Though the graphics are smooth and and the unique combat style makes for a fun, fast-paced heist title, the lack of variety dulls this otherwise vibrant game. Mr. Shifty exhibits plenty of potential, and those who enjoyed Devolver’s Hotline Miami and have a soft spot for comic books will love this half-combat, half-stealth based mission. But, there isn’t much beyond what’s on the tin, however, and Mr. Shifty risks monotony to many players.

Five Elements is an original, challenging, and solid real-time strategy game. Apart from those accolades, though, there’s not much else to wow the player. If you're a lover of strategy and puzzles for the sake of strategy and puzzles, you will most likely find it a worthy addition to your collection. If you aren't, then Five Elements may prove to be frustratingly challenging and lacking enough of a storyline to keep you going.

Manipulated creates a unique experience with a simple structure by implementing multiple different types of puzzles and challenges throughout the various levels. The art style is cartoonish and elementary, and the humor and voice-acting can be overdone, but it fits with the overall silly feel of the game. If you are looking for a whimsical side-scroller that will test your brain power, Manipulated is the game to buy. If slapstick comedy is not your cup of tea, the narration might come off as excessive, but the puzzles are sure to rope you back in.

Whether you are new to the series, or just looking for a creepy game to mess with your perception of reality, Bad Dream: Coma is not one to miss. The atmosphere is dark and gritty, and the player has the option of making it darker and grittier with their decisions. There are tons of challenging puzzles and secrets to unlock, and many different avenues for the narrative to take.

Kronos uses uninspired or recycled art style, storyline, and dialogue, but that's just that start of what's wrong with this title. Beyond the aesthetic issues, the bugs in Kronos are too much to ignore. Maybe with more work on bugs and glitches, Kronos could be playable enough to enjoy; for now, Kronos doesn’t come close to standing out in an already competitive genre.

Stars in Shadow is relatively simple and inviting for newcomers to the 4X strategy genre, but also features original mechanics to intrigue 4X veterans, and everything is brought together with a fun, cartoonish art style that complements the fantastical races and nature of this space exploration strategy game.

Semispheres runs very smoothly. The controls are simple and intuitive, the design is beautiful, and the music only adds to the overall meditative aesthetic. However, Semispheres is over just as it begins, providing only a fleeting, though pleasant, challenge to the player.

A title that appears to have been a labor of love, but also and unfortunately, that fails to be anything more than that. For fans of visual novels and dating simulations Angels with Scaly Wings might serve to impress you, but if these aren’t a draw, then pass. The art, animation, and music leave something to be desired, while the gameplay and story line are only interesting because of the odd concept that serves as a common denominator: dating dragons.

With so many strategy games to choose from, Realpolitiks ultimately fails to stand out. While its variety in features and missions is welcomed, it also forces errands few will enjoy; they make it difficult to stay in control, these arbitrary tasks impeding if not outright discarding a player's grand approach.

One of the best virtual introductions to a new language I have ever seen. Thanks to Learn Japanese To Survive!Katakana War, one could be well on their way to learning the Japanese language while immersing themselves in a genuinely fun game.

All in all, Cat President: A More Purrrfect Union is best approached as a silly and mindless guilty pleasure that shouldn’t be taken too seriously. Unless you’re really into cats.

For the casual gamer Momentum may lack a bit of personality, but makes up for it by offering a fun, well designed, and challenging puzzle platformer to test one’s skills. Levels regularly introduce new features to keep the gameplay fresh, and parkour-junkies will find enough reasons to come back to it, especially thanks to time trials.

With the different modes, scores, and levels, Chime Sharp has a very high replay value and doesn’t fall into the usual pitfalls of redundancy, to which other puzzlers are prone. The challenges do get increasingly difficult, but not to the point of unapproachability. Even with the initial hype that started with the announcement and lasted all through development, Chime Sharp does not disappoint.

Lovely Planet Arcade is addictive. It’s a good old fashioned arcade-style game that would’ve had me shelling out quarters were it on a more vintage platform. The artistry and whimsical nature of the game makes it clear that it’s not taking itself too seriously, and adds an element of playfulness to an otherwise arduous game.

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.

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

There is no handbook on how to make the perfect game. It’s a fine-tuned art, with an insurmountable amount of risk, and often times, even after years of work, little reward. However...