I was sent a free copy of Rauniotto 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!
Rauniotis 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 Raunioton 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.
I was sent a free copy of the Building Better Worldsexpansion for the Alien Roleplaying Game to review for my blog. I haven’t had a chance to run the system yet, but I have read through the books. This will be my honest impressions. If you’re thinking of running Alien RPG at your table, you need to start with the core rulebook, Building Better Worlds is meant to be a supplement. I have detailed write-ups for the core rulebook and the Heart of Darknessmodule you should also check out.
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Free League Publishing continues its streak of high-quality rulebooks with this beautifully printed expansion. While the pdf won’t be printer-friendly, fans new and old of the Alien franchise will appreciate the beautiful artwork that lines its pages. Even if you don’t like physical media, you might want to make an exception. Feeling the pages between your fingers, and smelling that new book smell makes the experience hit different. Don’t get me wrong, the PDF is enough, but if you have space on your shelf, the book is pretty sweet.
What is it?
Building Better Worlds is meant to be an aid for the Game Mother who needs it. The book includes:
Rules for Colonization
New Feats and Personal Agendas for existing classes
Two new classes: Entertainer and Wildcatter
New Weapons
New Vehicles and Ships
New Planets and Systems
New Aliens to fear
7 Expeditions to run
Lots of flavor and backstory.
If you need ideas on what to run, new creatures to fill your adventures, or gear for your players, you might want to look into this expansion. It is by no means a necessity, but it is a great resource.
Impressions
I didn’t have much interest in the Alien universe prior to picking up the RPG. It wasn’t until I started reading the lore and timeline that I decided that I needed a better understanding. I’ve started making my way through the novels and movies, and it’s given me a better appreciation for how much flavor and care is put into these books.
I appreciate that the book includes timelines of important dates because it makes it easier to keep track of everything that is going on. If you don’t know anything about the alien universe, you will before you run your session zero. The book does a great job of laying out the lore and history in a way that makes sense but also fits its dark sci-fi theme. It gets deep, and I would almost recommend it as reading material.
If you need something to spice up your next campaign, the monsters in this book are pretty spicy. There are some brutal creatures that can end an adventure. I don’t think my playgroup would care too much about the colony mechanics, but the expeditions seem fun and there are some vehicles and weapons I’m sure they’ll want to work towards.
If you’re looking for a brutal and unforgiving system to run at your table, you run Alien RPG. If you need ideas for your next campaign, Building Better Worldsseems like a nifty little expansion.
I was sent Unlife 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. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!
A nearly endless nuclear war has brought humanity to the brink of extinction. The sky darkens with thick black smoke, the glaciers have melted and flooded the world, and the surface has become inhospitable. The planet’s few survivors are pushed into man-made structures, but the damage has been made. Plagues, poison, and hunger rattle at the fleeting population left behind.
As the last remaining survivor on your platform, you must make your way through an unforgiving darkness to find salvation or die alone. Hunger, disease, and monsters chase you through the darkness, and hope is fleeting. Can you make it out?
Gameplay
Players control their character through a dark and twisted maze as they search for supplies and avoid monsters and other hazards. You can craft, hide, and do what you need to survive. It uses a twin-stick system for controls, which I found a bit clunky, but not unplayable. This is a game where you die a lot by design, but it gets easier as you memorize the levels. It is a very repetitive loop, but one can feel rewarding if you can ignore the clunky control scheme.
Impressions
I am a fan of the artwork and flavor of Unlife, but I have mixed feelings about the gameplay. While I do appreciate how unforgiving and difficult the game is, the control scheme makes it a bit annoying. I am not sure how it runs on PC, but on Xbox, it feels clunky. I wouldn’t have minded the controls as much if they didn’t lead to some premature deaths. The game is by no means unplayable, but it is something to keep in mind.
The game is reparative by design, but I enjoy the repetition. I liked memorizing the levels as I made my way through the labyrinth and getting a little bit farther each time. It’s not a bad game, but it isn’t going to be for everyone. If you enjoy difficult survival games and don’t mind some roughness, Unlife is a solid title for $12. If you’re on the fence or have never played anything in the genre, I would wait for a sale. It’s fun, but nothing you should be rushing to purchase.
