The Indie Informer

By the end of Mixtape, which takes only about four hours, I had felt the pure joy of living, the seething heat of betrayal, the confusion of unexpected rejection, and the bittersweet feeling of being on top for one single moment. Tears escaped my eyes walking away from it, even as I smiled.

I’m happy to have been introduced to new pieces of southeast Asian cuisine, but the biggest point against Dosa Divas is that it doesn’t come bundled with anything to snack on while you play. Who knows, maybe they’re saving that for the collector’s edition.

Fishbowl‘s complicated pool of grief and authentic, stumbling healing craft a deeply personal experience. So, when I was asked to make a choice about Alo’s future in the end, I was irreparably invested. Consequently, I finished the game feeling a little healed from my own tribulations alongside Alo.

Super Meat Boy 3D isn’t Shakespeare — it’s main antagonist is named Dr. Fetus, afterall — but I found its platforming puzzles to be largely solid across the board and I was impressed by its adherence to the idea that the game will happily beat you down, but the way back up from that is through perserverence. Perserverence that it’s happy to show you that you posses by watching your level replays.

Neva: Prologue‘s scale — with creativity and evocativeness on one side and restrictions and murkiness on the other — balances out to a solid experience.

Between a plot that stretches the realities of time, space, and comprehension, and gameplay designed to keep you laser-focused on the task at hand, it’s difficult to reckon with the passage of real-world hours while playing Love Eternal. So, I was startled to find I rolled credits in a bit over five hours. It will take me so much longer to fully ponder its provocative themes, tantalizing insinuations, and gratifying sense of accomplishment.

For all its whimsical offerings, Lil Gator Game: In the Dark finds its true strength in the authentic compassion of its narrative. The villain’s pushy nature and unbending demands stem from a very relatable and vulnerable place. Seeing this, our hero persists, when everyone else has given up, in reaching out to his caped nemesis. When all the heartening action of the game fades from my memory, its uplifting final note will remain.

Cult of the Lamb: Woolhaven offers something for every type of cult leader. Fighting enthusiasts will discover a weapon that combines range with damage alongside creative new opponents. Narrative-seekers will uncover a host of characters carrying the burden of a failing power. Cult managers can look forward to new blood with which to build a stronger base in dangerous times. Together, it all combines in an experience that makes jumping back into one of indie’s best titles well worthwhile.

From the gleaming towers of the city to the vibrantly lush trails in the garden, I gleefully sailed and fought my way through MIO: Memories in Orbit. Its stunning art style perfectly offsets the tragic narrative. I found it so hard to put down and became so invested in the world’s fate that I couldn’t accept its death. Instead, I searched for an option the game graciously offered for my persistence. Though either way, the conclusion is pierced with hope and sadness.

Nine hours after reaching a ramshackle stump in the woods, I’d transformed my home into a cheerful shelter. Filled with well-earned comforts gathered from across varied landscapes and friends’ warm regards. Its intentional approachability can err on the side of feeling too easy, but the constant, looming danger of winter goes a long way towards balancing the scales. Still, the only thing I want to do right now is return to my roaring fireplace and brave the frosts in Winter Burrow.