Read Dragon Gaming’s review of Celeste, which is an excellent 2D platformer – in terms of control, difficulty and presentation. But it’s so much more than that. A deep dive – sometimes quite literally – into depression, anxiety and the woes of 21st-century society, this game handles its poignant subject matters in a way that is not only enlightening and refreshing but also funny and charming. Celeste is a shining example of how narrative in video games can be used to tell a story that is topical, engaging and – most interestingly – unique to the medium.
Last Word on Gaming takes a look at ten games who treat mental health issues as respectfully and seriously as they ought to be in real life.
Earthblade is a 2D fantasy platformer in a seamless pixel art world and is the next release from the Celeste team, well it’s still is but likely will not be released in 2024 as Extremely OK Games’ head Maddy Thorson explains in an official blog post. Earthblade was first announced in April 2021 and then had its first trailer at The Game Awards in 2022. You are Névoa, an enigmatic child of Fate returning at long last to Earth, in this fantasy platformer. Earthblade’s lush pixel art world offers seamless exploration, challenging combat, and countless mysteries to pick apart. Celeste was an amazing game, so we know this will be too, we just will need to wait at least another year.
This is Indie Game Culture’s List of 10 Indie Games That Are a Nightmare to 100%.
This could end up being the front runner for game of the year.