Tag Archives: dark fantasy

video game reviews

Review of Dragon is Dead: A Captivating Metroidvania Adventure

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Dragon is Dead 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

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What is Dragon is Dead

Dragon is Dead is a dark fantasy 2D Metroidvania out now on Steam.

The black dragon is dead, and now an unholy force spreads across the land. You are his successor, and it is up to you to get rid of it. Using the powers granted by the gods, fight against the Corruption and restore the peace this world once new. Your journey will be one full of death, but luckily, you are able to learn from death and come back stronger. Can you be the successor this world needs?

Gameplay

Dragon is Dead is a 2D action platformer with roguelike tendencies. Players Journey across a linear 2D map, fighting off its monsters and bosses. Unlike most games in the genre, there are no save points. On death, the player resets at in the starting town of Cliffshire, keeping all their loot, gear, and runes accumulated during the run. While the loop can feel repetitive, it does start getting better the more experience a player gains throughout a run. Combat and and platforming is what you’d expect from the genre, with a unique build system. Players have a good amount of choice when building their character through a run. I am sure there is a meta for this game, but I had fun exploring the different builds and finding something that fit my play style. I like that players can reset the build between runs so there is always a bit of variety.

Review

If you don’t have Dragon is Dead in your library, it needs to be. This is definitely the most fun I’ve had with a Metroidvania, and I will recommend it to everyone. I love how diverse the skill tree is, and how each weapon feels different. While I did eventually settle on a group of skills and weapon types, I never felt like I chose the wrong path. There is a grind, and it can feel repetitive, it doesn’t feel too bad. Leveling and gearing feels impactful. It is nice to earn a weapon or level and seeing how much more effective it is against enemies.

I would argue that Dragon is Dead is a more casual entry to the genre. I like that the game didn’t force me to find my way through a dungeon in search of save points because I have a terrible sense of direction. I also like that I didn’t lose leveling and gearing progress on death because it made having to redo whole sections of the map feel less bad. The bosses are fun, flavorful, and creative, but they aren’t impossible. You can definitely over level and defeat them if all else fails. There is a story, but it does feel like I can pick up this title at any time and not be lost, especially if I just want a quick Metroidvania fix.

My only real complaint is the with the Steam deck experience. The game works great on the Steam deck, and I will only play this game on one, but the words are too small. The game does warn players that the words are too small, and there is a magnifying feature. The magnifying feature on the Steam Deck is too much trouble, I will just ruin my eyesight or invest on a real magnifying glass if it comes to it.

Aside from that small detail, this game is awesome. Dragon is Dead has great art, fantastic flavor, and a fun loop that any player will enjoy. If you are looking for a new game to play, I don’t think it gets much better.

You can pick up Dragon is Dead on Steam.

Board Games and TCGs, Uncategorized

Ruins of Sybaroum 5e: Adventure Compendium – Complete Review

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Introduction

I ran the Ruins of Sybaroum 5e recently at my table. It’s been a while since I’ve ran 5e and we wanted to make our return. Ruins of Symbaroum offered a different enough setting and flavor that we made our plunge and start with the Adventure Compendium. I did buy this book with my own money, and ran it using the official Alchemy RPG module (also purchased with my own money). This review will be on both the game and the module. You can pick up a copy of the Adventure Compendium on the official Free League Publishing site or your favorite game store. You can also pick it up through my Amazon Affiliate link. It really helps me out. I’ll be leaving affiliate links where I can.

What is Ruins of Sybaroum 5e: Adventure Compendium?

The adventure compendium is a 5e compatible adventure that takes players from levels 1-8. If you’re planning to run any of the other pre-written adventures in this series, or are a new DM, this is the place to start.

The Adventure Compendium is a collection of adventures that lets players not only explore the world of Symbaroum, but get a taste of the different types of adventures. There are witch hunts, murder mysteries, escort missions, and a few other neat surprises. You will need access to at least the OGL ruleset, but it doesn’t hurt to have a Gamemaster’s Guide. Things like the Ruins of Symbaroum Core Setting Book, Player’s Guide, and Beastiary are nice to have, but you can run this game with just the OGL.

The Module

Alchemy RPG is a VTT that focuses on enhancing Theater of the Mind campaigns. It can be used to run combat and it has tools to run battle maps, but the modules main job is to set the mood with its cool visuals and atmospheric soundscape.

