Despite obvious financial limitations the developers bent over backwards to provide us with the best game possible. Revelations 2 does not reach the level of the last three main Resident Evils, but I keep my fingers crossed for it to succeed deservedly, because it seems all these guys need to create a top-notch game is more money. [04/2015, p.48]

While the story is almost non-existent and I wish there were more classes and character development option, I recommend Solasta to those looking for a real old-school RPG experience. I’m especially impressed with the use of vertical environments in both exploration and combat, and the way light and darkness were made crucial factors on a battlefield. [08/2021, p.42]

I appreciate the addition of brand new research projects, more interesting enemies and much larger variety of environments, but I’m not sure I’ll muster enough enthusiasm to play XCOM 2 again. [03/2016, p.44]

Although obviously not a high-budget title, Resistance is probably the best Terminator game I’ve ever played. Gunplay is fun, there’s a lot of gear to use and upgrade, you can unlock new skills, and stealth elements make the whole experience pretty varied. The graphics are rather basic though (the PS5 upgrade with 4K resolution makes little difference) and I ran across some sound issues, but in general, I had fun. [08/2021, p.45]

Although the story was built on some well know foundations, it’s gripping and promises a great experience. It’s a shame the ending is such a disappointment. [03/2016, p.46]

Despite limitations imposed by the genre, and the fact that there are only 5 units and 4 powers, Anomaly 2 gives you quite a broad spectrum of possibilities. [CD-Action 07/2013, p.56]

The main feature of the add-on – the quest cards – is poorly balanced (some rewards are highly disappointing). Still I recommend Journey to Un’Goro as it manages to breathe some fresh air into meta-game. [06/2017, p.51]

It’s a very intensive and addictive experience – although it doesn’t get in your head as well as Hotline Miami, nor has it comparably good soundtrack. It’s a game put together from other people’s ideas which simply go well together. [03/2019, p.80]

A charming and highly addictive game that can wear you down with its repetitiveness and unavoidable grind. [03/2016, p.49]

Ghost of Tsushima is a good, but by no means outstanding open-world game. All its magic lies in the distinctive atmosphere of feudal Japan and the romanticized vision of the samurai world. If bloody sword fights shown against the backdrop of beautiful nature appeal to you, you are unlikely to find anything better on the market. As for the PC port, there is nothing to complain about, although I feel it could look a little better.

A parade of oddities that’s definitely worth checking out, because the impressions – whether positive or negative – are unforgettable. Terrible visuals are improved a bit in The Director’s Cut (so now it can compete with average PS2 games), but scarcity of new content is disappointing. [CD-Action 07/2013, p.61]

Men of War II is an extremely expansive – and still somewhat buggy – RTS set in World War II, which could put many turn-based strategies to shame with its complexity, attention to detail and regard for historical accuracy. It’s more suitable for hardcore fans of the genre, who will appreciate its immersive and enjoyable gameplay.

A creative shmup/puzzle game hybrid where reflexes play second fiddle to quickness of the mind and the ability to use terrain and laws of physics to your advantage. What’s more, it was designed to relax rather then frustrate you. It only has one mode though and becomes repetitive after a while, but it is fun in small doses. [08/2021, p.50]

Despite some flaws the incident at Atamipek Lake is definitely worth experiencing, as long as you rank atmosphere and discovering a gloomy mystery above shootouts and car chases. [06/2017, p.53]

The N64 classic looks good with revamped visuals and stereoscopic 3D but the only substantial addition is the multiplayer mode – one cartridge is enough to play with 3 of your friends. [October, p.78]

Outriders guarantees an enjoyable evening with friends. We had lots of fun clearing out stage after stage, gathering loot, upgrading our gear and improving our builds so they complement each other perfectly. The final score would have been higher if it weren’t for tons of technical issues we had to deal with. [06/2021, p.28]

It's a strange blend. On one hand it has a lot of bugs and a very complicated gameplay. The visuals are crude too. On the other hand it offers great atmosphere and attention to details that maniacs will appreciate. [November 2011, p.66]

The Raven’s story needs time to accelerate, but when it did, it left me waiting for the next episode. [CD-Action 10/2013, p.58]

Batman’s Creed: Shadow of Mordor – Monolith’s inspirations are so obvious that you could call their game a rip-off. Its greatest sin though is the fact that it fails to vary gameplay the way Assassin’s Creed or Batman do and offers almost nothing apart from killing stuff and playing with the Nemesis system (which, I admit, has its moments). I got so tired with its repetitiveness that I wouldn’t have finished the game if I didn’t have to. [Dec 2014, p.48]

