Deep Space Rush is a rough example of something lots of other titles do much better. Monotonous runs and a gameplay loop seriously lacking in fun-factor make the dearth of depth and variety even more apparent.
Thief of Thieves: Season One offers a good crime thriller with superb writing, but is bogged down by janky AI and a serious lack of polish in its gameplay sections. For those fans of the comic or those looking for just the story aspects you might have something worth looking at here, but stealth fans should look elsewhere.
Mars Power Industries offers a quick and easy puzzle title for those looking to scratch an itch. Although it doesn't have a tough difficulty and is lacking in staying power, for the price it is one I can easily recommend for all puzzle aficionados.
The Park is a tale of tragedy that takes you on a literal and metaphorical roller coaster. Although the game lacks in the graphics department and sticks to the bare minimum in terms of gameplay mechanics, it is one that story seekers will probably want to check out. Get your box of tissues ready.
Ritual: Crown of Horns offers fast-paced action that fans of difficulty will adore. People looking for a casual experience or those who want a story and controls that make sense will probably be left looking for more.
The Mims Beginning offers a humorous take on the god-like genre through Minions-esque characters, but a shallow story, rough graphics and performance, and basic strategy gameplay drag this title down through the depths of space.
I can see fans of the genre enjoying a couple of levels at a time, playing in bite-sized chunks. However, even though the gameplay is decent, Door Kickers: Action Squad is lacking overall a lot of what makes a smaller game stand out. Without a story or interesting hook to keep you around, Door Kickers: Action Squad is a title you're probably going to like instead of love.
Heroland enters the fold as the ultimate "sit back and relax" JRPG. Even though the game has hands-off combat and long-winded dialogue sections where your participation is questionable, you have charm oozing from every pixel. The self-aware humor and quirky characters make up for most of the shortcomings.
Munchkin: Quacked Quest is a disappointing experience for anyone who has spent hours with the original card game. There is a bit more staying power for those simply looking for a decent couch co-op game to play with friends over the weekend, but the monotonous gameplay will bore the group rather quickly. If you were hoping this would be the transcendent Munchkin video game experience, I am sad to report that you have something here more closely resembling Mario Party mini-games.
Space Pioneer offers an addictive arcade experience that feels incomplete. Although the upgrade system is surprisingly deep, the rest of the game suffers from being too shallow to set itself apart from the pack. As far as isometric, twin-stick shooters go, this one is just okay.
Shovel Knight: King of Cards is a master-class in platforming, design, pixel art, and much, much more. Offering a good amount of new content, as well as the all-new card mini-game, Joustus, you have an overall package that is hard not to recommend, even if good portions of this feel wholly the same as the original Shovel Knight and its successive releases.
Tamashii is one of the most disturbing experiences I have ever had. With intense horror and gore-laden imagery, this is a title that will stay with me for a while. Even with all the positives with the setting and art style, at the end of the day, this game is a poor platformer, with pretty solid puzzles to work through.
Riverbond coaxes you in with its charming feel and aesthetically pleasing voxel graphics, only to thrust you into a monotonous hack 'n' slash. With the plethora of other games that have interesting art styles and incredible looks, it is hard to let the gameplay here slide, even with its comedic relief and destructible environments as a backer.
Pulstario is another frustrating arcade experience that has just enough to offer to make it something that sets itself apart. Between the killer soundtrack and accessibility options, I found myself not able to put it down until I had beaten its 30-minute campaign.
All in all, this is a game that is trying to set itself apart from the classic conventions of the genres it is placed in, and while it is an interesting experience, I think it follows too many of those old-school mechanics that were made to eat up your coins, not give you a pleasant time.
Melbits World is, by far, one of the cutest puzzle-platformers you will play through. Utilizing that charm, cuteness, and design, this title offers something I could see families playing through together, but the lack of single player and replayability hurt the overall package.
I felt for this child and wanted to do everything I could to help them. The game had me hooked in that way, but unfortunately, it squandered that enthusiasm away through some questionable storytelling devices and lackluster mini game sections. As purely a story experience, this is one I can recommend, if you can get through the broken-up design choice, but for those looking for anything else outside of a sorrowful and sinister puzzler, this is probably one you can leave behind.
Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath offers one of the coolest reload mechanics in gaming history when it has you rustle up your own ammo. Lack of interesting puzzles make this feel more like an FPS with a good story when compared to previous entries in the series.
Worbital plays a bit like a Worms in space, minus the turn-based sequences. Even though blowing up planets in epic space wars is a plus, the lack of depth in battle structures and mechanics make this one better suited to short play sessions. The campaign mode, although a nice addition for single players, has dialogue segments that go longer than necessary.
Adventure titles that offer deep storytelling are some of my favorite experiences in the genre, and Mosaic had everything lined up to be truly special. Unfortunately, a little bit too much monotony, a control scheme you will be fighting throughout, and major performance issues make this a game that will have you looking for a way to alleviate your frustrations. Hopefully a patch comes to fix the performance issues in what could have been a fairly decent experience.