Chorus provides both solid space dogfights with intuitive controls and a distinctly presented story that remains engaging throughout. It may have its maddening moments that hold it back from greatness but it's still an impressively promising original IP.

Reverie's New Zealand influences make it unique and its visuals ooze with charm. However, the combat isn't quite as endearing. Also, the end-game puzzles prove that Rainbite knows how to craft quality brain-teasers but I wish they started to pop up much earlier.

I love when indie games offer something unique and special and Going Under certainly does with its clever premise, striking style, and supremely rewarding roguelike structure and beat 'em up gameplay. If only real internships could be this fun.

As a spin-off of a highly underrated game, Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara is a lovely 3D platformer that's full of charm and heart.

LEGO 2K Drive is a supremely entertaining kart racer, especially for the little ones. So, if you're looking for an easy-breezy time in a delightfully silly game world then you'll thoroughly appreciate what this kart racer has in store.

As a delightful game to wind down with, Caravan SandWitch presents a stylish and chill world but it's certainly lacking gameplay-wise.

If you're a shoot 'em up fan then you'll find a lot to love about AngerForce: Reloaded's tight retro gameplay that actually feels fresh.

Even as someone who can finish any Mega Man game before breakfast, I found Battle Kid: Fortress of Peril to be one maddeningly difficult game. It does a lot of things right, though, so it's worth checking out for any hardcore retro game enthusiast.

You can't go wrong with Demonschool if you're looking for a school experience that's a bit like Persona and a bit like a GBA Fire Emblem game.

Even with its multiple problems, I can't deny that Phantom Doctrine presents a unique and enjoyable take on turn-based SRPGs. Its stealth mechanics and rewarding campaign make for a very satisfying yet currently flawed game.

Steel Rain X is definitely an ambitious title and it provides a satisfying blend of gameplay styles for the most part. That being said, you need a lot of patience to fully understand the simulation component and the shooting doesn't quite do enough to stay fresh.

Project Nimbus: Code Mirai is a noble attempt at crafting a new mech combat game. However, even though the combat can be exhilarating, it's far too short and unvaried to even come close to genre classics.

Onimusha: Warlords stood out much more in 2001 with its unique gameplay and sinister setting. In this day and age, it's hard not to wish that Capcom went a bit further in modernizing the classic but it's still a fun and engaging experience.

Kingdom Rush Frontiers may bring the genre back to basics but it does everything so exceptionally well that you'll be hooked for hours.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown is a superb strategy game thanks to its uniqueness and rewarding sense of challenge.

From its charming visuals to its smooth action-packed gameplay, Kunai is a fittingly sharp and enjoyable experience.

R-Type Final 2 is an excellent shmup and a worthwhile follow-up to one of the best shooters in the PS2's library. It could have gone a bit further to make it a more fulfilling experience but what's here is wonderful nonetheless.

Life is Strange: Double Exposure pulls you back into the world of Max Caulfield only this time, it has matured into a deeper storyline that provides more welcome gameplay than previous titles so if you're a fan of the series then you won't want to miss this one.

Even though I usually enjoy any SaGa game that I play, Romancing SaGa -Minstrel Song- Remastered left me more annoyed than fulfilled. With that in mind, it does have redeeming qualities thanks to its great cast of characters and nifty party growth mechanics.

I had an entertaining time with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate. If you plan on playing it cooperatively then you'll have a blast but either way, its repetition will sink in eventually so keep that in mind before entering the sewers.

World to the West is an enjoyable overhead adventure featuring a varied cast of characters that are great fun to play as. In the end, the inevitable frustration is alleviated by its lighthearted atmosphere and gentle pacing which results in a wholly worthwhile adventure.

Dauntless is one of those games that's best played in short bursts every once in a while. If it featured more gameplay variety and character growth that relied on careful decision making then it would have been a much more worthwhile game.

Aside from its distinct graphics and hilarious music, Black Bird is basically a copy of Sega's classic shooter Fantasy Zone. I wish Onion Games went further to make it a more original experience.

When it comes to indie horror games, very few illustrate a living nightmare as well as Stela does.

Motorsport fans will have fun with this reboot, especially if they are looking to race some popular vehicles on well-known real-life circuits. However, the poor quality graphics, lack of local multiplayer, and limited appeal of the Nemesis system makes it harder to recommend.

