Kara Phillips
Kara is an evergreen writer. Having spent three years as a games journalist guiding, reviewing, or generally waffling about the weird and wonderful, she’s more than happy to tell you all about which obscure indie games she’s managed to sink hours into this week. When she’s not raising a dodo army in Ark: Survival Evolved or taking huge losses in Tekken, you’ll find her helplessly trawling the internet for the next best birdwatching game because who wants to step outside and experience the real thing when you can so easily do it from the comfort of your living room. Right?
Latest articles by Kara Phillips
![Panam Palmer, a romance option from Cyberpunk 2077, smirks haplessly at the camera.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Jz44TUmNKkQ6UkZHTeF5mi-320-80.jpg)
Cyberpunk 2077 romances: Everyone you can pursue in Night City
By Sarah James last updated
Playing Cupid How to romance Judy, Panam, River, Kerry, and all those inbetween.
![A cat and a frog sat around a campfire in Cozy Caravan](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ycUb9B4MeVW8ifkLGukYSC-320-80.jpg)
Cozy Caravan mixes crafting, cute critters, and simple quests for the ultimate relaxing game
By Kara Phillips published
Settle down Basically, any game that lets me play as a raccoon is an instant win.
![Tyke petting a dog outside of a gate with ranger Maddie in Pine Hearts](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/z2eE4ATAbHg6YyGZjrFXQX-320-80.jpg)
I thought Pine Hearts would be another heartwarming adventure, but it's actually one of the only games to reduce me to tears
By Kara Phillips published
Say goodbye Pine Hearts fits the bill as a wholesome game, but it packs a punch in its story that is bound to tug on your heartstrings.
![Paige walking through a snowy map in Paper Trail](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/exS4iuuR9XReWDpjpiE9V8-320-80.jpg)
Top-down puzzle adventure Paper Trail is the kind of page-turner you can only get in games
By Kara Phillips published
Paper puzzles After playing the Paper Trail demo I feel like a puzzle-solving aficionado and origami pro.
![Venture to the Vile protagonist facing a monstrous enemy](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FAzZGf9uhHLWudJVVTzJcm-320-80.jpg)
The Venture to the Vile demo feels like the metroidvania equivalent of Pandora's box, and even though I've only cracked the surface I already can't get enough
By Kara Phillips published
Nightmare material This 2.5D metroidvania combines precision platforming with towering bosses, and now I'm terrified of giant millipedes.
![The chocolate factory at the start of the early gamplay for Haunted Chocolatier trailer](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9UAR4YqaWbJpywVZBiKB4H-320-80.png)
Haunted Chocolatier characters: everyone we know about so far
By Kara Phillips published
Familiar faces We still have a lot to learn about Haunted Chocolatier, but here are a few characters we've met so far.
![Flowers growing out of a dolls head in Tales From Candleforth](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3yYa3M7t5bDYVnthYiPBC3-320-80.jpg)
Point-and-click horror Tales from Candleforth is the escape room equivalent of your childhood nightmares
By Kara Phillips published
Fright night Tales from Candleforth may begin as an enchanting fairytale but quickly unravels into every nightmare you had as a child.
![Armadillo on a hill in front of a sunset in Minecraft](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rYjJzuS7c3yVzcx3yyf8Pc-320-80.jpg)
Minecraft armadillos: how to find and breed these adorable armored animals
By Kara Phillips published
Roll up Minecraft has unleashed armadillos into the mix, and here's everything you need to know about them.
![Haunted Chocolatier - A player runs in front of a shop with a sign that says "Chocolate" in a snowy village.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Bq7spL3WGQcrvF9i7ghYJ8-320-80.jpg)
Haunted Chocolatier: Everything we know about the Stardew Valley successor
By Kara Phillips published
![Echoes of the Plum Grove - villagers mingle at an autumn market in the town square](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WdQcYcXBTPKnSgzbcm9N4g-320-80.jpg)
5 beginner's tips for Echoes of the Plum Grove to help you survive your first season in Honeywood
By Kara Phillips published
Tilling Tips Five tips to help you survive and thrive in this consequential farming sim.
![A farm with animals and crops on in Rusty's Retirement](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iBQPVs4MqA7HVr8BVpa4v5-320-80.jpg)
Idle farming sim Rusty's Retirement allows you to pour hours into farmwork whilst still doing other things
By Kara Phillips published
Slow down Finally, I can understand why these games are considered cozy.
![Rhok'zan rolling her eyes in Sucker for Love: Date to Die For](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kayxm4MLYXVU8rEmCfR8ri-320-80.jpg)
I have become obsessed with a goat in Lovecraftian dating sim Sucker for Love: Date to Die For
By Kara Phillips published
Devilish devotion Sucker for Love: Date to Die For has introduced a new dateable entity and I have fallen head over hooves for her.
![Close-up of a masked man and woman holding guns as they enter a convenience store during a robbery](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5CzH6eeVgfUqFSuqvAYEfn-320-80.jpg)
GTA 6 characters: everyone we know about so far
By Kara Phillips published
Who's this? There's still a lot to learn about who lies in Vice City.
![null](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nyrdUJAVuDizvJXv5ZVUhX-320-80.jpg)
The best games like Stardew Valley on PC
By Lauren Morton last updated
Farm Life Games like Stardew Valley have taken root on PC and now you have your choice of farms and towns to revitalize.
![The best games on Steam](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uGSdzXq3pS5qS8Yp3S8v25-320-80.jpg)
The best games on Steam
By Tyler Wilde last updated
Best to Get Got a fresh Steam account? Here are the best Steam games to get free or buy first.