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Tag: Hoomanz!

  • Hoomanz! Master the Art of Being a Cute Menace – Xbox Wire

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    Master the Art of Being a Menace: A Pro-Tips Guide to
    Hoomanz!

    • Shadow Master: Use the Dark to Win
    • Smart Retreat: Learn from Every Hug
    • Trickster’s Kit: Turn the World Against Them
    • Ultimate Challenge: Master Your High Score
    • Pure Whimsy: Become One with Shoo

    Hoomanz! has landed on Xbox Series X|S, and while it might look all hugs and whimsy, reclaiming Planet Erf from those pesky tourists requires a bit of tactical mischief.

    Since you already know Shoo is the hero Erf deserves, we’ve put together a toolkit of advanced strategies to help you navigate the light, avoid the “dreaded” hugs, and maximize your scares. Here is how to master your inner menace.

    Duality at Play: Ruling the Shadows

    The difference between a successful spook and a forced cuddle session is often just a few inches of shadow. To keep Shoo at peak performance, remember:

    • The Lure: Use the Lure mechanic while standing at the edge of a light source to draw hoomanz into the dark. Never go to them; force them to play on your home turf. This is also the secret to setting up your most legendary scare combos!
    • The Ultimate Dash: If you’re caught in the light and a hooman spots you, your speed will drop as they move in for the hug. Pro-tip: You only have one shot at an escape dash before they catch you! If you don’t reach a bush or a rock in that single burst, you won’t have time to recharge. It’s all about the timing!
    • The Shadow-Chain: Don’t just look for stationary shadows. You can “chain” your movements by timing your dashes between the moving shadows of hoomanz. If a hooman is walking with a flashlight, their own shadow is your safest (and funniest) mobile base.

    Hugs Instead of Defeat: Failing Forward

    In Hoomanz!, “failure” is just a very cozy learning opportunity. If you find yourself trapped in a hug, use that retreat to the checkpoint to refine your strategy:

    • Patience is a Tool: If a specific hooman is particularly hard to reach, stop and observe. Every hooman has a “clumsy window”, a moment where they stop a little too close to the shadows to tune their banjo or scratch their head. That is your window to strike.
    • Don’t Trip Twice: Use your return to the checkpoint to better understand the terrain. The goal is to evolve. Avoid getting caught in the same spot twice by changing your approach angle!

    Mischief and Tools: The Menace’s Toolkit

    The environment is your best friend. Here’s how to exploit the tools at your disposal:

    • The Doll: If you’re lucky enough to find a doll, you’ve got a major tactical advantage. Place it strategically to create a diversion. It will buy you those precious seconds needed to slip past a guard or set up an elaborate prank elsewhere.
    • Bottled Panic: Don’t just lob objects at hoomanz randomly. By aiming at specific floor tiles or environmental props, you can literally dictate where a hooman will walk to investigate. You aren’t just playing the level; you’re setting the game!
    • The Yeti Bait: See an unfairly frozen Yeti? Don’t just admire it. Get close enough to be spotted by a hooman, then lead them toward the Yeti. At the last second, dash to the other side to avoid the trap yourself! Your “admirer” will fall right in, leaving them ripe for a final scare. If you’re fast enough, you can pull off this same maneuver with poison traps!

    Replayable Chaos: Achievement Hunting

    Every run through Erf is a chance to refine your craft and beat your personal best. Whether you’re aiming for a “Perfect Stealth” run with zero hugs or trying to maximize your points through creative scares, there’s always a reason to go back.

    Only the most dedicated menaces will achieve the ultimate challenge: Scaring every single hooman in a level at the exact same time! But don’t worry if you’re a more relaxed adventurer; you can still earn plenty of badges for simpler feats, like the “Shoo Cena” for staying hidden in a bush for 30min. Every player saves Erf at their own pace!

    Humor and Whimsy

    At its heart, Hoomanz! is a labor of love created for you, by a team of gamers just like you. Take a moment to soak in the atmosphere of Erf, from the silly idle animations of the hoomanz to the hidden references tucked away in the scenery. You’ll find you are most effective when you stop worrying about the “mission” and truly become one with Shoo’s mischievous spirit!

    Erf is in danger of being turned into a permanent tourist trap, but you have the power to save it.

