Heisting robots, 90’s reality TV, and coffins

Life is getting really busy at the moment, and I haven't had a chance to play as many games as I would like. I am making my way through CONSCRIPT for a review, but where most of my time has been going is into Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade on the GameBoy Advance. Yeah, I have become one of those sickos who has a retro handheld near them at all times. In fact, this past four weeks or so has been filled with a lot of retro gaming in short 15-30 minute bursts, and honestly, it has been great. But that's a post for another time.

What came out this week?

Creatures of Ava

Developer: Inverge Studios
Steam rating: Positive 
Store page

The creature-based collection genre is certainly alive and well. Pokemon keeps churning out releases, we had Cassette Beasts a while back, and Palworld earlier this year. This week we have Creatures of Ava which takes a different apporach - rather than collecting creatures to battle, you are taming them and curing an infection that has slowly taken over the planet, causing many of them to be aggressive. 

What’s more, the creatures will provide unique abilities that will help you solve puzzles, and the combat mechanics are all about healing rather than dealing damage. This is very much in a thoughtful “save the planet” kind of way, and you know what? I really like that! It also makes mention of learning about the culture and customs of the planet, as you explore four unique biomes. It just sounds like a nice game. And sometimes, you just need a nice game, you know?

ONE BTN BOSSES

Developer: Midnight Munchies
Steam rating: Very Positive 
Store page

I love games with simple controls, games like Nidhogg, Windjammers, Lethal League that you can immediately explain to someone and watch them be amazed at the level of depth to a gme with just one or two buttons. ONE BTN BOSSES is exactly that, a short and concise Roguelike that literally uses just one button. 

You will be piloting a ship in a variety of intense bullet hell boss fights, with only a single button to control the action. Your ship automatically circles the boss. Press the button to change direction. That makes you go faster, and makes you shoot faster, each time that you press it. Keep pressing it and you will be dodging and shooting faster than a new JD Vance meme hitting Bluesky. The problem is the boss will get angry and will want to shoot you down faster too. 

ONE BTN BOSSES features over 100 combinations of items to collect to make your build as your progress, a really awesome synthwave soundtrack, leaderboards, and a neat story to tie it all together. If you want a little Roguelike in your life right now, this one could fit the bill.

SteamWorld Heist II

Developer: Thunderful Development
Steam rating: Very Positive 
Store page

The SteamWorld games have always been interesting to follow. This team likes to take big swings, and plays in a new genre nearly every single time. Rarely do they roll out a sequel, but it seems that everyone is really loving SteamWorld Heist II. 

SteamWorld Heist II is a side-scrolling tactics game where you will be sending your squad of rusty pirates into the fray. The game is turn-based, so you will need to position your units, and fire your shots, and get out of there with the booty. The big aspect to combat here is that you can ricochet your shots, which can set up some really awesome multi-kill combos.

This time there is a job system that will help you customize your crew to fit how you want to play, and you get to upgrade your ship as you explore the briny sea. That’s the one thing I am missing from that first game, I really loved the space theme. But it seems that SteamWorld Heist II builds on everything that the first game delivered and is doing so with great success, so onto the wishlist it goes!

Knock on the Coffin Lid

Developer: RedBoon
Steam rating: Very Positive 
Store page

Yep, another Deckbuilder Rogulike, but Knock on the Coffin Lid does seems to be bringing some new ideas to the table. Filled with gothic and horror tones, you have woken up in a crypt devoid of memories. You are trying to get back home, unlock your memories, and break a time loop. And if that wasn’t enough, a hero must ascend the throne to rule the lands of Midian. 

To be honest we are so far in the weeds of Deckbuilders that it mostly comes down to themes and mechanics, as there are so many available at this point. But Knock on the Coffin Lid does fit a theme that I personally haven’t seen in a deckbuilder, one that slants towards those who enjoy horror, kinda in the same space as Darkest Dungeon. It is getting a lot of positive buzz on Steam, so if you want a new card game, this one might be for you. 

The Crush House

Developer: Nerial
Steam rating: Mostly Positive 
Store page

The Crush House is a game that speaks to my inner cave troll. During the pandemic I got REALLY into 90 Day Fiance. I know, I know. It is trash. But it is a train wreck that I cannot look away from. We all have our guilty pleasures, and 90 Day Fiance is mine. Please, stop judging me. I can feel you judging me. GIF

Anyways, The Crush House is tapping into that. You are Jae, who has just scored her dream job as the producer of 1999’s hottest reality TV show. You will need to set the cast, film each moment, and produce a season to remember. Capture the romance, the drama, the scandals, all while catering to your audience’s demands. You need those views if you want to be renewed for a second season. 

When night rolls around and the house goes dark, explore and engage in conversations with the cast to find out what is really going on in The Crush House. The trailer alone suggests that something sinister is at hand. 

I don’t really know WHAT this game is, but it has impeccable vibes, and I really can’t wait to see what it has in store for us. Nerial has a great track record, they made Reigns which is infinitely popular, and they also made Card Shark which was really interesting, even if I did have a few issues with it, you can read my review here.

Is Thank Goodness You’re Here Really That Funny?

Last night I rolled credits on Thank Goodness You’re Here, a surreal comedy adventure game that has been garnering praise from critics across the globe, and for very good reason. In a world where every game must appeal to absolutely everyone in order to get mainstream appeal, Coal Supper made something that is decisively bonkers, and also VERY British, which immediately makes it stand out as a unique gem in a mountain of new games every week. It also tries to tackle comedy, a genre that doesn’t really exist in games, because making a multi-hour interactive joke is incredibly hard, and humour is incredibly personal. 

I am so thankful that this game exists, but looking around online it seems to be universally praised as the funniest game that has ever been released. But when I was sitting there during the credits sequence last night, I honestly started to think if the game was actually funny, or if it hit that window that we had with narrative games ten years ago - “it’s really funny... for a game”. 

Yes it was weird. Yes it was humorous. But was it hilarious? I don’t really think so. It was silly. It was irreverent. It was poking fun at small town groupthink and drama, something I truly appreciated as someone that comes from a small rural town with a similar thing going on. It was Monty Python in a video game, and sure that was fun, but I honestly didn’t find it that funny. 

I don’t know if it is the fact that I am Australian and our humour is quite similar to British folks, or that I come from the aforementioned small rural town that had a lot of these themes going on within the walls of it’s deep coal pit, but I just don’t see this hilarious game that critics are mostly praising across the board. 

What I do see is an insanely silly game that has such a unique sense of identity, a game that is unlike any other, a game that tries things that are new and exciting, and for that I am eternally grateful. I just wonder, how many of you out there really think that Thank Goodness You’re Here is funny, or is it just a novelty that is so unlike other games, it wins that prize by default?

Well, that’s enough for this week. If you enjoy the newsletter, please suggest it to a friend so we can continue to grow. If you REALLY like the newsletter, consider throwing a few dollars into our Ko-Fi cups to help pay for our server costs and new indie games to review.

I will also say that the schedule for the next little while might be a little hectic. My wife is hitting that period where she could give birth at any moment, so if I disappear for a week or two, you probably know why! 

See you next time.