Bionic Bay is amazing. It's a game filled with passion and beauty in its brutal and unrelenting world, and has plenty to do after you've beaten its short campaign for the most determined of players.
Atomfall reminded me why I fell in love with open-world RPGs in the first place, offering the freedom to do what you want, but deal with the consequences of such. It'll be a struggle to survive, but it is worth it all in the end.
Lilac 0 is a fun shoot-'em-up that provides a tough challenge, great for veterans of the genre but not too friendly for anyone fresh.
Monster Hunter Wilds is an incredible entry into the franchise that provides a fun and smooth gameplay loop and a beautiful world to explore and hunt in. It's Monster Hunter at its finest.
Eternal Strands is an amazing adventure that excels in combat and exploration. Finding unique sights, battling fearsome bosses, and crafting incredible gear makes it extremely fun to play. Highly recommended.
SHOOPER NOVA is just plain and simple fun, with an addictive gameplay loop and satisfying visuals. However, don't expect much else from the main experience.
Luma Island is a nice and cosy game to play either alone or with friends, with plenty to do and discover. However, it can be very grindy, tedious, and doesn't really provide much of a challenge.
Critter Café is very cute and cosy, perfect for a younger demographic, but there isn't that much substance to it that made its 12+ playtime all that engaging.
Vampire Survivors's Ode to Castlevania DLC is an incredible labour of love for the very games that inspired it. It includes heaps of content, fan service, and just pure effort into such an amazing piece of extra content.
Viscera is a really great time, revelling in its endless enemies to kill and guns to fire. What's underneath those blood and guts can be shaky, if you're looking for something fun, dumb, and awesome, check it out.
Old Market Simulator teaches you the value of hard work, trading modern-day conveniences for satisfying gameplay that will keep you hooked, but lacks properly teaching the player of its many aspects and assumes some level of previous experience.
Lucky Hunter is very, very addicting. Its satisfying gameplay loop kept me coming back for more. Just be warned you might need to set yourself a limit before you find yourself losing a day or two to it!
Planet Coaster 2 is one of the pinnacles of the theme park simulator genre and while it doesn't have a smooth learning curve for newcomers, it's safe to say that those who have already mastered its systems will enjoy it immensely.
The Puzzle Maker: Cebba's Odyssey is an excellent puzzle game that will challenge and surprise you throughout all 200+ levels.
Reindeer Story is a nice game that can be surprisingly naughty in terms of difficulty and writing.
Duck Paradox is good but it will require a lot of patience and skill to get through 30 stages in one run. Patience, multitasking, and a little luck will go a long way. Just make sure you don't go too crazy.
Amber Isle is a fun prehistoric adventure that values the friendships and profits made in the game. However, it is held back by some issues that can get in the way of truly enjoying the experience.
Sammy Jukes: Twin Lakes is a nice and cosy mystery to solve on a rainy day, but don't expect something more complex than that.
REYNATIS is an excellent magical adventure set in the mean streets of Shibuya. With great use of its simple yet awesome gameplay mechanics, it's definitely worth your time, but be prepared to deal with less-than-stellar design choices.
Marko: Beyond Brave is good at its core, but its execution can be quite shaky. It has great presentation and methodical fights with bosses and enemies, but the iffy platforming and issues I encountered just left a bad taste afterwards.