Recent reviews by ♥Kira♥

Hollow Knight is a beautifully crafted indie title that draws players into the mysterious, decaying kingdom of Hallownest. This game combines beautiful hand-drawn art with fluid, responsive game-play mechanics; making each and every area a joy to explore.

The world of Hollow Knight is vast and interconnected. Players must uncover hidden pathways and unlock new mechanics to explore in new ways; making for progression which feels rewarding for the player. Across the player's exploration of Hallownest, they'll be accompanied by an absolutely beautiful soundtrack - composed by Christopher Larkin. This soundtrack perfectly complements the game's sombre yet enchanting atmosphere. It is clear that each region of Hollow Knight's map was designed with a very careful attention to detail, making each uniquely intriguing.

Hollow Knight has rich lore that is not directly dumped onto the player, unlike many other titles. The minimalist storytelling created by Team Cherry involves the player learning lore through environmental storytelling, dialogue, and subtle clues; producing an immersive experience with plenty of player agency.

Combat in Hollow Knight is challenging and deeply rewarding. It is punishing, requiring skill and patience. Players are encouraged to master simple & complex game mechanics and adapt to each enemy encounter. Charms and abilities are introduced throughout the game, allowing for personal, unique play styles and strategies to emerge as the player progresses.

Hollow Knight is a masterpiece that stands as one of the finest indie games in recent years.

A Hat In Time has a whimsical charm, and nostalgia-inducing artistic decisions expressed through its visual design; drawing similarities to classic 3D platformers.

However, A Hat In Time often attempts to implement features inspired from other titles, which can at times feel unpolished and roughly put together. The camera controls are often frustrating, especially during tight spaces or during intricate jumps and manoeuvring. The level design is imaginative and unique, however, it can at times be inconsistent and confusing, with minimal direction for the player.

The collectables can at times feel inconsistent. It either feels amazing to finally get the hat you've been searching Yarn for, or you've just picked up the 5th Yarn for a hat you already own.

However, A Hat In Time, in consideration of these flaws, is still an amazingly adorable heartfelt tribute to the genre. I'd have much less small complaints with polished game play, additional level guidance, and a more sensible approach to collectable content.

Celeste is a masterpiece of platforming and storytelling. The movement and platforming is smooth and polished, feeling controlled with amazing depth and skill expression. There exists a surprising amount of narrative depth, as Madeline climbs the mountain, facing physical and personal obstacles along the way. The visual style is cute and polished, both in the environment pixel art, and the digitally drawn portraits and postcards.

Through its thoughtful exploration of identity, mental health, and resilience, Celeste has resonated deeply with its players. Making not just a game, but a delightful exploration of the human experience. Its inclusion of trans themes, while discrete and not over-bearing, have earned special acclaim. Positioning Celeste as a notable, significant, entry into gaming culture, that should be experienced by anyone potentially interested.

Mini Motorways is a delightful puzzle game with a charming, minimalist art style. Players must design and manage and expanding road network to accommodate increasing traffic. The game thrives in simplicity, creating a relaxing experience.

The aesthetic is colourful, clean, and simplistic. It is easy on the eyes, and even features a dark mode! While each level is simple, it can quickly become stimulating and complex to play. However, with the ability to redesign your road system at any time, and to be able to pause the game to do so, the player is given the opportunity to relax when things get intense.

This games soundtrack is one of its largest draws, for me. Its aligned with the events in the game, which is a satisfying experience. The soundtrack is lo-fi-esque, adding to the relaxation and simplistic even more. This game is a definite must-try for anyone looking for a simple, replayable, puzzle game to blow off some steam.

Factorio stands at the top of all simulation / puzzle games, for me. The player is tasked with managing the logistics of a complex network of machines and systems, challenging the player to optimise production, control environment impacts, and defend from harmful, evolving, enemies.

Factorio offers endless creativity and experimentation. The visual style is straight forward and simple, but well polished and fits the theme greatly. The soundtrack complements the game greatly, and while it isn't as flashy as some others, it is still a great addition to this game.

Rimworld is a masterpiece in storytelling. This is a game that masterfully combines strategy, survival, and strategy, into one incredible product. Ludeon Studios has developed an amazing AI storytelling system, allowing for completely unique, emerging narratives based on player actions, conditions, and RNG. This makes every playthrough a new adventure, which new characters, new scenarios, and new outcomes. Rimworld will offer you endless fun, and has been one of the most addicting games I've ever played.

Dead By Daylight is practically the only relevant multiplayer horror game today. Dead By Daylight is a horror game at its foundations, but has quickly became an asymmetrical, team-based, strategy game. The developers have been committed to updating the game, providing balance changes, cosmetics, and new DLC characters and maps every few months. This provides a wide roster with plenty of perks and gameplay quirks, providing new experiences and builds for your first hundreds of hours.

While Dead By Daylight can be dreadful at times, it can become an extremely intense, strategic, match that sends your blood rushing. It's probably worth a try, if you're committed to getting over the learning curve.