Tag: Narrative Game

Funeral for the Sun – Demo Impressions

When logic meets the surreal.

Funeral for the Sun

Developer: Nicolás Cid Delgado

Release Date: Coming soon

Search the ashes of an abandoned Latin American town and uncover 500 years of secrets. A non-linear mystery where you travel back in time and untangle the complex history of a community cursed by supernatural forces.

The final demo that I tried from the Thinky Direct 2026 was the demo for a game that I already had on my wishlist, Funeral for the Sun. We play as a historian on her attempt to unravel the past of a town doomed to flames and time.

Of all the games that I have tried that have evoked Return of the Obra Dinn in some way – my favourite game of all time might I add – Funeral for the Sun has come the closest to capturing that magic so far. Don’t get me wrong, Funeral for the Sun has its own soft, painterly art style, its own story to tell and its own unique way of telling it, but exploring the environments, discovering clues from the past and encountering the drama along the way is reminding me of the reasons that I like the genre. It is not only for the deduction of the logic puzzles – however smart that makes me feel when I have some success – but the story that unfolds along the way, the surprises, unexpected turns, and the oddities that provide another level of intrigue.

In less than 45 minutes I was given enough clues, enough fulfilment and enough strangeness to really want to continue beyond what is currently available. Exploring the same scenes in both the past and the present in order to fill out our journal, put names to faces and make the connections between them is an endlessly satisfying process, presented seamlessly. I will be keeping my eye on this one!

Demo Length – 30min-1hr
At a glance
+ A satisfying deduction system
+ I have no idea where the story is going to go
+ Drama ramps up quickly
+ The way the past and present work together to present puzzles and solutions
+ The colour palette is evocative and art style recognisable
– Only being able to save a limited amount of journal entries felt restricting

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Deep Pixel Melancholy – Demo Impressions

Not even dystopic, just real.

Deep Pixel Melancholy

Developer: ok/no

Release Date: Q3 2026

Deep Pixel Melancholy is a visual novel about being stuck in a time loop inside a far northern city. Unravel the mystery, and decide whether escaping is really worth it.

A unique Visual Novel demo that works on every level for me!

I realised as I was gathering my thoughts that I wanted to describe what I have played of Deep Pixel Melancholy as dystopic. When I pondered on that for only a few seconds, I realised that actually, there is nothing dystopic about it. The game is just portraying everyday life for millions of people on the planet. We go to the job that we don’t want to go to to pay the bills that we have to pay to survive, while worrying about losing the job that we don’t even want in the first place, because we need it to survive. Of course this isn’t the case for everyone in the world. If you don’t relate on some level then I am genuinely so happy for you, but it is undeniable that this is a universal experience across countries and continents for many, and a sad but real part of the human experience.

A concern that I often have trying games with these kind of themes and atmosphere is that there is a thin line between bleak, and straight up, for lack of a better term, misery porn. Sometimes this kind of fiction, depending on the way it is written, makes me want to put it down immediately and play something else. But Deep Pixel Melancholy so far runs the line perfectly. I related to my characters thoughts, feelings and actions without ever feeling irritated or ever getting that ‘too real’ feeling that makes me run away. 

The pacing and prose make the story easily digestible. I am grateful for the bite-size, snappy sentances when dealing not only with a heavy world but a heavy mind. The game is written with present tense narration, guiding you as the player on what to do next, which you do by clicking on the stylised scene that you are in. You can also explore the scenes via descriptions and observations that you hover over. Each day they build on another which is another way that the game immersed me quickly. It is a subtle but true fact that my thoughts, even on a particular object, change each day depending on all sorts of internal and external factors and I loved seeing that represented.

Deep Pixel Melancholy has a gorgeously cohesive style, it presents just enough of a mystery to get its hooks in, and it has a relatable realness that I couldn’t help but want to see more. An immediate wishlist for me!

Demo Length – <1 hour
At a glance
+ Bleak but not overwhelming
+ Intriguing mystery
+ Unique visuals
+ Interactions feel more diegetic than a standard VN

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Wanderstop – Demo Impressions

A lesson in wellness.

Wanderstop

Developer: Ivy Road

Release Date: 11 March 2025

From the creator of The Stanley Parable and The Beginner’s Guide comes Wanderstop, a narrative-centric cozy game about change and tea.

We live in an era of hustle culture that glorifies work over wellbeing. We are encouraged to put everything we have into everything we do. If we don’t achieve our goals, we must not have worked hard enough. If we managed to take breaks or have fun along the way, did we really work hard enough? Of course, not everyone actually believes this, but we certainly all have met people who do, and based on the reception to this game by both critics and gamers alike, I would say a lot of us have internalised this mindset somewhat, whether we want to have, agree with it, care to admit it, or not.

Wanderstop challenges this mindset in a way that only a game really could.

These are demo impressions only, so I have yet to experience any of the story beyond the intro, but this small taster had a big enough impact that it felt really important to sum up my experience.

So far, Wanderstop is a commentary on passion and obsession. Where is the line between those things and if we are walking it, would we even realise it? Say we do take a step back and recognise, “Yes. I have a passion about something (in our main character Alta’s case, it is fighting). I am so passionate that I am going to chase this dream, idea, goal, or whatever it may be. I am going to chase it so completely that no one could possibly question my passion.” Wanderstop asks the question, “at what cost?”

