The Good Old Days (Switch, PC)
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Posted on December 3rd, 2025 by
I was a kid in the 80s, and because of that, there are a lot of movies around then that really shaped my childhood. These include trilogies like the original Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Back to the Future films, as well as others like Gremlins and Ghostbusters. But one 80s movie that I wasn’t as big a fan of was The Goonies. I think it’s because in the summers, my best friend’s cousin would come over to visit and always bring her videotape of The Goonies and want to watch it with us every day! I got so tired of it! But like most other movies at the time, The Goonies got a few video games. The most popular were the NES games from Konami. The first one wasn’t really released in the US outside of arcades, but the second one was pretty popular, at least in my group of friends anyway. So if you liked the gameplay of those classics, you may want to check out The Good Old Days. It’s a 2D Metroidvania style platformer where you play as a group of kids called The Noogies. They’re tasked with finding treasure in underground caverns to make enough money to keep their parents’ house, but they only have one day to do it and they must compete with a gang of thieves! Only thing it’s missing is that catchy Cyndi Lauper song! The Good Old Days is available on Switch and PC, but reviewed on Switch here.
Plants vs. Zombies Replanted (Switch 1 & 2, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, X/S, PC)
Posted on December 1st, 2025 by
One of the most popular ‘casual’ tower defense style games has to be Plants vs. Zombies. The original game was even reviewed on this site (not by me) way back in the day (2009). There’s been a few spinoffs as well. I reviewed a pinball game based on the franchise in 2012, and there’s also the 3D Garden Warfare games (I hated I missed out on those, they look like fun). I also remember seeing the game a lot at PAX and E3 in years past, like costumed zombies from the game and they would give out paper cone hats to showgoers. And now, more than 15 years later, you can play a HD version of it on modern consoles with new levels and features. Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted is available on all current consoles and PC, but reviewed on Switch 2 here.
Gruniozerca Trilogy (Switch, PS5, Xbox One, PC)
Posted on November 26th, 2025 by
Originally homebrew NES games, Gruniozerca Trilogy is a trio of puzzle action games starring a little black guinea pig named Grunio. It’s available on most current consoles and PC, but reviewed on Switch here.
Twilight Parade: Moonlit Mononoke (PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, X/S, PC)
Posted on November 24th, 2025 by
Monsters from Japanese myths and folklore (called yokai) come together every year to have a parade on a day called Hyakki Yagyo. But the Oni monsters were too rowdy so they weren’t invited. But now they’re mad and causing trouble, so you must stop them in this horizontally scrolling 2D bullet hell shooter. Twilight Parade: Moonlit Mononoke is available on all current consoles and PC, but reviewed on PS4 here.
Pac-Man World 2 and the Act of Kindness
Posted on November 21st, 2025 by
Back in 2022, Pac-Man World: RePac was released. It was a remake of the original Pac-Man World game on PlayStation. I even wrote an article about it here. I encourage you to read that article I wrote because the original Pac-Man World game was a very special game to me as a game reviewer, and the remake was even my Game of the Year in 2022! I wondered if Pac-Man World 2 would get the RePac treatment someday, and this year it did! I didn’t like Pac-Man World 2 as much as the original, but it was still a special game to me and I thought I’d explain why in this article, and go over my thoughts on the RePac version of this game as well.
Windswept (Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, X/S, PC)
Posted on November 19th, 2025 by
A duck is swept away from its nest by a tornado and then meets a turtle and together they go on a 2D platformer adventure that is heavily inspired by 16-bit classics. ESPECIALLY the Donkey Kong Country series. Windswept is available on all current consoles and PC, but reviewed on Switch here.
Reader Review: Goosebumps: Terror in Little Creek (PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, X/S)
Posted on November 17th, 2025 by
I was too old to get into R.L.Stine’s Goosebumps series when they first came out. I was like in high school or college by that time. And my little brothers were too young! So I don’t really have a lot of familiarity with this series. In fact, the only thing I remember about Goosebumps is that when my brother Jeff was little bitty and first started swimming lessons, one of the things he needed for the class was a beach towel. So we let him pick out whatever one he wanted at the store. And he chose a Goosebumps one, for whatever reason. But he thought he was SO COOL with that towel! Anyway, when a review code for a new Goosebumps game recently dropped in my lap, I thought it would be only fitting to have my brother Jeff review it! So here is his take on Goosebumps: Terror in Little Creek. It’s available on all current consoles and PC, but reviewed on PC here. –Cary
Redex (PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, X/S)
Posted on November 12th, 2025 by
Shoot wave after wave of bad guys in 2D retro style arenas in Redex. It’s available on all current consoles but reviewed on PS4 here.
Kotenok (PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, X/S, PC)
Posted on November 10th, 2025 by
Help a little kitten bypass obstacles in this 2D precision platformer (Kotenok is Russian for kitten, by the way). It’s available on all current consoles and PC, but reviewed on Switch here.
Super Mining Mechs (PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, X/S, PC)
Posted on November 5th, 2025 by
Earth’s resources have been nearly depleted in the future, so now you must go and deplete other planets’ resources in Super Mining Mechs. It’s kind of a sequel/updated version of a game I reviewed about a year ago. Use a robot drill to search for treasure underground in 2D space. It kind of reminds me of Steamworld Dig mixed with a bit of Terraria and Dig Dug. Super Mining Mechs is available on all current consoles and PC, but reviewed on PS4 here.
