The aesthetics were a real charm for me, and I especially liked lazily exploring, finding a great ramp to jump off and seconds later being in the air. Despite being short, it has a lot to offer. If you enjoy an open-world racing-type game, then Defunct is definitely something you should check out.

Great gameplay and clever puzzles, new dynamic lighting making an older source game still shine today, along with the new moody soundtrack all come together into a quick package that makes you thirsty for more.

Doodle God is a game that offers a lot of value in the first twenty minutes of play.  Beyond that, the fun breaks down. The frustrating issues grow exponentially the further the player progresses until it reaches that deadly place where gaming becomes a chore.  Players who can walk away from a game if it stops being fun may enjoy Doodle God for its good qualities; however, completionist gamers who have to finish no matter what may want to give this one a pass.

Frankly, I do hope Fracture the Flag gets the time and attention it needs to iron out all the details. For now, though, I will subscribe to the updates and wait to return to it until it’s playable without a few shots of Jager to ease the pain.

When it comes to building computers, you'd be hard pressed to find any hardcore gamers that didn't customize their own souped-up gaming rigs, complete with flashing LED's, high-speed fans (or sleek water tubes), and as much processing power as the weight the desk can handle. However, when it comes to really understanding the network activity that originates from these gaming monstrosities, many gamers (and many IT professionals) don't have a clue. As an infosec professional for the past four years, I thought I had a solid understanding of the activity on my home network. However, GlassWire's new host-based firewall showed me a whole new world of activity that was happening behind the scenes, just under my fingertips. Without my knowledge, my laptop was averaging between twenty and thirty connected applications, ranging from anti-virus to web browsers to online game updates and Steam, all competing for valuable bandwidth. Fortunately, GlassWire allows ordinary users to block unwanted applications from stealing network resources while reserving those valuable bytes for lag-free gaming bliss.

While playing Archibald’s Adventures, I often found myself feeling like an idiot for missing an obvious solution, but that did not dampen the triumph when the answer revealed itself in a blinding moment of clarity. It’s a fun game. Challenging, but not rage-inducing. Overall, I liked it well enough that I’d purchase a squeal if it were available.

Released by Hourences and Grip Games on June 7th, 2016, The Solus Project is a surprisingly addictive, beautiful package of an Indie Adventure experience that I definitely enjoyed.

At its core, Ether One is a puzzler with a strange inventory system and sometimes-obfuscated puzzles, but it has the look and feel of the ‘walking simulator’ games like Dear Esther and Gone Home. However, the developers, White Paper Studios, have created a marvelous world to explore. Above all else, they made a game about a terrifying disease without trivializing it, or getting it entirely wrong.

If you’re looking for a hyper-realistic gokart racing simulator, then KartKraft is for you. Crash-em smash-em wild racing fan? Look elsewhere, because this is for the pros.

Funklift is small. It’s simple. It’s funky. It’s clean. It’s easy. It’s engaging. Most importantly - it’s fun.I was really surprised by the simplicity of this title because I just did not think the value was there originally. But it is - in spades. I am sure this game will be more fun in multiplayer mode, but anything that lowers my heart rate and blood pressure for an afternoon is an awesome game in my book.

Doode Kingdom is definitely not a game for everyone. If you’re looking for action or complex, brain-teasing puzzles, this is not for you. If you want a casual diversion, though, you might want to check it out. For me, it was a perfect game to play on a Sunday afternoon with a baseball game on in the background.

XCavalypse is a clever, quirky blend of the popular Zombie Apocalypse theme with the Simulation genre, in which players must use heavy machinery to combat the plagued hordes rather than the usual arsenal of weapons. This opens up a whole array of additional destruction, from knocking down walls and buildings, to thrusting cars and dumpsters into the throng of opponents, all without becoming overly complex or demanding.

On Rusty Trails is a beautifully crafted game with tight controls, a killer soundtrack, and a deep story that unfolds through its narrative and many secrets hidden throughout the campaign. I’d highly recommend it to seasoned veterans of the genre.

While it is pricey, the game is solid. I’ll admit I am a fan of grinding and wandering the dungeons looking for stuff to kill kept me up much later than I should have been. With incredibly satisfying boss fights, gorgeous character art and a wide range of strategies, there is a lot to experience in Sword City.

