Tag Archives: relaxing

video game reviews

Rise of Gun Review: A Unique Shop Simulator Experience

Leave a comment

Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Rise of Gun 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-Promotion

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.

What is Rise of Gun?

Rise of Gun is a quirky shop simulator out now on Steam.

The world has been overrun by zombies. The last remaining survivors hold up in walled cities and fend off against an endless waves of undead. You and your shop are the only thing that stands between salvation and complete zombification. Gather materials, discover new guns, and sell provide the town with the arsenal that prevent the end of humanity. Can you create a thriving business from the wreckage of the old world, or will you be another failed shop on main street.

Gameplay

Rise of Gun is not a zombie survival game, but rather a shop simulator. You do not kill zombies. Instead, players are building a business. Players will build guns to sell to customers, and use the profits from the sales to upgrade their business. There is a story and quests, but players can choose to chill and run a gun store which is what I ended up doing.

Review

Rise of Gun will definitely have its niche. As far as shop sims go, the game is solid. Everything runs well, the flavor and quirks are fun, and the gameplay loop is relaxing. My issue with the game is that the tutorial is a little confusing, but sticking with the game will pay off. Another issue I have with the game is that it doesn’t always run well. It isn’t unplayable, but I did encounter a few performance issues that I couldn’t ignore.

There is a story to this game. The story is fine, I just didn’t explore it too deeply because I kept getting distracted building weapons for my shop. I love that I can make some rediculous looking guns without restrictions.

If you are trying to play this game as an action survival, you will be disappointed. You don’t fight zombies in this game. I don’t think you need to fight zombies in this game to have fun, but it is something to note. Overall, Rise of Gun is a solid game that is worth trying if you. It has a fun whimsical art that matches its its tone, and a relaxing gameplay loop that is always good to have in your rotation.

You can pick up Rise of Gun for only $10.99 on Steam.

video game reviews

Aarik & the Ruined Kingdom: A Unique Puzzle Adventure Game

Leave a comment

Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Aarik & the Ruined Kingdom 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.

Some Self Promotion & Affiliates

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. If you would like to start your own blog on WordPress, sign up using my Affiliate Link!

What is Aarik & the Ruined Kingdom?

Aarik & the Ruined Kingdom is an adorable and creative puzzle adventure game out now on Steam.

The Kingdom is in disrepair, your father is bed ridden, and your mother is missing. Travel to the farthest reaches, through the thickest forests, the coldest tundras, and the strangest castles to put everything back together. Using your the power of your father’s crown, you must move objects and shift perspectives to solve the kingdom’s many puzzles. Do you have what it takes?

Gameplay

Aarik is a puzzle game with a unique mechanic. Every level in this game is out or whack, and it is up to the player to put it back together before they can move to the next one. Using the power of the crown, players will play with the camera perspective to create new paths, move objects, and collect treasure. Players clear a level when they have successfully made it to the level’s endpoint.

Review

Aarik & the Ruined Kingdom is the relaxing and cozy puzzler that needs to be in your library, especially if you enjoy puzzle games. The story is nice, the art is cute, and the puzzles are creative. The game runs smoothly, and each puzzle is both flavorful and unique. What I loved most about the game is having to turn the camera to solve puzzles. Shifting the perspective would create new paths, and using the different available powers made for some interesting and memorable problem solving.

Aarik & the Ruined Kingdom is the cutest puzzle game you’ll play this year with some fun and creative puzzles and solid flavor. It is a little wonky on the Steam Deck, but once you get used to the control scheme, it is not so bad. It isn’t unplayable, it just feels better with a keyboard and mouse.

You can pick up Aarik & the Ruined Kingdom on Steam for only $7.99. There is also a demo available if you don’t believe me.

video game reviews

Skybreakers is fine for what it is

Leave a comment

I was sent Skybreakers for free as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I will not let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, make sure you leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee. 

Skybreakers is an action-packed roguelike available now on Steam. It has cool flavor, cooler art, and a solid gameplay loop. Players must survive against waves of enemies and the occasional boss. There is a story, but you’re mainly playing this game for the combat. 

Players have access to four playable heroes, three of which need to be unlocked. Each character has its unique flavor and playstyle, and I enjoyed them all. Some of them need a few upgrades before they get fun, but I have no overwhelming complaints. Between each round, players can purchase upgrades with resources they earn throughout the round. These upgrades are determined by RNG, but I felt that the RNG is fair. The top-down style makes the game feel like a MOBA but with a focus on combat. Combat is simplified to movement, a basic attack, a special attack, and whatever effects you pick up along the run. 

Skybreakers gets busy with its effects, but it never gets overwhelming or confusing. As simple as this game may seem, there is still some thought involved when it comes to upgrading a hero and moving them through combat. You won’t need to look up guides or keep a notebook, but it won’t be mindless either. 

I enjoyed Skybreakers, but it definitely isn’t something that I can play for too long. While the game is fun, combat gets repetitive after a couple of runs. The RNG heroes give the game some replayability, but they aren’t enough to make this anybody’s main game. You’ll get $9 of fun from this game, shelve it, and either forget you own it or pull it out when you need it. If you’re looking for something simple and fun that doesn’t require much commitment, Skybreakers is a solid choice. 

