Realms of Ruin is certainly not a bad game. With its engaging story campaign and map editor, it nods to the giants of the RTS genre. Gameplay-wise, it leans towards a simplified version of Company of Heroes, with decent graphics and everything generally working as intended. Its main shortcoming is the lack of originality and any unique, fresh ideas, which may lead to a sense of monotony during extended play.

From my perspective, buying the new installment doesn't make sense. It's particularly irrelevant for those who purchase Call of Duty once in a blue moon and desire a complete package, including an entertaining campaign and perhaps cooperative missions. Exhausted zombies don't salvage it. While the multiplayer is successful, the overall package leaves a bitter aftertaste.

After eight years, the legendary Codemasters has taken charge of the WRC brand. Unfortunately, their debut isn't as assured as one would expect from the creators of Dirt Rally. EA Sports WRC boasts a superb driving model and an enjoyable career, but there's much to criticize on the visual and technical fronts. The new systems seem more like a teaser and lack the necessary depth. Despite this, the driving experience is enjoyable, and it's certainly not something Codemasters should be ashamed of, although they are capable of much more.

Persona 5 Tactica is a bit deceiving addition to the series and rather an experiment. It's easy to get the impression that Persona loses some of its charm due to the shift to a turn-based strategy, but the series is more taking a step sideways and introspecting. Despite criticisms of the narrative and its pacing, it is more than just an entertaining venture.

A surprisingly robust culmination of a phase in the famous football series. Football Manager is gearing up for significant changes next year, but this year it has already delivered an excellent experience that addresses some of the most pressing issues. Coaching your own team on the green pitch is once again fantastic.

Super Mario RPG provides an excellent way to introduce a remarkable classic to a modern audience. Unfortunately, it doesn't go the extra mile and, in its effort to be as 1:1 as possible, occasionally feels a bit dated. However, turn-based battles with rhythmic elements remain entertaining, and the new graphical touches suit the most famous plumber and his companions well.

An incredibly addictive platformer with adorable graphics and a fantastic musical score. Its gameplay captivates newcomers and challenges experienced players alike, and if you aim to collect everything, you're in for a decent challenge.

An average survival game, with a functional but unremarkable gameplay offering nothing we haven't seen repeatedly elsewhere. It fails to captivate through its story or combat, with its only real strength lying in the immersive environment and the portrayal of the Lord of the Rings lore. This means that if you're not interested in Tolkien's world, Return to Moria isn't worth your attention.

Truck Driver: The American Dream teased an Unreal Engine 5-powered, narrative-driven trucking game, only to unveil an unenjoyable arcade experience with highly frustrating road traffic, uninteresting chatter, and audiovisual elements that fall short of both the chosen engine's capabilities and the standards of current consoles. At a significant discount, it might temporarily satisfy the appetite for console trucking, but don't expect much beyond that.

Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged takes the very solid core of its predecessor and adds a plethora of smaller changes, making it feel fresh. The updates make racing even more challenging, strategic, and thrilling, with the track editor standing out as one of the best in the genre. It's a shame about the imbalanced difficulty, the element of chance in obtaining new vehicles, and the lack of truly groundbreaking innovations. Nevertheless, it remains a highly entertaining racing arcade, a rarity in the genre.

The Man Who Erased His Name will be most enjoyed by seasoned fans of the Like a Dragon series and Kazuma Kiryu. It may not be as lengthy or unpredictable as other installments, but that's not necessarily a drawback. Primarily, it serves as a satisfying prelude to Infinite Wealth.

The Master Collection stays afloat solely because the first five Metal Gear games remain superbly playable and timeless even after two decades. However, the minimal effort put into archiving and bringing these legendary espionage thrillers to modern platforms resulted in an incoherent collection riddled with technical glitches and perplexing unfinished elements.

Cocoon is a confidently crafted and impressively detailed puzzle game. It isn't afraid to let you explore and figure things out, rewarding your efforts with unparalleled satisfaction. The fantastic visual design and beautiful soundtrack complement the experience. While you might not be left gaping at plot twists during the credits, you'll undoubtedly sit back with a profoundly content feeling, knowing you've cleverly solved it all. That's precisely what I expect from a puzzle-centric game.

Punch Club 2: Fast Forward might deter you with two things – significant grinding and the fact that the sequel doesn't stray far from the original. However, grinding is integral to this game, and the first installment worked beautifully. The sequel also boasts a futuristic setting, consistently great humor, polished audiovisuals, and intriguing stories. If you're looking for something to sink your teeth into this busy year or simply want to unwind with a game, Punch Club 2 will keep you entertained.

