There’s an interesting idea in Oafmatch but the execution is poor. While the game tries to live and die by its main attraction, an RPG overlay to a match-three game, it doesn’t do so in a meaningful or fun way. Oafmatch is a game that could only be enjoyed by absolute fanatics of the match-three genre who have exhausted every other outlet.

While it is not a horrible game itself, I could not help but feel that MechRunner was a game released on the wrong platform, towards the wrong audience, with wrong core design decisions. During my play, I was expecting something unique and innovative from MechRunner, which would distinguish itself from other mindless endless runners. Sadly, my search was fruitless. MechRunner did nothing that warrants your precious time.

Nighthaw-X3000’s primary flaw is the lack of innovative or revolutionary design with its core gameplay, with levels that do little that stand out. It also could’ve been a little longer, having only eight levels that last a few minutes each. Having said that, the presentation is astounding, the music is awesome, the main hero is over-the-top in a very amusing way, and the bosses are incredibly fun to fight. Add in its low cost and co-op, it’s hard to not recommend. Retro-gaming and shmup fans alike should consider giving this a try.

I've played SEVEN of these Artifex Mundi games at this point (all since joining Darkstation as a reviewer) and I have to say that Enigmatis 2 is definitely my favorite among them. The graphics are excellent and the gameplay is just as good as the other titles, but it's the story that really shines here. If you're a fan of the puzzle genre (and ideally have played the first Enigmatis game...), then Enigmatis 2 is very easy to recommend.

Pox Nora offers an interesting take on the turn-based strategy genre. It offers the addictive nature of tactical strategy with the zen-like practice of managing all different types of party builds. The difficulty of the offline game means some people might lose far more battles than they win. Just like Dark Souls, every defeat is an opportunity to learn from mistakes and try different strategies. Unfortunately, what holds the game back, at least on the console, are technical issues that made me feel that I was struggling to tame this beast. To those interested in Pox Nora enough to try it out, it might best to take on the PC version instead.

With its leisurely pace and relative lack of scripted drama, Life is Feudal: Forest Village is a pleasantly relaxing way of getting involved in the minutiae of everyday medieval life, but don't expect to immediately understand or master its systems. It can feel a little directionless at times and is definitely geared towards detail-oriented players who enjoy the challenges of both moment-to-moment micromanagement and long-term planning. Forest Village has itself continued to evolve from early access to full release and it will be interesting to see how the mod community adds content and shapes the game.

However, the hard truth is that Puzzle Showdown 4K is being sold to us as a game. And by that standard, no price justifies a purchase. It's such a shame, too; it didn't have to be like this. What if the interface was better? What if you could choose from a decent stack of pieces? What if the mechanics didn't directly conflict with one-another? Hey, what if you could make your own puzzles from your capture gallery? This is a game that takes extra measures to avoid the advantages of being a video game while doubling down on the limitations. I was really optimistic about this one, too. Hopefully it doesn't take too long for the concept to be executed properly.

Inner Voices is overall marred a bit by certain design choices, but if you’re looking for a fresh horror experience that provides plenty of replayability, this title is an excellent choice. With its incredible atmosphere, one playthrough averaging around three to four hours, five different endings, and a price tag of $10, this is a game I can definitely recommend trying out.

Lazaretto lacks focus on what exactly it wants to do. Does it want to scare players with a sense of horrific immersion, or does it want to send us on a mind tripping journey? The game doesn't seem to know, and neither do I. Ultimately, Lazaretto has a strong start and truly great sound design, but I think the developers should have spent more time at the drawing board for this one. As this is Chapter 1, let's hope Chapter 2 can pull it together.

I wish I could say that the art of Shuyan Saga is amazing, the story is compelling and the game is challenging. Indeed, the premise was too good to be true. Apart from the occasionally cool fighting, the game lacks everywhere else. Even as it is though, Shuyan Saga somewhat fills the gaping shortage of wuxia games. Come to think of it, has there even been a wuxia game since BioWare’s excellent but widely unappreciated Jade Empire? The lack of better examples in the genre is the only reason I can hesitatingly recommend Shuyan Saga to the fans of Chinese kung fu movies.

In the end, the whole game really does rely on a single type of puzzle game play, which makes it feel rather cheap - almost like the entire game was programmed by a single person for a college programming project or something (complete with SoundCloud.com links showing up for the music's credit section). Thankfully, the developers agreed. At a $2.99 price point, the dedicated puzzle-lovers out there may want to think about picking this title up, as it is guaranteed to get your brain working at later levels. While this review is for the PS4 version (Energy Cycle is also out on Steam and Xbox One), I can't help but think this type of simplistic puzzle game is better served on mobile devices. It almost seems like wasted potential, honestly. Weird, right? Regardless, outside of die-hard puzzle lovers though, Energy Cycle is just too repetitive to really recommend to anyone.

