Jonathan Bolding
Jon Bolding is a games writer and critic with an extensive background in strategy games. When he's not on his PC, he can be found playing every tabletop game under the sun.
Latest articles by Jonathan Bolding
![Empires of the Undergrowth](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Q2MCHjXYKS4XCM8XNguM4H-320-80.jpg)
I'm not watching trailers this weekend, I'm playing this ridiculously good RTS about ants
By Jonathan Bolding published
News Empires of the Undergrowth is about lots of little guys digging, killing, and eating.
![The Thing Remastered Screenshot](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wdHvxnPhytGBWBJPPi74bE-320-80.jpg)
Horror-shooter The Thing is being remastered by Nightdive
By Jonathan Bolding published
News The Thing, blessed by director John Carpenter, was a critical and commercial success at the time.
![Abyss X Zero](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ouMxqnJUVLksEQiT5jTRdE-320-80.png)
Here's the trailer for Abyss X Zero, a 3D metroidvania that goes full anime
By Jonathan Bolding published
News It's from Studio Pixel Punk, who made Unsighted.
![UBOAT submarine sim](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DqEPKjqR4PnP4MwmNrGCFD-320-80.jpg)
UBOAT looks to be the best WW2 submarine simulator in a long time
By Jonathan Bolding published
News There's now a beta version of the full game available.
![Platform 8](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EmKMdhXHV9F5zDKpas9G4b-320-80.jpg)
Here's a little psych-horror game set on a running subway train that never ends
By Jonathan Bolding published
News Platform 8 is a sequel to The Exit 8, another subway-horror game from last year
![Still from trailer for Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/B4fg6yUmwhGyTF63DfbvcF-320-80.png)
Animated Tomb Raider series gets a teaser trailer, release date
By Jonathan Bolding published
News It's a sequel to the 2013-2018 game trilogy.
![Wolcen](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AXN2g39teFwsPKu6YkNpaL-320-80.jpg)
Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem ends development, with multiplayer to shut down in September
By Jonathan Bolding published
News The action RPG will have run for about four and a half years.
![Image of character from Rooftops & Alleys freerunning across the widely-spaced steel bars of a series of archways over a path.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EuyK9VbavuYEoiDPgrWDwV-320-80.jpg)
An indie parkour game is blowing up among sport fans and genre enthusiasts
By Jonathan Bolding published
News Rooftops & Alleys has potential as a Pro Skater for parkour fans.
![Isles of Sea and Sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QqsAeEXkFsHyGwx2HoQW2H-320-80.jpg)
Explore some excellent open-world puzzling in Isles of Sea and Sky
By Jonathan Bolding published
News Some interesting twists on the venerable block-moving puzzle await.
![Foour characters fromo Dota 2. Axe, Tidehunter, Lion, and Underlord.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SQahoHPJ5zahDiEYxNnGRH-320-80.png)
Valve casually upends the Dota 2 meta by adding innate powers to all 124 heroes
By Jonathan Bolding published
News Oh, and a starting, passive choice between two playstyles too.
![Masterplan Tycoon](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mXrcgqmBjVbbvEmuvSsEWn-320-80.jpg)
Optimize your production chains in the free preview for minimalist sim Masterplan Tycoon
By Jonathan Bolding published
News The chill production chain game released earlier this year, but hasn't gotten that much attention.
![Duck Detective](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/66QnoXZoP355YebTrpzDmA-320-80.jpg)
Here's a mystery game about salami starring a duck
By Jonathan Bolding published
News It is called Duck Detective: The Secret Salami and it has a full voice cast.
![Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aWVNqmMSNP95xHiyGpjP7J-320-80.jpg)
The modern remake of seminal RPG Wizardry is finished and out now
By Jonathan Bolding published
News Wizardry was an important early influence on Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy.
![A low-poly videogame scene. Three people in heavy winter clothing stand in the background. In the foreground is a frying pan with an egg and two pieces of bacon.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ydzsUZfrEPnBHLBWmBri6E-320-80.jpg)
Here's the dystopian cooking simulator about frying up illegal eggs in Antarctica that you've always wanted
By Jonathan Bolding published
News Only the hottest physics-based cooking action will suffice.
![Idle RPG lootun](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Scz9Qnu5MHHZYqUpWxkSz3-320-80.jpg)
Lootun is an auto-battling RPG for people who just really love managing their party's gear
By Jonathan Bolding published
News The demo shows how Lootun pulls inspiration from idle and incremental games.
![A 3D puzzle box made of two rotating spheres covered in alien script](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4p3HyNmUTi7Rwgfk9ceXLF-320-80.jpg)
Puzzle box game Machinika: Museum is free to keep on Steam
By Jonathan Bolding published
News Visuals inspired by Myst with puzzle box unraveling gameplay.
![Fabledom](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zpaW27CFK6c5PcPJwhRr5b-320-80.jpg)
Build a fairytale kingdom in this laid-back, wholesome city builder
By Jonathan Bolding published
News Fabledom has you build a kingdom... and find love.
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/d69tgE6hxb69fn3HG7fgRe-320-80.jpg)
Excellent fantasy 4X strategy game Endless Legend is free to keep while supplies last
By Jonathan Bolding published
News It's one of the best 4X strategy games you can play.
![Wizard With a Gun in four player co-op](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mpBeXpRsZYngvjfVQ4SQbC-320-80.jpg)
Wizard with a Gun adds 4 player co-op to its action crafting mix, and it's free to try for the weekend
By Jonathan Bolding published
News Wizard(s) with a gun(s).
![Rabbit and Steel](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RcLRTqneNeHLhQhkaSYdz-320-80.jpg)
Here's a co-op action roguelike that's basically a boss rush of high-tier MMO raids
By Jonathan Bolding published
News People are really loving Rabbit and Steel.
![Path of Achra 1.0 update showing bone-armored myrmidon warrior and purple and black banded snake god Apophis](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MNx8oDw3SLcvfHvn56St5J-320-80.png)
Path of Achra, the approachably bite-size roguelike full of superpowered combos, has hit its full release
By Jonathan Bolding published
News Complete with a snake god, which no sword and sorcery can be without.
![An in-development updated map artwork for Total War: Pharaoh's free update including the Aegean and Mesopotamia](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7cRnkpnxMTcdHVKB9XeSKb-320-80.jpg)
Total War: Pharaoh's big free update map is far, far larger than I would have thought
By Jonathan Bolding published
News More than twice the factions, nearly double the provinces.
![Vampire Survivors character riding a Contra Jetbike](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GrBwXfpNy4CHKmgX3ZDbkX-320-80.jpg)
The latest Vampire Survivors release is a straight-up crossover with Contra
By Jonathan Bolding published
News Vampire Survivors: Operation Guns is chock full of contra baddies and characters.