Until now there was only one sensible way to play Pac-Man – the Championship Edition. Pac-Man 99 is a new viable option. Even though the presence of other players is barely noticeable and the whole trick gets old quite fast, the game is simply more interesting than the basic version of the classic. [06/2021, p.39]

I’m really glad that the developers decided to create a sequel, as they learned a lot and managed to improve every element of the original game, including the campaign which evolved into a really thought-out, demanding adventure. [01/2018, p.40]

Derivative, but also colorful, absurd and fun. If you played one Borderlands game, you played them all. [Dec 2014, p.56]

The game’s topic, visuals and gameplay mechanics might seem off-putting, but Papers, Please is a must-play for everyone who values games with a message or indie games in general. [CD-Action 10/2013, p.61]

You must keep in mind that this is not 'good old Ace Combat' any more. Too much chaos, scripted events and jumping between fighters, bombers and choppers but... it does have a certain charm. [November 2011, p.64]

A solid game that ticks off everything on the things-you-need-to-have-in-a-twin-stick-shooter list. Doesn't stand out from the crowd though. [October, p.80]

The sense of speed offered by Driveclub reminded me of the brilliant first GRID and I was having a lot of fun until I realized that cars are indestructible. Whether you stroke a wooden fence or smash into another vehicle at 300 km/h your car drives exactly the same afterwards. [Dec 2014, p.66]

Kao the Kangaroo is a solid reboot, but not in the league of Crash Bandicoot. The game is pretty, runs smoothly, offers great level design and fun combat system, and overall has a strong base, but also contains many elements that fail to reach the level we expect from a platformer today.

The strongest point of this fantasy/sci-fi jRPG is definitely its very good turn-based combat capable of surprising you with creative encounters. The narrative has some memorable moments, but be aware that it is entirely linear. However, I do not condemn that decision, because it does suit the road movie-like story. What Edge of Eternity lacks the most is its own identity and the developers’ courage to do things their way instead of copying Final Fantasy and other Square titles. It could also use a better engine, more suitable for such a complex game. [08/2021, p.62]

At first I had to force myself to play Has-Been Heroes, but gradually it convinced me that there’s a decent degree of depth under simple gameplay mechanics. [06/2017, p.61]

Stronghold is one of the best real-time strategies of the turn of the century. The Definitive Edition may be a nice way to revisit this beloved classic, but it can also be disappointing if you expect a polished game that’s free of bugs and imperfections of the original.

It’s not an add-on but rather a Game of the Year edition of Dragon’s Dogma. Exploring the Bitterblack Isle (new content intended for veteran players with a high level party) is basically a dungeon crawler and this face of the game I enjoyed much more than the open world of Gransys. [CD-Action 06/2013, p.76]

New engine’s impact on game’s quality is noticeable, but still rather small. [Dec 2014, p.73]

Despite the cumbersome interface and some weariness that creeps in later on, World of Horror is worth checking out thanks to its art style and well-written, weird, spine-chilling stories. Even though I know how the game ends, for some masochistic reason I want to relive this nightmare over and over again.

Super Mario RPG is a creative and very accessible take on the RPG formula. You’ll traverse many lands and fight tons of battles to save the kingdom, while enjoying a hefty dose of light humor. If you’re looking for unwavering positive vibes, you will definitely find them here.

Compared to the original released on 3DS in 2017, the Switch version of Miitopia looks better and offers a couple of additions, but it is pretty much the same thing. I had a lot of fun with it once again and I can recommend it to anyone looking for a funny (but not necessarily hilarious) game with an extraordinarily enjoyable gameplay loop. [08/2021, p.66]

It’s hard not to notice that free World of Warcraft patches offer you just a bit less content than Rise of the Hutt Cartel. [CD-Action 10/2013, p.71]

The Expanse: A Telltale Series works well as a tie-in, because it recreates the atmosphere of the series and explores the past of a loved character (Cara Gee as Drummer is amazing as always!). However, as a whole, it is a middling game that ends before it really gets going. I also regret that the developers missed the opportunity to delve deeper into The Expanse’s universe, as this setting has a lot to offer.

