Sarim Irfan
Wanted: Dead is an alleged slasher-shooter that only ever manages to slash my interest and shoot its respect for me as a player in the head. Save your bullets and play something else.
In a golden age of indie roguelikes, Death or Treat barely manages to eke out a silver lining.
Ufouria: The Saga 2 charms, almost delights, then falls flat on its feltwork face. The cutest dud of the year.
Gunhead has potential to be something great with its traversal and strategy, but is marred by uninteresting boss design, drab levels, and little use for its overblown arsenal.
With art to die for but pacing that will kill you, Mato Anomalies is a fun time hampered by its own ambition. The city of Mato is worth a short trek, but maybe not as deep a dive as it invites.
Midnight Fight Express is built around its encounters, yet does nothing to build them in meaningful ways. This train is going nowhere fast.
Outside of its wonderful characters, Soul Hackers 2 is mostly just competent. There's fun to be had, but it ultimately feels plain.
Bang-On Balls: Chronicles has its shortcomings, but when ball's said and done, it's a fun short romp.
A delightful moveset coupled with an overly punishing challenge ironically makes Mr. Run and Jump a balanced recommendation. It will be great, but it will demand the most of you.
Tai's trusty cricket bat hits a respectable over in this short and sweet dungeon crawler that'll scratch that back-to-basics itch.
Great use of an inventive central mechanic and tight combat make Nocturnal a fun, short romp that's worth exploring.
Strayed Lights definitely tends to stray from what makes its central mechanic great, but manages to wander its way back to the light, and offer a truly charming time.
Sucker for Love: Date to Die For is everything it sets out to be and more, even with its few stumbles. For fans of any one of the genres or influences it honours, you are in for a smile-inducing, yum-awakening treat.
With equal parts heart, art, and spark, Invincible Presents: Atom Eve is a short and sweet visual novel that both new and existing fans of the series will have a ball with.
A deadly and delightful dance of blood and unholy darkness, The Last Faith is an enjoyable Metroidvania that honors its inspirations while being a fun time in its own right.
Mortal Kombat 1 adds new systems, tells a new story, and introduces a new game mode while still being exactly what you know and love.
30XX quickly shifts into top gear to provide a memorable, addictive roguelike experience that might just earn a titular number of runs.
Like the savvy swashbuckling outlaws of yesteryear, En Garde is a daring romp that will most assuredly sweep (or kick) you off your feet.
The Bookwalker truly made me feel like the driving force of a narrative, with an engaging central relationship and a mystery that kept me turning to the last page.
With incredibly engaging combat and the greatest parry this side of Sekiro, the journey through this fallen dynasty only ever goes up.