The problem lies in the gulf between a good game with unbelievable art, and a work of art. Cuphead gets so close to being more than a cool-looking game, but the gameplay and art style don't merge in any meaningful way. It's still worth playing, and it's still the best-looking exercise in humility and frustration that you can find on the market today.

Dragon Quest Builders II is a game that provides the tools for one to craft some fascinating and detailed fantasy creations. The story is what drew me in, however. Dragon Quest Builders II is ultimately a game about fate and whether we are bound to our natures that hearkens to lore from the early Dragon Quest stories. Although rife with annoyances, the overall experience is worth it.

In Gerda: A Flame In Winter, you have six hours to live a small but eventful life, full of contradictions and moral torment. It is the life of a person who did not participate in his own war but who understands that it will not work to stay away anyway.

Do you remember what you saw in this game? The unboxing will be no less for me than the last superhero movie I watched. Maybe I'll remember her the next time I move, or maybe even grin. I enjoyed the short time I spent with Unpacking and hope there will be more in the future.

OlliOlli: Switch Stance is a 2D skateboarding simulator that refuses to lie to its players. You will struggle and you will experience pain. It is going to be difficult, but if you can pull it off, it can be incredibly satisfying… even if the execution of such tricks involved a healthy heaping of dumb luck and/or divine intervention.

Despite the fact that Hardspace: Shipbreaker can be called a high-quality and unusual project, it is quite difficult to recommend it to everyone and everyone. This is a very peculiar simulator for diligent, it takes time before you start to get any pleasure from it. But if you really like projects that reward meticulousness and glorify the simple work of ordinary people, then you will certainly like Hardspace: Shipbreaker.

Killer Queen Black is a surprisingly superb mix of action and strategy in a 2D arena. Levels, game modes and character choices are rather limited after repeated matches, but the action and strategy are enough to keep players invested simply by having a good time. Killer Queen Black is an exceptional choice for gamers that want quick fun in a 2D space.

Planet Zoo is an incredible educational tool that also supports conservation which is worth cheering on 100%. The amount of thought given to every detail is astounding but user-interface wise Planet Zoo seems more enjoyable to watch than play especially in Career mode.

Trine 4 could’ve been one of the best puzzler-platformer titles of the year if Frozenbyte had spent more time on designing combats and injecting new mechanics and characters to the veins of the series. The new Trine approximately feels the same as previous games, so it’s a fun-to-play game, but doesn’t offer anything new.

Death's Gambit is a game that can be rough and frustrating at times in one place or another. The game takes some getting used to the style of the character as well as the graphics. Destroying enemies after a long struggle, finding a winning strategy, and finding weak points in the game is also a pleasure. It didn't hurt that the game's story was convincingly simple, with some touching moments and a touch of humor. The game took a lot from the Souls series, good or bad, but it's up to you.

Assessing the prospects of Honkai: Star Rail is quite difficult because it will be possible to compare only with the studio's previous games, or the most popular Genshin. Obviously, it will attract a sizable audience at launch due to miHoYo's general popularity and balanced style, the question is whether there will be enough content in the game to keep that audience, given the superficial combat system.

Madden 19 is much like Madden 18 before it.

Heave Ho is still a raucous good time when you are playing with others in local co-op, and for the price, it’s worth a couple of nights with friends on the couch.

VVVVVV is a retro-styled platformer packed with difficulty, but the challenge makes you want to continue playing and get the sense of accomplishment for overcoming so many challenges. The game is deceptively simple, which will help draw you in and the closely spaced checkpoints will keep you addicted to keep trying to get to the next one.

And I think that what really hinders South Park: The Fractured But Whole more than anything is the story does not take things to the epic scale the first one did. The gravitas and imperativeness of saving the entire world are not there like it was in Stick of Truth. Which is a bummer because these superhero characters were so great and this could’ve gone for a way larger scale.

It is a faithful recreation of the classic genre while telling a fresh story. The characters within have a fun sense of humor that will keep you entertained in the midst of the action. Even though the controls are not perfect, after a few hours of play, I found them less frustrating.

