Try Trove https://cuddly.tube/c/trytrove/videos I love to try games. I rarely finish them. I'm not good at them, but winning isn't the point. I'll try them out here on the channel so we can learn what they're about together! Come here if you want: ๐ŸŽฎ Lots of videos featuring a variety of games, perfect for helping you find what you like ๐ŸŽ‰ First impressions of games (most are new to me, but sometimes I feature games I'm familiar with) ๐Ÿ’ฐ Videos often synchronized with sales โ€” perfect for patient price-sensitive gamers ๐Ÿ˜Œ Low-key delivery that might be relaxing enough to fall asleep to Not the best choice for: ๐Ÿšซ MLG pro-gamer or GDQ speedrun level performances (I'm bad at games; sorry, not sorry ๐Ÿ˜) ๐Ÿšซ Heavy editing โ€” I fade in and out, and that's about it ๐Ÿ˜… ๐Ÿšซ Lulz, clickbait, "don't forget to like and subscribe," etc. I want to entertain, but I'm not interested in chasing vanity metrics. I buy all my own games unless otherwise noted. If all that sounds right for you, stick around and try some games with me! Wed, 20 May 2026 21:24:18 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://cuddly.tube Try Trove https://cuddly.tube/lazy-static/avatars/43125253-08af-4964-9305-85ad301619c1.png https://cuddly.tube/c/trytrove/videos All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://cuddly.tube/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder. https://cuddly.tube/feeds/podcast/videos.xml?videoChannelId=4890 <![CDATA[News Tower sucked me into managing a 1920s newspaper on Next Fest Demo Run ๐ŸŽฎ๐Ÿƒ part 5!]]> https://cuddly.tube/w/aBfLpSfqTkz6o3HJj3AjGF https://cuddly.tube/w/aBfLpSfqTkz6o3HJj3AjGF Tue, 19 May 2026 03:45:35 GMT It's the Steam Next Fest, so I'm going to play a bunch of demos. In this part, I play:

๐Ÿ•น๏ธ Tales from the Dancing Moon (01:22)
๐Ÿ•น๏ธ News Tower (22:09)
๐Ÿ•น๏ธ Cryptmaster (1:16:58)
๐Ÿ•น๏ธ Realm of Ink (1:45:50)

I got unexpectedly sucked into managing a newspaper, so most of this one is devoted to that. This was a solid bunch of demos!

]]> Try Trove Gaming nonadult News Tower sucked me into managing a 1920s newspaper on Next Fest Demo Run ๐ŸŽฎ๐Ÿƒ part 5! It's the Steam Next Fest, so I'm going to play a bunch of demos. In this part, I play: ๐Ÿ•น๏ธ Tales from the Dancing Moon (01:22) ๐Ÿ•น๏ธ News Tower (22:09) ๐Ÿ•น๏ธ Cryptmaster (1:16:58) ๐Ÿ•น๏ธ Realm of Ink (1:45:50) I got unexpectedly sucked into managing a ... <![CDATA[Backfirewall reminds me of Portal]]> https://cuddly.tube/w/6mpuf8QvagYbNPr5hJXb7a https://cuddly.tube/w/6mpuf8QvagYbNPr5hJXb7a Mon, 18 May 2026 23:03:02 GMT Backfirewall isn't quite as funny as Portal, but it is funny. The puzzles aren't quite as clever and fun, but they're still both of those things. It's not often we are treated to comedy puzzle games, and if that's your jam, this is a pretty good one! I enjoyed my time with it.

]]> Try Trove Gaming nonadult Backfirewall reminds me of Portal Backfirewall isn't quite as funny as Portal, but it is funny. The puzzles aren't quite as clever and fun, but they're still both of those things. It's not often we are treated to comedy puzzle games, and if that's your jam, this is a pretty good o... <![CDATA[Dicey Dungeons has you making impactful decisions constantly]]> https://cuddly.tube/w/ncDe6QYv5HeHw6CHFYxQcA https://cuddly.tube/w/ncDe6QYv5HeHw6CHFYxQcA Mon, 18 May 2026 23:03:00 GMT It feels so good to strategize around how to use your dice, how to equip your character, which skills to upgrade, which path to takeโ€ฆ it's a game that really allows you to use your agency to great effect.

