We’re still catching up on games from 2025, which is fine for me. January is usually pretty slow for big releases as everyone recovers from the holiday period with alcohol and copious amounts of food. I’ve been playing a bunch of games this month including Powerwash Simulator, that new Fantasy Life title, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, and a heavily modded playthrough of Cyberpunk 2077. It’s only my fifth playthrough of Cyberpunk after all, and I had to do something special for it. Seriously, play Cyberpunk 2077 with mods if you can.

As you can imagine, that’s a lot of gaming. However, I’ve not been idle with my game coverage and I have plenty of fun things planned! Today I’m featuring Angeline Era, a late bloomer in 2025 that I have greatly enjoyed my time with so far. It launched in December which was too late to hit my Top 10 criteria, but this is an impressive indie title by Analgenesic Productions that’s received solid reviews across the board. You can pick it up for around $25, which is a solid price for the package available. I haven’t had too much time with the game yet, so consider this an early impressions review for now. After a few hours with Angeline Era however, you can bet I’m going to play more.

At its heart, Angeline Era is a 3D action RPG that carries some solid inspiration from classics from the old days such as Zelda. The studio also made Anodyne and Sephonie, and the artistic style from those games carries over into this one. I was a big fan of Sephonie back when I played it, so it’s good to see studios succeed. Out of the three, Angeline Era is by far my favorite game they have released so far. Given the Overwhelmingly Positive reviews it currently holds on Steam, it seems a lot of people agree with that!

The story in this one is surprisingly captivating, as is the world design. Set in the fantasy realm of Era, you play as a former soldier called Tets Kinoshta who embarks on a journey to uncover a mysterious angel ship called the Throne, delving into the world of humans, angels, and fae with all the secrets and beauty. It’s an interesting story so far, and despite the lack of voice acting involved I’ve gotten invested in the characters.

The combat is an odd thing that reminds me of very old games such as the Ys series and (shudders) Hydelide. Angeline Era’s system is very simple. Instead of pressing an attack button, you strike enemies by walking into them, creating a fast-paced and fluid combat experience. Success hinges on careful positioning, timing, jumping, and evasion through movement. Additionally, you can employ ranged weapons and other tools to help turn the odds, especially when it comes to the boss battles. The first boss fight took me a long time to work out!

The biggest strength of Angeline Era for me however is the exploration, which is done in a really interesting way. While the overworld looks basic, the levels are hidden on the unmarked map, and they require a lot of work on the player to experiment and explore. There’s no time pressure either, so players can explore the world at their own pace. Dungeons, forests, mountains, mines, and towns are filled with traps, hazards, foes, and sometimes surprising encounters that blend humor with challenge. The writing is surprisingly good, and the lore is pretty nice as well.

Overall, Angeline Era seamlessly blends freeform exploration, inventive bump-based combat, and an atmospheric world into an action RPG that stands out for its personality, pace, and its encouragement of curiosity.

Veterum has brought me quite a lot of joy over the past few weeks! We’re halfway into January, and a lot is happening behind the scenes here. It is usually a slow start to the year for big releases, and it’s given me some spare time to play the games I’ve had knocking on my door. Veterum is one of those examples, and if you’re a fan of Battle Brothers, this is one game you don’t want to miss. It’s in Early Access right now with a fair amount of content and polish, and is available for $19.99.

At its core, Veterum is a dark fantasy tactical RPG. That is quite the mouthful, but we do need more games like this. The punishing turn-based combat is in full display, but this is a kinder game than the brutality of Battle Brothers. While the game is still challenging with plenty of planning needed to survive, it’s not quite as cruel to your squad as Battle Brothers.

There isn’t really a narrative to the game yet, with the sandbox gameplay the core of the content right now. A campaign is still in development, but is scheduled for release before 1.0. Despite the light story, I appreciate the world and setting of Veterum. Order of the Gatekeepers in a mysterious and perilous world on the brink of apocalypse. You lead a diverse force composed of humans, dwarves, elves, and wildmen, with plenty of opportunities to grow as a mercenary band. Veterum is focusing more on the gameplay than writing right now, and that’s fine with me.

The core gameplay loop is probably Veterum’s biggest strength, and you roam around the open world picking up quests, navigating tricky encounters, and dealing with environmental puzzles with some potent battles. Everything is procedurally generated with everyone’s favorite phrase, ‘no two playthroughs are the same. I’ve always disliked that with roguelike tags because it’s more often than not bollocks, but Veterum makes a decent swing at things. The battles, town resources, and quests change with every map, which does make things somewhat unpredictable, and all this feeds into the gameplay. The game does a good job of blending exploration with managing your growing army, and it made me care about my party and make careful decisions about where to go next.

