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Board Games and TCGs

Dragonbane is a Beautiful Addition to my TTRPG Collection

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I was sent a free copy of the Dragonbane core rulebook 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, and share this with your friends. If you need to buy any trading cards, pick them up on TCG Player through my affiliate link. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

The Book

The Rulebook includes the rules, bestiary, roll tables to get you started on your own adventure. It also includes an introductory adventure if you need a good starting point.

Quality

I am a little disappointed that the cover has a glossy finish because it is going to be covered in fingerprints by the end of any session. You can easily clean it, but I wish it were matte instead. This is not a deal breaker because the book is beautiful. The images truly pop on its fine paper, and it is going to look great at your table. I have the PDF, and while I enjoy the convenience of the search function, nothing beats flipping through the pages and looking at all the pretty illustrations.

What is Dragonbane?

Dragonbane is Fantasy TTRPG brought to us by our friends over at Free League Publishing. It is an easy-to-learn system with some terrific flavor and interesting mechanics. If you’re looking for a new RPG, you are going to want to look into Dragonbane. I’ve covered this game before, so make sure you check out my older posts if you want to know more. 

What I enjoy about Dragonbane

What makes Dragonbane unique is its leveling system. Classes in Dragonban act as a starting template, but players have the freedom to explore their character in whatever way feels best. Want to play a wizard who is also good at sword fighting? Dragonbane can accommodate, so long as you pass the checks. 

What I enjoyed most about Dragonbane is how experience points are handled. At the end of every session, players are asked:

✦ Did you participate in the game session?

 ✦ Did you explore a new location?

 ✦ Did you defeat one or more dangerous adversaries? 

 ✦ Did you overcome an obstacle without using force?

 ✦ Did you give in to your weakness (optional rule)?

Players get a point for every yes. We didn’t play with weaknesses, so they had 4 points every session to level. These points could be used to attempt to level up their skills once. Players need to roll a D20 and roll a number bigger than the skill they are trying to level. Say they have a 4 in their sword skill, they will need to roll 4 or higher to level up. My players liked this tangible form of XP, and the gambling aspect made things interesting. Sometimes you leveled all 4 skills, sometimes you didn’t level any. 

What I particularly appreciated about this system is that it made creative with their encounters. They would always try to get out of an encounter without using force. This always led to interesting roleplay and took my players from being somewhat murder hobos to more developed player characters. 

Dragonbane also has an interesting combat system that I enjoyed as both a player and a GM. Dragonbane uses cards for initiative which eliminates rolling and bonuses. Players and creatures draw from the same card and the lowest number goes first. These turns can be traded, which gives potential to some cool strategy. Players only have one action or reaction per round, which means they are either attacking or defending. There were times when players were on death’s door, and a lucky dodge roll kept them in the fight long enough to earn that epic kill. 

I particularly enjoy that monsters have roll tables for their actions. Running a monster had the excitement of uncertainty. Would the monster kill a player with a powerful attack? Will it stun the party for another turn? Some of the tabled do need tweaking because they felt underwhelming, but I enjoyed the randomness.

Final Thoughts

I’ve been championing Dragonbane for a while now. I’ve run through both the quickstart and the prewritten adventure and enjoyed every minute of it. I did go off-script a lot in this game, but I used as much of the flavor as I could fit. The game is a great little system, and the book is a beautiful addition to my collection. This is one of the books I really wanted because of how much I enjoyed the game and how much I love the art. I fell in love with Dragonbane because of the art. My interest in Dragonbane is also why I have the wonderful opportunity to try all these cool indie TTRPGs. 

You don’t need to buy the rulebook to play Dragonbane. I recommend you check out the free quickstart guide below, or on Drivethru RPG to get you started. The quickstart has a prewritten adventure to run and pre-generated characters to choose from. It is a streamlined version of the game, but it provides a solid snap shot of what to expect from Dragonbane. 

Dragonbane_Quickstart_Guide_v1Download

Once you fall in love with Dragonbane, you can make due with the PDF, pencils, and paper. If you like physical media, the book is so pretty and printed to the high quality standards I’ve come to expect from Free League Publishing.

Pick up your copy of the Dragonbane Rulebook on Amazon for $39.99. 

Board Games and TCGs

A Solid First Impression of Mutant: Year Zero TTRPG

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I was sent a free copy of Mutant: Year Zero to review for my blog. I haven’t had a chance to run a game of Mutant, but I did read through it. These will be my honest impressions of the system. 