Echoes of the Fey: The Fox’s Trail was an enjoyable surprise. I wasn’t expecting the sheer amount of ending variations and deep themes that unfolded within this three-hour mystery. I appreciated that despite this being the first episode, it was a complete tale. Woodsy Studios has proven the worth of the intriguing fantasy world of Oraz, and hopefully, they can continue to improve in developing the second part of this magical tale.

Super Rocket Shootout wants to be a good game, and it certainly has its moments. However, it’s held back by so many problems that kept me from fully enjoying it. Even for $10, it’s hard to recommend this game when you can spend a couple more dollars on Duck Game and have a similar experience with the addition of online multiplayer. Only get this game if you have friends to play local multiplayer with.

Maybe it doesn't have gore-drenched animated encounters between knights or copulating pawns, but Chess Ultra VR manages to check off just about every fundamental requirement, at least to some degree. Overall, though, it seems a bit bare-bones, with VR being its niche feature. It isn't necessarily a great tool for learning the subtleties of chess, but in most ways, Chess Ultra VR rises above baseline competence to something much better. And owners of virtual reality headsets can dust them off and enjoy a game that never loses its challenge.

There are more than enough indie games that involve survival and crafting. That Wrongworld can enter into this crowded genre and still provide an experience that is unique enough to be worth playing says a great deal. Despite containing many of the conventional trappings of a survival game and some significant flaws, it still feels fresh for at least a dozen or two hours. It isn't the most ambitious indie title on the market, but it is a tightly focused experience that is intelligently targeted to a specific audience. If you have reached the end of this review, then there is a strong chance that you lie within that audience. If so, then Wrongworld is a fairly easy game to recommend to you.

In the end, I didn’t feel that Bit Dungeon+ respected my time. Much of the gameplay is tedious, and the dungeons are very simply designed. The repetitive and annoying grungy chiptunes and the lack of story didn’t do anything to motivate me either. The roguelike structure is more stressful than entertaining, mostly because death can await at any turn, including via game-crashing bugs caused by errors in the programming. There are better dungeon crawlers and roguelikes out there, so while this is a cheap option, you get what you pay for.

Knock Knock is driven by a neat idea and an evocative presentation. It’s a shame, then, that its goodwill is hampered by gameplay that feels a little broken. To give it the benefit of the doubt, the issues I ran into seem to be a result of the game not going far enough to give the player a proper explanation outside a few needlessly cryptic notes in between stages. The game is equipped with the right scares but I found it hard to invest in the experience because of frequent, unknown fail states.

Trackless provides a glimpse into a fascinating world. Its intriguing lore and phenomenal soundtrack encouraged me to see the game through from beginning to end. Ultimately, however, its performance issues and rough difficulty spikes hindered it for much of the journey. Poorly optimized, buggy, and unwieldy, Trackless lacks the polish of the strong adventure titles it looks to emulate.

Imagine Soviet Union in the dark 1980’s, home computers being a scarce luxury. Maybe, just maybe, DreamBreak is a pastiche of those old Commodore 64 games that were pirated to behind the iron curtain. Due to a language barrier and lack of manuals, such classic games as Impossible Mission and Project Firestart - another obvious inspirations behind DreamBreak - must have felt exotic but strange and clumsy. DreamBreak mimics those nostalgic sentiments with its awkward gameplay married to a thin narrative. Nah, that would be just a bad excuse. The transient Russo-retro experience isn’t enough to carry the game and the final verdict is that DreamBreak just isn’t very good.

I’m happy that Naps Team is still around. I played their first game, a beat ‘em up Shadow Fighter on Commodore Amiga 23 years ago. It was a bit homespun but really thrilling and competent fighter. There’s some similar likable roughness to Iron Wings. The game needs some more ironing to its wings to get rid of the bugs and seriously tone down the ridiculous time limits to really take off. Then again, there is no air combat game quite like it around at the moment. For all its bents and bullet holes in the game design, there’s an indelible picturesqueness in the game's visceral action. Iron Wings is like a pulp novel. You know it’s a bit silly but it will entertain you nonetheless.

Eliosi’s Hunt is only $5. At such a cheap price, it’s worth picking up if you’re a hardcore fan of top-down shooters, you’re into speedrunning, or you just want a difficult game to play. But between mediocre shooting, mediocre platforming, and occasionally frustrating level design, there are certainly better options out there.

There really isn't that much to talk about, and I think that's what really makes this game unappealing. There isn't much to do outside of arcade and versus mode, and even the addition of Senko no Ronde DUO included in the game, it's not all too different from the new version for it to really make a difference. It's not that I think Senko no Ronde 2 is a bad game per se, but I definitely don't think the price tag is worth the few minutes of fun you'll have with a friend. It can be a fun game to play, but it's definitely not worth it at the current price point. Even if it were ten or fifteen dollars, I still don't think it brings enough to the table.

