Its niche setting and multitude of combat options make Flint: Treasure of Oblivion best suited for methodical turn-based fans and pirate enthusiasts. This is a game you’ll either be frustrated by or fall in love at the helm of this classic pirate tale.

Behemoth delivers on one of the most unique gaming experiences I’ve ever had the privilege to play. Thanks to VR and thanks to Skydance, you can now savor the fantasy of facing a multistory in height colossus and feeling like a badass when you defeat one. This game would be a masterpiece, with tighter game controls and fewer penalizing checkpoints. Instead, it ends up being very good.

Quibbles aside, this is an outstanding piece of work by Camouflaj. Making a VR Batman game comparable to the flat versions is no small feat. You get all the elements of an Arkham game. There’s exploration, combat, detective work, stealth, and puzzle solving. While it may not have the scale of a flat Arkham game, it has an engaging story with unexpected twists as you try to track down who is the Rat King. What is also heartening is Camouflaj will continue to update the game with free content such as additional Challenge Maps. If you’ve yet to experience VR and are a big Batman fan, you’ll never get a better or more affordable opportunity to try it out with a Quest 3S/Batman bundle. Or really feel like Batman.

To all the Soul Reaver fans out there, I apologize. Perhaps there’s some essential flavor that nostalgia adds to the soup, but I’m sadly missing it. For me, coming into these games cold was a dreadful shock. The big stretches of empty space are pretty painful. Fighting enemies is easier than I expected, but still not terribly engaging. The puzzles are stretched out over the same bizarre layouts, which makes them more frustrating. The visuals are a major improvement over the old games, however. I like the narrative’s premise well enough, but it was hard to get into the swing of things. Again, mostly due to the archaic gameplay. If you’re a fan of the old games, then Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered will be a breath of fresh air. On the other hand, new players will likely have a very difficult time with these games.

The bottom line? The Great Circle is an excellent time. The voice acting is great, the action is breezy and fast, and the whole game is quite beautiful. Plus the story has some serious hooks. Indiana Jones is all about globetrotting adventures, punching nazis, and solving gigantic mysteries. This game captures that vibe with ease. I had conflicting thoughts about the pacing at times, but maybe non-reviewers won’t feel that so intensely. Everyone might hate the giant fights, however. I also had some issues with backtracking during side quests, but they weren’t dealbreakers. Whether you’re a diehard Indy devotee or a sucker for grand adventures, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is an excellent choice.

Luma Island offers something for everyone with a love for relaxing and inviting games. Grinding aside, the farming, crafting, and exploration aspects are all equally viable experiences. There are some minor frustrations and a few shallow moments, but on the whole Luma Island offers an endlessly appealing escape from the real world.

Trombone Champ: Unflattened! captures the absurdity of the original and perfectly translates it to the virtual realm. Tooting your way through songs, whether accurately or disgracefully delivers endless laughs and a delightful sense of chaos. While the song selection is vast, there is a lack of contemporary tracks on offer. Although great in short bursts, the game can get repetitive during longer sessions. Regardless, the game shines in a communal setting, where the ridiculousness of playing (or spectating) guarantees laugh-out-loud moments. Weird, wonderful, and utterly unique, it’s a hilarious addition to any gathering.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 offers upgraded visuals, a bigger hanger full of aircraft types, and more detail all around. For some, the high system requirements and always-on need for a fast internet connection might be a deal breaker. Prior investment in a lot of third-party add-ons for the last edition might also warrant some caution. Caveats aside, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 offers a wide array of structured activities, plenty of guidance and, you know, the whole world to explore. It’s a great point of entry for armchair pilots and pretty satisfying for all but the most hardcore flight enthusiasts.

I kind of wish that Mirthwood’s combat was either way better or entirely optional. Alas, it is neither. Aside from that, though, Mirthwood is an entertaining and engaging mashup of cozy farming and RPG adventuring. It’s easy to spend a lot of relaxing time puttering around, chatting up the townsfolk or combing the world for treasure.

