I was surprised to discover that the reedition of the first, 8-bit Fire Emblem is not just a disappointing history lesson. Of course, this NES-era classic is ugly, outdated and rough in many aspects, but it’s still very engaging. It also shows that although the series grew significantly over the years, it managed to retain its overall feel. [02/2021, p.38]

Undeniably the best Assassin's Creed game yet, but it's plain to see that there's been progress in the industry and what was breathtaking in 2007 today is enjoyable at best. Ubisoft's AC series gave us a lot of fun over the years but it's high time to let it go. [December 2011, p.64]

A fun battle royale and a viable alternative for Chivalry II and For Honor. Naraka Bladepoint puts emphasis on closed combat, not skulking around the bushes with a ranged weapon. It drips the atmosphere of ancient China and offers a great combat system, but also doesn’t shy away from spells and well-implemented parkour. However, said combat system along with the game’s fast pace sets the bar rather high for newcomers. [11/2021, p.47]

Brume Tower is less claustrophobic than Shulva and the second DLC did a much better job convincing me to revisit Drangleic and its surroundings than the first one. [Nov 2014, p.73]

FX3 is a valuable upgrade from Zen Studios’ previous pinball platform, as it enriches the experience in meaningful ways, while retaining compatibility with old tables. [13/2017, p.54]

Innovative mechanics designed by Richard Garfield (Magic: The Gathering), rules that you can grasp after just a couple of minutes, clear interface – Artifact is a great game. It’s a shame that it’s huge esports potential can be squandered, because Valve doesn’t seem to care for it enough to implement progression systems, leagues, rankings or means to comfortably communicate with rivals outside an invitation-only friendly tournament. [01/2019, p.58]

An intense love letter to old action movies. [01/2016, p.71]

Four years later swinging across the city is still an awesome experience and combat inspired by the Batman series remains fun. However, today I was more annoyed by numerous and tedious Ubi game-like side activities, some of which are necessary to upgrade Spidey. The PC version looks great with graphical settings maxed out on a powerful machine, but I came across some minor technical issues.

Rayman Origins is absolutely adorable. It's a wonderful gift to those who once set through the nights murdering their joysticks and gamepads with classic 2D platform games. [December 2011, p.76]

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 perfectly combines threads from previous instalments while remaining welcoming to newcomers. It’s based on very enjoyable combat mechanics and offers an interesting world to explore, but it’s a shame that dated graphics and intrusive invisible walls make it look like it was released a few years ago. I’m also disappointed that the developers decided to stick to what worked well twice before instead of making a step forward that the series could use.

A much needed radical change of setting worked great. It’s still obvious you’re playing a Battlefield game, but it offers a lot of period specific elements you won’t find in other war themed shooters. I was delighted with Battlefield 1’s multiplayer, but unfortunately the single player campaign is very uneven and leaves the aftertaste of squandered potential of a great setting. [12/2016, p.36]

Guarantees at least a few hours of intensive intellectual training and a substantial exam for special awareness and imagination. If you miss the likes of The Witness and The Talos Principle, definitely put it on your wishlist. [12/2019, p.52]

A good fighting game with solid, original mechanics and impressive visuals. When I tried to come up with some similar titles, I thought of Psychic Force or Senko No Ronde rather than Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat. In other words, it’s a rather niche game that would probably go unnoticed without the Pokémon license. [13/2017, p.58]

Was this remake necessary? Probably not, because the original still looks and plays pretty well. However, it’s available and definitely worth your attention, as Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is a simple yet beautiful game with a poignant finale.

I really encourage you to immerse yourselves in the silliness, absurdity, craziness and shamelessness of Volition's latest game. [December 2011, p.86]

The best and the most complete of all console editions of Diablo III – and you can play it anywhere. Who needs Diablo Immortal? [01/2019, p.65]

An unusual roguelite, a hardcore survival game, and at the same time an unconventional driving game where going slow matters more than going fast – yes, Pacific Drive is a multi-genre beast. It offers numerous mechanics and systems, provides detailed gameplay settings for you to delve into, and gives you a lot of freedom as you explore the roads. However, its complexity causes some balance issues.

