Tag Archives: adventure

video game reviews

I Enjoyed My Time During the Infinity Nikki Playtest. Can’t Wait for Release

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I got to play in the Infinity Nikki playtest. I understand the game isn’t fully released and will be a bit more lenient yet honest with my impressions.

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What is Infinity Nikki?

Infinity Nikki is a wholesome fantasy adventure Gotcha game coming to PC, Epic Games, PlayStation, Android, and iOS devices. Make sure you Preregister today!

Nikki finds herself in a magical world where clothes grant its users magical powers. Using the powers of her outfits, she must find whimstars to unlock the power she needs to save this new world. But this journey won’t be easy. Nikki must fight the spreading corruption, solve puzzles, and gather the supplies she needs to make better outfits. Can she fulfill the prophecy written in stone long ago, or will this challenge be too much for Nikki?

Gameplay


Infinity Nikki is a 3D open-world Mario game with a crafting, gathering, and dress-up mechanic. Nikki gets her powers from different outfits players unlock as they play through the story. Based on the playtest, all essential powers can be unlocked without spending any money and with minimal grind. Upgrading Nikki’s powers will take some grinding and any additional skins will cost money.

Players have the freedom to explore the world at their own pace as they play through the story, complete side quests, and farm materials. The world is full of jumping puzzles, monsters to fight, bosses to beat, and things to discover. In the very short week I got to play the game, I felt like I still had more to discover.

The Gotcha mechanic seems to only be tied to fashion. Players can unlock additional outfits by playing the game, but the game will offer seasonal outfits players can pull from. Pulling from these tickets gets players a random item to dress up Nikki like hairstyles, makeup, accessories, and clothes. If you’re someone who wants to keep Nikki dressed in the cutest clothes, be prepared to spend a lot of money.

Impressions

Infinity Nikki was an incredibly cozy experience that I will continue to play on release. The playtest had so much to do, and the grind didn’t feel so bad. I like that the power level isn’t locked behind the gotcha mechanic, but looking cute is going to cost you. You can pull for outfits with the currency you earn for playing the game, but it doesn’t feel like it will be enough to get everything you want from a particular ticket. My issue with the Gotcha mechanic is that there is no option to recolor the items you pull from a ticket without first completing the ticket. This means that getting a particular look can potentially cost hundreds of dollars. I guess Gotcha game has to Gotcha.

Other than that, the game is really enjoyable, even if you don’t put any money into it. Crafting and gathering are soothing, the platforming and puzzles are challenging and rewarding, and the world is fun to explore. The game has very good graphics with a beautiful world, great character design, and some very cute outfits to chase. The story is very cheesy, but I enjoyed it enough to keep playing. The tone and flavor all mesh together to make a very cozy experience that I recommend you try at least once.

Preregistration is still open, so make sure you sign up to unlock some fantastic prizes. Infinity Nikki is planned to released on December 31st, 2024 but no official announcement has been made.

video game reviews

The Nameless: Slay Dragon is My Favorite Fantasy RPG

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I was sent a free copy of The Nameless: Slay Dragon 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.

If you’re looking to upgrade your gaming/streaming setup, check out my reviews for Fifine H9 Gaming Headset, the AM8 Streaming Microphone, and the Epomaker P75 Mechanical Keyboard and the Uhuru Gaming mouse for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals. If you’re thinking of hosting your own blog on WordPress, make sure you sign up using my Affiliate link!

What is The Nameless: Slay Dragon

The Nameless: Slay Dragon is a choose your own adventure style RPG game out now on Steam.

You watched your village burn after a vicious dragon attack when you were too young to defend yourself. You spent the rest of your time training, preparing for the day when you can take your revenge. Now with a few years of training under your belt, you set off to become a royal knight and slay some dragons. This is no easy task. The road is full of bloodthirsty monsters who will tear you down mercilessly if you aren’t prepared. Gather your party, buy the best gear, and set off on an unforgettable adventure. Do you have what it takes to defeat a dragon?