Jusant is a meditative gem that allows you to savor both the tranquility and the beauty of the surroundings, as well as the adrenaline rush of scaling high cliffs. It captivates with its beauty, mystery, and exploration, instilling an unwavering desire to climb higher until the very last ledge. It's just a shame that the metaphorical summit didn't reach the lofty heights that may have seemed possible through the misty clouds.

A fantastic adaptation of the cult action classic that is sure to ignite the enthusiasm of any fan of the cybernetic law enforcer, Alex Murphy. RoboCop: Rogue City is an excellent shooter infused with robust RPG elements and adventure, where your decisions shape the narrative. Despite occasional rough graphics, it's a superb homage to the films, and, moreover, it's an absolute blast to play.

El Paso, Elsewhere will be a nostalgic journey for many, reminiscent of a time when action games were refreshingly straightforward. Its unique noir-supernatural setting and action sequences filled with slow-motion and flying bullets are engaging. The story keeps you glued to the screen, but the game struggles with a lack of variety. Just a pity that the artificial intelligence leaves much to be desired in the intelligence department.

Heretic's Fork takes well-established mechanics and blends them to create a highly refreshing and addictive game. This deckbuilding with a twist spins a devilish web around a rather ordinary tower defense concept, all under the veil of humor and a distinctive aesthetic. It's a fantastic indie gem that will keep you hooked for quite a while.

Ghostrunner 2 is incredibly addictive and entertaining, honoring its predecessor. Most changes are for the better, but there are a few alterations that don't quite harmonize with the overall feel of the game. Nevertheless, Ghostrunner 2 undoubtedly earns its place among the best action games of the year. The second installment is a resounding success.

A mysterious detective tale filled with bizarre moments and occasionally overly convoluted storytelling. However, it oozes personality and charisma by the gallons. Remedy crafts their peculiar universe on a solid foundation, resulting in a fantastic and original game. It's just not for everyone.

A superb bite-sized experience with an excellent combat system, enchanting graphics, and fantastic flamenco-infused music. En Garde! oozes humor, its fencing duels are action-packed and truly satisfying. Regrettably, it falls short in terms of its relative brevity, simplistic platforming, and uninteresting storyline.

Hellboy: Web of Wyrd is unequivocally the best Hellboy title to date. It's captivating, featuring an intriguing world and a narrative that pays homage to the universe crafted by Mike Mignola. However, the slow and monotonous combat system significantly hinders the game's overall appeal.

An adequate port of a classic that will mostly delight fans. Gothic still shines brilliantly after twenty years, thanks to its story, atmosphere, and open world. It's a pity that the abysmal combat system didn't receive an overhaul, and it still falls short on the technical side.

Cities: Skylines II bears a striking resemblance to its predecessor, but the developers have significantly deepened, expanded, and improved its mechanics in almost every aspect. While it currently offers slightly less content, its foundation is as solid as a rock, and from a gameplay perspective, we are treated to an outstanding city-building strategy experience. Unfortunately, the overall enjoyment and impression are mercilessly shattered by the dismal technical state.

Playing Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a pure joy. This triumphant return to the franchise's 2D platforming origins showcases Mario and his companions in their best form. Wonder artfully blends nostalgic elements from earlier titles with tasteful innovations, resulting in a harmonious fusion that's virtually foolproof and won't get old easily.

A fantastic pocket-sized turn-based strategy game that you can play almost endlessly thanks to its rich content. Wargroove 2 captivates with its beautiful design, new mechanics, and an excellent roguelite Conquest mode. While I might opt for more complex strategies on PC, it's definitely among the gems on Switch.

We'll still have to wait for successors to giants like Medieval II or Rome II, but even so, Pharaoh is the best attempt at a historical Total War since Attila, despite borrowing many systems from Warhammer or Saga-labeled titles. Add an extra point if you have an affinity to ancient Egypt and can be satisfied with two or three completed campaigns. On the other hand, if you expect extensive entertainment for hundreds of hours or units that rival the fantasy branch of the series in diversity, you may soon start to get bored with Pharaoh.

Spider-Man 2, unlike its protagonists, remains grounded in terms of innovations and doesn't swing the series forward. It stands on a very solid foundation, subtly tweaking it, usually in the right direction, and tells a story that, while lacking in surprise, remains quite enjoyable. It's once again a great action adventure, but next time, the series would really benefit from a more significant shift.

