Taking players back to an age of city pop and vaporwave, STONKS-9800: Stock Market Simulator lives up to its title by providing a chill text-based experience with plenty of variables. There might not be much dialog to speak of, but there’s enough action to make sure players will always come out ahead. [Early Access Review]

It is good to know that we already know the worst game of the year in May. Do yourself a favor and forget about The Lord of the Rings: Gollum – it is anything but precious.

Synthwave FURY looks and sounds the part, but everything else misses the mark. The broken physics make this title unplayable, and any sort of course correction on each track is simply a lost cause.

Locke(d) attempts to convey a deep message, but ends up feeling hollow. There’s simply no substance to this visual novel, making it feel more hopeless than the message it is setting out to convey.

Jected – Rivals flying and driving mechanics get the job done, but those looking to rise to the top should learn to overcome its different quirks and repeated events. Nevertheless, this battle royale shows promise, and we’re eager to jump back into this show for future seasons. [Early Access review]

Synth Retro Vapor Wave is a game without purpose, style, or polish. An absolute resource hog with the looks to match, this game is anything but a relaxing Sunday drive.

Impasto has a great premise, but that’s the only thing this walking simulator-stealth hybrid has going for it. A glorified fetch quest at its core, this title is downright insulting to players.

Devil Devour Alive DX works better as an art piece than a video game – and even that is a bit of a stretch. This title has the depth of a puddle, and while the graphics are true to the 90s, it also captures the worst elements of the time.

Trapped with Jester is a proof of concept and nothing more. The voice work is at the top of its class, but it serves as more of a portfolio than a real game.

NeverSynth is a rhythm game without rhythm, with procedurally generated courses that don’t quite match up. While it is great to rock out to your own tunes, those looking for near infinite fun best stick with the Audiosurf series.

Clown for Speed will only make you feel like a clown. The drifting is simple and the cars fun, but everything in this package feels like the circus is in town.

If you’ve ever played a visual novel in your life, you’ll know exactly what to expect in The Sound of Fireworks: The Haiku. This title is a walking, talking cliche, cribbing notes from the best without doing anything unique.

Cleaning garbage in a video game is about as fun as it sounds, and Vacuum Story doesn’t make a compelling case to pay for the privilege. Not even its vague story can hide how dreadfully dull the whole affair actually is.

While everybody loves the game of skee-ball, Extrorb does not make a compelling case to switch to the world of video games. Do yourself a favor and stick to the analog version of the game.

A top-down Crazy Taxi clone is the stuff nostalgia is made for, doubly so if it references one of Keanu Reeves’ finest moments. However, Deliver or Die! misses the mark in almost every way imaginable, exploding in a fiery blaze that even Michael Bay would be proud of.

New Meaning tries to feature a deep message about mental illness, but absolutely fails the landing. With everybody reduced to a brief stereotype, it’s hard to care about anything that happens in this visual novel.

For a game that’s supposed to be chill, the camera in Seaside Driving will do everything in its power to infuriate you. This lazy drive is anything but, and will make you take a quick U-Turn back to Outrun.

THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD: Remake is an absolute disservice to the light gun classic. From the pop in to the loading times to the broken control scheme, this re-release would make even Dr. Curien cower in fear.

Cyber Pool bends the rules of pool a little too much to make it worthwhile. Diehard pool sharks will want something more realistic, while those looking for a more casual experience will feel like things are a little off.

One Gun Guy blatantly copies Mega Man’s homework and yet still manages to fail the assignment. The idea of the entire game being one screen has some merit to it, but that’s all it has going for it.

Drift King fixates on the things that don’t matter, pouring all of its energy into minutiae instead of what makes a racing game truly thrive. Its bland tracks and broken drifting mechanics are not conducive to a good game, and the grind to unlock content will turn people off sooner rather than later. [Early Access Review - Score = 50]

Dinoland’s billiards concept is squandered with its broken physics engine. The title is borderline unplayable, making even the simplest shots a major struggle.

Speed Mazing and its overly basic nature makes this a tough game to suggest for those looking for multiplayer mayhem. Its overly simplistic control scheme and its lack of options means that players will be tired of this game faster than it takes to finish a single round.

