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Troglobytes Games and Hound Picked Games have really hit the spot with HyperParasite. It has all the elements you’d expect of a roguelite that makes you want to go back to it each time you die, the fun of snatching bodies as a ruthless alien, and an incredibly well-themed atmosphere and synthwave soundtrack straight out of the 1980s. Oh, and if that wasn’t enough, the game even has local co-op to snatch your way to the top with a friend. HyperParsite is definitely worth playing and owning – it’s my surprise hit of the year so far!

Koral is a game that I was looking forward to reviewing, and I’m happy to report that it has everything I wanted and then some. I was thrilled to see the accessibility features on offer since you can choose the font size of the in-game text, which is absolutely fabulous since it makes the game more accessible for those with hearing and sight loss. With the one-button gameplay the game is also highly accessible to those with joint issues. I have nothing but high praise for the team who made a great effort into making their game as accessible as possible, while also giving us a game that is very relaxing and fun to play!

Fun and clever 2D minimalist adventure that is a must-have on Nintendo Switch

Delirium is a very fun point and click adventure game that is perfect for gamers of all skill levels. As long as you pay attention to things and click on everything, you’ll be able to solve the puzzles keeping you from rolling the credits. I didn’t run into any bugs, glitches, lag, or framerate stutters, which is certainly always appreciated. The graphics are bright and vibrant. The story is funny and doesn’t overstay its welcome. Delirium is out on PlayStation 4 with a $12.99 asking price.

The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood is a point and click narrative-driven arcane deck-builder that is a must-play on Nintendo Switch. It’s hard to review games like this one since saying too much can end up ruining your experience, but hopefully you’ve gotten the gist of it. As you build your divination deck from a variety of elements, you’ll be able to shape and tailor your experience. Will you use the power provided by Ábramar for good or for vengeance? How will you affect the destiny of the witches you’ll interact with? 

Professor Lupo and His Horrible Pets is a clever and fun puzzler from Beautifun Games that is very addictive and definitely worth the $14.99 asking price on Nintendo Switch. I liked the game’s story, its animated and lively graphics, and how it’s a very different experience from Nihilumbra, the team’s previous project which is also available on Nintendo Switch. A short experience this is not, as it has 100 levels to offer and many hours of gameplay. Your overall mileage will vary depending on your skill with puzzle games but worry not because even if you die dozens of times, you will end up learning more and more from every time you give it another try.

SuperEpic: The Entertainment War is a charming, funny, and entertaining Metroidvnia that pays homage to classic 2D action games such as Mega Man, Metroid, and Castlevania, with a lot of references to other games that in some gamers eyes are not going to fit into the Metroidvania genre – see Teenage Mutant Ninja Turles on the Nintendo Entertainment System. As commentary on the free to play model and how microtransactions are running gaming in general, and what the world would look like if a single company controlled all of the video games… and said company is all full of pigs. As in, pig the animal – see the game’s trailer. This is a solid Metroidvania on Nintendo Switch for $17.99, and one you should definitely check out!

I wanted to check out Endling – Extinction is Forever from the moment it was revealed since it was a game that had an interesting premise. After giving it a go on PlayStation 4, I’m here to report that it offers a simple but fun gameplay loop that will keep you coming back for more as you search for the trace left behind by the one who took your cub away. Explore a world on the brink of collapse in a colorful and charming 3D sidescrolling experience. Endling – Extinction is Forever is out today on PlayStation 4 with a $29.99 asking price.

System of Souls is a nice and rewarding puzzle game on PlayStation 4. It starts out smoothly but evolves into a game that offers a good challenge and forces you to find creative ways to solve each room. Although it’s not the same concept, it does have a bit of aPortal vibe that should definitely please fans of that game. It’s definitely one that’s worth playing for fans of first-person puzzle games. System of Souls is out on PlayStation 4 with a $14.99 asking price.

Do Not Open is, in general, a good game and definitely one worth your time and money if you want a game that will scare you into making daft mistakes along the way. I did find the game to be a bit too dark and was unable to see in dark corners when I was searching for clues, so it is recommended to brighten up the game slightly from the menu settings. The music is eerie, and even more so when the monster is around since the music really makes your heart skip so many beats as you try to plan a safe route out before she gets you. Do Not Open is out on PlayStation 5 with a $19.99 asking price.

Fun and dark Puzzlevania on Nintendo Switch

Lords of Exile is a solid old-school-style 2D action game on Nintendo Switch. It’s a game that mixes 8-bit visuals and a 16-bit gameplay feel with a Sega Genesis/Megadrive soundtrack for an excellent experience that you should definitely check out. Once you beat the game, you’ll unlock the additional character, Lyria, along with Boss Rush Mode and Speed Runner Mode. 

