Noy
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noydacoy.bsky.social
Noy
@noydacoy.bsky.social
20 followers 53 following 190 posts
Gamer, Coder, Climber
Writing game reviews on tumblr and crossposting (https://www.tumblr.com/blog/noydacoy)
23 | OSU '24
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noydacoy.bsky.social
Nubby's Number Factory
A screenshot of my Tumblr review for Nubby's Number Factory. The review says the following: Rating: 7/10 Played on: Steam Deck Finally unlocked and beat the last Tony, so I think I'm done enough with this game to review it. Nubby is a surprisingly complex plinko style roguelike game, with similarities to Peglin, Balatro, and other similar games in the genre. Monatarily, this is your best option at only $5, and it absolutely is worth the price. There are plenty of unique styles of play with each supervisor Tony, custom challenges, and lots of items and synergies to explore. Unfortunately, unlike games like Balatro where pretty much anything is viable if you try hard enough, you tend to need the "correct" combination of items in Nubby, based on the challenge or supervisor you're doing. This would be fine if the combinations were different, but I realistically only used combos involving halving and doubling pegs, as that broke the game wide open the most consistently. Overall, it doesn't have as much staying power as other games in the genre, but for $5, an extremely unique presentation, and some good vibes, it's a great recommendation for those who enjoy a good number go up game.
January 31, 2026 at 6:47 PM
noydacoy.bsky.social
Fantasian
A screenshot of my Tumblr review for Fantasian. The review says the following: Rating: 7/10 Played on: Apple Arcade Don't get it twisted, despite this game's mobile status, it is anything but a turn off your brain and autobattle your way through kind of RPG. This is one of the most challenging RPGs I've ever gotten through. Unfortunately, aside from the difficulty, there's nothing much to write home about here. Characters and story are on the level of the NES/SNES era Final Fantasy games, where there's nothing bad, persay, just cliche. Amnesiac main character, serious princess who wants go on an adventure, old man with a ship you travel the world on, main villain gets betrayed by even bigger villain, etc. Music is alright, but it's definitely not Uematsu's best work - I do really like the second boss battle theme though. The backgrounds and locales are really interesting to look at, and I can absolutely respect the hand-crafted diaromas made for every room, but controlling your character through touch inputs and having the camera swing around wildly is a bit jarring to get used to, especially when trying to solve puzzles. The game is at its most unique and interesting with everything revolving around the battles. Moves don't just target one or all enemies, most attacks you have to line up just right to hit the most foes, which is built for the touch screen input of a mobile device and is very satisfying. Random encounters are stored in the Dimengeon, an item that can hold a whole bunch of enemies so you can battle them all at once instead of being interupted by small encounters constantly. This is genuinely my favorite aspect of this game and it's going to make it difficult to play any other RPG without this mechanic, it's such a good quality of life feature. About halfway through the game, the game decides to take it's training weights off. Suddenly, you have a whole skill tree for all your party members, upgradable weapons and armor, several slots for stat and resistance altering gems, and special moves for everyone. As compensation, the real game starts: a gauntlet of tough as nails boss fights where failure is expected and required before re-equiping all of your characters to take the fight on better. The real kicker is that the game physically prevents you from grinding past these challenges. If you fight anything below your level in this second half of the game, it'll give negligible experience. So, if you're stuck on a boss, you've just got to strategize better and get lucky on the boss's move patterns. Some bosses are fun and challenging puzzles to try