The Building Better Worldsexpansion for the Alien RPG just released, and you might want to pick it up for the colony mechanics. You will need the core rulebook to use this resource, so either the Core Rulebook ($54.08) or the Starter Set ($51.22) should be enough to get you started.
Starter set doesn’t include GM Screen
The Starter set has everything you need to get you started:
5 generated character sheets
prewritten adventure
84 game makers to keep track of characters, motions, and more
54 custom cards for weapons, personal agenda, and initiative
10 specially designed base dice
10 specially designed stress dice
864x558mm double-sided map
You do get a condensed version of the rules, but this should be perfect for new players. If you want to create your own adventure, I recommend you pick up the core rulebook! You get a pdf version for either physical copy.
Thoughts on the Expansion
Building Better Worlds is a neat resource for GMS who need a little extra help to spice up their next Alien campaign. I typically like to make up my adventure, even when working from a book, but I appreciate being able to fall back on other people’s ideas from time to time. This book has some neat ideas I definitely want to try at my table, like having my players become stranded on a prison planet of deranged criminals and Xenomorphs.
The book introduces new ships, NPCs, planets, solar systems, and weapons to help aid GMs with flavor and world-building. It includes several plot hoots, ideas on how to run certain planets or colonies, and even a campaign players can run through if they need a jumping-off point. Most importantly, the book introduces the colony mechanic.
From my brief understanding, players will need to travel to foreign planets and either start, maintain or save a colony for humanity’s expansion into the cosmos. This won’t be an easy task. Planets are inhospitable, conditions are unpredictable, and there are bloodthirsty aliens lurking in the shadows. In space, if the stress of survival doesn’t kill you, the Xenos will. This sounds like the perfect bleek setting for any table that needs a change of pace, and I am here for it.
Where to Buy
Remember, you need access to the core rules before picking up this expansion. Those interested in the Building Better Worldsexpansion can get their hardcover copy from the official Free League Publishing website for $45.51. Those who don’t care about physical media can pick up the PDF on DriveThruRPG for $19.99. If you play online, I recommend picking up the official Building Better Worlds module for Foundry VTT. I’ve written a post explaining why you should use Foundry VTT if you want to know more.
I do plan on running Alien RPG at some point after Dragonbane. I have a huge collection of RPGs I need to get through, and I like to take my time and live in them for a bit. Until then, stay tuned! If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, follow and share this with your friends.
I release my translations the Monday after the official release. Make sure you check out the original. If you enjoy this project, don’t forget to like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends!
The Gatekeepers turn their firepower towards the Sons of Chaos. Chaosdramon fires away furiously, keeping the swarms of Gatekeepers away. The rest of the Sons of Chaos clean up any bits of swarm that manage to break through the blast of Chaosdramon’s Hyper Infinity Cannon. The Sons of Chaos move to form a defensive perimeter around their leader.
Kosuke stands behind the three prototype Digimon and watches as they crack the Gateway. Explosions and beams of hot energy fill the air around him, but his attention never falters. The progress bar makes its slow crawl across the screen…30%…33%…
The last time Kosuke attempted to crack the gateway, the progress stalled at 30%. They surpassed the first attempt, and each second brought him closer to Saya.
Dorumon announces their progress periodically. Kosuke’s screen fills with a stream of endless code as he sends commands to the prototype Digimon. The code creates a visible stream of light that becomes tethered to the backs of each Digimon. They continue to work furiously. Their feet begin to glow as streams of code stretch from beneath them across the face of the Gateway, revealing a complex geometric pattern on its surface.
At some point, the Gatekeepers had turned their attention to Kosuke. Bits of Gatekeepers occasionally rain around him, but he never takes notice. His fingers tingle with anticipation as they glide over the keyboard.
Eiji watches Kosuke curiously. He becomes moved by the man’s unwavering focus. Unable to do much else, Eiji opens his monitor to check on the progress.
66%
The Gateway groans as the glow of flowing data eats away at its face to complete the pattern. It looks to be a third of the way done.
Loogamon’s ears twitch. It flicks its nose toward the air.
“What is it?” Eiji asks.
“Something’s coming…” Loogamon’s voice trails. There is a hint of fear in its voice.
