I would compare Silence to The Night of the Rabbit or Harvey’s New Eyes, which means it’s decent but lacks quite a bit to be superb. [01/2017, p.48]

Down in Bermuda offers pleasant relaxation but its mobile origin weighs it down. When you play it on a PC in longer sessions, it is hard to overlook its length (3 hours) and formulaic puzzles that become less and less rewarding with time. The port itself could have been better too, as the last map suffers from serious performance issues. [03/2021, p.50]

The idea behind Ninja Gaiden 3 was to create a Ninja Gaiden for the Call of Duty generation. The result is a flashy game completely devoid of depth and any challenge. A grave disappointment. [May 2012, p.66]

Vampire kids clash with Casa Bonita’s latin music and family picnic vibe in an amusing way, but the DLC offers shamelessly little content and therefore is not worth your money if bought separately. [10/2018, p.63]

It’s a shame that Finding Teddy is too short to be something more than just an interesting curiosity. [02/2014, p.73]

It’s not the new Generations (that we’re all waiting for), but faithful fans of the series should be moderately happy with it if they can endure a subpar level design. [12/2016, p.77]

If you like games in the vein of Stars! or Master of Orion, you can sink into Stardrive for long hours. [02/2014, p.73]

Volition played it much too safe with this Saints Row spin-off, making a game that trails behind Saints Row IV in every aspect. [11/2017, p.42]

It works well as a distraction or a party title, as long as you don’t expect good graphics, because Drone Hunter VR looks like a mobile game. [04/2017, p.65]

Combat in Bloodrayne Betrayal: Fresh Bites is enjoyable, heroine’s moveset surprised me with its broadness, and varied menagerie of monsters frequently forced me to change my tactics. Sadly, annoying platforming sections with frustrating difficulty spikes drag the game down. [12/2021, p.71]

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.

The racing itself is good enough, but the not-so-abundant content and the terrible technical state of the game effectively hinder the fun. I really would be able to wait longer to get something better, and at this point I can only wish myself and you that the studio improves the condition of Solar Crown.

A Puzzle Bobble clone intended for kids, judging from the difficulty level and visuals. [12/2016, p.78]

I haven’t seen such an uneven game in ages. On the one hand, it has a cool, elaborate character progression system, varied protagonists and sufficiently challenging, nuanced gameplay. On the other hand, the whole thing is generic and crude, its primitive graphics and awkward animations take you back to the PS2 era, and it becomes boring faster than expected. It does capture the atmosphere of the Netflix series quite well though. [03/2021, p.54]

It's a pity that Eastern European developers are usually on a budget to tight to transform their often great ideas into games that can be praised for something more than potential. The time rewind/character cloning feature of Blades of Time is very cool but the rest of the game is just not on par with it. [May 2012, p.70]

Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions has easy-to-understand mechanics, is extremely simple and matches do not take long to complete. Muggles will get bored quickly, while potterheads will drop out soon after.

The idea behind The Artful Escape is great, the art style is breathtaking, while the story about coming of age, teenage insecurities and meeting expectations is told brilliantly. Unfortunately, all that doesn’t count for much when a music game has an awful score, guitar shredding quickly becomes boring and the whole thing is basic to a fault. [12/2021, p.77]

Past Cure suffers from meager budget, but it’s a passable game and a decent debut. It seems Phantom 8 are a skilled bunch that can surprise us with their future projects after they gather more experience and secure more significant resources. [04/2018, p.59]

It is a properly restored platformer. The game tries to mix the sweetness of old Disney animations with a pinch of darkness, which at times makes it resemble American McGee’s Alice more than an arcade title for children. And while I love this kind of atmosphere, the gameplay quickly began to feel repetitive.

If it weren’t for the swarms of technical bugs that ruin much of the gameplay experience, it would be an exceptional tycoon – deep, innovative and simply fun. [01/2020, p.52]

It’s hard to treat Rhombus as anything more than an appetizer before Psychonauts 2, but it does make a good use of VR and lets us reconnect with characters we haven’t seen for over 12 years. [04/2017, p.74]

Differences between beta version and the final game are close to none, which means that the career mode – the heart of every racing game – is not even a prototype, it’s a prosthesis. Driving model is excellent though and the tracks were meticulously recreated with laser scanning. Along with the support for the modding community it lets me believe that Assetto Corsa might become a brilliant game in the future. [02/2015, p.52]

