Skip to content

Search for:

Film
TV
Video Games
Tabletop
Kdrama
Horror
Interviews
Reviews
Podcasts
Forum

Home
relaxing strategy game

relaxing strategy game

Main art for Life Below

Life below is set to offer a unique take on the city builder genre

I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for city builders, even though I’m not very good at them, ever since I gave up hours of my life to

Life below is set to offer a unique take on the city builder genre Read More »

News, Video Games | Leave a Comment | By Paula Vaynshteyn | June 4, 2025 | 2026 indie games, accessible city builders, City Builder, city building games 2026, eco-conscious games, educational games about the ocean, Life Below game, life simulation games, marine biology game, Megapop studio, ocean biodiversity game, ocean conservation games, relaxing strategy game, Special Effect UK games, steam, steam next fest, Steam Next Fest demo, sustainable city builder, Thalassa Life Below, underwater city builder, underwater ecosystem simulator, upcoming strategy games, World Ocean Day 2025 | 2 minutes of reading

Search PopGeeks.com

Search for:

Watch PopGeeks on YouTube

Rushing Beat X finally untangles thirty years of confusing localizations. What North America knew as Rival Turf, Brawl Brothers, and The Peace Keepers was actually a connected Japanese trilogy with completely different storylines. This revival weaves those authentic narratives back together—zombies, soldiers, and bizarre frog creatures included.

Rick Norton and Douglas Bild are back investigating the Zeekus virus outbreak in Neo-Cisco. The combat feels right most of the time, though those oversized weight weapons get loose and jumping attacks still whiff more than they should. Classic brawler positioning issues persist, but the enemy variety makes up for it. Six playable fighters, each with distinct movesets. The Tough Enough Kitchen cooking system between stages. A soundtrack we'd actually listen to outside the game.

We cycled through several characters during our multi-hour session. Rick Norton remains the most balanced pick. Wendy's wrestling moves hit that sweet spot between speed and power. Kazan gets a proper run next time—curious how that character stacks against the rest.

The game doesn't sand off the harder edges of its 90s inspiration. Street weapons, tutorial overload, and all. Sometimes that works against it. Mostly it gives the revival genuine personality.

Timestamps:
0:07 – Intro
0:59 – Rushing Beat X: Return of Brawl Brothers Gameplay
1:13:40 – Outro and Final Thoughts

🌐 Read the written review: https://popgeeks.com/rushing-beat-x-classic-beat-em-up-action/
🌐 More geeky news, reviews, and videos at https://popgeeks.com
👉 Support Indie News: https://popgeeks.com/paid-subscription-popgeeks/

#RushingBeatX #NintendoSwitch2 #BeatEmUp #BrawlBrothers #RetroGaming

Rushing Beat X finally untangles thirty years of confusing localizations. What North America knew as Rival Turf, Brawl Brothers, and The Peace Keepers was actually a connected Japanese trilogy with completely different storylines. This revival weaves those authentic narratives back together—zombies, soldiers, and bizarre frog creatures included.

Rick Norton and Douglas Bild are back investigating the Zeekus virus outbreak in Neo-Cisco. The combat feels right most of the time, though those oversized weight weapons get loose and jumping attacks still whiff more than they should. Classic brawler positioning issues persist, but the enemy variety makes up for it. Six playable fighters, each with distinct movesets. The Tough Enough Kitchen cooking system between stages. A soundtrack we'd actually listen to outside the game.

We cycled through several characters during our multi-hour session. Rick Norton remains the most balanced pick. Wendy's wrestling moves hit that sweet spot between speed and power. Kazan gets a proper run next time—curious how that character stacks against the rest.

The game doesn't sand off the harder edges of its 90s inspiration. Street weapons, tutorial overload, and all. Sometimes that works against it. Mostly it gives the revival genuine personality.

