The world may not remember it for years to come but here and now it’s worth giving it a chance – mostly because of the tragicomic atmosphere of the narrative, well fleshed out characters, and remarkable and funny dialogue. [13/2019, p.46]

MachineGames knows a thing or two about skinning Nazis, but be aware that this is not the next Wolfenstein. On the other hand, if you've been dreaming of a game in the vein of Spielberg's old trilogy, then you needn't wait any longer. You'll find a gripping plot, well-written characters and a wealth of inventive puzzles.

Huge pixels, old school top-down perspective, 8-bit animation and choice of colours convincingly recreate the mood of 1989 – the year Hotline Miami's story takes place in. Fortunately there's also plenty of excellent, unconventional and engaging fun for mature gamers. [CD-Action 13/2012, p.76]

SG2 has everything that makes space sims great, but despite its complexity is accessible enough to make it a wonderful first step into the genre. [13/2014, p.64]

Everything Blacksad: Under the Skin did ineptly, Chicken Police does perfectly. This Hungarian visual novel offers much more than I expected: a feast for eyes, a great duo of detectives, polished and varied supporting characters, and a story that treats social issues (e.g. systemic racism) seriously. [01/2021, p.36]

Duskers would be perfect if it wasn’t for an exaggerated impact of randomness on gameplay. [09/2016, p.53]

One of the fullest and most clever realization of the DLC concept I have ever encountered. Instead of lazily rearranging old bricks Mooncrash takes familiar elements and really squeezes new quality out of them. [08/2018, p.82]

A very enjoyable game that brings back fond memories of Golden Axe and looks absolutely gorgeous. [13/2016, p.71]

Outlast grosses you out (like Condemned: Criminal Origins) rather than making you fear your own shadow (like the first Amnesia did), but nonetheless it’s a great horror. [11/2013, p.81]

There’s a lot of fun in optimizing our machines’ destructive potential while adhering to laws of physics and then unleashing our creations upon tiny villagers and knights. [05/2020, p.60]

FIFA 23 is a worthy farewell to the series’ current name. The HyperMotion2 technology makes gameplay more realistic and simply better, while the changes to Ultimate Team’s squad chemistry system are a step in the right direction. However, it’s a shame that single-player modes were neglected once again.

I really hope the developers will be able to maintain the unsettling atmosphere and kick the story into high gear in the following episodes. [09/2016, p.55]

A fighting game that should appeal to everyone regardless of their experience with the genre. Friendly to newcomers (but it does not reward button mashing) and deep enough for the seasoned enthusiasts. [11/2013, p.82]

A game that came out of nowhere and made me play it ‘just 5 more minutes’ for long hours. [13/2014, p.66]

The rich Marvel Universe and Traveller’s Tales’ Lego series is a match made in heaven – instead of dozens of bland droids, pirates or guards this time we got the roster of over 100 interesting and varied characters. The gameplay remained mostly unchanged and is rather easy but there is always something cool going on to keep you interested. The best Lego game to date. [01/2014, p.60]

The Underlords themselves, among with a bunch of different changes in game mechanics and a robust progression system, make Valve’s auto battler a compelling evolution in the genre. [05/2020, p.66]

If you have already finished the base game, Mandate of Heaven is a fantastic way to go back playing. The DLC surprises witch new mechanics, adds over ten hours of brand new gameplay experience and makes each playthrough of the main campaign unique. [03/2020, p.74]

Despite some shortcomings (a couple of minor technical issues, ugly cut-scenes) The Inner World is a charming point’n’click game that blows Memoria out of the water. [01/2014, p.61]

“Huge mechs, a ruined city, and a hot female teacher in a latex suit”, is how one of the game’s characters described his visions. That’s, in a nutshell, the essence of this unique, crazy RPG where you face kaiju in turned-based combat one minute, and follow weird conversations of high-school students the next. And there is nothing wrong with that. [12/2020, p.70]

Simply put, Heart of the Swarm shows how PC games should be done, however I wish the campaign was longer and more epic (Wings of Liberty did a better job in that department). You can treat the final rating as an average of 7/10 for the single-player mode and 9/10 for the multiplayer. [CD-Action 05/2013, p.54]

Football Manager 2021 introduces some features and improvements that make it a bit more realistic and enjoyable, but it is hard for me to recommend buying it if you own the last year’s edition. As a whole, FM2020 might not be as good as its successor, but it is not much different in the most important aspect – both games are ridiculously addictive. [01/2021, p.52]

If you’re a fan of Nintendo, you will be delighted with Super Smash Bros. [13/2014, p.69]

Ride 5 proves clearly that when it comes to motorcycle physics, Milestone currently has no equal. It’s by far the best installment to date and while the pace at which the series evolves may not be fast, the most important thing is that the Italians are heading in the right direction.

