Tag Archives: mystery

video game reviews

Uncovering Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping 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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Table of Contents

What is Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping

Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping is a piece of interactive fiction about a duck detective out now on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

Hook

The great Duck Detective Eugene McQuacklin finds himself on vacation at a haunted campsite. But instead of a relaxing weekend by the haunted lake, Duck Detective finds himself at the center of an unraveling mystery. There are strange events unfolding around the Eugene, each with a trail of clues to find and connect. Items go missing, a break-in ruffles some feathers, and strange symbols start showing up in the sand. Is it really ghosts that roam this camground, or something most sinister?

Can Duck Detective get to the bottom of the everything? Can he get over his messy divorce? Will his bread addiction get in the way of his investigation? You will need to play to find out?

Gameplay Loop

Duck Detective is a piece of interactive fiction with isometric exploration. Players explore the campsite in search for clues. They will need to talk to the other guests to conduct investigations. Clues are collected in a the Duck Detective’s notebook where they then need to piece together to solve the many mysteries in an adlib style minigame. Essentially, players discover words that they can use to fill in each theory. Successfully completing a theory will unlock the next part of the mystery, which means more areas to explore and lot more mystery to solve.

Review

Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping is a fantastic and hilarious take on the detective noire genre. It features fun thematic puzzles, solid world building, and a humorous short story that you need to play through at least once. If you only buy one game this year, it should be Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping.

Puzzles

Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping offers the cozy puzzle experience you have been looking for. Puzzles are creative and offer enough of a deduction skills to be engaging without the need of a guide. The game does offer hints for those who need them, and the option to turn off wrong answers for those who just want to enjoy the story. While I did burn through a few of my hints, I really didn’t need to. If I had sat and thought a little harder, I could have solved the whole case on my own. The game is a very casual entry to the genre, and one with a fun story to keep you invested.

Story

Even if you don’t like puzzle games, Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping has a fantastic story that you need to enjoy once. The game is full of fun puns and jokes that will earn its chuckles, with a fun lighthearted tone that is perfect for any season. It is full of colorful memorable characters that are voiced by some terrific actors. I love that it does not go the usual murder mystery route, and I appreciate the attention to detail that goes into the world building.

World Building

Duck Detective is a short game with a small map and a few characters. That said, the devs efficiently use every inch of their game to tell their fun and compelling story. There is so much care and attention to detail put into this game, and it pays off in effective world building.

During an investigation, players will uncover emails, pictures, and other details that not only piece together the overarching mystery, but gives each character their personality. For example, there is a character with a shopping addiction. When you read through her emails, all her bill past due emails are unread, but she reads through an email about a sale. Hilarious little details like these is what had me clicking and reading everything.

Conclusion

I loved this game so much, I finished it in one sitting. It is a short game that takes about 3 hours to complete, and it is worth every minute. I love the cozy atmosphere, the fun humor, and the solid mystery that drove me through the story. Make sure you stay for the end credits scene.

If you’re looking for a fun and cozy puzzle game that doesn’t try to stump you, Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping needs to be in your library. The game looks good, feels great, and has a solid story. This is a game that everyone needs to play through at least once.

If if you like these style of detective games, check out Broke the Investigator for more animal themed goodness or LocoMotive if you want a fun murder mystery. Best Served Cold is a personal favorite about solving a mystery as a bartender.

video game reviews

Best Served Cold: A Unique Visual Mystery with a Twist

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Disclaimer

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

Shameless Self-Promotions

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag, Cypher81 or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. I’ve also started a web novel that I update every two weeks.

What is Best Served Cold?

Best Served Cold is a detective mystery novel out now on Steam.

You are a skilled barkeep in one of the city’s illegal speakeasy’s. There is a general danger around your line of work during prohibition. One that is amplified by the pretense of a serial killer. Someone is hunting down patrons of these establishments, and the race is on to find out who. You have been contracted to help in this investigation. Use your position, charm, and skill as a barkeep to interrogate the patrons and find leads. What mysteries will your investigation uncover? Can you find the killer before its too late?

