Top 5 Best Games you might have missed in 2019
Now that we've all put out our GOTY lists, I figured it'd make sense to shine a little light on several games that might not have received the love they deserved. I've tried my best to include a good mix of titles, from story-focused puzzlers to hard-as-nails platformers, so hopefully there's something on here for most of you. If not, maybe you've got a few games of your own that you'd like to suggest?
How did I pick these? Well, I've gone and done a very advanced and scientific piece of research into precise download numbers vs critical reception and… nope. Basically, it's all very much a gut feeling mixed with whether I've seen them pop up time and again through the year or what their rough download numbers are like. That sort of thing.
Some of these games even made it into a couple of our GOTY lists, including my own and Dann's. That's how you know they're good, right?
So here you have it! These are the top 5 best games you might have missed in 2019.
PhotographsPhotographs is a smart puzzler with a heavy focus on narrative. It spans five distinct vignettes, which range from the fantastical to the mundane. You'll find yourself playing as an up-and-coming diver one moment, then a potion-brewing wizard the next. Each section features its own unique puzzle, and they all inform and enhance the narrative arc of the vignettes in novel ways.
Harry reviewed it earlier this year, saying "Photographs is a genuinely unique puzzle adventure that deserves to be played by as many people as possible." And I'm absolutely inclined to agree with him.
It's not an easy ride, with it featuring some upsetting and macabre moments, but those who stick with it are in for a proper treat.
DUNKYPUNG
DUNKYPUNG is one of the few mobile games I've continued to return to throughout the year. Its hard-as-nails platforming action is incredibly intense, requiring unwavering perseverance and complete concentration from you at all times.
Thankfully, the simple controls, which revolve around you rhythmically tapping your screen to gain air, are responsive enough to allow for such a level of challenge. Throw in the game's striking visuals and general strangeness, and you've got yourself one of the finest platformers of the year.
Ordia
Much like DUNKYPUNG, Ordia feels like a forgotten classic of the old App Store in all the best ways. It explores its simple "one-finger flinger" premise thoroughly, is clearly built from the ground up for mobile, and boasts an appealing aesthetic that'll age far better than any current games striving for console-quality visuals.
You play as a one-eyed ball of goo, whose only real method of travel is hopping between handpoint nodes dotted throughout the various caverns they call home. Along the way, you'll encounter deadly traps and other creatures looking for a quick, you-sized snack.
It’s just so well put together and presented, offering just enough levels so as not to overstay its welcome, that I can't see why it seemingly slipped under the radar for so many platformer fans.
Starbeard
This one made Dann's top 5 games of the year list, and for good reason. It's a smart mashup of match-3 gameplay and light RPG mechanics, which feels totally fresh and incredibly moreish.
Each run sees you playing as one of over a dozen space dwarfs, who boast unique abilities that they can use to tackle objectives ranging from felling giant bosses to destroying a certain number of tiles. It really manages to eke a lot of quality ideas and gameplay from its simple premise, and its silly sense of humour and stellar presentation are the icing on the cake.
Astrologaster
This one is niche by design; a choice-based adventure game where you play as real-life occultist Simon Forman, who was known for his promiscuous nature and wild attempts at diagnosing ailments using astrology.
Set in old-timey London, Astrologaster is a rather unique and special little game that sidesteps the frustrations of the adventure genre to deliver a refined and frequently funny experience. Fans of a good story and some properly flowery dialogue will find much to love here.