If you think about what Frogwares had to go through this past year in Ukraine, it’s an amazing feat that Sherlock Holmes The Awakened came to fruition. Sure, the game doesn’t break any new ground, but the team did it, and it just works! This crossover between Lovecraft and Sherlock is a dream come true for a detective and horror fan like myself. Even though The Awakened re-uses many of the same assets and engine and suffers from some of the same frustrations as Chapter One, it still remains a compelling detective experience from start to finish. There’s plenty of madness to lose your sanity to and lots of cases waiting to be solved.

In games of Guns N’ Runs’ ilk, it’s ok to fight against the odds. But the major difference that separates this game from similar titles is that time and time again, Guns N’ Runs proves itself able to entertain for a few minutes, before devolving into a gnawingly rote annoyance that constantly battles against players with its terrible tutorials, minimal health bar, lack of power-ups, dearth of weaponry, paint-by-numbers design and a chugging framerate. There is clearly a love for the retro classics, which the presentation and soundtrack evoke lovingly, but the frustrations inherent in the gameplay are a bit too much to ignore. Give Guns N’ Runs a try and you may like it for a spell; just be warned that you will likely grow bored of it sooner rather than later.

Overall, Remnant: From The Ashes is a perfect entry point for those who are wanting to take their first steps in dabbling in the soulslike genre. Gunfire Games took me by surprise with this one. I was skeptical going in and doubted the third-person shooter mechanics would blend so seamlessly with the genre. Remnant 2 is due to be released later this year, and frankly, I can’t wait.

EA Sports PGA Tour lays the foundation for what could be a really strong golf game, with a lot of content, deep mechanics, and excellent presentation. Its UI issues, though, are a significant problem that shouldn’t have made it into the final release, and its swing mechanics, while easy to pick up, never feel particularly comfortable. In future years there’s definitely potential to win the tour, but for the moment, I still think the competition offers a more compelling experience.

Sixtar Gate: StarTrail does an incredible job of bringing IIDX-like scaling note rhythm gameplay to the Switch while injecting some unique tweaks to give this game a feel all its own. Having been passed over by the likes of PM Studio’s DJ Max series, it feels great to finally have this style of rhythm game available for playing on the go. The songlist, while not as robust as the Steam version, is still superb and bares room for growth by way of DLC and future software updates, of which at least some of them will be free, according to the developer’s Twitter page. I’ve been having an absolute blast with this title and will likely continue to do so for months to come.

Despite releasing in 2023, playing Lunark feels like opening a perfectly preserved time capsule. It’s unashamedly old-school in its approach and attempts to recreate an experience that we just don’t see enough of these days, and for that reason, I absolutely adore what Canari Games has created here. The art style may be a little too busy at times, which can actually be gameplay-impacting, but it’s easy to forgive when it looks this good, especially when given a chance to shine on the Switch OLED. Lunark is absolutely a game that won’t be for everyone, but it doesn’t need to be. Canari Games’ mission was clearly never to create something that appeals to a huge audience. The mission statement was obviously to deliver a passion project that speaks to fans of cinematic platformers, and Flashback more specifically. On that front, they can consider this a job very well done.

Enriched lovingly with scenic qualities and bolstered by the delightful day/night contrast to which it excels at evoking a juicily contradictive atmosphere, Dredge may not look like a meaty steamboat-empowered expedition, but when you find yourself supplementing your vessel with new hulls and boosts, as well as interacting with the various personalities sequestered on each of the islands you visit, Dredge may look like shallow waters, but it’ll surprise at how quickly it can submerge you in its depths. No, Dredge did not need the horrors of the nighttime, and banging into suddenly-appearing rocks can prove a hassle, but Dredge is otherwise a splendid offering that’s certainly worth checking out.

Overall, I absolutely loved The Pillars of the Earth. With its beautiful score, deeply developed cast of characters, excellent voice acting, and stunning artwork, this massive work of historical fiction has been brought to life in incredible, addictive detail. While slow at times, it’s nowhere near as slow as the several decades the story encompasses, and the slow burn is more than worth it. Trust me. I’m a historical fiction convert now. In fact, I have to head off now to finish reading the novel. And then on to the rest of the trilogy.