“What…Wait….Crap! Tartarus!” Eiji cries out.
“Stay calm. There’s nothing we can do right now. Just focus on the job,” Dorumon calls out. Its voice seems a bit distracted.
“Its time!” Kosuke shouts. “Everyone fall back!”
“Tappin out!”
“That’s it for me!” The Sons of Chaos Leaders slowly chime, letting Tartarus know they’ve hit their limit. Only Chaosdramon would be left to hold the line.
“Let’s all raise a glass when all this is over,” one of the leaders adds.
“You got it!”
“Loggin AUGH!” A deafening scream blasts through the chat before everything goes silent. Eiji’s mind begins to race. Have they been attacked? He searches the skies for answers.
Suddenly, a Digimon drops from the sky and lands on the Gateway with a sickening thud. Smoke and dusk kick around it furiously. As it clears, Eiji can make out a severely damaged machine. Its body is covered in deep gashes. Exposed wires let off sparks of electricity. It begins to move towards them. Each step releases thick black smoke from its gashes.
“Mekanorimon?” Eiji asks in disbelief. ” I thought the DigiPolice retreated?”
A series of small explosions erupt throughout Mekanorimon’s body. It lurches to one side and topples over to its side. Inside sits a damaged Numemon. It spills out of the seat, flopping onto the ground as it makes its escape from the wreckage. Satsuki appears next to the Mekanorimon and gingerly touches its cold steel body. “I’m sorry,” she whispers as she gently strokes the unmoving Digimon.
She turns her attention to the prototype Digimon. Her expression fills with rage. “I’m getting the captain back, and none of you filthy code crackers are going to stop me!” she shouts.
“Hey, Satsuki?” Eiji says as he leaps between the enraged officer and the Prototype Digimon.
Satsuki clenches her fist and begins to grit her teeth. “Eiji Nagasumi…” Satsuki scowls harder.
“It’s too dangerous to stay as a hologram. One stray bullet and you’re gone.” He adds, trying to calm her down.
Don’t talk down to me boy. I know what I’m doing,” she growls as she pulls out a small device from her pocket. The label on its side reads: CLASSIFIED. Metropolitan Police Department. Unit 11: D-003799. “I’m putting an end to this, once and for all!”
“Is that a Digimon Dock?”
” Sorry, Captain. Consider this my resignation…” Her voice trails as she looks down at the unconscious Ryudamon.
“Satsuki..?” Eiji stammers.
“Get ready kid, I ain’t holding back!” she yells as she turns on the device.
A horrific metallic scream fills the air. Eiji searches for a source, but nothing happens.
Genocidal Rain!
Character design/illustration illustrator: malo
A hail of heavy-caliber bullets rain from above. Each bullet explodes into Chaosdramon with thundering force, but the crimson dragon absorbs the blows effortlessly. Bellow, Eiji ducks his head expecting a stray bullet that never comes.
RATATATATATATA
The defining explosions continue. Eiji lifts his head slowly to search for its source. Above it, Chaosdramon is pinned down by the endless hail of bullets. At the other end, a heavily armored bipedal dragon fires its Gatling gun furiously towards them. A jetpack blows viciously, keeping it over them. Its blue armor glistens with each explosion. Its blank expression remains fixed on the prototype Digimon.
“So they just had a Mega Digimon sitting around?” Eiji lets out.
“Impressed?” Satsuki asks mockingly. She turns her attention to a terminal that floats in front of her. She enters a few commands and smirks as Brigadramon continues to rain down fire.
“I only left for five minutes…” Marvin’s voice comes through chat as he takes control of the Chaosdramon remotely. “Let’s see how you handle this!” Chaosdramon closes the gap between them and grabs the Gatling gun. “Gotcha!”
Satsuki lets out a sly smirk. “Not so fast!” Brigadramon adds Brigadramon lifts its left arm, revealing three rocket launchers hidden under its claws. “Did you think that’s all I had?”
“Stop it!” Eiji shouts suddenly. “It’s here!”
DELETE ALL!
A metalic voice echoes over the battlefield as a small vortex forms above the chaos. From it falls a silver knight Digimon.
Omnimon raises its right arm. The cannon at the end begins to glow as it gathers energy. The cannon fires without warning.
