P is for Periscopic peak. Purchasers of Modern Naval Warfare, a military-grade modern sub sim due to enter Early Access later today, will encounter a learning curve shaped like “a mountain not a hill”. Publishers Matrix Games have taken the unusual step of filling an entire Steam page post with home truths about their potential Dangerous Waters displacer. A 200-page manual, time-consuming engagements, an interface “crowded with acronyms” and “designed for functionality and realism, not necessarily ease of use”… you can’t say you weren’t warned.

Q is for Quirky as heck

One of the more obvious, and to Westerners like myself, alien remnants of the Czech Republic’s totalitarian past is the public address system that still, on occasion, broadcasts announcements from lofty lamppost bullhorns. Did these Orwellian proclamation spewers inspire Amanita Design’s latest creation, I wonder. As this documentary reveals, the Bohemian outfit behind unforgettable adventure games such as Machinarium, Botanicula, and the Samorost trilogy, have gone to great lengths to ensure the demo-able, due-on-Wednesday Phonopolis fascinates, evokes, and leaves a lasting impression.

R is for Running Train

Fans of Japanese train sims are counting the days until next Monday. If its physics and framerates are as impressive as its visuals, Running Train’s success is assured. Delightfully, Novatetsu’s attention to graphical detail even extends to ‘pointing and calling’ animations.

S is for Strategos strengthened

Since commencing its Early Access journey in January, Strategos has gained a campaign layer, wheeled units, and army lists, and benefited from a host of AI and UI improvements. Whether the changes and additions are substantial enough to tempt back Total War fans scared off by Field of Glory-style battlefield chaos, remains to be seen, but judging by forum chatter those with less rigid expectations and tastes seem pretty happy about the game’s direction and pace of travel.

T is for Tempting prospect

Evidence that the makers of the Valor & Victory ports are toying with the idea of making a Rorke’s Drift battle sim recently surfaced on Reddit. If the Anglo-Zulu War project does go the distance, it’s unlikely to hit shelves this year as one-man-band Yobowargames currently has his hands full digitizing Last Full Measure, a family of brigade-level American Civil War board wargames.