SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada is a refreshing take on the extraction shooter genre. Utilizing its lore-rich gameworld and anime aesthetic, the game delivers on many of the key elements which make a great PvPvE experience. Gameplay and progression are satisfying while each run carries with it the edge of a potentially fatal encounter. While the game looks good and is fun to play, there are certainly glaring flaws when it comes to the in-game microtransactions and paid items being lost or stolen. Overall, SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada is a great game which I'd recommend to anyone who is a fan of extraction shooters and the anime aesthetic.

But it wasn’t. I thoroughly enjoyed my 15 hours with it, but I’m also well aware of its numerous, easily identifiable, shortcomings. If you’re a dwarf connoisseur, then I can recommend this game. If you enjoy fantasy RPGs, and don’t mind tactical (though it’s hardly that) combat, then I can also recommend this game. But if you don’t particularly love either of these things, then The Dwarves from KING Art Games, may not be the dwarves for you.

Hell Pie isn’t the funniest game around but it really doesn’t need to be, because its solid gameplay and fantastically disgusting world is more than enough to carry its not-so-lovable hero through the duration of this not-so-family-friendly adventure.

She’s Leaving has a great and unique concept with a solid story, which may be enough for players looking for their next survival-horror fix. However, you shouldn’t go into it hoping for amazing gameplay, since it’s pretty barebones across the board. While engaging with real-life practices of forensics is intriguing, especially if you’re into true crime, everything else revolves around cookie-cutter mechanics to an exhausting extent. The majority of a playthrough consists of finding and using keys, unlocking safes, and running away from a stalker that becomes less scary and more of a nuisance the longer you play. While She’s Leaving isn’t the best option out there for survival-horror enthusiasts, it has enough good stuff, such as interesting forensic mechanics, story, and voice acting, that make it worthwhile for a quick playthrough over a weekend. It’s also important to consider its low price of only $16.99.

Despite how much I wanted to enjoy Crackdown 3, I can’t say that it’s anything but disappointing.

Blood Bowl 3 is the type of game that makes people say things like, “I’ll wait until it’s on sale” or, “maybe this will be good in a year or two.” Now, I don’t work in publishing, but it seems to me like that’s the opposite of what you want when you’re releasing a game that’s so blatantly predatory in its monetization. What I don’t understand is why the game was delayed for two years only to launch in this abysmal state. Maybe in another two years, this game will actually be playable. For now, stick to Blood Bowl 2 instead.

The fabulous SNK heroine cast will likely impress–one way or another.

With thrilling, classic Musou gameplay, new systems, and a fun story, Warriors Orochi 4 is a really great game that both fans of the series and newcomers can enjoy.

The worst part of Metal Gear Survive is its opening hours.

Twin Mirror is a beautiful-looking game but doesn't have the same narrative punch that made previous games from Dontnod so memorable.

I'm bummed that Hirogami didn't hit for me like I'd expected it to. There are lots of cool ideas and mechanics here that feel fresh and exciting, and different challenges for each level give you lots to strive for. Unfortunately, the platforming eventually starts to feel frustrating due to bad checkpointing, questionable hitboxes, and ultimate lack of variety. Combat is frequent, repetitive, and ended up feeling like a chore. There's heart and charm here, and I think a sequel could eventually turn this into a viable franchise. As it stands, however, Hirogami isn't a must-play.

It is a shame to see the series fizzle out like this on 3DS. At this point, I just want Nintendo to bring the game over to the Switch with Mario Party 11, as that may be the breath of fresh air this series desperately needs to stay relevant. If that doesn’t work out, then it may be time for Nintendo and Nd Cube to finally put this once great series to rest.

It’s a shame many quality-of-life improvements that could have been made to Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles aren’t present in this Remastered Edition.

This wet fart of a release that Activision-Blizzard gave us feels like they’re stepping on my childhood and then spitting in its eye even as the teacher is pulling it off me.

Although I would have preferred a reboot or sequel to the series, this provided a nice trip down third-person shooter memory lane, but that might not be enough to gauge enough interest from modern gamers.

LEGO Worlds is fun in small increments and I would be lying if I said this game does not hit the target audience’s expectations. If you like sandbox games with open-ended gameplay, or are looking for a decent Minecraft alternative, this game is for you; unfortunately there just was not enough substance in the aimless gameplay loop for me to keep me coming back.

