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Mat

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Founder and chief editor of WePlayGames.net

Fight Life: Vanguard – Forge a Legendary Mercenary Squad

Fight Life: Vanguard Indie RPG
Fight Life: Vanguard Indie RPG

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

This turn-based tactical RPG combines strategic combat and character-driven storytelling. Players guide recruits under the reluctant eye of a weakened divine spirit, betrayed by a former apprentice with aspirations of godhood. Across four chapters, each mission calls for precise maneuvers, talent management, and a drive to shape inexperienced volunteers into mythic warriors.

Divine Betrayal

A once-generous deity edges toward oblivion, forging a fragile alliance with humanity. Its goal: halt an encroaching darkness that threatens the entire realm.

Building a Vanguard

Command a war-torn band of mercenaries. Recruit new faces, direct them in treacherous engagements, and prepare them mentally and physically for mounting perils.

Tactical Depth

Engage in carefully designed turn-based battles. Efficient positioning and maneuvers can tip the conflict in your favor, but one mistake could cost you the mission.

Team Growth

Every victory grants opportunities to develop and refine each fighter’s abilities, ensuring they stand a chance against the grim tide.

2XKO: A League of Legends 2v2 Fighting Game

Jinx 2XKO
Jinx 2XKO

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

The March Playtest Switch-Up


2XKO, the exclusive League of Legends fighting spin-off, just delivered massive news on its killer testing schedule. The once-unmissable March playtest is now canceled in favor of a jaw-dropping mini session that promises a mind-blowing improvement in netcode. Riot’s secret plan revolves around ensuring a legendary experience when the full, breathtaking test eventually drops later this year. This pivot feels incredible for fans who expect a transformative, supercharged environment rather than a rushed breakthrough.

The insider intel suggests that a mysterious, pioneering infrastructure update will yield unprecedented stability, aiming for the ultimate showdown without shocking performance issues. Gamers can look forward to a revolutionary, ambitious, and unexpected wave of content that seeks to be as spectacular as any major League release. The wait may be elevated, but the end result should empower every 2XKO hopeful craving a groundbreaking, intense, game-changing fight.

Autocombos And Sidekick: A Fresh Take


Riot just unveiled a new approach to autocombos by removing Pulse Fuse and letting players toggle them directly, an insane twist that merges accessibility with advanced play. The astounding Sidekick Fuse keeps your main champion on the field while catapulting your assist into a pure support role, ensuring no blockbuster tag-outs but providing epic bonus health for your point fighter. This miraculous approach resonates with fans who want to master fundamentals without feeling overwhelmed. The developer’s synergy with League of Legends lore fuels 2XKO’s potential to deliver carefully balanced matchups and cinematic combos, all while building hype for its next large-scale playtest.

Avowed Patch 1.2.3: Key Fixes, Improvements, and What’s Next

Obsidian Avowed Naughty fairy
Obsidian Avowed Naughty fairy

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Obsidian Entertainment just rolled out Patch 1.2.3 for Avowed, bringing a wave of fixes, AI improvements, and gameplay refinements that smooth out rough edges and refine core mechanics. This isn’t a game-changing overhaul, but it’s the kind of necessary patch that makes things work better, feel better, and break less—exactly what players want after sinking hours into a deep RPG world.

We took a close look at the update, and while our full review is coming soon, here’s what you need to know right now.

Crashes & Stability—The Unseen Hero of Every Good Patch

Crashes are the bane of any RPG, and Avowed has had its fair share. This patch tackles some of the more frustrating ones:

  • GameThread Timeout Crash Fixed – A mysterious but critical issue that could freeze the game entirely.
  • Ladder Crash Fixed – No more fearing the ESC key after climbing a ladder.
  • Xbox Sign-In Stability – Losing internet while playing on a PC with an Xbox account no longer causes the game to crash.
  • Rendering Crash Fixes – A rare but annoying issue when loading certain environments.

Quest Fixes—No More Broken Progression

Nothing derails an RPG like getting stuck in limbo because an NPC won’t spawn or a conversation won’t trigger. Patch 1.2.3 brings a ton of adjustments here:

  • Yatzli now correctly advances “A Path to the Garden” – Even if you completed “One Last Drink” before meeting certain characters.
  • “Shadows of the Past” progresses properly – No more missing steps when entering Naku Kubel.
  • “Precious Light” quest marker fixed – It now appears correctly if you spoke to Adelgund early.
  • Belderreno bounty now spawns reliably – No more wandering around hoping for it to show up.
  • “Fires in the Mine” can’t be skipped – Players now must talk to Darle after burning the nests.
  • Dream conversations now play out properly – Previously, some cut off prematurely, breaking immersion.

Gameplay, Combat & AI Tweaks—Your Allies and Enemies Just Got Smarter

Avowed’s companions and enemies both needed some fine-tuning. This patch brings:

  • Companions now assist in combat more reliably – No more standing around watching you fight for your life.
  • Companions no longer disappear after skipping cutscenes – They’re here to stay (for better or worse).
  • Improved AI for wave-based encounters – Enemies now spawn and detect the player properly, making battles feel more natural.
  • Camera shakes properly with melee weapons – Except for one-handed swords.
  • Wall penetration reduced for NPC weapons – No more getting shot through solid structures unfairly.

