MonsterVine

“Alien Hominid HD is definitely simple, but there’s a lot of charm to be found in this old-school package. If you’re looking for a good challenge filled with goofy moments that won’t take up too much of your time, this is a solid enough pick.”

“Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker is a great DLC for those who were already hooked on the base game and crave more, though it may leave others wanting. New classes and a new party member don’t make up for the lack of character development for our main duo, and I did not appreciate having my party shrunk and helpful skills removed. A gorgeous and bombastic ride seems to be Sea of Stars’ goal here, and on that note, they do not disappoint. If you were craving more Sea of Stars or have been away from the game, this free DLC awaits a brave Solstice Warrior or three to mete out justice once again.”

“Roboquest is a fantastic shooter that’s chock-full of secrets and seemingly endless enjoyment. It can be a bit harder to play at a frantic pace on a console, but it doesn’t take long to get fairly accustomed to it. All-in-all, this is a must-play roguelite that nails essentially everything it does, with style.”

“Kathy Rain 2: Soothsayer takes everything from the first game and improves it, with stronger puzzles and an intriguing story. Fans of point-and-click adventure games will find an enjoyable experience here, and fans of the first game should enjoy seeing how Kathy’s murder investigation unfolds.”

“While it was lovely to be able to see a world bursting with color and full of culture, it didn’t feel fitting to the overall theme of Detective Dotson, and instead felt like it was a bit all over the place.”

“Drop Duchy has a clever and engaging tile-based strategy concept blending Tetris and deckbuilding, with strong combo potential and rewarding planning. However, its steep learning curve, lack of in-game clarity, reliance on RNG, and grind-heavy progression hold it back from reaching greater heights. It’s a niche but appealing experience for players who love complex systems and board game-style strategy.”

“StarVaders is a creative and polished fusion of roguelike, deckbuilder, and arcade-style mechanics. While it’s built on a familiar formula, the vibrant design, strategic depth, and sheer fun of chaotic, combo-driven gameplay make it an easy standout in the genre.”

“You clearly appreciate Moroi’s unapologetic weirdness and commitment to its aesthetic. The world-building, puzzles, and writing are engaging if you're on the game's wavelength. But the frustrating combat mechanics, occasional bugs, and unclear progression logic (especially with doors and puzzle gating) create a high barrier to enjoyment. It’s a fascinating mess, but it is best suited for players with patience and a taste for the bizarre.”

“Many Nights a Whisper offers a contemplative experience that acts as a meditation that might help you in your own life. Deconstructeam and Selkie Harbor have worked together to forge a masterpiece that can be experienced in a single sitting. Don’t pass this up.”

“Mechabellum is an onion with many layers, but once you get to the core of the gameplay, you really begin to understand what’s going on in every battle. And depending on the match you’re in, you can really start to see the pitfalls of its design. And even still, I cannot stop playing, warts and all.”

“SaGa Frontier 2 Remastered lets the best parts of the original game shine, while sanding out some of the rough edges that can detract from the player experience. The story shines as one of the best ones in the franchise, and the addition of new types of combat keeps things feeling pretty fresh. This is a full featured remaster, and I hope we continue to see the SaGa series get this kind of love and care from Square Enix; it deserves it.”

“Overall, I really enjoyed my experience with Repose and felt challenged by the enemy encounters. Especially since a lot of the time, you had to be quick with the inputs to kill the enemy, otherwise they’d kill you first. Then you’d have to make your way back to the area and hope that you beat them to it the next time. The story was curious and had my interest piqued. Despite that, I didn’t see it as a game that I would play long-term. It is unique and has a lot of charm, but it doesn’t have enough to bring me back for more than a few hours.”

“Grit and Valor 1949 offers surprising depth, replayability, and content across multiple campaigns with clever systems like crafting and research. While it leans casual and gets a bit repetitive, the combination of giant mechs, Nazi-smashing action, and strategy-lite mechanics makes for a solid and satisfying experience, especially on portable platforms like Steam Deck.”

“I enjoyed my time with Rosewater and its characters, although the narrative lacked the strong drive that would have really made it click. The presentation is great, the puzzles are challenging, and the multiple solutions add noteworthy replay value, but I didn't find myself as invested in the story as I had hoped I would be after playing Lamplight City.”

“Merchants of Rosewall is an ambitious but unfocused game that spreads itself too thin. While the idea of blending a cozy shop sim with a deep mystery is appealing, neither aspect is fleshed out enough to stand on its own. The result is a game that feels more tedious than rewarding, making it hard to recommend outside of players willing to tolerate its rough edges.”

“Never 7 is often overshadowed by the praise heaped upon its successor, Ever 17, and is considered to be the lesser of the two. It's not amazing or earth-shattering, it's simply... fine. Nevertheless, it offers a charming visual novel experience and deserves time to shine. It might be a fairly straightforward romance visual novel despite its time loop premise, but it's a fine story in its own right.”

“I’m impressed by Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog. It’s a great story with fun twists, lots of incredible art, and a few simple but rewarding puzzles. I never felt too encumbered or lost running around the JFS Gun-Dog. And the story culminated in a very interesting way that had me excited for future entries in the series.”

“Despite a very slow start and some repetition across its routes, Ever 17 deserves its status as a classic. The occasional typos are unfortunate, but overall this remaster is a great opportunity to experience a clever and inventive visual novel.”

“Rogue Waters delivers an enjoyable mix of tactical ship combat and crew management with fun roguelike elements. However, its repetitive gameplay, predictable story beats, and flat progression system prevent it from being truly great. It’s a solid game for casual roguelike fans and pirate enthusiasts but lacks the depth and variety to keep players fully engaged long-term.”

“Snezhinka is an arcade-style 2D shooter, focused on anime girls defending against waves of mechs on behalf of their authoritarian government. It's a strange game, but the atmosphere succeeds in its oppressiveness and the fast-paced gameplay keeps its simplicity from becoming tedium. It's a small package, but it offers a ton of fun for a few hours, knowing it's just as important to leave a good final impression as it is to have a strong first impression.”