Author: farm4teamusa@gmail.com

Fun and energetic

In late 2025, Exile Protocol has emerged as a high-stakes entry in the “extraction horror” genre. Developed by TopVR, it is a first-person co-op shooter that combines the procedural tension of Lethal Company with the hardcore looting and gunplay of Escape from Tarkov.

The game currently has a Free Demo available on Steam (released October 2025), which has allowed the community to test its brutal mechanics before the full launch.

1. Core Gameplay: Hardcore Extraction

Unlike arcade shooters, Exile Protocol is designed to be punishing.

• The Loop: You and up to three friends are deployed into procedurally generated bunkers. You must scavenge for valuable technology and gear, then reach an extraction elevator to secure your loot.
• Perma-Death: If you die during a run, your character and all the gear you were carrying are permanently lost. This creates a high-tension atmosphere where every firefight is a massive risk.
• Proximity Voice Chat: The game uses a realistic audio engine. Your voice echoes differently depending on the bunker’s size, but more importantly, monsters can hear you. If you shout to a teammate, you might accidentally draw a swarm to your location.

2. The Monsters: Dynamic Threats

The “nightmarish creatures” in the bunkers aren’t just fodder; they have specific sensory behaviors:

• Sound-Sensitive: Some enemies are blind but can track you by the sound of your footsteps or reloads.
• Light-Drawn: Using your flashlight is necessary to navigate the dark, but certain predators are attracted to light, forcing you to choose between visibility and stealth.
• AI Aggression: Recent patches (v0.0.40) have updated monster behaviors so they are less likely to run away and more likely to coordinate ambushes in the dark.

3. Loadouts and Customization

Between runs, you return to a Space Station hub to prepare.

• Deep Modding: You can customize your firearms with various scopes, magazines, suppressors, and laser sights. Suppressors are highly valued by the community to avoid alerting the entire floor.
• Stat-Based Gear: Looted armor and clothing provide buffs to health, stamina, and “noise suppression” (stealth).
• Toxic Environments: Some zones feature “Toxic” or “Poison” air, requiring specific masks or filters that blur your vision and alter your hearing.

4. Technical Status (December 2025)

In late 2025, Exit Zone is a multiplayer horror game that has been making waves in the “anomaly hunting” subgenre. Released into Early Access on October 19, 2025, by developer Daniel Seman, it is heavily inspired by the viral success of The Exit 8 but expands the concept into a co-op experience.

Here is the essential breakdown of the game as of December 2025:

1. The Gameplay Loop: Memorize or Fail

The game is built on psychological tension and pattern recognition. You are trapped in a decaying, repeating corridor where reality is fracturing.

• The Objective: You must reach the final exit by successfully identifying whether a room is “Normal” or “Anomalous.”
• The Lever Mechanic: * Green Lever: Pull this if the corridor is exactly like the base room.
  • Red Lever: Pull this if you spot an anomaly (a change in the environment).
• The Stakes: A single mistake resets the entire loop. As you progress, the anomalies become more subtle and the atmosphere becomes increasingly hostile.

2. Multi-Player Co-op (1–5 Players)

While many games in this genre are solo experiences, Exit Zone is designed for groups.

• Shared Memory: Players must communicate to confirm if a specific poster, sound, or object has changed.
• Escalation: The longer you stay in the Zone, the more the anomalies escalate, sometimes turning from simple visual glitches into physical entities that can trap you.

3. Types of Anomalies

The game features dozens of randomized events, making every run unique:

• Visual: Flickering lights, bloodstains appearing on walls, or furniture slightly shifting positions.
• Audio: Ghostly footsteps, distorted voices, or the hum of the lights changing pitch.
• Physics: Doors that lead into empty voids or ceilings that appear lower than before.
• Entities: Shadowy figures that only appear in your peripheral vision.

