I would definitely recommend this title to anyone who is a fan of open-world adventure games and is looking for a fresh perspective. If anything, it’s a must-play just to experience the amount of love and detail the creators packed into it. There is also just so much to do that I feel it’s totally worth it for the price.

I reiterate many times that the real question should not be what a game is about but how it is about it, and to a certain extent, it's unfair to mark Mirage down because it's trying for a solid base hit. But I do think it's fair to mark it down for not just playing it safe but playing it way less than it could be. I characterized Valhalla as a game well worth playing even if you aren't generally fond of this franchise, but Mirage? It's just another Assassin's Creed game with no ambitions of being more. Far from feeling like a loving tribute on the anniversary, it feels like coasting…If you've loved this franchise since the first game, you're going to have fun with Mirage. But just like its namesake, there's less here than there appears to be, and beneath the surface it's lacking. Not enough to be bad, but enough to be just rote. And that, ultimately, is a letdown even if the game can play the hits well.

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.

If you really can’t stand puzzle games like this, then Röki is not going to be what changes your mind… but I definitely encourage you to take a look at it. This one will use your time in a rewarding way. And I had a blast with it.

You can tell that there was care and love put into this, and I’m rather thankful that something like this exists at all. Epic Mickey: Rebrushed does enough to justify being a worthy remake of a somewhat beloved game, though it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. It’s a solid platformer in its own right, and the new additions are welcome ones.

While I have some minor quibbles here and there, by and large this is very good at being an educational tour of a historical period with a few fanciful elements to support beliefs. Ultimately, it’s not for me to decide who the target audience is supposed to be, but to tell you if this is worth the purchase price. And at $20 for the educational content it provides? Yes, it delivers enough information to be worth it. Just be aware of what you’re getting, because this is much more a pop culture tour of Norse history than it is an actual game with compelling gameplay.

From a quality standpoint, Outshine lives up to its name, There is a stumble here and there but it delivers a fun and satisfying experience. In an era where scores are hardly even a thing anymore, Outshine challenges you and makes you want to better them. This game might not have the same sort of quirky charm as its inspiration, but it fills a much needed void in an understated genre with a quality entry. If you want a fun arcade-style experience that can potentially also sharpen your keyboarding skills, you really can’t go wrong here.

I think Skygard Arena is fun, and you might too. At the absolute minimum, it may well cultivate an interest in the Tactics RPG genre for you, and explore a world of gaming I’ve fondly enjoyed for a long time.

Taken as a complete package, Lost Judgment and The Kaito Files serves as one of the best story offerings I can think of in recent memory. With as fantastic as the former’s story was, I’m overjoyed that the story in the latter at least maintains (and often exceeds) the standard we’ve come to expect from Ryu Ga Gotoku. While the somewhat steep price tag might be a bit high for DLC, the densely packed narrative and trademark gameplay helps take the edge off. It proves that Kaito is more than capable of carrying a story, and I can’t wait to see what his future holds.

It’s buggy, the balance is off, and a good 80% of the locations only really serve as random sidequest destinations. But the storytelling drew me in, the stealth worked rather well, and on the occasions when I felt like I had resources to burn it was just so dang satisfying to slow motion dive out from behind a corner while blasting a barrage of shotgun shells.

Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia isn’t a truly dire or bad title, but it’s the sort of thing that you’re either going to love or hate, and that feels like a pretty big ask for the game. It was a title I found very exciting in concept, but found myself increasingly disappointed by the more I played it. Be fairly warned before you try it – but also don’t be surprised if it becomes something that some people just will not stop talking about, even with its flaws.

Trails Through Daybreak II is a good game. It is a good game in the way that we actually don’t get a lot of, a solid installment in what seems from the outside to be a very solid series. Oh, sure, having nothing spectacular in it is kind of a flaw, but I think it is a good game all the way through. If you’re a fan of the series, you’ll have a blast with it, and if you’re not a fan but want to get into it, maybe you really do want a JRPG that’s more fun for the combat than the story. Heck, maybe the story will do it for you! So cheers to you, Trails Through Daybreak II. I don’t know if I want to stay at your house, but you welcomed me in and I enjoyed the experience.

