Sometimes between big and bombastic games like Horizon Forbiden West and Elden Ring you just want to experience something with a smaller scale, and Far: Changing Tides is a perfect game for this exact purpose. You can finish it in around 3 hours, but the melancholic feels the game provides won't leave you for quite a while.

Crimson Desert is unlikely to become a revolution that will redefine the genre. But it will certainly attract crowds of people and spark more than a few heated debates. It's funny that the very desert featured in the title is just one of many corners of the vast world created by Pearl Abyss — one that, presumably, far from everyone will reach.

Halo Infinite is definitely one of the best releases of this year. And now we will patiently wait to see where the game goes next with future updates.

Immortality is an unusual adventure game with strong David Lynch vibes, and a non-linear narrative style that leaves you clueless in the face of deep and mysterious thriller drama.

No matter how you felt about undoubtedly polarizing Age of Empires 3 before, the dev teams at Tantalus Media and Forgotten Empires gave us a chance to relive nostalgic days that already long gone. Now this classic game feels a lot more expansive, prettier and acceptable.

ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist is a worthy sequel to the ENDER series that manages to improve on an already good game.

This new version of the game will definitely be someone's first foray into the entire Metal Gear Solid franchise, which is honestly the biggest and most important thing about the whole Delta release. And chances are that by the end of the credits this person will convert into a new fan that will carry the series legacy into the future. This is good, isn't it?

If you don't feel threatened by huge amounts of text and menu-based systems, then Crusader Kings 3 can turn into huge and epic journey, with hundreds of hours of gameplay, and a full world of unique medieval intrigues.

If you the type of person who can enjoy a strategy game with fantasy setting and a heavy focus on the plot, then Spellforce 3: Reforced can bring you some really fun times.

Despite the limited bestiary, difficulties in exploring the world, and not the most engaging plot, Hell is Us is impossible to put down.

Kosmokarts is yet another indie title, that goes against loud voices who are often stays dissapointed with modern games and all too familiar gameplay mechenics. Here you can expect a really unique mix of LEGO, Tetris and some painfully sweet challenges. Right until the credits roll Kosmokrats manages to stay fresh with many new gameplay tricks, while the borderline absurd plot continue to make fun of charismatic space comrades.

Of course, in the world of Huntdown, you can find flaws, such as primitive AI, lack of upgrades or too similar characters, but this does not prevent you from enjoying a very bright and well-staged action.

The main advantage of the console version of I have no mouth, and I must scream is the ability to pass the classic game on the gamepad quite comfortably.

Arc System Works tried to turn Guilty Gear -Strive- into more accessible game, that can be enjoyed by newcomers. But Strive still have plenty of gameplay depth, great visuals and cool music. If you ever wanted to try Guilty Gear, now is definitely the right time.

ANNIE: Last Hope is a very unexpected and stylish game based on rare voxel technology, which offers a good story, rich gameplay and interesting bosses in a six-hour story about struggle and survival. Be sure to try it in quarantine.

Level-5 has definitely delivered a worthy sequel that surpasses its predecessor in every way. FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time will effortlessly steal your time—and you’ll be happy to let it. Its soothing, time-hopping adventures are the perfect escape, whether you’re winding down after a long day or getting lost in them over the weekend.

Saints Row: The Third Remastered is definitely a success. Here is a highly polished version of the game that fans love – still fun, exciting, but now also beautiful.

Burnhouse Lane is a small treasure by which Rem Michalski proves himself as true genius once again.

Narita Boy is a great debut project from Studio Koba, and hopefully not the last. A world steeped in love and detail deserves your attention.

Filament is a cute game with interesting mechanics, good plot, but too high jump in difficulty which instead of calmly enjoying a few simple puzzles before going to bed, plunges you into an intellectual duel that can last until the morning.

Loop Hero remains as charming as ever. It's an easy to pick game, with a fun concept and great execution, and the Switch release gives it a whole new life. Now you can save the world anytime and anywhere.

Salt and Sacrifice is a good game that takes some ideas from FromSoftware games, as well as other popular projects, but does it very neatly, while offering an interesting visual design.

Murder by Numbers is a unique project with really addictive puzzles, but sometimes it seems that the story is too long, and references to pop cultural phenomena will not be clear to most of the Russian audience. However, interesting tasks and charming characters will make you return to this game regularly. After all, such a satisfying dish simply requires small portions and several approaches.

Persona 5 Strikers is a true sequel to Persona 5 and a real gift to fans of Atlus' masterpiece.

For all its Communist coloring, Tonight We Riot is a very stylish, fun and well-presented project. Stylized 8-bit graphics along with hand-drawn violence and powerful music give you a few hours of great immersion.

