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video game reviews

Highwater: The Quirky Little Satire That Could

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I want to give a huge shoutout to Fanny2pac for buying me coffee! Your support means so much to me. I need my caffeine to function and every little bit counts. I hope you continue to enjoy my content, and I’ll do my best to make sure is good! Thank you so much!

I was sent Highwater 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 of the game. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Make sure you follow the socials, and you can always buy me coffee!

What is Highwater?

Highwater is an action turn-based RPG out now for on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, PC via Steam and Epic Games, and on Netflix Games for Android and IOS devices.

A great flood has changed the course of human history. Society now exists on the few remaining high rises that peak over its endless oceans. For a time, survivors adjusted to this new normal. A new society birthed from the old, and those who fill it do what they can to survive. 

But with each passing day, the situation grows dire. Hostility between the fragmented factions grows as the food and resources grow scarce. There are rumors of a rocket to Mars. Rumors of an elite controlling the narrative. Travel as Nikos and his companions over flooded terrain and uncover the truth. Can you find a better life behind the fortified walls that surround Alphaville, or is this endless suffering the hopeless conclusion of Highwater? 

Gameplay

Maps will have items or special terrain that a player can interact with to gain a tactical advantage. For example, a player can pick up a rock to throw, knock an enemy into a hole, or run into them with a shopping cart. This gives players the unique freedom to solve a combat in creative and fun ways. 

Highwater also has an exploration mechanic where players move through the flooded world to collect items and lore. Exploration is built on a railroad, but that doesn’t make exploration any less fun. 

Thoughts

I loved Highwater. I am a huge fan of the art style, the tone was the perfect kind of quirky, and the gameplay is phenomenal. Most importatly, Highwater has one of the best soundtracks I’ve heard all year. If you enjoy Indie music, you need to play this game. I’ll leave you with a taste to get you hyped for this title. 

I enjoyed the story and collecting all the bits of lore around the world. Some of the social commentary is a bit on the nose, but it is solid satire. Keep in mind that the story is short, but you’ll get $20 worth of fun. 

Gameplay is simple when you compare it to other games in the genre. This could be because they needed to dumb it down so it could be played on mobile devices, or because they wanted to focus on the narrative. Either way, combat and exploration make for a relaxing and enjoyable experience. 

If you’re looking for a game that isn’t a huge commitment and fun, check out Highwater. It’s a solid and unique experience that you should check out at least once, even if you have to wait for a sale. 

You can pick up Highwater on Xbox, Playstation, Switch, and PC via Steam and Epic Games for $19.99. It is currently on sale on Xbox, Switch, Steam and Epic Games for $15.99 until March 21st. If you have Netflix, you can play it for free on your Android and IOS devices. 

video game reviews

Cat and the Ghostly Road is a Cute and Spooky Adventure

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I was sent Cat and Ghostly Road 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 of the game. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is Cat and Ghostly Road?

Cat and Ghostly us a cute point & click 2D adventure out now for Xbox, Switch, and Steam.

An old painter rescues a white cat from certain death and takes it as his own. For a time, the painter and the cat lived peaceful lives in the countryside. But their peace is not permanent. One night, a spirit comes and steals the painter’s soul, leaving him to die slowly in his peaceful cottage. The white cat must now venture into the spirit world and bring him back. Can he find his way to the painter in time, or will the be another pair of lost souls in the Ghostly Road?

Gameplay

The game is a point-and-click narrative that you unlock by solving specific clues. As the cat travels through the spirit world, players will need to pick up objects and interact with the world in a specific way to progress through the story. It is like a visual novel with a few extra steps, a solid story, and cool artwork. Ironically, my Gato died so I wasn’t able to record, but I don’t think the gameplay was all that interesting unless you’re invested in the story.

Thoughts

Cat and Ghostly Road has a good story and fantastic lore. I was fully invested in the adventure, but the game isn’t without its issues. The game felt buggy at times, and the controls felt clunky and slow. There were points in this game where I got frustrated because of how tedious it is to pick up and combine objects. Other objects and objectives aren’t intuitive or easy to see. If you’re trying to complete the game and earn all the achievements, you’re going to need a guide. You should probably look up a guide for the more frustrating objectives. 

