It may be on the basic side of the shmup spectrum but there is some fun to be had in Hexapoda in its non-linear insect-blasting journey.
Jets'n'Guns 2 feels like one of the best DOS games that you'll ever play thanks to its ridiculous shooting action and rewarding upgrades.
The roguelike nature of Nova Strike is the best thing going for it because unfortunately, its core gameplay isn't all that entertaining.
Combining puzzles and platforming has endless possibilities yet I've never played anything like It's a Wrap! before; it's great stuff!
Enchanted Portals looks great within its charming old-school cartoon world but it mostly plays like a bargain bin Super NES game.
Taito Milestones 2 presents a good offering of 10 retro arcade games with some truly fun hidden gems and excellent shoot 'em ups along with a couple of the dumbest fighting games that I've ever played.
Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy may not be a title on everyone's lips but it's certainly game of the year material. With a wide variety of abilities and mechanics and astoundingly adaptive gameplay (especially for co-op play), it's quite the achievement in game design.
Sea of Stars is an excellent retro-inspired RPG that will make you happy to explore its packed and beautiful world. It may get a little stale at parts for various reasons but what's here is still undeniably special.
In an age when RPGs are generally becoming increasingly dark, violent, brash, and serious, the brilliantly colourful humour-filled lightheartedness of these Rhapsody games shines through in a profoundly distinct fashion. From adorable characters to lovely musical numbers and rewarding combat to oodles of side-splitting jokes; there's certainly a lot to love here.
I enjoyed Immortals of Aveum a great deal thanks to its action-packed gameplay, rewarding character progression, and top-notch presentation. It's fantastic to experience games that this much love went into and I look forward to a sequel.
Blasphemous 2 is a streamlined sequel that any genre fan can enjoy, especially with its creepy cast of characters and superb bosses.
Even with its goofy premise, Shotgun King: The Final Checkmate is a cleverly strategic roguelike that'll certainly keep you hooked.
Your enjoyment of Iron Danger will rely on how much you love tinkering with plans until you execute something perfectly. So, if that sounds like your jam then you'll be absolutely smitten with the strategic possibilities in Iron Danger.
Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition is a story-heavy game that not everyone will appreciate but those who do will love it a lot.
Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew is one of the best games of the year. From its clever gameplay concoction to its gorgeous presentation, excellent sense of humour, and rewarding character abilities; this is one outstanding seafaring adventure.
It may not give a good first impression but once you start to learn strategies and achieve higher and higher scores, Quantum: Recharged quickly turns into one of the most rewarding and enjoyable arcade-style games that you'll ever play.
EVERSPACE 2 looks and plays amazingly with its intuitive and satisfying space combat and exploration. Even though it gets repetitive after a while, what's here still adds up to a special game that you'll gladly take off to the outer reaches of space for.
Moving Out 2 made me a happy bear thanks to its comfort food co-op gameplay with more variety than ever. Plus, you can play as a cob of corn and that's like totes shway. So, if you and your chums need to move a couch together then play this instead; it's more fun.
Playing Unidentified Falling Objects made me very happy, especially with its unique gameplay that'll really put your skills to the test.
Although Adore presents a promising formula and solid first impression, its campaign becomes all too predictable earlier than you'd think.