A pleasant and hard (in a fair way) platformer, but I think authors should have left out the enemies and the means to fight them, because they introduce unwanted chaos and the sense of losing full control over the character. [CD-Action 06/2013, p.78]

A solid game that lacks distinctiveness. I’m not sure I’m going to remember it in a couple months’ time. [Dec 2014, p.78]

It’s not the second coming of Christ, it’s merely another good product in a different wrapping. Ghosts is a great FPS but this time it’s not necessarily a great Call of Duty game. [13/2013, p.46]

One of those mean platformers that exist to poke a masochist’s pleasure center. Physics based gameplay often requires more luck than skill which can be annoying, but I’ve never had so much fun throwing my own head at things. [02/2016, p.47]

A girl the size of an insect searching for her father’s bug-like mech in a forest where nature meets sci-fi is a great concept that makes Stonefly worth checking out. Too bad the developers’ creativity ends pretty much right there. While the game is a clever mix of genres and offers an original twist on hack’n’slash combat, it does next to nothing to evolve the gameplay or the story, so sooner or later monotony will set in. [08/2021, p.70]

On the one hand we have beautiful visuals, distinct melancholic atmosphere, and an interesting backstory to uncover. On the other – mediocre combat, repetitive puzzles, slow pace, and various technical issues. It is definitely an enjoyable game though and I’m looking forward to Orbit Studio’s next title. [08/2021, p.72]

It’s an enjoyable game that will win the hearts of children, but it’s far from breathtaking – it’s short and lacks a spark (e.g. a protagonist that is not only cute but also charismatic) that would make it memorable. [06/2017, p.66]

The way the story branches out depending on your choices is really impressive, but experimenting with it becomes repetitive after a while due to scarcity of levels and too easy (but otherwise enjoyable) combat. [06/2016, p.47]

It was supposed to be an unforgettable experience, but unfortunately I’ve already forgotten a lot of it. [CD-Action 10/2013, p.74]

Phone Destroyer is pure hypocrisy, as it shamelessly ticks all the boxes from Parker and Stone’s guide on preying on susceptible people using mobile titles (episode Freemium Isn’t Free of the TV show). The game looks good though and has the show’s unique vibe, so the fans should enjoy it for a while, until they get tired of shallow, repetitive gameplay. [01/2018, p.51]

Flockers is not an original game (it uses the concept introduced in Lemmings over two decades ago), but it’s a polished one. It’s a cute puzzle game that is also so brutal that it earned a PEGI 16 rating. [Dec 2014, p.80]

Nintendo Switch Sports is a modern retelling of the Wii classic. Despite somewhat less precise motion controls, it’s about as fun as its predecessor, mostly thanks to the emphasis on online play.

A decent PC substitute for the Pikmin series. Its magical land filled with adorable creatures is a joy to explore, rich content will keep you occupied for as long as 20 hours, and a drop of survival mechanics spices up the adventure without making it stressful. The somewhat hazy story is okay at best and even though the game showers you with crafting materials, the crafting itself is pretty much needless, but the game’s biggest problem is the repetitiveness that made me slightly weary. [8/2021, p.74]

I enjoyed the atmosphere, assassination-based combat, enjoyable bow shooting mechanics, varied character classes, and cool maps. The whole concept is great, but Hood needed more work, because numerous minor flaws and a sole game mode make it look like an early access title. I also believe it was possible to squeeze much more out of this darker twist on the Robin Hood setting. It is not an excellent game right now, but it is enjoyable enough to be addictive, and I’m looking forward to future updates, hoping they will unlock Hood’s full potential. [08/2021, p.76]

Omega Force’s crossover between Persona and the Warriors series is a breath of fresh air for both franchises. It’s not a revelation by any means and not a great sequel to Persona 5 in terms of the story, but despite rather uninteresting content in between missions and the scantiness of additional activities, it’s a good, varied game that’s simply enjoyable. [04/2021, p.36]

Strange Horticulture is a puzzle game where you identify plants and mushrooms for the clients of your herbal store and explore the map following the clues. It’s a game for you if you don’t mind staring at one screen or browsing a swelling botanical handbook – especially if you enjoyed Potion Craft.

The story is satisfying, refers to choices made in Inquisition, adds a lot to the lore and wraps up some loose ends. [12/2015, p.57]

I was disappointed to see the return of the old, a bit obscure user interface and the biggest pain in the neck – the inability to attack diagonally in close combat. I was also once more let down by the story which is awkward at times and ends too abruptly. [06/2016, p.52]

On the one hand I know a couple of better shooters that throw pixels the size of a bouillon cubes at you. On the other hand I had tons of fun with Brain Damaged thanks to its fast, challenging gameplay and tons of pop culture references. Plus, if I ever decide to put together a list of the most twisted game levels, some of new Postal’s maps are sure to be on it.

