This game has a very simple structure – we travel from one cutscene to another slaying groups of monsters wandering around. But the strength of Aarklash Legacy lies in its deep system of tactical combat. [12/2013, p.46]

Realpolitiks manages to be complex and accessible at the same time and can be a great introduction to grand strategy wargames. [03/2017, p.73]

Generally State of Decay 2 looks more like a remaster of the original game than a true sequel. It just does not expand the formula enough and still contains too many repetitive activities that make you go through the motions for the sake of getting it done. That’s why I recommend playing it in short sessions. I have no doubt that people unfamiliar with the first State of Decay will enjoy the second one much more, as everything will be new to them. [07/2018, p.70]

A simple story about love, sacrifice and loss that plays out on sheets of paper, where you can draw different three-dimensional figures and play with elements (e.g. start a fire or creating a wind gust) to solve puzzles, often based on physics. The puzzles are usually easy, but well-designed and the game as a whole is a sight to behold. [07/2018, p.72]

A perfect game for short sessions. It’s not deep enough to convince online shooters veterans, but it will definitely win over Star Wars fans. [01/2016, p.34]

An interesting return to The Zone and a perfect game to help you survive the wait for Stalker 2. Chernobylite is atmospheric, intriguing, sometimes beautiful, but also needlessly bloated with distracting elements that force you to deal with unimportant or repetitive stuff. It has its issues, but first and foremost it’s an original game with an engaging story and I do recommend it. [10/2021, p.24]

Rock of Ages III will surely satisfy fans of the series, but if you didn’t enjoy the previous games, this one will not win you over either. If you’ve never played Rock of Ages, watch the trailer – if it makes you laugh, you should give the game a chance. [10/2020, p.86]

This solid turned-based tactical game set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe and focused on the struggle of the Blood Angels against nightmarish Tyranids is more fun than you might expect. It definitely deserves the Emperor’s blessing. [10/2021, p.30]

An attempt to blend Fire Emblem with Dynasty Warriors might seem an odd idea. Where’s the common ground between a tactical RPG and an over-the-top slasher, right? It actually worked out pretty well, as the game managed to retain Fire Emblem’s atmosphere. If you’re a fan of the series and not allergic to Dynasty Warriors’ formula, give it a try. [13/2017, p.36]

Not enough gameplay for kids and the story is too weak for adults. Rain is not perfect but it’s one of those games that gives PS3 its unique character. [12/2013, p.65]

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]

It's been a while since I played such a challenging game – combat is fast, rewarding and so difficult that you're gonna grind your teeth to the point of breaking your fillings. The game's cruelty is constant and goes off the charts during boss fights. [June 2012, p.70]

Destiny is a good game. I know that ‘good’ is not exactly what we expected from Bungie (especially after so much hype) but that’s the word that comes to mind. [Nov 2014, p.44]

Hard West delivered exactly what I wanted – a dark atmosphere and a decent story with a twist. If only AI and the interface were more polished... [01/2016, p.58]

Diversity is Foul Play’s huge advantage – each of 22 levels offers a completely different setting, increasingly unconventional monsters and plenty of bosses. Still the game gets tedious if you play it too long. [12/2013, p.67]

A fusion of Gunpoint with Hotline Miami that casts you as the Grim Reaper and tasks you with clearing out dens of undead criminals. [05/2016, p.47]

Hitman returns to form he presented in brilliant Blood Money, but upon arrival it’s a demo waiting to be expanded with free episodic content. Fortunately the available mission in Paris takes place in a huge area (much bigger than the largest maps from previous instalments) and can be completed in many different ways, so I enjoyed replaying it over and over again. [05/2016, p.48]

When I finished this curious remake ('the best of Painkiller' suits this game better) all the flaws that I jotted down and that annoyed me ceased to matter. There's something charming in this simplicity. [12/2012, p.42]

If you’re not against cheerfully dumb sexploitation movies that inspired Z2: Chaos, you’re gonna have loads of fun slashing the undead. [11/2015, p.48]

A good game that relaxes you with its leisurely gameplay and has a great potential, but is simpler than World of Tanks in terms of tactics and in my opinion was released too soon. [11/2015, p.50]

Rather than nerves of steel Outlast 2 requires a stomach of steel, because it’s more repugnant than scary. I’m not quite sure whether an emphasis on shocking with atrocities is a sign of lack of talent on developers’ part or there is some deeper meaning to all this gore, but Outlast 2 undoubtedly includes a couple of scenes that push the boundaries of interactive horror. [07/2017, p.68]

