What's better than hearing that there's another Life Is Strange series on the horizon? How about TWO new series on their way, the second being a new three-part prequel revealed today, called Before the Storm. 

It's three years before the storm, to be precise, as players will return to Arcadia Bay in control of a "rebellious 16 year-old Chloe Price who forms an unlikely friendship with Rachel Amber; a beautiful and popular girl destined for success." Both names will be instantly familiar to fans of the first game, though as a prequel no prior familiarity is necessary. Either way, players will soon discover that "when Rachel’s world is turned upside down by a family secret, it takes this new-found alliance to give each other the strength to overcome their demons."

The early trailer and screenshots display the same distinctive aesthetic of the original, though this time out it's not French developer DONTNOD behind the game (their next Life Is Strange adventure is a totally separate project), but rather American studio Deck Nine Games. The goal of the game, according to Square Enix's Lee Singleton, is to capture the exact moment anyone can relate to: when they encounter "a particular person who significantly influenced their life; the person that ultimately shaped who they became."

Before the Storm is scheduled to debut on PC, PS4 and Xbox One on August 31st. In the meantime, you can learn more about the series straight from the game's creators through their developer video.

If you've ever been stuck in the middle of nowhere because your car breaks down, imagine what it's like for ship crews in the infinite expanse of outer space. You can't just call for a tow, so thank goodness for the Salvage and Rescue Operations Initiative, which is at the heart of STARDROP, Joure Visser's indie sci-fi adventure that recently launched on Steam Early Access.

Set sometime in the distant future, when human expansion has begun to exploit the vast business opportunities of space, the game stars a Salvage and Rescue operative named Aryn, who is "accompanied by her close friend and pilot of their ship the MCCV-2, John Kindley." Together the two of them explore the galaxy in search of "derelict spacecraft lost in time or ships [that] are are in need of help." But the pair get more than they bargained for on a seemingly routine mission to a vessel stranded in the Cassiopeia constellation. As they begin to "unravel the mystery about its identity," they soon discover that "there's a lot more to this ship then they could ever suspect." 

Described as a "first-person adventure and exploration game" inspired by the likes of Portal, Firewatch and Alien: Isolation, STARDROP promises an unusual combination of story-driven events and open-world exploration. Players are free to roam "multiple spacecraft, outposts, stations and more," some of them required and some of them accessible only through optional side missions. Along the way, you can interact with a number of different kinds of interfaces like "control panels, elevators and security systems as well as other various interactive objects such as computer interfaces where you can read emails, listen to audio logs and more."

There are also challenges in your path, however, as you will encounter a "range of light environmental puzzles and a touch of light stealth mechanics" that will need to be overcome in order to advance. Assisting you in your task is your equipment, including your helmet light and scanner, a DataPad that lets you "receive mission objectives, read crew logs, view your location on the mini-map or remotely control certain androids," and a propulsion system that enables you to navigate any zero-gravity environments. 

An early version of STARDROP is now available on Steam Early Access, representing about 35% of the full game, including the first chapter and two side missions that should take about 90 minutes to complete. According to the developer, "almost all of the base gameplay features have been implemented," though still in an unpolished state. The full version isn't expected to be complete for another year, but you can check out Chapter 1 before committing in the meantime, as it is available as a free demo download. You can also learn more about the game from its official website.

Normally when we call something a "comic adventure", we just mean that it's done in cartoon style and meant to be funny. But two-man indie developer Gamechuck has taken that phrase to a whole new level with the upcoming All You Can Eat.

Abusing the privilege of an "all you can eat" coupon, a young man has been "living inside a 24/7 diner for the last ten years." Now, however, his freeloading ways are in jeopardy, as "the diner is about to close for good and our hero is going to end up on the street unless he finds a way to keep the diner open." And so begins a "light-hearted comedy with dry and slightly weird humor."

While the premise certainly sounds bizarre enough, it's the presentation that really sets All You Can Eat apart. Described as an "interactive comic" inspired by the likes of Dilbert and Calvin & Hobbes, the game has been literally designed like a three-panel, black-and-white newspaper comic strip. Progress is achieved through a series of player choices and interactions, each of which "creates a new comic panel, furthering the story." This is no mere gamebook, however, as you can also pick up and use items, and talk to other characters just like any traditional adventure. A single playthrough is intended to take less than an hour, but it can be replayed with other choices to see how events play out differently. As an added bonus, you can even print out your story upon completion, just like a real comic book. 

While there's no specific release date for All You Can Eat just yet, the game has already been completely developed and Greenlit on Steam, so final launch on Windows, Mac and Linux should be following soon. 

Superstitious people may want to avoid black cats, but criminals should beware crossing John Blacksad, the anthropomorphic feline detective and titular star of the upcoming adventure game from Pendulo Studios. 

Blacksad is set in the early 1950s, when corruption is rampant in the the money-obsessed sports world, particularly boxing. When the owner of a boxing club is murdered and his star fighter disappears on the way to the ring for his next big match, it's up to John Blacksad to delve the seedy underbelly of New York City to investigate the crime(s). 

Based on the comic series by Spanish creators Juan Díaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido, Blacksad is the latest game from Pendulo (Runaway, Yesterday series), this time co-produced with Ys Interactive and published by Microïds. While we know little about the game so far beyond its basic plot, we do know it will be in 3D, and based on the single image revealed so far, looks to have a more realistic visual design than the studio's previous games – "realistic" except for the pointy-eared, whiskered detective, that is. 

