up my alley, compared to their earlier outings.

Well, at least things are looking brighter, and I wish them all the luck. I hope this game becomes a slam-dunk!