Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Pruthvi Das
Still With Me, Dear Reader?
Ever played Disco Elysium? That's probably the game that'd pop into your mind if you saw Rue Valley. Yet, to compare it to Disco Elysium undermines and reduces Rue Valley to be "like" it. It is only in spirit where they intertwine – a familiar-feeling interface, a sweet gift for words, a tragic hero to accompany you. But Rue Valley stands on its own two feet, far away from the realms of Disco's controlled insanity.
The Narrative Value of Marvel Rivals
Opinion In the domain of live service, I find narrative akin to the mascot of a greasy burger joint, a "smiling face" slapped on a soulless product in the name of retention. But this time, things are different. Thus, I found myself loading up this yet-another-live-service hero shooter Marvel Rivals, only to come out, after many hours of play, deeply burrowed in the questions of its lore. Questions like, "Why are some of the characters from different timelines?
Good in Gaming: Understanding Mental Health, Using DLC for Good, and Saving Real Dogs
Good in Gaming Ask anyone whoâs been in the gaming community long enough, and theyâll tell you this space is about far more than just achievement hunting and esports scores. Gamers can be some of the most compassionate people in the world (though we might be a little biased to think so); they know exactly when and where to turn on multiplayer and work together to make the world a better place.
The only one of its kind
Game: App Wars 01Genre: RPG Platforms: Android and iOS Pruthvi Das Published 02.12.24, 06:10 AM Many years ago, I caught wind of a curious game with a title appropriate for a prototype — App Wars 01. My initial thought was it was a virus. It turns out the game is one of a kind, even by today’s standards of mobile gaming. It’s unfortunate the game was taken off soon after.
More strategy, less word game
When my partner introduced me to Letterpress, I was initially taken aback by its interesting design. Over time, though, I wondered what the game was trying to be. To start with, Letterpress claims to be a word game. This is partly true but at its core, it’s really about territory control. Your weapon of choice are words you make using letters arranged in a 5x5 grid. When you connect the letters to make a word, you claim the squares in which the letters sit.
No fame but brings its A game
NAME: Keychron V6 Wired QMK Blue Switch Keys Genre: Mechanical keyboard Price: ₹9,400 Pruthvi Das Published 28.10.24, 05:48 AM Investing in the Razer Huntsman Elite back in 2021 had me thinking that I wouldn’t ever need another keyboard again. Yet, the finicky knob, the bloatware, the account creation and lack of extra macros irked me too much to think that possible. It’s unfortunate, given the premium make and the expectations I had about Razer’s products.
Big, decent and affordable
Name: XP-Pen Deco03Maker: XP-PenPrice: ₹8,798 (Amazon) Pruthvi Das Published 06.05.24, 06:12 AM A week since I began rediscovering my interest in sketching, I was reminded of the device my long-time friend and game artist used to do his digital artwork with, and reached out to him about its whereabouts. And I borrowed it from him to give it a go for my daily sketch practice. The Deco03 is a giant improvement over my current Wacom Intuos, which I’ve never been able to get accustomed to.
The power to transport: All that you need to know about sturdy and weighty Revolve Plus
Name: Bose SoundLink Revolve Series II Maker: Bose Corporation Price: Rs 24,900 (Amazon) Pruthvi Das Published 04.03.24, 06:22 AM Shortly after my lovely neighbour’s marriage, I discovered that one of the gifts they’d received was a Bose SoundLink Revolve+ Series II. A stellar brand for audio experiences, Bose products often come at a heavy price tag. I was curious to see how it worked, and got the chance to try it out paired with their television.
The world is yours to conquer
Name: RISK: Global Domination by SMG Studio Genre: Strategy, classic Platforms: iOS, Android Pruthvi Das Published 12.02.24, 04:41 AM To spend more time playing board games away from home, I installed a couple of their digital versions. One such game is RISK: Global Domination, which is a digital rehash of the age-old classic RISK. If you’ve never played RISK before, it’s a game of territory control. The board space is the global map sectioned into territories and continents.
