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.
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.
Ayo the Clown ended up being a wonderful platform surprise for me. The developers put a lot of care and attention into this project and it really paid off in the final product. While I did have a few niggles with the controls, this was a highly entertaining game that I found very hard to put down. On top of that, it carries a beautiful message about acts of kindness to other people. Even if you hate clowns Ayo the Clown might be the game that finally makes you think overwise.
Road 96 is a glorious achievement in game creation. Once I got to know the characters and played two runs of this game I was hooked until the end. It’s a game that I thought about when I wasn’t playing it and it didn’t take me long at all to pick up the soundtrack on Steam, which was playing in the background of the creation of this review. A rogue-lite game with an emphasis on story choices and narrative feels like something that shouldn’t work but it does. Road 96 is truly something very special and gets my highest recommendation. This is one road trip not to be forgotten.
Shadowverse: Champions Battle is a highly enjoyable card-based RPG. You don’t need to be familiar with the anime to get into this. This is a great title to sink absurd hours into whether you have 5 minutes or 5 hours to spare. Accessible for newbies while offering plenty of incentive to card veterans. The last card-based RPG I sunk this much time into was the Pokemon Card Game on Game Boy. But I think that game now has a new contender in my gaming world. If you draw this card from the deck of the eShop be sure to give it a try. If you want to try before you buy. Be sure to check out the free demo on the eShop
Even all these years later Spelunky has still stood the test of time as one of the most original concepts in the roguelike genre. Brutally hard, but just the right amount of challenge that just pokes you to keep trying. Often I sit down to only play five minutes, which can lead to hours. Even though I probably sunk hundreds of hours into this game over the years it still somehow feels fresh to this day. An absolute masterpiece of gaming that one can finally enjoy on the Nintendo Switch.
I initially didn’t warm to Spelunky 2. When I first tried this on PC I found the entry difficulty level to be a bit too harsh even for someone who sunk so much time into the first game. But this time on Switch things really started to click and I was once again into the endless replayable gaming void of the Spleunky verse. Splelunky 2 is a brick wall of difficulty. Some days I rarely got past the first cave system but darn, was I having fun. But when I least suspected it I discovered a new mystery or level I had never seen before. Spelunky 2 is a fantastic addition to Nintendo Switch and just like the first game, it will be hard not to sneak in a quick game every time I see its icon on my Switch dashboard.
G-Darius HD is one of the finest entries in the series. A fine example of a 2D game moving in the 3D realm in all the right ways. Maintaining the core design of the series whilst adding the excitement of the arcade. Love your schmups? This is an essential purchase. New to the Darius series? This is a good place to start and one of the more affordable games in the series on the eShop. M2 recreated the arcade atmosphere with fine precision making me feel all the thrills and pleasures of that era from my youth which seems so far away these days. Whenever I need a lift in the spirits G-Darius HD will easily be a game I’ll reach for.
Clockwork Aquario is just a wonderful arcade experience that had me grinning throughout. As a retro gamer and Wonder boy series fanboy this seemed like probably the best early Xmas present I could ask for this year (that’s gaming related). Now putting my fandom to the side I will point out this is a very short arcade game with very minimal extras. Some may feel this doesn’t justify the price of entry. However, this art style is gorgeous, the game is co-op and the feel-good factors I had playing this more than justifies the praise that this product deserves. Clockwork Aquario may have been deemed unsuitable for the industry back in the day but it sure fits in now and I’m grateful to have been given the opportunity to experience it.
Cruis’n Blast is a fantastic explosion of arcade goodness. If you’re looking for an arcade racer that’s just about having fun and enjoying some good music then this is a must buy. It is also a great game to enjoy with up to four players locally, even for players not well versed in racing games. The entire time I was playing the game I had a huge smile on my face from the comfortable controls and the utterly absurd spectacle on display. Plus, this game has dinosaurs, which is always a win in my books. The game may be incredibly short but it’s highly replayable. Cruis’n Blast will not be leaving my Nintendo Switch anytime soon and hopefully, you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.
Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon will absolutely scratch that puzzle itch if you’re looking for something original and different. A simple pick up and play concept that is easy to get into but offers plenty of challenges to keep you coming back again and again. With extensive options and accessibility. This title offers an experience you can tailor to your liking which I can see many gamers appreciating. This may be the PC version I’m reviewing but I will likely grab this game on Nintendo Switch as it truly feels like a pretty brilliant pocket puzzler. So, grab a shovel and get puzzling.