Visions of Mana is a traditional JRPG with a dramatic story and well-developed characters that gets a little more boring outside of the main storyline.

Last Time I Saw You is a very warm, beautifully drawn adventure that can be compared to Studio Ghibli's best work.

Next gen console systems gave a new life to an already beautiful game. Judgment have plenty of unique charm, even compared to other games in main Yakuza series, so if you like Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio games, and a good detective story is something you can enjoy, then don't miss this title.

OlliOlli World is a cozy little game, where everyone will find something for themselves. Despite some rough moments, this creation from Roll 7 studio turned out to be a great follow-up to the original OlliOlli.

Quotation forthcoming.

If the name "The Legend of Zelda" means a lot to you, and you can have fun with musou-style games, then Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity will not disappoint. Overall it is of the best games Omega Force has ever done with fast-paced and deep gameplay combined with some really great music.

Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key is a great closing chapter for Ryza trilogy that is closer to the original game in spirit, and manages to fix some of the shortcomings of the second part.

Berserk Boy is an uncomplicated and highly colorful retro adventure that combines the nostalgic experiences of the Mega Man days with touches of classic Sonic the Hedgehog adventures.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is a true gift to every and any person who adores Star Wars universe. But sadly the actual trend of undercooked releases littered with technical issues might sour your experience with an otherwise great game.

FATAL FRAME II: Crimson Butterfly REMAKE turned out to be a worthy remake that still makes concessions to a new audience.

NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound offers a compact campaign, where visual diversity and intense dynamics are hidden behind apparent simplicity. The game itself is perceived as an almost flawless prologue to NINJA GAIDEN 4.

Tinykin is a minuscule and and relaxing experience with some fun Nintendo-vibes. The game is quite short, but for its five hours runtime you won't have the chance to ever feel bored.

Streets of Rage 4 is a worthy continuation of the beloved series that has preserved the atmosphere and drive of its predecessors. The developers managed not only to play on the nostalgia of fans, but also to make a modern game that cannot be accused of being too archaic. The project is undoubtedly a must-buy for fans of the genre and all those who appreciate easy-to-learn, but addictive games.

Mass Effect trilogy feels as great as ever, but the tech side of things in Legendary Edition leaves plenty to be desired. Some of the changes are great, while others not so much. Hopefully a lot of troubles can be ironed out with more patches. But all in all, my return to the Mass Effect universe was a blast.

SnowRunner is an exemplary sequel in which the variety of content has increased several times compared to the previous game. There are a lot of new features, and the scale, content and number of maps have increased significantly. But most importantly, the gameplay has become more interesting. Setting up infrastructure in atmospheric locations is more exciting than just hauling logs. At the same time, the deep physical model is still as detailed as before, which will please hardcore fans of the genre. So if you are one of them, then it is definitely worth playing.

Neon City Riders is a modern reinterpretation of the classic The Legend of Zelda with its own features and unusual setting. The high level of difficulty and challenging situations along with a strong emphasis on exploration can scare most players, but this is one of the most notable projects in its genre, especially if you are the lucky owner of the Nintendo Switch.

Super Meat Boy 3D is a fairly careful reimagining of a hardcore classic. The concept survived the transition to 3D reasonably well, retaining its punishing difficulty and diverse mechanics.

Cities: Skylines II is a gripping experience and a perfect follow-up to the first game. Sadly, all of that is really dragged down by myriads of technical problems. For now, we can only hope that Colossal Order will fix most of the issue and gets the game to the state it deserves to be.

In practice, RoadCraft should be recognized as a very enjoyable offshoot of the franchise that is designed to showcase the new version of Swarm Engine and appeal to a more casual audience. A solid fleet of cars and new features will keep you entertained for several dozen hours.

Beneath its rough exterior lies a captivating project, kept alive by its vibrant open world, non-linear progression, and handcrafted gameplay. It’s simply fun to play — unlike the heavily outdated Oblivion, which, aside from visuals, has little left to offer.

The most striking achievement of Space Marines 2 is the way the game presents the remarkable atmosphere of Warhammer 40,000 universe. Epic battles, insane architecture and oppressing tone, this game has it all.

Gears Tactics is an exciting game with incredibly beautiful graphics, interesting missions and well-developed mechanics, which could have been better if the authors of the game paid more attention to the story. Anyway we have a great project for fans of the genre, regardless of their loyalty to the Gears of War franchise.