4. Current Status (December 2025)

In late 2025, Firefighting Simulator: Ignite has established itself as the new definitive title in the emergency services simulation genre. Released on September 9, 2025, by developer weltenbauer. and publisher astragon Entertainment, it is a completely modern successor to the 2020 The Squad title, rebuilt from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5.

Here is everything you need to know about the game as of December 2025:

1. The Unreal Engine 5 Upgrade

The jump to UE5 is the most significant change in this version, impacting every second of gameplay:

• Dynamic Fire & Smoke: The fire doesn’t just “stay” in one spot; it spreads realistically based on oxygen, materials, and ventilation. Thick black smoke can now obscure your vision entirely, forcing you to rely on thermal imaging or your team’s guidance.
• Physics-Based Destructibility: You can use axes and Halligan tools to smash through doors or use chainsaws to cut through roofs for “vertical ventilation,” which realistically releases heat and smoke from a burning structure.
• Stunning Visuals: From the way water reflects off the asphalt to the detailed textures on your Rosenbauer fire trucks, the game is a massive graphical leap over its predecessor.

2. Core Gameplay: The Oakridge City FD

The game is set in the fictional Oakridge City, a sprawling Midwestern American metropolis.

• Authentic Equipment: You use officially licensed gear from brands like STIHL, HAIX, and Fire-Dex.
• The Fleet: You command faithfully recreated Rosenbauer America trucks, including the TP3® Pumper, the Viper® aerial ladder, and the 68′ Roadrunner.
• Mission Variety: You deal with everything from small residential kitchen fires and industrial blazes to complex “technical rescues” involving backdrafts, flashovers, and electrical hazards.

3. Multiplayer and Co-op

• 4-Player Co-op: The game is built for teamwork. One player can drive and manage the pump, another can handle the ladder, and two can enter the building for search and rescue.
• Full Cross-Play: As of late 2025, players on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S can all play together in the same lobbies with integrated voice chat.
• AI Command: In single-player, you lead a squad of three NPC firefighters. A revamped “Command Ring” allows you to give them precise orders, like “Ventilate this room” or “Search for victims.”

4. Recent Updates (December 2025)

Since its September launch, the game has already received significant content:

• The Alarm Mode Update (Nov 2025): Added a new mode where you wait at the fire station for random, unscripted emergencies to trigger, rather than just selecting missions from a menu.
• Season 1 Content: The “Year 1 Season Pass” has introduced the Summer Camp DLC (featuring forest and cabin fires) and Parker’s Story DLC, which adds a narrative-driven campaign following a specific rookie’s career.
• The Firehouse Dog: If you have the “Fire Station Companion Pack,” you can now interact with Simi the Dalmatian at the station between calls.

5. Summary Table

In late 2025, Internal Incident has established itself as a standout title in the “extraction horror” subgenre. Developed and published by Deadly Donut, the game gained significant attention following a major development update in August 2025 that introduced its highly anticipated multiplayer system.

While the full release is currently targeted for Q1 2026, the game has been playable in various pre-release and playtest formats throughout the latter half of 2025.

1. The Core Gameplay: Top-Down Terror

Internal Incident is a top-down survival horror extraction shooter. It blends the high-stakes inventory management of Escape from Tarkov with the claustrophobic atmosphere of sci-fi horror.

• The Extraction Loop: You are deployed into a vast, dark underground facility. Your goal is to scavenge for high-value resources, technology, and lore fragments, then reach an extraction point before you are overwhelmed.
• Light as a Resource: The facility is pitch black. Light is your most valuable asset, but also your greatest weakness. Using a flashlight helps you see “terrifying creatures” lurking in the dark, but it also alerts them to your exact position.
• Arsenal & Customization: You can gear up with a wide variety of weaponry, ranging from standard pistols to heavy grenade launchers. Between runs, you manage your stash and upgrade your equipment using the loot you successfully extracted.

