Coded Mass

Absolum is the first rogue-like I have ever finished. Absolum might also be the best beat-’em-up I have ever played. And Absolum demonstrates the craftsmanship of DotEmu and Guard Crush Games. Under their mastery, the genre’s repetition becomes something to look forward to.

Not since “Red Faction: Guerilla” has destruction felt so satisfactory. Decidedly one-note, Nintendo managed to keep its core mechanics refreshing until the end. More than any other game on this list, Bananza feels like an extravagant cartoon adventure, with each new biome inviting exploration. While not every zone feels as inventive – looking at you, Feast layer – the game’s pacing is quick to propel you to new sceneries and challenges.

Powerhoof’s The Drifter is an Australian point-and-click pulp adventure. Like Absolum, The Drifter serves as a gateway drug. And like the former, the latter cleverly sidesteps some of the tedious traits newcomers – myself included – might associate with the genre. There are no protracted pixel hunts, nor do puzzles require moon logic to solve. Fail-states favour experimentation and humour over frequent frustration. On an audio-visual level, the minimalist yet highly evocative pixel art and atmospheric tonal palette grounded in warm blues and reds is accompanied by an appropriately eighties synth-based cinematic score and a superb voice cast. Inspired by John Carpenter, this Aussie thriller never feels derivative. Rather, it’s a distinct, nostalgic ode to lost camp.

In The Drifter, you play as a grieving homeless father who stumbles his way into a time-bending neo-noir conspiracy. You are always made to feel like a detective by accident. The Séance of Blake Manor takes a different approach to sleuthing. Daunting at first, the game’s carefully crafted mysteries offer enough narrative branches for you to never truly feel lost. While progression is funnelled, you never feel without agency or control. And though time management is critical, the game also respects your time: it’s a multi-layered whodunnit, the secrets of which you can discover upon your first playthrough.

Onion Games’ spiritual successor to their cult-classic Moon Remix RPG is, like most of their portfolio, a cult classic upon arrival as well. Gameplay acts as a plot device. Similar to the Shin Megami Tensei franchise, your dog-faced hero can converse with the game’s elders, who are metaphorical representations of the anxiety, dullness, and monotony of adult life. Unfortunately, these prosaic elements remain opaque. Consequently, most of the game’s narrative core is likely to remain hidden to anyone not committed to the bit. Perhaps then, for those with little time or audacity, but for whom observing the game’s whimsical environment would suffice, Stray Children is best enjoyed with a guide in hand.