Gori: Cuddly Carnage is a Frankenstein’s monster of inter-stitched game concepts. There’s everything from maniac combat, high-flying hoverboarding, hectic escape sequences, and the obligatory battles against nightmarish bosses. While every part isn’t completely healthy, developer Angry Demon Studio sutured it all together into an experience that recalls the risk-taking of the PlayStation 2 era.

Skillfully, Shadow of the Ninja Reborn captures the essence of its source material. Scrambling and striking foes across the game’s six stages captures the feel of yesteryear’s celebrated action-platformers. Meanwhile, improvements to visuals, enemy behaviors, and Mizutani’s soundtrack ensure these ninjas don’t feel obsolete.

With a framerate that can flutter, Good-Feel’s latest isn’t as technically polished as their Nintendo-published efforts. But jubilantly, Bakeru channels the same sense of exhilaration and wonder that the developers delivered in Yoshi's Crafted World and Princess Peach: Showtime. With a campaign that will send you across a cartoonish Japan and a drip feed of collectibles to gather, this is the kind of persistently pleasing experience that has become all too rare.

Fairy Tail’s first indie adaptation (there’s two more on the way) is nothing short of a resounding success, tasking Natsu and the guild with strategizing their way through turn-based encounters. Sure, there’s a surplus of roguelike deckbuilders on the market, but Dungeon manages to balance accessibility with tactical nuance.

Games don’t often tackle the grieving process, making Farewell North distinctive. And while the puzzles occasionally feel forced, the moments of quiet serenity and the reminder of the strength of the human spirit are undeniably striking.

Leximan is a delightfully madcap adventure that resists setting down into a comfortable groove. Instead, the seven-hour game is capricious and lively, throwing a procession of different moods and challenges at players.

Elrentaros Wanderings’ core tension comes from its depiction of parallel worlds and the uncertainty of which one is real. But time spent in both realms proves uninteresting, with monotonous combat in one and insubstantial exposition in the other. There’s a very real sense of dread when the game asks you to repeatedly descend into its insipid dungeons.

These blemishes aside, Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers undoubtedly exhibits charm. Sure, the pixelated artwork might not flaunt much fidelity, but the dog-eared, tattered cards convey the ambiance of a seedy gambling den. And while a bit of interactive coaching would have been appreciated, if you’ve played Balatro, you’ll be able to acclimate quickly. And pleasingly, it plays well on Steam Deck, allowing you to gratify your gambling fix on the go.

Some scale Mount Everest, others swim across the English Channel. Much like its predecessor, Volgarr the Viking 2 extends the same kind of intimidating challenge, daring you to memorize the hundreds of different dangers laid out across six masochistic stages. This time out, there’s a novice mode, accompanied by a bit of playful humiliation. Just don’t expect entry into Valhalla on easy.

Much like the SteamWorld Dig sequel, Heist II ditches the drab procedurally generated stages for hand-crafted battlefields designed around collaboration and the game’s new class system. While these changes might sound minor, they feed into so many different components that the follow-up feels fresh, at least until the run-up to the game's finale.

Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid makes most commercial games feel like thankless labor. Set against backdrops of azure skies and verdant hillsides, the game lets you loose in a rural town. You can tackle kid-size goals if you’d like, or just spend your days capriciously, chasing butterflies and seeing where footpaths lead. This is the kind of open-world experience we need more of.

At its best, CYGNI: All Guns Blazing requires your complete concentration, as stages pit your solitary ship against an unprecedented number of enemies. While some framerate foibles and an incongruent soundtrack are regrettable, neither truly mars the experience of tackling seven missions where adversity pummels you like a torrential storm.

By providing a wealth of autonomy, No Creeps Were Harmed TD outshines nearly all of its tower defense rivals. Whether you just want to experiment with tower synergies or are seeking unforgiving masochism against a procession of mutating foes, the game agreeably accommodates. Best of all, the game’s innovations layer additional quandaries on a foundation of thorny decisions.

With its metroidvania-style backtracking and shootouts that hinge on careful timing, Exophobia isn’t your typical boomer shooter. It’s engaging and thoroughly challenging if you decide to take on the game’s alien lobsters on the game’s default difficulty.

