Tag Archives: 2026

video game reviews

Gameplay Impressions of Corner Quest Demo

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Disclaimer

I was sent the Corner Quest demo to review for my blog. I understand the game isn’t finished yet, so I will be a bit more lenient with my review. That said, these will be my honest impressions.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Corner Quest?

Corner Quest is an idle autobattler coming to Steam at the end of the year. Go check out the demo and don’t forget to wishlist!

Hook

Sit your wizard on the corner of your screen as you watch her blast away at endless waves of enemies. Earn XP, upgrade your spells, and beat as many waves as you can before dying and starting over. How far will the power of your magic take you?

Gameplay

Corner Quest is meant to be a game you let run while you do work or do other things. The loop is simple, you buy spells and upgrades and watch as your mage fights through waves of enemies. Enemies drop currency that can be used to spend on permanent upgrades that stick around after death. Death in Corner Quest is not permanent. Instead, players restart from the last checkpoint retaining all of the purchased upgrades. It is a very low profile game that promises enough depth without being too distracting.

Impressions

Corner Quest is for those players who want to play a game, but not be invested in it. This is an idle game that you can run in the background while you go on with your life. It has a fun retro vibe, but the demo has limited build paths. I would need to see what other spells the mage can learn and how it impacts the grind.

Aesthetic

I have a soft spot for pixel art games, and Corner Quest has a solid artstyle. The animations are neat, the monsters are interesting, and the mage is cool. It reminds me of or the retro RPGs I used to play in my youth many moons ago, but with a lot less effort.

Gameplay

https://store.steampowered.com/app/4254260/Corner_Quest/ is fine for what it is, an idle game you set behind your screen while you work. Unlike other idle games I’ve played, the timers don’t feel oppressive or predatory because there is no monetization. This game will be a buy to own game, and it is low profile enough to run in the background for most of your tasks. I like that I could step away for a while and still grind levels, although it does feel slower than actively playing. Occasionally, you will earn enough currency to buy upgrades and adjust your build. The game may be solvable, but I did fine building what I thought was cool. This might have meant that I wasn’t progressing as fast as I could, but it doesn’t matter. I wanted to play the game.

Builds

Players will unlock different spells as they progress through the waves. By default, the mage can have four spells but you can unlock more as you grow. The demo doesn’t have many spells, and it does feel very limited. I would have liked to have a lot more options in the beginning, but it does create some nice flavor. As your mage grows in combat, so should the amount of magic she knows. I would like access to more spells so that I am forced to make some difficult decisions throughout my run. At the moment, there doesn’t feel like there are any consequences and it feels like you can get away with beating the demo by buying random upgrades.

Does it work on the Steam Deck?

Corner Quest works great on the Steam Deck, it you’re using your Steam Deck like a tablet. The controller inputs feel a little too slow and clunky compared to the touch controls. This makes the game feel like a phone game, which isn’t bad, but might not be what people are looking for.

Conclusion

I have always enjoyed a good tower defense, and don’t mind the idle grind. I did enjoy this game a lot more than I thought I would. The game requires enough inputs for there to be some engagement, but ultimately, it feels like the game plays itself. Its fine for what it is, but it isn’t going to be for everyone. Corner Quest is for the gamer who doesn’t have time for game, or just needs something to alt tab to and feel like they’re gaming. It isn’t a bad game, but it does have its niche. By the end of the demo, I didn’t really feel like I wanted to play more of the game, but I don’t this game was meant to be your next main game. This is a game that you use as a supplement while you’re waiting on a load screen or just want to feel busy. It will earn its home in some libraries, but it is going to be a hard sell with at least a bit more complexity. Having some sort of consequence or a bigger pool of resources do take away the casual nature of this game, but it also gives it a longer shelf life.

I would like it if there was some sort of leaderboard where players can race to get the farthest. There can even be seasons that introduce new gimmicks or bosses to the game to mix things up. As the game stands, this is a game you play for a couple hours before you shelve it and forget you ever own it. There isn’t enough intensive to keep climbing, or even finish the demo (even though I did). If you don’t believe me, you can check out the Steam demo for yourself.

Trailer

Tech Reviews, Uncategorized

Unboxing the RK C98 Magnetic Gaming Keyboard: An Honest Review

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Disclaimer

RK Gaming sent me the Royal Kludge C98 Hall Effect Magnetic switch keyboard 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 will also be using my Amazon Affiliate link where possible. It really helps me out if you click it before buying anything!

Table of contents

What’s in the Box?

  • C98 HE Magnetic Keyboard
  • 4 Additional Switches
  • USB-C to USB-A Cable
  • Keycap/Swtich Puller
  • Dust Cover
  • USer Manual

Unboxing

Features

The RK C98 HE Magnetic Keyboard promises to be the only option for serious gamers. If you are delving into the deepest dungeons for the rarest of loot or trying to top the leader board with your unrivaled KD ratio, you are going to want to keep the C98 on your radar.

