Abbie Stone
Latest articles by Abbie Stone
![The fox swordsman Yi in Nine Sols.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TofnTjoJxwS3uaZe2PqyED-320-80.png)
Finished Shadow of the Erdtree and looking for more punishment? Get Nine Sols, the soulslike metroidvania so good it made me stop pining for Hollow Knight: Silksong
By Abbie Stone published
Solslike The developer of iconic horror games Devotion and Detention has turned its hand to Sekiro-inspired combat.
![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fDvrs7U5Ld9627HNaegMBB-320-80.jpg)
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn review: A serviceable but unmemorable action-RPG that probably shouldn't be launching less than a month after Shadow of the Erdtree
By Abbie Stone published
LACK OF SOUL This "Souls-lite" struggles to stand out among FromSoftware's many imitators.
![Krill the crab in Another Crab's Treasure.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Fzo2vCWaR8x2h2kgCqm8kZ-320-80.jpg)
Another Crab's Treasure review: An undersea soulslike that's cute and compelling, though weirdly crass
By Abbie Stone published
CLAW-SOME A seaworthy mashup of platform game and soulslike.
![A group of heroes standing in a row in Inkbound.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dZxjtW7TDS7F4fREzQHpXh-320-80.jpg)
Inkbound review: A clever yet frustratingly muddled follow-up to Monster Train
By Abbie Stone published
MIXED VESTIGES Occasionally brilliant, often maddening, and just a bit too messy to be a new roguelike classic.
![Xenotilt pinball art](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ED5E6EcN9Xk4FodcbfYAs8-320-80.png)
I never liked bullet hell shooters, until Xenotilt put one inside my new favourite pinball table
By Abbie Stone published
FLIP OUT This psychedelic pinball shmup is a journey into flipper-fueled chaos.
![Pepper leaping into the air with her drill in Pepper Grinder.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/o2Nt4oJRayyob7uMhxMC4W-320-80.png)
Pepper Grinder review: Five hours of fun, frantic platforming that’s unwieldy and all the better for it
By Abbie Stone published
Drill dazzler A challenging and thrilling burst of platformer action.
![The three heroes of Tamarak Trail.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qgbtFj4F2ahiiKptQdp3yA-320-80.jpg)
Tamarak Trail review: A clever but flawed and far too repetitive dice-based deckbuilder
By Abbie Stone published
ROLL AGAIN Collecting dice instead of cards is a fun twist on the genre, but it's undermined by a limp campaign.
![Playing a hand of five Jacks in Balatro.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bZA9i7KrBKbMo3pJ2ykpAF-320-80.png)
Balatro review: The most essential addition to the roguelike deckbuilder genre in years
By Abbie Stone published
STRAIGHT FIRE This poker-themed roguelike deckbuilder revels in the thrill of cheating.
![Sophie, a made, talking on the phone in This Bed We Made.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yMdrFgCHWg7PzjtDpMXCfD-320-80.png)
This Bed We Made review: A short but sweet amateur detective game about a sleuthy hotel maid
By Abbie Stone published
Tidy Don't sleep on this one.
![The crew battles an enemy spaceship in Cobalt Core.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hNiuT42Tayp8WWniAJt8BR-320-80.png)
Cobalt Core review: An intergalactic collision of Slay the Spire, FTL, and Into the Breach
By Abbie Stone published
CORE BLIMEY This spaceship roguelike deckbuilder swoops and soars to the top of its genre.
![Playing cards swirl in an interdimensional vortex in Balatro's trippy intro sequence.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bNSaVUMce96WEjwcdHH7NQ-320-80.jpg)
2023 has been an amazing year for roguelike deckbuilders—but the best one is this free demo about shamelessly cheating at poker
By Abbie Stone published
STACKED DECK Balatro turns the classic card game on its head, and it's so good it's my GOTY even though it's not even out yet.
![A hero fighting a monstrous giant in Lords of the Fallen.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Hys8Rp4VzgfUFGWLdVe49M-320-80.jpg)
From poison swamps to jump buttons: 5 things soulslikes shouldn't do, and 6 things they should
By Abbie Stone published
GOOD FOR THE SOUL The dos and don'ts of the growing genre.
![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jEgQPz3dUjT9T8qPCCquNo-320-80.png)
Thirsty Suitors review: a heartfelt and hilarious couples therapy session
By Abbie Stone published
Heartbreaker An RPG, a cooking game, and a skateboarding game walk into a town full of exes...