Tag Archives: 2025

video game reviews

Best Served Cold: A Unique Visual Mystery with a Twist

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Best Served Cold 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.

Shameless Self-Promotions

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag, Cypher81 or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. I’ve also started a web novel that I update every two weeks.

What is Best Served Cold?

Best Served Cold is a detective mystery novel out now on Steam.

You are a skilled barkeep in one of the city’s illegal speakeasy’s. There is a general danger around your line of work during prohibition. One that is amplified by the pretense of a serial killer. Someone is hunting down patrons of these establishments, and the race is on to find out who. You have been contracted to help in this investigation. Use your position, charm, and skill as a barkeep to interrogate the patrons and find leads. What mysteries will your investigation uncover? Can you find the killer before its too late?

Gameplay

The loop in Best Served Cold is an interesting twist on the genre. Players will talk to patrons during their shift, and try to find the right combination of answers and questions to unlock the appropriate clues. The twist are the mechanics tied to the bartender position. Players will have to figure out the perfect drink to serve each patron, and mix it perfectly. The mixing mini game is simple. Players trace a pattern thematic to the drink before time runs out. Choosing the perfect drink and making it perfect makes the clients more inclined to talk. There are questions in this game that will only get answers if the customer is drunk enough. This is such a flavorful mechanic, and one that adds a bit of strategy to break up all the reading. Not the reading is bad by any means.

Review

If you are looking for something new to play, check out Best Served Cold. Best Served Cold is a well written visual novel with fantastic characters and a solid mystery. People who read a lot of the genre can figure out the mystery, but it is still worth the read. I had a lot of fun meeting each unique character, figuring out their favorite drink, and the mixing minigame was relaxing. The game also has a fantastic sound track for an unmatched cozy vibe.

My only complaint is that the game is unplayable on the Steam Deck. I might have been doing something wrong, but I couldn’t get the pin-up board to work. Trying to connect everything with yarn felt like more work than it was worth, at least the few times I actually got it work. This isn’t a deal breaker because it works great on PC, but I want to be able to read my mystery visual novels from the comfort of my bed.

Better Served Cold is a great story with amazing flavor that you need to play through once. There is a lot of reading, but the reading is fine and it comes in English, Korean, Chinese, and Japanese. I enjoyed every minute of it, and I think you will too.

You can pick up Better Served Cold on Steam for

Tech Reviews

Is the Ajazz Alux 68 Worth It for Gamers?

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Disclaimer

Mechlands sent me the Ajazz Alux 68 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. Make sure you also check out my latest review for the Mechlands M75.

What’s in the box?

  • Ajazz Alux 68 Magnetic Keyboard
  • USB-C to USB-A Cable
  • Key/Switch Puller
  • Shortcut Key
  • Plastic Dust Cover
  • User Manual

Features

The Ajazz Alux 68 is a wired 60% keyboard with a sleek design packed with features. This budget keyboard comes with 68 easily hotswapable switches. The switches promise up to 0.01mm accuracy and an up to 100 million keystroke lifespan, making the Alux 68 ready for the most competitive PVP setting. This is a wired keyboard, but you kind of need a cable for a low latency, high performing machine. With its subtle RGB to give it a little added flare, The Ajax Alux 68 is looking like the perfect upgrade for any gaming setup.

Sound Test

Review

I absolutely love the Ajaxx Alux 68. I am a little bummed that it is a wire keyboard. The cable made my desk feel more cluttered. I get that at this price point, I am sacrificing a few features for performance and stile, but a wireless version of this would look so much better without a wire interrupting the flow. That said, it isn’t really a big deal with I factor in how comfortable this keyboard was to use. I never got hit with any amount of fatigue, even during my longer sessions of use. It isn’t explicitly ergonomic, but it never triggered my repetitive stress injury, and that is good enough for me.

The Ajax Alux 68 gives a fantastic typing experience. It has that soft creamy sound that is so addicting. The switches feel great to the touch, and perform very well. I noticed no ghosting, and it was able to handle Guild Wars 2.

If you don’t mind having a wired keyboard, you should be using a wired keyboard if you’re doing anything competitive, and like the aesthetic, this is a fantastic budget option. The performance is great, they keyboard is comfortable, and it looks really cool.

