Andrew Agress
Game industry critic and reviewer
Writing For
The OuterHaven Latest Reviews
SLEEP AWAKE is a deeply artistic game that feels like navigating a beautiful yet eerie dreamscape. It’s a bit light on gameplay aside from its eerie stealth sections. But with a haunting atmosphere of psychedelic visuals, otherworldly sounds, and creepy FMV moments, it’s got style for days—or sleepless nights.
Hell is Us is an ambitious game, both in its presentation and subject matter. Exploring a dour setting without waypoints may not be for everyone. But for those looking for something different and experimental, Hell is Us offers a unique experience granting a sense of achievement.
For those who can’t get enough Indy, The Order of Giants whips up an engaging Indiana Jones mini-adventure. What it lacks in scope it more than makes up for with some of the best puzzles in the entire game. And its standalone Rome story feels like a movie unto itself, filled with rich lore and moments of wonder.
Atomfall is a small town mystery, monster battle, folk horror, science fiction quadruple feature. A high degree of freedom lets you choose what kind of adventure you want to have. This hands off approach has some small downsides. But it also leads to an incredibly inventive survival game that offers players boundless possibilities.
Mouthwashing offers a top-tier sci-fi horror story with themes and symbols that will likely stay with you long after your journey aboard the Tulpar. The gameplay is passive and repetitive, but those craving well-written characters and story content should appreciate their time in the captain’s chair.
Clock Tower: Rewind turns back the clock as it gives players a look at an influential horror game from the ’90s that few in the West got to play. Even with updates, it’s still a bit cumbersome. And yet it’s dripping in dread and atmosphere and has style as sharp as oversized scissors.
With satisfying and story-related puzzle and genuine chills, Fear the Spotlight delivers a top-notch, bite-sized, lo-fi horror experience. Contrary to its title, it steps into the spotlight as the best indie horror game of the year.
Crow Country “caws” back to old-school horror games from the PS1-era, preserving what made them suspenseful and engaging while adding some updates. Not all of these work, but enough do, making a trip to Crow Country worth taking for fans of retro survival horror games.
Gorgeous visuals and an ethereal soundtrack invite players into the world of Neva. Yet these welcoming aesthetics are just the floral display surrounding a game with fast-paced combat, inventive platforming, and a touching story of the bond between warrior and wolf.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth greatly expands upon the world of Remake, both literally and figuratively. The map proves massive, but its various activities make it a joy to explore. It adapts the most exciting section of the original game, leaning into the adventurous and ridiculous elements. Though it can’t always maintain that momentum, it’s remarkable how much variety, exploration, and wonder this game provides. Rebirth arrives as one of the best games of the past decade.