You can pick up Skybreakers on Steam for $8.99.

gaming news

Terra Memoria: The cozy turn-based RPG coming to consoles and PC

Leave a comment

Terra Memoria is a cozy turn-based RPG coming to Steam, Xbox, PS5, and Switch. This cute RPG mixes a beautifully drawn 3D world with cute 2D pixel art characters and I am here for it. It definitely gives me some Octopath Traveller vibes, but Terra Memoria seems a bit more whimsical.  Terra Memoria puts its emphasis on exploration and adventure as a group of friends travel across Terra in search of a solution for the crystal shortage. What makes this game unique is its building mechanic. Players can use this mechanic to create objects, solve puzzles, and create their own village. If is anything like Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley, I’m never getting anything done. 

If you are looking for a new RPG that might be a bit more on the casual side, you should give this a look. No release date has been set yet, but you can at least wishlist it on Steam.

I’m working on getting a review code for this, so stay tuned for the full review when it’s out. Until then, It might be time to finally start up Octopath Traveller II. 

If you’ve been enjoying these updates, don’t forget to like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends!

video game reviews

The Wandering Village: A cute casual village builder you need to try once

Leave a comment
If you have been enjoying my content and want to support what I do make sure you like, comment, subscribe, and share this with your friends. You can also buy me a coffee

I was sent The Wandering Village 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.

The Wandering Village is a cute and casual village builder with beautiful art, interesting mechanics, and a solid soundtrack. This game easily became one of my favorites due to its casual atmosphere. This game is simple enough to pick up quickly but offers enough of a challenge without becoming overwhelming. This game is the perfect entry point to the genre and a fantastic addition to any library. 

The world has become toxic and uninhabitable. The few remaining survivors have found refuge on the back of a giant wandering beast, the Onbu. Together you will wander the world as you attempt to rebuild a symbiotic civilization on the back of the Onbu. 

The Wandering Village is a beautiful game with many moving parts. I recommend you play a few runs without looking up guides. I believe most of the fun is trying to figure out how to grow your village properly, failing, and doing it better the next time around. I am sure there is an optimal way of running through this game, but I had as much fun failing as when everything was running smoothly. This game is casual enough that guides aren’t necessary.

The Wandering Village is one of the more casual village builders I’ve played. Worker, resource, and resource management are challenging enough to keep the game engaging without becoming overwhelming. There are settings you can tweak that makes the management mechanics more difficult, but I never felt like it lost its casual vibe. What does create a challenge is adapting to the random encounters throughout the Onbu’s journey. The types of scouting missions that become available, the types of biomes it walks through, and the Onbu’s health all affect the growth of your village. Players will often have to readjust quickly to changes. I lost a few villages because I wasn’t planning properly. You will eventually be able to have more control of the Onbu, but I enjoyed the random nature of the journey. It makes every run unique, giving the game lots of replayability. 

I had a lot of fun with The Wandering Village, and recommend it to anyone in the market for a new game. The art is beautiful, and the mechanics are fun and interesting. The game just got an update that added a new biome, buildings, and encounters. You can pick up The Wandering Village on Steam and Xbox for $24.99 or play it for free if you have Game Pass. 

gaming news

The Wandering Village huge update and release on Game Pass for Xbox and PC

Leave a comment
If you have been enjoying my content and want to support what I do make sure you like, comment, subscribe, and share this with your friends. You can also buy me a coffee

I’ve always enjoyed the village builder genre a bit more than I should. I can lose weeks playing a good village builder, and I will always recommend the genre to those looking for a casual and relaxing experience with enough of a challenge to stay engaging. I typically do my best to avoid titles in the genre because of how much time I end up spending on them, but I like to keep my eye out for what’s available just in case.

I’ve been eyeing The Wandering Village for a while now, but I have been strong enough to not pull the trigger. The art is cute, the music score is nice, and the gameplay is what I’d expect from a cute and casual village builder. Now is a great time to get into the game because it is now available on Game Pass for both Xbox and PC, and it is getting its biggest update since its release. Players will now have access to the ocean which introduces a new biome, mechanics, and structures. If you are looking for a cute and casual entry into the village builder genre, it might be worth looking into The Wandering Village. 

If you don’t have Game Pass, you can pick it up on Steam for $24.99. It’s currently on sale for. I just got my review code and will post a review as soon as I get back from vacation. 

gaming news

Stray Fawn’s newest city builder takes to the skies and looks like a lot of fun. Airborne Empire coming to PC and Mac!

Leave a comment
If you have been enjoying my content and want to support what I do make sure you like, comment, subscribe, and share this with your friends. You can also buy me a coffee

I enjoy village builders a little more than I should. I may not be good at them, but I have been known to no life them when given the chance. It is the reason why I uninstalled City Skylines. I would never get any work done otherwise. Because of my unhealthy love of the genre, I am always looking for a new fix. 

Today I saw the trailer for Airborne Empire, and this game looks like a lot of fun! The art style is beautiful, the flavor is interesting, and it is coming to us from our friends at Stray Fawn. They’re responsible for The Wondering Village, another village builder worth looking into.

