Tag Archives: resource management

video game reviews

Whispers of the Eyeless: Unique Cult Management Game Review

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Whisper of the Eyeless 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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What is Whispers of the Eyeless?

Whispers of the Eyeless is a cult management game with RPG elements out now in Steam Early Access.

You are the voice of the old dead gods, Wrath Desire, and Madness. Little remains of the dead gods, and it is up to you to bring them back. Using the powers of the old god that you slowly awaken, recruit new members, build your temple, and conquer the dungeon. Can you build a deserving following, one that can consume the city, or will you be another delusional cleric?

Gameplay

The main loop for Whispers of the Eyeless is the resource management game. Players will spend their time exploring the city, recruiting new members, fixing up their place of worship, and a little bit of dungeon delving. Exploring the city allows players to recruit new members to the party. Exploration will proct special events where players have a chance of recruiting unique members with special abilities. Players are limited in how much of the city they an explore at first, but will earn access to the more prosperous parts of the city once they gain more influence.

Once members are recruited, players are responsible for keeping them happy. Creating jobs, keeping them fed, and building a nice place of worship are all important tasks for a successful cult leader. Some cultists can be sent on jobs around the city, or on dungeon delves. The dungeon is a dangerous place, but one that can be conquered with the proper party of loyal cultist.

In the dungeon, players will explore its halls with simple point and click movement, and combat is in the classic turn based style.

Players who can manage to stay on top of all these tasks, earn their money, and gain their influence properly will have no problem resurrecting the dead gods.

Review

I enjoyed Whispers of the Eyeless. The game is still in Early Access, and it is hard to give it a proper recommendation. On one hand, the game is the perfect fusion of each genre it covers, on the other, the game doesn’t feel finished. The game works and looks great. The artwork is amazing, and I am a huge fan of the dark storybook vibe the game captures. The soundtrack and voice acting are phenomenal, and do a great job at setting the mood. The story and flavor is solid, but it is a little short. Players will catch up to the content quickly, which can definitely be a problem.

I loved the game since I tried the demo, and the new content made it worth the wait. But while I may be willing for more content, and will be returning to the game at every major update, not everyone will. The biggest reason to get Whispers of the Eyeless at this stage is because you want to support a solid game. The game does enough to help it stand out against the genre, and it is heading towards a promising direction. There really isn’t enough to be worth the price tag at the moment, but there will be if you are patient.

You can pick up Whispers of the Eyeless on Steam Early Access for $19.99.

video game reviews

Click Mage: The Perfect Chill Resource Management Game

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I was sent a free copy of Click Mage 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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What is Click Mage?

Click Mage is a minimalistic cozy resource management game out now on Steam.

You are a wizard on the verge of greatness, but your experiments send you to a strange world with noway of going back. You must use the islands resources to find build your way back. Use your magic to farm the resources you need, upgrade your skills, and build the tech to make it all work. Do you have what it takes to get home?

Gameplay

The gameplay loop can’t get any more simpler. Players move around the map collecting and refining the resources they need to build new structures, and unlock new abilities and power ups. It is a very laid back and relaxing loop, with a bit of a grind, but nothing unmanageable.

Review

If you are looking for a cozy and chill game to fill your time, it does not get better than Click Mage. I was had my doubts when I first saw how simple the gameplay seemed, but it is engaging enough to be entertaining.

It is a clicker game, so a lot of the systems will feel a bit repetitive. Things like harvesting and refining take a bit of management, and you will be constantly repeating the same type of tasks. There is a bit of a puzzle as you figure out what you need to evolve to the next stage of crafting, but you don’t need a guide to do it efficiently. I found the repetition relaxing and enjoyed the pace and challenge. Other resource management games can feel stressful, so I appreciate the change of pace that is Click Mage.

It is Steam Deck compatible, but I preferred using the keyboard and mouse. It is not unplayable, but it does feel a little awkward.

If you are looking for some chill resource management and don’t mind the repetition, Click Mage is a fantastic addition to any library. It is simple, runs great, and it is not a huge commitment. You can pick up Click Mage for $4.99 on Steam.

video game reviews

Dungeon Inn is the Coziest Game You Should Be Playing

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I was sent a free copy of Dungeon Inn 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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What is Dungeon Inn?

Dungeon Inn is the coziest game you can play on Steam right now.

Two factions are at war, and you are stuck in this ongoing conflict. You have a brilliant plan to profit from both sides by running secret trades between the two, but your ambition does not go unpunished. You find yourself indebted to a ferocious dragon who wants his dues. You and your compatriots must now build a successful inn that caters to both sides and not only makes a profit but keeps your double dealings a secret. Can you put your humble INN on the map, or are you destined to be Dragon food?

Gameplay

Dungeon Inn is a turn based resource management system where players try to attract customers to their inn without raising suspicion of double dealing. Harnessing the power of the Dragon’s sprites, players will summon different tools to control the flow of traffic to their in. Players will have access to items that speed up, slow down, and different items and facilities to convince them to stay. There are also random events that help increase the Inn’s reputation while earning players a little extra money.

Players will have quests each week that need to be completed, and rent they need to pay at the end of the month. Normal mode allows players to enjoy the story with enough of a challenge to be engaging, but there is a harder difficulty available for those who need it. Mostly, you are sitting back and enjoying the cute pixels move around your screen as you build an Inn of legends.

Review

Dungeon Inn is a fantastic and adorable resource management game that I will continue to play even after this review. The game has a fun cozy aesthetic and relaxing gameplay loop that makes it the ideal addition to any collection.

There is a point in resource management games where they can become a bit overwhelming, but Dungeon Inn’s turn based system keeps things manageable. While the game does offer an adequate challenge, it never feels overwhelming or stressful to keep up with the growing demand. Experience with the harder difficulty will vary.

My only complaint is that the game does feel a little short, but it is long enough to earn its price tag. The game is still in early access, with more content and story planned for full release. That said, the game is in a good place in its development, and well worth checking out in its current state. If you’d rather wait for the full release, make sure you add it to your wihslist.

If you’re looking for a new resource game that is cozy, fun, and not a huge commitment that is Steam Deck compatible, check Dungeon Inn on Steam today. There is also a demo you can try if you need more convincing. The demo goes through the initial tutorials, and it does a good job at setting up players for the rest of the game.

video game reviews

S.O.L. Search of Light is an Interesting Little Puzzler

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I was sent a free copy of S.O.L Search of Light 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. If you’re looking for a good budget gaming headset, check out the Fifine H9s using my Amazon Affiliate link. You can check my full review here. 

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What is S.O.L. Search of Light?

S.O.L. is a puzzle adventure game with unique tower defense mechanics to keep things interesting. The game is out now on Steam, Switch, and PlayStation. 

You find yourself alone in a dark and strange world. As you make your way through your journey you will uncover strange new technology that will help you find a brighter future. Build your base, search for resources, solve puzzles, and fight off monsters. Most importantly, keep your base safe. What secrets will you uncover in the darkness?

Gamplay

S.O.L. is split into three phases: build, adventure, and defense. 

In the build phase, players use their farmed resources to bolster their base’s defenses. They can construct buildings, upgrade existing ones, or assign roles to their hired drones. This stage is pretty straightforward. I don’t believe you’ll need a build guide, but you should be mindful of your resources. Resources are limited, and wastefulness will be punished.

Once a player is done with their build phase, they can set off on adventures. Adventures are set up in typical randomized roguelike fashion. Players have the choice of paths and activities they can do. They can solve puzzles for coins and materials, fight monsters for resources, or recruit drones to work at their base. There are also randomized events that will either grant a player a boon or give them a punishing debuff. Resources do influence a player’s decision, but the game never feels like a railroad. Most importantly, the RNG seems fair and the runs never feel repetitive. 

In between adventures, monsters will invade a player’s base. Players must defend their base against a wave of enemies. The portal closes when all enemies are defeated. Hopefully, your base doesn’t get too destroyed and you don’t die. Dying or losing your base means restarting from zero. This stage is very manageable, and I always felt there was enough time to prepare between invasions. My only complaint is that the AI for the drones is dumb, and they will run into enemies and die. In a game where resource management is important, this can be a bit annoying. This isn’t a deal breaker, but it is a noticeable issue. 

Combat in this game is pretty basic. Players have access to a basic melee attack for adventure and defense phases. In the defense phase, towers and traps will do most of the damage, but well-placed melee attacks are appreciated. Enemy AI can be outsmarted, which is nice. 

The puzzles in this game are challenging without being impossible. I love puzzle games, and S.O.L. is no exception. The blend of genres keeps the game refreshing. My only complaint is that it is possible to get stuck in a puzzle where you have to reset the whole game to get free. I wish there were a way to reset just the puzzle, but that would take away some of the pressure from the survival aspect of this game. 

Review

The game is fun and addicting. I was either stressed about building the perfect base or stressed about staying alive. This stress made the game engaging, and even though I wasn’t good enough to make it to the end, I had fun trying. 

If you’re looking for a unique puzzle game with neat flavor and interesting mechanics, S.O.L. Search of Light is a solid choice. Its cute, its fun, and its different in a good way. S.O.L is the type of game you want to pick up for a fun couple of hours, but don’t want a long term commitment.

You can buy your copy of S.O.L. Search of Light Steam, Switch, and PlayStation for $19.99.

Board Games and TCGs, video game reviews

Age of Wonders: Planetfall the Board Game is so much fun

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I was sent Age of Wonders: Planetfall for free to review for my site. 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. You can also always buy me coffee.

Age of Wonders: Planetfall is the best way to get into the resource management genre. The game has cool art, fantastic flavor, and it is easy to pick up. Explore the remains of the Star Unions as you seek dominance over the other factions. Challenge your friends in what will be a memorable game of exploration and conquest.

Players choose from one of the six factions and begin their journey through the different planets. Each planet has new adventures and challenges, but what you gain from them will determine your place in the universe. The game is pretty easy to learn. I recommend you check out the tutorial by Rahdo on YouTube to get started.