Story RPGs like these can grab players like me, so long as I don't hit too many walls. The lack of good conveyance was the biggest hurdle and did cause me to take a break once in a while. I'd throw this as a recommendation for people who enjoyed Drakengard 3, since it delivers a lot of the same tone and flavor.

Hearts of Iron IV is both a military history fan and a war game enthusiasts dream. Those players who are willing to put in the time it takes to not only complete an actual playthrough but to learn all the nuances of the game will find a deeply strategic war experience that will keep you entertained for absurd amounts of hours.

There’s a reason why Senran Kagura has made it to number three in the series. The price is a bit steep, but this includes a huge game with a lot of bonus features, including all the DLC, so it’s sure to please. A decent port and well worth the pleasure. I mean purchase.

Satisfying gunplay, faithful throwback graphics, and a level of tactical depth make Angus Hates Aliens a successful retro shooter. If you’re itching to slaughter hordes of extraterrestrial enemies, then this game is exactly what you’re looking for - just don’t expect it to keep you occupied for more than a week.

Coffee Pot Terrarium is an interesting and unique puzzler. In my opinion, it’s worth it for the price, and I look forward to seeing what else Brothers Flint can produce.

Alas, Meridian: Squad 22 just falls way short of the mark. There are too many design issues, too many miscalculations, to make this worth buying. Perhaps if it wasn’t just “one guy” it would be different, but it’s not.

As it stands now, I wouldn't recommend Jeklynn Heights solely due to the $15.00 attached. Despite all the positives that I experienced, there's hardly enough substance to justify that price, but the possibilities that can come from this has definitely earned my attention as I curiously watch it grow.

Somewhat technically broken (the game froze several times) and with misguided design, The Way of Life is a testament to both a tedious “don’t care” and an encouraging “give it another shot”.

A bit above average, and has the potential to be great if some of the mechanics could be improved upon. I would say this one is recommended only for hard core gamers with excellent hand-eye coordination, and a love of side-scrolling.

Sol Trader really is something else. It’s new and innovative, so it’s sure to have its hiccups. I still think it’s worth the purchase because my frustrations may admittedly be chalked up to individual differences. It may be that you’ll succeed where I failed and find the joy in this game. But by Grapthar’s hammer, I wanted that borrowed ship!

There's another new assassination in this year's HITMAN: Marrakesh (aka a Gilded Cage).

Trump has taken root within our psyche, and we just can’t seem to get enough of him. So let’s put on our red hats and rubber gloves and get down to business - Drump needs a heart, and we have to figure out basic body movements with outrageous equipment to get it in there. For America.

Demetrios surprised me. I felt knocked off my horse a little bit. Sure, it didn’t add anything new mechanics-wise and it certainly is a bit basic (and there’s just so much vomit in this game, guys. Like, a lot), but it has this really strange charm to it. Surreal, bizarre, humorous, and entertaining - that’s Demetrios: The BIG Cynical Adventure.

Ara Fell is a 16 Bit style JRPG made by Stegosoft Games with the RPG Maker 2003 engine. Originally conceived over ten years ago, Ara Fell has gone through several iterations and a few RPG Maker engines to become what it is today. Now, for those familiar with RPG Maker 2003 and games made from it will quickly recognize a lot of the graphics, sound effects, and music used in Ara Fell. However, do not let the familiar wrapping keep you from enjoying the wonderful gift inside the box. And what a wonderful gift Ara Fell is.

I’ve had an enjoyable experience figuring out how to play Chronicle: Runescape Legends. The game is simple at first but becomes more complex as you level up. The graphics are pleasant to the eyes and the audio enjoyable, if not epic. So what is Chronicle: Runescape Legends? My experience is as follows:

AstroKill reminds us that the universe is a pretty big place, and it still has room for a few good space games. AstroKill snagged a prime spot of real estate - not only in a far off corner of the galaxy, but in our hearts - because MAN, those explosions really do get the adrenaline going.

If you enjoy board games and/or have an iPhone, chances are you’ve played this game before. Considered the “opposite of Pandemic”, Infection takes the “fun” out of “obliterate humanity” and readily inserts it into “save all mankind”. Yeah, we reached. So sue us.

