The Backlog
How CrossCode Wore Me Down
This budget-friendly 16-bit JRPG hides a genuinely intriguing story behind brutal platforming puzzles and grinding that test your patience for 40-plus hours
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deadlines
Also in this issue
lifeisagamemagazine.com-
02
Reviews
Flamecraft Review | “Wake up Flamekeeper, we got a town to Enchant!”
This board game adaptation nails the balance between staying faithful and using the digital medium to its fullest, with charming dragons, a solo campaign, and a beginner-friendly tutorial
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03
Reviews
Resident Evil (2026) Review | Why “Not Being a Resident Evil Movie” Is Exactly the Point
Cregger's take skips fan-service characters and locations to recreate something rarer, the actual feeling of playing a Resident Evil game
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04
Reviews
Dispatch Review | I Bet You Can’t Play Only Once
Great writing, high-stakes decision-making, and a cast led by Aaron Paul and Matthew Mercer make this an easy must-play, even on your second or third run
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05
First Hours
Blackwood Act One Impressions | The John Wick and Max Payne-Inspired Shooter We’ve Been Missing
A stylish crime shooter with an oddly charming shop management system, Act One shows real promise even with some rough edges to iron out
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06
Reviews
Warhounds Review | How to Channel XCOM Through Gameplay
A fantastic tactical experience dragged down by artificial pacing and broken promises.
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07
Reviews
Deer & Boy Review | A Wordless, Tear-Jerking Coming-of-Age Story
Gorgeous art direction and a wordless, deeply felt story carry this coming-of-age tale, even when its puzzles and antagonist play it safe
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08
Reviews
Mortal Shell II Review | From a One-Hour Quit to 70 Hours and a Top-10 Soulslike
Crashes, wild damage scaling, and launch-day bugs couldn't stop this sequel from becoming one of the best Soulslikes I've ever played.
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09
Reviews
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Pre-Remaster Review in 2026 | Does CD Projekt Red’s Masterpiece Still Hold Up?
Imperfect combat, a flawed loot system, and still one of the best RPGs ever made, here's why.
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10
Features
My Predictions About Control Resonant
Four things I think will come true after playing through Control
Right now
What we're playing
Each writer updates their own. Entries drop off after six weeks without a change.
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VirgoXZ updated 3 days ago
Reverse 1999
This is gonna be a long one...I'm currently only in the fourth book...I keep getting distracted with all the side anecdotes. I'll bounce away sometimes but the artstyle and character designs keep drawing me back.
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Biggie updated 3 weeks ago
The Blood of Dawnwalker
Picking apart a brand new promising vampire RPG 🦇
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Brokowski updated 3 weeks ago
Twisted Tower
I’m massive fan of adventure single player games, especially of the survival horror variety. My entire gaming palate was shaped by Resident Evil 4 and The Last of Us. Don’t ask my opinion on on convoluted RPGs or Strategy games.
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Bonafide XP updated 3 weeks ago
Blood of DawnWalker, Star Wars: Zero Company, Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, Crimson Moon
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GP updated 3 weeks ago
Onimusha: Way of The Sword
I’m pretty confident talking about Souls games, RPGs and horror. Sports games and multiplayer are where I’m completely out of my depth.
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