Dying Light: The Beast is a ghost of a great franchise, competently executed but lacking the spark that once made it special. The game lacks the pioneering audacity of the original, and lacks the narrative ambition of the sequel. It's a grind that, despite its apparent dynamism, leads nowhere. On top of all this, the game was extremely rough at release, and some of its bugs remain unfixed.

If you are looking for a game to blow up demons and add a solid FPS to your Nintendo library, look no further than Doom. It packs the entire campaign and much of the multiplayer onto a portable console, meaning that you don’t need to stop fragging just because you need to leave the house. The game’s eye candy has been reduced to match the console’s processing power, as well as feels a bit awkward using the console’s portable joy-cons rather than the pro controller. Even so, the game is worth a playthrough and hopefully a good sign of what is to come.

Atelier Lulua is a fun game to play in small spurts. It combines crafting/gathering with a decent JRPG combat system. While crafting and gathering can be tedious at times, the general concept is pretty fun.

Has all the ingredients to keep a player engaged but seems stuck in the past with game mechanics not just story-line.

The graphics are similar to games from that time period and the backgrounds, the bots, the players all look and feel really good.

Windjammers 2 is the jeep full of beach-bound hardbodies to my chubby, brooding, long-sleeved wallflower. Its mechanics, while taught in the most obtuse and uninteractive way possible, are more robust than they initially appear. It doesn't last, but it's fun while it does.

DRAW CHILLY is an incredibly creative, self-aware indie side-scroller with some amazing assets and a great premise, but it felt like it could have been just a little more.

Those willing to tolerate a dull beginning and archaic exploration for the sake of a stunning ending and deep (if imperfect) lore will have a blast in Arknights: Endfield. This is a game for fans of the Arknights universe and for those who seek narrative in gacha games, not just action. But those short on time, who aren't ready to spend time with a map on their phone and who want an engaging, advanced combat might not find what they seek. This is a game of contrasts: in some places it's brilliant, in others it falls into the abyss, but it has colossal potential. It’s worth waiting to see where it goes in the future.

A month ago you couldn't tell me that a "Bouncer RPG" would be worth playing or fun. Not Tonight: Take Back Control Edition changes that mindset. The game has some off-beat humour in its dialogue but seems to pair well with the fun, and relatively challenging, "ID check" game. If you're looking for an off-beat RPG, and you don't mind the nostalgic pixelated graphics, then look no further then Not Tonight: Take Back Control Edition!

The strength of Return to Grace lies in the writing and the incredible voice acting. The cast is made up of well-known industry talents, the cast effectively brings out each personality with great depth. Without such strong actors, A Return to Grace could have easily vanished into a sea of cautionary tales about artificial intelligence. The authors classify "Return to Grace" as science fiction in the style of the 1960s. Closer to fantasy in a sci-fi setting, with a good dose of gentle humor, with bright character and even superbly voiced characters, with simple gameplay. The most pleasant thing is to spend the evening without straining.

I’m not usually a “city-building” kind of gamer. Aside for some dalliances within a particularly in-depth RTS, or in a few of the newer survival type games. Even then, they are little more than curious dalliances. So imagine my surprise when I found this particular title pulling me in as its deceptive simplicity evolved into multi-tiered complexity and intense micromanaging capacities.

Splashteam's clear love for the allure and allure of platforms, which for the most part is paying off. Great atmosphere that does not go beyond its appeal, amazing level design, smooth controls and an overall aesthetic that is both charming and well integrated, Tinykin from the game and easy to recommend to fans for 2D characters in a 3D atmosphere. . Summing up, I recommend the game to all those who like to explore all the nooks and crannies, turn over all the stones, climb into all the dusty cracks and conquer the tops of bookcases. The game is easy, not straining, but has its own zest.

I really want to be able to recommend Everspace – Stellar Edition on the Switch, but playing it makes me really just want to go pick the game up for PC.

Revelations is a great first expansion for AOW: Planetfall. What it adds is well polished and allows for more variety in your playstyle. My only wish is that the Heritors or the Forgotten were a new faction instead of a tech/NPC respectively.

