2023 is the year of RPGs, and 2024 is heading full force down that path so far. I’ve already written about RPG fatigue, but since then I’ve enjoyed quite a bit of stepping into Waluigi’s muddy boots and returning to my roots (get it?). A Stardew Valley farmer similar to Waluigi. Fraternal twin sister, mustache, etc. But as much as I loved his Stardew Valley, I also wrote about how I was a little burnt out on it after all this time. Last month’s update breathed new life into the game, but at the end of the day, I was still playing the same title I bought eight years ago.
But we had to wait a bit to really dive into what’s in the Stardew Valley update. That’s because it was released the afternoon before I left for Boston to attend PAX East. Instead of running around the farm and burning off energy to learn skills that I was confident I already had, I spent the entire weekend standing in the exhibit hall.
Fretless Preview – Don’t worry.This music RPG is hitting the right chords
Indie music RPG Fretless has engaging turn-based combat.
It was great, of course, but if you’ve ever been to a tournament of this size, you know how difficult it can be to stand for long periods of time. Plus, I’m an introvert who usually does best when I’m alone, so when I feel like it’s the last time I feel like chatting, I just “switch on” for the weekend and build up the convention hype. I was swept away by this and decided to ride it out. energy to do.
We got some exciting interviews (and got Final Fantasy Tactics fans buzzing), played exclusive previews (and loved them), and all that to see on the show floor in between. Most of my appointments were for cozy games. When I’m not immersed in RPGs that take dozens of hours to complete or mystery visual novels that solve gruesome crimes, comfort games are my bread and butter.
The two that stood out to me the most were from the same publisher, Armor Games. All four of his titles they offered looked appealing, but Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge and Snacko were both highlights of the weekend. I wrote a full preview of the game for him as part of his PAX coverage, but due to back-to-back schedules, he had an hour to concentrate and do something healthy in the middle of a crowded convention hall. It means you had time.
Aurelien Condomines and Melanie Christin are the French duo behind Humble Reeds and have been developing Kamieru together for several years. Their description on Google says they “make wholesome, meaningful video games,” and I immediately believed it. In Kamael, you’ll not only farm, build, make friends, and document nearly 500 unique frogs in a photo diary, but you’ll also save three ecosystems from the brink of real danger. It also contributes to saving lives.
After Kamieru, I was sure nothing could have been more encouraging, but I ended up sitting down to play the Snacko demo on the other side of the Armor Games booth. While playing, I laughed with my rep at developer Bluecurse Studios about how adorable, purring and sassy the pet cat Momo and her childhood best friend Mikan were. We washed up on the island together and were soon adopted by the most grandfatherly, typical South Georgia cat gentleman. He taught me how to garden and do crafts, and even built me a house, before bringing up the topic of my cat restoring the island.
On another day at the convention, I also stopped by the Whitethorn Games booth. We had planned on playing four adorable titles there, but I ended up falling in love with Slime He Heroes and that was the only time I spent an hour there. I got a code to try out his game, Botany Manor, a quaint gardening-based puzzle set in 1800s Victorian England. In this game, you help botanist Arabella Greene complete the grafting of new plants and the writing of her scientific research book, “The Forgotten Flora.”
I haven’t had a chance to see Whitethorn’s other two games, Magical Delicacy (a mystical cooking title) and Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island (a game about solving the mysteries of forgotten Greek gods), but I plan to play them when they are released. is.two me did look.
Cozy games perform best when they provide a tangible goal, a way to see progress unfolding before your eyes without rushing you. We recommend that you stop by. odor Whether you’re stringing flowers, taking pictures of frogs, or talking to cats, you’ll never have to rush. In the middle of the weekend, when you’re rushing around and trying to see as much as possible, it felt great to sit and spend some time just doing gardening. I can’t imagine how soothing it would be to play these cozy titles in my own home, not from the hustle and bustle of a tournament, but from everyday life, and I can’t wait for 2024 to be like that Outside.
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My big takeaway from going to GDC and PAX was Rugrats
Eric Switzer and Andrew King talk to Stacey Henley about everything they did at GDC and PAX