Even after spending close to 30 hours already, there are oodles of secrets to find, upgrades to unlock, and further optimizations I can make to my ranch setup. I think I’ll be vacationing here for a while.

The story here pulled me in quickly, and is well worth paying attention to. Exploration with parkour is just plain fun. The game doesn't feel like it's forcing the player to explore and complete every marker on the map, but rather giving the player options for how they want to approach the game. The survival aspects aren't overwhelmingly hardcore, but feel tuned to provide the perfect amount of tension.

I honestly can’t tell you the specific thing about Arcadia Fallen that made me fall in love with it, but I can promise you that it’s a good time. The lively cast will guide you through a grand adventure, where you will feel like an active participant rather than just an observer, and by the end, you will most likely be sad to see your journey end. The art style might feel outdated, but if you can look past that, you will be treated to excellent voice-acting and some fun, yet simple puzzles. There’s also plenty of content here, since you get four romance routes to try out and the opportunity to replay the game with different MC personality types, making it a whole new experience.

If Coffee Talk was standing on its own in a void, I would call this game a must play, no questions asked. The need to grind out recipes to figure out how to unlock the full story is frustrating, a stain on everything else in the package, but by the time I got to this point I had already fallen in love with the characters and aesthetic. The problem is, everything here has been done before, and better. It does feel like Toge Productions wanted to craft a homage to Valhalla, but doing so puts them right up against a cult classic. I truly think that they should have done more to differentiate themselves, to stand out more in this burgeoning genre.

And hey, how many other games will give you a chance to command a tiny fluffy-eared girl riding a gigantic tiger that thinks it’s a housecat? Not enough, I tell you.

Read Only Memories: Neurodiver is a rare instance of great execution when the “when it’s done” attitude is adopted. Anchored mostly by its great presentation and story, this sequel easily meets expectations while also remembering what genre fans like about the series. New fans and old will enjoy what Luna’s story brings to the table, and I’m looking forward to what’s coming next for the Read Only Memories franchise. Cyberpunk fans should walk away from this with a big ‘ol grin on their face, and I’m one of them.

Langrisser I & II isn’t for everyone. But I think it’s for a lot of people who may never have even seen the originals, and I strongly recommend it to everyone on a whole lot of different levels.

So long as you don’t compare it to the more standout entries in the genre, Afterimage deserves some consideration from fans who devour this kind of experience regularly. The gameplay is best described as solid, the difficulty skewed towards those who like their games leaning towards From Software’s catalog, and a presentation that stands toe to toe with other indie games. Does it find itself as legendary as other games in the genre? Not really, but it’s at least worth your time if you’re looking for a new Metroidvania to devour this year.

This game both wants to be like its old-school Grandpa Mario and Aunt Celeste. The mixture of the two just doesn’t gel with me. The real bummer is I badly want it work. I truly for some it probably will. Playing MainFrames has made me realize the genre probably just isn’t for me. I don’t understand platformers and I’m certainly not good at them. So it’s probably pretty weird that I am going to recommend this game with one big fat caveat. If you’re a fan of the genre, there are a lot of cool and original things happening in MainFrames. If you’re not already comfortable in the space it’s probably not going to work as shining introduction to the world of indie platformers.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind is a beloved tribute to a cherished franchise in video game form. It easily stands alongside some of the more standout titles that have emerged in the genre as of late, and everyone involved shows their reverence for MMPR in every frame. Anyone worried about the quality of this game can rest easy, as this is something I can happily point to as a great example of a good beat-em-up. I had a morphenomenal time with Rita’s Rewind, and I’m sure anyone fires this up will feel the same way. This game is far from a headache, so go-go give this one a shot.

The story here is intriguing and occasionally shocking, but it isn’t particularly affecting. I’m sure this story would’ve hit me more had Schmied spent more time developing the world and the characters, giving the audience a better chance to connect with them.

The fact that this is from a small team is itself amazing, and if you enjoy anything from the gorgeous art to the description of the mechanics to even just the feel of being the family head trying to whip your clan into a fighting force? I think you’ll find something to love in Dice Gambit. I sure as heck did. I took a chance I didn’t expect to, and I feel it was well worth it.

