Cardaclysm: Shards of the Four is a complex deckbuilder game with simple presentation featuring RPG elements acting like a roguelike — all wrapped in a very pretty package. While it suffers from some balancing issues and more information on the battlefield would be welcome, there was a lot attempted here with plenty accomplished. It’s pretty criminal that a game that looks this good doesn’t feel truly ready for release yet; given a few more months, Cardaclysm: Shards of the Four should absolutely shine like the diamond in the rough it is. If you’re a fan of this genre and have at least five hours to wait until the game truly blossoms, I daresay Cardaclysm: Shards of the Four might be up your alley.

Sizeable may not be a very long experience, but it is an absolutely delightful one worth having. Every single diorama was utterly charming in its presentation, full of life and stories, that I found myself glued to my seat in an effort to solve each puzzle just so I could see how adorable the next one was. If you’re looking for a simple puzzle game with a fun discovery aspect and minimalist approach, be sure to check out Sizeable on Steam.

As much as I enjoyed my time with Curse of the Dead Gods, I feel it’s a bit unbalanced. I’m not averse to a challenge, but I am against unfair difficulty. And honestly, the whole game is weighed against the player. If you’re not patient and willing to put in the time to master the mechanics, this can be a bit of a painful grind. And the boss fights, while cool, can be more than a bit frustrating. More than anything, I really wanted to get lost in the lore of the game, but that’s pretty much nonexistent. The only exception is info found in the bestiary.

Bonkies is a solid multiplayer game. It’s goofy, it’s silly, it’s challenging, and most importantly, it’s fun. Really, the only criticism I can come up with for the game is that it’s not very fun single-player, but in fairness, it’s not really meant to be. So if you’re looking for a couch co-op game to casually play with your friends, Bonkies is an excellent choice.

Make no mistake, Turrican Flashback is a nice retro throwback. But I wish Factor 5 and publisher ININ Games did more to make it the proper celebration of the series it could have been. Aside from four pixel-perfect ports, there isn’t a lot here to justify the collection’s $30 price tag. Sure, you get the usual features like the ability to rewind your game and save states and a few visual filters. But save for those modern amenities, Turrican Flashback doesn’t offer much else apart from the aforementioned soul-crushing challenge and a load of zany weaponry.

Overall, Wind Peaks is a delightful, if short game, though I’m not quite sure that the current price point accurately reflects the content that’s available. That being said, if the hint at future content is accurate, I’d be willing to revise that opinion. I finished the game in roughly 2 hours, and it was a thoroughly enjoyable couple of hours. There’s a gentle scaling of difficulty so that the game never feels boring or too repetitive. Charming art style and super relaxing ambient sounds. Honestly, I just wish the game was longer. If you’re looking to switch things up and play something gentle and soothing, give Wind Peaks a shot.

Overall, Void Gore is a fun little game you can pick up and put down whenever. It’s a solid shmup, with addictive gameplay and delightful retro-pixel graphics and music. My main complaints are that there’s not a large variety of enemies (I think I counted about five or six), though some of the bigger blob-like enemies do have different attacks. Some boss fights could help mix things up a bit, as could occasionally changing the background mid-run. At it’s current price-point, though, you get an enjoyable game you can play pick up whenever you like and not feel like you didn’t get your money’s worth.

When it comes down to it, Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame 4 is absolutely a game for pre-existing fans—whether casual or hardcore—of supercross. So long as you know a thing or two about the sport, you probably won’t have too much of an issue jumping right into things, and I’m sure that you’ll enjoy all that the game has to offer. Those who don’t know anything about supercross might want to watch out, however. While things are nice and friendly once you understand the basics, you’re in for a pretty rough start if you’re coming in completely green.

I do have faith that JAST USA will correct the problems with the game and even at its current price, it’s a steal. I’ve easily logged 40+ hours and I’m still nowhere near done with this one. I’ll be spending a few months cleaning up CG collection and achievements easily. However, its value also will depend on if you’re ok with the current QA state of the game. If you want perfection, then I’d say wait another month or so to see if another update is issued. Though if it goes on sale, buy it ASAP. If some typos won’t bother you, then give it a shot. I think you’ll find an entertaining and enjoyable title as well as meet some awesome and colorful characters.

