Same old grind, same old lags, still no content promised to be delivered “just after the game’s release”. [06/2015, p.58]

Henford-on-Bagley is charming and picturesque and I had a great time tending animals, getting to know the local community and completing some minor tasks for my neighbors. I would have been even happier with Cottage Living, if the developers had added more new furniture pieces and made the barn larger, as it only holds one cow or llama. [10/2021, p.37]

Young developers within Obsidian finally got a chance to do something on their own and want to do things differently. While the world they portrayed is fresh and original, combat gets stale and accessibility comes at a price of the game being shallower than old school RPGs. [01/2017, p.56]

In the latest edition of The Best Game in History: Don’t Even Argue the developers continue to lower the barrier to entry, so less experienced players can grasp His Majesty’s vastness more easily. That’s great, but as a veteran player I expected some more substantial changes (e.g. revamped tactical system or a new take on press conferences). [01/2017, p.54]

Westerado is no Red Dead Redemption but it is a very neat tribute to Western films. [08/2015, p.63]

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]

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]

Tempest Rising provides plenty of fun and uses familiar elements from classic RTS games, such as army and base management in the style of good old Command & Conquer. A few small steps backwards can be forgiven – there's no revolution here, but it's a solid game with wonderful music.

A stealth game with a minimalistic art style but sophisticated contents. It proves that games can successfully tackle difficult subjects as long as gameplay remains the most important element. [11/2015, p.36]

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

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]

It will not stop the global warming, it doesn’t cure cancer or even introduce any new trends in game design, but in almost every level it proves that Zelda is not the only must-have title on Switch. It matches the platform’s nature perfectly. [05/2017, p.70]

Turn-based combat – especially later in the game – is enjoyable, but too easy on the normal difficulty level. Visuals resembling old Disney movies are wonderful and music is excellent. It’s a shame that the characters have no voices though, because it would make them easier to attach to. [03/2014, p.64]

We might have grown weary of Traveller's Tales LEGO series, but Harry Potter: Years 5-7 is the best and the most complete game they've done. An ideal remedy for the headache that Electronic Arts caused us with their lousy Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 adaptation. [January 2012, p.68]

I can’t imagine any AoW fan could ignore this meaty DLC. [06/2015, p.57]

Torch City is really impressive. Every district has its own unique style and all the environments are extraordinarily detailed. The game’s atmosphere is fantastic, exploring the wonderfully designed world is very engaging and the combat system is great. Just go on and play it, unless you’re allergic to backtracking, because F.I.S.T. relies on it quite heavily. [11/2021, p.27]

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]

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

Avalanche pulled out the big guns – the Star Wars license. Along with new characters and Play Sets came many additions and cool new features in the Toy Box mode. [06/2016, p.56]

It's not on par with Among Thieves and Drake's Deception in terms of variety and panache but it is a real Uncharted game. Plus it's the most impressive thing I've seen on a mobile console. [March 2012, p.74]

Yakuza Kiwami is so much more than just a remake of the first game in the series. Sega rebuilt the original from scratch using a much more powerful engine, with the help of completely new artists, and enriched the script with tons of references to subsequent Yakuza releases. It’s not a perfect game but it does a great job at tying up loose ends from Yakuza Zero. [11/2017, p.50]

The only thing I didn’t like about Flinthook is its uneven difficulty level, but that simply comes with the rougelike elements. Other than that it’s an excellent game. [07/2017, p.58]

Guns, Gore & Cannoli 2 does absolutely nothing to evolve the genre, but it’s OK. Not every game needs to be innovative, and this Belgian run’n’gun excels at squeezing every drop of fun out of every minute of gameplay using simple means and it looks amazing while doing it. [05/2018, p.54]

Gwent’s greatest asset are its basic mechanics – simple, easy to grasp and engaging mentally. Gives the players a lot of agency and even more tactics to discover and choose from. [13/2018, p.60]

It’s actually a perfect smartphone game, but on 3DS it doesn’t attack you with ads, microtransactions and other annoyances associated with the free-to-play model. [10/2016, p.70]

The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow is charged with the aura of moors and local folklore. I really enjoyed taking part in the experience of the heroine stranded in a strange place were the real and supernatural worlds intertwine, but I also have to applaud logical puzzles and a really engaging story.