There's certainly some fun to be had in EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 but don't expect it to offer much noteworthy when you compare it to the previous couple of entries in the series. Playing it did make me excited for WORLD BROTHERS 2, though.

Old-school shooter fans who are looking for a challenge will find a lot to love in the stylish and enjoyable Thoth.

It may not live up to the Illusion titles for Sega Genesis but what's here is good stuff nonetheless as Disney Illusion Island presents a wondrous game world that can be rather enjoyable to explore. Just don't expect much variety or any sense of challenge.

Kirby Star Allies offers plenty of classic adorable Kirby action with oodles of exciting abilities to discover. It may not be the most fulfilling game in the long-running series but there's no denying just how much fun there is to be had.

The TakeOver offers classic beat 'em up action that you can enjoy with a pal yet it doesn't do much unique with its gameplay.

The Escapists 2 has an undeniably solid premise for a game and features a downright charming visual style and soundtrack but the monotony of its restrictive gameplay will probably make you feel like a prisoner yourself whenever you play it.

Sword and Fairy: Together Forever is a unique action RPG that's packed with variety, a gorgeous game world, and oodles of optional content. It may not be the most challenging or deep RPG out there but it's definitely special, I can tell you that.

Mages of Mystralia's combat and puzzles are enjoyable and the unique spell crafting system allows for a nearly endless amount of customization. The lack of robust fast traveling may bog the backtracking down but not enough to dampen Zia's grand adventure.

Even though it's the third game in the series, Runner3 is full of a surprising amount of variety and challenges to master. Just make sure you have plenty of patience before lacing up your sneakers; you're going to need it.

ADIOS Amigos took what made Amazing Discoveries In Outer Space unique and turned it into something extremely enjoyable. If you're in the mood to play a quirky 2D cooperative space exploration game then you need to add this to your gaming library.

If I had to summarize Astroneer in one word, it would be delightful. The gentle aesthetics of its world and the laidback gameplay go hand-in-hand to create a surprisingly addictive space survival game that'll have you crafting some genuinely rewarding contraptions.

As a Choose Your Own Adventure style narrative, Cinders is a wonderful experience but it doesn't quite feel like a full video game.

If Vaporum was more optimized for consoles then it would have been a must-play dungeon crawler. With that being said, it's still worthwhile if you're willing to adapt to its unintuitive controls and menus.

The humour in Helheim Hassle is spot-on for a laugh-out-loud adventure and it provides many impressively rewarding puzzles as well.

It may be a cute and fun game featuring great music but Neko Navy - Daydream Edition doesn't quite break out of the genre mold.

Super Magbot's fun factor almost entirely relies on if you enjoy replaying levels over and over again until you finally master them.

Even though I enjoyed my time with RESEARCH and DESTROY and its distinct tactical missions, it's still a rather clunky experience.

It's beautiful, relaxing, and a wonderful game to show off PlayStation VR2 with but Kayak VR: Mirage is ultimately a very basic experience.

Between the action-packed shooting, strategic resource management, online or local multiplayer for up to 3 players, charming cast of characters, diverse assortment of elemental enemies, and distinct dungeon themes, ENDLESS Dungeon adds up to a heck of a lot of fun.

As a brilliant combination of rhythm mini-games and online competition, Headbangers: Rhythm Royale is a delightful music-based funfest.

Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree is a roguelike where the more you play it, the better it gets. With so much variety in its combat thanks to an awesome cast of characters and flashy unlockable spells, those who love to experiment will be downright hooked.

With its unconventional approach, tight arcade shooting gameplay, and charming anime presentation, I absolutely love Mamorukun ReCurse.

Fans of old-school first-person shooters will have a ridiculous amount of fun with Forgive Me Father 2 and it's a great fit for Halloween.

I enjoyed my time with Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition and will continue to do so thanks to its fun weekly challenges. I hope that this means we'll see indieszero's Retro Game Challenge 1 + 2 Replay release in the west soon.

Strange Brigade definitely took me by surprise as it's one of the most fun-filled cooperative online games out there. The amount of variety makes the gameplay constantly enjoyable and working together with friends is super-satisfying.

Darwin's Paradox! is a beautiful and variety-filled 2D platformer that expertly blends platforming, puzzles, and stealth so if you don't mind a little trial and error then be sure to give this delightful octopus a chance.