Although At Dead of Night does suffer from a few minor game mechanic issues, it’s arguably one of the best FMV games ever created and a solid horror experience. Whether you’re a horror game veteran or a total coward, At Dead of Night will delight just about anyone who comes across the title.

The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante is a remarkable storytelling achievement. Ironically, though the game is rendered in an artful monochrome, none of its frequent moral decisions are completely black and white. Every choice had my mouse wavering over the screen, considering the consequences of my actions. It’s one of those rare gaming narratives that’s equally tragic, challenging and exhilarating. The message I felt came across is: don’t weep for the paths not taken or the limited change one person can make, but choose the life you want to live and live it to the fullest. As painful and filled with sorrow as Sir Brante’s life is, it’s one that’s well worth living through yourself.

In the end, I have very mixed feelings about Cathedral. I appreciate the style and concept, and even find the game fun a lot of the time. But all that is put at risk by questionable design and unbalanced difficulty. If you’re not afraid of a little pain, you’ll likely have a lot of fun. Those that are adverse to annoyance will need to decide if this game is worth the price of admission. That said, I do hope that developer Decemberborn AB is able to use my critiques to make a more balanced Metroidvania in the future. Because rough spots aside, there’s a lot that I enjoyed here.

Loop Hero is a fascinating roguelike that will excite fans of the genre and entice those burned out by it to come back and fall in love all over again. Its beautiful art style and addictive core loop will cause players to lose track of time, not realizing hours have passed between loops as they slay the day away. Loop Hero could use a few tweaks to make certain aspects more understandable, but in its current state, it is absolutely worth your time and money. Still unconvinced? Download the Loop Hero demo from the game's Steam page. Don't make me keep talking in circles -- be sure to check out Loop Hero as soon as possible.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I took Everhood for review. Now that I've beaten the game once and touched upon New Game+, all I can say is this is my favorite 2021 indie so far. And I strongly think it will take something incredible to dethrone it from that position. Not only does it feature amazing music, but it also has evocative artwork and a compelling plot about mortality and human choice. If it helps, don't think of this as an indie. Think of it as required gaming for anyone that enjoys video games.

There’s no mistaking it: Ghosts ‘N Goblins: Resurrection is challenging like many of the games in the Ghosts ‘N Goblins franchise. But the reasons for this level of difficulty become apparent when you consider the history of this franchise: like all classic arcade games it was a total grind, created to chew up tall piles of quarters. The creators have delivered on their promise of reimagining this game and have remained true to that aspect of it, so I can certainly appreciate and respect this game on those merits. I also don’t stress the difficulty level of this game to deter anyone from purchasing it, as the whole point could be to challenge yourself as a scroller-platform gamer! Despite my grumbling I must have a hidden masochistic side to me, as I thoroughly enjoyed every clammy-palmed minute of gameplay, in spite of the high degree of difficulty.

It isn’t really very often that I’m so negative about a game, but Neptunia Virtual Stars does so many things wrong that I just couldn’t ignore it. Normally, this would be the part where I would say, “only get this game if you’re a fan of the series,” but I’d be wary even then. As little as I’ve talked about it within this review, this game is obviously little more than an attempt to pander to the Vtuber fandom. I don’t say that with any disrespect—if you like Vtubers, then more power to you. But, Idea Factory, next time you make some sort of crossover titles, keep in mind that you’re capable of making quality crossovers—like Superdimension Neptunia VS Sega Hard Girls—and maybe don’t try to patch up a lack of content by slapping Vtubers everywhere like they’re bandages.

SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium may not be as awe-inspiring now as it was when it released more than 20 years ago, but it’s pretty darn close. Even today, it’s hard to believe SNK was able to produce such a full-featured fighting game on their humble handheld hardware. If you’re a retro fighting game enthusiast who somehow missed out on the game when it first released, don’t make the same mistake twice. Just be sure you have a decent controller — or better yet, a proper fight stick — to go with it if you want to get the most out of your purchase.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Dry Drowning. It’s got a lot going for it – excellent writing, a deep, riveting story, and plenty of replayability with branching paths and multiple endings. The few flaws the game does have are more a minor nuisance than any kind of real hindrance. If you’re looking for something Phoenix Wright adjacent, but with a dark, intense slant, I definitely recommend giving Dry Drowning a shot.

NERVE is a great little blast if you enjoy little bursts of fun. It’s also a good time if you commit more effort and experience to get good. Either way, if you’re up for a new adrenaline rush with tons of bright colors and a brilliant electronic soundtrack, then NERVE needs to race to the very top of your new gaming list.

So long as you don’t mind your visual novels being less traditional VN and more supplemental in nature, Code: Realize ~Wintertide Miracles~ is a short, sweet, and adorably charming otome title that is sure to keep your heart warm on a cold winter’s day.

Gal*Gun Returns is exactly what it should be. It’s a new way for some fans to re-experience the original Gal*Gun with updated visuals, and, for us over here in the West, the chance to finally experience Gal*Gun for the first time. If you’re looking for something that’s going to top Gal*Gun 2, then you’re going to be disappointed. If you can appreciate it for the faithful recreation that it is, however, I can guarantee that you’ll have an absolute blast.

While light in the storytelling department, there’s enough here to keep fans happy and more than enough stylish demon slaying to keep this series engaging.

I know I sound like I’m being hard on The Shadow You, but that’s only cause I see the potential for it to be something better. I do admire Topchan Games for what they obviously accomplished with a limited budget. And they definitely succeeded in the horror parts of the game. Perhaps if they can invest more time and care into their writing and focus more on their horror, their next game could be outstanding. As things sit now, The Shadow You is a promising game held back by its narrative. If nothing else, it’s a short and inexpensive experience. I managed to get the True ending in about 4 hours, and that’s only because I got lost in a couple of puzzles. Horror fans might still find something worthwhile here, warts and all.

Puss! certainly has some things going for it. From its surreal aesthetics to its haunting sound design that evokes the feeling of tuning into a radio station in some strange, far-off land, the game’s presentation is top-tier stuff. And while occasionally a bit unfair with all of the chaos unfolding all at once, the boss battles are always memorable. Still, it’s hard to recommend the game to all but the most patient players at the end of the day. If you’ve got ice water pumping through your veins or are looking for a fun way to torture your friends during your next drunken gaming gathering, Puss! might be worth adding to your Switch library. However, if you don’t find yourself in either of those camps, then this probably isn’t going to be the game for you.

With more than one hundred levels and a gradual increase in complexity, Room to Grow will definitely keep you busy and satisfy that puzzling itch. A hint system of some kind would be a nice touch to help keep those frustrating moments at bay. It’s a minor complaint for this well-designed puzzler, though. Help me feel smart—or at least a little less dumb—about it.

Haven is absolutely worth playing, especially with a partner. Its story is beautiful, engaging, and authentic. Its storytelling sets a clear benchmark in realistically portraying relationships in video games. I do wish Haven’s gameplay reached the incredible standards set by its story, but even a few blemishes can’t completely tarnish such a unique experience.

Mutropolis is definitely one of the better point and clicks I’ve played in recent memory, and was a pleasant surprise on every front presented. I genuinely enjoyed every moment I spent with it — even when stuck — because it was such a joy to look at and explore. There were a few times I got stuck, certainly, but nothing that kept me from progressing for too long. If you like point and click games with good puzzles, great depth, and an incredibly unique story with fun characters, your quest for Mutropolis ends here.

When it comes to the match 3 mechanic, HuniePop 2: Double Date is absolutely one of the best match 3 games out there. When it comes to story progression and character development, it’s a little lacking in comparison to its predecessor. Interested parties will still have plenty of fun on Inna de Poona, so no worries there — just don’t expect to foster any long-term relationships with the lovely ladies populating the place. Although, on a lust-filled island, you’re probably not looking for commitment anyway. For a good time, give HuniePop 2: Double Date a chance.