A well-written cyberpunk graphic adventure that tackles some weighty subjects. [03/2016, p.62]

Combat gives you a decent array of options but unfortunately it rarely poses any challenge. The optimization is abysmal and while it does not make the game unplayable, the situation is still unacceptable. Despite that I can recommend this title to everyone who seeks a solid turn-based RPG. The developers put a lot of effort into creating a vivid world and tell a lot of minor stories, many of your decisions matter and in some aspects Expedition: Viking reminds me of classic Fallouts. [06/2017, p.70]

Epistory is a one-trick pony (you interact with the environment by typing in corresponding words) so it becomes repetitive, but it has a pleasant fairy tale atmosphere. [06/2016, p.53]

Disjunction’s gameplay is quite repetitive and there are some annoying flaws, but if you like tech noir and remember the Amiga days fondly, there’s a significant chance you’ll have fun. [04/2021, p.39]

I was disappointed that the HD Edition did not come with some new content. It’s a shame that this pleasant, relaxing adventure last only two hours, because I really grew fond of Leo. [12/2015, p.57]

GG&C is not original in any way but if you simply want to spend a pleasant couple of hours shooting people and burning zombies (preferably in co-op) while enjoying great hand-drawn visuals and unconstrained humor, it’s a really good pick. [02/2016, p.50]

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]

An interesting and beautiful, but also slow and repetitive board game. [12/2015, p.60]

Retro visuals, chiptune soundtrack, faithfulness to standards set by Metroid. It’s not a game to remember for the years to come, but it is a beautiful example of how some ideas never get old. [01/2018, p.60]

Despite its obvious low budget I’ve already devoted 60 hours to Warhammer Quest – first on iOS, and now on PC. The atmosphere of the Old World recreated by Rodeo Games does not cease to delight me. [03/2014, p.80]

It’s not a title you need to play to stay up to date with gaming trends. It’s a typical representative of the hack’n’slash genre, solid in every aspect but not unique in any. If you enjoy such games, walking the wolves in Midgard will be fun, because the essence of the genre was conveyed proficiently. [06/2017, p.73]

Both parts of Super Mario Galaxy are still phenomenal 3D platformers, worth playing even today. The problem is that the anniversary compilation looks like it was put together in a hurry, and its price is more off-putting than appealing.

After the third expansion Destiny is the same “random loot generator” it has always been, just with some more story in between. [12/2015, p.62]

Ravenous Devils is atmospheric and running and expanding your business is surprisingly addictive (although sometimes the repetitive, hectic gameplay might be overwhelming). I enjoyed the very gory animations and appreciated the fact that the story ends after a couple of hours, so the game doesn’t get a chance to become boring.

Model Builder is time-consuming, rather tedious, sometimes frustrating, but also perversely addictive and relaxing. It offers plenty of models to build both in career and free play modes and provides 20-30 hours of decent fun (if you’re into building models, of course).

Juggling genres is the series’ trademark and the latest game offers much larger variety in that aspect than any of its predecessor. Most of the genres were tackled well enough, but not all ideas are spot-on and almost every part of the game could be improved. It is the best Battletoads game to date though and it would’ve scored higher if it wasn’t for one frustrating and infuriating section towards the end of the campaign. [11/2020, p.55]

Interesting character classes, enticing atmosphere, visual attractiveness, satisfying combat – Lost Ark hit the mark on everything one expects from a good action RPG. I could feel my character’s power from the very first step in this interesting, varied world, and saw potential for one of the best Diablo’s cousins in years. It’s a pity that the MMO aspects of Lost Ark forced some compromises and simply get in the way of enjoying the satisfying Diablo-esque side.

