The glitches with text and voice-acting are pretty minor, but if you’re like me and this is a pet peeve, it might take a toll on you eventually. If you don’t care, then you’ll have an even better time. Overall, the characters were not for me this time around, but I did enjoy getting to try out Bu$stafellows and look forward to more future releases from this studio.

To be clear, there’s still a decent horror game to be had here for fans of the genre, but by the time the credits rolled, I found it difficult to not feel a tinge of disappointment in seeing just how much further the characters and concepts could have been taken to create something truly unique.

I didn’t like Invector: Rhythm Galaxy at first. I didn’t recognize most songs by name, the controls out-of-the-box were awkward for me, and not being able to instantly jump to the highest difficult and sightread songs bruised my rhythm gamer ego. As I put more time into it, beginning to understand how the game wanted to be played, my opinion on it brightened up. And as I got a feel for it, I began to see just how well charted the songs in this game are. The campaign mode is entirely a throwaway – play through and skip the story just to unlock songs, and then never touch it again. But after that, there’s a fairly solid rhythm experience here. Unfortunately, the soundtrack here just isn’t for me. This is entirely subjective and doesn’t hit the score, but I personally don’t see myself going back to play more with the current music on offer. Should WMG dig deeper into their vaults for some DLC, though, I wouldn’t complain about coming back.

Sadly, problems begin to arise after you’ve spent a few hours with the game, largely due to the fact that it doesn’t take much time to see a majority of the content Astro Duel II has in store for you. What’s there is fun enough, but it’s hard to fight the feeling that it would be vastly improved by having more to play with—ships and stages specifically, but a more traditional story mode wouldn’t have gone amiss—to prevent things from getting repetitive as quickly as they do.

This is a pretty solid collection of little games that are in many ways frozen in amber from a specific time in gaming history. This isn’t going to make a huge fan out of anyone, but if you’re in the mood for some classic 16-bit shooter fun, this’ll deliver.

Rock of Ages 3 appears to be more of the same. It’s crafted well…but it’s just not something that fits in my personal taste. For a tower defense fan whose never tried out the franchise, this is likely a good starting point. Otherwise, only hardcore fans need apply.

I am really happy that I stepped outside of my comfort zone and tried out this title. It has a lot of charm and I can openly admit that by the end of my playthrough, I was a fan of the protagonist, the cast, and even the villain a little bit. It’s obvious that Whateverland has a story it wants to tell and it leaves it up to you how you want to go about that experience.

On the bright side, what Romancing Distance tries to do it does well. Exploring the colorful environment and making decisions was enjoyable, although I wish there had been more of it. Serenity Forge also did a great job in creating characters that are fun to read about. Robin and Stephen’s interactions kept me engaged and I was curious to see how their quarantine romance would develop the entire time. Ultimately, I am glad I gave Half Past Fate: Romancing Distance a try, but I am also thankful that it was short and hope that maybe in the future there is an update where the couple gets their in-person happy ending.

Carrion is an entertaining and visceral experience, with a lot more going for it than simply running around and killing things, like many of the game’s trailers led me to believe...A few questionable design decisions make me hesitate on calling this an excellent title, though. Tying parts of the creature’s moveset to its current health level is frustrating. The lack of any kind of world map, while not game breaking in the slightest, got annoying while navigating the hub area. The repetitive art design in the levels isn’t doing the game any favors either...However, frustrations aside, Carrion was still an entertaining playthrough.

This is a game that brushes up against a lot of different genres without diving too deeply into any of them, and some players are going to either clock out from that or find that they like one or two parts but not all three. It is kind of a weird game and it is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea. But if the idea of the game sounds interesting to you? Hey, this is a classic remastered and improved, and it’s well worth the asking price.

The parts of the game that work are a solid start to what is supposed to be a live service game with years of free updates ahead of it. Frankly though, I’m surprised at just how many issues the game currently has. At the end of the day, I’m ultimately enjoying my time with the game, it can be a lot of fun. However, when asked to present a final score, I simply cannot ignore the many issues that are holding the game back at launch. Hopefully the developers can get things sorted out and these issues that are currently hindering the game will soon be a thing of the past.

If you like to march through corridors, blow through your enemies, and maybe get a few one-liners in along the way? Phantom Fury is going to be a good time. It’s a legacy throwback that has done its homework, and while it didn’t delight me it also never made me want to throw the dang thing in the garbage. It’s some good lightweight fun. Let’s just hope that this time around the title avoids becoming the main character of controversy, hmm?

I wish I could rate this higher. I honestly had a fun time playing through Curse of the Sea Rats, but the issues I encountered were significant. On top of balance issues and voice line deliveries, I also stumbled across a few bugs here and there including one that basically broke most of the ending. Again the refrain goes, they’re aware and fixing issues, but I can merely hope the patch irons out every last detail. Should the patch fix every one of these issues admirably, I could easily see this being an 8 or even a 9. But even in its current state, it’s a charming experience. Especially for anyone with fond memories of 90s animated features.

Hamstermind offers a variety of unique challenges. Some work out better than others, but the experience is pretty high on the quality scale, for the most part. It’s an enjoyable romp, as long as you prepare yourself to get stumped, as the difficulty ramps up fast. You don’t see this sort of game too often these days, so if you’ve a hankering for games that really make you think, this could be a good choice. But maybe you could toss another hint or two my way, Righteous Tree? Thanks! Ahem.

TRON: Catalyst is a good example of an acceptable licensed game experience, and punches well above its weight. The sum of its parts may not win any awards for having any sort of wow factor, but Bithell Games understood the assignment and gave fans something worth playing through. It may not be the most complicated game on the planet, but it’s a good example of a solid indie game experience as well as a good licensed game in its own right. Exo’s adventure is well worth a playthrough, and fans can breathe easy knowing that this romp in the Arq Grid is an experience worthy of the TRON name. Jumping into this Grid is a perfectly acceptable entry, but you might want to go in with tempered expectations.

