Simply put, Relicta is in a class of its own. Its design is often head and shoulders above many of its contemporaries, the writing is of the highest quality, and the game looks far better than it honestly needs to. Absolutely anyone who considers themselves a fan of the genre owes it to themselves to play this game. It'll take you to the moon.
Cyber Shadow is a truly wonderful game. It's brutal, uncompromising, and insanely enjoyable to a degree that I don't often see. Between its lovingly crafted visuals, pitch-perfect gameplay, and maddeningly difficult, yet expertly designed levels, it's a must-play for anyone who enjoys side-scrolling action games.
Sekiro is an extremely challenging, beautiful game that's very much worth the time to learn. Just prepare to die even more than you probably thought.
Pig Eat Ball is easily one of the best games I've played this year.
Gris is a beautiful experience that will be well-regarded for it's visuals, themes, and game design for years to come.
Assault Spy is a must-play for fans of fast, stylish character action. It's got some problems, but it's an absolute blast.
Void Bastards is a terrific game that balances the joy of exploration with the fear of failure in a wonderful way. It could use some more incentives to keep playing, but it's a blast while it lasts.
Anyone who enjoys classic-styled FPS games owes it to themselves to play Amid Evil. It’s a wonderful game that stands on its own.
Ion Fury may look like it plays it safe, but it delivers an exemplary first-person shooter that's better than many of the games that inspired it. Genre fans will be missing out if they choose to pass this one up.
Blasphemous might be derivative, but it's one of the best, if not the best Metroid-like I've played this year. Not only is it downright gorgeous, but the gameplay is uniformly excellent and hunting for its many secrets make it a puzzle well worth exploring.