Timestamps:
0:07 – Intro
0:59 – Rushing Beat X: Return of Brawl Brothers Gameplay
1:13:40 – Outro and Final Thoughts

🌐 Read the written review: https://popgeeks.com/rushing-beat-x-classic-beat-em-up-action/
🌐 More geeky news, reviews, and videos at https://popgeeks.com
👉 Support Indie News: https://popgeeks.com/paid-subscription-popgeeks/

#RushingBeatX #NintendoSwitch2 #BeatEmUp #BrawlBrothers #RetroGaming

YouTube Video UExXRm43SWRWZktPb0lDbzZlS2R6WjhYS1RkS2pWdFpicS4wNEU1MTI4NkZEMzVBN0JF

Rushing Beat X Hands-On: 30 Years Later, Still Weird and Worth It

PopGeeks views

Steve and Christina from Epic Adventure Podcast are back with their take on Ion Heart Multiplayer, and spoiler alert, they're giving it five fusion cores out of five.

Parable Games didn't just slap multiplayer onto their acclaimed solo mech RPG. They rebuilt the system around dice pools, expanded the pilot-mech bond sync into "Team Fusion" mechanics, and shifted the timeline to a more conflict-heavy period that better suits group play. The result? A hope-punk TTRPG that balances excitement with accessibility.

Best part: this might be the perfect gateway drug for getting family and non-combat-focused friends into tabletop RPGs. In a genre dominated by grimdark settings, Ion Heart's hopeful tone stands out. The Backerkit campaign is live now, and if you missed their 45-minute interview with creator Ben Alexander, it's worth tracking down on their podcast.

🔹 Find out more about ION Heart Multiplayer and Parable Games
🤖 Backerkit: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/parable-games/ion-heart-multiplayer-a-lo-fi-mech-ttrpg
🤖 Parable Games: https://www.parablegames.co.uk/collections/ion-heart-1
🤖 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiQzUy23CaPM_KZCfBu_chQ
🤖 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GamesParable/
🤖 Twitter: https://twitter.com/GamesParable
🤖 Instagram: https://instagram.com/shiverrpg

🔹 Hear more from The Epic Adventure Podcast
⚔️ Listen to the Ben Alexander Interview: https://oddfishgames.com/pages/the-epic-adventure-podcast
⚔️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/epic-adventure/id1672022434
⚔️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/epicadventurepodcast
⚔️ X (Twitter): https://x.com/epicadvpodcast
⚔️ Radiance from OddFish Games: https://oddfishgames.com/products/radiance

🔹 More on PopGeeks
🗡️ Read the ION Heart Multiplayer TTRPG Review: https://popgeeks.com/ion-heart-multiplayer-perfect-score-review/
🗡️ Join Our Forums: https://popgeeks.com/forums/
🗡️ Join Our Discord: https://discord.gg/Txd2Hvv
🗡️ Support PopGeeks with a $1/month Subscription: https://popgeeks.com/paid-subscription-popgeeks/

#IonHeart #TabletopRPG #MechRPG #HopePunk #BackerKit

Steve and Christina from Epic Adventure Podcast are back with their take on Ion Heart Multiplayer, and spoiler alert, they're giving it five fusion cores out of five.

Parable Games didn't just slap multiplayer onto their acclaimed solo mech RPG. They rebuilt the system around dice pools, expanded the pilot-mech bond sync into "Team Fusion" mechanics, and shifted the timeline to a more conflict-heavy period that better suits group play. The result? A hope-punk TTRPG that balances excitement with accessibility.

Best part: this might be the perfect gateway drug for getting family and non-combat-focused friends into tabletop RPGs. In a genre dominated by grimdark settings, Ion Heart's hopeful tone stands out. The Backerkit campaign is live now, and if you missed their 45-minute interview with creator Ben Alexander, it's worth tracking down on their podcast.

🔹 Find out more about ION Heart Multiplayer and Parable Games
🤖 Backerkit: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/parable-games/ion-heart-multiplayer-a-lo-fi-mech-ttrpg
🤖 Parable Games: https://www.parablegames.co.uk/collections/ion-heart-1
🤖 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiQzUy23CaPM_KZCfBu_chQ
🤖 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GamesParable/
🤖 Twitter: https://twitter.com/GamesParable
🤖 Instagram: https://instagram.com/shiverrpg

🔹 Hear more from The Epic Adventure Podcast
⚔️ Listen to the Ben Alexander Interview: https://oddfishgames.com/pages/the-epic-adventure-podcast
⚔️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/epic-adventure/id1672022434
⚔️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/epicadventurepodcast
⚔️ X (Twitter): https://x.com/epicadvpodcast
⚔️ Radiance from OddFish Games: https://oddfishgames.com/products/radiance