A breath of fresh air into the stagnant genre and a big surprise. Lords of the Fallen is an example of a game into which a lot of love and carefully thought-out ideas have clearly poured. The result exceeded my expectations.

At its core, a rather likable and enjoyable adventure game marred by exceptionally low difficulty levels and unimaginative gameplay. The lackluster audio-visual elements further compound its shortcomings. The overall presentation resembles a dated attempt at a children's detective story, catering exclusively to a kids' audience.

A fun and great simcade with an unrivaled fleet of cars, lively artificial intelligence of opponents and an excellent driving model. Although Forza Motorsport does not push the bar of racing games graphically and technologically, it basically has no rivals on its platforms.

A new Fate, a new era, fresh gameplay, but familiar concepts. The epic story, as if borrowed directly from an anime, is enhanced by outstanding music and voice acting. It's regrettable that the boss battles lack depth, and encounters with standard enemies could be shorter. Nevertheless, Fate/Samurai Remnant does justice to its renowned name.

EA Sports FC 24 represents yet another safe, conservative continuation of a well-established formula. For those willing to invest time and enthusiasm into Ultimate Team, it promises year-round entertainment. However, it's challenging to make a compelling argument for offline players to not miss it this year. The football gaming scene is still in desperate need of a fierce competitor for EA's franchise.

Sea of Stars is a heartfelt homage to classic JRPGs, and beyond its nostalgic appeal, it stands as a commendable game in its own right. It boasts a tightly woven linear narrative, endearing characters, and a sophisticated combat system. For enthusiasts of the JRPG genre, diving into the celestial sea of stars will be an unequivocal delight, but even if the genre doesn't typically captivate your interest, a hearty recommendation is still warranted. Brimming with emotional depth, oscillating between moments of joy and sorrow, and infused with a spirit of hope and adventure, this game is a must-try.

Payday 3 tries really hard, but good intentions alone can't guarantee a fun experience. While many individual elements may seem appealing in terms of audio and visuals, as a whole it just doesn't deliver as it should.

A return to the past with all the pros and cons that go with it, but also a mixture of mechanisms that don't always go well with each other. If you're longing for assassins that used stealth as a prim, you've come to the right place; however, don't expect a novelty that could surpass the older parts of the series.

Unsurprisingly, to fully appreciate it, The Expanse: A Telltale Series requires you to be a fan of both Telltale Games' narrative-driven format and The Expanse series or books. It faithfully captures the essence that drew to the original, even though gameplay innovations are scarce.

Dune: Spice Wars masterfully translates the intricate conflict for Arrakis to the gaming screen, delivering an engaging experience while it lets you delve into conquesting new territories, political machinations within the Landsraad, CHOAM share trading, and forging unexpected alliances. Despite the absence of a significant story campaign and stupid AI, it still offers an addictive strategic journey that can easily make you lose track of time.

Separate Ways kicks off in style and doesn't let up until the end. A great addition that should have been part of the game from the beginning, but for its price pays off many times over.

Mortal Kombat 1 is a job well done, but falls short of fully embracing its reboot. While the narrative restart shines, the gameplay cautiously treads familiar ground, occasionally even regressing. Nevertheless, it offers an enjoyable and accessible action experience that's just as visually stunning as it is entertaining to play.

An online team-based shooter that completely overlooks the potential of VR. Firewall Ultra provides a somewhat shallow experience, with matchmaking times often exceeding the actual gameplay, and meager rewards. Despite the relatively limited library of PS VR2, there are better titles available.

An engaging arcade racer with a wealth of colorful and enjoyable content, The Crew Motorfest slots itself among the great and undemanding racing games. With its satisfying driving model and diverse vehicle selection, it provides countless hours of fun.

An evocative portrayal of the horrors of the First World War, Ad Infinitum manages to intriguingly delve into novel themes of post-traumatic stress disorder, psychosis, and family trauma, despite its monotonous gameplay, which often feels like a repetition of narrative horror films that have come before it.

We Were Here Expeditions: The FriendShip serves as a spin-off from the main series, presenting an experience that can be completed in a single evening. This two-hour adventure encompasses three meticulously crafted puzzles that intricately rely on cooperation between two players. A noteworthy addition is the introduction of a commendable achievement system, which, ideally, will find its way into the main series too. Whether obtained for free, making it an irresistible experience, or acquired at the cost of a full-price movie ticket, The FriendShip undoubtedly delivers substantial value and engaging content.

