Tal
@tal515.bsky.social
Just a guy who loves indie games and may or may not talk about the ones I love. (Hopefully will, if I can form my thoughts coherently about them)
Honestly it depends, I think I'd put its overall game direction ahead of E33, which stagnates after Act 1 with most battles clearable before the encounter even actually begins, and it starts running out of curveballs to throw at you, which Look Outside is EXCELLENT at.
December 13, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Honestly it depends, I think I'd put its overall game direction ahead of E33, which stagnates after Act 1 with most battles clearable before the encounter even actually begins, and it starts running out of curveballs to throw at you, which Look Outside is EXCELLENT at.
If I had my way the awards would go to Look Outside, which is pretty much just all unique content from start to finish.
I love a game that can remain all content while remaining low on the filler (Library of Ruina can also fit into this bucket)
I love a game that can remain all content while remaining low on the filler (Library of Ruina can also fit into this bucket)
November 30, 2025 at 4:38 AM
If I had my way the awards would go to Look Outside, which is pretty much just all unique content from start to finish.
I love a game that can remain all content while remaining low on the filler (Library of Ruina can also fit into this bucket)
I love a game that can remain all content while remaining low on the filler (Library of Ruina can also fit into this bucket)
Flowstone Saga is a neat little mashup of Tetris with some RPG flavorings store.steampowered.com/app/1372000/...
Flowstone Saga on Steam
Master a totally unique puzzle-battle system in this 16-bit, JRPG-inspired adventure featuring an epic story, charming characters, stunning pixel art, and epic music. Follow a grand story set in the m...
store.steampowered.com
September 17, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Flowstone Saga is a neat little mashup of Tetris with some RPG flavorings store.steampowered.com/app/1372000/...
Dream Tactics is an incredibly whimsical deckbuilder meets GBA fire emblem. store.steampowered.com/app/1897650/...
Dream Tactics on Steam
Dream Tactics is a GBA-styled strategy RPG with cunning card combos and deep character customization. Pick your party, manage cards to create unique playstyles, and outsmart hordes of pillows in turn-...
store.steampowered.com
September 17, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Dream Tactics is an incredibly whimsical deckbuilder meets GBA fire emblem. store.steampowered.com/app/1897650/...
Kingsvein by Rad Codex plays something akin to the recent Divinity games or BG3 in that you can use your combat skills for secondary purposes such as exploration. More focused than wide in terms of character building than the devs other games which are good too store.steampowered.com/app/2276830/...
Kingsvein on Steam
Explore and reclaim the infested castle-city of Kingsvein! Ride into its depths on your trusty wyvern, and lead your customizable party of Knights and Mystics in deep tactical combat.
store.steampowered.com
September 17, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Kingsvein by Rad Codex plays something akin to the recent Divinity games or BG3 in that you can use your combat skills for secondary purposes such as exploration. More focused than wide in terms of character building than the devs other games which are good too store.steampowered.com/app/2276830/...
Deadeye Deepfake Simulacrum is a buildcrafters fever dream. If you look at skills in it and think "Can I use this to do that busted thing" then yeah you probably can. Multiple playstyles wouldn't begin to describe all the ways you can approach this game. store.steampowered.com/app/1545990/...
Deadeye Deepfake Simulacrum on Steam
Embody the ultimate cybernetic corporate agent. Master deadly gunplay, time manipulation, and supernatural abilities. Hack computers, people, even the individual bullets flying at you. Confront the fu...
store.steampowered.com
September 17, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Deadeye Deepfake Simulacrum is a buildcrafters fever dream. If you look at skills in it and think "Can I use this to do that busted thing" then yeah you probably can. Multiple playstyles wouldn't begin to describe all the ways you can approach this game. store.steampowered.com/app/1545990/...
Last Command is Snake meets Bullet Hell, but if that wasn't enough of a pitch on its own, it's got some incredibly unique boss designs and mechanics to back that mix up. store.steampowered.com/app/1487270/...