Framed with its narrow form of expression, the isolated cyber thriller story of Code 7 plays out like a radio drama of a chamber play. Convincing and emotionally involved voice acting breaths life beyond words to the unfolding events. It’s quite remarkable how little is needed to create an engaging entertainment; a good old mystery and the necessary gameplay mechanics to convey it. Tech noir sentiments of Code 7 are all very 80’s - rogue AI, hacking, spartan computer systems and dreams of a man colonizing Mars - but I wouldn’t call it a retro game as such. Rather, Code 7 is a new entry in an adventure game sub-genre which has been dormant for the last 25 years. The only thing damping the experience down is the developer’s estimate that it takes some six months for the next episode to arrive. Damn it, I want to solve the mystery of Alex and Code 7 right away!

Until such a time, though, Train Sim World: Great Western Express is beautiful and I'm impressed that it runs so well even on mid-range computers. But, just as Train Sim World: CSX Heavy Haul did, it doesn't really live up to the World part of the Train Sim World brand-name. I really hope that Dovetail won't repeat their thousands-of-dollars of DLC model from the Train Simulator 20XX series.

As it is, PS4 version of Trulon: The Shadow Engine is sadly broken. It’s a crying shame because I really liked the game up to that point. With its spirited attitude, it even evoked vibes of old Final Fantasies, which is always a positive feeling. So, I’m calling out Kyy Games to patch the PS4 version. You owe it the customers who bought your game in a good will. When that happens, I’m happy to return to Trulon: The Shadow Engine and give it a score it would deserve based solely on its gameplay and presentation.

In the end, Eventide 2: The Sorcerer's Mirror is another solid offering from Artifex Mundi, and fans of the genre will undoubtedly enjoy this title. The entire project however, just feels... a bit underwhelming, as the developer's usual effort just doesn't seem to be here (mainly in the game's short length, lack of a bonus chapter, and lack of alternate game modes). Still, if you're looking for a relaxing time with various puzzles and hidden object scenes to enjoy, Eventide 2 is ready to serve you up another dose.

While this is the sort of thing VR was made for, it’s hard to see Everest VR as anything more than decent piece of “experience it once” edutainment. The interactive sections of the game fail to generate much excitement as you very slowly climb up the mountain, listening to the breathy laments of your fellow climbers (and even see one of them die, which is treated rather flippantly). In the end, there’s not much here that’ll hold someone’s attention for longer than an hour, if that. An experience like this is a great idea--get players to explore places they may never have a chance to see in person--but it doesn’t do enough to really draw you into a strong sense of place.

Yup, there’s no online mode in Ninja Shodown. This means that as enjoyable as multiplayer is, it’s only playable locally in a living room. Combine this with the simple truth that Versus Mode is the only good part of the game, and you’re left with a product I just can’t recommend. If the performance issues were cleaned up and the price slashed down drastically, my verdict might look very different. That’s because, again, the game is surprisingly engaging when played competitively. Games aren’t necessarily outright bad when they’re too hard or even broken; it’s when they effectively don’t give you anything to do that they truly fall apart. And because it lacks an online multiplayer mode, Ninja Shodown fits that description for many players.

Abyss is painted in the usual colorful and lively Artifex Mundi style. There are lots of narrative cut scenes, some of which look quite rough with pretty hilarious mouth movement, but they still enliven the events nicely. Sadly, I found the music quite irritating as it’s looping all too brief pieces. The story could have used a bit more focus as some elements were underused. For example, in the beginning a lot of emphasis was put on a mysterious girl showing herself now and again but eventually her part was hastily exposed and brushed to the side lines. All in all, Abyss: The Wraiths of Eden is a solid Artifex Mundi casual adventure, offering the familiar entertainment values you’d come to expect from the company. The original PC version of the game is five years old and Artifex Mundi has released a constant stream of colorful adventures ever since. I hope that they will gradually shift to porting their fresher titles for console players’ enjoyment.

The Green Cities expansion pack contains a lot of nice buildings and a very welcome change to the traffic system, but it doesn't introduce anything to necessitate what it offers. That being said, it's being sold at a reasonable price, and the changes it offers are fun to tinker with in their own right. And by not taking any risks with altering the pollution mechanics, you can feel free to boot up any old city you have without everyone becoming sick and the air filling up with vaporized sludge. Plus, it's kind of awesome to have a new library of slick buildings and tourist attractions (the climate research station being a personal favorite). It does what it promises, and I will say that if you see it on sale, you really might as well pick it up.

It’s a commendable effort to make a mystery-solving adventure without narrative structure but the game simply lacks pizzazz for anyone but the keenest investigators. Even I, who utterly love detective stories and games, was often frustrated by how little the game is willing to help the players wanting to solve its case. The Painscreek Killings has an exciting murder mystery hidden somewhere but it’s buried under all the extra baggage of technical issues and awkward game design.

I went into this game hoping for an example of a well-made arcade hunter. And with Glu’s record, that was a reasonable desire. I take no pleasure, then, in acknowledging that Deer Hunter: Reloaded is simply atrocious. It’s ugly, sluggish, obtuse, counter-intuitive, and brimming with game-breaking bugs. Its few positive qualities are directly negated by some of its many, many faults, resulting in what sits among the weakest functional video games I have ever played. Maybe one day we’ll get a nice version of what this game was trying to bring to consoles. Regardless, I am confident that we won't get anything worse.

