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video game reviews

Review of Dragon is Dead: A Captivating Metroidvania Adventure

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Dragon is Dead 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. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out.

What is Dragon is Dead

Dragon is Dead is a dark fantasy 2D Metroidvania out now on Steam.

The black dragon is dead, and now an unholy force spreads across the land. You are his successor, and it is up to you to get rid of it. Using the powers granted by the gods, fight against the Corruption and restore the peace this world once new. Your journey will be one full of death, but luckily, you are able to learn from death and come back stronger. Can you be the successor this world needs?

Gameplay

Dragon is Dead is a 2D action platformer with roguelike tendencies. Players Journey across a linear 2D map, fighting off its monsters and bosses. Unlike most games in the genre, there are no save points. On death, the player resets at in the starting town of Cliffshire, keeping all their loot, gear, and runes accumulated during the run. While the loop can feel repetitive, it does start getting better the more experience a player gains throughout a run. Combat and and platforming is what you’d expect from the genre, with a unique build system. Players have a good amount of choice when building their character through a run. I am sure there is a meta for this game, but I had fun exploring the different builds and finding something that fit my play style. I like that players can reset the build between runs so there is always a bit of variety.

Review

If you don’t have Dragon is Dead in your library, it needs to be. This is definitely the most fun I’ve had with a Metroidvania, and I will recommend it to everyone. I love how diverse the skill tree is, and how each weapon feels different. While I did eventually settle on a group of skills and weapon types, I never felt like I chose the wrong path. There is a grind, and it can feel repetitive, it doesn’t feel too bad. Leveling and gearing feels impactful. It is nice to earn a weapon or level and seeing how much more effective it is against enemies.

I would argue that Dragon is Dead is a more casual entry to the genre. I like that the game didn’t force me to find my way through a dungeon in search of save points because I have a terrible sense of direction. I also like that I didn’t lose leveling and gearing progress on death because it made having to redo whole sections of the map feel less bad. The bosses are fun, flavorful, and creative, but they aren’t impossible. You can definitely over level and defeat them if all else fails. There is a story, but it does feel like I can pick up this title at any time and not be lost, especially if I just want a quick Metroidvania fix.

My only real complaint is the with the Steam deck experience. The game works great on the Steam deck, and I will only play this game on one, but the words are too small. The game does warn players that the words are too small, and there is a magnifying feature. The magnifying feature on the Steam Deck is too much trouble, I will just ruin my eyesight or invest on a real magnifying glass if it comes to it.

Aside from that small detail, this game is awesome. Dragon is Dead has great art, fantastic flavor, and a fun loop that any player will enjoy. If you are looking for a new game to play, I don’t think it gets much better.

You can pick up Dragon is Dead on Steam.

video game reviews

Exploring Backrooms Level X: A Disappointing Surreal Horror Experience

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Backrooms Level X 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 Backrooms Level X?

Backrooms Level X is a survivor horror surreal adventure out now on Steam.

The corporation you work for has tasked you to investigate the strange dimension of Level X for a potential hotel. Unfortunately for you, you find yourself trapped with no easy way out. Make your way though this strange labyrinth as you fight for your sanity. Can you find your way of this ever changing living maze, or will its tricks and creatures be the end of you?

Review

Backrooms Level X is a walking simulator with some weirdness that will test your metal fortitude. The game makes a solid attempt at breaking its reality by creating its strange atmosphere. The problem I have with the game is that it doesn’t go far enough with its surrealism. When compared to other games that go for a similar vibe, you have better options. The first few minutes of this game fail to grab my attention as I am forced to walk through a silent twisting confusing corridor. I understand there is drama in silence and getting lost in a labyrinth can be scary, but it makes the game feel slow and empty.

I can’t recommend Backrooms Level X because there are better options. The whole time I was playing this, I was wishing I could be playing Go Home Annie instead. The game is just unimpressive, and I am definitely going to forget I ever played it.

You can pick up Backrooms Level X Steam, with it planned to release on major consoles soon.

video game reviews

Marble Maid 2 Review: The Good and the Bad

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Marble Maid 2: The Negative Levels 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. This is also a game meant for adults, discretion is advised.

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 Marble Maid 2: The Negative Levels?

Marble Maid is a marble puzzle game out now on Steam.

Take control of Nega Maid who has been tasked to clean up the mansion. roll across insane levels as you use your powers to get things done. Fight off the many dust bunnies, solve its intricate puzzles, and defeat any boss that gets in your way. Don’t forget to collect all the lewd pictures hidden around the world! Do you have what it takes to clean the mansion, beat its puzzles, and collect all the pictures?

