I’m happy to have been introduced to new pieces of southeast Asian cuisine, but the biggest point against Dosa Divas is that it doesn’t come bundled with anything to snack on while you play. Who knows, maybe they’re saving that for the collector’s edition.

Fishbowl‘s complicated pool of grief and authentic, stumbling healing craft a deeply personal experience. So, when I was asked to make a choice about Alo’s future in the end, I was irreparably invested. Consequently, I finished the game feeling a little healed from my own tribulations alongside Alo.

Super Meat Boy 3D isn’t Shakespeare — it’s main antagonist is named Dr. Fetus, afterall — but I found its platforming puzzles to be largely solid across the board and I was impressed by its adherence to the idea that the game will happily beat you down, but the way back up from that is through perserverence. Perserverence that it’s happy to show you that you posses by watching your level replays.

Neva: Prologue‘s scale — with creativity and evocativeness on one side and restrictions and murkiness on the other — balances out to a solid experience.

Between a plot that stretches the realities of time, space, and comprehension, and gameplay designed to keep you laser-focused on the task at hand, it’s difficult to reckon with the passage of real-world hours while playing Love Eternal. So, I was startled to find I rolled credits in a bit over five hours. It will take me so much longer to fully ponder its provocative themes, tantalizing insinuations, and gratifying sense of accomplishment.

For all its whimsical offerings, Lil Gator Game: In the Dark finds its true strength in the authentic compassion of its narrative. The villain’s pushy nature and unbending demands stem from a very relatable and vulnerable place. Seeing this, our hero persists, when everyone else has given up, in reaching out to his caped nemesis. When all the heartening action of the game fades from my memory, its uplifting final note will remain.

Cult of the Lamb: Woolhaven offers something for every type of cult leader. Fighting enthusiasts will discover a weapon that combines range with damage alongside creative new opponents. Narrative-seekers will uncover a host of characters carrying the burden of a failing power. Cult managers can look forward to new blood with which to build a stronger base in dangerous times. Together, it all combines in an experience that makes jumping back into one of indie’s best titles well worthwhile.

From the gleaming towers of the city to the vibrantly lush trails in the garden, I gleefully sailed and fought my way through MIO: Memories in Orbit. Its stunning art style perfectly offsets the tragic narrative. I found it so hard to put down and became so invested in the world’s fate that I couldn’t accept its death. Instead, I searched for an option the game graciously offered for my persistence. Though either way, the conclusion is pierced with hope and sadness.

Nine hours after reaching a ramshackle stump in the woods, I’d transformed my home into a cheerful shelter. Filled with well-earned comforts gathered from across varied landscapes and friends’ warm regards. Its intentional approachability can err on the side of feeling too easy, but the constant, looming danger of winter goes a long way towards balancing the scales. Still, the only thing I want to do right now is return to my roaring fireplace and brave the frosts in Winter Burrow.

The grand reveal of why I can manipulate the world around me flies far beyond these charming, mundane moments. And the farther away it gets, the less human the experience feels — even while my unique powers grow. Goodnight Universe finds its way back in time for a satisfying end, luckily.

I do want to appreciate how richly The Séance of Blake Manor rewards players for the effort they have put in and the choices they have made. I can’t wait to watch others’ playthroughs to see how the decisions they made or the roads they didn’t take change the game’s world when all is said and done. It doesn’t take much investigation to see this game is one of the year’s best — and it might also be one of my favorite detective experiences of all time.

With environmental challenges and enigmatic folds in the landscape to explore, the end of ILA: A Frosty Glide feels earned. I congratulated myself on reaching the mountain tops and, basking in that accomplishment, felt all the more struck by the emotional peak.

Rough patches aside, Discounty tells an impactful tale by lulling players into a false sense of security with its cheery trappings, then hitting them with reality. Engaging systems and character arcs culminate in nuanced self-reflection and an honest look at our society’s underpinnings.

Sword Of The Sea is a pleasure to play. Its traversal system allowed me to soar irreverently through monumental graveyards. Its narrative saw me flooding death with life and new hope. Its beauty boyoyed my spirit. Even with a few rough moments at the end, I still want nothing more than to fly back into its world.