The Adventure Compendium Module is fine, but it is incomplete. Buying other modules will make prep easier, but hombrewing what you need isn’t hard, just time consuming. If this is your first VTT, buying into it isn’t going to be a problem. It is reasonably priced with a clean UI that is simple and easy to use. As far as substance goes, the visuals for the module are cool, but not the real reason you’re buying the game. You can always supplement the module with your own content for free. I found the font too small to read, and I don’t like that you can’t move or resize any of the windows. It be nice to be able to move the notes around to move characters.

Combat in this module works fine. If you like to use maps, the experience feels a bit lacking. Resizing maps feels a bit clunky (but better than Roll20) and the maps included with the module aren’t very optimized. They work well enough if you ever need to run something quick, but Foundry VTT does it better. If you don’t care about maps, it’s great. Setting up the encounter is easy, and every chapter is neatly divided so you only get the stat blocks you need. I don’t think the included visuals and sounds did much to enhance combat, but setting up your own scenes with music and visuals is easy and quick.

Alchemy is a solid VTT for those who want to focus on the story and don’t care much about combat. It is free to try (with a few limitations), but you can start with the module if you want to support the publisher and want the convenience the module provides. You can run the game without the module, but it is a little time consuming.

The Book

If you’re a new Gamemaster with new players looking for a darker grittier adventure, the Adventure Compendium is a great place to start. The book has solid pacing and a good variety of actives to get things started.

The world of Symbaroum is very unforgiving and will wipe a careless party. GMs can always tweek and change an adventure to fit their table, but the adventure is supposed to be harsh. Monsters are supposed to be strong, resources are supposed to be scarce, and the danger is supposed to be feel real. Games like these seem to have more meaningful moments of epic heroism, but the table needs to be in the mood for it. Changing survival mechanics and re-balancing combat is always fine, but it takes away a bit of the spirit of the campaign. As it turns out, we weren’t really in the mood for a more serious campaign and we couldn’t form that connection. Lowering the difficulty to allow room for shenanigans made it not as good.

But, just because the game didn’t fit the flavor of our campaign, it doesn’t mean it won’t fit yours. The Adventure Compendium does a fantastic job at being an intro product, and with a good amount of difficulty to keep things grim. It does feel like it is geared towards newer GMs and players (it could be a lot harder) and that is perfectly fine. The stories it tells are also fine, but not a real reason to buy this book. If you want to explore the world of Symbaroum and don’t need the crutch, you can try starting with the setting book instead. I’ll be doing a full review at some point so stay tuned.

Uncategorized, video game reviews

Is Mortal Rite Worth Playing? Honest Review

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Mortal Rite to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

Shameless Self-Promotions

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out the new Epomaker HE75 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System. I’ve also started a web novel that I update weekly.

What is Mortal Rite?

Mortal Rite is a class-based Souls-like available on Steam Early Access.

You have been granted the ability to take over different champions and use them to defeat the evil that plagues the land. Make your way through a monster infested land, master your powers, and defeat the bosses. Will you be the hero this world needs, or will you fall to the darkness like so many before you?

Gameplay

Players will fight their way through a dungeon, learning to harness their powers. This journey can be made alone, but the game supports up to five player co-op. The first hero a player selects is free, but players will need to buy additional characters with farmable resources. Each character has its unique playstyle can can be further customized through the game’s attribute system.

Combat is straight forward and follows the traditional Souls-like formula. Players get access to a heavy/light attack, a doge, block, and a few character specific abilities to change things up. Dying resets players to checkpoints, and killing the bosses progresses the story. Aside from the class system, the game doesn’t do much too different.

Review

Mortal Rite shows its players that it is still an Early Access game. Booting up the game, players will immediately notice that the game isn’t finished. The biggest issue I have with the game is the performance. Frames drop, FPS isn’t great, and worst of all, combat isn’t smooth. I get that bugs can be part of the charm, but not when combat feels as clunky as it does in Mortal Rite. Swimming feels slow and looks bad, and the lack of fluid motion will get players killed. A lot of the time I felt like I was fighting the controls and the game more than I was fighting my enemies.

