From a storytelling standpoint, there are few games that have affected me as much as this did. The themes explored are heavy but the game has a nice balance of optimism and dread. Music is used perfectly to elevate the emotional impact of the game. Where it falls short however is its gameplay. It's basic, but slightly sluggish controls and frame drops make it a bit of a mixed bag from a gameplay perspective.

Thymesia is a game plagued by its own potential and how high it could have soared. Even then, what we have left is a respectable Souls-like that, while not too difficult, provides an innovative spin on combat that captures a few flickers from games like Bloodborne and Sekiro. If you can tolerate the lack of enemy variety and samey level design, Thymesia may make you a little lovesick.

In regards to the shooting mechanics, there's a solid core with excellent flow. You unlock traversal options that make moving around fast-paced and hectic while shooting down enemies. There are enough guns to unlock that keep the fighting interesting while maintaining their personality. Literally, the guns are characters in the story. Where High On Life shines is the writing. Every character and scene is hilarious while also telling a compelling story. Fans of Justin Roiland's comedy will love High On Life.

Spinch is a uniquely vibrant game with a fast paced first half that turns into a bit of a slog the longer it goes. Unfortunately, the developers decided to skimp on the checkpoints as a cheap trick to make the second half harder. If they released a patch that let you save wherever you wanted, it would raise my score significantly. That said, you are simply not going to find a game that looks like this anywhere else. Just from an aesthetic standpoint, Spinch is worth the price of admission. As it is, I recommend that you play Spinch, but I can't recommend that you finish it.

Since I played Among Ashes last year, I've wanted something on that level of horror and A.I.LA pretty much fills the gap though not 100%. It has a strong start and end with some hit or miss moments in the middle (looking at you Ghost Ship), but its overall a solid experience with entertaining puzzles and scares.

REKT! High Octane Stunts is a simplistic but enjoyable experience that offers up a nostalgic homage to retro games gone by. The fun neon colours and upbeat sounds immerse you in the gameplay, and you'll find yourself really invested in the action. Whilst certainly not perfect, this is a charming game that is ideal for killing a bit of time. This won't be your new favourite game, but it would certainly make a great addition to any gamer's collection.

Akane has potential to be an indie great, but it feels as though it needs much tighter art direction, a lot of polish and a break from the monotony of the gameplay loop. The pixel art is great and the control are very convincing, but it can't escape the feeling that a little more was required to make it feel like a finished product. The fact that it has only one level and (even more bafflingly) only one boss puts a real limit on what the game is capable of becoming. The premise is pretty awesome, but awesome in a way that a 16 year old would enjoy it most.

Pro Cycling Manager 2023 is only meant for the most dedicated of cycling simulation fans, but the game itself is well-made, with no major issues. However, it can often feel like it was just last year's title from the same franchise, but with some necessary updates and a fresh coat of paint. As such, not all players will be willing to pay full price for some tweaks and a fresh new roster.

Weyrdlets ties productivity and casual gameplay together by letting you raise a pet on your desktop. It's nice seeing your pet come with you even as you work or play on your computer. It does take a long time to get set up and enjoy the cute activities that are advertised. But if you want something soothing that doesn't take up much time, Weyrdlets is a good fit for your schedule.

Out of Line is doubtless a polished experience, and an enjoyable one. It’s fun to get lost in the beautiful visuals, and the puzzles strike the right balance between challenging and unfair. Still, the vague story may prove frustrating for some, and the other characters do feel a little under-utilised. Nevertheless, it’s a game that will likely keep you entertained for its modest run time.

Disappointment. That is the singular word this game leaves me with. Somewhere, buried under a pile of glitches and bugs, is a competent, beautiful game, but I am just not patient enough to wade through all of it to find that game. Normally I'd consider a glitch or two as just an annoyance that I can look past, but I legitimately didn't want to finish this game because of some of the glitches. Supposedly there's a patch coming that may or may not address this, and if it shows up, maybe this is worth checking out. As stated, this game without the glitches would easily gain another two points on its score. If you're patient and don't mind constantly resetting the game, there's something enjoyable deep, DEEP inside, but I am not the person to dig it out.

Sports: Renovations isn’t a bad game—but it’s definitely one you play with Netflix on. Instructions are vague, the story is easy to skip, and even finishing your main goal early earns no acknowledgment. There’s solid voice acting and some charm in the radio broadcasts, but most players will miss it while zoning out or playing their own music. There's no reward for creativity, and your effort rarely matters. I’m not sure who the target audience is—sports fans or dad game fans—but merging the two doesn’t quite land. Still, if you just want something low-pressure to unwind with (and you dodge the glitches), it’s a decent time-waster.

Maneater is an original concept that is brave enough to weigh an entertaining premise and pro-environmental message in equal measure. An over-reliance on repetitive item collecting mires a surprisingly Hemingway-esque tale that left me more than satisfied once the credits rolled. Tripwire Interactive managed to capture the thrill of playing one of the Ocean's apex predators in a game that shouldn't be missed. We don't often see games that offer the kind of unbridled fun that Maneater does.

