eridani

I think Balatro is truly something special. It ascends to Tetris-like status with a sort of timeless universalism. Easy to learn, hard to master; playable by virtually anyone with a pulse. This isn't just the one of the best games of 2024, it's one the best games ever made.

Really beautiful game. Such a shame this game is so obscure. It is hard, even for this type of game. Hardcore players only need apply

Excellent rogue-like deck-builder with RPG elements. Three PCs, plenty of cards, equipment, and other goodies keep each run fresh. Add in witty dialogue and a great at style, and we have another masterclass software from Klei.

A charming and fun RPG with a strong Paper Mario vibe. Unique timing/stamina-based combat system is the game's highlight. I also enjoyed the silly writing. Nice art direction and music. The level design is probably the weakest aspect as there is way too much backtracking, and the layouts are a little confusing.. A lack of any kind of map also doesn't help matters. Definitely worth a play!

Challenging, inventive, compelling, this is the best TBT game since XCOM 2. Stealthy, hit-and-run tactics are key here and is well implemented. Each encounter feels fresh and and each move requires thought and planning. Who knew griefing werewolves could be so much fun? Beautiful hand-drawn graphics and a chilling soundtrack complete the package. I hope for a large-text mode in the near future as I play it on a Switch Lite.

Decent picross-type puzzle game. There's nothing unique or innovative here but it's solidly made. Only thing I don't like is the piss-yellow background color, and poor choice of colors for Color Mode. Lots of puzzles to work out. For $3 you could do worse.

This one was a pleasant surprise! It's a RPG-lite roguelike deck builder with its own twist. The core mechanic is essentially blackjack: you try to reach a certain number of points against mobs (the dealer), in this case, 12. You use a special dealer deck of cards numbered 1-6. Reaching 12 gives you a critical hit, while going over immediately results in taking damage. In addition there are playable cards fom your hero deck. There's treasures and random events in the dungeons. There's a lot of content here: 4 playable characters and an upgradeable base. If you liked Slay the Spire or Meteorfall check this one out!

(Note: This review is for the Android version) Great action-RPG. Like its predecessor, it features randomized dungeons and items. The game has a lot of improvements from the first game. The most visible is the interface. It features a much better inventory screen and now allows you see the attributes of what you are picking up (the first game put the text right under your finger). The player attribute system has been reworked is more complex, but I haven't really played it enough to learn all its nuances. There are now five main stats, strength, dexterity, intelligence, constitution, and spirit. Like the first, the game really doesn't explain what all these affect: but I can tell that each weapon type is affected by certain attributes (staffs are intelligence based, and daggers are dexterity based), each weapon type has its own power attack, and the stats you gain each level are in turn affected by what equipment you have. The story is like the first: you are a nameless spirit-hero on a quest to avenge? rescue? (something…) his wife’s soul. The gameplay is still fast-paced and has you killing monsters through taps and holds. It has a permadeath feature with a one-life system similar to Dark Souls: you have one life and one chance to retrieve it if you die. The loot system has also been rehauled, and there seems to be even more items possible than ever (there are several item quality tiers, but it’s hard to tell which are better, especially with the higher tiers). In addition to randomized dungeons, there is now an overworld to explore, with randomly placed dungeons, all which definitely have a The Legend of Zelda-ish feel. Unfortunately, their puzzles never ascend beyond simple button pushes and back-tracking, but many of the elements of a classic A Link to the Past dungeon are joyously re-created. The game even feels more like a hybrid of Diablo and The Legend of Zelda, and has a stronger identity because of it. The game’s soundtrack is like the first, kinda generic sounding and honestly not that great. With all the improvements, there are still some issues. There still is no way to properly quit the game, and besides collecting loot and killing things, there really isn’t much variety in what you can do (no skill trees or skill points, etc.). The overworld is small and rather plainly designed, and trying to find the dungeons is frustrating since there is no map of any kind. It is still being developed and updated, so you could consider it an early access game of sorts, although any planned features are not revealed by the developer. At $3, it is a good deal and will be sure to entertain while the novelty lasts.

A decent port of an excellent game. The entire game is there, and both DLC characters, the first two DLC packs, and the first level cap increase for $40 isn't actually a bad deal. The game itself, while mostly playable, suffers from various technical issues. Frame rate is a constantly fluctuating, and the worst of all it's worst in the places you are in most often, like Sanctuary! While the draw distance is impressive, other subtle visual touches that made the game stand out are missing. You may notice that the moon, a major visual element in the game, isn't rendered right, or that the lights on Maliwan guns don't blink when you reload them. Even the higher rarity items seem to have no reflection map programmed (i.e. they're not "shiny"). Still it still is Borderlands 2, and will most likely scratch your Borderlands 2 itch. A more polished port would be most welcome though.

A lot of people are griping about limited card selection and the absence of deck construction. Despite the lack of these, Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 is a solid MTG game. The DotP series focuses more on accessibility and ease of play than "hardcore" strategy. There are tens of thousands of Magic cards, which makes it quite an undertaking to build a deck from scratch. Besides, DotP 2013 uses the new 2013 Core set. In case you didn't know, the Core set cards are chosen because they are the most interesting, fun to play, and provide ample strategy options. DotP is not trying to replace Magic Online; it is a different product. If you want to build your own deck with all the sets from Invasion onward, MO is the way to go, but it takes much longer to set up an account there. DotP 2013, as are its predecessors, is an actual Magic video game rather than a Magic network, as is MO. 2013 adds some new features: the Planechase format and the option to tap lands. Although it is eerily similar to last year's entry. However, if you missed any of the other games in the series, now is a great time to start playing. As long as these things are taken into consideration, newcomers and veterans alike should find Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 enjoyable.