By constantly comparing their game to “Twin Peaks” and “True Detective” the developers set the bar so high that they could not fulfill expectations. Nevertheless Virginia is an interesting experiment worth your time (especially that it only takes two hours to complete). [13/2016, p.58]

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]

Necropolis’ highlight is its Souls-like combat based on locking on targets, managing the stamina bar, blocking and dodging. The game’s general minimalism serves it well and permadeath encourages to try harder. [10/2016, p.56]

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]

Not only will World of Tanks fans enjoy Wargaming’s new game. The gameplay is simple yet satisfying – you can feel the differences between planes, but some crude elements distinctive to hard core simulators were avoided. [01/2014, p.44]

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]

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]

It’s a game for kids, therefore it doesn’t surprise you with complexity, but the figures are awesome. [13/2014, p.43]

It forces you to switch off the cause and effect mode in your brain and try most insane solutions. Fun! [CD-Action 02/2013, p.65]

Destroy All Humans! 2: Reprobed is a journey back to the times when people were not offended even by rudest jokes. If you’re sensitive, you should steer clear, because Crypto takes no prisoners and mocks absolutely everyone. I did enjoy the game’s humor, but the gameplay itself is competent at best.

Superhot makes everything you do look unbelievably stylish, but offers so little content that three hours with the game was enough for me. It needs more varied enemies, a broader arsenal, larger stages. I believe Superhot’s innovative mechanics can be squeezed for more and I’m looking forward to a sequel. [04/2016, p.54]

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 creative take on the addictive “connect three blocks” formula. [08/2015, p.80]

Get Even is more of an experiment than your typical game. A successful experiment, I must add. It might not be beautiful and it’s rather mediocre as a shooter, but the audio is great and the developers managed to skillfully mix various ideas into a coherent game. [09/2017, p.46]

The developers managed to squeeze a lot out of an uncomplicated concept, enough to make Otem’s Defiance truly engaging. Fans of simple arcade games will enjoy it. [07/2016, p.73]

The visuals and the story are not inviting, but the puzzles are satisfying. [07/2015, p.49]

One of the best platformers published this year, beautiful and varied, but it’s a shame that it ends after just two hours. [11/2013, p.70]

Kirby’s Dream Buffet is an endearing little game that should be treated as a quick snack before the main course. It offers entertainment for a couple of evenings, but it’s not one of those titles you’ll keep on your Switch for months. It would score higher if its local multiplayer mode supported more than two players on one console.

An old Mario Kart enhanced with a couple of details like gliding, swimming and customizing your vehicle. It seems Nintendo is running in circles chasing its own tail. [January 2012, p.75]

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]

This year’s WWE left me with mixed feeling. At its core it’s still a decent game and minor changes went in the right direction, but lack of Showcase mode and wasted potential of addressing the crowd held me back from being really excited. [13/2016, p.64]

If it weren’t for the excellent Toy Box mode, the rating would be much lower, because provided adventures are disappointing. [11/2013, p.74]

A new, better Costume Quest. If it wasn’t for the short and easy campaign I would recommend it to everyone, not just fans of the first game. [13/2014, p.53]

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

Firaxis did a good job at translating air battles into turn-based strategy gameplay. [01/2014, p.52]

Dreamfall Chapters is a satisfactory successor to The Longest Journey and Dreamfall, but not a good enough game in its own right. [09/2016, p.46]

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

We are probably all familiar with this phenomenon: you spend hours with a game complaining about it all the time, but you simply can’t turn it off. Having spent all evening with it, you feel guilty about wasting your time, but the next day you come back and play some more. For me, Port Royale 4 is one of such games. I enjoyed the atmosphere of the Caribbean and the depth of the trade system, but I’m not sure why I devoted so much time to a title that annoyed me with many ill-conceived bits, and whose low difficulty level often made me feel redundant. [12/2020, p.55]

One of those little things that would work much better on a bus to work. It’s got simple mechanics, the turns are short and it can help you stretch out your brain. [05/2015, p.67]

As a man I might not be qualified to judge this, but I think the developers did a great job tackling the subject of maternity. [11/2013, p.79]

