I am certainly not disillusioned by the fact that I only get a Civ light on the tablet. But rather by the little progress the game has made in five years and the price politics: You’ll get the in most aspects better predecessor for free. And while you’re at it, you might want to check out Desert Fox, Eclipse or Ravenmark.

Compared to H1Z1 on PC, this port is not only technically worse off, but the generally superficial battle royale is also limited in terms of content, thus influencing tactics and tension on the battlefield.

This is better than expected, especially in terms of track design. But nonetheless Kylotonn is miles away from the quality that Milestone delivered with Sebastien Loeb Rally Evo, while Codemasters’ DiRT Rally is a whole different league altogether.

It's as good (or bad) as it always was. The motion recognition is not just faulty but can also be cheated. Nonetheless the song selection is good and with a few friends there is a lot of fun to be found. The Wii U gamepad is totally underutilized though.

The storytelling keeps you interested but neither the shooter nor the tactical elements live up to their potential.

The setting aside KickBeat is as conventional as a rhythm game as the songwriting of Jon Bon Jovi. You know what you get but don’t expect any surprises.

While the basic core mechanics are as good and spot on as they were over 20 years ago, this new iteration of a beat-em-up classic has problems to make its mark.

The trailers created high expectations, but the reality turns out to be boring and weird. The cops of The Precinct are worse than the gangsters they're chasing.

Quotation forthcoming.

This is not a worthy successor. Extremely simplified controls as well as an unsteady difficulty hamper precision and rhythm in this partially randomly generated auto-runner.

Like its predecessors, this is a charming, but very unspectacular Anime-RPG. But even though veterans may notice some progess in terms of presentation, combat system or level design, you'll still miss freedom, variety and depth.

It has a few minor problems and shows its age mechanically, but overall it is still a decent action RPG proving why it is found on almost every best-of-list in its genre.

An entertaining old school RPG with polarizing hit-or-miss humor and below-par visuals.

Quotation forthcoming.

I can’t think of another franchise, whose hero is so well suited to be the star of a musou game than Guts of the Berserk manga. Having said that mechanically this is a step back, while in terms of storytelling, no musou game has ever been this atmospheric and tense – mainly thanks to the extensive inclusion of original anime scenes.

What was once a glorious name in JRPG is slowly dismantled by Square Enix and inscrutable design decisions. The sad bit about it is that conceptually this could have been a decent comeback for Lightning.

Ugly, generic, boring: Even the cool mech builder can salvage this dud.

Quotation forthcoming.

Apart from reading, walking around, pushing together clues that are already next to each other and sometimes completing a quick-time event that you can't lose (!), nothing happens in Detective Pikachu Returns. Part 2 now provides new partners, for example Fukano now supports you with his sniffing nose. But that doesn't change the untapped potential and doesn't take the game to a new level. Even the story is so boring and predictable that I don't want to repeat it here. The game doesn't expect anything from you, but you have to continue it again by pressing a button. In this respect, the film of the same name gives you a much better experience - and significantly cheaper. All that remains is the Pokémon skin and charm: instead of crooks, you chase Pokémon like Mewtwo. Instead of interviewing witnesses, you take the statements of Pokémon. Yes, super cute, but so is every other Pokémon game. No case is particularly memorable. Or to put it another way: If Sherlock Holmes ever runs out of narcotics, he can also play this for five minutes.

While Diluvion shows off some great ideas and a very distinctive artdesign, the execution of all the ideas seems superficial at times. Unfortunately this deep sea adventure lacks depth…

I like the theme. I like the narrative and I think it is an interesting approach to combine storytelling and management. It is in desperate need of variety, though.

The dynamic duo goes for the gold in almost 60 disciplines, but most of them are so irrelevant that the main challenge is to keep yourself motivated.

This is a neat take on retro action as served by Contra or Turrican so long ago. Plus: all the easter eggs and references on video games are a blast. Unfortunately it crosses the border between challenging (but doable) and relentless trial & error on too many occasions.

MXGP captures the motocross feeling and delivers decent dual-stick controls to keep bike and rider under control. Unfortunately technically the off-road travels don’t seem optimized for PS4.

The tank mayhem is a worthy heir to the arcade classic. Simple at first, complexity is added by upgrades and slight tactical decisions. And furthermore it is a prime example for the usage of VR, when you get totally immersed in the colorful world. Unfortunately the AI is not with the name, while the difficulty spikes due to sheer numbers can become frustrating.

An interesting point & click adventure with lovable visuals and quirky characters that would have benefited from better puzzles.

In theory there is an interesting concept hidden in the futuristic labyrinth Vesta has to escape with the help of her wits and her robot guardian. But the execution is too inconsequential too often, thus rendering the interesting mechanics redundant.