I could forgive a janky unfinished combat system if the lore were good, but it isn’t. The story feels a little generic, and it did little to keep my attention. At least the characters seem thematic, but I wouldn’t play this game just for the characters.

Even if you like backing Early Access games, I would wait for a couple more updates. Even then, I would wait for a full release because you simply have better options at this price point. Go play Void Sols instead. It’s cheaper, better, and it has a demo.

You can pick up Mortal Rite on Steam for $24.99.

gaming news

Drakantos Beta Announcement and a few Key updates

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Shameless Self-Promotions

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out the new Epomaker HE75 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System. I’ve also started a web novel that I update weekly.

Introduction

It has been a while since I’ve posted about Drakantos, but after reading the latest dev log, I had to post something. I’ll be summarizing the bits of the log that were most interesting to me, so make sure you check out the official post for all the details. Make sure you add Drakantos to your wishlist!

Yuki Gameplay Teaser

I was planning on playing support when this game finally releases, but all of the teased DPS rolls look like a lot of fun. Yuki is no exception and if you’re looking for a high mobility champion and don’t mind listening the voice, Yuki is going to be a beast.

The Delay

The game has been delayed, but for good reason. The original morphing into something different because the devs seem to be listening to the community. Make sure you join the official Discord to join the conversation. Lets cover a few of the changes that I am most excited about.

Customization

The original plan for customization were the skins players can get from the cash shop or the battle pass. I know the idea of monetization is going to raise some flags, but the devs need to get paid. We can only hope it isn’t predatory. Customization will still be limited the set skins, but players are allowed a few small tweeks to create a unique look. Players will be able to change the dye of items and characters, and even change hairstyles and armor pieces. How much a character can be customized is yet to be seen, but it is a nice feature for those who enjoy the fashion side of MMOs.

Open World

Drakantos was originally supposed to be a dungeon crawler MMO, one with a central hub and dungeons and content for players to queue for. The devs have decided to expand their world and allow players to explore what the new world has to offer. I assume there will be limitations because it is still a mobile game, but I am all for running around the world, questing, and finding treasure.

Artifacts and Trophies

The system I am most excited for is the artifact system. Artifacts are items players collect throughout their journey that give characters unique active abilities. This gives players a way to customize their character and shake up the combat. I am sure there will be a meta for this after a while, but it will be interesting to see what they come up. I’ll be gunning for the wackiest build I can find.

The artifact system has the potential of being a very cool system. Ideally, assuming the balance is there, players will have to switch between artifacts depending on the activity. I just hope the grind isn’t bad for unlocking multiple artifacts. This is a great way to shake up a season between character releases, and a quick way to shake up the meta when necessary. We’ll have to see what they do with it, but I am hopeful.

Mini Bosses

I love the art for this game, and these mini bosses are no exception. This game has a ton of flavor and I can’t wait to explore all of it.

Pets and Mounts

The more art I see for pets and mounts, the more excited I become for the system. There are a few I wouldn’t mind chasing, especially the mimic pet! I know this won’t be for everyone, but it is cool to see some variety.

Emotes

What is finished?

Looks like a few of the systems are done, which means we are one step closer to a playable version.

  • Loot Tables
  • Quest logs
  • Databook – Lore and Locations
  • Bestiary
  • Achievements

Beta Announcement!

In the best news we’ve gotten all year, the closed beta is planned for sometime in July. That means we will finally get to play the game, and I for one can’t wait! Make sure you are following the official Discord to stay up to date on the news on signups. Don’t forget to add Drakantos to your wishlist!

video game reviews

Whispers of the Eyeless: Unique Cult Management Game Review

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Whisper of the Eyeless 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 Plug

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out the new Epomaker HE75 Mag or their KiiBoom Breeze 75. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System.

What is Whispers of the Eyeless?

Whispers of the Eyeless is a cult management game with RPG elements out now in Steam Early Access.

You are the voice of the old dead gods, Wrath Desire, and Madness. Little remains of the dead gods, and it is up to you to bring them back. Using the powers of the old god that you slowly awaken, recruit new members, build your temple, and conquer the dungeon. Can you build a deserving following, one that can consume the city, or will you be another delusional cleric?