In a way, Life is Strange: Double Exposure felt like returning home. While it doesn’t quite overshadow the original, it delivers more of what made the series so special in the first place while having its own identity. Nostalgia can be a tricky line to walk. On the one hand there’s plenty of people who liked Max’s story from the first game and will be drawn back, but there’s also a risk of winding up like a few other series that are just remaking the same game over and over. I feel Deck Nine Games have successfully pulled off that tightrope trick, and have left the series in a place where it can only grow and thrive. I look forward to the next adventure.

Honestly, I really didn’t expect much out of Hot Wheels Unleashed. I was expecting a throw-away licensed racing game. Perhaps, more cynically, a cash-grab targeting nostalgic aging gamers. What I ended up getting, though, was a surprisingly solid arcade racer by a team that obviously cares about the license they’re working with. It’s not without its quirks, unfortunately. The shocking aggressive AI racers created many moments of frustration, and I’m not a fan of the “gacha but not really” system going on here for obtaining new cars. But for fans of arcade racers, whether the Hot Wheels name strikes a chord or not, Hot Wheels Unleashed is a game worth a look.

If you’re looking for a metroidvania game to play that you haven’t played before, this game is going to deliver. It’s not without charm and it’s not wildly incompetent. But it’s a C- effort and that’s all the worse when you know that the studio is capable of delivering much better. Unless you’re in dire need of a new metroidvania or a big fan of the series it’s based upon, I wouldn’t rush to grab this one.

It is, ultimately, solid DLC that’s worth it for fans of the game, although if you’re already bought into the game you probably already have it. What it’s not is perhaps the big send-off for the game that it had been billed as…but maybe that’s unfair, since that was never really in the cards.

This is a slower, more painful, and in many ways more failure-prone sort of game. But for players who enjoy the option of a slower ludonarrative and want to experience a build through this difficult situation, stalking the wreckage of the exclusion zone is going to be a lot of fun. If you’re willing to be patient and survival-minded, you’ll find a lot to enjoy here in Chernobylite.

The successful execution of these elements is almost enough to distract you from the game’s highly basic and low-impact gameplay for a while, but not entirely. Even with the introduction of more minigames and narrative situations, the game remains a highly consistent experience for better and worse. Still, if Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town looks like a game for you, chances are good you’ll have a great time settling in and immersing yourself in its simplistic charm.

Samurai Warriors 5 is a lot of a good thing, but you have to be confident you’ll enjoy that good thing for it to be worth the price of admission. If you’re already a fan of the singular “1 vs 1000” gameplay that can only really be found in Warriors games, your time will be well spent with this title. Similarly, if you haven’t played a game like this before and are intrigued by the way it plays or the visuals, but not turned off by the idea of a passable story and a gameplay experience that doesn’t feel the need to surprise you, Samurai Warriors 5 is more than a fine place to jump in.

Above all else, In Sound Mind is fun. The horror and melancholy of what’s going on in the plot is balanced out by light-hearted camp, the levels are all interwoven exploration puzzles where a new tool invariably makes you realize several new areas you can discover, it’s all so easy to just get lost for hours and hours until next thing you know it’s 3AM.

I know this sounds contrary to the rest of my review but, despite my complaints, I still would recommend at least one playthrough of this game to fans of the studio and the genre. There is some charm to be found here, even if it’s only occasional glimpses when you make the right decision, and just visually you’ll be in for a treat.

Really, should anyone be surprised that No More Heroes III is a good time? Suda51 and his gang may be known for games that are varying levels of weird, but you can hardly ever say that they’re boring at all. Travis might have been in relative exile for a while, but it feels like he hasn’t missed a beat. It’s time to fire up that beam katana back up, people. Far from a swing and a miss, it’s good to see Travis back in his element. This gets a solid recommend from me.

Cupid Parasite: Sweet and Spicy Darling should’ve been a DLC. I don’t think it’s a bad game by any means, but unfortunately, it doesn’t have enough world-building and character development to stand on its own.

