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]

Gone Home developers tackle the issue of corporate hell aboard futuristic space station. Unfortunately their sentimental style does not go along with the brutally down-to-earth (oh, the irony!) subject too well. [10/2017, p.67]

RoboCop: Rogue City is an uncompromising shooter that became my guilty pleasure. It might lack high production values or the spark of ingenuity, but you can clearly see heart and soul put into it. The game was obviously made by RoboCop buffs for RoboCop buffs, because the amount of fan service it contains is overwhelming.

Playing most of the indie platformers is a torment for me but Steamworld Dig was a pleasure. [02/2014, p.67]

I wish Mirage were the game I’ve been waiting for as a fan of the franchise, but it’s not. The developers’ desire to make it similar gameplay-wise to classic installments of the series is obvious and welcome, but as a whole, this is a surprisingly bland product with an average story, poorly written NPCs and embarrassingly weak dialogues. Moreover, Basim’s adventures do not bring anything valuable to the series. It’s a hollow, shallow and basically unnecessary game developed to showcase the Middle Eastern setting.

Portal is still the champion of the genre, but Q.U.B.E. does a very good job at providing interesting, varied and increasingly challenging puzzles. [10/2015, p.53]

You will love EA Sports FC 25 and hate it at the same time – just like every previous installment. Nevertheless, the FC IQ system makes me feel, for the first time in a while in this series, the big potential for customizing tactics and individual player roles.

Grid Legends has a good driving model, but its career mode annoyed me with some awful design choices. The story mode is decent, but it’s narrative is so obvious, you instantly know how the thing ends. In terms of graphics, great weather effects contrast with some aged textures, while the game as a whole suffers from heavy recycling.

The best news about Apotheon is that it does not just look astonishing, but it is also a great, very enjoyable metroidvania game made with passion. [04/2015, p.62]

With its engaging story steeped in Scandinavian folklore, varied and satisfying puzzles, unique art direction, and terrific audio, Roki is a real treat for every fan of the frosty North. [10/2020, p.87]

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]

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]

Each of Inmost’s three playable characters has been given not only their own narrative, but also distinctly different gameplay mechanics. The bearded man’s segment is a full-blooded platformer that reminded me of Hollow Knight (and that’s a huge compliment). The little girl’s gripping story took the form of a simple yet suspenseful adventure game. And then there’s the knight whose action-oriented section is dull and feels like it was grafted from a different title. Despite that disappointment, I’m not surprised by the awards this beautiful, memorable game won when it was initially released on mobile devices. [11/2020, p.70]

I’m glad that Funcom decided to release Secret World Legends and gave me the chance to experience this unique MMORPG after I missed it 5 years ago. [09/2017, p.36]

Due to repetitive gameplay Airborne Kingdom might not be the best city builder of 2020, but it definitely is one of the most interesting. Its mechanics nicely reflect the fact that your city floats in the air, but even though you need to consider the weight distribution and be careful not to tilt the whole thing, the game is easy and relaxing. [02/2021, p.37]

Kaiju Wars is a fantastic title for the fans of old-school strategy games and kaiju movies. The best turn-based tactics game I’ve played this year offers tons of content with a long story mode at the center, exciting combat, stylish visuals and excellent soundtrack.

At first I looked at Mind Scanners as a copy, but as the story progressed, the game distanced itself from Papers, Please and developed its own identity. It’s rather short, but gives reasons to try different approaches, while the varied array of patients along with some random elements make every playthrough different. [07/2021, p.75]

With its complex and surprising story and vintage visuals Resonance is a must have for all point'n'click fans. [August 2012, p.83]

Project_Hel might not be as great in terms of level design as the base game, but it’s a fun DLC that tells a good story and provides more space for combat, which results in more intense, more violent gameplay.

