The Case of the Golden Idol, Stranded Dawn, Dredge, Cultic, and a surprising Pokémon-like with an amazing soundtrack.
There are several video games. More video games than you or I could buy, let alone play. It’s understandable that some may have eluded your awareness. Let’s take a moment to reflect on the gems from the recent past (nine months or so) that we think deserve a closer look.
Deceive, Inc.
Released: Mar 21, 2023
Genre: Extraction shooter
3 things we love about it:
Mechanically inventive, original FPS concept that deviates from the well-tread military moldSneaking around in disguise activates that wonderful “I know something you don’t know” feelingColorful and playful “spy-fi” art direction harkens The Incredibles
More reading: Deceive Inc. review
(Image credit: Dr. Kucho! Games)
Moons of Darsalon
Released: April 19, 2023
Genre: Platformer/puzzle
3 things we love about it:
Darsalon is a rare Lemmings-like, tasking you with rescuing little spacemen and guiding them to the level exit. There just aren’t a lot of platformers that play like this, and Darsalon’s levels are as much little puzzle boxes as they are reflex challenges.No two levels are alike. Across dozens of stages, you’ll have to wrangle a laser rifle, terrain generator, jetpack, teleporters, dropship, and more to rescue your little guys.I love the Sega Genesis look and feel of everything, with richly painted backgrounds and sprites that look like old ’90s SGI renders. It’s also got a great, cheeky sense of humor with the back talking, wiggly little friends you have to rescue.
More reading: Moons of Darsalon might be the perfect Steam Deck game
(Image credit: Haemimont Games)
Stranded: Alien Dawn
Released: April 25, 2023
Genre: Survival, simulation, colony builder
3 things we love about it:
It produces great survival stories as you struggle to keep your colonists alive, happy, productive, and saneDeep colony management systems and loads of fun tech to research and build, from air conditioning to battlemechsTruly excellent tutorials that are broken into sections covering everything you need to know to get started
More reading: The ending of this survival game is the most tension-filled fun I’ve had in ages
(Image credit: Bytten Studio)
Cassette Beasts
Released: April 26, 2023
Genre: Turn-based strategy RPG (it’s like Pokémon)
3 things we love about it:
Tons of elemental interactions between attack types and monster typesTrue to its cassette tape theme, has a genuinely fun and funky soundtrackNo level grinding to make the monster you just recorded actually viable in combat
More reading: Here’s 16 minutes of gameplay from a new Pokémon-inspired monster collecting RPG coming to Steam later this month
(Image credit: Team17)
Dredge
Released: March 30, 2023
Genre: Lovecraftian fishing horror
3 things we love about it:
Some wickedly twisted fish variations that left me desperate to 100% my encylopedia.An enjoyable, chilled-out fishing experience coupled with a mysterious narrative to create the ultimate atmospheric cosy horror.Can complete it in around 12 hours, perfect for bitesize sessions over a couple of weekends.
More reading: Dredge review: A fantastically twisted fishing horror full of charm
(Image credit: Color Gray Games)
The Case of the Golden Idol
Released: October 13, 2022
Genre: Mystery/adventure game
3 things we love about it:
A surprisingly evocative and detailed pixel art aesthetic that moves like a gifThe story is a rabbit hole of murder, cults, and magic, but it’s all essential to solving each crimeEncourages creative thinking and has a very approachable Mad Libs-style solution form
More reading: The Case of the Golden Idol review
(Image credit: Jasozz Games)
Cultic
Released: October 13, 2022
Genre: Singleplayer FPS
3 things we love about it:
An excellent, grimy retro FPS with modern quality-of life touchesWhen you kill cultists sometimes you can pick up their eyeball and throw it another cultist; they don’t like it when you do thatThe perfect 5-6 hour game to knock out in a weekend
More reading: Cultic might be the year’s grungiest retro FPS
Killrun
Released: August 25, 2022
Genre: FPS speedrunner
3 things we love about it:
Tight, Call of Duty-like shootingFew gimmicks, just speed and FPS fundamentalsCheap ($5/£4)
More: Watch the trailer
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