Gameplay

The Nameless: Slay Dragon is a unique choose-your-own adventure game with interesting exploration, combat, and skill check mechanics. Players progress through the story through a series of nodes. Nodes let players mine for resources and progress the story, but they can also trigger skill checks and combat. The player can and should plan how to approach their adventure, but some events will be unavoidable. Players are always a bad skill check away from a total party kill.

The Nameless features an interesting crafting mechanic. Players can farm nodes for materials for potions, weapons, and gear, but farming increases a character’s fatigue. The more fatigued a character is, the higher the chances are they will fail a skill check. This creates an interesting dynamic where players have to balance between crafting and exploring or risk burning out early.

Combat in this game is what you would expect from your typical RPG. Players choose the party actions at the start of each round, but the party always acts together. The initiative is determined by passing skill checks. I liked this system because it made planning my turns easy and it felt less RNG reliant.

Combat can be unforgiving if players aren’t prepared. While the player does have some freedom in how they approach the story, there is always a chance of running into an impossible enemy or scenario. This game will kill its players at early levels for choosing the wrong node or failing a skill check. Choose wisely.

Does it Work on the Steam Deck?

The Nameless: Slay Dragon is my favorite game for the Steam Deck. It not only runs great, but it is also the perfect portable experience. This is a chill game you can play anywhere, especially on the couch when you’re just trying to relax. The text is legible on the aspect ratio, and the gameplay is involved enough to be engaging without requiring too much skill and precision. If you’re looking for a unique and fun RPG for your Steam Deck collection, you can’t got wrong with this one.

Review

I love this unique RPG. It has great art, a good story, and interesting mechanics. I love the choose-your-own-adventure feel of the game and the challenge of the dungeons. Exploring the dungeon was fun because there was always that lingering fear that the next turn would spell the end of the party.

The Nameless: Slay Dragon does have a grind that can get a little repetitive at times. The combat system does a good enough job of keeping things moving, but there will be some times when you will have to repeat encounters to level up skills and abilities mindlessly. I found the grind therapeutic, but it isn’t going to be for everyone.

The Nameless: Slay Dragon is a fantastic addition to any collection. It is a great RPG with a fun twist and some solid replayability. This is easily one of my favorite games of the year, and it can easily become one of yours too.

You can pick up The Nameless: Slay Dragon on Steam for $17.99.

video game reviews

Viel of Shadows is a Fantastic Roguelike!

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I was sent a free copy of Viel of Shadows 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.

If you’re looking to upgrade your gaming/streaming setup, check out my reviews for Fifine H9 Gaming Headset, the AM8 Streaming Microphone, and the Epomaker P75 Mechanical Keyboard and the Uhuru Gaming mouse for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals. If you’re thinking of hosting your own blog on WordPress, make sure you sign up using my Affiliate link!

What is Viel of Shadows

Viel of Shadows is a top-down, action-adventure out now on Steam.

Sirene wakes up in a strange forest without her memories. As she tries to make sense of her situation, she is attacked savagely by monsters. Luckily, she is handy with a bow. Now Sirene must fight her way through the forest, collect her memories, and hopefully find a way out. What will her journey uncover? Will she ever get out?

Gameplay

Players control Sirene on her journey to collect her memories. To do so, players must fight their way through seemingly endless waves of monsters. Combat in this game is a top-down twin-stick shooter where death isn’t permanent. As a result, players will grind out the same encounters for levels until they are strong enough to venture deeper into the forest.

When a player levels, they get an experience point to spend on permanent stat boosts, buffs, and abilities. Players can choose from three paths: Damage, Agility, and Precision. Each path feels unique, and players have the freedom to find a path that works best for their playstyle. I am sure there is a correct way to build Sirene, but I liked throwing everything into precision. I’ll definitely be trying the other paths in future playthroughs.

What makes Viel of Shadows is the ever encroaching darkness that follows Sirene. As time passes, the edges of the screen will close in on a player until Sirene is consumed by darkness. The darkness limits a payers field of vision and hinders their effectiveness in combat. A player can mitigate this effect through potions or orbs from random drops. While there is no real time limit to a run, this effect creates the right amount of pressure to keep things tense and exciting.

