We’re here to Friday, and well, we have some unusual genres represented today! The most surprising are the runner games; there are three linked in today’s post! Some other genres with significant mention include puzzle games and visual-novel style titles.
For me; the ones I want to highlight are a “shmup” where the focus is on dodging missiles instead of firing a gun; a puzzle game like Tetris, but the playfield has earthquakes and moves around on you; and a comedy JRPG that constantly spoils the story, even in the title! Oh, and Gravebound is quite popular!
It seems like there is a lot of fun to be had for this week. I hope you enjoy these! By the way, the Epic Games Store title is at the very bottom of the post.
As I’ve shared before, all the images in this post are from their respective Steam sales pages. Thank you!
Arcane Archer (3D Speedrunning Platformer)
If you like speedrunning games or parkour, then this may be worth checking out. You use a crossbow to lift yourself up into the air and then move toward platforms that are spaced throughout the level in a 3D space as quickly as possible. I did think that the trailer seemed a bit slow, but the 100% of the 10 reviews are positive. I liked that people described it as being more fun than other parkour-focused games, so that’s a good sign!
Brainrot’s HAMSTER GAME (Runner)
Many of us know what the life of a hamster is like. Whenever they get in their wheel they just keep on going and going, but this one has flames and other deadly obstacles! It is our first runner game for the week, and I really enjoyed the absurdity of the trailer. It seems to be getting some popularity, 100% of its 11 reviews are positive!
Empower Your Intent (Educational Rhythm)
I like it when I see a game with a clear purpose and goal in mind, especially whenever it’s something that is not focused on just playing a video game. For this one, it is a rhythm-based title that is trying to help the player to reclaim their focus and relax. It’s not about just going after the continual dopamine hits of other video games. Intriguing!
Endor Awakens: Roguelite DRPG (Dungeon Crawler Roguelike)
A dungeon crawler roguelike RPG with procedurally generated levels featuring a wide variety of floors, monsters, and items. According to the trailer, this is also available on Android and Apple phones, so it is a port of a mobile game. I do have an interest in games like these where gameplay and character progression is a big part of the appeal. I hope it’s good! Note: It does use some AI-generated assets.
Eternal Circus: Dancing with Missiles (Shmup Adjacent)
Most shmups are focused on a careful balance of attacking the enemy and dodging attacks. In this game, the focus is slanted toward one extreme, with dodging missiles being the primary focus. You can only attack the boss when you have enough energy to do so, and you build that energy level by filling your EC Drive and dodging missiles. Riskier plays increase energy faster, so being in danger also allows you to attack the boss sooner. It sounds like a great idea, and I really like the art design!
Flowloop& (Time-trial Racer)
For fans of anti-gravity racers Flowloop& seems to be an interesting choice. It uses procedurally generated racetracks with a really cool art style. However, it is a bit minimalistic since there’s not a lot going on in the background. Nor are there any other racers with you. It’s mainly a time trial racer to see how long you can last before falling off the course. I still like the style of it, though! By the way, the use of “&” in the title is an impressive design choice since it fits with the way the tracks loop back in on themselves often.
The Final Print (Detective Adventure)
Here you are journalist in Harlem seeking to clear someone who has been wrongly accused. This is done through investigating crime scenes, taking photos, and interrogating witnesses. It has a really realistic look to it and I liked the tone of the trailer a great deal! I hope people enjoy it.
Final Rounds (Runner)
This is the first of our runner games that we have for this week. You seem to be a orb that is traveling through a weird psychedelic space and you’re trying to avoid obstacles while increasing your high score. The art design seems really remarkable and looks like it could be a lot of additive fun! 91% of 36 reviews are positive!
Future Cowboy (Visual Novel)
This visual novel stands out in that it has a 3D environment, but 2D sprites that move around in it. Your character wants to be a cowboy, and meets various people as he seeks revenge for his ranch being burnt down. In between levels there are little comic book sequences that are well done and drawn in an entertaining manner. I liked the different characters and the tone that was presented in the trailer. People seem to enjoy it!
GeTrix (Puzzle)
Goodness gracious, this is a Tetris-style game where you use your hand motions to control the movement and rotation of the shapes. FYI, it does allow for keyboard controls. Incredibly, the play field can move, rotate, shake, and so on, as you play the game. Sometimes you’re moving your pieces downward, on the side, or even upside down! Also, the visuals of the game can change on a whim to provide additional challenge. The trailer is a bit of crazy, so you may want to check it out if you are a puzzle fan. By the way AI was used to generate the music in the game, as well as to determine where your fingers are located in 3D space so you can control them.
Gravebound (Arena FPS)
When I looked at the reviews for this title, I noticed that it had some of the most enthusiastic ones I’ve seen for the week! It is a first person arena shooter with a great sense of style! The art design has a graveyard theme with different monsters, medieval weapons, and magic. It reminds me of Heretic or Hexen in some regards, which is a compliment! It takes about 30 minutes to complete. Reviewers enjoyed it, and said it was more visually polished than most other student-made games, and wanted more of it! 91% of 58 reviews are positive!