I expected a Hearthstone clone, but Chronicle is closer to a board game. It's interesting, fresh mechanics need some tweaking though, because now the game is both a bit too random and a bit too predictable. [08/2016, p.73]

Looking at charming, detailed hand-drawn environments is pure pleasure and the game’s simple story about priorities, plans and hopes is truly touching. [07/2017, p.42]

Over half of available levels were taken from the original game, which is not a bad thing, but the price of the game is simply inadequate. [10/2017, p.66]

This is not only Crytek's best work and the most beautiful PC title to date but also a wonderful good-bye to the current generation of platforms. Crysis finally found its place among Call of Duty, Battlefield and Halo, taking some of their best bits but at the same time remaining distinct enough to be worth your time. You should definitely at least see it. [CD-Action 03/2013, p.44]

NCsoft’s experience pays off in Master x Master, a pretty, modern MOBA with a successfully introduced fresh mechanic of swapping characters midmatch. [09/2017, p.48]

I see two principal flaws in Hob. First of all, none of the game’s elements is outstanding. The second problem is the repetitiveness of goals, puzzles, combat. Hob might relax you, but it will definitely not excite you. [13/2017, p.52]

It’s not as revolutionary as the first Rome, but it’s an extremely elaborate game that will keep you occupied for days, weeks, months. I’ll even risk stating that it’s the best strategy game out there right now. [CD-Action 11/2013, p.52]

MachineGames took a step back in terms of design. The Old Blood is basically the same game as before but more action oriented, not as varied in terms of pace and lacking distinct ideas and settings. [07/2015, p.48]

A full-fledged entry to the Sniper Elite series, with 18 missions and a story that binds them together and lasts a couple of hours. It’s decent (if you consider the fact, that PS VR is not a cutting edge gear), but be aware that it resembles a low-budget version of Call of Duty and the graphics are average at best. I’ve seen many PS VR games that were much more impressive in terms of visuals. [10/2021, p.39]

This great mobile slasher has PlatinumGames written all over it. Wonderful art style, superb combat, fascinating Yokai, the soundtrack, the story, the characters – pretty much everything clicked in World of Demons. The developers did a fantastic job and now they can finally focus on giving us Bayonetta 3. [06/2021, p.48]

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]

It won’t be a hit of Hotline Miami’s proportions but the game is well worth recommending to all fans of the genre. Especially because everything, that’s not welded to the ground, can become a weapon. [05/2020, p.76]

Two guys decided to mix spaghetti westerns with hip hop. It had no right to work, but despite simplicity and primitive visuals Luckslinger is pretty damn good. [10/2015, p.63]

New visuals look great without completely ditching the distinctive style of the original Pharaoh, more fluent animations add to the positive experience, while the gameplay is still demanding and addictive. Overall, Pharaoh: A New Era lives up to expectations for remakes of classic games, but Triskell Interactive should have worked much harder on the interface, as its new version makes the game harder to enjoy.

Even a decade later it’s obvious why SoulCalibur II is regarded one of the best 3D fighting games. The HD version is unfortunately only decent – it’s clear that the game is 10 years old and the online component is very modest. [02/2014, p.72]

I didn’t care much for the series after CoJ: The Cartel, so I was very surprised by the fact that the modest digitally distributed effort to return to the Wild West turned out to be the best Call of Juarez ever. It has brilliant storytelling, looks great and offers pure, unadulterated fun. At this price it’s a steal. [CD-Action 07/2013, p.66]

Obduction is scant storywise and in contrast to The Witness failed to gradually teach me how to deal with its puzzles, instead forcing me to use the trial and error method. Myst fans, however, should enjoy it. [11/2016, p.46]

New Ratchet & Clank does not bring anything fresh to the table in terms of gameplay, but it skilfully borrows from other games and offers something interesting all the time. It’s unpretentious, charming and fun to play. [01/2014, p.71]

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]

I feel that instead of building on the experience gained with Planet Coaster, the developers have taken a step backwards. While they added a handful of improvements to the game, they also made poor design decisions. The predecessor was groundbreaking; its sequel is merely okay.

