Hellboy: Web of Wyrd is not without its hiccups, and one such problem seriously needs to be addressed as soon as possible by the developers. Besides this, the game is clearly a labor of love, faithfully recreating the look and feel of the Hellboy comic’s art style and characters. Unique takes on gameplay make you feel like a true badass demon from hell, slugging down mooks as you seek out the secrets of a mysterious world before it’s too late.
Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 – Turbocharged gives players the adrenaline rush of a high-speed race paired with the wackiness and freedom of a toy car track. An absolutely massive collection of cars and customization options means there’s always something to work towards in this game, and an expansive level editor means multiplayer races are always interesting. Real-life Hot Wheels collectors and racing game fans alike have something exciting in store with this brand-new, high-octane title.
ENDLESS Dungeon takes a familiar, lore-rich universe and throws it into new territory. The clever combination of roguelike and tower defense elements creates a unique spin on both genres. The wealth of characters and enemy varieties means you always have something cool to shoot at and someone cool to shoot at it with. While the game is stronger with friends, multiplayer and solo campaigns will surely delight with brutal gunplay and banging Western sci-fi tracks.
Wizard with a Gun is a game about quick-drawing wizards blasting away the forces of chaos with enchanted bullets, and what more do you really need? While the game is certainly playable solo, it can get a bit lonely and sometimes even kind of dull without a ‘pardner by your side. If you’ve got a few friends willing to blast their way through the apocalypse, load up Wizard with a Gun and get shooting.
Long Gone Days presents an interesting story and likable characters, and that alone is worth giving it a try. However, a failure to fully commit to the game’s message can make emotional moments feel a bit hollow at times, devoid of the weight it should be having. That paired with missing basic features like an autosave function and uninspiring, boring gameplay can make the game a bit hard to get through. Focus on the story, the wonderful pixel art, and the great soundtrack though and you will find something worth appreciating in this game.
Wargroove 2 is a fantastic strategy game full of fun and interesting characters, both of the individual and disposable variety. Fans of 4X gameplay should find familiar and engaging strategic combat in this game. Though a little repetitive once you master the game’s nuances, a custom content editor and excellent writing make Wargroove 2 a game you could easily lose hours upon hours within.
The Lamplighters League is a solid, if a bit underwhelming XCOM-like that is digestible to newcomers to the genre, if not totally fulfilling to veterans. While the game features a strong setting and aesthetic, somewhat lackluster voice acting, poor dialogue writing, and tired genre-specific mechanics hold it back from its full potential. The game is far from a pass, however, and if the premise really excites you, you just might find it more enjoyable than I did.
Take another stab at life with High on Knife, a slime-squelching and poppers-huffing adventure with everyone’s favorite stabba. Though I experienced some serious performance issues in a very prominent part of the DLC, I’m convinced Squanch Games can and will patch that out before it becomes a real problem. So grab Knifey, new friend Harper and all of your other Gatlians (and don’t forget your B.A.L.L.S) and rip and tear through another wacky and weird adventure.
The Fabulous Fear Machine is a phenomenal narrative-driven strategy game that should hook you on its stories and keep you interested with its brain-stimulating gameplay. The phenomenal art compliments every aspect of the game, from its uniquely presented levels to its fantastic writing. Give into your desire for power and spread a little fear with this rare and fantastic title.
Paleo Pines is a competent farming game with some interesting takes on Dinosaur care, and if that’s all you’re looking for you will most certainly find it here. Unfortunately, the game follows many other releases in the genre in its lack of imaginative or meaningful changes on tired and familiar gameplay, with the things it does right few and far between. If you don’t mind the lack of imagination and lackluster visual presentation, Paleo Pines would be a good game for you, but might be better for a younger audience or someone who’s yet to play a farming game.
El Paso, Elsewhere is a rare gem that I think everyone should have in their libraries. Fans of shooters and the supernatural share common ground in this phenomenal title, filled to the brim with rich writing, a unique world, and gameplay and presentation absolutely packed with personality. El Paso, Elsewhere is sure to be one of the most memorable gaming experiences you’ll have this year, perhaps ever.
Lies of P is a surprisingly good game with an interesting world to explore and fun twists on classic soulslike mechanics. Though the interesting world and characters can be held a bit back by poor translation, and the game can feel obscenely punishing at times. I never felt like the game I was playing was bad, and I only quit when I needed a break from the screen. All in all, Lies of P is a must-have for soulsborne fans and something to check out if you’re interested in the unique twist on a classic tale this game has to offer.
Beyond the new enemy types, fancy new graphics, and a handful of well-designed levels, I’d say it’s business for usual for the Payday series. With improvements over the second game and the promise of continued dev support for what could be years, I’d definitely say it’s worth upgrading to the new title if you’re a big fan of the second. However, these promises are blindsided by serious server issues and simple quality-of-life problems that need to be addressed first, so I suggest you keep Payday 2 installed for the time being. If you aren’t a die-hard Payday fan and you’re looking into an entry into the series, I’d give this one a pass and hit up Payday 2 until these problems are addressed.
Though a bit derivative and lacking in the narrative department, Moonstone Island provides unique gameplay for its genre and is something definitely worth checking out if you’re a fan of farming-type games. With a bit of work and a lot more confidence, I believe the developers behind Moonstone Island could step away from their Stardew Valley inspirations and make a game that’s truly unique and addicting to play. While I can recommend the game at launch, I certainly hope the future has more in store than what we have at the moment.
Phantom Liberty and the 2.0 Update feel like a totally new launch for Cyberpunk 2077. With a new, hostile, and alien district and story for V to explore, along with huge overhauls to the base game, you’d struggle not to find something new and exciting to do in Night City, no matter how many playthroughs you’ve done so far. Phantom Liberty sets an amazing precedent for what an RPG game expansion could be and gives me hope that CD Projekt red will continue pumping time and love into this fantastic game.
Ugly is a fun and interesting puzzle platformer that tells a dark story in an unconventional and engaging way. This tale of macabre memories shouldn’t take you too long to complete, and will challenge you with stimulating mirror-movement puzzles throughout. It is safe to say that Ugly more than lives up to 2023’s standard of excellent game releases.
Gunbrella is an interesting horror-noir with satisfying platforming and combat physics, the kind you can only get when you combine a gun and an umbrella. The game moves quickly when it needs to and slows down a bit to give you lore and introduce you to its characters, without ever killing the great pacing you’d expect from a side-scrolling shooter. Once again, Devolver Digital has published an indie darling that should quickly pick up a Cult 45 following.
MythForce is a truly unique and exceptionally fun co-op game that I’ll be logging a ton of playtime into in the near future. The clever combination of cooperative shooter and roguelike mechanics paired with a super unique presentation make for a game that is as memorable and interesting as it is fun to play. With near-infinite possibilities for future expansion and no microtransactions, MythForce is a game that could be a staple in your library for years to come.
Eternights is a humorous and raunchy adult dating sim that cleverly fuses itself with a grim action adventure. Good comedy writing combines itself seamlessly with the dark reality of the setting, presented through beautifully designed levels and masterfully animated cutscenes. Everything in Eternights meshes together wonderfully, and if you’re a fan of anime you’re sure to enjoy what this game has to offer.
Chants of Sennaar presents you with a big world, a big secret to discover, and a monumental task to complete. Though daunting at times, the peaceful experience of exploring, solving puzzles, and deciphering ancient languages is a unique experience that anyone of a scholarly temperament should enjoy. If you love puzzles, language, ancient lost secrets or all three, Chants of Sennaar is definitely a game you should give a try.