Heavy Spoilers RPG: The true identity of the final enemy is the hero’s father (Comedy JRPG)
Don’t be initially turned off by the fact that this game is a RPG Maker game that includes primarily default assets. It is actually pretty funny and clearly a lot of work has been put into it, as a lot of the dialogue is voice acted in Japanese and subtitled in English. Fans of anime subs will probably like that aspect. Of course, the game is loaded with spoilers, but that is part of the joke! It has over 65 reviews and all of them are positive! I find it funny and I’d like to play it if I have time.
Highway Hopper (Runner)
Highway Hopper has a neat, 1980’s pixel art aesthetic where you are running on the guardrail by the side of a highway, and you have to jump over signs and cars to keep going. All the while seeking to increase your high score and to continue your run. Reviews say that it is petty addictive, and I liked what I saw of the trailer.
IF WE MAKE IT HOME. (Narrative Adventure)
This is a short narrative adventure where you are in a spacesuit on a barren landscape similar to the moon. You are trying and find a way to get back home, if you can. I find the visuals to be stunning and it seems to be inspired by a book or short story of some sort. It seems really intriguing and I like the style of it! Note: One of the tags include gore, so be aware of that.
Infinite Blue (Underwater Sandbox)
Normally I don’t feature games that are rated as mixed on Friday’s Free Games. Still, I thought that this one looked important enough that I wanted to include it anyway. It is a sandbox game where you can choose to play as any number of different creatures under the sea, such as a shark or a starfish (the latter of which is not recommended), and explore the ocean floor. The graphics look stunning and the game shows a lot of potential! based on the reviews, some people really got frustrated with it because it doesn’t seem to load very good. Nonetheless, I hope that it is a relaxing experience for those who are able to play it!
InspoQuest (Runner)
You want to listen to some chill music while going through three levels in this runner game? If that’s your style, InspoQuest is for you! One reviewer thought that the game was made to promote the music of Trust This Mechanism, which is fine. I though the vibes from the trailer were nice, so I would recommend it to budding musicians and fans of casual platformers.
Living Nightmares – False Familiar (First-person Horror)
Fear stemming from being home alone is not a new theme in horror games, but if it’s done well, it can be very popular. This is a first-person horror game where dialogue and conversations from texts and people you know seem to be a big part of the story. It’s also episodic, so this is not the entire story. It takes about half an hour to complete, and people are enjoying it quite a bit!
OH? ME (Puzzle)
This is the first title of the week that explores death and the afterlife, although through the concept of memories. In this one, you play as a ghost who goes around a weird city of your past looking at different objects that jog memories of your prior life. It’s apparently is a puzzle game, but looks like a RPG Maker game. Depending on the items you look at or the paths you take, different things will happen in the ending, some positive, some negative. Intriguing! Note: The trailer for the game is in Japanese, but the store page is in English. Odd.
The River (Point & Click Visual Novel)
A short point and click visual novel adventure about the afterlife and death. It features a very distinctive art style where practically everything is in black and white which people seem to really appreciate in the reviews. They’re also impressed by the way the game develops as you progress. Very cool!
Spectacle: Worlds Unseen (Puzzle Adventure)
I am rather impressed with the concept behind this surreal first-person puzzle game. In it, you have a pair of spectacles that you use to look at the world in different ways and solve puzzles through abstract thinking. It takes about 30 minutes to complete and seems to have a great style!
Tales of Novariel (First-person Action RPG)
Forget about awesome graphics! Instead, focus on a simplistic but endearing art design as you travel through the world in first person with 2D-looking trees and other objects. All the while attacking slimes and defeating them to get stronger in this action RPG. I personally found it really charming and I liked the style of the graphics a ton! The menu system seems really bare bones, though. Hopefully the developer is committed to continuing to improve the game so it finds a good audience.
The Tavern in the Woods (Horror Walking Simulator)
This is basically a walking simulator that has exploration and horror elements in it. Its greatest strength is its atmosphere, which is heavily on display in the trailer. Additionally, the graphics are very high quality, which is great, but most computers will have a bit of trouble running the game because of it. Finally, there doesn’t seem to be a clear ending to the game? People say it takes about 20 minutes to go through everything, and they tend to like it! I think the developer shows a lot of promise, so that’s really great. By the way, I am unsure about how much horror is in the game since it is not actually mentioned very much in the reviews.
There Will Be Light (Puzzle)
Before I begin, let me say that I really like the textual logo for this game, and the style of the game itself seems to be pretty fascinating as well. it’s an overhead puzzle adventure game where you are walking by lines that connect to different pedestals. Along the way, lights that look like small comets seem to be following you and interacting with various objects. Sometimes you’re also avoiding or attacking enemies that want to defeat you. It seems pretty chill and people enjoy it! 100% of 12 reviews are positive! Note: One of the tags for the game is demons, so be advised.
Two Point Hospital (Management Sim)
Epic Games Store’s freebie for this week is a popular hospital management sim from several years back! It looks to have a nice sense of humor and charming art design. On Steam, the recent reviews are 93% positive, so add it to your library if it interests you!
Cheap Retro Gaming 
Leave a comment