For a game the size of a jelly bean, Umiro enchants and delights well beyond its dimensional limitations. Its beautiful art makes every stage a delight to encounter, just as its delicious puzzling makes every stage a delight to conquer. Umiro is a diamond in the rough that’s imprisoned only by its occasionally overbearing simplicity.

Black Desert Online comes to the table with an intricate character sculpting tool, gorgeous graphical presentation, and a nuanced, exciting combat system overlying a less immediately apparent, but very unique, sandbox-style resource management simulation. Those looking for a rich narrative, complex or groundbreaking PvE questing, or highly unique monster design may be disappointed, but those seeking a mechanically rich, visually striking MMO will find themselves at home.

Halcyon 6: Lightspeed Edition is very much (if not only) a sum of its parts; luckily, Massive Damage made sure that each of those parts is well-executed. Hopefully, the developers continue their momentum and keep adding gameplay elements; with more variation in crew selection, the ability to actually build a ship with components you gather, and an expansion of the world in which the game persists, Halcyon 6: Lightspeed Edition can be a triumph.

Apocalipsis’ art style complements its gloomy tale incredibly well. While the story is nothing to write home about and the puzzles range from boring and easy to interesting and difficult, the voice acting and visual aesthetic make this title stand out from other point-and-click games. If you’re a fan of games as visual art, check it out.

Domina frustrated me beyond belief, but in the best way. I thought I had planned a match out to perfection, got slaughtered, but loved every minute of it. I only wish there was more to the game, as restarting again at square one became a little tedious after a while. Despite that, I will still revisit it time and again for a quick fix of blood and profanity.

Regalia: Of Men and Monarchs wins time and again with unexpected surprises, character development, and fresh plot. With a sharp, sarcastic tone like Shrek, and a generally disinterested atmosphere like One Punch Man, Regalia: Of Men and Monarchs is a trove of snark, swears, and mild innuendo. An ending that surely comes too soon leaves you hoping for a potential sequel to meet, once more, Kay and his merry band of flawed friends.

Children of Zodiarcs pleases to no end and has you coming back for more, as you work to hone your deck, dice, and tactical style to best synergize your party. A must-have for tactical RPG enthusiasts, it wouldn’t be surprising if CoZ becomes a model for future tactical and card-based games over the next decade.

Toukiden 2 is exceptionally well-made and can readily provide countless hours of entertainment for those who enjoy an action-packed hunting-style game with a sprinkling of RPG. There's ever more to unlock as you progress, granting some new feature to play with, rewarding you for making your way through the game. Battles that last a few minutes or so may be tedious, but the vastness of the world, filled with its various items, objects, and quests - not to mention the preponderous depth of the Mitama system — easily vanquish any sense of Oni ennui.

It looks better than its predecessor, but content-wise its rather stingy and the story needs work, dampening excitement for this title.

Monster Prom is a dating sim that’s ready to scare away the competition with drop-dead gorgeous art, killer writing, and music that’s to die for.

Eugen Systems’s Steel Division 2 is an incredibly detailed and immersive RTS game, but its lacking content and virtually non-existent accessibility makes this a hard sell for anyone outside of Eugen’s fanbase.

My Time At Portia is a fantastic life simulation RPG that allows you to build a life in the post-apocalyptic town of Portia. Similar to beloved games like Harvest Moon and Stardew Valley, My Time At Portia brings a charming 3D experience to the life simulation genre and is a must-have for both old and new fans alike.

Don't expect much from the visuals, music, or story in while True: learn() and simply appreciate it for its puzzles.

Starpoint Gemini Warlords is a fine title with the occasional rough edge. Solid gameplay, with smooth controls, is hampered by a frustrating camera, but an interesting mix of single-ship combat and 4X civilization management, and great graphics, seal the deal.

Be warned: you will need to invest a lot of time into each match but each win you can truly feel, while each loss hits you right in the gut. Fans of Space Hulk and Warhammer 40k alike should find themselves fully at home in the fresh take on the series.

As an original 80s gamer, Rad Rodgers hits all the happy places. It has elements of the perfect classic platformer, sidelong references to my favorite old games, but still has the advantages of a modern, original game. Rad Rodgers is fantastically fun, and I’m looking forward to adding the next episode to my collection.

