Welcome to GamerDad: Gaming with Children. My name is Andrew S. Bub - the GamerDad - and I've been writing about videogames, movies, and children for over 15 years now. After working as a magazine journalist, I switched gears to write about how media violence affects children, educating parents about them, and working closely with magazines, newspapers, major retailers and even politicians. GamerDad is an internationally recognized expert in this field. Games, movies and media are fun, kids and families love them, they aren't going away. So join me in cutting through the hype and lets have a real conversation about the things that matter: Video Games, Violent Media, and their supposed effect on children and families.
Welcome to GamerDad: Gaming with Children. My name is Andrew S. Bub - the GamerDad - and I've been writing about videogames, movies, and children for over 15 years now. After working as a magazine journalist, I switched gears to write about how media violence affects children, educating parents about them, and working closely with magazines, newspapers, major retailers and even politicians. GamerDad is an internationally recognized expert in this field. Games, movies and media are fun, kids and families love them, they aren't going away. So join me in cutting through the hype and lets have a real conversation about the things that matter: Video Games, Violent Media, and their supposed effect on children and families.
Dungeonoid 2 Awakening (PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, X/S, PC)
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Posted on March 4th, 2024 by
Dungeonoid 2 Awakening combines the ball and paddle block breaking gameplay of titles like Breakout and Arkanoid, and mixes in RPG quest elements. It kind of reminds me of a little known game on the SEGA Genesis called Devilish, which was also ported to the DS many years later. I never played the original Dungeonoid so I don’t know what’s changes or improved in the sequel, but the new game is available on all current consoles and PC, but reviewed on PS4 here.
Virtual Reality Gaming – Quest 3 and Quest 2
Posted on March 2nd, 2024 by
The world of VR (virtual reality) headsets continues to evolve. While the pricey Apple Vision Pro was just released, last fall saw the release of the Quest 3. The Quest 3 is around 6x cheaper, and more importantly for this site and article, is far more focused on entertainment than business/work. I jumped on the VR bandwagon with the first PlayStation (PSVR) but sat out the next generation (PSVR2 and Quest 2) but with the release of the Quest 3 I thought I’d test the waters again. The primary reason was to be able to play multiplayer games with friends that also owned Quest headsets. After a few months of play, it seems like a good time to share my thoughts on the system in general and some of the newest games. Today, we’ll look at the headset and mention a few games. In the coming weeks we’ll evaluate some of the games in more detail.
AdventureQuest 8-bit: Dungeons and Doomknights (Switch, PC)
Posted on March 1st, 2024 by
AdventureQuest is a long running series of MMORPGs. I’ve never heard of them before writing this review myself, but then, these sort of games aren’t really on my radar. But what if AdvnetureQuest came out during the 8-bit NES days? It certainly wouldn’t be online! Now you can find out what it would be like with AdventureQuest 8-bit: Dungeons and Doomknights. I don’t know how close the game reflects the source material, seeing as I’ve never played it. But in the game you play as an axe wielding knight out to slay an undead army. It’s kind of a mix of styles, with overhead action and exploration sections like Zelda or Metal Gear, as well as some 2-D platforming mixed in. You can buy it on an actual NES cartridge, or download it on Switch and PC (reviewed on Switch here), with some extra bells and whistles.
Turret Rampage (PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, X/S, PC)
Posted on February 28th, 2024 by
Defend yourself against ever encroaching subterranean monsters in Turret Rampage. Move your turret up and down levels as you fire different shots to take down various foes in this 2-D single screen shooter that mixes tower defense elements into the gameplay. It’s available on all current consoles and PC, but reviewed on PS4 here.
nGolf (Switch)
Posted on February 26th, 2024 by
nGolf is a basic top down viewed mini-golf game for Nintendo Switch. Travel to eight different themed worlds: Egyptian, Ice, Amusement Park, Italian Town, Beach, Farm, Japanese Garden, and Magical Forest. Each world has eight holes for you to tackle.
The Legend of Steel Empire (Switch, PS4)
Posted on February 23rd, 2024 by
Steel Empire was a 2-D shooter on the SEGA Genesis. The unique thing about it was the premise, as all the flying vehicles were blimps and steam powered machines. Kind of a Jules Verne steampunk vibe. It got remade on the Game Boy Advance and then again on the 3DS. And now it gets another remake on the Switch (reviewed here) and coming soon to the PS4.
8 Colors Star Guardians + (Switch, PC)
Posted on February 21st, 2024 by
Giant alien bosses are invading Earth and it’s up to five young heroines to transform into Power Ranger-like characters (complete with their own color) to fight the baddies. 8 Color Star Guardians + lets you choose from 8 bosses in any order, like Mega Man, and then you fight them in turn based RPG fashion. The game is also presented in only 8 colors, so it reminds me of those old computer monitors. It’s available on Switch and PC, but reviewed on Switch here.
Unplugged: Legacy of Yu (Boardgame)
Posted on February 20th, 2024 by
While fans of wargaming have been playing both sides of a battle for decades, the idea of playing a boardgame solo has recently seen a large uptick in broader gaming circles. Many boardgames advertise a “solo mode”, allowing gamers to play even if, for whatever reason, they are unable to arrange for a meet-up to play a game. A few games, like Legacy of Yu, take things a step further and are designed solely for one player. Designed from the ground up as a solo game it has an advantage over other single-player options since it isn’t just an add-on option (perhaps an afterthought) to a multiplayer game. Legacy of Yu does a stellar job of providing an interesting solo experience that manages not to outstay its welcome through the use of an ongoing story arc that slightly adjusts the difficulty between games.
Saga of the Moon Priestess (PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, X/S, PC)
Posted on February 19th, 2024 by
My number one favorite Zelda game is Link’s Awakening, so when I got the opportunity to review a game that mimics that Game Boy classic, I was pretty excited. In Saga of the Moon Priestess, a prince has been kidnapped and you play as a girl who can talk to the moon goddess and must rescue him. You’ll travel through an overworld and tromp through five different dungeon mazes in top down 2D fashion to get him back. It’s available on all current consoles and PC, but reviewed on PS4 here.
Unplugged: D&D Toys and Tabs
Posted on February 17th, 2024 by
Kid Robot has once again paired up with Dungeons and Dragons licensed Wizkids to create some stuffed toy creatures with a D&D theme. This time around they’re even smaller. You can find a 3” tall plush charm featuring a Mind Flayer, Tarrasque, Intellect Devourer, or a Flumph suitable for latching onto your backpack (or briefcase if you’re daring?) This is apparently the third wave of 3” creatures but the first set I’ve encountered (provided by the nice folks over at Wizkids.)
In terms of Tabs, Wizkids is producing a set of non-permanent sticker tabs for use with one’s main D&D books. The first set has been released with sticker tabs for the Player Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, and Monster Manual. Upcoming sticker tab sets will be available for
Rulebooks Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything and Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants, as well as the beginner-adventure Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk.