The sixth mainline Earth Defense Force remains heavy on opposition but short on innovation. Yes, the action is still hysterical, as a team of stalwart soldiers face hundreds of opponents on each stage. The chaotic firefights are unchanged but so is much of the game. If you’re expecting innovation, you might want to wait to enlist. All others, it’s time for another familiar and delightfully campy bug hunt.

With a quartet of character classes, Deadlink lets you find a class that complements your playstyle in the game’s procession of hectic, arena-based first-person frag fests. But incongruously, the game’s roguelike perks provoke you into playing a very specific way, where you’ll use all of your capabilities. This dissonance doesn’t devastate the action, but it doesn’t elevate it either.

With a quaint world populated by mushroom folks and a sense of discovery that’s rooted in scientific methods, The Last Alchemist reveals promise. But sadly, this potential is tainted by a control scheme that’s persistently uncooperative. The lesson here is that a formula can skimp on fundamental ingredients.

Midnight Ramen’s storyline is told across fourteen chapters and should take most players about 5-6 hours to complete. Tackling some weighty and relatable subjects, the cast undoubtedly makes a lasting impression. As such, you’ll want to savor the game’s salient moments, rather than scarf down the exposition.

Given the number of first-rate CCGs on Steam, Zero Division can’t be recommended in its present state. Bugs can be irritating, but forfeiting progress is poised to infuriate players. As such, fans of CCGs might want to track the game’s progress. If these annoyances can be eliminated, managing a trio of decks and cultivating some team-based advantages could be agreeable.

With its tech trees and a broad toolset for burglary, Thief Simulator 2 occasionally provides autonomy as you prowl its suburban neighborhoods. But that sense of freedom can vanish during heists, as the title expects you to follow a rather strict approach to stealing.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak sustains one of Nihon Falcom’s more underappreciated strengths: the scalability of its storytelling. Yes, the banter between members of a varied cast is expectedly lively and the inclusion of a morally ambiguous protagonist provides customary charms. But the game sinuously shifts to the scheming of the political elite and reveals a sordid underbelly that sharply contrasts with the technological distractions. Whether it’s the romantic ambitions of an NPC or biting societal critique, The Legend of Heroes franchise still has plenty to say, 35 years on.

Building on the foundations of 1982’s Robotron: 2084, Satryn DX delivers waves of delightfully hectic twin-stick shooting. If you like arcade style action and don’t have the patience for long-winded exposition, this is a title to savor.

With its roots in text-based simulations like Hamurabi, Princess Maker 2 remains a relic from game’s past. As such, some might not perceive the allure of a child-rearing simulation were players balance dozens of variables, so that their heir finds success. But for those who remember when gaming was young and experimental might find Regeneration’s decision-making engaging. You might raise a debutante or a delinquent but either way, the detail of the simulation is beguiling.

Sadly, The Story of Bubble Bobble III neglects to tell its own tale and lacks any kind of context or supplemental materials. While the quality of Ratalaika’s emulation is laudable, their habitual lack of curation is disappointing. Ideally, the studio would have included some background information informing of the game’s place in the Bobble Bubble franchise. Certainly, interviews with any of the original developers would have been appreciated. Parasol Stars is a thoroughly enjoyable game that marked a significant shift in the industry. Although revisiting the title’s charming spritework and earworm melodies is delightful, a gem like this should be treated with a bit more respect.

While technically competent, Bloodhound offers few reasons for giving its tedious single player campaign a try. You’ve used all its guns and protagonist abilities before. Defeating waves of foes in cramped arenas isn’t worth revisiting unless there’s a modicum of innovation.

Unlike many of Atari’s recent reboots, NeoSprint isn’t willing to deviate too far from its source material, save for the inclusion of a track editor. As such, the single-screen racer might have you feeling nostalgic for Micro Machines or longing for the luxuries (and point-of-view) of a more modern racer.

A missed jump is one of the biggest frustrations in a platformer. Frogun Encore’s camera and diabolically placed gaps means you’ll sporadically flop around like an inebriated amphibian. But checkpointing and an endless supply of lives mean that you probably won’t fling your controller like the game’s signature navigational tool and weapon.

Peer past a few coarse edges, and Megacopter: Blades of the Goddess is a thoroughly involving action title that lets you mow down legions of pugnacious lizard men. At present, the game works best when replicating the fundamentals of the Strike games. Skulking a busy battlefield and figuring out the best way to eliminate a cluster of garrisoned foes proves just as engaging thirty years on.