Flynn: Son of Crimson may just look like another 2D adventure, something that there really is no shortage of in releases this year alone. But this one ranks up easily as one of the greats. Tight combat, a great soundtrack and an adventure that is short but instantly replayable. Flynn: Son of Crimson is a game that doesn’t waste your time. I don’t remember a moment where I was bored or frustrated despite playing many games like this before. It even gave me Wonder Boy vibes which is always good in my book. Plus it has one of the coolest spirit dogs in gaming. A fantastic way to top off 2021 for me and I hope you too find the time to check it out.
Tunic left a very positive impression on me. I haven’t enjoyed an adventure game like this in quite some time. Tunic cleverly drops the player in its world and just lets them discover things for themselves without feeling overbearing or confusing. It’s a feeling I don’t think I have felt since the good old retro days. Most of all I left most sessions with a smile whether I made progress or not. If that sounds good to you, then I strongly suggest checking it out.
Imp of the Sun is a shining beacon of light. The game feels like it has some limitations with its short length and repeated template to reach each boss. However, it feels like the developers took the budget they had and made sure not to waste any frame of this game. It plays well, sounds great and looks unique. Some gamers will expect more which is fine but to me, this title ticks all the right boxes for good game design. I very much look forward to the developers’ future work.
Nobody Saves the World is an excellent title from Drinkbox Studios. The studio has pretty much proved that they are capable of tackling any genre and turning it into an experience that is challenging, addictive and entertaining. Nobody Saves the World should not be compared to Diablo or Zelda because in my opinion it’s in a league of its own. One of the best games I’ve played this year. I highly recommend picking it up on Nintendo Switch.
Dysmantle may not seem like much from its appearance but there is a highly addictive survival experience here. Survival games are often hit and miss, sometimes the survival elements are a bit too much and more often than not the experience eventually dissolves into tedium. But I didn’t get that here, I found myself pretty keen to boot this game up over and over and set off into the unknown to see what I discovered. While overall game progression is slow, you always seem to unlock something through every play session. I never felt in a hurry to get off the island. I was pretty content to take in everything on offer. If you’re looking for zombie-infested island adventure alone or with a friend, you can’t go wrong with Dysmantle. I highly recommend it!
While I did manage to find a few things to nitpick there is no denying I kept coming back to this game run after run. The random generation of the character types and level design is so enormous that every attempt at taking down the castle felt different. On top of that, the controls are tight and easy to use and the game is overall enormous fun to play. Rogue Legacy 2 is everything I loved about the original title with so much more added to it. Unless you absolutely hate the rogue-lite genre there is plenty of incentive to jump into the sequel thanks to its accessibility features and general refinements to the gameplay. Even years from now Rogue Legacy 2 is sure to solidify itself as one of the best in the rogue-lite genre. Well at least until the next game that is.
Gibbons is a game that really clicked with me from the moment I picked it up. I’ve reviewed many games for this wonderful website and lovely surprises like this keep me coming back to writing time and time again. I will add some caution that this game will not click with everyone. Some will likely see this as simply a Monkey swinging simulator, and the gameplay may not click. It’s rare to play a game where the developer’s message resonates so clearly and leaves me thinking for days, contemplating and inspired. I’m a huge supporter of animal charities myself, and this felt like such a good way to bring awareness to an overlooked issue. I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to cover this game. I sure hope you give it a chance too. If not, then please consider supporting a charity that speaks to you.
Moo Lander checks all the points for a good adventure game. One can argue that some of the shooting is not as tight as other space shooters. And the challenge from the cow bosses may be a little steep for some gamers. For me, the controls and pacing have just the right amount of challenge. I decided to rate Moo Lander higher because it just goes that one step beyond with its memorable premise and excellent art and story presentation. Moo Lander is a game that’s easily going to stick with me for some time. When I do come across someone that asks the important question ‘what’s the best video game with cows,’ I’ll know where to direct their attention.
Video Game Fables is an example of a game you shouldn’t judge by its cover or in this case graphical style. It’s clear the solo developer has put a lot of hard work into creating this world whilst adding some unique flavour to the RPG mechanics with its levelling system and use of critical moves. With flexibility in the levelling system, it allows the player to really create the RPG experience that suits them. Sure the game has a little grinding and some sections feel they go on longer than needed. However, the sheer originality and effort on display here, is why I decided to give this the highest recommendation. I found plenty to love and hopefully you will too.