The Santa Clara Ascent brought a welcomed shift to the meta as we sort of move away from the RE: Collection dominated meta with Arisanna taking her place in the sun. Silvie continues to be a dominating presence, but its nice to see some variety. Here are the top three decks of the event, make sure to check out the official event post for the full list.
If you need to pick up Grand Archive, make sure to do it over at TCG Player using my affiliate link. I’ll be leaving links to the singles!
I was sent a free copy of Void Solsto review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.
I am happy to announce my newest sponsor, Game Nerdz. If you’re looking to buy any card games, board games, miniatures, and more, get it over at Game Nerdz using my affiliate links. Game Nerdz offers some fantastic pricing on anything you need, and it really helps me out.
What is Void Sols?
Void Sols is a top down minimilistic souls-like out now on PC.
You find yourself imprisoned, about to be slaughtered like a common rat when a powerful light washes over you, granting you the power to fight back. With your newfound gifts and any weapon you pick up along the way, fight your way to freedom. What will be your weapon of choice? Will you ever taste freedom, or are you destined to die in this maze?
Gameplay
Players control a triangle and guide it through a seemingly endless maze. They must effectively use the weapons and skill they find along the way to survive the danger that seems to lurk around every corner. Like most souls-like games, players will need to grind a lot of the same mobs, slowly making their way deeper into the dungeon. The game features campfires where they can rest, level up, and reset the mobs. Most importantly, players have the flexibility to build their character to fit their play style. There is a good amount of customization when it comes to weapon types, buffs, and abilities. I am sure there is a correct way min max a character, but I built what I thought was fun.
Review
Void Solsis fantastically soul-like, and I recommend it to everyone. I am a huge fan of the minimalistic style choice, the amazing soundtrack, and the fun and engaging gameplay. While the minimalism makes the game look like a casual souls-like, the game requires enough strategy to keep things engaging. Mastering combat will take a bit of effort.
Like other games in the genre, it can feel repetitive. Better players will be able to breeze through the game, but the filthy casuals like me will have to grind out the same mobs until they are strong enough to move on. I found the repetition soothing, but it is important to note that this game is repetitive by design. That said, it is not a soul-crushing grind.
Combat in this game feels fantastic. The developers masterfully translate the intricacies of combat into a solid minimalistic package. Combat requires enough skill to be engaging, but it won’t alienate the newcomers. The weapons all feel unique, and it was fun to explore the different styles. Upgrades and leveling felt impactful, and I enjoyed the rate of progression. Enemies all felt unique and were constantly forcing me to adapt to new tactics, and the boss fights were all creative and fun.
Void Sols is a fantastic casual souls-like for the people who want to hop into the genre but without the commitment. The game is fun with some solid flavor and engaging gameplay. Best of all, it is Steam Deck compatible.
You can pick up Void Sols on Steam for only $19.99, but there is a demo available if you don’t believe me.
Ascent Santa Clara was a very exciting event. Arisanna got her moment in the sun, and we got a lot of spoilers for some cool new product! If you need to pick up any Grand Archive, make sure to always support your LGS, but you can always pick up product on TCG Player using my affiliate link.
Table of Contents
Alchemical Revolution Alter Edition Spoilers
Alchemical Revolution is getting its alter edition with a few new cards to spice up the meta. Looks like Arisanna is getting a bit more support, but the ranger support doesn’t seem to bad.
Kongming Holiday Set
Get ready to empty your wallets this holiday season with the first ever holiday themed product. Kongming will be kicking things off with what is definitely going to be flying off the shelves. Make sure you put your preorder in on Christmas day!
The set includes:
Play set of Revitlizing Cleanse promo (3 non-foil and 1 foil with a chance the foil is a Collector Rare)
Revitalizing Cleanse Playmat
Acrylic Kongming Standee
Acrylic Kongming keychain
B2 Tapestry
Waterproof Sticker
Deckbox
Storage Box
Re:Collcection Lite
The Re:Collection decks are getting their reprints, but these won’t include the additional packs. This is wil be a great time to pick up what have been some strong and competitive decks without having to pay the scalper tax.
Abyssal Heaven
The Abyssal Heaven expansion set, which will be a smaller set than the base set, will release March 7th, so make sure you budget accordingly.
Mercurial Heart Alter Edition
If you missed out on Mercurial Heart, it is not too late. Mercurial heart is getting it’s own alter edition in May. This is the set that started it all for me, and I am very excited to see what new cards it will bring.
Gua Jia Deck Box
Now we shift to the competitive side of the game with Acent Utrecht deck box exclusive. Folks heading to Utrech on January 25 better get their VIP or Champion package to pick up this beautiful Gua Jia deck box. With how good the past exclusive deck boxes have been, you aren’t going to want to miss out.
