tldr videogame curation
melbourne, australia

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It happened! I’ve had trouble getting into this type of game, but they’ve done it. Clair Obscur’s haunting beauty is very cleverly combined with slick turn-based combat, which is punched up with realtime mechanics like parrying and dodging. Diverse and satisfying buildcrafting, a great story, an intriguing world, compelling characters and excellent VA - and all atop an unforgettable soundtrack. It’s focused, emotional, confident, and it all works. A rare gem that proves a vision and creative freedom can trump budget and team size. Ripper game.

Revenge of the Savage Planet delivers vibrant, absurd comedic exploration across bizarre alien worlds; scan oddball creatures, gather resources, and metroidvania your way through areas with new abilities. A wild ride bursting with personality, which can also be played co-op. It stumbles in spots, but if its offbeat, slapstick charm is down your alley, there’s more than enough to hook you here.

I cannot overstate how much I love Blue Prince. It’s an absolute masterclass in design, and oozes thoughtful passion. Every mechanic interlocks with intent, it rewards curiosity without ever hand-holding, exquisitely links story and gameplay, and its puzzles are a seemingly endless cascade of satisfying eureka moments. Smart, stylish, deep - Blue Prince instantly joins the ranks of the best puzzle games of all-time. Go in blind, bring a notebook.

I love everything about KCD2. It’s a rich, grounded RPG that pulls you right in with incredible worldbuilding, smart writing, and deeply satisfying systems. At every turn, you can sense it’s something made with genuine passion, not boardroom metrics. It won’t be for everyone - I’m not sure it’s even for me - but for what it’s trying to do, it’s perfect.

A wonderful addition to the deduction genre. Roottrees channels the spirit of Obra Dinn through a unique, research-heavy lens. Immersive, intricate, and deeply rewarding - few games so elegantly reward attention to detail. Must play for fans of the genre.

Utter chaos in the best way. An absolute fever dream of retro vibes, unhinged builds, and a ball named Nubby that makes numbers explode until the game crashes. It’s five bucks and way more fun than it really should be. If you need a quick dopamine hit, just get it.

A fresh twist on autobattlers, The Bazaar was described by its ex-Hearthstone-pro creator Reynad as “multiplayer Slay the Spire”. Roguelike runs are PvE and async PvP, letting you pause, pivot, and plan without the usual pressure. Deep, fresh, and very addictive - despite not being officially released yet, it’s already a standout.

Die in the Dungeon is a fresh roguelike deckbuilder that trades cards for dice, aiming to combine strengths of strategy with unpredictability of randomness. The charming art and unique mechanics make for a compelling experience, but early-game monotony and balance issues hold it back a bit. Runs are looong too, so you gotta be up for that. Lots of potential, though, and absolutely worth playing.

It’s a game about digging a hole. But is it merely a task, or a reflection on modern gaming - an endless pursuit of progress, framed as purpose? Is the act of digging its own reward, its own quiet compulsion? Simple, but mildly compelling.

A surreal mystery built on perception, memory and art, wrapped in a cryptic, looping narrative. Its design deliberately disorients, making you feel lost - both physically, within its maze-like setting, and mentally, as you untangle cryptic symbols, shifting perspectives, and hidden logic. Like a living puzzle box, every solution peels back another layer of meaning, rewarding deep engagement and lateral thinking. Very good.