Voidling Bound could use a few quality-of-life improvements, but is otherwise an excellent, fun-to-play, and incredibly unique entry into the creature collector genre. The game has a great setting, an appealing gameplay loop, and a nice message about conservation that manages not to feel preachy or in your face. I highly recommend this title for fans of the genre or those looking for a unique new shooter.

The Gothic 1 Remake is a beautiful graphical upgrade of one of the most incredible RPGs of all time, and I have no doubt that returning fans will love it. However, the game’s performance issues dampen the mood, and certain new bugs and a lack of quality-of-life improvements make it less than a perfect remake. These issues and the lack of modernizing polish may also make it harder for new players to get into the game, especially when paired with the obviously and purposefully dated, difficult gameplay.

Lost Castle 2 is a blast to play alone, and even better in multiplayer. The roguelike systems are made stronger by the game’s emphasis on looting, its unique item builds, and its awesome boss battles. Fans of beat-em-up side scrollers, roguelikes, or dungeon-delving ARPGs can all come together to find something to love in this uniquely fun title.

Playing Luna Abyss is like glimpsing into the mind of a mad artist: it is at times beautiful, at times scary, and can certainly be polarizing. While it has its flaws, mainly in pacing, and solid gameplay that can slow down at times and be far too different for genre fans at others, I still think it’s a phenomenal game, and one absolutely worth giving the time of day and losing yourself to.

Moonsigil Atlas is an incredible entry into the deckbuilding roguelike genre, reinventing familiar mechanics with a fun twist that fits in with the thematic elements of the game beautifully. It is as fun to play as it is incredible to look at, featuring some great art and unique card mechanics that shine through, even if you may be left wishing the game had a bit more to play with.

Schrodinger’s Cat Burglar combines a unique and quirky concept with Portal-like puzzle solving, creating brain teasers that are simultaneously challenging and yet unusually forgiving to new players. The game can be played with two players, but it is a completely different experience when you play alone, enticing your brain not only with cooperative puzzles but with the challenge of controlling two cats at the same time.

Lumentale: Memories of Trey is a heavy hitter of a creature-collector, doing everything fans love about the genre well and even expanding on core mechanics in its own ways. It will easily become a new favorite for fans of the genre, and I think it even has ground to compete against franchise titans.

Call of the Elder Gods is an excellent narrative-driven puzzle game that masters familiar Lovecraftian themes while taking its own, unique approach to the tone of the story. It may feel different to fans of games based on Lovecraft’s work, but I think the changes work incredibly well, and this unique approach is worth giving a try yourself.

Duck Side of the Moon is a quacking good time: an adorable space-bound adventure with simple yet inviting mechanics, silly yet engaging writing, and the occasional shockingly emotional moment. For those looking for a relaxing game, this title will more than hit the mark, winning you over with its unique score, fun exploration at your own pace, and overall memorable experiences.

Wax Heads is a gorgeous, short, beautiful game built around a simple and cozy gameplay loop. It captures the spirit of your local record shop and uses its cast of colorful characters to tell a confined, low-stakes story that will stay with you regardless. It’s a perfect game for those looking for a small, comfortable narrative experience, and the price is hard to argue with.

Directive 8020 is a strong interactive narrative with some less-than-exciting gameplay. Quick-time events and impactful decisions maintain a solid element of player interactivity, but the title would be better off ditching its weak stealth segments and walking-simulator gameplay in favor of a more direct, cinematic approach. Despite this, fans of the genre and those looking for a good narrative experience with some player influence are bound to enjoy what this latest entry in the Dark Pictures Anthology has to offer.

SoulQuest presents excellent beat-’em-up action mechanics, serving as a unique and exciting new entry to the character-action game genre. Though some later levels can have some cheap-feeling difficulty spikes, the game in general is solid and very worth your time if it’s caught your interest.

Lethal Honor: Order of the Apocalypse has a strong comic book identity, featuring amazing art, stylized graphics, and a well-paced story that will keep you interested to the end. While its roguelike and combat mechanics fall a bit short, they’re more than enough to keep you playing as you chase those awesome cutscenes and story arcs throughout.