VR is obviously at its best when it creates an experience that is unique to the medium. By this definition, Bounce Arcade is a definite success. It has an original concept that’s well executed and lots of fun. Often in VR, novelty is a game’s only selling point. I don’t think that’s true with Bounce Arcade, and hopefully the game will continue to be supported by new tables and additional modes or incentives to keep playing.

None of the glitches are game breaking, but they do detract from the experience. How much they do will be up to individual tolerance levels. Kinetic Games have promised to address current issues with future patches. One thing is that working is cross-platform play. PS5 and PC players can do coop play. It is a testament to the game experience that players will get past the PSVR 2 issues and still go ghost hunting with Phasmophobia. If you love ghost busting and can tamper your expectations with the game’s polish, you are in for a great time.

Whether it was the boss design, the life count, or a handful of glitches, I kept hitting roadblocks during my playthrough. As much as I might enjoy certain characters or gameplay elements, I still struggled with this one. I had fun slogging my way to the last stage, sure. But the thought of playing enough to unlock everything fills me with terrible dread. G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra might be for franchise fans more than anyone interested in another beat ’em up.

All in all, Ys X: Nordics is a fun action-RPG romp with vikings, frantic combat, and a truly entertaining silent protagonist. If you can figure out the parry system, it might even be a good game. I’m still docking it points for making me swear at my Switch so loud I scared my cat.

Fans of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R franchise expect uncompromising action and are largely immune to the series’ rough edges. For them, S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 delivers, adding a vast open world filled with danger and discovery. The release day patch fixed many big issues, but the game still needs serious additional polish. Some casual shooter fans might be put off by S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2’s difficulty and opacity, but players who have patiently waited for S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 will be pleased.

Augmented Empire is a solid game that is worthy of exposure to a larger audience than when it was first released. If turn based strategy games with great production values and an intriguing story and characters sounds enticing, then you should definitely check out Augmented Empires.

Make no mistake, this is definitely the superior version of Dragon Quest III. The modern mechanics and slick visuals strike that balance between retro and modern sensibilities. Combat is as easy or as difficult as you need it to be. I wish the auto-battle system was less powerful, but it’s still an optional mechanic. Beyond all my gripes about it, playing this game was still a relaxing, compelling experience. I love level grinding, scouring dungeons, and taking down nasty monsters. The story is simple, but in a sweeping, grand fashion perfectly suited for Dragon Quest. Whether or not you’ve played the original, you’ll have a great time with Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake.

Every inch of Rogue Flight gleams with style. An obvious passion project like this is filled with delightful little details. Playing Rogue Flight is a joy. I’m an easy mark, the second I see something with wings loaded into a tube, I’m already in. And the sky isn’t crowded with a lot of options. Rogue Flight zooms past expectations into a cool, scrappy game.

For my money, Lego Horizon Adventures is the best Lego game I’ve played. It does a great job of retelling Aloy’s story, all the while never losing sight of what makes Lego games great. At times, it’s hilarious, and other times, it’s heartwarming. Plus, it looks absolutely gorgeous. It’s also chock-full of content for players to discover, rewarding those who take the time to search every nook and cranny of its diverse set of levels. I do feel it plays things a little too safe at times. But for fans of the Lego games, it has everything one could want from a new entry into the franchise.

Tetris Forever is a fitting monument to a legendary franchise. With over 90 minutes of interviews and behind-the-scenes footage, this virtual museum beautifully captures the unique journey of Tetris—from Alexey Pajitnov’s workstation in the USSR to the hearts of millions around the world. Although some classic iterations are absent, the selection of key titles and diverse versions provides a solid representation of the series’ evolution. The experience is enriched by Tetris Time Warp, which celebrates the game’s legacy through its innovative, era-shifting mechanic. As a whole, Tetris Forever tells a captivating story about one of gaming’s most iconic titles.

Overall, Police Simulator: Patrol Officers needs a little more time to cook. The concept of being a cop and working your way up the ladder dealing justice is a great one. Better implementation would take Police Simulator: Patrol Officers to the next level, plus a little more spit and polish because it seems like it was not ready to hit the streets yet. All those bugs and jank are a pretty big offense.

