Trapped In The Loop of ‘In Stars and Time’
For as long as I can remember, two types of stories have captivated me more reliably than almost any other: stories depicting queerness and stories featuring time travel. In Stars and Time, an indie...
Category: Features
All feature-length articles be found here.
‘Omori’ and the Small Traumas of Relationships
The ways Omori has been critically exhausted for its depictions of mental health and trauma make me feel hesitant to weigh in on this game. Since its release, friends have recommended Omori to me...
The Bait-And-Switch of ‘Thought Experiment Simulator’
I don’t often write about my Philosophy undergraduate studies, mostly because they have predictably left career doors unopened, but also because mentioning Nietzsche and Epistemology in the same sentence often makes people’s eyes glaze...
The Beauty of Tears: Why (The Best) Video Games Make Me Cry
I will never forget the first time a video game made me cry in my adult life. The final act of The Last Guardian, a game notorious for its problems, yielded one of the...
‘Metaphor: ReFantazio’ is Good, But It’s Missing Something
One of the first video games I remember finishing as an adult is Persona 3: FES, and though it took me about 90 hours – or nearly a year of my life, in terms...
My Experience With ‘Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy,’ Disney, and Accessibility
I grew up on comic books, so naturally I was the target audience when the first wave of early-2000s superhero movies rebooted franchises like Spider-Man and Batman, offering my generation some of the greatest...
A Video Game Thanksgiving: What We’re Thankful For In 2024
Thank you readers, viewers, and community members for making 2024 such a memorable year for us at Epilogue Gaming. To show our gratitude, we have compiled a list of video game things we are...
The You That Remains, And Remains and Remains, And ‘1000xRESIST’
One of the oddities of writing about video games for the past several years is the phenomenon of trying to write something that does your favorite games justice. Since writing, for me, is a...
The Mismatched Puzzle Pieces of ‘Phantom Liberty’: Why the ‘Cyberpunk 2077’ DLC Expansion Falls Short
One of my personal video gaming rollercoasters is CDProjekt Red’s infamous Cyberpunk 2077. A notorious disaster at launch, I initially boycotted the game due to its egregious mistreatment of working staff, reversal of key...
‘Venba’ and the Cultural Memories I Wish I Had
Venba is a magnificent game that transmutes cultural memory and identity through food. It also evokes the loss of that culture. Here’s how.
No, Queen’s Blood From ‘Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’ Should Not Be Its Own Standalone Game: Here’s Why
One of the delights of the breathtaking entries in the remake series for Final Fantasy VII is the surprising abundance and depth to mini-games. Fort Condor, as it launched with the Yuffie DLC for...
An Essential Steam Deck Title: ‘Heading Out’
Heading Out looks like yet another racing game, but this wonderfully designed gem should be on every Steam Deck owners’ radar. Here’s why.
Erasure in ‘Emily is Away’
Emily Is Away has a sterling reputation as a nostalgia-baiting AIM simulator. Under the surface of the writing lies something much more sinister, however.
The Importance of Asking For Help: My Experience With ‘Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth’
Here’s how Flora Merigold felt her relationship to the Yakuza games change when she stopped drinking alcohol.
The Best of PAX East
These were the best of the games at PAX East 2024.
The Sequel I Couldn’t Have Predicted: Demoing ‘Kind Words 2’ at PAX East
PAX East is packed with game demos, but 2024’s game of the show has to be Kind Words 2 – the sequel no one expected. Here’s why.
Ranking the Yakuza Series: ‘Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth’
In her ongoing ranking of the Yakuza (Like a Dragon) series, Flora Merigold assesses the newest mainline entry, Infinite Wealth.
How ‘Goodbye Volcano High’ Captured My Childhood Experiences
Goodbye Volcano High is a zenith in queer video game storytelling. Here’s how my own experiences paralleled with the narrative.
How ‘Cocoon’ Is A Game That’s Its Own Worst Enemy
Cocoon is the latest effort by the creators of Inside and Limbo. Despite tons of charm, the game never leaves that same impact.
Streaming Resolutions: A Look From Our Twitch Team
For the first time ever, we brought a few members of our Twitch Team together to pitch some New Year’s resolutions we have for our individual channels.
Ranking the Yakuza Series: ‘Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name’
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name isn’t exactly the most robust attempt at a Yakuza title. Here’s where is succeeds & fails.
How ‘Sea of Stars’ Taught Me That JRPGs Can Be More Than a Story
Sea of Stars showed me exactly what the genre was capable of when combat isn’t taken for granted.