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S is certainly the best iteration of this puzzle combination yet and it's full of line-clearing and chain-triggering fun.

Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 is filled to the brim with superhero fun that's even more enjoyable with a friend. The frustration factor may be high but the overall rewarding and diverse campaign is sure to make any Marvel or Lego fan say "Excelsior!"

Arcade sports games aren't as plentiful as they once were so the fact that NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 is as enjoyable as it is speaks volumes for what the genre is capable of. Plus, those who played the original are sure to appreciate its additions and refined visuals.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot may not have the deepest combat mechanics but there's no denying just how exciting it is to play. From its jaw-dropping action to its top-notch presentation, this is one epic RPG that fans and newcomers alike can easily enjoy.

If you're a series fan who simply wants more then Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny is sure to delight with its charming game world, solid sense of humour, and familiar battle system. With that being said, I can't help but wish it did more to make it stand out in the genre.

After thoroughly enjoying the greatness that is Salt and Sanctuary, Salt and Sacrifice is a somewhat disappointing experience. It's still a good game, though, and one that you'll be compelled to play until it starts to overstay its welcome about 10 hours in.

Akka Arrh VR enhances an already great arcade experience by offering a flashier, trippier, and more intuitive formula than ever before.

Even though it isn't as captivating as the first game, Demon Gaze II offers an engaging campaign that dungeon crawler fans are sure to appreciate. I just hope Demon Gaze III takes a few more risks.

AER Memories of Old is such a captivating game that it's hard not to get lost in its beautiful and rewarding world.

Although it isn't perfect, Putty Pals is a fantastic game to experience with a friend. The cooperative gameplay and adorable world go beautifully together to form an adventure that'll make you smile from start to finish.

A lot of love went in to bring Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord to the modern age and it shows; great stuff.

I sincerely enjoy what ONE PIECE ODYSSEY DELUXE EDITION offers and hope to see a sequel that adds a lot of challenge and variety because without those 2 ingredients, Luffy's RPG adventure feels like it's lacking booty.

Aven Colony is easy to recommend partly because there's so little else like it on console but also because it's an excellent and engrossing example of the genre. Whichever platform you play on, you'll have fun creating a new frontier in outer space.

Even if you're not a Marvel fan and just want to play a simple beat 'em up with a few friends, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order is certainly an enjoyable experience. Just don't expect it to be as mind-blowing as the films apparently are.

Talent Not Included is a delightful platforming experience that'll put your 2D gaming skills to the test. It may be light on content but the gameplay is so much fun that you'll easily sink a few hours in before you take your final bow.

My gaming chum and I absolutely adore Ready, Steady, Ship! and we can't wait for even more factory fun so bring on the DLC and sequel, please. It's a genuinely unique co-op experience that's packed with variety; every genre enthusiast simply needs to play it.

Tales of Arise - Beyond the Dawn explores life after the main story. However, it does so without adding anything substantial and the story feels rushed which makes this DLC hard to recommend even for fans of the main game (which is, in fact, awesome).

I'm very happy that I waited to play FREEDOM WARS Remastered online before writing my review because its action-intense combat lends itself so perfectly to multiplayer matches that I can't wait to play it again. You know what? I think I'll go do that now.

The Surge is one of those games that shows a lot of promise but the experience itself just doesn't live up to its potential. You may have some fun within the first 5 hours or so but everything after that slowly evolves into nothing more than a tedious grind.

Your enjoyment of Song in the Smoke: Rekindled will entirely depend on your patience but if you have plenty, there's a lot to love here.

Another Code: Recollection is laidback storytelling with likeable characters, the odd puzzle, and a little sci-fi sprinkled in for good measure. I'm glad that I got to play through these lesser-known adventure games all of these years after their initial release although they certainly don't do much to stand out from the crowd.

Although it's not the best example of a classic arcade shooter, Strikers 1945 is an enjoyable game to pick up and play whenever you want a fix of retro shoot 'em up action. Hopefully, we see the sequels arrive sometime down the road, too.

Gunbird 2 is a huge step up from the first game but it still doesn't do enough to stand out in such an oversaturated genre. That being said, what's here is a challenging classic shoot 'em up with intricate scoring mechanics that'll appeal to hardcore genre fans.

