Recent reviews by ｡･𝓑𝓲𝓷𝓷𝔂･ﾟ

The first episode felt mostly fluffy and whimsical, the second started a pretty big shift in the overall mood of the series, and the third installment? That's where it all goes bananas, and yes, I say that after having played Gretel's route.

The thing that impressed me was how none of this felt random. It's hard to explain without spoiling the plot, but basically, that whole weird feeling the first and second episodes give off, all the stuff that had me scratching my head, suddenly made sense after the bombshell that gets dropped toward the end.

Even though I'm finding the guys in this series haven't been my favorites as love interests, the TAISHO x ALICE series is still one of my favorites because the story itself is so intriguing, and as mentioned in previous reviews, the protagonist is a breath of fresh air. The writing and story itself are that good, and I genuinely think it could be enjoyed by not just otome fans, but anyone who likes visual novels, especially if you're into mystery/psychological themes.

As with the last episode, if you're sensitive to certain themes you may want to check the content warning on the store page, otherwise I continue to highly recommend this series and eagerly await its conclusion.

Karen: An Outrage Simulator is one of those games that will be talked about for years to come and held up as the gold standard of the genre. A word of warning: once you play it, your enjoyment of other games may be somewhat diminished, as all are sure to be eclipsed by this masterpiece. It's not simply a game, it's an experience that borders on spiritual.

A wild ride from start to finish, Karen: An Outrage Simulator follows our brave heroine as she battles her way through a dystopic suburban hellscape, slaying countless wage slaves as they attempt to muzzle her, deny her expired coupons, and most egregious of all, reason with her. You'll even get to go toe-to-toe with her arch nemesis: The Manager himself!

I would give this game two thumbs up if I could, but sadly, Steam only allows one.

The tone of this episode was vastly different from the first, and if you're sensitive to certain themes, I'd advise looking over the content warning, because it deals with some heavy topics and one character (a yandere that gives even a certain infamous Amnesia character a run for his money) you'll probably either love or hate. While said character wasn't my cup of tea, the writing, story and other characters were still enough to keep me reading, which I think speaks to the quality.

This was yet another flawless translation with a diverse and interesting cast. Arisu continues to be one of, if not my favorite, otome heroines. She's not your typical air-headed, helpless damsel in distress; she's smart, assertive and has agency.

Remember: Even if this batch isn't your favorite, if at all possible, it's very important to support this release if you want to see translations for Snow White, the wizard and Alice's routes!

I'm thoroughly enjoying this one! The writing is top-notch and I feel like it will resonate more with a western audience than a lot of other titles in the genre. It's funny, witty and subverts a lot of the usual otome tropes. The heroine isn't shy about romance or making the first move, and the route I played actually sees HER putting the moves on HIM and making the love interest a flustered mess rather than the usual reverse. Love it! I really hope TAISHO X ALICE gets enough support for a full release, because it's a treasure.

A very short game featuring cute critters in painterly, monochromatic backgrounds. Under Leaves is great for when you need a moment to unwind. While not particularly challenging and certainly never frustrating, finding the tiny details hidden among the scenery still requires focus. I think that comfortable middle ground is what makes this game so relaxing. I'd recommend it to hidden object fans and anyone looking for a short, relaxed game to take their mind off things for a little while.

Probably my favorite otome.

One of the things I loved most about this game was the fact that the heroine is not a meek, incompetent, soulless ditz that they for some reason love putting in these games. She's a newbie ninja and can be naïve when it comes to romance, but she can fight, pulls her weight in the group and isn't always waiting for the love interests to save her. You fight together with the guys rather than just being helpless all the time while they protect you, and I can't even say how much I appreciated that.

The artwork is gorgeous, the characters all have distinct personalities and beautiful designs, and for the most part they manage to pull off their respective personality types without being creepy or off-putting. Out of the five routes, there was only one I didn't love.

This is not a fluffy, lighthearted story; it can get very dark and many of the routes are bittersweet. It's emotionally gripping to the point where I did have to reach for the tissues a few times, but that just goes to show how good it is.

Like many others, I picked up Stardew Valley because of the void Harvest Moon/"Story of Seasons" left in my heart and was not disappointed. I can tell a lot of love was put into this game. I felt it while playing in a way that I haven't before, and of the farm life sims out there, I think this one takes the spot as my favorite, which isn't something I say lightly considering my great love for the aforementioned titles.

The characters have a realism I wasn't expecting. Seeing things like substance abuse, depression and PTSD not only addressed in a game like this, but done so in a tasteful and realistic manner, was both surprising and refreshing. The townspeople are flawed, each with their own relationships, talents and struggles. You don't "fix" all of their issues through marriage or friendship, but you can be a positive force both in their lives and the town itself. Stardew also includes a feature many have been asking for in games with romanceable NPCs for years: same-sex marriage and dating. Rather than being limited to either bachelors or bachelorettes depending on your gender of choice, all single characters are available as romance options.

Stardew Valley is charming, relaxing and pleasant. Certain aspects can be somewhat repetitive, but to those familiar with this type of game, that's to be expected to an extent and not something I'd site as a negative as it never crosses the line into becoming boring. I'm nearly two hundred hours into my first save file and still have plenty of things to do.

I've thoroughly enjoyed this game and would definitely recommend it, especially to anyone who already enjoys the better-known farm life/dating sim hybrids.

I personally got Riders of Icarus because I was looking for a big, open world, fantasy-style adventure game with character customization and lots of different flying mounts. Riders of Icarus delivers on all of these things. The world is massive. I spent weeks making my way through all the available areas. It is very grindy, but I personally didn't find that to be a negative. This isn't a game you'll plow through in thirty hours.

There are plenty of mounts to choose from. They have some creative and beautiful designs, and for most elite ranks and above, interesting backstories you can read in the bestiary. The heroics and legendaries leave you feeling really accomplished when you finally manage to tame them.

Overall I've really enjoyed this game. I'm looking forward to the new area being released.

This is an extremely cute and creative little game. The gameplay is simple, but not in a bad way. There are so many fun things to find. It's very relaxing, and I really like the sounds, atmosphere, and all the unique creatures. I'd love a sequel someday!