GARURU CANNON
The frozen beam falls towards the gate.
“Tartarus!” Marvin moves the Chaosdramon to intercept the blast. Ice creeps over its hard metallic body, slowly choking the life from it. With its final breath, it lets out one last defiant breath.
HYPER INFINITY CANNON
Omnimon moves quickly, dodging the blast and closing the distance between it and the prototype Digimon.
EXA DESTROYER
Three missiles explode against Omnimon, forcing the Royal Knight to land. Omnimon remains unscathed as it turns its attention to Satsuki’s Brigadramon.
GENOCIDAL RAIN!
RATATATATATATA
Brigadramon’s Gatling gun begins to spin as it releases a turret of bullets. Omnimon disappears behind a cloud of dust and smoke. The gun comes to a stop. Smoke wisps rise from the end of the barrels. Omnimon stops out of the smoke, unscathed. The runes on its blade begin to glow as it inches toward Kosuke and the other Digimon.
…..95%….96%….97%…
TRANSCENDENT SWORD
Omnimon charges.
“Kosuke!” Eiji shouts helplessly.
Kosuke pulls out two Digimon Docks from his pockets. “I told you, everything is going to plan.” He presses a button on the docks. Two mega Digimon suddenly appear to intercept Omnimon’s attack.
99%.
The Gateway lets out another massive grown. The prototype Digimon begins to glow as ghostly images of their ultimate forms appear briefly above them. As the projections disappear, beams of data shoot from their bodies toward the sea above them.
Omnimon makes quick work of Kosuke’s Mega Digimon and continues its charge towards Kosuke. Its blade swings for his neck.
“100% Gate Cracking complete!” Dorumon announces as Kosuke, Eiji, and the three prototype Digimon vanish.
I was sent Roots of Yggdrasil 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 of the game. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.
What is Roots of Yggdrasil
Roots of Yggdrasil is a roguelike deck builder that splashes village builder elements to create a unique gaming experience. The game releases on Steam in Early Access on January 24 for $14.99. Don’t forget to wishlist.
Sunna and her tribe have been trapped between time, and they must find a way out. Together you must build a settlement, explore the unknown, and discover the secrets that will take the tribe to the top of Yggdrasil. But the road won’t be easy, and failure means you will have to start over. Do you have the spatial awareness to make it to the top of the mountain?
Gameplay
Players start a run of Roots of Yggdrasil with a random deck that they upgrade throughout a run. These decks summon structures that can be built on procedurally generated levels. Space and resources are limited, making efficiency a player’s most important resource. To beat an encounter, players need to complete several tasks to power up the ship for the next leg of the voyage. A player can run out of space or resources, or have a random disaster make it impossible to complete a level. For example, there is a deadly fog that slowly eats up the map, leaving players without enough space to build.
Aside from the village builder elements, Roots of Yggdrasil plays like your typical deck builder. Heroes have special abilities players can cast periodically, there are random encounters that give players cards or resources, and there are permanent upgrades players can purchase in between runs. The hardest part about this game is building in the right order and leaving enough space for what you need.
Thoughts
Roots of Yggdrasil is a cute game with a fun art style, amazing flavor, and interesting mechanics. I enjoyed this game a lot, but the game isn’t finished, and you can tell. It isn’t unplayable. The game never crashed, and the mechanics were fine, but it needs a little polish and more content. The gameplay started to feel repetitive after a few runs, so most people will want to wait for more biomes, mechanics, and features to be added to the game.
If you don’t mind the roughness of an Early Access game and want to experience a unique deck builder, look into Roots of Yggdrasil. The bit I got to play is fun, and I can see the potential. I’ll be revisiting the game on a future release, so make sure you stay tuned for that. Until then, make sure you add it to your wishlist!
I was sent Terra Aliafor 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. If you’re looking for accessories for your VR headset, like magnetic prescription lenses or a high-quality charging cable, get it at ZyberVR. Use discount code CHURAPE for 15% off. You can also always buy me coffee.
Terra Aliais a VR RPG game for the Meta Quest that teaches players a new language. The game supports 10 languages: English, Spanish, Italian, French, German, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Brazilian Portuguese. Players are put into a world full of magic, but the only way to use it is to learn a new language.
