Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted is a worthy remaster of a classic, beloved game. When it was first announced, I was genuinely excited at the prospect of replaying this game. I imagine if you don’t have the same nostalgic feeling for Plants vs. Zombies, you might not share the same enthusiasm, but for fans, it’ll be nice to be back in the backyard. The updated visuals are crisp, but don’t expect anything too mind-blowing. I would have liked to see a deeper PvP mode, and the lack of any online mode might be a turn-off for some folks. The Co-Op mode is great and worth the price of admission alone. If you’re a fan of Plants vs. Zombies or looking to see what all the fuss is about, Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted is a great place to start.

Nintendo has succeeded in creating a truly dreadful experience, a game that drills into your psyche and alters your brain. Heed my dire ramblings, and take this gorgeous, well-designed journey at your peril.

If you’re looking for a truly authentic retro experience, then you can’t go wrong with Save Me Mr. Tako! just keep in mind that it even comes with the negatives of that age of games. Despite those shortcomings though, it’s a charming romp through and through.

Poppy Playtime: Chapter 4 continues where the previous three chapters left off. The story continues to get deeper and darker into the sordid past of Playtime Co. The franchise is known for some tense moments and creepy atmospheres – and Chapter 4 continues that tradition. The remaining Poppy Playtime crew, such as Poppy and Kissy Missy, are all there along with some new faces like the Playdoh-inspired Doey. The game will take most users no more than 4 hours to complete, but completionists will take much longer to find all the various collectibles and nail all the Achievements. If you’ve enjoyed the Poppy Playtime adventure so far, there is no doubt you’ll already have this one on your wishlist. If you’re new to the franchise, go back to the beginning and start with the first chapter.

Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan is a lovely, family-friendly adventure. Its non-violent approach means that anyone can jump in and enjoy the 1930s inspired game. Although heavily influenced by those that came before, the game manages to find its own identity with its refreshing take on conventions. Whilst there are odd performance issues and a lack of challenge, it’s still a wonderful experience that deserves your attention.

While Death’s Gambit as a whole falls a bit short of expectations, the game itself is a solid action-RPG. The game looks great and runs well most of the time, with a solid challenge that is also unlikely to frustrate players too much. With multiple ways to experience the game, I can see myself returning to the game with a different playstyle. Overall, Death’s Gambit does justice to some of its lofty comparisons, though some more time in the oven would have helped polish the title.

There’s definitely lots to like about Coffee Crisis, and its developers deserve credit for recreating the 90s brawler with near-perfection. If you have a nostalgic yearning for some retro fun, and especially if you’ve got a buddy who can help you kick some alien ass, Coffee Crisis is one cup o’ joe that’s worth a sip. On your own, however, it might be a bit more frustrating and simplistic than you’d like at times, and your initial caffiene-high of enjoyment might wear off quickly. Either way, though, make sure you keep the lid on your coffee mug because the bangin’ metal tunes will have you pumping your fists as you play.

This particular journey simply didn’t hold the appeal for me that it once might have. If you’ve got fond memories of this series, then the Definitive Edition of AoE 3 will hook you good. This new model looks and sounds great, there’s a ton of new battlefields to conquer, and new ways to do that conquering.

Boundless is such an ambitious game that seems to know how to make the end game fun, but it puts it at more than an arms reach away. It’s such a large time investment that I can’t commit to. Still, there are players who will love the game loop, probably fans of Minecraft or My Life is Feudal. It’s a technically sound game and I did enjoy having two independent hands for holding equipment, but it all seems to get lost in the wash for me as I think about how far off the end goal is. Boundless just tries to make the journey sweeter by showing you an enticing end.

There is just too much happening not to have some fun for a while. It is a cool, visually-appealing game that definitely will entertain you – and at times enrage you. Its level of polish, including the funky music soundtrack, is outstanding. Just know that this is a smaller, casual game, and you will start to find the sameness a bit tedious after a while.

Blade Chimera leans on genre conventions but executes them with precision and flair. While it follows familiar traits, innovative mechanics involving Lux give the game its own identity, allowing the developers to introduce fresh and engaging ideas. Traversing the map is streamlined thanks to warp abilities, while other upgrades provide meaningful character progression throughout the adventure. Although the story is largely forgettable, the stunning pixel art style and creative use of Lux ensure that Blade Chimera remains a memorable experience.

The Count Lucanor brings to us the best of two amazing genres that many of us love, with a great twist.

As it stands, the game is a fun romp, but only if you can get past the differences from real pinball psychologically.

Unbeatable is an ambitious rhythm game that has a few major flaws. The main one is the camera during rhythm gameplay sometimes ruins what is otherwise a flawless system. The second problem is that the story mode struggles with pacing and features very little rhythm gameplay. And the third major problem is that a lot of the dialogue is going to be a major turn-off for many. Playing Arcade Mode a bit before starting Story Mode will fix some of these issues. And I love that Unbeatable has an extensive Story Mode. But I can’t recommend the game to everyone as it is. Still, Unbeatable’s probably a must-play for most rhythm game fans. I’m really rooting for it.

