Felix “AARPG” Threepaper
Welcome folks, and happy “251st Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party” week! You may all celebrate by playing a game where you send your opponent’s loot straight to trash.
Despite there being over 130 titles on the PC release list, this is what a quiet week looks like in videogames. 2024 is rolling to a close.
One shiny new game sticks out this week, like a doubloon protruding from a sandy beach. Flint: Treasure of Oblivion is a pirate-themed, party-based, tactical CRPG that is based on Treasure Island. That means it is aiming to be more ‘realistic’, without the supernatural voodoo stuff that can creep into pirate games. It’s an RPG with exploration, deep combat and social systems, served on a AA budget. The isometric presentation, which switches to a hex-based grid when combat starts, looks pretty enough—the AA-ness of it all comes through in the dialogue, which is done in a comic-book overlay rather than full in-game cinematics with voice acting. The dice-based combat is on par with 2024’s rich crop of X-COM-alikes, and it shows the dice rolling overhead as you attack, which everyone loved for skill checks in BG3. Outside of combat, there’s crew management, factions, and, despite the cut-price presentation, a sophisticated dialogue system which can reward you more for talking your way out of a situation instead of fighting.
Overall, it looks like a solid game to cap off a busy year. I’ll give it the GOTW and put it right on my digital Pile. I haven’t even finished Spider-Man 2 yet!
This is my last TWA for 2024. I will be on holiday for a few weeks, back on 19 January. We will need to recharge our batteries, because February 2025 is shaping up to be one of the biggest months in games since February 2022. Clear your diaries, folks.
In the meantime, thanks for reading TWA for another year and stay tuned for GOTY lists during the break. Happy holidays to you and yours, wherever you may be!
GWJ Word of the Week
GWJer: (pronunciation unknown, possibly “Goojer” or “Gwidger”) a member of the Gamers With Jobs forums, who is probably mostly on Discord now. Gamers With Jobs, as a website, has been going since 2003. I’ve been a member since 2011, so I still feel like a noob compared to the venerable icons appearing on the forums. Although the written features have dried up somewhat, thanks to Twitch and everyone now preferring to watch someone play a game rather than read what they wrote about it, the GWJ podcast and forums are still one of my favourite corners of the internet. It’s like a welcoming tavern, where every table is playing Gwent (or some other, punier game) and is happy to chat. This is rare and precious, and feels this way because of you, the GWJers: some of the finest people I have never met in my life.
Here's the list, in release-date AND alphabetical order!
PC
-
12-17
- All In Everyday
- Archaeology - Sand Japanese
- CargoSpace
- Emergency Call 112 - The Attack Squad
- FallNation Lost Stories
- Flint: Treasure of Oblivion
- Half-Demon Shinobi
- Hooptown Hero
- Jump Jump Jump
- ONE DOG'S DAYS
- Pew Pew Gaem 3
- POCKET MYSTERY EP DX
- RAN: Lost Islands
- Red Fox Unit
- Rocket Rats
- Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley - Fuddler's Courtship
- Spell Spiral
- Super 3D Maze 16
- The Cursed Soul
- The Fallen Kingdom
- The Tunnels
-
12-18
- Ao Shi Xiu Xian Lu
- Archaeology - Sand Fantasy
- Broken Psyche
- Canvas Menagerie
- City Heist
- Corner World
- Cropolution
- Cryst
- Dino Dash
- Doodle Cats
- Dream & Sugar
- Holidays Survivors
- How Much Items - Food
- How Much Items - Weapon
- Immotro
- Janken Horn
- Murder&Spies
- ODouzy!!!
