The Buildup to ‘Stray’ Reminds Me of ‘Untitled Goose Game’
The buildup to Stray feels a lot like the cultural conversation around Untitled Goose Game before it released. Here’s why we’re excited.
Author: Flora Merigold
How ‘the earth is a better person than me’ Explores Self-Love
Games can hit you differently at different times. Here’s how the earth is a better person than me hit me during a turbulent time.
Being Trans is the ‘Dark Souls’ of Gender: An Exploration of Parallels
Comparing anything to Dark Souls is basically a meme, but here’s one trans woman’s perspective on how Souls reflects her experiences since coming out.
How ‘13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim’ Turned Me Into A Yakisoba Fan
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim made me want to try Yakisoba Pan. Here’s some context from the game, as well as a recipe to make your own!
Difficulty Spikes, Gacha Mechanics, and Luck-Based Progression: Is ‘NieR Reincarnation’ Worth Playing?
Fans of the NieR series seem unlikely to enjoy this gacha-laden mobile game keen on aggressive microtransactions. Should you play it?
Cheating the Challenge Away: My Experience With ‘Elden Ring,’ ‘Dark Souls,’ and ‘Returnal’
It’s no secret that Dark Souls, Elden Ring, and Returnal are brutally unforgiving games. But can you still enjoy them if you make them easier?
‘Ghostwire: Tokyo’ Feels as Empty and Abandoned as Its City
Ghostwire: Tokyo is a mixed bag containing beautiful urban environments and repetitive open world interactions. But is it worth playing?
Video Games Are Too Long: How the Promise of ‘Tales of Arise’ Falls Short
Tales of Arise starts strong, feeling like a comfy JRPG. But after a while, the game loses its luster, dragging on for too long.
Understanding The Surprisingly Hilarious and Thought-Provoking Player Messages in ‘Elden Ring’
The cryptic player messages in Elden Ring are baffling riddles. Here’s my attempt to interpret what these messages mean and why they were written.
‘Alba: A Wildlife Adventure’ is the Most Joyful Experience I’ve Had in Gaming This Year
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is a joyful indie game that bursts with optimism and hope towards an exploitative adult world.
Gliding Through Self-Discovery: How Japanese Breakfast Guided My Procellous Journey With ‘Sable’
Here’s the story of how my love for Japanese Breakfast and Michelle Zauner brought me to Sable, a fantastic indie game.
What Makes ‘Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door’ So Special?
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door has been endlessly praised, and rightfully so. Here’s a deep dive on two of its best characters.
Ranking the Yakuza Series: ‘Yakuza: Dead Souls’
One of the lesser known entries in the Yakuza series, Yakuza: Dead Souls is an inconsistent, over-the-top experience. But should you play it?
Why I Don’t Like Metroidvanias
People seem to love the Metroidvania genre of video games, but I have always struggled to enjoy them due to tedium and aimlessness.
Why ‘SSX Tricky’ Needs a Remake
SSX Tricky is one of the most memorable sports titles from the PS2 era, nailing everything. Here’s why it deserves a remake.
Editor’s Picks: Flora’s Favorite Games of 2021
From games like Life is Strange: True Colors, Chicory, and NieR Replicant, here are Flora Eloise’s picks for 2021’s Games of the Year.
‘Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales’ Isn’t Very Fun: Here’s Why
Miles Morales is a good game, but it’s missing something. Repetitive puzzles, combat, and missions undercut the solid characters and writing.
Ranking the Yakuza Series: ‘Lost Judgment’
There’s some debate about whether Judgment and its sequel are worth playing. But for die-hard Yakuza fans, Lost Judgment is essential.
A Video Game Thanksgiving: What We’re Thankful For in 2021
Here’s what we’re thankful for in gaming from 2021.
How ‘No Longer Home’ Left Me Feeling Directionless and Alone
While No Longer Home is an important game that I’m glad exists, it caused me to feel depressed and isolated in an unintended manner.
Time Capsules and Parasocial Relationships: A Reflection on ‘I Told You So!’
If you loved Heart of the Woods, you owe it to yourself to give I Told You So! a quick playthrough. Here’s why.
How I Became Obsessed With ‘Pikmin Bloom’
You don’t have to be a longtime Pikmin fan to enjoy the wholesome delights of Pikmin Bloom, the newest Pokemon GO-like.
Ranking the Yakuza Series: ‘Judgment’
Even for a die-hard Yakuza fan, Judgment doesn’t bring a lot to the table. Unless you’re a crime drama connoisseur, you might skip Judgment.
Left Behind Game Club: ‘Hades’
Listen in as Flora Eloise joins the Left Behind Game Club, a video game podcast, to discuss the incredibly popular roguelike, Hades!