A great game from a genre that we see so rarely on PC. It’s not too demanding, but it’s pure joy to play, as it’s charming, cheerful, full of stuff to gather and uncover and does a lot to keep you engaged all the time. Not all levels were designed to the same high standard, but even in its weaker moments A Hat in Time is still good. At its best it really shines. [13/2017, p.60]

The game demands a lot of grind which could be boring, especially at the beginning. Its strongest feature, though, is, by far, designing your own, sometimes completely crazy, monster spaceships. [06/2020, p.59]

I’m glad the developers decided to introduce some substantial changes, especially that improvements were made where they were really needed. Controls are much more intuitive and the whole grappling system was redesigned. If you’re looking for a realistic fighting game, pick up UFC 2. [05/2016, p.66]

Last Epoch has a good chance to compete with Path of Exile and Diablo IV. The game offers extremely diverse character development options and an endless number of builds that encourage you to immerse yourself in the vast world of Eterra for a long time.

A brilliant, deep strategy game that offers a lot and at the same time leaves much room for growth, which probable means it will ripen over the years. [08/2016, p.62]

If you ever wondered whether you’re cut out to be a programmer, and you complete 7 Billion Humans, than yes, you have an aptitude for real coding. The most important thing though is that it’s a great game. [11/2018, p.60]

The story and the relationships with companions could’ve been done better, but combat in Hard West 2 is excellent. Action points reset mechanic, interesting skills, card system and well-designed items make for well though out, engaging encounters.

Inkulinati fits very well in the turn-based strategy genre but at the same time stands out with its distinct style and charm. The satirical approach to the convention is strongly evident, but is not over the top.

A roguelike with a strong emphasis on the story. The gameplay turned out to be rather shallow, but the gravity of the subject that the game tackles (depression) makes up for that. For a roguelike, Dreamscaper is quite easy, so its message has a chance to reach a broader audience. [11/2021, p.61]

A little better than the first Shift for iOS – new tracks, new cars, very similar visuals and a bit more fun. [September 2011, p.76]

An old-school turn-based tactical game that will never get boring as long as you’re playing it in mobile doses. [13/2017, p.62]

The best thing that happened to The Sims 3 since the game's launch. A must-have for all the fans. [December 2011, p.92]

The Coalition spared no resources to bring us a story DLC that’s absolutely on par with the base game in every aspect. Hivebusters offers three highly enjoyable hours and left me hungry for more. [02/2021, p.53]

A very good expansion – four updated maps from Battlefield 3 are great and Capture the Flag mode makes a welcome return. [04/2014, p.65]

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]

It’s a solid material for a movie. That form might actually be more suitable, because it would eliminate State of Mind’s biggest issues: awful controls and the fact that there are few interactions and decisions to make. However I recommend it to every cyberpunk fan, because even the writers of Deus Ex games could learn a thing or two from State of Mind. [11/2018, p.61]

Skylanders is really well thought out (especially business-wise, as it was built around collectible figures that you need to uncover all the secrets within the game) and the design was executed very well. [December 2011, p.93]

An extremely difficult arcade game with simple controls. Overcoming crazy challenges is immensely satisfying and thanks to You Suck at Parking’s sense of humor failures never irritated me.

This might be the most suggestive vision of hell I’ve ever seen in a game, both repulsive and entrancing. [05/2016, p.69]

Granblue Fantasy: Relink is an action RPG with a beautifully designed, dynamic combat, set in a world full of flying islands and zeppelins. Its story might not be stellar, but brilliant boss battles and interesting level design completely make up for it.

