Tag Archives: horror

video game reviews

Urban Myth Dissolution Center Review: A Must-Play Visual Novel

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Urban Myth Dissolution Center 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 Plugs and Self-Promotions

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What is the Urban Myth Dissolution Center?

Urban Myth Dissolution Center is a horror mystery visual novel out now on Steam, PlayStation, and the Nintendo Switch.

Azani has a supernatural gift she doesn’t want. In an attempt to become normal, she seeks the help of Ayumu Meguria, a level S psychic and the director of the Urban Myth Dissolution Center. In a strange turn of events, she finds herself under his employ. She must now use her powers to help the Center investigate Myths, and put an end to anything supernatural. What truths will she uncover? Will she ever get rid of this power and be a normal girl?

Gameplay

Players explore a 2D pixel art world, collecting clues, solving cases, and piecing together the overarching narrative. Players start by combing social media for leads on a new case. They follow up by interrogating the people involved, and looking for signs of supernatural activity. As they collect clues and details, players begin filling out a field journal with useful information. Azumi will periodically stop to piece the clues together. Players must be able to piece the clues together to progress through the story. When enough clues are gathered, Meguria will use his psychic abilities to guide the players towards a truth.

Review

If you can only buy one visual novel this year, it should be Urban Myth Dissolution Center. This is by far my favorite visual novel, and I have played some award winning games. Players will fall in love with the retro pixel art aesthetic and the breath taking visuals. I love how creative this game gets with its style, and it is able to successfully create the ideal atmosphere for its mystery. The game also has an amazing sound track ready to complete the mood.

The gameplay is simple, yet relaxing. The fact that the game takes the time to quiz players on key elements of the mystery keep the game engaging. There didn’t seem to be any real drawback from guessing wrong other than the inability to progress the story, but it is a good idea to keep notes if necessary. It makes things go by faster.

The best part of this game is its story. I haven’t been this intrigued by a mystery in a while, and I whole heartily recommend this to anyone in need of a good read. This is a well paced story with a fun quirky tone, memorable characters, and interesting mysteries. Best of all, the experience is pretty solid on the Steam Deck.

If you are looking for a good visual novel, it doesn’t get much better than Urban Myth Dissolution Center. Pick it up today on Steam, PlayStation, and the Nintendo Switch. There is a Steam demo if you don’t believe me.

video game reviews

Exploring the Surreal World of Go Home Annie—Game Review

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I was sent a free copy of Go Home Annie 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.

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What is Go Home Annie?

Go Home Annie is a psycological horror walking sim out now on Steam and Epic Games.

Annie works for the SCP Foundation, an organization tasked with keeping the public safe from supernatural anomalies. She and her team are tasked with recreating and summoning a particular anomaly but have seen little success. However, there seem to be ulterior motives surrounding Annie’s involvement in the foundation, and it is about time she finds out what. Move through Annie’s strange and surreal adventure as she attempts to unravel the mystery. Solve puzzles, navigate strange phenomena, and try to survive the night. Can you uncover the truth?

Gameplay

Go Home Annie is a walking sim that takes players through a strange shifting world as they piece together a mystery. The story is a linear railroad with a few manageable puzzles to slow down progression. Players are essentially walking to each bit of the narrative and sitting through excellent voice acting.

Review

Go Home Annie is a surreal narrative with a creepy atmosphere that should be played through at least once. The game has excellent flavor with some interesting and creative bits of world building. The narrative itself is solid, but nothing that hasn’t been done before. It has solid pacing, but predictable twists and beats. That said, the story is enjoyable enough where it won’t matter and the voice acting is fantastic. The story is very linear and although the world is cool, players are limited to walking along the railroad.

The game itself is fun, but there are a few bugs that make progressing annoying. There are a couple of puzzles that soft locked my progression. Although the puzzles are mostly easy, a few didn’t work right and made the experience a bit frustrating. Some of the puzzles are also a bit boring. It isn’t unplayable, but it can be hard to play through in one sitting. The game is only about four hours long, so it shouldn’t be a huge issue.

Go Home Annie is a decent horror narrative for the gamer who wants to sit back and enjoy a decent story and doesn’t mind the few puzzles that pop up. It doesn’t do anything new or exciting, and while I wouldn’t rush to play it, it does scratch the itch for the niche it tries to fill. I would wait for a sale, but there are worse ways to spend $20.

video game reviews

Once Alive Review: A Narrative Adventure Worth Playing

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I was sent a free copy of Once Alive 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.

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What is Once Alive?

After a deadly virus nearly wipes out humanity, the remaining survivors struggle with adapting to the new unforgiving world. Survivors must hunt for limited resources, fend off against increasingly hostile wildlife, and cope with the loneliness of survival. James and his brother lived in isolation until they received a message about a settlement. James is weary of the invitation, but his brother rushes ahead without him, hoping this settlement means a fresh start for humanity.

