I finally got to Kena: Bridge of Spirits after seeing the new game at the PlayStation Showcase. That was the push I needed.

I did test it on Steam Deck and it played fine there, but honestly this is one of those games I wanted on the big screen. It is so pretty that I didn’t want to shrink it down if I could help it.

About the game - Kena: Bridge of Spirits

A story-driven, action adventure combining exploration with fast-paced combat. Untangle the past as Kena, a young Spirit Guide in search of the sacred Mountain Shrine. Help free the spirits trapped in a forgotten village with the help of the Rot, her adorable (yet powerful) spirit companions.

Steam page

Margot’s Stats

• Device: PC (primary),

• Steam Deck (secondary)

• Difficulty: Easy

• Completed: Yes - main story

• Time: 8-10 hours

• Summary: A beautiful, focused action-adventure with heartfelt storytelling, gorgeous cinematics, and satisfying combat that rewards using your full toolkit.

You play as Kena, a young spirit guide who helps restless spirits move on. You travel through a world scarred by corruption, meeting people whose grief and unresolved pain have left places, and spirits, stuck.

The core loop is part exploration, part light puzzle solving, and part combat. You cleanse areas, help lost souls find peace, and gather little Rot companions that help with both traversal and battles.

If you have played Breath of the Wild, the Rot will feel a little familiar in spirit. There are loads of them hidden around the world, and finding them has that same satisfying pull as hunting down Korok seeds. But where Korok seeds quietly disappear into your inventory and hand you extra carry slots, the Rot actually stick around. They travel with you, pile up in little clusters, and become genuinely part of your toolkit. You can direct them to hold enemies in place, fling bombs back at bosses, or help trigger environmental puzzles. They feel like companions, not just a collectible currency.

And yes, you can buy them hats. Little hats (the mushroom ones were my favourite). For your tiny forest spirits. I spent probably more time than I should have browsing the hat selection, and I have absolutely no regrets. We always need hats.

At its heart, it is a game about healing. Not in a preachy way. Just in a quiet, emotional way that lets each story breathe.

Narrative & Gameplay

For me, traversal kept changing enough to stay interesting because your abilities keep expanding. As you unlock new mechanics and skills, you move through familiar-looking spaces in different ways. That made a big difference to my experience.

Combat on easy felt good to me: fair, readable, and fun. What I really liked is that the game nudges you to use all the abilities you unlock, not just spam one safe option. By the latter part of the game, once everything starts clicking together, I felt genuinely badass in fights.

Even on Easy, though, I did hit one specific wall. There was a boss fight that completely threw me because the enemy moved so differently from everything else I’d faced. Up until that point, I felt like I knew the rhythm of the game, but this boss was erratic and unusual.

It wasn’t just about dodging; I had to wrap my head around a brand new mechanic while trying to navigate an arena with an enemy that refused to behave like the others. It made working out the solution much harder than usual, and definitely highlighted why people call this game tricky underneath its cute exterior. It was the only time the “cozy” and feeling like a “badass” fighting vibes completely vanished, replaced by some light gamer rage, but figuring it out felt clearer once I stopped panicking.

Art & Sound

This is where the game really stands out.

You can tell immediately that Ember Lab comes from animation. The cinematics are beautiful and expressive, with a level of polish that made several story moments land much harder for me emotionally.

The visual style has that animated-film quality without losing gameplay clarity, and the sound design supports the mood really well. It all feels cohesive and deliberate.

Other thoughts

I know some people felt the forests looked a bit samey and the combat was surprisingly tricky, but it really worked for me.

I appreciated that this game is relatively short and does not overstay its welcome.

It gives you enough time to care about the world and characters, then wraps things up before the experience starts to drag. I came away feeling satisfied, not exhausted.

Sometimes that is exactly what I want: a compact game with strong art direction, emotional clarity, and combat that feels rewarding once you lean into its systems.

Summary

I thoroughly recommend Kena: Bridge of Spirits, especially if you like action-adventure games with emotional storytelling and polished presentation.

Have you played it? Did you stick with easy mode too, or go for a harder difficulty?

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About the game - Hermit and Pig

Hermit and Pig is a story-rich, turn-based RPG where you fend off wild assailants, forage mushrooms, survive social anxiety, and stumble into a corporate conspiracy with your trusty pig.

Steam page

Margot’s stats

• Device: Steam Deck OLED

• Difficulty: Easy

• Completed: yes - main story

• Time: ~7 hours

• Summary: Hermit and Pig felt like a love letter to classic Pokémon that doesn’t shy away from changing things up. I instantly loved the demo, with its quirky art and dialogue it drew me in. This is a fun game with a nice story and a different take on turn based combat (at least to me). Maybe because the mechanics are different to me and I enjoyed them along with the whole package this is in my top 3 of the year so far. :D

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Narrative & Gameplay

There’s a specific feeling I remember from playing Pokémon Red as a kid on my Game Boy. The world felt huge. Every battle felt important. I wasn’t just pressing a button and watching animations, I was doing something, levelling up my Pokémon, trying to catch Pokémon or beating the bad guys. Hermit and Pig brought that feeling back, and I wasn’t expecting it to hit that hard.

From the moment I started playing the demo even, I knew this was something different. Like someone understood exactly what made those old Pokémon games matter to me. But this isn’t just a copy. It’s a game that takes that foundation and asks: what if we actually made the player think, or what if the combat grew up/evolved?

Combat: The Thing That Almost Broke Me (And Then Made Me Stronger)

I don’t often focus on a specific mechanic but it felt appropriate for this game.

Here’s where I’m going to be honest: the button combo system was fun until it wasn’t. I wasn’t up for trial and error and my old brain could not remember more than two combos, let alone against which enemy to use them.

In those early hours, I kept running into enemies and getting destroyed. Not because I didn’t understand the mechanics, I understood them fine, but I just couldn’t execute them. I’d be in the middle of a battle, my hands would tense up, and I’d mess up the input sequence. Miss the combo, the timer would run out, I’d get hurt.

There’s this moment where you have a choice: rage quit or learn. I almost chose the rage quit. Which isn’t that unusual for me. :D

But something kept pulling me back. Maybe it’s because I’m older now, and failure doesn’t feel like the end of the world. Modern Pokémon games (and I say this with love) don’t demand much from you. You can win through sheer type advantage. You can overlevel. You can find ways around the actual gameplay. Especially the recent game was pretty simple to win at.

Hermit and Pig luckily has an accessibility and difficulty mode, which takes the need to remember button combos away.

Here’s the thing about accessibility settings in most games: they feel like an afterthought. A checkbox. “Oh yeah, we have an easy mode.” Treated like you’re taking a shortcut instead of actually playing the game.

Hermit and Pig is different. The developers clearly understand that challenge and accessibility aren’t opposites. They’re just different ways of letting you experience the same world. And if more of us can experience it, and shape our experience with it, isn’t that a great thing?

When I needed to dial back the difficulty, the game didn’t make me feel like I was cheating. It didn’t give me that weird mix of shame and relief. It just... let me adjust the experience to what my body and my brain needed in that moment. And I still got to feel the core of what makes this game special: engagement, strategy, and the satisfaction of overcoming obstacles. Maybe this is because it is not a fighting game. Enemies didn’t just become super easy and would die with one hit. There was still strategising involved in being able to win the battles.

That’s what accessibility should be. Not pity. Not charity. Just: here’s the world, let’s find the way you can/want to experience it best.

Navigating Social Anxiety

As someone who’s wrestled with social anxiety and depression for years, I’m all too familiar with that push-pull between desperately wanting friends and community, and the siren call of hiding under a blanket with snacks. Hermit and Pig nails this vibe in a way that’s equal parts hilarious and heartfelt. Conversations in the game play out like mini-battles, where you choose dialogue options that can either land you in awkward territory—taking “cringe damage”—or build genuine connections. It’s the game poking fun at itself, acknowledging how excruciating social interactions can be, while still treating them with the respect they deserve. (I don’t have a pig companion IRL, but I’m totally drawn to pets and their non-judging, loving nature. Maybe that’s my version of emotional support.) This mechanic turned what could be a cringe-fest into something empowering, reminding me that vulnerability, even when it stings, can lead to real community. It , validated my own messy journey towards connection, and made me chuckle at the absurdity of it all. Just be yourself and the rest will follow. But you can’t do that without putting yourself out there.

Steam Deck Thoughts

The portability of the Steam Deck is perfect for a game like this.

The performance is solid. The art looks crisp on the smaller but beautiful OLED screen. And honestly? The precision needed for button combos is exactly the kind of thing the Steam Deck’s controls are built for. No compromises. Just a solid handheld experience. Maybe the combo of the game and playing it handheld on the steam deck is also what made me nostalgic playing this wonderful game. I felt that wonder again I felt when I first played Pokémon Red on the GameBoy.

Final Thoughts

Hermit and Pig feels like it was made by people who love the old Pokémon games but also wanted to ask: what if players had to actually pay attention? What if turn based combat actually evolved?

It’s not trying to be Pokémon. It’s not trying to replace anything. It’s just offering an alternative turn based fighting mechanism.

Beyond the combat, the game’s exploration of social anxiety adds a layer of emotional depth that resonates deeply. Navigating awkward conversations and personal insecurities with your pig companion feels authentic and heartfelt, turning what could be a simple RPG into a journey of self-discovery.

