Gnosia is a fascinating and extraordinarily engaging game. It’s based on written word and static illustrations but it engrossed me much more than any AAA title. [06/2021, p.62]

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

Even though you can briefly describe Genesis Noir as an adventure game with occasional puzzles, in fact it’s a completely unique, extraordinary experience unlike anything I’ve played. [06/2021, p.58]

Twenty years ago I was enamored with Startopia’s humorous approach to a space business simulation. Spacebase Startopia does the same but worse. While back then I didn’t mind Startopia’s low level of complexity, because its 3D graphics and humor made up for that, today I was disappointed with the fact that the campaign poses no challenge at all and the whole thing feels shallow. It’s more of a replacement rather than a worthy successor to the classic. [06/2021, p.56]

Linearity, complete absence of suspense, poorly written characters, ill-conceived gameplay mechanics and various bugs turned Arkham Horror: Mother’s Embrace into a huge disappointment. [06/2021, p.54]

If you remember the original Shadow Man, the remastered version might be a cool sentimental journey into the past. New players however will probably be discouraged by both the graphics and the terribly aged gameplay. [06/2021, p.53]

This safe sequel bursting with fun is probably this year’s best incarnation of a guilty pleasure. [06/2021, p.52]

Soulstorm is old school and it’s for you to decide whether that’s a flaw or not. You can definitely feel the spirit of the old Oddworlds, but for me the devs were to conservative. I would really welcome a touch of madness, some variety to spice thing up. However, if a solid, challenging retro platformer is what you’re looking for – go for it, you’ll be pleased. [06/2021, p.50]

This great mobile slasher has PlatinumGames written all over it. Wonderful art style, superb combat, fascinating Yokai, the soundtrack, the story, the characters – pretty much everything clicked in World of Demons. The developers did a fantastic job and now they can finally focus on giving us Bayonetta 3. [06/2021, p.48]

The terrific concept, the amazing music, the minions bustling around the retrofuturistic secret base of my own design – there was a moment when I was deeply in love with Evil Genius 2. Hours later I discovered that it drags research out frustratingly and the choice of rooms you can build is too narrow considering the length of the scenarios. What’s the point of having a multistory facility if all the floors look the same? Still, it’s a fantastic game that will make all fans of Dungeon Keeper feel right at home. [06/2021, p.46]

Narita Boy’s art direction is spectacular, and the story is fun, but the adventure itself is disappointing – shallow, repetitive and stretched out. [06/2021, p.45]

I’m impressed by how well the developers thought this game through. Rise simultaneously improves the formula used in World and makes Monster Hunter more friendly towards newcomers. It makes great use of Switch’s nature and by clearly separating the multiplayer from the single-player campaign, it ensures you’re going to have fun regardless of the circumstances. Apart from one subpar mode (which imitates a tower defense), it’s an amazing game. [06/2021, p.42]

Urtuk is a really solid tactical RPG with well-designed combat and I can recommend it to anyone eager to wander around the wastelands and fight mutants. [06/2021, p.41]

Around the middle of the campaign Balan Wonderworld suddenly gets its act together and becomes almost enjoyable, but the first half is a discouraging display of awful level design and overall ineptitude. [06/2021, p.40]

Until now there was only one sensible way to play Pac-Man – the Championship Edition. Pac-Man 99 is a new viable option. Even though the presence of other players is barely noticeable and the whole trick gets old quite fast, the game is simply more interesting than the basic version of the classic. [06/2021, p.39]

As a remake, NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139... is a bit disappointing, because in terms of graphics it only reached the level of NieR Automata, which means it doesn’t look great. The content, however, is still brilliant. It’s an amazing adventure you must experience. [06/2021, p.36]

Outriders guarantees an enjoyable evening with friends. We had lots of fun clearing out stage after stage, gathering loot, upgrading our gear and improving our builds so they complement each other perfectly. The final score would have been higher if it weren’t for tons of technical issues we had to deal with. [06/2021, p.28]

Humankind features some revolutionary mechanics, but fails to use their potential to the fullest. However, that doesn’t change the fact that the game is simply very enjoyable and Sid Meier’s Civilization now has a major rival. [11/2021, p.78]

An interesting, solid genre hybrid that could use a greater weapon variety and would benefit from adding more content. [11/2021, p.76]

Lost in Random excels in storytelling and offers an unconventional combat system. If you like visiting unique worlds, enjoy dark fables and appreciate a good story, you’ll get hooked on this game big time. I was eagerly awaiting Alice: Asylum and suddenly this gem appeared. Here’s to more wonderful surprises like this one. [11/2021, p.74]

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]

The “medieval Slavic GTA” (inspired by the early GTA games, mind you, not the 3D ones) is crude but also fun, unpretentious and full of positive energy. Chock-full of jokes, easter eggs and pop culture references, Rustler is never serious. If you enjoy such titles and are willing to accept the game’s intentionally old-fashioned formula, you could consider giving it a chance. [11/2021, p.70]

For a game about painting, Behind the Frame surprisingly lacks creativity. [11/2021, p.69]

Fuga: Melodies of Steel is a balanced cross between an RPG and a strategy game. The tale about a group of kids who acquire a weapon capable of changing the course of war is spun with sensitivity, imagination and charm. It’s a unique experience that takes you back to the era of the best handheld turn-based RPGs. [11/2021, p.68]

A complex cross between a tycoon, a 4X game and an RPG with turn-based combat. It offers some interesting ideas but ultimately failed to convince me. I think the developers simply overdid it, implementing tons of features and elements that either don’t matter much or are poorly executed, but unnecessarily clutter the game and overwhelm the player. [11/2021, p.66]

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

The combat is very meaty, boss fights are properly varied and the absurd story is one of the strongest points of the game. However, No More Heroes III is very uneven and got stuck in the past decade both in terms of gameplay and design. Actually, the series regressed in some aspects. Goichi Suda obviously ran out of ideas an is chasing his own tail. [11/2021, p.62]

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]