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video game reviews

Check out Cute Farming Sim Harvest Days: My Dream Farm

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I was sent a free copy of Harvest Days: My Dream Farm to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

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

What is Harvest Days?

Harvest Days: My Dream Farm is a cozy farm simulator out now on Steam and GoG.

You always enjoyed the time you spend at your grandfather’s farm as a kid, and now it’s time to make y our own. Head to the country, tend to your crops, and build the farm you’ve always dreamed of. What will your dream farm look like?

Gameplay

Players are given a plot of land that they must tend to. Players start with a set amount of energy, and each activity costs energy. The longer you work on the farm, the easier activities get. Players can level at the end of the day based on their day of work. Did you spend all your day plowing the fields? Your plow skill will level and unlock new recipes.

Players can earn money by selling their crops. Money is used to buy food to restore energy, supplies for the farm, and decorations for those who want it. It wouldn’t be a real farm without animals. Players can buy and sell livestock, or adopt more pets to keep them company. The game is loaded with a good amount of features for players to make the farm their own. Quests and events pop up once in a while, but players are given the freedom to play the game as they want.

Review

I love farming simulators, and had a great time with Harvest Days: My Dream Farm. This is easily one of the genres where I can spend days on a session without concern for time. This has the potential to be one of those titles, but it needs a bit more content.

As far as farming sims go, Harvest Days is a solid title. It has a cozy art style and a few interesting mechanics that set it apart in the space, but it has a few issues that will turn off players.

The game has a slow start and a steep grind. I felt like I barely accomplished anything the first few days because I kept running out of energy. Leveling skills reduces an activity’s energy cost, but it doesn’t feel impactful until you’re a couple of days in. The money grind is also kind of slow. I normally love repetitive and grindy games, but here it feels too slow. I’m sure the intent is to have the farming get easier when players can level up their skills and acquire better tools, but I am having trouble seeing players get to that point.

Aside from a few bugs and awkwardness, the performance is fine. For example, driving a scooter can be very frustrating because it handles like a train. The experience gets better as you get used to it, but it is an issue. There are also times when the game doesn’t register player actions. None of the bugs I encountered were game-breaking. Your mileage may vary.

Harvest Days is a solid farming sim for the price, but it needs a bit more content. It feels a little basic, and that isn’t a bad thing. If you’re just looking for a cozy farming sim to sink some time into, Harvest Days is worth the $14.99. But if you’re looking for something polished without the grind, look elsewhere. It’s not the best farming sim, but it gets the job done.

You can pick up Harvest Days: My Dream Farm on Steam and GoG.

video game reviews

Sylvio: Black Waters is the Dark Twisted Journey You Need

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

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

What is Sylvio Black Waters?

Sylvio Black Waters is a psychological horror game out now for PC.

You wake up alone in a strange dark place with a vague resemblance to Earth. The only light in this world seems to illuminate a small path, the rest of the world is shrouded with darkness. You follow the path in search of answers and find a voice that promises to guide you out of the darkness. The voice guides you deeper into the darkness. The path twists and turns and the world begins to make less sense. Up is down, down is up and there is no way of knowing where you’re going. Along the way, the voices of the souls who also traveled the path will speak to you. They reveal bits of this world’s secrets. What are they trying to tell you? Will you ever find your way out of the darkness?

Gameplay

Sylvio: Black Waters is best described as a walking simulator with a dark and spooky atmosphere, some combat, and an interesting narrative. Most of the time, you are following the trail of illuminated breadcrumbs through a dark and twisted world that becomes more twisted the longer you are in it.

Combat in this game is a first-person shooter. Occasionally, an angry spirit will attack you. The game gives you weapons to defend yourself, but you will need to find the ammo. You will run out of ammo if you aren’t using your shots conservatively, and the ghost will kill you. Death resets you to your last checkpoint.

Along the way, you will also find clues about the world. Spirits will speak bits of dialogue that you have to collect, there are drawings on walls that you need to interpret and bits of film you need to play and interpret. The clues you gather are not in order and you will need to arrange them to make sense of them. This mechanic does a fantastic job at not only setting the mood but building the mystery. The more you collect, the more the story makes sense.

