Under Construction! Please check website frequently for updates!
Here you can find game recommendations that I highly regard or you to try out. From big budget AAA games to small free Itch.io experiences, it's sure to have something for everyone! (This may be updated to go by genre in the future.)
(No links are affiliated with any company. All reviews and recommendations come from me and me alone.)
Last updated: March 4th, 2025 (+5 Game(s) Added; 21 total!)
Persona 5
Developer: Atlus/SEGA
Released: October 31st, 2019 (JPN)
Platform: PS4
Crix Notes: Persona 5 is fantastic. Between the well-written story, lively environments, likeable characters, engaging battles, and astouding soundtrack, there is so much to love about this game that if I wrote it all out, it would probably require its own stand-alone page. The game can be decently challenging at times, but each challenge is met with a satisfactory reward in the form of a new ally, information, or new passage to keep you invested all the way! Overall, if you are a fan of the JRPG genre or want to have a game that you can not only relax playing but engage with on a personal level, this is a must for you!
While the original game is no longer being sold (being the version I personally prefer), you can buy the expanded version right now!
Cold Front
Developer: RachelDrawsThis
Released: August 3rd, 2022
Platform: PC
Crix Notes: Cold Front follows two lifelong friends as they're stuck sorting out how to figure out a harsh predicament they're trapped in. Using RPG Maker's 2.5D engine, this game has lovely calm music, a nice small amount of horror, and a fantastic art style! This personally hit me in all the right heartstrings, so if you're looking for a quick game under one hour that has a very lovable duo trapped within a tense yet delightful story, you should probably give it a try!
遅れた宿題 Late Homework
Developer: sodaraptor
Released: August 2024
Platform: PC
Crix Notes: Do you like classic PS1 horror? Do you enjoy the subtle nature of psychological horror? Well, 遅れた宿題 Late Homework this is a nice little game for you. The game perfectly encapsulates the feeling of the era. Its mix of visual effects, sound, lighting, and texture work makes it feel like a modernized PS1 game, while still keeping that classic feel. While the game is very short, it is very effective in what it sets out to accomplish. I cannot recommend this enough.
Do NOT Take This Cat Home
Developer: Pixeliminal
Released: October 29th, 2023
Platform: PC
Crix Notes: A visual novel horror game done RIGHT. Not only does this game have 40 endings, but every single one is more interesting than the last, each with its own twists and turns. The game follows you, your average shut in, finding a cat in an alleyway, and you're tasked with figuring out what to do with it. Between the soft colors, well thought out story paths, brilliant descriptive writing, and clever usage of the engine's limitations, Do NOT Take This Cat Home is a MUST play.
Five Nights at Freddy's: Help Wanted
Developer: Steel Wool Studios/ScottGames
Released: May 28, 2019
Platform: PC/PCVR, PS4/PSVR, Nintendo Switch, Mobile
Crix Notes: Five Nights at Freddy's is a series with no need for an introduction. Ever since the series blew up onto the scene back in 2014, a VR entry was inevitable, and, oh boy, it did not disappoint! Regardless of if you're a fan of the original games tetrology, the subsequent games afterwards, or even a new player coming in blind, there is something for everyone to love. Amazing models, horrifying environments, a secret story, and even numerous endings can all be experienced with the games, as well as the crazy jumpscares people have come to know the franchise for.
If you are a horror fan looking for something new to experience, give this game a try.
JR's
Developer: The JR's Team
Released: August 20th, 2022
Platform: PC
Crix Notes: JR's is a unique take on the Five Nights at Freddy's formula. While you are still stuck in one spot, the objective is slightly different, having you spend the night investigating the facility to spot paranormal activities within the animatronics. Overall, it's a well thought out and challenging game with drastically unique designs for Freddy's and the gang. Highly recommend!
Turn it Around
Developer: Taito Corporation/Majesco
Released: Aug 28, 2007
Platform: Nintendo DS
Crix Notes: Turn It Around is an fun little compilation of minigames that have a very charming arcade style to them. While the content is limited, it is super fun to not only play and challenge your friends, but it also makes clever usage of making the DS's bottom screen into a paddle controller, which is surprisingly responsive! Initial reviews of this game weren't great, and were extremely critical, but for a mind numbing little game to play, this really deserves a second look.
Used copies aren't much nowadays, and it's a game that is perfect through emulation (especially with a drawing tablet,) so there is no reason not to try this little hidden gem.
Katamari Demacy: Reroll
Developer: Monkeycraft, Co. Ltd./Bandai Namco
Released: Dec 6, 2018
Platform: PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One
Crix Notes: What is not to love about Katamari Demacy? The original game was fantastic with it's upbeat soundtrack and addicting gameplay, and now it's faithfully recreated in HD! This has to be one of the better remakes I have seen in some time. They took the PS2 original and made it better. Everything you loved from the original is retained in this remake, and it was awesome to reexperience such a legendary title from the 6th generation of consoles.
