Douglas Rintoul

“Inventive, exciting, and addictive, Fresh Tracks delivers a unique take on the rhythm genre that will have you diving into its story-songs over and over. With fantastic music, thrilling boss battles, and tonnes of replayability, this is a must-play for fans of rhythm games.”

“In moments where you can dive into the mechanics on offer, Ritual of Raven really shines. Tinkering with the automations is fun and rewarding, providing a fresh spin on a well-worn genre. But the game doesn't encourage these moments, instead pulling you through a narrative in a world that doesn't feel fully realised. There are some excellent ideas here, but they don't form a compelling whole.”

“While the core gameplay loop of Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo feels dated, there's a lot to enjoy in the retro-inspired experience that Pocket Trap have crafted. The level design and puzzles, badge and upgrade system, and art design make it worth a look if you're craving an old-school adventure. There's a great game in here, but it's sometimes held back from shining through.”

“Shotgun Cop Man delivers fast-paced, precision platforming that feels excellent once it has its hooks in you. It gets straight to the good stuff and strikes a great balance between approachability and difficulty. A few of the mechanics stand out as weaker than the rest, but the level design brings them together to create some really fun and challenging experiences.”

“Promise Mascot Agency is bizarre, hilarious, stylish, and incredibly fun. It gets its hooks into you with its brilliant world-building, wicked sense of humour, and thrilling narrative, then delivers a blend of gameplay systems that combine into something truly unique. There are a few quality-of-life bugbears, but these pale in comparison to the wealth of content that this game has to offer.”

“Rift of the Necrodancer is a solid rhythm game with some fresh and exciting takes on the classic Guitar Hero formula. The different enemy types and health system make this stand out from the crowd, but at higher difficulties, these fade into the background as you memorise your way through the tracks. Still, with killer design, delightful minigames and some absolutely banging tracks, this game delivers foot-tapping goodness that might just have you hooked.”

“Fresh, unique and exciting, Phoenix Springs pulls you through a compelling mystery with excellent writing, impeccable design, and an inventive take on the point-and-click genre. Every aspect of its presentation is considered, culminating in a cinematic experience that is more than the sum of its parts, and worth every second you spend with it.”

“Copycat shoots for the stars with its narrative ambitions, delivering an emotional, introspective experience that will have you reflecting on your relationship to the animals and people in your life. It goes to some truly unexpected places, some of which are questionable, but all of which are compelling. Despite the pieces not quite coming together in perfect harmony, this is an experience that will stick with you for a long time.”

“Read Only Memories: NEURODIVER has a lot to like for fans of 2064: Read Only Memories, but falls far short of the scope and impact of its predecessor. The gorgeous design, intriguing world, and charming characters create a huge amount of promise, but the lack of freedom, extremely simplistic puzzle design, and unsatisfying conclusion make for an experience that feels underwhelming and disappointing. If you're looking for a short, queer narrative with a cool futuristic setting then there's still enjoyment to be had, but temper your expectations going in.”

“GRAVEN's shortcomings will hold you back from really enjoying it. Although the design and atmosphere are great, it's not enough to overcome the frustrating gameplay loop. Fans of the genre will find plenty to enjoy, but for most, the overall experience is likely to tip more into the frustrating than the exciting.”

“Chessarama delivers some great puzzle design, with delightful visuals and inventive ways of teaching you chess concepts as you play. It's missing the attention to detail that could make it really shine, but it's a charming package that's easy to recommend for anyone who enjoys chess puzzles or who is interested in learning more about the game. Just don't expect it to replace your chess.com subscription.”