🔹 More on PopGeeks
🗡️ Read the ION Heart Multiplayer TTRPG Review: https://popgeeks.com/ion-heart-multiplayer-perfect-score-review/
🗡️ Join Our Forums: https://popgeeks.com/forums/
🗡️ Join Our Discord: https://discord.gg/Txd2Hvv
🗡️ Support PopGeeks with a $1/month Subscription: https://popgeeks.com/paid-subscription-popgeeks/

#IonHeart #TabletopRPG #MechRPG #HopePunk #BackerKit

YouTube Video UExXRm43SWRWZktPb0lDbzZlS2R6WjhYS1RkS2pWdFpicS5CQkEwRDA0MDkwNUM2MDY1

Is the Ion Heart Multiplayer RPG Even Better Than the Solo TTRPG?

PopGeeks views

In this 36-second short, the world's most self-impressed broccoli alien pulls off what he thinks is a perfect prank on Trixie, turning her head into a balloon. It does not go the way he planned.

This is a classic sight gag in the tradition of Tom and Jerry. Enjoy this quick dose of wholesome animated fun, and let us know in the comments what prank you think Broku should try next!

#Animation #KidsContent #FunnyCartoon #SightGag #ClassicAnimation #Trixie #Broku #SightGag #kidscartoonseries

🔹 More on PopGeeks
🗡️ Join Our Forums: https://popgeeks.com/forums/
🗡️ Join Our Discord: https://discord.gg/Txd2Hvv
🗡️ Support PopGeeks with a $1/month Subscription: https://popgeeks.com/paid-subscription-popgeeks/

In this 36-second short, the world's most self-impressed broccoli alien pulls off what he thinks is a perfect prank on Trixie, turning her head into a balloon. It does not go the way he planned.

This is a classic sight gag in the tradition of Tom and Jerry. Enjoy this quick dose of wholesome animated fun, and let us know in the comments what prank you think Broku should try next!

#Animation #KidsContent #FunnyCartoon #SightGag #ClassicAnimation #Trixie #Broku #SightGag #kidscartoonseries

🔹 More on PopGeeks
🗡️ Join Our Forums: https://popgeeks.com/forums/
🗡️ Join Our Discord: https://discord.gg/Txd2Hvv
🗡️ Support PopGeeks with a $1/month Subscription: https://popgeeks.com/paid-subscription-popgeeks/

YouTube Video UExXRm43SWRWZktPb0lDbzZlS2R6WjhYS1RkS2pWdFpicS5GNjAwN0Y0QTFGOTVDMEMy

Cat vs Broccoli: Up, Up, and Broku

PopGeeks views

Eileen sits down to play Allison of Astra, a homebrew NES game currently crowdfunding on Kickstarter, and it is not what you'd expect. You're playing as a six-year-old dimension-hopper named Allison, and each of the seven episodes throws you into a completely different world with completely different gameplay. One minute it's a robot uprising. The next, you're platforming alongside a living shoe named Booty.

The whole thing runs on original Nintendo hardware, built with NESMaker and the rare Mapper 28 circuit board, packed into 256kb episodes without cutting a single thing. Six years of development from PopGeeks contributor Peter Paltridge.

We play through most of Episode 1, Allison's Doodle Quest, here, and there's a free browser demo linked below if you want to try it yourself before the Kickstarter closes. Backing options start at $30 for a digital ROM all the way up to a red cartridge collector's edition with a certificate of authenticity.

If you've ever loved retro gaming, wondered how homebrew actually gets made, or just want to watch something genuinely surprising, this one's for you.

Make sure to follow the Kickstarter for behind the scenes updates on Peter's process in making the indie game.