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.

The Siege and the Sandfox takes a refreshing approach to the Metroidvania formula. With its focus on parkour and stealth, each trip to the array of distinct biomes is a thrill. The core mechanics drive the level design, creating strong segments that challenge your skills. Unfortunately, small but frequent bugs do affect the experience and halt the game from reaching its true potential. Even so, its inventive design and atmosphere make it a memorable entry in the genre.

While the subject matter didn’t totally resonate with me there is no denying the strength of the DC Comics brand.

Labyrinth City: Pierre, the Maze Detective, is an enjoyable experience that combines intelligent-level design and a charming art style. The lovely setting, packed with detail, is a joy to explore even though it lacks any real challenge. With several collectibles in each level, there is some replayability. However, I would be surprised if many revisit the game after completing it. That being said, each moment of the roughly 3-hour story was an absolute joy. Although a little repetitive, I loved perusing the world, inspecting the oddities, and marveling at the landscape. Fans of the franchise will be enamored with this interpretation of the books, and newcomers will fall in love with the world. Due to this, I would recommend getting lost in Labyrinth City.

Marvel Pinball – Civil War may not be one of my personal favourites in regards to the pinball tables that have been released for Pinball FX2, as there just was not enough storyline or action to hook me, but that does not mean it was bad. Zen Studios has once again provided pinball fans with a visually stunning pinball table that will interest not only those who love the genre (pinball), but fans of Marvel and the Civil war comic book series will enjoy it too.

Mr. Shifty was a lot of fun to play for the first few hours. The combat was slick and the levels were innovative, but towards the end of the game it stopped introducing new challenges and started to stagnate, repeating some rehashed areas I had already gone through. I have no doubt that I’ll play it some more if they introduce some new content, but until then it’ll be joining the hundreds of other forgotten games in my Steam library.

Last Recode turned out to be something that I looked forward to playing at the end of the day. It has a fantastic story with some great worldbuilding, colorful characters, and includes all three original games alongside a newer, fourth volume to carry on the story. The combat became a bit samey and grindy after a while, but I still enjoyed it, and am assuming I will continue to enjoy it throughout the next three volumes I’m going to play.

Earth Defense Force 6 doesn’t shy away from the franchise’s roots; instead, it embraces them with a tongue-in-cheek narrative and signature frantic combat. While some may groan that it doesn’t revolutionize the genre, it is a heartfelt homage to classic arcade shooters that, simply put, is a blast to play. From its engaging battles and improved visuals to its charmingly ridiculous story, this title is a worthy addition to any action game lover’s collection. Whether you’re tidying up your local city by exterminating massive alien critters or teaming up with friends for a co-op frenzy, Earth Defense Force 6 delivers an adrenaline-filled experience that champions the spirit of fun in gaming.

King Oddball is a quietly charming, explosive puzzler. As an indie title, this game works incredibly well and is an enjoyable way to kill some time. With over 120 stages to beat, unique challenge modes, achievements, and an enjoyable playstyle, King Oddball is a game that should not be overlooked and deserves a chance. The controls are simple, the gameplay is addictive, the audio is fantastic, I couldn’t stop playing. While it might not break the mold of simple mobile gaming, King Oddball stands tall as a friendly challenge enjoyable by all.

CastleStorm takes the tower defence genre and adds elements of physics destruction, real-time strategy and role-playing games, making for a very interesting mix that works quite well. It is a casual yet complex game experience that is delightful to play, alone or with a friend, something that this tower defence hater truly enjoyed.

Should you play REYNATIS? Yes. Should you buy it full-price? Probably not. Unless you’re a fan of weird but fun PS2 titles, you should wait for a sale. But when that sale comes, I do recommend you check this game out.

All in all, this is a much more relaxed experience than the PC version, for better or worse. It’s still incredibly satisfying to one-shot an enemy as the rogue, tank as the warrior, and unleash armies of the dead as the necromancer. If you didn’t get the opportunity to play Loop Hero the first time around, I heartily recommend checking it out on Switch. But if you can play this game on PC, you probably should. There’s nothing overtly wrong with the Loop Hero Switch port, especially given the game’s control scheme. It’s just hard to beat the original.

I really enjoyed Rushing Beat X: Return of Brawl Brothers. The core beat ‘em up combat is fantastic, and the goofy story gives the game a unique flavor. I never thought we would see another game in the series, and the devs obviously have great love for the source material. Unfortunately, Rushing Beat X: Return of Brawl Brothers is lacking in features, which puts it behind all the modern genre greats. But I easily recommend the game to anyone who’s a fan of beat ‘em ups, or in the mood for something nostalgic.

All in all, Lynked: Banner of the Spark is a fun idea with a cute aesthetic and an addicting gameplay loop. Unfortunately, its implementation of Online Mode is incredibly frustrating. I sincerely hope the developers polish that element up in the future. At least it has enough substance to make its single-player campaign worthwhile.