There is a story to this game, but it doesn’t feel important. At least it didn’t hook me enough to care. The main draw to this game is the grind to learn a new language. The game does this through exploration, puzzles, and combat.
I felt like exploration was the main loop for this game. Players pick up new vocabulary and phrases through exploration. To pick up a new word, you point at the word, listen to the translation, and pronounce it properly. The game offers a prerecorded pronunciation and uses the Quest’s mic to check yours. Players use the words and phrases they learn to solve puzzles, beat challenges, and cast spells.
For the most part, the prerecordings are fine when it comes to single words, but they fall off when it comes to prerecordings. The recordings of some of the phrases were incoherent, and I found myself stuck because I couldn’t hear the pronunciation. Challenges are a pain because you can’t repeat the pronunciation of phrases. You can listen to single vocabulary words all you want, but you only get a quick shot at phrases. This made learning phrases difficult, and the challenges annoying to complete.
Combat in this game is where this game could have stood out more, but it falls flat after the novelty wears off. After a couple of battles, I found myself actively avoiding them because they felt like a chore. To cast a spell, players have to translate a word to their chosen language within the time limit. The system gives players a word like a dog and two options, and players must pronounce the correct word properly. It’s a fine system, especially with this kind of RPG, but nothing exciting. It also doesn’t always work which is a bit frustrating.
Terra Alia is good at teaching players new words in a different language, but don’t expect to become fluent. I found that the repetitive grind helped me pick up new words quickly, and I rarely needed to look up a resource. Unfortunately, once the novelty wore off, I didn’t find much reason to play. If you have young kids, this is a solid came to throw them into. It has a cute cartoonish style, the loop is simple and easy to follow, and it’s a nice intro to a new language. Anyone more hardcore about RPGs will find the experience lacking. It is a cool idea and I hope they can make it better, but in its current state, I can’t recommend it.
Skinny Minisis giving away a free set of their Frozen Foes bundle with orders over $60. With free US Shipping, now is a great time to load up on some high quality acrylic minis for your next campaign. You never need minis to play D&D, but it is always nice to have a table full of high quality figures to move around.
What are Skinny Minis
Skinny Minis sells high-quality 2D acrylic miniatures, high-quality maps, and prepacked one-shots to elevate any RPG session. They feature a very cool art style, and they have a product for just about any campaign setting. The best part about Skinny Minis is how well they store. While I would love to have a collection of high-quality minis 3D printed or otherwise, I don’t have the space for it.
If you’re for a minimalistic way to elevate your next campaign, check out Skinny Minis!
If you enjoy these updates, make sure you leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.
Realm of Ink is an action roguelike coming to PC and consoles this year. The game features a unique brushed artwork, a neat isometric design, and promising gameplay. The art is what initially drew me to this game, but the story has me interested.
Red discovers she is a fictional character within the Realm of Ink short story collection. She must now travel through the depths of her story to discover the truth of her existence. Is her fate prewritten by some faceless author, or does she have the power and free will to write her own?
I am curious to see how Red’s story pans out. Players will also get to play as other characters as they are unlocked, and I am a huge fan of the spoiled character designs. I did get an early copy of the demo and will be posting my impressions as soon as the embargo is lifted. Until then, I recommend you watch the trailer and add Realm of Ink to your Wishlist.
The Final Shapereleases on June 4th, so I’ve started the grind in preparation. Full disclosure, I was sent the expansion for free to cover for my blog when the expansion on release.
It’s been a long time since I last played Destiny, so I’ve been slowly figuring out the type of content I enjoy. The Dawning event was very helpful in getting me to stick with the game because it gave me something to work towards. I ended the event reaching the soft cap with a few nifty exotics, and a couple of seasonal items.
I’ve mostly been making my way through the story, but I was losing interest. Thankfully, this week is Iron Banner and it forced me to play PvP. Destiny 2 PvP isn’t the greatest experience, but I appreciate the break it’s giving me. It also gives me something else to work towards while I figure out my long-term goals for the game.
Iron Banner will run until the 9th, so make sure you boot up Destiny this weekend and start doing the grind. There are a few rewards you’re going to want to chase, but you’re also going to be showered with loot. Make sure you talk to Lord Saladin at the tower to start the quest and pick up your rewards.