and solve, others are just massive HP sponges that are more tests of endurance than strategy. This is not a game you could pick up for 5 minutes and put down, you're fighting a boss for a half an hour minimum. And if you close the app or check a message or try to look up a guide for the confusing boss fight, the game restarts and you lose all your progress after your last save point. The worst of this is easily the final boss. I did literally everything I possibly could before reaching the final boss. All of the sidequests, main quests, treasure chests, hidden collectibles, etc. And I was STILL underleveled by about 4 levels going into the final area. I would be able to scrape past the first two phases of the final fight, but then just die over and over to the final phase. I would go back to my last save point, grind on the regular enemies in that final area because they were the only thing left in the game to grind, and then try again. Eventually, I got to the point were those enemies were now below my level, so I couldn't grind anymore, and just had to strategize differently. It felt good when I finally got it, but it was REALLY annoying to fight those first two phases over and over again to get to the real challenge 30 minutes later, especially when I couldn't use my phone for anything else during the entire 3 phase fight without risking all of my progress being lost. I understand that there's an enhanced console port now with an easier mode, voice acting, and a few more bonuses, but I didn't really want to pay for that when I'm currently mooching Apple Arcade off my family for free. So, I went through this version instead. It's an interesting game with some novel concepts, and if you're a big fan of old Final Fantasy or hard JRPGs like Shin Megami Tensei, you'll love it. It was just a little too tedious for me to fully enjoy, especially with lackluster story and characters.
January 26, 2026 at 4:40 PM
noydacoy.bsky.social
Rhythm Doctor
A screenshot of my Tumblr review for Rhythm Doctor. The review says the following: Rating: 9/10 Played on: Steam Deck What a fantastic little rhythm game. I've been aware of it for a while while it was in early access, but finally picked it up and played it once it got it's full release, and I certainly didn't regret it. The simple one button rhythm gameplay mixed with the adorable pixel art juxtaposed with some hard as hell rhythmic patterns and mechanics and insane visuals that happen in some of the later levels really made this game stand out from the crowd. Every level had some new unique mechanic, and a vast majority of them were surprisingly intuitive to grasp. I think the thing this game excels at the most is the readability of each level. Even with several patients at once with different rhythmic patterns, it never felt too unfair. Most levels took me a few attempts to nail, but once I understood the patterns, it felt SO good to flow with the music. Even when the game tries to distract you with insane visuals and distortion effects, trusting your gut and the music tends to just work. It's one of the most satisfying rhythm game experiences I've had. And all this is on top of a surprisingly well developed story with great characters. It's basically a hospital drama with recurring patients and doctors, an overarching plot involving a specific disease that's being curing with rhythm treatments, and some adorable character interactions, all conveyed through the rhythm gameplay and great pixel art. It's just such a fantastic experience throughout, and I can't recommend it enough.
January 26, 2026 at 3:53 PM
noydacoy.bsky.social
What Remains of Edith Finch
A screenshot of my Tumblr review for What Remains of Edith Finch. The review says the following: Rating: 8/10 Played on: Steam Deck A great little exploration story game with a captivating mystery, beautiful visuals of the Pacific Northwest, and a surprise around every corner. The gameplay is varied, the story takes many twists and turns, but everything is done very effectively. I don't want to say too much, considering it's only 2 hours, so explaining much more would kind of ruin the experience. Just another really cool and mysterious adventure game I played with my girlfriend. :)
