The best and the most complete of all console editions of Diablo III – and you can play it anywhere. Who needs Diablo Immortal? [01/2019, p.65]

You will probably enjoy Tsioque if you bear in mind that it’s a two-hour (tops) classic animated film which sometimes needs you to do some light thinking and influence the story. A perfect plan for an evening with a kid. [01/2019, p.64]

Contents of the original Saboteur! (1985) is just a prelude, as the game got about fivefold larger, having been expanded with new levels, enemies and traps. It does a great job at imitating various classic platforms (i.e. ZX Spectrum, Amiga) and although jerky animations and absence of a map get tiresome with time, Saboteur! still kicks ass and I enjoyed this nostalgic return to the first game I have ever finished. [01/2019, p.62]

It’s definitely a great opportunity to get acquainted with The Settlers, if you haven’t had the pleasure yet. TSHC’s main feature is the ability to run all games on Windows 10 effortlessly, but there are also some other improvements, including widescreen support and multiplayer via Uplay. The score I gave is rather low, because after all these years I did not enjoy all the included games and you can separately buy the ones you’re interested in. [01/2019, p.60]

Innovative mechanics designed by Richard Garfield (Magic: The Gathering), rules that you can grasp after just a couple of minutes, clear interface – Artifact is a great game. It’s a shame that it’s huge esports potential can be squandered, because Valve doesn’t seem to care for it enough to implement progression systems, leagues, rankings or means to comfortably communicate with rivals outside an invitation-only friendly tournament. [01/2019, p.58]

The Walking Dead license was wasted on an ugly game that plays crudely, offers little content and trails behind a decade-old Left 4 Dead. [01/2019, p.56]

Steel Rats is built around a fun, refreshing concept, offers more than meets the eye and is varied enough to keep boredom at bay for the whole duration of the game, but could use better visuals and audio, and more creativity when it comes to enemies’ design. [01/2019, p.55]

If it weren’t for the title related to a real submarine and the horrible tragedy of its crew, no one would care about Kursk – and we would have missed absolutely nothing. It’s a dated, terribly boring (both in terms of gameplay and the story), and generally poorly made game. [01/2019, p.54]

This is hands down the best Hitman game ever. True, it could’ve been longer and better written, and I would welcome a proper multiplayer mode, but these are just side dishes, while the main course tastes amazing. [01/2019, p.52]

Reignited Trilogy looks like a Pixar movie and proves that while many other genres have changed significantly over the last 20 years, the recipe for an enjoyable platformer stayed the same, at least in many aspects. Of course nowadays people expect more from any game and Spyro does feel archaic but its wise design stood the test of time, especially if you look at the remake through the eyes of a child (either literally or metaphorically). [01/2019, p.50]

Miracles do happen once in a while and No Man’s Sky proved that sometimes it is possible to get back on your feet even after a terrible failure. Right now though Fallout 76 is botched spectacularly on so many levels that even talking about this game is a waste of time. [01/2019, p.46]

When designing a new game in a long-running franchise, the developers face a fundamental question: go with the tried-and-true or risk trying something new? In this case the former approach was chosen and it was the right decision, because JC4 is as enjoyable as its predecessors. It has some obvious flaws (e.g. uneven visuals and some repetitive mission types) but they are easily outweighed by incredibly fun gameplay. It is simply a well-made, thrilling open world game. [01/2019, p.40]

It turns out that not just the first time with Richard La Ruina is painful. [11/2018, p.85]

The developers decided not to tamper with core gameplay and most of the additions they introduced feel forced and water down the experience instead of enhancing it. It’s a solid platformer but it failed to surpass the original Guacamelee! [11/2018, p.84]

Almost perfect gameplay makes PES 2019 the best football simulation ever, but due to stagnation in terms of available modes and the usual scarcity of licences it’s “merely” a good game. [11/2018, p.82]

A beautiful, creative and incredibly frustrating platformer. It’s a shame that the most interesting gameplay mechanic – the ability to affect the environment by changing the time of day – plays second fiddle while it should have been the foundation of the game. [11/2018, p.80]

