24: Wuchang: Fallen Feathers
Completely brutal game. Probably the hardest Souls-like if we're talking regular mobs of enemies, but once it clicks it's fun.
Game is thick on Chinese history and mythology, so there's a lot the game leans of outside of it to better appreciate and understand it.
Completely brutal game. Probably the hardest Souls-like if we're talking regular mobs of enemies, but once it clicks it's fun.
Game is thick on Chinese history and mythology, so there's a lot the game leans of outside of it to better appreciate and understand it.
October 30, 2025 at 8:34 PM
24: Wuchang: Fallen Feathers
Completely brutal game. Probably the hardest Souls-like if we're talking regular mobs of enemies, but once it clicks it's fun.
Game is thick on Chinese history and mythology, so there's a lot the game leans of outside of it to better appreciate and understand it.
Completely brutal game. Probably the hardest Souls-like if we're talking regular mobs of enemies, but once it clicks it's fun.
Game is thick on Chinese history and mythology, so there's a lot the game leans of outside of it to better appreciate and understand it.
23: Dead Island: Riptide
A standalone expansion, so it's more of the same. I feel the locations are better designed and for an expansion being as long as the base game, I think that's impressive.
A standalone expansion, so it's more of the same. I feel the locations are better designed and for an expansion being as long as the base game, I think that's impressive.
September 5, 2025 at 12:54 PM
23: Dead Island: Riptide
A standalone expansion, so it's more of the same. I feel the locations are better designed and for an expansion being as long as the base game, I think that's impressive.
A standalone expansion, so it's more of the same. I feel the locations are better designed and for an expansion being as long as the base game, I think that's impressive.
22: Dead Island
Wanting to take a break from hard games, I wanted to give this a try. I never liked the marketing it had, but as a game, I think it's dumb fun. The game does more to make smaller mobs a bigger threat than Dead Rising does with its larger enemy count.
Wanting to take a break from hard games, I wanted to give this a try. I never liked the marketing it had, but as a game, I think it's dumb fun. The game does more to make smaller mobs a bigger threat than Dead Rising does with its larger enemy count.
September 5, 2025 at 12:54 PM
22: Dead Island
Wanting to take a break from hard games, I wanted to give this a try. I never liked the marketing it had, but as a game, I think it's dumb fun. The game does more to make smaller mobs a bigger threat than Dead Rising does with its larger enemy count.
Wanting to take a break from hard games, I wanted to give this a try. I never liked the marketing it had, but as a game, I think it's dumb fun. The game does more to make smaller mobs a bigger threat than Dead Rising does with its larger enemy count.
21: Ninja Gaiden (Genesis)
An unreleased game, I played a version that fixed movement. This is also a beatemup like the original and it acts as a sequel to that game. You can get to the final boss with no technical issue.
Easiest game in the series, but it was never "finished" so that's why.
An unreleased game, I played a version that fixed movement. This is also a beatemup like the original and it acts as a sequel to that game. You can get to the final boss with no technical issue.
Easiest game in the series, but it was never "finished" so that's why.
September 5, 2025 at 12:54 PM
21: Ninja Gaiden (Genesis)
An unreleased game, I played a version that fixed movement. This is also a beatemup like the original and it acts as a sequel to that game. You can get to the final boss with no technical issue.
Easiest game in the series, but it was never "finished" so that's why.
An unreleased game, I played a version that fixed movement. This is also a beatemup like the original and it acts as a sequel to that game. You can get to the final boss with no technical issue.
Easiest game in the series, but it was never "finished" so that's why.
20: Ninja Gaiden (Master System)
I actually liked this one a lot. The way screens transition is something you have to get used to, but this, out of any other 2D Ninja Gaiden game, feels closest to the NES trilogy. The game doesn't take away your ninpo points between levels so you can beast stuff.
I actually liked this one a lot. The way screens transition is something you have to get used to, but this, out of any other 2D Ninja Gaiden game, feels closest to the NES trilogy. The game doesn't take away your ninpo points between levels so you can beast stuff.
September 5, 2025 at 12:54 PM
20: Ninja Gaiden (Master System)
I actually liked this one a lot. The way screens transition is something you have to get used to, but this, out of any other 2D Ninja Gaiden game, feels closest to the NES trilogy. The game doesn't take away your ninpo points between levels so you can beast stuff.
