Game binge roundup

March 5, 2026 Reading time: 7 minutes

I recently binged through a number of short games in my Steam library. Many of which I've owned and wanted to play for years. Here are my thoughts on those games.

!! Spoiler warning for all !!

Manifold Garden 

I don't remember how I came across this game.

• I really like the minimalist visual style, ethereal vibes.
• Great sound design.
• Extremely trippy especially the later levels and the ending.
• Sometimes I enjoy just falling through the infinite space.
• Challenging but not to the point that it was frustrating.
  • I had to use a guide 1-2 times.
• A unique puzzle experience.

Mutazione

I also don't remember how I came across this game.

• Mechanically very simple, a limited number of areas, but the character writing was really well-done and engaging.
• I wanted to talk everyone at every time frame.
• I really felt like I got to be a part of these characters' lives for a few days.
• Much of this game is very slice-of-life, and I appreciate the how relaxed it made me feel.
• I really liked Mori - granny who makes you delicious food, such an endearing character.
  • They are all endearing characters, with well-defined personalities, quirks, goals, fears, etc.
• I enjoyed Tung's house's vibe at night, by the waters, with the background sound of the TV.
• Miu's secret swimming spot was one of the favorite areas.
• I missed the characters when the game ended, which doesn't happen with every game I play.
  • It's been over a month since I finished this game, and I still think about the characters I met, and the places I visited.
  • I still think about the loss and grief the characters went through, how they must've felt during those incidents, and how they'll continue to heal after the events of the game.
• It's a short and simple game, but a game that really stuck with me.
• The additional content with the letters from the characters was a nice. It made my transition off the game a bit easier.

My Friend Pedro

This game was mentioned on a lot of top indie games of the year lists.

• I'm into the soundtrack.
• I especially liked the Pedro levels, so whimsical.
• I never quite gotten decent at the game play, but thankfully it's pretty forgiving in terms of respawn points.
  • I'm really bad at paying attention to multiple enemy bullets flying at me and dodging them.
• It wasn't quite really the type of vibe I'm into, but nonetheless I enjoyed this game.
• Mad respects to the fact that most aspects of the game (other than music) are done by one person!
  
  • I hope someday I can feel inspired and motivated enough to make a tiny game all by myself, art, design, coding, music, and all!

Night in the Woods

This has been on my to-play list for years! I'm glad I finally got to it. I decided to play this because I was craving more games like Mutazione where you really get to know the characters.

• I really liked the vibe, it's super cozy, relaxing, and nostalgic.
• I hung out with Bea for all the nights when I had a choice.
  • A lot depressing but real talks.
  • I can completely understand Bea's frustration with Mae at some points. Even I got frustrated on Bea's behalf, like Mae, girl, you are so naive. Things aren't so simple.
  • I know Mae is well-intentioned though! 
  • When Mae and Bea talked about how proximity was a big factor in their friendship, it certainly made me reflect on the relationships in my life. I am glad I can pretty confidently say that my inner circle is not based on proximity. Some may have started that way, but we all live very far now and barely see each other in-person. Some of them I see maybe once a year, or not even that.
• Star gazing with Mr. Chazakov on his roof was a small but memorable parts of the game. I just imagine how nice it must feel to be hanging out on a rooftop, on a warm-ish evening, while the Sun is going down.
• Bruce's story left a mark on me. It's a classic story of no matter how hard well-meaning people try, sometimes things just don't work out. It's how things are in life.
  • I interpret Bruce's ending as killed himself, which made his last convo with Mae gut-wrenching.
  • It's another moment that shows Mae's naivety IMO.
• I completely missed the fact that the 4th avatar on Mae's desktop is Casey's... I kept waiting for a message from them.
• Mae's dream sequences were quite trippy, I liked it.
• The cult plot line felt a bit disjointed to me. It doesn't negatively impact my enjoyment of the game, I just wish it tied in a bit more with the rest of the story.
• Maybe someday I'll play again and hang out with Gregg and Angus! There's definitely a lot of replay value there.
• I enjoyed the two minigames that were included with the main game.

Monument Valley

I believe some of my coworkers showed me this game when it first came out years ago. I finally bought it in January.

• Really cute visual style!
• The puzzles are super creative, the way they leverage isometric perspective as part of the game mechanic. 
• I enjoyed the additional mechanics, such as the twisting paths, that were introduced in the later parts of the game.
• The box level is the one that made one of the the strongest impression on me.
• I already bought Monument Valley 2, and wishlisted 3. I look forward to continuing the adventure!

Abzu

- to continue writing tmr

2025 reflection

December 31, 2025 Reading time: 4 minutes

2025 could've been better in a lot of ways, but it still had its moments. I'm pushing myself to write a 2025 reflection even though I really don't feel like doing it. But for the purposes of documenting and having something to look back to, here we go.

Art

I think I got a bit burnt out from consistently drawing last year that I barely drew this year. I just needed a break from that process to feel excited about it again. I still got some artworks done though! I find a lot of comfort in going back to Elden Ring and making art of that world.

I've also been reviving some decades-old personal projects. The nostalgia feels good. It also makes me feel grounded to myself to work on something that's mine and mine alone. It's quite an interesting exercise building completely original scenes, but now with the new art knowledge I've gained through my year+ of making Elden Ring fanart. The great thing about doing fanart of Elden Ring is that every piece in a way is a study. Study of some really strong designs.

I'm not sure how I'll post the art I'm making for my original stuff. It definitely won't be under this alias though, even if I do post it. It feels good regardless, just to create something.

