If you’d like to understand what made Mario games, Zool or Super Meat Boy great, avoid Sir Lovelot, because the answer is in another castle. This game might be pretty, but it is soulless and quickly becomes boring. [05/2021, p.44]

The developers have made a huge step forward since their previous work, Lust for Darkness, and delivered an ambitious game that is better in every aspect. There’s still plenty of room for improvement, but engaging story and disturbing atmosphere make Lust from Beyond worth your time. If you can stomach an erotic horror with some twisted imagery, that is. [05/2021, p.42]

Nebuchadnezzar is not as great as Pharaoh, the legendary city builder in whose footsteps it follows. However, it’s an interesting game that will satisfy your desire to build ancient cities, even if it relies too much on burdensome micromanagement. [05/2021, p.40]

Paradise Lost offers an engaging story set in a fascinating world, and it’s hard not to notice and appreciate all the work that went into polishing the environments. Sadly, there’s very little actual gameplay here and while the first two hours made me feel like an explorer delving into the unknown, I only reached the end because I had to. [05/2021, p.39]

It looks like a simple little game, but give it some time, acquire more cards and it will surprise you with its unfolding complexity and addictiveness. Admittedly, initial loops are boring, but ultimately I spent hours on end with Loop Hero and had tons of fun. [05/2021, p.38]

I appreciated The Shore’s Lovecraftian atmosphere and the fact that it tried to be something more than a Dear Esther’s clone. Sadly, the game is just not good enough and proves that even two hours (or less, because you can finish The Shore quicker) can be enough to bore and frustrate the player. [05/2021, p.37]

With its limited controls, sluggish protagonist, unnecessary, frustrating deaths, and overall tendency to cling to the past too much, Ghosts ‘N Goblins Resurrection is a game either for masochists or die-hard fans of the franchise. There are plenty of platformers out there that are much better at bringing the old-school look and feel into present day. [05/2021, p.36]

Dakka Squadron is a simple yet enjoyable aerial shooter chock-full of rather silly humor. You can give it a try if you’re into Warhammer 40,000, but be warned that its basic gameplay becomes repetitive in longer sessions. [05/2021, p.35]

I liked the economic campaign but the historical one is not as good. The AI is awful, the redesigned popularity system promotes building the same structures over and over, the missions are not varied enough, and the game lacks atmosphere, because the whole oriental setting is pretty much just a skin for the original Stronghold. All in all, it’s an enjoyable game but there’s a lot of room for improvement. [05/2021, p.32]

Chris Nordgren and Jordi Roca created something unique and delightful. Everhood’s music-based combat system is absolutely brilliant in its simplicity and addictive as hell, the soundtrack is stellar, and I enjoyed the surreal atmosphere and the story which often breaks the fourth wall. It’s a gem you should definitely play. [05/2021, p.30]

The Nioh Collection brings two bright stars of the Soulslike constellation to PS5, slightly improved and accompanied by six DLCs. I found the first Nioh very satisfying, addictive and immensely fun as a whole, but the sequel turned out to be a chore because its absurd difficulty level was too much for me. [05/2021, p.28]

I adore A Way Out, so I had really high expectations for Hazelight’s new game. Instead of sticking to the proven, perfect formula of AWO, the developers decided to give us more of everything and as a result overdid it in many respects. The levels are too long and there are too many minigames, while the story can’t keep up. It seemed to me the narrative is just a pretext to introduce as many different gameplay mechanics as possible, and as a result the relationship between the protagonists is implausible. [05/2021, p.26]

To obtain decent equipment, you either need to grind till you drop unconscious or take a shortcut and buy it with real money. I’m not a fan of such paywalls, but the quests are very well-written and therefore engaging, and after some time I started to enjoy my life as a witcher, especially that I found Monster Slayer’s combat extremely satisfying. [10/2021, p.78]

Clichéd and predictable story might not be Unbound’s strong point, but the level design and mechanics definitely are. Behind the game’s fairy-tale charm, fantastic visuals and great music you’ll find masterfully crafted and challenging gameplay. This Romanian indie gem is not only highly polished, but also wonderfully varied and exciting from start to finish. [10/2021, p.76]

Vesper is full of redundant screens that you simply run across, which made the campaign longer but at the cost of watering down the gameplay. In theory, complexity of challenges rises due to introduction of time limits, increasing number of robots and longer escape sequences, but I completed most of the game almost with my eyes closed. It’s a beautiful, atmospheric adventure, but it would definitely benefit from being a bit harder. [10/2021, p.73]

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]

The protagonist doesn’t have a believable motivation, while the enemies, the environments and the gameplay mechanics lack variety. Other than that Death’s Door is a really decent action RPG – it’s pretty, technically polished, rich in optional content, and welcoming of inexperienced players. [10/2021, p.68]

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]

Samurai Warriors 5, another Musou game developed by Omega Force in recent times, is perfectly executed, but seems too conservative compared to Persona 5 Strikers or Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. The gameplay is very enjoyable and animations are polished, but I wish the missions were staged in a more interesting and creative way. However, after many years and countless Warriors installments the core of the game still works fine. [10/2021, p.66]

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]

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]

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]

Pokémon Unite is the first attempt at creating a MOBA with the pocket monsters – and I must admit it’s a successful one. The game is fast and intense, but also easy to get a grip on. I don’t expect it to take the esports scene by storm, but it’s very enjoyable and works great in a doctor’s waiting room or on the bus. As for me, I can’t force myself to stop playing Pokémon Unite and hope the developers will keep updating it. [10/2021, p.61]

The third installment of the series offers more of everything, which means you have broader possibilities and probably will enjoy it longer before you get bored with it. However, in terms of fundamentals it’s pretty much a copy of the previous games, especially OMD! 2, from which it basically borrowed everything worth borrowing. So, is this reheated dish worth giving a try? Definitely, because even if it tastes familiar, it was seasoned perfectly. [10/2021, p.58]

Style over substance – I bet Neon Giant has this cyberpunk principle printed above the office entrance. The design of their game is absolutely breathtaking, with huge, vertical, crime-infested cities and masterful use of lights and shadows. Add a pulp-style story and good dialogues (or rather monologues, as the protagonist is silent) immersed deeply in the cyberpunk lore, and you’ve got a pure gem for anyone who enjoys this setting. The shooting mechanics and progression system might be overly simple, but they get the job done and make it easier to catch the game’s flow. [10/2021, p.56]

At first glance, this year’s installment of the Codemasters’ Formula 1 franchise might seem very similar to the game we played 12 months ago. However, the improved driving model and the revamped, more engaging story mode make F1 2021 a significant step forward and the best game in the series. [10/2021, p.52]

A solid turn-based roguelike with traditional rules, transparent, fair gameplay, and distinctive atmosphere resembling Doom. It becomes repetitive and monotonous in longer sessions, but it’s a perfect title to launch in between other games. [10/2021, 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]