Recent reviews by ༺☆𝙇ǐᶩⁱ𝒕ℎ☆༻

Heroes of Hammerwatch II takes everything you loved from the first game and adds more chaos, challenges, and, of course, loot. The gameplay sticks to its roguelike roots, meaning you’ll die a lot and I mean a lot. But each death feels like a lesson. The town-building mechanics, letting you invest your hard-earned gold into permanent upgrades. You’re buying better weapons and gear to survive longer next time. Co-op mode shines as usual; nothing bonds friends like screaming, “Heal me!” during a boss fight. This game is a good relationship test. If it can survive a few playthroughs of Heroes of Hammerwatch II, you are set.

The gameplay of Heroes of Hammerwatch II is where the magic (and madness) happens. At its core, it’s a top-down roguelike dungeon crawler, but the sheer depth and variety make it stand out in a crowded genre. You start with a simple hero, minimal gear. Each dungeon run feels like a unique journey, with procedurally generated levels. No two runs are alike, whether it’s a horde of skeletons, a devious trap, or that one boss who seems to really have it out for you.

Combat is fast-paced and highly strategic. Each character class plays differently, and mastering their abilities is both a challenge and a joy. The Paladin is your tanky protector, the Ranger is your sneaky long-range sniper, and the Sorcerer? Well, let’s just say you’ll be chucking fireballs like it’s nobody’s business. Experimenting with classes and finding the one that matches your style is half the fun, and you can always switch characters when you are in town.

One of the most exciting mechanics is the persistent town-building system. The gold and resources you collect can be invested in upgrading your town, unlocking new shops, and improving your hero. It adds a layer of progression that makes every run feel meaningful, even if you die in the first room. This mechanic creates a loop that keeps you hooked: run the dungeon, die, upgrade your town, get stronger, and then dive back in, it might not appeal to everyone, because it can become a bit grindy and repetetive.

The cooperative multiplayer mode is amazing. Up to four players can team up, and the chaos is as entertaining as it is challenging. You’ll laugh, scream, and maybe throw a few insults as you navigate traps and take down enemies together. Be warned, though: some items you can pick up, like health apples or mana spheres, are not shared. Nothing ruines a good friendship like watching your friend grab the health potion you desperately needed.

That said, the difficulty spikes are steep. You’ll go from “I’m untouchable” to “Who put this many enemies in one room?!” in seconds. Just when you think you’ve got a handle on things, the game will gleefully remind you that you’re still mortal. But for players who love a challenge, this is part of the appeal. Victory feels earned, not handed to you on a silver platter.

The sheer variety of enemies, traps, and level designs ensures the gameplay stays fresh even after hours of play at least for me. One moment you’re battling an army of skeletons, and the next, you’re dodging fireballs from a trap-laden hallway while trying not to fall into a pit. The game keeps you engaged, demanding quick reflexes, strategic thinking, and a willingness to embrace chaos.


Starting Classes:

• Warrior: A resilient melee fighter known for chaining kills.
  
• Paladin: A defense-oriented combatant with healing capabilities and high burst damage.
  
• Ranger: An agile archer excelling in swift and powerful bow attacks.
  
• Wizard: A balanced magic user proficient in both offensive and defensive spells.

Unlockable Classes:

• Rogue: A melee damage dealer with high attack speed and effective area-of-effect abilities.
  
• Warlock: A caster specializing in close-range combat with physical damage spells.
  
• Sorcerer: An elementalist who sacrifices defense for enhanced offensive power.

To unlock the Rogue, Warlock, and Sorcerer classes, players must encounter specific NPCs during their adventures:
Rogue: Found in the Dark Caves.
Warlock: Located within the Temple.
Sorcerer: Discovered in the Dark Citadel.

Each class offers three specializations upon reaching level 10, introducing new abilities and passive skills, allowing for further customization of playstyles.

The graphics in Heroes of Hammerwatch II use colorful, retro-style pixel art that feels both classic and modern. The environments are detailed and varied, from bright forests to dark caves and castles.

Characters and enemies are well-designed, with smooth animations. Spells and attacks have flashy effects like explosions and glowing lights.

The game also uses lighting and shadows to create a moody atmosphere, especially in dark dungeons. Overall, it’s a charming and polished look that fans of pixel-art games will enjoy.

