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The game strikes a good balance between being challenging but not overly difficult. It took me quite a few tries I finally reached floor zero, but never once did I think the task impossible or feel like rage quitting. However, somewhat to my surprise, the game was far from over. Before I had time to celebrate my success, I found myself in another corridor. Once at the top, you’re now able to access new levels. I was pleasantly surprised that the game had more to offer. After the first challenge, I was ready to take on whatever was thrown at me!
Of all the visual novels I’ve played in the past, this is probably my favourite, with the possible exception of Coffee Talk, since the latter had more gameplay options. I was impressed with almost every aspect, from the story, to the artwork, to the voice acting. I just wish that there had been more interactivity, and I REALLY wish that the main character wasn’t a minor.
While many survival games punish mistakes, Aloft focuses on rewarding creativity and exploration. The absence of hunger mechanics and punishing death penalties makes it a relaxing experience. Dying while flying or battling a corrupted island simply respawns you at home. This forgiving approach encourages players to take risks and embrace the journey without the constant fear of setbacks.
There’s a fair amount down to chance in this game other than your starting weapon since that’s intrinsic to your wizard. Upgrades to your spells can be rerolled a few times once you progress far enough. Being able to gamble a reroll on the choice of augmentations and relics at the expense of health is a cool mechanic. This is incredibly valuable at higher levels when you know the playstyle of the wizard you like and what spells you need to make it work. That said, the only thing you can’t reroll are the spells. As frustrating as this is it does encourage players to try out new combinations. Plus, you won’t get stuck in ruts too often. This is a big part of what keeps this game feeling fresh every time. Embrace it!
For fans of narrative-driven platformers or anyone who loves cats, this is a must-play experience. It slots perfectly into the growing line of feline-focused games, offering a unique balance of whimsy and emotional depth. It’s clear that Valhalla Cats has created something truly special—earning a well-deserved 9/10 for its charm, creativity, and heartfelt execution.
While Find Love or Die Trying doesn’t rewrite the visual novel genre, it does offer players witty storytelling, pop-culture references, humour, and mystery at every turn. The episodic format keeps the story engaging, and the choices you make truly feel impactful, which adds depth to the overall experience. The visuals are amazing, if not somewhat standard for this genre and the audio complements the atmosphere perfectly. Whether you are a fan of visual novels or brand new to the genre, Find Love or Die Trying is well worth checking out.
Fae Farm is on its way to something special. If the devs continue to tend to the game as one tends a farm, it could be a top competitor in the farming sims market. Might I suggest maybe a different title? Given that the dungeons progress the story and the farming is purely supportive and mainly only useful for side quests!
I went into it fully anticipating an underwhelmingly average experience, but instead it surprised me! This was so much fun to play, and I felt so engaged with the story and the characters. It helped me slow down and just appreciate the little moments, rather than needing lots of real-time action to keep me entertained.
Calcium Chaos: Derailed is a brilliantly chaotic and charming roguelite. It delivers endless fun with its inventive mechanics and quirky design! The game’s creative weapon combinations, fast-paced gameplay, and vibrant art style create an experience that feels fresh from start to finish. There’s always something delightfully unexpected around the corner. While minor issues occasionally surface, they don’t overshadow the overall enjoyment the game offers.
The gameplay of Wings of Njord is, at the end of the day, pretty straightforward. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t frustrating. I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting when I started the game, but I definitely wasn’t expecting to be thrown straight into gameplay without any information. Trial and error led me to sorting out how the game is played.
Monarchy offers a charming take on the side-scrolling strategy genre, blending base-building, resource management, and light combat into a visually appealing package. Its relaxed gameplay and cooperative mode make it a great choice for casual players or families, especially those looking for a less demanding alternative to games like Kingdom Two Crowns. However, the game’s lack of tutorials, clunky controls, and repetitive mechanics hold it back from reaching its full potential.
Flock is well and truly ahead of the pack when it comes to the cosy genre. It meets all the criteria and then some. From visuals to mechanics, this is a seamless delight of a game. There’s something so joyous in the design of these funny little creatures and the gorgeous world they live in. And knitting. For goodness’ sake this game even has KNITTING in it. Can it get more comfy cute than this?
Not only does co-op (for up to three players!) make the game feel a lot lighter, but it’s done extremely well, too. One of my biggest gripes with co-op experiences is when you feel like whoever you’re playing with is holding you back, even if that’s just your perception. I can get frustrated when the cameras are locked together, or when your teammate leaves you in the dust. Windblown addresses these problems and so many more. Your cameras are independent of each other, but if you get separated, you can teleport directly to them in just a few seconds. Also, there isn’t much room for fighting over loot, as most of it’s shared equally between the team. You can even find boosts that benefit everyone!
Land of Mushrooms does check the boxes for a light, cosy game with its endearing visuals and simple mechanics. But, its charm quickly loses ground to a lack of originality, a confusing start due to the absence of a tutorial, and an overall feeling of being a repurposed version of other merging games.
I’m often pretty lenient for mascot platformers, even for the ones that fall short, but no such leniency is needed with Nikoderiko: The Magical World. It delivers over and over again for a consistently enjoyable campaign experience. From the seamless way it flows between 2.5D and 3D platforming, to the range of collectibles there are to find, it’s evident just how much love and care has gone into the this title. If you’re after a platforming experience that’ll capture your attention from start to finish, this is it.
Just Dance 2025 is undeniably fun, especially if you love dancing to your favourite tracks with friends or solo. With its mix of new songs, quirky visuals, and energetic gameplay, it’s another solid entry in the long-running series.
The core gameplay loop is incredibly unique, and immensely satisfying. Investigations can be as easy or hard as you make them. They present you with challenges which you have heaps of ways to overcome, which lend themselves well to a game this replayable.
There’s a lot to love about Copycat, especially when it comes to the art and voice acting. The dreamscape scenes are a really nice touch, showing us plenty of Shelter-Dawn’s inner thoughts and how she feels throughout the journey. The narration from different voices adds to that feeling, weaving everything together beautifully. And while the Quick Time Events can be a bit tense, they keep you engaged at the right moments.
It’s also a shame that this game is so short, as it can be completed in just a couple of hours. I was really enjoying my time with it, and even though I feel that the length is able to do the storyline justice, a few extra levels would’ve been the icing on the cake.
With a solid campaign, great character performances, a real understanding of the source material, and plenty of genuinely great surprises in store, it’s one you can find yourself happily replaying over, and over again.