Tower of time is one of those games that does a lot of things well, doesn't do anything poorly, but unfortunately has a few things that are just average or don't fit the style of the game.

It reveals a timeless truth that we would be careful to heed in our heightened cultural climate: the fires of revolution always burn hot, but they are uninhibited in who or what they consume.

Super Cane Magic Zero is fun. It is bright, bold, mostly an engaging attempt at doing something different.

Back 4 Blood is one of those games that you don’t have to particularly worry about grinding, which is incredibly refreshing. Between grinding for in-game currency for dungeon gear in FFXIV, and trying to level up my weapons in Dauntless, it’s nice to have a game I can jump back into with my friends at any point in time and just play. It’s fast-paced, creative, and just all-around good fun. What’s not to love? The game has been out for a while, but that just means that the developers have had more time to listen to feedback and start fixing some of those bugs that have been bothering players.

While Lumo is a charming throwback game to the puzzlers of old, many of the issues with the game’s older design rear their head again here. Those who are fans of the genre will enjoy the game, while those going in blind will most likely find themselves frustrated with the game.

Charming and beautiful, Unravel Two does have some bright spots. However, those spots are few and far between thanks to some clunky platforming and dull puzzles throughout.

Signs of the Sojourner is a slice of life deck building narrative game. If that was more than a mouthful for you, you may consider steering clear of this game as the conversation based game-play will careen you down a narrative driven path rife with haggling and sometimes fleeting relationships. For the right gamer, Signs of the Sojourner will provide the kind of unique game play that you can't find anywhere else. For deck builder fans, you may find it hit or miss to your tastes, but if battling is more your speed, this might not be up your alley.

Spellforce: Conquest of Eo is a delightful spin on the 4X strategy genre. However, it remains just a step away from being truly ambitious with most systems continuing to play the second fiddle to the overall exploration and management.

The Sims 4 Get Famous brings a lot of extra gameplay for the player who likes to min-max or get directly involved in their Sims' lives. Stardom is not easily won and even harder to mitigate and maintain, but the rewards and sense of accomplishment for meeting new milestones is a great incentive.

Solo is not without merit. It is an ambitious and charming attempt to take players on a different adventure. The emphasis on emotional exploration just seems to feel slightly blunt.

If you love puzzles and challenges along with building an empire that remains adorable even as you watch your gold accumulate or vanish, you will love Little Big Workshop.

The world textures are believable, the weather system generates a true environmental feel. The cars look great.

Despite the positives, my lasting impression of FMT 2018 is of a rich, complex game that is utterly crippled by the user experience.

This action-packed adventure is well suited to a younger audience and promises a 3D platforming adventure.

Despite porting it over to the newer operational systems, I don’t feel that there was enough of a difference from previous versions to warrant a release at this price point.

As a follow-up, Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 does manage to add the occasional extra twist, some tweaked timing, and a whole new round of puns but this enjoyable puzzle game doesn't add enough to the core gameplay to justify a sequel, however charming it is.

Creature in the Well is an interesting take on a familiar set of genres, but it’s ultimately unsure of itself and the gimmicks wear off very quickly.

Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia hearkens to a simpler time, when console strategy games had a special magic to them... Nevertheless, the magic doesn’t hold up very well in the contemporary gaming world. Although it brings heaps of nostalgia, that nostalgia comes at the expense of depth and breadth of gameplay.

If you have a few hours to spend, Land of the Vikings will give you an opportunity to enjoy creating a settlement and seeing it grow, all the while adding little touches that make it yours. However, the game doesn't prioritize its own unique features, instead upholding the age-old formula of the genre.

SuperEpic has nowhere to go after it comes screaming out of the gate. Its engaging initial gameplay never really evolves past button-mashing. Decent sprite work is derailed by environments that are so bland as to defy recollection. Its own commentary on the bereftness of mobile games ends up being a commentary on itself, and leaves you a lonely, wandering shell, questioning your gaming habits, your existence...everything.

If you are a fan of strategy games this is a great entry for the genre. Regardless of if you prefer turn-based or real-time, this game is worth checking out. You will want to play this through more than once and the love that the developers have poured into this game shines through despite a couple of hiccups. I hope this game does well enough for a potential follow up of some description so they can expand on some of the features this game was aiming for.