Heroes of Hammerwatch II is a love letter to fans of roguelikes and dungeon crawlers. It’s punishing yet rewarding, chaotic but strategic, and above all, addictive as hell. Sure, the storyline won’t win any awards, and the difficulty might make you question your life choices, but the thrill of progression and teamwork (or yelling at your friends when they steal your healing apple) is worth it. This game involves a lot of grinding and dying, so if you’re not a fan of those mechanics, it might not be the right fit for you.

If however you’re into games that make you laugh, cry, and occasionally rage-quit before coming back for “just one more run,” this might be for you. Just be prepared to spend countless hours crawling through dungeons—and probably questioning why you ever thought upgrading your armor could stop that many skeletons.

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When you first launch the game, the default language is Russian. To switch it to English, simply follow the setting shown in the screenshot below.

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Your first interaction has you sitting behind a computer. While you can't really "browse" through various folders, photos, and even a game, nothing is interactive, which leaves you feeling somewhat detached from the scene.

The gameplay in Do you have SALT? is minimalistic, focusing more on exploration and interacting with the environment than traditional mechanics. You’ll navigate through different apartments, meet quirky characters, and piece together the story through your interactions. There’s no complex puzzles, making it more about experiencing the atmosphere and uncovering the narrative at your own pace.

The main character, Stasya, begins with a piece of paper in her pocket that reads: “FIND THE TREASURE.” The game thrusts you into the story with little context, there's no background story or explanation, other than a brief mention of an anglerfish and a human both hiding treasures from each other.

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It’s been very cold outside, and today Stasya needs some salt. Reluctantly, she decides to venture out. In the hallway, you can click on 3 different doors, and it seems Stasya is knocking on her neighbors' doors, either searching for salt or perhaps the treasure. At this point, it's unclear what her true goal is.

The characters you meet are intriguing:

• Gene: A person Stasya last spoke to in high school. He’s an artist who sculpts people from marble but is plagued by dark thoughts. He’s a very gloomy, toxic figure, sometimes kind, other times distant and rejecting when you get too close. His emotional swings are confusing but oddly captivating.
  
  
• Constantine: The landlord, a creepy figure at first glance, with a family that he rarely discusses. His behavior is unsettling, leaving you to wonder about his true intentions.
  
  
• Ivan: A hyper-energetic water "guy" who loves playing games and seems far more light-hearted compared to the other characters.

The game has strange, psychedelic moments, particularly when leaving someone’s apartment. After three days, the game culminates in a final ending. There are a total of 10 different endings to discover.

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My first playthrough ended with a bad outcome. I hope a guide will be available soon, as I couldn't quite figure out how to unlock all the endings. I won’t go deeper into the story to avoid spoiling what is already a very short playthrough. Overall, I can say that this brief game is quite unique. Unlike traditional visual novels with straightforward storytelling, the game leaves a lot to the imagination, offering a more mysterious journey.

Do you have SALT is a short but intriguing experience that stands out with its unique storytelling and psychedelic atmosphere. While the lack of context and background story may leave some questions unanswered, the mysterious characters and multiple endings make for an engaging, albeit confusing, journey. It’s definitely a game that invites curiosity and imagination, but it could benefit from a guide to fully uncover all its secrets. If you're into unconventional narratives and open-ended gameplay, this one’s worth a try.

Otome Lovers wishes to thank Sin and Sun for providing a free review copy for this game.

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The story of My Happy Village in the Kingdom sets you up as the leader of a village in the realm of Pixelor, competing for recognition and prestige. While the game page teases the idea of managing your village by completing tasks, gathering resources, and engaging with villagers, it's a bit misleading. You won’t find yourself managing much beyond the constant clicks to increase values like gold or materials. The "management" aspect is minimal, and most of the story is just window-dressing to keep you clicking for more resources. There's promise, but it doesn't quite deliver on the experience some players might expect.

This game is essentially a medieval-themed clicker with light elements of resource gathering. You’ll be clicking to gather gold, materials, and sending out expeditions. There's no real strategy involved, and you don't actively manage your village or its inhabitants. You’re tasked with completing expeditions, trading resources, or fighting in dungeons, but it's all wrapped up in very simple mechanics that require minimal input beyond tapping and waiting.

Occasionally, random special tasks pop up, like finding all the hidden hearts on the screen. If you manage to find them within the given time, you gain a rank. While this adds a nice touch to an otherwise dull concept, the time limit is too short, and it’s quite difficult to spot all the items, making it frustrating to complete.

