Look, let's be honest. Every single week, Steam is absolutely flooded with countless new releases. From heavyweights carrying household names to indie darlings born from genuinely fresh ideas, the sheer variety is staggering. Amidst such cutthroat competition, securing a 'Very Positive' rating from the community is no small feat. It demands not just rock-solid game design, but a certain undeniable charm capable of capturing the hearts of players. For this week's [Game Recs], we have gathered a selection of stellar hits released this year that boast over 98 percent positive reviews.

Released in February, 'Creature Kitchen'is an adventure game set in a remote house tucked deep inside a strange forest, currently sitting on a 'Very Positive' user rating on Steam with 9,643 reviews and 99 percent of them giving it the thumbs up. Players must serve freshly prepared meals to a colourful cast of mysterious ghosts, monsters, and animals roaming around the interior and exterior of the house to build a sense of camaraderie. While the dark, gloomy atmosphere—punctuated by thunderclaps and sudden knocks at the door—might give you a proper fright at first, firing up the radio and getting down to cooking surprisingly turns the whole affair into a rather oddly healing experience.

Its standout hook is the rather cheeky combination of horror-themed escape room puzzles and a cooking simulation. You scour rooms for hidden secrets to unearth new ingredients and recipes, then chop, sear, and mix everything together much like you would in 'Cooking Mama'. Once the dishes are ready, you deliver them to the creatures, who react in all sorts of ways—some floating hearts, others throwing a proper tantrum depending on their personal tastes. Managing the preferences of these quirky woodland regulars, from 'Jake' who jumps at the slightest sound to 'Pants' who drops by unannounced, while slowly unravelling the overarching mystery, forms the beating heart of the game. You can check out the trailer here:

'Endacopia'is a horror adventure chronicling the journey of a young boy named 'Mel', who finds himself stranded in an unknown realm having lost both his memories and senses. Since its launch last July, it has pulled in a 'Very Positive' rating on Steam with 6,219 reviews and 99 percent positivity. Players guide Mel through the ordeal of escaping an uncomfortable household while piecing together concealed mysteries. Despite its cute and charming visual style, the title packs quite a spooky punch, driven by monsters lurking in the shadows, bizarre artistic flourishes, and plenty of jump scares.

At its core, the game plays out as a traditional point-and-click adventure relying on mouse and keyboard inputs. Players pick and choose areas to explore at their leisure, stuffing pockets full of various tools, toys, and rubbish to solve puzzles. Engaging in shady conversations with bizarre figures and messing about with various mini-games draws you deeply into the absorbing narrative. Positive buzz keeps rolling in, with players noting that the inventive direction makes it awfully hard to put down. You can view the trailer below:

'Servant of the Lake'is a fresh adventure entry in the celebrated room-escape series 'Rusty Lake', landing on digital storefronts last August. It comfortably holds a 'Very Positive' status on Steam, backed by 7,119 reviews and a 98 percent positive score. Players step into the shoes of a newly hired servant at the Vanderboom family estate, spending a weekend tending to the brothers Aldous and William, alongside Alexandra, across three days of chores. Serving as a prequel set 10 years before the events of the previous game 'Rusty Lake: Roots', it sheds light on the origins of the alchemy and the elixir of immortality that ultimately brought tragedy upon the family.

Marking a series first, the adoption of the Unity engine vastly elevates the puzzle gimmicks and mini-games, while a newly introduced note-taking feature lets players scribble down clues on the fly, making puzzle-solving significantly smoother. Fully voiced dialogue and a sharper, more refined art style further thicken the atmosphere. Toss in 49 achievements to tick off, and you have got a fine little package that begs for a second playthrough.

Launched last January, 'Berry Bury Berry'is an incremental game built around the delightfully bizarre premise of growing berries and feeding them into a massive hole. It maintains a 'Very Positive' standing on Steam with 8,790 reviews and a 98 percent positive rating. The loop is simple yet terribly effective: feed berries to the pit to rake in cash, sink those funds into upgrading tools and equipment, and watch your revenue snowball exponentially. It captures the sheer, addictive thrill of late-game money-printing intrinsic to the incremental genre, earning widespread praise for its staggering replay value.

Players must cultivate and upgrade berry companions to churn out higher-grade yields, subsequently spending their hard-earned coin to poke around hidden corners of a cursed garden. What really steals the show, however, is the subtle, creeping dread lurking beneath the saccharine visuals. The unsettling premise of endlessly burying things down a bottomless pit, combined with audio cassette tapes found scattered about, sets a genuinely spooky mood. That said, it steers clear of cheap jump scares or explicit gore, making it an entirely approachable romp even for those who usually shy away from things that go bump in the night.

Released last July, 'DenshaAttack!'is an action game where players hop aboard gravity-defying trains to pull off flashy tricks, currently boasting a 'Very Positive' rating on Steam with 3,374 reviews and 98 percent approval. It swings an upbeat vibe characterized by vibrant cel-shaded visuals and an energetic punk rock soundtrack. Players step into the trainers of 'Emi', a ramen delivery courier on a mission to overthrow the evil mega-corporation 'Miraido' by rising through the ranks to become a legendary 'DenshaAttacker'.

The core gameplay revolves around driving trains much like skateboards, executing ollies, kickflips, grinds, and various other tricks to rack up massive scores. Customising your very own train allows you to tear across the length and breadth of Japan, from the rustic countryside of Kyushu to dome-covered Osaka, Tokyo, and the snowy expanses of Hokkaido. Beyond simply chasing high scores, the title dishes out plenty of distractions, including fierce rivalries and chaotic boss battles.