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Board Games and TCGs

Discover Why You Should Play The TTRPG Mutant Year Zero

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Disclaimer

Free League Publishing sent me a free copy of the Mutant: Year Zero core rulebook to review for my blog. While I am very happy for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. Make sure you also check out my reviews for Dragonbane and The One Ring.

Table of Contents

What is Mutant: Year Zero?

Mutant is a tabletop roleplaying game about mutants at the end of the world. The game runs on the award winning Year Zero system which is a D6 system where things happen on 6s and 1s. Six is good and one is bad. There are no modifiers. Instead, stats and gear tell players how many dice they need to roll. More dice generally means better odds. Finally, Mutant is a survival game where the world is harsh, people have powers, and starvation is always a bad roll away.

Hook

Before the fall of civilization, Earth existed in a constant state of conflict. War broke out across the globe, quickly turning nuclear. Those smart and rich enough quickly found shelter in secure underground bunkers while others fled into the safety of space. Everyone else either died in the first wave, or had to rot away in the fallout. As the Earth became toxic, many began to mutate and develop powers.This was the next stage of evolution of man, but one that also marked its end. Mutants are sterile, and while there are tales of powerful folk that roam the wasteland, the population is aging towards is final days.

Some survivors band together and form flourishing communities known as arcs in an attempt to recapture what they lost, others turned to the harsh wasteland and let it transform. You were fortunate enough to grow in one of these arcs, and spend your days working towards a common goal. As the years go by, resources start to dwindle and the world becomes a harder place to live. Eventually, you and a promising group are tasked with going out farther than the usual patrol in search of anything that will extend your time on this planet. What secrets will you uncover beyond those walls? What will you bring back? Can humanity ever be saved, or are you merely surviving till your final days?

Gameplay

Mutant is a very easy game to pick up, but has enough depth to keep players engaged. The survival mechanics give players agency, without ever feeling like a chore. The mutation mechanic adds fun flavor that players can explore through their character, and it makes for some fun and interersting interactions. If you’ve ever wanted to be Xmen at the end of the world, pick up Mutant Year Zero.

Resources

Resources at the end of the world are limited. Players will need to spend their time constantly hunting for food, water, and other materials to survive the harsh dying world around them. Resources like food and water are expended every day for survival, but they are also used for healing. Rationing this precious resource keeps a high level of tension for the players. Players can choose to be at full health for the next encounter at the risk of starving to death. The system is streamlined so the bulk of the game is focused on the game rather than resource management, but you can make it more hard core if that is fun for you.

In Mutant, bullets are the most valuable resource after food and water. While players don’t need bullets to survive the wasteland, they are useful currency when it comes time to trade for better gear or materials. Bullets are also used for guns, and no one wants to be short a bullet in an important gunfight. Players will constantly need to weigh the benefits of trading away their bullets, and that will make for some difficult decisions.

Rot

The world rots away under the effects of the lingering radiation. While there are a few clean and hospitable areas left on this planet, there are pockets of deadly radiation spread in between. These areas give players rot points that slowly kill them. The only way to get rid of rot is to rest in a clean area, but those may be far in between during an adventure. The best bet is to avoid rot all together, or find some rot protection over time. Unfortunately, sometimes the only way forward is through a puddle of rot, and sometimes the only drinkable water is contaminated. The problem then becomes finding ways to mitigate the rot, and live with it.

Mutations

You can’t have a Mutant’s game without cool mutant powers, and this book has a very good selection of them. The DM can allow players to choose their mutation or roll for them at a table. I prefer rolling because that randomness gives the game its flavor. Survivors in this world wouldn’t have been able to choose their powers, neither should your players. That said, I’ll let a player choose their mutation if they have a fun idea that won’t kill the fun for anyone else.

As you would expect, mutations give players abilities they can use in and out of combat. Every player gets a mutation point per mutation at the start of each session that rolls over to the next if not used. Mutation points are the resource used to power the mutation. Because mutations are so powerful, this limit is used to balance the game. If the player could use their mutation as much as they wanted, things could get out of hand. Mutations can also backfire. They can explode or work as intended. They can also further mutate the user, leaving them weaker but with a cool new power to use.

Combat

Combat does not get any simpler than in Mutants. Attacks succeed on 6s and fail on 1s. Additional 6s give the user extra boons like bonus damage or the ability to disarm. Additional 1s can mean the weapon breaks, leaving its user defenseless. Weapon and gear do break in this game, and players will need a skilled craftsman for repairs, or enough bullets to buy the replacement.

What makes combat deep is the health and cover system. The way health works means that players will need to think carefully before rushing in. They may not have the resources to heal back, or they can get an injury that affects their performance. Learning how to effectively use the environment in combat is extremely important. Effectively finding cover in a gun fight or exploding a barrel can easily mean the difference between life and death.

Leveling

I love the leveling system in Mutant because it is streamlined and accessible. Players will need to answer the following questions:

  1. Did you participate in the session? (You get 1 XP just for being present.)
  2. Did you perform a Day’s Work for a project in the Ark?
  3. Did you explore at least one new sector in the Zone?
  4. Did you sacrifice or risk something for your PC buddy?
  5. Did you sacrifice or risk something for the NPC you want to keep safe?
  6. Did you sacrifice or risk something to mess with the NPC you hate?
  7. Did you sacrifice or risk something to reach your big dream?

Players get 1xp point per yes, and they level up when they earn a total of five. Leveling means players will get put a point into a skill of their choice or pick up a new talent. This system not only eliminates the guess work you would see in something like D&D, and it allows players to customize their character. Personally, it forced my players to act in ways they wouldn’t normally because they wanted an XP point. Where in a D&D campaign they wouldn’t care if the NPC died, they went out of their way to keep them alive and get to know them. I was not ready to RP as much as I have in Mutant, but I am not complaining.

Other Mechanics

There are other very cool mechanics that make this game unique and fun to play, but I don’t want this post to get too long. I pulled out the most notable that set it apart from other systems I’ve played, but also the systems I’ve liked the most. While I do not currently run a hardcore survival campaign, its nice to play something more bleak and I’ve been enjoying the story that has come from it.

Review

Mutant Year Zero is easily one of my favorite TTRPGs. I love how accessible the game is. It is easy to learn, and this is important for table of busy dads. Mutant also has some fantastic flavor with the mechanics that make for a good story.

Quality

I did get a copy of the physical book, and it is beautiful. The printing is high quality with vibrant colors, and the book is very high quality. I love the comic book style art. It gives the game its distinct personality and the book looks fantastic on my table.