PataNoir is strange, unusual, at times frustrating, but creates an amazing surreal landscape in such a short time. By using similes and metaphors to interact with the world, PataNoir delivers a fresh style of gameplay on an old classic of PC gaming.

There are plenty of genres out there that allow for developers to flourish in creativity and give them plenty of room to reinvent what we come to expect. Platformers are a good example of this: take the first Super Mario Bros. game and compare it to something like Braid - two games that feel the same but are vastly different in their respective designs.

I hate the term “walking simulator.” It implies that thinking about a game and caring about the thoughts and feelings of the characters are less vital to the gaming experience than shooting things. I’m as fine with a game that is a little bit of gameplay with a lot of story as I am with a game that is a little bit of story and a lot of gameplay. (After all, “Thank you, Mario, but our princess is in another castle,” is not the most emotionally effective storytelling in the world, yet it belongs to the most popular game of all time).

A Point-and-Click Renaissance Masterpiece

Galaxy Combat Wargames is a fun head-to-head space-based shooter. In my brief experience, it is a tightly built game that has a lot of potential. Its intuitive controls were easy to pick up, and the bots I was able to fight in the demo had the same abilities I had. The symmetry definitely means that skill will be the primary thing determining the winner in a match, assuming equivalent equipment levels. A nice touch, all things considered.

Maybe I was the wrong audience, playing something that wasn't intended for me. I think I'll go with that, since it at least sounds a little more sensible than the company not caring enough to make something good. And young kids would probably like it better than I do.

The gameplay hits the mark, and the content at this stage is more than adequate. Please carry this work on, and I hope to spend many a month PKing and being PK’d on this game alongside all the UO veterans. Though I’d like to see some tweaks, primarily to UI, I have to award a solid 8, and a mention how Linkrealms has a hand on the ledge of 9.

Creative Assembly’s Total War: Warhammer is my nerd dream come to fruition, and I will mine this game for everything that it is worth and relish each campaign, battle, and empire-building turn in all of its fantastical nature.

I'm still crossing my fingers for a content update that provides a little more variety to the game modes, but what they launched with is a brilliant start to a title I know I'll be playing for , at the least, the next few years.

The Way handles sci-fi much more elegantly than a majority of games before it. With engaging puzzles and an impressive art style this wonderful and detailed, you’d be doing yourself a great disservice by not playing it.

I really wanted to recommend GiAnts, but perhaps too much of my anticipation was thanks to my hours and hours spent as a tiny character in other gaming worlds, and that “bug’s eye view” perspective made me too optimistic. I’d have been a little more lenient with a lot of these issues, but I simply must say that it is better left avoided unless you really enjoy bug-based simulation platformers.

Duskers is a tactical roguelike survival game set in the depths of a universe almost devoid of life. Produced by a small indie studio, Misfits Attic, it is their second commercially released title and was funded by the support of a variety of very generous and helpful indie devs and the good folks of Indie Fund. It just goes to show that indie developers stick together, and it’s about producing games they enjoy, not milking the customer for their monies!

The name ‘Rocket Fist’ makes it sound like it’s going to be quite the mechanical romp involving closed hands powered by engines…and boy, does it live up to its exciting name.

Fear is a funny thing. Ideally meant to keep us safe from harm, if left unchecked it can become a barrier that prevents us from doing things that we may otherwise find enjoyable. It’s great in situations that require us to stop and think about possible hazards, such as walking near a dangerous cliff or travelling through a sketchy neighborhood.

Trawl is less of a “Boat Simulator” and more of a “Typewriting During A Rainstorm Simulator”. It has a ton of atmosphere but not much else. If you like finding three random items at a time, then this is the game for you! If not, then you might wanna try something else.

While the game is apparently never-ending, what little content there is shines with quality throughout. It may not give you your money’s worth compared to some other games at the price-point, but it’s still an enjoyable time-waster. If it saves even one dev from the dangers of Idea Fairies, Glitches, The DownFish and Feature Creep, it has done its job.

From Windlimit studios comes a beautifully designed 2D platformer that is tremendously pleasing to the senses. Greenlit by Steam, this title will be making its way to the PC community eventually, but for now it’s a treat for my eyes only, and they are most definitely feasting.