- PISSed Off: Peeing Simulator
- RANDungeon
- SANTA
- Shuriken Trigger
- Simulator: Parking Lot
- Taiwan Love Story 5
- UNDERGROUND
- Winter Games Collection
-
12-19
- 5 nights at Timokha's 4 School
- Alien: Rogue Incursion
- Anemone
- Battleships Collide: Space Shooter
- Castaway Hand
- Countermark Saga: The Tale of Fariz
- Dead Streets: Zombie Blitz
- Dig Night
- DISORDER - Save Your Family
- DuaLight
- Fallacy Quiz
- Fishing The Abyss
- House of Horrors
- HuntNPrey
- Island of Sacrifice
- K-POP STAR
- Kono Aozora ni Yakusoku o Refine
- Legends BMX
- Leif's Adventure: Netherworld Hero
- Lost Footage : Sound In The Silence
- Lost Verses
- Marble Maid 2: The Negative Levels
- motorcycle combat
- MY HOUSE
- Nettle
- Paper Bride 6 Nightmare
- Planet Factory
- Purrgonia
- Rabbit Run
- Ragdoll Training Center
- Starving Cat
- Street Wise: A Teenager's Story
- Summons Sword: Pot Guardian
- Sweet X'mas
- Tank Arena:Total Operation
- TattooVR
- The Adventures Of Zomboy
- There's No Aliens
- Tokyo Clanpool
- Twas The Night
- Water game simulator
- Wonderland X: Next Dream
- YEAH! YOU WANT "THOSE GAMES," RIGHT? SO HERE YOU GO! NOW, LET'S SEE YOU CLEAR THEM! 1+2
-
12-20
- Ad Astra: Sci-Fi Tower Defense
- Anima Fighters
- Bilge Junction
- Christmas Mutilator
- Criteria
- Custom Order Maid 3D2 & 2.5 Character Pack M Kokoro o Shigeki Suru, Do S Jou Ousama & Keikai Kokoro no Tsuyoi Buaisou Set
- Decline
- Denbora
- Diner Simulator - Horror Story
- DOKA-ICHA!! LOVEPICAL-POPPY!
- Fool's Dream: Zero Hour
- Forgotten Memories (Adult)
- FOUNTAINS
- Grass Life Sim
- Heavy Storm Shadow
- Hell Dive
- Hideko
- Holy Undead ~Himote de Bocchi no Shirei Jutsushi ga, Seijo ni Tensei Shite Otomodachi o Fuyashimasu~
- It Is A Good Knight To Die
- Lump of Sugar Collection: Tayutama -Kiss On My Deity-
- Mary
- Mashikyuu Seijou Bianca Noein ~Shuuen Naki Haka to Etsuraku no Rengoku~
- Monoquous 2
- Mugen no Tir na nOg
- Osananajimi to Namaiki Gimai ~Bloomer to Mizugi no Yuuwaku~
- ParallHex
- Rogue Samurai: Prologue
- Saimin Seishidou -Secret Lesson-
- Saotome Yui no Midara na Kakushigoto ~Kakusareta Idol no Female Doggo na Ura Jijou~
- Star Jet Alpha
- Stella Gladio
- Street Race Kings
- The battle for Christmas
- The Midnight Crimes
- TRYSET Straight Edition Choice Vol.7
- VERY BAD DREAMS
- Yarasete! Teacher Come Back Riko Christmas Edition
- Yin Mon Tougi Toshi Sodom
-
12-21
- Calvin Carter: The Golden Guardian
-
12-22
- Atropos
- My Aquarium
- Santa's Christmas Solitaire 3
Xbox Series X
-
12-17
- Flint: Treasure of Oblivion
- Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley
- Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley - Fuddler's Courtship
-
12-19
- Universe For Sale
Xbox One
-
12-19
- Universe For Sale
PlayStation 5
-
12-17
- Botany Manor
- Flint: Treasure of Oblivion
- Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley
- Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley - Fuddler's Courtship
-
12-18
- Masters of Light
-
12-19
- 7DAYS HEROES
- Alien: Rogue Incursion
- Universe For Sale
- YEAH! YOU WANT "THOSE GAMES," RIGHT? SO HERE YOU GO! NOW, LET'S SEE YOU CLEAR THEM! 1+2
-
12-20
- Astebros
- Demons of Asteborg
PlayStation 4
-
12-17
- Botany Manor
-
12-19
- Kono Aozora ni Yakusoku o Refine
- Tsumi no Hikari Rendezvous
- Universe For Sale
- YEAH! YOU WANT "THOSE GAMES," RIGHT? SO HERE YOU GO! NOW, LET'S SEE YOU CLEAR THEM! 1+2
Nintendo Switch
-
12-18
- Quilts and Cats of Calico
-
12-19
- 7DAYS HEROES
- Aireo FlightSimulator 2025 Edition
- Ame no Kudaru Ie Kara no Dasshutsu
- Anime Dance-Off - Around the World
- Apathy: Danshiko de atta Kowai Hanashi
- Aquapolis SOS
- Block Blaster DX!