Ultimately, nostalgia has never been, nor will ever be, the reason behind a purchase of mine; nor should it ever overshadow gameplay and mechanics so much that care about how the release plays falls by the wayside. It definitely brings the 1990s era to the modern day, but some things just should be left in the past.

Grimmwood – They Come at Night is a cooperative survival MMO that masterfully merges strands of exploration, strategy, and time-management into a cohesive whole. Its ability to consistently and genuinely inspire teamwork amongst its manifold players is a rare, laudable talent. Currently, the title is limited only by its total number of willing gamers, but it’s likely many more, like moths to an unusually attractive flame, will soon flock to Grimmwood’s bizarre light.

Atelier Sophie offers a fantastic experience, with a refreshing motivation behind the story and the ultimate goal of the main character. Good character depth and development pairs well with a playful yet intricate alchemy crafting system to guarantee hours upon hours of great gameplay for Atelier fans and newcomers alike.

Lamplight City is a steampunk detective adventure with great voice acting and unique worldbuilding—but the gameplay is full of unrealized potential.

The Surge is a fine example of how Souls-like gameplay and structure transfers well to other genres and settings. It's a great looking game — The Surge boasts not only smooth animation, but fine details, such as the way a tarp will flap realistically in the wind, go a long way towards making this title one to show off. Combined with satisfying and unique combat, hopefully, The Surge will experience a surge of players on release.

The Wardrobe manages to pull off a fulfilling, novel story with artistic flair and only a few setbacks, setting it apart in the sea of retro-inspired, pixel-laden, nostalgia-inducing point-and-clicks. The story is witty, the vast cast of characters is intriguing, and, while the ending isn’t very satisfactory, the journey is a worthwhile one.

Andromeda is robust and delivers effectively on the key elements it advertises, and then goes above and beyond regarding play style tailoring and experienceable customization. That said, the characters look more at home in the Sims 3 era, and the dialog fails to be more than lackluster - cringe-worthy at times. Nevertheless, while Mass Effect: Andromeda proves a quality example of its genres, diehard fans of the Mass Effect universe and its original story should wait until BioWare patches the technical bugs, and the price point lowers.

Mothergunship is an absolute blast in short bursts, but risks becoming repetitive in extended sessions. If you like the thought of crafting the most outrageous weapons possible, it’s definitely worth your time.

Book of Demons is a beautiful roguelite dungeon crawler with enemy variety and a plethora of interesting systems built upon a sheer lack of player-side input. A decent time waster, but difficult to recommend at launch prices.

While it can be frustrating navigating bunkers and other hazards while you hone your skills, The Golf Club featuring PGA Tour 2019 provides a solid, enjoyable golfing experience.

Breathtakingly beautiful, but short and without much variety, means that you’ll probably really have to love side-scrollers to fully enjoy Planet Alpha.

8[0]. A solid 8[0], mind you. Styx: Shards of Darkness has renewed my trust in the game trailer once again. After removing the plush padding of the cinematic trailer, I wasn’t disappointed by what I saw in the actual gameplay. On the contrary, I was welcomed by a well-rounded stealth puzzler that I plan on playing (with) for quite some time into the future. The writing and story are both refreshing and hilarious, which gives this title a firm lead in an otherwise dark and quiet genre.

A paradoxically relaxing and overwhelming game, Before We Leave is a cute city builder with a lot of depth.

Black The Fall has the makings of a deep and emotional retelling of life under a totalitarian communist regime. The literally dark, oppressive, and intimidating imagery combines with the music, sound effects, and mechanics to narrate scenes without using a single word, and that alone has to be respected.

Echo proves that innovation can truly be limitless as long as there are people willing to push boundaries and explore new ideas. With a stunningly flawless trifecta of gameplay, storyline, and visuals, Ultra Ultra has knocked it out of the park with their first foray into indie gaming. Regardless of your tastes, styles, or interests, this adventure is sure to satisfy nearly all of your cravings. The only craving that you will be left with is for more and more game to play.

