I was sent a free copy of After the Light Fades 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.
After Light Fades is a sokuban-style puzzle adventure out now on Steam.
After the loss of her partner, Alice must travel through a magical land, collecting memories and learning to let them go. Alice must go back to the places she shared with her partner Aura as she works through her grief with the help of magical artifacts. What she will uncover along the way? Will she be able to let things go?
Gameplay
After Light Fades is a top down puzzle game where players must interact with the parts of the map to find a path forward. There are over 100 puzzles to solve, each guiding the player through an emotional narrative of grief. The game also have a level creator for those who are feeling creative.
Review
After Light Fades is a hardcore puzzle game that will test a players patience and challenge their problem solving skills. Puzzles are creative, and they get challenging once it teachers its players the core mechanics. A guide might be needed in a few places, but it is satisfying to beat the harder levels. I appreciate how creative the game gets with its mechanics and solutions.
One aspect I didn’t like is that the interactions can bug out. Sometimes, you will move a piece on accident because of how interactions work. It isn’t a deal breaker, but it does lead to some frustrations. Other than that, the game is solid, if you’re looking for a puzzle game. It definitely does feel a little more niche side of puzzle games, but it has a decent story with some interesting puzzles.
If you enjoy Sokuban puzzle games and want a challenge, After Light Fades is for you. If you don’t want to think too much, this game closes its chill pretty early on. I thought it was fine, but I’d recommend checking out the demo before making the decision. The niceness of it all makes it hard to recommend.
You can pick up After Light Fades on steam for $14.99.
I was sent a free copy of the Urban Shadows 2E core book 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. I will also be using my amazon affiliate links when possible. Always support your LGS, but using my link helps me out!
What is Urban Shadows?
Urban Shadowsis an award winning TTRPG that just received its second edition.
In large metropolitan cities, a supernatural society operates in the shadows. Unbeknownst to the average citizen, there is an ever presence conflict between four warring factions as they try to gain dominion over the city. The balance of power is in a state of constant flux, and the political landscape of the city is forever shifting. Fate, chance, or whatever you want to call it has brought you into the this world, and it is up to you to find your place within it. Make deals, earn and pay off your social debts, and climb your way up the ladder. Who will you become? How will you shape the cities narrative? How will you let the city shape you?
The Gist of It
This is a massive book, but the gist is this:
In Urban Shandows, players navigate the complex social network of the supernatural society of a major city. They must broker deals, climb the social ladder, and most importantly, operate in the shadows.
Whatever the city, there are four factions that fight over its dominion: Mortalis, Night, Power, and Wild.
Mortalis are the humans that find themselves in the world, either by chance or by choice. Some hunt the monsters that roam the night. Others smuggle supernatural items to sell for a profit. Others play with the idea of giving up their humanity to join this world permanently.
Power is full of the people who can wield the magic of this world. It is full of the wizards, oracles, and immortals who seek to gain more power from this world.
Night is the faction of people who have been transformed into a supernatural creature of the night, and must wrestle with this new found identity. These are the vampires, werewolves, and ghosts of the city and the smaller sects that form within them.
Wild is the faction that lives on the fringes of society that wield powerful ancient magics that rival the other factions. These are the faeries, demons, and constructs that roam the city’s shadows.
The important thing is that these factions have an established hierarchy, and the players must find their place within it. The faction a player starts with, doesn’t have to be the one they end in. They don’t even have to be the same character, there is a mechanic that allows players to retire. Climbing is not easy, and it isn’t black and white. While players can fight their way through the city for territory, there are more diplomatic approaches that might prove more efficient. Trying to change an outcome with emotion or persuasion instead of fists is just as viable, if not more. The city is always moving and changing, and players need to adapt to keep up. Whether they can shake up the foundation of the city is up to a few actions and a couple dice roles. Within those four factions are 12 unique classes for players to choose from. Each class feels unique and gives players abilities to help them navigate their social mobility. There is a lot of flavor in this game, and while you can adjust your narrative to fit your vision, the book has a lot of valuable helpful examples to get a newer Master of Ceremony (game master) started.
