Derelict Star

One of the most inventive puzzle precision platformers ever made. Its astonishing. anyone who likes difficult platformers must play this game.

this game is ♥♥♥♥♥♥ up oh my god

Upvoting for the algorithm, even though I'm not sure I have a coherent set of thoughts about it! The (derelict) star of the show is the movement system - very unique, and getting to grips with it is a really satisfying process. It feels totally alien at first but you'll eventually be gliding around with ease. There is also some 'knowledge gating' that calls for experimentation, but nothing too obscure / esoteric, so that's another neat element well executed. Ultimately though what you're signing up for here is an open world kaizo game, albeit on the easy end of that spectrum - there's an interesting YouTube interview with the dev where they talk about wanting to make an on-ramp for that genre. This means you can expect a steep hill to climb, and due to the open world the exact gradient depends on which challenges you stumble into first. I nearly noped out early on when I unwittingly went for one of the hardest batteries in the game as my first. I'm glad I stuck with it - at least for bare minimum completion - but I'd say my overall experience was still equal parts fun and frustration. It's really well done though, and quite a bargain. If any of this sounds appealing to you it's 100% worth a shot.

Easily in the top 5 for 2026. A brutal challenge at times, but one that feels so incredibly rewarding when you finally push through it. Who knew there was so much to learn about jumping? Exploring the lonely space station is, on its own, a treat with its cute-and-minimal PICO-8 graphics and chipper yet lonely music. The soundtrack reminds me of Minecraft (huge compliment). If Steam achievements are anything to go by, most players don't make it to the end, but if you click with this, getting all the way will leave you glowing for days.