We meet Boro, the most gentle, content soul, and the game asks another question. “Are you ok?”. Then, gives you all the time you need – probably more time than you would usually give yourself – to ponder it.

As someone who is prone to going all in on things and has burnt myself out multiple times before, every cutscene and conversation in this demo had an impact that I did not anticipate would hit me so hard. Personally, I am at a time in my life, I’d say a little further on than Alta is currently, where I have started to recognise the need for – and desire – balance. The moment I met Boro, his energy felt like the end goal for me. While Alta is wrecking herself, living her life with one goal in mind, desperatly clutching at one potential outcome and tormenting herself for falling short of an almost impossible goal, Boro is living in the moment, enjoying the journey, the here and the now. Alta, and I can confidently say a lot of us too, could do with taking a leaf or two out of Boro’s book (or tea… hehe).

Perhaps, feeling a longing for a Boro to find you and give you this opportunity the way that I did is an indicator that you yourself should take some time to reflect, to have no schedule, and to be. Whether that is through getting out in nature, a duvet day, doing absolutely nothing, or through making tea in Wanderstop, that is up to you – although I’d say Wanderstop is a good place to start.

The action of playing this game forces the player to do the very thing the narrative is encouraging. Slow down. Potter around. Make some tea. No rush. No worries. This is our time. Rather than just telling you that you should do these things in a way that you have likely heard 100 times before, Wanderstop teaches you through showing and doing. This, along with some beautiful artwork, voice work and dialogue, is the reason this game stands out to me among a sea of cozy games, and I am really pleased to have it accompany me during my LudoNarraCon 2025 coverage. I am thrilled by the prospect of taking a break from my other IRL projects to go all in on game content for the month, but I am going to keep Wanderstop going on the side, reminding me to take a break and check in with myself every so often. And I am rooting for Alta to do the same.

Demo Length – 1+ hour
At a glance
+ Writing – both conceptually and dialogue.
+ Beautiful cutscenes.
+ Heavy hitting package, relatable to many.
+ Meta in a way that only a game can be.
+ Voice acting is great.
+ Boro is precious.
+ Alta is imperfect in a very real way
+ Themes of tunnel vision, failure, sacrifice, exhaustion, burnout and the consequences of that have already been explored in the first hour.
+/- I am anxious to see where the story goes and whether it continues to resonate.
+/- I am also anxious to get further into the gameplay, to see whether it is therapeutic, or becomes tedious, boring or repetative.

Watch my playthrough and first impressions of the Wanderstop demo here!

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Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector – Demo Impressions

We have a crew.

Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector

Developer: Jump Over The Age

Release Date: 31 January 2025

A dice-driven RPG, in a human and heartfelt sci-fi world. You are an escaped android, with a malfunctioning body, a price on your head and no memory of your past. Get a ship, find a crew, and take on contracts while you navigate across the Starward Belt.

The Citizen Sleeper 2 demo throws you straight into the narrative. We are a sleeper. We are disoriented and lost as we come to our senses in an unfamiliar situation. The eloquent introductory scenareo does a great job of filling you in if you have yet to play the original, while not lingering too long for those that are already acquainted with the fiction. The ever familiar UI and soundscape provide comfort to me as a player as I get to know a new individual in an entirely new scenareo. We are no longer confined to the Eye, and based on what I have played so far, I cannot wait to see the stories that are yet to be told throughout the rest of space.

Citizen Sleeper is a Narrative RPG in which we use dice rolls to determine and distribute our actions. As is the case in Citizen Sleeper, your character has stats to give an advantage to certain types of tasks over others based on your strengths. Building these up over time as you gain experience in the world is just one of the mechanics in play in this management style, choices matter story.

What strikes me about the sequal so far during my 2 hours with it is that while a lot of the tone is synonymous with the first, there is a subtle change that has huge implications in both the gameplay and the narrative experience. We have a crew. In the first game we met plenty of people, got to know them, relied on them, even grew to love some of them, but deep down, it was a wholly solitary experience. For me at least, it felt deliberate as we go through the personal struggle of acceptance of what/who we are. People can help us along the way but that journey has to be ours and ours alone. I went to sleep alone at night, and I made my decisions based on what was best for me as survival had to be my number one priority. The small shift of having a crew is going to ripple out not only into my decisions, but into my way of thinking, and that is an exciting proposition.

Another impactful mechanic added to 2 is the contract system, changing up the day to day gameplay. If you are not currently on a contract, you are probably going to want to stock up for the next one as these multi-day jobs take you away from any bustle, to focus solely on the hustle. This new system is sure to complement our nomadic lifestyle, but presents its own challenges in resource management, risk reward and possibly even crew relations. I can tell you that my first contract absolutely did not go as I intended.

The writing is just as engaging as the first and with the universe at our fingertips, the possibilities feel endless. And with the recent announcement of a January 31st release date, we don’t have long to wait.

Demo Length – 2 hours
At a glance
+ Meaningful changes from the first game.
+ A comfortable familiarity with the general structure and UI.
+ Choices matter, even during contracts.
+ Time pressure still feels weighty.
+ The addition of crew stress adds more plates to spin in an interesting way.
+ Writing and design remain stand out.
+/- Looking forward to seeing the rest of the structure of the game.

