With this being a long weekend for those of us in Queensland, I have enjoyed an opportunity to step away from my day-to-day life and dive into that collection of games which, as a reviewer, I have been woefully unable to dive into. Today, I would like to take you on a journey through three games I have spent quite a bit of time on in recent days. While my playtesting is incomplete, I hope to revisit each of them at some point.
Ink Inside
Ink Inside is a charming and imaginative dodgeball action RPG that feels like a lost cartoon brought back to life in the best possible way. Set inside the notebooks of a girl named Hannah, it follows Stick, an unfinished doodle, as he journeys through hand-drawn worlds corrupted by the “Sog”. Its mix of crayon-like visuals, paper textures and cartoon characters gives it a distinct identity, making the world feel both playful and surprisingly heartfelt. The personalities are all helped by the voice acting, which sells the whole thing as an animated show you get to step inside.
The combat is where Ink Inside becomes more unusual. Instead of traditional RPG battles, fights play out as chaotic dodgeball matches where cores of different weights and effects are thrown, recovered, upgraded, and combined with tech, dodges, specials, and co-op options. It is quite often frantic, colourful, and genuinely fun, with plenty of upgrades and side systems to encourage experimentation. The idea of “breaking the rules” to cross the centre line adds another interesting twist, though the melee side of combat can feel clumsy, unclear, and less satisfying overall.
That unevenness is the main thing holding Ink Inside back. Its story, art direction, humour, and progression systems are full of personality, but the game can be dragged down by awkward navigation, a weak map, repeated battles, and the odd technical issue or two – which will hopefully be resolved should a future instalment be released. But ultimately, while sometimes messy, it is also sometimes heartfelt, inventive, and bursting with early-morning-cartoon energy.
Nippon Marathon 2: Daijoubu (Early Access)
Having recently entered Steam Early Access and serving as a successor to the 2018 indie racer released internationally as Nippon Marathon, Nippon Marathon 2: Daijoubu is already a remarkable improvement over the original and a perfect reminder of the kind of gleeful absurdity that a small indie team can bring to the scene. The first game was one of those strange, awkward-looking oddities that became unexpectedly beloved once people actually played it, and this sequel carries that same chaotic spirit forward, but with a much cleaner presentation, compliments of a graphical overhaul and a smoother, more polished feel that makes its ridiculous races feel fresh again without losing their handmade charm.
At its core, this is still the same wonderfully unhinged local multiplayer experience: frantic races, bizarre hazards, strange characters, and stages packed with surreal surprises. The new levels are inventive and energetic, with each location showing exactly how creative and funny the concept can be. Additions such as the character creator, photo mode, new items, and more all help make this feel like a proper sequel rather than a simple retread, even if some features still feel early in their development.
That Early Access status does make the experience feel incomplete, unsurprisingly. The current version is limited, with only a handful of maps, a limited roster, and several promised modes and features still absent. Players hoping for a fully fleshed-out package may want to wait for more updates. Even so, what is here is already full of personality. Nippon Marathon 2: Daijoubu feels like a triumph in progress. Maybe it is a little barebones for now, but with the small development team picking away at it, there is the potential of it being another cult classic – or maybe something even more.
Alpha Nomos (Demo)
While it is still very early days for Alpha Nomos, given this is only a carefully selected section of gameplay in a demo version, the slice we received, if consistent across the board, sets the stage for a promising rhythm-action roguelike as you seek to restore a world overrun by murderous puppets as Cello and her friends. Its combat brings to mind games like Hi-Fi Rush, with attacks, dodges, blocks, and combos all gaining impact when performed in time with the beat. What helps it stand apart is its roguelike structure, its musical world-building, and its memorable lead character, whose catchy combat gives the action a playful identity. The art and creature design are among its strongest qualities, with expressive animations, strange enemies, and environments that pulse along with the music, giving the world real personality. Is it anything groundbreaking? Not really, but it is more than competent for the game it is.
Alpha Nomos feels like a game with strong bones rather than a fully refined experience. The rhythm mechanics are supported by accessibility options, including timing assists and a visual metronome. However, players who struggle with rhythm may still find the combat more tedious than satisfying. The roguelike loop has potential, with meaningful power-ups, shops, and post-run upgrades, yet the runs can feel a little repetitive. But again, this could come down to just needing an expansion of the roguelike mechanics over time. There are also areas that could use polish, from aerial combat flow and audio feedback to performance consistency and visual cohesion. Even so, this is an intriguing genre fusion with enough charm, style, and mechanical ambition to warrant watching closely as it develops.
Review codes for each of these titles were provided by their respective developers and/or publishers.
