Little Rocket Lab succeeds as a welcoming entry point into automation games. It also succeeds as a thoughtful experiment in merging mechanical depth with human-scale storytelling. It may not satisfy players looking for endless complexity, but for those who want to tinker, rebuild, and unwind, it’s a quietly confident success.

Where Winds Meet is one messy and unapologetically dense online game. It tried to mix all the good and the bad of open-world games and staple features of live-service releases -- whether it actually works or not. But it's the first time a wuxia game, or even an MMO in general, has truly felt like a living, breathing world -- not just a theme park of instanced dungeons and fetch quests. Anyone hunting for their next timesink, whether solo or with friends, will find Where Winds Meet surprisingly easy to get hooked on.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is my game of the year. No other game quite felt as immersive, or told a story in such a captivating way. The cutscenes, the writing, the graphics, and the worldbuilding are all things executed properly on a level no other game has managed to achieve this year. It is a peak example of an open-world game that prioritizes quality over quantity. For me, KCD2 is up there with The Witcher III: Wildhunt.

All in all, Dispatch is a game with a lot of potential. If we see this level of quality throughout the next six episodes, I have no doubt that we'll be looking at the biggest narrative experience of the year. Adhoc Studios has done well to harness the magic that made Telltale Games so great while also putting their own flair into it.

For me, Rogue Incursion is everything I’ve been waiting for in an Alien game. It’s a tense, scary, atmospheric game with a strong story. It balances combat with survival horror, and it’s got its own new storyline that’s nestled deep within the Alien universe. I’ve seen the game described as a “cinematic experience,” and I have to agree. All the pieces work perfectly, making it feel like you’re playing through a brand new Alien movie.

Rally Arcade Classics succeeds in one important area: it brings back the approachable feel of classic arcade rally games. It’s fun in short bursts, and fans of rally racers will find plenty to enjoy in its car roster and gameplay. At the same time, the grind-heavy structure, lack of polish, and absence of true online racing hold it back from being a must-play. In the end, the value will depend on what you’re looking for. If you want a simple, content-rich throwback you can chip away at for hours, it’s worth a look. If you’re after a polished arcade racer with modern production values and multiplayer, you may want to wait for a sale, or stick with the classics it’s inspired by.

Overall, Sky: Children of Light is a stunning, beautiful game that should be celebrated for its success as it is in the game. It's a wonderfully fun indie game that thrives on friendships, caring for others and your world, and creating something from a long-lost life.

If you go over to the community page of the game, you will see the love it is getting. After playing it, I too would find myself rallying behind the crowd. The does not need to be complex to be enjoyable. If I had to, the one bit of criticism I would give is to add hints. Sometimes players may find themselves running haywire, searching for clues in the snowy fields. Maybe a button to get pointed in the right direction would be great. Apart from that, I have loved the game. Blender Studio has struck gold with their first release. The cute easter eggs sprinkled in this game show the level of thought that went into making it.

With its continued focus on fast-paced bloodshed and the addition of some modern touches that help give it more depth, Doom: The Dark Ages is a seriously fun splatterfest that both franchise devotees and modern FPS gamers will love.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins is a fun action game to start 2025. If you’re a fan of the previous entries in the series, this is a great pickup to continue the momentum. If you’ve never played a Dynasty Warriors game, Origins can still be fun but you may want to wait until it’s available on sale. The action will keep you hooked, but you’ll want to look away from the screen during the boring story scenes. 2025 is set to be a big year for gaming, and Dynasty Warriors: Origins is a great way to start things off.

Even if you have never cared for hero shooters, I urge you to give this one a try. It's free-to-play, and if you have any love for superhero properties you'll find a character you love among this motley bunch. It is certainly inspired by games that came before, but its fast, frenetic pace and secret strategic weight make it something completely different. Like a sidekick growing into his mentor's mantle, this one is ready to fight crime in the mean streets of Marvel Manhattan.

Whereas many AAA games have felt underwhelming lately, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle was a total blast. It has great action alongside an epic journey, all within a lush and gorgeous world. The game could have felt like some Tomb Raider or Uncharted clone using Indy as a cheap way to earn sales… but Indiana Jones and the Great Circle was excellent to play and proved that Indy is still the king of the adventure genre.