Gameplay

Players control a marble across strange floors, using her arsenal of special abilities to get the job done. Players will have to use marble physics to avoid traps, fight monsters, and move between floors without falling. Occasionally there is a boss fight, and there is even a golf mode for a little extra padding.

Review

This game is only good if you like the art and want to collect everything, otherwise, I wouldn’t touch it. The game works well enough. It never crashed, the controls were responsive, and the movement felt good. My problem with the game is that each level felt like it was made with a randomizer. Each level was crammed with a random collection of traps and tiles, creating busy and chaotic maps with no rhyme or reason. I would have preferred a more thematic looking world, or at least puzzles that made sense.

If you’ve played enough video games, this game can be broken. The abilities are not balanced, and there are ways to cheese some of the levels. This is good if you want to collect everything, bad if you want a challenging and engaging puzzle game.

I got this game because it looked like a fun physics game. It isn’t, and there are better options. Marble Maid 2 has its audience, but I am not part of it. If you like the art and don’t mind doing the work to collect the pieces, go for it. Otherwise, its not worth it.

You can pick up Marble Maid 2: The Negative Levels on Steam for $9.99.


Tech Reviews

Kiwiears Ardor Headphones: Unmatched Noise Cancelling & Comfort

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Disclaimer

Kiwiears sent me the Ardor wireless headphones 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. Make sure you check out my review for the Aventus headset.

What’s in the box?

  • Ardor Wireless Headphones
  • Carrying Case
  • USB-C to USB-C Charging Cable
  • Aux Chord
  • User Manual

Features

If you’re looking for a high quality wireless headphones with effective noise cancelling and a solid sound stage, then you might be looking for the Kiwiears Ardor wireless headphones. These active noise cancelling headphones are ready to provide up to 72 hours (140 without noise cancelling) of uninterrupted listening. When the battery eventually runs out, users can continue to enjoy the headsets amazing quality though the wired connection and built in DAC/AMP chipset.

As for the sound, the Ardor has been tuned to high quality audiophile standards to provide the most impressive sound stage possible at this price range. With its impressive 5-microphone array to block out about 35dB of ambient noise, you are only hearing what you want to.

Mic Check

https://churapereviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ardorsoundtest.mp3

Review

If you want an impressive opening experience, pick up a pair of Kiwiears. I am always impressed with the presentation and how well everything is packaged. The included case feels very good quality, and I like that there is space for the cables.

As far as quality goes, the the Ardor heaphones feel good. They have a sleek design and are cleanly manufactured. They don’t feel or look cheap, which is always a plus. The leather padding is soft, comfy, and they don’t get hot. They do feel a little loose on my head, but as long as I am not running, they work great. Most importantly, there is an appropriate amount of flex.

The headset does have a built in microphone, but the quality is disappointing. I like that it is discrete, but it does sound far away and there is some echo. It’s usable, but I wouldn’t us it for content creation. I guess its nice to have, but I would have done without it. Regardless of this flaw, the sound quality more than makes up for the mic quality.

The Ardor has two listening experiences: Wireless and Wired. The wireless experience is fine, but I was a little disappointed. The sound stage feels a little flat, and there doesn’t seem to be enough bass. It is serviceable, and you can definitely hit a worse sound at this level. The headsets long battery life (even with noise cancelling on) does make up for it. The noise cancelling on these headphones is amazing. I would argue that these are better at blocking out ambient sound than my airpods. You are not hearing anything around you unless you really want to, and that more than makes up for the mid sound. The headset does have an impressive amount of noise cancelling without having to turn on anything, which means you will probably never need to charge these things. The headset has a passthrough mode for when you need to hear things around you. It works fine, but it did make some of what I was listening echo a bit.

I would argue that the true listening experience starts when you plug in the Ardor through the include wire. I was not ready for how much of a difference the built in DAC and wired connection would make. I won’t be using these wirelessly unless I absolutely have to. The sound through a wired connection feels fuller, and the bass packs the necessary punch. You are getting a very good sound at this price range.

If you are looking for a pair of high quality headphones that look good, give you the sound you want, and won’t break the bank, go pick up a pair of the Ardor. You get a long lasting wireless headset with unrivaled ANC and access to a dynamic sound stage when you need it.

You can pick up a pair of the Ardor headphones from the official website for $99.99.

