review | video games are good

An in-game screenshot of ILA: A Frosty Glide. A young femme witch with a green hat soars through the sky on a magic broom, toward a series of magical rings that are surrounded by coins. They're attempting to cover a gap between two snowy mountains.

REVIEW: The wintry ILA: A Frosty Glide is a warm hug of a cozy micro open world

ILA: A Frosty Glide has the perfect atmosphere for the chilly season.

Nate Hermanson

Dec 2, 20257 min read

An in-game screenshot of Undusted: Letters from the Past. An old tape recorder sits open with grime and dirt all over it. In the opening where a tape would go, leaves and flowers seem to be growing. A sponge and toothbrush are waiting on a darkened desk to be used for cleaning.

REVIEW: ASMR, pure emotions, and satisfying cleaning await in Undusted: Letters from the Past

A bittersweet narrative softened by a gentle ASMR soundscape and quietly satisfying cleaning gameplay.

Nate Hermanson

Oct 20, 20255 min read

An in-game screenshot of Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree. In a forest environment, a warrior spins in a red arc to slash at some encroaching demons.

REVIEW: The action roguelike's new era is marked by games like Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree

Hard to say goodbye.

Nate Hermanson

Sep 29, 20258 min read

An in-game screenshot of Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 1 Re-Raptored. A man with black hair, black shades, a red shirt, and a bulletproof vest, stands in front of a locked gate that blocks his way into a mansion ahead. He says: "They don't make 'em like they used to."

REVIEW: Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 1 Re-Raptored skewers the industry once again with match-3 action

If you enjoyed the challenge of late-game CRDM3, you'll thrive from beginning to end.

Nate Hermanson

Sep 23, 20257 min read

An in-game screenshot of the game Henry Halfhead. A paper airplane with eyes flies over a messy classroom. Paint marks are all around the floor, a piece of homework with an incorrect answer scribbled in lays next to the mess, and a chalkboard at the front reads: MATH!

REVIEW: Henry Halfhead joyfully brings to halfmind the simpler things in life

A game for those with whimsy in their hearts — and anyone looking for a gateway to finding more of it.

Nate Hermanson

Sep 16, 20256 min read

Sizzle & Stack: The restaurant simulating card game that took over our lives

Quite literally, they cooked with this one.

Nate Hermanson

Aug 21, 20254 min read

An in-game screenshot of the game Herdling. A young person in a red hoodie stands in front of a campfire, surrounded by strange horned beasts in various states of rest. The fire is burning and the young person holds a staff with authority.

REVIEW: Lead the herd and develop bonds in Herdling

Herdling's story is one of survival, collaboration, and family. Okomotive balances your emotions beautifully, giving you tense moments of fear as you face the perilous natural obstacles on your journey to bring these creatures home — but then offering heart-soaring moments of joy in equal measure.

Nate Hermanson

Aug 21, 20258 min read

An in-game screenshot of The Drifter. A man with a graying beard is tied to a brick underwater, panicked and wild-eyed. A gas canister floats past him and a variety of bodies in a similar state float around him, long dead.

REVIEW: The Drifter's thrilling pulp action takes a step forward for modern point and clicks

One of the best games this year and an all-time point and click must-play.

Nate Hermanson

Aug 15, 20257 min read

An in-game screenshot from Popucom. A split-screen view of a mini-boss fight, with two characters running in an outdoor stage with a bipedal monster made of various colored blobs runs at them. One of its legs is shorter than the other, having been shot by the players through the match-3 color shooting mechanic.

REVIEW: Popucom's a brilliant bubble blasting co-op bash

Popucom is an absolute delight and one of the best co-op games we've played in years. It stands atop the mountain alongside experiences like Split Fiction and Portal 2.

Nate Hermanson

Jul 18, 20257 min read

An in-game screenshot of StarVaders. It depicts the game's combat screen. A wave of alien invaders descend downward through a tile-based grid. Two long snake-like aliens prepare shots that go straight forward and down two diagonals. Many of the invaders have blue shields around them. The player controls a red robot at the bottom of the screen by choosing from one of a few cards shown in their hand.

REVIEW: I never want to stop playing StarVaders

StarVaders burns bright and is no flash in the pan. I can't stay away from it and neither should you.

Nate Hermanson

May 21, 20257 min read

An animated GIF of Wanderstop. It starts with a sword flying through darkness before cutting to the main character Alta wincing and shaking her head on a bench. She's got white hair done up with a yellow bandana and what looks to be a black leather jacket. It cuts to serene shots of nature and hanging pots before cycling again.

