grab bag of free browser games
weather: ☀️ summer in january
critters: birds...just a lot of birds
i'm bad at video games, so i like free ones--that way, in the likely event that i'm bad at a game, all i wasted was time. here are three $0 browser games i've played recently.
Warlord's Penance
warlord's penance is a short dungeon crawler with excellent 1-bit graphics. combat is real-time but not real-space, if that makes sense--combat takes place in scenes distinct from the doom level you run around in, but your attacks and defense rely on some soulslike cueing, your enemies are no respecters of whose "turn" it is, and a JRPGlike cooldown mechanic renders hulk-smashing impossible.
the whole experience is very fluid. i'm shocked that controlling all three party members at the same time plays as smoothly as it does. kinda wish the control scheme were more lefty mouse friendly, but i can say that about most games, so it's barely relevant.
DATAMINER
dataminer is a game in beta about hacking in a cyberpunk dystopia. mostly looks like hacknet and mostly plays like a more active cookie clicker, but with levels...except for one part involving the spoiler image below. wtf was that about?
you don't start from a completely clean slate with every level--equipment serves as character progression. consumables give you an early time-saving boost. nothing is explained that well, but there are no serious or time-consuming consequences for not understanding. you can figure things out as you go.
RUIN: Chapter 0
ruin: chapter 0 is cruelty squad meets king's quest but as a walking simulator. some things about this doodad seem to connect with another doodad, ruiner, and that's just a guess. i find almost all of this group's output pretty impenetrable for many of the same reasons i find cruelty squad impenetrable--something about the thematic mixture of tech and spirituality drives artists to esoteric ranting. (i am not exempt.)
despite official electric's "games" being tiny little vehicles for curiously high-budget merch, there's compelling stuff here. the visuals and sense of bewilderment create a distinct vibe, and that vibe is a forbidden grimoire meets the adventure games on your uncle's apple II. it feels like it's saying something, i just have no idea what.