If you enjoy my content, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

The Book

The quality of this rulebook’s printing is expectantly phenomenal. You have a sturdily bounded book printed on high-quality paper. I have the PDF of Mutant: Year Zero, but nothing beats flipping through the pages and actually seeing the illustrations in person. I am a huge fan of the artwork, so I had a lot of fun flipping through the pages and admiring the illustrations. You don’t need the book to play Mutant, you can get by with the PDF, but it’s cooler with the book out. 

The Story

The World as we know it has ended. War, famine, and illness have ravaged the land, leaving it a desolate and inhospitable place. Humanity’s only survivors have twisted and mutated to become unrecognizable to their ancestors. As the world falls into chaos, the Arc becomes humanity’s last remaining claim at civilization. Here, the lucky few have formed a community away from the brutality of the zone. But those peaceful days within the Arc’s walls are numbered. As supplies begin to dwindle, and tensions begin to rise, it is time to venture into the unforgiving unknown and search for salvation. What adventures await?

What is Mutant: Year Zero?

Mutant: Year Zero  is a post-apocalyptic tabletop RPG that uses the award-winning Year Zero engine to tell its story. If you haven’t played a game that uses the Year Zero engine, it is a super easy system to learn that uses D6s to run. Players succeed based on the number of sixes they roll. 

In the simplest terms, Mutant is a post-apocalyptic world filled with X-Men. Players start the game by picking a role, rolling stats, and rolling for a random mutation. Players can’t choose their mutation, but they can roll for a second ability at the cost of some skill points. Having a random ability is bound to spark some cool narratives. 

The core book has everything you need to run a campaign in Mutant. It has an expansive lore about the world, abilities, and communities. While you don’t have a module to run, you do have access to a decent list of hooks and encounters. You’re going to need this rulebook to run a complete campaign of Mutant, but there are some prewritten modules if you need them. 

What sets Mutant apart is its survival mechanics. Players will consistently push their limits as they fight to live another day. Food is scares, gear will break, and players will be forced to use their mutations. It is not a giddy dark survival that you would expect from Alien RPG, but isn’t easy either. If you’ve ever wanted to play a superhero campaign, Mutant: Year Zero is a fantastic place to start.  

Free Starter Booklet

The best place to start with Mutant: Year Zero is the starter booklet. The booklet offers a streamlined condensed version of the rules, a prewritten campaign, and a set of pre-generated characters to run your first campaign. It is always a good idea to test if a system is a good fit at your table. You can get a copy of the free booklet from the official site, but I’ll leave it below for your convenience. 

MYZ_starter_booklet-1Download

Impressions

I am a huge fan of the artwork. I love the comic book style of the illustrations, and I appreciate the amount of flavor that fills its pages. The jobs and mutations have some fantastic flavor. I am interested in seeing how my players react to their random mutation. I definitely see the potential for shenanigans. 

This seems like an easy system to pick up with a solid amount of potential. Combat seems fine, but the fact that gear can break and players can use mutations is sure to keep things interesting. Ultimately it comes down to you enjoying the flavor and wanting to break out of the fantasy real. It’s going to be a while before I run a campaign of Mutant because my players prefer their fantasy, but I’m slowly getting there. I did manage to break away from D&D, so I’ll hold on to my faith. 

If you’re looking for a new TTRPG about survival and superpowers, check out Mutant: Year Zero. You can pick up the Mutant: Year Zero core rule book on Amazon for $49.99 using my affiliate link. 

Board Games and TCGs

Building Better Worlds is a Nifty Little Expansion: Alien RPG

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I was sent a free copy of the Building Better Worlds expansion for the Alien Roleplaying Game to review for my blog. I haven’t had a chance to run the system yet, but I have read through the books. This will be my honest impressions. If you’re thinking of running Alien RPG at your table, you need to start with the core rulebook, Building Better Worlds is meant to be a supplement. I have detailed write-ups for the core rulebook and the Heart of Darkness module you should also check out. 

If you enjoy my content, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials. 

The Book

Quality

Free League Publishing continues its streak of high-quality rulebooks with this beautifully printed expansion. While the pdf won’t be printer-friendly, fans new and old of the Alien franchise will appreciate the beautiful artwork that lines its pages. Even if you don’t like physical media, you might want to make an exception. Feeling the pages between your fingers, and smelling that new book smell makes the experience hit different. Don’t get me wrong, the PDF is enough, but if you have space on your shelf, the book is pretty sweet.

What is it?

