Recent reviews by // Ra2da

This game is incredibly simple, but somehow it hits harder emotionally than many big story games.

Emily is Away takes place entirely through an old-school chat program that looks like early 2000s AIM / Windows XP messenger. You create a username, pick a profile icon, and talk to Emily over several years of your life. It sounds basic, but the way the conversations unfold makes it feel strangely real.

What makes the game special is how relatable the story is. It captures that awkward teenage phase where friendships and relationships slowly drift apart. The typing system is also clever — you actually type responses, watch your character erase messages, and rewrite them like a real conversation.

The nostalgia factor is huge. The buddy icons, away messages, old computer sounds, and chat style perfectly recreate early internet culture. Even if you didn’t grow up with AIM, it still feels authentic.

However, the game is very short. A full playthrough is around an hour or less, and some players feel that the choices don’t change the ending as much as they expect.

But honestly, that’s kind of the point. Sometimes relationships just don’t work out, no matter what you say.

Pros

Unique storytelling through a chat interface

Very nostalgic early-2000s atmosphere

Realistic and relatable conversations

Completely free on Steam

Cons

Very short experience

Choices sometimes feel limited

Not much gameplay beyond reading and choosing dialogue

Final verdict:
A small indie game that tells a surprisingly emotional story. It’s short, but it sticks with you after you finish it.

I’ve been playing ARC Raiders for about two months now, and I feel like I’ve experienced enough of the game to give an honest review.

First, the atmosphere and world design are easily some of the strongest parts of the game. The destroyed sci-fi environments and constant tension of being hunted by ARC machines create a really immersive feeling. Every run feels risky, and the sound design especially keeps you on edge.

The PvPvE gameplay loop is also very engaging. Fighting AI machines while knowing that other players might be nearby creates a unique kind of pressure. Sometimes you’re carefully looting, and suddenly you hear gunshots or machines activating nearby, and the whole situation turns chaotic fast. Those moments are some of the most memorable.

However, after playing for a while, some issues start to appear. The progression can feel a bit slow, and certain loot runs start to feel repetitive once you learn the maps. Balancing between players and the machines also sometimes feels inconsistent—there are moments where encounters feel perfectly tuned, and others where things just feel unfair.

The gunplay and movement feel solid overall. It’s not the fastest shooter, but it rewards positioning and awareness more than raw aim. Teamplay especially makes a big difference if you’re running with friends.

Overall, after two months, I’d say ARC Raiders has a lot of potential. The core idea of mixing survival, extraction, and PvPvE is really fun, and the world they built is interesting enough to keep you coming back. With more content, better balancing, and some progression tweaks, this could easily become one of the standout extraction shooters.

For now, it’s a game that’s definitely worth trying if you enjoy tense looting, unpredictable encounters, and cooperative survival in a sci-fi setting.

love dis game ♥