A great game for those who enjoy a challenge. [08/2015, p.81]

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

Ultra Despair Girls bravely introduces a new action component to the series, but these sequences are so primitive and repetitive that you soldier through them for the sake of the story rather than enjoy them. [09/2017, p.58]

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

The new version of Observer goes beyond a visual touch up and offers some gameplay improvements along with a splash of new story content (additional small investigations). And that’s fine, but did we really need a remaster of a game released three years ago? [01/2021, p.35]

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

The game features on of the most unique combat system in the tactical RPG genre. The maps are small, the RPG element is rather weak and the interface could use some polishing. In spite all of that Iron Danger still remains original and fun. [05/2020, p.55]

To put it simply, Star Wars: Squadrons is a low-budget X-Wing vs TIE Fighter II based off of Battlefront II’s space battles. I admit that I expected more, but after two decades we finally got a new Star Wars sim (leaning towards the arcade side, but still) and I did enjoy it. It looks and sounds like a Star Wars game should, and Motive’s successful effort to balance such dissimilar crafts as the X-Wing and the TIE Fighter is commendable. [12/2020, p.64]

Shadow Fall does a great job when you want to show your friends what the PS4 is capable of –it looks gorgeous, especially on a big screen. But the visuals are where the whole next-gen thing ends, as gameplay-wise it’s just an old, traditional shooter, solid but not breathtaking. The writing is poor, there’s absolutely no breakthrough in terms of the AI and there are no memorable moments in the campaign, which by the way drags on for longer than it should (it took me about 9 hours to finish the game and I spent the last 2-3 hours eagerly awaiting the credits). The multiplayer does not disappoint though. [01/2014, p.56]

The game is loaded with small glitches and inconsistencies but next to Night in the Woods it’s the one game I could point to and say ‘that’s how you should write engaging, living dialogue’. [13/2019, p.54]

Endling: Extinction Is Forever is not only a beautiful, touching and important game, but also a unique one, as you control a mother fox, the last of its kind, trying to keep its cubs alive in a world devastated by humans. The problem is, Endling’s gameplay loop is painfully repetitive and the game begins to get boring about halfway through.

If I was to recommend any installment of the series, it would be Dance Central 2. [CD-Action 02/2013, p.70]

A charming game that aged gracefully, really great in co-op and perfect for kids. Who would have thought that fighting ladybugs and digging out lost fruits can be so exciting! [01/2021, p.39]

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

LotB drips with Maiden “mythology”, looks great and offers a decent gameplay, but becomes repetitive too fast and relies on grinding too much. [10/2016, p.71]

It’s a good effort to introduce the series to a new generation of gamers. Beautiful music and an accessible difficulty level should guarantee time pleasantly spent for anyone who feels like jumping around a bit, especially younger kids (naïve story and childish art style might annoy older players) and those who are new to video games.

1428: Shadows over Silesia is a very good adventure game, an unexceptional stealth game and a frustrating action game with some traces of an RPG. I enjoyed its engrossing dark story set in medieval Europe with magical elements, distinct atmosphere, great music and very difficult (yet logical) puzzles, but unpleasant combat and other flaws sometimes turn Shadows over Silesia into a chore.

White Night looks good, sounds great but gameplay-wise it’s unfortunately unpolished. [05/2015, p.70]

After a couple of hours this pigeon dating sim (yes, you date pigeons) turns into a psychedelic post-apocalyptic horror with gore elements. Is any other encouragement necessary? [13/2014, p.67]

It requires you to precisely repeat exercises it gives you but Kinect sometimes fails to read your movements correctly (I would say it works fine 66% of the time). [CD-Action 02/2013, p.71]

The PC edition of Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection is decent in terms of technical execution and still looks good despite the years, but in 2022 its graphics are not jaw-dropping anymore. The gameplay should appeal to those looking for a simple de-stressing fun and an adrenaline rush, but heavy emphasis on a cinematic experience may not be everyone’s cup of tea and the multiplayer modes are missing.

