If you are a fan of pixel art or Amiga-style twin-stick shooters, you will probably have a nice time with Tower 57, especially if you are playing with a friend.

The concept is great, but it’s not executed properly. The prologue is fantastic, but it’s not the representative of the whole game. The multiplayer is present, but it’s not great. Because of this potential and given the fact that it’s an only-online game, right now, I view it as a disappointment. I really hope that Question updates the game and improves it as time goes on.

Team Sonic Racing is one of Sonic's best spin-off games to date. Even with the handful of problems I had with the game, I found I was easily able to overlook them because of the pure fun I was having. Team Sonic Racing is definitely worth checking out if you're looking for your next kart racing craze.

Red Faction: Guerrilla is still the wacky, high octane dose of fun that I remember sinking many hours into last-gen, and the Switch version (mostly) plays to its strengths.

Despite the fact that the game looks the part and there is a lot of surface-level fun to be had with Rematch, the harsh truth is that the game feels far too rough around the edges to stand a chance of becoming an ESports stalwart, or even a middling multiplayer title for that matter. The game's performance feels akin to an alpha still in development, gameplay doesn't facilitate a high skill ceiling for players to strive for, there are a litany of glaring omissions in terms of basic UI, and there seems to be a geunine lack of understanding on the developer's part on what makes for a gripping and balanced live service framework. I thought for all the world that this game would be a championship contender, but as it turns out, it's just relegation fodder.

It would have been neat if all of the games in this collection could feature online multiplayer, but even without it, the titles still manage to be entertaining in single player or local co-op.

If Forza and Heat were in a boxing match, Forza would be Mike Tyson in his prime and Heat would be a toddler.

Matterfall is a mechanically sound game but has very little to keep you coming back to chase high scores. As it stands, I enjoyed the handful of hours that I spent with it, but I can't see myself going back anytime soon.

GreedFall takes place in an amazing and intriguing world but fails to be interesting on the gameplay front.

The game took the developers six years to make, and this is seems to have paid off when looking at in the quality of the visuals, controls, and how well the Chasm’s take on procedural generation and the placement of its rooms works out.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning’s world holds so much promise that it was heart-wrenching when the franchise went dormant, but with this new lease on life, I am keeping my fingers crossed that it won’t be long before we get a full-blown sequel. Until then, I shall continue exploring the world of Amalur as Barnaby, the dashing rogue.

FIFA 21 feels like a game with a ton of potential that’s being held back by its engine. Konami decided to take the year off and switch to Unreal. I can’t help but feel like EA really needs to do the same. For all the bells and whistles the team adds every year, the on-field product leaves so much to be desired.

In its best moments, John Carpenter's Toxic Commando is an unbelievably good time. Even in its worst moments, it's still a pretty solid zombie shooter with some great set pieces. That being said, any problems with the game can and probably will be fixed in time. The janky bots and frustrating solo player experience definitely make things a little rough around the edges, but underneath that is a fantastic game that will absolutely exceed your expectations if you give it a chance.

Invincible VS is a brilliantly brutal extension of the comic and Amazon Prime cartoon, offering up visceral, fluid battling and a genuinely entertaining single-player mode. The AI feels incredibly smart, adjusting its strategies mid-fight and creating a fluid pace for combat. It is missing a few key actors, but everyone does such a wonderful job, it doesn't hurt that badly. If you're looking for a way to pass the time until season 5 of the show hits in 2027, Invincible VS is a bloody good time.

Barring these minor user interface issues, Bear and Breakfast was a joy to play. It doesn’t do anything revolutionary for the genre, but it successfully carves out a niche by perfectly matching its tone, gameplay and narrative. Bear and Breakfast accomplishes exactly what it set out to do, it’s a charming little management sim that doesn’t take itself seriously. It might not be for everyone, but I think a lot of people will find joy in this wholesome project.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake very much feels like a 2000s game, which has been respectfully updated with improved presentation. Unfortunately, its gameplay has not withstood the test of time. Built upon an engaging turn-based gameplay loop, this game quickly becomes repetitive—even tedious—because it plays the same scenes over and over. Compared to the variety of events in modern grand strategy games, it's difficult to recommend this one. However, if you're a history enthusiast or a Dynasty Warriors fan curious about the strategy genre, this game may be for you.

I enjoyed my time with Black the Fall because I am a fan of these kinds of atmospheric 2D puzzle platformers that tackle heavy themes.

