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Mixtape desperately wants to be a coming-of-age indie film, and the moments where it remembers it’s supposed to be a video game often feel reluctant, shallow and mechanically underwhelming.
Dead as Disco shouldn't work as well as it does. It blends two influences together in such a natural way that you almost wonder why nobody tried this sooner. Like mixing salty crisps with chocolate or putting pineapple on pizza, this Early Access rhythm beat 'em up is surprisingly robust, ridiculously moreish, and far better than it has any right to be.
For all its inventive systems, Pragmata ultimately succeeds because of the bond between Diana and Hugh. The “Dad Space” label might raise a smile, but it captures the heart of the experience perfectly. Tight combat, strong worldbuilding, and a genuinely engaging character dynamic keep everything firing on all cylinders around that. Clocking in at around 8–12 hours, this one never overstays its welcome. This is a confident new IP from Capcom, and one of the year’s best action games.
Replaced is a stylish but flawed cyberpunk indie. There’s a compelling idea at its core, but uneven execution holds it back at almost every turn. If you can push through the dull combat, mindless side quests and inconsistent platforming, the story and striking aesthetic are just about strong enough to carry you to the end.
Mouse: P.I. For Hire is a stylish shooter that blends noir storytelling with fast, frenetic combat. Its varied levels, memorable boss fights and striking aesthetic make it easy to get swept up in the experience. However, rigid level design, unbalanced weapons and some questionable gameplay mechanics hold it back. It’s messy, creative, and occasionally frustrating — but when it clicks, Mouse: P.I. For Hire feels genuinely special.
Like an early Disney Interactive Studios title, Darwin’s Paradox is creative and charming, but a little rough around the edges.
Crimson Desert is a messy, ambitious RPG that constantly battles against itself. It’s frustrating and uneven, but its sheer scale and ideas make it hard to walk away from. A bold and often brilliant experience, this is the kind of game that sticks with you long after you’ve put it down.
Planet of Lana 2 is a rare kind of sequel, one that trades mechanical depth for emotional weight. It doesn’t always stick the landing on the gameplay front, but what it delivers instead is a beautifully crafted, quietly devastating journey that lingers long after the credits roll.
A bold horror that never quite finds its own voice.
A promising world undone by numerous crashes, broken quests, and laborious combat.
Demon Tides is a stylish and ambitious platformer that shines in bursts, , but is too often held back by its mechanical and technical shortcomings.
Reanimal delivers strong atmosphere and deliciously macabre visuals, but its short runtime (2–4 hours) and steep £35 price make it difficult to recommend at full cost.
This is a confident noir point-and-click that excels in mood and world-building, even if it sometimes struggles to keep its focus.
Code Vein II overstays its welcome long before the credits roll. This is one Souls-like missing its soul.
I Hate This Place isn’t a bad indie game, but it’s a frustratingly uneven one, with strong atmosphere undercut by clunky mechanics and technical hiccups.
Memories in Orbit delivers outstanding atmosphere and exploration, held back slightly by combat that never quite evolves.
Kejora’s gorgeous art can’t mask a clunky, buggy core that feels undercooked and frustrating far more often than it is enjoyable.
Pathologic 3 is a deliberately abrasive survival experience that blends detective work, time management, and psychological pressure into something uniquely unsettling. It’s rough around the edges and often frustrating by design, but for players willing to engage with its systems on their own terms, it offers a bleak, rewarding experience few games dare attempt.
StarRupture shows genuine promise, but its Early Access release struggles with sparse world design, limited enemy variety, and missing quality-of-life features.
Total Chaos transforms its Doom-mod roots into a full standalone survival-horror adventure, sending players into the nightmare island of Fort Oasis. With brutal combat, heavy resource management, and dense, labyrinthine levels, it delivers a harsh but rewarding descent into madness.