If you're loyal to Pro Evolution Soccer series you got used to its various shortcomings and you will be pleased with the 2013 edition – it's the best one yet. But today choosing PES over FIFA is like watching a match in the second division instead of the Champions League final. [12/2012, p.52]

A solid game that failed to reach the level of the wonderful, more complex original from 1994. The 'just one more mission syndrome' is still very strong though. [12/2012, p.54]

King’s Bounty II boldly leads the series in a new direction and while it’s not perfect, I’d call this revolution a success. Instead of remaining a mindless Heroes of Might and Magic copy stripped of economy, the whole layer of exploration morphed into a traditional RPG – a crude, simplified and naïve in terms of the story, but still surprisingly enjoyable and charming. Turn-based combat lived to see some minor updates, but retained its spirit, which means it can be immensely fun. The first step was made, next time I want more of the same but with a much bigger budget. [11/2021, p.36]

Visually it’s one of the best games in the genre but to say the camera work is unpolished is like to say Deadpool has a slightly better immune system than average. [06/2020, p.44]

Dubbed ‘Sail the Spire’ it’s just a clone, but a clone well made. [06/2020, p.70]

Patrician IV combined with the add-on is one of the best economic strategies I encountered during the last couple of years. Those of you who are into such games will have a lot of fun with it and probably will be able to let obsolete graphics slide. [September 2011, p.71]

The story promises a lot but fails to deliver, visuals resembling Planescape are great but often obscure, but dense atmosphere (think Dead Space) and music will not leave you indifferent. [11/2015, p.58]

Axiom Verge 2 offers an extraordinarily beautiful, coherent and original world, but sometimes exploration gets tedious and some mechanics and design choices get in the way of experiencing this intriguing setting. It is a unique game in a way, but I feel that it shouldn’t have sacrificed some elements on the altar of originality. [11/2021, p.46]

I haven’t seen such an interesting combat system in any other jRPG game. Who would’ve thought that I would await the next game of the Tales series more eagerly than the next Final Fantasy? [Nov 2014, p.72]

What looked great crammed into 3 minutes of a trailer turned out to be boring when stretched over a whole campaign. In small doses combat is very satisfying and a mature take on Middle-Earth is very welcome. [December 2011, p.68]

One component of the original Twilight Princess refused to be transferred into HD. It is, unfortunately, the most important one – the game’s distinct atmosphere, that vanished almost completely. [05/2016, p.61]

It’s not fast enough for a Sonic game and imprecise controls can lead to frustration but for the most part Lost World emanates the raw, simple platforming fun rarely seen on PCs. [01/2016, p.70]

For a turn-based strategy battler the scenarios have a quite dramatic flow to them. And the game only gains from it. Even escort missions cease to be just battles and it pays to devise interesting ways to break through the enemy lines [12/2019, p.48]

Despite some problems with AI the single player campaign is a really solid, interesting set of challenges. It’s a deep, satisfying game with very different factions that forces you to adapt rather than employ universal strategies. [11/2015, p.60]

The essence of good old Gothic-style RPG: a neat story, a lot of new enemies and of course all the features that made Two Worlds II enjoyable, including interesting crafting and character development systems. If you liked Two Worlds II, you will like the add-on even more. [December 2011, p.74]

To survive in Morkredd’s deadly darkness, you need light, and its only source is a huge glowing ball that you have to roll in front of you as you navigate environments full of obstacles. The game’s puzzles are simple yet clever, the journey is engaging, but the whole thing is very short (ca. two hours) and sometimes it is annoyingly easy to die. [02/2021, p.43]

Regiments, a real-time tactics game almost completely free of micromanagement and focused on combat, is worth checking out if you’re a fan of World in Conflict or Wargame by Eugen Systems. It fails to bring anything new to the genre, but is overall a solid offering.

Last Stop is an adventure game, but I find it hard to recommend it to every fan of the genre, because there are basically no puzzles here. It’s more of an interactive movie than a game in a strict sense. The story is more than solid and fun to follow, but you have no influence on it, and many will find pushing some buttons on a controller from time to time not engaging enough. [10/2021, p.48]

Song of Iron doesn’t offer a unique story or fresh gameplay mechanics, but it is still memorable for its great art direction inspired by Norse mythology. I was very impressed by how consciously the developer makes use of light, shadows and perspective. During the 5-6 hours long adventure you will slay hundreds of enemies and while the combat system is well-executed, the game’s intensity can be a bit tiring. [11/2021, p.52]

