She's Leaving offers a compelling atmosphere and concept but ultimately underutilizes its unique forensic mechanics, settling for a solid, yet conventional, first-person thriller experience.

Painkiller (2025) is a game that hits hard in the moment, but fades away as soon as the screen goes dark. It’s a well-crafted exercise in style, where rhythm, co-op action and technical solidity take center stage, yet they’re not enough to summon the fury and identity that once made the original a legend. Behind the metallic blaze and the storm of bullets, something essential is missing: a beating heart, a vision, a damned soul capable of leaving a mark. Because metal in your ears isn’t enough to bring a demon back to life, you need a heart too. And sadly, this one doesn’t have it.

COLD VR is a game that doesn’t do anything exceptional, especially when it comes to gameplay once you put on the headset. Yet, it has a story that is overall nice to follow, with that retro '80s vibe that looked to the future — and it works. However, these are just small doses, in a market that struggles or poorly imitates, and this game is not exempt from that aspect.

Despite the 'Enhanced Edition' label, The Shore's console release fails to salvage a fundamentally flawed experience. While the creature design is genuinely unsettling and the opening moments build a solid, oppressive atmosphere, the game quickly devolves into a disjointed theme park of Lovecraftian tropes. Bogged down by clunky exploration, uninspired puzzles, and a narrative that loses all focus and logical progression, it ultimately fails to stand out in a heavily saturated genre. A missed opportunity that sinks just below a passing grade.

Dreams of Another is a game that tries to bring several interesting ideas to the table. The most notable being the reversal of the concepts of destruction and creation, and the conceptual animism of the various objects inhabiting its world. Unfortunately, Baiyon and Q-Games’ work fails to make good use of these ideas and ends up feeling dull, both in its gameplay dynamics and in its storytelling. To top it all off, the game’s underlying philosophy feels forced and overly simplistic, making it hard to engage more mature players. Baiyon has described Dreams of Another as his latest art installment, and if we’re to judge it as such, it’s worth remembering that one doesn’t always have to understand art; it just has to make you feel something. In my case, it made me feel nothing but boredom.

Project Motor Racing is a solid title that offers a truly simulation-driven and layered handling model which, even with all available driving assists enabled, never caters to casual players. There’s no doubt, then, that its target audience consists of true hardcore virtual drivers. In addition to a strong multiplayer component, PMR also strives to deliver a fairly articulated career mode and puts 70 cars and 14 tracks on the table, showing that the team at Straight4 Studios has taken their work very seriously, even though the AI could still be improved. Unfortunately, the PlayStation 5 version shows several graphical issues, starting with reflections and the way light is handled on car bodies, resulting in an extremely “plastic-like” effect. The frame rate isn’t perfect either, and in corners a few FPS are missing—something that becomes even more noticeable in the rain. The DualSense, usually a “secret weapon” that enhances racing games on PS5, is underutilized here, suggesting that the most suitable version of PMR is likely the PC one. Still, Project Motor Racing is a good title, and with a few targeted patches it could raise the bar even further.

Fast & Furious Arcade Edition does exactly what it promises, bringing the original arcade formula to home systems without any additions or compromises. Adrenaline-fueled races, exotic settings, explosions, fiery trails, jumps that defy the laws of physics: it has everything you would expect to find. In its frankness, Fast & Furious Arcade Edition offers everything right away: eight vehicles, six tracks, and lots of small doses of adrenaline to take in even when you don't have much time. What you see is what you get.

"Navigate toward the light when you don't know where to go." And this sentence probably describes in a coherent way the experience we lived: a voyage across the northern seas to accomplish a daring, courageous mission that shows just how strong a father's love can be. Will: Follow The Light, despite occasionally uneven pacing, puts an interesting story on the table, enriched by the solving of various puzzles and seafaring navigation that will make the player fall in love. A shame about some overly rigid sequences and gameplay mechanics that perhaps feel anchored to a previous generation. That said, our recommendation is to give the emotional waves of Will: Follow The Light a chance and let yourself be carried away by the mysteries this voyage brings with it.

You’d probably find the cover of this new edition of Sacred 2 right next to the word “remastered” on Wikipedia. Jokes aside, we’re talking about a pure remaster, where the fantasy hack and slash has been brought back in its original form, with very few additions such as updated graphics, slight controller-use optimization, and some interface improvements. Sacred 2 Fallen Angel Remastered plays fine, but it carries over the same problems it had at the time of its original release — including somewhat chaotic menus and situations where input commands don’t feel quite right. Besides some occasional crashes and bugs, this dive into the past can still offer a few hours of fun without too many expectations.

Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is simultaneously everything we wanted and everything we didn’t from this franchise. Crystal Dynamics and Bit Bot Media skillfully use the character of Elaleth to recount the behind-the-scenes events that shaped Nosgoth, introducing a series of narrative elements that pave the way for the saga’s future. On the flip side, however, the artistic and gameplay offerings fail to satisfy those who have waited over 20 years for a new chapter. With the exception of the voice acting and a soundtrack that matches the quality of previous entries, Ascendance represents a technical step backward in every respect. For those who love 2D platformers or can look past a low-budget aesthetic and gameplay, there is a well-told story here; one that lays the groundwork for a future that will hopefully head in a different direction.

Unfortunately, Rennsport feels like a beta sold at full price. On PC, at least, there’s a free-to-play base version, but on consoles there’s no demo—you can only buy the Standard or Deluxe editions.The graphics are underwhelming, the AI often falls short, the content is limited, and the interface can be confusing. These issues weigh down a game whose main appeal lies in an interesting driving model—though some cars behave inconsistently—with physics that are generally believable and satisfying, aside from occasional collisions with opponents.There are bugs here and there, and the multiplayer experience isn’t always reliable. While there are some good elements, they get lost in the overall lackluster execution, especially when compared to the competition. In short, the balance between quality, content, and price leaves Rennsport struggling to impress.

Death Relives offers an excellent core concept, an interesting yet underexplored context - Aztec mythology - and an antagonist whose presence is deeply felt throughout the short adventure. However, the mechanics as implemented lean too heavily on stealth, depriving the experience of a true balance between aggression and caution, and the occasional bugs don't help matters. This is without considering the heavy reliance on artificial intelligence, which, while adequate for communicating with Adrian's father (despite its overly simple nature), is intolerable for the rest of the supporting application - even more so given the lack of oversight over the results. The ambition to offer something different is there, but the actual execution of these intentions falters considerably.

At the time of writing we don't know in what form or for how much The Little Brave will be sold, but our hope is that Dmitrii Batov will place it in early access and at a budget price to gain experience and in the meantime fix its issues thanks to user feedback, because at the moment I really don't feel like recommending his work; it's broken, uninteresting and even less refined. Even if I didn't have to constantly argue with the controls, the combat system was working properly and the game didn't implode following the mere act of restarting from a random checkpoint, I still would hardly be able to find a niche for it in the midst of metroidvanias that clog Steam's library, however we would be playing something at least functional. Ironically the game lends itself well to speedruns, given the fact that it only seems possible to be completed in one go and without dying along the way.

BrokenLore: Low is a prelude that goes out of its way to undermine any possible curiosity towards the following chapters. The story, or perhaps it would be better to say the idea of a story that they wanted to tell, is absolutely mismanaged in terms of pacing, quality, and characters; it goes from an excessive overexposure of the few elements that make it up to an absolute crypticness that would like to convey mystery but, at most, only passes confusion. The gameplay comes out just as badly broken, as it is characterized by a constant running in circles and by a setting that would like to be disorienting but completely fails, resulting in monotonous and repetitive due to its circular structure. The low-poly section is not clear why it was inserted, although it has at least the merit of tearing us away from the constant spinning around mentioned above. Even from an aesthetic point of view, nothing of the game is saved, both for the scarcity of models and for the quality of the same when human characters come on the scene.

Compilations like this are always tricky to evaluate. On one hand, we appreciate QUByte Interactive and Atari’s work in reviving these classics in their purest form (except for Barkley Shut Up and Jam!, though the omission is understandable), adding just a few modern features to attract a younger audience. On the other, we can’t help but wonder if more could have been done with both the existing material and the broader Accolade catalog. Extras like scanned original manuals, the ability to experience different versions of each game, or historical documents would have made the package more appealing. Given the wide library at their disposal, a few additional titles wouldn’t have hurt this Sports Collection. Furthermore, Winter Challenge and Summer Challenge haven’t aged well, while the two HardBall! entries feel redundant, slightly diminishing the overall value of the collection. That said, those who fondly remember these games from their youth or have a passion for retro sports titles will still find plenty of entertainment here.

