Overview:
20260330:
After completing Gambit Shifter, I was ready for another game. I tried playing Knights of Pen and Paper but I got sleepy. I had defeated an enemy.
Setup: Steam Deck
Steam Game Time: 8 minutes (cumulative game time)
[20260404]
20260331:
I tried picking up from where I stopped playing. Unfortunately, it lacked an appeal. I stopped after I defeated two enemies.
Steam Game Time: 16 minutes (cumulative game time) / 8 minutes (session game time)
Rating: 2.4 out of 5
[20260404]
Summary:
None at this time
Knights of Pen and Paper: +1 Edition (PC) (2013)
Relevant Links:
Knights of Pen and Paper (Wikipedia.org)
Knights of Pen and Paper (PC) (MetaCritic.com)
Knights of Pen and Paper (steamdb.info)
Knights of Pen and Paper: +1 Edition (Steam Store Page)
Monday, March 30, 2026
Sunday, March 29, 2026
5D Chess With Multiverse Time Travel (PC) (2020)
Overview:
20260404 Snapshost:
While on vacation I tried playing this game a couple of times. While I initially tried to play a game, I then moved to trying some of the puzzles which helped understand the game, but were also difficult in an unenjoyable way.
Setup: Steam Deck
Steam Game Time: 34 minutes
Thoughts:
Pros:
+ Novel
+ Excellent UI
Cons:
- Unintuitive
- No save system
Rating: 1.8 out of 5
Summary:
The title and theme are appealing, but I had trouble liking this game.
5D Chess With Multiverse Time Travel (PC) (2020)
Relevant Links:
5D Chess With Multiverse Time Travel (Wikipedia.org)
5D Chess With Multiverse Time Travel (PC) (MetaCritic.com)
5D Chess With Multiverse Time Travel (steamdb.info)
5D Chess With Multiverse Time Travel (Steam Store Page)
20260404 Snapshost:
While on vacation I tried playing this game a couple of times. While I initially tried to play a game, I then moved to trying some of the puzzles which helped understand the game, but were also difficult in an unenjoyable way.
Setup: Steam Deck
Steam Game Time: 34 minutes
Thoughts:
Pros:
+ Novel
+ Excellent UI
Cons:
- Unintuitive
- No save system
Rating: 1.8 out of 5
Summary:
The title and theme are appealing, but I had trouble liking this game.
5D Chess With Multiverse Time Travel (PC) (2020)
Relevant Links:
5D Chess With Multiverse Time Travel (Wikipedia.org)
5D Chess With Multiverse Time Travel (PC) (MetaCritic.com)
5D Chess With Multiverse Time Travel (steamdb.info)
5D Chess With Multiverse Time Travel (Steam Store Page)
Gambit Shifter (PC) (2024)
Overview: A puzzle game that makes use of chess-like pieces. In each level, you start as a pawn and your goal is to capture the "king" in the level. More complex mechanics consist of transforming into other chess pieces (Rook, Knight, Bishop) and avoiding capture by enemy pieces.
20260329, 20260330:
I acquired this game in a Humble Bundle and made sure to install it on my Steam Deck prior to traveling. I previously played a demo of the game that featured 18 levels. I played it from 20260329 to 20260330, getting all achievements except for a hidden one.
Setup: Steam Deck
Steam Game Time: 3.5 hours
[20260404]
Thoughts:
Pros:
+ Simple
Neutral:
~ Dying results immediately in starting over, from which the player can still undo. Personally I'd rather not have it automatically start over, as the more likely action is to just want to undo immediately, and the time spent where the level restarts is annoying.
Rating: 4.2 out of 5
Summary:
Some levels force the player to use trial-and-error to some extent. And some levels don't, but trial-and-error is often the fastest solution. I only needed pen-and-paper to help with one of the puzzles. As such, overall the game was definitely on the easier side of puzzle games, but was fun while it lasted.
20260404:
I completed the hidden achievement. I had looked at the name of the achievement via Global Achievements. Then tried to infer what it meant.
Then I went on to play the first set of DLC puzzles.
Steam Game Time: 4.6 hours (cumulative game time) / 1.1 hours (session game time)
Gambit Shifter (PC) (2024)
Relevant Links:
Gambit Shifter (Wikipedia.org)
Gambit Shifter (PC) (MetaCritic.com)
Gambit Shifter (steamdb.info)
Gambit Shifter (Steam Store Page)
20260329, 20260330:
I acquired this game in a Humble Bundle and made sure to install it on my Steam Deck prior to traveling. I previously played a demo of the game that featured 18 levels. I played it from 20260329 to 20260330, getting all achievements except for a hidden one.
Setup: Steam Deck
Steam Game Time: 3.5 hours
[20260404]
Thoughts:
Pros:
+ Simple
Neutral:
~ Dying results immediately in starting over, from which the player can still undo. Personally I'd rather not have it automatically start over, as the more likely action is to just want to undo immediately, and the time spent where the level restarts is annoying.
Rating: 4.2 out of 5
Summary:
Some levels force the player to use trial-and-error to some extent. And some levels don't, but trial-and-error is often the fastest solution. I only needed pen-and-paper to help with one of the puzzles. As such, overall the game was definitely on the easier side of puzzle games, but was fun while it lasted.
20260404:
I completed the hidden achievement. I had looked at the name of the achievement via Global Achievements. Then tried to infer what it meant.
Then I went on to play the first set of DLC puzzles.
Steam Game Time: 4.6 hours (cumulative game time) / 1.1 hours (session game time)
Gambit Shifter (PC) (2024)
Relevant Links:
Gambit Shifter (Wikipedia.org)
Gambit Shifter (PC) (MetaCritic.com)
Gambit Shifter (steamdb.info)
Gambit Shifter (Steam Store Page)
Thursday, March 12, 2026
Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide (PC) (2015)
Overview: Dark fantasy online co-op.
20250530:
After trying to play Typing of the Dead: Overkill (no remote play together), Crypt of the Necrodancer (remote play together, but friend couldn't control), and Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light (I didn't want to figure out adding a controller for the game) with my friend, I decided to try this game for which I had an extra key. It plays similar to Left 4 Dead 2, but in a dark fantasy setting where the enemies are humanoid vermins (instead of zombies). There are, however, five different classes to choose from and each player must play a different class.
Setup: Keyboard and mouse.
Steam Game Time: 56 minutes
Thoughts:
Pros:
+ great looking graphics
+ coop
+ decent bots
Neutral:
~ game crashed twice with high graphic settings and widescreen
[20250530]
Rating: 3.0 out of 5
[20260312]
Summary:
None at this time
Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide (PC) (2015)
Relevant Links:
Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide (Wikipedia.org)
Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide (PC) (MetaCritic.com)
Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide (steamdb.info)
Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide (Steam Store Page)
20250530:
After trying to play Typing of the Dead: Overkill (no remote play together), Crypt of the Necrodancer (remote play together, but friend couldn't control), and Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light (I didn't want to figure out adding a controller for the game) with my friend, I decided to try this game for which I had an extra key. It plays similar to Left 4 Dead 2, but in a dark fantasy setting where the enemies are humanoid vermins (instead of zombies). There are, however, five different classes to choose from and each player must play a different class.
Setup: Keyboard and mouse.
Steam Game Time: 56 minutes
Thoughts:
Pros:
+ great looking graphics
+ coop
+ decent bots
Neutral:
~ game crashed twice with high graphic settings and widescreen
[20250530]
Rating: 3.0 out of 5
[20260312]
Summary:
None at this time
Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide (PC) (2015)
Relevant Links:
Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide (Wikipedia.org)
Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide (PC) (MetaCritic.com)
Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide (steamdb.info)
Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide (Steam Store Page)