A textbook example of how to make a game based on a sensitive topic. If Syrian refugee Nour and her husband Majd simply jumped out of the app they’re using to communicate with each other, I wouldn’t even be surprised. I will never forget our world seen through their eyes.

Crimes & Punishments is blessed with the very pretty graphics but also with the new gameplay – it is centered around your freedom to investigate, which is quite possibly for the first time in the series that you may experience the weight of your own decisions.

If you allow it, Grow Home will wrap you around its finger. An unusual platformer from the Ubisoft studio can charm with visuals, entertain and -thanks to its precisely set length- it can’t start boring you. The purity of design and old-school approach makes it an ideal candidate for the one or two night’s company.

Mario Kart 8 is offering a great deal of racing on well-designed tracks, and the game is sure-footed especially in its multiplayer. Don't expect anything revolutionary, expect "just" great fun.

Anno 117: Pax Romana sends the city-building series into the Roman era with elegance, meticulous attention to detail, and stunning audiovisual design. The captivating rhythm of construction is only occasionally disrupted by technical issues and overly aggressive AI. Even so, it stands as a worthy successor – one that makes it easy to lose track of time.

Without a doubt this is the best Call of Duty game in recent years. Flawless movie-like single-player, fun and fantastic multiplayer which is everything but boring. Although the game didn't deliver the promised revolution visible progress has been achieved.

Gripping horror adventure game excels in amazing sounds, music and visuals. Although the originality of the story won´t take your breath away, the game will succeed with its atmosphere and touchy experience. Try it, you won´t regret.

Thanks to the audiovisual improvements Homeworld over-shines its modern competitors even in the year 2015. The remastered version has yet few mistakes that do not always stem from the game’s age. However, it's still a great game and fun, so those few mistakes can’t ruin your experience.

Finally, once again a case where the long wait paid off. Scorn did not disappoint, but mainly brought audiovisual porn for fans of a specific art style. There is not so much playing in it, but I can still warmly recommend a visit to this virtual world.

Pessimists constantly gripe about the lack of changes in NHL 12, but they are all wrong. There are some good changes here, and these changes altogether have a great impact on its gameplay; that is to say, bigger changes wouldn't bring up the desired effect of its kind of game-continuity. We may say we are once again closer to the actual hockey experience without losing its first-rate gameplay.

A well-crafted soulslike that doesn’t reinvent the genre, but excels where it counts. The combat is sharp, visceral, and deeply satisfying, offering a solid challenge without feeling unfair. Boss fights are a definite highlight, with memorable design and mechanics. Unfortunately, the overall experience is held back by a weak story, uninspired level design, and rather monotonous environments. Still, for fans of the genre, it’s a gritty and rewarding adventure that hits most of the right notes.

Fantastic gameplay, plenty of game modes, and a substantial roster of playable characters are the main strengths of Tekken 8. The evolution is more on the cautious side, and the story mode could use some refinement. However, in the competition with last year's giants, Bandai Namco has nothing to be ashamed of.

Season: A Letter to the Future is an emotional trip full of stories you have to immortalize in your diary. You will watch, you will listen, you will sometimes utilize your creativity and you will think about many topics relevant for us all.

Dungeons of Hinterberg offers an engaging blend of action-adventure and social RPG elements with a well-balanced mix of combat, puzzles, witty conversations, and relaxation. Its only drawbacks might be the weaker sound design and potentially divisive visual style. However, it’s certainly a journey worth taking, especially with its availability on Game Pass.

Excellent action jumble of genres and play styles, which does not look that good, but all its cons are masked by its great story and unconventional narrative. Automata definitely isn’t for everyone. But if you are not afraid of the Japanese weirdness and instead of sweet tearjerkers you’d want a proper depression with philosophical questions, you won’t regret buying this game.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings a fresh, action-oriented take on the series, breathing new life into the world of Kalos with dynamic real-time battles. Lumiose City feels alive, a richly explorable environment full of secrets and meaningful interactions. While the game occasionally stumbles over minor technical issues and slight control imprecision, it ultimately delivers a captivating and thoroughly enjoyable spin-off.