Overall, Hermit and Pig is a standout title that blends nostalgia with innovation, offering a complete experience that challenges and comforts in equal measure. If you’re looking for a game that captures the magic of classic Pokémon while evolving into something more thoughtful and inclusive, this is absolutely it.

Have you played Hermit and Pig? What did the combat learning curve feel like for you?

(I am sorry I say Pokémon so much. It might have worsened in my reviews as I am playing Pokopia so much)

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REPLACED

“Expose the sinister secrets of Phoenix Corporation as R.E.A.C.H., an AI trapped in a human body. Set in an alternate 1980s America scarred by nuclear catastrophe, navigate a dark cyberpunk thriller in this narrative-driven 2.5D platformer blending cinematic exploration with fluid, free-flow action.”

Played on PC. This game has no business being so good and beautiful. It is pixel art afterall. The environments and backgrounds are very detailed and intricate. The lighting effects are incredible. The combat is not my favourite but I am so in the story even after just 30 mins that I want to know everything. Very excited about this one.

Screenshots from REPLACED Steam page

Fishbowl

“Fishbowl is a narrative game about dreams, grief, and hope. Rediscover your memories and find your way into the present in this intimate experience where slice-of-life meets surreal.”

Played on PC. This game is also pixel art but very different style. More like Stardew Valley. It takes place inside Alo’s apartment, as shortly after the game begins, social distancing from the Covid times starts. While the game is about a different kind of grief I wonder how the Covid social distancing and the other side of having lost someone would play out.

Screenshots from Fishbowl Steam page

Fallen Tear: The Ascension

“A story-driven Metroidvania where the allies you choose to bond with change how you fight and explore. Journey through the high-fantasy world of Raoah, uncover lost civilizations, and forge bonds that shape your path through a land on the brink of collapse.”

Played on Steam Deck.

I can’t say that this stuck with me particularly but it is a very pretty metroidvania and the hour I played was maybe not enough to give me a proper overview. Then plus is that it was pretty to look at, combat was ok and there were hints of some nice puzzles and exploration. Will keep an eye on this one.

Screenshots from Fallen Tear: The Ascension Steam page

The Eternal Life of Goldman

“In this breathtaking platformer adventure, explore a vast hand-drawn Archipelago, inspired by ancient fables and depicted in classic frame-by-frame animation, and defeat a mysterious Deity.”

Played on Steam Deck.

I have been excited for this one for a while. It is maybe more of a platformer than anything else and not an easy one. I love the protagonist already and the way the devs are playing with his “weapon” being a walking stick that he can modify to pogo or hang off obstacles. I was pretty glued to this one on the steam deck and it promises to be a special game.

Screenshots from The Eternal Life of Goldman Steam page

All Will Rise

“The river is a god, and they killed her. It’s time for ordinary people to hold them to account. Manage your team. Mix with ecoterrorists and godmen. Build your deck, follow leads and find allies. Make your case, and win the battle for the future.”

Played on PC.

I am not someone who enjoys deck builders, but I also wanted to try something new to me during the demo fest. This is why i picked up this game. It has a strong moral code and I loved the story and idea behind it. The gameplay was fun for a newbie to the genre. I will look forward to watching others play this though.

Screenshots from All Will Rise Steam page

Kloa - the child of the forest

“Consumed by a mysterious curse, restore a once lush forest and its inhabitants to their natural state in this action adventure tale. Experience fast-paced combat, puzzles, and the beauty of nature captured in handcrafted pixel art.”

Played on PC

Pixel art, forests, animals, a sort of rot or blight. Tick tick tick. I got the drifter vibes from this one. There was a bit of clunkiness in the movement and fighting but my interest is thoroughly peaked. This one is high up on the wishlist.

Screenshots from Kloa - the child of the forest Steam page

Shanty Town

“ShantyTown is a relaxing diorama-building game about finding beauty in everyday chaos. Bring new locations to life, stack your urban buildings high, and fill each little nook and cranny with your own touch. Try your hand at shaping a cozy little city that is unique to you.”

Another game where I thought I want to try something new. This is kind of a version of the type of game that Tiny Glade is. You just build little houses and areas up based on objectives. It looks cute and the idea is to create a cramped vision but still with everything present you may need.

Screenshots from Shanty Town Steam page

Sledding Game

“A game about sledding and hanging out with friends :)”

This definitely was the next fest of putting myself out of my comfort zone. My first online co-op game with the lovely peeps from GGL Discord. Luna also wrote about it in her blog post here.

You play as a frog and explore a winter wonderland with sledding, other games, lots of snowball fights. It looks to be a really fun chilled (get it) experience. Loved the music and silliness.

Screenshots from Sledding Game Steam page

Solateria

“Solateria is a hand-drawn action Metroidvania with parry-focused combat. A small fire warrior journeys to find the Primordial Flame, the world’s last hope against the Shadow Plague. Defeat foes with stylish parries and explore mysterious realms to uncover the world’s secrets.”

This game had a bit of metroidvania magic for me. I really enjoyed what i got to play. maybe it was nostalgia for Hollow Knight? But it had the right ingredients to get me back into the metroidvania genre and play more again. Out of the metroidvanias I explored this was definitely my favourite.

Screenshots from Solateria Steam page

What did you play in next fest? Or do you not play demos really?

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Note: this won’t be spoiler free.

EDIT: I started this post in July 2025 - and in Feb 2026 I picked up the game again.

If you want to read how I felt about the first 20 hours of gameplay, have a look below.

Hours 20+

While I started to get the bug to complete the game as soon as I could, I wanted to take a step back and explore more and do some side quests. I also thought it would be good to gather more materials and discover more of the map before seeking out the next divine beasts.

I stand by cooking things up when I find them and find a place to cook. Discovering what this can bring to the table really made me more confident and comfortable with the various challenges of the different areas.

What I am lacking is outfits to be able to explore areas or level them up. Having enough currency in general has been a bit of an issue as I’m scared to sell lots of stuff and then suddenly needing it for something but then at the same time I’m trying to think, that stuff respawns and I should be able to find it again.

I’ve managed to, so far, not look up too much and have any specific item spoilers. This has been really hard. Shall I sell this thing? Or will I need it later? Is it used for upgrading stuff? So tricky to really know but I’m embracing my chosen style of game play, which is pretty bold and a bit wasteful, especially when it comes to arrows.

My main achievements have been unlocking the second lab and meeting Robbie.

Hours 30-50

Like above, when I restarted the game I focused on cooking to be more prepped for combat. In these next hours I really wanted to build my confidence beating the many monsters on the map. I have been practicing parrying and understanding the weapon types as well as farming for arrows.
It is a shame that getting arrows is so expensive and hard. I am reluctant to do the Korok puzzles that involve shooting things at the moment as it feels like a waste. Poor Koroks. I have however finally upgraded my weapon slots. Which has been a big relief. It was getting silly constantly not having space for more weapons.

When I picked the game back up everything seemed hard and like I am not levelled up enough (I still don’t have any outfits).

Therefore I decided to focus back on unlocking the map and managed to do that with flying off high mountains to avoid the enemies around the more difficult towers.

It feels great to have the full map to run around and officially unlock now. Considering the game has 120 shrines I am really struggling to find many on a regular basis, but we are getting there. My stamina wheel is 2 and a bit now, and I am on 11 hearts. Master sword here I come.

I got the bug around exploration now. I look for weird or different looking places on the map and then try and get there. Generally the game does reward curiosity, so that’s nice. My favourites are puzzles to open up shrines and then just collecting things inside the shrines. :D

In terms of progressing the story, I tried to do a couple of side quests. I think next I want to do a few more shrine quests to then unlock the master sword. And then I will go and attempt the next beast. 2 have been beaten and unlocked, so I have 2 to go from what I understand.

I will probably look into the all women tribe and do their quests. Although I saw the beast and it’s a bit scary! Definitely seems more imposing that the previous two.

Horses are also now an obsession. I love getting different colours to choose from and giving them silly names. I am not great at using them to traverse for a long time though but it has been nice to unlock this mechanism and feature of the game. Speaking of mounts, I had the quest to tame a deer and now I try and tame anything I come across with various degrees of possibility and success. Haha!

My issues with the menus stand still though. I find the inventory annoying and tricky to navigate but at least when you are in the menu the game is properly paused. Otherwise I may not be playing at all.

It’s been really interesting talking to my other half who has played both BotW and TotK and knows them inside out. Our play styles are so different. I am using the cooking mechanic a lot more whereas he levelled up and got good. :D

So what’s next? A few more shrines and then the next beast. Wish me luck :D

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Good Game Lobby Gaming Club

As part of Good Game Lobby Monthly Gaming Club we were playing Cult of the lamb.

GGL Discord.

Next month we are playing Cult of the Lamb. Join us if you fancy playing along or just want to chat games in general. It is one of my favourites.

I wrote a couple of words for on the game which you can read here.

For March we are playing Dredge.

Lil Gator Game

Embark on an adorable adventure, discover new friends and uncover everything the island has to offer. Climb, Swim, Glide and slide your way into the hearts of the many different characters you meet on your travels!

You can read my full review here.

It was a lovely fun game, without any pressures. I had a lot of fun with it. This was a random recommendation that jumped my backlog plans via who also reviewed the new DLC this month. Check it out below.