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The Dark Pictures Anthology: Season 1 – Shared Story Mode – Ranked

The Dark Pictures Anthology offer a rare and unique experience. I find the series as a whole to be underrated, not for their narrative or quality, but because they created Shared Story Mode.

Shared Story is a game mode that I don’t see talked about very often but feels revolutionary in the realm of narrative co-op gaming. Admittedly this is potentially a niche that couldn’t actually quantify a realm, but is the audience really that small? or do they just not realise the super interesting and fun play experience that this unique mode can provide.

So, Shared Story Mode is the ability to play these game via online co-op. This differs to the couch co-op option, because rather than passing the controller, you will each be playing different characters at the same time. Sometimes you will be in the same scene, exploring together and talking to characters – sometimes on either side of the same conversation, picking up clues and discussing the story. Other times, you will split up, taking charge of different characters in their own scenes, sometimes completely separate and sometimes affecting each others experience.

There is no right or wrong way to play this, but I believe the best way is to play with a friend that has similar values to you (e.g. explores a similar amount, investment in story, same intentions for characters etc) in a voice chat. When you’re characters are exploring together, you are free to chat away, but as soon as you are alone then you both mute yourselves, in a pact not to talk again until your characters have reunited (if they are so lucky). At that point, you can tell each other about what you did, what you found and what you learned. 

Now, I am not saying Shared Story is THE definitive way to play. There are pros and cons. For example, in Shared Story you accept from the start that you aren’t personally going to get to play/see every scene. This is probably the biggest factor against playing this way. This also means that you may miss out on some context as you won’t get to see all of the clues that your parner saw, and therefore can’t make your own complete theories. Depending on your situation you may be rushing, unsure what your partner is doing and whether they are waiting for you. However, the game does a really good job of accounting for that.

While some of the edits can be a little janky, I am always impressed with how they manage to seamlessly tie the two playthroughs together. You never end up stuck waiting around, not knowing what to do. Also, in our experience, the gameplay is divided well, ensuring that both parties each get to play some key scenes. There are even some moments that you wouldn’t see in single player mode as you can only ever have one point of view. It is always fun to have the potential unpredictability that a friend can bring to a simple conversation between two characters, and it is always funny when it goes wrong.

Without further ado, here is my ranked list of Season 1 of The Dark Pictures Anthology, based on my Shared Story experiences.

4. House of Ashes [2021]

At the close of the Iraq War, Special Forces hunting for weapons of mass destruction unearth something far deadlier – a buried Sumerian temple containing a nest of unearthly creatures. To survive the night below, they must forge a brotherhood with their enemies from the world above.

House of Ashes seems to be quite widely regarded as the best of the bunch but for whatever reason, that was not my experience. The issue? I cannot remember most of what happened in this game. The intro was strong, and I remember something happening at the end. Other than that? I have no idea. I cannot decide which is more damning, a bad impression, or no impression at all.

3. Little Hope [2020]

Trapped and isolated in the abandoned town of Little Hope, 4 college students and their teacher must escape the nightmarish apparitions that relentlessly pursue them through an impenetrable fog.

Little Hope is one of the games that I have the most conflicted opinion on in my entire games catalogue. It should be number one on this list, easily. The time spent playing this game, getting to know the characters, making connections, having the wildest theories and being excited by the potential, all washes away because of one thing that I cannot specify without spoiling the game.

I was so into what this game was doing. The non-linear storytelling is surprisingly fun to experience as a duo and the intrigue surpassed the horror, urging us to discover every clue that we could possibly find. The entire experience was such a thrill and delight, and while my buddy Hajda did not have the same turning point as I did, I was so disappointed that 20 minutes of the game managed to colour the rest of my entire experience.

2. The Devil in Me [2022]

A group of documentary film makers receive a mysterious call inviting them to a modern-day replica of serial killer H.H. Holmes ‘Murder Castle’. But on arrival they soon discover they’re being watched, and even manipulated, and suddenly there is much more at stake than just their ratings…

The Devil in Me is the one out of all of the games that has the premise that interests me the most. The trailer gave very saw-esque vibes and that is the flavour of horror that I grew up with. I was disappointed to see upon release that the general reception was ‘meh’ at best. However this did lower my expectations enough to be thoroughly impressed with the time that I had.

I loved (and hated) walking around this claustrophobic, dingy, vintage environment, not knowing what was going to be around every corner. I loved that we were a documentary film crew, a classic but perfect reason to go to opt into traveling to a murder island. I loved the mysteries and isolation. This is the game that suffered the most from not being able to view all of the clues, as there were a lot of names and dates that got lost in communication. However, the experience of the story within the moment was a fun one, and I don’t think I could have handled this hotel alone.

1. Man of Medan [2019]

The Dark Pictures Anthology is a series of stand-alone, branching cinematic horror games that can also be played online with a friend. In Man of Medan, five friends set sail on a holiday diving trip that soon changes into something much more sinister.

Man of Medan – the first of the bunch – remains my favourite, not because I didn’t enjoy the others, but because the premise of the game lent itself so perfectly to the shared experience. Once again, it is difficult to express the particulars for spoiler reasons, but trust me when I say that if you are still blind on the series and are interested in Shared Story mode, try it out for this one at least.