With the game still early in development, Blacksad remains a fair way off, with release on Windows, Mac, PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch due in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Minecraft is all about building, so it should come as no surprise that Telltale plans to build on the success of its own Minecraft: Story Mode with a new five-part season beginning next month.

The second season once again follows (either male or female) Jesse and his/her friends on a grand new adventure, and just in the nick of time. Having previously "vanquished the Wither Storm, saved the world, and become totally super famous heroes, life has gotten a bit more...complicated." Now stuck with reponsibilities to fulfill instead of being intrepid explorers roaming the world, "old friendships have started to fade – at least until Jesse's hand gets stuck in a creepy gauntlet that belongs to an ancient underwater temple." And so begins a whole new odyssey with "old pals and new comrades alike" that promises to be "filled with tough choices, good times, and at least one temperamental llama."

The new season sports the same blocky art style as before, with voice actors like Patton Oswalt, Catherine Taber, Ashley Johnson, and Scott Porter returning to reprise their key roles. While Season 2 picks up after the events of its predecessor, and decisions made the first time around will carry over here, there is no prior familiarity needed for newcomers to jump right in. And if you want to play socially, this game will also include Telltale's "Crowd Play" feature, which "allows friends and family to engage with the adventure together by helping to decide the direction of the story from any mobile device with an online connection." 

The first episode, Hero in Residence, is already close at hand, with a digital launch date scheduled for July 11th on Windows, Mac, PS4, Xbox One, iOS and Android devices. A physical disc version is planned for later this fall.

Building on the more realistic take on science fiction seen in movies like 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Alien with its “Truckers in Space” theme, Macedonian-based indie studio KAMAi MEDIA has recently released the first episode of their space mystery Sonder. via Steam Early Access.

While a mystery set aboard a spaceship isn’t in itself revolutionary, it’s the specific approach the developers have taken here that is of interest. Citing visual design influences by artists such as Ron Cobb and Syd Mead, the team hopes to add something new to a well-worn formula. One of their stated goals is to find a way to tell its story in a non-linear format. They’ve accomplished this by making the characters stuck in an ever-repeating time loop, repeating the same actions day-in and day-out until being compelled to change their behavior. That compelling force? You, the player.

Players don’t take on the role of any particular protagonist in Sonder., at least not in the traditional sense. As a free-floating omnipresent conscience (or camera), you are able to take direct control of any character as you choose, or none at all aboard the spacefaring transport vessel. Events will play out with or without your input, though interfering in the course of things, whether by interacting with other crew members or equipment, will cause the flow of time to vary. It is up to you to lead the crew to their salvation, or deliver them to their doom.

Being caught in a time loop means that, as time resets and the world returns to the loop’s moment of origin, nobody in it, save for the player, retains any memory of what has transpired. This knowledge is what will ultimately move the narrative along, provided you are in the proper place at the proper time to learn the pertinent pieces of information. Time is more than just a plot device, and you can actually manipulate it by rewinding or fast-forwarding to specific events at your leisure as you inhabit a character’s persona in third-person or simply wander the halls free of any avatar.

The game’s first episode (of six planned in total) is now available as a work-in-progress via Steam Early Access, though there are some story paths that will end abruptly as they haven’t been fully developed. More information, as well as a developer video diary, can be found on the game's website.

Visiting decrepit old castles may not be everybody's idea of a good time, but over the years they've been prime destinations for would-be adventurers. Now another old keep can be again with the recent release of The Secret of Castel Lupo exclusively for iOS and Android devices.

Actually, the game's young stars aren't just visiting the titular castle in the heart of the Alps – thanks to a recent unexpected inheritance, their family owns it. Twelve-year-old twins Simon and Violet Weird weren't aware that they are the descendants of a "mad alchemist" from the 1500s, let alone that his legacy would be passed down to them. But now it has, so the two children set out to explore and discover for themselves what "bloodcurdling secret is hidden in the basement of this decayed mansion." No matter which protagonist you choose to play, or how you determine the story should advance, it turns out to be an "unforgettable holiday...as they try to outwit or outrun nasty knights, plasticine monsters, hundred year old mummies and devilish gardeners."

The Secret of Castel Lupo is primarily a text adventure, presenting detailed descriptions from which you choose your course of action by selecting highlighted words. However, you will also collect inventory items that you can use instead, or make use of each child's hobby. Simon is a chemistry genius who can mix up formulas in his science kit once he has the necessary ingredients, while spider-loving Violet has a net to help her catch wayward insects. You can only play as one child at a time, but after completing the game as the first, you can start again with the second. Rather than simply a cosmetic difference, the "puzzles and their solutions change radically", essentially creating "two completely different adventures." Either way, the castle is home to "twelve characters to interact with, thirty-five rooms full of puzzles and riddles along with some mini-games designed specifically to teach players about important moments of history."

Although designed with children eight and above in mind, with a goal of helping create a passion for reading, there's no reason why The Secret of Castel Lupo can't be enjoyed by adults as well. You can learn more about the game through its official website, or you can jump right in and check it out first-hand. A trial "lite" version exists on both iOS and Android, which offers about 20% of the complete experience. Full versions are also available at the App Store and Google Play.