Play Critically

Under the Island Review

In the scrum of indie action and adventure videogames inspired by The Legend of Zelda, Under the Island is above average.

Allow me to add my voice to a chorus who have thundered the windows for years: Against the Storm is an impeccable city management sim.

PowerWash Simulator 2 is bigger, smarter, and more refined, but doesn’t feel as special.

Hades II is a marvel of mechanical and systemic complexity. Narratively, it’s a bit of a dud.

Ayasa: Shadows of Silence is not ready to be in players’ hands.

The Valley Beyond needs far more polish for its genuinely good ideas to shine.

These are my picks for the five must-play indies of 2025, and I bet you can already guess what three of them are.

Sorry We’re Closed exalts in colliding contrasting ideas and feelings against each other.

Orbyss is the best kind of puzzle videogame: One that makes me feel smart but never makes me feel dumb.

Blitz Smash Ultimate is an adequate top-down shooter that is eventually undermined by some fundamental design flaws.