CLICKOLDING by Strange Scaffold is an experimental game that challenges players to click ten thousand times while contemplating various thought-provoking themes. Set in an unsettling motel room with a creepy masked figure, the game offers an atmospheric and intentionally uncomfortable experience. Despite its short duration and repetitive gameplay, CLICKOLDING captivates with its unique premise and raises intriguing questions about its deeper meanings. This affordable title is a curious blend of art and gaming that continues to provoke thought long after the final click.

B-Project Ryusei*Fantasia offers an engaging and emotionally rich idol management experience. Players guide 14 unique idols through personal growth and industry challenges, supported by stunning visuals and a captivating soundtrack. The game excels in character development and interactive gameplay, though it may feel repetitive across multiple playthroughs. Despite minor localization issues, this visual novel provides a heartwarming and immersive journey for fans of the genre.

Princess Maker 2: Regeneration is a nostalgic life simulation game where players guide an adopted daughter from ages ten to eighteen, helping her grow through various jobs, classes, and social interactions. Despite its charming visuals and diverse gameplay mechanics, the game suffers from repetitive tasks and occasional translation issues. Players must balance their daughter's health, stress, and interests to ensure a fulfilling life, making it a mix of nostalgia and repetitive challenges.

Tokyo Xanadu eX+ on the Switch offers an enhanced action RPG experience with a captivating combat system, new English localization, and a high-quality port. Set in the fictional Morimiya, the game combines intriguing narrative elements with dynamic character interactions. Despite lacking a unique identity and having some repetitive aspects, the game excels in its polished combat and replayability. This Switch port is an excellent opportunity for new players to experience this underrated gem, making it a must-play for fans of Falcom's works.

Dungeons of Hinterberg may confuse players looking for a straight-action RPG, but those who take their time will quickly pick up on the best moments of this experience. Like the option in the game where you can relax, approaching this casually reveals its clever nuances and a narrative arc that can otherwise be skipped by those rushing to clear dungeons. The time mechanic isn’t there to rush you, but it enhances late-game moments as you become more involved in Hiterberg’s daily life. There are criticisms about combat effectiveness or a narrative that won’t speak to everyone. Still, the result is a game that works and showcases all of the developer’s inspirations and unique touches to deliver an adventure packed with discovery, imagination, and finding one’s path.

Magical Delicacy is a delightful blend of platforming and cooking, wrapped in a charming pixel art style. Despite some progression challenges, the game excels with its engaging exploration, memorable characters, and rewarding cooking mechanics. It's a cozy game that brings a unique twist to the "Metroidvania" genre, making it a must-play for fans of enchanting adventures.

Spy x Anya: Operation Memories is a charming and engaging family game that captures the heartwarming spirit of the beloved anime series. With its photo-based gameplay, fans can enjoy adorable scenes and interactions with the Forger family, making it a delightful experience for gamers of all ages.

I had no idea what to expect from Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, but it will undeniably be another hit under Capcom's growing catalog of critically acclaimed successes. On a personal level, this title echoes some portion of the developer's past that I've missed dearly, and sincerely hope it sticks around and grows. The gameplay shortcomings here may fail at encourgaing the incentivized replay value enough, but they don't detract from the quality present here.

Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus is a must-play 2D platformer that shines with its sublime movement mechanics and excellent level design. Despite a few narrative and comedic missteps, the game offers fulfilling exploration, captivating combat, and stunning visuals, making it one of the standout titles of 2024.

Zenless Zone Zero introduces players to a post-apocalyptic world where they navigate mysterious hollows and battle various enemies. While the combat is visually impressive and the character designs are appealing, the game suffers from a lackluster narrative, repetitive missions, and a heavy reliance on gacha mechanics. Although it has potential, Zenless Zone Zero currently struggles to stand out in the crowded gacha game market.

Anger Foot is an addictive and chaotic fast-action game that stands out in its genre with unique gameplay mechanics and hilarious enemy designs. Players take on the role of Anger Foot, kicking down doors and blasting through waves of enemies to restore justice in Shit City.

Dawntrail may not be as much of a reinvention of the wheel as it was made out to be. However, it also proves that this formula is still capable of featuring incredible stories and taking us to places that can surprise and challenge our understanding of the world, both in and out of the game. It represents a huge step forward in the worldbuilding of Final Fantasy XIV and its gameplay, giving the player appropriate challenges for the hundreds of hours they likely poured into it to get to this point. If this is any indication of what’s to come, then FFXIV’s next decade is looking as bright as dawn.

Fate/Samurai Remnant Record’s Fragment: Bailong and the Crimson Demon is a satisfying capstone to these DLC scenarios. Despite the overly swift pacing and a somewhat weak new character, the premise and narrative do effective jobs at uniting the disparate main cast under a common cause. The multiple rewards achieved upon completion are also a neat touch, with two new playable Servants.

