Ali Hashmi

“Tempest Rising is a bold throwback to classic RTS games, with massive maps, satisfying destruction, and strong faction design. Despite a few rough edges, it offers a polished experience that captures the spirit of the genre’s golden era.”

“Starship Troopers: Extermination is a fun, cooperative shooter that's easy to get into and hard to put down. Its clever base-building mechanics and ridiculous chaos are a delight, but constant performance issues, bugs, and instability keep it from greatness.”

“Gunbrella is a beautifully animated, focused, and satisfying 2D-action title that delivers on its premise in spades. Gliding around with your Gunbrella as you blast away enemies never gets old, and while the game does suffer from a lack of challenge and minor readability issues, it's one of the most memorable and often funny titles of the year.”

“Overall though, I had a fun time with this game, and the additional EX levels will keep me busy for a while. The game has enough content to entertain you for hours, with tons of memorable music in a bunch of different genres. Controls are responsive, though I wish there was more refinement in how the game handles its visual cues. The humor doesn’t always land, but there are enough visual gags here to get a laugh out of you. It’s easy to learn and hard to master, with plenty of challenging bosses to dance with.”

“All in all, I’m having a great time with Power Chord. I really like the playable characters, their designs, and how I have to account for multiple synergies. The presentation and attention to detail put it way above most other deck builders, and the dedication to heavy metal aesthetics encompassing every part of the game is truly commendable. With some balancing, especially with how it handles difficulty, I think Power Chord can become an even better title with hours of enjoyment and replayability.”

“Cultic is a fantastic shooter that encourages experimentation with how you approach combat. Its vast arsenal and movement mechanics allow for various viable options against many enemy types and bosses. With top-notch presentation and horror aesthetics, Cultic does enough to stand out in the heap of excellent retro-style shooters.”

“Hindsight tells a deeply personal story and explores the relationship between a woman, and her mother with brutal honesty. Its strong storytelling is brought down by bland gameplay, and an uneven presentation, but largely feels well executed. It’s certainly worth going through, and the level of self-reflection serves as one of the better narrative-driven games out there.”

“Project Hel is a great addition to the Ghostrunner universe and gives fans an excuse to jump back in. Hel is a killing machine with a new set of abilities and extended traversal. While the story is the weakest link again, there’s nothing better than playing as a ruthless combat android in the beautifully rendered world of Dharma.”

“Pants Quest tells a fairly honest story about anxiety, procrastination, and the feeling of being stuck in your life. It suffers when it comes to gameplay due to some tedium, but manages to provide a worthwhile experience without overstaying its welcome. The pixel-art is gorgeous, and there’s a lot to like when it comes to environmental interaction.”

“The Ramp is a polished skateboarding experience, with tight controls, deep gameplay, and some chill tunes. It’s easy to get into, but hard to master, and best played in short bursts. A true digital toy, that you can play with, and get better at while having an absolute blast.”

“Alchemist Adventure is a mechanically complex game that features provides players with tons of options in combat and puzzles. It also features a fairly engaging story and some varied environments. However, a lack of polish, especially in the visuals and confusing tutorials brings down the experience a bit.”

“Mind Scanners is an emotional ride, full of tough decisions, excellent characters, and a haunting world. The game shines when all its elements are working in harmony, immersing players in its rich, evocative world. The art style is excellent, and its interface-based gameplay is engaging. There’s enough to chew on, and the game doesn’t overstay its welcome.”

“Rogue Heroes: Ruins of Tasos is a charming, and cozy rogue-lite that will provide you the nostalgia trip you’re looking for, and more. It features gorgeous artwork, with a laidback experience, and allows you to play with up to 4 friends. While it doesn’t quite have the mechanical depth other games in the genre have, it certainly has the charm.”

“Inspector Waffles has charm, sharp writing, and an absorbing story. It features a wide cast of characters with their unique personalities and a rich noir atmosphere. It’s light in tone but doesn’t shy away from serious moments either. The game doesn’t overstay its welcome and provides accessibility options for different types of players. While simplistic in gameplay, it’s paced well enough throughout its campaign.”