Good Game Lobby

Lil Gator Game Review – In The Dark DLC Doubles the Heart and Expands the Adventure

Growing up doesn’t mean leaving imagination behind. It means learning how to carry it with you…

Read more

2 months ago · 15 likes · 4 comments · Sey

Hermit and Pig

Hermit and Pig is a story-rich, turn-based RPG where you fend off wild assailants, forage mushrooms, survive social anxiety, and stumble into a corporate conspiracy with your trusty pig.

I still need to finish my review of this game but it was the most I have enjoyed a turn based game since the original Pokémon games. The art style was spot on, the story is engaging and I loved the humour throughout. There was an element of exploration as well, which I enjoyed a lot. The tune based battling was fun but could get tedious having to remember what works best against which foe (button combo needed to be pressed) but there are some lovely accessibility settings I used to help me and my old brain along. Great game.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits

A story-driven, action adventure combining exploration with fast-paced combat. Untangle the past as Kena, a young Spirit Guide in search of the sacred Mountain Shrine. Help free the spirits trapped in a forgotten village with the help of the Rot, her adorable (yet powerful) spirit companions

After the Playstation show case earlier in the month I got really excited for the second game in the series and decided to play this first one. It played great and was lovely to look at and explore. The combat was hard but with a bit of practice and the easy setting I managed to complete the game. I had a lot of fun during the game and I am really looking forward to the second iteration.

Apart from the games above I also played some demos as part of steam next fest. I will add a post about those next week I expect.

…continued

• Zelda: Breath of the Wild - yep you read that right. After a 9 months break I am back and will post my third post about this game soon. :)

• Lone Fungus - I have fallen off this a little bit. I did play a couple of hours but it is not grabbing me.

What did you play in February? Did you pick up any new games?

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About the game - Lil Gator Game

Embark on an adorable adventure, discover new friends and uncover everything the island has to offer. Climb, Swim, Glide and slide your way into the hearts of the many different characters you meet on your travels!

Steam page

Margot’s stats

• Device: Switch 2

• Difficulty: N/A

• Completed: yes - main story

• Time: ~4 hours

• Summary: A gentle, sweet game about sibling dynamics, friendships and imagination. It is akin to A Short Hike, but surprisingly with the traversal mechanics of Zelda BotW. It made it really fun to explore the map(s) and the animations for all sorts of interactions were clearly made with love and attention to detail. I relaxed and smiled the whole time playing this game. (Side note: When I say maps, I mean the area you can explore, there is no actual map to this game which is the only downside.)

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Lil Gator Game is a short, cozy adventure where you play as a little gator trying to get your older sister to play with you. She’s caught up in college stuff, busy with assignments. So you and your friends decide to set up these elaborate cardboard fantasy adventures all around your home island. You’re determined to make something so fun, so appealing, that she’ll put down her work and join in.

Along the way it is about making friends. It’s about putting in effort to keep people close when they’re moving on. When they’re busy. When life starts pulling everyone in different directions.

I am an only child and moved countries when I was 13, so there’s something about this that hit different. You don’t get the luxury of assuming people will always be there. You have to build it. Maintain it. Care for it. And like the little gator, interact with people fearlessly and bravely to make friends.

Narrative & Gameplay

The gameplay is simple. You’re running around the island completing little quests to help set up games. Some are just about getting the adventure space ready. Others are about helping the variety of characters with real stuff. Helping friends work through their issues, finding a beetle or rock. It’s small stuff on the surface, but it matters. If you’ve played A Short Hike or Spiritfarer, you’ll recognize this vibe immediately. No rush, no combat, no way to fail. That’s it. Just exploring and making friends.

The art style is bright and charming. Everything’s inviting, even the darker areas and cardboard monsters of the map. The other characters are surprisingly varied and expressive. It does feel a bit like playing inside a picture book, which I liked. I needed a little game without pressure or judgement and this was it.

What really got me was seeing flashes of your past with your sister. Times when you two played together, when games meant something different. The whole game is about that shift. How the way we show up for people changes as we grow up. It was a bit emotional in places.

There’s something about being the one who notices when friendships are breaking. When friends need to be honest with each other. You’re not just completing tasks. You’re holding space for people. You’re saying “I see you, and I’m not leaving.” Maybe that’s because I learned early that people you care about can disappear if you don’t tend to the friendship. Moving away taught me that, as well as time. We do change and our priorities in live change which is OK. This game understands that.

The game is sincere about all of this. It just sits with you in the reality that your sister has real things going on. College. Responsibilities. And you’re still here, still trying, still building these cardboard worlds and hoping she’ll notice. Hoping she will remember what it felt like to play together.

I’m not going to lie, there were a few moments where I got emotional. Nothing traumatic happens. It’s just how honest it is about the gap between where you are and where the people you love are going. And how you keep trying to engage with them anyway.

Art & Sound

The soundtrack is understated but perfect. Lots of soft, melodic tracks that don’t demand attention but make everything feel a bit more magical. I found myself bobbing along gently.

This is also means that it could be an easy “second screen” game, where you have a TV show in the back. There are a couple off puzzles that demand closer attention but the rest can be done as and when.

Other thoughts

This game is short. Three hours, maybe a bit longer if you’re thorough. And for me that was exactly the right length but others may feel it is a tad short.

In that short time I feel it says what it needs to say and trusts you to carry that feeling with you. You may end up spending longer though, due to one frustrating decision. There is no map. Now you may know that I can’t read maps anyways, so I was lost regardless but there was a a quest where I couldn’t find the characters again for a while too long and got frustrated. If it only had a map that would help it along, but it may take some of the magic of exploration away. What do you think?

Summary

I do thoroughly recommend this game, it is a nice cozy game without any pressures, and for having fun. Find and make friends with acts of kindness and play, explore an imaginative world and have fun. What’s not to like.

Have you played it? What did it make you feel?

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Good Game Lobby Gaming Club

As part of Good Game Lobby Monthly Gaming Club we were playing Undertale. A cult classic it seems. I must admit it wasn't what I expected. :D In some areas in a good way in others not so much. I understand why it has amassed a cult following, the writing and characters are quirky and memorable, it tires to subvert the RPG genre and has a wholesome message. It just wasn’t really for me to place it in my favourite games. But I am glad I have experienced it.

GGL Discord.

Next month we are playing Cult of the Lamb. Join us if you fancy playing along or just want to chat games in general. It is one of my favourites.

The Last Campfire

The Last Campfire is an adventure, a story of a lost ember trapped in a puzzling place, searching for meaning and a way home.

I actually played this on the Switch 2, and it struggled a bit here and there. I have found that some indie games are not optimised well sometimes and that may be the case here but then I can’t compare it to how the PC version may run. It is however pretty with some simple to medium difficulty puzzles with a Zelda like feel. It is a bit melancholic but you are helping people and solving a mystery. There was no combat and the narrator style voice over was really well done. Great before bed puzzle game.

Spiro Reignited Trilogy

The original roast master is back, and he’s on-the-go! Same sick burns, same smoldering attitude, now all scaled up in stunning HD.

I picked up Spiro Reignited Trilogy during the Nintendo winter sale. I have fond memories borrowing the game and Playstation from a friend and trying to play it. I was absolutely rubbish and to be honest it hasn’t changed much.

I like these little collectathons to pick up here and there. I am not someone that feels they have to 100% these, so I generally just enjoy as much as I like.

Cult of the lamb: Woolhaven

Winter descends, and a long-silenced deity stirs beneath the snow.

Yngya, the forgotten God of the lambs, summons you to restore the flock and reclaim what time has erased. But as you breathe life into what long passed, a creeping Rot awakens, spreading corruption through the sacred mountain the lambs once called home…

I am not sure if I have written about Cult of the Lamb but I love the game so much. It really made me laugh and that humour continues in this expansion. There is a proper story arch and new game mechanics in this expansion. I have already seen a lot of easter eggs and references, which I love. It is one of my all-time favourites and the DLC just makes that more so.

Hirocato

Jump, dash, rewind, and deliver food on time in Hirocato - The Delivery Hero! Play as Cato, a crazy cute cat on a food delivery mission. Parkour through tricky levels, avoid obstacles, and rewind time to fix mistakes. Enjoy hand-made pixel art and great music. Can you complete every delivery?

This was a very short, almost speed running game. I spent about 90 minutes with it and saw the little story play out. It is almost like an arcade game and even has an arcade and competition mode. I had fun with it but it was different to what I expected.

Lone Fungus

A handcrafted open-world platformer set in a world built by Mushrooms! Explore different locations filled with secrets, acquire new abilities and use those abilities to reach new places!

Being a lover of metroidvanias, this keeps being recommended to me. I had it in my backlog already, so gave it a go. I am only a handful of hours into the journey but so far I am enjoying myself. I like the art, and the little mushroom protagonist a lot. I am looking forward to seeing more areas. A nice thing it does so far, is that when you unlock a new ability, there is a practice area, where you are encouraged to get familiar with it. I thought that was clever design.

…continued

• The Witcher 3 - I am around 30 hours in. Which I think will be just under or just over halfway through for my initial play through. Funny side note, me and Roach (the horse) just don’t get on. I am not sure why.

• Animal Crossing - this had a Switch 2 upgrade and some new content. The content is around decorating hotel rooms. It is cute and a little chill activity.

What did you play in January? Did you pick up new games?

