Garage Band Gamers
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I may be in the minority on this one, but Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition was a big miss for me. I couldn't get into the repetitive level design, fighting the same small pool of enemies, and dealing with one of the worst arsenals in first-person gaming. The only redeeming feature for me was the ability to play as a dog, which was something that was short-lived as the novelty wore off within a few levels.
How 2 Escape is a game that I would only recommend to those who have a love for escape rooms and share that affinity with someone in their life. It will test your IQ, your patience, and your relationship in ways you may never have experienced elsewhere. May the odds be in your favor.
Since a sledgehammer runs about $100 and destruction of property charges can vary depending on your location, Demolish & Build Classic is an affordable way to experience demolition work, but it’s much less entertaining than the real deal. This almost falls into the “so bad it’s good” territory, but the issues severely outweigh the positives. If you’re really looking for a demo sim, I would recommend the 2017 entry over this one, or you could just apply to work on a construction crew and get money in exchange for your time.
If you consider yourself a patient person with a love for horror, Lempo is a game that deserves your attention - just keep in mind that it will likely leave you wandering around for what feels like hours on end until something clicks within your brain. It features some of the best puzzles I have invested myself in from recent memory, and captures the feeling of being lost in the woods to a tee.
By the time the credits rolled, I was exhausted. Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle presents a passable throwback narrative with some key flourishes that showcase the love for the genre that the developers have, but sadly, most of this game misses the mark. It is an action title hiding behind the inkling of survival horror. There really isn’t much here in terms of horror – just some random jump scares here and there that are usually nothing more than a lightbulb exploding or a thud emitting from the room around the corner. Clocking in at just under eight hours (with at least a third of that time being cinematics), with unlimited ammo being the only alternate mode or bonus feature, there isn’t much to do once you’ve finished it.
Marble It Up! Ultra is an absolute joy to play for anyone that has enjoyed the physics based marble rolling games of past decades. If you've never partaken in 3D marble platforming, there's no better entry point than this. Just don't expect the multiplayer lobbies to be fully populated without bringing your own group of friends.
The Bridge Curse: Road to Salvation is easily one of the better indie horror games of the past decade. It doesn’t overstay its welcome, has a decent narrative, and has some genuine horror bits if you’re willing to put in the work. I would even argue that Softstar Entertainment would’ve been a better choice to remake Silent Hill 2 after jumping into my first entry from them.
Everspace 2 isn’t perfection, but much like your favorite kid, it doesn’t need to be. At the end of the day, it’s an enjoyable experience that will give back what you put into it.
Deadliest Catch: The Game is easily one of the worst games I have played this year, or any year for that matter. There is literally no redeeming feature here - fans of the show will likely be outraged at how badly the license has been handled, and simulation fans will be let down by the downright broken state this game was released in.
At the end of the day, it looks and plays like a game from 1997. This is still a great game, and if this is the only way you can experience it in 2023, I would recommend it – but don’t expect the same level of care that was given to the likes of Doom 64, Quake, or Doom 3. Except for Quake 64. That one still kicks so much ass it almost makes up for the mild shortcomings in the other options.
I easily spent more time sitting in lobbies and loading screens than in the actual game. In one instance I cycled through lobby after lobby for more than an hour failing time and time again due to either a disconnect, not enough players, or when I was holding my ground in an attempt to try out the last of the characters I hadn’t got to in my other sessions. The success of the game will likely hinge on how the online community runs with it, and since there isn’t an offline component, there’s a good possibility this will be dead on arrival and will shred your money like a chainsaw to the gut.
If you love multiplayer madness, especially the kind that Team17 tends to publish, Moving Out 2 will no doubt delight you. As a single player game, it’s a fairly enjoyable (albeit frustrating at times) physics based puzzler. As a palette cleanser, it provides plenty of content to come back to between games. Regardless of what purpose the game serves for you, it’s one worth playing.
One of the most enjoyable co-op experiences.
It scratched the itch I have for more Elden Ring without feeling overly difficult for the sake of being difficult.
Layers of Fear is easy to recommend to new players with an affinity for psychological experiences.
One of the most entertaining modern-retro games I have played in quite some time.
Dr. Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine is one of the strongest (and easily most difficult) puzzle games I’ve ever played.
There are a lot of cool ideas in this, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired.
About as much fun as an anal probe without consent or anesthesia.
Easily the weakest game in the series.