Unrailed 2: Back on Track is exactly the sequel I was hoping for. It preserves everything that made the original special while introducing enough new ideas to justify its existence. The deeper progression systems, boss encounters, expanded customisation, improved solo experience, and increased variety all help elevate what was already a fantastic concept. Most importantly, it never loses sight of what made the first game so enjoyable: the simple joy of working together to build a railway before disaster strikes. Whether you’re playing alone, with family, or with a group of friends shouting instructions at one another across the sofa, there’s an incredible amount of fun to be found here. If you loved the original, this is an easy recommendation. If you’ve never played Unrailed before, this is arguably the best place to start. Train building has rarely been this frantic, this funny, or this satisfying.
FrogBlock is a thoughtful little puzzle game. If you enjoy perspective-based puzzles and like sitting down with something that slowly pushes your brain harder and harder, there is plenty here to appreciate. The rotating world mechanic is clever, the level variety keeps introducing new ideas, and the option to skip puzzles helps avoid too much frustration. That said, this is definitely one of those games that depends heavily on whether its style of puzzle-solving clicks with you personally. I had moments where I felt genuinely smart solving puzzles, and other moments where I simply stared blankly at the screen, hoping inspiration would magically arrive. A hint system might have helped smooth over some of those rougher patches. Still, there is plenty to like here. The visuals are pleasant, the soundtrack is relaxing, and the puzzles themselves are thoughtfully designed. Just do yourself a favour and use a controller.
Map Map – A Game About Maps takes the surprisingly niche subject of cartography and transforms it into a delightful exploration adventure. Its charming cast, clever navigation mechanics, and rewarding sense of discovery create an experience that feels genuinely unique. I especially appreciated how it encourages players to engage with the environment rather than simply follow objective markers. The fixed maps do mean replayability is somewhat limited once you’ve mastered each island, but the journey itself is so enjoyable that I didn’t mind. This is a game that rewards patience, curiosity, and careful observation. It’s educational without feeling like homework, relaxing without becoming boring, and challenging without being unfair. For anyone who enjoys cosy exploration games and the thrill of uncovering secrets through their own ingenuity, Map Map – A Game About Maps is well worth charting a course towards. I look forward to sharing it with my kids when they are older.
Truck Driver: The American Dream ended up being one of those games that quietly sneaks up on you. On paper, it sounds mundane. You drive trucks slowly from one place to another. That’s it. Yet there’s a strange comfort in mastering the roads, listening to conversations during long journeys, and simply taking your time. It’s not flashy. It’s not action-packed. But it is relaxing, immersive, and surprisingly enjoyable. If you’re looking for a laid-back driving experience with a touch of heart behind it, this is well worth a look. Just remember to stop at red lights, unlike me.
I feel slightly conflicted writing this review because there is so much about Mina the Hollower that I absolutely adore. The world design is excellent. The atmosphere is superb. Combat is satisfying. The soundtrack is phenomenal. The burrowing mechanic is genuinely clever. And the sheer passion behind the project shines constantly. At the same time, the heavy emphasis on Soulslike difficulty stopped me from loving it quite as much as I expected to. I personally would have preferred something a little closer to classic Zelda adventure design and slightly less punishing overall. Still, even with those frustrations, this is a fantastic game. Yacht Club Games once again proves they are masters of modern retro design. Mina the Hollower may not fully dethrone Shovel Knight for me personally, but it absolutely deserves to stand proudly beside it.
Scale the Depths is one of those deceptively simple indie games that quietly becomes incredibly hard to put down. The gameplay loop is satisfying, the fishing feels rewarding, fish preparation is strangely relaxing, and the constant stream of upgrades gives you plenty of reasons to keep diving back in for “just one more run.” It’s not some ultra-hardcore fishing simulator or deep strategy game, and I think it’s better because of that. This is a cozy, low-pressure experience designed to help players unwind and enjoy themselves. Yes, there are a few control quirks and some slightly fiddly upgrade issues that could use smoothing out, but none of them was enough to stop me from having a genuinely good time with it. If you enjoy cozy management games, casual fishing games, or simply want something relaxing to chip away at in the evenings, then Scale the Depths is absolutely worth checking out.