Ascent Seattle Spirit
Worlds Announcement
Worlds 2025 has been announced for June 28th – 29th, so make sure you start making your grind towards Anaheim.
The Gauntlet
Those who don’t qualify for worlds will get their last chance on June 26th in a one day closed invite event. The top 16 players will qualify and I’m sure it will be grueling event.
2025 Full Schedule
M.Rage Collab
If you’ve been waiting for some official Grand Archive merch, an official collaboration with M.Rage is in the works, it is sounding promising. More information to come.
I was sent a free copy of Love Too Easily to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinion. This will be my honest review.
I am happy to announce my newest sponsor, Game Nerdz. If you’re looking to buy any card games, board games, miniatures, and more, get it over at Game Nerdz using my affiliate links. Game Nerdz offers some fantastic pricing on anything you need, and it really helps me out.
What is Love Too Easily?
Love too easily is a Korean Rom Com FMV out now on PC via Steam and GOG.
After a night of drinking, Yeonwoo wakes up with a headache and a vague memory of what happened. As she slowly regains consciousness she kisses someone, but she can’t remember who it is. Snippets of last night’s events slowly trickle in, but not enough for a complete story. She must now go out and piece together last night’s events, and hopefully find the love of her life. What will her investigation uncover?
Gameplay
Love Too Easily is an interactive story told through an FMV. Players watch the story unfold and make choices that affect the outcome. There are quick time events to keep players on the their toes, and multiple endings for added replayability. What makes this game unique are the interactive hand drawn mini games that break up the action in meaningful chunks.
Review
Love Too Easily is a fantastic FMV if you enjoy cheesy rom-coms. I loved every minute of it, but it can be a little much for those wanting a more serious narrative. I don’t understand Korean, but the acting seems solid, and there are enough twists to the story to keep things interesting.
The film production is solid, but there are scenes where you can hear an echo. The echo is a little distracting, but it isn’t unwatchable. There are also some cringy moments, but that comes with the secondhand embarrassment of choosing the wrong person and watching Yeonwoo get into an awkward situation.
This game is Steam Deck compatible, and it is a fantastic port. The subtitles are easy to read and everything looks good at the aspect ratio. This is a great portable game because you can sit back and enjoy the story.
One issue I had with the game was that the menu was in Korean at launch. This is an easy fix, but it does mean there will be some initial setup at launch. Another issue I have with this game is that you can’t skip cut scenes after you beat the game. I should be able to skip through scenes I’ve already played through. After two playthroughs, I didn’t have it in me to try again even though I wanted to get the true ending.
If you like interactive fiction and don’t mind the cheesy rom-com tone, check out Love Too Easily. It is a solid story with decent acting. If you don’t believe me, make sure you check out the demo.
I was sent a free copy of Once Upon a Dungeon: Infinityto review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinion. This will be my honest review.
I am happy to announce my newest sponsor, Game Nerdz. If you’re looking to buy any card games, board games, miniatures, and more, get it over at Game Nerdz using my affiliate links. Game Nerdz offers some fantastic pricing on anything you need, and it really helps me out.
The call of adventure sends its siren song across the land, seducing eager adventurers to the mouth of the dungeon. Crawl through the darkness, fight off monsters, avoid traps, and free it from its treasure. The journey will be perilous, but you as an industrious adventurer have potential. Craft the tools of the trade, conquer this delve, and claim your spot in history. Do you have what it takes?
Gameplay
Players move through procedurally generated dungeons a square at a time. Each action is a turn and every creature in range of the player takes a turn at the same time.
Once Upon a Dungeon: Infinity is a cute hack-and-slash that offers enough of a challenge to keep things interesting. Combat is as simple as clicking an enemy, but players still need to move efficiently and find the right gear. I am sure there is an optimal build, but I built whatever was fun.
Players can craft useful items and upgrade existing ones, provided they have the knowledge and materials. For those seeking a challenge, there is a mode where death is permanent and enemies can attack from any direction.
Review
Once Upon a Dungeon: Infinityis an interesting title with a few issues but a lot of heart. First off, the game is a little too dark. I believe the intent was to emulate the darkness of the dungeon, but I think they overdid it. There are also a few bugs that are hard to ignore. I noticed a few stutters and frame drops, but nothing that made the game unplayable. I almost gave up on the game because of the lack of polish and awkwardness, but I am glad I didn’t.
