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Amerzone – The Explorer's Legacy revamps a classic adventure that's great fun for puzzle fans who enjoy scouring the environment for clues. It's easy to get lost in the wonder of Amerzone without feeling too frustrated. However, the experience also brings some flaws from the past that haven't translated well to the modern gaming environment. This makes the game great for a blast from the past, but a tough recommendation for modern puzzle players.
Proving once more that Strange Scaffold is the indie king of weird, creative titles, Creepy Redneck Mansion 3 is another joyous romp under the studio's now 10-titles-deep belt. Continuing the current Match 3 renaissance with meaningful turn-based battles with countless implementations of strategy, it's only let up by the occasional frustrating encounter and not all that fun ending chasing in the game's last act. Still managing to find the time for topical commentary on the state of game development amongst its kooky world, it's a venture that's more than the sum of its parts and with a surprising amount of bite for a puzzle game… just be wary they may very well come from that creepy Pclowntadactyl awaiting you around the next corner.
Warside is like an old family car (tank?). Familiar, sturdy, with a solid engine that will get you where you need to go, but with no frills and a rusty, barebones exterior. While its core tactical systems and pixel art aesthetics are entertaining and likely to satisfy subgenre fans, they remain underserved by a repetitive campaign, rough story and lack of supporting modes and features.
The Hundred Line – Last Defense Academy is interesting; it does a surprisingly good job of meshing together the visual novel and strategy game elements in a satisfying way, but it just falls so incredibly short on the pacing that it makes it hard to properly enjoy these elements. There are some very cool developments in here, but it just takes so long to get to them that it almost feels like they are never coming. I have my complaints with it, certainly, but there is some truly great design in there, and I wish it got a chance to shine. For what it's worth, Kodaka-san, I hope you don't go bankrupt and quit making games forever.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is a beautifully directed, melancholy tale of friendships forged and lost. Resonant performances and strong visual direction across two vastly different time periods will immerse you in the stakes and drama of Velvet Cove. The journeys of the characters across both parts beautifully render the power of friendship in your youth, and the harsh reality of drifting apart. As is the case with all strong supernatural stories in the New Weird genre, the core story is relatable and human. While some minor narrative stumbles in the ending, with answers that may have better been left unsaid, do detract from the concluding moments, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is not a story to be missed.
The Fool's Apprentice is a neat concept that simply needs more time to cook. It has some cool ideas in using magical abilities to augment its management sim gameplay, and its soothing soundtrack complements its tone perfectly. However, a litany of technical issues and critical design flaws make it ultimately unplayable in its current state. Fingers crossed the team at The Planar Danse will be able to support The Fool's Apprentice with updates and fully realise their vision for the game in time.
Rusty Rabbit constantly kept me entertained with its easy and fun gameplay, extensive lore and super cute visuals. I had an absolute blast drilling through bricks, chatting with the BBs and exploring all the different connected dungeons. Though some elements, such as the skill tree and reasons for requests, were hard to understand, I was always super pumped when I booted up Rusty Rabbit and got to spend time as a middle-aged, grumpy, yet strong and courageous junk yard bunny.
Bionic Bay is an enticing adventure with responsive controls that encourage players to zip energetically through these gorgeously obliterated environments. A fast and exciting gameplay experience remains rewarding throughout its campaign. Yet the reality-bending powers and smartest level design feel too sparsely used and lack depth. Players will likely enjoy the speedy platforming of Bionic Bay, but may wish the game fully realised the potential of its solid building blocks.
Tempopo is a heartwarming little adventure that brings so much energy with its clever gameplay and charming visuals. Watching the little creatures successfully march as you solve each level is always satisfying. The straightforward mechanics in Tempopo ensure a very approachable experience for younger or inexperienced audiences. However, there are too many areas where it feels too simplistic, and lacks the polish to stand out as an exceptional puzzle game.
Lushfoil Photography Sim is worth playing, especially for those who want to dabble in digital photography. The techniques used in the game mimic those in real life, the maps are close to accurate, and the added little challenges test your creative eye. The game is like visiting someone's memory as you're bound to a specific area, but the maps are huge and very detailed. While it does feel weird and somewhat scary being the only person wandering around popular tourist spots, exploring the wildlife and these unique places all by yourself turns them into a delightful nature/travel photography playground.