It looks and sounds fantastic but the gameplay revolves mainly around fetching stuff for people who tell you where to look for other stuff. [05/2020, p.70]

It’s a shame Double Fine missed the chance to expand the game by enriching the short campaign and introducing new, more varied side quests. Still Brutal Legend is a treat for every hard rocker and metalhead – they definitely should hop on this crazy train! [CD-Action 05/2013, p.58]

Technobabylon proves that adventure games are the best genre to convey mature stories. [07/2015, p.68]

Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012 is – just like its predecessor – just an introduction to the world of Magic: The Gathering. For instance, it does not let you create your own deck from scratch. But what it does offer is enough for many long evenings and I can recommend it not only to the CCG fans, but also to everyone who's keen to see what's it all about. [August 2011, p.55]

Even if the The Turing Test sometimes wanders into the realm of clichés in terms of both gameplay and the story, the developers tackled the subject of artificial intelligence really well and created an engaging game. [11/2016, p.50]

While I hoped for a more narrative-centric experience this time, thanks to a plethora of new mechanics The Last Autumn is still a great add-on that enriches both the gameplay and Frostpunk’s lore. [03/2020, p.80]

There’s a lot to fix in the game but regardless it offers a heap of fun and playability – even if sometimes it’s hard to pinpoint why exactly. [05/2020, p.72]

Even though it has no action sequences and lacks tension characteristic for modern TV series, I found South of the Circle to be more engrossing than As Dusk Falls. This narrative game turns out to be more ambiguous than it seems, and uniquely tells a wonderful tale using distinctive art style and a setting that sets it apart from other love stories.

Judgment shows that the People Can Fly team knows its way around triple-A titles. They managed to squeeze a lot out of Unreal Engine 3 – the game looks great even compared to Crysis 3, which set new standards in terms of visuals, also on consoles. And when the technology restrained them, they creatively found a way around limitations. [CD-Action 05/2013, p.60]

Reikon Games mixed Doom with Ghostrunner, added a pinch of Titanfall 2 and Metroid Prime, and shook it all up to create a unique and delicious cocktail. Now that's what I call a surprise!

Fury showed the whole industry how boss fights should be done. Not bad for a mobile developer’s debut on “serious” platforms. [09/2016, p.62]

From Dust is hugely satisfying and might herald the revival of the almost forgotten god games. It's a damn intelligent game and Eric Chahi did not forget how to build an extraordinary atmosphere of another world. [August 2011, p.59]

A great game is still a great game and this port is an absolute minimum to enjoy it. I only wonder what kind of audience is it really aimed at. [13/2019, p.80]

Eve is one of the best looking virtual reality games, it makes great use of PS VR and its multiplayer mode is brilliant. [13/2016, p.80]

Sins of the Fathers is possibly the best showcase of the golden era of point’n’click games. [13/2014, p.71]

The Crew Motorfest is a very satisfying, constantly surprising racing game with a great single player campaign and an engaging multiplayer mode. Sadly, microtransactions significantly slow down the process of unlocking new vehicles and the interface can be distracting while driving. The developers of the Forza Horizon series can still rest easy, but they need to be aware that a worthy rival has joined the race and in some respects overtook their creation.

I fell in love with Capture the Flag – one of two modes reintroduced by End Game (the other one is Air Superiority). [CD-Action 05/2013, p.68]

The story could’ve been more engaging but I intend to come back to D5 regularly for months. [08/2017, p.65]

Trine is back and it hard to not see it as a success. The developers aren’t really trying to surprise us with anything here but the starved fans should welcome it as a really well made encore of Trine 2. [13/2019, p.82]

How good Starfield is depends on how much you’re willing to forgive it. Skyrim developer’s new RPG caters to a specific audience and although you can feel at every step that the eons-old “Bethesda game” formula is wearing out, Starfield can still be an extremely addictive experience.

Tower defense turned into a card game and for me it’s the best Plants vs. Zombies game in years. [13/2016, p.82]

After having played the THPS 1 + 2 remasters, the new package is no longer surprising, but offers loads of great fun for all fans of the series. There are almost 20 excellent skateparks and challenges that can be tackled for hours.