I know this one is late but the new year messed up my schedule. Make sure you check out the original. If you enjoy this project, don’t forget to like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends!
Character design/illustration illustrator: malo
The air smells like burning exhaust. Smoke rises around Soloogarmon as white-hot flames erupt from the generators on its shoulders. It grips its mace tightly as it watches the police Digimon before it. It can’t help but smirk as they tense up in preparation.
“I got a bit of my memory back,” Soloogarmon whispers.
“Yeah?” Eiji lets out a sigh of relief, seeing they are still in control.
“Yep!” Soloogarmon takes a deep breath. “I’m burning everything!” It bellows as a menacing grimace creeps across its face. The generators burn brightly, releasing a high-pitched whir as they continue to gather energy. Before the Hi-Commandramon can react, Soloogarmon vanishes. It leaves behind a swirl of smoke in its place. Suddenly, one of Hi-Commandramon’s shields begins to buckle and break under the weight of the mace. Soloogarmon stands at the other end of the impact. Its grin widens with each new crack.
“AWWOOOOOO!” Saloogarmon lets out a howl that rattles the shattered armor. Flames begin to spill from its maw.
ERUPTION HOWL
Torrents of red-hot hellfire melt effortlessly through the armor, leaving the Hi-Commandramon defenseless. It shrinks away from the heat as the other shield fruitlessly appears in feeble retaliation. The shield shrivels into a burning husk of debris. The two police Digimon spring into a defensive stance, and take careful aim in retaliation. Both grenade launchers empty furiously as twelve grenades find their target. Soloogarmon explodes into flames and vanishes behind its veil.
The flames vanish in an instant, revealing an unscathed Saloogarmon. Magical flames move around it in a protective aura. Soloormon smirks. “Is that it?” The Hi-Commandramon become visibly shaken.
“Careful, you’re taking damage,” Eiji says as he watches the monitors flash with warning.
“It’s all part of the plan!” It grips Vanargand tightly and readies for another attack. The Hi-Commandramon lift their batons for another attack. “No more games Eiji. Let’s burn ’em!”
“Their mindlinkers too. Don’t wreck their Digicores!” Eiji pleas.
“Don’t worry. They’re tough. They’re not gonna die.” Before Eiji can respond, Saloogarmon takes off into the air. A shockwave of energy explodes behind it. It lifts Vanargand
Skoll Rage!
The fight between the two legendary dragons rages furiously over the gateway. The sudden flash from Loogarmon’s evolution forces them to pause as they shield their eyes from the blinding illumination.
Yulin looks down towards the source and watches as the humanoid wolf tears through her strongest officers. With one mighty blow, it leaves the pair unconscious. Yulin grinds her teeth in frustration as she watches the unknown code cracker make a mockery of her and her unit. Something about the code cracker seems familiar. She ponders for a moment. “Is that Eiji Nagasumi?”
Kosuke chuckles, “He really did it. Isn’t he awesome?”
Yulin watches as her opponent’s attention drifts for a moment. She readies for an attack. “I’ll just have to deal with him after!”
Dorugoramon wags its finger. “None of that,” Kosuke responds. “I need both of you for this next bit.”
“What bit?”
“Don’t you see?” He shouts ecstatically as his Digimon raises his arms wide towards the sea of networks above them. “Three ultimate Digimon, each with the three key attribute. Data, vaccine, virus! We’re all here!”
Yulin tries to piece together the words but struggles to follow Kosuke’s thoughts. “What are you plotting?”
Tartarus turns to Yulin. “I’m not plotting anything. I’m just finishing what we started.”
Suddenly, it clicks. The pain and anguish Kosuke carried with him all these years could no longer be contained. The chaos of Kosuke’s obsession erupts all around her, and all she can feel is sorrow.
“Unlike you,” Kosuke continues. “I haven’t forgotten about Saya.”
His words cut Yulin deeply.
“I don’t blame you.” He continues. “Forgetting was the only way you could move forward. Isn’t that why you became a cop? To prevent others from going DMIA? Is this,” Koske motions to the chaos around him, “Your penance?”