A paradise for train enthusiast although it doesn’t seem to follow modern city builder and tycoon trends. Some of the game mechanics were simply derailed. [02/2020, p.50]

My new favorite proof that you can create a cinematic experience without millions of dollars and photorealistic visuals. [10/2014, p.67]

I just love it when humble games turn out to be little wonders full of passion. [07/2015, p.60]

Clustertruck’s simple, fast gameplay was boiled down to three cardinal rules: 1) reach the finish line, 2) jump from truck to truck, 3) the floor is lava. [13/2016, p.75]

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.

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]

Miasmata is a bold game, sometimes innovative, sometimes crude and irritating.[CD-Action 02/2013, p.52]

This action RPG set in the dark fantasy-flavored Wild West enraptured me with its cleverly constructed story with meaningful choices, unique atmosphere, and living, interactive, beautiful world. My delight would have been even greater if it wasn’t for the terrible AI and unintuitive controls.

Instead of engaging interactions, great animations or wonderfully crafted characters The Beginner’s Guide offers empty, amateurish, uninteresting environments and a story about two immature game developers. [01/2016, p.54]

The difficulty level of this platformer/brawler is very demanding but fair, so when you grasp what it’s all about you’ll probably start to enjoy this red hot metal rod stuck in your... eye. [12/2013, p.65]

‘A retro platformer enriched with some modern ideas’ – how many times have we already read something like that? Fortunately Castle in the Darkness is among few games that actually managed to pull that off. [04/2015, p.69]

Despite some annoying backtracking Half-Genie Hero is one of those Kickstarter’s children you don’t want to drown after birth. [03/2017, p.72]

As it usually goes for Call of Duty DLCs, there’s something new, something old and something dead. In this case we get three varied new maps, a remake of Afghan from Modern Warfare 2, and a zombie mode that in my opinion surpasses the original one. [04/2017, p.73]

If you’re still playing Battlefield 1, you should definitely get They Shall Not Pass, as it offers two outstanding maps (and two decent ones) and truly amazing atmosphere. [05/2017, p.63]

Wulverblade’s creator’s passion for ancient Britain’s history is obvious and it makes the game feel special even though underneath its educational layer you’ll find just a simple beat ‘em up. Its mechanics are not overly deep, but the fluidity and savagery of combat makes butchering large, beautiful sprites a true joy. [05/2018, p.46]

Deck13 has built their success on imitating FromSoftware’s games but each of their entries to the genre shows that there still is room for gameplay innovations. It’s a pity though that the Germans lack the narrative prowess of Miyazaki’s team. [12/2019, p.70]

You need to be familiar with the animated series to fully enjoy Battle Through Time, otherwise you’ll find the game to be rather unexceptional and confusing. As a huge Samurai Jack fan, I was delighted with both the nostalgic journey and the story it offered me, even if sometimes the camera was unbearable. [11/2020, p.42]

Another Assassin’s Creed game that you can either buy or ignore sight unseen depending on whether you grew tired of the old formula. Some innovations (e.g. the grappling hook) are a welcome addition, some (like two playable characters and their development system) feel forced and not really thought through. The brightest aspect of Syndicate is London, which might be the most spectacular city in the series. [13/2015, p.42]

A brutal, frantic action game built on a solid technology. Driven by nostalgia, Eat Sleep Play created a game that they wanted to create. I just doubt that modern gamers will want to play it. [May 2012, p.68]

NBA 2K22 offers very good gameplay mechanics, but the series’ focus on simply playing basketball is fading. In the story mode, the developers experiment with open world and put too much emphasis on side activities related to sponsors. As a result, the city in NBA 2K22 is a one big advertising billboard. Willingness to try new things is generally commendable, but this is not the way to do it. [12/2021, p.63]

Both players and critics agreed that in the last couple of years Mario Party’s quality has been dropping. Nintendo decided to go for broke this time and I hope slapping “Super” in front of the title heralds the restart of the franchise, because SMP finally delivers what we expected. [12/2018, p.51]

Despite recycling Paper Jam Bros. never looks like a half-hearted effort. [02/2016, p.69]