Gravity Ghost is definitely worth investing three hours it asks for. I guarantee it will move you. [05/2015, p.71]

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]

The Solus Project finds the right balance between adventuring and survival and sometimes is a real joy to look at, but tends to remind you too often that it is just a game. [09/2016, p.56]

This game makes you forget you’re playing on a handheld – it’s a full-blown title with excellent graphics. Too bad enemies are sometimes incredibly stupid and checkpoints often frustratingly far from one another. [11/2013, p.85]

Rogue Mage lacks the scope and ambition of Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales, but despite that provides lots of fun thanks to its addictive, well-balanced gameplay. It’s also a great way to get acquainted with Gwent.

Truly intriguing. So far it’s the best new tactical card game this year. And a true feast for eyes and ears. [05/2020, p.68]

The Falconeer’s undeniable strengths are its distinct, memorable atmosphere and beautiful visuals. I believe it would have been a better game if the developer had ditched combat (as well as arcade elements in general) and focused on exploration and uncovering the history of the realm. [01/2021, p.44]

I criticized War Hospital quite a bit, but I enjoyed this game. I don’t have any major complaints about the gameplay, but I was bothered by the sometimes annoying flaws, missing features, and bugs, as well as ugly cutscenes. It’s obvious that the developers ran out of time to properly polish the game but the overall concept and the most part of its execution are great. I felt similar discomfort while playing This War of Mine and Frostpunk and I think that speaks well for War Hospital.

A simple but interesting idea led to a fun, relaxing game which unfortunately restrains your creativity with a very limited set of tools and colors. [09/2017, p.70]

It’s a classic initiation story. Unfortunately the quantity of content wins over its quality so it may seem that the game drags on while simultaneously being too short. [03/2020, p.78]

It’s not the best Castlevania game ever, but for a digitally distributed minor title it’s really decent. And the visuals are surprisingly good for a game initially created for the 3DS. [01/2014, p.62]

If you’re familiar with Torn Banner’s previous title, Chivalry: Medieval Warfare, you’ll feel at home in Mirage, as both games are very similar (which of course is not an advantage if you expect something fresh). [08/2017, p.58]

An interesting and well-executed concept sometimes held back by frustrating controls. [11/2016, p.48]

Bugsnax are delicious, but you have to be very creative to find a way to catch them all. The hunt itself is engaging and accompanied by quite an interesting story. However, some of the objectives are not clear enough, and while the adventure is full of funny events, it becomes boring after a while. [01/2021, p.54]

This inventive, enjoyable puzzle platformer would be exceptional if it had Trine’s visuals and audio. [09/2016, p.59]

Double Kick Heroes is a very interesting arcade rhythm game with cool pixel art, great soundtrack, and fun references to real-life rock musicians. Unfortunately, some poor design choices spoiled the overall experience for me. User interface items that you need to focus on to stay alive are too tiny and therefore tire the eyes very quickly. I had to take breaks every 20 minutes, because I simply couldn’t concentrate any longer. [12/2020, p.72]

Omega Force keeps releasing the same game over and over again and some like it this way. But if you’re not a fan of the One Piece anime, I suggest picking up Dynasty Warriors 8 instead. [11/2013, p.86]

Thumper’s oppressive atmosphere is amazing. Soundtrack, abstract visuals, breathtaking speed and palpable collisions build tension you would never expect from a runner/rhythm game. It’s a very interesting experience, but every time I removed PS VR after playing Thumper, I was completely worn-out by this intense, perpetual assault on my senses. [13/2016, p.77]

Sea of Stars is a flavorful game that tries to imitate jRPG greats with varying degrees of success. It has some obvious flaws and treads a beaten path in terms of the story, but it is also beautiful and boasts an interesting combat system. I recommend it especially to newcomers to the genre. Sabotage Studio seams to be heading in the right direction and if it decides to evolve their gameplay mechanics in a sequel, the effects may be impressive.