Pro Series is one of those games that I really wanted to enjoy beyond its actual quality. With its multitude of lakes, fish species, and upgrades, the developers clearly put in a good amount of effort. But its core gameplay mechanics just don’t match its content. Ironically, this is a fishing experience that will bore you not because you can’t catch anything, but rather because you all-too-easily can. It’s still somewhat satisfying to catch a big pile of floppers and watch your cash pile up, but it’s all done in this omnipresent cloud of disappointment. That’s Rapala Fishing: Pro Series for you; not bad, but disappointing.

The train simulator market is not exactly burgeoning, but there are other games in the same space as Train Simulator 2018, most notably Trainz: A New Era, which features new graphics and physics engines and a slightly less -- though only slightly less so -- egregious DLC model. Still, the enthusiast has choices. While Train Simulator knows its trains and offers (at a price) a lot of available content, its outdated visuals, bland presentation, bugs and technical issues and inflated-price DLC make it hard to get on board with.

It’s great that pinball is back, and it’s even better that Zen Studios seems to be back to form after the time off. The Universal Classics are just that, and while they don’t check all the boxes, particularly in the voice/sound department, the looks, complete with higher resolutions and crisper textures, and table accouterment are enough to make these a worthy buy.

If you’re playing singleplayer - which, until the update, you most often will be - then that’s how to best enjoy Hammerwatch; short bursts. It’s nice to sit down every now and then and just relax with something charming and humble. Yes, it will take weeks to complete its two six-hour campaigns this way, but every time you come back, you’re a little stronger, maybe a little faster, and definitely richer. In singleplayer, it’s a good game. In multiplayer, it’s something more. Keeping in mind that the PC version already has online multiplayer, I am confident that Crackshell are being honest about the forthcoming update. So if you're on the fence, at least keep an eye on this one.

The presentation is of a high-quality throughout, even if some cutscenes are technically a bit muddy. The graphics paint sinister yet colorful vistas of the pirates’ immortal realm. I also liked the representations of Davy Jones and the ghost girl. They were easily better illustrated and rendered than characters in most other Artifex Mundi games. I’m almost certain, though, that the backing music was already heard in the first game in the trilogy! Within Artifex Mundi’s staple, and casual adventures in general, Nightmares from the Deep 3: Davy Jones is an enjoyable and relaxing diversion to daily chores. No sudden deaths or time limits, just an involving mystery with plenty of ghost pirates. That’s quite a nice mix, I’d say.

Terra Feminarum is like a handwork. A unique take on a well-worn concept and turned into a piece of art, quite like no other. It takes some nerve, though. It can be frustrating to lose a life to a momentary lapse of concentration but rarely it’s the game’s fault. Basically, I’m saying; buy Terra Feminarum for that itching arcade shooter fix! I might be biased but I have all the reasons to be so.

The Aquatic Adventure of the Last Human is both enchanting and incongruent, engrossing and annoying. The best moments are the quiet ones, when you’re just drifting among massive kelp forests and futuristic ruins. The sense of loneliness is masterfully implemented - you really feel like the last of your kind. There are plenty of messages in the subtext, some subtle and others obvious, but there’s a general trend of bad choices compounding on each other until humanity loses trust in itself. If the boss fights were replaced with more of this interesting lore, we’d probably have something great. Regardless, if you can handle a lot of trial and error in the name of a good story, go ahead and take the - wait for it - plunge.

Senran Kagura Peach Beach Splash is unashamed fan service for sure, but more importantly it’s a damn good game. Fast-moving and smooth-controlling water tagging action is satisfying and addictive. It’s best played in short bursts, though, as long sessions in a one go can get a bit repetitive. However, there’s so much to play, so many plush girls to play with, and tons of things to unlock and choose from, that you’re most likely coming back to the game for a long time. A few words of warning: PBS is absolutely not for the humorless or uptight persons out there. If you can stand the heat - and take the game as it is - it's unadulterated fun.

Grab Games has done a great job of marrying the winning formula of Punch-Out! with virtual reality. Learning how to handle each fighter’s repertoire of attacks takes patience and memorization but on the plus side, you’ll get a great workout along the way. It’d be cool if the mini-games offered more advantages to the player but that’s no reason to ignore this fun and energetic sports game.

As an experience, this title is truly exceptional, and has me looking out for Outlands' next title. But I am a game reviewer, and as a game, I cannot in good conscious suggest you play North, as it falls fatuigingly flat fairly fleetly.

Beast Battle Simulator has a cool premise, alright, and a lot of fun until suddenly it isn't anymore. Every encounter tend to start looking the same, no matter what species are battling. It would be a perfect browser game, or cheap tablet title but $10 seems a little steep for a game with fairly limited shelf life.