At the end of the day, bugs aside, the game is very competent. Désiré looks beautiful and sounds spectacular. The story, however stilted and outright bizarre as it may seem, is something that’ll stick out years down the road when I think of it. Just remember to save your progress often to avoid any retracing.

"RefRain -prism memories-" is the most engaging bullet hell style shoot 'em up I've ever played. Granted, I've only played one other true bullet hell series, the Touhou Project titles, which I call the most mesmerizing in the genre. Either way I'm a crazy person.

DOOM will have gamers on the edge of their seats, as they will want to close the gateway to Hell and save Earth. Load your guns, replenish your health, check your armor, and buckle up - you are about to enter an inferno that would make Dante shit his pants. Welcome back, time to take out the trash – this time by using a shotgun on Mars. Fight like Hell? Hell yes.

Hyposphere, overall, was an underwhelming experience.It touts itself as an Unreal Engine 4 game, but aside from offering screen resolutions more than double normal HD and benefiting from the engines powerful lighting system, the title is surprisingly somewhat lackluster from a visual standpoint.

StarBreak is a pretty decent game - one I can see a lot of people enjoying for hours on end. The pick-up-and-play pack-like elements are pretty unique - something Jinx, Damacles, and LordTorstein pointed out - and provide a lot of amusement for literally no cost. If you have a few hours to kill, I recommend trying StarBreak out - what do you have to lose?

Being a jack of all trades in this genre makes it hard to be noticed. It's not a surprise that the online multiplayer is barren, with virtually no possibility of finding a sizable group of strangers. Getting friends interested in committing is difficult, as well. Having good keyboard controls and physical mobility fails to make up for how hard it is to gather folks. Though Coffin Dodgers requires a community to shine, it hasn't attracted a dedicated fanbase to stand on its own.

Get ready for ‘BattleSouls’. From a brand new gaming studio, Pixeleap brings you a few tweaks to your favorite online titles to create another MOBA franchise.

A successful sequel (or prequel in this case) in a series is supposed to address its predecessor’s issues and fix them, and although I’m happy that Moonstone Tavern is a functional game, the evidence shows that it has many of the same issues as the previous title in the series.

Overall, Castle Heist: Chapter One is a nice tribute to retro games like Thief: Deadly Shadows that comes ever so close to feeling like a polished product. It’s that “special snowflake” idea that makes me appreciate the title more than I probably would have otherwise – the notion that a simple mechanic could create an entire storyline, to me, is video game art. It’s taking something that most RPGs just incorporate into their titles without thinking much about it. The fact that stealth can have an entire story extruded from it was certainly interesting, and not something I’ve come across before. With perhaps a bit more polish and a few more updates (voice acting?), I can see this easily finding its way into the Steam library of RPG fans everywhere.

Back in 1995 is heavily inspired by video games of a bygone era, complete with low resolution models, “tank” movement controls, static camera angles, and a rudimentary inventory system. All of the components here are dated for the sake of a nostalgic trek into an important moment in gaming history, but does it deliver enough modern, original content to be worth playing in today’s sea of Action-Adventure titles?

Police Infinity: Nothing to See Here

If you've ever wanted to run around the galaxy and destroy artificially intelligent space stations while rescuing helpless space animals, well, Dr. Spacezoo is your dream come true. You play as a tiny spaceship with infinite ammo as you fly to space zoos across the galaxy and free the animals from the A.I. systems which have gone haywire.

Dungeon Rushers is a lot of fun to play. The tactical battles, the plundering of dungeons for loot galore, and the goofy dialogue, all add to the pleasure of playing the game. Sure, Dungeon Rushers is filled to the brim with nostalgia, but it is also a blast to play. Go ahead. Embrace the “one more turn” mindset.

There is a lot that can be improved upon, but that may be this game's uniqueness. If players can contribute their ideas and desires and help the creators find the glitches needed to be repaired, then I believe this game could grow into what it needs to be. I would definitely be interested in returning after a couple months to see what improvements they made to the title. It is a simple and entertaining idea and I can’t wait to see what it may become.

Battleborn is worth the money it costs. I know that I will keep playing it because it offers me more than a simple match. I will even buy the DLC if they expand the campaign. I definitely recommend this title because it it sets itself apart from what I already have in my collection.