The combat system is another key point, and I’m enjoying the careful balance between challenge and punishment. Combat takes place on a hex-grid and is turn-based, requiring careful positioning, thoughtful unit selection before a battle, and effective use of the environment. Factors such as morale, fatigue, line of sight, terrain, and weather all impact the outcome of fights, which I appreciate. Not everything is about having the most magic or blades. Environmental interactivity is another important part of combat, and you can deal with threats through cool things such as freezing rivers, building barricades to funnel enemies into kill zones, and so on. It’s pretty cool, and I wish more turn-based RPGs had more environment interactivity.

Despite the Early Access tag and lack of a full story right now, I feel Veterum is in a pretty good place already, with most of the core systems in place and plenty of content. There are even some impressive modding capabilities through the built-in unit and map editors, so that people can develop their own scenarios and worldspaces. I haven’t dabbled with this part of the game yet, as it’s an impressions review first, but I love games that do this.

To conclude, Veterum offers a rich strategy experience that’s impressive for an Early Access title. As I always stress with games in constant development, only buy an Early Access game if you feel the content and polish it currently has are enough, rather than buying based on a hypothetical future. If getting beaten down in Battle Brothers got you down (awesome game though!), and if you want something a bit more experimental, I can easily recommend Veterum.

Tumor Necrosis Factor: Amen is an arcade-inspired rail shooter where you tear through decaying Earth as a mutant half-worm.

In Tumor Necrosis Factor: Amen, Angels once protected Earth as the planet’s white blood cells until the Shepherd Biosciences Corporation unleashed an otherworldly plague. Now Earth drowns under an ocean of blood as worms feed upon its gangrenous corpse. The few remaining seek “Rapture” – … Read More

The post Tumor Necrosis Factor: Amen – Beta Demo first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

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John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando is a 4-player co-op FPS where you obliterate hordes of terrifying monsters to save the world.

In John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando you’ll gather your squad and send the Sludge God and its undead horde back to hell. Jump in with fellow commandos online for pure co-op chaos – revive teammates, share ammo, cover backs, and laugh through the madness. When infected … Read More

The post John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando – Beta Demo first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

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Denshattack! is a fast-paced and wonderfully silly game where you flip, trick, and grind your gravity-defying train through a colorful Japanese dystopia.

In Denshattack!, hop aboard your custom train and embark on a hectic quest to defeat the sinister Miraidō corporation alongside a vibrant pack of outcasts. Ollie, kickflip, and grind through Japan’s biggest cities, meadows, volcanoes, and oceans. Rack up points chasing high … Read More

The post Denshattack! – Beta Demo first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

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The Caribou Trail is a visceral first-person narrative-driven adventure where your goal isn’t to kill, but to survive the harsh realities of WWI.

In The Caribou Trail, Fisher leaves his quiet Newfoundland harbor town with friends to join the British war effort at Gallipoli in 1915. They expected a short adventure full of tales to bring home. What awaits is dirt, loss, and a … Read More

The post The Caribou Trail – Beta Demo first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

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CxC is a platformer where each level is generated from a 100×100 pixel image, bringing your pictures to life.

In CxC, your pictures have escaped your computer and materialized across different dimensions. Various pixel colors correspond to different game objects – player start positions, jump pads, enemies, movement trajectories, and more. Navigate through a pixel art collection that came to life using your dash … Read More

The post CxC – Beta Demo first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

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SLAUGHTER VOID is a brutal hack and slash game that combines speedrunning with 80s arcade action in a blood-spattered fantasy world.

In SLAUGHTER VOID, carve your way through demons and cultists on a path to vengeance. Combat is quick and merciless – a single hit kills you, but the same goes for most enemies. Agility and aggression are essential as you die fast and … Read More

The post SLAUGHTER VOID – Beta Demo first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

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MINISTRY OF TRUTH: 1984 is a story-driven simulator where you manipulate facts and rewrite history in a totalitarian society.

Inspired by George Orwell’s classic novel, in MINISTRY OF TRUTH: 1984, you’ve been appointed as an official serving the Party. Your task is rewriting history, controlling information, and providing the “truth” dictated by those in power. Emotions have no place here; thoughts are dangerous. Choose … Read More

The post MINISTRY OF TRUTH: 1984 – Open Beta first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

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Villa Nocturne is a survival horror game where you face the ghosts of the past in a mansion shrouded in mist.

