James Cunningham
Lumote is a beautiful game and if I've got any complaints it's that I want more.
What makes Lightmatter work isn't the puzzles or the story but how well the two fit together.
While Wattam can be a little awkward, thanks to replacing its camera stick with the simple rotation controls on the shoulder buttons, and easily beaten in three hours, it's a game that makes a strong statement that sticks in the mind.
Despite this, as mentioned right up front, I absolutely loved playing Indivisible. The combat being fairly easy just means the story has to carry the weight and the well-designed and animated cast is more than up to the job.
Audica is a fantastic rhythm-shooter but it does come with a small disclaimer.
Once a level is properly moving, though, none of that seems to matter.
Manifold Garden is an incredibly stylish first-person puzzler, like walking through the architectural drawings of a pandimensional designer.
Lonely Mountains: Downhill is easily the best mountain biking game available.
Valfaris is a dark, mean sci-fi trek through a corrupted landscape that can only be cleansed through fire.
There was a huge expectation put on Cube World since its alpha, and while things have changed significantly since then the resulting game is almost exactly as promised: a big open adventure to explore at your leisure, with no pressure beyond what you bring to it.
The Sojourn is a gorgeous first-person puzzler bursting with clever design and a rich atmosphere.
Metal Wolf Chaos XD is an exercise in pure Americana filtered through the cheesiest anime imaginable.
Most of the time the game is working properly, though, humming along with an endless series of pleasant tasks to chase after.
When story, mechanics and general weirdness and humor are taken all together it adds up to a wonderfully-unforgettable RPG about making an RPG. The story feeds into the game and the game leeches into the story until the two are utterly inseparable, but even if they could be divided the dungeon crawling is incredibly playable.
Amid Evil is a fantastic arcade-style FPS, fast and stocked with weapons that provide a satisfying impact.
Even with forty levels, My Friend Pedro can be beaten over the course of a few sittings.
There's still more buried in One Finger Death Punch 2, such as bonus game modes, unlockable and upgradeable skills, bonus levels, customization options, and entire maps filled with levels that aren't actually necessary to beat the game.
Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain is a different beast than the standard series but still an incredible pure-action run & gun shooter.
Islanders is a relaxing little builder more concerned with letting you get right to making the town than bogging you down with the details.
Despite all that One Piece World Seeker can't do, it's still a solid B game.