While there's a lot that's odd about Vulture Island, I really like the game here. The puzzles are fetch quest type stuff, but their uses are just devious enough that they will make you feel stupid for not figuring it out sooner. And the whole game's clunkiness just kind of gives the game a particular character to it.

On the surface it seems like a game with modest goals, but I think what it does is actually a lot harder than it looks. And, I’m happy to say, it pulls it off beautifully.

Beyond the occasional muddled input, Tiny Invaders is an excellent debut from the folks at Hogrocket. Its puzzles are infused with such urgency that you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat, mashing reset to take one more shot at beating the timer.

The whole thing will get a lot more addicting when I can rank on Game Center with the first update, but even as it stands now, Space Junk is a highly enjoyable space shooter well worth a look.

I think those who have patience and are okay with off-beat games will get an awful lot out of Romancing SaGa 3, and I’m absolutely thrilled that it’s out and accessible for a far wider audience at long last.

Overall, End of the Universe feels good to play. While neither music nor sound effects alone stand out, the combined effect, especially with the art, is excellent. The controls are smooth and work well, and the basic gameplay of avoiding obstacles, bullets, and catching baddies with a hail of lasers, missiles, or a black hole (a black hole!) is incredibly satisfying. While it’s certainly not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, fans of Immortal Rogue will not be disappointed. More broadly, anyone interested in pixel art, rogue-likes, pixel art in rogue-likes, or fast-paced games with mild tones of existential dread should give it a shot. It’s worth it.

The torture is part of the fun, and afterward you can say, with just enough regret and maybe a little heartburn, that what you just did was very hard, you could have done something much more pleasant, but it was totally worth it in the end.

The controls are really easy to use, although it's not easy to do precise softer shots (especially with the multi-ball) as the controls seem optimized for harder more direct shots.

It's possible to grind the fun right out of this game, but if you stick to playing modes you enjoy and challenge yourself with three stars when you want to, there's no reason this skeleton-crushing simulator should lose its charm.

Pie in the Sky: A Pizza Odyssey may not be for everyone, but those of you who enjoy a good relaxation-based affair will get a good amount of time in with it.

If you're looking for a nice take on the Asteroids formula, don't hesitate to give Red Nova a look.

I can see a few key aspects where Phoenix 2 could really improve in order to be a better experience, or at least are shortcomings that are tough to adjust. But regardless, the core concept behind Phoenix 2 is great, and it does a great job at being a game worthy of playing daily.

An excellent port showcasing a psychedelic flair in its retro-visuals that seems to be quite prevalent in iOS arcade titles (and for good reason). Add in the quick pace, large number of levels and wide variety in difficulties, and you've got a great game worth checking out.

Beyond Oasis is a flawed gem in the Genesis line-up. Unfortunately, some emulation issues and the nature of virtual controls magnify a few of its flaws, and it will almost certainly make you angry at times as a result. Nevertheless, the game can still be enjoyed in its current form, and on balance is probably one of the best action-RPGs currently available to mobile gamers. I'm very happy SEGA selected it for the SEGA Forever line-up. If you've never tried Beyond Oasis before, you'll definitely want to give it a chance. Even more than two decades later, the adventure of Prince Ali (amorous he) remains quite a bit of fun and rather unique to boot.

Sunsoft fans and those who like digging into the margins of console libraries will get a real kick out of Sunsoft is Back! Retro Game Selection‘s offerings. Each game has been handled with care, and it’s great to see some games that missed their shot at localization back in the day finally get a chance. Hopefully this is just the first of a series of such collections, but even if this is all we get, it’s nice to see another side of this once-mighty publisher’s library of classics.

n a vacuum, Indiana Jones: The Pinball Adventure is a slam-dunk pick-up. It’s a wonderful, beloved table that has never had a home version before. It has all of the licensed bits intact, and that is harder to do with this property than most. It plays well, and has lots of options and features that will keep you coming back. It’s a good value, particularly compared to dropping coins in the real thing. But this isn’t a vacuum. You can get equally good tables like Medieval Madness for a fraction of the price, and that is something you’re going to have to consider before buying this. For both pinball and Indiana Jones die-hards, it’s an easy enough choice. Others will have to weigh their options carefully and hope they do not choose… poorly.

If you're spent on this genre, it's probably safe to give this one a pass, but if you've got a strong affection for the Game Boy, a deep appreciation for loose references to a certain vintage Konami franchise, or just like solid no-frills runners, you'll likely get your money's worth out of this atmospheric throwback.

The writing and atmosphere are top-notch, and as long as you come into it knowing those things are the focus I think you’ll get on well with Haven.

Seabeard isn’t the magically universal game that I wish it could be, but for those that can work within its system, the rewards have the potential to be truly great.

ANNO: Mutationem is a good port of a great game. The flaws from the original are still present here, but the gameplay perfectly suits the Switch’s hybrid nature. It also can look absolutely stunning on the OLED display in handheld mode. If you aren’t sure about the performance or how it looks when played docked, I’d recommend downloading the free ANNO: Mutationem demo on the eShop. I’m glad ANNO: Mutationem finally arrived on Switch and hope it gets a physical release in the future.

In the end, I’ve decided to give this game a slightly stronger recommendation than I otherwise would have simply because of how good the remaster quality is. As a first-person shooter, Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion has never been anything more than decent, and it lacks much of the character of the first two entries. But I respect that Nightdive gave it the royal treatment to finish out this rather unexpected yet welcome set of remasters, and I think if you found a lot to love in its previous efforts with Turok you’ll find enough to carry you through this one as well.

A flawed experience, but the chances Oda takes make the ride invigorating. I would love to see what else he can do, and I hope he continues making many more games before... the inevitable. Sorry, this game is making me morbid.

Mr Jump has a very specific appeal to it. I'm sure you can tell right away whether it's your thing or not.

The game is set in a nicely animated koi pond environment with some very nice touches.

The art style is cute, the music couldn't be better, and the game is built on a funny (yet entirely cliche) premise.

If you enjoy arena shooters and don't mind tilt controls, Quadblast is an excellent, straightforward challenge with a nice sense of style.

Leisure Suit Larry: Reloaded provides a heap of content for the cash and even if only to check out a piece of videogaming history, if you're into point'n click adventure gaming, it's worth a peek.

Steampunk Tower may not rock the proverbial boat when it comes to Tower Defense, but it's still a pretty fun game.