A well-executed take on Soulslike genre, which draws inspiration from various sources while also incorporating its own unique elements into the mix. It stands out as a technically excellent and visually stunning game that holds its own in this eventful year.

The first and only expansion for Cyberpunk 2077 easily justifies its existence with its captivating espionage plot. The invitation to return to Night City is simply hard to refuse. It doesn't just offer more of the same; with its attention to detail, story, and the multitude of ways to handle every situation, it can be ranked on par with both expansions for The Witcher 3.

Diving into the depths of Under The Waves unveils an immersive underwater world brimming with captivating exploration, atmospheric density, and an emotionally charged narrative. However, the overall execution appears as if the creators were assembling the Titan submarine – a touch rough around the edges. Technical imperfections disrupt the illusion of seamless immersion, and the redundant crafting along with its narrative inconsistency simply break the spell at times. Yet, it undeniably possesses a certain charm underneath.

Ship Graveyard Simulator 2 stands as a commendable addition to the quirky simulator genre, offering gratifying ship dismantling and skill enhancement that will immerse you in hours of tranquil gameplay. While its repetitive nature leaves room for improvement, the overall meditative experience remains worthwhile.

An outstanding action-packed ride with superb pacing and delightful gameplay. While it may occasionally torment, most of the time it simply captivates and fulfills. Above all, FromSoft has demonstrated its versatility with Armored Core VI, proving it a studio capable of transcending genre boundaries.

A fast-paced, relentlessly brutal, and visually vibrant shooter that excels in diversity while occasionally succumbing to its inherent repetitiveness. With its wide arsenal of combat skeletons and a plethora of perks to mix and match, this cyberpunk dream demands constant adaptation. Before the looming specter of monotony takes hold, it offers countless hours of exhilarating entertainment.

Moving Out 2 doesn't try to reinvent the wheel (or the couch, fridge, or wardrobe, for that matter), but it confidently enters the relatively niche realm of physics-based couch co-op games. Unlike its characters, it stands on solid ground, delivering hours of fun within masterfully designed levels. However, it's worth noting that not all of its content may suit your preferences, potentially causing frustration rather than enjoyment. In such cases, you can take advantage of its numerous accessibility options to tailor the challenge to your desired level of fun.

Despite a few awkward design choices, Immortals of Aveum remains a fundamentally enjoyable shooter. Its captivating environment, intriguing setting, engaging exploration, and appealing music all contribute to its charm. However, the journey to reach the top ranks is marred by its disappointing framerate, numerous bugs, and the game's tendency to play it overly safe.

Had it not been for the initial instability during its release and the somewhat less seamless dimension transitions compared to the PS5 version, I would unquestionably give it a perfect score. Nevertheless, I sincerely hope that every PC gamer gets the chance to enjoy this thrilling joy ride.

Gord had the potential to be an enjoyable survival builder, but alas, it fell short in several key areas. Its narrative was lacking, gameplay felt repetitive, and the choices offered often seemed devoid of meaning. As a player, you found yourself excessively concerned with tasks that were typically automated in other games. Perhaps the most captivating aspect of Gord was its folklore, yet regrettably, the campaign failed to fully explore and leverage this rich narrative backdrop.

Starfield is an unrivaled large and comprehensive space opera. Although it plays too much like Bethesda's previous games and the exploration of the planets is boring, it entertains with interesting stories and looks truly otherworldly.

Classic RPG done to perfection. Greatly written, full of living characters, incredibly free, supported by excellent mechanics taken from Dungeons & Dragons. Sometimes it throws too much at you, other times it doesn't quite keep up, but even so it's a groundbreaking, unforgettable success and a definite candidate for game of the year.

Gylt is a horror game for kids - sometimes too much horror, sometimes too much for kids. It borrows plenty of ideas from its predecessors and combines them into something that certainly isn’t in any way original, but it is at least fun. It’s also pleasingly short.

A brilliant story-driven adventure bordering on a visual novel. It’s excellent at setting up its world and characters, the mysteries are compelling, the voice acting very good and the story explodes into a stunning finale. But it’s also a very repetitive game which doesn’t respect the player’s time. And there are a few too many sexual innuendos.

A stark reminder of the fact that this genre has been standing still for the last 20 years. Are you tired of all the Animal Crossings and Stardew Valleys? You’re not going to find anything new here. Otherwise, welcome to the farm!

