6 Free-to-play Games you HAVE to Try

Hey everyone! It's your lad, Galaxy Gaymer

Free-to-play games have become a huge part of gaming in recent years. With the odd microtransactions that make no difference to gameplay, it allows nearly anybody to try the games out. Here are just six of them that I highly recommend.

New Club Penguin may not be the same as the original Club Penguin, but it is still as fun as ever. I have only played this game a handful of times, but every time there was this nostalgia that came with it. The players are as friendly as always thanks to censoring, and it just reminds me of a simpler time. It's not for everyone, but it's still as adorable as ever.

Super Animal Royale is a really adorable third person shooter battle royale where all the characters are adorable animals of various species. This game is really difficult when you start playing it because it kind of throws you in the deep end, but once you get the hang of it, it's a really fun time. If you do decide that you want to spend a little bit of money on this game however, there are some really amazing items on the battle passes, and unlike most games you can access every pass whenever you want.

Island Saver is a really amazing first person shooter, and it involves no killing it damage whatsoever. If anything, it does more healing than anything. The whole aim of the game is to clean up the environment in many places by sucking garbage into your gun, disposing of it, and cleaning everything. It's a really lovely experience, and if you really want you can unlike two more areas for a very small price as far as DLCs go.

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp is one of the best mobile games I have ever played. It has all the initial charm of an Animal Crossing game, but it makes everything so simplistic. This is one that you can enjoy for a long time without paying a single cent if you desire, and of you're like me, you'll quickly have your favourites at your houses.

Fall Guys is one of the most frustratingly fun games that has ever become free-to-play. By now most have heard about this game, but it's basically a game show where you play as these cute little beans to overcome obstacles and win races. It can be played solo, but it can also be played in duos, trios, squads, or even in bigger groups of up to 60 if you have lots of people. It's a fun time for all ages, and there's just something so satisfying about winning your first crown.

Honestly, it would feel wrong making this list without including Fortnite in it. Fortnite is one of the biggest free-to-play games in the world, and is the epitome of the perfect battle royale game in my opinion. Constant updates, new guns, and new gimmicks keep this game so fresh and continuously fun, and I am just constantly enjoying it still with some of my closest friends.

What is your favourite free-to-play game? Comment down below!

Have a nice day! 

Love, Galaxy Gaymer

5 LotR Games You Should Play Before Gollum

Hey everyone! It's your lad, Galaxy Gaymer!

Nothing is more exciting than when a new game is being released for your favourite franchise. The release of Lord of the Rings: Gollum in less than two months is no exception to this excitement. This may not be the first game to be published for this series, but it's by far the most exciting in my opinion. But in the mean time while we try to hold in our excitement, here are my top five past Lord of the Rings games that I recommend you play!

Lego: The Hobbit is a lot like other Lego games, a subtle yet accurature reenactment of the films it is based on. The Hobbit films hold such a special place in my heart, and this game just follows the story so well, all while keeping the charm of an average Lego game. I highly recommend watching the films first, but this game is a must play for fans of the trilogy and people who want to experience it alike.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King game is one of my favourite games of all time, based on one of my favourite films of all time. There's just something so satisfying about the combat in this game. It may not be a mega deep dive, but it follows the most important points for sure. I vividly remember replaying this game more times than I can count, and I still get the urge to play it all these years later regularly.

Lego: The Lord of the Rings may be my favourite Lego game of all time. There's just something about it that keeps all the magic of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, all while being hilariously charming in its own right. This is one of many games that needs a remake someday, and I honestly think if you had to play one game from this list before September, it's this one.

I know what you're thinking, and yes, it's really strange that I have a mobile game on here, but The Lord of the Rings: Rise To War is pretty amazing for a mobile game. It's a pretty hefty one, but I think you can't really go wrong trying a free to play game. It's a strategy game that was only released in September 2021, and it's updated frequently, and it may not be everyone's cup of tea, but a lot of people including myself have a lot of fun with this game.

No game has a similar magical feeling to the magic of Tolkien's world as much as Lord of the Rings Online. There's just something so fun and exciting about experiencing this game, and it feels like you're part of that world. It is free to play the base of the game, but their is loads of additional content that you can pay for if you please. This game is one of the best MMOs out there.

With The Lord of the Rings: Gollum approaching fast, these are just a few of the amazing games from the franchise you could try out. What is a game that I may have missed on the list? Comment down below!

Have a nice day!