You can pick up the Alux 68 on the official Mechlabs site, or on Amazon using my affiliate link.

video game reviews

Synergy Game Review: A Mixed Experience

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Synergy 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.

Shameless Self-Promotions

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag, Cypher81 or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. I’ve also started a web novel that I update every two weeks.

What is Synergy?

Synergy is a village builder out now on Steam.

The world is on the brink of collapse. Take charge of a group of survivors as you work together to rebuild one of the last thriving civilization. Can you find a sustainable solution without sacrificing too much of your citizen’s happiness? Will you be the catalyst to this world’s salvation?

Gameplay

Synergy asks players to build a thriving city while being mindful of their citizen’s happiness and the resources around them. The game attempts to break the traditional formula by forcing players to build differently. Players will have to think about how their buildings interact with each other and environment to successfully grow, without destroying the world around them. There is a unique upgrade system that allows players a bit of flexibility on how they want to build their society. It is a refreshing take on the genre, but does it hold up?

Review

Synergy has a very fun and creative artstyle full of flavor and flare. The game provides an interesting twist with some cool ideas, but it wasn’t for me. I like that the game forced me to think about the genre differently. I was building a new kind of city and planning my tech paths, but the game is boring. Even at max speed, it felt like nothing was happening. Maybe its the lack of animation, maybe I’m impatient, but I lost quickly. I think the biggest issue I have with this game is that I’ve played better games with a more unique twist. If I rather be playing those, there is no real reason to recommend Synergy, unless you like the art and need a new village builder.

If this is going to be your first village builder, I don’t think it is user friendly enough to recommend. The tutorial isn’t good enough at onboarding players on the game’s more important mechanics. There isn’t a steep learning curve, it just has some intuitive mechanics that are important for survival. not that it matters because as hard as I tried, I never got to the point of collapse that I get with other games in the genre. If you’re a veteran, Synergy does a few cool things that will keep you busy for a bit, but not at the price. I would wait for a sale.

Synergy is fine, but when you consider it against others in the genre, you simply have better options. You can pick it up on Steam for $24.99, but again, wait for the sale.

Tech Reviews, Uncategorized

Aventus Gaming Headset: Comfort and Quality in One

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Disclaimer

Kiwi Ears sent me a free pair of the Aventus bluetooth gaming headphones to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, this will be my honest review.

What’s in the box?

  • Aventus Bluetooth Wireless Headphones
  • Carrying Case
  • USB-C to USB-A charging Cable
  • USB-C to Coax Cable
  • Coax to 3.5mm
  • User Manual

Features

The Aventus Gaming headset promises the ideal budget solution for most audio needs. This sleek black headset offers a well constructed ergonomic design. The high quality padding and adjustable positions promises user comfort for the entirety of its 82 hour battery life. The 40mm Dynamic drivers promise a wide and clear sound stage, and it is tuned to satisfy most gaming and music needs. While users can enjoy the fantastic sound through a wireless connection, the Aventus includes Coaxial drivers for users to take advantage of the included high quality cables. For those looking for a bit of peace and quite, the Aventus features a hybrid ANC designed to reduce outside noise by up to 35dB. That means you aren’t hearing anyone unless you really want to.

Now it wouldn’t be a gaming headset without RGB. The Aventus features optional preprogrammed RGB profiles for a bit of added flare.

Review

Kiwi Ears’ Avantus is a fantastic pair of budget headphones. Out of the box, I was blown away by the quality of not just the heaphones, but the accessories that come with it. The presentation of the packaging gives the Avantus its premium feel. I particularly like the included carying case. It feels high quality, it has a clip for my bag, and it has compartments for the included cables. The included cables are a very nice feature. While I planned to use the headset wireless, it is nice to have the cables to switch between devices without having to repair each time. I wish it would allow me to pair to multiple devices, but it isn’t a deal breaker.

The Headphone itself is very well constructed. The vegan leather and design make it look like a more expensive set of headphones. It has a good amount of flex and it doesn’t feel like it will be breaking anytime soon. The design is also incredibly comfortable. The padding feels incredible, and while my ears do get hot, it never gets uncomfortable. This is definitely my most comfortable pair of headphones. They do feel a little loose on my head. I worked out with them and they didn’t fall off for walks or weightlifting, but I wouldn’t run with them.

