2021
What an enjoyable game! The Gunk starts off with the player's character "Ran" landing on a planet that appears to be a wasteland. The backstory of your character is quickly explained. You, the player Rani, and her partner are scavengers who travel from one planet to another searching for resources to harvest and sell.
Early on in the game the player will come across "The Gunk." A parasitic creature that destroys life wherever it goes. The player as Rani has the ability to absorb "The Gunk" via a power glove. Early on the player will discover that once "The Gunk" is destroyed wildlife immediately returns to the area it was inhabiting. The Gunk IS the reason the planet appears to be a wasteland.
The core of the game is the player embarking on a journey to uncover what happened to the planet and its inhabitants by clearing the planet of "The Gunk" and discovering its origins. The gameplay isn't complex. The player has the ability to scan their immediate environment and unlock entries in their encyclopedia or local wildlife, minerals and more which will allow them to upgrade their character.
The game is an 3rd person action adventure game with a focus on puzzle solving and platforming. The game shines in the art design. The game is beautiful. I was consistently blown away by the game and the detail in each environment. It was a relaxing experience and exactly what I expected the game to be.
I played the game on Xbox Series X via Xbox Game Pass. If you're a fan of chill games and found what I wrote above interesting I'd definitely check the game out. It's worth a look!
Early on in the game the player will come across "The Gunk." A parasitic creature that destroys life wherever it goes. The player as Rani has the ability to absorb "The Gunk" via a power glove. Early on the player will discover that once "The Gunk" is destroyed wildlife immediately returns to the area it was inhabiting. The Gunk IS the reason the planet appears to be a wasteland.
The core of the game is the player embarking on a journey to uncover what happened to the planet and its inhabitants by clearing the planet of "The Gunk" and discovering its origins. The gameplay isn't complex. The player has the ability to scan their immediate environment and unlock entries in their encyclopedia or local wildlife, minerals and more which will allow them to upgrade their character.
The game is an 3rd person action adventure game with a focus on puzzle solving and platforming. The game shines in the art design. The game is beautiful. I was consistently blown away by the game and the detail in each environment. It was a relaxing experience and exactly what I expected the game to be.
I played the game on Xbox Series X via Xbox Game Pass. If you're a fan of chill games and found what I wrote above interesting I'd definitely check the game out. It's worth a look!
2016
The Witness is a puzzle game that was inspired by Myst (imo.) The premise of the game is simple. You, the player start on an island and you don't know why you're there or who you are. The island is "open world" in nature and it is up to the player to decide where he or she wants to go. The player progresses through the game by solving puzzles that are based on the player interacting with grids of various sizes found throughout different areas of the island. Once the player solves all of the puzzles in a particular area of the island they will be able to active a "laser" that will let them know that area is complete. It is up to the player to figure out the mechanics of each puzzle.
The Witness is game that's tutorial free. I'm sure for some players the lack of tutorials will be a problem but for me it was refreshing. Too many games in modern times don't respect the players time or intelligence and force upon them tutorials and this game is definitely not one of them.
The game depending on the players patience will be frustrating at times but I feel like if you're a fan of puzzle games you'll already know that and appreciate the risk/reward in playing a game of this nature. The player while exploring the island will also discover audio logs. The audio logs aren't highlighted, and they don't stick out. It'll be up to the player to find them by thoroughly exploring the island and being aware of their surroundings.
The Witness definitely challenged me, it tested my patience, but at the end of the day it left me feeling extremely satisfied. I played The Witness on Xbox Series X. If you're a fan of puzzle games I would definitely recommend this game to you if you haven't played it by now. I let this game pass me by for years and I regret it. If you've like me and have wanted to play this game for years and still haven't stop putting it off and do it. It's a game you can play at our own pace. It's the perfect type of game to play in spurts. You won't regret it.
The Witness is game that's tutorial free. I'm sure for some players the lack of tutorials will be a problem but for me it was refreshing. Too many games in modern times don't respect the players time or intelligence and force upon them tutorials and this game is definitely not one of them.