Play as James as he ventures into the lonely world in search of his brother. What secrets will he uncover in the ruins of the old world? Will he be able to find his brother, or will they become another casualty in this cruel apocalypse?

Gameplay

Once Alive is effectively a first person simulator. As James, players explore the abandoned village of HaustVille, looking for clues about what happened to its citizens. As players explore the village, they collect written notes, sit through memories of past residents, and piece together the strange and ominous narrative. The game does have a few quick time events to keep players on their toes. The game also offers enough bread crumbs to keep players on track. It takes about two hours to complete Once Alive, but you can do it quicker if you don’t explore every nook and cranny like I did.

Review

Once Alive is the most impressive narrative game I’ve played all year, but it does have its issues. The animation in this game can be wonky at times. I noticed a few stutters during some pans and the talking animation looks scary. The writing has a few grammatical issues and a few times where the wrong word is used. There are also bits of exposition that are too on the nose. That said, this game is fantastic, and you should play through it at least once.

While there are issues with the animation at times, you’re mostly walking through a very cool isolated village. The developer does a phenomenal job of building a world worth exploring full of fantastic flavor. While the writing isn’t perfect, I love the attention to detail and general story beats that had me at the edge of my seat. I loved reading some random note in a house and then having it pop up in a natural way later in the story.

Once Alive is a fantastic horror game that effectively uses its world-building to create an ominous atmosphere. It is the sense of isolation and mystery that propels the player through the story, and it is powerful storytelling that makes this a great game. If you’re looking for a good horror game, Once Alive is a short one you need to have in your library. It is an impressive project by a clearly passionate developer that deserves a lot more attention.

You can pick up Once Alive on Steam for $11.99.

video game reviews

Sylvio: Black Waters is the Dark Twisted Journey You Need

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

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

What is Sylvio Black Waters?

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

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

Gameplay

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

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

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

Review

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

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

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

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

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

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

video game reviews

Dread Delusion is the Trippy RPG You Didn’t Know You Needed

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

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

What is Dread Delusion

Dread Delusion is a retro-style 3D hack-n-slash dark fantasy with an expansive world out now on Steam.

You are a prisoner of the Inquisition, serving your time for an unforgivable crime. Normally, you would rott in your cell like the bodies around you, but today is your lucky day. You have been called to work off your debt by fighting for the Inquisition. Travel over the vast and wonderful hellscape and bring an end to the enemies of the Inquisition. What secrets will you uncover about the Inquisition? About the world? About yourself? Will you die another faceless pawn, or will you get to taste sweet freedom once again?

Gameplay

Dread Delusion feels like Morrowind with a trippier vibe and much less loading. If you’re looking for a classic feeling 3D RPG, Dread Delusion might be the game that scratches that itch.

If you’re looking for an RPG with a comprehensive combat system, you will be disappointed. Combat is simple and often optional. You can sneak past most enemies, and they don’t even give out XP. If you decide to engage in combat, it is a simple hack-n-slash system that feels like Minecraft combat. It isn’t a bad system, but it is geared for the type of gamer who doesn’t want to worry about timing blocks and parries.

Exploration in this game is fantastic. While the graphics feel dated, you will enjoy the trippy and strange open-world adventure that spans around them. You have access to a myriad of well-written quests in a world that feels like a twisted fever dream. If you’re looking for a classic and chill RPG experience, it doesn’t get any better than Dread Delusion.

Review

I was excited for Dread Delusion when it crossed my desk. I am a huge fan of the art direction and I am always looking for a new RPG. I was not ready for how much I was going to love this game. This game is the perfect casual RPG with enough substance to be worth the full price tag. I am a huge fan of the art direction. The retro vibe blended with the twisted grotesque aesthetic makes for an interesting world. This is one of the first RPGs in a long while that I wanted to explore to see what weird and twisted visage awaited me around the next corner. I understand that the graphics might turn some people away from the title, but the style gives its unique and unforgivable charm.

The combat in this game is good enough. While it is easy, I appreciate the fact that I can skip or engage in it depending on my mood. Sometimes I just want to mindlessly hit stuff and not have to worry about builds and strategy, and sometimes I want to explore. There is a hardcore mode that you can try if you want a challenge, but I enjoyed Dread Delusion for its casual experience and story.

The story was fun to play through, but there is enough to do in this game to get lost in its expansive world. While it may not be a massive game, it does a good job of feeling like one. The quests are well-written, the world-building is solid, and the dark humor is appreciated. The game is quirky, but its quirks give the game its identity.