Iron Harvest seemed like a promising game, even to someone not really into RTS titles like myself. In some aspects, it does deliver. The story is surprisingly good, the design and usage of the mech units is top notch, and I personally appreciate the streamlining of base and resource management (the bane of my existence in most RTS games) to focus on combat. The act of performing combat and moving troops around, though – the core of the game – is weirdly uneven. Moving units is awkward, and the pathing issues the units have make what should be simple skirmishes often risky and sometimes infuriating. KING Art did state that they plan to watch for community feedback and continue updating the game. Perhaps all of the above issues will be fixed. However, as the game is right now at launch, Iron Harvest is rough. Promising, but rough.

Carrion is an entertaining and visceral experience, with a lot more going for it than simply running around and killing things, like many of the game’s trailers led me to believe...A few questionable design decisions make me hesitate on calling this an excellent title, though. Tying parts of the creature’s moveset to its current health level is frustrating. The lack of any kind of world map, while not game breaking in the slightest, got annoying while navigating the hub area. The repetitive art design in the levels isn’t doing the game any favors either...However, frustrations aside, Carrion was still an entertaining playthrough.

Overall, Date Everything is a charming little package that staves off its inherent repetitiveness with some great writing and an excellent cast of voice performers. The sheer variety of characters here nearly guarantees that there will be at least a handful that connect with everyone. Some of the character design is a bit too busy, though, and tracking down every Dateable can become a lesson in frustration if you have difficulty thinking outside the box. If you’re a VA geek, Date Everything is an absolute must-play; I don’t think we’ll ever see another game with this many high-profile performers together in one package. Recognizing the voices of the Dateables you find is a core part of the fun here, in my opinion. But even if you’re not well versed in modern voice performers, this game is still a fun and often hilarious romp.

Neversong is nearly the perfect game for the genre. Aside from the few issues that I mentioned, and few they are, it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had with side-scrolling puzzle game mechanics. The story is dark, beautiful, and haunting in a way that only a few games have been able to capture before. If you’re thinking of the next title to pick up and scratch that psychological narrative itch, Neversong is the clear choice.

Song of Horror definitely exceeded all of my expectations. It hits that “haunted house attraction” level of spookiness just right and, for the most part, the puzzles are a nice mix of exploration and inventive thinking. It’s not without the occasional hiccup, and some of the puzzles could do with a few more hints, but overall? Song of Horror is one of the best horror games I’ve played this year. Best of all, it’s not QUITE done yet. Updates already planned in their roadmap include adjustments to the most egregious puzzles, fleshing out the final chapter a bit more (Another encounter with the Presence and a new character), and a new harder difficulty level. If you’re a fan of older third-person survival horror games, I highly recommend picking this up!

You may find some things about it lacking, like the fact it has a pretty big cast but only focuses on a few of its characters, or that its graphics look a little sloppy, but at its core, it is a really good time. Especially when you consider how many minigames it has! I certainly plan to do another playthrough to see if I can change the ending or if there’s anything important I missed during my first run. Overall, this is for sure a solid addition to any visual novel enthusiast’s library.

If any part of 9 Years of Shadows looks appealing to you, you owe it to yourself to pick it up. This is an amazing game made by a heretofore unknown team, and I can only hope that Halberd Studios has plans for a follow-up. They deserve to be showered in praise, and this game deserves your time and attention.

This game does not need to be an amazing experience on par with dazzling triple-A games, it needs to be a fun, cute, and relaxing hidden object game. It is very much that. The list of things to find might seem a little short at first, but it’s remarkably devious and should keep you searching for a consistent stretch. If you see the scenes above and think “that looks like fun,” hey, you are probably going to have a good time.

Now, I’m not saying this game will be for everyone. There’s quite a few rough edges that are just part of the classic FPS genre, but this is still a sterling example of how to do a remaster. Everything from the original has been kept, made easier to access, and optional new content has been added. What’s not to love?

At this point, you know what you’re getting into when you sit down to play a Jackbox game. Even with this concession, however, it’s a bit too easy to find The Jackbox Party Pack 10 lacking. The tunes and aesthetics are great as always and the narrators do an equally decent job but—with the exception of Timejinx—it feels as though every new game has a significant snag that heavily drags it down. Either the novelty wears off after only a few sessions (Dodo Re Mi, FixyText) or the game simply runs on too long (Hypnotorious), and Tee K.O. 2 is exactly what it says on the tin with only minor improvements. With everything accounted for you’re still in for a fun time with friends, but it nevertheless remains a weaker experience compared to previous Jackbox offerings.

