Salt and Sanctuary is a challenging 2D action-platformer with a deep, interconnected world and Souls-like combat. Players must navigate a mysterious, hand-drawn world, overcome treacherous foes, and uncover the secrets of a forgotten land.

Teslagrad is a visually striking 2D puzzle-platformer that draws inspiration from steampunk aesthetics and electromagnetic principles. Developed by Rain Games, the title stands out for its unique gameplay mechanic revolving around the manipulation of magnetic fields. The game's world is a beautifully hand-drawn, industrial-themed environment filled with intricate machinery and enigmatic devices. Players take on the role of a young protagonist who possesses the ability to control and redirect electromagnetic forces using a specialized glove. Puzzle-solving is at the core of Teslagrad's gameplay, and it's here that the game shines. Players must strategically utilize the magnetic glove to interact with various metallic objects and contraptions, creating pathways, activating mechanisms, and overcoming obstacles. The puzzles are cleverly designed, often requiring players to think outside the box and experiment with the magnetic forces in creative ways. One of Teslagrad's standout features is its emphasis on non-linear exploration. The game world is interconnected, with multiple paths and hidden areas to discover. Players are encouraged to backtrack and revisit previously inaccessible areas as they acquire new abilities or tools, uncovering secrets and optional challenges along the way. The game's artistic direction is truly remarkable, with a striking hand-drawn aesthetic that blends steampunk and Eastern European influences. The detailed environments and character designs are complemented by an atmospheric soundtrack that adds to the game's immersive atmosphere. While Teslagrad is a relatively short experience, it offers a memorable and thought-provoking journey. The narrative is conveyed primarily through environmental storytelling and visual cues, leaving much of the interpretation up to the player's imagination. Overall, Teslagrad is a unique and visually captivating puzzle-platformer that stands out for its innovative magnetic gameplay mechanic, intricate puzzles, and stunning hand-drawn art style. It's a game that rewards patience, observation, and creative problem-solving, making it a must-play for fans of the genre.

Blasphemous is a challenging and atmospheric 2D action-platformer set in the dark, gothic world of Orthodoxia. Players take on the role of the Penitent One, a mysterious and tormented figure, on a quest to uncover the secrets of the Miracle and put an end to the endless cycle of death and rebirth.

Unepic is a unique take on the classic action-platformer genre, blending elements of dungeon crawlers, RPGs, and metroidvanias. Here's a more in-depth description of the game's distinctive features: 1. Nonlinear Progression: While the game starts with a linear introduction, it quickly opens up into a vast, interconnected dungeon filled with optional areas, secrets, and multiple paths to explore. Backtracking and revisiting previous areas with newly acquired abilities is essential. 2. Dynamic Loot System: Enemies drop loot in the form of weapons, armor, and consumables, allowing players to constantly upgrade their character's equipment and stats. The loot pool is procedurally generated, ensuring a diverse array of gear to discover. 3. Quirky Humor: The game's writing and dialogue are filled with self-aware, tongue-in-cheek humor, poking fun at traditional fantasy tropes and gaming clichés. The protagonist's sarcastic personality adds an entertaining layer to the narrative. 4. Puzzle Design: In addition to combat encounters, Unepic features a variety of intricate puzzles that require clever use of items, environmental manipulation, and logical thinking. Some puzzles even incorporate programming-like concepts. 5. Crafting and Customization: Players can craft various items, potions, and ammunition using materials found throughout the dungeon. Additionally, equipment can be enchanted or upgraded, allowing for customization of the character's build and playstyle. 6. Metroidvania Elements: Certain areas of the dungeon are initially inaccessible until specific abilities or items are obtained, encouraging exploration and revisiting previous locations to uncover new paths and secrets. 7. Co-op Multiplayer: The game offers a local co-op mode, allowing two players to explore the dungeon together, with each player controlling their own character and sharing loot drops. Overall, Unepic stands out for its unique blend of genres, its quirky sense of humor, and its emphasis on exploration, loot collection, and puzzle-solving within a vast, interconnected dungeon environment.

