I was sent a free copy of Backrooms Level Xto 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.
Backrooms Level Xis a survivor horror surreal adventure out now on Steam.
The corporation you work for has tasked you to investigate the strange dimension of Level X for a potential hotel. Unfortunately for you, you find yourself trapped with no easy way out. Make your way though this strange labyrinth as you fight for your sanity. Can you find your way of this ever changing living maze, or will its tricks and creatures be the end of you?
Review
Backrooms Level Xis a walking simulator with some weirdness that will test your metal fortitude. The game makes a solid attempt at breaking its reality by creating its strange atmosphere. The problem I have with the game is that it doesn’t go far enough with its surrealism. When compared to other games that go for a similar vibe, you have better options. The first few minutes of this game fail to grab my attention as I am forced to walk through a silent twisting confusing corridor. I understand there is drama in silence and getting lost in a labyrinth can be scary, but it makes the game feel slow and empty.
I can’t recommend Backrooms Level Xbecause there are better options. The whole time I was playing this, I was wishing I could be playing Go Home Annie instead. The game is just unimpressive, and I am definitely going to forget I ever played it.
I was asked to cover Bygone Dreams: Prophecy, which is the free to play demo of the games initial level. I understand the game is still a demo and will be a bit more lenient. That said, these will still be my honest opinions of the game.
Bygone Dreams is a souls-like that is scheduled to release in June 2025. In preparation, the developers have released the game’s prologue to generate some hype around the game. My review will be on the prologue.
A terrible nightmare threatens the peace known to Lume. One spirit alone hears the call to action and rises against the encroaching darkness. As Wa, travel across Lume’s surreal landscape, solve its many puzzles, collect its many powers, and defeat anything that threatens its peace. Do you wield the power to save Lume from this nightmare?
Gameplay
The demo acts as a tutorial for the game. It introduces a few essential mechanics for combat and exploration, and players get to experience a bit of the story and world. If you’ve played a souls-like, this game doesn’t veer too much from the path. What makes the game unique is the colorful world players get to explore on the rail-road the devs designed for them.
Impressions
Bygone Dreams: Prophesydidn’t do enough to excite me for the full game. The game has an interesting artstyle, but world is far too busy. There is a lot crammed to fill the spaces that become the walls for a rail road. Having a built in track for players to follow isn’t an issue. I understand the limitations of a demo, and I’ve played games where it works. It works here, but everything is so busy it distracts from how unique the world is. I don’t mind invisible walls or railroads if the gameplay is fun.
I found the gameplay in the demo to be a bit lacking. I can see bones with potential, but the game needs a lot more polish to be fun. Combat doesn’t feel smooth enough when compared to other games in the genre, and it was often a little boring. Enemies all felt the same and offered nothing interesting, and the combos weren’t fun to watch. The full version might have the polished combat the game needs and the enemies to make it fun, but I need to see it to get excited. The whole time I played the demo, I wanted to be playing something else and that’s a problem.
In its current state, this is one of those games I’ll play and forget it exists. Unless the full game gets a major performance polish, I think it will be one of those games you forget too. I’ll be trying to get a copy of the full version for an update, so stay tuned for that. In the mean time, check out Bygone Dreams: Prophesy and see for your self.
I was sent Hordes of Hunger for free to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, it won’t sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game.
Hordes of Hunger is a survivorslike game out now in Steam Early Access.
Control Mirah as you fend off against hordes of blood thirsty creatures. Wield powerful weapons, learn nes skills and abilities, and stop the horde from advancing. Do you have what it takes to survive the onslaught and save the world
Gameplay
The game runs like your typical survivors game. Players start each run with basic abilities. They gain random weapons and abilities throughout the run by killing monsters for XP or completing objectives. The more time a player spends on Hordes of Hunger, the more powers and abilities they unlock. What makes the game unique is the combo system. Unlike most games in the genre, Hordes of Hunger does not have an auto-attack system. Instead, players must use combos, active skills, and dodges to survive the hordes and save the day. There are also a few unique missions to change up the gameplay.
Review
The game isn’t finished yet, and while I see the potential, it isn’t for me. The game has a good looking world with some interesting monster and character design, and the animation is solid. The game performs well enough, but there are some stutters and crashes that are hard to ignore. Once I got past my initial intrigue, the game started feeling repetitive. While I do appreciate the creative take on the genre with the inclusion of the combo system, it feels unnecessary. This is a survivors game with extra steps, and you are either going to love it or hate it. I love survivors game for the casual yet engaging experience they offer. Her it feels like I am doing too much work with every little payoff. The RNG was fine for the most part, but the game feels solvable in the early stages. There are abilities that feel better, and while I am sure all games in the genre are solvable, that do a better job at hiding it.
