DeVuego

Creatures of Ava might have vibrant and beautiful creatures and landscapes, but there isn't much going for it beyond that. Boring and simplistic gameplay, discordant narrative elements, and a lot of janks keep Creatures of Ava from living up to its cozy premise.

A sequel to a cult-classic, Do Not Feed the Monkeys 2099 just repeats everything its predecessor did, but does it worse. Mediocre writing is its biggest flaw, but a repetitive and boring gameplay loop cements a dull, forgettable experience.

A fine puzzle game with a vibe that lands somewhere between Zelda and Portal. Though it doesn't quite live up to those ambitions, the puzzles are solid, the aesthetic is appealing, and the story is interesting.

Ultimately, this all comes together to make The Fabulous Fear Machine one of the most stylish, fun, and surprisingly smart games I’ve played this year. The puzzles are tricky, the gameplay is engaging, the art is distinctive and striking, and the narratives are pulpy yet clever. Some slightly unintuitive UI and a few systems that could use more depth hold it back from perfection, but it comes closer than anything else Fictiorama has done before. It really is Fabulous after all.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with The Knight Witch. It takes two well-known genres and successfully blends them to create a unique and fun experience. I would recommend this game to just about anyone, but especially fans of either Metroidvanias and/or bullet hells. If you’re not familiar with these genres, this game feels like a lighter version of both of them, meaning it would be a good way for players that are interested to get eased in.