DeVuego

A glance at Wax Heads might make you think it’s about assisting record store customers, but it’s not just some shop management simulation.

Some minor quality-of-life ideas aside, Is This Seat Taken is a relaxed game filled with generally pleasant logic puzzles.

An ongoing apocalyptic meteor shower has forced the world’s population to settle underground. As Shell, a feline child who awakens to find her mother missing, drill downward from the surface layer through a tile-based underground and discover the Everdeep. Switch version reviewed. Review copy provided by company for testing purposes.

I appreciate how The Cabin Factory builds upon this new walking simulator area of the horror game genre established by The Exit 8, as it does really make picking out anomalies feel critical and helpful in understanding what’s happening. The implementation of some story elements adds insights that might even make it more scary for some people. However, I do think maybe it needs a patch or two with some balancing or adjustments to make sure there aren’t situations that might feel unwinnable. But if you do like these types of horror experience, it’s a fun one.

Take to the skies on your magic broom and explore every nook and cranny as you deliver packages to the townspeople in Mika and the Witch’s Mountain! This coming-of-age tale follows aspiring witch, Mika, and her journey to the top of the mountain through a story of effort, friendship, and community. Let your hearts fly free! Switch version reviewed. Review copy provided by company for testing purposes.

Metroid Dread is constantly offering a player a challenge, then providing an appropriate reward for their efforts. It forces you to be better. You’re put in situations where it will be difficult, but paying attention and trying usually means you can get through it.

Unfortunately, I found it completely unappealing in every way, which isn’t great when it was surrounded by better games every time I turned on my system.

I think Camper Van: Make It Home is the kind of game that will be fun after a few patches. It’s a good idea. But due to the controls, hit boxes, and some other elements, it doesn’t feel quite there yet. With some minor adjustments though, Malapata Studio could be on to something good.