Ultimately, I can’t be too hard on Gecko Gods. It is a soft, gentle little thing of a game, not too expensive and offering exactly what it says on the tin. My issues with the game and how it makes use of its protagonist (or doesn’t) is not a fatal flaw. But it does mean that the game that I was hoping for turned out to not be the one that I got, and that means there’s kind of a harder ceiling on it than there might otherwise be. If a chill sort of adventure game wherein you happen to be a gecko sounds like a good time to you, then you are going to enjoy this game. It provides exactly that. Just be aware of what exactly you’re queueing up when you start in on the game.

It may have been a five-year wait, but I am so happy Arcadia Fallen got a second game. The charm from the first game lives on, but elevated with new tricks, and honestly, it really scratched my itch for a fun and immersive VN. As I mentioned above, the story itself isn’t grandiose or crazy, but it is a fun read, and you’re bound to love the cast. If anything, the abundance of choices you have to make will keep you busier than most other visual novels out there. On top of that, you’ll have a few challenging puzzles to keep things spicy. I’m honestly so sad this game is over for me. I truly enjoyed myself with this one and can’t wait for what’s next from Galdra Studios. Hopefully, the wait isn’t another five years, though. I want more Elias NOW!

Overall, I’m not quite sure if I liked Life is Strange: Reunion. I liked certain things about it, like Max and Chloe being back together, as well as the little bit of closure I got to see from my specific ending. But as I mentioned before, it didn’t feel grandiose or complete enough to be considered final game material. I think it should have been built up better, and we should have been given more time in the world and with the characters. Maybe then the payoff would have felt worth it, and I would have cared more about the outcome. Still, if you’re a fan of Max and Chloe like I am, and want to see what becomes of them, I recommend picking up this game. It will at least give you some really wholesome interactions between them, and you’ll get to see the conclusion to a decades-long story that was more than overdue. Sometimes nostalgia is all you need to carry you through, and I think perhaps Square Enix banked on that this time.

Project Songbird was a bit of a rollercoaster. I came in expecting great things, started to feel like I’d seen it all before, and then found something completely unexpected. It has its flaws, true, but I’d rather see something that strives and falls short of its ambition than something that doesn’t try at all. This feels like it was made for me. It’s on the shorter side but has enough to feel satisfying, comfortable but with a style that feels its own. Even without the more personal connection to the themes that elevated it for me, it’s still a solid survival horror experience.

Resident Evil Requiem will very likely be in the conversation for Game of the Year, and it’s not hard to see why. Not only does it succeed as a great title in a legendary series, but it’s also a successful celebration of one of gaming’s horror staples. Not only will it satisfy longtime fans who have been there since day one, but the full experience will easily delight casual fans as well. I loved everything about Requiem, and I hope that those who decide to take the plunge will feel the same way. This easily rises to the level of love that RE4 has received over the years, and those taking the plunge might end up in the same boat. This is an absolutely phenomenal game in a beloved franchise, and it will likely be on the minds of many a gamer for years to come.

GRIDbeat! has all the components of an excellent rhythm game: A unique aesthetic, addictive gameplay, a respectable difficulty curve, and (of course) a positively bumpin’ soundtrack. All of these qualities make it a relatively easy recommendation for fans of this genre, but each of them also has a depreciating caveat that lessens the experience. Somewhat samey level designs can occasionally cause visuals to lose their luster, a lack of meaningful change in the core gameplay loop, and very predictable difficulty spikes in each level are all snags that will come and go in different points throughout GRIDbeat! Everything mostly works the way it’s intended to, but it’s hard to ignore the missed potential. There’s no caveat for how enjoyable the soundtrack is, though. It’s just damn good.

While it slightly suffers from a few odd decisions about its default control scheme and the direction of the voice acting (though the acting itself is top shelf), you’ll definitely find the adrenaline rush you might be craving in Screamer. It absolutely oozes quality in almost all aspects. If Mario Kart is too silly and Forza is too serious, this might just be the perfect in-between for you.

Scott Pilgrim EX is yet another fantastic effort from Tribute Games, and fans should breathe easy. It’s a worthy follow-up to a beloved brawler, retains the trappings fans loved about its predecessor, and suceeds at being an all around great game in its own right. This is an easy thumbs up for me, and those looking to fill their evening with a solid beat ’em up experience will surely find that here. Sometimes, it can be worth the wait.