A clean sheet, again and again
Name: reMarkable 2Maker: reMarkablePrice: Rs 43,999 (Amazon) Pruthvi Das Published 22.01.24, 09:51 AM As a child, I often kept myself occupied with doodles and writing, something my grandmother took notice of. So every year, when paying her a visit, I’d receive unused notebooks and empty diaries as gifts. However, there’s a problem with paper pads — they run out too quickly.
That classic family game: All about tile-based board game Rummikub
Name: Rummikub by KinkajooGenres: Board gamePlatforms: Android, iOS Pruthvi Das Published 15.01.24, 09:35 AM I had my first shot with Rummikub at a board game session a few months ago, soon finding myself craving for more. Thankfully, I stumbled upon an online version, standing ready to serve my urge to play a few rounds anytime I want.
Words are all, hold your breath
Aword game that’s actually fun? Colour me surprised! Before Wordle came into the picture, the only other word games that truly stood out to me were Scrabble and Bookworm Adventures. Gubbins thankfully breaks the streak. Gubbins is an interesting, easy-to-play concept. In the game, you have a bunch of lettered tiles — some single-lettered, some letters coupled — that you can place on the board to form words.
An eventful trip to Canada: New game unleashes, all about Gunman Taco Truck - Telegraph India
Name: Gunman Taco Truck by Romero Games Lt Genre: Action, advenure, cooking Platforms: Android, iOS Pruthvi Das Published 11.12.23, 05:34 AM Coming straight from the legendary Romero family, Gunman Taco Truck is a “resource management, fast food sim, placed upon the bones of a clicker action” game. You convert your truck into a taco business, and set off to explore the US before you reach your final stop at Winnipeg, Canada, a place with no taco businesses.
Games addict: Easy to play, tough to master
Ever since Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, the skateboarding genre has developed a huge following with the release of games like Session, Skater XL, The Ramp, and other creative indie entries. And although a smartphone game, Touchgrind Skate 2 is quite possibly the most conceptually perfect skateboarding game. Rather than slapping a virtual joystick and a couple of on-screen buttons, your fingers double as a skateboarder’s “legs”, being the controls themselves.
A sound gaming experience
For gamers, finding the right headset is quite the timesink. However, it’s my belief that finding the best headset for the job rather than the best headset itself is the most productive approach. As such, for the price, the best all-purpose or gaming headset for first-timers would be HyperX’s Cloud Stinger. From a comfort standpoint, the headset is like a cushion on your head. The 90-degree rotatable ear cups snugly fit on the sides, compensating for almost any angle humanly possible.
Mobile madness with Lara Croft
Name: Tomb Raider: Reloaded by CDE Entertainment, Emerald City GamesGenre: Action, adventurePlatforms: iOS, Android Pruthvi Das Published 13.11.23, 06:58 AM Tomb Raider has been around since the time, well, I’ve been around. So it’s interesting to see how far the franchise has come. The latest iteration of Lara Croft doesn’t really involve spelunking and stopping mummy-like rituals as such, but it does jump on the Archero-like trend among casual games.
It’s a monster of a mic: Role of a good microphone and difference in each one of them - Telegraph India
A gamer and a voiceover enthusiast knows a good microphone can make all the difference Pruthvi Das Published 06.11.23, 05:13 AM NAME: Blue Yeti Condenser Microphone MAKER: Blue Microphones PRICE: Rs 10,994 (Amazon) A gamer and a voiceover enthusiast knows a good microphone can make all the difference. Lucky for me, I’m both! And once my headset began sputtering white noises, I knew it was the perfect time to invest in a condenser mic.
Games and Gadgets: Moving boxes, profound fun
Name: Sokoban Touch by Thinking Rabbit Genre: Puzzle Platforms: Android, iOS Pruthvi Das Published 30.10.23, 05:58 AM Sometimes my jaws drop when I mention Sokoban and I’m met with blank faces from game developers. I never played it when I first discovered it years ago, but I got the chance to play it after exploring puzzle games lately. Sokoban underlines itself as one of the most definitive puzzle games you could play today — bar none.