Bang Average Football is a much better game than its moniker might suggest. For a nominal price, you get a thoroughly enjoyable retro rendition of the sport as well as a robust RPG component where you can lead a player or team to greatness.

With its skeletal tutorial and complex supervisory tasks, venturing into Pro Cycling Manager 2024 can be overwhelming. Undoubtedly, this is an experience suited for the statistically obsessed, who find enjoyment in seeing their decisions potentially garner advantages. As with simulations this sophisticated, there’s some unfortunate jank, which is perplexing for a franchise that is nearly two decades old.

Energy management decisions continue to sustain Tour de France 2023’s chase for the yellow jersey. But the game’s unsophisticated physics modeling and middling aesthetics don't help the sense of simulation. This season, there are actual athletes in Team mode and basic online multiplayer racers. But it's clear that Cyanide is coasting.

Like a veteran yakuza lieutenant, Fading Afternoon can be unapproachable, offering little assistance for new recruits. This approach can be daunting at first, but it’s undoubtedly premeditated, encouraging you to explore the game’s intricately crafted world. There might not be many visible character stats, but this is accomplished role-playing.

Built around a concept introduced in Hotel Mario, a much-maligned CD-i title, Goliath Depot offers a rather grand remodeling. The result is an arcade-style experience that feels familiar yet has enough novelties to stand on its own.

Before relishing Sweet and Spicy Darling, making you’ve thoroughly savored Cupid Parasite. Like most representations of romance, you’ll want to witness the full journey, where flawed bachelors flourish thanks to the virtues of romance. Here, you’ll witness a collection of compelling codas, that are just as entertaining as the courtship.

Battles in Crown Wars: The Black Prince can be determined by minutiae. If you’ve properly kitted out your soldiers and created a well-balanced party, victory is always within reach. Likewise, if the game can mend some of its imperfections, success seems likely. As long as the Artefacts Studio’s battle plan involves a long-term commitment of listening to feedback and making necessary modifications, Crown Wars has the potential to become a minor hit.

If you’re looking for some pulpy sci-fi with a likable cast, Read Only Memories: NEURODIVER beats most of its contemporary peers in film and television. Like some of the genre’s best works, it’s an exploration into what makes us human. Smartly, the blend of visual novel story-telling and light puzzles balances seriousness with the intermittent instance of childlike playfulness. Likely, this one could generate some positive memories.

Mullet Madjack is Otakuland’s signature thrill ride. Requiring players to kill in order to stay alive, gameplay channels the intensity of speedruns, the fire fights of a first-person shooter, and the visceral finishers of DOOM. But just like a roller coaster, this jaunt through 90’s anime and VHS static can be a fleeting experience.

Given the game franchises evolve, picking up any of Omega Force’s more recent musou title will provide technological advancement. But for those die-hard Samurai Warriors devotees who can identify more than a dozen officers, you might want to add this notable entry to your library. Samurai Warriors 4 DX has several qualities that would be explored in subsequent entries, and reflects a key turning point for the prolific property.

A reoccurring goal in the Hyperdimension Neptunia series is saving gaming from imminent disaster. But ironically, Neptunia Game Maker R:Evolution demonstrates some of the real-life ailments of the industry, with a lazy spin off built around salvaged concepts and sloppy combat. Undoubtedly, Nep Nep and the rest of the Guardian Goddesses deserve far better.

Like its predecessor, King Arthur: Legion IX excels at turn-based combat. You’re routinely outnumbered, requiring you to harness the potent skills of each party member, which is a lot of fun. But off the frontline, things aren’t quite smooth. From sporadic crashes, vexing difficulty spikes, a rushed ending, to uneven voicework, it seems Legion IX isn’t quite battle-ready.

With its explanations of the Turing Test and machine learning, QUALIA ~The Path of Promise~ offers more than just a basic tale of love between man and machine. Although the first two hours can be a bit dull, the visual novel’s central relationship is tenderly written, allowing for a few wholehearted moments.

Should a remake attempt to improve on the original work? The developers of Rainbow Cotton side with historical accuracy. This rebuild of the ill-received Dreamcast game largely eschews improvements, which feels like a missed opportunity. This is for stalwart fans of the series only.

