Pacific Drive will end up as a highlight of 2024 for anyone seeking a fresh experience. Unfortunately, some quirks and genre trappings make it a little less wondrous than the Zone itself.
This eccentric reexamination of games many consider to be the worst of all time is a resounding success. Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore proves that you can find inspiration in all that brings you joy.
Bandle Tale is the final game under the Riot Forge banner, but thanks to its lovely soundtrack and a unique focus on resource management coziness, the project goes out with a bang
Incredibly stylish, beautifully violent, wonderfully voice-acted, surprisingly emotional and incredibly enjoyable: Slave Zero X is an absolute indie powerhouse.
The Cub is a step sideways for Demagog Studio, with middling platforming stages, forgettable collectibles and underwhelming set pieces lifted up only by the signature Radio Nostalgia.
War Hospital is ineffective when it comes to its story's relationship with death, while also failing to impress with its uneventful, buggy management sim gameplay.
Atlas Wept is poignant in some ways, but hollow in others. Hard to recommend, but not misguided. Mechanically sound, but emotionally confused. Hopefully not the last project from the developer.
A collection of obscure Jurassic Park games that adds a unique bug and is lacking options may not sound very appealing, but it does allow for personal re-examination through an overall successful preservation.
Few games this year deserve a spotlight as much as In Stars and Time does. It is undoubtedly going to end up as many people's favorite thanks to its dedication and commitment to a unique vision.
Orten Was The Case is a clever time loop story that delivers with the right expectations, but suffers by its commitment to wonky movement and a lack of commitment to an emotional narrative
While Loddlenaut failed to make me care about its cute fish in the long run, it ultimately delivered a poignant, memorable message, while also delivering on its promise of cozy underwater cleaning gameplay.
This remake of an Atari classic comes with all the trappings of a modern indie roguelite, padding a short and uneven experience.
No aspect of Boti: Byteland Overclocked impressed me in any way, and many left me wanting to quit. It is a tough sell for any platforming enthusiast.
Tiny Witch's combination of cozy and chaotic does not pay off all too well, as it embraces neither. It plods along to the finish line, leaving no strong impressions.
SPRAWL's menacing aesthetic, exciting gunplay and an unbelievably good soundtrack make for a yet another fantastic FPS campaign that leaves me wanting more in the future.
Dragged down a bit by its unnecessary roguelite elements, Astronaut: The Best is an exciting and eccentric adventure into the unknown, and also space I guess.
Among its kind, Smushi Come Home stands out with incredibly fun changes to key mechanics and a tight, but satisfyingly large world to explore.
With a short campaign, lack of online play at the time of release and undercooked fighting mechanics, Sclash puts its worst foot forward to deliver an underwhelming experience.
Invector: Rhythm Galaxy has trouble figuring out its licensed soundtrack, and the combination of returning and brand new issues leaves the series in a difficult position moving forward.
Though its ceiling is apparently early on, Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara is an enjoyable speedrun game, just make sure to change up the default controls!