The game depending on the players patience will be frustrating at times but I feel like if you're a fan of puzzle games you'll already know that and appreciate the risk/reward in playing a game of this nature. The player while exploring the island will also discover audio logs. The audio logs aren't highlighted, and they don't stick out. It'll be up to the player to find them by thoroughly exploring the island and being aware of their surroundings.
The Witness definitely challenged me, it tested my patience, but at the end of the day it left me feeling extremely satisfied. I played The Witness on Xbox Series X. If you're a fan of puzzle games I would definitely recommend this game to you if you haven't played it by now. I let this game pass me by for years and I regret it. If you've like me and have wanted to play this game for years and still haven't stop putting it off and do it. It's a game you can play at our own pace. It's the perfect type of game to play in spurts. You won't regret it.
2019
Telling Lies is a "detective game at heart." Telling Lies is a game where the story isn't told in a linear fashion. The story is told via the player watching pre recorded video clips of conversations between various characters. The player has to uncover the video clips by typing keywords into a search engine on a simulated computer. It's up to the player to piece the story together and the game definitely doesn't hold the players hand in that process.
Personally I felt like the game was carried by the casts strong acting performances. The acting wasn't over the top, and I was captivated by the mystery of uncovering exactly what happened to each character and their ultimate fate.
I played Telling Lies via Xbox Gamepass on my Series X and I think my only gripe with the game was that l probably would have enjoyed it more if I used a keyboard instead of my controller to type in the keywords I was searching. If you enjoy games that require you to think and put your detective skills to use this is probably a game I would recommend to you. It's on Gamepass so you really don't have anything to lose. I enjoyed my time with it. If you're familiar with the game "Her Story" this game is its successor.
Personally I felt like the game was carried by the casts strong acting performances. The acting wasn't over the top, and I was captivated by the mystery of uncovering exactly what happened to each character and their ultimate fate.
I played Telling Lies via Xbox Gamepass on my Series X and I think my only gripe with the game was that l probably would have enjoyed it more if I used a keyboard instead of my controller to type in the keywords I was searching. If you enjoy games that require you to think and put your detective skills to use this is probably a game I would recommend to you. It's on Gamepass so you really don't have anything to lose. I enjoyed my time with it. If you're familiar with the game "Her Story" this game is its successor.
2021
Lake is a chill, beautiful narrative adventure game. I really enjoyed the art style, and the music. The game isn't full of twists or mysteries or complex gameplay. You play the role of Meredith Weiss. A woman who takes a break from her career in the big city and delivers mail for two weeks in her hometown. The gameplay loop consists of the player driving around delivering mail, interacting with the various people in the town that she either lost touch with when she left or moved there after she had left. The dialogue isn't complex and the voice acting isn't earth shattering but it's good enough to draw you in and make you relate and connect to the various types of relationships that the game presents to you. The controls were a bit janky but being able to fast travel definitely made them more tolerable. If you don't have a problem with "walking simulator" types of games and enjoy pleasant, chill, adventure games l'd definitely recommend this game to you. If you have Xbox Gamepass, it's definitely worth checking out if you love chill atmospheric games.
I played Lake on Series X via Xbox GamePass.
I played Lake on Series X via Xbox GamePass.
2022
Tunic is an action adventure game where the player
controls a tiny fox in a big open world. The world is
filled with various types of enemies to beat, bosses
to over come, and items to collect in a variety of
different "biomes." The "cartoonish" nature of the
game may make a person think that Tunic is
"simple" or that it isn't challenging and that's the
furthest thing from the truth. Tunic is challenging!
Between solving puzzles and various different boss
fights Tunic pushed me to my limits at times. While I
tried to figure out how to overcome a boss, solve a
puzzle, or reach an area that seemed unreachable
to obtain a collectible, Tunic always felt rewarding
and fulfilling and fun to play. It never lost its "fun
factor." Players have the option via the accessibility
settings to turn on "No Fail" mode if the challenge
of overcoming a boss loses its appeal. If you're a
player that enjoys exploring worlds and solving
puzzles but doesn't enjoy combat in video games
then "No Fail" mode is something I would highly
recommend that you turn on. Tunic is a game that is
definitely worth playing! I was skeptical of Tunic at
first but when I saw it on Gamepass I knew I had to
give it a shot and I'm glad that I did. Please check
out Tunic!
controls a tiny fox in a big open world. The world is
filled with various types of enemies to beat, bosses
to over come, and items to collect in a variety of
different "biomes." The "cartoonish" nature of the
game may make a person think that Tunic is
"simple" or that it isn't challenging and that's the
furthest thing from the truth. Tunic is challenging!