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In my round up post of 2025, I mentioned that I wanted to wait for the Nintendo year in review / wrapped stats to land before I talk more about the Switch and how I have been finding it.

While I have always been a handheld gamer first, the original Switch and I never really got on. I purchased one late in terms of its lifecycle, in early 2023 wanting to play the latest Pokémon games and Zelda BotW.

I played a bit while on holiday but then it sat there. My other half played a lot more, especially the two Zelda games and some Mario, but always in docked mode, which didn’t appeal to me. To be fair I was also deep in an Elden Ring hole, so maybe thematically I wasn’t jelling with the games I had the option to play. :D

But then this all led to me getting more into gaming, buying a steam deck, starting this blog, etc. I also started to follow the news of a new Switch and got one week 1.

So how does my playtime look and how have I been feeling about it?

The game time summary

I have tried several games on the Switch 2, most I wanted to get a feel for them, such as the Switch 2 update for Red Dead.

There are 3 games that stand out with a lot more playtime than others, however.

Zelda has a lot more playtime waiting, and there is potential to go back to Pokémon if they reduce the cost of the DLC drastically. Animal Crossing will always be there and in rotation, let’s be honest. :D

I am kinda happy that the games I am predominantly playing on the Switch 2 are games for that console if that makes sense. While it could also be a great indie gaming machine, I do have the steam deck for that. But I have played a few older indie games on the console and these run well. I’d love to get a physical version of Silksong and Hollow Knight for it. Maybe there will be a physical release soon.

Value for money?

Does anyone else look at the cost per minute of gaming? I don’t want to do that right now with that amount of hours on the Switch 2. :D I have a lot more to do and a lot more time to spend on it, and most importantly I am excited about it.

But I am happy with my purchase. I have a little trip planned in February consisting of a couple of long train journeys and I will be taking the Switch 2 for it. Since I bit the bullet and bought the dBrand Killswitch system for it (the joy con grips are fine), I love playing on it. It is so comfortable and it feels solid.
The screen is just that tiny bit bigger than on the steam deck and it does matter to me while handheld gaming.

Overall I love picking up the Switch 2 to game. I do find myself always having to charge it during a play session. Be that at the beginning or during it. Most Nintendo games seem to drain it reasonably well. Ha! But I can’t compare that to my experience with the Steam Deck, as I do tend to player older indie games on it, which really don’t use much battery juice.
And to be fair to the Switch 2. It does tend to deliver its advertised 2 hours ish of gameplay.

So when travelling I will bring my battery pack for sure. It is exciting however to see bigger titles coming to the Switch 2 and porting reasonably well. The newest Assassins Creed looks to be really playable on it, and considering that the screen is just that bit bigger on the Switch 2 than the steam deck it might be something I would consider playing on it. But for now I have a lot of Switch games to catch up on and I am excited to play more on it. It is easy to use and considering you can play the original Switch backlog on it too, you really can’t complain.

I do however wonder if people who have the Switch need to upgrade or not. I doubt you need to still but 2026 should see more Switch 2 exclusive. On Nintendo Life you can get an idea of exclusives so far.

Personally I am super happy with the Switch 2. But I am someone who plays a lot of handheld games and I have a lot of catching up to do.

Let’s see what 2026 brings in terms of gaming.

Did you get a Switch 2? Was it your first Switch device or did you upgrade?

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About the game - The Last Campfire

The Last Campfire is an adventure, a story of a lost ember trapped in a puzzling place, searching for meaning and a way home.

Steam page

Margot’s stats

• Device: Switch 2

• Difficulty: N/A

• Completed: yes - main story

• Time: ~6 hours

• Summary: The Last Campfire is a lovely puzzle game, that always gives you something new to do. It has a great art style, and I love that it focuses on hope in the darkness signified by the fires you light and bring back to the lost souls on your journey. I appreciated the hint at Zelda puzzles and liked its story which it unravels slowly.

Narrative & Gameplay

I seem to be on a gaming trip about making friends and helping people, as recently pointed out to me. I don’t mind because those are two of my favourite things to do. :)

While Crypt Custodian had the explicit objective of making 10 friends, it is a bit subtler in The Last Campfire. You play as Ember, who is seemingly in an unfamiliar place, and the whole game is narrated by a different voice. This was well done and to me actually added to the atmosphere and experience.

You are tasked with finding your path through the wilderness, but why or where to is not really clear. Along the way you light campfires and bring lost souls called Forlorns to each campfire by solving puzzles.

There is no combat, just some almost point click style interactions, as well as more involved puzzles with gaming mechanics akin to some of Link’s ability in the recent Zelda games.

Through the forlorn, you learn about losing hope and giving uo, but actually you bring back their light - literally by solving puzzles, and in turn bring these lost beings back together at a communal campfire. The NPCs are so cute, some will be roasting marshmallows once there, clearly finding solace in community.

There is a clear thread around mental health and feeling lost throughout the different levels, but it is always handled with hope. There is always a light in the darkness you can find. The game balances this well with literal interpretations of finding the light but also with small hidden messages for the player to find, which touch on life’s meaning and going on a journey.

Art & Music

The sound effects and music are a lovely scene setting tool. I remember putting the game down to make a cup of tea and hearing birds in a forest like area. I couldn’t help but smile at how realistic and lovely it sounded. I already mentioned that narrator style voice over throughout the game, but it worked well for me. Here and there I focused just on the subtitles due to other media being on, but in general I enjoyed the voice over. The game has an overall melancholic feel, with a sprinkle of hope underpinned by the music.

The art style reminded me a lot of the isometric titles I played in 2025, namely Tunic and Death’s Door with a bit of the modern Link’s awakening sprinkled in, and potentially a bit of Monument valley. And this mash-up is one of my favourite styles for handheld games. The colours really pop, and the simple shapes make for a cute style that I really appreciate. Less is more here.

What was a bit shocking though, was that my Switch 2 spun up its fans and we did get some stuttering on a regular basis. This was not a huge problem as it is not a fast paced game, but it was a curiosity. I wonder if it just needs a Switch 2 patch, and how likely that would be? But don’t let this put you off.

Summary

This is a great puzzle story game. It can be completed in 5-6 hours, and offers a variety of puzzle types and you do need your thinking caps on. It was a great game for me to start 2026 with. The art style drew me in and I loved the narrator style voice over. Who doesn’t want to start the year with hope and friends?

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This year it feels a bit unfair to only focus on the PC, as I have branched out a bit and did a bit more than give Steam my money.

I do want to look back though and see what I think might be next for me. And comment on my thoughts from the beginning of the year before I call out some of my favourite games that I played in 2025. Considering only a handful of these were new releases this won’t be a “Game of the Year” type post. But more just focused on what fun I had.

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Reflection

I did inherit a gaming PC and started to play some more strategy games such as Frostpunk. I did worry about having to use windows operating system again but actually it was all fine, maybe because I just used it for gaming a bit and then would shut it down. It also allowed me to try streaming, which I enjoyed but I am not sure if it is for me. I can’t find my reason and it is not fun enough for me to just do because I like it (like writing). But inheriting a PC did escalate and I wanted to build a more up to date one (OK I saw a pretty set up at Gamescom), and so recently set up my work and gaming space, to be full RGB cuteness.

My goal was to play around 20 games but I managed over 50. Not all got completed but a good chunk did. I wanted that list to include The Witcher 3 and as of writing this post on Dec 31st, I did play 8-10 hours of it in 2025. Many more to go in 2026.

Here is a graphic of the PC games I played. The two crossed out I started up by accident hence steam shows them.

From these my 5 highlights in no order were:

And Silksong, for which I don’t have a specific review. :D

Oh but honourable mentions to Avowed, A short Hike, Stray, and of course Cult of the lamb, which I replayed recently.

What about Nintendo games?

I saw that Nintendo will do a recap feature in January, and I am looking forward to doing a specific post about the Switch 2 then, as I will have had it for over 6 months at that point.

The other main game missing from the list above apart from Switch 2 titles, is Astrobot which I played on PS5 and still have a love to do on/with? But did enjoy a lot too and understand why it won awards.

Hopes

My hope was to be full time employed again in 2025, which did also happen. However in September I also changed job role and while it is based on some of the skills I have, it is a different type of career and day to day for me, so I was struggling towards the end of the year to relax, as I don’t know what good looks like in my role yet. Maybe that will change in the next few months and I can have a better routine again.

So I guess my hope for 2026 is that I can settle into the new routine and understand my job role enough to feel comfortable. I’d also like to do some travelling but I am unsure yet where and when. Do you have suggestions?

Community

I also mentioned the community I had already found on substack and this has really exploded this year and I couldn’t be happier for the awesome people from around the world that I have met online. I mentioned a few of them during #12plays of Game-mas posts and notes. But you should just join discord here and chat with a lot of other substackers, gamers, and genuinely lovely people about life, gaming and of course pets!

I love hearing so many different perspectives and game likes and dislikes. The industry is so fascinating to me. We are all so different so how a game hits differently with a group of people is really interesting. We have a monthly gaming club, that is worth joining to try something different and to see exactly what I mean about taste and experience differences.

I am so grateful to have been welcomed in to the gaming world despite not being a “good” gamer, or any type of gamer. Well I do think of myself as a gamer but not a specific type anymore. Maybe handheld first gamer? Who needs labels in gaming? (There might be another post in that :D ).

