All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed playing Blooming Business: Casino, and would suggest it to any of my friends looking for a cozy, casual time. It has its fair share of bugs, but I think makes up for it with fantastic theming, colorful characters, and overall fun gameplay. If I could suggest one improvement for this game, it would be to add an eyedropper tool similar to The Sims that lets you quickly copy and paste furniture as it can get a little tedious at times to go back and forth between decor when you’re making multiple changes. If you’re interested in trying out Blooming Business: Casino, you can snag a copy on Steam for $24.99!
The combat combined with all of the features I mentioned earlier really come together to create something special-it still just needs a lot of work and polish. I especially love the concept of taking a large faction-based map and adding mmorpg elements to it, so I will absolutely be keeping my eyes on Gloria Victis over the next few months. If the developers keep making steady improvements like they are now, I’ll more than likely keep dipping my toes in every now and again to scratch that PvP itch.
Embers Adrift has a lot of fantastic ideas, but I just don’t feel that it is quite there yet. I do genuinely hope that the Embers Adrift team continues to make improvements and listen to their passionate community, because they will be critical in those days ahead as they start to iron out improvements and optimization issues. Maybe one day in the future I will return to Embers Adrift, but for now, I would just honestly rather play anything else.
Chivalry 2 is a fantastic multiplayer game that is consistently pumping out updates with a pretty thriving community of players. There is a fairly steep learning curve, but it has been out long enough at this point that if you feel yourself tilting, just do a quick Youtube search for “Chivalry 2 combat tips” and it will probably clear up a lot of that brain fog. What most of it boils down to, is practice. You’ll die-a lot. But, you’ll also learn from those deaths and you’ll eventually get better. Chivalry 2’s development path is healthy and thriving since its developers have their fingers on the pulse of the player base, so if you missed the hype train and are looking for a game that will give you the most bang for your buck without a huge time commitment, look no further than Chivalry 2.
Even about 3.5 hours in (admittedly, a pretty short length), the ending felt rushed, confusing, and underwhelming. Maybe others will be able to puzzle out some of the finer details in the plot, but there were far too many details left unspoken for and strange plot holes that left me somewhat upset and disappointed. I wanted to love Ikai, and there were some parts of it that I was really fond of, but by the end, I felt cheated. It’s not necessarily a bad game, but I wouldn’t put it up there with any of my top favorites in recent years.
Wytchwood is a dark fantasy indie adventure game that immerses you into a phantasmagorical land with endless troubles thanks to the villainous animal antagonists that inhabit it. Luckily, or not so luckily, you play an old witch who has made a pact with an ancient, black goat that's fond of eating grimoire pages and expects you to do something about the fairytale world's woes. What ensues is hours of hilariously creative dialogue and story, framed by colorful characters, relaxing music, and an enjoyable crafting system. There are always more spells to cast and mushrooms to pick for those that know where to look. Wytchwood is one of those rare gems that supports its rich story with a very successful crafting and gathering system that rewards creative and conniving crones. Collect all the souls and maybe, just maybe, you can enjoy that nap in your rocking chair without fairytale creatures knocking down your door for help. Who are we kidding? There's always another villain.
You will not find a better bargain for your buck as far as story-rich horror games go. Inscryption is a meager $20 on Steam, and I honestly wish they would have charged more for it. I would have paid far more for it. It hasn’t won several awards for nothing! With that being said, I do appreciate the pricing because it makes the game available to more of their audience that might not have been able to afford it. If you’re at all hesitant, don’t be. Just do it. Take the leap, and play Inscryptionfor yourself.
Back 4 Blood is one of those games that you don’t have to particularly worry about grinding, which is incredibly refreshing. Between grinding for in-game currency for dungeon gear in FFXIV, and trying to level up my weapons in Dauntless, it’s nice to have a game I can jump back into with my friends at any point in time and just play. It’s fast-paced, creative, and just all-around good fun. What’s not to love? The game has been out for a while, but that just means that the developers have had more time to listen to feedback and start fixing some of those bugs that have been bothering players.
