Commonplace

UFO 50

(October 2024) Have started playing a few of these titles, but also bounced pretty hard off some of them - I don't find all of these retro in a good way! Stuff I played in this initial push and didn't immediately bounce off of:

  • Bug Hunter: This seems fun, very Into The Breach
  • Devilition: I like this as a puzzle game, the rules were pretty easy to figure out but challenge quickly escalates. No trophy but I made it to the last level.
  • Block Koala: This seems boring but very doable.
  • Camouflage: Trophied! I liked this immediately, and played all the way to the ending.
  • Campanella: Very challenging, but very responsive.
  • Warptank: Played through a few levels, more thinky than I expected.
  • Waldorf's Journey: This could be frustrating but I kind of got into it.
  • Porgy: I played quite a bit of this but hit a wall with the dark areas.
  • Party House: Fun puzzle game, though feels smallish.
  • Rock On! Island: Trophied! I got suuuuper into this action tower defense game.
  • Night Manor: Trophied! I love that there's a point and click adventure in here.

(December 2025) I did end up playing a few of these a bunch after writing the above, and this year I'm listening to “The Secret Lives of Games” podcast's year-of-UFO-50 series, and going back to play some of these more with spoilers and additional context. Games I'm playing more of this time around:

  • Barbuta; Far enough to see some of the game's depth, no trophy yet.
  • Ninpek: Bounced off this again.
  • Paint Chase: Played to the last level but no trophy yet
  • Magic Garden: Trophied! I really like this after getting more familiar with the core mechanic.
  • Mortol: Bounced off this again - something about the feel is just bad.
  • Velgress: Played just a tiny bit more, don't feel like I've unlocked this yet. Need to play with a gamepad and learn it a little at a time.
  • Devilition: Played some more, still enjoy this quite a bit. I wish there was an Android version of this game, and would be tempted to make one myself.
  • Kick Club: Eh, fine - didn't spend enough time to build necessary skill.
  • Mooncat: Trophied! Beyond the weird control gimmick, there's some nice puzzle-platformer design here.