Game Watch
Game Watch
Explanation: Every now and then, there comes a time when the list of suggested games pile up too long. They appeal to me but there is something about them that keeps me from properly playing through the game. Consider this a lightning round post of games that I tackled through with brief summations of my experience or lack thereof.
Gourdlets - There is a very cheap game that automates everything other than building the world. There is no economy, no story, and no combat. You can add and customize the little villagers, the landscape, buildings, and the decorations that are contained within the structures. It is a little too convenient with your only objective to watch these little beings live out their life interacting with the objects you prepare for them. I decided not to buy this game.
SCHiM - A game marked for $25 isn't that appealing despite its interesting premise when your entire playthrough experience is all about taking action through the eyes of a person as their shadow or finding the path forward. There is a demo available but I would not suggest even buying the game unless marked 50% off. You can interact with things as you hop across shadows but you will be watching brief cutscenes play out when it comes to the story for the most part.
SteamWorld Build - SteamWorld is a series of games that explores different genres. SteamWorld Dig 1 started all of this and SteamWorld Dig 2 expanded upon the concept. SteamWorld Heist set up a turn-based shooter and SteamWorld Heist 2 added real-time ship combat. SteamWorld Quest was their side-scrolling card game. The one focused here SteamWorld Build combines city-building with underground mining. However, there are numerous problems with the game. No matter the number of free themes that cosmetically change the appearance of the game, the mechanics don't change as you progress through the exact same story every time. The standard difficulty caps your resources to 50, you must transform your people through numerous tiers, and what you build on one mine floor cannot be used on another. Unless you really want to micromanage, decorate a perfect town, or are fine spending 5 hours progressing through the main story, the game isn't really worth a recommendation.
Hidden Through Time 2 - Some years ago, a simple game called Hidden Through Time was developed for the sole purpose of having you locate specific things inside a number of themed levels. They added theme after theme through their DLC packages and ultimately released a couple of sequels. You can change the time or weather. You can explore the multiple levels inside buildings. You can practically interact with everything you can see. Whether or not you want to engage with a game like this is entirely up to you. Perhaps you are a die-hard fan of Where's Waldo or I Spy books.
Jusant - About a year ago, I heard about a game that's all about climbing up a huge cliff. The concept sounded interesting but there was a major problem. The game required a good amount of memory in order to play. Despite the other games my computer is able to work with, this one seems rather stingy when it comes to its special effects. The game is available on Xbox Game Pass.
Little Kitty, Big City - Another game that was surprisingly delightful, also on Xbox Game Pass, is about being a cat exploring a great city. I'm not talking about Stray. This one allows you to play as a "real" cat that chases after birds, hides in boxes, wear goofy hats, afraid of getting wet, doesn't like cucumbers, knocks things off counters, and a bunch of other miscellaneous activities. Despite being a bit rough around the edges, the game does well mechanically. There are several objectives, achievements, and ultimately the goal of finding a way back to your place. The retail price might not be the best but you are guaranteed to have a good time playing the game.
A Highland Song - There is game out there that decides to go bold in every aspect. Imagine if you were trying to travel across the landscape but there isn't anything that indicates which way you should be heading. You can trek across hills, through caves, or do a musical number by sprinting across the plains. Stories are told in old English narrative as the days go by and you try to find a good place to sleep through the night. You have to watch the weather, make sure you don't fall down cliffs, and catch your breath when you strain yourself. Items aren't exactly marked but instead glow with a little dot when you get close. Only then does a prompt appear with a list of options. The only way to cross to the next "map" is if you find a parchment with the path marked beforehand. All of this makes it a decent game but a frustrating one for a person who can easily get lost without a clear direction on what to do next.
Boxes: Lost Fragments - A developer once came out with a game a couple years ago called Doors: Paradox. It was a very simple concept where you toy around with different types of rectangular objects until you can walk through them. It kind of reminded me of the Room series. They came out with another game with a similar concept. While there isn't really any sort of exploration in the game, the idea of tinkering with something until you gain access has been quite compelling for a specific type of crowd. This game doesn't have much going for it, but the mechanics are all there if you want to check it out.