Aesthetic

The C98 is a 96% keyboard. That means you’re getting a numbpad and a function row to maximize your workflow. The cherry profile switches give it that classic clean feel, but the well machined gasket give its modern flare. All 98 keys are lit with soft, customizable RGB to emphasize the fact that the C98 is made for gaming. The keyboard comes in a green and white color scheme that is ready to pop against any modern setup.

Comfort

The C98 features a three layer, sound dampening gasket. It dampens the sound just enough to give players that satisfying imput sound without getting too distracting. The layout has been designed to fit most hands for comfortable, long gaming sessions. The switch sensitivity can be easily customized to reduce that dreaded finger strain.

Performance

The C98 comes with the features all gamers need in their arsenal. This is a wired keyboard that promises to deliver the lowest latency experience. All switches are customizable and remapable with some cool added features to take your game to the next level. The C98 has a rapid fire trigger, DKS, MPT, Mt, TGL, and SOCD functions. Note that some games don’t allow these features, so use them wisely. As an added bonus, you can customize the imput sensitivity for a truly personalized experience. All these features can be easily managed through the web-based software.

Sound Test

Review

As far as magnetic keyboards go, the RK C98 is pretty mid. The keyboard isn’t terrible, but when you compare to something like the Epomaker HE75, it falls a little flat. The keyboard looks cool and has solid performance, but there is a cheapness that ultimately makes it hard to recommend.

Aesthetic

The C98 is a very cool looking keyboard. The colors cheme is fun, withe the perfect spash of color to make it pop. The machining looks clean, and the key caps look like they will survive some intense gaming. If you are looking for a cool looking keyboard, you might want to consider the C98, but it isn’t the best feeling keyboard you’ll get at this price point.

Comfort

It took me a bit of time to get used to the keyboard. The keycaps are cheap, and they feel it. Every press felt like I was tapping against cheap brittle plastic. Something about the switches and the position of the keys triggered my repetative stress injury almost instantly. It went away after a couple of days, but I still felt some soreness after long sessions. Now this is a very personal problem. My condition requires specific ergonomics, and the C98 doesn’t have enough of it. It is not unusable by any means, but I am on my computer for too long where I can’t ignore this flaw. This shouldn’t be a problem for people who game or work on their computer a normal/healthy amount. If you are looking for better ergonomics, I would skip to something like a split keyboard, but everyone else should be fine.

The Sound

The typing sound is another issue I have with the C98. As far as keyboards go, the C98 has one of the worst sounds I’ve come accross. This keyboard produces a loud cheap sound that is hard to ignore. I prefer a more thacky sound, and would have preferred this keyboard be silent. My wife was definitely not a fan either, but she also doesn’t like any typing sound to be fair. If you’re interested in getting a keyboard for the typing ASMR, the C98 is not the move.

Gaming

The C98’s gaming features are arguably what makes this keyboard an attractive option. I like that customization software is web based and that I didn’t have to download another program to manage my devices. The C98 offers some decent customization options. I was able to program some useful macros that helped speed up my workflow, and I like how I can customize the actuation to fit my hand a little better. I don’t believe the C98 gave me an unfair advantage, but I did feel like I was doing better at hitting my skill rotation.

The C98 also supports programs like rapid fire trigger, DKS, MPT, Mt, TGL, and SOCD functions. I didn’t mess around too much with these features because I live on the more casual side of the scene, but it is nice to have for those who need it. Setting up these features is super easy.

Performance

The C98 performed a lot better than I expected. After the initial shock of the feel wore, and I got used to the keyboard, I felt like it handled my gaming better. Out of the box, without any customization, the C98 feels very snappy and reliable. I was hitting all my jumps in platformers, my skills in mmos, and pulled off some sweet combos in the one fighting game I keep around for testing.It wasn’t a life changing improvement, but that might just be a skill issue. I don’t care for the added wire clutter or the fact that I can’t switch easily between devices without moving plugs, I understand the need for the wire connection. For the lowest imput latency, you want a wired connection. During my testing, the connection felt fast, and the keyboard worked as intended.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a solid gaming keyboard with a good amount of features, the C98 is a solid upgrade. I wouldn’t get this keyboard if you’re trying to get better ergonomics, but most people would do fine with the C98. I would probably get better keycaps for a better typing feel, but it will do the job in a pinch.

You can pick up the RK C98 HE magnetic keyboard on the official RK Gaming site, or on Amazon using my Affiliate link.

Universus

King of Fighters Challenger Deck Review: Casual Insights

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Disclaimer

UVS games sent me the two King of Fighters Challenger Series decks 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 have both team hero and team rival decklists up. I’ll also be using my TCG player affiliate link where possible. Always support your LGS, but it really helps me out if you use it for product your LGS doesn’t carry.

Table of Contents

What is Universus TCG?