In my opinion, especially with all of the bugs, you should save your money on this one or wait until a heavily discounted sale. Maybe in a year or so they'll iron out some of the issues that plagued its release and work on the "fun factor", but it just isn't there right now for this reviewer to feel comfortable recommending it to our readers or friends.
Taking the time to name your dinosaurs and seeing them interact in their immersive enclosures creates a certain unmistakable bond that will have you yelling through your screen at your scaley children to get along. Losing your first dinosaur to a trial by combat is equally as emotional after you’ve invested so much time into their health and well-being. However, every new dinosaur you create is a chance to take a small mental break from park management. They each have different behaviors, sounds, and habits to observe, so take that time to zip around the enclosures and watch your dilos “Pinky” and “Brain” take a nap in the tall grass: they’re kind of cute when they’re asleep.
While there are still clearly some stark improvements that can be made, I think that Medieval Dynasty succeeded in bringing something new to an already saturated and stale genre, and can be a lasting favorite, as long as they continue to make improvements and provide updates.
For newcomers to the series, it’s a fantastic option because, obviously, you’re not gated by a hundred different consoles just to experience the story for yourself. It’s incredibly easy just to boot up one of the collections and get started carving your way through armies of heartless. For veterans of the series, it’s a great way to relive your childhood for the exact same reasons.
Lost Words: Beyond the Page is a breathtaking, moving side-scroller narrative adventure that masterfully tugs at your heartstrings thanks to a moving musical score, a beautifully written story, and gorgeous graphics. Each piece comes together to create something truly magical that is sure to stay with you well after you've finished the game. While the gameplay is fairly casual in nature with an average of 4-5 hours to complete and easy to solve puzzles, it is worth every penny to experience Izzy's journey alongside her. Just make sure you grab plenty of tissues and turn off the lights before you do so, so you can ugly cry in peace.
One plus side of this release is that Skyforge is free to play! If you own a Nintendo Switch, there is absolutely no risk at all involved for you to jump in the game and try it out for yourself. I always highly encourage anyone who has even the slightest bit of interest to try it out for themselves. I will definitely be keeping my eye on Skyforge for the next few weeks to see whether or not they pull through on their end with fixes. If that happens, I would be more than happy to update this review with a newer article, score, and impressions. For now, I’ll just have to say goodbye to my beautiful wings and halo, and hang them up for a day when they can be utilized to their fullest without the constant crashing.
Sarawak can be found on Steam right now for $9.99. I highly encourage anyone that's a fan of mysteries and interactive novels to give it a try, and support this wonderful new indie studio.
All in all, I loved Heart of the Forest. I was frustrated by some of the choice mechanics, but it was never enough to make me stop playing. I wanted to push through to the end every time to see whether or not their stories could be saved. A game that keeps you coming back well after the first playthrough is a precious treat in my eyes, and Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Heart of the Forest had me eating right out of its paws.
Chicken Police is the guilty animal film-noir treasure that I didn’t know I needed in my life until I took flight into the Wilderness and experienced it for myself.
If you’re a hopeless romantic like me that loves to have their heart shattered into hundreds of pieces over a thought-provoking story, When the Past Was Around is exactly what you’re looking for.
I genuinely loved playing through The Red Lantern, and bonding with my sled team. The art style for it is charming and beautiful at times, with a lovely soundtrack that effectively adds to the atmosphere of being lost in the frozen wilderness. My first completed run-through of the game took me about 2 hours and 30 minutes to reach. I didn’t fill out my journal or see every event, but if you’d like to, you can do just that after finishing the game. There are still plenty of adventures and scenarios to discover with your pups, and even more dangerous challenges to face.
There's a lot to love about Ikenfell: its characters, charming narrative, and polished strategic combat all come together to create something truly unique and magical. While it calls on themes from other pop culture titles, the story within is all its own. Slow at first, Ikenfell's true narrative starts to unravel as you meet new friends and unlock clues behind Maritte's sister's disappearance. For $19.99, Ikenfell is well worth the price if you're a fan of pixel games with an inclusive storyline and a beautiful soundtrack.