It’s a solid game.

I’ve been recommended this game so much in my life that admittedly I was expecting to like it more. As I reflect and write this review I try not to let that feeling of overhype cloud my true feelings for the game. My true feelings are that I liked the game!

I mostly felt surprised by this game. Despite hearing so much chatter about it and being recommended it so many times, I quickly realized I didn’t really know what this game was about. I was expecting a sort of “man escapes feelings by going to the woods for a summer only to find acceptance for his feelings”. I guess this was part of the game? Much of the game ended up (surprisingly) being a Hitchcock-esque mystery/thriller. For me, this plot line took away a bit from what I thought the game was setting out to do in the first hour. I wonder how much of the mystery/thriller elements were part of the game’s initial storyboarding, and how much was added to make it more “engaging” or “palatable” for larger audiences. Just a thought!

Otherwise, I thought the game looked beautiful. As the days in-game went on, I felt myself feeling more and more familiar with the terrain and the trails around me. I felt connected to them, to events that had happened there in days past. I was charmed by Delilah and I liked relying on a paper map and trail signs. Again, generally, I think this is a pretty solid game. I’d recommend it.

Played as a part of @zachawee and I’s monthly game club, May 2026: Recommended by a friend (thanks Anna and Keaton!)

This is my first-ever finished mainline Pokemon game. Honestly it may be the first Pokemon game I have ever finished, mainline or not. I struggle to finish games, lol. I’m a pretty big Pokemon fan; I collect the cards, I watch the anime/movies, and I still play Pokemon Go often in 2026. So… this is sort of a big deal for me!

Obviously I found this game to be pretty charming. The Kanto region is pretty nostalgic to me just because of age and also it being the primary series of the anime that I engage with. Every time a story beat happened in the game, I felt myself thinking, “this is just like that episode of the anime!”

I had a lot of fun! This was a long game for me (nearly 40 hours!), and I struggle with the random encounters/grinding that comes with older jrpg’s, but this was fun nonetheless! Gary is a big bully, I love Erika, and I was really happy to see the Cubone/Marowak arc featured here! I do wish these games focused a little more on the narrative and a little less on battle/grinding. I should really go back and finish Mystery Dungeon, I think that might be my ideal Pokemon gaming format?

Anyhow, I’m glad to cross this experience off my list. What a journey!

Here’s my final team:
Alakazam
Moltres
Raichu
Tentacruel
Marowak
Venusaur

For now, the only legendary I sought out was Moltres, maybe someday I’ll go back and find the others.

Played as a part of @zachawee and I’s monthly game club, March 2026: A jrpg (yeah, I know I’m late)

Zach and I first played Overcooked 2 back in the fall of 2021 when we first started dating. At that time, I owned no video game consoles, and my gaming background was sparse. Sure, I had a GameBoy, GameCube, DS Lite, and a Wii at different parts of my childhood. I was never a gamer, though.

Needless to say, the first time we ever played Overcooked 2, I was bad. Like, really bad. Like, I’m not even sure Zach was having fun, bad. There’s a reason we never finished the game the first time around, lol.

Now, it’s 2026. I’m still not very good at games. The Onion King and I now have an understanding of each other. I’m not so sure about Kevin…

We beat all the main levels, achieved 3 stars on every one, and never rage quit! The first time playing felt stressful and overwhelming, while this time felt like a fun and welcome challenge. Maybe there’s a metaphor there? Who’s to say.

I’ll be sticking to romance novels for a while!
- The Onion King

Played as a part of @zachawee and I’s monthly game club, February 2026: A Co-op