“Don’t you dare talk to me like you still know me!” She snaps.
Kosuke smiles through his Digimon. “I know you better than anyone Yulin. But have it your way. Today’s the day we put an end to this chapter. I’m going to save Saya Yulin. I’m going to bring her back.”
“And how the hell do you plan to do that?”
“With an old relic of the Digital World. It sits down in the depths of the Digital World. It has the power to fix everything, and I am going to be the one to get it!” Dorugoramon begins to glow bright with energy as it charges an attack.
“Ouryumon!” Yulin shouts. Ouryumon begins redies its blades and begins to glow with its own aura.
“I think this counts as police brutality,” Kosuke snides.
“Some situation need a little force.”
“I haven’t done anything wrong. What happened to innocent until proven guilty?”
“That doesn’t work here…” Her words trail as she becomes filled with rage. Ouryumon crosses its blades and charges the silver dragon. Before Dorugoramon can react, the two swords plunge into Dorugoramon’s neck. “I’ll be the one who saves Saya!” Yulin snarls.
Dorugoramon shrieks in pain, and Yulin catches a glimpse of its fear. She freezes as she remembers shes a cop. Dorugoramon smirks and takes advantage of the distraction. It grabs Ouryumon’s arms and pulls the blades out. They leave behind shallow wounds.
“You lost Yulin. This is all going according to plan.”
“Dammit Kosuke!”
“Like I said, I know you better than anyone.”
Dorugoramon delivers a fierce kick that sends Ouryumon flying back, creating space between the two dragons. Dorugoramon launches itself forward, turning into pure destructive energy.
I’ve been following Drakantos‘ development closely for a while now because I can see the promise. Drakantos is a cute pixel art MMO that is very reminiscent of the classic era of the genre, but this time on mobile devices. I’ve written about it before, so I won’t get into too much detail.
The December Dev log just released, and while the month was short, there was a lot to be excited about. I’ll be summarizing it here, but make sure you go check out the official post, join the Discord, and add Drakantos to your wishlist.
If you enjoy these updates, make sure you leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.
New Hero Teased!
The most exciting news from the dev log is the announcement of a 21st hero. The Devs are currently working on the last hero, but the identity remains a mystery. I’m hoping it’s another mage, but we’re going to have to wait for the official announcement.
Faendar’s Trailer
We also got a gameplay trailer for Faendar, and the gameplay looks sick! If you like playing Druids, you are going to want to main Faedar.
He can transform into animals, summon walls of vines for control, and summon trees to fight for him! They did a great job with the flavor of this hero, and he is going to be crazy in PvP. We also got some backstory.
The devs have finished the work on Ojore. Ojere gives me tanky earth bender vibes, and I love it. I am not a huge tank fan, but I am open to it. We got few animations teased to get you excited!
Artifacts
Drakantos will have an interesting Artifact system. Artifacts are equipable items that give players passive and active abilities across their heroes. This month they finished their active artifacts, leaving players the option of 160 new active abilities on top of a hero’s kit. I am very excited to see how this works in action and hope to see some of them teased next month.
Mount Animation
All 20 heroes now have their mount animation, and I appreciate all the detail put into it.
Conclusion
The game has made some promising progress. They’ve added new pets, locations and abilities. I just hope we can get a beta soon. Until then, I’ll be following it closely.
2023 has been a busy year for my blog. I got to play and review 60 new games, made a couple of new partnerships, and saw my blog grow in a way I never would have imagined. When I first started this blog, I expected it to be me complaining to the void about movies. I never imagined all the opportunities it would open up, and I am extremely grateful.
I want to thank you all for reading my content because none of this would have been possible without your support. It means so much to have people out there that care about what I have to say. I wish you all the happiest of New Year. I love you all!
According to Steam, I played 64 games this year, so I think it’s time to highlight some of my favorites. It was hard to choose only ten because I got to play a lot of cool games this year. After much deliberation, and in no particular order, I managed to come up with a list. I’ll leave a table of contents so you can skip to the game you want to read about.
If you enjoy my reviews, please like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.
