Lyssa Greywood's Reviews
PEAK wastes no time in pushing players to their limits, especially in the starting area. I kept running out of stamina before I’d even made it up the first incline, and it felt frustrating rather than fun at first. Survival games are meant to be tough, sure—but when the first section is this punishing, it leaves little room for learning the ropes. It’ll take you a few climbs to start feeling like you’re making any progress, but once you do, it’s a great feeling.
Without saying a word, the game builds a gentle story about family, imagination, and grief. It leans into memory and lets you interpret the emotion behind each scene. You’re not given all the answers, and you don’t need them. It’s enough to feel the weight of what’s been left unsaid, and the love that still lingers in every shadow you cast.
Visually, Snacko doesn’t know what it wants to be. The world is 3D, the characters and animals are 2D pixel sprites, and during dialogue, NPCs switch to more detailed illustrations. It felt jarring every time. The mix of art styles clashed instead of blending together. The characters’ pixel models are also weirdly darker than they appear when they’re talking. Mikan is white, but she looks grey in sprite form.
Nice Day for Fishing could’ve been a quick gag game. It could have been made for fans of Viva La Dirt League to laugh at. But it’s far more than that. This is a full experience—thoughtful, weirdly wholesome, and genuinely fun to sink time into. It reminded me so much of the first time I played Runescape. I used to bike to the library with my older brother to play on the computers there… That warm, nostalgic feeling came rushing back as I explored. The fishing battles, the spells, the treasure hunting—all of it made me feel like a kid again.
There’s a solid foundation here, one that clearly draws from the developer’s past work in American Fugitive, but also pushes into new territory. It’s an ambitious mix of sandbox action and police procedure, and while it often stumbles (especially with its NPC AI and car handling), it also manages to hold your attention with its vibrant world and constant activity.
Rise of Gun is a bit rough around the edges, especially in the first half-hour. The lack of a directional tutorial, vague quest instructions, and unclear shop layout might put off players expecting something more polished. But for those who stick with it, there’s a surprisingly warm and relaxing management sim underneath the rubble. It’s not flashy, and it’s not fast, but it has heart, and a whole lot of potential.
This is a game that understands the quiet joy of creating a space that feels like home. It speaks to the experience of those who have ever had their passions dismissed as “just a hobby” and finds beauty in the act of carving out a place for yourself, even when others don’t understand why. The plant placement mechanics are satisfying, the aesthetic is charming, and the game exudes a warmth that makes it easy to sink into.
Potion Shop Simulator has the core ingredients of a fantastic shopkeeping sim—engaging potion-making, satisfying sales mechanics, and a beautiful world. However, it stumbles outside the shop, with frustrating quests, clunky navigation, and a mismatched cast of characters.
At its core, Cinnabunny is a story about family, resilience, and community. You play as Big Bounce, a bun who has left their home due to a devastating drought. While your family can survive for now, they won’t be able to stay there forever. As you’re hopping around your home, you can see how the drought has affected it. The trees are bare, the river is small, there are no crops… And so, your mission is clear: build a new home in Sugar Creek Burrows and earn enough to invite your family. It’s a heartwarming premise, giving weight to the cosy, slice-of-life gameplay.
While many survival games punish mistakes, Aloft focuses on rewarding creativity and exploration. The absence of hunger mechanics and punishing death penalties makes it a relaxing experience. Dying while flying or battling a corrupted island simply respawns you at home. This forgiving approach encourages players to take risks and embrace the journey without the constant fear of setbacks.
For fans of narrative-driven platformers or anyone who loves cats, this is a must-play experience. It slots perfectly into the growing line of feline-focused games, offering a unique balance of whimsy and emotional depth. It’s clear that Valhalla Cats has created something truly special—earning a well-deserved 9/10 for its charm, creativity, and heartfelt execution.
Calcium Chaos: Derailed is a brilliantly chaotic and charming roguelite. It delivers endless fun with its inventive mechanics and quirky design! The game’s creative weapon combinations, fast-paced gameplay, and vibrant art style create an experience that feels fresh from start to finish. There’s always something delightfully unexpected around the corner. While minor issues occasionally surface, they don’t overshadow the overall enjoyment the game offers.
Monarchy offers a charming take on the side-scrolling strategy genre, blending base-building, resource management, and light combat into a visually appealing package. Its relaxed gameplay and cooperative mode make it a great choice for casual players or families, especially those looking for a less demanding alternative to games like Kingdom Two Crowns. However, the game’s lack of tutorials, clunky controls, and repetitive mechanics hold it back from reaching its full potential.
Land of Mushrooms does check the boxes for a light, cosy game with its endearing visuals and simple mechanics. But, its charm quickly loses ground to a lack of originality, a confusing start due to the absence of a tutorial, and an overall feeling of being a repurposed version of other merging games.
Just Dance 2025 is undeniably fun, especially if you love dancing to your favourite tracks with friends or solo. With its mix of new songs, quirky visuals, and energetic gameplay, it’s another solid entry in the long-running series.
Metaphor: ReFantazio is a game that walks the line between homage and innovation. Its deep connection to Persona and Shin Megami Tensei is clear in its mechanics and structure, and while at times it feels almost too similar to its predecessors, it ultimately carves out its own space with a compelling fantasy world and meaningful characters.
Between the unique raid maps, various crew builds, and sea monsters to summon (yes, you get to unleash a Kraken), every run feels like a new adventure. It’s a game that you can easily lose hours in, and the depth of customization keeps things interesting even after multiple raids.
There’s a lot to love about Copycat, especially when it comes to the art and voice acting. The dreamscape scenes are a really nice touch, showing us plenty of Shelter-Dawn’s inner thoughts and how she feels throughout the journey. The narration from different voices adds to that feeling, weaving everything together beautifully. And while the Quick Time Events can be a bit tense, they keep you engaged at the right moments.
Visions of Mana is a heartfelt return to a classic series, combining nostalgia with fresh ideas to create an experience that feels familiar and new. The story is its strongest asset, pulling you into a world full of magic, sacrifice, and unexpected twists. While the game isn’t without its flaws — especially in terms of accessibility and combat pacing — there’s enough here to keep new and old fans entertained.
This is the perfect kind of game to replay. It's impossible to get every achievement in your first playthrough because the drinks you serve in response to quests change the outcome of each quest. Serve someone a drink that boosts their charisma, and they might succeed in talking down a beast that's terrorizing a nearby town. On the other hand, a drink that boosts their strength may result in a character getting injured or failing to address the root cause of the problem.