u/GussyGamez2021

Platform: Steam
Date played: 6/7/2026
Time played: 78 minutes 
Gameplay: 3.5/5 - early look so not many mechanics to use yet
Sound Design: 4/5 - music fit the vibes
Graphics: 3.7/5 - early look!
Controls: 5/5 - easy to use controller friendly
User Interface: 5/5 - what was demonstrated was easy to use

Summary: “This prologue is a narrative experience lasting approximately 30 minutes. It introduces the world, characters, and mystery of 1666: Amsterdam. The core gameplay loop, i.e. investigation, tracking, and confronting the Originals during the Esbat begins in the full game”.

Thoughts: With the summer games showcases in full swing, I have been updating my wishlists adding the upcoming titles that caught my eye and this year’s Summer Game Fest was packed with promising looking titles. Being a massive Resident Evil and Stellar Blade fan those of course stole the show for me, but a few newer titles made it onto my radar as well. Among those was 1666: Amsterdam developed and published by Panache Digital Games which promised a witchy narrative and spoiled us with a free prologue allowing us to get a glimpse at the story, characters, and gameplay. After a few days I installed it and, at the time of writing this, I have spent a little over an hour in the world. And I have to admit, I am optimistic about what’s to come.

Before I get too far ahead a sentiment I must share and will repeat several more times, is that this is a very early demonstration of the game and should not be deemed the final product. I will be omitting graphical complaints and other critiques that hold no real analysis at this time since it is still too early to judge. I will share my observations and about the narrative presented to us but again, this is and should be subject to change as the game evolves.

We begin with a woman in red on her way to a ceremony, it is December 1665. The woman we later learn is named Noa, also known as The Collector and descendant of a tribe called the Zaindaris. Noa possesses unique abilities that allow her to collect energy and interact with the materials and people around her in unusual ways. Her bio which we acquire at the end of the prologue tells us about her heritage and her purpose, “to receive NUX and spread it upon the Earth”. She chooses a feline to accompany her with each cat option seeming to have their own personality traits. Having played it twice, once choosing the Spirit cat and another time the Page there were no noticeable differences but I am hopeful that this will have implications for the full release. Before we can see the end of the ceremony though we are taken forward in time to the modern era. 

We are introduced to Clio, a young woman searching for help translating a document left behind by her recently deceased father. She turns to an old friend of the family Professor Lucas, an expert in Paleography (the academic pursuit of deciphering historical writings), with the hope that he can read the document. We learn that the letter Clio brings consists of symbols as well as a seemingly organic element making the text itself look alive. The professor tells Clio that this text descends from the Zaindaris tribe and requires a special tool to decipher it. After using our investigation skills to find the tool, Clio enters a trance-like state hearing her father’s voice as he tells her about his past interactions with the tribe. 

Right away it is implied that the tribe is still active in the modern age and may not exist on a linear timeline. While Clio is in her trance, we experience the letter through playing as her father and later as the very cat we chose at the beginning. This tells us that her father, whose story told in the letter was set in the year 2000, was somehow transported back to the 1600s and played an active role in Noa’s story. The prologue ends with their union and we are left with plenty of questions for the full-game to answer. 

As stated previously, this is an early view of the game so consider the following observations rather than judgements. Visually, the game has a lot of promise with the use of harsh reds and darker lighting forcing you to pay attention to what is on the screen. Noa’s character design is powerful, donned in red robes with a veil covering her face while Clio looks young and studious. For environments we get to explore a library, a massive hotel, and the forest that takes us to the ceremony site. The library shows 2 levels of shelves which we can investigate, walls lined with old artworks and beautiful stained glass windows. The forest is lit dimly by torches and fire pits with the ominous glow of the mood adding to the sense of mystery. NPCs fill the spaces and remind us that the actions of this tribe are not separate from humanity but intertwined with it. Sound design completes the scene with ominous chants and hums, a very fitting choice for the magical themes of the game. At this time there is room for improvement but the ambience established is promising. 

The gameplay is simplistic with us being directed to investigate, read, ignite, and search all of which is done through holding or pressing the designated button. Combat is demonstrated in the main trailer but we don’t get to sample that in the prologue. The game plays well with controllers but supports mouse and keyboard as well. I experienced no issues on the technical side minus the occasional frame jumps but again, I’ll attribute it to being an early look and easily forgivable. 

The prologue does what it sets out to do, give us a taste of what’s to come and the mystery at hand. We are given plenty of terms to build the world and to start learning the practices of the tribe. Additionally we are given character connections without being told the entirety of how the pieces fit together. While it was not the most impressive display, the narrative for me makes it compelling enough to want to see where it goes. This to me is always more important than having demanding combat or 4K visuals. A beautiful game is only good until you realize it lacks substance. 1666: Amsterdam promises substance and beauty. I like a good story with magic and witchy elements, the Hex girls from Scooby-Doo did in fact have a lasting impact on me so I am excited to see more use of magic and Noa’s powers in addition to unraveling what promises to be an intriguing narrative. 

