They say better late than never, and this is much better than never.
The startmenu discord has come together to figure out what games from 2022 really deserved celebrating.
Please enjoy The startmenu Alternate Game Of The Year Awards.
Review | Anemoiapolis - Back In The Backrooms, BABY!
The backrooms are all the rage right now, but with all the games coming out of this new creepypasta genre it takes a lot to stand out.
Odhran Johnson investigates if Anemoiapolis rises about the rest.
Update Patch | March 2023
Another month filled with video games, news, and the continued Schrodinger’s acquisition.
Alex Green is back with another Update Patch!
Review | Remedium Sentinels - Riding The Wave (of enemies)
There has been an onslaught of games in the newly minted Auto-Survival-Shooter genre since the breakthrough success of Vampire Survivors, so it takes a lot to stand out.
Fin Cattanach thinks Remedium Sentinels does an admirable job.
Review | Voltaire: The Vegan Vampire - Don't Starve: Tofu Edition
I actually love vegan cooking, I just hate it when they put too much garlic to make up for the lack of humans in my food…
Fin Cattancach reviews Voltaire: The Vegan Vampire
9 Years Of Shadows | Review - Samus Casts A Long Shadow
There is no shortage of pixel art Metroidvanias out there.
However, Aric Leighton thinks 9 Years of Shadow might be something a little bit special.
Maybe The Real Game Of The Year Was The Friends Jordan Oloman Made Along The Way | Winter Spectacular 2022
Jordan Oloman drops by to investigate the meaninglessness of the Game of the Year.
Update Patch | February 2023
“What a year, huh?” - Lexi
“Captain, it’s February!” - Alex Green
Well, we should probably round up all the news anyway.
Review | Lootbox Lyfe+ - More Than Skinner Box
Lootbox Lyfe+ might have the name of a one note joke game but it actually is fully fledged Metroidvania. The question now is, “Is it any good?”
Aric Leighton reviews.
Review | Redemption Reapers - Not Your Granddad's Fire Emblem
Redemption Reaper might seem like Fire Emblem that is so edgy it could cut a diamond… and it is.
But is it any good? Skeleton investigates.
Stolen Realm Has Stolen My Time… (and I'm fine with that)
Sometimes a game comes out of nowhere and eats up your free like nothing before.
Jason Coles has been consumed by Stolen Realm.
Review | Roller Drama - Wheels Spinning
Roller drama takes the coolest sport on skates into a visual novel, but does it work?
… Maybe.
Skeleton reviews.
Update Patch | January 2023
Not going to lie, there was a lot of bad news this month.
Alex Green rounds it all up as best anyone can.
Review | Save Room - I Like To Move It
With the Resident Evil 4 Remake imminent we are all asking the same question:
“WILL LEON STILL PLAY TETRIS WITH HIS GUNS IN HIS SUITCASE?!”
Well, good news, even if the remake doesn’t keep this iconic inventory, we now have a whole game dedicated to puzzling out where to put all these green herbs!
Scott Nowbaveh reviews Save Room.
![Review | The Knight Witch - Wicked [Cool] Witch](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5caf2dea93a63238c9069ba4/1674902221285-F8Y8XHI78OWJGDAMEVIN/The+Knight+Witch+0.png)
Review | The Knight Witch - Wicked [Cool] Witch
Is it a platformer? Is it a Metroidvania? Is It a bullet hell?
No, she’s The Knight Witch!
Ruddy Celestial reviews!
Squidge Rugby's Games Of 2022 | Winter Spectacular 2022
Robbie Owen took some time out of his busy running the Justin Tipuric Fan Club and transcribing the Bible according to Alan Wyn Jones, to tell us about some of the best games he played this year.
Ty Galiz-Rowe's Games Of 2022 | Winter Spectacular 2022
2022 has been a great your to widen your gaming horizons.
We welcome Uppercut and Gayming Magazine’s Ty Galiz-Rowe to the site to discuss his growing taste in games and his favourite games of 2022.
Review | Lone Ruin - New Year, New Me, New Roguelike
If we had a penny for every pixel art, tough-as-nail, roguelike indie game, we’d be very rich.
So can Lone Ruin stand out in this crowded space?
Marie Pritchard thinks it might be something a little bit special.
Andrea Shearon's Game of the Year - Norco | Winter Spectacular 2022
Sometimes life is just about survival, getting through a year, and starting a new one.
Not many games stuck with Andrea Shearon in 2023, but Norco did.
You should play Norco.
You should read this piece.
Scott McCrae's Top 11-ish Games of 2022 | Winter Spectacular
2022 was a wild year for video games and a wild year for Scott McCrae.
Now that he has firmly entrenched himself in games journalism, you are all obligated to read and share his opinions. NO MATTER HOW TERRIBLE.
HAHAHAHAhahahahahaha—