Does it Work on the Steam Deck?

Yes, and it is a fantastic port. The game runs great, looks fine, and the controls feel good. While the aim with my Uhuru Gaming Mouse (or any mouse) was far superior, it was nice to be able to sit back and play something casually. I did notice dying more on the Steam Deck than on PC, but that felt like a skill issue. If you’re looking for games for your Steam Deck, Viel of Shadows is a great option.

Review

I got to try an early demo of Viel of Shadows, and I’ve been excited about the game ever since. The game has a great aesthetic with fantastic pixel art and flavor. The gameplay is repetitive by design, but it doesn’t matter because the game is so much fun. Combat in this game feels smooth, and the leveling system is satisfying. There is a bit of a grind, but it isn’t soul-crushing. I found the repetition soothing and enjoyed watching my progress through the forest. The game is a great casual title with engaging enough gameplay to be worth the money.

You can pick up Viel of Shadows on Steam for only $7.99, and there is a demo available if you don’t believe me.

video game reviews

You Need to Be Playing Shogun Showdown

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I was sent a free copy of Shogun Showdown 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.

If you’re looking to upgrade your gaming/streaming setup, check out my reviews for Fifine H9 Gaming Headset, the AM8 Streaming Microphone, and the SC3 Gaming Mixer for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals. If you enjoy my content and want to help me with my hosting fees, consider buying me coffee or donating to my Patreon.

What is Shogun Showdown?

Shogun Showdown is an amazing roguelike deckbuilder out now on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and PC via Steam and Itch.io.

A warrior’s journey is full of parallel, but legend has it you have what it takes. Grab your weapons, hone your skills, and kill anyone that gets in your way. Do you have what it takes to defeat the Shogun?

Gameplay

A warrior’s journey is full of parallel, but legend has it you have what it takes. Grab your weapons, hone your skills, and kill anyone that gets in your way. Do you have what it takes to defeat the Shogun?

Players start their journey with basic weapons and abilities. As they kill enemies and earn experience, they can purchase more powerful cards. I am sure there is an efficient build for speedrunning, but the game gives players the freedom to build their character to fit their playstyle.

Like most roguelikes, players will earn temporary skills and buffs at certain nodes of their journey. These rewards are random, but they felt fair for the most part. I never felt like I had a weak or useless ability. The levels are the same each, so there is a bit of repetition. The RNG helps break up some of the monthly, and players will eventually unlock new areas to explore. New content just dropped, and there is more planned for future releases.

The combat is the best part of this game. Players can perform one action per turn, and actions alternate between the player and enemies. During a turn, players can move one space, turn their character in the opposite direction, or perform an activity or set of abilities. Players can see the enemy’s actions between turns to plan accordingly. The key to this game is efficiently moving, dodging attacks, and setting up killing blows. A run ends when a player’s health drops to zero, and the goal is to get to the end of the run and beat the one true boss.

Review

I loved every minute of this game. Shogun Showdown is the most creative deckbuilder I’ve ever played. It has great flavor, beautiful art, a fantastic soundtrack, and fun gameplay. If you’re looking for a deckbuilding roguelike that breaks away from the norm, this is the game you need to get.

I love that it always feels like I am doing something. I am a huge fan of deck builders, but they all are starting to feel the same. The flavor may change, but it always feels like I am playing Slay the Spire. It is nice to play a game that changes up the strategy in a unique and fun way that looks good and plays flawlessly.

I recommend this game on any system because this is a game you need to try once. It is the perfect game for those who want something new without having it be a huge commitment, just be prepared to sink a respectable amount of time into it.

You can pick up Shogun Showdown on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and PC via Steam and Itch.io for $14.99.

Board Games and TCGs

The Lost Mountain Saga is a Fantastic and Dark Vaesen Mystery

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I was sent a free copy of Vaesen: The Lost Mountain Saga 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 campaign book.

What is Vaesen: The Lost Mountain Saga

The Lost Mountain Saga is a stand-alone mystery that you can run in any Vaesen campaign. Note that you will need access to the core rulebook if you want to run this adventure.