Overall, True Fear: Forsaken Souls Part 1 is a solid addition to the hidden object genre with a horror twist to it, so if you enjoy the genre already, you are likely going to enjoy this game as well (and vice versa, of course...). If you're just a horror fan though, you may find the constant stream of puzzles to be annoying as the puzzles definitely out-weigh the story here, so just make sure you know what you're getting into (this isn't Silent Hill or Resident Evil after all!).

I'm looking forward to what Colorfiction will make next. They are talented in crafting interesting worlds, but they aimed a little too low this time around. I can see where they were going with 0N 0W, but it just doesn’t seem ambitious enough. I recommend the game to those who are looking for a bizarre, desolate experience that lacks any narrative depth.

No matter how seasoned hardcore adventure game veteran you think you are (like me), you have to admit that Artifex Mundi’s casual adventures are welcome break to daily activities. Even though their premises are often dark, their classic attitude of good eventually conquering evil can liven up the dreariest of days. There’s no trendy grey area of the contemporary fiction in Enigmatis 3 and once in a while, that’s only a good thing.

Alaska has a story to tell that could have been an interesting drama about a murder in an extremely isolated small town. It’s too bad that the whole affair is bogged down by slow movement speeds, generally unpleasant visuals, ineffective minigames, and bad writing. If you’re looking for a game that marries good storytelling and an interesting mystery with framed around mundane work made fun, play The Station instead. It’s best to leave Alaska on ice.

I would never argue that escapist entertainment such as videogames should not explore the dark reaches of the human psyche or behavior. Where My Lovely Daughter falls down for me is not the grim subject matter but the somewhat artless narrative and pacing and the repetitive gameplay loop that sustains the experience.

The more I played, the more I felt like Sailaway wasn’t my kind of game. It seemed to be more for the diehard boat lovers looking to emulate the sailing experience with all its technicalities, warts and all. That is all well and good, but as it is for me, it is simply a game that isn’t all that satisfying to play. It passes on a technical level, but as art, it leans far too heavily on realism for its own good.

At the moment, the Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Expansion Pass doesn't have enough major content to be called a meaningful one. You're not missing out on anything substantial from not getting the expansion. Luckily, the more interesting contents such as new BLADEs, Challenge Mode and even a brand new story are promised to be released in coming months. I recommend that you wait and see what those promised contents would bring to the table first, before picking up this expansion pass.

Overall, the Fire Emblem Warriors Season Pass characters could have used more variety, but at least the few novel playstyles are enjoyable to use. Additionally, the abundant History Mode content and power upgrades will be worth it to hardcore fans. If even one of the packs sounds appealing, you may want to consider picking up that individual DLC set. If you’re interested in two or three of them, the Season Pass is the most cost effective option.

Overall, the Fire Emblem Warriors Season Pass characters could have used more variety, but at least the few novel playstyles are enjoyable to use. Additionally, the abundant History Mode content and power upgrades will be worth it to hardcore fans. If even one of the packs sounds appealing, you may want to consider picking up that individual DLC set. If you’re interested in two or three of them, the Season Pass is the most cost effective option.

Overall, the Fire Emblem Warriors Season Pass characters could have used more variety, but at least the few novel playstyles are enjoyable to use. Additionally, the abundant History Mode content and power upgrades will be worth it to hardcore fans. If even one of the packs sounds appealing, you may want to consider picking up that individual DLC set. If you’re interested in two or three of them, the Season Pass is the most cost effective option.

Despite my small gripes with the game, I had a great time with Spectrum Break. Sure, it’s not very ambitious, but it certainly has a solid foundation. The game knows what it is and doesn’t overreach. I enjoyed my short time with Spectrum Break and I am interested in what the developer makes next. Overall, I’d recommend the game to anyone interested in playing a solid and experimental 2D platformer.

Despite being unable to complete the first level, Kaet Must Die is a game very much worth playing. I found myself drawing a map with pen and paper to try and get through the first area, and despite having this guide, I still found myself having problems with beating it. The spooky levels are off the chart and the scares hit home every time. So turn off the lights, turn up the volume, and boot up one of the most successful horror games I have ever played.

Despite the always-changing tactical and strategic decisions, there's a bit of disappointing sameness from mission to mission in the campaign but overall, Golem Gates is a strong addition to the ranks of two already well-represented genres.

It’s very fortunate that The Little Ball That Could features stages that get more interesting the further you play. Otherwise, I would’ve simply gotten burnt out by its peppering of trial and error. Nonetheless, it packs a therapeutic challenge and a massive heap of stages. Despite some archaic restrictions, I can't call this a bad game; in fact, it's actually a good one. While it comes through cracked and nicked by mistakes, The Little Ball That Could rolls to a safe finish.

As a complete bundle, the Pokkén Tournament DX Battle Pack DLC adds quality characters to a fighting game that needed more of them, but its sparse content just doesn’t justify its cost.

