Nerd Girl Thoughts

This is part one of two of my quick look at LudoNarraCon 2020.

Although I’ve always been a big fan of games with a good story, it’s only lately I’ve found myself gravitating towards some games where the story is the game. I want to be kept on the hook, so to speak, but honestly, if I’m just going to read there are comfier places to do that than at my computer.

That said, looking through the games on the LudoNarraCon 2020 sale, the ones I have already played, I really enjoyed, and there are several others that look so very very good (many of which were already on my wishlist, and more that I’m adding as I write this).

There’s a handful of games I don’t yet own that have really caught my eye. If I don’t pick them up this go around (and a couple aren’t even out yet), they’re definitely going to be on my short list of ways to be spendy in the future.

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Beyond the Veil is a text-based narrative horror game, with a focus on character-driven storytelling. Kara, an unemployed college dropout, has no choice but to move in with her Dad when he decides to relocate to New Orleans. Kara has no discernible skills, and no direction. It’s her exploration of this city, and the friendships she makes there, that will mold her into the woman she will become. These choices are yours. So step up to the threshold- from here, there is no turning back.

Beyond the Veil – releasing some time in 2020

First off, look at that screenshot. Look at it. So gorgeous.

Secondly, New Orleans is a fantastic setting for a horror game.

Thirdly, I love the idea of a horror coming-of-age story, so to speak. The developers state that your choices throughout the game will not only affect the story, but your character’s core personality.

I’m totally into the whole package that is Beyond the Veil, although the price point and expected play length are probably going to be the biggest factors in whether I pick this up on release or wait for a sale or bundle.

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Best Friend Forever is the world’s first simulation game to combine pet care and dating (just not necessarily at the same time). Train, pat and play with your very own dog to form a bond that will last the ages. With your four-legged companion by your side, meet, woo and cherish the many cuties of Rainbow Bay’s thriving singles scene.

Best Friend Forever – Coming Soon

Although dating sims have yet to sweep me off my feet (pun absolutely intended), the dual nature of Best Friend Forever makes me want to try again. I am a sucker for anything dog-centric, and it just sounds so chill and adorable, it’ll be hard to pass this one up when it comes out.

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In the late 1970s, the charismatic Isaac and Rebecca Walker lead the Collective Justice Mission. Labeled radicals and feeling persecuted by the US government, they relocate their followers to the one place they believe they can create a socialist utopia: the jungles of South America. There they build Freedom Town. But relatives left behind in the US become worried: what exactly is going on at this compound in the jungle?

You play as Vic, an ex-law enforcement officer who has snuck into Freedom Town to check on their nephew, Alex. Whether you choose stealth or violence, you must infiltrate the commune, find out what’s going on within, and locate your nephew, before it’s too late.

Church in the Darkness – Available Now – On sale for $9.99 (50% off)

Church in the Darkness looks like it’s going to give you a fantastic story, maybe even many fantastic stories, although the game’s length will dictate whether or not I personally would give it multiple play throughs or just try to get the “best” ending the first time.

Sadly, I am rubbish at stealth games, and I expect that “doing it right” will require quite a bit of being stealthy. It’s not a game I’m likely to just buy, but something I’d absolutely play if it showed up on a subscription service or in a Humble Choice.

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Step through time as you use our device to eavesdrop on conversations from past crime scenes. Every clue, every move, and every motive will be presented in the form of audio. Rather than controlling any one character, you only need listen to their conversations, following along as the story evolves. Use the information you hear to match names to voices and determine how everything (and everyone) is related. Can you discover the truth?

Unheard – Available now – On sale for $4.19 (40% off)

The coolest thing about this game is also – at least for me – it’s biggest flaw. I’d love to play it, but it’s going to require a chunk of time where I can be assured that I can focus on what I’m hearing (and honestly, this is the main reason I haven’t already picked it up).

But I do love detective games and solving puzzles. And with the current sale – which is even better for me picking it up as part of the Surveillance Stories bundle – it might be time to give it a spin.

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Disco Elysium is a groundbreaking open world role playing game. You’re a detective with a unique skill system at your disposal and a whole city block to carve your path across. Interrogate unforgettable characters, crack murders or take bribes. Become a hero or an absolute disaster of a human being.

Disco Elysium – Available now – On sale for $29.99 (25% off)

Ah, Disco Elysium – huge commitment, huge temptation. There’s no denying that this odd but ambitious game has become quite the indie darling, winning a whole bunch of awards and captivating almost everyone who plays it.

Even if it’s only a fraction as open ended and customizable as the store page would lead you to believe, it seems like it would allow for so very many playstyles, and the concept wrapped around those choices seems like something that would really draw me in.

Still, I have never spent a lot of time with long-form narrative games, and I worry that at some point, no matter how good it is, it would start to feel like a chore to do that much reading, and that’s the main thing keeping me from clicking add to cart right now.

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Part two of my Quick Look at LudoNarraCon2020 will focus on the games I’ve already played and my thoughts on them. LudoNarraCon2020 runs through April 27th, although many of the demos & sales are available until May 2.