Unplugged blatantly copies One Finger Death Punch’s tried-and-true formula, but fails to jot down what made that indie darling so great. With simplistic gameplay and game-breaking bugs, this title is a pretender more than a contender.

For a game that relies heavily on its storytelling, my brother lives in a canyon fails to engage players. The acting and plot simply aren’t there, and this tale of brotherly love simply lacks the punch of the better walking simulators on the market today.

Casual racing experiences have their place, but Sparks – Episode 1 plays things far too safe. There’s simply no variety or flavor to each of its tracks, making the whole package feel drier than a package of saltines.

You would think a game about minigolf would have a competent physics system, but Minigolf Adventure makes every last ball feel like a lead weight. It’s simply not fun to play, and no amount of variety can change its poor fundamentals.

The bad girls of idolYAKI are certainly bad, but for all of the wrong reasons. While this visual novel has got a novel concept, the execution and presentation prove to be too much of a has been to make an impact.

While the aerial movement of Neon Wings: Air Race helps this title stand out, its poor implementation hinders its balance when all is said and done.

If 2236 A.D. Secretary Stories shows the future of visual novels, then things look bleak. This title manages to make nearly every mistake in the book, making this AI PASS an easy pass.

If you’ve got the slightest interest in the horror genre, you’ve already seen what Night Book has to offer. The idea of a full motion video tale with multiple endings is a noble one, but the poor acting and breakneck pace ruin its chances of ever standing out.

Peekaboo Lite’s hide and seek premise looks good on paper, but the awkward execution and hardcore paywall kill any of its potential.

Retro Racer does the bare minimum needed for the racing genre. The vaporwave aesthetic has been done to death, and the lack of any sort of meaningful content makes this an easy pass.

Endro is a game without purpose. The poor, minimalistic presentation and gameplay devoid of strategy makes this title feel like a waste of time.

Aurora: A Child’s Journey has a strong message on the dangers of pollution, but the gameplay is far too ordinary to make it worth your while.

The Imagined Leviathan tries something new with its monochromatic world and poetic prose, but the disjointed nature of its storytelling and its hollow gameplay prevent it from achieving the artistic vision the developers sought out to achieve.

Despite clocking in at around 10 minutes, 10mg: Sealed Estate feels far too drawn out. A walking simulator without focus, its haunted halls are simply far too awkward to navigate.

The world of Polandball was outdated more than 10 years ago, and RollerBaller doesn’t do anything to make it relevant again. The poor control scheme and rudimentary gameplay are an absolute chore to contend with, and the humor is far too one note for its own good.

Siren Head: Awakening might feature a new urban legend, but the gameplay is something horror junkies have seen countless times before. It simply doesn’t do justice to the horrific creature.

Tiny Toy Tanks is overly simple at its core, which proves to be its greatest weakness. The formula simply isn’t taken far enough, and this rudimentary approach makes its many missions feel tedious before too long.

Cosmic Zephyr DX is unplayable. Between the nonexistent AI, the unpredictable mechanics, and the lack of polish, nothing works as it should.

Even the most devout survival horror fan will have trouble enjoying Red Colony. The overly basic puzzles, broken combat, and cliché plot all come together to make this a low point of the genre.

Everspace 2 is still in its infancy. The lack of roguelike elements many have come to love from the original may be a step in the wrong direction for many fans. However, in their absence is a bigger, more exciting universe, a passionate story, and a thrilling adventure. I can’t wait to see what’s on the horizon for Everspace 2.

Circle of Sumo: Online Rumble! could have been a great party game if it wasn’t nickel-and-diming you at every turn. As a result, it provides a cheapened experience that is more interested in your hard-earned cash than a fun experience.

Rhythm Race makes an attempt to combine the racing and rhythm genres, but the end result is a disjointed mess. The control scheme is far too awkward and overdeveloped for its own good, and the whole package feels broken at a fundamental level.

The combination of shotguns and witches should make for a grand ol’ time, but the arena-based action of Shotgun Witch fails to impress with its lack of variety and short length.

Ball at Work completely misses the ball by messing up its physics engine. As a result, it can be hard to do the most basic of tasks, making it broken at a fundamental level and an easy pass.

