Video Game Journalist

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...

I have played a crazy amount of games so far in 2024 so I wanted to let you know which ones I think are worth playing! So here they are: Crow Country Platform(s) - PS4/5, Steam, Xbox Developer - SFB Games Crow Country is  A survival horror game, where you’ll test yourself against puzzles and riddles as you investigate the eerie tranquility of the abandoned theme park. Don’t be deceived by the whimsical surroundings, something is awfully wrong in Crow Country. The Year is 1990. It’s been two years since the mysterious disappearance of Edward Crow and the abrupt closure of his theme park, Crow Country. But your arrival has broken the silence, Mara Forest. If you want answers, you’ll have to venture deep into the darkness of Crow Country to find them… Read my review  Here Little Kitty, Big City Platform(s) -  Switch, Xbox, Steam Developer - Double Dagger Studio You're a curious little kitty with a big personality, on an adventure to find your way back home. Explore the city,...

Nintendo just sent out a press release to answer the question everyone has been asking...Who is Emio? Here is what we now know:   EMIO –  THE SMILING MAN: FAMICOM DETECTIVE CLUB LAUNCHES FOR NINTENDO SWITCH ON THURSDAY 29 th  AUGUST Investigate a crime and unmask the truth in a dark, twisted thriller '17 th  July, 2024  – Play the role of an assistant private investigator with Utsugi Detective Agency and help police solve a murder case when  Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club  launches for  Nintendo Switch  on Thursday 29 th  August. Along the way, scrutinise the clues and gather testimonies for potential connections to the gruesome events of the past in this interactive drama.   In  Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club , a student has been found dead in a chilling fashion, his head covered with a paper bag with an eerie smiling face drawn on it. This unsettling visage bears a striking resemblance to a rec...

Cozy gaming has seemingly taken over the world in the past few years and I found myself wondering - why? 5 years ago I hadn't heard the words 'cozy gaming' before, but now it has flooded social media and just about every game store. Before I knew it I was also sitting in an over-sized sweater, drinking a hot tea and playing a game that involved growing carrots and making friends with anthropomorphic animal people (and strangely enough I can think of about 20 games matching that description). So rather than just accepting I found a new way to be happy; I did what any sane person would do - interview a bunch of people, read a dozen articles and watch hours of YouTube to try and get to the bottom of what gave cozy gaming it's rise to power! So what IS cozy gaming? The first thing I had to work out is can cozy gaming be defined? 'Cozy' is surely a subjective thing. For example, some people go to the gym and workout to relax; I, on the other hand, go to the gym to wa...