Video Game Journalist

Yesterday I was at the supermarket (buying my weekly diet of Oreos and action figures aimed at children) wearing my Cuphead T-Shirt and minding my own business when I heard a voice say "that game is an absolute classic!" I turned around to see who this wise person was and it was an older gentleman with his grand kids, pointing at my shirt. I realised in that moment 2 things: video games are played by more people than we think...and I am getting old. We all have the stereotype of the 'gamer' in our heads, but perhaps the secret is out, perhaps everyone has realised what a wonderful and diverse art form video gaming is and if we love it...we have to let it go free! When I was a young innocent gamer on the bus with my lime green Gameboy Color I always felt a little self conscious, I would even hide my Gameboy if I saw some cooler kids get on the bus. Fast forward 20 years and I was sat on a train last week playing my Nintendo Switch and a man in a suit (aka a grown up ...

The reason I am excited for August is the lovely weather...NOT! Im gunna be closing the blinds, locking myself inside and playing video games baby! Brace yourself people, August is about to be harsh on your bank account! There are some incredible games on the way. So get a second job, pray for the death of a rich family member or sell a kidney - because you are going to need the cash! Thank Goodness You're Here Thank Goodness You’re Here is without a doubt one of my most anticipated games of 2024 and it comes out in just a few days. The developers describe the game as a 'Comedy Slapformer' set in the Yorkshire town of Barnsworth and if there are two things I love, it is Yorkshire and giving someone a good slap! Also the cherry on this Bakewell tart of a game is that Matt Berry is one of the voice actors!  Platform(s): PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, MacOS Release Date: August 1 st 2024 Developer(s) Coal Supper Genre(s) Indie Game, Platformer, Adven...

‘This Little Car Of Mine’ is a relaxing and cosy driving game by indie developer Sam Claydon that explores the theme of grief as you, the player, are on a journey to scatter the ashes of a loved one. I recently interviewed Sam about his game and being a one man development team! Does it feel overwhelming developing a game completely on your own? I love indie game development, especially having full creative control on a project. It can sometimes feel like a daunting task but by taking every element of the game and breaking it into smaller pieces it is more manageable for myself. I really enjoy creating games so if I ever feel overworked, I take a break and come back to the project with fresh eyes. I also use an online planner to keep all of my tasks confined in one place. How long have you been working on 'This Little Car of Mine'? This Little Car Of Mine started as my final module for my MA at Falmouth University. I loved making the game and wanted to pursue it to see it compl...

I recently received a message on Instagram from Indie developer Lucid11 (an 11 person Turkish game developer) about an upcoming game called 'Party Club' they were currently working on. They were reaching out to see if I would like to try out the beta, and since I love indie games, and love to party, I said yes. The game at first glance seemed very similar to a lot of other indie titles out there. In the simplest terms it is a cute game where you play as an animal who is setting up a juice bar for other animals. On steam the description is - 'manage your venue, seat customers, serve drinks, kick out the messy customers, survive disasters and celebrate festivals.' So after reading that I thought 'OK, another cozy cafe simulator with cute animals to add to the long list of titles that fit this description.' Then I played the beta and realised that this game is actually an extremely fun and unique experience that sets itself apart from other 'cutesy animal cafe ...

'Farewell North' is an upcoming indie title from Kyle Banks and 'Mooneye Studio'. I am particularly excited about it because it is about two things I love - Scotland and dogs! I was lucky enough to get an interview with Kyle about the game and the studio. But first, here is a quick description of 'Farewell North': 'Restore color to the desolate islands of Farewell North, an open world journey where you play as a border collie on an adventure with his owner through the Scottish Highlands. Explore land and sea, solve puzzles to reveal hidden paths, evade monsters, and free wildlife to bring color back to the world, all while revealing an emotional story about saying farewell. Farewell North is about a woman on a personal journey deep in the Scottish highlands with her border collie, the player character. Dealing with a declining mental state and the emotions of a tragic loss, all color has left her world and it's up to you to bring it back as you aid her o...

'Nine Sols' is my favourite game that has been released this year. I was lucky enough to interview the very talented developer 'Red Candle Games' about their game and their studio. Nine Sols is a lore rich, hand-drawn 2D action-platformer featuring Sekiro-inspired deflection focused combat. Embark on a journey of Asian fantasy, explore the land once home to an ancient alien race, and follow a vengeful hero’s quest to slay the 9 Sols, formidable rulers of this forsaken realm. In New Kunlun, hero Yi has awakened the 9 rulers of this forsaken realm. To defeat the 9 Sols in the deserted city. New Kunlun, the Solarian’s last sanctuary, has remained quiet for centuries. Inside this vast realm, the ancient gods left mortals with a promised land that is forever protected by the sacred rituals, yet the truth of this world remains unknown to most. Everything changes when Yi, a long forgotten hero from the past, is awoken by a human child. Follow Yi on his vengeful quest against t...