For more info on what 12 Plays of Game-mas was, have a look here.

Gaming Goals for 2025 were:

1. Have fun with gaming - TICK

2. Try more isometric titles - thinking Tunic maybe? - TICK

3. Aim for 20ish games played - TICK

4. Post on substack once a week - TICK-ish - I think it averaged out.

Attend Gamescom in Cologne (I would love to attend GDC in March but financially not really an option this year) - TICK for Gamescom - GDC not an option at the moment :D

You can read the blog about attending gamescom below.

Goals for 2026?

I don’t really have any specific goals for 2026 come to think of it. The last 2 years have been rough, hence my escapism into gaming, but I want to focus a bit more on moving my body and making time for me and not feeling guilty about it.

I would like to write those posts that have been on my list a while, which is around AI, Women in Games/Gaming and maybe a bit of an angle around life as a female gamer without kids in your late 30s/early 40s. But then I may not care to read that last one, so I may not write it. :D I just loved the recent memes around “What does a woman in her 30s without kids even do!?” LOL

I don’t like to chase stats or such but it was nice to see what type of things resonated with everyone last year.

My most popular post was:

Most popular review:

Which felt really special, as I was really happy with the review.

And the other post people loved was about my Zelda BotW play through, so I better get back on that. :D

Right that is enough reminiscing. There will be a Switch 2 special at some point when they release their recap but until then, I had a blast here and thanks for your support. I hope we continuing to create together and have a lovely start to 2026.

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About the game - Crypt Custodian

Crypt Custodian is a charming metroidvania about cleaning up the afterlife. Play as Pluto - a mischievous cat who has died, and is sentenced to be the afterworld's janitor... FOREVER! Hang out with other doomed ghosts, battle beasts, and explore a vastly expansive landscape.

Steam page

Margot’s stats

• Device: Steam Deck Oled

• Difficulty: Easy

• Completed: yes - main story

• Time: ~8.5 hours

• Summary:

  This is an even more refined version of Kyle’s games but sticking within the metroidvania genre. It has the most refined combat yet, while staying approachable. I think this is a great game to experience a metroidvania and its charms, without any complicated battles. The exploration is really well done and I have enjoyed gaining the skills which opened up more areas of the map as I went along. It is also flawless on the Steam Deck.

Narrative & Gameplay

In true Kyle fashion this is another metroidvania. You play as a cat that has recently passed away and is given the job of Janitor in the underworld. Unfortunately you were not good enough in your life to go to what is essentially heaven, hence you become the janitor and have to clean. Cleaning actually provides you with currency, so I highly suggest you use your broom on anything and everything you see to avoid grinding later on in the game.

During your mission you meet many quirky NPCs and all may not be as it seems.

Maybe it is that seed being sewn that you might not be in the right place and neither may be the others you meet, that get you exploring, but I found that exploration in general was really refined in Crypt Custodian. I really got into exploring the map and finding the different collectibles and upgrades. And also seeing what each biome is like. The map has 2 detail settings. One where you can roughly see any missing potential links and another setting which gives you a lot more to go on.

While I mostly stayed in the more basic map, I do suggest switching every now and then to make sure you are finding all the collectibles and upgrades as you go.

Kyle has a definite style which is evident in each different area. I enjoyed the art work a lot, especially his backgrounds. There is something to it that I can’t put my finger on but you just know it’s an evolution of his work. And as video games are a bit like art to me I really like this about his games. Some may find it distracting to see shapes they have seen before but I like the hints of where he has come from and how is style has evolved.

The map is well laid out with lots of areas that are initially blocked off and you get to explore later on. I loved that the mechanics with which I would be able to get to the other sides were not always obvious. This meant I actually tricked myself. I kept thinking, surely I’ll get a double jump or similar and then missed that I actually had a different way of getting across some areas much earlier.

But this is the charm of these games. They just are a bit different and quirky in a good way. This is accentuated by the music and writing too. I am no music aficionado but I like the beeps and bobs and melodies in these games a lot.

The combat as such is more refined than the other games but it is pretty basic, and therefore so are the boss fights. They do have different attack patterns and ate each pretty unique but you don’t need to try and beat them for hours. But I think this actually makes it a great intro to metroidvanias and what makes them special to me, which is not the fighting but the exploration and world building, which really works in this game.

So if you want to try the genre in general this may be a good one and if you are a fan already, you may like it for its more chilled approach to the genre.

Have you played any of Kyle Thompson’s games? I am up to date now but can’t wait for the next game!

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Good Game Lobby Gaming Club

As part of Good Game Lobby Monthly Gaming Club we were playing Ori and the Blind Forest. I did not mention it as I got stuck the second time around and then did not play that much. But it is a beautiful and difficult game. The platforming challenges are tricky but feel great when you get into it.

GGL Discord.

Over the next few months we are playing Deltarune and Cult of the Lamb. Join us if you fancy playing along or just want to chat games in general.

Side note as I mentioned it in the last journal post, I played a LOT of cult of the lamb this month. I am now ready for the Woolhaven DLC in January!

Neva

Experience the moving tale of a young woman and her lifelong bond with a magnificent wolf as they embark on a thrilling adventure through a rapidly dying world.

I played this on my steam deck OLED and while it played well it needs a big screen. it is a visually stunning piece of art with a great story about friendship and persevering in the face of discomfort and struggle.

You can read a little more here.

Crypt Custodian

Crypt Custodian is a charming metroidvania about cleaning up the afterlife. Play as Pluto - a mischievous cat who has died, and is sentenced to be the afterworld's janitor... FOREVER! Hang out with other doomed ghosts, battle beasts, and explore a vastly expansive landscape.

I finally played this game. I am now up to date with Kyle’s games and really looking forward to the next one he has announced. I had a lot of fun with this game and thought it was well thought out and worked well. The exploration was really well done and I enjoyed the little puzzles. Kyle makes great metroidvanias which are the perfect way to introduce yourselves to the genre if it is new to you.

The Witcher 3

You are Geralt of Rivia, mercenary monster slayer. Before you stands a war-torn, monster-infested continent you can explore at will. Your current contract? Tracking down Ciri — the Child of Prophecy, a living weapon that can alter the shape of the world.

I have finally started this big game. It has been on my backlog for a while and I really wanted to play it this year. Initially I was beating myself up for starting it instead of finishing Zelda but the gaming heart wants what the gaming heart wants. I am finding all the menus a bit overwhelming but I am only a few hours in. I hope I get through a decent amount before Woolhaven later in January.

What did you play in December? What’s the first thing you will play in Jan 2026? Also happy new year! :D

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Experience the moving tale of a young woman and her lifelong bond with a magnificent wolf as they embark on a thrilling adventure through a rapidly dying world.

Steam page

Margot’s stats

• Device: Steam Deck OLED

• Difficulty: Easy mode

• Completed: yes

• Time: ~3.5 hours

• Summary: Just like Gris, Neva is a beautiful and emotional game. While the protagonists and story are different, I felt similar playing this game, shed a tear or two. There is still the underlying theme of grief and despair in places but there was a more powerful aspect throughout the game. Maybe because of the combat elements, which kept you fighting for a better time.

Narrative and Gameplay

Before I start I wanted to call out that the game has some accessibility settings meaning you don’t take damage in the battles. While Gris did not have any combat there is some in Neva. I played on super easy, so I am unsure how difficult these battles are in normal mode. I did feel though that I got to understand the purpose of these battles and how they are meant to make you feel.

The game is divided into chapters based on seasons, starting in the Spring. The game really shows off its beautiful art style through the use of foliage and flowers and basing it along seasons rather than colours, as Gris did. The seasons emphasise change and growth and a cycle of life.

It is hard to go into specifics without spoiling anything and I am not sure I have the full picture of the story, but in essence you bond with a wolf cup, who helps you fight the corruption of the land and solve some basic puzzles throughout.

There is a nice mix of puzzles akin to what you may have seen in Gris or I got some monument valley vibes in terms of atmosphere. Although I found some puzzles harder in Gris, but then Neva does have the combat elements and some interaction of controlling the wolf to help fight and do the puzzles. I found this a nice evolution of gameplay mechanics from the studio.

The story itself felt to me like getting beyond grief. Life continues and you fight for your place in life and therefore get to make bonds and see the beautiful changes of nature. Even winter was lovely. I enjoyed the playing of light and dark during this chapter.

This may well be my interpretation due to where I am in my cycle of grief, but this doesn’t mean I didn't shed a tear throughout the story. But in the end we fight and get through it.

Art and Sound

I don’t know what else to say but that it is visually lovely to look at and experience and I found myself wanting to see the next season and how the world changes.

The sound design is lovely and similar to Gris, underpins the events beautifully. It is a lovely feat how well these compliment each other. It is no wonder the game won awards for Art direction and artistic achievement beyond other awards. It is a piece of visual art to experience.

Other

A random thought occurred to me and maybe it did to you too if you have played the game? It reminded me a lot of one of my favourite Studio Ghibli films, Princess Mononoke. The fact it is set in the wilderness, there is a white wolf and a corruption occurring, and the evil creatures very much look like creatures from Studio Ghibli films. It must be drawing inspiration from the film which I appreciate as I love it.

Actually the producer cites several of my favourite pop culture references as inspiration, so no wonder I have loved playing it.

