This is far from your average puzzle platformer, as its main audience is not the die-hard old-school fanbase of the genre. Never Alone is first and foremost an educational experience, and this is the standard to which you have to judge it in order to fully appreciate it.
Elegy for a Dead World is a game so unique that there is no point of reference for it. Nothing like this has been done before, and it fills a niche that many gamers will appreciate.
The first chapter of Shadows: Heretic Kingdoms is pretty solid, offering a great mix of narrative and combat, but the following ones seem to favor combat over substance, which is a bit of a disappointment.
Not being a fan of Russian roulette, I like it when my saved states are neatly stacked on top of each other, to the point where I can always go back and alter recent events in a way that will help me finish the game faster so I can go on to the next one, instead of repeating the same unrewarding experience that teaches me nothing new.
The game is deceptively fun and captivating, in spite of its seemingly basic interactions. Every screen is a new puzzle tasking you with figuring out what the best way to deal with the enemies is, and after your plain is laid down, there is still the issue of mechanical execution, as some of the action sequences require you to move in time with your foes.
In a nutshell, this isn't a revolution, but rather an evolution of the game in the same direction that Blizzard has been pushing the game for the last few years.
I liked Dungeon of the Endless a lot, mainly due to the fact that it does pretty much everything right. It has the right balance to allow for longer play sessions once you start getting the hang of it, but it also pays respect to the roguelike elements at its core.
Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers 20th Anniversary is a worthwhile remake of the classic Sierra point-and-click adventure game. However, big-time fans of the original will most likely dislike some aspects of the newer incarnation.
To sum it up in a handful of words, the entire game is about an unfair, unwinnable boss fight that you're doing your best to avoid. It's as difficult and frustrating as an Alien game should be. It's not a ride in the park and you're not an action hero. You will die a lot and you'll like it, because almost every time, it will be due to a mistake you made.
Legend of Grimrock 2 is a great improvement over the original, a fantastic journey with a distinct old-school vibe, with a lot of heart and with a glossy modern veneer. Even if you haven't played the first one, it's a proper standalone, self-contained experience.
Runers offers a truly enjoyable experience, with a good marriage of standard roguelike mechanics expanded by the real-time top-down shooter gameplay dynamic and by the spell crafting system.
A Golden Wake is not the kind of adventure game that will convert non-believers any time soon, but those who enjoy the genre and can stomach its lo-fi visuals will definitely be entertained by its numerous quips and lighthearted attitude, as well as challenged by its more somber undertones.
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is perhaps the best walking simulator I have ever played, dabbling in the occult without being a cheesy ghost story where weird stuff just happens for no reason other than the call of Cthulhu.
Age of Wonders 3: Golden Realms doesn't change the gameplay formula of the base game. Rather, it's a refinement of sorts, with some areas being improved and more choice being afforded to gamers.
If you're looking for a game to tide you over until Civilization: Beyond Earth comes out and pick up Endless Legend, you might be surprised to find yourself lost in its world for much more than just a month.
Minimum is not going to revolutionize multiplayer shooter design anytime soon, but it manages to offer a unique enough experience, with enough gameplay variety to warrant attention from third-person shooters enthusiasts that want to experience something slightly different.
Back to Bed is yet another indie video game that comes off as refreshing and brilliant at first, only to succumb a short while later at the hands of poor execution and limited overall vision.
In addition to torches, you'll collect a vast assortment of items, from weapons and armor to seemingly useless trinkets, bones, and even magic spells, that you can then use on the few hotspots in each room trying to get further into the game.
Now, the best thing that Cloud Chamber has going for it is that there is nothing quite like it out there right now, and it can comfortably score points on novelty alone, without having to actually put any kind of effort into it.
In spite of its somewhat inept systems, Risen 3 has a certain sense of adventure around it, that will pull you in and make you endure the atrocious combat and some of the misgivings about the dialogue in order to explore its tropical islands, hoist the Jolly Roger and see what else it has to offer.