1. Viewfinder
2023 was great for puzzle games, and Viewfindereasily stands out against the genre. Viewfinder allows players to solve puzzles by using pictures to manipulate the world. The game offers players unrivaled freedom to puzzle solving, a beautiful and imaginative world, a solid story, and a phenomenal soundtrack. I love puzzle games, and the amount of fun I had with the mechanics is nearly immeasurable. This was one of the games I nearly finished without breaks because of how invested I became with solving the puzzles. If you enjoyed the Portal games, you are going to love Viewfinder. Check out the full review.
2.Planet of Lana
I couldn’t have this list without at least mentioning Planet of Lana. This game was such a beautiful delight that I’ll always recommend it to everyone.
Aliens have invaded the planet and are taking its people, and Lana’s sister is one of them. With the help of her cute cat companion, she must brave the perilous landscape to bring her back. Can she do it before it is too late?
As Lana, players explore a mysterious planet where they solve puzzles, pick up clues, and learn about a forgotten history. I am a huge fan of the artwork for this game and a bigger fan of the soundtrack, but what sells it is the gameplay. You won’t experience a more relaxing or enjoyable experience than what you get from Planet of Lana. The game has fun puzzles, a solid story, a fantastic aesthetic, and a cute cat. If you’re looking for a chill and memorable puzzle adventure game, get Planet of Lana. Check out the full review.
3. Sea of Stars
I loved every minute of Sea of Stars and if you haven’t played it yet, you need to. I am a huge fan of the pixel art, it has a rocking soundtrack, and a solid story, but the gameplay is what sets it apart from the rest of the genre.
Valarie and Zale must use the power of the Sun and Moon to put an end to the evil alchemist known as the Fleshmancer. With the help of their friends, they must join forces and protect the world from the evil that threatens it.
If you enjoy turn-based RPGs, Sea of Stars should already be in your library. The game features a neat leveling system and an interesting artifact system that allows players to adjust the difficulty as they play. What sets the game apart is how creative combat is. Sea of Stars offers a more active approach to turn-based combat where players need to time their blocks and attacks to maximize their effectiveness. I assure you that you’ve never experienced anything like this. But if you don’t believe me, there is a demo you need to try. Check out the full review.
4. Worldless
Worldless was sucha unique platforming RPG experience that it needed to be on this list. I love the minimalistic aesthetic, but the complexity of its combat system is what made this game for me.
In the early stages of the universe, existence was filled with conflict. Powerful beings existed in constant conflict and fought to find their place in the universe. You play as one of these beings and must travel through the chaos to find your place within it. Unravel the truths of the universe as you fight for your survival, travel to new and mysterious lands, and unlock your truest potential.
Worldless offers players a beautiful world full of vibrant colors and sound. It is a platformer, but it is very manageable, especially for beginners. What sets this game apart is its rhythm-inspired turn-based combat system. To beat an encounter, players must time all their actions perfectly. It’s a system that makes the game engaging, but also gives it its challenge. If you are looking for a new RPG Platformer, check out Worldless. Make sure you read the full review.
5. Disgeae 7: Vows of the Virtueless
Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless was such a delight to play. I loved its silly tone, the art style, and quirky gameplay. If you are looking for a wholesome good time and don’t mind the overt anime style, this game is a solid choice.
Disgaea 7 is a JRPG where you follow Pirilika, a young rich demon, as she pursues her dreams to live a true bushido lifestyle. With the unlikely help of the demon Fuji, they embark on an adventure to bring the forgotten way of Bushido to the demonic realm of Hinomoto.
You don’t need to have played any of the other games in the series to pick up Disgaea 7. The story is silly, but it is pretty self-contained. I loved the super cute artwork and the humor of the story, but the combat in this game made me feel like I was a tactical genius. Combat in this game is not only adorable, it is engaging and you can change the difficulty whenever you want. This is definitely one of my favorites, and I highly recommend it. Check out the full review.
5. Backpack Hero
Backpack Hero is a great choice for anyone trying to pick up a game to sit back and relax. The art is cute, the gameplay is fun and engaging, and it is not a huge commitment.
Backpack Hero is an inventory management roguelike where players dive into procedurally generated dungeons in search of treasure and fame. You’ll often find too much treasure during your delve, and will often need to reconfigure what you take with you. As daunting as that idea may seem, it works.
