In this part, we won't be sorting through games based on perspective, but by composition! We find ourselves in a realm of 2D game-play and pixelated goodness, with game worlds ranging from rudimentary and nostalgic to glorious moving artworks; All of which are filled with lofty goals for the developers in question and a deep respect for the formulae that inspired the projects.
Worthwhile Demos of the Steam Game Festival – Part 1: First-Person Free-For-All
An almost insurmountable range of first-person titles have rolled out their previews in the past few months and right here you'll learn a good bit about five of them. So join us! Let us celebrate the art of development and the aspirations of studios worldwide.
Scratch the Itch: Delving Through Demos
In these pieces, we are going to be diving through the realms of itch.io to uncover some of the hidden gems, whether exclusive to the service or merely an option for purchase. These can be full reviews of individual titles, genre-concentrated round ups or just a fun jaunt through the mines of games currently in development.
It’s Pretty Effective! Soul Reaper’s Grinding Adventure Doesn’t Overburden
The role-playing genre is notorious for its addictive potential. Particularly the massively-multiplayer online variety. Lord knows how many precious, real-world months some folks have wiled away in Runescape, LOTRO or ESO. Should you happen to enjoy such time-wasting, I come bearing good news. Soul Reaper, an early access game by Canadian team Power Level Studios, has inherited some great RPG genes and is poised to suck up your free hours quite mercilessly—despite lacking the massively multiplayer element.
Shantae and the Seven Sirens: An Admirable Evolution to Engage With
Shantae and the Seven Sirens was a pleasant romp throughout and kept the momentum of surprise going through evolution without becoming too comfortable with iterative design. Some of the newer systems may have hit slightly off the mark, but the vast majority come as a welcome complexity.
Learning to Love Doom 64 – Swansong of Classic Doom
Doom 64's resurgence into the modern era is not only technically miles ahead of what the original developers could have dreamed of experiencing, but a poignant reminder of the excellent results that can be borne from taking risks in the grand scope of game design, whether it be in tone, atmosphere or gameplay diversions. Nightdive Studios and Midway Games both deserve a firm pat on the back for it.
Speedrun Marathon Watch – June 2020
Speedrun Marathon Watch is a monthly feature to highlight fantastic upcoming marathon content. Sometimes these are purely for fun, sometimes they are a charity drive for noble causes! Either way, expect some entertaining runs, insightful commentary and a direct view into the tight knit world of breaking games and loving it the whole while!
Goblin Sword’s Unexpected Rebirth on Switch Proves its True Stamina
Goblin Sword on Nintendo Switch is an excellent port of an excellent iOS game. Hopefully the Gelato bros have more gas in the tank for a sequel. But if not, let's celebrate its existence on console and pray it winds up on Steam, too.
Mission Statement
‘Asobi’ comes from the Japanese word for ‘play’. Play, according to psychology, is a fundamental human need. The Asobi Journal is an online publication that is dedicated to the analysis of play where video games are the primary medium.
The Asobi Journal 