Zexion is an exemplary case of genre maturity. Made by a single person, this Metroidvania draws inspiration from the early 8-bit era in several aspects, such as aesthetics, level of challenge, and the confidence that letting the player find their way is an important part of exploration. Behind all this, however, lies a refined body of knowledge about how an adventure of this type should be put together, how to turn boss fights into spectacular action sequences, and how the modern experience is enriched by giving its audience options for adjustments to suit their different needs.

Without direct combat, Auridia focuses all its efforts on exploration, platforming, and Lovecraftian-inspired narrative. The result is a game that excels in cohesion, without any dead weight or loose end. Everything in it has its place and fits perfectly, a sense of unity and fluidity that is greatly enhanced by movement mechanics, such as the rope, obtained early on. A true unassuming surprise that reveals itself to be a hidden gem full of bright colors amidst the surrounding darkness.

Street Racer Collection is a compilation that may divide opinions: while some of its features haven't aged so well for its more than 30 years, it's a cool title that performed decently on platforms with different engineering, making it an item that will at least satisfy the curiosity of younger players and the nostalgia of older ones. The combination of ROMs provides the final touch that makes this collection worthy of being part of any collection.

Criticizing the industry that is killing the planet, Alruna and the Necro-Industrialists is a succinct yet expressive ecological manifesto. The world and its dungeons are well-constructed, and the dystopian setting matches its refined 8-bit style visuals, but some design choices prevent the true potential of this short adventure with too few battles from being fully realized.

Succinct and meticulously ingenious, Leap Year gets straight to the point, offering pure puzzle platforming while focusing on transforming its apparent simplicity into pleasant surprises that play with the genre's most basic element: jumping.

Hidden Cats in Istanbul is tailor-made for fans of the franchise. It may seem like more of the same, but those who enjoy searching for objects and animals in colorful settings will have another great entertainment option. Now the question remains: where will the kittens go now?

Whether you are looking to relax or a younger audience is interested, Cats Around Us: Giant Cat is worth a try. Its accessible gameplay provides easy and enjoyable challenges, designed primarily for a younger audience — and those who like cute kittens. The main drawback is the overall lack of content, but what is available does the job: a game that playfully engages with cats in a funny and entertaining way.

Ghetto Zombies: Graffiti Squad is a charismatic and creative experience within the Brazilian indie scene, combining fast-paced action with a visual and thematic approach that resonates well with the nostalgia of 16-bit games. Despite this, some design choices ultimately limit the experience's potential. The absence of a cooperative mode negatively impacts a game that clearly benefits from shared gameplay, while the reloading mechanics of certain weapons can disrupt the rhythm of the action during more intense moments. Still, the title delivers consistent fun, a variety of weapons, and a progression system that encourages experimentation and replayability.

With a duration equivalent to a single TV show episode and very limited interactivity, DETECTIVE – Rainy Night positions itself as a title meant to be observed rather than deciphered, which directly conflicts with the implicit promise of its name, functioning as a curious pastime ideal for those looking to consume a short story without much effort or commitment.

Lovish is a pleasant retro-style experience built around simple controls, brisk levels, and light humor, delivering a competent 2D adventure with a fair number of secrets for players who enjoy exploring off the beaten path. However, it is also a limited and occasionally repetitive game, with many sections failing to leave a lasting impression and rarely pushing beyond the basics. Optional challenges and hidden content help soften these issues but don’t fundamentally elevate the experience. Ultimately, Lovish is a fun and well-executed journey that succeeds at what it sets out to do, even if it never truly stands out.

The added characters by the DLC are beautiful and well animated. Although I am not a big fan of the series myself, it is noticeable that the functional characteristics of each one match their origin. More than that, they add freshness to the game, which has a large cast and needs to maintain balance and originality among its options. Unfortunately, despite being positive additions, the content of Dead by Daylight: Stranger Things Chapter 2 seems a bit shallow to me. For example, there is no new map (the one available, inspired by Hawkins Laboratory, came in the previous DLC) or even a dedicated event. In the end, it is a good option for fans of the base game or the franchise, but it falls a little short.

Lil Gator Game: In the Dark continues the adventure of the imaginative little alligator with the same excellence, and the new equipment is just as fun as the originals. However, it would be good to help children find their way around such a large cave, even if it's filled with pretend monsters.

Hamstermind is a lean and well-executed puzzle game. Without trying to reinvent formulas, the game relies on clear mechanics, consistent progression, and a charming setting to win over the player. The journey through the pyramid manages to balance challenge and accessibility, offering enough content for both those seeking something more casual and those who want to complete all the secrets.

Aerial_Knight’s DropShot succeeds in delivering fast-paced action and intense stages, with ammo management and a strong balance between offense and evasion creating genuinely fun moments. However, limited variety and short stage length make the experience feel repetitive sooner than expected. The ranking system adds replay value, but it may not sustain long-term interest. Still, fans of the developer’s previous work and this style of challenge will likely find a few hours of solid enjoyment here.