It’s still very well crafted and definitely worth your time to play, in my opinion. But amongst the three major DLCs? This one is sadly probably the weakest. There isn’t even much reason to revisit the monastery later even though you can, unless you missed some hidden thing while you were there, so this DLC is pretty much one-and-done, while the Brushes with Death and Legacy of the Forge DLC updates both added new activities you can do, adding considerable value to the time you spend in Bohemia.

The lack of any story or narrative means that, well, to a certain extent the game is shallow. It’s got a lot going on in play, but not a lot to draw you back in or anything of the sort. Also, it’s a competitive game, and that means playing with certain other people can turn things into a cesspool because some folks just cannot handle competition even in a chill game. Your mileage will vary. But none of that is to change the fact that this is a very supremely relaxing game. If you have the right people around you, or are just in the mood for something relaxing? This is an excellent option. Just relax. Settle down for the game. Don’t worry about people who are going to make this into a big to-do or anything of the sort, just… let it wash over you. Sit on the couch. Close your eyes for a bit, there’s no timer. Ooh, look, a red-tailed hawk! It’s a beautiful bird and it catches cards for more victory points. This is a fun game.

As a whole, Million Depth is a game of contrasts. It is at turns awkward, less than it could be, and at the same time possessed of some really unique approaches to what could otherwise be painfully rote. There are parts of it I didn’t like, and yet all during my play I never found myself pushed to stop playing or lost interest despite its jank. It feels compelling in part because it’s janky. It’s a big, awkward piece that is often ungainly or inelegant, but it feels unique at the same time. I think my takeaway is that all of this winds up narrowing down to being on the high side of average, but still a game that some people are going to immediately fall in love with. I might have fallen in love with it, in a way. I find myself still poking at the game, and while it didn’t grab me and demand my attention, I think it’s worth checking out as a singular experience. Most games are assembled from familiar parts. This one feels like not all of its parts are great, but they also aren’t bracingly familiar.

So long as you don’t compare it to the more standout entries in the genre, Afterimage deserves some consideration from fans who devour this kind of experience regularly. The gameplay is best described as solid, the difficulty skewed towards those who like their games leaning towards From Software’s catalog, and a presentation that stands toe to toe with other indie games. Does it find itself as legendary as other games in the genre? Not really, but it’s at least worth your time if you’re looking for a new Metroidvania to devour this year.

Trails Through Daybreak II is a good game. It is a good game in the way that we actually don’t get a lot of, a solid installment in what seems from the outside to be a very solid series. Oh, sure, having nothing spectacular in it is kind of a flaw, but I think it is a good game all the way through. If you’re a fan of the series, you’ll have a blast with it, and if you’re not a fan but want to get into it, maybe you really do want a JRPG that’s more fun for the combat than the story. Heck, maybe the story will do it for you! So cheers to you, Trails Through Daybreak II. I don’t know if I want to stay at your house, but you welcomed me in and I enjoyed the experience.

Shadow Warrior 3 is an interesting title and a fun playthrough. But I can’t say it’s one to go out of your way to get your hands on. However, if you have the opportunity to play it, it’s a worthwhile ride.

Alcyone is the epitome of a niche video game. I’m not a fan of mobile games but that really seems like it would be a better platform. If I could lay in bed under a comforter and nothing but lamplight and my phone I could probably play through it in one sitting. For now I just have bloodshot eyes and visions of a great new world that I hope to play again once I’ve recovered.

Layers of Fear 2 is an enjoyable experience, if a bit flawed. There’s not a single part I didn’t enjoy, but neither is there any section that avoided serious criticism. As a relatively cheap game, I’d say definitely pick it up if you’re a fan of spooks and scares, but don’t expect it to especially move you or last more than a few days. I’d also say that despite this being a review for the Switch copy, to try it on a different platform instead, since it doesn’t capitalize on any of the system’s strengths and it suffers from its flaws.

Playing Spongebob Squarepants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated is a fun enough time if you’re looking for a nostalgia kick with better graphics and if you’re a fan of the genre already you just might enjoy a trip to Bikini Bottom yourself.

The game is, on some level, Darkest Dungeon with lower stakes and featuring a group of weird little dudes instead of psychological torture. But they’re fun weird little dudes and you get invested in playing with them. If the basic gameplay loop sounds like fun, yeah, you’ll have to force past some occasional graphical weirdness and some interfaces that aren’t ideal, but there is a legitimately fun and compelling game on the other side. So while it doesn’t really nail the landing for full points, it doesn’t stumble on the dismount, either.

Mechanically, visually, and immersion-wise, Altdeus: Beyond Chronos is a massive step forward for visual novels in the VR medium. While the genre still has a way to go, this title shows that it can be successful in virtual reality. The writing here, though, leaves a lot to be desired. I’m used to visual novels having slow opening routes, but completely foregoing any real character development for hours made this game incredibly difficult to get into. Once over the hump of the initial route, though, Altdeus managed to provide an entertaining story, one that I didn’t mind strapping my Vive headset on for. It’s not mind-blowing by any means, but it’s still a worthwhile read.

With a more concerted effort to keep the experience exciting as the playthrough carries on, Young Souls could have easily been so much more. Instead, you have a game where you’ve seen the lion’s share of what it has to offer after three or so of the game’s ten hours.

Ultimately, reading Aokana often feels like eating a variety pack of candy. Sure, there may be some flavors that don’t hit in ways that some do. But the ratio of good outweighs the bad here, and opening the box in the first place is a safe bet for a good read.