Heather Johnson Yu's Reviews
I really didn’t want this non-game to end, and I bet that you won’t either. Be sure to pick up There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension as soon as you can — I can’t promise you there will be a game, but I can promise you’ll absolutely enjoy the experience.
Paradise Killer is an ingeniously aesthetic investigation game that absolutely belongs in your library; be sure to pick up this gem as soon as possible.
Lucifer Within Us is a must-have for any fan of the detective genre. Adding a perfect mechanic like the timelines feature should be rewarded not only with player support but developer attention — I’d like to see this continued in future titles. Although Lucifer Within Us is short, it’s tight, the richness of the world offering an intoxicating taste that has me hooked.
Yuppie Psycho Executive Edition may not be the scariest game you’ll play all year, but it’ll probably be one of the most scintillating stories of corporate culture gone rancid ever told.
Seriously, if you’re a Katamari Damacy fan, you don’t need me to tell you twice that this is a must-buy. And for newcomers wondering what the commotion is about, why not pick up Katamari Damacy REROLL on the most intuitive console for it — the PS4? For half the price of a AAA game, I guarantee it’s easy to put in Skyrim-level hours into this unrelentingly silly, delightfully absurd title. Don’t disappoint your dad, aka The King of All Cosmos (in fact, do so at your own peril…) — roll up Katamari Damacy REROLL on your PS4 ASAP.
No More Heroes has been overdue for a remaster, but this could never happen without the Switch and its joy-cons. If you’ve been waiting to pick up No More Heroes for the first time or want to play it again in preparation for No More Heroes III, you can’t miss this Switch masterpiece. Can you make it to the top of the UAA, killing the world’s toughest assassins in their natural habitat? Then prove it: pick up No More Heroes on the Switch today!
After playing PHOGS!, I actually found myself in a better mood, the cheerful and delightful nature of dogs encapsulated in this gorgeous game an uplifting experience. It was the cozy, cute platform puzzler I was expecting and then some, surprising me towards the end with how it handled gameplay progression. If you even think for a split second that PHOGS! might be your bag of treats, don’t deprive yourself — I double dog dare you to pick up PHOGS! today and take these goodest doggos for walkies.
I left Röki on my backlog for far too long; don’t make the same mistake I did — play Röki sooner rather than later. A story of loss, love, trauma, and sacrifice told through the beautiful folklore of Scandinavian cultures and the lens of a heroic little girl, Röki will feel like an entirely new experience and is a welcome addition to the point and click genre. Don’t let the forest take another victim — grab Röki and save your family before it’s too late!
Mutropolis is definitely one of the better point and clicks I’ve played in recent memory, and was a pleasant surprise on every front presented. I genuinely enjoyed every moment I spent with it — even when stuck — because it was such a joy to look at and explore. There were a few times I got stuck, certainly, but nothing that kept me from progressing for too long. If you like point and click games with good puzzles, great depth, and an incredibly unique story with fun characters, your quest for Mutropolis ends here.
I finished Voyage (twice) with more questions than answers, but it was a captivating, gorgeous adventure of which I enjoyed every second. Although I had a lot of fun playing on my own, I think playing with a friend would enhance the experience immensely, as there’s a lot to discuss immediately after the game ends. If you’re ready to be absolutely mesmerized and have about 2 – 4 hours to spare, there’s really no reason not to pick up Voyage.
If you thought Among Us needed more storyline, mechanics, and a single-player mode and you enjoy beautiful graphics with a compelling story, you absolutely must pick up Gnosia. The fate of the universe rests on your sleuthing skills, lest you become doomed to repeat history again and again and again and again and again
Eastward pays homage to all things loved about SNES-era gaming, looking and feeling like the games of our childhood locked deep within our hearts. At times, I wondered if the experience would be enhanced playing Eastward sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of a giant CRT television, tethered way to close to the screen by a wired controller. For gamers of a certain age, Eastward feels an awful lot like home, and one I didn’t realize I missed so dearly.
Song of Farca is a top notch surveillance simulator that will simultaneously please players and make them paranoid that someone like Song is watching their every move. With intense cases that require invasive tactics to solve, Song of Farca asks players to make morally ambiguous and legally gray choices that will affect not only Song’s life, but Farca’s future. This was one of the few games I’ve played this year where I was glued to my chair from start to finish, unable to pry myself away from the scintillating story and cleverly addicting gameplay. Song of Farca is an absolute must-play and one that I really can’t recommend enough — just like I recommend keeping your webcams taped over.
From the beautiful art and ethereal music to the addicting gameplay and loveable cast, Fuga: Melodies of Steel is easy to recommend to any fan of turn-based, strategy RPGs. It’s got everything that players love mechanically, but it’s blended in such a fun and innovative way that it feels simultaneously fresh and familiar. Complete with an invigorating story set against a soundtrack that was more like .hack// than anything I’d heard in a long time (felt indescribably amazing to listen to), Fuga: Melodies of Steel should absolutely be on your radar. Just… try not to use the Soul Cannon; yeeting four year olds at enemies does not for a good war strategy make.
Ragnarock is a near-flawless game and a phenomenal experience. If you’re looking for a Beat Saber killer, this is it. It’s clear that so much love went into creating Ragnarock, and you can feel the developer’s dedication with every single beat. If you’re a fan of rhythm games and are looking for something to blow the others out of the water, you’re obligated to pick up Ragnarock. For the power! For the glory! For the horde!
I refuse to spoil Before Your Eyes for you by telling you anything more about the story. All you really need to know is that it’s got an underutilized mechanic integrated perfectly into a heartbreakingly beautiful tale of a life well lived, no matter how short it was. Ludonarrative harmony has been so uniquely and tightly achieved in Before Your Eyes, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see this sweep plenty of awards. This is absolutely my game of the year for 2021 thus far, and for only $9.99, there’s no reason Before Your Eyes shouldn’t be in your Steam library. Get this game.
Rain on Your Parade is a delightfully charming puzzle game that will super-soak players with its incredible creativity. Although I had plenty of fun breezing through on my own, I can absolutely see streamers and youtubers drawing in an eager audience, wondering what hilariously designed level awaits them next. If you love a novel experience that doesn’t take itself seriously but is genuine fun every step of the way (or you just really like precipitation-based gameplay), look no further than Rain on Your Parade.
I Expect You To Die 2 is a fantastic VR escape room experience that plays up the thrilling spy movie genre in the best possible ways. With an incredible voice cast, a show-stopping 360° intro sequence, and exciting puzzles that will really make you feel like a big screen secret agent, I Expect You To Die 2 belongs in every VR library. So, what are you waiting for, Agent? Stop Zoraxis’ evil plan for world domination — we’re counting on you!
Lacuna is not your average pixel noir. Its incredibly complex backstory and rich world-building will shock players expecting the standard murder mystery fare. There's an extremely brilliant and complicated story here, and although it's only a 4 - 5 hour experience, it's not a game one can breeze through easily. If you're looking for something that breaks the mold in subtle but genius ways, Lacuna – A Sci-Fi Noir Adventure should be at the top of your list.
Unpacking was absolutely worth the wait. A delightful experience in every sense of the phrase, Unpacking will resonate with anyone who loves that feeling of fresh possibilities a new place offers. Even in its downturned moments, that unflappable optimism shines through, giving players a sense of excitement with each unpacked item. With its charming aesthetics, playful nature, and nuanced storytelling that will tug at your heartstrings, Unpacking unequivocally deserves a place in your game library.