The cover is phenomenal. I love how it draws the attention to the survivors combing a burning crumbling city for danger and supplies. Their nonchalant expressions suggest that they’ve grown used to the wreckage, and remain unfazed by the apocalypse. The worn mismatched outfits fit the flavor of the world, and the colors tie it all together. I love that each character has a hint of their ability showing. It is just enough to make a statement about their power, while still evoking curiosity. Are these good guys? Bad guys? You’re going to have to play and decide.

Story

The corebook has a prewritten adventure, and it is a very good place to start if you’re a beginner or just need a little help. The adventure offers a solid mystery with an interesting hook to get things rolling.

The players start at the arc, with an aging leader and dwindling supplies. They are sent out in search of more, but find hints to the fabled Eden. Eden is a place of abundance, populated by the most brilliant minds to find a cure for mutation. Some say the cure exists somewhere within its walls, the trouble is finding it. Others say its all a cruel joke told by those too dumb to realize it is all over. As fate has it, your players find themselves chasing a legend, and what they find isn’t what they expected.

Adventure

What I like most about how the adventure is written is that it gives players to tell their own story around the main goal. The adventure outlines a meta story, fills it with important NPCs and location, and sprinkles enough clues to create agency. The gamemaster players have the freedom to do what they want. I’ve never had my players more invested in the world building, because we were building our world. We had a session where we just talked about the fake mutant animals that existed in the one zone and creating bits of random lore that carried throughout the campaign. I love that I was not tied down by a dungeon crawl because it allowed us to tell some very cool stories.

Most importantly, I love that my players liked the meta story enough to keep playing through it. I’ve ran modules where I stopped using the source material because my players wanted to do something different within that world. I wasn’t ready for them to start asking questions about Eden and actively working towards it because of how much time we spend messing around in character.

Roleplay

This is one of the games where my players got into unique characters. I think the random mutation forced them to play a character they wouldn’t usually which was very cool to see. It might also help that I ran this game with theater of the mind using Alchemy RPG. The official module for Mutant is fantastic. Maybe the lack of math and battle maps gave players the room to get creative with their roleplay. Whatever the answer, it was a lot of fun.

Theater of the Mind

You can get as fancy as you want with Mutant. You can use maps with intricate terrain and figures, or load up your favorite VTT and do it digitally. Run this game in whatever way is most fun for your table. The system will work no matter what. At my table, we run games through theater of the mind. I’ll use maps here and there, but I like the focus to be the story and the current format works for us.

As a theater of mind game, Mutant is a fantastic system. The year one system makes checks and combat easy to manage, and the mechanics give enough depth without needing much outside aid. If all you have is the rulebook, some dice, and a dream, you are ready to run Mutant Year One.

Survival

Do not be intimidated by the survival aspect of this game. Run this game as hardcore as it needs to be for your table. I run a casual table and would frequently forget to manage resources. There wasn’t enough scarcity, and I didn’t deduct enough resources. I did break weapons and give players rot points, but I wasn’t running the game as intended. That said, the game never felt like it lost any of the survival element. Players were still cautious with their decisions, and scavenging when they could. My campaign, as silly as it was, was still a survival campaign. I like that freedom.

Conclusion

If you want to run a survival campaign with cool mutant characters and have a good amount of freedom to tell a cool story, pick up your copy of Mutant Year Zero. This has become our favorite, and it is going to be hard to switch to anything else. You can pick up your copy of the Mutant Year Zero rule book on the official Free League Publishing website, or on DriveThru rpg if you want to go digital.

video game reviews

Discover the Thrills of Godbreakers: A Co-op Adventure

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Disclaimer

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

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker HE68 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee!

Table of Contents

What is Godbreakers?

Godbreakers is a co-op action roguelike coming to Steam on October 23rd. Make sure you check out the demo, and don’t forget to wishlist!

Hook

Humanity is gone, but fate still has use for its existence. The AI we created to save the world has taken over. It now spreads across the universe, devouring planets. You have been resurrected from the void of eternity to stop its spread. Use your newly found powers to travel across the universe and destroy the AI before it is too late. Can you save the universe from something you created?

Game

Experience fast-paced fluid combat in this action-packed roguelike adventure. Team up with your friends or brave the universe alone in this chaotic story of salvation. There are six distinct planets to conquer, each with unique and memorial bosses guarding them. Be careful, the path to the boss will be full of traps and enemies who thirst for your blood. Customize your champion with powers and abilities you discover through play and become the ultimate warrior. What secrets will you uncover along the way?

Gameplay

I played this game solo, and can only talk about the solo experience, but the essence of the game is the same for both modes.

The Lobby

Players will all start in a lobby where they can customize their character’s appearance, abilities, and archetypes. Everyone starts with the same character, the spear, and unlock more as they complete the various objectives through normal play. Additional characters can be unlocked by beating certain bosses for example. There are cosmetic unlocks that don’t affect the gameplay, but offer players the opportunity to add some personality. When players are ready for a run, they can start a countdown that can be cancelled at any time. The Lobby is a good place to plan for the next run, or take a break.

The Run

Players will start a run by choosing a planet to explore. Players run through the level, beating the various waves of enemies. Each world has a boss and mini-boss with their unique flavor and attack pattern. In true roguelike fashion, players will unlock random abilities, skills, and upgrades from enemies they defeat. They can also buy upgrades and abilities from the vendor at the end of the level if they have enough currency.

Health

Healing in this game is extremely limited. Players can only heal through the pots given to them at the start of a run. There is no way to refill. Once you run out, you are on your own. You can buy some at the vendor at the end, but resources are so limited, it sort of feels like a waste. The run is over when the players HP drops to zero, a run is successful if they manage to beat the bosses.

Combat

Godbreakers has a very fast-paced combat system. Players have access to a basic/heavy attack, a special ability based on their archetype, and a dodge. There is a combo system in place that tests the players efficiency. For maximum DPS, players need to know how to dodge and combo efficiently. It helps to learn enemy attack animation and patterns, especially in the boss fights. Each archetype has their unique playstyle and strategy, so make sure you test them all out on the test dummy in the lobby.

Review

I really enjoyed Godbreakers for its flavor, story, and unique fast-paced combat sytstem. Although the game has its bugs, the game works well enough to earn at least a demo run.

Flavor

I love the cartoonist style because it gives the game its almost whimsical vibe. While the worlds are a little empty, the devs do a good job at making it work. While players can’t explore worlds outside the predetermined path, the maps do enough to feel expansive. The simple design helps shift the focus on smoother combat, especially multiplayer combat. I would say in that regard, it is mostly successful.

Players are either going to love the character art or hate it. The customization does have some ugly pieces I will never touch, but I am sure there is an audience for every piece. I found some pieces to work towards, and the art animation is cool enough where it all works. The bosses are all cool and flavorful, and I liked exploring the different zones to find out more.

