This week's picks

Life sim games usually generate a lot of hype when their first trailer or gameplay reveal drops. While Paralives received some attention, I think it deserved much more. If you're bored of The Sims and InZOI wasn't quite for you, you'll probably love Paralives. With lovely visuals, great character customization, and excellent building tools, it delivers a fun life-sim experience for fans of the genre. It's still in Early Access, so some features may be missing, but that's also a good sign that there's plenty more to come.

When this game came across my feed, I instantly remembered those old online and mobile games that, despite their simple graphics, were always fun management games with satisfying progression. StarVester offers exactly that experience: a short and simple game where you use drones to gather resources from planets, harvest the power of stars, and build a factory network that eventually spans the entire star system.

This is one of those games where you can clearly see that the developers had an original vision and stuck to it. They didn't just copy Hollow Knight or Dead Cells, they created their own identity and delivered on it. Have a Nice Death is a roguelike hack-and-slash platformer where you play as Death himself, who's become overworked while his employees run Death Inc. into the ground. Put aside the paperwork, grab your scythe, and restore order to the afterlife.

Not long ago, Graveyard Keeper 2 was announced, so I thought this was the perfect time to revisit the original. If Stardew Valley is about managing life, Graveyard Keeper is about managing death. You're responsible for running a cemetery, but burying people isn't cheap, so you'll often face difficult decisions about where to cut costs. Explore its dark and strange world while doing your job... more or less ethically.

A Highland Song is one of those games where the art style grabbed my attention immediately. It's a 2D platforming adventure where you journey through the Scottish Highlands to reach a lighthouse where your uncle lives. It's a charming adventure with some interesting mechanics and ideas. While some players may disagree with a few design choices, I still think it's a game that deserves far more attention.

An action-adventure hack-and-slash that reminded me of the fun I had with the Ratchet & Clank series. While it's not quite the same style of game, it captures a similar sense of fast-paced action and adventure. Some features feel a little unpolished, but there's still plenty of fun to be had here. Definitely worth picking up if you find it on sale.

The sequel to Teamfight Manager brings back everything that made the first game enjoyable, but with more depth. Does it deliver? Both yes and no. Teamfight Manager 2 introduces systems like itemization, more champions, expanded player management, item builds, playstyles, and much more. However, the deeper a management system becomes, the harder it is to balance. Some mechanics feel flawed, especially parts of the AI, and a few systems can be frustrating. That said, if you enjoyed the first game, you'll probably enjoy this one too. With a few more updates, I can easily see it becoming just as fun as its predecessor.