Is a modern artistic work that still holds up 25 years later a classic? Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg makes a strong case for admitting GUST’s inaugural entry in the role-playing hall of fame. While the foundations are comparatively simplistic and the relationships can seem cartoonish, Salburg’s cycle of friending, fighting, gathering, and mixing ingredients is nearly as absorbing as ever.

ArcRunner is a competent third-person roguelike shooter that works best as a co-operative experience. With more variety and a bit of scaling, it could easily accommodate individuals, too.

If Tiny Thor could offer a tempered difficulty setting for those who lack god-like reflexes, it would earn an unmitigated recommendation. Instead, players with honed skills are the ones most likely to enjoy the juvenile god’s exploits and wielding the mini-Mjölnir.

Eternights starts in familiar territory, as a cast of likable characters build relational bonds, just as the apocalypse nears. But this is no Persona clone, with Studio Sai pushing the plot and action in remarkably different directions. It’s evident that a great deal of care and consideration went into one of the best surprises of 2023.

Commanding a budding criminal organization is straightforward thanks to Don Duality’s card-based mechanics. In the short term, that means wrestling with randomness, as you simultaneously balance events in the underworld and the restaurant used to launder money. But in the long run, a life of crime grows dull a bit too soon.

For shoot ‘em fans, developer Astro Port’s oeuvre shouldn’t be missed. Like many of their previous works, RANDOMAX is inventive, fun, and delectably affordable. Here, decision making is just as important as reflexes as your build uber-weapons for a squadron of gallant space gals.

Ultimately, Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story is a mediocre spin-off. While the relationship between Nunu and Willump can be charming, the game’s succession of gentle puzzles feels too ordinary and sporadically glitches. The main thing this road trip offers is a sweet bond between boy and yeti.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate tosses Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael into a Hades-style roguelike. While performance is solid and the inclusion of co-op is welcome, a deference to formula is regrettable.

At present, Dungeon Drafters has an inventory of issues that include crashes, a frustrating user interface, balancing woes, and a script that desperately demands proofreading. Yet, for all these faults, there is potential in the mixture of grid-based movement and the sheer abundance of card-based attacks.

The concept of survival horror in a corporate setting is well-done. But too often, Psycho Yuppie mirrors the mistakes of a corporate giant by not providing enough guidance and limiting the use of the materials used to save your progress. Unless you’re a hardened adventure game aficionado, prepare to feel under-qualified.

Everdeep Aurora may look like a simple digging platformer, but its quiet design and quiet nature reward patience and curiosity. There’s no combat and minimal dialog. Instead, this descent is a meditative journey about discovery and finding meaning.

Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is agreeable when you’re performing fetch quests and grows enjoyable with its trolly cart racing component. But the deep-seated delight arrives when there’s no obvious goal and you’re just soaking up the splendid scenery. Here, exploring the Akita prefecture and a town of hospitable folks feels like a bathtub full of warm contentment.

Although this is a proficient port of Mitchell’s 1996 arcade title, the pricing feels prohibitive. As such, only the most fervent Strider fans should consider a purchase of Cannon Dancer – Osman until a sale arises. This six-stage jaunt is likable, at least until the last level, but it also feels inferior when measured against Capcom’s classic title.

Although it has a great atmosphere, Showgunners doesn’t cultivate the pathos that it’s capable of. As such, you’ll find pulpy motivations for the polished turn-based strategy, which positions the title in the secondary tier of XCOM-type titles. Tactics fans could do worse.

Chaos;Head Noah and Chaos;Child are two magnificent entries in the consistently compelling Science Adventure series. Unfortunately, both are burdened by a few blemishes at launch.

An atmospheric metroidvania steeped in historical fiction, Chronicles of the Wolf delivers gothic ambiance and a reverential nod to early Castlevanias. Although some stiff controls and pacing hiccups dull this wolf’s claws, there’s still plenty of ferocity lurking in these depths.

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.

Despite the inclusion of innovations like Prestige, which offers a more sophisticated appraisal of your leadership, Ara: History Untold doesn’t outshine Civilization. Instead, it feels like a lateral deviation, where some components are restructured but others flirt with tedium by the third and final act.

Games built around item collection often succumb to tedium or a level of challenge that’s more exasperating than engaging. Caravan SandWitch lets you roam its sunny, sandy local without the inconvenience of enemy encounters or the threat of a ‘game over’ message.

Heading Out turns the open road into a fever dream of speed, choices, and myth. Even with a few bumps along the way, it’s a ride worth taking, especially if you’re interested in procedurally-generated storytelling.

9 Years of Shadows dazzles with lush visuals, a triumphant soundtrack, and mechanics like teddy bear hugging, but stumbles with repetitive combat and uneven pacing. It’s a gorgeous, ambitious metroidvania that occasionally lets its stylish presentation outshine its core gameplay, providing glimmers of brilliance for patient fans.

Dragon is Dead blends brutal, combo-driven combat with atmospheric artistry inspired by Dead Cells, Castlevania, and Blasphemous, delivering a punishing yet rewarding roguelite experience. Although its level design and storytelling intermittently falter, the depth of the game’s character builds and loot should hook determined players.

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.

With its simplistic sprites and standoffish pricing Mecha Ritz: Steel Rondo delivers a weak first impression. But a collection of different ship types and a difficulty level that changes on the fly means that danmaku devotees shouldn’t automatically overlook Yuki “HEY” Shouhei’s effort.

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, it’s hard to yearn for the proficiency Neptunia’s mainline entries typically deliver.

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.

Dino Path Trail offers a unique blend of survival, crafting, and roguelike mechanics set in a dinosaur-filled Wild West. Pleasingly, there’s a sense of urgency as you juggle these tasks and outgun bandits hoping to secure the bounty on your head. But repetition proves to be just as dangerous than any outlaw or oviraptor.

Marisa of Liartop Mountain trades bullet-hell precision for dice-driven chaos, turning Touhou into an energetic tabletop session with roguish friends. It’s unpredictable, and sometimes repetitive, but the Scarlet Mansion’s banter helps to keep the climb entertaining even when the dice rolls stop you in your tracks.