Steel Ocean is a really solid game and I would have spent much more time with it in a universe devoid of World of Warships. [02/2016, p.56]

A really enjoyable, relaxing game reminiscent of old Settlers. [02/2016, p.57]

A runner with a twist – instead of controlling the surfer, you control the waves. [03/2016, p.72]

I approached Death Stranding twice. I spent a couple of hours with the PS4 edition and was fascinated with it. I kinda wish I stopped at that and let the game remain a mystery to me rather than complete it later on PC and be disappointed. There are moments when Death Stranding eludes the traditional 1-10 rating system. There are moments when it sets new standards and becomes a truly special experience. But those are just moments scattered throughout tedious gameplay. Still, it is in my opinion one of those games you simply need to play. [10/2020, p.44]

A simple, lighthearted game about a mean cloud who enjoys spiting people. Some of its 50 levels are genuinely funny and its magic lasts longer than Untitled Goose Game’s or Dinner Date’s. [07/2021, p.48]

God of War returns to the scene suddenly, and in a form that few would have expected. Contrary to first impressions created by the setting, Sons of Sparta turns out to be quite an elaborate metroidvania-lite.

Quotation forthcoming. [02/2016, p.59]

Destroy All Humans! was rebuilt from scratch, but when it comes to the gameplay experience, it is identical to the 15-year-old original game. As a result, the story campaign feels outdated and gets stale after some time even despite the large arsenal of skills and weapons. It still is a fun game though and thanks to new visuals exploring the remade maps is a pleasure. [10/2020, p.52]

It’s still good old Dontnod but Tell Me Why falls short of the studio’s previous achievements. Outdated engine aside, the game lacks interesting interactions or a relationship as powerful as Chloe’s and Max’s friendship in Life is Strange. Its simple story is quite linear and fails to surprise, and supporting characters are rather bland. [11/2020, p.62]

Dredge is a short, humble game full of unrealized potential. The longer I played it, the more I regretted that it offers so little content. Black Salt Games also couldn’t decide whether their debut title should be relaxing or challenging, and as a result it does neither well. However, it is still a fun change from huge RPGs and open worlds that devour weeks.

In terms of its size Dawn of Ragnarok is a full-fledged, traditional expansion we used to see back in the day rather than a typical modern DLC. It offers a surprisingly good story but the mythological setting didn’t bring any substantial changes to the gameplay. It’s just more of Valhalla and while I enjoyed the base game I’ve simply had enough of Vikings by now.

If you enjoy Picross and love Pokémon – get this game. [03/2016, p.73]

Looks good, sounds good and has some cool ideas, especially in the field of level design. [03/2016, p.73]

Godstrike is a well-designed twin-stick shooter, but be aware that it is not just hard, it’s mercilessly brutal. Try it if you dare, but steer clear of it if being butchered is not your idea of an enjoyable evening. [07/2021, p.60]

DungeonTop completely lacks a distinctive style and comes off as amateurish in terms of visuals, but was built around great gameplay mechanics (traditional does not equal boring!) and offers a lot of content, so it’s capable of sucking you in for dozens of hours. [10/2020, p.62]

Looks great, uses motion controls and apart from planes lets you choose a dragon. [12/2015, p.73]

The game is a technological marvel but although David Cage’s storytelling has an ideal pace and the way the story branches out depending on your choices is praiseworthy, his writing is childishly naïve. His vision of Detroit is unconvincing from the ground up and all his characters are merely crude, threadbare archetypes, which made it impossible for me to suspend disbelief. What’s more, the game touches a sensitive problem of discrimination but doesn’t have the courage to take any stand, leaving us with a lukewarm tale about robots, told with clichés and truisms. [07/2018, p.42]

Metro 2033: Wars is unfriendly and does a lot to discourage less determined players but if you can looks past its rough edges it will give you a lot of satisfaction. [02/2016, p.66]

Even if it’s not Daedalic’s greatest work, Anna’s Quest is still a strong entry in their catalogue. [09/2015, p.67]

It doesn’t try to be innovative, but neatly adapts some tried-and-true mechanics. [12/2015, p.74]

A simple but quite enjoyable, fast-paced card game. [02/2016, p.66]

For the first couple of hours City of Brass was lots of fun, mainly thanks to the whip, which is a cool, versatile tool, and the game’s unique setting. Then scarcity of content reared its head and despite the efforts of a very capable procedural generation algorithm repetitiveness became more and more wearisome. [07/2018, p.50]

Worth 15 minutes of your time (that’s how short it is) if you enjoy grotesque. [09/2015, p.68]

Good fighting game poorly ported to PC and suffering from botched netcode. [10/2015, p.69]

R-Type Final 2 is a very enjoyable and pretty shmup, but know that it sticks strictly to recreating “good old times” and don’t expect it to surprise you with anything. As a tribute, it’s a very good game, but in itself it is derivative. [07/2021, p.76]