    Hoomanz! is available now on Xbox Series X|S. The hoomanz think they’re on vacation, but with these tips, you’re about to give them a holiday they’ll never forget. Restore peace to Erf—one spooked hooman at a time!

    Xbox Play Anywhere

    Hoomanz!

    Koffeecup


    4

    $4.99

    Hoomanz! is a stealth-adventure game packed with coziness and humour, featuring non-combat gameplay & family-friendly content. Play as Shoo, the mythical guardian of Planet Erf with a hidden dual nature, to scare away all the ignorant invading Hoomanz. Darkness is nature’s friend, light is its enemy.

    Duality of Dark vs Light

    On planet Erf, darkness is nature’s friend and light is its enemy. As Shoo you must navigate through the dark, otherwise you’ll get chased and squished with a hug!

    Dark Shoo: Fierce, fast, scary and fully prepared to deal with the Hoomanz.

    Light Shoo: Slow, vulnerable, cute and extremely huggable… and Shoo hates hugs.

    Don’t let them catch you!

    Scare them all away!

    When you scare a Hooman, they’ll get yeeted off the planet – you’re just that scary (or they’re just that fragile). But it’s not as easy as it sounds – You must stress the Hooman first. You do that using the environment and its tools.

    Your Arsenal of Stress

    Lure them with a cute purrr, throw bottles, snap twigs, sabotage lights, frozen yeti jumpscares, dance around dangerous traps… Shoo’s toolkit is full of mischief. There’s no “right” way to scare off a Hooman, so get inventive!

    Swift Movement!

    Dash to get out of a sticky situation, or to simply explore the whimsical atmosphere of planet Erf’s nature. Champion through dash obstacle courses to save creatures and more.

    Nature, Ice and Fire

    As you progress through the story, your environment will get more harsh, puzzles harder and the need to save planet Erf even more dire!

    Laugh Out loud

    The game is packed with humour. From idle Hoomanz peeing, playing the banjo (if you can call it that), slipping on ice and generally making weird sounds, to cute underpants, their panicked waddling, hilarious screams (recorded by us Koffeecuppers) and much much more!

    Disclaimer: Might induce slight cuteness aggression.

    Are You Able To Save Planet Erf?!

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    johns

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  • Next Week on Xbox: New Games for December 15 to 19 – Xbox Wire

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    Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in!


    Xbox Play Anywhere

    God bless, or Goddess

    NiuGamer

    God bless, or Goddess – December 15
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Handheld Optimized / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery

    They say the path to immortality is paved with hardship. But in your case, this hardship happened to take the form of seven dangerously beautiful women. You are Lin Fan, the chosen one of the Crane Illusion Sect. Born with a Pure Yang Lineage, you are destined to ascend to the heavens. However, no matter how hard you train, fate sends yet another challenge in your way… temptations in the shape of an unreliable master, a strict senior sister, or a saintess who seems far more interested in testing your heart rather than your skills.


    Five Nights at Freddy’s: Secret of the Mimic

    Steel Wool Games

    Five Nights at Freddy’s: Secret of the Mimic – December 16
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    Enter the abandoned workshop of Murray’s Costume Manor and unravel the mystery left behind by the reclusive inventor, Edwin Murray. In Five Nights at Freddy’s: Secret of the Mimic, you’ll step into a world where every dark corner holds a secret and every flicker of light hints at an ever-present threat. The Mimic, a prototype endoskeleton, can adapt to any costume and become any character, including what you fear most. Armed with only your wits, a few gadgets, and a heavily redacted corporate briefing, you’ll attempt to retrieve Fazbear’s prized prototype technology while grappling with cryptic clues and a relentless shadow determined to dispatch all unwanted company.


    Xbox Play Anywhere

    Frogo Deluxe

    Zakym s. r. o.

    Frogo Deluxe – December 16
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Handheld Optimized / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery

    Frogo Deluxe is the latest installment in the popular Frogo series. In this cross road game, players must navigate through various obstacles, collecting coins and special items along the way. The coins collected can be used to purchase new animals, each with more lives, enhancing the gameplay experience. The game is infinite, becoming more challenging as players achieve higher scores. How far can you go?


