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