Deliver at All Costs stands out as a game that might hook you in the opening hour, but as the hours continue to roll on, you steadily lose your drive to continue as fewer and fewer fresh reasons to be excited are introduced.

I think the biggest sign of whether someone likes a Football Manager game is how addicted they are to that "just one more game" feeling. In previous years, I would get that at 9PM and suddenly it would be 4AM, but I haven't had that feeling with Football Manager 26. I now have no problem turning off the game when I think it's time, and that's very telling.

Ravenlok is a short, but highly enjoyable adventure to spend time with, and if you have children, this can be a great title to discover together. The challenge is minimal, but the atmosphere is great, and even if there are some flaws in the presentation, the short playing time ensures that the bad never overshadows the positive.

It's beautifully designed and takes you through some impressive and mind-boggling worlds, but I'd say you need to be a real fan of these detective games for Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss to be worth your while. As mentioned earlier, there are elements that make the whole thing a bit too convoluted and slow the game down even further than it already is. There are also a number of technical issues that are hard to overlook.

If you enjoy basic horror-styled shooters, I wouldn't say this is a bad purchase at all, even though in its current form it doesn't evoke the same positive impression as its predecessor. Personally, I'm enjoying my time with the game still, despite its flaws.

Dead Reset offers a fun journey. It's good - all the way through, but never more than that and never less. It's a solid 7/10 and definitely something I'd happily recommend - especially if, like me, you love old school slashers with lots of gore and guts that slap and behave like guts in general.

What could have been a perfect sports game instead becomes a begging little brother that always seems to need more money.

With a meticulous, intricate and yet stable management system, Citadelum promises city builders and management titles fans a handful of hours of fun. My biggest regret is that there is no multiplayer option to compete against my friends' empires, but the creations we can download from Steam Workshop make up for that. It's time to crown a new Caesar.

With the available deck-builder mechanics and campaign, Songs of Silence is an excellent starting point for the slightly inexperienced strategy player who wants to get to know the genre better.

I will absolutely keep playing this and hope that the extortionate bundle deals are slimmed down price-wise and that the upcoming maps reintroduce some verticality, again. Beyond that and a pointless battle royale mode, it's easy to see that Slipgate 2 has managed to find its own groove despite basically just ripping off well-chosen parts from its competitors.

It's simple, sweet, adorable, unique, and wholesome, and sometimes amid the chaos and noise of action games, RPGs, and first-person shooters we often see in the autumn, something delightful and easy is all you need.

It's a very original concept with a lovely visual style, so it doesn't feel like a complete waste of time. But in the end, unfortunately for me, there's a predominant feeling of boredom rather than quality entertainment.

The Casting of Frank Stone will go down as a final chapter in this era of Supermassive, a chapter of highs and lows, but even though it has its faults there's definitely a lot of potential between a Supermassive and Dead by Daylight collaboration and hopefully we'll see this explored once again in the future.

On one hand, I think WayForward has done a great job bringing this older title into the modern day with top visual and audio prowess. On the other hand, it lacks a lot of the class and refinement that makes modern games such a joy and thrill to play.

With an interesting story, well told and respectful of the original, albeit with a rushed final stretch and some loose ends that make us think of a possible expansion or sequel, Outcast: A New Beginning is a rara avis, a special game made with love by a small studio that reveres the original work and is a worthy successor that sometimes surprises by the scale of its aspirations.

The last few days I've spent with Just Dance 2024 are enough to realise that it's not a game for me. Not because I dislike dancing, but simply because of the way Ubisoft has set up the game.

At its best, The Lamplighters League is really charming with colourful characters and a somewhat clichéd but entertaining apocalyptic story. Unfortunately, it doesn't go all the way to the finish line and the repetitive structure is a bit of a let down.

In the end, I would describe Fairy Tail 2 as a game that does what it's supposed to do without showing off too much. Because all the systems fulfil their purpose. The characters feel elaborate without shining, the graphics are appealing without adding anything new, and the music and setting lull you into classic Japanese role-playing that sticks to the framework to the letter. However, there is nothing special that grabs your interest, but most of it feels well done without reaching further emotionally. If you're a fan of the series already, I can definitely see that you'll be more entertained than someone who's never met these characters before, but if, like me, you don't feel any connection to the world that makes up this colourful anime saga, you should probably wait for a greatly reduced price before you take on Fairy Tail 2.