Building Better Worlds is meant to be an aid for the Game Mother who needs it. The book includes:

  • Rules for Colonization
  • New Feats and Personal Agendas for existing classes
  • Two new classes: Entertainer and Wildcatter
  • New Weapons
  • New Vehicles and Ships
  • New Planets and Systems
  • New Aliens to fear
  • 7 Expeditions to run
  • Lots of flavor and backstory. 

If you need ideas on what to run, new creatures to fill your adventures, or gear for your players, you might want to look into this expansion. It is by no means a necessity, but it is a great resource. 

Impressions

I didn’t have much interest in the Alien universe prior to picking up the RPG. It wasn’t until I started reading the lore and timeline that I decided that I needed a better understanding. I’ve started making my way through the novels and movies, and it’s given me a better appreciation for how much flavor and care is put into these books.

I appreciate that the book includes timelines of important dates because it makes it easier to keep track of everything that is going on. If you don’t know anything about the alien universe, you will before you run your session zero. The book does a great job of laying out the lore and history in a way that makes sense but also fits its dark sci-fi theme. It gets deep, and I would almost recommend it as reading material.

If you need something to spice up your next campaign, the monsters in this book are pretty spicy. There are some brutal creatures that can end an adventure. I don’t think my playgroup would care too much about the colony mechanics, but the expeditions seem fun and there are some vehicles and weapons I’m sure they’ll want to work towards.

If you’re looking for a brutal and unforgiving system to run at your table, you run Alien RPG. If you need ideas for your next campaign, Building Better Worlds seems like a nifty little expansion.

Board Games and TCGs

Coriolis: The Great Dark Quickstart Guide is out!

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There are only ten days left on the Coriolis: The Great Dark Kickstarter, so go back the campaign if you are looking for a lore-rich, dark sci-fi adventure to run at your table. The campaign only has one stretch goal left, which means backers are receiving a nice amount of goodies. If you like physical media, it is your only chance to score a pretty special edition version of the rulebook. 

Since my last post, the publisher has released a free quickstart guide on DriveThru RPG to give people a chance to explore the system without any of the commitments. The quickstart guide includes a more streamlined and condensed version of the rules, but it will include everything you need to run a meaningful oneshot. It includes some of the rules, a pre-written adventure, and pre-generated characters. I did notice some grammar issues, but the game isn’t out yet and this isn’t the final version. I’ll leave copies of the PDF here, but you can always get them on DriveThru RPG. 

The Mission

A prospecting expedition has gone awry. The blight has taken its victims, and only one survivor made it back to Astroid City. The Explorer’s Guild will now send its best crew into the depths of Gilen’s point to retrieve any survivors and extract any valuable artifacts. But this mission is not without its typical dangers. The shady criminal organization, Black Toad, also has its sights on the contents of Gilen’s point and will do anything to get there first. Can the explorers survive another day in the depths of the Great Dark, or will they be another casualty the unforgiving void of space?

Impressions

Coriolis: The Great Dark uses the Year Zero system. If you’ve played any game that runs Year Zero before, you know how to play Coriolis. There are some shifts in mechanics for flavor, but most of it will feel familiar. If you haven’t played any game in the system, Year Zero is incredibly easy to learn. The system uses D6es and you pass checks when you roll a 6. 

What makes Coriolis unique is its lore and flavor. Coriolis is a neat story about space settlers trying to find their place in the universe. It the Great Dark is a sequel, but I didn’t feel like I needed to have played the original to understand what was going on. There are some references, but the guide does a good job at explaining everything you need to get started. I assume the full version will as well. 

Coriolis: The Great Dark features neat mechanics that help foster this sense of surviving in this unknown and unforgiving ancient place in space but also fuels a sense of wonder and exploration. It’s a neat concept that I would love to see a more complete version, but the quickstart gives a solid snapshot. 

I haven’t had a chance to run through the quickstart, but it seems like a solid adventure. It comes with maps, handouts, and pre-generated characters to get you started. It is an incomplete version of the game, but it should provide you and your table with a solid understanding of what to expect. Ultimately, if you’re thinking of running Coriolis: The Great Dark, or are looking for a new Sci-Fi TTRPG to run at your table, you should start with the quickstart guide and move from there. It’s a good idea to check if the system is a good fit for your table. If you end up liking it, go back the Kickstarter! 