Once Upon a Dungeon: Infinityhas a solid core. The game is a casual dungeon-crawling done right. The procedurally generated maps work fine, and they offer enough of a challenge to keep players engaged. I love that there is a perma-death mode that can be toggled because it makes things more intense, and it is the only way I will play this game moving forward.
Once Upon a Dungeon is a cute and simple roguelike with a neat crafting mechanic and a lot of potential. If you don’t the roughness that comes with an early-access game, make sure you add it to your wishlist and check out the demo!
I wanted to write this to let you know that this review is no longer valid. The devs have made some changes that have ruined the game for me, specifically the terrible decision to red-con the opening scene and change the entire story. The story is what got me into the game, and the fact that the latest patch took away the story and made aspects of the game unplayable makes it hard to recommend the game. I might come back if they fix the game, but until then, I’m out.
I was sent an early copy of Infinity Nikito review for my blog. It was on a private press-only server where I was given a lot of in-game money and as much time as I needed to progress through the story. Although I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.
I am happy to announce my newest sponsor, Game Nerdz. If you’re looking to buy any card games, board games, miniatures, and more, get it over at Game Nerdz using my affiliate links. Game Nerdz offers some fantastic pricing on anything you need, and it really helps me out.
What is Infinity Nikki
Infinity Nikkiis a gotcha RPG coming to PlayStation, PC (via the official client and Epic Games), and Mobile (via Android and IOS devices) on December 5th.
Nikki finds herself in a strange and magical world where her outfits grant her special powers. She can use these powers to fly through the air, gather material, and fight off monsters. There is an darkness spreading across the land, and Nikki seems to be the only one capable of stopping it. Will she be able to harness the powers of thew Heart of Infinity in time to stop the land, or will Darkness finally take its hold?
Gameplay
Players travel across the land collecting materials to unlock different outfit abilities. These abilities help Nikki move around the world, gather materials, and look good doing it. Players must collect these abilities by completing different tasks, quests, and through the natural progression of the story. Like most RPGs, there are monsters to kill, puzzles to solve, and treasure to find but the dressup mechanic is what makes Infinity Nikki unique. Players can buy outfits through the cash shop, but these are purely cosmetic. Players can either buy complete outfits, or they can pull for random pieces of an outfit. The game and its story can be played without spending any money, but looking good will cost a bit of money.
Review
I got to try Infintiy Nikki during one of the beta’s and loved every minute of it. I was very happy to get to try an early version of the game, and will continue to playing this game regularly.
The game features a cozy and enjoyable gameplay loop that will make it my go to relaxing title. Platforming and combat are engaging without being too demanding, and I enjoyed the casual repetitive nature of farming materials. It has a beautiful world to explore with lots to do, and a fantastic soundtrack to carry you through it. The story is a bit on the cutesy side, but it give the game its charm. I loved the tone and voice acting is fantastic.
The fashion in this game is fantastic. I spent a bit too long pulling for the perfect outfit, and it’s going to be hard to not have that advantage on the regular servers. The game gives players decent outfits for playing through the story, but there is a paywall for some of the cooler styles. While there is no pay-to-win feature, it is going to cost money to look good. The pull rates seem fair, but it is going to cost $50 to collect a legendary outfit, and even then it isn’t a guarantee. You’ll need to spend more money to pull additional colors, but at least the colors don’t affect abilities. I was able to get a decent outfit by playing the game and rolling with only in game money, but there is always going to be something to chase.
My only real complaint is that the game isn’t on Steam. It would be nice to play this on my Steam Deck without some kind of workaround, but this isn’t a deal breaker. I can just play on my phone.
I was sent a free copy of Rogue Waters to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.
I am happy to announce my newest sponsor, Game Nerdz. If you’re looking to buy any card games, board games, miniatures, and more, get it over at Game Nerdz using my affiliate links. Game Nerdz offers some fantastic pricing on anything you need, and it really helps me out.
What is Rogue Eaters?
Rogue Waters is a pirate themed roguelite strategy game out now on Steam and Epic games, and it will be receiving its console release on February 4, 2025.
You have been a loyal officer for the infamous Blackbone until the day you encounter the artifact. Blackbone’s greed has landed you on an ominous island, and with a firm command, sends you into danger. Unfortunately, the treasure he seeks is cursed, and you are its recipient. Feeling betrayed, Blackbone sends you to your watery grave, but you do not stay there. You wake up in a strange place, alive, angry, and with a mysterious voice in your head. Gather your crew, fortify your ship, and set sail for you new adventure. Will you use this new life to get your revenge? Will you uncover the source of this new strange affliction? You’ll need to play to find out.