Metroid Prime (2002) is a groundbreaking entry in the Metroid series, developed by Retro Studios for the Nintendo GameCube. It successfully translated the traditionally 2D side-scrolling series into a first-person 3D adventure while maintaining the core elements of exploration, isolation, and gradual power progression. Key aspects of Metroid Prime include: 1. Visor system: Players can switch between different visors, including the Scan Visor, which provides lore and tactical information about the environment and enemies. 2. Beam weapons: The game features multiple beam types that are not only used in combat but also for solving puzzles and accessing new areas. 3. Interconnected world: Tallon IV is designed as a seamless, interconnected environment with backtracking and shortcuts that unlock as you gain new abilities. 4. Environmental storytelling: Much of the plot and backstory is conveyed through scan logs and visual cues in the environment, rather than traditional cutscenes. 5. Unique boss designs: Bosses often require specific strategies and use of different visors or weapons to defeat. 6. Atmospheric soundtrack: The game features an ambient, electronic score that adapts to different areas and situations. 7. Morph Ball mechanics: The series' signature Morph Ball is seamlessly integrated into the first-person perspective, with unique puzzle elements. 8. Sequence breaking: The game allows for skilled players to obtain items out of the intended order, enabling speedrunning and alternative playthroughs. 9. Metroid Prime Fusion Suit: Connecting the game to the Game Boy Advance's Metroid Fusion unlocks a special suit based on Samus' appearance in that game. 10. Log book completion: The game encourages thorough exploration by tracking scanned items in a completion percentage, separate from item collection. Metroid Prime is often praised for its immersive gameplay, attention to detail, and how it successfully reimagined the Metroid formula in 3D without losing the essence of the series.

Chasm is a metroidvania-style action-platformer developed by Discord Games. While it adheres to the genre conventions with its emphasis on exploration, ability gating, and backtracking, it distinguishes itself with its striking pixel art aesthetic inspired by the 16-bit era and its procedurally generated levels. The game's world is a vast underground mining complex, filled with diverse biomes and environments, each with its own unique enemies, hazards, and challenges. The procedural generation ensures that each playthrough offers a fresh layout, encouraging repeated exploration and discovery. Combat in Chasm is fast-paced and challenging, with a variety of weapons and spells at the player's disposal. The game features a deep RPG-style progression system, allowing players to customize their character's abilities and playstyle through skill trees and equipment upgrades. One of Chasm's standout features is its emphasis on character builds and replayability. Players can choose from multiple character classes, each with their own unique starting equipment and abilities, encouraging experimentation with different builds and playthroughs. The game also incorporates elements of mystery and lore, with the backstory and history of the mining complex unraveling through environmental storytelling and collectible texts scattered throughout the world. Overall, Chasm offers a unique twist on the metroidvania formula, combining tight gameplay, challenging combat, and a compelling procedurally generated world, all wrapped in a nostalgic yet visually stunning pixel art aesthetic.

La-Mulana is a notoriously challenging 2D metroidvania-style game that pays homage to classic MSX titles like The Maze of Galious and 8-bit computer games of the 1980s. While it features retro graphics and chiptune music, the gameplay and puzzles are remarkably deep and intricate. The game is set in the fictional ruins of La-Mulana, an ancient archeological site filled with treacherous traps, deadly enemies, and mind-bending riddles inspired by various mythologies and ancient civilizations. Players take on the role of an intrepid archaeologist explorer, armed with a whip and a keen intellect, tasked with uncovering the secrets of this enigmatic ruin. What sets La-Mulana apart is its uncompromising difficulty and its heavy emphasis on puzzle-solving and deciphering cryptic clues. The game is heavily inspired by the Japanese gaming culture of the 80s, where players were expected to take notes, draw maps, and carefully analyze every detail to progress. The puzzles often require a combination of lateral thinking, familiarity with ancient myths and cultures, and good old-fashioned trial-and-error. La-Mulana is notorious for its brutal bosses, devious traps, and punishing difficulty spikes. However, for those willing to embrace the challenge, the game offers a deeply rewarding and satisfying experience. The sense of accomplishment achieved by overcoming its intricate puzzles and challenges is unparalleled. Despite its retro aesthetics, La-Mulana features a vast, interconnected world to explore, with secret areas, multiple endings, and a wealth of hidden treasures and lore to uncover. The game's attention to detail and respect for its inspirations have earned it a dedicated cult following among hardcore gamers and puzzle enthusiasts.

