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Ink Inside

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Ink Inside

Ink Inside is a good attempt at bringing this story to life, but a host of technical issues greatly hold it back. However, aside from its performance woes, there is a solid RPG here with some interesting combat and engaging characters.

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Tormented Souls 2

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Tormented Souls 2

Tormented Souls 2 is an improvement to the original in so many ways. While its horror elements, visuals, and gameplay are exactly what you want from this experience, the game launched in an underwhelming state plagued by countless bugs and tech issues.

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Terrifier: The ARTcade Game

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Terrifier: The ARTcade Game

Terrifier: The ARTcade Game is a Beat’em Up that may lean towards the visual approach of Scott Pilgrim, but it lacks the depth and fun of almost any other game the genre offers. With a limited moveset, and underdeveloped characters, this brawler just doesn’t cut it.

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Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

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Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

After wrapping credits and achieving the “good” ending, obtaining about 70% of all upgrades, I can confidently say that I was beyond disappointed with it. While the name Metroid is on the box, Samus’s newest adventure felt more like a mediocre Halo game than what I wanted from a Metroid experience.

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Pokémon Legends ZA

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Pokémon Legends ZA

Pokémon Legends ZA is a sequel to Pokémon X and Y, and the follow-up in the Legends series to Arceus. While it features a fantastic combat system, it lacks in almost every other area. With a boring city to explore, and buildings that are nothing but a series of repeated Jpegs, Legends ZA is simply not worth it.

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Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow

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Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow

There is always some interesting hook that has a game built around it, but Legacy of Shadow lacks a hook to lay the foundation. The subtle nicking of items is fun, but a game built around this beloved license simply deserved more. 

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Clawpunk

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Clawpunk

For players who enjoy chaotic action, challenging roguelite gameplay, and replay-driven progression, CLAWPUNK is a standout indie title. While its steep difficulty curve may not appeal to everyone, those who embrace its style will find a ferocious, synth-driven experience that’s hard to put down.

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CloverPit

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CloverPit

CloverPit is a fun luck-based rogue-lite that requires strategies and careful planning to be able to beat. It is easy to pick up, and the quick attempts make for a fast and fun experience that many can enjoy. If you enjoy rogue-lite style games, I would recommend giving it a try.

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Marvel: Cosmic Invasion

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Marvel: Cosmic Invasion

Marvel Cosmic Invasion is a genre throwback to the beat’em up games of yesteryear. With a robust team of characters from the mainstream to the deepest of cuts, and 16 action-packed missions, this is a fantastic game from top to bottom.

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Sonic Racing: Crossworlds

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Sonic Racing: Crossworlds

Crossworlds highlights the Sonic series more so than just being a catch-all mascot racer for the whole publishing line, and highlights the creativity of the world around its notable platformer, with a solid racer that, while its gimmick isn’t terribly impressive, the customization and gameplay around its racing is nonetheless engaging. 

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Princess of the Water Lilies

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Princess of the Water Lilies

If you are craving a cute and whimsical fairytale to play, I urge you to give Princess of the Lillies a chance. Aside from the frustration of the difficulty spike and screen movement, I loved this storybook adventure. I really feel that developer Whyknot has created something really special here, and I am eager to see what they might create in the future!

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Monster Hunter Stories: Remastered

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Monster Hunter Stories: Remastered

While this remaster could have rebuilt some environments to feel like dated, there is still a charming approach to preserving the 3DS visuals, even if it usually conflicts with what I prefer for a remaster of an older game. Still, Monster Hunter Stories is a vivid and colorful world to explore, and the addition of voice acting, really provides the game with an added boost of personality

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Of Ash and Steel

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Of Ash and Steel

With engaging combat, crafting, and the ability to turn this simple cartographer into a worthy soldier, Of Ash and Steel became an adventure worth taking on. If you like Euro-jank style RPG’s this one is definitely for you.

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Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin

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Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin

Despite a somewhat inconsistent story in its execution, Monster Hunter Stories 2 is an engaging adventure with a ton of Monsties to tame, adventures to be had, and a combat system that is just as thrilling as its real-time sibling. Stories is certainly a beast of its own with a fun cast of characters and its own take on the Monster Hunter formula.

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Total Chaos

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Total Chaos

Total Chaos is a very inconsistent experience that I like far more than I don't, one encounter aside. The atmosphere is incredibly well done with some interesting enemy designs and a fairly engaging combat system that reminded me of Condemned: Criminal Origins.

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Dispatch

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Dispatch

At the core, Dispatch tells a tale of humanity, togetherness, and teamwork. It does so with immense quality across the board. From beginning to end, right down to a satisfying conclusion that both leaves space for expansion of these characters and the universe, but also works fantastically as a one-off narrative adventure.

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Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment

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Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment tells the story of Zelda being transported back in time during the early events of Tears of the Kingdom. While we saw glimpses of this story during that adventure, Age of Imprisonment tells the full story across a fantastic campaign.

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Strike Force Heroes

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Strike Force Heroes

There is a solid shooter here that feels like the perfect marriage of something like Contra meets Smash Bros. With a robust multiplayer suite, a fun campaign, and some decent customization to your soldier, Strike Force Heroes is fun, while it lasts.

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Sacred 2: Fallen Angel Remaster

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Sacred 2: Fallen Angel Remaster

While it was somewhat commonplace back then to overlook so many of the original’s issues, it is downright impossible now with the wealth of titles releasing every day. Sacred 2 deserved a much better effort, and this is frankly one of the most disappointing remasters in recent history. 

SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide

SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide

SpongeBob and Patrick are back after their adventures in The Cosmic Shake. While the previous adventure’s mechanics and feel are present, Titans of the Tide has a better story, a better camera, and a big focus on the ghostly platforming hijinks of its dynamic duo. It’s more of the same, but that isn’t always a bad thing.