Summary - recommend - visually stunning with a lovely story

I thoroughly recommend this game but play it on a big screen. While I played it on the steam deck, the character gets a bit small and lost and I am looking forward to replaying it on a bigger screen to really experience the visual art even more so. The story is a lovely depiction of friendship and fighting against oppressive and unknown forces together and it inspired me to keep fighting the good fight.

Have you played Neva? What was your experience with the game?

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About the game

Explore a dense, interconnected labyrinth, and unravel its many secrets. Collect items to manipulate your environment in surprising and meaningful ways. Encounter beautiful and unsettling creatures, as you attempt to survive what lurks in the dark. There is more than what you see.

Steam page

Margot’s stats

• Device: Steam Deck OLED

• Difficulty: NA

• Completed: yes

• Time: ~15 hours

• Summary: I have had this on my list for far too long. The art, the setting, the animals. I was so intrigued by this game. And it is a metroidvania too! I was scared off by the metroidBRAInia aspect of it for a little while but decided to give it a go last month and instantly fell in love with the art. Once I was used to the platforming and figured a few puzzles out I was locked in! Great charming game.

When I first got my steam deck and started to consume lots and lots of indie game media, the hype for Animal Well was prominent. Nevertheless I did not buy it straight away, but it ticked a lot of boxes. The retro art style, being 2D, lots of animal art and I really liked this idea of a hidden world that inspired the developer.

Narrative and Gameplay

Essentially you play as a nondescript little ball character and are tasked with exploring this beautiful but dark place which is themed according to many animals.

There isn’t any dialogue as such, and exploration and experimentation are the main game philosophies. You are tasked with finding eggs and 4 flames around the world, and in the process you discover items that help you move around, or can affect the environment in some way.

I found that generally when I thought “I wonder if I can do X”, I either could straight away or I would be able to a short while later, to get to an new area or a secret tunnel.

While there isn’t any straight forward combat, there are some items you can use to deter hostile creatures.

The rest of the gameplay is about being brave, exploring and solving a variety of puzzles with the items you have in the moment or ones you will find later.

I managed to roll credits in about 10 hours. But this is in a way only one of the endings, and not necessarily the true ending. I did assume I would stop there and write this review, but I have been going back over and over again to find more eggs and items. I kind of do want another ending :D

What makes me go back? It is the pull of exploring and discovering more hidden secrets and eggs. You can look at the map you have discovered so far and maybe you will see a tiny gap or discoloured pixel and exploring that part more often than not leads to another egg, room, or something unexpected. This is really satisfying.

One big tip I have is to use the stamps for the map once you unlock them. Considering I love metroidvanias I never learn and don’t do this. lol.

However there are some things to be aware of.

Metroidbrainia

A comment on the metroidbrainia element - a knowledge-gated game with metroidvania elements such as non linear exploration.

I do put this game in this category as it really doesn’t tell you much but wants you to explore and experiment. Play in essence. This is fine and all, but some things were completely out of my possibility of figuring out. It does have some puzzles which are knowledge gated to me, and I had to look up. Obviously the community figured this all out now and even the puzzles the developer never thought would be found, have been found and solved. So I can just look things up or ask what something means as I come across it.

But it does frustrate me a little bit that some games have this big secret element, that for us mere mortals who play games with limited time is hidden away and we may never find. This might just be my own fear of missing out. But I am not above looking things up, which does take some of the fun away. I struggled more with this game and some of its more obscure puzzles than I did with Tunic, which is also in a similar category.

In a way I am not sure why I wanted to complain about this element of the game. The main storyline is very achievable without ever googling anything for sure. So don’t be put off like I was initially. You can definitely experience the game and have a nice time with it, even as a mere mortal gamer. :)

Graphics and Sound

Before I go, I do have to comment on the graphics, art style and sounds.

I didn’t expect Animal Well to feel this alive considering it is a retro art style game. At first glance, it’s just pixel art with a cute, nostalgic vibe. Think playing on an old CRT TV. But on closer inspection the really clever thing to me is the use of light. Plants glow, shadows twitch, and suddenly you’re not just wandering; you’re observing the environment. Which is really clever considering the need to explore. The art design draws you in and encourages you to look at all details.

Colors shift from warm oranges to eerie purples, and every flicker of light feels like it’s hiding a secret. This can be a bit eerie too. Keeping an eye out in case something jumps out at you. I did experience 2 jump scares. :D

The sound design is also really clever and I saw that a lot of it is just the developer saying words and morphing these in synthesisers etc. (sorry I don’t know much about sounds and instruments). But the sound design is not just background noise, it’s part of the puzzle. Echoes bounce off cavern walls, critters chirp in ways that make you wonder if they’re friendly or plotting something, and the ambient hum keeps you slightly unsettled. Also you keep wondering what it means. There is a repetitive sound that sort of means something but it will take a while to discover what.

Overall this is a charming strange experience, cute on the surface, but layered with atmosphere and tension and puzzles that keeps you hooked.

Have you played Animal Well? Are you into metroidvania / metroidbrainia?

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I recently fell into a bit of a retro gaming and emulation hole. This was something I had dabbled with when I first got the steam deck, but as my desire was to play GameBoy games I didn’t really feel that this worked well on the steam deck. I wanted a horizontal handheld for the proper form factor.

Without going into too many details I did get the TrimUI Brick and I loved setting it up and making it my own. While it can come with preloaded games I found that way too overwhelming and I just wanted my old school Pokémon and Harvest Moon style games on it.

This success then got me thinking about trying it again on the steam deck. Previously I was a bit overwhelmed with the whole process such as, having to go to Desktop mode, using a keyboard and mouse on the tiny screen, and all the words like bios files and rom files were a bit much. My other half had done some emulating previously to be able to play his copy of Breath of the Wild at 60FPS, but I am also stubborn and want to do things myself.

I am a bit like that. I jump in at the deep end get overwhelmed, let it digest, and then go back and unravel things step by step and then things (hopefully) tend to come together. I wish I could just start at the beginning and go step by step from the start as it would feel less overwhelming and stressful, but it just hasn't ever happened that way.

Getting started

There are some great easy to follow resources on how to set up retro games and emulators on the steam deck and my favourite is by Russ from Retro Games Corp as he also writes things down and then has videos to go with it. You can find his stuff for emulating on the steam deck here. I find just listening and watching someone doesn’t always work for me. I need to be able to read as well. I actually often have the awful captions on, in youtube.

Now because I don’t want to become an expert I chose EmuDeck, and just went with the beginner set up. My main goal was to play some Wii games, such as the Metroid Prime Trilogy and the odd Zelda game.

The install and set up went well to begin with. I even set up Retroachievements too. I tried my favourite Mega Drive games, some SNES games and then eventually loaded the Wii games and this is where the next bit of fun started. :D

Playing a Kirby game the D-pad was not going left and right. I had to press up and down to go left and right. This is of course because it was emulating a wii controller (or so I am told by the internet). So I had to find out how to fix this and set the controls up properly. OK not the end of the world as it was mostly a 2D platformer. I am still smiling at this point and the tinkering for a beginner was not too much … yet.

Shortcuts!

Before I move on, a big tip! Make sure to look up the shortcuts for the emulation program you use. Knowing which one is the hotkey and how to create saves on the fly (and not constantly overwrite the same one) are essential to get the most out of this experience. For EmuDeck the shortcuts can be found in their wiki. And you can also add a DeckyLoader app called EmuDecky. This lets you check EmuDeck’s hotkeys, manage EmuDeck Quick Settings, update your emulators and more from the game view rather than going to the internet or going to Desktop mode.

Quality of Life!? Not if you want that achievement!

A cool thing about retro gaming now on emulators is that you have access to some cheats, such as being able to save at any point in time and then later being able to load up the save file and continue. You don’t have to sit and play Aladdin for 3 hours straight. This is the main reason my Mega Drive is in its box in the cupboard upstairs and not being used to play these games right now. I love this convenience of having a save. Who nowadays gets 3-5 hours uninterrupted gaming time as an adult!?

What I didn’t know is that setting up Retroachievements spoiled some of these quality of life improvements.

I could not load my save file. I kept getting errors. Another search later, it appears that when you set up Retroachievements, it turns on “Hardcorde” mode by default, which means it wants you to play in the original type of way. No save files, no saving at any point, no forwarding etc. These quality of gaming life improvements are labelled cheats. So to be able to load a save file I had to boot back into Desktop mode of my Steam deck and turn this off. Easy enough if you know about it but frustrating while you don’t. I guess now I can’t show my friends what a hardcore gamer I am and any achievement earned now, will be tagged as being earned with hardcore mode off. :D

I like that there is an option, I just wish it was easier to deal with on the steam deck as a new comer to all of this, but also that these influencers writing about these features warn you. Nowhere did I see that having Retroachievements installed and set up would interfere with these quality of life things.

Metroid Prime hacks

This takes me to my biggest learning yet, while trying to play the Metroid Prime Trilogy on the Wii Emulator Dolphin.

I load the game, I am excited, but a bit confused because there isn’t any gyro or right stick control. To be able to select any settings or games I have to be careful and use the touch screen. Multiple times do I started Metroid Prime 2 in multiplayer mode on hardcore settings … I quite and try again. Eventually I get into the first game and I watch the intro and am excited. Samus jumps out of the ship and I can only move with the left stick. Nothing lets me control the camera. This is so bizarre. So I quite again and remember my experience with the Kirby game and jump into the controller settings.

