Hollowbody's puzzles are generally simple, many enemies can be avoided entirely, and experienced horror fans may find the challenge level fairly forgiving even on the higher difficulty. Some story developments may also prove divisive depending on what you're hoping to get from the narrative. However, its strengths ultimately outweigh its weaknesses, with its focused design, atmospheric world, engaging mystery, and clear appreciation for classic survival horror coming together to create a game that remains enjoyable from beginning to end. It feels like a genuine love letter to the genre while still feeling distinct thanks to its tech-noir setting and British dystopian backdrop. For horror fans, especially those who miss the style and structure of early 2000s survival horror, Hollowbody is an easy recommendation and a memorable indie effort that makes the most of its compact runtime.
While the PS5 version does launch with a handful of technical issues and a somewhat underwhelming Photo Mode, the core experience remains every bit as compelling as it was years ago. The higher resolution, smoother performance, DualSense support, and overall presentation improvements make this the best way to experience War's story today. If you are a longtime fan looking for an excuse to revisit one of the series' greatest adventures, this is an easy recommendation. If you have never played Darksiders before, there may not be a better time to see why so many people still consider it the best entry in the franchise. With Darksiders 4 approaching, this feels like the perfect opportunity to return to where it all began.
Luna Abyss isn't the nonstop adrenaline rush that its bullet hell label might lead some people to expect. Instead, it's a carefully paced blend of exploration, platforming, storytelling, and combat wrapped inside one of the most atmospheric worlds I've explored in recent memory. A normal playthrough will likely take around ten hours, with completionists spending considerably longer uncovering every secret and collectible hidden throughout the Abyss. There are a few areas where I would have liked to see the game push itself further, particularly with some of its late game platforming ideas and certain story developments, but these are relatively minor complaints in an otherwise excellent package. If the premise interests you even a little, it's absolutely worth descending into the Abyss to see what secrets are waiting below.
Yoshi and the Mysterious Book feels like a bold reinterpretation of what a Yoshi game can be. It is less about reaching an end goal and more about slowly uncovering how a living world operates through curiosity and experimentation. It works best when you lean into that mindset and allow yourself to explore without expectation. While it may not satisfy those looking for a traditional platforming challenge, it succeeds as a thoughtful and creative experience that turns discovery itself into the main reward. It is an easy recommendation if you enjoy relaxed exploration and games that encourage you to experiment with everything just to see what happens next.
There is a lot to like here, especially in terms of atmosphere, presentation, and the core loop of exploration mixed with combat and light survival mechanics. The body cam perspective alone gives it a distinct feel that helps it stand out in a crowded horror space. The upgrade system adds some welcome depth, and the enemy design and environmental variety keep things engaging throughout. At the same time, the game struggles with consistency in its mechanics, underuses some of its ideas, and ultimately falls apart in its conclusion. The ending feels abrupt to the point where it undercuts the journey that led there, and that leaves a lasting negative impression on an otherwise solid experience. Even with its flaws, there is enough here to make it worth playing if you are into horror games, especially ones that focus on atmosphere and tension. It is not fully realized, but it is still a memorable and effective horror experience in several important moments.
The End of the Sun manages to leave its mark in a pretty interesting way. Its focus on exploration, atmosphere, and the slow unraveling of a story built around mythology and human connection feels special. There are some rough edges, especially with onboarding, character presentation, and pacing in certain stretches, but the main idea is strong and executed with clear passion. If you enjoy slower, narrative-driven games where the satisfaction comes from piecing things together and exploring a world that feels different from the usual settings, this is an easy recommendation. Even if Slavic mythology isn't something you're familiar with, the way it's presented here makes it approachable and worth experiencing.
MOTORSLICE is a game that thrives on its feel. Moving through its world, chaining together actions, and carving through enemies with your chainsaw is consistently satisfying. The mystery of its story, the creativity of its mechanics, and its strong visual style all come together in a way that feels genuine. While some of its oddities can get in the way and cause frustrating or unfair restarts, there's a clear sense that it was made with a love for games and experimentation. MOTORSLICE ultimately leaves a lasting impression thanks to its exploration, movement-focused gameplay, and a world that leaves room for interpretation, with mechanics that feel deeply connected to its massive structure.
Scar-Lead Salvation has ideas that sound promising, especially the roguelike structure, weapon variety, and anime sci-fi presentation, but the execution never fully supports them. The combat is playable but shallow, the environments are repetitive, and the progression systems do not create the kind of momentum a roguelike needs to stay engaging. There is still something mildly enjoyable about running through it in a low effort, background kind of way, especially if you are not expecting depth, but it struggles to justify its design or its price point. It is not completely without merit, but it feels more like a foundation for a better game than a fully realized one. With more variety, stronger level design, and tighter progression, there is a version of this concept that could work much better. As it stands, Scar-Lead Salvation is a game that is easy to understand, easy to play, and just as easy to put down.
Adorable Adventures ends up being more engaging than it might initially seem. It's not a long game, and you can see most of what it offers in a few hours, but there's enough optional content to stretch that time if you want to fully explore every corner. What stands out most is how cohesive it feels. The mechanics, the world, and the tone all support the same idea of slowing down and experiencing nature through a different perspective. If you enjoy relaxed exploration and games that focus more on atmosphere than difficulty, this is an easy recommendation. Helping Boris reunite his family feels rewarding because every objective along the way is genuinely fun to take part in.
