Dungeon Drafters mixes dungeon crawling and card mechanics and succeeds despite its familiar premise. For me, it took a while for the game to click. I was probably about ten runs deep before I decided I really liked what it was doing. Even if you’re new, don’t let the barrier to entry put you off. Dungeon Drafters provides some friendly reminders of its gameplay should you need a refresher, making it a welcoming experience for all audiences. The mechanics are deep, providing the player plenty of flexibility to go at a pace that suits them. If it does click, you’ll likely find this title will keep you busy for months, if not years, to come. Don’t let this dungeon draft by, sorry I’ll leave now.
I really liked Nuclear Blaze. On its surface, it seems like a pretty standard platformer. But this is a game that doesn’t waste the player’s time. There was never a moment where I felt bored or felt the mechanics had outstayed their welcome. The game’s pace feels spot-on, keeping levels tight to the point and adding new abilities at the right spot. Even the difficulty is just the right challenge to keep you hooked without becoming overly frustrating. This was a game I didn’t want to put down. It set my heart ablaze, and I could not recommend it enough for all audiences
That’s basically Lost Dream: Darkness. A bland game where you walk from one point to another. This feels like a pretty good project for a new developer testing the waters in game development. The trouble is this does nothing to stand out; there are other better wolf options or walking simulators out there. As it stands, this is something that might catch gamers’ eye as a cheap pickup on the eShop. For me, I get more soothing for my soul by going for a walk and listening to the birds. This was not the meditation session I was looking for, leaving me more confused by the presentation of the game than relaxed.
Mr Sun’s Hatbox is a highly addictive mix of action and management rolled into an amusing premise. It’s a game that keeps on giving the more you put into it. The difficulty is pretty high, especially with the negative perks you have to fight against. But with the regular trickling in of content, there was always an incentive to return for another run. The biggest appeal by far was enjoying the game in short bursts, even though many sessions lasted longer if time allowed. Co-op is also a very welcome feature. I highly recommend this title, even if you’re tired of the rogue-lite formula. This one truly reworks the formula from the familiar action others tend to follow. The greatest lesson I learned from the game is the importance of taking out good insurance.
Tin Hearts is really something quite special. Even the most hardened of gamers will struggle not to be moved by some aspect of the charm on display here. Whether it’s the heart-felt soundtrack, calm but satisfying gameplay or the emotional beats of the story. Tin Hearts is the sort of title I love seeing in gaming. An original idea that is different from anything that comes before is made all the more memorable with its unique historical premise. The game is single-player only, but I can see this being a fun one to play together with loved ones on the sofa. Pointing at the screen to try to solve the problems together. Tin Hearts is a wonderful feel-good title which might be just what you need on a rainy day.
This is another of those reviews where I think the game was good, but it didn’t click for me fully. The gameplay is horrendously addictive. Although I got mad so many times at the bad cards I was dealt, I still found myself jumping back in for another run. This was probably thanks to the quick game sessions, cheerful graphics and happy game presentation. I highly recommend downloading the free demo and giving it a go for yourself. I think Wildfrost has a good thing going here but could use a bit more balancing and tweaking to make it my new go-to roguelike deck-builder
Batora: Lost Haven is okay. It presents a great cinematic presentation, but the gameplay doesn’t always hit the mark. This feels like quite a divisive game. Some players will really enjoy the simple action formula and moral choice system and have a pretty fun gaming weekend with this. Others, I can imagine, will see this as underdeveloped, the humour graining and just not as good as other action games in the genre. A demo would have really helped make this decision. I personally recommend it. There is much to criticize, but I sensed a lot of effort from the developers to put this project together, which still held my attention. It probably helps that I also really like isometric dungeon crawlers. If the developers ever follow up with this formula, I would still be interested in what they come up with
I had to do a double take with the price of Wall World. For just over the price of a posh coffee, you’re getting one heck of a gaming deal here. Not only does this feel like something different, but so many aspects of the game’s design and presentation just clicked. I loved the pixel art and mysterious lore surrounding the game. The mix of chilled mining with tense enemy encounters always made each run quite the thrill. To top it all off, you are riding around in a mechanical spider. Possibly the only reason to avoid it is if you are utterly sick of this genre. Otherwise, this is a wall well worth scaling.
I initially disliked Curse of the Sea Rats, but the more I kept at the game, the more it hooked me, and I ended up enjoying myself. The barrier to entry may be a little high for some players with difficult combat and messy hit detection. But once you level up a few times and play around with the characters, you should be able to settle in a style that suits you. This is made all the more enticing by being able to pay with three other loved ones locally. Something rarely seen in adventure games. The design and animations are excellent and make for a nice cherry on top of the experience. If you’re looking for a solid 2D adventure to play alone or with loved ones, this pirate trip will surely keep you busy for a few game nights. Wearing a pirate outfit for the experience is optional.
9 Years of Shadows may not reinvent the wheel with regards to the genre but one can’t deny the quality on display here. The gameplay is fun and addictive, from the game’s tight combat to exploration, encouraging you to seek out every secret possible. On top of all that, you add beautiful pixel graphics and an excellent soundtrack which makes the experience all the more special. 9 Years of Shadows is a great example where it’s ok for a game to play off the same music sheet, so long as the band playing is skilled and brings a top-quality performance. I’m trying to say the game is great and well worth your time. Even if you are tired of adventure games, this may just renew your interest.
Overall, Innchanted is a fun, hectic co-op experience. This is definitely one to recommend for the co-op night. As one of the customers quotes in the Inn, ‘It just works.’ While I was very impressed with the companion AI, this is still a game I would recommend playing with friends rather than alone. Currently, local appears to be the best experience, but hopefully, the online issues will be cleared up to improve the experience. Even with the niggles this is still something I recommend and will absolutely stay on rotation on my weekly game night with the coolest people in my life. We probably weren’t the best Innkeepers, but we sure had a lot of fun trying.
