Back in September, we requested you pretty readers to inform us what hidden gems slipped by our fingers. You championed them, and our backlog (each private {and professional}) is feeling much more daunting.
We’re not kidding once we say we had tons of nominations, and consequently, whittling down the listing was no simple feat. Even so, that is our largest listing of ‘Reader Recommendations’ but, with 24 titles piquing our curiosity. But don’t fret, even when your advice did not make it onto the listing, it is nonetheless observing us wistfully. Perhaps half 6 will come to go very quickly — this is the primary one we have accomplished this 12 months and the primary in over a 12 months. And we love to listen to from you all! So in case you nonetheless assume we’re lacking one thing, or you’ve gotten one other advice, observe the directions on the finish of the article to appoint extra!
As all the time, thanks a lot for responding to our rallying cry. As all the time, we have discounted nominations for video games we have now already reviewed and assembled the next listing of video games we missed. Each entry contains a temporary consumer remark or two (flippantly edited in some circumstances for spelling and brevity), plus a trailer to provide you some highlights from the sport. And, proper on the finish, you may vote in our ballot and take a look at what video games others have been enjoying. Perhaps your subsequent favorite is correct right here on this listing — and perhaps ours is, too.
And with that every one out of the way in which, in no explicit order, listed below are twenty-four NL reader suggestions it’s best to look out for:
Publisher: United Label / Developer: Odd Bug Studio
Need extra playable mice in your video video games? And not simply the lovable selection? Ross Farrey has a Metroidvania for you (and us) in Tails of Iron:
“Tails of Iron is a deeply satisfying 2D Metroidvania set in a kingdom of rats devastated by grotesque frog-like creatures. The game is tough, yet accessible, and combat has a deliberate tactical feel, much like Dark Souls — but the twist is that every enemy attack is telegraphed. Your job is to react quickly with the correct action. Blows, blocks and parries have a weighty thump giving each encounter a delightfully visceral feel. As you explore the kingdom, smash beasties, and die a lot, the once dilapidated land comes back to life with song, colour and changing scenery. It’s lovely.”
Publisher: Draknek & Friends / Developer: Corey Martin
The stunning, blocky 3D pixels in Bonfire Peaks make it eye-catching, however there’s a lot extra past the flames, as Raymond Benson factors out:
“My pick is Bonfire Peaks. It’s a challenging puzzle game about moving boxes to a fireplace. The vibe of the game is very relaxing and its puzzles are endlessly clever, full of ‘you could do that the entire time?’ moments. The overworld itself is also a grander puzzle that involves using the rewards from the completed puzzles to progress forward.”
Publisher: Laundry Bear Games
Everyone deserves some love of their lives, and Speed Dating for Ghosts exhibits us that even the undead can discover love within the afterlife. McGloomy explains this sport’s attraction:
“Speed Dating for Ghosts doesn’t disappoint because it’s exactly what it says on the tin, and more. I expected a quirky dating sim, but to my surprise, the game also deals with the darker and more melancholic sides of death and the afterlife. Its scribbled art style, little use of color and subtle soundtrack create a minimalistic atmosphere that allows your imagination to fill in the gaps – while the player gets to know the ghosts they’re dating better.”
(*24*)
Developer: Die Gute Fabrik
“Juicy personal drama” on the go? Mutazione’s pretty minimalist fashion and mutant characters cover a heartfelt story, as McGloomy reveals:
“Mutazione was released a year ago and always felt a bit overlooked on the Switch to me. Inspired by everything from Studio Ghibli films to soap operas, the game tells the story of a girl visiting an island inhabited by a community of (mostly) friendly mutants. Its slice-of-life narrative is built around bigger mysteries and the game’s interesting characters make it a great option for fans of games like Night in the Woods. In the months since Mutazione’s release, there have been two updates full of fanservice that show how much the developers care about this game and its world.”
Publisher: Sumire / Developer: GameTomo
Sumire’s important acclaim is attributed to extra than simply its gorgeous graphics, as Pramath vouches for:
“I don’t remember the last time a game took so much out of me emotionally — Sumire is incredible on so many levels. It’s a very sad game, but it’s also extremely hopeful. The themes and core message resonate and are universally identifiable. The writing is remarkably straightforward but very, VERY strong. The characters are all fleshed out and the dialog is authentic and makes the cast feel real. And, as well as the gorgeous art style and beautiful music, unlike so many indie games of this nature, the gameplay is great too, featuring some well thought out puzzles and legitimately fun gameplay loops.”
Publisher: Aksys Games / Developer: Experience
Akysys Games has a fairly distinctive library of video games, and Tobias Ayling issues we have missed a gem in dungeon-crawler Undernauts: Labyrinth of Yomi:
“This game simply oozes character and subtle menace. Take an old-school turn-based first-person dungeon-crawler, file off the fantasy trappings and layer it in ’70s Japanese pulp horror. Insert a subtext around the capitalist exploitation of workers, some wry nods to Japanese game staples, and mix in absolutely impeccable sound, graphics and system design, and it all gels into a beautifully sinister whole. Finally, use thumbnail character biographies and brief conversations to elucidate the grinding depths of horror and anguish that choke the world and you’ll have reached Yomi. Your job is to make it out alive.”
Publisher: Playdius
Rhythm video games are few and much between these days, however Ilya Zverev has one which’s each brief and likewise pays tribute to a few of our favorite video games from the ’90s in Old School Musical:
“I’d suggest Old School Musical. It’s short, easy to get into, and an absolute blast of a rhythm game. You travel across various ’90s game homages, but you do not play them: instead, you press buttons to the rhythm of the music while characters are playing the game for you. Miss a button press, and they get hit. Replayability is good, there’s an infinite chicken world, and you can try beating the game at higher difficulty levels.”
Publisher: TECOPARK
Tired of enjoying towards 5+ individuals? Pico Park helps you to work along with greater groups of mates, and is stuffed with cute, pixelated cats! Ilya Zverev thinks that is one which we’ll love:
“Pico Park is a marvel of co-op multiplayer. It’s one of the few Switch games that you can play with 5+ players, and not against each other. Instead, you collaborate on solving dozens of platforming puzzles. Each of you has to perform perfectly, which leads to lots of failures and laughs in the process. And all characters are cats!”
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