Red Goddess: Inner World is a fantastic and vibrant. The story is very engaging, and the combat system is fun. I love the rage and fear mechanics the ability to possess and be invisible are awesome features. Best of all the game is very colourful, and there is a day/night cycle that is pretty awesome. There is plenty of coins and crystals to collect, lots of secret areas to find once you have a set number of crystals. Divine has a range of skins to find also. The mapping system is very good and very easy to navigate. This is Yanim Studio’s very first game, and I must admit they have done well with their game.

Overall, Dogchild is an enjoyable game. Combat needs a little work, but aside from that is it enjoyable. The devs clearly wanted to try something different in their game, and they pulled that off well. I think Dogchild is worth playing.

MechaNika is a great game, and I definitively had a good time with it. I also preferred the character of Nika over Agatha, and the game as a whole since the main objective is less polarizing. I also liked how the game was built with 12 different objectives that feel like they can be attained in any order. Also, this game is offered at a great price of only $5.99, while offering a Platinum trophy for trophy hunters.

I liked A Tale of Paper a lot. It was a quick, fun experience that I played in one sitting, and it left me feeling good about the whole experience. I thought some of the puzzles were well designed, and the team made sure there were hints in the environment to keep players engaged. Most importantly, the game put a smile on my face the entire time I was playing it.

Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX is a good remake of the Master System classic, revamped with new graphics, new music, and rebalanced gameplay. It doesn’t stray far from the source material, which was needed in order to be able to switch between the remake’s graphics and music and the original’s game look and feel, but it does throw some new levels into the mix. This does mean that you’re looking at around 2-3 hours to beat the entire game at most, depending on your experience with 2D action platformers in which a single hit is all it takes to kill you. Once you save the land, you’ll unlock a Boss Rush Mode, as well as Classic Mode, which features the original Alex Kidd in Miracle World in all its glory. Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX is available on PlayStation 4 with a $19.99 price.

Ruin Raiders is a good option for fans of turn-based tactical roguelike games. You’ll be pushed to explore “just one more ruin” as you try to collect enough Entium to make one more update to your structures so that you can make some permanent progress that will make the next run a bit easier. The game’s art style does feel a bit generic at times, but the gameplay is what really helps this one keep you coming back for more. Ruin Raiders is out with a $19.99 asking price.

Frogun is a fun old-school-style 3D platformer that will remind you of the Nintendo 64 and PlayStation games from back in the day. Along with the regular platforming levels, you’ll also have to work on special race stages, as well as on clever and challenging boss fights. 

If you´re a fan of horror games – with a dash of escape room antics – that lean into gore territory, then Oxide Room 104 is going to be right up your alley. The game’s grotesque enemies, eerie setting, and how your character is abducted for who knows what purpose means that this is a game that is going to rub some people the wrong way, especially given its Rated M for Mature rating. Oxide Room 104 is out on PlayStation 5 with a $29.99 asking price. There’s also a PlayStation 4 version available as a separate purchase for $24.99.

Scrap Riders is an interesting mix of the classic point and click adventure game formula and a simple but satisfying beat ‘em up gameplay that helps to keep things feeling fresh. As you try to make ends meet in its futuristic cyberpunk world, taking on rival gangs and completing this and that objective, you’ll start to uncover the truth about what is really going on with all of the stolen cargo. Scrap Riders is out today on Nintendo Switch with a $19.99 asking price.

Seven Doors is a bite-sized escape room experience that is fun to play on Sony’s console. The gameplay mechanics are simple enough, and the logic behind solving each of the puzzles is solid, making it a great option for escape room aficionados. I also have to mention that this indie game looks great on PlayStation 5, so kudos to the devs for their effort in that aspect. Seven Doors is available on PlayStation 5 at a budget price of $4.99. There’s also a PlayStation 4 version available as a separate purchase for the same price.

Anyaroth: The Queen’s Tyranny is a pixel 2D action platformer with an old-school style and simple gameplay mechanics that make it an easy one to pick up and play. As the latest member of the Rebellion, it’s up to you to make a difference in the good fight. As a former member of the Queen’s Royal Guard, you’re the best soldier the Rebellion has ever had. Are you up to the challenge? Anyaroth: The Queen’s Tyranny is out on Nintendo Switch at a $14.99 price.

