This year it has felt like there’s been a string of quality games releases. Games that I m proud to support, whether it be for their tackling of serious subject matter or excellent writing or unique concepts that push the industry forward. Games that are already redefining preconceived standards of play.

In short: next year has a tough act to follow. (more…)

The calendar’s doors have been opened and the games inside have been eaten. But fear not, latecomer – we’ve reconstructed the list in this single post for easy re-consumption. Click on to discover the best games of 2017. (more…)

When I play games, my face (oh, it is tired) spends 90% of the time entirely inert, and the remaining 10% wincing or eye-rolling when something kills me and/or I fall off some ledge to my doom. Neither is from a lack of enjoyment, but just from being lost in an internal world of pursuing goals. You almost certainly look equally unsettling when you’re gaming.

In West of Loathing [official site], I would estimate I spent 95% of the time smiling. If you knew me (and you don’t – only my cat truly knows me) you’d know that’s highly unusual. West Of Loathing, a lovely, warm comedy RPG set in an only slightly supernatural wild west, makes me feel so happy. (more…)

Delightfully daft MMO Kingdom of Loathing has escaped the confines of Internet browsers and gone west in new singleplayer RPG West of Loathing [official site]. You might have heard life is peaceful there in the open air, but it seems anything but in this standalone spin-off. Bandits, demon cows, goblins, skeletons, and clowns are among the horrors waiting for us as we quest, solve puzzles, and fight. Also, it has jokes — laffs, rib-ticklers, funnies, jibes, the lot — not to mention hats.

Have a gander at the launch trailer: (more…)

The love Alec once held deep in his heart for lo-fi MMORPG Kingdom of Loathing may have ebbed as the years passed, but wait til he finds out that its single-player western follow-up, West of Loathing [official site] is coming out some time next month. Or so say creators Asymmetric in a new trailer showing off a very quick playthrough of the prologue (they ve compressed 23 minutes of mine-looting, snake-bashing and beer-drinking down to a 37 second timelapse). It was planned for release earlier this year, but you know videogames. Come see that trailer. … [visit site to read more]