Although it's hard not to appreciate the story (the line between the good and the evil was never this thin in any previous Assassin's Creed) numerous technical issues prevent you from forgetting it's just a game. In addition controls are not very intuitive and low resolution textures occur far too often. Still it's definitely worth playing. [1/2013, p.52]

Chronicle Saviours offers more content than any other shmup and is enjoyable for both hardcore fans and newcomers alike. [04/2016, p.43]

Outlast grosses you out (like Condemned: Criminal Origins) rather than making you fear your own shadow (like the first Amnesia did), but nonetheless it’s a great horror. [11/2013, p.81]

From Dust is hugely satisfying and might herald the revival of the almost forgotten god games. It's a damn intelligent game and Eric Chahi did not forget how to build an extraordinary atmosphere of another world. [August 2011, p.59]

Expands Dishonored’s lore and provides three missions that are not overly extensive but provide enough content to keep you occupied for an hour each. [11/2013, p.79]

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

Atlus does not step outside safe territory charted by Persona. #FE will mostly be appreciated by people interested in the Japanese idol scene and those of you who need some more Persona right away. [10/2016, p.55]

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

A groundbreaking voxel-based engine makes demolition more fun than one could imagine. But it’s the amazing amount of mods (maps, tools of destructions, gameplay changes) that turns Teardown into an absolute blast for everyone who enjoys breaking stuff.

The previous Space Marine, released thirteen years ago, did not prepare me for the intensity of the sequel’s combat. Space Marine 2 is undoubtedly a great game for Warhammer 40,000 fans, although it’s best experienced in co-op, because the AI that controls the protagonist’s companions in single-player mode leaves a lot to be desired.

Everything in the game is unpolished and once again there is absolutely nothing interesting storywise; no mystery and no lead concept that would let the players explore the world by themselves. It’s the same level design, same designers’ tricks and the same sub-par balance which I know all too well form the previous games. [01/2020, p.76]

It might be merely a return of a game that did not advance the series, but it was – and still is – the genre’s peak achievement. Sure, I could argue that boss encounters could’ve been more polished and the game could’ve looked better since Switch is more powerful than Wii U. A new world would have been a nice touch too. But what can I do when the game’s core is so good and it is complemented by content so great that such complaints become irrelevant? [02/2019, p.54]

The legend returns after thirty years and it was so worth the wait! Freedom is still the most beautiful thing in Elite. You can reach every star you see in the night sky and do pretty much whatever you wish to earn a living – trade, smuggle, complete missions, steal from others, blow pirates to pieces, harvest resources from asteroids. [02/2015, p.58]

Assetto Corsa Competizione is a full-fledged simulator but it’s scanty in terms of typical game content. However, a multitude of settings to play with and an advanced driving model will keep racing fans occupied for hours on end. What’s also worth mentioning, is the fact that the game takes full advantage of DualSense’s features, which really improves the overall experience.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty features some really cool ideas – unusual mechanics related to combat, a rich array of spells or a reputation system that rewards exploration. Its outdated, linear level design trails behind Dark Souls, not to mention Elden Ring, and sometimes I was annoyed with uneven difficulty level but I still believe every soulslike enthusiast should at least take a closer look at Team Ninja’s game.

You can point out that Ascension failed to make a real step forward. You can argue that the multiplayer mode is a foreign body, a strained attempt to find innovation in the wrong place. That’s true, but in my eyes the foundation built by the previous God of War games proved to be strong enough to sustain what I hope is just the calm before the storm that Kratos will unleash on PS4. And damn, Ascension looks unbelievable! [CD-Action 05/2013, p.64]

It’s hard to leave this game – it’s beautiful, sound great and is extremely involving. A must-have for the fans of Day of the Tentacle, Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams. [01/2014, p.70]

There is a fear in Firaxis to truly revolutionize the gameplay and it’s a shame that Gathering Storm’s potentially exciting new mechanics actually modify it ever so slightly. [03/2019, p.52]

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

Logic Artists once again proved that they know how to make RPGs and shortened the distance between their games and the genre’s greatest. Promised strategic elements were introduced with moderation, so they are visible but did not dominate the gameplay. Card-based legion management is disappointing, but traditional turn-based combat is as enjoyable as always. Just bear in mind that the story needs quite a lot of time to really get going.

A good standalone expansion with one new faction and 8 new maps. [11/2015, p.52]

To be honest I do not understand why people are delighted with Dropsy. It’s an average representative of the old school of point’n’clicks and its story did not blow me away either. [12/2015, p.56]

The edition for the new generation of consoles is much better than the old one, especially when it comes to graphics (spectacular!) and loading times (lightning fast). Sadly, despite many improvements, some of the game’s flaws remained unaddressed, which fortunately does not change the fact that NBA 2K21 is now simply enjoyable. Just be careful and don’t buy the old version by mistake! [01/2021, p.75]

Darkwood’s developers have an expert grasp of what terror is, where it lurks and how to frighten the player to make him come back for more. They couldn’t decide whether they’re making a story-driven game or a sandbox, but their effort is still worth recommending to everyone who enjoys good horrors. [11/2017, p.64]