Despite being a game that’s now 15 years old, [Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath HD] has been adapted to the Switch fantastically.

Everybody's Golf Hot Shots is a really disappointing swing and a miss. Poor performance that directly impacts your shot on a consistent basis totally kills the experience, and the gameplay in general is wildly and randomly imprecise. The presented modes feel bare bones, the lack of custom player creation is a bummer, and the stock characters are largely annoying. Fans of the franchise should stick to the classics, or 2017's Everybody's Golf, which is clearly superior in nearly every facet.

Borderlands 2 VR is exactly what you think the original would be like in the early days of virtual reality. It never does anything to separate itself from the pack of decent VR adaptions, but, can provide a fun point and shoot experience once you get accommodated with your preferred controls and comfortability settings.

Steelrising is a good if challenging time. If you’re thirsting for your next Souls-like after milking Elden Ring dry, then the combat here will feel oddly familiar and you’re sure to find something to enjoy, but it isn’t without its faults. Overall Steelrising hits way more than it misses, but a forgettable story and a few repetitive boss battles hold it back from achieving true greatness.

Megaton Rainfall is not a terrible game; for an indie superhero title, it does a lot of things great, but the problem is that the few flaws that it offers make one overlook all that it does great. Nonetheless, Megaton Rainfall succeeds in providing the best first-person superhero gaming experience that AAA studios have failed to deliver so far.

Ultimately, Earth Defense Force 5 boils down to a very shallow entry in a series that I’ve typically enjoyed in the past. Single-player only works in short spurts, as this is a title that’s meant to be enjoyed with others. I think it’s time for Earth Defense Force to evolve into more than just a game that relies on nostalgia and monotonous killing. There’s definitely potential here and it shines through at multiple points throughout the game. If you’re a fan of this series, this game is definitely worth giving a shot, even if it’s your first time. But if you’re hoping for some improvements over Earth Defense Force 4.1, you may be disappointed.

Star Ocean 4: The Last Hope is a decent RPG that has many ambitious mechanics and puts a lot of focus on story development.

Dead or Alive 6 is the most enjoyable and accessible title in the fighting series yet, though its story and online modes leave a bit to be desired.

Watch Dogs: Legion offers an incredibly vast recruitment system that wonderfully complements its hacking mechanics while boasting the darkest story in the series.

I expected a little more from iRacing Arcade. What's here is a very simple and easy to understand racer with a very approachable learning curve, which makes it a decent entry point for genre newcomers. It is pretty consistently fun, but it also makes some confusing decisions between available game modes, totally omits some base level racing game features you'd expect, and has a lack of gameplay depth even compared to other arcade-style titles. It's still a good time and worth checking out (especially at the price point), but I don't think it'll become a staple of my racing game lineup.

There is a whole generation of PS4 owners who are probably way too deep into Fortnite, with that game being their first exposure to the genre. While I wouldn’t count myself amongst them, I cannot imagine that any of those people would choose this $30 experience, with little promise to grow and improve, over triple-A titles that have since leapfrogged over PUBG.

The story is as absurd as you’d expect from a game bringing together Marvel and Capcom characters and trying to make it coherent.

A game worth playing if you’re a fan of the series solely because of the new features, however, regarding the single-player story it felt more like a one and done for me.

Ultimately, these games were the result of Game Freak and Nintendo taking a risk and giving the fans something they've been begging for over a long while. It tries to mix Legends: Arceus with the main series, and it half-succeeds. Some things brought innovative and fun changes, while we learned others were better off they way they were before. If Pokémon fans can look past the obvious flaws and limitations, there's so much to appreciate here.

Death’s Gambit is a fantastically crafted game; the controls are tight, the bosses are memorable, and the graphics are great. However, the unrelenting difficulty makes it a tedious and sometimes painful affair. It’s brutal challenge often feels like it’s more of a test of the player’s endurance and perseverance limits than it does supply an enjoyable experience.

Wattam is not a great video game by any definition. However, it is a great, zero-stress experience that wants to show how great friendship can be. If you’re looking for a game to test your skills or provide you with a mature narrative that makes you think, Wattam ain’t it. However, if you’re having a bad day and just want to unwind by kabooming golden poops all over your screen, Wattam is more than happy to take you under its bowler.

Episode 2 manages to deliver far more impactful sense of decision-making (and consequences) than what we saw in the first episode.

The Battletoads make their comeback after a 26-year hiatus and, for the most part, offer a solid re-entry into the cult classic franchise.