]]> Try Trove Gaming nonadult Dicey Dungeons has you making impactful decisions constantly It feels so good to strategize around how to use your dice, how to equip your character, which skills to upgrade, which path to takeโ€ฆ it's a game that really allows you to use your agency to great effect. <![CDATA[Umurangi Generation's concept is great, but it's not all beautiful sunsets & picturesque landscapes]]> https://cuddly.tube/w/dHXYen7dJfekPxMXPmmgJH https://cuddly.tube/w/dHXYen7dJfekPxMXPmmgJH Mon, 18 May 2026 22:54:10 GMT I love the concept of this game: a photography scavenger hunt in a dystopian future. I wish it didn't have the problems it did. I don't want it to be perfect, but I just wish it had different problems. Weird physics plus framerate issues with profound gameplay implications make it difficult to enjoy and recommend.

]]> Try Trove Gaming nonadult Umurangi Generation's concept is great, but it's not all beautiful sunsets & picturesque landscapes I love the concept of this game: a photography scavenger hunt in a dystopian future. I wish it didn't have the problems it did. I don't want it to be perfect, but I just wish it had different problems. Weird physics plus framerate issues with prof... <![CDATA[BloodDome99 is a pixel-bloody twin-stick shooter that kinda rules]]> https://cuddly.tube/w/4HcqgYiFkFLWYSNfbwcPxc https://cuddly.tube/w/4HcqgYiFkFLWYSNfbwcPxc Mon, 18 May 2026 22:43:41 GMT Keeping with the theme of simple games that are just dang fun to play (like Froggy's Battle), BloodDome99 is another one of those, but instead of being cute, this one has an edge. You'll get the familiar in-run progression of something like a Vampire Survivors but with a more active playstyle that has you aiming and firing. Could this game have existed on my Intellivision? Probably not, but it kinda looks like it. That's not a bad thing.

]]> Try Trove Gaming nonadult BloodDome99 is a pixel-bloody twin-stick shooter that kinda rules Keeping with the theme of simple games that are just dang fun to play (like Froggy's Battle), BloodDome99 is another one of those, but instead of being cute, this one has an edge. You'll get the familiar in-run progression of something like a Vamp... <![CDATA[๐Ÿ’พ Floppy Knights is cute, charming, and funny. It's just not quite the right genre for me.]]> https://cuddly.tube/w/djjhSvTmhJTWUucBP8edQx https://cuddly.tube/w/djjhSvTmhJTWUucBP8edQx Mon, 18 May 2026 22:28:49 GMT Games try to be cute and rarely succeed. "Charm" so often just gets translated into "let's use the current internet memes" which is just gross. I don't have to tell you what crimes most games commit against "funny."

This game does all three of those, and it does them well. I have to admit though there were times when the dialog wore out its welcome a bit as I was trying to get into the actual game. Even so, everything that's there is enjoyable. I just wish I liked this sort of turn-based strategy more so that I could enjoy it.

I love everything about this gameโ€ฆ except playing it. ๐Ÿ˜…

]]> Try Trove Gaming nonadult ๐Ÿ’พ Floppy Knights is cute, charming, and funny. It's just not quite the right genre for me. Games try to be cute and rarely succeed. "Charm" so often just gets translated into "let's use the current internet memes" which is just gross. I don't have to tell you what crimes most games commit against "funny." This game does all three of th... <![CDATA[Prodeus captures the same timelessness of Doom]]> https://cuddly.tube/w/5H3E2axbmgatYYiRMkmDhs https://cuddly.tube/w/5H3E2axbmgatYYiRMkmDhs Mon, 18 May 2026 22:27:48 GMT "Boomer shooter" implies to me that a game carries forward the superficial aspects of the shooters of the nineties. I don't like that here, although superficially you could call Prodeus that. The significant thing it does to me is it carries forward the timeless feeling of Doom and Quake, that most shooters of the era did not have. I can fire up Doom or Quake on any given day and have a great time. The same can't be said for every shooter of the era. Prodeus has that, along with a peppering of modernity.