Review

I love Sylvio: Black Waters. It was the perfect twisted narrative with a spooky atmosphere that kept me on my toes. That said, this game isn’t going to be for everyone. The narrative style feels disjointed because it is meant to emulate the disoriented feeling the main character feels. The story you collect isn’t linear, and while it doesn’t make sense at first, does make sense the deeper you get into the game.

What will throw most players are the weird artsy liberties it takes with its storytelling. Cutscenes will be low quality, out of order, and fragmented, or you will sit through a weird low-reverb poem or song. I’d be lying if I said I understood all the choices, but I can see they have a purpose. Some moments act as a tool to create tension, others work to disorient the players, but mostly they help reinforce the idea that reality in this world is twisted. Not everyone is going to enjoy the artsy twisted direction this game takes, but it is a wonderful experience if you’re into it.

The other issue players will have with the game is the lighting. This game is dark, and it can be frustrating. The game uses the darkness to set the mood effectively, but it isn’t perfect. It is easy to get lost or not see the right path and walk in circles. This game is meant to be disorienting, but it is going to kill some player’s enjoyment of the game. As someone who isn’t good at directions, I spent too much time walking in circles.

The game is buggy, and some of those bugs are game-breaking. Using the mouse wheel to switch between weapons either crashed the game or left the weapon menu open. It didn’t happen every time, but it happened enough when I stopped using the mouse wheel. Sometimes I would get stuck on a wall or a random artifact. My biggest issue with the game is that interacting with items is a chore. You need to find the right angle to pick up some items, and finding that angle is more work than it needs to be. None of these issues were enough to make me stop playing, but they will for people who are looking for a more polished game. I think the game’s roughness gives it its charm.

If you’re looking for a horror game that isn’t all jump scares, with a solid story but doesn’t mind the roughness, you need to pick up Sylvio Black Waters. This game is the weird twisted trip you didn’t know you needed. It is a good and interesting game, but it is also not for everyone. If you don’t like how dark the game looks or don’t want to sit through artsy weirdness, you should go elsewhere.

You can pick up Sylio: Black Waters on Steam for $12.99.

video game reviews

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

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

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

What is Guayota?

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

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

Gameplay

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

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

Review

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

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

video game reviews

Why Super Farming Boy Could be Your Next Casual Farming Sim

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I was asked to cover the Super Farming Boy demo for my blog. This will be my initial impressions of the game since a full version isn’t out yet.

Super Farming Boy is a farm simulator with a nifty little arcade mechanic that will leave you wanting more. If you enjoy the chill vibes of indie farming sim games like Stardew Valey with the chaotic excitement of a match-four, check out Super Farming Boy.

What is Super Farming Boy?

You are an expert farmer with the crop and skills to prove it. All seems good and happy on your little farm until the evil demon Korpo comes and takes everything away. Korpo makes you a deal, you can buy it all back. Now you must build your farm from scratch, fight off enemies, and earn the money to buy back everything that was stolen from you. Do you have what it takes?

Gameplay

Super Farming Boy consists of two major gameplay loops: farm management and a match four-like minigame.

In the farm management component, players will spend their day cleaning up their farm, planting their crops, and harvesting what they can before the sun sets. The most important resource for a farmer is their energy. Farming Boy has a limited amount of energy that he can use on the farm. This resource can be upgraded with money or replenished with food, which you also buy with money. Budgeting Farming Boy’s energy efficiently to maximize profit is always key.

Money is the second most important resource available to players. Players earn money from Korpo at the end of the day from resources you collect throughout the day. You can use this gold to purchase skills, upgrades, crops, and food. How you spend your money can slow down your progression, but I wouldn’t go seeking a guide from the start. Learning how to plant your crops effectively for the perfect combos is half the fun.