I’m impressed with what I’ve seen so far, I can’t wait to see more. If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

Quickstart Guide

Coriolis_The_Great_Dark_Quickstart_v1.1Download

Pregenerated Characters

CtGD_QS_Pregenerated_Characters_PFDownload
video game reviews

The Legend of Legacy HD Remastered is Cute, but Dated

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I was sent a free copy of The Legend of Legacy HD Remastered to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinons of the game. This will be my honest review. 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 Legend of Legacy?

Legend of Legacy is a classic JRPG that originally on the 3DS but it has recently been ported and remastered for PC, PlayStation, and Switch.

A mysterious island appeared suddenly in the Northern Sea ten years ago. People believe that the island once belonged to the prosperous continent of Avalon, a land inhabited by the gods. Adventurers from all over find themselves drawn to the island in search of truth, fame, and treasure. Strange creatures roam the island, and only those brave and competent will be able to conquer it. Are you and your friends strong enough to unlock the secrets of the island?

Gameplay

Although the game has gotten a cute little makeover, it feels like an older JRPG. The game runs great, but the loop is repetitive, and the grind can be unforgiving. You either over-level and destroy your enemies easily, or you hit a sponge that wipes your team.

Combat is fine, but it does feel dated. Players command a three-person team that you can swap as you recruit new adventurers. Each character has its unique set of skills and abilities that give players options for strategy. Ultimately, gameplay boils down to a repetitive grind as you progress through a story that doesn’t matter. I recorded footage, but it wasn’t interesting enough to share.

Impressions

Legend of Legacy is such a cute game. I love the character design, how the map fills like a pop-up book as you explore it, and it has a fantastic soundtrack. Unfortunately, the game feels like an older JRPG, and it isn’t going to be for everyone. Those who don’t mind the grindy nature of this era of RPG will enjoy the nostalgic adventure, but everyone else will find it repetitive and boring. The story is fine, but it didn’t do much to keep me engaged. 

The Legend of Legacy HD Remastered is a solid port, but it’s made for a certain type of gamer. There are no quality of life changes like skips or auto-battles, you’re playing the original game as it was but with better graphics. If you’re a fan of the original, you probably already have it. You should pick up the Deluxe or Limited Editions for the physical goodies. If you’re a fan of the older era of JRPG, it’s cute and you’ll appreciate the nostolgia. Everyone else should wait for a sale or look elsewhere because the grind is killer. I liked it and thought it was cute, but I am also old and lived through this era of JRPG.

You can pick up The Legend of Legacy HD Remasterd on PC, PlayStation, and Switch for $49.99.

Deluxe Edition – $49.99 (PS4, PS5, Switch)

  • Game
  • Digital Soundtrack
  • Mini Artbook

Limited Edition – $79.99 (PS4, PS5, Switch)

  • Game
  • Digital Soundtrack
  • Mini Artbook
  • “Chronicles of Avalon” Artbook
  • Physical Soundtrack
  • 24″ x 17″ Cloth Poster
  • 7 x “Seekers of Graal” Art Cards
  • Collectors Box
Board Games and TCGs

The One Ring RPG: Session Zero and first Impressions

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Last night I held session zero for The One Ring campaign I am running for my table. I am running the prewritten campaign from the Starter Set, and while the initial plan was for my buddies to run the included pre-generated characters, we spent the time creating custom characters instead. I had a lot of fun hanging out and learning the system with my friends, and it was cool to see how engaged and interested they were in the new system. I know the adventure was designed with four hobbits in mind, but I don’t have it in me to squash anyone’s fun. 

What is The One Ring RPG?

The One Ring is a narrative-heavy TTRPG based on Tolkien’s classic fantasy series, The Lord of the Rings. Events of this game occur between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings series and are meant to be stories that exist within the universe. While The One Ring is not meant to be canon, it does expand on the lore and gives fans the unique opportunity to create their own narrative within the universe.  

The best part of this system is that you don’t need to be a fan of The Lord of the Rings series to enjoy it. I have never read the books, and the closest my table has gotten to the lore is watching a movie or two in passing. Despite not being true fans of the series, we found ourselves lost in the flavor and lore that comes with it. We had so much fun making characters and learning about the different races and places, and it was cool to see my players building characters that were true to the lore of the system. If you’re a fan of Fantasy, even if you’re not familiar with Tolkien’s work, you should look into The One Ring.

Narrative Heavy RPG

The One Ring is a narrative-focused RPG. Its mechanics are designed to create collaborative cinematic scenes, specifically how the game handles combat and travel. 

