Interested in Ashfall? Read more about it in this quick first impressions! 💬 Are you going to play Ashfall or do you plan on skipping it? Let me know down in the comments! [Music credits: "Hard Metal Intro" by WinnieTheMoog]

PLAY IT OR SKIP IT? If you’ve got any appreciation for the Metroidvania style of game at all, then you owe it to yourself to play Afterimage. Coming off a successful Kickstarter campaign just a year ago, developer Aurogon Shanghai has released the next masterpiece in a masterpiece-heavy genre. With tight controls, compelling progression and exploration, and especially a stunning hand-drawn art style, Afterimage pays homage to the classics while also undeniably forging its own strong identity via a fascinating and diverse fantasy world. It’s really good.

PLAY IT OR SKIP IT? Play it if you’re a fan of visual novels or cooking games, or just want to see some amazing-looking food. Venba is a game about food, but it puts just as much care into its narrative as it does into its dishes. It follows Venba and Paavalan, an immigrant couple struggling to adjust to life in Canada. Venba uses her mother’s old recipe book as a way to stay connected to her culture. Later on, as their family expands,

PLAY IT OR SKIP IT? Skip it for now, but it may be worth revisiting once it hits full release. Ashfall is a shooter MMORPG that reminds me of Fallout’s post-apocalyptic world and monsters. Despite its strong visual style and interesting story, Ashfall doesn’t manage to live up to its very lofty inspirations—at least not yet, in its beta test form. This game has all the potential in the world to grow into something enjoyable in the future, but its combat system and gameplay will need a lot of improvement before that happens.

One of the great things about video games is that they can cover so much territory. Take RPGs for example. You've got high fantasy escapism in series like Final Fantasy, epic sci-fi dreams of the future in stuff like Mass Effect, and strange musings on philosophy and politics in a game like Disco Elysium. Long Gone Days doesn't quite fit into any of those categories, though it's closest to the last one. This ambitious RPG follows a young man named Rourke who's been trained from birth to be a living weapon of war. Once Rourke is actually sent into battle, though, he finds himself conflicted as he comes face-to-face with disturbing realities of wartime.

NERD ALERT: Grounded, my favorite game! And almost the best game I've probably played! There are stories, quests, and mysterious things to solve. 4 Characters got shunk, Willow, Pete, max, and hoops, it has High-quality details and scenes of a real-life fiction nightmare. with terrifying bug jumpscares and labs. And mind blowing boss fights. And default fights beyond the dangerous and trashed back-yard. Create armor, build, and lastly survive and do all tower defenses for a surprise weapon somewhere. 🤫

Why is nobody talking about Detroit: Becone Human? Made by the same guys wwho did Heavy Rain? Exploring the implications of androids breaking their programming and being able to experience human feelings has been one of my favorite topics to think about abd this game explores it very well. Not to mention you can actually choose how the story progresses. One of my absolute favorite games of all time.

SHOULD I PLAY CRYSTAL OF ATLAN? Absolutely play it once you get the chance! If the ongoing technical beta test is anything to go by, Crystal of Atlan may be the strongest action-RPG competition Genshin Impact has faced since Tower of Fantasy. While it’s too early to say whether Atlan can actually surpass Genshin, I feel confident that it’s well-designed enough to deserve your time and consideration.

Embarking on the digital odyssey of "Father and Son" was more than just playing a game; it was an emotional pilgrimage. Having lost my father in October 2023, the parallels with the protagonist's quest for his own paternal history struck deep chords of emotion. The game became a poignant exploration of both the tangible artifacts in Naples' Archaeological Museum and the intangible relics of my own memories.

[Music credit: "Cute" by Aurei Surya Lie] WHAT'S AWESOME: 00:30 WHAT SUCKS: 01:49 Learn more about WitchSpring R here!

PLAY IT OR SKIP IT? Skip it unless you’re a superfan of anything inspired by H.P. Lovecraft or you’re dying for a Metroidvania. The Last Case of Benedict Fox follows a demon-possessed detective who has the ability to jump into the memories of the dead. Using these powers, he’s attempting to find out the dark truth behind what happened to his father, a man heavily involved in occult rituals. It’s a great setup, but the experience is quickly dragged down by clunky controls and frustrating level design.