It looks decent, it manages to entertain for a little while, but I expected more from the series’ premiere on Wii U than just a colorful snack.

Compared to masterful strategy like Total War the medieval realtime battles lack detail, challenge and tactical depth. But King Arthur is saved by its atmospheric roleplaying part that reflects the darkness, insecurity and quest for meaning in the post-roman era.

The foundation draws heavily on the classic NBA Jam and tries to deliver a modern rendition of the arcade basketball that started it all. And while Saber added a few interesting elements the mixture is just lukewarm.

Lucky’s Tale carries a lot of potential. But in the end it suffers from simplistic game design and quirky development decisions. [Tested with Oculus Rift]

A beautiful short story about friendship, that serves as a link between To the Moon and its successor.

This reboot feels like a slick sports car with loads of custom tuning, but with a big engine failure and a story that is nothing but embarrassing. The driving feels okay most of the time but overall the fascination fades faster than a nitro boost.

While the concept is interesting and puts a 360-degree shooting gallery at your disposal, it lacks depth and is merely more than a VR snack. Plus: the movement detection for the blade throwing is sub-standard.

I am still missing the return of the battle mode, but with new additions like Showtime or World Video Challenge as well as the well-known colorful and beautifully weird art-design you can’t go wrong with Just Dance 2016 if you’re looking for good clean party fun.

No-frills horror action for up to four players.

I didn’t expect much. So maybe that is why I was taken by surprise with the challenging battles. Your freedom is limited, but within its borders these potatoes embark on an interesting space adventure.

This is pure skating, without façade climbing, without jackass, without useless cars or non-functioning skate hardware. At its core the mechanics are outdated, though.

The concept is as cool as the minimalistic art design that gives you the chance to be a four-wheeled magic marker. And while it might take a while to get used to the art of drifting, you get bored quickly by the redundant mission design.

A large chunk of the atmosphere as well as parts of the playability of this at its core still great rpg are destroyed by the abysmal technical conversion.

If you like your action-adventures Zelda’esque then this is for you. What it lacks in depth it makes up in charm and content.

The visuals are clearly better than in the disastrous 3DS version but still this racer is far away from taking the pole position. Poor AI, an inconsistent penalty system and the reduced content are disappointing.

An interesting concept that lacks proper execution. In the long run the trains have to take an emergency stop in a cul-de-sac, while the battle system is superficial at best.

While it shows some interesting ideas and cute visuals that are somewhat reminiscent of the Sensible Soccer games, you don’t have enough tactical options at your disposal and in the end it seems like a tedious grind – even when you are successful.

This is no catastrophe, but it is far from being a good game as well.

I like samurais, I like strategy and I like castle-building. Nonetheless Stronghold: Warlords can’t reel me in. There is solid content on display, but it lacks finesse and depth.

Not a successful restart: The Saints Row reboot isn't really convincing either in terms of play or technology.

The Arrival pushed me to the edge of sanity. With its clever combination of unsettling pictures and disturbing sounds this is one of the most intense horror experiences available today.

Challenging and motivating at first, but the technical faults up to total crashes make sure that the fun is short-lived.

Apart from its currently shaky state on PS5, Park Beyond is a whimsical and, most importantly, pretty park sim.

With the forced ommisions in the Western markets, this game is in the limelight for all the wrong reasons. But if you think that the art of long lost boob bouncing, a merely solid battle system and superficial “my boobs are smaller than yours” dialogue is game of the year material, than this might be something for you.

Armored Core V is a very dull vision of a future filled with powerful mechs – even though the tactical options and the extensive construction of those metal beasts are quite impressive.

Take the Lemmings out, put sheep in and you have a solid puzzler that doesn’t risk anything but is challenging enough to keep you going.

I definitely want more tactical adventures enriched with epic storytelling like Banner Saga. But definitely not like this brash copy, that shows almost no individuality.

Interesting the jump marathon becomes tedious due to heavy repetition of level design and base mechanics.

The levels are small but challenging, the hunt for carrots surprisingly motivating. But what looked charming in the beginning, soon became redundant.

The tactical implications of saving people while keeping an eye on the fuel gauge are interesting. But you'll lose interest sooner rather than later, thanks to the frustrating design.

It might not be the longest game of all time, but the exploration of this very unique take on exploration adventures is worth the admission fee.

Quotation forthcoming.

After the slow descent of indie horror games Stairs is a ray of hope. The atmosphere is tense. Exploration, puzzles, suspense and dramatic getaways are well balanced. But the story lacks depth and I actually could do without the bugs.

