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Review: Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers
If you’ve played the first installment of Arcade Spirits, you may have high expectations for this rightfully beloved visual novel. But do not approach this game with any apprehension, The New Challengers is, against all odds, even better! You will be absolutely charmed and thrilled by this indie gem that has some of the best writing I have ever encountered, delightfully retro yet modern and vibrant aesthetics, and fantastic dating sim gameplays.
Review: Princess Farmer
Let this adorable puzzle game with surprising aesthetic depth charm you with its magical bunnies! Princess Farmer is a much-needed breath of fresh, gay air in the indie gaming world.
Review: Fate of Kai
Fate of Kai is the perfect blend of graphic novel and puzzle. You will surely fall in love with the beautiful visuals of this game, get enthralled by its surprisingly complex puzzles, be seduced by its beautiful, albeit short, story full of metaphors, and have the urgent need to complete it in one sitting as I did.
Review: YOLKED (early access)
Entertaining gameplay? Check. Funny concept and design? Check. Just the right amount of frustration to keep you going? Check. Egg-scellent puns? Check. YOLKED serves exactly what it announces: a few hours of silly entertainment with physics-based controls that upset you yet are oddly satisfying.
Review: Black Book
Have you been hankering for a historical, Slavic demon card battler with strong narrative journey and roguelite elements? Well, have I got a game for you! Blackbook is a game quite unlike any I’ve played before. Developer Morteshka, a Russian indie game studio, creates games based on old-world central Asian folklore…
Review: Teacup
Review: Eastward
Eastward is a top-down, pixel art, narrative-driven role-playing game published by Chucklefish and developed by Chinese developer Pixpil. I was drawn into the world of Eastward with its fantastic visuals and unique character design, but…
Review: Calico
Yes!! You Can Pet the Animals: Calico, Reviewed by Palkuka
Review: Potion Craft (Early Access)
This one-of-a-kind simulator will charm you with its delightful aesthetics and unique gameplay. Set in medieval times, you take on the life of a rookie alchemist managing a potion shop. You must try and satisfy townsfolks’ needs and desires while honing your skills as an alchemist and as a merchant.
Review: Castaway Paradise
Review: Littlewood
Littlewood, Developed by Smash Games, a passion project of developer Sean Young, improves on the classic Stardew Valley farming, relationship-building and time-management formula in every way.
Review: Resident Evil Village
The Resident Evil franchise for the past 10 years, give or take, has faced a multitude of backlash, especially since the disappointing Resident Evil 3 Remake’s release in early 2020. Despite the harsh comments and disapproval from fans, CAPCOM managed to secure another hit and continue the success of Resident Evil 7 and arguably RE2 Remake, with various improvements - not just from the design and the storytelling, but from game mechanics and accessibility.
Review: Nova Drift (Early Access)
Nova Drift is a roguelite shooter that takes the best aspects of multiple beloved genres and combines them all into one game. Players take control of an ever-evolving spaceship as they face waves upon waves of enemy organisms all while constantly upgrading their hull and trying to stay alive as long as they can.
Review: Bravely Default II
If there is one genre of gaming I absolutely love its JRPGs (Japanese Role Playing Games). The classic versions of these games were long, difficult, turn-based sagas that challenged players while simultaneously rewarding those who stuck it out for the long haul. While games in this genre have changed over time, there are the occasional releases which embrace the roots of what made these types of games so popular.
Review: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
For better or worse, I have never experienced a game like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. As a huge man of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and its protagonist Kassandra, my hype for this game was real. As a historian, Assassin’s Creed is a series near and dear to my heart.
Review: Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory
“When you walk away, you don’t hear me say, please, oh baby, don’t go. Simple and clean is the way that you’re making me feel tonight, it’s hard to let it go.” Longtime fans of the Kingdom Hearts series are more than familiar with these song lyrics, sung beautifully by Utada Hikaru during the first game’s opening and closing sequences. For many, Utada’s lyrics are nostalgic, and nostalgia serves as the main driving force behind this latest release in the series.
Review: Demon’s Souls
What can be said about remaking a punishing classic like Demon’s Souls? When the game originally launched in 2009 for the PlayStation 3, developer FromSoftware had no idea the impact their new style of gameplay, (now known as the Souls-like genre) would have on the video game world. This beautiful remake, courtesy of Bluepoint Games (developers of the much-acclaimed Shadow of the Colossus remake) has allowed a once under-looked gem to shine.