Combat in The One Ring doesn’t have initiative or movement. The system offers players the opportunity to be tactical through the use of stealth and stances, but the focus of combat seems to be creating an epic tale of battle. Players get to choose their order and be creative with their actions. Eliminating things like initiative and battle maps takes away features that tend to bog down a session, but it also means players need to be comfortable with being descriptive.

I am most excited about travel in this game. Players have to map out their adventures on the beautifully drawn maps included in the book, and the book has tables to determine what happens along the way. My biggest challenge as a DM is figuring out how to handle travel, but this has everything laid out so neatly. Players pick a role (guide, hunter, lookout, scout) and roll against the relative skill to determine what they encounter on their journey. The book offers a table with vague outcomes, and it is up to the GM and Players to make it exciting. 

What I love about this system is how it impacts the rest of the adventure. This can lead to some incredibly silly and epic moments, and I can’t wait to see what we come up with.

Impressions

We haven’t touched the adventure yet, so I can’t give an in-depth review. So far, I think The One Ring is an interesting shift from what we’re used to, and we are excited to get started. Even though we aren’t true fans of the series, we love the lore and flavor of the game. I have a player in my group who is new to RPGs and was ecstatic about starting the campaign. He read the book and his first character. He typically uses pre-generated characters, but he found the inspiration to create a character that fits the flavor of the world. We all had fun setting up for the game, and I plan on running a session zero every time now. We typically pick up and go, but I liked the experience of hanging out and learning the system together. 

If you’re a fan of fantasy, this RPG has an amazing amount of lore and flavor. The system has enough resources to get people acclimated to the expansive lore, but you don’t have to be a fan of the series to enjoy the game. Keep in mind that this is a narrative-heavy system, and you and you’re table need to be ready to create this epic collective tale of adventure and intrigue. I am impressed with The One Ring so far, but I’ll be back with a deeper dive. Stay tuned for that. 

If you want to pick up the Core Rules, the Starter set, or any of the accessories, pick them up on Amazon using my affiliate links. If you enjoy my content, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to share the socials!

Board Games and TCGs

Coriolis: The Great Dark RPG Fully Funded in First 7 Minutes

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Coriolis: The Great Dark RPG just launched on Kickstarter, and it was fully funded in only seven minutes. At $381,234, it has unlocked seven of its eight goals, which means backers will get some exclusive goodies. If you’re looking for run a dark adventure about space exploration and discovery, you might want to go back Coiolis: The Great Dark on Kickstarter. 

What is Coriolis: The Great Dark

Coriolis: The Great Dark is the sequel to The Great Horizon, Free League Publishing’s first sci-fi TTRPG. The campaign takes place a couple of generations after the events of the first and explores the evolution of a culture pioneering through space. This means there will be new mechanics, new ideologies, and new goals introduced in this unique yet stand-alone adventure. While playing the original game may help players catch on to the nuances and history, it isn’t necessary for jumping into this new adventure. 

Some brave inhabitants of the Ship City take on jobs for the Explorers Guild to delve into the unknown in search of resources, information, and a better life. These expeditions eventually uncover abandoned ruins that spark a new era of exploration and adventure. What secrets will be uncovered within these ruins? Where will these answers take you?

Spreads

Art

Q&A

Kickstarter Levels

Digital Edition ($24)

  • Digital PDF of the Core Rulebook

Digital Combo ($43)

  • Digital Pdfs of the Core Rulebook & Campaign

Standard Edition ($48)

  • Standard Edition of Core Rulebook
  • Instant access to PDF of Core Rulebook

Kickstarter Exclusive Collectors Edition ($87)

  • Deluxe Collectors Edition of Core Rulebook
  • Instant access to PDF of Core Rulebook

Standard Combo ($87)

  • Standard Edition of Core Rulebook
  • Campaign Boxed Set
  • Instant access to PDF of Core Rulebook

Collectors Combo ($125)

  • Deluxe Collectors Edition of Core Rulebook
  • Campaign Boxed Set
  • Instant access to PDF of Core Rulebook

Deluxe Bundle ($154)

  • Deluxe Collectors Edition of Core Rulebook
  • Campaign Boxed Set
  • Instant access to PDF of Core Rulebook
  • GM Screen
  • Extra Dice set

Conclusion

If you’re trying to support a very cool-looking game, now is the time to do it. The flavor is cool, the art looks amazing, and the quality is going to be spectacular based on the other books I’ve gotten from the publisher. Most of you can probably wait for the full release of the game, but now is the time for some very cool exclusives, like the collector’s edition rulebook. Backing a Kickstarter always has its risks, but Free League Publishing regularly delivers on its promises. Go check out Coriolis: The Great Dark, and back it today!