The Aventus has a solid soundstage. A lot of gaming headsets overcompensate with the bass, I think the Avantus is properly tuned for most casual use. I don’t know how well they work for DJing, but they are solid gaming and music headphones.

What I was most impressed by was the headphones battery life and noise cancellation. The KiwiEars boasts 82 hours of battery life without noise cancellation or RGB. I got about that out of the box which is an impressive feat. The battery life lasts so long, even with noise cancellation and RBG that I didn’t really get to test the battery life with everything on. I also didn’t feel the need to turn anything on. The RBG profiles are nice, but I don’t see it so there is no point. The headphones also block out a good amount of noise without having to turn on the ANC. The ANC is incredible. I don’t hear anything. I don’t live in a very noisy area, but putting them on left me deaf to the world.

If you are looking for a good, high quality pair of headphones that won’t break the bank, go check out the Kiwi Ears Aventus Headset. These things are a fantastic deal for $89.99. You can pick up your pair of Aventus from the official website.

video game reviews

Exploring Maliki: A Cozy RPG Experience

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Maliki: Poison Of The Past 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.

Shameless Self-Promotions

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System. I’ve also started a web novel that I update every two weeks.

What is Maliki: Poison Of The Past

Maliki: Poison Of The Past is a casual strategy RPG with a bit of farming sim. The game is out now on Steam and Nintendo Switch.

In the near future, humanity is on the brink of extinction as a poison contaminates the world. Fortunately, a few brave souls stand in the way of total annihilation. Maliki and her collection of warriors are the only ones who can resist the poisons time altering effects and fight back. Will they be enough to save the world and rid it of this poison?

Gameplay

Players explore a world frozen in time by the poison’s corruption. Players slowly unlock more of the world by extending the reach of the Thousand-Root Tree’s protection. But this won’t be easy. The world is full of the poison’s corrupted mission, and it is up to Sand and her friends to fend them off.

Combat is a turn based system with a unique swap and combat mechanic to help it stand out against other titles in the genre. Players can occasionally bend time to change the turn order, and hopefully change the tide of combat in their favor. Players can also perform powerful combo moves to vanquish there enemies. There are also fun puzzles to solve, and a cute world to explore.

What truly sets this world apart is the cozy farming mechanic. To level up the Thousand-Root Tree, players will need to collect materials by building a farm. The crops a player grows and harvests can be cooked into different foods or crafted for useful materials.

Review

Maliki: Poison Of The Past is an adorably casual game that should be considered for any collection. It has very cute character and world design, and a fun soundtrack to set the mood. I also enjoyed the story enough to keep playing. Most importantly, the gameplay is relaxing. The combat is solid. The attacks and abilities are unique and flavorful, and it requires enough strategy to keep things engaging. I really like the temporal abilities and the depth it adds to combat. I also like that it doesn’t feel that grindy. There is a grind, but I’ve sat through worse.

If you get tired of combat, the game features a unique farming mechanic that is a cozy change of pace. Maintaining the different crops is very relaxing, but movement can make things a little awkward. If you’re the type of person that likes to have everything lined up and neat, this game is kind of frustrating. Sometimes, you will overshoot the where you want to place it, other times, the plot doesn’t allow for neat rows. This bothered me more than I thought, but is in no way a deal breaker. When it worked right, it was a fine experience.

I do recommend playing this game with a controller. There is keyboard and mouse support, but it feels wonky. There is still some awkwardness to the controller, but it is a lot more manageable. I played this game exclusively on the Steam deck because I preferred the experience. Everything was clear and legible, and I love that I can play something cute and casual away from my desk. Movement is a little wonky, but it is a lot better than keyboard and mouse. There are also a few other noticible bugs that suggest the game needs a bit more work, but nothing gamebreaking. They game still deserves at least one solid playthrough.

If you’re looking for something cute, casual, with a lot of charm, go pick up Maliki: Poison Of The Past on Steam and Nintendo Switch for $29.99, or at least check out the demo.

video game reviews

Old Skies Review: A Unique Sci-Fi Visual Novel

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Disclaimer

I was sent a copy of Old Skies 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.

