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.

If anything else, Romeo is a Dead Man is incredibly sincere, which definitely amounts to something and lets you sidestep some of the more meddling parts of the whole experience. Plus it's really hard to refuse the offer to kill the past once again.

Before its PC release, The Run was available on smartphones and even in cinemas, where audiences voted to determine the characters' next actions. I admit that in this format, watching it on the big screen might offer some enjoyment, but seasoned video game enthusiasts are unlikely to appreciate this minimally interactive story with a predictable plot twist in the finale.

Everything good in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is inherited from its illustrious predecessors, while everything bad stems from futile attempts to tamper with the familiar gameplay formula in pursuit of vague, ill-defined trends. Thanks to its finely tuned optimization, the fourth entry may appeal to a less demanding audience, but the obvious lack of fresh ideas and the absence of a clear creative vision lead to a sobering conclusion: the greatness of Metroid Prime seems to have been left far behind in the past.

I Hate This Place would have been perceived much more favorably if the developers had abandoned the survival elements and instead focused on exploring its deep lore and dynamic world.

Microids managed to update the cult classic quest in terms of visuals, but the developers of Syberia – Remastered treated the other elements carelessly, also simplifying the puzzles, which are one of the game's key components.

MIO: Memories in Orbit is an example of a safe and very player-friendly Metroidvania with medium-difficulty bosses and flexible difficulty settings.

The Last Case of John Morley is a very short, but interesting noir detective story with outdated visuals and technical aspects. However, the developers chose not to create a hollow pretense of philosophical drama or a profound statement. What awaits you is a convoluted yet fairly simple detective story with a realistic ending.

Terminator 2D: No Fate doesn't offer any groundbreaking solutions, but it is a very well-crafted adaptation of the film. However, you can complete the entire game in just... 38 minutes.

Routine seems stuck in the past, and the long-awaited project has once again failed to meet expectations. The work of Lunar Software rather resembles a bizarre sequel to Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park: Trespasser, where the heroine would practically dislocate her arms trying to pick up a rock or a pistol.

Bye Sweet Carole is a game with frankly mediocre gameplay and a weak story. However, it is partially redeemed by its excellent visual style, which is reminiscent of a Disney cartoon.

It’s somewhat disappointing that the game occasionally loses momentum due to pacing issues, the lack of full voice acting, and very basic visual presentation. That said, if you push through the drawn-out introduction, you’ll find a genuinely engaging tactical role-playing game.

Looking at Battlefield REDSEC, it becomes clear that EA still hasn't fully thought through its post-launch support concept. In pursuit of content, the company released an outright raw battle royale that has proven to be hardly needed by anyone, judging by the Steam online statistics. And only the Gauntlet mode justifies the existence of this free-to-play offshoot.

Double Dragon Revive is a lazy sequel. Although the developers tried to adhere to the spirit of the original, they failed in the task of updating the gameplay to modern standards, drowning in goofy mechanics, unoriginality, and boredom.

Absolum is an interesting roguelike that can be completed in a couple of hours on the lowest difficulty setting. However, even after the finale, the developers encourage players to keep exploring the world to try out new builds and characters.

Despite a number of missteps, Dispatch has become one of the most notable games of the passing year. And given its success, the development of a second season already seems inevitable.

Ninja Gaiden 4 cannot be called a return to the roots of Tomonobu Itagaki. However, PlatinumGames has created a bloody slasher with complex and interesting bosses in memorable settings.

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.

Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian is a charming yet rushed game built on the foundation of a now‑defunct gacha title. Nevertheless, it attempts to win back fans who were dissatisfied with the radical changes introduced in Atelier Yumia.

Ghost of Yotei is another sequel in the vein of modern Sony titles. While keeping the core foundation intact, the developers made this new entry far richer and more varied than its predecessor. Comparing Atsu and Jin directly doesn’t make much sense — they’re just too different. Personally, I preferred Jin, but the fierce Onryō, with the stubbornness and boldness of a honey badger, turned out to be an interesting character as well.

The Outer Worlds 2 is a vibrant and distinctive adventure that evokes memories of Obsidian Entertainment's former glory.

Hotel Barcelona doesn’t motivate players to endure or dig through this pile of «brilliant ideas» from Suda 51 and SWERY.

Despite its dynamic gameplay, Painkiller stumbles in every other aspect. The game will certainly disappoint series veterans and solo players, and even co‑op enthusiasts would find it hard to recommend at such a high price point.

However, the strengths of Silly Polly Beast outweigh its flaws. The atmosphere of a Russian provincial town, combined with stunning visuals and an engaging storyline, does its job—immersing the player in a mysterious world shrouded in demonic fog.

Battlefield 6 has proven to be a successful return to form for the series after a string of disastrous failures. While it's clear that not everything went according to plan for EA, Zampella and Co. managed to lay a solid foundation for future development.

The depth of customization — from controls and game tempo to tactical nuances and role assignments on the field — is genuinely impressive and engaging. The positional setups and other elements of football strategy have strong potential, but that potential simply isn’t realized. Of course, some players might enjoy this kind of “football-flavored” experience, but it’s definitely not what I — or many fans of the world’s most popular sport — are looking for. If you plan to play only against AI opponents, or if the issues mentioned above don’t bother you, feel free to add one or two points to the final score.

Tormented Souls 2 is a worthy successor to the original game, offering an improved experience for players. The sequel has significantly enhanced user-friendliness with its well-designed puzzles and intuitive hints. While the combat system and balance mechanics still present some challenges, players have the option to adjust the difficulty settings or wait for upcoming patches.

Keeper is an unexpected masterpiece from Double Fine Productions and one of the most captivating walking simulators of the past few years. It dazzles the imagination with its rich visual design and an unconventional narrative approach that borders on genius. It’s truly disappointing that Microsoft’s incompetence led to the game’s release being overlooked by its target audience, which now puts the studio’s future existence at risk.