Tennis World Tour 2 is far from perfect, but if you compare it to Big Ant Studios’ previous tennis games, you will notice significant progress. A lot of improvements have been made and the game is not as awfully bland as its predecessor. It’ll take a lot more work to make this series truly good, but it seems the developer is capable of getting there after all. If you enjoy tennis and stumble upon TWT2 on a sale, you can seriously consider giving it a chance. [13/2020, p.76]

An interesting subject of humans and dinosaurs pitched against each other is the only unique thing this game has to offer. [CD-Action 03/2013, p.68]

At its roots Renoir is a Murdered: Soul Suspect rip-off and a badly executed one. The puzzles are repetitive, controls suck, the story is shallow and the game is annoyingly unresponsive. [01/2017, p.65]

In terms of gameplay it has nothing to offer apart from an enjoyable but primitive combat. [13/2015, p.74]

MXGP’s realism might be valuable for motocross connoisseurs, but will deter anyone who just wants to have some fun in the dirt. [02/2015, p.55]

Kingdom Come: Deliverance for Nintendo Switch remains a large, slow-paced RPG full of numbers and choices, set in realistically depicted Middle Ages. The resolution obviously took a nasty hit, so I don’t recommend playing this version on a TV, and the controls are not very intuitive, but I’m still amazed that the whole experience is available on a handheld console. Nevertheless, while the game is definitely worth playing, you should consider whether to play it on a Switch specifically.

With its dated, slow combat system, no intention to evolve the series, bugs, and no tension, The Banner Saga 3 is sadly just a game you tick off to get closure, not a spectacular finale. [10/2018, p.82]

In theory a lot has changed in the latest Dynasty Warriors (open world being the most notable addition) but in reality it’s the same game. It can be really enjoyable and at times impressive in terms of scale, but I got bored with it quite quickly. [04/2018, p.72]

It’s a decent DLC, but also a redundant one. Shadow of War’s core gameplay is still entertaining, but Blade of Galadriel offers merely around three hours of new story content and no side activities apart from killing captains for legendary gear, which is moderately engaging pastime. [04/2018, p.74]

Gameplay mechanics are inventive and fresh, but the rest falls into the “retro game on a tight budget” category. [08/2015, p.61]

Initially, the game is solid, but it quickly starts to lose its identity and alternates extremely difficult moments with childishly easy ones. In addition, an interesting setting and nice-looking environments are dragged down by outdated graphics and poorly designed gameplay mechanics. Achilles: Legends Untold had the potential for greatness, but ended up being a middling game that you can enjoy only if you’re ready to constantly turn a blind eye to its flaws.

Crossing Souls is brimming with cultural references to the 80s but does little more than that. [04/2018, p.75]

Dark Alliance is a disappointingly run-of-the-mill action RPG whose most distinctive features are bugs and connection issues. Solid combat and levelling systems are not enough to outweigh repetitive, boring environments and the lack of decent endgame content. [09/2021, p.44]

This game should particularly appeal to fans of „Judgment Day”. It plays well on nostalgia, briefly presenting the most important scenes from the film. However, it is too short, and the additional game modes only mask the growing monotony.

Kholat tries to be everything – a survival, a horror, a first person walker. It might have worked well if all those elements had been polished properly. [08/2015, p.66]

The developers of Aztez had great inspirations and clearly understand what made them great, but that was not enough for Aztez itself to become great. The game is really solid in terms of gameplay mechanics but at the same time derivative and repetitive. I can only recommend it wholeheartedly to those who enjoy exploring and cracking open complex combat systems. [11/2017, p.74]

Creative Assembly was searching for their own formula for a slasher but kinda got lost along the way. Viking can be fun but calling it a 'Nordic God of War' would be an exaggeration. [CD-Action 13/2012, p.50]

A textbook example of wasted potential. Again! If someone woke me up in the middle of the night and asked about the differences between the original APB and Reloaded I'd mention only two things. 'Civilians' got some new animations and the game went free-to-play. It's not enough for a relaunch. [February 2012, p.54]

It’s neither a remake nor a remaster. Dream Diary is like a bold cover of a classic song, that uses the same themes but makes them more accessible, unfortunately intentionally losing some of the qualities that made the original piece unique. [05/2018, p.44]

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.

Your construction business is just a foundation for criminal structures, which is a cool twist. Unfortunately to enjoy it you’ll need to turn a blind eye to outdated visuals and too many various flaws and bugs. [11/2017, p.76]

The story in the new Dragon Ball game is chopped up and very chaotic so you will get lost if you don't know the TV series very well. Fights get boring after a while and the load times are annoying. It was fun to play but as a fan of the original anime I was lenient to some degree. [February 2012, p.58]

Volker Wertich has earned my lifelong respect for his past attempts to breathe life into the genre of games widely known as RTS. His new project belies the image that had formed in my mind – that of a bold, creative, ambitious creator.

