Tag Archives: cute

video game reviews

Hidden Through Time 2: Myths & Magic is simply adorable!

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I was sent Hidden Through Time 2: Myths & Magic for free to review for my site. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.

Hidden Through Time 2: Myths & Magic is an adorable hidden objects game with terrific flavor and a ton of content. If you ever enjoyed the I Spy books or have kids who do, this is a great game to add to your collection. The game features an adorable art style, a relaxing soundtrack, and simple but challenging gameplay.

The gameplay loop is simple: load up a map and find the hidden objects. You’ll need to actively change the environment like digging up holes, opening doors, or changing the weather to find some objects. While the game may appear cute and childish, there is enough of a challenge to stump players. There are clues available for when you get stuck, but even then it takes a bit of work to find everything. It isn’t an impossible game, but it is a lot harder than it looks. 

There are a few ways to play this game: play through the campaign, create your own maps, or play through the community maps. 

The campaign has themed levels based on popular myths and legends. I enjoyed the flavor, but I loved the rate of progression. Players start each level with a small map and a small list of items to find. The maps and lists get bigger the more levels they play through, and finding the objects gets progressively harder. 

The map editor is easy to use and offers a lot of customization options. I am not creative when it comes to map-making, so I only messed around with it for a bit. I was overwhelmed with how many options were available, but was even more impressed by the community content that is already available. Hidden Through Time 2: Myths & Magic is a game whose longevity hinges on its community, and the community is vibrant. I was blown away by the amount of fun and creative maps already available. There is always a danger of inconsistency with these types of games, but it’s not so much an issue with games. At least for now, you’ll be busy for a while.

I enjoyed this game for the relaxing change of pace that it is. The game is cute, simple, and relaxing, but it isn’t a game I can spend hours on. I don’t have the attention span for this kind of game, but that is a personal problem. The game runs great, and If you enjoy the genre or are looking for a change of pace, Hidden Through Time 2: Myths & Magic is a solid choice. This is also a fantastic game for kids, but it might be a little difficult if they are on the younger side. 

You can pick up Hidden Through Time 2: Myths & Magic on Steam for $12.99. 

video game reviews

My Little Blood Cult is a Terrible Mobile Game Port

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I was sent My Little Blood Cult free 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 enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.

My Little Blood Cult is a demonic fishing game available now on Steam and mobile devices. Become the most powerful cult the world has ever known by fishing the underworld for demons, monsters, and other audities. How deep does your hellish devotion go? 

I was sent the Steam version, and the game is unplayable. My Little Blood Cult on Steam is a terrible port of a mobile game you can play for free on Android and IOS devices. There is no reason to buy this game unless you want to support the project, but I don’t see enough reason to do so.

I love fishing games in MMOs, and typically always max out the stat in every MMO I play. When I saw My Little Blood Cult, I was genuinely excited. It has a cute art style, the soundtrack is nice, and it promised a game I thought I would enjoy. Unfortunately, the game is unplayable. 

The gameplay loop is simple, drop the line and play the fishing mini-game to catch yourself a demon. You can use blood sacrifices and items to catch other demons, but the loop doesn’t work on PC. The game replaces the tapping with clicking, and it doesn’t translate. It is too much work for the game to be worth it. It might be better with a touch screen, but I don’t have it in me to find out. It still seems like too much work to be worth the trouble. 

The lack of direction is also an issue. The devs have been working on implementing a tutorial, but most players are going to grow frustrated trying to figure out how the game works. If you do get it to work, it’s not fun enough to keep playing. The game is still in early access, and the devs are actively listening to player feedback. There might be incoming changes that might make the experience better, but until then, My Little Blood Cult isn’t worth your money. You can pick it up on Steam for $6.99, but I recommend you play it for free on Android or IOS first. 

video game reviews

Headbangers Rhythm Royal already needs a discount

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I was sent Headbangers Rhythm Royal for free 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 enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.

Headbangers Rhythm Royal is a quirky rhythm game out on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and Steam. Play as stylish pigeons just groovin’ and trying to have a good time. Compete against people around the world in a series of rhythm-based party games. Do you have what it takes to be the grooviest pigeon in town?

There is no denying that Headbangers Rhythm Royal is a cute game. It has a fun art style, cute characters, and a solid soundtrack. When you get past the charm, you are left with a game that isn’t worth $20.  

Headbangers Rhythm Royal promises this massive party game experience that pits 30 people against each other in quirky and fun mini-games. The game fills the game with bots if not enough humans queue up. Most of the games you play will be full of bots, except for the few humans grinding for accessories. A lobby full of humans wouldn’t have made this game any more fun, but it would make the stakes real. Most of the time you’ll make it to the top 5 unless you’re unlucky and get a room with six or more people. This game isn’t dead, but it desperately needs more people.

