Happy New Year! We've made it to the end of another year, and that means it's time for the annual F5 recap post. We'll review the year for F5 Games and then hand out some awards to games that made an impact on us throughout 2024. So grab your favorite New Year drink and settle in, here we go!

F5 Games in 2024

2024 was another great year for F5 Games! We have continued to improve our development processes and started to tackle some larger projects that have been cooking in the background for a long time. The plan is for some of those to release in 2025 so hopefully we will have some big news to share with you on those projects soon.

We were also able to complete a couple smaller projects in 2024 and we have been very happy with how they turned out. Euchre Masters was our first release of the year and it is currently available for both the Infinity Game Table by Arcade 1Up, and the iPad. Euchre Masters takes everything we have learned about making multiplayer card games over the last few years and puts it together into a really great package. If you are a fan of Euchre, or are interested in learning, I definitely recommend checking it out by clicking the icon below.

The other game we completed in 2024 is named BlackHearts, and it is actually 3 card games in one package. You can play the classics, Pitch and Hearts as well as our brand new game, BlackHearts that combines the rules of both games into something exciting and new! BlackHearts will be available on the Infinity Game Table in early January so you won't have to wait long to give it a try. Keep an eye out here for more information once it launches!

2024 F5 Game Awards

Now it's time to dive into the awards for 2024! This is my opportunity to say a little bit about the games that captured my attention, and imagination, over the year and celebrate some of the great work that other teams accomplished. I have several awards to give out this year, and a few of them have been difficult decisions, which means it has been a great year for games.

Best Live Service or Expansion - Diablo IV

Diablo IV has been on a journey over the last year. It launched well, but was quickly hit with negativity from some parts of the community who had issue with how equipment and end game content were handled. Thankfully, the developers at Blizzard have spent the last 12 months refining the game and hitting a steady cadence of content and seasonal updates that have kept me, and the player base at large, coming back for more.

This all really culminated in the expansion Vessel of Hatred, that launched in October. Not only did we get new story content but we were also treated to a new player class and several new end game dungeons to put all that legendary loot to the test. I have really enjoyed my time with Diablo IV this year, and now that I'm at the level cap, I can't wait to see what 2025 has in store for us as we continue to hunt the prime evils across Sanctuary.

Best Action Game - Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

Last year's Best Shooter award went to Warhammer 40k Boltgun, a retro inspired offshoot of the Space Marine franchise. This year, the big guy came home to win some hardware of his own. Space Marine 2 is a great example of what a 'classic' action game should be. Tight mechanics, great combat, visceral weapons and attacks, and a campaign that takes you from one awesome spectacle to another. In short, they nailed it.

Thanks to the awesome swarm technology that was developed for the World War Z games, Space Marine 2 is able to put you in massive battles that just haven't been possible before in this style of game. Looking out from a defensive wall and seeing hundreds of enemy Tyranids swarming over the horizon to come and attack you is really impressive. Playing this game you can tell that the team took the time to make everything about the tech and gameplay match the dark fantasy setting in a way that makes Space Marine 2 a joy to play. Highly recommended.

Best Indie Game - The Plucky Squire

The term 'Indie Game' has about as many meanings in the games industry as there are gamers with opinions. It tends to mean the game was made by a small team, although some of the teams aren't so small anymore. There is usually the understanding that the game wasn't made by one of the largest platform owners or major publishers, but even that gets fuzzy sometimes. However, there is one thing that I feel all indie games share, and that is the ability to take risks, and try something new. I don't think any other game this year has tried so many new things at once as 'The Plucky Squire'.

The Plucky Squire's initial inspiration is that you switch between playing both a top-down 2D game, and a 3D action platformer. This is tied together by the fact that your character is actually the character in a children's book and he has to 'break out' to save his story from being re-written. That hook was enough to get me in the door, but I had no idea just how clever and laugh out loud funny this game would be until my daughters and I played through it together.

This game will surprise you from beginning to end, and it is constantly popping up some new play-style or throwback to a classic game type that never lets the gameplay get stale. We powered through The Plucky Squire, not because we had to, but because we just couldn't put it down. Both of my youngest daughters played their own game and it was even enjoyable to watch one of them play through a section I had already seen before. The writing, game design, humor, everything is top notch in this one. If you haven't tried it yet, and especially if you have young gamers, you need to give it a shot.

