Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is one of the best Metroidvanias that I've played in a long time and it looks and sounds incredible, too.

There are so many goofy objectives in each of Just Crow Things' levels that playing it makes for one rewarding poop-filled adventure.

Without a doubt, PHOGS! is one of the best co-op games released this year so if you enjoy gaming with a pal, you'll want to play this.

Who knew that eating fruit as a snake could be as much fun as it is in Upaon: A Snake's Journey? It's one intuitive and enjoyable puzzler.

Ghost Grab 3000 is one of the best indie takes on classic arcade games out there. I simply can't recommend it enough for genre fans.

Mind-bending first-person puzzlers don't get much better than Viewfinder so play it if you enjoy games like Portal and Superliminal.

If you love 8-bit tunes and want to hear a wide variety of awesome compositions as you play silly mini-games, this is one great collection.

Punching through the gorgeous game world of Decline's Drops is a thrill, especially as you discover its many secrets and unlock fun goodies.

Few games showcase the simple action-oriented SNES-era weekend game rental as well as Rendering Ranger: R2 [Rewind] does so play it.

If you love trains or puzzle games then playing Cosmic Express is a must with its brilliant collection of stages and adorable presentation. In fact, its variety of puzzles will have you laying tracks for hours while you happily watch the cute little train chug along.

Can you believe Dadish 3D is a thing? After playing it for myself, I'm still convinced that it's some sort of strange fever dream.

Cotton 2 is much more than a sequel as its clever gameplay mechanics and striking visuals make it stand out as one unique shoot 'em up.

Tomba! Special Edition is definitely a great game for those who have nostalgia for the PS1 era while everyone else will certainly find its quirkiness charming and its unconventional gameplay entertaining.

As far as frantic co-op games go, Out of Space: Couch Edition is great and will have you and your gaming chums entertained for hours.

The Inner World: The Last Wind Monk's charming characters and graphics are spectacular and it features one interesting and deep story. It's a bit disappointing that the console controls weren't improved but this is still a must-buy game for point 'n' click adventure fans.

Swapping tiles as you gradually build paths with coloured yarn is a hypnotising formula that Kittens and Yarn accomplishes just right.

If you want to master a tough co-op game then Bonkies provides plenty of tricky levels that'll keep you and your chums entertained.

With its clever loadout options and unlockables that make each run easier, W.A.N.D. Project is a stand-out title in a crowded genre.

Cinematic 2D action adventure games don't get much more striking or immersive as REPLACED and its intuitive gameplay systems are superb.

From its clever gameplay to its hilarious cast of characters and great sense of challenge, how could you not love Arcade Archives SENKYU?

As someone who wants to see more bear representation in gaming, I applaud Epic Dumpster Bear 1.5 DX: Dumpster Fire Rebirth.

If you're looking for a cute and funny shop simulator that you can enjoy as the hours tick away then you need to play Holy Potatoes! A Weapon Shop?! Its rewarding gameplay and lighthearted atmosphere make it a great game to zone out to.

Cotton Boomerang takes the delightful Cotton 2 and reinterprets it into a much more action-packed experience that's a ton of fun.

Magical Bakery is an easy breezy cozy game that requires just enough strategy and planning to make it a satisfying treat for sure.

Out of all the Survivors-likes that I've played, TerraTech Legion stands out as one of the most unique and it's highly entertaining stuff indeed.

Guardian Force may not be as charming as Cotton but it offers one heck of an enjoyable shoot 'em up formula that's sure to impress.

You wouldn't think that cats would enjoy taking to the high seas but Cat Quest III proves that feline pirates can be just as capable.

Competitive puzzle games don't get much better than Petal Crash. From its strategic gameplay to its charm, it's the complete package.

Synapse is one of my favourite games for PSVR2 so far thanks to its frantic shooting gameplay and spot-on telekinesis mechanic.

Aqua Moto Racing Utopia is one of the best watercraft racers out there. It may suffer from some minor problems but the gameplay is so incredibly fun and there are many modes to enjoy it within.

Aero Fighters 2 is an enjoyable and funny shmup that's perfect for genre newbies as its degree of difficulty isn't very high.

Sophia the Traveler is simply delightful. From its charming art style to the outstanding amount of detail, this is a great indie treasure.

Hidden Through Time 2: Discovery is simply more great object-finding fun. If you enjoyed Myths & Magic then pick this up as well.

The many distinct scenarios within Wildfire are great fun to master no matter how you approach them and it's impressively funny, too.