I actually liked this one a lot. The way screens transition is something you have to get used to, but this, out of any other 2D Ninja Gaiden game, feels closest to the NES trilogy. The game doesn't take away your ninpo points between levels so you can beast stuff.
19: Ninja Gaiden (Game Gear)
Very strange, this one. It feels like a crossbreed of Shinobi and Ninja Gaiden mechanically. It's by far the easiest Ninja Gaiden that got officially released. The final fight is just about the only place that doesn't let you steamroll the game.
Very strange, this one. It feels like a crossbreed of Shinobi and Ninja Gaiden mechanically. It's by far the easiest Ninja Gaiden that got officially released. The final fight is just about the only place that doesn't let you steamroll the game.
September 5, 2025 at 12:54 PM
19: Ninja Gaiden (Game Gear)
Very strange, this one. It feels like a crossbreed of Shinobi and Ninja Gaiden mechanically. It's by far the easiest Ninja Gaiden that got officially released. The final fight is just about the only place that doesn't let you steamroll the game.
Very strange, this one. It feels like a crossbreed of Shinobi and Ninja Gaiden mechanically. It's by far the easiest Ninja Gaiden that got officially released. The final fight is just about the only place that doesn't let you steamroll the game.
18: Ninja Gaiden Trilogy
This is three games and I played all three. I genuinely forgot how fucking brutal the first two games were and how enemy placement is much more deliberate than Castlevania. I think the second game is cruel, and the third ends up a bit too easy because enemies don't respawn.
This is three games and I played all three. I genuinely forgot how fucking brutal the first two games were and how enemy placement is much more deliberate than Castlevania. I think the second game is cruel, and the third ends up a bit too easy because enemies don't respawn.
September 5, 2025 at 12:54 PM
18: Ninja Gaiden Trilogy
This is three games and I played all three. I genuinely forgot how fucking brutal the first two games were and how enemy placement is much more deliberate than Castlevania. I think the second game is cruel, and the third ends up a bit too easy because enemies don't respawn.
This is three games and I played all three. I genuinely forgot how fucking brutal the first two games were and how enemy placement is much more deliberate than Castlevania. I think the second game is cruel, and the third ends up a bit too easy because enemies don't respawn.
17: Ninja Gaiden Arcade
I always wanted to play the *original* game but never got around to it, so the Ninja Gaiden bug got me here. This is a beatemup, one of only two in the whole series. This comes from a period where beatemups didn't have a "standard" to follow, so it has some quirks. HARD tho.
I always wanted to play the *original* game but never got around to it, so the Ninja Gaiden bug got me here. This is a beatemup, one of only two in the whole series. This comes from a period where beatemups didn't have a "standard" to follow, so it has some quirks. HARD tho.
September 5, 2025 at 12:54 PM
17: Ninja Gaiden Arcade
I always wanted to play the *original* game but never got around to it, so the Ninja Gaiden bug got me here. This is a beatemup, one of only two in the whole series. This comes from a period where beatemups didn't have a "standard" to follow, so it has some quirks. HARD tho.
I always wanted to play the *original* game but never got around to it, so the Ninja Gaiden bug got me here. This is a beatemup, one of only two in the whole series. This comes from a period where beatemups didn't have a "standard" to follow, so it has some quirks. HARD tho.
16: Ninja Gaiden Shadow
Ragebound put a Ninja Gaiden bug in me, so I went to play other games in the series. This one's a weird one, as it's part Ninja Gaiden and part Shadow of the Ninja, a completely different IP. As such, it's actually quite easy. Short and fun.
Ragebound put a Ninja Gaiden bug in me, so I went to play other games in the series. This one's a weird one, as it's part Ninja Gaiden and part Shadow of the Ninja, a completely different IP. As such, it's actually quite easy. Short and fun.
September 5, 2025 at 12:54 PM
16: Ninja Gaiden Shadow
Ragebound put a Ninja Gaiden bug in me, so I went to play other games in the series. This one's a weird one, as it's part Ninja Gaiden and part Shadow of the Ninja, a completely different IP. As such, it's actually quite easy. Short and fun.
Ragebound put a Ninja Gaiden bug in me, so I went to play other games in the series. This one's a weird one, as it's part Ninja Gaiden and part Shadow of the Ninja, a completely different IP. As such, it's actually quite easy. Short and fun.
