"Returnal" by Housemarque blends aspects of bullets hell, roguelike, and terror games, utilizing the DualSense controller on the PS5 to enable faster action and more versatile button use. The game's plot follows Selene, an ASTRA Corporation explorer who arrives at the planet Atropos for a mystery signal. There, she becomes entangled in a temporal loop.

"Returnal" appeared apparently out of nowhere from a developer not renowned for action-adventure products but rather for indie retro-inspired arcade-style shooters. And according to sources such as Pocket-lint, a lackluster marketing campaign and a lack of brand recognition hindered it from becoming a more prominent part of the game debate.

Following its debut, "Returnal" has split PlayStation 5 players, with some voicing concerns over its lengthy duration, with an average episode around the constantly changing landscape taking 90+ mins and no option to save data amid a run. Others maintained that it might be beneficial to plan gaming time in discrete chunks. Whether this sort of game appeals to you or not, most reviews concluded that it is a hard, fascinating shooter that generously rewards its players.

Highest Metacritic Score: 85 (PlayStation 5)

Release Date: 30 April 2021

Genre: Roguelike

Available Platforms: PlayStation 5

Genre: Third-person shooter, roguelike

Price: $69.99

Buy it at: https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/returnal/

If you like 2D role-playing games such as "Undertale," you may be intrigued by "Everwood," a rhythm-based dance fight game inspired by the Toby Fox original (per IGN). In "Everhood," the players assume the character of Red, a wood gnome whose limb has been stolen and who must go on an unusual quest to track down the thief.

The realm of "Everhood" is densely packed with doors leading to weird locations and unusual animals. A vampire with a persistent case of the sniffles (adorably dubbed Nosferatchu), a ukulele frog, and a flying goldfish round out the roster of characters.

The game has gained critical acclaim from publications such as RPGFan for its humorous setting, rhythmic combat, and the unexpected story turns, compensating for minor gameplay difficulties and technical errors. "Everhood" fans believe the game is grossly underappreciated, with others expecting that the independent title would someday become "a household brand."

Highest Metacritic Score: 84 (PC)

Release Date: 4 March, 2021

Genre: Rhythm, RPG, Adventure

Available Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch

Price: $9.9

Buy it at: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1229380/Everhood/

"Little Nightmares," previously dubbed "Hunger" (per NME), gained critical acclaim for its darkly compelling environment and simple (but tight) gameplay. Six, a hungry young girl attempting to flee the Maw, a region infested with creatures and unspeakable horrors, has fans demanding a sequel. They ultimately achieved their desire in February 2021, with the release of "Little Nightmares 2."

The sequel, which involves Six and her new friend Mono, builds on the strengths of the previous game, from the 2.5D graphic style to the terrifying monsters and a tone that alternates between periods of peace and a growing feeling of dread. Certain fundamentals have been added, such as AI-controlled co-op, enabling Mono to shake her hand. As highlighted in other game reviews, this feature serves as a distinct point of differentiation from the original, telling players that they will not be alone in this. Although the world is frightening, these children are confronting it together.

Naturally, this also implies that the times you are forced to confront alone seem all the more alienating and terrible. While fans and journalists alike lauded "Little Nightmares 2," most believe the series as a whole is underappreciated. That was a shame because nothing else compares to this series.

Highest Metacritic Score: 83 (PC)

Release Date: 11 February, 2021

Genre: Horror, Adventure

Available Platforms: Available On: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia

Price: $23.96

Buy it at: https://store.steampowered.com/app/860510/Little_Nightmares_II/

Though there are moments when you want to shower bullets down on some zombies, there are also times when you want to sit back and enjoy for a while. Open and inclusive games with minimal gameplay might provide a pleasant reprieve for your brain during such times.