Love, Galaxy Gaymer 

5 Cozy Games to Help You Beat the Heat or Cold

Hey everyone! It's your lad, Galaxy Gaymer!

Whether you have extreme heatwaves or below freezing temperatures at the moment, it can be really difficult to do anything apart from stay in and relax. Either way, staying indoors and playing something cozy is so important and necessary. So, today I will be showing you five cozy games that can help you overcome this difficult weather.

Stardew Valley is almost a necessity on lists such as this these days. It's an adorable farming sim with all kinds of things to do. You can farm, mine, fish or even just build relationships with other residents, and it just feels like such a calm and cozy experience. I feel like there's a lot of people talking about how amazing this game is, and I'm just going to be another one of those people. With it being so cheap and being on all major platforms, it's perfect to play at your own pace to vibe out.

Let's all be completely transparent here, not many of us really enjoy cleaning in real life. It's messy and it's boring, however, there's just something about Power Wash Simulator that makes it the most relaxing and satisfying thing you could ever experience. This game is exactly what the title entails, a simulation game where you clean all kinds of items with a power washer. Going through each level just brings the feeling of achievement, and feels like you have done something huge, all while in the comfort of your own home. This game is on PC and Xbox, included in Game Pass, and is a must have!

Cat Cafe Manager is an adorable indie simulation game on PC and Switch where you manage a cat cafe. This game is maybe one of the coziest games I've ever played, and I just love the general experience. Whether you're expanding your cafe, or improving it in other ways, it's just so unique and mindless in the best way.

Lake is not a very old game, but it is still criminally underrated. It follows a simple story intially of someone returning to their hometown and becoming a delivery driver. Apart from parts of the main story, the general atmosphere of this town is so peaceful and all of the townsfolk have so much personality. This game is a must have for people who need that coziness, and it is available on all major platforms, including Xbox Game Pass.

I may be a bit biased with this game, but Calico is one of the most incredible games I have ever played. In this game, you get to run a cafe for lots of animal friends and help out all the people in the small, yet charming world around you. The lack of conflict, the character designs, the world design and even the soundtrack are just so bubbly and wholesome. I found myself falling in love with so many of the characters, and I believe you all will too. There's also just something about with LGBTQIA+ inclusivity in a game like this that makes it feel even more cozy. Make sure to grab it on all major platforms in time for the Calico: Pawsome Edition!

What is your favourite cozy game? Comment down below! Stay safe in this weather, hot or cold, and I will see you guys next time!

Have a nice day!

Love, Galaxy Gaymer 

'Middle Earth', A Familiar, Tolkien-ish Tale

Hey everyone! It's your lad here, Galaxy Gaymer!

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm such a nerd. Some of my most beloved franchises are those of the more lore-heavy, and that includes one of my absolute biggest heroes, John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, or we most know him, J.R.R. Tolkien. That universe is the one known as The Lord of the Rings, and today's game tells a very familiar tale to that of Tolkien's universe.

The Middle Earth series is an action/ adventure hack-and-slash developed by Monolith Studios  that follows the story of Talion, a ranger from Gondor who has a special bond with the Elf Lord of Celebrimbor. This bond allows him to be essentially stronger in every way. He can jump from the highest heights without any damage, and he can have combat assistance where the Elf Lord jumps out of his body. This story is shown over two games, the first one being Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor, the second being Middle Earth: Shadow of War. 

The combat in this game stands out so much to me. It doesn't throw you straight in the deep end, but it also doesn't hold your hand too much. I also found all the different enemies super well made, and I love the system where if an enemy manages to kill you, they climb the rank of the orcs, and if you kill them, a new orc can take their rank.

The general atmosphere of these games is absolutely stunning. The world, characters, just everything looks really brilliant, and had me entranced throughout the entirety of my first playthroughs. The music also stood out so much to me. It felt just unique enough to not get the developers hit by copyright, and just Tolkien-esque enough to give me chills all over.

I highly recommend these games for Tolkien lovers especially, but also people that love games such as Assassin's Creed that just need a new experience. I wish I had found them earlier, but I am glad I discovered them in general. There's so much to do, whether it's side quests or main quests, and I just think it could be a fun time for anyone who gives it a chance. These games are also considerably cheap, or if you have Game Pass you could play the second game, Shadow of War, for free!

What is your favourite game inspired by another universe? Comment down below!

Have a nice day!

Love, Galaxy Gaymer

5 Fanservice Games on the Switch that are a MUST HAVE

 Hey everyone! It's your lad, Galaxy Gaymer!

