WhatIfGaming

“Rising Lords is a hexagon-grid-based tactics game that introduces elements from Battle Brothers, Civilization, and chess to create a game that is rich in mechanics, but lacking in depth. Its medieval presentation and art style are a highlight, and there's a decent variety in the content offered. While it's fun for a couple of hours and up to a couple of days, the lack of a multiplayer scene or mod support seriously harms the longevity of the game.”

“Island of Insight is a sandbox adventure game that's brimming with hundreds of unique puzzles to solve. It's not a game in the traditional sense, rather, a sandbox experience that allows you to mold it however you want. It's a solid educational tool and a perfect aid for winding down at the end of the day while keeping your mind active.”

“Chronique des Silencieux is a narrative-driven point-and-click detective game that prioritizes agency over everything and allows you to connect the dots, and solve the mysteries however you deem fit. It doesn't hold your hand and trusts you to come to your own conclusions and while I'm not a fan of the art style, and some minor bugs get in the way of fun, it's a detective game unlike anything else that's definitely worth playing.”

“Stargate: Timekeepers is a stealth-focused strategy game set in the Stargate universe that tries to fill in big shoes but barely manages to fit into a single one. Its foundational mechanics are great, however, it's apparent that many of them need further polish. The game has the potential to become a cult classic one day, but alas, that day is not today.”

“Sovereign Syndicate is an engaging cRPG with a lot of heart, and a surprisingly competent first title from developer Crimson Herring Studios. Its alternative take on Victorian-era London is refreshing and doesn't fall into the trap of painting mythical creatures with their generic fantasy characteristics. It captivates you the moment you start the game with its strong characters and writing, and doesn't let go until the very end.”

“Dungeons 4 is the perfect blend between Dungeon Defense and RTS, with a pinch of humor scattered here and there. It has a campaign that's memorable and captivating, which definitely earns it the title of an instant classic. The gameplay itself is enriched with a variety of content to guarantee you hours upon hours of fun. Within the RTS/Dungeon Defender genre, it's easily a must-play. A certified must-play for any strategy gamer.”

“Headbangers: Rhythm Royale is a fun musical take on the elimination-styled battle royale genre, and brings a host of creative mini-games that feel diverse, and make good use of its premise. While the eventual repetition does settle in, it's a fun game to play with your friends, or on stream.”

“Ugly is a dark yet charming story-driven platformer that is filled with challenging puzzles and a melancholic story to pull at your heartstrings. The excellent art direction and the way its narrative unfolds are very memorable, however, the occasional unintuitive level design and bland musical arrangement really take away from the otherwise engaging experience.”

“Boti Byteland Overclocked is a fun, cute, and educational 3D platformer. Jump, dash, glide, and beat things that are in your way as you strive to save Byteland from impending doom. It is a solid debut from Purple Ray Studio.”

“Sticky Business is a great cozy store management game where you have the freedom to test out your creativity by designing your own stickers. The charming customers in-game have their own personalities and it's hard not to develop a connection with them. This is a must-have especially if you're a Twitch streamer as you can play this game to bond with your viewers.”

“Decieve Inc is a game I really wanted to like, but it comes into the camp of either love at first sight or a game you buy and forget and play with friends once in a while. My time with the game was enjoyable when it worked, but long matchmaking times, uneven and perplexing gunplay and unexplainable lag marred the enjoyment for me.”

“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.”

“Shoulder of Giants is a fun roguelike with tons of customization, immersive planets, and fluid melee combat. It does struggle with world-building and dialogue, and some weapons aren't as fun to use, but there's a lot of fun to be had if you're looking to spend a few hours exploring alien worlds.”

“Dread Templar is a game for hardcore FPS fans looking to return to the pinnacle of fast-paced shooters. It's a treat for old and new fans alike, with tons of variety in weapons, enemies, and environments. The story is a bit lacking, but the game makes up for it with practically everything else.”

“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.”

“Impaler is one of this year’s underrated gems in the retro shooter category. The mix of old-school Doom with a hint of roguelike mechanics is a perfect recipe for gamers to hop in for a quick shooting session. I just wish they would add more content in the future, but it’s also understandable if they don’t.”

“Knights of Honor II: Sovereign definitely immersed me into medieval times filled with hundreds of historical kingdoms to explore and lands to conquer. The “Total War” RTS combat style didn’t really stick due to the abundance of management tasks that take priority over combat, but the game has plenty of resources, politics, and tech trees to discover. It felt good once you get used to the routines of trying to make your kingdom the best in Europe. With exceptional presentation and hours of replay value, this is an RTS you can’t miss.”

“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.”

“Retreat To Enen is a relaxing take on the survival genre with an immersive atmosphere and captivating level design. In fact, this game looks more suited for VR rather than for normal PC gaming alone. If you’re a seasoned gamer who’s immersed in the Survival genre then it might take time for you to appreciate what Retreat to Enen has to offer but if you’re a casual gamer then this might be your cup of tea.”