This is not a list of games I recommend but rather a list of games that caught my eye for one reason or another. Some of these I’ve played, some of these I still plan on playing, and some of these I might never play. Even with this last caveat, I’ve kept the list as-is since readers might find something new to enjoy. I’ll continue updating this page at the end of every month.
January
Dungeon Antiqua 2 (1/07): Retro-style RPG emphasizing class experimentation. https://store.steampowered.com/app/4005090/Dungeon_Antiqua_2/
Restless Dreams (1/09): A short, low-poly, psychological-horror game. https://store.steampowered.com/app/4018210/Restless_Dreams/
Dream of a Corpse Lady (1/12): Erotic/gothic single player TCG with a focus on strategy. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2842800/Dream_of_Corpse_Lady/
One Turn-Kill (1/15): Stylish looking PvE card game where the goal is to end battles in one turn. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3151270/One_Turn_Kill/
Garden Hunt (1/16): Pac-Man but with cute snail people. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3820430/Garden_Hunt/
Karous (1/22): PC port of legendary shmup with killer soundtrack. https://store.steampowered.com/app/4090420/Karous/
Viractal: Will You Trust Your Party (1/25): Board-game style RPG from Sting (Baroque, Yggdra Union). https://store.steampowered.com/app/2909580/Viractal_Will_You_Trust_Your_Party/
Valkyrie Saga (1/26): Old-school platformer in the style of PSX games. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2663150/Valkyrie_Saga/
February
サバトの女王 Queen of Sacrifice. (2/2) (JP only). New work/something of a remake by the creator of Corpse Party. https://freegame-mugen.jp/adventure/game_14466.html
ギルド探求団へようこそ！ (2/5) (JP only). Deduction game centered on a missing dungeon crawling party. https://store.steampowered.com/app/4327530/_/
Only You (2/10): Toxic yuri Chinese VN. ENG translation is a bit rough. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3604510/Only_You/
Soldiers DesireWing (2/13): High-octane furige RPG. https://freegame-mugen.jp/roleplaying/game_9561.html
Sato & Hama (2/16): Experimental game featuring three different genres. https://store.steampowered.com/app/4289380/Sato__Hama/
Dead End Beam (2/19) (JP): Extremely difficult rogue-like that uses gambit style system for combat. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3867150/DEAD_END_BEAM/
Horrirpilant (2/20): Incremental dungeon crawler. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3525970/Horripilant/
千営渾 (2/27) (JP only): Furige strategy game. https://freegame-mugen.jp/simulation/game_14554.html
March
What is Death (3/4): Extremely short visual novel about death. https://store.steampowered.com/app/4226120/What_Is_Death/
Banquet for Fools (3/5): Party-based beat ‘em up RPG. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3172700/Banquet_for_Fools/
Thysiastery (3/9): Roguelike dungeon crawler. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3140180/THYSIASTERY/
Sin第八章＆第九章 (3/14): Furige battle-fantasy VN and long awaited sequel. https://freegame-mugen.jp/adventure/game_14605.html
Shinonome Abyss The Maiden Exorcist (3/25): Roguelike horror action with art by Tatsuya Yoshikawa of Breath of Fire fame. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2948080/SHINONOME_ABYSS_The_Maiden_Exorcist/
Nakara (3/20): First-person arcade/hentai game. https://store.steampowered.com/app/4083770/Nakara/
No Vacation for an Executioner (3/23): PS2 style Horror ARPG. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2949120/No_Vacation_for_an_Executioner/
Cosmic Galaxy Wars (3/31): Bizzaro dungeon crawler from Yoshitsuna Kobayashi of Disgaea fame. https://store.steampowered.com/app/4004490/CosmicGalaxyWars/
GAL VS VILLAGE (3/11): Old-school FPS from Crush-vAdin (Hazama Queen). https://store.steampowered.com/app/4102700/GAL_VS_VILLAGE/
シルフェイド学院物語 (3/31): Enhanced release of smokingWOLF’s older training sim. https://www.dlsite.com/home/work/=/product_id/RJ01591080.html
April
裏山フォークロア (4/4): FMV horror furige ADV. https://freegame-mugen.jp/adventure/game_14704.html
Designers_i（デザイナーズアイ） (4/5). Furige sci-fi/puzzle ADV. https://freegame-mugen.jp/adventure/game_14713.html
Sp(L/R)ite スプライト (4/8): Surreal first-person ADV. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2533920/SpLRite/