If you like strong stories and games where your choices matter, Dustborn is for you. It's a game that's more about the journey and the people you meet along the way than action-packed battles or complex game mechanics. If you're looking for a game with deep and satisfying combat mechanics, there are better alternatives out there.

It's hard to knock this delightful, simple, easy to love adventure, one where the famed humour of SpongeBob never misses a beat, where Bikini Bottom feels more authentic than we have ever seen before in a video game, where technically-speaking it actually runs really well for a chaotic physics-based nightmare like this, and graphically and visually there's a lot to celebrate and be impressed by.

As far as a round-based tower-defence action game goes, Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap nails the task at hand well. It's entertaining, highly replayable, fine as a solo experience and better as a cooperative one, and it has stunning visuals too. After a bunch of hours it can feel a bit one-dimensional and repetitive due to its lacking narrative and steady progression, but as far as an easy and intuitive game to pick up and enjoy with friends goes, there's a lot to love and appreciate about this latest chapter in the series.

The House of the Dead 2: Remake is a refreshing blast from the past. It proves that old-school game design still has bite and that rail shooters deserve a comeback. The remake could've used more polish, and there are definite issues, but especially in co-op, it's still a fun ride worth trying even for those who didn't experience it the first time around.

The development team shows signs of quality and development prowess in some of the title's features, but at the same time, Painkiller asks quite a lot from a consumer and doesn't give a whole lot back in return.

Exoprimal is by no means a terrible game, but it just doesn't reach the heights that you'd expect when you hear about its premise. It's a mixed bag, but if you are looking for a new multiplayer experience and can withstand the Dino Survival mode, perhaps it's the game for you.

Formula Legends is a charming little racing game, and we hope that 3D Clouds will balance the game a little after launch, because if those things fall into place, we have a quite competent and quite challenging little arcade racer on our hands here.

For a game that you can snag at a reasonable price tag of of £17, there's plenty that Quarantine Zone: The Last Check does right, so if you find yourself somewhat curious as to whether you have what it takes to man a screening checkpoint, then you won't go too wrong with this game.

Although the journey felt a little too tiring towards the end and the game does not really engage with new game elements and fairly simple game mechanics, I still have to conclude by saying that I had quite a lot of fun all the way throughout. It would have taken quite a bit of polish to make this a masterpiece, but I still have to say that despite the modest score, it's a bit of a surprise of the year for me. Sure, in retrospect, it's one of those gaming experiences that I will hardly think back on, but I still had a surprisingly fun time during this journey.

Apart from a few minor glitches, mostly concerning how Storage works, it's a well-functioning game in its genre. It may be too simple for some, but if you are looking for a cosy and relaxing game to sit and warm yourself with on dark evenings, perhaps together with your partner, then Winter Burrow is a pretty good bet.

Even if you think that this should do well in VR and take advantage of all the possibilities of the format, it does not feel particularly fun.

The core of Crash Team Rumble is a lot of fun with an engaging concept, cool-looking levels, thrilling score-chases and heart-pounding chaos unfolding on the screen. The problem is that this isn't enough when there's no depth or variety in there to keep it engaging for more than an hour or two.

Tron: Catalyst feels like a concept brimming with promise—a narrative twist here, a combat mechanic there—but it fumbles the execution. I'll admit, my anticipation may have made the fall feel harder than the game truly deserves. Still, too much feels off: from storytelling to traversal to tone, everything leans toward flat and cold.

As it stands right now, the game is one that does act as a solid introduction to Warhammer Age of Sigmar, the RTS genre, or both. A great look, decent battles, and plenty of customisation make the Realm of Beasts inviting despite it not being the perfect holiday destination.

I would have loved to have enjoyed my time with Raccoo Venture more than I did, because we need good old platform games like we saw in the 1990s, but Raccoo Venture never quite gets there.

