Hell is Us opens with a punishingly slow pace and uneven narrative delivery, making it easy to drift away. Push past that, though, and you’re met with a strange, unsettling world where atmosphere, artistry, and depth in combat and puzzles all leave their mark. In the end, its contradictions define it: frustrating yet fascinating.

Little Nightmares III is a bit of a mixed bag. One thing is certain, Supermassive Games managed to keep Tarsier's legacy going by creating a sequel worthy of the name. Then again, Supermassive might have played it a bit too safe, resulting in a game that never really wows and occasionally feels like a step back. Little Nightmares III might be right up your alley if you're craving a Little Nightmares experience with online co-op gameplay, but if you're looking for a sequal that finally deals with the nightmarish controls from previous instalments... dream on.

XDefiant offers a fast-paced, arcade-style shooter experience that’s heavy on customization but leans towards grind-heavy progression and microtransactions. While the game’s diverse factions and loadouts provide variety, its reliance on grinding or spending cash might not appeal to everyone. It’s an entertaining shooter with plenty of potential, but the balance between fun and monetization could be a sticking point for some players.

Hauntii takes players on an emotional journey filled with haunting visuals and thoughtful storytelling, but it starts off slowly. The game’s unique atmosphere and engaging narrative eventually draw you in, making the wait worthwhile. While the pacing may be a bit sluggish at first, it’s an adventure that rewards patience with a deeply affecting experience.

Twinkleby is a charming cozy game with a soothing style, simple controls and adorable villagers. Decorating islands and caring for Neighbours is relaxing and rewarding, but limited furniture variety, slow AI, and repetitive elements dull the magic over time. The result is a solid cozy experience best enjoyed in shorter sessions.

Wreckreation feels like a well-intentioned clone of Burnout: Paradise. The foundation is familiar and fun, but without the soul of the original, it ends up feeling empty. Great for an afternoon of racing, but the shine wears off quickly.

The Séance of Blake Manor captivates with its atmosphere and story but stumbles over time pressure and imbalance. An intriguing mystery that never fully comes to life, beautiful to visit, but hard to stay in for long.

Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection is a solid bundle for fans, with enough extras to dive into. Newcomers get a decent introduction, but the repetitive battles and limited variety make it feel monotonous fairly quickly. Enjoyable, but it doesn’t reach the heights of the classic Mega Man(-X) titles.

Ironically, it pains me to say that Anshar Studios Painkiller has turned out to be one of those co-op shooters that just doesn't hit the mark the way you hoped it would. Devoid of a decent Painkiller-worthy backstory, 2025's Painkiller primary focus seems to be to just be punishing in hyperchaotic ways that drain the fun out of the combat loop. Adding the fact that most guns don't really feel punchy and the disappointing prospect of a meager nine repetitive levels at launch, Painkiller could be compared to over-the-counter Paracetamol: works for some, but not too long.

The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin has all the ingredients for a strong anime game, with an engaging story, familiar characters, and an inviting world to explore, especially for fans of the franchise. However, its potential is currently held back by technical issues, clunky mobile-style controls, an unclear UI, and frequent glitches. The gacha system may also not appeal to everyone. As it stands, it’s a promising but rough experience that could grow into something great with updates, making it mainly worth it for dedicated fans for now.

REPLACED is pixel-perfect for players who want to immerse themselves in a rich, atmospheric cyberpunk world, yet Sad Cat Studios pushes it to the brink of being enjoyable. It’s a bit of a shame; REPLACED is only a few tweaks away from greatness, but right now it doesn’t quite get there, with slow pacing, sluggish gameplay, and a narrative that doesn’t always hold up. Add to that a fair number of bugs, from gameplay glitches to progression blockers, and it’s best to wait a few more months before diving into this visually stunning but not yet fully cohesive sidescroller.

In a society where mascot horror seems to be the latest YouTube fad, Dark Pals: The 1st Floor follows suit with a potentially promising, but for now predictable take on the genre. While the mascots themselves show Skunx Games' creativity, the puzzles unfortunately don't. At the moment 'The Only Way Is Up' for the Dark Pals series.

