This game stands out as a visually impressive platform adventure on the MSX, originally crafted for the ColecoVision in 2020. Its storyline, involving a scientist’s apprentice searching for their mentor in an abandoned hotel, cleverly intertwines exploration with puzzle-solving, providing a gameplay experience that is as engaging as it is visually striking. The MSX1’s graphics are pushed to their limits with effects like simulated rain, setting a moody, atmospheric backdrop for the adventure. However, the platforming mechanics are noted to be somewhat basic and occasionally clumsy, which might detract from the overall gameplay experience for those seeking polished action sequences. Additionally, the game’s brief duration might leave players wanting more, but its unique premise, combined with the exploration and puzzle aspects, ensures that Sweet Macabre offers a memorable journey, albeit a short one.

Delving into Norse mythology, this game casts players as a titular troll mother tasked with caring for a human child found in the woods. This game distinguishes itself with a gameplay mechanic centered around strategic decision-making, where players decide on the child’s activities over the seasons, influencing his development and the unfolding narrative. The choices made affect the child’s traits, such as wildness, patience, and magical ability, which in turn impact the interactions and events he encounters in various locations like camps, forests, bridges, and mines. This approach offers a rich, story-driven experience with multiple endings, rooted in the decisions players make throughout the game. However, the game’s simplicity and the limited direct interaction might not appeal to those seeking more traditional, action-packed gameplay. Despite this, its innovative narrative structure, deep thematic content, and exploration of nurturing and growth present a compelling and thought-provoking experience, particularly appealing to fans of interactive fiction and storytelling in games

This indie game offers a unique twist on the Metroidvania genre. In this game, you embody an alien creature initially in the form of a worm-like being, starting your journey in a laboratory from which you must escape. The primary gameplay mechanic revolves around finding DNA to evolve and gain new abilities, such as growing legs, which amusingly allows you to open doors and interact with the environment in new ways. The game’s progression is quite linear for a Metroidvania, focusing on escaping the lab while having the option to engage in gory encounters with scientists. Despite its short length and straightforward path, Enceladus is praised for its inventive concept and execution. However, its simplicity and lack of branching paths may leave players craving a more complex and exploratory Metroidvania experience.

Developed by Gumpy Function, Feed It Souls emerges as an innovative and darkly themed game. Contrary to initial assumptions that it might be a Souls-like game due to its name, it instead offers a unique narrative and gameplay experience. Players assume the role of the offspring of a biotechnological monstrosity, tasked with hunting for souls to feed their master, thereby enhancing their own abilities. This premise sets the stage for a game that blends platforming and exploration, reminiscent of Metroidvania titles but with a distinct focus on evolution as a gameplay mechanic. The game’s concept of unlocking new abilities, such as the jump, through soul collection adds depth to the exploration and puzzle-solving elements. While its short duration might leave players desiring more, its non-traditional approach and thematic richness provide a compelling experience. The game stands out for its polished presentation, especially for a Game Boy Color title, utilizing a grayscale aesthetic that adds to its eerie atmosphere. However, the simplicity of the platforming mechanics and the brief playtime may not satisfy those looking for a more extensive and challenging Metroidvania experience.

Inspired by the critically acclaimed “Little Nightmares” this game provides a puzzle-platform experience within a compact and creepy setting. Players navigate as a little girl in a yellow raincoat through various eerie locations, with the primary goal of escaping each room. The gameplay involves traversing screens to find and correctly use objects that unlock paths to proceed, embodying gated exploration mechanics. The game’s distinct visual style, leveraging the Spectrum’s color limitations, adds to the atmospheric creepiness, making the dark backdrops and minimalistic graphics work effectively to set the mood. While the game is praised for its charming adaptation of “Little Nightmares” to the Spectrum, its small scale and potentially limited level count might not satisfy those looking for a deeper puzzle-platformer experience. Nonetheless, its engaging puzzle mechanics and the fittingly spooky ambiance make it a noteworthy endeavor for ZX Spectrum enthusiasts and fans of the genre looking for a quick, intriguing playthrough.

Ghostly Manor offers a playful yet tame platforming experience set within a haunted house theme, designed for the MSX2+ system. Developed by the 9958 Crew, the game introduces players to a non-violent, family-friendly adventure, exploring a manor filled with cute renditions of classic horror characters like skeletons, ghosts, and little Frankenstein monsters. The gameplay is straightforward, focusing on basic platforming elements where the primary goal is to find a key and reach the exit door. Unique to its design is the mechanic allowing players to break or build bricks, adding a slight puzzle element to navigate through the levels. While the game’s simplicity and lack of genuine creepiness make it accessible for younger audiences, it may not offer enough depth or challenge for more seasoned gamers looking for intricate puzzles or platforming mechanics. Nonetheless, its charming graphics, and the innovative non-violent concept of being “scared” instead of dying, make Ghostly Manor a pleasant and relaxing game suitable for players seeking a light-hearted, spooky-themed adventure.

Developed by Dullahan Software this game cleverly reimagines the soccer match not through the direct control of players, but through the whimsical interference of a ghost, distinctly rendered as a simple square. This ghost, wielding an array of special abilities, including scaring players to shoot the ball and causing others to sleep, introduces a novel strategic layer to the traditional soccer gameplay. The game is praised for its originality, particularly its engaging mechanic of influencing the game as a spectral entity rather than participating in a conventional manner. The visuals of the game, described as “tiny” with the entire field visible on a single screen, are noted for their charm and fun, encapsulating the essence of a party game, especially with the option for four-player gameplay. However, identifying players on the field can be challenging due to the simplistic graphics, where the distinction between team members is minimal. Despite this, Spooky Soccer is celebrated for its inventive approach and the potential for fun, particularly in a casual, party setting, although it remains just a prototype with room for polish to transform it into a fuller gaming experience.