Kir Notold

Hey! I’m Kirill, and this is my gaming blog.

I’ve been gaming pretty much nonstop since childhood. A fully grown man, pushing 40 — and still playing with his little video games! Basically, I’m your typical “red flag” 😂

So, what do I actually play? These days, co-op is what I enjoy most: my friends and I spin up a dedicated server and dive into yet another survival game until we’ve seen all the content or get bored. Enshrouded holds the record so far — 120+ hours. I also enjoy all sorts of indie stuff, roguelikes, bullet heavens/hells, and incremental games to play while watching a show.

I love soulslikes, but not the super-tedious, soul-crushingly tedious ones. I’m in that unpopular camp that considers Elden Ring a masterpiece, Bloodborne an overhyped exercise in mediocrity, and Dark Souls a game that has aged very badly.

How I write reviews

• I only write about games I’ve played myself. I always try to include how many hours I’ve put in.
• Before writing a review, I always dig into the developer and publisher: what kind of studio it is, where it’s based, and what it’s released before. Sometimes, interesting stuff turns up.
• If a game is in early access or I’ve only tried the demo, I always say so: these are first impressions, not a final verdict. I think that matters, because early access is always different from the finished product (looking at you, Baldur’s Gate 3).
• I always buy my games. I don’t approve of piracy. Ubisoft and Bethesda are the exceptions. They’ve gotten far too greedy and entitled. I have no plans to buy their games, on principle (yes, I own Skyrim, yes).

What the scores mean

A score reflects my personal impression, not some average across the board.

• 9–10 — a must-play, even if the genre or setting isn’t your thing.
• 7–8 — a good game I’d recommend if you like the genre. It has its flaws, but you’re guaranteed to have a good time playing it.
• 5–6 — an acquired taste: for fans of the genre, or worth picking up at a hefty discount.
• 3–4 — underwhelming; there are plenty of better games out there.
• 1–2 — don’t waste your time; I’ve done that for you😅

What else you’ll find here

Besides games, I sometimes write about books and keep a devlog for my own game, currently titled The Stranger v2. It’s a game where you don’t play as the hero. He lives his own life in a fantasy world: wanders off somewhere, takes on quests, fights, trades, and spends the night by a campfire. A couple of times a day, you get a notification: “Your hero’s been ambushed! What’s the plan?” — and a minute to decide.

Answer, and he does what you say. Ignore it, and he decides for himself, based on his personality. And your silence changes him, too.

Where to find me

• Telegram: @notold_games — shorter versions of reviews and announcements
• X: @kir_notold
• Threads: @kir.notold
• Email: info@notold.games