Recent reviews by ʟɪʟᴀᴄ ♡

It feels like a game show that Katniss Everdeen secretly wishes for 🫣

Town of Zoz is really slow at the start, like borderline “am I doing chores for no reason?” slow. But if you push through those first few hours, it actually makes sense. The farming, cooking, and bartering end up feeling way more important than they seem early on, and it all ties nicely into the game’s vibe and survival loop.

It’s still kinda rough around the edges though. Pacing can drag in the early-game and there some traversal/fast-travel hiccups that get annoying.

But there's still something cozy and unique here. It’s not gonna be for everyone, but if you’re okay with taking it slow, it’s worth sticking with.

Even on vanilla, it is super good!

A masterpiece within the CAGs field, truly enjoy to just run and slaughter enemies in a true hack/slash fashion. Forget about roguelite, just enjoy shapeshifting and chaining combos. A must for all CAGs fans

I really like the platform placement, it is so smart. It feels like the game can tell the difference between a ‘smart’ mistake and a reckless one. When I fell and thought, “Nooo, I calculated that so well,” I usually landed somewhere not too far below. But when I fell and immediately went, “I knew it! I rushed that,” that’s when I plummeted straight down.

I quote a review I read online: "LAVALAMP is a celebration of creative freedom in indie game development"

Truly a wonderful walking simulator game! In fact, I regarded it more like an interactive art gallery with an emphasis on the importance of breakfast!

Read my full review if you like to dig more: https://gamewhims.com/game-reviews/lavalamp-review/

I finished Z.A.T.O in about six hours, and it’s one of those VNs that sticks with you more after it ends than while you’re reading it.

This is a fully linear and choice-less visual novel. So, if you go in expecting agency or gameplay, you’re probably not gonna enjoy this much.

What worked for me was the atmosphere and the writing. It’s set in a closed Soviet city in the 1980s, and the whole thing feels uneasy and yet... kind of lonely in a way that fits the story. A lot of it is internal monologue and seemingly unimportant moments, but they add up by the end. The game is very interested in existential questions and that feeling of existing in a world that doesn’t really care about you.

The characters aren’t especially likable, and I think that’s intentional. You’re meant to understand why they act the way they do, not necessarily agree with them. Some scenes feel slow or uneventful at first, but looking back, they mattered more than I expected.

If you’re looking for choices, replay value, or something to “play,” this probably isn’t it. But if you enjoy reading narrative-heavy VNs and don’t mind a slower, more introspective experience, I think this one is worth your time.

I wrote a longer, spoiler-free review with more thoughts here if you’re interested:
👉 https://gamewhims.com/game-reviews/zato-review/

If you like introspective and explorative experiences (think Condo or the quieter moments of Abzû), this game nails that meditative vibe. Exploration is completely open from the start, and the environmental puzzles range from simple to surprisingly involved. Just know that many of them test patience more than skill... long climbs, long waits, long silences.

The visuals are genuinely stunning and scale impressively well, but the audio is extremely sparse. Whether that feels calming or empty will depend entirely on your tolerance for minimalism.

Full in-depth review here: https://gamewhims.com/2025/11/20/the-valley-beyond-review/

This game delivers a surprisingly accessible card-battler experience, especially for those who are complete beginner to deckbuilding games! I love that it balances simplicity with strategic depth.

Its core rock-paper-scissors mechanic is easy to grasp, but the PvP adds an extra challenge! The alternating attack and defense rounds keeping matches unpredictable. Ranked play isn’t available yet, but single-player campaigns is enough for the demo.

For a deeper dive, check out my full article here: https://gamewhims.com/2025/11/16/blades-bows-magic-review/

i played MTG and Yu-Gi-Oh!, but i never try any deckbuilding video games before! in general, i just love engaging with real cards and boards when it comes to stuff like this. But Master of Piece is brilliant in delivering a whole new experience. So, if any of you are like me (not a deckbuilding game fans), give this a try. It could be the gateway to a whole new genre to explore... I mean, if you have the time to explore because this game is so addictive!

Here is my full unbiased review (written from a newcomer pov) in case any new ones are curious: https://gamewhims.com/2025/09/05/master-of-piece-review/