If you are looking for a survivor game and don’t mind the extra work, the game does a decent job at the price point. The problem I have with this game is that when it comes to survivors game, I simply have better options. After a couple hours of this game, I am going to uninstall it and forget I own it. Unless you really want to mess around with the game’s combo system, there is no real reason to buy this game.
You can pick up Hordes of Hunger on Steam Early Access for $14.99.
I was sent the Wizard Hand demo to review for my blog. I understand that the game is still in development, so I will try to be a bit more lenient with my review. That said, these are my honest impressions.
Wizard Hand is a roguelike solitaire game coming to Steam. Make sure you check out the demo!
Play solitair using a magical deck and try to get the required score and move to the next level. The goal of the game is to clear the table of cards while beating the required score. All players start with a basic deck that they slowly upgrade with other cards and abilities throughout a run. Finding the best combination and knowing when to use your powerful spell cards is key to success in this game. Do you have what it takes to beat the highest challenge?
Impressions
The Wizard Hand demo is incredibly addicting. I wish this were the full version because I want to see what else there is. Right off the bat, I was drawn by the game’s aesthetic. The card art is simple, but with enough elegance and flare to draw the eye. The gameplay is simple, but requires enough of a strategy to keep players engaged. Figuring out the correct sequence and combinations to maximize a score is a mellow puzzle, and I love puzzles. There does need to be more content, but it looks like the devs are hard at work at making things happen. Regardless of that, this a fantastic demo that is effective at showcasing the game’s key features in a way that is fun, engaging, and addicting. Wizard Hand is very promising, but I wish there was more. I can’t wait for a full version.
I was sent a free copy of Best Served Coldto 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.
You are a skilled barkeep in one of the city’s illegal speakeasy’s. There is a general danger around your line of work during prohibition. One that is amplified by the pretense of a serial killer. Someone is hunting down patrons of these establishments, and the race is on to find out who. You have been contracted to help in this investigation. Use your position, charm, and skill as a barkeep to interrogate the patrons and find leads. What mysteries will your investigation uncover? Can you find the killer before its too late?
Gameplay
The loop in Best Served Coldis an interesting twist on the genre. Players will talk to patrons during their shift, and try to find the right combination of answers and questions to unlock the appropriate clues. The twist are the mechanics tied to the bartender position. Players will have to figure out the perfect drink to serve each patron, and mix it perfectly. The mixing mini game is simple. Players trace a pattern thematic to the drink before time runs out. Choosing the perfect drink and making it perfect makes the clients more inclined to talk. There are questions in this game that will only get answers if the customer is drunk enough. This is such a flavorful mechanic, and one that adds a bit of strategy to break up all the reading. Not the reading is bad by any means.
Review
If you are looking for something new to play, check out Best Served Cold. Best Served Cold is a well written visual novel with fantastic characters and a solid mystery. People who read a lot of the genre can figure out the mystery, but it is still worth the read. I had a lot of fun meeting each unique character, figuring out their favorite drink, and the mixing minigame was relaxing. The game also has a fantastic sound track for an unmatched cozy vibe.
My only complaint is that the game is unplayable on the Steam Deck. I might have been doing something wrong, but I couldn’t get the pin-up board to work. Trying to connect everything with yarn felt like more work than it was worth, at least the few times I actually got it work. This isn’t a deal breaker because it works great on PC, but I want to be able to read my mystery visual novels from the comfort of my bed.
Better Served Cold is a great story with amazing flavor that you need to play through once. There is a lot of reading, but the reading is fine and it comes in English, Korean, Chinese, and Japanese. I enjoyed every minute of it, and I think you will too.
I was sent the Roulette Hero demo for my blog. I understand the game is not finished yet, and will be a bit more lenient with my review. That said, these will be my honest impressions.
Roulette Hero is a deck building roguelike with a more randomized twist coming to Steam. Make sure you sigh up for the playtest.
Build your army of formidable heroes and build a unique roulette table that will take you to victory. Each turn, players will add choose between a random assortment of heroes, all animals, and place them on a square on the table. The player pulls for the roulette to spin to activate a random ability [whatever space the square lands on].
Players can upgrade the units they summon by stacking multiples of the same unit, and they can be sold for gold as well. Each unit has an attack that does damage to the boss, and some have special abilities that either activate when chosen or activate on a trigger. For example, there is a card that heals the player every time they spin the roulette. The demo offers a good amount of combos and strategy, and the RNG means you are not building the same deck twice. The round ends when the player drops to zero, or they defeat the boss.