On paper, the game’s concepts are superb, but in execution, the lack of design finesse and polish left the experience feeling amateurish. The game manages to provide an adequate experience, but it needed more development time to truly stand out.

What's most depressing about House Party is that some folks probably believe that this poorly written mess of a game is somehow daring. A juvenile take on sexuality, liberal profanity, and objectification of women are not daring, they're just... juvenile. Creating lifelike, complex characters with believable motivations and emotions - that is a difficult task, obviously light years beyond House Party, which fails as a sexual fantasy, as an interactive story and as a game. This makes Leisure Suit Larry look like Noel Coward. [Early Access score = 20]

I can’t shake the feeling that Illusion is in fact and old, abandoned game that got finished in all silence. It could explain why it’s technically and mentally so old-fashioned. Unfortunately, that doesn’t make the game a timeless classic but a bundle of unanswered expectations. 20 bucks is a way too steep asking price for what Illusion has to offer. Pick it up from a digital sale if you insist.

Unfortunately, the graphics and sound feel like they could have been made in an old flash game. Now, that isn't a bad thing, but it certainly isn't spectacular for a new PC release. With some control tweaking Quest of Vidhuraa could have been a nice little mobile game. But as it stands, I can't really recommend it for the fans of hardcore platforming genre until a complete overhaul of the controls and/or the wall jumping physics is implemented

Although it could be more robust, whether you build a standalone old-timey park or simply add a nostalgic area to a modern megapark, the Vintage Pack adds useful and well-designed elements to the game. Coupled with the free content update - which also includes a historic coaster from England - Planet Coaster just keeps getting better all the time.

Overall, PUSS! is a game that appeals to those looking for a real hardcore challenge in an uncommon genre. The presentation sold me at first, but as I gradually toiled away at the many difficult challenges, my interest eventually waned. It’s not a game I’d recommend to anyone other than those primarily interested in a high difficulty. Even then, it’s a game that relies on sheer memorization and muscle memory rather than any skill and inventiveness. For a game so heavily inspired by the often calm and melancholic vaporwave, it’s surprisingly tense and aggressive.

The Mooseman has an amazing musical composition that had me listening to folk music of the Komi for the first time. In addition to what I heard, the game also illustrated a history and mythology I had no prior knowledge of. Unfortunately, the game fell short in delivering a worthwhile gaming experience because it lacks actual gameplay design. After finishing the game, I felt that the Finno-Ugric mythology would have been better served by watching a cinema-quality short which The Mooseman essentially was.

Whether as history lesson, exercise in nostalgia, or appetizer to the upcoming fourth entry to the series, The Bard's Tale Trilogy remains engaging. It requires a lot of patience and attention to detail and a special love of character micromanagement and, although the rerelease is more colorful than the original, the graphics and core gameplay are still rooted in the limitations of 1980s technology. Playing The Bard's Tale Trilogy is a reminder that while games have achieved cinematic production values that rival anything from Hollywood, they don't always fire the imagination the way that the less graphically accomplished adventures often did.

You could also argue that switching between two screens is only a gimmick but the game is completely built upon it. Without this to make it stand out, Dimension Drive would be just another shooter. Thankfully, the fight over indie players’ hearts demands developers to come up with new ideas to separate their games from the crowd. Dimension Drive succeeds at that and it’s gratifying to see the game grow during its course beyond its trick.

HEVN is a patchwork of sci-fi, survival and puzzle game influences that almost feels reverse-engineered. All games are the product of thousands of hours of labor and the sincere effort to create an entertaining result. In the case of HEVN, I wished the focus of all that effort had been on a smaller, more original game that started with a compelling character and story that suggested the most appropriate genre, instead of the awkwardly seamed collection of bits and pieces it ended up being.

Assuming one doesn’t fail too many missions, The Slater is a relatively short game with virtually no replay value as trying to get a better overall score isn’t much of an incentive to laboriously move through the same sequences again. Somewhere deep down I think that The Slater has a decent premise, but there is so much wrong with the execution I had a hard time finding it.

There is a lot of time consuming busywork in Niffelheim, whether foraging, crafting, completing quest events or running back to a fallen corpse. Crafting games can be relaxing time sinks, but the presence of deadly enemies makes crafting cumbersome. 2D action games can of course be a lot of fun, but the necessity of time-consuming crafting ruins the flow of combat. Niffelheim looks impressive but hasn’t quite figured out the magic balance between two competing mechanics.

Overall, ZeroRanger is absolutely fantastic shoot’em up. It’s highly replayable, while thematically revolving around the repeating cycles of reincarnation in an undeniably Buddhist fashion. I found the game to be an absolute joy to play and reaching the end was highly rewarding. It’s easy to pick up but certainly hard to put down. I’d highly recommend it to those interested in a unique, polished take on the shoot'em up genre.