A sci-fi adventure in which you’re trying to find an alien substance on seemingly abandoned planets. The graphics are amazing, as is the soundtrack and the atmosphere. The puzzles feel akin to escape room games, varied and interactive. And there’s even some shooting!

Darkest Dungeon 2 is so different from its predecessor. A true roguelike with only one significant problem: The creators should learn how to explain things better. It’s also rather long for the content it provides. But the combat is great, the graphics beautiful, the narrator splendid.

A complex, rich game full of secrets and the joy of their discovery. It offers freedom, replayability, difficult yet engaging combat. The passive skills aren’t great and enemies appearing behind your back can get annoying, but there’s only one true drawback: poor optimization.

Pretty colours, smell of spice, they couldn’t dull my senses enough to not notice all of Venba’s imperfections. The characters aren’t very nice, the conversations tend to say nothing of substance, the story never reaches the required depths. But it’s short enough for it to be a cute visit of Indian culture and cuisine.

Dave the Diver is a surprisingly excellent game. Its beautiful pixel art is joined by plenty of activities, not very deep, but fun all the same. The weird underwater world is charming and invites discovery. The characters are interesting, with memorable quests. The tempo is a bit unequal sometimes, but the game offers plenty of content nonetheless.

A school building simulator made with love and care. Its state at launch isn’t the best, however, and several aspects could’ve been deeper. Also, people looking for a challenge will leave disappointed. But the combination of fun building, charming atmosphere and adequately complex management is nice enough.

This interactive musical might seem to be just another visual novel, but that’s simply not true. It will amaze you not only through its brilliantly written characters with whom you’ll share both laugher and tears, but also through great voice acting and singing thanks to its stellar cast. The main draw is its system of interactive songs with many different variations including various genres and moods.

Blasphemous 2 has everything a proper metroidvania should have and plenty more besides. It’s properly difficult, it boasts wondrous exploration, epic bossfights and an imaginative world. So it doesn’t really matter that it’s not very different from the previous instalment.

The perfect specimen of its genre and its current undisputed king. Confident, expertly designed, beautiful and without weak points - and it implements elements of other genres in order to advance its own.

Atlas Fallen is a game from another era, and it lacks a more expressive face and more ideas to succeed. Nevertheless, it at least offers fun fights and pleasant movement around the world. But it's a bit low from experienced developers.

Bum Simulator advertised itself as something akin to a homeless person GTA, but it’s just an unoriginal, stupid game with an identity crisis, incapable of utilizing its own systems, lacking in fun and quality. There are zero reasons to spend money on this.

Dordogne is a warm, colorful game, able to send you back to your childhood years. It tells of two contrasting worlds, looking for similarities between them. The ending of the story doesn’t connect quite in the way it should, but the experience as a whole is deeply emotional and truly worth your time.

There are certainly things to enjoy in this redone version of Layers of Fear, especially its visuals and carefully constructed psychological horror elements, perfect for players willing to look for hidden connections. Its attempts to scare you fall a bit flat, however. But while the overall story of the writer is deeply disappointing, the new depressing episode, The Final Notice, is capable of true emotional destruction.

Masterplan Tycoon takes the complex automation processes from other games and minimalizes them which makes the whole experience more streamlined, accessible and dependent on your own imagination. It’s an engaging puzzle, trying to connect everything to everything else without it getting in the way. And to see the seemingly incomprehensible chains pop up beneath your hands produces a feeling of true satisfaction.

Park Beyond will certainly provide you with a few fun evenings full of crazy construction shenanigans. It’s a relaxing game and lets you be creative, more so than some of its competitors, games which concern themselves with such silly concepts as physics and its laws. But apart from that, Park Beyond doesn’t really offer anything extra. There’s not much content and the game doesn’t really feel completely finished.

Make no mistake, these bikes look great and it’s quite fun to ride them, if you can get used to the strange physics. But then you’re going to start noticing things, unfinished and unpolished, such as the environment around the track. This shouldn’t happen to a yearly franchise.

It might not look that way at first glance but this is the best Alien game in many years. It’s a strange mixture of ideas which perhaps shouldn’t work together as well as they do. We’d certainly welcome a sequel.

Farming Simulator 23 doesn’t build at all on last year’s predecessor. On the contrary, it lost many features and fans of the series should steer well clear of this. Yes, you can farm while you’re travelling, but why would you do that when the downsides are so many? It could perhaps work as a good entry point, but in that case it probably shouldn’t be so ugly.

