Samantha Lienhard's Reviews
While it won’t take you more than a few hours and falters a little with its supporting cast, the unusual approach to puzzle-solving in Whispers of a Machine ensure there’s enough replay value to make a return worthwhile.
The World Next Door implements a nice twist on match-3 puzzles for its combat system, and it presents an interesting world with a varied cast of characters.
You won’t find the same epic scale of storytelling here as in its predecessor, but Fate/Extella Link excels with superb battles and sets down the groundwork for what could be an even better sequel.
While its gameplay isn’t its strongest point, Liar Princess and the Blind Prince is a short yet sweet story-driven puzzle-platformer perfect for anyone who wants a fairytale about forbidden love.
Despite some flaws NAIRI: Tower of Shirin is an adorable game with solid point-and-click adventure mechanics and the potential for a great story, although the abrupt cliffhanger ending prevents it from being completely satisfying.
Gris is a relaxing, artistic experience that emphasizes its atmosphere over its gameplay. While it only lasts a few hours, fans of surreal worlds and symbolic storytelling should find it to be an enjoyable journey.
With its gruesome puzzles and serious subject matter, The Missing: J.J. Macfield and the Island of Memories isn’t for everyone, but behind the darkness lies a hopeful story and clever puzzle design.
While the Nazi occupation of Poland is a grim area of history to cover in a cute puzzle game, My Memory of Us respects the past and delivers a somber-yet-hopeful tale of friendship.
Although short, The Gardens Between is a relaxing puzzle game with unique ideas and a nostalgic, bittersweet snapshot of childhood friendship.
If you enjoy mysteries and detective stories, it’s hard to go wrong with Lamplight City. While the puzzles might not be as challenging as in other games in the genre, the narrative takes center stage and provides a memorable experience.
If Capcom decided to continue this spin-off series, it will be welcome news.
At times, Tokyo Dark feels like it would have been better as a pure visual novel, but despite some repetition, its storytelling comes through to make it an intriguing—and sometimes disturbing—experience.
The Last Birdling is neither a long story nor a happy one, but it is a moving visual novel that deals with dark themes alongside questions of friendship and love.
While Fate/Extella suffers from repetition and does little to ease new players into the universe, its fast-paced action and exciting story are ultimately worth it.
Fallen Legion: Sins of an Empire and Fallen Legion: Flames of Rebellion try to tell a grand story, but their flaws hold them back despite an entertaining and unusual battle system.
The Lion’s Song is short, but its characters, connections, and choices make it worthwhile for anyone intrigued by the idea of a story that follows multiple characters in their search for inspiration.
Little Nightmares might leave you with more questions than answers, but the strange, macabre journey should keep you wanting more.
Its four episodes build up such an intriguing, unsettling atmosphere, the experience is well worth it for fans of horror stories.
Alone With You doesn’t delve as deeply into its existential themes as you might expect, and its romance elements are light, but it still provides an enjoyable experience and an interesting story about the only survivor of a sci-fi disaster.
Owlboy fantastic, fun game filled with clever battles, collectibles, and plenty of secrets. While its ending is lackluster, the journey there is well worth it nevertheless.