Despite the shallow narrative and somewhat redundant progression systems giving rise to doubts about the overall mass-market appeal, there’s no denying that Behaviour Interactive Inc. has absolutely stuck the landing here with Meet Your Maker. The tension fuelled raiding, accessible base building, and a steady stream of new content coming in via the user-generated levels result in a package that’s fiendishly addictive and incredibly difficult to put down. If you aren’t someone who needs a constantly dangling carrot on a stick to chase, and, like myself, still find gameplay to be king, then this is one trip to the wastelands you certainly won’t want to miss.

While The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners – Chapter 2: Retribution doesn’t squash all the bugs that festered within the Meta Quest 2 release last year, it’s a significant improvement that fans of the series should check out; just don’t go in expecting a full-on sequel. With its fantastic, physics-based brawls that make excellent use of the PSVR2’s Sense controllers, sending the undead back to the grave has never felt better. If you’re a fan of the series or survival horror games (with an emphasis on survival) in general, this one’s worth adding to your PSVR2 library.

Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories is reminiscent of the wacky RPGs of yesteryear that captured our hearts as children with its cute aesthetics and humorous writing, but it also surprisingly delves into some more serious material. Although I wish I had been able to better grasp the intricacies of its storyline, the overall picture was painted in well enough and the throwaway NPC lines were entertaining enough in their own right. If you miss the silliness of retro RPGs and need a dose of nostalgia juice, Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories invites you to take a melon-flavored sip.

Loretta is dark, gritty, and depressing. It’s a tale of a woman repeatedly failed and betrayed by those she should have been able to trust, her back to the wall with limited options. Depending on decisions made, Loretta is also a tale of hope, even if its best ending still delivers noir notes. My only regret with Loretta is not playing it sooner, so if you find this game calling your name, don’t wait a moment longer.

Road 96 Mile 0 takes familiar elements from Road 96 and Lost in Harmony and impressively incorporates them fairly seamlessly. Although I did feel that the exploration portions could have benefited from some variety in gameplay, the music-running portions definitely picked up the slack. If anything, Road 96 Mile 0 excels in its ability to showcase two best friends struggling against an unfair world while still trying to be regular teenagers. Whether or not they remain friends is for players to decide.

Despite my many gripes, I think there is still an audience out there for Curse of the Sea Rats. Sure, it’s packed to the rafters with frustrating design choices that should have been made to walk the plank, but it’s also a title that has clearly had a ton of love and passion poured into its development. That I felt compelled to stick with Curse of the Sea Rats despite the uneven gameplay is a testament to the art direction and light-hearted narrative, both of which instantly brought me back to a happy place; sitting in front of the TV on a Saturday morning, feasting on whatever sugar-laced cereal was trendy at the time, all while enjoying my favorite cartoons. While it’s not an easy sell due to its gameplay fumbles, I do still think Curse of the Sea Rats is worth a playthrough for anyone who can look past its flaws and focus on the product as a whole, which ends up being a serviceable videogame, elevated greatly by a wonderful sense of style and charm.

Terminal Velocity’s gameplay is a little dated after two and a half decades in the hangar, even with a fresh coat of paint, and isn’t going to win in a dogfight with today’s premier flight sims or space shooters. Nonetheless, the developers have done a great job of polishing it up and making it work perfectly on modern systems. I enjoyed playing it again for its high-octane tunnel-traversing, radical soundtrack and bombastic alien blasting, and I think others could too provided they’re primed for a nostalgic blast from the past.

Storyteller is filled with charm and offers interesting mechanics, which really do make it feel like you’re telling a story. Unfortunately, it just takes too long to get going for a game that ends so soon. I completed every level in the game, including the alternate challenges, in about two hours. For the right price, this is definitely a story worth telling, though, and those in need of a new take on the puzzle genre should have a good time.

Despite a disappointing lack of variety that holds it back from achieving shooter greatness, After The Fall: Complete Edition is a welcome addition to the PSVR2’s launch lineup. Offering an exciting blend of punchy, zombie-blasting co-op gunplay that takes full advantage of the strengths of Sony’s new headset and a satisfying progression system, it’s a game no fan of Left 4 Dead should miss.

