Alyssa Rochelle Payne
Don't Be Afraid 2 faithfully recreates the first's horrific atmosphere and shifts its focus to escape rooms. More puzzle variety and a grander scope could've elevated the experience, but it's still a worthy pickup for fans of David's story.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard isn't BioWare's best work, but it's good. Offering a beautiful world and a ton to do, heading back into Thedas is an easy choice for some. For others, the downgrade in writing and limited combat might be a dealbreaker.
Sofie: The Echoes looks like a compelling story-driven shooter at first glance, but it's rife with awful enemy AI, optimisation issues, poor design choices, and game-breaking bugs. Steer clear of this one.
Garden Witch Life has fun gardening gameplay and a lot of potential, but the good is overshadowed by underbaked characters, awkward progression, bugs, and a lack of "witchy" elements.
Copycat has visual charm and enjoyable cat-based gameplay, but with a short runtime and poorly executed story, it isn't worth your time, especially if you love cats.
The Crimson Diamond is a cosy retro-style murder mystery with an excellent story, enjoyable puzzles, and a charming protagonist. This is a must-play for anyone who loves text-based adventure games or wants an accessible, modern entry point into the genre.
The Casting of Frank Stone takes Supermassive's tried-and-true storytelling and mixes it with Dead by Daylight's lore to tell a chilling, gruesome tale that's highly replayable and accessible to non-DBD players.
Innovative, memorable, and well-written, Vampire Therapist is easy to recommend to visual novel fans and anyone interested in cognitive behavioural therapy.
Until Then is a story-rich adventure full of standouts: its beautiful pixel art, relatable protagonist, realistic character dynamics, and thoughtful representation of Filipino culture. It's a coming-of-age tale worth experiencing.
SCHiM uses shadows in delightfully creative ways, turning ordinary objects into astoundingly helpful tools. This wholesome, vibrant 3D platformer offers an adventure that shouldn't be missed.
The Lullaby of Life is a relaxing puzzler with lovely visuals, excellent pacing, and a calming soundscape. This beautiful, bite-sized adventure is definitely worth exploring.
Scholar's Mate is an interesting entry in the horror genre, blending an eerie atmosphere with escape room gameplay, but its tricky puzzles might not be for everyone.
Distant Bloom beams you up to the cosiest alien planet you could dream of. It has minor issues, but they don't detract from the cute, relaxing experience as you revitalise a wilted world.
Spirit City: Lofi Sessions is a lovely interactive productivity tool that radiates positive, relaxing vibes. With cute spirits and customisations, getting work done has never been so cosy.
With striking visuals and satisfyingly smooth combat, Death of a Wish is an action-packed RPG that you won't want to miss.
REAL ESTATE Simulator - FROM BUM TO MILLIONAIRE is a dull, repetitive sim that lacks depth. If you're looking for an original, dynamic real estate game, you won't find it here.
Though it could do with cutting some of its jumpscares, the creepy atmosphere and premise make The Complex Tragedy worth a try if you're looking for a short indie horror game to spend an hour with.
Garden Life: A Cozy Simulator is a beautiful game that offers a relaxing experience, but some design choices clearly need extra watering. Unfortunately, its stylish charm can't make up for repetitive gameplay and lacklustre progression.
Boxes: Lost Fragments is a beautiful, wondrous puzzler. Setting aside the thin narrative and short runtime, the creativity and attention to detail are remarkable.
This bite-sized romp through the stars is thoughtful, visually beautiful, and incredibly inclusive, but you might find its simple gameplay loop a bit too easy to be engaging.