Digital Chumps
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This is all to say that Phantom Abyss falls somewhat short on achieving the goal of offering a challenging parkour adventure in a roguelite package. The whip and phantom gameplay involving other players’ trial and error are unique, but its clunkiness, difficulty, and disparate progression are worth a pause. I’m confident that additional polish and content are coming down the pipeline, but I need more from the current state of the game.
The Last of Us Part II Remastered is a candidate worthy of your attention. Looking past its story (again, its story is incredible) and emotional power, there is enough additional content to warrant a full replay for existing owners. If you’re a new owner, this is no doubt the edition you should be securing to fully immerse yourself in Naughty Dog’s desolate future.
Bahnsen Knights is an interesting visual novel that leans heavily on pulp fiction storytelling while giving players the illusion of choice. While the game is quite short, it’s a good recommendation for a player wanting a gripping narrative set within a late 80s aesthetic.
All things considered, Not for Broadcast VR is absolutely a title that any new VR owner should play. It involves just enough virtual reality input that gives players a taste of what to expect when playing a virtual reality game. At the same time, it excellently weaves a story involving propaganda and revolutions all the while critiquing the role of the news media in the most subversive sense.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is an exceptional entry in the Metroidvania genre. What started out as an inventive spin on the time-bending franchise became a masterclass in 2D combat and traversal. Players wanting a dense, rich map riddled with secrets will find a happy home. Those wishing for surprisingly deep battles and razor-sharp navigation puzzles won’t be let down. With each new moment, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown becomes timeless.
To say that Trinity Fusion is missing the mark would be overlooking its other successes as a roguelite. It boasts fluid combat and platforming that keep its gameplay fresh. The weapon/spell management tied with the Amplification system creates a persistent set of variance that avoids becoming stale. My main two critiques of the game are that of its hazy progression system and its lack of a concrete pull that keeps players engaged for longer periods of time. I know that Angry Mob Games has additional content on the way, but waiting a smidgen longer may let Trinity Fusion hit its stride as a roguelite.
Outer Wilds: Archaeologist Edition is the best chance Nintendo Switch players have at experiencing a truly innovative game, albeit one that isn’t best presented on Nintendo’s little console that could. There’s quite a lot stacked against Outer Wilds thanks to how quickly it lets players do what they want and the clunkiness of the early game. Acquired tastes aside, it’s worth a try and even worth to complete. That said, if you want the best experience, you’re probably better off choosing the PC/XB/PS versions.
Have a Nice Death should satisfy any player looking for a roguelike that excels at being more than merely competent. Bolstered by an incredible art style, accessible combat with a taste for encouraging lengthier and harder playthroughs sets Have a Nice Death firmly amongst the heaviest of competition.
Cookie Cutter is hyper-violent translation of old-school Metroidvanias that gracefully does not allow itself to get bogged down with convoluted modern flourishes. Exploration tools drop the player into a satisfying progression loop that doesn’t rely on random elements and combat is not overtly punishing. But it’s Cookie Cutter‘s unique visual palette and uncompromising absurdity that truly leave a bloody impression before ever allowing itself to grow stale.
Call it refined nostalgia. Call it a love letter to Metroid Fusion and other Game Boy Advance metroidvanias. Call it what you want. 9 Years of Shadows is a good, short, yet approachable metroidvania. While it doesn’t quite hit the depth of combat complexity and story beats of its GBA predecessors, it overdelivers via gorgeous pixel art and an orchestrated soundtrack. Its Nintendo Switch port is not the best in its current state, but it’s worth playing if you’re wanting a metroidvania to play on a lazy Sunday.
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince from developer Armor Project brings an enjoyable monster collecting and fighting gameplay blueprint to the Dragon Quest world, but falls short in its shallow narrative and humdrum visuals.
Spirittea is the farming sim with Miyazaki vibes I've wanted for a hot minute. It doesn't onboard the player in the most intuitive fashion, so it's a smidge hard to pick up to get into the groove. But, once you've managed to parse through the disparate tea leaves that make up its multiple activities and mechanics, it's worth a try. I'm looking forward to seeing how Spirittea evolves in the future while I enjoy its coziness this holiday season.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III will likely be one of the most troubled releases in the series' history. A Campaign and Zombies mode rife with Warzone influence make it difficult for the better parts to shine. Thankfully the multiplayer feels the best it has in years.
The Last Faith is a grueling metroidvania, leaning into pinnacle souls-like gameplay elements that reward exploration, precision, and patience. Its combat may be simple and fun, but the challenge of mastering its traversal may be too much to handle. Its gorgeous visuals might not be distinct enough to separate itself from the pack of its predecessors, but it's a great start for those wanting to test the waters of the souls genre.
The Invincible is an apt, narrative-focused piece of science fiction. Avoid entrenched gameplay expectations as this "walking sim" aims to extend a curious, eerie hand, offering players a tense journey of alien discovery meant to be slowly absorbed.
Astral Ascent is the roguelite I've been wishing to play for a hot minute. Its combat is highly variable, incredibly replayable, and quite gorgeous. It's a fantastic example of a roguelite that is easy to pick up, fun to return to, and rewarding despite losing early and often.
Jusant from developer Don’t Nod is a wonderful example of balancing well-crafted gameplay mechanics to perfectly matched puzzles to use them on.
Little Goody Two Shoes from developer AstralShift is a hodgepodge of well-put-together intentions that all work out beautifully. You get this innocent backdrop and this thick horror-filled narrative that drives it all. While it might seem like a simple RPG that typically is found in Square Enix’s past published works, the underbelly is more expansive than that and the multiple endings make you want to revisit the warped experience.
Blasphemous 2 felt incredibly good to play despite its challenging nature and complex combat. It's a great Soulslike 2D action-platformer that doesn't rely on nonsense gimmicks that make the game artificially difficult for the sake of being punishing. Its exploration, art direction, and worldbuilding are unmatched in a sea of modern Metroidvanias released in 2023. If you're down for a good challenge or path of penitence in a Roman Catholic-inspired 2D platformer, look no further. Like it or not, you will pay for your gameplay sins.
Killing spiders is incredibly easy – Kill It With Fire VR makes it fun. Scratch that – it makes it dumb fun. Despite the jump scares and spiders, I kept myself fully entertained because of the sheer number of ridiculous things I could use to kill spiders. If a book from the shelf wasn't enough, maybe a shotgun would do the trick. No dice? Shurikens. No? Fine. Flamethrower. That'll work. Some of its controls lack explanation and its features could be better explained. Once you figure it out, Kill It With Fire VR lends itself for a fun afternoon VR experience or party game if you want to mess around with some friends.