If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to back the socials!

video game reviews

Dungeon Drafters is a Cute Retro Dungeon Crawling Deck Builder

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I was sent a copy of Dungeon Drafters 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, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is Dungeon Drafters?

Dungeon Drafters is a retro-style dungeon-crawler deck-building RPG out now on Steam, Epic Games, Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch.

Play as an eager adventurer and delve through unique perilous dungeons in search of treasure, fame, and more spell cards. Do you have what it takes to conquer every dungeon?

Gameplay

Players have access to five unique characters: shinobi, monk, mage, explorer, brawler, and bard. Each has access to a unique set of cards, abilities, and playstyle.

Shinobi
Monk
Mage
Brawler
Bard

Players enter the dungeon with a deck they can customize through the adventure. While other games have you build your deck between encounters, Dungeon Drafters lets you build your deck outside of the Dungeon through the shops like you would in a traditional RPG. This is a refreshing take on the genre, and it let me concentrate on each element of the game as it came up. 

Combat is a turn-based system where players can perform only three actions per turn. A player can either move a square, use a melee attack, or cast a spell card. While it is a somewhat limiting system, it does encourage creativity. With the mage, I was often trying to bait my enemies into traps or freeze the ground so I could slide across the map. There is a bit of a grind as you build your deck to progress, but it’s the normal grind you would expect from a game in this genre. 

Players make delve through the dungeon and clear each room of monsters and treasures. Dungeons do have unique bosses that need to be cleared. Combat can get a little repetitive, but the boss fights have unique mechanics to shake things up. Players can switch between dungeons at will to keep things fresh. Each dungeon has its unique aesthetic and feels like a different delve. 

Thoughts

I enjoyed Dungeon Drafters, but it is a bit of a niche game. The three-action point limit will frustrate players, and others won’t enjoy the repetition. I enjoyed the repetition and found it a relaxing experience. Dungeon Drafters is an adorable game with solid flavor and unique gameplay.

My only complaint with the game is that you can accidentally waste your turn on movement. I would often press a direction on the d-pad, wasting my action points. This isn’t a deal breaker, but it is a warning for whoever needs it. You don’t want to waste your turns on a boss fight for accidentally moving towards a big attack.

If you’re looking for a chill game that isn’t a huge commitment, Dungeon Drafters is a solid choice. It has a great soundtrack, a relaxing and intuitive gameplay loop, and a very cool art and aesthetic. It certainly has enough options to refresh gameplay, but I would only pay $20 for it.

Dungeon Drafters is a solid retro-style game you can pick up now for $24.99 on Steam, Epic Games, Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch. It is currently on sale for $19.99 until March 28 on Steam, Epic Games, and Switch. Check out the Demo on Steam!

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. 

Board Games and TCGs

Coriolis: The Great Dark Coming Soon to Kickstarter

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If you’re looking for a new sci-fi TTRPG for your next campaign, you might want to back Free League Publishing’s newest roleplaying game, Coriolis: The Great Dark, on Kickstarter. 

Synopsis

Refugees escaping the horrors of war attempt to settle in the forgotten reaches of the galaxy. Expeditions are led into ruins of ancient civilizations in search of supplies and salvation. Venture through harsh desolate space in grand ships and search for a new beginning. What adventures lie within The Great Dark?

Kickstarter

While Coriolis: The Great Dark to The Third Horizon, this will be a stand-alone game with new and unique rules and mechanics. The Great Dark uses the Year Zero system and will focus on the thrill of adventure and exploration. I like the idea of playing space archeologist. It is an interesting approach to the genre, and knowing Free League’s proven track record, it is bound to be flavorful. 

I’ve run a few games that use the Year Zero system and thought it was a great transition from D&D. The system is easy to learn, and it introduces some fun and interesting mechanics. Everything I’ve received from Free League Publishing has been of a high quality with lots of flavor. If you enjoy physical media and like the theme in The Great Dark, this is a safe bet. 

If you’re a fan of the original Coriolis, you’re probably already following the campaign. If you’re still on the fence, it doesn’t hurt to follow for the notifications. The campaign goes live on March 19. Backers who pledge on levels with physical rewards will receive a copy of the PDF early and a secret bonus reward. 

I’ll probably get a copy for review, so stay tuned for that. Until then, don’t forget to follow the campaign! If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials: