TimeMelters has an ambitious premise that could very easily have gotten out of hand for a small, three-person development team, but the experience is an incredibly enjoyable one through and through. However, the small team and modest budget do come through in the form of quite dated graphics and uninspired enemy design. Fortunately, that’s a minor gripe in an otherwise excellent package, and strong gameplay and unique mechanics make TimeMelters an easy recommendation for anyone to whom the premise sounds even vaguely appealing.

The gameplay is hectic, the boss battles are challenging, and the mini-games are enjoyable and allow for some respite in an enjoyable game that pokes fun at itself and other games of the genre.

Alone in the Dark is surprising. It doesn't have the budget to fight the big boys, but through sheer care it manages to punch above its weight. Its biggest detractors reside in its combat, and its biggest strength are just about everywhere else. It's clear to me that the entire production understood the assignment. Even with its missteps the combat design has valuable ideas. The audio and visual designs are a delight. The acting is probably its greatest strength. The writing, led by Soma's Mikael Hedberg, brought lessons learned from both his previous involvements and the legacy of the series to make a more refined story. He also showed, through a nuanced understanding, that Lovecraft's world extends so far beyond tentacles and old-Gods named Cthulhu. It's far from perfect, but it exists, at the bare minimum, as a great starting point for a revitalization of a series that has fallen from influential to forgotten.

Everything Outcast does, it does just well enough. That may sound like a knock against it, but I promise you it's not. It's incredibly hard to make a good game with any budget at any studio. What Appeal did is make a good game that does just enough to keep you playing. In a landscape where every game is either highly polished or barely functioning, it's great to see something that sets a goal and delivers. Outcast: A New Beginning is a prime example of why we need 'Double A' games. I have no nostalgia for Outcast as, as stated previously, that ship sailed long ago, but should you, intrepid reader, journey into its wilds? That all comes down to personal taste, but for me, I'm glad I got my chance to travel to Adelpha. It was fun and hopefully someday I get a chance to go back.

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden delivers satisfactorily with all its gameplay mechanics and narrative elements. Whether you are a gameplay-first, or story-first, type of player, there will likely be more than enough on both fronts to keep you interested all the way to the very end. While it still has a few technical hiccups and oddly implemented game mechanics, it still manages to rise well above what we have normally come to expect from most modern AAA and AA games. If you have $50 to spare, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is well worth a go anytime.

As is the case with most other players, I genuinely want to see The Outlast Trials improve with time, something I am sure the developers agree with in principle as well. Where they and I must differ is in our priority for said changes. They appear to prefer focusing on cosmetics, new optional challenges, and implementing new social activities, whereas I prefer more core maps and a darker tone, truer of what Outlast has, up until now, been defined by. Whatever the future may hold for The Outlast Trials, one can only hope that they strive to find a more definitive balance between these two disparate directions.

It's clear there is a lot of love and passion put into it. The good, for the most part, outweighs the bad as it is quite charming and fun when you're not fighting against the wonky camera or frustrating glitches. I would recommend Penny's Big Breakaway only to fans who love the genre. If Evening Star can take what they've learned here and iron out the kinks, then I think they could make something truly spectacular.

Skull and Bones was more of an arcade style game than I was expecting when it comes to the gameplay – but this makes the game more accessible to players of all ages. Being able to leave port, target a passing ship, and then aim down the sights and fire away is a breeze. However, this can become stale until you come across a new blueprint which enable you to take on tougher opponents and settlements. Skull and Bones looks gorgeous as you sail from one settlement to the next, and despite the lack of an interesting storyline, the open-world nature of Skull and Bones allows players to play however they want. Skull and Bones is a sleek and sturdy vessel, but the lack of some sword-based combat means that it trails well behind the original Sid Meier's Pirates! which still remains my favourite – even after all this time.

Sixty Four will serve to satisfy the many manufacturing enthusiasts out there. It is an in-depth simulation that provides a mysterious and very complex gaming environment. Developer Oleg Danilov has done an excellent job figuring out all of the intricacies of Sixty Four and when the factory is running automatically it is a wonder to behold! I have made some comments about being able to move things around but in the grand scheme of things that really doesn't matter much. This game is a keeper and it should be on your list of games to play because it requires the game player to think ahead and to plan instead of willy-nilly placing things all over the map like I tend to do!

When all is said and done I found that I wanted to like The Inquisitor more than I actually did. There is potential here for a brilliant game, but unfortunately, it just has not been realized here.

Ultros takes its shots, and many of them are genuinely pleasing. The audio and visual design is something to behold, and the unique gameplay hooks deserve iteration at the very least. At the same time it is a game at odds with itself. The things you're being asked to do don't quite mesh with the tools, the story being told feels incongruous with the actions of its characters, and its promise feels wasted. It's tempting to consider that in a different year, against a different crop of recent metroidvania standouts, its shortcomings might be easier to ignore, but even in a space-like vacuum, up against only itself, Ultros doesn't bear the fruit it has the potential to.

Altogether, Dicefolk is a successful amalgamation of multiple concepts layered on top of each other in a satisfying way. The only real issue this reviewer could really bring to the table is the game loop feels a bit more repetitive than it does satisfying, but that could just be this particular reviewer's thoughts on roguelikes and as such may not be a reliable view on the loop. Along with this the story and music feel a bit lacking in scale, but again this was likely more of an expectation of an RPG type game rather than a roguelike one. But with that being said If gamers are fans of any of the concepts that Dicefolk is made up of, from deck building to roguelikes to creature collecting, it is certainly worth a look, if not an outright pickup!

As someone who enjoys the high level of frantic chaos that Suicide Squad specializes in, and the ways it encourages you to try different characters and builds, it’s easy for me to look forward to additional content, but for the average player to be able to overcome the same repetitive structure featured in every other game of this ilk, the developers will have to unleash the same creativity they mustered for the movement on the mission design moving forward.

Persona 3 is a famous story from an RPG perspective and is considered to be one of the best in the series, so despite the price point if you're a fan of turn based JRPGs or have previously played other games in the series, then Persona 3 Reload is definitely a game to pick up!

With its minimalist pixel art aesthetic, Anomaly Agent crafts a cyberpunk dystopian world with neon lights and flying cars. It is reminiscent of films like Blade Runner, even to the point where your character is an agent hunting down replicant-like clones. Much like other games in the genre, Anomaly Agent is only as good as you make it. Its catchy synthwave beats and blood splattered chunky pixel violence are akin to other indie darling Hotline Miami, but Anomaly Agent isn't just a, pun intended, clone of previous media, but an intriguing anomaly with a lot of heart that is worth the journey, however brief. If you're looking for a fun action platformer, with a sci-fi story that has fun with the genre, then do yourself a favour and check out this little gem.

The biggest reason to pass on Lost Crown is the price tag. In a world where the greatest Metroidvania of all time (Hollow Knight for those wondering) sold for $15 at launch, charging $50 for a Metroidvania is a bold strategy. While Lost Crown is a solid game, at that price point I would advise most people to wait for a sale and pick up Hollow Knight, Lost Ruins, AfterImage, or Doomblade if you haven't already. Still, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is worth a purchase if you have extra cash sitting around and have already played all the aforementioned titles.

Not really all that puzzling because the main drawback to Boxes: Lost Fragments isn't about its value as a puzzle game, it's about something else. More likely it could be the confusion in how close the game resembles The Room in both look and gameplay. Since the original publisher of the 2012 iOS and android The Room, Fireproof appeared to be "working with limited finances while providing art assets to other publishers" they could have been encouraging other indie developers to continue their work because they couldn't do it themselves. If that is indeed the case, then kudos to all of the people past and present that have worked on this game; because all I can say is that Boxes: Lost Fragments is a winner! At least where boxes with puzzles are concerned it is an excellent experience!

There is plenty of repetition in Reigns: Three Kingdoms and this may deter some gamers from continuing further into the story. Players are posed the similar questions throughout the course of their journey and although answering them in different ways can lead to varied outcomes, it can become grating. That said, the combat portion of the game is highly enjoyable. Although it too is quite basic, the drafting of your characters into battle does allow for a certain level of strategy. The battles are often over quickly and as a result Reigns: Three kingdoms could be a great game to play during your lunch break or during a commute.

Whether you're a newcomer to parkour games, an intermediate, or a longtime expert, Phantom Abyss is more than well-worth a go. The combined low skill floor to entry, vs the far higher skill ceiling one can hope to reach over time, in combination with the replayable nature of each level, gives Phantom Abyss a lot of potential longevity moving forward. Here's hoping the developers continue to flesh out the core experience via new levels and quality-of-life improvements in the months following this transition from Early Access to full release.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is a special game in that it's a JRPG that runs over two full-time weeks, has plenty of cutscenes and dialogue, and an expansive area to explore, but it never once felt long. There's a constant pull, a strong one, towards the next piece of story, the next upgrade, the next wild experience, and it always ensures you're not left behind by reiterating story points and providing flashbacks. Each component blends together better than ever before, truly making the transition from Yakuza to Like a Dragon complete, and with it an evolution from an inspired game series to an inspiration to others.

I'm surprised that it has taken so long for an Assassin's Creed game to finally be released on a VR platform. After all, the original game takes place in a virtual world based on the memories of the descendant of Desmond Miles. And Assassin's Creed Nexus does an amazing job of placing gamers in the shoes of several notable characters and locations from within the Assassin’s Creed series. Although the story is not as detailed as that of previous Assassin's Creed titles, it still does a more than adequate job of keeping the player entertained over the course of the journey. But the developers have made full use of the VR controls to ensure that players feel immersed and like they are part of the action. Hopefully, Assassin's Creed Nexus be the first of many in a series of VR games from Ubisoft.

The bugs get worse as the game goes on with frequent crashes and other problems spiking up in the third act and beyond. These are the same kind of issues that Pathfinder: Kingmaker and Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous had at launch, and fortunately in both cases the games subsequently became more stable and polished with future updates. So you may want to wait a little while before picking up Rogue Trader. However, even with the bugs, Rogue Trader is an excellent CRPG set in one of my favourite sci-fi settings, and I would be remiss not to give it a glowing recommendation.

Gangs of Sherwood is a passable but thoroughly unremarkable cooperative action game, suffering from a tedious gameplay loop, alleviated only in part by its cinematic quality, boss fights, and visual artistic appeal. Unless you're a diehard Robin Hood folklore enthusiast, it's very difficult to recommend this as a must-buy at any price, let alone its current retail offering.

There is a real sense of togetherness when playing KarmaZoo. Players help each other out, using their skills (both natural gaming skills and that of their chosen character) to work their way through the puzzles provided by the levels. And it is this co-operative nature that allows KarmaZoo to be an entertaining title, whether you’re one of the more experienced players or those who have just started playing. And with the reasonably short levels, it means that players can jump in and out whenever they have a spare 15-20 minutes. But with all the different characters to collect, the fun co-operative nature of the game and the cute visuals, players will no doubt be coming back for more.

Baldur's Gate III is an amazing game. While the length can be intimidating and the lore vast - that makes it all the more compelling and the game could easily become one of the biggest time sinks for gamers since the likes of Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim or Elden Ring released. If you're a fan of Larian Studios' previous work, DND, strategy RPGs, or any of the above, BG3 is almost certainly the game for you, and comes highly recommended.

In all, Party Animals is a pretty fun game, with multiple maps that each have different gimmicks and can be incredibly entertaining. That being said the controls feel clumsy and take a bit of getting used to. In addition, unless you have a group of friends to play with, Party Animals may get old fairly quickly. To be fair, that is rather par for the course for a game whose focus is multiplayer, so it isn't anything outright against Party Animals. If you're a fan of multiplayer shenanigans or adorable creatures, then this is a game to keep an eye on!

I ended my time with Realms of Ruin feeling like it was a game stuck between two genres. It has the combat rules, unit counts, and sluggish movement of a pure tactics game, set on a map scaled for an RTS, but it also forgot to bring either tactics or strategy in a meaningful way. In some respect it feels like a strategy game from before they were "figured out" in the 90s. It's a game of rock paper scissors, where each player knows what the other is throwing, and has but a single counter to it. There just isn't enough there, and for a game that is asking a premium price, I think the bar is much more visible, if not higher. And this is without taking into account the other, better, Warhammer strategy games already on the market. Just like its full title, Warhammer: Age of Sigmar - Realms of Ruin is a tad exhausting, a bit confusing, and could benefit from losing about 60% off the top.

It could be easy to take a cursory glance at Alan Wake 2 and think it's little more than a collage of genre staples, but the game is so much more. Like the best works in any medium and genre, these references and familiarities feel like homages and love letters, never like crutches. The promising young FBI agent, a creepy cult in the woods, and the sleepy Northwestern town are incredibly engaging because the tropes are backed up by wonderful writing, a palpable atmosphere, and a narrative that's legitimately engaging. It also makes everything that much more satisfying when it twists and turns in unexpected directions. Alan Wake 2 sets a new bar for Remedy, and I can't wait to see what they follow it up with next.

In all Persona 5 Tactica is more of a good thing. While the art style shift may cause some hesitancy, the game is built as a great introduction to its playstyle and has plenty of player friendly design implementations that make it welcoming even to those who only want to experience seeing the Phantom Thieves in action again even if the gameplay style isn’t one that they usually play. If you're a fan of the Phantom Thieves, or a fan of strategy RPGs, this revolution themed game is one to keep an eye on!

Assassin's Creed Mirage is a wonderful return to what made the original a fan favourite. The stealth mechanics work remarkably well, and although players can go with a more attacking style if they so choose, Mirage has been developed in a way that encourages the slower methodical approach to each scenario. And then as players acquire the extra tools and increased abilities, this leads to different methods of completing the missions. With a gorgeous setting that rivals Assassin's Creed Origins and a wonderful soundtrack that sets the middle eastern tone, Assassin's Creed Mirage is a must play for fans of the series.

As far as detective games go, Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express is one of the best modern offerings on the market. The game's handful of obvious flaws are outweighed tenfold by the many other areas where it goes above and beyond. Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express is not just one of the best detective games of this year. It's a game other similar investigation games should compare themselves against in years to come.

There seems to be enough updates to make Football Manager 2024 a worthwhile sports manager franchise game to have, and I give it two thumbs up!

Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged is a reasonably adequate racing game for beginners. Visually, it sets itself apart from many of its competitors. However, its floaty physics system, unappealing slow speeds, almost non-existent racetrack offerings, and awkward keyboard control scheme make it impossible to recommend in its current state.

The Gap is so much more than a gorgeous puzzle game, layered mystery thriller, or a walking simulator, it's a trip through a life upended. It resonated with me on several emotional levels because it's a well-built world, housing a finely-crafted narrative, conveyed by some stellar voice acting. This isn't some "gotcha" mystery; it's not going for some home run twist. The Gap has a story to tell, and it does so with urgency. I honestly wish it was about twice as long, so that it had more time to sink into its philosophy or show more of Joshua's life, or that it simply had more depth inside to give me a reason to play again, outside of a branched ending that is easy to experience both ways. But to think this is the developers' first official outing brings me great joy, as I'm left itching for more. What I thought was going to be an interesting story turned out to be one of my favourite games of the year, one that I'll be thinking about for a while: each time I remind myself not to take what I've got for granted.

As with other Hearts of Iron DLCs, the price tag seems a bit unreasonable given the amount of content here. If you're a new player there is very little reason to pick this up, especially considering one of the best features (the historical Finish Focus Tree) has been added to the base game already. Sure, there are plenty of nice changes in here for veterans but a new player simply won't get much use out of them when they are already overwhelmed with different systems. For Hearts of Iron veterans though, this is one of the better DLCs overall (though still probably falling a bit short of the high water mark of No Step Back).

Folks, there is a lot to this game; it might not be a pure railroad / train management simulator, but it has a lot to offer, especially if you like puzzles. Everything runs very smoothly, and I didn't find any bugs. Some of the missions will require you to start from scratch where you need to locate resources, build or rather place the appropriate resource gathering buildings, assign the necessary workers and lay down rails, place stations, set the switches while adding the needed trains and its cars. Other missions might provide a jumbled-up mishmash collection of broken rails that need to be fixed and improved. Every mission will be different from the previous ones.

Many players may not be able to wash out the taste of launch, and may not even poke their heads back into the blinding neon or gruesome yet cool cyberware to see how much has changed, but speaking as someone who entered Night City for the first time post launch, the Phantom Liberty DLC adds a lot to a game that has improved drastically since its release, to the point of nearly being unrecognizable to those who played at launch alone.

I walked away from my time with Lords of the Fallen feeling defeated even in my victory. It was a tough road, the toughest of all the souls-and-likes in execution and also, at least partially, gameplay. I lost more levels worth of Vigor than maybe all the other games combined, but I didn't feel like I overcame some finely crafted challenge. Most damning of all, though, despite its attempts to differentiate itself with unique mechanics, I never forgot the games that inspired it through the entire runtime.

Hellboy: Web of Wyrd is a masterful visual representation of Mike Mignola's body of work, clearly created out of passion from the development team. However, the widespread consistent issues with the core game design make it difficult to unreservedly recommend it as a must-buy for either diehard Hellboy fans or for newcomers to the franchise.

Land of the Vikings looks like it has delivered the goods when it comes to producing a city builder / gatherer sim game. There is a lot in the game, so players will have a lot to learn, but need not worry because it comes with a wonderful tutorial that can teach the basics. Even if real Vikings were generally described centuries ago as being violent terrorists, the Vikings in this game will be sure to provide a satisfying and enjoyable gaming experience.

Moving Out 2 doesn't take anything too seriously, and that is part of the reason why the game is so fun to play. It is a game that allows players to determine the solution to each location in a variety of ways. It is fun to play on your own, but Moving Out 2 is definitely more fun with a group of friends or family, as you attempt to reach each of the star ratings and secondary goals. With simple controls, enjoyable gameplay, a dash of humour, and bright cartoon style visuals, Moving Out 2 is a great follow up to the original.

In all, Mirrored Souls is a very solidly built puzzle game with an interesting mechanic and a very serene art style. The only real issue to be had is the difficulty curve, but the break levels can really help balance out the curve and make it so that players can really enjoy the journey of Ravi and Daru.

Payday 3, from a performance perspective, is an unsightly abomination, which veers unpredictably and drastically between visually-impressive beauty, and screen-tearing, game-breaking insensibility. Its small map pool, inconsistent mission design, and low-quality cutscenes consisting merely of a few PNG files accompanied only by VO and the OST, all collide to form something that can best be described an an early access game. Something that, with the benefit of several years' redemption, might one day live up to the high standards it chose to set for itself. But today is not that day.

The sum of Lies of P's parts is grand, but it manages to be even more than that. Despite frustrating "gotcha" moments and a few cheap enemy encounters that feel out of place in something so finely crafted, the whole experience holds a level of polish you'd expect only of seasoned veterans. Truth be told: I wouldn't be surprised to find out that this was a side studio of a certain, well-known developer, and I don't think I can be more glowing than that. Even in the end, after I fawned over the combat system and its dichotomous weaponry, happily sought out bits of information to expand upon the engaging story I was involved in, and felt the ecstasy of conquering a multi-hour boss, I wanted to go back for more. And despite the already unique pitch of "gothic, horrific Pinnochio adaptation," the developers are keen to let you know their future plans are even more ambitious (and tailor-made for me), which somehow elevates Lies of P even further beyond face value.

In a world where we are still lacking a proper translation for the original The Legend of Sword and Fairy, among other classic Chinese games, it's hard to not applaud a fresh release for these otherwise unknown and inaccessible titles. I can't imagine that the demand for a fresh release of Xuan Yuan Sword was particularly great in the English-speaking world, but it's release here is valuable for simple archival reasons. It's also a great buy if you're craving a classic JRPG that was previously unavailable to anyone who couldn't read Mandarin.

I may have had a couple of gripes about some rather minor aspects of gameplay, but that definitely should not be a turn off to playing this game. Everything is very well thought out and as players complete repair missions and acquire advanced repair licenses it will open up a large universe filled with space repairs galore! Who wouldn't love that? Well, probably the guy that isn't all that mechanically inclined, but Space Mechanic Simulator is a niche title after all.

This reviewer can't go into too much detail about the story of Stan and Under the Waves - some things are best experienced by the player first hand after all, and the story that is spun along the seafloor is definitely one of those. Players will learn more about Stan through his isolation, all the while exploring the beautiful ocean. If you're a fan of oceanic visage, emotional stories, crafting mechanics, wide ranging exploration, or some combination of them all, Under the Waves might just be the game for you.

I have enjoyed Starfield and will continue to do so as I clock up the hours, completing my huge list of unfinished quests. But I also enjoyed the various instalments of Fallout, and Starfield feels very much like a Fallout game with a space skin and with space combat. But even then, the space combat can be somewhat diminished with the Fast Travel option. The Fast Travel also reduces the exploration that players often find enjoyable in grand scale RPGs such as this. Starfield does have its minor issues, but it does plenty of things right. The combat is smooth and satisfying, the crafting enables players to improve their equipment in a relatively easy way and the game’s soundtrack is superb, ultimately setting the tone for an enjoyable experience that has you scouring the galaxy for a series of artifacts.

It is a failure, plain and simple. While there is still hope that it can be salvaged, with time, that's no excuse for a launch like this. One can usually forgive a bad launch. However, it is far more difficult to forgive an unplayable launch...

While it doesn't add too much to the genre, it is easy to get into and makes sure that players who might be new to survival games shouldn’t be too overwhelmed. This makes it a very good entry point into the genre, but it may not do enough to set itself apart for people who spend a lot of time playing survival games. [Easy Access Provisional Score = 78]

Texas Chain Saw Massacre cuts its way to the top of the modern asymmetrical multiplayer horror market. While its darker tone and more sophisticated mechanics, compared to some of its competitors, may alienate some more casual players, diehard horror enthusiasts will find much to enjoy here. While it's uncertain what longevity this game has in store, something that is largely dependent on the developers, and the assumption of post-launch free content updates, here's hoping that Texas Chainsaw Massacre continues to raise the hairs and bring forth screams from its playerbase for many years to come…

Atlas Fallen has much going for it, with satisfying combat, lovely visuals within the desolate environment, plenty of collectibles, and the fun sand-sliding mechanic to traverse between quest locales. But it also suffers from a several issues – not the least being the bland storyline and dialogue. Chatting to quest givers is somewhat tedious, but luckily once you head off into the dunes this is easily forgotten.

Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew doesn't necessarily excel at either its narrative or character-related RPG beats, but it does enough to get by, while its gameplay carries it to safe harbour.

SPRAWL doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it instead pulls together several established and classic design and gameplay elements to deliver a well-rounded package that succeeds in what it wants to do. Combat is enjoyable and hectic, and though the melee system probably could have used a bit more depth, slowing time to line up the perfect headshot never gets old. The Sprawl may be a largely familiar cyberpunk setting, the the narrative set-up is intruding enough to hold interest. For those looking to scratch a twitch-shooter itch that works equally well for short-burst or longer play sessions, SPRAWL offers a package worth looking into.

While acting as quartermaster is fine, it doesn't seem unreasonable to hope that the core gameplay loop would bring a bit more to the table. While the in-game progression system is interesting in theory, most unlocks are merely upgrades of existing buildings or units, with minor efficiently bonuses. Limiting player customization to almost exclusively cosmetic oversight, rather than camp utility, does little to incentivize longterm play. One Military Camp gets the basics of base-building down fine, but asking anything more of it might be expecting too much...

The poor puzzles don't detract from the core stealth action, but unfortunately the same cannot be said for the unfathomably idiotic enemy AI.

Blasphemous 2 is built on the back of the insanely funded Kickstarter success of the first game, with improved visuals, an even more cohesive art style that still evokes Francisco Goya and Spanish history, more fluid animations, and an extra step up in the music and voice acting. It really is an improvement in every way, and does so without forgoing what made the introduction special. While intimate knowledge of the original entry is not required, it serves to enhance both the world of Blasphemous and the story of the Penitent One. Throw in The Game Kitchen's house-made documentary for good measure, and you've got an enthralling franchise of mystery, misery, and history, capped off by not only one of the best games of its genre, but a fine entry in all of gaming. Any shortcomings be damned, as its stellar elements do more than repent for them.

Lisa: The Painful certainly didn't need a remake, and this remake is far from the most technically impressive. That said, the game is still an absolute classic and the re-release is a great chance for those who haven't played the game before to pick up the most depressing and hilarious RPG of all time.

In the end, people will remember Fight Forever in one of two ways: either as a missed opportunity or as a stepping stone to something great. For something akin to a freshman effort, it has a lot to offer, and might be more of a victim of circumstances than anything else. Its largest competition is coming off a great game, and even though the styles are different, there's still an element of trying to simulate something fake connecting the two. With reports coming out that development was scaled back during its many delays, there's no doubt that the version we got was the best we could expect in a timely manner. These elements combined to make something fun in the moment, but possibly forgettable shortly after. If it hopes to have legs, it's going to need more free updates (like the announced battle royale mode that looks as ludicrous as it sounds) to entice its players to stick around. When you're in the action, though, you can practically see the CRT and corded controllers connecting you to the dropkicks and pins. For better or worse.

In all, Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons is a fun and nostalgic beat'em up with a pleasant amount of replayability, before even mentioning the local co-op to allow for even more of that good old arcade feeling. The only real issue this reviewer found while playing is that players may feel railroaded by whichever route through levels they find the easiest. That being said, if you're a fan of Double Dragon, beat‘em ups, or roguelike games that toy with a different genre, then Rise of the Dragons comes highly recommended!

Overall, Bookwalker is an engaging game that takes an interesting premise and uses it to tell a story full of mystery and creativity. I enjoyed the meta-ness of me controlling a fictional character as he wrestles with how and if to control other characters that are fictional to him. World-building, puzzle-solving, and quality visuals and writing make Bookwalker a satisfyingly complete package well worth checking out.

Those familiar with the series will feel quite at home, as will general turn-based tactics fans. Genre stalwarts, such as overwatch and defensive position, aren't going anywhere, but the layers on top of all that are where Jagged Alliance 3 most proves its worth. Finally, I've found the type of one-more-turn game I've been looking for. I was challenged by it in the most satisfying ways: planning, leadership, and patience. Despite the flaws, I wanted to see the campaign through from the opening encounter, and I felt rewarded for that. To sum it up: Jagged Alliance is back.

I must say that developer Milestone has done an excellent job with this newest version of MotoGP. The graphics are simply stunning and everything runs smoothly on the Unreal game engine that was added a couple of years ago. There's a wide range of game options that can be customized in order to suit all motorcycle racers requirements for difficulty. The only problem that I see for sports games like MotoGP is that it's kind of a niche sporting category. Americans love NASCAR and Indy and Europeans love Formula One; but how popular is motorcycle racing? I don't know but after playing MotoGP 23 I have to say that I am now a fan of the sport and the game!