Hamstermind offers a variety of unique challenges. Some work out better than others, but the experience is pretty high on the quality scale, for the most part. It’s an enjoyable romp, as long as you prepare yourself to get stumped, as the difficulty ramps up fast. You don’t see this sort of game too often these days, so if you’ve a hankering for games that really make you think, this could be a good choice. But maybe you could toss another hint or two my way, Righteous Tree? Thanks! Ahem.

Part of me kinda wanted for Romeo Is A Dead Man to let me in on a joke. There’s a sense throughout the game that I’m missing a comment or two, that if I just had the right combination I could get a sense of what Suda51 really wants to say, and it would make the whole product feel even better or more coherent. And I can’t quite get there. But that’s part of the fun, and it’s what makes the game not just unique but compelling in the way that a more coherent title probably couldn’t manage. Some people are going to give this game a shot and bounce off it hard, and I think that’s valid. But I think that if you enjoy the game it’s going to be something you keep coming back to, and it’s definitely a game I would encourage people to buy on Steam because if you decide it’s not for you, hey, you can figure that out within the refund window. It’s either going to be very much not for you or very much for you, and I think some people are going to realize that this is their game in a way they wouldn’t have if it hadn’t sort of swept in from nowhere. The moral of the story is that Romeo Is A Dead Man has something to say, but what it’s saying is more about a feeling than anything. That is the lesson.

Whether you’re a hardened veteran of the genre or interested in trying it out for the first time, Mewgenics is a roguelike well worthy of your time. What starts out as a decent SRPG difficulty curve expands in lockstep with the complexity of the game expanding as more and more content becomes available and new challenges present themselves. It’s all about slowly learning the ins and outs of its systems as you play. Whether you’re sitting down for a single run or locking in for a longer session, optimizing your play style while uncovering new synergistic combos through passives is the special sauce that keeps you playing. And, y’know, it lets you be a hoarder and take care of a bunch of cats. What more could you want?

The game's sheer complexity and overwhelming mass of systems and stuff makes it a bit hard to recommend, and there were definitely times when I was pulling out my hair in frustration in the game or finding myself unclear on how I was supposed to proceed. I feel like a smaller and more balanced game would have likely been an overall better experience. But at the end of the day, Nioh 3 aims big. While I can't say if it's going to satisfy series fans perfectly, this one is definitely earning a thumbs up from me.

At its core, Woolhaven feels more fleshed out than the base game did when I initially played it, and we saw that get plenty of free content updates over the years. With similar postgame additions, I’d love to see where Woolhaven goes from here.

It takes a lot to be noticed in this sea of remakes and remasters, and Dragon Quest VII Reimagined mananages to stand out in the crowd with relative ease. This game easily stands above its original release and its 3DS remake, and gleefully succeeds at modernizing itself while also staying true to its roots. I doubt this will be the last we see of the modern takes on other classic entries, but this game and Square Enix’s prior efforts as of late give me confidence that this won’t be the last modern remake we’ll see from them. I just hope that if they do, they’re just as good as this. This remake is a triumph, and you shouldn’t think twice about buying it.

If you don’t mind slogging through repetitive gameplay, there is an interesting narrative to be found here, so don’t let me discourage you if your desire is to simply enjoy the story. I just felt it was my duty to offer a fair warning that, despite the destination being worth it, the journey itself is rough.

If you were hoping for a really deep and engaging horror ride, you will be somewhat disappointed, but if you want a solid roguelike with a horror flavor, I think The Spirit Lift is a charming opportunity. And so by giving the game a chance, I went from “cordial dislike” to “actually quite fond of this one.” That’s why you take chances sometimes, and I’m glad I took one here.

MIO: Memories in Orbit is very much a release where ambiance and exploration are top dogs of the experience. Whether you’re in a more lax state of exploring the map or trying to surmount a challenging sequence of whirling saws and pitfalls, moving around MIO’s map is a great time thoroughly enhanced by the game’s impressive rendering of its world and an immersive soundtrack. Unfortunately, these successes overshadow the title’s combat and progression mechanics. There will be a lot of familiar elements to those with prior metroidvania experience, and while they’re all implemented serviceably, they simply don’t do as much heavy lifting as the platforming, world building, and music.

Arknights: Endfield is a unique beast. It is a very fun game that I found very hard to play. I do want to reiterate that I like this game. The best part about games as a service is if what I found frustrating proves to be a sticking point for others, then those issues can and will be addressed. I also think Endfield is a game that can give you as much back as you want to put in. Engaging with ALL of its systems isn’t strictly necessary. In that sense, free-to-play is a damn steal!

