The First Berserker: Khazan is more Niohlike than true Soulslike - almost to the point of being derivative. At its very best, that stands as a flattering comparison - evoking that tight, snappy gameplay feel that many games fail to recreate. But at its lowest points, it leaves me wanting more - and here’s why.

Nobody Nowhere is a tightly paced, 2D side scrolling narrative adventure that sits somewhere in the realm of point-and-clicks and visual novels. Following the story of a newly awakened Replicant, made as a part of a program to create vessels for transferring human consciousness and cheating mortality, Nobody Nowhere hits hard and fast with a memorable plot that makes great use of its 3 hour runtime.

Every once in a while, you trip over a game that totally skipped your radar and it turns out to be exactly what you were looking for. Call it luck, call it kismet, call it whatever you like – but that’s what happened for me with Nobody Nowhere. Find out if this hidden indie gem of 2025 is one that should be on your list too.

Ender Magnolia is one of best new games kicking off 2025. As a sequel, it succeeds in most every way of refining what made the first game great with one or two small caveats. With unforgettable art & music and a world that's a joy to explore, this is a Metroidvania to pay attention to.

As a sequel to one of my favorite indies of all time, Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist came with the potential to be something truly special for me. With that in mind, you can find more dispassionate and technical reviews of Ender Magnolia out on the wide web somewhere. But if you want a personal account of what it was like for one enamored nerd to play this game? You will find that here.

Bloomtown is a flawed gem but how much its flaws matter is up to you. For me, the charm of this town & the Persona-like gameplay far outweighed the blemishes.

Visions of Mana is a step forward for the franchise - offering an experience that is both fun and beautiful. But in many ways, core elements of the game design are still outdated and lack some depth.