15: Ninja Gaiden Ragebound
Very hard but very fun game. I found the main game pretty easy until about Act 4 and the unlockable stages didn't seem to be too challenging: some are easier than main game stages. Might play this on Hard in the future, which overhauls the whole game.
Very hard but very fun game. I found the main game pretty easy until about Act 4 and the unlockable stages didn't seem to be too challenging: some are easier than main game stages. Might play this on Hard in the future, which overhauls the whole game.
August 9, 2025 at 5:02 PM
15: Ninja Gaiden Ragebound
Very hard but very fun game. I found the main game pretty easy until about Act 4 and the unlockable stages didn't seem to be too challenging: some are easier than main game stages. Might play this on Hard in the future, which overhauls the whole game.
Very hard but very fun game. I found the main game pretty easy until about Act 4 and the unlockable stages didn't seem to be too challenging: some are easier than main game stages. Might play this on Hard in the future, which overhauls the whole game.
14: Kirby Super Star
Replayed this with a friend and it's still fun. Seeing it with more modern eyes makes me notice more of its shortcomings to justify the "so many games in one" idea, but it's fun all the same. Some powers are BUSTED but that's the charm.
Replayed this with a friend and it's still fun. Seeing it with more modern eyes makes me notice more of its shortcomings to justify the "so many games in one" idea, but it's fun all the same. Some powers are BUSTED but that's the charm.
August 9, 2025 at 5:02 PM
14: Kirby Super Star
Replayed this with a friend and it's still fun. Seeing it with more modern eyes makes me notice more of its shortcomings to justify the "so many games in one" idea, but it's fun all the same. Some powers are BUSTED but that's the charm.
Replayed this with a friend and it's still fun. Seeing it with more modern eyes makes me notice more of its shortcomings to justify the "so many games in one" idea, but it's fun all the same. Some powers are BUSTED but that's the charm.
13: Donkey Kong Bananza
Incredible game. I think it's far better than Mario Odyssey and unlike in that game I feel a lot of the new ideas they incorporate compliment the character a lot more than Odyssey's hat mechanics. It has one of the best endgame sequences I've seen in a Nintendo game too.
Incredible game. I think it's far better than Mario Odyssey and unlike in that game I feel a lot of the new ideas they incorporate compliment the character a lot more than Odyssey's hat mechanics. It has one of the best endgame sequences I've seen in a Nintendo game too.
August 9, 2025 at 5:02 PM
13: Donkey Kong Bananza
Incredible game. I think it's far better than Mario Odyssey and unlike in that game I feel a lot of the new ideas they incorporate compliment the character a lot more than Odyssey's hat mechanics. It has one of the best endgame sequences I've seen in a Nintendo game too.
Incredible game. I think it's far better than Mario Odyssey and unlike in that game I feel a lot of the new ideas they incorporate compliment the character a lot more than Odyssey's hat mechanics. It has one of the best endgame sequences I've seen in a Nintendo game too.
12: Darkwatch
Wanted to play something simple, so I replayed this game with 60fps mods. Very short and sweet western shooter game, and a shame nothing more was done with it than just the original title. Capcom and Activision dropped the ball with this IP.
Wanted to play something simple, so I replayed this game with 60fps mods. Very short and sweet western shooter game, and a shame nothing more was done with it than just the original title. Capcom and Activision dropped the ball with this IP.
August 9, 2025 at 5:02 PM
12: Darkwatch
Wanted to play something simple, so I replayed this game with 60fps mods. Very short and sweet western shooter game, and a shame nothing more was done with it than just the original title. Capcom and Activision dropped the ball with this IP.
Wanted to play something simple, so I replayed this game with 60fps mods. Very short and sweet western shooter game, and a shame nothing more was done with it than just the original title. Capcom and Activision dropped the ball with this IP.
11: Lies of P
Fantastic game. I don't think it meets the "Bloodborne 2" comparisons people give it as I believe it's not as dark or foreboding as Bloodborne, but for what it is, it's fantastic. I really liked how it weaved different fairytales and popular stories into one larger narrative.
Fantastic game. I don't think it meets the "Bloodborne 2" comparisons people give it as I believe it's not as dark or foreboding as Bloodborne, but for what it is, it's fantastic. I really liked how it weaved different fairytales and popular stories into one larger narrative.
