Ephemeral Enigmas
@ephemeralenigmas.bsky.social
Giving offbeat, obscure, forgotten, or just cool and interesting games the attention they deserve on my blog once a week. Also a contributor to Hardcore Gaming 101. He/Him
http://ephemeralenigmas.com/
http://ephemeralenigmas.com/
96. Rule of Rose
This one is hard to get through at times, but it really pays off! The story is told in such an artistically inspired way that feels strongly and intelligently influenced by movies
The combat is "bad" in a way that I happen to find really funny, so I actually didn't mind that part
This one is hard to get through at times, but it really pays off! The story is told in such an artistically inspired way that feels strongly and intelligently influenced by movies
The combat is "bad" in a way that I happen to find really funny, so I actually didn't mind that part
November 28, 2025 at 8:30 PM
96. Rule of Rose
This one is hard to get through at times, but it really pays off! The story is told in such an artistically inspired way that feels strongly and intelligently influenced by movies
The combat is "bad" in a way that I happen to find really funny, so I actually didn't mind that part
This one is hard to get through at times, but it really pays off! The story is told in such an artistically inspired way that feels strongly and intelligently influenced by movies
The combat is "bad" in a way that I happen to find really funny, so I actually didn't mind that part
I'm having a pleasant Thanksgiving, but that's not stopping me from feeling like this the whole time
November 27, 2025 at 11:59 PM
I'm having a pleasant Thanksgiving, but that's not stopping me from feeling like this the whole time
95. Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble (replay)
I've always said this is my favorite of the three and after this replay, that's thankfully still true! I just adore the different atmosphere, the soundtrack, and all the unique level ideas that make it feel so unpredictable throughout
I've always said this is my favorite of the three and after this replay, that's thankfully still true! I just adore the different atmosphere, the soundtrack, and all the unique level ideas that make it feel so unpredictable throughout
November 26, 2025 at 5:41 PM
95. Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble (replay)
I've always said this is my favorite of the three and after this replay, that's thankfully still true! I just adore the different atmosphere, the soundtrack, and all the unique level ideas that make it feel so unpredictable throughout
I've always said this is my favorite of the three and after this replay, that's thankfully still true! I just adore the different atmosphere, the soundtrack, and all the unique level ideas that make it feel so unpredictable throughout
I wanna meet K. Rool's wife so bad
November 23, 2025 at 9:22 PM
I wanna meet K. Rool's wife so bad
94. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (replay)
Pleased to say this still deserves its reputation as one of the best platformers out there! I do think they overuse Squawks and the bramble stages, especially near the end, but that's a small price to pay for atmospheric and musical perfection
Pleased to say this still deserves its reputation as one of the best platformers out there! I do think they overuse Squawks and the bramble stages, especially near the end, but that's a small price to pay for atmospheric and musical perfection
November 23, 2025 at 4:12 PM
94. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (replay)
Pleased to say this still deserves its reputation as one of the best platformers out there! I do think they overuse Squawks and the bramble stages, especially near the end, but that's a small price to pay for atmospheric and musical perfection
Pleased to say this still deserves its reputation as one of the best platformers out there! I do think they overuse Squawks and the bramble stages, especially near the end, but that's a small price to pay for atmospheric and musical perfection
Rule of Rose has multiple unlockable costumes, but my favorites are the octopus + crab combo and the one that turns the dog Brown into a chair for some reason
November 22, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Rule of Rose has multiple unlockable costumes, but my favorites are the octopus + crab combo and the one that turns the dog Brown into a chair for some reason
93. Illbleed
Now this game is one heck of a ride! It's a unique approach to horror that's outrageously weird, extremely funny, and mechanically interesting. It sure feels like Peak Dreamcast to me!
You should absolutely play this if you haven't and you should go in knowing as little as possible
Now this game is one heck of a ride! It's a unique approach to horror that's outrageously weird, extremely funny, and mechanically interesting. It sure feels like Peak Dreamcast to me!
You should absolutely play this if you haven't and you should go in knowing as little as possible
November 22, 2025 at 12:27 AM
93. Illbleed
Now this game is one heck of a ride! It's a unique approach to horror that's outrageously weird, extremely funny, and mechanically interesting. It sure feels like Peak Dreamcast to me!
You should absolutely play this if you haven't and you should go in knowing as little as possible
Now this game is one heck of a ride! It's a unique approach to horror that's outrageously weird, extremely funny, and mechanically interesting. It sure feels like Peak Dreamcast to me!