Lost Orbit: Terminal Velocity, a rework, and expansion of the original Lost Orbit game, is a short, but fun journey through space. The visuals and musical score are delightful, even if the voice acting and writing are hit-or-miss.

The Sims 4: Paranormal Stuff Pack is a nice, niche addition to the game that feels like it should always have been here. It was not obvious on how to start your journey as a Medium, but once you get in you're guaranteed some spooky fun.

A hardcore, post-apocalyptic, sci-fi survival game that is nothing if not challenging. Despite being in beta and harboring a variety of issues, Kenshi shows great potential; and its beta status leaves hope that some of that potential will be realized. This is a game that is very difficult to become established in, but that just adds value to your investment of time and strategy.

A nice follow up to a much loved Doctor Who episode and a fun found phone game all rolled into one. For Doctor Who fans, there's more than one reason to keep your eyes on this new adventure.

Gran Turismo Sport is the beginning of a new era for the titular PlayStation racing franchise, but some aspects should have been tuned further if they wanted to remain competitive. Unnecessarily convoluted game modes, a pointless photo mode, always-online connectivity, and terrible rosters of tracks and cars bog down an otherwise fun and immersive driving experience. Although this is easily one of the best feeling and best sounding racing games on PlayStation 4, other racing games are just more fun. And as a long-time fan of this series, that is the most heartbreaking of all.

Endling: Extinction is Forever is a tech-savvy game built around well-built gameplay. The repetitive process of hunting for survival and exploring whenever possible seems intentional and draws the player into this world. There are no ordinary moments in this wild nature, and any moments of routine or boredom quickly end with a bear trap or an encounter with a Scavenger. Endling knows what he wants to achieve and doesn't try to overdo it or over complicate it. Every choice matters to the designers, as well as to you when you're trying to survive and feed your puppies.

In the end though, Bleed does what it sets out to do: it entertains and it offers fast, furious, and difficulty shooting and platforming. It’s a good game. It’s just too short for my tastes. Bring on Bleed 2, and let’s get nuts, Wryn. It’s not much to write home about visually, but in the world of Indies, it’s the gameplay that really counts and Bleed nails that part.

Bladed Fury attempts to tell a tale from Chinese legend, but exiles itself into the realm of the unremarkable with several missteps. Combat is not terribly deep and the precision strike system is no implemented well, though the Soul Sliver system adds a unique touch to it. While the sound design encapsulates eastern inspiration, the art design struggles to find footing in one place.

If you are a fan of Minecraft and are looking for something fresh with an RPG feel, Portal Knights will definitely be a game that you should pick up. It combines the traditional gathering and creating formula with multiple, randomly-generated islands to explore packed with dungeons, monsters, and towns. While those who are looking for a creative mode won’t find that here, those who are looking for a more combat-focused building game will enjoy what Portal Knights has to offer.

Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is a great game for the fans of the series, plunging the player deep into nostalgia to refresh the events and immerse them in the beloved universe. However, it might not be the best game to begin your journey in the Kingdom Hearts franchise. Despite being a strong rhythm action game, the game’s biggest point is reliving memories that already have an emotional impact with its audience.

While gameplay on the Switch is poorly optimized, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is (to steal a Symphony of the Night meme) more than a “miserable pile of secrets.” In its purest form, it is worthy of Koji Igarashi’s legacy and will live on as a strong representation of the genre he helped birth. With matured mechanics with the shards system, options for varied play styles, and the edition of quests, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night will join the ranks of high quality Metroidvania titles worth replaying over and over again.

Darkwood for the Nintendo Switch will certainly scratch the itch of a survival focused gamer. This takes the premise of games like Don't Starve, then takes itself much more seriously and makes it somewhat spookier. The harshness won't appeal to everyone, and the horror themes wear thin before too long, but for the right survivalist, or glutton for punishment, this may be exactly what you were looking for.

While I do fully enjoy this game, there are some things I would like to have seen a bit more of including visuals for inside the ships that show the players changes. Maybe even a semi multiplayer mode where you can compare your progress with another to drive performance and challenges.