It wasn’t quite the tear-jerker I thought it would be, but it was a deep and compelling look at love, life, loss, and mourning. I can say with absolute confidence that Fragments of Him is one of the most original titles to be developed this year and is truly a worthwhile addition to any Steam library.

Those familiar with Paradox or grand strategy may find that Stellaris isn't quite as deep as HOI, CK2 or even EU4, but it has more than enough to keep space fans consumed for hours, and enough variety to keep each playthrough unique. The lore is awesome. The custom ship designs are awesome. The map and visuals are awesome. If you're a Star Trek fan, a BattleStar Galactica fan, a Star Wars fan, a Dune fan, or even if you just looked up at the stars one day and thought “woah...” then Stellaris is for you!

Perhaps it’s not the game it could be at this point in time, but I have a lot of hope for it – it’ll get there. I look forward to what Parkitect has to offer in the future and eagerly await the much-needed adjustments to tweak it into perfection.

Outstanding minimalist graphics combined with strange photography and videos creates a somber and creepy adventure that can be completed in a single afternoon. Dark and contemplative, NORTH is a must-play for cyberpunk and dystopian fans alike.

HACK_IT presents players with a fully immersive hacking experience, you’ll meet characters and find out things you never imagined. Including interactive apps that will give you the power to shutdown servers and retrieve passwords.

Midvinter is an interesting and short adventure story where you play as a gnome of Swedish folklore trying to stop a troll from swapping her baby with the newborn human on your farm.

From Bad Seed Developers comes The Beggar’s Ride, a game that was initially fitted for mobile use and is now being presented on Steam for PC and Mac for the first time. The Beggar’s Ride is a platform puzzle game that has whimsical artwork and animation and a unique storyline.

Hitman is shaping up to be a great new addition to the franchise. And the episodic method is working surprisingly well for it. There's still a pretty limited set of content, but it's so much easier to focus on all the many little things in any given stage when I'm not simply moving on to the next and the next to get to the end of the game. I'm thoroughly enjoying the challenges they've set up.

UI and redundancy aside, Seraph still gives you a great sense of power when it comes to its gunplay. The term badass is only used for things that actually require it and Seraph is nearly on its way to badassdom. I recommend giving it a shot if you’re like me and want to feel slightly more badass than you already are.

After playing through episodes 1 and 2 of The Walking Dead: Michonne, I had my expectations set pretty low for the story in episode 3. Needless to say, I was expecting much the same for the final installment. Luckily, it did get a little bit better, but not a whole lot.

It's video games like NERO that prove this medium is evolving into something far more compelling than the Atari or NES generations could have ever imagined. Who knew that a game could teach players about love and loss, of sorrow and grief, of the slow, painful process of watching a beloved child die before your eyes?

The remastered edition of one of the oldest RPG Maker Horror Games, if not the oldest one, Corpse Party on Steam plunges you into a Dark and Brutal world where not all is what it seems.

Creating memorable experiences is a thing all gamers want to achieve. Most hold nostalgia near to their hearts and relish any opportunity to relive the feeling.

I was impressed with FIVE: Guardians of David. I know for certain that I will eventually go back and finish playing, if only to experience the entire story, and I’ll admit it, this isn’t something I normally do on titles I review. If you have any interest in the history of Palestine, in the Biblical story of David, or in killing Lions with your bare hands (oh Benaiah!) then you might want to think about picking up FIVE

OPUS: The Day We Found Earth is a chill, stargazing experience that's handcrafted for people who enjoy story-driven games and arguing about Pluto.

Treachery, brutality, and witchcraft crash against all sides of the Imperium of Man, long beset in all corners by the endless tides of war, and beneath all bubbles the insidious scourge of disloyalty.

Crown and Council doesn’t pretend to be anything more than it is and it does it well enough. If you’re into board games, The Civ Series or just want to take over the world one colored tile at a time, give this a go. You have nothing to lose at a $0.00 price point.

Cornerstone: The Song of Tyrim has some really good bones and potential.

Extraordinarily put together and well thought out. This beta release captivates and draws you into its world. With further tweaks, this game will quickly become a staple in both RPG and Sci Fi enthusiasts alike.

Playing POLLEN took me back to my childhood days of attempting Myst and its seemingly unsolvable puzzles. This is a flawless masterpiece that is a warmly welcomed addition to the mystery genre that will be sure to easily capture your interest as it did mine.

