Author: AndresPlays

Pennies 12 is a deceptively simple coin-flipping roguelike with clever mechanics that effortlessly achieves that “one more run” feeling as soon as you start playing. What is the allure of a game of chance? Taking out the dopamine effect, feeling lucky is more than flipping a coin and predicting the right outcome. Deluding your mind into having luck on your side means thinking everything will turn out great. This is a double-edged sword. I was once swindled at a carnival game where you followed a ball through cups. It had a trick, naturally, and let me win the first few…

NTE: Neverness to Everness debuts a confident open world ready to compete with the best-in-class. Style and substance—it’s all here. Considering the enduring popularity of the Grand Theft Auto series and the staying power of anime free-to-play games, it was only a matter of time until something like NTE: Neverness to Everness came along. Making headlines from its debut trailer for its seemingly unparalleled freedom in a modern city, many wondered if it would stick the landing, cramming so many activities in one package. Wonder no more, NTE is one of the most entertaining open-world games right out of the…

Bobo Bay is a charming pet simulator heavily inspired by Sonic Adventure’s Chao Garden. Not content with offering an expansive minigame, it adds a touching narrative on top of it. Kintsugi is a Japanese practice of fixing broken pottery that has taken hold because of its pure intentions. In a world of planned obsolescence, taking care of broken things and repairing them is an act of rebellion. It is no wonder, then, that Bobo Bay, a game primarily about raising a town in shambles, internalizes this philosophy to deliver THE feel-good game of the year. With the primary gameplay of…

Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth is the latest video game adaptation from Tove Jansson’s kind world, now focused on its gentle protagonist. Every winter, the Rideau Canal freezes over. Accustomed to the harsh season, the people in Ottawa take this temporary opportunity to skate all over the world’s largest skating rink. Making the most of it, nearby pastry shops offer “beaver tails” (deep-fried dough) and warm chocolate sprinkled with marshmallows. In sub-zero temperatures, sipping a boiling hot beverage gives a cherished moment of respite amid the inclement weather. Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth evokes this contrast by portraying its central character against an ever-present…

An opinion piece in which I navigate friction in video games getting the best of us and how simple it would be to just let it go. Studies indicate that informed buyers research before making their purchase decisions. A generally good practice, this becomes more difficult when talking about video games. Some may have a demo, but it might not successfully showcase everything a game has to offer. Gameplay elements could be tweaked by the time it releases. Player feedback could influence narrative arcs, combat mechanics, or even puzzles. In short, there are various factors that may not give a…

Tombwater is a top-down Soulslike dripping with atmosphere, successfully blending the Western genre with eldritch horror. Since Demon’s Souls release in 2009, developers everywhere have tried to replicate that inimitable FromSoftware formula. Eventually becoming its own genre—the challenging Soulslike—there are several recognizable staples any seasoned gamer will identify: a bonfire to rest (which also resets enemies), a distinct tinge of eldritch horror, and uproarious boss fights. Give or take a few of these elements, such as punishing enemy placement or traps, and you have the perfect formula. Easier said than done, Tombwater elegantly delivers a haunting blend of Bloodborne and…

Live this April 24, Yet Another Game Awards is an awards ceremony celebrating video games across the board. We interviewed its creator to learn more about it. Video game award events have become ubiquitous within the gaming industry. How else will we recognize the massive talent on display year in and year out? The conversation about whether video games are art is one that pops up like clockwork every few months in social media “discourse.” Every one of these doubts can be laid to rest when a well-thought-out awards event rewards ingenuity and expertise in various technical fields. But what…

Marrow Marrow is a VR arcade arena shooter that makes for intense sessions thanks to its aerodynamic grappling hook and fast-paced movement. Video games that go at a breakneck speed are nothing new. Quake, from 1996, is one of the pioneers of the FPS genre that made mouse and keyboard players move their wrists as fast as they could. Years later, Ghostrunner and its unforgiving one-shot deaths made for precise and quick ninja-like movements. In the virtual reality space, flashy action games like Vendetta Forever or Action Hero evoke that high-octane movie magic. Stripped down to the basics of arcade…

Dosa Divas is an active, turn-based adventure where you cook with love and fight against an evil empire. As you should. Stored away in the attic of my house, there is a box full of old photo albums and documents. In it, there is a memory I treasure the most. A typewritten recipe for a heartwarming noodle soup. My grandma would always cook it for me and my brother when she would take care of us. A deeply formative experience, her lasting love was channeled through one of the best dishes I have ever tried. The taste is one that…

Announced for Meta Quest, Sugar Madness is a new VR first-person on-rails shooter available to wishlist now. A playtest is planned later this month. Developed by JollyCo, Sugar Madness is a fast-paced, immersive first-person shooter in VR where quick thinking, strategy, and adaptability are key to survival in a corrupted world where monster-infused candies fight back. Based on the trailer, players can expect a wacky array of lightly scary enemies, projectiles, and massive boss encounters that they will fight against. Various levels, from winter wonderlands to Halloween-themed towns, will take players through a carousel of biomes. Blending arcade-style action with…