What sets the game apart is the focus on urban fiction, which takes players to the streets of their favorite cities at any time in history. Want to start in the present and time skip to a time of calamity? Go for it! The landscape may be in constant flux, but the narrative belongs to the city.
The Book
Review
Urban Shadowsis a very good resource for any new game master, even if you don’t plan on running the game itself. The amount of resource, examples, and detail that make this book the hefty beast that it is can easily be translated into other systems. The book spells out every mechanic and feature in a way that is easy to read and understand, and is filled some very cool art to break up the information.
The game is powered by the apocalypse system, and the system is easy to learn and teach. This is important, especially for newer players who just want to hop into the game and not worry about intricate nuances. The game has its complexity, but I feel like there was less time spent arguing about rules, and more time enjoying the world and story for what it is.
Character creation is easy with the class system, and every class feels balanced and unique. More testing is required of course, but it all felt fine for the bit that was done. I like that the game doesn’t have to revolve around combat (it can), and how creative solutions to problems can be. The death and retirement system is interesting. The on death abilities each class has makes death sting a little less, and I like that players can retire a character if they just want to try something new.
What is important to note about the system is that it is going to be a bit more roleplay heavy. Yes dice rolls will sway the narrative, but you are going to have to ask for favors, or gather clues, or broker deals in a way that is limited by your social standing. For people who are more interested in the political side of roleplay, this is a great choice with lots of room for good story telling.
If you enjoy physical media, the book is a fantastic addition to any collection. Its a good quality book with some great illustrations. As far as resource books go, you’ll have everything you need to run a good campaign. There are helpful examples, tables, and a couple cities. There is an appendix with a bunch of charts and tables for the GM that needs to create an meaningful encounter on the fly.
I’ve read a few different resource books and nothing comes close to how detailed this book is. For veteran game masters, it is a little over kill. But for those just starting out in the space, it doesn’t get any better. When I started my journey, I did hours of research. A lot of what I’ve learned is packaged neatly in this book, and while there is lot a GM will learn through practice, its a great place to start.
Urban Shadows is a little too RP heavy for my table, but we had fun running it. We enjoyed how easy everything was to pick up, and the flavor is sound. I ran my games in San Francisco because that is the city I know best, but the borrowed a couple of the examples in the books to fill its underworld. I really enjoyed the shift to Urban Fantasy. We play a lot of high fantasy with the occasional scifi story, and it was nice to explore a modern city with modern problems and a supernatural element. I’d absolutely come back to the system if prompted because there is a lot of room for good story telling, and some very epic moments.
Urban Shadows is a solid TTRPG. If you like werewolves and vampires and mitigating the intricacies of social advancement, I don’t think you can find anything better than Urban Shadows.
You can pick up Urban Shadows and related products on the official Magpie store, and on DriveThruRPG if you don’t care about physical media.
I was sent a free copy of Revenge of the Mageto 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.
Revenge of the Mageis a first-person, bullet hell roguelike out now on Steam.
Learn to harness your power over the elements as you fend off against endless waves of monsters. Travel through the realms, unlock new abilities, and become the most powerful mage. Do you have what it takes to become the hero the realm needs, or will you be another casualty?
Gameplay
Players dive into unique worlds and use their magic to fight off waves of enemies, complete quests, and defeat the boss at the end of the level. Players level up by killing monsters, and earn a random power-up or ability at level-up. The RNG feels fair, and players can enjoy a unique build every single run. Random buffs and items appear randomly across the map to give players a small advantage against the onslaught. Between levels, players can buy upgrades for their mage or unlock a new archetypes with currency they unlock during a run. If a player dies without killing the boss, they return to the hub with only a portion of their earnings.