With its focus on treacherous exploration, along with its unique look and world, Dark Devotion delivers an incredible experience for hardcore gamers to enjoy.

While innocuous and stable, this microtransaction-less gacha game will only really appeal Dragonball superfans and gacha enthusiasts.

Although Narcosis is "the debut effort" from Honor Code, the developers boast experience with legendary AAA games, and it shows. The Honor Code team has successfully crystallized their knowledge and skills, and put together an impressive work of art indeed. Narcosis is not without its flaws, but the level of care in this title is salubrious. The alternatingly terrifying and psychologically taxing atmosphere, paired with storytelling that keeps you rapt until you arrives at the beautiful conclusion, proves a must-play for gamers.

Those looking for alien carnage may want to orbit on past it, but fans of sci-fi exploration in space will find in The Station an out-of-this-world experience. Puzzles and mysteries in an atmospheric setting with an intriguing storyline that delivers, it’s the kind that does not give away goodies from the start. For the patient explorer, a real treat.

Vampyr takes the humorously ironic situation of a hematologist-turned-vampire and spins it into a compelling and poetic tragedy with a focus on both combat and decision-making.

Stellar storytelling and an immersive world design makes Greedfall fun to play, but disappointing character customization, poor graphics, and bad animation prevent the title from truly shining.

With impressive customization options and a challenging yet manageable difficulty level, this RPG has a lot to offer if you can look past the occasional glitches and a multiplayer that feels lacking unless you already have friends to play with.

Need For Speed Heat tries hard to be a game for car people with over one hundred vehicles and deep customization features. However, it alienates the genre's biggest fans with an overused storyline, over-the-top arcade physics, and a lack of wheel support.

Albion Online, the brand new MMO PvP game, from the Berlin-based studio Sandbox Interactive, is portrayed as a sandbox MMO with a player-driven economy and robust PvP. However, it falls short on both its promise and entertainment value. With thousands of players online simultaneously, a huge landmass to explore, and plenty of room for Guild vs Guild combat, Albion Online has potential to be an outstanding experience — but this is yet to be the case.

While The Office Quest’s absurdity is the powerhouse of its hilarity, it’s also the stumbling block that causes its overall gameplay to be bizarrely difficult and often bewildering. Its clever satire drives you through its myriad of point-and-click puzzles, but some of the more unexpected brain teasers may have casual players perplexed and scratching their heads for far too long.

Daemon X Machina needs some work. Its mechanics are rough, its controls are unwieldy and confusing, and its story is difficult to follow. While it’s mildly entertaining to pilot a giant robot, there are other games that pull off the experience more effectively.

Senran Kagura Estival Versus shows that developers (Tamsoft and Marvelous Inc) can make a title without restrictions on censorship, and pull off one of the more enjoyable games of the genre, without making me use my brain too much. It doesn’t take itself seriously, and that’s not a bad thing: the humor and gameplay are solid and entertaining, carrying the title on their own merits. If you’re looking for beautiful shinobi girls and fast paced combat, look no further. Don’t forget: the jiggle is real!

Multiple endings and a cool feature for statistics translate into hours of entertainment. With beautiful graphics, an intense, fluid soundtrack, and relatively straightforward gameplay, Conarium is a different horror title.

While it won’t make any new fans of the Giant-Monster-Slaying genre, God Eater 3 introduces enough new with a new coat of paint for fans of the series to enjoy.

So that’s the importance of a retro game, and Alwa’s Awakening demonstrates it beautifully. With a few tweaks to make it a little more palatable to the modern gamer, Alwa’s Awakening captures the joy that can come from conquering a difficult experience. It doesn’t do anything new, but in bringing back the old, it shows how fun finding your own way can be.

With bursts of pressure, ethereal atmosphere, and engaging soundtrack, Blink brings style and originality to your standard design in puzzle-platforming. If you’re a fan of the genre and are equipped with a controller, its cheaper price point makes it worth a buy.

Another Lost Phone is truly a masterpiece of its kind, setting a bar in both creativity and meaning that will be hard for future installments in the genre to match. In addition to being one of the most innovative vehicles for a puzzle-based story to be released in a long time, the story is immensely engaging from the moment you unlock the phone. Accidental Queens have now issued a challenge to game designers everywhere: use your art to tell stories that need to be told.

A delightful blend of well-done modern and classic elements will appeal to many RPG enthusiasts, with the few impediments being less-than-stellar graphics, a few trivial bugs, and a world where — literally — not every door is open to you.

While pacing and the talent tree could use some improvement, Attack of the Earthlings is otherwise an enjoyable and entertaining release. This refreshing take on the traditional monster-in-space story melds lightheartedness with simple-but-fulfilling strategy.

Gray Dawn has a broader appeal than might be expected, precisely because it isn’t your standard horror title. It creates an amazing atmosphere and gripping suspense without using (too many) clichés, and the slow, well-paced progression creates a unique feel with great appeal.

I Hate Running Backwards doesn’t pretend to be more than it is: a fantastic, engaging arcade shooter. Its replay value is massive, and it can be enjoyed by gamers of all ages.

A highly customizable rogue-lite with a charming aesthetic flair, RAD lives up to its name.

Sticking to the established 4X formula helps to make Warhammer 40,000: Gladius – Relics of War enjoyable, but also keeps it from greatness. For fans, there is fun to be had in growing an army of Terminators, Assault Space Marines, and Predator tanks to crush your enemies with. But, after all the toys are smashed and the maps explored, there is sadly little else left to do.

An insightful story with fleshed out characters and captivating dilemmas, not to mention a great soundtrack, A Normal Lost Phone is the kind of experience that inspires you to get back into the world with a renewed sense of compassion toward all those who live in it. At $2.99 on Steam, some would argue that makes it worth it.

Ovivo is a beautiful piece that melds art, exploration, and mystery in a unique platform–adventure title. The levels are engaging, the gameplay intuitive. Unfortunately, the lack of clear objectives, control customization, and the inability to save game progress limits the overall appeal.

A fresh coat of paint, while aesthetically pleasing, cannot hide the tone-deaf, greedy tactics behind this mess of a remake.

The folks at Fakt Software have created a winner in the puzzle genre.

Cultist Simulator is the kind of game where “Just one more turn,” easily becomes “Four hours later…” It’s addicting even when it’s difficult and frustrating, and extremely satisfying when things finally start going right for you. If you’re even slightly interested in it, the price is right to try something that’s completely original and unlike anything else out right now.

For an initial exposure to a cycling team management simulator, the experience is incredibly favorable. Anyone with interest in professional cycling would relish Pro Cycling Manager 17, and it might also perhaps help improve their own pedaling mastery in the process. However, if you’re not a hardcore fan of the sport, be aware that this may be too many spreadsheets and strategic decisions, and not enough action. Now, back to the spandex.

In all, Beat Cop is a sharp, retro-centric look at 80s Brooklyn, with all its exciting cocaine, prostitution, gang wars, and overly synthesized tunes, but Beat Cop doesn't rely on nostalgia to succeed. It's a title that stands on its own, and casual racism and sexism aside, it handily competes with similar time-management titles that have been released in the last few years.

The genre-bending Masters of Anima is most compelling for its fusion of RTS and environmental puzzling, all of which is complemented by a richly simple art style. The gameplay, however, is as delectable as the storytelling is stale, causing Masters of Anima to feel more like a preview of something great than the actual thing itself.

This light-hearted puzzle adventure is one you can enjoy with a friend. It has unique graphics, a fun storyline, and decent replayability. If you like two-player titles or solving puzzles, then 39 Days to Mars is worth playing.

Boasting unique visuals and intriguing mythos surrounding the narrative. Foregone is something fresh in the 2D platforming sub-genre. However, while it’s gameplay is strong enough, it might just be a bit too punishingly unfair of a Metroidvania in an already punishingly difficult style of game. [Early Access Score = 60

Charming and twisted, DARQ is a fantastic and immersive experience that doesn’t overstay its welcome.

A superbly polished visual feast as well as a jumpscare-laden walking simulator that takes a few steps back as a sequel, rather than forward.

Fatally flawed with bugs, soft locks, and incomplete map generation, Deep Sky Derelicts is a fun game when it works. More often than not, however, it doesn’t work.