Games are split into four randomly selected mini-games. Half of the round’s population is eliminated based on performance. Once you get into a game, you might get trapped in a minigame you hate. Not all of the games are fun, but that is to be expected from the genre. I wish there were a way to vote for a game, but the amount of bots would complicate this system. Nothing is worse than being stuck in a boring mini-game, waiting for it to be over, only to be trapped in something worse. There are a few delightful and fun games, but not enough for $20. 

Headbangers Rhythm Royal is a cute party game that you’ll play until the novelty wears off. It’s not bad, but it isn’t worth $20 either. You can pick it up on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and Steam, but I’d wait for it to go on sale.

video game reviews

SteamWorld Build A Cute New Casual Village Builder with a Twist!

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I was sent SteamWorld Build as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave me a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.

SteamWorld Build launches on Xbox, Switch, PlayStation, and Steam on December 1st. If you enjoy village builders or are in the market for a new game, you need to buy this game.

Take command of a group of robot settlers as they make their last-ditch effort to escape a dying planet. Together, they must build a settlement, recruit new citizens, and mine for the materials that will lead to salvation. But getting off-world won’t be easy. Can you find a way off the planet before the monsters destroy your settlement?

SteamWorld Build is an adorable addition to the SteamWorld universe and a must-have for any fan of the series. The game does a wonderful job of capturing the quirky and delightful vibe of the franchise without sacrificing any of the fun. You don’t need to have played any of the other games to understand the story, but you are going to want to after. SteamWorld games are always a quirky good time and a fantastic addition to any library.

The art, graphics, and animation for this game are adorable. The scrappy design reminds me of the Warhammer 40k Ork Aesthetic, and I love it! If you are a fan of the SteamWorld games, you’ll appreciate the attention to detail put into capturing the essence of the series. If you aren’t a fan, you’ll appreciate the amount of detail put into bringing this world to life. Little details like watching them walk through the wash or getting a drink at the saloon as they carry on their tasks make the experience feel vibrant and alive.

Be prepared to lose a couple of days as you scrutinize the most efficient way to grow your settlement. I had so much fun with SteamWorld Build that it became an addiction. I restarted a few times as I tried the different maps and strategies until finally forcing myself away long enough to write this review. The casual gameplay yet engaging gameplay, the cute and quirky gameplay, and the pacing all come together to create an experience worth having.

SteamWorld Build is a fantastic blend of village building, resource management, and tower defense. It starts like any traditional village builder, with limited resources and a space to build. As the settlement grows, new mechanics are introduced to keep the game feeling fresh. Each world is split into four levels, each with unique gameplay and design. At the top is a basic settlement game where players recruit new citizens, keep them happy, and trade with the passing train. Lower levels introduce a mining game where players dig for resources, maintain the mine’s stability, and defend against oncoming threats. The lower you go, the more dangerous it is. It feels like playing three games at once, but it never becomes overwhelming. Building inefficiently does impede your progression, but I wouldn’t worry about that until your second or third playthrough. I recommend you go into this game as blindly as possible before looking up guides because learning from your mistakes is half the fun.

I love SteamWorld Build and recommend anyone looking for a new game these holidays to pick it up. It’s cute, it’s casual, and an addicting amount of fun. SteamWorld comes out on Xbox, Switch, PlayStation, and Steam on December 1st. Don’t forget to wishlist if you haven’t done so already!

video game reviews

Haunted House: A Spooky Stealthy Roguelite Adventure

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I was sent Haunted House as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I will not let it sway my opinions. This will be an honest review of the game. If you enjoy my reviews, leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. If you want to show your support, you can always buy me coffee. 

Haunted House is a roguelite reimagining of the Atari classic of the same name out now for Xbox, Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam and Epic Games. 

Famous treasure hunter Zachary Graves has gone missing, and it is up to his niece to find him. Play as Lyn as she makes her way through a ghost-infested mansion in search of a way to bring him back. As Lyn, you’ll have to solve puzzles, sneak carefully, and occasionally fight to survive. Can you stay alive long enough to bring your uncle back? 

Haunted House has fantastic flavor. The isometric design and cartoonish art style give it its classic feeling flare, while the mechanics and atmosphere it creates make it appropriately creepy. Halloween may be over, but this is the perfect addition to any spooky playlist. 

