DeVuego

There is something that really irks me when a horror game doesn't provide any scares or tension. The Occultist looked like it was going to be an entertaining experience, but it doesn't provide much entertainment. The puzzle-solving and exploration are passable, but everything else is a huge letdown.

Blades of Fire is a great return to the genre for MercurySteam. With great exploration and a unique combat system, Blades of Fire should have been a sure hit. Unfortunately, the situations you encounter feel completely unfair, and the mechanics sometimes work completely against you. Even still, Blades of Fire is a fun game that harkens back to the old school action-adventure titles, where exploring its world reaps the best rewards and game experience.

Among Ashes is a breath of fresh air in a packed genre of first-person survival horror titles. A game within a game with an interwoven story hits a lot more than it misses with great puzzles and fantastic sound design. It's just a shame the combat isn't up to par with the rest of the experience.

It's always great to see a sequel improve on the original while keeping the spirit of the original alive. I loved my time in the crazy world of Blasphemous 2, with plenty of secrets to find and great combat that keeps you on your toes. Though its story could be a little more cohesive, it doesn't take much away from the overall product. Blasphemous 2 is easily one of the best indie titles of the year.

Piccolo Studios has once again managed to take something dark, desolate, and painful and find the beauty in it. After Us is a haunting tale of humanity's atrocities against the planet that hits closer to home than most people would want to accept. The game's mesmerising imagery haunted me at times and at other times had me in awe with its gorgeous vistas and art direction. It may be a simply platformer but it has a power message that everyone should pay attention to.

Call of the Sea puts all its eggs into its puzzles. They're fun to solve and feel as rewarding as slaying a boss in some of the most difficult games. The mysterious island Norah explores is gorgeous and full of mysteries that even Nathan Drake would appreciate. It's just a shame that its narrative is such a letdown. Norah may be the main character but I think Harry's adventure would have made a more compelling narrative.

Dawn of Fear tries to bring back the nostalgia of classic survival horror but fails in almost every way. The poor controls lead to most of its problems and a lack of necessary mechanics creates problems that shouldn't exist in this day and age from the simplest of games.

Arise: A Simple Story is easily the best indie title I have ever played. There aren’t many games that make me as emotional as Arise did, and there probably won’t be another one for a long time. It’s a simple game that brings with it a weight that everyone in life goes through. If it doesn’t leave you emotional, you probably don’t have a heart.

Effie is good 3D Platformer that left me with a big smile on face. The Red Plains are a beautiful location to explore, especially given that you have an awesome hoverboard to do it with. The combat does hold it back a bit but the overall package is one that fans of 3D Platformers should definitely experience.

Overall, Crossing Souls is another great title from Devolver Digital. I absolutely loved the ’80s science fiction setting and the electronic music is a great treat. Though the story loses some of it charm as you progress, there’s plenty to enjoy. From its brilliant cast of characters to its throwbacks to a memorable era, Crossing Souls has plenty of soul.

Zenith had a lot going for it but its technical issues kept it from greatness. The fantastic writing can’t save a game from its bare bones combat and various bugs and technical glitches. I was able to look past most of it and personally enjoyed it, but it’s hard to recommend to the casual gamer. A patch would do wonders for the game, but for some reason I doubt one would be coming anytime soon.