Story

Godbreakers has a fun story with an interesting hook and fantastic voice actors. Each world had messages that players can collect and decode. Decoding them unlocks voice lines from the different bosses. I had a lot of fun collecting these because it not only gave the bosses their personality, but it did a good amount of world building. The game may not have very deep lore and story, but it does enough to give it substance as you plug away at the grind.

Unique Combat

Godbreakes‘ unique combat system is why you should buy this game. I love that each archetype feels different, and switching between characters, and even just changing the abilities breathed new life to the game. There is a bit of a repetitive grind, but nothing out of the ordinary for the genre. The RNG does a decent job at making the runs feel unique, without the bad RNG to ruin a run.

Combat is a lot of fun, but it offers enough of a challenge to keep things engaging. I was constantly having to think about my moves in order to conserve my HP for the final boss. The Godbreak mechanic is a lot of fun. Getting to take an enemies ability and use it during battle is not only such a cool idea, it gave combat at bit of depth.

The boss fights were a lot of fun. Once I memorized the patterns, it just became a skill issue and that is perfectly fine. I love how the bosses change their tactics and become more aggressive the lower you get. This not only adds to the flavor and fantasy, but it makes combat more intense. It was very satisfying to finally beat a boss that I had trouble with. Unlocking the cosmetic was a nice bonus.

Bugs

The game does have a few noticeable bugs that I need to mention. Frames would drop randomly, the game would stutter, but I never got it to crash. I never hit a run ending bug, but there were enough of them present that they became hard to ignore. The devs are aware of the bugs and are working on fixing them, but if this sounds like an issue, I’d wait for a few patches.

Conclusion

If you are looking for an action roguelike with a fun combat system and cool flavor, grab your friends and pick up Godbreakers. You can pick your copy or check out the demo on Steam. If you want to check out another one cool action game, check out Strayed Lights.

video game reviews

Forgotten Fragments Review: A Challenging 2D Platformer

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Disclaimer

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

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker HE68 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee!

Table of Contents

What is Forgotten Fragments?

Forgotten Fragments is a 2D platformer intended for the masochist who loves to struggle through their jumping puzzles. Make sure to check out the demo.

Hook

You wake up in a strange and beautiful world without your memories. Your memories have been scattered across this new landscape in collectable fragments, and it is up to you to collect them all. But this is no simple task. The road is perilous, full of traps and difficult puzzles. Do you have what it takes to conquer this terrain? Do you have what it takes to recover all your memories?

The Game

Brave this challenge alone as you work your way through the campaign, or team up with a friend and share the frustration as you solve unique jumping puzzles. With over 120 puzzles spanning over four unique worlds, Forgotten Fragments has enough content to keep its players busy. Make sure you keep an eye out for hidden collectibles and secret levels. And for those who are a bit more competitive, each level has a time and death counter so you can chase that perfect score. If you like platformers and don’t mind playing through a hard one, check out Forgotten Fragments.

Gameplay

Each world is separated by its collection of uniquely themed jumping puzzles. Puzzles are accessed through doors at a hub, which makes progression manageable. Players must beat all puzzles in a world to progress to the next one. To beat a puzzle, players need to collect all of the available memory fragments within the level. These fragments blow up after a certain amount of time, killing the player. Death resets the level, but it does not reset a run. This means that any progress you make in a level, i.e. collecting memories, will be lost. You will need to do everything again. You can die as many times as it takes to complete the level, but the goal is to die as little as possible and as fast as possible.

Mechanics

To beat a level, players must use the game’s mechanics to not only maneuver the character, but the different objects around them. Sometimes a player needs to throw an object over a pit to use as a platformer. Other times, the player will need to bounce the memory fragment off walls without setting off an explosion. A fragment can blow up if it hits the wrong structure, like a spike. The combination of these mechanics give way for creative solutions to some very interesting puzzles.

Review

Forgotten Fragments is a fantastic platformer, especially if you appreciate a challenge. The game has some very beautiful hand-drawn art that does a good job at catching attention. I am a huge fan of the retro-vibe, but the game’s mechanics create interesting interactions for some very challenging puzzles. There are some seemingly impossible levels, the feeling of satisfaction of finally beating a level is unmatched. If you’re looking for a new platformer, this is the one to try.

Gamplay Loop

The dangerous level design leave the room for some creative solutions. Sometimes you will need to bounce your fragment off walls before it blows up, other times you need to narrowly avoid spike pits to get to collect your fragments. The game starts off hard, but does a good job at slowly adding mechanics over time to make the game feel more manageable. Every time I felt like I mastered the game, it threw something new to complicate things. Mostly, I enjoyed seeing my progress as I moved through the worlds, collecting new skills.

Difficulty

Forgotten Fragments is difficult by design. The game opens up with a disclaimer and the ability to reduce the difficulty. I struggled with the default difficulty, but I never felt a level was impossible. Even though I could have changed the difficulty at any time, I never felt the need. I enjoyed the game enough to keep trying, even at my most frustrated. This is a game where you’re meant to die a lot, so consider that before picking up the controller.

Conclusion

I enjoyed Forgotten Fragments for its unique retro aesthetic and challenging gameplay. Even though I struggled through my playthrough, I appreciate the creativity that went into every level. If you enjoy retro platformers but are looking for a hard one, go check out Forgotten Fragments.

If you enjoy platformers, make sure you also check out Worldless if you’re looking for something more unique and Smurfs, if you need something more cozy to play with your kids.

Tech Reviews

Is the Galaxy100 Lite Worth It? In-Depth Review

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I want to give a special shoutout Imegg on Fiverr for drawing my new site icon. He made me look so cool in so little time, and he deserves any attention I can send his way. If you’re looking for a cool cartoon-style portrait for a price I think is too cheap for the quality, check him out on Fiverr!

Disclaimer

Epomaker sent me the Galaxy100 Lite with the Wisteria Linear Switches for 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. Make sure you also check out my reviews for the TH108 and the HE80. I’ll also be using my Amazon affiliate link where possible. Using it before you buy anything really helps me out.

Table of Contents

What’s in the box?

  • Galaxy100 Lite Mechanical Keyboard
  • USB-A to USB-C Braded Cable
  • Key/Switch Puller
  • 2 x Extra Switches
  • Mac Key Caps (Command and Option)
  • 2.4 GHz Dongle
  • User Manual

Features

The Galaxy100 Lite is a gasket mounted, full sized keyboard ready to take on any workload. It features a modern yet functional design, and is loaded with the performance to upgrade any workstation.

Design

The Galaxy100 Lite comes in either black or white. The sleek aluminum frame sports a 7 degree, fixed typing angle for a comfortable experience. The aluminum frame gives it its modern aesthetic, and the heft to keep it stationary. The inside layered design gives the keyboard its satisfying thacky sound.