I have no doubt that the latest Call of Duty will earn ridiculous amounts of money once again, but I will remember it as a dip in form, a game that’s closer to mediocrity than greatness. The story campaign has a satisfying finale but as a whole is rather uninspired, while the multiplayer has lost the tactical feel I enjoyed in Modern Warfare Remastered. [01/2021, p.56]

A typical game from Milestone’s production line. Improvements over the previous one are visible but never notable enough to call Ride a new experience. [06/2015, p.52]

Despite RIGS’s modest content hats down to Guerrilla Games for proving that there’s a place in virtual reality for real, fast-paced first-person shooters, not just the on-rail variety. [13/2016, p.78]

This might be the prettiest space shooter I’ve ever seen, but it suffers from little variety of enemies. [08/2017, p.60]

Livelock is a case of a one-evening game: you launch it, annihilate hordes of enemies, kick the last boss’ butt and then you forget about it all. It will not be a life changing evening, but nonetheless a pleasant one. [11/2016, p.54]

It’s not a must-have game, even for Assassin’s Creed fans, but I had more fun with it than with Rogue. [06/2015, p.54]

Obsidian has run out of steam when it comes to storytelling, once again delivering a distinctly flat world within The Outer Worlds universe and prioritizing form over substance. Fortunately, the polished gameplay allows you to enjoy the sequel.

Apart from lots and lots of missteps and bugs I can see the developers’ passion and a whole lot of hard work poured into the game. [04/2020, p.48]

2014 was not a very good year for Assassin’s Creed but if I had to choose the better game out of two released, I would point at Rogue. [05/2015, p.75]

Mario Kart World is an exciting racing game, especially online and in couch co-op. It's not the Nintendo's Forza Horizon though. We only got a mere substitute for it.

The Switch version is ideal for couch gaming and the gyro controls change everything... even if from the technical standpoint the game has some real problems. [13/2019, p.81]

Even despite its flaws (substandard bosses, grind, backtracking) it’s still Ys – the top shelf of action RPG’s. [07/2015, p.74]

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 a simple game with primitive visuals, poor AI and almost nonexistent physics, but it turned out to be very enjoyable in co-op. [13/2016, p.80]

Despite a nice 4-player split-screen and enjoyable Playground mode chock-full of cool fan-made courses, Dirt 5 is not worth the full price. Yes, it is very pretty, runs smoothly and sounds great, but it lacks innovation and therefore reminds me of old school racing games. [01/2021, p.68]

I expected something close to Battlefield but Rising Storm is far more demanding. It’s been a while since I cursed so much while playing an online shooter. With every round I was telling myself it’s enough, but I kept coming back to get my butt kicked again. Try it – you might enjoy it too. [CD-Action 08/2013, p.73]

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]

Capcom did not repeat mistakes from RE4, so using keyboard and mouse is almost as comfortable as playing with a gamepad. PC edition was also enriched with some interesting bonus content and patched (but that didn’t save it from some technical issues). [CD-Action 05/2013, p.71]

Grow Home’s sequel is still charming, enjoyable and cute as a button, but increasing its scale was completely unnecessary. [11/2016, p.64]

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

It’s more a Mutant Year Zero’s cosplay of XCOM than a truly original game but it still offers somewhere between 10-20 hours of enticing tactical gameplay. [04/2020, p.62]

Today Enslaved is still a strong game worth getting acquainted with. [01/2014, p.67]

If you enjoy tinkering with your equipment, skills and stats and you don’t mind some old school silliness, give Paper Sorcerer a chance. [05/2014, p.55]

It’s not the worst RPG in the world, but it’s far from the best. The numerous bugs and cut content are a real letdown, but fans of the series will still find something to enjoy here.

While I admire the technology that lets you mix two or more completely different tracks together to at least a decent effect, I must warn you that the gameplay is shallow and you’ll quickly get bored unless you’re a DJ at heart. [01/2021, p.80]

The Fall of Avalon starts promisingly, but the contender for the title of Polish Skyrim exposes itself to an underdeveloped second half of the game. Still, it's worth giving it a chance.

Spider-Man: Miles Morales is still very enjoyable, but mainly because the base game was great, as this stand-alone expansion does next to nothing to evolve the formula. If you’re okay with getting more of the same, you should not be disappointed, especially that the port is solid and looks fantastic on a powerful PC.

A game that’s very friendly in terms of visuals, yet very complex when it comes to gameplay mechanics. There’s a lot of information you need to memorize to be efficient, which makes you more of an accountant than a god. [CD-Action 08/2013, p.80]