2. Standout Features in 2025

• Co-op Synergy: The game is designed for Online Co-op. Two flashlights are better than one, and players must watch each other’s backs during “descents” where light sources are limited.
• AI Integration: The developers at Deadly Donut have been transparent about using Generative AI for some of the game’s assets (icons, models, and text) to help their small team achieve a massive scope.
• Procedural Elements: While the facility has a cohesive lore, the layout of resources and enemy spawns features procedural variety, ensuring that “don’t let greed get the best of you” remains a central theme as you decide how deep to go.

3. The Atmosphere

The game is heavily focused on Atmospheric Horror. It utilizes:

• Jumpscares: Unexpected ambushes from the dark.
• Psychological Tension: The “Unknown” is the primary enemy. The further down you descend, the less light you find and the more “disturbing” the creatures become.
• Gore & Violence: The game features mature themes, including blood and graphic violence, which helped it earn its “Violent” and “Horror” tags on Steam.

4. Summary Table

In late 2025, Pilgrim of Darkness (often referred to by players as Pilgrims of Darkness) has gained a reputation in the indie horror scene for its punishing difficulty and its unique “Fear-Visibility” system. Developed by VIWESA GAMES, it is a dark fantasy action-adventure game that blends survival mechanics with ritualistic boss combat.

As of December 2025, the game is in a highly active “Demo/Early Access” phase on Steam, with the community eagerly awaiting the full 1.0 launch.

1. The Core Gameplay: Bringing Back the Sun

The world is shrouded in eternal night after ancient rituals disturbed the balance of reality. You play as a Pilgrim-Monk, a member of the “Sun Cult,” tasked with traveling into demon-infested abysses to collect crystals that can restore light to the world.

• The Ritual Loop: You must navigate abandoned villages and blood-soaked altars to find specific ritual items. Once you have enough, you bring them to an altar to summon a Boss. Defeating the boss grants you a “Boss Crystal” to power your sanctuary.
• The Fear System: This is the game’s standout mechanic. Your character has a “Fear Meter” that increases when you are in the dark or near demons. The more afraid you are, the more visible you become to the darkness. At high fear levels, monsters can track you through walls and will hunt you more aggressively.
• Stamina Management: One of the most discussed (and criticized) aspects of the 2025 demo is the stamina system. Sprinting and dodging consume stamina quickly, while monsters move relentlessly. Mastering the balance between running and standing your ground to pray (which lowers fear) is the key to survival.

2. Survival and Co-op

While the game can be played solo, it is designed as a Massively Multiplayer / Co-op experience.

• Party Synergy: In co-op, players can share the “Light” (specific lanterns or items). Having one player focus on “Fear Management” while others focus on ritual items is a common strategy.
• Lobby Trophies: Defeating bosses unlocks permanent trophies and upgrades for your personal “Monastery Lobby,” where you can show off your progress to other pilgrims.
• Atmosphere: The visual style is heavily inspired by “Grimdark” fantasy, with environments filled with fire seeping through the earth and eerie, distorted religious iconography.

3. Community Buzz: The “Heart Rate Monitor” Question

A viral discussion on the Steam forums in late 2025 involved players asking if the game literally requires a heart rate monitor to play.

• The Reality: No, a physical heart rate monitor is not required. However, the game’s “Fear System” is so intense that many streamers have started using heart rate overlays as a “challenge mode,” leading to a community meme that you need to be physically fit to survive the game’s jumpscares.

4. Technical Status (December 2025)

In 2025, the term “Q-UP” (or “Q UP”) refers to two completely different but very popular products: a satirical video game on Steam and a major healthcare management app in India.

Here is the breakdown of both:

1. Q-UP: The Video Game (Everybody House Games)

Released on November 5, 2025, this title has become a sleeper hit on Steam, currently holding an “Overwhelmingly Positive” rating. It was created by the “twisted minds” behind Universal Paperclips and Babble Royale.