January 14, 2026 at 7:55 PM
noydacoy.bsky.social
Dispatch
A screenshot of my Tumblr review for Dispatch. The review says the following: Rating: 6/10 Played on: Steam Deck Okay, before everyone torches me to death for the number rating, I still enjoyed the game. I just don't think that it's perfect, and I personally don't think it's as revolutionary as a lot of folks are saying it is. That being said, it's a fun story game with surprisingly fun gameplay and an incredible visual style. My main problem with the game is derived from the characters, especially the female cast. You play as Robert, a sad, straight, lonely white guy. He doesn't have superpowers in this world full of heroes, he was just nepo-babied into being one from his rich dad and grandfather. Not only that, but he is the most attractive man of all time according to several different women at his new job, especially his boss and one of his employees. Immediately, this destroys any semblance of empathy I can have for this character. He is our main character, we're making decisions as him, we should be able to relate to him, which tells me that the target audience for this game is sad lonely guys who wish women were attracted to them without putting any work in. I wish that I was exaggerating, but with how the women are portrayed in such a reductive way, I can't get the idea of this being some men's twisted fantasy out of my head. All of the women in this game have the same sillouette and body type, with exaggerated curves and conventionally attractive features. The men are much more varied in design and body types, so this feels like a deliberate choice. Most of the humor, especially around the women, are about flirting, sex, and HR violations. It feels gross to try and write emotionally vulnerable, complex character arcs with these women who are just treated as sex objects for half of the game. I got the ending with no romantic advances from any characters, which apparently only 5% of people did on their first playthrough according to the stats at the end of the game; confirming my suspision that a lot of people just wanted to play this game for the attractive women. I feel like it's important to note that I am on the asexual spectrum, but I am not sex repulsed. I can appreciate a good sex scene, and sexy character designs are always welcome (I mean, I'm a massive Hades fan). That being said, I really need to feel an emotional connection to a person or even a character to find them "sexy," so reducing women to just being objects to have sex with feels especially icky to me. "Then why did you play this game?" you may ask, which is a perfectly valid question. To be honest, I didn't know what this game even was until I started playing it. I just knew it was a superhero comedy with a stacked voice cast and that a lot of people really enjoyed it. If I had known how much dating sim elements were here, the lack of options for said dating sim, and the problematic and controversial scenes that can arise from it, it would have made me pause a bit more before playing the game. All of that being said, I still did enjoy my time with the game. When it wasn't making sex jokes constantly, the humor was on point, I loved characters like Chase and Sonar, the character arc for Visi had a lot of interesting twists and turns, and the sense of style the game has is great. I love the cel-shaded look, the music really adds to the atmosphere, and the character designs are all good, if not a little uninspired on the female half of the cast. I really enjoyed the way that the gameplay highlighted each character in their own unique way, and the D&D style luck elements were pretty well done, even if they got a little frustrating at times. Overall, I think this game is alright, but is certainly not the peak of this style of story game. Stuff like The Wolf Among Us and Life is Strange were doing these things with more effect over a decade ago, and I think they do a much better job at having great character arcs, an impressive amount of stakes, and effective gameplay segments.
January 12, 2026 at 7:47 PM
noydacoy.bsky.social
With that, I hope everyone has a great 2026! Happy gaming :)

