It’s hard to decide if the 2014 post-irony packaging is nostalgic or cringe, but the movement and gunplay genuinely surprised me - fun, smooth, responsive, and far more… legit than I expected. The absurdity is relentless, though whether that’s good or bad depends on your tolerance for (admittedly self-aware) dated memes.

SULFUR is a roguelite extraction shooter that offers surprisingly tight gunplay, inventive weapon customisation and an awesome, striking artstyle. Though not everything fully clicks, it’s a fun, amusing and engaging experience that oozes passion and creativity. It’s just super cool.

GMTK’s Mind Over Magnet is a polished and charming little game; its mechanics are introduced smoothly, and it has some clever moments. Overall though, its core feels a bit uninspired, and its lack of depth keeps it from rising beyond the feel of a project to learn the craft rather than a passionate execution of a vision. Still, it’s an admirable achievement worth checking out.

PROXIMATE is a brilliant blend of cosmic horror, corporate satire and very clever gamedesign. The navigation mechanic ramps up the tension, complemented by sharp writing and immersive sound design. Short but impactful, it’s a funny, haunting experience that lingers.

Lucas Pope’s Moida Mansion is a retro-inspired, hyper-stylistic, first-person adventure that’s free to play in your browser. Set in a spooky mansion, you must rescue friends while dodging a lurking “monsta.” It’s a massive throwback to my time growing up with LCD handheld games - that boot screen really took me back! It’s short but satisfyingly tense, offering a fresh spin on Pope’s knack for puzzle design - perfect for a quick escape around Halloween - even if it doesn’t reach the depth of his more substantial work.

[Early Access] Windblown brings Hades-style combat and Dead Cells’ progression into a fresh 3D roguelike package. Super fast-paced and responsive gameplay makes for satisfying combat, the world is cool, items and unlocks are fun, and co-op is awesome. The potential is clear, as it evolves through early access, and fans of the genre are guaranteed to appreciate its smooth mechanics and solid challenge.

Neva is gorgeous to look at and… “fine”, but doesn’t quite meet the high standard set by GRIS. While its art style and sound design are captivating, the story and gameplay mostly feel a little derivative. The narrative lacks coherence, and a surprisingly simplistic theme is ultimately underwhelming. Combat and puzzles add variety but feel underdeveloped. Ultimately, Neva impresses aesthetically but lacks the thematic depth and compelling drive that made GRIS so good.

Fish, sell, upgrade, dress-up: simple enough, but there’s a quiet charm here that’s hard to resist. Just you and a few strangers, casting lines and chatting if you feel like it - the exact right kind of lowkey. No pressure, just good vibes, plenty of fish, and maybe even a new friend.

From Tom van den Boogaart of the Sokpop Collective, masters of short but often dense indie titles, Grunn may look tailor-made for gamedev Twitter gifs, but it’s… actually good! Beneath its quirky, relaxing gardening sim veneer lies a well-designed mystery with multiple paths, secrets, and great vibes.

ODDADA is a relaxing, sandbox-style music game where you create songs using toy instruments in a whimsical, minimalist world. The experience is massively tactile, encouraging childlike play, with randomised ‘levels’ and no pressure of time limits. Obviously not for everyone, but very neat.