As the saying goes, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy (and whether that be Jacques, Jacky, Jack, or even Jacket), the same could be said the world over.
Recently, as part of this year’s Osaka World Expo, Games Around The World, a digital global showcase of indie games, took place with representation from various countries like Japan, Australia, Belgium, and even the Philippines, to name a few.
Fortunately, I (and another contributor from PhilSTAR Tech, Calypsolair) were chosen to be the Filipino representatives taking part in the event as streamers. Here are the games I played throughout Games Around The World:
Please, Touch The Artwork 2
Country of Origin: Belgium
Art is alive in more ways than one in this fun, free title by Thomas Waterzooi. If you looked up the definition of what a wonderful tribute would be, Please Touch The Artwork 2 is definitely up there especially with how it takes you into the world of Belgian artist James Ensor.
It was whimsical, it was wonderful, and it sincerely brought you into another plane of existence. It put the fun in functional, and honestly, it made me want to go to a museum and have this adventure all over again. While a relatively simple hidden object game, the humor kicks it up a notch. It’s honestly just so fun getting absorbed in this artistic world.
Check it out over on Steam!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2600140/Please_Touch_The_Artwork_2
No Players Online
Country of Origin: Belgium
The world is a simulation, and you’d never expect the kinds of twists and turns, especially with the unknown in mind. No Players Online is a spiritual successor to the 15-minute cult-hit 2019 freeware game of the same name. This ARG (Alternate Reality Game) has you uncovering a mystery more sinister than meets the eye.
Completely capturing the vibe of the ’90s internet experience and then some, there was so much variety in this game (between having a dating sim, an actual internet forum, and more) that the plot suddenly taking the reins made it a memorable experience. While it may not be for everyone, it’s definitely worth a look for horror aficionados and would-be detectives out there.
Try out the demo yourself and see if you can uncover the mystery, or get lost in the shuffle.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2701800/No_Players_Online
Streep
Country of Origin: Belgium and the Netherlands
Life isn’t all black and white, especially when you add a little color. In this fun game by StickyTable, you play a pen breaking free from a forced monochromatic world brought on by the Noir corporation hoarding away all the color.
Puzzle platformers are a guilty pleasure of mine, especially with how the medium presents itself. One aspect of this game that just drew me in was the degree of freedom it offered from the get-go. While it may have been a demo (and there may have been some bugs here and there), the puzzles were good, and just being able to take a brush and draw was a nice little surprise.
Wishlist the game over on Steam and try it out when it gets released!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3132570/Streep
Snow Cone
Country of Origin: Australia
Problems may seem complicated at first, but in reality, all it takes is a little trial and error (and definitely some dumb luck too). Snow Cone is one of those titles that takes a simple concept like rolling up snow and stays unique throughout its approach in this Sokoban-style (or warehouse keeper) title.
You’re a penguin rolling up snow, and that’s already pretty cool (pun intended). The puzzles get harder, but the soothing jazz and happy little snowballs don’t pressure you into beating a timer or even finishing at all. There’s nothing wrong with vibing in games, and not going to lie, playing this game was pretty chill (pun also intended).
If you’re here for the vibe and you’re game for a slide, check out Snow Cone over on Steam.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2445270/Snow_Cone
Stip
Country of Origin: Belgium
Sudoku is a number game, and puzzles are fun, especially when you get used to them. Patterns are also fun to read if you like number-based games, but Stip isn’t just a puzzle game. It’s a throwback to the more developed Flash adventure games of old.
I’m not exaggerating when I say a number game gave me a jump scare. Amidst the fear of numbers and mistakes, it had me craving more. The numbers get more complex, and so do the puzzles, but numbers aren’t the only thing you’ll be puzzling over in Stip. This is definitely one of those titles to look out for if you have a knack for problem-solving or just want that certain mental stimulation that only comes from uncovering a deeper mystery.
Wishlist the game over on Steam and see if you end up puzzled too.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3227960/Stip
Reggie, His Cousin, Two Scientists and Most Likely the End of the World
Country of Origin: Netherlands
A good platformer is hard to come by, and Reggie, His Cousin, Two Scientists and Most Likely the End of the World (shortened to just Reggie) had so much potential from the looks all the way to its feel. You have a cute mascot in Reggie, with dynamic movement heavily influenced by gravity, and the world ending all in front of you.
It’s creative, fast-paced, and just filled with so much character that I tried failing in multiple ways because the animation was just adorable (even if Reggie was getting sucked into a black hole). Sadly, the demo only had gameplay, leaving me with more questions going out than I had going in. But on the bright side, that just makes me even more excited for the cutscenes and lore when the game eventually drops!
Wishlist Reggie now and let’s find out together why the world’s ending!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2848910/Reggie_His_Cousin_Two_Scientists_and_Most_Likely_the_End_of_the_World
Fallen Tear: The Ascension
Country of Origin: Philippines
Rounding out my list of games is Fallen Tear: The Ascension. I enjoy a good Metroidvania, and the layout had me sold. But the biggest surprise was in the gameplay. This title, based in the Philippines, had everything I crave in a Metroidvania: fast combat, snappy movement options including a wall run, and enemies that don’t feel too unfair. But what really caught my attention were the little mundane actions here and there in both the playable character and even the environment.
Rarely do you see games put heavy emphasis on the background or character mannerisms, but Fallen Tear does just that, with subtle references to Filipino culture, like the Makahiya bridgeway that shrivels when touched. The “summon” mechanic also had me curious for more in terms of the lore and story behind Fallen Tear, and if this weren’t a demo, I’m not even going to deny that I’d have played 10 hours straight just because of how absorbed I was.
Check out the game over on Steam and wishlist it!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1446900/Fallen_Tear_The_Ascension
Closing
The world of gaming is such a massive ocean of inspiration that it can get overwhelming at times. There’s just so much out there. You could go from genre to genre and get lost in the sauce while getting immersed in the world of video games. And that’s a good thing, because it means there’s so much fun waiting to be discovered.
A lot of representation and character can be found in these titles, and it’s still hard to take in that some of them are just demos. But like I said in my PGDX piece, the developers of these games deserve all the support they can get, so consider wishlisting them and trying them out for yourself!
I genuinely wish I had more time to try more of the titles, but you can check them out too! The Games Around The World site is still up and running and you can browse through all the representations present. And who knows, you might just find a familiar face staring back at you.