To see a small studio like Easy Day Studios create something that is not only reminiscent of the games that clearly influenced them, but overall improves on what its predecessors did, is heartening. Sure, it has its fair share of flaws, but none of them take away from how much fun I’ve had. Skater XL has successfully brought back the skateboarding genre, and I am eager to see how Easy Day Studios supports the game moving forward.

For all its shortcomings, it is a fun little multiplayer combat game that's best enjoyed with friends, which is what it set out to be. Just don't expect The Stick of Truth 2.

School Girl/Zombie Hunter is not a good game; it’s barely even an okay game. What I found that I enjoyed most was the localization effort, a few of the boss battles, and some of the environments. Outside of that, this game will most likely fall into obscurity and be forgotten, which is something that I’m not proud to say because of how much I’ve personally enjoyed other Tamsoft releases.

While the physics and collision problems and dying online community can dampen the experience, Drive!Drive!Drive! is like no game I have played before, and probably won’t be like any game I play after. For such a tired genre, it was awesome that developer Different Cloth could breathe new life into it with solid innovation.

Fans of the series and setting will probably find validation and likable aspects here, but I wouldn’t suggest jumping in here if you’re unfamiliar. There are better strategy games out there for cheaper with more depth, options, and personality than this one. By the end, I preferred the idea of just playing Civilization VI as China — that’d probably be a more fun evening of strategy for me.

Shattered Space is just more of what Starfield couldn’t deliver. Although its focused, single-location experience and engaging quests provide a refreshing change, its overall lackluster quality proves that no updates or expansions can truly transform Starfield. While moments of brilliance remain, and Shattered Space does add some memorable moments to the pile, it's a DLC that ensures that Starfield doesn't go out with a bang like a Supernova, but rather fades into the vacuum of space without so much as a whimper.

One Piece: World Seeker is a solid attempt at an open-world licensed anime game but the same attention to world building isn't applied to its gameplay to craft something that's truly memorable.

I Hate This Place had a lot going for it, with a unique setting, an interesting isometric layout, and crafting at its core. However, it doesn't reach its full potential, and all of its systems are lackluster, resulting in an experience that is underwhelming overall. The resource economy is broken, the day and night cycle feels pointless, and the controls on consoles are so frustrating that the end result is headache-inducing, rather than an enjoyable experience. There are some moments of greatness, especially in its stealth gameplay and paranormal environments, where the exciting nature of the survival horror genre shines through, but those moments are quickly fleeting. I do recommend I Hate This Place to survival horror fans if there is nothing else to play and they're on a budget, but I wouldn't go into this game expecting the next big thing.

For the vast majority of both Suda and Swery’s works, you don’t really show up for a high-quality gaming experience. You show up for the weird vibes, and indeed, Hotel Barcelona is rich in delightfully weird vibes that are appealing enough to get me through. However, there's a certain point where a game cannot carry itself on vibes alone. No More Heroes 3 had some visual jank, but was still a solid game. The Good Life ran terribly on my computer, but still had an engaging core loop. With Hotel Barcelona, I feel as though both Suda and Swery's typical shortcomings are multiplying against each other, resulting in a game that has good bones and a fun, wacky premise, but falls well short on actual execution. If a game with this kind of slow, sticky gameplay and graphical shortcomings came from any other directors, it probably wouldn't be on my radar.

Old school adventure games usually have challenges that either tie into the story or make the solution even more sweet as you get to continue the narrative. Memoranda rarely achieves either of these goals.

Sword Art Online Alicization Lycoris attempts to revamp the franchise and breathe new life into it, with very polarizing results.

As far as simulators go, it's not the worst. To the game's credit, it does offer the dull, mundane day-to-day routine that a lot of actual police officers call a career. If you want to spend hours writing tickets and slowly progressing in a meaningless career in law enforcement, you can do it here without the risk of being vilified on social media. But it could have been so much more had the systems in play been deeper and more robust, not to mention, fun. Instead, Police Simulator: Patrol Officers is a bit of a buggy mess that feels half-baked and not ready for patrol just yet. Back to the academy with this one.