Developer: Christoffer Bodegård
Release Date: March 3, 2026
Reviewed On: PC

Review

A full review can be found in this episode of the podcast:

✅ Pros

• Deep worldbuilding and lore

• Faithful and creative D&D-inspired systems

• Funny, sharp, and engaging dialogue writing

• Distinctive character design and portraits

❌ Cons

• Overwhelming lore dumps

• Confusing onboarding with little guidance

• Weak quest tracking and direction

• Frustrating map and navigation system

Final Score: 85 (Silver)

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MOUSE: P.I. For Hire

Probably not a hot take, but this game wants to be Cuphead so badly. I think there’s even an argument that it has the style and setting to pull it off (along with a fantastic—albeit expected—voice performance from Troy Baker). I’m just not convinced a boomer-shooter was the right genre. You can argue that it’s following the 2D sprites of something like the original Doom, but the overall experience felt handcuffed by that choice. Overall, I didn’t hate my time playing; it just didn’t grab me as I had hoped.

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Pragmata

I knew it was going to hit pretty close to home when a daughter-figure was riding on my back for the better part of 12 hours, quipping and being all cute, reminding me of my own perfect angel. What I wasn’t ready for was how plain fun the combat is. It’s been said that this hits the “Xbox 360” vibes in a great way, and honestly, I can’t think of a better likeness. While the story might not be the strongest—although I really clicked with the ending—the characters are likable, and it’s the very definition of a video game. (I was going to put “ass” somewhere in that, but I couldn’t figure out where. Video-ass video game? I dunno.)

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Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred

For the record, Lord of Hatred released on the 28th of this month, and I had every intention of saving this entry for May. That… didn’t happen. Please understand that I’m not proud to admit that I spent more time playing this over the last couple of days than just about everything else on this list combined. Despite being fuzzy on what’s new in the expansion versus seasonal improvements, I’m happy that after taking some time off, this feels like a very fresh and polished endgame—one that I honestly can’t put down. For me, I think it’s finally safe to say they’re back to the same level as Diablo III.

While I’ll likely review this officially on the podcast in the coming weeks, overall, I’d rate the campaign as “fine” to “good,” and I largely enjoyed the areas and story more than Vessel of Hatred. I spent my initial time playing the Paladin class, and while I could see some fun late-game builds, I’m kicking myself for not trying the Warlock instead. That being said, I got sucked back into Whirlwind Barbarian, and… look, it’s a whole thing. I’ve been playing this game a lot.

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🕹️ Retro Roundup

If you’ve been following my retro game obsession on the podcast, April marks the first official month of me going through a very curated list of Game Boy Advance games. My goal isn’t necessarily to beat each of them, but to sample what many consider a GOATed library. After a deep dive into the pits of Reddit and other random corners of the internet, I feel the 200-odd titles on my curated list are the best of the best, and I’m excited to begin this journey!

Gradius Galaxies

If I had started my GBA project in any prior year, there’s a very good chance I would’ve just ended it right here with Gradius Galaxies. I cannot overstate how inferior I felt, flying-dodging ineffectively and seeing the dreaded “Game Over” screen again and again. Yet as luck would have it, 2026 Tyler is a glutton for punishment, and while frustrating at times, I stuck it out long enough to see the hook. (Special shoutout to seeing some of Galaxies’ DNA—specifically the upgrade system—make its way into the much more modern Sektori.) Let me be clear, I’m still whatever is lower than trash at this game, but I appreciate its unapologetic “get better” theme.

Developed by Mobile21 and published by Konami, Gradius Galaxies was released in North America on November 30, 2001.

Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire

It pained me to learn this game existed. I loved the original Pokémon Pinball for the Game Boy Color—rumble motor and all—but I always thought it was just a weird little spinoff. Learning that Nintendo not only produced a sequel but that it was better in just about every way made me both extremely happy and extremely sad that I waited two decades to play it. I don’t know why Pokémon was the brand that got me into its pinball (maybe it’s just simpler and for babies), but learning the two tables and fighting my past scores became a nightly routine.

Developed by Jupiter and published by Nintendo, Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire was released in North America on August 25, 2003.

Super Monkey Ball Jr.

The good news is that while I thought this game played like absolute garbage, it was just the underpowered device I was playing it on. Turns out Super Monkey Ball Jr. pushed the GBA to its limits (I love learning the history of this stuff). Bad news is that I might be worse at this than at Gradius. I can see why this game was a marvel at the time, but I’ll be honest, I put this one down after the first hour.

Developed by Realism and published by THQ, Super Monkey Ball Jr. was released in North America on November 20, 2002.

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Developer(s): Capcom Co., Ltd.
Release Date: February 26, 2026
Reviewed On: PC

Review

A full review can be found in podcast Episode 222.

✅ Pros

• First-person Grace sections are engaging and immersive.

• Strong gameplay loop with satisfying combat, upgrades, and exploration.