In short: it's fun and you should try it. ๐Ÿ˜

]]> Try Trove Gaming nonadult Prodeus captures the same timelessness of Doom "Boomer shooter" implies to me that a game carries forward the superficial aspects of the shooters of the nineties. I don't like that here, although superficially you could call Prodeus that. The significant thing it does to me is it carries forwa... <![CDATA[Wasteland 3 lets me do the XCOM thing but with some more RPG trappings]]> https://cuddly.tube/w/pETmALKXw9c2VDFHye5gad https://cuddly.tube/w/pETmALKXw9c2VDFHye5gad Mon, 18 May 2026 22:20:09 GMT I looked at another strategy RPG recently: Symphony of War. Of the two, I find this style a bit more enjoyable. (I've looked at that one so recently, it's hard not to compare the two. ๐Ÿ˜…)

The XCOM style of managing individual units takes away a lot of the complexity of composing and forming squads. Since I'm a neophyte here, this simplicity is appreciated. I also prefer the more cynical post apocalyptic plus snarky humor plus hyper gore world to Symphony's by-the-books fantasy setting with a somewhat rote storyโ€ฆ although Wasteland is teetering on the edge of going too far in the direction it does.

I'm very excited to play some more of this. I did quite enjoy XCOM, and the idea of changing up the formula to have a bit more RPG is very appealing.

]]> Try Trove Gaming nonadult Wasteland 3 lets me do the XCOM thing but with some more RPG trappings I looked at another strategy RPG recently: Symphony of War. Of the two, I find this style a bit more enjoyable. (I've looked at that one so recently, it's hard not to compare the two. ๐Ÿ˜…) The XCOM style of managing individual units takes away a l... <![CDATA[Deadlink is a roguelike FPS that evokes the best of the old arena shooters]]> https://cuddly.tube/w/r82QbECxN9toiKvwXxQNcw https://cuddly.tube/w/r82QbECxN9toiKvwXxQNcw Mon, 18 May 2026 22:11:04 GMT Of the games that draw inspiration from the arena shooters of old typified by Quake, this one is the best distillation I've seen of what made those games so fun to play. Take the fast frenetic encounters of Quake, delete all the connecting hallways, and replace those with a great sense of progression.

And it has some nice vibrant art while it's doing it.

]]> Try Trove Gaming nonadult Deadlink is a roguelike FPS that evokes the best of the old arena shooters Of the games that draw inspiration from the arena shooters of old typified by Quake, this one is the best distillation I've seen of what made those games so fun to play. Take the fast frenetic encounters of Quake, delete all the connecting hallway... <![CDATA[๐Ÿ–๏ธ Natsu-Mon is summer vacation: the game]]> https://cuddly.tube/w/uFcvrb3zrHJxETnFgP6mpP https://cuddly.tube/w/uFcvrb3zrHJxETnFgP6mpP Mon, 18 May 2026 22:02:01 GMT Remember back when summers were carefree? Remember when you had nothing but time and (mercifully) no responsibilities? Remember when you were a little Japanese boy hanging out with your circus family in rural Japan? No? Well, with Natsu-Mon, you can remember it for the first time.

It's all about chill times just doing what makes you happy and piques your curiosity at any given moment. Just what I need right nowโ€ฆ and maybe you do too.

]]> Try Trove Gaming nonadult ๐Ÿ–๏ธ Natsu-Mon is summer vacation: the game Remember back when summers were carefree? Remember when you had nothing but time and (mercifully) no responsibilities? Remember when you were a little Japanese boy hanging out with your circus family in rural Japan? No? Well, with Natsu-Mon, you c... <![CDATA[๐Ÿ›ธ UFO 50 asks, what if modern game design happened 40 years ago?]]> https://cuddly.tube/w/3NNjb18TyBTXeHUaYMtVjC https://cuddly.tube/w/3NNjb18TyBTXeHUaYMtVjC Mon, 18 May 2026 21:48:15 GMT In this video, I touch only 10% of the games in this package. Spelunky developer Derek Yu has put together a collection of 50 retro games for a console that never existed, and he's done it in such a way that it shows technological and design evolution over the life of that console. The best surprise is that even the "earlier" games in the collection (which are purported to have come from the early 80s are meaty and feel good to play!

]]> Try Trove Gaming nonadult ๐Ÿ›ธ UFO 50 asks, what if modern game design happened 40 years ago? In this video, I touch only 10% of the games in this package. Spelunky developer Derek Yu has put together a collection of 50 retro games for a console that never existed, and he's done it in such a way that it shows technological and design evolu... <![CDATA[Unpacking ๐Ÿ“ฆ is a chill, cozy, and surprisingly emotional game to unwind with]]> https://cuddly.tube/w/5BPQ9yUNaMCRrRRrYU5D6u https://cuddly.tube/w/5BPQ9yUNaMCRrRRrYU5D6u Mon, 18 May 2026 21:32:15 GMT Unpacking is a sort of pixel hunt game, but that also sells it short a bit. Unlike pixel hunts, you're not finding a thing but a spot for a thing. For most things, you have many options for where to place it, but poor placement might make your life harder as you continue to unpack.