Sakura Wars has its drawbacks, and it is not only a weak combat system with forced battles in the championship, but also some templating, the length of some elements and spoilers-announcements between episodes. But all this is offset by deeply developed characters, beautiful animation and good humor. It is one of the best games of the genre in the last few years and the best that could happen to the series.

MiSide is one of those games that is hard to write about without spoilers. So we just recommend that you try it out on your own.

WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers falls short of being a groundbreaking game, yet it exudes a unique and compelling charisma.

Black Book is a great mix of Slavic folklore, engaging card game, and an interesting story.

Is Shadowrun Trilogy worth your time? Definitely yes, especially if you can appreciate old-school text-based role-playing games.

Cairn is a tense journey to the summit that, depending on the chosen difficulty, can become either an enthralling experience or the Dark Souls of climbing games. In any case, you will be struck by its bright and slightly melancholic finale.

Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection is a great remake. You can tune the gameplay in any way you want, be it a very hardcore journey, or an enjoyable ride, that is perfect just to admire great visual presentation and classic gameplay mechanics.

Neon White is a rare example of a game that is basically almost impossible to put down.

Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf is a worthy sequel to the first part, in which the developers addressed their previous mistakes and made the world more vibrant and diverse, while the puzzles gained the right level of complexity and depth.

Steelrising can offer unique setting, worldbuilding and plot, but all of this co-exists with a rather simple souls-like gameplay style.

Victoria 3 is a complex and deep global strategy game that can pull you in for hundreds of hours. But attempt to make it accessible to beginners isn't successful.

Perhaps Lost in Random: The Eternal Die is too short for its genre. But the result of Zoik studio's work is more than enough for a relaxing time.

Without a doubt, the developers at Team Cherry didn’t waste these years. They poured an immense amount of work into creating the most ambitious and visually stunning Metroidvania to date—one truly worthy of standing at the very peak of the genre. Hollow Knight: Silksong lives up to the expectations of its devoted fans in every way. Yet, like any work of art, it isn’t entirely free of objective shortcomings and debatable design choices—particularly in terms of balance—that may push away less prepared players.

Overlord DLC turned out to be very fascinating. It changes and complements some of the basics of Stellaris and allows you to take a different look at the usual formula of space empire' development.

Blacktail is a rich and atmospheric piece that can be very enjoyable to any who can enjoy slavic folklore.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War lends itself as a bombastic, yet short-lived game. We can only hope that this project will be well-received by Activision higher-ups, and that Raven Software will finally make name for themselves.

Life is Strange: Double Exposure is a classic adventure with elements of detective about a brave and strong heroine with a special gift. The progressive bias spoils the overall picture a bit, but the new game is still the best thing that happened to the franchise in the last few years.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits is very high quality and incredibly beautiful for the indie scene. It combines a simple story and uncomplicated puzzles with well-developed combat mechanics, while offering time-tested solutions at the same time.

Ys X: Noridcs is a competent development of a long-running series, and a great opportunity for new players to get to know it better.

Tekken 8 could be a much more special experience if Bandai Namco's teams took a bolder approach. But as it stands out the game feels like just a pretty good fighting game, that can be enjoyed by both fans and casual players alike.

To have a genuine love for Dragon's Dogma 2 can be a challenge. And yet, despite its many shortcomings, it's really, really hard not to love it.

If you've missed Trials, love dark and well-designed worlds, and dream of short play sessions, there is simply no better choice for a few minutes before bed than Laika: Aged Through Blood.

Eternights features well-drawn characters, a variety of bawdy humor, an interesting story, and an emotional delivery with nice graphics. And only the combat gameplay spoils the overall impression.

Sword of the Sea offers a meditative adventure with excellent sword-jumping mechanics. However, due to its short duration, the game may become tiresome because of its repetitiveness.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins looks like a good work on mistakes after the failed ninth installment.

Despite a number of flaws, Gears of War remains an excellent game with polished gameplay. The same can be said about the Ultimate Edition. As for Gears of War: Reloaded, this re-release is worth recommending to new players on PlayStation 5.

Suffice it to say, Nixxes Software put a whole lot of work into this new revision of Horizon: Zero Dawn, even if it's not that apparent of the first glance.

Project Zero: Maiden of Black Water (Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water) just pulls you in and then never lets go. And it really works through great atmosphere, powerful sound design, stylish artwork, interesting plot and an interesting combat.

11 Bit Studios offers a powerful dive into a depressive swamp, very elegantly designed and designed in such a way that you don’t want to put it down until the very end. But remember, it’s better not to start this game in a sad or melancholy mood, because it can get worse.