The truth is, even the bottom of my list offered a super fun time with my friend where we got to discover a story in a way that no other game offers. Shared Story Mode – despite its flaws – is a gem of an experience and I really hope that Supermassive manage to succeed in their Season 2 goals. The only other studios that I can think of that play within in this space are Hazelight (A Way Out/It Takes Two), using the narrative but using a lot of split screen, and Total Mayhem Games (We Were Here) which is much further into the puzzle genre.

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A Noob’s [Mini] Review – Death Trick: Double Blind

Time is a balancing act.

Death Trick: Double Blind is a detective visual novel. And it is a very good one. There has been a murder at the travelling circus and it is their last day in the area. We have until the conclusion of their big show tonight to solve it and it is up to us to use our time wisely.

This game was satisfying on both a narrative and mechanical level, the game-play providing a fantastic spin on the genre while the characters played a large part in populating this colourful world.

In Death Trick, we play as dual protagonists. A private detective hired to investigate the case, and a magician, here to ensure that the show goes on. Through both of these characters we get to know the cast of the circus from both an outsiders perspective and within.

The game is played in hourly blocks. First, we play as the magician, behind the scenes of the circus getting ready for our big performance. We are under cover as the famed murder victim herself, meaning that not only do we have to work to be accepted by our peers but we must avoid public areas to keep our performance a surprise. Then, we play the same hour as our down on his luck detective, re-orienting himself after a nasty black-out. As an outsider, we are not allowed into the behind the scenes sections, catching the entertainers for a word in the public areas between their performances.

Conversations are made using Action Points. Every hour they refill, and it is up to us how we use them. As we chat to different characters we gain topics and evidence that we can then question them about. Each question takes up an action point so you really want to take care to ask the questions that matter. Scouring environments for clues and calling out contradictions also use points. You can’t talk to everyone about everything, so a huge part of the game play is prioritising your questions, deciding whether you want to chase up every lead immediatly, or get to know a character in ways which may or may not get you closer to solving the mystery.

The circus setting is pleasing, the cast are colourful to say the least, the currency of points adds an angle of puzzle and the dialogue, as well as the mystery itself are well written, entertaining to read and easy enough to follow along. The music sets the scene, the art is evocative and does a good job visually presenting the characters personalities and styles alike.

I discovered two things playing this game. One is that I want more games set in a travelling circus. The other, is that I want many other games that follow this structure, set in their own weird and wonderful locations and telling their own fantastical stories with their own cast of characters. If any of this sounds appealing to you then I would urge you to give the game a go for yourself.

Developer: Misty Mountain Studio
Publisher: Neon Doctrine
Release date: 12 March 2024
Average Playtime: 7 1/2 hours
Available on: PC, Switch

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A Noob’s Review – 1000xRESIST

There is a nearness and its gravity is echoing.

I already wrote at length about my first impressions of 1000xRESIST. Instead of rehashing that, I am going to talk about what I consider to be the games strengths. I would also talk about the weaknesses but I honestly have difficulty finding any beyond the slow start that I mentioned in those impressions.

The more you try to recommend this game to folk, the more you realise how difficult it is to define the genre. There is a surprising variety of touchpoints for comparison, but every similarity I point out is usually a specific tone or mechanic, rather that the game itself being similar to any other. Here, I want to talk about what this game does, and why it works for me.

+ Scope

I often wonder how people come up with stories like this. But then I read something from an AMA with the developers. This game is a fantastic example of using what you have to inform what you do.

A question was asked about what birthed the idea using clones. There were two answers, one we will get into later, but the second one stood out to me.

“The other thing was SCOPE. Yes, it meant we could focus on making the character model that we had, better!”

It’s fascinating how a creative decision so important can stem from such a technical, meta reason. I personally find that given all of the freedom in the world, my work will often be weaker than the work I had to do under restrictions, which could be why this resonates so much. Scope takes discipline, and while they could have decided to spend more time creating more characters, they made it a core part of the story, giving them more time to focus on the intricacies of the world they were building.

Thinking of it this way, it begins to dawn on me that there are a lot of reused environments too. Many of the places that you go, you will see again for one reason or another. However, there wasn’t a single visit to any of these locations that made me feel sick of them. It never got tiresome. Every revisit was repurposed so carefully that suddenly, fewer environments become a blessing, allowing me that familiarity that makes me feel more involved in the story.

+ Nature vs nurture / themes

Nature vs nurture is something that has always intrigued me. It’s not something that can ever be researched ethically, but the questions remain ever fascinating. How much of a person is in their genetics, and how much is their circumstance? What would the best of us be driven to under difficult circumstances? Could an evil person have been good? Is everyone capable of anything? Is anyone capable of everything? We will never know and it makes for an extremely rich setting for a narrative to explore. One thing that no one can deny is that we are influenced by the people around us, no matter how much we want to be, for better or worse, and that is explored well here.

There are two reasons why we wanted to look at clones! One, was getting to explore the classic thematic of nature vs. nurture. How much of how we turn out as human beings is because of things we don’t understand?

The game also took on many tricky themes that could very easily have been too much. Generational trauma, oppressive regimes, faith, sacrifice, ends justifying means, intent, justice. It was a lot, but never too much. Everything was handled with care and in a world where everyone is waiting for the next thing to be outraged about, I found the game handled everything with class, giving no ammunition to the folk who try to drag things down. Equally, it felt like a safe space to consider these delicate topics without judgement.