Impressions
Roulette Hero is very fun, and I recommend everyone to try the demo. It offers a unique twist to the genre, and the slot machine like gameplay will make you addicted to gambling in the best way. I love that I never built the same deck twice, although cats seem very broken [I am very biased]. I also enjoyed how much strategy is involved for a game that feels very random. That said, I can easily sink too many hours into this game because it is a very enjoyable loop.
If you haven’t done so, go check out Roulette Hero. I will be trying very hard to get a full version. The demo works very well, but I am sure the full version will have a bunch of fun new cards for a very good ammount of replayabilty. Roulette Hero offers a unique twists on a familiar genre and it looks cool doing it. I can’t wait to see more.
Make sure you sign up for the playtest, and don’t forget to add it to your wishlist!
I was sent a free copy of Gal Guardians: Servants of the Dark to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest opinions of the game.
The castle has been invaded and Lord Maxim is dead. It is up to Kirika and Masha to make their way through the castle and revive their lord. Fight through waves of demons and their bosses, collect helpful tools and abilities, and prove why you are the best pair of demon maids Do you have what it takes to reclaim your home and save your master?
Gameplay
Gal Guardians is your typical classic metroidvania. Players crawl through the 2D dungeon, collect new items and abilities, and beat everything in their way. What makes Gal Guardians unique is the coop mechanic. Players can play this game solo, or team up with a friend to control one of the two maids. Coop allows for some interesting interactions between the players. Playing solo allows players to switch between the two maids and their abilities, as well as revive them when they go down. The game also showers the player with loot and allows for a good amount of customization and playstyles.
Review
I really wanted to like Gal Guardians: Shadows of the Dark, but it doesn’t do enough to stand out against the genre. I love the art and flavor, there is some solid voice acting, but the gameplay sort of falls flat.
What I like about the gameplay is the amount of customization. Aside from the main weapon, players can mix and match abilities to find a build that works best for their playstyle. Unfortunately, there are some absolute garbage items that will flood your inventory. Aside from that, combat is kind of boring. It is no where near the worst of the genre, but it does leave a bit to be desired. This is especially noticeable during the boss fights which can be challenging, but aren’t really worth the trouble.
I had high hopes for the game because I enjoyed the demo, but once I got deeper in the game, it didn’t do enough. It had decent writing, the voice acting is great, and the art is good, but the gameplay didn’t do it for me. Gal Guardians isn’t the worst Metroidvania I’ve played this year, but I will forget I ever played it. If you’re looking for a new Metroidvania, you simply have better options.
I was sent a free copy of Amerzone – The Explorer’s Legacy 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.
You are a young reporter on your latest investigation. An old explorer you’ve befriended over the years has left you with instructions to an adventure of a lifetime. You find yourself on a trip to South America where you must venture into the Amerzone and return the egg of an ancient bird. Solve puzzles, collect clues, and survive the dangers of the Amerzone. What will your adventure uncover? Will this be the story you’ve been waiting for?
Review
Amerzone – The Explorer’s Legacy is the adventure book you didn’t know you needed. If you’ve played the original, this is a fantastic remaster. The graphics look great, and the game plays fine. I didn’t experience any major performance issues. The gameplay is what you’d expect from a a point-and-click game. Players move through parts of the world, exploring and collecting clues to progress through the story. The game design makes exploration enjoyable, but the story is the reason why you play this game.
Amerzone’s story holds up after all these years, and update to visuals is sure to find its modern audience. The story is a solid adventure with nice pacing, great world building and flavor. The voice acting is fantastic, and it was real easy to immerse myself in the story. The puzzles make the game the engaging experience that it is. The puzzles are creative and interesting, but some may require a hint or two. Make sure you explore and click on everything!
This is a solid piece of interactive fiction that I recommend to anyone looking for a chill game with a good story and solid flavor. It is a lot of clicking, but the story makes it all worth it. I think the price is a little too steep for the type of game, but this might just be the new normal.
You can preorder Amerzone – The Explorer’s Legacy for Xbox, PlayStation and PC for $39.99. There is a Steam Demo available you can check out in the meantime.
I was sent an early alpha build of Frozen Shipto review for my blog. I understand the game isn’t done yet, so I will be a bit more lenient with my review. That said, these will still be my honest first impressions.
Frozen Shipis a survival game with village management elements coming soon to Steam Early Access.
An eternal tundra has devastated humanity. Some were fortunate to find refuge near the warmth of a volcano, but that warmth was only temporary. In their efforts to continue surviving, they have built a giant ship that will take them to their new home. Navigate the deadly tundra as you captain your colony of survivors, gather resources, upgrade your facilities, and find the last remaining hope for salvation. What will you find against this frozen landscape?
