11 Bit Studios should be extremely proud of Frostpunk 2; it’s an intoxicatingly detailed and beautiful survival management game. For those who do want more Frostpunk, Frostpunk 2 delivers and then some. Fans of games like Crusader Kings 2 will rejoice, and these added social elements may delight fans of Sid Meier’s Civilization series. The array of laws and choices means Frostpunk 2 is hyper-replayable, for those interested in that sort of thing. Just a glance at the Steam Achievements list makes it clear that there’s a lot you can do and different approaches you can take. I’m already considering what I’ll do next time.
Throughout the approximate three-hour playtime of Duck Detective, players will be treated to delightful dialogue, charming artwork, excellent voice acting, and a satisfactory series of logic puzzles. While the short playtime and price point will be a turn-off for many, fans of the mystery genre will certainly enjoy it.
My biggest problem with Rough Justice: '84 wasn’t even that it didn’t work—it’s that, even when it did, I still just wasn’t having any fun.
Death Trick: Double Blind, while imperfect, is colorful and engaging. Perhaps it’s just like a real day out at the circus—you see some cool tricks, but then you eat too many sweets and you get overwhelmed by the crowds. Yet, at the end of the night, you’re still delighted by what you’ve seen, and you know you’ll remember it. Death Trick: Double Blind won’t be a game everyone enjoys, but it certainly will have its audience. I imagine there will be a lot of fan art. I hope those people—romantics, thinkers, dreamers—find Death Trick: Double Blind and enjoy the ride.
A Highland Song is a beautiful game about a difficult journey, uplifted by gorgeous watercolor art and a gracefully told story. I felt a deep kinship with Moira. This is a game for anyone who has ever looked at the world beyond their window and felt an ache to crest the horizon. Inkle’s newest release is a meditative adventure that would be perfect for anyone who’s a fan of games like Old Man’s Journey, A Short Hike, or Inside (if Inside was happy and not a horrifying nightmare). It’s not for everyone, but then again, neither is running away. A Highland Song is a game for and made by those who know what it is like to yearn and dare to try.
Mail Time is one of the sweetest and most comforting experiences I’ve had in a long time. Despite its relatively short five-hour runtime, Mail Time doesn’t feel small. It’s a great example of quality over quantity. If you are remotely interested in cute forest animals and/or the mail, you’ll want to add Mail Time to your gaming route.
The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood is a fantastic story-driven game with beautiful art and delightful gameplay. There’s something here for anyone, whether it’s your first cozy game or your thirtieth. You don’t need to be femme or a tarot-lover to enjoy what this lovely game has to say about being alive, loving yourself and others, and our power to shape the world around us. If you need a palette cleanser between this fall's major releases, I hope you’ll consider this gem.
If you want to experience the comfort of the Pokémon world without the stress of battling, then I think Detective Pikachu Returns serves its role admirably. However, I don’t think it’s a great video game, much less a great detective game. If you can tell yourself that Detective Pikachu Returns is essentially an interactive anime episode, rather than an actual video game, then I think you’ll have fun.
Venba is not only an excellent video game, but a powerful sociocultural message. At one point, characters discuss how a piece of art had the potential to make a stronger impact with an audience in the way than a protest or traditional statement. Venba meets this potential, and then some. I'm hungry for more.
OXENFREE II is another great adventure game from Night School Studios, and a worthwhile successor to OXENFREE. The game feels like the studio’s letter to its most successful title, a missive that dictates, “I’ll always love you, but I’m moving on now.” It’s an ethos that, hopefully, some of its pained characters and players can learn from.
Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly encourages people to think about the little ways they can make the world around them a better place, one drink at a time. It doesn't reach the same emotional crescendos as the original Coffee Talk, but it articulates its vibe so well that it might not matter. For anyone who has ever dreamed of feeling like a regular, Coffee Talk Episode 2 delivers.
I’m embarrassed to say that I love Disney Dreamlight Valley. It is certainly the least cool new game I’ll play all year, but it’s a delight nonetheless, partially because it’s easy to play, and easy to enjoy.
Stray is as good a weekend binge as any, even if it failed my little cat-owner heart or made me grimace over rice paddy hats. As a video game, Stray is far from perfect, but as a cat-riding-in-a-bucket simulator, it’s pretty incredible.
In spite of its flaws and lack of freedom, Glitchhikers is a sweet, casual game for anyone who is a little sad and in need of human connection. And really, who isn’t feeling that way these days?
As I sat there looking at the colorful rendering of Elk and my 100% completion save file, I wondered if my assumption was inherently American. I had these thoughts of, Give me my prize. Give me the thing again without having to work for it. Give me the chance to look at this again. I knew, looking at that menu screen, that that was not the point of Welcome to Elk. The point of Welcome to Elk is to experience a small world of stories and lives. And there’s no way to dip your toes in. Like the lovable alcoholic schoolteacher Sue, sometimes you have to just dive into those frigid waters and swim to shore.
Where the gameplay may be lacking, The Big Con makes up for with emotional stakes. I found Ali’s relationships to be engaging, funny, and heartfelt. She can call her mom and her best friend—who she’s currently on the outs with—from the road. She makes friends with recurring guests along the road, including a particularly funny Pawn Shop Broker (the game’s way of letting you sell random items for extra cash). She even has a delightful imaginary friend called Rad Ghost who serves as a helper—emotionally, and logistically with controls—throughout the game. Amid the nostalgia and time travel, there is a very tangible reflection on the transience of commercial fads as well as a love and concern for small businesses. Ali is a good kid, and getting to follow her journey, living vicariously through her as the cool ‘90s teen I never was, was worth even the most lackluster of pickpocketing opportunities.
"Boyfriend Dungeon innovates in the realm of story and character, rather than with its gameplay systems, and I think it’s to the game’s benefit. Not every action game needs to reinvent the wheel in terms of mechanics. The experience is straightforward, and allows the spotlight to be on the fun characters and energizing gameplay. [...] I hope you try it out, and when you do, tell me who your fave sword is, and I’ll tell you mine."
Where the Heart Leads fills a void after the closure of Telltale, which famously popularized interactive, combat-less games that ask for decisions to be made and for conversations to be had. I could practically see an icon twirling in the upper right hand corner, saying, Sege will remember you said that. I hope Where the Heart Leads is a sign of more games in that space. If you’re looking for a game that is quiet without being boring, philosophical but not peaceful, and sweet without being trite, then Where the Heart Leads should be in consideration for your next indie binge.