Players in this game must build an empire in the sky. They collect resources, gather treasures, and defend against marauders. I am always down for another village builder, but the defending against hostiles is what gives this game its hook. I know I won’t be good at this game, yet it draws me with its siren’s call.

Airborne Empire comes to early access for Mac and PC in 2024. Add it to your Wishlist to stay up to date on all the updates.

video game reviews

The Quirky Puzzle Game: A Knight in the Attic

Leave a comment
If you have been enjoying my content and want to support what I do, please consider buying me a coffee

I was sent A Knight in the Attic as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, this will be my honest review of the game.

A Knight in the Attic is a unique VR puzzle game designed for the Meta Quest. It is available on both the Meta Store and Steam VR. I played the Steam VR version.

King Arthur has gone missing, and it is up to Queen Guinevere to find him. Guide Guinevere through the many marble mazes and help her bring King Arthur back.

The game is cute, and the mechanics are creative. You can use the motion controls to move the board for a more immersive experience or use the sticks for a slightly easier one. I preferred the motion controls because it felt like a truer experience, but both are valid approaches with their own set of difficulties. If you do use the motion controls, make sure you are in a well-lit room otherwise the tracking will ruin your runs.

The Steam VR has a distinct bug that you should know about before purchasing. If you try to run A Knight in the Attic via the Virtual Desktop app on the Quest, the game won’t launch. You get a black screen and the game won’t load. You can only play this game through Quest Link. I also recommend you play with a wired connection. I have fast internet, but the wireless experience isn’t good enough for the type of puzzle game you are playing.

The most difficult part of this game is having the patience to move Guinevere through the maze. The puzzles aren’t necessarily hard, but it is easy to mess up, especially if you lose track. My ADHD made this game more difficult than it had to be.

This game isn’t bad. The art is cute, the mechanics are creative, and the music is fantastic. The problem with this game is that it fills a niche that won’t exist in most gamers. If you like relaxing puzzle games and have the patience for marble mazes, this game is fine. This is a great game for kids, especially young ones. It isn’t offensive, and the gameplay is engaging enough without being impossible. Starting this game isn’t very intuitive, so check the Steam comments if you get stuck. I don’t think it’s worth it because I couldn’t vibe with the gameplay, but $9.99 isn’t bad for something that will keep your kids busy for a couple of hours. 

You can buy this game directly on Meta or Steam. 

Images and gifs taken from the press kit

Uncategorized, video game reviews

Game Review: Havendock

Leave a comment
If you have been enjoying my content and want to support what I do, please consider buying me a coffee

I was sent Havendock as a review code. I am very grateful for the opportunity, but this will be my honest review.

If you are looking for a fun village builder to add to your collection or need a good place to start with the genre, get Havendock. The game has great graphics, catchy music, and an addicting gameplay loop. 

You wake up alone and stranded in the middle of the ocean without a single memory. To survive, you must build a base from the materials that float by. As you slowly establish your haven, you will attract other survivors who will help you grow your haven. The trick to this game is efficiency. You must juggle between building, resource management, exploration, and research.

Do not let the game’s cuteness deceive you. You will become overwhelmed by your sloppiness, but that’s part of the process. I recommend that you go in blind on your first playthrough to get the truest Havendock experience. Once you get to the point where you get stuck, look up tips and tricks. If you need more of a challenge, there are settings you can tweak. 

What I like most about this game is how easily it eases players into the mechanics. All players start with a questline that does a fantastic job of teaching players the fundamentals, but it leaves enough room for error to make the game challenging. While I never thought the game was frustratingly difficult, there are enough obstacles to keep it engaging. The game is impossible if you don’t have at least a basic plan on what to research, build, or gather. Havendock will prove a tricky game to master, but it is such a satisfying and enjoyable ride. Even when my village was on the brink of collapse, I found myself humming along with the catchy music, enjoying myself. 

If you are looking for a new game to get into, you should buy Havendock. It is cute, fun, and great for those who’ve never touched a resource management game. The hardest part about this game is choosing when to walk away because there is always something you need to build, research, or work towards. I loved this game, and I think you will too. 

You can buy Havendock on Steam for $16.99. The game is in early access, but it doesn’t feel like it. But if you need further convincing, go try the demo. 

video game reviews

Best Student Game: Slider

Leave a comment

This year’s winner of the IGF award for Best Student Game went to the cute 2D adventure puzzler, Slider. Use the power of a magical artifact to change the world around you to solve puzzles, aid humanity, and save your cat. The game has nine regions to explore, each full of increasingly difficult puzzles. This game has tactical combat, grids, and time travel.

Gif taken from steam

I didn’t get to play Slider during my time at IGF, but I did see people play it. The puzzles are unique, and I am a huge fan of pixel art. There is no release date for Slider, but there is a free demo you can try. I will be trying the demo and return with some more impressions then. Until then, head over to Steam and try it for yourself. Don’t forget to wishlist it if you like it.

*Feature image taken from press release

Gaming News and Review

%%footer%%