I play with the controller settings, feel really confident but then when trying to load the game I end up getting errors about needing a Nunchuck. Luckily we have google at our fingertips. Turns out that EmuDeck has a special offshoot of the Wii Emulator installed called Primehack and if you place the game rom file in this folder, you get working controls and nicer graphics. Now there are many videos on this with different approaches of how to deal with this. and I think mine isn’t the most elegant solution as I now, no longer have the game in my wii games folder, BUT I can find it and play it and it looks nice and most importantly works!

Again once I knew this it was so easy but retro gaming really is for the tinkerer/patient google. :D

While I am happy I have learned a lot and managed to make things work, it has been quite a journey.

Do you retro game on the steam deck or similar device? Any tips or fav set ups?

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As part of Monthly Gaming Club we were playing Toem.

GGL Discord.

Next month we are playing Ori and the Blind Forest. Join us if you fancy playing along or just want to chat games in general.

Toem

Set off on a delightful expedition and use your photographic eye to uncover the mysteries of the magical TOEM in this hand-drawn adventure game. Chat with quirky characters, solve their problems by snapping neat photos, and make your way through a relaxing landscape!

Animal Well

Explore a dense, interconnected labyrinth, and unravel its many secrets. Collect items to manipulate your environment in surprising and meaningful ways. Encounter beautiful and unsettling creatures, as you attempt to survive what lurks in the dark. There is more than what you see.

I am not far into this game and while it is beautiful I do struggle with the fact that it is a bit of a super secret, “I won’t tell you anything” type metroidvania. But the few things I have figured out have been fun so far.

The Dark Queen of Mortholme

You are the final boss, the Dark Queen of Mortholme, unrivaled in power. A hero invades and is easily crushed. Yet, they keep returning. A short-form indie game about an unusual bond, perspectives, and the beauty of change.

The premise of this game is so good and so is the dialogue. I needed a palette cleanser and I knew this was a 30-40 mins pixel art game. It is very nicely done and it did the job of letting me complete something completely random and then move on to my many works in progress.

Morsels

Morsels is a fast-paced creature collecting roguelite with a rotating roster of characters to switch between at will. Overcome a clique of killer cats as you fight your way out of the sewers in this unique, action-packed journey.

This is completely and fault with their lovely and enthusiastic reviews. :D They convinced me to get this game and I am loving it. The retro aesthetic is great and the dialogue is fun and the creature design is awesome. It definitely has the fun factor.

Cult of the lamb

Start your own cult in a land of false prophets, venturing out into diverse and mysterious regions to build a loyal community of woodland Followers and spread your Word to become the one true cult.

I have played cult of the lamb before I started the substack, but with the DLC being announced I restarted the game. I love it. This is me in a nutshell. Some base building, hack and slash rogue like runs, cute art design, anthropomorphism, especially a lamb (I am a knitter and love sheep) and great soundtrack. I love the humour in this game and I cannot wait for the DLC.

And now for our first PS5 game on the list since starting the substack ….

Astrobot

The PS5® mothership has been wrecked, leaving ASTRO and the bot crew scattered all over the galaxies. Time to ride your trusty Dual Speeder across more than 50 planets full of fun, danger and surprises. On your journey, make the most of ASTRO’s new powers and reunite with many iconic heroes from the PlayStation universe!

I have been intrigued by this game, and it is really fun and light hearted. I am enjoying the game design and platforming so far. You can easily retry a level with a little help to find all the secrets. Each level has been really unique and never too big. Good snack sized gaming with hummable tunes.

What did you play in November? Any games you want to finish before 2025 is out? I am personally also excited about Steam replay on Dec 18th :D

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About the game

Set off on a delightful expedition and use your photographic eye to uncover the mysteries of the magical TOEM in this hand-drawn adventure game. Chat with quirky characters, solve their problems by snapping neat photos, and make your way through a relaxing landscape!

Steam page

Margot’s stats

• Device: Windows PC

• Difficulty: NA

• Completed: yes

• Time: ~4 hours

• Summary: This is just what I needed. A very chilled experience, that was slick and the mechanics worked so well. This was in a way similar to my experience with a short hike. A lot about helping others just by taking pictures and using your camera, to then climb a mountain to observe the phenomenon that is TOEM. I loved it. It was a special experience.

Narrative and Gameplay

I’ve been feeling a bit low, especially around playing games. You can read more about that here below.

Then I finally tackled TOEM as part of the Good Game Lobby Gaming club. (See more at the end of how to join etc.)

TOEM had the right vibes I needed. I had a reason, (maybe permission?) to slow down, to notice, to frame things differently. Literally.

The narrative is short andsimple: you start in your home and are sent on your way with a newly acquired camera to witness the phenonomen that is TOEM.

There was no sprawling lore, no endless combat, just a world that asks you to look closer and explore a bit. Its areas and biomes have a cartoonish styled were full of goofy characters. There was a a bit of nice commentary that to get further in life, you help people. Each bit of help results in a stamp that you collect to qualify for a bus ride to the next stop. I really liked this. No grinding for cash, just exploring and helping people.

Mechanically, TOEM doesn’t demand much. You zoom, you snap maybe add a filter. Luckily the game doesn’t want perfect shots—it wants you to notice and explore and document. That felt like permission to stop chasing perfection in my own day, too. Sometimes just doing is enough. I started drawing a bit recently and I can’t draw but I like the phrase “First make it exist, then make it better”. So this is how I felt during my photography journey through TOEM.

The game’s cozy nature turned my mood around, not by fixing anything, but by reminding me that the ordinary is enough. Every photograph felt like proof that even when you’re feeling down, the world is still brimming with humour, myth, and joy. You can find magic in the little things and it may actually be special or useful for someone else.

Stylistically and visually it was a treat. I love the simple black and white asthetic, with the cartoonish flair. During autumn I often crave mythology and more fantasy like visuals so TOEM felt refreshing. It ran really well on my PC using a controller and I had a real blast.

This would not have been a game I would have played had it not been for the gaming club, so check out how to join it at the end of the post.

Verdict - Recommend

TOEM reminded me of the walks I take when I need to clear my head. The kind where you notice the way a puddle reflects the sky, or how a stranger’s dog pauses to look at you as if you’re part of their story. Or you walk on imagining a part of their lives’. Also always ask before petting the dog in real life. :)
Playing it felt like carrying a camera through my own neighborhood, except the game insisted that every small encounter was worth framing. It actually made me think, that I should take more pictures again. I don’t pause so much anymore.

Its biomes and cartoonish style are charming, but what stayed with me was how it changed the way I will look at my own world.

This quite mindful and positive experience is underpinned by TOEM’s brilliant soundtrack. I loved the nostalgia feel of finding cassettes to listen to as you progress through the different areas. And then you could select the song you want to listen to and shape your experience. wasn't joking when he said that the soundtrack is brilliant. I will certainly add it to my favourites.

TOEM teaches you that the mundane is never just mundane, and once you’ve seen it through its lens, you start to notice your own surroundings differently too. It was the right sort of game that I needed to play in that moment to destress and clear my mind, while there was a storm outside.

Have you played TOEM? It is not too late to join the gaming club for November and beyond of course. See below for more details.

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GGL Monthly Gaming Club

We playedTOEM as part of the monthly gaming club, which is an easy going chilled group of gamers that get together and we vote on something to play next together. We are mindful of the time it may take and the cost of each game so it is accessible to all. We synced most of our backlogs now and in December we will play XXXX but it is not too late to join us for November. Join us on Discord.

We also try and get together to have a little chat, but if that is not your thing you can just join the channel to chat in writing. :) Hopefully see you there. I am there most days :)

Good Game Lobby Discord

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You may or may not have noticed that there haven’t been that many reviews on here as of late. Or maybe I am just imagining that I am not writing them.

I have however struggled to play and complete games, to then be able to write my reviews. While the odd game here and there clicked, these were not necessarily the games I felt I SHOULD have been playing to complete my backlog or write the next piece.

The illusive backlog completion is a goal I will likely never reach. There are just too many games on it and I have too little time, to play them all to their fullest and complete every main story.

What then really doesn’t help is the word SHOULD. My brain is playing tricks on me complaining that while I play the new Pokémon game, I really SHOULD be playing Zelda BotW because that is in progress.

Similarly today, I wanted to start Elden Ring again, but my little voice is going, “Nope, you SHOULD play Animal Well, Zelda BoTW, Palworld or any of the other games in your backlog that you have never even played yet”.

Do you ever get stuck in such a loop and can’t get out of it?

I do know of this pattern. My brain often does this to sabotage myself. I have coping mechanisms to deal with it though.

For example I try to reframe SHOULD to WANT. This tends to work for me for trying to eat more home-made food … “I WANT to make more meals from scratch”, or exercising… “I WANT to move my body more”. This also has the nice effect that it makes me feel less like a failure when I don’t do it, as the word SHOULD seems to contain some sort of negativity for me. Looking up the meaning it is actually defined as most often being used when criticising someone. Whereas WANT for me contains a choice and I am in control.

So currently the voice shouting SHOULD is pretty loud for me. I do however want to change that and also relax a bit. I need to remind myself that this is a marathon and not a sprint and gaming and writing about my experience is a hobby I enjoy. And also more importantly it is about enjoying games and not rushing through them.