Words are all you have
Name: Baikoh by Mum Not ProudGenre: Puzzle, word gamePlatforms: Android, iOS Pruthvi Das Published 09.10.23, 05:07 AM I bet you can’t beat Baikoh, fellow human. I tried and here’s my experience. In this game, players assemble words within waves of letters to score points. If the letters pile up enough, the game ends and you walk away with the points you scored. The goal is to break your high score, amongst other bonuses including breaking the “Best Word” record.
Games and Gadgets: A power deck, a quick deal
Game: Marvel SNAP by Nuverse Genre: Card game Platforms: Android, iOS With Marvel SNAP now celebrating its 10-month launch, I thought of commemorating its success with a positive review. In my experience, this particular game has made playing collectible card games more intriguing. This isn’t a surprise, given the game designer is none other than Ben Brode, the director of Hearthstone, himself.
Deceptively challenging
I am fuming right now. At the time of writing this review, my mother beat the fourth level of Snakebird. This is a game I’ve had on my phone for a few years. Admittedly, I played it once in a blue moon, but I never seemed to “get” the solution for that level. However, my mother... Someone who’d never pay attention to such games, let alone play them. Someone who couldn’t fathom how or why some people play games more complex than the average Scrabble.
Throne of games: Pruthvi Das on game designing as a career option and the hallmark of a good designer - Telegraph India
Home Edugraph Career Throne of games: Pruthvi Das on game designing as a career option and the hallmark of Video Game Designing Summary Game design is the discipline of creating fun and surprising interactive experiences for players Games, as complex cultural products, demand a designer’s humility and self-awareness to resist biases or attachments to specific genres.
Battle of the DC universe in the new DC Heroes & Villains: Match-3 by Ludia, Inc
Game incorporates action and RPG-based gameplay elements into the puzzle core Pruthvi Das Published 28.08.23, 10:35 AM Name: DC Heroes & Villains: Match-3 by Ludia, Inc Genre: Action, match-3 Platforms: Android, iOS DC Heroes & Villains: Match-3 does bring some interesting tidbits to the table, even if somewhat exclusive to its own gameplay style. Being a dense game, I’ll only cover the gameplay and first impressions. At first glance, DC Heroes & Villains is like most match-3 games.
Games & Gadgets: Royal Match by Dream Games Ltd
You’re playing a mobile phone game and all of a sudden an ad pops up on the screen showing some idiot king in peril. What’s more, the player makes terrible mistakes in his or her attempt to save the king even though the solution is painfully obvious! Does this scene sound familiar? Well, I decided to give one of those “Fail Ads”-type games a go, and it honestly took me aback. If your Candy Crush binge is growing bland, Royal Match may change things up a bit for you.
An addictive logic game
As shameful as it is for me to admit, I discovered Nonogram only recently, after bingeing pen-and-paper games for a bit. And it’s quite lovely! Nonogram.com is the same game digitised for the modern world. Contrary to what its name suggests, the website will redirect you to the smartphone apps themselves. Nonogram is a mix between Sudoku and Mined-Out or Minesweeper. Like Sudoku, you’re presented with grids, and numbers on the outside.
The real deal, it’s official
I’m generally not into sports games, but after a day of playing it, Tennis Clash gave a heck of a solid first impression. It took me back to the times when I poured hours and hours into Everybody’s Tennis on PlayStation 2. I see the same appeal here. When starting off, the controls may initially feel weird, but they quickly grow to become intuitive: you swipe to smack the ball in a certain direction.
The blast of chloroplast
Between OG games like Bejeweled and Peggle, you’d think PopCap Games couldn’t top what they released, further dominating the casual gaming market in the 2000s. And then they barge back in 2009 to slap yet another gigantic hit on the table: Plants vs Zombies. The classic pea-spitting tower defence game swept the accolades, becoming the fastest-selling video game they ever published.
Jump to platform, catch the stars
NAME: Light It Up by CrazyLabs LTD GENRE: Hypercasual, platforming PLATFORMS: Android, iOS In my opinion, hypercasuals challenged the norm of what games could be for the global audience while still bringing something fresh to the table. With Light It Up, I got to experience an interesting take on the platforming genre and what it’d be like if it were compressed to two-minute sessions.