The developers took on a difficult subject and tripped. They managed to conjure a proper dystopian setting, but the story is too shallow to make a proper impression. [11/2018, p.79]

Unlike the 2017 edition, F1 2018 failed to surprise me with the scope and depth of changes it introduces to the series. Basically it is the 2017 edition, but a bit fresher, a tad more modern and somewhat more realistic, which makes it a very good game. [11/2018, p.78]

I feel that with a larger budget and bigger experience XGen Studios could offer us a real treat, but what I got instead was just a snack that left me hungry. [11/2018, p.77]

Strange Brigade is full of dubious design choices, lacks content and gets boring quickly. [11/2018, p.76]

A surprisingly fun game full of nuances related to numerous fishing techniques and choosing gear suitable for specific conditions. [11/2018, p.75]

There are moments when Death’s Gambit is a really good game that intelligently copies Souls and the likes, but to truly enjoy it you need to accept it as a collage of inspirations which doesn’t allow original ideas to shine. [11/2018, p.74]

It’s a tribute to the original Ninja Gaiden released in 1988, so the game obviously borrows a lot from genre’s progenitors, but it also adds a lot to the mix and its platforming mechanics are superb. Even though it gets less exciting in the second half, I have to recommend it. [11/2018, p.73]

Core gameplay becomes wearisome with time, but fortunately the game is short (3 hours tops) and the developer tried to vary the levels with additional mechanics. If you need something to make you smile and want to escape from your responsibilities by focusing on simple tasks, this little indie game can be fun. [11/2018, p.72]

It’s a very solid game, lacking any surprises or a wow factor, but boasting outstanding level design, very satisfying exploration and beautiful graphics. [11/2018, p.68]

Dragon Quest XI clings to tradition, but when you buy a DQ game, you don’t expect a revolution. You expect vibrant characters and thrilling adventures and that’s exactly what you get, amplified by the level of execution unparalleled not only in the series, but in the whole genre. [11/2018, p.66]

At first contact Ganbare! Super Strikers is off-putting – it is ugly, sounds awful and the interface is a nightmare. It is a full-fledged tactical soccer game though (more competent than Football, Tactics & Glory, by the way) and that alone makes it an interesting proposal for a soccer fan looking for something other than FIFA, PES or Football Manager. [11/2018, p.65]

MultiTaskMaster looks like a student’s project assignment, but its fun concept (four minigames that you need to tackle simultaneously on split screen) proves that a good idea still is the most important component of a game. [11/2018, p.64]

Just like Theme Hospital two decades ago, Two Point Hospital doesn’t take the whole medical stuff seriously, which makes it fun and accessible, but despite all the giggles it still is a simulation deep enough to satisfy those more demanding. [11/2018, p.62]

It’s a solid material for a movie. That form might actually be more suitable, because it would eliminate State of Mind’s biggest issues: awful controls and the fact that there are few interactions and decisions to make. However I recommend it to every cyberpunk fan, because even the writers of Deus Ex games could learn a thing or two from State of Mind. [11/2018, p.61]

If you ever wondered whether you’re cut out to be a programmer, and you complete 7 Billion Humans, than yes, you have an aptitude for real coding. The most important thing though is that it’s a great game. [11/2018, p.60]

This game does for Spider-Man what the Arkham series did for Batman. Immensely satisfying movement system, excellent combat, fast pace, superb visuals and wealth of side activities converge to bring a wonderful experienced, diluted only by some minor missteps in the story and a couple of stealth sequences where you control supporting characters instead of Spidey. [11/2018, p.54]

The action is fast, spectacular and satisfying, but also short (especially for a roguelike), because I finished the campaign in around six hours and was left with a bland challenge mode. [10/2018, p.87]

Relics of War made me realize how much I need a Civilization game set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Gladius is not there yet, but it is on the right path. It ditches trade, diplomacy, religion and cultural development and focuses on the military side of things, which of course is in line with the setting. I did miss other strategic layers a bit, but the game’s main problem is that it offers merely four factions. Other than that it’s very decent. [10/2018, p.86]