And if I feel like playing a game I have played before or actually want to play in the moment I will let myself. Who knows I might even play Skyrim again thanks to this awesome post by Joe of .

The Saved Game

Reflecting on The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

The First Journey to Skyrim…

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5 months ago · 17 likes · 11 comments · Joe

But yeah I will start to ask myself more like what I actually WANT to play in the moment and maybe it will be a bit more random and adhoc and less complete, but currently I feel a bit stuck.

I think there is an element of also being caught in the hype loop. This has led to some game purchases and play-throughs that may not have happened otherwise but so far I have not regretted any. But I feel like my little voice in my head has an expectations that things should be new now, but there are so many games out there I haven’t played that look right up my street. So I will play those I WANT to play, … when I can choose. haha!

Have you tried these random game selectors before? They select which game to play next from your backlog. I don’t know if that will fulfil either of my voices in my head. As I want to be in control but using a randomiser I then again am not in control.

Anyways let’s play what we WANT to play and not what we feel like we SHOULD be playing and ignore or embrace the hype. Whichever works best for you.

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There are a handful of games due to release ion 2026 that I am also excited about and will buy if they release. These are all currently PC games.

Deer & Boy

In this poetic cinematic platformer, a runaway boy meets a fawn. As their bond grows, so do their abilities and the emotional weight of their journey, where silence speaks louder than words.

Neverway

After quitting her dead-end job, Fiona starts over on a farm and becomes the immortal herald of a dead god. Make friends, fight through horrors and pay your debt in this nightmarish life sim RPG.

Planet of Lana 2

After saving their planet from an invading Robot army, Lana and Mui continue to uncover its mysterious past. Pass through icy mountains, deep oceans and forgotten ruins in this cinematic puzzle adventure. Unravel a deeper, longer story, tougher challenges, and an unbreakable bond.🐈‍⬛

What are you looking forward to in 2026? GTA? Smaller indies? New Nintendo releases? What am I missing of my list? :)

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About the game

Discover an urban Pokémon adventure in a vibrant city full of Pokémon and possibilities in Pokémon Legends: Z-A on Nintendo Switch! Explore Lumiose City, unravel its secrets, discover Mega-Evolved Pokémon and face off against Trainers in real-time, dynamic battles.

Nintendo page

Margot’s stats

• Device: Switch 2

• Difficulty: NA

• Completed: yes

• Time: ~25 hours

• Summary: I had a really great time with this game despite its flaws. It has so much potential to be an incredible game, but if you ignore the price and lacking graphics and NPC interactions, it can be a really fun game. Had I been at a different point in my life it may not get as much of a good review but I will tell you why this game worked so well for me below.

• Overall though this feels to me like an experiment, to see how the fanbase will react to real time battling and they needed to wrap a good enough story and world around it to then deliver the next mind blowing Pokémon game we are waiting for, with the lessons learned from this one. I really hope that is true.

My Pokémon history

To begin with I just wanted to briefly set the scene. I discovered the Pokémon games in 1999, just after we moved from Germany to England. I was 12, and didn't understand enough English to really understand what was going on. I know that there are German versions now but I definitely had an English version, so I am not sure if I bought it in Germany or England. I grew up playing games in English and not knowing what the story was, so this wasn't unusual. It did make things like status afflictions tricky to treat. I used to just try out each item and see what works. That is how I learned game play patterns.

So Pokémon Red was an important game for me because it gave me some escapism while trying to navigate a new school and country. I did find some friends who had Pokémon Blue and we swapped many Pokémon back and forth to complete our Pokédex. Unfortunately those two girls and I grew apart after that initial summer, mostly because one moved away and the other took very different classes to me.

Being obsessed with the series led to me buying several other games and I used to upgrade my handheld Nintendo device because of a Pokémon game.

So I also played:

• Yellow

• Crystal

• Ruby

• Black - didn't complete

• X - didn’t complete (ironically fell off at Luminose city)

• Scarlet - only played 5 hours so far

So you could say I am a fan but not like I know all of the new Pokémon and am really invested in the IP.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A

So when it came to the newest game, I wasn’t sold on it but during Gamescom I got to play one of the demos and really enjoyed the new real time fighting mechanic. The more I then heard about the game, the more intrigued I got. Closed environment, not open world? Yay I won’t get lost.

This was a big selling point for me. I am so stuck in Scarlet due to its open world nature. Similar with Zelda, although I will post an update on that eventually too.

In Z-A you arrive at Luminose city and are very quickly adopted by the inhabitants of Hotel Z, which is run by AZ who appears to be a character from the previous Legends game, making him 3000 years old. With me so far? I do find the naming of this all so bizarre. The other weird naming element for me was that the counterpart to your story, who changes gender depending on what you choose, is either called Urbain (urban) or Taunie (townie?). In England “townie” was a bit of a derogatory term when I was younger, so this was such an odd choice for me.

After you choose your starter Pokémon you take part in the Z-A Royale tournament. This is essentialy a gameplay loop of battling people at night to gain enough points for a challenger ticket, which then unlocks a bottle to go up the ranks.

After a couple of repetition of this, you do feel worried that you have to do this 26 to times to rise up the ranks but there are some story arch short cuts, and the higher level characters you meet add more to the story.

The overall story was a bit meh for me. I found the game really bizarre tonally. Was it aimed at me? A nearly 40 year old or kids? Or both somehow?

Therefore the story jumped around a lot and went from more childish to more serious and I couldn’t really get invested.

What I did like is that exploring almost always led to loot or Pokémon to capture. The game did not feel empty of stuff, but it did feel a bit empty of soul.

The NPCs are scarily standing around in the background with deadpan expressions and not doing anything, apart from the odd one running or walking. But those are so few and far between that it does feel like a bit of a zombie-esque landscape. Cut scenes even have no voice acting. Even the NPCs, I wished at least at like the boop boop boop noises fro the old games as the text scrolls. It is just dead.

No-one: But Margot, you said you really enjoyed the game? It doesn’t sound like it.

Well, I really liked the nostalgia of the game. The references to X, which while I did not complete were nice. Also the mix of Pokémon old and new to me was really nice and manageable. I loved the the types I encountered.

And the actual battles were a lot of fun with this new real time system. While not flawless (some of the focus was a bit clunky) it generally was really rewarding to battle. I even didn’t dislike the mega evolution mechanic, which I did dislike in the past. While the art felt lazy for a few mega evolutions I liked the general concept.

And actually some of the criticism I give above led to me having a great time.

NPCs are deadpan and not in the way. They had no voice acting. Any side quests were already marked on the map, and a lot of speech bubbles would just appear as you walk by. This meant I could turn the sound down or off and play while watching TV or listening to a podcast.

While the real time battling needed a bit of concentration, it wasn't ever a really long battle so I could do a battle and then continue to focus on the TV. We watched a lot of comedy for a couple of weeks where you didn't need to watch the whole time and this combination of gaming and watching TV was the ultimate escape from a hard time for me. A lot has been going on, and while quiet time is also important, I just needed a bit of double distractions.

And being reminded of more wholesome times was also really welcome. :)

I thought I’d not enjoy the zoning system of the game to be able to catch different types of Pokémon but the gamification of “completing” each area was weirdly addictive. I still have many to go and look forward to seeing them all ticked.

I am enjoying that beyond the main story I now get to carry on battling, doing side quests and completing my Pokédex. If I ever will 100% is questionable but I am having such a nice surprising time with this game. Will it be my top game of 2025? I don’t really think so, but it has provided me with a lot of fun and escapism but nothing mind blowing. I keep coming back to the nostalgia element.

Most importantly though I get to take a moment for myself and have a nice coffee with my Pokémon.

If you want something more profound on the subject please check out the writers and podcaster below.

Are you team Pokémon or not (dare I say team Palworld perhaps?)

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For a more thoughtful view on this game please check out these three reviews below and the podcast by . While we all say similar things at a high level I really enjoyed their perspectives a lot and it almost feels wasted to have written my own words.

Scanlines’ Journal

Pokémon Scarlet And Violet Are Tragic

It’s been a few months since I really discussed Nintendo here on the Journal. I got the Switch 2 the day it came out and I’ve been enjoying my time with the device but there is a sense of it all being business as usual just with better specs and most of the stuff I’ve been waiting for: namely Metroid Prime 4, a new generation of Pokémon and Age of Impri…

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5 months ago · 11 likes · 4 comments · Scanlines

Press Any Button

A Pokémon in Paris

Hello friends…

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5 months ago · 5 likes · Alice Clarke and Tim Biggs

Infinite Lives

Pokemon Legends: Z-A shows the franchise may have outgrown Game Freak's capabilities

Sipping virtual tea with my giant blue Feraligatr, I can’t help but think just how far the Pokemon series has come. With technology advancing, the idea of co-existing with digital monsters in our real world could soon be a reality. Pokemon Legends: Z-A, the latest in the series, grapples with that concept and provides a blueprint as to what life would look like, and the challenges of living with Pokemon in an urban setting…

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5 months ago · 17 likes · 6 comments · Harrison Polites

Dialogue Tree

024: Super effective: Nathan Ellingsworth on Pokémon Legends Z-A and recapturing lapsed fans

Episode…

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6 months ago · 1 like