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.
Threshold has some interesting ideas but it very bare bones both in terms of gameplay and storyline.
Death of the Reprobate is an incredibly silly point-and-click puzzle game which uses Monty Python-style humor and an art design consisting of Renaissance paintings to create a hilariously random experience.
Tormenture does a fantastic job at modernising Atari classics such as Adventure for a modern audience while also being one of the scariest horror games of the year. I recommend this both to fans of the Atari classics looking for a nostalgia hit and younger horror game fans.
While We Wait Here isn't a bad game but it didn't impact me as much as I thought it would, being a story about a group of highly different characters seeking shelter in a diner during what might be the end of the world.
While Hollowbody is a beautifully designed survival horror game visual and audio-wise, its clunky controls and camera which has a mind of its own made it very frustrating to play.
Mouthwashing is an impactful game, telling a bleak story about an ill-fated crew and how the game's greatest horrors live amongst them.
Pneumata takes inspiration from Resident Evil but completely forgets what makes these games entertaining. While it initially showed potential, this bloated survival horror is immensely unfun.
Apartment Story isn't perfect but is ideal if you're looking for a short flick that can be completed in one sitting. It features an interesting mix of genres and a story that fits in well with the length, neatly wrapping up at the end.
The Casting of Frank Stone starts off well with an interesting premise and slow build so we can get to know its characters. Unfortunately it spends too much time on this that it forgets about the payoff.
The Crimson Diamond is a colourful retro-style detective game that gives you plenty of freedom to explore your own case while also making you think outside the box to solve challenging puzzles.