This latest indie roundup brings together three compact releases that each approach familiar genres with their own twist, though not always with the same level of success. From the momentum-driven precision platforming of Nullstar: Solus to the hybrid puzzle ambitions of Solid Void: Topsy Turvy World and the breezy, physics-based platforming of Pengilo, there’s a clear emphasis on distilled mechanics and accessible design. At the same time, these games highlight a recurring challenge within the indie space – balancing simplicity with lasting engagement. While all three titles offer focused experiences that are easy to pick up and play, their ability to maintain depth, variety, and player investment varies.
Nullstar: Solus review (PS5)
Nullstar: Solus from Smash Attack Aus, published by indie.io, presents a stripped-down but focused take on the precision platformer, reframing traversal as a high-speed, momentum-driven puzzle. Set within the decaying shell of a massive orbital structure, the game casts players as a drone pilot scavenging valuable energy fragments, with narrative elements delivered sparingly through environmental storytelling and unlockable logs. While the premise leans into familiar sci-fi territory, its fragmented delivery creates a sense of isolation that fits the tone well, even if the broader lore never quite develops into something deeply compelling.
The core gameplay revolves around mastering a nuanced flight system that emphasizes momentum, directional control, and careful braking rather than traditional platforming jumps. Levels are compact but intricately designed, often requiring repeated attempts to optimize routes and shave seconds off completion times. This creates a satisfying skill curve where improvement feels tangible, though the trial-and-error nature can become frustrating in later stages where precision demands spike sharply. The inclusion of leaderboards and time-based scoring reinforces replayability, but those less interested in perfecting runs may find the experience somewhat repetitive over extended sessions.
Controls are central to the game’s success, and for the most part they strike a strong balance between responsiveness and challenge. The ability to cut thrust, drift, and ricochet through tight corridors gives movement a fluid, almost rhythmic quality once mastered. However, that same sensitivity can occasionally work against the player, particularly in confined spaces where minor miscalculations lead to abrupt failures. This creates a tension between control mastery and mechanical strictness that won’t appeal to everyone, especially in a game that demands consistent precision.
Visually, Nullstar: Solus leans on detailed pixel art to convey its decaying sci-fi world, blending overgrown environments with industrial remnants to strong atmospheric effect. While the visual variety evolves across its different zones, the overall aesthetic remains cohesive rather than strikingly diverse. The audio design complements this well, with a moody soundtrack that reinforces the game’s solitary tone, though it rarely takes center stage. Together, they create a fitting backdrop for the high-speed gameplay, even if neither the visuals nor the audio push the game beyond genre expectations. In the end, Nullstar: Solus succeeds most where it focuses on mechanical depth and player mastery, but its demanding nature and limited narrative payoff may narrow its appeal.
Solid Void: Topsy Turvy World review (PS5)
Solid Void: Topsy Turvy World, published by InfiniteZone, sets out to blend two familiar puzzle formats – nonograms and jigsaw assembly – into a single cohesive experience built around reconstructing a classical painting. Rather than leaning on narrative, it frames progression through the gradual restoration of Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s artwork, which provides a clear long-term objective even if the thematic layer remains fairly light. With over 250 puzzles to work through, the structure emphasizes repetition and relaxation, though its simplicity means it relies heavily on its mechanics to sustain engagement.
The core gameplay loop revolves around solving nonogram grids to reveal shapes, which then translate into pieces for a second-stage jigsaw puzzle. On paper, this dual-layer approach adds variety, and there are moments where the connection between both phases creates satisfying logical interplay. However, the execution doesn’t always capitalize on that potential. The nonogram component feels serviceable but lacks the refinement, depth, and helpful features seen in more established entries in the genre, while the jigsaw side often comes across as overly basic and lacking meaningful challenge. As a result, what should feel like a clever fusion can instead feel like two fairly standard ideas that don’t fully elevate each other.
Controls and usability further complicate the experience, particularly on console. While the fundamentals – marking squares, navigating grids, and rotating puzzle pieces – are straightforward enough, the interface can feel sluggish and lacks the responsiveness or flexibility that puzzle-heavy games benefit from. Tutorials do introduce the basics clearly, but they tend to overstay their welcome without meaningfully expanding on more advanced strategies, and the inability to skip through them more freely can test patience. Combined with occasional visibility issues when assembling darker puzzle pieces, this can lead to moments of friction that disrupt the otherwise laid-back pacing.
Visually, the game adopts a minimalist presentation that fits its low-key ambitions, with the gradual assembly of the larger artwork providing its most appealing visual hook. That said, the reliance on darker tones in some puzzle sections can make piece placement unnecessarily tricky, and the overall presentation lacks the polish seen in competing titles. The audio design follows a similarly subdued approach, offering calm background music that supports the relaxed tone but rarely stands out. In the end, Solid Void: Topsy Turvy World offers a decent amount of content at a low price point, but while its hybrid concept shows some promise, uneven execution and a lack of refinement make it difficult to stand out in an already crowded puzzle space – especially for those who play on mobile/handheld platforms
Pengilo review (PS5)
Pengilo is another compact release from Double Mizzlee and Eastasiasoft, delivering a physics-based puzzle platformer that leans heavily into accessibility and short-session play. Its premise is as straightforward as it gets: fling a penguin across icy stages, collect a key, gather optional stars, and reach the exit. There’s no real narrative framing to speak of, but the lighthearted setup fits the breezy, almost toy-like nature of the experience. That simplicity works in its favor early on, though it also hints at the lack of depth that becomes more apparent over time.
The core mechanic revolves around launching your penguin and adjusting its trajectory mid-air after an initial bounce, briefly slowing time to line up more precise shots. It’s an intuitive system that feels responsive on PS5, giving players just enough control to correct mistakes without turning each attempt into a rigid calculation. That said, the game rarely demands mastery of its mechanics. With no penalties for failure and unlimited attempts, levels often feel more like gentle suggestions than actual challenges, making progression smooth but arguably too forgiving.
Level design follows a consistent structure across its 50 stages, gradually introducing hazards like spikes and trickier layouts that require more deliberate aiming. There’s a certain satisfaction in threading together clean routes, but the game struggles to build meaningful variety. Visually, stages share very similar snowy backdrops, which contributes to a sense of repetition that sets in quickly. The same can be said for progression systems: collecting stars adds an extra layer of optional completion, yet lacks tangible rewards or incentives, reducing their importance beyond personal completion goals.
Presentation-wise, Pengilo embraces a soft, cozy aesthetic paired with a mellow soundtrack that complements its relaxed pacing. It’s pleasant without being particularly memorable, reinforcing the game’s role as a low-stakes, easygoing experience. Ultimately, Pengilo succeeds as a short, casual diversion with accessible mechanics and a charming tone, but its limited challenge, repetitive visuals, and lack of meaningful progression systems keep it from leaving a lasting impression. It’s enjoyable in small doses, though unlikely to hold attention much longer than a single sitting.
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