Pokemon: Let's Go offers a new and exciting adventure while the Poke Ball Plus controller is one of the coolest devices that I've played with in a long time. So, if you're a fan of the franchise or just want some lighthearted fun then this pack is worth a purchase.

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

VIVIDLOPE is one of my favourite arcade-style indies of 2024 thanks to its bubbly presentation and unique gameplay that's a ton of fun.

It may not be as recognizable as many other retro shmups but Zed Blade is definitely worth playing in this day and age.

From its wide variety of metal tunes to its intuitive and satisfying gameplay, Ragnarock is a fantastic VR rhythm game.

The clever gameplay and slick presentation of Sokobond Express will have you happily pushing more atoms than Niels Bohr.

Dadish's cute and colourful graphics go hand-in-hand with its simple platforming formula to make one hilarious indie that's great fun.

Space combat games don't get much better than War Tech Fighters so if you're a genre fan then you need this in your collection.

If you have a fondness for Psikyo-style shmups then Aero Fighters 3 will make a perfect addition to your gaming library.

I thoroughly enjoyed the relaxed and lighthearted vibes of Townsmen VR so if that sounds like your cup of tea then check it out.

My Friend Pedro may not be the most unique indie game ever but its stylish gun combat will certainly make you feel like a badass.

Even with its retro baggage, Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny is an undeniably great game that fleshes out the original's formula very well and in some unexpected ways to boot. Plus, it looks excellent with its redone visuals so you're bound to have a lot of fun slaying demons.

Prodeus is a top-notch old-school first-person shooter that takes what made the classics great and amplifies it with fitting modernizations.

Although it features simple gameplay at its core, Supermarket Shriek offers tons of rewarding challenges that are great fun to master.

When it comes to games based on movies, Turbo Kid is certainly one of the best as it carries on the indie heart of its inspiration wonderfully.

If you want to see how fun NeoGeo shmups can be then you need to play Prehistoric Isle 2. It's one of the best games in the genre.

I had a blast with Mixture and would love to see a sequel one day, especially considering just how well-mixed of a cocktail it is.

Which Way Up: Galaxy Games is one of those indie party games that's so much more fun than it has any right being. Plus, that sun's so cute.

If you're nostalgic for this quirky series then SNOW BROS. 2 SPECIAL is the game to get as it's bursting with 4-player good times.

As a unique blend of visual novel and action RPG, Noctuary is one of my favourite recent indies and I'll be thinking about it for a long time.

Ignoring the huge hassle of powering your base and how difficult it is to use the industrial hotspots, I still enjoyed all of the changes in No Man's Sky Beyond. There's quite a variety of them so if you're a long-time No Man's Sky player, I'm sure you'll find something to enjoy. However, be warned because if you have any old bases, it might take a while to power them all up.

It's awesome that shoot 'em ups as unique and enjoyable as RANDOMAX are releasing all the way in 2025 and the dev's passion really shows.

Spell Disk is an excellent combat-heavy roguelike that makes carefully setting up your loadout an incredibly rewarding experience.

PAC-MAN WORLD 2 Re-PAC - Sonic the Hedgehog Collaboration is perhaps the most enjoyable DLC crossover that I've ever played. With so much content, collectibles, and challenges that are set in such beautifully designed stages, this is more than enough to delight any gamer.

If you're a fan of twin-stick shooters then you have to play Sektori as it's one of the best representations of the genre in modern gaming.

From its hilarious game world to its exciting tower defense battles, Captain Toonhead vs. The Punks from Outer Space is the bee's knees.

It's very clear that the clever strategic implementation and stand-out visuals in Deathless. The Hero Quest make it one high quality roguelike.

Cutting your way through Majogami will make you feel like one stylish ninja as you soar through stunning stages on your path to victory.

If you want to train to be an expert pilot, Ultrawings 2 will surely provide plenty of entertaining hours full of flight-based fun.

No matter how you play Neon Inferno, you're bound to have a great time thanks to its stellar gameplay and modern retro-inspired aesthetic.

If you play one game this Halloween, it should definitely be SILENT HILL 2 which remains in a class of its own even all these years later.

Throwing yourself around the complex levels of TOSS! is a great deal of fun but be careful because you can easily hurt your arms.

Playing Sushi Ben kept a smile on my face for every second of playtime so if you want a lighthearted story-based VR game, here you go.

With its ingenious collection of varied stages, charming retro visuals, and challenging shooting gameplay, Silver Bullet is a real hoot for sure.

I enjoyed Pig Eat Ball much more than I thought I would and I'll gladly go back to it whenever I want some frantic arcade fun.