Gameplay
All players start in the game’s main hub where they can upgrade their ship, crew, and abilities with the loot they find along their run. Players then set sail and either play through the story or grind out random runs. During a run, players can choose to engage in combat, trigger a random event, buy equipment or heal, or find treasure.
What makes Rogue Waters a unique roguelite is its naval combat mechanic. Before a player can board an enemy ship, the ships engage in combat. Players take turns with enemy ships to attack each other’s modules. Modules include the ship’s weapons, upgrades that give units passive abilities, and crew mates. Destroying modules gives players different advantages. Destroying a weapon means the enemy ship can’t attack, destroying an upgrade removes the enemy’s passive buff, and killing an enemy unit means there are fewer units to fight during combat. The player faces the same dangers. Choosing what to attack during naval combat can be the key to victory.
Once on the ship, combat is a straightforward turn-based system, with the player performing all their actions first. Rogue Waters has a unique pushback mechanic that players need to take advantage of. When a unit attacks, both parties are pushed back to one space. Players can choose the direction of this knockback, and interact with the environment for additional effects. For example, knocking an enemy into a wall does additional damage. The coolest mechanic however is the ability to summon giant creatures from the darkest depths of the oceans to aid you in combat. Each creature has a unique ability and can easily turn the tide of a battle.
When a player’s crew wipes, the player returns to the main hub to purchase their upgrades and start their new run.
Review
I absolutely love Rogue Waters and recommend it to anyone looking for a new strategy game. This game has cool nautical flavor, a solid story with amazing voice acting, and fantastic gameplay. The naval combat mechanic gives the game some great flavor, and the pushback mechanic makes combat fun. I personally loved the ability to summon giant creatures like the Kraken to defeat my enemies.
The only complaint I have is that not all of the animation is smooth. This isn’t a deal breaker since the game performs well most of the time, but there is the occasional stutter or awkward animation that is hard to ignore.
That said, Rogue Water’s unique mechanics and solid storytelling will easily make it the pirate game you didn’t know you needed in your life. If you are looking for a new and unique strategy game that is also Steam Deck compatible, check out Rogue Waters on Steam and Epic Games. If you would rather wait for the console release, don’t forget to wishlist it for PlayStation, Xbox, and the Nintendo Switch.
I was sent a free copy of New Arc Lineto review. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.
I am happy to announce my newest sponsor, Game Nerdz. If you’re looking to buy any card games, board games, miniatures, and more, get it over at Game Nerdz using my affiliate links. Game Nerdz offers some fantastic pricing on anything you need, and it really helps me out.
What is New Arc Line?
New Arc Lineis a steampunk RPG currently on Steam Early Access.
Many have been lured to the new world for a new life and abundant opportunity. Every day, boats empty with hopeful faces and ambitious hearts. But something isn’t quite right. People disappear each day and there are rumours of something sinister brewing in the shadows.
You landed on these shores like many before you, but you come with your agenda. You’ve come to deliver a bit of contraband and find yourself wrapped in the middle of something bigger than yourself. Make your way through this industrializing city as you complete quests, solve puzzles, and fight off anyone who gets in your way. What will your journey uncover? What trouble have you gotten yourself into?
Gameplay
New Arc Lineplays like a tabletop RPG. Players build their party of noteworthy characters, perform skill checks to complete tasks and engage in turn-based combat. The choices a player makes and the results of various skill checks impact the story, so think carefully and roll a balanced team.
Combat feels like playing a tabletop RPG, albeit a little clunky. Characters in a player’s party each have their own initiative and action economy. Combat is over when certain tasks are completed, or the party wipes.
Review
New Arc Linehas a roughness to it that can’t be ignored. While the game looks great, the performance isn’t always good. Combat for example is clunky, with noticeable stutters that can make the camera go crazy at times. It is not unplayable, but a few tweaks here would be much appreciated. This game also has issues with its voice acting. There are a few times where the actors are switched, or AI is used. I understand the recording may not be done yet, but it is disorienting. Finally, the quests can be a bit boring. This game has a lot of fetch quests, which is fine until it isn’t. The story and flavor are what kept me playing, but sometimes it takes a little too long to get to the point.
That said, I found New Arc Line an enjoyable game, and can’t wait to see a better version. While combat was clunky, it worked well enough. I also enjoyed making skill checks and feeling that uncertainty that came with each role. While the animation does look wonky, the world and artstyle look cool. I would have loved to see more of the world, but exploration is restricted.
If you enjoy tabletop RPG’s and want something similar on your computer, New Arc Line is a solid contender. The biggest issue this game has going against it is the lack of polish, but the game is still in early access. There is still time for the team to make improvements. If you don’t mind the roughness, and want to support the making of a solid RPG, you can get your copy of New Arc Line on Steam for $19.99. If you would rather wait for the better version, make sure the game is in your Wishlist.