Tech Reviews

Epomaker X Aula F108 Review: Affordable Mechanical Keyboard

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Disclaimer

Mechlands sent me the EPOMAKER X AULA F108 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. Make sure you also check out my latest reviews for the Blade 101 and M75 keyboards.

What’s in the box?

  • F108 Mechanical Keyboard
  • Key/Switch Puller
  • 4 Replacement Switches
  • 1 USB-C to USB-A Cable
  • 1 2.4 G Dongle

Features

The Epomaker x Aula F108 is a light weight stylish full-sized mechanical keyboard who wants a bit of style, a lot of performance, but doesn’t want to break the bank. The keyboard comes in three colors: White/Blue, Side Printed Gray, and White/Blue. I got mine in the Side-Printed Grey, but all options are extremely viable.

Black/Blue
Side-Printed Grey
White/Blue

This full sized keyboard features 108 anti-ghosting keys that delivery the accuracy you need it. The typing angle promotes comfort in your workflow while the promised low latency connections provide the performance. With an impressive 1000hz polling rate, the F108 promises to keep pace at the competative level. The 4000 mAH battery boasts up 200 hours of uninterrupted gaming, making it perfect for the folks who need to minimize that wire clutter. The Epomaker F108 is a beautiful keyboard with the performance to back it.

Sound Test

Review

The keyboard feels cheap out of the box. It is a very light weight keyboard with a worrying amount of flex. Visually however, the keyboard has enough elegance to make up for the feel. I love the gradient scheme, but the keys are swapable when needed. I like how soft the RGB looks and love how the text is on the front of the key rather than the usual top. It gives the keyboard a very unique modern aesthetic.

I was very impressed with how comfortable the typing experience is on the F108. The flex isn’t notable while typing, and the keys seems to have just enough weight to them to provide satisfying tactile feedback without any of the fatigue. Both the typing angle and the size of the keyboard were perfect for my frame. The F108 never triggered my repetitive stress injury which makes this keyboard an instant buy for me. To sweeten the deal, the F108 has such a satisfying typing sound, but it is a little loud if that matters.

Most importantly, the F108 has the performance I need for my workflow. There was no noticeable latency, and I was able to switch between devices quickly. I think I only charged the keyboard once during my keyboard and I was using it on average about 10 hours strait a day with the backlight on. Your millage will vary depending on your backlight setting, but I am impressed non-the less.

My only complaint is the amount of flex this keyboard has. I would not travel with the F108 because it will probably snap in half. I was scared to bend it too much with my testing because it felt like it was going to break. If you need a full sized keyboard and don’t need to take it out of the house, this is a solid budget option that loops cool and has the performance to take on most work flows.

You can pick up the the Epomaker x Aula F108 on the official Mechlands site.

video game reviews

Devil Jam Demo Review: A Rocker’s Rhythm Ride

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Disclaimer

I was asked to cover the Devil Jam demo on my blog. I understand the game is not done yet, so I will be a bit more lenient with my review. That said, these will still be my honest first impressions of the game.

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 Devil Jam?

Devil Jam is a survivor-like coming to PC and all major consoles.

You have made a deal with the devil, and now must fight your way through his legion of followers to become the best rocker you know you can be. Is the metal that flows through your veins powerful enough to fend off the mobs of groupies, angry mobs, and rival musicians? Will the sins favor your runs and give you the power you need to survive? You are going to have to play to find out.

Gameplay

Devil Jam is your typical survivor-like with a rhythm gimmick to help it stand out against others in the genre. Players start each run with basic abilities, and slowly gain more as they defeat enemies and collect XP points. The powers granted to players are selected from a random pool, and each ability (passive or otherwise) is themed after one of the deadly sins. What Devil Jam does differently is the inventory management mini game that happens at level-up. Players can arrange the gifts they gain from the sins in an inventory where they interact with each other based on their position. Players must think carefully of where they place their abilities in order to maximize their power output. Attacks are automated, but they follow the rhythm of the music playing.

Impressions

I was excited for the Devil Jam because the flavor is fun, I like the music, and the rythmn mechanic sounded interesting. Unfortunately, the demo isn’t very impressive. The enemies and animation isn’t very good. I appreciate that it was all done by hand, but it feels unfinished. The animation feels stiffs. There also isn’t enough variety in enemies. It always felt like I was just fighting off hordes of slimes, which got boring pretty quickly.

My biggest issue with the game is that it already feels solvable. There were abilities that are clearly the right choice, and a lot of filler abilities that will ruin a run. The RNG felt real bad at times, and it made me not want to keep playing. For a survivor-like to be good, the player’s choices need to feel impactful. Every build-path needs to feel viable, even when there is a clear meta.