The Keyboard has 100 keys and a nice little knob for volume controls. All 100 keys are supported by the Feker Marble White or the Wisteria Linear switches which offer soft reliable inputs. Each key and switch is easily hot swappable with the included tool for easy repair, cleaning, and customization. Each key is also illuminated with a soft south facing RGB for those who want it. The

Performance

All 100 keys can be easily remapped with QMK or VIA for any task, but the preprogrammed shortcuts are handy enough for most users. The Galaxy100 Lite supports fast wireless connections through its 2.4Ghz included dongle and Bluetooth 5.0. The massive 8000mAh battery gives the keyboard the life it to keep your desk clutter free, and your workflow uninterrupted. But, the high-quality wired cable is ready to pick the slack when needed. Whether you are a gamer looking for an upgrade or an officer worker looking for a full-sized keyboard, the Galaxy100 lite promises to be exactly what you need.

Sound Test

Review

The Galaxy100 Lite is a nice looking keyboard with solid design and decent typing sound, but it has a few issues that make it hard to recommend.

Quality

The Galaxy100 Lite is not a light keyboard. I was a little surprised by the weight of the box, but overall satisfied with the weight. I personally prefer a heavier keyboard. The quality of the keyboard itself is fine. The aluminum frame is elegant and well machined, and the keycaps look like they won’t fade anytime soon. The caps do feel like they are made with cheap plastic, but most people won’t notice. They will get the job done.

Comfort

It did take some adjusting, but the keyboard did get more comfortable with use. I wouldn’t say the Galaxy100 Lite is an ergonomic solution because at the end of the day, my hands were sore. They were still usable, but the discomfort is enough to issue a warning. I have a repetitive stress injury that requires specific ergonomics, and this discomfort won’t affect everyone. If you are using this keyboard a normal amount, it is not a problem. My issue always came after eight straight hours of my data entry job, and even then the pain is manageable. Not manageable enough to keep it as my daily driver, but enough to place it above the average cheap mechanical keyboard.

Typing Experience

The typing experience is average if I am being honest. The sound does sound a little cheap. It isn’t as bad as the Epomaker x Aula F75, but Epomaker x Aula F108 does it better. The Wisteria switches are solid, with an actuation force to help with the fatigue. The typing angle is where I feel the most torn. The angle is fine, but I wish I could adjust it. I find a higher angle more comfortable, but most people will be okay with 7 percent. Overall, the keyboard will do in a pinch, but it isn’t the satisfying mechanical keyboard experience I want it to be.

Performance

For the first couple of days that the keyboard worked, the performance was great. There was no ghosting, and I got about 10 hours on a single charge. The battery life is the best part of this keyboard because it soon started to fail. I might have gotten unlucky with a defective unit, but it does shatter my confidence in the longevity of the product.

The first bug I encountered was the RGB failing. The lights began to flicker wildly like a lightbulb about to go out. A quick reset fixed the issue, and I would have moved on if the second bug wasn’t repeatable. If I tried to switch from the wired mode to either of the wireless while the keyboard was charging, it wouldn’t connect. It would forget my Bluetooth connection and the included dongle. Resting the keyboard fixed it the first time, resetting the Bluetooth connection worked the second time. By the third time I knew what was up, but I wanted test it. It is repeatable, at least on my unit. I know I can reach out and get a working unit, but that’s an extra step I shouldn’t have to take. Again, I might have gotten unlucky with my unit and your mileage will vary.

Conclusion

The Galaxy100 Lite is a very cool looking keyboard, but one that struggles to keep up with its competition. I can’t recommend the keyboard because mine came defective, and even if the next one I get doesn’t come defective, I don’t know if I can trust it to work much longer than my standard test period. If you are looking for a good full-sized keyboard, I recommend getting something like the Epomaker TH108, or the KiiBOOM Phatom 98 if you’re feeling fancy. But if you like the vibe and want to risk it, you can pick up the Galaxy100 Lite on the official Epomaker store, or on Amazon through my affiliate link.

video game reviews

Bye Sweet Carol Review: A Darkly Beautiful Puzzle Adventure

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Disclaimer

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

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker HE68 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee!

Table of Contents

What is Bye Sweet Carol?

Bye Sweet Carol is a hand drawn narrative-horror puzzle game that takes players down a long and twisted mystery. It blends fantasy and reality with its Disney inspired art styles to tell a dark and compelling narrative.

The Story

Lana Benton lives in Bunny Hall with a group of other girls as the suffrage movement folds around them in 20th century England. Once a prominent institution where girls learned to be the “ideal” woman, now crumbles and rots with age. Lana and the girls feel the pressure of the oppressive traditions crumbling around them and do their best to get by.

The only light Lana has in her cold and dark life at Bunny Hall is her friendship with Carol. All seems good until the day Carol disappears. Lana suddenly finds herself being torn between two worlds, hers and Corolla, as she tries to find out the truth behind Carol’s disappearance.

Both worlds are full of danger. Although Lana has help, her path won’t be easy. Fight against the encroaching darkness, follow all the clues, and uncover the truth. What really happened to Carol?

Gameplay

Players take control of Lana as they move through the world, looking for clues, and solving puzzles. The game is a 2D side stroller, with the occasional jump scare and quick time event for added tension. As the player progresses through the story, they begin to unlock powers and abilities thanks to their connection to the Kingdom of Corolla. For example, players will get the ability to turn into a rabbit to help them explore the world and solve puzzles. Players can also take control of their allies for additional support. After completing their laundry list of tasks and puzzles, players will be able to find out the truth. If you get stuck, Intoindiegames has a very good guide you can use.

Review

Bye Sweet Carole is one of my favorite games. I love its unique look and feel, and the narrative is fantastic. There are few games that keep it from being perfect, but I was able to overlook them through my playthough. I was fortunate enough to not hit one of the game breaking bugs.

The Art

The art is Bye Sweet Carol‘s biggest draw. I love the classic-style, hand drawn art and the Disney feel. It makes the perfect contrast to the game’s dark story. Behind the cute and wholesome art, is a dark story with a creepy tone that makes it the perfect game for the spooky season. I admire the dev’s ability to make a beautiful Disney-looking game that feels creepy.

The Horror

While I did not have to play this game with all the lights on, it made my heart race. The game has some good jump scares that had me off my seat. The music knows exactly when to change into something more intense to set the mood, and those monsters that chase you are terrifying. There are a good amount of quick time events to player engaged. As someone who is really bad at quick time events, these made the game intense. When the game worked, Bye Sweet Carol is a solid horror game.

