Friday Follow-UP #18 2025
Newsletter #18 of 2025 Featuring: The latest games to Wishlist. A new game to back on Kickstarter. Quest Vibes update. Tunic Merch and the latest Good Game Lobby reviews!
Welcome to this week’s Friday Follow-UP covering games to wishlist, crowdfunding games, soundtracks, merch, and the latest Good Game Lobby reviews. Subscribe to get the free weekly newsletter and reviews straight to your inbox.
Wishlist XP | Screadcheat, Fretless: The Wrath of Riffson, to a T, and Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo
Spreadcheat has a comical premise where you are a manager’s peon meant to fix the numbers to assist with their absolute fuckery of a company’s finances. You have to do real mathematics in each level to get the proper results. The window for the game sits on your desktop like it’s a pop-up of its own. It’s unique, funny, and coming out soon!
SpreadCheat is a puzzle game that fuses intricate spreadsheet challenges with a comedic, 90s financial vibe in a retro Windows 3.11 setting. The Player takes on the role of the new office prodigy, solving absurd tasks and manipulating spreadsheet cells to hit specific targets using clever formulas.
🎮 SpreadCheat | Steam
🗓️ Release Date | May 5th, 2025 | Demo Out Now
I played the demo for Fretless a few months ago on a close friend’s recommendation, and it did not disappoint. The soundtrack is superb, the pixel graphics are designed in a unique way for an adventure game that is rhythm-based, featuring RPG elements and a unique battle system that is addicting.
In this turned-based RPG, wield powerful legendary instruments, gather mighty riff attacks and save the land from Rick Riffson's devilish goons and musical hybrid monsters!
🎮 Fretless - The Wrath of Riffson | Steam
🗓️Release Date | May 22nd, 2025
Rebecca Sugar of Steven Universe fame singing the song in the trailer, led by the Keita Takahashi the developer of Katamari Damacy, and a game that is being published by Annapurna Interactive — that’s all the buzzwords I need to be addicted. Just watch the trailer. It’s adorable! 😍
A charming, colorful adventure game from the creator of Katamari Damacy and the uvula team about a teen navigating life in a small town with their cute dog companion. While their body is stuck in a T-pose, they do their best to make the most of it.
🎮 to a T | Steam
🗓️ Release Date | May 28th, 2025
nocaps did an early preview video on this one you should check out because it sold me on it pretty hard. The visuals had already got me interested, but their video really captured what I love about metroidvanias and pixel games — or, as the studio refers to Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo, a “Yoyovania!”
Are you ready for the first Yoyovania?! In this 2D top-down adventure you'll explore a sprawling urban landscape, reinterpreting your surroundings through your mastery of yoyo tricks. Navigate the city's many districts, fight rival crime bosses, and regain the influence of the Pipistrello family!
🎮 Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo | Steam
🗓️ Release Date | May 28th, 2025
Crowdfunding Checkpoint | Aurascope
I am such a sucker for 2D pixel art games. Aurascope hits all my puzzle-action-adventure buttons. It’s currently at 135% funded with 13 days to go! Check out all the details on the Kickstarter page.
Aurascope is a 2D action-adventure collectathon platformer with light puzzle and RPG elements. Join our friends Trace and Aurora to uncover the secrets surrounding the Aurascope, a mysterious drive from beyond the stars!
🎮 Aurascope | Steam | Kickstarter
🗓️ Release Date | 2027
Quest Vibes | Quest Vibes Monthly + Sanctuary
May’s playlist is up now with songs featured in Crypt Custodian, Cult of the Lamb, Grindstone and more!
When I started GGL, I had the idea to run a monthly music playlist — and did for the first few months — but as more review keys came in (something I really didn’t think would happen so early), I started to pull back from all the extra work I was doing. So, Quest Vibes moved into the newsletter and highlighted a specific artist or soundtrack.
Well, though that will still be the case in the newsletter, I am bringing back the playlist. It will be updated with new songs every month in Quest Vibes Monthly, which you can find on YouTube and Spotify. I’ll also archive all the music into one gigantic, already 4+ hour playlist called Quest Vibes Sanctuary. Make sure to follow, subscribe, and share them!
I know not everyone has Spotify, so having the playlist on YouTube makes it easier for everyone to be a part of it. If you have any recommendations for the playlist, please reach out or leave some in the comments! Hope you enjoy them. :)
🎶 Quest Vibes Monthly | YouTube | Spotify
🎶 Quest Vibes Sanctuary | YouTube | Spotify
Quest Loot | TUNIC - Runic Hat
TUNIC released back in 2022 to critical acclaim for the Souls-like gameplay and vibrant world. It’s a standout for me and a highlight of the greatness achieved by indie gaming. Don’t just take my word for it —
recently played and reviewed it here!
The protagonist in TUNIC is a mixture of a cute fox and Link, and it’s one of my favorites. So, you know I had to leap at the opportunity to share this with you all. The design around the game as a whole is a sight to behold — from the logo, to the world, to the in-game manual. My hair is VERY long now, so I’ve moved away from hats, but this might bring me back.
🎮 Tunic | Steam
🏪 Fangamer | TUNIC - Runic Hat
Good Game Lobby Review | Lushfoil Photography Sim + Despelote
Both of these games were on my anticipated list and both were a fantastic experience. Check out the reviews and let me know what you think!
Well now, a game from the lot who made Katamari? I'm in! Also, Fretless looks fun. Gonna see if the demo is still up.