You should absolutely play this if you haven't and you should go in knowing as little as possible
I looked up a map for Rule of Rose since I'm finding it confusing to navigate, and while I appreciate the effort that was clearly put into making this one, I think I'm just as overwhelmed as I was before
November 20, 2025 at 10:26 PM
I looked up a map for Rule of Rose since I'm finding it confusing to navigate, and while I appreciate the effort that was clearly put into making this one, I think I'm just as overwhelmed as I was before
What did she mean by this
November 19, 2025 at 10:03 PM
What did she mean by this
92. Tengai Makyou: Shinden / Kabuki Klash
My main takeaway from this is that I really need to play both Tengai Makyou and Samurai Shodown! This is a weapons-based fighter very similar to the latter but with the addition of items for some chaos. The animation and spritework on offer is incredible
My main takeaway from this is that I really need to play both Tengai Makyou and Samurai Shodown! This is a weapons-based fighter very similar to the latter but with the addition of items for some chaos. The animation and spritework on offer is incredible
November 19, 2025 at 5:51 PM
92. Tengai Makyou: Shinden / Kabuki Klash
My main takeaway from this is that I really need to play both Tengai Makyou and Samurai Shodown! This is a weapons-based fighter very similar to the latter but with the addition of items for some chaos. The animation and spritework on offer is incredible
My main takeaway from this is that I really need to play both Tengai Makyou and Samurai Shodown! This is a weapons-based fighter very similar to the latter but with the addition of items for some chaos. The animation and spritework on offer is incredible
91. Shiryou Sensen: War of the Dead (PC Engine)
An early horror game that charmingly broadcasts its many movie inspirations. The story feels a bit ahead of the curve and I like the Zelda II-style structure, but the amount of backtracking to the same location you do is so absurd it becomes funny
An early horror game that charmingly broadcasts its many movie inspirations. The story feels a bit ahead of the curve and I like the Zelda II-style structure, but the amount of backtracking to the same location you do is so absurd it becomes funny
November 16, 2025 at 4:21 PM
91. Shiryou Sensen: War of the Dead (PC Engine)
An early horror game that charmingly broadcasts its many movie inspirations. The story feels a bit ahead of the curve and I like the Zelda II-style structure, but the amount of backtracking to the same location you do is so absurd it becomes funny
An early horror game that charmingly broadcasts its many movie inspirations. The story feels a bit ahead of the curve and I like the Zelda II-style structure, but the amount of backtracking to the same location you do is so absurd it becomes funny
For #RandomGameSaturday, I have Treasure Master, the game where the totally radical protagonist has The World's Funniest Strut. This one is known for its soundtrack and association with an MTV contest. Part of me would have liked to try my hand at winning, but the game's what I'd call a huge pain!
November 15, 2025 at 10:35 PM
For #RandomGameSaturday, I have Treasure Master, the game where the totally radical protagonist has The World's Funniest Strut. This one is known for its soundtrack and association with an MTV contest. Part of me would have liked to try my hand at winning, but the game's what I'd call a huge pain!
90. Echo Night
This game is quite different from what FromSoftware usually does, offering a slow, mysterious, and exploratory horror adventure that's all about helping others move on from the past. The slowness makes the few chase sequences kinda goofy, but the atmosphere is excellent all around
This game is quite different from what FromSoftware usually does, offering a slow, mysterious, and exploratory horror adventure that's all about helping others move on from the past. The slowness makes the few chase sequences kinda goofy, but the atmosphere is excellent all around
November 13, 2025 at 10:01 PM
90. Echo Night
This game is quite different from what FromSoftware usually does, offering a slow, mysterious, and exploratory horror adventure that's all about helping others move on from the past. The slowness makes the few chase sequences kinda goofy, but the atmosphere is excellent all around
This game is quite different from what FromSoftware usually does, offering a slow, mysterious, and exploratory horror adventure that's all about helping others move on from the past. The slowness makes the few chase sequences kinda goofy, but the atmosphere is excellent all around
GODILLA
SIZE IS PROBLEM
SIZE IS PROBLEM
November 12, 2025 at 10:29 PM
GODILLA
SIZE IS PROBLEM
SIZE IS PROBLEM
89. DreamMix TV World Fighters
If you compare this to Smash Bros, it's going to come up short when it comes to features and controls. However, if you remember that it's the kind of game where you can have the Beyblade kid fight a Gradius moai and Bomberman in a dollhouse, you'll have way more fun
If you compare this to Smash Bros, it's going to come up short when it comes to features and controls. However, if you remember that it's the kind of game where you can have the Beyblade kid fight a Gradius moai and Bomberman in a dollhouse, you'll have way more fun
November 12, 2025 at 5:15 PM
89. DreamMix TV World Fighters
If you compare this to Smash Bros, it's going to come up short when it comes to features and controls. However, if you remember that it's the kind of game where you can have the Beyblade kid fight a Gradius moai and Bomberman in a dollhouse, you'll have way more fun
If you compare this to Smash Bros, it's going to come up short when it comes to features and controls. However, if you remember that it's the kind of game where you can have the Beyblade kid fight a Gradius moai and Bomberman in a dollhouse, you'll have way more fun
This 2003 Gamefaqs guide for Illbleed has A Lot going on
November 10, 2025 at 7:08 PM
This 2003 Gamefaqs guide for Illbleed has A Lot going on
88. Pokemon Legends Z-A
This game makes a lot of interesting choices and I think they work very well! The new battle system is fun, the battle-focused story structure complements that, and combing over the city was always fun times. Really hope they do another of these focused on a single location!
