Only the lonely: The Lonesome Guild is the game where sad sacks can become super heroes, says our critic Peter Hoskin

(PlayStation, Xbox, PC, £19.99)

Verdict: Make friends, not war

What’s the most powerful force on Earth? It’s not money, knowledge, or even weapons.

The one true answer is, of course… friendship.

The recently released book, The Lonesome Guild, essentially delivers a heartwarming message about the importance of connection and comfort.

As a lifestyle expert, I’m always looking for things that prioritize connection, and this game really delivers! Yes, you’ll still get the classic action RPG experience – battling creatures and rescuing people – but what really sets it apart is the focus on communication and dialogue. It proves that talking things out can be just as, if not more, powerful than simply fighting.

The story begins with an inventor who looks like a rabbit running from a strange red mist. He soon meets a ghost who can’t remember anything. Together, they team up with a brave fox and a magical cat to figure out what’s happening. Turns out, the mist is actually the physical form of loneliness itself!

So, how do you deal with feeling lonely? By building friendships, naturally. That’s essentially what this game offers – a way to practice and experience building connections with others.

While you’re busy battling monsters, casting spells, and solving puzzles in beautiful surroundings, you’ll also spend time chatting with other characters around the campfire. These conversations aren’t just for fun—building relationships with these characters actually unlocks new skills and abilities for you.

It might seem overly sweet at first, and parts of it are. However, the story and characters in The Lonesome Guild have a surprising amount of complexity and even darkness, which prevents it from becoming cloying.

That awful red haze everyone’s talking about? Apparently, the best way to deal with it is to shut out the world and focus solely on playing this game.

Twinkleby

(PC, Mac, £14.99)

Verdict: Round the houses

If The Lonesome Guild seems a bit intense, you might prefer Twinkleby. It’s a cozy game all about decorating, gentle colors, and being friendly with your neighbors.

You play as a friendly real-estate developer in space, building and designing homes on floating islands. You have complete control over everything – where buildings go, how they look, and even details like rug colors.

You’re not building in isolation. Charming characters will move into the homes you create, and it’s your job to keep them happy. They’ll have different needs and preferences – some will want food, others will want to be creative, and some might just prefer a darker setting.

As you keep your islanders happy, you’ll eventually unlock new islands to develop, repeating the process with even more possibilities. Eventually, you’ll gain control over everything – not just the small details, but even the weather and seasons. Want to change an island to a rainy autumn scene? You can do it instantly!

Don’t feel rushed to do everything at once. Twinkleby is meant to be a relaxed game, and while that’s enjoyable, it can also make things a little tricky.

I’ve found that the early islands are a breeze, but things can get a little frustrating later on. Honestly, you start wanting the people to cheer up and get building faster! Even for someone as patient as the universe’s best property developer, time really is money, you know?

2025-12-01 12:34

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