Not every sequel needs to reinvent the wheel. It is just as important when a game maintains its identity while bringing a couple of new things to the table. Small but meaningful changes can go a long way. Clueless that there would ever be a sequel, what a joy it is to live in a world where a game like Toem 2 exists. Taking photographs, making friends, admiring everything life has to offer. It doesn’t get better than that, and developer Something We Made knows it.
Folktales vividly tell stories that are parallel to our world to remind us of something we may have lost along the way. Part farm-sim, part magical school, all an ode to nature, Songs of Glimmerwick is a remarkable achievement because from the very first moment that you play, you feel its kindness reaching out. Through a lush art style, stellar voice work, and its rustic soundtrack, it is a great example of why magic is all around us. We just need to know where to look.
Being intrigued by a game’s art style is a valid argument to try it. Perhaps that is one of the reasons players clamor for demos. Because you will never know how a game feels until you actually get to play it. I do not regret playing Kernel Hearts. Its dazzling anime cutscenes and eye-catching art style are enough to take it for a ride, even if a short one. But its floaty combat and lack of meaningful rewards on each run might deter players from committing in the long term.
I was never the same after that summer. Gaining new friends that I frequented for years to come, although I tried to resist the change future me is grateful that things turned out the way they did. Likewise, once Foxy leaves her electronics and decides to look up at the world above, she really starts to live. To appreciate the world in new ways, to recognize that these fleeting moments will become cherished memories, to feel that life is worth living. Woodo appreciates profound storytelling as much as its adorable art style. So much for a simple puzzle game.
The question about what makes an indie game special is one often brought up by developers and players alike. In Cat Me If You Can’s case, it is simple. It captures a relaxing atmosphere for observant explorers to photograph cats and occasionally interact with the environment. Cue the impossibly slick soundtrack that invites you to not only look at every corner with ease but also to take it easy while doing so, and you have a formula that cat lovers everywhere will rejoice in.
Continuing the resurgence of modern games capturing that retro feel, Isle of Reveries knows what it wants to be and achieves it. From the stellar pixel art style to the sound effects and music straight up from the 90s, it feels right at home with the contemporaries it so earnestly wants to be a part of. Clever puzzle mechanics from its copy ability and extensive dungeons round up one experience that, thanks to its humorous delivery, lightheartedly reminds one of a classic time with care.
For a franchise that by now has even more games than movies, it appears that there was a glaring omission until now. Star Wars Zero Company tells a gritty narrative with seasoned characters that take no prisoners, and it does so with a confidence that makes it among the best media in a galaxy far, far away. To deliver intricate, satisfying tactical gameplay mechanics with limitless replayability, make it a must-play not only for fans but also for players at large.
Sure, soulslikes are to this day among the most imitated genre, with few permutations to make them stand out. But have you considered playing as a cat? Kristala aims for a solid experience that applies interesting parrying and platforming mechanics to keep the gameplay moving at all times. While the medieval fantasy story is one by the books, the combat is one that consistently satisfies with every encounter. As this genre goes, there is nothing more to ask for.
Taking all the right lessons, Mortal Shell II is a relentless soulslike and an unrecognizably better sequel.
Nothing that you play here is new. But it does not have to be. Airy platforming that reminds you of better times. Active combat that makes you fight faceless enemies. A heartfelt cautionary tale that sneaks up on you. And the secret ingredient, an absolutely gorgeous art style that will often stop you in your tracks. Duskfade has it all. Sometimes, that is what you need to remind you of what is important in life.
Crafting every single detail to perfection, Sephiria comes out of Early Access an instant winner. Not only are its builds fun to discover, but so is cracking the code of its ingenious inventory management. That feeling of “one more run” takes on a whole new meaning when playing with friends. All in all, every system converges to deliver one of the best roguelites of the year.
SFB Games knows how to make a great whodunit. Combatting the usual point-and-click slog of characters sluggishly pointing out an observation, everything is wittily described. The Mermaid Mask shines as a murder mystery because of the attention to every painstaking detail. The theatrical cast, stylish art style, and impeccable structure make for one of those cases that beg to be solved.
I am not the target audience of this game. Nevertheless, having a considerable amount of experience as a big fan of platformers, I can say that it lands among the lower tier of them. Looking at it from its endlessly fun premise, though, I can certainly understand the appeal of dashing and jumping as the titular Teeto. Even more so when playing in couch co-op.
It is not hyperbole when I say that every single level introduced a new creative idea to keep things fresh. Telling a cautionary tale of climate change and ruthless corporations juxtaposed with human ingenuity, it is imbued with an undeniable charisma. I cannot underestimate how much love is put into Denshattack! With deep reverence to classics like Sonic Adventure and Jet Set Radio, it built on those foundations to create one of the most endlessly fun games of the year.
Moss: The Forgotten Relic takes players on a magical journey carried by its endearing protagonist Quill. Evoking children’s fairy tale books in the best of ways, it feels like the definitive way for kids and adults to experience such a rich story.
What a joy to discover when a game goes places you did not expect. From the outset, I thought this game would be an unassuming, cozy adventure about a young kid learning about nature. Oh, how I am glad to be wrong.
They say that WWI exotic dancer and spy Mata Hari blew a kiss to her firing squad at her execution. That defiant energy runs through Zero Parades: For Dead Spies. Protagonist Hershel Wilk knows she is not up to the task, yet a sense of remorse pushes her forward. What she finds is a web of deceit that it alone warrants the price of entry. This is no Disco Elysium, but a thrilling beast of its own.
OPUS: Prism Peak is a powerful journey that unflinchingly tells us to embrace change. Its surreal setting only serves to portray that none of our lives are that different. Through photography, memories, and community, its universal message of hope is one that lasts forever.
When all is said and done, WILL: Follow The Light shines in its particular moments of calmness while sailing through the icy waters of the north. Its pitch-perfect soundtrack, evoking Max Richter’s On The Nature of Daylight, leaves a tinge of melancholy. The story itself does not shy away from the inevitability of death.
A daring adventure with something worthwhile to say, Decline’s Drops is a solid debut title from developer Le Moulin aux Bulles. In a sea of side-scrollers, a tale about environmentalism wrapped in a challenging platformer is bold. While the gameplay itself does not always land and difficulty spikes abound, it is still a video game that will satisfy anyone looking for an apparent distraction with a powerful message.