Performance

The game runs fine on my Nvidia RTX 3060 and Ryzen 5 5600x. There are a few bugs, and some made the game a little harder, but nothing that was game breaking. At least not for me. I’ve read a few comments that said their game became unplayable, so your mileage may vary. When the story is as good as it is, I am overlook a few bugs to get to the end.

Story

The story is what kept me playing the game. It is a dark and twisted story with a fantastic hook and a great ending. The story does get a little political as it deals with women suffrage. The message is delivered well without being preachy, but don’t play this game if you’re just going to hate on women. To everyone else, this a cool thematic story that deals with loss, grief, and the empowerment of woman. I love the blend of fantasy as a way to hyperbolize and personify the emotions and situations Lana struggles with. Lana’s grief is so powerful that it causes her to dissociate into the fantasy world of Corolla. The blending of the two worlds is very well done, and builds this powerful narrative of grief.

The Puzzles

Most of the puzzles in this game are fine. They are straight forward, creative, and work to tell the stories. Some of the puzzles felt like chore, like having to walk across a map to grab something you forgot because the game isn’t always clear. You are meant to find everything through clever exploration, but there are elements that don’t show up properly and can be easily missed. You might need look up a few solutions, and do a bit of trouble shooting. I never had to restart the game, but I did have to take a few breaks.

Gameplay Loop

The game itself does feel a little bland. There is a lot of walking, and the NPCs aren’t coded very well. NPCs are either godlike and impossible to defeat, or they are dumb. Bugs in this game makes some of the chase sequences annoying. Sometimes, NPCs would pull me out of hiding even when I had done everything right. Other times, I could just trick the NPCs so easily it was like they didn’t exist. Then there are times when I got caught because the input didn’t register. These issues get more apparent the deeper you get into the game. Since the focus is on the art and the story, I guess I can’t expect too much from the game. Just think of Bye Sweet Carole as interactive fiction you have to work extra to unlock.

Conclusion

Despite the game’s flaws, I still loved Bye Sweet Carole. The game has its unique and interesting flare that tells a very important story. It has a cast of fantastic voice actors and beautifully illustrated cut scenes to tell its well written story. If you want to play a cool looking game with a powerful message and can overlook a few bugs in your walking simulator, go pick up Bye Sweet Carole on Steam.

If you’re looking for another beautiful narrative puzzle game, check out Planet of Lana, or Murder on Space Station 52 if you want something sillier.

video game reviews

Is Formula Legends Worth Your Time? Honest Review

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Disclaimer

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

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker HE68 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee!

Table of Contents

What is Formula Legends?

Formula Legends is an arcade-style Formula one racing game out now on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC via Steam, Epic Games, and GoG.

Formula Legends plays playful homage to 60 years of Formula 1 by bringing the action to your fingertips. Experience 16 iconic cars through 14 evolving circuits in a series of unforgettable races. Master control of your car through any weather, across any track, and around every opponent. Do you have what it takes to be a racing legend?

Gameplay

Formula Legends has players race through a campaign races based on different periods of formula one history. Players will need to win races to unlock the games different cars and tracks.

Races

Each race is themed after a period in Formula One history, with historically accurate cars to race them. Each car has its unique quirks to overcome, and the game does a good job and making each period feel different. The game does have an adjustable difficulty for players who need need the adjustment. The track is also marked by the dark tire trails to help players see the ideal path to victory. What makes the game unique is the pitstop mechanic.

Pitstop and Resources

Despite the cartoonish feel of the game, Formula Legends has a very realistic resource and pitstop mechanic to add depth to the racing. As players make their way across the track, they will use up fuel and their tires will wear out. Players will eventually need make a pitstop where there is a quickaction mini-game to complete. Completing the game correctly the first time saves time on a players run. This means that not only do players need to maneuver quickly and efficiently around the course, they will also need to know when to make their pitstop if they want to win.

Review

Formula One is a cute little racing game with a lot of heart, but one that lacks the performance to earn my recommendation. Unless you are a hardcore racing fan who wants to see more games likes this get made, I would wait for a sale.

The Artstyle

The aststyle is what drew me to the game originally. I like the low-poly, whimsical take on the genre. The cars and the people are very cute. The world is a little simple, but there is enough detail to make each track feel different and full. After sitting with the game for a bit, that whimsy lost its appeal as I slowly realized that the game isn’t ready.

Performance

The game performs poorly on my Nvidia RTX 3060, running the default settings. The cars in this game have the worst control I’ve felt in any driving game. There was an update after I got the key that was meant to fix the performance issue, but I didn’t notice a difference. Some of the issue may be a skill issue, but a lot of the issue is with the game design. Not only do these cars feel like they are driving on ice, but hitting anything will stop the car in its tracks. To make matters worse, the AI seems to be coded to ram into you constantly. This made racing, even on the easiest difficulty, frustrating.

Difficulty

I am bad at racing games so take this with a grain of salt. This game is hard, but not because of the skillful AI that rips down the track with masterful precision. No, this game is hard because everything rams into you, or the car would randomly turn off the track. Playing on easy did not fix any of these issues. As someone who only plays racing games casually, this was incredibly hard to sit through. I like to start on easy and slowly make my way through the difficulties until I am at a comfortable medium, but the game doesn’t give me the option. This game might be fun for the veterans of the genre who understand the math behind every turn, but Formula Legends’ forced difficulty is going to lose its casual players. I am not asking for the game to be easy, I am just asking for it to be playable.

Conclusion

In its current state, I can’t recomend Formula Legends, even if you’re a fan of Formula One. I like a lot of the ideas that exist within the game like the adorable art and the pitstop/resource system, but the game clearly needs more work. With a few more performance updates, maybe it will be worth your time and hard earned money. It’s not the worst racing game, but there is no real reason to buy this over Rally Arcade Classics if you enjoy arcade racers, or my personal favorite Inertial Drift if you want something a little crazier.

You can pick up Formula Legends on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC via Steam, Epic Games, and GoG for $19.99.

Board Games and TCGs

Enclave RPG: A Perfect Narrative Tabletop Experience

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of the the Enclave 1st Edition core rulebook 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. Make sure you check out the Kickstarter for the 2nd edition and the game’s first expansion launching on October 14th.

What is Enclave?

Enclave is a unique narrative-driven TTRPG that doesn’t use dice. Players play through one-shot style adventures assigned to them by the Enclave, and facilitated by their Conduit. Longer campaigns are possible with this system, but it the design is for one-shots. This gives players and Conduits a freedom to always try something new and different, or grow throughout the myriad of missions that come their way.

Enclave first edition includes six unique classes, with six new classes being introduced in the game’s first expansion. A successful campaign could mean even more classes to explore. With an almost unlimited amount of builds and an expansive world to explore, there is always something to do in the world of Manifold, and you don’t even have to roll to get into it.