I can’t imagine any AoW fan could ignore this meaty DLC. [06/2015, p.57]

It’s the best Worms game in recent years, maybe even the best ever. It goes beyond rehashing fun from previous renditions and adds some cool new weapons and ideas. [11/2016, p.60]

A game that would be even cooler if it didn’t try so hard to be cool. To love it you need to switch off the part of the brain responsible for good taste, but in return Sunset Overdrive relentlessly strokes the part responsible for pleasure. [13/2014, p.76]

The narrative part of this ‘stealth Darkest Dungeon’ is a pleasant surprise – with strong characters, a dark Victorian western vibe and lots of references to Lovecraft’s works. [05/2020, p.84]

I dreamt of the next Dark Messiah of Might & Magic and I got Elderborn. It has been a long time since I spent two nights in a row playing a game and there’s only multiplayer mode that’s lacking here. [04/2020, p.56]

John Carpenter and Ron Gilbert can be proud of Dave Lloyd. The Drifter is a successful combination of retro point'n'click and 1980s sci-fi horror - and how paradoxically fresh and modern it all is.

The game might disappoint the veterans of the genre but it also makes an interesting introduction to it – and the flawless pixel art is definitely one of its strongest selling points. [13/2019, p.89]

Trek to Yomi is a marvel that uses its black and white art style, wonderfully designed environments, and Japanese setting to convey the spirit of samurai tales better than many games employing color and full 3D. The game would be perfect if it had better combat animations.

As expected the sequel is massively improved and expanded (e.g. with two more character classes) in comparison to the original game. If it weren’t for Path of Exile and Reaper of Souls that got me my fix of hack’n’slash, I would be playing Van Helsing II till the third part appears. [08/2014, p.54]

A good idea + a pinch of genius = a refreshing game. [CD-Action 05/2013, p.72]

A good port, but just a port – there’s no new content here and the visuals haven’t changed since the original PC versions. [06/2015, p.61]

It sounds beautiful, looks stunning, and challenges your brain at every turn. It’s unlikely to win over players who were put off by the first game, but for fans of puzzle-platformers, it’s a must-play.

An ideal example of a remaster. The production retains the spirit of the original, adds plenty of content, improves graphics and audio, and the challenging gameplay provides satisfaction for old-timers and newcomers alike.

What disappointed me in Omega Collection was the music – barely adequate at best, boring at worst. Other than that Wipeout is back with its unmatched sensation of speed. [08/2017, p.67]

Its action is more intense than Charlie Sheen's weekend – and this is Jamestown's biggest strength. If words 'Contra' and 'Metal Slug' send shivers down your spine – buy it! [August 2011, p.64]

If you worry you’ll get stuck because of all the hacking (done by typing in commands), rest assured that Quadrilateral Cowboy turns it into pure pleasure. [11/2016, p.65]

Who’s Lila is a very unique point’n’click hybrid full of secrets. At first glance its most interesting feature seems to be the ability to control the protagonist’s facial expressions but what really plays first fiddle is the nonlinear story leading to over a dozen endings.

A positive surprise in the metroidvania genre. Although it’s not overly complex and the game needs some time to find its own tempo. [04/2020, p.64]

The coolest stealth game in months, maybe even years – and not only for MGS fans. It shows how good MGS V: The Phantom Pain will be. [05/2014, p.56]

The game's presentation might have aged but fortunately the fun it provides hasn't. Final Showdown is also a great gateway into the world of fighting games, as it's very accessible yet hard to master. [September 2012, p.57]

King Arthur: Knight’s Tale is a dark fantasy RPG that offers an interesting take on Arthurian legend and a turn-based combat system that will appeal to XCOM fans. Engaging story, enjoyable battles and great atmosphere ensure at least 25 hours of fun.

It definitely isn’t one of those games you talk about years after its release, but it showcases PS4’s capabilities well and in contrast to Killzone: Shadow Fall also does something else – guarantees fun from the beginning till the end. [CD-Action 05/2014, p.58]

Spies and religion are back and they are notable additions to the game, even if the latter was treated superficially and is nothing more than just a set of bonuses for your people. [September 2012, p.58]

Developers managed to achieve a reasonable compromise – there's a number of changes and innovations that noticeably enhanced the game but the core concept that Lego series' fans love is still intact. [September 2012, p.60]

Nintendo loves to reinvent the wheel and this take on fighting games genre is truly unique and intriguing. Motion controls really do work here and both visuals and audio are as good as we should expect from Nintendo. [08/2017, p.70]

If you miss Impressions Games, Laysara: Summit Kingdom will give you an AVALANCHE of excitement. It’s not just a Tibetan village chief simulator! Beneath the clever facade of a colorful and cheerful city-builder lies a truly challenging title.

During 8 hours I spent with Observer I never felt that the developers’ creativity is waning. [10/2017, p.45]

An awesome, extremely trippy game of a kind we rarely see these days. The speeds are so great here that you need to achieve total unity with the game to avoid obstacles. [08/2017, p.71]

I first came across Republique when it was a one-button game on iPad. Now, after revisiting its “1984” inspired world in a remastered edition, I can assure you that the game also works great on PC. [06/2015, p.70]

LawBreakers is a very good online shooter that distinguishes itself with a couple of original, spot-on ideas. What makes it trail behind Overwatch are disappointingly forgettable characters. [10/2017, p.46]

A humorous, easy to pick up kingdom simulator inspired by... Tinder. [11/2016, p.71]

Nintendo Switch ports of the 2001 and 2004 Pikmin games prove that an original gameplay idea can hold up even after a long time. It is worth helping the tiny creatures in their adventure and experience the legendary childlike joy that’s an integral part of this series.

