Bee Simulator seems pressed into mixing action elements with educational tools about one of Earth’s most fascinating insects. I don’t decry Varsav Games, and publisher Big Ben Interactive, for trying to tap into this specialized market. But at virtually every turn I was simply going through the motions until completion after the opening half-hour. Whether it’s in respect to the repetitive gameplay structure, unsatisfying flight controls, or deflating brevity, there’s really no reason to see what the buzz is about. Bee Simulator is a well-meaning edutainment game but its honeymoon period is gone at breakneck speed. You’ve bee-n warned, and I’ve run out of puns.

There's not enough variety here to sustain a full game, but efforts to make this into an Olympic game would likely have led to less focus on the ski jumping and that's not the answer here because the ski jumping itself is done so well. My recommendation here has to be measured because of the lack of variety even where there was room for more and because the gameplay loop feels off, but for the pure sensation of riding down that slope, Ski Jumping Pro VR is worth checking out.

A wonderful soundtrack and a visual style which is simple but appealing finish setting the tone for Wattam. While it’s a simple, direct game, during my time with it, I almost constantly had a huge grin on my face. Takahashi's brand of weird works for me and even all these years after Katamari, that's still the case. If his style works for you, I think you'll have a great time with Wattam. It may not last you long but it's a time that will stay with you which is worth celebrating.

Some building games are fun but ultimately feel aimless. Dragon Quest Builders 2 is a solid building game at the heart of a lengthy and well-written RPG, so that the building is always in the service of something, no matter how whimsical or weird. Dragon Quest Builders 2 is a fun and satisfying experience on many levels and the PC version is almost certainly the ultimate way to enjoy it, but like the console versions, it requires time and a commitment to the long game.

Overall, it feels skeletal and in need of more meat on its bones, more consistent pacing and a bit more mechanical complexity. Even the most inept puzzle solvers will breeze through Weakless in less than a handful of hours and its linear direction and puzzle design don’t leave much for additional playthroughs.

Command-based RPGs are becoming a thing of the past but SaGa: Scarlet Grace shows that there’s still life to them when they are made passionately and effectively. Backed up by likable characters and bright outlook, the game lives up to the legacy of the series that while very niche, has been bubbling under more big-named franchises, only waiting to make a creditable return to players’ awareness. SaGa: Scarlet Grace - Ambitions is worth recommending to anyone looking for an unstrained and lively JRPG. An old cliché “easy to pick up but hard to put down” holds very much true to it.

Where The Water Tastes Like Wine is a fascinating idea for a game that is probably best experienced in small, shorter doses.

All in all, I have to recommend Ashen to all fans of the Souls-style games, Metroidvanias, challenging games, etc. Anyone who is unfamiliar with these types of titles, then by all means jump in to Ashen, as the option to have AI or a friend by your side can make all the difference in how you play the game, and can really open it up to new audiences. Ashen is out on PC, PS4, Xbox One and now on Nintendo Switch. Personally, the Switch version is a perfect pick-up-and-play game, allowing you to venture deeper into the world one session at a time. While the game is not as large-scale as some of its inspirations may be, it's worth playing all the same.

The real problem with Heroland is that it can’t decide what it wants to be. Is it a JRPG? A resource management game? A visual novel? It tries to do too much and ends up lacking the necessary gameplay element to make it a complete package. However, if you enjoy a charming, dialogue-heavy game with a grind, you just might enjoy Heroland.

Ultimately, the Arctic Pack is the same kind of high quality content that we’ve come to expect from Frontier, and sets the stage for a series of geography-themed DLC. The sticking point for some players will be the cost. At $10, it could be argued that the number of animals and other goodies is a little thin. Planet Coaster had a habit of including free content updates in addition to, and often alongside, paid DLC and one hopes this will continue with Planet Zoo. The Arctic Pack is an excellent, if not especially generous, supplement to the base game.

Overall, this particular port of Star Ocean is simultaneously the absolute best way to play the game today and a bit underwhelming at the same time. Only little has changed between First Departure and First Departure R, mainly portraits, audio choices and upscaling while the gameplay remains rather outdated. The port was literally made for more sales, but I’m still glad they brought this classic game to modern consoles and I had a bunch of fun playing it once again. Here’s hoping we see a Star Ocean: Second Story R in 2020!

It’s hard to imagine RPG fans used to God of War or Outer Worlds finding Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition anything but nearly unplayable. Graphics aren’t everything, but dated appearance married to a frustrating UI and even some missing features are asking a lot to be forgiven. Extremely tolerant gamers willing to overlook these flaws and seek the under-the-surface quality will find it, but playing a true remake or graphically made-over game would be a more inviting prospect than the disappointing port that we actually have.

For what it’s worth, I think the developers of Narcos were on the right track. They had a good idea that other games have nearly perfected, and tried to add their own twist to it. Sometimes those chances work out, giving us another way to play some of our favorite game types. This was not one of those times. Narcos tried to change the game. It just didn’t work.

While I wish the actual platforming were a bit stronger, Arise: A Simple Story is still a lovely experience which I recommend you try. Frustration over dying a handful of times passes quickly when you’re enveloped in such wonderful sights and sounds. It's just an experience you'll get nearly as much out of watching as you would playing.

