Melissa Sarnowski's Reviews
Wax Heads is a fun, but short, cozy narrative sim that puts you into the world of physical media via selling vinyls, which is actually seeing a resurgence in the real world. What starts as a charming new job with friendly coworkers turns into the story of how hobbies have to be balanced with real-world obligations and the reality of how corporate practices often hurt small businesses the most, taking away beloved features from towns. It's cute and a bit of a puzzle game, but I wish it lasted longer and gave me more options when speaking to characters, especially to ask follow-up questions regarding record requests.
Bus Bound is the type of game that you'll love if you love simulators, but you might enjoy how peaceful it feels even if you don't usually play this style of game. It's a polished game that delivers what you expect and more. The world alone is beautiful to look at, and the number of pedestrians and other cars makes it feel alive. Aside from a few issues with handling and passenger feedback, the only complaint I have is that I didn't get to try the game with multiplayer or while using a steering wheel controller.
This is the kind of game that I would recommend even to people who don't go for 2D games normally, because it still has the feeling that you get from exploring in 3D games, thanks to its design. Overall, Regions of Ruin: Runegate is an adventure that you can play at your own pace, as it respects your time.
I sincerely hope that Gambir Studio either expands on KuloNiku: Bowl Up! in the future or that the developers simply continue creating cozy games, because their style is perfect for me.
Love Eternal is a solid platformer filled with puzzles and some psychological horror elements that make it feel like its own Greek myth. However, it isn't able to set itself apart from other games in the genre to make it a breakout game.
Starsand Island is a cozy game that gives you the feeling of coming home. It includes everything you expect from a cozy game, but there are minor improvements that could be made, such as having fewer tourists in favor of focusing on island residents. However, it's easy to jump into, and you can sink hundreds of hours into its peaceful world.
"Pathologic 3 continues the series' reboot successfully, crafting a world that's filled with charm and mystery. It's easy to lose track of time in real life as you travel through time to save a town. While it's a strong entry for the series, it can feel too easy and is on the slow side when it comes to pacing."
FFXIV Dawntrail starts with a trip to the New World, and it sets up the next narrative journey for the Warrior of Light.
Tavern Talk makes you a side character in a fantasy adventure, and that's surprisingly fun!
Hide and seek takes on a new life with Midnight Ghost Hunt 1.0!
In the end, if you like simulation games like the first House Flipper or Powerwashing Simulator, then you’ll love House Flipper 2. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some more renovations to do.
Minecraft Legends brings the blocky world of Minecraft into a world that relies on strategy.