This Ain’t Even Poker, Ya Joker is a vibrant, fast-paced idle, incremental kind-of-deckbuilder with punchy progression, stylish visuals, and a clever twist on poker mechanics. Lasting 5-8 hours, it’s a focused, satisfying experience that doesn’t overstay its welcome. The VFX/SFX and constant ‘number goes up’ feedback make it a true serotonin dispenser, and after only a short time with it, I finally understood pokies boomers.

Possessor(s) left me conflicted. Its art direction, soundtrack, and emotionally resonant story are all excellent, but the metroidvania fundamentals don’t always support them. Unclear maps, awkward traversal, and not-particularly-satisfying combat sequences weigh down an experience that otherwise shows a lot of care and ambition. Feels like had it had a bit more time, this could have been something great. Worth a look for fans of the genre (or studio) though!

Skate Story is a moody, tightly-controlled skating experience that leans hard on atmosphere and flow. The skating feels weighty but precise, the premise and art is inspired, and the soundtrack does a huge amount of emotional lifting. Not a deep trick sandbox like Tony Hawk - more a short, vibey art piece that peaks in its linear flow sequences, and when everything clicks, it’s genuinely special.

Team Cherry has announced Hollow Knight: Silksong - Sea of Sorrow, a free (!) 2026 expansion bringing new areas, bosses, tools and more in a nautical-themed update for all Silksong players. More details are due closer to launch.

Some may ask why the absurd incremental/clicker Tingus Goose exists at all - what is this? Who made this, and why? And yet, in its honking chaos and wilful grotesquery, the answer becomes self-evident. It rejects polish and restraint, favouring curiosity and excess instead. Creation becomes ritual, repetition becomes comfort, and the absurd reveals itself as essential. It’s fun. Honk.

A moody, folklore-soaked strategy deckbuilder where battles play out on grid, so positioning matters as much as your draw. You explore distinct regions, craft loads of cards from enemy materials, and swap archetypes as each biome pushes different mechanics. It’s tough-but-fair with low death penalty, and the pixel art and soundscape absolutely rule. Really cool.

Hollow Knight: Silksong is tldr.games’ Game of the Year 2025. Virtually alongside Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, it stands as the year’s most remarkable achievement. Where Expedition 33 captivates through ambition, emotion and invention, Silksong reveals its brilliance through precision, trust and mastery, asking the player to engage deeply and improve over time. It is a game that rewards commitment, and one that continues to resonate long after playing.

BALL x PIT sidesteps any potential roguelite fatigue by folding in new systems and surprising, satisfying fusions. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, it drops another major game-changer. Addictive, stylish and most importantly, super fun - very impressive.

Pocket Boss is a brisk, clever satire dressed up as data-fixing ‘puzzles’ (or probably more accurately WarioWare minigames). It’s short, funny, and sharply designed - over before it wears out its welcome at about 30-40min, but memorable in how it skewers corpo culture. Probably best played on phone.

CloverPit is unabashedly satanic slot-machine Balatro inside Buckshot Roulette - moody, stylish, and addictive. The spins, synergies and vibes hit hard - it’s intriguingly thrilling. Once you’ve cracked a few builds, the depth might run a bit thinner than its counterparts, but absolutely worth a play. It speaks to how strong the core is that I just want more.