While the nuances of Ra Ra BOOM’s combat and difficulty are things that stuck out to me, I was willing to forgive a lot thanks to its presentation. The voice acting is great, and the characters frequently sound off during fights to discuss their unique perspective on the world as teenagers who never got to grow up on Earth. There’s a real charm to the game with its catchy title music, appealing art style, and premise that leans on the best aspects of nostalgia without needing to wallow in it. Instead, it uses nostalgia as a jumping-off point to create something entirely new with classic tropes.

Dead Take‘s consuming conclusion overshadowed any problems I had with the design, however. The developers gave me a brilliant reason to see the world through a radically new lens. My fresh perspective transformed my luxurious surroundings into a house of horrors, growing darker with every step. The performances, disturbing and spectacular, ensured I’d walk away replaying them in my head.

I was never overly invested in the narrative and the golden path is rarely groundbreaking. However, the community is endearing even if they can’t seem to figure out any problem without me. They give me a reason to jump back into an enticing environment which I relish just existing in. Purpose-driven players may not find what they’re looking for in the cozy folds of Bywater. If you’re searching for a game where you can stop, smell the roses, wander through the fields, and dive into a pleasingly simple life, Tales of the Shire is for you.

And Roger took me from fear to joy to heartbreak, landing somewhere close to bittersweet as the credits rolled. It’s constantly shifting controls not only replicate the characters’ inner feeling admirably, but also manage to tell me what to do without saying a word. Everyone should take the time to experience this game for themselves. Just be sure to have tissues on hand.

I’ve settled on one word for Everdeep Aurora: dense. It’s tightly packed with gameplay and objectives. The compact corridor containing all of its points of interest ensures I’m always engaging with something. I have to unpack the emotions held close to the vest for the characters and tease out deep questions regarding humanity’s darkest instincts. It can also feel impenetrable, with a story that requires a lot of heavy lifting from players. It takes effort to dig through, and there’s gold to find.

Pleasingly, Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping‘s ending again grants the player the power to decide the suspect’s ultimate fate. So, I look forward to hearing which choices everyone makes. Less expected was a post-credits scene, which I won’t spoil, but has me prepared for another entry in the series. With this latest game making much-appreciated improvements and with some elements still up for a little polish, I look forward to another seriously silly adventure.

Blue Prince is astonishing, refreshing, and its rabbit hole goes so deep I haven’t been able to find the bottom yet — despite rolling credits weeks ago.

Wanderstop‘s finale is both wonderfully satisfying and personally conflicting. Despite longing to see the end for some time, when it comes down to leaving, I have a hard time tearing myself away. Graciously and beautifully, the game puts the weight of that decision fully on my shoulders. It inspires the feeling of leaving an old apartment, a past job, or a school you’ve just graduated from. The good memories flood back with nostalgic abandon, and the day-to-day details wash away in one poignant moment before taking that next step into the unknown. That a game could conjure that feeling is proof of Wanderstop’s triumph.

Afterlove EP doesn’t always hit the right pitch for me, but its art style is captivating, its gameplay gripping, and its story is authentic.

Often in Keep Driving, I would pour what resources I had into fueling my next leg of the trip before taking off again, hoping for good luck on the road. Keeping everything running smoothly could be a stressful pursuit, but the unpredictable events, hazardous challenges, and stimulating connections kept my hands firmly on the steering wheel.

Citizen Sleeper 2 is phenomenal, evocative, and haunting. The minimal visuals are flawlessly supported by the writing. Gut-wrenching expressions and touchingly lonely scenes flow out of the masterful descriptions. The audio design had me rocketing from dawning dread to heart-pumping motivation. And in the end, I was forced into the hero’s dilemma in a way that cemented this game as one of the year’s best.

It’s disappointing how often Tails of Iron 2 leads me to wander the darkened valleys of over-demanding combat and back-track-demanding save points. However, the view from the mountain summits – the game’s secret-filled levels, propelling narrative, and magical visuals – cast sunlight on even my hardest experiences.

The Rise of the Golden Idol is a must-play for puzzle fans. Honestly, I’d encourage anyone to give it a go — no need to jump into the original first. Golden Idol titles ask a lot and encourage players to engage deeply with every detail — perhaps earning the series a reputation for difficulty. Putting in the work and watching the grand reveals are all the more rewarding for the effort, though, and satisfying on the highest level.