Between solving puzzles and various different boss
fights Tunic pushed me to my limits at times. While I
tried to figure out how to overcome a boss, solve a
puzzle, or reach an area that seemed unreachable
to obtain a collectible, Tunic always felt rewarding
and fulfilling and fun to play. It never lost its "fun
factor." Players have the option via the accessibility
settings to turn on "No Fail" mode if the challenge
of overcoming a boss loses its appeal. If you're a
player that enjoys exploring worlds and solving
puzzles but doesn't enjoy combat in video games
then "No Fail" mode is something I would highly
recommend that you turn on. Tunic is a game that is
definitely worth playing! I was skeptical of Tunic at
first but when I saw it on Gamepass I knew I had to
give it a shot and I'm glad that I did. Please check
out Tunic!
Kentucky Route Zero is a point and click adventure
game about a secret highway running through the
caves beneath Kentucky and the mysterious people
who travel it. The player controls Conway, a delivery
man tasked with making an important delivery for
an antique shop, alongside their dog. The player will
encounter a wide variety of interesting characters
that are unique, quirky and play off Conway and
each other incredibly well. Kentuckv Route Zero is a
game that doesn't stick to the typical tropes of
point and click adventure games. The visual style,
art design and thought provoking nature of the
writing kept me thoroughly engaged. While the story
was weird, and sometimes confusing I was
completely engaged and often times was left
questioning what I was witnessing on my screen. I
thoroughly enjoyed my time playing Kentucky Route
Zero.
Pros:
The atmosphere and art design
The narrative
The characters, dialogue
The soundtrack
Cons:
Pace of the narrative
Open world map and traveling
Played on: Xbox Series X via GamePass
game about a secret highway running through the
caves beneath Kentucky and the mysterious people
who travel it. The player controls Conway, a delivery
man tasked with making an important delivery for
an antique shop, alongside their dog. The player will
encounter a wide variety of interesting characters
that are unique, quirky and play off Conway and
each other incredibly well. Kentuckv Route Zero is a
game that doesn't stick to the typical tropes of
point and click adventure games. The visual style,
art design and thought provoking nature of the
writing kept me thoroughly engaged. While the story
was weird, and sometimes confusing I was
completely engaged and often times was left
questioning what I was witnessing on my screen. I
thoroughly enjoyed my time playing Kentucky Route
Zero.
Pros:
The atmosphere and art design
The narrative
The characters, dialogue
The soundtrack
Cons:
Pace of the narrative
Open world map and traveling
Played on: Xbox Series X via GamePass
Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc is a visual novel about fifteen "gifted" or "elite" students that have been locked in a school and isolated from the outside world. They are on round the clock surveillance and thev live under a special rule; only a student who murders another student and isn't caught will be allowed to graduate and leave the school. Absurd. I know.
Trigger Happy Havoc is unsettling but engaging. The story of Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc is experienced through chapters. In each chapter you'll interact with your various classmates who all have unique and distinctive personalities. Your classmates will clash with you and each other making for some interesting and engaging dynamics as you progress through the story. Each chapter climaxes with a murder and a class trial where you and your fellow classmates will try to determine who the murderer is in a life and death situation.
Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc is a game that is carried by the brilliant writing, art design and soundtrack. While Trigger Happy Havoc has incredibly profound and emotional moments the writers intelligently weaved in light hearted and comedic moments that allow you as the player to never get too emotionally high or low.
Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc is an absurd game that will require a suspension of belief from the player. If the player is able to look past the absurdity of the situation they'll come away from Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc having experienced a unique story and one of the best of its kind. A game that any fan of the visual novel genre should play.
Pros:
The story/narrative.