July 16, 2025 at 2:20 AM
11: Lies of P
Fantastic game. I don't think it meets the "Bloodborne 2" comparisons people give it as I believe it's not as dark or foreboding as Bloodborne, but for what it is, it's fantastic. I really liked how it weaved different fairytales and popular stories into one larger narrative.
Fantastic game. I don't think it meets the "Bloodborne 2" comparisons people give it as I believe it's not as dark or foreboding as Bloodborne, but for what it is, it's fantastic. I really liked how it weaved different fairytales and popular stories into one larger narrative.
10: Chronicles of the Wolf
This was a game I had hype for, and it delivered mostly what I wanted out of it. I'm not too familiar with the French lore the game uses as its backdrop, so I can't comment if the appearance of a castle is a bridge too far.
Music is *amazing*.
This was a game I had hype for, and it delivered mostly what I wanted out of it. I'm not too familiar with the French lore the game uses as its backdrop, so I can't comment if the appearance of a castle is a bridge too far.
Music is *amazing*.
June 30, 2025 at 10:51 PM
10: Chronicles of the Wolf
This was a game I had hype for, and it delivered mostly what I wanted out of it. I'm not too familiar with the French lore the game uses as its backdrop, so I can't comment if the appearance of a castle is a bridge too far.
Music is *amazing*.
This was a game I had hype for, and it delivered mostly what I wanted out of it. I'm not too familiar with the French lore the game uses as its backdrop, so I can't comment if the appearance of a castle is a bridge too far.
Music is *amazing*.
9: Carpathian Night
ANOTHER vania clone. Of the titles the western vania fan community, this is the closest to a classicvania. I found it fun even if I did notice vast differences in quality amongst the sprites and assets for the game. Some of the stuff in this looks straight up unfinished.
ANOTHER vania clone. Of the titles the western vania fan community, this is the closest to a classicvania. I found it fun even if I did notice vast differences in quality amongst the sprites and assets for the game. Some of the stuff in this looks straight up unfinished.
June 30, 2025 at 10:47 PM
9: Carpathian Night
ANOTHER vania clone. Of the titles the western vania fan community, this is the closest to a classicvania. I found it fun even if I did notice vast differences in quality amongst the sprites and assets for the game. Some of the stuff in this looks straight up unfinished.
ANOTHER vania clone. Of the titles the western vania fan community, this is the closest to a classicvania. I found it fun even if I did notice vast differences in quality amongst the sprites and assets for the game. Some of the stuff in this looks straight up unfinished.
8: The Soul of Dracula
Yet another vania clone. This one was made when the original series was put to rest in 2010 and is inspired by the Game Boy games. I found it very difficult and found it impressive it was made by just one person. The graphics have a very early PC Engine vibe to them, too.
Yet another vania clone. This one was made when the original series was put to rest in 2010 and is inspired by the Game Boy games. I found it very difficult and found it impressive it was made by just one person. The graphics have a very early PC Engine vibe to them, too.
June 30, 2025 at 10:44 PM
8: The Soul of Dracula
Yet another vania clone. This one was made when the original series was put to rest in 2010 and is inspired by the Game Boy games. I found it very difficult and found it impressive it was made by just one person. The graphics have a very early PC Engine vibe to them, too.
Yet another vania clone. This one was made when the original series was put to rest in 2010 and is inspired by the Game Boy games. I found it very difficult and found it impressive it was made by just one person. The graphics have a very early PC Engine vibe to them, too.
7: Master of Darkness
Sega was known for making games that imitated their competitors, and this was their attempt at Castlevania. I think this is the oldest vania clone. It tries to mix that gameplay with the Bram Stoker universe and I think it did it better than actual Stoker licensed games.
Sega was known for making games that imitated their competitors, and this was their attempt at Castlevania. I think this is the oldest vania clone. It tries to mix that gameplay with the Bram Stoker universe and I think it did it better than actual Stoker licensed games.
June 30, 2025 at 10:42 PM
7: Master of Darkness
Sega was known for making games that imitated their competitors, and this was their attempt at Castlevania. I think this is the oldest vania clone. It tries to mix that gameplay with the Bram Stoker universe and I think it did it better than actual Stoker licensed games.