It’s still a good time rolling through the city in this Remastered take. Even with the performance issues I experienced, which did hamper the experience sometimes, I found myself having a fair amount of fun being the wackiest criminal I could be. In its current state, it’s not the most polished version of the game, despite being better looking than its original version. But the gameplay here is fun enough to forgive that to some degree. If you’re looking for something outside Los Santos and would rather hit people with a dick bat, this isn’t a bad way to spend some time indoors.

If your group of friends is looking for a new party game, you really can’t go wrong with what’s on offer here. If you already own What the Dub?!, though, there really isn’t all that much new here to justify double dipping.

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.

I didn’t like Invector: Rhythm Galaxy at first. I didn’t recognize most songs by name, the controls out-of-the-box were awkward for me, and not being able to instantly jump to the highest difficult and sightread songs bruised my rhythm gamer ego. As I put more time into it, beginning to understand how the game wanted to be played, my opinion on it brightened up. And as I got a feel for it, I began to see just how well charted the songs in this game are. The campaign mode is entirely a throwaway – play through and skip the story just to unlock songs, and then never touch it again. But after that, there’s a fairly solid rhythm experience here. Unfortunately, the soundtrack here just isn’t for me. This is entirely subjective and doesn’t hit the score, but I personally don’t see myself going back to play more with the current music on offer. Should WMG dig deeper into their vaults for some DLC, though, I wouldn’t complain about coming back.

As it stands, it’s a quintessential example of style over substance. If Cris Tales fails to grab you by the end of its opening few hours, it won’t do anything to change your mind in the time that follows.

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.

It leans in on exactly what it wants to be and makes its gameplay comfortable and fun with a nice look and a solid soundtrack. So it’s the sort of game that fans of management games will look at, perhaps shrug about, and say “I can’t believe I’m buying another one of these” as they click through the purchase.

I find myself somewhat conflicted about Dice Legacy. For one thing, it’s not the sort of game I personally like all that much; as implied, its design is one that I can understand and appreciate without taking any particular enjoyment out of it. I also find myself somewhat stymied by the fact that the Switch version has some interface woes that make it a bit less pleasant to play through, which is definitely what I would consider a problem. Not an insurmountable one, but there’s way too many times when it felt like the interface penalized me rather than the main game mechanics just being complicated. At the same time, I do think there’s an appealing and fun game there just the same. The core gameplay loop is well-defined and unique, and the game has a unique charm to it.

This is a unique and sometimes even a wondrous experience. In Other Waters is a perfect example of why independent game development is so important to the ecosystem. The ideas these developers have are fantastic and important to gaming and this is an experience I wasn’t going to get anywhere else. That being said, it is impossible to ignore some of In Other Waters’ most glaring flaws. As much as I’m willing to sacrifice depth in gameplay for a satisfying story, I should never feel frustrated as much as I did while playing this.

If you’re looking for an emotional ride that will likely elicit a tear or two, Lost Words is something that should be on your list. Hiding under the basic gameplay is a story worth experiencing.

Messy as it is, Sonic Origins is still a collection of the best 2D entries the franchise has to offer. It may not be as dense in content in comparison to prior compilations like Sonic Mega Collection or Sonic Gems Collection, but it does just enough to not get in the way of what made these games system sellers in their heyday. While I was hoping for an easy touchdown, this ended up being a fumble recovery instead. Hefty price tag be damned, new players deserve to see why people like me keep going back to what many consider the reason people loved Sonic in the first place.

If you’re looking to scratch that classic gaming itch, playing this version of a classic is a welcome addition to the Recharged line of games and is a worthy version worth considering. It’s not perfect, but it’s playable and still as fun now as it was when it dazzled arcade goers in its heyday.

At the end of the day, how you feel about Silent Hope will depend on how big a fan of classic isometric dungeon crawlers you are. At it’s heart it’s a pure experience that encourages experimentation and learning a variety of playstyles, but this comes at the cost of all the extra bells and whistles.