Another fantastic spiritual successor to the beloved Advance Wars and a noticeable improvement from its previous title, Tiny Metal: Full Metal Rumble is a must buy if you’re looking for something to scratch that turn-based tactical strategy itch.

A new way of looking at things, quite literally, and one that chooses bright joyfulness as its medium and lives up to it through its play. It's absolutely worth the time and the money, and if you find it frustrating, I encourage you to give it another few hours. Just about anyone who does will be charmed by the supersaturated, gloriously isometric, high octane, quirkily funny cyberpunk blowout that is Tokyo 42.

Educating the public about mental illness is important, but a problem inherent in accurately portraying depression is that, well, it isn't fun to be depressed. Indygo skillfully builds a gloomy atmosphere: The voice acting, music, black and white art style, and narrative all work together to convey the disconnection and emptiness a person suffering from depression can feel. You may come away with a better understanding of depression by playing, but if you're looking for entertainment along with your education, you will be disappointed.

In its desire to stick to the original Fallout RPGs, ATOM RPG disregards the lessons CRPGs have learned in the intervening years. Fallen short of both its predecessors and contemporaries in the genre, ATOM RPG .

A fun and refreshing take on the zombie fighting co-op experience that is hindered by network lag and unimpressive AI.

For an open-world, immersive experience replete with quests, fishing, farms, and more, look no further than Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles. The design is apt to please any gamer interested in what Yonder has to offer, while nightfall and the gloominess of a heavy rain ensure that players who might otherwise avoid overly bright hues don’t feel left out -- a sure recipe on Yonder’s part for broad appeal. However, as an exploration-heavy title, especially one that does not offer combat, the allure is counteracted in part; ultimately, though, all -- save the hardcore -- can enjoy Yonder.

With gorgeous artwork, a mysterious story, and a rich atmosphere, Iris.Fall entertains for its length, yet suffers from a brevity of content.

Despite the issues, Rezrog is an engaging experience if you stray away from problematic classes and can avoid a glitch mid-run until the bugs are worked out — but, the frequency that a glitch occurs makes the title difficult to enjoy. An RPG that shows promise, once fixed.

The uniqueness of this title carries it to the end, and is ready to go for a couple episodes more, leaving you intrigued about the conspiracies and ground-breaking truths you have discovered: a solid couple hours invested in a protagonist you care about, wanting to see it to its end, and then twice over.

Fans of RPGs looking to mix things up can’t go wrong with Swords & Souls: Neverseen.

The updated graphics and physics engine are sure to bring enjoyment and laughs. Road Redemption builds on a relatively simple concept that has worked in the past, repackages it, and allows the unpredictability of other players a large selection of tracks, bikes, and riders in online death races to round out a uniquely enjoyable experience.

Guardians of the Galaxy’s first episode, “Tangled Up in Blue,” introduces a new graphical style for Telltale which breaks with the comic cel shading of their previous titles. While there are some problems with making the player feel truly relevant in influencing the plotline, there are occasions where this does happen, and then you feel taken along for a fascinating ride. Together with the superb voice acting and quality soundtrack, this episode leaves you thirsting for more.

An interesting narrative and eerie ambience are present, but frustratingly tedious survival features, poor combat, and performance issues plague the title.

Create exactly the motorcycle you want, then ride it on an impressive number of tracks, with great visuals and awesome sounds for an experience that feels realistic.

Some gamers have come to expect, with undue regularity, the world from a gaming experience. What about fun? Simple, intuitive escapism? Why must a title always be adorned – or beset, perhaps – with pseudo-sophisticated ornament? Some might find the frenetic gameplay off-putting (it is optional, anyway), but the fun factor prevails, and especially with good company, Marooners hits the mark.

Dreamy yet disturbing, Cherrymochi’s Tokyo Dark keeps its crosshair leveled at a sweet spot between Japanese visual novel and point-and-click adventure. Backed by beautifully illustrated environments and an eclectic soundtrack, Tokyo Dark gives the impression of having been carefully crafted; the creators were thoughtful in how they integrated different elements to evoke a striking ambiance. Featuring supernatural cults, dark family secrets, kawaii cat maids that wax existential and a protagonist who speaks primarily in ellipses, the game nails narrative but misses the mark on a pointless stat system.

