Taylor Bauer

Chicago

Games Industry Journalist at Phenixx Gaming

📍 Chicagoland / games industry and culture journalist @phenixxg / prev. @sbnation, @npr

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Articles

Gothic Roguelite Bloodbreaker: Labyrinth of the Witch Revealed

1 day ago | phenixxgaming.com | Taylor Bauer

One of the namesake games for the Metroidvania genre, Castlevania, is not only a great game to play but also oozes aesthetics and style. The art direction, the vampire lore, and the colors of those iconic games stay with you forever. A new, upcoming roguelite seeks to evoke the gameplay and vampiric energy from that iconic series in the gothic Metroidvania, Bloodbreaker: Labyrinth of the Witch.
Switch 2 Price Concerns Highlight a Changing Industry

1 week ago | phenixxgaming.com | Taylor Bauer

The Switch 2 debuted to a roller coaster of feedback, hot takes, and mixed emotions. The presentation was generally received well if you judge the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct in a vacuum. Once that press release dropped, indicating the price tag of the console and the increased price of software, the momentum train slowed. Sticker shock and questions about the value proposition presented by Nintendo for their next console generation leave many things uncertain.
Solo MMORPG Erenshor Launches on Steam

1 week ago | phenixxgaming.com | Taylor Bauer

Erenshor will immediately become familiar to fans of the MMORPG genre. Its art style and design are highly similar to World of Warcraft or Runescape in the 2000s. The significant difference here (besides the game releasing in 2025) is that the MMORPG elements are simulated. You are playing a single-player experience where the others around you, designed to look like other player characters, are programmed. For some, that might seem like it defeats the purpose of the MMO aspect of the genre.
CarGo! (Xbox Series X) Review

1 week ago | phenixxgaming.com | Taylor Bauer

The frantic, pedal-to-the-metal chaos of co-op games like Overcooked or Moving Out makes video games feel exciting and overwhelming in a good way. We all know that collaborating with friends to accomplish a task when the clock is ticking can bring out the best and worst in us all.
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition (Switch) Review

2 weeks ago | phenixxgaming.com | Taylor Bauer

I wrote a few intros for this review and kept deleting them. I don’t want to continue harping on the fantastic library of games the Wii U had. I don’t even want to talk about how despite its cult following, the Xenoblade Chronicles series is still somehow underrated. I want to simply offer a question. What game series couldn’t possibly be improved by allowing the player to get into a mech? Xenoblade Chronicles X is arguably the most eye-roll-worthy story of the franchise.
Cozy Puzzler Neko Bakery Out Now on Switch

2 weeks ago | phenixxgaming.com | Taylor Bauer

Some of the most played games in my Switch library aren’t massive, sprawling RPGs or first-party Nintendo gems. They’re games that have a cute or cozy premise, addicting gameplay, and plenty of charm. It looks like another addition to that section of my library is out now with the arrival of Neko Bakery on the Nintendo Switch. RedDeer.Games published this puzzler that takes place in a bakery run by a whiskered pastry chef.
What Accessories Will Work with the Switch 2?

2 weeks ago | phenixxgaming.com | Taylor Bauer

After yesterday’s Nintendo Direct, the Nintendo Switch 2 is the only thing on my mind. With new information coming out almost nonstop since the presentation, gamers are curious as to what games and accessories will work with the new console if they’re bringing purchases over from the Nintendo Switch. We have more information on what accessories will work with the Nintendo Switch 2, including some of the first-ever third-party accessories developed for the new console.
Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 Rundown

3 weeks ago | phenixxgaming.com | Taylor Bauer

The Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 event revealed that the company’s new console will launch on June 5th, 2025. We also learned a lot about hardware specs, games being released for the console, and a ton of other updates in over one hour of content. We have your rundown ready to go if you missed the presentation, so let’s talk about all things Nintendo Switch 2!The presentation begins with a reveal of Mario Kart World, the next entry in the iconic kart racing series.
Two Nintendo Treehouse Live Events Announced

3 weeks ago | phenixxgaming.com | Taylor Bauer

There is a ton of speculation surrounding what the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct will show off. We still don’t have much information about the follow-up console to one of the hottest-selling hardware platforms of all time. From a game lineup to the rumored mouse functionality of the new Joy-Cons, a lot remains to be answered.
Out of the Park Baseball 26 Review

3 weeks ago | phenixxgaming.com | Taylor Bauer

There are sports simulation games, and then there are games for the sickos who want to manage statistics more than step up to the plate. I’m in both camps and while many are flocking to MLB The Show this time of year, a whole audience of management sim fans and baseball fanatics are excited about Out of the Park Baseball. This year’s entry is getting some mixed feedback from diehard fans of the franchise, so let’s dive into my thoughts on Out of the Park Baseball 26.