Like the air after a downpour, Last Time I Saw You‘s refreshing narrative and glistening visuals made up for some of its technical weakness. It was hard to put down. I needed to weather each chapter’s storm, made both by monsters and men, to learn the fate of the village I’d grown so fond of.

Fear The Spotlight ends on a surprisingly wholesome note, rewarding the character’s and player’s triumph over enemies both macabre and frighteningly human. The narrative is the title’s strongest pillar, which stands most securely in the second half. Its gameplay isn’t as load-bearing, but does everything it needs to facilitate a bracing escapade.

Neva had me open my heart just to feel the slice of the narrative’s knife all the more keenly. I don’t care what you’re currently playing or what you have on your backlog. Put them aside immediately and play this game. It’s destined to rank among the year’s unrivaled titles.

The rabbit hole goes down deep in Grunn, and I couldn’t stop myself from digging deeper and deeper in search of answers. In a game like this which rewards players for paying attention and experimenting, secrets feel like gifts. This is one garden path you should walk down.

In the end, the title’s glittering potential was blotted out by its somber execution.

Honestly, I just wanted to live in Magical Delicacy‘s world for as long as I could and I’m sad to have no more discoveries, friends, or food to make.

Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers is another must-play for 2024 — which is unfortunate. Mostly because once you pick it up, it’s hard to stop playing long enough to get through those other must-play titles.

The Star Named EOS‘ moments of exasperation paled in comparison to its radiant artwork. Its puzzles, when it dawned on me what I needed to do, had me glowing with a sense of achievement. Narratively, the game plays strikingly with mystery and expectation. Perhaps the best summary of the experience comes from the game itself. “When you gaze at the stars, the stars also gaze at you.”

Dungeons of Hinterberg‘s resolution is less compelling to me than the rest of its question-inspiring, eye-capturing experience. However, the hours spent pondering over a vista, uncovering tucked away loot, roaming the beautiful world, and discovering more about each character more than makes up for that.

As with many remarkable games, interpreting Until Then‘s ending will lie with every individual player. I sat with it a while — swirling the bitterness and sweetness around in my mouth. Its mystery, finally revealed, is so human I toyed with the idea of feeling unsatisfied with its mundaneness. Ultimately, I landed on admiring how unfortunately relatable life after the end of the world felt.

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes has me questioning everything about its reality, even after finishing it. It had me solving murder mysteries. It had me playing memory games with ghosts. And it had me burning to track down the final truth in the center of the maze. The journey through its many paths included rewarding puzzles, thrilling points of no return, and a story that looks fascinatingly in on itself. The prize at this maze’s center is well-worth claiming.

Little Kitty, Big City, for all its adorable looks and antics, is not just fluff. Its various and interlocking reward systems, playful and genuine characters’ problems, and endlessly explorable concrete jungle gym make it a worthwhile game.

Animal Well surprised me around every turn. What I expected to be yet another Metroidvania quickly became one of the most memorable gaming experiences I’ve had in recent years. Its a game that you’ll get out of it as much as you put in. If you want to see credits and be done, you’ll have a great time. However, if you want to see how deep the well truly goes, you’ll be embarking on a journey you may not have been prepared for. I assure you, the twists and turns and conundrums you will come across are well worth your time.

With more polish, Another Crab’s Treasure might have been an all-time indie gem. Its sometimes tedious physics and less-balanced early bosses don’t overshadow the game’s beautiful world, creative levels, sincere cast, and thoughtful themes, but do pollute the otherwise sparkling water.

Sucker for Love: Date to Die For, from concept to execution, is darkly spellbinding. Forces beyond my control kept me climbing back into its narrative branches to find every last fruit — whether sweet or acidic. I wish so much that I could say more about some of its twists and turns, but you’ll have to pick this one up for yourself to unlock its secrets.

Open Roads has the writing and narrative most games only dream of. I felt for and felt like the protagonist and her mom throughout the journey, sympathizing with their human struggles. The hand-drawn art blended with 3D environments is flawless, even if that’s sometimes hard to focus on with the game’s few technical rough patches. The title, though short, is full of twists, turns, and authenticity.

Where many games structure themselves in terms of runs, Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley is more of a stroll. And it’s not a long one, considering I completed everything there was to do — something I normally don’t strive to accomplish — in less than five hours. And for almost five hours, I found myself wandering an enchanted world brimming with dazzling visuals, animated mischief, irresistible personalities, and the kind of serenity you deserve to experience.

