It’s fun when your characters gang up against a single enemy, music is fantastic and the idea for searching for a random mole in your team is an original one. Unfortunately tight budget made both the story and gameplay tediously clichéd. [11/2015, p.67]

Unbounded is a part of a franchise strongly associated with consoles but somehow turns out to be average on X360 and one of the best arcade racing games in years on PC. On PC it just plays better (even with a keyboard!) and is extremely rewarding. [June 2012, p.66]

For many reasons Block N Load can’t compete with Battlefield and Call of Duty, but I liked it for being something else than a dead serious shooter. [07/2015, p.64]

A rather simple RPG doused in Slavic folklore and an absolutely phenomenal soundtrack that marries Slavic and Balkan sounds in one big genre experiment. [03/2020, p.70]

Solid survival game, a bit hardcore in places. However, the heavy emphasis on exploration and the associated character development pays off with the opportunity to explore the British 1960s zone and play detective to unravel the mystery of the nuclear power plant.

A beautiful homage to Grim Fandango. Not perfect though – Chapter One is short, could be funnier and the choice of some of the voices is questionable. [CD-Action 03/2013, p.66]

You can expect a lot of charming dialogue, easy puzzles, amazing soundtrack and satisfying combat. Unfortunately you will be forced to battle not only your enemies but also terrible camera. [01/2017, p.75]

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]

Cognition feels like some old game by Sierra and this is its biggest strength. [1/2013, p.72]

Backbone has far fewer puzzles and stealth sections than you might expect after finishing the brilliant first act, but it will still keep you engaged thanks to the quality of its storytelling. [09/2021, p.40]

Here’s a proof that it’s possible to create an engaging game based mainly on dialogues (comparisons to Disco Elysium work in Gamedec’s favor, but there’s a lot less text to read here). Gamedec’s world is original and immersive, the investigations are interesting, the detective’s unique skill system works great and the deduction mechanic is brilliant. [11/2021, p.54]

You may dislike walking sims, you may have never heard of Stanisław Lem or you don’t care for his books. In all those cases The Invincible extends a hand to you. Firstly, it tries to vary the gameplay as much as possible. Secondly, it doesn’t require knowledge of the novel it draws from. Thirdly, it makes Lem’s hard sci-fi accessible even for people who are not fond of his work. Above all, The Invincible is a neatly told story, suspenseful till the very end and supported by an absolutely brilliant soundtrack.

Bae Team managed to create such distinctive feline characters, that I still smile at the thought of some of them, but the visuals are mediocre most of the time and the game as a whole is afraid to step outside of the genre’s restrictive bounds. [03/2018, p.71]

The biggest disappointment for me was that although you play as a Templar, it has almost no influence on gameplay. The historical backdrop is not exciting at all and it’s pretty obvious that the whole game was designed so that the assets from Assassin’s Creed III and IV could be reused. The whole naval module borrowed from Black Flag is still fantastic, but after having played 7 games of the series I need something better than just more of the same. [01/2015, p.46]

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]

If you regard the 90s and first two Fallout games as ancient history, Underrail is not for you, because without the anesthetic power of nostalgia it might be completely indigestible. [03/2016, p.71]

A highly addictive hack’n’slash with great art direction and many small but really good gameplay ideas. The developers wear their inspirations on their sleeve, so you can almost hear the game shout “Yes, this is Diablo! Yup, it’s Tristram! Don’t pretend you don’t remember!”. [02/2019, p.36]

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]

Cartoony graphics contrast with a mature story that deals with a serious subject of climate changes caused by human carelessness and is devoid of humor. Instead of puns and wordplays we get well written, intriguing dialogues between believable characters with vivid personalities. [August 2011, p.66]

A good FTL clone, though you will not grow so attached to your car as you did to FTL characters. [07/2015, p.61]

On paper Sunday Gold has the elements needed for a simple but interesting RPG, including enjoyable puzzles and characters who have a lot to talk about. Sadly, most of its promising plot threads remain undeveloped, the enemies are repetitive and the level cap takes fun out of combat. Real shame, because it could have been a gem.

GreedFall won’t win over those who can’t stand certain gameplay half-measures and lack of polish but those who are not opposed to playing budget games should enjoy it just fine. [12/2019, p.44]

Not as fast paced and creative as LEGO games based on Marvel and DC universes. [08/2015, p.72]

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

Tohu won surprisingly many awards, but in my opinion its only element that truly deserves praise are the visuals. The game looks great (the hand-drawn environments are wonderful!) but is much to infantile for my taste (especially the dialogues) and not creative enough in the puzzles department, while the awful narrator does a lot to destroy the atmosphere. [04/2021, p.59]

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]

A “Mini Man” developed by the studio that gave us 10 Mega Man games – do you need a better recommendation? [10/2015, p.75]

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.