There are some added features like chemistry research, increasing affinity with villagers, and working towards a new castle, but none of these systems offer any real depth. The gameplay might feel repetitive for anyone looking for more than a surface-level clicking adventure. However, the game does offer daily events, rewards for playtime, and the occasional special event that spices things up a bit.

This game doesn't offer any card drops or achievements to unlock. The only settings available is the option to turn the sound on or off and fullscreen/partial fullscreen. Unfortunately you can't capture any screenshots through the steam overlay.

During my first playthrough, the game crashed a few times when I clicked on specific text in the event windows. Once I stopped clicking on the event window text, the game stopped crashing.

Visually, the game goes for a retro SNES RPG style, which might feel nostalgic for some. However, most of the screen remains static, with the occasional event or pop-up to break the stillness.

The sound design is minimal, with standard medieval-themed background music and sound effects accompanying your clicks. It’s there, but it won’t leave much of an impression.

My Happy Village in the Kingdom feels like it overpromises and underdelivers when it comes to management mechanics. For a casual time-waster, it’s fine, but if you’re looking for a more involved gameplay experience, you might want to keep clicking elsewhere.

Copy was provided by ima shouganai to Otome Lovers for review purposes.

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Dungeon Tycoon doesn't boast a traditional story but instead gives you the reins to create your own evil empire. As the mastermind behind a labyrinth of traps, treasure, and terrifying creatures, your objective is simple: lure adventurers into your dungeon and make them wish they hadn't come. The narrative isn't driven by dialogue or quests but by the satisfaction of watching heroes struggle through your carefully constructed mazes. It's a delightful spin on the usual "hero vs. villain" tale, where you are the dungeon master, making every decision to keep your visitors on their toes.

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The management mechanics in Dungeon Tycoon are impressive, giving you complete control over every aspect of your dungeon. You can strategically place traps for maximum damage, summon monsters to guard your treasures, and research upgrades to make your lair even more formidable. There’s always something to keep you engaged. The game beautifully balances strategy and creativity, allowing you to design your ideal evil hideout while focusing on efficiency. It’s immensely satisfying to watch adventurers navigate your dungeon, buy potions, or get caught off guard by traps and monsters.

When heroes defeat monsters, treasure chests fill with gold coins that they can loot. They collect this gold from the treasures in your dungeon and use it to buy various items, including health potions, energy potions, and even hamburgers from the Goblin Grill. When they purchase these items from your vending machines, the gold ends up in your pocket. To encourage heroes to return, make sure to scatter plenty of treasures around monster spawn points.

As you progress, through means of research, new features unlock over time, and your guests highlight the importance of a high-quality dungeon with appealing aesthetics and ample lighting. You can even research resurrection points for heroes who die. Each time a hero dies, you collect souls, which serve as currency for upgrading your dungeon. Finding the right balance between killing of heroes for upgrades and keeping your dungeon enjoyable and safe enough for them to return is crucial. Research is vital, covering everything from room sizes to different facilities where guests can buy life and energy potions.

You can also invest some of your earnings to summon various monsters, categorized into three distinct types; the underworld, inferno, and the forest, each with multiple variations from common to legendary types.

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Heroes also gain experience and level up, while you can manually upgrade your monsters using gold, making them tougher for higher-level heroes to defeat and providing an added challenge. The day ends when all heroes have either perished or completed their rounds in your dungeon. Giving you the opportunity to build and upgrade your dungeon further, until you manually start the next day.

However, despite all the fun, the game’s progression can feel somewhat short-lived. After about 5-6 hours of gameplay, once you’ve maxed out your reputation and created a well-functioning dungeon, there’s not much left to explore. This lack of long-term replayability may leave some players wanting more.

Visually, Dungeon Tycoon features a delightful pixelated art style that matches the game's quirky tone perfectly. The dungeons are entertaining, with a diverse array of monsters. While it may not be the most breathtaking game graphically, it doesn’t need to be. It captures a nostalgic retro vibe and offers enough customization to keep the experience feeling fresh (for so long).

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The sound design is decent, with atmospheric dungeon background tracks and effects that fit the tone. Nothing too memorable, but it gets the job done.

Dungeon Tycoon is a clever management game that nails the concept of running a dungeon as a business. The freedom to design, summon monsters, and optimize layouts gives you the feeling of being a true dungeon overlord. But while it’s fun for the first few hours, it’s hard to shake the feeling that it’s missing some deeper progression. Once you’ve mastered the mechanics, there’s little reason to come back and experiment. That said, if you enjoy simulation games with a unique twist, this game is definitely worth a try.

