Imaginative mechanics and puzzle design at war with finicky, picky gameplay mechanics. Add in a borderline useless player character and you've got the recipe for a good puzzle game damaged by various annoyances.
Golden Force doesn't quite have what it takes to be as good as the classics, but it's still a fairly fun time in its own right. It has some issues that make it a bit of an annoyance in some spots, but it still mostly does what it aims to.
A colorful throwback to '80s action-arcade titles that looks and feels like the real deal. Challenging and enjoyable, it's worth a look for anyone who wants a new old game to rip through.
Unambitious, easy, and rather brief, Tasomachi still does an admirable job of succeeding at what it sets out to do. With lovely visuals, tight controls, and plenty of relaxing exploration, it's hard to walk away as anything but charmed.
Look, it's more of an experimental comedy movie than anything else. Unless you just want to mess around and interrupt digital co-workers with laughter for however long you feel like.
It might look unassuming, but In My Shadow is a deeply enjoyable puzzle-platforming with great shadow mechanics. The difficulty curve is just right, the puzzles themselves are varied and fun to solve, and I just like positioning armchairs for maximum verticality.
There's a lot to love about 8Doors: Arum's Afterlife Adventure, from its ease of platforming to exciting and varied combat. But the obnoxious boss battles eat away at any good feelings you have toward the game.
While familiar and somewhat basic, Outriders has a lot of riveting action and a compelling gameplay loop that will satisfy people looking for their next looter shooter fix.
Uneven, yet unique and compelling, Lost Words has some truly effective narrative and design elements. It's let down a bit by overreliance on the protagonist's less-than-interesting literary attempts, but it's a worth playing for fans of narrative games.
A great game, even if it's horribly frustrating a lot of the time. While it's a wonderful follow-up to a classic series, this port makes it a bit of a tougher sell than other versions of the game.
Painfully average in most respects, Balan Wonderworld won't draw much admiration for its contents. Still, it's a competent game that does have its charms, few as they may be.
Stirring, artistic, and emotionally resonant, Genesis Noir is quite a unique experience. The puzzles can be tedious, but the game makes up for it with gorgeous art direction and sterling creativity.
Conceptually promising, but more of an empty, shoddy mimic than anything else. Fans of the base game have already seen everything this has to offer.
Sanity of Morris will test your sanity with buggy enemies and an inane plot that doesn't make sense. A lot of it doesn't make sense.
While on the short side and not particularly original, Kaze and the Wild Masks is an exceptional 2D platformer filled with well designed, engaging levels and tight, responsive controls.
Dogworld can be annoying at times, but it plays well and has an interesting story that makes it worth a playthrough. As long as the crummy bosses don't frustrate you too much.
Adios is brief and mostly concerned with dialogue, but it's a thought-provoking piece of interactive fiction, even if the visual style clashes with the narrative.
Undeniably odd, yet constantly willing to be accessible, Mundaun has a lot to offer anyone fond of horror and exploration.
Pascal's Wager may have been a mobile Souls-like, but don't let that fool you. It's a distinct, enjoyable game in its own right, with a lot of challenges and plenty of characters to master.
Maquette has a strong narrative bolstered by top-tier voice performances and honest, relatable writing. The puzzle mechanics are unique and exciting, but the game is let down by signposting issues and obtuse design choices.