I was sent a physical copy of the Alien the roleplaying game core book for free to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I’ll be honest with my impressions. I haven’t had a chance to run a campaign in the system yet, but I have read through the book and have some thoughts.
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Alien RPG takes players into the unforgiving vacuum of space as humanity makes its feeble attempt at conquering the universe. You and your crew have been brought together by the siren’s call of necessity. Whether you’re on this ship for money, knowledge, or fame, you are all insignificant against the vastness of the universe.
You are not alone, and the unknown is full of danger. Xenomorphs hunt you from the shadows, marauders chase after your cargo, or you can find yourself on the wrong side of a mutiny. To make matters worse, your resources are limited. While you are busy watching your back and doing your job, you must also manage your resources. Survival will take its toll, and as brave and tough as you may be, the stress will wear on you.
Alien RPG is a bleak and dark tale of survival and horror. There is no winning, you’re just trying to stay alive long enough to cash your paycheck. Do you have what it takes?
Gameplay
Alien RPG is a D6 system. Players roll a number of dice based on their stats and stress levels and succeed on every six they roll. You only need one 6 to succeed, but rolling additional 6s allows players to perform stunts. Stunts are helpful bonuses specific to the skill a player is rolling against. For example, a stunt when fighting could mean extra damage or let you help a teammate succeed in their role.
On the reverse side, failing can leave a player stressed. Stress that builds up leads to adverse effects that affect gameplay. You can waste your bullets and empty your clip or even go on a rampage and start killing your crewmates. Add all the rolls you need for survival, and you have a very unforgiving adventure, as you should expect from a game in the Alien universe.
Combat uses a simple D6 system with a few factors to affect the outcome, such as cover, enemy size, and aim. The panic, stress, stealth, and resource mechanics are what give combat its complexity. Do you have enough ammo to kill a Xenomorph? Do you have enough nerve to stay and fight? Is it even worth fighting?
In the end, Alien RPG is a game of survival, and its unique mechanics attempt to capture that spirit.
Thoughts
If you like physical media, the Core Rulebook is a solid purchase. You get a nice hardcover book with beautifully printed pages. The physical copy of the rulebook also gets you a copy of the PDF at no extra charge. I have both versions and while I like the convenience of the pdf, nothing beats that new book smell. I spent a lot of time just flipping through the pages and admiring all the beautiful illustrations.
If you are a fan of the Alien franchise, you’re going to love the amount of flavor that is put into this book. You’ll enjoy the carefully crafted sci-fi aesthetic, the carefully selected quotes and references, and the unique lore that fills its pages. I loved the lore and reading about all the factions, worlds, and aliens so much that I’m planning a deeper dive into the universe after this review. I’m already working on a list of books and movies.
The game itself seems like a solid RPG experience. The mechanics are simple to learn and seem to leave enough room for RP and drama. The book also includes enough lore, items, and monsters to fill a campaign. If you need a little extra help, the game also has tables for encounters, events, maps you can reference, and even a couple of quests you can use for one shot. If you’re thinking of running the game, the core rule book is a solid resource for any GM.
What I appreciate the most about this system is its flavor. As small as it may seem, I love that GM in Alien RPG is short for Game Mother. Aliens have a queen, and this game has one too and I love it! The rest of the game is filled with this bleak and almost hopeless adventure that can easily end from a bad roll, and I am here for it.
I am very impressed with how the survival mechanics work in this game. I love the stress of having to survive a situation where everything seems stacked against the players. It is a lot different than the fantasy we are used to at my table, so it may take some getting used to, but I think they can come around.
It’ll be a while before I run a campaign of Alien RPG, but we will get around to it eventually. I am getting ready to run The One Ringfor my group because even though I have read through my physical copy of the Alien RPG core rulebook, my friend wants to play Legolas and I got outvoted. Stay tuned for that.