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Imagine waking up in an abandoned hospital bed, unsure of where you are or even who you are. Rays kicks off with that exact disorienting sense of mystery. As Adam, you’re thrown into a world that’s just as surreal as it is beautiful, where nothing stays the same for long, yet everything feels deeply connected.

From the moment you wake up, Rays throws you into a dreamlike series of events, constantly shifting between reality and something more ethereal. It starts simple: you’re in a hospital, confused, and the next minute you’re passing out on the floor. While unconscious, you experience a vision of what feels like heaven, and a soft voice whispers, "Remember you are not alone, Adam." And then, in the blink of an eye, you find yourself on a beach questioning your very existence. "Can a person be themselves without their memories, without the history that shapes their essence?"

The game’s story is a wild ride. One moment, you're in the hospital, the next you're on a beach, then suddenly in an amusement park. It’s hard to follow the plot because there seems to be no clear transition between these different settings.
At first, it feels like Adam is on a journey to unlock his memories, but with each location, more questions arise than answers.

In the amusement park, you meet Elia, a girl whose face feels familiar, but neither of you can place why. The story dances around themes of identity, memory, and existence but leaves much to interpretation, especially with certain sections not even translated into English, which adds to the confusion. Yet, for some, this fragmented narrative might just be its appeal. It’s almost as if you, the player, are as lost as Adam is, grasping for a sense of self in a world that refuses to offer clarity.

At one point, you even encounter robot-like creatures and engage in conversations with kings, giving the impression that you're jumping from one era to another.

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Choices are the core mechanic of Rays, and they come in two forms: either timed quick decisions or untimed ones. If you’re faced with a quick-time event, you’ve got a few seconds to make your choice, and sometimes, it's these split-second decisions that push the story forward. Here and there, you'll find a few mini-games, though none are particularly challenging.

While the choices are meant to feel important, the randomness of "jumping" from location to location takes away some of their weight. You don’t always understand the consequences, questioning whether you’ve made a difference in Adam’s journey.

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While there are different outcomes based on your choices, the story's pacing doesn’t make it easy to feel fully invested. One moment, you’re eating waffles at an amusement park, and the next, you're standing in a forest being confronted by Fenrir, a talking wolf, who kidnaps Elia and threatens your dog companion, Bron. The randomness of the scenes makes it difficult to immerse yourself, but maybe that’s the point—Rays wants you to feel like you’re struggling to piece together your life, just like Adam.

Rays shines is in its artistic direction. The backgrounds look like gorgeous acrylic paintings, creating a beautiful but haunting atmosphere. Every location, whether it’s the beach, the amusement park, or the eerie forest, feels like a standalone piece of art. However, the sprites themselves fall short. While they’re undeniably stunning, they remain static throughout the game, with no real movement or emotion, save for the occasional eye blink and flushed cheeks. This creates a disconnect between the world around you and the characters you're interacting with, which can make emotionally charged moments feel flat.

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The game’s background music is subtle yet fitting, enhancing the mood of each scene and perfectly complementing the atmosphere without overshadowing it. The sound effects are impeccable. The gentle crash of waves on the beach, the fireworks exploding in the sky at the amusement park, the rustling of leaves in the fores, they all fit the surroundings perfectly. It’s clear that the sound design team knew what they were doing, and it elevates the immersion in an otherwise confusing experience.

Rays is a beautifully broken game. It’s ambitious in its storytelling and artistic direction but falls short in its execution. I found myself torn between giving it a thumbs up or a thumbs down because, on the one hand, the game’s stunning visuals and unique sound design create an immersive atmosphere that draws you in. But on the other hand, the disjointed storyline and lack of narrative clarity make it hard to stay engaged. The constant jumps between locations, along with untranslated text, left me feeling more confused than captivated. It’s a beautiful experience, but one that’s difficult to fully appreciate due to its scattered execution. That being said, if you’re someone who enjoys games that leave you with more questions than answers and appreciate beautiful art and sound design, Rays might just be for you. It’s not a game you play for clarity, it’s a game you play to get lost in. Whether or not you’ll want to find your way out is another question entirely.

Otome Lovers wishes to thank BAR GOG for providing a free review copy for this game.

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When I spotted a friend buying TCG Card Shop Simulator on my Steam feed, I had to check it out. And let me tell you, it didn’t disappoint.

