Herdling is compelling in the way that you bond with and protect your calicorns while journeying through a vast world, but it loses some impact when it fails to make the herding gameplay smooth and consistently interesting.

It's got that Keita Takahashi brand of mischievous humor while also being heartwarming; this humor along with its catchy songs and excitingly colorful world have made it one of favorite games this year.

Despelote grants you so much freedom to play as only a kid would, while also telling a compelling, true and personal story; I only wish I had more time to get to explore and play in its warm and inviting world.

Its twisted humor, stellar voice acting, and perfectly cartoony style make for a charming and catchy game that you’ll want to keep playing.

A stunningly gorgeous game that makes you feel the weight of its characters and story; its combat is tough but at times uninteresting.

Scratched that classic Zelda itch for me with its puzzle-filled dungeons, but it also surprised me with a thoughtful and relevant story.

An eerie and surreal experience, standing out for its complexity and sheer amount of puzzles, to the point where the story itself is a layer

Definitely memorable, as I’ve never played a game quite like it, but it can also be frustrating in its pacing, lack of direction, and limiti

Melody of Moominvalley takes you into a world you never want to leave - full of friendships, musical puzzles, and silly rules to break.

Challenging but rewarding: despite its incredibly grim, bloody, and bleak world, it remains a hopeful story about the ability to love.

A creative and free-form little journey; its lovely characters would've been enhanced if it'd had more interesting and polished dialogue.

Developer: Geometric Interactive After spending so long on a cute, cozy farming sim, I was feeling the itch to play something different...

Funny, stylish, grimy, and perhaps even weirder the first game - but it doesn't do anything particularly new or surprising to exceed it.

Relies heavily on its predecessor, but also presents us with a different, more adult story about family, trauma, and running from your past.

A charming and goofy adventure full of heart, interesting characters, and a masterfully executed gameboy-era visual style.

Thoughtfully sheds light on a real systemic problem in a unique way, but its bugs and lack of depth keep it from being as impactful.

Its art style and music make for a breath-taking experience in a vast world, although the limited story left me wanting for a little more.

Feels close to limitless, integrating so many different types of gameplay and letting you sail freely though a beautifully diverse island

Beautifully crafted, telling a very heavy and impactful story that still leaves the player with a feeling of hope and compassion.

A riveting drama that wins you over with its characters and their community, despite the simplicity and limits of the gameplay.