Stephanie Richards

“Easy to learn, hard to master, perhaps even more difficult to complete. It is a roguelite so even if you complete one run, you probably haven’t fully seen everything there is to see. The positive with this DLC is that while it is more of the same Monster Train 2 you’ve come to love, there’s more than enough to rejuvenate the game. Especially for those who love the challenge. The addition of a separate logbook and the ability to make sure that no one can get the story out of order would probably make this a perfect DLC. Perhaps in time these small tidbits will be added. Even without this, the DLC is well worth your time. If you’re a Monster Train 2 fan who has stepped away for a bit, now is the time to return.”

“During the best of times, it felt like a game that was a school project. At some of the worst times, it felt like a game that I’m not sure who it was made for. Maybe there is a subset of gamers that really enjoy on the rail gun games, or maybe those who just want a very quick shooter. Either way, in a year that has been incredibly competitive with games unfortunately Candy Rangers does not rank highly.”

“Perhaps with a little bit of tweaking, Shuffle Tactics will begin a new trend or find some great footing. For now, it’s just a bit too much to be enjoyed by many. It will find an audience, but it may be quite niche. A bit more polish and maybe removal of some of the too much content and this might be a great way to bridge these genres together.”

“For anyone who are board game fans, Deck of Haunts feels like it takes some of the best mechanics of house building from Betrayal at House on the Hill. For those who are horror fans who always thought they could build a better house, this is absolutely for you. While you may not have marathon hours in this game, you will find yourself wanting to go back and revisit this game over and over to do it better.”

“The biggest problem with Kaya’s Prophecy is that it doesn’t feel like it adds anything new to the genre. While this didn’t feel like a waste of time, it isn’t something that many may be quick to return to. Some of the elements are familiar but not as well executed as games that have come before it. At times, Kaya’s Prophecy feels like a love letter to the genre, at others, it feels a bit like a student project.”

“Leila tells a story that most people should hear. It gets to the truth of ourselves in the hustle of each day with who we are and how we navigate life. However, at times, the story feels a bit rushed. We explore these moments with Leila and she opens up rather quickly. Some of these moments felt too quick or rushed through. In some ways, I wish this game would have been a bit longer to elaborate on certain moments and feelings. We know her marriage has become stagnant and yet we get very few glimpses as to why. By the end, we see she is more hopeful and free after a full day with this game console. Was her journey to self-forgiveness simply one day long?”

“The Executive is a game that players will lose hours to in the best of ways. While it does have some room for improvement, it is a strong showing from Aniki Games for their debut game. This is definitely a game that allows for multiple playthroughs to find your optimal play style. For those looking to get into simulation games, this may seem slightly overwhelming but the tutorial works well to bring new players to the genre. Overall, The Executive is a solid game that promises hours of gameplay.”

“You’ll have the most fun when you’re playing Slopecrashers with friends, but that doesn’t mean you can’t play alone! When you want to play solo, there are modes where you can focus on style. Try out the “Stuntshow” if you want to focus on your creativity or if you’re a precision master. Check out “Slalom” where you can shine during those solo gaming sessions. Of course, like any other arcade game, the game can get repetitive as it’s a snowboarding racer at is core. Overall though, if you want a neatly packaged and fun game for those looking for something slightly competitive, this is it.”