Castle Flipper adds a fresh twist to the burgeoning builder genre by providing puzzles and personality that make a seemingly empty world feel surprisingly alive. With the power to build not only immense castles but tiny towns teeming with signs of life, landlords and landladies will quickly come up with a treasure trove of backstories for their kingdoms in Castle Flipper. Complete with a musical score that feels right at home in a cozy Dungeons and Dragons campaign, Castle Flipper pleases now and promises more later.

I really wasn’t sure how I would judge Fearmonium in the end. The game found all sorts of ways to challenge me, both good and bad. The combat wasn’t as smooth as I would have liked, and the comic panels are rough, yet the game premise is unique, and the world is fascinating. Ultimately, I truly feel there’s a solid and worthwhile experience here. Once the aforementioned glitch is patched, I can fully recommend it to fans of the genre.

Truxton has its flaws, and in a lot of ways, it feels very much of its time. That said, it has one major thing going for it. It simply feels good to play. With tight controls, one notably awesome weapon, and a soundtrack that sets the tone I want out of the genre, I came away from my time with Truxton with a smile on my face. It isn’t going to blow fans of the genre away, and there are definitely better options out there, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had with Truxton, even after all this time.

Arcade Paradise is a fantastic management sim for those who love the genre. It may be asking a lot of players to prioritize other people’s laundry over games upfront, but the payoff is a literal heaven for those who have always wished to build their own arcade and play every game within it for free. If you enjoy a good management sim and love the idea of hopping from game to game to game as a major mechanic, Arcade Paradise is worth its weight in quarters.

I’ve been so tough on Mars Horizon. Know that I’m sorry about that. I was more deeply invested in getting to Mars than I’ve been in a ton of other games this year, so know that it comes from a place of adoration and a desire to see some quality of life improvements to a phenomenal game. If you love space, get this game. If you want to learn about the processes behind space exploration, get this game. I genuinely hope the developers make some of these improvements, but even if they don’t, Mars Horizon has been a joyride I won’t soon forget.

Despite the overarching story not fully coming together, however, I had a great time with Europa’s Folly. It’s an action-packed, fast-moving conclusion that takes the time to give most of the game’s cast a moment to shine and satisfies from a character perspective. I’d mostly say the same about The Expanse: A Telltale Story as a whole. While the game definitely has pacing issues, and parts of its story feel like they’re mostly there to fill time, its cast of characters is brought to life in a way that made me look forward to returning to them every couple of weeks. It’s not a perfect return from Telltale, but it leaves me excited to see where the studio goes next, and hoping we get to see more of this crew.

This dark depiction of Beauty and the Beast works, but only if you recognize what you’re getting into: a musical experience focusing on an abused psyche desperately trying to break free from known shackles, only to fly right into a cage that represents both prison and freedom.

The quality of Returnal makes me enormously excited for what Housemarque can do with higher budgets and modern games. I just hope they learn some lessons here to make their next title even better. Arcade is dead. Long live arcade.

High on Life 2 is a funny and ambitious sequel that is held back by technical issues and some mechanical shortcomings that the series still has not solved. The skateboard is fantastic, the writing is sharp, and the world rewards curiosity at every turn. But the gunplay lacks oomph, and the gameplay lacks depth.

I won’t go so far as to call The Namco Legendary Pack a must-purchase. The history captured here isn’t unique enough for that, especially when you consider only a handful of playable games have been added to the overall package. Still, what’s here is interesting, well presented, and offered at a reasonable price for the couple of hours of education and entertainment it can provide. If you’re a fan of Namco’s earliest works, it’s worth the price of admission.

Fossil Corner takes an extremely simple scientific concept and turns it into an utterly addictive puzzle mechanic. Sure, it gets repetitive and maybe doesn’t offer much in terms of fossil diversity, but I dare you to tell me that you can just play one round (newsflash, you can’t). If you’re looking for a puzzle game that you can zone out to after a stressful day, Fossil Corner is your game. Just… keep an eye on the clock if you intend to go to bed at a decent hour.

If you've never gotten into the series and want to start, or are like me and love Undead & Undressed so much that you just want to know what came before it, then Hellbound & Debriefed is absolutely worth your time.

I really wanted to give ANTHEM#9 a higher score. But even though I enjoyed the game, I feel that the lack of progressive upgrades, as well as the occasionally barebones storytelling, finicky interface, and incredible difficulty, made a higher score impossible. That said, if you’re eager for something utterly unique and want to support a new game developer, I’d definitely give it a shot.

This game made some really strange choices, and I can't say that I agree with all of them. And, to that end, I feel like some of you out there will end up feeling that way as well. You'll still be able to find all of the traditional SoS garnishings within Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town if you're willing to dig deep enough—just be prepared to do a whole lot of crafting along the way.

Despite a few rough spots in the experience, I’m still very happy I was able to review Firegirl DX. It’s a lot of fun playing rogue games on my Switch, since they’re so custom-tailored to a more portable mode of gaming. While there are some minor glitches and design flaws that hold the game back, fans of the rogue genre should enjoy this utterly unique firefighting experience.