-Noy
January 1, 2026 at 5:22 AM
noydacoy.bsky.social
In terms of what I'm looking forward to, it's all the stuff I was looking forward to last year that just got pushed back. Slay the Spire 2, the new Layton game, the next DELTARUNE chapter, and Rhythm Heaven Groove are all at the top of the wishlist right now though.
January 1, 2026 at 5:22 AM
noydacoy.bsky.social
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Unbeatable, and Hades II will probably be finished and reviewed pretty early into 2026. I love all three of them, so I'll have some high ratings right at the start of the year. After I finish replaying Hollow Knight, I plan on playing Silksong as well.
January 1, 2026 at 5:22 AM
noydacoy.bsky.social
It's all very fun for me, and I have some great games I'm in the middle of already for 2026.
January 1, 2026 at 5:22 AM
noydacoy.bsky.social
~~ 2026 AND BEYOND ~~

This is still one of my favorite things to do, I love writing about all of the games I play in a year. I love to share what I find interesting and fun, even to a super small audience. I love highlighting lesser known games and providing my own opinion on the popular stuff.
January 1, 2026 at 5:22 AM
noydacoy.bsky.social
~~ TIER LIST!!! ~~

Tiers are ordered, check the alt text for full titles if you can't tell what game each is from the logo!
10/10: Deltarune, Life is Strange Remastered, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, Ico 9/10: Metroid Fusion, Metal Gear Solid 2, Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney, Sayonara Wild Hearts, Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door HD, Metroid: Samus Returns, Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition, Pseudoregalia, Rhythm Heaven Fever 8/10: Mouthwashing, The Wolf Among Us, Ace Attorney Investigations 2, Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memories, SMG1 + SMG2, Final Fantasy V, Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy, Final Fantasy IV, Vampire Survivors, this game will end in 205 clicks., Mario & Luigi: Brothership, Ace Attorney Investigations 1, Earthbound Beginnings, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, Etrian Odyssey III HD, 30 Birds, Pokémon HeartGold, Firewatch, Cobalt Core 7/10: Pokémon Legends Z-A, Catherine: Full Body, Mario Kart World, Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask, Persona Q2, Persona 4 Dancing, Professor Layton and the Last Specter 6/10: Everhood 2, Fortune Street, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, Warriors: Abyss 5/10: Persona5: The Phantom X, Kirby's Pinball Land 4/10: Persona 3 Dancing, Persona 5 Dancing 3/10: N/A 2/10: N/A 1/10: The Hundred Line Last Defense Academy
January 1, 2026 at 5:22 AM
noydacoy.bsky.social
~~ WORST GAME / LONGEST REVIEW ~~

THE HUNDRED LINE: LAST DEFENSE ACADEMY

Really not a fan of this award becoming a trend for me. But man I had so much to say about this game. Still do, honestly. Not here though, go read my review if you really wanna know.
The Hundred Line Last Defense Academy's logo
January 1, 2026 at 5:22 AM
noydacoy.bsky.social
~~ SOUNDTRACK(S) OF THE YEAR ~~

SAYONARA WILD HEARTS, DELTARUNE, MARIO KART WORLD

Sayonara Wild Hearts is a rhythm game, DELTARUNE is a Toby Fox game, and Mario Kart has beautiful jazzy remixes of over a hundred songs from across the whole Mario series. Of course they're all here.
The Sayonara Wild Hearts logo (again) The DELTARUNE logo, again The Mario Kart World logo
January 1, 2026 at 5:22 AM
noydacoy.bsky.social
~~ MOST UNIQUE ~~

SAYONARA WILD HEARTS

I love this game. Such a wild ride, full of bangers, and the most unique rhythm game I've ever played.
The Sayonara Wild Hearts logo
January 1, 2026 at 5:22 AM
noydacoy.bsky.social
~~ MOST SURPRISING ~~

MOUTHWASHING

Not typically a horror game guy, but this game subverted a lot of the genre's tropes, and had a fantastic story to boot. Highly recommend.
The Mouthwashing logo
January 1, 2026 at 5:22 AM
noydacoy.bsky.social
~~ THE WHIMSY AWARD ~~

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: THE WIND WAKER HD

This game reminded me of how much I love video games. Thus. Whimsy. I love Wind Waker. Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks were also up there for whimsy.
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD's Logo
January 1, 2026 at 5:22 AM
noydacoy.bsky.social
~~ UNDERRATED GEM ~~

30 BIRDS

I don't understand why I haven't seen anyone talk about this game, it's one of the most unique artstyles I've seen in a game. Plus, there's birds. About 30 of them, in fact.
The 30 Birds Logo
January 1, 2026 at 5:22 AM
noydacoy.bsky.social
~~ CLASSIC I SHOULD HAVE PLAYED YEARS AGO ~~

ICO

One of my new favorite games of all time. Shadow of the Colossus may have shared this spot if I had finished it, I got distracted from it. Next year for sure.
The Ico boxart.
January 1, 2026 at 5:22 AM
noydacoy.bsky.social
~~ BEST REPLAY ~~

EARTHBOUND

I replayed quite a few games this year, most of which I played over half a decade ago. Earthbound held up incredibly, and I loved it just as much, if not more than I already did when I played it around 5-6 years ago.
The Earthbound logo
January 1, 2026 at 5:22 AM
noydacoy.bsky.social
~~ GAME OF THE YEAR (Unbeaten) ~~

UNBEATABLE

HA. See what I did there. I'm hilarious.

Play this game now please it's rewiring my brain chemistry, probably would have been my GOTY if I had finished it.
The Unbeatable logo
January 1, 2026 at 5:22 AM