The Stone of Madness isn’t perfect by any means, but its successes readily outweigh its missteps. Its emphasis on real-time stealth and simultaneous control over three distinct characters at a time work to create some very hectic gameplay situations, naturally encouraging the player to learn and improve. Infusing this rewarding gameplay with a striking art style and a tinge of dark humor makes for a unique experience worth looking into, even if the controls can be clunky and the guards can be a little too good at catching up with you when you make a mistake.

It has a very particular audience in mind, and if you’re a part of said audience, you’ll have a great time improving through every death. And if you’re looking to lessen that challenge a smidge in order to see a decent chunk of the content without investing dozens of hours? The game is more than happy to provide you with options to do just that, making it more approachable than ever without sacrificing the challenge intrinsic to its success. And the flaming sword power up is just as cool as ever.

If you’re a fan of space combat and can push your way through the first couple hours, I’m fairly confident you’ll find a lot to like in Chorus. The core dogfighting is just plain fun, and the setpiece fights are something to see. If you’re not already a genre fan, however, I’m not entirely sure this will be the game to win you over.

No Longer Home tackles the issues it presents in a natural, unobtrusive way that allows the player space to muse on them themselves. Even if you’re not sure you can directly relate to the situation that Ao and Bo find themselves in, this title comes highly recommended. It will absolutely remind you of experiences in your past, and it just might help make the stresses of the future seem a little less daunting.

Dread Delusion offers an interesting universe and a gorgeous art style, but both are thoroughly wrapped up in a mechanically thin and ultimately unsatisfying RPG experience. The Oneiric Isles capture the spirit of the RPG worlds of the past, and there’s a wide breadth of content and characters to learn more about throughout them, but Dread Delusion’s decided lack of difficulty, one-note combat, and widespread balancing issues actively distract from its highly enjoyable world.

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.

Unfortunately, I feel that while it’s a very good *simulation*, it isn’t a very good *game*, and I can really only recommend this to the hardcore skate fans who don’t like all the arcade-style skate games out there. While I did have some fun with it, there was just way too much frustration with even basic elements that shouldn’t be as difficult to understand as they were.

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.

In spite of a unique aesthetic and passable puzzles, Tandem: A Tale of Shadows struggles to keep itself exciting. The almost complete lack of narrative thrust and droning gameplay progression drag it down from the moment it begins, and its failure to capitalize on its more attention-grabbing elements guarantees a disappointing experience out of a game that could have easily been more.

It just doesn’t seem they put as much love and detail into the gameplay as they did the character writing and world building. In the end, while not a must play, Haven is still worth a glance if you’re looking for a feel-good experience.

While the main levels of the game are not the most exciting, with gameplay that is often just good but not great, the boss battles are tons of fun, and the entire game just oozes style and substance. I had enough fun with those, and also just rocking out to the wonderful music, that I can mostly overlook the game’s minor gameplay stumbles. No Straight Roads is an excellent experience that I encourage any lover of both music and gaming to have a look at. It’s not flawless, but it’s a darned good time.

Sludge Life feels like the video game version of being under the influence, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. While it feels like it might be a little too wrapped up in its own aesthetics at times, it still remembers that it’s a game first and not a video from the weird part of YouTube. Having it available for free for the moment means that there’s little excuse for you to not at least wade in the smoggy muck for a spell.

Those who already enjoy the series or this style of action-RPG meets dating simulator will still have a fun experience and find a good game to play here. Despite the faults with pacing or mechanics I may have discovered along the way, it won’t be enough to scare away this existing audience. But in a more general sense, unfortunately, Sakura Wars fills a need for a part of its player audience that, no matter how I look at it, isn’t something that feels right. Especially when you consider the decades of hard work the women of Takarazuka have put in, only to be attributed to this. It makes me hope that somewhere, someday, there can be a Sakura Wars without so much of those other moments. Maybe it could still be a dating simulator, just a more consensual-feeling one.

It feels like someone put a lot of heart into Habroxia 2, but heart only goes so far. It’s a decent enough attempt at a side-scrolling shooter, but lacks the polish I’d expect from a game these days. A bit more balance considerations, some more context for why you’re fighting the things you are, and some longer music tracks, and it would be an alright retro throwback. As it is, it’s a bit mediocre.