The northern Swedish city of Abisko used to be a prosperous mining town till the mines went dry. A recent gold rush has reopened the town for business, but not without events. There is something strange happening to the town, and it’s unclear what. Kids go missing in the night, livestock is slaughtered for no reason, and some people hear mysterious disembodied laughter. Fear is taking its hold, creating tension between its citizens. There is a witch hunt brewing, and The Society seems to be the only organization to help restore the peace to this sleepy mountain peace. Can your party find the truth before it is too late?

The Book

This book is printed in impeccable quality. It looks and feels like an old fairytale book. It has a textured hard cover and is printed on thick high-quality paper. Most importantly, the illustrations in this book are beautiful. The colors are vibrant and the art style is unique and thematic. You can always get the PDF version of this adventure, but the book is going to pop on any table.

Impressions

The Lost Mountain Saga is a valuable resource for the GM who needs a place to start or just wants to run a prewritten adventure. This book isn’t mandatory, but it is nice to have. This is a high-quality book with a solid adventure that will run great at any table. The book features a solid mystery with all the resources a GM needs to run it properly, provided they have a table for enthusiastic players to help bring the story to life.

The story is a little dark, as is expected from Vaesen, some trigger warnings may be required. The story is fine for my table, but the millage always varies. Make sure you always talk to your players.

The Lost Mountain Saga is a great resource for those who need it. If your looking for a new mystery to run for your next campaign, this is a good place to start.

You can pick up the book for $34.46 on Amazon, and the pdf for $19.99 on DriveThru RPG.

video game reviews

Looking for an Action Adventure Game? Go Play Creatures of Ava!

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I was sent a free copy of Creatures of Ava 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.

If you’re looking to upgrade your gaming/streaming setup, check out my reviews for Fifine H9 Gaming Headset, the AM8 Streaming Microphone, and the SC3 Gaming Mixer for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals. If you enjoy my content and want to help me with my hosting fees, consider buying me coffee or donating to my Patreon.

What is Creatures of Ava?

Creatures of Ava is an action adventure game out now for PC and Xbox.

You were sent to the planet Ava to save it from the Withering. The withering is a spreading corruption that is slowly killing the planet and its inhabitants. Catastrophe strikes and you are sent crashing to its surface. With the aid of some locals, you set out to continue your mission. Do you have what it takes to stop the corruption?

Gameplay

Ava finds a magical staff with the power to rescue the planet. Players use this staff to solve puzzles and cleanse wild life. This staff can be upgraded throughout out the adventure by buying nodes off a skill tree. XP in this game is earned when a player successfully studies and catalogues new data on the planet’s wildlife. This mechanic incentivizes exploration, even when the incentive isn’t needed.

Combat is nonviolent, which is extremely flavorful for the game’s theme. The goal of the game is to save the planet, so players use the staff to free the wildlife from a disease rather than to fight monsters. Combat is pretty basic, but manages to be engaging. The staff emits a beam of healing energy that reduces the corruption while the player dodges attacks. Players can learn new abilities to help them cleanse the planet more efficiently. Cleansing the planet removes obstacles from the surface. Cleansing an animal makes it friendly.

Friendly animals can be tamed by playing the flute. Each animal has a unique song that the player must emulate to gain its trust. This exists in the form of a Simon Says-like rhythm game. Players can link with a tamed animal and use their abilities to solve puzzles. While the rhythm game itself isn’t innovative or exciting, it is cool to become an animal from time to time.

The map for this game is a great size for an adventure. Players have a good amount of freedom to explore Ava’s strange and beautiful world, but there is a main quest line available for guidance.

Review


If you are looking for a new action-adventure game, you need to play Planet of Ava. This game is unique, beautiful, and a lot of fun. The game also features a solid story with a pretty amazing cast of voice actors. The game has so much to do that it is easily worth the money.