There’s no real storyline in this simulator. In TCG Card Shop Simulator you start as the proud owner of a humble card shop with just a single shelf for products. Aside from the occasional smelly customer and clock-punching employees, there's not much drama to be found here.

Your main goal is to buy booster packs and resell them, or, If you’re feeling lucky, open those packs for your own collection and sell any duplicate cards. At first, you’ll be restocking shelves and ringing up customers yourself. But as you level up, you can hire employees to handle those mundane tasks, leaving you free to enjoy endless booster pack openings. Well, sort of *Cough* scratch that. The employees are not exactly employee of the month material. They mismanage the warehouse, dump products on the floor when their shift ends, and abandon customers at the register. Thanks for nothing, guys.

Everything is managed through your in-game phone, from stocking up on products to expanding your shop. Don’t forget to pay your bills daily, or they’ll pile up fast, and you’ll be left scrambling to pay them by the week’s end.

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One of the cool features is the ability to buy tables for customers to play card games in-store. They pay by the hour, and you can tweak the rulesets, which gives you some influence over the market, making certain cards or booster packs fluctuate in price. Another great feature is that you can bundle your unwanted cards into a bulk pack in the workshop and sell them to your customers.

There’s also a level-up system, where each level unlocks new goodies for your shop, from bigger expansions to exclusive products like special card sleeves, figurines, special dice, or high-end booster packs. It’s a great progression mechanic that keeps you hooked.

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But not everything’s perfect. One tedious task involves customers with terrible body odor (yes, really) that can scare away potential new buyers. You’ll need to spray them with deodorant (seriously) until you unlock automatic sprayers. Even then, restocking those machines becomes another chore. Not exactly the glamorous card shop experience I was hoping for!

Another gripe is the slow, repetitive process of opening booster packs. The sound effects get old fast, and it’s a bit of a grind. Fingers crossed the devs add a fast-open feature soon!

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Also, every day starts with flipping the "Open" sign, and you have to end the day by pressing enter. If you don’t flip the open sign, the in-game clock stays stuck at 8 o’clock, giving your employees extra time to restock the shelves without customers flooding in.

That said, keep in mind the game is in very early access, so it’s missing a lot of features that are likely to be added over time. Here is a small list of things yet to come:

• Customer review app
  
• Customer trade cards
  
• Organize tournaments
  
• Random events may occur
  
• More shop product types
  
• More shelf & table types
  
• More TCG types
  
• Playable TCG
  
• Shop decoration
  
• Grading cards
  
• Difficulty mode

Despite its quirks, TCG Card Shop Simulator is addictively fun, especially if you enjoy the thrill of opening packs and collecting cards. It’s not perfect, but for anyone who’s ever dreamed of running their own card shop, this game scratches that itch.

The graphics in TCG Card Shop Simulator are fairly simple but get the job done. The game opts for a clean, cartoony style that’s easy on the eyes. While it’s not going to blow anyone away with hyper-realistic visuals, the charm lies in its straightforward design. The shop layout is clear, and the interface is intuitive, making it easy to focus on managing your business. However, don’t expect much in terms of visual flair, this game is more about the mechanics than wowing you with its graphics.

The music in TCG Card Shop Simulator is pretty laid-back, fitting the casual vibe of the game. It’s pleasant at first, but after a while, it can get a bit repetitive. The sound effects, like the cash register and card packs opening, add a nice touch, but hearing the same sounds over and over, especially during long pack-opening sessions, can get annoying. It could really use some variety to keep things fresh.

TCG Card Shop Simulator lets you run your own card shop, from managing stock to opening booster packs and dealing with quirky customers. While the gameplay is fun and addictive, especially for card collectors, the repetitive sound effects, tedious tasks, and basic AI can get frustrating. It’s still in early access, so there’s room for improvement, but it’s a solid pick if you enjoy managing a business with a collectible card game twist.

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Dreamio is perfect for anyone who loves to unleash their imagination and build worlds on the spot. With its AI-generated images and text, you can create just about anything you envision, making it feel like you have a personal voiceover game master guiding your adventure.

I kicked off my adventure by crafting a fantasy world brimming with mythical creatures, and oh boy, the possibilities are endless. I got to choose any race, class, and backstory imaginable and ended up as a stunning bard on a quest to find a real unicorn. Along the way, I crossed paths with some fantastically developed NPCs, each brought to life by the AI in a way that felt organic and engaging. I even ended up having a whirlwind romance that was totally unexpected!