That said, I enjoyed the game. I did need to take more breaks than usual because the gameplay destroyed my hands, but I didn’t have to convince myself too hard to come back and power through. I did play the Xbox version. The experience may be different on PC. It isn’t going be for everyone. The game is a little slow, and it involves a lot of reading. If you’re looking for a nice read, you can’t go wrong with Cat and Ghostly Road. 

You can pick up Cat and the Ghostly Road on Xbox and Switch for $9.99 and Steam for $6.99.

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Preorder Interactive Mystery Novel: Death Trick Double Blind

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I was sent Death Trick Double Blind early to test. The game releases in a few days, and while I didn’t receive explicit embargo terms, I won’t be reviewing the game too deeply until after its release just in case. This will only be my honest first impressions of the game. 

If you enjoy my reviews or any of my other content, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Make sure you also follow the socials!

What is Death Trick Double Blind?

Death Trick Double Blind is a mystery visual novel coming to Steam (3/11/24) and Nintendo Switch (3/14/24). I was sent the PC version for early testing.

Morgan’s Traveling Circus has lost its star performer, and it is up to you to figure out what really happened. Take control of a detective and a replacement magical are called in to investigate the disappearance. As you switch between both unique perspectives, you’ll search for clues, interrogate the suspects, and piece together your own conclusion. Can you solve this case and bring peace and justice to the big top?

Gameplay

Players switch between the two investigators and use their turn to gather clues and information. Each turn gives players a limited number of action points to conduct their investigation. You do have to ask questions in the right order or risk angering a suspect and losing your leads. This type of freedom leaves the game open to multiple endings and gives it a lot of replay value. Death Trick Double Blind is a mystery book where you affect the outcome. 

Impressions

I was first drawn to this title because the art is fantastic and the concept is interesting. So far, I am impressed. I love the aesthetic and I always appreciate a good visual novel. As far as the writing goes, Death Trick Double Blind is a solid mystery. It has nice pacing and good characters, and I enjoyed reading it. There is no voice acting, so people who don’t like reading should stay away. For everyone else, it’s worth checking out.

You can preorder Death Trick Double Blind on Steam and Nintendo Switch for $15.99. At the very least try the Switch demo, or add it to your wishlist. It is currently on 10% off on the Nintendo eShop until the games launch on the 14th. 

video game reviews

Sega Cult Classic, Slave Zero is Back and Better Than Ever

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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! 

What is Slave Zero X

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.

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Pokémon Presents Announces Two New Games

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In honor of Pokémon Day, the Pokémon Company has released a special Pokémon Presents where they have made a few exciting announcements. While I am sure there are some disappointed fans out there, there is a bit of news that I am very hopeful about. I’m only covering the news that I am most excited about, but you should check out the whole event for anything I skip.

If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. If you need some Pokémon cards like the upcoming Temporal Forces set (Booster Boxes currently $104) get it over at TCG Player using my affiliate links. It really helps me out!

Pokemon Horizons: The Series

While I was very sad for Ash and Pikachu’s adventure to end, I am very excited for the upcoming anime. Pokémon always makes for comforting anime, and we can always use a little comfort in our lives. Pokémon Horizons: The Series premiers on Netflix on March 7, so let the countdown begin!

Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket

The most exciting announcement for me was the Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket coming sometime this year on Android and IOS devices. Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket looks like a gotcha version of the TCG. Players can open two packs a day for free, which suggests you can buy more through either an in-game currency or real money. This does raise some flags as the game can become predatory quickly, but I am not too worried. The game comes from the folks who brought us Masters, and Masters didn’t feel bad when I played it. I don’t think it will be as generous as PTCGL, but I doubt it will be as bad as Unite. 

The idea of the game is to have players crack packs, and build a community around it. Players can build their collections, trade with friends and people around the world, and battle others. The idea of building a community around collecting Pokémon cards is always exciting, I just hope they don’t make it impossible to complete a set without spending hundreds of dollars. 