I loved every minute of this game. I have a hard time putting it down, but also staying focused. The world is so beautiful and vibrant that I kept having to fight the urge to keep exploring. I love crafting, and the fact that there was a crafting and gathering mechanic was extremely dangerous. If I wasn’t on a deadline, I could have easily spent hours making potions and exploring the world without ever touching the main story. Best of all, the game is pretty inoffensive. Aside from a few dark moments, a game about saving animals is a wholesome good time.

Planet of Ava is available now on PC, Steam, and Game Pass. This game is worth at least a first play through.

video game reviews

Guayota is a Cute & Creative Puzzle Adventure, but is it Good?

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I was sent a free copy of Guayota 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.

If you’re looking to upgrade your gaming/streaming setup, check out my reviews for Fifine H9 Gaming Headset, the AM8 Streaming Microphone, and the SC3 Gaming Mixer for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals.

What is Guayota?

Guayota is a cute 3D puzzle game coming out on August 13th on Steam and the Nintendo Switch.

You’ve heard the stories of the mythical island of San Brandan’s. An island once run by an advanced civilization full of wonder and mystery. You and a few brave souls are determined to find it. You follow the legend and wash up on its shores. This new world is ripe for exploration, but this is no ordinary island. Occasionally, you’ll be dragged into the realm of madness. Luckily, a spirit has decided to help you. Use its powers to explore the dungeons, solve its puzzles, and uncover the island’s secrets. What will your journey uncover?

Gameplay

Guayota is a top-down puzzle game. Players move through mazes and avoid traps to stay alive. Players must learn to wield the power of fire to activate the mechanisms that will keep them moving forward. A fire’s light can do helpful things like open doors, activate bridges, and other useful actions. Occasionally, players will die. This is part of the game’s design.

Dying takes players to the Realm of Madness, an alternate version of the map. There are no traps in the realm of madness. Instead, the map turns into a labyrinth the player must navigate with the help of their newly acquired spirit companion. Players can use these new powers to interact with the world like use them to move through walls or dodge traps. Players must solve puzzles in both realms to collect the clues that will help solve the mysteries of the island and the people who once ruled it.

Review

Guayota is an adorable game with an interesting premise. The game features cute characters, a solid soundtrack, and interesting puzzle mechanics. Switching between realms is a cool idea and a mechanic that the game uses effectively in its flavor and gameplay. The mechanic adds a new challenge to each room, and the puzzles are challenging enough to keep the game engaging. Some of the gameplay can start to feel repetitive, but not enough to kill the enjoyment. Overall, Guayota is a solid puzzle adventure with a decent story, creative puzzles, and cute characters. If you enjoy the genre or simply looking for a new game for your collection Guayota is a good place to start.

Guayota releases on August 13 on Steam and Nintendo Switch, but there’s a demo available if you need convincing.

video game reviews

Lost Castle 2: The Cute Roguelite You’ll Play With Your Friends!

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I was sent a free copy of Lost Castle 2 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.

If you’re looking to upgrade your gaming/streaming setup, check out my reviews for Fifine H9 Gaming Headset, the AM8 Streaming Microphone, and the SC3 Gaming Mixer for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals.

What is Lost Castle 2?

Choose your class and make your way through the most adorable dungeons in search of treasure, money, and fame. Brave these procedurally generated dungeons on your friends online. What hilarious stories will you share around the campfire?

Gameplay

Players choose their class at the start of each run. These classes can be swapped freely at the blacksmith or through random weapon drops during a run. Players can choose between a melee, magic, or ranged class. Each class is unique, but I preferred the magic class for my play style.

Like most roguelikes, players will receive random upgrades and skills throughout their run. There are random shops within the dungeons that also sell player items. These upgrades are all RNG-reliant, which means luck can ruin a run. I thought RNG was fair for the most part.

Players will then move through the dungeon, clearing each room of its monsters. Enemies increase in difficulty with each room, but a player’s power level also increases. Players can choose the types of encounters after each room. They can fight regular monsters or elite monsters, rest and refill their positions, buy items from a shop, and eventually fight the area boss. These choices are mostly randomized. Make sure you plan your route wisely.

In between runs, players can buy permanent upgrades in town. They can level up facilities and give their character some valuable buffs for their future runs. While I am sure there is an optimal build path, I always went with what fit my playstyle the best.

