Recent reviews by KEGA

Caves of Qud was recommended to me by some random dude I met in Counter-Strike 2. Total oddball. Our friendship lasted like three days, but he blessed me with this absolute banger of a game, so props to him wherever he is.

I had no idea what to expect going in. The visuals looked like someone dragged a 1980s terminal through a neon mushroom trip, which honestly is what convinced me to hit “Play,” and damn, I’m glad I did. The world is weird in the best way, mutants, ancient tech, talking plants, factions that hate you for reasons you won’t understand for 20 hours. It’s all so bizarre and so good.

Once I fixed a few keybinds, it ran beautifully on the Steam Deck, and that’s when the addiction started. Every time I thought, “Okay, one last area,” I’d discover something insane and suddenly I’m three hours deeper. The game just pulls you in like that.

What really makes Qud special is how every single run goes off the rails in a totally different direction. You can start the same way and somehow end up a psychic bird-man leading a cult of robots, or maybe you explode after drinking the wrong puddle. Who knows. Anything can happen, and it usually does.

Yeah, it’s overwhelming at first. The game basically drops you in the desert like, “Good luck, idiot.” But learning the systems, mutations, crafting, factions, and the weird diseases you get from licking the wrong plant, is half the fun. And once it clicks, it really clicks.

Mods just make it even better. People in the community are wizards, live and drink.

Caves of Qud is a love letter to old-school roguelikes, but with enough personality and weirdness to feel completely modern. It’s deep, it’s strange, it’s funny, and it scratches that explorer itch like nothing else.

If you like games that surprise you every five minutes, this one’s a treasure.

Guacamelee! is a classic platformer given a spicy twist. From the moment I jumped in, it hit me with a wave of nostalgia. The gameplay feels smooth and responsive, the world is quirky and full of character, and the humor is spot-on. It’s vibrant, fast, and just plain fun.

The Mexican folklore and Lucha Libre theming give it a unique charm. The art style, colors, and music come together beautifully, and the transitions between the living and dead worlds are so slick you could butter a tortilla on them. Combat evolves nicely too, combos and special moves flow together in a satisfying way that scratches that “beat-’em-up” itch.

Some later stages get tough, precise jumps, vanishing platforms, tight timing. It can feel a little unfair at times, especially for newer players, but it’s rewarding when you finally nail those sections. The pacing overall feels just right: long enough to feel substantial, short enough to avoid drag.

Guacamelee! leans more linear than some Metroidvanias, with clear gating and straightforward progression. It may feel simpler and more guided compared to something like Hollow Knight, but that also makes it a great entry point for newcomers to the genre.

At its best, it’s a stylish, satisfying, and compact adventure that perfectly balances charm and challenge. It might not be the deepest Metroidvania out there, but it’s definitely memorable.

Dave the Diver was an extremely pleasant surprise. I’d heard the hype but held off until later, and I’m glad I finally dove in. . . with a Side of Sushi. The mix of gorgeous pixel-art underwater scenes, peaceful yet mysterious music, and that sense of discovery creates a really captivating atmosphere.

The core loop is brilliant: diving by day to explore, hunt, and collect, then running a sushi restaurant by night. That dual-life design makes the game feel fresh, rewarding, and oddly cozy. It’s perfect for unwinding after a stressful game or just relaxing in short sessions.

The natural progression is satisfying, especially in the first 10–20 hours when new mechanics, areas, and mysteries keep things exciting. Free DLC, crossover content, and active dev support also help keep players engaged. That said, once everything is unlocked, the sense of discovery slows, and the endgame can feel repetitive.

Still, even with its flaws, Dave the Diver radiates warmth and charm. It’s one of those games that’s easy to recommend if you want something light, unique, and full of heart.

The Plucky Squire is a beautiful game with an art style that blends 2D and 3D realms seamlessly. It leans heavily into storytelling and visual imagination rather than mechanical depth, and while that sometimes cuts into gameplay, the charm more than makes up for it.

