NONEWORLD

~Review copy A small JRPG with about ~3.5 hours of content on normal difficulty, I think there were only around 10 battles including a few boss fights, so it's more focused on the narrative and the mood of the game. Strangely the game was somewhat challenging and it's kinda odd because by the time you unlock all of the abilities, you will finish the game, so you never get to fully utilize the synergy to its full potential. You went through the trouble of creating a fully functional party based/synergy based strategy, and then you only have like 3 fight left when you have access to everything (I have to say not a fully realized feature). Even though I think the writing was decent and the game had a few warm character moments, I felt like you didn't utilize the world-building and exploration as much as you should have, and I often felt like the rooms and biomes were too similar and didn't have any curious landmarks. Sure, you still have a nice art direction compared to the generic RPG maker kits, but the locations need some personality instead if just having square rooms and roads. When I think of immersive JRPG games and more specifically, Earthbound type games, you want to rewar…

Honestly, this is a game I can see myself finishing. The cute art, fun characters, and dialogue kept me interested, and I really love the black and white theme. I also like that the game doesn't tell you everything. It feels like you're slowly discovering a secret as you explore the world, and I always wanted to see what was waiting in the next area. I don’t usually play action RPGs, but the combat in this game was easy to learn and not too hard. One thing I really liked was how the game mixes cute characters with a dark and mysterious world. That contrast made the adventure feel unique and gave me this quiet feeling of curiosity the whole time, like I was gently pulled forward just to see what would happen next. I’m currently about halfway through the game, and as a cozy gamer, I really like it so far. I love the large black and white cat in the game too. It has a slightly mischievous “bad smile” on its face, like it’s saying to us, “I know something you don’t”. ≽^⎚⩊⎚^≼

I'm not sure how I found this game, or how it found me, or what it was, or what I am, but I'm pretty sure it was trying to tell me. Unfortunately the sign was ineligible. I'm so glad this found it's way into my purview, however that happened. It's short and concise, and left me with many questions, in a positive way. It runs fine on the steam deck. No issues at all. Wonderful game!

Review written for Noisy Pixel, which you can view here: https://youtu.be/S8wFlkHNEfE?si=opoeD1YkZDO8L6zW There’s always something special about playing through an indie project created by a single developer, even more so when it’s their debut work. Perhaps it’s purely psychological, but I always find the experience to feel much more intimate than other games, like paging through a sketchbook full of unique drawings that lack just the right amount of polish. As fresh and ambitious ideas are laid on canvas and battles against the constraints of limited budget, time, and experience are waged, the developer’s voice tends to sit at the very forefront, resulting in a work of art that often feels deeply personal and expressive. During my time with NONEWORLD, the debut title of developer, artist, and musician Millie Snowfall, the act of playing the game often felt like a conversation had directly with Millie herself, as the unique sense of earnestness, humor, and mystery seemed to effortlessly pour out of her hand-crafted world. NONEWORLD places you into the role of Princess Quartz, who awakens with a faded memory within a dark castle, accompanied at first only by a mysterious omniprese…

If you're a fan of JRPGs, check out NONEWORLD. I normally stray away from RPGMaker games unless they really stand out (I like them, there's just so many!). NONEWORLD was just so strange and surreal, and the story trickled through exploration, it kept me interested. Combat features unusual revenge mechanics. For more niche curation, follow me at: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/27440015-CSH-Picone/ Want more honest niche & indie reviews? Check out: https://www.cshpicone.com/gaming

A fun, short adventure with strong Alice in Wonderland vibes set in a striking monochrome world. Every corner hides eerie manifestations that keep exploration interesting, and multiple playthroughs are rewarding thanks to special achievements that gradually reveal more of the world's lore. A memorable indie experience that rides the line of cutesy and uncanny with plenty of mystery packed into a compact journey.