Puppeteer’s biggest strength are its visuals, but on the other hand the game is so gloomy and disturbing that I couldn’t wait to go back to a much more pleasant (also in terms of gameplay) Rayman. [11/2013, p.85]

It’s a shame Double Fine missed the chance to expand the game by enriching the short campaign and introducing new, more varied side quests. Still Brutal Legend is a treat for every hard rocker and metalhead – they definitely should hop on this crazy train! [CD-Action 05/2013, p.58]

Avowed delights and disappoints. This mix of RPG and action adventure offers a great deal of freedom in terms of exploration and character development in the beginning, only to fail to exploit the full potential of the systems implemented later on. Such a shame.

At last, a game that has something to say about the world we live in, and is not afraid to do so loudly. The first episode includes a few powerful scenes and touches some heavy subjects, like police brutality, social inequality or toxic relationships. In addition writing and performances from the actors represent the quality level that overwhelming majority of video games can only aspire to. I genuinely can’t wait to see what happens next. [12/2018, p.52]

Were the gameplay limited to survival elements and managing the titular mobile base, Last Train Home would have been great. Sadly, missions focused on combat are really disappointing and ultimately all the advantages of the game come from its atmosphere and skillful use of historical and geographical setting.

I have no idea how Panic Button managed to cram one of the most spectacular action games into Nintendo Switch. It’s an amazing achievement, but of course it came with a price – the game runs smoothly enough at 30 fps, but looks ugly, and playing it with the Joy-Cons is a nightmare. I highly recommend using the Pro Controller, or better still, experiencing this terrific shooter on another platform. [02/2021, p.54]

These are mostly unchanged Mega Man X games, but if you haven’t played them yet, you owe it to yourself to catch up on these gems – and Legacy Collection is the best occasion you can get. [10/2018, p.78]

I regret not having played Dishonored when it originally came out, because the Definitive Edition looks like time has been standing still for the last three years, at least when the PS4 version (which does not offer 60 fps, by the way) is concerned. [11/2015, p.52]

Baseball simulation became even better but I still think it’s not the best sport to turn into a video game. There are just too many nuances – how you grip the bat, how your wrist works etc. – that are impossible to recreate. [07/2015, p.61]

Revisiting Dunwall was very rewarding and also motivated me to complete the original campaign of this great game for the second time. [CD-Action 06/2013, p.77]

Almost everything that I loved about the first Company of Heroes is back in the sequel and done even better. It’s been a long time since I played such a stunning and addictive RTS. [CD-Action 09/2013, p.46]

A slow-paced game that requires attention and imagination but repays with stylish beauty and solid puzzles. [08/2017, p.75]

It’s a wonderful gift for Crash fans and platformer fans in general. When I heard the first beats of the reworked Crash Bandicoot 3 theme song, I was literally close to tears. It’s great to see you again, mate, I really missed you. [09/2017, p.40]

I do not mind simplicity as long as there’s something valuable underneath it. Samorost 3 can only offer great visuals and for me that is not enough. [06/2016, p.57]

A huge disappointment. I can recommend The Collection only to those who never played the original games, because the quality of the remasters does not justify paying for them again (even old bugs were left intact!). [12/2016, p.57]

The best mobile racing game since the last Real Racing. [01/2017, p.75]

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]

An unconventional platformer where you can’t jump and instead use magnets to tackle obstacles in your way. It’s a simple idea, but the developers showed incredible creativity and made a game that surprises you all the time and constantly challenges both your reflexes and your mind. Be warned though, Super Magbot’s difficulty is hardcore. [09/2021, p.67]

Dandy Ace is a fun, vibrant roguelike with its own distinctive personality and a cool combat system. [06/2021, p.65]

Tetsuya Nomura’s latest game resembles Persona to some degree, but offers real-time combat. Similarly to Kingdom Hearts, it goes for flashiness rather than a deep tactical system, but after you unlock enough psychic powers, the game becomes more varied. Overall, NEO is solid, but it needs quite a lot of time to gain momentum. [10/2021, p.64]

I am sure Natural Selection 2 will gather a group of devoted fans. After all it’s a good, surprisingly original game. [CD-Action 02/2013, p.50]

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is still a very good fighting game, but this new version is not even a remaster. It’s a simple port that further exposes weaknesses of the original game’s aged graphics (forget about a dedicated PS5 version, by the way). Putting a heavy emphasis on the story is not a problem per se, but the way P4AU tells it doesn’t fit the genre and will confuse those not acquainted with the main Persona series.