Having a good balance between the chaos the RNG brings and the viable strategy available to players each run is important for a successful survival-like, and I don’t believe Devil Jam is there yet. I like the inventory mechanic the game implements, but I don’t think the demo demonstrates its full worth. Having to not only chose a powerful ability, but one that synergies with the ever changing puzzle the player is managing is a cool idea. The problem is that there already feels like there is a right answer. Maybe with access to the full game and a more polished ability pool, the 4.93 quadrillion possible combinations will come into play.

I’ll hold out some hope. I like the art and character design, the music is solid, and the rhythm mechanic is interesting. That said, I can’t recommend it until I get an experience that is better than some of the other survivors in my library.

If you don’t believe me, you can check out the Devil Jam demo on Steam now. Don’t forget to wishlist!

video game reviews

Hunger: The Historical Extraction Game That Might Be Worth Playing

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Disclaimer

I was asked to cover the Hunger trailer that just dropped. I will be trying to get into any of the playtests because the trailer is really cool and I am very interested. I can’t make any assumptions of the game because I haven’t played it, so this will be more of a report than a review.

The Trailer

Viewer discretion is advised.

What is Hunger?

Hunger is a PvPvE extraction game set in Napolean era Europe. Make sure you check out the Steam page for all the details.

A plague spreads across the European landscape, and its survivors fight for survival. Players can join forces to survive the plagued landscape, fight against other players, and it sounds like they drive the content. The game will launch in early access with three unique maps.

Gameplay will be extraction style matches where players can complete quests to progress through the story. What makes the game unique is its flavor and aesthetic. The weapons, the armor, the world all have such cool flavor and I for one can’t wait to jump in and explore them all. Hunger promises thirty weapons at launch with enough customization options for a good variety of play styles. There are also plans for crafting and gathering mechanics for a little added depth. I just hope there isn’t a way to buy mats and fix the economy with real world money.

I would love to learn more about the progression system. What sets this game apart from other extraction games aside from the story and flavor is its progression system. It says it will follow the traditional RPG path as players level from 1-100. Leveling up will open up more of the game to players by giving them access to dungeons and world bosses, but I wonder if it also gives players access to additional power.

This game sounds great on paper. It has fantastic flavor, an interesting premise, but is it doing too much? I am afraid that the result will be a broken game that will lose too much of its player base by the time it gets good. If Early Access has a good foundation with fun gameplay, even if it doesn’t work properly, this can be a solid PVP game with a lot of potential. I am excited to follow it, and hope that it is good.

video game reviews

First Impressions of Bygone Dreams: Prophecy’s Gameplay

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Disclaimer

I was asked to cover Bygone Dreams: Prophecy, which is the free to play demo of the games initial level. I understand the game is still a demo and will be a bit more lenient. That said, these will still be my honest opinions of the game.

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 Bygone Dreams: Prophecy?

Bygone Dreams is a souls-like that is scheduled to release in June 2025. In preparation, the developers have released the game’s prologue to generate some hype around the game. My review will be on the prologue.

A terrible nightmare threatens the peace known to Lume. One spirit alone hears the call to action and rises against the encroaching darkness. As Wa, travel across Lume’s surreal landscape, solve its many puzzles, collect its many powers, and defeat anything that threatens its peace. Do you wield the power to save Lume from this nightmare?

Gameplay

The demo acts as a tutorial for the game. It introduces a few essential mechanics for combat and exploration, and players get to experience a bit of the story and world. If you’ve played a souls-like, this game doesn’t veer too much from the path. What makes the game unique is the colorful world players get to explore on the rail-road the devs designed for them.

Impressions

Bygone Dreams: Prophesy didn’t do enough to excite me for the full game. The game has an interesting artstyle, but world is far too busy. There is a lot crammed to fill the spaces that become the walls for a rail road. Having a built in track for players to follow isn’t an issue. I understand the limitations of a demo, and I’ve played games where it works. It works here, but everything is so busy it distracts from how unique the world is. I don’t mind invisible walls or railroads if the gameplay is fun.

I found the gameplay in the demo to be a bit lacking. I can see bones with potential, but the game needs a lot more polish to be fun. Combat doesn’t feel smooth enough when compared to other games in the genre, and it was often a little boring. Enemies all felt the same and offered nothing interesting, and the combos weren’t fun to watch. The full version might have the polished combat the game needs and the enemies to make it fun, but I need to see it to get excited. The whole time I played the demo, I wanted to be playing something else and that’s a problem.

