While some difficulty spikes make it frustrating, Sundered is a capable action metroidvania that deserves a look simply based on its incredible world. Lots of indie games try and create a bleak, desolate world that you need to sift through the ruins of, but Sundered creates surreal and often disturbing sights with real talent, and it’s a world you won’t soon forget
RUINER is a game for fans of brutal action and mayhem, and it’ll appeal to your inner psycho quite nicely. It’s not really as memorable in terms of storyline, but its thumping soundtrack and vibrant visuals make it a modern classic
Outcast: Second Contact, is a great throwback to a classic title that didn’t get nearly enough attention when it was first released. Unlike other remakes, the game has aged fairly well, and it’s clear that the game’s design was ahead of its time. It’s still got some rough edges, but it’s a great underrated classic, and it’s worth a spin
Pode is a heartwarming experience about friendship and working together, and it’s best enjoyed with a friend. It can be a little tricky at times, but overall it’s fairly smooth and enjoyable.
Gray Dawn takes on the familiar territory of religion and the supernatural, but it does so with a surprising amount of maturity and dedication. The story will have you scratching your head, but its multiple endings each offer some emotional payoff.
Timespinner wears its influences on its sleeve, but it wears them proudly and manages to pay tribute to the 2D RPG Castlevania games and other great metroidvanias. It crafts a unique and often engrossing new world, and by the end, I felt like I had really relived the classics, and not in a bad way.
This version of Resident Evil 2 does what every remake should do; it retains what made the original great while rethinking the aspects that didn’t age as well. The remake gives players a chance to explore an absolute classic that definitely hasn’t aged all that well, and it’s a great nostalgia trip for fans of the series.
Metro: Exodus is a great final chapter for one of gaming’s most underrated series. It definitely feels like it waters down some of the series’ more unique aspects in an attempt to bring the series to a wider audience, but it still has enough of that signature Metro charm to be a challenging yet fun romp through the wasteland.
Katamari Damacy Reroll is a great chance to explore one of gaming’s most revered cult hits. The gameplay might not be all that creative after a while, but it’s still a whacky, whimsical game of colors and shapes and rolling around that definitely merits a playthrough.
With its color-based goo mechanics, Splasher’s platforming turns into a manic mix of climbing, bouncing and dodging. The talent behind this title is evident, and it’s sure to entertain fans of platforming with its fun yet challenging levels.
Desync can be frustrating at times, but it’s a well-designed shooter that forces you to focus and choose your moves carefully as you battle hordes of neon monsters. Its thumping, bass-heavy soundtrack and neon world make for a very immersive shooter experience, and it’s an easy recommendation for fans of shooters.
Housemarque has delivered another superb shooter with Nex Machina. It’ll have you dashing about, trying to save the humans and mowing down hordes of mechanical monsters. It’s a must for any fan of the genre, and its variety of modes will accommodate casual as well as hardcore fans
The Evil Within 2 is a love letter to classic Japanese horror games, with a dose of new blood. It’s almost like a cover album of horror hits, and that cuts both ways – at times it can feel dated and derivative. However, for the most part Evil Within 2 manages to improve all the flaws from the first game and deliver a solid modern action horror title.
You can’t go wrong with giant robots, and Gundam Versus shows us just how fun the buggers can be. It’s a solid arena fighter that can quickly turn chaotic, and it’s great fun for fans of Japanese-style arena action titles. Some parts are repetitive, and there’s a fair bit of grinding, but it’s a pretty underrated fighter.
Tesla vs Lovecraft is another classic from top-down shooter pros 10tons and it’s a must-have for any fan of the genre. Its absurd premise makes for some great lovecraftian horror action, and its balanced gameplay makes it one of the best indie shooters this year.
Darksiders III is a great hack-and-slash action title that feels a bit dated but still manages to offer a well-crafted experience. It’s not the best title in the series, but it gets serious points for its polish and its focus.
Vampyr is a fun action RPG that dives deep into horror lore to put you in the shoes of a brooding newly minted vampire who explores the dismal streets of Victorian London. You can build up an impressive array of abilities throughout, and by the end, you’re one tough undead fellow.
HITMAN 2 features big, open-ended levels that offer players a ton of freedom to choose how to eliminate unsuspecting victims. It manages to keep much of the soul of the series while updating the gameplay and offering a very polished experience.
Mazen enjoys anything with over-the-top violence, dark humor and a real challenge. He's still pretty big on single-player games and he's always looking for new titles he might've missed out on, so if you know about a crazy new title that's flying under the radar, look him up!
Team Sonic Racing loses some of the things that made previous Sonic Racing titles great, but it adds in co-op gameplay mechanics that really push players to work together to cross the finish line. It’s a great addition to the kart racing genre, and it’s totally fun with friends.