In Villa Nocturne, you’ll step into a dark mansion filled with mysterious notes, haunting sounds, and supernatural entities. Every corner hides secrets waiting to be uncovered. Explore shadowy corridors, follow cryptic clues, unlock hidden rooms, and face terrors that escalate with every step.… Read More

The post Villa Nocturne – Beta Demo first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

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Burden Street Station is a surreal narrative adventure where you shapeshift during conversations to uncover how God went missing.

In Burden Street Station, life’s moments are extracted from mortals and transformed into sentient books for consumption by higher beings. A lowly librarian and a book without a moment of its own are coerced into solving the mystery of a missing God.

Change yourself to … Read More

The post Burden Street Station – Beta Demo first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

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Galactic Vault is a fast-paced FPS roguelite where you build weapons to their full potential while infiltrating high-security vaults.

In Galactic Vault, big corporations hoard all technology in a dystopian future. As a former VOLT operative, your mission is infiltrating and plundering tech vaults to recover cutting-edge equipment. Start with low-tech weapons and unlock advanced options with hard-earned currency for stronger starts.

Discover attachments … Read More

The post Galactic Vault – Beta Demo first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

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PC Versus is the first ever competitive PC building game where you settle every “my build vs your build” argument once and for all.

In PC Versus, pick components and build the best system possible for each task. Overclock for an edge, but push too far and your build crashes for an instant loss. The custom simulation system surprises you with every configuration thrown … Read More

The post PC Versus – Beta Demo first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

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Clockwork Ambrosia is a steampunk fusion of metroidvania and weapon-building 2D shooter where you combat deadly robots and monsters.

In Clockwork Ambrosia, pull on the boots of airship pilot Iris, stranded after a near-miss crash on a mysterious island. The populace has disappeared, seemingly replaced by malevolent robots and cyborgs. Piece together unique weapons with game-changing modifications and synergies – screen-filling shot splitters, devastating … Read More

The post Clockwork Ambrosia – Beta Demo first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

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CAPTURED 2 is an anomaly hunting horror game where you’re trapped in an ever-changing apartment, capturing anomalies on camera while surviving deadly entities.

In CAPTURED 2, you play as Emily, a teenage girl who goes missing during unexplained disappearances and finds herself trapped in an endless hallway within her own apartment, slowly losing her memory. Strange anomalies appear throughout procedurally generated loops, and capturing … Read More

The post CAPTURED 2 – Beta Demo first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

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Nox Mortalis is a retro-style open world survival game where you gather resources, craft gear, and explore sinister dungeons.

In Nox Mortalis, face hellish creatures and fight to survive in a nightmarish world. Gather resources throughout dangerous landscapes, craft essential gear for survival, and delve into sinister caves and dungeons hiding deadly threats. The game features PS1 aesthetics that enhance the atmospheric ambience throughout … Read More

The post Nox Mortalis – Beta Demo first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

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Treeplanter is a peaceful interactive digital woodland where you create and enjoy a growing grove throughout changing seasons – and help plant real trees.

In Treeplanter, piece together a small grove and watch roots blossom under the soil. Over time, an ecosystem of animals, plants, and birds moves in, turning your creation into a living world. Changing seasons and weather affect your miniature universe … Read More

The post Treeplanter – Beta Demo first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

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Forest Escape: Last Train is a co-op horror exploration game for 1-4 players where you escape through a deranged Warden’s fractured mind.

In Forest Escape, you’re a prison escapee trapped deep in a misty forest – but this isn’t ordinary wilderness. You’re traveling through the twisted mind of a crazy Warden whose madness has transformed reality into surreal horror. Death isn’t enough for him; … Read More

The post Forest Escape: Last Train – Open Beta first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

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The Loopler is an idle-like roguelite simulation where you watch a car drive in loops while numbers climb and dopamine flows.

In The Loopler, you’ll pick upgrades, discover synergies, and put together builds designed to maximize your runs toward infinity. Place gates on the track to enable even more synergies and enhance the craziness that unfolds. Each consecutive round increases the goal, challenging you … Read More

The post The Loopler – Beta Demo first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

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A new year dawns. January is usually a bit of a slow month for entertainment, video games not exempted. However, a lull in the quantity of releases says nothing about the quality, and there were still some interesting titles dropped this month.

There are only two games on display this month, which speaks to that lower release number but also signifies a bit of a policy change. Moving forward, we're going to feature fewer games while offering slightly longer, more in-depth reviews. Yes, I'd love to do twenty reviews a month and give exposure to the maximum number of people, but the limits of time and space make that impractical.

For now, enjoy the dancing robots before returning to your haunted hotel.