If you are a fan of stealth games, you are going to want to look into Haunted House. Don’t let the game’s cutesy aesthetics fool you. This is an unforgiving roguelike, and you will die a lot. While this game does offer players ways to fight off the ghouls and ghosts that roam the manner, it is almost always better to tread lightly. This game is punishing if you try to fight through every encounter. Although I don’t have the patience for it, I found sneaking to be exciting and fun. 

Like most games in the genre, the Haunted House gameplay look is a bit repetitive. Players will explore the manor one room at a time while completing similar tasks. Between each round, players have a chance to buy the upgrades that will help them venture deeper into the castle. I enjoyed the repetition and found the gameplay loop rather relaxing. While the stress and fear of getting caught loomed with each playthrough, I had a lot of fun exploring the manor, completing each room, and getting farther each time. 

I enjoyed my time with Haunted Mansion, and recommend it even if it isn’t Halloween. It’s cute with an engaging gameplay loop and has a classic feel without feeling too old for the current generation. If you have kids, it is a solid inoffensive game to add to their collection. If you don’t have kids but are looking for a stealth game that isn’t too stressful, you’ll definitely get $20 of fun out of it. 

You can pick up Haunted House on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and PC via Steam and Epic Games for $19.99. 

video game reviews

Ziggy’s Cosmic Adventure for VR is a wacky good time

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I was sent Ziggy’s Cosmic Adventure as a review code, and while I am very grateful for the opportunity, this will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. If you need accessories for your VR setup, like a high-quality charging cable or a set of magnetic prescription lenses, get them over at ZyberVR. Use discount code CHURAPE at checkout for 15% off your purchase.

Ziggy’s Cosmic Adventure is a silly arcade game available now on Steam VR and Meta Quest. Brave the darkness of space in a ship you have to keep in working order. You’ll have to fly your ship, fight enemies all while fixing your ship, and keep Ziggy fed. If you are looking for a silly good time without the commitment, this game is for you. 

The game has a short and delightful story. I kind of wish the game was longer, but I like that it doesn’t overstay its welcome. The game looks great with its silly cartoonish aesthetic to fit its theme. My only complaint about the design is that I wish they didn’t make Ziggy so cute. Spoilers: You’re going to have to kill a few. Dead Ziggy’s aside, this is a solid VR title with an amazing cast of voice actors and fun gameplay. If you are susceptible to VR sickness, this game will get some getting used to. Play it in small bursts. 

The game has a slow start, but it’s worth getting past the initial tutorial hump. Once this game gets going, it’s going to get sweaty. Ziggy’s Cosmic Adventure is a very involved game of Bop It with some casual space flight simulation. You’ll get warnings of the different failures of the ship, and you’ll have to make sure you bring them back to working order. You’ll have to hammer stuff, spin stuff, twist stuff, press stuff, and make sure your Ziggy is always fed. If you aren’t flailing around wildly in the middle of your living room, you aren’t doing it right. There is combat, but it’s been understandably simplified. This game would be impossible if players had to maintain the ship on top of dealing with the realism of space travel.

 

I was about ready to write this game off until the chaos kicked in, and I became addicted. It was a little stressful because I am not the best at multi-tasking, but I didn’t know how much I loved that stress until I played this game. This game is perfect for kids, and even better if you want a silly good time without it being a huge commitment. You can pick up for the Meta Quest and Steam VR, and for $19.99, I’d say it’s worth it. It is currently on sale for $17.99 on Steam until November 16,

gaming news

Preorder your copy of SteamWorld Build today!

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I got to try SteamWorld Build at this year’s GDC, and I have been excited to get my hands on it. You can check out my previous post to read my complete impression.

SteamWorld Build is a cute little village builder coming to Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and the Nintendo Switch on December 1st. This is a cute little village builder with an interesting defense mechanic that you are going to want to try at least once. I just got a copy and will be reviewing it as soon as the embargo is lifted. Stay tuned for that. 

You can preorder a copy of SteamWorld Build for your favorite console starting today. The game retails for $29.99, but preordering on Xbox and Switch saves you $3. PlayStation Plus members also get this discount. If you aren’t ready yet, at least add it to your wish list!

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video game reviews

Illuminaria is a cute and unique resource management game, but is it worth it?

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I was sent Illuminaria as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, this will be my honest review of the game. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.

Illuminaria is a base building, resource management game for PC, Switch, Android, and IOS devices. Take control of an army of adorable robots as you work to bring light back to the land. Use the robots to gather resources, build bases, and fight monsters.

