Candle Knight might look like an average platformer, but the lack of story feels hollow and the lack of options in gameplay sap any mechanical satisfaction I might have had. With more polish and balance it would be worth a look, but in its current state it’s impossible to recommend.

While it took some time to find its footing, it emerged not just as a great expansion, but as a great entry in the studio’s catalogue, period. It’s a shame that the barrier for entry is so high, because I’m already looking forward to revisiting it.

While it doesn’t revolutionize the groundwork set by its predecessor, Horizon Chase Turbo 2 remains a great racer that gets plenty right. With a solid career mode, a varied,, colorful garage and some of the best retro aesthetics ever, Horizon Chase Turbo 2 is an easy winner for arcade racing fans.

All in all, Paper Trail is a beautiful, thoughtful experience. This interesting approach to puzzle construction sets it apart from other sin the genre, and its audio-visual landscape only adds to its charm. While completing some of the levels was a struggle and having so many mechanics at once was difficult at times, Paper Trail remains a pleasure to venture through and solve.

Other than that one truly sour note, Sydney Hunter and the Curse of the Mayan absolutely nails the experience it wants to the player to have, and there’s an underlying philosophy here that’s not seen in modern game design any more. Specifically, in the old days it frequently felt like designers were trying to ‘beat’ the player by creating experiences which could technically be bested, yet frequently crushed anyone arrogant enough to load the game up.

If I were to sum up 1000xRESIST in one word, it would be brave. I walked away extremely impressed with how its core subject matter, and I’ve been constantly thinking about the story since I rolled credits. It won’t change the mind of anyone who doesn’t care for narrative-focused gaming experiences, but I really do think this is going to be a special game for a lot of people. It speaks in a mature way that is extremely rare in a medium not known for its tact, and the team at Sunset Visitor should be proud of their work.

Yes, the style of The Glass Staircase is predicated on nostalgia, like so much of our current cultural output, but there’s clearly a craving for this sort of old-school design and aesthetic, and it’s a craving that The Glass Staircase will undoubtedly satisfy for an hour or two.

Overall, Freedom Planet 2 is an excellent (though imperfect) love letter to Japanese ’90s style platformers, and anyone who enjoys either old-school design or platforming in general will find it worthwhile thanks to solid mechanics, plenty of content and strong replayability via the different characters available. Maybe skip the story, but don’t miss it.

While F1 24 caters to those who are already fans of Formula 1, the quality of Codemasters’ work managed to convert me. Sim racing fans looking for a deep timesink will no doubt enjoy the bevy of options present in both single- and multiplayer, and the quality matches the quantity. I’m excited to sink more time in my fictional F1 team, and I’m glad that I chose to spend time with this winner in the world of virtual motorsport. All that research I did paid off!

Sokobond Express’s biggest strength is also its most significant obstacle. By putting all their eggs into one basket, the developers have crafted a mechanically excellent puzzler with a strong logical backbone and a remarkable ability to communicate its complex notions. However, by neglecting the thematic side of the equation, Sokobond Express hews too closely to its source material, ultimately feeling academic to a fault. The result is an exercise in solving puzzles for their own sake, and while the puzzles are of a uniformly high quality, the overall experience lacks the hooks to make a truly lasting impression.

Persona 3 Reload is a retouched version of a modern classic, letting newcomers visit an experience that has always been unforgettable. For both longtime fans and newcomers alike, Persona 3 Reload is essential.

In the end, Loretta is a conundrum – its greatest strengths and its most pronounced weaknesses both lie in storytelling. For every moment that worked, I found a moment that didn’t. However, despite its technical issues and occasional lack of coherence, Loretta ends up as a successful experiment in form – even if I’m still unsure of the developer’s ultimate intended message.

Buckshot Roulette has tension and drama, enough strategy to make gameplay not fully dependent on luck, and the fact that the dealer doesn’t always make the right move just puts it over the top. While there’s currently not much content as it’s still under development, the joy in its simple, ruthless premise makes it an easy recommendation regardless.

South Park: Snow Day! features some interesting mechanics that change up the drudgery of its mediocre combat, but it ultimately feels too shallow and underdeveloped. The short length doesn’t allow much room for the content to grow or develop, either. In the end, I think this is one snow day I’d rather stay inside for.