I suppose it says a lot about a game if the biggest thing I’m complaining about is the short length. I hope Neverout gets extra puzzles or a sequel down the line because it really is fun to play. Plus, a sequel might give the game some longevity. Beyond replaying to collect trophies (though to be honest, you’d have to work hard not to get them all on the first playthrough) and taking advantage of the game’s PlayStation VR support, Neverout is more than its surface level homage to a really great movie. I really liked Neverout because it offers the right level of the challenge and atmosphere to keep you engaged all the way through to the end.

The Forge is a great opening shot for the rest of six DLC adventures to follow, not to mention that it alone is better than the dreary 20th anniversary content released for Rise of the Tomb Raider. It’s a fun way to extend the game’s life beyond New Game+ and is tightly woven into the context of the main story, its people and their history without feeling unattached or forced.

I’m not sure the “rage game” genre is really a thing, but if it is, Rage in Peace deserves a place at the big people’s table. Although it has a narrative, lots of secrets and side-quests to discover and a colorful style that helps to balance its premise, Rage in Peace will primarily appeal to a very specific subset of action fans less concerned with strategy or character and more focused on achieving a fast and flawless command of the game’s patterns and obstacles. The game doesn’t aspire beyond that narrow goal, but it does its rage-inducing thing rather well.

If you, like me, fire up the Oculus every so often to see what’s new, and are hankering for a new VR shooter, you’ll probably enjoy Experiment Gone Rogue, though it can’t compare to non-VR triple-A shooters. Developers continue to support the device and VR in general, and gameplay and mechanics inch forward towards the competition outside virtual reality. And of course, Repulse can’t be faulted for the Oculus’ limitations itself. It’s still heavy, awkwardly tethered and still not ready for mainstream.

Don’t Starve: Hamlet is a no-brainer recommendation for Don’t Starve fans. It likely won’t win over anyone who previously rejected this series, but this refreshing combination of humor, creativity, and challenge is sure to delight the long time fans who are hungry for more.

World’s Fair is probably a must-have for Planet Coaster aficionados and for anyone who eventually wants to access creations made with it in the Workshop. Like Cities: Skylines, with each new expansion Planet Coaster just establishes itself that much more firmly as the game to beat in its niche. With only three new rides (the recent Vintage Pack included seven), World’s Fair feels a little content-light but as usual, the new designs, music and elements are excellent and useful.

True Fear: Forsaken Souls was not only an entertaining game in its own right, but also woke me up to the fact that this might be a genre I should be paying a little more attention to in the future. The cutscenes come off a little simple and not as effective as the developers may have wanted, but the consistent tone in the levels and the fun puzzles help push past that and make the game enjoyable throughout. And hey, maybe it might make you more interested in checking out more from the genre as well!

When you eventually get going, the game is surprisingly addictive and moody, with bare-bones execution that still maintains an excellent attention to detail and an effective audio design rising up the hair on your back. The wicked gameplay loop of trying to survive and escape is equal parts fun and frustrating – as it pretty much should be.

I can’t get enough of Shadow of the Tomb Raider, I really can’t, and it couldn’t make me any happier that with The Forge and now The Pillar, the quality curve of the DLC is pointing in a good direction, promising a lot for the five remaining challenge tombs to come!

Overall, Knights of Pen & Paper 2 is a light-hearted turn-based RPG with some novel concepts attached to it. Still, the magic wears thin pretty fast as there is not much strategy and variation involved in the combat, while side quests are mostly glorified fetch jobs. Nevertheless, the game is still a fun experience in itself and worth checking out if you love tabletop RPGs and haven’t played the first game.

There is probably a reason that chess has withstood fundamental changes over the centuries, and that reason might be its near-perfect balance of offensive and defensive strategies and how it appeals to gamers at all levels of expertise. Still, there is an intimidation factor and a perception that beyond the basics, winning requires a lot of memorization and the ability to think many moves ahead. Super X Chess removes that particular barrier and although the Super X rules are not going to permanently revolutionize the game, they do serve to sweep the cobwebs off the dusty shelf of rote, memorized and uninspired play.

In many ways, Senran Kagura Burst Re:Newal presents a win-win situation; it’s undoubtedly the best game in the franchise and as it happens, also an excellent introduction to the wacky world of sexy shinobi girls. However, if you object sexualization for any reason, the game is not for you. For everyone else, Senran Kagura Burst Re:Newal is pure video game entertainment that is satisfying on many levels, in and out!

Challenge is once again nice and the visuals are consistently sumptuous with a bright sunlight highlighting magnificent features of the valley of the Monkey Gods. It’s a shame that for such an endearing endeavor the tomb is, it takes only some 1,5 hours to see the whole DLC through. I would have liked the challenge tomb twice of its current size and I have a feeling that more could have been made out Lara’s personal nightmare, too, despite its effective use of cutscenes. As it stands, it was bit of a rush and unlike the advertising led to believe, the Croft manor plays only a bit part and Lara’s now-dead acquaintances don’t exactly walk and greet her as they’re reduced to silent background elements.

Odallus may look like an NES game, but it plays and handles progression like contemporary titles, respecting the player’s time and offering numerous secrets in an exploration-based 2D world. I went into Odallus: The Dark Call looking for Castlevania and left with an engaging experience that pays tribute to both classic 8-bit titles and modern Metroidvania games.