Descending through the chaotic 2D stages of CLAWPUNK will make you feel like one badass feline, especially when you start achieving S-ranks.

Carefully steering a cyclist down rough mountainside terrain sounds like a fun challenge and Lonely Mountains proves that it indeed is.

Out of all of the retro-style indie games that I've played, Fear the Spotlight is one of the most impressive and I hope to play a sequel.

Waltz of the Wizard is so jam-packed with fun secrets and entertaining gameplay that it's an easy recommendation for PSVR2.

All in Abyss: Judge the Fake is a simple game of quirky lighthearted fun for those who enjoy a little high stakes gambling.

If you want to chill as you scan super-cute dioramas for differences then you'll have a wonderful time with the delightful Tiny Lands 2.

You wouldn't think a licensed package like RetroRealms would be as entertaining as it is so I'm very happy that it exists; top quality stuff.

You wouldn't think a licensed package like RetroRealms would be as entertaining as it is so I'm very happy that it exists; top quality stuff.

It may be quite lonely on Star Overdrive's planet but there's so much to see and do and its rockin' vibes help tie it all together.

As a compilation of the arcade and Sega Saturn versions of a shoot 'em up from the mid-'90s, Game Tengoku CruisinMix holds up impressively well. Here's hoping we get to see a port of GunBare! Game Tengoku 2 soon.

With its unconventional premise, El Paso, Elsewhere is a blast as you shoot at all sorts of monstrous foes while popping pills like a pro.

I'm very happy that games like Bionic Bay exist as it offers a super-fun 2D platforming formula that'll constantly surprise you.

I had a wonderful time playing through Nikoderiko: The Magical World - Director's Cut so if you enjoy DKC or Crash Bandicoot, you'll love this.

Syberia - The World Before brings the series to current gen consoles with wonderful inclusions such as an ornate city that's a joy to explore. Plus, playing as a mysterious woman in a war-torn country from decades ago then swapping to Kate Walker in more recent times makes for an interesting story. So, if you're an adventure game fan and have some patience, there's a lot to admire and enjoy here.

No Straight Roads is one of my favourite indies of the year and it made me have renewed faith in game developers' sense of creativity.

Trials of Mana is a gorgeous and delightful action RPG that's full of imagination and heart. In fact, it's so captivating that it made me fall in love with Seiken Densetsu all over again.

Steredenn: Binary Stars is a roguelike shoot 'em up which provides so much variety that I could play it for hours at a time. I'll get back to it.

With its blend of character-swapping, puzzle-like scenarios, and rewarding exploration, I thoroughly enjoyed playing Wings of Endless.

If you're looking for a new kart racer to add to your collection, you can't go wrong with Cars 3: Driven to Win. Its cute and colourful style is charming and it has a great selection of content to keep you busy for hours.

Few 3D action games feature the level of finesse and originality that Raji: An Ancient Epic boasts and it's quite captivating, too.

Indie puzzle games don't get much more challenging and charming as Kine so if you're a genre fan then you need to give it a try.

Fate/Samurai Remnant is one of my favourite action games of the year thanks to its epic combat and character growth opportunities that come together to make each battle feel personalised. It may start out slow but holy hot darn, do things escalate.

OkunoKA Madness proves that games inspired by Super Meat Boy don't have to be copycats by offering plenty of enjoyable mechanics.

Finishing the levels in Sacre Bleu is enjoyable enough but when you throw in its clever scoring system, you're left with a ton of replay value.

Rise of the Third Power is an excellent old-school RPG that manages to feel fresh and exciting. Intermittent pacing issues aside, this is one adventure that you'll thoroughly enjoy so grab a bottle of booze, kidnap a princess, and save the land from an encroaching war.

If you have an off-the-wall sense of humour and want to enjoy a simple twin-stick shooter, you'll have a great time with Dead End Job.

At times, City of Brass felt too unforgiving and repetitive. I made a mistake by staying on the default difficulty setting for far too long but after I turned on the health blessing, the challenge started to feel a lot fairer because I was able to make more mistakes before starting again from the beginning. In the end, making it through the City of Brass is much more enjoyable and gratifying than it is frustrating.

There are many games that feature intentionally silly physics but few are as enjoyable as the wacky and delightful Goonya Fighter.

Wave 3 of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's Booster Course Pass is filled with superb tracks that are great fun to race on. It's wonderful to see the level of quality remain unwavering with the release of these 2 cups; plus, Merry Mountain will surely get you in the Christmas spirit.