OOTP 25 remains atop the sports simulation pack by giving users unprecedented control over their management experiences. While action-oriented users might need a little adjustment time for this type of sports gaming, this series continues to redefine what “immersion” means in digital experiences.

There are glimmers of clever moments caught in a sea of busywork here, but take away the shoddy controls and the obsession with layered math problems, and what are we left with? Someone’s absurdist thriller mystery that is so esoteric that it’s hard to care. Honestly, I can’t recommend Lorelei and the Laser Eyes to anyone other than the most patient and experimentally inclined players in the world. For everyone else, heed my words of warning — sit this one out.

Remnant II: The Forgotten Kingdom worked for me because it’s more than a rehash. Between the standalone story for the jungle realm of Yaesha and a good chunk of new booms and buffs for the more mechanically-inclined, this expansion is certainly full of good reasons to return to these realms.

These minor quibbles aside, and in an industry that is seemingly allergic to any form of historical preservation, titles such as Alisa should be celebrated as an interesting alternative to the real deal. The choice to stick so closely to the aesthetics and mechanics of yesteryear makes Alisa feel like a game out of time, but it provides a perfect means to engage with the past in a genuine, more digestible way. At the risk of sounding wistful, for me Alisa is a window back to a period in my life that feels safe and warm, where the scariest thing is what lies waiting behind a digital doorway.

The pitch-perfect sound and visuals, along with the twist on Rhythm Heaven‘s under-imitated style make for a unique and memorable, if brief, experience. Consider it a compliment when I say that my time with Melatonin passed by like a pleasant dream.

Thanks to a colorful art style and enjoyable gameplay, Little Kitty, Big City is a delightful spiritual throwback to games of yesteryear, and I hope more titles follow its example.

Until now, I’ve liked each new Ninja Theory game more than the last, and I can never deny the craft on display. Given that this is their first release since the Microsoft acquisition, I credit Hellblade II for not feeling compromised by corporate interests, but that only makes it more baffling that it lacks any real vision that I was able to discern. It’s not an offensively bad experience, and yet I can only offer one of the most damning criticisms imaginable – I have no idea why it was made.

OTXO kept me roped in for nearly 25 hours- so on the whole? I’d say I had a good time.

Crow Country expertly recreates the aesthetic of PS1 survival horror, with a mood and atmosphere that would have felt right at home in the ’90s. While some of the survival horror elements are a bit too safe and the story is oddly paced, SFB Games has struck spooky gold.

Saviorless isn’t perfect, but this beautifully animated, enigmatic world offers an incredibly artful and engaging experience that I would ultimately recommend.

At the very beginning of Botany Manor, the player needs to grow a flower capable of filtering air pollution. Prior to growing the flower, the area they’re cooped up in is shaded dull brown. But then the flower blooms, a beautiful color palette seeps into the scene, and it all seems so perfect for the briefest of moments. Even if I wasn’t a fan of every design decision Botany Manor made, it was all worth it just for these glimpses of transcendent beauty. I would’ve gladly stayed in that manor for longer, if I could have.

I had so much hope for Footgun Underground, but it fell short in so many ways. It has a unique concept and weapon, but fails to execute it in a way that kept my interest for more than a couple of runs. Many of the upgrades feel unnecessary, and the bosses have too much health. Players itching to try a new roguelike may find something to enjoy here that I didn’t, but there are so many other good roguelikes on the market right now that it’s hard to recommend this one.

Tales Of Kenzera: Zau is a great expression of the boundless naivete, bravery and optimism afforded to the youngest of humans that also showcases cultures and settings that are rarely seen in videogames, but does so while delving into the stages of grief with reckless abandon and a positive outlook in an industry hell-bent on aggrandizing endless misery. As such, Zau is a near-masterpiece that embodies the phrase “breath of fresh air” in every sense.

Sand Land is a magnificent experience. The combat is thrilling, the story is affecting, and the world demands to be explored. More than that, though, it’s incredible how adept it is at everything it tries. Yes, most of the time spent here is third-person vehicle exploration or on-foot brawling, but the developers are never afraid to mix things up, and all of it works just as well as the central mechanics. More than that, though, Sand Land is a deeply sweet game about fighting prejudice and division, and making a more perfect future by working together.