The second component of this game is its unique arcade-style harvest mechanic. Each crop in this game has a harvest rule that you want to pay attention to. For example, harvesting a corn crop will always harvest whatever crop is planted to the right of it. Planting a row of corn will create a chain, harvesting that entire row with one click. You can use these rules to clear out rubble and combo with other crops. Learning how to arrange your crops properly is the key to saving your mother.

Impressions

Super Farming Boy is a faster and flashier farming sim with a unique quirk that you need to try out at least once. The art is super cute, the soundtrack is fantastic, and the gameplay is a lot of fun. Super Farming Boy is perfect for those of you looking for another casual farming sim, but with a bit of a faster pace. I love farming sims, but the added arcade flavor made it my addiction. I can’t wait to try out a full version of this game.

No release date has been announced yet, but you can download the Super Farming Boy Demo now on Steam.

If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. If you’re looking to upgrade your gaming setup, check out my reviews for Fifine H9 Gaming Headset and the AM8 Streaming Microphone if you are looking for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals.

video game reviews

The Dungeons of Hinterberg Demo was fine, but it’s not for me

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I sat down to try Dungeons of Hinterberg because I liked the art style. The game features a fun and quirky style that I find soothing. I was also impressed by the bit of gameplay that I saw. While I did appreciate a few of the game’s quirks and gimmicks, the demo didn’t leave me wanting more. In its current iteration, you simply have better options. 

What is the Dungeons of Hinterberg?

Dungeons of Hinterberg is a puzzle dungeon crawler coming to PC and Xbox.

Hunterberg is a popular vacation spot. Its beautiful landscape and perilous dungeons attract brave adventurers from around the globe and provide a meaningful escape from their boring 9-5s. Play as Luisa as she makes her pilgrimage. Can she conquer the dungeons before the end of her holiday?

Impressions

Dungeons of Hinterberg isn’t a bad game. The art style is cool, the music is fine, and the game works. The problem I have with the game is that there are simply better options. As a puzzle game, it isn’t very fun. The puzzles are fine, but they felt like busy work for the most part. Combat in this game felt fine until the novelty wore off and it got stale. It feels like a phone game that got ported onto PC, which isn’t a bad thing, but again, you have better options. My biggest issue is that the tutorial took too long. By the time the game built its momentum, I had already lost interest in the game. 

I know it isn’t fair to judge a game by its demo, but the demo should at least make me want to play more. The Demo is up on Steam, but you have better options. 

Dungeons of Hinterberg releases on July 18 on Steam and Xbox. It will come to day one of game pass, I recommend you wait for that instead.

video game reviews

The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty is Fantastic!

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I was sent a free copy of The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty 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 review, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is The Hungry Lamb?

The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty is a terrific visual novel out now on Steam.

A human trafficker has hired you to escort four girls to a lord looking to adopt an heir. Compared to the usual jobs you take, this promises to be the easiest and most ethical. As you get to know the girls on your journey, you discover there is a sinister motive behind these adoptions. The lord is actually a demon in disguise looking to feed on these girls. What will you do with this knowledge? How will your story play out?

Impressions

The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty is your typical visual novel. Players read through a story, listen to some voice acting, and occasionally make a choice that impacts the story. The story has some voice acting for the other characters, but you will read through most of the events. There are a few grammar mistakes, but it’s not a huge deal. Some of it even feels intentional in context.  If you’re trying to find a game where you can sit back and enjoy the narrative, this is a great place to start. 

The main draw to this game should be its art. This game is filled with beautiful art that helps capture the flavor of the story. The story is fantastic, and one of the most compelling things I’ve sat through. The pacing is great, the themes are serious but well-developed, and the characters are interesting. It does get dark, and you might cry. This is your warning. It’s going to be hard to pull away, but you can save at any time if you need a break. The game allows for multiple saves, so you can test out all the endings, and backtrack if you need to. 

There are little things this game does with sound effects and ambient music that help bring this story alive. If you’ve never played a visual novel, or are looking for a new one, you need to play through The Hungry Lamb at least once. I’ve only played a few visual novels in my short time as a reviewer, but it is easily my favorite so far. 