If you’re looking for a casual RPG and don’t mind the weird aesthetic and retro vibe, Dread Delusion should be in your library. It is the game you didn’t know you needed.

You can pick up Dread Delusion on Steam for $19.99.

Board Games and TCGs

Eldritch Automata Campaign is Live and Fully Backed on Backerkit

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The Eldritch Automata campaign has officially launched on Backerkit. The project was fully funded within the first 30 minutes of going live and continues to gain momentum. Most of the stretch goals have been unlocked which means excited fans will receive a generous amount of goodies. The campaign ends on July 25, leaving plenty of time to decide if you want to embark on this bleak adventure of survival featuring mechs. While Gehenna Gaming does have a solid record with their delivery, always be mindful of what you back on these types of crowdsourcing campaigns.

What is Eldritch Automata?

Eldritch Automata is a post-apocalyptic TTRPG powered by the award-winning Year Zero Engine.

Society crumbles under the weight of Eldritch invaders. Monsters and horrifying angels spread their rain and despair across the world. Humanity is pushed to the brink of extinction, but hope is not lost. Giant Mechs known as the Automata come to humanity’s salvation, but piloting them comes at a cost. Those brave and competent enough to pilot these mighty machines must risk their entire mind, body, and soul. Some will rise and become the shining pillars of hope and salvation, while others will lose themselves under the strain of piloting an Automata. How far can you push yourself to save humanity?

How to Play

Impressions

Pilots in Eldritch Automata must survive the strain of an unforgiving world. Infighting between factions, the stress of survival, the strain of piloting the Automata, and facing the endless waves of Eldritch horrors wear down their spirit. Eldritch Automata is a game where even the bravest and brightest can lose themselves in the madness.

The game does a decent job of creating systems that emulate the strain of surviving in its world. The game is set up where players are constantly having to push their limits while risking their sanity. Piloting an Automata is cool, but it can make you go crazy or leave you with a permanent, life-altering injury. Having a player lose control of their character due to a dice roll is bound to lead to some interesting roleplay.

Gameplay seems solid and easy to learn. I’ve ran a few Year Zero games, and my table is always content with how they run. It makes for a nice break from D&D without being too big of a shift.

Ultimately, you’re playing Eldritch Automata for its flavor. I love the dark hopelessness that will inevitably seep into every session, and I am sure my players will enjoy fighting in giant mechs. The combat system seems to involve enough strategy to make it engaging without being overly complicated while establishing its unique flare in the space. As a GM, I like the amount of tables and charts available for a healthy amount of chaos. I can’t wait to see how my players react when they have to roll to keep their sanity. It is going to get tense.

If you’re looking to run a bleak survival adventure full of monsters, chaos, and mechs, you’re going to want to go back Eldritch Automata on Backerkit. The art is cool, the flavor is fantastic, and what I’ve seen of the system is impressive. There is a free quickstart available from the publisher if you would like to see if the Eldritch Automata is right for your table. The Quickstart comes with a streamlined version of the rules and a small haunted house-style adventure for you to run. I’ll leave the files below, but you can get the quickstart and the pre-generated characters on the DrivethruRPG.

Quickstart

Eldritch_Automata_-_Quicklaunch_GuideDownload

Pregenerated Characters

Eldritch_Automata_Quicklaunch_Pre_Generated_CharactersDownload

Tiers

Official Liveplay

video game reviews

The Outlast Trials is the Horror Survival Game for this Summer

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I was sent a free copy of The Outlast Trials to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. this will be my honest review. If you enjoy these reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. If you’re looking for a fantastic budget headset to play The Outlast Trials, check out the Fifine H9 gaming headset using my Amazon affiliate link. Check out my full review. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is The Outlast Trials?

The Outlast Trials is an online multiplayer survival horror game out now on PC. Alone and down on your luck, you’ve accepted a mysterious job that promises to change everything. But this job is a lot more sinister and twisted than you would have ever imagined. You find yourself in a game designed by a twisted man in a house full of deadly traps, and insane people who want to kill you. You and the other patients must work together to find a way out. If you can survive long enough to complete the therapy, you can go free. Do you have what it takes?

Gameplay

The Outlast Trials is your typical survival horror game. Teams of four are loaded onto a map where they must work together to solve puzzles and survive the haunt. The haunts are conducted by AI-powered monsters with unique flavors, abilities, and quirks. Monsters AI can be outsmarted, but I was always too scared to do so properly. Players can use the environment to hide, set up traps, or obstruct monsters. You win a match if you can complete the objectives. The trial is over if everyone dies. 

Impressions

I thought I was getting braver and could handle horror games, but I have never been so wrong. Getting through the tutorial was incredibly difficult, and playing with others was much worse. Huge shout to the random folks who tried to carry me. I am sorry for letting you down. 

