Bust of Move Everybubble! (sorry, Puzzle Bobble) is a solid return to a much-loved arcade puzzler. If you have been away from the series for a while, this is a welcome return to see an old friend. If you’re new, this is a great jumping-on point if you’re looking for one of the best arcade puzzlers in the genre. A hearty challenge to enjoy alone or with friends. It falters a little for me by its lacklustre Versus mode, which doesn’t quite recapture the thrill of the arcade games. Still, the experience was enough to bubble up all the warm moments I have had playing previous entries in the series with my wife. And in time, I hope to share this with my boy. Now, for the love of all that is bubbly, can we have a new Rainbow Islands game Taito?
Abalon is an excellent package that brings the excitement of the tabletop experience without the need for a big table or friends, for that matter. Some may find the difficulty spikes a bit unfair in places with its battles and unfair dice rolls. But for me, this only added to the excitement of the experience. Anyone that has ever sat down for a night of tabletop gaming may recall you can have the worst run possible, but so long as you’re having fun, it doesn’t matter. And I had a lot of fun with Abalon. On appearance, it feels like another familiar fantasy dungeon crawler, yet its attention to its gameplay makes this a wondrous experience to play through. Abalon will whisk you away on an excursion for however much time you can spare.
Overall, I’m lukewarm on HRO: Adventures of a Humanoid Resources Officer. I liked the Sci-Fi premise and world-building, but all these elements didn’t combine to make the most interesting story. Who knows, maybe I just made the wrong choices, or I’ve watched too many Sci-Fi TV shows recently, which grabbed my attention. Still, HRO has a lot going for it, with multiple solutions to problems leading to different outcomes; if the experience hooks you in, you will want to replay it multiple times. If you fancy a good read and are tired of action games, get your best brew ready and settle in for a more relaxed game night.
If Death or Treat is your first foray into the action roguelike genre, then you will find a lot to love about it. For those more versed, you may find a very overly familiar experience that doesn’t reinvent the formula. I fall more into this latter category. I liked experimenting with the different weapons and builds before venturing off on a new run, but I felt like I’d done this all before. Death or Treat is not a bad game; it succeeds in what it sets out to do, a fun experience to grind away with a fantastic art direction. Suited to those looking for a short gaming fix or ready to settle in for a good game night. Halloween or not, you can enjoy this any day of the year.
On glancing at the game’s original Kickstarter page, I was drawn to the stretch goals, which would have included a Switch port, a new character, multiplayer and much more. So I could not help imagining the game that could’ve been. That being said, I place Transmogrify in the category of a developer making the absolute most out of a small development budget. Transmogrify is an enjoyable puzzle to play in short or long gaming bursts. The experimental design of the puzzles is rewarding. There are a few niggles with controls and the odd bug. Yet overall, I admire the developers’ effort to try something new. I liked it but didn’t love it. I hope this game does get the attention it deserves, as it would be great to see the developer build on this for their next project.
Overall, I liked Murtop for the small price of entry. It provides solid hopping arcade fun, doing a top job recreating the look and feel of games from that era. If you’re looking for a simple gaming hit to satisfy those retro urges, then you should be satisfied by what’s on offer. But some players might expect a little more from the experience, such as more variety in gameplay. Murtop is very much an arcade title that feels like it is from the 80s and hasn’t evolved from that era. If you’re happy with that, then it’s well worth its small asking price.
Gemtombe is a good original arcade puzzle with a nice happy tone to it. As mentioned, this feels like a good beginning. But other games in the genre have had a long head start meaning this still feels like it has a bit of catching up to do. The game could just do with a bit of refinement in more areas. More depth to the puzzle gameplay, more game modes and more levels. This package is fine, but it feels like the starting point of something much better to come later. If you need a quick arcade fix, then keep this on your radar when scanning the eShop.
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.