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]

A really creative and polished flipper. Unfortunately the lack of any other tables than the one kills any will to go back to it after a break. [02/2020, p.62]

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]

Battleborn can be enjoyable, but only with friends and only for so long, especially when there’s a better alternative – Overwatch. [07/2016, p.52]

It introduces a lot of new content but other than that is worth than the original game in almost every aspect. [01/2015, p.73]

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

Combat requires precision but Kinect can't keep up with the player and the more annoyed you become, the more nervous and ineffective are your actions. The same applies to driving your wagon. [CD-Action 13/2012, p.59]

The Lion’s Song resembles brilliant Kentucky Route Zero more than traditional adventure games, which means that you rather soak in the experience than solve puzzles. The problem is that after having spent a couple of hours with the available two episodes I still can’t predict whether The Lion’s Song will blossom into something really good or just barely decent. [02/2017, p.49]

If you're fond of mindless carnage and have friends to play with you in co-op mode, you might enjoy Earth Defense Force. Otherwise stay clear of it. [February 2012, p.64]

For a series that lets you experience how time-consuming agriculture can be, Farming Simulator 23: Nintendo Switch Edition works surprisingly well in short sessions. However, I can’t recommend it unconditionally in good conscience, because to enjoy it, you need to turn a blind eye to the questionable technical state it was released in. If you’re willing to look past its below-par graphics, poor optimization and less-than-ideal controls, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy it.

Fortunately, Bloody Ties is more than just a series of arena fights, as it also offers other types of quests and a pretty extensive (but not particularly great) story. If you enjoyed Dying Light 2 and are thirsty for more, you will probably be satisfied with this DLC, but don’t expect it to elevate the whole experience.

A beautiful, well animated visual novel that fails at everything that could really make it stand out from the crowd. [08/2015, p.75]

It’s short and most of the time too easy, but still enjoyable as a snack between larger games. [08/2015, p.76]

Galactic Civilizations III lacks the magic of its outstanding predecessor. The developers promise that it’s just a beginning, that new content is on the way, but right now you’ll be better off playing Sid Meier’s Starships. [08/2015, p.77]

Gameplay mechanics are very basic but the most important thing is that they are solid and don't get in the way of enjoying Family Guy's distinctive humour – and the game is full of it. [1/2013, p.47]

Without Activision at the helm and its policy on licensed games – done too quickly and too cheap – it could have been an epic adventure. [01/2015, p.80]

The variety of weapons is once again Dead Rising’s biggest strength, but despite it being a sandbox game it quickly reveals all its secrets and becomes tedious. [03/2014, p.60]

Another example of a game that was not saved by a well-known creator. The author of the excellent Dragon Age has come up with a title that is a tiresome in the long run, although it has some interesting ideas. Unfortunately, the gameplay is too repetitive, and the fun quickly becomes monotonous.

Repetitive environments and enemies, lack of satisfying character development and very limited selection of gear – after a while Krater gets monotonous. [August 2012, p.73]

As all Codemasters' racing games Showdown looks great but it doesn't make it exciting and will not keep you in front of the TV for a long time. You'll be better off digging up good old Burnout Paradise. [July 2012, p.74]

My evening with My Brother Rabbit was enjoyable, even though the game fails at being a touching fable it wants to be and backtracking was too annoying for my taste. [12/2018, p.90]

A creative way to use the F1 license – F1 Race Stars is Codemasters' variation on Super Mario Kart. Unfortunately the outcome is merely okay. [CD-Action 1/2013, p.64]

It’s an likable little thing, but I see no point in playing it on PC. Crush Your Enemies was obviously designed for mobile gaming and its short skirmishes work better on the go. [09/2016, p.45]

Basic gameplay mechanics are decent but don’t score points for innovation and the inability to save the game during missions can be infuriating. [07/2016, p.67]

After a frustratingly hard first steps it can provide plenty of satisfaction – every race requires full attention as nothing is certain till you cross the finishing line. [August 2012, p.79]

More of an artistic experiment than a real game. Its visuals are beautiful and it offers various gameplay mechanics but none of them is particularly engaging. [CD-Action 13/2012, p.67]

If you're searching for 'fantasy Civilization' and can look past complete lack of any story within the singleplayer campaign, you may want to check Warlock out. [August 2012, p.80]