Best Platforming Game - Astro Bot

In last year's post I wrote about how my daughters had discovered Astro's Playroom on the PS5 and really enjoyed the platforming that tech demo / game had to offer. They continued to play after that post and both of them ended up not only beating the game but going out of their way to collect everything and find all the little secrets, it was really a hit around out house.

When I wrote that post I had no idea that a brand-new full-sized Astro Bot game was coming in 2025, but it's here now and Astro has once again taken over our living room TV!

Much like The Plucky Squire, Astro Bot is non-stop surprises with new gameplay on almost every level. Basically everything about this game is excellent, the graphics are gorgeous, the soundtrack is amazing, the gameplay is spot-on, and there are tons of things to find and collect. Another aspect of Astro Bot that I really appreciate is that it is a love letter to the history of Playstation. Every level has bots themed after games from the Playstation past and present. Every time you find or rescue a bot there is a moment of excitement as you try to remember what game they came from. This kind of nostalgia is something we see a lot in Nintendo offerings but it isn't something we have gotten much from Sony, so it's nice to see them embrace it during their 30th anniversary.

In the end, Astro Bot almost walked away with our Game of the Year award for 2024, it's that good, but due to my own limited playtime with it and the fact that our GOTY winner has consumed most of my playtime in 2024, it just wasn't the year for Astro.

F5 Game of the Year for 2024 - Balatro

In a year of excellent releases that push the boundaries of graphics and scope it is ultimately a little game about vibing out with cards, made by one person, that takes home the trophy. If you haven't played Balatro it is difficult to explain why something that looks like a cursed video poker machine could beat the likes of Astro Bot and Space Marine 2. But, if you have played Balatro, you probably already understand.

Balatro sinks it's teeth into you slowly, allowing the player to explore and uncover all of the layered mechanics and strategies that the collection of jokers and card enhancements have to offer. When you first start you'll be struggling to beat the first couple stakes for a deck, but once you begin to understand how much power you have to craft each run you'll be able to blow through the lower difficulty levels on each deck in no time. You may even start experimenting with high score runs to see if you can create some kind of insane point generating machine that nukes every level with only one played hand.

Like I said, it's hard to explain. But as someone who has spent over 200 hours playing a crazy card game this year I can tell you that it is really something special. That fact that it was made by one guy, in his spare time, as something he and his friends might enjoy is just icing on the cake. Balatro is quirky, clever, addictive, and just brilliant, and that is why it is our 2024 Game of the Year!

On to 2025

And that does it for 2024, now it's time to look ahead. 2025 should be a great year for F5 Games as we will be celebrating our 20th Anniversary as a company! Look forward to updates about that as we get closer to our anniversary date in March. As always, stay tuned to our blog and X account for updates on our upcoming projects. We have some exciting announcements lined up for 2025 and we can't wait to share them with you.

We are so thankful for all of you, our players, because without you none of this would be possible. Thank you all so much for playing our games, reading our posts, and interacting with us online. We are extremely grateful for you. From everyone here at F5 Games, we wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year for 2025!

It's that time again. We've made it to the end of another year and, as always, I like to take a look back before we move forward. While it's hard to believe this is actually F5 Games 18th year in operation! This is also the 8th year in a row that I have written up an 'end of year' post and I couldn't stand it if I let the tradition die here. So, let's see what 2023 looked like for F5 and then we'll get into a few 'Best Of' awards for the year. Grab a New Year's drink of your choice and let's dive in.

How was 2023 for F5 Games?

2023 has been a great year at F5, it feels like we have really turned a corner and are firing on all cylinders when it comes to development. We were able to release two new games this year, first Block Breakerz and then All-In Texas Hold'em! It is a great feeling to bring a game to the finish line and release it out into the world, and it always takes much more work and time then we expect, but it's definitely worth it. Both Block Breakerz and All-In Texas Hold'em are available on the Infinity Game Table and Infinity Game Board by Arcade 1Up as well as for the iPad and Kindle Fire Tablets. So, if you haven't played either of them yet, head over to the app store on any of those devices and look for the icons below. They are both great party games to share with your family and friends this New Year's Eve!

F5 Game Awards for 2023

Now it's time to take a look at some of the games that made an impact on me in 2023. As always these 'awards' are based on my personal opinion and are determined by what I played this year. Some of these games may or may not have been released this year but this is when they crossed my path so they are fair game. Alright, here we go!

