Pragmata Sketchbook – Demo Impressions

Yes, I’m as surprised as you. A demo for an upcoming AAA game? Yeah, it’s an oddity in both regards—me playing a new AAA game and that a big publisher in this day and age actually releasing a demo. What stunned me even more is that I found Pragmata Sketchbook genuinely entertaining. Two things had me questioning the game going in: the little girl companion, and that the combat has puzzle elements right in the middle of the third-person shooting.

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Underkeep – Demo Impressions

A new turn-based blobber in 2026? Please wake me, because I must be dreaming. As it seems, I’m not, and Underkeep is real. Now, this demo was a pure treat, as it’s a blobber without the dancing hell gameplay of Legend of Grimrock, being turn-based with combat more akin to the Wizardry series (but on a grid).

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Vultures: Scavengers of Death – Demo Impressions

Turn-based gameplay in a classic setting of survival horror—now that’s an unusual twist. I’m glad to report that Vultures: Scavengers of Death makes it work splendidly. So, prepare yourself to dodge, headshot zombies, look for loot, and read final messages of bite victims’, but all in a turn-based manner from a top-down view.

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Cralon – Demo Impressions

It’s time to try Björn and Jennifer Pankratz’s (former Piranha Bytes) game Cralon from their newly established studio, Pithead Studio. Cralon is a first-person dungeon crawler that is clearly inspired by the classic title Ultima Underworld. After finishing the short demo, the exploration and atmosphere sure are there. However, the combat will require some serious polishing, as it felt clunky and not very satisfying. But mood is one of the fundamentals to get right for a game like this—so, I’m glad they nailed this important aspect in the demo.

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Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War! – Demo Impressions

The eternal enemy of the human race is once again back to torment us. This time in the style of a chaotic retro shooter with a ton of gore—human and insect alike! Welcome to the demo of Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War! My impression after playing the demo is: this will not be known for its story, except that the bugs need a good stomping.

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