Karen: An Outrage Simulator

Karen: An Outrage Simulator

I went into this game expecting 45 minutes-1 hour’s worth of silly little content that would give me, someone who’s worked in food and retail, a good laugh.

What I got was 3 hours of organ rupturing good humored, nail on the head scenarios that were so scarily familiar but also insanely ridiculous.

Without spoiling anything (yes, yes, there is a plot, and it is delicious), you go through a good handful of incredibly unique, inconvenient situations that could truly happen to anybody. No level feels like a repeat, no joke feels overused or like low-hanging fruit (unless you count the entire premise of the game as low hanging fruit). If you play on Normal mode, you have to figure out how to manipulate different characters to get what you want purely through intuition and guess work, WITHOUT you (Karen) becoming outraged and making a disaster of the place.

Real player with 4.5 hrs in game


Read More: Best Choose Your Own Adventure Visual Novel Games.


Similar to other reviews, I thought this game would be shorter…offering maybe an hour of content. I ended up streaming it for over 3 hours.

I played this with a couple of other friends and we all took turns voice-acting Karen and the other characters. We spent so much time laughing our sides were sore!

I’ve also worked 7 years in retail and, again like other reviewers, have encountered my fair share of “Karens” and this game accurately depicts the stereotypical Karen in her natural habitat.

Real player with 4.0 hrs in game

Karen: An Outrage Simulator on Steam

KingSim

KingSim

Alright first that 12 hours is probably 4-2 hours off, I used steam remote play to play the game for some of my play time, I believe the game was left running well I was doing other things, I find this convent as I can return to the game where I left off with my phone, but it dose inflate the hrs on record. It’s likely closer to 8 or 9 at the time of this post.

Kingsim is a game of choice and resource management, it’s ment to played much more then once, likely you won’t reach the end on your first attempt unless your very lucky, but dieing in this game is an achievement, and you can save at any point. I find this game really fun and have played it quite a bit and I still haven’t gone on all the paths that are in the game. I’m trying to avoid spoilers in this review, so it’s been a bit akword writing, next I guess I’ll address some things from the negative reviews that are here

Real player with 15.3 hrs in game


Read More: Best Choose Your Own Adventure Political Sim Games.


A very fun, but very short game. A lot like Long Live the Queen but less VN style… Sort of. You can marry monster girls, or humans if you’re into that sorta thing. I married a mermaid and summoned an adorable Cthulhu to spread joy and death across the world.

There are very many possibilities but the game generally ends around 10 days and then you can go into an endless sort of sandbox mode where the only thing to do is conquer or make peace with your surrounding neighbors.

Honestly I’d say my 3 hours was worth $10, but I really hope to see more content from the devs for this game soon. There’s a lot of possibilities yet.

Real player with 15.3 hrs in game

KingSim on Steam

The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante — Chapter 1&2

The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante — Chapter 1&2

Wonderful experience!

Much depends on how will the plot develop further but what is already seen in the game is incredible.

Advantages:

  • Universe. Game world is interesting. I think a lot will be uncovered by further progress of the story, but what’s seen now makes me curious at least. Not sure about how much I like certain details, like miltiple lifes a person is given with (yet it’s well integrated with game mechanics). Overall, the universe provides for very interesting story developments and reflection.

Real player with 7.6 hrs in game


Read More: Best Choose Your Own Adventure Interactive Fiction Games.


Never liked interactive fiction, this one seemed interesting though and had me hooked.

One of he good thing is that the choices are very hard sometimes, and that harder choices actually cost attribute points. If you’ve done a series of actions that has taken up all your willpower you might only be able to helplessly watch as some terrible thing happens before your eyes since you can’t muster up the will to act. This gives a new dimension to player choices which I had never thought of and is extremely interesting, especially when thinking of doing another playthrough.

Real player with 6.4 hrs in game

The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante — Chapter 1&2 on Steam

Ambition: A Minuet in Power

Ambition: A Minuet in Power

I almost fainted when I saw Ambition’s premise. A choose-your-own adventure? With political intrigue and love interests?! Taking place in the French Revolution!? It seemed perfect for me - and, oh, it was!

You play as Yvette Decaux, a woman who travels to Paris on the eve of the French Revolution to rendezvous with her fiance, a baron named Armand. But oh no! He’s missing! You have the option to try and find him, and/or abandon him for one or more of the five other love interests. Each of those love interests are part of a faction - the Crown, the Church, the Military, the Bourgeoisie, and the Revolution. To build your power, you must go to parties thrown by these factions to meet your romance options, collect gossip, and participate in a randomized and vast array of entertaining minor intrigues. The gossip you get can be sold for money (used to buy dresses, pay rent, bribe the authorities, and purchase coffee - the usual!) or bend the factions to your will. You can increase or decrease their power, or nudge the middle factions towards the Crown or Revolution.

