If you are an avid reader of Visual Novels, I would certainly suggest picking up Enigma:. While it doesn’t have the most outstanding storyline, the execution of it is very well done. Along with multiple endings, a beautiful soundtrack and a memorable cast of characters, I fully believe this game will make a great addition to your virtual library.

Old Time Hockey is not an ultra-realistic hockey sim, and it’s not trying to be. V7 know exactly what they are aiming for – simple, accessible fun – and in that they deliver like a Gordie Howe elbow to the head. Will its raw, simple style keep you coming back to play long after the beer has run out and your friends have stumbled home? That is the bigger question. Regardless, there’s enough good old hockey in this game to make it well worth a shot.

Devotees of yuri, musou, or anime visual novels might find something to enjoy in Samurai Maiden. Aside from its genre trappings, fans of action RPGs won’t be impressed. The game’s combat is simply too frustrating, repetitive, and janky. Samurai Maiden doesn’t take any chances. The result is an overpriced, low-budget game with tepid combat bound to a collection of familiar genre tropes.

In short, Syndrome is disappointing. Your level of disappointment will depend on how many horror games you have played as the games Syndrome borrows from are all substantially better.

Fans of the anime will still want to play Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness, but do so with caution. The main draw for new fans will be exploring the abyss and seeing all its layers. There’s just a lot of garbage to sift through to get to the good stuff.

Predator: Hunting Grounds has remarkable potential. It has all the right ideas in place but desperately needs further polish and a dedicated player base to flesh it out. The thoughts I’ve shared probably sound incredibly critical, but I oddly feel like sticking around to see where it goes.

Transformers Prime: The Game might not be the hardcore experience that a lot of gamers want or expect, but I really don't think that this was ever its intent. Although it is a solid experience for the young gamers in your family it is one that parents are likely to navigate away from.

The pacing is too slow at times, dragged down by excessive dialogue, but the $10 price tag is a welcome price point. Overall I found One Against All to be a nice change of pace from other games but there is still plenty of room for improvement.

Short Peace leans towards its visually appealing aspects instead of its story and gameplay features. It’s a nice anime and video game hybrid to mindlessly keep you busy for about two hours, but if you’re looking for a serious game to invest your time in and explore this might not be what you’re looking for. Your eyes will be thanking you, but your brain might say otherwise.

Overall, Tasomachi: Behind the Twilight is a bit of a letdown. I suppose some of that conclusion can be traced back to my own anticipation and misunderstanding of what the game was, but the fact is that objectively, Tasomachi is a simplistic collect-a-thon without a clear motivator to drive the player forward. While the game has a strong base, more could have been done to make it feel more like a game and less of a demo. While the sum of its parts leaves some to be desired, various aspects of Tasomachi: Behind the Twilight show what the developers at Orbital Express are capable of, and that is something I’ll be looking forward to.

Leisure Suit Larry: Reloaded is a rehash of the 1987 original. While it has been updated in some ways, the interface and content are firmly rooted in the 80’s.

There’s only one thing I can say; Empyre: Lords of the Sea Gates is not a finished product. It’s not even close. Things are hollow, broken, and un-freakin-readable. I love the premise for this game, but that’s the only affection I can have for it. So, so badly, I wanted this to be a fun experience, yet it’s anything but. In every aspect of the phrase, this game lacks the depth it needs to be called an RPG. The final rating can only reflect what’s presented, and that’s not much.

The production value isn’t as high as I’d hoped, but the game knows what it is and every mechanic and feature works together in tandem. A supreme variety in level and mission design paired with thoughtful stealth gameplay makes this a strong entry into the shooter genre, even if the overarching narrative isn’t all that interesting.

While the game looks pretty enough there just isn’t a lot of depth to it. The feeling of playing ping pong is mostly here, but with the technological deficiencies in tracking that prevent the control and finesse needed in a fast paced game, VR Ping Pro misses the mark.

It’s a title that feels devoid of passion, and not even the great soundtrack can save the game’s flying 18 wheelers from utter mediocrity.

