Nocturnal is a beautiful-looking metroidvania-type game that definitely has gotten my attention. I don’t normally play games in this genre, but when I saw the gameplay, I had to reach out and get myself a copy to review. It has a simple yet beautiful art style that I enjoy and an interesting fire and shadow mechanic that promises to make this a unique experience.
Ardeshir has returned to his home Island Nahran, only to find it afflicted by a mysterious shadowy mist. Use fire he can wield to solve puzzles, fight enemies, and light your way through the darkness. Can you find the cause and heal your home of this strange affliction?
This game seems perfect for those who enjoy the genre. It has a permadeath mode for those who need the extra challenge, and some nifty speed run features like faster transitions, skippable cutscenes, and a pausable timer if that’s more your speed. For everyone else, the gameplay just looks fun.
You can get Nocturnal on PlayStation, Switch, Xbox, and Steam. The game is $19.99 for consoles, and $16.99 for PC. The game doesn’t seem to have been launched on PS5 in NA yet, but I’ve added the European link just in case. There is a 10% discount for the Switch and Steam version if you buy them before June 14th. I’ve already gotten my review copy and will be posting my review sometime next week. Until then, thank you for reading!
Death Trick: Double Blind Announced!
I enjoy a good visual novel every now and again. I love to see the unique ways they approach narrative and enjoy the change of pace they allow. The first game I was ever sent to review was a Visual Novel, and I always look back on it fondly. Since then, I keep an eye on what is happening in the genre for my collection. When I saw the announcement for Death Trick: Double Blind, I knew I needed to play it. The art is beautiful, and I am always in the market for a good mystery.
A great magician has been murdered, and it is up to players to piece together clues to solve his murder before the circus leaves town. The game allows players to switch between two playable characters: the detective investigating the case and the magician’s replacement. Players can explore the circus grounds, interview suspects, and collect clues. Can you piece it all together before time runs out?
I love the aesthetic of this game. The colors, character design, and the world make something I want to explore. The developers promise a mystery that won’t soft lock if you solve the mystery early and a different interaction every time you talk to an NPC. If you enjoy the genre and need a new game to add to your collection, check out Death Trick: Double Blind today!
Death Trick: Double Blind releases on Steam later this year, but you can Wishlist the game and sign up for the playtest today. Don’t forget to follow the Noen Doctorine on their socials for all the news: Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Discord!
Dr. Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine Coming June 22nd
I covered Dr. Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine in a previous post when I got to try the game early at GDC. I loved the little I got to play and have been eager for its release since. This game will be one of the most stressful yet addicting match-four games you’ve never played. It is a neat concept set in a familiar world with a cute yet gruesome aesthetic. What more can you want?
Dr. Fetus has built a machine to clone his own Meat Boy. The machine weeds through DNA samples to collect the perfect specimen. Players will match DNA while avoiding terrifying traps. There are over 100 puzzles to solve and a few difficult bosses along the way. Can you make it through this game without breaking your controller?
I’ve only played a couple of the Meat Boy games, but I am impressed with how creative they get with the IP. It’s hilariously frustrating to sit there and try to match colors while avoiding saws or missiles. The challenge this game will have to overcome is finding the perfect balance where the game carries the difficulty now synonymous with the IP while still being fun. I am curious to see how well they find this balance.
Dr. Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine comes out on Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, and PC via Steam, Epic Games, and GOG on June 22nd. No price has been announced yet, but you can add it to your wishlist. I’ll be publishing my review as soon as the embargo gets lifted. Make sure you check out the demo available for Switch and PC via Steam and Epic Games.
Candela Obscura: The Macrabre System You Should Be Trying
Like a lot of people, I got into Dungeons and Dragons because I enjoyed watching Critical Role. I’ve since stopped following the show as closely, save for the animated series on Amazon, but have been playing with the same group of randoms I met three years ago. I love D&D, but I am always looking into new systems to try. I like to borrow mechanics from other systems, but mostly, I like to see what’s out there.
I wasn’t surprised when I heard that Critical Role was changing systems. There has been speculation about the move for a while now. I think the drama with Hasbro getting too greedy had its part in the transition, but I also think they were looking for a new system that allowed them to focus on the narrative. Critical Role has been a catalyst for D&D’s recent popularity, and I am curious to see how this move affects the player base.
Their newest campaign, Candela Obscura, will use the Illuminated Worlds system. I won’t be covering the campaign, but I have read the quick start guide and thought it was worth some attention. For those interested in running a campaign of Candela Obscura, download the quick start guide from the official site.