Rune Factory 5 certainly has its flaws. But don't we all? At the end of the day, the FPS drops and asset pop-ins were easy enough to ignore, and don't prevent the charm of Rune Factory 5 from shining through. It is still a very solid title on the Switch, and one that I would recommend to any lover of the farming sim genre.

Nanotale - Typing Chronicles raises the bar for typing games across the board. This is a title that proves teaching tools can make entertaining games as well. The version of the game I played will need some patches before release, but after the bug fixes, I have no qualms recommending it to anyone looking to brush up on their keyboard skills.

Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed has its heart in the right place. It looks, feels, and sounds like Ghostbusters, and with some friends, you can relive the days of playing pretend Ghostbusters. However, it doesn't do much with its gameplay formula beyond the bare minimum. It's great in short bursts, but wears thin after several matches.

You could say that Demon Turf is one Hell of a time. So much variety in worlds and challenges. Heavy emphasis on speed, flexibility, and experimentation. With all the freedom afforded to the player, Demon Turf manages to be a generally great platformer-adventure with just enough on the side to keep things eventful and fresh. If not for some bloated level design, and with heavier polish on outside elements such as combat, this would be a bonafide classic. Even now, it's a phenomenal option for platformer fanatics new and old.

Star Ocean: The Divine Force is the breath of fresh air Star Ocean fans have been waiting for. The storytelling is satisfying and fun, the gameplay is innovative and exciting, and the visuals are colorful and fantastical! Even further, The Divine Force offers a beautiful soundtrack and a handful of challenging battles that ultimately provide a very rewarding experience! Although there are some imperfections, The Divine Force is a magnificent installment in the Star Ocean series!

Killing Floor 3 is a worthy sequel that upgrades everything they did well for the better. It may have a few audio bugs, lackluster story missions and some drops in frame rate when playing online with a full lobby but its addictive gameplay loop, fun arsenal of weapons and gadgets and the high replayability courtesy of the revamped perk system will keep Killing Floor 3 trucking along. Bring on the Halloween update!

If you've got a group of people that you want to play with, or if you want to replay the original game, then you should check out the new update. But I came out of this review with more critiques than I realized while playing. Turns out, some of my favorite parts were just playing the game with my kids, but the game itself. In the end, the game is flawed, but it's trying, and that's all we can really ask for.

While it may be a little on the short side, Arietta of Spirits is an enjoyable experience. Overall, there's not much to fault here - an original story, beautiful visuals, fitting soundtrack and engaging gameplay. What it lacks in length and replayability, it makes up for with its charm and solid execution.

Cartel Tycoon provides a complex business simulator with many moving parts. It is a challenge to learn, but the game provides everything you need to know in an easily digestible way. There are enough obstacles that you can constantly challenge yourself and be entertained by your success in the narcotics trade. Unfortunately, some mechanics are too complex for their own good and the game isn’t always clear on what some things can do. It’s a good survival simulator, but dragged down by its own preventable flaws.

The Chant offers the player a trip into horrors not in the usual settings but at a yoga retreat. An insane cult and neon cosmic terrors separate The Chant from other survival horror games for its unique tone. However, faults in the visual and gameplay polish hold The Chant back from reaching the point of an instant horror classic. Instead, it is a sure-to-be cult classic worth the short journey.

Steelrising is a masterclass on creating mechanics and controls that work in perfect harmony. It reinvigorates a genre that's quickly becoming over-populated, and stands out as an example of extraordinary game design. Steelrising will go down as one of the best releases of 2022.

Kill It With Fire is an enjoyable indie game with a fun premise and plenty of destructive toys to deal with the spider threat. However, the game is short and whilst it never overstays its welcome, it can easily be completed in an afternoon and doesn’t have much in the way of content beyond that, aside from some achievement hunting and time killing.

It's safe to say that I think Hoa is an absolutely outstanding game. My childhood self would be shrieking with glee at this game as it is everything you could possibly wish for out of a nature based puzzle platformer. With adorable creatures to befriend and a story to learn, Hoa definitely has it all. Therefore I cannot recommend this game enough.

Deliver Us Mars is breathtaking in terms of presentation and the underrated but extremely talented cast helps to bring the characters to life. While some of the puzzle mechanics can become repetitive, the detailed and layered story keeps you pressing forward. The sound design also plays a key part in the thick atmosphere delivered by KoekN Interactive, and wearing a headset will fully immerse you in the universe of Deliver Us Mars. A charming and unique game with a compact and deep narrative.

Redout: Space Assault filled the void that I was missing when it came to 3D space shooters. It's simple enough to scratch the itch, but not so small that I plowed through it in one sitting. I wish there had been more responsibility over my ship when it came to ammo or fuel supply, but considering the title originated on Apple Arcade, the lack of this mechanic is hardly surprising. The story beats were predictable but well-written, and I will always be happy with a spaceship skin that reminds me of Neon Genesis Evangelion.