Sean Garmer

“Cassette Boy may be doused in the green hues of Gameboy nostalgia but it certainly puts its own spin on puzzles with its modern Schrodinger system. Using the familiar elements of the Legend of Zelda and combining them with a rotating 3D camera has you questioning much more than just what you see, but also what you don't.”

“2026 begins brightly for the indie scene as Big Hops delivers tons of fun with its enjoyable platforming and vibrant world. The unique use of vegetables as items that help expand Hops repertoire, plenty of things to collect, and animals to meet along the way make the four biomes worth exploring. Big Hops is a 3D adventure you don't want to miss.”

“Combining a full narrative adventure with Rhythm-based gameplay is not something most would think about doing. D-Cell Games somehow accomplished this with a fantastic soundtrack, intriguing characters, and an animated flair that's unlike anything else. The imperfections are certainly there with an over-reliance on exploration, jarring narrative elements, and some of the gameplay issues. But the game as a whole, nails the positives so well that it's well worth pushing through to experience in its entirety”

“Nice Day For Fishing is an enjoyable game that's best played in short spurts. The battles keep you on your toes with a consistent challenge throughout. There's always deeper areas to explore and plenty of resource gathering available. However, it does tend to drag out with the repetitive tasks. But aside from that minor quibble, anyone that's been looking for a Fishing RPG can't go wrong here, especially if you are a major fan of Epic NPC Man.”

“Despelote is a short narrative adventure told through the eyes of an eight-year-old boy, as he goes through life while the nation around comes to grips with finally seeing a major sports dream become reality for the first-time in Ecuador's history. The autobiographical tale gives players the freedom to tailor Julian's memories of this momentous time. Encouraging exploration through the joy of kicking a ball. Although the story itself may not resonate with everyone, the way you experience those two hours is in of itself special.”

“Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter is everything players could want in a sequel with a grander world, monster hunts, and an overall meatier adventure. Not to mention, the additions of magic and elemental resistance to the combat, resource gathering and focus on having the right gear. Making it approachable for newcomers yet still challenging enough for those that loved the first game.”

“Big Helmet Heroes is enjoyable solo or with a friend. Its wacky weapon variety and ever changing setting keeps things interesting when the gameplay begins to wear a bit thin. The 28 different discoverable heroes offer a reason to playthrough multiple times, unfortunately its technical issues may make it a one and done adventure.”

“Rift of the Necrodancer successfully transitions the core tenets of the Crypt series to the Rhythm game genre delivering highly amusing and fun gameplay melded with its rocking soundtrack. Paired together with a more defined cartoony art style, silly pun-filled writing, and just enough gameplay variations to keep you playing again and again. Rift has the potential to become a franchise all on its own.”

“Fantasian Neo Dimension is a great love letter to JRPGs, particularly ones that come from creator Hironobu Sakaguchi's past such as Lost Odyssey and Final Fantasy. Its characters weave together a story worth experiencing with a battle system that accentuates it by providing enjoyable yet challenging turn-based fare. Wrapped around it all is impressive hand-crafted dioramas and the last full soundtrack from the legendary Nobou Uematsu, Fantasian Neo Dimension should be experienced by any JRPG fan.”

“There is quite a bit to like about Dungeon Munchies, but unfortunately, the major components that matter in a video game, especially one that is a side-scrolling action platformer, let the rest of its parts down. The platforming is extremely unwieldy and frustrating. The fact that I have to intentionally injure my character to try to progress through a stage should tell you enough. Throw in the combat that’s just kind of there, and it ultimately just winds up as an unsatisfying gameplay experience. It’s sad really because I liked the story enough to want to keep pushing through, the characters are silly and funny, and it has good music and art design as well. It is quite possible that Chapter 3 gets added to the game eventually, maybe by then some of these issues will be fixed.”

“Neil Jones has created a terrific showpiece for how to take the classic runner and add in your own special aspects. The gameplay is enjoyable on the harder difficulties and stays just long enough to not wear out its welcome. Speedrunners or Achievement Hunters should rejoice as the game has plenty available for those seeking the perfect run. Perhaps a leaderboard will be added to it in the future that gives them, even more, to go after. Honestly though what will stick with me is the amazing soundtrack and its great sense of style that cements it as one of my favorite games of this year.”