You can pick up your copy of The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty on Steam for $9.99. At this price, it is more than worth it!

video game reviews

INDIKA is the Trippiest Story-Driven Walking Sim You Should Own

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I was sent a free copy of Indika 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, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is Indika?

Indika is a story-rich walking simulator out now for Steam. Indika is a nun on a journey of self-discovery as she battles the literal demon inside her and witnesses the horrors of a war-torn world around her. How much evil can her soul withstand before it starts to corrupt her? Will her faith waiver? You’re going to have to join her on this wacky, quirky, and amazing ride to find out. 

Gamplay

Indika is a walking simulator, with the occasional puzzle or mini-game to mix things up. The main reason you play this game is for its dark humor and fantastic storytelling. 

Players are railroaded through the story as they walk Indika through her set path. The striking visuals and environment make the walking bits fine. There isn’t much room for exploration, but the focus is on the story so it didn’t matter. 

The puzzles are manageable and extremely creative. There is a puzzle in this game where the demon starts talking to Indika and warping the world around her. Indika can pray to silence the voices and make the world normal again. Players have to switch between these two modes to get out of the room. It was such a memorable mechanic and almost the reason to play the game. Some puzzles may not be as intuitive, but there are walkthroughs available online in case you get stuck. 

The final bit is these pixel art minigames sprinkled throughout. These games add to the chaotic, quirky story-telling, and unforgettable charm. These mini-games aren’t difficult, and they are a nice change of pace but don’t change the overall tone of the narrative. I recorded footage, but everything was a bit too adult to post on YouTube. 

Impressions

My only complaint is that this game is too short. It will take about 5 hours to complete. The gameplay is solid, and the story is fantastic. I’ve never experienced such a trippy, dark, and well-told story like this, and I recommend you all play it just for the story. The soundtrack voice acting is phenomenal, and most of the reason why you should enjoy this game. The walking can feel a bit tedious at times, but it always pays off.

Indika is a masterful blend of creative storytelling and interesting gameplay that needs to be experienced once. If you’re looking for a short game with a solid story, go pick up Indika. It is a more adult story, so viewer discretion and all that. It also criticizes and pokes fun at religion, and I am sure that will ruffle some feathers. If you don’t mind any of this, Indika should be in your library. 

Pick up Indika now on Steam for $24.99.

video game reviews

Adore is a Refreshing take on the Creature Capture Genre

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I was sent a free copy of Adore to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials. 

What is Adore?

Adore is a top-down creature collecting game out now for PC. The God of Creatures has died, leaving a vicious curse to run rampant amongst his creations. As the curse spreads over the land of Gaterdrik, there is still hope. The God of Creatures has chosen you as his vessel. Together with unique creatures you capture along the way, quest across this cursed land and resurrect the dead God. Can you save the world, or will it rot under this cruel and unusual curse? 

Gameplay

You play as a creature tamer. You can collect up to 75 unique creatures, but can only carry four at a time. Each creature has unique abilities that are activated on cooldowns. It feels like a top-down MOBA, but it is a dungeon crawler. 

Creatures can be leveled either through combat or a unique crafting system. Sending a creature to fight helps level them up. You will occasionally find materials or items that either buff your creatures or give them new abilities. The trick is finding a combination of creatures with solid synergy, but I always ended up only using creatures I thought looked cool. 

The tamer will also level as you play. You can find random permanent upgrades in dungeons like you would in a roguelike, and you can buy items with buffs at the shop. The game has enough strategy and complexity to keep things engaging, but I don’t think you need a guide to beat it. Finding the right combo or min-maxing will be rewarded though. 

Only creatures you own attack. The tamer and creatures can be damaged and die. The trick is to efficiently summon your creatures to attack and deal damage while being mindful of your tamer’s health. The monster’s attack patterns are predictable, but I never felt like the game got too easy. Fights leading up to the boss fights don’t feel like a grind, and the boss fights are challenging. 