It can feel weird going back to the older format after spending hours acclimating yourself to the gameplay of New Creed but neither Black Flag or Rogue feel dated in any way and remain insanely playable to this day. And if that doesn’t sell you, perhaps knowing that the Rebel Collection offers the finest collection of sea shanties this side of the West Indies will have you galavanting over to the Nintendo eShop.

Nancy Drew games are often considered as “girls’ games” but I think that conception is ancient and belongs to the past. Anyone who likes a good, relaxed crime story without excess violence is allowed to enjoy Nancy Drew: Midnight in Salem.

If the intention of Coteries of New York was to remind me how excited I am about Bloodlines 2, and how much I enjoy the lore of Vampire: The Masquerade, then we’ll call this a win. As a visual novel, it is a solid story, flawed only by visual repetition and some bare-bones production. It’s an intriguing tale, well told, but over too soon and not inviting to revisit.

Its dynamic gameplay birthed unforgettable, heroic tales of agents who made amazing triumphs and ultimate sacrifices alike that I still remember over twenty years later. Unfortunately, Phoenix Point never inspires in the same way. The turn-based combat is probably among the best the genre offers but the hollow string of separate missions the procedurally created content weaves can’t carry the game. Ultimately, Phoenix Point is only for true believers of the genre - if they don’t mind the meaningless framework the game is put onto, that is.

On the surface, Romancing SaGa 3 looks like an instant recommendation for anyone who loves traditional SNES JRPGs, but in reality, that’s not the case. The game is very different from many other conventional JRPGs. Even the most die-hard fans of the genre will find the game frustrating unless they are willing to invest in learning its finer details.

Bug Fables is a truly excellent spiritual successor to the original Paper Mario format. It’s made with loving care and is a lot of fun, and I cannot recommend it enough to those who want to re-live the first two Paper Mario games, or just anyone who wants to play a cute RPG with a lot of heart.

Shovel Knight: King of Cards is a successful union of its disparate halves, existing as both a platformer with consistently inventive level design and an engaging collectible card game. Joustus and the platforming offer a well-choreographed sequence of challenges that deliver constant variation. Half a decade later, this formula still holds up, and while it may have needed a booster shot of an entirely new sub-game, this injection is quite successful. It's a fitting send-off for a title that helped define a new wave of indies. By liberally borrowed the best aspects of games from the past while showcasing the strengths of modern design principles, Shovel Knight has earned its spot in the annals of the medium. Its latest installment lives up to that legacy.

In the case of Everreach: Project Eden, some mechanical issues with AI or balance can be patched, which other problems are more in the realm of aesthetics and direction and are probably doomed to never go away. There’s nothing wrong with a game having a clear inspiration — most every game does — but failing to innovate on that model can result in what we have here, a product that feels like an unconvincing imitation.

MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries offers a lot of content, but not all of it is interesting, accessible or fun and much feels like its in need of some streamlining in the cause of playability. There are moments of intense and impressive action to be found, but they are bundled with obtuse mechanics and bland storytelling. Playing Mercenaries can feel both like a chore and slow-mo thrill ride.

I wanted to love Sniper: Ghost Warrior Contracts. There is a lot that is well done here, particularly the shooting, the upgrades, and the level design. Unfortunately, it is all but marred by bugs, especially the way the save system currently works… or doesn’t. If you’re in the market for a new sniping shooter, I cannot in good conscious recommend Contracts, it’s simply too frustrating to play in its current state.

You don’t have to dig too deeply to find that Golem, for all its inane faults, has some really interesting mechanical ideas for VR gaming. It’s one of the very few adventures that give you a sword to swing around in real-time and makes a concerted effort to make melee duels look and feel meaningful. And like I said before, it’s cool when it works correctly. The technical problems and physical discomfort were just too hard to ignore because of how actively they work against you, causing me to stop playing. From the needless complexity of the game’s pathfinding and a boring world to its physically bothersome movement mechanics, too often does Golem feel like a beast of burden.

For most people, it will be a love-it-or-hate-it kind of experience. That makes it impossible for me to recommend it unequivocally. However, if you are looking for a unique point and click adventure that revels in black humor and nerdy pop culture, MechaNika is a game you'll want to try. I greatly enjoyed my time with the game, even though it was not always a comfortable experience.

There are interesting concepts at play here and I definitely understand why the team behind Interrogation were inspired to create it. It looks great with a black and white, noir-like visual style which really lands. From gameplay to messaging, though, Interrogation fails on almost every other level. Some of the more insane scenes that show up are something to behold but not for any sort of good reason. Don't be deceived into thinking Interrogation is worth your time.

Games are often escapist entertainment, but not everyone enjoys games that are full of tension, conflict or violence - at least all of the time. Lost Ember is a different form of escapism, an emotional and soothing journey into the natural world and its nonhuman inhabitants. People who play games for the challenges won’t find them in Lost Ember, but there other pleasures to discover and a thoughtful story that resonates with the power of ancient mythology.