"Sky: Children of the Light'' is such a game from producer thatgamecompany, who has created similar calming games such as''Flow” and''Flower." In "Sky," you act as the titular "Children of light", assisting souls and learning about their past to convey hope and joy. Although the idea is straightforward, the game's diverse gameplay (including leaping puzzles and accessing secret sections) and breathtaking graphics have garnered good evaluations from reviewers such as those at GameSpace.

Although the mobile version of "Sky: Children of the Light" has been available ever since 2019, the 2020 Switch adaptation has earned praise for being one of the greatest free-to-play games on the platform (according to Nintendo Life), even outperforming the original launch in several areas.

Highest Metacritic Score: 82 (Nintendo Switch and iOS)

Release Date: 29 June, 2021

Genre: Adventure

Available Platforms: Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android

Price: Free

Buy it at: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sky-children-of-the-light/id1462117269

Website: https://www.thatskygame.com

"Hades," a roguelike action dungeon crawler, has dominated the discourse about genre games, even winning the 2021 DICE Awards for Game of the Year. And although "Hades" is deserving of acclaim, its popularity has pushed it ahead of other games that may be compared to it in evaluations, such as "Curse of the Dead Gods."

While the connection is reasonable, it is also unjust since "Curse of the Dead Gods" is indeed an excellent film in its own right. Even those who aren't particularly fond of the dungeon genre, like Ben Lombardo of Gaming Trend, find it to be a lot of fun. "Curse of the Dead Gods" has received glowing reviews for its highly rewarding gameplay, which remains enjoyable despite the amount of grinding required to advance.

Numerous genre enthusiasts concur, claiming that the title is somewhat of an unsung legend in the genre. We hope it will receive more love and support in the future.

Highest Metacritic Score: 79 (Playstation 4)

Release Date: 23 February, 2021

Genre: Dungeon crawler, Roguelike

Available Platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, Nintendo Switch

Price: $19.99

Buy it at: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1123770/Curse_of_the_Dead_Gods/

According to the New York Post, country horror — a subfield of horror that often takes place in rural settings and focuses on the evil and fear underneath apparently charming, rural settings — has had a renaissance. Recent cases of this isolated and rural breed of terrifying fiction include Scott Cooper's "Antlers" and Ari Aster's Midsommar". As Hidden Fields' "Mundaun" demonstrates, video games are not immune to the grasp of folk horror's twisted origins.

Curdin, a young man traveling to his grandfather's rural hamlet for his burial, is the protagonist of "Mundaun." A pleasant façade conceals a shadow and something nasty just waiting to be disclosed. These ancient wooden barns are home to spells and demons, and events swiftly spiral out of hand.

The game's distinctive hand-drawn graphic aesthetic, which lends it the sense of a gothic fairytale, and its captivating slow-burn horror moments, has been lauded by critics. As a consequence of these qualities, many fans see the game as an underrated work of independent horror that warrants greater recognition. Hopefully, when more players uncover "Mundaun's" mysteries, the game will continue to engage (and terrorize) them.

Highest Metacritic Score: 75 (PlayStation 4)

Release Date: 16 March, 2021

Genre: Horror

Available Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, Nintendo Switch.

Price: $19.99

Buy it at: https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP5993-CUSA20610_00-MUNDAUN2021Q1OF4

Website: https://www.mundaungame.com

How do you manage your wicked empire if you're a supervillain? How would you run your lair, herd your minions, and prevent your adversaries from annihilating you before your evil schemes could be carried out? These are the questions that 2004's "Evil Genius" — and its follow-up, "Evil Genius 2: World Domination" — raise.

The game, which was distributed by Rebel Developments after the demise of the original game's creator, Elixir Studios, challenges players to construct a diabolical hideout on a tropical island disguised as a casino. There are four playable evil geniuses in the game: Emma, a former spymaster, Red Ivan, an ex-henchman, Maximillian, a gold-obsessed despot, and Zalika, a crazy scientist, all of them bring something heinous to the table.

