Horse-girl racing idol sim sounds like a joke, but Umamusume’s training loop is surprisingly sharp, races are tense, and the production value combined with attention to detail in recreating aspects of real world Japanese racehorses is weirdly elite. Gacha is generous upfront, but obviously brutal long-term. You’ll probably resent how much fun it is. A global phenomenon for a reason: addictive, unskippable, potentially shameful.

The Alters starts as a base sim adventure but quickly becomes something heavier. You don’t just optimise workflows, you mediate between fractured selves while a deadline creeps closer. It’s definitely more narratively driven than deep simulation sandbox - it’s sparse but sharp. Presented wonderfully, well-paced and worth your time.

A serene and visually stunning photography sim offering exploration and artistry in equal measure. Photo-realistic worlds, authentic camera controls, and contemplative soundscapes capture the beauty of nature and feel of real photography. Occasional bugs and performance dips, but still a unique, soothing experience worth trying if the premise is at all your thing.

Analyst mauronl has shared Devolver Digital’s 2024 investor highlights, revealing lifetime revenue of their top ten major IPs. Aussie-made Cult of the Lamb leads the bunch with over $US90M! Devolver now plans to double down on hit IPs with sequels, DLC, and definitive editions, while shifting to smaller third-party budgets and developing for Switch 2 after strong success on the original.

inZOI captures the spark The Sims lost - freeform, funny, and full of promise. Stunning character creation, but once you’re in the world, it feels a little hollow. So far a solid foundation with huge potential, just needs more life behind the beauty.

I love everything about KCD2. It’s a rich, grounded RPG that pulls you right in with incredible worldbuilding, smart writing, and deeply satisfying systems. At every turn, you can sense it’s something made with genuine passion, not boardroom metrics. It won’t be for everyone - I’m not sure it’s even for me - but for what it’s trying to do, it’s perfect.

Caves of Qud is a deep, richly imaginative roguelike seemingly built on the foundations of Dwarf Fortress; embracing systemic - almost unimaginable - depth, emergent storytelling, and fantastic worldbuilding. Its dense systems and open-ended design are incredible - ambition and creativity unmatched. It’s a game I deeply admire, but its steep learning curve and sheer complexity mostly keep me at arm’s length personally. I wish I had the brain for it, but for now I’ll enjoy hearing others stories that come out of it.

You’ll know if you’ll like Ballionaire immediately, and if you’re anything like me, be hooked shortly thereafter. The premise is simple: pachinko roguelite. But the eventually chaotic, physics-based design rewards experimentation and creativity, letting you craft overpowered ‘builds’. It’s easy to pick up but brimming with depth, and almost exploitatively satisfying.

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.

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.