Empyreal offers an engaging action-RPG experience with plenty to discover and a solid gameplay loop. Unfortunately, the experience is hindered by chaotic combat, boring NPCs, and no lock-on, making the gameplay less enjoyable.

Squirreled Away blends cozy elements with survival gameplay, offering a cute and simple experience with no real danger. Making it ideal for gamers that want to relax as well as children. The game features an engaging loop where you help squirrels, collect items, solve puzzles and unlock upgrades while progressing through different areas. The smooth controls are a highlight, but the game lacks optimization and some quality-of-life improvements.

While Concord offers solid gameplay mechanics, its uninspired characters and limited content make it fall short of expectations. The visuals may be appealing, but the lack of depth in both lore and game modes leaves much to be desired. It's a game with potential, but it struggles to make a lasting impact in its current state.

Spirit of the North 2 shows promise but falls short of its potential. Its lore is intriguing, yet hard to access due to scattered fragments and a world that feels too large and empty. While exploration can drag, the game shines in its well-designed dungeons and boss puzzles, enhanced by rune mechanics and a strong soundtrack. Unfortunately, weak visuals, clumsy platforming, and frequent interruptions keep it from being truly memorable.

No Sleep For Kaname Date is an enjoyable side story for fans, but lacks the impact of a full-fledged new chapter. The atmosphere is solid, but real surprises are missing.

Madden NFL 25 sticks to the tried-and-true formula that fans know well. While the football action remains solid, the lack of innovation might leave long-time players craving something new. It’s a dependable entry in the series, but it doesn’t bring anything groundbreaking to the table.

The Crush House is a chaotic and entertaining experience that delivers fun in short bursts. However, its lack of depth and lasting appeal means it’s more of a spectacle than a substantial game. It’s enjoyable while it lasts, but don’t expect it to hold your attention for long.

Aphelion turned out to be one of those games that I really wanted to love, but unfortunately started to dislike more as time progressed. DON'T NOD's marvelous UE5 showcase and its excellent Interstellar-like soundtrack can only do so much to disguise the flawed climbing and stealth gameplay mechanics.

Godbreakers bursts with potential through flashy action and memorable bosses, but stumbles over shallow systems and weak levels. Co-op brings chaotic fun, though frustrations aren’t far behind. An entertaining roguelike, but far from a new benchmark.

At its core, The Caribou Trail does a pretty good job telling a less mentioned WW1 history story regarding the Gallipoli campaign and the hardship of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. Unfortunately though, developer Unreliable Narrators seems to have missed the mark with its action-driven marketing, reeling recruits in with images of trench warfare and eventually serving them a walking/soup stirring sim. The Caribou Trail shows flashes of greatness, but you might already have had your fill before you get to watch those unfold.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 feels like four games in one. Very ambitious, but uneven to say the least. The co-op story and PvE mode miss the mark pretty bad, while Zombies and multiplayer carry the experience. Not a classic, but there’s fun to be had if you know what you’re here for.

Sword Art Online: Fractured Daydream starts strong, especially for fans of the series, with fluid combat and familiar faces. Unfortunately, repetition quickly sets in and variation is lacking. For sixty euros you get little new, unless you are really crazy about Sword Art Online.

Digimon Story Time Stranger is a solid, mature RPG with deep combat and a rewarding Digivolution system. However, its linear structure and abundance of microtransactions make it a game best suited for hardcore Digimon and SMT fans.

Winter Burrow presents a charming idea with a cute story about a mouse returning home and helping forest animals. Its beautiful hand-drawn art adds appeal, but the lack of maps and quest markers makes exploration confusing. The quest-based structure limits freedom and can lead to frustration despite well-executed survival elements. Overall, it’s a cozy yet uneven experience that balances moments of joy with bouts of irritation.

Eternal Strands shines with its ambitious, physics-driven magic system and epic monster battles, making it worth a try. However, a dull narrative, clunky melee combat, and stiff animations hold it back. With sharper focus on its strengths, this could’ve been a true gem.

Afterlove EP is an atmospheric visual novel with a gripping story of grief and recovery. The strong atmosphere and music impress, but the limited interaction and lack of overall voice acting bring the world down a bit. Still, it remains recommended for fans of slice-of-life narrative games.