Sidereal Wanderer ST (4/9): Remake of Spice Press’ space tactical simulator. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3894200/Sidereal_Wanderer_ST/
Sol Cesto (4/10). Tactical Roguelite. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2738490/Sol_Cesto/
TAMASHIKA (4/10): Fast-paced Japanese FPS. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2996080/TAMASHIKA/
絶境とノイン (4/11) (JP only): Highly customizable furige RPG. https://freegame-mugen.jp/roleplaying/game_14726.html
灰に沈む均衡: Furige ADV that sees developer Neko continuing to expand on their “Ash City” series. https://freegame-mugen.jp/adventure/game_14732.html
Stranger Maidens Please Protect Me! (4/15): Hentai take on Vampire Survivors except you control 3 characters at once: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3028830/Stranger_Maidens_Please_Protect_Me/
Drowning Song of the Stagnant Sea (4/16): Fairy tale sea-themed platonic yuri VN. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3966180/Drowning_Song_of_the_Stagnant_Sea/
5-Minute Maid (4/16): Time-looping ADV. https://store.steampowered.com/app/4053760/5Minute_Maid/
TAKE ME HOME: Furige sci-fi ADV with gnarly designs. https://freegame-mugen.jp/adventure/game_14750.html
Anemoi (4/26) (JP Only): New all-ages VN by the legendary KEY (Little Busters, Air, Clannad). https://www.dlsite.com/soft/work/=/product_id/VJ01006103.html
Magical Princess (4/27): Raising-sim. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3562120/Magical_Princess/
Demon’s Timeline (4/29): ADV where “Cyber Detective” L solves mysteries through hacking and psychic powers. https://store.steampowered.com/app/4198660/Demons_Timeline/
May
Motorslice (5/5): Parkour action-adventure game. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2830030/MOTORSLICE/
The Awakener: Battle Tendency (5/5): Diablo x Dynasty Warriors. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3742830/The_Awakener_Battle_Tendency/
ナイトホークの贖罪【前篇】 (5/12): Furige “cinematic” ADV. https://freegame-mugen.jp/adventure/game_14841.html
Hyper Euphoria (5/21): Retro-style ADV. https://store.steampowered.com/app/4012840/Hyper_Euphoria/
水彩画は水底に沈む (5/21) (JP only): ADV about two girls who return to their abandoned school to finish a painting. https://store.steampowered.com/app/4389120/_/
Halfmoon (5/22): Short ADV about two women and the afterlife. Visuals are excellent. https://store.steampowered.com/app/4175330/halfmoon/
魔法少女新都市 (5/25): Furige deck-building magical-girl RPG. https://www.freem.ne.jp/win/game/34871
Iris Odyssey (5/28): Urban-fantasy battle VN. A portion of the game can be played for free. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3263400/Iris_Odyssey/
星屑のデザイア (5/28): Furige ADV about loneliness. Lovely art. https://freegame-mugen.jp/adventure/game_14904.html
デモンキルデモン ～黄泉１９８４～ 転移編 (5/28): New dungeon crawler RPG from Experience (Yomi Labyrinth, Stranger of Sword City) . https://store-jp.nintendo.com/item/software/D70010000104864
真性終末症候群 World end, rehabilitation (5/30: Furige ADV and follow-up to 真性終末症候群-World end,eve-. https://freegame-mugen.jp/adventure/game_14918.html
June
Ultra0 (6/2): Yuri shmup + VN. https://store.steampowered.com/app/4019180/ULTRA0/
人間二世 (6/3) (JP only): Psychological horror furige ADV. https://freegame-mugen.jp/adventure/game_14932.html
Putrika 2nd.cut: For the Exquisite Attire (6/5) (JP/CN/KO only): Darker themed ADV about whether or not to end the life of a young girl. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3818900/Putrika_2ndcutFor_the_Exquisite_Attire/
響けポルカ (6/5) (JP only): Very cute furige RPG made in Wolf Editor. https://freegame-mugen.jp/roleplaying/game_14941.html
Jolly and Whimsy (6/12): Short and experimental picture-book VN. https://store.steampowered.com/app/4707380/Jolly_and_Whimsy/
The Last Salvage Squad (6/17): Japanese sci-fi FPS. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3551190/The_Last_Salvage_Squad/
Cloudsea Frontier (6/28) (JP): Upgraded Steam release of old-school style indie JRPG. https://store.steampowered.com/app/4396290/Cloudsea_Frontier/
ハナレノサーガ (6/30): Furige high-difficulty SRPG. https://freegame-mugen.jp/simulation/game_15044.html
July
Veritas Tales: Witch of the Dark Castle: Digital gamebook by Yoshio Nishimura of Capcom and Vanillaware fame. https://store.steampowered.com/app/4508570/Veritas_Tales_Witch_of_the_Dark_Castle/
