The concept of horse girls competing in whacky mini games undoubtedly has potential as a game. But Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Party Dash’s four contests are remarkably bland, with each growing stale after a few replays. There’s fun to be had in an unlockable mini-game, dialog in the game’s story mode, and in an unlockable mini-game, but there’s not nearly enough value or vigor to recommend a full priced purchase.

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.