LumenTale: Memories of Trey may not reinvent the monster-catching RPG genre, but it absolutely succeeds at creating a charming, thoughtful, and genuinely enjoyable adventure of its own. What impressed me most wasn’t necessarily Trey’s amnesia storyline, although it does improve as the game progresses, but rather the incredible amount of care poured into the world itself. Talea feels alive, rich with history, and full of personality. The combat systems are fun, the convenience features remove a lot of genre frustration, exploration feels rewarding, and the game constantly encourages experimentation with team building and monster collection. Most importantly, though, it’s just enjoyable to play. It captures that comforting feeling of slowly building your collection, exploring new regions, and discovering new favourite creatures without making progression feel like a chore. If you enjoy monster-collecting RPGs, there’s a very good chance LumenTale: Memories of Trey will charm you too. It may not knock the giants off their throne, but it absolutely earns its place alongside them as a genuinely heartfelt and enjoyable adventure.
Overall, I came away from Life Below with very positive feelings. It’s a thoughtful, relaxing, and visually charming city builder that brings a fresh twist to the genre by focusing entirely on restoring ocean ecosystems. While the story itself didn’t fully hook me, the actual process of nurturing and expanding the reef proved consistently enjoyable. Yes, it can feel a little intimidating at first if you’re new to city builders, and there’s definitely a learning curve to managing all the systems effectively. But once things start clicking into place, the game hooks you, and doesn’t let go. Most importantly, though, it has heart. There’s a warmth and sincerity to Life Below that makes it easy to settle into for long cozy sessions. Watching your reef slowly flourish with life, colour, and activity becomes genuinely satisfying. If you enjoy management games, cozy strategy titles, or simply want something peaceful with a positive environmental message, then Life Below is absolutely worth diving into.
R-Type Dimensions III is a really strong revival of one of the genre’s standout shooters. The gameplay remains tense, rewarding and wonderfully unforgiving, while the updated visuals do a great job of modernising the experience without losing its retro identity. It absolutely will not be for everybody. The difficulty is intense even by retro shooter standards, and this is very much a game built around repetition, memorisation and gradual mastery. But if that style of arcade gameplay clicks with you, there is a lot to enjoy here. I do wish there were more extras included, especially at this price point, but the quality of the actual game still shines through very clearly. Even as somebody who is honestly not particularly amazing at shoot ‘em ups, I still had a great time with it. Sometimes getting blown up repeatedly can still be fun.
Rune Dice is one of those wonderfully easy games to recommend. It doesn’t overcomplicate itself. It doesn’t bury the fun underneath endless systems. It simply takes one very good idea and executes it incredibly well. The dice-combining mechanic is addictive, the progression loop constantly rewards you, and the overall structure makes it dangerously easy to keep playing long after you planned to stop. Sure, the presentation may not be especially flashy, and some players might find the gameplay a little too straightforward compared to deeper strategy roguelites. But honestly, I think that simplicity is part of the appeal here. I had an absolute blast with it. Whether playing on a desktop or relaxing with it on the Steam Deck, Rune Dice became one of those games I kept wanting to return to for “just one more run.” And usually, that’s the biggest compliment I can give a roguelite.
Lost in Night is a straightforward match-3 puzzle game that sticks closely to familiar ideas, but it still manages to be reasonably enjoyable thanks to its relaxing pace and easy pick-up-and-play structure. The extra gameplay modes help keep things fresh enough, and the optional untimed mode makes it approachable for players wanting a calmer experience. It does not really stand out visually or mechanically from the crowd, and there are certainly bigger and more inventive puzzle games available. Still, there is something comforting about its simplicity. If you already enjoy this style of puzzle game, there is a good chance you will get some pleasant downtime out of it. If you are burnt out on match-3 games entirely, this probably will not change your mind.
WizardWare is a fun little score-chasing management game that blends fantasy humour with old-school desktop aesthetics surprisingly well. The gameplay is simple, but there is something enjoyable about quickly scanning files, spotting suspicious downloads, and trying to keep your magical operating system alive under pressure. It does not have huge depth, and it probably is not going to become somebody’s next hundred-hour obsession, but that is completely alright. It succeeds at being a quick, entertaining arcade-style experience that is easy to pick up and difficult to completely put down once you start chasing better scores. The fantasy computer theme gives it a bit of personality, the presentation is enjoyable, and the whole thing feels approachable without becoming too dull. If you enjoy smaller high-score-focused games with a humorous twist, WizardWare is worth a look.
TetherGeist ended up being a really pleasant surprise. It takes a genre that can sometimes lean too heavily into frustration and balances it with thoughtful storytelling, approachable checkpointing and movement mechanics that feel rewarding to master. Now, make no mistake, this is still a demanding precision platformer. If games in this style have never appealed to you before, I do not think TetherGeist is suddenly going to convert you overnight. There were certainly moments where I felt my patience being tested, especially during some of the more complicated late-game sections. But when the game finds its rhythm, it becomes incredibly satisfying. The movement feels great, the world has warmth to it, and Mae’s journey is genuinely easy to root for. If you enjoy precision platformers, especially games in the same family as Celeste, then TetherGeist is absolutely worth checking out. And even if you are normally a bit hesitant with this genre, like I am, there is still a good chance this one might pull you into its flow state too.