The quick battles are what interests me the most about this app. The game promises a more streamlined gameplay with the convenience of being able to play anywhere. While I am worried about the pay-to-win potential of PVP, anything that brings people into the hobby is fine by me. 

Pokémon isn’t the most complicated TCG, but I’ve seen people be intimidated by all its moving parts. Having a streamlined version of the game gets people excited about the game without overwhelming them. Depending on the gameplay, Pocket may be able to bring casual collectors into the space and turn them into players. 

What makes Pocket unique is that it will introduce new art and animation of cards so that players and collectors can interact with the hobby in a unique way. Pocket introduces “immersive cards” which allow players to leap into the illustration. Again, I hope they make these easy to collect, but as a casual collector, I am excited. 

I wonder if this is Pokémon answer to Heartsone? I wonder how much GOTCHA is involved? There are still a lot of questions about the game, and I’ll have to see more before I can form any impressions, but I am excited for now. 

Pokémon Legends: Z-A

The teaser for Pokémon Legends: Z-A is vague, but I know Lumiose City anywhere. It seems like the next Legends game is taking place entirely in Lumiose City. X and Y are my favorite generation. I put too many hours into the game, and I am excited to go back. All we can do is speculate until the next announcement, but I am excited! The game launches sometimes next year on the Nintendo Switch. 

video game reviews

Rhapsody III: Memories of Marl Kingdom is the cutest retro RPG

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I was sent Rhapsody III: Memories of Marl Kingdom 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. 

Rhapsody III: Memories of Marl Kingdom has finally come to the West, and fans of the original can now enjoy this cute and quirky RPG on their favorite modern console.

Synopsis

Though true love is the destination, there are many magical paths that can lead you to it. Experience the stories of Cornet, the queen of Marl Kingdom, her daughter Kururu, the “Tomboy Princess,” and other lovestruck souls in Marl Kingdom, all of which span the past, present, and future of the Rhapsody series. Tales of true love both new and old await you, including the fate of Kururu’s impending marriage, two star crossed lovers and their warring families, and the journey of Cornet’s mother, Cherie. The trials and tribulations each of these characters face will put their hearts to the test like never before. Will true love truly prevail?

Gameplay

Combat is straightforward, but the randomness of the ally attacks is what makes it exciting. I loved it when my little buddies took the initiative and took the last hit on a boss I had trouble with. There is a grind like there is in most games of the genre, but there is an auto-battle feature that makes it manageable.

If you enjoy retro RPGs, especially from the early 2000s, you’re going to want to look into this game. While the game runs fine, it feels like an older game. This isn’t a criticism, but it is something to think about. The PC port runs fine, but there are some stutters in performance, and some of the interactions are a bit finicky. I enjoyed it for the cute retro experience that it is.

Story

The story is adorable. I love the tone, and the musical numbers were appreciated. I haven’t played any other games in the Rhapsody saga, but I didn’t feel the need. The story is relatively self-contained except for a few references to previous titles. Even when these references showed up, I didn’t feel like it took away from experience. The characters are all unique and adorable, and I enjoyed the general silliness of the adventure.

Conclusion

Despite some minor performance issues, I enjoyed the game. The art is cute, the music is fantastic, and the gameplay is relaxing. I loved reliving the classic era of RPG and found the game’s quirks a refreshing change of pace. If you enjoy retro RPGs and want something cute to fool around in, check out Rhapsody III: Memories of Marl Kingdom.

You can pick up Rhapsody III: Memories of Marl Kingdom for $49.99 on PlayStation, Switch, and Steam ($24.99). There is also a collectors edition available on the official NIS store for fans of the series who want some extra goodies. The bundle includes:

  • Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles Deluxe Edition
  • “Memories in Melody” Hardcover Art Book
  • “Ballad of the Little Princess” 2-disc Original Soundtrack
  • “Memories of Marl Kingdom” 2-disc Original Soundtrack
  • “Royal Crescendo” Art Cards (Set of 3)
  • “A Duet of Adventure” Acrylic Display
  • “Generations of Song” Acrylic Display
  • “The Show Must Go On” Cloth Poster
  • Collector’s Box
video game reviews

SteamWorld Build A Cute New Casual Village Builder with a Twist!