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Now, let’s address the elephant in the room: the AI is censored, so there’s no adult content or blood and gore (sadly). I mean, would a little spice have hurt? But despite that, the emotional depth and immersive storytelling still had me hooked. It’s just pure fun—whether you’re exploring new lands, interacting with AI-generated party members, or just basking in the beautiful art, Dreamio nails the fantasy RPG experience like nothing else.

If you’ve ever wanted to live your own epic adventure, this is the program that’ll make it happen. I’m completely addicted, and honestly, I can't wait to see where my bard's journey takes me next!

Dreamio lets you shape your adventure in various ways:

• Type manually to direct your actions.
  
• Speak directly into your microphone for an even more interactive experience.
  
• Or simply choose from suggested options if you’re feeling a bit indecisive.

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The game’s second-person perspective draws you right into the heart of the story, letting you interact directly with the narrator, debate your options, or ask about your surroundings and character traits. It’s like having a personalized Dungeon Master right there with you!

You have full control over your adventure. By default, the narrator will trigger a game over if your character dies and reject impossible actions, but you can tweak these settings with simple instructions. Want a more forgiving journey or a brutal, no-holds-barred experience? Just ask!

To keep the game accessible, Dreamio uses an in-game currency called tokens to cover ongoing AI service costs. You’ll receive 10,000 free tokens daily, and you can also bypass the system by using your own API keys or switching to free AI models in the settings. It’s a transparent approach that ensures the game remains viable without a hefty price tag.

Replay scenes, try different paths, and explore endlessly. Start with built-in prompts, create your own, or find new adventures through the Steam Workshop. The workshop offers a variety of intriguing starting points for your story, from an alien invasion or a zombie outbreak to something as simple as a blind date or even playing as a dog or cat. If none of these fit your vision, you can always create your own narrative from scratch.

Dreamio uses AI-generated visuals to create an immersive experience. The graphics are created on the fly with Stable Diffusion, producing illustrations that adapt to the style and atmosphere of your adventure. From fantasy landscapes to detailed character portraits, the visuals bring each scene to life in a dynamic, storybook-like fashion.

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At the moment, only the narrator's voice is generated dynamically, with the soundtrack staying the same throughout. However, the developer has mentioned that future updates will include dynamic soundtracks and sound effects.

Dreamio is pure magic for anyone who loves immersive, ever-evolving adventures. Despite the lack of adult content, it’s insanely fun. With Dreamio, you can bring all your (romantic) fantasies to life. The platform’s AI-driven storytelling lets you create and explore endless romantic scenarios, making your dream love stories a reality. Dive in and see where your imagination takes you!

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The story begins with you, our hero, waking up after being unconscious for a day. The first sight that greets you is a comforting campfire and a figure nearby. This figure, with silver hair and serene wisdom about her, is gently tending to your wounds, leaving only the memory of pain.

You remember setting out on a journey to Leilthorp Burrow—an expedition filled with promise and peril. Accompanied by your friends Janus, Claire, and Reyla, you were in search of an enigmatic orb. Although your memory is a bit blurry, you start to recall the crucial details.

As you regain your bearings, you learn the essentials of the game mechanics. You'll discover that choices have consequences, the combat system is explained, and you learn how to navigate your avatar on the world map. With these foundations in place, you prepare to continue your adventure. This is where the story truly begins. In search of your friends.

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The game shines with its deep character customization and strategic hex-based combat. You can tailor your character and party with a wide range of skills and equipment, fitting your personal play style. It uses skill sets and abilities similar to those found in RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons. As you explore the open world, you’ll engage in tactical battles that require thoughtful planning. The combat system is beginner-friendly, with a straightforward 1, 2, 3, and 4 system for choosing your skills. The game offers plenty of depth for seasoned players as well. Interacting with NPCs is also a big part of the game, allowing you to build friendships, make enemies, and even explore romances. I am here for the juicy romances. There is just so much to see, do, and explore, it feels sometimes a bit overwhelming (in a good way).

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A unique feature is your journal. As you progress through the initial story, you come across your lost journal. Once you read it, you unlock the ability to only once customize various settings, tailoring the game to your preferences. You can choose the frequency of encounters, opting for frequent, balanced, or few encounters. Additionally, you can decide on the romance options, whether you want romance with or without explicit content, or if you'd prefer to disable romance entirely (why would I, there are a few hunky characters I have my eyes on). This allows for a truly personalized gaming experience.