Silt is not groundbreaking, but you won’t regret spending 3-5 hours on this stunningly beautiful, somewhat oneiric puzzle platformer, especially if you enjoyed Limbo and David Lynch movies.

Do not expect depth similar to Capitalism 2, you will not have to care for share prices or company’s reputation, but if you enjoy tycoon games, Big Pharma is a well-designed one. [11/2015, p.55]

Despite the monotony of procedurally generated environments and repetitiveness that with time creeps into combat, it would be absurd not to try Let It Die. It might be free, but it’s much more worthwhile than many indie games you have to pay for. [02/2017, p.46]

A great remaster of the best “single-player MMORPG” ever. The original seemed to have everything it needed to shine, but some external factors (poor marketing, the closure of 38 Studios) robbed it of success. I’m happy to inform that the remastering was done expertly and this charming, fun, unpretentious game resembling Fable is still worth both its price and all the hours needed to complete it. I’m really happy I got this chance to revisit Amalur, and I want to believe that Re-Reckoning foreshadows the revival of the franchise that died prematurely years ago. [11/2020, p.48]

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]

For every “this game is stupid, I’m not playing it ever again” there was “OK, just one more time”. [10/2015, p.62]

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]

The sequel does not introduce significant new features, but it’s an enjoyable makeshift MMO if you’re a hardcore Dragon Ball fan. [13/2016, p.50]

A surprisingly charming way of wasting 15 hours. [CD-Action 08/2013, p.76]

The FIFA series desperately needs a fresh start. Right now, it relies mainly on the Ultimate Team mode and marketing, while going around in circles. Instead of leaping into the future, FIFA 21 takes half a step forward and two steps sideways in an attempt to differentiate itself from its predecessor well enough to rationalize spending money. If you already own FIFA 20 and are not addicted to Ultimate Team, you can sit this one out. [12/2020, p.44]

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]

Primordia's intentionally outdated looks prove that the story (including atmosphere and puzzles) is still the most important element of a point'n'click adventure game. [1/2013, p.48]

Over a dozen hours of spatial environmental puzzles consisting of avoiding patrols and finding paths to objectives. Cyanide failed to push the series forward in any aspect but still managed to deliver a solid stealth game. [05/2017, p.68]

Stranger of Paradise tries to marry Final Fantasy with a soulslike, while also often reaching outside this genre. The whole idea was great, which makes the poor execution (uninspired level design, run-of-the-mill story, mediocre graphics, boring boss fights) even more disappointing. However, if you’re able to turn a blind eye to the game’s many flaws, you might find it moderately enjoyable.

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

DMC4SE does not improve the gameplay as much as DmC: Definitive Edition did, it does not offer the spectacle God of War is famous for, but I assure you that in no other game building combos is so much fun. [09/2015, p.42]

A nameless ronin sets his foot in a seaside town of Amihama, where he immediately gets entangled in the conflict between nationalistic rebels and pro-British shogunate. What happens next? Whatever you want to happen, because WotS4 gives you such freedom of choice that every adventure lasting two hours can be different. [10/2015, p.56]

A very simple (but not easy!) and very addictive mix between crosswords and Sudoku. [11/2015, p.66]

The DLC offers all the UEFA EURO contestants, but fails to deliver updated squads and licensed outfits for some of them and adds only one new stadium (Stade de France), forcing you to play tournament matches on fictional stadiums in other countries. [07/2016, p.63]

The game’s most notable quality is the Star Wars license. Yet again it’s obvious that Traveller’s Tales should at least try to reinvent the LEGO series. [09/2016, p.64]

It’s not just a game. It’s a wonderful journey to the past that revives beautiful memories. [13/2016, p.57]

The only problem with the Xbox version of Wet Dreams Don’t Dry is some technical issues, which are quite easy to ignore because the game is really good. It makes fun of itself, other adventure games, genre clichés, the past, the present, the developers, the player – and it usually hits the mark. What’s more, it can be surprisingly refined for a title which doesn’t shy away from penis jokes. [12/2020, p.51]

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]