Enjoying Epic Dumpster Bear 1.5 DX: Dumpster Fire Rebirth hinges on your tolerance for stock assets and campy storytelling. If you’re looking for a polished experience with a sensical plotline, deduct about 25 points from the score. For everyone else, the five-dollar purchase will provide laughs and a straightforward test of your platforming prowess.

The first few hours of the original Class of Heroes can be unforgiving, requiring players to do their homework if they want to survive. Class of Heroes 2G extends a more welcoming introduction, improved artwork, and a widespread streamlining of some of the first game’s systems. If you’re a stalwart dungeon crawler, pick up both. But for most players, Class of Heroes 2G Remastered Edition will meet your Wizardry-but-with-moé needs.

Like any respectable first-person shooter, Phantom Fury provides some imaginative weaponry. Outside of the middling firefights, the rest of the game is a chore built around bad design decisions. From hunts for colored-colored gate keys to scanning faux emails for passwords, most of Fury is either tiresome or tedious.

Don’t let the adorability of the anime-influenced art fool you, Class of Heroes: Anniversary Edition is unwelcoming to newcomers. But that’s less of an admonishment and more of an observation of the game’s intended audience. Dungeon crawling here is appropriately dangerous, while party management is intentionally messy. Let the other folks enjoy their guided walkthroughs, Class of Heroes offers a wonderfully tough curriculum for those seeking a first-rate education.

From the improved backdrops, increased difficulty, to the retuning of weapons, 1992's Truxton II improved on its predecessor. But it's never been officially available in the West until this adept port. With the music issue now fixed, Bitwave Games' port is an ideal way to enjoy Toaplan's skull-obsessed shooter.

With components that factor in details such as pilot stress and ability, Lunar Lander Beyond takes the Atari property to noteworthy places. But the use of the 45-year-old arcade title as a foundation is an encumbrance that keeps this revival from truly soaring.

Sadly, Yoshitaka Murayama passed away just before Hundred Heroes’ release. But if he was still with us, he might have enjoyed the praise that Eiyuden Chronicle will undoubtedly receive. It’s been eighteen years since the last Suikoden entry, and this game is a delightful reminder of the series’ strengths, whether it’s the rapport between characters or the fulfillment associated with finding a new recruit who divulges a detail about Hundred Heroes’ world.

Effectively, Rose & Camellia Collection is an assemblage of five of the series’ six games with Joy-con play and a two-player competitive mode patched in. While the decision to preserve the now-defunct Flash games is reasonable, it feels like the publisher should have expanded the games. Inserting the catfights around an expanded visual novel would have nurtured a sense of tension and would have been a welcome supplement that would have helped justify the shift toward Rose & Camellia becoming a paid product.

Collect-a-thons are remarkably rare these days. But Yellow Taxi Goes Vroom offers an engrossing reminder that gathering hundreds of deviously placed items remains just as engaging as the Spyro or Banjo franchises. Save for some missed opportunities for satire, it’s good enough to make you wonder why the genre receded.

Despite a plodding introductory hour, Minishoot' Adventures free-roaming, open-world shooter soon heats up. Before you know it, you’ll feel the singe of bullet-hell involvedness, as the playfield becomes flooded with dense patterns of projectiles. Fortunately, a leveling-up system provides the counter-offensive you’ll need to survive with variable difficulty settings serving as a contingency plan.

Beyond the 24-stage campaign, Freedom Planet 2 offers additional enjoyment in a new boss rush mode as well as a classic mode that allows you to replay stages once you’ve completed the game. Overall, you’ll find about 15-20 hours of action-driven enjoyment that’s worthy of the asking price.

Children of the Sun is an exemplary example of indie talent. Like its protagonist’s bullets, the game doesn’t follow a predictable trajectory. Initially, solo developer René Rother seduces you with long-range bloodshed. But before long, the sniping gives way to brainy spatial puzzles. Later, the experience will goad you into ruminating over your actions. Devolver’s talent scouts are undoubtedly some of the best in the business.

Beyond bundling a trio of racing titles and a rom hack-style inclusion, don’t expect much from Top Racer Collection. Yes, the individual titles are fairly evergreen, balancing the fundamentals of driving with light racing management duties like determining when to pit. But the general lack of curation is moderately disappointing. When quarter-century old films arrive on physical media, they’re usually accompanied by a host of ancillaries. But here, QUByte Interactive just delivers the basics. At least the games speak for themselves.

Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles lays down some solid ambitions foundations for autonomous city building, as you construct soaring towers and trade hubs for your oceanic colony. And while the resistance to duplicate conventional types of play is commendable, there’s a distinct lack of challenge, making this more of an open-ended plaything than your usual goal-driven game. Hopefully, the developer can make a few changes to make the autonomy a bit more engaging.

Much like its primary weapon, Missile Dancer 2 is laser-focused on a target of delivering late ‘80s, frenzied, arcade-style fun. Anyone with an appreciation for retro games will undoubtedly find this well-crafted homage to Afterburner and Galaxy Force a direct hit.

There’s certainly no shortage of Vampire Survivors clones on Steam. But Parry Nightmare provides distinction by not letting you fight enemies directly. Instead, a well-timed deflection stuns foes, allowing a secondary character to defeat them. Sure, it’s a marginal innovation. But given the game’s modest price and the wonderfully jazzy soundtrack, the concise campaign can offer enjoyment if you aren’t burnt out on the genre.

If you like retro shoot ‘em ups, Verzeus likely warrants its six-dollar purchase price. Sure, it’s not quite as good as Konami’s iconic shooter, but it’s an engaging alternative if you’ve already played through Hiroyasu Machiguchi an immeasurable number of times. You might not be able to duplicate the experience of playing Gradius again for the first time. But a round of Verzeus feels like a musical cover that pays homage to the original while adding just a bit of divergence.

With 3DS hardware becoming increasingly cost-prohibitive and emulation growing progressively thorny, a remastering of The Legend of Legacy is a welcome proposal. Nearly a decade on, FuRyu’s RPG remains involving - thanks to its non-traditional character development and emphasis on exploration and discovery. But know that the title lacks the sophistication and sheen of most contemporary role-playing efforts.

While an improvement upon the original PC releases, Dungeon Drafters still has a few lingering issues. From boss balancing issues to a script that desperately demands proofreading, you’ll encounter frustration Yet, for all these faults, there is potential in the mixture of grid-based movement and the sheer abundance of card-based attacks. Maybe another patch is in the cards.

Indie developer Zu Ehtisham layers the references thickly, offering nods to Mega Man, Azure Striker Gunvolt, and even Sonic the Hedgehog. But despite the occasional feeling of familiarity, Berserk Boy’s frenzied action is distinctive and delightfully rhythmic. Anyone with an affinity for the 16-bit era should give the demo a go.

Like many of Vanillaware’s previous efforts, sight, sound, and story effortlessly intermingle in Unicorn Overlord. The result is a role-playing experience poised to fascinate with its well-developer recruitable characters and a battle system that will have you tenaciously tinkering with your troops and envisaging new strategies when you’re not playing. Despite a reliance of Western high-fantasy and a rather conventional lead, Overlord shouldn’t be missed.

Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story details the career of one of gaming’s great auteurs. But it also serves as a reminder of the time when an ambitious teenager could create the next hit, predating the rise of corporate publishing and their boilerplate blockbusters. Sure, many of the games feel dated and are geared toward historians, but Digital Eclipse’s underdog story is engaging. Given the current state of the industry, it’s also essential.

With a reliance on auto-targeting, the Vampire Survivor clones can grow tedious. Bore Blasters mixes things up with twin-stick shooter mechanics, where drilling through the environment is just as imperative as gunning down foes. While in-game inflation becomes irritating, the few first hours, are indeed, a blast.

Simultaneously being a battlefield strategist and a spell-slinging sorceress on the frontline makes Timemelters feel distinctive. Sure, it’s not perfect and the occasional difficulty spike is poised to put a transitory hex on your enjoyment. But the concept of layering multiple versions of your actions helps make up for any blemishes.

Look past the game’s beguiling ‘arts and crafts’-inspired visuals and Ufouria: The Saga 2 is woefully unmarkable. Exploration, combat, and the game’s dialog are all just adequate, rarely producing the kind of enjoyment delivered by Ufouria 2’s peers. 33 years in the making, Sunsoft’s follow-up is tragically unessential.

Garden Life: A Cozy Simulator is a relaxed experience that lets you build your own botanical wonderland. But with restrictions that are as stringent as your average HOA agreement, you’ll undoubtedly have to scale back on some of your ambitions.