The narration is wonderful, giving the whole experience the vibe of a children’s book. The playful wonder of shifting between 2D and 3D worlds is magical, filled with clever design touches, old-school gamer references, and pop culture easter eggs. Even if you don’t care much about challenge, the game works if you just want to be charmed and absorbed.

That said, there are challenge options. I played the challenge mode and found myself genuinely tested at times. There’s also a one-life mode, which I didn’t attempt, but I can definitely see some players enjoying the thrill. Hardcore gamers looking for deep puzzles, layered combat, or high replay value might find it lacking, but for what it sets out to do, it succeeds.

Honestly, this feels like the perfect game for a parent to play with their kid. The story is family-friendly, whimsical, and accessible, but still has little nods and easter eggs for older players. It’s lighthearted, meta, and fun.

Also worth noting, it runs beautifully on the Steam Deck, and I loved playing chunks of it handheld.

The Plucky Squire may not be about hardcore mechanics, but it’s about wonder, and it delivers that in spades.

I never got the chance to play Darksiders when it first released, but with the collection recently on sale I decided to give it a whirl, and I don’t regret it for a second. This game oozes fun.

The premise is fantastic: heaven and hell clashing on a ruined modern Earth, creating a post-apocalyptic fantasy world. The visuals, enemies, and environments all lean into that theme really well. War’s combat feels great, hack-and-slash action mixed with abilities creates a satisfying, addictive loop ,though it can get a little repetitive over time.

The structure is where it really shines. Dungeons, puzzles that gate progress, platforming, and exploration are all nicely divided in a way that feels almost Zelda-like. It’s a formula that works, even today.

That said, the camera can be frustrating, and even with the remaster, the visuals definitely show the game’s 2010 roots. But once you accept its age, those rough edges fade into the background.

Darksiders is one of those games that, despite dated elements, still delivers where it matters most. It may not have the polish of modern action games, but its highs are distinct, memorable, and absolutely worth experiencing.

My first reaction? What a slog. I bounced off Kingdom Come multiple times before it finally clicked, and honestly, mods were what helped get me there. Once I adjusted things, especially combat, the game opened up into something special.

Dialogue, quests, and the sheer detail of the environments are what pulled me in. The world feels handcrafted, every stone and tree placed with intention. Missions often demand patience and creativity, offering both swordplay and nonviolent paths that respect player choice. It’s a game that refuses to lean into fantasy tropes, which makes its grounded tone and character arcs feel refreshing and distinct.

Now, the combat. By default, it’s highly technical and skill-based. Some people love that, but for me, it was rough to get used to. With mods that reworked it into something closer to Mordhau or Chivalry, I could finally enjoy the rest of the experience without getting bogged down. Maybe not the “pure” way to play, but it worked for me.

There are frustrations: technical glitches, the restrictive save system , sleep, checkpoints, or rare saviour schnapps, and some general clunk. While these mechanics do add immersion, they can also feel like barriers. Thankfully, the modding community has built solutions for almost every pain point.

At its best, Kingdom Come is mesmerising, a bold medieval RPG trading high fantasy for historical fidelity. It demands patience, but if you’re hungry for realism, story, and weight in every interaction, it can be profound. If bugs or mechanics turn you off, you might want more polish, but with mods, this flawed gem shines.

I went into Psychonauts blind after a work friend told me it was their favourite game. I remembered being curious back when it first released, but never tried it. And wow, what a pleasant surprise.

The quirky characters and humorous writing are instantly lovable. Each mind you explore is a surreal playground, overflowing with creativity and unforgettable ideas. Psychic kids at a summer camp sounds lighthearted, but the game balances that whimsy with darker psychological themes, trauma, paranoia, regret, identity, and it all comes together beautifully.