Fanservice has been a hot commodity for as long as video games have existed. Whether it's Samus stripping down to her bikini, or the lewd fun that is the Senran Kagura series, some games just go that extra mile to be a little bit spicy for the older gamers. I may be as gay as a unicorn shitting rainbows with my wrist flicked while getting ready for a pride parade, but one of my guilty pleasures is a game with a nice amount of fanservice. So, today we will be looking at some of the less family friendly games from one of the most family friendly company's flagship console, the Nintendo Switch.

I could have picked any game from the Gal Gun series for this entry, but in my opinion, Gal Gun 2 is by far the best out of the series. You don't have to play the other games in the series before this one, which makes it even sweeter. This game is about a boy who gets shot with cupid's arrow, causing every girl in the school, teacher or student, to fall in love with him the second they see him. It's a railgun first person shooter with both shoot and suck elements. You have to suck the pheromones away from the girls with the gun (sometimes which their clothes also follow), and you have to shoot them in the "sweet spot" in order to make them chill out. Overall it's not a very difficult game, but the art style is so nice, and there is plenty of potential waifus plus a whole bunch of different endings! Even better, you can choose what the characters wear with a large array of DLC that ranges from a gift ribbon, to "Alice in Doki Doki Land". What more could someone want!?!

Did you ever play pinball games as a kid? Well this one is nothing like those themed pinball games most of us grew up with! The ninja girls from the Senran Kagura universe need your help to escape the pinball machines while dress in animal themed lingerie, and it's your job to save them in Senran Kagura Peach Ball. Now, I was a little hesitant when I first played this game. But as soon as I played it, it was the most enjoyable and over the top pinball game I could have never imagined. From hitting the girls with the pinballs, to all the minigames to help the slip into something a little more lewd, I just couldn't stop laughing and enjoying this game. It was one of my first Senran Kagura games, and it made me just want to explore this amazing franchise even more.

This one is a little treat for the people wanting male fanservice. My Secret Pets is a dating sim visual novel where your choices have consequences, and you are dating none other than your pets. I know, it sounds really weird, but it's a little bit like Boyfriend Dungeon before it existed. You can go on different routes for each pet who is portrayed by an attractive guy, and they just get sweeter as you go through each one. This visual novel may not be for everyone, but there are plenty of husbandos in it, and you will most likely pick your favourite pretty quickly to romance them.

Do you ever just think about the console wars as if it's basically a different kind of political? Well, the Neptunia universe is exactly that, but with waifus. This universe in general is about different consoles being portrayed as leaders of different lands, and there are many amazing games in the franchise, but on the Nintendo Switch, we only have two. However, we are lucky to have Megadimension Neptunia VII as one of those two! This game is a turn based RPG where the whole goal is to save the world. It may sound a little cliché, but you get to do it with the beautiful characters who of this amazing franchise. This was my second Neptunia game, and by far my favourite. Something about it just seemed so epic to me, all while having all the fanservice you need.

Okay, so I know I've had a visual novel on this list already, but it would just feel wrong not to include Nekopara. If you don't know anything about this game, it's about adorable cat-girls who are maids at their master's café. I know, that kind of stuff is pretty common these days, but this one is super deep if you play all the volumes. I didn't expect to like it at all, but the further into each volume I got, the more attached to certain characters I felt. The story is surprisingly deep, and the characters are all so unique. I highly recommend this game for someone who loves fanservice and maybe even wants to dip their toe into the world of visual novels! I will warn you however, if you want a clean PG-13 experience, I recommend the Switch version and not so much the Steam version. The Switch version is clean, because it's Nintendo, whereas the Steam version is literal Hentai. You've been warned.

These are just some of the amazing fanservice games you can find on the Nintendo Switch, but there are so many more! What is your favourite fanservice game that I may have missed on this list? Comment down below! And expect a lot more lists like this along with some very exciting reviews coming up, I'm back in action!

Have a nice day!

Love, Galaxy Gaymer

An Open Letter To Pokemon

Dear Pokemon,

Today is your 26th birthday. You may have been around longer than me, but that has also meant you have been able to be one of the only constants in my life. Ever since I can remember, I was a gamer, but what is the one franchise that has always been there for me? You, Pokemon.

When I was a little boy, I was fortunate enough to grow up with a Gameboy Color and a Nintendo 64. I didn't have a huge variety of games, but that didn't matter. On the Gameboy, my main game was Pokemon Gold, one of my all time favourite games. I played that game for hours on end, and I could feel a flame ignite inside me. I was obsessed from the very beginning. On the N64 I had Pokemon Stadium 1 + 2 and Pokemon Snap, which are by far some of the most nostalgic games to me, and also favourites for sure! This was all while watching the anime, of course.