Impressions

I loved this game. The art is cute, the gameplay is fun, and the flavor is fantastic. The summoning and capturing mechanics are unique, and a lot of fun. The gameplay reminds me a lot of the summoner class in PSO 2, and summoner was one of my favorite classes. 

Adore is a unique and interesting game that you should play at least once, especially if you’re a fan of top-down MOBAs. The game offers a nice amount of challenge, a decent story, and a fresh take on the creature capture genre. You can pick up Adore now on Steam for $19.99, or try the Demo if you don’t believe me. 

video game reviews

Tell Me Your Story is a Cute, Cozy, Good Time!

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I was sent a free copy of Tell Me Your Story to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, this will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is Tell Me Your Story?

Tell Me Your Story is a picture story book game puzzle game out now on Steam and Switch. Play as Amilia as she uncovers Grandma Rose’s extraordinary stories. What treasures will you uncover? What memories will you make?

Gameplay

There is no dialogue in Tell Me Your Story. All narrative exists in these silent picture frames, and it tells its story effectively. In between these moments of narrative, players solve casual puzzles. You might need a hint for the less intuitive puzzles, but most can be completed easily. Tell Me Your Story is meant to be a relaxing cozy game, and I feel it is successful. It does feel like a kid’s game, but the story is cute, and the gameplay is soothing enough to be enjoyable for all ages. 

Impressions

Tell Me Your Story was such a cute and comforting experience. I enjoyed the unique experience that it provides and didn’t mind that the puzzles were easy. I am a huge fan of the pixel art, and was impressed with how much story is told through just pictures. This is a solid kids’ game, but one that you won’t mind playing. The story is cute, the art is fun, and the gameplay is relaxing. If you’re looking for a cozy and comforting title for you or your kids, I recommend you pick up Tell Me Your Story.  

You can pick up Tell Me Your Story for $9.99 on Steam and Switch. The game is currently on sale on the Nintendo eshop for $2.99 until 5/16, which is an amazing deal! You can also try the demo if you don’t believe me.

video game reviews

Rauniot is a Nifty Little Point-and-Click Puzzle Game I Enjoyed

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I was sent a free copy of Rauniot 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, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is Rauniot

Rauniot is a post-apocalyptic point and click puzzle game out now for PC.

A natural disaster has destroyed civilization. Continents crumble, pollution fills the air, and supplies run scarce. Those lucky few left on earth must now survive with whatever is left. Aino is one of those lucky few, but everything you do now in this new world is dangerous.

Aino searches for Toivo who hasn’t returned from his last mission. What secrets will her search uncover? Will she fine Toivo, or has this cruel world taken another victim? 

Gameplay

Rauniot is a top-down point-and-click game. Players must click around to explore the world, find clues and items, and solve puzzles. Puzzles are creative. They aren’t difficult, but missing clues or items in exploration means you can’t progress. Some clues are well hidden or hard to see, but I don’t think you need a guide to complete the game. This is a game you pick up when you want to sit back, enjoy a decent story, and solve some decent puzzles. 

Impressions

I enjoyed Rauniot for what it is, a chill puzzle game that isn’t a huge commitment. While it isn’t a genre-defining amazing game that gamers should flock to, it does some interesting things in its space that are worth seeing. Rauniot has an interesting world design, a solid story, and decent gameplay. The English translation is rough in some places, but it is by no means unplayable. I enjoyed listening to the Finish dialogue even though I understood none of it. The game plays well, although some of the clues and items can be easy to miss because of the lighting or colors. None of these issues are deal breakers, and I recommend this game if you’re looking for something in this genre. 

The game does introduce a unique save system where you have to go to the main menu, select a floppy disk, and save manually. I might have missed the instructions, but I didn’t save assuming it would Autosave and I had to start over. It wasn’t a huge deal because this is a short game, (about four hours) and I remembered where everything was. 

You can pick up Rauniot on Steam for $17.99. I wouldn’t go out of my way to play it, but it is a solid option if you’re looking for something new to play.