Gameplay

The main loop for Whispers of the Eyeless is the resource management game. Players will spend their time exploring the city, recruiting new members, fixing up their place of worship, and a little bit of dungeon delving. Exploring the city allows players to recruit new members to the party. Exploration will proct special events where players have a chance of recruiting unique members with special abilities. Players are limited in how much of the city they an explore at first, but will earn access to the more prosperous parts of the city once they gain more influence.

Once members are recruited, players are responsible for keeping them happy. Creating jobs, keeping them fed, and building a nice place of worship are all important tasks for a successful cult leader. Some cultists can be sent on jobs around the city, or on dungeon delves. The dungeon is a dangerous place, but one that can be conquered with the proper party of loyal cultist.

In the dungeon, players will explore its halls with simple point and click movement, and combat is in the classic turn based style.

Players who can manage to stay on top of all these tasks, earn their money, and gain their influence properly will have no problem resurrecting the dead gods.

Review

I enjoyed Whispers of the Eyeless. The game is still in Early Access, and it is hard to give it a proper recommendation. On one hand, the game is the perfect fusion of each genre it covers, on the other, the game doesn’t feel finished. The game works and looks great. The artwork is amazing, and I am a huge fan of the dark storybook vibe the game captures. The soundtrack and voice acting are phenomenal, and do a great job at setting the mood. The story and flavor is solid, but it is a little short. Players will catch up to the content quickly, which can definitely be a problem.

I loved the game since I tried the demo, and the new content made it worth the wait. But while I may be willing for more content, and will be returning to the game at every major update, not everyone will. The biggest reason to get Whispers of the Eyeless at this stage is because you want to support a solid game. The game does enough to help it stand out against the genre, and it is heading towards a promising direction. There really isn’t enough to be worth the price tag at the moment, but there will be if you are patient.

You can pick up Whispers of the Eyeless on Steam Early Access for $19.99.

video game reviews

Lords of the Fallen Review: A Casual Souls-like Experience

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I was sent a free copy of Lords of the Fallen 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.

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What is Lord of the Fallen?

Lords of the Fallen is a souls-like out now on Steam.

The Demon God Adyr is on the verge of resurrection, and it is up to you, as a Dark Crusader, to stop it from happening. Grab your favorite weapon and fight your way through the endless mobs of terrifying monsters as you make your way through this bleak world. Can you get strong enough in time to stop the great god’s resurrection, or will you be another lost soul?

Gameplay

Lords of the Fallen fallen is the closest you will get to a Souls game, but I would argue that this game is on the easier side. Players start by choosing their class, and each class does feel different enough in both flavor and style. The player will then spend time running between campfires, farming xp and searching for better weapons, armor and items. What makes this game unique is the spirit lantern mechanic that allows players to shift into a parallel dimension to solve puzzles. There is co-op and multiplayer support, but I don’t have the friends to try it out.

Review

I enjoyed Lords of the Fallen for the casual souls-like experience that it provides. While the skill required to progress through the game and beat the bosses was enough to keep things engaging, it isn’t the soul-crushing experience you would expect from a souls-like. Combat feels good, although the progression does feel a little slow and the game gets a bit grindy towards the end.

The story is fine, nothing I would rush to play, but something that I am glad I finished. The game does have a good amount of flavor. I appreciate everything that went into the design of the world. The levels were creepy and atmospheric and the parallel realm was cool. I wasn’t too crazy about the spirit lantern mechanics, but it did make for a few interesting puzzles.

Aside from a few stutters and frame drops, the game runs smoothly on PC. On the Steam Deck, the drops are more noticeable and the fan is very loud. That said, it is playable on the Steam Deck. Most of my game time was on the Steam Deck due to personal preference.

If you’re looking for a souls game that isn’t a huge commitment, you’re going to want to pick up Lords of the Fallen. If you enjoy the grueling challenge of the traditional Souls formula, you will be disappointed. I found it a lot more fun than the Souls game because it provided a more appropriate challenge it felt like a more casual experience. It still demands skill and a proper build to beat, but the first boss isn’t going to kill and even though you will die, it won’t be as much.