A very pleasant surprise. It’s simple, it could even be called primitive, but it’s also perfectly crafted, a journey through blood, screams and explosions. Legends of the industry could learn a thing or two from these four Canadians.

This game fails at basically everything it’s trying to do. It’s a shallow, bare-bones experience, artificially prolonged, and you’d be best advised to ignore a lot of what it’s trying to show you. But it doesn’t really matter because you’re probably going to give up long before the disappointing end.

The Bookwalker doesn’t really manage to refresh the venerable old point-and-click genre with new systems because the new systems simply don’t work all that well. The worldbuilding and story are immensely compelling, however, and guided forward by great dialogue. The gameplay itself doesn’t have to be awesome if you tell a story such as this.

Final Fantasy XVI leaves its RPG roots behind and focuses on action gameplay… And it’s a gamble that works out very well. This is a spectacular, breathtaking game, even if it sometimes buries the good under the average.

Midnight Fight Express is a great fighting game, simple, yet varied and inventive. There’s also loads of pop culture references and a crazy story, even if the narrative loses its way a bit near the end.

Are you a business simulator aficionado and love video games? Then you’re hardly going to find better fun than Mad Games Tycoon 2. It’s full of so many possibilities that there’s hardly anything you’ll miss. The depth of the simulation is impressive and the resulting game surprisingly addictive.

Jagged Alliance 3 is an explosive return among the giants of strategy. Its turn-based firefights are unbelievably fun and addictive, the beautiful, varied maps are mall strategic puzzles. The story is strong, emphasizing your own decisions, and the whole package is basically what I always wanted as a fan.

Wildfrost feels fresh among the many roguelike card games with its focus on timing, tactics and captivating graphics.

After Us wants to comment on the dark side of consumerism, but it fails to convey its message through mediocre gameplay. Neither the story or the mechanics are satisfying enough, there are technical issues and the action feels superfluous.

The wonders of building your own railway are back. Railway Empire 2 is beautiful and addictive, and while a full sequel should perhaps offer more, it’s great fun anyway.

Miasma Chronicles tries to tell an epic story but fails. It does some things better than its predecessors, and some worse. There are slight technical issues. The combat system is fun, thankfully, as is the exploration which will be your two main activities anyway. The world is well crafted, but the protagonists are extremely annoying.

A deeply complex space strategy game in which you must build your own colony on an inhospitable planet and manage even the tiniest details. All the endings and scenarios will take you a while to discover. The weaker points are its combat system and stupid colonists.

Amnesia: The Bunker deviates from the rest of the series. This is not a linear story game, more of a semi-open world horror in which you’re hunted by a terrible beast. Once you see through the tricks, however, the illusion of fear is gone and a horrifying WWI bunker becomes just a corridor full of locked doors.

Diablo IV’s gameplay is amazing and the game is an addictive, sexy slaughter missing only more creative quests and better narrative tempo. In spite of that, the gates of Hell are as appealing as they’ve ever been.

A challenging simulator of one of the world’s most dangerous sports. Its handling is unrivalled and the game is difficult enough to truly test you. There’s not enough singleplayer content, however, and the game is not in the best of shapes, with framerate drops and other issues.

The return of the legendary game that showed that shooters are not only about the number of opponents killed. The level design, great villain, and disturbing story still work after nearly thirty years. In addition, Nightdive dressed the game in decent modern graphics with admittedly retro styling. This is what a loving remake looks like.

This is how all big brands should come back. Street Fighter 6 has content to spare, is accessible to newcomers without betraying veterans, and most of all, plays damn well.

The Last Case of Benedict Fox could have been a great game if it was more understandable, straightforward, free-flowing, focused, polished – and less frustrating. As it stands, the main draw is the audiovisual style and the mysterious setting.

The Great War: Western Front offers what are undoubtedly the best tactical battles set in World War I we’ve ever seen. It’s original and full of tense atmosphere, even if some might complain about reused battlefields and weaker graphics. There’s balancing to be done and bugs to be squashed, but I’m confident that after a few patches an already fun game will get even better.

A game that is disturbing, charming and full of spirit, all at the same time. It draws from H. P. Lovecraft and does it very well – and it also manages to stay on point, not wasting your time with anything that isn’t needed. You should make the journey, even if there are some blemishes to be found.

A wonderful story drawing from Germanic and northern folklore. It blends an innocent fairy-tale with actual horror and some completely bizarre sights. The game is short, but it manages to cram in a lot of ideas and make it all into a feast for the eyes. If only the gameplay itself reached the same lofty standards…