Soundtrack and the art design.
Cons:
Controls during the "class trials" can sometimes feel
less than smooth.
Played on: Xbox Series X via GamePass
Trigger Happy Havoc is unsettling but engaging. The story of Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc is experienced through chapters. In each chapter you'll interact with your various classmates who all have unique and distinctive personalities. Your classmates will clash with you and each other making for some interesting and engaging dynamics as you progress through the story. Each chapter climaxes with a murder and a class trial where you and your fellow classmates will try to determine who the murderer is in a life and death situation.
Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc is a game that is carried by the brilliant writing, art design and soundtrack. While Trigger Happy Havoc has incredibly profound and emotional moments the writers intelligently weaved in light hearted and comedic moments that allow you as the player to never get too emotionally high or low.
Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc is an absurd game that will require a suspension of belief from the player. If the player is able to look past the absurdity of the situation they'll come away from Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc having experienced a unique story and one of the best of its kind. A game that any fan of the visual novel genre should play.
Pros:
The story/narrative.
Soundtrack and the art design.
Cons:
Controls during the "class trials" can sometimes feel
less than smooth.
Played on: Xbox Series X via GamePass
2020
Where to start? Bugsnax is a story driven first person adventure game that is carried by its narrative and character development.
In Bugsnax you play as a news reporter that's been summoned to Snaktooth Island by a famous explorer known as Elizabert Megafig to investigate the mystery of what Bugsnax are.
The player upon arriving on Snaktooth Island will try to track down Elizabert Megafig for an interview. In the process the player will discover that the Lizabert
and her various companions that ioined her on her journey abandoned their settlement on the island. The players are tasked with figuring out why and where they all went.
Bugsnax is a simple game. You can't "die" or even "fail." Throughout their journey the player will visit different biomes where they will discover different Bugsnax. As well, the plaver will discover in each biome a member of Lizaberts team that is hungry for a Bugsnax that lives there.
Upon catching a Bugsnax the player is able to feed one to Lizaberts companion. This is where the game goes to another level. Once you feed a Bugsnax to a companion, the player is given the option to transform a body part of that companion into a weird version of what they were fed. Feed a companion a bag of chips, the player will be able to turn a body part into chips. It's... out there. It can be unsettling to see and disturbing. Bugsnax relies heavily on immersing the player in the world via its characters and unique concept. If
you're able to engage with the content you'll enjoy what Bugsnax has to offer. Bugsnax is clever and it had me engaged and having a good time from start to finish.
Pros:
Characters
Variety of biomes and art design
Overall narrative
Cons:
Controls felt awkward at times when trying to catch
Bugsnax
Played on: Xbox Series X via Xbox Gamepass
In Bugsnax you play as a news reporter that's been summoned to Snaktooth Island by a famous explorer known as Elizabert Megafig to investigate the mystery of what Bugsnax are.
The player upon arriving on Snaktooth Island will try to track down Elizabert Megafig for an interview. In the process the player will discover that the Lizabert
and her various companions that ioined her on her journey abandoned their settlement on the island. The players are tasked with figuring out why and where they all went.
Bugsnax is a simple game. You can't "die" or even "fail." Throughout their journey the player will visit different biomes where they will discover different Bugsnax. As well, the plaver will discover in each biome a member of Lizaberts team that is hungry for a Bugsnax that lives there.
Upon catching a Bugsnax the player is able to feed one to Lizaberts companion. This is where the game goes to another level. Once you feed a Bugsnax to a companion, the player is given the option to transform a body part of that companion into a weird version of what they were fed. Feed a companion a bag of chips, the player will be able to turn a body part into chips. It's... out there. It can be unsettling to see and disturbing. Bugsnax relies heavily on immersing the player in the world via its characters and unique concept. If
you're able to engage with the content you'll enjoy what Bugsnax has to offer. Bugsnax is clever and it had me engaged and having a good time from start to finish.
Pros:
Characters
Variety of biomes and art design
Overall narrative
Cons:
Controls felt awkward at times when trying to catch
Bugsnax
Played on: Xbox Series X via Xbox Gamepass