The wonderful and terrible thing about Balatro is that, unlike with other roguelikes, I never got frustrated getting bounced back to the start. I almost always felt like I’d had the slate wiped clean of the web of synergistic collectables governing my ill-fated moves and this time, I was sure to succeed. Especially as my efforts in the game unlocked new perks or decks I could use when jumping back in. The combination of simple drag-and-drop controls and a continuous flow of numbers-go-up dopamine hits is irresistible. You’ve been warned.

Turnip Boy Robs a Bank is good, dumb fun held up by intelligent design choices. Don’t be afraid to pick this game up if you haven’t played the first because it does a good job of getting players up to speed. It’s also my favorite of the two so far.

Transforming environments and climbing mechanics keeps Jusant from sagging in the middle of the adventure and the ending had me hurling urgent encouragement at my screen as I frantically scaled the final heights. The meditatively-paced action throughout the rest of the game didn’t quite prepare me for the finale’s surging stakes, but I’m glad I stayed the course long enough to see it.

It’s one of those games you have to experience in order to understand. The developers insist early on that the title is a love story, and I can’t argue with that...Though, somehow through all the layers and twists, decisions and realizations, the game’s core really is as simple as the title suggests. I’m here to slay the princess. I can only awe at a team that can make something so simultaneously simple and complex.

Cocoon is one of this year’s brightest gems — both form and function dazzle. I can only begin to guess at what its conclusion means, but that didn’t hinder my appreciation in the slightest. Masterful design, stunning environments, brilliant concepts, intuitive gameplay, it all adds up to an unmissable experience.

I’ve already hinted as much as I dare about Gunbrella’s ultimate outcome, though I suspect some details will change depending on how you play. Its overarching narrative might be a small rain cloud, but everything else in the game shines so brightly it hardly overshadows the game’s brilliance. I look forward to seeing it in this year’s best of 2023 discussions.

Throughout the adventure, Sea of Stars stands on the shoulders of the giants that came before it, building on a grand lore set in motion by The Messenger and wonderful characters worthy of spending tens of hours with. Between finishing the game and writing this review, I’ve played another ten hours post-credits, attempting to see everything Sabotage put in the game. It’s not because I’m compelled to say I checked every box Sea of Stars has to offer, but I simply don’t want to say goodbye to this inviting world and my good friends in it just yet.

Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical‘s most distinctive aspect, namely the singing, is my least favorite part of the experience. However, the game is music to my ears when it comes to molding contemporary forms around ancient gods and absolutely hits all the right notes with its murder mystery.

It’s easy to finish Venba in one sitting, but the game’s complicated narrative, it’s exploration of family relationships, identity, and hardship, will linger in my mind for so much longer than it took me to play through it.

Even though its driving motivation didn’t resonate strongly with me, this might be one of the most refreshingly inventive puzzle adventures to come out in recent memory.

Even though I am satisfied with the way my adventure wrapped up, it’s difficult to resist the urge to jump back in for another round to watch the pieces fall into totally different places.

Dordogne‘s narrative doesn’t dive too deeply into darker topics, but hints of hard themes abound. The game’s final message boils down to: Take time to look around and be mindful of life. The sentiment permeates every moment of the short experience. It makes for a lovely, contemplative adventure players shouldn’t miss.

The game’s ending is as strong as its beginning. Rightfully for so haunting a game, the conclusion leaves me pensive but better for the experience. I didn’t expect Decarnation to launch itself into my favorite games of the year and might easily have overlooked it. Don’t make that mistake.

Golden Idol Mysteries: The Spider of Lanka is a worthy follow-up to one of last year’s greatest games. Its setting was fraught with reflective commentary, its cases offered more unparalleled sleuthing, and its narrative gave more context to the original game. I wish I had more riddles to solve but I’m holding out hope fans can look forward to more Golden Idol Mystery titles in the future.

Mail Time is a joy, even with the odd issue sprinkled in. It’s well-paced and, though short, a suitable length to properly dole out its inviting content. The ending wraps everything up in a way that allows me to see my effect on the world and communicate a thoughtful message. It’s not earth-shattering but reflects the game’s refreshing earnestness.