If you’re looking for a new RPG that is dark, gritty, and full of danger, consider the Alien Roleplaying Game. You can pick up a copy of the core rulebook on the official Free League Publishing website ($54.21) or Amazon ($42.30) if you need it a little faster.
I was sent Slave Zero X for free 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!
Our friends at Ziggurat Interactive have brought back the 1999 classic in a modern format that fans will appreciate. Slave Zero X is a cyberpunk hack-n-slash game out now for Xbox, Playstation, and PC via Steam and GoG. The Switch version comes out sometime this year.
In the bowls of the Megacity, Shou plots his revenge against the false god that runs it. He fuses with the Prototype Biomech Embryo X who shares his sentiment. Now they must fight their way through the city to extinguish the rot that plagues it. Will they see their retribution realized?
Gameplay
Slave Zero X is a fantastic retro-style hack-n-slash side scroller made modern. The controls feel great, the combat is challenging enough to be engaging, and the boss fights are creative. This is a game that rewards players for mastering its mechanics. Being efficient in your combos, dodges, and parries not only gets you a better score, but it means you’ll die a lot less. I never mastered the mechanics, but I had a lot of fun trying.
Review
Slave Zero X is an awesome retro experience without the clunkiness and limitations of retro gaming. This game is beautiful, and I almost want to urge you to try it to appreciate its aesthetic. The game has a beautiful and brutal pixel art style, and the way the city comes to life in the game is simply breathtaking. I appreciate everything that went into making the Megacity feel so large such as its effective use of space and scale, the loud ambient sounds of a busy city, and the movement that made the city feel alive.
The character design is marvelous and builds a unique and memorable world. Its soundtrack will keep you hyped, even when you’re losing to the same boss. Most importantly, Slave Zero X has a solid story with memorable characters, a solid pacing, and fantastic voice actors.
Gameplay is where the game will earn most of its love because the game is fun, but it is challenging. If you aren’t good at your combos, you’re going to have a rough time. I’m sure it’s possible to button-mash through most of this game, but it’s a lot better if you know what you’re doing. There is a practice mode available for players who need it.
The only real issue I had with this game was its performance. I experienced a few crashes through my runs, and the game became unstable when recording. It never got to the point where I couldn’t finish the game, but you might need to mess with the settings to avoid some of the more game-breaking issues. Other than that, I enjoyed the retro ride, and hope I can get more chances to play these kinds of games in the future.
If you’re a fan of the original Slave Zero or the retro hack-n-slash era, this is a solid addition to your library. You can pick up your digital copy of Slave Zero X on Xbox, PlayStation 5, Steam, and GoG for $24.99. If you want a hard copy of the game, you can preorder copies for PlayStation, and Switch on Amazon using my affiliate links. They also have copies of the Calamety edition for PS5 and Switch if you want the extra goodies. The physical release is May 17.
Dying Light is hitting the tabletop in Glass Cannon Unplugged’s newest Kickstarter coming February 27th. Players can now enjoy their favorite zombie franchise in a board game that seems pretty faithful.
The world has been overrun by zombies, and only one city is left standing. Run, climb, and jump through the streets of Villendor as you make your final stand. Do you have what it takes to survive?
What is Dying Light: The Board Game
Dying Light: The Board Game is a 1-4 player cooperative narrative game where players must survive in Earth’s last remaining city. The game features dynamic dice mechanics, an impactful day and night cycle, and an adrenaline-fueled parkour and combat system. I’ll have to see more, but the game promises an authentic and unique system.
As for game pieces, the game comes with a double-sided board and easy-to-build modular terrain ensuring that all your games will be different. There will be two editions of the game: Standard and Deluxe. The Standard Edition will include 76 cardboard game pieces while the Deluxe version will have high-quality 32 mm plastic miniature versions. The minis look very cool, but I definitely would need to learn how to paint.
