Another gambling roguelike has hit Steam—and, unsurprisingly, it’s addictive as hell

Games of chance are, by their very nature, addictive. Just like you keep scrolling on your phone day in and day out, expecting something exciting to come up after a dozen AI-generated slop clips, gambling drives you to repeatedly engage with it in anticipation of that one big win.

When combined with roguelike mechanics, which are also based on chance, randomization, and expectations, the result is rather interesting, as we’ve seen time and again with games like Balatro and Clover Pit. You never know what your next slot pull will bring or which jokers the store will contain. Every match is different, every pull another stroke of luck, and that’s enough for your brain to start firing neurons left and right to encourage you to give it another go.

And, of course, more of the same is always welcome, as this new gambling roguelike, RACCOIN: Coin Pusher, proves. Though not based on traditional gambling games like slot machines and poker, RACCOIN is nevertheless tied to one of the most lucrative gambling machines out there—coin pushers. No matter how old you are or where you come from in the world, chances are you have tried one of these machines that lure you in with piles of coins, making you think that your nickel is going to be the one to push them all out into the box.

But RACCOIN doesn’t just make use of the addictive nature of coin pushers in general. Where this game truly shines is how it uses visual and audio effects to make every score and positive outcome you get that much more appealing. The sound of the coins dropping and getting tallied to your total score, the effects of the special coins firing everywhere and throwing the pile into the air, the random spinning wheels that appear every now and again to reward you with extra cash—all of that comes together to really elevate the experience, which, as I’ve already said, is already addictive by nature.

It’s a well-designed game, one whose developers certainly learned what does and doesn’t work in a title of this kind and looked at other successful games in the genre like Balatro, determining that it is style as much as gameplay that makes this subgenre tick.

It’s already making the rounds and is bound to become more popular still, so if you haven’t already, I suggest you give it a shot. If you liked Balatro, you will almost certainly stick around for a few rounds here, guaranteed.

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The Assessor Matrix is a new crafting material that you can find in ARC Raiders as part of the Flashpoint update. This material can only be found during a specific map condition, and you’ll need it for different reasons.

First, let’s find out how you can obtain the material.

How to get the Assessor Matrix in ARC Raiders

To find the Assessor Matrix, you’ll need to wait for the Close Scrutiny event. While this event only appears during a certain time of day, it can be active on any of the available maps (except Stella Montis).

When this map condition is active, ARC Assessors will spawn on the map at random locations. To get the Assessor Matrix, you’ll need to loot the dropships. However, this is easier said than done. Once you’re near one, look at the sky to spot three red beams.

Every Assessor has three containers for you to breach and search for loot. Enemies will guard these containers, so you’ll need to be careful. Once you’re near the ship, wait for the platform to show up. Use the platform to climb up and search the containers. If you’re in a group, any two of you should keep the ARCs distracted.

If you’re lucky, you should be able to find the Assessor Matrix in the containers. You could even obtain the blueprint for the Dolabra, which is a new shotgun.

As you might have found out in the first 24 hours since the Flashpoint update, it’s not easy to loot an Assessor. Here are a few tips and tricks that have worked well for me.

• Use a Photoelectric Cloak. Using it is tricky, as you can’t use a gun, so it’s pretty easy to get targeted by other raiders. However, this device will complete mask your presence and hide you from every ARC enemy in the vicinity. It’s a great device to use if you want to loot without getting stuck in a fight.
• Smoke Grenades are a must as you’ll want to hide your location from other raiders. You can use it to quickly loot the containers and escape without getting shot by other players/ARCs.
• Having your buddies will be helpful, as will be heavy hitters like the Hullcrackers. Since the Assessor can also have Vaporizers nearby, bring a Wolfpack or two to melt them in seconds.

How to use the Assessor Matrix in ARC Raiders

So far, the Assessor Matrix appears to be required for completing the stages of the recent High-Gain Antenna player project. This project has three different stages, and you’ll need the Assessor Matrix to complete the tasks of the second and third stages.

It’s definitely worth taking the extra risk to collect the Assessor Matrix when the Close Scrutiny event is active.

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