Mirror Layers
This game does more with the horror genre than just the standard “run/hide from the monster while solving mundane puzzles and piecing together a run-of-the-mill edgy backstory”, and I really appreciate that about it.
I really enjoyed this game a lot, and it was definitely worth the $20. However, it’s not flawless, so I’ll go over the pros and cons (focusing more on the pros to better paint the experience I had with this game).
PROS:
- Most of the puzzles leave you feeling satisfied. There are a few outliers (and I’ll go over those in the CONS section), but the vast majority of them get you thinking about them for a while, before fragmented pieces of information randomly piece together in your head, and you feel this appreciation for the ingenuity of the puzzle-design. Most of the times, all the hints are laid there before you, and there aren’t any red-herrings either. Unlike many riddle-based games, you don’t look back on the puzzle feeling cheated. Enigma 2 was a masterpiece in my opinion, and I’ve seen many other players share the same sentiment. As I’ve said though, there are some outliers.
– Real player with 31.5 hrs in game
Read More: Best Asynchronous Multiplayer Survival Horror Games.
(Edit: please play the demo first, it’s standalone from the full game and got different content and puzzles! It’s got its own different experience you’ll love it!)
Playing the game on ps4 controller, thankfully consistent with character movements and item usage and only need to use the mouse for accessing the in-game pc and menu screen.
It’s so good and atmosphere is really scary and the things you find out about apartment 12…
The in-game social media has an interesting checkpoint system where you never see posts from people posting at a later segment in the game so no spoilers from other players who advanced further (there’s a report button if you do find spoilers, but atm, the community is very good at giving tips without giving away the answers)
– Real player with 24.5 hrs in game
Get Together: A Coop Adventure
At first, I was a bit hesitant due to the art style seeming a bit too ‘happy’ for my taste with the bunny-like characters, but don’t make the same mistake.
Grab a friend partial to puzzles and dive into an interestingly novel gaming adventure. You don’t even need an internet connection - the puzzles are designed so that either of you receives only half of the needed information and you’ll need to communicate in order to get the whole picture and find out what needs doing.
The biggest part of the fun stems from exactly this communication - your imagination running wild trying to describe the mysterious symbols you find on your way and finding out if you both are actually talking about the same thing. Abstract descriptions of geometrical forms suddenly turn into scales that somehow again turn into a mushroom. What bobbles do you want me to touch? Oh yeah, I’ll just stand near the elderly butt, no problem.
– Real player with 4.3 hrs in game
Played through this game with my 10 yr old daughter. Made for some great Daddy/Daughter gaming. It was fun, puzzles were challenging, but not too hard overall. Had to ask Mom for some outside input a coupe times, but we had a great time. Would definitely recommend.
– Real player with 4.0 hrs in game
Upgrade VR
I really liked Upgrade VR. Four awesome tests that improve my speed and memory skills. It’s great that there is a mobile application where I can track statistics.
Yes, I know that it’s early access, but in the next updates, I would like to see more tests for the training with my friends, synchronize my data activity with Apple Health, and also I want to see this application on Oculus Quest 2.
Pros:
-Good tests training reaction speed and memory.
-Beautiful VFX of holograms.
-Interesting gameplay mechanics.
– Real player with 0.5 hrs in game
Read More: Best Asynchronous Multiplayer Asymmetric VR Games.
If you like the idea of brain training and also extending that to reflexes and hand/eye coordination, this will probably look interesting to you. Unfortunately it’s not for me and here’s why:
First thing you’re greeted with is a screen telling you to download some random app on your phone so you can get a sync code. Uh, no thanks buddy. I’ve got enough spies on my phone trying to track my every move (and probably succeeding more often than not despite my best efforts). I don’t need another, and why does it have to be a phone app? Other programs let you use a throwaway email to register an account, but not here.
– Real player with 0.3 hrs in game
StarPicker
Landing on mysterious planets, you have to quickly identify your location and find the best way to collect lost stars. Show your agility and strategy skills to accomplish your mission. Don’t panic, even when you face the unknown and its unexpected challenges. Then don’t forget to check your route review with players from all over the world and be the one who will save the universe!
Key features:
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Discover unknown territories through original land navigation gameplay.
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Explore 60+ levels in 5 unique environments.
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Unlimited original hand drawn maps with regularly updated contents.
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3 exciting game modes adapted for different challenge-seekers.
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Attractive cosmic soundtrack in late 60’s style tailored for each game level.
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Engaging online community : ranking and replay analysis. Compare your route choices with players worldwide and improve your performances.
Story:
Well, it all begins with an unexpected “disaster” … All the stars are falling down from the sky. Is this the end of the world?
The youngest Nobel Prize winner Minna Vellamo is assigned with the mission of finding back lost stars. She chose to be accompanied by a robot named Harvey for him being a …robot. Little does she know, Harvey is the clumsiest and most talkative robot ever.
One day before departure, Minna was told that “Electric Eel” Janus White will also be joining the team. Being depressed for a very long time since retirement, the former footballer signed himself up to the project. He believed that this is the only opportunity to find back his old-day glory and to prove to the public that he is still a hero.
Will Janus achieve what he is looking for? Often described as bold, independent and determined, will Minna get along well with Janus?
Gameplay:
Start a navigation adventure in space with only a map and a compass in hands. Whether you’re a curious traveler, a challenge-seeker or a speedrunner, there is always a game mode waiting for you in StarPicker.
3 game modes:
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The Main Race mode is the most relaxing experience. You can be a traveler, embracing fantastic landscapes, gaining satisfaction in your map reading skills, meeting curious animals and uncovering the mysterious history on each planet.