Grid will be an ideal game for subscription based services – stunning at first and tasty in small bites but unfortunately easy to forget after one week. [12/2019, p.50]

The first season of the traditional point’n’click with tons of absurd humor got a remaster. The graphics are much better (especially the new lighting that makes the environments look almost modern) and the adventures of the crazy detective duo are still funny as hell, but I think some jokes got too old for younger audience. [02/2021, p.44]

It lasts for 3 hours tops, but it’s an intense adventure that proves that VR might not be completely useless. [08/2016, p.56]

For a not very serious game (inspired by serious whodunnit classics though), Lord Winklebottom Investigates is surprisingly engrossing. Get ready for a fun, highly absurd investigation full of British humor, but sadly not a long one, as it took me four hours to complete it.

Although it is very short (only two hours!), Lucifer Within Us is one of the best puzzle games of 2020. Set in a world infested with evil forces, it puts you in a role of an inquisitor/detective who must interrogate suspects, identify demons that possessed them, and perform exorcisms. In terms of mechanics, the developers somehow managed to blend Phoenix Wright with “The Exorcist”. Don’t ask how that works, just try it out. [02/2021, p.45]

Mortal Shell’s expansion adds an enjoyable roguelike mode, a new armor and a new character class. It might not be much, but it’s enough to return to the game for a couple of fun hours. [11/2021, p.57]

Fuelcell Games managed to create a really memorable game. Planet's tunnels are varied and surprise you with something weird all the time. Exploring this world is the most important aspect of the whole experience. Shooting constitutes for about 1/3 of the gameplay, leaving a lot of room for thinking and coming up with the ways to progress further. [Sept 2011, p.75]

A solid turn-based roguelike with traditional rules, transparent, fair gameplay, and distinctive atmosphere resembling Doom. It becomes repetitive and monotonous in longer sessions, but it’s a perfect title to launch in between other games. [10/2021, p.51]

Secret Files 3 will suit the taste of every traditional point'n'click games lover, not just fans of the series. Two basic elements – a well told story and reasonably designed puzzles – are very well executed here. [12/2012, p.68]

Morbid tells a mediocre story, but offers a great Lovecraftian atmosphere. The most important thing though is the game’s soulslike combat system, which is pleasant and takes the protagonist’s mental health into account alongside his stamina and HP. Don’t fear the “soulslike” label, because Morbid is not as frustrating as most games of that genre. [02/2021, p.51]

Its mobile legacy comes with a bit of unresponsiveness on the PC but it’s still a warm collection of simple stories that we all need more of. [06/2020, p.64]

The developers contrasted disturbing scenes with simple, idyllic pixel art, creating an intriguing mix of a horror story and a fable. [05/2016, p.68]

The Germans took a step back and reintroduced more of the distinctive atmosphere of the Gothic series and the first Risen, which is a huge advantage for me. The world is so vivid and lively that it really makes you want to be there and see as much of the vast content as possible. It’s a shame that the game’s engine is visibly aging and the story lacks the punch. [10/2014, p.48]

My quarrel with Warlords of Draenor is that it does not define the direction for the whole game – it just refreshes it and sets it in order, which is what patches do. There’s not enough novelties and the changes (e.g. randomized loot) are hit and miss. [01/2015, p.52]

I have no idea how Panic Button managed to cram one of the most spectacular action games into Nintendo Switch. It’s an amazing achievement, but of course it came with a price – the game runs smoothly enough at 30 fps, but looks ugly, and playing it with the Joy-Cons is a nightmare. I highly recommend using the Pro Controller, or better still, experiencing this terrific shooter on another platform. [02/2021, p.54]

Console version of World of Tanks is a limited, less impressive but still very solid relative of the PC giant. [04/2014, p.66]

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden aims high, attempting to reach the level of AAA titles. It borrows the combat system and exploration from God of War, side quests from The Witcher, and a whole lot from some slightly worse high-budget games. The result is really good and the storyline in particular shines through – even if it could have been more emotional, it puts emphasis on not-so-easy decisions.