Review
Revenge of the Mage isn’t your typical roguelike, it is the first person shooter you didn’t know you needed. The game has great flavor, solid mechanics, and a lot of potential. I wasn’t ready for how much I enjoyed this game. While there is a little wonkiness to combat and movement, it feels good. Weaving through enemies and managing cooldowns keeps the game exciting, and the unlockables gives me goals to work towards. That said, movement could use a bit more polish. The dash doesn’t always work, and when things get crowded, it feels a little stiff. It is playable, but it could be smoother.
Like most roguelikes, expect a grind. It isn’t soul crushing, but you will die a lot before you start making an impact. Players lose a good chunk of their gold at death, and earning enough for meaningful powerups or a new archetype is going to take some time. The game does let you recover your gold each run, just make sure you move quickly. That said, I enjoyed the grind because I enjoyed the game. I am a little bummed it doesn’t run well on the Steam Deck, but I preferred using a keyboard and mouse anyways.
If you’re looking for a fun and casual game to pick up, check out Revenge of the Mage. The mages are fun and flavorful, the RNG is fair, and the combat system is solid.
I wanted to write this to let you know that this review is no longer valid. The devs have made some changes that have ruined the game for me, specifically the terrible decision to red-con the opening scene and change the entire story. The story is what got me into the game, and the fact that the latest patch took away the story and made aspects of the game unplayable makes it hard to recommend the game. I might come back if they fix the game, but until then, I’m out.
I was sent an early copy of Infinity Nikito review for my blog. It was on a private press-only server where I was given a lot of in-game money and as much time as I needed to progress through the story. Although 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 Infinity Nikki
Infinity Nikkiis a gotcha RPG coming to PlayStation, PC (via the official client and Epic Games), and Mobile (via Android and IOS devices) on December 5th.
Nikki finds herself in a strange and magical world where her outfits grant her special powers. She can use these powers to fly through the air, gather material, and fight off monsters. There is an darkness spreading across the land, and Nikki seems to be the only one capable of stopping it. Will she be able to harness the powers of thew Heart of Infinity in time to stop the land, or will Darkness finally take its hold?
Gameplay
Players travel across the land collecting materials to unlock different outfit abilities. These abilities help Nikki move around the world, gather materials, and look good doing it. Players must collect these abilities by completing different tasks, quests, and through the natural progression of the story. Like most RPGs, there are monsters to kill, puzzles to solve, and treasure to find but the dressup mechanic is what makes Infinity Nikki unique. Players can buy outfits through the cash shop, but these are purely cosmetic. Players can either buy complete outfits, or they can pull for random pieces of an outfit. The game and its story can be played without spending any money, but looking good will cost a bit of money.
Review
I got to try Infintiy Nikki during one of the beta’s and loved every minute of it. I was very happy to get to try an early version of the game, and will continue to playing this game regularly.
The game features a cozy and enjoyable gameplay loop that will make it my go to relaxing title. Platforming and combat are engaging without being too demanding, and I enjoyed the casual repetitive nature of farming materials. It has a beautiful world to explore with lots to do, and a fantastic soundtrack to carry you through it. The story is a bit on the cutesy side, but it give the game its charm. I loved the tone and voice acting is fantastic.
The fashion in this game is fantastic. I spent a bit too long pulling for the perfect outfit, and it’s going to be hard to not have that advantage on the regular servers. The game gives players decent outfits for playing through the story, but there is a paywall for some of the cooler styles. While there is no pay-to-win feature, it is going to cost money to look good. The pull rates seem fair, but it is going to cost $50 to collect a legendary outfit, and even then it isn’t a guarantee. You’ll need to spend more money to pull additional colors, but at least the colors don’t affect abilities. I was able to get a decent outfit by playing the game and rolling with only in game money, but there is always going to be something to chase.
My only real complaint is that the game isn’t on Steam. It would be nice to play this on my Steam Deck without some kind of workaround, but this isn’t a deal breaker. I can just play on my phone.
