Horror games based on folklore are pretty common these days. It makes sense: a lot of folklore is truly terrifying stuff, and it’s fascinating to think that people live and die by the lessons they set forth. That said, most of these games are little…
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When you think of indie games which developers come to mind? Is it Phil Fish, the controversial mastermind behind Fez? Perhaps it’s Edmund McMillen and his darkly humorous creations. Or maybe the impossible to hate Derek Yu of Spelunky fame? Forget those guys, you should…
In Where the Water Tastes Like Wine, stories live everywhere people do. They are clustered in towns, tucked into nooks in mountain ranges, and spread out across the whole of the continental United States. Some of the stories that these characters tell you will feel…
A Case of Distrust is a narrative-driven, murder mystery game heavily inspired by the works of noir mystery writers Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. Its unique twist on the noir mystery genre, pulpy writing, and transfixing presentation makes this one of the best detective stories…
George Orwell‘s 1945 classic Animal Farm was, the author said, the “first book in which I tried, with full consciousness of what I was doing, to fuse political purpose and artistic purpose into one whole”. An allegorical critique of Stalinist Russia, Orwell’s book follows the revolutionary undertakings…
In the Long Dark, your job is to survive. It’s a simple enough idea, but the task is complicated by the presence of some of Great Bear’s very hungry local fauna. To that end, here are four quick tips for new (or struggling) survivors dealing…
Maggese Games‘s Don’t Make Love has been nominated for Best Student Game at this year’s IGF awards. Artist Nina Kiel was kind enough to chat with Cliqist about inspiration, romance mechanics, and the essence of the tragedy at Don’t Make Love’s core. Blossoming Romance Cliqist: Hi…
It’s Sunday, which means that in addition to eating nothing but donuts all day it’s time to check out the Kickstarter video game campaigns that launched last week. This isn’t to say that all the campaigns are worth your money, in fact, many of them…
“Dad, Look! They’re here!” My team of mechs beamed down from orbit. The local populace were understandably overjoyed. When your hometown is under assault by a legion of bugs as big as buildings, there’s few sights prettier than a trio of heavily armed war machines….
Bossa Studios, the company best known for Surgeon Simulator and I Am Bread, have canceled their latest game after only a week on Steam Early Access. Released to Steam on November 4, Bossa head Henrique Olifiers announced in a statement on November 10 that development…
Spying in video games is a fantastic example of the negotiation of power between the player and game. Compare 1992’s Night Trap to Five Nights At Freddy’s in terms of their use of cameras. One uses the extra eyes to activate traps in a house…
One of the best things about video games is the way in which they allow us to inhabit and explore a virtual space. These arenas are often beautiful, and some features, such as photo modes, encourage players to appreciate their graphics. But Gigoia Studios takes…
The term “permadeath” is a bit of a red flag for me. Nothing makes me run faster from an otherwise intriguing game, other than maybe zombies or overly simplistic pixel art, than seeing that term tagged on a game in Steam. Or simulators, those usually…
Change is in the air, readers. Leaves are beginning to fall from trees, leaving piles of amber plant matter everywhere. Soon the bare branches will hold snow. At least, if you’re lucky enough to live in a place where snow isn’t a fever dream and…
Online game marketplace, Itch.io prides itself on being an “open marketplace for independent digital creators with a focus on independent video games.” Here even small developers are able to get their products in front of a sizable audience without going through any gatekeepers or vetting…
Crowdfunding is rife with zombie survival games. Yet, zombie aficionados are still holding out hope for one that ticks all the right boxes. Sure you want open-word sandbox survival, but too many games give up after that. This leaves well-fortified players with nothing to do…