Gameplay

The loop in Best Served Cold is an interesting twist on the genre. Players will talk to patrons during their shift, and try to find the right combination of answers and questions to unlock the appropriate clues. The twist are the mechanics tied to the bartender position. Players will have to figure out the perfect drink to serve each patron, and mix it perfectly. The mixing mini game is simple. Players trace a pattern thematic to the drink before time runs out. Choosing the perfect drink and making it perfect makes the clients more inclined to talk. There are questions in this game that will only get answers if the customer is drunk enough. This is such a flavorful mechanic, and one that adds a bit of strategy to break up all the reading. Not the reading is bad by any means.

Review

If you are looking for something new to play, check out Best Served Cold. Best Served Cold is a well written visual novel with fantastic characters and a solid mystery. People who read a lot of the genre can figure out the mystery, but it is still worth the read. I had a lot of fun meeting each unique character, figuring out their favorite drink, and the mixing minigame was relaxing. The game also has a fantastic sound track for an unmatched cozy vibe.

My only complaint is that the game is unplayable on the Steam Deck. I might have been doing something wrong, but I couldn’t get the pin-up board to work. Trying to connect everything with yarn felt like more work than it was worth, at least the few times I actually got it work. This isn’t a deal breaker because it works great on PC, but I want to be able to read my mystery visual novels from the comfort of my bed.

Better Served Cold is a great story with amazing flavor that you need to play through once. There is a lot of reading, but the reading is fine and it comes in English, Korean, Chinese, and Japanese. I enjoyed every minute of it, and I think you will too.

You can pick up Better Served Cold on Steam for

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

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out the new Epomaker HE75 Mag or their KiiBoom Breeze 75. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System. I’ve also started a web novel that I update weekly.

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

Escape Tales: The Awakening Game Review

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Escape Tales: The Awakening 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’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out the new Epomaker HE75 Mag or their Galaxy 100 keyboard. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System. If you would like to start your own blog on WordPress, sign up using my Affiliate Link!

What is Escape Tales: The Awakening?

Escape Tales: Awakening is the video game adaptation of the board game of the same name. This is a escape room game where players need to solve puzzles to complete the narrative. There is a demo available that gives players the perfect snapshot of what to expect.

After his daughter falls into a mysterious coma, Sam is desperate to find the cure. A friend comes to him with a meritorious book and ominous intentions. Sam quickly begins flipping through the book and completing its rituals in hopes that it will mean his daughter’s salvation, but it might have been more than Sam bargained for. Sam must now survive a strange night filled with horrors as he tries to solve various puzzles. Can Sam save his daughter before it is too late?

Gameplay

Escape Tales: The Awakening is a point and click narrative. Players will click through a room collecting clues and trying to solve the various puzzles. There is no time limit to rush players through the game, but there is a stamina system that affects the ending. Players use stamina to explore each room for clues and can meditate to regain stamina. Meditating triggers an event like a memory, but meditating too many times will affect the outcome of the story.

Review

If you enjoy Escape Rooms and puzzles games, Escape Tales might be a good solution. The story is fine, but the puzzles are challenging enough to keep things engaging. There are a few puzzles that feel the same, but there is enough variety and creativity between them that I will let it slide. Puzzle difficulty does vary. Some puzzles are strait forward and easy, others might require a guide or a couple of hints. I do like that the game has built in tools to help players solve the puzzles. There is a note pad and players, but most importantly, players can resize, manipulate, and mark up the clues. Some might prefer pen and paper, but it is a handy feature.

I have mixed feelings about the stamina system. On one hand, I like the events that it triggers. Thematically, it is fantastic flavor to see the affects of the night slowly eating away at Sam, but it also feels punishing to have the outcome tied to this system. It might have been done to add a bit of replayability, but I don’t think I liked the game enough to give it another go. At least not for a while. It is not a deal breaker, but it is something to think about.

Regardless of this fact, Escape Tales: The Awakening is a solid puzzle game and I recommend it to people who enjoy escape rooms. The game offers a nice challenge, has a decent narrative to follow, and it is a pretty laid back experience regardless of the dark themes.

You can pick Escape Tales: The Awakening on Steam for $7.99.

video game reviews

LocoMotive Review: A Must-Play Murder Mistery Puzzle Game

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

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out the new Epomaker HE75 Mag Keyboard or the EasySMX X15 controller. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System. If you would like to start your own blog on WordPress, sign up using my Affiliate Link!

What is Locomotive?

Locomotive is a point and click puzzle mystery game available now on the Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam and GOG.