UnderDungeon is a fun black and white top-down action adventure that takes inspiration from the beloved The Legend of Zelda series, especially from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. You’ll have to help Kimuto become the best delivery cat in the world, as you deliver all of the items requested by the company’s clients as you travel to some peculiar locations. UnderDungeon is out on Nintendo Switch with a $13.99 asking price.

Scrap Riders is an interesting mix of the classic point and click adventure game formula and a simple but satisfying beat ‘em up gameplay that helps to keep things feeling fresh.

Bleak Sword DX offers a fun minimalist Soulslike journey on Nintendo’s console. As you play through each bite-sized diorama-style level, you’ll need to attack, roll, block, and counterattack your way to victory as you gain experience points and level up, obtain new items to equip and consumables to heal your wounds. You can customize your experience on the settings menu. You can change the language or set the value for the volume for music and sound effects. Set the values for camera movement, screenshake, runble, and lighting strength. There’s even the option of choosing between a Performance Mode or a Quality Mode for the game’s graphics. 

Bleep Bloop is a game that you can finish in a few hours depending on your expertise with puzzle games, and it’s a fun experience until the end. It’s certainly a minimalist indie game, and it’s making the Nintendo Switch its home, which definitely feels just right. If you’re looking for a relaxing and colorful puzzle game to play at home or on the go either by yourself or with a friend in some hectic local co-op session during which you will probably end up shouting instructions at each other, then be sure to give Bleep Bloop a look!

Rally Rock ‘N Racing is a fun racing game on Nintendo Switch with different modes to try, and solid look and feel, making it a big improvement over other racings games from EnjoyUp on the console. There are some good features here, even though the World Rally Cup mode feels a bit off when you’re racing on your own without any opponents. The game’s soundtrack is all rock, so if you’re a fan of the genre, you’re going to like the songs included in this one.

I liked playing through the strange world of Agatha Knife, but like I mentioned a few times, this game is not for everyone since the core themes are eating animals (and not eating meat), and creating a new religion. If you can go over those sensitive subjects, you’ll find a good story driven point and click release that will tell you a great story.

The game is challenging but also fun, and can easily be played at home or on the go. I did, for some reason, enjoy it more when playing in Portable Mode, but your experience could be different. I also recommend that you get someone to join you for the couch co-op since that way you’ll have an easier time completing the game.

Purrs In Heaven is a challenging but fun puzzle platformer with a great pixel art style, easy to understand gameplay mechanics and a steady difficulty curve that will have you trying out new stuff at a steady pace. 

Colossus Down is a great-looking and fun beat ’em up with a dash of shoot ’em up, which is a departure from the point and click adventure games that Mango Protocol released for Agatha Knife and MechaNika. It does suffer from having a very slow and boring tutorial stage, but once you’re in the first proper level fighting enemies, the action will hook you in. Colossus Down is out on PlayStation 4 with a $17.99 asking price.

Timothy vs the Aliens from Wild Sphere is a fun action platformer on PlayStation 4. It is not without its flaws, such as when there is some slow down during crowded fights or when the prompt for the Circle button remains in the screen even after you activate, but is a good indie release you will enjoy. It will take you around 3-5 hours to complete the game and get your Platinum trophy, depending on how long you take to find all collectibles.

If you want a colorful autorunner type of platformer with a llama as its main character and love burgers, then you should definitely check this one out. Add the short but fun Alpaca’s Redemption bonus game, and this is an easy budget title to recommend. Superola Champion Edition is out today as a Cross-Buy title, so your $4.99 purchase will give you access to both the PlayStation 4 and the PlayStation 5 versions of the game, each one with its own Platinum trophy.

Galacticon does a great job of paying homage to the old-school 2D arcade cabinet games of the early 1980s on Nintendo Switch. The game’s look and feel, as well as its sounds, will certainly have you feeling a bit of nostalgia for the good old days!

Arise: A Simple Story – Definitive Edition is a beautiful game with quite an interesting story that you can interpret in different ways. Unfortunately, it does have some fixed camera angles and controls that feel a bit clunky at times. This Definitive Edition also adds a lot of bonus content to make it a truly interesting package that will, in the end, provide you with some good times. With fun puzzles, a great art style, and the bonus soundtrack and art book, this is the definitive experience on Nintendo Switch. Arise: A Simple Story – Definitive Edition is out on Nintendo Switch at a $19.99 price.

Hyper Shapes is a minimalist boss rush experience that is easy to understand but hard to master. Each new boss you run into will have a different movement and attack pattern to consider, so you’ll need to pay attention and be patient so that you can find the right time to strike. Hyper Shapes is available as a Cross-Buy title, so your $4.99 purchase will give you access to both the PlayStation 4 and the PlayStation 5 versions of the game at no extra cost.