Will hardcore Maddenites have a blast with all the new gameplay toys they have at their disposal? Absolutely. Do I think casual Madden fans need to rush out and buy this edition? Probably not. Madden 20 is a fine game, but it’s definitely an iterative version that doesn’t do enough to stand out from last year’s game.

SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated is a nostalgia-filled time machine that brings back the golden age of the license while adding a fresh coat of paint.

Splitgate: Arena Warfare has the foundation of a great shooter but its generic ideas and lack of originality get in the way of something that should feel a lot better than it is.

Despite being built from previously-used parts, The Jackbox Party Pack 6 is still one of the more solid and consistent collections.

Minecraft Legends is an action-strategy game that doesn't take itself too seriously, making it an easy game to hop into, while simultaneously lacking the depth to keep hardcore fans of the strategy genre coming back. The extra Monthly Challenge and PvP modes add some much-needed variety that helps compensate for the main campaign's shortcomings. Ultimately, Legends has a great foundation for future updates and is a good game to play over a long weekend.

It was a bold move for the devs to try and move this traditionally 2D style of game into this hybrid 3D space, but I can’t help but feel that Jumpship would have been better off leaving it in 2D, because that extra dimension ends up just weighing the game down. It’s weirdly apt that right at the end of the game, when I’d got two different endings but was trying to unlock what I’d imagine was the ‘good’ ending, I experienced a massive bug that for a moment seemed like a creative decision, as I fell through the world, was reunited with my family on a grey platform in some empty void, then jumped off again to go into an infinite fall. In the end, Somerville’s admirable artistic vision and technical issues merged into one, poignantly showing that these two aspects of a game can’t ultimately be separated.

There are certain things that don’t quite connect and a handful of plot holes that stick out, but Dark Pictures: Little Hope is definitely worth your time if you’re a fan of the genre or liked Until Dawn and were disappointed with Man of Medan. It’s a game that’s best enjoyed when being played with a group of people to shout out which decisions to make and pass the controller around. At its best, Little Hope is chilling and gripping and creates an internal conflict in the player between wanting to press on and being too scared to see what lies behind the next door.

Now that Capcom has ported all of the main entry games to console, I hope that they bring us the Mega Man X games next in a collection. Or maybe even Mega Man Legends 3 — a guy can dream, right? If you haven’t played the original six games, I’d say the original Mega Man Legacy Collection is a better buy in terms of quality when compared to this one, but nonetheless, Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 is still great, and the best way to replay these classics.

Everything feels brand new, well balanced, and novel when packaged together so cohesively.

For the $20 price, the Collection of SaGA Final Fantasy Legend is still a fun bundle of games that serve as a wonderful time capsule for handheld RPG adventures, even if it is light on features.

Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner M∀RS is both an antique and gem of its time, and one worth reexamining–especially if you’ve got a VR headset. But before diving in head first into an Orbital Frame, run a diagnostics on whether you are interested in returning to a PS2 game.

The Bard’s Tale IV: Barrows Deep is definitely for a specific crowd of hardcore RPG and series fans, and for those, it caters wonderfully.

Ultimately, these games were the result of Game Freak and Nintendo taking a risk and giving the fans something they've been begging for over a long while. It tries to mix Legends: Arceus with the main series, and it half-succeeds. Some things brought innovative and fun changes, while we learned others were better off they way they were before. If Pokémon fans can look past the obvious flaws and limitations, there's so much to appreciate here.

A game doesn’t need to be perfect to be enjoyable, but it does need to have substance and Days Gone has this in handfuls. Days Gone is a game that deserves a player’s patience and perseverance as only then will you get to experience the game as it is intended. The story opens up and becomes more in-depth the longer you play and leads to you uncovering more important information.

Despite some of the unevenness with its attention to some of the series’ stronger characters (and effectively developing its weaker ones), Episode 4 of The Walking Dead: A New Frontier makes up for a languid pace in its first two thirds by setting up an explosive final act.

Death end re;Quest proves it can tell an engaging and darker story in an RPG/visual novel, even though it doesn't do too much to make it stand out above the rest.

A mediocre JRPG, Fairy Tail does only the bare minimum with what it offers. It's a game for dedicated fans, but fans deserve a better game.

The combat changes in Story Mode actually help to make the game feel more in tune with Minecraft‘s own combat, and will definitely be a welcome change for players of Telltale’s previous titles.

