It offers a far more different experience in contrast to Rayman 2. Rayman can be best compared to Zelda titles, in which each title is a completly seperate experience, set in a different, but similar world with a same core cast of characters.

This level-based structure sets the spotlight on its power-up focused combat and light-hearted humor. Some inclusions like the combo meter feel downright weird to include, as the game offers minimal motivation to hold a combo for example (with the exception of obtaining some janky minigames and like a cut content room). Nevertheless, I love the world and its bizarre cast of characters and the gameplay beats offer insane amounts of variety that always keeps the player in their toes til the credits roll. While I do think that my rose-tinted glasses are skewing my ratings a bit, I cannot for the live of me give it a lesser rating after having played through it 10+ times.

One of the best narratives I've come across in games. Using the "walking sim" genre as a means to inadvertently hyper-focus on the narrative, environment and setting is genius. Walking through the wildernis while talking with "Delilah" through the walkie-talkie is a suprisingly enganging and cathartic experience, albeit sometimes repetitive during the later half of the game.

At it's core, the game is about escapism and confronting your past and your problems. While I vividly remember being upset and let down at the ending (no spoiler) of the game when I first played it in ~2017, in retrospect cannot find any other ending that ties together the core themes of the story quite as well as the ending found in the retail version.

This game is just a beautiful, dumb little sandbox. It sucks you into this plague-written world with this unique artstyle. Combined with the DLCs, it creates an amazing narrative with infinite replay value. Gameplay-wise, it is first and foremost a "powerfantasy" game with excellent, certifited "Arkane Studio", level design. The player is free to choose what he shall do and how he should progress. I dont give a fuck about the good/bad ending, cuz who fucking cares you can replay it.

Its a game I always come back to if I just want to have a good time gameplay-wise.

Who would've thought that playing as an immigration inspector would be so engaging and good?

Lucas Pope has done an excellent job with injecting a sense of "charming bleakness" into the entire game. Like the artstyle for example, which is obviously reminiscant of the HyperCard-era games. It uses the clunky core gameplay loop and user interface to create a wonderful, one-of-a-kind experience that served as a trendsetter for the indie game landscape.

This is a modern classic that you should definitely play.

INSIDE is a 3 hour 2D plattformer. The gameplay is deceptively simple, the puzzles are almost trivial and it is a very linear experience. Despite all that, it is such a strong experience that I always come back to. Playing INSIDE for the first time is like looking down into a dark hole: You don't know where it leads to, but you feel compelled to just. jump. in.

The sense of the unknown is what makes INSIDE just work. For three hours, it confidently knows what it wants to do and be and does it perfectly with insane amounts of polish. Play it.