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I was sent SteamWorld Build as a review code. 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 me a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.

SteamWorld Build launches on Xbox, Switch, PlayStation, and Steam on December 1st. If you enjoy village builders or are in the market for a new game, you need to buy this game.

Take command of a group of robot settlers as they make their last-ditch effort to escape a dying planet. Together, they must build a settlement, recruit new citizens, and mine for the materials that will lead to salvation. But getting off-world won’t be easy. Can you find a way off the planet before the monsters destroy your settlement?

SteamWorld Build is an adorable addition to the SteamWorld universe and a must-have for any fan of the series. The game does a wonderful job of capturing the quirky and delightful vibe of the franchise without sacrificing any of the fun. You don’t need to have played any of the other games to understand the story, but you are going to want to after. SteamWorld games are always a quirky good time and a fantastic addition to any library.

The art, graphics, and animation for this game are adorable. The scrappy design reminds me of the Warhammer 40k Ork Aesthetic, and I love it! If you are a fan of the SteamWorld games, you’ll appreciate the attention to detail put into capturing the essence of the series. If you aren’t a fan, you’ll appreciate the amount of detail put into bringing this world to life. Little details like watching them walk through the wash or getting a drink at the saloon as they carry on their tasks make the experience feel vibrant and alive.

Be prepared to lose a couple of days as you scrutinize the most efficient way to grow your settlement. I had so much fun with SteamWorld Build that it became an addiction. I restarted a few times as I tried the different maps and strategies until finally forcing myself away long enough to write this review. The casual gameplay yet engaging gameplay, the cute and quirky gameplay, and the pacing all come together to create an experience worth having.

SteamWorld Build is a fantastic blend of village building, resource management, and tower defense. It starts like any traditional village builder, with limited resources and a space to build. As the settlement grows, new mechanics are introduced to keep the game feeling fresh. Each world is split into four levels, each with unique gameplay and design. At the top is a basic settlement game where players recruit new citizens, keep them happy, and trade with the passing train. Lower levels introduce a mining game where players dig for resources, maintain the mine’s stability, and defend against oncoming threats. The lower you go, the more dangerous it is. It feels like playing three games at once, but it never becomes overwhelming. Building inefficiently does impede your progression, but I wouldn’t worry about that until your second or third playthrough. I recommend you go into this game as blindly as possible before looking up guides because learning from your mistakes is half the fun.

I love SteamWorld Build and recommend anyone looking for a new game these holidays to pick it up. It’s cute, it’s casual, and an addicting amount of fun. SteamWorld comes out on Xbox, Switch, PlayStation, and Steam on December 1st. Don’t forget to wishlist if you haven’t done so already!

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Folktale Strategy game Howl out now on PC and Switch

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Howl is the game from this month’s Indie World Showcase that I was most excited about. The art style is beautiful, the hook is interesting, and the gameplay seems fun. The game is out now on Steam and Switch fpr $14.99, and will release on Xbox, PlayStation, and Epic Games on January 23rd. I was going to pick this game up regardless, but I was fortunate enough to have been sent a copy for review. I’ll be posting my full impressions soon, so stay tuned for that. 

Howl is a uniquely stylized strategy game with a lovely classic folktale vibe. You play as a deaf girl who must brave the world’s dangers in search of a cure for a disease that ravages humanity. The disease is turning everyone who hears into beasts, and she is the only one who is immune to its effects. She must now fight the beasts that hunt her, save any remaining survivors, and become the hero fate needs her to be. 

Howl isn’t your traditional turn-based strategy game. It plays like a puzzle where you must predict enemy moves and use resources efficiently. Howl seems like a nice change in pace from the norm, and I am here for it. Definitely check it out if you want to add something unique to your library. 

You can pick up Howl now on Switch and Steam, or wishlist on PlayStation, Xbox, and Epic Games. There is a demo available for Steam, Switch, and Xbox.

If you enjoy these updates, make sure you leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee. 

