<span class=SA Lotto“bigchar”>2024 may not be as packed as last year was, but halfway through the year, we’ve still already had a deluge of excellent new games, to the extent that many have, as is often the case, passed under the radar for a great many people. Here, we’re going to shine the spotlight on a few such smaller or relatively less mainstream titles that deserve to have more eyes on them.

ANIMAL WELL

Indie Metroidvanias are a dime a dozen these days, but Animal Well manages to stand out from the crowd nonetheless. On top of incredible level design, endlessly satisfying exploration, and ingeniously designed puzzles, Animal Well also boasts incredible art design and visuals. All of it comes together in one of the richest and most engaging Metroidvanias we’ve played in recent years.