I’ve written about Universus in a past post where I go into detail about the game and how to play. The short version: Universus is a fighting game turned into TCG. Players will use thier resources to land powerful attacks, block oncoming damage, and use abilities that will turn the tide in seconds. The game users a unique resource system that is more RNG reliant than your typical TCG, and it uses established IPs like those from fighting games, anime, or my favorite of all time, Heroes of Exandria. It is my favorite TCG that no one seems to be playing, for now.

Challenger Series Decks

Universus releases two types of sealed constructed products: challenger and starter decks. Starter decks are striped down versions of the TCG that are meant for people who have never touched a TCG in their life. The game includes some unique art cards, but the decks are pretty much useless except for giving players the most basic understanding of the game. I don’t follow the competitive scene, but have played enough card games to understand that the starter decks (as of writing this) don’t have the cohesion and percentage to give players a full version of the TCG. Starter decks are not bad products, I love my Heroes of Exandria starter decks, but the challenger series decks are a lot more fun.

Challenger series on the other hand, are a bit more complex. They aren’t going to win you many games at locals or worlds for that matter, but they provide a more honest experience. If you are trying to teach someone who has never played a TCG, the starter decks are cool until you outgrow the decks. If you want to try out the game to see if its for you and have the chance of building into something more competative, pick up a challenger deck from your favorite series.

My Perspective

I am coming at this from a casual perspective. I don’t follow the meta and can’t speak on how the King of Fighter decks match up against it. I have cannibalized some of the other decks I’ve received to build some strange decks I have fun with. I like Universus and am sad there isn’t a local scene. That said, I understand why. The game isn’t fun to collect. Universus has some of the most beautiful secret rare and unique art based on your favorite characters from your favorite IP, but the rest of the cards are screen grabs. Some sets are fine and look fine in the binder, but other sets are just not interesting to collect. For customers going into the store and seeing all these fun shinny unique cards, Universus gets overshadowed.

The art shouldn’t be a problem when the gameplay is good. The game has unique mechanics, a cool resource system, and a solid loop. The problem is that if I am not familiar with a particular IP, the common cards aren’t very memorable. This will change when they drop their newly announced Rebel Frontier. The art for the teasers look sick and I can’t wait to see what goes into it! More on Rebel Frontier when the information becomes available.

Review

I have mixed feelings about the King of Fighter challenger decks. On one hand, I appropriate the new mechanics and the ammount of flavor that goes into them. Universus is very good at making uniquely flavored decks. The problem I have with the decks is the art, I am not a fan. They may not be the worst cards I’ve gotten, but they aren’t very impressive. At least they’re fun to play.

The Art

The art for the heros is fine, but when you compare it to the street fighter decks, they are a little underwhelming. At least you get three heroes. The heroes feel fine with a good amount of power, but I am not crazy about the art. Personally, Shun’ei was my favorite not because of power, but because his abilities vibed better with my playstyle. The common cards that aren’t in the anime style are ugly. It’s not as bad as the Tekken Decks, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to collect them. Luckily the mechanics are fun.

Gameplay

I like how the decks change enough of the game to keep it interesting. Now I only play casualy once in a while so it always feels fresh, but there are decks I like more than others. I don’t think I would pick these over the street fighter decks, but I would pick them up in addition. The art doesn’t matter when the game is fun, and the games I played with the King of Figher challenger decks were fun. I don’t know how they hold up to the rest of the meta, but they seemed pretty balanced to us. I play with TCG veterans who only play Universus when I ask them to help me test.

Conclusion

If you like the King of Fighters games, pick up these challenger decks. The decks are fun, and you might appreciate the art more than I did. I never got into King of Fighters and couldn’t form the same connection I had with a series like Heroes of Exandria. I think the decks are fun and will pull keep pulling them out, but I wouldn’t pick these up as a collector. If you want cards that look good with solid mechanics, get the Street Fighter decks.

video game reviews

Exploring the Chaos of Goblins of Elderstone Gameplay

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Goblins of Elderstone 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.

Table of Contents

What is Goblins of Elderstone?

Goblins of Elderstone is a challenging new village builder out now on Steam.

Hook

Help build a mighty goblin empire as you brave the elements, gather resources, and build the next great civilization. But this is no easy task. Goblins are a chaotic race that tends to be a bit unruly. While you may set your orders, it won’t always get done. There are also dangers that hunt the goblins down if you aren’t careful. Can you master the chaos, or will the chaos become overwhelming and brick your run?

Gameplay

Players take control of a small group of goblin settlers as they work towards building a mighty goblin empire. Players command goblins to gather materials, build structures, or do combat. This is pretty much your standard village builder, but the Goblins tend to do their own thing from time to time. Some times, goblins will go on their own adventure, eat, fight enemies, or huddle by the fire for warmth. It is a bit of an unpredictable twist to the genre, but one that can find its niche in the genre.

Review

I have mixed feelings about Goblins of Elderstone. One one hand, I appreciate the attempt at rejuvenating the genre with a fresh take. On the other, this game is a little broken.