I was sent a free copy of The Spell Brigade 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. The game is still in early access, so I will do my best to give it a fair assessment of what is available.
I am happy to announce my newest sponsor, Game Nerdz. If you’re looking to buy any card games, board games, miniatures, and more, get it over at Game Nerdz using my affiliate links. Game Nerdz offers some fantastic pricing on anything you need, and it really helps me out.
What is The Spell Brigade?
The Spell Brigade is a bullet hell action roguelike currently on Steam Early access.
You are an aspiring wizard tasked with defending the realm from an endless onslaught of monsters. Team up with your friends or brave it alone as you learn the magic to repel any enemy that gets in your way. Do you have what it takes to keep the monsters at bay?
Gameplay
Players start a run by choosing their wizard. All players start the game with the same wizard, but additional wizards and skins can be unlocked by completing specific achievements. Each run starts slow, with each player having access to a basic spell. Players unlock random upgrades and spells at the end of each level, or by completing quests during a run. Since all spells are cast automatically, the real strategy comes from effective kitting and creating a synergistic build. The game can be played solo, but playing with friends or strangers online may result in some much needed chaos.
Does it Work on the Steam Deck?
This genre is one of my favorites to play on the Steam Deck for its casual yet engaging game play. The Spell Brigade is a fantastic addition to the genre, and a great addition to any Steam Deck library. The game looks great, runs great, and it doesn’t take up much space.
Review
The Spell Brigadeis in a good place in its development. The game works and looks great, with a decent amount of content for variety. No two runs were ever the same, and it never felt like there was a right answer when building. There might be, but I had fun trying building what I wanted. The art is great, the flavor is fantastic, and there is a good amount of unlockables to chase. I particularly liked how different the maps felt, and being able to interact with its different elements to gain an advantage.
What I enjoyed most about the game is having three lives. When you die in The Spell Brigade, you return with half your life. While being limited to one life might make the runs more intense, I like being able to enjoy a build for a little longer. I also like that resurrecting kills the enemies around the mage, providing players a bit of breathing room for their second or third life.
My only complaint is that the game moves and feels slow at early levels. Movement in this game can feel excessively sluggish, even with movement speed upgrades. This sensation goes away the longer you spend on a run, but those early levels can be rough if you’re not familiar with the genre. It isn’t the worst I’ve ever seen, but it is something to think about. Make sure you check out the demo.
Overall, this game is a lot of fun, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys the genre, or looking for a new casual game to play with their friends. The game is in a good state, even in early access, with a few cool features coming soon. I am confident the team behind the game can deliver.
You can pick up The Spell Brigadeon Steam Early Access for only $9.99. Check out the demo, and don’t forget to add it to your wishlist.
I was sent an early copy of the An Amazing Wizarddemo to cover on my blog. Since the game is still in development, I will be a bit more lenient but honest in my impressions. If you want to stay up to date on all the news, make sure you join the official Discord!
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What is An Amazing Wizard?
An Amazing Wizard is a fast-paced 2D action RPG coming to PC. The demo is available, so make sure you head over to Steam and try it out.
In a world full of wizards and magic, you are the only one without it. Instead of casting spells in the traditional sense, magic hands cast them for you. The prophecy says you are destined for greatness, but a mysterious force has stolen your memories before it can be realized. Travel across a dangerous plane as you recollect your memories, fight monsters, and try to uncover the truth behind your powers. Will you be strong enough to live up to your legend?
Gameplay
The demo allows players to fight their way through procedurally generated levels as they learn the fundamentals of the game. The wizard always starts with a basic magic spell and collects random ones during each run. The spells unlocked throughout a run are random, and the RNG seems fine. The full game will feature over a hundred spells for an insane amount of customization.
At certain points of a run, players can combine spells to create new ones. There is always a chance that the fusion will fail, but a successful fusion grants the player a new more powerful spell. This ensures that a run will never be the same, and things are going to get crazy.