Banner Saga 2 builds upon everything that made the original title promising and continues an amazing franchise with this foundation. During the time that has passed since the first installment in The Banner Saga series, not much has changed. The cold and unforgiving world continues to fall apart and those trying to survive are left to face seemingly impossible odds and ferocious enemies – both man and monster alike. Only time will tell if these desperate heroes will defeat the approaching evil or wind up as dead as the Gods.

Grenade Madness is exactly what it sounds like: the perfect blend of grenades and madness rolled into this third-person competitive multiplayer shooter.

Shriek-inducing, suspenseful, and cute. I certainly don’t regret the 3 hours it took me to get through the week; I actually think the difficulty scales really quickly, especially as you unlock access to more rooms, so please don’t let Monday Night disappoint you if it’s “too easy.” Besides, there’s just something nostalgic about running up the stairs, yelling at goblins not to hurt the baby, who I affectionately nicknamed Toby for my play-through.

Take away the controversial storyline and central thematic concern of the game, and you are left with a very limited, boring, uninterested, wanna be Duke Nukem: Time To Kill type shooter that doesn’t know its ass from its elbow.  Were it not playing on the hearts and minds of the discriminative, this game wouldn’t even be worth the spit it takes to curse it.

I suggest purchasing SpeedRunners as soon as possible. The art, music, characters, multiplayer, and nostalgia mix and complement one another well. Making and breaking relationships everywhere, SpeedRunners is great fun for both players and spectators.

I think this game has great potential and a lot of promise, but in its current state it is glitchy and hard to understand.

Hide & Hold Out – H2O has the potential to be great, but bug issues and lack of direction will put off a lot of newbies.

In a gaming word where top-down shooters are quite overplayed and almost flooding the market, Enter The Gungeon has done an excellent job setting itself aside from the rest. Not many top-down shooters have such well-done mechanics and fun dungeon crawling aspects. Currently available now on Steam, priced at $14.99, this game is definitely worth picking up and giving it a run through. I think you’ll enjoy it just as much as I have.

Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair takes the visual novel/graphic adventure series and puts that classic “wtf Japan” twist on it in an insanely delightful way. With anime-style character designs, voice-acting in English and Japanese (subs available – score!) and strong, solid story progression, this game clearly has the “land of the rising sun” written all over it.

Almost perfect, but not quite there. I’m sure I’ll be spending a lot of time in Lotheric, as will many folks.

Everything in Stories is polished and exciting. I have no gripes with any part of the game. I enjoyed it all; the story, combat, Rolando’s thoughts, the animal personification, and more. Stories: The Path of Destinies is an experience that will be loved by many and remembered as a classic for its original storyline, narration, and great gameplay.

As a Warhammer fanatic (I have both Fantasy and 40k miniatures), Man O’ War: Corsair is shaping up to be a fantastic sandbox-esque game. Even with it being in early access and missing a few important aspects, it is a straight up roller coaster ride to play.

Sure, it runs fine (it is a mobile port). I never had any crashes, the controls always worked, and I never had to reload. But just because something works and can be played does not mean that it should, and Silver Bullet: Prometheus lands squarely in that category. Folks, it is not worth your money.

The boring storyline that moves to fast filled with wooden characters spewing poorly-written-and-delivered dialog really bring down the decent puzzles and platforming. It’s a shame that Adam’s Venture: Origins couldn’t deliver, but you just can’t force a good game – something the developers would do well to remember.

Sadly, Episode 2 proved to be more predictable, poorly made, paced and designed than Episode 1. I was already disappointed with the first, and now I find that it's moved further in the wrong direction... I miss Telltale's old Walking Dead games. Maybe I'll go back and play as Lee again.

A Blind Legend taught me just how obliviously privileged I am to be blessed with the gift of sight and showed me just how much I rely on my eyes when it comes to interpreting the world around me.

Overpower has issues and at least a bit of work to be done still to be a stable, really great thing to play, but it is worth a go or five, and who knows what it will be in the future. I’m giving it the grade I am with the caveat that, with some tweaks, it could easily jump up another point. For now, if you’re into sword-swingin’ and arena-style murderin’, give this unique little project a try. We’re giving it the official OPNoobs staff Seal O’ Fun, and that’s somethin’ you can bet the car on.