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GameDec is a point-and-click cyberpunk adventure set in a dystopian world, You make a living by discreetly investigating crimes, mysteries, and transgressions in the vast sea of alternate realities to which most humans retreat. It provides a fun mechanic for dialogue junkies who find joy in solving the big puzzle.
On arrival, I had a sense of hope and promise for the twin-stick shooter, Aniquilation, but was left with an "oh well" experience. With a little refinement, it has the potential to be a really fun game with some interesting aspects. As it is, the game leaves too much to be desired.
Wave two of the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe DLC hits the spot in every way. Every track brings a smile and feels like it truly belongs. It's a fun yet challenging collection that will have you laughing, even while occasionally losing in frustration.
Milky Way Prince – The Vampire Star is an artistically impressive visual novel that compliments the darker narrative and theme. A theme that is rare to come by, that many people will relate to on some level. Unfortunately, this narrative is presented with a lack of depth, and the slow pacing harms the user's overall experience. Additionally, the 'sex sense' sections could have been presented far better, and just come across a little hollow.
Redout 2 is a blast play for long-time F-Zero fans. Its blisteringly fast gameplay and brutal difficulty make it feel right at home with some of F-Zero's more recent outings. The game demands precision, insanely fast reflexes, and the willingness to fail and try again. Redout 2 does this with just the right level of frustration, but also rewards and entices you back for more. It's definitely not for newcomers to the F-Zero-like genre, as it's easy to get frustrated and consistently lose races. It also doesn't help that this Nintendo Switch version currently has a few visual and gameplay hiccups; they don't ruin the experience but ultimately hinder it a bit. Regardless, Redout 2 on Nintendo Switch is a must-play for F-Zero fans.
F.I.S.T: Forged in Shadow Torch is a great Metroidvania, that does everything it needs to very well without re-inventing the formula.
Logic Pic is a fun picross title that boasts many puzzles to solve. If you're a nonogram fan, you'll absolutely enjoy this outing. With zoom controls, this would score even higher. As it is, it's still well worth your time.
I'd like to see a longer sequel go all-out with the soundtrack, but Growbot's fun characters and unique puzzles make it a good choice, albeit one for a future sale.
If it interests you, South of the Circle is a game worth playing at least once. But while I can tell that some heart was put into it, it does feel like one of those artsy games trying to seem deep. Other than a few instances, South of the Circle made me feel empty, thinking of how it could have been meatier. It's also priced a bit high for what essentially is a movie with little gameplay.
Spidersaurs is a beautiful homage to a bygone era of over-the-top '90s cartoons and challenging platformers. The game does enough to make it feel distinct from similar games, adding in special abilities and beautiful art and voice acting. The game is a challenging yet short experience. If you are a fan of Contra, you won't be disappointed.
Endling: Extinction is Forever is a good game for survival fans and another reminder that humans suck. The story evokes a lot of emotion and tough choices. Overall this is a bitter-sweet game. The story is bitter, and the gameplay is sweet.
Train Valley is a relaxing simulation game that still makes you think. While you won't suck hours and hours into it in one sitting, it'll always be fun to return to.
Running on Magic is a runner platformer that puts players in a challenging but light-hearted race against the Grim Reaper himself. Its whimsical presentation and procedurally generated levels keep things interesting for its somewhat short lifespan, just don't expect it to be more than it claims to be.
Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series does a great job of grouping two beloved but not well known games together in a package that works well on Nintendo Switch. The games have a charming visual style and a gameplay simplicity that I greatly appreciate. That said the game does have some unforgiving late game platforming that randomly pops up for no reason, some annoying voice over work, and a lackluster celebration for, you know, what's supposed to be a series milestone. There's enough fun to be had with Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series to recommend this game to anyone who enjoys 2D platformers or someone who's looking to rediscover two classic games deserving more attention. Hopefully, this will lead to Klonoa seeing either a new game or the Game Boy Advance games being remade.
Overall, The Hand of Merlin is a tactical game that plays well if you can look past the long loading times and user interface issues. While it initially put me off with its complicated menus, the decent visuals and engaging battles are fun once you get the hang of them. It's possibly a tad on the expensive side, but fans of turn-based strategies will likely find some subtle enjoyment here.
Time on Frog Island is a puzzle game in which you trade items with villagers to repair your ship and head home. With no real dialogue or map, finding these items is entirely up to your exploration skills. With a touching story and a cute art style, this game is definitely one you can sit down and enjoy for a few hours.
XEL has the potential to be a great game, but too many elements are left unpolished. Hopefully, a patch will be able to fix these issues, and then it may be a solid adventure game.
APICO might start off slow, but it becomes intriguing pretty quickly. It's a chilled experience that allows you to complete the game at your own pace. The crafting and building features are easy to pick up on and enjoy, allowing you to design the island to your liking. But what makes APICO stand out is the beekeeping aspect, breeding different bees to get desired traits and ultimately discovering new bees. The game sneaks a bit of science in the fun, and I'm all for it.
Overall, Long Live the Queen puts your strategic thinking to the test in a deceptively simple game with many layers. It’s fun and addictive with a great aesthetic, and is highly recommended for fans of point-and-click adventure games with a visual novel slant.
Mothmen 1966 manages to blend a creepy yet oh-so-fun tale into the visual novel formula, with a sprinkle of choose-your-own-adventure and puzzles to create a retro story that I had a really, really fun time with. Despite the clunky controls in the puzzle sections, Mothman 1966 has more than enough to entertain you in its bitesize narrative – I only wish there was more! Thankfully, LGB Game Studios has announced Varney Lake coming later this year. Sign me up!