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.

While it’s hard to ignore some of the gameplay issues (some of which EA has promised to address as of this writing), the overall experience of EA Sports PGA Tour is very impressive as far as golf games go. The graphics and audio are top notch, as is the golfer creation and the wide range of options available. This game is a sim and not a super easy game, but the developers clearly wanted a wide range of players to be able to enjoy it with the assistance features, and it does a pretty good job of that. Combine this with the huge amount of content and the many ways you can use it, and you have an experience that, despite some stumbles, is near the top of its class. If you’re looking for an immersive golf experience, look no further.

While I wouldn’t use the word “perfect,” Mahokenshi offered a truly fun experience that far exceeded any expectations I could have had. It has restored my faith that there is room for innovation in its genre. This game is fun, not too easy or too hard (nor too long or too short), offers a compelling world for its gameplay, and overall is something I feel quite comfortable recommending to anyone and everyone who likes mixing cards with video games, but it also has potential for people outside of this genre as well. Check it out!

The game is, on some level, Darkest Dungeon with lower stakes and featuring a group of weird little dudes instead of psychological torture. But they’re fun weird little dudes and you get invested in playing with them. If the basic gameplay loop sounds like fun, yeah, you’ll have to force past some occasional graphical weirdness and some interfaces that aren’t ideal, but there is a legitimately fun and compelling game on the other side. So while it doesn’t really nail the landing for full points, it doesn’t stumble on the dismount, either.

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.”

Brushes With Death may not be as big and sophisticated as the main scenario, but for being a post-launch DLC, it packs a lot of fun and value for its price point. Add to that the other extra content its patch brought alongside it, and there could hardly be a better time to get into Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, except maybe after the remaining story DLCs come later in the year. If you enjoyed the game but hadn’t given thought to the game’s DLC pass or even just this specific one, this content is most definitely worth the price of admission. You may even find yourself re-loading previous saves to explore the different ways you can approach it.

Layers of Fear 2 is an enjoyable experience, if a bit flawed. There’s not a single part I didn’t enjoy, but neither is there any section that avoided serious criticism. As a relatively cheap game, I’d say definitely pick it up if you’re a fan of spooks and scares, but don’t expect it to especially move you or last more than a few days. I’d also say that despite this being a review for the Switch copy, to try it on a different platform instead, since it doesn’t capitalize on any of the system’s strengths and it suffers from its flaws.

The game’s world is just gorgeous, lovingly put together, and more than that, is built to the scale of a proper MMO worth your time to try for the price of free. I can very much see Throne and Liberty finding its fans for the things it does well even if it isn’t sweepingly innovative for the genre as a whole, and that’s more than you can say for a lot of new MMOs and MMO-adjacent titles.

The Last Faith is a strong title with some clear stumbles, but quality still wins out more often than not, and I’m eager to see Kumi Souls Games’ next effort as a result.

Ultimately, what I keep thinking of is Katamari Re-Roll, which was similarly a very fun game because it was an unambitious remake of an already very fun game. If you already have the original, it’s a harder sell, because the remake doesn’t change all that much from the original… but it’s also an improvement and a chance for those who missed out on the original (or the DLC) to try the whole package, with the promise of more still to come. There are, in other words, some reasons that not everyone will be delighted by Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning. But even if there’s not much new to it… well, there’s also nothing wrong with it at all, and the original was great.

Rock of Ages 3 appears to be more of the same. It’s crafted well…but it’s just not something that fits in my personal taste. For a tower defense fan whose never tried out the franchise, this is likely a good starting point. Otherwise, only hardcore fans need apply.

It’s such a shame that that serenity is broken by frustration when trying to plan roadways and neighborhoods. This may not seem like much of an issue for some, but for someone who finds odd satisfaction from having complete control of how my society will look, it kept me from falling in love.

If you’re looking for a quick and simple multiplayer game on the cheap, you can definitely get by on what you get here. Tip back a cool drink and hang out with some friends for this one, because that’s where you’re gonna have the most fun.

