However, as a whole, Life & Death feels like it has more love and attention to detail than any DLC in recent memory. For those who are fans of occult gameplay, the breadth of afterlife features is spectacular, and even for those who aren’t huge fans of occult DLC, the additions regarding things like funerals and inheritances are very versatile. Arguably one of the very best Expansion Packs the current iteration of the franchise has ever seen, The Sims 4 Life & Death is so good it’s scary.
Just Dance 2025 is exactly what fans will expect.
Frostpunk 2 is an innovative take on management.
The game also showcases a great sense of humor on every level, from eccentric gameplay and entertainingly-nonsensical arguments to small details like its ads, which are designed by fellow developers and feature Easter eggs for other games like Cult of the Lamb. Especially considering the game's $16.99 price, it's easy to overlook some of its flaws, like repetition or a few buggy conversations where characters spoke too far apart, when it's so genuinely clever on every level. Crush House doesn't require a preexisting love of reality TV to enjoy - only an appreciation for true ingenuity.
It's particularly impressive the way the game manages to subtly corral the player by changing areas slightly over time, creating a largely linear experience that still feels like it offers some level of free exploration. The very short length of the title and the fact that the overall gameplay is never that complex may be a drawback for some, but it's the sort of title that's more about the overall experience. Thank Goodness You're Here! is a wild, clever ride that's incredibly unique, and a great way to spend an afternoon.
The multifaceted way combat works as a whole in the title is still impressive despite the aforementioned repetition, however, as is the overall gang hierarchy system concept. It's not perfect, but it has a good baseline of gameplay and has one of the most important qualities a roguelike can have, which is feeling a sense of learning something new each time around. For players looking for a new way to try out tactics in a rich sci-fi setting, Space Prison is certainly worth a look.
The main story is only a few hours, but finding every creature will take a solid amount of extra time. Flock doesn't just provide a great sense of wonder, but a large amount of relaxation as well, and forces you to be very present - the smallest movement in the grass can mean a new discovery. The world is remarkably beautiful, and the act of something like simply flying through the forest with an eccentric-looking flock as the sun rises, listening to the wind and the calls of animals, is amazingly serene, and makes Flock a truly special experience.
The overall racing in the game has a unique feel to it, capturing the chaotic arcade fun of the original Sprint arcade games while also feeling like a true expansion of the gameplay presented in previous entries. Though it has its shortcomings, the quality of life features, extra modes, and opportunities to be creative that it offers make for a satisfying followup so many years later. Whether players are fans of the original entries or just fans of the genre looking to try out a new kind of skillset, NeoSprint offers a special kind of racing experience.
The game feels like an escape into nature where players are also able to make meaningful change at their own pace, and is a lovely way to wind down at the end of a long day. It's certainly not a cozy game that can be played indefinitely - or, in truth, even for more than perhaps 10 hours at the very most, depending on how fast players opt to progress - but the time that is spent is overall quite endearing. With charming visuals, calming music, and a bevy of adorable frogs to be adopted and given silly names, Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge offers a fun, amphibious twist on a well-trodden format.
While the game isn't quite an Oscar winner, it's certainly good enough to be nominated, bringing a fresh take on classic mechanics in a very satisfying way. It offers so much room for players to be creative, and with future plans for new features and content packs, that potential has even more room to grow. For long-time fans of the genre, Blockbuster Inc. is arguably a must-play, and newcomers will likely find a lot to enjoy too.
It may not be a perfect deckbuilding game, but Zet Zillions still creates a very engaging atmosphere through creative mechanics, bold aesthetics, and fantastic music. For only $10 it's arguably still a fair amount of bang for one's buck, and is worth looking into for roguelite fans looking for something new.
Despite its romance mechanic shortcomings and the fact the main character can sometimes feel a bit bland, the game still does a great job at being an engaging visual novel. The first Sucker for Love was more like a looser exploration of a silly idea, but Date to Die For has really taken those concepts and run with them to make something much more defined and worthwhile. Though largely leaning into raunchy humor and horror, the title still manages to raise a few poignant questions about just what love and death mean in its roughly five-hour runtime.
Acolyte of the Altar is a creative deckbuilder.
Though short, the time players do get to spend in the world is made immersive and engaging through its diverse map, classical soundtrack, and ambient nature sounds. It's definitely one of 2024's most relaxing puzzle games so far, and I found myself thinking about Arabella and her strange plants even after I'd finished the story. Because of its length, some players may wish to wait for a sale to pick up Botany Manor, but it's an undeniably charming title that's great to explore and unwind with.
Spirit City: Lofi Sessions is a focus tool game featuring lofi music to help gamers unwind and complete real-life tasks. Gamers can collect Spirits, customize living spaces, and facilitate real-life tasks.
The plight of the goblins and their allies vacillates between heartwarming and viscerally upsetting, with deft storytelling that's nearly impossible not to be enraptured by. Though some bits drag, the game's strategic depth, beautiful environments, and adorable tiny details like the fact goblins sometimes trip as they run across the landscape greatly help offset this. Goblin Stone as a whole is an incredibly creative undertaking, and has a lot to offer any fantasy, turn-based strategy, or roguelite fan.
The world is full of beautiful locales, and seeing beloved characters like Teemo and Rumble not only brought to life but made incredibly entertaining is a lot of fun. With a lower price and a slew of content, the title is a delightful new way for fans to delve into the world, and contains hallmark mechanics that make it worth a look for cozy players even if they aren't familiar with LoL. Despite its lulls and occasional overcomplications, Bandle Tale: A League of Legends Story is an adorable, imaginative take on an established universe that has a lot to offer.
Though largely surface-level, a lack of depth isn't necessarily a detriment for a release intended to be this lighthearted. It's a game where players can steal thousands of dollars as a turnip in a ten-gallon hat using a gun fashioned from a frog, and that's enough in its own right. The series' foray into the roguelite and shooter genres is a largely triumphant one, and Turnip Boy Robs a Bank is a more than worthwhile way to spend an afternoon.
The world of Tomarang is beautiful, and there are several meaningful cultural inclusions like recipes and furniture that will undoubtedly help some players better reflect their own life experiences in-game and tell more meaningful stories. The EP may not add as many impactful features as a release like Growing Together, but the renting mechanics will help bring creativity into entirely new places both in terms of building and gameplay. The Sims 4 For Rent is by no means perfect, but it nails its titular feature and adds more overall creative potential to the game than many other recent releases for the franchise.
Despite these missing quality of life features, SteamWorld Build still manages to be fairly addicting. Sense of progress is consistent enough even with occasional moments of waiting, and making discoveries feels rewarding enough to keep things engaging. The varied environments found throughout the game all feel uniquely designed, and accompanied by the blend of ambient sounds and satisfying soundtrack, the world as a whole comes off as intriguingly charming. Though it may not feel absolutely complete in its systems, SteamWorld Build is still a worthwhile venture for players looking for a creative new management sim.