Erik Hodges
Duck Detective: The Secret Salami is an adorable little detective story with great characters, clever writing, and a genuinely interesting mystery to solve. Clocking in just under two hours, you’re sure to get at least one great afternoon out of this clever and entertaining Ducktective Noir.
With a ton of player customization options, some nice base management, and fun turn-based combat mechanics, Crown Wars: The Black Prince is a no-brainer buy for fans of the genre looking for their next favorite game.
Die By The Blade delivers fast-paced, deadly skill-heavy combat for players to master in 1v1 battles. While not perfectly balanced, the game features some awesome cosmetics and exciting gameplay that will surely hook fans of the genre in for the long haul.
Men of War II is a fighting return for the legendary RTS franchise, featuring deep strategic gameplay and unique new game modes to keep you playing forever. Fans of historical strategy games are in for strategic intensity and explosive action in Men of War II’s epic battles.
Mullet Madjack is something between a clever parody and a loving tribute to the genres it was inspired by, full of both clever critique and engaging writing. Throw a fast-paced, exciting, and super-addictive gameplay loop on top of that, and you have my new favorite title.
Though some aspects of the game may be polarizing, Dread Delusion is undoubtedly a unique and exciting title, built for fans of classic RPGs to enjoy. Some will love it, and some will hate the game’s retro aesthetic, but no RPG enthusiast can deny the game’s excellent world-building and engaging stories.
Fabledom is a truly unique spin on the city-building genre, giving you not only a fable book makeover but a unique set of fantastical obstacles to overcome. Adorable and colorful but not afraid to be challenging, the game provides plenty of challenge for the city-sim veteran, as well as a charming political and romantic element that helps keep the game fresh.
ROBOBEAT has a personality all on its own, presenting a unique experience that is much more than just a fun spin on the rhythm game genre. Absolutely oozing with style, it demands to be experienced to get what it offers truly. It is a fun romp with thrilling visuals, exciting action, and an emphasis on excellent music catered to your particular tastes.
Little Kitty, Big City sets off to do something simple and does it well, delivering a fantastically cute and charming little cat game where you can do everything you expect a cute kitty to do. Short, sweet, and relaxing, Little Kitty, Big City just might be one of the best games to let out some stress and get up to some adorable kitty hijinks.
Undead INC takes an amazing concept and fails to fully realize it. Be it a lack of time or vision, the game feels incomplete, coasting off a great idea and doing very little to execute on its own potential. You might find something to enjoy in Undead INC, but I personally don’t recommend it.
INDIKA is an utterly unique, psychedelic, and strange title, telling a wonderful, thought-provoking story filled with striking imagery and wonderfully bleak humor.
Sand Land captures all the style, action, and soul of Akira Toriyama and his manga of the same name. With exciting vehicle customization, combat, and timeless design, fans, and newbies will surely find something to appreciate about this titanic anime title.
Another Crab’s Treasure is a Soulslike but for fans and newcomers to the series alike, creating a hilarious, exciting nautical knightly adventure for audiences of all ages.
Though at times a little slow, Phantom Fury will easily outpace your expectations, delivering a delightful experience that pays homage to classic American action flicks and stands out within its genre.
While not your most traditional “game,” Harold Halibut is without a doubt a true work of art, something the likes of which we haven’t seen before and are unlikely to see again.
Withering Rooms feels incredibly nostalgic and yet does plenty of new things, making for a horror game that utterly stands out. Its creativity, downright amazing writing, and incredible characters will suck you in, and the tense, ever-present horror of the Dream will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Broken Roads is a charming, phenomenally written, and incredibly engaging RPG about life in what remains of the Down Under, and is equally likely to break your heart and put a smile on your face with its wonder storytelling and characters.
I wasn’t able to get far in Monster’s Domain, gatekept either by overtuned enemies, frustrating mechanics or bugs that kept me from proceeding or wanting to try. In the end, Monster’s Domain feels like a promising game that is nearly ready to go into early access. Unfortunately, however, this beta test for a strong premise has already hit its full release.
Revival: Recolonization is a 4X game that, while still feeling familiar, offers its fair share of innovation. Though it can be slow at times, it has a ton to offer, and with its unique takes on mechanics and style, the game is sure to offer something for the tired 4X fan looking for something new.
Children of the Sun is everything I love in a game: Fun mechanics, creative direction, and a fantastic sense of style proudly displayed in the game’s art and story. Fans of gritty storytelling, telekinetic sniper challenges, and just killing cultists will love this pulpy murder puzzle game.