Cat Capacity is a title I would advise coming into with caution. Its muddled art style won’t work for everyone. For me, the game scrapes a pass for a few reasons. For starters it didn’t have any obvious bugs which hampered its gameplay, it felt like a complete experience. I also really admired the solo developers’ attempt at something original here. Certainly rough around the edges and plenty of room to improve the gameplay which lacks depth. I still ended up playing through the entire two-hour experience which did hook my attention. I hope the developer continues as if they continue at this trajectory they will be onto a winner in the near future. Cat Capacity is not purr-fect but there is certainly fun to be had. Want to try the cat antics first? There’s a free demo available on Steam.
Zniw Adventure is a family-friendly dinosaur adventure suitable for absolutely anyone that loves point and click titles or dinosaurs. The game does an excellent job of entertaining with its fun sense of humour whilst also slipping in some interesting snippets of education if you’re willing to give it a look in. One I would easily recommend to share with young gamers or those that just want to go back in time and enjoy a wholesome adventure with dinosaurs.
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.
Loop Odyssey is an interesting idea but I just don’t think it’s for me at this stage of my life. The reason for this is that this type of experience is just incompatible with my current lifestyle. I don’t work in front of a PC for my real-life job and even when I do spend time writing articles on PC it’s not hours at a time. Which wouldn’t allow for the time needed for this to grind away in the background. That been said the game is well put together and knows what it aims to be. I can see some gamers really getting into this concept. It’s a shame a demo is not currently available to allow folk to see if this works for them. Loop Odyssey is a long grind to enjoy in very short bursts but does require your PC to be on for absurd lengths of time. If that sounds like fun to you then get looping.
Tunnel of Doom is another rogue-lite hit for me. I continue to be amazed that developers can find new spins on this genre. Tunnel of Doom will suit the gamer that wants to take their time and plan things out. It also just feels a bit more flexible than a typical tower defence game. Sure quick reflexes may help you but the biggest rewards for this game come from slowing things down and learning from your mistakes. While this is a tale of doom and gloom, as a video game it’s highly entertaining and well worth your time if you’re looking for a new rogue-lite adventure.
Scarf is an enjoyable 3D puzzle platformer with a low difficulty but a very big heart. It’s ideal if you’re looking for a casual game to enjoy with minimal stress. A short experience that doesn’t outstay is welcome. The only mild niggle I had is some of the formulas to the puzzles became a touch familiar over time. Still, it’s a very cute game with a nice relaxing soundtrack (another one to add to the list on Steam). Whenever I put on my scarf while I’m out and about this winter it will be hard for me not to think there’s a hidden dragon spirit inside it.
Aspire: Ina’s Tales, ticks all the right boxes for a puzzle platformer. I don’t feel that the game quite lives up to other games in this genre but it’s a very good attempt from the developers. What works best is the beautiful art style, music and an experience that most certainly doesn’t outstay its welcome. However, the slightly awkward controls is a design that may not work for everyone. I enjoyed my playthrough and the developers have certainly sold me on their soundtrack. If you’re looking for a title to enjoy on the sofa with a blanket and a good drink with your headphones plugged in then Aspire is a good choice to make on Nintendo Switch.
If you’re a fan of Asteroids, love your retro games or need a game to enjoy in short bursts. Asteroids: Recharged is easy to recommend. The Recharged series may be starting to show a repetitive formula but it’s a design that works. There could be room for improvement but it gets the core gameplay right. Asteroids: Recharged is a fun arcade game and for most gamers, that’s all that counts.
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.
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.
I admire Speed Mazing designing their game to be suited to all audiences. But unfortunately, it’s hard to recommend this game based on what little content it has to offer in its current state. The game really could do with more variety and depth in its gameplay. I can see the logic in playing this with a youngling but I can’t see this title lasting more than a few game nights at best in terms of attention span. I don’t like to bring up the price much in games but it is hard to ignore that many other games offer more at a much lower price. The developers’ hearts are clearly in the right place but this is a game you’ll speedily forget.
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.
Revisiting KOTOR was a wonderful experience on Nintendo Switch. I found it surreal that once upon a time I was playing this game on a monstrously large console and now today I can play it portably. KOTOR felt like a title from the golden era of Bioware and while it certainly has its rough edges and flaws in places. It doesn’t deter this from being a classic well worth your time whether you’re a Star Wars fan or not. Credit goes to Aspyr for recreating those nostalgic feels in portable form. May the force be with you.
Grab Toy doesn’t offer many thrills or bring anything particularly unique to the experience. But if you’re looking to scratch that puzzle itch and want something relaxing that is available to you at a nice cheap price, then consider giving this a look. For me, the game just about scrapes a positive review, since I feel the developer set out what they wanted to do. I feel this would probably be a nice game for a parent to sit down and enjoy with their child as a cute bonding exercise but maybe that’s my imagination running away with me. Probably the best game with a rhino in it I’ve played this year but not the best puzzler.
Ghosts and Apples at its core is a nice little puzzle game that is very pleasant to pick up and play in small gaming bites. If you love your puzzlers and are looking for something a little different I recommend giving this a shot. My only caution is the game does require some fast reflexes to get the most out of it. A design that doesn’t appeal to all puzzle fans particularly if you’re coming into it looking for a more chilled experience. The game also feels like it would be oodles better if you could enjoy the main game in co-op. At the end of the day Ghosts and Apples is a little charmer that can be enjoyed any time of the year not just Halloween.
Gynoug is a relic from the past that I had an absolute blast playing in the present. It took me back to a simpler time of gaming. One where you don’t need excessive plot and gaming gimmicks to impress. Just solid gameplay. Of course this style won’t appeal to everyone. Some folk might question why the game wasn’t just remade from the ground up. Gynoug, for me, has aged surprisingly well as a Mega Drive game and if you somehow missed this back in the day, now is a great time to try it at a fair price point.
Skeletal Avenger is a solid dungeon crawler with rogue-lite elements. The graphics are not the best and the game feels a little light on the perks when compared to other games in the genre. But what one can’t deny is the amount of fun I had playing this game. Randomly generated levels with satisfying gameplay and the ability to play locally made for a winning mixture. The game may feel a little bare-bones in places but it has the meat where it counts. Play alone or grab some friends and get avenging the skeleton way.
Centipede: Recharged is a fantastic love letter to the legacy of the games. By keeping the gameplay formula simple with the added power up tweaks this feels like an arcade game worthy of being in its own cabinet. It’s just kind of a shame arcades are dead now, in the UK at least. This is a simple but addictive high score chasing fun. Add to that a brilliant soundtrack and neon retro visuals and you have a winning formula. The cherry on top is you can also enjoy the game in co-op with a friend, loved one or that neighbour you never say hello to. This brings back all the great memories of the high score chasing arcade games and I certainly look forward to more classic games in the Atari range receiving this treatment.
My Singing Monsters: Playground is a decent party game that feels suited to a game night for players of all skill levels. It may also particularly appeal to its fan base from the mobile platform. But once the party is over the game doesn’t have a lot going for it and that has always been the main niggle of these party-style games. I will give the game this though, when the monsters did start to sing at the end of a tournament it did bring a smile to my face. That’s gotta count for something.
Cotton Panorama may be remembered as the experimental entry of the Cotton series. For its time it was a worthy attempt at something new but by switching into the new perspective the game lost a lot of the simple pick up and play charm the other games are known for. It would have served better as an additional game in a Cotton collection but as a standalone release, this entry is really only for the most dedicated Cotton fans. I’m still grateful I got to experience this entry in a wonderful series of games. But if this game was chocolate in one of the variety tubs it would be the one I would eat last… after gorging on all my favourites.