While it has a long way to go in terms of bug fixes, content updates and finishing touches, Whisper of the House shows a lot of promise and offers a unique take on the cozy genre. On the surface it's an upbeat unpacking game, but underneath there are darker tones to uncover for those looking to unravel a mystery.
While Static Dread: The Lighthouse sets a compelling tone with its Eldritch horror setting and an eccentric cast of characters who each come to our doorstep with their own branching story to tell, it's massively let down by its tedious gameplay, which relies too much on repetition and not enough on generating actual horror.
Dead Take stands out in the genre of horror walking sims with its intriguing story, talented cast and FMV elements. Unfortunately its horror aspects are where it falls flat, as it tries to cram itself into the genre with the use of cheap jump scares and horror clichés.
While Heartworm isn't very challenging in its survival horror, its creative and well-designed puzzle elements still present a fun gameplay experience. It wears its inspiration of 1990s survival horror classics on its sleeve, while also making its own footprint in gorgeous, colourful visuals and lonely atmosphere.
While Luto is a beautiful game with experimental visuals and storytelling, holding an impactful message on the emptiness of grief, its pacing issues, inconsistent tone and lack of actual horror kill off the momentum set at the beginning of the game.
The Drifter's storyline gets a little predictable and corny in its third act, but otherwise this is a fantastic game for point-and-click puzzle fans. It has pretty faultless point-and-click gameplay, an excellent voice cast, and the perfect narration to set the tone in this pulp thriller story.
While The Brotherhood perfected its technique with Stasis: Bone Totem, Stasis is well worth a visit for point-and-click horror game fans. Its port to console is a little clunky, but the writing and atmosphere make Stasis well worth the time.
For those hoping that this DLC will provide answers to what the Beira D drilled into in 1975, or even just an experience of exploring more of the crew's stories, you will be disappointed in Still Wakes the Deep: Siren's Rest. But if it's simply more Still Wakes the Deep content that you're looking for, no matter the direction, then this DLC provides.
The Alters is a unique survival base-building game with addictive gameplay and a memorable, engaging and deep storyline. What's more, it's easily replayable for those reaching for completion.
Yes, Your Grace 2: Snowfall offers everything the first game did, but worse. While being a struggle to get through due to its launch bugs, flaws exists within its storyline and gameplay which are much harder to fix.
BrokenLore: DON'T WATCH offers a more intense, close quarters horror experience than its predecessor. Once again being just over an hour long, this can be completed in one sitting and builds up to what is looking to be a great anthology horror set.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is a visually gorgeous slog of a game that lacks a plot until over halfway through and characters that no amount of cute hangouts could make me like.
Blue Prince is an extraordinary achievement in puzzle games and its scale is incomprehensible and unlike anything I've seen in this genre before. This game is more than just a journey of an heir claiming his inheritance.
While Atomfall's ending left some significant questions unanswered, it is immensely fun to play. With multiple avenues to explore in this gorgeously crafted world and a quest system that doesn't hold your hand, it really feels like the story is in the player's hands.
YOUR HOUSE is a brilliantly creative text-based narrative puzzle game that uses every tool at its disposal to remain as interactive as possible while still delivering a great narrative in the form of a digitized novel.
Wanderstop has officially pulled me into the cozy game genre and is a beautifully moving game which realistically portrays the long and difficult journey of burnout recovery, while also being as hilarious as you would expect from the creator of The Stanley Parable.
While BrokenLore: LOW could have done with more detail in its environmental design, it's a neat horror game that can be completed in an hour and sets up the following instalments to the BrokenLore series well.
Dead Letter Dept. is a unique indie horror game that puts an intense twist on the 'admin simulator' subgenre.
8/10: Radiant - Jess Recommends
While the storyline doesn't quite hit the same as its predecessor which is amplified by the longer gameplay length, The Rise of the Golden Idol still has very engaging gameplay and puzzles. I'm happy to say that I was hooked once again.