You can pick up Lords of the Fallen on Steam for $59.99, but now would be the best time to do it because it is $60% off for the Steam Winter Sale. You can also pick it up on PlayStation ($79.99) and Xbox ($69.99) but that feels too expensive.

gaming news

Drakantos April Dev Log Teases Reya the Lightning Queen

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We are now one month closer to Drakantos and the hype remains. April’s Dev log just dropped, and there are some solid teasers to get excited about. We got some art, animation, and a solid Reya teaser. Make sure you read the official Dev log, but here are my highlights. 

If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

Reya The Lightning Queen

I am always amazed by how good the jiggle physics are for this pixel art MMO. While there is some blatant fan service, Reya’s mechanics are solid. I love the lightning flavor of her attacks, but I don’t think I am smart enough to be good. Reya is definitely for the gamer who likes sneaky, fast, and explosive abilities. Her lightning-quick reflexes allow players to bob and weave through enemies, leaving a trail of smoking bodies in her wake. I can’t wait to see what they do with the rest of Drakantos’ expansive cast. 

More Environment Spoilers

The Orphis boss fight has been completed, but we didn’t get to see the final boss. Instead, we got a peak at the dungeon and it looks amazing! I am a huge fan of the pixel art in this game, and the dark gothic vibe this map gives off has me excited. 

We also got some new mount animation, and a peak at the Parallax system for high places. Look how pretty:

Items

Relics

Conclusion

It was a short Devlog, but a good one as well. I just hope we can get a beta soon! Make sure you check out the full devlog for all the details, and join the official Drakantos Discord to stay on top of all the news. Don’t forget to add Drakantos to your Wishlist!

Board Games and TCGs

Ruins of Symbaroum 5E is Getting Two Exciting Expansions!

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The Ruins of Symbaroum 5E is getting two new expansions: The Throne of Thorns Part I and The World of Symbaroum. You will need the 3 core Ruins of Symbaroum (Player’s Guide, Gamemaster’s Guide, and Bestiary) and a fundamental understanding of the 5E OGL rules to play the expansion. I can see you running games with just the Gamemaster’s guide, but there is always room for more flavor. The expansions bring new characters, monsters, and adventures to fans of Ruins of Symbaroum 5E. If you’re looking for a way to spice up your next campaign, you might want to look into the Ruins of Symbaroum 5E.

If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee!

What is Ruins of Symbaroum 5E?

Ruins of Symbaroum is a dark fantasy TTRPG that uses the 5th Edition OGL rule set as a foundation, but expands on it with its intruduction of new settings, mechanics, and classes. If you enjoy 5E but want to change things up without having to learn a new system, Ruins of Symbaroum might be worth looking into. While there is a lot of content to keep you busy for a while, all you really need is the Gamemaster’s Guide. Everything else you can purchase as you need it. 

Synopsis

The rich and nuanced Symbaroum setting revolves around the Ambrians – a civilization that two decades ago were forced to flee their ancestral soil after a devastating war. Their new and promised land borders on the vast forest of Davokar, covering the remnants of the Empire of Symbaroum which fell into ruin hundreds of years ago. Brimming with natural resources and mythical treasures, the forest calls out to the Ambrians to be explored and plundered, but the road into its depths lays far from open. Not only are the shadows beneath the foliage fraught with danger, monsters and infectious Corruption; there are also the elves of the Iron Pact who have vowed to die to keep anyone from disturbing the ruins of old, warning that the ancient evil of Symbaroum stirs in its sleep. 

Throne of Thornes I

Throne of Thornes I contains the first two episodes of the epic adventure chronicle. Designed for players levels 7-9, the book takes adventures on a perilous expedition into the dark depths of the Davokar Forst. The stakes of this adventure are high as heroes must fight off cultists, monsters, and other horrifying dangers that fill its pages. The book introduces:

  • 20+ color maps with new towns and areas to explore
  • 50+ stat blocks for new NPCs, monsters, and advesaries
  • New side quests and adventures
  • Handouts for clues and other important information

I’ll need to see the book and read through it to form a better opinion, but the world seems pretty neat so far. If you’re looking for a new campaign in the Ruins of Symbaroum universe, Throne of Thornes I might be worth the preorder. You can preorder the beautiful hardcover from the official Free League Publishing website for $47.85. Preordering the book also gives you instant access to PDF so you don’t have to wait for shipping. 