STATIONFlow delivers a fantastically engrossing dilemma. Starting from a simple platform, you'll build and maintain a single metro station. Sounds easy, yet it really isn't. An astonishingly deep experience that plays like Mini Metro from another perspective, STATIONFlow is on track for a successful launch.

In the end, WRC 10 hits enough high points to be notable and it's a sure bet that things will be improved over time with updates, new content releases, and patches. However, it's not the game for everyone and there is certainly something to be said for waiting for a definitive edition for those who may be on the fence.

I was very impressed by The Beast Inside not only for the visual aspects but also for the story of how the game was developed and came to be.

The story might be largely irrelevant, but the gameplay is absolutely excellent especially if you’re into other trading card games and/or board games and becomes even better in multiplayer. It finds a happy medium squarely as part of both those genres with a variety of card art and abilities that make for a wide range of deck strategies and replayability.

Control’s new AWE DLC is simply more Control. While it explores a new area of the building, it doesn’t do anything new or expand on the lore of the first house directly. It does reveal officially how the 505 Games world setting interconnects, but that may not be such a good thing for some players.

Clocking in around 10 hours, with a lot of life squeezed from the magic marker mechanic, Max’s hunt to save his brother is an adventure worth taking. Just don’t put it ahead of other platforming adventures like SteamWorld Dig 2, Sonic Mania, and so forth.

While the game keeps several essential systems intact and improves on the character models, I would have like to see more visual improvements throughout the game.

Like the first game in the series, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is far from perfect, with a host of problems, controversial gameplay choices, a ton of bugs, and an ever-present sense of haste and incompleteness. Even without taking into account the lack of tweaks and polish, it won't be to everyone's taste. But if you like the lingering atmosphere, the gritty, down-to-earth story, and the romance of the stalker's journey, then this is the Stalker you've been waiting for all these years.

In its current state, Wuthering Waves is a generic open-world gacha with very few interesting and pleasant moments that shine in world exploration and battle system. If you were looking for a game with a deep, engaging narrative, you might want to give WuWa some more time to cook. However, if you were interested in a title that would hold your interest for a few evenings as you explore the world and throw your cast of characters into dynamic combat and various puzzles, then you will feel right at home.

At first glance, Floodland isn't the most complex, especially when looking at previous creations from developers of games like Frostpunk. However, it has a distinct and detailed aesthetic that grabs one's attention. Small figurines of people running around gathering resources or sleeping under the stars. it was a pleasure to follow, while the details of the various ruined buildings or rusty towers gave a nice feel to the game's atmosphere and past. If you are a lover of survival sims, Floodland is for you.

Shocking content aside, Martha is Dead is a traditional walking simulator and it's no stretch to say that the movement is on prepared rails.

Lego Harry Potter Collection for the Nintendo Switch is a nice, complete edition to the Switch's library.

They Are Billions is a brilliant game that breaths fresh life into the RTS formula. Its setting, concept, and execution make it a wonderful addition to the genre. However, the console port with poor controls will most likely leave players frustrated and wishing they had picked it up on PC. As much as I loved the title I cannot recommend it for a console. So if you’re interested in They are Billions I would strongly recommend taking a look at the PC version of this zombie survival RTS.

At first sight, the game looks completely unique compared to old fallout or other turn-based games. The plot is fairly unique, the audio is beautifully done, and did I mention, grade A voice acting. This game takes a new approach to turn-based action play with a “reversal” system that allows the player to optimize their decisions. You would think that would lower the level of difficulty, but this game cranks the difficulty up to a 10 out of 10. Even if you're a veteran gamer, you will have to adapt and learn the game.

In spite of liberal use of random generation, there's something confoundingly enjoyable about Chocobo's Myster Dungeon Every Buddy. It's not a port I expected to come out in this lifetime, but I'm glad it did, wrinkles and all.

Encased can suck you into it for dozens of hours for exploration and complex, difficult battles with various tactics but also leave you frustrated with the way it approaches the story and characters.