Medieval Crafter: Blacksmith might not win the graphical beauty contest, and some of its mechanics can feel a little rough around the edges, but there’s a solid and engaging simulation underneath it all. It offers a detailed look at the process of crafting, backed by a steady gameplay loop that keeps you busy and invested. While certain elements could benefit from refinement, particularly the more fiddly mini-games, there’s still plenty here to enjoy if you like this style of game. It’s a slightly uneven journey, but one that manages to be satisfying in the long run.
Gravity Shooter is one of those games that sits comfortably in the “it’s fine” category. The gravity mechanic is a clever idea and does give the game its own identity, even if it doesn’t always feel as impactful as it could. The core loop is solid, progression is steady, and it’s easy to pick up for short sessions. At the same time, it struggles to stand out in a very crowded genre. The controls can feel a bit loose, the visuals are quite plain, and the overall experience doesn’t quite maintain long-term engagement. If you’re after a quick, casual arcade-style game with a small twist, there’s something here to enjoy. But if you’ve already spent a lot of time with similar games, this might not hold your attention for too long.
Caromble! takes the classic brick breaker concept and gives it a physics-driven twist. Smashing through 3D environments, unlocking unusual power-ups, and facing boss fights adds more variety than the genre usually offers. Once the special abilities start appearing, the gameplay becomes much more interesting. That said, the pacing can feel uneven at times. Some stages run a little longer than necessary, and boss fights occasionally feel slow rather than exciting. Still, if you enjoy arcade-style paddle games and want something that builds on the formula with physics and power-ups, Caromble! is worth checking out. It’s easy to jump into, satisfying when everything starts breaking apart on screen, and offers plenty of levels for players who enjoy chasing high scores. In the end, I came away liking it. Not everything clicked perfectly, but there’s definitely a solid arcade game here for fans of the genre.
Constance is a thoughtful, well-crafted 2D adventure that leans heavily into its themes without losing sight of being a game first. The paint mechanics are clever, the world is beautifully realised, and there’s a clear sense of care in how everything fits together. It’s not without its rough edges. The platforming can feel demanding, and some combat encounters overstay their welcome. But the flexibility offered through accessibility options helps smooth those bumps out. What really sticks is how it all comes together, the mechanics, the visuals, the pacing, all reinforcing that central idea of balance, pressure, and recovery. If you’re in the mood for an adventure that offers more than just exploration and combat, Constance is a journey well worth taking. As someone who can connect to the themes featured in this game, I say to anyone going through a rough time, don’t give in to the darkness.
Dracamar doesn’t reinvent the platforming genre. What it offers is a bright, easy going adventure focused on exploration, collecting and helping restore a lively world. It’s accessible, it’s cheerful, and it’s the kind of game you can enjoy without too much pressure. There are moments where it feels a bit familiar, and players looking for a more demanding platformer might not find what they’re after here. But if you’re after something light, colourful and enjoyable to chip away at, especially on a handheld, this is well worth a look.
Town of Zoz is a game full of creative ideas. It blends farming, cooking, exploration and storytelling into a colourful indie adventure that clearly had a lot of passion behind it. The combat doesn’t quite match the strength of the rest of the experience, and the pacing can feel slow at times, but there’s still a lot to appreciate here. The world-building is intriguing, the characters are memorable, and the game’s unique visual style gives it a strong sense of personality. It’s definitely a game with rough edges, but it’s also one that has a lot of charm. For players who enjoy exploring unusual indie projects and don’t mind a few imperfections, Town of Zoz offers a surprisingly engaging adventure. I highly recommend trying the free demo on Steam.
Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta might not be the newest entry in the series, but it still holds up well today. The story is fairly straightforward and occasionally repeats itself, but it serves its purpose as a backdrop for the real highlights: fast-paced combat and enjoyable exploration. The action-focused battle system remains incredibly fun to play, and gradually mapping out the mysterious forest adds a strong sense of adventure to the experience. While the visuals reflect the game’s origins on older hardware, the Switch version runs smoothly and still captures the spirit of the original release. For long-time Ys fans, this is a welcome addition to the Switch library. For newcomers looking for an accessible action RPG with quick combat and plenty of exploration, it’s also a great place to start. It might be a revisit to a past adventure, but Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta still delivers an enjoyable journey through one of the series’ most memorable settings. Here’s hoping more of the past Ys series makes its way to Switch.