Sprocket
A tank building game that enters almost into 3D modelling territory. The dev's been reworking the whole thing recently for "geometric internals" basically allowing you to place the interior stuff of the tank as well as designing the exterior. I'm kinda obsessed with trying to recreate tanks from history in it. It's built for WW1-WW2 eras, which is ideal for me cos that's my favourite tank period, but I know people make more modern designs in it (but can't speak to how good it is for that).
As well as the building side of things, there's also scenarios where you can use your tanks to complete missions. In the experimental branch they're currently disabled as the dev's working on things, but it's fun seeing how your tanks perform in different areas. Speaking of, I've seen community-run competitions for building within specifications (like a couple required the tank to be within certain dimensions so it would fit on a landing craft or train if it was irl). I haven't entered any, but it's really fun seeing the different ways communities engage with a game like this.
Also I'm a bit tempted to make a separate page just for Sprocket tanks because I enjoy making them so much. <.<
Trainslation
I've been trying to find games about finding your way through a subway system for aages. In Trainslation you find yourself in a subway and you need to find your way to the station written on a note in a mysterious language (it's a real language, so maybe not that mysterious :P ). There's also characters dotted around the stations and in the trains with interesting stories or info to tell.
Something about the sound and graphics gives a nice feeling of being in the place, just lots of little details like the vending machines giving off a slight electric hum.
The Crimson Diamond
I went into it because I enjoy the old Laura Bow games and this looked similar, but it stands on
its own feet well. The premise of a minerologist getting involved in sleuthing is fun, and there's
puzzles around trying to do your job and examining rocks, so it's more than just flavour text.
The use of a text-parser over pointclick is a welcome change for me. Point&clicks are great,
but text-parsers really make sure you know what actions you're trying to perform (especially
as Crimson Diamond doesn't allow the word "use"). I think they did a good job of giving plenty of
synonyms too, it was rare for me to be stuck trying to find the word it accepts. I also found
the interactivity with the other characters much better than in The Colonel's Bequest. In Bequest it
often feels like any time you try talking to someone they just shut it down immediately, and Crimson
Diamond was starting off in that vein, but as the characters warm to each other you can talk to some
of them about a lot, and asking them about the things I found ended up being something I looked
forward to.
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