That said, the game definitely shows its age. Camera control and combat have the stiffness of early 2000s games, and the clunky platforming and collision detection can be frustrating at times. But underneath that, the sheer creativity and imagination shine through.

Psychonauts isn’t perfect mechanically, but its creativity, humour, and heart make it a platformer that has truly stood the test of time.

I love horror, but I’ll admit, I have a hard time fully immersing myself sometimes (or maybe I’m just a bit of a scaredy cat). Visage feels heavily inspired by PT from way back when, and honestly, it does that legacy justice.

The game gives you multiple paths and stories to experience, ranging from absolutely horrific to “okay, that spooked me but I can breathe again.” No matter where you are, the ambiance is always there, keeping you on edge. The visuals do a ton of heavy lifting, the house feels too real, like it has a life of its own. Pair that with masterful sound design and you’ve got a recipe for constant paranoia.

This is one of those horror games that sticks with you long after you turn it off. It’s slow, deliberate, and absolutely drenched in atmosphere. The jump scares? Brutal, some of the best I’ve ever seen. It’s a masterclass in oppressive ambience, a real psychological gauntlet.

Gameplay is methodical but rewarding. You’ll explore, manage sanity, and piece together stories tied to the house. Some chapters lean more into psychological tension than others. The pacing can drag, and a few puzzles are so obscure they get frustrating, but the payoff is usually worth the effort.

Visage isn’t perfect, but it’s one of the most haunting, unforgettable horror experiences I’ve played. If you want a game that gets under your skin and refuses to leave, this is it.

Blasphemous scratched my Metroidvania itch in the best way. I went in not really knowing what to expect, honestly just drawn in because the protagonist reminded me of Pyramid Head. What I found was something way more than I anticipated.

The art style is gorgeous, dark, gothic, and steeped in Spanish religious horror. If that kind of religious mystique speaks to you, the atmosphere alone makes the pilgrimage worth taking. The music, art direction, and old, weighty language all come together to build a world that feels haunting and alive. Level design is tight and smart, rewarding exploration while constantly pulling you deeper into the nightmare.

Combat and platforming are challenging and exciting, though the clunky controls take a while to adjust to. Still, finally beating a boss or clearing a tough section feels incredible. Puzzles stand out too, each one dripping with personality and brutality. Side quests can be annoying since a lot are missable, but that also pushes you to thoroughly explore.

I wasn’t a fan of DLC being locked behind New Game+, and the platinum-ending conditions are way too strict for most players. That said, the game is worth replaying regardless.

Blasphemous isn’t for the faint of heart, but if you’re chasing dark beauty, symbolic storytelling, and punishing but rewarding gameplay, this is one of the most distinct Metroidvanias of this generation.

Street Racing Syndicate speeds in with a strong nostalgic vibe. I played mostly on the Steam Deck and it felt incredible on the go. There aren’t many racing games these days that scratch this specific itch, so having one that’s quick, arcade-style, and exciting on handheld is a treat.

Car visual customization is limited, but the part modifications are interesting, letting you experiment with different setups beyond just looks. The menus for upgrades are clunky and confusing, though, which drags the fun down a notch. The world itself isn’t very active, but it’s still surprisingly fun to cruise around in.

The girlfriend or cargirl feature is a quirky time capsule, it doesn’t really add much to gameplay, but hey, it’s a snapshot of the early 2000s and yes, young Tila Tequila shows up before things went off the rails (っ´ཀ`)っ

For a game that wasn’t well received back in the day, it actually holds up better now. The physics lean a little more realistic than old-school Need for Speed, and the AI feels fair and competitive most of the time. The car variety is limited and definitely leaves you wanting more, but what’s here works.

At the end of the day, Street Racing Syndicate is a flawed but memorable curiosity, where light RPG mechanics meet street racing flair, wrapped in early-2000s style and fan service. Not the most polished racer, but undeniably fun if you appreciate its weird charm, nostalgic quirks, and the fact it’s usually found on deep discount.