An unconventional city builder where the city builds itself, while your task is to optimize its road traffic, which requires quick thinking, good planning and a pinch of luck. It’s easy to turn a blind eye to minimalistic visuals, irritating audio and some flaws, because what’s really important is the fact that Mini Motorways is highly addictive. [10/2021, p.62]

A highly praiseworthy (although a tad too easy) variation of XCOM 2 with an interesting turn-based combat system. There are two reasons why Mechanicus engraved itself in my memory. The first one is great writing done by Ben Counter, British author of novels and short stories set in the Warhammer 40,00 universe. The second one is amazing audio, including outstanding soundtrack by Guillaume David. [01/2019, p.76]

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]

A great, fast, simple puzzle game that you can play anywhere. [11/2015, p.66]

The Missing Link complements Adam's story from the Human Revolution and on the other hand adds some new challenges. At times it even surpasses the original. [December 2011, p.97]

A gothic tale told using beautiful language, where simple visuals and atmospheric soundtrack harmonize perfectly. I enjoy such stories focused on the mood rather than spectacular plot twists and if you do too, considering visiting this creepy mansion. I only wish the game was longer, because the ending feels rushed. [10/2021, p.65]

KotOR on Switch is the best KotOR there is, I have no doubt about it. It runs smoothly and loads quickly, so nothing prevents you from savoring the excellent story. You just need to be aware of the original game’s flaws – it’s a just a port after all.

If you want to get sweaty, play the game without the active pause. [06/2020, p.70]

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

It’s not the triumphant return the series deserves, but this classic holds its own surprisingly well. 25 years later it’s still wicked fun and will surely delight nostalgic veterans, especially that the package includes four expansions, one of which is brand new and damn impressive. [11/2021, p.72]

A charming tribute to jRPG’s, perfectly ported to PC. [06/2014, p.51]

They say first impression matters the most. In case of Shadow Warrior 2 this first impression is terrific and lasts almost to the end credits. [12/2016, p.52]

It’s obvious that SCS Software put a lot of effort into this expansion, as the new map is the most detailed and therefore the most interesting of all available. [02/2018, p.34]

Bland plot (which prevents Above and Beyond from being a truly magnificent experience) and somewhat cartoonish characters did not spike the game’s guns. I was impressed with the scope and details of the environments, and gunplay was awesome because the weapons have a nice kick to them. If only the controls were better… I lost count of the situations when I picked up a wrong object or ended up giving myself an injection instead of throwing a grenade. [02/2021, p.62]

First of all, it’s amazing what the developers managed to achieve with a game that made even the most expensive PC graphics cards sweat. The landscapes and cities look simply breathtaking on Xbox Series X, and the console doesn’t get red-hot. However, I did encounter some technical issues, like vanishing textures or even a sudden crash back to the main menu. I’m also not a fan of keeping the interface identical to the PC version, because it means sometimes you need to use your controller as a poor substitute for a mouse. [10/2021, p.67]

In terms of gameplay design, difficulty level and visuals it's a true indie game. But once you get over this fact, it's a great mix of spaceship simulation and a roguelike. [12/2012, p.83]

The PS4 edition of the brilliant survival game has some performance problems (framerate dropping, environment popping up really badly if you travel fast) and navigating in three dimensions is much less intuitive with a controller than with a mouse, which did cost me my life sometimes. These flaws do not disqualify the console port though, so if you can’t enjoy Subnautica on PC, consider giving it a shot on PS4, as there are very few such games nowadays. [02/2019, p.35]

As expected, Splatoon 3 is a terrific game. It’s addictive, its core concept is still brilliant, the story mode turned out to be surprisingly good and there are some minor overall improvements. If you haven’t played two previous entries to the series, you should definitely add something to the score. The disappointing thing is, five years were not enough for the developers to stir the old paint properly and for me Splatoon 3 often felt more like a DLC than a full-fledged sequel.