High on Life 2 accomplishes an incredibly rare feat, as it's a sequel that improves every single aspect of the original while forging its own unique path. The addition of the skateboard is a game changer, and the majestic insanity that you can concoct is just oodles of fun. Squanch Games had a lot of work to do in order to both distance itself from its creator and ensure the foundation was solid, which they did in spades. High on Life 2's absurd story, impeccable combat and beautiful world are just a few reasons to explore this sinfully funny shooter.

When all of these elements come together the result is a pulse-pounding adrenaline-fueled frenzied fight to the finish that often borders on all-out vehicular warfare.

Life is Strange: Reunion feels like something I wasn’t sure we’d ever actually get—a sincere, tender, and heartfelt goodbye to Max and Chloe that understands why people fell in love with them in the first place. It’s far from perfect, with its technical hiccups, underdeveloped side cast, and that lingering illusion of choice holding it back from true greatness. But where it truly matters, it delivers. The mystery narrative holds its ground with a slew of twists and red herrings thrown at you. Most importantly, the emotional depth (finally) lands with a kind of honesty the series has been chasing for a few years. This isn’t about surpassing the original; it’s about making peace with its past. And somehow, against all the stacked odds, Deck Nine manages to pull that off in a redeeming fashion. If you’ve been on this journey since the beginning, it feels like closure, the kind that quietly sticks with you long after the credits roll as you're waving goodbye.

Although God Eater 3 boasts some stellar gameplay mechanics that allow you to play how you'd like, the surrounding aspects keep it back from being otherwise a great game.

I do have to give Ubisoft some credit in terms of atmosphere. The ambiance and sound design were incredibly creepy.

A slice of life approach to storytelling with a cast of characters that I’ve had the honor to see evolve over the past seven years. Aside from taking on missions and wrecking thousands of enemies, the story and characters drive this game forward which is important because there is a lot of story here.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered is probably the most divided I’ve felt about a game in a long time.

Super Meat Boy 3D isn't exactly a massive leap for the franchise when compared to other side-scrollers that have made the jump to a new dimension, but that's okay. What's here is the high-level, fluid, and precise platforming you'd expect, and that fans of the series have come to adore. Yes, you will die thousands of times by the end, but that's also the point. There are small design hiccups here and there in terms of a few levels that don't feel fair, a couple less memorable bosses, and the added depth sometimes playing tricks on your brain. At the end of the day, however, Super Meat Boy 3D is a blast, and I'm looking forward to shaving off tenths of seconds from my record times on each and every level.

Destroy All Humans is an endlessly entertaining alien-superpower playground, but tends to crush under the weight of its own structure.

Despite its technical prowess and stunning visuals, The Medium is a drag. From slow, uninteresting gameplay to a confusing and poorly executed story, Bloober Team's latest makes for a good tech demo, but not much else.

The Knightling has a lot of charm and some fun ideas, but simply can't compete with the larger titles it wants to be compared to. The fluidity of movement is the true standout here, along with a solid, nice-looking open-world that doesn't feel like a chore. Unfortunately, the combat is fairly boring, the puzzles aren't memorable, the platforming feels off, and a handful of quests don't seem to function as intended. I like this team's heart, and I am looking forward to seeing them grow from here. For me, The Knightling sadly just wasn't all the way there yet.

Despite the flaws, I really enjoyed Mass Effect Andromeda, its lovable alien buddies, its beautiful exotic planets, its story full of mysteries and surprises to uncover. The tight combat gameplay definitely adds to the package, making this a game worth playing...Perhaps Mass Effect Andromeda will serve as a wake-up call for BioWare, letting them realize that it’s time to evolve beyond the change of setting and cast. In the meanwhile, we’re still given a game that might not be the monumental fresh start that the masses expected, but is still a quite solid experience than many will enjoy.

Little Nightmares 3 is a solid addition to the beloved franchise, and Supermassive did a fine job with the project. The atmosphere is on point as it does a great job at telling a story, creating a sense of dread, and is genuinely exciting to venture through. Unfortunately, the game has minimal horror, and I wouldn’t go into it expecting to be scared. As for the gameplay itself, it’s really basic to its benefit and detriment. It’s a great game to pick up and play in a weekend, especially due to its short runtime, but it won’t offer any challenge or thought-provoking puzzles. Still, Little Nightmares 3 feels right at home in the franchise and I wouldn't mind seeing Supermassive Games take another crack at a sequel, especially if they learn from their mistakes on this one.