Sometimes, you'll need to place a thing in a certain place. This first requires identifying the thing, which can be a little tricky in some cases, but it's mostly obvious. When it isn't, this is the one aspect of the game I could almost be caught describing as "tedious." It can turn into one of those classic point-and-click-adventure pixel hunts that we all grew to hate in the 80s and 90s. No fail states though, so it does at least have that advantage on the aforementioned classics.

But 98% of the time, this game is a relaxing cruise through several years of someone else's life, as told through their belongings. It's like discovering someone's interactive diary, and what a treat that we get to have that thrilling experience!

]]> Try Trove Gaming nonadult Unpacking ๐Ÿ“ฆ is a chill, cozy, and surprisingly emotional game to unwind with Unpacking is a sort of pixel hunt game, but that also sells it short a bit. Unlike pixel hunts, you're not finding a thing but a spot for a thing. For most things, you have many options for where to place it, but poor placement might make your lif... <![CDATA[Halls of Torment sits between Vampire Survivors and twin-stick shooters]]> https://cuddly.tube/w/dJgyUuespSxpsTAoe4ZxCM https://cuddly.tube/w/dJgyUuespSxpsTAoe4ZxCM Mon, 18 May 2026 21:27:14 GMT This game is of a type that you might enjoy if you're in the mood to play Vampire Survivors. Biggest differences that set it apart from Vampire Survivor:

๐Ÿ—ก๏ธ Loot
๐ŸŽฎ You aim and fire off your main attack (by default)
๐Ÿ˜ˆ Looks like Diablo (the first one) instead of Castlevania

This game is pretty rad. If you want to try something like VS that's a little more active, this is the best one I've found.

]]> Try Trove Gaming nonadult Halls of Torment sits between Vampire Survivors and twin-stick shooters This game is of a type that you might enjoy if you're in the mood to play Vampire Survivors. Biggest differences that set it apart from Vampire Survivor: ๐Ÿ—ก๏ธ Loot ๐ŸŽฎ You aim and fire off your main attack (by default) ๐Ÿ˜ˆ Looks like Diablo (the fir... <![CDATA[โ˜•๏ธ Coffee Talk is a great hang-out game]]> https://cuddly.tube/w/fSwqp3rhRxT6d8tRYM2geu https://cuddly.tube/w/fSwqp3rhRxT6d8tRYM2geu Mon, 18 May 2026 21:23:52 GMT Wow, I'm really impressed with this game, especially as a person who doesn't care for visual novels. The dialog is fun and believable. The coffee making mechanics add a fun element. The setting is just wild enough to make it interesting.

It's currently part of the Palestinian Relief bundle on Twitch, so grab it for cheap while you can! https://itch.io/b/2321/palestinian-relief-bundle

]]> Try Trove Gaming nonadult โ˜•๏ธ Coffee Talk is a great hang-out game Wow, I'm really impressed with this game, especially as a person who doesn't care for visual novels. The dialog is fun and believable. The coffee making mechanics add a fun element. The setting is just wild enough to make it interesting. It's cur... <![CDATA[Wildermyth makes you feel like you matter]]> https://cuddly.tube/w/dNKcdjVSdfhqRiRtTbHKZB https://cuddly.tube/w/dNKcdjVSdfhqRiRtTbHKZB Mon, 18 May 2026 21:17:07 GMT Maybe more than any game I've played, Wildermyth makes you feel like what your character does to the world and, even more importantly, what the world does to your character, is not forgotten. Character progress feels more significant thanโ€ฆ really any game I can think of. Leveling up in this game feels huge. Even when bad things happen to your character, it shapes you in meaningful ways.

It's a cool trick that I've never seen any other game pull off.

]]> Try Trove Gaming nonadult Wildermyth makes you feel like you matter Maybe more than any game I've played, Wildermyth makes you feel like what your character does to the world and, even more importantly, what the world does to your character, is not forgotten. Character progress feels more significant thanโ€ฆ really ... <![CDATA[Death's Door will have all the birds among you asking "Do you guys ever think about dying?" ๐Ÿฆโ€โฌ›๐Ÿ’€]]> https://cuddly.tube/w/jrgRGg9FzrMJGhjrAnumEs https://cuddly.tube/w/jrgRGg9FzrMJGhjrAnumEs Mon, 18 May 2026 21:13:18 GMT Death's Door is the total package. It has a fun, "soft" look about it, bordering on "cute." That's all wrapped around a meditation on death which plays like a dream. I would stop of calling it one of the greatest games I've played โ€” maybe well short actually โ€” but it's just a rock solid game in every single respect.