Possessor(s) offers an interesting touch on an established Metroidvania formula, but in my opinion it's best played in shorter sessions. In addition to a story that is slowly unravelled through memories and flashbacks in the main characters' shared inner lives where it's anything but black and white, a message is also conveyed about commerce and obsession where even demons are not allowed to be left alone as raw materials without being exploited and extracted. It's a bit tragic to see the developer hit with layoffs just before launch after three years of development, something that hopefully does not affect the planned improvements that have been promised. It deserves to be played by those who have no problems with a little challenge within the layout where the controls could also have been a little tighter, but where it ultimately demonstrates in a creative way that pride comes before a fall.

Right now, the game is sorely lacking in content, but if they expand the number of playable monsters (its Pokédex), introduce more mechanics such as Terastallising, Gigantamax, or even the long-forgotten Z-Moves, it could offer greater variety. The question is how much of the (surely massive) player base will remain by then. Right now, it's all about the novelty and the fact it's free, but once everyone's had a go, will there be more than just the hardcore fanbase left? We'll see. For now, Pokémon Champions is a good introduction for new players, but the seasoned veterans will surely feel that something is missing.

If you're a big fan of puzzle-platformers, Once Upon a Puppet might be an okay experience - others should probably avoid this otherwise unique theatre adventure.

Agatha Christie - Death on the Nile is a cosy murder mystery to curl up on the couch with on a chilly autumn evening under a cuddly blanket with a hot cup of cocoa and a messy toast sandwich. It's a lovely break from fast-paced games where the heart is constantly pumping like a sledgehammer in the chest and the pulse is alarmingly high.

Despite all the criticism, I wouldn't really go as far as to say that the game sucks, but it has a lot of untapped potential and unfortunately never really bites. [Meta Quest]

Black Ops 7 might be just what you've been looking for. Maybe the frantic pace will appeal to you after the much more heavy-handed alternatives from competitors on the market, maybe the chaos will take shape as a challenge, an Everest that you and your friends must climb. Fair enough. For me, though? I think this feels miscalibrated.

It’s fun to kill a few hours and hack your way through the underworld but it is hardly something I will return to.

This game is teetering on the edge of something you think is pretty cool, with the daily loop of police work, otherwise you'll drop it pretty quickly as it simply gets too boring.

Park Beyond isn't a genre-changing game, but it's a fun sideshow that isn't as serious as other games. You can tell it's designed to be fun and a little bit silly in a good way.

The investigations are good and the story isn't bad either, and being a title aimed at young Pokémon investigators, Detective Pikachu Returns offers a good introduction to games of this type.

Echoes of the End is an ambitious game with some really good ideas and a beautiful presentation, but also with technical issues and design flaws that detract from the experience. I would actually recommend it, but only if you can wait for a few updates.

Star Overdrive largely feels like a good demo of a great game. There are some really strong core elements like the hoverboard travel, the mysterious story, and the visual style, but these are equally countered by the negatives. The sandbox structure of Star Overdrive seems to work against it, only serving to hide the positives and make the lifeless map and combat stick out like a bit of green in its red and tan world.

I have mixed feelings about AEW: Fight Forever. It's really fun to play and it's top-notch arcade wrestling when everything works in the ring, but unfortunately that doesn't always mean it's not pretty devoid of content.

This game is aimed at the more old-school role-players out there, and if you remember and loved Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Dragon Age: Origins, then you'll probably like Greedfall: The Dying World. However, the game never really grabbed me. I really loved the beautiful world, which drew me in time-and-time-again, but it was difficult to get started (a boring tutorial of 3+ hours is simply too much) and, basically, only half of the combat system really works.

This is certainly a piece of gaming history, but considering how mediocre Chronicles is and how bad The Angel of Darkness is, I have a hard time seeing how this can be a blockbuster.

I will now put Phantom Fury on the shelf for a few months to return later this summer, when Slipgate Ironworks will hopefully have had time to balance the experience and improve the feel of the relatively substantial arsenal of weapons that the game presents. Because there is undeniably a lot to be impressed, amazed and entertained by here, even if it is in a relatively unpolished form at the time of writing.

One issue that Minabo may face is that, beyond its amusing names based on spanish jokes, and what I'm sure has been the most effective marketing campaign in the history of Spanish game development, people may not take it seriously.

Jackbox Games didn't get it 100% right with its first Party Pack, and it didn't do the same with the first Naughty Pack. But, from lessons learned ten Party Packs later, it has managed to make a solid addition to its party line-up that lets you get wild without becoming uncomfortable.

