McPixel PC Game Reviews

McPixel

McPixel is a puzzle game parody of MacGuyver in which players are given twenty seconds to save the day and disarm some type of explosive. The catch is that the solution is often illogical or bizarre and usually requires more luck or trial and error than puzzle-solving skills. Nevertheless, the game is entertaining and offers a ton of content, along with a level editor. While it won’t appeal to everyone, McPixel is far better than the visuals might make you think.

Gameplay: The game is a lot of fun but best played in short bursts.

Graphics: Even with the various filter options, the visuals won’t win any awards.

Sound: The soundtrack is catchy but highly repetitive

Clash Force PC Game Reviews

Clash Force

Clash Force is a retro-style platformer with three playable characters and gameplay that feels like a mix of Mega Man and Contra. Unfortunately, it is a very short and shallow experience with nothing new to offer fans of the genre. There is still some fun to be had with the game, but with so many better games available, it’s best to grab this one at a steep discount.

Gameplay: Clash Force is all about running and gunning while traversing a few platforms.

Graphics: The visuals look a little better than actual 8-bit titles but lack the charm of similar games.

Sound: The soundtrack is decent but unremarkable, and the audio options are a little lacking

The Little Acre PC Game Reviews

The Little Acre

The Little Acre is a charming hand-drawn point-and-click adventure with two playable characters and two very different settings. Players play as a young man named Aiden and his daughter Lily and must guide them around their home in 1950s Ireland and a strange alien world called Clonfira. However, the short duration and straightforward puzzles mean The Little Acre will be more appealing to newcomers to the genre and not so much to point-and-click adventure veterans.

Gameplay: The puzzles are logical, and the game is fun to play, but it is also very short, and the final part feels rushed.

Graphics: The hand-drawn animations are a highlight, but The Little Acre only has a few locations for players to explore.

Sound: The voice acting is decent for a small indie title, and the music is fitting but unmemorable

Zool Redimensioned PC Game Reviews

Zool Redimensioned

Zool returns after almost three decades of limbo in a reimagined version of his Megadrive outing. This retro platformer boasts a few improvements compared to the original, including more accessibility options, a zoomed-out view, and level select, but remains true to its roots. Zool Redimensioned also includes an emulated version of the Megadrive game as a bonus and a more challenging “Ultimate Ninja Mode.” Despite these, it is still a short-lived experience that will primarily appeal to fans of the original.

Gameplay: The game is short but offers a nice slice of retro-style platforming entertainment.

Graphics: The new zoomed-out view is great, but the levels still look very cluttered at times, making it hard to spot hazards.

Sound: The audio remains true to the original game with plenty of catchy tunes

The Deadly Tower of Monsters PC Game Reviews

The Deadly Tower of Monsters

The Deadly Tower of Monsters challenges players to make their way up an enormous tower while dispatching an assortment of B-movie monsters. The whole game is framed as a DVD re-release of an old sci-fi movie, complete with commentary by the director. It obviously doesn’t take itself very seriously, and some elements, like the camera, can be a little annoying, but the game is a blast to play from start to finish.

Gameplay: Players spend most of their time hacking, slashing, shooting, and platforming, but freefalling off the tower is a lot of fun, too.

Graphics: The attention to detail is excellent, from the stop-motion enemies to the dizzying heights from which players can freefall.

Sound: The soundtrack is really good, and while the commentary might not be everyone’s cup of tea, it is really well done

Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion PC Game Reviews

Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion

After committing tax evasion, Turnip Boy is indebted to the mayor of Veggieville, who sends him off on all kinds of fetch quests in this lighthearted, top-down adventure. The game is short and accessible, with plenty of humor, but the memes and pop culture references might not appeal to everyone. It also features quite a bit of backtracking for such a short game. Nevertheless, it’s hard not to be charmed by Turnip Boy and his weird obsession with ripping up every piece of paper he finds.

Gameplay: Players must help Turnip Boy explore Veggieville and its surroundings while killing enemies, solving puzzles, and fetching items for NPCs.

Graphics: The visual style resembles a Gameboy Color Legend of Zelda game but has plenty of charm.

Sound: The soundtrack for the game is varied and quite catchy

FAR: Lone Sails PC Game Reviews

FAR: Lone Sails

FAR: Lone Sails is a vehicle adventure game that is all about the journey towards an unknown destination. Controlling a vehicle that feels like it was cobbled together and designed for a bigger crew requires some multi-tasking, but the stunning views make it worthwhile. Despite being relatively short, the game also feels very epic, and traversing a zombie-free apocalypse has never been this much fun.

Gameplay: Playing the game requires juggling multiple tasks, but it never becomes overwhelming, and the puzzle platforming sections are not too challenging either.

Graphics: The painterly look of the mostly gray visuals is a perfect match for the lonely and desolate feel of the game.

Sound: The soundtrack is great, and even in quiet moments, the sound effects enhance the game’s atmosphere

Paratopic PC Game Reviews

Paratopic

Paratopic is a game about smuggling VHS tapes across the border, but how it presents itself is more like a fever dream than a traditional adventure. To unnerve players even further, the visuals look like they are straight from the 32-bit era of horror titles, and the distorted speech sounds as creepy as can be. Even the story is split between three characters and plays out in disjointed vignettes that abruptly cut between each other. Despite all this and the short length of the game, it is a memorable experience and will definitely find an audience amongst certain players. 

Gameplay: Paratopic is short, baffling, unnerving and somehow also very compelling and memorable. 

Graphics: The 32-bit visuals look like they wouldn’t tax a Playstation One, but the frame rate is smooth, and the low-poly aesthetic really fits the game’s style. 

Sound: The soundtrack consists of silence punctuated by synthesizers and droning sounds, while the distorted speech is unsettling, to say the least. 

Blackwell Unbound PC Game Reviews

Blackwell Unbound

Blackwell Unbound is the second title in the Blackwell series, but it is a prequel instead of a sequel to The Blackwell Legacy. Instead of Roseangela, players take control of her aunt, Lauren Blackwell. Along with her spirit guide, Joey, Lauren must track down two ghosts and help them move on to the afterlife. However, to do so, she must first figure out what is keeping them from doing so themselves. Blackwell Unbound is short but entertaining, and despite some flaws, it will appeal to fans of classic point-and-click adventures. 

Gameplay: Players must talk to various NPCs and gather clues to piece together the mysteries of Blackwell Unbound.

Graphics: The visuals are designed to look like low-res titles from the DOS era and succeed in this regard.

Sound: The quality of the soundtrack and the voice acting are good.      

Assemble with Care PC Game Reviews

Assemble with Care

Assemble With Care casts players in the role of Maria, an antique restorer who arrives in the town of Bellariva seeking to finance her travels with some repair jobs. While she finds plenty of unique things to repair, Maria also learns more about her clients and herself in the process. Assemble With Care is a cozy and charming game that lacks any challenge but is still entertaining while it lasts. 

Gameplay: The game is very short and lacks any challenge, but the story is good, and the repairs, as basic as they are, are very satisfying to do.

Graphics: The pastel-colored visuals are very easy on the eyes, and the overall art style of the game is very charming. 

Sound: The music and sound effects are good, but the voice acting is superb for an indie title.