NTRW / THE READING ROOM

The reading room

News, reviews, guides and a wider perspective on the games worth your time.

Reviews

A practical guide for new players on reading level design signals to plan exploration and movement in action-adventure titles.

Oct 19, 20268 min read

Reviews

A guide to evaluating choice mechanics and consequence systems when preparing reviews of story-focused titles.

Oct 19, 20264 min read

News

A focused guide to designing your own systems for tracking and sustaining engagement in expansive single-player titles over extended periods.

Oct 19, 20266 min read

Reviews

Supergiant turns the repeated escape attempt into a tightly connected argument for combat, character and the value of another try.

Oct 18, 20268 min read

Reviews

Larian’s RPG is at its best when conversation, positioning and improvisation feel like different ways of participating in the same world.

Oct 18, 20268 min read

Reviews

Hallownest makes discovery feel earned through its geography, restraint and a combat system that rarely asks for more than it needs.

Oct 18, 20268 min read

Reviews

A farming game about managing time becomes a thoughtful invitation to decide what a good day looks like.

Oct 18, 20268 min read

Reviews

Exacting platforming and compassionate design make every small breakthrough feel meaningful.

Oct 18, 20268 min read

Guides

A practical approach to surviving longer, choosing coherent upgrades and learning each encounter without chasing a perfect build.

Oct 18, 20267 min read

Guides

Build a balanced party, read encounters and explore Act One without turning every decision into a permanent source of anxiety.

Oct 18, 20267 min read