The Flavor

You are a mercenary hired by The Enclave to deal with whatever issue, big or small, that arises in the expansive world of Manifold. The Enclave is a massive secret organization that deals with worlds problems, provided there is something to profit. The Enclave does not only seek gold, but information, favors, and anything else there is to gain in this world. This gives them the freedom to set off any type of adventure, and the nearly infinite resources to make them work. The world of Manifold is a massive multiverse of possibilities, only limited the a tables imagination. Whether you are embarking on the one of the books included adventures, joining one on the official discord, or creating your own, a fantastic story awaits. You just have to make it up.

Gameplay

The Loop

Players are briefed on their mission in where they are given all the information they need to be successful. They are then teleported to the missions location where they must use their skills and creativity to complete the mission’s objectives. Players will then roleplay and describe what they do to complete the mission, and it is up to the conduit to make things happen. Unlike other systems, there is no random chance to shape the narrative. In Enclave, the story is written by how well the players roleplay their character. This doesn’t mean that the player has to be good at acting or using voices, but those who can create a tangible character and get creative with their actions are rewarded.

While Enclave gives a table the freedom of limitless adventure, there are limits to keep things somewhat grounded. Actions need to be plausible, with the appropriate stats to back them up. A Conduit can always tell players no, if there is reason to. There may not be critical failures baked into this system, but players can fail their actions. Actions have consequences. A player can set off an alert, or get caught in a lie that loses the party a valuable lead. Most importantly, players can die. There is a system in place for players to leave a mission at any time, but the chance of death is always present, and death is permanent.

Whether a mission ends in success or failure, there is always a new adventure for the next session.

Liveplay

Games like these are always better to learn by watching. The Old Warlock have a great video I recommend you watch. It s a good resource if you want to learn how to play the game or run the game. I found it very helpful when I was researching for my first run of the game. Make sure you give them a like and subscribe.

The Review

Enclave is a fantastic RPG that deserves more attention. If you play TTRPGs for the story, there is no better system. The game is easy to learn, easier to teach, and quick to setup. I found it to be a fantastic change of pace that I didn’t know we needed.

The Table

At my table, we are a group of busy dads who try to get together every Wednesday to catch up and play roleplaying games. My party will play anything I ask them to, but I can’t be too complicated. They barely remember what happened last session. The group is made up of three people, exluding myself. There is one person who is always ready to roleplay, one who meta games and plays optimally, and one who casually shows up for the comradery. Each one has their unique take on every game we play, and its been fun to see how they adjust to each new system. I was not ready for what Enclave had in store for us.

What it had in store

This was the fastest onboarding I’ve had of any game. My players usually struggle with the rules at the beginning. The first session is usually spent on looking up rules. We got right into the thick of things with Enclave, and my players enjoyed the freedom. The more we played the game, the more invested they became. I don’t think I’ve had a game where they remembered everything from the previous session, or be as invested in the world building as they were with the system. Your mileage will vary. We have been together five years and have a level of comfort that made the game fun.

The Session

I ran two missions, and each mission took 2 days each. I ran The Tragedy of House Gaulegvok mission included in the book, and I made up heist. The system is open to any genre and setting, with the only limit being the Conduit’s imagination.

From the Book

The prewritten adventure is a fantastic place to start if you are new to the game (after watching the video or joining a game on the official Discord channel). Players are hired by their patron to look into the villige’s mysterious disappearances. The book gives Conduits key points, NPCS, and a few ideas for encounters, but doesn’t railroad. This gave us the freedom to shape our story, and I loved it. Our games tend to be sillier, and the darker setting was a nice change of pace. It was also a perfect way to start October. If you need ideas, running The Tragedy of House Gaulegvok is a great place to start.

From the Dome

Once I got the hang of things, I was ready to create my own mission. The prep was very easy. I came up with the scenario, jotted down some plausible threats and details, and created the NPCs the players would interact with. This was the easiest game to prep for because I didn’t need to spend time balancing encounters or looking for maps, but the freedom the system gives you was a little intimidating. In most systems, I have that crutch of a dice roll, but here it would be all me. This time I couldn’t insert some random stat to buy some time, but it didn’t matter. Either because I’ve been doing this long enough, or i just naturally vibe with the system, I found Enclave easy and enjoyable to run. I was worried for nothing.

The Game

The game does get some getting used to if you’re coming from a system with a table. How do you as a conduit decide what happens? How hard do I need to make things? For me, as long as it was cool and plausible, I let it happen. Is it the right way of doing things? We had fun, so I’d argue yes. But every table is different, and the game does have an advanced ruleset to adjust the gameplay if needed.

I was a little worried going into this game because Enclave needs everyone to participate in the story telling. I was surprised to see my players start getting into character. It was nice to see my players do something because it was what their character would do and not the correct thing to do.

With games like Dungeons and Dragons, I found that my players were always worried about solving the encounter with numbers. Stats become more important than the exploration. While I did enjoy our time with D&D, I did not enjoy being bogged down by all that math. Enclave was the first time I saw my players try something different, but I will definitely need to run more games to get them to be weird.

The Art

The game includes art by the very talented Greg Taylor, and I will be including it throughout the article. I am a huge fan of the unique flavor and style, and find it fitting. I also like the collection of fan art that creator proudly displays throughout the server. If you want to help a game grow and make a tangible impact, make sure you join the Discord.

The classes

Enclave has fun and unique classes. I love the amount of flavor that goes into each class ability, and how they break away from the traditional style of class you see in other systems. For example, the Librarian class has an ability where they can come up with a piece of lore or information by making it up on the spot. They have to say it out loud in character, and if it makes sense, it becomes true. Not only is this an ability you would expect from a Librarian, but it gives players an incentive to get into character and help shape the world. There are a lot of other builds and flavors to choose from, and the one-shot style missions allows players to try them all.

Type of Game

Enclave doesn’t have an explicit setting or genre. The Conduit has the flexibility to create whatever world and adventure they want, in what ever genre they want. Horror, western, high fantasy, the game can be adjusted for any type of campaign and any kind of adventure you can think of, and that is a very good start to adventure. Best of all, the one-shot style type missions make it so you can always try something new. What makes Enclave unique is that a session doesn’t always need to be a mission and experience doesn’t need to come from a session.

Conduits can run casual events like parties where players come in character to roleplay without any mission objectives. Despite that, players can earn an item, ability, or something unique to help them on their future missions. I didn’t get to run this type of session, but I can see the value it has on world building. Players can also earn useful perks outside of the game by creating art or music, or having private in-character conversations with each other (so long as there is a witness). It is a very cool way to get players to not only get invested in the world, but get to the build it as well.