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While the game relies mostly on text, the graphics and music add a lot to the experience. The visual design, though not the main focus, effectively sets the scene and immerses you in the Renaissance setting. The detailed and evocative artwork and character portraits complement the richly described environments and characters. The music and sound effects add another layer of immersion, with atmospheric scores that draw you into the world and enhance the emotional impact of the story and battles. It's incredible how one developer, with the aid of AI, managed to create such a masterpiece.

Erannorth Renaissance is a well-crafted game that shines in storytelling, character customization, and strategic combat. Its text-heavy format is ideal for fans of choose-your-own-adventure and gamebook styles, providing an immersive experience. The game’s deep narrative, dynamic world-building, and tactical gameplay make for a captivating journey where your choices really count And then I didn't even mention the price, it's a bargain. If you enjoy games with meaningful decisions, rich social interactions, and challenging combat, this game is a must-play.

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Rave Heart, the first game by Starmage RPG Studios, is a delightful turn-based JRPG that feels like Final Fantasy in Outer Space. And since I am a big fan of the Final Fantasy franchise I couldn't wait to dive in.

The game follows Klein, a trained Cipher and bodyguard to Princess Ellemine, as they navigate the complex and tumultuous Xerxes Galaxy to ease tensions between the Errans and the Draconians. Along the way, they are joined by a colorful cast, including a mute dragon man, a sexy runaway bride alien, a gunslinging catgirl, and a human prince.

The story is full of twists and turns, centered on protecting Princess Ellemine and the House of Rave. The game's lore is rich, though sometimes overwhelming, with the Learnatoriums offering in-depth but dense information. The characters are well-developed, each with their personalities and quirks, making them memorable and endearing. The witty dialogue and modern-day nods add a unique charm to the narrative.

The game starts with tutorials that blend into the story, making it easy to learn how to play. Arrows helpfully point out important items like chests and quest directions. However, these arrows disappear later in the game, especially when traveling to different planets, which can make it confusing to know where to go next.

The turn-based combat is balanced and engaging, with party compositions changing throughout the story to keep things fresh. The mechanics, utilizing EP and SP points for different abilities, add strategic depth. Outside of combat, real-time events and the unique Astral State ability provide thrilling and exploratory elements. The game encourages saving often, which is crucial for tackling its challenging battles.

The game is set in a futuristic world where interplanetary travel is commonplace. Each sector you visit has its own unique culture and visual style. Initially, there’s a lot of lore to absorb, but the game introduces it gradually through informational machines placed in the early levels, making it easy to catch up on details at your own pace.

You can have up to six characters in your party, each with different abilities. It might take a while to figure out what each character does best and how to use their skills effectively. This adds to the fun, though the absence of MP recovery skills can sometimes make it hard to try out new strategies.

Throughout the game, you'll encounter numerous cutscenes that drive the story forward, often taking precedence over dungeon exploration. Despite the use of static character portraits, the distinctive dialogue and interactions bring the characters to life. The conversations are engaging and often humorous, particularly the side stories that become available in the latter part of the game.

For those who prefer less focus on the main story, the game offers plenty of side quests. These quests greatly expand the areas you can explore, making the game world feel much larger than just the main storyline. While most side quests involve fetching items, many also feature optional boss fights. It’s almost like playing a different game, as many of these quests become available all at once.

Despite its engaging gameplay and rich world, Rave Heart struggles with certain issues that can detract from the overall experience. One notable drawback is the inconsistent quest navigation. The disappearance of helpful markers can leave players feeling lost, particularly when dealing with multi-planet journeys. Additionally, the lack of MP regeneration skills can stifle creativity in battle strategies, making prolonged combat sessions more frustrating than fun. While the game offers a lot of content, these shortcomings can occasionally disrupt the immersion and enjoyment.

The game features charming pixel art and detailed character portraits. You can play in windowed or fullscreen modes, though fullscreen can feel a bit awkward. The visuals mix classic RPG styles with unique designs for each area, making the game visually diverse. The retro soundtrack is enjoyable and fits well with the game’s environments, but some tracks can get repetitive. Additionally, you can adjust the sound settings for music, ambient sounds, and effects, which is great for streamers and multitaskers.