There really is a lot more depth to this new version of Tennis Manager 2023. In addition to the above improvements, all of the various screens have been improved. The manager and player statistics look really good and they contain expanded stats which can help to track the academies player progress. Even though I'm not a fan of personal data sharing and location tracking in games, these days it does appear to be a growing aspect of computer and video game development. I would prefer that Rebound CG and other developers rely more on their creativity and game quality to be able to draw more people in to purchase their products. The fact that we are constantly being bombarded with ads on TV, cell phone, on the Internet and everywhere, that I for one want to be ad free in the games that I play. However, even with that said, Tennis Manager 23 is a worthwhile game and that's based on the efforts made to improve things in game. If you don't mind sharing even some of your personal information and DOB certainly is very personal then you don't have anything to worry about.

It's unfortunate, because this game absolutely has the potential to turn itself around, as its core foundation is sound, but there are few redemption stories in the gaming industry, and not many publishers allow developers the time or resources to attempt such. Park Beyond isn't by any means a terrible game, but even post-launch, it's been left in such a terrible state that most players probably won't have the patience to distinguish the latter from the former.

As the description of the plot implies, Doomblade is a delightfully grimdark story and world. Every creature and environment is ugly or disturbing in some way, and whenever you get into any serious combat the soundtrack starts blaring out heavy metal music. In a world of pastel-colored indie games the stress how cozy and none-threatening they are, Doomblade is a welcome change of pace.

Aliens: Dark Descent is, without a doubt, one of the best games in the franchise's history. It's campy and ridiculous, intimidating and unsettling, tactical and yet still casual. It attempts to pull off a number of different (and often even opposing) themes and mechanics, and impressively rarely fails outright at any of them. The story, dialogue, and cutscene animation all work in tangent to produce a compelling narrative that stays true to the typical narrative conventions of the Alien franchise, taking what would normally be a forgettable cast and setting, and making them stand out through their reactions to situations and their contrasting personalities and approaches to dealing with the threats that face them.

Miasma Chronicles is a perfectly passable game, one with an admittedly long campaign that fairly justifies the modestly-high retail price. The problem is that the campaign in question feels far longer than it ought, because most aspects of its narrative and dialogue fail entirely to bring the player closer to the characters they're playing as, a critical failing for any game calling itself an RPG. Decent performances from the voice cast almost manages to redeem the game's storytelling failings, but never fully. The combat is often excessively repetitive, and the killcam system often seems more interested in capturing footage of the foliage presumably for a nature documentary, than focusing on the far more interesting bleeding and screaming enemy flailing around on the ground. Hopefully Miasma Chronicles does eventually get a sequel, because it does manage to lay down a lot of potentially interesting groundwork, albeit without ever managing to fully capitalize on it.

While it may not entirely hit as a whole, Amnesia: The Bunker marks a high point for the series in many ways. It continues to feature impressive graphics and sound design, and a few of the mechanics here should join other constants. It falters a bit in its story, which is suitably mysterious and mystical, but at least partially predictable from a very early stage. It doesn't drag the experience down too much, but just enough. Still, it feels like a best-in-class dread simulator that doesn't overload you with a series of ever changing objectives, keeping your mission tight and focused throughout, allowing that sense of dread to be its main propellant.

Return to Grace won't win over anyone that isn't interested in the slow and pensive pace that this genre delivers, but those that are will find a wonderfully crafted adventure that balances familiar tropes with insightful themes, memorable dialogue, and beautiful environments. At about 2.5 hours in length, the game is a quick play, but it doesn't overstay its welcome and feels like it's exactly as long as it should be. Return to Grace is an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a single-sitting adventure that'll stay in mind far longer.

The only thing I have to ask is: In a world where there are a few hundred Boomer Shooters released a year and a few dozen 40K games a year how was it nobody hit upon this formula before now? No points to Auroch Digital for making the most obvious possible combination, but full marks for putting together one hell of a shooter.

Lego 2K Drive provides an entertaining setting that will have older players reminiscing about playing with Lego in their backyards, whilst giving younger gamers a chance to experience the same thing in a virtual world. The almost fully destructible Lego environments allow players to drive unimpeded for the most part, cruising around Bricklandia at their own leisure, completing whichever quest they want. The ability to customise your rides in the garage adds to the fun aspect with gamers able to create their own outlandish vehicles. And with the ability to play in split screen co-op, Lego 2K Drive is the perfect opportunity for families to sit on the couch together smashing through Lego towns on their way to winning the Sky Trophy.

The best adaptations feel like they exist in the world of the original, rather than trying to redo what has been done. Starship Troopers: Extermination accomplishes that. It gives you the familiar action from a new perspective. The fights herein are chaotic, seemingly-insurmountable, tactical, and satisfying. The Troopers' signature assault rifle feels as it should, the Arachnid are tough-but-not-to-tough, and building defenses feels meaningful. The biggest knock against its effort can easily be addressed as the game lives on: it is entering a crowded market without much innovation, and a relatively light plate of classes and weapons. As a package, it can be exhilarating, especially with a group of friends, big or small. [Early Access Provisional Score = 90]

While no one would call Knight Crawlers especially innovative, the game that is here is far from charmless. The game has a cozy, relaxed vibe that goes some way towards giving the game an identity of its own beyond indie roguelike number 10,000,000. All the characters, both friend and foe, are cute little fellas that look like they were made from Duplo blocks. This low-stakes, low-intensity charm is bolstered by the game's mellow combat system. Your main attack is a projectile that automatically hits the nearest enemy and only fires when you are standing still. All the enemies will chase you so you need to judiciously run away and stop often enough for your automatic projectile to land a few hits.

Despite the several issues I had with graphical glitches and needing to restart on a couple of occasions, Redfall is an enjoyable experience. The story is somewhat of a slow build, told through its visual novel style approach, but kept me wanting to find out more about how Redfall came to be in such a predicament. But it is the combat and setting that provides for the most enjoyment. The opportunity to tackle problems from literally different angles and heights allow Redfall to be played with a variety of strategies. And when you team up with several friends in co-op, a whole new way of playing the game emerges with each character providing for a different approach.

