While not being an all-encompassing experience, Carto allows you to explore a hand-drawn fantasy at your own pace. It includes camp-fire like folktales of family, growing up, and making your way in the world. The Carcassonne like map-making and editing system is unique and very rewarding. If you are looking for a small, fun game while waiting for some big titles to drop, give it a go. It's a lot of fun and very different.
Fast, fluid and fun. Until You Fall came out of nowhere and blew me away. The combat system is so moreish and addictive, rewarding and well designed you will not want it to stop. While the story is lacking and the enemies can get repetative, everything else more than makes up for it. Great VR implementation, amazing music and super-fast load times create a really enjoyable VR experience and one of my favourites this year.
Going Under is not a bad game, its story is fun, sometimes witty, and at times, a tad meme-like. If you play a lot of roguelikes you may find it a bit thin on the ground. However, if you are new to the genre, want something a bit lighter, or just want to try something a bit different Going Under may be for you. It has a depth in its difficulty options, it looks very nice, and plays well. I think it just depends on what you are looking to get out of the game. There is stuff here to like, it is just not for everyone.
Chaotic, fun, addictive, and rewarding. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 retains everything that made the games amazing in the '90s. It then adds a coat of fresh paint, better physics, and a more modern progression system to keep you playing after completing the classic objectives. This is an amazing package of games that will please old fans and new fans alike and I am so happy it turned out so well.
In a world of heavy, AAA titles, games as service titles and bloated RPGs, The Last Campfire is a beacon of hope that small, wonderful, single-player experiences will carry on. Well done Hello games, I loved it.
PGA Tour 2K21 is a great golf game. Yes, it has a few weird design choices, especially the XP and levelling system. This does not, however, overshadow an enjoyable golf game that you can tailor to your wishes. The game retains its great Societies feature along with a robust course designer and has a plethora of game modes and multiplayer options. If you are in the market for a golf game then PGA Tour 2K21 is a sure drive up the fairway and definitely worth your time and money.
Clever, rewarding and a lot of fun, I have always wanted to control a family up to the neck in crime and now I can.
Unfortunately Mortal Shell just feels like a bad Dark Souls game, while I enjoyed it initially, the more I played the more it wore away my enjoyment. The few unique features it has do make the game feel slightly unique but its world-building, combat and enemies pale in comparison to its inspiration. The bad AI and other small issues do little to complement what could have been an enjoyable title. There are far better games in the genre.
I am a massive skateboarding game fan and wanted to love this game. Skater XL just does not have enough content to remain enjoyable for very long. The levels, characters and gameplay are dull and I find it very hard to get excited about it. I think it perhaps could be a good game in the future but I do not have that long to wait. Yes, it does have a unique control system and pulling off tricks is fun but we need more than that, as that can only take you so far. Move on people, there's little to see here.
I love these types of games but Hellpoint, mainly due to its framerate, responsiveness, and lore, falls behind most other games in the genre. Its exploration, character building and combat is a carbon copy of Dark Souls but it lacks the substance, character, and playability of the games it takes its inspiration from. Its a shame really, unless you have played every other game in this genre, there are many better examples of this style of game to play.
Beautiful, well-written and a truly unique experience. Even if you will only play it once due to its format, it is truly worth a go. Superliminal's puzzles are very cleverly made and the game will constantly challenge your visual and mental abilities. If nothing else you will come out the other side with a slightly different perspective on approaching life's many problems.
Bright and light-hearted, Radical Rabbit Stew may not push the boundaries of game design but it is funny, heart-warming and never overstays its welcome. It looks great, sounds great and runs amazingly well. The amazingly oversized bosses are a joy to take on and due to the trial and error nature of the game, the quick restarts are critical. The game may as well be called Rabbit Baseball Simulator 2020 as you whack a multitude of the furry buggers into big cooking pots but if you need a quick puzzle game in your life, this could be the one.
I was taken back by how much I enjoyed Creaks. For a game I had never heard of, it quickly has become one of my favourite experiences of the year, It's beautiful, enjoyable and everything about it screams quality. Tracking down the paintings and completing their short stories is enjoyable. Along with a great and achievable trophy list, you have a short, amazing experience like no other in recent times. Enjoy people, games like this do not come around very often.
A roguelike that gives the player this much control over their character build is a rare thing. Rather than depending heavily on random drops and loot, Demon's Tier+ lets you spend your gold on what aspect you want to improve. It's a small change that makes a massive difference. Along with that, you have a well-designed game that runs really well, not too long, and has a really nice trophy list. What's not to love?
Bright, bold and colourful. Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling adds another dimension to turn-based battles and brings platforming, puzzles and heart to a worthwhile adventure. The art-style was not to my taste but it fits the subject matter perfectly. There is a lot of game here for your money, especially if you want to see it all. Now bug off and get tucked into the game.
A fun gameplay loop, nice exploration and roguelike elements are unfortunately ruined by poor performance. Atomicrops is too much of a slog to get through and the framerate issues mar what could be an enjoyable game. Where precision evading and dodging are required, so is a good, smooth framerate. This title is hard to play in its current state but if the promised performance boost comes to fruition, it may be worth a revisit in the future.
Enjoyable, brash and well designed. Huntdown is a fun action game full of charm and swagger. It has short, enjoyable levels and very well designed bosses. It's streamlined, old-school and not bloated in any way whatsoever. I thoroughly enjoyed my playthrough and may return at some point to mop up a few things I missed.
Brilliantly designed, deep and rewarding, Dungeon of the Endless will be something I will play for a long time to come. Every time I play I learn something new, some nugget of experience to improve my next run. There are so many ways to play, so many things to manage and every game is unique in so many ways. It is a mashup of genres that will please a lot of players, roguelike, strategy, tower defence or RPG. If you like any of those genres then you will love this game. Dungeon of the Endless has a lot to offer and I love it.
Early on, John Wick Hex seemed far too random to enjoy. But as I spent more time with the game I got used to its systems and how it functioned and I started to enjoy myself more and more. Each level is a tactical game of cat and mouse and strategy and planning are vital. Positioning is key and thinking ahead of time is paramount. The story, graphics and especially the cutscenes are nothing to write home about but luckily the gameplay makes up for it. If you are up for a strategy title, John Wick Hex is fun as long as you are willing to give it a bit of time.
I loved the freedom My Friend Pedro gave me. It gives you the tools to succeed but how you use them is up to you. Once you get to grips with its various gameplay systems you are free to create artistic murder. When My Friend Pedro is in full flow, it's like watching a ballet, the game rewards skill and finesse and it is truly beautiful to see. Just go and play it. You will not regret it.