    Vambrace: Dungeon Monarch

    Headup

    Vambrace: Dungeon Monarch – December 16
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    Step into the role of a Dungeon Monarch, a chosen guardian of your master’s dungeon. Equipped with formidable magic and an inexhaustible army of summonable troops that synergize with one another, your mission is to repel adventurers, envious rivals, and other deities seeking to invade and raze the dungeon.


    Balloball – Ribbit & Rescue

    Desert Water Games

    Balloball – Ribbit & Rescue – December 17

    Balloball – Ribbit & Rescue is a bright cartoon arcade game. You have to save all the frogs that the evil fairies have trapped in soap bubbles. Use your hero’s agility and speed to avoid all the traps and the power of physics to calculate the flight paths.


    Hidden Cats in Istanbul

    Silesia Games Sp. z o.o.

    Hidden Cats in Istanbul – December 17

    Let the ever-wandering Hidden Cats crew be your guide through colorful Istanbul! Explore the city’s iconic landmarks like the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, and Gülhane Park while relaxing to soothing Turkish-inspired music. Discover over 900 hidden objects, unlock special cats, and as always – enjoy cozy, no-stress gameplay in a city full of color, history, and charm!


    Xbox Play Anywhere

    The Legend of Princess Lyria

    Porting.guru

    The Legend of Princess Lyria – December 17
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery

    Journey into the Forbidden Realms to reclaim a lost kingdom. Step into the role of Princess Lyria, a young royal whose once-prosperous realm has fallen to ruin. Its treasures have been stolen, its magic has faded, and dark forces now rule the land. To restore her throne, Lyria must venture into the Forbidden Realms — mysterious, dangerous lands filled with ancient power and hidden secrets. Armed with courage and emerging magical abilities, you’ll explore lush landscapes, forge powerful alliances, and uncover long-buried truths about your heritage. Each decision you make shapes Lyria’s destiny: become a wise and just ruler… or embrace the darker paths of ambition and power.


    Where Is Billy

    Triple Boris

    Where is Billy – December 17
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    It’s mischief night at Billy’s haunted manor, and the host has quite the challenge in mind for all monsters invited! Partake in a competition of hide-and-seek with an original twist: the only place to hide is the crowd of monstrous guests of which you are part. Find who you are in the crowd and rise to the challenge to be crowned the sneakiest and most perceptive of all monsters! Figure out who you are discreetly, then fulfil your objectives and seek out other players without breaking character to avoid being caught.


    The Axis Unseen

    Dark Product

    The Axis Unseen – December 18
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    The Axis Unseen is a heavy metal horror game created by one of the developers of Skyrim and Fallout. Track down nightmarish creatures from folklore in a mysterious open world, steal their enhanced senses, and discover arrows with immense powers. But beware — the hunter often becomes the hunted.


    Explodera (Xbox Series X/S)

    Synnergy Circle Games

    Explodera – December 18
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    In a future ruled by steel and circuitry, humanity’s reign has ended. The machines we built to serve us have turned against us, deeming their creators unworthy to inhabit Earth. Cities lie in ruins, and the last remnants of humankind hide beneath the ashes of a fallen world. But hope isn’t dead — it’s armed to the teeth. Meet Explodera, a ragtag crew of reckless freedom fighters with one simple philosophy: if it sparks, it explodes. Fueled by chaos and defiance, they fight their way through mechanical armies to reach the ultimate target — the Mother Computer, the cold heart of the machine uprising. If they can blow it to pieces, humanity might just get another shot at survival.


    Hoomanz!

    Koffeecup

    $4.99

    Hoomanz! – December 18
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    Hoomanz! is a stealth-adventure game packed with coziness and humour, featuring non-combat gameplay & family-friendly content. Play as Shoo, the mythical guardian of Planet Erf with a hidden dual nature, to scare away all the ignorant invading Hoomanz. Darkness is nature’s friend, light is its enemy.


    Humble Haunted House

    4D Creativity

    $14.99

    Humble Haunted House – December 18
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    Humble Haunted House is an action tower defense video game. You act as Succubus, who disguised as a haunted attraction manager for a theme park. By setting up scary props, or popping out as a live actor, it’s a matter of time before the long line of visitors get scared. Little do they know, they have faced some real monsters.