Combat is a fast-paced Metroidvania-style loop. Players fight their way through a 2D dungeon, killing monsters, farming materials, and finding more powerful spells. Players have access to a basic spell, three swappable spells, and a swappable weapon. This is more than enough to keep things fun and exciting.
Between deaths and levels, players can trade in materials they gather for power-ups. This gives players access to new abilities and powers, and makes each run easier. The upgrade tree is pretty expansive. While I am sure there will be a correct way to build it out, I recommend you buy for your playstyle.
The full game will have a story, but the demo is only limited to the roguelike dungeon to get players hooked on the gameplay.
Impressions
I need more of this game. The art is fantastic, the flavor is great, the music is amazing, and the gameplay is a lot of fun. If you’re looking for a new Metroidvania game, An Amazing Wizard is looking very promising. The game features an interesting combat system, cool enemies, and a ton of customization for that added replay value. Obviously, I am going to need to see a completed version, but I am excited.
I did run into an issue where the dungeon generated a way forward, soft-locking my progress. I would have to rest the run and lose my progress, but it didn’t happen enough to cause any real concern. The demo works fine for the most part, but there will be some instances of roughness as they continue to iron out the kinks. Other than that, this game is very fun and I recommend you try it for yourself and get equally excited.
Please go check out the An Amazing Wizard demo on Steam, and don’t forget to add it to your wishlist!
I was sent a free copy of Terra Memoria 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 quality budget headset, check out the Fifine H9 Gaming Headset using my Amazon Affiliate link. Make sure you check out my full review. Don’t forget to follow the socials!
Terra is a world of magic and magical technology. For years, innovation has been powered by magical crystals mined from the earth. But a shortage has hit Terra, and access to these crystals grows increasingly scarce by the minute. The citizens of Terra grow uneasy as the world around them begins to shut down. Luckily, Fate has willed a group together a group with the power to change everything. What secrets will they uncover? Can Terra ever be restored to what it used to be?
Gameplay
Terra Memoria is an adorable RPG with interesting mechanics that help it stand out against other titles in the genre. I particularly enjoyed how the game handles crafting, gear, and combat.
Crafting and leveling are done at campfires or inns in town. Make sure you visit them often. As you battle monsters in the field, you’ll collect materials and experience points. Getting to a rest area automatically levels your character, and I appreciate that simplicity. Crafting is what makes the rest areas an interesting mechanic.
Crafting armor and cooking is done during a party’s rest, provided you have the right amount of materials. This is not only flavorful, but it means you don’t have to keep running back to town for upgrades if you plan accordingly. Cooking is done through a simple rhythm mini-game that you can fail if you’re not paying attention. Failing a recipe means you lose the materials, and materials can be scarce in the beginning. Cooking permanently raises your party’s HP, so eat often. This is the only way to raise your HP, and tougher enemies will wipe your party if you haven’t been easy. I appreciate that cooking isn’t just a gimmick, and I didn’t mind the mini-game.
Crafting weapons is just a press of a button. Unlike most games, gear in Terra Memoria comes in the form of stickers. This is such a cute idea, and I wanted to craft them all. Stickers grant buffs to the elements a character can use. Each attaching character can only carry three stickers at a time, and these stickers make a difference.
Terra Memoria’s combat system is the reason why you should play this game. When combat starts, characters and enemies are placed in a space on the timeline. When a character uses an attack, they are moved several spaces on the timeline based on the attack. For example, casting a punch attack will move a character four spaces in the timeline.
Characters have access to fast and slow actions. Fast actions are weaker, but they cost less spaces. Slow actions are more powerful, but move your character to the end of the order. Landing in an occupied space means you go after. The key to combat in Terra Memoria is taking advantage of the action economy, enemy weaknesses, and shield breaks. Breaking an enemy’s shield moves them to the end of the combat round, so try to do so often.