Looks like Larian Studios had a lot of ideas regarding gameplay but instead of choosing the best one they decided to utilise all of them. As a result Dragon Commander was stitched together from elements that don’t necessary fit each other. [CD-Action 10/2013, p.46]

This is the most advanced and maybe even the best edition of World of Tanks. This is how the PC version should look. [10/2015, p.52]

If I had to sum up Azure Striker Gunvolt 2 in as few words as possible, I would call it a safe sequel. [13/2016, p.82]

The concept behind this 3D platformer (you play as a candle that can burn for merely 10 seconds to illuminate the environment) is interesting, but I found the narrative to be unnecessarily pretentious and the amateurish execution did not help either. [04/2018, p.50]

After the failure called MotoGP 23, the latest entry does more than just put the series back on track – it elevates it to a whole new level. If I were to rate MotoGP 24 solely against the previous installments, I would give it a 9 out of 10, but overall, an 8 accurately reflects the quality of the game. The bottom line is that we’ve just received the best MotoGP game ever.

The game might not be polished in every detail and has a low budget feel to it, but it's been a while since I played a shooter with such a great story and I doubt we'll be getting another like that soon. [August 2012, p.58]

Doomsday is not as good as previous Deponias – not as funny (but still funny enough), considerably easier and heavier on mindless minigames. [05/2016, p.58]

The Final Station’s gameplay is divided into two parts that fit together rather loosely. The first one is travelling from station to station by train and it offers almost no challenge. The game shows its true colors when it makes you leave the train and turns into a wonderfully creative and perfectly balanced 2D shooter. [12/2016, p.73]

The main storyline could have been longer and more thrilling. Despite information that both parts are not going to be closely linked, the ending of Part 1 seems to be a prelude to something larger. [11/2015, p.46]

Don’t let the title fool you. For something called The Survivalists, the game’s survival-related mechanics are shockingly lenient. The only aspect you need to pay constant attention to is hunger, but there’s plenty of food. Low overall difficulty level doesn’t have to be a flaw though. If Don’t Starve Together is too stressful for you and your friends, The Survivalists might be a great choice for co-op. [13/2020, p.66]

The game's biggest problem is that it doesn't offer anything fresh – it's roughly Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds from PS3 (which is still impressive for a handheld). [March 2012, p.77]

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]

Six years after Ys Origin was published in Japan we can finally enjoy it in English. It's not beautiful, it doesn't sound good and doesn't offer an exquisite story. What it does offer is tons of fun. [August 2012, p.63]

It’s a remaster of the predecessor rather than a real sequel. It’s much prettier and more accessible, but also offers less content than the first Blood Bowl and the AI is simply terrible. [12/2015, p.48]

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]

Upon the release the PC version is the only reasonable way to enjoy Kingdom Come. And there’s a lot to enjoy, because historically accurate Middle Ages are an awesome setting. The beginning of the game might not be spectacular, but give Deliverance a chance and it will develop into a unique, deep, gripping experience. [04/2018, p.42]

Every writer in the game industry should learn from Harebrained Schemes. It’s been a really long time since I was following a game’s story with such pleasure. [CD-Action 10/2013, p.50]

Borrowing from various genres, Curious Expedition 2 is an interesting and pretty simulator of an explorer. Sadly, it doesn’t offer enough content to keep you fully engaged throughout the whole adventure. In my case, the initial fun of exploration started to fade around the half of the campaign, as the lack of auto-battle started to annoy me (especially that my party became so strong that combat lost its thrill) and random encounters began to recur. [04/2021, p.52]

The setting used to disguise the Far Cry we’ve already seen is fresh and wonderful, it’s easy to sink into this wild, beautiful, majestic world. Primal was put together skillfully, it’s not an outstanding game, but it’s so enjoyable that I devoured it hour after hour with an appetite of a cave bear. [04/2016, p.28]

