Recent reviews by Crystallized

Grounded is one of the most unique survival games I’ve ever played. The concept of being shrunk down to insect size and exploring an ordinary backyard is pulled off perfectly — discovering things like mints, nails, or a discarded juice box feels incredible when seen from this new perspective. Every corner of the yard feels alive, and exploring it never stops being fun.

The gameplay is smooth and progression is incredibly satisfying. Combat rewards timing and mastery, and multiplayer works flawlessly — whether building together, exploring, or taking on boss fights. Ziplines are absolutely S-tier for travel, and the storage and inventory system is the best I’ve ever seen in a survival game. Base building is simple yet flexible enough that you can make something great without sinking hundreds of hours into construction.

The consistent updates show how much care the developers put into the game, and after 144 hours, I feel I got far more than my money’s worth. I can’t wait to see what they do with Grounded 2.

Frostpunk is one of the most atmospheric city builders I’ve played. The cinematics and art style are beautiful, and the constant struggle against the cold sets an unforgettable tone. Managing your villagers feels meaningful, and the moral decisions you make along the way carry real weight — every choice feels like it impacts survival, not just statistics.

The weather challenges keep you on edge, forcing you to plan ahead and adapt when the next cold wave hits. The pre-made scenarios are excellent, offering varied goals and enough difficulty to keep things engaging even if you’re not an expert at colony sims.

I do wish there were more variety in the research tree, as multiple playthroughs tend to feel similar once you’ve unlocked the same core buildings and technologies. That limited progression was the main reason I didn’t dive into the DLC — though if it’s on sale, I’d definitely recommend picking it up for anyone looking to extend the experience.

Frostpunk is challenging, beautiful, and rewarding — a must-play for anyone who enjoys survival city builders, even if its replay value is somewhat limited without additional content.

At first glance, Stardew Valley looks like a simple farming game — cute visuals, relaxing music, and a small town to explore. But once you start playing, it quickly reveals how deep it really is. Farm management, time management, and skill progression are all balanced perfectly so every day feels rewarding, and you’re constantly planning what to do next. The mysteries hidden throughout the valley — from the mines to the townspeople’s stories — keep things fresh even almost 100 hours in.

Multiplayer is a huge bonus. Playing with friends adds a fun layer of teamwork and planning as you divide tasks, build a farm together, and celebrate milestones as a group. The only feature I wish existed is the ability to transfer an existing character into a friend’s world instead of always starting fresh, since jumping into a new farm can sometimes feel like eternally playing catch-up.

Even with that small wish, Stardew Valley is one of the more rewarding and relaxing games I’ve ever played. Whether you’re optimizing every second or just enjoying the peaceful rhythm of the farm, it’s incredibly easy to lose yourself here. I would recommend this game to anyone who has even a hint of interest.

I’ve put 152 hours into Dune: Awakening and reached the final tier of gameplay in the deep desert. The early and mid-game loop of survival, exploration, and base building is fantastic — my group of five had a blast gathering resources and constructing a large 6-claim base. The progression feels rewarding, and visually the game absolutely nails the Dune atmosphere. Storms are intense, the desert looks alive, and the first time you see a sandworm is unforgettable.

Where it struggles is in the endgame. The grind ramps up significantly, with facilities like the spice and ore refineries requiring a huge time investment that feels punishing for smaller groups or solo players. PvP also flips from nearly nonexistent in the first 100 hours to being the core of endgame, and air combat becomes dominant in a way that feels disconnected from the grounded survival focus of earlier tiers. Instant ornithopter placement especially can lead to frustrating encounters where players escape or ambush too easily.

Despite this, I still recommend Dune: Awakening. I got over 100 hours of enjoyment from it, and the survival/base-building foundation is incredibly strong. But right now, I’d suggest letting it cook a bit longer — see how they flesh out endgame content and balance PvP before jumping in.

Pros
-Beautiful, immersive world; storms and sandworms are awe-inspiring
-Great survival and base-building systems with satisfying progression
-Resource gathering and crafting are approachable and rewarding
-PvE combat is well-balanced and fun for solo play
-Deep progression system that keeps you engaged through mid-game

Cons
-Endgame grind for top-tier structures is excessive for small groups/solo players
-PvP is scarce early game, then dominates late game without gradual ramp-up
-Air combat feels out of place and can overshadow ground combat
-Ornithopter mechanics can be abused for instant escapes or surprise attacks
-Limited non-PvP endgame content currently available

I’ve put 215 hours into Bellwright and completed two playthroughs, and I’ve really enjoyed my time with it. This game is a great medieval settlement management simulator with a strong focus on building, recruiting, and automating your village. For a solo player, the early game is very manageable, and the progression into mid- and late-game feels rewarding as your settlement grows. However, the late game can involve a fair amount of AFK waiting as you gather resources and craft top-tier gear.

Combat is decent but can feel repetitive once you learn the mechanics. The armor and damage system makes higher-tier enemies a real challenge — you can’t just “speed run” exploration or fights without properly gearing up. This adds realism but also means battles can drag on if you’re underleveled.

Despite these quirks, Bellwright nails the settlement management side. Watching your villagers progress from simple tasks to fully automated production chains is extremely satisfying, and the quest system does a great job of giving structure without feeling grindy. If you’re looking for a strong medieval management experience, I highly recommend it — but if combat is your main draw, you might want to wait for future updates that flesh out fighting mechanics.

Pros
-Rewarding progression and tier system that makes upgrades feel impactful
-Villager automation is smooth and intuitive with a well-designed interface
-Wide selection of weapons, armor, and crafting options
-Quests feel purposeful and avoid feeling overly repetitive
-Settlement building and expansion is genuinely satisfying, especially seeing your village evolve over time
-Consistent developer updates keep content changing and improving over time

Cons
-Leveling combat skills takes a long time; books take hours to read and are the main XP source at higher levels
-Combat can feel repetitive and sometimes clunky, especially in group fights
- Late-game progression can involve waiting for resource production and crafting
- Repeat playthroughs feel similar due to preset map and questline
- Limited enemy variety; fights against heavily armored foes can feel like damage sponges