Rave Heart stands out as a compelling journey through a vividly crafted sci-fi universe. Its mix of strategic turn-based combat, expansive exploration, and intriguing side quests ensures there's never a dull moment. The game strikes a fine balance between nostalgia and innovation, with its rich character dynamics and immersive world-building. Despite some minor challenges with navigation and resource management, it offers a deeply engaging experience.

Great walkthrough to use when stuck by Aquatorrent

Otome Lovers wishes to thank Starmage for providing a free review copy for this game.

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Norland is finally in Early Access, and it's the medieval reality show we never knew we needed. Now, let me tell you, this game is like the medieval version of a reality TV show. Think Game of Thrones meets Keeping Up with the Kardashians, but with fewer dragons and more drunken peasants.

I played the demo when it was available and was instantly hooked. It was a no-brainer for me to buy it on the early access release day.

The Empire's dead and gone, and now every noble with a pulse is fighting for the throne like it’s Black Friday. You’ve got to juggle class wars, religious drama, and political backstabbing. Basically, it’s like trying to host a family reunion (I’m looking at my brothers here), but everyone’s got swords.

You'll take charge of your noble family, each member with their own unique traits and ambitions, while dealing with political drama and social unrest. You'll need to balance keeping your peasants happy and managing the ambitions of your nobles, all while defending your kingdom from outside threats. Whether you're forging alliances, plotting sneaky assassinations, or leading your troops into battle, every choice you make will have a big impact on your kingdom's future. The game is complex and varied, ensuring that every time you play, you’ll get a unique experience.

At the start, you get to build your own noble family from scratch. It’s not just about choosing names and looks; you’ll also give each family member their own traits and backgrounds. These choices will influence their strengths, weaknesses, and personal goals, which can really shape how you play the game. How you set up your family will impact everything from their roles in the kingdom to the way they interact with each other and with others. It’s a great way to make your experience feel personal and unique right from the beginning.

After you create a family, you’re greeted with several starting options that let you tailor your game to your liking. You can choose from different starting regions, each with its own set of advantages and challenges, so you can pick one that fits your preferred playstyle. You also have the option to adjust difficulty settings, which can help you ease into the game or ramp up the challenge right from the start. These starting choices let you shape the early game to suit your strategy and experience level, making sure that your journey in Norland begins just the way you want it.

Peasants are the backbone of your kingdom and the source of all your headaches. Keep them fed and drunk, or they'll revolt faster than you can say "pitchfork." Each one has their own needs, like money for beer or prayers to Saint Whoever. Keep them happy, or they’ll burn your kingdom down – literally.

Beyond your kingdom lies a world full of other kingdoms, bandits, and invader-kings. Forge alliances, plot assassinations, and maybe send a spy or two. When diplomacy fails (which it will), it’s time to get bloody. Raise your militia and hope for the best – it’s stab or be stabbed.

Right now, I'm grappling with a frustrating bug that's making the game unplayable. Every time I try to build a temple, the whole game crashes. Since temples are crucial for keeping my people happy, this issue is pretty urgent. I can't afford to be without them for too long.

Update: I'm so relieved that the temple-crashing bug I was dealing with is finally history! The developers have been on top of it, rolling out updates and patches like crazy. I have to give them major props for how quickly they've responded to this issue. It's rare to see devs who are so committed to their community and willing to fix things this fast. Now, I can build all the temples I need and keep my people happy without a single crash. Seriously, these devs are amazing!

The cartoony graphics give the game a unique look. The bright, colorful visuals and character designs contrast with the darker themes, making the complex storylines feel more approachable. The cute animations add a lighter touch to the serious content. The background music sets the right mood, and the sound effects—from sword clashes to the daily chatter—are spot-on.

Norland is a standout game that blends medieval strategy with rich storytelling. The deep gameplay, with its detailed character design and customizable start, ensures that every playthrough feels unique. Whether you’re managing your noble family or diving into political intrigue, it offers a rewarding and dynamic experience.

While Norland has many strengths, it does have its downsides. Some players might find the cartoony graphics and light-hearted visual style not fitting for the darker themes. Additionally, the complexity of the gameplay can be overwhelming for newcomers. Although the game offers a detailed tutorial to address these needs. If you're looking for a straightforward experience or prefer a more realistic visual approach, this game might not fully meet your expectations.

However if you enjoy strategy games with a touch of drama and complexity, this one’s definitely worth checking out. Just remember: in Norland, trust no one, especially not your family. Happy ruling!

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