Testament: The Order of High Human is one hell of an achievement of a game made by a team of 15 people. It has all the best parts of the RPG genre with some new features that just keep you coming back for more. This combined with a gripping story and inspired world design, you’ll have a hard time putting the game down. Things just get better with the odd puzzles you’ll find and the literal mountains of lore to be discovered. This is one of those games that you just have to take your hat off when you consider the detail and the developer team size but also, The Elder Scrolls has some serious competition now.
Aliens: Dark Descent is definitely a game you’d want to play because of its interesting twists in the RTS genre and the gripping story to go with it. Between the visuals and sound engineering in the game, you’ll likely feel a similar stress as your marines while getting the same satisfaction from gunning down aliens when they try charging at you. From top to bottom, this game is great for newbies or old fans of the franchise.
Trepang2 is a fun blast from the past with a lot of modern aspects and a story you’ll need to work for. You’ll be left guessing after each mission until you can piece everything together, though this is a really nice driving point that’ll keep you coming back for more. This is a first-person adrenalin pumping game that can appeal to any player because of its simple but wild, chaotic atmosphere.
Nocturnal is a brilliantly executed game with an amazing story, if you can find it in the notes. For those who don’t have the patience for it, this game might seem more like a drag, but it is well worth the effort if you want to know more about Ardeshir and what happened on Narhan. If you’re still not sold on it, then you might end up staying just for the music and amazing visuals, at the very least.
V Rising and its latest major expansion, Secrets of Gloomrot might become the next major hit with its unique survival and building mechanics, but also the combat system. The Gloomrot area, in particular, is a shocking change of pace and scenery while bringing a whole new set of challenges to face off against. However, it also brought in a lot more for the vampires who like to stay at the castle and decorate.
Ash of Gods: The Way is an inspired turn-based strategy and deck-builder game that deserves all the praise it can get. From the story to the gameplay, there are almost no flaws to be found, and the gameplay just keeps you coming back for more. Each match is a new challenge with different rules to play by, and this keeps things fresh and interesting. For a small indie studio, the team did a spectacular job with Ash of Gods: The Way, anybody else looking to make a game in this genre should take a few tips from them.
Bramble: The Mountain King has so much to offer. It’s almost a miracle that everything fits into just one game, with its incredibly rich story, diverse world, and the many twists you’ll encounter. This game has proven to be a masterpiece that isn’t just played, it is experienced and can appeal to anybody who wants a great story… And possibly a look at some of the more bizarre creatures from Nordic and Scandinavian folklore.
Homestead Arcana is the next big step for Serenity Forge with a masterpiece of a game. From the well thought out sights, plant life, and even the occasional hostile animal to the incredible storytelling. You'll find yourself losing more time than any game should let you, but you won't regret a single second of it when you're out exploring and learning more about what happened before the Miasma took over.
DREDGE can come off as a bit underwhelming if you’ve never played it. The same can be said for most games with a Lovecraftian theme. It’s the type of game where you have to dive into the deep end and see for yourself just how much this game has to offer. The story might be a bit vague to follow unless you go out of your way to find everybody and see what they have to say, but this is well worth it.
The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales is a refreshing combination of different genres and viewpoints with an epic story to drive everything forward. Everything from the strange but rich narrative to the characters comes together to give us something close to a masterpiece. The only downside is the minor issue that appears when trying to interact with certain objects. However, even with that tiny flaw, The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales is a must-play because of its unique take on the genres it embodies.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess has so much to explore and delve into, and there is never a dull moment between the chaos of pushing back the hordes of Seethe and the peaceful moments of rebuilding the villages. Between the inspired world and character designs and the enamoring ambiance, that’s already more than enough to keep anybody going, but the best aspect of this release is how well it blends tower defense with action adventure. This is without a doubt another gem from the infamous Capcom that you’ll want to experience for its story and beauty.
Contra: Operation Galuga might have been an unexpected remake of an ancient classic, but it’s definitely a remake we needed. For those who want to relive their childhood or want a little blast from the past without being there, this release might be the best remake we’ve had in years. Between the upgraded visuals, new cinematics, and voice acting, Contra: Operation Galuga will most likely take a spot next to its predecessor in the Hall of Fame for years to come for both new and old gamers.
Persona 3 Reload is a lot more than just a remake; it’s the reimagining we all needed and got. With the game getting a lot of polish and some new features, there’s never a dull moment when you’re jumping between school life and the Dark Hour, and the nostalgia might just make you want to dust off your old consoles to binge through the Persona series again. While Persona 3 Reload can be a bit slow to get off the ground, it’s well worth the wait simply because when it eventually takes off, you might not be able to keep up with everything going on.
Enshrouded is one of the greater Early Access games to release, with how much there is to do and see. The story might not be as linear as you’d expect at first, but everything slowly unfolds and becomes clear as you explore Embervale, and that’s also what drives the plot forward. You’re not just trying to survive; there’s a driving force through the story that gets better as you go, and the same can be said for the crafting side, as well as, this also expands as you progress. Enshrouded might not be as hyped as it could be, but it is definitely a must-play for gamers who like a good survival game.
Lil’ Guardsman is one of the better deduction games that takes on a very cozy approach with its art style and voice acting, but it keeps you hooked on its story. Fans of social deduction games will definitely enjoy this strange release for its incredibly strange and whacky events, but they’ll also be pleasantly surprised at just how deceiving looks can be.
Dungeons 4 looks set to be the biggest sequel to an already great series of releases while maintaining the same level of over-the-top quality and brilliant story. Though it’s also one the most of the most fleshed-out games out there with so much to keep you sucked in, whether you’re looking for a good story or just some strategy with a challenge, you’ll likely get exactly what you’re after.
The Invincible is far from just a story-driven game, it’ll tell you a story but allow you to make the hard decisions and you’ll get the story you need. With a good majority of the plot and details extracted from a novel, it’s refreshing to see just how perfectly executed this was. It’ll leave you wanting more as you keep uncovering Yasna’s story. This is the type of game that gives you a rich story and unholy amounts of detail in one space-fueled shot. It’s a masterpiece that everybody needs to experience, not just for its beauty but also for what it is as a whole.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is the long-awaited masterpiece we all need. It might not have all the mechanics from Dungeons & Dragons, but it does have enough for even a newcomer to start getting into it while getting an intensely rich story to experience as well. With its epic character customization, dialogues, and vast world, this is definitely the type of game you’d get lost in for hours on end. Aside from the unfortunate downside to going multiplayer, this game is still best experienced with friends, provided you get along well enough. Or not, the chaos is still great.
Remnant II is a brilliantly unforgiving game that can and likely will go extremely far, though this is what makes the game so great. Combine that with the droves of lore and detail in the world, and you end up with a game that’s damn near impossible to put down because you’ll feel the need to keep trying and see what happens next. The best aspect of Remnant II is that you don’t have to play co-op, with the right Archetype and weapons loadout, solo is definitely possible and still makes the game extremely approachable for players of any skill level… As long as they have the patience for it.
After Us is one of those rare masterpiece level games that need to be experienced, with an incredibly touching story, amazing gameplay and drool-worthy music to go with it all, you might come for one thing but you’ll likely stay for it all or maybe just to see the story through to the end. After Us has nearly endless layers underneath the overall design, but going deeper is what makes every second spent playing the game so much more rewarding.