My thoughts are mixed on Pronty, but ultimately I swim away recommending it. The game’s presentation, level design and premise is unique, with its gloomy ruins of a once prosperous world that pleaded to be explored accompanied by a mesmerizing soundtrack. Combat is a bit of a mixed bag, with it being functional for the most part during exploration but hard to harness during tough boss battles. I appreciated the developers’ attempt at something different, but it didn’t click for me. Overall, Pronty is an adventure game that earns its place in the spotlight. If you’re in the mood for another 2D adventure game, this is one worth diving into the eShop for.
My favourite aspect of DREDGE is this is just a great game to chill to. After a long hard day at my real-life job, taking on the life of a fisherman proved to be quite cathartic. I had just as much fun spending sessions fishing, turning in my catches, and gradually upgrading my ship, as opposed to making progress in the game’s narrative. I didn’t feel rushed and was happy to take in the experience wherever my mood took me. Of course, it’s only fair this design won’t appeal to every gamer. Some might find the pacing slow or the gameplay repetitive. For me, the tackle reeled me in and never let go. DREDGE is the most fun I have had in a fishing game to date, and it gets my highest recommendation. If you want to try it for yourself, download the free demo on the eShop.
I didn’t think the combination of point-and-click and brawler gameplay would work, but BROK the InvestiGator smashed all my cautious expectations. Also, it is a refreshingly original game that provides flexibility to the player, whether you want to enjoy it casually or prefer a more challenging experience. I myself have become a bit tired of the point-and-click genre, but BROK changed my mind. This is thanks to the creativity and multiple ways to tackle the game’s puzzles. This is probably one of the few games in this genre I see myself easily returning to again. BROK is brilliant overall and easily a contender for Game of the Year. Do not miss this one. If you still need convincing, there is a free demo prologue to try on Steam.
Zapling Bygone is a dark and challenging platform adventure that I recommend. The game design feels familiar for an adventure game, but it’s the game’s presentation that makes it stand out, along with its steep yet rewarding challenge. If you love exploration, Zapling Bygone will reward you for your efforts, although this may not suit those looking for a guided or casual experience. During reviewing, the game is let down with regular crashes and the occasional performance issue, but hopefully, these will be ironed out with time. Ultimately I liked what Zapling Bygone was going for. It sucked me into its hive mind and made me a fan. If you’re up for the challenge it just might suck you in too.
DIG is the type of roguelike that maintains my faith in the genre, which shows no signs of going away any time soon. The premise is silly, it’s hard not to crack a smile, and the gameplay is so fun that once you start a run, it’s very hard to put down. There’s so much content to unpack, from characters to unlock to items to discover. I found plenty of small nit-picks, including difficulty with the hook shot, and sometimes the jumping was a bit awkward in boss fights. The missions felt a bit similar in design, but none of these niggles affected my adventure through the stars to save the galaxy. I absolutely recommend this to roguelike fans or anyone testing the genre for the first time. DIG is only on the PC now, but I sure would love to play this portably someday. Guess I need to start saving for a Steam Deck.
Caverns of Mars: Recharged is another worthy entry in the Recharged series. A quick pick-up and play arcade fun that will cost less than a trip back in time and a night out at the old 80s arcade. Plus, this has the added benefit of playing with a loved one, something that’s become a running theme in this series but is always welcome for local co-op fans. I liked my time with this title, but the experience feels like it stops a bit short in places and could use some extra development. This includes more level variation and upgrades and even an endless mode. As it stands, this is a decent arcade game. You may play a few times but might not return once you have had your fill.
Overall, I walked away appreciating Void Terrarium 2. The mixture of management sim and rogue-lite dungeon crawling proved quite an addictive mix which kept me hooked to the experience. I may not be able to speak much on the original game but this sequel feels bigger and more refined than the first. So if you liked the first, it’s likely you’ll love this. The gameplay loop often felt repetitive with similar mission structure and management and Torikos’ needs sometimes felt over the top at times. But it didn’t stop me coming back to tend to my garden and doing my very best to keep the fragile girl alive. Void Terrarium 2 feels like a great entry point for anyone ever deterred from the steep barrier to entry for roguelite games. With a more causal approach to difficulty, it provides plenty of incremental progress even if a run doesn’t go to plan. Once you get your head around the general mechanics, this is an ideal game to dip in and out of at your own pace and will likely find a happy home on your Nintendo Switch if you choose to pick it up.
Meg’s Monster is a game that tickled my heartstrings, something quite rare in gaming. The moment that hit the hardest was when Meg and Roy argued and later apologized to each other in a very adorable way. As a new parent trying to learn the hardest but most rewarding job of my life, I could not help but connect to the relationship between Roy and Meg. So it goes without saying I highly recommend this game. I will add caution because this game is pretty casual with minimal challenge. You’re playing this more for the story and less for the RPG mechanics. But if that sounds good to you, Megs Monster might be the monstrous cuddle you need in your gaming life.
Ninja JaJaMaru: The Great Yokai Battle + Hell is a scrummy chocolate gateau (or insert preferred cake of choice). If you opt for the extra retro collections, they are the extra yummy cupcakes. What I’m trying to say is you’ll be spoiled for arcade and retro goodness for many gaming nights to come. If you can grab a buddy or loved one to share the experience, then I guess you can call that the extra sprinkles on top. So, of course, I recommend this collection and possibly convince you to seek out your favourite dessert. The only area of improvement, like a lot of these retro collections, is not a lot of depth given to the game’s history. Regarding gameplay, the core game offers some of the best modern arcade gaming I have experienced in some time, and the extra retro content feels like a wonderful bonus adding to an already golden package.