The Games I Beat in 2023: Q2

April

Game 14: Fire Emblem Engage

Developer: Intelligent Systems
Played on: Switch
Release: 2023  

Playtime: 85 hours 1 minute
Rating: 8.5
Thoughts: Engage serves as a nice back-to-basics Fire Emblem after the branching stories of the past two games. However, it doesn't go far enough.

Game 15: Super Meat Boy Forever

Developer: Team Meat
Played on: Steam Deck
Release: 2020  

Playtime: 3 hours 48 minutes
Rating: 6.5  
Thoughts: When in a groove, Super Meat Boy Forever is loads of fun. However, those moments are overshadowed by frustrating level design and a lack of control.

Game 16: Ryse: Son of Rome

Developer: Crytek
Played on: Series X via Game Pass
Release: 2013

Rating: 5
Thoughts: Ryse is the definition of style over substance. The visuals look stunning and the executions are brutal, but the rest is average at best and frustrating at worst.

Game 17: Blaster Master Zero 3

Developer: Inti Creates
Played on: Switch
Release: 2021

Playtime: 10 hours 39 minutes
Rating: 8   
Thoughts: A good ending to Inti Creates' take on Blaster Master. However, the gameplay regularly gets interrupted by the melodramatic story.

Game 18: Alwa's Legacy

Developer: Elden Pixels
Played on: Switch
Release: 2020

Playtime: 6 hours 56 minutes
Rating: 8.5
Thoughts: An engrossing Metroidvania, Alwa's Legacy exchanges the difficulty of its predecessor for smart additions. However, it can still be cheap in places.

Game 19: The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky the 3rd

Developer: Nihon Falcom
Played on: Steam Deck
Release: 2017

Playtime: 55 hours 7 minutes
Rating: 8.5
Thoughts: Despite my qualms with the game being just one long dungeon, Sky the 3rd delivers where it counts.

 

Game 20: Stray

Developer: BlueTwelve Studio
Played on: PS5
Release: 2022

Playtime: 5 hours 1 minute
Rating: 8.5  
Thoughts: Don't be swayed by the length; Stray packs more variety, creativity, and heart than games 10 times its runtime. Better yet, you play as a cat!

May

Game 21: Sonic Frontiers

Developer: Sonic Team
Played on: PS5
Release: 2022

Playtime: 21 hours 19 minutes
Rating: 7.5
Thoughts: Sonic Frontiers has some huge flaws. Mainly, its performance. However, the core "open zone" gameplay and story are so good that they eclipse the weaknesses.

Game 22: Wolfenstein: The Old Blood

Developer: MachineGames
Played on: Series X via Game Pass
Release: 2015

Rating: 7
Thoughts: While it has some of the flaws of New Order — mainly the over-reliance on subpar stealth — Old Blood is a better-paced game overall.

Game 23: Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

Developer: WayForward
Played on: Switch
Release: 2023

Playtime: 60 hours 53 minutes
Rating: 9.5
Thoughts: Re-Boot Camp is an excellent reminder that Advance Wars deserves as much of the spotlight that Fire Emblem receives.

Game 24: Vampire Survivors

Developer: poncle
Played on: Steam Deck
Release: 2022

Playtime: 32 hours 24 minutes
Rating: 10
Thoughts: Vampire Survivors' simplistic yet enthralling gameplay, engaging loop, and endless content make coming back for "one more run" so easy.

June

Game 25: Planet of Lana

Developer: Wishfully
Played on: Series X via Game Pass
Release: 2023

Playtime: 3 hours 40 minutes
Rating: 7.5
Thoughts: Visually and audibly, Planet of Lana is stunning. However, the gameplay doesn't do much to differentiate it from other puzzle platformers.

Game 26: Pokemon Scarlet

Developer: Game Freak
Played on: Switch
Release: 2022

Playtime: 36 hours 55 minutes
Rating: 6.5
Thoughts: Pokemon Scarlet has all the ingredients to be the best mainline Pokemon. Unfortunately, severe technical issues and an unwillingness to adapt hold it back.

Game 27: The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero

Developer: Nihon Falcom
Played on: Switch
Release: 2022

Playtime: 52 hours 1 minute
Rating: 9
Thoughts: Minor technical hiccups aside, Trails from Zero packs a thrilling story, a stunning soundtrack — one of Trails' best — and a lovable cast.

Game 28: Somerville

Developer: Jumpship
Played on: Series X via Game Pass
Release: 2022

Playtime: 3 hours 6 minutes
Rating: 6
Thoughts: Interesting concepts and inventive puzzles can't redeem Somerville's awful zoomed-out camera.

Game 29: Signalis

Developer: rose-engine
Played on: Switch
Release: 2022

Playtime: 8 hours 9 minutes
Rating: 7.5
Thoughts: Signalis is old-school survival horror. That may be refreshing nowadays; however, it comes with some problems, especially when playing with a controller.

Game 30: Strider

Developer: Double Helix Games
Played on: Steam Deck
Release: 2014

Playtime: 4 hours 58 minutes
Rating: 7.5
Thoughts: Although it doesn't take full advantage of the shift to search action, Double Helix's Strider is a faithful reboot of Capcom's arcade classic.

Game 31: River City Girls

Developer: WayForward
Played on: Switch
Release: 2019

Rating: 8
Thoughts: A really good first effort for Wayforward's revival of Kunio-kun.

Game 32: Adios

Developer: Mischief
Played on: Series X via Games with Gold
Release: 2021

Playtime: 1 hour 12 minutes
Rating: 7.5
Thoughts: Don't let the crude graphics and lack of interactivity dissuade you. Adios' gripping story is well worth your time.

Game 33: Hoa

Developer: Skrollcat Studio
Played on: Series X via Games with Gold
Release: 2021

Playtime: 1 hour 59 minutes
Rating: 7
Thoughts: Beautiful art and solid controls make Hoa incredibly approachable. Unfortunately, the abstract ending leaves it off on a sour note.