Illuminaria has a unique and interesting gameplay loop. Building is probably the most relaxing experience I’ve had in the genre because of how easy it is to get organized. All you have to do is build squares, and the robots will fill those squares with resources based on your designations. This loop feels fantastic on the iPhone because all you do is tap and watch your little robots get to work. While you wait for resources, you are also researching new technologies, upgrading structures, defending your bases, and sending your robots on quests for more materials. You’ll be as busy as your little buddies on the screen, and it is such a wholesome good time!

My only real issue with this game is the price. $5 for the app is perfect. You’ll get $5 of fun from the app. If you are looking for a chill game to pick up in a waiting room or something to fill those rare gaming hours that present themselves, Illuminaria is a solid choice. The mechanics are easy to pick up, the gameplay is engaging, the art is cute, and the music is great. This is a fun game, and it’s a perfect mobile gaming experience. The problem is that this game feels short. You can try to beat the game at different difficulties, but it still feels like a $5 app. I can’t see it ever being worth full price on a console or PC. It’s not a bad game, there just isn’t enough for it to be worth it.

You can pick up Illuminaria on Steam, and Switch for $14.99, and on Android and IOS Devices for $4.99. It is on sale right now on Steam for $9.74 until November 7th, but you can also try the demo if you need some more convincing.

video game reviews

Fabledom is the adorably wholesome village builder you should be playing

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I was sent Fabledom as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, this will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please make sure you like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.

Fabledom is an adorable city builder available on Steam. The game is in early access, but it certainly doesn’t feel like it. It’s also got a healthy roadmap, and I am sure the game will get better. If you are looking to get into the genre, or simply looking for a new title to get into, Fabledom is a fantastic place to start.

Players start with a small population of peasants, limited resources, and an easy-to-follow tutorial. As your village grows, you unlock new mechanics. Fabledom lets players practice diplomacy with neighboring kingdoms, raise renowned heroes and armies, and find their true love.

Don’t let the adorable fairytale facade fool you. You’ll need to be tactical about how you grow your village. While I never hit the point where my village failed, I did hit bottlenecks in my progress that stemmed from my mistakes. I am sure there are guides designed to play Fabledom optimally, but I like learning from my failures. I always recommend going into these games as blindly as possible. It’s more fun that way. 

I am obsessed with this game. The gameplay is relaxing yet engaging, the art style is cute, and the music is such a vibe. This is one of those games you need to try at least once, especially if you are curious about the genre. You can pick up Fabledom on Steam for $11.99 (normally $15.99) until October 30th. It’s worth it at either price! 

Board Games and TCGs

The Pokémon x Van Gogh’ Art Collaboration is so cute!

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The Pokémon Company has partnered with the Can Gogh Museum in Amsterdam to produce some of the cutest and most unique products to come to the space. If you are a collector, or just need another excuse to go to the museum, this event is worth looking into. The exhibit will run from September 28 to January 7th, and you can access it for the price of a regular museum admission ticket.

The Exhibit

The collaboration intends to get the new generation into museums which I love to see. The museum will be hosting six pieces by an artist from The Pokémon Company where they fuse Van Goh’s iconic style with familiar Pokémon such as the Self-portrait with Grey Felt Hat (1887).

Snorlax & Munchlax inspired by The Bedroom
Sunflora inspired by Sunflowers

Pokémon Adventure & Pikachu Promo Card

The museum will also be hosting a Pokémon Adventure activity for kids ages six and up. Participants will be given a leaflet to fill out that will guide them through the museum and teach them about the artist in a fun interactive activity. The leaflet will be available in both Dutch and English and completed leaflets can be exchanged for a cute Pikachu promo card you are going to want in your collection. I am hoping the museum has a good way to mitigate the scalpers or greedy collectors. It would be a shame if the target audience for this event weren’t able to participate because there were too many greedy adults. I guess it won’t be a huge deal if it drives up attendance.

The Merch

But if you aren’t able to get your hands on the promo card, you can settle for some of the adorable exclusive merch that will only be available at the Van Gogh Museum’s gift shop. There is an adorable plushy, a cool tote bag, and more while supplies last. Purchases will also come with a copy of the Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat if any are available.

Conclusion

If you are in the area, make sure you go anyway. It is always good to support the arts. Even if you’ve seen pictures of the famous paintings at an exhibit, nothing beats being in the same room and being able to examine them up close. It is so cool to see how pop culture seeps into the classical. I love this collaboration because it creates this neat retrospective of art that I hadn’t considered. It shows how eternal some ideas have become, but also how these ideas continue to inspire and evolve. I bet Van Gogh never imagined he would have a whole museum dedicated to him, but here his work is, on a Pokémon card.

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