Aesthetic

Goblins of Elderstone has a quirky, boxy aesthetic that gives it its cozy vibe. The more I played the game, the more bland the setting looked. The RNG for map generation needs work. Some maps look fun to explore, and others feel barren with very little in between. I don’t think there was much visually that drew me to this game, especially when you compare it to games like Steam World Build or The Wandering Village.

Gameplay

The game is a little buggy. Pathing for some of the characters doesn’t always work. There are a few bugs, but the devs seem to be working hard on ironing them out. The main draw for this game is the difficulty. Unlike other village builders, Goblins of Elderstone is meant to be hard. I recommend checking out a guide because being inefficient in this game will brick your run. I usually get a couple into a run before I have to reset and follow a guide, but for this game, it was almost instant. Some of the difficulty can be the poor RNG that seems to pollute some of the seeds. Sometimes you get super unlucky and get stuck with a base that has nothing around it. Some people might enjoy the challenge, but I just want to sit back and watch my little goblins work.

Conclusion

I have a hard time recomending Goblins of Elderstone because of the difficulty. After looking up guides and planning my builds a little better, my experience improved, but I still have a hard time picking this over something like Reus 2. The game isn’t bad, it just isn’t my style. The game is meant for people who like a more realistic and chaotic approach to village building. As calculated as you want to be, sometimes your goblins want to do something else and you have to just work around it. Not to mention that you can brick your run early if you aren’t paying attention. I prefer a cozy village builder that lets me sit back and relax. I don’t want to have to have a city planning degree. While I wouldn’t say it is as realistic as City Skylines, the chaos within its code gives the game its charm. It just wasn’t enough to charm me.

If you fancy yourself a more serious village builder and don’t a bit of RNG to shake things up, Goblin of Elderstone is in a good enough spot to earn its MSRP. There are some bugs, but you’ll apprecaite the challenge. If you are here for the cozier side of village builders, check out Fabledom.

You can pick up Globlins of Elderstone on Steam.

Trailer

video game reviews

Manairons Review: A Whimsical Adventure Game Worth Playing

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Manairons 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 Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Manairons?

Manairons is a 3D puzzle adventure game out now on on Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, and coming soon to the Nintendo Switch. The game is Steam Deck verified for those wondering, and it works very well!

Hook

The village of Vilamont is a peaceful one, full of industrious people but also the greedy landlord Llorenç. Llorenç used his influence to find an ancient magical artifact, the “canut”. Using the canut’s magic, Llorenç summons a legion of Manairons to work tireless for him. Almost overnight, the Manairons warp the sleepy town of Vilamont into an overindustrialized machine. One Manairon is able to break free of this spell. With the help from the mysterious witch Nai and a magical flute, our lone Manairon hero must brave Llorenç influence and break his spell. Solve puzzles, fight off possed Manairons, and enjoy a bit of rest here and there. Can our brave hero break the spell and free the Vilamont from Llorenç?

Gameplay

Players control the Manairon through differently themed levels in a wimsical 3D action adventure with fixed cameras. The world of Pyrenees is full of creative puzzles to solve, platforms to clear, and enemies to beat up. Combat in Manairon is simple. You can lock onto enemies, and hit them with your trusty flute. Players get a block and a ranged attack, but the flute is the only thing strong enough to knock out the possessed manairons. All levels build up to creative boss fights. The game also has a collection of scattered items to collect. Can you collect them all before finishing the game?

Review

I absolutely love Manairon, and recommend it to everyone. Manairon is such a cute game with solid mechanics and a great story. If you are a fan of those old school action adventure games, or are just looking for something fun and cute to play, check out Manairon!

Aesthetic

I was first drawn to Manairons because I like the art. I normally don’t play these types of platformers because of how bad I am at them, but the art is so good, I was willing to try. The character design is cute, but I love how the artists go out of their way to create such a cool fantasy. Each level has a unique theme that is more breathtaking than the last, and the attention to detail that goes into the world building is remarkable. It also has a fantastic soundtrack and voice acting that make the experience addicting. I would recommend Manairon for the art alone, but the story is fantastic!

Story

Manairons is a fantastic example of how good video games are at telling stories. This is one of the few times where I couldn’t put the game down because I was so invested in the events that were unfolding. It helps that there is voice acting to help me get swept away by the storytelling. If you like fantasy adventure, Manairons is a fantastic addition to your collection.

Performance

The game has its bugs, and a few of them are gamebreaking. I had a couple of crashes, and there were a few times where the character just gets stuck. Other than that, the performance is fine. Platforming feels good, combat is responsive, and I was able to finish the story without any issue.

Gameplay

When I pick up a platformer, there is always the worry that my lack of skill will keep me from enjoying the game. As far as platformers go, this is very manageable. I wouldn’t say its a kids platformer like Spongebob: The Cosmic Shake or the Smurfs, but I wouldn’t say it is Shovel Knight either. Manairon finds a good balance of challenging puzzles, platforming, and combat without getting frustrating to allow players to enjoy the world and its story. Not that you can’t enjoy a hard platformer if that’s your thing, I just prefer it to be manageable.

