Shadowplay: Metropolis Foe is interesting and challenging, but definitely not recommended for players new to deck building games. The amount of strategy needed to progress through even the early stages can be far greater than more basic deck builders such as Ascension and Star Realms. However, deck building veterans should already have the skills needed to properly build and maintain their deck as they play and can work with equipment that goes along with it. If you want a challenging deck-building game, Shadowplay: Metropolis Foe will give you that challenge.
Smelter is a game that's a mix of platforming and real-time strategy, though it's the platforming that shines more. The controls are tight and the challenge is pretty fair though it can ramp up quite a bit later on. Plus the Trials are a great way to test your skills and help unlock new abilities. The RTS segments aren't bad but they feel a little too simplified with no major consequences.
Cathedral is a pretty good Metroidvania-style game that can be difficult at times, though that tends to come with the genre. That said though, the game looks great and for fifteen dollars, I'd say its definitely worth picking up. As for me, I'll definitely be taking another trip through the game down the road.
Ageless is bright, colorful, and sounds great, but is just a bit clunky. The game gives off a Celeste-vibe, which is a good thing, but it can take some time to get used to the age mechanics and the precise aiming required for a lot of the puzzles.
Book of Demons is a fun Diablo-like game, but some of the mechanics might be a turnoff for others. Movement is locked to set paths while enemies are free to roam around and there is no equipment as cards represent spells, items, and artifacts in the game. That said, there is still quite a bit to like about Book of Demons as there is a good amount of strategy to employ if you want to survive. However, the price tag might be a bit much given the restrictions some of the mechanics place on you.
Borderlands 3 is a great game, but it's definitely got some technical issues with sadly brings the score down a bit. While my issues weren't as bad as others I've heard about, they're still annoying at times. However, if you can get past that you'll find a game that's more of the same as previous games (especially 2 and pre-sequel), but that's what made Borderlands great to start with. A great story, reuniting with old friends, and some pretty interesting villains ensures I'll be coming back to open any more vaults that are found on any planet Gearbox wishes to travel to.
Team Sonic Racing does a pretty good job with the new team mechanics, but the difficulty can still be a tad rough at times. While not as bad as prior entries, it can be easy to fall behind after you've spun out, only to catch up again using a Team Ultimate, only to drop back a few spots when the opposing team does the same thing and cost you the race. Still, Sonic Team Racing is enjoyable alone and even more with friends or while playing online.
Mutant Football League isn't your ordinary game of football. Player deaths, field hazards, and dirty tricks make this a unique game from others that take place on the gridiron. If you're not a fan of the Dirty Tricks mechanic or are okay with your team being preset instead of drated, then you might not enjoy Dynasty Mode as much, but with Exhibition, Season, and Playoff modes playable without them or several other options, Mutant Football League is still an entertaining game on its own.
Marble it Up is an enjoyable game, but the short length might turn some people off, especially for its twenty dollar price point. If you're someone who is constantly trying to better their times in games with time trials, or you're a completionist that just has to unlock everything, Marble it Up will definitely keep you busy trying to find new and interesting ways to finish each stage as fast as possible. Otherwise, the minimal content might turn some off for now, enjoyable as the current amount of content might be.
Gift of Parthax is a pretty decent top-down arena brawler. While the keyboard and mouse controls can be a bit clunky and a lot of the game can just make you feel like you're going through the paces battle after battle, there is a good amount of strategy involved with what spells to take into a battle, what runes to place in them, and how to deal with the enemies you encounter. While the fights early on may seem a bit slow in their pacing, Gift of Parthax is an enjoyable game if you give it a chance.
Despite a few hiccups here and there, Mega Man 11 is a pretty solid entry in the series. While I would have liked to see some more challenges that weren't just “traverse the stage for the umpteenth time”, possibly an endless mode similar to Mega Man 9 and 10, the implementation of the Double Gear System and the multiple difficulties make the game accessible to any player, newcomers and veterans alike.
I Hate Running Backwards is a fairly good game, but I can also understand people's mixed feelings about it. The game is basically a thirty minute top-down shooter (if you can survive that long), but the further you progress, the more difficult you can make it if you wish. Add in a dozen characters to choose from across Digital Devolver's games and there are plenty of ways to have fun taking down Mental's minions.
Aegis Defenders is probably one of the tougher games I've played in recent memory, and that's all thanks to the tower defense sections. Fans of that genre probably won't have too many issues, but newcomers playing alone might find those sections pretty daunting until they master switching characters, learning the arena layouts, and know what traps to use when. If you have a friend to play co-op, you'll likely have a much easier time. Still, it's a pretty good game for GUTS Department's first outing.
Brawlout is a pretty fun Smash Bros.-esque fighter that's quite a bit more fast paced. While the roster selection is small, and the unlockable characters are similar or just alternate versions of the original lineup, the fast-paced action and unique moves for each character make this a pretty fun game to play with friends, either at home or online.
88 Heroes: 98 Heroes Edition is an enjoyable game with an interesting and unique premise, plus the multiple game modes do make for a lot of replayability. However, some of the heroes basically do nothing but jump and some of the ones that can attack have attacks that can easily backfire if you don't know what you're doing, making a lot of the game trial and error. Also if you get down to just one hero, get very used to him/her/it as you do have unlimited continues, but unless you get enough coins to revive someone, that's all you have for the rest of the game.
Conga Master Party is enjoyable, but kind of short if you're playing solo as the Story Mode doesn't take too long to complete once you know what you're doing, and Endless Mode can only go so far. The multi-player modes on the other hand can make for some fun times among friends. Sadly it's local multi-player only with no online play or AI opponents to compete against. It's still fun either way, but more so with friends.
Nidhogg 2 is a surprisingly short game, but that doesn't mean it's not a lot of fun. While the Arcade Mode is rather short at eleven stages, the local and online multiplayer options will keep fans coming back. If you were a fan of the original game you'll likely enjoy this game as it's pretty much more of the same but with some new and enjoyable additions.
Rezrog is essentially the "miniatures on a grid" portion of Dungeons & Dragons so to speak and I enjoy that. However, the early going can be tedious as you learn the game's mechanics and some frustration may set in until you start to get your characters leveled up. This is definitely a game where strategy must be employed to survive without getting your heroes captured, but if you stick with it long enough you'll find an enjoyable experience that tabletop RPG fans will likely enjoy.
Urban Trial Freestyle 2 makes a few improvements over the original, but it's not quite there in terms of network functionality. The connection issues I kept having as well as needing to type in a code just to download a track made that a bit of a hassle, but at least you can now share your tracks online. If you enjoyed the original game, you should enjoy the second outing with twice as many stages to dominate and more obstacles to trip up players with in the track builder.
Rise & Shine is a good action-platformer though its main shortcoming is how short the game can be. Once you get the hang of things the game can be finished in a few hours, but if you’re looking for a challenge the game’s difficulty spikes about a third of the way in and it just gets harder from there. If you're up for a challenge, this is one to check out.