Marisa of Liartop Mountain offers an interesting take on the Touhou universe, blending puzzle and RPG elements with the feel of a narrated tabletop game. Despite its rigid structure, which requires frequent backtracking (revisiting areas to complete objectives) and distances the game a bit from its initial proposal, discovering solutions to challenges and managing the dice in combat provides a pleasant, albeit limited, experience.

The survival dynamic in a hostile ecosystem makes Bioframe Outpost a Metroidvania with its own personality and many challenges, but it doesn't help pacing a progression that is sometimes laborious and confusing, and that also lacks key moments and climaxes to break the monotony. Therefore, what we have is an approach that, in trying to execute its own idea, ends up being more geared towards niche players who are curious and patient.

The ordinariness of Etrange Overlord's gameplay somewhat limits the enjoyment of the game, even though Etrange Overlord succeeds in fulfilling its promise of offering a light and accessible experience, especially due to its graceful narrative and visual presentation.

Abyssus delivers competent combat and plenty of customization options that can lead to exciting moments, especially in co-op play. However, the repetitive level design and technical issues weigh it down, making for a fun experience that is unlikely to stand out among the genre’s big names.

Morsels is a game marked by boldness and creativity, featuring charismatic characters and a world full of secrets, but it's hindered by confusing systems and excessive punishments that disrupt the flow of the experience, even alienating experienced players. While it hides interesting potential behind its eccentricities, it requires patience and persistence to be fully appreciated. With adjustments to balancing, clearer mechanics, and reduced punishments, Morsels could be much more brilliant, but as it stands, it’s a unique yet limited journey, best suited for those seeking unconventional experiences and willing to deal with its challenges.

I Hate This Place is a good adaptation of the comics for the virtual world, bringing faithful visuals, onomatopoeia for every character action, and an introduction to the comic universe. However, the game stumbles with imprecise aiming, a low variety of enemies, and an unengaging protagonist

In a straightforward and objective way, Ninja Gaiden 4 is on par with the original trilogy — the problem is that the last game was released over ten years ago. Even though it's competent, the lack of variability during the campaign noticeably hurts the final product. Everything the game delivers, it does so violently. And violence, when overdone, loses its intended shock value.

FBC: Firebreak is an honest attempt by Remedy to bring something new to its portfolio, exploring an already established IP with a fresh approach. However, I feel the game falls short by being so simple and shallow that, after just a few sessions, the desire to re-enter those crisis scenarios fades due to the mechanical and visual repetition of the entire universe. Still, it’s gratifying to see a major studio taking a chance on new ideas that step outside its comfort zone — even if they don’t always work.

Dosa Divas is a stylish and accessible RPG that shines through its charming narrative and high-quality voice acting. While its culinary theme is creative, the game is held back by repetitive cooking minigames and a lack of enemy variety that makes combat feel predictable over time. It is a solid entry point for genre newcomers, though seasoned players may find its core mechanics a bit undercooked.

Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witcherblends promising ideas with an inconsistent execution and numerous flaws. The tactical combat is engaging, and the bosses are challenging. However, the game suffers from repetitive objectives, a lackluster narrative, and abrupt difficulty spikes.

Catto’s Post Office is not one of those works that will live in your brain for months. At most, it will grant you a fun afternoon and a chuckle or two — and that’s all it needs to do. Its lack of substance isn’t exactly a point against it, but those who enjoy complex narratives and intricate gameplay may need to seek a different game.

Painkiller is an honest production about its intentions: it wants you to shoot, explode, and customize your arsenal until you find the perfect combination for destruction. In this goal, it succeeds. The combat is satisfying, the weapon customization is robust, and the cooperative sessions deliver the expected chaos. The problem is that, surrounding this solid core, there is little content to sustain the structure. Nine stages across three biomes, repetitive enemies, and predictable level design cause the experience to quickly exhaust its freshness. For those looking for a few hours of unpretentious fun with friends, Painkiller delivers. However, for those expecting a shooter with the legs to last, the game remains trapped in its own purgatory of repetition.

FUBUKI ～zero in on Holoearth～ HOLOLIVE ALTERNATIVE is a beautiful and short adventure that, although featuring stunning animations and pixel art, makes little use of important game design elements and offers limited appeal to players unfamiliar with the Hololive universe. Despite boasting a rich and impressive soundtrack, I hope that over time the developer takes player feedback into account and responds to the criticism.

Even though it works without major problems, Undivine has design limitations that almost compromise the overall experience. What makes up for this situation is the retro approach to exploring a cohesive and well-structured metroidvania world, which leaves the intuitive discoveries up to the player, without guidance or hand-holding.