Best Mobile Game that Doesn't Feel Like a Mobile Game - Huntdown

Huntdown is definitely not a 2023 game but if you haven't played it yet, on mobile or otherwise, you should definitely give it a try. This is a neon-soaked, cyberpunk, 80's arcade fever dream of a game that I just couldn't put down. Playing it on mobile was a revelation for me because it points the way to what we could have on our phones if free-to-play timer games hadn't taken over the market

In Hundown you play as one of 3 bounty hunters who are tasked with taking down various gangs around a futuristic cyberpunk city. Each stage is broken up into bit sized chunks where you face off against one of the 'gang bosses' and their parade of henchmen. The controls are tight, the action is fantastic, and the style just oozes out of the screen. If you are a fan of retro arcade games, you can't afford to miss Huntdown.

Best Shooter of 2023 - Warhammer 40K: Boltgun

To say that I am a shooter fan just doesn't do it justice. I love shooters, especially shooters of a certain Boomer variety. I'm still playing Doom 25 years after its release (the new Sigil II episode release by John Romero this year definitely helped with that). I have played a lot of different shooters this year and I can definitely say that none of them have been as fun, or hit me as hard, as Warhammer 40K: Boltgun.

Boltgun was released this year but it feels like a long lost release from 1997. The presentation is retro (with options for limited color palettes and chunky pixels) but more importantly the feel of the game is fast and open, just like a retro shooter should be. The levels are varied and sprawl out in all directions, vertical and horizontal, the movement is weighty, and the guns are oh so glorious! You can even slow down time, target a nearby enemy, and lock on to them for a chainsaw sword dash attack to extend your jumps. It's over the top in all the right ways.

Thankfully, I'm not the only one who loved Boltgun because that means there is a good chance we could get a sequel. I would love to see more enemies from the Warhammer 40K universe brought in for Boltgun 2 (Tyranids and Orks please) and this just feels like a game that could really gel into something even better in a second outing. Bottom line, if you're into shooters you owe it to yourself to give Boltgun a shot.

Best Game Played with My Daughters - Astro's Playroom for PS5

This is another game that came out several years ago but really only became a hit in our home over the last few months. My youngest two daughters absolutely fell in love with Astro's Playroom and it has been a joy watching them play through the levels, and helping out when I can.

While I always saw this game as simply a showcase for the new controller features on PS5 it really is a great platforming game in its own right. I also really loved all the callouts to the history of Playstation in the collectibles and level layouts. It has been a ton of fun to talk to the girls about all the little Playstation parts they find in each level. If you have a PS5 and have overlooked this one, especially if you have kids in the house, I would suggest giving it a try.

Game of the Year for 2023 - The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

This likely isn't a surprise, but it is still a triumph. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the best game I have ever played. It is a masterpiece of design, setting, gameplay, and interlocking systems that, as a developer, is still hard to fathom. For Nintendo to take the biggest and most successful Zelda game ever made in Breath of the Wild and then expand it both up and down is extraordinary. But, for them to do it and still make everything feel so fresh, by introducing new powers that not only let you navigate the world in new ways but allow you to dream up and build almost anything, is just incredible.

Zelda games have always allowed Nintendo to try new things. While the 'Zelda formula' has not shifted that much throughout the years Nintendo loves to use Zelda as canvas to implement new gameplay concepts. From time travel in Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, sailing and open world gameplay in Wind Waker, and motion controls in Skyward Sword, Zelda has always wrapped something new in the familiar. With the additions in Tears of the Kingdom that give players the ability to fuse things together, build everything from rafts to robots, and create their own fun, we see that there is no limit to what Nintendo can do with a Zelda game.

Tears of the Kingdom had to follow the most successful Zelda game of all time and somehow meet the expectations of players who had been waiting for years to see what was next. That they were able to not only meet those expectations but exceed them in ways we couldn't even imagine just demonstrates how Nintendo sets the standard for game development in a way that almost no one else can match.

Nintendo, thank you for giving us such a beautiful and astounding game this year with Tears of the Kingdom. I know we will all be enjoying it for years still to come.

Bring on 2024

Stay tuned to our blog and Twitter (I can't call if X) for updates on our upcoming projects. We have some pretty great things lined up for 2024 and we can't wait to show it to you.

To close this out I just want to say how grateful we are for all of you. Thanks to all of you for reading this post, thanks to everyone who has played our games in 2023, and to everyone who will be there with us in 2024. From everyone at F5 Games, we wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year for 2024!