Summon Night 6 proves that a decent localization can help a series that has very little presence in the West. With some unique SRPG mechanics as well as good character development, Summon Night 6 could easily become a fan favorite in the West and hopefully pave the way for future and past entries in the series to be localized.

Though it may be short on depth, Detective Pikachu makes up for its lack of difficulty with a ton of personality and charm.

Monster Energy Supercross 25 is a tough to pick up, but rewarding to learn racing sim. The new physics, courtesy of Unreal Engine 5, makes this iteration of the series more realistic than ever, with ever-evolving track surfaces that make every lap different and exciting with each new attempt. The career mode is nothing to write home about compared to most other modern sports or racing titles, and the inclusion of a training mode doesn't do the best job of getting new riders up to speed. Still, the racing is fun and can be quite thrilling once you get your bearings, and the idea of virtually endless user tracks to test out is a cool idea if players take advantage of it. The modes present in the game are solid enough, but don't have a ton of variety to keep you around forever. Still, if you have the patience to learn the ropes or are a long-time fan of the series, 25 is a worthy addition to your racing sim collection.

Night School Studio's Afterparty falls short of greatness, with an unrewarding narrative, underutilized gameplay concepts, and technical issues.

Don’t Stop, Girlypop! fits a very specific niche that has been ignored for far too long: a game like DOOM or Unreal Tournament to be played while wearing a pink bow and long nails. This game is for people who want to play classic shooters but are tired of the drab visuals, and there is no better way to replace that than with a Y2K-inspired hyper pop pink space glitter fantasy.

Sonic Team has never been afraid to take risks and Sonic Frontiers is a good example of one that has paid off. There are some areas where it is lacking, such as the minimal number of Cyberspace settings and the Titan fights, but Sonic Frontiers is the best 3D Sonic games in a long time, with its open-world foundation offering something for the series to build on in years to come.

Resident Evil 0 is a strange outlier in the long-running survival horror series, making it a tough recommendation on Switch over the first Resident Evil and 4.

Layers of Fear 2 is one of the best pure horror games I’ve played in some time. Bloober Team has created a title that pushes common horror tropes aside for something more fascinating and exciting. While I ultimately left unsatisfied with my first run, the journey to the end was a hell of a ride that had me uneasy in the best ways the entire time.

Lego Horizons Adventures had so much potential by mixing two iconic franchises: Lego and Horizon. Unfortunately, it misses the mark by a lot. Instead of something memorable, the result is an underwhelming experience with a dull reinterpretation of Zero Dawn's story, repetitive combat, and almost zero exploration. Even though it's only 6 hours long, which is a disgrace for the 60-dollar price tag, it's still not worth your time. Unless you're a parent looking to keep your kid occupied for the evening, Lego Horizon Adventures is a hard pass.

Resident Evil: Revelations is a true survival-horror experience with a lot to offer on modern home consoles for only $20. Not everything in the game has made the jump to console perfectly, but if it’s anything to go by, I sure as hell enjoyed this game a lot more than Resident Evil 6.

Stray Gods is a revolutionary visual novel without peer, and even if you're not really into that genre, musical theater, or the Greek pantheon, I couldn't recommend it more.

Just Cause 4 had so much more potential than the final product we were given.

If you want a serious straight-faced, team-based TPS, this probably isn’t the game for you. Yet, if you simply would like to have a lot of fast-paced and exhilarating fun topped by all the eye-candy that can be squeezed into a single Blu-Ray disk, then the new adventure of Marvelous’ ninja waifus can easily fit the bill.

Code Vein features anime vampires and fast combat, but it's too reliant on the exact Soulslike formula to stand out on its own.

CyberConnect2 fulfills all our expectations with Demon Slayer Hinokami Chronicles. The title is great for fans of the manga and newcomers alike, however, there is definitely room for improvement.

For $29.99, Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-Ality is a game worth adding to your library. It may have a linear design and a short length, but it is still a great game that stays true to the Rick and Morty IP, and I look forward to future Rick and Morty titles.

Blackwood Crossing is sure to tug at your heartstrings at some point throughout its 2-3 hours, but in a way that feels genuine and thought-provoking, rather than manipulative or forced.

It’s surprising how completing a level doesn’t just result in relief to the point where we’d never revisit that level again out of frustration, but rather newfound confidence that we could take it on again.

Atomfall’s DLC is a notable accomplishment for one big reason: it successfully adds a story expansion that almost seamlessly integrates itself into an incredibly delicate, immersive sim-like storyline. While it may not fix any of the issues with the base game, the added lore and questlines put another profound spin on the Atomfall world. More than anything else, the ambiance and beautifully distinct aesthetic of the new expansion should be a massive reason for fans to give this DLC a whirl.

Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny is loaded with nostalgia, callbacks to famous scenes and lines, but ultimately isn't as good as it could be. The limited fantasy setting, monotonous combat and underwhelming world map are helped slightly by its wonderfully authentic voices and fun story. If you grew up watching these cartoons, chances are you'll be charmed by the respect paid to them like I was, but find that the quest itself is not quite as good as just watching your favorite episodes again.

With a forgettable story and not one memorable character, Philna Fantasy sticks to the basics of an action RPG, offering a gameplay loop that feels all too familiar for anyone who has ever played a dungeon crawler. While playing with the different characters is amusing at first, the game soon runs out of steam because it doesn't bring anything new to the table. The puzzles are creative, and the boss fights are a blast, but they're one-and-done deals. After the credits rolled on my 16-hour playthrough, I didn't want to spend another second with the game.

Starbites is that JRPG that stays true to its promise, delivering exactly what is on the tin. Its turn-based gameplay borrows some formulas and mechanics from other JRPGs, which may feel uninspired to some fans but can be a novelty to others. It's delightful in the first hours, but it can get a bit stale and repetitive by the second half. The narrative is solid, and the story is very coherent with everything presented, with great highlights given to the charismatic cast. Despite being only a 20-hour journey, it still suffers from pacing issues here and there. Overall, Starbites is a neat, straightforward experience for those who need a break from 100-hour JRPGs.

Proves that open world games can be enjoyed in bite-sized bits on the go with Switch.

Scorn's ways are obscure, and often frustrating in a way that gamers who didn’t grow up in the 90s may struggle with more than myself. It's a work of breathtaking vision and uneven execution - from its combat, to its unsatisfying ending that sadly doesn't do justice to the gruelling yet oddly poignant odyssey you embark upon. But for its flaws, Scorn makes a hell of an impression, filling me with equal parts immense curiosity and dread. I don't want to return to it any time soon - maybe ever - but I will be scouring the Subreddits and the Steam boards in an attempt to decipher it for a long time yet.

This is the beauty of Mosaic; it’s not just another tale made up for storytelling impact. These are feelings and situations I felt empathy with and that are a current problem within our world today. It’s great to see more developers wanting to go down this route when creating games and wanting to make a difference. I’d be surprised that when the end credits roll on Mosaic, you wouldn’t want to change even the smallest details of your own life for the better.

Fitting between an arcade racer and a sim, Project CARS 3 tries something new with the series, but doesn't feel like a huge step forward.

Bartlow's Dread Machine is a solid bullet-hell shooter with an excellent look that's held back by a few curious design decisions.

Rusty Rabbit isn't a bad game at all, but it is extremely simple for the genre it slots into. It fails at having any sort of real challenge, memorable bosses, interesting puzzles, or rewarding routing. The story is surprisingly lore-filled, intriguing, and emotional by the conclusion, and the cast of cute rabbit characters do lend a nice level of charm to the game as you occasionally reach a flow state of map clearing, dungeon-crawling, mindless fun. Still, the game overstays its welcome by the end of its 20+ hour runtime, and there are better options if you're looking for a more accessible take on the Steamworld Dig-meets-Metroidvania formula. The entry cost is low, however, so it's not one to completely write-off if you're looking for a breezy side-scroller to sink some free time into.

Despite a few missed opportunities to really build on the great games it’s inspired by, Atomic Heart surprised me, with a remarkably inventive world that brings to life (the tears apart) the weirdest, wildest visions of Soviet propaganda. This is a game that’s been through over half a decade of development hell, and come out the other side as one of the best first-person shooters this generation.

After spending over 25 hours playing myself, I was able to complete many of the character’s stories and had a pretty good time doing it. However, the issue with the game is that the dull level design, lacking story premise, minimal voice acting, and visual novel style scenes made it feel like this game could have been so much more.

A fascinating perspective on a significant historical event that affects the world today. Despite clunky mechanics and sometimes awkward visuals, the title goes above and beyond regarding storytelling by incorporating real-life pieces of media, making a nuanced and varied story out of literal history that most people know nothing about.

Doesn’t quite capture the crackling energy that we’ve seen of the Guardians on-screen, with comic delivery that often falls flat and lacks what makes each of the Guardians characters so distinct and full of personality.