Jello fellows in the Wild West
Name: Gumslinger by Itatake Genre: Shooter, PvP Platforms: Android, iOS Playing Gumslinger put the developers in the spotlight for me. Some of their games are quite unique, but this one stood out in particular. The gameplay in this physics-based Wild West-themed shooter is super simple. You drag around the right side of the screen to aim your gun, and the left side to shoot. Whichever player depletes their opponent’s health first wins. Interestingly, the guns have no ammo count.
OneBit Adventure is a turn-based roguelite RPG where you go on an endless journey of discovery, fantasy and sheer peril
GAME: OneBit Adventure by Galactic Slice, LLC GENRE: Adventure PLATFORMS: Android, iOS The extent to which OneBit Adventure compresses the core design of an entire RPG into a pocket-sized experience is quite fascinating to me. And like the many GameBoy Advance games this quirky cute game is clearly influenced by, it hit the right notes on keeping me entertained. OneBit Adventure is a turn-based roguelite RPG where you go on an endless journey of discovery, fantasy and sheer peril.
Put on your thinking masks
GAME: The Superhero League by Lion Studios GENRE: Puzzle PLATFORMS: iOS, Android Entertainment media these days is stuffed with superhero content. Yet on the mobile gaming side, there aren’t many memorable “superhero games” as such. So I was in for a nice surprise when I bumped into The Superhero League, a mobile game by 1Button. The game is relatively easy, occasionally tickling the brain with its interesting puzzles.
Mighty DOOM by Bethesda Softworks LLC on iOS, Android - Telegraph India
To start, many compare Mighty Doom to Archero, game by Habby, for gameplay concept they share | Published 24.04.23, 05:16 AM Man, Doom really came far since its debut in 1993. I never grew up with the Doom series. Myintroduction to the legendary John Romero started with Dangerous Dave, not Doom. But I know fans of the hellish tricenarian series would weep looking at this game, like it were the bullet-riddled body of Sonny Corleone itself.
Aim, shoot and feel the physics
Platforms: iOS, Android Back when I was first exploring the Internet, I used to spend a lot of time on Flash game sites. That’s where I discovered NotDoppler’s Gibbets, a fun game with a dark twist — you shoot arrows to free people hanging on ropes. I think the concept grew from there, with many other studios innovating on it. Bowmasters by Playgendary Ltd took that concept and gave it a Worms-like treatment. In this artillery game, the player and the opponent are set on opposite sides of the map.
Games & Gadgets - Made by Mediocre, PinOut takes the core concept of what makes pinball fun and gives it an 'endless runner' twist - Telegraph India
PLATFORMS: Android, iOS With a bold claim and a brave shot, pro pinball player Roger Sharpe made a demonstration to the Manhattan City Council that changed pinball forever. The game soon became a favourite American pastime, spawning generations of variant games from Microsoft’s universally adored Space Cadet to the ingeniously designed mobile game PinOut. Made by Mediocre, PinOut takes the core concept of what makes pinball fun and gives it an “endless runner” twist.
Games & Gadgets - All about kamibox’s hypercasual, puzzle Okay/ - Telegraph India
PLATFORMS: iOS, Android To summarise puzzle games in the mobile market, most of them rehash various game mechanics that make you pop bubbles, crush candies, break bricks, cut ropes, shoot birds, match patterns, search items, reveal items, merge items, use items on the right target, merge numbers, shoot numbers onto other numbers to create BIGGER numbers… you’ve probably seen it all. None comes close to the originality and simplicity of kamibox’s oddly-titled puzzle game Okay?
Hi-Fi clicker, but no sore thumb
PLATFORMS: Android, iOS Here’s a fun fact: clicker games happened by accident. Back in 2010, game designer Ian Bogost developed Cow Clicker to satirise how Zynga’s games exploit the player’s perception of fun through monetisation. Ironically, that game became a success and influenced many clicker games into existence. Though Kung Fu Clicker’s core concept is not too different, its flair makes it stand out. The presentation is top-notch.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Pruthvi
Contact Pruthvi, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack