Dredge is the perfect mix of spooky and cosy. The gameplay and graphics are quite simple, without feeling lackluster. Its quite pretty and very atmospheric, which is enhanced by its great soundtrack/soundeffects. I was initially a bit put off by the economic system and pace, feeling like it was gonna be a grindy game. If you don't know, I despise grinding and crafting mechanics. This happened to be the exception as it quickly picks up the pace, as the story unfolds. The design of each individual main areas, has their own destinct style, preventing the game from blurring together. Somehow the map also seems vast with little islands and secrets scattered allover, perfect for players who enjoys exploring. And exploring there is. Thoughout my playthrough I continuously encountered new things, adding to the feeling of vastness, which is exactly how a game taking place on the ocean should feel. Especially as the sun sets and panic creeps up on you, questioning whats actually out there, and if what you see is real or not. As someone who is a bit afraid of the ocean irl, the immersion is amazing, and I genuinely felt the stress of making it back to the dock before darkness falls. The story is great, and the characters designs complements it very well. Its very subtle in its storytelling, only being told through dialog. All in all I have nothing bad to say about it, but if I had to, I think a few simple cutscenes would have elevated the story to the next level. I gotta admit the ending felt a bit disappointing, but the more I thought about the story, the ending wasn't the issue, moreso the execution. Now i played this game on handheld Switch, and it felt like they were made for eachother. The gameplay, the artstyle, the simplicity. Its a game that doesn't overstay its welcome. Neither does it feel too short. The port ran without issues and controls were smooth. Felt like a game you'd play under the covers, pretending to be asleep, when your parents would come check on you.

While We Wait Here had a lot of potential, but unfortunately it falls a bit short. The retro graphics suits the game very well, and goes hand in hand with a story/dialogue driven game like this. The game takes place within a small diner along the highway, where you are chef, server and therapist for the different customers stopping by. Meanwhile outside, the world is coming to an end. Theres a dynamic change between different environments as you learn more about each character. Each place varies in action, horror, symbolism and overall gameplay. Some are just long cutscenes, where we get to know the characters through dialogue alone, whereas others are heavy on gameplay and symbolism, meaning we get to see deeper into the characters state of mind. The writers are clearly talented. The dialogue itself is well written, and the voice acting is great! The characters each have a stark personality, which shows in the individual design and body language. All that combined makes for some loveable (and quite so lovable) characters. Theres a great atmosphere within the diner, having them interrupt and talk over each other. This is definitely one of the points that makes this game stand out. It shows the writing has a certain depth. Maybe that's why I miss a few more options when interacting with them as the main character. There's pretty much one way of dialogue ending with you have to advice them either to do a or b. Often neither seemed very appealing. I also wish, i was able to talk to them beyond what progressed the story. Just having them say a line or acknowledge/look at you. Some characters also entered the diner in pairs. Here I really wanted to talk to one part, but wasn't able to. Its like they cant decide if it should be a choices matter or a psychological horror. In the end the choices doesn't really matter, and the inconsistency in how the backstories are portrayed, make it feel unbalanced. Especially right after having played Mouthwashing, a game heavy on storytelling through symbolism and gameplay along with strong well written dialog. Overall While we wait feels slightly undercooked. Its a shame cause the idea and talent was there. I'll definitely keep an eye on the devs and see what they come up with in the future. Peace and love 💜