Overall, SNK Gals' Fighters is a fun retro portable fighting game that's a bit too basic to thoroughly enjoy in this day and age.

Considering it's such a unique offering, I can easily say that Caverns of Mars: Recharged is one of the better Atari reboots in recent years, especially with its simple controls that are utilized in an unexpectedly complex and strategic gameplay formula.

SONIC SUPERSTARS surpassed my expectations as I thought it would simply be a fun co-op iteration of the classics. However, its adorable game world, variety of gameplay, assortment of clever challenges, and hidden goodies to find really makes it go above and beyond.

Well, we're definitely off to a great start because this first wave of DLC has some bona fide classics as well as a few welcome surprises.

Star Ocean First Departure R is a satisfying old-school ARPG that's sure to scratch your nostalgia itch. Some aspects may hold a bit too much retro baggage but there's no denying just how charming and imaginative this classic RPG is.

Marvel's Iron Man VR provides some of the most enjoyable action-packed missions ever available in a virtual reality game. You may have to lollygag around for a while before being able to actually play these missions but they're definitely worth the wait.

Azure Reflections is a top-notch shoot 'em up and a welcome entry in the much celebrated fan-made Touhou universe. If you're a fan of the genre or series then do yourself a favour and download it now.

If you're a fan of twin-stick shooters and want to enjoy something different then playing Bartlow's Dread Machine is an absolute must.

Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge - Enhanced Edition completely captivated me and I can't wait to play a sequel.

Although Raiden V: Director's Cut isn't a substantial step up from the vanilla version, what's here still makes for an incredible shoot 'em up that's a must-buy for those who don't already own the original Raiden V.

Nidhogg 2 is definitely a step up from the original game but it's just not enough of one to make it feel like a sequel. Instead, it merely comes across as a reskinned game with a few extra weapons.

If you're a Pokemon fan and haven't played the original Diamond, Pearl, or Platinum then you're missing out. The Sinnoh region is an absolute joy to explore and it's super-fun trying to catch as many Pokémon as you can. Plus, Pokemon Shining Pearl lets you use the Nintendo Switch's network features in a way that you might not have had the opportunity to with the original DS games.

Maldita Castilla EX: Cursed Castile is undeniably a must-download for any retro gamer who loves a challenge. However, the difficulty is also its biggest hurdle to overcome. Either way you look at it, you have to admire the old-school authenticity in all its glory.

Cladun Returns: This is Sengoku! is a fun and basic dungeon-crawling action RPG that's best enjoyed in short sessions. The repetitive gameplay and frequent annoyances hinder the experience but it's still an overall rewarding adventure.

If you enjoy energetic Asian pop music then Muse Dash is full of fantastic tracks that you can enjoy with intuitive rhythm gameplay.

Mario Strikers: Battle League strikes an excellent gameplay balance to make every match exciting and action-packed. It may not take many risks when it comes to supplementary content but what's here is one solid soccer game nonetheless.

It may take a while to learn how to play West of Dead effectively but the journey is ultimately rewarding and a ton of gunslinging fun.

Immortal Redneck is well-crafted with smooth and fast gunplay, a variety of playable characters, and an extensive upgrade tree. However, the core gameplay just didn't evolve enough to fully captivate me in the same way that the best roguelikes do.

If you don't mind restarting tricky segments over and over again then Speed Limit can be a very fun game with its action movie setup.

Ninja Gaiden is awesome and this Master Collection includes a trilogy of intense action games that'll keep you on the edge of your seat. However, the fact that the featured games are basically ports with no extra content is kind of disappointing.

Mafia: The Old Country tells a gripping character-based story that series fans will certainly love. At the same time, it doesn't do much to put itself above its predecessors but with so much variety packed in, it's still an enjoyable play.

Yono and the Celestial Elephants is a memorable and charming journey with a story that'll actually make you think. Although it suffers from a mostly unchallenging campaign, this is one adventure that you'll definitely be happy to experience.

River City: Rival Showdown is definitely one of the best entries in the long-running Kunio-kun series. Although Tokyo Rumble offers a bit more of a robust package, what's here is sure to provide hours of beat 'em up fun.

If Wizard of Legend's awesome gameplay was set in a massive adventure-filled world then it would be one of the best indies ever made. Considering the experience is as limiting as it is, it makes me wonder why the developers decided to make it a roguelike instead.