This game makes a lot of interesting choices and I think they work very well! The new battle system is fun, the battle-focused story structure complements that, and combing over the city was always fun times. Really hope they do another of these focused on a single location!
November 9, 2025 at 4:18 PM
88. Pokemon Legends Z-A
This game makes a lot of interesting choices and I think they work very well! The new battle system is fun, the battle-focused story structure complements that, and combing over the city was always fun times. Really hope they do another of these focused on a single location!
This game makes a lot of interesting choices and I think they work very well! The new battle system is fun, the battle-focused story structure complements that, and combing over the city was always fun times. Really hope they do another of these focused on a single location!
These extremely minimalist Spyro 2 loading screens are making me laugh harder than they probably should
November 9, 2025 at 2:11 AM
These extremely minimalist Spyro 2 loading screens are making me laugh harder than they probably should
For this #RandomGameSaturday, I have OverBlood, a 3D adventure game with a hint of survival horror and action. It's an interesting experience worth playing, but it's known for having the most tragic, saddest death scene in all of gaming. Legend has it that the industry is still chasing its example
November 8, 2025 at 9:59 PM
For this #RandomGameSaturday, I have OverBlood, a 3D adventure game with a hint of survival horror and action. It's an interesting experience worth playing, but it's known for having the most tragic, saddest death scene in all of gaming. Legend has it that the industry is still chasing its example
Oh great, a 54 character password that has a bunch of different symbols, several characters that look near identical, and needs to be slowly typed in every time I die or stop playing, I'm sure that won't get annoying at all
November 7, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Oh great, a 54 character password that has a bunch of different symbols, several characters that look near identical, and needs to be slowly typed in every time I die or stop playing, I'm sure that won't get annoying at all
87. Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors
This game wishes it had MotionPlus support, but if you can live with the controls, there's a lot to like! Turning DQ into a rail slasher is really cool and they put a lot of effort into retaining the RPG feel of the mainline games
This game wishes it had MotionPlus support, but if you can live with the controls, there's a lot to like! Turning DQ into a rail slasher is really cool and they put a lot of effort into retaining the RPG feel of the mainline games
November 7, 2025 at 7:06 PM
87. Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors
This game wishes it had MotionPlus support, but if you can live with the controls, there's a lot to like! Turning DQ into a rail slasher is really cool and they put a lot of effort into retaining the RPG feel of the mainline games
This game wishes it had MotionPlus support, but if you can live with the controls, there's a lot to like! Turning DQ into a rail slasher is really cool and they put a lot of effort into retaining the RPG feel of the mainline games
In Tengai Makyou: Shinden (or Far East of Eden: Kabuki Klash), boss character Manto uses various Street Fighter moves like Shoryuken, Psycho Crusher, Kikoken, and Tatsumaki Senpukyaku against you
Since Manto is a talking ape, these are all funnier looking than usual, too
Since Manto is a talking ape, these are all funnier looking than usual, too
November 6, 2025 at 6:24 PM
In Tengai Makyou: Shinden (or Far East of Eden: Kabuki Klash), boss character Manto uses various Street Fighter moves like Shoryuken, Psycho Crusher, Kikoken, and Tatsumaki Senpukyaku against you
Since Manto is a talking ape, these are all funnier looking than usual, too
Since Manto is a talking ape, these are all funnier looking than usual, too
Not all heroes wear capes...
November 6, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Not all heroes wear capes...