+ The Writing

As I mentioned in my first impressions, I didn’t like the writing at first. However, once I got used to the rhythm of the speech of these characters, I was finishing their sentences. I when I finished the game, I couldn’t remember the specific lines in some important moments, but I could hear their rhythm like a melody stuck in my head. And it’s believable. No one talks like this, but they do. It is another one of those bold choices that went well because they rightfully have confidence in the excellent quality of their storytelling.

+ Everything Audio

The music goes a long way to setting the atmosphere of this game. Every time I sat down for a session, hearing the melancholic tones had me immersed immediately, whether it was light, sombre melodies or a little heavier.

The voice acting is another auditory factor that solidifies this games identity. There are so many characters, all so similar and yet so different. The hushed tones, words spoken so softly yet carrying so much weight. It is all so intentional and commendable. The voice acting also contributes to the rhythm of the speech as mentioned above. Without it, I am not sure the game would have bled into my thoughts the same way that it did.

+ Visuals

The game does not have ‘impressive’ graphics. As in, don’t come here for photorealism or next gen aesthetics ala Hellblade. It is stylized. Sometimes, particularly walking around the hub area, the textures felt a little PS3 to me. However, I think any reasonable gamer, and particularly indie enjoyers, can accept that photorealism is only one choice in a medium that can achieve anything, and beauty can be created in other ways.

What this game does have is very impressive art direction and cinematography. It is ambitious in its style in every way except perfection. Colour is already an in game concern, but the use in a creative sense, alongside lighting, can be striking. Whether you are walking around a corner into a set piece, or being guided by a cutscene to see something new, the developers clearly had a vision and they did everything they could to put that on screen, succeeding with flying… colours.

+ Balance

1000xRESIST contains a huge, winding story, the likes of which is very rare to be told so comprehensively within a 14 hour experience. The reason that it is done so well is the balance achieved in the conceptual phases as well as the execution. This story is about disaster. It is about eras. Civilisations. But it is also about people. Individuals. It is about things much bigger than we can possibly comprehend, and it is about the nuance of being human within that. It never loses sight of either of these things.

+ Attention to Detail

Just because the scope was kept in check, that doesn’t mean there is a lack of anything. In fact, that is most likely the very reason that the game contains the density of detail that it does. Again, I am not talking about the textures or foliage. I am talking about continuity, and the stories that are being told indirectly throughout the entire game. It is worth looking around and talking to everyone that you find. You never know who or what will make a huge difference down the line. While it isn’t the focus of the story, I find there to be a bit of butterfly effect between the lines and it is really neat to identify the triggers that may change the course of history, no matter how small they seem at the time.

+ Respecting the Player

Possibly the thing that I found the most impressive above all else is the way that I felt respected as a player. In my initial impressions I complained that I felt I was supposed to care about something I had no understanding of or context for. I understand that decision a lot more as I have made my way through the game. The developers trust that you will come to understand, without any clumsy exposition dumps or codexes. We learn through experience, exploring the environments we are in, and observation. It is no coincidence that our main character is called ‘Watcher’.

Of course, there is exposition, there has to be, but it is weaved into the game so well that I never begrudged it. In fact I welcomed it as the more that I found out, the more that I realised I still wanted to know. There is even an exposition device written into the story in the form of communions, allowing us to learn about the history of the game world alongside our main character.

I felt respected in another way too. Throughout this whirlwind of heavy hitting themes, I never once as the player felt that I HAD to feel a certain way. These characters are flawed. They make mistakes, mistakes that we are making with them, whether we believe it is a good idea or not. Never once did the game then shame you for what you have done. It provides opportunities to think, but it never does the ‘What have you done?! You, the player, you did something despicable’ thing that some other games do. It could easily have gone down that route but I am very grateful that it did not and as a result it is a richer experience.

1000xRESIST appeals to the part of me that loves YA dystopian fiction. There is nothing wrong with that, but it also somehow feels very reductive. I think what I ultimately mean is that this is not going to be for everyone. For me, it came out of the blue, infecting my thoughts both in and out of the game for a while, but not everyone will have that experience. I think it is important to temper expectations, especially if you aren’t going in as blind as I did.

If anything that I have wrote sounds interesting to you then there is a good chance you will enjoy the game, but be aware that this is an immersive, experimental, narrative based experience. If that isn’t your jam then I don’t necesserily think this is the game that could convert you. My recommendation to everyone is that if you aren’t feeling the beginning, just like I wasn’t, try finishing the first two chapters and see if it grabs you. If it hasn’t by then it probably wont but that is a good amount of time to see some of the variety of storytelling on display.

One thing I do know is that I am not finished with this game.

This is a game about breaking barriers. Some characters giving their all to destroy them and some giving their all to stop them. But also the developers, creating a game that I can’t ever imagine a large studio having the courage to try. It is unconventional, it nails what it is going for, it is a breath of fresh (and emotional) air, and as I said in my impressions post, this is what indie gaming is all about.

Hekki Grace.

TLDR:
+ Scope
+ Themes
+ The Writing
+ Everything Audio
+ Visuals
+ Balance
+ Attention to Detail
+ Respecting the Player

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The Drifter – Demo Impressions

I can’t think of a better set up for a point & click adventure.