Canadians responsible for this edition restrained their own creativity almost completely, delivering a polished product true to the original game. [13/2014, p.63]

The developers made an attempt to spice up the gameplay, but their victory is not complete, as there’s a lot of meaningless side activities in Gravity Rush 2. [03/2017, p.56]

It gets boring quickly, because it’s so easy that you feel like you’re playing with cheat codes activated. [13/2014, p.67]

Kaleidoscope of available modes guarantees that everyone interested in hockey will easily find a way to enjoy NHL 19, whether they crave 15 minutes of accessible fun or prefer to dig into statistics and play whole seasons. Learning basics is easy, but if you want more (e.g. success in online modes) you will need patience and a lot of practice, as controls are deep and some tricks require uncommon skill. [12/2018, p.72]

For a turn-based strategy battler the scenarios have a quite dramatic flow to them. And the game only gains from it. Even escort missions cease to be just battles and it pays to devise interesting ways to break through the enemy lines [12/2019, p.48]

A skillfully written, nonlinear interactive movie that despite its cyberpunk setting touches upon modern topics (like the LGBT movement or disabilities) and does it in a tactful, natural way. [04/2018, p.51]

The reinvigorated editions of the first three Final Fantasy games look great, run smoothly and offer some very welcome new features that modern audience expects (e.g. the auto-battle mode and auto-save). The new music arrangements done by Nobuo Uematsu himself are marvelous and the redrawn visuals are vibrant and full of details. Of course, these games are heavily outdated in terms of gameplay and storytelling, so their simplicity might discourage newcomers, but they are still a lot of fun and a great opportunity to experience the revered classics. [10/2021, p.50]

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

Don’t be fooled by pixel graphics. Despite its simple mechanics TaT is a full-blooded RTS game with a varied, challenging campaign. [12/2017, p.61]

This slightly graphically improved re-release of the classic demonstrates that Beyond Good & Evil – a game where despite many crazy adventures your main weapon is your camera – can still evoke emotions, be appealing and stand out against much younger titles.

One of those games that you sit down to play for half an hour and end up spending whole night with. It’s not flawless (e.g. it lacks a multiplayer mode) but you will not regret investing time in it. [01/2014, p.50]

Planet of Lana is an enjoyable change from large games, a relaxing experience with a couple of poignant moments. It’s not in the same league as Ori and the Blind Forest or Limbo, and its puzzles could’ve been more creative, but in my opinion it’s still a strong debut by Wishfully and I’m curious what the future holds for the studio.

Reanimal easily surpasses Little Nightmares 3. Although the recently released game was perfectly fine, it was the Swedish developers who took a step forward, which proved necessary to keep the idea fresh and simply not boring.

Cryptark is built around an interesting idea, offers a wide array of weapons and makes you adapt to variable conditions. What holds it back is the fact that it sometimes crosses the line between demanding and unfair. [09/2017, p.37]

Let’s Go, Eevee! is without a doubt a crucial step for the series. Or rather 18 steps back, 19 steps forward, and 15 steps sideways. It’s a remake of classic Pokémon games, although not a nostalgia trip for hardcore fans but rather a bridge for 147 million of Pokémon Go players – hence many elements were cut to simplify the gameplay. [01/2019, p.66]

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.

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]

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]

The gameplay is simple and brilliant but the game itself shines as it should only in multiplayer. [10/2017, p.68]

A beautiful but merely competent beat ‘em up, which becomes repetitive after around five hours played with the first character. [07/2018, p.76]

Luftrausers has just one gameplay idea but executes it in a best way possible. [05/2014, p.67]

Its weaknesses – generic world, bland story and lack of innovation – are easily forgiven because the game is very well put together and extremely addictive. On every step it gave me a reason to spend 'just 15 more minutes' with it. I really couldn't wait to play it again at home. [March 2012, p.44]

Do stealth games have to be so slow? Stealth Bastard Deluxe has an answer – no, they don’t! Well, you can argue whether it’s a real stealth game or rather a platformer but the important part is that it’s very addictive and well-balanced. [CD-Action 02/2013, p.49]

The game might disappoint the veterans of the genre but it also makes an interesting introduction to it – and the flawless pixel art is definitely one of its strongest selling points. [13/2019, p.89]

The level design changes between exceptional and mediocre which is rather disappointing for a 6-hour long game. It was a pleasant experience overall but its potential dwindles before it has a chance to make a proper impact. [01/2020, p.79]

What a wonderful surprise at the end of the year! Blacktail, a real gem dipped in Slavic folklore, delighted me with its distinct atmosphere, engaging narrative, sense of humor, and excellent music. What did not impress me, was the combat, but as a whole the game is a fantastic experience.