School was not an easy time for me, while I had minimal (yet the most amazing) friends, I still had Pokemon. I eventually moved onto the Gameboy Advance, and Pokemon Ruby was my game of choice. This is probably the game I have put the most hours into out of every game. Even while I was being bullied for being different to the rest of the kids, I could still always play Pokemon to lift my spirits. It was always there.

High school was a time where that I struggled in many ways during. Even though I had friends, amazing ones at that, I still felt my mental health going downhill so many times. I felt like I was alone at times. I felt like the weight of the world was on my shoulders. But again, I was able to take solace in Pokemon to be a safety net for me. I was able to play Pokemon X and Y and just escape reality, even if just for a moment. Pokemon has truly been there for me in moments when it felt like people hadn't been.

Even though my experience with Pokemon may seem morbid, there has been more happy moments than sad. I am lucky enough to have the most amazing best friend in the world. We have known each other since we were 5, and one of our biggest connections is our love for Pokemon. We have played games from the series for as long as I remember, whether it's Pokemon Stadium mini games, getting a little competitive and battling each other in so many games, or even teaming up and conquering the field in Pokemon Unite. This just proves that Pokemon is that amazing that is can bring us together, and I'm insanely grateful for that.

Although some people do nothing but complain about the newer games we are getting from Pokemon, I adore them all. Whether it's Let's Go, Pokemon Quest, Pokken Tournament, Sword and Shield, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, Legends Arceus or Pokemon Unite, I adore them all. Pokemon will forever be one of my favourite series of all time, and I'm so excited to see what is coming in the future.

So, Pokemon, on your birthday, I just want to say thank you for existing. Thank you for literally helping me through my darkest times. And most importantly, thank you for bringing me and my best friend together so many times. I am so excited to see what the future brings, and I can't wait for another 26 years of amazing games and content!

Love, Galaxy Gaymer

PC vs Console: The Real Gaming War

Hey everyone! It's your lad, Galaxy Gaymer!

You know, in modern gaming, there's a 'war' that people talk about so much that it's almost impossible not to hear about it. 'The console wars'. There's this peculiar belief within the world of gaming that there absolutely HAS to be a superior console, there is absolutely NO chance of just letting people have their opinion on the matter, and it shapes the way people perceive you. That argument has been shown in so many places like YouTube videos, every social network, and even the Neptunia series is based around different consoles. You know what argument we don't address and criticise enough however? The battle between console and PC players.

There is this strange habit that so many have gotten into where they will blame people being on console for them losing a game. "Oh, this person was on console so they were toxic." "Oh, this person is on console, so that's why we lost!" It tends to be a lot of excuses and belittlement, and it personally has never made any sense to me. Heck, a lot of PC gamers won't even criticise people using a controller from a console instead of a mouse and keyboard, because "at least they're not a console player!" I have a lot of thoughts about this.

For starters, I think the whole thing is really dumb and ignorant. I'm a proud console player, and I like to flaunt that in a non arrogant way, but sometimes just playing on console alone is enough to fan the flames of this conflict! It feels as though, as a console player, I am almost not welcome sometimes to play certain games, or squad up with certain people, and why? Because I can only afford a console worth hundreds of dollars, instead of a PC that can cost thousands of dollars. It can be end up feeling like such a patriarchy, and just completely take the enjoyment out of gaming, my favourite thing in the world to do! 

When people blame their loss on someone, or call someone toxic, just because of the platform they are playing on, it can actually be one of the saddest moments when you are enjoying a game. Suddenly you can feel no longer welcome, and as if you are lesser to the people saying it. Look, maybe sometimes having a controller, or playing on console can be more or less of a challenge, but it's not a console players fault that maybe you're just not very good at the game.

All in all, I really believe this stigma towards console players needs to stop as soon as possible. I'm not even being soft by this point, it just frustrates me that there's so much gatekeeping in gaming by some very clearly narcissistic people. And yes, I know there are some amazing PC players who don't mind playing with console players and are just there to game regardless, and for that, I commend you. You're almost a minority in the gaming community! So, next time you want to insult someone, or blame your failure on someone being a console gamer, maybe check yourself first. :)

What is your opinion on this whole silly feud? Comment down below!

Have a nice day!

Love, Galaxy Gaymer