The Drifter

Developer: Powerhoof, Dave Lloyd

Release Date: To be announced

A Pulp Adventure Thriller – A murdered drifter awakens. Alive again, seconds before his death. Hunted and haunted, help him untangle a mad web of conspiracy in this fast-paced point ‘n click thrill-ride.

The Drifter is a demo that I tried for the first time around 2019, back in one of the early Steam Next Fests. It left such an impression that it has been on my Wishlist ever since. I was thrilled to see the game in the LudoNarraCon line up and delighted that I enjoyed it just a much the second time around as I did all of those years ago.

The first thing that immediatly stands out to me is the presentation of the game. The pixel art and animation is fantastic, the colours immediatly setting the gritty tone that will continue throughout the entirety of the chapter contained within the demo. The game is fully voice acted, including narration from the main character himself which in my opinion, elevates The Drifter from a typical point and click adventure to a more unique cinematic experience.

The demo can be played in less than 30 minutes and even in such a short space of time manages to establish two excellent story hooks. One is more realistic, setting the tone in what immediatly feels like a very down to earth game. However, the other is a science fiction twist that has the potential to allow for some very stressful, suspenseful, intense story and puzzle scenarios, or even hilarious ones if they want to. One of these hooks would have been enough but together, along with the entire aesthetic, this is the set up for a narrative that I am itching to see play out.

Demo Length – 30 minutes
At a glance
+ Lovely pixel art and animations.
+ Great story hooks.
+ Narration.
+ Writing feels good so far.
+ Drama.
+ Nice, clear, time saving UI.

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1000xRESIST – First Impressions

Breaking the mould of the narrative experience.

1000xRESIST

Developer: sunset visitor 斜陽過客

Release Date: 09 May 2024

1000xRESIST is a thrilling sci-fi adventure. The year is unknown, and a disease spread by an alien invasion keeps you underground. You are Watcher. You dutifully fulfil your purpose in serving the ALLMOTHER, until the day you discover a shocking secret that changes everything.

This is a write up of my first impressions of 1000xRESIST having played through 2 chapters of the game. I intended to play around an hour or the first chapter – which ever came first – but this game got it’s hooks in me. I had to tear myself away otherwise my first impressions would become a full blown review. On one hand, I wouldn’t mind that but on the other, I have lots more games to try out during the fantastic LudoNarraCon.

*My first impression posts aren’t usually this long but I had a lot to say about this game!

First thing’s first, this is an experimental game. It does exactly what it wants to do and does so confidently. I will admit, I was not sold at first. I found the opening slightly off-putting, feeling like I was supposed to care about these characters that I had never met, having an experience that I don’t understand. However, with a little more patience the world was built, less through exposition and more through exploration and character interactions. Half way through chapter 1 I got into my groove and by the end of the chapter I was all in.

The steam description sets up an epic story about aliens and diseases and the ALLMOTHER, and while these are all certainly present, creating the entire setting for the game, it surprisingly feels very personal so far. Even more impressively, it remains personal and creates an investment despite incredibly flawed and some even dare I say unlikable characters.

The game splits between the present time and the past, parts of the chapter taking place in the form of what I would call long vignettes. The character who’s memories we are exploring, in my opinion, is down-right awful, but I am compelled to see what made her that way. What particularly shines are the relationships, personalities and actions of the people around her.

A common complaint in either cinematic narrative games or walking simulator style stories, is that there isn’t enough for us – the player – to do. I feel it is important to point out that I can personally enjoy a narrative game with very minimal mechanics. Having said that, I find 1000xRESIST to have struck a great balance of engaging gameplay so far. The primary verbs that I have experienced so far are walk around, interact, and a time hop mechanic.

The time hop mechanic alone warrants the existence of this game. Not to sell the other aspects short, but the way it weaves intricately with the environmental storytelling and level design has been fantastic to experience so far. Not to mention that in each chapter the mechanics have been used in their own way, leaving me eager to see what other ways the story is going to be told throughout the rest of the game.

An example of the impact of the aethetic contrast.

The presentation – particularly in chapter 1 – felt inspired. The lighting alongside fixed camera angles were super effective, I felt dread rounding every corner without it ever being too much. The design of the aliens that have literally plagued humanity and the effect that they have had on the world brings a fantastic contrast to the world of 2047, an unknown amount of years prior, right before the effects took hold. Switching between both of these times in the blink of an eye creates a jarring effect aesthetically and a devastating one emotionally.

It is hard to describe what to expect as this game is unique, but I felt influences or slight similarities every now and again from other media. The first being that the experience of Chapter 2 is exactly the experience that I wish I had from the game Virginia. A wonderfully executed montage experience that I can’t say I have seen many games try. Other looser and unexpected vibes I got lead me to think of set up and themes of stories like Signalis and Everything Everywhere All At Once. I am not saying that you will have the same experience in this game as you had from those other properties, but they felt worth mentioning none the less as if you enjoyed them, I think there could be something here for you.

1000xResist is an experimental narrative game that resonated with me in ways that other experimental narrative game sometimes have not. Both chapters that I played were strong and emotional. What is different about this game is that I don’t actually know what I am going to be doing next. Rather than being goals driven, I am being taken on a journey. A tour of a world entirely different to the world I know. And that is great too. I am excited to see what lies in store.