It’s time to take your Poker night to the next level with All-In Texas Hold’Em for iPad!

Texas Hold’em is the most popular form of Poker in the world, and now with All In Texas Hold’em you can have a 6 player poker experience with you everywhere you take your iPad! Gather around the tablet with your friends, take on our Poker AI, or mix and match for an authentic Poker experience at any time.

Game Features

• Multiplayer- Play with 1-6 player or Poker AIs at a time and get unrivaled Poker experience.
• Poker Progression- Start out in a home game with low stakes and play your way up to the elite No Limit Tables of Monte Carlo.
• Poker AIs- You can play solo against our Poker AIs in any casino or use them to round out a game with your friends.
• Pick your challenge- Our AIs progress in difficulty as the stakes go up and they always play fair, no peaking at your cards. Which is more than I can say for some of your friends.
• Hand Rankings- Tap How to Play at any point to get a breakdown of Poker Hand Rankings. This is nice to know before you bet the farm on a possible straight.
• Drop in and Drop Out- Once a game has started, any player can take a break between hands.
• No in-app purchases and no ads to interrupt your poker night!

How to Purchase

You can always search for All-In Texas Hold'em on the App Store but why not just tap the giant icon above and let us take you right to the store ourselves! All-In Texas Hold'em is priced at just $4.99 and it will have you and your friends playing Poker around the table for hours on end.

We are so excited to have All-In Texas Hold'em available for iPad and we can't wait for you to play it. If you pick up the game please let us know what you think on Twitter or Facebook.

Welcome back! It's been a little while since our last update but that just means we have even more updates to share. So sit back, grab a cool drink, and let's get started.

Red Dead Redemption coming to Switch and PS4/5

We started the week with the surprising announcement that Red Dead Redemption, one of my favorite games of all time, is coming to Switch and PS4 on August 17th! Not only will you be able to play this masterpiece on the go but it also includes the 'Undead Nightmare' expansion which is one of the best zombie games anyone has ever pulled off. I'm definitely looking forward to picking this up and playing it again.

Red Dead Redemption is one of the greatest games ever made, and it’s coming to Switch this month! The inclusion of the excellent Undead Nightmare expansion is just zombie icing on the cake. https://t.co/2O6PFbu0MS

— F5 Games (@f5games) August 7, 2023

Quake 2 Remastered Launches During Quakecon

Quakecon is back in person this year and it was great to see all the tricked out PCs in the BYOB area on the stream. In addition to everyone getting together in Dallas we were also treated to a 'surprise' release of Quake 2 Remastered for basically every game system. This remaster looks great with improved performance, resolution, and lighting, and it also includes the two original expansion packs, an all new expansion by Machine Games and the levels from Quake 2 64!

I was a big fan of Quake 2 back in the day but I honestly don't think I have played it since it was released. I'm really excited to fire this up on Xbox Game Pass and dive back in.

Modern Warfare 3 Story Trailer Reveals Villain and Release Date

Some things are dependable, the Sun comes up in the East, it's hot during the Summer, and every year there will be a new Call of Duty game. Even though the initial word was that Activision would skip 2023 we now know that CoD will be back this year with Modern Warfare III. The trailer that was released this week highlights Makarov as the big bad and let us know that the game will be releasing on November 10th. Strap in and get ready for battle.

Netflix Releases a Mobile Game Controller App

File this under 'news that might be interesting'. This week Netflix released a 'Mobile Game Controller' app in the App Store that allows you to 'connect to Netflix on your TV to play games'. I think Netflix's move into gaming is interesting in a lot of ways but this mobile game controller is not something I expected. I'm not sure what games you can actually play with this thing yet, but we'll be keeping an eye on it to see what Netflix does next.

For a little more info on this check out this Pocketgamer article: Netflix Goes Big Screen With Game Controller App on Mobile

Star Wars Outlaws Behind the Scenes Video

This one is from a few weeks back but I'm so excited for Star Wars Outlaws that I couldn't help but include it. This game really looks like it captures the 'Han Solo fantasy' vibe and I can't wait to see more. The Developer Behind the Scenes video below gives even more insight into what Ubisoft and Massive are trying to accomplish here, and it all looks good to me.

