DeVuego

Aureole - Wings of Hope delivers a fresh take on platforming with its halo-throwing mechanic. With its fluid controls, and rhythm-based movement, traversal is both challenging and addictive. While its story and visual cues occasionally fall short, the game’s inventive gameplay and energetic soundtrack keep it engaging throughout.

Tiny Garden’s ambitions for a relaxed agronomy are undermined by repetition, the lack of controller support, and instability. If you’re lucky, you might be able to get one tranquil afternoon of distraction but not much more.

At first, Aged Through Blood’s blend of Trails-style bike tricks, slow-motion gunplay, and exploration seems shrewd. But the mixture of mechanics eventually grows laborious across Laika’s 10- to 12-hour trek. If developer Brainwash Gang could get the action to match the quality of the exposition, I’d gladly ride again with this mama coyote.

Although Sword of the Necromancer has a number of unequivocal blemishes, the core concept of summoning fallen creatures and having them fight alongside you is rather compelling. Fortunately, Grimorio of Games seems responsive to player feedback, and has already added an optional bag to assist with inventory management. If the team can work on AI pathfinding, Sword of the Necromancer might not be sorcery, but does have its charms.

While Willy Jetman: Astromonkey's Revenge isn't perfect, it shows that a Metroidvania can be lifted by the incorporation of a jet pack and a few guns.

Vortex Attack modernizes the classic Galaga formula with fast and addicting gameplay while staying true to the genre’s roots.

Funk of Titans is an enjoyable title, but the game’s auto-running, two button input method seems suited for mobile play and its aesthetics don’t quite mesh into a seamless groove.

romaia is an interesting take on space games, combining the constant flow of action found in an on-rails shooter while providing the freedom of movement and exploration found in titles like Descent. The action is solid and its moody atmosphere intrigued me into learning more about this world. Unfortunately, the repetitive and often frustrating nature of the games it pays homage to quickly sets in, preventing players from properly exploring its artistically beautiful locations. For this reason, Kromaia is at its best when played in short bursts.