Iris.Fall

Iris.Fall

Iris.Fall is a puzzle adventure featuring eye-catching monochrome-style visuals and gameplay based on light and shadows. It features a few interesting puzzles, but with only eight rather small areas to explore there’s not much to keep players hooked. In addition, the inclusion of a few tedious puzzles and a story that is not very memorable makes the game a bit harder to recommend. Nevertheless, while the game doesn’t excel in any particular aspect, it is a competent title that has its moments.

Gameplay: Iris.Fall features plenty of puzzles involving the manipulation of light and shadows along with a few other brain teasers that shouldn’t stump puzzle veterans for too long.

Graphics: The visual style looks really good and while the game does not have a lot of locations they are all very detailed and unique.

Sound: The soundtrack is rather subdued and the game lacks any type of voice-overs, but the ambient sounds do a great job of maintaining the atmosphere

Huntdown

Huntdown

Huntdown is a side-scrolling run-and-gun shooter featuring three bounty hunters on a mission to take down various criminal gangs. The presentation of the game is great and the beautiful pixel art visuals coupled with the synth-heavy soundtrack make for a very enjoyable, not to mention nostalgic, experience. Huntdown can be challenging and each of the twenty levels ends in a tricky boss battle, but the game remains fair throughout and fans of the genre will definitely not want to miss out on this one.

Gameplay: Non-stop action and some of the best bosses that we have seen in the genre since the 16-bit era.

Graphics: The beautiful pixel art visuals really shine thanks to incredible animations and detailed levels.

Sound: Huntdown features both an incredible synthesizer soundtrack as well as top-notch voice acting for all the characters

Geometric Sniper

Geometric Sniper

Geometric Sniper sees players taking on the role of Andrew, a sniper working for a secret division that takes down bad guys for the good of the country. It plays out like a hidden object game where the goal is to find specific targets in crowded black-and-white line art environments. However, time limits, limited bullets, and targets that can blend in with other look-alikes add some tension to the formula. There are some frustrating elements to the game, but the number of game modes and budget price make up for this. It won’t appeal to all fans of hidden object games, but does something new with the genre and is worth a look.

Gameplay: Memorize how your targets look and then find them through the scope of your sniper rifle before it is too late.

Graphics: While the visuals look like a typical Flash game the style suits the gameplay and adds to the challenge.

Sound: The music and sound effects are rather forgettable, but doesn’t detract from the experience

Frog Detective 1: The Haunted Island

Frog Detective 1: The Haunted Island

Frog Detective 1: The Haunted Island is a very short, very linear, and very easy adventure starring a detective who is also a frog. This case takes players to a tiny island where a small sloth has been the victim of haunting for weeks. Players must crack the case and figure out if there is really a mysterious ghost behind it all or if something else is afoot. The game can be completed in less than an hour and barely contains anything that could be considered challenging. However, the charming visuals, irreverent sense of humor, and wacky cast of characters will definitely appeal to some players.

Gameplay: All that is required to solve the mystery is talking to the cast of animal characters and getting them the items that they want.

Graphics: While the 3D visuals lack detail the art style has a lot of charm and the animations in particular can be very funny.

Sound: The soundtrack is decent, but the game lacks sound effects or voice acting to help bring its world more to life

Evan’s Remains

Evan’s Remains

Evan’s Remains is a puzzle platformer that combines logic-based platforming challenges with visual novel-style storytelling. Playing as a young woman named Dysis, players are tasked with making their way along a tropical beach and solving puzzles while searching for a vanished man named Evan. Although very linear, the beautiful 2D pixel art visuals and moving soundtrack make the game a joy to play. However, the focus is very much on the story, so frequent cut-scenes punctuate the brief puzzle platforming sequences. The game is not without its flaws, but overall it is a moving and memorable title.

Gameplay: The puzzle platforming sections are fun, but only serve as brief interludes for the main focus of the game, which is the story.

Graphics: The pixel art looks beautiful and the game features some excellent backgrounds and fluid animations.

Sound: The soundtrack remains calm and soothing throughout while the sound effects are crisp and clear

Dungeon Marathon

Dungeon Marathon

A hag has tricked a Warrior, Valkyrie, Wizard, and Dwarf into thinking that perilous dungeons are actually gyms and players must help the unarmed heroes make it through them unscathed. This involves dodging or running away from hazards and enemies while collecting keys to open gates and grabbing apples to stay healthy. Apart from a poison mechanic and a few power-ups that is all there is to the game, but while short-lived Dungeon Marathon can be fun and is certainly quite unique.

Gameplay: Instead of fighting, players must run for their lives while trying to find the exit to each short dungeon.

Graphics: The retro-style visuals have a certain nostalgic appeal, but are still very basic and not that memorable.

Sound: The music and sound effects get the job done, but neither stand out in any way

CATch The Stars

CATch The Stars

CATch the Stars is a charming and minimalist puzzle game that challenges players to move stars in the correct order to complete constellations. The puzzles veer towards the easy side, but the soothing soundtrack, beautiful silhouette backgrounds, and wallet-friendly price tag make CATch the Stars worth a closer look for fans of the genre.

Gameplay: The game concept is easy to grasp and even the introduction of new mechanics doesn’t complicate the formula too much.

Graphics: While it only features four different backgrounds, the whole look and feel of the game is very charming.

Sound: The piano soundtrack is a perfect match for the relaxing nature of the game

Barro

Barro

Barro is a barebones racing game that is unlikely to appeal to anyone except for casual players or those looking for something that can be completed in less than an hour. Everything from the visuals to the audio is minimal at best and while the game doesn’t have any critical bugs or flaws it is extremely bland and easy. Players looking for an easy challenge or want a simple racing game that can be played in local split-screen mode can do worse than spend their pocket change on this game, but for everyone else, there are far better options.

Gameplay: The game features a decent amount of tracks, but they are all very short and easy.

Graphics: Visually Barro looks extremely generic and there’s nothing to distinguish it from all the other games that use simple store-bought assets.

Sound: As with everything else in the game the audio in Barro is very minimal and the lack of music just highlights how lackluster the sound effects are

Anstorm

Anstorm

Anstorm is a straightforward arcade shooter with a unique setting that challenges players to survive hordes of enemies while accomplishing simple objectives. The campaign mode features interesting bosses and some variety in terms of what players must do, but overall the game falls short of what fans of the genre will expect. In addition, the Survival mode, which could have provided the game with some much-needed replay value only serves to highlight its flaws.

Gameplay: The campaign levels in Anstorm are short and can be exciting, but eventually become tedious, while the Survival mode is particularly disappointing.

Graphics: The art style won’t appeal to everyone as the goofy enemy designs are at odds with the epic science fiction story the game is trying to tell.

Sound: While not bad, the music and sound effects are pretty generic and not very memorable

Limbo

Limbo

Limbo plunges players into a bleak and dangerous world as a young boy in search of his sister. The black and white visuals make for a stylish-looking game, but the abundance of traps, enemies, and a physics system that delights in killing players keeps the game challenging throughout. Limbo is a short game, but a memorable one, and despite its flaws comes highly recommended.

Gameplay: The trial-and-error puzzles can be frustrating, but making it through tricky sections is very rewarding.

Graphics: Limbo uses a very minimalist approach for the visuals, but it gives the game a very distinctive look which has since been copied by many other titles.

Sound: The eerie acousmatic music and ambient effects of Limbo are best experienced with a good set of headphones and the game also makes clever use of sound for some puzzles