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
Developer: Nintendo EAD/Nintendo
Released: April 27, 2000
Platform: Nintendo 64
Crix Notes: The sister title to Ocarina of Time, this game was only developed in less than 2 years yet remains, in my opinion, the greatest Zelda game of all time. It took the groundwork from Ocarina of Time and perfected it, utilizing new ideas and mechanics such as the mask transformations and day and night cycle. This has one of the most advanced stories in the Zelda series to date, yet is often overshadowed by its older brother that came out a few years earlier. If you have yet to play this game, please give it a try. You will not regret it.
Buy no...oh. This game is way too expensive on the second hand market to recommend you to purchase.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Developer: Bandai Namco Studios/Sora Ltd./Nintendo
Released: December 18th, 2018
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Crix Notes: Super Smash Bros. has become one of the most iconic game series of all time, and for great reason. It has managed to become more than just another fighting game, growing into a celebration of the entire gaming industry as a whole. This series has stood the test of time with its charming design and smooth gameplay. This entry in the series took that idea of a celebration and sent it to the moon, bringing back every character in series history, nearly every stage, and massively desired newcomers.
The speed and feel of the gameplay is quite fluid while managing to be not ridiculously fast, but not slow, allowing for anyone to really join the fight. Hands down, this is likely the best entry in the series, and may even remain that way for years to come.
Tetris
Developer: Nintendo R&D1/Nintendo
Released: June 14th, 1989
Platform: Gameboy
Crix Notes: Tetris. The perfect game. A game that has seen only a few improvements in nearly 35 years of life, but at its core, it has not changed. It's addicting, challenging, and calming. This game has seen me through so much of my life in allowing me to calm back when I had little to no coping skills in life. If you have not played Tetris yet in your life, change that.
This version specifically is my go-to, but feel free to choose any modern rendition.
Salamander Public County Televsion
Developer: Tinzone Games
Released: July 29th, 2022
Platform: PC
Crix Notes: Salamander Public County Television may look like an asset flip put out for a quick buck, but let me tell you, it's so much more than that... I'm known for liking strange games, but what happens when you take a bunch of minigames with online leaderboards, a crazy and inventive style, and a wacky mystery where an entire town's population disappears? You get this game. It is a blast to play, funny as hell, and downright wacky to its core. With unique challenge's given each day for you to complete to fill the days content quota for your television station, you're bound to get a good laugh from this.
Betrayal at Club Low
Developer: Cosmo D
Released: September 9th, 2022
Platform: PC
Crix Notes: Put dice, pizza making, text-based RPGs, Weird Al, and strange assets in a blender. What do you get? If you answered a bad protein shake, yes... but you also get this game. Holy shit, this is a title that's hard to explain, but to put it simply, imagine D&D skill checks using customized dice with Fallout's response system combined with numerous endings and throwing all logic out the window; that's what this game is. You gotta think weird to play it.
Overall, this game sees you undergoing a secret sting operation as a pizza delivery man in order to rescue your colleague from the dire circumstances he happened to be placed in. With so many different endings, ways to play, and dice to customize, this is a surrealist experience you don't want to miss.
The Exit 8
Developer: KOTAKE CREATE
Released: November 29th, 2023
Platform: PC
Crix Notes: The Exit 8 is a very subtle horror game where you are tasked with escaping an endlessly looping subway hallway located in Japan by trying to spot differences in the environment around you in order to escape. It does horror by using subtle details to carry much of what it has to offer and manages to do so extremely effectively.
If you want a subtle horror experience that breaks away from established conventions of the horror genre and manages to make the experience its own, play this.
In Sound Mind
Developer: We Create Stuff/Modus
Released: September 28th, 2021
Platform: PC
Crix Notes: In Sound Mind is a very experimental psychological horror game that has a direct emphasis on the use of music, with the soundtrack made by The Living Tombstone, and audio formats to tell a tragic story of a therapist and his patients. Its horror is manifested in emotional distress to the player, which can bring a good feel of tension while playing the game, keeping you invested within it's story. Overall, it is a phenomenal game with an amazing story and in-depth characters, each one leaving you with a piece of knowledge and heart as you progress. If you're looking for a horror game that breaks conventions and presents you with a captivating, yet emotional narrative, then please keep an open mind for this game. You may just find what you're looking for.
