Joseph Allen
Lonely Mountains: Downhill offers a pleasing mixture of challenge and serenity. It's a touch repetitive and the level design needs work, but it's a fine way to while away a rainy afternoon or two.
Simulacra 2 is an improvement on its predecessor, but there's further to go. A tighter narrative and better interface design don't quite compensate for sketchy writing and silly horror.
Phoenix Point will appeal to you if you're a big fan of the new XCOM games but wish they had more complexity. If you're turned off by punishing strategy and a hands-off approach, Phoenix Point is not for you.
Lost Ember is almost a good game. Its animal exploration mechanics are well-realized. Unfortunately, it's bogged down by technical issues, lackluster storytelling, and frustrating event flagging.
Still There tells an emotional story with well-drawn characters and some satisfying puzzles. It's a touch one-note and incremental puzzle difficulty would have been nice, but it remains a touching, narratively satisfying experience.