Ravenlok is a game I desperately wanted to love but, in my short time with it, so many obstacles made that impossible. A fantastical world of whimsy and fantasy is unfortunately betrayed by the dull rendition of the Wonderland story and the empty characters who dwell within it. By far the biggest weakness, though, is that, in a desire to be more approachable, the combat is a spammy mess without depth, challenge or complexity and it taints the package. While Ravenlok may be beautiful it's only skin-deep and doesn't hide the strained, weak game below.

Intrepid Izzy isn't a bad game, but it's nowhere near as intrepid as the title suggests. It's a paint by numbers Metroidvania platformer that gets the job done and not much else. It's got colorful graphics and enjoyable gameplay, but it lacks originality. Blatantly copying other games only gets you so far.

Death Relives is a horror experience that confuses itself for an interactive history lesson at times. It may be filled with entertaining puzzles and an enjoyable intimidating antagonist, but It sadly doesn't justify the frequent bugs and frustrating stealth mechanics. I can see the vision the developers were going for but Death Relives definitely needed some more time in the oven. Hopefully in their next venture they'll learn what worked and what didn't, and maybe leave the AI generated content behind.

If you're looking for a simple puzzle game with some narrative on the side, Doctor Cat is something to consider giving a go. I have to admit, there are a few flaws and it does sometimes miss the mark in what it sets out to do, but I like the approach that's been taken with this game, making it something more than just a game with a few puzzles. Although there are things I would personally have done differently, the game does at least provide an interesting challenge, and at the end, you get to replay the puzzles in a more difficult mode.

I can't in good conscience recommend Silver Chains. It's not for a lack of effort; I'm sure that the development team worked very hard to ensure their vision. But it's a small package, and the Nintendo Switch isn't the best way to play the title. If you're looking to spend time in a fright-filled mansion that has an evil resident, there are other ways to scratch that itch. If you're looking for a scary game to play while safely tucked under your blankets, this would do the job for a couple of hours.

The first hour or so of Werewolf the Apocalypse - Earthblood had me intrigued. The story wasn't great, and there were plenty of issues, but I enjoyed the combat. After a while, the game became a slog with repetitive mission design, and no real incentive to do anything other than engaging in one-on-one combat had me longing for the credits to roll. Typically AA games have something to set them apart, but sadly it is not the case in Werewolf the Apocalypse - Earthblood.

Space Invaders Forever is a fine package. That's unfortunately all there is to it. For fans of the series, for players who will play with others, for those that don't mind touch screens, it's a great choice. But if any of those things are a problem, everything gets real old, real fast. This is the bare bones version of that massive Space Invaders Invincible Collection, and it isn't enough to satisfy.

Hell Architect: Prologue is a sales pitch for the full version of the game. And while that is not a bad thing by any measure, the experience playing just the prologue falls short. The fact that you can let the game run by itself says a lot and does not bode well for the full version. The current state of the game feels incomplete and buggy, as I ran into what seemed to be 2 random encounters while playing the prologue scenario, although they always happened at the same time on every playthrough and immediately resolved themselves, so it's like they never happened. I'm hoping to see some more of that on the final version of the game, maybe that's the missing piece. My curiosity is still piqued and I'm hoping the addition of more sinners to the game will make for a more complicated playthrough, and, no point in denying it, I also wanna see the rest of the tortures Woodland Games has prepared for us.

Ruinverse ended up being a middling entry in the KEMCO catalog. What it does, it does well, but the larger twist it was going for with the dual-soul feature doesn't really land as intended. For fans of the genre, it's a fine bone to chew on, but if you're looking for something more in your games, this isn't the one for you.

Poly Bridge 3 is a perfectly serviceable game for the niche audience it is aimed toward, though probably won't find much success outside of that. It's a game in an expansive genre that turns regular jobs into entertaining video games, though leans more into comedy and exaggeration for added fun, which definitely helps its cause over others in the genre.

Harvest Hunt pits you against a frustratingly unbalanced monster in a small village, and asks you to repeat this cycle over and over with very little changes in gameplay. Perhaps with some updates, Harvest Hunt can yield entertaining sessions. But for now, only certain players that love a formidable challenge will find something of value in Harvest Hunt's punishing gameplay. The story is surely one point, but for most, it is the only, and not enough.

While the gameplay is intact, the visual downgrade to Tropico 6 is so damaging to the game. Juggling different tasks is still fun, but now it all just looks worse. Due to the poor visuals, there are inevitable diminishing returns as your settlement gets bigger, which is the opposite of how it should be. The grander your achievement, the harder it is to actually see it.

Fall of Porcupine tells a wonderful and thought provoking tale, in particular following the impact of a real world pandemic on our healthcare systems. Yet the emotional experience is sometimes hindered by incorrectly labelled button prompts, inconsistencies in dialogue translation and an invisible torso. In spite of this, the wholesome characters and comfy storybook atmosphere combined with a selection of minigames create a memorable time in the town of Porcupine.

Bones of Halloween never tries to be anything more than it is. A simple survival game where you challenge yourself to get the highest number of points. It’s good for some short and simple fun, where you shoot skeletons and try out the different guns. Unfortunately, a lack of variety in gameplay means that you will quickly become bored. This isn’t a game that you will likely pick up again after the initial fun wears off.

James Pond: Codename Robocod is an odd beast. Whilst it is technically a rerelease it isn’t the game that many players will remember. And the game that we do end up getting here is fun enough; the core mechanics are solid and provide and decent challenge which is close enough to the original that this feels like a sequel of sorts. However the level design is slightly lacking. And the presentation of the game is rather poor, with bad sound design and poorly implemented sprites. People with nostalgia for the original may get a kick out of this. But it may be a harder sell for newer gamers.