In Candela Obscura, players will face off against the paranormal as they investigate the macabre and the mysterious. While there are many opportunities for combat, the system’s focus is building a compelling narrative through its checks and player interactions.
The best way to learn about this game is through the quick start guide. It has easy-to-learn mechanics, a prewritten adventure, and pregenerated character sheets to get you started. Best of all, you can play it for free. Do note that you are getting a simplified version of the RPG, but it is enough to get you a taste of the system. I think it is a neat system to try. I particularly like how it handles checks and the flavor of its world. The guide is free, so you have nothing to lose if you try it today.
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Digimon TCG Update: June 4th
The Digimon Card game has had its resurgence for a couple of years now, and I have since started my humble collection. I love the art and enjoy the gameplay. Sadly, I don’t have the time to play at locals or online, but I love collecting. There are ways to play online if you don’t mind the clunkiness of Tabletop Simulator or the awkwardness of playing through a webcam with strangers on Discord, but I am a little too socially awkward. I can only hope that there is enough of a market for the game that one day, Bandai will release a web client like the big TCGs.
In an effort to give the game more exposure and hopefully convince some folks to join the hobby, I will start making weekly updates on the news related to the game. Please I will be coming at these announcements from the perspective of an enthusiastic collector rather than a competitive player or an investor. This post will also include spoilers for an unreleased set, so if you care about spoilers, stop reading now. And as always, make sure you like and subscribe!
Alternative Being [EX-04] Spoilers
This theme booster is coming out on June 23rd and the art for this set is so good!
I want to start off with Omnimon Alter-S because it looks so cool! Man the art is amazing, and the affects are pretty cool. DNA Digivolution is such a cool mechanic and you get some pretty nice removal and board expansion.
This looks like its going to be a great set to collect if you like the Greymon and Garurumon line. I’d love to add these to my binder!
Locals
The local scene hasn’t had too much love, at least in my area. I had a chat with the manager of my LGS and was told that Bandai was spending more resources promoting One Piece. They weren’t getting much prize support, but that might be changing with the new prize support promos that were just announced. I can’t tell you who is getting allocated, but there might be incentive to collect some.
Tamer Party
Tamer party is a special event for the month of June with the goal to encourage new players to the hobby. This is a casual event designed to teach players how to play. There is no winner, but participants will get special four card packs with a chance of hitting a very cool Magnamon. Check with your LGS if they will be participating.
I don’t know about you, but I love the retro vibe for this Magnomon. They other cards you can pull are pretty exciting as well.
I am most excited for Aldamon if I am being honest. I know there is a lot of hate for Frontier, but it is my favorite season of Digimon. The story might not have been the best, but it had an amazing concept and a fantastic opening song. There might be bias because of how impressionable I might have been at that age, but I don’t care. I like what I like.
June 2023 Store Championship
While not the most exciting news, if you have access to decent local scene, might be a good chance to get some unique promos.
June-August Events
There is a lot going on for competitive players. Both the Ultimate Cup and Championship will be going on across the regions with some pretty solid prize support. looks like there will be both online and offline events, so make sure you go sign up for what works best for you.
Ultimate Cup Sign Ups (Looks like its only NA for now)
2023 Championship Promos
Its time to earn your path to the championship. There are some nice promos so make sure you check out what is available to you.
Ultimate Cup
The Gigimon looks so cute!
And for those who care about the meta…
Here are the top 4 decks for the April-May Regionals
North America
Europe
Oceana
Digmon Dreamers
Digimon Dreamers is getting its English release on the Digimonweb. Hopefully it gets a proper translation and not Google Translate like Digimon Seekers.
That’s all I have for now, I haven’t decided on the release schedule for these updates but I will be back next week. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and comment if the mood strikes. Until next time!
System Shock is Back!
System Shock has gotten a remaster, and it looks sick. The classic FPS has officially come to modern PCs with better graphics, updated controls, a new UI, and some much-needed quality-of-life changes. If you’ve played the original, you aren’t getting the same game you played way back when. The reboot promises never before seen enemies, a revamped hacking system, and new ways to combat enemies, like a brutal dismemberment system. While a few changes have been made, the developers have worked closely with members of the original team to make sure they keep the spirit of the original the same in this reboot.
As the Hacker, players must fight through armies of mutated creatures controlled by the evil ai, SHODAN. Players will avoid traps, solve puzzles, and hack their way through Citadel Station. What secrets will you uncover on your journey?
