I mentioned in my April log that I was going to try and not feel overwhelmed by all the indie releases in these couple of months and well, I failed. But hey, I learned something about myself, and that is: I don’t really want to focus on new games so much that I forget about my backlog.
Plus, I often pick games based on my mood, so having to play one game after the other because I received multiple review keys just felt… uncomfortable. It feels weird to complain about that, but it’s true.
Reviews aside, I wrote a post I was particularly proud of, and drew a tiny comic that made me equally happy. Part of the reason why I like these monthly logs is because they give me a moment to look back at things I’ve created, what I’d like to do more or less of.
Can we stop blindly accusing indie games of using generative AI?
But now to what you probably came here to read about: games and more games. 🙂
My May gaming log
Yes, Your Grace, finished. This is a choices-matter type of game that got recommended to me. As the king, you hear petitioners’ wishes each day and need to make some tough decisions, while at the same time trying to help your own family. Even though I finished the game, it was a bit of a miss with me, mainly because it felt like I was going through the motions rather than controlling the narrative (when I was expecting the exact opposite.
InKONBINI, finished. Work at your aunt’s convenience store for a week in countryside 90s Japan. I wrote a review about the game that you can check out below.
InKONBINI review: a game that was too bland for my liking
Sledding Game, casually playing. A cozy and chaotic multiplayer game that is the perfect excuse for an online hang out with friends. I don’t know how often I’ll be picking this one up, but I have a great time every time I play it. My review of the game is coming next Tuesday!
If you would like to receive future posts in your email, you can subscribe below.
Wax Heads, playing. Yet another store sim game, but still not the last one in this list. Work at a struggling record store, recommend albums to customers, all featuring an amazing original soundtrack. I’ve got to finish it, but I had to press pause to finish playing other games for reviews.
Thrifty Business, playing. Ok, now that’s the last store sim game that I played this month. Run a second hand shop, curate which items you want to sell every day, all while getting to know your community. I’ve loved this game, though I still need to roll the credits. Stay tuned for a review coming soon.
VVVVVV, dropped. Do you ever get the urge to play a Celeste-like game, just to realize there is no other game like Celeste? For some random reason, I just felt like picking up a difficult platformer and VVVVVV was right there in my family library, plus it’s by Terry Cavanagh. I’m a big fan of Dicey Dungeons, also by him, and though it has absolutely nothing to do with VVVVVV, I knew it had to be good. I played it for under an hour just to realize I need a bit more pizzazz in my platformers to keep me going.
Maybe I should just go with a Celeste replay.
Under the Island, finished. An incredibly charming action RPG with a lot of heart. Even though it gets praised by its inspiration from classic Zelda games, I’ve never played a Zelda game in my life so I can confirm you don’t need to have done that to still have a great time with Under the Island. Fun puzzles, hidden secrets, beautiful and vibrant pixel art: simply a super cozy experience.
If you want to know what the game is actually about, check out Sey’s or Emily’s reviews.
Demos I played and recommend
TetherGeist. TetherGeist is a challenging precision platformer that rewards practice and perseverance. Guide Mae and her axolotl spirit, Bao, on a wholesome coming-of-age pilgrimage while mastering Astral Projection, a tether that links Mae to her spirit and is the source of her strength.
Even though the platforming in this game is solid and the pixel art is gorgeous, something about it didn’t really grip me. Probably the story?
Release date: Out now for Steam and Nintendo Switch.
Mimic Meadows. A puzzle game about transforming into animals by mimicking their movement. Discover creative ways to wield this power while solving mind-bending puzzles. And attempt to unearth the many secrets of the meadows.
One of the most interesting highlights of the Thinky Direct showcase for me, Mimic Meadows’ demo was super fun and original – and definitely challenging.
Release date: Coming soon.
Wishlists
It is hard to pick just a couple of games for this section this month as I wishlisted so many…
Tiny Delivery. Tiny Delivery is a cozy adventure about a small robot courier with a big job and questionable methods. Heartfelt moments, hidden secrets, and a little chaos – all in one route!
A recommendation by my friend Strawberry, Tiny Delivery looks adorable. I just really hope the driving is satisfying!
Release date: Q3 2026.
Deep Pixel Melancholy. Deep Pixel Melancholy is a visual novel about being stuck in a time loop inside a far northern city. Unravel the mystery, and decide whether escaping is really worth it.
Is it just my impression or are we seeing a trend both in time loop games as well as in very detailed pixel art? Either way, both are great to me.
Release date: Q3 2026.
Showcases
It’s indie showcase season. Though I’ve only watched the Six One Indie and the Thinky Direct, I’m already overwhelmed with announcements.
Gaming news
What was the fuss regarding Mixtape all about? It is a video game, period.
Wanderstop got a limited physical release for the Switch 2 and PS5, plus some really beautiful LPs!
A price increase for the Nintendo Switch 2 was announced by Nintendo starting September this year, while Valve also announced a price increase for all Steam Deck models effective now. Thanks, genAI.
Looking forward to in June plus a heads up
I’m traveling tomorrow so I’ll be away for a couple of weeks. If you leave a comment, it might take me a bit to get back to it.
Honestly, I’m just hoping for a calm month. And ice cream.
How was your month in gaming?
-Luna
Leave a Reply