Touhou Luna Nights is a metroidvania-style action platformer set in the Touhou Project universe, developed by Team Ladybug. While it retains the classic bullet hell gameplay elements found in the mainline Touhou shoot 'em up games, Luna Nights presents a fresh take on the series by offering a non-linear, exploration-focused gameplay experience. The game follows the story of Sakuya Izayoi, the head maid of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, as she embarks on a mission to investigate a mysterious disturbance in Gensokyo. Players navigate through interconnected levels, each with its own unique theme and challenges, while uncovering secrets, acquiring new abilities, and battling against a diverse array of enemies and bosses from the Touhou universe. One of the notable features of Touhou Luna Nights is its emphasis on character progression and customization. Players can level up Sakuya's stats and equip her with various artifacts and charms, allowing them to tailor her abilities to their preferred playstyle. The game also introduces a time-manipulation mechanic, which grants Sakuya the ability to slow down time and execute intricate combos and maneuvers during combat. The game's visuals pay homage to the classic Touhou aesthetics while presenting a more detailed and polished art style, with hand-drawn character sprites and vibrant environments. The soundtrack, composed by various Touhou circle artists, captures the essence of the series' iconic music while incorporating new arrangements and themes. Touhou Luna Nights offers a significant challenge for fans of the series, with intricate boss patterns and demanding platforming sections. However, it also provides accessibility options and difficulty adjustments, allowing players of varying skill levels to enjoy the experience.

Shadow Complex is a critically acclaimed 2D action-adventure game developed by Chair Entertainment and published by Epic Games in 2009. Initially released as part of the Xbox Live Arcade lineup, it later made its way to other platforms like PlayStation 3, PC, and mobile devices. While the game's visuals and gameplay mechanics are inspired by classic side-scrollers like Contra and Metroid, Shadow Complex stands out for its impressive scope, depth, and narrative elements. The game takes place in a massive underground complex filled with interconnected rooms, secret passages, and intricate level designs that encourage exploration and backtracking. One of the game's notable features is its emphasis on non-linear progression. Players have the freedom to choose their path through the complex, uncovering new areas, power-ups, and weapons as they progress. The game's map system is intricate and encourages players to revisit previously inaccessible areas as they acquire new abilities, adding depth to the exploration aspect. The combat in Shadow Complex is satisfying and diverse, with a variety of weapons and enemies that require tactical approaches. Players can engage in both ranged and melee combat, with the latter being particularly visceral and rewarding. The game also features a cover system that adds an additional layer of strategy to firefights. Despite its retro-inspired visuals, Shadow Complex boasts impressive graphics and animations for its time, with detailed environments and smooth character movements. The game's art style perfectly captures the spy-thriller vibe, complementing the game's narrative premise. Speaking of the narrative, Shadow Complex presents a compelling storyline that unfolds gradually as players progress through the complex. The plot revolves around a conspiracy involving a domestic militia group and a secret government organization, offering an engaging blend of action and intrigue. Overall, Shadow Complex is a standout title that pays homage to classic side-scrollers while introducing modern gameplay mechanics, impressive production values, and an engaging narrative. Its blend of exploration, combat, and storytelling make it a must-play for fans of the action-adventure genre.

Hollow Knight is a critically acclaimed Metroidvania-style action-adventure game developed by Team Cherry. Set in the sprawling, subterranean kingdom of Hallownest, the game offers a rich and atmospheric world filled with intricate lore and environmental storytelling. One of the standout features of Hollow Knight is its challenging yet tight and responsive combat system. Players can wield a versatile nail (sword) and utilize a variety of charms (equippable abilities) to enhance their playstyle and adapt to different enemy encounters. The game features an impressive roster of bosses, each with unique attack patterns and mechanics that demand mastery of dodging, striking, and strategizing. The game's world design is exceptional, with interconnected areas that encourage exploration and backtracking. Hallownest is a beautifully hand-drawn and meticulously crafted world, filled with secrets, hidden paths, and environmental puzzles that reward players for their curiosity and observation skills. Hollow Knight's soundtrack, composed by Christopher Larkin, is a standout feature, perfectly capturing the game's melancholic and haunting atmosphere. The music seamlessly transitions between areas, adding depth and emotion to the player's journey. While the game has a minimalistic approach to storytelling, the lore and narrative are rich and multilayered, often conveyed through environmental details and conversations with NPCs. Players uncover the tragic history of Hallownest and its inhabitants, including the mysterious beings known as the Vessels. The game also offers a significant challenge, with a punishing yet fair difficulty curve that rewards perseverance and skill. Players can expect to face difficult boss battles, challenging platforming sections, and resource management challenges, especially in the later stages of the game. Overall, Hollow Knight is a masterpiece of indie game design, offering a captivating world, challenging gameplay, and a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that has resonated with players and critics alike.