Gloomy atmosphere was achieved with a well written story, sedulously drawn backgrounds and great audio. It's also a satisfying finale of the trilogy. Over 10 hours offered by this game is a time well spent. [July 2011, p.76]

The 2020 edition is the most realistic virtual football I have ever encountered. After learning the gameplay’s basics you get a lot of fun and each passing hour makes it even better. Shame that after finishing the career, checking out the multiplayer and playing a few exhibition matches there is nothing left to do here. [12/2019, p.64]

It’s a very solid game, lacking any surprises or a wow factor, but boasting outstanding level design, very satisfying exploration and beautiful graphics. [11/2018, p.68]

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]

Second half of the game becomes a bit tedious and does not offer any surprises – only momentum keeps you going. But the atmosphere is still great. [March 2012, p.50]

Diablo II returns with refreshed graphics and unaltered gameplay (apart from some small improvements). It’s as fun as I remembered, so I quickly felt at home and gave in to nostalgia. However, it’s hard not to notice that beneath revamped visuals lies a 21 years old design. [12/2021, p.32]

Right now it’s the only game that I want to come back to even after a solid beating. It offers a dynamic and balanced gameplay based solely on player skills. If you haven’t tried Dota 2 yet, you need to. [CD-Action 09/2013, p.54]

A new quick and satisfying campaign that will keep you occupied for 10 hours on a smaller map limited to 18 provinces of Gaul and Britain. [02/2014, p.57]

Skyward Sword HD does a good job of reminding us why The Legend of Zelda was a popular series even before the breakthrough that was Breath of the Wild. Its biggest flaw are poor control schemes, not the way the original stuck to the Zelda conventions. [10/2021, p.70]

Third god perspective freshens up the MOBA genre but its potential was not fully utilized (e.g. you can jump, but there’s nowhere to jump to). Smite makes up for that with varied game modes and accessibility to inexperienced or casual players. [06/2014, p.58]

FIFA Ultimate Team is once again the best feature of EA Sports’ game, and the main reason why PES – even while offering the best gameplay in history – will never be able to compete with FIFA. [12/2019, p.67]

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

It’s a tribute to the original Ninja Gaiden released in 1988, so the game obviously borrows a lot from genre’s progenitors, but it also adds a lot to the mix and its platforming mechanics are superb. Even though it gets less exciting in the second half, I have to recommend it. [11/2018, p.73]

An example of a perfect console-to-PC port – we got a complete game with two DLC's that looks better than the original X360 version. The loading times are very short, mouse and keyboard controls are perfect and even an old PC is enough to enjoy Alan Wake. [April 2012, p.56]

A hundredth sequel to Harvest Moon delivers what you expect from it – a chance to experience a simple yet happy farm life. [05/2016, p.75]

Set during World War I and dripping with darkness, Conscript can be frustrating sometimes but its atmosphere, boosted by an excellent soundtrack, makes it worth the time spent. This old-school survival horror is a true gem that should satisfy everyone interested in war-themed titles and keen on flexing mental muscles.

Mobile version of WoT remains a wildly satisfying F2P game that requires skill rather than deep pockets. [10/2014, p.68]

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

Dungeons of Hinterberg is a very well-designed dungeon crawler that combines gameplay mechanics known from Zelda with social aspects of Persona. Despite the limited development budget, it gave me a ton of fun thanks to its designers’ ingenuity and creative approach to the implemented systems.

Relatively small Larian Studios finally managed to deliver a really significant game. Original Sin is brimming with ideas on how to bring back old school RPG vibe and make it fit modern times. [Sept 2014, p.50]

One of the best classics collections in years. [March 2012, p.62]

Dying Light: The Beast is a successful return to the roots of the series, although it is occasionally noticeable that it is indeed an expansion pack transformed into a full-fledged game.

