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Minute of Islands review
Life as Mo knew it changed when the blight came. Deadly fungus spores taking over the islands where she lives and poisoning her friends and family. The four giants that roam the islands take on the enormous responsibility of keeping the islands safe, and they go deep underground to power the transmitters to keep the spores at bay. Theirs is a thankless, endless task, but what other choice do they have? Mo is scared of the surface, so she goes underground with them, and the giants deem her worthy of being the holder of the powerful Omni Switch. Mo’s life is filled with the comforting churning of the brother’s work…
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June 2021 indie game releases – part 2
We’re already at the end of June, and what a chaotic month it was for indie game releases! With E3 week and Steam Next Fest, there were game releases and demos to try everywhere! It was almost more than this game writer could keep up with. Fortunately, the Wholesome Direct was a nice place to find some calm from the storm. There were quite a few sneaky surprise attack releases in the last few weeks, which meant they weren’t included in Part 1, but I’ll be covering them here. Minute of Islands Website | Twitter Genre: Adventure, 2D platformer, puzzle platformer, puzzle Platforms: PC (Steam, Gog & Humble), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox…
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Nine excellent Steam Next Fest demos
The Steam Games Festival is here again, but it has been renamed Steam Next Fest to celebrate awesome upcoming indie games. As has been the case with previous Festivals, there are a vast amount of demos and events to enjoy. With over 100 demos, it can be challenging to know where to start, so I created a list of my favourites for the festival. Terra Nil Website | Twitter | Wishlist/demo Genre: Simulation, city builder, puzzle Platforms: PC (Steam) Release date: 2022 Reclaim the wasteland in this reverse city builder. After touching down on barren, bare land, it’s time to get to work and restore the wasteland back to life as a thriving ecosystem.…
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Before We Leave review
The Peeps have spent decades underground. It’s been so long that they forgot what it’s like to watch the sunset, hear the chirps of a bird and the rustle of leaves in the breeze. So they have decided it’s time to come back to the surface and build a civilisation once more. Before We Leave is a combat-free worldbuilder, but there are challenges with climate, technology and resources. Oh, and the space whales, of course! Start with an island, but strive for the stars and try to keep the environment in good shape. Gameplay Before We Leave is big, like giant big! Initially, it starts small. Your peeps are emerging…
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Wholesome Direct 2021 – list of games
Today we celebrated Wholesome Direct 2021 with a huge lineup of delightfully wholesome games. All of the game events this week can be a bit overwhelming, but Wholesome Direct is like a nice, warm hug. It is the event I look forward to the most. With a huge amount of games showcased, it can be difficult to find information on the ones you loved, so below, you’ll find a list filled with your favourites. They’re sorted in alphabetical order, but you can change any of the columns. There is a description of each game and a link to their website, wishlist and Twitter accounts. If you need more Wholesome Games…
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June 2021 indie game releases – part 1
June is a mega month for indie game releases! There are so many digital conventions and shows happening, not to mention so many games being released! It’s going to be a great month to get stuck into some fantastic games. I am particularly looking forward to Chicory since I backed it on Kickstarter. Here’s hoping that we can bring colour back to the world! My picks for the first half of June are below, be sure to check back for part two for the end of the month. Chicory Website | Twitter Genre: Adventure, RPG Platforms: PC (Steam), Playstation Release date: 10th June Chicory, the wielder of The Brush, has disappeared, and…
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The Wild at Heart review
Take an adventure into a magical world with The Wild at Heart. Wake is running away from home with his best friend, Kirby. His Dad has never been the same since his Mum died, and he can’t deal with it anymore. So, he and Kirby are going to hide out in the woods behind his house. Unfortunately, he gets lost and ends up in a magical world of spritelings, wizards, and terrifying beings lurking in the dark. The Never were trapped by the Green Witch, but since she’s gone, they’ve been leaking back into the world and causing chaos. Fortunately, they can only appear at night, so be sure to…
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May 2021 Kickstarter spotlight
Every month (usually), I do a Kickstarter spotlight of a fantastic game that just launched a campaign. Sometimes, there are many good games with a live Kickstarter, and this is one of those months. I couldn’t decide on which to pick, so I went with four! As is usually the case with my selections, nearly all of them are also combat-free! LightBreak Kickstarter | Twitter | Website | Wishlist | demo Kickstarter ends: 3rd June 2021 Platforms: PC, Android & iOS Genres: Rhythm, story-rich, puzzle, adventure Expected release date: Unknown Ava is out on an adventure when she finds Saaz, a magical artifact that plays through the soul of the person who carries it.…
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May 2021 indie game releases – part 2
We’re halfway through May, and it’s time to check out some more indie game releases. I have a shorter list than usual for the end of the month, but that just means more time to play some excellent games. I’m looking forward to giving all these games a try over the coming weeks. The Wild at Heart Website | Twitter Genre: Action-adventure, story-rich, puzzle Platforms: PC (Steam & Humble), Xbox (inc. Gamepass) Release date: 20th May Twelve-year-old master inventor Wake has run away from home and gotten lost in the forest. He’s sad and scared, and then a tiny creature appears to show him the way. Wake follows the Spriteling further into…
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Hundred Days – Winemaking Simulator review
Ever dream of escaping life in a dead-end job and starting up your own winery? Hundred days allows us to travel to the gorgeous wine region of Alba, Italy, and get a crash course in winemaking. It turns out that winemaking is a cutthroat industry and our competitors aren’t happy that we’ve been given this land. Fortunately, we have some excellent mentors helping us, so we can (hopefully) make an excellent drop of wine and shake up the industry. Hundred Days is essentially the story of Yves Hohler, lead designer and co-founder of Broken Arms Games. As a child, his family moved to Italy to give winemaking a try. They…