What makes combat exciting is the RNG. The party is made up of three main attackers and three characters to support them as pairs. While the three main attackers are always the same, the pairs are chosen randomly at the start of each combat. You can restrict the pairs you don’t want, but you can never choose your pairs. Each support character has a unique ability that changes how the main character attacks. This gives the party a very diverse move pool, but it also means you’re going to get pairings that don’t feel optimal. Make sure you restrict your choices as soon as the option is available.
Some abilities are stagnant, but Opals is also driven by RNG. Sometimes you’ll pull the exact pairings with the correct elements, and others you’ll have to deal with what you are given. I never felt like the RNG was unfair, and it always felt amazing when the stars aligned perfectly.
There is a grind to this game, as there typical for the genre, but it doesn’t feel soul-crushing. The RNG kept things interesting, and there was always a chance I would mess up and have to start over.
Review
I loved Terra Memoria. If you’re looking for a new RPG, this game should be on your list. This game is cute, quirky, and a whole lot of fun. The story for this game is well written. It is a little on the silly side, but I appreciate the dedication to its tone and theme. It made the game feel like a wholesome good time.
If it wasn’t clear, I enjoyed the game’s mechanics immensely. Combat was engaging and fun, crafting didn’t feel like busy work, and collecting the cute stickers became an obsession. I didn’t even mind the grind. You can over-level, so be mindful. The bosses always seemed to offer a decent challenge, so it wasn’t a huge issue.
Puzzles in this game are creative, and challenging, but don’t require a guide. There is a building mechanic. I don’t care much for building, but it is cute and is sure to eat away at your life. My only complaint is that I would get lost a lot, but I am famously bad at directions. If you’re a fan of classic RPGs without waypoints, this game is for you.
I loved Terra Memoria, and I think you will do. It is cute, fun, and very addicting.
I was sent a free copy of The Legend of Legacy HD Remastered to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinons of the game. This will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!
Legend of Legacy is a classic JRPG that originally on the 3DS but it has recently been ported and remastered for PC, PlayStation, and Switch.
A mysterious island appeared suddenly in the Northern Sea ten years ago. People believe that the island once belonged to the prosperous continent of Avalon, a land inhabited by the gods. Adventurers from all over find themselves drawn to the island in search of truth, fame, and treasure. Strange creatures roam the island, and only those brave and competent will be able to conquer it. Are you and your friends strong enough to unlock the secrets of the island?
Gameplay
Although the game has gotten a cute little makeover, it feels like an older JRPG. The game runs great, but the loop is repetitive, and the grind can be unforgiving. You either over-level and destroy your enemies easily, or you hit a sponge that wipes your team.
Combat is fine, but it does feel dated. Players command a three-person team that you can swap as you recruit new adventurers. Each character has its unique set of skills and abilities that give players options for strategy. Ultimately, gameplay boils down to a repetitive grind as you progress through a story that doesn’t matter. I recorded footage, but it wasn’t interesting enough to share.
Impressions
Legend of Legacy is such a cute game. I love the character design, how the map fills like a pop-up book as you explore it, and it has a fantastic soundtrack. Unfortunately, the game feels like an older JRPG, and it isn’t going to be for everyone. Those who don’t mind the grindy nature of this era of RPG will enjoy the nostalgic adventure, but everyone else will find it repetitive and boring. The story is fine, but it didn’t do much to keep me engaged.
The Legend of Legacy HD Remastered is a solid port, but it’s made for a certain type of gamer. There are no quality of life changes like skips or auto-battles, you’re playing the original game as it was but with better graphics. If you’re a fan of the original, you probably already have it. You should pick up the Deluxe or Limited Editions for the physical goodies. If you’re a fan of the older era of JRPG, it’s cute and you’ll appreciate the nostolgia. Everyone else should wait for a sale or look elsewhere because the grind is killer. I liked it and thought it was cute, but I am also old and lived through this era of JRPG.
