In terms of time, it’s also worth noting that the game can take about twelve to sixteen hours to complete based on how you play it. Additionally, once more of the abilities and fast travel points have been unlocked, the traversal issues stop being a problem. This means that there’s really only one disappointing thing about this game once you get used to it: it eventually comes to an end. However, it's got some great endings. No spoilers though! So, check out DOOMBLADE!
Showgunners is a good example of turn-based combat set within a dystopian world that will take you, on average, somewhere in the realm of 15-18 hours to complete the full game. This isn’t a bad duration, but for those who want a more procedurally generated experience with a lot of replayability, this may not be the game for you. For everyone else, it’s a fun ride with a grisly world and an enjoyable if fairly standard combat system.
Strayed Lights is a fantastic game that deserves a whole lot of love, and the positives of the experience massively outweigh the negatives. It isn’t all that long at about 5-6 hours, but it’s exactly as long as it needs to be. So, check out Strayed Lights if you want a not-too-tough soulslike game that also happens to do a few new things along the way.
Mr. Sun's Hatbox is an action platformer with some simple base-building mechanics and a ton of humorous moments throughout its gameplay. If you want a game with some fun enough mechanics that are also full of silly moments, then Mr. Sun's Hatbox is for you. However, if you get a bit annoyed by repetitious humor, then it may not be for you.
Curse of the Sea Rats is, ultimately, a great game held back from even higher greatness by some of the design decisions that were implemented. It could have had a better start, and some of the mechanics could have been tweaked ever so slightly, but once you get into it, it’s a whole lot of fun. It’s probably better in co-op though.
Saga of Sins is ultimately a fairly clunky experience that has gameplay that, depending on your perspective, may leave quite a bit to be desired. However, it is a unique experience that is worth exploring, and if you’ve wanted a game that takes religious questions seriously rather than just using them as an aesthetic, this game is for you.
The Crown of Wu is an adequate game, but it doesn’t offer anything particularly new or different. It’s a game that may be worth getting if you’re really into 3D soulslike games and you’ve been having some trouble finding new ones worth playing. Otherwise, this is not a game that can be particularly recommended.
PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo is a great example of the visual novel genre and an immense step up from many other versions of this style of gameplay. It has a great story, although there is some weaker characterization in the early game, and it’s just fun to figure out how to use your curses on others while doing your best to avoid theirs. It’s a great game for lovers of the genre and mystery stories in general.
Have a Nice Death may have its problems, but it’s a great experience and one worth playing if you’re a fan of the genre. Plus, it has some of the best aesthetics in the business, and the little Death character is an adorable thing that is immensely fun to use as you destroy everything in your path. So, this game comes highly recommended despite the flaws.
Dust & Neon is definitely going for something, and it does include a very satisfying overall gameplay loop, but the technical issues can be grating in the long term as they are persistent, and once you become accustomed to the way things are done in the game, there’s no real deviation.
Tails: The Backbone Preludes is a great prequel that stands on its own perfectly well, and it will probably make someone more interested to see what the first game had in store for players. It’s a beautifully crafted game that deals with heavy themes and issues, and it does them well by alternating between various perspectives with wildly different worldviews
A fun, energetic, and densely packed mascot platformer with all the SpongeBob Squarepants references you could ever need. It’s entertaining for adults, especially adults with some familiarity with the source material, but it also isn’t hard enough to make it a game solely for adults. This would be perfect for a kid still learning their way around games.
SEASON: A letter to the future is just a beautiful game. It’s a game that comes highly recommended to anyone who enjoys narrative games with a strong focus on exploration. A narrative-oriented exploration game where it’s just you, the desolate world, and your ever-present, trusty bicycle.
ATONE: Heart of the Elder Tree is highly recommended and a fantastic narrative experience that went far too underappreciated in its original mobile home. A gorgeous exploration puzzle game with a fantastic rhythm combat system that presents a cinematically told and presented narrative and world.
Lone Ruin does have great music and it is a game with a fantastic central loop that is fast, satisfying, and full of variety. It’s just a shame that the game has so few additional options and no persistent progression.
Children of Silentown is highly recommendable to anyone who enjoys point-and-click games and narrative-heavy games, but doesn’t go in expecting moon logic puzzles or a funny experience. You won’t get either of those things, but if you want a dark experience set in a quiet town, then Children of Silentown is exactly what you will enjoy.
Chained Echoes is a great throwback to the old JRPGs of the SNES era, and for those who loved those sorts of games, this one is definitely worth your time. This game is also for those who are not looking for a nostalgia trip though. This comes from someone who does not ordinarily enjoy JRPGs, but Chained Echoes is chockful of content, systems, and loads of great characters and complex mechanics. You’ll probably love it if you do or don’t love those old-school JRPG classics.
Lil Gator Game isn’t a very long game, and will take 3-4 hours for standard completion, but those few hours are a good time that should make you smile. The game perfectly captures the way kids play and how quickly they’ll become your friends, such as by humoring a child who claims they’re invisible or helping someone get their mom off their phone so they can have the tea party they planned. It’s cute, it’s wholesome, and it’s highly recommendable.
Impaler is a boomer shooter that’s a ton of fun to play; it has an interesting mechanic in the gun and spike dual system, the movement is fluid and engaging, the ability to stomp and deal damage by jumping, and the occasional, somewhat random, activation of bullet time that, to be honest, doesn’t add much but does give the game something extra, all make this game engaging to play.
The Knight Witch is a fantastic freeform flying, bullet hell metroidvania with a fun, if unsubtle, narrative that should last about eight to ten hours. Although, that very aggravating water level may be a bit of a turn-off to many, but if you can get through that one irritating level, this is definitely a game worth recommending.