I can't help but feel like this prequel has lost some of the charm of the series by deviating so drastically at times and for that reason I don't feel as though Mile 0 lives up to its predecessor.

Gigantic: Rampage Edition is a fun third-person shooter MOBA mix, but its ability to leave a lasting impression will vary. Its matchmaking is quick and full of action, but a lack of depth can often make games feel repetitive, when the key to a good multiplayer game is usually having repetitive mechanics but making each match feel unique.

While I appreciate its basic and gimmick-free gameplay, it feels a little too sparse. A little more depth to the game would have been nice. But if you want a cosy metroidvania that cleverly ties into gaming history thanks to Pac-Man and is no longer than you can manage on your holiday, it's definitely worth checking out.

If you're craving a shot of Resident Evil right here and now, you can get some entertaining hours out of BrokenLore Unfollow. But personally, I'd rather wait for Resident Evil 9 to come out. BrokenLore Unfollow feels mostly like a mediocre copy of better games.

If you are a newcomer to gaming and open-world games, then Outbound is a reasonable first recommendation for you to play. It's simplistic, low-stakes, cosy camping fun with accessible puzzles and foraging elements that are even better experienced as a multiplayer game.

This game isn't bad per se, and now that it's available on both Game Pass and PlayStation Plus, it's really worth giving it half an hour to see if it clicks. But at the same time, it's yet another story of a single-player studio making a multiplayer project, but failing to convey the energy, ambition, and flair that created the studio's unique reputation in the first place.

Steel Seed is an exciting attempt to take on the big boys in the stealth-action genre. It doesn't quite reach the level of Uncharted or The Last of Us, but it doesn't need to. It's charming, fun, and at times quite cool, and while there's a bit of technical jank and a few rusty screws in combat and controls, the good parts outweigh the bad to make it all worthwhile. I hope the developers are allowed to build on this universe, because with a little more money and a little more polish, the next game in the series could be something really special.

Still, the combination of smooth graphics, detailed modeling, and authentic audio does make aerial combat feel electrifying, wind howling in your ears as your guns punch holes into enemy fighters under a clear sky. Experiences like this are rare enough that it's worth climbing into the cockpit, as long as your stomach can handle the turbulence.

The lack of content is worrying and desperate at times, and I'm unsure how or even if Unbroken can shake up the formula and introduce something fresh to keep people returning to this game hour-after-hour. It's a fantastic Wizarding World adaptation and a brilliant take on Quidditch, but that's all it is.

It's a story that will give you a few hours of fun, but won't be too memorable either.

God of War: Sons of Sparta is an underwhelming experience. I had expected more solid craftsmanship and a lot more flair from the first spinoff since 2010. But Mega Cat Studios, Barlog and Santa Monica shouldn't lose heart, because the idea is good enough. I just expected more from the execution.

Lunar Lander Beyond struggles to entertain and engage the player, mostly due to the fact that the core and base gameplay feels outdated and sluggish. While we can all thank Lunar Lander for being the predecessor to Asteroids, in the year 2024 that unfortunately doesn't make me want to play or dive back into this game any more.

I think we should all reflect on the situation of this type of video game. We see too many similarities between them, and that is understandable; it has always happened in all artistic disciplines. But with animatronic or semi-humanoid doll games, since the release of FNAF, we have seen how they have become a kind of golden goose: a resource to cling on to when you want to develop a horror project. And I think we have lost a bit of the essence of the genre that characterised great titles, be they video games or other audio-visual products. Silent Hill, Amnesia, among others that may come to mind, played with the psychological component, seeking to unsettle the player beyond the simple scare. Today, on the other hand, a few jumpscares are enough. Finding Frankie is a victim of this current moment. Surely the studio has good ideas for future projects, and it's always better to hope that the next title will surpass it. But we need a paradigm shift for the horror mainstream to make another 180-degree turn.

I'm glad I finally got the opportunity to indulge in the fourth instalment of this beloved game series even though it really feels like it's old at its core, with the problems from that era of messy game mechanics and frustrating backtracking clearly shining through.