Video Games and What We’re Thankful For in 2023
Each year, the Epilogue staff likes to reflect on what we’re grateful for. Here’s are our highlights from 2023.
Couples Therapy and ‘Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’
The Scream fight in Spider-Man 2 was not only unexpected, but helped me understand my romantic relationship better. Here’s how.
‘Saltsea Chronicles’ is A Wonderful Experiment in Narrative Complexity
Saltsea Chronicles is a lovely follow up release by Die Gute Fabrik, creators of Mutazione, offering a complex but relaxing narrative.
‘Final Fantasy XVI’ Has An Identity Crisis
Final Fantasy 16 has an incredibly strong opening & achieves technical marvels. It also fails to do anything meaningful as a game.
Vicarious Drunkenness: “Feud of the Ages” and the Role of Alcohol in ‘Like a Dragon: Ishin!’
All it took to bury a generational grudge was a night out with the lads. Here’s what makes “Feud of the Ages” in Yakuza Ishin special.
‘Strayed Lights’ is Good, But It’s Missing Something
Strayed Lights is an impressive indie debut from Embers, but the combat system ultimately never evolves enough to remain interesting.
The Best Games at PAX East 2023: Highlights From My First Gaming Conference
If you couldn’t make it to PAX East this year, Flora has you covered. She discusses her overall PAX experience as well as her favorite games from the show.
The Subversive Delights of ‘Take Me or Leaf Me’ – A Houseplant Dating Simulator
I didn’t know that I wanted a houseplant dating sim, but here we are, romancing plant-partners. The only question is: which to pick?
The Protracted Pacing of ‘A Plague Tale: Requiem’
While I adored the original Plague Tale, the sequel overstays its welcome, dragging out what it otherwise a powerful story.
Sitting Out The New Harry Potter Game Is The Bare Minimum
If you claim to care about transgender people, sitting out the new Potter game is the least you can do to show solidarity.
The Simple Delights of ‘Celebrating Bubble Tea’ – A Google Doodle
Bubble Tea is a wonderful comfort. This cute, quick game about making it is a relaxing way to spend a few cozy minutes.
‘Vampire Survivors’ and The Glory of Floor Chicken
Floor Chicken in Vampire Survivors is crucial to survival in the early game. But it also comes in clutch as you play further. Here’s how.
Editor’s Picks: Flora’s Favorite Games of 2022
2022 was a mixture of massive releases and dozens of charming indies. Here are the top five games that impacted Flora the most in 2022.
Winding Down: Reflecting on Five Years of Games Writing
Flora Merigold reflects on five years of games writing, revisiting her favorite articles from Epilogue’s website.
The Trouble With Playing Games “Buffet Style”
If you are struggling to finish the games you’ve started, it might be because you’re playing games “buffet style.” Here’s why.
The Game That First Allowed Me to Explore Gender: ‘Pokemon Crystal’
During Transgender Awareness Week, the Pokemon fandom seems particularly supportive, which has unlocked some fond gender memories of Crystal.
My Abandoned Completionist Attempt to 100% ‘Yakuza 0’
Die-hard Yakuza fans may be tempted to 100% the prequel. Here’s why doing so is tougher than it seems. Beware of the platinum.
The Horror of Deadnaming: My Recent Replay of ‘Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!’
This article features a before and after story of two Doki Doki Literature Club playthroughs. It explores deadnaming after transitioning.
How ‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunners’ Nails The Vibes of ‘Cyberpunk 2077’
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners not only pays tribute to the game, Cyberpunk 2077, but enhances its strengths with an incredible story. Here’s how.
‘Metal: Hellsinger’ is Good, But It’s Missing Something
The headbanging premise of Metal: Hellsinger will hook any lifelong metalhead, but does the game maintain its groove?
My Disturbing Obsession With ‘Immortality’
Immortality is one of the most mind-bending games in recent memory, and will haunt my thoughts for years to come – in the best way possible.
I Can’t Stop Replaying ‘We Are OFK’
We Are OFK is a fantastic biopic of queer indie musicians. Come for the music, stay for the complicated relationship drama.
‘Neon White,’ Player Fatigue, and Gaming Burnout
Neon White is one of 2022’s best games, indie or otherwise. It is also an exhausting, protracted experience that may burn you out.
‘Fashion Police Squad’: Fun, Fashionable, Frustrating
Growing up in Florida, I’ve always wanted to be able to slap some fashion sense into folks who wear socks with their sandals. Fashion Police Squad (FPS for short, in case you missed this...
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.
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!