Balance Changes—Fine-Tuning the RPG Experience

One of the more controversial changes in this patch involves the Arcane Veil ability, which just got nerfed:

  • Damage Reduction: 50% → 25%
  • Cooldown: 10s → 15s

This is a big deal for players relying on magic-based defense, and we’ll be testing how this impacts overall combat balance in our full review.

On top of that:

  • Reworked economy tweaks – Some quests (like “A Job for the Barkeep”) had rewards that were way too generous on higher difficulties.
  • Weapons & armor distribution adjusted – Early-game enemies now drop less high-tier armor, making progression more rewarding.

Visual & Audio Polish—Because Details Matter

It’s always the little things that add up. Patch 1.2.3 fixes:

  • NPCs now correctly look at the player in conversations – Instead of awkwardly staring at the camera.
  • Fog appearance improved in The Garden – A minor but effective touch for atmosphere.
  • Lighting fixes near the Shrine to Skaen – No more weird shadows breaking immersion.
  • Barbaric Shout ability now plays sound every time – Because what’s a shout without the actual shouting?

UI & Controls—A Few Quality-of-Life Fixes

  • Directional damage indicators no longer display for damage-over-time effects – So you don’t get misled in combat.
  • Steam & Xbox account icons now show in the main menu – No more wondering which profile you’re on.
  • HUD text & shop values corrected – No more incorrect item values in loot windows.

What’s Next?

Avowed is still evolving, and while this patch cleans up a lot, it’s far from the last update. Balance changes will likely continue as players test how the Arcane Veil nerf plays out, and we’re expecting further refinements to AI and quest flow.

We’ll have a full review of Patch 1.2.3 coming soon, covering how these changes impact gameplay long-term. Stay tuned—because Avowed is shaping up to be something special, but it’s not done cooking yet.

FREE THIS WEEK: Epic Games Store Doubles Down Again – February 20-27, 2025

World War Z Afermath Feature Pic
World War Z: Afermath Feature Pic

Garden Story – The Grape Guardian’s Tale

Picture running around as the tiniest grape you’ve ever seen, trying to fix up a struggling village. That’s Garden Story in a nutshell (Metacritic-73%), but there’s more beneath its adorable pixel surface. You’re Concord, the reluctant hero who’d probably rather be napping, but duty calls.

Garden Story Top down pixel indie rpg
Garden Story Top down pixel indie rpg

The game feels like someone took the old-school Zelda formula and wrapped it in a warm blanket. You’ll swing your tools at troublesome Rot creatures, solve environmental puzzles, and help rebuild your community. Each day brings new tasks, from fixing bridges to helping neighbors with their gardens.

What makes it click is how everything feeds back into making the Grove better. Collect resources, upgrade tools, help other villagers, repeat – but it never feels like a chore because you’re watching this little world come back to life. The pixel art style adds charm without trying too hard, making every corner of the Grove feel like a place worth saving.

World War Z: Aftermath – Zombie Chaos Evolved

World War Z: Aftermath (67% on Metacritic) takes everything that worked in the 2019 original and cranks up the dial. If you’ve ever wanted to see what a thousand zombies look like climbing over each other like angry ants, this is your chance.

The game shines brightest in co-op, where you and three friends turn into an impromptu zombie-slaying machine. New locations like Rome and Kamchatka offer fresh backdrops for the chaos, while improved melee combat lets you get up close and personal with the undead (if you’re brave enough).

Garden Story Top down pixel indie rpg
Garden Story Top down pixel indie RPG

The addition of first-person mode changes the feel completely – suddenly those zombie pyramids feel a lot more threatening when they’re right in your face. Cross-platform play means you can team up with friends regardless of their gaming system, making it easier to find people to play with.

Grab these freebie games while entirely free to claim on the Epic Games Store from February 20th through February 27th, 2025. Whether you’re in the mood for cozy grape adventures or intense zombie-slaying action, these additions to your library won’t cost you a penny. Remember to claim them before the offer expires – once added to your library, they’re yours to keep forever.

Viktor Antonov(52) Genius Creator of Half-Life 2 Died

Viktor Antonov Half Life 2 Creator Died
Viktor Antonov Half Life 2 Creator Died

Viktor Antonov, the artist who helped shape the visual identity of Half-Life 2, sadly passed away on 16th of February 2025. His work on City 17 and other game worlds was truly special. He had a way of creating environments that felt both believable and fantastical, drawing you into their unique atmosphere.  

One of the things that made his work so distinctive was his use of color, or rather, his restraint in using it. In City 17, the muted tones really capture the sense of oppression and the despair of the people living under Combine rule. But he also used color in a very deliberate way, like in the Combine’s propaganda, to create a stark contrast and emphasize the oppressive nature of the regime.

Antonov had a knack for incorporating steampunk elements in a way that felt authentic and grounded. He didn’t just use it as a visual style, but as a way to imagine how technology would be integrated into the city’s infrastructure and everyday life . This approach added depth and a sense of history to the environment, making it feel like a real place with a purpose .  

He was incredibly detail-oriented, even considering the angle of the sun to create long shadows that evoked the feeling of September in an urban environment . This dedication to capturing specific details helped ground the fantastical elements of Half-Life 2 in a believable reality .  

He believed in creating worlds that were not just visually appealing but also functional and believable. He once said, “Capture the specific, not the generic, but very specific. That’s what makes a story interesting, the specific angle.” This philosophy is evident in his work, where every element has a purpose and contributes to the overall narrative.  

He will be dearly missed. Our Condolences to loved ones.