Stonefly

It's difficult to think of titles that this adventure compares to, and that uniqueness is reason for celebration. The overall experience of flying one of Annika's rigs in Stonefly through a mix of fantasy environments is unlike any other, and that excitement persists throughout many hours of gameplay. Researching upgrades for the rigs and finding materials to craft them is self-explanatory, leaving players the freedom to focus on losing themselves in the story and discovering new methods for fighting swarms of enemies. While there are small gripes, like the lack of camera control and the frustrating need to re-complete missions to get enough materials for an upgrade, these don't ruin the experience too great. These gripes are outweighed by small, yet pleasing features such as adjustable difficulty levels (which control how many enemies players fight at once) as well as the ability to customize the colors of each rig's mechanical outer shell.

Flying and upgrading rigs is a major highlight of gameplay, but another rewarding feature is the elegantly crafted story and cast of characters. After leaving home, Annika meets a group of pilots working together in a corps -- Blair, Daven, and Clara. The group has an interesting dynamic, and all three have varying emotions towards letting Annika accompany them on missions, though she consistently proves herself a worthy pilot. Learning the backstories of these three characters and more details about Annika's family over time is well-paced, and Annika's dilemma of understanding that she can choose how she wants to spend her life is realistic and relatable. Her character traits lend themselves perfectly to her feeling torn over whether to return home, and players will likely grow to care about Annika as a protagonist. Overall, this mix of fast-paced combat and skillful storytelling makes Stonefly a highly enjoyable experience, even for players who may not have a fondness for nature-themed or resource-collecting games.