    Scott Whiskers: the Search for the Golden Cat

    Fancy Factory – an Axel Friedrich company

    Scott Whiskers: The Search for the Golden Cat – December 18
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    Join Scott Whiskers on his new adventure and plunge into a colorful and family-friendly experience in a class of its own! Sun, beach and sea – sunken pirate treasures, mystical Mayan rites, a bubbling volcano – and lots of puzzles and lovable characters make for the vacation of a lifetime!


    Zumba – The Dragon’s Marble Trial

    EpiXR Games

    $4.99

    Zumba – The Dragon’s Marble Trial – December 18
    Optimized by Xbox Series X|S

    Zumba – The Dragon’s Marble Trial invites you into an enchanting world where a charming dragon wields colorful marbles in mouth and tail! Pick a stage, aim your dragon-launched marbles at winding paths, and match three or more identical colors to trigger explosive combos before they invade your lair. Rack up high scores and up to three stars per level by clearing waves quickly and precisely.


    Big Trouble in Little Chimney

    Ratalaika Games S.L.

    Big Trouble in Little Chimney – December 19
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    Krampus is Coming! Grab your shotgun, finish your hot punch and don’t forget your mission: Save Christmas! Big Trouble in Little Chimney is a fast paced arena bullet-hell shooter. Survive endless hordes of creatures lurk from the dark chimney and save Christmas! Try to beat your high score!


    Xbox Play Anywhere

    Cup Heroes

    QubicGames S.A.

    Cup Heroes – December 19
    Optimized for Handheld / Xbox Play Anywhere

    Step into the whimsical world of Cup Heroes, where everyday cups turn into mighty heroes on an epic quest to save their beloved Queen! Collect coins and gems to unlock a diverse cast of characters, each with unique abilities. Upgrade their skills to make them even more powerful and adaptable to different challenges.


    Escape From Crypt

    RAFAEL V.F

    Escape From Crypt – December 19
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    In Escape From Crypt, you take on the role of a warrior determined to prove your worth by facing a deadly crypt filled with treacherous traps and relentless enemies. Can you make it out alive? Use your Wall Jump with precision, unleash powerful sword strikes, and overcome every challenge as you venture through the dark depths. Conquer your fears, defy the impossible, and reach the end of Escape From Crypt!


    Fort Solis

    Feardemic

    Fort Solis – December 19
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    Responding to an unusual emergency call from a remote mining base, Jack arrives at the dark and desolate Fort Solis. With storm warnings imminent, he heads inside to make desperate contact. As the night grows longer, events spiral out of control, and the mystery of what happened to the crew begins to reveal itself. The storm is approaching, limiting Jack’s escape as he looks to hold out until morning arrives.


    Frog Hero DX (Xbox Series)

    Avgam

    Frog Hero DX – December 19
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    Leap, dodge, and conquer deadly gauntlets in Frog Hero DX a precision platformer where every jump could be your last. Take command of our determined, brave hero: a fearless frog on a perilous trek through lush swamps, blazing caverns, and clockwork fortresses. Bounce off enemies to defeat them, thread the gap between spinning blades and bursts of fire, and stick perfect landings across collapsing bridges and molten pits.


    Nom Nom Apocalypse

    Upscale Studio

    Nom Nom Apocalypse – December 19
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    Welcome to the co-op shooter where the end of the world has never looked so… tasty! The end of days is near, with the city infested by ravenous, greasy food creatures, bringing total chaos and destruction. Our last hope lies with a band of skillful, trigger-happy cooks who are determined not to end up as the main course.


    Outbreak: Shades of Horror

    Dead Drop Studios LLC


    $29.99

    $23.99

    Outbreak: Shades of Horror – December 19
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    Outbreak: Shades of Horror is inspired by retro survival horror from the ’90s and ’00s! The title blends bleeding edge tech and modern gameplay mechanics with archaic concepts from the roots of survival horror, like a restricted inventory, heavy resource management, and crushing difficulty. If you’re an old hat, or a lover of the past, you’ll find a lot to love in the janky but crushing experience. If that’s not your jam, proceed with caution as this nightmare is unforgiving!


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    Will Fulton, Xbox Wire Editor

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