SHOULD I PLAY FORT SOLIS? Fort Solis is absolutely worth playing, as long as you know the type of game you’re getting into. And that is, to be clear, a one hundred percent narrative game. Virtually all of the “gameplay” in Fort Solis is made up of walking around the titular creepy abandoned base on Mars, with a small handful of very simple puzzles and quick time events. That said, if you’re down for a creepy, suspenseful story, this one will get under your skin in all the best ways.

Begin a captivating journey with "El Hijo: A Wild West Tale," where the innocence of a six-year-old collides with the challenges of a spaghetti-western world. This non-violent stealth game offers a unique perspective, blending cunning tactics with playful mischief. Background Story: The narrative unfolds as El Hijo, a young hero, faces adversity from a raided farm to remote monasteries and crime-infested towns. Separated from his mother, he navigates this treacherous landscape, gradually evolving in confidence and cleverness.

PLAY IT OR SKIP IT? Play it if you’re a big Legend of Heroes fan, but newcomers to the series are better off starting elsewhere. The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie is a sprawling epic that serves as a conclusion to both the Cold Steel and Crossbell story arcs. It doesn’t waste much time on recaps or exposition, so if you’re not familiar with previous games, you’ll probably feel pretty lost. If you’re curious about the game, but don’t want to jump in at the end of the story,

Hey folks, thanks for tapping and tuning in as I dive headlong into Summerfall Studios' recently released Visual Novel, Stray Gods - A Musical RPG. And they're not kidding on that front- so bear with me. An Inspired Investigation Stray Gods tells the story of Grace, whose mundane life as a would-be singer is abruptly de-railed due to a chance encounter with Calliope, The Last Muse.  Last, because the old Greek Pantheons are real, and not -quite- as immortal as previously rumoured. A trend which continues to hold true, given Callope's blood winds up literally (but not figuratively) on Graces' hands.

SHOULD I PLAY SUPER MARIO RPG? That depends. Do you like feeling joy? Do you get a kick out of taking part in pure, unabashed, childlike glee and wonder? If yes, then duh, absolutely jump into the wonderful world of Super Mario RPG as soon as possible. But if you’re more of a Bowser-esque figure who prefers ruining the day for innocent toadlings, or if you prefer your RPGs avoid cracking jokes at all costs, then maybe this one just isn’t for you. Or maybe this will be the game that finally breaks through the thick, Grinch-esque barrier of cynicism and unhappiness you’ve surrounded yourself in. Who knows?

Highly recommended if you are a fellow VN enjoyer. The combat system is kinda meh, but the fantastic storytelling makes up for it. With that being said, if you're not interested in reading the story then this game is probably not for you.

SHOULD I PLAY GUNBRELLA? Play it. Instead of reinventing the wheel with flashy features or next-gen visuals, Gunbrella perfects the standard elements of a side-scrolling action-adventure game. The result is a wildly entertaining journey of platforming, exploration, and monster-slaying. TIME PLAYED I played Gunbrella for four hours, traversing four of the game’s five areas. I’ve already defeated two bosses in the game and completed nearly a dozen main quests. I’m currently trying to make my way to the last area in the game.

SHOULD I PLAY BOOK OF HOURS? Play it if you’re a fan of Cultist Simulator or like complex games with unique mechanics. Book of Hours is an odd and fascinating game with a Lovecraftian narrative. It’s technically a deck-building RPG, but there are no battles with monsters or trips through dungeons. Instead, you play as a librarian working to rebuild an occult library. The gameplay can be pretty confusing, especially if you haven’t played

NAME: Finding Paradise PLATFORM: Mobile, PC DEVELOPER'S & PUBLISHER: Freebird Games, XD Entertainment Pte Ltd In this world of video games, few games manage to strike a harmonious balance between compelling storytelling and captivating gameplay. And "Finding Paradise" Is one of them Showing the power of narrative-driven games, offering players a unique and emotionally resonant experience. "Finding Paradise" seamlessly weaves its narrative through an interactive and thought-provoking gameplay experience. The game follows the story of Dr. Rosalene and Dr. Watts, who traverse through the memories of their clients to fulfill their last wishes. The gameplay revolves around solving puzzles within these memories, creating an engaging and immersive environment that keeps players invested in the unfolding narrative.