How to Play

The Sample Size

I am the only person in my family who plays board games, but I have been slowly convincing people to play with me. My wife doesn’t like anything more complicated than Uno and refused to play Planetfall when she saw all the pieces laid out. My sister is a bit more tolerant. She agreed to play but wasn’t as enthusiastic as me and her boyfriend, even though she ended up winning. Her boyfriend is always ready to play board games. 

The Game

This box is going to look great on any shelf. Fans of the video game will appreciate the art a lot more. I don’t usually keep my boxes because I don’t have space for them, but I’m willing to make an exception. The board and design are cool and easy to read. The cards and their flavor are fantastic. Even if you haven’t played the video game, you’ll appreciate how cool the art is. The pips are wood, which I prefer to plastic.

Impressions

Age of Wonders: Planetfall is a fantastic introduction to the resource management genre. It has enough moving parts to keep things interesting without becoming overwhelming. The setup was fast and easy, and we started almost instantly. I like to explain the rules as we play, but it didn’t take long for everyone to get settled and work towards strategies. 

One of the biggest mistakes I made during my session was ignoring the flavor. It wasn’t until I explained to the table that we were landing on planets and taking over different objectives that they started to get into it. I was amazed at how quickly the conversation turned from being focused on the points to being focused on fighting a certain unit or discovering this landmark because that’s what their commander would do. 

My sister ended up winning, and we were left wanting a rematch. She says she wasn’t trying, but I think deep down she knew what she was doing. We loved the game for its change of pace, ease of play, and flavor. It is going to be a hard sell for people who don’t like board games, but everyone, it makes for a nice change of pace from Monopoly. For my table, Age of Wonders: Planetfall is as complicated as we’ll get, and I don’t mind it. The gameplay offers enough room for strategy, but with options to keep it casual to fit our current level of experience. I’ll continue working on bringing more complicated games to our sessions. 

If you looking for a new sci-fi game, resource management game, or simply love the video game, I recommend you go pick up Age of Wonders: Planetfall. You can pick up your copy from the official Arcane Wonders store for $44.99, or cheaper at Miniature Market ($31.99)

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!

video game reviews

Illuminaria is a cute and unique resource management game, but is it worth it?

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I was sent Illuminaria as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, 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.

Illuminaria is a base building, resource management game for PC, Switch, Android, and IOS devices. Take control of an army of adorable robots as you work to bring light back to the land. Use the robots to gather resources, build bases, and fight monsters.

Illuminaria has a unique and interesting gameplay loop. Building is probably the most relaxing experience I’ve had in the genre because of how easy it is to get organized. All you have to do is build squares, and the robots will fill those squares with resources based on your designations. This loop feels fantastic on the iPhone because all you do is tap and watch your little robots get to work. While you wait for resources, you are also researching new technologies, upgrading structures, defending your bases, and sending your robots on quests for more materials. You’ll be as busy as your little buddies on the screen, and it is such a wholesome good time!

My only real issue with this game is the price. $5 for the app is perfect. You’ll get $5 of fun from the app. If you are looking for a chill game to pick up in a waiting room or something to fill those rare gaming hours that present themselves, Illuminaria is a solid choice. The mechanics are easy to pick up, the gameplay is engaging, the art is cute, and the music is great. This is a fun game, and it’s a perfect mobile gaming experience. The problem is that this game feels short. You can try to beat the game at different difficulties, but it still feels like a $5 app. I can’t see it ever being worth full price on a console or PC. It’s not a bad game, there just isn’t enough for it to be worth it.

You can pick up Illuminaria on Steam, and Switch for $14.99, and on Android and IOS Devices for $4.99. It is on sale right now on Steam for $9.74 until November 7th, but you can also try the demo if you need some more convincing.

video game reviews

Fabledom is the adorably wholesome village builder you should be playing

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I was sent Fabledom as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, this will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please make sure you like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.

Fabledom is an adorable city builder available on Steam. The game is in early access, but it certainly doesn’t feel like it. It’s also got a healthy roadmap, and I am sure the game will get better. If you are looking to get into the genre, or simply looking for a new title to get into, Fabledom is a fantastic place to start.

Players start with a small population of peasants, limited resources, and an easy-to-follow tutorial. As your village grows, you unlock new mechanics. Fabledom lets players practice diplomacy with neighboring kingdoms, raise renowned heroes and armies, and find their true love.

Don’t let the adorable fairytale facade fool you. You’ll need to be tactical about how you grow your village. While I never hit the point where my village failed, I did hit bottlenecks in my progress that stemmed from my mistakes. I am sure there are guides designed to play Fabledom optimally, but I like learning from my failures. I always recommend going into these games as blindly as possible. It’s more fun that way. 

I am obsessed with this game. The gameplay is relaxing yet engaging, the art style is cute, and the music is such a vibe. This is one of those games you need to try at least once, especially if you are curious about the genre. You can pick up Fabledom on Steam for $11.99 (normally $15.99) until October 30th. It’s worth it at either price! 

video game reviews

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

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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. 

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

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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.

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