So, I got the thread halfway updated again.

I also exchanged the old table with the one from the Google Document which is much more up to date, clearer and more complete.

Once that's (finally) done, I'll note down which games one has already rated to avoid someone giving several ratings for the same game. Until then, feel free to send in your ratings, I'll gladly include them in the next updates.

No problem. I was scrolling back through my saved threads and remembered that I hadn't added anything to this one in a while. Hopefully this pulls more people back into it, because it's a neat thread.

Yeah, I hope so too. Would be really nice, as most reviews are dating back to 2018, so most newer releases are missing so far.

Updated to N now

Also, when I copied the chart from the link into the OP (well, technically the second post), the colors were sadly gone. While some will find that as an improvement, I still think that being able to see at a glance if it's good or not (green=good, red=bad, gray=meh) would be helpful.

Runbow
Platformer
4/5

Runbow is a platformer where most objects - both platforms or obstacles - in the level are a bright neon color and when the background color matches that object's color, it disappears. The background color can change in a variety of different ways and the levels have a fantastic amount of variety and even a simple, but amusing, story driving the game. The game is designed for both single player and multiplayer action, although I played it solo and can't speak to the quality of the latter. The single player, especially the extra hard 'Bowhemoth' challenge, was very fun. The graphic are very simple, but the art style is distinct and clean enough that the simple presentation is not a problem. The one big downside is that despite this game originally appearing on the WiiU and 3DS, the DLC levels and costumes are not included in the Switch version and remain as separate DLC.

Ink
Platformer
3.5/5

By coincidence Ink is also a color-themed platformer. But instead of makes objects disappear, it makes them appears. The levels start as black voids aside from enemies or items, but every action you take splashes ink across the area, revealing the platforms. The idea is novel and fun for the first few levels, but it doesn't really go any further than that. There's no depth to the main gimmick unfortunately, but the levels are still well-designed and fun to play so it doesn't too much there. It's a short game only taking 2 hours to beat, although I ignored collectibles which would have extended play time. A good game to pick up for cheap if you like modern platformers.

Fe
3D Platformer
3/5

I do not understand people who claim Fe is beautiful. It's very stylish certainly, but everything is much too blocky and flat-textured to call it beautiful in my opinion. For this and other reasons I almost put Fe down within the first hour of play. I gave it a second try which is fortunate as things got good when the antagonists were finally introduced and the game gained more of a purpose than just 'run around and sing at animals/plants'. The story is told completely without words and suffers for it, being mostly incomprehensible, but it did get across the general themes of connecting with nature being good and obsession with technology at any cost being bad. The environment is interesting and the movement abilities satisfactory, but somehow the exploring never really reached that level of sheer fun like Hat in Time or Mario Odyssey. It's a slightly overhyped game, but still worth a play if you like 3D platformers.

The Messnger
Action/Platformer and Metroidvania
5/5

This game however, 100% lived up to the hype. The game starts as a Ninja Gaiden-esqe action platformer and when you beat that the game suddenly transitions in a Metroidvania using the levels you've just beaten, but with new arenas to access with your increased traversal options. Both sections of the game are fantastically fun to play and the art, both 8 and 16 bit, is great looking. The story opens with a fairly standard beginning, but quickly introduces characters and interactions that are funnier than they have any right to be. Beyond the excellent humor, the story is interspersed with bits and pieces of seemingly random things which amazingly get pulled together into a coherent story by the end of the game. The exploration is great fun, the controls tight, and collectibles are both challenging to get and provide a great bonus once you have them. The only possible complaint I have is that the final boss is a bit too easy as I only died three times before beating him, but it's still a fantastic game all around.

Cuphead                                          4,5

Gris                                                2

Hollow knight                                  5

Inside                                             4

into the breach                               4,5

Megaman X Legacy Collection 1         4

Metal gear Slug 1                            5

Metal gear Slug 2                           3

Metal gear Slug 3                           3

Oxenfree                                       3

Shovel knight                                3,5

Steamworld dig 2                           4

Thumper                                      2

Will post some new ones later this week (if I don't forget)

The Bug Butcher
Arcade Shooter
4.5/5

The Bug Butcher looks and plays like a souped up version of old flash shooter games from Newgrounds. The name of the game is shooting upwards at hordes of enemies as they appear and dodging side-to-side to avoid their attacks. The story is simple: mutant bugs have taken over a scientific facility and you're just the standard sci-fi exterminator called in to get rid of them. Enemies come in waves and there is a pleasing amount of variety to their designs and attack patterns. The base content is about 5 hours worth, but there are tons of unloackables and high scores to chase and of course an endless arcade mode. Just don't make my mistake and spend 3 hours playing arcade mode while thinking you loaded the campaign. I was genuinely confused why the first level felt so hard and long.