Bandit Trap is a critically underrated gem, one which injects some much-needed levity into the world of asymmetrical multiplayer games and a title that stands utterly alone in the genre of “multiplayer Home Alone-likes.” Give the game a try, get your friends to play too, and help it get the attention it deserves.

Shapez 2 made a fan of me, someone who isn’t a usual fan of this genre, and someone who easily feels overwhelmed by its complex systems. Even with my comparatively meager builds, I had a great time with the game, falling instantly for its uniquely relaxing vibe and its special style of progression, pushing you into limitless expansion at your own pace and using incredible factory tools to accomplish it.

The Spell Brigade is excellence in the survivors-like genre, offering players a chance to partake in some whacky, chaotic co-op wizardry. While designed for online play, solo players can still appreciate the title, though they may find progression to be a slower grind overall.

OPUS: Prism Peak is an emotionally devastating, bittersweet work of art that takes an honest, if not always happy, look at life, past losses, and how to pick up the pieces and move on. A slow title focused on exploration and attention to detail, this game will appeal to anyone with the patience and determination to see it through, even if your first playthrough might feel overwhelming and incomplete… by design.

Lucky Tower Ultimate provides deceptively simple mechanics and a deeper layer of depth with tons of items, mechanical interactions, and constant slapstick or just downright silly cartoon humor. It does things differently from other roguelike titles, and will effortlessly charm you if you just give it a chance.

Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss has a lot to offer for those looking for an immersive, narrative-driven horror thriller. Its gameplay doesn’t demand quick reflexes or wanton destruction, but rather deduction skills and attention to detail. I don’t see everyone being a fan of this title, but for those who are really big into Lovecraft, this is probably exactly what you would want from a game tackling the mythos, one that is all about questions and the unfortunate answers that go with them.

Wasteland Bites is an excellent, horror-themed time-management game with an incredible premise. Do not hesitate to dive headfirst into the radiation pool that is this unique and fun food-truck nightmare.

ALL WILL FALL is Waterworld meets Frostpunk, delivering a toned-down but still engaging post-apocalyptic survival experience in a flooded wasteland, with some brain-teasing physics challenges thrown on top. City building fans who like a bit of a challenge are sure to love this title, especially with its unique setting and incredible mod support.

Hozy provides players with a short, relaxing, and expressive home renovation experience, giving you a cozy way to unwind at the end of a stressful day. If you love decorating and home renovation and want a compact take on the experience, Hozy is just the game for you.

While the pacing can be a bit slow early, the mechanics feel somewhat uninspired, and the lack of direction can hinder you at times, Project Songbird still manages to be a great horror game, one with incredible artistic merit and deep symbolism. Come for a story worth experiencing, and leave with a lasting memory.

Built upon the iconic and highly stylish tradition of racing anime, Screamer delivers high-octane, arcade-style racing with intuitive controls and an incredibly dramatic, colorfully cast story about a super-illegal, high-stakes super-race. Undoubtedly, my new favorite racing game of all time, I do not doubt that Screamer, like a shooting star, will fly out past the competition at high speeds and leave a long-lasting memory in the process.

Collector’s Cove combines an interesting, if somewhat underdeveloped, exploration mechanic with a clever take on farming, fishing, and collection, creating a uniquely satisfying take on some of our favorite genre gameplay loops. Its special approach is sure to hook even the most veteran of farming sim players, especially those who like to focus on collecting and filling compendiums.

Timberborn is a colony simulator with a fantastic core identity and some genuinely unique systems driving it, particularly when it comes to water management. While I personally found that the challenge, urgency, and sense of direction began to fade as I became more familiar with the mechanics, there is still a lot here to enjoy for players who like slower-paced, methodical colony builders, or those who really want to build a series of intricately designed beaver dams.

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection uses the incredible storytelling potential of the Monster Hunter universe to tell a unique, excitingly dark, and political narrative with great animation and gorgeous music. Its turn-based combat is excitingly cinematic, and if you can handle awkward flying mechanics and general JRPG pacing, you should definitely enjoy what this game has to offer.

While certain elements of the game challenge the traditional playstyle of city builder games, Laysara: Summit Kingdom stands out for its unique theme, challenge, and mechanics. A very different kind of city builder, and one that ventures into a territory never before seen in the genre.