I had an impression that the developers were not sure what game they’re making. As a result their jumble of (sometimes good) ideas turned out to be a safe and tasteless mush – you will neither get excited while fighting off pirates, nor relax while fishing. [10/2018, p.85]

A perfect party game, simple but brilliant. [10/2018, p.84]

With its dated, slow combat system, no intention to evolve the series, bugs, and no tension, The Banner Saga 3 is sadly just a game you tick off to get closure, not a spectacular finale. [10/2018, p.82]

The Boomsday Project is a great expansion. The Magnetic mechanic is brilliant, the new cards are very interesting and the return of Dr. Boom is a nice nod to nostalgic players. [10/2018, p.80]

These are mostly unchanged Mega Man X games, but if you haven’t played them yet, you owe it to yourself to catch up on these gems – and Legacy Collection is the best occasion you can get. [10/2018, p.78]

In the first episode of its final season The Walking Dead is prettier than ever, sounds better than ever and does a better job at pretending to be a game. Telltale’s attempts to refresh the series are too conservative but I still appreciate them, even if it feels like praising a notorious sloven for washing his hands before Christmas dinner. [10/2018, p.76]

A crazy, innovative and funny variation on pool, where the tables are full of life and the balls try to avoid being hit. The only aspect I have to reprove is the game’s repetitiveness – the scenery changes but basic mechanics always stay the same. [10/2018, p.74]

Not having played Yakuza 6 yet, at first I was disappointed with the Dragon engine, which offers only painful 30 frames per second. New tech has its advantages though, as you may enter most of shops, restaurants etc. without annoying loading, which is a significant step forward from the first Kiwami, as are the physics engine, animation system and enhanced control over combat. Overall it is a very good game, but not as brilliant as Yakuza 0, especially in terms of the story. [10/2018, p.70]

I’ve steered clear of Japanese games since I figured out long ago they’re not my cup of tea. But Yakuza is something else. It was my first contact with the series and although at first I did mind the fact that it trails behind Western competition in many aspects, I quickly ceased to notice it. I know it’s an overused cliché, but damn, Yakuza has a soul! And an exceptional story, one of the best I’ve experienced in games since I started playing them almost thirty years ago. Even if you avoid Japanese games, do yourself a favour and give Yakuza 0 a chance, because it is ridiculously fun and you need to experience it too. [10/2018, p.69]

I’m not going to remember this game fondly, as it left me bored, annoyed with absurdities and frustrated by burdensome tactical missions. [10/2018, p.68]

Vampire kids clash with Casa Bonita’s latin music and family picnic vibe in an amusing way, but the DLC offers shamelessly little content and therefore is not worth your money if bought separately. [10/2018, p.63]

The new character class (the Final Girl) quickly became my favourite and I think I enjoyed this well-written, fun slasher parody more than The Fractured but Whole itself. The DLC is quite short (I did everything there was to do in three hours), but I actually appreciated that, as I found the original campaign to be dragged out mercilessly and pointlessly. Definitely the best DLC for The Fractured but Whole. [10/2018, p.63]

There’s a lot of love here, both for the genre and the main character – and that love is contagious, especially since Heroki is surprisingly polished for an indie game. However I have no idea why someone decided that assigning movement and aiming to the same analogue stick is a good idea. [10/2018, p.62]

A very simple interactive story revolving around lucid dreams. Radiant One is light on traditional gameplay and the fact that it only lasts approximately one hour prevented it from telling the story properly, as it feels rushed. The game is priced accordingly to its length though and I found it to be worth my time, mainly due to its level design, uncommon subject and exceptional audio. [10/2018, p.61]

To truly enjoy this variation on parkour sprinkled with some Portal madness, you need to be a bit of a masochist. If you relish overcoming your weakness and don’t mind dying dozens of times in a single level, you’ll find plenty of fun in Impulsion’s exceptionally fluid, simple yet deep gameplay. [10/2018, p.60]

If you want to see what an exemplary roguelike looks like, look at Dead Cells. It does everything right – the controls, the level design, the combat, the character progression system, the pace – and collecting cells remains a joy even after dozens of hours. [10/2018, p.58]