Fans were ecstatic about the sequel, eager to see a sequel to a game they previously considered underestimated. Fortunately for those admirers, "Evil Genius 2: World Domination" had lived up to reviewers' expectations. Cultured Vultures lauded the game's cartoonish aesthetic, breadth of content, and distinct advantages of the sandbox and campaigns modes. Why not give it a go at (virtually) conquering the world? You are in for a very real treat.

Highest Metacritic Score: 75 (PC)

Release Date: 30 March, 2021

Genre: Simulation, Strategy

Available Platforms: PC

Price: $39.99

Buy it at: https://store.steampowered.com/app/700600/Evil_Genius_2_World_Domination/

Anyone who has played video games is acquainted with the concept of inhabiting two worlds simultaneously. Perhaps you are practically in your lounge room. But, you are also in the midst of a historical adventure, touring an abandoned castle or tossing a basketball at wild animals so that you could capture one and see it battle.

While all gaming entails putting a foot in two realms simultaneously (to a degree), "The Medium" takes this notion to a far more concrete level. The user can travel two worlds simultaneously via the viewpoint of protagonist Marianne: the realm of the living and the world of ghosts. According to The Verge, the game takes a bit of time to get started, but its slow-burn grows as the player solves riddles and unravels the plot.

While the game's development is gradual, reviewers have lauded "The Medium" because of its compelling protagonist, innovative usage of the split-screen system, and terrifying graphics.

Highest Metacritic Score; 75 (PC and PlayStation 5)

Release Date: 28 January, 2021

Genre: Horror, Psychological

Available Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PC

Price: $49.99

Buy it at: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1293160/The_Medium/

Welcome to "Oddworld," a planet ten times the mass of The earth, filled with gigantic craters and bizarre species. This is the setting for "Oddworld: Soulstorm," a recreation of "Oddworld: Abe's Odyssey" and the immediate successor to "Oddworld: New and Tasty." "Soulstorm" reintroduces the brave Abe, who fights to protect his friend Mudokins from corruption while grappling with the effects of major societal upheaval.

"Oddworld: Soulstorm" was a welcomed addition to a property that fans believe has been "unjustly ignored." As highlighted in many reviews, the game is grittier and heavier than its predecessor, putting the main character in more peril than he has ever faced.

Critics lauded the game's trademark design aspects, with Ramapo News describing it as "both dirty and beautiful" and praised its 2.5D design and thoroughness in particular. Avoid becoming frightened if you've not played the earlier games in the series; "Soulstorm" serves as an excellent introduction to this vast, weird, and unique universe.

Highest Metacritic Score: 73 (PC)

Release Date: 6 April, 2021

Genre: Stealth, Platformer, Action-adventure

Available Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC

Price: $19.99

Buy it at: https://www.epicgames.com/store/en-US/p/oddworld-soulstorm

Website: http://www.oddworld.com

What if "Animal Crossing" were cursed — not by the lingering shadow of debt or the oh-so-fickle turnip market's demands, but by genuine ghosts? "Cozy Grove," set on an endearing island teeming with spirits, is pretty much just that.

However, do not be scared off by the promises of ghostly apparitions; this game's title includes the word "cozy" for a purpose. These ghosts are benign and resemble teddy bears and foxes more than the string-haired child from "The Ring." You take on the role of a Spirit Scout, doing useful activities for the island's occupants and bringing life to the island's dull gray surroundings.

Despite tempting parallels to a far more successful game series (as mentioned in some reviews), "Cozy Grove" stands on its own with a gorgeous environment, engaging dialogue, and simple, relaxing gameplay. Who would have guessed a ghost land can be so endearing? Let's dive into the game right away!

Highest Metacritic Score: 72 (PC and Nintendo Switch)

Release Date: 19 March, 2021

Genre: Adventure, Simulation

Available Platforms: iOS, PlayStation 4, PC, Nintendo Switch

Price: $14.99

Buy it at: https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/cozy-grove-switch/