Although the randomness in Reigns: The Witcher can sometimes pose a challenge, the game makes up for it with a large dose of wit. Fans of The Witcher will find a lot to enjoy here, provided they buy into the game’s absurd premise.

A worthy successor to Jagged Alliance 2. It’s a pretty, long, complex and difficult game where tactical turn-based combat meets tycoon and RPG components. JA3 requires a lot of time and full concentration, and although it can be frustrating sometimes, finishing it is highly rewarding. Give it a try!

Wow, what a strange phenomenon – a free mobile game based on a movie is much better than the movie itself. [11/2016, p.73]

By rebuilding the animation system the developers managed to significantly improve footballers’ responsiveness, which results in more fluent gameplay and lets you perform tighter maneuvers. That makes attacking a real joy, but in my opinion turned defense into frustrating chore that requires too much precision. [12/2017, p.42]

MechCommanders’ beautiful dream finally came true in a form of a couple dozen hours of excellent tactical gameplay underpinned by good visuals and superb music. [06/2018, p.46]

It's incredible how the ideas to vary and enrich simple platforming gameplay seem to never end in Spelunky. [September 2012, p.73]

The first Knack was a laughing-stock. The sequel kept the main concept but did everything else differently and surprisingly the result is one of the most enjoyable co-op platformers I’ve ever played. [12/2017, p.44]

Daedalic's new game really impressed me. It's merits (great puzzles and beautiful hand drawn graphics among others) make it easy to forgive the shortcomings. [September 2012, p.74]

If H. P. Lovecraft’s fiction is close to your heart and you enjoy retro shooters, you will be delighted by Forgive Me Father. Despite its shallow narrative the game puts a lot of effort into making you feel like a protagonist in one of the works by Master from Providence.

This fitness game will teach you humility in a couple of minutes and prove that in terms of shape you're not very different from your grandpa. Unfortunately UFC Personal Trainer is not so personal – coaches don't notice and can't correct your mistakes and their vocabulary is very scarce so some of their comments are nonsensical. And there's too little game in this game so you have to find motivation to practise all by yourself. [August 2011, p.73]

The Internet hype around Starseed Pilgrim is surprisingly only a bit exaggerated. [CD-Action 08/2013, p.85]

Black The Fall bought me with its brilliant atmosphere of hopelessness that even Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four would not be ashamed of. [10/2017, p.57]

B.I.O.T.A. is an old school metroidvania heavily inspired by James Cameron’s “Aliens”. It is not groundbreaking, but the gameplay is really varied and the art style will surely appeal to retro games maniacs. However, despite its retro look B.I.O.T.A. is very forgiving, which might not be an advantage to everyone – personally, I wish it was more challenging.

A doubtlessly original title that offers a lot of fun through very extensive options of building, customizing and optimizing vehicles but could benefit from faster progression. [06/2018, p.52]

The first word that comes to my mind when I think of Prejudice is 'solid'. Every element of this game was executed at least well (the Swarm mode, audio and graphics) and some of them really stand out (like the Conquest mode and Dynamic Combat Missions). [June 2011, p.60]

After all these years Myst is still a masterpiece, a brilliant game that deserves acclaim. [05/2014, p.73]

Andromeda had no chance to outmatch the trilogy – and it didn’t. It’s not as emotional as its predecessors, leaves a lot to be desired in terms of execution and its campaign is unnecessarily bloated. Still the game has that unmistakable Mass Effect atmosphere and had some moments that left me euphoric. [05/2017, p.34]

Part an RPG, part a strategy game, part a city builder, as a whole a fairy tale that makes Studio Ghibli and Dragon Quest spring to mind. [06/2018, p.56]

Gigantic offers engaging, fast-paced gameplay and well-designed daily quests system, but needs much more characters. Dividing the PC community between Windows Store, Steam and Arc will not help it succeed. [10/2017, p.64]

This game is deeply satisfying when you are driving and at times frustrating when you're not (the load times can really get under your skin). And thus – in my opinion – is a bit worse than the predecessor. [June 2011, p.64]

This year’s edition of PES is a really good game (the PC version is at last on par with the consoles) that has one major problem – it appeals to people already won over by Konami’s series and has almost no chance to convince FIFA’s fans. That doesn’t change the fact that I can honestly recommend it. [12/2017, p.56]