There isn't necessarily anything new or groundbreaking about the combat but all of the elements from familiar titles come together to make a complex system with lots of factors to weigh together that really get you thinking.
Spiritfarer Actually Satisfied My Desire for a Melancholy Farming Sim
When I wrote that article and described my ideal farming sim as "Harvest Moon but Depressed," I never imagined that a day would come when I would play the game that scratched that itch. Yet in 2020's (after)life sim Spiritfarer, I found the melancholy I sought - plus a little hope to go along with it.
Spiritfarer’s Platforming Sets it Apart from Other Simulation Games
Spiritfarer is not just a life sim or farming sim - it is a platformer, and the satisfaction of movement that comes from that genre adds so much to what Spiritfarer accomplishes.
Age of Calamity is an Excellent Warriors Game but Not the Breath of the Wild Prequel I Wanted
Age of Calamity fails to deliver on its promise of telling the story of the events that lead up to Breath of the Wild, but if you know that going in there's still a pretty fun game to be found underneath.
Playing Custom Modes in Slay the Spire Better Scratches my TCG Itch
The custom modes reinvigorated my interest in the game when I hit the point where the only interesting thing left to do was to make the game harder for myself.
I’m One of Those Weirdos Who Tells Everyone to Play Hades Now
I don't think anyone out there has been proselytizing Hades as the perfect game; rather, it simply seems clear that what works about the game is so strong that the issues are easy to bear.
The Slaying Game: Which Slay the Spire Hero is Your Ultimate Match?
Sometimes the best way to choose a favorite character is through a ridiculous scripted scenario that no one should take seriously.
First Impressions of Slay the Spire, from a Guy Who Sucks at One Step From Eden
Slay the Spire promised an experience where I could take my time to think but still be challenged.
I Finally Filled the XCOM-Shaped Hole in My Strategy Game Library (XCOM2 Switch Review)
Base management strategy is key to this game and the interplay between these activities and the missions themselves is the core gameplay loop of XCOM2.
Making an Impact – Reflecting on the Story and Characters of The Origami King
The moment-to-moment interactions with NPCs are certainly funny and the partner characters who join you throughout the game are the key elements which make the story worthwhile.