I enjoy a good visual novel every now and again. I love to see the unique ways they approach narrative and enjoy the change of pace they allow. The first game I was ever sent to review was a Visual Novel, and I always look back on it fondly. Since then, I keep an eye on what is happening in the genre for my collection. When I saw the announcement for Death Trick: Double Blind, I knew I needed to play it. The art is beautiful, and I am always in the market for a good mystery.
A great magician has been murdered, and it is up to players to piece together clues to solve his murder before the circus leaves town. The game allows players to switch between two playable characters: the detective investigating the case and the magician’s replacement. Players can explore the circus grounds, interview suspects, and collect clues. Can you piece it all together before time runs out?
I love the aesthetic of this game. The colors, character design, and the world make something I want to explore. The developers promise a mystery that won’t soft lock if you solve the mystery early and a different interaction every time you talk to an NPC. If you enjoy the genre and need a new game to add to your collection, check out Death Trick: Double Blind today!
Death Trick: Double Blind releases on Steam later this year, but you can Wishlist the game and sign up for the playtest today. Don’t forget to follow the Noen Doctorine on their socials for all the news: Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Discord!
IGF’s Big Winner: Betrayal at Club Low
Betrayal at Club Low is a strange little indie game that took home this year’s Nuovo Award and the Seumas McNally Grand Prize. This game is a surreal journey through a silly story that is sure to delight its players.
An old acquaintance goes missing in the town’s new nightclub. You must put your skills of deception to the test as you go undercover to bring him back. Do you have what it takes to sneak in without being noticed?
The game borrows from mechanics from tabletop RPGs that are well-implemented. Outcomes hinge on the luck of the dice, and your decisions matter. The game promises 11 different endings, securing its replay value. I only got to play this game a bit during GDC, and I liked the vibe it gave out. It was weird, silly, and it has a fantastic soundtrack.
If you like tabletop RPGs and want a unique experience, check out Betrayal at Club Low. I’ll be trying to get myself a copy to review, but you can buy it on Steam for $9.99.
Excellence in Visual Arts: RPG Time: The Legend of Wright
The Independent Games Festival (IGF) awards have just wrapped and it was a pretty impressive lineup of games. I got to try a few of them and was impressed by the unique collection put on display. I will be covering all the games that were nominated, but I will start. I think it is only fair to give these games their own posts because they were all so different and deserving of the same time and attention.
The winner for the Excellence in Visual Art category was the adventure game RPG Time: The Legend of Wright by the publisher, DeskWorks Inc. This quirky little RPG combines a series of genres with its unique hand-drawn art style. The game feels like it happens on top of a desktop as you shift between different game types. It is cool to see this game come to life. I can see why it has already one a lot of awards. If you are looking for something truly unique and quirky, check out RPG Time: The Legend of Wright. You can play this game on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox, and Steam for $29.99. Its on sale on Nintendo for $15.99 till March 31, 2023, and Xbox has it for $16.49 till March 28, 2023. Now might be a great time to pick it up if you have either of those consoles. I’ll be adding this to the games I need to try, and hopefully, come back with a full review soon.