Links:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3949550/1666_Amsterdam/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palaeography

One of my favorite short-lived series! Just a few screenshots from it.

Hours in game: 42

Platform: Steam
Date played: 5/22/2026
Time to finish demo: 86 minutes
Gameplay: 5/5 - a lot of creativity
Sound Design: 4/5  - medieval tunes 
Graphics: 5/5 - storybook looking
Controls: 5/5 - drag and drop
User Interface: 5/5 - user friendly & detailed

Summary: “Play the free demo of Scriptorium to make and share the most beautiful and bizarre medieval arts imaginable! Manage and grow your manuscript workshop by illustrating manuscripts, using friendly tools and a range of drag-and-drop artworks from the deepest reaches of history”. (steam page bio)

Thoughts: Have you ever wanted to own a manuscript shop where you design beautiful illustrations under the watchful eye of the devil and a cast of very bizarre townsfolk? If the answer is yes, consider checking out the wonderfully whimsical “Scriptorium: Master of Manuscripts”! Developed by Yaza Games and published by Mythwright, this delightful entry to my examination of 2026 demos caught my eye as I was perusing the steam demos page looking for something unique. What sold me on it, as I imagine it will for any who give it a go, was the fantastic and at times comical style of the game. While there is an overall narrative at play as well, the creativity at your disposal is the main selling point.

Starting the demo you are thrown into a character creation screen. It’s nothing too elaborate, but you will pick your character, dress them up, change skin tone and hair type, name them, and set off to begin your new life working in your supposed uncle’s shop. A brief background tells us about 2 characters we can play from. There will be 4 other options in the full game but for now we can play as a disgraced nun cast from the convent after an incident with her cat, or a handsome gentleman with no notable background who is down on his luck. Each day you will complete an illustration for your chosen customer. The requests range from making something for a man’s daughter, happy and full of cute rabbits to a man preparing for the end of his life wanting to leave behind a legacy telling of his adventures, even if they are greatly exaggerated. You are then provided with a list of necessary elements for the picture (people, plants, objects, animals, etc.) and are left to your own devices to create the design. With each demand you meet your rewards increase making it worth your while to take your time building the image you want. Rewards include gold, notoriety, and skill points you can spend at the sketch shop, though that is not available in the demo.

The mechanics of the game are simplistic using drag and drop mechanics to place, rotate, resize, and layer all the elements of your picture. You can change the color of items, add text, and add texture to bring more life into your creation. Beyond the immediate task of illustrating, you are able to decorate your space and craft new colors and various elements for future use. Decorate your space with the money earned from your labors and expand on your skills.

“Scriptorium” is a game that will not necessarily make its mark from the narrative, impeccable sound design, large budget, or even the art direction, though it is spectacular to look at. The beauty of the game lies entirely in the efforts of players. While there are prompts to guide you and parts needed to complete a commission, that is all the restrictions placed on you. And if that’s still too strict, there is a sandbox option where the training wheels are off and you can create what your heart desires. I would strongly recommend looking at the subreddit for this game. Players are finding this to be a perfect vessel in which to create scenes depicting their favorite stories such as Warhammer 40k. Others are using this to create templates and stats sheets for their preferred RPGs. One of my favorites, submitted by user No_Yak_3316 uses the game to create a piece depicting “The Great Flood” with Hindu inspiration! Personally, I like to create Biblical hellscapes aiming for a disjointed but ethereal feel. Whether I achieve this or not is up for debate but the resource is there! The only limit is the imagination of the one using the tools. 

I will keep this brief as there is an abundance of discourse around this, but a game that requires the artist to create art without the presence of a shortcut, shows us the true capacity of someone motivated to create. You do not create when you plug something in to a search engine or a bot. You create when you look at what is there and say “but what if I did this instead?”. I was listening to a video the other day and the person speaking (PaymoneyWubby) was talking about the difference in perception between wonders of the world and man made wonders. Sparing you the recap I was inclined to agree with them. While nature creates the most awe inspiring sights without human intervention, I can expect that greatness, it is beyond my power so of course it inspires. But to see something made by a human that takes care, intention, and time, that feels more precious. AI generative media is a tool, but understand that using it to create removes the very thing that makes art profound.

The game runs smoothly on Windows with no notable issues playing on my end. At this time I believe it is only available on PC but that feels like the perfect platform given the delicacy required that is hard to manage on a controller. The full game released in February of this year and at the time of writing this sells for $15 on Steam. With overwhelmingly positive reviews let me be another voice that encourages you to give this game a go and, if I may ask, please share what you make! 

