Does anyone remember playing those old Nancy Drew mystery games for Windows? The thrill of solving a mystery? The daunting task of investigating suspects and poking around for clues? I used to *love* them and have to admit that I end up comparing every mystery game I play to them in some way or another. However,
I have to admit that I’m not the kind of person who usually steps out of their preferred video game genre. Despite being a game reviewer I feel like the type of titles I sink my time into tend to be pretty consistent. However, from time to time I do dabble in games I normally
Have you ever played a game that gives you a constant feeling of deja vu? Be that because it resembles something you’ve played before or because it’s just a straight-up copy of another game? That is the exact feeling I experienced during my playthrough of the preview build for Eternights.
I am usually thrilled when I write a preview and get to review the full version of a game soon after. Especially when it’s a title I’m excited about. The things I hope to see and express disappointment with during my initial playthrough are things I sharply look for the second time around, and this
I can’t express how excited I was when I was told I would get to preview Don’t Nod’s new narrative adventure game. Life is Strange is one of my favorite series and, given my affinity for visual novels and the like, this sounded like an amazing opportunity. However, I have to admit that Harmony: The
The Coffee Talk series features two things I’m fond of: visual novel elements and coffee! It’s interesting because while the premise seems rather simple, I don’t actually come across many games that explore these types of random mixes often, or well, for that matter.
And…I’m back! It’s been about two months since we previewed Tchia, Awaceb’s open-world adventure game featuring its titular 13-year-old heroine, and man am I glad I didn’t have to wait long to fully experience this title.
I am in love with the fact that indie developers have begun to unabashedly explore stories that were not at all common 20 years ago. There is something so refreshing about seeing an obscure narrative come to life and I hope with all my heart this trend continues.
My favorite types of games to write about are the ones that you can tell have been made with love. I know that sounds a little obvious, but not every game gives off that specific aura. Because of that, the ones that do tend to shine all the more. Tchia, a new open-world adventure title
It’s been a while since I’ve played a true visual novel. By that, I mean a game that’s entirely text-based with no choices to make. There is something kind of nice about a title that has its own story to tell and just wants to do that, with the only deviation being who you want
I’m a sucker for a good narrative adventure game, especially if it has a compelling story to tell. However, not all games within this genre are created equal, and titles like South of the Circle make this quite clear. That isn’t to say I had a bad experience during my playthrough, but suffice it to
Have you ever wondered what would happen if you added ghosts to a game like Stardew Valley? More specifically, if you used a backdrop like the one found in the movie Spirited Away (the whole bathhouse for ghosts part) and coupled it with typical life sim elements? This just about sums up Spirittea, a new
The last time I wrote a review for an otome game, I couldn’t help but point out how childish the genre’s usual tropes felt from the perspective of an older player. The satisfaction I craved from that particular story never came because I couldn’t shake the feeling that I wasn’t the intended audience. This never
My boyfriend often asks me why I am such a huge fan of life-simulation games. My response is usually something like, “they’re cute,” or “I find them relaxing.” While both of these answers are true, I think what I like most about this genre is how addicting it can be when done right. I actually
Growing up in the 2000s has made me an expert on vampires. Twilight, The Vampire Diaries, True Blood, you name it. I was glued to my TV trying to imagine what it would be like to live in a fang-filled world and I wrote down every detail to prepare myself. Needless to say, I never
There is nothing sadder than waiting almost a decade for a game, just to be disappointed by it. I still remember how excited I was when Rune Factory 5 was first announced. On the one hand, it was scary to think back on all the hours I poured into Rune Factory 4, but the anticipation
Is anyone else tired of some modern games not being able to put forth clear narratives? I recently experienced this with The Good Life, SWERY’s newest title, and now find myself in the same boat with The VII Enigma, a character-driven sci-fi mystery visual novel developed and published on PC via Steam by Spire Games.
One of the perks of being a game reviewer is learning about upcoming games that may be easy to miss. Sometimes, these hidden gems can provide more entertainment than big named titles, and when that happens it’s ALWAYS the best feeling. I recently had this experience with Arcadia Fallen, a modern fantasy visual novel developed
I’d like to think that given my long stint as a gamer, I have experienced everything that video games have to offer. However, there are times when I am made to realize that is not the case. Unfortunately, those experiences aren’t always positive, as is the case with The Good Life, an RPG adventure game
Have you ever wanted to like an experience, particularly one that would normally check all your boxes, but couldn’t bring yourself to do it? This is exactly how I felt while playing A Juggler’s Tale.