What makes this game special is the different worlds that make up the level. Each monster, challenge, and boss is full of flavor. Even though the mechanics are simple and a lot of the loops repeat, the game doesn’t feel repetitive. Every level and stage feels fresh, especially when there are fun and creative puzzles in between.

Conclusion

Manairons is a whimsical fantasy adventure everyone needs to go on once. There are a few bugs I am sure can be fixed, but nothing that will ruin the fun story or the cute world players get to explore. If you are looking for one game to play this year, check out Manairons on Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, and coming soon to the Nintendo Switch.

If you would your looking for a more challenging kind of plaformer, check out Forgotten Fragments, or check out Worldless for the most unique platformer you’ll ever get to play.

Trailer

video game reviews

Unlock the Fun: Mosaica: Arboreal Puzzle Gameplay

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Mosaica: Arboreal 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. This game uses AI.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!

What is Mosaica: Arboreal?

Mosaica: Arboreal is a Cookie Cliker like puzzle game out now on Steam. There is a demo available you can try.

Hook

Unwind after a hard day of work with a relaxing game of Mosaica. Unlock beautiful art as you click away at different mosaic puzzles. Collect powerful allies, items, and abilities that will help you unlock puzzles faster. Make sure you recycle any trash you find along the journey. With countless combinations, you are sure to find a combination that will fit your style. What are you waiting for?

Gameplay

Players are given a puzzle of an image that is split into several squares. The higher levels are split into more squares. You solve the puzzle by clicking on a square until it rotates to its proper space. That is the whole loop. Players can level up and unlock abilities and equip items that help them solve the puzzle faster. The images that players unlock can be equipped for useful bonuses. There is also a bag management component that kind of comes into play. This is meant to be a casual, cozy game played when you just want to sit back and relax and collect cute art (if you don’t mind it being edited AI art).

Review

If you are offended by AI art, don’t play Mosaica: Arboreal. The dev does a decent job at fixing up the pictures to look nice, but it still looks like AI. I would have preferred the game have commissioned art, but for what it is, I guess its fine. This is is a causal game that you throw on when you don’t want to get too invested, don’t want to think, and just want to sit back and relax. While there may be strategy somewhere in this game, you are just clicking squares and watching the flashing animations.

Story

There seems to be a story, but it isn’t important. It feels like AI wrote blurbs about saving the forces which are an attempt at adding flavor, but I stopped reading them early on. They don’t really add much to the game except attempt to make it thematic, but this game is fine without the attempt at a story. This is a game about clicking stuff after all.

Art

The art in this game is clearly AI generated, but edited by a human to give it that human touch. As a result, there is a bit of homogeneity that stems across all of the puzzles. There are puzzles in this game that are the same figure and pose with a recolor to match the season. Most people aren’t going to like the fact that this is AI, and that is a valid criticism. I personally think it makes the game feel generic. It lacks soul and a tangible flavor that would help the game stand out against the genre. It makes the game fine for the few minutes I’ll play it, but I will probably forget I ever played it. If you don’t mind the AI art, the game is a solid cozy respite for those who need it.

Gameplay

I think Mosaica attempts to fill a niche in gaming that is needed. The low effort feel of its development is its main detriment, but the need it fills is real. The game works fine and achieves what it is designed to do. If you are looking for a cozy game to unwind with that is low effort and no commitment, Mosiaca is that. Sure there is probably a solvable formula of combinations baked into the game, but I got through this game just fine clicking randomly at my screen and hoping for the best. There is something almost therapeutic about clicking away at these puzzles, but it is a therapy I can only muster once, for 30 minutes. I don’t think I will play this game again because there isn’t anything for me here, but I like that it is there if I ever need it.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a cozy mindless game and don’t mind the use of AI, get Mosaica: Arboreal. You’ll get at least the $5 of fun out of it. For everyone else, keep on looking.

You can pick up Mosaica: Arboreal on Steam. If you are looking for a more challenging puzzle and don’t mind a little horror, check out Bye Sweet Carole.

Trailer

video game reviews

Vultures: Scavengers of Death Demo Review

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Disclaimer

I was sent the Vultures: Scavengers of Death demo to review for my blog. I understand the game is not finished yet, so I will try to be a bit more lenient with my review. That said, this will be my honest impressions of the game.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Vultures: Scavengers of Death?

Vultures is a tactical survival horror game with a retro vibe and frightening atmosphere. The game releases some time this year, but there is a demo available in the mean time. Don’t forget to wishlist!

Hook

Blood thirsty mutants eat away at civilization. The world as we knew it has ended and replaced by a chaotic frenzy of survival. The cure to this madness is believed to be somewhere in the zombie infested boarders of Salento Valley. Two brave Vulture operatives must navigate its dangerous streets in the ultimate test of human survival. Armed with only the tools left behind from a crumbling civilization, the two are humanities only hope. Do they have what it takes to to save the world?