With design decisions that keep the battles lithe and a difficulty that’s forgiving, Captain Velvet Meteor: The Jump+ Dimensions is one of the most accessible grid-based strategy games around. If you don’t have the time to delve into Disgaea or get impatient by the pacing of Fire Emblem, this is a viable alternative.

Any fan of turn-based roguelikes should own at least one Shiren the Wanderer title. Sure, there are plenty of nice-looking clones out there, but Spike Chunsoft excels at generating inventory-based predicaments. With lessons gleaned from previous entries, The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island is one of the best places to start if you’ve somehow shunned Shiren.

With the threat of layoff and the possibility of interoffice romance, Sympathy Kiss is a rather relatable visual novel. Although the protagonist is annoyingly ambiguous, the real stars here are the novel’s bachelors. They’ll assist with your work responsibilities during the day, while offering affection at nights and on weekends.

Remember when action games boasted sizeable sprites and fun, flashy combat? Slave Zero X is a worthwhile attempt to revisit that entrancing era, despite a few forgivable and fixable blemishes at launch.

Uncovering these sorceresses in strip Tetris-style matches is the real allure. But given the game’s pixel-art visual style and the simplicity of the falling block placement, the game ends up being nearly as silly as it is sexy.

If you’re seeking a visual novel that pushes into the perimeters of decency, Nie No Hakoniwa - Dollhouse of Offerings won’t disappoint, especially with the optional 18+ patch. But know that developer Chatte Noire’s reflection of sordidness and power imbalance is diluted by the occasional cliché and an ending that lacks closure.

Islands of Insights soars when you’re sprinting and gliding through its sense world, solving different kinds of puzzles every few minutes. But since there’s no truly co-operative puzzles, the game’s online requirement is poised to perplex players.

While Buaichan’s faults make for an absorbing character study, the game’s localization flaws undermine what could be a compelling adventure. Sure, Shanghai Summer looks great, and the plotline supplies potential. But having to infer what’s meant in most lines of dialog making playing a chore.

Jett Rider isn't perfect, but it demonstrates that a Metroidvania can be uplifted by the incorporation of a jet pack and a few guns.

Whether you tackle Hellcard’s turn-based confrontations alone or with a pair of online allies, the pursuit of team synergy can be involving. Like many card battlers, you’ll need to upgrade wisely, gleaning every diminutive advantage available before reaching the endgame. Here, persistence proves just as essential as having a prudent policy.

Yes, KONOSUBA – God’s Blessing on this Wonderful World! Love For These Clothes of Desire! is another one of those isekai with an obscenely long title and a partiality for fan-service. But this visual novel adaptation is a bit better than its peers thanks to a wonderfully dysfunctional cast and top-tier voice performances that augment the playfulness of the script.

A pixel-perfect, feature-rich port of Toaplan's last shooter for less than eight bucks? Shoot 'em fans should rejoice.

Computer Repair Shop’s dystopian setting and subversive humor elevates the game above most generic life-sims. But the pleasures of role-playing as a malware installing, component pilfering, technician doesn’t last long as long as they should. If Cheesecake Dev could give this ‘Geek Squad Gone Bad’ romp a bit more structure and a better endgame, this could become a sleeper hit.

Despite several development complications, Granblue Fantasy: Relink is an exceptionally polished adventure. Marvelously, it’s impressive in areas where its action role-playing peers occasionally falter. CPU controlled teammates behave like humans while combat remains engaging thirty hours on. Best of all, the challenge scales broadly, providing audiences of all skill levels an ideal inroad into Granblue’s breathtaking skyworlds.

Unquestionably, Go Mecha Ball action is intense, as you shoot and smash your way across ramps and quarter-pipes. While the inclusion of roguelike power-up attempt to inject some variety, it’s not quite enough to keep this ball rolling for too long.

Instead of a confident stride forward, Neptunia: Sisters vs Sisters demonstrates Idea Factory’s franchise taking another peculiar sidestep. The result is an experience that delivers amusing writing, but combat is clumsy and bolstered by overbloated systems. While the spin-off is one of the property’s better digressions, you'll probably yearn for the proficiency Neptunia’s mainline entries deliver.