Real player with 146.2 hrs in game

First and foremost: this game gets my recommendation. Its content is deep, compelling, and interesting. Despite having limited hours to do so, I wanted to keep playing. The historical perspective seems incredibly well researched and founded (though I admit I am not a good source to weigh in on historical legitimacy), the characters were diverse, and the story was compelling.

That being said, I found numerous issues. The most frustrating being that many of the randomly generated interactions kept appearing “out of order” in such a way that the story felt massively interrupted and disjointed. I’m honestly not sure if it’s some strange series of choices I made to cause this, but I kept accidentally running into one of the main characters in the game in side missions at parties in which she would act as if we had some very contemptuous history, when in reality, I had never even seen her before let alone (to my knowledge) upset her before. As I found from playing the entire game, I believe she was destined to be an adversary, but I was SO confused when I was playing. There were several other instances in which I found that interactions I had already had with characters didn’t jive with interactions I went on to have with them subsequently, and honestly, this is my biggest issue with the game.

Real player with 48.2 hrs in game

Ambition: A Minuet in Power on Steam

Questr

Questr

I found QUESTR to be very entertaining. It is not much as a game, but what it lacks in gaming substance it makes up in content.

You start by inviting people to join your quest party. Many of the people lie on their profiles and some characters hate your other members so much that they quit right away.

Every quest has multiple events in which you need to select one characters idea how to solve them. For example you encounter a vampire. Will you send a) the Vegan to talk to him about being vegan b) the drunk to talk about drinking c) or the bro who says he got this as he had to watch vampire movies with his ex. Results might not be what you expect.

Real player with 29.8 hrs in game

Questr is an RPG parody of dating apps similar to Tinder.

In a similar fashion, you swipe left and right to build the perfect RPG team. Every potential party member has likes and dislikes, levels, costs to hire, and personality traits as well as their own class, guild, and ancestry.

Personality traits determine the outcome of encounters throughout each quest. Beating an encounter raises morale, while failing lowers it. Party members also interact with one another between encounters, further raising or lowering morale depending on how well personality types get along and whether or not you paid attention to likes and dislikes. At the end of a quest, the morale level determines if you successfully complete it, giving you a reward and the possibility of having party members continue to quest with you.

Real player with 4.8 hrs in game

Questr on Steam

Solar Echoes: The Star Legation

Solar Echoes: The Star Legation

STORY

Soon after the alien races began to explore outside their own star systems, they discovered each other. Hostilities grew into skirmishes and eventually, wars. However, some still desired peace. We’ve been taught that the Interstellar Union was formed in the year 1,023 LN. And we’ve been told of the human, Trey Donovan, who led the peace legation to unite everyone across the stars.

Details beyond that are varied and embellished, but we do have records of Trey’s past. This man, now considered a legend, was no diplomat. He grew up in entirely human-centric surroundings and had never ventured beyond human territories. He was banished to an exile colony after a dishonorable discharge from the military. He received no training for the peace legation that he supposedly led. Trey’s only known redeeming quality was his leadership and success in bringing law to a planet overrun with criminals.

How did this man travel to alien worlds and speak before powerful leaders? How was this human able to convince those alien leaders to send a representative with him to join the Interstellar Union? How did he survive the dangerous journey through space among an alien crew, several which were technically still at war with each other? There are still many unanswered questions about Trey Donovan and his journey across the universe. What really happened aboard that starship?

ABOUT

Solar Echoes: The Star Legation is a Sci-Fi Visual Novel game with RPG elements, full of intriguing alien characters, bizarre foreign cultures, and interstellar conflict. Journey through space to gather and manage an alien crew, visit new worlds, negotiate with alien leaders, and even risk romance across the stars! Survival and success depends upon your choices and the reputation you’ve built among your alien crewmates. Can your diplomatic efforts with alien leaders lead to a peaceful alliance between all the races, or will you incite a massive interstellar war? Will your words bring unity, or chaos?

FEATURES

  • The Star Legation’s beautifully authentic style blends realism with a cel-shaded, anime touch. Design, art, and audio create a unique space-opera atmosphere.

  • 100’s of decisions to make in this epic, choice-driven branching story

  • Experience an engaging narrative filled with intrigue, humor, science, treachery, and heart.

  • RPG elements with 8 different character design skill choices to make

  • 32 possible endings (including 5 main endings)

  • Immersive and realistic dialogue: some character sprites have over 100 different expressions!

  • Optional Romance story routes with 2 human characters

  • Detailed background art, cinematic camera work, expressive character sprites, and animated sequences make this visual novel a dynamic experience!

  • Build relationships with memorable characters and develop a reputation that will alter the course of the story!

  • Over 20 hours of gameplay, with additional hours in alternate routes and endings

  • Awesome SciFi soundtrack by composer Andy Mitchell, featuring over 75 minutes of original music!