It seems even the developers themselves didn't want this game on computers – quality of the PC port of this wonderful game is pathetic. [11/2012, p.55]

Contrary to appearances this is not a game for everyone. Its difficulty level is really old school and the necessity to learn the tracks and retry (and retry, and then retry) will put off everyone who thought SSX to be a relaxing little arcade game. [April 2012, p.60]

A beautiful game that shines in co-op but doesn’t have much to offer to a lone player. [13/2015, p.52]

Finding Paradise is not as heartbreaking as To the Moon but still arouses strong emotions and encourages reflection. [02/2018, p.50]

Camelot managed to develop a game that will please golf enthusiasts as well as engage those who fall asleep as soon as the conversation about this sport starts. [06/2014, p.65]

There is a lot of fun in slashing the Behemoths, especially with others; the crafting is very well designed; and the game induces the familiar feeling of ‘just one more session’. [12/2019, p.81]

Heart of the Forest is an instantly gripping, beautifully illustrated visual novel with a nicely branching storyline, difficult choices, and skillfully introduced RPG elements. [13/2020, p.42]

If you’re not familiar with the previous PC version, the Super Turbo Championship Edition is worth a look. [Sept 2014, p.59]

Dragon Quest meets Dynasty Warriors and provides dozens of hours of fun (one dozen less would have been beneficial though), tons of side quests, all Japanese DLCs and plenty of special attacks to discover. If you’re looking for a Japanese action RPG and you’re not allergic to Warriors, you should give Dragon Quest Heroes a chance. [13/2015, p.54]

Despite a bit of self-plagiarism and some laziness on the part of the developers, World of Goo 2 tries to earn the title of a full-fledged sequel and… almost succeeds, because the goo is still as entertaining as it was years ago. I look forward to future new installments. Because there will be new installments, right? Right?!

If you can look past the usual scarcity of licenses (e.g. just two English clubs are licensed), you’ll see a great game – unpredictable, spectacular, deep, satisfying and engaging. It just needs time to show its advantages, because they might not be instantly obvious when you pick up a controller for a moment at a party. [12/2016, p.66]

It's not only one of the best looking free-to-play games, but also one of the most interesting and satisfying. [11/2012, p.67]

Visual improvements and three included DLCs don’t justify buying this game again, but if you haven’t played it on PS3 yet, you’re in for long hours of valuable entertainment. [Sept 2014, p.59]

First and foremost, Amnesia: Rebirth is an intriguing, well told story about grief, loss, dying hope and terrifying solitude. Beneath the skillfully laid out narrative you’ll also find a good horror game, though its ingredients feel a bit too familiar for Rebirth to be as scary as the first Amnesia. [13/2020, p.44]

Phantom Doctrine is an addictive mix of improved combat mechanics from Hard West and XCOM’s strategic layer (but you also manage particular soldiers, not just your base). I recommend it if you revel in silent executions and infiltrating enemy facilities without leaving any traces, especially if you enjoyed Invisible, Inc. and don’t mind a game being somewhat rough around the edges. [10/2018, p.48]

It's not scary, but it has tons of moments that will keep you on the edge of your seat. [11/2012, p.70]

Unlike the 2017 edition, F1 2018 failed to surprise me with the scope and depth of changes it introduces to the series. Basically it is the 2017 edition, but a bit fresher, a tad more modern and somewhat more realistic, which makes it a very good game. [11/2018, p.78]

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.

It’s a shame that Corey Cole’s and Lori Ann’s (you do remember Quest for Glory, right?) return to active service goes unnoticed, because despite being archaic and flawed (lots of minor technical bugs, poorly designed combat) Hero-U deserves a chance, as it effortlessly brings together RPGs and point’n’clicks and offers lots of freedom. [09/2018, p.56]

Forza Motorsport lets you enjoy the atmosphere of racing and recreates driving sports cars brilliantly, but it definitely needs updates that would introduce more tracks and some graphical improvements. However, minor shortcomings do not take away from the pleasure of experiencing the game’s excellent driving model which is close enough to a serious simulation but at the same time accessible to mass audience. In terms of gameplay it’s undeniably the best Forza ever.

RPG elements, coherent story with twists, exciting battles spiced up with magic and great visuals make King Arthur II a game that's hard to put aside. [March 2012, p.70]