“Hook this exhilarating, Akira × Duke Nukem × [post void] FPS straight into your veins for a brilliant time. Let's call it early: this is doubtlessly the #1 FPS of the year. It goes so hard and fast!”

“Lovers of short, morbid, indie story games will find much to appreciate with Sunflower Pie. It's strange, affecting, creepy, and pulls no punches.”

“Offering a more involved experience than your usual garlic-like, Frontline Survivors is a thematically consistent garlic-like with twinstick controls and batshit builds. It's clever and very fun.”

“Proudly crude in every sense of the word, this adaptation of the zany tabletop title offers a breadth and depth in both its gameplay and set of features. But it's the hilarious voice acting that's #1.”

“One of the best games of 2024 so far, this tightly designed puzzle game uses Chess mechanics as the backbone for a litany of clever puzzles. Then add onto that some tranquil tunes and pretty art.”

“Juicy roguelite action with groovy, energetic tunes and ample bullet time. Its simple, clean, hand-drawn aesthetic allows for a surprisingly readable mayhem to its bullethellish extremes.”

“For those who seek a great new Metroidvania that hews heavily towards the first half of the term, Rebel Transmute is a must in 2024. Tight and robust as hell.”

“Psychedelia and Metroidvanias are IN in 2024, and this banger with spectacular art by El Huervo (of Hotline Miami fame) synthesizes these two crazes with style, refinement, and more style.”

“If you were yearning for a Hades-esque retelling of Greek mythology but with even better queer and neurodivergent representation in a spectacularly written text RPG, then FoA here is the ticket.”

“Lovely and lively, this marvelous first-person puzzler nurtures an enthralling mix of accessible yet cerebral puzzles and Gone Home-y storytelling. Gorgeous visuals, music, and level design.”

“One of the greatest mobile games of all time (and that is no hyperbole) has just now hit Steam—so, if you scoff at the prospect of mobile gaming, finally check this characterful puzzler out.”

“Try to name a twinstick that is as mesmerizing as Dead Petals Bliss already is—you can't. This trippy twinstick combines forces between the devs of Dead Petals and satryn deluxe, and they NAIL IT.”

“Dan and I were pleasantly surprised by just how damn rad The Fate of Baldr is as an Orcs Must Die!-esque melding of co-op third-person shooting and tower defense strategy. Gorgeous environments too.”

“Regardless of your familiarity to Moomin, this handcrafted delight will whisk you away to its wondrous world for a heartfelt and effortlessly charming tale all the same. Gorgeous in every sense.”

“One of the most unique and gorgeous deckbuilders so far, offering a fresh and intuitive battle system as well as a monster-catching flair. Plus, the music and creature designs totally own.”

“Blistering combat is decisively ATME's big selling point, as few action roguelite contemporaries tout such exhilarating fights with such buttery smooth controls. Looks and sounds great too, though.”

“Despite its appearances, Hoversteppers is much closer in terms of gameplay to the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater games than Jet Set Radio, and it's a welcome THPS spiritual successor in a world bereft of 'em.”

“Jetpacking is always going to be a joy in video games, and Jett Rider capitalizes on that fact—while heaping on top some great tunes and humor too. One of JanduSoft's finest releases yet.”

“Hauntii is not your typical twinstick, thanks to its emphasis on possession and artful handcraftedness. Few games this year can contest its beauty, or its sense of awe and wonder, with such tightness.”

“Every year, Devcats drop another banger entry into their A ___ Full of Cats series, and the outstandingly robust ATFoC is no less cute, charming, or clever than its predecessors.”

“Providing worthy competition to Two Point Hospital, this hilarious sci-fi riff on Theme Hospital boasts tight design & controls, witty dialogue, phenomenal voice acting, and charming cartoon visuals.”

“It does not take long for Balatro to sink its hooks into you, being one of the freshest roguelite deckbuilders yet. Psychedelic visuals, magnificent music, and insatiable gameplay.”

“Roguelite deckbuilding that's a biiiiit of a different beast from Slay the Spire and the like, but still with incredibly tight mechanics, superb gamefeel, and bugfuck powerful runs.”

“Delightfully providing a wonderful finale to this cult favorite series of Metroidvanias, Moonlit Farewell is lovingly crafted and a complete joy to play. Tight design with impeccable pixel art.”

“Excellent humor, boundless style, exceptional voice acting, and intriguing mechanics make for one of the coolest, freshest games of the year. It's a typing dungeon crawler after all!”