Lacy Uterwald has invited her closest friends and relatives onboard the luxurious Reuss Express for a night of revelry. It is a night full of food, booze, music, and unfortunately, murder. Right as she is getting ready to announce the changes in her will, the light goes out, and so does hers. Now three unsuspecting strangers, a lawyer, a spy, and an amature detective, find themselves in the middle of a crime scene. Play as Arthur, Diana, and Herman as you gather clues, solve puzzles, and find the murderer. Can you figure out who done it?

Gameplay

Locomotive is a simple point and click puzzle narrative game. Players explore the train looking for clues, solving puzzles, and piecing together a narrative. The player will progress through the story and gain access to more of the train by solving the different problems that arise. Picking or crafting items, talking to guests, or interacting with the environment in certain ways will trigger events that will advance the story. The trick is finding the correct order, but there is a helpful hint mechanic available if players get stuck.

Review

2024 has been a very good year for noir games, and Locomotive is easily my favorite. The game has a fun aesthetic, a great mystery, and solid gameplay.

I love the game’s art style. I love the effective use of pixel art and how creative it got with the cut scenes. The soundtrack is fantastic, and it was always setting the perfect mode. Lastly, I appreciate all the attention put into the world-building because this game was such a delight to explore.

Moving away from the aesthetic, Locomotive has a fun and quirky narrative that is worth at least one playthrough. I love the silly tone, I appreciate the humor, and the mystery is solid. People who read a lot of noir can figure out who the killer is early on, but it doesn’t matter because the journey is too much fun. Best of all, the players will be carried through the story by a cast of amazing actors who truly bring the story to life. If you enjoy detective noir dramas, you’re not finding one better.

Most importantly, Locomotive is fun. Exploration can feel a little repetitive, especially if you get stuck, but the story makes it worth it. The puzzles are all creative and manageable. There might be a few that will require hints, but none of them are impossible. I love the casual pace of the mystery, and love even more that I can play Locomotive on my Steam Deck.

If you’re looking for a fun, quirky new bit of interactive fiction, go get LocoMotive. You can pick up Locomotive on the Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam and GOG for $17.99.

video game reviews

Shadows of Doubt is a Fantastic Open World Detective Game

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I was sent a free copy of Shadows of Doubt 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’re looking to upgrade your gaming/streaming setup, check out my reviews for Fifine H9 Gaming Headset, the AM8 Streaming Microphone, and the Epomaker P75 Mechanical Keyboard and the Uhuru Gaming mouse for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals.

What is Shadows of Doubt?

Shadows of Doubt is a unique open world detective on Steam, Xbox and PlayStation.

You are a detective in a bustling and chaotic city tasked with restoring peace to its crime-ridden streets. Use your elite detective skills to gather clues, chase criminals, interrogate suspects, and solve crimes. In this town, you can use whatever means to catch the perpetrator. Will you play by the rules and do everything by the book, or will you break the rules that need to get things done?

Gameplay

Shadows of Doubt is the detective Minecraft game you didn’t know you needed.

The game comes with two modes: a prewritten mystery to solve and an open-world sandbox. The prewritten mystery acts like the game’s tutorial. It is a decent mystery that offers the player direction, but enough freedom to explore the game at their own pace. The sandbox is where the game is like Minecraft. Players are given a randomly generated city to clean up and absolute freedom. Players must find their own cases and explore the city with a lot less guidance.

To solve a case, players will need to collect clues using various tools, interrogate NPCs, and piece the clues together on their murder board. Sometimes players will need to sneak around, turning Shadows of Doubt into an intense stealth game. Other times, players might need to break the law and avoid getting fined. What gives Shadows of Doubt its true unique flavor is that it provides its players the freedom to solve a case in whatever way best fits their playstyle.

Does it work on the Steam Deck?

Shadows of Doubt works fine on the Steam Deck, but it is a few updates short of being perfect. The game is playable on the Steam Deck, but players will experience bugs, glitches, and frame drops. I thought the game worked well enough to have fun, and I am sure it will be the perfect casual experience once the developers get the performance issues sorted. The game is still in 1.0, with more updates planned for the future.

Review

Shadows of Doubt is a fantastic sandbox with a lot going for it. Fans of Minecraft will appreciate the vibe and aesthetic, but will also enjoy the questing aspect of it. While the mysteries do start to feel a bit repetitive after a while, the freedom to pull some absurd nonsense to solve a case more than makes up for it.

