Most reviews around here are met with "post this where people read reviews," but if you aren't aware that something exists you aren't going to go looking for reviews. I hope my short summaries bring attention to these titles so they don't get lost in the sea of shovelware on Steam and other modern marketplaces.
This is my third time making this sort of post. The others are here and here.
I ended up not using any of the games others suggested in my previous thread, but I'm still interested in seeing what games you think are too good to remain obscure.
Theta and Paralldoxs on Worldlines
I play a lot of puzzle games and this one had me straining my brain before I even made it through the prologue. Multi-character control puzzles tend to be easy, but the simple addition of a "turn left when moving into a wall" rule made this one significantly more complex, and that's before adding in multi-timeline paradox splits, even/odd spacing differentials, etc. The developers also have a knack for placing spikes in the most inconvenient places, which proves that they really know how to make a good puzzle and not just complicated mechanics.
Winnie's Hole
This one's still in Early Access, but the content currently available is high quality and it feels worth the purchase as-is.
It's technically a roguelike deckbuilder, but you place shapes on a grid and activate all the effects within the shape which is much more engaging than simple mana management. All the enemy encounters are hand-crafted with gimmicks to work around/manipulate to your advantage, so you can take them down with strategy rather than brute force.
UNBEATABLE
PC, PS5
UNBEATABLE is a rhythm game with a proper story mode. It's highly stylized and its biggest moments feel like playable music videos. If you're not into the story it also features a 2-button arcade mode that is as competently made as the biggest names in the genre. If you play with vibration on, the controller will pulse to the beat with an intensity that matches the song which enhances the experience more than I was expecting.
Saber Survivors
This is a modern horde survival game with an emphasis on active, defensive gameplay rather than auto-attacks. Your primary weapon is deflection and most sub-weapons activate via deflection. The game is light on content and super grindy if you want to unlock everything, but the gameplay is unique enough that it still felt worth playing.
极速营救 (Rescue the Girl) / 我打不过漂亮的她们 (I Can't Beat the Beautiful Ones)
These two FMV games are from the same publisher, have a similar level of quality, and are available as a bundle. While they don't have showy set pieces or elaborate costumes they do feature surprisingly good acting and a variety of locations which suggest they each had a decent budget.
我打不过漂亮的她们 features multiple distinct routes. In one the protagonist re-enters the world of underground boxing. In another he tries to move on and live a peaceful life. It offers a good mix of action, intrigue, romance, and humour.
极速营救 has a more linear story. The protagonist wakes up with a bomb in his belly and receives a video that shows his daughter has been kidnapped. The mastermind gives him a series of tasks that must be completed to keep them both alive.
Lost and Found Co.
This hidden object game has a simple, cutesy story and you are primarily tasked with finding unique, story-relevant items rather than an abundance of copy+paste nonsense. The screens are also full of amusing scenarios and references similar to Where's Wally/Waldo. A cozy game that is delightful all around.
Expand
PC, PS4
A simple 2D navigation game where you try to move from point A to point B while avoiding moving obstacles. The game excels at tension. There are "chase" sequences in which logically I know the movement speed is programmed to guarantee success, but in the moment it really feels like a super close call. The way the levels fold and unfold as you go is also kind of neat.
Bittersweet Birthday
While the only enemies are bosses the game focuses more on story and exploration than fighting, so it's not much of a rush. The game begins in a mysterious, eerie environment and you slowly piece things together as you go along. The combat is solid and there are many effects you can enable to make fights harder or easier. The demo covers the beginning section of the game and is worth checking out.
Dungeons of Hinterberg
PC, PS4, Xbox Series S/X
This ARPG has an interesting premise. A fantasy realm has somewhat merged with a portion of the modern world and has turned into a tourist destination for folks who want to experience being an adventurer and slay monsters. The combat isn't anything special, but the game focuses more on exploration. The puzzles are pretty creative and feel clever despite being relatively easy to solve. It has a time management system and you unlock stuff by progressing social connections, but there's no time limit so you can experience it all in one playthrough.
Reverse Collapse: Code Name Bakery
This SRPG focuses on stealth. Even outside of missions where your goal is to navigate undetected you will want to manage enemy awareness as you are constantly outnumbered and even damage from basic mobs is significant. It's long and difficult, but it's great if you want a game where you have to be methodical as you take out enemies.