Blasphemous
Metroidvania
5/5

I've heard this being called '2D Dark Souls' and while not a perfectly accurate the comparison is apt. In gameplay, it resembles Hollow Knight most strongly although with slightly more focus on dodging/parrying than aerial agility in combat. But the exploration and tough foes paired with recoverable previous bodies is similar. In style it is absolutely reminiscent of Dark Souls. The slight and interesting distinction being that while Dark Souls is more generally medieval in design, Blasphemous specifically pulls from ecclesiastical art and imagery. Corrupted clergy, suffering sinners, and penitent parishioners fill the world giving it a feeling that is grim, Gothic and dark and yet somehow also hopeful and determined. However you slice it, the atmosphere hooked me and the gameplay was very fun. A good amount of content too as I'm 10 hours in and there still feels like plenty to explore.

Gato Roboto
Metroidvania
4/5

We do a 180 turn from the heavy tone of Blasphemous into a game that just oozes charm and humor. In Gato Roboto you play a cat who crash lands into an old space station with its owner and needs to find a way to reactivate the station so you can both leave. Conveniently, as the game deliberately points out, the maintenance robot suits are both still functional and capable of being controlled by a cat. The style of gameplay is clearly based on old-school Metroid in gameplay with even the morphball sections being done as a the cat leaving the suit and squeezing among pipes and small places. The gameplay is fun, the boss battles good, and while the story is goofy it's also very funny and interesting enough to keep you exploring.

A Hole New World
Action Platformer
2.5/5

To be honest I had forgotten I'd played this game until I glanced at my play list over the past few months to make this post. Even thinking about it I vaguely recall enjoying this game and that the main gimmick was the world flipping upside down to an 'underside' when you fall into certain holes, but I cannot recall much more. I only played it a couple months ago too. Perhaps I'm being unfair to score it low, but 2.5 feels correct for being a largely forgettable experience that only took 3 hours to finish according to my listed play time.

Almost There: The Platfomer
Platformer (duh)
0.5/5

Almost There does the modern platformer minimalist look of having your character be a mobile square and most obstacles/platforms be similar simple shapes. Unlike 'Ink' there is nothing to spice up this style and it is very bland. In a better game that would be forgivable, but unfortunately, Almost There really falls short when it comes to its core gameplay. One of the central abilities is supposed to be clinging to walls and using them to jump higher. This ability works fine when it's two opposing walls, but when attempting to use a single wall (which many levels require to advance) it is an exercise in frustration that rarely works. I should not be fighting and cursing the controls less than an hour into the game. Between that and no compelling art or story to keep me going, I stopped within an hour and don't plan on going back. Ironically for a game called 'Almost There' it was 'nowhere close' to being good.

So, updated, to NOP Q up to this point, I will later update the list further. Thanks for all the new submissions!

Unravel TWO
Puzzle Platformer
4/5

The aesthetic and graphics of Unravel 2 are very cute, especially the little hub world that you zipline around to find each level. In actual play you navigate a normal sized world with tiny characters and every pit and piece of a normal scene becomes an obstacle. The unique part of this game is that you control two characters connected by a string. While it's obviously intended to be a co-op game, playing it alone isn't a chore as switching between character is quick and whichever one you aren't controlling stays in place while you move the other one rather than giving it over to an undoubtedly dodgy AI. Overall, very fun and with a unique set of puzzles to solve.

Downwell
Shoot'em down (schmup)
4/5

The premise in simply that you delve ever deeper into the well with only your trust gun boots at your side. I'm not terribly familiar with Schmups but this was very fun and the the buyable upgrades scratched an itch to come going deeper and deeper. One word of warning, tho. The game is very unforgiving and you'll often repeat levels, but the core gameplay is so fun and addicting that failure never seems like a chore. Just a chance to do better and buy better upgrades.

Spyro: Reignited Trilogy
3D Platformer
4/5
I never grew up with Spyro, being a Nintendo kid through-and-through. I think I made the right choice as these games ain't a patch on Mario 64 or Banjo Kazooie, but they are still very fun, full of environments to explore, secrets to discover, and cute bits of humor. My biggest criticism would be that they're too easy given that I've 100%'ed the first two games in about 20 hours despite each one having a wealth of content. Hopefully the third game puts up more of a challenge.

Thanks for keeping the thread alive.

I will finally have some time next week to finish updating the OP and Google sheet, so hopefully I'll fully catch up and can finally add some more games to the list, as there are quite a few I eant to add when I'll be done updating.