Shameless Self-Promotions

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System. I’ve also started a web novel that I update every two weeks.

What is Old Skies?

Old Skies is a scifi visual novel out now on PC via Steam, GOG and Humble.

Time travel is real, and is controlled by the ChronoZen agency. Those who can afford it can travel back into any time, provided it doesn’t mess with the master timeline. Your job is to keep close watch on these travelers while still making them happy. The story follows seven travelers across 100s of years of history in a point and click adventure you will never forget. What people will you meet? What stories will they tell? Can you keep your clients from messing with the timeline?

Review

Old Skies is a wonderful piece of interactive fiction that you need to try at least once. The game looks very good with cool art and flavorful time periods. The story itself is good, with a cast of fantastic voice actors to bring each story to life. Most importantly, the puzzles are creative and manageable. They provide enough of a challenge to keep things engaging, without becoming frustrating. I didn’t feel the need to use a guide, but I am sure there are some great ones out there if you need them.

As far as time travel stories go, Old Skies does the narrative well. Everything made sense, even the more magical parts of science, and it was an interesting adventure to read. The characters are pretty well written. There are some cliches here and there, but nothing that ruins the story. Each story was interesting, and honestly the reason I kept playing. It is a solid length and I recommend it to anyone looking for a new visual novel.

As for the Steam Deck experience, this is a fantastic title to add to the collection. The resolution is perfect. The words are legible, and everything is easily visible. Most importantly, the controls works great, making this the perfect game to play in bed when you just want to wind down and enjoy a good story.

You can pick up Old Skies for $19.99, and it is definitely worth it for that price.

video game reviews

Gal Guardians: Servants of the Dark Review

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I was sent a free copy of Gal Guardians: Servants of the Dark 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 opinions of the game.

Shameless Self-Promotions

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System. I’ve also started a web novel that I update every two weeks.

What is Gal Guardians: Servants of the Dark?

Gal Guardians: Servants of the Dark is a 2D action Metroidvania adventure out now on Steam, Switch, and PlayStation.

The castle has been invaded and Lord Maxim is dead. It is up to Kirika and Masha to make their way through the castle and revive their lord. Fight through waves of demons and their bosses, collect helpful tools and abilities, and prove why you are the best pair of demon maids Do you have what it takes to reclaim your home and save your master?

Gameplay

Gal Guardians is your typical classic metroidvania. Players crawl through the 2D dungeon, collect new items and abilities, and beat everything in their way. What makes Gal Guardians unique is the coop mechanic. Players can play this game solo, or team up with a friend to control one of the two maids. Coop allows for some interesting interactions between the players. Playing solo allows players to switch between the two maids and their abilities, as well as revive them when they go down. The game also showers the player with loot and allows for a good amount of customization and playstyles.

Review

I really wanted to like Gal Guardians: Shadows of the Dark, but it doesn’t do enough to stand out against the genre. I love the art and flavor, there is some solid voice acting, but the gameplay sort of falls flat.

What I like about the gameplay is the amount of customization. Aside from the main weapon, players can mix and match abilities to find a build that works best for their playstyle. Unfortunately, there are some absolute garbage items that will flood your inventory. Aside from that, combat is kind of boring. It is no where near the worst of the genre, but it does leave a bit to be desired. This is especially noticeable during the boss fights which can be challenging, but aren’t really worth the trouble.

I had high hopes for the game because I enjoyed the demo, but once I got deeper in the game, it didn’t do enough. It had decent writing, the voice acting is great, and the art is good, but the gameplay didn’t do it for me. Gal Guardians isn’t the worst Metroidvania I’ve played this year, but I will forget I ever played it. If you’re looking for a new Metroidvania, you simply have better options.

You can pick up Gal Guardians: Servants of the Dark on Steam, Switch, and PlayStation for $29.99, but I would wait for a sale.

video game reviews

Frozen Ship Alpha Gameplay: My First Impressions

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Disclaimer

I was sent an early alpha build of Frozen Ship to review for my blog. I understand the game isn’t done yet, so I will be a bit more lenient with my review. That said, these will still be my honest first impressions.