Retrofuturistic, totalitarian world created by Compulsion Games is fascinating, as we see bits and pieces of Kafka (a clerk rebelling against the system), Clockwork Orange (extreme violence), Douglas Adams (humor) or Half-Life (architecture) floating around. What failed is the execution, which turned We Happy Few into an unintentional parody of stealth games. The enemy AI is so lame that I repeatedly had an impression of starring in a lost episode of The Benny Hill Show, especially since the combat system is crude and production values leave a lot to be desired. [10/2018, p.56]

An enjoyable old-school metroidvania with wonderful pixel art, focused on platforming rather than combat. [10/2018, p.54]

When Dave Gilbert decided in 2014 to put an end to Blackwell, arguably the most remarkable series of contemporary point’n’click games, he burned a hole in my heart. When I finally accepted the thought that the wound will never heal, Wadjet Eye is back with another gem, a terrific mix of a point’n’click and an RPG that’s right up there with Gilbert’s previous work. [10/2018, p.52]

I’ve been waiting for a good action game with mechs for quite a while and WTF did not reward my patience. It’s a simple, low budget game lacking in every single aspect and dated in terms of execution. [10/2018, p.51]

Semblance’s ace up the sleeve and key mechanic is the ability to deform environment, and in my opinion it does not work ideally in a puzzle game. I often felt like I was cheating, as if I forced a cubic block into a round hole in a kids’ shape sorter, and it fit, because it was flexible enough. This feeling often robbed me of satisfaction one should derive from solving a puzzle. [10/2018, p.50]

Phantom Doctrine is an addictive mix of improved combat mechanics from Hard West and XCOM’s strategic layer (but you also manage particular soldiers, not just your base). I recommend it if you revel in silent executions and infiltrating enemy facilities without leaving any traces, especially if you enjoyed Invisible, Inc. and don’t mind a game being somewhat rough around the edges. [10/2018, p.48]

Battle for Azeroth offers everything you could expect from a World of Warcraft expansion, but its scale is visibly smaller than Legion’s and there’s no truly new quality here. All that doesn’t change the fact that the charm of this extraordinary MMORPG appeals to me almost as strongly as 13 years ago. [10/2018, p.42]

Despite some flaws and obvious low budget Youropa is a very solid game that constantly evolves and causes the “one more island” syndrome. [09/2018, p.69]

You can either hate Octopath Traveler’s art direction or love it, but it definitely will not leave you indifferent. Distinct visuals are just one of the game’s many strengths which make it a feast for the fans of jRPGs – and much more than that. It’s not flawless though – the dungeons are bland and there are virtually no relations between the characters in your party as they don’t communicate almost at all. [09/2018, p.66]

Main principles of all 80 levels are similar, but thanks to dozens of ideas introduced to spice up the gameplay there is no room for boredom in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker. [09/2018, p.65]

I do appreciate the large diversity of challenges A Rite from the Stars has up its sleeve, but their quality is very uneven and some of the ideas should have been scrapped mercilessly. The gameplay is not very intuitive and the dark, obscure visuals are a trip back to the year 2000. [09/2018, p.64]

With its easy combat and simple quests the new Adventure Time game provides around 10 hours of relaxation for the fans of the animated series but does not excel as a game. [09/2018, p.62]

This technically superb tribute to Destruction Derby could use some more insanity (especially in terms of unimaginative, repetitive arenas and challenges) and a broader color palette. The default driving model (with active assists) is both believable and satisfying and the destruction model is very detailed. [09/2018, p.60]

As rather ugly and targeted mainly at children The Incredibles is definitely not the best game Lego series has to offer. [09/2018, p.59]

A short and simple walking simulator that’s worth your time not only because of unique, surreal visions it presents, great visuals and phenomenal music, but also because it tackles a difficult and rarely brought up subject of religion. [09/2018, p.58]

It’s a shame that Corey Cole’s and Lori Ann’s (you do remember Quest for Glory, right?) return to active service goes unnoticed, because despite being archaic and flawed (lots of minor technical bugs, poorly designed combat) Hero-U deserves a chance, as it effortlessly brings together RPGs and point’n’clicks and offers lots of freedom. [09/2018, p.56]

