Lawrence Le

“A quirky, bite-sized roguelike all about slick plays you make and highscores you break. It does a lot with relatively little, but you'll quickly find its limits.”

“Everything you wanted from an Outer Wilds DLC in a package you never thought to expect. Echoes of the Eye puts its own twists on the base game's formula without a single misstep.”

“A beautiful blend of whimsical golfing and sardonic commentary wrapped in a blanket of nostalgia and straight-up vibes. Golf Club: Wasteland is a brilliant narrative experience that can't resist imbuing anything and everything with stories.”

“The pinnacle of ceaseless, contextless voxel violence. It's hard to top the high-octane, improvisation combat of Paint the Town Red, but those highs don't always survive across its many modes.”

“A deeply personal two-hour meditation on saying goodbye that invites you to channel your lived experiences and walk alongside its characters. It's a little sparse on the details, but No Longer Home still gives players plenty to chew on.”

“Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! is both a celebration of visual novels and a deep dive into the potential of interactive fiction. This updated version introduces new content that continues to weaponize the game's mastery over the visual novel format to land even more emotional gut punches.”

“Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! is both a celebration of visual novels and a deep dive into the potential of interactive fiction. This updated version introduces new content that continues to weaponize the game's mastery over the visual novel format to land even more emotional gut punches.”

“The Invisible Hand is a deceptively absurd take on the corporate circus that is Wall Street day trading. It's at its best when it lets the player wreak havoc however they please, but in trying to juggle both stock market shenanigans and its satirical story, it fumbles on both fronts.”

“Mechanically, it falls short of its true potential, but you can't help but get swept up in the journeys of these characters. The game's got heart, and none of its flaws can really take that away.”

“The Fabled Woods collects all the necessary ingredients for a solid, meditative casual adventure, but its awkward execution leaves its narrative beats without any real weight.”

“Slick, intuitive stealth gameplay serves as Disjunction's backbone, though the supporting systems and level design could do more to lighten its burden.”

“The turmoil of a revolution gone wrong is conveyed through nothing more than a few mouse clicks and quick decisions. It's flawed and frustrating, but there's an undeniable elegance to the game.”

“The zaniness of PHOGS!'s character controller combined with its elegant and diverse puzzle design is a recipe for a fun. The game ensures that every second is a new opportunity for friendship-fueled hilarity.”

“A slick noir mystery with an intoxicating atmosphere and unmatched aesthetics. Combined with its sharp, campy writing and an intriguing storyline, Chicken Police is an indie gem that shouldn't be missed.”

“With its wealth of content and comedy, Monster Camp establishes itself as the year's premier dating sim. Fans of the original will feel right at home; the gameplay remains relatively untouched, save for a number of adjustments.”

“Carto is a strong contender for the title of 2020's best adventure. Involved, intimate gameplay and incredible attention to detail make even the smallest islands feel remarkably rich and expansive.”

“Unparalleled presentation and atmosphere spoiled by unwieldly combat and clumsy level design. The most memorable moments happen when your hands are off the controls.”

“The Uncertain: Light At The End is a heap of derivative themes and ideas missing the narrative and mechanical buttresses needed to hold it together.”

“A mediocre, meandering mystery game hiding under the mask of something greater. While it has a competent story to tell, it lacks the means to tell it in an engaging manner.”

“An unrefined rogue-like, but a hell of a rhythm shooter. A killer soundtrack and some striking visuals blend beautifully with frenetic shooting to produce pure adrenaline.”