Both versions include:
4 Runers
8 Bandits
60 Infected
4 Large Infected Bosses
The day and night cycle is the game’s coolest gimmick. Mechanically, players will experience a shift in challenges and possibilities depending on the time of day. Thematically, this is the fantastic flavor for any zombie game where nighttime is always more dangerous. Visually, the board, buildings, and game pieces light up under UV light for a visually stunning and immersive experience. It looks like I’m going to need to invest in a good UV light for game night.
If you’re a fan of the game, or looking for a zombie game, you might want to follow the Dying Light Board Game Kickstarter. I like the flavor, the minis look cool, and I love that there is a solo-play option (I don’t have friends who would play with me).
People who back the Kickstarter within the first 24 hours also receive the exclusive Kyle Crane character pack, so make sure you turn on those notifications.
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Update: Yon can now preorder the book if you missed the kickstarter.
I’ve been running my Dragonbane campaign for a couple of months now, and have been impressed with the system. With my campaign coming to a close, I’ve written a more detailed review that you should read if you want to know more about the system.
As I was prepared to move on to a different system, I came across an interesting Kickstarter Dragonbane adventure: Shadow Over Gloomshire. The campaign is fully funded, and with ten days left on the campaign, I thought it deserved more exposure.
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What is Shadow Over Gloomshire?
Shadow Over Gloomshireis a Gothic horror prewritten adventure for Dragonbane. It features unique hand drawn art, maps, and it introduces 2 new classes: Paladin and Monster Hunter. There are also role tables, a new location, and descriptions to help get things moving.
Two new professions. Work in progress
I’d love to play a malard kin paladin or a wolf kin monster hunter.
The temple. Once a place of worship, now home to twisted evil. Work in progress
You find yourself stranded in the remote village of Gloomshire. It’s a haunting place full of strange and frightening dangers lurking in the shadows. Travel through a haunted forest, investigate a creepy mansion, and embark on a spooky adventure I’m sure you’ll never forget.
Minerva, Cleric of Light. By FukamiHB
Stygian wolf by John Bilodeau
Demonic artifacts by Melker Holmgren
Impressions
If you like gothic horror, it definitely seems like it has the right flavor. I am a huge fan of the artwork, and for $11, it doesn’t seem like a bad deal. There is always a risk in backing Kickstarters, but Robin Fjärem has a few other projects under his belt, so it seems pretty reputable.
You can pick up a copy of the Shadow Over Gloomshire adventure PDF for $11, or a booklet and PDF for $20 which isn’t bad for an adventure.
I like running my own adventures, but it’s always nice to take a break and build off what other people have come up with. We always end up going off script, but it is always nice to have things like role tables, encounters, and loot at the ready. I think its a pretty cool project, but go check the Shadow Over Gloomshire Kickstarter and see for yourself!
I was sent Titanic: A Space Between 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. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.
Titanic: A Space Between is a horror VR game playable on Steam VR, Pico, and the Meta Quest 2 and 3. Play as a time traveler investigating the disappearance of a woman named Diana on the famous ship as it sinks. Solve puzzles, follow clues, and survive the most famous shipwreck in history. But there is something strange that lurks in this past. Can you solve the mystery and make it back to your own time alive?
Gameplay
This is an exploration horror game where players move through the narrative by searching for clues and solving puzzles as the ship sinks. The version I received is still in development, and was still a bit too unstable to be enjoyable.
Thoughts
The game isn’t done and this puts me in an awkward position. On the one hand, the concept is interesting, and I am invested in finding out what happened to Diana. On the other, the build of the game I received is unplayable.
The game is buggy, and a few of the games broke the game. I tried to record a video, but that made the game more unstable. I got to a point in the game where I wasn’t able to advance because the mechanics didn’t work and I didn’t want to start over. I am willing to excuse bugs and glitches, but here it felt like I was fighting with the game more than I was enjoying it.
Poor performance aside, Titanic: A Space Between is a cool concept for a game. It has an interesting story, it looks good, the voice acting is fantastic, and I love the flavor. The game also has some solid horror baked throughout. With a few more patches, I can see myself returning because I want to know what happened to Diana, but in its current state, I can’t recommend it.