Gameplay

Take control of Leopoldo and Amber as you guide them through a city infested with blood thirsty mutants with limited supplies and weapons. Danger lurks around every corner. Can you survive long enough to find the cure?

Exploration

Exploration is turn based. Each character can move up to six spaces per turn outside of combat. Combat begins when they are spotted by an enemy. During exploration, players can collect clues, weapons, and other useful items. The game starts players with basic weapons, and encourages exploration by hiding useful supplies and more powerful weapons around the world. The trick is not getting overrun by mutants.

Combat

During a combat encounter, players can only move three spaces and have three action points to spend. Action points can be spent on using items, or attacking. Each action has a unique cost. Managing costs and supplies during a combat encounter is key to survival. You don’t have to kill everything in your way. Sometimes it is better to run and live to fight another day.

Impressions

I’ve become incredibly hyped for a strategy game that I am terrible at. Vultures: Scavengers of Death is one of my my most anticipated titles this year by a lot. This game has a fantastic atmosphere, great gameplay mechanics, and a solid story. If you like retro survival games like the original resident evil, Vultures needs to be on your watchlist.

Aesthetic

The game has that retro aesthetic that reminds me of the old school gaming I grew up with. But it does more than use this nostalgic design to look good, the devs go above and beyond to create an atmosphere that is genuinely terrifying. The world looks grungy and dark. Players are surrounded by death and destruction. The walls are splattered with blood. The dark corridors hide unknown dangers, and there is a terrifying soundscape that will keep you at the edge of your seat. Everything from the mutants that hunt you relentlessly to the anxiety of running out of supplies gives this low poly demo a memorable horror experience, and I need more!

Gameplay

I love turn-based dungeon crawlers, and Vultures brings a fun, refreshing twist to the genre with some solid horror survival mechanics. I just wish I was better at the game. The overwhelming forces of mutants and the limited supplies means you have to play this game a little different. I kept charging into rooms guns blazing only be humbled by a low level zombie. The combat in this game is solid. I don’t do well with horror games, but the turn-based system made the game a lot more manageable. I could take breaks when I got too freaked out without risking losing progress. Eventually, I managed to get through the demo, but I really wish I didn’t. It makes me mad that I have to wait for more content, but I’ll wait as long as I need to and let them cook.

Conclusion

If you are a fan of horror survival games, you should check out the Vultures: Scavengers of Death. Even if you don’t like strategy games, the way this game builds its horror is something you need to experience once. Vultures has a cool retro feel, a solid story hook, and good mechanics that will have you wanting more. The demo is fantastic, and I can’t wait to play the full game. Until then, it’s going right on my Wishlist.

You can check out the Vultures: Scavengers of Death demo on Steam.

Trailer

video game reviews

Exploring Odds Chronicles Demo: Gameplay & Combat

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of the Odds Chronicle demo to review for my blog. The game is not finished yet, so I will try to be a bit more lenient with my review. That said, this will be my honest impression of the demo.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Odds Chronicles

Odds Chronicles is a tactical roguelike RPG coming to Steam sometime this year. Make sure you check out the demo, and don’t forget to add the game to your wishlist!

Hook

Evryn was once a great warrior, and a royal guard to the king. Evil forces drove their way into the city, killing the king and Evryn. That tyrant remains, spreading his evil influence across the land. Feeling the deepest sense of regret, Evryn wakes again, but not in her own world, or even her own time. Evryn finds herself resurrected in the tavern outside of time, with a chance at redemption and revenge.

Travel back to the land you once failed, and use your abilities to fight back the tyrants evil forced. Along your journey, you will meet new allies to fight with, abilities to use, and people to save. Will the dice be in your favor? Can you put an end to the tyrant’s evil reign?

Gameplay

Odds Chronicles features the traditional roguelike structure, but with a unique board game-like feel to set it apart. Players start a run with a basic set of abilities, and earn more powerful ones as they progress through the map. Maps are split into different nodes that feature events, plot, shops, and encounters. Players can choose the path, but the demo has limited paths to the same outcome. A run is over when the player character’s health hits zero.

Combat

Players cast abilities by spending dice rolls. Dice are rolled at the start of each combat round. Any dice that isn’t spent on an ability is used to fill up the wild dice meter. When the wild dice meter fills, players get a wild dice to spend on any ability, even if it has been expended. Each ability has a set number of charges. Once those charges are used up, they can no longer be cast. Learning when and how to spend your dice pool is key for success.

Example: An attack has 2 charges and deals 5 damage. The player rolls a 2 attack and deals 7 damage. Suppose the player rolls no other attack dice but rolls a wild dice. They can spend the wild dice to deal damage, or use it to cast abilities different resources (magic and agility).

Dice

There are four forms of resources a player can roll each round: attack, magic, agility, and wild. Wild dice only become accessible when a player fills the wild dice meter, but they can be used to cast any kind of ability. All abilities have a casting cost that pulls from a particular resource type or group of types.