Metro Awakening VR is an ambitious effort. Aside from the mura issue, which is PSVR 2 specific, the only other blemish is a restart bug. Whenever I died and the game restarted, it would often crash. Hopefully, this is a bug that can be quickly fixed with a patch. Aside from the PSVR 2 mura issue, this is a top-notch game that should not only appeal to VR Gamers but fans of the Metro series. The game has 12 chapters and each chapter should take you about an hour to play. That is if the mutants and spiders don’t creep you out and force you to rip off your headset.

Metal Slug Tactics injects fresh energy into the tactics genre with its dynamic, fast-paced systems. While the game introduces a range of compelling mechanics, their lack of clear explanations can hinder your strategic choices during missions. However, the thrill of initiating sync attacks encourages a more aggressive playstyle, making battles feel exhilarating. Leikir Studio has successfully reimagined a classic franchise for a new genre, and despite some issues with system clarity, the addictive gameplay loop offers a fun and innovative twist on tactical strategy.

Empire of the Ants is an excellent game. This is one of those games that seemingly come out of nowhere but will likely be a beloved favourite for many gamers for years to come. While a lot of these gameplay aspects have been seen before in other games, the way they’re included here, through the eyes of an ant, can be quite unique. The visuals are outstanding and the music is brilliant. There are some challenges with controls and the camera, especially in confined spaces or when your ant is upside-down. And unfortunately, I didn’t get an opportunity to experience the multiplayer aspects. Fortunately, the single-player experience is overall so well done that I’d consider the multiplayer mode a nice bonus more than anything. If you’re looking for a unique gaming real-time strategy experience, then you really can’t go wrong with Empire of the Ants.

This game suffers when subjected to a reviewer’s brutal pacing. Maybe if I hadn’t been racing towards the finish line, the endless tiny loading screens wouldn’t have bothered me as much. I was also forced to discard a lot of the side content. It’s not super compelling stuff, but the act of completing it can be pretty relaxing. Searching for Sprite Bulbs scratches that completionist itch in a big way. Plus, the game is beautiful and the battles are a lot of fun. I still wish the puzzles weren’t so frustrating for me. But again, they benefit from more patience than I could spare. My momentum while playing felt wobbly and uneven, but this is still a well-crafted game. Perhaps your time (if you can offer more of it than me) will be well-spent playing Mario & Luigi: Brothership.

Slitterhead takes an innovative concept and places it at the forefront of the adventure. The possession mechanic leads to a frantic combat system that encourages you to quickly switch between characters to fight formidable foes. This bleeds throughout acting as a method of traversal and stealth. Although a little clunky and lacking polish, the game manages to deliver a truly unique experience that will resonate with fans of action and horror.

By almost every metric, Horizon Zero Dawn is a classic action RPG. For anyone who missed it, the Remastered edition is definitely the version to pick up. For those who already own it, the upgrade to Remastered is a reasonable $10 and at least on PS5, PS4 cloud saves work just fine. If the new and improved visuals inspire folks to play the game, or play it again, that’s a win for everyone.

I’ve loved and played Planet Coaster for years, and I really wanted the sequel to be the ultimate coaster-building experience. The potential is there. The water features are great, and the new coasters are exciting. Many of the tweaks and changes add new flexibility and sophistication to the building process. At the same time, the game’s lack of final technical polish and its time-consuming, heavy learning-curve, convoluted UI added an element of frustration to what should have been a familiar but unassailably better experience.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 removes whatever imaginary stench Modern Warfare III left behind by revitalizing the franchise with a standout campaign, engaging multiplayer, and a nostalgic yet innovative Zombies experience. The seamless launch with minimal issues speaks to the 4-year development cycle, resulting in one of the most polished COD entries at launch in recent memory. The campaign’s rich narrative, enjoyable mechanics, and sheer variety adds depth and excitement to the single-player experience. Meanwhile, the multiplayer mode strikes a perfect balance between familiarity and fresh gameplay, ensuring that both new and returning players feel right at home. With its return to classic round-based Zombies, Black Ops 6 successfully appeals to long-time fans while offering enough new content to keep everyone invested all year round. Overall, this installment not only meets but exceeds expectations.