• The Concept: It is a satirical “pseudo-multiplayer” game that mocks the frustrations of modern gaming (long queues, toxic players, and sweaty try-hards).
• Gameplay: The game is described as a “competitive coin-flipping eSport.” Every single match is determined by a 50/50 coin flip, making it “the most fair game ever made.”
• The Depth: Underneath the meme is a deep incremental/clicker/deckbuilding system. You build a “kit” of over 200 items and 400 skills to optimize your “Q-gain” (the in-game currency).
• The Vibe: It features a bizarre, humorous narrative about corporate power in the eSports industry and a 3-ton whale with a day job.

2. Q UP: The Healthcare App (3409 Tech Ventures)

In the mobile space, Q UP is a dominant health-tech platform in India designed to solve the “waiting room” problem.

• The Service: It allows patients to book doctor appointments and, more importantly, track their position in the queue in real-time.
• Key Features (2025 Updates):
  • Live Queue Tracking: An algorithm tells you exactly how many minutes are remaining until your turn, allowing you to wait at home or in a cafe instead of a crowded clinic.
  • Verified Doctors: It lists over 9,000 verified doctors across 20+ specialties.
  • Q PRIME: A subscription service introduced for users who want priority booking and additional health-tracking tools.
• Impact: It has reportedly reduced patient waiting times in Outpatient Departments (OPD) by over 75%.

3. Summary Comparison

In late 2025, Animas: Prologue has become a standout title for fans of “Cultural Horror.” Developed by Apamate Studio, this first-person psychological horror game officially launched its standalone prologue on October 17, 2025, serving as a chilling introduction to the full game arriving in 2026.

Here is everything you need to know about the Animas experience:

1. The Premise: Venezuelan Gothic

What sets this game apart from other indie horror titles is its deep roots in Venezuelan folklore and history.

• The Setting: You explore the abandoned, cursed home of the Blanco family nestled in the Venezuelan mountains.
• Echoes of Time: A core mechanic is the “fractured timeline.” As you walk through the house, you seamlessly transition between the idyllic 1970s and a decadent, decaying present.
• Sectarian Rituals: The story revolves around uncovering decades of dark family secrets, occult rituals, and the tragic choices that doomed generations of the Blancos.

2. Gameplay: Defenseless Investigation

Following the tradition of games like Amnesia or P.T., Animas: Prologue focuses on vulnerability rather than combat.

• No Weapons: You have no way to fight back. Your only tools are your attention to detail and your ability to hide or run.
• Environmental Storytelling: You piece together the narrative by examining forgotten objects, reading letters, and observing “hauntings” that reflect past traumas.
• Immersive Audio: The game is highly praised for its 3D spatial audio. Players are advised to wear headphones, as the sound of whispers and creaking floorboards is used to guide (or misdirect) you through the house.

3. Cultural Authenticity

Apamate Studio has focused heavily on making the game feel authentically Latin American:

• Voice Acting: The game features professional Latin American Spanish voice acting, providing a specific cultural texture that is rare in the global horror market.
• Urban Legends: The “scares” aren’t just jumpscares; they are based on local Venezuelan urban legends and ancient beliefs, giving the horror a “soul” that feels fresh to international players.

4. Technical Status (December 2025)

• Platform: Currently available on PC (Steam).
• The Full Game: The prologue is a self-contained story meant to set the stage for the full Animas release, which is currently scheduled for late 2026.
• Languages: While the voices are Spanish, all text and dialogue are subtitled in English, Portuguese, Japanese, and Chinese.

Potential Confusion: AnimA ARPG vs. Animas

Be careful not to confuse this with AnimA ARPG, which is a popular mobile dungeon crawler (similar to Diablo) that also received a major update in December 2025.

• Animas: Venezuelan Psychological Horror (PC).
• AnimA: Dark Fantasy Hack-and-Slash (Mobile/Android).

In late 2025, End Them, Soldier! has made a name for itself as a high-octane, “ultra-hardcore” boomer shooter. While primarily a PC title, it has gained significant traction in the mobile community through cloud gaming and rumors of a dedicated mobile port.