Shameless Self-Promotions

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System. I’ve also started a web novel that I update every two weeks.

What is Frozen Ship?

Frozen Ship is a survival game with village management elements coming soon to Steam Early Access.

An eternal tundra has devastated humanity. Some were fortunate to find refuge near the warmth of a volcano, but that warmth was only temporary. In their efforts to continue surviving, they have built a giant ship that will take them to their new home. Navigate the deadly tundra as you captain your colony of survivors, gather resources, upgrade your facilities, and find the last remaining hope for salvation. What will you find against this frozen landscape?

Gameplay

There are two parts to this game, village management and exploration.

As captain of this frozen ship, players will need to command their colony to gather and process materials or build upgrades. Resources are scares, so efficiently utilizing what is available is key for humanities survival. Most importantly, players must keep hope alive to keep the colony from collapsing. As players traverse the tundra, the colony will grow, and this growth will bring its challenges as it puts a strain on systems players put in place.

The other part of this game is exploration. Players can get off the ship throughout the warmer parts of the day to scavenge the remains of the old world. Players can build tools to gather resources or scavenge from buildings. The cold is brutal and staying out in the elements for too long means death. To add to the difficulty, the ship does not stop moving. Players must navigate the cold, but also make sure they can always find their way back to the ship.

The main game will have a story, but the demo only allowed a limited free build mode with a good amount of direction.

Impressions

In its current state, Frozen Ship doesn’t have enough to it to keep me excited. The village management aspect is more of a text based game. Its not a bad way to do things, especially since the main game is exploration, but I like to watch my villagers do things. The exploration is fine, but the world feels too empty. I do like that the game lets players adjust the difficulty for the ideal experience. I get lost easily so I appreciate that there is a mode that guides me back to the ship. I also appreciate the options for a more hardcore play through for the times I’m feeling more sadistic.

Graphics-wise, the world makes sense but it isn’t anything special. You’re either going to appreciate the low-poly style or you are going to play a more realistic looking game. I am sure this is a choice to ensure good performance, but also makes the world a little less fun to explore.

The cold mechanic is fine. Eventually players will have the ability to extend the amount of time they can spend in the tundra, but those early levels feel tedious. Having to return every time you clear a single house is boring. I can see the intention. The game is supposed to be a hard journey and resources are meant to be scares, but when the art style is boring and the world feels too empty, it just feels like a chore.

I also don’t recommend playing this game on the Steam Deck. At the moment, some of the tasks feel very tedious with a controller. You will need to remap, and even then it is just better to play with a keyboard and mouse.

I need to see more of the game before I can feel confident in recommending it. If you are looking for some hardcore survival and don’t mind the village builder elements, I would wait for the demo. I’ll try to get a different build and will return with my update. Until then, you can wishlist Frozen Ship on Steam.

video game reviews

Why Sonokuni Is My Favorite Game Ever

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Sonokuni 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.

Shameless Self-Promotions

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System. I’ve also started a web novel that I update every two weeks.

What is Sonokuni?

Sonokuni is a surreal biopunk top-down hack-and-slash out now on Steam.

One lone assassin stands in the way of large biotech and their quest to assimilate the worlds genetics into one homogeneous legion of obedient monsters. Takeru guards her people against the mutant super power that wants to wipe her people from the landscape. Venture into a trippy explosion of color, mayhem, and possibly the best soundtrack you’ll ever hear in a video game. Is Takeru strong enough to keep her people safe, or will she be assimilated with the rest of them?

Gameplay

Players move through visually striking 2D maps, fighting scores of enemies with their abilities. Each room acts like a puzzle of enemies. Each monster will perform the same type of actions, and it is up to the player to find the ideal combination to of attacks to clear the room successfully. Players can adjust the difficulty, but know that dying a lot is part of the gameplay loop. There are no check points, campfires, or lives. Dying only resets the room. Even the music keeps playing on reset, giving players the freedom to explore solutions through death without the repetitive slog of moving between checkpoints. Combat is a lot of fun, even if you die a lot. Using your blocks, attacks, and slowdown abilities in the right combination always kept things engaging, and the music helped me keep my tempo.

