Haven’t been able to play as much as I’d like but I got two very playful titles for you! I also finished Valkyrie Saga, which I talked about last week, and the recommendation is as strong as ever. One of those rare moments where I wish the game was longer.
Lil Gator Game: In the Dark || DD/MM/YY
A DLC for the loveable Zelda like Lil Gator Game. A game that explores the childlike sense for adventure, and the DLC adds up quite a bit of content! This time we are in a vast cave with a creative vertical level design. We get new weapons, each with their own special skill attached. While exploring the cave, we stumble upon a group of villains! Although it’s hard to call them that, as they don’t seem to get along well. The evil Darklord, a tiny pig with horns, commands his minions in a voice tone you’d expect from a villain. Yet the others aren’t ready to play along. Where does the play end, and where does the rudeness begin? A child being fed up with getting antagonized, tries to find his path for connection. Our hero actually struggles for the right words and actions. Can they both form the kind of adventure everyone can enjoy? This fun DLC clearly says: Yes!
Operation Octo || 11/09/25
A game I loved in my youth is Plants vs Zombies and I always wondered why nobody tried to use a similar formula. It’s a very tight and charming tower defence game, and with Operation Octo I finally found something reaching for that high!
You are an octopus playing against dead pirates. That setup alone is cool as fuck, isn’t it? We got separate stages with their own biomes, several enemy units and unique units on our own side. There is the reliable Pisto Shrimp, who shoots at nearby skeletons, the bumper fish that protects from projectiles, the literal red herring who forces enemies on a wrong track, the explosive Blobfish and many more. It’s fun to get new units after completing a stage or receive money to buy upgrades. It’s the same addictive loop that made Plants vs Zombies so good. The style is also reminiscent of the comic look but unlike its inspiration we don’t play in lanes. We play in a wholly walkable 3D field. That makes positioning even more crucial and your own player can also take some action (mainly as a distraction). At times the field creates a hilarious chaos and I loved to see all the effects and sounds. Sometimes it was a controlled chaos, sometimes I wasn’t sure who was winning.
You get what you see with the game, all that for only 5 bucks! And if you are on the fence, the demo is still available.
Quick Shoutout (not played yet)
Brebeman || 12/02/26
A surreal 3D Shmup, in which you play a hardworking DJ, using your discs for offensive and defensive manoeuvres. It combines music and arcade experience, with a straightforward yet challenging gameplay loop.
Crisol: Theater of Idols || 10/02/26
As a soldier in Spain, you have to fight your way for freedom, after being captured under the disguise of religion. Your own blood is your weapon, but don’t be too aggressive, or you might take your last breath. Battle through uncomfortable places and horrifying monsters in this surprisingly cheap horror FPS.