A game about chatting and making the occasional latte, Coffee Talk Episode 2 is an experience designed for a niche audience. It serves up a lightly pensive vibe and relaxing tunes to anyone intrigued by its premise and the ending tantalizes players to relive the story and uncover previously missed details. Like the hot beverages in its title, the game is heartening but not hearty enough to stick with me long after finishing it.

Dredge‘s ending, like the rest of the game, succeeds in marrying bewilderment and satisfaction. The title is, simply put, a must-play. Every element — atmospheric mystery, engaging moment-to-moment action, and brilliant storytelling earns it the top spot in my favorite games of the year so far.

If you plan to pick up Tchia‘s tale, I urge you to take it slow. Let yourself wander through every beautifully-crafted island. Make friends with the inhabitants, taking part in culturally rich musical experiences. Dive for pearls in the glittering waves. And take full advantage of the protagonist’s brilliant power to inhabit other creatures. These make up for the game’s more lacking mainline quest and less polished design elements.

It’s difficult to wrap my mind around The Wreck. Even after finishing it, my thoughts keep coming back to chord-striking moments. Absorbed in these tableaux, the game’s problems fall away. But it’s difficult to imagine recommending it to any but the most ardent adventure game fans or story-driven players.

Fans of the game or players looking for a new emotional experience should pick up Before Your Eyes on PSVR2 if they have the recently released platform. It’s difficult to urge anyone to go out and get the headset just for one game, but it is absolutely a must-buy for current owners looking to add to their VR collection.

The final message isn’t complicated. It’s important to take time to enjoy life and prioritize the people in it. But the metaphorical adventure in the mind is skillfully juxtaposed against reality, making for a melodic experience. Figment 2: Creed Valley‘s short story is wrapped in imagination. So, while some players may tune out over the dialogue or simplistic combat, the game has a lot to offer for those looking for an easy and artful journey.

All of this vampire flavoring is the icing on top of Dead Cells’ smooth-as-silk combat and absorbing gameplay loop. Besides a few moments of confusion on exactly where to go to get to the next section of the DLC (and Alucard with his gloriously flowing locks being absolutely useless, losing both his shield and sword which I find lying about random locations) Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania is an enthralling experience so far. [Review in Progress]

There’s no fairy-tale ending waiting for our frostbitten heroes, but the conclusion is satisfying and stirring. Its gameplay may not always rival the exquisite visuals, but Blanc is a wonderful experience to share with a partner.

Some storylines are bittersweet triumphs, some are tragic ends, and others are just life moving forward. Every finale gets its own couple-paragraph epilogue in the narrative web, allowing me to see how the original game’s characters came to be. And while all are satisfying conclusions, it’s hard to resist starting over. The untrod paths reach out and beg me to uncover the details I missed.

The world outside is aesthetically irresistible. Chunky, nostalgic pixels make up the walkways, houses, and characters around the block. While swaying grass and flowing rivers take a strikingly contrasting 3D form. Everything is pulled together with a black and white color scheme, making it all feel like a memory rather than something happening here and now.

It’s a touching ending that deftly works with the whimsical parts of the game rather than against them. I roll credits thinking over how much play brings us together — a theme near and dear to anyone that writes about video games for a living — and I can’t wait to jump back into the world. Luckily, the developers give players new tools to make Lil Gator Game‘s post-game even more enjoyable, and I pick up my comical sword once more.

The culmination of the roughly hour-and-a-half-long game is a concert that plays on my heartstrings. The Forest Quartet is not an overly deep game to dive into, but its brief playtime explores heavy, and relatable, themes with grace.

The narrative isn’t heavy-handed and lends itself to interpretation, but — not spoiling anything — the conclusion is satisfying, even if it’s not explicit. It’s a busy time for players trying to figure out their “best of” lists, so I hope no one misses out on Melatonin.

Over the course of multiple, inventive chapters, I unravel why I’ve been gifted these weird abilities, how they came to be in the first place, and the conspiracy that connects everything together. While at times the more juvenile dialogue — and one, slightly frustrating, area — had me worried the game’s threads wouldn’t stitch together in a completely satisfying way, RE:CALL stuck the landing. In its customary fashion, the ending is dominated by a choice, which means different possible conclusions. But whichever way the player leans, this is a game well worth experiencing.

A puzzle-filled, big-hearted adventure tinged with cosmic horror, A Space for the Unbound ushers players through a magnificent journey. It’s hitting every major console on release, so don’t miss out.