DeVuego ES_COR

Temtem is unequivocally a homage to the Pokémon franchise, but it does bear its own unique traits. The game is worth checking out for anyone looking for an experience that harbors the core DNA of Pokémon with an alternative take on the battling system.

The Last Kids On Earth and The Staff Of Doom may keep the young fans of the series entertained for a good amount of time. However, the lack of overall depth and no serious tie-ins to the plot of the show makes this an effort that more discerning gamers can safely ignore.

Call of the Sea is a new take on Lovecraft’s lore with a vivid introduction that enhances the moments when the game transitions into darker waters. With an interesting story and solid puzzles, it is an adventure game worth playing.

Arise: A Simple Story is pretty to look at, but the moment you have to start playing, it falls apart. A mish-mash of imagery, tone, gameplay, and narrative that seem okay on their own, but fail to come together.

therborn is a creative and occasionally maddening puzzler that will test your brainpower. However, there's not a ton of content here, and the backing narration often comes across as pretentious nonsense.

Establishing and expanding a colony while defending against increasingly difficult hordes of infected makes for a very engrossing experience in They Are Billions, though some questionable design choices make shambling through the lengthy Singleplayer campaign a bit of a slog at times.

Koral's ambition to bring awareness to the problems faced by marine life largely falls flat. While it looks nice, the formulaic and repetitive gameplay means this title fails to stand out in a sea of similar indie releases.

GRIS is a game that manages to deliver on its aspirations. It's a casual platforming adventure that achieves a great mix of exploration and puzzles, keeping everything feeling very light and accessible. Those seeking a bit more challenge are free to stick around the levels a little longer and grab all the optional orbs. It doesn't outstay its welcome, taking players across a series of levels that keep changing things up throughout the 4-5 hour journey that's fairly priced. And it looks and sounds great while doing so. If you're in the mood for a lighthearted adventure with some simple but enjoyable gameplay, GRIS is certainly up to the task.

Crossing Souls is one of the most disappointing games I've played where something wasn't broken or technically flawed. Fourattic relies far too much on nostalgia, hoping that rehashing gameplay mechanics and storytelling of the 80's alone will make this a good game - but it can't and it doesn't.