Harry Glynn Jones's Reviews
PaperKlay may have a few rough edges, but like any lovingly made craft project, those imperfections are part of its charm. Its vibrant world of cardboard, clay, and creativity is brought to life with expressive animation, satisfying platforming, and a clear affection for the genre it celebrates. While its combat may be simplistic, enemy variety is limited, and its levels sometimes feel more like standalone stages than pieces of a larger world, these are small creases in what is otherwise a carefully crafted experience.
I firmly believe Expedition 33 is the new gold standard for the JRPG. Across every facet, from its mechanical design and narrative confidence to its striking art direction and masterful score, Sandfall Interactive has crafted something truly special. This isn’t just a promising debut; it’s a genre-defining work that I believe will shape game design for years to come. It is, without reservation, a masterpiece — and one of my favourite video games of all time.
The Midnight Walk is a rare kind of experience—one that feels deeply personal, both in how it’s made and how it plays. Its imperfections are part of its texture: a few underdeveloped mechanics, some narrative murkiness, and an ending that may leave players with more questions than answers. But those are small shadows in a game defined by light.
Blue Prince is a puzzle game for all time, and it deserves a place among the greats of the genre. Its design is masterful, its vision clear, and every moment spent within Mt. Holly Estate feels purposeful, crafted with care and a quiet confidence. I can easily see it becoming a touchstone for puzzle design in the years ahead.
Commandos: Origins doesn’t blaze a new trail for the genre, but it’s an expertly executed operation, one that brings a legendary series back into the fight with confidence and style. It captures the spirit of the originals while shedding some of their more dated baggage, resulting in a game that feels both familiar and fresh.
With its smart sci-fi aesthetic, charming sound design and music, excellent puzzle design, and intuitive controls, The Electrifying Incident is a short, satisfying puzzle game. It may not blow your mind, but it just might shock you!
Wanderstop is a game about understanding that who you were does not have to define who you are now. It’s about rest—not as a reward, but as something necessary, something inevitable. It is a beautiful, heartfelt story of one person’s struggles to rediscover who they are, but handled in a caring and sincere way.
What ultimately kept me engaged in Slime Heroes wasn’t the story, but the way its mechanics all worked together to create such a compelling gameplay loop. The combat/magic system, dungeons, and world design are seamlessly intertwined, constantly pushing you to experiment and improve. I was always excited to encounter a new enemy, knowing they would have a new ability for me to unlock and try out! Slime Heroes proves that Souls-likes don’t have to be grim to be great. With its charming aesthetic and deep mechanics, it offers a fresh take on the genre—one that’s as fun for longtime fans as it is for newcomers looking for a challenge wrapped in a friendlier package.
Overall, ReSetna is a solid metroidvania with smooth and satisfying traversal, challenging combat, and overclocked art direction. It’s just unfortunate that it is hampered by some lacking UI/UX, awkward pacing, a simple narrative clouded by obtuse world lore, and a couple frustrating boss fights/gameplay sequences. I think metroidvania fans that can overlook these flaws will have fun with ReSetna, and I see it a strong foundation for a sequel. While the game may not have the grace and efficiency of its protagonist, it still fulfills its directive.
Nikoderiko: The Magical World is the sum of its parts; some of which it has borrowed from established platformer IPs, and the rest created by the Vea Games. With the option for co-op also available, I could see Nikoderiko getting younger gamers into the genre. Overall, it makes for a polished, fun-filled, albeit familiar experience that I really enjoyed.
Venture to the Vile is a confident, alluring, and above all enjoyable metroidvania game. While its flaws may creep in like the Vile, they never truly consume the brilliance of this macabre yet enchanting tale, making Venture to the Vile a journey well worth taking.
Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island is a heartfelt narrative adventure that celebrates the power of friendship and community. Its vibrant art, relaxing gameplay, and nuanced writing combine to create an experience that feels both personal and universal. While the exploration could benefit from a touch more challenge, the game’s charm and thoughtful design make it an absolute joy to play. I just hope that when award season rolls around next year, people don’t forget Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island.
VED is a game split right down the middle in almost every way. Awkward, often confusing dialogue that interferes with the story’s clarity, as well as a lack of cohesion between the two game worlds makes up the weaker half. In contrast, VED has an inventive and challenging turn-based combat system, rich world design, and excellent art direction. Unfortunately, a game is the sum of it’s parts, no matter how they are sliced.
Overall, I had a great time playing through Kong: Survivor Instinct, with my first playthrough at just under 6 hours. While it may not be the most ground-breaking metroidvania with a few flaws, it is a fun, well designed experience that I think Monsterverse fans in particular will surely go ape over.
Drova – Forsaken Kin is a fully realised, living world where you shape who you are as well as the world around you, a story that you can write again and again based on your decisions. The few flaws and bugs the game has are far outweighed by the cohesive nature of the game’s world and it’s mechanics. If you are a fan of cRPGs and similar games you must pick up Drova – Forsaken Kin.
Selfloss is heart-wrenching and wonderful; a game that won’t spare its players the gory details, that tells a clear story in a world still veiled in mysticism. With its focus on rewarding exploration mixed with very satisfying puzzle-solving and light combat (pun intended), Selfloss is one of the best games I have played in 2024.