Last Command on Steam
Last Command is a fast-paced Snake x Bullet Hell action game. Maneuver through enemies’ barrage of attacks, collect Data Points to deal damage! Mix and match skill chips as you progress, overcome inte...
store.steampowered.com
September 17, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Last Command is Snake meets Bullet Hell, but if that wasn't enough of a pitch on its own, it's got some incredibly unique boss designs and mechanics to back that mix up. store.steampowered.com/app/1487270/...
Had Coridden on my wishlist for a while now, too many good games out there in general
August 22, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Had Coridden on my wishlist for a while now, too many good games out there in general
My biggest problem with the show is the "Keighley-nisation" of it, we've reached a point where the show seems to no longer place an emphasis on the European side of the industry, and I think that's a shame.
But he now has a firm grasp on the bigger events in general so whats to be done I guess.
But he now has a firm grasp on the bigger events in general so whats to be done I guess.
August 20, 2025 at 5:24 AM
My biggest problem with the show is the "Keighley-nisation" of it, we've reached a point where the show seems to no longer place an emphasis on the European side of the industry, and I think that's a shame.
But he now has a firm grasp on the bigger events in general so whats to be done I guess.
But he now has a firm grasp on the bigger events in general so whats to be done I guess.
To add to this - as someone with zero tolerance, it isn't JUST a matter of principle, if you use AI assets in some area of your game, the impression I will get is that you do not care about that area, and my mind will wander to other things you don't care to put the effort in for the game.
June 21, 2025 at 12:25 AM
To add to this - as someone with zero tolerance, it isn't JUST a matter of principle, if you use AI assets in some area of your game, the impression I will get is that you do not care about that area, and my mind will wander to other things you don't care to put the effort in for the game.
I saw a comment chain on Reddit iirc where the developer/s said they chose the name early in prototyping and it stuck and it feels unfortunately late for them to change it now, which sucks, because I'd hate to see something that looks full of soul fail from that.
June 14, 2025 at 11:43 PM
I saw a comment chain on Reddit iirc where the developer/s said they chose the name early in prototyping and it stuck and it feels unfortunately late for them to change it now, which sucks, because I'd hate to see something that looks full of soul fail from that.
There's even some really unique genre fusions out there too, one of my favourite games of the last few years, Last Command, mixes snake with bullet hell with some absolutely phenomenal boss design
store.steampowered.com/app/1487270/...
store.steampowered.com/app/1487270/...
Save 25% on Last Command on Steam
Last Command is a fast-paced Snake x Bullet Hell action game. Maneuver through enemies’ barrage of attacks, collect Data Points to deal damage! Mix and match skill chips as you progress, overcome inte...
store.steampowered.com
June 4, 2025 at 2:30 AM
There's even some really unique genre fusions out there too, one of my favourite games of the last few years, Last Command, mixes snake with bullet hell with some absolutely phenomenal boss design
store.steampowered.com/app/1487270/...
store.steampowered.com/app/1487270/...
I wish alot of these "anti-AAA" types would spend half the time promoting indies and other AA experiences like they are pushing Exp33 if they truly cared for promoting smaller devs (no shade to Exp33 intended here, it's not the devs fault things are going this way).
May 6, 2025 at 2:04 PM
I wish alot of these "anti-AAA" types would spend half the time promoting indies and other AA experiences like they are pushing Exp33 if they truly cared for promoting smaller devs (no shade to Exp33 intended here, it's not the devs fault things are going this way).
Thanks! I'd already had your blog bookmarked and these other sites look like great additions
May 6, 2025 at 3:55 AM
Thanks! I'd already had your blog bookmarked and these other sites look like great additions
Are there any places/people you'd recommend to check out/follow to keep tabs on RPGMaker releases?
May 6, 2025 at 3:41 AM
Are there any places/people you'd recommend to check out/follow to keep tabs on RPGMaker releases?
Honestly, the history of media between France and Japan is so intertwined that I KNOW there's a lot more than what comes to mind immediately, with influences in both directions.
May 6, 2025 at 3:07 AM
Honestly, the history of media between France and Japan is so intertwined that I KNOW there's a lot more than what comes to mind immediately, with influences in both directions.
But this does require people to look beyond their comfort zones, look beyond what they might see at big game shows and award shows, to do their own discovery and to put in effort to actually find these games.
