Dispatch
Originally announced at The Game Awards 2024 and starring Aaron Paul, Dispatch immediately caught my attention. It's a narrative-driven game in the style of Telltale, centered around a former superhero who’s been demoted to a dispatcher after an unfortunate incident. The concept alone is refreshingly unique—I've never considered what it would look like for superheroes to take dispatch orders, and the idea instantly intrigued me.
The demo is short but effective. You’re introduced to a few key characters, engage in dialogue choices, and get a taste of what dispatching actually feels like. That part of the gameplay is surprisingly intense—fast-paced, reactive, and satisfying, especially when you see the results of your choices play out in real time. One character reunion in particular stood out: equal parts hilarious and heartfelt, it was the kind of moment that makes these narrative games so memorable.
Feedback
If there’s one concern I have, it’s that the dispatching mechanic might not carry enough weight in the overall story. The demo didn’t reveal how deeply your decisions impact the narrative, and if that element falls flat, it could undermine what makes the game so promising.
That said, what I played has only made me more excited than I was when it was announced. Dispatch is still scheduled for a 2025 release, and I’ll be impatiently counting down the days until then.
Jumpship
One of the more hyped games at Steam Next Fest, Jump Ship is basically Sea of Thieves in space, but with a twist. It doesn’t seem to have a massive open map with tons of players running into each other, but the looting is satisfying, and flying around in your ship actually feels cool and engaging.
The big thing missing right now is that multiplayer spark. Piloting solo is way too easy, which kind of kills the need to squad up. A game like this should really lean into co-op, maybe not force it, but at least make it feel like the best way to play.
Feedback
Right now, Jump Ship feels a bit empty. I think if the loot zones had more enemies or were PvP-filled, it’d add a lot more tension and give people a reason to bring friends along.
I’m still hopeful the full game will be more fleshed out. Definitely keeping it on my radar.
Frosthaven
The highly regarded sequel to Gloomhaven, Frosthaven takes everything that the board game a hit and brings it into the digital space. Snapshot Games is handling the video game adaptation, and honestly, they’re doing a great job so far. Turning a tabletop game into a video game can be tricky, it either ends up feeling dull or painfully slow, but Frosthaven seems to strike the right balance.
It uses a grid-based combat system, which is super common, but Frosthaven adds some depth to keep things fresh. Instead of the usual "move, attack, repeat" routine, you’re given a hand of ability cards, each with different movement and attack/defense options. You can burn a card instead of taking damage, but once you use or discard a card, it's gone until you rest. That means every single turn becomes a mini strategy session. Do you take the hit now or sacrifice a powerful ability you might need later? How many abilities will you need to survive the rest of the fight? It forces you to think long-term in a really smart way.
Feedback
Honestly, I don’t have much criticism here. If you know me, you know I’m the tabletop guy, so seeing Frosthaven translate so cleanly into a video game is a dream come true. My only question is how the multiplayer is going to work, but if they get that right, this could be a huge win for tabletop fans
After playing the demo, I’m fully on board. I got a taste of what’s coming, and now I’m just counting down the days until I can dive in fully.
