Video Game Reviews

The issues with the translation don’t stop there either, as there are some instances translations just aren’t done. Menu buttons still appear in Chinese meaning I’d have to guess which button was which. Words run out of space in dialogue…

Many of the stages contain threats, such as generic enemies that chase you, or traps that will instantly dispatch you, sending you back to the beginning of the level. These things can be fine if done well, but Temple of Horror just feels…

I’m partial to the occasional chillout game. Power Wash Simulator and PC Building Simulator are nice, light games that you can have fun playing to destress or whilst listening to a podcast. They have a satisfyingly simple gameplay loop…

As an ex home-brewer myself, Brewmaster is a very interesting prospect. I might as well just come out and say it — slotting in somewhere between a walking/narrative simulator and at times an unintentional physics puzzle, Brewmaster pretty…

In those moments where I’d put together an absolutely killer build, playing Vampire Survivors scratched that itch that only the likes of Dynasty Warriors can reach. It’s immensely satisfying to mow down acres of monsters simply by walking…

One game stood out from the crowd thanks to its satirical, shameless humour and surprisingly enjoyable gameplay during my trip to EGX, and that was The Last Hero of Nostalgaia, an action-adventure Soulslike that became a favourite of the…

When it comes to lovely games to spend my evenings with, I often go for slice of life adventure games, where I can just relax and be a part of a village — one that doesn’t have loads of issues going on. Hokko Life feels like a fusion of…

It’s spooky season, and what better way to spend it than with a fridge filled with frights? The Fridge is Red is an anthology horror game featuring six bite-sized experiences for you to shiver your way through, with an overarching plot much…

Those puzzles are really solid too, harkening back to the genre’s glory days. Initially, things are simple enough as you find one object to deliver to a person and other such tasks to progress the plot. But by the fourth of the five acts,…

Mechanically it’s similar to more current iterations of card series like Hearthstone and Gwent but at the time was much closer to Magic: The Gathering.

Losses really do matter too, not only because you’ll become attached to your best performers, but also because there’s no going back on that map screen until quite late in the campaign. This means there’s no real way to grind items, money,…

Initially you are very weak, being able to take only a couple of hits before dying and packing weapons that would struggle to bother a space weevil. Collecting Bits dropped from destroyed enemies increases your currency though, and between…

When controlling Luka, you explore the titular town of Beacon Pines, getting into trouble with your friends, and potentially uncovering that mystery about the town. You’ll be talking to townsfolk, investigating points of interest, and…

Over the course of the game’s three-or-so hour campaign, you’ll acquire shotguns, pistols, an explosive crossbow, and throwing blades to add to your basic sword and skull blast options. Each weapon really does feel unique, but other than…

Visual novels aren't usually my forte, but that's not stopped me from dabbling in the genre from time to time and finding the odd gem like Behind the Frame. This time around I took a look at Wyrdren Games Spellbound: The Magic Within, a…

I don't know about you, but modern life feels incredibly fast-paced and hectic; it's hard to switch off or to think of a life that's any different that the one that we're currently stuck in. Pinecone Dreaming is a short Bitsy game,…

22 cards for 22 games. Cartomancy Anthology certainly provides more than a booster pack’s worth of content. Although uncommon, anthology games are an interesting species. Containing multiple games based on a common theme from a number of…

The long-awaited sequel to 2014's Out There, Out There: Oceans of Time, has finally arrived. But, how do you build on an almost perfect, run-based game? Mi-Clos are a studio that doesn't mind dicing with difficulty. Being constantly aware…

Whenever you enter combat, you’ll need to pick four members of your posse to go in guns blazing as well as their equipment and cards — more on this later — and then it’s into those XCOM style battles. There’s partial and full cover,…

Kao The Kangaroo, an oft forgotten star of those loveable mid-tier early 2000s 3D Platformers, is firmly back! As a person who grew up with a strong and enduring love of this trashiest of subgenres, it’s delightful to see a development team…