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Fortune Seller offers a new take on the ideas that made the likes of Balatro a huge success, but its mechanical innovation is limited. The idea of playing a sort of Tetris while finding the right Tarot and spell combinations to rack up huge scores sounds more engaging than it actually is. Fans of the genre will appreciate the variety and the relatively quick runs.
MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is a solid first-person shooter with a great twist that cannot carry the game all the way. I loved the black and white cartoon presentation initially and liked the classic mechanics. But after three or four locations, the presentation is no longer surprising, and the gun battles start to feel repetitive.
It thrives with experimentation, although it’s definitely complex and can deter some of the newcomers, especially in the few hours. The game’s core design is still compelling, and they do a very good job at creating a foundation for a new type of game here.
Wardrum’s combination of mechanics is intriguing and often fun. Fans of turn-based tactics and rhythm titles should try it if they are curious about how the two mix. Keeping the beat during attack sequences while also putting together a solid battle plan is challenging.
Invincible VS is a very fast-paced, engaging 3 v 3 fighting game with a lot of heart. While it can be great for newcomers to the Invincible world, it’s certainly geared towards fans of comics or TV series. It has excellent gameplay, outstanding combat, and it relies you on mastering your skills, especially as you play online.
Vultures - Scavengers of Death is a throwback, a game that’s does not shy from telling players that both its universe and its gameplay are inspired by Resident Evil. The shift to a turn-based combat system adds to the complexity, while limited ammo and health create a solid challenge level.
As a complete package, Aphelion mostly lands, especially when it comes to the story. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you engaged, and it’s one of those games whose story cleverly combines a variety of emotions. You will be scared, happy, and also curious to see where everything goes. I enjoyed the game’s ending, but I can see some people will dislike where we leave these characters.
Rhythm Doctor doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, but the gameplay that it provides is engaging, fun and very addictive. You will find yourself trying to play one more time, hoping you’ll achieve a great rating for the next level. Plus, the spin they added where you are healing patients with these beats feels very fulfilling. It seems like you’re doing something more than just enjoying your time, you’re also helping people feel better, too.
Wax Heads is an impressive achievement. It delivers a great mix of varied music, great record graphical design, exquisite fictional critical texts, and narrative. The universe built around Repeater Records is a lovely one, filled with cool customers and interesting co-workers. Make sure to unlock and play all the songs that were specifically recorded for the game.
Hank: Drowning on Dry Land is a short game, but a well-made one. It knows what it wants to be and it definitely doesn’t overstay its welcome. The focus is on sharing a great, relatable story and one that only gets better as you play. Granted, you can finish it in 30 minutes, but it ends up being a very fulfilling, albeit sometimes frustrating game that you will remember for quite some time.
MotoGP 26 continues to refine the series, and it has some notable additions. It’s more of an incremental upgrade rather than a massive new entry, but that’s fine. You get the latest tracks and riders from the real MotoGP, along with a great career mode, the exciting arcade control system and even Ride Off, which I found to be quite fun to mess around with.
Reclaim! Azhe-giiwewining does not have the deepest story or the most complex mechanics in the adventure game genre. But it does have the power to bring a whole new culture and mythology to a player’s attention, giving them an entry point to then further explore the Ojibwe cultural universe. I started reading about their history and language after my first hour with the video game.
Lunchbreak Tactics is a smart and fast auto-battler that plays to the genre’s strengths. A complete winning 12-battle run can take under 20 minutes once gamers understand the mechanics and know the type of team they want to create. The fast speed, with its cool rock soundtrack, condenses a battle to under one minute. The game looks good, and developing a team during the shop phase involves a balance of long-term thinking and luck.
Ayasa: Shadows of Silence is the first game for Aya Games, and you can see that from various issues like bugs or a lack of polish in some areas. However, for a debut game, this is quite good, because it manages to create its own style, stick to the idea and it embraces the weirdness more often than not. I wish the controls were better and there were fewer bugs, but if you get past those things, you have a pretty solid game.
HELL OF FEAR: Mind Breach successfully manages to bring us the intensity of survival games, along with the horror expected from titles like Dead Space. While it’s clearly an indie game, it delivers a nicely polished experience where you always try to stay alive and fulfill the different missions that appear along the way.
City Tales - Medieval Era does a great job at offering a chill, yet still very well-made city building experience. It’s not as intense and challenge-filled like other similar games. Instead, it offers a dreamy and fun world that you can explore at your pace. Yes, you won’t have the realistic graphics of a game like Anno 117, nor does the game want that. But the visual style is very beautiful in its own right, and creating your own medieval town is a lot of fun.
REPLACED is a beautiful, narrative driven experience, and that’s where the game is at its best. It tells a very interesting, gripping story, and I found myself fascinated with the great locations, mesmerizing backgrounds, but also the intricate characters found within the game. Sad Cat Studios hit it out of the park here, the game is not only visually impressive with its pixelated art style, but also the well-written story.
Tombwater is very good at mixing two very different inspirations into a coherent experience. Bloodborne, moved into two dimensions, supplies the core combat mechanics, the feeling of eerie transformation, the magic system, and the fire. The Wild West brings in the characters, the dusty town, and the taciturn main character.
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When I started playing Constance, I had no idea what to expect. Releasing a metroidvania so close to Silksong was a gamble, but I think it paid off. Constance might not be the 30+ hour juggernaut that game is, but it has a heartwarming story and its platforming is excellent. The narrative is amazing, and the unique painting mechanic adds risk, but also rewards strategic thinking, too. You’re also rewarded if you explore, which is important for this type of game.