🕹️ Back the campaign on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1637173865/allison-of-astra-an-nes-homebrew-multicart?ref=8u3lc7
🕹️ Get the Demo: https://theretroverse.com/product/allison-of-astra-the-complete-first-season-demo/
🕹️ Learn more about Peter Paltridge and Platypus Comix: https://www.platypuscomix.com/

🔹 More on PopGeeks
🗡️ Join Our Forums: https://popgeeks.com/forums/
🗡️ Join Our Discord: https://discord.gg/Txd2Hvv
🗡️ Support PopGeeks with a $1/month Subscription: https://popgeeks.com/paid-subscription-popgeeks/
#AllisonOfAstra #NESHomebrew #RetroGaming #IndieGames #Kickstarter

Eileen sits down to play Allison of Astra, a homebrew NES game currently crowdfunding on Kickstarter, and it is not what you'd expect. You're playing as a six-year-old dimension-hopper named Allison, and each of the seven episodes throws you into a completely different world with completely different gameplay. One minute it's a robot uprising. The next, you're platforming alongside a living shoe named Booty.

The whole thing runs on original Nintendo hardware, built with NESMaker and the rare Mapper 28 circuit board, packed into 256kb episodes without cutting a single thing. Six years of development from PopGeeks contributor Peter Paltridge.

We play through most of Episode 1, Allison's Doodle Quest, here, and there's a free browser demo linked below if you want to try it yourself before the Kickstarter closes. Backing options start at $30 for a digital ROM all the way up to a red cartridge collector's edition with a certificate of authenticity.

If you've ever loved retro gaming, wondered how homebrew actually gets made, or just want to watch something genuinely surprising, this one's for you.

Make sure to follow the Kickstarter for behind the scenes updates on Peter's process in making the indie game.

🕹️ Back the campaign on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1637173865/allison-of-astra-an-nes-homebrew-multicart?ref=8u3lc7
🕹️ Get the Demo: https://theretroverse.com/product/allison-of-astra-the-complete-first-season-demo/
🕹️ Learn more about Peter Paltridge and Platypus Comix: https://www.platypuscomix.com/

🔹 More on PopGeeks
🗡️ Join Our Forums: https://popgeeks.com/forums/
🗡️ Join Our Discord: https://discord.gg/Txd2Hvv
🗡️ Support PopGeeks with a $1/month Subscription: https://popgeeks.com/paid-subscription-popgeeks/
#AllisonOfAstra #NESHomebrew #RetroGaming #IndieGames #Kickstarter

YouTube Video UExXRm43SWRWZktPb0lDbzZlS2R6WjhYS1RkS2pWdFpicS41NTZEOThBNThFOUVGQkVB

Allison of Astra NES Homebrew Playthrough - Episode 1

PopGeeks views

RECENT POSTS

New Brad Breeck Stranger Things Score for Tales from ’85
Vertigo Announces 100 Bullets: The US of Anger
Netflix’s Animated Willy Wonka Movie Is A Surprise Inversion Of The Formula
GameChops Presents Piano & Sleep: Mario Galaxy
DC Announces Dark Knights Of Steel II

Film
TV
Video Games
Tabletop
Kdrama
Horror
Interviews
Reviews
Podcasts
Forum

Film
TV
Video Games
Tabletop
Kdrama
Horror
Interviews
Reviews
Podcasts
Forum

Latest News

New Brad Breeck Stranger Things Score for Tales from ’85
Vertigo Announces 100 Bullets: The US of Anger
Netflix’s Animated Willy Wonka Movie Is A Surprise Inversion Of The Formula

CATEGORIES

Animation | Anime | Batman The Animated Newsletter | Books | Collectibles | Comics | DC Comics Solicitations | Did You Wonder? | Featured | Film | Game Guides | Horror | Interviews | Kdrama | Manga | Music | News | Oni Press Solicitations | Paranormal | Podcasts | Press Releases | Reviews | Science | Tabletop Games | Television | The Paranoid Gamer | There Are Four Hosts Podcast | UFOs | Video Games

Stay Connected

YouTube, Bluesky, Reddit, Discord, Tiktok, Facebook, Mastodon, X, Instagram, RSS, Email

Please leave this field empty

Join the club!

Video interviews, reviews, game news, and pure fandom - be the first to know!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Copyright © 2026 PopGeeks.com Forum | Indie Games, Movies, TV, Tabletop & Comics | Powered by PopGeeks.com Forum | Indie Games, Movies, TV, Tabletop & Comics

Please leave this field empty

Join the club!

Video interviews, reviews, game news, and pure fandom - be the first to know!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.