Ed Acosta

“Overall, Space Chef is a cozy game with a mechanical backbone. Its open-ended structure, layered systems, and emphasis on discovery make it more demanding than most games in the genre, but also more rewarding for players willing to engage patiently. While directionless design choices and time cycles can be frustrating, the exploration and crafting are quite fun and create an entertaining experience of being a Space Chef.”

“The Jackbox games consistently shine when played with friends who understand each other’s humor and social boundaries. The experience improves significantly when players are comfortable engaging openly, or teasing each other intentionally. Party Pack 11 reinforces Jackbox’s strengths and maintains the series’ high standards. The writing remains sharp, host performances are lively, and the overall presentation reinforces the sense of a curated game night rather than a loose bundle of minigames. Ultimately, The Jackbox Party Pack 11 is a satisfying entry, one that offers fresh content for veterans of the series while remaining accessible to newcomers. It confidently reinforces why Jackbox remains the go-to choice for laughter-filled game nights.”

“NASCAR 25 is a strong comeback for the series. It captures the thrill of stock car racing while introducing a long-overdue, structured career experience. There’s still room for improvement, particularly in management depth and customization tools, but it’s a promising foundation. NASCAR games have been slippin’ in the marbles for a while now, but iRacing has steered the franchise back in the right direction.”

“Locomoto is a game that puts the cozy out front. For a good stretch of its runtime, that approach really works, the atmosphere is warm, the characters are endearing, and the whole experience wraps you in a gentle, cozy embrace. But by the end, I found myself running low on coal. That said, if you’re looking for a slow and steady adventure, Locomoto delivers. It’s a laid-back ride with a soothing tone and some genuinely sweet moments. For better or worse, this train sticks to a familiar track.”

“While Spray Paint Simulator shares similarities with games in the Simulator genre, it manages to feel distinct thanks to its emphasis on masking and preparation. It’s one of the few games in the genre that requires players to take the time to protect certain areas before starting their work. This mechanic not only adds realism but also creates a deeper, more immersive gameplay experience. The variety of tools, combined with the game’s focus on both creativity and precision, offers a refreshing freedom often seen in other job simulators to a degree. At the same time, Spray Paint Simulator delivers that deeply satisfying feeling of completing a job well done while making it both relaxing and rewarding.”

“The premise of The Jackbox Survey Scramble is solid, and its format leaves plenty of room for expansion and innovation. The Survey Scramble could easily have been included in a Jackbox Party Pack 11, but its unique focus on survey-based gameplay justifies its standalone release. With its blend of fun and strategy, Survey Scramble is poised to become a party favorite, standing alongside classics like Murder Mystery Party, Tee.K.O., Quiplash, and Fibbage. If you’re looking for your next party hit, this one is worth adding to your collection! Your Mega Collection!”

“Overall, Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines is an impressive platformer with engaging mechanics, a charming cast of characters, and plenty of challenges to keep you hooked. The lighthearted tone and challenging gameplay make it stand out among other platformers and should be up there with Mario and Sonic. If you loved the first game, you’ll feel right at home, and if you’re new to the series, this sequel is a perfect place to start. It’s safe to say that Grapple Dogs continues to be a very good dog, and this latest adventure deserves all the head rubs.”

“All in all, Lake: Season’s Greetings is a solid choice of prequel DLC that takes everything I enjoyed in the base games and gives me more of it. I found the new characters entertaining while enjoying learning more about the characters I came to know from the original game. But mostly, the short runtime does the DLC a solid by not making your time in Providence Oaks feel like a slog. As I mentioned earlier, if you enjoyed the original Lake, you’ll undoubtedly get some warm and fuzzy feelings playing Season’s Greetings. If you want that nice and cozy experience, do what I did: grab some fuzzy socks, a mug filled with hot cocoa, and deliver some mail. The only way the experience would have been better is if snow was falling outside my own window.”

“Despite its struggles, I did love God of Rock’s charm. Its roster is a colorful mix of characters like the comic artist Edith or the carefree spirit Lyn, both of which were the two I completed the game with. I enjoyed some of the unique interactions during the arcade intros and the banter between characters before the matches began. The game’s stage designs were pretty to look at, too, at least during the start and end of rounds. I don’t think God of Rock will hold anyone’s attention, which is sad because I feel like something is here. It’s just that the implementation was not executed well. I struggled to want to play when I’m normally itching to repeat songs in a standard rhythm game. It’s clear Modus Games put a lot of love into God of Rock, so it hurts me that I did not enjoy my time with this game. I hope some changes can come down the pipeline to fix some of these issues, specifically the UI button icons.”