This game breaks the mould – this is what Indie Gaming is all about.

At a glance
+ All in on the experimental storytelling.
+ Enough input required from the player to keep it engaging.
+ Time hop mechanic.
+ Environmental storytelling.
+ Very intriguing concept all around leaving me hungry for more.
+ Not exposition heavy.
+ I feel invested in characters despite not agreeing with them or even liking some of them.
+ The Asian-Canadian perspective enriches the whole experience.
+ The aethetic – particularly in chapter 1 – is great.
+ What a cool idea for a disease.
+/- The characters are flawed, and I think the game is trusting player curiosity to carry on despite the player characters feelings on the situation.
+/- Took a while to understand what is happening.
+/- No indication about what is next, just this really interesting world.
– Disconnect in dialogue took me out of it occasionally e.g. Watcher talking as herself when people see her as Iris.

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10 Games I Must Play From 2023

I haven’t played many 2023 games yet, but I hope to change that in the future. The year is going to go down in history as a certified banger and it is going to take literally years to catch up with the crazy amount of great releases. What a feeling!

I have narrowed down a top 10 list of the games that I would like to play, and I have got to say, this was not an easy task.

This list is in release order, from the beginning of the year to the end!

Dredge

Developer: Black Salt Games

Release Date: 30 March 2023

DREDGE is a single-player fishing adventure with a sinister undercurrent. Sell your catch, upgrade your boat, and dredge the depths for long-buried secrets. Explore a mysterious archipelago and discover why some things are best left forgotten.

Dredge seems like it is the game that I wanted when I tried out Moonglow Bay. I enjoyed the demo but did not predict the popularity the game would have.

On one hand, I am glad to have waited as the game has recieved updates and I do prefer to play the complete version of a game. On the other, I am pleased that so many people jumped on board and allowed the game to be the success that it has become.

Last year I tried my hand at a few crafting games. I always like the idea of the gameplay loop – gather, upgrade to allow you to gather more and better stuff, to allow you to upgrade, to allow you to gather more and better stuff – but it is so rare that it is as satisfying as I hoped. Presuming that even is the loop of this game, I wonder if this will be the one. Plus, I just love the ocean.

I wrote about Dredge in my coverage of the Steam Next Fest – October 2022.

Sherlock Holmes The Awakened

Developer: Frogwares

Release Date: 11 April 2023

Experience a nerve-racking Lovecraftian adventure, rebuilt from the ground up with modern graphics and gameplay. Become Sherlock Holmes, and find yourself at the heart of the terrifying Cthulhu Mythos as you investigate a series of mysterious disappearances in Europe and the US.

I played the demo for this game and I had an absolute MOMENT. As much as I knew it was Sherlock Holmes meets Lovecraft, I didn’t know what that would really mean. Oh how I wish that moment was on stream so that I could have shared it with others, but at least now I have an idea what to expexct.

I had fun with the investigation, the exploration and I am expecting a very different Sherlock experience to any that I have had so far. I am grateful that I did not play the original as I am certain I am in for an absolute ride full of unfathomable weirdness.

I wrote about Sherlock Holmes The Awakened in my coverage of the Steam Next Fest – February 2023.

DAVE THE DIVER

Developer: MINTROCKET

Release Date: 28 June 2023

DAVE THE DIVER is a casual, single player adventure RPG featuring deep-sea exploration and fishing during the day and sushi restaurant management at night. Join Dave and his quirky friends as they seek to uncover the secrets of the mysterious Blue Hole.

I’m something of a diver myself. And this game seemed to come out of the blue. Suddenly, everyone was playing a game called Dave the Diver and I was like wait.. what.. how did I miss this? Not only that, but it is a restaurant manager, another genre that I love to dabble in.

I haven’t seen any gameplay or looked into the gameplay loop as I would like to experience it for myself, but based on the steam description it is giving me Moonlighter vibes. Gather by day, profit by night (or which ever way around it goes). I have downloaded the demo on my Switch so providing it is still available, I am excited to get a taste of what the gameplay is and how the vibes feel.

You can buy DAVE THE DIVER here.

Baldur’s Gate 3

Developer: Larian Studios

Release Date: 3 August 2023

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a story-rich, party-based RPG set in the universe of Dungeons & Dragons, where your choices shape a tale of fellowship and betrayal, survival and sacrifice, and the lure of absolute power.

The fear of missing out was very intense at the release of Baldur’s Gate 3. It is one of those games that took over the lives of seemingly everyone around me, and had so much genuine praise.

The last time I saw this much hype was Elden Ring, which I actually bought on launch – a thing I rarely do – because it felt like a moment of gaming history that I didn’t want to miss. The only reason that I didn’t do the same for BG3 is because it is such a huge game, and I knew I didn’t have the time to get the most out of it.

I am very fortunate to have been gifted the game so as soon as I feel I can give it the attention it deserves, I will dive straight in and I cannot wait for that moment! I don’t believe I have played anything like it before and it is sure to be a heck of an experience.

You can buy Baldur’s Gate 3 here.