Sega was known for making games that imitated their competitors, and this was their attempt at Castlevania. I think this is the oldest vania clone. It tries to mix that gameplay with the Bram Stoker universe and I think it did it better than actual Stoker licensed games.
6: Way of the Hunter
I only beat the main story (there's five campaigns) and I've never played a hunting game before. I can admire simulation games and knowing former ArmA devs worked on this made it appealing to me.
It's a *very* slow game though.
I only beat the main story (there's five campaigns) and I've never played a hunting game before. I can admire simulation games and knowing former ArmA devs worked on this made it appealing to me.
It's a *very* slow game though.
June 30, 2025 at 10:39 PM
6: Way of the Hunter
I only beat the main story (there's five campaigns) and I've never played a hunting game before. I can admire simulation games and knowing former ArmA devs worked on this made it appealing to me.
It's a *very* slow game though.
I only beat the main story (there's five campaigns) and I've never played a hunting game before. I can admire simulation games and knowing former ArmA devs worked on this made it appealing to me.
It's a *very* slow game though.
Gonna get used to this death screen I guess
June 21, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Gonna get used to this death screen I guess
5: Last Train Home
I finished the main game last year, but I did the Legion Tales this month. It's a really fun WWI-era RTS and I liked the whole surviving by the skin of your teeth tension that escalates as the game continues.
You can also BREAK the economy, shhh.
I finished the main game last year, but I did the Legion Tales this month. It's a really fun WWI-era RTS and I liked the whole surviving by the skin of your teeth tension that escalates as the game continues.
You can also BREAK the economy, shhh.
January 22, 2025 at 11:57 PM
5: Last Train Home
I finished the main game last year, but I did the Legion Tales this month. It's a really fun WWI-era RTS and I liked the whole surviving by the skin of your teeth tension that escalates as the game continues.
You can also BREAK the economy, shhh.
I finished the main game last year, but I did the Legion Tales this month. It's a really fun WWI-era RTS and I liked the whole surviving by the skin of your teeth tension that escalates as the game continues.
You can also BREAK the economy, shhh.
THERE'S A WHIP IN THIS GAME
January 17, 2025 at 10:23 AM
THERE'S A WHIP IN THIS GAME
4: Castlevania Nocturne Season 2
Happy they were allowed to finish the story they tried to tell, but this didn't land well with me. It has the same issue as season one: half of it is all backstory and there's a lot of silly Saturday morning cartoon coincidences.
Fun fights though.
Happy they were allowed to finish the story they tried to tell, but this didn't land well with me. It has the same issue as season one: half of it is all backstory and there's a lot of silly Saturday morning cartoon coincidences.
Fun fights though.
January 17, 2025 at 8:20 AM
4: Castlevania Nocturne Season 2
Happy they were allowed to finish the story they tried to tell, but this didn't land well with me. It has the same issue as season one: half of it is all backstory and there's a lot of silly Saturday morning cartoon coincidences.
Fun fights though.
Happy they were allowed to finish the story they tried to tell, but this didn't land well with me. It has the same issue as season one: half of it is all backstory and there's a lot of silly Saturday morning cartoon coincidences.
Fun fights though.
3: Saboten Bombers
Very short but fun game. It has a Bubble Bobble/Snow Bros loop where you have to kill all of the enemies on screen, and you play as the coolest looking cactus sprites I've seen.
Music is very simple and there's not much of it for a 100 level game. Charming aesthetic, though.
Very short but fun game. It has a Bubble Bobble/Snow Bros loop where you have to kill all of the enemies on screen, and you play as the coolest looking cactus sprites I've seen.
Music is very simple and there's not much of it for a 100 level game. Charming aesthetic, though.
January 14, 2025 at 9:49 AM
3: Saboten Bombers
Very short but fun game. It has a Bubble Bobble/Snow Bros loop where you have to kill all of the enemies on screen, and you play as the coolest looking cactus sprites I've seen.
Music is very simple and there's not much of it for a 100 level game. Charming aesthetic, though.
Very short but fun game. It has a Bubble Bobble/Snow Bros loop where you have to kill all of the enemies on screen, and you play as the coolest looking cactus sprites I've seen.
Music is very simple and there's not much of it for a 100 level game. Charming aesthetic, though.