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]

It could really use some improvements introduced in more recent instalments of the series and it does not look good, but if you get hooked on its addictive character development, you can spend hundreds (!) of hours with Disgaea PC. [05/2016, p.70]

It is fascinating how the gameplay intensifies in response to players interactions with the environment. Just a few moving balls and once dead and abandoned room changes into a deadly arena. Though it shines at the beginning, with time the game loses some of its initial charm. [12/2019, p.59]

This 'bank robbing Left 4 Dead' can be very enjoyable with a well knit group of friends and a real nightmare without them, as it emphasizes precise and coordinated teamwork. [December 2011, p.98]

Samurai Warriors 5, another Musou game developed by Omega Force in recent times, is perfectly executed, but seems too conservative compared to Persona 5 Strikers or Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. The gameplay is very enjoyable and animations are polished, but I wish the missions were staged in a more interesting and creative way. However, after many years and countless Warriors installments the core of the game still works fine. [10/2021, p.66]

A really good choice for a gaming evening both with kids and adults. The solo gameplay is somewhat pleasurable but nothing beats cooperation. [06/2020, p.71]

Don’t expect a revolution. The PS5 version of the latest FIFA looks better, runs at 60 fps in 4K, and loads matches much faster, but the only feature truly worth focusing on is the creative use of haptic feedback (e.g. as your player gets tired, triggers gradually become harder to press). [02/2021, p.61]

For me Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture was a beautiful, almost mystical experience thanks to its atmosphere and one of the best soundtracks in gaming history. It’s a shame that on PC framerate tends to drop below acceptable levels, I was annoyed by some bugs and the ending failed to properly wrap up the story. [08/2016, p.72]

While waiting for the game, I didn’t realise how close to home it will hit. Lockdown here, lockdown there. I like immersion but this is too much. Fun experience though. [06/2020, p.72]

Okami aged gracefully. Even though its age shows here and there both in design and execution it still is a bold and unique game. [02/2018, p.36]

The problems with framerate and shooting controls made me shorten my playing sessions out of frustration. [06/2020, p.73]

Reaching newer car models or chip tuning takes much too long but Car Mechanic Simulator’s detailed visuals look good for a low budget title and the game offers a chance to learn something really useful. [04/2014, p.61]

Despite simple rules Clash Royale has enough ingredients to stay enjoyable for a long time. [05/2016, p.74]

The Outlast Trials is a solid co-op horror game that develops the ideas from previous installments in an interesting way. However, it’s a pity that the story is fragmented so much that it becomes unengaging. Plus, it’s a title you should experience with your friends, because it can be tiresome when played with randoms.

Given the amount of puzzles tied to light and darkness I would risk a statement that has the Shadows of the Damned been developed using the fantastic Alan Wake's engine, it would be outstanding. What other game offers you gross visions of hell flavored with crude humor? Where else can you find a horse pooping spheres of darkness? Or an infernal lord called Fleming? [July 2011, p.78]

A really great Lego game, surprisingly fresh for a company famous for releasing the same product over and over again. [06/2014, p.56]

Yuke’s made some improvements taking the series in the right direction, but do not expect any revolutionary changes, because the most important aspect – the combat system – was only slightly modified. [13/2015, p.38]

It’s a shame that because of the limited processing power Hyrule Warriors lost much of its visual attractiveness and fluidity, but other than that it’s one of the best games in the series. [05/2016, p.75]

WRC 5 is surprisingly good for a studio’s debut in the rally games genre but it’s pretty obvious that the developer ran out of time and money too fast. [13/2015, p.39]

Vesper is full of redundant screens that you simply run across, which made the campaign longer but at the cost of watering down the gameplay. In theory, complexity of challenges rises due to introduction of time limits, increasing number of robots and longer escape sequences, but I completed most of the game almost with my eyes closed. It’s a beautiful, atmospheric adventure, but it would definitely benefit from being a bit harder. [10/2021, p.73]

FIFA 22 shows its wasted potential every step of the way. When everything works as it should, it’s the best FIFA in years. The problem is that while sometimes the new HyperMotion technology works great and really makes a noticeable difference, the game often picks wrong animations from its mind-boggling array of 8 million. Let’s hope EA Sports builds on these promising foundations, fixes what needs to be fixed and delivers a truly great experience next year. [12/2021, p.36]

The game works great not only during parties but also on lazy family saturdays. To hook me to the screen for longer though, Heave Ho’s levels would have to feature more changing and unpredictable environments because occasional minigames are just not enough. [12/2019, p.68]

Torchlight III makes no attempt at all to introduce anything new to the genre and this lack of originality is disappointing after 8 years of waiting. It’s quite easy to point out a couple of other flaws (e.g. the shallow story), but I chose not to dwell on them, because the game delivered exactly what I expected from it – around 20 hours of enjoyable hacking and slashing that doesn’t engage the mind too much. [13/2020, p.32]