The Shadow Update builds on what already works and expands it in ways that feel thoughtful and consistent. The new characters introduce fresh playstyles, the ball types open up a huge range of combinations, and the added passives and building give you more control over how everything comes together. It's the kind of update that makes you wonder how the game felt before it existed. With one more free update on the way later this year, it's clear the game isn't slowing down, and if this pace continues, it's only going to get harder to put down.
It's easy to lose track of time here, moving from one fight to the next, exploring every corner, and having fun with the constant sense of momentum. Between its satisfying combat, strong sense of scale, and commitment to its old school roots, this is one of the more memorable VR shooters to come out recently. If you enjoy fast paced action and don't mind a bit of a learning curve, this is the kind of game that can keep you hooked for hours without even realizing it.
ChainStaff is the kind of game that sticks with you because of how confidently it commits to its ideas. It takes a single mechanic and builds an entire experience around it without losing momentum or focus. The combination of strange storytelling, flexible gameplay, and striking visuals makes it feel distinct in a crowded genre. Even with some rough edges, there's a lot here to enjoy, especially if you like mastering systems and finding your own rhythm within them. It's also easy to see the appeal for speedrunning with how fluid movement can become. If it catches your interest even a little, it's worth stepping into, because there's not much else that plays quite like it.
The Day I Became a Bird is short, simple, and centered on a very specific feeling. If you're looking for something relaxed and inviting, it delivers on that without hesitation. The story is sweet, the presentation is thoughtful, and the overall experience feels genuine. It may not offer much reason to come back beyond collecting everything, but what's here leaves a soft impression. It's the kind of game that might remind you of what it felt like to be young, to care deeply about something small, and to believe that even the simplest idea could take flight.
Ereban: Shadow Legacy is a stealth game that understands the value of focus. Instead of trying to do everything, it builds its identity around shadows, movement, and clever level design. The result feels a bit like stepping back into the era of compact PS2 games where levels were designed with care and the experience trusted you to figure things out without constant handholding. What makes it even more impressive is that it comes from a small team making their first game. You can feel the passion behind it in the mechanics, the art style, and the thoughtful level design. The ranking system, different playstyles, and challenge medals also give the game plenty of replay value for anyone who enjoys mastering stealth systems.
Incantation is a compelling psychological horror experience that delivers tension, atmosphere, and storytelling with subtlety and care.
Ariana and the Elder Codex lands as a solid, enjoyable adventure. It has its rough edges, especially with pacing and repetition, but the core experience is fun. The combat system carries a lot of weight, and the mix of spell customization, engaging bosses, and a charming visual style makes it easy to stick with. It's the kind of game you pick up out of curiosity and end up having a genuinely good time with. If you enjoy 2D action platformers with a bit of style and a magic-focused twist, this is an easy recommendation, especially if you're open to something that feels like a smaller, more overlooked gem.
Slopecrashers embraces its arcade snowboarding identity with enthusiasm and charm. It's a game that understands its influences and target audience, delivering a colorful, silly, and engaging experience that thrives on multiplayer mayhem. While it doesn't reach the refined heights of the great arcade racers or snowboarding titles it takes cues from, it confidently delivers something unique in a space that doesn't see much attention anymore. At $17.99, it's a worthwhile pickup for players nostalgic for SSX, Snowboard Kids, or party-style racing games and one that delivers more than its surface-level whimsy might initially suggest. For all its quirks, Slopecrashers is a reminder that games can still be about pure, uncomplicated fun.
Hungry Meem is a unique, sometimes exhausting strategy simulation that blends chaos and charm in equal measure. It's the kind of game where watching your village slowly thrive feels satisfying, but getting there is a bumpy, often repetitive road. Between the Meems' antics, the overlapping progression systems, and the sheer weirdness of it all, there's a peculiar joy in trying to make everything work. It's not for everyone, but it might be exactly what you're looking for if you're craving something experimental, unpolished, and full of strange heart.
Ultimately, Day of the Shell is a compelling idea that doesn't fully realize its potential. It nails its core concept of accessibility and snappy tactics, but falters in the systems meant to support long-term engagement. For players seeking a bite-sized, brainy strategy game to play in short sessions, there's a lot to like here, but those hoping for deep progression, rich variety, or meaningful replayability may find themselves burning out quickly. It's not a bad game by any means; it's just one that feels like the first draft of something greater. With more content, balance tweaks, and expansion of its mechanics, it could become something special. As it stands, Day of the Shell is a promising and modest experience that is unique, but not unforgettable.
Death Relives is a strong idea wrapped in a conflicted execution. The mythological angle is compelling, the gameplay systems offer a clever survival loop, and the atmosphere occasionally hits unnerving highs, but the AI implementation, mechanical jank, and uneven design choices keep the game from reaching its full potential. As someone who values artistic integrity and thoughtful design, it's disheartening to see such a unique concept compromised by shortcuts that dilute rather than enhance the experience. Still, there's enough intrigue here for horror fans to chew on, especially those curious about games that experiment with form and format. Just know going in that you're not getting an Aztec horror masterpiece, but something messier, stranger, and far more divisive.