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.
Though it has some graphical errors and mild inaccuracies, Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator provides an incredible simulation of Paramedic life, one that can be as stressful as it is satisfying to play.
While it draws clear inspiration from Castle Crashers, Big Helmet Heroes successfully carves out its own identity with new combat mechanics, modern graphics, and its own unique sense of humor. This is a title that can easily be enjoyed by players of any age range.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is everything players wanted from a sequel, delivering more incredible open-world medieval adventures with a focus on realism and historical accuracy. Full of cleverly designed mechanics, surreal levels of immersion, and phenomenal writing, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is honor-bound to excite you.
Keep Driving is an incredible road trip adventure game, truly living up to the vibe of an early 2000s drive across the country. Every aspect of the game wowed me, and I was left with no desire other than to get even more from the experience. Here’s hoping the developers launch some future DLC for the game.
The ability to transform into unique, fully fleshed-out monsters with their own skill trees and abilities makes the gameplay of Coridden feel fresh and exciting. With up to four-player co-op, this ARPG is worth giving a try, either alone or with friends.
Sniper Elite: Resistance combines its incredible single-player experience with some clever multiplayer features, making a game that is truly fun to play, even with its lackluster enemy AI.
Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter is an incredible adventure game, one that will challenge you with its engaging combat mechanics, wow you with its incredible art and worldbuilding, and pull on your heartstrings with its powerful story, but not without making you chuckle at a clever rat pun or six in the process.
Eternal Strands serves as an incredible debut for Yellow Brick Games, stunning with its incredible visuals and wowing with its great magic system and enthralling gameplay.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth continues to blow me away with its thoughtful remake of one of the best games ever created, expanding the incredible story and opening up the gameplay to a more broadly appealing, exciting experience.
IDUN – Frontline Survival has some interesting mechanics and fun gameplay, hidden behind a veil of insufferable writing and hard-to-look-at and listen-to AI-generated content. If you can see past the game’s AI veneer, and mute the dialogue, you are still in for a pretty fun tower defense game.
Sword of the Necromancer: Resurrection is an incredible game, featuring unique mechanics that captivate your attention and a story that will break your heart. Presented with beautiful art and nostalgic graphics, this game is as much an art piece as it is a must-play.