If you have friends or want to make new ones, Lost Castle 2 has a built-in matchmaking system. I liked playing alone, but I can see this game being a lot of fun with other people. It definitely has a party game vibe similar to Castle Crashers.

Review

Lost Castle is incredibly cute, but that shouldn’t distract from its issues. The gameplay, while fun and engaging, can grow repetitive and stale if you let it. Multiplayer is what will extend the game’s shelf life, but you’ll at least get your money’s worth if you decide to go solo. The wacky quirky gameplay gives this game its charm, but it would be a lot better with friends. I definitely wish there was an opportunity for couch co-op.

If you’re looking for a fun party game you can only play online, this might be a solid solution. This is a cute game with a charming little loop, but one that won’t stay in your rotation for too long unless you can find a group of friends that can make the grind worth it. The grind isn’t terrible, but it gets repetitive. I enjoyed the repetition, but I also understand the value of a good friend group.

The game is in early access. While I thought the game was fine, I am sure there will be some valuable improvements on the horizon. Buy at your discretion. You can pick up Lost Castle 2 on Steam for $14.99.

video game reviews

Dread Delusion is the Trippy RPG You Didn’t Know You Needed

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I was sent a free copy of Dread Delusion 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 of the game.

If you’re looking to upgrade your gaming/streaming setup, check out my reviews for Fifine H9 Gaming Headset, the AM8 Streaming Microphone, and the SC3 Gaming Mixer for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals.

What is Dread Delusion

Dread Delusion is a retro-style 3D hack-n-slash dark fantasy with an expansive world out now on Steam.

You are a prisoner of the Inquisition, serving your time for an unforgivable crime. Normally, you would rott in your cell like the bodies around you, but today is your lucky day. You have been called to work off your debt by fighting for the Inquisition. Travel over the vast and wonderful hellscape and bring an end to the enemies of the Inquisition. What secrets will you uncover about the Inquisition? About the world? About yourself? Will you die another faceless pawn, or will you get to taste sweet freedom once again?

Gameplay

Dread Delusion feels like Morrowind with a trippier vibe and much less loading. If you’re looking for a classic feeling 3D RPG, Dread Delusion might be the game that scratches that itch.

If you’re looking for an RPG with a comprehensive combat system, you will be disappointed. Combat is simple and often optional. You can sneak past most enemies, and they don’t even give out XP. If you decide to engage in combat, it is a simple hack-n-slash system that feels like Minecraft combat. It isn’t a bad system, but it is geared for the type of gamer who doesn’t want to worry about timing blocks and parries.

Exploration in this game is fantastic. While the graphics feel dated, you will enjoy the trippy and strange open-world adventure that spans around them. You have access to a myriad of well-written quests in a world that feels like a twisted fever dream. If you’re looking for a classic and chill RPG experience, it doesn’t get any better than Dread Delusion.

Review

I was excited for Dread Delusion when it crossed my desk. I am a huge fan of the art direction and I am always looking for a new RPG. I was not ready for how much I was going to love this game. This game is the perfect casual RPG with enough substance to be worth the full price tag. I am a huge fan of the art direction. The retro vibe blended with the twisted grotesque aesthetic makes for an interesting world. This is one of the first RPGs in a long while that I wanted to explore to see what weird and twisted visage awaited me around the next corner. I understand that the graphics might turn some people away from the title, but the style gives its unique and unforgivable charm.

The combat in this game is good enough. While it is easy, I appreciate the fact that I can skip or engage in it depending on my mood. Sometimes I just want to mindlessly hit stuff and not have to worry about builds and strategy, and sometimes I want to explore. There is a hardcore mode that you can try if you want a challenge, but I enjoyed Dread Delusion for its casual experience and story.

The story was fun to play through, but there is enough to do in this game to get lost in its expansive world. While it may not be a massive game, it does a good job of feeling like one. The quests are well-written, the world-building is solid, and the dark humor is appreciated. The game is quirky, but its quirks give the game its identity.