If it helps, I played this one all the way through, and that is extremely rare. If you're here at the time this goes live, you may still be able to get it for $5 in the Steam Spring sale, and it's maybe the best deal in that sale.

]]> Try Trove Gaming nonadult Death's Door will have all the birds among you asking "Do you guys ever think about dying?" ๐Ÿฆโ€โฌ›๐Ÿ’€ Death's Door is the total package. It has a fun, "soft" look about it, bordering on "cute." That's all wrapped around a meditation on death which plays like a dream. I would stop of calling it one of the greatest games I've played โ€” maybe well sho... <![CDATA[Eastward is beautiful and charming. I feel I've barely scratched the surface.]]> https://cuddly.tube/w/p8vCAFe65aPdTf5FLRBq9j https://cuddly.tube/w/p8vCAFe65aPdTf5FLRBq9j Mon, 18 May 2026 21:10:11 GMT It's hard to make a judgment on Eastward. I was pleasantly surprised that it is an action RPG. I fully expected to go into battles and choose attacks from a menu โ€” a mode of engaging with an RPG that I'm still suffering some residual burnout from because of its prevalence in the '90s.

The writing is charming, and the art is incredible. That's about all I feel I can confidently say of this one. Will I go back to try to dig in deeper? I'm not feeling the pull, and maybe that's not a great sign.

]]> Try Trove Gaming nonadult Eastward is beautiful and charming. I feel I've barely scratched the surface. It's hard to make a judgment on Eastward. I was pleasantly surprised that it is an action RPG. I fully expected to go into battles and choose attacks from a menu โ€” a mode of engaging with an RPG that I'm still suffering some residual burnout from ... <![CDATA[Grim Quest takes minimalism a bit too far]]> https://cuddly.tube/w/8MqXDCVPPeNwRPWj4xx98f https://cuddly.tube/w/8MqXDCVPPeNwRPWj4xx98f Mon, 18 May 2026 21:03:15 GMT I don't have a ton to say about this one. It has a few different systems, but none of them are particularly fun. I found the dungeon exploration especially bland, with its simple rectangular grid of random encounters and events.

]]> Try Trove Gaming nonadult Grim Quest takes minimalism a bit too far I don't have a ton to say about this one. It has a few different systems, but none of them are particularly fun. I found the dungeon exploration especially bland, with its simple rectangular grid of random encounters and events. <![CDATA[Noita lets you build your own magic ๐Ÿช„]]> https://cuddly.tube/w/suBupnHwbo6WX966knnr43 https://cuddly.tube/w/suBupnHwbo6WX966knnr43 Mon, 18 May 2026 21:02:30 GMT Most games want to trick you into believing you are in control, when in actuality, you control very little. Noita is built to allow for emergent play. You can mix and match spells in your wands to build your own offense. It's a flexible system that really hands you the keys in a way most games either can't or won't.

]]> Try Trove Gaming nonadult Noita lets you build your own magic ๐Ÿช„ Most games want to trick you into believing you are in control, when in actuality, you control very little. Noita is built to allow for emergent play. You can mix and match spells in your wands to build your own offense. It's a flexible system tha... <![CDATA[Backspace Bouken asks if you can type faster than a skeleton]]> https://cuddly.tube/w/7xoWZ9uL6uANZnHGY2ZvQT https://cuddly.tube/w/7xoWZ9uL6uANZnHGY2ZvQT Mon, 18 May 2026 20:44:10 GMT I enjoyed my time typing through the dungeon in Backspace Bouken. It has a cute sense of humor, and honestly, it's fun to try to type fast. I doubt I'll dump much more time into this, but it's a good time for a few minutes.

]]> Try Trove Gaming nonadult Backspace Bouken asks if you can type faster than a skeleton I enjoyed my time typing through the dungeon in Backspace Bouken. It has a cute sense of humor, and honestly, it's fun to try to type fast. I doubt I'll dump much more time into this, but it's a good time for a few minutes.