This is a bit of a strange one as getting stuck is kinda part of the game’s experience but I want put forward Animal Well.

For those who aren’t familiar, Animal Well is a 2D metroidvania style game with a distinct pixelated art style.

The main game doesn’t take too long to complete but it’s the end game where the real challenge lies.

Finding all the little secrets really takes some outside the box thinking. I’m trying to 100% the game without looking anything up but it is so tough. That being said, it’s very rewarding when you try some wild idea and it turns out to be exactly what you needed to do.

It won’t be everybody’s cup of tea but I’m enjoying the challenge. I have no idea if I’ll ever beat this game fully (I’ve stuck on the same few puzzles for absolutely ages now).

As I say, it’s a strange one. Animal Well’s end game almost guarantees you’ll get stuck at some point, but that’s also kind of the point. It’s deliberately tricky and there’s no hand holding. And yet I keep coming back and trying new things, examining every pixel, deploying new theories, etc., in the hope that I’ll make a breakthrough (hopefully sooner rather than later!)

My personal highlight of the year has to be a game I built in Fortnite Creative called Model Racetrack Tycoon. The aim is to build up your model set by completing odd jobs around the neighbourhood and buying new parts.

I tried to do something different from the standard genre format while creating a fun and relaxing gameplay experience. I learned an awful lot from the process, lessons i’ll take into future projects. Overall though, not bad for a first game I think! 😊

This was the first time i watched the Game Awards and I have to say, i thoroughly enjoyed the event!

It reminded me of the ol’ E3 days with the anticipation and excitement. And it was nice to see so many great games getting acknowledged for their achievements. I had fun trying to guess which entry would win each category.

In terms of reveals, there was plenty of interesting stuff. A couple that caught my eye though were Slay The Spire II (loved the first one) and Rematch (fresh take on the footballing genre). Hopefully they’ll both play well.

Lastly, great to see Animal well and Balatro get multiple nominations. 2 fantastic games both made by individuals if I remember rightly? Or at least small teams. Just show’s the impact you can make with a fun concept delivered well. Roll on 2025! 😊

Here’s something from a while ago, the Goldeneye multiplayer map facility in minecraft. So many fond memories of that game 🙂

First time I watched it and was quite impressed with the general presentation. There was some interesting stuff in there (I’m curious to see more of Reanimal and Masters of Albion), but I’m not really feeling Indiana Jones and Call of Duty. Don’t know why, maybe I’m just looking for more new and unusual games these days?

One power up I always have fond memories of is the feather/cape from Super Mario World. For those who don’t know, the feather adorns Mario in a cape that then gives him the ability to fly! Beyond allowing you to explore previously unreachable areas, it’s also just really fun and satisfying to control. And for certain levels, it can help you bypass certain sections, ideal for speed runners. I found this cool video explaining how to make Mario fly for those who are curious or fancy a dose of nostalgia! 😊

Can never get over the amount of stars in universe 🤩 mesmerising!

Bit of different take here but a while back I made this Minecraft art gallery video 😊

How about that final over of the 2019 World Cup? England v New Zealand, incredible tension. It just gave me chills watching it back.

I’m not sure if it is in development, but I’d be surprised if it wasn’t: AR glasses that can auto add captions/subtitles to every day life. For those that are hard of hearing, this would be really helpful. And with the advances in transcribing programmes and AI, it surely must be possible? You can do it in MS Teams!