No Sleep For Kaname Date — From AI: The Somnium Files is a functional, technically solid console release, but offers little incentive for players who already experienced it on PC or Switch. With its smaller scope and limited narrative impact, it’s easier to recommend to existing fans who couldn’t access previous platforms than to those considering a replay.

After hundreds of cities and even a Halloween-themed game, Hidden Cats in Christmas manages to be just as fun as the others and still has the charm of Christmas in its favor. The new type of help is a welcome addition, even making everything easier to complete. But what now? Will the kittens only return at Easter? Or can we expect another stop around the world?

In the end, Reign of the Warlock doesn’t reinvent the wheel, and it doesn’t need to. The expansion consistently builds upon what Diablo II: Resurrected already does well. The Warlock is an extremely fun, versatile, and powerful class, while the quality-of-life improvements and new optional challenges enrich both the main campaign and the endgame. Despite a few technical hiccups, it’s an easy recommendation for veterans looking for a reason to return to Sanctuary. The main hurdle may be the price, as the DLC is positioned as a premium add-on and may feel steep for some players, especially newcomers considering a game that has been around for more than two decades. Even so, for those who already appreciate the legacy of Diablo II, the expansion offers enough content to justify stepping back onto the battlefield.

Centipede Gun is the kind of title you keep in your library to revisit from time to time and play a few casual matches. In terms of content, its replay value is low, but those who enjoy a more arcade-style approach (straight to the point, with the challenging randomness of roguelikes) will find genuine fun.

There's something appealing about Hunt the Night's visuals and atmosphere, as well as fun in its fast-paced and dynamic combat. However, issues with bugs, text layout, different commands on the same button, lukewarm dungeons, and the lack of a map system hinder the experience and prevent it from standing out.

Despite its niche premise, Docked is a compelling simulator driven by excellent vehicle controls and technical fidelity. Mastering the heavy machinery transforms routine tasks into rewarding challenges, supported by a functional narrative. While menu performance issues and some management opacity create friction, the core experience remains solid and genuinely engaging.

City Hunter returns to modern platforms through a respectful remaster of the 1990 PC Engine game based on Tsukasa Hojo’s manga. The release includes quality-of-life features such as save states, rewind, multiple screen options and full localization, making the game more accessible than ever. However, the core experience shows its age. The gameplay revolves around exploring maze-like buildings, fighting enemies with simple shooting mechanics and searching for the correct doors to progress. While controls are responsive and the historical value of the release is notable, the repetitive level design, confusing exploration and shallow combat prevent the game from being more than a curiosity for fans of retro titles or the original franchise.

Tokyo Xtreme Racer is ideal for those who miss a more objective game. The increasing challenge and hunting rivals through the cities of the Japanese capital is a satisfying mission, but it may disappoint those who wanted something deeper, mainly due to the initial grinding and the constant repetitiveness of entering and exiting the map all the time.

Hidden Cats in Spooky Village is another great option for those who enjoy fun and colorful puzzles. The hilarious situations created by the confusion of elements also add a lot to the game, even if this re-release, coming after a new game, seems to be missing some features.

eBaseball: PRO SPIRIT is a great idea that could still succeed, but it needs a lot of work. Having a free baseball title with only local games isn't enough, as a paid service is still required to use the online functionality of one of the platforms. Furthermore, the choice to include generic teams is quite questionable, even with the possibility of making them a little less unattractive.

Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster is a great opportunity to experience one of the Nintendo 3DS's most memorable RPGs. Its combat system remains solid, the main cast continues to be charismatic, and the artistic direction is still charming, now enhanced by HD visuals. Despite this, none of the title's rough edges were trimmed, causing the campaign's pace to remain irregular and the difficulty balancing inconsistent.

Raider Kid and the Ruby Chest is a delightful Metroidvania that seeks to evoke the charm of the naive adventures of the Game Boy Color era. At four hours long, the level design is meticulously compact and efficient to make the most of its brevity. Aided by a well-made map and useful mechanics, this fun game maintains a good pace of progression and discovery of secrets.

Rivals of Aether II presents a very solid foundation, with fast-paced combat, a variety of characters, and mechanics that work well in both casual matches and more technical levels of play. At the same time, its almost total focus on competitive play and the lack of solo content leave important gaps, especially for those who don’t intend to commit to online play. Even so, in local matches, the experience changes completely—it’s easy to get drawn in and have fun with the chaos of the fights. In its current state, it’s a game that already delivers good moments, but still feels like it’s in the process of growing. For those who enjoy learning, testing their limits, and gradually improving, there’s a lot of value here. For others, it might be worth keeping a closer eye on its development before fully diving in.

With the nostalgia of childhood dreams, Little Nemo and the Guardians of Slumberland builds a visually excellent presentation with great attention to detail. Beyond its beautiful appearance, the nonlinear world and efficient map are great invitations to explore this Metroidvania adventure, which has heavier movements than I would like, but which, overall, offers a true delight both for those who are still in childhood and for those who remember it.