Our final piece of news this week is that our two latest iPad games, Block Breakerz and Blackjack Masters Party, are currently on sale over on the app store! Hit the links in the tweet below to grab our latest games at a sweet discount and enjoy playing together with your friends and family this weekend.

Our two latest iPad games, Block Breakerz and Blackjack Masters Party, are both on sale through Sunday! Hit the links below and enjoy playing them with your friends this weekend!

Block Breakerz: https://t.co/jWUzwpGhH6

Blackjack Masters Party: https://t.co/Fdw7ISrIuT pic.twitter.com/Pe33GjyPXS

— F5 Games (@f5games) August 10, 2023

There you have it, the weather is hot outside and it's a great time to be a gamer. Let me know what you have been playing over on Twitter or Facebook. Also, don't forget to get outside and enjoy a little of that Summer Sun. Have a great one!

It's time to super-size your next game night with Block Breakerz for the Infinity Game Table™ by Arcade1Up!

Block Breakerz is a fast-paced block-breaking arcade game crafted specifically for the Infinity Game Table! Compete solo or against up to three of your friends in 4 different game modes that will have you playing ‘just one more round’ for hours on end. Block Breakerz is a frantic and fun game for the whole family and will be a great addition to your Infinity Game Table library.

Gameplay

Block Breakerz plays like a blend between the arcade hit Breakout and Hungry Hungry Hippos! Up to four players compete against each other by deflecting balls into the play area to destroy blocks, break targets, or inflict damage on other players.
It couldn’t be easier to play; just drag your paddle back and forth to deflect balls toward blocks or targets.
But to be a Block Breakerz Master, you’ll need to learn how to position your paddle to bounce balls right where you want them to go.

Game Modes

• Clear - Clear all blocks from the screen as quickly as possible. Highest score wins!
• Score Attack - It’s a race to hit the score target before anyone else. The first player to hit the target wins the round!
• Target Break - In this mode, you can only score points by striking the golden targets in each level. Once all the targets are destroyed, the game ends and the highest score wins.
• Battle Mode - Welcome to Battle Dome! In this mode, each player must defend the line behind their paddle at all costs because three hits and you are out. The last player left standing is the winner.

Features

• Local Multiplayer: Play solo to set a high score or with up to 4 players at a time to make it a party
• 4 Game Modes: Play Clear, Score Attack, Target Break, or Battle Mode with your friends
• Fun for the whole family: Easy to pick up and play for all ages
• Drop in and Drop Out: Players can quickly jump in or out between matches
• 24 different levels across 4 game modes
• Designed and built specifically for the Infinity Game Table

How to Purchase

It couldn't be easier to get the party started. Just fire up your Infinity Game Table™ and look for the icon below in The Store. Tap on the icon and then tap on the price button to start the purchase process. Block Breakerz is only $4.99 but it will keep you and your friends playing 'one more round' for hours on end!

We are so excited to release Block Breakerz for Infinity Game Table™ owners. If you grab the game let us know what you think and share some of your experiences with us on Twitter or Facebook.

Call your family and friends, it's time to get the party started, Block Breakerz is now available for iPad!

Block Breakerz is a fast paced, 4 player, arcade game that blends Breakout and Hungry Hungry Hippos into a party game you just can't stop playing. Compete solo or against up to three of your friends in 4 different game modes that will have you playing ‘just one more round’ for hours on end. Block Breakerz is a frantic and fun game for the whole family, and will be a great addition to your iPad!

Game Features

• Local Multiplayer: Play solo to set a high score or with up to 4 players at a time to make it a party.
• 4 Game Modes: Play Clear, Score Attack, Target Break, or Battle Mode with your friends.
• Fun for the whole family: Easy to pick up and play for all ages.
• Drop in and Drop Out: Players can quickly jump in or out between matches.
• 24 different levels across 4 game modes.
• Play at home or take the fun with you wherever you go with your iPad or iPad Pro!
• No Ads and No In-app Purchases, just a great time for you and your family

How to Purchase

You can always search for Block Breakerz on the App Store but why not just tap the giant icon above and let us take you right to the store ourselves! Block Breakerz is normally priced at $4.99 but during our launch period it is only $3.99, so don't let this sale pass you by! Block Breakerz will give you and your family a fun game to play together whenever and wherever you are on your iPad.

We are so excited to have Block Breakerz available for iPad and we can't wait for you to play it. If you pick up the game please let us know what you think on Twitter or Facebook.