• A good mix of horror and action keeps the experience exciting.

• Visually stunning with excellent lighting, character models, and performance.

❌ Cons

• Feels disjointed, like two separate Resident Evil games stitched together.

• One-liners can be hit-or-miss.

• Safe, iterative design that fails to significantly evolve the series.

Final Score: 86 (Gold)

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Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade

The perfect game to wind down my day. Yes, it’s the first, and yes, it’s pretty straightforward, but I had a great time playing it. Losing units felt terrible, and it added some weight to an otherwise shallow story. I know Jon, and I have discussed the GBA at length, but man, what an excellent system. Strategy games have been calling to me this year, and this one just kept that fire blazing (HAH).

Resident Evil Requiem

Requiem doesn’t cure my distaste for scary games, but it also doesn’t make me hate them more. I was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed the Grace sections of this game more than the action-packed Leon parts. This wasn’t the RE4 gameplay I expected, and I think it might be better because of it. While I probably won’t think much about the lore later, the overall atmosphere more than makes up for it.

World of Warcraft: Midnight

I’ll be honest, I’m still processing my thoughts about this one. When you don’t really care about the current story arc, don’t understand the years of layered mechanics, don’t feel the same nostalgia as those who have been playing for 20 years… how can you jump in and still have fun with the boys? Yet I did. I did my first raid, had a gentle and loving teacher, and came out the other side not feeling like I had completely let the group down. I’m not entirely convinced they’re not just being nice to me, but it still feels good to be a part of the group.

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This RAM shortage is wild. I fully expected to type up my hype for the Steam Machine’s release date and… well, nothing. Limbo. The more I refuse to believe the panic, the worse it gets. Hopefully, something gives without resorting to a streaming dystopia or insane “new normal” pricing. Also, let’s pretend for a bit that I’m not thinking about the 32GB of RAM I gave my brother-in-law for his computer last year.

Speaking of selfish, I’ve absolutely loved the start of this year for gaming, and February kept my sunny vibes going strong.

Cairn

I literally started dreaming of Mount Kami. It gripped me so thoroughly, I couldn’t stop thinking about the climb, day in and day out. Every handhold was a deliberate choice that became second nature each time I started over. The challenge of scaling the rockface without safety gear and permadeath turned on was exhilarating. Despite several falls, I never once felt like I wouldn’t immediately jump back onto that crevice for another go.

Aava’s obsession and devotion to reaching the summit were both inspiring and heartbreaking as the story went on. While I ultimately loved the ending I chose, it was something I had to sit with for a while and reflect on.

Mewgenics

I’m not a big fan of toilet humor or gross things in general. Looking at the newest game from the Binding of Isaac devs, I was hesitant about whether I could get past the art style and overall tone. What I wasn’t expecting was to be absolutely slack-jawed by the depth and uniqueness of every single run. It’s wild to me that I’m only a quarter of the way through, even though I’ve already sunk over fifty hours. This will be something I keep coming back to all year long.

EVE Online

I originally had The Chef’s Shift in this spot, and then, for whatever reason, my dumb brain said, “What if you gave EVE a real shot?” Well, sometimes you give the shot, and sometimes the shot… um… gives… nope, lost it.

The point is, for whatever reason, this game is all I’m thinking about as the month closes out. Maybe it’s scratching the tiny itch for Star Wars Galaxies, an MMO where you can do other things besides straight combat. Truthfully, I should’ve written this entry yesterday, when I was bright-eyed and a mining god. This morning, I’ve already lost two ships worth 100 million ISK and am feeling pretty low. But, much like Mount Kami and the theme of my year so far, I just keep climbing back up.

Roundup

Games

• The Chef’s Shift — On the surface, this game is a cooking simulator where you run a restaurant. Beneath that, there’s a surprisingly good mob story. Oh, and you play the whole game by typing. It’s kinda awesome, and being able to use my keyboard collection is a bonus.

• MIO: Memories in Orbit — This game immediately pulled me-o (HAH!) into the world with the fantastic art style and animation. I’m not looking for another tough Metroidvania after last month’s Nine Sols, but it might be something I come back to. The Ori vibes are a good thing.

• Escape from Ever After — It has a lot of charm if you like the Paper Mario aesthetic, but it just didn’t hold my interest. Well made, though!

• League of Legends — Blitzcrank Nautilus Ziggs main.

Books

• Tangled in Tinsel by Trilina Pucci — Look, I’m well aware it’s well past Christmas, but aside from a couple of extremely dirty Santa jokes, this is basically as much a Christmas book as Die Hard is a Christmas movie. (4/5)

Shows

• A Man on the Inside (Season 2) — I don’t know what it is about Ted Danson, but he charmed the pants off me for a second time. It plays some character development a little safe, but it feels wholesome nonetheless. (4/5)

Movies

• Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery — It might be easy to call the whodunit early on (my wife loves it when I do that), but the route to the finale is definitely worth watching. Going in blind, it’s not the theme I expected, but I enjoyed it! (3/5)

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Luckily, nothing feels quite as good as the start of a new year, a clean slate. It’s early, but 2026 has been a positive revitalization. I wish I could point to a specific mindset or willful change on my part, but honestly, I just stepped back, let go of last year, and told myself to take a step forward. And then another. I can’t promise it’s all sunshine and roses for me. I have a lot going on, but the start of the year was surprisingly uplifting, and I’m excited for what’s next.