THE SPIRIT LIFT

The Spirit Lift is a horror-themed deckbuilder following a series of 90s high school archetypes as they wander through an old hotel in which every spooky thing possible has happened. It's a familiar game that's set apart by an unusual presentation and an obsession with replayability.

The goal of each run is to guide a group of three characters through the halls of the Vexington Hotel, reach the 13th floor and defeat a boss waiting there. Initially there are only three characters available, but the roster grows to eight after enough attempts. The party determines opening cards and equipment, but more importantly they set which of the four colors of cards will be available in future draws.

The core gameplay loop is similar to most deckbuilders, save that the player isn't moving along a set path but rather exploring each floor in first person. One of the rooms always contains the lift to the next floor, while the others house enemies, events or empty rooms that can be looted for money and cards. There may also be enemies and traps outside of the rooms and the lift doesn't unlock unless the player has explored at least one other room, so beelining through each floor isn't necessarily an effective strategy.

Combat is also similar to other deckbuilders, with a few twists. The most noteworthy distinction is a complete lack of a block mechanic. The player will need to find some other means of avoiding damage - dodging it, reflecting it, stunning enemies or taking them down before they can do anything. In general, the ideal strategy involves focusing on one or two cards that can be scaled out, something that's critical to beating some of the bosses with the game's restrictive 13-turn imit.

All deckbuilders are designed for replay value, but few put as much of a focus on it as The Spirit Lift. There are unlockables for each character, each enemy, each boss - dozens in all, including not just cards and gear but new events. Each run earns spirit points used to purchase permanent upgrades. Certain events yield files that point to the history of the Vexington Hotel, and it can take many runs to find them all.

Whether or not it's worth playing through the game dozens of times will vary from person to person. By genre standards, The Spirit Lift isn't too hard, and it has a few features that make chasing unlockables nicer - such as those permanent upgrades and the ability to select any boss path previously seen. However, the small number of enemies and lack of challenge settings means that runs will start to seem a little similar after a while.

Overall, The Spirit Lift is a very interesting deckbuilder that mixes up the formula without changing things too much. It has a fun aesthetic and theme and it never feels too oppressive to play, making it a good choice for both veterans and newcomers.

The Spirit Lift is available for PC via Steam. A copy was provided for this review.

Steel Century Groove

Steel Century Groove is a rhythm RPG set in a world where generations-old war machines called Tenzerks have been repurposed for the more noble sport of dance combat. It's an easy to learn, hard to master game with some unexpected complexity.

The core combat mechanics seem simple at first glance. For each stem, or phase of the fight, there is a curving line with numbered nodes. A dot moves along that line, and the player must hit a button when it passes through each node. The nodes follow the pulse of the music but aren't strictly locked to the beat, so there might be sets of tightly-grouped nodes followed by a break. Each successful hit builds the player's acclaim, and whichever character maxes out their acclaim bar first wins.

That's where the RPG mechanics come into play. While one can theoretically win by using a single button, most opponents won't give up that easily. Winning more difficult fights means mastering the special abilities.

Each Tenzerk - those available to the player and those used by opponents - has a unique set of traits and skills, and those skills only work if used in the right circumstances. For example, you might get a special attack that depletes the enemy's acclaim bar, but only if used during a part of the stem where the opponent isn't taking any action. Meanwhile, enemies have their own gimmicks and can throw status effects on the player, such as locking abilities or seeding the stem with decoy nodes.

Playing the game well requires keeping track of a lot of information at once - not just the nodes, but cooldowns, possible status conditions, and the enemy's predicted actions. It can be daunting, especially for one without great multitasking skills. However, most mechs have a few simple strategies that work well in a wide range of situations, demanding only an occasional tweak in response to an enemy gimmick.

Outside of combat, Steel Century Groove features a design with some definite Pokémon inspiration. The storyline is simple, following the protagonist and their friend on a journey to earn the right to compete in a tournament. Said entry requires defeating a series of expert opponents, all the while dealing with a rival who always seems to be one step ahead. There is another layer to the story, one involving the lost history of the Tenzerks that is revealed little by little over the course of the game.

The RPG elements are fairly basic but add a bit more mechanical complexity. There's no money or shops, but the player will find mods that can add minor mechanics or refine existing strategies. The overall loop also grows more complex as the player fights other pilots and gains levels.

Overall, Steel Century Groove is a solid addition to the burgeoning rhythm combat genre. It's not too hard to get the hang of it and there's just enough variety in the builds and enemies to keep things interesting.

Steel Century Groove is available for PC via Steam. A copy was provided for this review.

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That wraps up our first go with the adjusted format, having looked at two indie games that caught our attention in January. Be sure to come back each month for more of those sweet, sweet indie games you need to know about!