Gaming

I had just posted summaries of the games I finished this year. It isn't a lot, but I'm glad I got to finish a few games I've wanted to play for a while.

I'm still working through the original Elden Ring PC playthrough I started last year. Almost done the DLC. Elden Ring still feels like home to me, so I'll probably always have a playthrough going for it!

Nightreign released this year but I haven't played much of it. I can't really make good progress on it play it solo, and I don't really want to play with strangers. Also been too lazy to organize something with people I know. Maybe I'll come back to it in 2026!

Shows

• Severance Season 2
• House of the Dragons 
• Black Mirror Season 7
• The Pitt
• All Her Fault

Miscellaneous

• Traveled to China this year, which is definitely a highlight.
• House sat for a friend for almost 3 weeks and almost didn't interact with anyone IRL, leveraging all my introvert powers.
• Was pleasantly surprised by friends from the ER community reaching out to wish me happy holidays and offering to send postcards.
  • I didn't make new postcards this year, but still have some different designs I printed last year to send out.
• Got a new gaming laptop so that I can game even when I'm not around my gaming PC tower.
• I still did not install my music-making software, no music was made in 2025.
• It's been one of the more emotionally turbulent years I've had in a long long time. But there is personal growth that came from that.

Looking forward

• I'm starting to feel the motivation to draw again, so hopefully I'll get to do more of that next year.
• Hoping to play more games that I've wanted to play for a while.
• Will I finally make new music in 2026? TBD!

Katana Zero experience

December 31, 2025 Reading time: 2 minutes

I've been checking off a number of shorter, older games I've had my eyes on for a while. I remember many years ago, Katana Zero came on top of many "top indie games of the year" lists. Very well-deserved! I went into it knowing nothing.

• This game is a great example of respecting that the player is smart enough to piece together what is happening without hand-holding.
  • I was so confused at first by what they meant by "Press X to plan", then followed by a replay of that level after completion.
  • But it didn't take long for me to understand that it was a way to explain the main character's precognition skills.
• Simple and satisfying game mechanics. I don't have to remember too many controls/moves.
  • Really liking the 1-hit kills, deflecting bullets, and the bullet time mechanics.
• I really liked the EDM soundtrack
• Trippy AF story that really made me think even when not playing the game.
  • The withdrawal symptoms of Chronos really sounds like one of my worst existential nightmares.
  • Any kind of experience that alters the sense of time is at least a little frightening.
  • To feel time come to a standstill, especially during moments of suffering, is like hell.
• I hope a sequel gets made, even though there's been no new content for many years now.
• It took me about 5 hours to finish the main game.

Dust - An Elysian Tail experience

December 31, 2025 Reading time: ~1 minute

Another game that I've wanted to play for a long while now. Funny enough, I discovered this game through a Youtube video talking about how a small budget game by a small teach far surpasses the train wreck that is Might No. 9. This game was largely created by one person. The art style really has that indie vibe to it. I always find those types of games really inspiring! If I wasn't so unmotivated, I'd love to make a game solo.

• Charming art style - might not be what most people consider super "polished", but I think that adds to the indie and personal feel!
  • Makes it feel "handmade," even though that's a strange way to describe a video game.
• Beautiful music and voice acting.
• Charming characters and story.
• I really liked the vibe of the game. It gives a feeling of wonder and awe.
• Really fun combat mechanic.
  • Pretty easy to beat the bosses first try, it's very possible to button mash through it (and I don't mean this in a bad way.)
  • One of the spinning moves really reminds me of Levi from Attack on Titan.
• Took about 12hrs to get through the main game and some quests.

Dead cells experience

December 31, 2025 Reading time: ~1 minute

I've wanted to play this game for years after seeing its great ratings and raving reviews from co-workers. I've made it to BC2. I still have long ways to go in terms of game completion, but enough for me to form my opinion on it.

• The combat is so clean, fast paced, and addictive.
• The variety is great, which is important for a rogue-like game.
• I had to push myself to try styles other than Brutality to experience the other play stiles.
  • I still default to brutality because I enjoy the fast-paced button mashing play style.
  • Shockingly, I actually got to BC2 using the Survival style, which is the style I'm least used to.
• This game has great replay value, I can see myself coming back to it on an ongoing basis just to play a run here and there.
• This game rewards you with i-frames and dodging into the attacks - Elden Ring has trained me well for this.
• It starts to get really difficult at BC2, which is why I haven't made much progress on it.
• I try to avoid the Forgotten Sepulcher when possible. Sudden death from the lack of light stresses me out too much.
• Derelict Distillery is the other biome I avoid because I am terrible at dodging those barrels.

Yakuza - Lost Judgement and Kaito Files experience

December 31, 2025 Reading time: ~1 minute

I actually finished this game back in July, but didn't get to writing a summary about it:

• As usual, the Yakuza franchise really takes a lot of care in their writing. You can tell that it's not an afterthought.
• I like the morally grey aspect of the entire plot, and there's no absolute right or wrong regardless of who you side with.
• The plot was more relatable in Lost Judgement compared to Judgement. The topic of bullying is something that's quite universal, unfortunately.
• Parts of the ending scenes definitely made me tear up.
• I really didn't like that group of bullies at the start, but they were alright in the end.
• I also played Kaito files, which is a great story in of itself.
• Shirakaba seemed very sus at the beginning, but he also turned out alright.
• I chose to fight him in the end because we gotta fight for what we want, right?