Yes, I rage quit a few times but it drew me back in. Yes, sound effects and controls needed more work but I could look past that because it was fun. I really want to love this game more but something deep down says I shouldn’t.

Sports Story is a great idea that struggles to reach its full potential. While the soccer-focused tasks use the theme in fun and innovative ways, too many missions include menial tasks. On the pitch, the gameplay is basic and due to this, it doesn’t manage to string enough elements together to deliver a clinical finish.

If you’re an FPS fan itching for something to play on your Xbox Series X/S, then this could satisfy you for an afternoon. Otherwise, I would just wait until Bright Memory: Infinite releases.

I’m torn about Akiba’s Beat. On the one hand, there are large sections of the game I simply didn’t enjoy. The character portraits for the visual novel sections move slightly during conversations, which just seems like a tease. The combat has a wide range of options for getting through some very simple battles. I really miss decking out my avatar in ridiculous clothing combinations. Yet, the writing is excellent, the voice acting is on par and the game’s tone is just right.

Despite its sci-fi setting, Dolmen is less a Soulslike than a Dark Souls clone, with very few original ideas. The biggest issue, beyond the overall familiarity of just about everything, is that it brings back annoying mechanics that games like Elden Ring have evolved away from. While there is some fun to be had in Dolmen’s weapons and combat, at some point you’ll just wish you were playing a FromSoft game instead.

Is Red Game Without A Great Name the worst game I’ve played this year? No, that still belongs to Calvino Noir. Is it one of the worst? Absolutely. Don’t buy it. Don’t rent it. Don’t look at it. Don’t allow it to enter your thoughts. Avoid this game like I avoid social situations.

Bohemian Killing, with its unique plot and great artistic style, is a great experience for fans of murder mystery, however, it does seem to be a niche game targeting a very specific audience.

MX vs ATV All Out is a technically sound, fun little racing game that does its name’s legacy proud. I understand if some feel the game’s a little too rooted in the past, as the bulk of the game does not innovate. Still, jetting around the open farmland is great, catching big air and doing a sick trick is fun, and crashing is hysterical even if it’s not supposed to be. I enjoyed revving the engine of MX vs ATV All Out, I just wish it performed like a new 2018 model instead of an older model with a new coat of paint.

I can’t knock Dead End Job for anything other than its redundant level design and mechanics, as it really does succeed in every other aspect pretty well. The art and music are great, the perks are clever, and the couch co-op is a huge plus. I think it would make an excellent game for kids or for couples and friends who love playing new, lighthearted games together that don’t require a high level of skill or attention. However, for solo players, I don’t imagine this game being able to hold the same longevity for everybody. Still, it’s a solid little indie game that lets you play as a Ghostbuster, and for some, that’s the dream.

Much like the movies, the Jurassic Park Classic Games Collection takes a couple good ideas and stretches them way out. If you’re a diehard fan, you might have a great time diving into each iteration of Alan Grant’s murder safari. For me, these games were mostly penance. My childhood fixation was used as leverage, cracking open the door to let in this hodgepodge of mediocre slurry. Unless you’re an absolute freak for the Jurassic Park franchise, I can’t in good conscience recommend this collection of games.

I think I am safe to say that this is not the best game out there, but it is far from the worst, and it can provide kids with some definite fun over the winter months for sure.

MX vs ATV Legends has a solid core. The arcade-style racing with motocross bikes and four-wheelers is fun, though repetitive over the course of the years-long career mode. Even allowing that Legends does not aspire to shiny, triple-A brilliance, the game’s performance, audio and up-close visuals can be pretty lackluster. The nicely varied tracks and huge natural environments compete with stuttering framerates and canned animations. With Legends, the franchise has moved closer to the finish line in many ways. In others, it still seems stalled at the starting line.

Ultimately, the choice of what to do with Seven Deadly Sins comes to down to one thing and it’s not really great. Are you a fan? If you are, I can almost guarantee you’re going to love this game. If you’re not a fan? There’s not really a whole lot going on to draw you in. A double-edged sword indeed.