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NBA THE RUN feels like a modern version of NBA Streets, and I mean that as a compliment. It has a great arcade gameplay, a curated roster of both street legends and NBA stars, but also some impressive courts. The games are short, but intense, and you’ll find yourself trying to attempt some more. It’s also nice to see that all the money you get via playing won’t go to waste. The game’s shop is full of all kinds of accessories and items you can use to fully customize your character. So yes, there’s always a reason beyond how you look, the way you enhance everything, and how it all flows together. Even if you’re not someone who plays NBA 2K or any major basketball game, I think you’ll have a great time here, because the game is very easy to pick up and learn. It’s fun, intense, and it will certainly push your limits, while also being fair.

Terrinoth: Heroes of Descent is a good dungeon crawler that offers interesting hero archetypes and a variety of challenges to deal with. It becomes a great experience if players manage to recruit three friends, so that everyone can control one hero. Given the relatively unknown fictional universe the developers are working with, it would have been nice to inject some extra weirdness into both the narrative and the presentation. Terrinoth: Heroes of Descent delivers on the mechanics front, but it might struggle to bring in fans of the boardgame into the video game space.

As someone who likes dungeon crawlers and survivor-like games, Skull Horde felt like home. It was great to play, with an interesting setting, wonderful 8-bit visuals and a very good gameplay loop. It also adds some complex systems like upgrades which help further enhance the gameplay and make it even more fun. I didn’t know what to expect with Skull Horde, but this game brought a lot of positive things for me. The gameplay is very addictive, and you can easily spend hours in one sitting once you get hooked by it. With that in mind, it will become repetitive at times, especially as you get how the main systems work and try to farm enemies. But the journey is an enjoyable one overall, and that’s what matters to me.

I had a good time with Generation Exile, and I felt it was a great game that seamlessly blends colony management with the idea of exploration and trying to expand. It also integrates some ideas that are close to my heart and very important, while also establishing an interesting visual identity. However, the game’s maps feel cramped, and the interface is not ideal, so it does take a little bit until you get the hand of it. That being said, the visuals are fine overall, and the game successfully conveys the sense of urgency that your missions are bringing to the table. The biomes are beautiful but also feel uninviting at first. It does take a while until you get used to the mechanics, however Generation Exile is a great game that’s well-worth exploring, especially if you are a fan of strategy games and you’re willing to learn as you go along.

Puzzle Parasite might not be a complex game, but it manages to fulfill what it sets out to achieve. It makes you think and figure out solutions to all kinds of puzzles, while still being pretty user-friendly and even allowing you to skip levels that seem too difficult at this time. It’s also not very long, either, since you can finish it in 2-4 hours depending on your puzzle-solving level. I had many moments in Puzzle Parasite that reminded me of Portal 2, which is a clear ode to what this game has to offer. Granted, it’s not as polished, and it’s quite short, but the fact that you get to solve puzzles in a very distinct, unique alien world full of character on its own does set it apart. It’s a great puzzle game for casuals, and even puzzle-solving experts will get a few hours of fun out of it.

Stonemachia is one of those games that a lot of soulslike players will try to pick up automatically, as they want more content in this exciting genre. But I felt that it’s very approachable even for a newcomer to this genre. It’s fun to play, it offers a lot of different ways to experiment, and best of all, it’s just a pleasure to plow through enemies, become stronger and tackle the game’s intense bosses. Yes, it does have some quality-of-life issues, like the lack of fast travel. I also encountered some bugs like getting stuck in a pole or the scenery while attacking enemies. But those are not dealbreakers and they certainly don’t deter the overall experience. Stonemachia is a game that brings a unique touch to the genre, with great bosses, an interesting world and exciting lore. And thankfully, it’s also fair difficulty-wise, so it respects your time as well.

I Hate This Place has some great fundamentals in place, and the game certainly knows how to create an excellent atmosphere. The fact that you can also try to go stealth mode or guns blazing is quite interesting, and it offers plenty of choice to the player. With that in mind, you don’t always feel that survival pressure when you have access to all the resources you need and crafting becomes a second thought. Despite all the issues, I still think that I Hate This Place is worth a shot, especially if you like the genre. It will take some getting used to, but this is definitely a wonderful story, and I want to see more comic books brought to life this way.

Gothic 1 Remake looks great, feels amazing to play, and there are so many great choices you can make here. You can be a mage, a warrior, the ultimate bowman or anything you see fit. Plus, following the game’s story will bring many exciting challenges on its own, from using spells to fighting unexpected enemies. Overall, it’s an excellent adventure that everyone should check out, especially if you never played the original. Gothic 1 Remake is the ultimate version of a cult classic, and being able to relive this genre-defining RPG with all the modern bells and whistles was a delight.

Upon entering Mirage 7, I had no idea what I was getting into, other than the Steam description which made it feel compelling to me. However, after finishing this, I am happy I played the game, even if it has its shortcomings. The deep focus on mythology and some sci-fi elements make it rather distinct from other games in the genre. The fact that it’s short is both a blessing and a curse for Mirage 7, because it feels like it could benefit from a few more chapters and a deeper story. Despite that, what’s there is worth experiencing, if you want a different take on mythology and a story that’s different to what you will see in most modern games. Just be prepared to deal with some technical shortcomings and mid-tier combat.

Hacked The Streamer might be a short game, but it’s an interesting FMV experience that certainly makes you question some of your choices. It’s fun to play, and you can replay it many times, which is a great thing about the title. We’ve never had any game enter the streaming world from this perspective, and it highlights the reality of being a streamer. It’s not all glitz and glamor, there are certainly some tough challenges and moments you have to consider. As a complete package, Hacked: The Streamer is fun to play. Not everyone will like the FMV approach, and it’s natural, since this is a gaming niche on its own. But the performances by the cast are great overall, the story is intriguing, albeit self-contained, and it’s certainly a unique take on streaming. For that alone, it’s worth considering, especially if you are a huge fan of interactive games.