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Not-E3 2023 Day 2: Rating the Summer Game Fest, Day of the Devs, and Devolver Digital showcases
With Summer Game Fest, Day of the Devs, and the Devolver Direct, Day 2 left varying impressions. But there was something for everyone.

Nate Hermanson
Jun 9, 20235 min read


Not-E3 2023 Day 1: Guerrilla Collective kicks off festivities with indies galore
90+ games, indie highlights galore: The Guerrilla Collective was an exciting start to Not-E3 week that declared indies rule the space.

Nate Hermanson
Jun 8, 20239 min read
Not-E3 2023 Mini-Preview: Farming fans thrive - Sugar Shack and One Lonely Outpost
Early demo impressions with Freedom Games' Sugar Shack and One Lonely Outpost.

Nate Hermanson
Jun 8, 20235 min read


Not-E3 2023: Your complete guide to June's game showcase schedule
Send a coffee to your local, dog-tired VGG crew member — it's Not-E3 2023!

Nate Hermanson
Jun 5, 20233 min read


Hands-on impressions with Texas Chain Saw Massacre: 4v3 horror gives the villains a fair shake
Texas Chain Saw Massacre's 4 victims vs. 3 killers gameplay is surprisingly well balanced with tension and helplessness for both sides.

Nate Hermanson
Jun 3, 20237 min read


REVIEW: Brooding atmosphere and fascinating puzzles > jump scares in The Tartarus Key
The Tartarus Key leans on a classic PSX horror aesthetic while defying genre expectations in this horror escape room puzzler.

Nate Hermanson
May 31, 20238 min read


REVIEW: Live A Live is a stunning testament to perseverance and preservation
Live A Live is ambitious for 2023, let alone for 1994 when it initially came out. The remake of this Square Enix gem isn't one to miss.

Nate Hermanson
May 30, 20238 min read


Early Access Check-in: Havendock gives a playful spin to survival and base building games
Havendock is doing Early Access right, building on its strong foundation as a cheeky survival game and colony sim.

Nate Hermanson
May 27, 20237 min read


REVIEW: Sunshine Shuffle contains multitudes - crime, cute animals, and heartbreaking writing
Sunshine Shuffle whisks you away for a cruise with poker, sunshine, ska, and organized crime.

Nate Hermanson
May 24, 20238 min read


REVIEW: Golden Idol Mysteries: The Spider of Lanka is a dream DLC
Instead of resting on their laurels, the Case of the Golden Idol team went straight into producing an absolute smash of a DLC project.

Nate Hermanson
May 10, 20235 min read


REVIEW: Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly is a warm cup of comfort
We all need a visit to Coffee Talk, the fantastical and friendly café that provides a sip of comfort to Seattle's sleepless.

Nate Hermanson
May 7, 202310 min read


VGG Indie Game Spotlight: 8 indie releases to get hype for in 2023
From roleplaying musicals to broke-vampire sims to peaceful river-floating adventures, here are eight 2023 indies you can't miss.

Nate Hermanson
May 1, 20236 min read


REVIEW: Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories delivers a delectable slice of life
LEGALIZE IT (melons)!

Nate Hermanson
Apr 29, 20237 min read


REVIEW: Innchanted's co-op magical management chaos is layered... literally
A game of magic potions, enchanting inns, and serving steaks... and mis-steaks.

Nate Hermanson
Apr 24, 20238 min read


REVIEW: 2D cinematic platformer Lunark's old-school-cool can't be beat
A loving homage and modern take on classic cinematic platformers, Lunark stretches your gaming muscles in new ways.

Nate Hermanson
Apr 20, 20238 min read


Early Access Check-in: Creepy meets cozy in Voltaire the Vegan Vampire
Voltaire: The Vegan Vampire — the game where your dad is Dracula and, no, he does NOT respect your plant-based lifestyle.

Nate Hermanson
Apr 16, 20238 min read


REVIEW: Terra Nil's environmental reclamation puzzles are as impactful as they are addictive
Terra Nil, equal parts meditative and strategic, is a "reverse city builder" that has you restore barren land to its natural state.

Nate Hermanson
Mar 29, 20238 min read


REVIEW: 9 Years of Shadows is a back-to-basics Metroidvania about healing with art
Europa and one immensely cuddly teddy bear, Apino, fight back against shadows that have engulfed the world for nearly a decade.

Nate Hermanson
Mar 27, 20239 min read


REVIEW: Tchia's culture-driven island experience wows with representation and coziness
Trek across Tchia's New Caledonia-inspired open world with childlike wonder.

Nate Hermanson
Mar 20, 20239 min read


REVIEW: Redemption Reapers falls short of full tactical redemption
If struggle and hopelessness — in story AND gameplay — are your bread and butter, step right up.

Nate Hermanson
Mar 10, 20238 min read
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