It’s always a really tough call when I have to put aside how much I enjoyed a game, and look at it objectively. Mr. Shifty has the bones of a truly well-made game, but it tires after a while. It’s tragic, because the mechanics are smooth, and tinyBuild was able to take an idea like from games like Hotline Miami and implement a superhero theme. The abilities are unique, the music is upbeat, the combat is fast-paced, but the variety just isn’t there. They could’ve added new abilities, new weapons and traps, or even just changed up the scenery. The entire campaign takes place in the same skyscraper, for goodness’ sake. I found Mr. Shifty to be one of the most entertaining titles I’ve played in a long time, personally. If teleportation and nods to comic book culture are elements that tickle your fancy, the repetitiveness might be a non-issue. If the developers want to appeal to a wider audience, however, some diversity should be added into the levels.

The wonderfully artistic Light Fall offers an unusual twist on the classic platforming genre by giving you the ability to create your own platforms – an interesting mechanic that frustrates as often as it inspires.

Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach provides deep gameplay with a simple recipe: easy-to-learn combat rules and units… lots and lots of unique units. Despite minor bugs and a lack of flair – no cutscenes, little narrative, not much in the way of physics – Sanctus Reach is a solid entry in the Warhammer franchise, and an excellent turn-based tactical game to boot.

The principal concept of We Were Here Too — having to communicate carefully with a partner — is a fantastic addition to a puzzle title. The in-game chat works excellently and limiting the walkie-talkie to half-duplex forces one player to speak at a time, which can make for incredibly hectic situations. The title is well thought through, but even an initial run is relatively short. However, puzzle fans will be entertained.

Many issues, like linear progression and limited AI, that I have with Wildlands are issues rooted to the ‘open-world’ genre, and therefore not worth holding against Ubisoft. Wildlands offers a tight finesse for a shooter, and is sure to be enjoyed by gamers; however, it does little to go beyond this.

Seemingly an anomaly on the Steam store, Baobabs Mausoleum Ep. 1 Ovnifagos Don’t Eat Flamingos is a weird but worthwhile play. It presents a unique and twisted world and a story with a considerable extent of both human imagination and sanity. Each puzzle and problem is different and engaging, providing an innovative experience. As the first installment in the series, we have hopeful anticipation for a successor, to see how the developers will continue to polish what they have here.

While an interesting concept, Override: Mech City Brawl is simply too short to hold attention for long. With friends and a focus on multiplayer, you may be able to justify the price tag. Without that, it’s still a solid product worth a look.

The Wanderer is a beautifully creative point and click adventure that leads you through the tale of Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein using puzzles and decisions that affect the outcome of the tale. Unfortunately, a handful of game-breaking bugs render it almost unplayable.

For fans of sims that offer a good range of what you can do, this is worth taking a look at. Although it still needs more tweaking, it’s headed in a good direction.

Jurassic World Evolution is a challenging park simulator that emphasizes micromanagement and requires players to carefully and strategically balance resources. For those who enjoy the genre, it’s worth considering.

Play Warframe. Play it for more than a few hours, preferably with friends, and keep an open mind into doing some third-party research to straighten out some of these systems. Warframe takes so much of what makes ARPG’s addictive, and rounds it out with more polish and depth than most its competitors on the current games market. If the hooks aren’t deeply embedded by then, maybe something this in-depth isn’t for you.

Ys VIII is a fantastic action RPG with interesting characters and an intriguing story, which provides countless hours of exploration and banter.

There are plenty of fish, yes, but there are also too many menus, along with repetitive music and odd sound effects. Twice Circled has some upward swimming to do to reach the surface of the title’s potential.

Moons of Madness incorporates Lovecraftian-style themes and a desolate planet setting of Mars to offer a creepy experience that, while interesting, falters when gameplay is involved.

The strategy in Overland is fun, but the lack of an RPG element, limited movement functions, and a confusing interface for action points and item usage can make the title frustrating.