Does it work on the Steam Deck?

The Odds Chronicles demo works great on the Steam Deck. There is some awkward clunkiness like when it would randomly not let me cast abilities, but nothing that makes the game unplayable. There is touch screen support, but it is a little clunky. It feels better to use the controller, but it is nice to have access to touch controls when the game stops working. My only complaint is that some of the elements do look a little small, but I am old and it feels like a personal problem.

Review

2026 is looking like it is going to be an amazing year for roguelike. I am very satisfied with the amount of unique roguelikes that have passed through my desk, and can’t wait for a few upcoming releases. Odds Chronicles is easily one of these titles. If you like board games, and aren’t afraid of a little strategy, Odds Chronicles should be in your watchlist. This game looks good, and the demo is really solid.

Aesthetics

Odds Chronicles feels like a board game I get to play on my computer, and I am a huge fan of that vibe. The characters look like cool sculpted minis I wouldn’t mind trying to paint (and ruin). The maps are small and contained, but with enough obstacles to keep things interesting. This game proves that you don’t need huge maps to create interesting encounters. The soundtrack is also pretty solid, and I can’t wait to see what else the world of Odds Chronicles has to offer.

Combat

There is some clunkiness that springs up here and there on both PC and on the Steam Deck, but the game is still in development. None of the bugs are game breaking, and the demo is smooth enough to paint a full picture.

The game plays like a tabletop wargame, but one that I am actually good at. The dice rolls give me that sweet hit of dopamine, especially when all the rolls like up perfectly for an epic epic round. The combat system is unique and a refreshing take on the genre. The few abilities available in this demo are cool and flavorful. It does feel like the demo is solvable. You will learn pretty quickly what abilities to pick up and focus on, but the game isn’t finished yet. The devs are hard at work at balancing the game, but it is good enough for the demo.

Conclusion

If you enjoy wargaming or are looking for a different kind of roguelike, check out the Odds Chronicles demo. It is an excellent demo that properly showcases what is potentially going to be my favorite game of the year. The demo looks good, plays great, and you can run on the Steam Deck!

You can download the Odds Chronicles demo on Steam. Don’t forget to add it to your wishlist! If you are looking for other unique roguelikes, check out Talystro or my current personal favorite, Anthem#9.

Trailer

video game reviews

Exploring the Whimsical Worlds of Freeride

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Freeride 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 Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Freeride?

Freeride is a unique personality test disguised as a narrative game out now on Steam.

Hook

You have been recruited to be a conductor on a spirit train. You are responsible for the smooth transportation of lost spirits, but the universe has a habit of making things difficult. The universe is full of choas, and it is up to you to navigate that chaos and keep the trian on schedule. Explore strange and surreal worlds as you fight monsters, help out spirits, or just let things be. The choice is yours, and your choices matter.

Exploration

The game will give player quest hooks, but players have the freedom to do what they want during each act of the game. There are no quest markers or meta quests, but rather a small sandbox for players to explore and uncover the many unlockable secrets. Freeride gives players the freedom to explore the game in a way that fits their playstyle while encouraging them to replay the game to collect to full story.

Choices

Choices in Freeride matter. What a player chooses to do in an act, affects outcomes, events, and quests for the rest of the game. Beating Freeride once doesn’t take long, but you are going to want to play the game to learn more about its wonderful world and great cast of characters.

Combat

While not the central part of the gameplay loop, Freeride does have combat. Players collect items throughout their adventure to throw them at enemies through the game’s unique slingshot mechanic. To throw an item, players click to aim, pull back the mouse to charge the attack, and let go to send the item flying. It is a different kind of combat, but combat can be cheesed or avoided. The game’s main focus is the story.

Review

I urge every one who picks up this game to keep with it past the initial shock. Freeride is a unique game that isn’t afraid to break traditional conventions to form its identity. This isn’t going to vibe with everyone at first, but the story and art more than make up for some of the more deal breaking awkwardness. Freeride is a cool game with an interesting story and a refreshing addition to my rotation. It is worth checking out at least once.

Aesthetic

Freeride is a great looking game. I am a huge fan of the artstyle. You have a cast of cool looking characters, and a world full of whimsy that was fun to explore. Some of the areas feel a little too cluttered, but I think this is by design. You need to have items to throw at your enemies. There is also a very solid soundtrack to help you get into the mood for an unforgettable adventure.

Combat

I hate the combat system in this game, and it is the reason I almost gave up on this game. I am glad I didn’t because I love this game, but it is very clunky and annoying. It does click after a while, especially when you realize you can skip a lot of the combat and cheese the important fights. Just stick with it. This game isn’t about the combat.