Temirana: The Lucky Princess and the Tragic Knights is exactly what I was looking for in terms of a modern otome game. It’s a fantasy tale that has depth, and while the love aspect can get a little lost in the political plotline, it finds its way back and gives you an overall satisfying story. The characters are great both individually and together, and there is a good mix of seriousness, comedy, and banter. It was just enjoyable to watch them all interact, making it a title I feel comfortable recommending to others. The visuals do leave a little to be desired, and the gameplay is nothing crazy, but this is a solid game for fans of the genre. You will find what you’re looking for here, I promise.

UNBEATABLE is an excellent experience, and one that I’ll likely be playing far into the future through its included Arcade mode. The vibes are immaculate, and I’m pretty well satisfied with the overall package. But a bit more time expanding the story and fixing up some notable issues could easily have taken this game from “great” to “spectacular.”

This is a really fun, elegant, and well-observed game that I might feel is a bit slower to start than that title was, but it does feel like a lot of fun from start to finish. I had a fun time playing the game, and every time I fired it up again I found myself having fun all over again. If you have memories of old beat-em-ups or just want a new Marvel game in your life, this is going to be a fun title, and it can easily be an all-time winner for party games even with your friends who don’t play regular video games. Which means that it deserves the most Marvel-possible send-off for the whole affair. It’s a magnificent Marvel menagerie of superior, striking, and sensational super-heroes clashing on cosmic canvas against invading insects in insidious incidents. ‘Nuff said!

News Tower is a return to form. It feels made for fans of a genre that’s become lost in the Steam Early Access muck. It also feels like a great entry point for people looking to do more than stock virtual shelves.

Yeah, it’s a small release and it is unlikely to take all of the air out of the room in a year that has already seen some incredibly strong RPG releases, but if you love this genre? Get yourself in to Demonschool. I give it full marks and a fair helping of extra credit, but I still want it to see me after class because it impressed me.

Voron: Raven’s Story is certainly a flawed game, though to be fair it is an indie game largely made by one person and costs a mere $10, so one can only expect so much. The one thing the game truly has going for it, and what will determine whether you’ll enjoy it or not, are the unique flight mechanics. While I personally enjoyed it, I can definitely see it being a hard sell for most. I found the game was at its best during the challenges where I had to dodge obstacles and push my speed to the limit, but things fell off whenever I was simply traversing a large open area and gliding for long stretches. Still, if you’ve enjoyed the freedom of flying around in games and want a more relaxing and charming game about flight, Voron is certainly worth taking a look at.

As a whole, Million Depth is a game of contrasts. It is at turns awkward, less than it could be, and at the same time possessed of some really unique approaches to what could otherwise be painfully rote. There are parts of it I didn’t like, and yet all during my play I never found myself pushed to stop playing or lost interest despite its jank. It feels compelling in part because it’s janky. It’s a big, awkward piece that is often ungainly or inelegant, but it feels unique at the same time. I think my takeaway is that all of this winds up narrowing down to being on the high side of average, but still a game that some people are going to immediately fall in love with. I might have fallen in love with it, in a way. I find myself still poking at the game, and while it didn’t grab me and demand my attention, I think it’s worth checking out as a singular experience. Most games are assembled from familiar parts. This one feels like not all of its parts are great, but they also aren’t bracingly familiar.

I’d say with confidence that Mizuguchi and the Enhance team have once again knocked it out of the park here. If you’re looking for a way to drop some blocks whilst wringing emotion from your heart, you can’t go wrong with this one.

It’s still very well crafted and definitely worth your time to play, in my opinion. But amongst the three major DLCs? This one is sadly probably the weakest. There isn’t even much reason to revisit the monastery later even though you can, unless you missed some hidden thing while you were there, so this DLC is pretty much one-and-done, while the Brushes with Death and Legacy of the Forge DLC updates both added new activities you can do, adding considerable value to the time you spend in Bohemia.

Digital Eclipse once again hits the mark with Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection, and I’m happy that their porting skills remain as strong as ever. The sheer number of games included in tandem with their now trademark storytelling approach makes this an easy recommend for me. While not every game here is a winner, the documentary portion once again steals the show. I hope this isn’t the last we see of this Gold Master format, because there are plenty more of gaming’s icons that would benefit from its unique brand of storytelling. I’ll happily take more gaming history lessons from a developer that clearly cares about the story of whatever gaming giant they choose to cover next.