You can pick up The Legend of Legacy HD Remasterd on PC, PlayStation, and Switch for $49.99.
I was sent a copy of Dungeon Drafters 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!
Play as an eager adventurer and delve through unique perilous dungeons in search of treasure, fame, and more spell cards. Do you have what it takes to conquer every dungeon?
Gameplay
Players have access to five unique characters: shinobi, monk, mage, explorer, brawler, and bard. Each has access to a unique set of cards, abilities, and playstyle.
Shinobi
Monk
Mage
Brawler
Bard
Players enter the dungeon with a deck they can customize through the adventure. While other games have you build your deck between encounters, Dungeon Drafters lets you build your deck outside of the Dungeon through the shops like you would in a traditional RPG. This is a refreshing take on the genre, and it let me concentrate on each element of the game as it came up.
Combat is a turn-based system where players can perform only three actions per turn. A player can either move a square, use a melee attack, or cast a spell card. While it is a somewhat limiting system, it does encourage creativity. With the mage, I was often trying to bait my enemies into traps or freeze the ground so I could slide across the map. There is a bit of a grind as you build your deck to progress, but it’s the normal grind you would expect from a game in this genre.
Players make delve through the dungeon and clear each room of monsters and treasures. Dungeons do have unique bosses that need to be cleared. Combat can get a little repetitive, but the boss fights have unique mechanics to shake things up. Players can switch between dungeons at will to keep things fresh. Each dungeon has its unique aesthetic and feels like a different delve.
Thoughts
I enjoyed Dungeon Drafters, but it is a bit of a niche game. The three-action point limit will frustrate players, and others won’t enjoy the repetition. I enjoyed the repetition and found it a relaxing experience. Dungeon Drafters is an adorable game with solid flavor and unique gameplay.
My only complaint with the game is that you can accidentally waste your turn on movement. I would often press a direction on the d-pad, wasting my action points. This isn’t a deal breaker, but it is a warning for whoever needs it. You don’t want to waste your turns on a boss fight for accidentally moving towards a big attack.
If you’re looking for a chill game that isn’t a huge commitment, Dungeon Drafters is a solid choice. It has a great soundtrack, a relaxing and intuitive gameplay loop, and a very cool art and aesthetic. It certainly has enough options to refresh gameplay, but I would only pay $20 for it.
Dungeon Drafters is a solid retro-style game you can pick up now for $24.99 on Steam, Epic Games, Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch. It is currently on sale for $19.99 until March 28 on Steam, Epic Games, and Switch. Check out the Demo on Steam!
I was sent the Pyrene demo to cover for my blog. It is a little too early to review it completely, but I will be as honest as possible with my impressions. If you enjoy my reviews and content, please leave a like, comment, follow the socials, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.
What is Pyrene
Pyryne is a deck building roguelike coming to Steam. Monsters have destroyed your village, and it is up to you to rebuild and save the towns people. Do you have what it takes to restore Pyrene to its former glory, and rid the land of its evil?
Gameplay
Pyrene is a unique deck builder because it involves movement. Each encounter has a board that fills with randomly generated monsters, items, and artifacts. The RNG is relatively fair, but I did have a couple of runs where the odds were stacked against me. The goal is to clear the win condition without dying. The game feels like a puzzle because the game rewards efficiency.
Like most roguelikes, the more you play Prylene, the stronger your character becomes. You get access to new power-ups, buildings, and cards to help you with your journey. This also means the loop is somewhat repetitive, but it doesn’t feel like a grind. The game is very relaxing but with enough of a challenge to keep things engaging.
Impressions
This is a good demo that paints a solid picture of what to expect from Pyrene. It looks great, plays well, and most importantly, the demo is fun. I loved that every encounter felt like a puzzle, and each puzzle had enough of a challenge to keep me wanting more. If you are in the market for a new deck builder, I recommend you pick up the Pyrene Demo. I’ll be working on getting the full version for review, but so far, I am impressed.