The main problem with Chains of Freedom is that it never stakes its own claim. It doesn't carve out territory that feels unique and often feels more like an imitator of other games than something with its own personality. While the core mechanics are largely serviceable, without a unique angle, there are far greater entries in the turn-based tactics genre to spend your time with. Ultimately, the predictable narrative delivered by dull characters and the repetitive combat make this a difficult recommendation for all but the most die-hard fans of the genre.
The Talos Principle: Reawakened is an already incredible game made more amazing thanks to meaningful quality of life additions, stellar graphical remastering and insightful new content in the new campaign and developer commentaries. It's beautiful, tranquil and pensive. Filled with philosophical platitudes, brain-wrinkling puzzles and sheer tranquil vibes in all the environments, Croteam have masterfully reworked their beloved puzzle game to be as quintessential as ever.
Star Overdrive rides with so much damn heart and style that it's hard not to appreciate its charm. While the combat definitely feels like more than a speed bump, and the camera can be road rage inducing, the exhilarating thrill of movement, unique storytelling and killer retro vibe keeps the somewhat bumpy ride going. Everything is nicely wrapped up in a compelling mystery, and if you're down to drift through the world of Cebet to solve it, Star Overdrive definitely earns a place in your indie collection.
Game Over: A Musical RPG is a passion project which is bleeding heart and soul. The soundtrack is incredible, every encounter is unique and entertaining, with nothing being repeated. All the characters are charming and have their own unique personalities that help the world feel grounded. The dialogue and comedy are perfectly timed and full of wit and there were genuine laughs around every corner. If you're a fan of Undertale, Earthbound or The Stanley Parable, please do yourself a favour and check out this home-grown Australian indie.
Much like the titular protagonist having to restore his name and save face, The First Berserker: Khazan overcomes doubt that there is room for new, great big beasts in the Souls-like space. It may not be the most original experience and may be overflowing with too much loot, but despite that, it provides incredible play variety, meaningful character progression, spectacle, and exciting boss encounters to boot. Bathed in blood and dripping in metal-as-hell edge and angst, The First Berserker: Khazan is another unbelievably fun and great action RPG for the books.
I cannot overstate how much Blue Prince blew me away. With an addicting gameplay loop and an expansive mystery that appears bottomless, it's the kind of game that makes you want to nuke your memory of playing it so that you can experience it all over again. Every time you think you've surely seen it all, it will prove you wrong with a new challenge that'll test your powers of observation like never before. The sense of discovery you'll feel time and time again is nothing short of phenomenal, making this debut game from Dogubomb something truly special.
Promise Mascot Agency is bizarre, hilarious, stylish, and incredibly fun. It gets its hooks into you with its brilliant world-building, wicked sense of humour, and thrilling narrative, then delivers a blend of gameplay systems that combine into something truly unique. There are a few quality-of-life bugbears, but these pale in comparison to the wealth of content that this game has to offer.
South of Midnight delivers one of the most interesting and visually stunning settings in recent memory. It feels like a tribute to the Deep South; it shows reverence to actual folklore while adding its own interesting twists that interweave with Hazel's family history and the story Compulsion Games wanted to tell. Its traversal and combat don't offer anything we haven't seen before, but it's a well-made experience, with its biggest crime being overly familiar systems. What it lacks in gameplay innovation, it more than makes up for with its quirky storytelling and style; ultimately, South of Midnight offers a distinct and gripping point of view that's hard not to fall in love with.
While the Croc: Legend of the Gobbos remaster is a love letter to the original, packed with passionate behind-the-scenes features and a beautiful visual update, it's hard to ignore that platforming has come a long way since 1997. The gameplay is clunky and simplistic compared to the experiences we've come to expect today. But for those who remember the days of tail-whipping, saving Gobbos, and hopping around the colourful worlds of Croc, this remaster is pure nostalgia gold.
A cosy, brief, beautifully crafted narrative experience, Leila tells its story in a uniquely interactive way. It leverages its gorgeous hand-drawn artwork in its environmental puzzles, which tend to satisfy despite some occasional frustrating pixel hunting. Its short length does mean that you're left with more of an aesthetic wash rather than an impactful narrative journey, but for the right player, Leila's bite-sized story will be just enough of a cosy treat to satisfy.