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is a really strange case, but in a good way. It's outstandingly beautiful, engrossing the player with a great narrative, telling a story about love, friendship and giant mechs. But the overall structure of the game often exists in an unpleasant dissonance, and it's hard to ignore that the tactical battles can't provide any real gameplay challenge. If you can live with all of that, you should defensively try Vanillaware's newest project. If only for the chance to unravel the intriguing mystery of a talking cat.

Sunset Hills is a very cute, homey adventure with likable characters. But the game lacks answers to a number of questions that arise in the course of the passage and a really bright ending.

Despite a bunch of bugs, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is really one of the best games of 2024, which in everything surpasses the last two films about Dr. Jones. At the same time, this is a return to the form for MachineGames.

Metroid Dread isn't a groundbreaking genre piece, and it's not trying to be one. New game lead by Yoshio Sakamoto is aimed at those players, who can appreciate fine-tuned and deep gameplay.

Even if there is no a definitive happily lived ever after ending to this tale, it's the process that matters and it's a fun endeavor every single time. Here's hoping that there are more fun adventures coming our way in the future.

Jusant is a very unassuming and cute ecology-themed game with simple mechanics and a non-trivial plot. If it weren't for the self-repeaters and bugs, it would be much more enjoyable.

Leisure Suit Larry - Wet Dreams Dry Twice belongs to a rather rare genre of games. Of course, sexual themes and humor may seem too vulgar and flat to many, but you are unlikely to find something as high-quality and well-developed in this gaming segment on the modern market.

For every fan out there who were passionately waiting for the chance to play a localized version of Shu Takumi's last games this is a true celebration. The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles is an engrossing and fun adventure with a unique settings, and a familiar, yet completely new cast of characters.

Shadow of the Ninja: Reborn is sure to please fans of beat 'em ups and platformers from the 90s. However, some drawbacks like limited control scheme, short campaign and certain repetitiveness of battles may scare away other players. Therefore, the project may be of interest primarily to those who are already familiar with the original.

Chernobylite is not gonna make up for the lack of the new S.T.A.L.K.E.R. game in your life, but even so it's a good enough title to dive into before the release of the next GSC Game World project.

If you're looking forward to a deep and engaging fighting game with great single-player content, and the game you can easily pick up with no prior experience, then we suggest you to try Street Fighter 6. As of right now, Mortal Kombat 1 feels like a game aimed strictly at the fanbase of the franchise, and people who are willing to see how the game will evolve in real time.

If you can live with a weak protagonist, some questionable design decisions and pixel hunting segments, then expect Twin Mirror to be a rather good detective game. What we can say is that spending time with Twin Miror is much more interesting than with Life is Strange 2, that suffred greatly from snail-like pacing.

Screamer is an arcade racer with questionable handling and absurd difficulty spikes, while the AI uses some fairly unfair tricks. Still, the game turned out to be interesting thanks to its complex boost system, which turns monotonous races into a tactical battle of wits.

Aliens: Fireteam Elite is a fine co-op shooter in a beloved franchise. It can offer lots of fun and tons of shooting, which should be enough for at least a couple of evenings.

In the end Martha is Dead feels like an arthouse movie, when you have to decipher the game yourself, while having all kind of emotions. Whether you'll like it or not is very hard to tell.

You can clearly see that Amanita Design spend way more resources and time on Creaks, but the move from classic point-n-click gameplay was not very smooth. The game is massive and is undoubtedly gorgeous, but sometimes it feels like it's drags on for way too long and the gameplay becomes quite repetitive. The feeling of true excitement that you get for solving a head scratching puzzle is also nowhere to be seen. But all of that means very little when you take Creaks for what it is, especially if you look at it with a fresh pair of eyes.

Solar Ash feels like a middle ground between something like Jet Set Radio and Shadow of the Colossus. Sadly, the new game by Heart Machine lacks any meaningful ambitions or novelty, and yet if you love the genre, Solar Ash is worth a try.

LEGO Horizon Adventures is a decent children's game that sags in the second half. However, it will still be enjoyable to play through in co-op on the couch.

Snowy Escape is definitely in line with the better half of The Sims 4 expansions, but the lack of original ideas, and the amount of content you get for its price is kind of hard to swallow.

The initial concept of Dead Reset envisioned a choice system with far-reaching and partially irreversible consequences, even after «resetting». In practice, the game turns out to be an overly linear FMV adventure, the outcome of which feels predetermined.

Lost in Random offers a vivid world and unique bunch of characters, but some of the cities sadly feels pretty samey with not enough personality and variety.

As with the original game, Dying Light 2 Stay Human will find its share of audience, while the teams at Techland will continue to expand their vision. The solid base is already there, and it would be interesting to see how the game will turn out in 5 years time.