Tinykin

What's immediately striking about this game is its remarkably similar concept to the much-loved Nintendo series Pikmin. Tinykin do serve the same purpose as Pikmin, and they also have different abilities depending on their color. But Tinykin quickly proves that it's doing much more than just borrowing a concept. Though Tinykin's story and dialogue are just fine, the puzzle design and gameplay are incredibly well-done. Each level flows seamlessly into the next, without jarring difficulty spikes or periods where things feel too simple. At about 6-8 hours of playtime, it's clear every moment in this shorter game is perfected instead of dragging it out longer than it needs to be. While there are optional side missions, they do give Milo a measurable advantage in the main story if you choose to complete them. If not, you're still able to complete the entire main storyline. This freedom of choice allows for players to still feel like they have agency in a linear storyline, which breaks up the main tasks in a really effective way.

The other standout quality of Tinykin aside from the length is the puzzle design. There's something so satisfying about a game asking players to use critical thinking skills to figure out a problem while also not being so confusing that players are forced to scour the internet for a walkthrough. Though it may take a minute to think and strategize where to go and what to do next, players won't be wandering around in circles looking for some secret passageway that no one would ever notice on their own or struggling through a hundred tries to complete an expert-level platforming challenge. Tinykin's puzzles just make sense, and as a result, players will leave their adventure with a sense of satisfaction that few titles manage to pull off. Pikmin may have been the first space adventure starring tiny, colorful aliens, but Tinykin is arguably the best.