Here is the breakdown of the game as of December 17, 2025:

1. The Core Gameplay: Brutal “Skill-Build” Combat

Released on November 18, 2025, by Constellation Games, the game is a love letter to 90s shooters like DOOM and Blood, but with a modern “roguelite” twist.

• The “Axe-Shotgun”: One of the game’s most viral features is the Shooting Axe. You can use it as a high-damage melee weapon or fire it like a shotgun.
• Variable Skill Builds: Unlike traditional shooters, you don’t just find guns; you build them. You can customize your weapons with “Runic Buffs,” such as Freeze Rockets or a Burst-Fire Explosive Revolver.
• Constant Pressure: The game features “Zero Padding.” There are no long walking sections or complex mazes—just 24 handcrafted levels of non-stop demon and skeleton annihilation.

2. Game Modes & Replayability

• Campaign Mode: 24 levels that take you from “Retro Streets” under a bloody sky to the “Darkest Dungeons.”
• Endless Roguelike Mode: Featuring 36 different arenas where you fight to climb a global leaderboard. The difficulty is split into 5 tiers, and the community in late 2025 is currently obsessed with the “Tier 5” meta.
• Movement-Based Combat: High-level play involves “Speed-Boost Jumps” and a “Bunnyhop” perk that was recently buffed in the December update to make dodging faster and more fluid.

3. The “Mobile” Experience in 2025

While the official version is on Steam, End Them, Soldier! has become a popular “on-the-go” game for two reasons:

• Steam Deck & Handhelds: Its “potato-friendly” optimization makes it run at a locked 60 FPS on almost any handheld device.
• Cloud Gaming: Many mobile players are using services like GeForce NOW to play the full version on their phones with a Bluetooth controller.
• Mobile Port Rumors: Since the game’s massive success in November, the developer has teased that they are looking into a native mobile version for 2026, though nothing is officially confirmed yet.

4. Technical Snapshot

In late 2025, Dinoblade has become a massive viral hit in the action-RPG community. It is a “Soulslike” game where you play as a Spinosaurus wielding a massive Greatsword between its teeth to fight other weapon-using dinosaurs.

The game started as a viral animation reel by Jean Nguyen (an animator for Ghost of Yotei) and was so popular that it was developed into a full game by Team Spino LLC.

1. The Core Gameplay: “Dino-Souls”

Released as a popular Steam Demo on October 28, 2025, the gameplay is a unique mix of prehistoric ferocity and high-skill combat:

• Weighted Combat: As a Spinosaurus, your movements feel heavy and powerful. You use a “Greatsword forged from ancient power” to perform combo chains, parries, and dodges.
• The “Armed” Enemies: You aren’t just fighting animals; you’re fighting rival dinosaurs with their own equipment. For example, a T-Rex might attack you using an Ankylosaurus tail-club as a mace.
• Alpha Predators: Each biome (Jungles, Canyons, etc.) is ruled by an “Alpha” boss. Defeating them grants you “Strength,” which serves as the game’s currency for unlocking new skills and devastating abilities.

2. RPG Elements & Customization

While the combat is intense, the game features deep progression:

• Skill Trees: You can master specific combat styles, such as focusing on speed (rolls/dashes) or raw power (heavy swings and guard-breaks).
• Legendary Weapons: Hidden throughout the world are different ancient weapons that change your attack patterns.
• Environmental Storytelling: The world is set after a “Cataclysmic Event” that changed the nature of dinosaurs, giving them the intelligence to use tools and metal weapons.

3. Current Status (December 2025)

• The Demo: The demo is currently Overwhelmingly Positive on Steam, offering about an hour of gameplay through the “Dry Canyons” and a major boss fight.
• Full Release: The full version is currently slated for an early 2026 release on PC (Steam), with console versions rumored for later that year.
• Graphic Content: The game features visible blood and “cutscene violence” (like impalements), but it includes a “Reduce Gore” toggle in the settings for a more teen-friendly experience.

Summary Table