Those who know even the most basic of anime tropes will be well acquainted with all the major beats of Tyrania. This visual novel is as basic as they come, and the lack of polish makes it an easy pass.

Tank Battle pays tribute to Namco’s 80s classic Battle City, but it simply doesn’t have the underpinnings that made that title such a classic long ago.

Analog Party Sim fails to be the life of the party, feeling more like a chore than a blowout bash. The short length of each playthrough and the constant attention guests require proves to be an annoyance, rather than a jolly get together.

Random humor has its place in media, but A Wild Time Travelling Clone Dancing fails to captivate its audience by shotgunning the bizarre and seeing what sticks.

The stylish outrun aesthetics simply aren’t enough to hide the lack of polish in Cybershock: Future Parkour. The mechanics of this title have been done better elsewhere, and those who have played titles like Mirror’s Edge will be disappointed with its overall rigidity.

Demolition derbies with weapons should be a raucous affair, but the lack of personality and poor physics make KillSteel feel more like a pretender than a contender in the space.

Die-hard Warhammer fans and those looking for a Necromunda fix are sure to enjoy some of what Necromunda: Underhive Wars has on offer. However, for anyone else looking for an exciting turn-based strategy experience, it may feel somewhat underwhelming.

The endless checklists and pandering gameplay of Strange Creatures makes it an easy pass, even for those desperate for a new co-op multiplayer title.

Bikerz manages to do the unthinkable by turning a seemingly exciting concept into something that is an absolute slog. This title suffers greatly from repetition, and players will be bored of its antics well before all is said and done.

Runpuzzle is far more frustrating than it has any right to be. The blocks are needlessly complex, and even those who patiently master the odd shapes and wonky collision detection will feel empty when all is said and done.

The Indifferent Wonder of an Edible Place lacks any sort of purpose. Eating buildings is certainly a unique premise, but the game is an absolute chore to play.

It’s clear that the bare amount of effort was put into Rebound Ball’s design. This title manages to do the unthinkable by completely decimating what should be the simplest of formulas.

Though Dirty Harry’s Thunder Drive shamelessly copies Burnout’s Crash Mode, the end result lacks the polish that put Criterion’s title on the map.

Parcel Panic wears its inspiration on its sleeve, but the poor controls, bland aesthetics, and wonky physics prevent it from reaching the heights of the Crazy Taxi series.

The fixie action of skidlocked seems solid on paper, but the drab city, relentless traffic, and lack of polish hurt it in the long run.

Wild Ride has done the unthinkable by making a destruction derby boring. The rough engine, lack of options, and incompetent AI make this arena-based brawler feel half-baked.

Combining rhythm and fighting is a novel concept, but It’s Raining Fists and Metal just doesn’t have the music nor the gameplay to stand out in the arena brawler space.

Drift86 makes an attempt to capture the racing spirit of Initial D, but the poor mechanics in place cause this title to crash right out of the starting gate.

Endless Ski’s poor attempt to cash in on the Ski Free nostalgia wave has created a title that encapsulates none of the qualities that make the original such a classic.

Kill the Emoji – The Remake manages to be even worse than The Emoji Movie. The gameplay is bland, the controls are basic, and the presentation is garish.

Sanic the Hawtdawg: Da Movie is an ironic game that takes a single joke and runs it into the ground. There are absolutely no redeeming qualities to this FMV title, and even fans of bad movies will quickly retreat to those box office bombs.

Infinity Racer XD takes pride in its simplicity, but the rampant bugs, repetitive stage layouts, and lack of variety hurt its chances of ever standing out in the arcade racer field.

Foodie Bear’s combination of roguelike elements and platforming has merit, but this chubby fellow’s adventure comes across as uninspired and sloppy.

Hardcore JRPG fans will likely enjoy customizing the base, upgrading the facilities, and perhaps even the simplicity of the combat. However, for anyone looking for a worthwhile RPG experience, Arc of Alchemist is not it.

Bears, Vodka, Balalaika! is proof positive that a single joke cannot carry a game. Between the poor AI, awkward controls, and lack of content, this is one title that is not worth the brief laugh.

Between its meandering writing and poor art, A Nightmare’s Trip lacks the polish needed to stand out in the crowded visual novel space.