The World of Symbaroum

The World of Symbaroum is more of a resource book for the GMs who enjoy the world but want to create their own campaign. The book expands on existing lore and settings presented in the Ruins of Symbaroum Gamemaster’s Guide by diving into the history of the world and introducing new people, places, and events. The book also provides Gamemasters with 34 plot hooks, 18 historical secrets, and 7 adventure landscapes in the forest of Davokar for level 5-10 adventurers. 

I’ll need to get my hands on this first before I can form an opinion, but this seems like a wonderful resource for people who are already invested in this game. If you have a table that cares about lore, or just need some ideas to freshen up that next session, go preorder The World of Symbaroum. You can preorder The World of Symbaroum from the official Free League Publishing website for $47.85. Preordering the book gets you instant access to the PDF so you don’t have to wait for shipping. 

Conclusion

These expansions seem to be geared more toward people who are already invested in the system. I recommend you check out the core book and move from there. If you’re already invested, make sure you put in your preorder! I’ll be doing a preview of the core book soon, so make sure you stay tuned for that.

Board Games and TCGs

Explore Vaesen, a Supernatural Mystery TTRPG

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There are still slots available for the free Vaesen learn-to-play event happening over at StartPlaying Games on Thursday, December 28 at 10 AM PT, and Tuesday, January 2nd at 2 PM PT. The event is hosted by the good folks over at Alchemy VTT through Discord, and it gives potential players a chance to learn about a new system and virtual tabletop. I sat through one of the sessions, and it’s gotten me curious about the Vaesen RPG. I’ve written about the class in a previous post, but you should sign up anyway since it’s free. 

If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.

Recently, Free League Publishing was nice enough to send a bunch of their games to review. I am currently running through my first Dragonbane campaign and loving every minute of it. Till I can get to the rest of the games, I’ll be previewing all the games in the Free League Publishing library. These will be my initial impressions since it wouldn’t be fair to review a game I haven’t finished a campaign in. 

I’ll begin with Vaesen because it is the game I have the most exposure to outside of Dragonbane. What drew me to Vaesen initially was the artwork. The art in this book is beautiful. It reminds me of the old children’s books my father used to read to me when I was little.

Background

Vaesen is the spirits that exist in this mythical 19th-century Scandinavia. There used to exist a symbiotic relationship between the humans and the Vaesen. The humans would know how to keep them happy through things like offerings, and the Vaesen would bring them rain or make the fields grow. It was a relationship that worked, but one that didn’t last forever.

War and industrialization change the landscape. People begin to move to cities, and people begin to forget about the Vaesen. Years go by, and the corruption of industrialization begins to change the Vaesen. Strange and unexplainable events start to haunt the people, and they demand answers.

Only a few people exist with the ability to see the Vaesen. They have formed a secret organization to investigate and stop any nefarious supernatural activity.

Flavor

What I like most about is the flavor. The 19th-century aesthetic is neat, but the folk tale and lore are what sell this RPG to me. The core rule book is full of lore for the different Vaesen that can appear in your campaign. I enjoy reading about the different monsters, and can already have a few ideas for one shot. If your table enjoys dark supernatural mysteries, you might want to consider Vaesen.

I like how classes are handled in Vaesen. Each class has unique abilities, motivations, and equipment that help build the world of the RPG. The core book does a good job of giving players ideas for things like motivations, secrets, and trauma to help with character creation. For example, you can play a priest who is on a sacred mission because he wants to atone for being possessed by a witch, but he still hears the devil speak to him. You can also create your own, and the possibilities are endless. I like that the adventurers are just normal people who have been called to keep the world safe from the supernatural. It’s giving me fun monster of the week vibes, and I am here for it.

Gameplay

Vaesen is a D6 system. You only need six-sided dice to play. There is combat and checks which seem pretty straight forward, but the main focus seems to be on the roleplay. The game is about investigating supernatural events so players will be asking questions, searching for clues, and although there is combat, you don’t always have to kill the monsters. This is something you should consider before buying into the system. This one might be a little hard to sell at my table, but they’ve surprised me before.

Where to Buy

You can pick up the core book from the official Free League Publishing website ($52.91 + shipping). You also get access to the PDF so you won’t have to wait to get started. The core book is also available on Amazon ($64 book only) and DrivethruRPG ($24.99 pdf only).

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.