The game releases on the Meta App Lab on February 13th, pick it up then if you’re looking for a spooky Titanic adventure and don’t mind playing through the bugs.
I was sent Eresys 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. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.
What is Eresys
Eresys is a Lovecraftian horror survival game out now on PC. Team up with friends, or brave it alone as you collect clues while a horror hunts you. Do you have what it takes?
Gameplay
There are three different hunts currently available in this game, but one hunt is basically unplayable. The game does very little hand-holding and throws the players into the fray without much guidance, or a tutorial. It is up to the player to read through the comprehensive guide made available from the start. Players spend the hunt sneaking around, looking for magical pages, and avoiding the horror. If the horror catches you, it’s game over unless you have friends to revive you. I never did, so it meant I needed to restart a lot. The game runs great, but I felt like the AI was a bit unfair. It always knew where I was, no matter what I did.
Thoughts
This game looks so good. I love the aesthetic, the environment is spooky, and I like the art style. Eresys has the bones of a solid horror game, but the game isn’t fun. I felt like no matter what I did, I couldn’t win. The AI felt unfairly omnipotent, and the few times I was able to survive for longer, it felt like I was wandering aimlessly. The game has seen some improvement, and it looks like it will continue to get more, but I don’t have it in me to wait for a better version.
If you love the Lovecraftian aesthetic and don’t mind the roughness of the game, you might have a better time with this title. Otherwise, I can’t recommend this game. It’s not the worst game I’ve ever played, but I just don’t see it being worth the trouble.
Eresys is available now on Steam for $8.99, but I’d at least wait for a sale.
I was sent Killer Frequency for free to review for my blog. I am very grateful for the opportunity, but won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee!
What is Killer Frequency?
Killer Frequency is a horror puzzle game out now on Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and Meta Quest. This review is on the non-VR steam version.
Infamous serial killer, the Whistling Man, has returned to terrorize the sleepy town of Gallows Creek. With emergency services down, it is up to one late-night radio host, DJ Forrest Nash, to keep the town safe from the sadistic murder. Forrest must now host the most important show of his life as he plays music, answers calls, collects clues, and uses the power of radio to keep people safe. Can he survive the shift without incident?
Gameplay
As the midnight DJ, you will have to play music, run paid ads, and take calls. Victims will call into the show asking for help, and it is a player’s job to guide them out of danger from the radio station. During this time, you’ll get to explore the station to search for clues to solve the puzzles. You can fail these puzzles and get people killed, but you can always save before an important call and rerun it if you want to save everyone. I let people die because I wanted to live with my mistakes.
Thoughts
Killer Frequency is a fantastic concept for a puzzle game. It has terrific flavor, a fun soundtrack, fantastic voice acting, and interesting puzzles. The tone is a bit on the silly side, but that doesn’t stop it from becoming intense. The voice acting and timers do a great job of creating enough tension to make this game feel like a horror game, without it being scary or gruesome.
I loved the puzzles in this game. They are creative and fun. I found them hard enough to keep me engaged, but never so difficult to where they became impossible. Even if you don’t like puzzle games, I recommend you try Killer Frequency for its unique take on the genre.
Aside from a few missing voice lines, the game played great. Exploration felt good, the world they created was fun and quirky, and the voice acting was fantastic. The voice acting in this game goes out of its way to not only create an authentic late-night radio experience but also fill the world of Gallows Creek with unique and memorable characters.
One thing to consider before making your purchase is that this game feels like a visual novel. There is some exploration, but most of the gameplay exists within calls and conversations with the producer. You’re either sitting through playful banter or on a call, answering and asking questions to solve a puzzle. This means that a lot of the time you are looking at the inside of the DJ booth. I loved it because I could sit back and listen to the narrative, but it is something to consider.
Conclusion
Killer Frequency is a fantastic puzzle game, and has easily become one of my favorites. I love the flavor, the concept, and the story. If you are looking for a relaxing puzzle game to sink some time into, check out Killer Frequency on Steam. You can pick it up for $24.99 on