Shinji Mikami’s philosophy is to focus on making the game’s good aspects shine even brighter instead of trying to eradicate its flaws. His latest work both benefits and suffers from that approach. The Evil Within 2 offers great exploration, but its story is laughable. It’s a thrilling shooter, but a mediocre stealth game. At the end of the day I find Mikami to be right – a game’s best moments count the most and make us turn a blind eye to its flaws. TEW2 fails to reach the level of my beloved Resident Evil 4, but in today’s circumstances a triple AAA survival horror without online components and intrusive microtransactions is a gem. [13/2017, p.72]

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]

The story is very shallow but even more disappointing is the fact that the Arcade Action mode is single player only while it seems perfect for co-op. [April 2012, p.58]

Great port of a great title. Zombie games are all around us, but Bend Studio managed to squeeze every last drop out of this worn out setting. Everything is well-designed and polished in Days Gone – the believable world and characters in it, the distinct post-apocalyptic aura, the crafting, the thrilling combat and spectacular encounters with bloodthirsty hordes. In addition, this version is well-optimized and runs smoothly on a mid-range PC. [08/2021, p.48]

A test of nerves – the clock is ticking and 12 minutes is a very narrow window to take appropriate actions. It’s kinda hard to rate this game with full conviction, because a lot depends on the player – the more patient and perceptive you are, the better it gets. However, the fact is that it’s one of the most unique adventure games in recent years and that alone makes it worth your time. [11/2021, p.38]

Super Mario Run looks and sounds like New Super Mario Bros., but unfortunately it does not play like it. It’s a runner that constantly annoyed me with its lack of precise controls I enjoyed so much in real Mario games. [02/2017, p.36]

The phenomenal combat system is not enough to rave about Rise of the Ronin. The chaotic storyline, boring open world, clunky gameplay and outdated graphics distract too much from what works well in Team Ninja’s latest game.

I don’t have a slightest clue who for and why was this game even made, but on the other hand I simply have to appreciate the big heart which was put in it. [03/2019, p.77]

The depth of systems overseeing gameplay is commendable. It’s a shame though that few players will find enough patience to endure poorly balanced pace and experience Surviving Mars’ biggest strength – its inventive endgame. [05/2018, p.82]

You might like this game for its detailed characters, over the top weapons and combat animations worthy of a Japanese action game. Unfortunately all the advantages are buried under thick layer of typical hack'n'slash routine. [February 2012, p.59]

An inconspicuous game that really surprised me – it’s enjoyable, funny, great from the technical point of view. It would have been perfect with a better balanced undead team and more gameplay modes. [04/2014, p.54]

WarioWare: Get It Together is a fantastic assortment of tiny experiences that add up to create a huge festival of awesomeness. Add cool multiplayer and co-op and you’ve got a seriously fun game distinctively different from Mario Party. [12/2021, p.60]

Amazing story. Amazing experience. It’s amazing what games can become if we let them. Pathologic’s execution is very, very bad, but it is still one of the best games I have ever played. [01/2016, p.56]

Onde offers pleasantly fluid gameplay at a calming pace and an interesting movement system, but I feel the elements of danger are completely unnecessary, as they clash with the game’s atmosphere and relaxing nature.

Bloober Team focused primarily on combat, which, due to several frustrating design choices, is more irritating than satisfying. However, the game excels in terms of its world, music and atmosphere — these elements are sensational.

EA managed to end the bad run of Need for Speeds released in odd years. But even if it’s the best NFA in a long time, it could have been better. Rivals looks and plays really good but it could use a properly working multiplayer or a real single player mode. And if you remember Most Wanted, Rivals looks quite familiar. [01/2014, p.38]

An intelligent, brilliantly designed platformer that tells a story worth following and does it so creatively that you never know what to expect next. [05/2016, p.72]

Jonas Manke accomplished something incredible. The game he spent five long years creating on his own is relaxing, enjoyable, and above all surprisingly full-bodied. It looks and sounds great, there are no technical issues, and it can compete with titles developed by larger, more experienced teams in pretty much every aspect. It’s a great little game that I wholeheartedly recommend. [10/2021, p.42]