“I enjoyed my time with Chef Life: A Restaurant Simulator. It’s definitely a simulator, but it’s not overly complex like some in the genre tend to become. With the management aspect and how detailed some of the recipes are, it offers that depth simulators genuinely capture while simultaneously keeping the actual cooking and plating something fun and enjoyable. The story could be better, but again, something that should make or break your decision in this genre. An essential aspect of being a chef is having pride in your work and seeing the customer enjoy their experience; Chef Life captures this and does this well.”

“Even with the time constraints, I enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of Garden In!, and the “Gotta Plant them All” goal of getting all the seeds. Unfortunately, I would be giving the real-time growing a pass if it were on mobile versus my PC, where it’s more of a detriment. I want to spend a few hours playing a game on my PC, not a few minutes. When I boot up a game through Steam, I want to sit down and be engrossed. Relaxing or not, I’ve dedicated time to play, so let’s play; Garden In! doesn’t do that for me. With all that said, I absolutely do recommend giving this one a go if you want something calm and relaxing to entertain your fingers and stimulate the mind for a few minutes.”

“The Jackbox Party Pack 9 is an excellent bundle of games. There are hours of fun and hilarity to be had with this latest Party Pack, and another reason why the Jackbox Party Pack games need to be included in your game library.”

“I sincerely enjoyed my time with Autonauts and could see anyone with no programming knowledge to that of a pro programmer having a good time here. With the added combat, that adds a whole new group of people who could potentially enjoy this series now as well! There is a little bit of a learning curve, but it’s fun to learn. Plus, resource management is still a hoot to manage. Building up your little outpost and getting the automation going is as enjoyable as it was in its first installment, and the added battles against the Piratebots are neat. Autonauts vs. Piratebots is a title that will readily eat at your brain when you’re not playing. You’ll sit there and start thinking of everything you could possibly do to make your assembly line more efficient or how to program your bots in ways to maximize output, and I think that’s a sign of a well-made automation game.”

“Even though Grapple Dog is just one 2D platformer in a sea of them, I believe this can be your one diamond in the rough. It’s a game that feels responsive and is relatively easy for anyone to pick up and play. It isn’t a cakewalk, though, and you will find challenges ahead, but at the same time, you’re going to soak up the bright colors and the fun story, placing this near the top of your lists.”

“Epic Chef’s writing is quite funny, and because of that and its fun cooking gameplay, I’m willing to wave off any serious issues I have with it. Does it mean it’s a perfect experience though, no. But I enjoyed my time with it and think it’s a great game to hop into, especially if you’re into the crafting, farming, or cooking genres.”

“Overall, the game is quite fun, but the game feels very light with minimal narrative and dating-sim aspects. The bowling is good enough to have you play for a few matches or with other people, but the bowling fun only takes it so far. With that said, at $9.99 it hits that perfect sweet spot where even though it feels light, you’re not breaking the bank. I mean, it’s cheaper than bowling alley pizza and will leave you feeling more satisfied.”

“The Jackbox Party Pack 8 is a heck of a bundle and honestly one of the strongest they’ve had as a package; it is the most consistent pack Jackbox Games Inc. has created yet. There are hours of fun and hilarity to be had with Party Pack 8, and this game gives no reason why it can’t be in your library of games.”

“It’s hard to recommend NASCAR 21: Ignition in its current form. A $60 price tag doesn’t feel justified for the lack of features in this package. There is hope, though, as the racing is still quite good, the graphics look stunning, and the overall fun of being on track is there. But as with every NASCAR release over the years, that can only take you so far. If there was ever a year to skip a NASCAR title, it’s this one. I do look forward to NASCAR 22 in the hope that Motorsport Games nails it. After seeing and feeling what they provided for racing this year, it’s obvious they have talent over there; it just needs to be a more complete package.”

“The management aspect was engaging, the art & animations of the dogs made them super adorable, and overall, Little Rock Games made a well-put-together package. If To the Rescue were a dog in need of rescue, I’d be first in line to adopt.”

“Overall, I had a blast with Gas Station Simulator. You get that feeling of running a gas station, especially early on when it’s just you rushing between the pumps and register. The mini-games peppered throughout the game don’t make running the place feel like work. Well, except for picking up the trash and cleaning. I maybe forgot to mention that part. I assigned my employee to do that anyway, so no skin off my back. That aside, the game hits its mark; it says what it is in the title. I feel this one is up there in the pantheon of its genre and if you were to ask me what good simulator games should you try? I’ll tell you: Car Mechanic, House Flipper, Power Washer, and now, Gas Station.”