At the end of the day, what’s even more important than aesthetics and game mechanics is: Did I have fun? And the answer is yes. I had a great time playing Fear the Spotlight. It was a fun, relatively short survival horror game that is great for anyone who wants a retro throwback, or just a plain old fun spooky time. Plus, it’s priced at just $20, so as far as video games go, it’s a relatively cheap investment and is perfect to complete over a single weekend.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits is the peak of its genre as it brilliantly combines story, exploration, music and combat in a beautifully organized world.

Primal Survivors is an average title with nothing to really make it stand out or be remarkable in any way. Afil Games has been pumping out titles lately, but I'd like to see what they could do with a little more time on a single game as opposed to the mad rush of cornucopia titles.

I'm not going to be the one to tell you not to buy it, but I'm also not going to be the one to give a glowing review of a game that does leave a bit to be desired. What I will do is simply say that F1 23 is still an enjoyable enough game to justify passing up on purchasing this year's edition.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is a faithful and beautifully done remaster of the greatest entry in the Paper Mario series. From fixing the ancient wrong of the US release to the addition of new and incredibly convenient features like fast travel and the ability to switch partners on the fly, Nintendo has somehow taken something made of pure gold and added a pure gold plating.

While its heavily pixelated art style might not be for everyone, if you are into retro-style RPGs, Dread Delusion will be right up your alley. Enjoyable exploration, memorable characters and truly striking artwork make this one a winner.

Despite some minor flaws in the twist tracking and the poor quality of the cut scenes, the game is a pleasant surprise. They went above and beyond what most trips to VR do and actually gave us something better than the original experience as opposed to watered-down cartoonish versions like House Flipper VR did. Just be forewarned, if you're looking to get all your work done before the end of the day you are absolutely going to break a sweat.

Senua's Saga: Hellblade II sets the bar for what a sequel should be. A truly immersive and powerful story experience equipped with graphical and audio prowess never before experienced in a game.

If you're looking for a game where you can control a scuba diver and occasionally see a fish, you're in luck. If you're looking for ANYTHING more than that though you're going to be deeply disappointed. A step down from Endless Ocean's original Wii entries, Endless Ocean Luminous has you exploring a version of the ocean depths so boring and devoid of detail that it may as well be the background.

If you're craving a slice of digital zen and a dash of creative freedom, Spirit City: Lofi Sessions was made for you. Don’t walk; float to get this game - your soul will thank you for it.

Despite its dated graphics, stand control choices and ugly character models, there's still plenty to love about the Hotel Renovator. Whether you're trying to make your lobby more presentable, finding accommodations for a survivalist that wants a sleeping bag and tent in their room or just helping your run-of-the-mill vampire find a place for the night, it's a nice surprise. So before the game's graphics have you running for the door, take a stab at this with your steely knives.

Princess Peach Showtime is a great action game for people of all skill levels. 10 different costumes provide us with unique playstyles in a game where you never know what's going to happen next. Are you going to be a flying hero punching down enemy ships? Or are you going to be a master thief hacking into security and sneaking through lasers? It's always something different and it's great to see so much potential in an often underused character.

Lawn Mowing Simulator lives up to its name of capturing every aspect of running a lawn mowing business, down to the mind-numbing nature of massive rectangular properties and complex backyards with gardens. If you can look past some of the game's faults and the abysmal graphics, you're in for a nice chill sim game.

Despite a few technical hiccups, Pacific Drive is a thrilling experience that is unlike anything I've encountered. Beautifully atmospheric with a really well-done story design and more than enough mental stimuli to make your mind terrified of what it doesn't see. Pacific Drive is a game about you and a questionably reliable car, and it is a destination well worth the drive.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth rekindled my love for Final Fantasy with a refreshing twist in a classic story and additions to the gameplay experience.

Bandle Tale is the video game version of a warm, freshly baked cookie. With 40 to 60 hours of gameplay, it's not just a quick visit to Bandle City - it's a long, joy-filled vacation. Think of it as your favorite series - you won't want it to end."