With its intriguing narrative hook, Erica's premise is enough to pique any FMV fan's interest. Sadly, clumsy plotholes and unnecessary choices weigh the game down, and it doesn't quite deliver in the end. It's still entertaining enough if you're looking for a different kind of movie night, though.
Super UFO Fighter is a party action game from developer VV-LABO and publisher Phoenixx that lets players duke it out by hoarding gachapons. The mechanics are simple and it can be pretty fun for a while, but it can lose its spark much too quickly after a few rounds.
Memories Of East Coast is an aesthetically pleasing visual novel that draws you in with stunning hand-drawn art and lo-fi beats in the background. Unfortunately, it doesn't have the same masterful execution when it comes to creative writing, but if all you want to know is how the story plays out, then game can be a non-demanding way to pass the time.
Watch Me Stream My Mental Breakdown is great fun for a couple of hours or so. The casual nature almost made me wish I could play it on my phone every so often, if only really for the card game. Still, it's a nice break from the more demanding games out there today, especially if you're looking for something new.
Leisure Suit Larry: Wet Dreams Dry Twice tries its best to keep the lewdness of its titular character intact, but ultimately falls flat on the delivery. It's great fun as a point-and-click game, though, and-coupled with stellar voice acting, vibrant graphics, and a compelling protagonist-is a breath of fresh air from the seriousness of the world today.
Phantom Breaker: Omnia is a 2D anime fighting game from Rocket Panda Games that aims to bring back a well-loved franchise. It caters to hardcore fans of the IP as well as newcomers with its simplified controls, and offers an entertaining experience when you're looking to do some mindless bashing for a session or two.
Castle Morihisa is a roguelike deckbuilder from Smokingbear Studio and Thermite Games set in a fantasy feudal Japan. It's not the most original game, but it does serve as a bit of a palate cleanser if you're looking for a roguelike deckbuilder with a different set of visuals.
Rescue Party: Live! is a frantic co-op game from Tag Studio and 505 Games that puts your time management skills to the test in disastrous scenarios. It's not the most original game, but it does offer entertaining and laugher-filled sessions for the whole family to enjoy.
Scarlet Hood and the Wicked Wood is a fun and quirky retelling of storybook faves packaged nicely in an adventure game. There are multiple paths you can take to get to your goal, and supposedly multiple endings too-so if you can get past the odd mouse-slash-keyboard controls and the occasional rage-inducing puzzle, it's a steal.
Wolfstride is a stylish RPG from OTA IMON Studios and Raw Fury that features turn-based mech battles, quirky humor, and gorgeous art. Characters have a penchant for dragging, melancholic, over-the-top dialogue, which may not be everyone's cup of tea.
Cyanide & Happiness: Freakpocalypse stays true to the zany antics and dark humor of the franchise, and packages it as a point-and-click adventure that makes absolutely no sense (but that's actually okay). It may not appeal to players who have no clue about the franchise, but it's bound to be an absolute delight for fans-or anyone who appreciates a twisted joke every now and then.
Cloud Gardens is a dystopian sandbox puzzle-slash-sim from Noio where you make the most of the apocalypse by making plants grow. It's an ultra-Zen title that forces you to slow down, think about life, and do a little gardening - which is a totally welcome experience for when you need a breath of fresh air in today's suffocating world.
With its vibrant artwork and nostalgia-inducing soundtrack, Fire Tonight is a low-pressure journey through young love and all its joys, even against the backdrop of a city on fire. It’s a short-but-sweet experience that’s really more about the story than the challenge of the puzzles, which, considering its lighthearted vibe, is totally okay.
Rubber Bandits is a wacky multiplayer beat 'em up from Flashbulb that lets you team up or compete against others for the perfect heist. It's not the most intellectual game out there, nor is it the most original, but if you're ready to turn your brain off and indulge in a good laugh, then you're in good company.
Voodoo Detective is a hand-drawn point-and-click adventure from Short Sleeve Studio that takes players on a cultural journey on the Zo Wanga Isle. It's a great tribute to retro titles in its genre, so if you're a fan, diving into this one is definitely worth your while.
We'll Always Have Paris is a point-and-click visual novel from Cowleyfornia Studios that deals with what it's like when a loved one has dementia. It's a short but sweet exploration of true love across generations, and is a definite must-play when you need to shed a cathartic tear or two.
Omno provides a great escape from this suffocating world we live in today through its complete absence of any gloom and doom. Jonas Manke a.k.a. StudioInkyfox initially created this passion project as an escape on Kickstarter, and it really does deliver. Just be sure to play this game on a platform that doesn't just fulfill its minimum requirements-I had the misfortune of installing it first on a PC that was so choppy and laggy I couldn't even make the shortest jump across two platforms.
Bonkies offers families and friends a hilarious way of playing together through intense cooperation set in the vast unexplored unknown of space. The relaxing background music adds to the overall light-hearted nature of the game, but that's not to say you can take it easy. You'd better be ready to get your act together and use your hand-eye coordination like your life depended on it-because when it comes to space construction, there's definitely no monkeying around.
Too often these days, our games are so preoccupied with achievements, trophies, levels, and all kinds of complicated crafting and weaponry that we don't normally just sit back and play a game-really play a game-and actually have fun without any kind of pressure at all. Phogs! allows you to go back and experience the fun of a game at its most basic-and that's not always something even AAA games can pull off.
Can't Drive This takes the typical driving game and twists it into this insane, chaotic, ultra-fun couch co-op that honestly makes me wonder where this game has been all my life. The gameplay is simple-one player builds the road while the other drives-but it's guaranteed to demand all of your time and effort, so be prepared to laugh (or fight) with your family and friends for hours on end.