Patch Quest

This action adventure game has a basic yet colorful, cute art style, but don't let that deceive you regarding its depth. Inspired by the "roguelike" genre, Patch Quest drops you in an unfamiliar setting where your only guide is the compass of your curiosity. The map reveals itself in part as you venture in every direction. Along the way, you'll encounter ruins of an ancient civilization with dungeons that contain tough bosses, altars that grant you special traits, and more. Between these landmarks, a ton of monsters roam the land, which you neutralize with a "nutriblaster" loaded with "goop" ammo that can be mixed with fruit to modify your fire rate, shot size, and damage output. That's only half the fun, as monsters can be tamed and mounted with a lasso. Each have a few powers to unlock, granting you new ways to attack, defend, and dodge enemies. With dozens to experiment with, Patch Quest rarely leaves you at a loss with fresh mechanics and challenges around every corner.

The experience could've been boosted with stronger artistic direction, as well as more characters to meet (and perhaps team up with) in the wild. Regardless, what it lacks in story is covered by worthwhile content, even with collectibles having concrete purposes. You can keep monsters as pets, but they don't merely stay at your base of operations; you can summon them in a pinch as an emergency mount or support buddy. There's plentiful fauna, too, with the presence of particular kinds at your base raising pets' stats. Fauna can also be planted elsewhere to repair chunks of land, which isn't another task to check off the list, but one that enhances your character to improve your chances of survival with future missions. With a casual mode for newcomers, a co-op mode for parents to join in, and a palpable sense of progression with each new run retreading and trailblazing the world, Patch Quest is a kid-friendly roguelike with design that balances difficulty and convenience in all the right places.