The aesthetics of Under What? make for an interesting showpiece, but the downtempo beats and solid art can’t hide its poor story and lack of direction.

Climb With Wheelbarrow has an interesting premise, but the controls and camera are simply not up to the task. Expect a healthy dose of frustration should you want to make the climb.

As a fan of the previous games, I enjoyed some of my time with Shenmue III. However, as a modern game that was aiming to encourage new players to get into the franchise, I cannot urge caution more strongly. For hardcore fans of Shenmue, this is an easy choice. It’s the continuation of a story nearly 20 years in the making, with the beloved characters, mechanics, and design that made the original games so popular within that niche. Unfortunately, for everyone else, Shenmue III is archaic in design, limited in content, and flawed throughout.

All those hoping to get a taste of Timmy’s Cooking Show will leave with a bad taste in their mouth. The food is bad, the pacing is poor, and the gameplay is nonexistent.

Though it aims to provide a casual ice skating experience, Pirouette fails to captivate all those who attempt it. A distinct lack of effort went into this title, and the awkward controls will turn players off long before players see everything this game has to offer.

The Grandmaster is overly simplistic by design, but this clicker proves to be too repetitive for its own good. It serves as a serviceable time waster, but it lacks the staying power to keep people coming back.

The idea of dating the figurehead of KFC is a novel one, but I Love You, Colonel Sanders! is a joke with no punchline. Dipping into the absurd is fine, but the lack of follow-through makes this visual novel drier than the fast food chain’s biscuits.

A very select few might appreciate the back to basics platforming found in Speedrun Squad, but most people will be turned off by its simplicity and lack of effort put in its design.

Coffee addicts might dig Cafe Crush’s setting, but most visual novel fans will be turned off by its poor voice acting and uninspired dialog.

Kid’s Safety With George Blessure had the bare minimum of effort put into its design. Its incredibly short runtime is already far too long for what it sets out to do.

Despite looking the part, Run Roll Rumble commits a number of cardinal sins that DQ it from making any sort of impact in the platform fighter space.

Unsubscribed: The Game completely and utterly fails at everything it sets out to do. It fails at horror, it fails at gameplay, and it fails at entertaining the player in any sort of way.

D.H. Zombie Zone lacks the creative touches that have made more popular zombie shooters stand out. Fighting against the endless waves of the undead quickly proves to be a mindless affair, something that resembles its zombie horde.

Between its short length, poor platforming, and frustrating combat mechanics, Marvin the Hatter is a hard pass for even the most diehard of platforming fans.

Though it cribs notes from the mobile classic Snake, Peku the Space Dragon proves to be a frustrating affair. A clear lack of effort went into its design, completely ruining what many consider to be a simple formula.

Rogue Reaper’s bland aesthetics and short length squander any of its potential. Though this is a free title, it could have used more time in development.

Real Life Battle Royal is an obnoxious affair full of in-jokes to amuse the developers and make a quick buck.

Although Fantom Feast follows in the same footsteps as the Katamari Damacy series, the roughshod execution makes it a hard pass for even the most diehard of fans.

World War Z has some moments that are an utter blast – the special zombie types and impending doom of a zombie tower bring pure excitement. However, these moments are few and far between, leaving a shell of game with very little content, a lack of creativity, a near non-existent story, and a disappointingly shallow progression system.

Though Dangerous Driving attempts to tap into Burnout’s lineage, its numerous bugs and lack of polish fail to capture the spirit of its inspiration.

Metal Division does not do anything out of the ordinary to stand out among its peers. It just doesn’t have enough content or variety to entice people, and proves to be an easily forgotten title.

Another Sight – Hodge’s Journey drops the ball when it comes to both its level design and its platforming mechanics. Though it is short, it proves to be far too frustrating in the long term to get invested in.

The Crown of Leaves is a disjointed visual novel that lacks consistency, and its anthropomorphic animals will only appeal to a select few. The end result is something that feels more like fan-fiction than a fully fledged tale.

GoatPunks is an incomplete game. Not only is most of the game left unfinished, there is zero balance in the one mode that it does offer.

Chi Busters is broken on the most fundamental level, and only serves as a vain tribute to the development team and nothing more.