Ranking the Yakuza Series: ‘Yakuza: Like a Dragon’
There’s much debate about which Yakuza game stands above the rest, but Yakuza: Like a Dragon is guaranteed not to disappoint. Here’s why.
A Quality Queer Experience: Why I Love ‘Life is Strange: Wavelengths’
If Life is Strange: True Colors rocked your world, then you MUST pick up the Steph DLC “Wavelengths,” one of the series’ strongest entries.
What Makes ‘Kena: Bridge of Spirits’ Special
Kena: Bridge of Spirits does almost everything right, from animation to combat to storytelling. Here’s what makes this game so special.
Consider the Albatross: A Critical Review of ‘SkateBIRD’
SkateBIRD has a lot of heart but the moment-to-moment experience of playing it is both tedious and frustrating. Here’s our in-depth review.
The First Chapter of ‘Life is Strange: True Colors’ is Everything I Could Have Hoped For
After stumbling with Life is Strange 2, the newest game in the series regains its footing. True Colors is a refreshing story. Here’s why.
‘Cyberpunk 2077’ is Great, Actually – Why I Gave CD Projekt Red Another Chance
Cyberpunk 2077 was maligned for its unethical marketing practices and broken, buggy game. But has it been patched up by now?
Is ‘Furi’ Too Difficult?
Furi is tough as nails, but does it cross the line of being “too difficult”? This article takes a look at the Edge boss fight.
Flipping Through the Dictionary: An Eccentric Approach to ‘Disco Elysium’
Disco Elysium is one of those rare games that will make you periodically stop to look up a word. Here are some of the more obscure terms.
The Major Problem with Taking Screenshots on the Playstation 5
The Dualsense controller is a massive improvement to the Dualshock 4 if you can excuse this one broken feature: the screenshot button.
Badasses Only: How I Beat the True Final Millennium Tower in ‘Yakuza: Like a Dragon’
Yakuza LAD’s True Final Millennium Tower achievement is impossibly difficult. Here’s how I beat it after dozens of failed attempts.
Why I Love ‘Last Day of June’
Last Day of June faced mixed critical reception on release, but it tells a heartfelt story that shouldn’t be ignored. Here’s why.
In Defense of Easy Mode
One of the first criticisms I read when I began my academic study of videogames was the idea that difficulty settings are bad game design. This article, insightful at the time, made me realize...
‘The Last of Us’ is Bad, Actually – A Look at Games Immune to Criticism
The Last of Us is a critical darling that is normally considered above criticism. But is it really that good?
Why I Stopped: Reflecting on Three Years of Twitch Streaming
Twitch streaming can be an extremely rewarding activity, but I have chosen to take some time away from it this year. Here’s why.
How I Lost Respect For ‘Persona 4 Golden’
Between some questionable gender reduction and arguably homophobic scenes, I couldn’t remain enthusiastic for Persona 4 Golden.
‘NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…’ is an Exhausting Game That is Worth Finishing
Even though NieR Replicant can feel exhausting to play, it’s a game that’s absolutely worth sticking to until the final credits roll.
Ranking the Yakuza Series: ‘Yakuza 6: The Song of Life’
Yakuza 6 is the most profound Yakuza game, center-staging mature themes that deliver closure for the series’ core characters.
Ranking the Yakuza Series: ‘Yakuza 5’
Yakuza 5 is the most ambitious Yakuza game to date, featuring a strong cast of characters and diverse gameplay.
Ranking the Yakuza Series: ‘Yakuza 4’
Yakuza 4 takes some massive risks, some of which don’t pay off, but many earn their place along the highlights of the series.
With A Bang or A Whimper: A Critical Review of ‘Genesis Noir’
Genesis Noir’s stunning art style and cosmically exaggerated narrative are limited by rudimentary gameplay and performance issues.
Ranking the Yakuza Series: ‘Yakuza 3’
Despite setting up some crucial story events for later entries, Yakuza 3 is the most forgettable entry in the series.
Ranking the Yakuza Series: ‘Yakuza Kiwami 2’
Yakuza Kiwami 2 is an impressive entry in the series, running on the powerful Dragon engine. The story is bombastic and powerful.
Ranking the Yakuza Series: ‘Yakuza Kiwami’
Yakuza Kiwami is a stunning recreation of the original 2005 game. Essential for anyone who loves open world games and brawlers in particular.
Ranking the Yakuza Series: ‘Yakuza 0’
Yakuza 0 is the best video game prequel ever made. From absurd karaoke to tense melodrama, it began many people’s deep love for the series.
Delight in Mystery: A Review of ‘Heaven’s Vault’
Heaven’s Vault is a compelling adventure where you explore abandoned civilizations, uncover an ancient language, and solve complex mysteries.
How ‘Catherine’ Became the First Puzzle Game I Ever Loved
Catherine is the first puzzle game I have truly loved and is perhaps the only puzzle game I fully intend to play again.
