CYPHER's attempt to modernize the classic text adventure has a lot of interesting ideas, but the lack of polish on the text itself keeps the game from living up to its potential.

The graphics and interface are vastly improved and the puzzles more organically connected to the game world; the game as a whole is far more compelling.

A Case of Distrust is a stylish and solid mystery adventure, but with no chance to solve it yourself, you may be left wondering what your role in this game actually is.

Draugen offers plenty of shocks and chills set against a unique, scenic backdrop of rural Norway, but is sadly let down by some jarring dialogue and a confusing conclusion.

Without question, Rakuen is an ambitious indie endeavor and I admired many aspects of it—the Boy’s authentic child-like wonder in the face of real human tragedy, the funny and endearing inhabitants of Morizora Forest, and the mystery surrounding the Boy’s hospital stay, to name a few. But my dissatisfaction with the puzzles and ending make the game difficult to wholeheartedly recommend. It really comes down to what kind of game you’re in the mood for. If you want a game that’s mostly story, then the number and type of puzzles in Rakuen will likely turn you off. If you’re looking for more of a story-puzzle balance regardless of how well the two are integrated, you’ll probably have a better time with Rakuen than I did. And if you’re in the mood for a game to make you cry—well, this one will, I guarantee it. I just can’t promise it’ll be the catharsis you’re looking for.

While The Haunting of Castle Malloy poses a genuine challenge that will take even experienced gamers between 10-15 hours, the unbalanced difficulty of the puzzles and mini-games combined with an uninteresting bunch of characters and locations results in one of the lesser Nancy Drew games on the market.

With a fun off-screen companion and an interesting story to delve into based on real-world concerns, The Bradwell Conspiracy is a fairly enjoyable experience even if a weak ending and an assortment of glitches hold it back from its full potential.

Whimsical visuals, charming characters, and a wide assortment of activities are weighed down by clunky controls in the one- or two-player co-op adventure 39 Days to Mars.

Woodhill Interactive’s Orten Was The Case is a good game, but has a few noticeable flaws. On the one hand, the narrative itself is incredible, and the deeper you dive, the more enticing it becomes. There are evident issues with the gameplay and presentation, but patient players can push through or adapt to them. Those looking for an absorbing tale will find much to admire in this game.

While still an enjoyable experience, The Last Resort fails to live up to its potential, and is more of an "Average Outing" than a Grand Adventure.

Most necessary elements of a winning formula are in place, but Violett desperately needs a story to bind the disparate parts together into a classic experience.

Damn Virgins is more of an uneven frat house comedy than apocalyptic blockbuster, but its heart is in the right place and its puzzle foundations are sound.

Despite a few narrative stumbles en route, Stairs is a short but effective scarer wrapped in some very pretty packaging.

A wild ride full of bizarre anecdotes, cryptic characters and gorgeous drives, Hitchhiker – A Mystery Game offers up more than the average road trip, though the dense dialogue and the finale’s sudden ending prevent it from reaching top gear.

While not flawless and more focused on narrative than puzzles, SIMULACRA manages to be a fun experience by offering more player agency than its lost phone contemporaries, throwing players into an ongoing missing persons investigation – with a supernatural twist.

Another Lost Phone doesn’t look like much and its linearity ensures a short play time, but it has enough gameplay and story depth with important themes to be a pleasant experience while it lasts.

Working together with a partner to overcome obstacles is a great core concept at the heart of We Were Here Too, though as a castle escape game it isn’t particularly noteworthy beyond that.

It’s got far more beauty than brains, but for gamers who appreciate a macabre atmosphere and distinctive art style, Tormentum could be just the brief but darkly beautiful diversion they’re looking for.

Rudimentary puzzles somewhat undermine Distraint 2’s otherwise compelling, evocatively presented tale of one man’s fraught, nightmarish journey towards redemption.

A short and sweet journey through a wintery landscape and Celtic temples, Solas and the White Winter would be even shorter and sweeter without its long, empty travel intervals.

In Sammy Jukes: Twin Lakes, an unusually intriguing story is marred by instances of uninspired design, average voice acting and repetitive puzzles.

The Corruption Within is an entertaining exercise in gothic spookiness that understands what makes its particular subgenre tick, but its setting and characters are ill-served by the story’s hurried pace.

Rainswept bites off more than it can chew with its ambitious story of love, murder and loneliness, but within the sometimes confusing narrative strands there’s an involving game with a beautiful soundtrack to discover.

Though it suffers somewhat from a lack of polish, Nelson and the Magic Cauldron is a fun, if not necessarily funny, inventory-filled point-and-click experience.

Short but surreal, 103 presents an intriguing exploration of a dreamlike series of corridors that you can practically complete with both hands tied behind your back.

Short on both puzzles and in-depth narrative, The Station is all about atmosphere. If you’re a fan of immersive sci-fi exploration, turn off the lights, turn up the sound, and enjoy the ride.

Beyond its strong story it doesn’t excel at any particular elements, but The Beard in the Mirror is a pleasant little retro adventure, which a fan of such things will certainly enjoy playing.

DARKSTAR: The Interactive Movie is a game that takes a lot of patience to truly enjoy. It's not a game for everyone, as some are sure to be turned off by the rarity and simplicity of its puzzles, while others may not relish a return to the infamous days of live actors as their game characters, particularly when some of the acting reminds us why this isn't always a good idea.