Severed Steel left me conflicted. On the one hand, it’s a pity that a couple of truly brilliant ideas were implemented in a generally unpolished game. On the other hand, despite all its flaws it’s a fun, engaging shooter that kept me in front of the screen for hours. [12/2021, p.39]

At last! A Battlestar Galactica game that leaves fond memories. Deadlock will draw the fans of the show with unmistakable atmosphere and might convince other enthusiasts of space strategy games with its solid gameplay, but could have been more approachable for those unfamiliar with the TV series. [02/2018, p.44]

What makes Capsized a challenge is the planet's fauna. Developer's creativity in that department is really impressive and combat is difficult but rewarding: well balanced, fast, based on instinctive responses. The score would have been higher if it weren't for half-baked additional game modes but low price and a really good campaign let you easily overlook that flaw. [July 2011, p.82]

This relaxing arcade game with some light micromanagement gave me the joy of figuring out its mechanics by myself and kept me blissfully stuck in the “one more race syndrome”. [02/2019, p.46]

The latest Halo is a big deal only for hardcore Halo fans. For me the single player campaign was unbearably pompous and despite 1080p and 60 fps the visuals are not as breathtaking as they once were in Halo 4. The game builds a solid foundation for Halo 6, but it’s not one of those games you absolutely have to play. [13/2015, p.48]

Good news: new Portal game! Bad news: it’s just a marriage between Portal and Bridge Constructor. Good news: it’s a happy marriage. Building bridges with GLaDOS might not be as atmospheric and witty as big Portal games, but it sure is fun and it’s definitely not the case of cynical preying on a beloved franchise. [02/2018, p.48]

To obtain decent equipment, you either need to grind till you drop unconscious or take a shortcut and buy it with real money. I’m not a fan of such paywalls, but the quests are very well-written and therefore engaging, and after some time I started to enjoy my life as a witcher, especially that I found Monster Slayer’s combat extremely satisfying. [10/2021, p.78]

It’s obvious that Mayhem Brawler’s developers love the genre and truly understand what makes it fun. Their game resembles Streets of Rage 4 a bit too much for my taste and sadly fails to reach its level of awesomeness, but it’s one of those beat ‘em ups that let you really feel the old school vibe – and that’s awesome. [12/2021, p.45]

Both the single player and online modes are fun but don’t expect to be blown away. Despite a great story and a couple of very enjoyable missions the campaign as a whole is a tad boring. [13/2015, p.50]

It’s a shame that Get Famous doesn’t introduce anything that would definitely set it apart from Get to Work, but it still is an expansion worth playing, and not just purely out of sentiment for The Sims. [02/2019, p.48]

If you want to travel back in time to the period when adventure games posed a clever challenge, you won’t find a better game to do so. Epiphany is the best game in the series, so I’m genuinely sad there won’t be a follow-up. [06/2014, p.64]

The game looks great and the combat system is fantastic but the urge to 'improve on FF XIII' resulted in a step backwards for the franchise. The distinctive feel of the previous game is gone. [March 2012, p.66]

If Battlefield is too arcadey for your taste and you’ve already heard everything about every player’s mum’s morals in CS:GO, Insurgency is an interesting alternative. It does have some minor technical problems, but once the developers sort them out, every tactical combat fan needs to check it out. [02/2019, p.51]

The vision behind Bendy and the Ink Machine is so absurdly coherent that soaking in the game’s atmosphere is pure pleasure. It’s a shame that the overall impression suffers from repetitive gameplay and – from time to time – boredom. [02/2019, p.52]

I love the tension that builds when two experienced players face each other and turn their duel into a believable, fascinating spectacle of skill and tactics. For Honor really shines when that happens. Unfortunately great combat system is not enough to make a game great as a whole. For Honor’s single player campaign is a joke, there are connection issues and no dedicated servers, and 4v4 modes often turn into mindless slaughter. [04/2017, p.36]

There’s no way to get bored in Life Goes On. Partly because it frequently introduces new obstacles and other elements of environment, but also due to the fact that it only lasts for three hours. [06/2014, p.67]

Sable never rushes you. You take in the setting and simply enjoy the essence of the game – the journey entwined with a tale about maturing and change. If you don’t like to hurry at breakneck speed and prefer to look under every rock, there’s a chance Shedworks’ game will charm you. You’ll just need to turn a blind eye to some technical flaws, get on your flying motorbike and set off towards the horizon. [12/2021, p.54]

It’s a pity that this magical, beautiful journey inspired by Contrast comes to an end after merely two, three hours tops, and gives no incentive to relive it. [02/2019, p.58]