Samantha Lienhard's Reviews
Nelly Cootalot: The Fowl Fleet is a charming and entertaining point-and-click adventure game, with logical puzzles, a lighthearted story, and truly hilarious dialogue.
AI: The Somnium Files was a unique game that blended a wacky sense of humor with a dark murder mystery and unexpected twists, making it a tough act to follow. Nevertheless, its sequel rises to the challenge. The scale and scope of Nirvana Initiative are different, but the story, humor, characters, and gameplay additions all come together to make it a sequel worthy of the name. If you enjoyed the first game, you’ll likely enjoy AI: The Somnium Files – Nirvana Initiative as well.
While it doesn’t have too much new to offer compared to the original, Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective is as much a masterpiece now as it was when it first launched ten years ago. The passage of time makes some games lose their luster, but Ghost Trick shines as brightly as ever. Its story, humor, and puzzles still stand strong, and it was a delight to revisit this game.
Oxenfree is a spooky game perfect for anyone who enjoys ghost stories and dialogue-driven gameplay. Although the story is short, its multiple endings and lingering questions will pull you back for more.
If you’re comfortable with the high difficulty of its puzzles, Goetia is an enjoyable adventure game with a dark and intriguing story.
Although Spirit of Justice doesn’t utilize all of its mechanics to their full potential, it is filled with the strong storytelling and humor fans of the series expect. It is a must-play for any Ace Attorney fan.
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.
Little Nightmares might leave you with more questions than answers, but the strange, macabre journey should keep you wanting more.
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.
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.
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.
Do you enjoy slower-paced, puzzle-driven horror games? Does the phrase “Lovecraftian horror on Mars” get your attention? If either or both of these is true, Moons of Madness is a horror game you shouldn’t miss.
Deliver Us The Moon is a beautiful, haunting game perfect for anyone who enjoys games featuring exploration and light puzzle-solving, wants to piece together a tragic story by finding clues and logs from the past, or just dreams of visiting the moon.
It’s a simple slice-of-life story with straightforward puzzles, but if that’s your thing, Half Past Fate does a clever job of connecting its cast of characters in ways that feel natural.
Wintermoor Tactics Club is ultimately a feel-good story with fun tactical battles. It might not be the most complex strategy game out there or have the deepest plot, but it’s an enjoyable way to spend 10 or so hours.
Dark, disturbing, and intense, Those Who Remain might not be a perfect game, but it’s one horror fans shouldn’t sleep on.
Despite its short length, Dear Devere is a compelling tale with elements of both romance and mystery that should be viewed as a short story told in visual novel form.
Despite an unsatisfying conclusion, Raji: An Ancient Epic is a fun action-adventure game well worth looking into for anyone who wants an enjoyable story told alongside fast-paced combat or is interested in learning more about Hindu mythology.
Transient isn’t a long game, and its gameplay tends to take a backseat to its storytelling, but if you’re looking for a cyberpunk mystery or a cosmic horror story, Transient blends them remarkably well to create an engrossing journey.
With a compelling cast, intriguing mysteries, and emotional storytelling, Root Double is a visual novel fans of the genre do not want to miss.