Taken as a whole game, Carmen Sandiego is a perfectly cromulent romp despite its relative simplicity. Slipping into familiar trappings isn’t always a bad thing, especially when you’re aiming to make a return like this. While not quite a triumphant return to the gaming space, it’s definitely a welcome one. I like to think that there’s still a place in the gaming world for The World’s Greatest Thief. So seeing her land on her feet like this is a welcome surprise. Carmen isn’t one to rest on her laurels, so I hope this isn’t the last we see of her.

If you’re already a fan of the Dirt franchise, there’s little to take issue with here – jump right in. If you’re a racing fan who’s new to the series, though, I can definitely say Dirt 5 is worth a look.

If you like the trailer, you are almost certainly going to like this game. If you like the concepts, you are almost certainly going to like this game. It knows what it wants to be and it succeeds marvelously at it. And at the end of the day, I like this game, so even with its flaws, I can’t help but feel that it deserves plenty of love for just being dang fun in exactly the way it wants.

Still sporting tough as nails gameplay and brimming with the fast-paced ninja action the series is known for, picking up the Ninja Gaiden Ultimate Collection is a safe recommendation based on the strength of the first two titles alone. Ninja Gaiden 3 may still be the low point in this trilogy, but that shouldn’t deter those new to the series to give Sigma and Sigma 2 a fair shake. Both of those games still withstand the test of time, and in the case of the Switch version is something fun to play portably as well. In the grand scheme of remakes and ports, you could do a lot worse than these three games. If Team Ninja finally decides to work on a fourth entry in the series, I’m hoping those who end up devouring this collection will be well rewarded.

Overall, I’d say if you haven’t played Saints Row IV before to give it a shot. I honestly had a blast going through this. If you have, well, the novelty of having it portable might not justify the price tag. I have heard from Volition that the bugs ARE being worked on but, at the moment, there’s no definite time frame for when the DLC will actually be available for Switch players, and I can’t help but be a little disappointed at that.

I came away from this with the impression that I really didn’t miss out on much. Turok 3 is a game that lost its identity, and it now comes as no surprise that the next game was a reboot where Turok was changed into a space marine. In trying so hard to be like the other big name franchises, it became little more than another copy and sadly faded into obscurity. That all said, it’s only just mediocre at its worst, and you still get to shoot grenades at dinosaurs, so at least it has that going for it.

Still, if you really like tactical RPGs like this, it’s a different style of play and it has some noteworthy potential in how its gameplay is delivered. I don’t dislike the game; I just wish it did a little bit better on delivering on its promise. That’s by nature going to be a very subjective statement, and it isn’t a bad game, but I think anyone who isn’t looking for a new strategy RPG experiment will find this one a bit underwhelming. But hey, if the narrow options and the promise of roguelike gameplay interests you, this is one to check out all the same. It’s not bad, by any means. Just doesn’t really light you on fire.

As a fan of the Story of Seasons franchise and a long-time player of farming/life simulators, I would not recommend this title to fans right now, but maybe in the future with more additions and fixes it’ll be worthwhile.

Shadow Warrior 3 is an interesting title and a fun playthrough. But I can’t say it’s one to go out of your way to get your hands on. However, if you have the opportunity to play it, it’s a worthwhile ride.

Even with the heavy hitter Dragon’s Trap missing from this selection, Wonder Boy Collection is still a great option if you want to experience a more obscure retro franchise for the first time, or go back and revel in nostalgia. Also, with the prices the original Monster World IV goes for at the time of writing, this is probably the best way to play through that game without blowing up your wallet.

This is definitely a title made with a lot of love and attention to detail, and while it’s hardly a flawless production, I think it’s worth checking out for people who sit on either side of the fence. If you’ve always wanted to love a Soulslike title but never quite got there, this might help get you over the hump; if you love them but don’t mind something being a bit more Souls-lite, this will delight you. It’s not going to make it on to my short list of worthy Game of the Year contenders, but it’s a solid outing all around, and that’s not nothing.

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.

Its adherence to the cartoon is also its saving grace, as excising the IP from this title leaves you with little more than a simplistic, passable platformer. If nautical nonsense be something you wish, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake will absolutely deliver enjoyment on par with the cartoon itself—just don’t expect there to be much of anything you haven’t seen before.