May 6, 2025 at 2:55 AM
But this does require people to look beyond their comfort zones, look beyond what they might see at big game shows and award shows, to do their own discovery and to put in effort to actually find these games.
That's not to mention that there's also a lot of more traditionally aligned games that might hit people's yearning for a classical jrpg like False Skies or Crystal Project. And of course a lot of actually Japanese developed JRPGs exist that address the issues people are bringing up-
May 6, 2025 at 2:53 AM
That's not to mention that there's also a lot of more traditionally aligned games that might hit people's yearning for a classical jrpg like False Skies or Crystal Project. And of course a lot of actually Japanese developed JRPGs exist that address the issues people are bringing up-
JRPG way too anime? Thaumaturge and Like A Dragon 7 and 8 have you covered. Looking for a shorter experience? Cool, try Keylocker, Beyond Galaxyland, Witchspring R, Virgo Versus The Zodiac, Bloomtown, LunarLux. Wanna see a French JRPG from before the first French JRPG? Check out Edge of Eternity.
May 6, 2025 at 2:51 AM
JRPG way too anime? Thaumaturge and Like A Dragon 7 and 8 have you covered. Looking for a shorter experience? Cool, try Keylocker, Beyond Galaxyland, Witchspring R, Virgo Versus The Zodiac, Bloomtown, LunarLux. Wanna see a French JRPG from before the first French JRPG? Check out Edge of Eternity.
I'm not ready to say people are racist re:the ongoing Clair Obscur discussions because I think some of the opinions (JRPGs are too long, too anime, no depth, etc) are borne out of ignorance of the genre. It isn't just putting down Japanese games, it dismisses the efforts of small devs and studios-
May 6, 2025 at 2:50 AM
I'm not ready to say people are racist re:the ongoing Clair Obscur discussions because I think some of the opinions (JRPGs are too long, too anime, no depth, etc) are borne out of ignorance of the genre. It isn't just putting down Japanese games, it dismisses the efforts of small devs and studios-
But that's a tiring discussion to try and approach people on because whenever it comes up it's always "no, not those jrpgs, I want something big budget!" which... fine, but if you willingly shut yourself out from 90% of experiences you've only got yourself to blame.
May 5, 2025 at 3:47 AM
But that's a tiring discussion to try and approach people on because whenever it comes up it's always "no, not those jrpgs, I want something big budget!" which... fine, but if you willingly shut yourself out from 90% of experiences you've only got yourself to blame.
There's a tendency to just view turn based JRPGs for some reason as Dragon Quest or Final Fantasy games of old - there's not much effort to explore the genre to find more experimental games like your sagas, your Caligula Effects, hell, SMT and Persona added new layers to their systems recently too.
May 5, 2025 at 3:45 AM
There's a tendency to just view turn based JRPGs for some reason as Dragon Quest or Final Fantasy games of old - there's not much effort to explore the genre to find more experimental games like your sagas, your Caligula Effects, hell, SMT and Persona added new layers to their systems recently too.
I hate that the conversation about what is genuinely a good game is getting poisoned like this. I saw a comment the other day to the effect of "finally, a jrpg with depth where your characters don't just stand around to take turns" and like to me it seems that alot of the issue is (cont)
May 5, 2025 at 3:43 AM
I hate that the conversation about what is genuinely a good game is getting poisoned like this. I saw a comment the other day to the effect of "finally, a jrpg with depth where your characters don't just stand around to take turns" and like to me it seems that alot of the issue is (cont)
Doesnt play quite like any other immersive sim is underselling it. For all the "player creativity" allowed you, many imsims are still defined by the expected solutions from the dev
DDS is harsh at first, but if you think an idea is cool, DDS will oft say "Yes, you can indeed solve this like that"
DDS is harsh at first, but if you think an idea is cool, DDS will oft say "Yes, you can indeed solve this like that"
April 1, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Doesnt play quite like any other immersive sim is underselling it. For all the "player creativity" allowed you, many imsims are still defined by the expected solutions from the dev
DDS is harsh at first, but if you think an idea is cool, DDS will oft say "Yes, you can indeed solve this like that"
DDS is harsh at first, but if you think an idea is cool, DDS will oft say "Yes, you can indeed solve this like that"