I was sent a free copy of Songs of Silenceto review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.
I am happy to announce my newest sponsor, Game Nerdz. If you’re looking to buy any card games, board games, miniatures, and more, get it over at Game Nerdz using my affiliate links. Game Nerdz offers some fantastic pricing on anything you need, and it really helps me out.
What is Songs of Silence?
Songs of Silenceis a casual yet engaging turn-based 4X strategy game out now on steam.
Lead one of three unique factions through victory as you claim land, upgrade settlements, and strengthen your empire. The world is unforgiving, but you are the brilliant strategist that will lead your people to victory. Do you have what it takes to cement your place in history as your people’s greatest hero, or will your story be lost to time?
Gameplay
Players take turns moving their units, conquering camps, building their ranks, and fighting over territory. Combat is automatic, but certain factors like terrain, the placement of units, and types of units affect the outcome. What makes Songs of Silence unique is its deck-building mechanic. Each commander and clan has a unique set of abilities they can cast on a cool down. These cards can cast abilities like healing or attack spells, or send commands to their units for powerful attacks.
Players can enjoy the rich, story-driven campaign at their own pace. The story is well written and does a fantastic job at setting the tone for the game. Players can also enjoy endless amount of fun playing against the well scripted AI as they try to conquer randomly generated maps. There is also an active discord community and online matchmaking for those who prefer to play PVP.
Review
I have been excited about Songs of Silencesince I tried the first alpha, and I was not disappointed. This game has some beautiful art and incredible flavor. The story is okay. It was enough to hook me, but not the reason you should be rushing to play this game. Instead, you should be looking at this game for its unique and interesting take on the 4X genre.
Songs of Silencehas the most relaxing, engaging, and accessible solo experience of any strategy game I have ever played. Its unique card mechanic keeps the auto battles from being boring, and the game demands enough strategy to be engaging without becoming too sweaty. I enjoyed playing through the campaign, but I loved playing scrimmage. I had a lot of fun exploring the different factions, champions, and units. I didn’t always win, but I had a lot of fun trying.
I did try a couple of online matches, but they aren’t my thing. I always found matches easily, but the game felt too slow sometimes, especially when I was losing. If you’re looking for a strategy game with a good competitive scene, I am not sure Songs of Silence is the place. The game has a growing active community, but I can’t speak on how good of a multiplayer game this is because I didn’t enjoy the experience. I like playing this game at my own pace.
If you’re looking for a strategy game that is unique, fun, and Steam Deck compatible, pick up Songs of Silenceon Steam, justmake sure you wait for the Steam Fall sale (Nov 27 – Dec 4) just in case, but you can pick up Songs of Silence and its amazing soundtrack on Steam.
I was sent the five Hero Realms character packs to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.
The character packs introduce the class system to the fantasy-themed deck-building game. The playable characters I received were cleric, fighter, ranger, wizard, and thief. Each pack comes with two special ability cards unique to the corresponding class, and a few uniquely themed resource and attack cards. These packs will act as a player’s starting deck. The packs also have a unique character card and authority tracker for flavor.
You will need the base game if you want to play with these cards. Make sure you check out my review of Hero Realms if you don’t know what I am talking about.
Cleric Pack
Fighter
Wizard
Thief
Review
If you haven’t played hero realms yet, it is worth checking out. The game is easy to learn and teach, and has some terrific flavor. The cards are high quality, and the texture is wonderful. Make sure you check out my full review!
While the character packs aren’t a necessity, they do not disappoint. The packs are all printed with the high quality and care that I have come to know from Wise Wizard Games. The flavor of each pack is fantastic in both mechanics and art. This game has some fantastic art, and if you like fantasy, you’ll love these character cards.
Power level-wise, the classes feel pretty even. Most games were decided based on RNG, and none of the classes seemed unfair. I preferred using the cleric because I am always the group’s cleric. You can get away with only buying one character pack. I played a few games against a character without one and while the abilities do offer a slight advantage, it was manageable. That said, I would have preferred to play with a class because the class abilities add a fun dynamic to the game.
If you don’t sleeve your cards, you can pack the character packs snugly with the base game, but the box will only fit one character and the base game. You’re going to have to get creative with storage if you are like me and sleeve everything. This isn’t a criticism of the game, but rather something to think about if you’re getting ready to purchase.
I love Hero Realms because of the flavor and gameplay, and I recommend you at least start with that. If you want a way to spice up your Hero Realms game night, you’re going to want to check out the character packs. They aren’t necessary, but they are worth the money.