Good audio, distinct visuals and a spark of creativity here and there are not enough to outweigh bad design choices, annoying camera, sadistic level design and poor attempts at humor. [09/2018, p.55]

By finding extraordinary in completely ordinary situations (there are no supernatural elements in The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit, and there are actually no real adventures either) Dontnod reminded me why I fell in love with the studio. [09/2018, p.54]

I rarely had fun playing The Crew 2 and usually after 20 minutes tops my mind was drifting away towards anything more enjoyable (e.g. Forza Horizon 3, which is a better game in every way possible). Once again the developers bit more than they could chew, putting quantity above quality. Yes, there are 250 licensed machines and you can switch between them instantly, but there’s no joy in driving or flying them in the huge but empty and boring world. Plus the AI is very poor and the career mode did little to keep me playing. [09/2018, p.52]

For a game that was created as a short-lived parody Totally Accurate Battlegrounds is a surprisingly competent battle royale shooter with a huge map (maybe too huge, actually) and good physics. [09/2018, p.51]

Changes this remaster brings are limited to textures, lighting and higher resolutions. After a decade that brought us an array of Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry and Just Cause games the only thing that more or less stood the test of time in Red Faction is the destruction system. [09/2018, p.50]

The game is pretty much as bad as a game can be, so the title is spot on. [09/2018, p.49]

Playing Die pig die is roughly as enjoyable as using portable toilets on the third day of a huge music festival. [08/2018, p.87]

I honestly don’t know why someone thought Shaq Fu needs to be reborn and how the word “legend” fits the picture. [08/2018, p.86]

Agony is a game of insane contrasts, both fascinating and embarrassing. Therefore I still don’t know whether its developers are geniuses or amateurs and although I believe it deserves a relatively high score, I actually cannot recommend it unconditionally. [08/2018, p.84]

Onrush takes full contact racing to another level and it is thrilling at times. The problem for me was that there’s very little actual racing left in Onrush. It was replaced by chaos and I hate racing games in which my triumph or defeat does not depend entirely on my skill. [08/2018, p.83]

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]

Despite tricky subject and intention to shock this rather simple adventure game (with some stealth touches) managed to escape unintended comicality by delivering a solid, mature tale set in a twisted and internally consistent (therefore believable) world. [08/2018, p.80]

This game is a bit like meditation. During first couple of minutes some random thoughts of work and responsibilities keep running through your head, but over time ambient music and calming sights make you forget about all your worries. If you’re looking for something relaxing, you’re knocking on the right door. Otherwise Shape of the World doesn’t have much to offer. [08/2018, p.79]

It’s one of those little indie games that rely on an interesting concept. Illusion’s bargaining chip are its environmental puzzles. Just like in Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, you have to manipulate the character and the camera until the elements of the environment come together to create the symbol you’re looking for. The puzzles are creative, but the camera sometimes hindered my attempts to find the solution. That’s Illussion’s biggest flaw, smaller being arcade elements that seem forced into the game. What makes Illusion really worth your time is its unique artistic direction. [08/2018, p.78]

I have no clue how Villa Gorilla came up with an idea to combine a platformer with a pinball (was there a hat full of cards with genres on them involved?) but it works like a charm. Instead of jumping you use numerous flippers, which fit into the game world surprisingly well along with other elements that usually belong on the pinball table. In addition to being super fun to play Yoku’s Island Express looks and sounds great and is one of the most charming games I’ve come across. I wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone. [08/2018, p.77]

Even though the AI is unable to learn from its failures and crack the player’s tactics, which makes later battles too easy, Thrones of Britannia is a game no strategy fan should overlook. [08/2018, p.74]

Thanks to authenticity of its physics engine, appealing visuals, and fairly glitchless drivers’ AI, Bus Simulator 18 pretty much achieves what it was supposed to: relaxation through casual driving. [08/2018, p.73]

Antigraviator is as fast as a Wipeout clone should be, but it’s not enough to make it a great game. It simply doesn’t offer enough content to keep you interested for more than a couple hours. [08/2018, p.72]