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Worldless: A minimilistic but Beautiful RPG Platformer

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I was sent Worldless as a review code. 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 or any of my other content, leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee. 

Worldless is a minimalistic 2D platformer with unique turn-based RPG combat. You can pick it up on Switch, PlayStation, or Xbox on November 21st, but you can pick it up now on Steam. 

In a newly formed universe, the forces within it fight to establish order. You’ve awoken in this fight and must brave through this conflict to find your place within it. What secrets will you uncover?

This game is one of the most beautiful experiences I’ve had with a game this year. I love the minimalistic artwork, the vibrant world design, and the atmospheric soundtrack. It is so cool to watch the world change around your character as you move through your adventure. I can recommend this game on looks alone, but the gameplay is also fun. 

Worldless’ gameplay is split into two parts: platforming and combat. I am an awful platformer, but the platforming is manageable. I found the experience rather soothing, especially when paired with everything that makes the game so beautiful. 

Combat is where most of the challenge lies. The combat system is a unique turn-based system you need to experience at least once. Worldless is a lot more involved than your traditional turn-based RPG. On a player’s turn, you can choose between a combination of magic and physical attacks. On an enemy’s turn, you must time your blocks to mitigate damage. Each enemy feels unique, and the game does a fantastic job of providing visual cues to help players time their blocks and figure out weaknesses. You’ll pick upgrades along the way that will give you access to new abilities and powerups, but I never felt like they made the encounters too easy. While some of them are easy, it was so satisfying to beat an enemy that was giving me trouble. 

I got to play an early version of Worldless at GDC and have been excited to play it since. I am pleased to write that I was not disappointed by its release. The game can be a relaxing good time, but there is enough of a challenge to keep things engaging. If you are looking for something different and beautiful to add to your collection, go check out Worldless. You can pick it up for $19.99 on Switch, PlayStation, Xbox and PC. There are also demos available for PC and Xbox if you need more convincing. 

video game reviews

Haunted House: A Spooky Stealthy Roguelite Adventure

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I was sent Haunted House as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I will not let it sway my opinions. This will be an honest review of the game. If you enjoy my reviews, leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. If you want to show your support, you can always buy me coffee. 

Haunted House is a roguelite reimagining of the Atari classic of the same name out now for Xbox, Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam and Epic Games. 

Famous treasure hunter Zachary Graves has gone missing, and it is up to his niece to find him. Play as Lyn as she makes her way through a ghost-infested mansion in search of a way to bring him back. As Lyn, you’ll have to solve puzzles, sneak carefully, and occasionally fight to survive. Can you stay alive long enough to bring your uncle back? 

Haunted House has fantastic flavor. The isometric design and cartoonish art style give it its classic feeling flare, while the mechanics and atmosphere it creates make it appropriately creepy. Halloween may be over, but this is the perfect addition to any spooky playlist. 

If you are a fan of stealth games, you are going to want to look into Haunted House. Don’t let the game’s cutesy aesthetics fool you. This is an unforgiving roguelike, and you will die a lot. While this game does offer players ways to fight off the ghouls and ghosts that roam the manner, it is almost always better to tread lightly. This game is punishing if you try to fight through every encounter. Although I don’t have the patience for it, I found sneaking to be exciting and fun. 

Like most games in the genre, the Haunted House gameplay look is a bit repetitive. Players will explore the manor one room at a time while completing similar tasks. Between each round, players have a chance to buy the upgrades that will help them venture deeper into the castle. I enjoyed the repetition and found the gameplay loop rather relaxing. While the stress and fear of getting caught loomed with each playthrough, I had a lot of fun exploring the manor, completing each room, and getting farther each time. 

I enjoyed my time with Haunted Mansion, and recommend it even if it isn’t Halloween. It’s cute with an engaging gameplay loop and has a classic feel without feeling too old for the current generation. If you have kids, it is a solid inoffensive game to add to their collection. If you don’t have kids but are looking for a stealth game that isn’t too stressful, you’ll definitely get $20 of fun out of it. 

You can pick up Haunted House on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and PC via Steam and Epic Games for $19.99.