In the end, the path to The Sixth Seal was more exciting than the tomb itself. It takes two hours at the most to see The Price of Survival through and get a new pistol and an outfit for Lara as rewards. Still, at its best moments, the mission typifies the gameplay what I thought made Shadow of the Tomb Raider such a great experience. To get most of out the DLC content, they must be seen more as parts of the game that expand it rather than as separate add-ons. While I was disappointed that the actual tomb was too brief, The Price of Survival has an important job of showing a softer side of the villain.

Mystic Vale desperately needs a step-by-step, Hearthstone-level tutorial that assumes no prior knowledge of either the game or the genre, because a very attractive and interesting game is hidden behind a pretty steep wall. Additional modes and cards are coming but for now, Mystic Vale will be most attractive to fans of the physical game, who will find it faithful to the original and a lot of fun, especially with human opponents.

The unique blend of genres works pretty well both in single player and multiplayer modes, and Hell Warders offers a decent campaign and a deeper strategy experience than some generic tower defense games. Some of the controls are awkward and placement of units have some restrictions (like degrees of facing), but there aren’t a lot of tower defense games rooted in that dark fantasy aesthetic, and the addition of action-RPG elements deepens the gameplay.

Queen’s Quest 2 is a perfect game for adventure games newbies. It’s colorful to look at and there are lots of neat details in its numerous pretty screens that effectively depict the game’s derivative fantasy kingdom. After completing the main adventure, a bonus chapter is unlocked that offers a brief run of same leisurely gaming. Amidst all demon hunting, zombie fending, bloody revenges, averting terrorist threats or whatever most games these days like to present, Artifex Mundi casual adventures always have a place as a welcome diversion for any gamer out there. Queen’s Quest 2 fills that bill nicely enough.

The Serpent’s Heart is the usual fare with a new ability for Lara (loot more money from felled enemies), a new weapon (yea, that will be the God’s slayer!) and a new outfit.

As far as free-to-play games go, Hades’ Star is familiar territory, mechanically speaking. It makes little demand for your time and you’re free to spend money to speed things up if you want, no harm, no foul. Other than that, the game is solidly built, the soundtrack is a bit boring, but there’s really nothing overly offensive about it. The question is whether or not you’re willing to put in the time. I’m concerned with how little there is for you to do during those sessions where you’re doing nothing more than trying to earn money but at the end of the day, it’s a nice way to take a break from computer work and video editing like I did during the making of this review.

In the end, if you are just looking for a no-thrills platforming game, Awesome Pea may just be for you. Granted, it’s pretty short, but the price point is right and the controls and difficulty are on par. It also doesn't hurt that there are plenty of trophies to earn along the way! If that sounds awesome to you, this Pea is worth a shot.

I really enjoyed the level design of all the main parts of the mission - the crypt, the village and the tomb – as they were refreshingly different from most of the sights and tombs featured in the previous add-ons and more importantly, put Lara’s traversal abilities to a real test. I also liked how the side mission took place post-game, giving a meaningful challenge to tackle when the main adventure has been seen through. One more DLC to go and Lara’s trip through Shadow of the Tomb Raider is over. I can only hope that Eidos Montreal has something extraordinary in store to finish off the Tomb Raider trilogy in style.

Warparty is clearly derivative, both of older RTS games and mechanics and unit types — zombies and dino-warriors — but there is enough entertainment value to make it worth exploring, especially for fans of the genre with a soft spot for the classics. On console, controls will frustrate but not enough to entirely kill the experience. The timeless quality of RTS games still comes through, and Warparty manages to catch at least a bit of that magic.

All fine and dandy but still, I expected more. The main reason is that The Path Home is over too quickly. Most of the previous add-ons have been understandably short so that they don’t mess up the main campaign pacing too much as they take place during it. However, as a post-game content, The Path Home had no such burden. The scenery that Lara travels through is breathtaking but as it is, it’s visited all too briefly.

While just about every ride or attraction in Classic Rides has some utility to park designers looking for that one, very specific element, overall this pack feels a little thin in comparison to some of Planet Coaster’s more robust DLC. Lack of new shops, scenery, or other design elements and the absence of any truly mind-blowing rides is a bit disappointing, but there is no doubt that Planet Coaster devotees and completionists will want to add these rides to their toolbox. Planet Coaster remains both hugely entertaining and addictive, and it’s hard to pass up even a modest addition to the game.

Colorful explosions and a variety of guns aren’t quite enough to carry Zombotron to the finish line. This all-grown-up Flash game is weighed down by repetitive design, frustrating controls and bland storytelling. Zombotron isn’t a terrible game but neither does it generate much excitement. It’s a reasonably competent side-scroller in a marketplace full of similar titles. Fans of the Flash game will appreciate that Zombotron has evolved, but those unfamiliar with its humble roots might be less impressed.