Arcade Paradise is fun for management sim players, arcade cabinet lovers, or even new players. The sim management gameplay is simple and light, the cabinets are all fun with natural progression, and the 90s nostalgia, while only effective for some, is spot on.

Cursed to Golf is a good rogue-ish golf-like with an adorable art style and intriguing abilities. Though the repetitious levels in the beginning can offer a tarnished start-up, the enjoyment rises significantly as you putt on.

Mothmen 1966 is a point-and-click visual novel with spooky vibes and a crispy, smooth ‘80s home computer aesthetic. It’s an atmospheric kind of scary, but it can drop a chill down your neck when you least expect it.

Endling is a heartbreaking, yet honest and necessary take on the human effect on natural habitats. The harrowing tale is masterfully paired with this fresh take on the survival genre, all which crafts a dime a dozen type of experience.

Coromon is a wonderfully fun monster-taming RPG that draws inspiration from the classic Pokemon series while carving its own path.

Stray is simply captivating. Between unmatched world building, outstanding aesthetic design, intuitive cat physics, and immersive gameplay, BlueTwelve Studio and Annapurna Interactive have crafted an engaging and awe-striking experience from start to finish.

With it’s simple premise paired engaging gameplay, Squish holds the exact formula for a must-play party experience. However, while the chaotic couch multiplayer antics are top-notch, there’s little offered for solo players.

Shredder’s Revenge is a new gold standard for the beat ‘em up genre, and by far the best of its class. Authentic, approachable, and an awe-striking presentational marvel; Tribute Games has crafted one of the most special arcade experiences in recent memory.

Freshly Frosted is a challenging, yet uplifting puzzlescape of conveyor belts carrying your favorite pastry. With simple mechanics and a breath of accessibility options, Freshly Frosted is a delicious sleeper hit of the year.

With a repetitive gameplay loop and restrictive combat, Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising may be a miss for those looking for a JRPG with substance. But as a gateway into the genre for new players, there is enough here to help crack open the door.

What if you could change one part of your past to alter the course of your life? Time Loader explores this premise in an intimate story-driven puzzle-platformer chock full of ‘90s nostalgia, but with a somber undertone.

In a year filled with exciting new hardware outside of mainstream norms, Panic has carved their own unique path with the Playdate. While there are downsides in terms of accessibility, what Panic has crafted inside a tiny package is impressive, magical, and downright fun.

Cat Cafe Manager is an adorably chill and fun simulation game where you’re placed squarely in the whisker-filled faces of cute cats to befriend while managing a modest cafe.

35mm misses the mark when it comes to a survival-adventure experience. The grayscale Russian countryside conveys the lonely brutality well, but it’s not enough to balance clunky mechanics and all-too-similar environments.

Coromon is a wonderfully fun monster-taming RPG that draws inspiration from the classic Pokemon series while carving its own path.

A Memoir Blue blends contrasting visuals in dazzling fashion while supporting an emotionally impactful narrative with purpose. While the gameplay fails to deliver on that same notion, Cloisters Interactive’s debut is an aesthetically creative showstopper.

Despite a strong score and fantastic mythological inspirations, Aztec Forgotten Gods is a flawed game with uninteresting combat and flat story.

Never Alone tells an impactful tale of native culture, delivering an experience that is both unique and influential. Though a lack of stark puzzles and technical bugs does hinder the experience as a game, the alluring narrative is well worth the price of admission alone.

Infernax is a love letter to the action-adventure games of old while simultaneously excelling in the modern definition of the genre. Delivering a balanced experience, Berzerk Studio sticks the landing within the sweet spot between challenge and downright fun.

Grapple Dog is an accessible, fun, and charming collectathon platformer with a great sense of challenge - but it’s missing a core driving force with missteps in narrative. As a love letter reminiscent of the beloved Game Boy Advanced library, Grapple Dog is worth sinking your hooks into.