The DreadOut Remastered Collection has the sole merit of making the original game and its expansion available on consoles. Beyond that, it does little to enhance two titles that, even in 2014, felt rough around the edges, offering the player a disappointing experience.

Blood Typers is a survival horror distinguished by an intriguing concept and an excellent execution. It's ideal if you love the genre and are looking for an alternative experience, preferably with a few friends. Alone, it lacks a bit of punch, and the challenge quickly becomes monotonous, unless you want to test your typing skills in an interactive context. In a group, however, the package is (predictably) much more fun and alleviates the current lack of content and modes. The game is also inexpensive, and the developers seem very active in integrating fixes and community suggestions, which is good.

Go Fight Fantastic! is a game that could (and should) have done better. Switching heroes in combat based on the situation might seem like a good idea, but it’s poorly executed in the context in which it's applied — partly due to uninspired level design and a repetitiveness that doesn’t really encourage players to stick with the game for long.

Hunt The Pale Gods is one of those games that gets the job done, but not very well. Among indie games, the card game genre is definitely a highly sought-after one, and this title has some good ideas up its sleeve. Unfortunately, the difficulty settings, minimal rewards, and low replayability make it a forgettable experience.

Pirates VR: Jolly Roger is a pleasant and immersive experience where you get to live the life of a true pirate, filled with magic, adventure, and exploration. Unfortunately, the game lacks depth in both story and gameplay, leaving it as a title that excels in visuals and aesthetics but remains functional overall.

Despite it being an Early Access, therefore subject to future improvements, Sancticide is a project that should be taken and redone from the ground up. It's not just a matter of bugs or technical problems of any kind, but of a completely poorly thought out and implemented gameplay system, as well as an unproposable narration and dubbing. The only, very small aspect that we can save concerns the sketches of the enemies and in particular of the non-human creatures, along with their descriptions, but it is certainly not enough to lift from the ground a game that is the cause of its own apocalypse. [Early Access Review]

The Deadly Path is a jumble of good ideas thrown together haphazardly. The result is a confusing level design that explains almost nothing, despite the lengthy tutorial. It's not entirely bad, but it's also not designed to truly capture the player's attention beyond a few games. Hopefully, future revisions will improve it.

Dollhouse: Behind the Broken Mirror is a product a half-step below failing, demonstrating how little has been learned from the previous experience, and even less has been decided to improve. Lacking an engaging story, despite the interesting premises, with forgettable gameplay and especially gunplay, exploration reduced to the bone, and the threats posed by the dolls that, before too long, cease to have the scary effect they should have, the game drags us into its confused spiral for several hours, at the end of which we are left empty-handed, wondering what exactly happened.

IXION is a hardcore game intended for a very specific niche of players and as such it does not shy away from being severe and punitive even at the difficulty recommended for beginners. However, those who have the perseverance and tenacity to retrace their steps when failure is evident will find a vast, deep and captivating game.

Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days is an ambitious survival management game, already solid in its structure but still in development. The atmosphere is well-crafted, the tension constant, and every choice has real consequences. If you enjoy games where time is your enemy and survival requires careful planning, give it a shot. But remember: it's in early access. Consider your options carefully and keep an eye on the official update roadmap. [Early Access Review]

Post Trauma is a survival horror game that aims to follow in the footsteps of Silent Hill, but falls far short of the mark. The main culprit is a flat and underwhelming combat system that undermines what is otherwise a fairly well-crafted exploration and puzzle-solving component. It’s a decent starting point that could have benefited from a bit more polish, but it's worth remembering that this independent project began as the work of a single developer, who later received support from a small development team—though likely a bit too late in the process.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Trilogy – Enhanced Edition brings back three cornerstone experiences of the PC gaming scene, updating them just enough to make them accessible on consoles as well. It’s not a remake or a reinvention, but rather a way to preserve the value of a harsh, immersive work that remains compelling even today. The Zone is still the star: gritty, cruel, unforgettable. And for those who have never experienced it, this is a more than legitimate entry point.

Nightmare Frontier does its part, between novelties and good ideas, unfortunately the latter run out quickly and the rest is a good filler, but certainly less interesting than the first hours. Certainly the seeds of a structure that deserves a posthumous study have been planted. [Early Access Review Score = 70]