In its current state, this is one of those games I’ll play and forget it exists. Unless the full game gets a major performance polish, I think it will be one of those games you forget too. I’ll be trying to get a copy of the full version for an update, so stay tuned for that. In the mean time, check out Bygone Dreams: Prophesy and see for your self.

video game reviews

Hordes of Hunger Review: Is It Worth Your Time?

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Disclaimer

I was sent Hordes of Hunger for free to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, it won’t sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game.

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 Hordes of Hunger?

Hordes of Hunger is a survivorslike game out now in Steam Early Access.

Control Mirah as you fend off against hordes of blood thirsty creatures. Wield powerful weapons, learn nes skills and abilities, and stop the horde from advancing. Do you have what it takes to survive the onslaught and save the world

Gameplay

The game runs like your typical survivors game. Players start each run with basic abilities. They gain random weapons and abilities throughout the run by killing monsters for XP or completing objectives. The more time a player spends on Hordes of Hunger, the more powers and abilities they unlock. What makes the game unique is the combo system. Unlike most games in the genre, Hordes of Hunger does not have an auto-attack system. Instead, players must use combos, active skills, and dodges to survive the hordes and save the day. There are also a few unique missions to change up the gameplay.

Review

The game isn’t finished yet, and while I see the potential, it isn’t for me. The game has a good looking world with some interesting monster and character design, and the animation is solid. The game performs well enough, but there are some stutters and crashes that are hard to ignore. Once I got past my initial intrigue, the game started feeling repetitive. While I do appreciate the creative take on the genre with the inclusion of the combo system, it feels unnecessary. This is a survivors game with extra steps, and you are either going to love it or hate it. I love survivors game for the casual yet engaging experience they offer. Her it feels like I am doing too much work with every little payoff. The RNG was fine for the most part, but the game feels solvable in the early stages. There are abilities that feel better, and while I am sure all games in the genre are solvable, that do a better job at hiding it.

If you are looking for a survivor game and don’t mind the extra work, the game does a decent job at the price point. The problem I have with this game is that when it comes to survivors game, I simply have better options. After a couple hours of this game, I am going to uninstall it and forget I own it. Unless you really want to mess around with the game’s combo system, there is no real reason to buy this game.

You can pick up Hordes of Hunger on Steam Early Access for $14.99.

Tech Reviews

Epomaker Tide Alice Review: Ergonomic Mechanical Keyboard

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Disclaimer

Epomaker sent me the Tide Alice 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. Make sure you also check out my latest reviews for the Luma 84 and the Tide 49.

What’s in the Box?

  • Tide Alice
  • USB-C to USB-A Cable
  • Key/Switch Puller
  • Mini Screw Driver
  • Allen Wrench
  • 2 Extra Key Switches
  • Plastic Dust Cover
  • User Manual

Features

Epomaker brings the Alice layout to a sleek, well manufactured, aluminum body. This 65% keyboard sports 66 hotswappable keys and a convenient knob for volume and media controls. The Tide Alice is VIA compatible, maximizing the keyboards utility. The 4000mAh battery boasts up to 14 hours of battery life with the backlight on (150 with the backlight off) for a good amount of uninterrupted use through its supported 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth 5.0 wireless connections. The 2ms latency wired connection is read to pick up the slack when the battery does eventually die. Most importantly, the Alice layout and the keyboards gasket design ensures a comfortable typing experience with a very satisfying sound.

Sound Test

Review

The Epomaker Tide Alice is an impressive keyboard with a sleek design and well constructed frame. I love how elegant the keyboard looks. The Tide Alice is an instant visual upgrade for any setup. The unique Alice layout definitely leaves an impression at a glance, but using it can be life changing. If you are looking for an ergonomic keyboard that isn’t breaking the bank, you definitely need to consider the Tide Alice. I have a repetitive stress injury that requires very specific ergonomics, and the Tide Alice is good enough. I didn’t need to take as many breaks, and I honestly forgot about my injury.

As far as performance goes, the Tide Alice does the job. I just about got the 14 hours of battery in a single charge, and the connection was fine. I didn’t experience any ghosting, or any noticeable latency. They layout didn’t take much time to get used to, but I don’t like the lack of Windows key. I can reprogram the keyboard through VIA, but there is a nice empty space that would be perfect for a windows key. That being said, the Tide Alice is a fantastic keyboard that I recommend to everyone.

You can pick up the Epomaker Tide Alice on the official store fro $129.99.