What we ultimately have here, what you're being asked to invest in, is the cover band version of Ad Astra. It's a gaming experience that feels as though it's been held together with duct tape, and only in fleeting moments does the narrative emerge that made me forget these otherwise obvious shortcomings. It's a shame, and I take no pleasure in sending a talented studio back to the drawing board, but I cannot recommend Aphelion, not even to those who pick it up "for free" via Game Pass. It simply isn't worth your time.

If Savage Level can improve how this game feels to play, reducing some of the irritable frustrations, then I do believe that Flint: Treasure of Oblivion can entertain for its short duration. But as it stands, especially for players on console or intending to use a controller on PC, there's simply too much to be desired from this game as of the moment.

Forspoken is fun to play most of the time, but it's a damn shame that the game's remaining elements eagerly attempt to ruin that enjoyment at every turn.

The storyline is compelling, the art style striking, the gameplay systems simplistic, and the performance so accessible that you could probably run this game on a burner phone. It's these strengths in mind that make me disappointed that the game can be such a frustration to actually play, because the movement and the rigidness of the deduction suite dramatically impact the amount of fun you can have while playing Chronique des Silencieux.

The lack of depth makes Warlander a solid but ultimately forgettable experience, and if Toylogic wants this game to be a success in the months and potentially years to come, it's going to need a significant amount of changes.

Among other roguelikes, I can't say that Dust & Neon stands out in any way, as it relies on its charming theme and aesthetics while unfortunately never being particularly entertaining to actually play.

This is not a game for both children and childish adults, unlike the Lego games, which are great for both. Goosebumps: Terror in Little Creek is simply too simple to be entertaining for adults as well. But if you have someone at home who loves the Goosebumps series, this game could be a good joint project in front of the screen, now that it's slowly getting colder and darker - and scarier - outside.

I don't think Skull and Bones is as rotten as some of the other live service games we've seen in the past. Assuming it survives a few years, the addition of a variety of new content can work in favour of this game, filling out its world and making the experience less dreary and repetitive. There are core elements that work and show lots of potential, but right now Ubisoft hasn't given them much of a leg to stand on as everything around them is poor and not befitting the standard of what you'd expect from a AAA production.

Admittedly, the game is definitely not for the faint-hearted, who don't like being as powerless as Katja is at the beginning, but if you like exquisite dystopian horror atmosphere, then this is one of the best games in the genre since Alien Isolation, in my opinion. In any case, I was on the edge of my seat the whole way through.

There was a nerve to explore, but instead we get slapdash jump scares that fool no one. It's a shame, because the game is really nice at times, but never quite becomes anything more at any point. Therefore, I cannot in good conscience recommend Bad Cheese to anyone, except perhaps for a quick look at the aesthetics.

I want nothing more than to like Alone in the Dark, in fact it was one of my more anticipated games of March, but the more time I've spent with this game, the harder it has become to do so. Sure, updates and fixes will address the performance issues and perhaps even fine tune and improve the enemies, combat, and ammo economy, but there are more significant core elements that require more work with this game.

The Stone of Madness is not made for everyone, or maybe not everyone is made for The Stone of Madness. But out there, among the masses, there are some people who are made for this game, and they will go crazy for it.

Beyond the shrine copies, though, I lack the real drive to want to keep playing. The cheap framing means that there's no spontaneous joy of discovery and the skill tree never fundamentally changes the battles; but at the end of the day, pure knock-off copies like Kaku: Ancient Seal aren't designed to be very good. It's enough that they're just good enough to keep the grandchild from crying on Christmas Eve and to keep the grandmother confident enough to buy games in the future.

I love the concept of this game and I think it has potential for the future, there are just simply too many areas that all work against each other for God of Rock to be able to stand tall on its own right now.

The story is strong, the characters are good, and the atmosphere gets better the longer you play. The two games are very similar. The first was messy but beloved, and the same can be said about the sequel. It has its flaws, especially in the combat system, but it also has soul and charm. If you can look past the technical flaws and focus on the story and the abilities instead, this is a refreshing breath of fresh air in the genre.

That "make or break" statement from the developers really made it seem like we were going to see something very special, which we haven't. Some prettier animations and smarter quarterbacks don't save this from being an okay game at best.

It's passable, all the way through. The matches are okay in terms of entertainment value, the game feel is okay and the developers have done a decent job of building their own hero party based on the fact that Blizzard is behind, but there is also a lack of intrinsic value here and given that they have borrowed so freely from Paladins, Overwatch and even Lawbreakers and thus failed to build their own identity, there is no reason for me to continue playing - when I can continue to enjoy the originals instead.