I never had the means to play the original System Shock growing up. I played a bit in college and would watch my friends play it here and there, but I never had the opportunity to get deep enough exposure to it. I love that these older games are getting a second chance for new and old audiences, especially those like me who missed the train entirely. I am still working on getting a review code for this, so fingers crossed I get one soon.
System Shock is available on PC via Steam, GOG, and Epic Games for 39.99. A demo is available on Steam and Epic Games if you want to try it out first. Console editions of System Shock are planned for the future, but no details are available yet.
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The Best Games I’ve Played in 2023 so far
2023 has been an interesting year. I decided to take my game reviews a lot more seriously, and as a result, I got to cover a cool event, meet some interesting people, and play some fun games. Since the year is about halfway over, I think it is the perfect time to make a list of the best games I’ve played so far. This list is based on my opinion and in no specific order. I put a lot of thought into only including the games I believe deserve the most attention. There were some hard choices, but I didn’t want this list to be long.
Fire Emblem Engage
I am not the biggest fan of strategy games, but this one was so much fun. Check out the full review!
Dameo
If you like tabletop dungeon crawlers, you need this game. You can play solo, with friends, or with strangers. Check out the full review!
Liberte
This was a fun little ARP with an interesting deck building you don’t want to miss. Check out the full review!
Everspace 2
This was a very unique RPG with an interesting story, but mechanics that are out of this world. Check out the full review!
Havendock
If you are looking for a new village builder to play, or simply looking to wet your feet with the genre, check out Havendock. Go read the full review!
Super Dungeon Maker
If you like classic RPGs or have always wanted to make your own, this game is in a great place right now. Check out the full review!
Volcano Princess
While this may not be perfect, it was such a unique, memorable, and fun experience that I needed to add to the list. It may not be for everyone, but it is worth looking into. Check out the full review!
Strayed Lights
This was such a beautiful game with a fantastic soundtrack. If you need another souls-like, this should be in your library. Check out the full review!
Planet of Lana
This is a cute puzzle adventure game with a solid story and great music. I know I just reviewed it, but I had to add it to the list. Check out the full review!
To My Readers
I am beyond grateful for the opportunities I’ve gotten this year. I have a lot of ideas and more opportunities for the future, but I wouldn’t have gotten here without you. To all of you who continue to read my work or those of you who just got here, thank you! Writing this blog has been so much fun, and it means so much to me that you take time from your day to read what I have to say.
Make sure you like and subscribe because that helps me out a lot. Most importantly, thank you! I love you all.
The BrikWars are Coming!
If you are in the market for a new quirky tabletop wargame, you should look into BrikWars. Brik Wars aims to give your old brick systems a new purpose with a ruleset that seems like a silly good time. Build and destroy your own battlefield, collect unique armies, gather powerful weapons and items, or go on one of the prewritten adventures. No building instructions are required! All you need are a set of bricks, the core rule book, and some imagination. The combat mechanics seem simple to learn, and there is an interesting build/destruction mechanic that promises a fresh tabletop experience. There are even prewritten adventures you can run through before breaking off and making your own. Players can either use the rules for wargaming or for running a silly TTRPG.
I don’t think this will be anyone’s main wargame or TTRPG, but it does look like something you pull out when you don’t want to get too serious. This also looks like a great way to get kids into tabletop gaming without having to buy too many game pieces, assuming your kid already has a healthy collection of Legos. The art is cute, the rules seem simple enough to teach, it has a very quirky and fun tone, and there seems to be a lot of room to be creative.
The book is scheduled to ship on September 2023, but you can preorder your core rulebook today. Preorder now to receive a pdf sample of the rule book for testing. The publisher is looking for feedback before the game’s release so that the game releases at its best version, so make sure you share your thoughts on the game.
You can preorder the book for $50.44. Now seems like a great time to dust off your old Legos or simply buy new ones.
Planet of Lana: The Beautiful Puzzle Game You Should Be Playing!
I was sent Planet of Lana as a review code. I am very grateful for the opportunity, but I will keep my review honest.
Planet of Lana is a beautiful puzzle game with an incredible story and a fantastic soundtrack available now for PC and Xbox.
Aliens have invaded Lana’s planet and have abducted her sister. As the only remaining survivor, Lana must go out and find her sister. Along the way, Lana meets Mui, her cute cat-like companion that will help her on her journey. The pair must now brace an unforgiving landscape, explore the mysteries of the past, and save her people. Can they do it?
I got to play the demo during my time at GDC and loved it. I was very excited when I finally received my copy, and I am happy to report that the title did not disappoint. I love this game! The puzzles are fun and creative, the score is fantastic, and the story is well done.
