★32: October 2026
M E C C H A C H A M E L E O N
no achievements, 23.3 hours
MECCHA CHAMELEON is stupidly fun with the right group of friends. The concept is great, the chaos is hilarious, and I can definitely see why it got as much hype as it did. Playing with randoms, though, is definitely more of a hit-or-miss experience.
The modded maps are a really nice addition and add some much-needed variety, although I would've liked to see a larger selection of base game maps too. The color picker can also be pretty annoying sometimes, because you'll pick a color expecting it to match the surface you're hiding on and somehow end up looking completely different.
Honestly though, this is friendslop™ through and through. How much you'll actually get out of it depends heavily on how long your friend group stays entertained by it. I'd recommend it, but only if you already have friends who are willing to play it with you.
C R I T T E R C A F É
29/29 (100%), 11.1 hours
I won this game through SteamGifts.
I played it for Play or Pay 4th Cycle of 2026 and it was picked for me by vot4ol.
The game is cute, I'll give it that! I liked how the cafe, critter habitats, and explorable maps were separated, the different creature skins and decorations were adorable, and the puzzles were pretty chill without being too difficult.
Unfortunately, the simplicity gets old REALLY fast. I didn't know something could be too cozy, but apparently it can. There's a lot of grinding and repetitive busywork, running the cafe isn't particularly fun, and the minigames get annoying. Critter parties aren't much better, with vague requests for colors and critters that are especially frustrating when you have limited items to work with. Also, what's the point of a map if it doesn't actually help you figure out where the hell you are? And why can't I name my critters?!
There's also basically no story to explain why you're receiving magical hammers in the mail and taking them through portals to solve random puzzles, which feels like a pretty big missed opportunity. Cute game, but the gameplay just gets tedious. I wanted to love it, but the cozy vibes can only carry it so far.
M O N S T E R L O V E R : B A L A S Q U E
25/43 (58%), 9.5 hours
I played this game for Play or Pay 4th Cycle of 2026 and it was picked for me by Ninglor.
Honestly, this was a pretty big disappointment. The game feels tedious and repetitive, and at some point I just wanted to be doing literally anything else. The biggest issue is how short it is, with an absurdly small amount of CGs for the price. There's just not enough content here to justify what you're paying.
That said, Balasque himself is easily the best part of the game. His intimidating monster design contrasted with how soft and affectionate he is toward the MC is genuinely great, and that's exactly the kind of thing I want from a monster romance!
I'm always happy to see more niche stuff like BL monster VNs, because I think games catering to these audiences are absolutely worth making. But this one just doesn't deliver enough. It's too short, too repetitive, and too visually limited to leave much of an impression. If Y Press Games wants to keep making shorter releases like this, they really need to make sure the CGs, overall quality, and erotic payoff justify the price. Sadly, this one just isn't worth it.
P U M P K I N J A C K
30/30 (100%), 8.4 hours
I played this game for Play or Pay 4th Cycle of 2026 and it was picked for me by vot4vol.
I've had a pretty fun time with this one! It's a solid 3D platformer with satisfying gameplay, simple but enjoyable combat, and a lot of Halloween charm. The platforming feels good, and the different areas keep things interesting as you make your way through the game.
The characters are goofy and fun, and they fit the story really well. The whole game has a nice spooky vibe that makes it feel like playing through a Halloween cartoon, which I really enjoyed. It's not trying to reinvent the genre, but it does what it sets out to do pretty well.
My favorite part has to be the soundtrack, though! The music is really good and fits the atmosphere perfectly. If you're into 3D platformers and enjoy a bit of Halloween spookiness, this one's worth checking out!