Minimap's Reviews
I really enjoyed my time with Off. The narrative design is excellent, with intriguing characters, a unique world, a great sense of humor, and dramatic twists that kept me on the edge of my seat. As a fan of Undertale, it’s amazing to see how much DNA it shares with Off, especially knowing Off’s original release happened six years prior. It certainly shows its age, especially with random encounters and dated RPG combat and systems, but interesting boss fights do just enough to keep the moments between story beats entertaining. It’s a unique RPG that I think all fans of the genre will find something in it to appreciate, and if you’re a fan of Toby Fox’s work, you absolutely owe it to yourself to check out such a vital piece of his inspiration.
Train Valley World may not be a masterpiece, but it’s a solid and enjoyable game with moments of brilliance. It’s a title that asks a lot of its players but also gives back in rewarding ways, especially for those who love intricate puzzles and logistical problem-solving. If you’ve got the patience to stick with it, you might just find yourself hooked—one more train, one more track, one more level.
All in all, I really enjoyed my time with Is This Seat Taken? I think it’s the perfect little puzzle game and it’s very unique in style for the type of game it is. Sometimes similar scenarios reappeared with small differences and I would’ve personally preferred something different each time. Anyone who’s looking to relax but also work their brain a little bit will be in for a treat with this game. It’s a great price, too!
Herdling is a beautiful atmospheric adventure that I would highly recommend, especially to anyone who’s a fan of games similar to Journey. Despite having a few slow moments, I think this game is stunning and an experience I’ll remember for a while. It only took me 4 hours to finish, so it’s the perfect bite-sized game to add to your list!
Fretless - The Wrath of Riffson is far from perfect. The story is clichéd and one-note, and the combat lacks the necessary balance and depth to remain enjoyable, which is massively disappointing considering the core premise carries so much potential. That said, I still recommend giving [Fretless - The Wrath of Riffson] a try. The way it leverages music in its RPG and deckbuilder mechanics is so clever, and the environments are literally singing with charm. Ritual Studio’s inexperience may have been what holds this back from being a must-play title, but their dedication to creating a world bursting at the seams with the positive energy of music shines through, making Fretless - The Wrath of Riffson an enjoyable and worthwhile experience.
At first, I struggled with balance, and I was either leaning too far into building up my lands or too far into building up my army. It took some trial and error with the development until I found something that worked for me. I enjoyed the Journey mode best because I loved the city-building aspect more. I think anyone who enjoys city-building games would enjoy Kingdom's Deck.
Dragon is Dead surprised me. It took the mechanics of Diablo and masterfully applied them to the action roguelike formula. The beautiful pixel art, excellent enemy designs, and the fun, frenetic combat make playing Dragon is Dead a blast. And the loot and buildcrafting kept me hooked, consistently drawing me in for one more run. I’m concerned about what the launch state might be, especially since bugs should have been ironed out during the Early Access period. I wouldn’t blame anyone for wanting to wait a bit to give PM Studios time to smooth things out. However, I’ve seen how they’ve responded to feedback during that time, and I trust that they will refine Dragon is Dead into a polished experience that I will continue to come back to for a long time.
There’s room for improvement, but it’s still enjoyable enough.
Even if the game did get a bit repetitive, it didn’t feel like it overstayed its welcome. The campaign was around 12 hours for me. After the campaign, you can continue to patrol the streets as you wish. All of this being said, this is a very impressive game from such a small team. I think a few tweaks could really turn this into a great game.
While there's still room to elevate the puzzle design and I'm eager to see even more ambitious ideas in future entries, the game's strengths clearly shine through. Remember though, this score is just a snapshot — the complete review paints the full picture of why this title is worth your attention. And it really is.
AWAKEN - Astral Blade is a stylish, combat-focused sci-fi adventure that hits more than it misses. With gorgeous visuals, engaging mechanics, and a haunting world to explore, it’s a solid pick for fans of the Metroidvania genre. While it falls short in enemy variety, narrative delivery, and platforming precision, its strengths in atmosphere and gameplay make it a journey worth taking - especially if you’ve got a soft spot for platforming, hack & slash, and 2D sci-fi Metroidvanias.
Just like the name suggests, the flow of customers never ends, so it’s nothing but burgers and fries flying off the counter. In the mood for some of that stress that comes with this genre? Try the Time Challenge mode! Here, customers will not only rate the food, but also the amount of time it takes to get that food to them. This shift also gives you a nice 300% bonus, so if you want a little boost to unlock that next planet, try this one.
While the story and characters are serviceable, they never quite break out of the expected mold. Predictability and a lack of emotional depth might leave narrative-driven players wanting more. That said, Dokimon: Quest doesn’t necessarily need to reinvent the wheel, it just needs to offer a good time, and in that regard, it mostly delivers. It’s a solid little adventure with rough edges, but still worth checking out for fans of the genre who are in it for the nostalgia and exploration more than anything else.
DOOM: The Dark Ages doesn’t just iterate, it transforms. It still bleeds the franchise’s DNA, but with a newfound focus on strategy, spectacle, and scale. The shield mechanics, large-scale encounters, and grim world-building push the series into bold new territory.
Monster Hunter Wilds is one of the best in the series. The core loop is satisfying, and the new systems push it forward. It held my attention more than two months after launch and shows no sign of slowing down. For me this is exceptional, as I am known to switch games rather quickly.
Deck of Haunts has “good bones,” but it needs renovating with more content, better balance, and some polishing. It’s a clever combination of deck-building and house-construction strategy that is undoubtedly fresh and fun at first, but lacks the challenge to stay that way for long. The potential is there, and I commend Mantis for developing something creative in a genre containing far too many copycats.
I had an excellent time playing South of Midnight. A lot of the gameplay reminds me of Alice Madness Returns, which was also excellent. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants a unique experience.
Blue Prince is fantastic and my favorite game of 2025 so far. It is clever beyond words, and the depths it goes to in its puzzle designs and narrative are staggering. A rough onboarding period and bouts of slow progress due to the random nature of its gameplay keep me from hailing this as a true masterpiece, but it isn’t far off. Blue Prince is so ingenious and unique in its design, creating an enthralling experience unlike any other, and something I know I will be thinking about for a long time.
While mostly light-hearted, it does give off some eerie vibes at times. My playthrough took about 8 hours while spending some time searching for most collectibles and secrets.
Despite its flaws, S4U: CITYPUNK 2011 AND LOVE PUNCH still offers a brief but memorable experience for players who enjoy cozy, visually-driven narratives and don’t mind a more guided storytelling style. It’s a game best suited for those looking for something short, nostalgic, and reflective — even if it doesn’t quite reach its full potential.