The last two weeks were stacked with games! We are in a situation where more games are releasing than there is time to play them. For the consumer it’s a good problem to have, but I always feel bad for the people that worked on the games.
The best I can do is play as many as possible and share my thoughts with you. Let me tell you about these two games.
Gecko Gods || 16/04/26
In Geckos Forgotten Land you take form of a gecko (shocking, I know). You arrive at a temple and learn your true calling: resurrecting the Gecko Gods.
With this highly important mission in mind you explore vast landscapes, investigate remains of a lost civilizations and eat insects. Yes, the last part is especially important.
Insects in fact provide you with new colour schemes for your little creature. Relics in exchange unlock different patterns. Both of these can be purchased with a currency, that looks like ancient hieroglyphs, which can be found across the area.
You can’t save the world without looking stylish, right?
Your now bright tricoloured gecko with a striped pattern is ready to explore the islands. After a short semi-guided adventure riddled with puzzles to enlighten the first temple, the whole area expands and you are free to choose your next stop. There are many islands of different size and topographic. A wide desert, a volcano, a nearly broken down island with remains of a building and bells. Wherever you look, you find something new to explore. It’s hard to keep your eyes focused when there are multiple points of attraction.
This is by far the biggest strength of Gecko Gods, yet it will ultimately determine if the game is for you or not. There is no mini-map, no arrows to show the destinations. You are simply to explore the different islands. You alarm one bell and your gecko knows there are four more to go. The landscapes might guide you towards an area but otherwise you have to trust your intuition and the level design. It’s okay to get distracted, but don’t strive too far from your goal. If you can’t solve a puzzle now, take note of it and explore the area around. Perhaps there is another element you need to unlock before you can proceed.
You have a minimal quest log that vaguely tracks your progress and there is an overall world map that displays the islands. This little guidance is all you will get.
Ultimately, I recommend playing the game in one sitting or at least keep the sessions close to each other. It being roughly four hours long makes that possible. A few days in between can quickly lead to feeling lost, forgetting which parts of the area you explored. You will explore some areas twice while overlooking a few completely. You will be standing in a puzzle room thinking you still need to solve it, only to realize halfway you’ve already done it. Don’t be a confused gecko. Be a smart one and you will reach your destination.
Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth || 27/04/26
Every late autumn the Moomins enter their hibernation. It’s to protect yourself from tough climate and to energize for spring. The Moomins entered their winter sleep like every year but a loud noise wakes the young Moomintroll. Confused he gets up, thinking his parents are preparing breakfast, only to be met by a cold wind and snow. So much snow.
The noise turns out to be a squirrel and by following it Moomintroll has to confront what his kind usually avoids.
By exploring the frosty landscapes engulfing forest, sea and mountains, you will meet old and new friends, listen to their troubles and offer a helping hand. The cold turns out to be as dangerous as it is beautiful and exciting. New tools motivate you to explore Moominvalley into its deepest core, gather resources and look for anything that might be of use to others.
Moomintroll is a kind individual that struggles with his own insecurities and fear of the unknown. Help him overcome this and learn new lessons along the adventure.
What starts of as a cold embrace turns into sparkly snow and gorgeous views. The nostalgic and beautiful aesthetics will clearly warm your heart. The unique warmth winter brings, is the main topic in this game after all. Any cold wind can lead to a new adventure, any solid ice to joy. Join Moomintroll as he learns to embrace winters warmth.
Quick Shoutout (not played yet)
Cat carried Butterfly || 28/04/26
A mystery game inspired by Chinese folklore that reminds me of the great and equally narrative-driven Detention. You will uncover secrets about an orphanage that once felt like home. In a land where tradition and modernism clash, a young girl is discovering her past while struggling with her own identity. Confront what was lost and what remains in this house. May history be on your side.
Save My Scrap || 21/04/26
Save My Scrap describes itself as an interactive visual novel. You start off as a content mechanic that repairs androids. A seemingly normal job request by a doctor leads into a spiral of memories that were once lost. What lead to this situation and is it safe to uncover the truth? The only way to find out is to start this job and connect the cords of this broken being.
Numeral Strike || 23/04/26
Roguelikes and deckbuilders are one in a dozen but Numeral Strike combines it with humanities biggest fear: Maths!
Nonono, don’t run away. It’s not as scary as it sounds. The only requirement is that you are able to count to 10. Sounds doable now, right?
In a turn based manner, you have to connect pairs that add up to 10. Otherwise your actions won’t work. With these you can attack, heal or perform various special actions. The numeric grid is the core of the combat to fend of mushrooms, wizards and buff frog-man. I like the frog-man with their huge machete. Your rewards and progress carry over between chapter and each of those bring new enemies and tactics. Start the fight, even if your only motivation is the buff frog.
