The Plucky Squire is wildly a charming adventure that seamlessly transitions between 2D storybook worlds and 3D environments. Its vibrant art style and inventive mechanics make puzzle-solving a joy, carried along by the whimsical and engaging narrative. Can tell lots of heart and soul went into this one, and it makes for a delightful experience which doesn’t outstay its welcome.

At first glance, Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers feels inspired by Balatro (but for blackjack), but it’s important to note that it was announced first. While the concept is creative and compelling, I struggled with dense card and mechanic descriptions - an area where Balatro excels in succinct clarity. Very cool and indeed fun, but sometimes overwhelming.

I fooled myself into thinking that one gets a certain amount of enjoyment ‘for free’ by virtue of being in the Star Wars universe. This has previously been true and carried me through multiple otherwise-not-amazing games. Star Wars Outlaws has proven me wrong: an uninspired, bare-minimum “open-world” experience (if you can even call it that, given how restrictive it can be)… stealth, combat, and exploration that are painfully shallow, with comically bad AI and repetitive mechanics. It has its moments of charm and “huh cool :)”, but overall a disappointment that does not live up to its potential.

Satisfactory is now at version 1.0, leaving early access after five years. The major update includes new endgame content, achievements, a story (!), player customisation options, and a million other things. Coffee Stain Studios also confirmed a console version is in development, but no release date for that yet. Check out the 1.0 launch trailer.

Black Myth: Wukong is a crazy impressive, visually stunning action RPG rooted in Chinese mythology. It’s not a soulslike, and it’s not entirely a boss-rush either. Combat is fluid, satisfying, sometimes challenging. The enemy variety is wild, and the boss designs are compelling. The narrative is engaging, the overall atmosphere and world-building are captivating. Remarkable achievement for a studios first big game.

Mika and the Witch’s Mountain feels like a love letter to Ghibli and Wind Waker, with its whimsical world, light-hearted atmosphere and gameplay. As a rookie witch, you’ll deliver packages to quirky townsfolk, zipping around on your broom through the charming art style. It’s not without flaws, but being short and sweet, they’re relatively easy to overlook. The simplicity won’t be for everyone, but if you’re up for a cosy Sunday, definitely give it a go.

Valve makes games! Initially kept under wraps via an invite-only system, Deadlock blends MOBA elements with shooter mechanics: its fast-paced, lane-based gameplay combines elements from the likes of Dota and Overwatch and is immediately compelling. While still in very early development, the game shows immense promise: everything already feels great and the setting, tone and aesthetic are super cool.

Pretty wild that Balatro, an indie game from a solo developer, can put out a free update featuring card skins in collaboration with franchises; The Witcher 3, Dave the Diver, Vampire Survivors, and Among Us. Onya localthunk! Friends of Jimbo is available now.

[Early Access] Cataclismo drew me in with its super slick visual design, and continued to impress with its unique blend of tower defence and survival mechanics set against a dark, atmospheric world. The strategic depth in building and defending kept me intrigued - albeit oftentimes feeling a bit smoothbrained - and the haunting visuals and challenging gameplay should appeal to fans of the genre.

Creatures of Ava definitely has a lot of heart. There’s a vision here and evidently a lot of passion, but for me falls short with its uninspired gameplay and lack of polish. Despite a promising concept of evolving creatures in a dynamic world, the execution mostly feels clunky and repetitive. It’s great to look at though, and if you’re in need of a cosy game, it’s worth checking out.