Sadly, Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs: The Thrilling Steamy Maze Kiwami is neither naughty nor novel enough to recommend. While fans of the manga or anime might be tempted to go dungeoneering with ghosts, ninjas, and cat-girls, the Mystery Dungeon-style gameplay is too derivative.

In 2024, a seventy-dollar game with fifteen-dollar New Game+ option should be an accomplished experience. Determinedly, Infinite Wealth is, whether you’re bouncing foes like bowling pins, belting out Baka Mitai like it’s your last, or tackling Animal Crossing and Pokémon-inspired offshoots that are too big to be called mini-games. Then, there’s the duality of Kiryu and Ichiban, who each get fleshed out thoroughly across a protracted playtime.

Emerging from Steam’s Early Access program, Immortal Life still has a multitude of small hitches that need to be ironed out. But if you can overlook things like inelegant controller support, dry localization, and text formatting issues, there’s a lot to appreciate. From an engrossing cooking game to skimming across a pond while balancing on a blade, crop watering and wuxia merge in an inspired way.

Living up to its moniker, Moonlit Farewell offers a captivating conclusion to the indie franchise. Building on the foundations of four previous entries, this is a capable coda, with difficulty settings that can accommodate players of almost every skill level.

Razing buildings with wrecking balls and excavators should be a gaming slam dunk. After all, who doesn’t appreciate the catharsis of digital destruction? But Demolish & Build Classic fumbles on nearly every job, persistently disappointing with glitchy play, vague instructions, and tasks that feel mundane. This feels more like a kitty litter container than a true sandbox.

With the enemy-punishing sadism of Orcs Must Die! and the adaptability of a collectable card game, Guardians of Holme isn’t your average tower defense game. Instead, a healthy amount of autonomy and a constant drip-feed of rewards give this title an edge over its peers.

Odencat’s games habitually convey the wistfulness of a bygone era. With Game Boy Advance-style visuals and a delightfully pensive plotline, Snowman Story sustains this trend. Documenting the trek of a snow man facing his own mortality, this feels like Frosty reimagined by Mamoru Hosoda.

With visuals comprised of pulpy viscera, bones, and teeth, Angel at Dusk is dark and visually distinctive. When it comes to play, the title five-stage campaign might feel succinct, but it’s bolstered by modes with branching paths and runs where you collect and build overpowered loadouts. Bullet hell aces, you’ll want to set aside some time to enjoy Dusk.

Sure, Steam is overflowing with metroidvanias. But TEVI carves out distinction with an invigorating sense of autonomy. From determining what order, you want to confront bosses to customizing your own arsenal for the game’s adorable bunny-girl, expect an exceptional sense of freedom.

Born of Bread’s recipe for a light role-playing adventure is competent, thanks to charming visuals and combat that favors variety over difficulty. And while it’s great to see a Paper Mario-style expedition on PC, it’s evident that the process was a bit rushed. The occasional crash or underdeveloped mechanic doesn’t ruin the formula. But these can leave a sour taste with players.

The old adage about not swinging at the first pitch rings true for Granblue Versus: Rising. Like most sequels, you’ll find the requisite tweaks and additions. But returning players will witness a wealth of recycled fighters and some rehashed storytelling. As such, it’s newcomers that are best served, thanks to accessible control schemes, improved netcode, and diversions that make the Rising bountiful.

SteamWorld Build blends Sim City-style building with Dungeon Keeper-style protection. Unlike some of its peers, the game is delightfully laid back- at least on the lower difficulty level, making for an enjoyable outing as a civil engineer. But don’t expect much longevity. However, the developers’ resourcefulness doesn’t extend across the game’s five settings, making for a fun, but tragically fleeting career.

Pinball M ushers in a collection of tables culled from mature-rated properties. But save for a bit of blood and a few expletives, there’s little modification from Zen’s previous efforts. At a bit over five dollars for each table, the asking price isn’t too scary. But the pinball platform’s sporadic glitch can be a bit alarming, especially if it occurs when you’re trying to earn a stop on the game’s leaderboards.

Currently in Early Access, Cross Blitz’s two modes deliver a lot of deckbuilding enjoyment, whether you are tackling the pair of plot lines or the game’s roguelike component. Yes, the sporadic difficulty spikes are vexing as you face foes equipped with commanding cards. Developer Tako Boy wanted to remind us that sporadically, the deck is stacked against us. [Early Access Provisional Score = 78]