As with their previous work on Dreamfall Chapters, developers have provided players with a breathtaking, interesting world to explore that is set in a historical era and location that is little seen in games today. Wandering through the world is a visual and aural treat that is somewhat let down by two divergent mysteries that are never adequately explored or resolved.

West of Dead on Xbox One is a beautiful and entertaining western shooter that you’ll probably enjoy playing it if you are into roguelikes. The game doesn’t waste its potentials when it comes to gameplay mechanics, however, unbalanced and unrewarding level design are major issues that the game suffers from.

Sludge Life is a first-person, open-world platformer filled with strange sightings, childish humor, and a unique retro windows 3.1 UI. For the right platformer gamer, this divergence from the norm may provide several hours of enjoyment, but with no lasting draw to explore apart from graffiti tags and pictures, and no extenuating interaction with the world or characters, don't expect Sludge Life to grab you for more than a few hours.

A solid management sim and a cute idea that manages to tick all the boxes. Let's School can sometimes feel simply functional and yet manages to stand out from the competition with momentary flashes of brilliance. A solid B pupil with the potential to go further with the right after school tutelage.

The character designs are pleasing, the various multiplayer options are enjoyable, and the difficulty settings will keep you coming back for more. My main gripes here, are primarily due to the control scheme, which I feel could have been better utilized on the switch that is built with touchscreen controls.

If you are looking for a quiet afternoon on the sofa or something to play with younger audiences then Nairi: Tower of Shirin is a tale of adventure that will not disappoint.

It is not the longest, slickest, or most evocative title sometimes. It does, however, have a surprising amount to do, and under the bubbly facade it takes a very unusual concept and weaves a slightly twisted tale.

Book of Demons brings pen and paper and action mechanics to the Diablo style gameplay system. It's unique approach to time management on quests gives a lot to the game for those of us with limited time. If you're a Diablo fan looking for a change of scenery, you might find Book of Demons to be right up your alley!.

A game that took five years to develop feels like it should offer more than Chasm currently does.

Whether you're a fan of the original or new to the series, Sword of the Necromancer: Resurrection invites you to relive a heartfelt journey about love, loss, and the power of the undead. Despite its shortcomings, it captivates with a touching narrative, making it a worthwhile adventure for those willing to embrace its imperfections.

I wouldn’t necessarily call this an amateurs puzzle game meant for children, as there are many components that require abstract thinking to progress, but for the experienced puzzler, there is a lot to love in Candle: The Power of the Flame.

If you are someone who enjoyed the puzzles and the dad joke-like humor of Immortals: Fenyx Rising, A New God DLC is for you. The Vaults will challenge your approach to the game mechanics with the addition of new and expanded mechanics. However, if you are not a fan of trials and get easily frustrated, the DLC might be a miserable experience.

It’s a game that can’t be taken as any singular part; it’s more than a satire and more than a mini-game collection. It’s a statement and a joke and an open question about the ideologies we carry with us. It’s worth experiencing.

I found the game rather enjoyable as I could freely pick it up to play a few levels or challenges. It was nice to be able to play a quick race between cooking dinner or that small time between I need to go to bed and well going to bed. Would I recommend this game to others, yes but let’s be honest this is not for everyone? If you are simulation racer type you may find this game a bit too loose and wild.

At the end of the day, Left Hand Path is doing something gamers have been clamoring for in virtual reality. It’s a hard, retro- and Dark Souls-inspired dungeon crawler that rewards exploration and doesn’t end after its first hour-long episode. Add to that a number of small touches that show the developer understands virtual reality and what it can do, and you have a game that’s definitely worth exploring, as long as you can get past the too-polygonal art and disappointing animations.

Although there are a variety of game modes, the variety only puts a dent in the flawed game design.

Rain World does an excellent job in letting you know when the cycle ends, sometimes too much so as the game makes heavy use of the rumble function to let you know the end is nigh.

After seeing three episodes of Song Of Horror we still stand by our original assessment that this game has all the components of a strong horror adventure game rivalling those that many of us grew up with. Its puzzles won't wear you down with frustration, some of the real-time mini-game mechanics might. Nevertheless, the horror environments are sure to deliver a scare and an interesting mystery story.