All in all, I did enjoy my time with Infinite Abyss. A few tweaks, like maybe some more health or health/armor upgrades, less enemies or enemy damage, faster crate movement speed, or maybe a story, would have made the game much more enjoyable. However, at its current price tag, it's worth it. I've seen worse, but I've definitely seen better.

Ultimately, Time Loader is a beautiful-looking, wonderful-sounding game, with some fun gameplay. It's let down by a story that focuses on a character without making them engaging, the lack of challenge that comes with the puzzles, and everything being in service of the game's least engaging aspect. It is unfortunately quite a short game as well. My initial run-through clocked in at about 2.6 hours. So a recommendation here is really based on what you want for your money. If you're fine with slightly un-challenging, hand-holdy at times gameplay and a story that looks pretty but doesn't go anywhere, pick it up! If you want a little more bang for your buck, maybe wait it out to see if Flazm adds anything interesting. Honestly, this game has a lot of potential to be good, if they just rework the story and maybe add some challenge levels.

Although Speed 3: Grand Prix has an interesting gameplay concept, it fails to pull together the arcade and simulation sides of racing games in any memorable way. With a boring main tournament mode that recycles the same sort of gameplay over and over, not even solid visual design and a good soundtrack can save this game from being distinctly mediocre.

Syberia Remastered is not a bad remaster—but it is a timid one, and that is what hurts most. This world, this story, this legacy, deserved a revival that honored Benoît Sokal’s vision with boldness and confidence. Instead, we are left with something in between: a remaster that flickers with brilliance but too often fades back into mediocrity. For newcomers, it offers a glimpse of why Syberia became a classic. For longtime fans, it feels like a missed opportunity—a reminder of just how powerful this story could be if given the chance to truly shine again. Syberia Remastered is heartfelt but incomplete—a nostalgic return that touches the heart, but never fully captures the magic it tries to revive.

DETECTIVE - Rainy Night tries to be two different genres at once but never finds its focus. The result is a game that doesn't feel like mystery or horror, instead a rough combination of the two. You are only interested in seeing how the story ends and probably won't give the game much thought when it's over.

The Bad Son is an interesting game. It is a game which I am not sure I want to ever recommend but what it does well it really does well. The odd story along with its great atmosphere is really well done. Somehow the corny horror vibes are nailed down very well. While at the same time as a game it kind of fails through the fact that gameplay is bad and boring. It is odd, to say the least. That is what makes the game unique and a tough sell.

I walked away from Raven's Hike with a bitter taste in my mouth. It didn't feel like a challenge at the end, but a waste of time. However, looking back at it, Raven's Hike doesn't deserve to be called a bad game. The controls are smooth, and while it could explain things better, it is a very fair experience. Personally, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone I know, but use your discretion. If you're looking for a tough, but fair, puzzle-platformer then you could certainly do worse. For me, I found the game to be mediocre at best, and exhausting at worst. Still, the creativity on display is pretty cool.

The idea of fighting on a futuristic motorcycle seemed fun in the beginning, but there just wasn't much else going on with the game to keep you hooked to it for long. The story seems forced and the characters seem like random NPCs who you don't care about. The gameplay elements like the crew are not fully utilized and it feels like they just left it in between to focus on other things. If all of this is taken care of, I wouldn't mind trying Disintegration 2, if it ever comes out.

Summer In Mara does a well enough job in helping you fall in love with the Koa and the plethora of colorful characters. The underlying mystery of Mara and its inhabitants as well as the depth of lore leaves the player yearning for more. Unfortunately, in order to get the momentary tasty bits of story, the player must go through grueling and nearly infinite fetch questing. On top of that, several mechanics don't intermingle well with each other and often times make no sense whatsoever. Constant backtracking and waiting around plague an otherwise vibrant and compelling game.

I am mindful that this is a budget title. However, against It’s inspirations, it comes up short. I will say that I loved the art design and that playing through the areas and puzzles was solid, if unspectacular. I also appreciated it’s light-hearted moments. However, control could be very frustrating and specifically the audio was incredibly jarring throughout, from the stock nature sounds to non-existent music. The games tone also struck me as odd, undecided if wants to be heartfelt, whimsical or a tale of revenge. Regarding story, there's very little to engage with, even within the games' environments. The game also included bugs that required restarts, which I hope are fixed in due course. Having played Omno recently, the difference is night and day.

Paws and Soul does deliver in providing a story based around the Buddhist doctrine of rebirth and reincarnation, and I can see how it is quite atmospheric. Unfortunately, the story is far too depressing to make any of it relaxing. The gameplay is fun at first but quickly grows repetitive, and the only thing the game has going for it are the graphics and the vibrant environments. It’s a shame, because Paws and Soul could have been a really good indie game, but there too many vital aspects that haven't been executed well, and all of this combined seriously lets it down.

Atari Mania wants to be a love letter to the golden age of Atari. It wants to be a fresh spin on old games. The end result is the equivalent of trying to play an Atari 2600 on a modern TV. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. The repetitive microgames and technical issues mar what should be a fun anniversary gift to a legendary company. This anniversary gift is a bit underwhelming.

Smilemo is primarily a game about challenging yourself to get past difficult obstacles. You will spend hours trying to complete stages, making small steps of progress. Your work can easily be undone by a few mistakes, and this will be frustrating for casual players. If you are looking for a challenging 2D platformer that will test the limits of your patience, this is the game for you. If you are a casual player looking for a fun game to relax, it would be better to look elsewhere.