Jesse Taylor

04/18/202307/19/2023

TerraScape | New Puzzle City Builder

TerraScape is a puzzle game, city builder, and card game all rolled into one. It is like Islanders and Dorfromantik merged into a single game. While it sounds like a lot, it works extremely well.

Gameplay screenshot of TerraScape, a puzzle city builder game available on Steam. — TerraScape Screenshot, Source: Bitfall Studios

Bitfall Studios, the developer of the game, asks, “Ever wanted a board game to come to life?”. They are not joking. With the option for single or multiplayer, it feels this way, even in early access. A detailed roadmap of development adds to the value of this game. It is a great gaming experience already, with lots to look forward to in the future.

TerraScape is a special one. The game is available on Steam right now, and check out the video below for gameplay.

TerraScape Let’s Play on YouTube

11/13/202207/19/2023

Let’s Play Oakenfold

In my newest Let’s Play, I check out the turn-based-strategy game Oakenfold from Studio Taghua, a one-person game development studio based in Amsterdam.

Oakenfold is a roguelike puzzler where the hook is a time-reverse mechanic. You can use the TimeScrubber to retrace your steps to outsmart the Biocides (enemies) wrecking the planet. To keep the cargo, you are protecting, you can manipulate them, shove them, drown them, crush them, or have them attack each other. No option is off the table when it comes to finishing each stage.

You can play three different builds, each with class-specific abilities. I highly suggest playing each to learn the playstyles and find the one you enjoy. What sets Oakenfold apart and makes this a must-play for me is the TimeScrubber. I love the ability to test different approaches to each stage and find the best way to solve the puzzles.

Studio Taghua delivers a solid roguelike experience with a twist, and it is sure to please any fan of turn-based strategy games.

10/01/202207/19/2023

Let’s Play The Case of the Golden Idol

I am returning to the Let’s Play series on YouTube with the demo for The Case of the Golden Idol. This game is fun, and it makes me look dumb a few times. I can not wait for the full release on October 13th.

From the Dev, Color Gray Games: The Case of the Golden Idol is a narrative detective game set in an alternate 18th-century England where players must investigate 12 most strange and gruesome mysteries spanning forty years. Something awful connects these tragedies, perhaps a curse on the aristocratic family at the center of the story, or perhaps a deeper conspiracy…

08/08/202207/19/2023

Sweet Transit Early Access First Impression

Thank you to Team 17 for the opportunity to check out Sweet Transit. Now in Early Access.

Sweet Transit, currently in Early Access, is a transportation-focused supply management simulator from solo developer Ernestas Norvaišas. In the game, you build a thriving, interconnected world of villages and cities from a single warehouse as you expand your rail network and evolve your society.