The Gold Master Series by Digital Eclipse is one of the best things to ever happen to video games, and when all is said and done, Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story may just be its magnum opus.
Dragged down a bit by its unnecessary roguelite elements, Astronaut: The Best is an exciting and eccentric adventure into the unknown, and also space I guess.
Among its kind, Smushi Come Home stands out with incredibly fun changes to key mechanics and a tight, but satisfyingly large world to explore.
Few games this year deserve a spotlight as much as In Stars and Time does. It is undoubtedly going to end up as many people's favorite thanks to its dedication and commitment to a unique vision.
Incredibly stylish, beautifully violent, wonderfully voice-acted, surprisingly emotional and incredibly enjoyable: Slave Zero X is an absolute indie powerhouse.
Pacific Drive will end up as a highlight of 2024 for anyone seeking a fresh experience. Unfortunately, some quirks and genre trappings make it a little less wondrous than the Zone itself.
A truly fresh 3D platformer that is not afraid of going against the grain, be that with unconventional controls or referential humor, Yellow Taxi Goes Vroom is a game I will be thinking about a lot.
SPRAWL's menacing aesthetic, exciting gunplay and an unbelievably good soundtrack make for a yet another fantastic FPS campaign that leaves me wanting more in the future.
Orten Was The Case is a clever time loop story that delivers with the right expectations, but suffers by its commitment to wonky movement and a lack of commitment to an emotional narrative
Bandle Tale is the final game under the Riot Forge banner, but thanks to its lovely soundtrack and a unique focus on resource management coziness, the project goes out with a bang
This eccentric reexamination of games many consider to be the worst of all time is a resounding success. Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore proves that you can find inspiration in all that brings you joy.
Though Dungeons of Aether stumbles in some core mechanics, the clever combat system and phenomenal art make for an exciting entry into the roguelite genre.
Though its ceiling is apparently early on, Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara is an enjoyable speedrun game, just make sure to change up the default controls!
While Loddlenaut failed to make me care about its cute fish in the long run, it ultimately delivered a poignant, memorable message, while also delivering on its promise of cozy underwater cleaning gameplay.
The lack of impact ultimately prevents Planetiles from reaching its full potential, but does not prevent it from being enjoyable for a few hours. It just loses its luster sooner than I hoped.
Whether or not Lullaby of Life resonates with the player is entirely based on whether they can still find wonder in the basics: the sounds of insignificant interactables and abstract shapes.
Invector: Rhythm Galaxy has trouble figuring out its licensed soundtrack, and the combination of returning and brand new issues leaves the series in a difficult position moving forward.
A collection of obscure Jurassic Park games that adds a unique bug and is lacking options may not sound very appealing, but it does allow for personal re-examination through an overall successful preservation.
Atlas Wept is poignant in some ways, but hollow in others. Hard to recommend, but not misguided. Mechanically sound, but emotionally confused. Hopefully not the last project from the developer.
With a short campaign, lack of online play at the time of release and undercooked fighting mechanics, Sclash puts its worst foot forward to deliver an underwhelming experience.