What I enjoyed most

I loved that there was no dice rolling. As much as I love the massive collection of dice I’ve accumulated over the years, it was nice to not be bogged down with all the rolling. We do a bit of theater of the mind already, and it was nicer to not have to deal with as many technical issues. Instead, we could focus on the story.

Creating the story was a lot of fun. There was a bit of awkwardness in the beginning as we got comfortable with the system, but narrative eventually started flowing. I found it helpful to ask follow-up questions about an action to get players to describe, or throwing a random NPC to spark some roleplay in the beginning. It didn’t take long to get into character. I enjoyed watching my players work through problems in character and getting invested in the world. Enclave is easily my favorite game to run because of the freedom it gave us to sit down and tell a story, even if it was a ridiculous one.

The Problem

The lack of dice can be a problem. Players need to be comfortable with roleplaying and improvisation because without player agency, there is no story. As a Conduit, you will need to do some heavy lifting in the beginning (especially with newer players) to get the table comfortable enough to roleplay. But I would argue this is true in any system you try. I would argue that not having a session bogged down by dice rolls definitely had its benefits.

The Community

If you are curious about the game but don’t have the friends to play with, Enclave has an active growing community on their official Discord. They run regular games, including non-mission ones, and enough knowledgeable people to answer any questions. The Discord is also a great place to keep up with any news or updates about the game.

What do I think?

Enclave is a fantastic system that deserves more attention, but it is not fit for every table. Everyone has their reason for playing ttrpgs, and some players won’t vibe with system. There is nothing wrong with that. Some players just want to roll dice and feel like they are winning encounters and that is a very valid way to play a TTRPG, so long as everyone is enjoying it. For everyone else, Enclave is a fantastic ttrpg experience. Enclave is easy to learn, teach and set up. If you want to sit down with your friends and create a fun story and have a good time, there is no better system than Enclave.

The Kickstarter

If you’ve made it this far, the best place to start is with the Kickstarter. The game will get its 2nd Edition and first expansion. I am sure players wouldn’t mind using the older rules, but the game has had two years to mature, and the updates The Kickstarter for Enclave Advent 2nd Edition and the game’s first expansion Aspirent should be live by the time you read this review. Make sure you go support and follow.

Enclave in Six Minutes

video game reviews

Unyielder Review: Colorful Chaos in Roguelike Gaming

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Disclaimer

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

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the, Epomaker HE68 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee!

What is Unyielder?

Unyielder is a loud and chaotic roguelike looter out now on Steam.

Jump into the colorful explosion of a boss rush that is Unyielder. Players fight their way through waves of mechanized nightmares with some of the most insane weapons put into pixels. Whether you end up with a sword or bazooka, there is nothing that can stand in your way (if you can master the games unique combat mechanics). Do you have what it takes to become the best hunter of them all?

Content

Players are thrown into one of three unique arenas where they fight in fast-paced chaotic gunfights against one of over 40 unique bosses. Armed with one 30+ “absurd” weapons and a selection from the more than 90 perks and items, players can enjoy a bit of variety while they grind to unlock the different characters or permanent upgrades that give Unyielder its spice. Each character has its unique flavor, quirks, and abilities to change up the gameplay, and a set of traits to unlock. What character you choose depends on your playstyle, and the game promises enough choices for each player to find a combination they like. I am sure there is a solvable meta, but the fun comes from finding something that works best for you. The game does have its campaign, but there is an endless mode for those who just want to sit back and watch things explode.

Gameplay

The game doesn’t run as smooth as at needs to. I run an Nvidia 3060 with an AMD Ryzen 5600x and it stutters. I know this isn’t the most powerful configuration, but it can run everything else on the default configuration. It is playable, but it makes a few of the combat mechanics a bit frustrating.

Combat

Combat in Unyielder gives me Borderlands vibes, albeit a bit more chaotic ones. The gunfights have a similar energy, but the guns are a lot more creative in Unyielder. I will commend the devs creativity when it comes to the different flavors of death that fall into the players hands.

Players will start each round with a basic pistol and walk into the arena where they face off against a boss. Each boss has its unique movement and attack patterns, and learning each one gives players the advantage. Each character has a melee attack and can use their gun, provided they have enough ammo to spend. The goal of each fight is to kill the boss monster through a series of well timed parries and attacks without dying.

Parries

What makes Unyielding unique is its parry system. Each boss monster has a small window in which attacking it stuns them. Timing a perfect parry not only gives the user combat advantage, the boss also drops ammo, life, and recharges a players shield. Players are incentivized to master the parry system to not only survive, but also defeat the boss. Players do not start the encounter with enough ammo to defeat the boss. There are also no loot crates to open mid combat. Instead, players will need to live off the supplies they beat out of the boss with their well timed parries. More on why this is problematic below.

Bosses

Bosses for the most part are unique. Each has a interesting and creative design and a movement pattern to reflect this. Bosses will either jump around the map wildly, or charge in a more predictable pattern. Learning these patterns and their different animations help perfect the parry system. The problem that arises is that depending on the map, the movement can either be a slog, or incredibly trivial.

How is it on the Steam Deck?

I didn’t even try running Unyielder on a Steam Deck because it isn’t verified, and it didn’t seem worth testing. There were enough issues with how it runs on PC to discourage me from trying. That said, I am willing to try it if anyone is curious, or if the game gets a a good amount of updates.

Review

Playing Unyielder has left me torn. On one hand, I love that that the game attempts something new in the genre. I am a huge fan of the game’s explosive and colorful vibe, but the gameplay needs a bit of work.

The Art

I like Unyielder’s retro chaotic style. I love the cell shading, the explosion of color, and the weapon design. The monsters can look a little busy, but each is uniquely terrifying. The arenas feel a little empty, even though the design can make combat annoying. Some of the characters look cool, but it doesn’t matter because you don’t really see them. The weapons in this game are incredibly creative and I appreciate the time spent to make them affect the gameplay. Unfortunately, this effect is not always good.

The Bosses

I enjoyed the combat in Unyielder for the first few minutes when I was getting to learn the mechanics. However, the novelty of the gameplay quickly wears off when combat becomes a hassle. The main factor that defines success in Unyielder is timing. Timing the perfect parry grants players the power and sustainability to defeat the boss. Some bosses move slowly and predictably and can be taken down easily. Others Jump wildly across maps that make timing the perfect parry annoying. I am sure that getting better at the game and unlocking more upgrades and characters will soften some of this frustration, but I didn’t want to get there. Especially when I could be playing something like Revenge of the Mage instead.

But what truly makes the game hard to recommend is the RNG.

The Guns and RNG

After my hours of playing this game I can honestly say that the starter pistol is my favorite weapon. This is strictly due to the fact that there is no chance of it being absolutely useless.