For one of my missions, I broke every law I could and shamelessly racked up a fine I could never pay back. When the cops came searching for me, I hid in the closet before playing the most intense stealth game of my life. This isn’t a hard stealth game, but it is a memorable one.

The detective mechanics are fine. This game does feel a bit more casual than other games in the genre, but the game does enough to keep things interesting. Performance issues can be a problem. I never had the game crash on me, nor any of the bug’s game-breaking, but it does feel unfinished. The roughness gives the game its character. With a few more updates, which the devs have been updating, Shadows of Doubt will be a fantastic casual game for any mood.

If you don’t mind the roughness, like detective games, and want a casual open-world experience, Shadows of Doubt should at least be on your wishlist. This is the game you get when you need a break from Minecraft, or want something that feels like Minecraft without the building. This is great for kids, and even better for adults who want a game that isn’t a huge commitment and gives them the freedom to mess around.

You can pick up Shadows of Doubt on Steam, Xbox and PlayStation for $24.99

Board Games and TCGs

The Lost Mountain Saga is a Fantastic and Dark Vaesen Mystery

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I was sent a free copy of Vaesen: The Lost Mountain Saga 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 opinions of the campaign book.

What is Vaesen: The Lost Mountain Saga

The Lost Mountain Saga is a stand-alone mystery that you can run in any Vaesen campaign. Note that you will need access to the core rulebook if you want to run this adventure.

The northern Swedish city of Abisko used to be a prosperous mining town till the mines went dry. A recent gold rush has reopened the town for business, but not without events. There is something strange happening to the town, and it’s unclear what. Kids go missing in the night, livestock is slaughtered for no reason, and some people hear mysterious disembodied laughter. Fear is taking its hold, creating tension between its citizens. There is a witch hunt brewing, and The Society seems to be the only organization to help restore the peace to this sleepy mountain peace. Can your party find the truth before it is too late?

The Book

This book is printed in impeccable quality. It looks and feels like an old fairytale book. It has a textured hard cover and is printed on thick high-quality paper. Most importantly, the illustrations in this book are beautiful. The colors are vibrant and the art style is unique and thematic. You can always get the PDF version of this adventure, but the book is going to pop on any table.

Impressions

The Lost Mountain Saga is a valuable resource for the GM who needs a place to start or just wants to run a prewritten adventure. This book isn’t mandatory, but it is nice to have. This is a high-quality book with a solid adventure that will run great at any table. The book features a solid mystery with all the resources a GM needs to run it properly, provided they have a table for enthusiastic players to help bring the story to life.

The story is a little dark, as is expected from Vaesen, some trigger warnings may be required. The story is fine for my table, but the millage always varies. Make sure you always talk to your players.

The Lost Mountain Saga is a great resource for those who need it. If your looking for a new mystery to run for your next campaign, this is a good place to start.

You can pick up the book for $34.46 on Amazon, and the pdf for $19.99 on DriveThru RPG.

Board Games and TCGs

Vaesen is the Prettiest Mystery TTRPG You Need at Your Table

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

What is Vaesen?

Long ago, Vaesen and man lived side by side in harmony. Vaesen are powerful creatures with the power to control the world around it. Man would make offerings to the Vaesen in exchange for their powers. The Vaesen would make it rain, fill the forests with game, and anything else supernatural. As the industrial age dawned on Sweden, people began their migration to the big cities. Soon, there was no need for the Vaesen’s power and they slowly faded into fairy tales. Most lost their ability to see Vaesen.

Man may have lost their ability to see Vaesen, but the creatures live on in their separate world alongside man. The Vaesen keep to themselves for the most part. Occasionally, however, man’s impact on the planet goes too far and sends the Vaesen into a terrorizing rage. Stories circulate of castles haunted by terrifying ghosts, of witches that snatch up children in the middle of the night, or of trolls terrorizing villages. The people have learned to cope with the unexplainable, and most have forgotten about the Vaesen.

But not all is lost. The society was formed to keep man safe from rampaging Vaesen. The society is a secret organization made up of the few people left in this world with the ability to see Vaesen. People gain this ability by experiencing some kind of supernatural trauma. While these folks may not be the most stable, they are humanity’s only hope.