Minabo – A walk through life is a colorful 2D social sim experience in which you’ll take on the role of a turnip going through the whole journey, from the moment you sprout to when it’s time for you to bid adieu to the world of the living. Depending on your interactions with other turnips, you’ll end up with many acquaintances, siblings, friends, best friends, partners, buds, unfriendlies, pets, and even some romances along the way. It’s an adventure that won’t be for everyone since it’s a minimalist type of experience through life. There are 25 different missions to work on, as well as the Free Life Mode that allows you to take on the journey as you best see fit. Minabo – A walk through life is out today on Nintendo Switch at a $14.99 price.

Colorful arcade-style experience that will bring you back to the 1980s

Death or Treat gives us a great-looking hand-drawn 2D roguelite on PlayStation 5. As you make your way through each area to try and reach Faceboo and beat Fackerberg, Scary will go over the same stages over and over again, just presented in a different order for each run. Save as many resources as possible from each run so that you can restore the buildings in town and unlock more upgrades that will hopefully help you to extend subsequent runs. Because of this, it’s a game that won’t be for everyone since progress can feel a bit slow. 

Bluey: The Videogame brings us an all-ages take on the beloved TV show to PlayStation. You’ll be taking on a brand-new four-part storyline featuring the characters you know and love as you work your way through bite-sized adventures featuring the original cast as your favorite characters. You’ll then be able to revisit locations to search for collectibles or to play the mini-games you unlock along the way. It’s a short journey that you can complete in a couple of hours and then revisit to get the Platinum trophy. It’s a good option for families to play with their young ones since up to four players can play this one as Mum, Dad, Bluey, and Bingpo. Bluey: The Videogame is available as a Cross-Buy title, so your $39.99 purchase will allow you to download both the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 versions of the game at no extra cost.

Flynn and Freckles is a short but fun game that, depending on your puzzle solving skills, could net you a new Platinum trophy for your collection over an afternoon or two at most, as long as none of the trophies for securing tons of coins and finding the gold statues don’t glitch on you. The first of the coin trophies didn’t unlock for me, but subsequent trophies for coins totals did unlock, which was a bit weird, so hopefully the team is working on a patch to fix this.

Overall, I liked the story that Massira presents in the effort of Frost Monkey Games to tell an interesting story on a very serious topic, with the odyssey of Numi and her grandmother who have to escape Syria so that they can both survive is heart-breaking, and something that I wish people didn’t have to go through. Wars should not exist, but they do, and they ruin the lives of thousands of people around the world. I applaud the developers for creating this wonderful game, and I hope that they continue working on it, patching the small issues I found here and there so that more people can dive into the world of Massira.

Zeroptian Invasion is a fun minimalist arcade-style release that pays homage to video games of ages past such as Space Invaders. It’s an easy pick up and play experience that focuses on the action as you try to stay alive in your fight to defend the planet system from the zeptorian aliens. Plus, you know, two quick Platinum trophies for the price of one!

TAPE: Unveil the Memories is a mysterious game in which you’ll be discovering what happened to your father through the videotapes you’ll find in the different locations you visit. I’m not a huge fan of horror games, but I did like that TAPE doesn’t go into jump scare territory and is more on the creepy side than the horror one. TAPE: Unveil the Memories is out tomorrow on PlayStation 4.

Souldiers is game that you’re going to love or hate. The level design didn’t feel that great, and the enemies are challenging at the start since they respawn as you use the checkpoints to heal your wounds. If you’re a fan of 2D Soulslike experiences, then there is a huge adventure to take on in this one with a dash of Metroidvania. Souldiers is out as a Cross-Buy game, so your $19.99 purchase will give you the PlayStation 4 version and the PlayStation 5 version.

Charon’s Staircase is a first-person horror game in which you will take on the role of Special Agent Codename Desmond who must find and remove all of the documentation and evidence of the evil acts performed by one Doctor Lewelin. You’ll spend around 5-7 hours playing this one depending on your experience with puzzle solving, as you dive deeper and deeper into what really happened. Charon’s Staircase is out on PlayStation 5 with a $34.99 asking price. There’s also a PlayStation 4 versions available as a separate purchase for the same price.

Blind Fate: Edo no Yami is a fine experience. The story is a lot stronger than you would expect and does a lot with the material given. The gameplay lacks a bit of extra polish in the finer sense, but by no means is it a turgid affair. Do not turn a blind eye to this if you get a chance to play it, but do know it’s an experience that not everyone is going to dig. 

