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Despelote was a bit of a personal one for me, and I can see why some players may not love it due to it being a walking simulator where you kick a ball around. But for anyone willing to give it a chance, you’ll find a snippet of pure sentiment to engage with as you put on the shoes of its developer. You see Ecuador for its authentic self as a child and witness a moment that you probably never batted an eye at before. But you leave with a fuzzy feeling, wanting to reminisce about your own memories you had as a child.

Bloodless approaches the idea of a brawler with a unique spin featuring its non-lethal combat, but feels like it can be pulling its punches in some areas. Parrying your way through waves of enemies is novel, yet the implementation can lead to some overwhelming moments in an otherwise engaging experience. The path of mercy was never going to be easy though, and Bloodless still manages to be an overall fun journey of finding an end to violence.

Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance TD is a solid tower defense game that becomes muddy with few game systems that the game doesn't flesh out.

While it doesn’t rewrite the history books of gaming, Astor: Blade of the Monolith is a solid first outing for C2 Game Studio. The combination of a great combat loop with fantastic visuals is a winner, and although the story is a bit devoid of substance, is still an entertaining tale. This is certainly a game the devs can build upon, with potential shining through.

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 is a huge step up from the original. While far from perfect, it’s an incredibly fun and silly time especially online with friends. When playing solo, there’s still a wealth of things to do too - it’s just an all around good time, despite the jank or perhaps because of it.

Rather than being a game for people who miss the old school ninja platformers of yesteryear, Moonrider feels more like a game made for the people who miss the idea of them. The game borrows liberally from its inspirations and combines them into a game that looks and plays the part just fine. It just doesn’t push itself or the player on a level that will fully satisfy people who still regularly enjoy the games it takes from.

Unusual Findings is a charming and often hilarious sci-fi tale set during the 80s which oozes with a great retro-graphical style, good voice acting, and a fun story about teenage boys being, well, teenage boys - while also attempting to thwart an alien war. The point-and-click genre has seen a resurgence in recent years and Unusual Findings is certainly a worthwhile successor to the games it pays homage to.

Summary: MADiSON is an astounding success in the horror genre, especially for someone who doesn’t play many horror games (me). The game was well put together and delivered on the spooks, however some puzzles are rough to figure out and could have been a little less obscure.

What Lies in the Multiverse is one of the most unique puzzle/platformers released in recent years. Featuring gorgeous pixel-based graphics and a charmingly self-aware sense of humor, the game constantly throws a variety of new set pieces and obstacles at you and continues to find clever ways to use its central universe swapping mechanic. Despite some unexpectedly dark undertones, the game remains mainly upbeat, telling a story that deals with loss, friendship, and life in a surprisingly mature way. What Lies in the Multiverse is well worth picking up for fans of puzzle based games.

Unsighted is this year’s best Metroidvania/Zelda-like game by a long shot. It’s creative, gripping, and accessible with a ton of stuff to do and see. There are a few small issues, like some awkward writing or too much menuing, but those are well worth it for such a fun, polished experience.

Ponpu is a decently fun Bomberman clone that has a distinct art style and some cool multiplayer modes. While the single-player content is nothing to write home about, you can definitely have a clucking good time with the right friends locally or online.

Hellbound is a fun shooter that’s got all the hallmarks of what made the 90s FPS genre so great. Unfortunately, just like the 90s games before it, it’s pretty dated in both optimization and graphics. There’s a large number of bugs and game-breaking glitches to be experienced, all of which tarnish what is otherwise an incredible experience.

Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling is the Paper Mario we’ve been waiting for for over fifteen years. It’s aesthetically pleasing to look at, the main characters have an amusing dynamic, and it has a fun turn-based battle system with real time elements and strategy. I urge not only Paper Mario fans to give it the chance it deserves, but anyone that has ever picked up an RPG.