In all, Mail Time is a fun, if short, experience that can remind people what it is they love about 3D platforming without requiring a lot of investment to learn controls or plot related subjects. The only real issue from my perspective being the lack of a map. That being said that lack isn't too much of a problem compared to the tranquil and enjoyable atmosphere of this easy-going game, making Mail Time a charming delight of a game that has left this reviewer wanting quite a bit more.

Showgunners has its fair share of new ideas, and it's best when it uses them. Moving around the world to find useful rewards adds an additional, relatively low stress, layer to a solid tactics experience. Meeting new contestants and fans, who are varied, expands the world and those that live in it. Inside combat, a lot will feel familiar to tactics veterans, but fresh elements are at least complex enough to sustain a playthrough. Forgoing procedural generation in contestants, defenders, and levels limits replayability, but it also eliminates pressure. You will never lose your favorite playable contestant for good because of a miscalculation. Their worst fate is a battle restart. Once the season is over, it's hard not to imagine the next as one with a plethora of characters who could be knocked out of competition for good, but the first season is at least good enough to leave you wanting a second.

Folks, the new WWE 2K23 is such a massive yearly game enterprise that has brought the goods yet again for 2023. This is a great game franchise and Visual Concepts and 2K Sports have delivered. I hate to admit that even though I played the PC version, my game pad expertise wasn't up to par to begin with and I struggled to perform all of the many required finishes and special moves. However, as I slowly got used to the controls by using the great included tutorial that is narrated by Xavier Woods, it became easier. Being able to deliver John Cena's smashing "Attitude Adjustment" finishing move or Triple H's trademark "Pedigree" is something that every WWE game wrestler should strive to accomplish. Practice does make perfect and the same holds true for real wrestlers along with in-game make-believe ones too.

Dead Island 2 is a remarkably solid game, one that doesn't make any attempt to reinvent the wheel, but nevertheless is a more than satisfying mindless casual zombie-killing gorefest. It won't be a game held up in years to come as the go-to model for open-world zombie games but given its decade-long tenure in development hell, it's nothing short of a miracle it ever managed to crawl across the finish line as anything less than a complete mess.

Innchanted is a fun co-op game for all ages. The mechanics are simple enough for younger players but the game still provides enough of a challenge for more experienced gamers. The indigenous Australian story and characters and vibrant cartoon style visuals give the game an exciting atmosphere. Each of the new mechanics and recipes are introduced regularly so that the gameplay always feels fresh. The co-op works well whether you're playing alone or with a group of friends on the couch, with the AI being particularly proficient. With the restaurant upgrades and bonuses, costume unlocks, as well as trying to achieve the three (or four) stars on each level, Innchanted has heaps of replayability and is a must-have for fans of cute co-op games.

Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened is the direct product of an excessively-rushed development cycle. It suffers from questionable narrative direction, poor visual fidelity, and generic puzzles that will entertain the player at first, but quickly become tedious over time. While this is by no means a Sherlock Holmes game at its worst, it certainly falls short of the gold standard set by Frogwares themselves with their past entries. If you're an absolute Holmes diehard, The Awakened might scratch your itch, but if you're not already hooked by the Sherlock Holmes IP, then The Awakened probably won't do anything to pique your interest.

Stranger of Paradise is a game that has a bit of a slow start and the painful edginess of Jack contrasting with the world around him can be difficult to take seriously, but if gamers can persevere through that the combat more than makes up for it, making for a very fun game - and as time passes the surreal contrast of Jack begins to make more and more sense. That being said the game is a little bit of an investment at first, but once the ball starts rolling Stranger of Paradise is a fantastic Action RPG with very engaging combat that’s all centred around a fun and compelling Job mechanic that helps gamers play the way they want as they quest to kill Chaos and bring balance back to the world.

Anyone with a passing knowledge of H. P. Lovecraft and adjacent works will immediately get the idea, but the vastness of the sea alone paints an adequate picture. You are a small fisherman, doing what he knows how to do to answer a litany of questions, and the world is big, dark, scary, and fascinating. It's a mystery worth seeing and an experience worth having, because every satisfying game mechanic shines bright even in the blackest of fog drenched seas.

Overall, Supplice is a standout game that really emphasizes the aspects that people remember of the 90's FPS, but one final bit of attention to detail that should make any fan of the genre give Supplice a closer look is the pricing. The game is $15 on Steam base price, not counting any potential bundles or deals that may be occurring at the time. This price point makes the game feel a lot easier to swallow despite the short length, relatively speaking, meaning that players itching for something along the lines of a so-called 'boomer shooter' may want to pick up Supplice.

The Great War: Western Front excels at making you feel the pressures of World War I. Sometimes that leaves the gameplay lacking, but most often it requires a level of engagement that is hard to find in a lot of other strategy games. At a certain point it can feel like massive grand strategy tactics, while simply throwing walls of men at each other on the smaller scale. Spending additional time with it, however, will yield additional tactics and technology that transform battles. It is a game clearly made in the image of its namesake, so it is no wonder that the result is a gruelling series of meat grinders that lasts for quite some time. It successfully uses that earnestness to differentiate itself from its competitors enough to make it easy to find joy in the seemingly endless war.