The beginning of the game is great and the story gets darker by the minute, but the immersion, mood and tension fall to pieces when you face grotesque, poorly animated enemies. [11/2013, p.80]

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

As the first next-gen addition to the series Unity is a stepping stone on the way to something outstanding, but not an outstanding game in its own right. [13/2014, p.32]

For a game that mocks RPG clichés and pelts you with endless stream of hit-or-miss jokes and cultural references, The Dungeon of Nabe… Nehu… Neul… goddamit… The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk is surprisingly solid in terms of gameplay mechanics and features genuinely fun tactical combat. [12/2020, p.68]

The War of the Lions is definitely not worth eight times the price of an average iOS game you have to pay for it. Despite two years of development it's no more than a crude port of the PSP version. [Sept 2011, p.76]

It’s hard not to be awed by the artistic direction of Tormentum (inspired by Giger’s work among others), but the game’s shallow writing consists of clichés and pretentious babble. [05/2015, p.73]

Patapon’s charm is timeless but the PS4 edition underlines the game’s drawbacks, especially tedious grind necessary to progress, which was not so painful when you played the game in short sessions on a handheld. [11/2017, p.77]

New game by Obsidian is a great action RPG but a poor Dungeon Siege. It intrigues you with its story, sucks you in its world and makes you want to cut through consecutive enemy hordes while picking up and trying on a growing number of new enchanted pantaloons. A the same time it's aimed mainly towards console gamers and it's so different from the previous Dungeon Siege games that the title doesn't really fit. [July 2011, p.66]

Homesick can be visually dazzling and sounds great, but the elements that should really encourage players to explore its world – story and puzzles – are just not up to par. [09/2015, p.48]

It’s a very creative and stylish game whose soothing music goes perfectly with its hand-drawn environments. The problem is, some questionable design choices ultimately hurt Greak. I wouldn’t say it’s a bad game, but it could have been amazing. [11/2021, p.64]

A well-written, lovable story gracefully focusing on things that matter in life. The game’s logo is misleading, as romance and sex are kept in the background. [10/2017, p.52]

I’d prefer to get together with my real friends while Maxis recalls how to make The Sims engaging. [02/2016, p.58]

ECHO made a great first impression on me with its dark atmosphere and AI that mimics player’s tactics, but this impression did not last long, as the game sunk into repetitiveness. [12/2017, p.47]

Cute visuals and crude humor make this a pleasant game to play if you’ve got nothing else to do. [11/2015, p.67]

Apart from poorly realized battles and too much micromanagement, Endzone: A World Apart is a solid city-builder with a strong emphasis on survival. My greatest concern is that it failed to evoke any emotions. People died and I just didn’t care, because despite the post-apocalyptic setting the game is almost idyllic. Don’t expect to be torn apart by tough decisions – it’s no Frostpunk. [06/2021, p.60]

Pocket Camp is worse than main renditions of Animal Crossing in every aspect. Nintendo took a great franchise and taught it nasty mobile habits. [01/2018, p.51]

The biggest problem with Cities in Motion 2 is that this game is extremely user-unfriendly. Gameplay is sluggish even with the highest time compression and the interface contradicts ergonomics and intuition. [CD-Action 06/2013, p.80]

Aeterna Noctis is a beautiful metroidvania from an indie studio. I was enamored with its challenging but fair platforming sequences and the multitude of varied worlds to visit. On the other hand, I was not convinced by its nonlinearity, which makes it impossible to get involved in the story quickly and complicated things for the developers in terms of introducing new gadgets related to exploration. Nevertheless, Aeterna Noctis offers almost 20 hours of genuine fun.

Rush of Blood has too many moments when you expect a jump scare, hunting for points and goodies is not as enjoyable as it should be and its bosses are boring. [13/2016, p.78]

Tormented Souls is a melancholic love letter to the fans of classic survival horrors. You need to play it if the phrases “fixed camera angles”, “tank controls” and “backtracking” give you goosebumps. [11/2021, p.32]

The game makes up for its shortness (ca. 4 hours) with an intelligent, well-delivered story, overwhelming atmosphere of solitude, fantastic audio (including voice acting worthy of a AAA game) and overall high level of polish. [07/2017, p.77]

For offbeat humour aficionados and brain flexing enthusiasts. [CD-Action 03/2013, p.72]

Does Ultra Despair Girls have moments that drag out? Yes. Is it too easy too often? Yes. But it’s still Danganronpa, something you remember for a long time. [11/2015, p.66]