Resident Evil 4 remains a must-play title in 2023, and while it may not be better in every possible way, this is overall the best way to experience it.

Mr. Saitou is a short but sweet romp through the universe of Rakuen, a silly little homecoming to a wonderfully whimsical world. Although it’s not as emotional as the first game, it’s not trying to be; with that being said, I still shed a few tears during the two hours I spent with it. If you listen to Mr. Saitou and set your expectations accordingly, you’ll emotionally relate to the realistic struggles of adult life while feeling healed by the cheerful innocence childhood has to offer. In the very least, Mr. Saitou offers a brief return to the world of Rakuen and the feeling of being hugged by a game.

Blanc is certainly cozy, cute, and charming, and it deserves high marks for its aesthetics and ideas, but I can’t deny how frustrated I felt while playing it. There were some high moments where cub and fawn flew through the frozen fields, delicately criss-crossing darkened paths in an otherwise blinding white spendor, but they were often followed by whiplashed lows of missing actionable cues and odd technical difficulties.

I hate to say it, but as it currently stands, this is not a worthwhile purchase — I can’t even recommend this to fans of the original movie because it’s still just as unplayable as it was all those years ago. I can only recommend Bill & Ted’s Excellent Retro Collection to those who, like me, were haunted by Bill & Ted’s Excellent Video Game Adventure and want to utilize the newly implemented save states to finally have a shot at finishing the game. But if Limited Run Games releases an update later with the maps? It might be a little less bogus then.

Overall, The Last Spell is an incredibly fresh and satisfying entry to the strategy RPG genre. Its learning curve may be brutal, but that’s part of its charm as you slowly chip away at its many progression systems and start catching glimpses of light at the end of the demon-infested tunnel.

I can’t pretend the glitches I encountered in 9 Years of Shadows weren’t frustrating, especially as a backer. I can only hope that Halberd Studios and Freedom Games take my complaints to heart and does everything they can to patch these problems as quickly as possible. Because underneath all the glitches, there’s a truly fantastic adventure, and one I still really enjoyed. If you’re a fan of Metroidvanias, definitely put this one on your wishlist. Just maybe wait on pulling the trigger until the developers have had a chance to make some necessary fixes.

Overall, I still feel Omen of Sorrow was worth the wait on Nintendo Switch. While admittedly, this version of the game boasts the worst graphics and long load times, the game is a lot of fun once you get past those barriers. Featuring a diverse roster of monstrous creatures, an expansive Story Mode, and various unlockable achievements, this is still a fighting game I can recommend to fans of the genre, even those that don’t take them all that seriously. It may not be a genre-changing game, but it’s a very solid and enjoyable fighter.

Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key is a well-earned conclusion to Reisalin “Ryza” Stout’s story, with its improvements upon the previous titles and systems that provide endless amounts of customization.

With a ton of personality, solid mechanics, and a unique vibe helping to keep the whole experience compelling, players should absolutely check Tchia out.

If you long for a true drop-in, drop-out FPS game and don’t mind the wavey corridors and searing color palette, there’s so much fun to be had with just a semi-procedurally generated corridor maze, some wickedly warped baddies to kill as fast as you can, and a few RNG buffs here and there. POST VOID definitely won’t be a feasible trip for everyone, but if you can stomach the demanding gameplay and get a grip on the PS4 controls, you’ll probably wind up pretty hooked on this digital drug.

There are some real fault lines running through Redemption Reapers that are hard to look past. The story and characters just aren’t given enough history to make anything feel particularly meaningful; there’s no real driving force. Early difficulty spikes are extreme and frustrating, and poor stat growth, coupled with extremely low hit points for many characters, makes it feel like the odds just grow increasingly insurmountable – at least until you can go back and grind to obtain experience points, which you won’t be able to do for the first part of the game. While the dark atmosphere, gorgeous visuals, and haunting soundtrack are promising, and while the combat mechanics have some real potential, the balancing issues, difficulty spikes, poor AI, and flat storytelling simply bog Redemption Reapers down too much.