A simple PC port of a good gamebook adaptation released originally on mobile devices. Both parts can be completed in few hours but they reveal their depth on the third playthrough. [04/2016, p.49]

In its current form Symphony looks more like a beta version than finished game, but it's worth to check in three month whether the lump of coal has turned into a diamond yet. [10/2012, p.72]

Apart from a couple of nuances it's a collage of elements as old as Sega itself. [August 2012, p.82]

An interesting offer if you're looking for a game suitable for short sessions – longer ones will get boring. [1/2013, p.69]

Masquerade is a bit like Leslie Nielsen’s comedy movies – silly and childish, but it’s hard to hold back laughter. It’s a pity that the gameplay can’t keep up with the humor, exposing the developers’ tight budget and lack of experience. [07/2016, p.69]

Paired with PS Vita’s gyroscope it would have been a cool thing but as a conventional game on a PC it’s just average and boring. [CD-Action 02/2013, p.63]

Michonne is just a shadow of the previous The Walking Dead games in terms of both gameplay and story. [07/2016, p.72]

I discourage you from buying Bang Bang Racing – it has nothing to offer apart from an enjoyable driving model. [August 2012, p.85]

I have nothing against tough games but if instead of satisfaction after overcoming a challenge I’m rewarded with a feeling of relief and humiliating gratitude for stopping the torture for a while – something went wrong. In my opinion Rive’s designers failed to distinguish what’s reasonably challenging from what’s unfair. [13/2016, p.59]

However its production values are very low, this game did impress me with an emotional story and tough moral choices it forced me to make. [January 2012, p.73]

I appreciate the solid research behind Bounty Train and pleasant music, but when I failed at the end of the game I realized I’m not willing to sacrifice over a dozen more hours to try again. [09/2017, p.45]

This is not a product for a typical gamer and has plenty of shortcomings but it does fit lazy afternoons pretty well. But on the other hand so does blowing into ocarina… [1/2013, p.74]

If you value single player experience above all, Sapienza will leave you dissatisfied. [07/2016, p.73]

The only element of Killzone that stood the test of time is the enemy AI. [CD-Action 02/2013, p.67]

A spin-off that lacks the scale of the main Halo games – you rarely fight alongside other Spartans and when you do they are usually passive and act as animated props. [07/2015, p.52]

If you're one of those flagellants that see games not as an entertainment but rather as a challenge and a test of character, this simple fighting game will abuse you just the way you enjoy. [10/2012, p.78]

Oblitus was so close to being a really good game. It’s inspired by philosophy that stands behind Dark Souls’ design but strays from it in some key elements and having nothing to lean on in these aspects comes across as unpolished and not properly thought through. [5/2015, p.65]

It’s enjoyable enough, but there are so many similar but better puzzle games with much shorter loading times and more precise controls. [07/2016, p.76]

A Temple Run clone (with some additions) that looks good, but got boring in an hour. [08/2015, p.81]

Short, simple, derivative and somewhat undercooked, but VR does make a difference. Shortage of serious VR games lowers the bar significantly, so you can pick up Farpoint, but do not expect the messiah VR needs. [09/2017, p.53]

A good idea that could have been implemented better. [07/2015, p.57]

Still Wakes the Deep’s interesting setting and successful mix of a cosmic horror and a drama are enticing. Although it’s set at sea, the game manages to avoid Lovecraftian tentacled clichés. The great foundation for a survival horror was there, but sadly the final result turned out to be a walking sim that completely lacks any sense of threat and fails to pose a challenge.

I have already tasted Inside six years ago while I was playing Playdead’s previous game – Limbo. It doesn’t taste as good for the second time, even despite a more appealing peel. [09/2016, p.48]

Dear Telltale, having to write this breaks my heart, but we cannot see each other again. Please don’t message me, please don’t call me to tell me about Bridget Jones: The Telltale Series (or whatever franchise you’ll turn into a primitive, derivative husk of a game in the future). I’d love to say it’s not you, it’s me, but... well, it’s you. [02/2017, p.54]

My first thought was: 'Sweet Jesus, who would like to play a game like this now?'. Two hours and a couple hundred laps later I was wandering how something this primitive can be so addictive. [10/2012, p.78]

For its age, Crysis is still quite fun, but I don’t think bragging about the game’s ability to vanquish any PC should still be a thing today. There are many shooters that look much better and at the same time run much smoother on the same hardware. It’s also a pity that the Warhead expansion was not remastered along the base game and there’s no trace of the multiplayer modes. [12/2020, p.56]