Perennial Dusk -Kinsenka- is an aesthetically pleasant visual novel and offers an interesting premise. However, the plot is handled poorly in rhythm and quality, making it easier to recommend other games in the genre.

Robots at Midnight is a bold project. It aims to be a more accessible soulslike for younger audiences, and that alone is a welcome proposition. However, the execution does not match the ambition. Technical polish is lacking, frustration lingers in crucial details, and the narrative cannot carry the weight of the journey. Even so, the charm of the art style, the MITT system, and the Nightfall mechanic justify a curious look for those seeking a gentle entry point into the genre. The game does not become memorable, yet it plants a seed that could blossom in future projects.

Bus Bound's premise is to make the city evolve with the routes we take, and while this is an interesting way to give purpose to this type of game, it ends up becoming highly repetitive in its progression. At least the varied garage and dynamic weather create some interesting variations each time we enter a route.

Although the expansion doesn't bring enough content to fully appreciate the marvel that was AlUla's representation in the game, Valley of Memory is a captivating revisit for enthusiasts of the original game, who will most likely feel at home once again as they follow Basim on a new, touching, and intimate adventure.

No Sleep For Kaname Date — From AI: The Somnium Files is a functional, technically solid console release, but offers little incentive for players who already experienced it on PC or Switch. With its smaller scope and limited narrative impact, it’s easier to recommend to existing fans who couldn’t access previous platforms than to those considering a replay.

Avowed is an RPG that impresses with its freedom and diverse combat strategies but falls short in technical and artistic execution, failing to live up to the 'next Elder Scrolls' expectations set by fans of the genre. With questionable art direction, shallow puzzles, linear dungeons, and inconsistent AI, the game stumbles—yet redeems itself through a robust character creator, a captivating world, memorable companions, satisfying combat, and solid playtime. Despite its flaws, it’s a fun pick for players who prioritize choice-driven exploration over deep storytelling.

Even though it's not a revolutionary game, Islands & Trains has many strengths that can attract casual players. Its simple gameplay and cozy atmosphere offer a sense of relief and fun after a long, tiring day. Many of its limitations could be addressed through updates, and I hope they happen so the game doesn't quickly fade into obscurity.

Go Fight Fantastic doesn't try to reinvent the genre, but it delivers exactly what it sets out to do: a light, visually charming adventure full of cooperative action. On the other hand, if you're planning on playing alone, the game might lose some of its shine.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance – SEGA Villains Stage DLC features memorable battles against well-designed and challenging bosses, which clearly stand out within the experience. On the other hand, the stages fall short, with linear progression, limited use of Musashi’s abilities, and a timid exploration of the thematic potential of the represented worlds. In the end, it’s an expansion that works better as a challenge-focused add-on rather than an essential addition. For those seeking intense confrontations, there are some strong moments here; however, players expecting variety and more creative exploration may come away feeling it was a missed opportunity.

To appreciate The Siege and the Sandfox, you need to keep in mind that almost everything in it is focused on building atmosphere and narrative and stealth gameplay. The “stealthvania” approach is legitimate, but the simple mechanics and laborious navigation through the levels do not contribute to making its execution worthwhile. I recommend it to those who want to appreciate beautiful aesthetics and immerse themselves in a fantasy from the Arabian Nights while listening to a lovely narrator who accompanies each step of the journey.

Post Trauma is a solid homage to classic survival horror games, largely thanks to its puzzle design, fixed camera angles, and combat style. However, visual bugs, clunky animations, odd design choices, and poor optimization on PC end up undermining the experience.

Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate is, overall, an unnecessary remaster. The switch to Unreal Engine 5 doesn't add much to a game of this type, no meaningful content was introduced, and it mainly serves to bring in a remixed soundtrack, the option to play as enemies, and crossplay. For new players, it’s still a valid way to experience Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds, as it remains a fun title on its own. However, for those who’ve already explored the original game, there aren’t many reasons to return to the streets of Tokyo.

Outlive 25 is a technically competent and historically relevant remaster, but its appeal is fundamentally limited. It fulfills its purpose well: to preserve a national classic with care and fidelity. However, it doesn't transcend this objective nor does it offer sufficient reasons to recommend it to those outside the circle of RTS fans or those interested in games with some historical context, especially in this case, involving the Brazilian film industry. There is real value in the product, but it is conditioned by the profile of the player.

Sengoku Dynasty transports players to feudal Japan with a compelling mix of survival, management, building, and RPG elements. However, its potential is held back by technical issues that worsen as the village grows. Despite these shortcomings, the core design ideas are compelling and can lead to a satisfying rhythm once the various mechanics connect. For console players, it's a worthwhile option, though unpolished at the moment.