Guns spawn with up to seven random perks. While this gamble means that a gun drops with the perfect everything, there are times where players are stuck with a useless gun that feels worse than the starter pistol. I appreciate the effort and love that went into creating the flavor of each weapon and perk, but sometimes the gun was too busy. This is bad in a game where timing is key and the guns gimmick makes is impossible to get it right. This could be a skill issue, but the average player isn’t going to endure the learning curve of a game that feels unfair and annoying. Especially when the performance isn’t good enough.

Melee is useless

My biggest issue with the game is how quickly and easily a player can run out of bullets, and how this ends a run. Each character has a melee attack, but melee in this game is the most useless skill. Everything in this game is more mobile, and chasing the different bosses across the map for a melee attack that doesn’t do enough damage is a chore. Sure you can find better melee weapons, but not in the beginning.

Conclusion

Unyielder game isn’t bad, but there are games that do this better. I love that the flavor and the chaotic nature of the game, but I don’t believe it does enough to be worth the price tag. The game needs some tuning. Combat needs to be smoother, weapons need to be less busy, and frames need to be stable. That said, at least it isn’t The Foglands.

If you do want to tackle this game, master its mechanics and many weapons and prove me wrong, I’d still wait for sale or at least a couple more updates. But if you don’t believe me, you can pick it up on Steam.

Universus

2026 Universus TCG Roadmap: Exciting New Releases Ahead

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Intro

UVS Games has just announced its 2026 roadmap, and the lineup will have fans new and old excited about the future of the game. As casual collector, I definitely see a couple of sets I want to whale on. If you want to pick up Universus, always support your LGS. You can also pick up Universus on TCG Player using my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you use it.

The Road Map

What’s coming in 2026?

2026 marks a very important milestone for Universus: the system’s 20th anniversary. With this milstone comes a collecion of iconic figures from fighting games, manga, and of course, Kaiju. Whether you are new to the game, casually collecting, or trying to take the top spot in next year’s circuit, there seems to be a little bit of something for everyone.

So what is coming?

  • King of Fighters XV Challenger Series
  • Godzilla Booster Set
  • My Hero Academia Challenger Series
  • TEKKEN 8 Booster Set
  • Street Fighter 6: Part Deux Challenger Series
  • Fairy Tail Booster Set

Thoughts

While I am not too crazy about the fighting game sets, Street fighter had some very cool unique cards and the decks were a lot of fun to play. They are a solid place to start, assuming you can’t find any Godzilla. What I don’t like about the fighting game sets personally are that most of cards are screenshots. If you’re a fan of the games in questions (and the games in questions are cool), then this becomes less of an issue. As a collector, these sets don’t excite me as much. I prefer the comic stills, especially like the ones in the Heroes of Exandira set. Those look really good in a binder.

That said, what is important are the mechanics and the unique cards that make this game worth collecting. If the mechanics change the meta enough or the unique cards in the set are cool, that will be enough to excite me. I may not vibe with most of the art for the Tekken and Street Fighter cards I do own, but the decks are fun enough and the champion cards are cool enough that I would buy into them if I didn’t already own the set.

What I am very excited for is the Godzilla cards. I missed out on the initial run of Godzilla when that came out, but what I’ve seen looks very cool. Some people will argue that Godzilla is problematic because it runs the meta, but I’ve played enough card games to know that it happens everywhere. Maybe the set changes up the type of Godzilla decks you end up playing against. Either way, as a collector, I can’t wait what this set has to offer and I am more than ready to open a couple packs.

What I am most excited for is the Manga sets. I know Deku is a problem, but the cards from previous MHA sets have all been pretty good. I feel confident in my excitement for this set, and I hope it brings new people in the space. The space needs it. More importantly, I am ready to whale on the Fairy Tail set. I love this anime and the set is bound to have some cool cards. It has to for the year to end on a good note.

Until then, lets get hyped for GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- Blitz Booster landing November 28. Don’t forget to preorder yours today!

video game reviews

Tombstone MMO: A Cozy Western Adventure

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Disclaimer

I was sent sent the Farmer’s Bundle for Tombstone MMO as compensation for this review. It does include in game currency and a few items, but I did not use them throughout my playthrough. I wanted this to be my fresh and honest take on the free to play experience since it is probably how most new players will experience the game. This will not sway my opinions.

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag, Cypher81 or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do. If you’re looking for a VPN for some added protection, check out NordVPN through my affiliate link. You can also always buy me coffee!

What is Tombstone MMO?

Thombstone MMO is a low-res 2D western themed MMO out now on Steam.

Travel to the 8-bit post-apocalyptic world of Tombstone, where you will need to gather, craft, and quest for survival. This barren world has lots to explore as players find their play style through its many cozy gameplay loops. With over 20 skills to train, players will find themselves busy mastering them all. So grab your favorite weapon and set off on an unforgettable adventure.

Review

I was drawn to this game by its unique and adorable style. The lofi aesthetic gives the game an undeniable cozy vibe, without losing any of the detail. There was a lot of effort put into the world building, and I appreciate every ounce of it. I love the quirky tone of the dialogue, appreciate the fantastic sound track, and love the flavor of the different regions. If you are a fan of westerns, this captures the spirit of the genre perfectly.

The community, at least the people I interacted with, were all friendly and helpful. There definitely needs to be more players, but those I encountered were nice. I would still recommend picking this up with a couple of friends, but there is nothing wrong with playing solo. I played solo and had enough fun to keep on playing even after this review.

As far as gameplay goes, it does start off a little slow. The grind feels a little steep in the beginning, and it doesn’t help that there isn’t much direction. I like that there aren’t arrows or paths moving me between quests and checkpoints because it forced me to explore the world on my own and read everything. It is a very cool world to experience. Once I started picking up on the different nuances and venturing further into the world, it became a very cozy and relaxing experience. It can be a bit repetitive, but these games tend to be. I never felt like it was my job to login every day, but instead enjoyed the journey.

The game is Free to Play, but one that you need to try at least once. This is a cozy game that is relaxing, but with enough asks and goals to keep players invested without the stress that comes with the traditional MMO. I am sure there are stressful moments to Tombstone, but not to the extent as a lot of the more grindier 3D entries to the genre.

Do you need to buy the paid DLC to enjoy the game? No. I never felt the need to use anything that came with the package. I honestly forgot about it till now. If you play the game and and enjoy it, it is a fantastic way to support the developer, and worth well worth the price tag.

If you’re looking for a new MMO, try out Tombstone MMO. It is a cute and cozy change of pace that is worth checking out at least once. Once you decide that you will be playing the game enough to justify the cost of the Save 10% on TombstoneMMO – Farmer’s Bundle on Steam, go pick it up on Steam.