Ravenbound comes across as an internal playtest version of an unreleased upcoming game. The barren open-world, the clunky and bugged game mechanics, and rampant balancing issues, makes the game feel like it's not ready for Early Access, let alone the full launch it's been given. It's easy to feel sorry for the many developers who likely put their hearts into this project, but sometimes it's not just ok, but often wise, to leave a game in the development oven for just a bit longer, rather than releasing it so prematurely.

In all, Arena Renovation has a lot of potential to be a very fun game, especially once the Early Access period is over and the developers have time to make certain that everything is prepared for a full release. The act of witnessing these dilapidated sports centres being brought back to life makes for a particularly satisfying experience, the level up system lets players feel a real sense of progression, and the game provides plenty of options to furnish areas to suit your aesthetic purposes. There are still some kinks to work out, particularly in long load times and clunky feeling controls, but this reviewer feels it's safe to say that Arena Renovation is a game to keep an eye on, especially if you're a player that enjoys the more grounded 'Simulator' games!

Terra Nil is the ultimate Zen experience when it comes to city builders and the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Resident Evil 4 is an excellent remake that more than satisfactorily manages to pull in a new generation of players, while still managing to stay true enough to the spirit of the original game so as not to offend the sensibilities of veteran players. While far from perfect, it nevertheless scores high among the long list of prior RE titles. Whether you prefer the original or its remake, however, will largely depend on your expectations from it. Being old is not inherently a sign of quality, but neither is a new coat of paint and a reinvented story necessarily an inherent virtue either.

Folks, Barotrauma is a very detailed game. It's suspense filled, has sudden horrific events that need to be resolved, lots of combat against Europa's monster population and a whole lot more. After adding in the sub design feature, the fan mods and the very detailed game world with slick game play how could you not give this title a two thumbs up. I would highly recommend this title, especially to those that enjoy playing online cooperative games with other human beings.

In all, The Last Spell is a genuinely enjoyable game that allows for strategic planning and makes use of a dark atmosphere. That being said there are times when the atmosphere feels almost too crushing and difficult - leaving it up to the player to latch onto hope as best they can. The Last Spell is the end of days for this world wreaked by war, and your group of Heroes is all that stands between what remains of humanity and a slow demise as the fog encroaches and the undead approach. The dark atmosphere and challenging gameplay can make for a really satisfying experience however, and it is in the darkest of times that one’s worth as a hero is truly shown.

While Destiny 2: Lightfall presents a visually-interesting cyberpunk art style, it's one that clashes horribly and feels out-of-place compared to the more serious tone established by past DLCs, and is especially odd for what is supposed to be the penultimate expansion in Destiny 2's planned remaining lifespan. While not as overtly disappointing as Curse of Osiris, Lightfall definitely ranks among the lowest entries for Bungie's longstanding live service game. While the new addition of a grapple hook is a neat gimmick, it does very little to make up for said expansion's lackluster contributions in both overall story and gameplay. Unless you are a Destiny 2 diehard looking to keep your DLC collection up-to-date, there isn't much reason to spend an outlandish $50 on only a meager few hours' worth of content.

Blood Bowl 3, at its best, never manages to even equal the quality of its predecessors at their lowest, but it would also be wildly inaccurate to say that there is no hope whatsoever for some at least partial redemption moving forward, as Cyanide Studio desperately attempts to salvage both the game, and their unfortunately-marred reputation. Hopefully the hard lessons learned here will result in a more faithful, and less monetization-crazed, future sequel, whenever they get around to working on such. In the meantime, longtime fans and newcomers alike would do well to keep their distance from this particular bloody field.

This replayability, along with the fact that most of the characters are genuinely likeable, allows Ten Dates to be a fun dating simulator. The actors do a wonderful job of conveying their feelings towards your responses and questions and although there is the relationship breakdown feature, you can often tell purely from the actor's expressions what they think of you. The choices you make certainly matter, and if it all starts to go south with the potential love of your life, you can always start fresh and attempt to woo them again. I would even argue that playing through Ten Dates could give players some potential pointers for real life dating – especially if, like me, you've been out of practice for some time.

If you're someone who likes building a city from the bottom up, being in control of every aspect of the citizens life, then Pharaoh: A New Era will definitely be up your alley, more so if you have an affinity for Ancient Egypt. With more than fifty campaign maps and the sandbox mode, this is a game that will have you playing for days, with each of the missions providing a different challenge. In the end, watching your cities expand to become a flourishing ancient metropolis is enjoyable and rather relaxing, with all your cartoon citizens scampering around the city like tiny worker ants. It can be hard work keeping them and the gods satisfied, but it is well worth it.

Despite being a black sheep of Tango Gamework's library, Hi-Fi Rush is quickly setting itself up to be a standout in popularity as well as genre, having already become a massive hit despite being a complete unknown mere hours before it released. With any luck, the budding success of Hi-Fi Rush encourages more game developers to stretch their wings and experiment. Sometimes stepping out of your comfort zone can really pay off, and in this reviewer's opinion, Hi-Fi Rush epitomizes that.

Scars Above seems to have borrowed traits from several games that all combine well to make Scars Above and enjoyable experience. This mixture of simple puzzle-solving and light combat may not suit everyone, but I certainly enjoyed crafting weapons and gadgets that helped bring down the Custodian.

Although Kukoos: Lost Pets does have some frustrations, namely the camera angles and the irregular checkpoints, is it a fun game to play, especially with friends or family. It has a familiar feel for gamers who grew up with 3D platformers such as Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon or Super Mario Galaxy, with bright fun colours (for the most part) and cute characters. That nostalgia goes a long way to making Kukoos fun, but the platforming and level design nail it. Each world is distinct from the last and with new pet abilities to play with in each, Kukoos: Lost Pets never becomes stale.