If you’re looking for a casual RPG and don’t mind the weird aesthetic and retro vibe, Dread Delusion should be in your library. It is the game you didn’t know you needed.

You can pick up Dread Delusion on Steam for $19.99.

gaming news

Drakantos Gets Closer to Release and a Solid Gameplay Teaser

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This month’s Dev log was a little late, but it was juicy. While we don’t have a firm release date, we do have a time frame. Drakantos plans its release for 2025. This seems like a long time, especially for those of us following from the beginning, but I’ve made it this far, what is a couple of more months. I rather have a finished game than a rushed one. Make sure you check out the official log for all the details, and don’t forget to Wishlist!

In a bit of sad news, dev logs will be moved to a three-month schedule. This means longer waits between devlogs, but it also means we’ll be getting juicier ones. There will be a consistent stream of teasers on the official Drakantos Discord, so make sure you join up and check regularly. I’ll try to do a monthly update of the teasers of they are juicy enough.

Liam Teaser

This month’s teaser was fantastic. We not only got to see Liam gameplay, but we got to get a good look at how the world of Drakantos works. We get a peak at the player hub and how questing works. I like the clean UI and the guild hall has a fantastic vibe to it. Most importantly, we got to see group combat. I love the art and am always impressed with how good they make the attack animations. I can see it being a little too busy for some folks, but I find it the perfect amount of world-shattering chaos without it ever being too distracting. I am curious to see how it things will work with busier instances like PvP and World Bosses.

I wasn’t too impressed with Liam’s gameplay, but I don’t tank. He seems too slow for my taste, but in the right hands, he can be a menace. Liam has a solid taunt, access to valuable debuffs, AOE, and he can close gaps quickly when needed. The cherry on top is his cool animations and voice acting. If you are looking to tank in Drakantos, you definitely need to consider Liam.

Game Info

Drakantos will be an MMO with dungeon-crawler elements. It will have an open world to explore, quest, and make friends in. There will be an overarching story which I am very excited to dive into. The game already has a solid amount of lore, I can’t wait to see what they do with it. There will also be a traditional player market. As long as players aren’t allowed to sell real money items, I’m cool with a player-run economy.

Drakantos will include character-specific prologues that will eventually lead to the starting zone. This will include a character story, a great way to start the game. The devs talk about moving away from the traditional linear system of questing in the hopes of giving the system purpose. Quests will reward players with gold and experience, but it will also unlock new systems, shops, and areas for the players. Some side quests will be class-specific, requiring players to use a character that knows magic for example. Most importantly, these types of quests will offer horizontal progression, which means completing a mission counts for the entire account. I like that the game isn’t forcing a tedious grind with their unique system.

The Dungeon Crawl

We got to see a bit of the Adventurer’s Guild in the Liam teaser above. The Guild is the main player hub where players can gather and queue for instances. Instances will take players to over 120 different maps and have them complete different quests. The intention is to always have players complete a different quest every time, even if they queue up for the same map. This is a very cool feature. While I do find comfort in repetition, the grind can get soul-crushing and monotonous. I can’t wait to see how this system is implemented. There will also be a random secondary objective or rare event to make things extra spicy. This can be a random encounter or a golden gnome for example. Completing side quests will net you more rewards, but they are optional.

Some instance bosses

Matchmaking

Matchmaking for an instance is tied to a player’s power level. There is no lobby. Instead of waiting for others to join, the game jumps you to the instance as it continues to look for other players. Difficulty scales based on the number of players in an instance (max 3), and rescales if someone drops suddenly. This is fantastic for a mobile game where internet connection can be spotty. Premade groups can be up to four for when you eventually join your guild and make your friends.

Conclusion

I continue to get hyped for the Drakantos release because this game looks fantastic. I’ve been waiting for an MMO to fill the void PSO left behind, and I am hoping this will be it. I love the art, the flavor, and the fact that this thing is portable. I can play it anywhere! Each month brings us closer to a release, and I’m just waiting for a beta. Make sure you join the official Drakantos Discord to stay up to date on all the news, and don’t forget to add the game to your Wishlist.