The puzzles in this game are challenging enough to keep players engaged, but I never felt they were hard enough to require a guide. The puzzles are designed with enough clues that players should have no trouble getting through them. The puzzles help tell a story that I believe is worth experiencing once.
Planet of Lana tells an incredibly moving story full of adventure, friendship, and danger. It is a breathtaking collection of art and music that come together to create such a wholesome experience. The amount of attention to detail put into this game needs more recognition. I spent way too long trying to piece together all the clues and appreciating the vibrant and lively backdrop. It is remarkable how much this game accomplishes in the space it is given.
But this game isn’t just pretty, it is also fun. You control Lana and command Mui to solve puzzles. As you get deeper into the story, you find forgotten technology that gives you new ways to interact with the world. The puzzles get creative without losing the chill vibe it mostly carries throughout. This game gets tense when it has to, with moments that will leave most players sweating profusely.
I love this game and recommend it to anyone looking for a new game. This is a cute, fun, beautiful puzzle experience that anyone can enjoy. If you like games like Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, this game should already be in your library. But if you need further convincing, try the free demo for PC. The demo gives potential players a fantastic preview of what they have in store. You need to buy this game.
You can buy Planet of Lana for the Xbox and PC via Steam for $19.99, which is worth it for what you’re getting. You can also play it free with Game Pass.
Elder Scrolls Call To Arms Starter Set is Coming!
I would like to take a moment and talk about the board game Elder Scrolls Call to Arms. I have spent way too many hours on Skyrim, and own it on every console. Today I found out that there is also a board game, not for Skyrim, but for Elder Scrolls. While I may not have friends to play with, I enjoy window shopping games I can’t play. Call to Arms looks like a lot of fun, and if you are looking for a new tabletop wargame to play with your friends, this might be worth looking into.
The game lets players explore Tamriel with absolute freedom. You can complete quests, join the civil war, or go treasure hunting. You can even use the minis to play some other tabletop games. It has options for co-op, PVP, and even solo play, and there are already quite a few expansions and scenarios. A great place to start is the upcoming Call to Arms Starter set.
The starter set includes everything you need to get started such as:
- 1 x The Elder Scrolls: Call to Arms Core Rules
- Core rule book, Quests book, Escape from Helgen Quickstart
- More than 200 cards including heroes, followers, adversaries, quests and more
- 2 die cut counter sheets
- 13 special game dice
- Imperial Plastic Starter set
- 1 x Hadvar, Hero of Helgen
- 1 x Imperial Mage
- 3 x Imperial Soldiers
- Stormcloak Plastic Starter Set
- 1 x Ralof, Warrior of the Resistance
- 1 x Ysrald Thrice Pierced, Stormcloak Commander
- 3 x Stormcloak Warriors with Greatswords
- Bleak Falls Barrow Plastic Delve
- 1 x Dragonborn, Champion of Skyrim
- 1 x Draugr Deathlord
- 3 x Skeleton Archers
- 3 x Draugr Warrior with Greatsword
The figures come unpainted and unassembled, and I am very excited to see what the community comes up with. There are some pretty cool paint jobs displayed on the official website.
As of writing this, you can only preorder the starter set in the UK for 110 GBP, which is a pretty good deal for what you are getting. I assume that the price in the US will be around $136 if Google did the conversion right.
There is already quite a bit of content out for this game, so it might be a good idea to look at that while you wait for the starter set. Chapters 1 and 2 content is currently 15% off until June 30th. It’s a good way to save a couple bucks on some minis, but it might be best to wait for the starter set. They’ll be announcing chapter 4 preorders any day now.
Before you go spending any money, it might be a good idea to try out the game. You can download the rulebook for free, and the rules are pretty simple to pick up. There is also a good amount of print-and-play content to help you get started with the system on the official website. You can print out adventures, character cards, and even the dice. This is a very cool thing the publishers are doing because nothing sucks more than buying into a system you don’t like. You can also check out the store page for free content as well.
Make sure you check out some of the tutorials to see how some of the mechanics work.
Movement
Damage
Melee
Ranged
I’ve seen a bit of the gameplay, and I like what I saw. The combat looks fun, the magic and gear system look interesting, and the AI and leveling seem to be well-designed. The game pieces look like they are great quality. I would be interested in using some of the pieces for my D&D sessions as well. I’d love some hands-on experience with the game, so if I can find some folks to play with or carve out some time for myself, I’ll let you know.
Make sure you follow the publisher on their socials to stay up to date on all the news: Facebook, Twitter, and Discord