Gameplay
There are two parts to this game, village management and exploration.
As captain of this frozen ship, players will need to command their colony to gather and process materials or build upgrades. Resources are scares, so efficiently utilizing what is available is key for humanities survival. Most importantly, players must keep hope alive to keep the colony from collapsing. As players traverse the tundra, the colony will grow, and this growth will bring its challenges as it puts a strain on systems players put in place.
The other part of this game is exploration. Players can get off the ship throughout the warmer parts of the day to scavenge the remains of the old world. Players can build tools to gather resources or scavenge from buildings. The cold is brutal and staying out in the elements for too long means death. To add to the difficulty, the ship does not stop moving. Players must navigate the cold, but also make sure they can always find their way back to the ship.
The main game will have a story, but the demo only allowed a limited free build mode with a good amount of direction.
Impressions
In its current state, Frozen Shipdoesn’t have enough to it to keep me excited. The village management aspect is more of a text based game. Its not a bad way to do things, especially since the main game is exploration, but I like to watch my villagers do things. The exploration is fine, but the world feels too empty. I do like that the game lets players adjust the difficulty for the ideal experience. I get lost easily so I appreciate that there is a mode that guides me back to the ship. I also appreciate the options for a more hardcore play through for the times I’m feeling more sadistic.
Graphics-wise, the world makes sense but it isn’t anything special. You’re either going to appreciate the low-poly style or you are going to play a more realistic looking game. I am sure this is a choice to ensure good performance, but also makes the world a little less fun to explore.
The cold mechanic is fine. Eventually players will have the ability to extend the amount of time they can spend in the tundra, but those early levels feel tedious. Having to return every time you clear a single house is boring. I can see the intention. The game is supposed to be a hard journey and resources are meant to be scares, but when the art style is boring and the world feels too empty, it just feels like a chore.
I also don’t recommend playing this game on the Steam Deck. At the moment, some of the tasks feel very tedious with a controller. You will need to remap, and even then it is just better to play with a keyboard and mouse.
I need to see more of the game before I can feel confident in recommending it. If you are looking for some hardcore survival and don’t mind the village builder elements, I would wait for the demo. I’ll try to get a different build and will return with my update. Until then, you can wishlist Frozen Shipon Steam.
I was sent a free copy of Asgard’s Fall — Viking Survivorsto review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This game is still in Early access, so I will try to be a bit more lenient than normal.
Choose your hero as you wage war against the gods. Harnes your strength as you take on endless hordes of enemies. How far will you wrath take you? Will you be the fall of Asgard?
Gameplay
Players start each run by choosing a hero. There is only one option at the start of each game, but more can be unlocked by playing the game, with more characters planed for a later release. Players will start the game with the same basic attack and a dodge, but will unlock random passive and active abilities as they play. The RNG feels very fair, and each round felt unique. There is also special Twitch integration that allows a streamer’s audience influence the blessings received throughout a game for an extra level of craziness.
The goal of the game is to survive until the final boss fight. Beating the boss means unlocking more areas, and dying during a run means starting over. It is simple game with enough depth to keep things interesting, and in a very good place in its early access.
Review
If you are looking for a new survival game, Asgard’s Fallis a very strong contender. The art is cute without sacrificing on any of its Nordic flavor. I am a huge fan of how much flavor has gone into the spells and abilities. Most importantly, Asgard’s Fall is a fun game that you won’t regret supporting. A lot of the survival game’s I’ve played will start slow and ramp up to the insanity. This initial lull can make or break the game, but Asgard’s Fall doesn’t have that. The game starts at a great pace, and it has a solid ramp to keep things interesting.
Building my hero is what makes this game for me. Like most games of the genre, players will unlock random abilities and buffs throughout a run. What makes Asgard’s Fall unique is how you can build a skill tree by filling a web of nodes. The nodes can interact with each other and generate more power. I have never sat to consider my build as much as I did with this game, and that is a very good thing.
I hadn’t realized how long I had been playing this game until I pulled from my trance. I had so much fun with this game that I will have a hard time setting it down. If you’re weary about the Early Access status, don’t be. This game is in a very good place with enough content to make it worth the price tag. There is also a good amount of content on the horizon.
If you haven’t done so, go check out Asgard’s Fall. This is a great addition to any collection. You can pick up Asgard’s Fall — Viking Survivorson Steam Early Access for only $6.99. There is also a demo available if you don’t believe me. The full game releases next year.