Nine Sols

Losing a bet is rarely a great way to start a game. Like many, I’m wired to hate what I’m forced into. When WhatKilledJeff assigned me Nine Sols, I was determined to rip the band-aid off and churn through it. What I quickly realized was that he didn’t dish out punishment; he prescribed me medicine for my gaming slump.

While you won’t find me seeking out Metroidvanias, I don’t necessarily dislike them if they’re well-designed, have tight gameplay, or respect your time. Much to my delight, Nine Sols checked all these boxes. I was tasked with completing the “Shooting Star Ending,” and despite the final boss taking up nearly a fifth of my playtime, it was worth every second.

This game challenged me in the best ways, and I’m forever grateful for the recommendation.

Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter

Trading one recommendation for another, I jumped again into a genre I don’t usually gravitate toward. Jon was really impressed with this fresh entry point in The Legend of Heroes series, and after finishing my playthrough, I’m right there with him. The combat, characters, and overall world-building kept me hooked from beginning to end.

Chapter 2 releases this fall, and I simply cannot wait to see where this story goes. (And I am trying really, really hard not to look up spoilers for the decade-old game.)

Sektori

A twin-stick shooter fits a little more comfortably with my recent taste in games. While I technically gave it a shot at the end of last year, the difficulty made me bounce fairly quickly. Yet, January Tyler is a new man (thanks again, Nine Sols), and boy, am I glad I gave this another shot. While it could maybe be a little more forthcoming in its tutorial, once I started to understand the mechanics, the ceiling kept rising.

What pulled me out of my comfort zone was the leaderboard battle I found myself in with friends. I’m currently getting whooped on, but it’s a good whooping. I’m seeing the board, and I feel like my new high score is waiting in the next run.

Roundup

Games

• Big Hops — This was a cute game with better-than-expected physics. I bounced (heh) off of it after the second world, but worth a look if you enjoy swinging around collecting things.

• DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined (Demo) — I’m a big fan of the style being brought into this game. Coming off of Trails, this intro felt very slow and will likely not be a day-one purchase for me, but I could totally see something like Chrono Trigger getting this treatment.

• Highguard — They’ve just added a 5v5 mode. Not sure if that’ll get me back, but I didn’t hate the experience. Sometimes I don’t think the internet knows what it wants.

• RV There Yet? — This is a whacky game. I don’t know if it’ll stick with me like some of the others, but when I feel like goofing off with friends, it’s a good one to come back to.

• PlateUp! — Running your own restaurant is stressful, sometimes unfair, and genuinely one of the best times I’ve had playing co-op. It’s a staple in my rotation when I need to unwind and just cook.

• Baldur’s Gate 3 — (Continued) Started last year, every Sunday, I jump into this game with three other friends to berate, shove, and bully each other relentlessly. I couldn’t tell you most of the NPC names or the motivations behind the majority of the side quests, but it’s a rather fun time.

• Persona 5 Royal — Giving this game another shot while I try to fill the void that Trails left. Not committing to anything here, just putting one foot in front of the other. Wait, this takes how long to beat?!

Books

It may not be common knowledge that I’m part of a spicy book club, but I feel like admitting it means we’re all a little closer now. Look, we don’t judge around here.

• Priest by Sierra Simone — This dude is a bad priest. But that’s probably a given. (3/5)

• Initiation: Sex Wizards, Book 1 by Alethea Faust — Genuinely has an interesting magic system and is likely what I will base my next D&D character on. (4/5)

Shows

• Prison School — I’m looping Anime into this category. I won’t bat an eye at Sex Wizards, but I might be blushing a bit at this one. I needed a palate cleanser after Code Geass. Actually, let’s call it a pace change. There was nothing cleansing about Prison School. (2/5)

• Stranger Things (Season 5) — My wife and I rewatched the full series, and I think it got progressively less interesting to me. I’m glad I can say I saw them all, but this season really didn’t need to happen. (2/5)

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Developer(s): Nihon Falcom
Release Date: September 19, 2025
Reviewed On: PC

Review

A full review can be found in podcast Episode 214.

✅ Pros

• Strong worldbuilding and likeable, well-developed characters.

• Deep and satisfying combat.

• Excellent remake visuals and UI.

• Great ending that hooks you for the sequel.

❌ Cons

• Slow pacing in several sections.

• Sometimes repetitive with filler side content.

Final Score: 88 (Gold)

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