A whole lot of games come out each year. Thousands, actually. It’s easy for some gems to slip through the cracks en route to oblivion. Rage against the dying of the light, underappreciated games! Here are reviews of a few great games that, for whatever reason, we didn’t write about.
‘Puzzle Craft’
Console: iOS
Maker: Chillingo
Grade: 4/5
What happens when you mix a match-three puzzle game with a village sim? You get one of the more addictive games on the iOS platform. The premise is simple: As you match items, you get more raw material to build your town with. “Puzzle Craft” will steal your sleep, however, and turn you into one of those people who stares at his or her phone all throughout dinner.
‘Kingdoms of Amalur:
Reckoning’
Console: Xbox 360
Maker: EA
Grade: 4/5
While everyone was still frolicking about in Skyrim, this game snuck into stores with minimal fanfare. It’s a shame too, as “Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning” takes the fantasy-themed open world of that title but mixes in fun, arcade-style combat. Speaking of, the fighting here feels great. You’d be hard-pressed to find an action RPG that plays better.
‘Knytt Underground’
Console: PS3/Vita/PC
Maker: Ripstone
Grade: 4/5
This beautiful and lonely sidescroller has you slowly exploring an interconnected world as either a little boy or an anthropomorphic bouncing ball. It draws heavily from classics like Metroid and Castlevania, as well as recent indie gems like VVVVV and Super Meat Boy. Prepare to do a lot of backtracking in order to fully explore the game’s 1,800 rooms.
