Incredible in its narrative and gameplay, Leila is a must-have game for puzzle enthusiasts as well as those simply looking for a great story to experience, though it is one that will trigger introspection and emotions both happy and sad.
Though its puzzles are simple and the gameplay uncomplicated, Koira delivers a heartwarming little story that is sure to win your heart over a relaxing afternoon, forming a bond between players, the forest, and their little light-up doggy in an artistic little story about friendship and nature.
AI Limit doesn’t have the strongest setting or presentation, but its gameplay blew me away. It surprised me that small yet impactful changes to the Soulslike mechanics create a unique and fun take on the genre. This shorter title is a blast for one to two playthroughs, which is more than fair for the price.
Spilled! is a short, cute little game with a fantastic message and a noble goal. Clocking in just under an hour of surprisingly fun yet simple gameplay, Spilled! will grant you a fun, relaxing afternoon and will donate a portion of your purchase to help protect the ocean’s wildlife.
Sonokuni stands out for its incredible sense of style, giving the game a unique identity and a wealth of hype-filled moments you won’t forget. While the story can feel a bit underwhelming and the difficulty a bit high, you’re sure to appreciate whatever time you decide to spend with this incredibly unique title.
Kaiserpunk has a lot of great ideas but feels as though it could have used more time in development before being released. Big changes to the game’s grand strategy mechanic and small changes to its city building could have made Kaiserpunk one of my new favorite titles.
Though a performance patch is definitely needed, BLEACH: Rebirth of Souls, at its core, is a phenomenal BLEACH game, capturing the style and substance of the series’ explosive battles and bringing its characters to life.
Cataclismo is an excellent tower defense title, providing some classic horde-defense gameplay with an incredibly unique building mechanic as a twist. Cataclismo’s 1.0 launch was a straight improvement over everything I criticized in its Early Access version, living up to my expectations and managing to impress me a second time around.
Though mostly faithful to the original, FATE: Reawakened remains a game hard to recommend to newcomers to the franchise or die-hard fans of the series, as it feels far too dated to keep the long-term attention of new players, and makes unnecessary changes that the fans don’t enjoy. Regardless, if you’re nostalgic for the series, it may still be worth giving it a try.
FragPunk stands out in the genre for its creative, reality-altering twist on familiar mechanics. Though I wish it leaned further into its unique aesthetic, it still distinguishes itself from the crowd and is absolutely worth trying.
Slime Heroes is a charming soulslike that serves as a fantastic entry point for newcomers to the genre while offering plenty of fun for seasoned players. The game’s highly accessible co-op makes an already enjoyable experience even better, allowing you to share the adventure with friends or family.
Grimoire Groves took a bit of time to grow on me, but once it did I found myself impressed by its relaxing, adorable atmosphere, its friendly characters, and its unique take on witchy farmcraft. A roguelite with an incredibly unique identity, fans of Stardew Valley and Hades are sure to find some love for this little game.
Everhood 2 is a delightfully strange RPG, one that combines bullet hell mechanics with a rhythm game twist to create gameplay that is as unique as its storytelling. The difficulty can feel a bit hard, and the songs a bit short, but you’re sure to find an unforgettable experience in this unique title.
Monster Hunter Wilds surprised me, improving on both areas I was critical of and loved in past games. A straight improvement in every way, Monster Hunter Wilds should easily become a franchise favorite for newcomers to the series as well as tried and true veteran hunters.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is everything I hoped for in a Like a Dragon game and more, presenting incredible action, impressive cinematography, and irreverent humor that kept me hooked all the way through.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage stands out in its genre for its shockingly real portrayal of its characters and the world they live in, delivering an experience that can be too close to home; the defining realism that makes the game something of a masterpiece.
Avowed doesn’t branch out much, doing a lot in familiar ways to other RPGs, but does them well and will nevertheless deliver a fun-to-play, story-rich RPG experience.
Microtopia is a factory logistics game that uses its clever ant theming to provide an incredibly fun production puzzle that stands out amongst its genre. Fans of games such as Factorio are sure to find some good, ant-y fun in this clever, modestly priced title.
Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered features a faithfully remastered take on three classic Tomb Raider games, with improved controls, graphics, and quality-of-life features, all of which can be disabled, creating the perfect package for faithful fans wanting a modern update on a nostalgic title, or die-hard fans who want to experience the games as they originally were.
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII improves on areas of the franchise that would make any Civ fan excited. However, a feeling of incompleteness makes the game feel rushed and hard to engage with, leading to what may be an example of a game that was launched too soon but may become better with time.