Reigns: The Witcher is just more Reigns. If you still find this gameplay formula fun and entertaining, there's a lot to love, but if you think it could use a more significant overhaul, this instalment won't exactly impress you much more than the other highly similar chapters did.”

All in all, Wreckreation is an arcade racing game that takes good advantage of the "creation" part but does less well when it comes to actually competing and driving. After cruising around the large map and discovering most of it, playing with the objects at my disposal, I've parked my car for good and don't regret doing so.

Just as the game itself is half-finished, this text is a bit like that too. There is also content that I didn't even get to experience, and even though it's a game that was started by one person, it has still been under development for such a long time that such a big game-breaking bug shouldn't be able to happen. The positive thing about all this is that there is still something worth experiencing, and I will continue the adventure all the way to the end once it's fixed.

Sniper Elite VR: Winter Warrior mixes a solid campaign with some fun setpieces that feel just like the thrilling experience of the traditional game. Yet, with some clunky controls and visuals that often feel more okay than anything else, it can't fully reach its greatest heights.

Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections does a half-hearted job of celebrating both Naruto's 20th anniversary as an anime and 15 years of the Ninja Storm series.

Although the game plays well, it can really only be seriously recommended for gamers who want to get a taste of the Soulslike genre and since it's sold at a fairly low price, it may be the best place to start your journey into a demanding genre.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League has fundamental design issues everywhere you look. This is a case of Rocksteady making the wrong decisions from the outset, and while they've executed their vision with technical sophistication and attention to detail, make no mistake; Suicide Squad is polished and 'gorgeous,' but scratch the surface and give it more than 30 minutes and it all falls apart.

Kong: Survivor Instinct is not a great video game, but it also isn’t a disaster. There are elements and moments where you become quite embroiled in the story and fall into the rhythm of the platforming, and this is bolstered by the fact that it’s quite a tight and streamlined experience lasting around four-to-five hours if you attempt to find everything. You don’t play this game and feel offended and cheated, as was the case with last year’s Skull Island or even at times with the recent The New Empire film, but at the same time, there’s not a lot here that stands out and really impresses. It’s a simplistic and budgeted offer based on one of the most expensive and lucrative franchises in entertainment, and that’s it.

In its present state, it largely lacks polish and this overshadows a lot of what it gets right in terms of giving players a rich tool set and freedom in how heists are approached.

Bye Sweet Carole is a game that you should come to solely for the story and the wonderful art direction. It's a fascinating idea with great potential, but the execution of this title and how it's fundamentally structured as a video game could be benefitted by a return to the chalk board.

Neon Blood's short running time is an advantage because there is not enough content and ideas to fill more hours of entertainment. However, I wish Chaotic Brain had chosen to give the story more weight and a darker tone. They never managed to engage me and it feels like they themselves were lost and didn't really know in which direction they wanted to take the adventure.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is without a doubt the lowest point in this rebooted Modern Warfare series, and one of (if not the) lowest points in the series altogether, but that's not just because of the limited and rushed content, it's also because Call of Duty as a whole has become a user nightmare.

Everything in Wanted: Dead is over-the-top. It's clichéd, it's deliberately preposterous and a clear nod to a bygone era. A frequently frustrating experience that requires constant full focus, and due to the brutal difficulty level it won't suit everyone but for those of us who have long dreamed of a resurrected Ryu Hayabusa, it's a gift from heaven.

I do believe that Hellboy Web of Wyrd largely succeeds in being a faithful title to the franchise. However, this is down to its story, visuals, and performances, rather than the gameplay loop, which is a real problem for a roguelite.

Right now, Nintendo feels like they're in a bit of a Kinect era with the Nintendo Switch 2. Trying out everything with fancy new tools like mouse controls and Game Chat, but not really knowing how to actually make these features into compelling game mechanics. Drag x Drive is unfortunately an experiment that hasn't nearly gone wild enough, and will be the subject of a tricky quiz question in a few years' time.

There are elements of this expansion that are excellent and true highlights for the future of Destiny 2, but there is so much surrounding them that generates no joy whatsoever.