I loved the randomness of each run. I had so much fun managing my resources and trying to find the right combination to get me a little further each time. Combat is a simple turn-based system, but the items you pick up along the way are what affect your success in an encounter. The absolute freedom the game gives you to build whatever you want makes the game the gem that it is. If you are looking for a new roguelike, go get Backback Hero. Check out the full review.
6. Steam World Build
I got a few village builders this year that were all fun, but SteamWorld Buildhas to be my favorite. It has such a cute aesthetic, fantastic flavor, and the best gameplay loop of the batch.
The world is about to end, and the remaining survivors must find a way off the planet. Build a settlement of robots who must dig through the mines to find their salvation. But the mines are full of dangerous monsters and unknown secrets. Can you find a way off the planet before it is too late?
I became obsessed with SteamWorld Build and had to force myself away. It starts like your traditional village builder, but there is also a tower defense element, some creative resource management mechanics, and the cutest little citizens you’ll have the pleasure of governing. If you’re new to the genre or simply looking for something new, check out SteamWorld Build. Read the full review.
7. The 7th Guest
The 7th Guest is my favorite VR game of the year. It has a cool story, a spooky aesthetic, and amazing puzzles. The 7th Guest is a mystery puzzle game. Players must solve a series of puzzles to uncover the tragic events that transpired all those years ago.
An eccentric toymaker has gathered a collection of unlikely strangers to his house for a party. Little do they know that his intentions are nefarious. The guests find themselves inside the twisted game where the truths are uncomfortable, and the secrets are dark.
The game offers players an immersive experience and a great mystery played by fantastic actors. The cutscenes in this game alone are worth the price of admission. What I loved most about this game were the puzzles, and how creative the devs got with them. Each room and theme is designed perfectly to create an experience I’ve yet to forget. If you like puzzle games, get this game. Check out the full review.
8. Dameo
I know this game didn’t come out this year, but I did get to play it this year and loved every minute of it. Whether you play it in VR or PC, you can’t get a more authentic TTRPG experience than what you get from Demeo. If you enjoy board games, this game should be in your library.
Demeo is an RPG that effectively emulates the board game experience. Choose your hero and team up with friends, and strangers, or delve into the many dungeons on your own. Demeo combines a unique deck builder system with dice roles and turn-based movement to create an unforgettable experience.
I loved the art and aesthetics, but the gameplay is what made me addicted. I got to try both the VR and PC versions and enjoyed each for different reasons. I liked the immenseness of VR, but I appreciate the convenience of playing on a PC. If you’re looking for something new, I recommend you pick up Demeo. Read the full review.
9. Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader
I’ve been waiting for Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Tradersince it was announced, and I was not disappointed. I love the flavor, the aesthetic, the music, the story, and the combat. if you like Warhammer 40K, this game needs to be in your library.
As the empire’s newly appointed rogue trader, you must brace against the dangers of uncharted space and bring glory to the Emperor. But this won’t be an easy task. Face off against the horrors of the void, fend off bloodthirsty Tyranids, and make some money in the process. The journey will be horrific, and your choices will matter. What will be your story?
Owl Cat Games once again prove that they can make a fantastic tabletop experience. You can’t go wrong with any of their games, but Rogue Trader is easily my favorite. I love the flavor and lore it brings to the universe, but the combat is what made me keep playing. If you enjoy brutal dark fantasy and don’t mind turn-based strategy, get Rogue Trader. Read the full review.
10. Strayed Light
Last but not least we have Strayed Lights. I don’t normally go for soul-like games, but this one blew me away. The art is beautiful, the music is phenomenal, and the combat system is fantastic.
You play as a being of light who goes on a journey of self-discovery. Travel across a dreamlike world to cleanse the world of its darkness. Do you have what it takes to complete your journey?
Strayed Lights has such a fantastic narrative, but none of it is spoken. The way it can convey so much through the actions of the characters is something you need to experience once. The world that makes up Strayed Lights is beautiful. I loved the colors, the lights, and how creative the devs got with the wildlife. The game also featured my favorite soundtrack of the year.
The game features a unique combat parry system that makes it stick out against the other games in the genre. If you are in the market for a new soul-like, check out Strayed Lights. Read the full review.