As much fun the sporting events deliver, Wii U Olympians have to swallow the bitter pill that they not only had to wait longer than the mobile sports fans. They also get the less attractive package.

You can feel that it was destined to become something great. And you sense that this actually might become a really good game. Right now, though, it is not much more than a game with potential and a lot of work to do to get there.

The spirit of the classic Burnout series is omnipresent. But before the fun kicks into high gear, the highspeed racer is taken down by AI problems or lackluster presentation.

Fans will notice the mostly subtle changes that make this one of the best games in the series. But if you never were into Koei's “Warriors”, this iteration will not make you change your mind.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 satisfies multiplayer and zombie fans, but the co-op campaign is a complete disappointment.

I love turn-based tacts, I love classics and I like Fantasy. But while other games of that era aged well, HoMM feels outdated. If you really want to play it, get the original with mods.

The design is as old school as the difficulty level. As a homage to Castlevania it serves its purpose but compared to games like Fly’n or Guacamelee it falls short.

Old school city builder with a beautiful art design but clumsy UI.

The first expansion focuses on the wrong elements and doesn’t deliver enough content.

A fantasy casino arena with a high coincidence factor and more gold management than regular tactical challenges. At least there are no micro-transactions.

Enjoyable platformer that would benefit from more variety.

Blacksad is a thrilling adventure with interesting and multi-faceted characters, a great visual style and an atmospheric soundtrack.

With over 80 minigames you get a lot of content. Unfortunately most of the games are short and simple.

The difficulty level goes way beyond what you usually describe as "challenging, but fair" – this is do-or-die-retro-feeling. This illegitimate spawn of Ghosts'n Goblins and the humour of Monty Python doesn't disappoint when it comes to the audiovisual design. Unfortunately the mechanics are not near as creative.

On consoles this is almost unbearable. But also on PC it falls short, even though the open world looks beautiful in most places. You have lots to do, the fighting system is solid, albeit hampered by a bad camera. But in the end it is rather a superficial experience on almost every level.

The concept is timeless, but more variety and a little progress would have gone a long way.

The minimalistic future racer can’t keep up with WipEout or Fast Recaing Neo in terms of content and finetuning. Nonetheless it delivers an intense racing experience in VR.

Ambitious try to make console players feel like a train driver that lacks variety as well as decent visuals.

Balance issues in combat and puzzles make Bonelab more of a physics playground with mod support than a well-done VR shooter.

Yes, it might be a little too easy. But the cuteness, the funny ideas and all the hidden collectables are as Yoshi as Yoshi can be.

In some aspects The Falconeer is a fascinating exporation adventure. But you also encounter repetitive action and balancing problems. Nonetheless you can experience intense dogfights in a neatly presented water world.

This is more a tech demo than a coherent game - stay away until it is fixed.

Entertaining little timeloop thriller held back by its mechanical and storytelling limitations.

A colorful combo bang in the style of Genshin Impact, Bayonetta and Dynasty Warriors cannot hide the weak visuals of the surroundings and a repetitive gameplay.

Once you have a strategy for every opponent the kinect slashing gets repetitive.

Nothing about this planet is lovely. It is unforgiving, challenging and eventually frustrating. If you give up easily, this mixture of shooter and runner is definitely not for you.

Conceptually an interesting golf game, but it stays too superficial to be either a real challenge or to be more than short term entertainment.

Shark vs. human in a tense atmospheric setting. Unfortunately it lacks variety.

In terms of content this is the Titan Quest you love. But technical or interface problems in handheld and even more so in docked mode, hold this action rpg classic back.

The foundation sounds promising, but storytelling as well as puzzle mechanics lack suspense, challenge and dynamics.

Interesting at first, but in the long run this turn based tactics experiment gets quite monotonous.

A charming post nuclear adventure.

Affectionate remake of a classic jump & run. It has a few problems though and despite a “classic” mode the original is nowhere to be seen.

Despite some major flaws this is CI Games’ best franchise entry. The exploration as well as the sniper action delivers the goods,

Playing this digging puzzler made me almost fall asleep. But as soon as you get a few players to help you, you’ll uncover some fun buried under all that rubble.

With opening up the world this is the most radical step the series has taken since moving from classic brawling on the original PlayStation to the musou-action we love and hate for almost 20 years now. And while some elements are overdone and others are not elaborate enough, at its core this is still a good first step into a promising future of the franchise.

In terms of malice this is in one line with classics like Dungeon Keeper or Evil Genius. But building and maintaining the horror house of your nightmares is more tedious than expected.

Being the master over evolution can be entertaining. But it can also be tedious, boring at times and always an exercise in displaying patience.