- Brothers in Hell
- Cats Visiting Christmas Town
- Darts Fever
- DoDonPachi SaiDaiOuJou
- Football Stars: Head Ball Soccer Co-op Battle
- HYNPYTOL
- Hypnosis Mic: Alternative Rap Battle - 1st Period
- Item Frenzy
- Kaimyou Maker
- Kono Aozora ni Yakusoku o Refine
- Leif's Adventure: Netherworld Hero
- Puniru wa Kawaii Slime no Game wo "Ano Ga"me de Tsukuttemita keredo, Hatashite Anata wa Clear dekiru no ka?
- Real Time Battle Othello
- Saiyuuki World
- Super Spy Raccoon
- Taxi Driver Simulation 2025
- Tetsudou Nippon! Memorial JR Toukai Kiha 85 Tokkyuu Nanki-hen
- The Escape Room Chronicles ep3:The Southern Resort
- Tokyo Clanpool
- Tsumi no Hikari Rendezvous
- Universe For Sale
- Voice Love on Air
- Winter Games Collection
- YEAH! YOU WANT "THOSE GAMES," RIGHT? SO HERE YOU GO! NOW, LET'S SEE YOU CLEAR THEM! 1+2
-
12-20
- Cop Officers: Police Simulator of NYPD City
- Fighter Aces: Sky Dominance
- Monoquous 2
- Save Christmas With Santa
-
12-21
- Block Jam
- Car Cops
- Float Survival Simulator - Ocean Survivor
Comments
I always pronounced it "Good-jer" because, I think, we're pretty good people here.
Still vastly prefer the forums for interacting with folks, even if it has gotten very quiet in here, and I sorely miss the written features. Twitch is fine for what it is, but it doesn't compare to a well written piece that takes your mind on a journey.
I guess I could have summed all this up with:
"I'm an old man and get offa mah lawn!"
Also, the title image momentarily got my hopes up for a Sid Meier's Pirates! remake ...remake. Darn.
Steam | Backloggery
It's that post of the year where I thank Felix for one of my favourite reads every week, the weekly round-up is always witty, informative and devastatingly good-looking (like every GWJer) thanks for another great year!
Also I hadnt heard of Flint and it sounds great, maybe it can be the first candidate for my GOTY 2025
Thank you so much for your articles this year! I don't often respond, but I always read them!
Most places: Aristophan | Switch: SW-7774-7919-6764
Thanks Felix! My wallet may curse your name, but my backlog thanks you!
PlayStation: Swordsman74
Steam: Swordsman74
@mmlmrx.bsky.social
I always enjoy your write ups as well. Many thanks!
It’s time to take your place among the mysteries and regard yourself as one of them.
- Carlos Castaneda
Thanks to everyone for the kind words ... it is nice to be reminded that someone is actually reading these! It inspires me not to give up and just post the list
Defunk'd Bloggue
Bluesky: @lancecalhoon.bsky.social
Please dont! I quite regularly look up some of the more obscure historical events, and not just so I can pass off looking at this weeks potential time and money wasters as "educational"
Well in that case, I will get back to writing up some of the events — I stopped describing them because I worried that they were too much fluff.
TBH, sometimes researching the historical trivia is the most fun part
Defunk'd Bloggue
Bluesky: @lancecalhoon.bsky.social
Hey you do you, it's your writing I have enjoyed so much over the years, you have my full faith my antipodean games news deliverer.
I am going to join in the praise-party.
Thank you so much for writing this feature every week. I don't say often enough how much I appreciate the work and dedication you put in to this. So thank you thank you thank you!
I look forward to this every week. Matter of fact, no new one this week made me sad - then I remembered you were taking a well-deserved break and also I did not thank you for another year of awesomeness. Looking forward to 2025!
Please re-start writing up more info on the historical trivia if you can, they are always great and appreciated!
One more time - thank you!
Felix, thanks for the writeups, and happy "324th anniversary of the crowning of Frederick I as King of Prussia" to you.
Un bon mot ne prouve rien (A witty saying proves nothing). - Voltaire