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As is the case with an actual reality show, I’m left grappling with conflicting feelings when I roll credits on The Crush House. It’s a sharp social satire wrapped up in one of the funniest puzzle games I’ve ever played, but the mechanical simulation leaves me wanting more. As I sit down to map out my criticisms, that’s when it hits me: I’m an emoji in my own audience segment. Maybe The Crush House would playfully nickname me a “snob,” one who keeps saying the term “high-concept” in the chat at random intervals. Maybe the things I’d want to see would clash with an audience hungry for this sleeker design that’s still perfectly functional and creative. The Crush House serves as a reminder that you can’t please everybody, or else you’ll end up in the backyard filming lawn gnomes.
Cat Quest 3 is a light but charming pirate adventure that'll make you feel like a kid again.
I still haven’t accessed its true ending yet because you can only use one continue before your opportunity to get it goes away, but I might just keep playing Volgarr the Viking 2 until I do. Whether you’re a fan of difficult old-school 2D platformers or not, this is a modern take on a classic formula that anyone can get into with enough time and effort.
World of Goo 2 is the legacy-appraising send-off that the series deserves. Its inventive puzzling serves as a friendly reminder that the 2008 classic deserves its place in gaming history, even as a decade and a half of shiny new games pass it by. It’s still that foundational goo ball in an industry that keeps building higher and higher, even as the structure starts to sway. Without it, everything would fall apart.
Just as one bad move in a battle can nearly cost players an entire mission, a few tactical missteps put a dent in Steamworld Heist 2’s armor. But those flaws don’t take away from another impressive feat from one of gaming’s most consistent studios. Steamworld Heist 2 goes above and beyond as a follow-up, adding new gameplay layers that deepen the core hook. That’s the kind of tactical juggling act that only a master strategist like Image & Form can handle.
Dungeons of Hinterberg is a razor-sharp debut from developer Microbird that tackles the complexities of the tourism industry from every angle. From its impact on politics to how it backs local businesses into a corner, the action-adventure game delivers a nuanced dissection of a quiet town turned global attraction. And like any good tourist trap, it hooks players in with wondrous entertainment, from ingeniously designed dungeon puzzles to magical powers that turn its natural landscapes into amusement parks. It may not be the slickest action game, but it contains one of 2024’s most vital stories.
After 40 or so hours, Zenless Zone Zero stands out as a visually distinct, streamlined mobile game that also plays well on PC and console. It has a lot going for it stylistically, but its combat lacks depth compared to competitors and feels like a chore after long stretches of time. I still see it succeeding with regular updates, its character-driven story, and intuitive gameplay, but I wish HoYoverse spent more time pushing the game in a direction with higher stakes and complexity rather than convenience.
While I’ll surely continue to chip away at my best times, Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition feels more like practice than the big game itself. It’s a great way to learn the basics of speedrunning, but the outlet for those acquired skills is in another castle. Maybe it’s all building toward the return of the real Nintendo World Championships. If that’s the case, cue the ’80s training montage music. I’m going big time.
After a thorough 25 hours with Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, I’m left torn on what winds up landing as a run-of-the-mill Soulslike. Ideas like its combo system make for a fresh spin on a well-trodden genre, showing a spark of creativity in design. Those are just held back by other underdeveloped ideas that don’t necessarily excel in a particular facet. An added layer of jank certainly doesn’t help matters either. Whether you think of Flintlock as a true Soulslike or a Soulslite, as its developer calls it, it’s still lacking in both departments.
Kunitsu-Gami constantly encourages players to stay engaged, whether that be because they have to plan out the maiden’s path, actively fight enemies during the night, or craft their own interpretation of its mostly dialogue-free narrative. While some parts of the journey can get repetitive, Kunitsu-Gami rewards those who pay attention, learn its deep systems, and adapt to whatever wacky situation it throws at them. There’s nothing else quite like it.
As an amateur birdwatcher myself, Flock really captures something I love about patiently watching animals in their natural habitats. On a recent walk through a nearby cemetery, I caught a bird I’d never seen soaring over a pond. I carefully peeked at it through my binoculars and started taking mental notes. Black feathers. Orange accents on its wings. A quick search let me correctly identify it as a red-winged blackbird, leaving me satisfied with my ability to clock its defining features. I get the same smile on my face whenever I see a green piper wrapped around a tree and correctly guess its name.
Anger Foot's one-note action gimmick can't find a second leg to stand on.
Sometimes a niche series like this that’s been around for decades can become comfortable catering to longtime fans. Banana Rumble avoids that pitfall by instead giving new players all the tools they need to understand each challenge. Casual multiplayer modes, as light as they may be, bring some extra appeal for that crowd. On the other end of the spectrum, the spin dash is a powerful tool for veterans who want a new way to push their skills to the limits. Whether you’re a longtime spectator or a seasoned speed demon, Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble saves a seat for you at the party.
Shadow of the Erdtree is so packed with new content that it almost feels like a sequel to Elden Ring.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance makes one of the best open-world RPGs around even better.
Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is a visual stunner for Xbox even if its gameplay isn't too creative.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door stands the test of time and is fantastic on Nintendo Switch.
The cryptic Lorelei and the Laser Eyes may very well be the greatest puzzle game ever made.
Homeworld 3's vast galaxy clashed with the limits of a poorly paced campaign and buggy missions.
Animal Well's deep secrets and arresting atmosphere will suck you down the rabbit hole.