I get the impression My Maitê is a game the developer may have made for their child. There may be a cute story behind the game’s creation and I get the impression there are a lot of good intentions behind this project. If the developer was able to enjoy this with their child and gain some warm fuzzy feelings from it then I would consider that mission accomplished. The trouble is, it’s unlikely the rest of the gaming audience is going to feel this way. With such a simple premise, lacking depth and variety to its gameplay, My Maitê is very unlikely to turn heads. With so many other platformers available at the same price point, My Maitê just feels like another retro platformer in a sea of many other competitors. It’s not terrible, it’s just OK and with so many games competing for players’ precious time, that might not be enough.
If you like your simple arcade-style games and fancy one that’s not going to break the bank, then Arkan: The Dog Adventurer is a nice distraction for a few gaming sessions. You know the drill with a coffee game. Grab a nice drink, relax and attempt to save the realm by flinging balls at enemies. Not a bad way to spend a night in.
32 Secs is one of the better mobile to Nintendo Switch ports but some elements feel like they could use more polish. Controls feel a little stiff and the upgrade system just doesn’t feel as effective as it should. Still, it is probably one of the best motorbike style games I have played on the Nintendo Switch that doesn’t include the usual chap with a moustache.
Ender Lilies Quietus of the Knights is one of those games where, usually, this level of high difficulty would put me off and I would just walk away due to frustration. But I didn’t, some bosses took me multiple attempts to complete and yes I had to take breaks, but I kept getting drawn back to fight the darkness. Maybe it was the delightful piano score, the light vs dark story arc or the smooth control system but I just couldn’t help being drawn back in. I’ll admit I was not very good at the game but this is a rare occasion where despite my hardships I have nothing but praise for this title. Not for everyone, but as the game seems to hint at in the darkest of depths there is always light. At least that’s what I took from it.
Crazy Jump, just like its name, is a very basic platformer. While I had some fun with it I didn’t feel at all compelled to get all 3 stars on every level. PC is a good place for new developers to start to hone their craft but it’s unlikely Crazy Jump is going to turn heads. The graphics are too plain and the gameplay lacks anything unique. If Crazy Jump was the only platformer you ever played in the 1980s you might think it’s pretty awesome but today it’s just another platformer in a sea of so many others. I guess it is pretty cheap though.
Clan O’Conall and the Crown of the Stag is one of the best games I have played this year. On the surface, it gives the impression of a typical action platformer. But with its unique Celtic design, tight controls, memorable soundtrack and awesome characters this is a game that just gets everything right. Clan O’Conall was a wonderful experience that I hope as many people as possible get to enjoy. Now if you’ll excuse me I’m going to buy a book on Celtic folklore and listen to absurd amounts of Celtic violin music. For now, the game is only available on PC but let’s hope it finds its way to other systems very soon.
In general, I quite liked Skellboy Refractured. It has its fair share of niggles from flimsy combat and difficulty finding the next quest. But with each fault, I often found a fair few things to laugh at. If a game can make you smile despite its faults I see that as a success. A funny adventure worth trying alone or with a friend or loved one.
Scampr to me feels like someone’s portfolio project to help them get a job in the game industry. If that is the case they certainly deserve that job. Scampr has a lot of good ideas in it. But it doesn’t fully form into a complete experience. More just feeling like a proof of concept for possibly something better later. But with rough performance issues and generally little content, this won’t be for everyone. For its ridiculously cheap price, it’s certainly tempting to have a go but there’s not a lot of game here, just a very peculiar squirrel walking simulator.
Out of Line is a beautiful hand-drawn adventure. The game may be short but I see this being very appealing to busy gamers who don’t have a lot of time on their hands and want to see a game to its conclusion. The formula here may be familiar but with a unique art style, enjoyable puzzles and well-crafted gameplay Out of Line is an experience well worth your time.
Dungeons of Clay has some good ideas but in its current state, the game is let down by slow gameplay and a plethora of bugs that make it hard to recommend in its current state. Maybe better later but it’s not there yet.
If you like your challenging platformers Super Magbot comes highly recommended. A unique magnetic hook that stands out from the crowd with a memorable score to boot. Not for the players looking for a relaxing experience so in a fitting way there are aspects that will repel people away but for the most part, there are reasons to be attracted to Super Magbot.
Ynglet is an ideal game to pick up if you’re looking for a relaxing gaming experience, with a beautiful soothing soundtrack and striking art style. If you’re looking for that good Zen gaming experience after a hard day’s work or you just need to dial down those stress levels for a bit, Ynglet is a gaming meditation session worth playing.
Game Builder Garage is a unique title for anyone that wants to create a game with no prior programming knowledge. Whether you’re old or young this game provides lots of tools to let your creative juices flow. A wonderful experience to share with a family or loved one. Whether you’re a brand new budding game developer or you just want to have fun creating games, Game Builder Garage is a great way to express yourself.
Blink Rogues has some good ideas for a space shooter but it’s generally let down by its slow and unrewarding gameplay. It’s possible some patching could improve the ship controls and just make the weapons pack a proper punch but in its current form, it’s just not a very good experience. It might be worth picking up to play the multiplayer mode with a friend but otherwise, this is not a ship you need to fly any time soon.
Sunblaze strikes a good balance of offering a challenging platform experience to old and new fans of hardcore platform fans. The bite-sized design of the levels also makes this an easy game to pick up in short gaming bursts, should you have a busy lifestyle. Sunblaze didn’t make a superhero out of me but I sure did have fun playing it.
If you’re familiar with the Kairosoft formula by now you probably know what to expect. One can’t deny that they are masters of their craft. Basketball Club Story was an entertaining sim that had me cheering for my AI-controlled video game players from the sidelines. If that’s not a sign of a good experience I don’t know what is.
Cosmic Top Secret ended up being a delightful experience for me. Initially, I wasn’t sure what to make of the unusual art style and documentary design. But the more I progressed, the more I learned and became genuinely interested in the subject matter. I think of this game like one of those one off exhibits you see at a museum, only here you can enjoy the experience in the comfort of your own home on the sofa or your favourite chair. Give it a go, you might learn something and possibly get the feels. This is a secret well worth discovering.
Fallen Legion Revenants has some great ideas but they don’t all come together as well as they should. The battle system is deep but not friendly to newcomers. The political talking sections were a good idea but just didn’t seem to compliment the experience. Overall, it’s an original concept with some flaws. Worth a look if you want to try something different from the norm. But for a third entry in a series, it seems it should be a bit more refined at this point.
Cthulhu Saves Christmas is a great example of a game where the developer had a limited budget and possibly resources and just created something pretty darn brilliant. With a funny creative story and gameplay that works for gamers of multiple skill levels, this is well worth purchasing if you need a title to make you smile or just bring the Christmas spirit a little early this year.
Regina & Mac World is not a good game. Awful art design, terrible controls and generic design make this 2D platformer near impossible to recommend to anyone. This game was unpleasant to play in every aspect. Unless extensive patches are done later down the road I would avoid this at all costs.