Alice: Madness Returns
Developer: Spicy Horse Games/EA
Released: June 14th, 2011
Platform: PC
Crix Notes: Alice: Madness Returns is a surprising action-adventure platformer that aims to put a rather darkened twist on the traditional "Alice in Wonderland" story. A sequel to "American McGee's Alice" from the year 2000, this game still holds up well graphically to this day! A mix of slightly challenging puzzle platforming, intriguing combat, vibrantly dark locals, and a story enfused around psychological troubles, this game aims to appease to horror fans while playing into the happy go lucky nature of the world of Wonderland. It is a seriously well put together game with a ton of content and collectables to find, and if you're looking for something rather different from your Mario and Devil May Cry, then this is the game for you!
Inscryption
Developer: Daniel Mullins Games/Devolver Digital
Released: October 19th, 2021
Platform: PC, Linux, Mac, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, and Nintendo Switch
Crix Notes: Inscryption is a delightfully terrifying, ARG-esc deck building game that turns deck building on its head. You play the role of Luke Carder and attempt to make sense of this bizarre card game that seemingly has no record of existing. The creative ideas and design choices throughout the game feel deliberate and only add more to the story that is Inscryption. Nothing in this game feels out of place and despite wild mechanics, like how the card effects work, they were surprisingly easy to pick up on! If you enjoy the deck building genre, crave the thrill of a good horror story, or just are a deep lover of card games, this will be fantastic to add to your game collection!
The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series
Developer: TellTale Games/Skybound Games
Released: October, 29th, 2020
Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Crix Notes: This series has to be one of the best narratives I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Telltale took the world of The Walking Dead and managed to keep its pressure, stakes, and emotional impact that comes with something series like this, while adding so much more to it through its characters and writing. Whether you're a fan of The Walking Dead and wanted a new story or you dig deep into things like philosophy, this game will make you cry, it'll make you understand the kind of person you are, and it will sure as hell change your life. I cannot stress that each and every character feels...like a person. Like they're alive. You make emotional connections to this game, but not as your character, rather yourself. You feel for these people and understand their struggles. From beginning to end, this series is worth every penny. While this release does have its...issues, I would still recommend this to anyone who wants a rich story based game. Out of any games on this list I am the most passionate about, this is at the top of the list by far. Buy it. Play it. You'll understand. Love you, Lee.
Alter Ego
Developer: Caramel Column, Inc.
Released: December 27th, 2018
Platform: iOS and Android
Crix Notes: I know what you're thinking "Crix, this is a mobile game? Have you lost your mind?" I can assure you I have not. But what I do have is confidence in a game that manages to take classic literature, philosophy, and a very unique art direction in order to form what is probably the best clicker game I have ever seen. This game DOES have an ending and actually contains a story. Es is a person who happens to be trapped with you in this strange place and you get to learn about her over the course of your playthrough. She will ask you questions, many relating to stories or concerns you may have and based on an analysis of your answers, you will receive various details about yourself. It is worth playing all the way through and it's free, so there's really not much of a downside to playing it. If you can get past the brief ads, underneath lies a stellar game that might just open your eyes.
Hatoful Boyfriend
Developer: Mediatonic/Hato Moa/Devolver Digital
Released: September 4th, 2014
Platform: PC, Linux, OS X, iOS, Android, PS4, and PS Vita
Crix Notes: Hatoful Boyfriend was my first otome game well before I even knew what an otome was. To put it simply, it is a weird game where you date birds at St. PigeoNations, but the catch is...you're the only human there. Yep, this is another Crix likes a weird ass game, but to be fair, it is well made. The characterizations of the characters are fantastic, the dialogue is well written and unique, and it's just a fun silly and wacky time with a ton of playful moments. Plus, there are some...bonus routes that are a bit more secret and just, ooh, I can't spoil it. Guess that means you'll have to play it.~
Animatronic Memories
Developer: Inksstuff & Anikeev
Released: February 15th, 2025
Platform: PC
Crix Notes: Animatronic Memories is a damn good Five Nights at Freddy's fan game. However, if I put it here, there's gotta be something special to it, right? Well, yeah. After all, I don't pride myself on making suggestions for games I didn't think weren't worth checking out. So what makes it unique this time? Well, fear. That's right, fear. I've said this before, but as a long time fan of the series since its first game, I have said FNaF isn't scary, and I stand by that. Five Nights at Freddy's used the fear of the unknown alongside haunting themes, uncanny designs, and great soundstaging to make a very errie experience. However, this late into the franchise's lifespan and that "unknown" factor is starting to wear off, yet this game managed to pull that back. Between the clever use of more realistic animatronic designs, a good ambient environment, well animated jumpscares, and the rising tension as the game decides to throw all it has at you at once creating every little bit of chaos that it can, well, it can get to you a bit. Overwhelming senses in order to achieve a fear effect, while not advisable in most cases, is executed perfectly here! With numerous endings, secrets, clear love and drection for the game, this is a must try for any FNaF fan.
More will be added soon! Check back for more recommendations!