First off: this game is really really good. BUT: it is less good than God of War 2018 for reasons I find hard to articulate. Is it just because 2018 was such a surprise and set a high watermark for this game? I think in the end, the story of 2018 is just a little more compelling and even though the combat in this bad boy feels slightly better - you're still getting the same satisfaction in the previous one with a stronger emotional core. I dunno, maybe I'm rambling. You should play this game though.

Really got hooked wink on this one for a week. Love the atmosphere, love the story, love the loop of selling fish to upgrade your boat to get more fish. It's a cookie-clicker-like loop that seems to draw me in like nothing else.

My favourite indie of 2023 and for now on my top 5 of that year (we'll see if Alan Wake 2 bumps it when I eventually finish that).

I should boot this back up and see what the dlc is like.

I borrowed this from my brother while home for Christmas. He told me he found it a bit of a slog in the back half. I got up to Monstro Town and was really enjoying the game ready to be like "ayyy whatreyatalkinabout?" And then I got to Bowser's Castle.

The final two areas of the game took about as long as the whole rest of the game combined and they really were a slog. Left me with a sour taste in my mouth for a game I had been enjoying well enough to that point.

Overall, the game is silly and charming and I'm a fan of the active combat mechanics. But I probably did it a disservice by cranking out the final third/half in one sitting and thinking I was closer to the end than I really was.

Also: with all the Geno love - where's the respect for my boy Mallow? Proud new member of Mallow Naysh over here

I had this wishlisted on Switch but am extremely happy I was clued in on the Netflix mobile version, this game feels like it was made for mobile. I might've felt a bit shortsold if I'd picked it up on console due to length / simple mechanics.

But all that to say I really enjoyed it. It was a quick Christmas holiday diversion between halftimes in sports games and waiting for food to cook. A great dip in dip out game that makes you feel like a genius when you work it out.

I've recently banged my head up against Baba Is You as a puzzle game where if I can't get the answer I just CANNOT GET THE ANSWER. Same issue with Snakebird. I really wanted to like those games but I'm too impatient and dumb. I did not have the same issue with this game. When I got stuck, I came back an hour later and it all became clear.