Hana's Campus Life is a well-paced visual novel that skillfully blends romance, comedy, and supernatural elements. The game follows Jeong Lee-Han and his roommate, Hana, as they navigate campus life and unravel Hana's mysterious origins. While the story's coincidences can sometimes feel too convenient, the engaging narrative, character interactions, and replayable routes make it a compelling read.

Until Then offers a compelling coming-of-age story infused with supernatural elements. Set in a post-disaster town, players follow high schooler Mark and his friends as they navigate personal challenges and mysterious occurrences. Despite some narrative pacing issues and a lack of supernatural exploration, the game's immersive setting, relatable character dynamics, and unique visual presentation make it a captivating experience.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak brings a fresh start to the Trails series with its new Calvard arc. Featuring an ambitious narrative, innovative gameplay systems, and a compelling new protagonist, Van Arkride, this entry captivates both new and returning players. Despite some issues with difficulty and the LGC alignment system, Daybreak stands out as a remarkable and modern addition to Falcom's storied catalog.

This entry will likely always be a controversial outlier in the eyes of many. Then again, my takes demonstrate that literally any of these games can be someone’s favorite or close to it. So, don’t feel forced to engage in seemingly compulsory self-repression if your tastes don’t align with the perceived majority.

After replaying The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III, I’m more impressed than ever by its ambitious scale and how well most of it melds. Countless plot and character threads naturally progress from previous entries while the new cast is seamlessly integrated. The gameplay systems and general progressions are as addictive as I remember, too.

Tsukihime: A Piece of Blue Glass Moon is a stellar remake of Type-Moon's classic visual novel. This partial reimagining brings modern graphics and expanded storylines for Arcueid and Ciel, providing an engaging and immersive experience. With captivating characters, a well-woven narrative, and enhanced presentation, this visual novel is a must-play for fans and newcomers alike.

Even though I wish the in-game shop had more meaningful unlockables, and the minigames weren’t an all-pleasing cup of tea, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is an honest-to-goodness attempt at resurging this series once again. I believe it to be the best attempt yet.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree has raised the ante from the previous gift of a game Elden Ring was and will continue to be. There was a reason Elden Ring was game of the year, and if DLC can be game of the year, I would throw this in the running because it is simply that engaging. I never wanted to put the game down or go to bed when my 5 AM sunrise shined through my window. I just wanted to see what Shadow of the Erdtree would throw next, but I have to remember we are only human, and rest is essential. The expansion is substantial and independent, conveniently adding a new experience and fresh direction to your character's development on your next playthrough.

Monster Hunter Stories is a welcoming revived journey in an era of sometimes needlessly pursued bloatedness. This 3DS entry has aged shockingly well thanks to a strongly handled remastered effort. The combat and character progression are endearingly addictive, and the cast is fairly memorable. Still, the lacking difficulty for the story's duration and the monotony brought about by what can feel like overt simplicity make this a turn-based title best experienced in brief bursts.

The Land Beneath Us is a fun Rougelike adventure with an excellent theme in Welsh mythology while also well with keeping players on their toes and think in a strategic way to the point that I felt more like playing a dangerous game of chess at various points. Though some characters, like Sven's PC Companion may get on player's nerves, the game's replayability is high and it's story and finding out more about Sven's past keeps the player on board and makes them want to clear each area of Annwn and get every ending the game has to offer.

Between the myriad of updated combat configurations to the plethora of side objectives and magnificient exploration, this is Atlus putting their best foot forward here in the gameplay department.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door returns with a remake that enhances the beloved classic with modern features, quality-of-life improvements, and an uncensored narrative. Fans of the original will find the same charm, humor, and emotional depth that made the GameCube version a standout, while newcomers will experience one of the finest turn-based RPGs ever created. With updated graphics, orchestrated music, and thoughtful changes, this remake sets a new standard for the series and leaves fans eagerly awaiting a true sequel.

Fabledom is a whimsical city builder that combines fairy tale themes with relaxed gameplay, making it perfect for newcomers to the genre. While it may lack the complexity and challenge of other city builders, its beautiful visuals, simple mechanics, and light-hearted humor create a delightful and engaging experience. If you're looking for a game to unwind with and enjoy building a magical kingdom, Fabledom is a charming choice.

SKALD: Against the Black Priory is a narrative-rich adventure that takes everything great about creative 8-bit RPGs and heightens the experience for modern players. It’s enjoyably grim and sometimes grotesque, but through strong game design, I was rarely confused about how to progress amidst an experience that doesn’t hold your hand. The combat also sees some depth through character customization and job classes that each focus on unique loadouts and abilities which complement the strategic battles. I’m glad this game exists and I had a great time playing, so maybe keep it on your radar if you’re in need of a weekend adventure through the unknown.

Umbraclaw is an ambitious platformer that tries to shine with a standout death mechanic influencing the future of the protagonist. However, this concept is messily executed, not melding well with the stage design that is built around the main character's default abilities. Consequently, progression never feels fulfilling, doubly so when considering the weak characterizations and meager challenge.