I assume normal folks who enjoy horror games will find this game a lot more enjoyable, but the whole experience is terrifying. Right off the bat, you are loaded into this terrifying world where you are surrounded by death and danger. The game design is amazing, and I would have loved to explore the world more if I wasn’t scared of monsters popping out to chase me. I appreciate the amount of detail that was put into this game’s horror aesthetic, and it is something you need to see to appreciate. 

The game’s terrifying aesthetics, creepy soundscape, and light and dark mechanics generate the appropriate amount of tension to drive this game. What makes the game truly terrifying are the monsters that chase you. The Outlast Trials has some incredible-looking monsters chasing you. These creatures are not only creative, flavorful, and hungry for blood. I am sure more level-headed players will have an easier time navigating the AI, but I never could. The haunts were always too much for my anxiety, but they were always the most fun I’ve had with this type of game.

The challenges and puzzles in this game are manageable if you can find competent level-headed folks to complete them. Sneaking, setting up traps, the chases, and even fighting back are all well designed, and run incredibly smoothly. My problem with these types of games is that they always feel clunky, but when I managed to keep my eyes open, the game seemed to run smoothly. 

While I may not be ready for this type of horror, I recommend it to everyone who is. Playing this game with friends would be awesome, but I don’t think it would necessarily make things easier. If you don’t have enough friends, the game has a decent-sized community. I didn’t have trouble finding a game, but it could definitely use more love. If you enjoy these types of survival horror hunt games, The Outlast Trials is a solid addition to the genre. 

You can pick up your copy of The Outlast Trials on Steam now for $39.99. 

video game reviews

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

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

What is Indika?

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

Gamplay

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

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

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

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

Impressions

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

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

Pick up Indika now on Steam for $24.99.

video game reviews

Sucker for Love: A Date to Die For is a Quirky Horror Visual Novel

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I was sent a free copy of Sucker for Love: A Date to Die For to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions of the game. This will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials! I’ll be opening some Wixoss on my TikTok and YouTube. 

What is Sucker for Love: A Date to Die For

Sucker for Love: A Date to Die For is a horror visual novel out now on Steam.

A mysterious note brings you back to your hometown of Sacramencho. Your parents have gone missing, but it seems like they aren’t the only ones. A demonic presence has taken root in your childhood home, and it is up to you to uproot them. But this won’t be an easy task. Demonic creatures and a misguided cult hunt you down. Can you survive the horrors of the Black Woods long enough to reverse the curse? Will you find love in the process? You’ll have to play to find out. 

Gameplay

A Date to Die For is a horror visual novel with some light dungeon-crawling elements. While the trailer may suggest this game is a dating sim, it isn’t. The game is a horror story with some flirty tones, but not a lust-filled story about demon girls it appears to be. 

The game is split into story and exploration. There are different stories, each with a true ending, and choices matter somewhat. The stories have a solid cast of voice actors, and the stories are all entertaining. The story deals with topics of human sacrifice, murder, and demons. This is your official content warning. 

Exploration has players crawl through this decrepit house in a retro-style dungeon crawler. Players click through this creepy 3D space in search of materials to perform rituals and avoid danger. Once a player collects the right materials and meets the correct circumstances, rituals are cast by dragging the mouse. If a player dies, they’ll have to restart from the last checkpoint, but the checkpoints are pretty generous. You can even go back to try for a different ending at any point. 

Impressions

I enjoyed A Date to Die For, but I understand it isn’t for everyone. I think the tones, themes, and art will scare off some folks, but it is a solid horror game with a decent story if you can get past the waifu art. 

What this game excels at is creating a creepy atmosphere. The music, the sounds, the map design, and the jump scares all come together to create a very cool horror environment. I never felt like I needed to play with the lights on, but it did make me jump a few times. 

The story is pretty good. It is quirky, dark, and a lot of fun with some interesting twists. A Date to Die For is a sequel, but it exists as a stand-alone story. I didn’t feel lost by the events or feel it necessary to play the first game. People who have played the first game might not like it as much, but I don’t have that point of reference and can’t compare the experiences. 

Sucker for Love: A Date to Die For is a great visual novel. It has a solid cast of voice actors, cool art, and a fantastic creepy retro vibe. If you can get past the waifu art, it isn’t as shameless as it seems. Aside from some of the main characters, the game is pretty tame. This isn’t a dating sim. If you are looking for a quirky horror story about cultists and demons, A Date to Die For is what you’re looking for. 

You can pick up Sucker for Love: A Date to Die For on Steam for $12.99. There is also a demo you can try if you don’t believe me. 

video game reviews

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

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

What is Rauniot

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

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

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

Gameplay

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

Impressions

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

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

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