Children of the Sun delivers a distinctly edgy experience, blending stylized graphics, shocking cutscenes, and quirky elements. While the narrative loses some steam and gameplay variety is limited, its core mechanics – precision sniping, bullet manipulation, and cleverly designed levels – remain consistently engaging. This makes Children of the Sun a worthwhile and uniquely visceral experience for fans of score-based shooters who enjoy a strong, satirical tone and strategic problem-solving. While it might not offer endless replayability, those who appreciate its offbeat nature will find a refreshingly different and satisfying gameplay loop.

Storyteller is filled with charm and offers interesting mechanics, which really do make it feel like you’re telling a story. Unfortunately, it just takes too long to get going for a game that ends so soon. I completed every level in the game, including the alternate challenges, in about two hours. For the right price, this is definitely a story worth telling, though, and those in need of a new take on the puzzle genre should have a good time.

Nitro Kid offers that slice of synthwave cyberpunk heaven in the form of a turn-based deckbuilding roguelike. It has a solid mechanic and balanced gameplay that proves addicting when you throw the amazing soundtrack into the fray. Although I wish there had been a little more in terms of a storyline — or even just backstory — that’s not a dealbreaker for an otherwise great game. If you’re looking for a fight with plenty of synthwave flair, Nitro Kid is ready to deal you in.

Terminal Velocity’s gameplay is a little dated after two and a half decades in the hangar, even with a fresh coat of paint, and isn’t going to win in a dogfight with today’s premier flight sims or space shooters. Nonetheless, the developers have done a great job of polishing it up and making it work perfectly on modern systems. I enjoyed playing it again for its high-octane tunnel-traversing, radical soundtrack and bombastic alien blasting, and I think others could too provided they’re primed for a nostalgic blast from the past.

There’s a ton to like about The Library of Babel. From a presentation standpoint, this is one of the strongest games I’ve played in 2023. That just makes it more annoying when the title’s core gameplay mechanics don’t hold up to the experience the developers have created. While they’re mostly okay in the early going, as the game tries to push players further, they simply don’t hold up well to what’s being asked of them. I still overall had a good time with The Library of Babel, and this is a game that, with a bit more refinement, could really have been something special, but as is, this is a game I can only recommend strongly to die-hard fans of classic cinematic platformers.

RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army may not be a true classic, but it is a very solid action RPG with strong combat and an interesting story. Investigative work may not be a strength, but it gets to be less of a focus as the game goes on, mostly for the better. Shin Megami Tensei fans who missed this one late in the PS2’s life cycle will have a good time exploring an underplayed part of the franchise, but those who have already experienced this story won’t find a ton new to grab their interest.

Absolute Tactics: Daughters of Mercy is a solid entry-level tactical RPG that just needs…more. More enemies, more level variety, and a more compelling story. Newcomers to the genre will find a lot to like here; experts, your mileage may vary.

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake lays the Spongebob charm on thick, the Bikini Bottomites and their worlds ripped right out of one of the many, many, many episodes we’ve come to know and love over the years. Although it has a lot of great ideas pulled from the vast Spongebob universe, there’s something just a little sticky about the way it all came together in the end. SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake is good, clean F.U.N., and as long as you don’t expect too much out of it, you’ll have a totally coral time.

Anger Foot is the B-movie of video games: it’s loud, messy, and doesn’t pretend to be anything it’s not. It’s the kind of experience you’ll either love or hate, depending on your tolerance for toilet humor and over-the-top violence. The game’s unapologetic immaturity might be a turn-off for some, but those who embrace its chaotic energy will find a surprisingly polished and addictive power fantasy. It’s a weekend fling of a game, best enjoyed in short bursts before the charm wears off. So, if you’re in the mood for a mindless, adrenaline-fueled rampage with a healthy dose of crude humor, strap on your kicking boots and let loose.

Kaichu – The Kaiju Dating Sim reinforces what makes the genre delightful. Its ingenuity is perfect for those who love looking through their Steam queue and finding a ridiculous-sounding title to sink a few hours into, and the price pretty much seals the deal. Although this casual, wholesome experience swings very, very far into the “casual” side of things, it is still a good time, especially for those who seek novelty. If you’re ready to look for love in all the tall places, Kaichu – The Kaiju Dating Sim has a gigantic pink protagonist who gives monster hugs and kisses.

Fire Emblem Engage is a clear step backward for a great series. While the strategy gameplay at the core of it is perhaps the series’ best, everything else here feels weaker. I still enjoyed my time with the game, ultimately thanks to its gameplay which is some of the best in the genre, but after how great Three Houses with, it’s hard not to come away from Engage disappointed.

If you’re looking for an unabashedly old-school brawler that doesn’t pull any punches, Final Vendetta certainly delivers that much. But only the most patient of pugilists will be able to get the most out of this package.

There are times when I really did start to feel like I was getting Akka Arrh, that I was so close to slipping into that state of bliss the best arcade games can provide. Inevitably though, some new mechanic would show up and knock me right out of it. That’s not to say I didn’t have fun with Akka Arrh, it’s an incredibly interesting game worth a look from fans of classic arcade games and fans of Jeff Minter, but the same issues that kept that original prototype from the 80s from seeing the light of day are still present and stop it from being a must-play.