Under The Waves

Developer: Parallel Studio

Release Date: 29 August 2023

Stan, a professional diver in the North Sea, is struggling to overcome a life-changing loss during an extended mission underwater. Stuck in his self-imposed solitude, he starts to experience strange events and will have to make the most significant choice of his life…

I was sold when I saw that Under the Waves was taking place in the North Sea. As I mentioned above, I used to scuba dive so when a game includes diving it always piques my interest. This one even more so as the North Sea is my home sea and the one I am most familiar with.

The other factor really drawing me in is that it doesn’t appear to be horror. With narrative and exploration being the driving force I feel a lot more confident in trying the game out.

The overall theme of the game is grief and while that can be hit and miss, I am always open to trying games that deal with these subjects as I have been helped immeasurably by them in the past. Having said that, I do feel like they are best played under certain circumstances, so this one will definitely be a personal game as opposed to a stream game.

You can buy Under the Waves here.

Chants of Sennaar

Developer: Rundisc

Release Date: 5 September 2023

Legend says that one day, a traveller will reunite the Peoples of the Tower who are unable to communicate with each other. Observe, listen, and decipher ancient languages in a fascinating universe inspired by the myth of Babel.

I have already written about Chants of Sennaar, as it was my favourite demo that I tried on the PS5. It left a huge impression and I am still just as eager to play the full game as I was when I first tried it.

The beautiful minimalism engaged me in a way I could not have expected, engendering a trust in the player to discover what is needed, while at the same time feeling extremely user friendly. This is something that I appreciate more and more as I play more games and I believe to be an art in itself.

The type of puzzle that the game presents alone is something that I really enjoy. But paired with the art style, colour pallete and atmosphere, it turned into a sensory experience that put me into my favourite kind of zen. One part of my brain is chugging away at the dopamine from the progression and the other is completely and utterly relaxed. No overwhelm, no underwhelm, just the absolute balance of whelm in the best possible way.

I wrote about Chants of Sennaar in my ‘10 PlayStation 5 Demos‘ post.

Starfield

Developer: Bethesda Game Studios

Release Date: 6 September 2023

Starfield is the first new universe in 25 years from Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4.

While Starfield reviews have been middling, I would still like to make my own opinion on this one. As much as I have seen some damning reveiws, I have also seen people get exactly what they hoped for and have a lot of fun with it.

I can’t help but wonder how much of the criticism has stemmed from the impossibly high expectations Bethesda themselves set for the game. I am not denying that the game could be lacking in some departments, but things always feel worse when you are expecting a complete game changer. That is why I am so interested in going in with low expectations and seeing how I find it.

I am not in the biggest rush however, as I suspect DLC will be coming and based on my experience with Skyrim, I’d rather play the complete version of the game.

You can buy Starfield here.

COCOON

Developer: Geometric Interactive

Release Date: 29 September 2023

From Jeppe Carlsen, the lead gameplay designer of LIMBO and INSIDE — COCOON takes you on an adventure across worlds within worlds. Master world-leaping mechanics and solve intricate puzzles to unravel a cosmic mystery.

I shrugged off the buzz surrounding Cocoon because I thought it was going to be too ‘smart’ for me. I remember seeing the reveal trailer and thinking ‘puzzle game, cool, I have no idea what is going on’.

I was surprised when reviews started releasing and solidifying that the game seems to be way more approachable than I expected, and all of the positive critique appealed to me. From then on, I went into avoidance mode and decided I would like to try it out myself. Hopefully I will find some time to have a Game Pass Shabananza and this is very high up on the priority list.

You can buy COCOON here.

Slay the Princess

Developer: Black Tabby Games

Release Date: 23 October 2023

You’re here to slay the princess. Don’t believe her lies.

I played the demo for an Indie Showcase a while ago and to this day it remains my favourite. I already wrote about why in the post linked below, but TL;DR It’s fantastic.

The only issue with playing this game is that I really would like to Let’s Play it. The problem is that I have no time to record, and I have already promised a Let’s Play of another game before I could get around to this one. So it is very high on the list of games that I want to cover, as soon as life allows.

I wrote about Slay the Princess in my ‘Indie Showcase #51-#100‘ post. I also recorded a first look for my Indie Showcase series.

My Time at Sandrock

Developer: Pathea Games

Release Date: 2 November 2023

Travel to the desert community of Sandrock and take on the role of a fledgling Builder. Use your trusty toolset to gather resources, construct machines, and turn your run-down workshop into a well-oiled production facility to save the town from the jaws of economic ruin!

Veterans of my channel will know that I loved My Time at Portia. It wasn’t without its problems but it provided so much joy both on and off stream, as well as some mindless play when I needed it. This made Sandrock a must play for me.

A long time ago I did play the Sandrock demo on stream. The main thing I remember is that I noticed improvements that made the game immediatly smoother to play. Fast forward to the games release and word of mouth confirms, it is like My Time at Portia but better. That is everything that I hoped for and I love knowing this exists ready for a time that I need a comfort game.

I played the demo of My Time at Sandrock on stream.

Isn’t it wild that this list isn’t even exhaustive? Here are some more that didn’t make the top 10 but I still would love to play.

  • Abscission
  • The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood
  • The Game of Fourtune
  • The Isle Tide Hotel
  • Jusant
  • Killer Frequency
  • Moonstone Island
  • Murderous Muses
  • Oxenfree 2
  • The Pale Beyond
  • This Bed We Made
  • Underground Blossom

Thanks 2023!

top 10 games i must play from other years

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