Not impressed by Wonderbook. I gave it to a group of 9-year-olds. It turned out that the lack of Harry Potter (the game was developed in cooperation with J.K. Rowling) was not an issue and they did not complain that they had to do practically same things over and over again. [CD-Action 02/2013, p.64]

Never Alone has a fairy tale charm and educational values, and it’s a decent platformer. It’s a shame Alaskan temperatures failed to kill off the bugs. [01/2015, p.62]

The problem with Rebellion’s whole zombie series is that the developers were unable to supplement their great sniping mechanics with equally good content, so gameplay quickly becomes repetitive, even tedious. I can’t imagine anyone completing all three campaigns in single player mode. Co-op is more enjoyable, which is not a surprise, as the whole game was designed around it. [05/2015, p.48]

The Deathinitive Edition improves very little, but Darksiders II is still a fantastic game definitely worth checking out if you haven’t done so 3 years ago. [13/2015, p.59]

Legion is a return to the darker roots of Watch Dogs. It is also the best game in the series, regardless of whether you’re inclined to avoid violence and solve problems DedSec style (by hacking), or prefer to unleash a hail of bullets. The story improved big time and it is unsettling to realize how much the game’s dystopian reality resembles our own. [13/2020, p.62]

It looks like current low budget games, does not offer the intensity of Modern Warfare or very emotional moments but still provides simple, unpretentious old school fun. [December 2011, p.90]

It has potential to absorb you for long hours and I can recommend it to everyone who likes games that are intellectually demanding. [02/2014, p.59]

I was fed up with Steel Empire after 15 minutes. The game is too easy, weapons lack punch, action sequences are anemic. [03/2016, p.73]

Unique aesthetics and fun time travelling mechanics are not enough to make up for a bunch of design errors, repetitive procedurally generated environments and at times amateurish execution. [06/2018, p.74]

Carto is cute but shallow. Repetitiveness of its main gameplay mechanic combined with unsatisfying, tedious puzzles made me welcome the end credits with a sigh of relief. [01/2021, p.55]

LOUD is very polished and offers light, quick gameplay perfect for a handheld. I’ll be surely coming back to improve my score on some levels, but due to the game’s disappointingly simple story and bland songs the primary feeling I was left with was the urge to dust off DJ Hero.

Inspired by Quake and other classics but devoid of any distinctive qualities that would help it stand out among other boomer shooters, Dread Templar is pretty fun but ultimately forgettable.

It’s a festival of good and interesting ideas that were drowned in boring grind, features borrowed from Forza Horizon, and reggaeton. [01/2020, p.60]

The temperature of the gameplay dropped – not only thanks to the new winter map. The technical side of the game has always been its Achilles’ heel and the standard PS4 version reminds of it quite brutally. [03/2019, p.81]

Snowfall introduces more new features than After Dark did, but I wish it had avoided some silliness (I based the economy of my subarctic city mostly on agriculture). [04/2016, p.53]

Infinite is a case study on how not to make crossovers. The story mode is really poorly written and if you don’t already know and like the characters, you’ll just waste your time. What’s worse, almost every element of the game is similarly weak. The result is a mediocre game that wastes the potential of its solid combat system. [12/2017, p.54]

New Larry stands in the eighties and nineties with one leg and in 2018 with the other – and between those legs he feels just fine. [13/2018, p.71]

Fire Emblem Heroes reminded me that the Japanese do not consider smartphones and tablets worthy of real games and treat them as a way to encourage you to buy full-fledged releases for 3DS or Switch. [04/2017, p.75]

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]

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet somehow manage to be the best entries to the series and the worst ones, at the same time. Even though there’s plenty of fun to be had in Paldea, awarding these unbelievably buggy games a higher score would be a disservice to everyone, including Game Freak.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is not terrible and I’d be lying if I told you I suffered through it, but I expect more from a AAA title than a semi-polished gameplay, a run-of-the-mill story and environments that oscillate between breathtaking and mediocre. Ubisoft Massive’s game has moments showing it could have been great, but overall turned out uninspired.

Creatures of Ava is a relaxing, addictive, magical non-violent action game that requires not only deft fingers, but also intelligence and… empathy. While it’s not much to look at (the music is great though!), has flaws and can put some people off with the rather naïve hippie-ecological message, its diverse and vibrant semi-open world is well worth visiting.

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]

Lichtspeer is a repetitive one trick pony but still I’m curious what the developers will think of in the sequel (if they ever make one, that is). [13/2016, p.75]