Story

Freehide has a fun and quirky tone that carries the player through a whimsical spirit world. It has a cast of interesting chartacters, solid world building, and a fantastic pace. I love that my choices affect the story, and love that I have to replay the game to unlock everything. I recomend you play the game without a guide. Let your personality determine the type of story you get. You can look up a guide after, but the game does a good job at reminding you of past choices so you can get a different ending. I only played through the game twice and still need to unlock a bit more. What I did unlock is a fantastic example of storytelling through video games, and the only reason I didn’t quick on this game. I don’t want to get too specific to avoid influencing or spoiling the story, but it is a story you need to at least experience the first playthrough.

Conclusion

Freeride is one of those weird games that comes around once in a while to shake up the meta in the best way. It may make a few odd choices here and there, but they mostly pay off in the end. If you are looking for a fun, unique game that is good at telling its story, go get Freeride. This is one of my favorite games already, and one that I recommend everyone try at least once.

video game reviews

Echoes of Elysium: A Unique Take on Survival RPGs in Early Access

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Echoes of Elysium to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinion. This game is still in Early Access, so I will try to be a bit more lenient with my review. That said, these will be my honest impressions.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Echoes of Elysium?

Echoes of Elysium is a high flying, co-op survival RPG out now on Steam Early Access.

Hook

Take to the skies with up to five friends in a colorful adventure you won’t forget. Gather supplies to build the the airship that will take you across this scattered and abandoned lands. But the skies aren’t empty. The Heron faction hunts you down, but you can build the weapons to fight back. Explore the broken remains of a lost civilization or take to the skies in your powerful glider. What secrets will you uncover? Can you build a powerful airship and master the skies?

Gameplay

Echoes of Elysium early access offers players a small map to explore and mine. Like most survival games, players will start at zero. They collect resources and use them to build the tools and upgrades for their ships. What sets Echoes of Elysium apart from other games in the genre is the flying mechanics. Unlike other survival games that allow players to build a base, players are encouraged to build and customize an airship. Instead of moving over flat land, players are encouraged to fly across the map in both their unique airship, and their jetpack. There is a co-op mode (with some public servers to join if you don’t have any friends) but I play solo. Mostly because I don’t have any friends, but I do enjoy playing survival games at my own pace.

Floating Islands

The world of Elysium is made up of floating islands and boulders that are scattered across a sky. Players use their jetpack and ship to fly between these lands to collect their resources, and uncover their secrets. Early Access provides a good amount of room to explore, but you will hit the end after a while.

Impressions

Echoes of Elysium is rough, but it is playable. There are a lot of bugs and a bit of jankiness, but it is playable. You can do a lot worse for a lot more money. The main selling point for this game is the flying and airship mechanics. It does take some getting used to, and I ask you stick with it until the mechanics start to click. I was about ready to write this game off, but I am glad I stuck with it. It needs a lot more work, but I believe you will get $19 of fun out of it.

Art

The game looks fantastic. There are some sunsets in this game that had me frozen in admiration. I am a big fan of the tech design and archecture. Echoes of Elysium has the bones of a cool looking world I want to explore, I just wish there was more.

World

One of my issues with the game is how empty the world feels, especially in the early stages. Most survival games start off slow, but players have a large map to explore. The map for early access does have a good amount of exploration available, but it feels too spread out and it makes things feel empty. Before you can afford the upgrades that make the airship fly faster, the gathering feels like a chore. I prefer the chill early game of the traditional survival RPG, but it does get better. Once I mastered flying and got my upgrades, things got a bit more tolerable.

Flying

Players are either going to love flying or hate it. I was not a fan at first, but I quickly learned it was a skill issue. Once I learned how to fly properly, the game got a lot more fun. It felt so cool to zoom across from rock to rock or across one of the larger islands. It is a nice change of pace from those slower survival games, but there are times where I just want to walk and chop trees. Flying on the airship is a little more strait forward. This part still feels a little clunky, but I can see the potential.

The Airship

I am not a fan of the Airship. Flying the airship is fine, but I am not creative enough to build one. Building out the Airship feels very limiting, and it makes crafting a little cumbersome. This is honestly a matter of tastes. I have never been very creative when it comes to housing, and often go for simple functional designs. That said, if you’ve always wanted to build a flying fortress to explore the skies, the game does it well enough in this stage of development.

Crafting

Crafting in this game is fine, but a bit of a grind in the beginning. Once I got my ship upgraded and could get to my first large island, it got better. I don’t think the grind is worse than other game in the genre, but if you don’t like flying around or the Airship, it’s going to be a bad time.

Conclusion

Echoes of Elysium has a solid foundation to make for an interesting survival RPG. Unfortunately, the game is a bit of an acquired taste. You have to really love the airship concept otherwise you are going to have a bad time. Personally, I have to be in the mood for something like this. Sometimes I just want to chill and play something more traditional like Pathless Woods.

However, if you’ve always wanted to be a captain of your very own airship, Echoes Elysium should at least be in on wishlist. Just know that in its current state, you are paying to test, support, and help build a game with a good amount of potential. You will need to be okay with dealing with a rough and buggy game that still needs time to cook.

You can pick up Echoes of Elysium on Steam Early Access.