Eric Van Allen

Whether hanging out at the Limsa aetheryte or labbing out some combos in a fighting game, Eric can be found writing about and following all kinds of games, from lengthy RPGs to fascinating indies. Usually with some anime on the second monitor.

Latest articles by Eric Van Allen

A digimon trainer shoots something out of I don't know what
I don't believe it, but this Digimon RPG really was the best game I saw at SGF

By Eric Van Allen Published

Hallelujah I was a non-believer, but Digimon Story: Time Stranger made me see the light.

Hallelujah
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers made me grapple with the parry vs. dodge conundrum

By Eric Van Allen Published

Wu-clang To dodge, or not to dodge?

10 Comments
Wu-clang
Spine cover art of a woman with a pistol holding up a shattered SWAT helmet against a dramatic purple background
Spine is a gun-fu love letter that wants to make you feel as OP as John Wick

By Eric Van Allen Published

Gun-kata?? Call me John... Slick?

Gun-kata??
Code Vein 2 motorcycle at SGF
Code Vein 2 made me realize what I've always wanted in a Souls game: a sick motorcycle

By Eric Van Allen Published

Vroom-like What can't you make better with a cool bike?

Vroom-like
Directive 8020 sci-fi horror
'We encourage you to live with your choices, but if you want to change it, you can:' Supermassive explains why it's adding a flowchart to its narrative horror with Directive 8020

By Eric Van Allen Published

Re-scream Supermassive Games isn't just heading to a new frontier, but changing up how permanent choices can be too.

Re-scream
Persona 5: The Phantom X characters
Persona 5: The Phantom X is a solid RPG, but even adding gacha can't hide the fact that Persona 5's been stretched awfully thin over the last 9 years

By Eric Van Allen Published

Gacha Gang The Phantom X is more Persona—which isn't great if you're a bit Persona-fatigued.

7 Comments
Gacha Gang
Atelier Yumia screenshot
Help, I can't move forward in this chill crafting RPG because I'm too wrapped up in building bases and making sick tools

By Eric Van Allen Published

procraftination Atelier Yumia mixes the crafting and gathering of survival games with the framework of a classic RPG.

procraftination
Battle Suit Aces
7 years after unique puzzle brawler Battle Chef Brigade, its creators are back with another offbeat genre mash-up: 'People like card games, hopefully they like card games that have really good characters'

By Eric Van Allen Published

Ace in Hand Battle Suit Aces could be one of 2025's best deckbuilders, but it's up against some fierce competition.

Ace in Hand
Battle Aces character portraits
Blizzard veteran David Kim's strategy comeback with Battle Aces is 'very personal:' 'I just can't accept... the end-all peak of RTS is StarCraft 2 and nothing can ever be better'

By Eric Van Allen Published

Blitz Battle Aces wants to rekindle the RTS flame by cutting down on the APM to amp up the strategy and action.

Blitz
Every Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero Goku Ranked
Every Goku in Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero, ranked

By Eric Van Allen Published

Goku is Earth's mightiest warrior. But what's been his mightiest appearance over the years?

Fighting
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This detective game is all about listening to solve mysteries

By Eric Van Allen Published

Sounds good Like Her Story, but you mostly just use your ears.

Sounds good

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