Touchdown Pinball is a fun sports-themed pinball table to play on Sony’s PlayStation 5. It has several mini-games to offer and even a mini playing field that will show up on the table’s screen as you use the pinball to remove opponents so that you can score a touchdown to greatly boost your score.

Inner Ashes is a first-person narrative adventure dealing with how Alzheimer’s affects people. You’ll be experiencing this through the eyes of Henry, who has been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer, as he remembers how things have been with his daughter, Enid, who seems to have been MIA for a while now. It’s a game of the walking sim variety with some lite puzzles, which means that it’s not going to be for everyone. 

I liked that each of the characters in Nuclear Corps: Veterans in Fukushima had a different set of special skills that were used to complete each level. Unfortunately, the puzzle design feels a bit unintuitive, and the difficulty curve is a bit harsh as well.

Metal Tales: Overkill is a fun game with an incredible soundtrack. Unfortunately, its lack of content makes it repetitive, and it’s not without issues. Hopefully, a patch or two can improve things along the way. 

Horned Knight is an old-school infused 2D action-platformer on PlayStation 4 that could use a bit more variety. The controls feel a bit off at first, but you should get used to them after completing a handful of stages at most. It’s a minimalist arcade-style game with 32 levels to complete, two difficulty settings, and some bosses to challenge you along the way. Horned Knight is available on PlayStation 4 with a budget $5.99 asking price.

Twogether: Project Indigos Chapter 1 has the potential to intrigue fans of puzzle games, but some design choices here and there might get in the way of your enjoyment. There is no hint system, so solving some puzzles could end up coming down to how lucky you are with using each kid’s abilities. The game is an interesting game from the PlayStation Talents initiative, which showcases very different game genres from game to game.

If you’re looking for a cute and simple platformer for children, MeteoHeroes could be an interesting take, although I’d wait for a sale since it’s relatively short. But as an adult and more experienced gamer, it doesn’t provide enough originality and fun to be entertaining, unless of course, you can get it cheap in a sale.

What started for me as the prospect of a really interesting game quickly came crashing down the sky that the game tries to pull you in. The story has nothing to keep you on your toes, exploration is not rewarding, and combat sandboxes you into a bland experience. Windfolk: Sky is just the beginning is out on PlayStation 4 with a $14.99 asking price.

There is definitely some content here to explore and even a platinum Trophy to add to your collection. But, ultimately, the main draw of the game is not appealing enough to warrant more than just a cursory play of the main Adventure. After that, there is not much here to keep you coming back for more.

It’s a shame that the final product is so disappointing and broken because work has clearly gone into it. But the barebones and broken nature of what is here is just frustrating. Even the soundtrack and sound design show promise but are marred by, once again, being underdeveloped. The soundtrack is interesting but incredibly loud and can in no way can its volume be lowered, let alone muted. Sadly I can not think of a single part of this game that is not hampered by a negative. Everything here just feels subpar.

I really wanted to have fun with Curse of the Sea Rats after seeing a couple of videos for the game. The art style is solid, and the soundtrack is also very good. Unfortunately, in my case, I thought that the control scheme was too stiff for its own good and rendered the experience way harder than it should have been – and ultimately, completely things for me. The devs are working on a patch to fix some stuff, so hopefully, things will work out.

The Five Covens showed some promise but it, unfortunately, fails to deliver. The controls feel as if they were closer to the tank controls for 3D games of the 1990s than what you’d expect from a platformer releasing in 2021, and it feels as if it was aimed at younger gamers, yet features platforming sections that will end up frustrating them very early in their run. The Five Covens is out on PlayStation 4 with a $12.99 asking price.

Apart from the environment, character, and enemy animations, there really isn’t much to redeem how poor the actual gameplay of MalnaZidos is. Being a survival zombie game, having ammo management and stealth sequences are expected, but the combat is clunky, unresponsive and the hit detection felt defective. 

Aurora’s Journey and the Pitiful Lackey is a game that just didn’t click with me. The gameplay is way too clunky for its own good, and traveling through each area and trying to attack all the robotos felt like a mess. Lackey is used for some puzzles and will get stuck in places when getting back to you, which is not ideal. 

Leopoldo Manquiseil is fun 2D minimalist action platformer that has been created to support a member of the Spanish video game industry who has had to leave BadLand Games due to an illness. It features a good amount of content for its $5.99 budget price, and since you’ll be getting a couple of hours or so out of your purchase. It’s pixel retro looks and chiptune soundtrack also help to make this one an easy game to recommend for platforming fans.