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For many children, video games are a first introduction to interactive entertainment, and finding something that is both accessible and worthwhile can be a challenge for parents. Sesame Street: Friends & Fun, developed by Infinigon Games and published by Outright Games, approaches this with a familiar cast of characters, simple activities and a neighborhood built around helping others. Rather than trying to appeal to seasoned players with complex mechanics, it embraces the educational foundations of the long-running television series. The result is a cheerful adventure that understands its intended audience, even if its limited complexity means it has relatively little to offer once children grow accustomed to its activities. Continue reading “Sesame Street: Friends & Fun review (PS5)”

Frosthaven is a dark fantasy tactical RPG developed by Snapshot Games Inc. and published by Arc Games, bringing Isaac Childres’ sizeable tabletop adventure to PC. As a spiritual successor to Gloomhaven, it sends a group of mercenaries into a hostile northern wilderness, where survival means more than defeating whatever monsters happen to cross their path. The titular outpost is struggling to endure the harsh climate, dwindling resources and constant threats from the surrounding regions, leaving the party to protect its inhabitants while gradually rebuilding the settlement. The narrative follows a familiar fantasy-adventure formula, but its combination of personal character journeys, branching missions and the larger mystery surrounding the frozen frontier provides enough incentive to keep pushing forward. The narration also gives important events a little more personality, helping the campaign feel like a cohesive adventure rather than simply a sequence of tactical encounters. Nevertheless, the story rarely threatens to overshadow the gameplay, and players looking for particularly sophisticated character writing or an immediately gripping plot may find the narrative less compelling than the strategic systems supporting it. Continue reading “Frosthaven review (PC)”

Psychological horror does not always need monsters, jump scares or elaborate combat systems to get under a player’s skin. Sometimes, the most uncomfortable experiences come from confronting memories that should have been left behind. Developed by Eye Blink Twice and published by Eye Blink Twice, Serafini Productions and Gamersky Games, Time To Wake Up is a short first-person adventure that explores childhood trauma, isolation and the long-lasting effects of bullying. Its central premise is intriguing, and its surreal environments give it a distinct identity, but while the game has some clever ideas, it struggles to turn its potential into a consistently compelling experience. Continue reading “Time To Wake Up review (PS5)”