Links:

• https://store.steampowered.com/app/3119540/Scriptorium_Master_of_Manuscripts/
• https://www.reddit.com/r/scriptoriumgame/comments/1tjea5w/the_great_flood_myth_commission_arthindu_version/
• https://www.reddit.com/r/scriptoriumgame/

Platform: Steam
Date played: 5/10/2026
Overall interest: 4.4/5
Time played: 3 hours
Gameplay: 4/5 - see thoughts on combat
Sound Design: 5/5 - beautiful
Graphics: 5/5 - STUNNING
Controls: 4/5 - see thoughts on combat
User Interface: 5/5 - easy to follow
Summary: “A retro-fantasy action RPG with brutal combat and traversal-focused exploration. Embark on a quest to find your father who disappeared on the mysterious Isle of Neasied, where sinister forces gather, secrets hide everywhere, and the sleeping Queen has begun to stir”. - Steam page

Thoughts: “Queen’s Domain” is what I can only imagine “Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion” must have felt like back at launch. A beautiful world with fantastic creatures, calming melodies, and at times, unforgiving combat. Granted, I say “must have” as Oblivion has not made it into my library just yet. Bear with me as I am only just starting to dip my toes into the open world genre but if Queen’s Domain is any indicator of all the subgenre has to offer, consider my interests piqued. You start waking up on a beach after your boat crashes on Isle of Neasied. Our character is looking for his father, the king. Talking to some of the terrified guards you learn that the king is in a bind and we need to find him. We set off to do just that, collecting weapons and resources to aid us on our journey. Take care when looking around, I found that items could be easy to overlook.

The game follows a standard progression system. The more you fight the stronger you and your weapons become. Among my arsenal, I acquired a rusty sword, a spear, a club, and throwing daggers each with their own stats that can be leveled up the more you use it. Duel wielding allows you to have a main weapon and a range weapon. Additional gear can be equipped to boost your stats and meals once consumed offer their own variety of benefits as well.

Along the way you encounter several monsters, hybrids of multiple animals (ladybug/rat, cricket/chicken, dragonfly/scorpion, etc) which you can learn about by reading the bestiary in the pause menu. You fight, you run, you loot. If this is not designed to be a souls-like game (I know a saturated genre but wonderful all the same), it certainly fooled me. Combat is slow and proved to be a challenge with the game’s demo.  Every enemy is relatively tanky until you start to level up your character and weapons. With no block or true dodge mechanic however, combat felt like an arduous task at times. Approach, charge a heavy attack, hit, retreat back, repeat. In addition to the pressure to keep from getting injured are healing items, although present, they can only do so much when facing your foes, these enemies are persistent! Attracting the attention of one means it will follow you to the ends of Neasied. Enemies jump, fly, shoot fire, poison, and team up. Dying sends you back to the stone pillar that acts as the player’s souls-like bonfire. Here we can save and rest to heal. Doing so respawns enemies immediately if you rest. I and other players noticed that even without resting enemies may respawn if you are in a different area for long enough. I felt confident after clearing an area only to return for loot to find my old enemies had been revived once again blocking my way. The good news is that items seem to spawn randomly as well. Pots and vases I had smashed previously can return and this time may have items in them.

Of course, some of my issues may be user error. I tend to stick with story based games with the linear paths, but looking at the current reviews I see I am not alone. Several other players commented on the slow pace of combat and the reliance on strong attacks to deliver any real damage. This exhausting pace may appeal to some, and even be fine in doses. I personally noticed that as I played more I found the rhythm for combat. Additionally, with my character getting stronger the enemies became easier to kill requiring only 3-5 hits instead of 7-10 hits. That being said I am hoping for some adjustments as the game is developed. A parry or dodge dodge would remedy some of the strain of fighting but some may prefer combat as it is. Afterall, the description does say “brutal combat” and difficult does not mean impossible!

And that, for now, is where my critiques stop. This truly is a beautiful game with so much promise. More than once I stopped (when the ladybug rat hybrids would allow) to just listen to the peaceful music and take in the intricate landscapes. Looking into the sky you see clouds moving and leaves falling as if there is a constant breeze. Standing by the water you hear the waves and see fish swimming erratically. Everything has a mossy texture to it that can almost be felt. The environments tell us that this place is far more ancient and likely far more dangerous than what we witness in this demo.

The trailer shows us what’s to come including magic, taking flight with your winged sword as well as boss fights against the undead. The game runs well on a controller (my preferred choice), and I experienced no lag or dropped frames but after a little over 2 hours the game did crash. Luckily I had saved and experienced no crashes after relaunching. This isn’t the biggest issue, it is a demo but take care to save often! The demo as of now has 5 achievements to work for with the development team estimating the average player will take about an hour to complete it. I spent roughly 3 hours in the game exploring and leveling up before I finished it.

Developed by Freshly Baked Games LLC and published by Future Friends Games, “Queen’s Domain” is worth keeping an eye on! Development can be tracked on the game’s Steam page linked below, TikTok, as well as in the game’s official Discord server. While combat is the biggest complaint for players, it is a game I hope to see grow and one I could spend hours just existing in…if the horde of monsters I amassed along the way would let me…

Links:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1799840/Queens_Domain/