The ending turned out to be a huge disappointment but I will not let the last fifteen minutes or so overshadow my generally good impression. Over 20 hours that led to it were engaging, the pixel art is cute and the music is even better. [08/2018, p.70]

You die often and spectacularly, but failures are not frustrating in the slightest, because you lose a couple of minutes of progress at most and gameplay mechanics are fresh and very satisfying. [08/2018, p.69]

Nightfall is a decent add-on which I properly enjoyed, but it’s a shame that the developers lacked the courage to experiment with gameplay to greater extent. [08/2018, p.68]

NeoCore noticeably put a lot of effort into Inquisitor – Martyr, but sadly that does not change the fact that the game lags two divisions behind the genre’s greatest. [08/2018, p.66]

I’m pleased that we finally got a new full-fledged game by Camelot. What’s more, it will appeal to a whole lot of different people ranging from hardcore fighting games fans to your grandma and grandpa, though the difficulty level can be painful at times. The most important thing is that Waluigi begins his special move with a rose between his teeth, which puts Mario Tennis Aces dangerously close to the GOTY territory. [08/2018, p.64]

A solid, enjoyable hero shooter, varied and polished. Yes, it does have a lot of Overwatch DNA, but in some areas it’s more advanced than Blizzard’s game (e.g. wide range of adjustments you can make to adapt your character to your playing style) and it’s free. [08/2018, p.62]

Unravel blossoms in co-op, which additionally alleviates one of game’s problems – again interactive elements in the environment are often hard to spot (especially under pressure), so second pair of eyes helps. Other than co-op it’s more of the same (sometimes I even wondered if I saw a particular level before), but still I enjoyed it more than the original game, even if the first Unravel’s visuals were more impressive when it came out. [08/2018, p.61]

Jurassic World Evolution has its downs (e.g. when it gives you a task you are simply unable to carry out at that moment) but its ups are undeniable. The game manages to reconcile tycoon’s natural depth with accessibility and makes a great, complex use of the license. And it has Jeff Goldblum. Oh, and raptors. Damn those *#&%@ raptors! How do they manage to escape every time? Well, I guess “life, uh... finds a way”. [08/2018, p.56]

Laser League is exceptionally enjoyable thanks to its simple rules, thrilling gameplay and the fact that you almost never find yourself in a completely hopeless situation, so the result of the match is uncertain until the very end. The AI could be much better balanced (sometimes it can neutralize you whole team with one crazy maneuver, sometimes it acts completely thoughtless) but you always have online play (with no ranking mode though, which is a shame). [07/2018, p.84]

It blends Zelda with roguelikes, but manages to add some elements of its own. If you enjoyed Enter the Gungeon or Crypt of the Necrodancer, you should definitely check The Swords of Ditto out. [07/2018, p.83]

Omensight is a sibling of Spearhead Games’ previous title. Just like in Stories: The Path of Destinies, in key moments you need to make choices that lead to mutually exclusive levels. It gives you an unparalleled impression of influencing the story and shaping the game world, so the first couple of short playthroughs are immensely enjoyable. The more you play though, the more evident the game’s simple, repetitive structure becomes and the initial enchantment fades. Look for Omensight on sales. [07/2018, p.82]

At first glance Cultist Simulator looks like a card game, but in fact it’s a fusion of a puzzle game with a text adventure game. With its extraordinarily atmospheric writing, ability to merge simplicity with depth, and different paths it’s fun for hours. It’s a shame the later stage relies on grinding too much and can become tedious. [07/2018, p.80]

Bishop Games decided to break the "don’t fix it, if it’s not broke" rule and took a swing at an eternal foundation of platforming games, achieving something between a devastating uppercut and a shy slap. The idea to replace predefined platforms with ones created by the player on the fly sometimes works great, but due to inadequate level design most of the time I felt the developers failed to properly take advantage of the concept. Still I enjoyed the atmosphere of a dark fable, surprisingly good writing and pleasant movement physics, until the terrible last act erased the good impression almost entirely. [07/2018, p.78]

Retro’s creativity is infinite and I simply cannot imagine any platforming fan overlooking this gem. [07/2018, p.77]