  • 15+ High Res CG’s to unlock, designed by the talented artist, Aeghite!

  • Hidden skill-related choices based on your character design that unlock extra routes

  • Optional Combat (auto-win option), or Challenge Mode

Solar Echoes: The Star Legation on Steam

Interstellar Airgap

Interstellar Airgap

Excellent read! The story grabbed me from page 1.

Real player with 313.6 hrs in game

The Story is interesting but the damn Code is frustating

Real player with 20.8 hrs in game

Interstellar Airgap on Steam

The Advisor - Episode 1: Royal Pain

The Advisor - Episode 1: Royal Pain

My secret word is ‘Blessing’.

I knew to expect quality and a fun time. This surpassed expectations! It got me really thinking about what I know in terms of army logistics and self-sufficiency. I know, that may seem redundant these days but, in my humble opinion, striving for self-sufficiency and knowing how to work together as a group is always good idea. Growing food, purifying water, basic medicine and basic repairs on everyday objects, all that can be very useful. I still need to know more but that only means I’m excited to replay this in a few years and see how my ideas and capabilities have grown!

Real player with 2.0 hrs in game

My Secret Word: Bard

My apparent skill as an adviser: Magnificent

Overall, I found this to be a very intriguing game. Like all other games by this developer I found myself having to face very difficult ethical questions. However, unlike the others there was also a lot of questions regarding leadership and tactics (personal interests of mine). Overall, I loved the opportunity the story provided me and the story itself. As for the main character, I find him to be painfully pragmatic somewhat in contrast to my values. However, not as much as I would like to admit. Aside from his quick leaps to pyromania I do not think Magnus is an entirely evil person. Perhaps this is due to my own propensity for witticism that endears him to me. In addition, I am sure he is smart enough to recognize benevolent leadership is better for the leader and their people as well. I like to think of it as enlightened self interest that benefits others. Along with the previously mentioned shared traits Magnus and I both have a nigh obsessive love of magic. Regarding the choice of kingdom, I find myself conflicted. I value loyalty above all else, yet know too little of this magical staff to be certain of the value. Gun to my head, I say stay with the current king. Given how well I turned things around I see no reason that the king and the Magnus can’t barter for the staff from a position of increased strength.

Real player with 1.6 hrs in game

The Advisor - Episode 1: Royal Pain on Steam

Bleeding Moons

Bleeding Moons

A unique and entertaining point and click adventure game in the vein of Space Pilgrim about war, politics, love and everything in between. The game is more of an interactive novel, the puzzle part is very easy, too easy I would say, so if you are expecting to get creative about picking things and combining them in the inventory, this is not the game for you.

The game tackles adult issues such as rape and abuse, but very tastefully, which is testament to the overall excellent writing. The world is rich with characters and they all have a story, even the many NPCs will tell you their tale. The creators really took their time with every detail, including some humorous: in a city with many stray dogs, of course you will find poop on the street :) … which should have been an achievement itself.

Real player with 35.4 hrs in game

First of all, I’m writing this review as a huge THANK YOU to the creator. I just finished the game and I’m absolutely in love with it! I spent about a good 10 hours playing through the story and because I’m that kind of guy that wants to know everything, I logged over 200 saves. I’ll be going back to my final save later this week to try something a little different. After that I’m likely to try again from the beginning to see what I might be able to change.

! I was surprised to find out I was locked out of Luna’s ending but the rest were available to me

Real player with 13.8 hrs in game

Bleeding Moons on Steam

HRO: Adventures of a Humanoid Resources Officer

HRO: Adventures of a Humanoid Resources Officer

HRO: Adventures of a Humanoid Resources Officer is a puzzle-driven visual novel set in a retro-futuristic sci-fi universe. You play the underappreciated Humanoid Resources Officer aboard the Endeavor — a military spaceship with more than its fair share of crew rivalries, office politics, and erratic decision-makers. When the Endeavor stumbles into universe-shaking trouble, can you harness the power of the bureaucracy to rein in your crew’s worst impulses and survive to the next episode?

As disaster looms, you – the HRO – interact with key characters to investigate the crisis, identify possible responses and implement your preferred paper-pusher solution. Will your conversation with the criminally-insane physicist who has seized control of the ship inspire you to fake your own resignation so you can infiltrate his cult? Or, when surrounded by bloodthirsty Kirmulak warships, will you choose to transmit the stolen enemy command codes to disable their vessels and allow the Endeavor to escape? Save the day! Be the hero! The levers of administrative power – and the consequences of using them – are yours…

Game features include:

• Branching storylines shaped by player choices

• UI puzzles offer multiple paths through the story

• Unlockable mini-episodes and characters

• Vividly imagined retro sci-fi universe

• Original, adaptive musical soundtrack

• Thousands of choices make HRO eminently replayable

HRO: Adventures of a Humanoid Resources Officer on Steam