The simulator genre has certainly been busy over the past few years. Farming Simulator has made a name for itself through its emphasis on realism and “hard work”. Meanwhile, Goat Simulator is a deliberately nonsensical parody, turning the genre on its head.
It’s been a long and stressful couple of years, and finding distractions has been a difficult business. The most effective games I’ve found have fallen into one of two categories. My first category includes involved games that require you to pay attention, like The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk. As for the second, it’s been peaceful, hand-drawn games like Wind Peaks.
With a potential climate crisis well underway, one game has made it its mission to highlight the importance of the natural world. Is Nature Matters a healthy addition to your gaming collection, or will it just pollute an already-bloated games store?
When a giant ball of purple slime floods their city, a group of misfit monsters set out to take back what’s theirs. Does this game ooze charm, or is it not worth spit?
In the magical, musical realm of Balan Wonderworld, you’ll discover endless possibilities waiting for you! But if that sounds too good to be true… then you just might be onto something. If you’ve done any searching into Balan Wonderworld, you’ve probably already run into its less-than-stellar reception. An unpopular demo, dismal sales, and a (since-patched) bug that could trigger epilepsy… the list goes on.
When the High Elf Deedlit finds herself in an unfamiliar land, she swiftly sets out in search of answers. Unfortunately for her, these can only be found by battling hordes of monsters, and some familiar opponents from her past…
What do you want out of zombie games? Do you prefer to battle hordes of relentless monsters in Left 4 Dead 2? How about desperately scrabbling for resources in ruined towns before rushing home by nightfall in 7 Days to Die?
Recently I’ve been fighting deranged cults, battling inter-dimensional monstrosities, and building ever more convoluted constructions to evade or defeat hordes of the undead. With all this non-stop stress and dread, it’s nice to take a break sometimes.
Sometimes, I like to ignore problems until they go away. In Nicole, a slice-of-life mystery visual novel from WinterWolves, you can do just that! Arriving at college full of optimism and energy, Nicole is ready to make the most of her new life. However, she’s soon caught up in a series of kidnappings, and perhaps more concerning, the world of dating.
Vera Blanc: Ghost in the Castle is very similar to Vera Blanc: Full Moon. So similar, in fact, that I could probably copy-paste my other review and call it a day.
When the sound of an intruder interrupts her birthday cake, Clea and her brother Ed head out into the quiet halls of the mansion in search of their parents. However, something sinister has its eyes on Clea, and she may prove to be her own worst enemy.
Maid of Sker follows Thomas Evans as he travels to Sker Island to rescue his lover Elisabeth from her controlling father, who has locked her away in their family hotel. On arrival, it soon becomes clear that something has gone horribly wrong…
When Rie, a cynical and insular 9-year-old, finds Licia, a young demon from Hell, stealing cookies in her kitchen, her life undergoes a sudden and dramatic change. Just how things develop is up to you in Strawberry Vinegar, a slice-of-life (and cake) visual novel.
Based on a French audio series by the same name, The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk isn’t a franchise I’ve encountered before – most likely as it hasn’t been formally translated into English. It has its own fervent fanbase, and has split off into comics, novels, and even a band.