Hi everyone, and welcome back to My Week Unwrapped, where I discuss all the games I’ve been playing over the last seven days. This week was jam-packed with new games, including the Anniversary Edition of Braid, and I also finished up some games I’d been working my way through for a few weeks. I finally beat the last chapter of Loop Hero and did Arlecchino’s story quest in Genshin Impact. There’s a lot to unwrap here, so let’s get started.

Braid, Anniversary Edition

I never played Braid before, but I heard so many good things about it, so I was thrilled that the new Anniversary Edition would be coming to iOS via Netflix. I got early access to it and spent some time with it, and I can see a lot in it that has been inspiration for other games. I’ve played games that let you rewind or give you a double to work with, and it was interesting to see where these ideas all started. I can appreciate what it’s doing and I really wish I enjoyed playing it more, but unfortunately I don’t. Even when I have a general idea of what I’m expected to do, I don’t have the patience to work with the controls to make it happen. Speaking of which, I wish the touch controls were adjustable, because I often missed them with the my thumb or pressed the wrong one. They’re small and very close together on my iPad. Basically, I ran through the five worlds and collected whatever puzzle pieces I could, but skipped most of them because I was just overwhelmed. I wish I could say that I plan to go back and work through the rest, but I’m just not feeling it. I hope those who do like the game find some enjoyment replaying it and going through all the extras. And if you haven’t played it before, I still recommend trying it, especially if you already have a Netflix subscription. And remember, right now the $7 ad-supported plan works for games without changing the experience. So that’s a great option if you don’t care about their movies or TV series.

Word Dungeons

Word Dungeons is a word game where you make your way through a dungeon by unscrambling a group of letters to make as many words as possible before the timer runs out. The goal is make it through the end by collecting all three keys and opening the exit door with them. I only played through Easy mode so far (I think) but it still got quite stressful trying to think of words I haven’t used while the clock is ticking. I like how you earn keys that open treasure chests and coins that you can exchange for useful items. The relics are especially helpful, as they can fill in letters and make it easier to think of words. I’ll probably try it on a harder mode, but some of the user interface was cut off at the end on my iPad and I’m not sure what I missed. Hopefully that can be fixed in an update. Otherwise, it seems like a pretty solid game that’s worth giving a chance if you like word games. You can also watch some of my gameplay video to get a better idea of what it’s like.

MAZAICA Lines & Numbers Game

MAZAICA is the latest puzzle game from Michal Pawlowski, the developer behind Zenge and Scalak. It’s different than his other games in that it’s bigger, has coins you earn and spend (mostly on hints), and the puzzles are randomly generated. That means (if I understand correctly) that there’s basically unlimited content. Personally, I prefer handcrafted puzzles, but for those looking for something to keep them busy for longer, this might be a good option. I do like the mechanics themselves, which have you filling in a board with colors based on the numbers given. It’s kind of a mix between Minesweeper, Picross, and those numberlink games mostly known as Flow Free now. I especially like the guides that help you to a degree but can still leave you stumped sometimes. I admit I even used a hint a few times when I just couldn’t see the solution. The game is also free with an IAP to remove ads (or buy more coins) so give it a try for yourself.

Songs of Travel

Songs of Travel is more of an interactive story than a game. It’s about five different migrants and their stories that took them to Europe. Each story is told through animated comics, as well as videos from the migrants themselves. It’s a meaningful game and I’m always happy to see games that tell important stories. Just be aware that it’s short and there isn’t much “game” to it. It’s mostly swiping to see the next page. But if you don’t mind that, it’s worth checking out. Unfortunately, they’ve been having trouble releasing it on iOS so it’s currently delayed, but should be available on Android.

Loop Hero

I stuck with Loop Hero, even though I was struggling with Chapter 4, and I finally beat it! I was actually surprised how easy the fourth boss, Omega, was once I got to him. The problem I had until then was getting a strong enough setup to even make it to him. But once all the cards fell in place (pun intended), the win came pretty easily. I’m not sure I’ll play more at this point, since I beat the game. But I really enjoyed my time with it and highly recommend playing it. At least try the free demo to see if it sucks you in like it did me.

Warbits Plus

I spent more time with Warbits Plus and it’s starting to get trickier. I’m taking longer to win and my score at the end of the level is suffering. The fog of war that hides enemies from me is especially bothersome. But I’m still enjoying playing, so I’ll probably stick with it. Again, I’d recommend watching some of my gameplay video to see what it’s like.

Methods 2: Secrets and Death

I finally finished Methods 2, which is the second part of Methods: Detective Competition. I’m starting to get overwhelmed by the number of characters we met, but I’m still curious enough to see where this all goes, so I’ll probably stick around for part 3. If you need any help with the puzzles, you can find the rest of my videos here.

Genshin Impact

And last, I continued with Genshin Impact. I played through Arlecchino’s story quest, which surprised me because she doesn’t seem like much of a villain. I also finished the Itto music festival and am now working my way through the Windtrace event. I don’t love the changes they made to it, as now the rebels have to repair four machines in order to win. It seems a lot easier to win as the hunter now. But I’m trying to make the best of it. I also made more progress in the Sea of Bygone Eras but am somehow still missing 20 hydroculi. That makes no sense to me but I guess all I can do is keep exploring.

And that’s everything I’ve been up to this week. I also watched all of 3 Body Problem and Baby Reindeer, both of which I plan to continue with when new episodes are released. I also watched UNFROSTED, which was absolutely terrible. And I finally watched Spider-Man: No Way Home, which was great, but the ending left me with a lot of questions. Anyway, let me know in the comments section which games you’re playing and I’ll see you back here next time with more of My Week Unwrapped.