Gather your friends as you investigate the supernatural in this dark and edgy tabletop roleplaying game. Can you bring peace to the Vaesen before it is too late?

The book

The Veasen core rulebook is the prettiest RPG book you’re ever going to own. The cover and pages are textured to feel like an old book. The formatting is easy to read and search through. The illustrations in this book are breathtaking. The art style is amazing and the use of color is astounding. I’ve read this book as a PDF, but nothing beats flipping through its pages. This is a very high-quality book and one that elevates the look and feel of any bookcase and table.

Gameplay


Vaesen is a D6 system that is easy to learn. Players will spend their sessions investigating mysteries and trying to bring peace to a raging Vaesen. This doesn’t have to mean combat. Vaesen seems to be a more roleplay-heavy system due to how investigations work, but you can always adjust the rules to fit the needs of your table. If you would like to learn how to play Vaesen before picking up the game, AlchemyRPG has a solid tutorial series. They also have a very good official module for their VTT. If you’re planning to run Vaesen online and don’t mind doing it through theater of the mind, AlchemyRPG might be the solution you’re looking for. I am not affiliated with the company, I just like the module.

Impressions

Veasen is a terrific RPG that deserves some attention. The system is unique and easy to learn, and the book is full of fantastic lore and flavor. The rulebook contains everything Gamemaster’s need to run a successful mystery, and there is even a prewritten module for those who need it. I felt like the system is better when players can get into character, struggle with their flaws, and roleplay through the investigation. While I am sure you can make the adjustments to focus on the needs of your table, the game is meant to be a monster of the week mystery-type game. I do like that there is a combat and skill system because things are better with RNG. Besides, it doesn’t matter what type of game you want to run, you’re players are always going to want to hit things.

The game has a tremendous amount of flavor. Even if you don’t end up playing a game of Vaesen, it’s going to be hard not to, you’re going to enjoy reading through the monster profiles. The lore is so good, and it reads like a fairy tale. The classes are all unique, but I like that they aren’t restricting. Classes feel like they are suggestions for roleplay because players have the freedom to play the character how they want. I like that the book gives a good amount of ideas for all sorts of creation for those who need it. The book ends with a well-written first mystery, making the core rulebook an invaluable resource for both players and gamemasters looking into running the game.

If you enjoy murder mystery roleplay, dig the 20’s aesthetic, or want something new to run at your table, check out Veasen. It is a beautiful book with some amazing lore that belongs on a lot more tables.

You can pick up the Vaesen rulebook in Hardcover on Amazon for $49.99 (Currently $40.79) through my affiliate link. If you don’t care about physical media, you can grab the PDF over on DriveThruRPG for $24.99.

gaming news

Escape Tales: Awakening is Coming to Steam and it Looks Good

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Bluekey Games is making the Escape Tales: The Awakening board game into a video game, and it looks promising. If you’re a fan of escape rooms, puzzle games, and narrative driven games where your choices matter, you want Escape Tales: The Awakening on your Steam Wishlist.

Hook

Sam’s daughter has inexplicitly fallen into a coma. Without any other family left in this world, Sam is willing to do anything to get her back. Fate drops “The book of Rituals” into Sam’s life, and now he finds himself in an unprecedented battle against unknown forces. Sam now fights to keep his sanity in the hopes of finding the power to wake his child from her eternal slumber. Do you have what it takes?

What is Escape Tales: The Awakening?

Escape Tales is a popular series of escape room board games. The video game adaptation promises the spirit of the series with features only achievable through video games. Gamers will collect clues, enjoy open exploration, solve puzzles, and enjoy an engaging narrative. The choices the player will matter and result in multiple endings, giving The Awakening some significant replay value. There is no time limit, and each puzzle will have various solutions. The Awakening promises to test a player’s problem-solving skills, moral compass, and decision-making. Seems like a solid deal for fans of the genre.

Impressions

I love puzzle games, and Escape Tales: The Awakening has me excited. What I’ve seen of the gameplay so far has me interested, and the story has me hooked. I am not familiar with board games, but I feel like it’s better to go into a puzzle game blind. I’ll be working on getting my review copy, so stay tuned for that.

Escape Tales: The Awakening is expected to release on Steam later this year, so make sure you add it your Wishlist.

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.