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In the Electric Eel mode : win the challenge with your impressive observation and incomparable precision. Fearless of taking risks even on unknown territories. It’s the perfect mode if you are looking for challenges without worrying about time.
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Maybe you are an orienteer, a traceur or a speedrunner who “flies” in a complex environment! StarPicker’s Berserk mode suits you the best! Reveal stars one by one in a limited time, avoid obstacles by acting cool like a Light Speed Racer.
From novice to expert:
Adjust the game options to your capacities and improve your navigational skills.
Use compass and learn map reading with International Standard for Orienteering Maps.
Codename: Terranova
This game is such a hidden gem. I’m not sure what I expected when I paid $24 on an early-access co-op indie puzzle game, and to be honest I was worried it wouldn’t be any good. However, my buddy and I (who usually do such puzzle games together) were VERY pleasantly surprised. It almost felt like “We Were Here” in a way. One player is the Agent, and they’re the player that is required to buy the game. Their role is to move through the train room-by-room and solve puzzles given to them by the Operator, who doesn’t actually need to buy the game, as they use a web application with all the answers. I guess it’s also somewhat similar to “Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes” in that respect. My friend and I haven’t had a chance to finish the game yet, but we’ve both purchased the game and enjoy alternating back and forth between Agent and Operator.
– Real player with 5.8 hrs in game
This game is a lot like Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes, but the Operator (the one that isn’t moving around) is able to interact far more with the environment.
For being early access, I feel it’s quite polished in regards to visuals. No texture glitches seen while playing, no physics oddities, very smooth framerate.
In terms of story, I think there’s an overarching story told through the pre-level ‘briefings.’ The story however, seems somewhat fragmented and kind of hard to follow. Certain briefings seem contradictory to later briefings.
– Real player with 5.8 hrs in game
Secrets of a Campfire
Secrets of a Campfire is a peaceful atmospheric experience set in a camping environment that players can jump into to chill and relieve their stresses.
Immersive experience
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Explore the stunning photo-realistic environment in an immersive day-night cycle.
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Enjoy the sightseeing of nature on foot or in a rowing boat.
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Relax with the acoustic soundtracks and physics based sound effects of the lake, campfire cracking, waterfalls and ambiance.
If you’re ready to talk about it
Light the campfire and write about your secret. Whatever it’s, just let it out.
If you’re not ready to share it yet, burn the letter in the campfire. However, there’re people on the other side exactly in your shoes so they’ll care about you no matter what. So, when you’re done, fold that paper, put it in a bottle and send it to the water.
It’s the little things
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Read other players' letters and show compassion by lighting sky lanterns in their worlds
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Kick back and stargaze anywhere in the camp.
Conquest of Elysium 5
Conquest of Elysium 5 is the next iteration of the past CoE games with more content, and with nearly the same (pixel art) graphics that were used in Civilization 2. They have gotten a little better over the years, but not much. If you played CoE4, there are three new factions, new modding tools, and new “Planes” within each map to conquer. The biggest difference for me from the previous version was not just that there was more to conquer though, it is that the “more” that exists is also now much more accessible. More on this below:
– Real player with 193.4 hrs in game
I love this game, I never get tired of it. It strike the perfect balance between complexity and accessibility.
– Real player with 167.9 hrs in game
Freemium Way
Freemium Way is an adventure game with tactical turn-based battles and sandbox elements. Find all pieces of the puzzle to identify why does Freemium come to the world of modern games and try to curb it. Make your own way.
Features
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Loot - A lot of items, materials, crafting, trading and upgrades.
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Story - Multiple game locations with a story behind and puzzle mechanics.
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Battles - It is not a yet another card game with decks, but it is turn-based, PvP and PvE.
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Multiplayer - Ability to set up hints and traps for other players, compete or unite.
This is an indie game made by a small team and we hope you’ll like it.
Rocket Boots Mania
Ricky Runner is a fast paced precision platformer game, it’s one of the best platformer based game I ever played, I’ve put about 80h into this game even before the game was released into early access on steam, first thing first it’s now still an early access so not everything is in the game right now and I have to say that there is a lot of potential in this game, as right now this game is “just” about completing levels in best possible way to get highest amount of score to be 1st in the leaderboard.
– Real player with 43.5 hrs in game
First off: I’m a speedrunner, and I like ILs more than the average speedrunner, so the review may or may not help you if you’re in for a casual platformer experience, as I don’t have that perspective.
I like it; the gameplay is already good, and the game controls better than 95% of speedy games, at least in my opinion. The levels are very open - lots of paths to take, about 5-20 seconds long each, optimally (so far). Restarts are quick.
Currently, the game has online leaderboards for every level, where your high score is automatically submitted.
– Real player with 41.9 hrs in game
Gem Rush
This is the digital version of the best selling board game…Gem Rush.
I highly recommend this game for all ages as not only a challenging enough casual game, but one with enough complexity to make it incredibly fun and enjoyable. You can pick it up and leave it anytime, and resume whenever you like. It is multiplayer, and you can play up to 7 players, of which all can be yourself or you can assign bots with 4 differing strength levels. This game has much grown on me, become my weekly gameplay. I admire the “Labor of Love” in the sense that the developer continues to update, polish and refine the overall game as years pass. I would give it a try, as it is well worth $10. 😊
– Real player with 79.7 hrs in game
Good Game
This is a board game that has made a faithful reiplementation into a digital form. As a board game, I’m going to say it is not something for people who don’t particuarlly like board games. This game avoids many of the fiddily bigts of setup and tear down and rules checking
– Real player with 11.0 hrs in game