Rain World is a cruel and often unfair Metroidvania title. You must explore a vast world full of predators and danger. Moreover, you'll learn new skills and use them to progress further. However, your foes will also evolve and this makes it a tough but rewarding experience.

The Fall of the Elena Temple is a wonderful old-school title that combines platforming and puzzle elements. Furthermore, the fixed-screen perspective allows the developer to incorporate basic mechanics and clever stage design. Sadly, the basic gameplay and lack of story prevent it from truly excelling.

Tip Top: Don't Fall! is an amazing arcade climbing title. You must traverse some challenging rock faces as you balance stamina and speed. With everything against you, you must consider risk and reward as well as the permadeath mechanic. Thankfully, its procedurally generated stages and tough action keep you coming back for more.

RUFFY AND THE RIVERSIDE is a fun and clever adventure title. There is a hint of retro gameplay and some enjoyable cheeky moments. Though the opening few hours can distract you, I suggest pushing through for a great time.

Sail Forth is a cute and fun adventure title. With procedurally generated mechanics and a vast world to explore. Sadly, though, its story lacks depth and lore, and the action can become repetitive. Consequently, the shortcomings prevent it from truly excelling.

Soulstice is an interesting hack 'n slash title with a captivating plot. Focusing heavily on combat mechanics, the developers have delivered a slick and exciting adventure game. Furthermore, the excellent visuals and incredible audio help to set the scene.

Illusion of L'Phalcia is a decent old-school RPG with a polished dated aesthetic. Unlike some of its peers, this is challenging and will test your tactical mindset.

Astronite is a cruel and tough Metroidvania experience. What's more, its 1bit graphics and synth music ensure it has an old-school appeal. However, its lack of hand-holding and its unfairly brutal ways will put many players off.

I believe the developers at Haemimont Games made a great decision in relaunching the original Surviving Mars. Many reviews claim that the game is too similar to the original. However, I think this should be obvious given that it is a “relaunch.” The game isn’t designed as a sequel to the original. Instead, it serves to bring the game more up-to date with modern gaming, running on more advanced engines. It is a relaunching on the game’s life and for that, I think it is doing it’s job well. Plus, with future DLCs, the game will hopefully continue to be worked on and improved. I can see a bright future ahead of Surviving Mars: Relaunched, and a bright future for life on Mars!

Varney Lake is a coming-of-age adventure that is full of mini-games. With a dated aesthetic and slow gameplay, this may not be for everyone. However, fans of Mothman 1966 will enjoy this short endeavour.

Star Trek Prodigy: Supernova is a fun-filled family-friendly title. Furthermore, it has zany characters, interesting backdrops, and an OTT story. However, its repetitive gameplay and simple approach will frustrate veteran gamers.

Minicology is more than just a survival game, it’s an invitation to explore, tinker, and unleash your creativity. With its charming visuals, in-depth crafting mechanics, and emphasis on automation, Minicology offers a unique and rewarding experience for gamers of all stripes. Whether you’re a seasoned strategist or simply enjoy a relaxing and visually captivating adventure, Minicology is a must-play title that will keep you hooked for a couple of hours.

Smurfs Kart is a fun and family-focused affair. With colourful graphics and familiar stage design, this will impress every fan of the Smurfs. Moreover, the accessibility options are perfect for younger gamers. Sadly, though, it isn't tough enough for older players and the action becomes repetitive.

Deep Diving Adventures is a wonderfully relaxing and interesting diving simulator. Undertake many quests, upgrade your equipment, and avoid every predator. The inclusion of the DLC adds longevity and makes this great value for money.

1 Last Game’s Reclaim the Sea is still a charming and enjoyable—albeit brief—experience, blending pirates and strategy. There seems to be a promising future for the game and I hope the developers can deliver!

Montezuma's Revenge - The 40th Anniversary Edition is tough, frustrating, and often unfair, but I loved it regardless. I adore the old-school vibe, the interesting stage design, and the unforgiving gameplay.

Desktop Dungeons: Rewind, is an enjoyable game with a lot of puzzle-based gameplay and a variety of different modes. Unfortunately, the game has faults like the cheesy dialogue and the intrusive UI. However, the amazing character designs, amount of content, and great puzzle gameplay far outweigh the bad. Although the game can be frustratingly difficult, the game is still overall an entertaining experience. I recommend giving this game a chance if you are interested in trying out this unique hybrid of rouge-like and puzzle gameplay.

Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland has a wonderful 90s edge. Furthermore, the action is easy to understand. However, this simplicity will frustrate older gamers. Accordingly, this is a child-friendly title (when played cooperatively) that has a niche appeal.

JustAxe is an exciting 2D platformer with puzzles, interactive environments and unusual setting! Solve riddles, combine your moves, and set out to save your hometown and possibly all of humanity... And don't forget to take your axe with you!

Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail is a tale of two halves. On the story front, it might be one of the weaker stories for the MMO. Wuk Lamat is an overbearing main character who is illogical at times. None of the other new characters stand out, and fan favorites from previous expansions don’t significantly impact the story. On the other hand, the dungeons and trials are some of the most fun I’ve had in the game. Both new classes are a blast, and the graphics update adds a nice touch to the game. Fans of the story might be disappointed, especially after Endwalker and Shadowbringers. This expansion delivers on all fronts for players looking to grind new content.

The game is also exclusive to PS5 of all things supposedly because it hopes to implement PSVR. Not for the actual game mind you, but just for a first person cutscene at the beginning. I’m not sure of the story behind this exclusivity, but this seems like an odd way to split your fanbase especially when the last game was available on practically everything.

If you grew up chasing high scores, hunting secrets, and replaying the same map to leave no secret behind, Pie in the Sky will feel like coming home, even if the visit is a little shorter than you’d like. The price might seem on the steeper side with regards to the short play time but I would spend my money on it to support the indie developer in hopes for a more refined nostalgic trip in the future.

Despite it not being my cup of tea, Squad 44 looks promising, especially with recent updates and continued support from the developers. If you’re a fan of online multiplayer tactical FPS and WWII history, Squad 44 is worth your time.

Immortal Life shows a lot of promise. It’s varying gameplay mechanics left me clambering for more, and the addictive management systems were very immersing. Though the graphics and narrative pacing are a cause of concern for me, these could be remedied in subsequent updates. If you are a fan of casual games, then this may be something worth picking up. However, I’d strongly recommend you wait until its official release date to get a full understanding of the games potential.

Reverie Knights Tactics is a fun but tough turn-based tactical RPG. You must control a small band of heroes as you fight relentless foes, manage your stats, and plan every move. It is tough and requires a methodical mindset.

God of Rock is an enjoyable rhythm-based combat experience. With vivid graphics and incredible audio, this is a treat for your eyes and ears. Moreover, the challenging gameplay will test your dexterity and concentration. However, a weak player base and a lack of depth hold it back from reaching its full potential.

Saint Kotar is a grim, sinisiter, and dank point-and-click title. With a strange and slow plot, and many twists and turns, it can be tough to swallow. However, with time and patience, you'll enjoy a horror game that is eerie and story-rich.

Demon Skin is a grim and gritty side-scrolling adventure title. With slick combat and tough encounters, this old-school experience has a modern edge. Though it is a bit of a slow burner, I recommend fighting through the pain.