Review

Sonokuni is without a doubt, my favorite game of all time. Never have experience such a unique and fun experience as this, and I recommend anyone who hasn’t done so already to play this game. The worst part about playing Sonokuni is that every game after will be held to this standard of excellence.

First off, Sonokuni has an amazing aesthetic full of striking visuals and creative design. I love the 2D retro style, but what they do with the pixel art is incredibly impressive. The art alone should be reason enough to try this game, but the game does so much more right.

If you like Japanese Hip-Hop, Sonokuni has an amazing collection for its soundtrack. Each track helps create the game’s fantastic atmosphere, and fans of hip-hop will enjoy the journey. I particularly like that the song doesn’t restart on death. Players are going to die quickly and often, having the game loop every few seconds (maybe more if you’re actually good at the game) would get old quickly. This was a solid choice, and I like that I can listen to the whole song.

Moving past the aesthetics, the gameplay is amazing. This is the most fun I’ve had with a game in a while, and I will definitely keep it in my rotation. I need to try it at a higher difficulty. I didn’t mind dying so much or repeating the same room because every room feels different, and every room felt like a puzzle I was trying to solve. Most importantly , the boss fights are amazing. This is one of the few games where beating the boss felt incredible. There are a few games that leave me with such a great sense of accomplishment, and Sonokuni is one of them.

If you haven’t played Sonokuni, it needs to be in your library. This game is fantastic, and it gets better the more you play it. You can pick up Sonokuni on steam for $14.99 or check out the demo if you don’t believe me.

Tech Reviews

Epomaker HE65 Mag Review: A Compact Gaming Keyboard

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Disclaimer

Epomaker sent me the TH65 Mag 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. Make sure you check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85 and HE68.

What’s in the box?

  • HE65 Magnetic Keyboard
  • 2.4 GHz Wireless Dongle
  • USB-C to USB-A Braided Cable
  • 2 Extra Switches
  • Key/Switch Puller
  • Plastic Dust Cover
  • User Manual

Features

The Epomaker HE65 Mag is the companies compact 65% hall effect gaming keyboard. It only comes in black, with a splash of blue and grey keys to help it stand out. It wouldn’t be a gaming keyboard without RBG, and the keyboard comes with a few preset profiles to make the HE65 shine against any aesthetic. Personally, I appreciate the dongle cubby in the back an the volume control on the side. What makes the HE65 unique is the onboard screen that displays the date, time, and battery life.

But the HE65 is more than just its looks. The keyboard boasts low latency on its wired and wireless connections, making it the ideal choice for the competitive gamer who needs a smaller keyboard. The keys utilize its soft magnetic switches, which can be programed for the perfect gaming experience through the official app. Most importantly, this keyboard boasts up to 600 hours of use (without the RBG or screen) so you never have to reach for a cable unless you really want to.

Sound Test

Review

If you are looking for a keyboard this size, the Epomaker HE65 Mag works well enough. The keys feel good under my fingers, and the sound isn’t loud but satisfying all the same. The volume dial on the side looks a little weird at first, but I ended up loving it the more I used it. Aesthetically, the color scheme is fine, but you might want to buy a different set of keys if you want it to match your setup. The screen is an interesting gimmick, but I hardly used it. Its fine, but it sort of messes up the aesthetic.

As far as performance goes, its a solid keyboard for the most part. The keyboard was a little too small for my hands, and that is a personal issue. If you have big hands, you need a bigger keyboard. My thumbs were always rubbing up against each other, and it made typing uncomfortable. It worked well enough for my day to day, but I will be switching to something bigger to ease up on some of the strain.

One thing to note is that the keyboard was that the wireless connection was a little bugged. The bluetooth randomly stopped working, and I couldn’t reconnect, even with the dongle. Hard resetting seemed to solve the issue, but it is a little concerning. I don’t think this has the potential to be a lifelong keyboard, but it might be a good budget option for now.

Aside from that, the keyboard was fine. It was responsive, and it had a long battery life. Epomaker boasts a 30 hour battery life with all the lights on, and I got just about that. If you like the aesthetic and are looking for a hall effect keyboard, check out the Epomaker HE65.

You can pick up the HE 65 Mag on the official website for $89.99.