Dominik Probst

“Sensei! I Like You So Much! is a little love letter to fan culture – colorful, playful, and astonishingly detailed. Those who indulge in the dominant visual novel element will find a charming blend of storytelling, creative self-realization, and easy management. The mechanics surrounding fanzines, conventions, and merchandise are motivating, even if they serve more as a spice and don't reach the depth of classic business simulations. Technically, there's little to complain about: The look is coherent, the music underscores the feel-good setting, and the countless collectible and decorative elements invite experimentation. Weaknesses like the bumpy translation and the sometimes lengthy VN passages should be taken into account, but they don't take away the game's soul. The end result is a title aimed primarily at players who enjoy immersing themselves in fandom worlds, being creative, and expanding their little virtual fan existence. Anyone who wants to crunch hard numbers and fill out Excel spreadsheets is out of place here. However, anyone who enjoys sweetening their digital life with pins, fanzines, and blogs should feel perfectly at home.”

“Ritual of Raven is perfect for anyone who wants to run their farm with a touch of magic and a generous dash of convenience. It impresses with its charming setting, unusual core mechanics, and a calm, almost meditative gameplay style. Technically solid on PC, visually appealing, and pleasant to listen to, it invites you to play at your own pace. It's not perfect; complex economic systems and extreme gameplay variety are missing. But the mix of automation, exploration, and character interaction has its own charm. And sometimes that's all you need for a successful evening.”

“Survive the Fall isn't a blockbuster, but it's a small, ambitious survival adventure with soul. The mix of base building, exploration, and atmospheric world works well. The creative camp building and open world are particularly appealing. However, the game sometimes gets in its own way: too much loot, too little voice, too little focus. But if you're willing to embark on the adventure and have patience, you'll find an atmospheric representative of the genre and maybe even a new home at the end of the world.”

“Pivot of Hearts is a quiet, thoughtful story about love, self-discovery, and the uncertainties that arise when you get to know yourself anew. With a lot of heart, it tells the story of Wén Xiàn's journey through memories, new friendships, and the bittersweet realization that not every story needs a clear happy ending. It shines with authentic characters, an emotional story, and loving design, but stumbles over technical weaknesses and repetitive background music. Those who are patient, willing to engage with the quiet tones, and ready to immerse themselves in a complex, realistic narrative will find a game here that will resonate for a long time.”

“Guidus Zero is not a game for hectic mouse clickers or spontaneous after-work runs where you just want to whizz through. It requires concentration, planning and a certain amount of frustration tolerance. But it rewards everyone who gets involved - with intense battles, a clever progression system and a surprisingly dense dungeon flair. The boss battles challenge us, but they also motivate us. The grid movement feels strange at first, but becomes a pleasant rhythm over time. And the small design decisions - notes instead of walls of text, random stores, portable resources - make Guidus Zero a game that doesn't try to be bigger or more epic than it is. But simply: damn good. Of course, there are weaknesses. The automatic dialog navigation feels like an unnecessary stumbling block. The lack of a hint to “reset run” after saving almost borders on sabotage. But these are annoyances, not deal-breakers.”

“Sugardew Island does a lot of things right: it offers some clever convenience features, charming graphics and a relaxed atmosphere. But despite these strengths, the game lacks long-term motivation. The sales system drags on unnecessarily, there are hardly any side activities, and the technical quirks disrupt the flow of the game in some places. The basic idea is nice, but the gameplay simply doesn't offer enough in the long run. Those looking for a purely farming-focused experience may be happy here - everyone else will long for more variety after a short time.”

“Threefold Recital is an extraordinary game - but definitely not for everyone. Those who can engage with a deep story with philosophical undertones, complex characters and calm but creative gameplay will enjoy a captivating experience. However, those expecting action-packed battles or rapid progression may quickly become frustrated. The world of Bluescales is breathtaking, the puzzles challenging and the story full of intrigue. At the same time, the game requires a high willingness to read and patience for its leisurely narrative style.”

“Dog Man: Mission Impawsible is a charming game that perfectly captures the essence of the book series. With its humorous style, varied level design and lovable characters, it is aimed primarily at fans of the comics and younger players. However, adults looking for an easily accessible and entertaining adventure will also find what they are looking for here. Despite minor weaknesses - such as the occasional camera problems, the somewhat simple story or the sluggishness of the movements - the game impresses with its fresh approach and lovingly designed comic style.”

“Sengoku Dynasty is an ambitious title that attempts to combine several genres in one game - with sometimes impressive, sometimes mixed results. The combination of survival, city-building and role-playing creates a unique gaming experience that particularly shines with its atmospheric depiction of the Sengoku era. The focus on authenticity in the design of landscapes and buildings as well as the clever use of sound and atmosphere make immersing yourself in the game a real experience. On the other hand, however, there are some weaknesses that cloud the overall picture. Technical problems such as performance drops and graphical glitches repeatedly slow down the flow of the game. The battles are solid, but could have done with more depth and variety. It is a particular shame that there is no voice acting, which could have made the game even more immersive. The simple presentation of the text boxes also seems rather unkind in comparison to the otherwise impressive game world. Despite these shortcomings, Sengoku Dynasty offers something that many games fail to do: A world that invites us to discover and shape it. If you are patient and don't mind the technical problems, you will have many hours of fun building your own dynasty - whether alone or with friends in co-op mode.”

“Astral Flux cleverly combines the nostalgia of classic pixel platformers with modern roguelite mechanics to create an intense gaming experience. The procedural structure and the new submerged update provide variety and a unique atmosphere that will definitely appeal to fans of the genre. The pixel art visuals and the matching soundtrack round off the interstellar adventure and make the game a strong choice for anyone who wants to embark on a cosmic voyage of discovery. However, be warned of the somewhat higher level of difficulty.”