REVIEW: Wanderstop's therapeutic and tactile tea-making brought me to tears

Walked a chamo-mile in Alta's worn warrior boots.

Nate Hermanson

Apr 29, 20258 min read

An in-game screenshot of Promise Mascot Agency. It depicts a conversation between Pinky, the severed finger, and Tofu, a giant block of Tofu. Pinky says: "We're all about making dreams come true and if your dream is to make a difference in people's lives and crush old men under your boot, we're here to help."

REVIEW: The stray mascots of Promise Mascot Agency gave me hope we'll survive 2025

The last place I expected to find hope for the nightmare year that has been 2025 is in the giant sparkly eyes of a severed pinky. But that's just the kind of world we live in right now.

Nate Hermanson

Apr 10, 20258 min read

An in-game screenshot of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza. On the deck of a pirate ship, various crew members pose for a photo. Some cross their arms, some raise a fist in glory. In the front, the game's protagonist Majima points at the camera. Next to him, a young boy stands with his hands at his waist, and his father stands next to him in a backwards cap raising his fist. A baby tiger sits off to the side as well.

REVIEW: Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is the definition of a side story... and that's not a bad thing

Being a pirate captain for a "short" 40 hours in the Like a Dragon universe is a dream I never knew I had.

Nate Hermanson

Apr 7, 20258 min read

REVIEW: Who needs dating apps when I can just match-3 with some hotties in Spirit Swap?

Spirit Swap: Lo-fi Beats to Match-3 To is everything I could have asked for in a return to Panel de Pon match-3 gaming — and then some.

Nate Hermanson

Feb 8, 20258 min read

REVIEW: Must perform well under pressure - Uncle Chop's Rocket Shop

With its morbid humor and the constant surprises of randomized repair tasks and new daily gimmicks, Uncle Chop's is endlessly unpredictable.

Nate Hermanson

Jan 24, 20257 min read

REVIEW: Pull off book heists in a fascinating literary world with The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales

Six books, six items to steal, and writer-turned-thief Etienne Quist has his freedom again.

Nate Hermanson

Dec 2, 20248 min read

Early Access Check-in: Creature collecting goes sports anime in the charming and competitive Beastieball

VGG's resident Sports Guy has a lot to say about sports anime-flavored creature collector Beastieball. Go figure.

Nate Hermanson

Nov 12, 20249 min read

REVIEW: Wild Bastards adds a bundle of yeehaw personality to a randomized immersive sim experience

Wild Bastards gave us a new cast of spacefaring outlaws and scoundrels to love.

Nate Hermanson

Oct 8, 20248 min read

REVIEW: Été has a few rough edges but manages to delight with its zen creative expression

Été offers players a chance to slip into the mind of an artist, turning Montreal itself into a canvas — though some rough edges persist.

Nate Hermanson

Sep 25, 20248 min read

REVIEW: The Plucky Squire celebrates the creative spirit and performs gaming magic

The Plucky Squire is about how stories are able to inspire others to create, and the impact they have on young hearts and minds.

Nate Hermanson

Sep 17, 20249 min read

REVIEW: The wintry ILA: A Frosty Glide is a warm hug of a cozy micro open world

REVIEW: ASMR, pure emotions, and satisfying cleaning await in Undusted: Letters from the Past

REVIEW: The action roguelike's new era is marked by games like Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree

REVIEW: Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 1 Re-Raptored skewers the industry once again with match-3 action

REVIEW: Henry Halfhead joyfully brings to halfmind the simpler things in life

Sizzle & Stack: The restaurant simulating card game that took over our lives

REVIEW: Lead the herd and develop bonds in Herdling

REVIEW: The Drifter's thrilling pulp action takes a step forward for modern point and clicks

REVIEW: Popucom's a brilliant bubble blasting co-op bash

REVIEW: I never want to stop playing StarVaders

REVIEW: Wanderstop's therapeutic and tactile tea-making brought me to tears

REVIEW: The stray mascots of Promise Mascot Agency gave me hope we'll survive 2025

REVIEW: Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is the definition of a side story... and that's not a bad thing

REVIEW: Who needs dating apps when I can just match-3 with some hotties in Spirit Swap?

REVIEW: Must perform well under pressure - Uncle Chop's Rocket Shop

REVIEW: Pull off book heists in a fascinating literary world with The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales

Early Access Check-in: Creature collecting goes sports anime in the charming and competitive Beastieball

REVIEW: Wild Bastards adds a bundle of yeehaw personality to a randomized immersive sim experience

REVIEW: Été has a few rough edges but manages to delight with its zen creative expression

REVIEW: The Plucky Squire celebrates the creative spirit and performs gaming magic

Join my mailing list