SteamWorld Heist II is a sequel done right. It retains the best aspects of its predecessor—turn-based combat with precise aiming and trick shots—transports it to an appealing pirate setting, wraps it in a meaningful storyline, and adds simple world exploration with an excellent class-mixing system that could use just a bit more depth. Regardless, it's a fantastic return for a great game, appealing to both fans and newcomers alike.

Kingdom Rush has arrived on PCs as a port from mobiles, therefore it is not surprising the game is a small one. The main campaign consists of twelve levels which are replenished with another seven bonus ones after your successful completion. Therefore, with a bit of prejudice, you may finish Kingdom Rush in two evenings. However, if you take a keen interest in tower defense strategy genre, it is virtually certain that you are going to find Kingdom Rush a little pearl to which you will gladly return.

A throwback to the kind of real-time strategy games rarely made anymore, Tempest Rising nails the basics with explosive flair. While the story feels a bit formulaic and the limited choice of just two factions can grow repetitive, the core gameplay hits as hard as a heavy tank shell. Add in a striking visual style and a killer soundtrack, and you’ve got a must-play for any strategy fan who’s been craving the glory days of classic RTS.

The main draw of Sand Land is its adventure and well-written characters borrowed from the beloved source material. While their manga-like appearance might not appeal to everyone, the care and love for the original comic are evident in every move they make, complemented by excellent voice acting. However, the unfulfilled potential of the open world and the dull quest content are disappointing, only redeemed by the entertaining combat system featuring customizable vehicles. Despite these drawbacks, Sand Land is worth playing to experience its story.

A highly competent return to the era when action games were fast, precise, and demanding without constantly reminding how hard they were. More importantly, it recalls a time when such games were still plentiful. Ninja Gaiden 4 is an excellent title for fans of the genre, though a few shortcomings may keep others at bay.

Combining survival elements with looter shooter and MMORPG mechanics, Once Human takes the best from these genres to create an entertaining and functional mix. While not flawless, it captivates with its bizarre world, monster design, and gunplay. The effectiveness of the seasonal system remains to be seen, but it shows promising potential to become a multiplayer staple.

Ghost 1.0 is the top arcade in almost all of its parts. It offers thrilling action and puzzles for thinking. Game experience, which aptly follows the old times with Metroid and Castlevania. It iis just slightly crippled by unbalanced difficulty.

A great action-packed strategy game that is not taking itself serious to no avail. This one throws you straight into the waves of orcs, and you will enjoy it quite immensely regardless of the gamer's type you are: tower defense lover or action shooters fan. The only flaw I see is the absence of level editor and multiplayer – that will maybe be brought in the promised DLC.

Heading Out is one of the most bizarre genre mixes ever encountered. The racing element is fun, the comic-style narrative engaging, the graphic design simply fantastic, the road trip aspects immersive, the radio broadcasts natural and bold, the pervasive threat suitably unsettling, and the desire to figure out what’s going on is immense. It's a strange game, but it works, it's enjoyable, and it's refreshing to see someone unafraid to experiment. This time, the gamble paid off.

Europa Universalis V has a bright future ahead and the potential to become the ruler of grand strategy games. Its complexity serves as both its greatest challenge and its strongest asset. It’s unlikely to win over newcomers to the genre, but devoted map painters will undoubtedly fall in love with it. This is Paradox Interactive’s most ambitious project to date, and if the studio maintains its long-term support, it will stand without equal.

Fast-paced and extremely brutal cyberpunk smasher with excellent visuals. The higher difficulty is compensated by a wide arsenal of weapons and perks, which can be freely configured on the fly. Pity, the environment offers relatively small variability, and sometimes the clashes are just extremely confusing.

This is the newest great arcade series' installment, and since it makes use of the new Sony handheld's capabilities and controls at full throttle, it belongs among the best PlayStation Vita titles. The game has only one major flaw: short story, through which you will rush in no time.