Hotline Miami sits alongside Doom, Half-Life, and Max Payne as one of the best shooters – if not best games, period – of all time. Dennaton’s hyper-violent, frantically paced blaster is a delirious descent into abstraction, post-modernity, and electronica. Now, a new FPS game takes the spirit and style of Hotline Miami, and combines it with completely destructible environments and a fresh take on twitch gunplay. The work of a solo developer, if you want to try it, there’s even a free demo available right now.

This is the suitably named Wreck, an upcoming FPS game where you play a former mercenary, ferociously determined to exact revenge on your former criminal bosses. That in itself sounds promisingly inspired by John Wick. Mechanically, however, Wreck plays like a mix of Hotline Miami and Battlefield. Battles are intense, lethal, and demand not just accuracy, but aggression and speed. If you burst into a room full of bad guys, expect to get lit up – like Hotline, you need to dodge and dance as you dish out death.

But aside from reflexes, you have another weapon at your disposal. Like Battlefield, or maybe even Minecraft, given the shooter’s chunky, voxel look, you can destroy literally any part of the environment to create new paths and firing positions.

If you’re up against a locked door, and positive an ambush is waiting on the other side, step back, blow a hole in the brickwork, and surprise the waiting goons by sticking your gun through the wall. If you’re in a tight spot and need to make a rapid escape, punch out the plaster and tunnel to safety.

Created by solo developer Austin Zaman, Wreck is expected to launch during 2024. In the meantime, there’s a free demo that you can try right this second. Just head here.

Alternatively, take a look at some of the other best upcoming PC games on their way this year and beyond, or, if you’re a big Hotline Miami fan and want something similarly pacey and challenging, get the best roguelike games available now.

You can also follow us on Google News for daily PC games news, reviews, and guides, or grab our PCGN deals tracker to net yourself some bargains.

Tua Tagovailoa has undeniably been a game-changer for the Miami Dolphins since his arrival. As the franchise looks to secure their star quarterback for the long haul, Tagovailoa is proving to be a tough negotiator. The 26-year-old is holding out for a contract far more lucrative than the Dolphins‘ initial offer.

Drafted in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Alabama graduate signed a four-year deal with Miami worth $30 million, including a fifth-year option valued at $23.5 million. The Dolphins have exercised this option, signaling their intent to keep Tagovailoa, but the quarterback’s demands have raised the stakes considerably.

Top-tier quarterback contracts have skyrocketed in recent years, and one NFL executive predicts Tagovailoa’s deal will be no different. Speaking to Dolphin Nation, the executive estimated, “They’ve groomed him, he’s going to get better. You don’t want to lose him. It was so hard to get a quarterback… It’s just finding that balance. My guess is $55 million [per year], maybe it’s more.”

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that while the Dolphins have initiated contract discussions, their initial offers have been rebuffed by Tagovailoa. On SportsCenter, Fowler noted, “They have had contract talks, preliminary talks. I’m told that the Dolphins have made at least one contract offer but we know how these things go; the offer apparently hasn’t been good enough.”

Contract talks stall Tua Tagovailoa’s OTA participation

Fowler also concurred that Tagovailoa is in line for a massive payday, likely exceeding $50 million annually. “The market is pretty set. We saw Jared Goff, $50-plus million a year, that’s going to apply to Tua,” Fowler added.

Currently, the Dolphins are deep into organized team activities (OTA), but their star QB has been conspicuously absent. Fowler believes Tagovailoa’s absence is linked to the ongoing contract negotiations. “He has missed some OTA time, I’ve confirmed, and really it could depend on how negotiations go with his contract as to whether he starts to show up or is there full-time,” Fowler said.

Tagovailoa, who earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2023, has formed a formidable partnership with wide receiver Tyreek Hill, creating headaches for opposing defenses. Whether this dynamic duo will continue to wreak havoc beyond this season remains uncertain as contract talks drag on.

Dolphins fans eagerly await a resolution, hoping to see more of Tagovailoa’s magic at Hard Rock Stadium. For now, the ball is in the Dolphins’ court as they strive to lock down their franchise quarterback for the future.

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo is no longer considered a young player.

He turns 27 next month. He is entering his eighth NBA season. He isn’t a kid any more, so the Heat are expecting even more this season.

“Bam has to look at his game and sit with coach, [and] how he can get better and expand his game,” Heat team president Pat Riley said. “He’s at a point right now, he’s an All-NBA player. We’re happy to have him.” 

But …

They want to see a new and improved Adebayo. Last year he was named an All-Star for the third time. His scoring dipped a little (19.3 ppg) but he averaged a career-best 10.4 rebounds. He also played 71 games, helping the Heat make up for extended absences from Tyler Herro and Jimmy Butler.

“In his growth spurt from his rookie to what he is right now has been off the chart,” Riley said. “Everybody in the league knows what his game is. They all know what he does for us, how important he is for us in a lot of areas.” 

It is common for superstars to branch out later in their careers. Riley pointed out a similar transition with Hall of Famer Magic Johnson for the Los Angeles After losing to the Houston Rockets in 1986 conference finals, Johnson returned with a new wrinkle by averaging a career-high 23.9 points and leading them to another championship.

“He has to expand his game,” Riley said. “I remember in 1986, after we got beat by Houston, Magic came to me and said `we have to change some things. I have to change. I have to start shooting 3s.”‘ 

Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Inside The Heat. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com